Week 39
Your Weekly Round-up Sunday!
Greetings, beloved community! This week at Back to Basics: Christian living, we're thrilled to present an exceptional collection of teachings that promise to ignite your faith and deepen your walk with Christ. As we journey through Week 39 together, prepare your hearts for transformative content exploring everything from the battle for our minds to the empowering reality of being God's children.
We've crafted this week's teachings with prayer and careful biblical reflection, addressing the pressing spiritual questions many believers face in today's complex world. Whether you're seeking clarity on eternal security, questioning your spiritual motivations, or desiring to live more fully in the power of the Holy Spirit, our content this week aims to provide biblical answers with practical application.
As you engage with these teachings throughout the week, we pray they will strengthen your faith foundations and inspire you to live more fully as Christ's disciples.
Let's dive into what the Lord has prepared for us this week...
Building Your Faith on Biblical Foundations! Discover core Christian principles and deepen your relationship with Christ through biblical teaching and practical application…
Battling for the Mind: The Spiritual War for Attention!
In today's fast-paced digital landscape, there exists a profound battle—not for territory or resources, but for something far more valuable: our attention and, ultimately, our minds. This competition isn't merely between commercial entities but extends into the spiritual realm where countless voices vie to shape our thoughts, beliefs, and actions.
Scripture reminds us of the significance of this battle: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 KJV). The mind is indeed a battlefield where spiritual warfare is waged daily.
Today's information-saturated world presents unique challenges for believers. Social media platforms, news outlets, entertainment sources, and even religious voices compete relentlessly for our mental engagement. Amidst this cacophony, we must exercise discernment as the Scriptures exhort: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV).
Some seek to mould our thinking through charismatic personalities, emotional appeals, or promises of prosperity and ease. Yet the Word cautions us: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Colossians 2:8 KJV).
The goal of Christian thinking isn't merely positive mindedness or self-improvement, but transformation through biblical truth: "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2 KJV).
How then should believers navigate this complex landscape?
First, by grounding ourselves in Scripture: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11 KJV). Regular immersion in God's Word provides the foundation for discerning truth from falsehood.
Second, through prayer for wisdom: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5 KJV). The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth when we humbly seek direction.
Third, by mindful consumption: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8 KJV).
As we navigate this war for our minds, remember that the ultimate goal isn't merely defending against falsehood but being transformed into Christ's image: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV).
May we guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, allowing His truth—not the shifting sands of worldly opinion—to mould our thinking and, consequently, our lives…
"Something to think about" is a phrase that indicates there is a topic or idea presented that the reader should consider and contemplate, for further reflection or discussion. Published weekly on a Monday…
Monday 22/09/25
Once a Christian always a Christian!
The Eternal Security of Salvation!
The Assurance of Eternal Salvation!
The doctrine of eternal security offers profound reassurance to every genuine believer. Once authentically saved through faith in Christ, we are permanently sealed by the Holy Spirit—marked as God's own possession for eternity. This security rests not on our performance but on God's unwavering faithfulness and Christ's perfect sacrifice. Scripture confirms this truth through powerful promises that nothing can separate us from God's love or snatch us from the Father's hand. While our active faith may occasionally waver, our salvation remains secure. This magnificent truth doesn't promote complacency but inspires grateful, committed Christian living. Understanding we are eternally secure in Christ frees us from fear and empowers us to serve God with confidence, knowing He who began this good work will faithfully complete it until Christ returns…
Messages from the Outpost: Join us at our home church (186, Greenacres, Wetheral, Carlisle CA4 8LU, UK) every Tuesday & Thursday at 7:30 pm.
Tuesday 23/09/25
Why Do We Do What We Do?
Greetings from David & Elaine at Back to Basics: Christian living!
Understanding Our Spiritual Motivations
In this thoughtful reflection, David & Elaine explore the profound question of what truly motivates our spiritual practices. They examine how our Christian service often stems from fear, obligation, social acceptance or transactional thinking, rather than from genuine love. Drawing from Scripture, they remind us that God looks beyond our outward actions to examine our hearts. Through personal anecdotes and biblical wisdom, they invite readers to consider whether their spiritual activities flow from duty or devotion. The message emphasises that when our service is motivated by responsive love to God's initiating love, it becomes more sustainable, authentic and transformative. This timely teaching encourages believers to move beyond religious performance to a heart-centred relationship with Christ…
"Write this down" is a phrase used to draw attention to essential information that needs to be recorded or remembered. Published weekly on a Wednesday…
Wednesday 24/09/25
Who Do You Want To Be?
What’s your standard - Christ alone!
