Chris Burge Ministries' Podcast

We are living in a society that has institutionalized blame and these days, few people take responsibility for their actions. More and more, the younger generation is being taught by example that they don't have to own the consequences of their decisions. This is an extremely unfortunate and dangerous trend. Jesus taught us to take up our cross and follow Him. He wants us to live without excuses. The bible repeatedly brings up the topic of sowing and reaping; and the fact that we reap what we sow, so it's critical that we as a society embrace the causality of our actions. If not, we will all pay a very stiff price... Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

There is a common belief in many Christian circles that the only growth that matters is spiritual growth. So you wind up with Christians who know bible facts, but don't know how to balance a checkbook. (The old folks would say such people were "so spiritually minded that they're of no earthly good.") In this teaching we will look at the life of Jesus from Luke 2:52. It is clear from this passage that the Holy Spirit had a broader and more comprehensive definition of growth, and we will examine the four components He outlined. Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

One of satan’s fundamental lies is that it's too late, or too much time has passed for your to accomplish your purpose. This sentiment can be incredibly demoralizing if we accept it as fact; as the final conclusion of our lives. It's critical that we live with an awareness that God can use grace and favor to eradicate any mistake that we have ever made. If we will just trust Him, God will turn beauty into ashes, restore what the locusts have stolen, and give us a new beginning--at any stage of our lives. Come join us as we look at both bible characters and contemporary people who accomplished great things in the second half of their lives. Listen, and glean the insights they have to share.

I think that honor is one one of the most misunderstood terms in the Christian vernacular. The word literally means "to give weight or respect." In the simplest definition honor is "manifested respect." Honor is tangible. You can respect someone in private, but honoring them is done in public. In the secular world we honor people by giving awards or diplomas, or addressing certain people in a deferential manner. Unfortunately far too many Christians know how to honor a judge in the courtroom, but don't know how to honor God with their lives.

I think that honor is one one of the most misunderstood terms in the Christian vernacular. The word literally means "to give weight or respect." In the simplest definition honor is "manifested respect." Honor is tangible. You can respect someone in private, but honoring them is done in public. In the secular world we honor people by giving awards or diplomas, or addressing certain people in a deferential manner. Unfortunately far too many Christians know how to honor a judge in the courtroom, but don't know how to honor God with their lives.

Few of us realize that our greatest opportunities often exist on the other side of confronting our biggest fears. Did it ever dawn on you that if not for Goliath there would have never been a King David? How do you go from obscurity to notoriety? It happens by confronting the giant in your life. In this teaching you will acquire the tools to confront that (thing/fear/obstacle/ impediment) that you have been running from and fulfill your assignment! 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Blended families today are considered commonplace, as more people re-marry consecutive times. Inevitably, one or both spouses find themselves as step parents and have to rely on increasing amounts of wisdom as they join and blend their families. The newly wed couple is excited, but frequently the kids are left confused and even unhappy as to where they fit into the new union. Step parents need the wisdom of God to help them operate with love, diplomacy and tact to make the transition as smooth as possible for their new family.

Isaiah 43:18 says "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing.” NKJV. Sometimes in life you just need to hit the reset button. Doing something new is often challenging, because it’s different and unfamiliar, but God wants life to be an adventure. He doesn’t you stuck in a routine, mundane, or fear-filled life. Pray and ask God to help you embrace new things every day and learn to make little (or big!) changes in your life. God doesn’t want us to focus or dwell on yesterday; He wants us to have a fresh start every day.

There are 5 things we should never try to do in relationships: change; cure; control; compare; or connect with others in unhealthy ways. I believe that eighty percent of all relationship problems occur because one or more of these principles have been compromised. Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

We’ve all been hurt; everybody alive today has experienced some sort of emotional pain. But what you choose to do with the hurt is more important than the hurt itself. Each of us has to decide, and then choose to engage in the healing process so that the hurt can be addressed. If we don’t choose to let go of old hurts, and the bad things in our lives, we’ll get stuck, and ruminate endlessly about the past and remain a victim.

