This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.Part I (00:13 – 10:40)To Preserve, to Protect, and to Defend the Constitution: Today is Inauguration Day in the United StatesPart II (10:40 – 17:19)The Historic Legacy of Joe Biden: Joe Biden’s Long Political Career Beginning as Senator in 1972 and Ending as President in 2025Part III (17:19 – 25:32)Controversial Decisions and Cognitive Decline: President Biden’s Final Months in OfficeSign 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 – 10:22)Age-Verification for Pornography Goes Before SCOTUS: SCOTUS Hears Consequential Oral Arguments on Texas Porn Case – What Wasn’t Said is Just as Important as What Was SaidFree Speech Coalition v. Paxton by The Supreme Court of the United StatesPart II (10:22 – 11:28)Limiting Porn Access is a Major Parental Responsibility: Christian Parents, We Cannot Entrust the Government to Limit Porn Access in Our FamiliesPart III (11:28 – 15:30)What Comfort is There for the Christian When an Unsaved Loved One Dies? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners to The BriefingPart IV (15:30 – 17:05)Would Samson Have Lost His Supernatural Power If He Had Broken His Nazarite Vow By Drinking Alcohol? — Dr. Mohler Responds to a Letter from a 6-Year-Old Listener to The BriefingPart V (17:05 – 18:56)How Should My Husband and I Approach Our Children’s Social Media Access? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners to The BriefingPart VI (18:56 – 23:03)Will the Republican Party Ever Return to its Former Policies? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners to The BriefingPart VII (23:03 – 28:19)What is Voluntarism? How Does It Fit Within Scripture? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners to The BriefingSign 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 Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James introduced our new series that will, by the grace of God, help us walk closer to Jesus in 2025 than we did in 2024. We will spend a great deal of time focusing on that sweet command to “look unto Christ.”This week we are still getting help from Isaac Ambrose’s book “Looking Unto Christ” (details on the giveaway linked below).
In order to look toward an object, we must first look away from all other objects. Imagine a groom who sees his bride walking down the aisle. There are many people in the church with them, but his eyes are fixed on one. That is how the Christian life should be. There are many things in our lives, but our focus should be on the one thing needful.
In this week’s episode, John and Teddy dive into a bit of Greek language in Hebrews 12:1-2, hence the odd title of this episode. Your English translation of Scripture may say “fixing our eyes on Jesus,” “looking to Jesus,” or “looking only at Jesus.” But there is a nuance in the Greek term apherontes eis that is hard to convey. The literal translation is away from look toward. So the writer of Hebrews is telling us that in order to look to Christ, we must first look away from every other thing in life.
We pray this episode helps you identify the things in your life you have been looking to for hope, comfort, and help that are not Christ, so that you may look to Christ alone.

If you are interested, you can sign up here:
https://www.mediagratiae.org/the-whole-counsel-giveaway
Show Notes:
John’s Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-aPhM2DO4k
Sign up to win a copy of Looking Unto Jesus here: https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/looking-unto-jesus-ambrose.html
See our previous episodes where we mentioned Looking Unto Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLLiw_Xqa08
Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts
You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.Part I (00:13 – 10:50)President Biden’s Farewell Address: President Warns Against What He Called the “Tech-Industry Complex” and an “Oligarchy”In exclusive sit-down, Biden reveals his biggest regret and the compliment Trump gave him by USA Today (Susan Page)Part II (10:50 – 17:41)The Ceasefire Between Israel and Hamas: Agreement is Tentatively Reached in the Middle EastPart III (17:41 – 21:23)Cuba Off the State-Sponsored Terrorism List, For Now: President Biden Removes Cuba From Important ListPart IV (21:23 – 24:32)Starbucks is No Longer a Third Place: Famous Seattle Coffee Shop Chain is Changing One of Its Major Business PoliciesSign 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 – 08:04)Advice and Consent: Why Do Some Presidential Appointees Require Senate Confirmation?Part II (08:04 – 19:27)Pete Hegseth’s Confirmation Hearing: The Defense Hearing of Trump’s Choice as Secretary of Defense Gets Interesting FastPart III (19:27 – 23:55)The Disappearing Middle of American Media Consumption: The Major Shift of Viewership From Older Media to Social Media InfluencersPart IV (23:55 – 25:33)A Look at the Adversary Press: The Media in Disagreement with Leadership in the White House Tends to Grow Its Base in Its OppositionPart V (25:33 – 28:16)The Left is Lawyering Up: President-Elect Trump is Not Afraid to Sue for Defamation, and It’s Destabilizing Liberal MediaNews Outlets Take Unusual Steps to Prepare for Onslaught From Trump by The New York Times (David Enrich and Katie Robertson)New York Times v. Sullivan by The Supreme Court of the United StatesSign 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.