The Question That Shapes Our Identity
In "Who Do You Want To Be?", we explore the transformative question at the heart of Christian identity. While our culture offers countless models to emulate, this teaching reminds us that our standard should be Christ alone. We examine how true character development happens through Scripture immersion, yielding to the Holy Spirit, and making daily choices that reflect Jesus. Rather than focusing on reputation or temporary worldly success, we're called to develop internal qualities that last eternally. This message challenges believers to consider not just who they appear to be on the outside, but who they're becoming at the core—a journey of becoming increasingly Christlike in a world of shifting values and priorities…
Messages from the Outpost: Join us at our home church (186, Greenacres, Wetheral, Carlisle CA4 8LU, UK) every Tuesday & Thursday at 7:30 pm.
Thursday 25/09/25
Living Proof: Being a Son of God!
Displaying God's power in an uncertain world through Spirit-filled living!
The Power of God's Spirit
Being a son of God is more than a mere title—it's a transformative spiritual reality that defines our very identity. Through Christ's redemptive work, we experience divine adoption, receiving the incredible privilege of calling God "Abba, Father." This relationship brings us into God's family as heirs with Christ, sharing in both His sufferings and future glory.
As children of God, we're filled with the Holy Spirit who empowers us for service and transforms us from within, producing fruit that testifies to His presence in our lives. Each of us has been given specific gifts and a unique calling within the body of Christ, enabling us to serve others and build up the church.
True sons and daughters of God eagerly anticipate Christ's return—a blessed hope that shapes our priorities and purifies our lives. Our sonship manifests practically through unwavering faith, sacrificial love, consistent prayer, joyful worship, bold witness, and humble service.
In a world desperate for authenticity, our lives serve as compelling evidence—living proof—that we belong to God, are filled with His Spirit, are fulfilling our divine purpose, and are citizens of a heavenly kingdom whose King will soon return…
Back to Basics is a weekly Christian living teaching blog that focuses on teaching the principles of Christian living from a fundamental perspective. Published weekly on a Friday…
Friday 26/09/25
Back to Basics: Living a Spirit-Led Life!
Discovering God's purpose through spiritual guidance & daily surrender!
Finding Purpose Through Spiritual Surrender
In our latest "Back to Basics" teaching, we explore the transformative power of living a Spirit-led life. Amidst the chaos and emptiness of modern existence, many search for purpose and meaning. This spiritual guidance reveals how surrendering to the Holy Spirit brings fulfilment that worldly pursuits cannot provide. Drawing from Galatians 5:25 [KJV], we examine how trusting God rather than our own understanding leads to a life of divine purpose. Through consistent prayer, Scripture meditation, and stepping beyond comfort zones, believers can cultivate a life that reflects Christ's character in every thought, word, and relationship. While this path presents challenges as our flesh wars against the Spirit, the rewards of peace, joy, and genuine purpose far outweigh the difficulties. Join us as we discover how daily surrender to God's guidance empowers us to live with authenticity and lasting impact…
YouTube: Engaging Content Line-up on 'Back to Basics: Christian Living' YouTube Channel. Published weekly from Monday to Friday...
This Week: 22 - 26 September 2025
Welcome to this week's exciting line-up on our "Back to Basics: Christian Living" YouTube channel! We've carefully curated content designed to strengthen your faith, provide daily spiritual nourishment, and accompany you on your walk with Christ. From devotional moments to in-depth teachings, we're committed to bringing you resources that both inspire and equip.
Here's what you can look forward to this week:
Daily Morning Insights & Prayer: Start each day from Monday to Friday with our brief but powerful "Morning Insights - Prayer" segment, perfect for setting a spiritual tone for your day.
Outpost shorts: Throughout the week Monday to Friday, keep an eye out for our regularly updated bite-sized content to keep you inspired and connected.
Our YouTube content features these playlist series:
Back to Basics: Christian living - Core teaching episodes reinforcing foundational Christian principles.
Back to Basics: Christian living Q&A - A question-and-answer format addressing viewers' faith-related inquiries.
Let's Read the Word Together - A series dedicated to Scripture study and its practical application to daily life.
What’s on my Heart? - A playlist featuring brief spiritual insights where I share God's wisdom on specific topics with practical applications for your Christian Walk.
Under the Tree - Building a solid foundation for a Christian life -Reflecting Christ, Overcoming Challenges, and Standing Strong in Faith offering insightful discussions on several topics related to Christian living & spiritual growth.
Back to Basics: for KIDS! - Content specifically designed for children and families - Animated short-form content coming soon!
Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss any of these uplifting videos!
Note: Remember, this schedule is subject to change, but we're committed to bringing you content that enriches your spiritual journey….
Exciting Podcast Offerings on our YouTube Channel…
We're thrilled to announce these engaging podcast series available on our YouTube Channel. Tune in for spiritual growth and insightful discussions:
Blazing Apostles: Sharing powerful testimonies that highlight God's grace, love, and miraculous work in everyday life.
Saturday Conversations: Enjoy casual yet profound dialogues on various aspects of Christian living every Saturday.
Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay updated with these enriching podcast episodes. They're perfect for your spiritual journey, whether you're commuting, relaxing at home, or seeking inspiration throughout your week…
Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss any of these uplifting videos!
Note: Remember, this schedule is subject to change, but we're committed to bringing you content that enriches your spiritual journey….
NEWS! Updates and announcements about Back to Basics: Christian living, including content changes, newsletters, website updates, and valuable information for our audience…
A Heart-to-Heart Update on Our Journey…
Dear Friends & Faithful Followers,
Today, we wanted to take a moment to share honestly about our journey with Back to Basics: Christian living. As you know, we've been passionate about bringing you content that nurtures your spiritual growth and strengthens your walk with Christ. We've shared grand visions of expanding our ministry with exciting new content formats, including animated videos for children, regular livestreams, and engaging conversation series.
However, we must humbly acknowledge that several of these initiatives haven't materialised as we had hoped and promised. Our "Back to Basics: for KIDS!" animated content, which we were particularly excited about, remains in the development stage rather than being available for your families to enjoy. Our planned livestream teachings haven't become the regular feature we envisioned, and our "Saturday Conversations" series hasn't developed the consistency and depth we initially promised.
We could point to various challenges – our recent house move, persistent internet connectivity issues, computer problems, or simply the limitations of time in our busy lives. While these factors are real, we recognise that explanations can sound like excuses. The truth is simpler: we've fallen short of delivering what we promised, and for that, we sincerely apologise.
What we want you to know is that these dreams haven't been abandoned. Behind the scenes, we continue to work on developing child-friendly content that makes biblical truths accessible to young hearts. We're addressing the technical hurdles that have prevented consistent livestreams. We're rethinking our approach to Saturday Conversations to make it sustainable and valuable.
This experience has been humbling but also clarifying. It's reminded us that ministry work, like all Kingdom endeavours, requires patience, perseverance, and a willingness to acknowledge our limitations. It's taught us to be more measured in what we promise and more diligent in what we deliver.
We're grateful for your patience, understanding and continued support. Your engagement with the content we have managed to produce has been a tremendous encouragement. Your prayers have sustained us through challenges, and we ask that you continue to lift this ministry before the Lord.
In the coming months, we'll be taking a more measured approach – focusing on consistency with our core offerings while gradually expanding into these new areas as resources permit. We believe this approach will allow us to serve you more faithfully and effectively.
Thank you for walking this journey with us. We value your trust and are committed to stewarding it well.
With gratitude and in Christ's service,
David & Elaine
P.S. We'd love to hear which aspects of our ministry have been most meaningful to you and where you'd like to see us focus our energies. Your feedback helps shape our path forward!
Back to Basics: Christian Living - Your Faith Journey. We're excited to share insights and practical guidance to help strengthen your faith journey in 2025…
Is the Modern Church Now Just a Free-For-All?
In an age where personal feelings often trump biblical truth, many churches have drifted from their foundation. What was once a bastion of unwavering Scripture has become a place where doctrine is determined by preference rather than God's Word.
The Apostle Paul prophetically warned of this exact situation: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:3-4 KJV). Today, we witness this prophecy's fulfilment in congregations worldwide.
One concerning trend is the elevation of emotional experiences over biblical teaching. While spiritual experiences have their place, Jesus reminds us, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32 KJV). True freedom comes through Scripture, not unexamined feelings.
When experiences supersede biblical authority, we create environments reflecting the chaotic days when "every man doeth that which is right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25 KJV). Instead, Paul instructs that worship should be conducted "decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40 KJV).
Perhaps no concept has been more distorted than love. While "God is love" (1 John 4:8 KJV), this truth doesn't exist in isolation. Authentic love "rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth" (1 Corinthians 13:6 KJV). When churches separate love from truth, presenting a God who accepts all behaviours without distinction, they preach a false gospel.
The modern notion that love means unconditional affirmation contradicts Scripture's teaching that "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth" (Hebrews 12:6 KJV). A church that never corrects demonstrates less biblical faithfulness, not more love.
How can churches recover?
First, return to "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV). Churches must teach the whole Bible, not just comfortable passages.
Second, restore the balance of grace and truth. Jesus was "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14 KJV), and our churches should reflect both qualities. Truth without grace becomes legalism; grace without truth becomes licence.
Third, reclaim loving correction: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness" (Galatians 6:1 KJV). Biblical churches practise restoration, not mere affirmation.
The modern church stands at a crossroads. Our calling remains clear: "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15 KJV). We cannot abandon either element.
While "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV), this liberty isn't freedom to ignore God's Word—it's freedom to embrace it wholeheartedly from a position of grace.
As Jesus promised, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35 KJV). The modern church need not be a free-for-all. With courage, conviction, and compassion, we can reclaim our calling to be "the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15 KJV) in a world desperate for God's unchanging wisdom…
With Christ's love,
Dave & Elaine
