Divorce is difficult for everyone involved, especially the kids. Listen in for Dr. Leman’s advice on maintaining respect from your kids on this episode of the Have a New Kid by Friday Podcast.

What do you do when your husband is giving the kids whatever they want and leaving you to be the disciplinarian? Dr. Leman gives practical tips and advice on this episode of the Have a New Kid by Friday Podcast.

Discontentment. Is it something you brought on yourself, or is it something which God has brought into your life? Maybe God is using discontentment to help you bring about change in your life. What do you need to change? www.theintnentionallife.com.

Surviving adolescence is more challenging today because the transition between adolescence has lengthened. Greater challenges face young adults as they seek to get established.

https://youtu.be/vgoZHNhj2O4

Transcript What  goes in must come out, the scripture says, "you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." It is these who caused divisions, wordly people, Devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in the most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." (Jude 1:17-21) What marks a world without Christ? Divisions, worldliness devoid of the spirit. What marks a world with Christ? Faith, prayer, mercy, and ultimately eternal life. Yet we have a problem. Many Christians today seem to be marked more by an ungodly world, rather than keeping themselves in the love of God. Do you need proof? Take a look at your social media feed. Need I say more? Jesus said that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34) Whatever it is that we fill our minds with works its way into the heart and it comes out of us like a fountain. Jude's brother James also noted this when he said, "From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so."(James 3:10) What is the solution to fixing a life of division, worldliness and one devoid of the spirit? Really, it's rather simple. It's to fill our minds with the things of our faith. Keep yourselves in the love of God. If we find that what comes out of us is disapproving to the Lord, then it is because we are not focused on the things that give God pleasure. Jude referred to this as building yourselves up in your most holy faith. Consider this as a memory verse. "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable. If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."(Phil 4:8-9) Consider this point of application. The greatest way to change your heart and mind from ungodly to godly things is to follow this advice from the Apostle Paul to practice these things about taking control of our thoughts. What is the difference between the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of God? How do these influence us? That's this week's topic on this episode of "Two Minutes With Tom: What Goes In."

How do we know the resurrection of Jesus is true? How do we know the disciples didn’t lie about the resurrection of Jesus? Tom Terry, chairman of our board of directors and global strategist for CRU, shares his life-changing, powerful insights: EXAMINATION “Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead” ( John 20:3-9 ). “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then, the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so, I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit…Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” ( John 20:19-23 ,  27-29 ). There are two things to notice about this passage. First, following Jesus’ death, and even during his resurrection before the disciples had seen Jesus, they were hiding, cowering in fear at what the authorities might do to them. They had seen the empty tomb, but had not yet believed in the resurrection until Jesus appeared before them.  That Peter and John ran together is interesting since Peter and John were the ones closest to Jesus when he was arrested and tried. Peter followed at a distance, but John went into the courtyard of the High Priest. Then John was at the cross. Peter was not. I wonder if Peter and John ran to the tomb because they wanted the resurrection to be true. Peter wanted forgiveness. John wanted assurance. Peter was the one who abandoned and denied Jesus, and John was the one who followed him to the cross. Interestingly, Peter was crucified for his faith, but John died of natural causes. In fact, all of the disciples who abandoned him suffered terrible deaths. But John died an old man, in peace.  “According to Christian historian Tertullian, John was banished to Patmos after being plunged into boiling oil in Rome and suffering nothing from it.” Peter saw “the linen cloths lying there” (V.5). John also looked and believed. What did they see that made them believe? I believe they saw the form of Jesus’ shroud. That is, Jesus’ burial clothes were not in a clump or a pile; rather, his shroud was in the same shape as his body. In other words, Jesus rose  through  the shroud. He did not need to unwrap himself. Though they all abandoned Jesus, Jesus’ first words to them on seeing them for the first time was, “Peace be with you” (V.19).  He said, “Peace be with you” a second time before telling them their mission (V.21). He was going to send them to the world, and the Holy Spirit would be with them. What’s interesting is that elsewhere in scripture, the Holy Spirit is associated with peace ( Romans 14:17 ). What are some of the other evidences of Jesus’ resurrection? Jesus appeared to his disciples over many days The disciples were transformed from cowards to supernaturally brave men. Except for John, all went to violent deaths, and they never recanted their stories about Jesus. If they knew they were lying, they might have confessed. Almost no one is willing to die for something they know is a lie. But the Gospel isn’t a lie, so they died. Jesus foretold his resurrection many times, even his enemies knew it ( Matthew 27:63 ), and used that to convince Pilate to give them troops to guard the tomb. According to both Jesus’ enemies and his friends, the tomb is empty, and something extraordinary happened. Thomas summed up what became obvious to them all. “My Lord and my God!” (V.28).  What have we learned so far? Peter and John believed in the resurrection after seeing the tomb. Only John was with Jesus at the cross, and only he did not die a horrible death. Jesus provided evidence for his resurrection. Jesus pronounced peace to his disciples and gave them the Holy Spirit, who is associated with peace. Jesus commissioned the disciples just as he was commissioned. INTERPRETATION The resurrection is rational and believable. All of the evidence we have suggests that Jesus rose from the dead never to die again.  John wants us to know this and says so in  John 20:30-31 . “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.“ Regarding Jesus saying, “Peace be with you,” Jesus did not hold their abandonment against them. He forgave. God wants us to forgive those who have harmed us, just like Jesus forgave his disciples when they abandoned them.  Peace is an important part of the Christian faith. Before faith in Christ, we were God’s enemies ( Romans 5:10 ). But look at the events of Holy Week:  Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, a symbol of peace.  Upon approaching Jerusalem, Jesus declared his desire for peace, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace!” ( Luke 19:42 ).  During the last supper, Jesus declared peace to his disciples, saying, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” ( John 14:27 ).  Jesus accomplished peace on the cross–the veil of the temple was torn in two, a sign that men could now approach God freely.  After coming to faith, we receive God’s peace, meaning that God is no longer at war with us. Peace is declared, and we can live forever in that peace.  FALLEN CONDITION The Fallen Condition in this passage is the unbelief of the disciples. They were without peace, cowering in fear, doing nothing. REDEMPTIVE SOLUTION What was God’s Redemptive Solution to this problem of unbelief and fear? Jesus’ solution was not just resurrection, but resurrection that would transform his disciples by giving them peace.  Perfect love casts out fear. They experienced Jesus’ love and forgiveness, and that brought them to peace. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” ( I John 4:18 ). There is no punishment where there is peace. APPLICATION How many times have we not done something we know we should do because we are afraid? Sharing Christ with others? Reaching out to people who have had a hard or violent life? Representing Christ in a public forum of some kind? Fear is the destroyer of peace. Whereas love casts out fear, peace replaces fear and magnifies love.  There are two components for overcoming fear in spiritual things. Be at peace in the resurrection of Christ. If God resurrected Jesus from the dead, never to die again, imagine what he might do for you. Just as Jesus gave his disciples the Holy Spirit, we have the same Holy Spirit who will empower us. Scripture makes it clear that the same Spirit that raised Jesus gives us the same power to live the Christian life.

