This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.Part I (00:14 – 02:26)Former President Carter’s State Funeral Today: What to Look For in the Funeral Service as Our Nation Mourns the Loss of a PresidentPart II (02:26 – 14:31)We are Witnessing the Largest and Deadliest Fire in LA County History: Absolute Devastation to Human Lives and Civilization as Fires Rip Through Southern CaliforniaFish at center of key conservation fight not a distinct species after all by YaleNews (Mike Cummings)Part III (14:31 – 24:36)Meta Drops Fact-Checking: Mark Zuckerberg Announces Significant Change to Censorship Policies Across Meta’s Social Media PlatformsMark Zuckerberg says ending fact-checks will curb censorship. Fact-checkers say he’s wrong. by CBS News (Kate Gibson)Part IV (24:36 – 27:15)A Single Bluefin Tuna Just Sold for $1.3 Million in Japan – That’s A Lot of SushiTuna weighing as much as a grizzly bear sells for $1.3 million in Japan by The Washington Post (Leo Sands)Sign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.Part I (00:13 – 12:18)Sorry It Happened? : Azerbaijan Furious that Putin Refuses to Admit Russian Military Attacked Airliner on Christmas DayPart II (12:18 – 21:54)Biology is Not Bigotry—Amen: Prominent Evolutionary Scientist Causes Controversy by Denying a “Trans Woman” is a WomanFreedom from Religion Foundation dissolves honorary board in spat over trans issues by Religion News Service (Yonat Shimron)Biology is not bigotry by Freedom From Religion Foundation (Jerry Coyne)What is a woman? by Freethought Now (Kat Grant)Part III (21:54 – 25:05)The Trans Prisoner Experiment That Didn’t Last: Washington Moves Trans Woman Back to Men’s Prison – For Obvious Reasons (To Most of Us)Sign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.

Peter denied Jesus by declaring, “I do not know the man.” That’s exactly what Christ calls us to do to our old lives when He commands us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. Today, Barry Cooper invites us to count the cost of being Jesus’ disciples. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/simply-put/disciple/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.Part I (00:13 – 15:56)Canada’s Liberal Prime Minister Is Out: Justin Trudeau Announces Resignation as He and His Party Faced Electoral DisasterPart II (15:56 – 23:33)Florida, New York, and the ‘Flailing Left’: What the Juxtaposition of the Two States Reveals about the Crisis of Progressive GovernmentThe crisis of democracy is really a crisis for the left by The Washington Post (Fareed Zakaria)Part III (23:33 – 26:41)A Political Controversy from a Cartoonist? The Washington Post Refuses to Run Cartoon of Bezos Bowing to Trump – But Bezos Owns The PostSign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.Part I (00:13 – 14:47)The Threat of Terrorism on American Streets: A Deadly Domestic Terrorist Attack in New Orleans and a Car Bomb Outside Trump Hotel in Las Vegas — Both on New Year’s DaySpecial Edition of The Briefing: Former President Jimmy Carter Dies at 100 by AlbertMohler.com (R. Albert Mohler, Jr.)Part II (14:47 – 23:28)Speaker Johnson Wins Re-Election, But Is His Victory Fragile? Republicans Stay the Course After Dramatic VotePart III (23:28 – 26:43)The Death of Florida’s 23-Day Governor: Buddy MacKay Dies at 91Sign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.

“If my God preserves you, and preserve you he must, or else you are not his; if he will keep you, and keep you he will if you have committed your souls to his faithful guardianship, that an honor awaits you!” These words by Charles Spurgeon perfectly summarize the objective promise for every believer in Christ.
God has promised that every Christian will finish this life clinging to Christ. He has done all the work necessary to fulfill this promise and will see it to completion. Yet this doesn’t mean we are without responsibility. We must press on, fight, and run forward. We must run the race set before us. We can do so confidently, knowing He will make our efforts effective.
This week Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James continue our discussion from last week about how our union with Jesus Christ should quicken our spiritual pace in 2025 and beyond. We pray this becomes a watershed year for you—one where you can look back and see that you made greater use of God’s means of grace than in 2024, continuing this pattern in the years ahead.
Show Notes:
John 10:28
John 6:35-40
Matthew 10:22
Matthew 14:10-14
Romans 11:22
Colossians 1:21-23
Revelation 2:7
Revelation 2:11
Revelation 2:17
Revelation 2:26
Revelation 3:5
Revelation 3:12
Revelation 3:21
1 John 5:4
Philippians 1:6 and 2:12-13
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Nothing is hidden from the mind of God—past, present, or future—so nothing can surprise or confuse Him. Today, Barry Cooper introduces us to God’s attribute of omniscience. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/simply-put/omniscience/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.Part I (00:13 – 04:54)Special Edition of The Briefing: Former President Jimmy Carter Dies at 100Happy birthday, Mr. President: Jimmy Carter celebrates his 100th birthday by WORLD Opinions (R. Albert Mohler, Jr.)Part II (04:54 – 21:57)A Life on the World Stage: The Political Career of Former President Jimmy CarterPart III (21:57 – 29:20)Jimmy Carter’s Understanding of Biblical Authority, the Southern Baptist Convention, and Evangelical IdentityThe Bible Meets the Modern Age: A Conversation with Former President Jimmy Carter by Thinking in Public (R. Albert Mohler, Jr. and Former President Jimmy Carter)Part IV (29:20 – 32:15)The Evangelical Opposition to Jimmy Carter: The Progressivist Views Held by the Former President Set Him at Odds with EvangelicalsSign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.

Last week we mentioned a new series with Teddy James and Jeremy Walker. This week we decided to postpone that series because Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James recorded a two-episode series for the conclusion of 2024 and beginning of 2025. John and Acey Floyd recorded a series focusing on Union with Christ several months ago. As we said during those episodes, there was much more we could say on the topic, and so we wanted to revisit it with a particular emphasis on looking ahead to a new year.
Likely everyone has heard the adage “Once saved, always saved.” While that is a true statement, it is also incomplete and far too small to truly convey the depth of finishing this life united to Christ. But one of the biggest problems with that statement is that it leaves no room and no application for the warnings of Scripture. It also leaves large questions for those who apostatize from the faith. This is dangerous for every Christian because it means we will miss what God is saying in those passages, and it could cause us to finish slowly and poorly.
To help us think about finishing well, John and Teddy discuss what faith is, what apostasy is, and why understanding those things is crucial to living a life and dying a death close to Christ.
Show Notes:
Scriptures mentioned:
Hebrews 3:12-4:2
Hebrews 6:4-8
Hebrews 10:26-39
2 Peter 2:30-21
The story of Alexander:
2 Timothy 4:14-15
1 Timothy 1:19-20
Acts 19:29-34
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Some Christians seem to think that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given only to some believers. But the whole sweep of Scripture points in the opposite direction. Today, Barry Cooper discusses how God has empowered all of His people for ministry. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/simply-put/the-gifts-of-the-spirit/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts