Are you being programmed by social media? Whether you believe it or not, what you consume is influencing your affections for God.

[0:00] Intro

[2:00] Proclaim News

[6:30] Are you being programmed?

[10:00] Bible verses to set your mind on God

[17:00] Final thoughts

Bible verses:

Colossians 3:1-2

Hebrews 12:1-2

Philippians 4:8

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Proclaim Kids Ministry

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Andrea Brown’s ministry content

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Proclaim News and Ministry Updates

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We have some good momentum at Proclaim Ministries in the kids and teen ministries after Vacation Bible School. New Proclaim Partners are joining, and many kids are visiting the Proclaim Kids website to do memory verses. I am so grateful for the support and encouragement we have received from our in-person and online communities.

We are working on developing the ONE10 Framework for teaching kids and adults, focusing on one story and ten truths shaping what we believe and how we live. The content is designed to be engaging for kids but also beneficial for adults.

Are you being programmed?

What you focus on, you will follow. What you follow impacts your choices and your affections for God. The media and activities you engage with can either stir or steal your affections for God. Social media can have a major influence on your mindset. That is why it is so important to set boundaries and be intentional about what you consume.

Scriptural Guidance and Practical Tips

Colossians 3:1-2, Hebrews 12:1-2, and Philippians 4:8 emphasize the importance of setting your mind on things above and focusing on Jesus. Seek God. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Turn your attention to what is right in God’s sight. Be intentional about your habits and create good habits that draw you closer to God.

Questions:

What specific things in your life are stirring your affections for God, and how can you intentionally focus on those things?

What habits or boundaries can you set up to help you avoid the things that tend to steal your affection for God?

How can you use the Bible’s teachings about setting your mind on things above to guide your media consumption and focus?

Action Items:

Identify things that stir your affections for God.

Identify things that steal your affections from God.

Establish habits and boundaries to prioritize the things that draw you closer to God.

"Live for God by connecting faith and life."

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Would you want to go to heaven if God wasn’t there? That’s a question we’ll consider in this podcast episode.

[0:00] Intro

[1:00] The Proclaim Ministries app and YouTube channels

[4:00] Stories from VBS

[5:50] 5 ways to get kids’ attention without yelling

[12:15] Thought of the Day

[17:05] Final thoughts

Bible verse: Psalm 73

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5 Effective Ways to Get Your Students' Attention Without Yelling!

How to Keep Kids’ Attention Once You Have It

Sha Linne, "My Portion"

Dealing With Doubt, Psalm 73

Proclaim News

The Proclaim Ministries app is in the Google Play Store after being removed for a while. The app has been downloaded 2,744 times and has had 20,000 launches with 175,391 impressions. Download the app and subscribe to the YouTube channels, Proclaim Ministries, Proclaim Kids, and Proclaim Student Ministries.

Becoming a Proclaim Partner, downloading the app, and subscribing to the YouTube channels are great ways to support Proclaim Ministries.

Vacation Bible School Stories

My daughter, Sophia, who loves working with kids, did a great job leading songs and sign language at Vacation Bible School this summer. It was great seeing her flourish in serving kids.

Another story from VBS involves a kid misusing my teaching on his mother. He used the attention getter called "waterfall" on his mom during discipline. The kid's mom texted me, thanking me for the teaching and shared the funny story.

Thought of the Day: Would You Want to Go to Heaven if God Was Not There?

This Thought of the Day question is inspired by a song by Sha Linne called "My Portion." .

The question and the song challenge us to consider if heaven is desirable without God, emphasizing that salvation is about a personal relationship with God, not just a place. In Psalm 73, Asaph realizes that God is his portion and his strength, not the things of this world.

Questions to consider:

How can we encourage kids to apply biblical principles in their daily lives?

What are your thoughts on the idea that salvation is about a relationship with God, not just about going to heaven?

"Live for God by connecting faith and life."

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Do you ever feel misunderstood? That can be discouraging. I want to assure you that God knows and loves you.

[0:00] Three messages

[1:00] Become a Proclaim Partner

[1:50] VBS recap

[4:30] Joshua 1:9 memory verse

[12:30] Was God wrong?

[16:45] Do you feel misunderstood?

Bible verses:

Joshua 1:9

Matthew 27:46

2 Corinthians 5:21

1 Samuel 16:7

1 John 1:9

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Bible memory verses

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Proclaim News: Vacation Bible School 2025

There were over 300 kids in daily attendance at Vacation Bible School (VBS) held at VC Family Church. My role at VBS was leading memory verses and speaking during the main session. On VBS Sunday, following VBS week, I taught one of the memory verses to everyone. It was a lot of fun.

Joshua 1:9 Memory Verse

Q&A for Kids: Jesus Forsaken - Was it Wrong?

Was it wrong for God to forsake Jesus on the cross?

Jesus became sin for us, allowing God to forsake Him so that we might be righteous and never be forsaken. Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains that Jesus took our place and was forsaken so that we might be righteous.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21

Thought of the Day: Are You Misunderstood?

Do you ever feel misunderstood? That can be discouraging. I want to assure you that God knows and loves you.

In 1 Samuel 16:7, God tells Samuel that He looks at the heart, not the outer appearance, to emphasize that God knows our true selves.

If you are feeling misunderstood, find comfort in knowing that God sees and loves you, even when others may not. Seek God and confess your sins to Him, knowing that He is faithful and just to forgive you.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9

"Live for God by connecting faith and life."

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Do you believe God’s story? Be careful with the stories you tell yourself and what narratives you are projecting onto others. Learn to live in freedom and trust in God's promises.

[0:00] The stories we tell ourselves

[3:40] Do you believe God’s story?

Bible verses

Proverbs 3:5-6

Hebrews 10:23

Numbers 13:33

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” - Proverbs 3:5-6

Hebrews 10:23 Memory Verse

What stories do you tell yourself? Do the stories align with what God has said?

Proverbs 3:5-6 is a message to trust in the Lord with all your heart and not to rely on your own understanding.

This passage is a reminder to filter your thoughts through what God says, whether through His Word, prayer, or the Holy Spirit.

Numbers 13 recounts the story of the Israelites sending spies into Canaan and their reactions to the land's abundance and the size of its inhabitants. The Israelites' doubts led them to project their fears onto others, creating a narrative that caused them to refuse to enter the Promised Land. Only Caleb and Joshua believed God's promise and encouraged the Israelites to trust Him.

We can learn from the Israelites' experience and the importance of not projecting our fears onto others in our own lives.

Calls to Action:

Use Proverbs 3:5-6 as a guiding principle for trusting in God and not relying on your own understanding.

Seek God's understanding through His Word, prayer, and the Holy Spirit.

Acknowledge God's past successes and trust in His ability to fulfill His promises.

"Live for God by connecting faith and life."

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Is God’s way better? I think so. While human ways may seem more convenient, God's way is always better, even if it is not always easy.

[0:00] Intro

[1:30] Is God’s way better?

[11:30] Practical tips for choosing God’s way

[15:45] Final thoughts

Bible Verses:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Proverbs 3:5-6

Forrest Frank, “Your Way’s Better”

There are many examples in the Bible of people choosing their own way over God’s way. In every situation, there were major consequences of choosing their own way over God's way.

In Genesis, Adam and Eve’s disobedience led to sin and death. There was short-term and long-term brokenness when Abraham and Sarah tried to have a child their own way. The Israelites' request for a king in 1 Samuel 8 despite God's warnings, brought destruction. In the New Testament, Peter attempted to prevent Jesus from going to the cross. Jesus' response to Peter was, "Get behind Me, Satan."

God's way is always better, even if it is not always comfortable.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul describes his thorn in the flesh and God's response. God did not remove the ailment that Paul had, but Paul trusted God's grace in that difficult situation.

Here is some practical advice for choosing God’s way in your circumstances:

Don’t rush into relationships. Slow down and get to know the other person.

In your career there is a balance between making money and fulfilling God's calling. Use your gifts and talents to not only support yourself financially but to give to God.

Choose forgiveness. It is a key aspect of God's way. Let go of grudges and trust God's way of forgiveness.

Action steps:

Share your own story of how you've learned that God's way is better.

Start a conversation with someone about this topic and discuss how it applies to your lives.

Listen to the song "Your Way’s Better" by Forrest Frank and reflect on the message.

"Live for God by connecting faith and life."

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Why should I thank God? My life is horrible. Learn how to stay grateful and grounded despite life's challenges.

[0:00] Intro

[0:45] Thanking God despite challenges

[4:00] Compassion for pain

[11:00] Avoid false narratives

Bible Verses:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Numbers 13:33

Life’s struggles can make it difficult to want to thank God.

