Loved + Sent Podcast

Matthew 23:23-24 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Love: Zephaniah 3:14-20; 1 John 4:7-12 Love not as an ideal, but as the presence of a person (1 John 4:9). Not (socially) distant, but near. Love linked to sacrifice. What did it cost Jesus to love you? Zephaniah reading brings together many of the themes so far - peace, joy, love. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Joy: Isaiah 12:1-6; Luke 1:26-38 The peace that the Lord brings about is based on Christ. Joy is based on what the Lord has done. This means it isn’t based on circumstances but is as firm and certain as he is. “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” Luke 1:28. Rejoice, for God is both with you now and is coming again! (Is. 12:6). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Peace: Isaiah 40:1-11; Luke 1:5-17 Announcement of peace comes to people who are embattled, embittered, as we are today. The setting of the announcement/John’s ministry is part of the message - dry, barren, desert. The Lord comes, even to those in the wilderness. The Lord as the bearer of peace. By his arm he rules, and he comforts (Is. 49:9-11). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Hope Matthew 1:18-25 From long ago, God’s people have hope in the promise that God himself would visit them, ushering in a new age of peace, joy, and his steadfast love. In the face of sin, exile, and oppression, hope waned, and the darkness grew. But then, in the fullness of time, the promise was kept. God himself visited his people. Jesus Christ, the Light of the World came. 2020 has been a year low on hope and peace. Joy is an afterthought, and love has perhaps grown cold. The world has again grown dark. But God has not forgotten his promises. The Light has come. Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love have come. And the Light is coming again. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

St. Paul was imprisoned unjustly for his proclamation of Christ. He called his jail time an opportunity to advance the gospel. He said, “My imprisonment is for Christ.” What opportunity stands before you? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Carefree (Not Anxious): “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matt. 5:6) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Focused (Not Scattered) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew. 5:3). Single-minded devotion: One treasure, one focus for the eye, one Master to serve. Simplicity in a world of complexity. Millions of things demand our attention. Want to be our treasure, want to catch our eye, want to be our Master. Heart/Core: Where is it focused? Or are you diluted? “Poor in spirit” are those entirely dependent on One beyond themselves. Reliant upon God, trusting him, seeking him alone. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

The Hidden Kingdom: Matthew 5:5; 6:1-18 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matt. 5:5) Giving, Prayer, and Fasting are all done in hiding, not visibly. Life before “Father” over performance before “others.” Confronts: selfies culture, self-promotion, putting on a front/profile. Striving for reputation, honor, appearance, to be liked/accepted. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Truth (Not Deceit) Matthew 5:8,33-37 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matt. 5:8) Deceit is not just lies, but truth twisted or misused. This is against Christian pious talk that veils sinful intent. Jesus lifts up “pure in heart,” the disciples’ transparency and vulnerability. Nothing to hide or cover-up. Repentance is the practice of truth-telling. Sin is uncovered and confessed. God “sees.” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Peace (Not Anger) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matt. 5:9) Our current polarization defines who you are by what you are against. “Be reconciled” v. 24. Value of restored relationship. Has there been division or tension in your relationships this year? Christ is our peace; therefore we are peacemakers. Peace is not easy to achieve. Requires sacrifice. Self-renunciation. The refusal of retribution (38-42) In a world where everyone is an enemy, what does it mean to “love your enemies.” The radical practice of peace is to love your enemy and pray for them. Who else is called to do this but the disciples of Jesus? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Distinct (Not the Same) Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth . . . the light of the world.” “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:10) Not “basic” - just like everyone else. Try to fit in with same style, fads. Vanilla. Tie in with LSSE Lord, make me salt, so others taste you. Make me light so others see you. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

The Backwards Kingdom: Matthew 5:1-11 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The Kingdom of heaven: The reign and rule of God. Christ as the King who advances the Kingdom. Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come.” in STL as it is in heaven. The Beatitudes as the description of citizens. Disciples. “Automaticities” - What we do without thinking. Unconscious reflex. Goal: The hearers recognize the Kingdom of God as necessarily distinct from the ways of the world. The hearers will be able to define the Kingdom of God. The hearers will memorize the Beatitudes in order to meditate on their identity as citizens of God’s Kingdom. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

