069 – Using the Book of Proverbs as Your Business Coach

231 – Do you notice when God is trying to get your attention?

God talks to us in lots of ways. But how often do we notice?

Take a minute to think of all the ways God tries to get your attention. 

Sometimes it might be because you're doing something you shouldn't. Sometimes it's because you're not doing something you should.

And sometimes it's because your doing exactly what God wants you to do and He's confirming that you're right where you need to be.

In this week's episode, I talk about how God got the attention of several Bible characters. And it wasn't always rainbows and butterflies. And how God used others to get their attention

• Moses and the burning bush, but more importantly it's how God talked to him
• Jonah: God had to get his attention lots of times (does that ever happen to you?)
• The Israelites often didn't pay attention to how God tried to get their attention  through the prophets. Guess what happened to them!
• John the Baptist got people's attention and pointed to Jesus
• Jesus really got people's attention and pointed them back to God, not just because of all the people he healed, but especially because of the crucifixion and resurrection

How does all this apply to you and me?

God is always trying to get your attention. Why? Because He loves you and He wants the very best for you.

Please take some time to look back on your life and ponder all the ways God has spoken to you, protected you, directed you, rebuked you, provided for you, healed you.

Every time these things happen, even if you don’t realize God is there doing it, God is calling out to you, saying, “I see you. Do you see Me? Look for Me everywhere in your life. Trust Me. Love Me. Lean on Me. Ask Me for what you need. I am here for you. Pay attention to Me and all the love I have for you."

How is God getting your attention today? Then... what will you do next?

Show notes:
Full transcript of Episode 231 and Bible verses 

_________________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

230 – Has God ever asked you to dance with Him?

What does that even mean?

When God asks you to dance, it's a metaphor for God asking you to participate in life and follow where He leads.

Have you ever danced with someone who didn't know how to lead, or follow, depending on which role you were in? It can be confusing, awkward, and sometimes get pretty messy.

Things can get pretty confusing and messy when God asks us to dance with Him and we don't follow His lead, especially if we try to lead.

That's what this episode is all about. When God asks you to dance with him, do you

• Accept and follow every lead
• Accept and follow Him sometimes
• Accept and try to lead Him
• Decline the invitation to dance

In this Dance we call Life, I encourage you to accept the invitation to be God’s dance partner.

Let Him lead you to the dance floor, and embrace you. Look into His eyes and see His love for you. Follow His lead.

Pay attention to and learn the language of the many ways He directs you and shows you what steps to take. You don’t have to have everything figured out all the time.

You can trust God to lead you every time He asks you to dance.

Show notes:
For full transcript and Bible quotes, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/230.

_________________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

229 – How often do you hear: "The blood of Jesus saves you from your sins," or something to that effect?

The more I have pondered and prayed about all the Bible has to say about God's forgiveness of sins, Jesus's crucifixion, and more specifically, the blood of Jesus, I've come to the conclusion that there's more to forgiveness than just the fact that Jesus's blood was shed.

Spoiler Alert:
This may sound a little controversial at first, but when you listen to this episode, you'll understand what I'm talking about.

What really got me to thinking is something Paul says in 1 Corinthians, Chapter 15, about the crucifixion, the resurrection, forgiveness of sins, and our faith.

Too many Christians pass over this crucial passage of Scripture and miss the bigger picture of what Paul is saying about salvation and forgiveness.

That's what this episode is all about, 

• Getting a bigger picture of how and why our sins are forgiven
• The blood of Jesus and why it's not just about the literal blood that flowed through his veins 2,000 years ago
• The deeper spiritual meaning of what the blood of Jesus represents
• Why the crucifixion of Jesus, along with his blood, are not enough to free us from sin

Let me know your thoughts on this topic. I'd love to hear your thoughts, even if you disagree.

Show notes:
For a full transcript and Bible quotes: go to Episode 229

_________________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

228 – Did you ever realize how many women leaders there are in the New Testament?

More than you probably realized. There are some I didn't even realize were women? Why haven't we been told about these amazing women who risked their lives to share the Gospel in the early Christian Church?

This week I talk with Dr. Nijay Gupta about these women leaders in the early Christian church and how they set examples for how women can have leadership roles in the church today. He has written a book called: Tell Her Story (see below for link).

Here are the women we talked about. How many of them have you heard of?

• Mary Magdalene
• Junia
• Joanna
• Susanna
• Phoebe
• Tryphena and Tryphosa 
• Persis
• Rufus's mother
• Julia
• Nereus's sister
• Euodia and Syntyche 
• Priscilla

Most of them we know very little about but Paul mentions them and commends many of them for their work in sharing the Gospel.

Nijay and I also talked about the so-called submission and women-be-silent verses, but he points out the cultural contexts of these verses, how they seem to contradict the fact that Paul commended women for preaching and promoting the Gospel elsewhere.

And Nijay makes it clear we get into serious trouble when we create a theology around just two or three verses.

Nijay Gupta's books:
Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church.*
A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Studies*
Paul and the Language of Faith*
Prepare, Succeed, Advance, Second Edition: A Guidebook for Getting a PhD in Biblical Studies and Beyond*
New: Strange Religion: How the First Christians Were Weird, Dangerous, and Compelling*
All books* by Nijay Gupta

Podcast: Slow Theology
Blog: Crux Sola

Show notes:
For a full transcript and more detailed show notes, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/228.

_________________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

227 – Have you ever wondered if God still loves you?

All too often we think of all the mistakes we've made or the things that have happened to us, and somehow decide God must not love us anymore, that we're not worthy of His love.

But no matter what you've done ( or not done that you should have), no matter what mistakes you've made, big or small, God still loves you. It's as simple as that.

Why do we make it so complicated?

In this week's episode, I share some of my personal journey to actually accepting and believing that God really does love me.  I'm curious if you have gone through a similar process.

Here are some of the points along the way to accepting the fact that God still loves you.

• Sometimes it begins with intellectually knowing that God loves you, even though you don't feel you deserve it
• Getting over the belief that God loves you only when you do something right
• Realizing that God sent Jesus to earth because He loves everyone – Gasp! that includes you
• If you had been with Jesus as one of his followers or asking him to heal you, he would have loved you just as he loved all the folks he ministered to
• If Jesus loves you, it's because he could see God love you (see John 5:19)
• Talking to God and asking why He loves you
• Listening to what God says
• Believing what God says

A conversation with God:
I also share a little conversation I had with God several years ago that helped me accept God's love for me. 

God still loves you. He will never give up on you. No matter who you are, where you’re from, what you’ve done, what you haven’t done, whatever your circumstances are, God still loves you. He will do whatever it takes for you to accept and experience His love.

For a full transcript of this episode and Bible verses quoted, check out the show notes at: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/227

_________________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

226 – What does  it mean to be more than a conqueror through Christ?

With all the challenges in the world and in your own personal life, does it ever seem like there's just no end to the chaos?

In Chapter 8 of Romans, Paul lists a host of challenges that describes what a lot of people are dealing with today. But he also promises us that we can find answers, solutions, and healing through Christ.

In this week's episode, I talk about what it means to be more than just a conqueror:

• We can never be separated from God's love
• Once you have a victory over a problem, you're more than just a former slave to the problem
• You're more than just someone who had overcome a problem
• After you conquer a problem, you begin to discover you identity as a child of God

You are more than a conqueror. You are the beloved child of God and co-heir with Christ. This is your spiritual identity.

Give yourself permission to be what God has created you to be. It’s actually who you already are. You have inherited all the love and blessings God can give.

You have inherited His kingdom, with and through Christ. Accept your spiritual inheritance, right now, as an heir of God, and live your life from that perspective.

 Previous episode mentioned:
Episode 61: Your Name Is Written in Heaven

Show notes:
Full transcript and all Bible verses mentioned: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/226

_________________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

225 – If you could ask Jesus a favor, what would it be?

If you had met Jesus 2,000 years ago while as he was traveling around healing and ministering to people, what would you ask him for? A healing? Deliverance from a problem? The answer to a burning question in your heart?

Lots of people came up to Jesus to ask him for all sorts of things. Sometimes he granted their requests and sometimes he didn't.

There's so much to learn from these folks who approached Jesus with a request.

In this week's episode I talk about why Jesus answered some requests and why he didn't answer others. Here's who is in the show:

• Jairus
• Various religious leaders asking about how to obtain eternal life
• A man who wanted Jesus to get his brother to share the inheritance
• More religious leaders who wanted Jesus to show them a miraculous sign
• People who weren't sure if Jesus was the Messiah
• James and John, who wanted to sit next to him in heavenly glory
• A disciple who asked Jesus how to pray
• Philip, who wanted Jesus to show God to him

The  crux of the matter: what you want or what God wants

If you could talk to Jesus, would you ask for something you want really bad? Or would you ask him to show you what God's will is for you?

And how on earth do you figure out what God's is will for you? There are some helpful ideas to get you started, plus a previous episode I recommend (see below for link).

Who should you pray to, Jesus or the Father? Listen to find out...

Episodes mentioned:
Episode 79: How Do You Know if Something is God’s Will ?
Episode 121: Praying in the Name of Christ

Please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks!

_________________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

224 – Do you have to believe in the Nicene Creed to be a true Christian?

This is a pretty heavy duty topic. And people have been arguing over this for about 1,700 years.  So this is not the final answer or discussion on the topic.