The central “spine” of the Bible can be described in a single word: covenant. Today, Barry Cooper expounds on these recurring agreements, pledges, and vows that culminate in the promised arrival of Christ Himself. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/simply-put/covenant/ 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 – 09:53)SCOTUS Seems Poised to Uphold TikTok Ban: SCOTUS Could Settle the Issue This Week, But Will President Trump Unsettle It Once Again?TikTok v. Garland by The United States Supreme CourtPart II (09:53 – 15:53)Lotteries are a Tax on the Poor: There is a Great Moral Cost to the Lottery, and the Lottery Preys on the PoorCenturies of good and evil: The lottery turns 456 years old by USA Today (Karissa Waddick)Part III (15:53 – 20:54)Young Men are Increasingly Addicted to Gambling: Gambling Companies are Targeting Young Men with Online Sports GamingFor a new generation of kids, sports and gambling now go hand in glove by The Washington Post (The Editorial Board)Part IV (20:54 – 24:16)Nursing Mothers are Saving Lives: God’s Design in Motherhood is an Imperative to Optimize Breastfeeding for MothersA Low-Tech Way to Save Babies’ Lives by The New York Times (Nicholas Kristof)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 – 06:14)The LA Fires are Shaping Up to Be the Costliest Natural Disaster in U.S. History – And the Political Fires Are Just Getting StartedPart II (06:14 – 10:37)President Biden’s USA Today Interview: The President’s Cognitive Decline was on Display in the Interview – So What Will He Do in His Final Week as President?In exclusive sit-down, Biden reveals his biggest regret and the compliment Trump gave him by USA Today (Susan Page)Part III (10:37 – 14:05)The Commendation of One Inconsistent Catholic to Another: President Biden Awards Medal of Freedom with Distinction to Pope FrancisPart IV (14:05 – 15:55)The Pope Appoints Liberal Archbishop to DC: Watch as Legislation and Legislators Move Left as a ResultPart V (15:55 – 19:31)The Vatican’s New Guidelines Opens Door for Homosexual Priests: The New Guidelines Reveal Identity Politics Plus Moral and Theological IssuesSign 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 – 18:06)In the National Cathedral: The State Funeral of Former President Jimmy CarterPart II (18:06 – 19:11)The Fires in LA Still Burn Out of Control – We are Praying for All Endangered by the Historic Fires in LAPart III (19:11 – 21:29)Why is the Resurrection Essential to the Christian Faith? – Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners to The BriefingPart IV (21:29 – 24:22)The Bible’s Narratives About the Death of Animals Shocks My 7-Year-Old Son. How Do We Faithfully Bring the Word to Him? – Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners to The BriefingPart V (24:22 – 28:20)What Does the Bible Say About Dragons and Dinosaurs? – Dr. Mohler Responds to a Letter from a 9-Year-Old Listeners to The BriefingSign 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.

Even the sweetest commands from our King are still commands. We may be tempted to view commands such as “Do not kill” as more weighty than the command “Look unto Christ.” But both are spoken from the same authority, God himself. Therefore, they are worthy of the same attention, effort, and obedience.
For the next few weeks, we will be discussing the command to look unto Jesus. There are several passages that state this command, each in a different way. But it is a theme of both the Old and the New Testaments. For this week’s episode, Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James are getting help from a journal entry written in 1773 by John Newton. Many of you will know Newton as the author of “Amazing Grace,” among other hymns. But the particular journal entry we are resourcing in this week’s episode reads:
This is the Ninth New Years day I have seen in this place. I have reason to say, The Lord crowneth every year with his goodness. The entrance of this finds me and my _ [dear Mary] in health and peace. I am still favoured with strength, and with some liberty for my public work and hope the Lord is still pleased to work by me, for the edification of his people already called, and the awakening of sinners. As to myself, It is given me to trust in the Lord Jesus for life and salvation – I know he is both willing and able to save. Upon him as an All-sufficient Saviour and upon his word of promise I build my hope, believing that he will not suffer me to be put to shame. My exercise of grace is faint, my consolations small, my heart is full of evil, my chief sensible burdens are, a wild ungoverned imagination, and a strange sinful backwardness to reading the Scriptures, and, to secret prayer. These have been my complaints for many years, and I have no less cause of complaint than formerly. But my eye and my heart is to Jesus. His I am, him I desire to serve, to him I this day would devote and surrender myself anew. O Lord, accept, support, protect, teach, comfort and bless me. Be thou my Arm, my Eye, my Joy and my Salvation. Mortify the power of sin, and increase the image of thy holiness in my heart. Anoint me with fresh oil, make me humble, faithful, diligent and obedient. Let me in all things attend to thy word as my rule, to thy glory as my end, and depend upon thy power and promise for safety and success. I am now in the 49th year of my age, and may expect in the course of a few years at most to go whence I shall no more return, nor have I a certainty of continuing here a single year or even a month or a day. May thy grace keep me always waiting till my appointed change shall come, and when the summons shall come may I be enabled to rejoice in thee, as the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
For the rest of this podcast series, we will be getting help from the first few chapters of Looking Unto Jesus by Isaac Ambrose. This 17th-century book was written after a prolonged illness and has been helping Christians gaze at the surpassing beauty of Jesus Christ for over 400 years.
Looking Unto Jesus was out of print for some time, but we were happy to find it available for sale again. We were so happy, in fact, that we bought two copies to give away at the end of this series. If you would like to be entered to win a copy, you can join the Media Gratiae email list. Our email subscribers get two emails a week: the first is a devotional thought from trustworthy writers and sometimes our own studies, and the other email highlights the podcast content we are publishing that week. If you are interested, you can sign up here:
https://www.mediagratiae.org/the-whole-counsel-giveaway
Show Notes:
Sign up to win a copy of Looking Unto Jesus here: https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/looking-unto-jesus-ambrose.html
See our previous episodes where we mentioned Looking Unto Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLLiw_Xqa08
Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts
You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app