This year's State of the Bible shows scripture (Bible) disengagement at its lowest in 14 years! The Word of God presents Christians with a solid ground to stand on in a time of "sinking sand" in our culture. From this year's annual state of the Bible by the American Bible Society, we see a decline in scripture engagement but see an increasing transformation for young adults- the polls from young adults states that the Bible has had a transformative effect on their lives. That is a testament to the power of transformation that comes from God's infallible Word. The scriptures are alive in its potency to change and transform people.

As followers of Christ, everything we do is through the lenses of eternity, and the Bible provides us with answers, guidance and wisdom in navigating life- from election decisions to parenting decisions.

To kick off Season 5 of Oasis of Hope Podcast, Drs. Johnson and Feyi Obamehinti answer three of your questions from election decisions to family decisions for parents. In this episode, they encourage Christians to study the Word of God for yourselves. The times we live in, calls for Christians to be Bereans (Acts 17:11), search the Bible for those truth gems that will anchor you against the winds of culture. The Word of God is our solid ground!

To read the entire ⁠State of the Bible report by American Bible Society,⁠ click on the hyperlink.

“The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

Commemorating the Last Supper Jesus Christ had with His twelve disciples is a holy observation by millions of Christians around the world. As scriptures instruct, commemorating this special time is done with carefulness and intentionality. In 2 Corinthians 13:5 (Examine your selves to see whether you are in the faith; test your selves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?), there are elements of self-reflection, self-awareness and self- regulation to ensure the Lord’s Supper is taken with deep reverence by followers of Christ.

Some Christians, also know this special time as the Eucharist, the Lord’s Table, Table of Communion or Holy Communion. The Table of Communion symbolizes Jesus ultimate sacrifice on the cross to redeem humanity from eternal separation from God. Communion is a two-way street-our communion with God and communion with each other. Before taking a listen to this podcast, we encourage you to gather your communion elements (crackers and juice) and join into take communion at the end of the podcast.

As followers of Christ, everything we do is through the lenses of eternity, and elections are not different. In this episode, Drs. Johnson and Feyi Obamehinti encourage Christians to approach these upcoming elections with carefulness and do their homework. Some things for Christians to think about as they prepare themselves are:

(1) Pray for everyone (2 Chronicles 7:14, Proverb 14:34, 1 Timothy 2:1-2).

(2) Respect for each other – no matter if a person is red, blue, in-between or none.

(3) Refuse to hop on the hatred wagon no matter who the instigating leader is.

(4) Study the candidates and determine your values, belief, conscience etc.

(5) Above all else, remember we are Christ’s ambassadors foremost (salt and light).

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” – 2 Chronicle 7:14

The 2024 Summer Olympics was highly watched around the world. With one sport or the other as a favorite, the Olympics is a source of inspiration for young and old alike. Congratulations to all teams from around the world, representing their countries.The USA team came back with a total of 126 medals- 40 Gold, 44 Silver and 42 Bronze!

For followers of Christ, there are some lessons to glean from the Olympics. In fact, the Bible uses sports as an analogy of how Christians are to live their lives. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, states, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.And every man that strive for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible."

In this episode, Drs. Johnson and Feyi Obamehinti encourage followers of Christ with three key lessons from the Olympics. Walking with God requires discipline to stay deeply committed to Christ, so we can represent Christ well. It's time for followers of Christ to stand up and be counted for the Kingdom of God!

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ" - 2 Corinthians 5:20