Podcasts about 10jesus

Jn 10:1-10Jesus said:“Amen, amen, I say to you,whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gatebut climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice,as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.When he has driven out all his own,he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,because they recognize his voice.But they will not follow a stranger;they will run away from him,because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.”Although Jesus used this figure of speech,the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you,I am the gate for the sheep.All who came before me are thieves and robbers,but the sheep did not listen to them.I am the gate.Whoever enters through me will be saved,and will come in and go out and find pasture.A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy;I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

It is time for new angels and counting of blessings! We have come through Feast of Passover and humbled ourselves and received Yeshua sacrifice as more than enough for our eternal redemption and life of superabundance ! It is time to move ahead into the promised land and the 7 Blessings from Exodus 23:23-30 are yours !Jesus was pierced for our transgressions that we may now live in abundance in our souls!These 7 Passover blessings are:God will assign an angel to His people (Ex. 23:20)God will be an enemy to the enemies of His people (v. 22)God will give prosperity to His people (v. 25)God will take sickness away from His people (v. 25)God will give long life to His people (v. 26)God will bring increase and inheritance (v. 30)God will give a special year of blessing (v. 31)Read scripture below ..John 10: 7-10Jesus is our Door or portal entry to the Pasture or eternal rest Now!He leads us into Life in natural which is Hebrew word “Zoe” compared to “psuche “ or soul. He says Abundantly we should live in our mind, will and emotions by faith . Are you ?Let's journey together into Superabundance! The Hebrew word for abundance is “perissos “ which means superabundance or superior beyond and this word is broken down to root word “peri” which means with respect to time all things enter completeness which means nothing missing or broken. Beautiful in His time! This Hebrew word “peri” is broken down to word “Peran” which means to pierce through . He was pierced so we could enter completeness and wholeness in superabundance !John 19:36-37Isaiah 53:5But he was pierced (wounded) for our transgressions, he was crushed (bruised) for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his wounds (stripes) we are healed.Passover Seed-Deuteronomy 16:16-17Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty:Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.”If you would like to give a Passover offering to help the ministries of Candice Smithyman Ministries & Dream Mentors Intl -you can here -https://www.candicesmithyman.com/donate-pageStart the brand new Hebrew religious calender year of. Nisan off right on with a copy of Dr Candice new book “365 Prophetic Revelations from Hebrew Calender”- go to www.Candice Smithyman.comhttps://amzn.to/4aQYoR0Learn to live in SuperAbundance- Join DREAM MENTORS and BECOME A CERTIFIED COACH!Do you want to be trained as good disciples or biblical life coach ? Do you need to experience transformation in your souls so you can be the best God is calling you to be. Go to www.dreammentors.orgFREE Zoom CALL with Dr Candice - It's time now to sign up for our next Ascension class and join Dr. Candice's Glory Road Community!Maximize Your Prophetic Potential monthly class is Wednesday April 30 at 10 am and 6 pm EST. You can choose which one. Sign Up here —http://bit.ly/4gfRKXm

Luke 17:1-10Jesus gives instructions for his followers on how to view our service to God, how seriously to take avoiding sin, how much forgiveness matters to him, and what having faith for the miraculous is like.

+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke 19: 1 – 10Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." And he came down quickly and received him with joy.When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner." But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over."And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost."The Gospel of the Lord

+ Holy Gospel according to St. Luke 17: 7-10Jesus said to the Apostles: “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table'?Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'?Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'”The Gospel of the Lord

Das Losungswort und der Lehrtext der Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine:Du wirst meine Seele nicht dem Tode lassen.Psalm 16,10Jesus spricht zu Marta: Ich bin die Auferstehung und das Leben. Wer an mich glaubt, der wird leben, ob er gleich stürbe; und wer da lebt und glaubt an mich, der wird nimmermehr sterben. Glaubst du das?Johannes 11,25-26Titel der Andacht: "Leben, ob er gleich stürbe"Nachzulesen in nah-am-leben.de

Das Losungswort und der Lehrtext der Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine:Ihr seid meine Zeugen, spricht der HERR.Jesaja 43,10Jesus spricht: Ihr werdet die Kraft des Heiligen Geistes empfangen, der auf euch kommen wird, und werdet meine Zeugen sein in Jerusalem und in ganz Judäa und Samarien und bis an das Ende der Erde.Apostelgeschichte 1,8Titel der Andacht: "Ihr seid meine Zeugen"Nachzulesen in nah-am-leben.de

Feast of the Transfiguration of the LordMk 9:2-10Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John,and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost The Collect: O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament: 2 Kings 4:42-44 42A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing food from the first fruits to the man of God: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, “Give it to the people and let them eat.” 43But his servant said, “How can I set this before a hundred people?” So he repeated, “Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.'” 44He set it before them, they ate, and had some left, according to the word of the Lord. Psalm: 145:10-19 10 All your works praise you, O Lord, *        and your faithful servants bless you. 11 They make known the glory of your kingdom *        and speak of your power; 12 That the peoples may know of your power *        and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; *        your dominion endures throughout all ages. 14 The Lord is faithful in all his words *        and merciful in all his deeds. 15 The Lord upholds all those who fall; *        he lifts up those who are bowed down. 16 The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, *        and you give them their food in due season. 17 You open wide your hand *        and satisfy the needs of every living creature. 18 The Lord is righteous in all his ways *        and loving in all his works. 19 The Lord is near to those who call upon him, *        to all who call upon him faithfully. Epistle: Ephesians 3:14-21 14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Gospel: John 6:1-21 1After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” 6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7Philip answered him, “Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” 10Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all.11Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” 13So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” 15When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.16When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. 20But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”21Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.

June 23, 2024Pastor Matt KendrickI Am the Door of the SheepJohn 10:7-10Jesus being the Door of the sheep brings a sometimes difficult truth into the light… He's the only One who can save. No other god, no other promise, no other way, can deliver you happiness, hope, freedom. No other one can deliver you to God, except Jesus. He's the Door. Sheep need a shepherdI can find rest in the ShepherdThank you for listening!For more info on Redemption City Church check out our website. If you'd like to connect with us further, please fill out a Connection Card and one of our staff will get in touch with you.Follow us on on social media: Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

First Sunday after Pentecost Trinity Sunday The Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament: Isaiah 6:1-8 1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. 5And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 6Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” 8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” Psalm: Psalm 29 or Canticle 13 (or Canticle 2) 1 Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, *        ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his Name; *        worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;    the God of glory thunders; *        the Lord is upon the mighty waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice; *        the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendor. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; *        the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon; 6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *        and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire;    the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; *        the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 8 The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe *        and strips the forests bare. 9 And in the temple of the Lord *        all are crying, “Glory!” 10 The Lord sits enthroned above the flood; *        the Lord sits enthroned as King for evermore. 11 The Lord shall give strength to his people; *        the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace. or Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; *        you are worthy of praise; glory to you. Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name; *        we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever. Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; *        on the throne of your majesty, glory to you. Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; *        we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever. Glory to you, beholding the depths; *        in the high vault of heaven, glory to you. Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *        we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever. Epistle: Romans 8:12-17 12So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. Gospel: John 3:1-17 1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.' 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”10Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.' 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?  11“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.  16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.  17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” 

Monday of the Fourth Week of EasterJn 10:1-10Jesus said:"Amen, amen, I say to you,whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gatebut climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber."

Paul writes to Timothy concerning our Lord Jesus. God,  who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel . 2 Timothy 1:9-10Jesus in his incarnation abolished death and brought life and immortality.  To explore the meaning of this work of Christ Jesus we need to ask and answer two questions.  Where or in whom is eternal life? When does eternal life begin. Second Jesus is referred to as the firstfruits from the dead and the firstborn of and from the dead. Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.What does this mean and what bearing does it have on us and the resurrection from the dead?Bible Insights with Wayne ConradContact: 8441 Hunnicut Rd Dallas, Texas 75228email: Att. Bible Insights Wayne Conradgsccdallas@gmail.com (Good Shepherd Church) Donation https://www.gsccdallas.org/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTZX6qasIrPmC1wQpben9ghttps://www.facebook.com/waconrad or gscchttps://www.sermonaudio.com/gsccSpirit, Truth and Grace MinistriesPhone # 214-324-9915 leave message with number for call backPsalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Paul writes to Timothy concerning our Lord Jesus. God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel . 2 Timothy 1:9-10Jesus in his incarnation abolished death and brought life and immortality. To explore the meaning of this work of Christ Jesus we need to ask and answer two questions. Where or in whom is eternal life? When does eternal life begin. Second Jesus is referred to as the firstfruits from the dead and the firstborn of and from the dead. Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.What does this mean and what bearing does it have on us and the resurrection from the dead?

Leitura do Evangelho de Jesus Cristo segundo João 6,1-15 Naquele tempo, 1Jesus foi para o outro lado do mar da Galileia, também chamado de Tiberíades. 2Uma grande multidão o seguia, porque via os sinais que ele operava a favor dos doentes. 3Jesus subiu ao monte e sentou-se aí, com os seus discípulos. 4Estava próxima a Páscoa, a festa dos judeus. 5Levantando o olhos e vendo que uma grande multidão estava vindo ao seu encontro, Jesus disse a Filipe: “Onde vamos comprar pão para que eles possam comer?” 6Disse isso para pô-lo à prova, pois ele mesmo sabia muito bem o que ia fazer. 7Filipe respondeu: “Nem duzentas moedas de prata bastariam para dar um pedaço de pão a cada um”. 8Um dos discípulos, André, o irmão de Simão Pedro, disse: 9“Está aqui um menino com cinco pães de cevada e dois peixes. Mas o que é isto para tanta gente?” 10Jesus disse: “Fazei sentar as pessoas”. Havia muita relva naquele lugar, e lá se sentaram, aproximadamente, cinco mil homens. 11Jesus tomou os pães, deu graças e distribuiu-os aos que estavam sentados, tanto quanto queriam. E fez o mesmo com os peixes. 12Quando todos ficaram satisfeitos, Jesus disse aos discípulos: “Recolhei os pedaços que sobraram, para que nada se perca!” 13Recolheram os pedaços e encheram doze cestos com as sobras dos cinco pães, deixadas pelos que haviam comido. 14Vendo o sinal que Jesus tinha realizado, aqueles homens exclamavam: “Este é verdadeiramente o Profeta, aquele que deve vir ao mundo”. 15Mas, quando notou que estavam querendo levá-lo para proclamá-lo rei, Jesus retirou-se de novo, sozinho, para o monte. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/amigocatolico/message

GospelJOHN 3:7-157Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born anew.' 8The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit." 9Nicode'mus said to him, "How can this be?" 10Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this? 11Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."

Leitura do Evangelho de Jesus Cristo segundo João 13,1-15 1Era antes da festa da Páscoa. Jesus sabia que tinha chegado a sua hora de passar deste mundo para o Pai; tendo amado os seus que estavam no mundo, amou-os até o fim. 2Estavam tomando a ceia. O diabo já tinha posto no coração de Judas, filho de Simão Iscariotes, o propósito de entregar Jesus. 3Jesus, sabendo que o Pai tinha colocado tudo em suas mãos e que de Deus tinha saído e para Deus voltava, 4levantou-se da mesa, tirou o manto, pegou uma toalha e amarrou-a na cintura. 5Derramou água numa bacia e começou a lavar os pés dos discípulos, enxugando-os com a toalha com que estava cingido. 6Chegou a vez de Simão Pedro. Pedro disse: “Senhor, tu me lavas os pés?” 7Respondeu Jesus: “Agora, não entendes o que estou fazendo; mais tarde compreenderás”. 8Disse-lhe Pedro: “Tu nunca me lavarás os pés!” Mas Jesus respondeu: “Se eu não te lavar, não terás parte comigo”. 9Simão Pedro disse: “Senhor, então lava não somente os meus pés, mas também as mãos e a cabeça”. 10Jesus respondeu: “Quem já se banhou não precisa lavar senão os pés, porque já está todo limpo. Também vós estais limpos, mas não todos”. 11Jesus sabia quem o ia entregar; por isso disse: “Nem todos estais limpos”. 12Depois de ter lavado os pés dos discípulos, Jesus vestiu o manto e sentou-se de novo. E disse aos discípulos: “Compreendeis o que acabo de fazer? 13Vós me chamais Mestre e Senhor, e dizeis bem, pois eu o sou. 14Portanto, se eu, o Senhor e Mestre, vos lavei os pés, também vós deveis lavar os pés uns dos outros. 15Dei-vos o exemplo, para que façais a mesma coisa que eu fiz. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/amigocatolico/message

Luke 19:1-10Jesus's encounter with Zaccheus is another well known story unique to Luke, and it brings together several different themes that run through this gospel. There were many barriers to God in Zaccheus's life, but Jesus calls him by name and declares that salvation has come to this house this very day.

Most of us know the story of the Transfiguration. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to a mountain top and gives them a glimpse of His glory. Fr. Jim takes this well known passage and asks us to find our own mission and our own vision to embrace the glory of God in simple and humble ways.from Mark 9:2-10Jesus took Peter, James, and Johnand led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.And he was transfigured before them,and his clothes became dazzling white,such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,and they were conversing with Jesus.Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,"Rabbi, it is good that we are here!Let us make three tents:one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;from the cloud came a voice,"This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyonebut Jesus alone with them.Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022524.cfmHeart to Heart Catholic Media MinistryInspire Believers. Evangelize Seekers. Foster Disciples.--https://htoh.us/subscribehttps://htoh.us/donate

Luke 19:1-10Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2 Now a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 He was trying to get a look at Jesus, but being a short man he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, because Jesus was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, because I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down quickly and welcomed Jesus joyfully. 7 And when the people saw it, they all complained, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I now give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!” 9 Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this household, because he too is a son of Abraham! 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 19:1-10Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

SUMMER IN PSALMS HOLINESS IN THE HOUSE Sunday, August 13, 2023Psalms 15:1-5This is a very interesting Psalm because it starts with questions.There are only 51 questions in the book of Psalms and this chapter begins with two of those questions.Who can dwell in your tent?  Who can live on your holy mountain?David proceeds to give us a list of requirements from those who wanted to come into the House of the Lord.These are the requirements that David lays out for the people of God - 1. Walk blameless.2. Do right.3. Speak truth.4. Do not slander.5. Do no evil.6. Take up no reproach against his friend.7. Honor those who fear the Lord.8. Keep our word even if it hurts us.9. Do not take advantage of a neighbor in need.10. Refuse the bribe against the innocent.All these requirements are focused on our relationship with our fellowman.Matthew 5:21-24You love and serve Him by loving and serving them. - T.L. OsbornMatthew 24:10Jesus came…. This changes everything and changes nothing.Hebrews 8:6You don't get good to get God - you get God to get good. - Kentucky ProverbWe must have holiness in the house!The world needs to see a holy church.

July 23, 2023Pastor Matt KendrickJesus and ZacchaeusLuke 19:1-10Jesus shattered the social structures of His day by dining with those who had no business dining with Him. Kindness and goodness expressed in the form of hospitality, surrounding our family table with strangers and the unlikeliest of guests, has the power to redefine belonging in a divisive world. Jesus challenges you to take His mission home… He sets up your house, your apartment, your dorm room as an embassy of the kingdom.Christian hospitality is about those who have no business being there, being there.Zacchaeus started the day with a full bank account and an empty life, but he ended the day with a full life and an empty bank account.Thank you for listening!For more info on Redemption City Church check out our website. If you'd like to connect with us further, please fill out a Connection Card and one of our staff will get in touch with you.Follow us on on social media: Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Hey everyone! This week's topic is a continuation of last week's: consumption. In part one, it was all about music. In this part two episode, we will focus on social media and how that has influenced our lives as Christians. We share some of our experiences with and reservations about social media, as well as some of its benefits! We hope you leave this episode reflecting on your own media consumption and are encouraged to make changes if needed! We love you and enjoy!References:Keep your eyes on Jesus | Colossians 3:1-2Run the race God marked out for you | Hebrews 12:1Run your race for the prize | 1 Cor. 9:24Faith without works is dead | James 2:17Don't let your choices cause others to stumble | Romans 14:13Jesus has living water | John 4:10Jesus has a food we know nothing of | John 4:32-34

    1Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John   2(although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),   3He left Judea and went away again into Galilee.   4And He had to pass through Samaria.   5So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph;   6and Jacob's well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.   7There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”   8For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.   9Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)   10Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”   11She said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water?   12“You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?”   13Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;   14but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”   15The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.”   16He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.”   17The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband';   18for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.”   19The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.   20“Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”   21Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.   22“You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.   23“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.   24“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”   25The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.”   26Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”   27At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why do You speak with her?”   28 So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men,   29“Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?”   30They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.   31Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”   32But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”   33So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?”   34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.   35“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.   36“Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.   37“For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.'   38“I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”   39From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.”   40So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.   41Many more believed because of His word;   42and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”  New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update, (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 4:1–42.

Fallen Condition FocusWe must enter into God's Kingdom under the righteousness of Christ.IntroductionHave you ever been invited to something so important there was no chance youwould say no to the invitation. I was thinking about this, this week.If you recall now in Matthew we have reached Wednesday of what we call holyweek. Just a couple of days prior you may recall that Jesus had gone into thetemple and out of disgust for what he saw cleansed the temple.Here Israel was situated on this land bridge that was centrally located between 3comments. As travelers would come through, God's design was that throughIsrael, they would be pointed to the Lord. His Temple would welcome them intoknowing Him and worshiping.But nothing could be further from the truth. They had perverted what had beenentrusted to them. To those they should have been ministering to, they wereexploiting for their own financial gain.So it's no wonder why Jesus removed them with such emotion. And I suspect theywere boiling about this all day on Tuesday. And in Chapter 21 we find them,having licked their wounds, back at Jesus again with more questions designed totrap him. By what authority do you do these things? Where is your degree? Whatseminary gives you the right to be a teacher. And it is really this question, thatlaunches Jesus into a series of 3 Judgement based parables. Two of which we havealready covered, and the final one that I want to cover today, that we will call, theparable of the wedding feast.Trilogy of Judgement Parables2o Parable of the Two Sons (21:28-31)o Landowner and the vinyard (21:33-46)o The wedding feast (22:1-14) Read Text22:1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,It's very appropriate based on what we discussed earlier that Jesus would answertheir questions with a parable. A parable is a simple story, like an allegory, thatuses everyday experience to teach a deeper heavenly meaning. But more than thatthese parables had a specific purpose to conceal the truth from the hard heartedPharisees and reveal truth to the humble would be disciples who would hear themwith open hearts.[Mar 4:10-12 ESV] 10 And when he was alone, those around him with thetwelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, "To you hasbeen given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outsideeverything is in parables, 12 so that "'they may indeed see but not perceive,and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and beforgiven.'"So these parables are blessing are both a treasure to some and at the same time ajudgement for others. So Jesus continues to teach in parables.22:2 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king whogave a wedding feast for his son,Jesus is very clear about what this parable is about. We don't have to wonder. Weare talking about the Kingdom of Heaven. Understand this is not some futurestate Kingdom that we might find in the book of Revelations, although it doesinclude that, but Jesus has the present time in mind as he talks about the Kingdomof Heaven. He is speaking of the area of God's rule, God's people who are part ofhis Kingdom even here on earth. As we are saved even today we are brought intoGod's Kingdom. So Jesus begins to tell a story about what it is like to be amember of God's Kingdom.3And he chooses to describe this as a wedding feast. Not just a wedding feast but aroyal wedding feast. One thing I noticed when I moved to Charleston was thatweddings are a big deal here. I can't tell you how many times I have been on anairplane flying back home to Charleston and the plane is filled with a weddingparty coming to Charleston to get married. But it was even bigger in ancientJerusalem. In fact in was not uncommon for a wedding to last a week. It was anextremely joyful time full of happiness and feast after feast. And the best part wasas a guest you didn't have to pay.Now in the parable we don't just have a wedding, we have a royal wedding. AndI don't have to tell you, that if a typical wedding was a week you can imagine thecelebration that this King would be having to honor his Son the crown Prince.Jesus wants those listening to him to be thinking of the biggest most festive eventthat they can possibly imagine multiply it by 10 and then you start to understandwhat is going on here. That is the picture.Now we get to invitation #1.22:3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to thewedding feast, but they would not come.Notice something interesting here, I missed it when I first read it but it is veryimportant. The King sends his servants to call whom? Those who were alreadyinvited. This is very telling. This is not a cold call invitation, in fact, the King hasalready provided details of the wedding. He has already sent out the guest list andnotified everyone. All the servants do is go out a remind them the time has cometo attend this most festive occasion. It's time for the celebration to begin.Let's stop here and define who the character's in the parable represent. Obviouslythe King is God the Father. And the Son, is none other than Jesus Christ. But whoare the guests? Who are the ones who have already been notified of the coming ofthe Messiah, and in this present day are being invited to come to him. These guestsare the nation of Israel. God's chosen people in the Old Testament were notified to4be on alert because the Son would be coming. He is talking about the Phariseesand Scribes standing in his midst as he tells this parable. The have been invited byMoses, Elijah, Jeremiah, all the old Testament prophets. This verse is an exactsummary of the entire Old Testament.“They would not come”. At this point, I want you to audibly hear the crowdaround Jesus gasp as he says these words. What do you mean they would notcome! How is this possible? They have been invited to the Royal Weddingfestivities and they refuse the King! Can you imagine!Invitation #222:4 Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See,I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have beenslaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast."'What a gracious benevolent King! After the rejection and utter disrespect that theguests have brought upon his Son, he is patient and extends grace. The Kingreminds them that there is nothing you have to do. He says I have done all thework. The preparations are made everything is finalized, all you have to do isanswer the invitation. He bidst them ones more to come.I was reminded as I read this of Jesus' Cry just 2 days later as he would be hanginon the cross, “It is finished.” The work to complete salvation is was done at thatmoment. He calls us to him not to add anything to what he has done, but tosimply bask in the work that has been done for us.This King is patient. You know God is patient with us too. Many times, just likethese Jews, we have ignored God's call to come to him. But God is patient, andGod is good. So extends another invitation to them.5And among these second wave of servants that were sent to them was none otherthan, John the Baptist, Jesus himself, All of the apostles have been sent to invitethem again to come to the wedding party.Look how they respond to this second invitation:22:5 & 6 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to hisbusiness,while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killedthem.I can imagine that those hearers of this parable by now are ready to rip their robesat the direction this story is headed. We see here two groups that respond quitedifferently. Group 1 responds with indifference. They simply do not care aboutthe Kingdom, about the King, or about the honored Son.We see this same response today right. Have you ever shared the gospel or sharedsomething spiritual with non-believers and they look at you like you have 3 eyes.They don't understand, they don't care to understand, and perhaps they thinkyou're a crazy person. Such was this first group.The first group is wrapped up in the everyday things of the world, maybe it's thework they have at the farm, or tending to their business. They are more concernedabout the things of this world and really don't care about anything beyond that.The reality is that this represents much of the modern world and certainly muchof the US. Bringing honor and glory to the Son is laughable to them incomparison to the everyday pursuits of their lives. This is the response of thesecular world.The second group is different. We see a dramatic statement in verse 6 that theyare so enraged by the repeated invitation that they result to murdering the servantsof the king. These are the religious crowds who are so enraged by the invitation6that they ultimately would murder the very ones who were sent to bring them thenews. John was beheaded, Jesus was nailed to a cross, and the apostles martyred.22:7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed thosemurderers and burned their city.The King was kind a gracious, but his invitation has a limit. His patience has alimit. And now he has had enough. This is a warning to us as well. For a time,God invites us to come to him, but if we continue to harden our hearts and rejecthis invitation we too will see his wrath.Also verse 7 we get a prophecy from the Lord himself. Notice it also say that the“burned their city”. We know that their city is Jerusalem, so what is Jesus talkingabout here?In AD70 the city of Jerusalem would be utterly destroyed. The temple would bedestroyed. And the Jewish people would even lose their ability to maintain thesacrificial sytem without a temple. In the destruction of this city more that 1.1 Mjews were killed and the entire city was left in ruin. As a result the Jewish peoplewere scattered.Now we look at the third invitation.22:8 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but thoseinvited were not worthy.Notice that the Son will be honored. The King is not wriging his hands in concernthat nobody will be there to honor the son. In fact, all of the wedding is about theson. Not the bride! We must be careful that we understand this about salvation.Salvation is not centrally about you. While we do get the benefit of eternal life, ofgetting to be with the God in heaven, the real focus of salvation is about bringinghonor and glory to the Son. That is what is at the root of salvation! The King willfill the wedding hall with worthy people in order to exhault the name of the Son.722:9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast asmany as you find.'The King instructs them to go out where, unto the main roads. Not the backroadsfull of locals, but to the main intersections where tourists, travelers, gentileswould be passing thru.We here the echoes here of the great commission. Go ye therefor into all nations.We are ordered to do the same thing as we share the gospel to all those weencounter. And we invite them to come to this wonderful wedding.22:10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whomthey found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled withguests.We notice that the servants do not discriminate when they make this thirdinvitation. Those who appear morally good or morally bad, they are all invited tocome to the wedding. I'm reminded of the parable of the soils where the sowerjust went about slinging seed. He didn't worry about where the seed landed he letGod sort all that out. Such is a picture of sharing the gospel. We shouldn't thinkoh man that guy looks like a bad dude, I'm not sharing the gospel with thatperson.22:11 "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a manwho had no wedding garment.It's almost like Jesus could have stopped the story at verse 10, but he provides forus a very interesting plot twist at the end.Remember these guests were just going about their everyday tasks on the road,and they got invited to this wedding. So clearly the King made some kind ofprovision for them to be appropriately dressed for the occasion. To show up to the8vent with dirty, worn, or inappropriate clothing would surely bring dishonor tothe event and to the Son.It's also clear from the verse that everybody in the wedding hall has on thegarments, except for this one person.There has been much discussion from theologians about what these weddinggarments are meant to represent. But most people agree the idea here is that thegarments represent righteousness.[Isa 61:10 ESV] 10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in myGod, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered mewith the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with abeautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.This concept goes all the way back to the garden of Eden, when Adam and Evefirst sinned. If you remember they tried to cover themselves but were not able tomake for themselves a suitable covering. So if you recall God killed an animaland covered their nakedness with the skin. It was the very first picture of the onewho would come someday, and by his bloodshed would provide for us a coveringof righteousness.Notice the King is gracious in asking why the man doesn't have on the covering.He gives the man an opportunity to answer for himself.22:12 And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without awedding garment?' And he was speechless.The man is speechless. He doesn't have a reason. It must be that this man by hisown will determined that he would enter the wedding party and he would do sounder his own terms. This part of the parable is pointed directly at the church.There are echos of when Jesus said, many in that day will say to me Lord, Lord…9and I will say depart I never knew you. Jesus warns us that there is but one wayinto the wedding celebration and that is to be covered by his righteousness.To bring our own so-called righteousness to the party is tragic mistake. The bestwe have to offer is not acceptable.[Isa 64:6 ESV] 6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all ourrighteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and ouriniquities, like the wind, take us away.22:13 Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and casthim into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping andgnashing of teeth.'There is a limit to God's patience. The time will come when he will invite us nomore, when the time to accept the wedding garment is no longer an option.To keep the man from resisting he is bound, he is immediately removed from thepresence of the King, and he is not allowed re-entry under any circumstances. It isimportant that even those of us who find ourselves among the guests in thewedding party that we take a look at our garments. Who's garments are youwearing? Are we trying to attend the wedding party on our own terms or onGod's terms.I love this last verse. Jesus tags it on there, and it is simply mind boggling.22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen."This entire parable has been about the choices of men. Choices about if theywould attend, if they would not attend. If they would dress appropriately or ifthey would defy the King. Man's will is central to the parable. And just as Jesushas us fully understanding that, he drops in this verse. “Many are called, but feware chosen.”10Jesus reminds us that in all of these things God is still sovereign. It is one of thegreat mysteries of Scripture. John 6:44, no one can come to me unless the Fatherdraws him in. God is sovereign, and if we find ourselves clothed in righteousnessin the midst of the Son, it only because his grace has been extended to open oureyes, remove our hearts of stone, and give us a new spiritual birth. And he iscalling all today to come to Him. Let's Pray.Lord's Supper:Invite musicians and server's to go ahead and come.Explain, this is the response part of the service. The covering or wedding garmentthat Jesus provided, was not free. His blood was spilled, his body was broken. Sotoday as we partake in the Lord's supper we remember that.You don't have to be a member here to participate, but you do have to be abeliever in good standing with the Lord. Meaning you have no unconfessed sin orbroken fellowship with others in the congregation.Perhaps you want to come up here and pray, or pray where you are, that's allokay. I'll be standing right over here if you want to come pray with me.

