Podcasts about after easter

Time to Go — Week 1: The Great Commission (Matthew 28). After Easter we're called out of the pew and into everyday mission. This message explores Jesus' post‑resurrection command — “Therefore, go…” — reminding us that because our past is forgiven and our future is secure, every place and person in our week becomes a mission field. Practical next steps: name your places, name your people, and practice simple life‑giving conversations. Leave worship ready to live sent where you already are.

After Easter and Christmas, the Day of Pentecost is the most important Holy Day of the Christian Year. Without the Holy Spirit, nothing that Christ has accomplished would be available to us. The Spirit takes what is of Jesus, and delivers it to us. In our sermon this week, we will look at how each reading shows how the Holy Spirit brings order to all things. He brings order to creation, to the nations, to the Church, and to our souls. You can view the full service here: https://youtube.com/live/JJWJHw0jZoM

Send us Fan MailWaiting is one of the most honest tests of faith, because it presses on the part of us that wants control, speed, and certainty. After Easter, we sit in that tension: Jesus has risen, the gospel is true, and yet we still find ourselves praying, “Lord, come quickly.” From Galatians 5:5, we explore how Christian hope is not wishful thinking but Spirit-shaped confidence, even when the calendar drags and the answers feel late. We trace the big Bible storyline of waiting, starting in Eden with the first promise of a rescuer, moving through Israel's long centuries of prophecy and delay, and arriving at the surprising humility of Christ's birth. Simeon's moment of holding Jesus becomes a picture of what steady trust looks like when God's promises finally arrive. Then the focus shifts again: after the resurrection, a new season begins, the wait for Christ's return, and the daily question becomes how to live faithfully in the meantime. We get practical about “waiting on the Lord” as active trust, not passive inactivity: prayer, obedience, perspective, and refusing anxiety-driven choices. There's also a personal thread of grief and hope, including family loss, the joy of a new grandchild, and a healing testimony that points back to God's goodness and timing. If you're in a waiting season right now, this is a grounded, Scripture-rich encouragement to stay ready, stay bold, and keep moving forward. Subscribe, share this with a mate, leave a review, and tell us: what are you waiting for, and what do you want God to grow in you while you wait?Good morning, good afternoon, wherever you are in the world - Welcome to Grapevine Ministries. Support the showPlease feel free to check out my first publication, it is also available on Google and Amazon Books. https://www.xlibris.com/en-au/search?query=Phillip+Barker

After Easter, it's easy to forget what the Passion felt like from the inside. In this episode, Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks step back into the apostles' experience: men from wildly different backgrounds who watched miracles, trusted the mission, and still scattered in fear when Jesus was arrested. Joe names the real-life parallel: we can believe in something—and still not react the way an outside observer thinks we “should,” then carry guilt, confusion, and self-questioning afterward. Father frames it with a practical lens: we all have “parts,” and courage can collapse fast when a stronger force shows up—especially when the Roman Empire's violence becomes real and immediate. The apostles didn't yet have the lived proof we do that surrender can lead to resurrection. And Jesus' response becomes the center of hope: He knew Peter would deny Him, knew they would flee, and still gave Himself completely—Body, Blood, foot-washing love—without confusion or withdrawal. Joe also raises a pointed Holy Week question: if Jesus called out the betrayer at the Last Supper, why didn't the others stop Judas? Father offers a plausible explanation (drawing on Pope Benedict XVI's Holy Week treatment): Jesus may have spoken quietly enough that only John fully heard—while the others interpreted Judas leaving as normal Passover charity. The episode closes by tying it together with human realism: after a week of shock, danger, grief, and emotional overload, “not processing it well” might have been the most human outcome possible—exactly the kind of weakness Jesus came to redeem. Key IdeasThe apostles' fear wasn't random: real power and credible violence can collapse confidence instantly. They hadn't seen “crucifixion → resurrection” play out even once; we have 2,000 years of witnesses—and still struggle. Jesus loved them with full knowledge of their weakness: Peter's denial was foretold inside the context of Eucharistic gift. Judas' exposure may not have been public to all; John's proximity to Jesus at table could explain how details were known later. Thomas “the twin” becomes a mirror: wanting “just a little more proof” is deeply human—and Jesus meets it. Scripture Mentioned (no links)Last Supper accounts (betrayer revealed; Judas leaving)Peter's denial prediction and denialThomas Didymus (“the twin”) and the need for proofPassion themes: arrest, scattering, fear, surrender, resurrectionLinks & References (official/source only)Pope Benedict XVI (official Vatican profile):https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en.htmlCTA: If this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend.Questions or thoughts? Email FatherAndJoe@gmail.com .Tags (comma-separated)Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, Easter, Holy Week, Passion, apostles, disciples, fear, scattering, Peter, denial, Judas, betrayal, Last Supper, Eucharist, Body and Blood, foot washing, Roman Empire, persecution, courage, trauma, overwhelm, human weakness, grace, redemption, mercy, resurrection, love victorious, love never dies, Thomas, Didymus, doubt, proof, faith and reason, spiritual consolation, parts work, subpersonalities, Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth, Scripture reflection, YouTube podcast, Father and Joe on YouTube 

After Easter, the disciples were still confused, still afraid, still unsure of what came next — but Jesus kept showing up. He did not just prove He was alive, but He stayed to prepare them for the life they were now called to live. Listen in as Pastor Dom kicks off our new series called Sightings. Our prayer is that you would believe that what the world needs now is Christians who take the resurrection seriously.

After Easter, we will be going through a series on The Church. We begin this series with Senior Pastor Dr. Tyler Smiley speaking from Titus chapter 2 about what the church is.

After Easter, the story doesn't end—it begins. This sermon explores how the risen Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, transforms ordinary people into bold witnesses. From Peter's fear to courage, we are reminded that the Gospel is not meant to be kept private but shared, as God sends each of us into the world to live and proclaim His love.

What if faith isn’t about pretending everything is fine—but about telling the truth? In this episode of the Perspectives Podcast from First United Methodist Church of San Diego, Rev. Brittany and Rev. Trudy explore what it means to not be okay and why that honesty might be the beginning of real hope. After Easter, when celebration fades and real life sets back in, many of us are left carrying grief, doubt, exhaustion, or unanswered questions. Drawing from Luke 24:13–32 (The Road to Emmaus), this conversation reminds us that even Jesus’ followers wrestled with disappointment, confusion, and loss. In Part 1 of our series “The Grace of the Passion,” we explore how God meets us not when we have it all together but when we’re willing to be real. In this episode, we discuss: Why “I’m fine” culture can harm our faith and mental health The courage it takes to face grief, disappointment, and change Why resurrection hope doesn’t erase present pain The importance of community when life feels overwhelming What happens when we avoid grief—and why it eventually catches up How God meets us in confusion, not just in clarity Content Note: This episode includes discussion of deep emotional pain and mentions of suicide. If you are in crisis, please call 9-1-1 or visit your nearest emergency room. You are not alone. Reflection Questions: What are you carrying right now that you’ve been trying to hold together on your own? When has a season of “not being okay” led to growth? When have you felt that God was absent or hard to recognize? Continue the conversation by reflecting with someone you trust or join the Perspectives community online via Patreon or in person at the weekly Convergence Discussion Group. Limited on time? Jump ahead to these pivotal moments. Timestamps 00:00 Intro – Is it OK to not be OK? 00:34 Special content note & episode overview 3:26 Why the Road to Emmaus story matters 7:34 When hope dies after disappointment 10:09 You’re not OK – and that changes how you see things 15:04 Rethinking suffering, faith, and God’s role 19:07 Faith, mental health, and the danger of “just be OK” 21:10 The pressure to pretend in culture and church 23:17 Standing still in grief 24:58 “If you don’t sit with your grief…” 26:43 Reflection questions and closing

••• After Easter What Next?, Ep 424••• Bible Study Verses: Matthew 28:1-20, John 12:24, Luke 24:49, I Samuel 2:9, Isaiah 40:31, Habakkuk 2:3, 1 Corinthians 15:17-20 . ••• “Those who do not hope cannot wait; but if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it”, Charles Spurgeon † . ••• “Waiting for God means power to do nothing save under command. This is not lack of power to do anything. Waiting for God needs strength rather than weakness. It is power to do nothing. It is the strength that holds strength in check. It is the strength that prevents the blundering activity which is entirely false and will make true activity impossible when the definite command comes”, G. Campbell Morgan †† ••• "Waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one's thoughts", Elisabeth Elliot ††† ••• "You can save a lot of time waiting on God”, Adrian Rogers ††††••• “The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him” Lamentations 3:25 KJV . ••• After Easter what next? ••• Why must you encounter the empty tomb? ••• What are at least 3-things that the empty tomb tells us? ••• Why did the disciples worship?••• What were the disciples waiting on?••• Why did the disciples wait? ••• Are you going to ask someone to pray that you will wait for the promise of our Creator, the Lord Christ Jesus through the power of Holy Spirit so you can be most effective with your short time on this earth? ••• Pastor Otuno expounds on this and much more on the exciting journey of Fresh Encounter Radio Podcast originally aired on WNQM, Nashville Quality Ministries and WWCR World Wide Christian Radio broadcast to all 7-continents on this big beautiful blue marble, earth, floating through space. Please be prayerful before studying The Word of God so that you will receive the most inspiration possible . ••• This Discipleship Teaching Podcast is a listener supported production by all the beloved of God who believe in its mission through prayer and support. Thank you . ••• Broadcaster's Website - https://www.lifelonganointing.com/ . ••• Exceeding Thanks to Universe Creator Christ Jesus AND photo by Thong Vo Photography, Hanoi, Vietnam, unsplash.com, thongvophotos@gmail.com, Ph: +84 946 787 970, https://www.instagram.com/titi_wanderer/ , unsplash.com, Art Direction by gil on a mac with free mac layout software . ••• † https://www.christianquotes.info . ••• †† https://www.christianquotes.info . ••• ††† https://quotefancy.com/elisabeth-elliot-quotes . ••• †††† https://quotefancy.com/adrian-rogers-quotes . ••• SHARING LINK: https://shows.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast/ep424-after-easter-what-next . ••• Study Guides at - https://shows.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast/episodes . ••• RESOURCE: FREE Max McLean Chronological Audio Bible! https://tinyurl.com/godspeaks777 . ••• RESOURCE - Prayer Requests: PRAYER@SWRC.COM . ••• RESOURCE - https://www.soundcloud.com/thewaytogod/ . ••• FERP250411 Episode#424 GOT250411 Ep424 . ••• The Need For The Cross: After Easter What Next? ††† . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 328: After Easter reflections (and a few stories involving pools, squirrels, and unexpected repairs), Lori and Vonda dive into a conversation that hits close to home for every business owner - control.From slow seasons in flower shops to tough leadership decisions and the emotional weight that comes with them, they unpack the constant tension between what you can control and what you simply have to release. Whether it's sales, customer reactions, team dynamics, or even your own expectations, learning that difference is where growth really begins.They share real-life experiences from the floral industry, including navigating uncertainty, managing emotions, supporting struggling shop owners, and making decisions that don't always make everyone happy. Along the way, they explore practical ways to regain a sense of peace - through mindset shifts, gratitude, vulnerability, and focusing on the actions that actually move your business forward.This episode is a reminder that while you can't control everything, you can control how you respond—and that's where your power is.Sponsored by: Flower CliqueFlower Clique Prep SchoolReal Life Retail Florist

On this episode of the Older Pastor/Younger Pastor Podcast, Dave and Ryan continue their annual After Easter episode tradition.

A conversation that begins with Girl Scout Cookies and sweet cereal slowly finds its way to something deeper: what home really means. Father Damian and Father Eric reflect on hometowns, family houses, Jesuit communities and the places that shaped them,, while wondering how those places still live in them. Somewhere between nostalgia, laughter and prayer, this episode asks a tender question: Where is the place, or who is the presence, that lets you breathe differently and be fully at rest? About the show: Two Jesuits Talking is a Catholic podcast hosted by Fr. Eric Immel, SJ, and Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ. Through candid, unscripted conversations, they explore Ignatian spirituality, Catholic life, ministry, culture, prayer and the everyday questions that shape modern faith. This isn't a lecture. It's not a debate show. It's two Jesuit priests talking honestly about what it means to follow Jesus today, with humor, depth and real friendship. Whether you're a practicing Catholic, spiritually curious, returning to the Church, or just interested in authentic conversations about faith, you're welcome here. During Lent, Two Jesuits Talking episodes will appear here on the AMDG feed every Saturday. After Easter, we'll move the show onto its own dedicated feed. You can also watch episodes of the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/societyofjesus Two Jesuits Talking is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Learn more: jesuitmedialab.org/

On this special Good Friday Mission Minded, we not only explore the type of week Jesus had, but also how it's supposed to feel for us spiritually AFTER Easter. #MissionMinded #GoodFriday #Easter #HolyWeek #TKR #101TheTruth #ChristianRadio #MikeAndTony #Bible

Lent has a way of bringing the word "sacrifice" to the surface, and we're not just talking about giving up chocolate. Father Damian and Father Eric share stories about family, adoption, commitment and the quiet ways love asks something of us over time. From the Eucharist to everyday relationships, this conversation leans into a simple truth: Real love always costs something, and that's precisely what makes it sacred. About the show: Two Jesuits Talking is a Catholic podcast hosted by Fr. Eric Immel, SJ, and Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ. Through candid, unscripted conversations, they explore Ignatian spirituality, Catholic life, ministry, culture, prayer and the everyday questions that shape modern faith. This isn't a lecture. It's not a debate show. It's two Jesuit priests talking honestly about what it means to follow Jesus today, with humor, depth and real friendship. Whether you're a practicing Catholic, spiritually curious, returning to the Church, or just interested in authentic conversations about faith, you're welcome here. During Lent, Two Jesuits Talking episodes will appear here on the AMDG feed every Saturday. After Easter, we'll move the show onto its own dedicated feed. You can also watch episodes of the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/societyofjesus Two Jesuits Talking is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Learn more: jesuitmedialab.org/

Gymnastics. Theater. Sacraments. Muscle memory. Fathers Eric and Damian talk about the body, not as something separate from faith, but as the place where faith actually happens. Movement, gesture, breath, touch: Our bodies preach, pray and remember. Grace isn't abstract. It's embodied. About the show: Two Jesuits Talking is a Catholic podcast hosted by Fr. Eric Immel, SJ, and Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ. Through candid, unscripted conversations, they explore Ignatian spirituality, Catholic life, ministry, culture, prayer and the everyday questions that shape modern faith. This isn't a lecture. It's not a debate show. It's two Jesuit priests talking honestly about what it means to follow Jesus today, with humor, depth and real friendship. Whether you're a practicing Catholic, spiritually curious, returning to the Church, or just interested in authentic conversations about faith, you're welcome here. During Lent, Two Jesuits Talking episodes will appear here on the AMDG feed every Saturday. After Easter, we'll move the show onto its own dedicated feed. You can also watch episodes of the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/societyofjesus Two Jesuits Talking is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Learn more: jesuitmedialab.org/

Friendship is not accidental in Jesuit life; it's foundational. Fr. Eric and Fr. Damian reflect on trust, vulnerability and the risk of being known, and how real friendship shapes ministry and discipleship. Grounded in Jesus' own invitation to friendship, this conversation explores how human relationships can quietly mirror divine love. About the show: Two Jesuits Talking is a Catholic podcast hosted by Fr. Eric Immel, SJ, and Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ. Through candid, unscripted conversations, they explore Ignatian spirituality, Catholic life, ministry, culture, prayer and the everyday questions that shape modern faith. This isn't a lecture. It's not a debate show. It's two Jesuit priests talking honestly about what it means to follow Jesus today, with humor, depth and real friendship. Whether you're a practicing Catholic, spiritually curious, returning to the Church, or just interested in authentic conversations about faith, you're welcome here. During Lent, Two Jesuits Talking episodes will appear here on the AMDG feed every Saturday. After Easter, we'll move the show onto its own dedicated feed. You can also watch episodes of the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/societyofjesus Two Jesuits Talking is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Learn more: jesuitmedialab.org/

Every life has a soundtrack. Fathers Eric and Damian swap stories about the music that formed them, the songs that carried faith, doubt, longing and joy. Along the way, they wrestle with sacred versus secular, passive listening versus real attention, and why music so often becomes prayer before we even realize it. About the show: Two Jesuits Talking is a Catholic podcast hosted by Fr. Eric Immel, SJ, and Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ. Through candid, unscripted conversations, they explore Ignatian spirituality, Catholic life, ministry, culture, prayer and the everyday questions that shape modern faith. This isn't a lecture. It's not a debate show. It's two Jesuit priests talking honestly about what it means to follow Jesus today, with humor, depth and real friendship. Whether you're a practicing Catholic, spiritually curious, returning to the Church, or just interested in authentic conversations about faith, you're welcome here. During Lent, Two Jesuits Talking episodes will appear here on the AMDG feed every Saturday. After Easter, we'll move the show onto its own dedicated feed. You can also watch episodes of the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/societyofjesus Two Jesuits Talking is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Learn more: https://jesuitmedialab.org/

Two Jesuits. Real life. Real faith. Today's episode: Nighttime! There's something about nighttime that loosens the soul. In the quiet, defenses drop, memories surface and prayer shifts. Fr. Eric and Fr. Damian talk honestly about being night owls, about what darkness reveals, and about how surrender often happens when everything else goes still. The night isn't empty, it's inhabited. About the show: Two Jesuits Talking is a Catholic podcast hosted by Fr. Eric Immel, SJ, and Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ. Through candid, unscripted conversations, they explore Ignatian spirituality, Catholic life, ministry, culture, prayer and the everyday questions that shape modern faith. This isn't a lecture. It's not a debate show. It's two Jesuit priests talking honestly about what it means to follow Jesus today, with humor, depth and real friendship. Whether you're a practicing Catholic, spiritually curious, returning to the Church, or just interested in authentic conversations about faith, you're welcome here. During Lent, Two Jesuits Talking episodes will appear here on the AMDG feed every Saturday. After Easter, we'll move the show onto its own dedicated feed. You can also watch episodes of the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/societyofjesus

Here's an exciting announcement: We here at the Jesuit Media Lab have a brand-new podcast we're producing. It's called Two Jesuits Talking. (As you can tell, we are not trying to be subtle with the show title.) The two Jesuits in question are Father Damian Torres-Botello and Father Eric Immel, both priests from the USA Midwest province who are also close friends. We're working with Damian and Eric to make a conversation-based show about spirituality and faith that doesn't take itself too seriously. We're aiming for deep and funny, human and surprising, warm and accessible. And we're also hoping that two Jesuit friends sharing stories and reflections with each other in this sort of laid-back forum will be a way to pull back the curtain on Jesuit life a little bit, helping all of us who aren't Jesuits learn more about their life of faith and service. Each Saturday in Lent, we'll bring you a new episode of Two Jesuits Talking right here on the AMDG feed. Today, we have the first-ever episode for you. Our regular AMDG episodes will continue to drop on Wednesdays. Also, if you want to watch Fathers Damian and Eric instead of just listening to them, Two Jesuits Talking is a video podcast, and you can find it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXxQTtosZfI&t=1s After Easter, our plan is to move Two Jesuits Talking over onto its own audio feed, but you don't have to worry about that for now. We'll let you know when that happens and where to find it. In the meantime, during Lent, enjoy getting to know Fr. Eric and Fr. Damian a little bit, and I think you'll find out quickly why they're two of our favorite Jesuits around. AMDG is a production of the Jesuit Media Lab, which is a project of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. www.jesuits.org/ www.beajesuit.org/ twitter.com/jesuitnews facebook.com/Jesuits instagram.com/wearethejesuits youtube.com/societyofjesus www.jesuitmedialab.org/

Lauren Fletcher reflects on a season of unexpected challenges—unmet career goals, personal setbacks, and the responsibility of caring for her mother and grandmother. Drawing from Romans 8:28, this devotional reminds believers that God works all things together for good, even when life seems off-track, showing that His timing and purposes are perfect. Highlights Life may not align with our personal plans, but God’s purposes are always at work. Unexpected seasons can provide opportunities to serve, care, and grow spiritually. Trusting God’s timing allows us to see His provision even in difficult circumstances. Psalm 139:16 reassures us that every moment of our lives is already known and held by God. What may feel like disappointment can be part of a larger, “brutiful” (brutal yet beautiful) plan. Join the Conversation How have you experienced God’s timing in unexpected ways? Share your story and encourage others to trust His purposes. Tag @LifeAudioNetwork and use #TrustHisTiming #FaithInAction #Romans828 to join the conversation.

Jesus didn't say, "I've overthrown Rome! Now we'll have peace!" He simply said, "Peace be with you," while showing them his wounds. His peace bears the marks of suffering. It doesn't deny pain; it transforms it. It doesn't require the elimination of enemies; it embraces them. This is why passing the peace is indeed a political act. Every time we say to one another, "Peace be with you," we're rejecting the peace of empires. We're declaring our allegiance to a different realm with a different sovereign who rules in a different way. After Easter, we acknowledge that true peace, God's peace, can't come through domination or be secured through violence. Subscribe to us on iTunes! Sermon text: web | doc

How do you make sense of something that doesn't make sense? Most of us freeze with indecision or “Paralysis by Analysis.” It's like trying to choose something to watch on Netflix but not being able to pick what show to watch. So, What do you do AFTER Easter? Can you even begin to imagine what it was like for Jesus' disciples after realizing: “He's Alive!?” What about you? How has His resurrection made a difference in your week?

Dave Brisbin 4.27.25 We're back in count again. We just finished counting forty days of Lent, and now we're counting again. The count of Lent signifies a time of preparation for Easter, and the count now is also preparation for a second liberation on the fiftieth day after Easter—Pentecost. Our liturgical calendar is overlaid on that of the Jews, who for 3,500 years have counted seven weeks of seven, forty-nine days plus one, from the second day of Pesach/Passover to Shavu'ot/Weeks. Originally a festival marking the barley harvest, Passover became linked with Exodus, the physical liberation of the people. Shavu'ot, at the wheat harvest, was linked with the giving of the Law on Sinai, the spiritual liberation of the people and the beginning of a deeper relationship with God. Ancient Hebrews saw a shape to their spiritual journeys that passed through a wilderness between two liberations. That even when freed from physical bondage, humans are not fully prepared to live freely. Only time in the wilderness, the hard work of introspection and self-examination, shows us how free we really are. Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born a second time, that he was born physically of water, but would not be prepared for kingdom until born of spirit as well. After Easter, Jesus' friends eventually recognize that he and God's promises still live, but they were not yet prepared for the insanely radical nature of that reality. They needed another forty days plus ten—ten signifying integration and completion—before their Pentecost moment, the full impact of spiritual liberation, became apparent. The shape of their journey is ours as well. If we answered the call to seek something greater than ourselves, joined new communities, accepted new beliefs and traditions, we've had our physical Exodus, liberation from the illusion of separation. But this is just the beginning. We remain in count. Calvary, the loss that begins the wilderness of stripping off all to which we cling, is the fulcrum between our two liberations. The way to Pentecost begins at Calvary and is traveled living as if God and God's promises are more alive than life itself.

Dave Brisbin 4.27.25 We're back in count again. We just finished counting forty days of Lent, and now we're counting again. The count of Lent signifies a time of preparation for Easter, and the count now is also preparation for a second liberation on the fiftieth day after Easter—Pentecost. Our liturgical calendar is overlaid on that of the Jews, who for 3,500 years have counted seven weeks of seven, forty-nine days plus one, from the second day of Pesach/Passover to Shavu'ot/Weeks. Originally a festival marking the barley harvest, Passover became linked with Exodus, the physical liberation of the people. Shavu'ot, at the wheat harvest, was linked with the giving of the Law on Sinai, the spiritual liberation of the people and the beginning of a deeper relationship with God. Ancient Hebrews saw a shape to their spiritual journeys that passed through a wilderness between two liberations. That even when freed from physical bondage, humans are not fully prepared to live freely. Only time in the wilderness, the hard work of introspection and self-examination, shows us how free we really are. Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born a second time, that he was born physically of water, but would not be prepared for kingdom until born of spirit as well. After Easter, Jesus' friends eventually recognize that he and God's promises still live, but they were not yet prepared for the insanely radical nature of that reality. They needed another forty days plus ten—ten signifying integration and completion—before their Pentecost moment, the full impact of spiritual liberation, became apparent. The shape of their journey is ours as well. If we answered the call to seek something greater than ourselves, joined new communities, accepted new beliefs and traditions, we've had our physical Exodus, liberation from the illusion of separation. But this is just the beginning. We remain in count. Calvary, the loss that begins the wilderness of stripping off all to which we cling, is the fulcrum between our two liberations. The way to Pentecost begins at Calvary and is traveled living as if God and God's promises are more alive than life itself.

On this episode of the Older Pastor/Younger Pastor Podcast, Dave and Ryan provide their 2025, After-Easter commentary.

Join Pastor James Crawford as he delves into "Authentic Christianity" in his latest sermon from the After Easter series. Reflecting on his personal journey from being a poser in faith to transformative baptism, Pastor Crawford explores the restoration of Peter and the crucial role of obedience after redemption. Discover why prayer should be our first line of defense, not a last resort. Don't miss this powerful message on living a truly authentic Christian life.Make sure you subscribe to this channel and follow us on all our platforms to always stay up to date with our latest content!And you can always head over to our website for any general information!https://godspeak.comPrayer/NeedsIf you have any needs, or have a willingness to be used to meet various need in the body, please email info@godspeak.com. Also, let us know if you need prayer for anything.Giving is part of our worship time, and in this season, the easiest way to do that is online. If you go to our website, godspeak.com, you will see the "Give" tab in the top right corner. Or you can simply click this link https://pushpay.com/g/godspeakAny questions?Please feel free to email us, comment here, or DM us on Instagram any questions that you may have.Please Subscribe to this channel and turn on your notifications to be notified when our Livestreams start so you don't miss out! We hope you are blessed by the service!-The Godspeak Team

Welcome to Faith Church Online! We are After Easter people; meaning we resurrection people, we are people of hope, people of life! Today we are studying Jesus' teaching about the 4 main responses when we hear God's Words spoken. We call these the 4 soils, in Matthew 13. During Easter many big decisions are made for Christ and today Pastor Jeremy helps us understand that big decisions lead to changed priorities in our lives. We hope this message serves you well!

Happy Easter! This year Pastor David dives into the significance of Easter. He unravels a beautiful message of the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. From his personal stories to biblical passages, Pastor David creates a safe place to… Read More Before & After // Easter The post Before & After // Easter appeared first on Refuge.Church.

From the series “Becoming Biblically Literate” (The Book of Acts). After Easter weekend, Jesus went to his disciples and commissioned them to go and take the good news of the Kingdom to the world. The Book of Acts tells the story of how the first disciples responded to Jesus' call to go. 

Join Pastor James Crawford in the compelling first installment of his new sermon series, "After Easter," where he explores the enduring power of relationships through the lens of Christ's resurrection. Emphasizing that the miraculous event of the empty tomb was just the beginning, Pastor Crawford delves into the concept of covenant relationships, destined to last eternally. He highlights the transformative realization that in our relationship with God, we bring nothing to Him; God lacks nothing. Instead, God's profound desire is for a relationship with us, the very purpose for which Christ sacrificed His life. This sermon invites us to reflect on the depth of God's love and the true meaning of our connection with the divine in the aftermath of Easter.Make sure you subscribe to this channel and follow us on all our platforms to always stay up to date with our latest content!And you can always head over to our website for any general information!https://godspeak.comPrayer/NeedsIf you have any needs, or have a willingness to be used to meet various need in the body, please email info@godspeak.com. Also, let us know if you need prayer for anything.Giving is part of our worship time, and in this season, the easiest way to do that is online. If you go to our website, godspeak.com, you will see the "Give" tab in the top right corner. Or you can simply click this link https://pushpay.com/g/godspeakAny questions?Please feel free to email us, comment here, or DM us on Instagram any questions that you may have.Please Subscribe to this channel and turn on your notifications to be notified when our Livestreams start so you don't miss out! We hope you are blessed by the service!-The Godspeak Team

For the Second Sunday of Easter, Fr. Frank reflects on opening the doors of our hearts and minds to the Risen Christ. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Second Sunday of Easter, Fr. Frank reflects on opening the doors of our hearts and minds to the Risen Christ. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Was Jesus literally resurrected from the dead? Do we have to believe in the resurrection? How do we keep God's promises in mind during trials? After Easter, Pastor Jeff and Jordan discuss our living hope in Jesus and take a sneak peek at our upcoming spring sermons.   —   This episode of The Beyond Sunday Podcast expands upon the sermon “God | 1 Peter 1:3–9” in “Decided,” our 2023–24 sermon series reexamining the basics of following Christ. Submit a question: bit.ly/BeyondSundayQuestions

On this episode of the Older Pastor/Younger Pastor Podcast, Dave and Ryan provide their 2024 After Easter commentary.

Rumors regarding the whereabouts of Kate Middleton intensified with unconfirmed claims suggesting that the BBC has been instructed to be prepared for a significant announcement from the Royal Family in the near future. However, the broadcaster has not made any public statements to confirm such alerts.Viral posts on social media have fueled concerns about the royal family's well-being, particularly after some Twitter users erroneously pointed out a perceived change in the BBC's social media branding. The confusion stemmed from a tweet by user @FieldsLeaf, alleging that 'BBC UK' had altered its logo from red to black on Instagram, a change historically associated with significant events like the death of Queen Elizabeth II.However, it's important to note that the claim in the tweet is inaccurate. The BBC operates multiple social media accounts across various platforms, each with its distinct branding conventions. The main account, 'BBC,' typically features its logo on a black background, while its news accounts, such as 'BBC News,' use a red background—a standard branding practice maintained by the broadcaster for years.(new story)Kate Middleton appeared “happy and healthy” as she was spotted alongside Prince William doing some shopping near her Adelaide Cottage home, as per reports.Kate and WIlliam  were observed at one of their preferred farm shops on Saturday, located approximately a mile away from their residence within the Windsor Home Park grounds, according to an elated onlooker who spoke to The Sun.Curiously, there were no photos of thai reported sighting.  The Sun used images of Kate for their cover story but they were not from this appearance.A witness to the unphotographed sighting in an era where everyone has a cellphone told The Sun, “A witness at the farm shop in Windsor said: “After all the rumours that had been going round I was stunned to see them there.“Kate was out shopping with William and she looked happy and she looked well.“The kids weren't with them but it's such a good sign she was healthy enough to pop down to the shops.”Kate's floated return date is now April 17th, which is indeed “After Easter.”

Updated: 6:15 p.m.After Easter and Christmas, Valentine's Day is the biggest holiday for chocolate sales.  Maybe you're a chocolate lover yourself. But do you know the difference between a bonbon and a truffle? Or where cacao beans are grown?   MPR News host Angela Davis talks with three Minnesota chocolatiers about what goes into making their luscious treats and how they fell in love with making chocolate that the rest of can enjoy—on Valentine's Day or any day. Guests:  Mary Leonard is the founder and owner of Chocolat Celeste, which has been making chocolate for more than 20 years in St. Paul.  Monica Jimenez is the founder and CEO of Chocolate San José-Minneapolis, which imports chocolate from her family's cacao farm in Ecuador. She also sells a line of chocolate products made in Minnesota.   Robyn Dochterman is the founder and co-owner of St. Croix Chocolate Company in Marine on St. Croix, which last fall won two awards at the International Chocolate Awards in Florence, Italy.The following is a transcription of several questions asked during the show. Use the audio player above to listen to the full episode.How do you become skilled in experimenting with different flavors?Mary Leonard: It's just a testing kind of thing. It starts with a basic recipe that is actually the same in all the flavors and it's just the addition of a variety of different flavor notes. There's the ones that everybody loves and there's the ones that are more unusual. I'm not as much of a fan myself of the ones that everybody loves — champagne and raspberry, I always think to myself, “oh, let's get more creative than that.”How do you harvest the beans to get chocolate?Monica Jimenez: The harvesting process starts by cutting the mature pod from the plant. Then we break the pod and extract the seeds and select the seeds by hands. I like to explain that the seeds come covered with a white, little sweet bulb that we use to ferment the seed. This way we can get all the nutrition that is in the plant. The seed has a lot of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, magnesium and all this nutrition.What trends have you noticed in making chocolate since you started?Robyn Dochterman: When I first started, we were still explaining the percent of chocolate. So if you have a 70 percent dark chocolate, that 70 percent refers to the chocolate mass or what comes from the cacao tree. So what that tells you is that other 30 percent is probably sugar, vanilla, milk powder if it's a milk chocolate which it's not going to be if it's 70 percent, that's going to be a dark chocolate. People have learned quite a bit about chocolate ... so we're a lot more educated but at the same time, we're getting more advanced. People also want to do more snacking. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.  Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

Encouragement today from the week AFTER Easter!

Sermon title: "What's After Easter? Part 1: Holy Spirit" / Scripture: John 20:19-31 (NRSVUE) / Preacher: Rev. Akiko Van Antwerpen

He is risen! He is risen indeed!Happy Easter to our entire Hymn Talk Twin Talk family!This episode is scheduled to drop the day AFTER Easter. It is a beautiful hymn all year round, but it really is so perfect for Holy Week. Did you sing it in your church this year?We pray that you will be able to listen and reflect on just how wondrous His love is!Here are some links to the things we talk about in the episode:Next Steps MinistriesSt. Olaf CollegeWhat Wondrous Love Is This sheet musicWilliam Walker historical marker in Spartanburg, SCRev. Stith Mead Prayer StoneThe Big Singing event in Benton, KYKentucky Lake Cowboy ChurchKentucky OpryMt. Zion Baptist Church in Dry Ridge, KYTo purchase some of our exclusive Hymn Talk Twin Talk merchandise, please check out our web site: www.hymntalktwintalk.com. Fill out the google form and let us know what you'd like!Thank you for finding Hymn Talk Twin Talk. Thank you for listening! Would you be so kind to share a review of the podcast on iTunes? This helps others find us! Click here to write a review or give us a rating.Love in Him,Kerrie and KelliePsalm 104:33Instagram: @hymntalktwintalkFacebook: Hymn Talk Twin TalkTwitter: @hymntalkhymntalktwintalk@gmail.comwww.hymntalktwintalk.com

