obedience Archives - Focal Point Ministries

God’s Way, Not Ours–

June 1, 2025 by Jay Wertin

The Only Question that Matters

If you have ever asked the question, “What is God’s will for my life?” then you understand the most profound challenge facing believers today. But is it that difficult to understand?

Learn how God accomplishes his sacred purposes through seemingly ordinary means and what it takes on our part to truly understand what God’s will is for our lives.

Be sure to request the book God’s Way, Not Ours by Martyn Lloyd-Jones with your generous donation this month.

May 27, 2025

May 27, 2025May 27, 2025 by Mike Fabarez

Questions in this episode: – If a person, who is claiming to be a Christian, isn’t serving, giving or reading their Bible does that mean they are not saved and going to hell if they die? – How can we be discerning with all the different people who are talking and teaching about the Bible? …

April 15, 2025

April 15, 2025April 15, 2025 by Mike Fabarez

Questions in this episode: – How do I break free of my past life and truly follow Christ? – How is Jesus in the tomb for 3 days, when it doesn’t look like he spent that much time? – Is the Shroud of Turin real? – Is Christian jewelry considered idolatry? – Jesus says there …

Obedience

June 16, 2025April 7, 2025 by Mike Fabarez

At its core, the problem with sin has much less to do with the act itself, and much more to do with the fact that any commission of sin is a rebellion against God’s authority. In our pragmatic world, that is an increasingly rare perspective…

March 5, 2025

March 6, 2025March 5, 2025 by Mike Fabarez

Questions in this episode: – Are aborted babies predestined to be aborted? – In Matthew 18 where Jesus is talking about forgiveness, are you supposed to forgive even if the other party isn’t repentant? – I’m struggling to find a good church in our rural town, how do I make the best decision on which …

When the Price Tag is High

June 16, 2025November 10, 2024 Philemon 17-25

We must see the paramount importance of forgiving others always mindful of the far-reaching effects, even, or especially when it is difficult.

Remembering Your Purpose

June 16, 2025June 9, 2024 Acts 26:12-23

We must be faithful to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives by obeying the clear vocational and ministry calling for our lives.

Resurrection Credentials

June 16, 2025March 31, 2024 John 2:13-22

We’d all prefer to call the shots and be in charge of our own lives, but the resurrected Christ is King of all, including your life and mine.

The Sovereignty of God

June 16, 2025February 5, 2024 Acts 22:17-21

We must consider how God has been at work from long before we can imagine, leading us into the path he would have us obediently walk.

Who’s a Pharisee?

June 16, 2025December 7, 2023 by Mike Fabarez

When the modern Christian finds himself under conviction in a conversation that has turned into a disagreement, he can usually get quick relief from his Bible-quoting “opponent” and call checkmate on the whole dispute, simply by calling the other…

Misunderstandings & Accommodations

June 16, 2025October 8, 2023 Acts 21:17-26

Strategic accommodations and biblically allowable personal adjustments will be necessary as we face the painful misunderstandings sure to continue among God’s people, this side of heaven.

Well-Meaning but Misguided Friends

June 16, 2025October 1, 2023 Acts 21:1-16

We will have well-meaning friends who, out of love for us, will inadvertently tempt us to abandon the course of Christian obedience God has laid out for us.

When It Demands Your Life

June 16, 2025February 12, 2023 Acts 17:30-34

Biblical truth demands a response that should always be seriously pondered, quickly responded to, and never passed off lightly.

Go the Extra Mile

June 17, 2025December 25, 2022 Luke 2:15-16

We should always be quick and resolute in an obedient response to God’s word, knowing that it is always worth it.

Discerning God’s Will

June 16, 2025September 25, 2022 Acts 16:6-10

God will direct you to do what he specifically plans for you to do, as you are diligent to get to doing what he has written, and are discerning about his undeniable adjustments along the way.

Old Testament Law

June 16, 2025September 15, 2022 by Mike Fabarez

Reading through all the laws of the Old Testament can be confusing. When you do, it is important to remember that when God’s people left Egypt they left the legal system of the Egyptians and the jurisdiction of any

The Right Thing

June 16, 2025August 4, 2022 by Mike Fabarez

Obedience to Christ often comes down to whose reputation you care about the most. When God calls us to stand up for what is right, speak up for what is important, or be counted with his children the price will usually be debited from our reputation. On the other hand…

Loving God

June 16, 2025July 21, 2022 by Mike Fabarez

When the call of God on our lives and the message for us in Scripture is distilled into one line it reads like this: “Love God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.” This was the central command of Old Testament Judaism (Dt.6:5) and it was the primary imperative…

Cornelius: Reluctant Evangelists

June 16, 2025September 19, 2021 Acts 10:9-20

As with those God used to bring us to repentance and faith in Christ, we cannot let any barriers – theological or practical – get in the way of us sharing the gospel.

Calling People to Repentance

June 16, 2025May 2, 2021 Acts 8:9-13

Advancing the gospel must include a careful explanation of biblical repentance which calls everyone to a lifelong penitent submission to the King of kings.

Christ’s Triumphal Entry: The World’s Only Hope

June 16, 2025March 28, 2021 John 12:12-19

God’s Spirit is drawing people to understand his answer to this rebellious world’s problems — the person and work of his Son, Jesus Christ.

The Paganism of the People

June 16, 2025February 28, 2021 Acts 7:37-43

It is always more costly than we think to follow our wayward enticements, and to turn away from obedience to Christ’s life-giving words.

The Fruit Producing Relationship

June 16, 2025September 27, 2020 Galatians 5:25

Because God’s Spirit has graciously done so much to redeem us, save us, and give us new life, we ought to certainly give our all to know him, love him, and wholeheartedly follow his instructions for our lives.

Zeroing in on the Battle to Bear Fruit

June 16, 2025September 20, 2020 Galatians 5:24

Bearing the fruit of the Spirit is a battle that only results in real progressive victory over the desires of the flesh by those who are regenerate and actively reinforce and apply their repentance each day.

Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control

June 16, 2025September 13, 2020 Galatians 5:22-23

Getting our fallen physical and moral impulses to yield to our spiritual desires is never easy, but it is something that God’s Spirit has promised to enable us to do with increasing success as we pray for it and fight for it.

Resolved to Keep Speaking

June 16, 2025February 23, 2020 Acts 4:13-22

In view of our divine mandate to take the saving message of the gospel to our generation, we must solemnly resolve to keep speaking up for Christ regardless of the pressure to do otherwise.

Declaring the Blessings of Obedience

June 16, 2025February 2, 2020 Acts 3:22-26

As messengers of the gospel we must fully appreciate and clearly communicate, not only the eternal benefits of salvation, but also the present benefits of being a follower of Christ.

God’s Calling

June 16, 2025August 22, 2019 by Mike Fabarez

When we read of people in the Bible provoking God to anger we ought to take note – especially when the people making God mad are his own children. The last thing we should want is to follow in the erring footsteps of our elder brothers and sisters. One such cautionary incident took place on the day God called Moses to lead Israel’s exodus from Egypt.

Freedom

June 16, 2025April 25, 2019 by Mike Fabarez

The New Testament Gospel is a message of “freedom,” not from an expectation to keep the rules, but from the just and deserved penalty of our sin. All too often Christians bandy

How the Righteous Respond

June 16, 2025January 13, 2019 Luke 23:50-56

Responding rightly to Christ’s redemptive work should result in a growing love for God that produces good works, love for people, and a desire to obey the Bible’s commands.