Entrance Hymn #205 Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing!Psalm #645 (10:15 a.m.) The King of Love My Shepherd IsSequence Hymn #343 Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and BlessOffertory Anthem Loving Shepherd (Bach, arr. various)Communion Hymn #304 I Come With Joy to Meet My Lord SaviorPost-Communion Hymn #708 Like A Shepherd Lead UsTHE COLLECT OF THE DAYO God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.FIRST READING Acts 2:42-47Those who had been baptized devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.PSALM 23 (8:00 a.m.) King James Version The LORD is my shepherd; *I shall not want.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; *he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; *he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his Name's sake.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; *for thou art with me;thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.Thou preparest a table before me in the presence ofmine enemies; * thou anointest my head with oil;my cup runneth over.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the daysof my life, *and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.SECOND READING 1 Peter 2:19-25It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.“He committed no sin,and no deceit was found in his mouth.”When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.GOSPEL John 10:1-10Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in byanother way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.So again...

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Tuesday morning, the 25th of April, 2023, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Gospel of John 12:24, Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”“For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory,…”Hebrews 2:10Jesus went through a lot of suffering to bring many sons to glory, and you and I too must be prepared, through much suffering, to bring people to salvation. It's a very expensive thing to follow after the Lord. I remember years ago, having a Mighty Men Conference on this very farm, and it was called, ”Dying to Live”. If you want to live, you have got to die. What does that mean? That's a real paradox, isn't it? It means if you want to have eternal life, you must be prepared to die to your own self's desires. You know, as a farmer, you take that seed and it is treated with insecticide so no insects can damage the seed. If you put it in a special room, where the temperature is controlled, that seed can remain in that room for years but nothing will happen. It is only when you take the seed and put it into beautiful damp soil that has been properly prepared, that it will germinate and grow into a beautiful crop. The seed must die for new growth to take place. Many years ago, in 1927, a young missionary by the name of Jim Elliott, went into the Amazon Jungle to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Auca Indians. They eventually killed him, but before he died he wrote in his journal, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim Elliott gave his life. The world said, “What a waste. He was a wonderful student, he was a champion wrestler, whatever he did he succeeded in, what a waste!” But do you know something? Through his death, thousands of students all over the world went into the mission field and preached the Gospel to the lost.Today, spend yourself on behalf of another soul and the Lord Jesus Christ will honour you. Have a wonderful day,Jesus bless you and goodbye.

1After this Jesusrevealed himselfagain to the disciples bythe Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.2Simon Peter,Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael ofCana in Galilee,the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.3Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to him, We will go with you. They went out and got into the boat, butthat night they caught nothing. 4Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciplesdid not know that it was Jesus.5Jesus said to them,Children, do you have any fish?They answered him, No.6He said to them,Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.7That disciplewhom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, It is the Lord! When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,he put on his outer garment, for he wasstripped for work, andthrew himself into the sea.8The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards[a]off. 9When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.10Jesus said to them,Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.11So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.12Jesus said to them,Come andhave breakfast.Nownone of the disciples dared ask him, Who are you? They knew it was the Lord.13Jesus came andtook the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.14This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. Jesus and Peter 15When they hadfinished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,Simon,son of John,do you love me more than these?He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him,Feedmy lambs.16He said to him a second time,Simon, son of John, do you love me?He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him,Tendmy sheep.17He said to him the third time,Simon, son of John, do you love me?Peter was grieved because he said to himthe third time,Do you love me?and he said to him, Lord,you know everything; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him,Feedmy sheep.

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;2this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”3Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”4Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?”5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.6“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.7“Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.'8“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”9Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?”10Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?11“Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.12“If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?13“No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.14“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;15so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update, (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 3:1–15.

Maundy Thursday The Collect: Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament: Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14 1The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. 3Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. 4If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. [5Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight.7They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. 10You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.] 11This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord. 12For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 13The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance. Psalm: Psalm 116:1, 10-17 1 I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, *        because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him. 10 How shall I repay the Lord *        for all the good things he has done for me? 11 I will lift up the cup of salvation *        and call upon the Name of the Lord. 12 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *        in the presence of all his people. 13 Precious in the sight of the Lord *        is the death of his servants. 14 O Lord, I am your servant; *        I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;        you have freed me from my bonds. 15 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *        and call upon the Name of the Lord. 16 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *        in the presence of all his people, 17 In the courts of the Lord's house, *        in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.        Hallelujah! Epistle: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 23For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Gospel: John 13:1-17, 31b-35 1Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 31Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.' 34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Third Sunday in Lent The Collect: Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament: Exodus 17:1-7 1From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” 4So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Psalm: Psalm 95 1 Come, let us sing to the Lord; *        let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *        and raise a loud shout to him with psalms. 3 For the Lord is a great God, *        and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *        and the heights of the hills are his also. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, *        and his hands have molded the dry land. 6 Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *        and kneel before the Lord our Maker. 7 For he is our God,   and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *        Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! 8 Harden not your hearts,   as your forebears did in the wilderness, *        at Meribah, and on that day at Massah,        when they tempted me. 9 They put me to the test, *        though they had seen my works. 10 Forty years long I detested that generation and said, *       “This people are wayward in their hearts;        they do not know my ways.” 11 So I swore in my wrath, *       “They shall not enter into my rest.” Epistle: Romans 5:1-11 1Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. 6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. 8But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.9Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. 10For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.11But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Gospel: John 4:5-42 5So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.7A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8(His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) 10Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” 13Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” 15The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” 17The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband'; 18for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!”19The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.”26Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.” 27Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?” 28Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, 29“Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” 30They left the city and were on their way to him. 31Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” 34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. 35Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest'? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. 36The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.' 38I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” 39Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. 41And many more believed because of his word. 42They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”

HOLY GOSPEL: John 4:5-42 Jesus defies convention to engage a Samaritan woman in conversation. Her testimony, in turn, leads many others to faith. 5 [Jesus] came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.6Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. 7A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) 10Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” 13Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” 15The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” 17The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband'; 18for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” 19The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” 26Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.” 27Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?” 28Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, 29“Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” 30They left the city and were on their way to him. 31Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” 34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. 35Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest'? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. 36The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.' 38I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” 39Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. 41And many more believed because of his word. 42They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ

HOLY GOSPEL: John 3:1-17    1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.' 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?  11“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.  16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.  17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” 