But is incredibly important to think about what it means to be a Christian. Is it based on what you believe or how you put into practice the teachings of Jesus?

Or is it a combination of the two?

This week, I share my thoughts on the Nicene Creed and some of the problems I have with it. And as always, you are free to disagree with me. And I'd love to hear your perspective, whether you agree or not with what I say. I'm always open to another perspective. We have so much to learn from each other.

Here are the two main reasons I cannot adhere to the Nicene Creed.

• The way Athanasius and others who supported the Creed were ruthless and vindictive toward those who disagreed with them. They did not act in a Christ-like way
• There is nothing in the Creed that talks about obeying God, following Jesus, loving your neighbor, being humble and loving.

Jesus says we are to judge a tree by its fruit. The "fruit" of those who supported the Nicene Creed, as well as the fruit of those who opposed it, prove to me they didn't really believe in the Jesus of the Bible. Otherwise they would have followed Jesus's approach and done the mighty works of healing he did.

If you believe in the Nicene Creed, I totally respect your choice to do so. But I think it's important to know the history of how this Creed came down through history. And be aware of what it does not include.

For me, my approach to having a creed is simple: I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that God is good and made us in His image and likeness. And I add to that my commitment to seek and do God's will, follow Christ the best I can, love my neighbor as myself, and be guided by the Holy Spirit.

And I invite you to join me.

Book referred to:
When Jesus Became God: The Struggle to Define Christianity During the Last Days of Rome by Richard E. Rubenstein. *

Previous episode mentioned:
# 223 The Bible as a Verb with Polly Castor

Show notes:
Full transcript and Bible quotes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/224

* Amazon affiliate link

_________________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

223 – Have you ever thought of the Bible as a verb?

All too often we think of the Bible as a source for our beliefs, our theology, and our faith. But have you ever looked at the Bible through the lens of the action items that need to be on our daily to-do list?

This week, I talk to my wife, Polly Castor, about the Bible as resource for how we are to behave, what we are to do, not just what we're supposed to believe.

Polly shares LOTS of Bible action items, things we need to do, like:

• Obey the Commandments
• Let your light shine
• Love your neighbor as yourself
• Be reconciled to one another
• Edify one another
• Sing unto the Lord
• Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
• AND so many more

Polly makes a practice during her Bible study to keep track of all the things the Bible instructs us to do.

She sees these action items as tools in her spiritual toolbox. When someone is demanding or really needs her attention, she practices patience.

If there's a misunderstanding with a friend or family member, she takes out the "be reconciled to each other" tool and works toward healing the situation.

You get the idea.

You'll love the practical wisdom and humor Polly brings to living the Bible in her daily life.

Polly Castor contact info:
Daily blog: pollycastor.com
Art website: pollycastorart.com
Instagram: @pollycastor
Email: pollycastor@gmail.com

Previous episodes mentioned:
Episode 53: How I Met My Wife
Episode 15: How to Stop Fighting Your Brother and Love Him Instead

Show notes:
For a full transcript of this episode and a list of all the Bible quotes, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/223.

_________________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here
  
  

222 – Have you ever tried to find yourself in the Bible?

So many people are trying to find themselves these days. They're looking in so many different directions, but they often overlook the spiritual aspect of who they are as a child of God.

The best place to discover your identity is in the Bible. In a couple of previous episodes, I talked specifically about this:

•  Episode 37: You Are the Image and Likens of God. What the Heck Does that Mean?
• Episode 144: Finding Your Identity in the Bible with Keith Ferrin

This week I'm taking a different approach. I'm looking at various Bible characters to see what we can learn about ourselves from the way they dealt with the situations and the issues of their day.

Here are the Bible folks explored in this episode:

• Moses
• Gideon
• The 300 men Gideon chose to fight with him
• The thousands of men who were not chosen to fight
• King David
• Bathsheba
• Uriah
• Absalom
• Naaman
• Naaman's wife's servant girl
• Elisha
• Belshazzar’s wife (he was Nebuchadnezzar's son)
• Pilate's wife
• Jonah
• The king of Nineveh
• Zacharias and Elisabeth
• Joseph, Mary's future husband
• Jesus's disciples
• Saul, who becomes Paul

With each of these Bible characters, what can you see in them that helps you understand yourself? What lessons can you learn from them based on the situations they were in and how they responded?

If there’s someone in the Bible you especially identify with and relate to, let me know. I’d love to hear who it is and what you’ve discovered about who you are from someone in the Bible.

And more importantly, I'd love to know not just what you’ve learned about yourself, but what you’ve discerned that God has called you to do.

Show notes: Full transcript and Bible quotes

_________________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.

• Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
• Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
• Make a donation to support the show
• Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
• Contact James here