One of the hot topics in our culture wars today is same sex marriage. From a Christian world view we believe that same sex marriage contradicts the bible’s definition of what marriage is; the sacred union between a man and a woman. The question now is how do we respond to that contradiction? The only options appear to be: to disapprove of same-sex marriage and hate the participants; or approve of gay marriage and love the participants. I’m challenging my fellow Christians to disapprove of the lifestyle, but to love the people who are living it. This is what Jesus would do. I'm also challenging my gay brothers and sisters in the Lord to understand and believe that we still love them, even though we cannot endorse same-sex marriage.

Many of you are familiar with the adultery website Ashley Madison that was recently hacked. The hackers released 10 GB worth of data that compromised over 32 million users. Names, locations and credit cards were all disclosed. This is a case study in the collateral damage that can occur when we have secret lives. Each one of us has to ask ourselves: “What is our Ashley Madison?” What’s the little secret sin in our lives that we think no one will ever find out about, but that once exposed, can have a devastating ripple effect on every aspect of our lives, and possibly the lives of those closest to us?

Why do some children grow up and make the same mistakes as their parents? Because many folks don’t know the difference between hypocrisy and spiritual growth. Hypocrisy is when you say, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Spiritual growth is when I discover that a behavior in which I’ve engaged is displeasing to God or contrary to His law, and I stop doing it. Unfortunately, many people are walking around with secrets that they haven’t shared with the next generation because of shame. But we must be willing to be vulnerable and disclose our past mistakes/mis-steps and teach our children, by example, to follow Jesus and walk in His ways.

In my judgment one of the most misunderstood verses in the bible is: Matt 5:9 “Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called sons of God.” NKJV. Notice it says, “peace makers,” not “peace keepers”. Peace making deals with reconciliation between two estranged parties, and taking ownership for the role you played in the discrepancy. That’s the goal, but that’s not always possible, because the other person has to cooperate as well. Peace keeping has to do with not confronting something that needs to be addressed for the sake of keeping the peace, or not wanting to “rock the boat.” The inability to distinguish between “peace making” and “peace keeping” could lead to enabling evil which is something that God strongly opposes.

We all know that divorce is difficult for children. But did you know that the way parents handle the divorce in front of their kids directly correlates to how their children will adjust post-divorce? There are a host of things parents in the midst of divorce unwittingly may say or do that greatly increases their child’s stress level. Such parents are so often consumed by grief and loss themselves that they aren’t aware that their behavior not only has far-reaching negative consequences for their children, but also greatly affects the relationship between parent(s) and child. Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

We all know that divorce is difficult for children. But did you know that the way parents handle the divorce in front of their kids directly correlates to how their children will adjust post-divorce? There are a host of things parents in the midst of divorce unwittingly may say or do that greatly increases their child’s stress level. Such parents are so often consumed by grief and loss themselves that they aren’t aware that their behavior not only has far-reaching negative consequences for their children, but also greatly affects the relationship between parent(s) and child. Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

We’re tempted to worry about lots of things in life. Some fall into the category of “Circle of Control,” and these are things that we really shouldn’t worry about because they’re things that we can immediately act on and control or influence the outcome. On the other hand, there are issues in our lives that belong in the “Circle of Concern.” These are the things we can’t control; nothing we do in the natural can change the outcome, and all we can do is pray. Here’s the tricky part: satan wants us to pray over the “Circle of Control” issues and wants us to take action over the “Circle of Concern” issues. Failing to discern the difference between situations in our lives that fall into these two Circles can lead to fatigue, stress, and anxiety. Joshua 7.10-11 So the Lord said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they

With the internet, everything is so instant. We've trained ourselves to expect a response from our text message or email message the second we hit the "send" button. This has had a devastating impact on our children. Many of the qualities God wants develop in us such as character, patience, abiding in His presence are totally opposite from the impatient and disconnected mindset many children are developing. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

If you have any type of interaction with people, there will be moments of crossed signals and disagreements. One of the key abilities to possess, especially in marriage, is the ability to humble yourself and repair incidents in relationships. An apology is supposed to be motivated by love for the other person. 2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Many of us know what it means to invest. Disinvesting it to withdraw from something that does not have a future. Mathew 10.14 says "And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet." In other words, Jesus was saying "disinvest"! Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?