How to send when you can’t see the end: Luke 10:1-12 Sending and the need for laborers. The imminent danger in working the harvest, “wolves.” Matthew 5:10-12 - persecution, rejection. The Great Commission Pentecost, the harvest festival. The liturgical color of green for life and revival. The power of the Holy Spirit to animate us in this time. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Fruit: How connection moves to action: John 15:12-17 Radical love, “Love one another” “Lay down life” Psalm 1 Great Commandment The current landscape: Everything is “turned in on self.” Politics, poles, social issues. The radical move outward - self-denial and sacrifice Fruit comes from connection and nutrients. Our fruit will distinguish us. We will look different than reactive poles or traditional labels. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Connection to the Church - How to remain connected when you’re apart: John 15:1-11 Connection to Christ means connection to his body, the church. A stand of aspen trees. Common root system, distinct trees. Introduce aspects of fall ministry plan: Community groups? Resources? Etc. Bonhoeffer, Life Together --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Connection to Christ - How to remain connected when you’re apart John 15:1-11 “Apart from me you can do nothing.” What does it mean to abide? To stay, to remain with. How do we stay connected to Christ when our previous contact points are disrupted? Discuss daily patterns, liturgies of devotional life. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Seed: How to respond when things die John 12:20-26; Matthew 13:31-32 The soil is tilled. Time to plant. Tilled soil can produce both the desired harvest or weeds. “Unless a grain of wheat.” The pattern of death and resurrection. Yes, we see death, but now is the opportunity for a new life. The church is a series of deaths and resurrections. The “nurse log” Small seed, major impact. “Mustard seed.” Don’t let your eyes deceive you. What must die? What must emerge? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Wilderness: What to do when everything has changed Exodus 13:17-18; 14:10-18 “Go forward.” Can’t go back to Egypt. God’s redemptive hand is on display in the wilderness. God always makes his promises in the place of uncertainty, not the place of safety. On the verge of failure, in the face of death. Wilderness as a place of testing, refinement, and increased dependence on Yahweh alone. “I am Yahweh your God.” John the Baptist, Isaiah. Canoeing the Mountains: unchartered territory, risk, uncertainty, adaptive change. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Psalm 150 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Psalm 81 To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. Of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob. He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known: “I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me! There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god. Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me! There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god. I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Psalm 51 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Psalm 67 "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!" --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Psalm 127 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

God Is Our Dwelling Place! A prayer of Moses the man of God: " Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. 2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” 4 A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. 5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death— they are like the new grass of the morning: 6 In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered. 7 We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. 10 Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. 11 If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. 12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days..." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

"When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

We Should Patiently Wait on God's Time When We Pray: "Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. 2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle. 3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts. 4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert. 5 Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up. 6 Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. 8 The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. 9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

We Should Continue to Glorify and Trust in God Amid Uncertainties and Troubles: "LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. 2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angelsand crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, 8 the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Lament: Psalms 13 1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? 3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, 4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. 5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked "1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law[b] of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Concerning Spiritual Gifts: "Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Following Paul’s Example: 3:15-21 "All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. 17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Philippians 4:10 - 20 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Ultimate and genuine JOY is found in Jesus Christ alone. Philippians 3:1-12 No Confidence in the Flesh “Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Christian humility is about seeking the interest of others before ourselves. Philippians 2: “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father…” Just because we have the right doesn’t mean we are right. Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should. BE LIKE CHRIST. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

True joy during trouble and uncertainty. Acts 16 16 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. 6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them... --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

The angel in the tomb knows the whole story of Jesus’ resurrection. When he sees the women, he proclaims the Gospel to them, shows them where Jesus’ body had formerly lain, and tells them that they can see Jesus themselves in Galilee. Likewise, the “angels” or messengers of the Church in the apostolic ministry tell God’s people where they can find Jesus and His salvation in the Means of Grace. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Readings: Hebrews 12: 18-24, Mark 14: 1-2, 53-65 (Sanheidren) 18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly[a] of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Readings: Hebrews 12: 12 -17, Mark 14: 26-31, 66-72 (Peter) 12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Readings: Hebrews 12: 7-11, Mark 14: 32-42 (Sleeping Disciples) 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Readings: Hebrews 12: 3-4, Mark 14: 10-14, 21, 32, 41-46 (Judas) 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Hebrews 12:1-2, Mark 14: 1- 9 (Woman at Bethany) 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

God wants us to grow up to be a blessing to others and to his glory. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

God wants us to grow up to be a blessing to others and to his glory. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

God wants us to grow up to be a blessing to others and to his glory. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

God wants us to grow up to be a blessing to others and to his glory. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

God has called us to serve him in our vocations as a daughter, son, husband, wife, teacher, nurse, and so forth. But it all begins with the first step("One Step"). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

God has called us to serve him in our vocations as a daughter, son, husband, wife, teacher, nurse, and so forth. But it all begins with the first step("One Step"). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

God has called us to serve him in our vocations as a daughter, son, husband, wife, teachers, nurses, and so forth. But it all begins with the first step("One Step"). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message

Gray Matters – 2020 Reliant Speaker Series. Chad Bird is an author and speaker who is devoted to honest Christianity that addresses the raw realities of life with the Good News of Jesus Christ. He has served as a pastor professor and guest lecturer in Old Testament theology and Hebrew. He is a regular contributor to Christ Hold Fast, 1517, and Mockingbird Ministries, and he co-hosts the popular podcast, “40 Minutes in the OT.” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loved-sent-podcast/message