Truth Be Told

The One Thing I Do WRONG When Preaching the Gospel

A friend of mine told me once that I am like an "Evangelist for frozen mango."

This was about the weirdest comment I've ever received and so I had to ask about it and consider the statement. It's true, I do love frozen mango. It's one of the greatest snacks in the world. It's just something that makes me happy.

When people find this out about me, many are intrigued. It seems like such an odd thing to be happy about. Sure, most people have tried frozen fruit before. There's an appeal. Smoothies are certainly good. But, why is that specific one so great?!

People ask me these questions. They're incredibly curious about this oddity of mine and, when they see me eating frozen mango, 9 times out of 10, they ask to try it to see what the fuss is all about. I've got a pretty good track record when it comes to showing people just how awesome this snack is.

For all of these reasons, evangelist for frozen mango actually seems like a fairly accurate description. But considering this made me realize that my sharing of the Gospel has been lacking something MAJOR. Find out what it is in this week's episode.

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

 

#faith #religion #spirituality #faithful #religious #spiritual #evangelism #evangelistic #evangelist #evangelion #bible #biblical #biblestudy #holybible #frozenmango #mango #fruit #Chrisitan #Christianity #theology #apologetics #Gospel #truth #Gospels #God

Making the House of God a Home

How can I look at the HOUSE of God and feel like it's a HOME?

Every time I look at the sections of Scripture that talk about the House of God, I remember that those verses often look directly at the Temple or Tabernacle structures as foreshadowing God making His home with us.

While the presence of God, is absolutely a thing I love and desire, looking at the physical buildings that were representative of that are a LONG WAY from giving me the warm fuzzies. To me, they've appeared cold and rigid. They seem too regal and austere to actually be a place I'd desire to dwell.

But the Psalmists write so lovingly about these places, not just talking about their beauty, but about how amazing it would be to actually LIVE there like the birds who make nests there do. So, what am I missing?

In this episode, we look through the book of Exodus and the elements God desired to have as a part of His tabernacle (and later the Temple) through the lens of "home," and see just how awesome of a place it actually is.

God doesn't desire to bring you in to live with Him in some stuffy, religious building - He built a home for His people (and is still building a home for His people) and when we see that, we'll want to dwell with Him there all the more.

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

 

#faith #religion #spirituality #Christian #Christianity #faithful #religious #spiritual #Bible #Jesus #Christ #JesusChrist #God #biblical #biblestudy #biblemessage #theology #apologetics #truth #temple #tabernacle #Judaism #Israel #Islam #Moses #Exodus #David #Solomon #secondtemple #solomonstemple #houseofGod #thehouseofGod #symbolism #Psalms #SonsofKorah #Psalmist #Psalm84 #imagery #presenceofGod

Social Media and Christian Evangelism: John Mark Dyer Interview

Christian content creator, @johnmarkdyer7  and I had an awesome conversation about Christian evangelism and social media.

The discussion ranged from preaching the Gospel across generations to cultural starting points for sharing your faith.

So many are divided over opinions on Christian social media. How effective is it? Is it watering down the Gospel? Isn't it just a little too performative?

In the midst of all of this, John Mark Dyer has found a niche that tackles genuine topics in a way that communicates transparently and effectively.

Hopefully, this conversation sparks your imagination and encourages you to discover new tactics for sharing your faith life in your communities, workplaces, friend groups, and cultures. Preaching the Gospel is about so much more than the words you say - it's about the life you live that reflects God into the lives of others.

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: 

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

 

#socialmedia #instagram #influencer #Christian #Christianity #Christ #Jesus #JesusChrist #Gospel #evangelism #faith #religion #spirituality #theology #apologetics #NewTestament #OldTestament #bible #biblestudy #biblical #instagram #insta #interview #reels #shorts #Christianmedia #media #God #truthbetold #johnmarkdyer #YWAM #Genz #Genx #millenial #boomer

What's God Got To Say For Himself?

When we meet new people we often learn about them through a mix of how we perceive them, what others say about them, and what they communicate to us through their words or actions.

Many times, when considering God, we only consider our own perceptions and what others say about Him. We forget that God inspired and compiled the entire Bible which speaks to us about Him.

Throughout the pages of Scripture, we see a lot of talk about the gods of other nations. These gods reigned over certain geographical locations, people groups, or elements and are known as: "Name of god" god of the "thing they are god over." Example: Poseidon god of the Sea

In the Bible, we get this same pattern repeated for God Most High, but the things that God says about Himself are incredibly unique. Sure, other gods might claim power over elements, events, or various civilizations but OUR God is God OF gods.

When we look at what God says about Himself in the pages of the Bible we should be left amazed at how high above it all He tells us He is. Most often, it shows us that our CONSIDERATION of God, is never high enough.

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

The Cultic Message of Jesus

For modern Christians who have spent their entire lives studying Scripture, surrounded by Church life, very familiar with the "vibe" of Christianity, it can be very easy to forget that, Jesus said some really strange things.

Without the benefit of 2,000+ years of theological research, amazing Christian lives lived, and acquaintance with the person of Jesus through Scripture, we miss what it might have been like to hear the words Jesus spoke for the very first time. When we strip away our bias, our over-comfortability with the phrasing of the Bible, and imagine what it would be like for someone to encounter Jesus in the first century - we realize that MANY of His words were inflammatory and radical.

We've become so used to using Jesus as a comfort blanket that we lose sight of just of how different a life He calls us to.

Don't get me wrong! Jesus IS and SHOULD BE a comfort to us. But to view His ministry as little more than a combination of cute quotes that make us feel good is to do a disservice to God, ourselves, and the relationship He desires to have with us.

In reality, when we understand how intense Jesus's message was, are appropriately shocked by it, and wrestle with it the way He desires us to wrestle with it - we realize that to accept and believe these words is nothing less than a powerful action of faith. 

Lunatics and cult-leaders have used Jesus's radical methods to gain a following. Liars have echoed His words and claimed them about themselves. But it is only the LORD who can say them with no hint of insanity or deceit. Jesus is LORD.

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

Why Did God Let That Happen To Me?

Going through difficulties in life, suffering, and facing consequences of sin are difficult parts of life. Painful, harmful, and traumatic circumstances happen to all of us and they can cause us to question God's goodness. Why would God allow me to go through this? Didn't He know it would hurt me?

Eventually, we learn that those situations and circumstances were designed and/or used to teach us good lessons, but it doesn't mean the pain totally goes away. When we experience this kind of scarring or residual pain, it can cause us to double down on our questioning of God. Sure, I understand the difficult circumstances was used to draw me closer to God, but how does this continuation of trauma (which seems to only lead to ongoing doubts) draw me closer?

In this episode, we'll explore the situations of some of the heroes of the faith who must have asked these same questions to try to gain solidarity with them and understand what some purposes might be for the scarring God allows us to experience rather than healing us fully every time.

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

A Woman Messiah?

Ok, ok.. before you get all up in arms - No. I'm not saying Jesus was a woman. The term Messiah just means Anointed One, and refers to one who saves Israel.

Many people were smaller versions of Messiah before Jesus appeared, prefiguring in part all that He would accomplish.

Interestingly, in THIS story that we cover from 1 Samuel, it's a woman who steps into that role. However, she isn't saving all of Israel or the entire world, but one man who, unfortunately might prefigure US.

I think it's amazing just how accurately this woman acts out what Christ fully accomplished and I think you will too.

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

Prepping For Armageddon: The One Thing That MIGHT ACTUALLY Save Your Skin

When the world becomes chaotic, Christians flock to the Scriptures to determine read prophecy. We read about end time events and, naturally, have a little fear when we consider that we might have to live through some of it. Some people prepare by saving drinking water, hoarding food, equipping bunkers, and keeping extra batteries on hand.

While there's absolutely nothing wrong with being cautious and prepared for potential rough times ahead, if we're doing all of this BECAUSE of our reading of prophecy, we might be missing the point.

Biblical prophecy is not just a heads up about God's punishment so we can attempt to avoid it. It's way more than just a telling of future events so we can beat the system. Biblical prophecy is given for a purpose, and it isn't for us to worry ourselves over escaping physical difficulty.

If we understand WHY prophecy is given in the Bible and read it accordingly, we might learn the ONE THING that might actually make us more prepared than any amount of stockpiling could do.

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

What Happens To Those Who Die Without Knowing Jesus?

We all know someone who isn't Christian, and many of us probably know someone who has died without coming to Christ. Are those people who have died in ignorance eternally damned?

In David Platt's book, "Something Needs to Change," he discusses his emotions at witnessing the burial rites of those who have died in the remote areas of the Himalayas. While the book itself is fantastic, his conclusions on the fate of those Hindus and Buddhists who never had an opportunity to hear the Gospel preached reflect those of many mainstream Christians.

However, do these conclusions accurately reflect what Jesus says about the subject?

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

"Truth Be Told" Reacting to "Reacting to Truth" Reacting to "Truth Be Told"

A few weeks ago, it was brought to my attention that my friends Brad and Ryan have started a new project called, "Reacting to Truth," that, essentially, is a reaction channel to my podcast/YouTube channel. 

This news really took me by surprise. Were they making a joke about it? Was it a prank I wasn't aware of? Why didn't they tell me they were doing it? Surely they wouldn't go through all this effort to, not only LISTEN TO my content, but to discuss it enough to want to record their conversational thoughts on it, while JUST intending to be supportive and kind to me?

Sure enough - they were. They appreciated what I was doing and wanted to share their support and thoughts on the messages I was delivering. When I found this out, I immediately went from shocked and skeptical to heart-warmed and appreciative. But why was this my reaction?

Don't I pray always for God to bless my efforts? Don't I want HIS support for this endeavor? Why, then, was it so hard to accept that my friends would want to express this type of love for me?

If John says that it's more difficult to love God who we can't see if we're not even loving our brothers who we CAN see, is it possible the inverse is true? Is my reluctance to accept love from those I can see an indication that maybe I'm not in the right frame of mind to accept personal love from God who I can't see?

 

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly