Podcasts about almighty god

Have you considered the great mystery of Almighty God humbling Himself by coming down from heaven's throne, taking on human flesh, and dwelling among us? The miracle of the Incarnation is the foundation for Christmas because without it there is no Christianity and no salvation. In this message, Pastor Jeff Schreve shares three profound discoveries regarding the birth of Jesus. It's called, THE MIRACLE OF THE INCARNATION and it's from the series, THE MIRACLES OF CHRISTMAS.

Philippians 2:7-8 (Message) Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. The amazing thing about Christmas is that the Almighty God on high knew we would ever be able to measure up enough to be worthy of his Kingdom. But that didn't stop His Love for us. Instead, He came for us. He stepped aside from his status, position, and Holiness and lowered himself because of Love. And he didn't just do it one time, as in for one day. He stayed and walked in our shoes for 33 years, without entitled privileges. He came in a humble barn. He died in a humiliating way. This is ultimate Love, that lays down his rights, lays down justice, lays down entitlement, and lowers himself to our level, for our sake.  If we're honest, we all esteem ourselves better than other people from time to time. Someone who's wronged us, someone who's disappointed us or offended us… Someone who we compare ourselves to, saying… we would never do that.  Can you picture a person in your life that fits into that category in your mind right now? This passage starts with these words - Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. What can you do to humble yourself and reach out to that person and show them Love today?  Maybe it's a word of encouragement; maybe it's just letting them know that you were thinking about them, maybe say a prayer for them. Let's follow the example of Christ and let go of any entitlement or privilege, not just a thought but in deed. Lets pray: God of Love, Your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us. Love incarnate. Help us walk in that Love during the weeks of Advent, as we wait and prepare for his coming again. Thank You for Your unfailing, sacrificial and redeeming Love for me. Immanuel, God with us.

There's nothing worse than receiving a gift at Christmas that you have no use for. Fortunately, the meaning and the message of Christmas is that God above has given to the world the most significant and meaningful gift possible!

Today, we say hello to my friend Genci, pastor of Eagles Church in Tirana, Albania, along with all our brothers and sisters who live in Albania. Genci is a man of character who loves his flock and has a beautiful family. The point of mentioning we are sinners, bigger on the inside and lonely, is to demonstrate our great need not only for salvation but to know and be known by others, most critically, God. In the lives of Jeremiah and Job, we see lives that are fully satisfied and trusting in the deepest of sorrows. But how did they get there?By consistent communion, conversation (prayer) with our Creator, Savior, and Sustainer.In a challenging, nearly 50-year ministry with Almighty God, Jeremiah learned through every circumstance:"There is none like Thee, O LORD; Thou art great, and great is Thy name in might.” Jeremiah 10:6"I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself; Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23"Are there any among the idols of the nations who give rain? Or can the heavens grant showers? Is it not Thou, O LORD our God? Therefore we hope in Thee, For Thou art the one who hast done all these things.” Jeremiah 14:22"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27"Correct me, O LORD, but with justice; Not with Thine anger, lest Thou bring me to nothing.” Jeremiah 6:24And above all,"Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24Brethren, let's pray for one another."What a man is on his knees before God, that he is and nothing more." Robert Murray M'Cheynee Donation link:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=G9JGGR5W97D64Or go to www.freerangepreacheronprayer.com and use the Donations tab.Assistant Editor: Seven Jefferson Gossard.www.freerangepreacheronprayer.comfreerangeprayer@gmail.comFacebook - Free Range Preacher MinistriesInstagram: freerangeministriesAll our Scripture quotes are drawn from the NASB 1977 edition.For access to the voice-over services of Richard Durrington, please visit RichardDurrington.com or email him at Durringtonr@gmail.comOur podcast art was designed by @sammmmmmmmm23 on InstagramSeason 008Episode006

