How to Avoid Religious Hypocrisy

The Rich Young Ruler: What Are You Holding Onto?We all have something we’re clutching that we don’t want to let go of. In this episode, we break down the story of the rich young ruler from Mark 10 and explore what it really means to surrender to Christ.A young man runs to Jesus asking, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He’s moral, religious, and doing everything right. But Jesus looks at him with love and puts his finger on the one thing standing between him and the kingdom—his wealth. The man walks away sad.Using the illustration of a monkey trap, we unpack how we’re just like this young ruler. We hold onto things (wealth, status, comfort, acceptance, desire) thinking they’ll save us, when Jesus is calling us to simply let go and experience the freedom that’s already ours in Him.Key Points:* Why Jesus challenges our self-righteousness* The one thing we all lack: faith* How idols are good things that become ultimate things* Why surrender is easier when we see what Christ did for us* What it means that eternal life starts now, not laterThis isn’t just about rich people—it’s about all of us and what we’re trusting in for salvation, security, and satisfaction.After the Amen segment: We share what we’re personally holding onto and challenge you to identify yours.💬 COMMENT BELOW: What is something you’re holding onto that you need to surrender?Support this ministry: amenpodcast.comVenmo: @amenpodcast | Cash App: $amenalex Get full access to Amen Podcast at amenpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Here’s a simple podcast description:Why We Deny Jesus (And How to Stop) | Matthew 26:69-75Peter denied Jesus three times in one night. A teenager cursed Jesus for $1,000. And if we’re honest, we deny Him too—for a smile, for acceptance, for FOMO, or just to fit in.In this episode, we break down Matthew 26:69-75 and uncover three things: why we deny Jesus, the problem it creates (self-deception), and how to stop.The truth is, when you deny Him, you’re not fooling anyone but yourself. Your new identity in Christ will always show—just like Peter’s accent gave him away that night.But here’s the good news: God’s grip on you is infinitely stronger than your grip on Him. When you fall, you grieve with hope, knowing nothing can separate you from His love.Let’s stop blending in with the world and start living like heaven is our homeamenpodcast.com Get full access to Amen Podcast at amenpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In this message, we explore one of the most powerful moments in Scripture: Jesus standing before His accusers in complete silence. While false witnesses lied about Him, while they spit on Him and beat Him, Jesus said nothing. His silence wasn’t weakness—it was strength, trust, and love.We live in a world that tells us to defend ourselves, to speak up, to fight back. But what if God is calling you to be still? What if the most powerful thing you could do right now is trust Him to fight for you?In this episode, we unpack Matthew 26:57-67 and discover why Jesus was silent, why being still is so hard for us, and how we can find the power to be still in our own lives. From the Israelites at the Red Sea to Jesus before the Sanhedrin, we see a consistent theme: the Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.This message will challenge you to examine your own heart. When are you speaking when you should be still? What are you trying to control that you need to surrender? And how can you find healing by letting go and trusting God’s timing?Join us as we learn what it means to truly be still and know that He is God.Support the Amen Podcast at amenpodcast.com Get full access to Amen Podcast at amenpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Ever wondered what Jesus was really facing in the Garden of Gethsemane? It wasn’t just death—it was something infinitely heavier. In this powerful Bible study, we walk through Matthew 26:36-56, exploring Jesus’s darkest hour and the moment Judas betrayed him with a kiss.What You’ll Discover:* Why Jesus sweat drops of blood in the garden (and what that reveals about his humanity)* The real meaning of “the cup” Jesus was about to drink* How to actually fight temptation (watch AND pray—not just one or the other)* Why Judas’s greeting was one of the most disrespectful acts in history* What “speaking the truth in love” really means (and how it gets weaponized)* Why Jesus didn’t call down 12 legions of angels to save himselfThis Episode Addresses:* The false teaching that Jesus didn’t have a real body* Why your resolutions aren’t enough to keep you from falling away* How Jesus empathizes with every weakness you face* The weight of what Christ actually suffered for you* Why the Garden of Gethsemane is called “the garden of crushing”Support Amen Podcast: We’re 100% ad-free and sponsorship-free, running entirely on your generous donations. With Giving Tuesday coming up on December 2nd, please consider supporting our ministry:* Website: amenpodcast.com* Ways to Help Us Grow: 👍 Press the like button 📤 Share with a friend or family group chat ⭐ Leave a rating and review on Spotify and Apple PodcastsConnect With Us:* Website: amenpodcast.com* Location: Kauai, Hawaii* House Church meets in our garage - come as you are!This isn’t just another sermon—it’s an intimate Bible study between a husband and wife that will challenge how you think about obedience, surrender, and what Jesus truly accomplished for you in the garden.If you’ve ever felt like your faith runs out when times get hard, or if you’ve struggled to understand what the cross really cost Jesus, this episode is for you.Discussion Question: What stood out to you most from this passage? Drop your “amen” in the comments below! 👇 Get full access to Amen Podcast at amenpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Matthew 25:31-46. REPOST BECAUSE ALEX ACCIDENTALLY DELTED IT. Get full access to Amen Podcast at amenpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

*CORRECTION: HALLEL 113-118, NOT 116-118.*Ever thought you’d never betray Jesus? Peter thought the same thing. In this episode, we dive into one of the heaviest passages in Scripture—Judas’s betrayal, Peter’s denial, and the Last Supper. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: we’re all Judas. We all betray Jesus for way less than 30 pieces of silver.From understanding the true meaning of the Lord’s Supper to wrestling with why Jesus’s blood wasn’t shed in vain, this message will challenge how you see your own faithfulness to Christ. We also unpack particular redemption, God’s sovereignty, and the security we have as believers.In This Episode:* The real reason Judas betrayed Jesus (and why we do it too)* What the Last Supper actually means (it’s not transubstantiation)* Why Peter denied Jesus four times, not three* How small betrayals lead to bigger ones* The security of Jesus’s finished work on the crossChapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:34 - The Context: Passover Week 4:10 - Judas’s Betrayal & What We Betray Jesus For 9:03 - Preparing for the Last Supper 11:00 - “One of You Will Betray Me” 15:25 - The Difference Between Lord and Rabbi 17:12 - The Last Supper Explained (Not Transubstantiation) 23:31 - The Hillel: What Jesus and the Disciples Sang 26:31 - Peter’s Denial (Actually Four Times) 30:31 - Particular Redemption: Jesus’s Blood Wasn’t Spilled in Vain 35:38 - After the Amen: Where Have You Betrayed Jesus?Connect With Us: 🌐 Website: amenpodcast.com 💰 Support: amenpodcast.com/donate 💵 Venmo: @amenpodcast 💵 Cash App: $amenalexLet’s Stay Connected: 📸 Instagram: @amenpodcast 🎵 TikTok: @amenpodcastIf this episode challenged you, hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss our biblical teaching. And if you’ve been with us for a while, leaving a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts helps more people discover content that points them closer to Jesus.#BibleStudy #Matthew26 #LastSupper #Christianity #Reformed #Gospel #Jesus Get full access to Amen Podcast at amenpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

What if the life you’re chasing isn’t the life God called you to?In this message from 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, we dive into why God doesn’t need more influencers, politicians, or people climbing the social ladder. He needs regular people who are content in their calling—whether you’re a shepherd, a plumber, a teacher, or a parent.The world tells you happiness is one promotion away, one follower count away, one paycheck away. But if billionaires like Elon Musk and Bill Gates haven’t found it, what makes us think we will? True freedom isn’t found in climbing higher—it’s found in Christ, who already seated you in the highest place.Key Takeaways:* Your social status doesn’t matter to God—your obedience does* Stop making yourself a slave to money, success, or approval* The shepherds went back to shepherding after seeing Jesus—and that’s beautiful* You were bought with a price—live like itScripture: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24CONNECT WITH US: 🎙️ Podcast: amenpodcast.com Support: housechurchkauai.com📍 Location: Kauai, HawaiiHosted by Alex and Lokelani | House Church Get full access to Amen Podcast at amenpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

What does it look like to worship Jesus when everyone around you thinks you’re wasting your time?In Matthew 26:1-13, we see two opposite responses to Jesus. Religious leaders plot His death in secret, thinking they’re in control. But Jesus knows exactly when He’ll die—on Passover, according to the Father’s plan. Then there’s Mary, who pours out expensive perfume on Jesus in extravagant worship. The disciples call it wasteful. Jesus calls it beautiful.Mary’s name means three things: rebellious, bitter, and beloved. And if we’re going to follow Christ, we need to be like Mary—rebelling against evil, making people bitter with our worship, and knowing we’re deeply loved by God.In this episode, we break down:* Why Jesus was in control even when His enemies thought they had the upper hand* What Mary’s extravagant worship teaches us about loving Jesus* How to keep worshiping even when people around you don’t understand* The connection between knowing you’re beloved and living boldly for ChristIf you’re facing opposition, persecution, or people who think your faith is “too much,” this message is for you.💬 AFTER THE AMEN QUESTION: Where do you need to be more like Mary?Drop your answer in the comments below!🙏 SUPPORT AMEN PODCAST: This podcast is 100% donor-supported. If you’d like to help us keep preaching the gospel with simple application, you can give at:* Website: amenpodcast.com/donate* Venmo: @amenpodcast* Cash App: $amenalex📱 CONNECT WITH US:* Instagram: @amenpodcast* Website: amenpodcast.com📖 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: Matthew 26:1-13 (LSB)If this episode encouraged you, hit that subscribe button and give us a thumbs up! It helps more people discover Amen Podcast.Go out and be the church! ✌️#ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #Matthew26 #Worship #ChristianYouth #Gospel #Jesus #Faith #ChurchLife #BibleTeaching Get full access to Amen Podcast at amenpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Holiness is Contagious: Why God’s Power is Bigger Than Your Spouse’s SinAre you afraid the world will pull you down? Worried that your unbelieving spouse will contaminate your faith? In this powerful message from 1 Corinthians 7:10-16, Pastor Alex destroys “little God theology” and reveals a truth that will change how you see marriage, friendship, and evangelism forever: holiness is contagious.We’re continuing our series through Corinthians with one of the most challenging passages in Scripture. Paul addresses two critical groups: Christian couples considering divorce and believers married to unbelievers. Both situations reveal something radical about God’s character that most churches get wrong.This message unpacks: • The communicable and incommunicable attributes of God (immutable, infinite, impassable) • Why “little God theology” keeps Christians trapped in fear • What Jesus actually said about divorce in Matthew 5, 19, and Mark 10 • The counter-cultural call to stay married—even to unbelievers • What it means that an unbelieving spouse is “sanctified” through their believing partner • Why your holiness won’t contaminate—it will transform • The biblical destruction of the “chair illustration” youth pastors use • How Christ touching the leper proves God pulls people UP, not downHere’s the truth that will set you free: When Christ touched the leper, the leper didn’t infect Jesus—Jesus healed the leper. That’s how powerful God’s holiness is. And that same holiness lives in YOU.Paul’s message is astronomically counter-cultural. In a Greco-Roman world where “no-fault divorce” was as easy as walking out the door, Paul says: stay married. Why? Because your holiness is contagious. Your unbelieving spouse will be made holy. Your children will be holy. Not saved automatically—but positioned in a power sphere where God’s transforming holiness operates.This isn’t about tolerating abuse or staying in danger—Christians always err on the side of life. But it IS about understanding that you don’t save people by avoiding them. You save them by being in their lives while God does the heavy lifting.We end with a powerful reflection on communion and what it means that the table can heal—because what it points to is REAL.Join us at House Church Kauai as we learn to be disciples, not just Christians—people with fruit, not just a title.House Church Kauai - Meeting in our garage, staying together in the rain, believing God for a tentSupport this ministry: housechurchkauai.com Get full access to Amen Podcast at amenpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

There’s a huge difference between how God judges believers and how He judges the world—and understanding this will completely change how you view God’s discipline in your life.In this message from House Church in Kauai, Pastor Alex breaks down the difference between God’s corrective discipline for His children and His final judgment on the world. Using the analogy of how a father corrects his own kids versus how he’d respond to strangers who hurt them, we explore what it really means when the Bible says there’s “no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.”If you’ve ever felt like God is angry at you, or if you’ve confused His discipline with condemnation, this message will bring clarity and peace.Key Topics:* The two types of judgment in Scripture* Why God disciplines believers (1 Corinthians 11:32)* Understanding “no condemnation” in Romans 8:1* How God’s discipline proves His love, not His wrath* What it means to be His child versus facing His judgmentThis message will help you: ✓ Stop fearing God’s anger as a believer ✓ Understand why hardship happens in your life ✓ See God’s discipline as an act of love ✓ Know the difference between correction and condemnation🎙️ About Amen Podcast Raw conversations about real faith, hosted by Alex & Lokelani from Kauai, Hawaii. We’re just two people trying to follow Jesus and bring others along for the journey.⛪ About House Church We meet in our garage in Kauai—a small community seeking Jesus together, no fluff, just faith. HOUSECHURCHKAUAI.COM💬 Connect With Us: 🌐 Website: amenpodcast.com Get full access to Amen Podcast at amenpodcast.substack.com/subscribe