1 John 5:18-21Rev. Erik Veerman2/2/2023Final Reminders and AssurancesIt's been a difficult week. Like many of you, the tragedy in Nashville at one of our sister churches has weighed on my heart. I considered focusing our worship and sermon this morning on finding hope in tragedy and evil. Instead, we're going to do that next Sunday, Easter. Ultimate resurrection hope.This morning, we'll look at the last few verses in 1 John. There are some elements that relate to our hope – which I trust will be an encouragement to you.Sometimes when I am preparing, I realize that there's not enough time to cover everything sufficiently. Well, on Friday, I realized there was too much to work through in chapter 5 verses 16-21. Usually what I usually do is zoom out a little bit and cover the passage at a little higher level. The problem with doing that with these verses, is they contain a couple of phrases difficult to understand. I don't want to leave you guessing.So, I want to do something a little different.We're going to focus this morning on chapter 5 verses 18-21. Instead of starting with verse 16, we'll start with verse 18.After Easter, we'll have 1 more sermon on 1 John. It will be to tie up some interpretive loose ends, including verses 16 and 17 as well as a couple of other verses earlier in 1 John. But the other thing I want to do in that sermon is talk through why we, at Tucker Pres, methodically work through books of the Bible rather than topical sermons. Well, at least 90 or 95 percent of the time. I think you'll find that helpful. That sermon will be on April 23rd, just to give you a heads up.So, let's now come to God's word. 1 John 5:18-21. In the pew Bible, that is on Page 1213. This is God's holy Word.StandReading of 1 John 5:18-21PrayerWell, even though this is not our last 1 John sermon, we've come to the concluding words.Recently, I heard a pastor say that he avoided preaching through 1 John for the first 25 years of his ministry. He wasn't quite sure how to handle it. But then he preached it, and he said it was a great blessing. I hope and pray that this short book has encouraged you as well.I've used a few analogies to try to capture the apostle John's purpose and approach. • Like a spiral staircase, as we've circled back around to common themes, but from different perspectives. • A washing machine with different cycles, as John has sought to cleanse and purify the church. • Or do you remember the obsidian blade, the sharpest in the word, as John carefully cut a line between light and darkness, right and wrong, good and evil, God and Satan, true belief about Jesus and false belief.The beautiful thing about this letter has been the care and love John has displayed over and over. Even though he has been very clear about the nature of sin, and even though he has called out false doctrine, calling those who teach it antichrists, yet he has been very loving, and he has pointed to God's love for those who are born of him. Being loving doesn't mean compromising on truth or error or righteousness or sin. In fact, compromising is not loving. John has modelled what it means to “speak the truth in love.”Related to that, there's been a theme in 1 John that has come up over and over. It's come up every chapter, almost every paragraph. You could say this theme is the glue of 1 John. If you don't remember anything else about 1 John, I hope you remember this one theme.The theme is assurance for the one who truly believes in Christ. Assurance of salvation. Assurance that you are a child of God. Assurance of the eternal life that God has given you. And the key word related to our assurance is the word “know.” John has written, “So that you may know.” Or “that you may know that you know.” Over and over. The two Greek words for the English word “know” are used 38 times in these short 5 chapters.The question has been, how do you have assurance that you are one of God's children? The answer - You know because you believe in Jesus as God's son. You know because you seek his forgiveness from your sin. You know because your life testifies to your faith.You see, assurance is the very reason that John has written about true belief and false belief. In order to have assurance, you have to know where the line is. John needed to be clear about faithful belief concerning Jesus's nature and divinity versus unfaithful belief. All of it with the goal to give children of God assurance.That is exactly how John ends his letter – a reminder of that assurance. He writes “We know” four times, here. And he concludes by grounding our assurance in Christ.And let me say, the need for assurance is not distant from us. I don't know of a single Christian who has not at one point or another had doubts. The Barna Group did a survey in 2020 and found that 35% of practicing Christians had active doubts about their salvation. You and I are not alone in our struggle.Assurance is something we long to have. We want to know that we are secure in Christ. We want to have confidence that our faith is genuine – that the Gospel is true. And when we mess up, we want to know that God still loves us. Or when the world presses in against our faith and belief, we desire that sure foundation of truth and grace.If you're here today, and it seems like the ground you are standing on is breaking apart, my prayer is that you will leave this morning with a renewed confidence in the grace and love of God… and the truth of the Gospel. Know that there are brothers and sisters who understand and who want to come along side of you in this time.Many of you have heard of Augustine. Augustine, or Saint Augustine, or Augustine of Hippo lived in north Africa in the fourth and fifth century. Since the early church, Augustine has been the most influential theologian in all of church history. But Augustine struggled with his own doubts about his faith. He wrote this short famous prayer as he grasped more and more of God's love for him. “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” We're going to come back to Augustine's life in a minute, but these concluding 1 John verses direct our hearts to rest in God for our salvation.You see, having an assurance of faith is more than just an intellectual understanding of assurance. We can know what assurance is, but until we realize it deep in our soul, we will not truly rest in the assurance of God.That's what John is directing us to in these concluding verses. And he deals with real life. He deals with the very things that cause us to question our faith. Our own sin, the evil one, and the world. That's verses 18 and 19. And then he concludes by grounding our assurance in the immovable rock of Christ.So, that is how we'll work through these verses.Protected from Sin, the Enemy, and the WorldSo first, assurance in the face of the very things that cause us to question our faith! Sin, the devil, and the world.John uses a very helpful word in verse 18: “protect.” If you are a child of God, you are protected forever from those enemies of the faith.And I think you would agree, out of those three, the one that causes us the most worry when it comes to our assurance is our sin. Sin is one of the main reasons we can doubt our faith. Sin is when we fail to obey God's commands or when we break God's commands – that's either in our hearts or our actions. When we sin, we therefore ask ourselves “does that mean I'm not a Christian? I mean, after all, I'm struggling with a sin and sin is disobeying God.” The answer from these verses is “no.” Christians still struggle with sin.Look down at verse 18. It says, “everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning.”“But wait a second,” you say, “I do keep on sinning. That must mean that I'm not born of God, right?” Actually, “wrong.” You may be tempted to interpret verse 18 in that way, but in reality, it's saying the opposite.This is where it's important to go back to what John had written earlier. Let's do that. • In chapter 1 verse 8-9, John wrote, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”• And very similarly, in chapter 2 verses 1-2, he said, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins.”A Christian still has the presence of sin in his or her life, but the power and the penalty of sin has been broken. As these earlier verses make clear, if you have come to God in Christ, you are forgiven of your sin – past, present, and future.  So then, what then is chapter 5 verse 18 is talking about? Well, that language is very similar to what John has also written in chapter 3. It's talking about an ongoing practice of intentional sinning, a life marked by sin. If you have been born of God, you still sin, but your sin does not define you. Yes, some sin is very hard to overcome, like addictions. The test is whether your heart is repentant as you struggle by God's grace to overcome it with the help of others. That is very different than an unbroken pattern of unrepentant sin. When John says, “everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning” he's speaking of that unrepentant sin, including and especially the sin of unbelief.Let's go back to Augustine for a minute. His own sin was the cause of his greatest doubts as a young believer. You see, early in Augustine's life he rejected the Christian faith of his mother. Before he came to faith, Augustine was caught up in all kinds of sin and idolatry – sexual pleasures, materialism, selfish ambitions… and he described how enamored he was with different worldly philosophies opposed to God.But he found that they were all empty pursuits. And one day, when he was about 30 years old, Augustine was in anguish over his sin, he was reading the book of Romans, chapter 13. He read, “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." Those words so overwhelmed Augustine. He described how the weight of his sin was lifted off his shoulders and how he found the truth that he had been seeking for so long. But even after his conversion, Augustine still had times of doubt. At times he was so distraught over his past sins, and he still struggled with certain sins. He felt guilt and shame and worried about God's judgment. All of that caused him to have doubts about his faith.But the more Augustine studied the word, the more his faith grew, the more God gave him assurance of salvation. He began to embrace more and more that salvation was a gift from God. In fact, one of Augustine's greatest theological contributions is his teaching on assurance from the Scriptures. God preserves his children all the way to eternity.That is the promise of 1 John 5:18. And look what it says next! “but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.” It is a promise of protection.Now, let me say, the pronoun “he” is a little unclear. “He who was born of God.” I think it's likely referring to Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God, which has been emphasized over and over in 1 John. So, he, that is Jesus, protects us. It's also possible the pronoun “he” is referring to a Christian who diligently prays for his brother or sister struggling in sin. That would be a reference back to verse 16. Either way, it is God who does the protecting, and he certainly uses our prayers as we studied last week. The point is that God protects us.And besides our sin, there are two other things that we are protected from. Two other realities that cause us to question our faith. (1) the evil one, as he's called here, and (2) the world. The end of verse 18 says we're protected from the evil one. Literally, “the evil one does not touch him.” (the one born of God). Beloved, the great enemy of the faith, the devil, would like nothing more than to have you question your faith. He wants to undermine your faith and cause you to lose sight of the truth and the assurance you have. But he cannot touch you, meaning, he cannot cause you to lose your salvation. All he can do is lie.And besides trying to use your sin to undermine your faith, another avenue through which he deceives is the world. Verse 19 connects those together. “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”Here, the word “world” is referring to the priorities, the philosophies, the sensual desires, the temptations, and the idols of a cultures. “World,” here, is not a neutral entity. It is opposed to God. The apostle John makes that clear, the world is controlled by Satan, through his lies, his deceit, and the way he perverts goodness and truth. He uses the world to try to undermine your faith.Yet, despite all the temptations and distractions and attacks from Satan, if you are a child of God, he will protect you. Indeed, he promises to.Since we're talking about great theologians, Martin Luther, the protestant reformer, felt constantly attacked by the devil. Legend has it that when he was translating the Bible into German, he was feeling particularly attacked. It is said that he was so angry at the devil that he took his inkwell and threw it at the devil. Of course, it hit the wall and left a stain. Supposedly you can still see the ink stain. The truth is, that story probably didn't happen, but Luther did write about the temptations of the devil.In his commentary on Galatians, he wrote, “When the devil throws our sins up to us and declares that we deserve death and hell, we ought to speak thus: 'I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? Does this mean that I shall be sentenced to eternal damnation? By no means. For I know One who suffered and made a satisfaction in my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Where He is, there I shall be also.'"Protected Through ChristThat quote is a good transition to verse 20 – Because we have to ask the question, Upon what is our assurance based?You see, the question remains, “how?” “How does God give us assurance?” In the frailty and fallenness of the human condition, what hope is there? We feel vulnerable to our sin, the devil, and the world. I mean, there's nothing in us that deserves this protection – in and of ourselves. No, we are full of shame and guilt and deserve nothing but death. We feel that. It's the source of a lot of our doubts about our faith.How does God protect you from all of those things? The answer, as Luther pointed out: God protects you through Christ.Verse 20 is a beautiful conclusion to this book. We'll get to the postscript in verse 21 in a minute.But verse 20 give us a blessed assurance.Our assurance comes through Christ. Notice how many times the word “true” is used in this one verse. Let me reads, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true;” that's the first time. It continues, “and we are in him who is true,” the second use. Verse 20 concludes, “in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” Three times, and they are all about Jesus. John concludes by emphasizing what he has been saying all along. Jesus is truly God. Fully and truly. He is the foundation to true faith.This verse is all about Christ. • He is the one who gives us understanding to know him. That's the first part of the verse. • We are in him, in Christ. We abide in him and he in us – as John has said over and over. That's the second part of the verse. • And the last part is also about Jesus. He is God and eternal life. In him, we have eternal life.Past, present, and future. Our assurance is based on Christ, from the beginning of our faith through to eternity. This is why we can be assured of our assurance! It's not based in our works or worthiness. It's based on Christ, his work, and our worthiness in him.And finally, the very last verse. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” It seems a little out of place, doesn't it? Some have suggested that maybe an early transcriber added it, or that we lost a final section. However, all of the earliest manuscripts we have of 1 John or the end of 1 John conclude with this verse. Something like 200 manuscripts.And I would say, John's concluding words do make sense. He's reminded his readers about the testimony of their lives. We've seen over and over. We do not come to faith because we are good enough, no, we come to faith through Christ, verse 20. But our lives should then reflect Christ in us and our faith. And so, John ends by calling to their attention, once last time, what true faith looks like. Keep yourselves from the very things that are contrary to God, false idols, false beliefs, false pursuits. Set them aside and pursue that which is pleasing and acceptable in his sight.ConclusionAs we draw to a close, one thing is clear from the book of 1 John. The Christian life is not easy! We'll be tempted to sin, the world with its philosophies and values will press in on us, the church will be attacked from within and from without. There's no promise of smooth sailing through this life. Rather the promise is that through all of it, God will protect you, he will bring you through to the end, and he will do that through the power of the Gospel - faith and hope in Christ for what he's done on the cross. And nothing can take that away from you, because it is not you, it is Christ in you. Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”May we rest assured in the promises of God in Christ.