Introduction: John 17:3 – And this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 1:18 – No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. I Want to Know God (John 1:1–3): The REALITY: Jesus is GOD. Colossians 2:9 – For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. Zechariah 12:10 – And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced… Acts 20:28 – Pay careful attention to yourselves... to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Hebrews 1:2 – But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. The RESPONSE: FAITH in Jesus. Hebrews 11:6 – And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. How Can I Grow in Knowing Jesus? CONFESS with your mouth. Romans 10:9 – If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. HEAR the Word. Romans 10:17 – So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. KEEP His commandments. John 15:10 – If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead John 1:1-3What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Why do you think the deity of Jesus is denied by so many cults? Why is that such a common point of contention?How would you explain the Trinity to a 7 year old?Define “faith”. Why do you think faith is the God-ordained way of knowing Him?What's your favorite dinosaur?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Stegosaurus.Nobody asks, so I'm just going to tell you.Game show host.And gray.Oh, oh, and what I want for Christmas.I just want to know God.Did you ever ask for something, like for Christmas or whatever, and somebody got you the genericversion?Has that ever happened to anybody else?Show of hands.You wanted something and you got the generic version?That happened to me when I was a kid.When I was a kid, they came out with this wacky thing.It was called a pogo ball.How many people show of hands remember the pogo balls?Okay, a few of you.One person in the first service did.Or about half of the first service's attendance.Remember what a pogo ball was?If you don't know, just imagine like a snowman with the head cut off.It was that kind of shape, right?And it had this hard plastic ring that went in between these two balls that were kindof fused together.And you were supposed to like stand on the plastic disc and squeeze your feet on thattop ball and then you would bounce on the pogo ball.And the pogo ball would let you jump almost as high as you could jump if you weren't ona pogo ball.But it was the hot item the one year.And I wanted a pogo ball.You know what my parents got me?The Saturn ball.Pogo balls, generic cousin.The Saturn ball.And not only was it actually not fun to use, but my family was making fun of me when Idid use it.So if I would jump on it, they'd be like, "Here we go on our Saturn ball, our Saturnball, our Saturn ball."And that really hurt my feelings.So the Saturn ball got thrown into a closet and it's probably still there until today.But look, I know we've had this conversation before.But there's just some things you can't go generic, right?Like ketchup.Altars.Oreos.The generic's not the same.Don't try to tell me that it is because you're just lying to yourself.But nothing has been made more generic than God.We live in a culture that is okay with the generic concept of God.But when you get specific, people get squirrely about that.You're like, when people say, "God bless America.""God bless America."You know, you can ask, "Well, which God?"Do you mean the God of the Bible, the one who created us, the one who judges sin, theone who commands us to repent and believe, the one who calls us to live our lives accordingto his wisdom?And it's like, oh no, not that God.But we're just okay with the generic concept.But you see, the problem with that line of thinking is God isn't a generic concept.In fact, God's not a concept at all.God is a person.God is a specific person.And as we enter into the Christmas season, you know, we know the Christmas story fromMatthew and from Luke, right?We know that version of the Christmas story well with the census, and Bethlehem and Maryand Joseph and angels and shepherds and manger and the star and the magi.Right?Well, Matthew and Luke sort of tell the story of the incarnation like looking over people'sshoulders, right?But we're going to be looking at the Gospel of John because his Christmas story is a littledifferent.In John's Christmas story, we are looking over God's shoulder.That's really the theme of the whole book of John.And we studied this some years back.But the theme of John is this, "The God of the universe has revealed himself by cominginto this world as a man to not just save you, but to have a relationship with you."That God wants you to know Him.In fact, this is what Jesus Christ was praying.John 17.3, Jesus said, "And this is eternal life that they may know you."The only true God in Jesus Christ, whom you have sent, eternal life.Nothing's more important than eternal life because you are either going to live foreverwith God or you're going to die forever apart from God.So what do you want for Christmas?The top of your list should be eternal life.And according to Jesus, that comes from knowing Him, from knowing God.And I do have to remind you that knowing about God is not the same as actually knowing God.You realize those are two completely different concepts.Knowing about God and knowing God.Not the same.Think of it this way.Imagine a young man comes to church, a single man.And he's been coming here for a while when all of a sudden one day he notices there isa beautiful young single woman.And he's like, "I don't think I met her, but who is that?"But he gets his friend.He's like, "He found out who that girl is."And his friend comes back with the information.And he says, "Oh, you asked about that girl.Here's what I know.She loves missions."She loves working with children.She enjoys traveling.And get this, she's a big Steelers fan.But she also loves rom-coms.Now if this friend goes back to the dude and gives this report on what this woman is like,do you think this man would be like, "All right, now that I have the information abouther, I am satisfied.Thank you.That is all."Is that the end of the story?No, you see, now that he knows about her, that makes him all the more want to know herpersonally.You see, that's how it is with God.That's how it is with Jesus Christ.The more you know about Him, the more you want to know Him personally.The fact should lead you to the relationship.How do I know God personally?Well John 1.18 tells us that no one has ever seen God, the only God who has at the Father'sside.He has made Him known.And folks, this is a fundamental truth.That the only way that we can know God is He has to make Himself known.And that's what we celebrate every Christmas that God has made Himself known because Hedid it in the most personal way possible.He showed up and introduced Himself.So look at John 1.Picking up in verse 1.We're just going to get the first three verses today.This might feel more like a Bible study than a sermon.But these are important truths that we're going to wrestle down here.John 1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word wasGod.He was in the beginning with God.All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made."Notice that John in introducing our Lord, He's using this word, "Word" a lot.Why does He use the word "Word"?Well He doesn't really explain that.But I promise you that the audience that He wrote to in the first century would have knownexactly what He was talking about.Because John primarily would have been writing to the Greeks and the Jews.The word "Word" in the Greek is "Logos."And to the Greeks, the Logos was like this impersonal force, this impersonal energy source.Because the Greek philosophers were like, "Look, all of this had to come from somewhere.The world didn't happen by accident.There has to be some force out there that's behind the structure of the earth.All logic and reason."They had this idea, it was an impersonal force, and they called it the Word, the Logos.So John is writing to the Greeks, and he goes, "Hey, you guys talk about the Logos, right?Did you know the Logos is a person?"It's not a thing, it's a person.It's a person that was with God.It's a person that was God, and it's a person according to John 1.14 that became fleshand dwelt among us.So that's how the Greeks would have heard this.Do you know how the Jews would have heard this?And we probably don't have to guess, right?When the Jews would have heard the Word Word, what would they have thought of?They immediately would have thought of the Law and the Prophets, what we call the OldTestament.You see, you go through the Old Testament over and over and over.The Word of the Lord came too.The Word of the Lord came too.The Word of the Lord came too.And all of the Law and the Prophets, it's known as the Word of God.So the Jews would have picked up on this concept immediately.You know what the purpose of words is?Words are to communicate something.Words are to be deliberately chosen and used to convey information to another person.That's what John's saying to the Jews.The Word became flesh.Jesus Christ is God's communication to man.A living, breathing Word.So God isn't some impersonal force.God's not a generic concept.According to God's Word, He is a person.And He has revealed who exactly He is in Jesus Christ.Let's just pause for a second and ask that you would pray for me as we do this littlestudy together that I would accurately represent God's Word.Let me pray for you to have a heart open to receive this absolutely essential truth thatGod is teaching us today.So let's pray.Father in heaven, we live in a culture that is fine to think of you in general terms.But to call you a person, a father, the sovereign of the universe, it's tough for some peopleto grasp.And I just pray Father today, especially over these next few minutes, that we would reallyhave our hearts and minds open to what it is that your Word wants to teach us aboutthe way that you've revealed yourself through your Son.It's in Jesus' name that we pray.Amen.So on your outline, I want you to write some things down.I want to know God.Here's where it starts.Number one, the reality.This is the reality.Jesus is God.Let's look at these verses here.Look at verse one again.He says, "In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God."In the beginning.Is that something familiar at all?That phrase, "In the beginning."Where have we heard that?Genesis 1-1, right?That's how the whole Bible starts.And John is starting in the same place.John is saying, by saying in the beginning, John is saying, "Before anything was created,the Word existed."The Word.And notice he says two things about the Word.First of all, the Word was with God.And secondly, the Word was God.First of all, let's talk about the Word was God.This claim is nothing less than Jesus Christ is Almighty God.This is all through the New Testament.If we were to just do a Bible study today looking at the verses of the New Testamentto talk about Jesus being God, we would be here long after the snow melted.But the New Testament is so full of this truth.For example, Colossians 2-9 says, "For in Him, in Jesus, the whole fullness of Deitydwells bodily."Most concise statement of Jesus' Deity is probably right here in John 1-14.It says, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, gloryas of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."The Word became flesh and dwelt.That Word dwelt in the Greek is the word tabernacled.The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.You heard the tabernacle?In the Old Testament, it was this portable structure that as Moses was leading the Israelitesout of Egypt, God told Moses to build this structure and it had this tent with the HolyPlace and the Holy of Holies.And this was the place where God's unique presence dwelt among His people.So when John says, "The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us," you know, if youwere in the Old Testament times, if you lived with Old Testament Israel and somebody said,"Hey, can you point to the place where God's unique presence lives on the earth?"You would point to the building, the tabernacle.You would say, "Yeah, God's unique presence on earth is right there."Fast forward to 2025 right now.If I were to say, "Can you point to the place where God's unique presence dwells on earth?"Where would you point?It's right here, right?Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.The temple was just the permanent version of the tabernacle.This is where God lives.This is God's unique presence here.So what John is saying in John 1.14 is for about 33 years of earth's history, when youwould ask, "Where is God's unique presence on the earth?"You'd point to a man.That man's name is Jesus Christ.You would point to him and say, "Right there.That man is the unique presence of God on the earth.This is where he is."All right?Jesus is not an exalted angel.Jesus is not some special enlightened human.According to this verse, Jesus is the God.And every false religion denies this, by the way.And I can just tell you personally, you would be shocked at how many times I've had to havethis conversation with people over the course of my ministry, that people who actually say,Jesus never said He was God.You heard that argument?Jesus never said it.What the argument is this, that's something the church kind of came up with.We kind of, like some religions like us, we sort of hitched that idea onto Jesus.Did Jesus Himself, they say, "Oh, if you study the words of Jesus, He never said He was God."Well, do you remember back in Exodus chapter 3, God called Moses through the burning bush.You know, you're going to lead my people out of Egypt.You're going to lead them to the promised land.Do you remember Moses says to God, "Well, what if Israel asks who sent me?"What if Israel is like, "What is His name?"Do you remember in that moment, God told Moses what His name is?You remember?God told Moses His name is, "I am who I am."That's God's name.His name is, "I am."I love that.God didn't say to Moses, "My name is I was."Like Moses, like what's your name?And God's like, "Moses, I was.Oh Moses, you should have seen me back in high school.Oh Moses, I was so good looking and I was such a good athlete.Back in the day Moses, back in the day I was really something.No, he's not the I was.But nor did God tell Moses that he's the I will be."Right?Like Moses is like, "What's your name?"And God's like, "Well Moses, you tell the Israelites, I might not be nothing specialnow but I'm taking my vitamins and I'm drinking my milk and I'm doing my palates and I'm jumpingon my pogo ball and someday, someday I'm going to be something great.I will be."God's not the I was and he's not the I will be.God is, "He is I am."From eternity past, He is infinite, majestic holiness.He is the I am.And in eternity future, He will still be infinite, majestic holiness.He is the I am.You're like, "Well what does that have to do with Jesus?"Because Jesus repeatedly claimed that He is the I am.It's all through the gospel of John, what, like seven times.I am the bread of life.I am the light of the world.I am the way and the truth and the life.I am the good shepherd.I am the door.All through Jesus made this claim.John chapter 8, Jesus said before Abraham was, "I am."John chapter 10, Jesus said, "I and the Father are one."And in that moment the Jews picked up stones, they were going to kill them for saying that.Jesus says, "I did a lot of good works for which of them are you going to stone me?"And they said, "Oh no, you're making yourself out to be God the way you're talking."And you see, they knew exactly what He was saying.They knew exactly what He meant when He said, "I and the Father are one."Oh, and by the way, not only does the Bible say that Jesus is God, did you know that the Bible also says that God is Jesus?Here's what I mean.Look at Zechariah 12/10.This is before the incarnation, the Christmas story.This is before the baby in the manger story.This is Old Testament.Look at what God says.God says, "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a spirit of grace and please, for mercy, so that when they look on Me on Him whom they have pierced."Do you see how God identifies Himself?He identifies Himself as the one who was pierced and who was the one that was pierced.It's Jesus Christ on the cross.Do you see that?Do a little word study there.That's exactly what He's saying.They will look on the one whom they've stabbed.Right?It's also in the New Testament.God is Jesus.Look at Acts 20, for example.Paul says, "The Ephesians elders pay careful attention to yourselves to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood."Who bought the church with His blood?He says God.You're like, "I thought it was Jesus that shed His blood."Well, Paul's saying that as Jesus shed His blood, that was God obtaining the church with His own blood.So Jesus is God, yes, and the Bible also says that God is Jesus.The word was God, but the Bible also says here that the word was with God.The word was with God.And in case you missed it, in case you didn't quite catch it in verse 1, verse 2, he just says the exact same thing.He was in the beginning with God.So somehow, Jesus is God, but being with God, somehow He is distinct from the Father.Like if I said to you yesterday, I was with my buddy Nathaniel, and I was my buddy Nathaniel.You would say, "Were you and Nathaniel smoking something? Like what was going on there?"That doesn't make sense, does it?How can you be with somebody and be somebody at the same time?But that's exactly what the Bible says about Jesus and His relationship with God.He's not only God, but He's also with God.And people want that explained all the time.Pastor Taylor had a couple of weeks ago, the little children back there had a Q&A thing with him.And one of the questions they were asking about, the trinity.And look, do you want to know about the trinity? Here's the reality.Nobody can figure that out. That's the truth.You can't do it.Because from the moment you were born, you've only ever known two things in your life.Your whole life, you've only ever known two things.And that's time and space.You can't fathom an existence outside of time and space.This is where we are.And now we have a God who lives and exists in rules outside of time and space.God is not bound by time and space.And somehow we think that we're going to be able to explain everything about Him.Here's what I know.The Word was with God and the Word was God.The Bible says God exists.He's one God, but He exists as three persons.Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Jesus is eternal, but distinct.And you don't have to explain it to believe it.I can't explain to you how my car works, but I believe that it does when I get in and drive it.Look at verse 3.He says, "All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made."Okay, this is just theology 101. It's all through the Old Testament.God is Creator.And John here is saying Jesus is God, He's with God.And then John takes another step and says, "Jesus is Creator. He made all things."And somehow, again, the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all involved in creation at the same time.You're like, "Can you explain that?"I just told you I could not explain that.But somehow God, the Father created through God the Son, and the Genesis tells us that the Spirit of God hovered above the waters.All three members of the Trinity were involved.And somehow Jesus is the agent of creation.The Bible says in Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 2 that in these last days, God has spoken to us by His Son,whom He appointed the heir of all things through whom also He created the world.Through whom He created the world.That's all John's saying here in verse 3."Every living thing gets life from something else.A tree, a dog, a woodpecker, you. You got life from something else.The only person who has never received life from someone else is God Himself."That's what John's saying, since Jesus already existed before creation,and because Jesus didn't get His life from something else, then He must be God.Those are the biblical facts about Jesus.And listen, even if you're sitting here today or listening to the podcast later or whatever,even if you don't agree with that, can we take an honest look at what the Bible says and stop trying to twist it?Oh, it doesn't really say that.The Bible overwhelmingly says that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh.That's the truth that you have to reckon with.He is God.So if you want to know God, number two, the response.The response. You want to know God? The response is faith in Jesus.The reality is Jesus is God. The response is we have to have faith in Jesus.You see, God took the initiative.God did His part in revealing Himself as Jesus, so the question is, what's my part in knowing Him?It's faith.Faith is the only way to know God.Oh, and speaking of generic,not only do people use the name of God in a generic sense,but you'll find that people use the concept of faith in a generic sense.There is a true biblical sense and definition of faith,but we live in a culture that just throws that word faith around all the time and uses it in all kinds of ways.Here's what I mean.Some people use faith like it means a wishful thinking.Faith is just wishful thinking.Like, well, I just kind of have faith that everything's going to work out.Like, what does that even mean?For some people, they think faith is just the way of the ignorant.Like, well, you believe in science.Or you believe in faith, rather. I believe in science.And they're condescending. You're just some, you know, backwoods, redneck, you're ignorant.I believe in science, but you have your little fairy tale faith.And still other people look at faith as some kind of ambiguous spirituality.You hear people say, I'm a person of faith.Do you know who else is a person of faith?Literally everybody.Everybody believes in something.What is your faith in?Because you can have faith in the wrong thing.So listen, my friends, God is not a generic concept and neither is faith.Faith is a specific disposition towards a specific person.That's why Hebrews 11.6 says without faith,it is impossible to please Him for whoever would draw near to God.That's the knowing God piece.Whoever would draw near to God must believe that He existsand that He rewards those who seek Him.It starts with obviously an acknowledgement of His existence,but it doesn't stop there. You have to seek Him.You have a responsibility.God took the initiative. He revealed Himself in Jesus.What is my responsibility in this relationship?Or how can I grow in knowing Jesus?I want you to draw these three things down.How can I grow in knowing Jesus?Letter A, you have to confess with your mouth.Romans 10.9 says, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lordand believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.And you are not going to grow in your relationship with Himif you don't have one to begin with."So have you made that confession?Do you believe that Jesus Christ died on the crossto pay the penalty for your sins, that He rose from the deadto give you eternal life? Do you believe that?Because people have this idea that, well, we're all children of Godand a creative sense, yes, but not in the adoptive sense.Yes, we do all have a relationship with Jesus.The question is, do you have a good relationship with Himor a bad relationship with Him?You have to confess with your mouth.Ask to start there, letter B, you have to hear the Word.You have to hear the Word.Romans 10.17 says, "So faith comes from hearingand hearing through the Word of Christ."The only way your faith grows is through the Word of God.Because this is the only truly reliable source of informationabout Jesus, because this is the source of informationthat was given to us by God.You have to be in the Wordif you're going to know Jesus.Any relationship involves time and communication.And some people, they spend no time in His Word,no time praying His Word and reading and studying and meditating.And they spend no time at all in the Word.And then they wonder why they feel so distant.Relationships grow when time is spent together.You need to prioritize spending time and praying the Word of God.Finally, letter C, keep His commandments.Jesus says in John 15.10, "If you keep My commandments,you will abide in My love just as I have kept My Father's commandmentsand abide in His love."That's how you abide. It's through obedience.Now listen, if you're a Christian and you're in sin,sin is not going to end your relationship with Jesus.But you're obviously going to feel distant from Godif you have unrepentant sin.Any area of disobedience in your life that you refuse to deal with,you're going to feel distant.And that's not on God. That's on you.God hasn't gone anywhere. You have.So what is it in your life right now that you're like,"I know that this is what God wants me to stop doing,or maybe something God wants you to start doing,but you know exactly what it is.You need to turn from that sin.You need to obey whatever Jesus is calling you to.And you're going to enjoy the freedomthat repentance brings in your walk with