YOU Podcast Lifeway Christian Resources

“Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5).







Humility is an attribute of Christ, and it’s an attribute that He wants us to have. But for many believers, acquisition of humility is not easy. We live in a world that is controlled by strong attitudes of pride and where the ambitions of many people are to take what they want without regard for others. This is the world’s definition of “inherit the earth,” but it’s not what Jesus meant. This prideful cultural attitude is driven by a “me” generation of people that look out for themselves. Unfortunately, this attitude sometimes seeps into the church and into the hearts of Christians.







God loves us and wants to send a revival thatwould heal our land.”







The upside-down, prideful attitudes of the world have no place in our hearts and our lives. Through King Solomon, God gave this same message to the Israelites. Prideful attitudes had caused them to choose the waywardness of the world. This led to suffering and distress. God’s solution was for the people to return to Him in repentance and humility, so that He could extend His blessings. This is a lesson that we can learn to lead.

No matter our age or status, rules are a part of life. Most of us as children likely had to hold a parent’s hand when we walked across the street or through parking lot. Our parents had rules for us because they wanted to keep us safe. At the time, we probably thought of the rules as limiting our freedom. Some of us broke the rules in rebellion, while others waited it out until reaching an age where that rule no longer applied.







Many aspects of our lives come with rules. The places we work have procedures to follow. We have traffic laws that tell us how fast we can drive on roads, when we need to stop, and more. Sports in which we engage, such as basketball, football, and volleyball also have rules.







People sometimes question certain rules and their relevance, but they still obey them because they know they must. If we’re honest with ourselves, we probably consider some of life’s rules a bit restrictive or even irrelevant.







God intends His commands for our blessing, and when we obey them, we experience life to the fullest, as it is meant to be.”







Similarly, when it comes to one’s relationship with God, many people view His commands as confining, obsolete, or as mere suggestions. However, God intends His commands for our blessing, and when we obey them, we experience life to the fullest, as it is meant to be.

Study or visualize the sinks you have in the rooms of your home. Connected to the sinks there are pipes, faucets, and hoses. Considering these fixtures, what do they all have in common? Yes, they help to bring water into our living environment.







Someone might ask, “Which of these items is most important?” Well, from one perspective, they’re all important. Without any one of them, the water doesn’t make it into the sink. Yet, the water is what’s most important; the other items only create a means through which the water can flow.







God’s plan of salvation included Abraham and his descendants—ultimately the nation of Israel—as His spiritual vessel. God professed that Abraham would be the “father of many nations” to include kings (Gen. 17:4-6) and ultimately the King of Kings. Through this bloodline, God would bring a Savior, Jesus, and through Jesus, God would bring hope and reconciliation to the whole world.







God promised to bless all people through His chosen people.”







In essence, God promised to bless all people through His chosen people.







The book of Genesis records how God promised Abraham that through him, blessing would come to the world. Today’s session features Bible verses important to laying the foundation for God’s purpose and plan.

Can you name a “new beginning” in your life—a time when you started over in some way?







Sometimes new beginnings come when we move to a new place. Others experience a new beginning after graduation from college, when they marry, or take a new job. These new beginnings often bring excitement and great anticipation. Other new beginnings tend not to bring joy. The death of a family member, a failed marriage, an unexpected medical diagnosis, or even a natural disaster can leave us sad and devastated.







New beginnings, whether we view them as good or bad, are transitions. We all face various transitions in our lives at some point, but God will give us the grace to move forward in these transitions, no matter our circumstances.







God will give us the grace to move forward in transitions, no matter our circumstances.”







The Book of Genesis records how God judged the world through a great flood, but through Noah and his extended family, God preserved His creation and provided a fresh start. God’s instruction to Noah reinforces for us God’s continued care for His creation. He reaffirmed His covenant with humanity, affirmed the value of human life, and promised to preserve His creation.

God created you on purpose for a purpose. Think for a few moments about the implications of that statement. What if life does have purpose? What if I have a purpose, a specific purpose? What if there truly is a God who has created me to fulfill His purpose, and if so, what is that purpose? People have responded to questions like these in various ways:









* “Life has no lasting purpose, so I’m just doing me.”







* “I’m going to devote myself to a particular purpose to make the world a better place.”







* “My purpose is my ministry. It is a calling from God, and I find joy in doing His will.”









I once heard someone say, “Many people spend more time planning their vacations than they spend planning their lives.” Indeed, some individuals arrive at the end of life disappointed they didn’t live more purposeful lives. They regret missed opportunities.







“Most people spend more time planning a one-week vacation than they spend planning their life.”Michael Hyatt







In the book of Genesis, we read the biblical perspective on God’s purpose for humanity. God created us in His image and gave us dominion over all the earth and everything in it. Although sin has marred God’s image in us, His purpose for us remains. Oh, what a blessing it is that we can represent God and His purposes on earth!

With the annual charity drive in full swing, a university representative reached out to fellow alumni. One conversation sounded like this:







“Good evening. Our records indicate that you haven’t yet contributed to our “Building the Legacy” fund. This year, we’d like to provide more scholarships to help more brothers and sisters achieve their dream of going to college. Would you like to give today?”







Without hesitation, the man replied, “Brother, I have a family to take care of. We just rebounded from the pandemic, and between the wife, kids, and bills, I don’t have the extra to give.”







To put it mildly, generosity is a stretch for some of us! It doesn’t flow naturally from our hearts, even for believers. Though giving is a delicate subject, God’s Word puts a great deal of importance on it.”







“I get it,” the alumni rep stated. “Family first. No worries. We’ll reach out again next year.”







With a shrug, the man replied, “Honestly, even if I have it, I probably won’t give it. I have to look out for me and mine. If I don’t, who will?”







To put it mildly, generosity is a stretch for some of us! It doesn’t flow naturally from our hearts, even for believers. Though giving is a delicate subject, God’s Word puts a great deal of importance on it. Let’s look at a powerful passage that has some practical insights to grow in generosity!