If you haven't caught on by now, we are in a final series this spring dealing with Paul's spiritual tri-fecta. I Lent we talked about Faith. After Easter we spent some weeks dealing with Love. Now we talk about Hope. Faith, Hope and Love. I realize we got them out of order, but that's just to keep you on your toes. But really, this order makes more sense, because if we have faith and love, then we are going to be people of hope. We are going to have hope and give hope. So this series uses HOPE as an acronym to consider the different ways we are called as people of faith and love to bring hope to the world. So today we consider how H.O.P.E. means Hang On, Peace Exists! See sermon notes and more at stlukesumc.com/sermons  To support St. Luke's in our mission to be an open, antiracist, justice-seeking church, visit http://stlukesumc.com/give.   We are an open community of Christians helping people find and give hope through Jesus Christ - regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, or socioeconomic background.    ——  STAY CONNECTED  St. Luke's UMC Facebook: https://facebook.com/stlukesindy  St. Luke's UMC Instagram: https://instagram.com/stlukesindy   St. Luke's UMC Twitter: https://twitter.com/stlukesindy  St. Luke's UMC YouTube: https://youtube.com/stlukesindy  St. Luke's UMC Instagram: http://vimeo.com/stlukesindy 

I've spent the past decade pushing back on what I would now call the “toxic positivity” of evangelical Christian culture, pushing from within at first, and now speaking from outside, about the dangers of soul-crushing theology dressed up as personal transformation, and that culture's tendency to bury the ones who are crushed in the process. What if the way toward Easter life is found in the wisdom of our own mortality, in the real and powerful acknowledgement that we are limited creatures, here for a limited amount of time, and invited to make the world a place that looks like the kind of life Jesus offered in his resurrected body: whole, scarred, on the other side of hell, transformed, and transforming others through forgiveness.  In this week's podcast, I'm thinking about the days that come AFTER Easter, how we view our time and mortality, and also a sloth curled up in the rain (because I'm a mom of boys).  Links: This reflection and practice were also published this week in The Slow Way Newsletter. Click HERE for free downloads/printables for our Easter themes. If you feel like it, check out the docuseries with the sloth here.  Read Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman here. Find a transcript of this episode here.  Find Micha's website and sign up for her weekly newsletter here Check out The Slow Way online store Find Micha on Instagram Find Micha on Twitter Micha's other podcast, The Lucky Few, is all about Down syndrome advocacy. She cohosts it with Heather Avis and Mercedes Lara. Found: A Story of Questions, Grace, and Everyday Prayer is available everywhere books are sold  

Masterclass, Relationship with God, After Easter, Pray About Everything, He's with You, Easter Dinner, Breaking Animal News. Baby Moon, Holy, Tallest Family; Quotes: “You can talk to God.” “Easter is not a one-off celebration.” “Your eternal life starts now if you trust God.”

132 – What happens after Easter? Do we just go on with our lives as if nothing special has happened?All too often, we get busy with family activities, projects at work, planting the garden, planning a vacation. The list goes on and on. In and of themselves, these activities are probably good and needed. But honestly, how much do we continue to remember and be inspired by the resurrection two, three, or six months after Easter?In this week's episode, I talk about What would happen if we constantly had the power and spirit of Jesus's resurrection in our hearts and minds?Is there something holding us back from completely embracing the resurrection?Do we have doubts and uncertainties about how to share the good news of Jesus's resurrection with the world?Do we ever feel unworthy or incapable of bearing witness to Jesus with  others?Jesus did not want any of his disciples to carry around the guilt and shame they may have felt because of how they fell asleep when he asked them to pray, abandoned him when the Romans arrested him,  or like Peter, denied he even knew him. Jesus wanted them to be drop this mental baggage so they could get on with the business at hand, preaching the gospel to all mankind.If you had been there for the morning meal with Jesus on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (see John 21) he would have looked into your heart and tenderly flooded you with so much love, you couldn't possibly hold onto any feelings of doubt, fear, unworthiness, guilt, or whatever else it might be that would keep you from fulfilling your spiritual purpose in life.This is true today just as it was almost 2,000 years ago. Christ tenderly comes to your heart and floods it with love so powerful that you can't help but let go of the hurts, the doubts, the fears, the insecurities, or the pride – all the negative and egotistical self-talk we take part in. Christ keeps pouring in love until you are spiritually baptized and every thing and thought unlike God in your life is washed away.This may begin with a moment. But it will continue for a lifetime. Jesus's resurrection is not a one-time event that happened centuries ago. It is continuous, ongoing manifestation of the power of life over death, good over evil, and love over hate.In that sense, there is no “after” the resurrection, because it is always taking place. So maybe we need to change the question from “What do we do after the resurrection?” to “How can we participate in the ongoing resurrection of Christ in our lives and in the world?”Download the prayer project:Click this link, then check your download folder: 22 Ways to Pray with the Mindset of Jesus in 2022Subscribe to the podcast∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Contact him here.To register for the 10 week class, The New Testament Angels Still Speak to Us Today, go to Angel ClassSupport the show

What did Jesus exactly mean when he said "judge not" in Matthew 7? Plus, what about His words about getting to Heaven? Rachelle talks about what comes AFTER Easter? What's next? Rachelle & Carder host a radio morning show in Houston, TX. You can listen on 89.3 KSBJ or online at ksbj.org.  The Anything But Quiet Time Podcast is now a part of Hope On Demand! Life can be hard and overwhelming, and you might not always know what to do. Through videos, podcasts and blogs, we help connect you more deeply with God so you can live with hope. You can watch, read and listen at hopeondemand.com.

This week we concluded our "After Easter" series with more reflection on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost: What does it mean to be "filled with the Holy Spirit"? What does the Holy Spirit DO? We looked to Jesus' teaching in John 14-16 for answers.

This week we came to the final event in our After Easter series: the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. We considered why this event is "a new Sinai that reverses Babel," and how to think about the topic of "speaking in tongues" today.

Jesus is still writing his story! The story doesn't end with the death, burial, or even resurrection of Jesus. After Easter things would never be the same, but a new storyline has begun. Jesus is still actively building his kingdom, and still inviting others to be a part of it.

Jesus is still writing his story! The story doesn't end with the death, burial, or even resurrection of Jesus. After Easter things would never be the same, but a new storyline has begun. Jesus is still actively building his kingdom, and still inviting others to be a part of it.

Host Brian Frye (Twitter: @brifrye) in conversation with Resonate Monmouth's site pastor Colin Luoma. After Easter, we are celebrating the reality that Jesus is alive. Brian and Colin explore what implications this reality has on the life of every believer, and how we can each discern the will of the living God in our lives. Colin (Twitter: @colin_luoma) was a part of the initial church planting team to Ellensburg, Washington and Central Washington University. Later he moved as the site pastor to plant at Western Oregon University (WOU) in Monmouth, Oregon. Resonate Monmouth is now preparing to send out a church planting team to Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon.