Life IS worth living! – Audio

SPEAKER 02 : 0:00

Let’s begin today by making life worth living. Let’s be givers more than getters. That’s our study today from the International Gospel Hour. Stay right here.

SPEAKER 01 : 0:15

Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. We’re so glad you’ve decided to listen to our program today. In a world of challenges, we need God’s Word to help us face those challenges. Thank you for joining us in this period of Bible study with our speaker, Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. So let’s listen today.

SPEAKER 02 : 0:38

Here’s Jeff. Well, greetings to all of you and thank you for being with us today here on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. On behalf of our announcer, Jay Webb, we are honored you’ve chosen to be with us and we hope that we can be of help to you today. For our new listeners, or if you’ve been with us for a while, we like to always pause and share this or serve it as a reminder that we have a number of options for your listening pleasure and Bible study. Now, you are currently listening to our daily 15-minute broadcast. It’s available five days a week, and we’re thankful for you tuning in and for the station to which you are listening. And as I say at the end of the broadcast, friends, keep listening right here on this station or platform of your choice for International Gospel Hour. Also, we have our weekly 30-minute program, and occasionally you may hear our shorter segments, Are You Listening? or 60 Seconds for the Savior, and A Couple of Minutes for Christ. We also have a weekly television broadcast via our YouTube channel, which is International Gospel Hour, and and we are on a number of over-the-air television markets throughout the world. You can find our programming options at our website, internationalgospelhour.com. Scroll down just a bit, and you will see all our programs, even our Hispanic podcast, Cristianos Fieles, with our friend and brother, Marlon Ratana, of SpanishBibleSchool.org. You can also, at our website, go up to previous shows, maybe find a broadcast that you’ve been looking for, or reach out to us and we’ll help you find it. How thankful we are for every opportunity to speak the oracles of God, 1 Peter 4, 11, and to declare the whole counsel of God, Acts 20, verse 27. Thank you once again for joining us, and stay right here where you listen to International Gospel Hour. With that being said, friends, are you dealing with something? Are you struggling? Are you depressed? You know, as of late, are you having more questions than answers? From the outset of our study, hear the words of the blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who in Matthew 11, 28-30 says, Come to me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Friends, life is worth living. And let’s make certain we are getting its worth every day. Not by what we get, but by what we give. For the worth is always greater when the investment is greater. May I place a little disclaimer here? Please know from the very outset that the International Gospel Hour is not a counselor nor license to address medical or mental needs. If you are struggling in pain or dealing with depression, please know these factors may need to be addressed with one in the medical or counseling field, respectively, who is equipped to deal specifically with your situation. We would encourage you to seek the advice of a competent professional. We will do our best to address matters of a spiritual need through our broadcast. We hope that will be of help to you. I want to defer to our J-Web, who wants to tell you a little bit more about our work at International Gospel Hour. Then let’s come back and talk about Life is Worth Living.

SPEAKER 01 : 4:19

Did you know since 1934 the IGH has been heard over the radio? We are one of the longest running weekly religious programs in the history of American radio. We are blessed to remain on the air through gracious giving of congregations of Churches of Christ, faithful Christians, and devoted friends. That’s why you will never hear us asking for money from you, our listeners. Our study material is free, always has been, always will be. Thank you for listening.

SPEAKER 02 : 4:49

Friends, life is worth living. Millions would disagree. You know, over one million people take their lives every year. There is pain, loneliness, depression, lonely living, a number of factors and things that one ponders in taking one’s life. But might we propose a different thought today? I want to try something here. Let’s adjust ourselves just a bit and place the following in our hearts. When a person realizes there is more to life than just themselves, then they begin to understand that life is worth living. One more time. When a person realizes there is more to life than just themselves, then they begin to understand that life is worth living. In Proverbs 23 and verse 7, for as he thinks in his heart, so is he. So, for the next few moments, let’s try this. Here’s the first one. Life is worth living because you can help someone. In Philippians 2, 3, and 4, let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interest, but also for the interest of others. In Romans 14 and verse 7, For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. What about Galatians 6, 2? Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Friends, seek out someone that you can encourage. I mean, where you are now, think of somebody you can encourage. You know, I found when I was in local preaching work that there were times that I would take time to go visit shut-ins, people that could not get out, nursing facilities, that seemed to help me deal with the tough day that I was having. just to spend time with them because those were individuals who could not get out and visit as they would like, but individuals that when you served them, it helped. Life is worth living, folks, because you can help someone. Maybe it’s the neighbor next door, down the hall. Someone of whom you haven’t seen in a while. Number two, life is worth living because you can live to be needed. Know, friends, that you are needed for your abilities, your talents, your worth. For everybody has that responsibility from Matthew 25, verses 14 and following to the servants with the parable of the talents. And you are needed because you can give something that is very special. There is a need that everyone can feel. You can live to be needed. What can you do to help someone? Third, life is worth living because you can be thankful and grateful. That attitude of gratitude. What about Ephesians 5.20, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ? 1 Thessalonians 5.18, in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Friend, when we live in gratitude and thankfulness, it changes our focus more on what we have and have had rather than our current circumstances. to be thankful and grateful for what we have. Here’s the fourth one. Life is worth living because you can live the life of a New Testament Christian. And that may be strange, but where there are times I speak with folks with certain struggles and challenges, it is amazing to me how little is put forth for God from their lives. You see, friends, we can hear that gospel message which brings us to our faith, Romans 10, 17. We can repent of our sins, change our decision, change our direction, Luke 13, 3 and 5. Confess our faith in Christ, Romans 10, 9 and 10, and be baptized into Christ for those sins to be washed away, Acts 22, verse 16. I’m going to pause here, friends, and we’re talking about our purpose in life and We have a very special video offering from our friend Rob Whitaker and the School of Evangelism. Here is our J-Web with that information. And I’ll be back to wrap up our broadcast. Life is worth living.

SPEAKER 01 : 9:48

What is your purpose in life, friend? Where did we come from? Your answer to these fundamental questions is greatly affected by whether you believe in God, believe the Bible is true, and believe Jesus to be divine. Through our friend and evangelist, Rob Whitaker, we offer a great online video study titled Believe the Bible. Please allow us to send you the link and check it out. Just call toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, email, and just say Believe the Bible. Again, call toll-free at 855-444-6988, and please leave your name, email, and just say, Believe the Bible. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contacts tab, and leave us the same information, name, email, and type Believe the Bible in the message blank. We will send the link right away.

SPEAKER 02 : 10:50

Friends, we hope you will view that wonderful study from our friend Rob Whitaker and use that as a tool. Friends, let’s think about these four things we mentioned. Live to help someone and your life is needed. live to be grateful, and live as a Christian. Remember, friends, when a person realizes there is more to life than just themselves, then they begin to understand that life is worth living. Dear friends, please realize there is more to life than just you. I think about a dear lady who told me recently, I lost my son, I lost my brother, and I lost my sister all within a year’s time. But I had to press onward because I’ve got a grandchild and I’ve got some great-grandchildren that I want to love and see and take care of. You see, she understands. Life is worth living. And it is. Life in Christ brings us greater worth because He found us worthy to die for us and to God be the glory. Friends, let us help you with anything we can here from International Gospel Hour 855-444-6988. And we’re going to continue these studies together at another time. Thank you always for joining me on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.

SPEAKER 01 : 12:25

Thank you for listening today. May this study prompt your search of God’s Word for His will in your life. To assist you in your study or to listen to our other programs, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. To God be the glory.