Matthew 7:15-20 What is a prophet? What does a prophet do? How do you know if I am a true teacher of the gospel or someone who is false, teaching or preaching for my own benefit? Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” BACKGROUND Most people think a prophet was someone who performed miracles or foretold the future. Elijah and Elisha are two examples of prophets who performed miracles. But that was not their main function.   A prophet is someone who, called by God, proclaims truth to a people, even to the king. This includes prophecy, the declaration about something to happen in the future. The major prophets in the Old Testament, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel all proclaimed messages about the future, calling people to repentance and covenant faithfulness. Essentially, most prophets had a two-fold ministry; they did foretelling and forth-telling. Foretelling revealed future judgments and the coming of redemption. Forth-telling was to urge repentance in their message, drawing people into a fuller relationship with God through covenant faithfulness.  At the same time there were also false prophets.  What do false prophets do? False prophets were motivated by status, money, and power. True prophets cared for none of these things.  Here are seven signs of a false prophet: A false prophet’s words contradict the plain meaning of scripture. A false prophet changes the plain meaning of scripture or adds to scripture with his or her own “authoritative” writings. A false prophet’s teachings contradict those of the church at large and through history. Just like a narcissist, false prophets are unable to grasp the truth even when confronted with it. False prophets are hyper-exclusive with the claims of Christ. Like a narcissist, false prophets don’t take responsibility when their words or agenda fails.  A false prophet’s movement or organization is often gathered around one personality who becomes the defacto authority on God’s revelation. “In the Bible, false prophets fell into three general categories:  Those who worshiped false gods and served idols;  Those who falsely claimed to receive messages from the Lord;  Those who wandered from the truth and ceased to be true prophets. (1) EXAMINATION (V.15) “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” This is the third time in the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus refers to false people as an animal. First it was dogs and pigs, now it is a wolf. Unlike dogs and pigs, wolves are hunters, looking for victims. So is true also of false prophets. They look to deceive and devour. When false prophets arise they seem at first to be genuine believers. But as time goes by it becomes more apparent that their teachings are false.  I was once part of a Bible study where one of our members, after some time, began to say that it was okay, even valuable to practice some things from Wicca (witchcraft). He talked about how it brought him benefits. I confronted him with scripture in front of the class. There was a debate then we all left. He never came back to our class again. This is one of the things about false prophets and teachers we should keep in mind. They always speak about positive things. They never speak condemningly except to those who oppose them. Notice these false prophets from the Old Testament: Jeremiah proclaimed doom to Judah because of the Babylonian army. But false prophets around the king were proclaiming peace ( Jeremiah 7:10-15 ). Amos proclaimed doom to Israel, but a false priest named Amaziah falsely accused Amos of conspiring with Israel’s enemies (Amos 10:7-13). False prophets were leading Israel astray, saying “peace, peace when there is no peace,” but Ezekiel condemned them ( Ezekiel 13 ). False prophets routinely proclaimed peace and blessing even in the midst of doom. Real prophets proclaimed repentance and covenant faithfulness. We have popular preachers today who always proclaim good things but never talk about repentance. These false teachers usually make a lot of money.  False “teachers refused to submit their lifestyles to the scrutiny of Scripture, but instead twisted the Scriptures in order to condone their sinful lifestyles.” (2) (V.16) “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?”  What are the fruits of false prophets or teachers?  They encourage people with false religion. Mormonism and Jehovah Witnesses are two modern examples. These false religions redefine key biblical doctrines away from orthodoxy. They have founding leaders or additional writings that turn people away from Christ, or to their own version of Christ. For instance, Mormonism teaches that Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer. The Watchtower holds that Jesus is really the archangel Michael. Islam teaches that Jesus was not crucified and never raised from the dead.  It’s interesting that Jesus refers to them as thorns and thistles. Both of these are painful if touched or handled. So too, the teachings of a false prophet or teacher cause great harm, especially spiritual harm.  I once was meeting with a small group of Jehovah’s Witnesses who were trying hard to convert me. At one point the older lady in the group said, “So you’re telling me that my husband who just died is in hell?” She started to grasp the truth, but in grief, she turned away and the group let themselves out. We can only recognize false prophets or teachers if we are familiar with scripture so that we can discern truth from error. If we don’t know what the Bible teaches then we won’t know how to discern and confront error.  (V.17) “So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.” Why do you think people are often drawn to false prophets, even when there are warning signs? What is good fruit and what is bad fruit? The apostle Paul may shed some light on this when he talked about the fruit of the Spirit in  Galatians 5:22-23 ,  “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”  False teachers can imitate these behaviors, but eventually they will be found out.  There is also the fruit of bad teaching. Moses portrayed what a false prophet looks like, what their fruit is. In  Deuteronomy 18:20-22  Moses says,  “If any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death. You may ask in your heart, ‘How can we recognize a message that the LORD has not spoken?’ When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the message does not come to pass or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken.” We can only discern a false prophet by being people of the book, by knowing the word of God. Then we can know truth from error. (V.18) “A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.”  It is not in the nature of the false prophet or teacher to teach truth. He always teaches deception. Commentator Michael Green notes that false prophets, even false Christians have “arrogance that alienates; an externalism that does not touch the heart; a separation between religion and life; a faith that makes no demands, or that consists in legalism; a religion that takes refuge in charismatic jargon about prophecy, or miraculous healings, or the driving out of demons, but may not even really know Jesus, and does not really do the will of the Heavenly Father.” (3) (V.19) “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”  Jesus issues a stern warning about false prophets and teachers. The end result of their lives is to perish forever with no hope of heaven. This is actually tied to Jesus’ next teaching on those who never really knew him, but we will tackle that passage next week. (V.20) “Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” With a little time and paying attention a false prophet or teacher will become apparent. Remember what James said, submit to God and resist the devil and he will flee ( James 4:7 ). Just like the man I confronted about witchcraft never returned, so too, eventually, a false teacher will flee when they learn that aren’t believed.  There are many false teachers that persist today. Prosperity gospel teachers on TV are one such example. In their case it’s the money that keeps them going. But by knowing the scriptures you can recognize them for what they really are and avoid them.  Remember the signs of a false prophet we began with. If you know these principles you will guard your heart from what is false. Let me repeat them. A false prophet’s words contradict the plain meaning of scripture. A false prophet changes the plain meaning of scripture or adds to scripture with his or her own “authoritative” writings. A false prophet’s teachings contradict those of the church at large and through history. Just like a narcissist, false prophets are unable to grasp the truth even when confronted with it. False prophets are hyper-exclusive with the claims of Christ. Like a narcissist, false prophets don’t take responsibility when their words or agenda fails.  A false prophet’s movement or organization is often gathered around one personality who becomes the defacto authority on God’s revelation. INTERPRETATION What was Jesus’ big idea for this passage?  There will always be false prophets or false teachers within the church; make yourself familiar with scripture to protect yourself and others. Jesus warned of false teachers to come. In  Mark 13:22  Jesus said, “False christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.” Paul, in fact, told us that false teachers would come. In  Acts 20:29  Paul said, “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.”  Peter issued a similar warning in  II Peter 2:1 , “There will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies.” John told us how to spot false teachers. In  I John 4:1  he said, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” How do we test for heresy?  First, know the word of God. The better you know the scripture and its doctrines the easier it will be to recognize what is false. Second, consider the characteristics of false teachers I shard with you. Once you know these things you will be properly guarded when deception comes your way. APPLICATION 1.  Be Spiritually Discerning False prophets can be deceptive, appearing outwardly harmless but inwardly destructive. Ask God for discernment to recognize and resist false teachings. Evaluate what you hear against Scripture. 2.  Examine the Fruits of Leadership A person’s true character is revealed through their actions and the outcomes of their life. Assess spiritual leaders and influences not by their words alone but by the fruit of their ministry: Does it align with God’s Word and produce righteousness? 3.  Guard Your Heart and Mind False teachings can lead to spiritual harm if not identified. Stay rooted in God’s Word and prayer to guard yourself against deception. Regularly study Scripture to develop a biblical foundation for recognizing truth. 4.  Check Your Own Life for Fruit Just as we evaluate other’s fruit, we should also examine our own lives. Are we producing good fruit that reflects Christ’s love, kindness, and obedience to God? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas for growth. 5.  Be a Healthy Tree Healthy trees bear good fruit. Stay connected to Christ, the true vine ( John 15:5 ), by maintaining a vibrant relationship with Him. Obedience to God’s Word and reliance on the Holy Spirit will result in godly fruit. 6.  Stand Firm in the Gospel False prophets often distort or undermine the gospel. Familiarize yourself with the gospel’s core truths and stand firm in them so you can discern and reject anything that contradicts God’s message. 7.  Be Prepared to Confront False Teachings When you encounter false teachings or harmful influences, speak the truth in love. Equip yourself to lovingly point others back to Scripture and the gospel of Christ. 8.  Consider the Eternal Consequences Jesus warns that those who do not bear good fruit will face judgment. Reflect on the urgency of living a Christ-centered life and sharing the gospel with others to help them avoid spiritual destruction. By applying these points, you can grow in your faith, protect yourself and others from spiritual deception, and live in a way that honors God.  ——- Youngblood, Ronald F., F. F. Bruce, and R. K. Harrison, Thomas Nelson Publishers, eds. 1995. In  Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary . Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc. Walls, David, and Max Anders. 1999.  I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude . Vol. 11. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.  Green, Michael. 2001.  The Message of Matthew: The Kingdom of Heaven . The Bible Speaks Today. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Mother Teresa said:  “The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more free you are. ” What is it that’s occupying too much of your time, your space, your thinking, your schedule? theintentionallife.com.

Today we often think of family as parents and children. Yet, in Bible times, God refers to family in terms of generations. Grandparents were powerful role models. Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Esau as well as other Bible characters, teach us the powerful impact Grandparents can have today. www.deborahhaddix.com.