Marked by Grace

Latest Episodes:

Do Homosexual Kids Disqualify a Pastor? Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

Heath Lambert addresses a sensitive pastoral qualification question: Does having an adult child who identifies as homosexual or enters a same-sex marriage disqualify someone from pastoral ministry?

Learn what Scripture teaches about pastoral qualifications and family responsibility.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Introduction to Marked by Grace podcast

0:12 Today's question: Do homosexual kids disqualify a pastor?

0:36 Context and clarification of the question

1:03 Understanding the intersection of pastoral qualifications and family issues

1:38 First principle: Pastors are disqualified for their sins, not others'

2:17 Biblical basis: 1 Timothy 3:4-5 on managing households

2:40 Reference to previous episode (January 20) on related topic

2:55 Adult children vs. children in the home - important distinction

3:29 How we should evaluate a pastor with an adult child in a homosexual relationship

4:01 What actually matters: How did the pastor raise the child?

4:27 The importance of the pastor's current response - truth and love

4:50 Reference to other episodes addressing complex family situations

5:09 Conclusion: Adult children's sins don't disqualify pastors

KEY POINTS:

- Scripture doesn't require pastors to keep their adult children sin-free

- Pastors are evaluated on how they manage their household, not on controlling adult children's choices

- The distinction between children living at home and adult children is biblically significant

- A pastor's response to an adult child's sin should balance truth and love

- The same principles apply to homosexuality as to any other sin in an adult child's life

- Pastoral qualification depends on the pastor's faithfulness, not on their adult children's actions

Submit your questions for future episodes to markedbyGrace@fbcjax.com

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

1 Timothy 3:4-5 - "He [the pastor] must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, and if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?"

Should Addicts Keep Track of Their Clean Time? Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Pastor Heath Lambert explores whether those recovering from addiction should count their days, months, or years of sobriety. With wisdom from Hebrews 13:9, he examines how tracking "clean time" can either support or potentially undermine true grace-centered recovery.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Introduction to Marked by Grace podcast

0:30 Today's question: Should addicts keep track of their clean time?

0:38 Context: Question from someone recovering from pornography addiction

1:08 Cultural practice of tracking sobriety time

1:27 Why we naturally notice the absence of addiction

2:14 Important perspective on tracking clean time

2:47 Biblical insight from Hebrews 13:9

4:04 The risks of tracking clean time

4:10 Risk #1: Pride and boasting about sobriety

4:57 Risk #2: Making clean time equivalent to victory

5:41 The essential difference between clean time and grace

6:35 The power of grace vs. the metric of clean time

6:49 Conclusion: Balance and wise perspective

KEY POINTS:

- Tracking sobriety isn't inherently wrong but carries potential spiritual risks

- Scripture teaches that our hearts should be "strengthened by grace, not by foods" (Hebrews 13:9)

- Pride can attach to long periods of sobriety, making it harder to be honest when struggling

- Overemphasizing clean time can lead to devastating discouragement after a relapse

- True recovery is measured by dependence on Christ's grace, not just time without the addiction

- Even after a relapse, 1 John 1:9 promises complete forgiveness through confession

Submit your questions for future episodes to markedbygrace@fbcjax.com

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

Hebrews 13:9 - "It is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods"

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

Should Christians Threaten to Sue Other Christians? Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Marked by Grace, Pastor Heath Lambert addresses a challenging question: Is it biblical for Christians to threaten legal action against fellow believers?

Discover what 1 Corinthians 6 teaches about resolving conflicts within the church and why both suing AND threatening to sue violates Scripture's clear teaching.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Introduction to Marked by Grace podcast

0:17 Today's question: Should Christians threaten to sue other Christians?

1:02 What does 1 Corinthians 6 say about Christians suing Christians?

2:29 The specific question about threatening lawsuits

3:00 A powerful analogy about ungodly threats

4:38 The biblical conclusion on threatening legal action

5:26 God's better way for Christians to resolve conflicts

KEY POINTS:

- Scripture clearly forbids Christians from taking other believers to court (1 Corinthians 6:1-6)

- Christians are called to settle disputes among themselves using godly wisdom

- Threatening an ungodly action (like a lawsuit) to get what you want is itself sinful

- Pastor Heath shares real examples of pastors threatening to sue other Christians

- God has provided better ways for conflict resolution through Christ

Submit your questions for future episodes to markedbyGrace@fbcjax.com

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

- 1 Corinthians 6:1-6 - Christians should resolve disputes within the church

- The Sixth Commandment (Exodus 20:13) - "You shall not murder"

- The Seventh Commandment (Exodus 20:8) - "You shall not commit adultery"

If you found this teaching helpful, please LIKE this video, SUBSCRIBE to our channel, and SHARE with someone who needs biblical guidance on conflict resolution!

Is it Okay for Christians to Avoid Other Christians? Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

Pastor Heath Lambert addresses whether it's biblically acceptable for Christians to intentionally avoid or exclude other believers, particularly in everyday interactions like greeting one another.

Key Points

- Christians live in an increasingly "graceless" culture that normalizes cutting people off

- Scripture commands us to "aim for restoration" (2 Corinthians 13:11)

- While complete restoration isn't always possible, Christians are called to maintain basic courtesy

- Jesus acknowledges the reality of enemies but commands us to love them (Matthew 5:43-44)

- Even greeting those we dislike distinguishes Christian behavior (Matthew 5:47-48)

While Christians may have enemies, we aren't permitted to be enemies. Basic courtesies like greetings should be extended even in difficult relationships.

Questions for future episodes? Email: markedbygrace@fbcjax.com

Can Former Abusers be Pastors? Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

Pastor Heath Lambert addresses whether someone with a history of abuse can serve in pastoral ministry, examining three key background issues that inform this complex question.

Key Points

- Biblical qualifications for pastors include being "above reproach" (Titus 1:6-7) and "well thought of by outsiders" (1 Timothy 3:7)

- The importance of careful definition and evidence in abuse cases

- The relationship between forgiveness and consequences: while Christ offers forgiveness (1 John 1:9), some past actions may disqualify from pastoral ministry

- The need for churches to maintain both biblical truth and proper investigation processes

- The distinction between eternal forgiveness and pastoral qualification

Bottom Line

While Christ offers complete forgiveness for all sin, certain past actions may permanently disqualify someone from pastoral leadership, even after genuine repentance.

Questions for future episodes? Email: markedbygrace@fbcjax.com

Is Genesis Real History? Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

Pastor Heath Lambert addresses whether the Book of Genesis should be understood as actual history. Drawing from his current sermon series through Genesis at First Baptist, he explains why Genesis should be read as historical narrative rather than myth or allegory.

Key Points

- Genesis presents itself as historical narrative from beginning to end

- The text provides no markers to separate myth from history

- Jesus referenced Adam and Eve as historical figures (Matthew 19:4-6)

- The apostles, including Paul, treated Genesis events as historical fact

- Extraordinary events at creation would naturally have extraordinary tellings

- The challenge isn't the text's credibility, but our tendency toward independent thinking over biblical thinking

Questions for future episodes? Email: markedbygrace@fbcjax.com

Does Public Disagreement Require Personal Reconciliation? Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

Pastor Heath Lambert addresses whether Christians who disagree publicly must seek personal reconciliation. Drawing from Scripture, he explains the important distinction between handling personal sin and addressing public false teaching.

Key Points

- Matthew 18:15 guides us on handling personal sin through private conversation

- Titus 1:9 commands teachers to publicly address false teaching

- Public error requires public correction

- Private reconciliation shouldn't be used to avoid addressing doctrinal concerns

Connect With Us

Questions for future episodes? Email: markedbygrace@fbcjax.com

What Is Dignity & Can You Lose It? Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Marked by Grace, Pastor Heath answers the question, "What Is Dignity & Can You Lose It?"

Pastoral Responsibility for Adult Children Jan 20, 2025

Show notes