First Sunday in Lent The Collect: Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 15The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” 1Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?” 2The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.'” 4But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; 5for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. 7Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. Psalm: Psalm 32 1 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *        and whose sin is put away! 2 Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, *        and in whose spirit there is no guile! 3 While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *        because of my groaning all day long. 4 For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *        my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, *        and did not conceal my guilt. 6 I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” *        Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin. 7 Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble; *        when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them. 8 You are my hiding-place;   you preserve me from trouble; *        you surround me with shouts of deliverance. 9 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; *        I will guide you with my eye. 10 Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; *        who must be fitted with bit and bridle,        or else they will not stay near you.” 11 Great are the tribulations of the wicked; *        but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord. 12 Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; *        shout for joy, all who are true of heart. Epistle: Romans 5:12-19 12Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned—13sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. 14Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. 15But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man's trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. 16And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. 17If, because of the one man's trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18Therefore just as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man's act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.19For just as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11 1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” 5Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,' and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'” 7Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'”8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'” 11Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Second Sunday in Lent The Collect: O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament: Genesis 12:1-4a 1Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Psalm: Psalm 121 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills; *        from where is my help to come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, *        the maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved *        and he who watches over you will not fall asleep. 4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel *        shall neither slumber nor sleep; 5 The Lord himself watches over you; *        the Lord is your shade at your right hand, 6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day, *        nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; *        it is he who shall keep you safe. 8 The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in, *        from this time forth for evermore. Epistle: Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 1What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 4Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. 5But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. 13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith.14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”) —in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Gospel: John 3:1-17 1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.' 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”10Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Take a quick look with me at the unspoken expectations we form of what God should do, when He should do it and how He should do it verses actually listening to God and following Him. You will be astonished to see Peter trying to control and manipulate Jesus and also be delighted with Jesus' good response to Peter over the course of his entire life - but especially at the Sea of Galilee when Peter meets Jesus again on the sea shore! Jesus takes fallible, imperfect broken people and makes quality human beings out of us : )Verse References;1st "Who Is the Greatest Argument" - Mark 9:30 2nd "Who Is the Greatest Argument" - Mark 10:32, Matt 20:203rd "Who Is the Greatest Argument" - Luke 22:24 4th "Who Is the Greatest Argument" - Mark 14:29 (Peter says He won't fall even if the other 11 do)Peter tries to control Jesus - Mk 16:21Peter chops the soldiers ear off - John 18:10Jesus meets Peter during the 2nd Catch of Fish on the Seashore - John 21 Resources:Please feel free to email me at chris@godisjustlikejesus.com if you like an episode or you have suggestions how to improve an episode.Search for “God Is Just Like Jesus” on these Platforms:Podcasts: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Pandora | Amazon MusicWeb Site: http://www.godisjustlikejesus.com/Concept Video: https://youtu.be/Hi6kknKWjCwYou Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFy1XIDN1N-Poe9Xj_VrggQMusic by AlexiAction from PixaBay

Compassion at Christmas: Presence > PresentsLuke 2:1-10Jesus' presence is greater than any present. Jesus Presence Brings Comfort.Jesus' Presence Brings Good News.Jesus' Presence Brings Great Joy.

In The Winners Circle, explore the power of ambition and modeling, turn freedom on its head and ultimately discover Jesus' path to greatness.__The Anchor Verse...but among you it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. –Luke 22:26John 13:1-201Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him.Having the right PERSPECTIVE on serving.And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" 7Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand." 8Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." 9Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" 10Jesus said to him, "One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you." 11For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean."12After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?Matthew 26:6-10Luke 22:23-27Luke 7:36-50It is a movement to where serving is seen as not something we HAVE TO DO, but something we GET TO DO.Looking to the PERSON who embodies serving.13You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them.Philippians 2:3-11It is movement to where serving is not just SOMETHING YOU DO but an expression of WHO YOU ARE. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.Understanding the PROMISE to those who are serving.It is movement toward understanding that it is more BLESSED TO GIVE than to RECEIVE.Acts 20:35...you are blessed if you do them.Living into the PRACTICE of serving.It is movement to where SERVING becomes a WAY OF LIFE.Places to serve:STRUCTURED Places: keeps us in the HABIT of servingSPONTANEOUS Places: keeps us open to NEW OPPORTUNITIES to serveSECRET Places: keeps us HUMBLE in our servingSHARED Places: keeps us GROWING in our servingWhat is God inviting you into today?I want to renew/become a member for the 2022/23 Ministry Year!My family would like to attend the Annual Ministry Celebration Lunch for Members and Regular Attenders on November 20th.

Anchor Passage: Matthew 5:14; Matthew 5:3-10Jesus calls the Church a city on a hill—a community of His people who serve the needy with humility. Join us as we learn how to serve others and transform our communities in a way that can't be hidden!

1 Nowbeforethe Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew thathis hour had cometo depart out of this world to the Father,having lovedhis own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.2During supper, whenthe devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,3Jesus, knowingthat the Father had given all things into his hands, and thathe had come from God andwas going back to God,4rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel,tied it around his waist.5Then hepoured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet?7Jesus answered him,What I am doingyou do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.8Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him,If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.9Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!10Jesus said to him,The one who has bathed does not need to wash,except for his feet,[a]but is completely clean. Andyou[b]are clean,but not every one of you.11For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said,Not all of you are clean. 12When he had washed their feet andput on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them,Do you understand what I have done to you?13You call meTeacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,you also ought to wash one another's feet.15For I have given you an example,that you also should do just as I have done to you.16Truly, truly, I say to you,a servant[c]is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.17If you know these things,blessed are you if you do them.

Lectionary 24 / 14th Sunday after Pentecost, Revised Common Lectionary Year C Luke 15:1-10Jesus' stories of the lost sheep and the lost coin remind us of the basics.  

Get more blog posts, photos, and specials at our website: https://www.refocused-ae.com ------------------------------------------------ FOLLOW US: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refocused.ae/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refocused.ae/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdj9XBMP ------------------------------------------------ For you PODCAST listeners, you can find us on all platforms, just pick your favorite: ANCHOR: https://anchor.fm/anthony-and-essence APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/refocused-with-a-e/id1586192271 GOOGLE: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy82YzU4ZThkNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gfRDlINIjUH7YDuSEJws9 ------------------------------------------------ Show Notes: We have heard the adage of "Loving Thy Neighbor" all our lives, but how do we truly apply this, and when is it used out of line? The Story of the woman at the well (John 4: 7-26) Then a woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink”— 8For His disciples had gone off into the city to buy food— 9The Samaritan woman asked Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me, a The Jews considered Samaritan women ceremonially unclean. Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (For Jews have nothing to do with Samaritans.) 10Jesus answered her, “If you knew [about] God's gift [of eternal life], and who it is who says, ‘Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him [instead], and He would have given you living water (eternal life).” 11She said to Him, “Sir, The woman's response is due to the fact that “living water” was the normal description for running water. She probably thought that Jesus was referring to the underground water source that fed the well. You have nothing to draw with [no bucket and rope] and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12Are You greater than our father Jacob (renamed Israel in Gen 32:28) was the son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham and father of the twelve sons who established the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob, who gave us the well, and who used to drink from it himself, and his sons and his cattle also?” 13Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. 14But whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. But the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water [satisfying his thirst for God] welling up [continually flowing, bubbling within him] to eternal life.” 15The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not get thirsty nor [have to continually] come all the way here to draw.” 16At this, Jesus said, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17The woman answered, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I do not have a husband'; 18for you have had five husbands, and the man you are now living with is not your God does not regard cohabitation as marriage. Marriage is a binding, legal covenant between a man and a woman. husband. You have said this truthfully.” 19The woman said to Him, “Sir, I see that You are a prophet. 20Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where one ought to worship is in Jerusalem [at the temple].” 21Jesus replied, “Woman, believe Me, a time is coming [when God's kingdom comes] when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You [Samaritans] do not know what you worship; we [Jews] do know what we worship, for salvation is from the Jews. 23But a time is coming and is already here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit [from the heart, the inner self] and in truth; for the Father seeks such people to be His worshipers. 24God is spirit [the Source of life, yet invisible to mankind], and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Ch

Hebrews 5:7-10Jesus, God incarnate, spent time in intense, impassioned, powerful prayer. Andrew and Edwin talk about His example and our own habit of praying.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=9840The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

we are too easily satisfied. we are able to be satisfied with conditions that are way less than God's design for us or what grace now makes possible for us. We are often okay with living with things that are not the way they were meant to be -paul david tripp john 10:10Jesus came to bring us LIFE and that it would be experienced abundantly 

March 13, 2022 Where there is no vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18Big Vision Requires Small Beginnings.OUR VISION: We exists to make life giving relationships that lead people to Know and Follow Jesus Christ.1. Make Life Giving Relationships.You were created for community.2. Lead People to Know Jesus.I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.  Philippians 3:10Jesus is the focus.I am the way the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.   John 14:61.  Take Steps to Follow Jesus.For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Ephesians 2:10I was created on purpose for a purpose.All the believers were one in heart and mind.  No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.  With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  And God's grace was so powerful at work in them all.  Acts 4:332. Our Unity determines our strengthYour love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.  John 13:35I'd rather have united novices than divided experts3. Our generosity determines our impact.You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion and your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  2 Corinthians 9:11We will go and grow as fast as you give and serve.”  4. Our participation determines our success.Keep doing anything short of sin to reach people.  Discussion Questions:What would you miss most if you lost your sight?Why is community so important to you and in the church?How can we know what our Next Step toward God is?What are some examples of things that divide us?How can God been generous to us?What can you do to embrace Vision God has for your life?

This psalm tells us God's anger is for a moment but His favor is for a lifetime- vs. 5.God will turn our mourning into danger and give us garments of joy instead of sackcloth- vs.11Judgement is not the final word for God's peopleExodus 34:6-7; Isaiah 54:7-10Jesus fulfills the psalm in the greatest sense by HIs resurrection and He turns our grief to joy. 

Heaven Celebrates When You Are Found: Luke 15:8-10Jesus used many stories and parables to get his messages across. One such parable was about a woman who had ten silver coins. She loses one of the coins in her house and proceeds to search diligently for it. She gets a lamp so she can see and sweeps her whole house until she finds the coin. She is so happy after she finds it that she calls her neighbors and friends together and tells them to rejoice with her because she has found her lost coin.Jesus goes on to say that in the same way this woman celebrates with her neighbors and friends, the angels in heaven celebrate and rejoice when one lost sinner repents and comes to the Lord. Jesus loves those that are lost and He came to find them. Jesus called Himself the light of the world. As sinners we were once lost and in darkness, but when the light of Jesus' love finds us we are no longer in darkness. Heaven celebrates that day when we choose to become a child of God and walk in the light. This is a short story and one of many that Jesus shared showing God's love for those who are lost and are in need of a savior. If you don't know Jesus today and you want to be in God's family, pray this simple prayer.Lord Jesus, thank you for finding me and giving me hope, forgiveness, and eternal life. I repent of all my sins and I receive you as my personal savior through faith. Thank you for loving me and for not giving up on me. Guide me with Your light and fill me with Your Holy Spirit right now, in Jesus name I pray, Amen. (John 3:16)PS. If you would like to support us consider checking out www.litwithprayer.com and picking up our devotional prayer journal to our new pieces of Christian-based Jewelry. Subscribe at litwithprayer.substack.com

Most of us know the story of the Transfiguration. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to a mountain top and gives them a glimpse of His glory. You can read the full Gospel below. Fr. Jim takes this well known passage and asks us to find our own mission and our own vision to embrace the glory of God in simple and humble ways. The full transcript is available here.Mark 9:2-10Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus.Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here!Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son.  Listen to him.”Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyonebut Jesus alone with them.As they were coming down from the mountain,he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.Fr. Jim's Gospel Studies followed the Catholic Lectionary 3-year cycle. A Vision to Guide Us is the second Gospel Study for Lent in Year B. We are calling this "Season 2" since the season has to be a number and we are starting this Gospel Teachings podcast in Year/Cycle B.Gospel Study: Fr. Jim WilligGospel Narration: Fr. J Michael Sparough, SJNarration: Lili Fuller Narration Producers: Lili Fuller and Joe SofrankoPrimary Music: Michael KramerAdditional Music: Gettin Through It by Brent Wood licensed to Nathaniel Stubblefield via SoundstripeProducer: Nathaniel Stubblefield