The PursueGOD Truth Podcast PursueGOD

Some churches claim to have prophets who speak authoritatively for God. But is that really a thing anymore? If not, how do we hear from God? 
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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.
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Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
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Does God Still Speak Through Prophets?
Let’s start with a passage that seems to answer the question:
Ephesians 4:11 (NLT) Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
Seems clear, right? Prophets are still a thing.So the churches that claim to have prophets and apostles are the most biblical churches? Not so fast. Let’s look into this…
Prophets in the OT
Prophets in the OT were not mere fortune-tellers but messengers chosen by God to guide, comfort, and ultimately call people back to God. 
Exodus 3:9-10 (NLT) “Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”Ezekiel 2:3-5 (NLT) “Son of man,” he said, “I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day. They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says!’ And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for remember, they are rebels—at least they will know they have had a prophet among them.Hosea 1:2 (NLT) When the LORD first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the LORD and worshiping other gods.”Jonah 1:1-2 (NLT) The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.”
Prophets in the NT
In the NT the Holy Spirit was given to every believer, and this caused prophecy to take on a whole new meaning and purpose. 
Acts 2:17-18 (NLT) ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy.(Pillar New Testament Commentary) Whereas the Spirit especially designated and empowered the prophets and other leaders of Israel under the Old Covenant, God promises that all his people will be possessed by the Spirit in the last days.(Pillar New Testament Commentary) The expectation from 2:17-18 is that all believers under the New Covenant would 'prophesy' (prophēteusousin), and so share to some extent in the prophetic role (cf. 19:6). However, it is clear that some

In this episode, Bryan, Bo and KD explore the differences between the Bible and the Book of Mormon, focusing on textual and historical evidence. They discuss how the Book of Mormon lacks archaeological evidence and contains anachronisms, while the Bible has extensive evidence supporting its accuracy and reliability. They emphasize that the Bible tells one unified story, written by multiple authors over 1500 years, yet remaining consistent. They also address the reliability of Bible translations, explaining that translations are accurate and reliable, and the Joseph Smith Translation cannot be considered a true translation. They conclude by highlighting the power and inspiration of the Bible as the Word of God.
Takeaways:
Mormons believe the Bible is the word of God, but it is not infallible and has errors.The Bible is ranked below the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price in Mormon canon.Christians believe in the verbal plenary inspiration of the Bible, meaning that divine inspiration extends to the very words themselves and all parts of the Bible.The Book of Mormon lacks archaeological evidence and contains anachronisms, while the Bible has extensive evidence supporting its accuracy and reliability.The Bible tells one unified story, written by multiple authors over 1500 years, yet remaining consistent.Translations of the Bible are accurate and reliable, and the Joseph Smith Translation cannot be considered a true translation.The Bible is the Word of God and can be trusted.
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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.
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Why do so many churches and Christians make such a big deal of the Bible? Isn’t it just an out-dated, irrelevant piece of ancient literature? Shouldn’t we keep it on the shelf and use more modern books to teach us how to live? These are the questions we’ll explore today.
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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.
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before we examine the Bible, let’s start with some fun trivia about all those other books on the shelf…
10 notable best-selling books of all time:
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss - 10.5 millionThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain - 20 millionThe Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - 29 millionTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - 40 millionThe Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle - 43 millionPurpose Driven Life by Rick Warren - 50 millionThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis - over 85 millionHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling - 120 millionA Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - Over 200 million  Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes - Over 500 million
Top three best-selling books of all time:
The Quran - Estimated 800 million copies sold and distributed.Quotations from the Works of Mao Tse-tung - Over 900 million copies sold.The Bible - Estimated 5 billion copies sold and distributed.
So, back to the question we’ll unbox today:
Q. Is the Bible Just Another Book?
Think about how all of those other books were written: 
All of those other books were the product of one or more clever mindsThey all followed a similar process:Come up with the conceptCreate a storyline, characters, etc.Do some research if needed for accuracy Write and re-writeMy favorite book on the topic: “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser“Simplify, simplify.”“There’s no minimum length for a sentence that’s acceptable in the eyes of God.”“Writers must constantly ask: what am I trying to say? Surprisingly often they don’t know.”"Ultimately the product any writer has to sell is not the subject being written about, but who he or she is."
But this is what separates the Bible from every other book: it is not the product of one person’s ideas or creativity. Nobody had to dream up the storyline or characters, and no one had to read “On Writing Well” to turn out the best chapters and verses. The Bible, Christians believe, is unique because it alone was inspired by God. Here’s how Paul explained it to Timothy:
2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT) All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
See Where Did We Get...

In this conversation, Bryan, Bo and KD discuss the question of whether there is only one true church, specifically focusing on the Mormon Church. They explore the concept of a testimony in Mormonism and how it differs from the Christian understanding of a testimony. They also discuss the idea of the church as an organization, denomination, or building, and explain that the biblical definition of the church is the assembly of called out believers in Jesus. They conclude that while there may not be one true church in the sense of a specific institution or denomination, there is a capital C church that includes all true believers in Jesus throughout history.
Takeaways:
Mormons believe that the Mormon Church is the one true church, and this belief is ingrained from a young age.The biblical definition of the church is the assembly of called out believers in Jesus, and it is not limited to a specific organization, denomination, or building.A testimony in Mormonism is a memorized statement that focuses on the prophet, the church, and sometimes the family, rather than on Jesus.While Mormonism as an institution is not part of the one true church, individuals within the Mormon church can still have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.Core doctrines such as belief in the Bible, the Trinity, the deity of Jesus, salvation by faith, and life after death are important in determining if a church is part of the one true church.
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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.
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Notes
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Several religions claim to be the one true church or the exclusive path to heaven. But what does the Bible say? Is there only one true church? And if not, do all roads lead to heaven? These are the questions we’ll explore today.
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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.
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Q. Is there only one true church?
Definitions
Let’s start by defining terms. Before we answer the question about whether or not there is one true church, we need to make sure we understand what the “church” is and what it isn’t. 
The church is not a building.  You might say, “I’ll meet you at the church.” or “Our men’s group meets at the church.” But the building itself is not the church. The church isn’t an organization.The church isn’t a denomination. Ex: Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Assemblies of God
Southern Baptist Convention (SBC): The largest Baptist denomination in the United StatesAmerican Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA): with a more moderate theological stance compared to the SBC.Conservative Baptist Association of America (CBAA)National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. (NBCUSA): One of the oldest and largest African-American Baptist denominations in the United States, known for its emphasis on social justice and missions.National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. (NBCA) Baptist Union of Great Britain Canadian Baptists of Western Canada Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) National Baptist Convention of Nigeria (NBCN)General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC)
Estimating the exact number of Christian denominations is challenging due to various factors, including differing criteria for what constitutes a denomination and the existence of many small, independent churches. However, scholars and religious experts often cite figures ranging from 30,000 to 40,000 Christian denominations worldwide!!
From Sys Theo, Lesson 10: 
The church is neither a building nor an organization. It is a people, the community of all those who stand in a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Ekklesia - assembly of the called out ones - called out by the proclamation of the gospel to gather around Christ.  
John 10:9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.
So, back to our question: Is there only one true church?
Answer: 
NO – in the sense that there’s only one institution/denomination that gets it right
YES – in the “C” sense of the global community of true believers in the basic Bible message
John 17:20-21 (NLT) “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you...

Almost every world religion offers a pathway to heaven through good works and personal efforts. Some even include a list of sacraments: Holy rituals by which a person can merit salvation. But Christianity is different. According to the Bible, there’s only one way to know if you’re good enough for God, and it has nothing to do with what you can do.
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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.
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Before we look at what the Bible says, let’s do a quick survey of a few popular world religions…
Hinduism: Hinduism does not have a singular concept of salvation but rather multiple paths (yogas) that lead to spiritual liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara). These paths include devotion (bhakti), knowledge (jnana), and selfless action (karma yoga), among others. Salvation is achieved when an individual realizes their true self (atman) as one with the ultimate reality (Brahman). (Liberation depends on YOU.)
Buddhism: Salvation in Buddhism is the cessation of suffering and the cycle of rebirth, achieved through the elimination of desire and ignorance. In Buddhism, the goal is to attain enlightenment (nirvana) by following the Noble Eightfold Path, which includes principles such as right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. (Nirvana depends on YOU.)
Islam: In Islam, the plan of salvation involves belief in the oneness of God (Allah) and the prophethood of Muhammad. Muslims believe in living a righteous life according to the teachings of the Quran and the Hadith (sayings of Muhammad). Salvation is achieved through faith, repentance, and good deeds, with the ultimate reward being entry into paradise. Salvation in Islam is not guaranteed solely by faith or deeds but is ultimately dependent on the mercy and judgment of Allah. Muslims strive to live a life that is pleasing to Allah and to follow the teachings of Islam in the hope of attaining salvation in the afterlife. (Paradise depends on YOU.)
(Note: similarity with Mormonism. “Saved by grace after all we can do.”) - Don’t include this in sermon!
TRANS: So what does Christianity teach? To find that answer we need to look at one more world religion: Judaism. Jesus was Jewish. Christianity came out of Judaism. Understanding the link between those two religions, and specifically the key difference between them, will give us the insight we need to answer our question today. Let’s start with the words of Jesus from his famous Sermon on the Mount:
PerfectionMatthew 5:17 (NLT) “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.”
When Jesus talks about “the law and the prophets” he’s referring to Judaism. Here’s Judaism in a nutshell:
God chose Abraham and made him some promises (Gen 12)God gave the...