The New Covenant - Christ in You, The Hope of Glory
Applied Christianity
Welcome back to Applied Christianity. This is episode 5 of a 52-week journey to becoming a true disciple of Christ. Over the last four weeks, we’ve been laying a foundation. In , we asked what it actually means to be a disciple — not a Christian label, but a life that follows Jesus. In , we asked who is actually in charge of our lives — because discipleship only makes sense if authority has shifted. In , we looked at the Kingdom of God — not as heaven after death, but as the present reign of God that demands allegiance. In , we came to a word that has been deeply misunderstood,...
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Repentance - Change of Mind, Direction and Desire
Applied Christianity
Welcome back to Applied Christianity. This is episode 4 of a 52-week journey to becoming a true disciple of Christ Over the last three weeks, we’ve been laying a foundation. In , we asked what it actually means to be a disciple — not a Christian label, but a life that follows Jesus. In , we asked who is actually in charge of our lives — because discipleship only makes sense if authority has shifted. In , we looked at the Kingdom of God — not as heaven after death, but as the present reign of God that demands allegiance. Today, we come to a word that has been deeply misunderstood,...
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The Kingdom of God — What Jesus Was Actually Teaching
Applied Christianity
Welcome back to Applied Christianity This is week 3 of a 52-week discipleship journey designed for people who want to understand what Jesus actually taught and how to live it. In weeks 1 and 2 we are laying a foundation. In Week One, we asked a basic but uncomfortable question: What is a disciple? Not a label. Not a belief system. But a life that actually follows Jesus. In Week Two, we asked another question that determines everything: Who is actually in charge of my life? Because following Jesus only makes sense if He has authority. Today, we take the next step. Authority only...
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Authority: Who Is Actually in Charge of My Life?
Applied Christianity
Week 2: Welcome back to another episode of Applied Christianity. This is Episode 2 of a 52-week journey towards becoming a true disciple of Christ Last week, we talked about what a disciple actually is. Not a label. Not a belief system. But a person who is learning to live the way Jesus lived. Today, we need to talk about something even more foundational — authority. Because many people believe in Jesus, admire Jesus, even talk about Jesus, but quietly remain in charge of their own lives. Discipleship does not begin with effort. It begins with surrender. THE AUTHORITY PROBLEM...
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What Is a Disciple?
Applied Christianity
Week 1: Before we begin, I want to explain what this series is and why it exists. Applied Christianity is starting a 52-week discipleship journey designed for people who want to understand what Jesus actually taught and how to live it. This isn’t a program you have to keep up with, and it’s not something you can fall behind on. You can start anytime. Each episode is meant to be taken slowly, one week at a time, because formation doesn’t happen through information alone. Too many Christians struggle not because they don’t care, but because they were never given a foundation. They...
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The Subtle Shift: When Good Things Become Ultimate Things
Applied Christianity
Episode 28: In this episode, host Gary Morris dives into how modern Christians often drift away from Christ not by choosing sin, but because "good things" slowly become ultimate priorities in their lives. Idolatry is not just about golden calves but includes things like work, success, entertainment, and even family when they move to the center of our hearts. Parents are challenged to consider whether they are training their children to love winning and applause more than they are training them to love Christ. Fathers, specifically, are reminded of their responsibility, under Ephesians 6:4, to...
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The Lie of Moral Injury: Why the World Can't Heal Your Soul
Applied Christianity
Episode 27: In this episode, host Gary Morris addresses skyrocketing anxiety, depression and suicide rates in our technologically advanced, prosperous world. Depression has doubled and suicide is now the second leading cause of death for people under 35, highlighting a direct correlation between this despair and a decrease in faith. The world’s tendency is to invent new secular explanations, such as "moral injury," defined as psychological and spiritual damage resulting from working in systems that force individuals to act against their values. It sounds logical, right? However, Gary...
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The Lost Mission: Making Disciples, not Donors
Applied Christianity
Episode 26: In this episode, host Gary Morris investigates some common problems in Western Christianity, such as increased suicide and divorce rates, widespread anxiety, and the lack of true understanding among many calling themselves Christians. The root cause? It’s wrapped up in how organized religion is drifting away from Jesus' sole mission: to go and make disciples, defined as learners and followers, not merely churchgoers or social club attendees. Instead of focusing on true discipleship, some churches are concentrating on secondary issues, such as tithing, thereby emphasizing...
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Why True Forgiveness Requires Repentance
Applied Christianity
Episode 25: In this episode, host Gary Morris unpacks the connection between forgiveness and repentance. Repentance must come before forgiveness. When repentance in removed, so it the necessity for change. It’s slowly eroding the foundation of our Christian community. Our next episode will launch in 2 weeks! Be sure to click on the Subscribe and Follow buttons. It's free. This way you'll received a notification when the next episode is available. 👉 Listen to some previous episodes: Escaping Chaos and Returning to God’s Divine Order ...
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Escaping Chaos and Returning to God's Divine Order
Applied Christianity
Episode 24: In today's episode, host Gary Morris dives into the question, “Why do we as Christians make decisions that make our lives so much more difficult?” The fact is, in today’s world, we’re surrounded by chaos. But remember, our God is a God of order. It’s right there in Genesis. Gary explains how can we turn back to His design for our lives and our world. Our next episode will launch in 2 weeks! Be sure to click on the Subscribe and Follow buttons. It's free. This way you'll received a notification when the next episode is available. 👉 Listen to...
info_outlineMy name is Gary Morris, and I'd like to take a moment to share the story behind the creation of the Applied Christianity Podcast.
About two years ago, I found myself in a period of deep self-reflection, grappling with frustration in my Christian faith. I was baptized at 13, and at 55, I realized I was still struggling with the same temptations that had plagued me throughout my adult life. This was a sobering realization.
Through intense prayer, meaningful discussions, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I finally identified the core issue. The Applied Christianity Podcast was born from this discovery—what took me 55 years to uncover, I now want to share with others.
To understand my journey, it’s important to know a bit about my background. By nature, I’m a quantitative thinker. I like to get to the root of a problem and find solutions that actually work. I’m not one for overly sentimental or superficial responses that fail to address the real issues.
This mindset served me well during my time in the Navy and on the Navy Triathlon team. While training for the Ironman, I meticulously mapped out daily, weekly, and monthly goals for each aspect of the triathlon. I reviewed my progress weekly, adjusting my focus where needed to ensure I met my goals.
One evening, I found myself comparing the time I dedicated to my athletic pursuits with the time I spent on my ultimate goal—eternal life with Jesus. The results were eye-opening and, frankly, disappointing. I was putting in 25-30 hours a week to prepare for the Ironman but only dedicating 2 hours a week to my faith. The outcome was exactly what you’d expect from such an imbalance.
The Applied Christianity Podcast is all about taking a practical approach to faith. First, we need to recognize the magnitude of the challenge—Satan, the world, and our own flesh are tempting us 24/7. Once we understand the magnitude, or just how severe the problem is, only then can we offer an appropriate or successful solution. If the first goal of an Ironman race is to swim 2.4 miles, then learning how to tread water is not the answer. Learning to tread water keeps me from drowning, but does nothing to help me reach my goal.
It’s the same with our spiritual training. If our goal is to overcome our struggle with Satan on a daily basis, simply relying on a church service for an hour or so each week won’t cut it. We need practical applications and practice with the tools we’ve been given.
WELCOME TO THE APPLIED CHRISTIANITY PODCAST!!
We'll launch on September 2, 2024. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and YouTube.