On today’s podcast, we’re exploring a topic that is often overlooked in Christian circles yet deeply woven into the human experience—the pursuit of happiness. For some, the very idea raises red flags. The pursuit of happiness? Isn’t that something to avoid—perhaps even condemn? Many view it as a slippery slope toward moral compromise, a distraction from holiness that leads away from the cross and toward fleeting, worldly pleasures.

After all, isn’t the Christian life about duty, sacrifice, and obedience? Doesn’t Scripture call us to self-denial, suffering, and surrender rather than personal fulfillment? But is that the full picture? Have we misunderstood what true happiness is? Does Christianity really demand that we renounce happiness, or is there a deeper, more biblical vision—one that doesn’t pit holiness against joy, but rather sees them as inseparably linked?

In today’s episode, we’ll challenge common assumptions, explore what Scripture actually says, and ask whether the pursuit of happiness has a rightful place in the Christian life. Join us as we take a fresh and thoughtful look at “The Pursuit of Happiness: A Christian Perspective.”

This is a sermon that Sam Raju gave during Priority One weekend at First Baptist Salem on contending for the Faith. In Jude, the apostle calls believers to contend for the Faith. Let’s dig into these words and join Sam as he speaks from Jude 1-4.

On his recent visit to Estonia, Sam was interviewed by Estonian National primetime TV host and actor Hannes Hermaküla on the relationship between faith and science, the problem of evil and more.