Podcasts about Advent

Our attitudes and outlooks can impact our lives significantly, so maintaining our God-given joy is essential. But how do we maintain joy? In this sermon covering the third week of Advent, Pastor Allen Jackson shares three steps we can take to keep our joy intact, and he teaches about the impacts joy has on perseverance, especially through suffering. Like hope that needs a foundation to rest on, joy requires upkeep, and we can practice that through familiarity with God's Word, listening to God's voice, and being in godly community. Holidays can be painful, but we can have lasting joy even through suffering, because our joy is made complete through our willingness to persevere in faith.

Today’s Topics: 1) Here are the meanings of 11 common Advent and Christmas terms that you might not already know! https://www.churchpop.com/meanings-of-christmas-words-you-never-understood/ 2) The ox and the ass on Christmas 3) Christmas was our “D” day: Christ came to save us and take back that which was stolen by the devil https://jesseromero.com/blog/my-reflection-christmas 4) The untold story of the Pope behind the Christmas Truce of 1914 https://www.churchpop.com/the-untold-story-of-the-pope-behind-the-famous-christmas-truce-of-1914/

In Week Five of our Advent to Epiphany series, we focus on Saint Joseph, Head of the Holy Family, and the reality of responding to God when life feels anything but calm. Using the story of the Flight into Egypt, this episode explores what it looks like to hear God's voice in the middle of fear, disruption, and uncertainty—and still move forward.We talk honestly about the tension between wanting peace and feeling overwhelmed, the discomfort of prayer, and the challenge of trusting God when we don't feel ready or capable. Saint Joseph doesn't say much in Scripture, but his actions show us how to lead, protect, and surrender—one faithful step at a time.If you've ever felt like you're not enough, unsure of the next move, or stretched beyond your comfort zone, this conversation is for you.Scripture Focus Matthew 2:13–15, 19–23HighlightsResponding to God instead of the noise around usWhy discomfort might be a sign we're actually listeningTrusting God with what He's placed in front of us—family, faith, and daily responsibilities..............................

Can joy be anything but denial in a rage-filled public life? Michael Wear joins Mark Labberton to reframe politics through the kingdom logic of hope, agency, and practices of silence and solitude. As 2025 closes amid political discord, we might all ask whether joy can be real in public life—without denial, escapism, or contempt. "… Joy is a pervasive and constant sense of wellbeing." In this conversation, Michael Wear and Mark Labberton reflect on joy, hope, responsibility, and agency amid a reaction-driven politics. Together they discuss the realism of Advent; the limits of our control; how kingdom imagination reframes anger; hope beyond outcomes, dignity under threat, and practices (including silence and solitude) that restore clarity. Episode Highlights "Joy is a pervasive and constant sense of wellbeing. … Joy is not a technique to then get people to do what you want them to do." "God's Kingdom is the range of his effective will." " Someone whose hope is rightly placed sees that a dignity denying culture does not have the final say." "Our will is effective and those things in which our will is not effective." "The pattern of domination and violence is an old one." About Michael Wear Michael Wear is the Founder, President, and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, a nonpartisan nonprofit that contends for the credibility of Christian resources in public life, for the public good. He has served for more than a decade as a trusted advisor to civic and religious leaders on faith and public life, including as a presidential campaign and White House staffer. He is the author of The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life and Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America. Learn more and follow at https://www.michaelwear.com. Helpful Links and Resources Michael Wear, The Spirit of Our Politics https://www.zondervan.com/9780310367239/the-spirit-of-our-politics/ Michael Wear, Reclaiming Hope https://www.thomasnelson.com/9780718082338/reclaiming-hope/ Center for Christianity and Public Life https://www.ccpubliclife.org/ A National Call to Silence and Solitude https://www.silenceandsolitude.org/ Dallas Willard: "Personal Soul Care" https://dwillard.org/resources/articles/personal-soul-care Howard Thurman, Jesus and the Disinherited https://www.beacon.org/Jesus-and-the-Disinherited-P1781.aspx Show Notes End of 2025, cusp of Christmas; fraught public moment; joy as the lynchpin for faithful presence in politics and public life Joy held with pain, suffering, complexity Refusing denial while trusting a God who relentlessly pursues the world in love and hope Joy intertwined with hope, responsibility, agency Where does responsibility end and faithful agency begin? "Willard would say joy is a pervasive and constant sense of wellbeing." " It is very difficult to have joy if you are taking responsibility for things that are not your responsibility." Public life as joyless space; lacking imagination for joy amid provocation, antagonism, and constant political showmanship "If there are places in our life where we can't conceive of joy, it's a problem with our view of God." Misplaced responsibility, misplaced hope; joy collapses when taking on burdens that aren't ours and treating agency as ultimate "God's kingdom is the range of his effective will." "We each have our own little kingdoms … where what we say to be done is done." Politics reveals limits; a clarity about what we can do, what we can't do, and what we must import into the rest of life "Our will is effective, and there are things in which our will is not effective." "Faithfulness is not the ability to determine a righteous outcome … to everything in which our lives touch." False responsibility, obscured agency Are we taking charge of what isn't ours while ignoring the real choices we do have? "That's a recipe for joylessness." Poked and prodded by provocations; entertainment, antagonisms, and helplessness normalize reaction and justify complicity Anger as political fuel Many assume that raising your voice is the only faithful posture inside the public arena. "I've had people respond to me: 'How am I going to get anything done in politics without anger?'" "Political imagination has been taken over by a political logic as opposed to a kingdom logic." Relearning responsibility and agency; hope not grounded in our effectiveness, but in what God is doing beyond our reach. "Ultimate hope lies outside of the range of our effective will." "It is in that realm in which we are perfectly safe." Hope is for a life that pervades all things. "So when your hope is in the right place, you can hope for a whole range of things." " Someone whose hope is rightly placed sees that a dignity denying culture does not have the final say." Hope and joy "when your back is against the wall" Allen Temple Baptist Church: Joy at the margins of culture Fannie Lou Hamer Howard Thurman, Jesus and the Disinherited First Presbyterian Church in Evanston, IL Michael Wear, The Spirit of Our Politics Psalm 23 as distress-psalm: Enemies are still present, yet God leads beside still waters and cares most in greatest distress. "Take off the old self with its practices and put on the new self." "Put on Christ now in a way that will affect everything around us." Herod: The paranoid leader Advent into Christmastide—what it means to dwelling in Emmanuel "This is why the incarnation is such an extraordinarily important cornerstone: It's that God enters in through Jesus into our world, in a world in which, yes, there may be great praises in heaven and on earth from those who understand something at least of who he is and what he's there to do. But it also lands him in a world of immediate physical and familial vulnerability of political and social, if not military, violence." Are we protected from vulnerability, or living in precarity? The pattern of domination and violence Refusing forgetfulness as 2026 approaches with fresh pressures and fresh calling. National call to silence and solitude; disinvesting from reactionary instincts to engage the world with renewed vision and clarity. silenceandsolitude.org "Silence and solitude… can infuse your public activity with right vision and right clarity." #MichaelWear #MarkLabberton #ChristianPublicLife #ChristianPolitics #SpiritualFormation #Joy #Advent #SilenceAndSolitude #Hope #PublicWitness Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment Magazine and Fuller Seminary.  

The most important word in salvation is little and easy to miss. What could happen if we lived it?

Mary knows! Her Son, the Key of David is coming. Does He have permission to unlock you into new freedom?

He comes to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their father.

In our next-to-last episode of 2025, Tim, Jon, and BibleProject CEO, Steve Atkinson, review all the resources we released this year, while reflecting on the bigger worldwide movement of people reading the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus. The guys then share about some of what's coming up next for BibleProject in 2026.TIMESTAMPSGratitude for Our Mission (0:00-4:08)New “One Story That Leads to Jesus” Reading Plan (4:08-9:01)A Year Studying Themes From Exodus (9:01-16:15)How the Bible Was Formed and the Deuterocanon / Apocrypha (16:15-17:53)The Bigger Movement of Reading the Bible as One Story (17:53-27:34)2025 Classroom Releases (27:34-30:02)2025 Updates to the BibleProject App (30:02-31:58)Ten Years of the BibleProject Podcast (31:58-33:09)What Are We Releasing in 2026? (33:09-38:38)Gratitude for Our Volunteers, Prayer Team, and Patrons (38:38-45:01)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode's official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESSubscribe to the “One Story That Leads to Jesus” annual reading plan on The Bible App by YouVersion.Check out our 2025 collections of resources! Each has a video, podcast series, scholar-written guide, reading plan, and group study.The MountainThe Exodus WayRedemptionThe WildernessListen to the 2025 podcast series How the Bible Was Formed.Watch the 2025 overview video series on The Deuterocanon / Apocrypha.Listen to the 2025 Advent podcast series.Check out OneStory, a creative nonprofit that develops free Bible studies, lessons, and homeschool curricula—all featuring BibleProject resources.See how Streetlights has localized BibleProject videos for their audience.Watch or listen to the final installment of our Genesis Classroom series, Joseph. Also check out the second installment of the Gospel of Matthew Classroom series, The Messianic Torah, which focuses on the Sermon on the Mount.Download the BibleProject App from the iOS App Store or Android Google Play Store.SHOW MUSICBibleProject theme song by TENTS SHOW CREDITSProduction of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, who also edited today's episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty writes the show notes. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie. Special thanks to our guest, Steve Atkinson.Powered and distributed by Simplecast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's the last episode of 2025! Join Raechel and Amanda as they reflect on the final week of our Advent 2025 study and the whole of 2025. What a year it's been, and we are so grateful you've been along for the journey!Open your Bibles with us this week! This episode corresponds to Week 5 of She Reads Truth's Advent 2025 reading plan. You can read with the She Reads Truth community on our site, in our app, or with our Advent 2025: Tidings of Comfort and Joy printed or digital Daily Reading Guide.She Reads Truth on Instagram & FacebookRaechel Myers on InstagramAmanda Bible Williams on Instagram*If you purchase something through our links, She Reads Truth may earn an affiliate commission.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Magellan AI - https://docsend.com/view/5vdvbdx7cr4tikmyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy

Today, we continue our Advent journey by stepping into Anna's quiet yet powerful moment of worship in Luke 2:36–38. As a widow shaped by years of loss, prayer, fasting, and devotion, Anna's eyes had been trained to recognize Jesus when He appeared in the temple. Her story invites us to consider how a life turned toward God forms our ability to truly see Him. Drawing from Bette Dickinson's devotional Making Room in Advent, this episode explores what it means to make room for worship — to offer our grief, longing, and faithfulness to God. Through Anna's witness, we're invited to see how worship clarifies our spiritual vision so that when God shows up in our own stories, we'll recognize Him — and help others see Him too. I hope you'll listen in. Get Faith & Feeling's weekly resource email Watch this episode on YouTube Grab a copy of my book Stop Saying I'm Fine Connect with me on my website Find me on Instagram @__taylorjoy__ Key words: Advent season, spiritual formation, vulnerability, listening, creativity, emotions, curiosity, presence, process, courage, self-awareness, emotional health, personal growth, waiting, hope, connection, worship

In this season of Advent as we approach Christmas, you might imagine reading this while sitting by a fireplace, sipping a hot cup of cocoa, with Christmas carolers singing in the neighborhood.Wait—that's not happening for you? Your last name isn't Hallmark? Yeah, me neither.For many of us, this season leaves us feeling rushed and pulled in countless directions. If we're honest, it can be deeply stressful and fill our hearts with anxiety. Others may experience a sense of emptiness or loneliness that feels especially heavy this time of year—bringing its own kind of anxiety, even if for different reasons.In the midst of feeling peace-less, Scripture reminds us that Jesus offers us His peace. Join us on this message from B.J. Van Kalsbeek as we continue our series, The Arrival. We consider how we can experience peace from the Prince of Peace—not only this Christmas, but all year long, even when life feels far from perfect.--WebsiteFacebookInstagramSunday SetlistConnect with us!How can we prayer for you? Let us know.

We first prepare the way by getting out of the way!

There is none greater than John the Baptist…yet the least in the kingdom is greater than he. We are not exactly impressive, but we are so privileged and loved.

Are you happy? Why or why not? Lift up your hearts! Gaudete! He is near.

It's the calm between the Christmas storms in the Cassidy-Humphreys household and Nat, Marc, and Eliza have popped into the pod room to debrief Christmas so far, and brief on the rest to come. Enjoy! xx Please subscribe, follow, and leave a review. xxx You can find us in all places here; ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podfollow.com/lifewithnat/view⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We're on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/lifewithnatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Nat's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natcass1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Marc's insta: @camera_marc Neice's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natsnieces⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tony's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tonycass68⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linny's insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@auntielinny.lwn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MORE LIVE SHOW! 07/02/2026 Brighton, The Forge TICKETS 08/02/2026 Newcastle upon Tyne, The Stand TICKETS 25/02/2026 Folkestone, Quarterhouse TICKETS 28/02/2026 Colchester, Arts Centre TICKETS 07/03/2026 Manchester, Fairfield Social Club TICKETS 22/03/2026 Leeds, The Wardrobe TICKETS 29/03/2026 Bristol, The Gaffe - TICKETS Book Club: November's book - All Together for Christmas by Sarah Morgan & December's book (optional extra for the speedy readers) - A Heart for Christmas: Advent Romance by Sophie Jomain Nat's solo chats - any rants always welcome!  Scraping the Barrel - SCAN AND SHOP VIRGIN NO LONGER! Bonce vs list! - Are you a list maker? Always collecting for Nostalgia Fest! What's brewing with the Nieces - are we all skipping the end of summer, all of autumn and going straight to Christmas - Nat's door is! Group chat ettiquette & pranks. Nice Lorraines… get in touch! Advent calendars & gift recommendations v. welcome! Things we're nagging with Linny about - More lateness stories and some cleaning questions, please! The Tony talks chatter - Keep your DIY questions coming, also open to some saucy two paragraph stories for Tony to read out at the Southend show - think cheeky postcards (both in tone and length)! Can we make Tony an influencer and get him any freebies?  TBC Cultural differences ep - inspired by Linny's Mediterranean heritage and her & Ellia's Italian trip, we'd love to hear about the cultural differences you've noticed between the UK and basically ANYWHERE else!  A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@keepitlightmedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textGrace and peace upon yall I hope you were able to enjoy Christmas with gratitude for all that we are blessed with in this life, whether little , enough or much... We wrap up our overview of The Book of Mark. My prayer is that  these high level spirit filled views impacted you, drawing you to go back dig deep into each verse of each chapter to build your intimate view from The Holy Spirit.God bless you as we move into 2026.Big LoveJeffSupport the show

As we have learned throughout this series, Christmas doesn't begin in Bethlehem—it begins in covenant. In this sermon, we trace the Davidic Covenant as the final “Adam reboot,” showing why David's throne had to fail so that the true Son of David could reign forever. This is Advent as royal history, covenant fulfillment, and the coronation of Christ the King.

Welcome to The All Means All podcast at Cathedral of the Rockies. This message the fifth in our Advent and Christmas series A Universe in Waiting, where we wait with great anticipation for the coming Lord. Discipleship Pastor Jen Binford teaches us how to be a people of waiting.Donate to our Capital Campaign: https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZA1K/campaign/C-14SNFGive Online: https://www.cathedraloftherockies.org/donate/Connect with us:Facebook Downtown Campus: https://www.facebook.com/cathedraloftherockiesFacebook Amity Campus: https://www.facebook.com/cathedraloftherockiesamityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathedral_of_the_rockies/Instagram Cathedral Families: https://www.instagram.com/cathedralfamilies/

Pastor Sam    John 1:9-18Mission Hills Worship Bands Sounds Of Christmas

Elder Chad          Luke 2:22-40

Heute übernehmen die kleinen Experten das Mikro! Wir haben eure Kinder gefragt, was sie schon immer über das Camping wissen wollten, und die Antworten sind so spannend, dass selbst wir Großen noch was gelernt haben. Inke (@luftschloss_liebe) und Eva (@czamping) beantworten alles: Von der Frage, wer das Zelten eigentlich erfunden hat, bis hin zu den besten Tipps gegen schmutzige Camping-Klos.Special für Kids: In dieser Folge haben wir ein Geräusche-Rätsel versteckt! Hört gut hin, schreibt die Lösungen auf und gewinnt mit etwas Glück einen tollen Preis!

The True Story Behind Zurvan - The Demon From The Novel, "Advent of Evil"In Persian Mithraism, there was a deity associated with time and fate. His followers celebrated him during mid-winter festivals — festivals that reached their peak on December 24th. In the novel Advent of Evil, that deity appears as a demon who operates through a cursed advent calendar, enforcing strict rules: one door opened every day, no skipping, no ignoring. Break the rules, and there are consequences. Researchers tracing the object's history in the novel found it connected to a spirit board, a serial killer, a Christmas Eve fire, and thirty years of patient waiting. How much of the demon Zurvan has any basis in actual ancient mythology — and was there ever a real entity behind the fiction? We'll examine what archaeologists found on clay tablets dating back over three thousand years.CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Demon In The Advent Calendar00:05:13.171 = Show Open00:06:33.462 = A Thousand Years of Sacrifice00:18:20.446 = *** The Lion-Headed God In The Vatican00:41:40.408 = *** Kill Them All01:05:08.640 = *** The God Who Doesn't Care01:12:21.326 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakPRINT VERSION to READ or SHARE (Includes Sources):https://weirddarkness.com/zurvan=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: December 27, 2025EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/zurvanABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold cases, conspiracy theories, and more. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “20 Best Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a blend of “Coast to Coast AM”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Unsolved Mysteries”, and “In Search Of”.DISCLAIMER: Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#WeirdDarkness #AncientMythology #PersianMythology #Zoroastrianism #ChristmasOrigins #OccultHistory #AncientDemons #DarkHistory #MysteryReligions #WinterSolstice #Zurvan #AdventOfEvil

Advent 4, 2025. Paul White looks at the Isaiah prophecy of the sign given to us: a son born of a virgin and how there is one character who can trip it up. From The Garden Church of the Midlands in Irmo, SC.

The centurion believed in the power of God's spoken word. Do you?

He has come in history, He comes today through His Church, and He will come again at the end of our story. Wake up! He is near.

Blessed are the eyes that look at Him. Are you looking at Him? From now on these eyes will not be blinded by the lights…look at Him and come alive!

Join Pastor Landen Bosman for part 4 of our series, "The Wonder In The Manger"

“Truth Springs Up” is our sermon for Christmastide, taken from Psalm 85:11. This sermon was preached by Rev. Jason Garwood on Sunday, December 28th, 2025, during the Covenant Renewal Worship Service at Cross & Crown Church in Warrenton, Virginia. Learn more about our church and mission at www.crosscrownchurch.com.

Connect with God — on Abide, a Christian meditation app that provides a biblically grounded place to experience peace and progress in your relationship with Christ. Use this biblical meditation, narrated by Chloë Elmore, to center yourself on the truth in God's word. Where do your good gifts come from? Meditate on James 1:17. Allow the music & nature sounds, deep breathing, prayer, and scripture help you connect with God in a new way. For a 30 day free trial of our premium ad-free content, your trusted friend for meditation is right here: https://abide.com/peace Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This powerful message invites us to explore the profound difference between wishful thinking and genuine biblical hope. Through the story of Simeon in Luke 2, we discover that hope is not merely wishing for good outcomes, but rather a life-shaping certainty based on confident expectation in God's promises. Simeon waited his entire life to see the Messiah, and when he finally held baby Jesus in his arms, his hope was realized. His story challenges us to examine where we place our hope. Are we banking on circumstances, relationships, health, or political outcomes? Or is our hope anchored in Christ alone? The message powerfully illustrates this through Margaret Lutley's car accident testimony, where at 89 years old, her first response was gratitude for God's miracles rather than despair over her circumstances. We're reminded that as believers, we possess a hope that transcends our present difficulties because nothing can separate us from God's love. This Advent season calls us to wait as eagerly for Christ's second coming as Simeon waited for His first, finding our certainty not in what we see but in the unchanging promises of God who came as Emmanuel, God with us.

As the excitement of Christmas fades, many experience a sense of withdrawal. Yet, did you know that Advent was originally intended as a season to anticipate Christ's second coming? The Christian life is meant to be a continual Advent, an ongoing longing for His return. Unfortunately, many of us lose that fervor. How can we cultivate a renewed eagerness and hunger for His return in our everyday lives?

In the final message of Advent, from our Christmas Eve service, we look at the joy available in Christ because of his first coming, and the future joy that awaits us in his second coming.

In our online only service for December 28, we look at the fourth Advent candle, the candle of love. This week's discussion questions are below: Discussion Questions: 1. Alex says the angels' message can be summarized as “Do not be afraid—God loves you.” Where do you most need to hear that message right now? 2. Fear is described as the opposite of love. What fears tend to shape your decisions, reactions, or relationships? How might love change those responses? 3. 1 John says love begins not with our love for God, but with God's love for us. Why is that distinction important for how we understand faith and obedience? 4. Alex (quoting Willard) claims that because of Jesus, the universe is ultimately a “safe place” for us. What does “safe” mean in a world where pain, loss, and injustice still exist? 5. Which part of the Christmas story (Mary, Joseph, shepherds, angels) best reflects your current emotional or spiritual state—and why? 6. The message says some of our deepest anxieties come from feeling alone, hopeless, or that our suffering is meaningless. Which of these feels most real to you right now? 7. How does believing in resurrection—things lost being restored—shape the way we grieve or hope today? 8. Alex describes biblical love as “wanting the best for someone else, even at cost to yourself.”What might that kind of love look like in one specific relationship this week? 9. Fear leads to scarcity; love leads to generosity. Where might God be inviting you to live more generously—with time, forgiveness, attention, or resources?

What does it mean to sit with ancient Christmas songs in a complex, imperfect world? In this special episode of Perspectives FUMCSD Pastors Podcast, all three clergywomen – Revs. Trudy, Hannah, and Brittany – gather in the studio to reflect on the Advent season and their four-part series, Our Advent Mix Tape. Together, the pastors of First United Methodist Church of San Diego explore how Christmas music and ancient songs of Scripture can hold both darkness and hope – and how the season invites us into deeper ways of loving the world. The conversation invites listeners into deeper, more honest Christmas reflections on: Surprises that emerge while exploring Christmas songs Favorite Christmas songs and the spiritual gifts music offers Naming both the struggle and beauty of the season Living out light, hope, peace, joy, and love beyond Christmas A special Christmas gift: The pastors have curated a Spotify playlist, Our Advent Mix Tape. Listen here: fumcsd.org/mixtape. We also invite you to connect with our podcast community on Patreon, where you can chat with other listeners and go deeper in your reflections.

In Luke 2:8-20, we learn that only the Gospel offers true joy, peace and purpose.

Text: Matthew 2:1-12 Preacher: Derek Baker

December 28, 2025Today's Reading: Matthew 2:13-18Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 52:13-54:10; Matthew 2:13-23“Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted for they are no more.'” (Matthew 2:17-18)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Christmas is war. That may sound jarring in our ears, but we cannot forget that truth. Yes, the incarnation of our Lord has raised up the sons of Adam out of the sinful curse of thorns and thistles, dust and ashes. Yes, the birth of our Lord proclaims that we now live in Anno Domini (A.D.), salvation is ours, and eternal glory with God is ours by Christ as a free gift. But Rachel, who was buried in Bethlehem, becomes the embodiment of every Mother in Bethlehem whose son was murdered by Herod. And she weeps, mourns, and wails because Christmas is war, and war has spilled upon the innocent. The birth of the Savior is the first blow against the gates of Hell. It is terror unto demons and those who have allowed themselves to be twisted in wickedness, like King Herod. Herod understood that his wicked act was not merely of the earthly sort. He heard the Magi, he sought the scribes, he listened to the prophecy; Herod sought to fight against God. And this was a fight He'd never win. Today we remember these innocents, who died in the place of Christ, but we do not only remember in bitter tears, but with quiet hope because eventually Christ would die for them. We remember the promise that “precious/costly in the sight of the LORD, are the death of His saints.” (Psalm 116:15) What was lost and stolen from them has already been restored by His innocent death and glorious resurrection. And He will restore fully at His final Advent. And on that day, we will stand in the fullness of God's glory along with these blessed children, along with Rachel, and we will be comforted; our sorrow transformed by the radiant splendor of our God and King. Until then, Christmas remains a war, but a war that has been won by Christ. So do not grow weary; let the demons tremble, let the wicked repent and return to their gracious King Jesus, and let the redeemed stand tall in the splendor of the Gospel.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.All praise for infant martyrs, Whom Your mysterious love Called early from their warfare To share Your home above. O Rachel, cease your weeping; They rest from earthly cares! Lord, grant us crowns as brilliant And faith as sure as theirs. (LSB 517:9)Author: Rev. Matthew Synnott, associate pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, Illinois.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you'll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew's Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

Week 5 of the "Advent" series.

In honour of the season I present an unlocked episode from the bonus feed covering the poem known as 'The Advent Lyrics' or, more traditionally, 'Christ I'. Credits –  Music: 'Wælheall' by Hrōðmund Wōdening https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQfdqIyqJ4g&list=LL&index=5&ab_channel=Hr%C5%8D%C3%B0mundW%C5%8Ddening   Social Media -  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/anglosaxonengland Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Anglo-Saxon-England-Podcast-110529958048053 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anglosaxonenglandpodcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hidden Moment That Changed the World The Homily centers on the Annunciation (Luke 1:26–38) as the hidden . . . . . . yet decisive turning point of human history. Though proclaimed quietly to a single listener . . . Mary . . . it is an announcement of universal significance: the Word takes flesh. The Homily emphasizes how God's greatest act enters the world not through spectacle, but through humility, attentiveness, and consent. An Event Hidden from the World Yet Thunderous with Eternity Mary is portrayed as the one who is already listening when heaven speaks. Gabriel's greeting . . . “Hail, full of grace” . . . reveals her true identity, known fully only by God. Troubled but attentive, Mary questions not from doubt but from reverent understanding. When she says, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord,” her obedience allows the ineffable, eternal Word to become incarnate within her. The Homily also highlights the paradox of the Annunciation: an event hidden from the world yet thunderous with eternity, a public salvation accomplished in private obedience. Mary becomes the living “book” in whom the unspeakable Word is written. The Church, contemplating this mystery especially in Advent as it prepares for Christmas, and asks for the grace to imitate her humility, attentiveness, and surrender to God's will. Listen more to The Hidden Moment That Changed the World ------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Quote from the Homily As the angel completes his message to her, Our Lady says to the angel, behold. Note how remarkable this is!!! Now this is Our Lady speaking to heaven . . . She says, behold and now Our Lady speaks her own truth, her understanding of the truth that heaven has given her. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Art Work The Annunciation.: Netherland Painter: Robert Campin: 1422 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why was this image selected: This work places the Annunciation within the texture of daily life, emphasizing the “fullness of time” arriving quietly in a domestic setting. It visually expresses the theological claim that God enters history not through power, but through grace-filled obedience. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Luke 1: 26-38 First Reading: Isaiah 7: 10-14

Connect with God — on Abide, a Christian meditation app that provides a biblically grounded place to experience peace and progress in your relationship with Christ. Use this biblical meditation, narrated by Jonathan Cooke, to center yourself on the truth in God's word. What could have been going through Zechariah’s mind? Listen to his perspective from Luke 1. Allow the music & nature sounds, deep breathing, prayer, and scripture help you connect with God in a new way. For a 30 day free trial of our premium ad-free content, your trusted friend for meditation is right here: https://abide.com/peace Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Welcome to the Backlog Busters, Season 8 - Episode 50. Mathman and Hootz talk about Christmas shopping, getting a deal on Civilization VII, and a very special escape room-themed Advent calendar from Gen-Con. At the end of the episode we dished out tips and tricks for the PS1 games In the Hunt and Alien Trilogy. We also played some games...Hootz - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Pokemon Legends: Z-A, Monster Hunter Wilds, Hades IIRyan - Madden, Picross S6, BalatroIf you were a patron, you would hear all the stuff we talk about before and after the theme music. You never what you'll hear!If you would like to have more of the Backlog Busters in your life, head on over to the socials and follow these fine folks:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Sky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Backlog Busters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mathman1024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlazeKnight⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SkinnyMatt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Also, don't forget to join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discor⁠⁠d⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be part of the fun.Patreon link -->⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/BacklogBusters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SkinnyMatt's Extra Life page --> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to the Sunday Morning Worship Service of New Covenant Christian Ministries with Pastor Bill and Dr. D'Ann Johnson. Our mission is “Transforming all people into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.”  In today's sermon, Pastor Bill continues in the Advent series, focusing on love.

Welcome to the Sunday Morning Worship Service of New Covenant Christian Ministries with Pastor Bill and Dr. D'Ann Johnson. Our mission is “Transforming all people into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.”  In today's sermon, Pastor Kenneth Bryant II continues in the Advent series, focusing on joy.

Tim Suttle

The Messiah was laid in a manger in an unassuming town. Yet angelic hosts filled the skies to announce His arrival. Today, R.C. Sproul reflects on the overlap of humility and glory that characterized Jesus' birth. Request R.C. Sproul's devotional book The Advent of Glory, plus lifetime digital access to his teaching series Coming of the Messiah, with your donation of any amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4514/offer   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Get the digital teaching series with your donation: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global   Tune out the noise and tune in to RefNet, Ligonier's free 24/7 internet radio app. Download today and start listening: http://refnet.fm/app   Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Luke 2v4-7 with Tyler Staton At Christmas, we reflect on the birth of Jesus and what it reveals about God's love. From Abraham to the manger, this teaching invites us to consider belief as a personal response to a God who comes near and makes his home with us bridgetown.church/teaching

Click here to receive today's free gift on the Radio Page: Bible Overview – The Bible has 66 Books, more than 1,000 chapters, and was written by about 40 different authors. Bible Overview will help you get a grasp of each book quickly. Use the coupon code: RADIOGIFT for free shipping!*Limit one copy per person* --------Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would be a King with a reign like no other. Today, R.C. Sproul considers what this prophecy teaches us about Christ and the kingdom He came to establish. Request R.C. Sproul's devotional book The Advent of Glory, plus lifetime digital access to his teaching series Coming of the Messiah, with your donation of any amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4514/offer   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Get the digital teaching series with your donation: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global   Merry Christmas from the Renewing Your Mind team. Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Twenty-three days ago, a mysterious advent calendar arrived on Officer Matthew Klein's doorstep — no sender, no return address, just a heavy wooden box with twenty-four numbered doors and a carved face with hollow eyes. Since then, every trinket inside has proven to be an omen of death, each prophecy fulfilled in violence and horror. The entity behind it is Zurvan, an ancient demon from Persian Mithraism — the same demon ten-year-old Matthew accidentally summoned through a spirit board on Christmas Eve, 1995, the night his house burned and his family died while he ran. Now Zurvan has returned to finish what he started, possessing Matthew's loved ones, murdering those around him, and enforcing one rule: open each door on schedule, or suffer consequences beyond imagination. Matthew tried to destroy the calendar. It came back. He refused to open a door. Snakes attacked his son. Now it's December 24th — the final door, the culmination of Zurvan's ancient mid-winter celebration — and Matthew is engulfed in flames, his home burning, his family scattered in the chaos. The countdown ends today.Get the print version of the novel: https://weirddarkness.com/AdventOfEvil#WeirdDarkness #ChristmasHorror #HolidayHorror #SupernaturalThriller #HauntedCalendar #DarkChristmas #HorrorStory #DemonicEvil #CreepyTales #YuletideTerror