Podcasts about 15while

Intro: As you know, these days we are seeing some very serious dysfunction at many levels. We see it at the individual level, family level, economic level, cultural level, political level, and religious level. Let me be clear, dysfunction becomes damaging when the core problem is not addressed. For example, in a family where one person is addicted to alcohol or drugs, if this problem is not addressed properly, it will continue and result in serious dysfunction. Dysfunctional system, when uncorrected, will do what ever it takes to maintain that dysfunction. The person with the problem will usually identify someone else in the family as the problem and the cause of why there is so much conflict. This problem can be continued for generations if not corrected. This is the consequence of ignoring the truth and the truth of God's Word. In this passage, Dr. Luke some great insights into this issue through this account of Stephen was was appointed and commissioned by the Apostles to serve the orphans food. God's Truth in a Dysfunctional System Causes Conflict v. 8-10Stephen was a man full of God's grace, power, and godly courageRemember, Stephen was affirmed to serve the widows in the distribution of foodGod used him to perform many signs and wonders among the peopleA dysfunctional system will always strive to keep itself dysfunctional v. 11-14In order to do this , the system will oppose and resist healthy input e.g. God's TruthTherefore, the system opposes change and choses an identified patient who they claim is the problem. In this case, it was Stephen proclaiming the gospel of Christ and doing the work of the kingdomThe establishment decided to argue against the truth of Jesus and the WordThey could not win against Stephen, because he was full of the Holy SpiritWhen confronted with God's truth, there is a decision that must be madeReceive it, repent and confess and agree that God is correctMake adjustments in our lives according to God's willThe Holy Spirit gave Stephen God's wisdom as he answered and spokeNo argument against the God's truth will ever conquer the WordThe members of the Synagogue and  the Freemen met in secretThey persuaded some men to bring false accusations against Stephen to cause troubleThey chose to resort to deceitful and devious methods to try to keep their dysfunction system in place to preserve their powerThey accused Stephen of blasphemyThe made up something that never happenedThey even took the words of Jesus out of contextThis stirred up the elders and teachers of the lawPeople who resist God's truth will be quick to believe a lieThey will propagate the lie to protect their pride, power, and greedGod Honors His Servant Who Speaks and Lives God's Truth v. 15While these accusations were being levied against Stephen,  the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen's faceHis face was like the face of an angleGod's  truth will always shine despite the oppositionJesus said, 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jn 8:31–32.Even though Stephen was being interrogated and persecuted by people who refused to believe God's truth, he was a free man Closing: Anytime we choose to ignore God's truth, we will set ourselves up for potentially serious problem. We cannot and should ignore the truthGod is GodWe can try to ignore HimWe can try to eliminate HimWe can try or run from HimWe can ignore the truth of His Word and the Lord Jesus ChristBut God is real and livingNothing man can do can ever eliminate GodWe really can't run from HimWe cannot ignore the truth of His Word and the Person and work of Jesus ChristWe need to stop making excuses for ignoring God's Word!Let's come to the Lord's Table with a thankful heart and a humble heart ready to confess and repent of particular sin that the Word and the Spirit reveals in our lives.

Luke 24:13-35: "That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." 25And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" 33And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread."

Co-pastor Timothy Kim talks about what hope is, what it takes to imagine better things, and how that relates to the idea of God's Kingdom being present for us today (and not in the distant, unknown future).Readings:Luke 24:13-2413Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.”Excerpt from Paul Tillich's Sermon "The Right to Hope"“Where there is genuine hope, there that for which we hope already has some presence.  In some way, the hoped for is at the same time here and not here. It is not yet fulfilled, and it may remain unfulfilled. But it here, in the situation and in ourselves, as a power which drives those who hope into the future. There is a beginning here and now. And this beginning drives toward an end. The hope itself, IF it is rooted in the reality of something already given, becomes a driving, power and makes fulfillment not certain, but possible.”

http://versebyversebibleteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/Hebrews_3_14_19.mp3 [audio: http://versebyversebibleteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/Hebrews_3_14_19.mp3] 14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came […]