Sometimes the stories we tell ourselves and the narratives we create in our minds, make it even more challenging. We tend to look at other people’s lives with rose colored glasses. It even happened in the Bible. In Genesis, Adam and Eve questioned God.

We also have examples of people in the Bible who chose to trust God in the midst of trials. Joseph, who was sold into slavery and imprisoned, remained faithful to God. The Hebrew boys thrown into the fiery furnace and John the Baptist, who lost his head for preaching God's word, are also examples of faith in difficult circumstances. Jeremiah and the Apostle Paul faced hardships but remained steadfast in their faith.

I’m not suggesting that thanking God in bad circumstances is easy.

We should have compassion for people who are struggling and understand the broader perspective of God's faithfulness in difficult situations. Unfortunately, people will experience pain in their lives. However, God is in control and has a plan, even if it is not always clear.

“God is responsible for the fact of freedom but not the acts of freedom.”

God is trustworthy. We can give thanks in all circumstances, not necessarily for the situation itself but for God's presence and control. It takes looking beyond our current circumstances and seeing God's hand at work. We can always be grateful because God is faithful, even if we don't feel it or see it.

Action steps:

Have courage and trust that God will never leave you nor forsake you.

Focus on God's character rather than your circumstances.

Avoid telling yourself false narratives about God.

"Live for God by connecting faith and life."

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What is our greatest need? Our concept of God shapes everything we do and how we interact with others, including seeing people as image bearers of God.

[0:00] Seeing God rightly

[2:15] Our greatest need

[11:30] Practical steps to know God

Bible verses:

Isaiah 6:1-3

Romans 1:21-25

Jeremiah 29:13

Philippians 3:7-10

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” - A.W. Tozer

“The heaviest obligation lying upon the Christian Church today is to purify and elevate her concept of God until it is once more worthy of Him - and of her.” - A.W. Tozer

Our view of God impacts how we represent Him to the world and how we live our lives. We are tasked with being good stewards of what God has given us. That stewardship will translate into how we represent Him in the world.

Some practical steps to know God include seeking Him through His word, His Son Jesus Christ, and recognizing the mastery of His creation. Knowing God leads to a desire to know Him more and more, and to love Him.

Our concept of God should be worthy of Him.

Action steps:

Seek to know God more deeply and purify your concept of Him.

Prioritize spending time in God's word and presence to stir your affections for Him.

Avoid things that distract you from or steal your affections for God.

"Live for God by connecting faith and life."

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How can you trust God even through the tough times? I will share three key practices you can start today.

[0:00] How to keep trusting God

[3:45] How to trust God when…

[10:45] 3 ways to trust God more

[20:30] Final thoughts

Bible Verses:

Proverbs 3:5-6

Psalm 119:105

Romans 12:1-2

Psalm 1:1-3

Psalm 103:19

Romans 8:28

Psalm 145:3

As Christians, we know how important it is to rely on God's understanding rather than our own. But in practical terms, that can be a challenge for us, particularly in times of hardship and uncertainty.

One of the best ways to continually put your trust in God is through prayer, especially when facing anxiety.

We have a tendency toward self-reliance and independence, which is good in some circumstances. However, we must remember our need for God to live and function daily. Through prayer, you can ask for guidance on how to trust God in various life situations, including when life doesn't go as planned.

Three key practices for trusting God:

Reading God's word daily.

Meditating on God’s word.

Remembering who God is.

Read the Bible daily, even if it's just a few verses, and meditate on those verses throughout the day. This will renew your mind with God's truth to live a life connected to faith. God's word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Use Bible apps and other resources to help you read and meditate on God's word daily. Trusting God more will come through spending time in His word.

Through reading and meditating on God’s word, you will remember the attributes of God, such as sovereignty and omniscience. It is God and His attributes that make Him trustworthy. This will help you focus on God's understanding and not rely solely on your own.

Identify specific areas in your life where it's hard to trust God, such as family, finances, or relationships. Journal and pray about these areas to bring them to God and seek His guidance. Focus on God's faithfulness and remember His past actions to trust Him in the present.

What is one area in your life where it is hard to trust God right now?

Follow these action steps:

Read God's word every day.

Meditate on God's word every day.

Remember who God is and His attributes.

"Live for God by connecting faith and life."

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