The PursueGOD Truth Podcast PursueGOD

Mormons believe in one Prophet and 12 Apostles, and they think they've got 'em. And the priesthood is their thing to pass along to boys as young as 12 years old! But what does the Bible say?
--
The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
--
Find the official LDS Article of Faith at their website here. 
LDS:“We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.”
AC: We believe the Bible, composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is inspired, authoritative, and infallible in its original manuscripts. It is, therefore, the only complete and final authority in faith and life. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-2; John 17:17; Romans 3:4; John 20:30-31; Matt. 24:35).
LDS:“We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.”
AC: We believe in one true universal church, comprised of all who genuinely acknowledge the message of the gospel of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. This church, we believe, has many valid local expressions and denominations. God through the Holy Spirit equips every believer with spiritual gifts for the edification of the body of Christ. Mature believers recognize this and participate in God’s work alongside other followers of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:12; Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 2:19-22; Phil. 1:1; Acts 2:42; Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).
No need for apostles
Acts 1 (NLT) 21 “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus—22 from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”Judas was replaced not because he died, but because he betrayed Jesus. When James died in chapter 12, the church did not replace him.Rev 4 (NLT) 2 And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 3 The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. 4 Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads.Rev 21:(NLT) 12 The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13 There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.(IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition) Jesus had made clear the continuity...

Today we’ll look at part one of Peter’s first-ever sermon in the church age. It begins to answer the question: What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives today?
--
The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
--
Last time we saw what happened to the disciples on Pentecost:
Sound of wind, tongues of fire - representing God’s SpiritSpoke out miraculously in other languages, declaring praises of GodPeople were confused, some even mocked
Today we’ll see Peter’s response to it
How far has he come! Now he’s going to explain what’s going onPay attention to his use of scriptureJesus had earlier opened their minds to understandThen he spent 40 days before his ascension teaching themSurely this is part of his preparation But the other part: the power of the HSActs 1:8 (NLT) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…
In the next two weeks we’re going to break down Peter’s explanation
In part he was answering their question: Acts 2: (NLT) 12 They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?”Some answered: it means you’ve been drinking!Peter refutes that right awayBut more than that he was preaching the first sermon everThis was the beginning of the church ageA new era that would redefine thingsGod’s people would expand from Israel to the churchRelationship with God would now become personalPreviously corporate, mediated through leaders, priests, etc.Now personal, mediated through God the Holy Spirit - that was part of the significance of tongues of fire on them individually.
And so today, as we take the first part of Peter’s sermon, we’re going to answer this question: What’s the Role of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives Today?
He is God, so he’s always been activeBut his activity is different in our lives today compared to OT timesAnd it all started on the day of Pentecost 2000 years ago
We’ll get there in a second, but first we have to start with an OT story…
If only someday…Numbers 11:16-17 (NLT) 16 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men who are recognized as elders and leaders of Israel. Bring them to the Tabernacle to stand there with you. 17 I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.
Numbers 11:25 (NLT) 25 And the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. Then he gave the seventy elders the same Spirit that was upon Moses. And when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But this never happened again.
Numbers 11:26-28 (NLT) 26 Two men, Eldad and Medad, had stayed behind in the camp. They...

In today's episode, Bryan, Bo and KD talk through the fourth Article of Faith.
Find the official LDS Article of Faith at their website here. 
LDS:“We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
AC: We believe that Scripture affirms two ordinances in the church: water baptism and communion. Mature believers participate in both ordinances. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 8:35-39; Rom. 6:1-5; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).
--
The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
--
Mentioned in this episode:
Donate Now

Today we look at a topic that gets all kinds of Christians fired up. Is speaking in tongues biblical? If you were raised in a Pentecostal church, your answer is “yes”! If you were raised in a cessationist church, your answer is “no”! In this episode we’ll see what the Bible has to say. 
--
The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
--
First, let’s define terms. Pentecostalism: Pentecostalism is a Christian movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily within the United States. It places a strong emphasis on the direct experience of the Holy Spirit, particularly through practices such as speaking in tongues, divine healing, and prophecy. The movement takes its name from the biblical event of Pentecost, as described in the book of Acts, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples of Jesus, empowering them to speak in other languages and to proclaim the gospel.
The Azusa Street Revival - Los Angeles, California, from 1906 to 1909, at the Apostolic Faith Mission located on Azusa Street.Pentecostal vs. CharismaticAoG, Church of God, Foursquare, Calvary Chapel, Hillsong, Bethel Church, etc.
Cessationism: Cessationism is a theological position within certain Christian circles that holds that certain spiritual gifts, particularly those described in the New Testament such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, and miracles, ceased or ceased to be normative after the apostolic age or the completion of the New Testament canon.
Historical Perspective: Cessationists may point to historical evidence suggesting that the frequency of miraculous gifts decreased after the apostolic era, leading them to conclude that these gifts ceased to be normative in the life of the church.Completion of Scripture: Cessationists often argue that the purpose of miraculous gifts was to authenticate the message of the apostles and to establish the early church. With the completion of the New Testament canon, they believe that the need for such miraculous gifts diminished.Cessationism is a theological perspective rather than a denominational affiliation, so it can be found within various Christian denominations to varying degrees. However, there are certain denominations or theological traditions that tend to emphasize cessationist beliefs more strongly than others. Many Reformed churches, particularly those influenced by the teachings of John Calvin and the Westminster Confession of Faith; Some Baptist churches, etc.
Next, let’s look at ActsIn the Bible, speaking in tongues is primarily discussed in the New Testament, particularly in the book of Acts and in the letters of the Apostle Paul. Here are some key passages often cited as a biblical defense of speaking in tongues:
1. Acts 2:1-4: This passage describes the event of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples of Jesus, and they began speaking

Welcome back to the podcast, men.  The federal holiday, Juneteenth, is coming up on June 19th.  The question I want us to look at today is, “Does celebrating Juneteenth make you woke?”  Is it something I as a Christian should celebrate?  Is it something I should be suspicious of?
--
The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
--
Background on “woke”
First defined in print by William Melvin Kelly in a 1962 NY Times article. Added to Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2017 - actively attentive to important facts and issues, especially issues of racial and social justice. Woke has morphed into pushing radical ideologies, not only tolerance but acceptance and approval of sinful lifestyles and choices, using affirmative action and diversity, equity, and inclusion policies over a candidate’s performance or abilities to fill a role in a company, educational institution, or political office. Woke ideologies routinely ignore facts - biological facts - there are two genders, facts about God’s blueprint for marriage, The term is divisive, polarizing - even among Christians.  
Psalm 37:30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
Please don’t just tie how you think about this into your political affiliation.  
We’re going to have a bit of a history lesson today.  
What is it? Although Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in June of 2021, it was celebrated long before that.  The holiday commemorates the freeing of slaves in Galveston, TX two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. 
History of the holiday
Emancipation Proclamation - Executive Order January 1, 1863, all enslaved people in the states currently engaged in rebellion against the Union “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” So it only addressed those who were enslaved in the confederate states.  The E.P. freed approximately 500,000 of the estimated 3.9 million slaves in the U.S. 13th Amendment - Passed by the Senate on 4/8/1864Passed by House of Reps. 1/31/1865General Gordon Granger General Order 3 freeing slaves in Galveston and 
Celebrate FreedomIt is the only federal holiday to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S.  There is no “Emancipation Proclamation Day”, “13th Amendment Day” or “End of Civil War Day”.  Many of Israel’s festivals and celebrations had connections to the Lord freeing them from slavery in Egypt. 
Exodus 13:3-7 So Moses said to the people, “This is a day to remember forever—the day you left Egypt, the place of your slavery. Today the Lord has brought you out by the power of his mighty hand. (Remember, eat no food containing yeast.) 4 On this day in early spring, in the month of Abib,[a] you have been set free. 5 You must celebrate this event in this month each year after the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites,...

In this episode, Bryan, Bo and KD talk through the second and third Articles of Faith.
Find the official LDS Article of Faith at their website here. 
What Mormons Believe about Sin:
LDS:“We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.”
At first glance this seems much more fair than the Christian take. But as we dig deeper we see that this LDS concept creates a pattern of judgment and works based behavior/religion 
AC: We believe God created mankind in His own image. At the beginning of human history, however, man chose to disobey the sovereign God and so brought sin onto the earth. All people everywhere have since been born into this sinful nature and are subject to God’s righteous judgment: death and eternal separation from Himself. (Gen. 1:26; Gen. 3; Rom. 3:23; 6:23; Jer. 17:9; John 3:18; Eph. 2:1-3).
What Mormons Believe about Salvation:
LDS:“We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”
AC: We believe God’s plan from the beginning of time was to be in relationship with all people. Since sin makes that relationship impossible for everyone, God established a way to credit righteousness. He accepts Jesus Christ’s death on the cross as a payment for the sin of humanity. Those who repent of their sin and believe in God’s work are forgiven and restored to relationship with God. This is salvation, and it is God’s work from beginning to end, so that we are saved purely by grace. (Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; John 3:16-17; Rom. 3:24-26; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 8:1; 1 John 5:11-13; John 1:12).Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT) 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
--
The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
--
Mentioned in this episode:
Donate Now