Christ."This is what keeps people from coming to Christin the first place, by the way.Jesus will take you just as you are,but He won't leave you that way.Jesus wants to transform you.He wants to change you.Some people just don't want to be changed.Keep His commandments.The Word became flesh.God became a man.Our worship team would come back up.You know, I came to Christ when I was 20.And it's an amazing thing to grow up in a churchas a kid.All those days, all those yearssitting in the church, how little I really understood.But when I was led to Christ, it was this whole newworld, right?And I remember I was trying to understand.And I had this Bible that my parents got me.You know, some Bibles have the little story inserts,little devotional things that kind of build into the Bible.Well, this Bible had this story in it.And the story goes something like this.There was this farmer and his wife, it was Chris Paseeb,and the farmer's wife was going to church.And she asked her husband if he wanted to go with her.He goes, "No, I don't get that church stuff.It doesn't, that makes no sense to me.You know, I'm not interested at all, but you go have fun."Well, she went to church.And while he was home, he saw that there were birds trying to getinto his barn.This really bad deep freeze came over, kind of like,"What happened here?"And these birds were trying to get into the barn,seeking shelter from the cold.The farmer says, "Well, I can help those birds."So he goes, "I'll just go out and open the doorand let them in the barn."And when he went out, you know what birds do, right?They just kind of scattered everywhere.The farmer's like, "Well, that sure didn't help anything."So he thought, "Well, maybe if I just leave breadcrumbs,I can like guide them in there somehow."Didn't work.No matter what the farmer did, he couldn't get the birdsinto the barn to get shelter.And as the story goes, I don't think it's a true story,but as the story goes, he stood and lookedout the kitchen window, and he saw the birds back flyingaround the outside of the barn not able to get in.And the farmer thought to himself,"Those birds are going to die."And as badly as I want to save them,I don't know how I can get them into the barn.But then the farmer had a thought.The farmer thought, "You know, if I could become a birdfor like five minutes, I could approach them,they wouldn't be scared of me, I could speak their language,and I could show them the way that they could be saved."And right when he had the thought, the story goes,"Off in the distance, he heard the church's bells ringing."And that's when it connected.It's a dumb story.Admittedly, what I'm going to tell you as a young Christian,when I read that, that's what made everything click for me.Yes, that's the purpose of the incarnation,that God became one of us to save us.So what do you want for Christmas?I want to know God, not the generic knockoff,but the real person.Because knowing God is eternal life.We're going to have our elders and members of our prayer teamup front here.And in just a moment, Ashley's going to sing a song over you.And we're going to have a good old-fashioned altar call.You can stay in your seat, you can pray right where you are.But I want you to know there's people that are up here that would love to pray with youand for you.So as Ashley sings over you, we're going to invite youto come. Maybe there's somebody herethat today you're like, "You know what? I don't really know God. I know about Him.But I don't really have a relationship with Him.Today's the day. Today's the day that you can go from knowing aboutGod to knowing God. So please come.Our Father in Heaven, we thank Youfor the way that You have demonstrated Your holiness and loveby taking on flesh and blood.Father, I pray against all of the distractions. It's that time of yearthat there's more to do than we have time to do.And there's so many things buying for our attention.Father, I pray that we would take a realclose examination at the person of Jesus Christ and examine our own hearts.Are we truly walking with Him? Do we trulyhave a relationship with Him that we're spending timetogether and knowing and growing?Or are we just churchgoers?Father, I thank You. You've revealed Your heart. You want us to know You.You've done everything and have just simply called us to receivewhat You have accomplished.Father, thank You. We praise You and ask that You would continue to manifestYour goodness and presence in us by the power of Your Spirit through the wisdomof Your Word. We praise You in the name of JesusChrist, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

In this sermon we looked at what happens when you hit the end of your strength and still try to power through. From Ahaz and Hezekiah to Jesus, “Mighty God” reveals a God who doesn't just assist our plans but powerfully saves in our weakness. Hear the invitation to trade self-reliance for real dependence on the God whose strength stands out when yours gives out.

Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. — Luke 2:1 The Christmas story is shaped, in part, by a government decision: a census. People in Palestine likely griped about Caesar's decree—and, according to tradition, a Jewish citizen was expected to register in their own ancestral town. That made things inconvenient for Joseph and Mary, who was near the end of her pregnancy. They had to travel about 90 miles (145 km) from Nazareth to Bethlehem, a weeklong journey by donkey.Caesar thought he was counting subjects, but God had a bigger plan. Joseph's ancestral town, Bethlehem, was also known as “the town of David,” and prophecies stated that the Savior would descend from Israel's King David (Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1-10) and be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). God used a government regulation to prepare the way for Jesus as the promised Messiah and King.It's not uncommon today to hear criticisms about governments. Whether it's taxes, policies, trade regulations, or extra paperwork, people get frustrated with government leaders and their demands. But the Christmas story shows that God works even through government inconveniences to make his salvation known. Jesus came to bring the presence of God to sinful humanity, despite the inconvenient circumstances into which he came.In what ways can you see the Lord working today, despite situations that may be difficult or inconvenient for you? Almighty God, you reign over all things. Open our eyes to see your presence and work, even in situations that we find difficult. For Jesus' sake, Amen.

Daily Dose of Hope December 12, 2025   Scripture:  Acts 16   Prayer:  Holy God, We come before you this morning with humility.  You, Lord of all Creation, Almighty God, came down to earth to become one of us.  You didn't come because you needed to, but because we needed you to.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the gift of incarnation.  As we continue through this Advent season, help us prepare our hearts for your coming.  Help us remember who and whose we are.  In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We have been walking through the Gospels and now we are mid-way through Acts.  Today, we are in Acts 16. There are two parts of this passage I want us to discuss.  The first is when Paul meets Timothy and decides to bring him on his missionary journey, he circumcises him.  Wait?  Didn't Paul just argue at the Council of Jerusalem that circumcision and the law were an unnecessary burden for Gentiles?  Yes, he did.  Now he circumcises Timothy.  Is he contradicting himself?  I don't believe so, but there are some layers to unpack.    Timothy's mother was Jewish and his father was Greek so he would not have been circumcised.  Now, Timothy and Paul are going to be visiting many young churches, some filled with Jewish believers.  While circumcision wouldn't be required, it probably gave Timothy a bit more authority in the eyes of those new Jewish converts.  It was probably also a debate they just didn't want to have.  They wanted the focus to be on salvation through Jesus Christ and they wanted to avoid anything that would be a distraction.  Of course, I'm thinking – was there a circumcision check at the door?  How would they even know?  But I digress.    The other part of the passage that is fascinating to me is how the Spirit of God discourages Paul and crew from going one way so that they would end up in Macedonia.  I mean, they had a route already planned out and they were prevented from taking that route.  And then Paul has a dream about a man calling to them and begging for them to come to Macedonia.  So they head in that direction.  When they go into Macedonia, it opens up a whole new area to the Gospel.  They head to Philippi, where they meet a woman named Lydia and she accepts Jesus.  She welcomes them into her home, which later becomes a house church.  This is only the beginning!  By listening to the Spirit and not insisting on their own way, the Gospel was advanced.    How often do we want to force our own way with God?  Yet, the Spirit is always trying to guide us, if we let him.   I can't finish today's devotional without at least addressing the prison story.  Paul and Silas are arrested after a debacle of sorts with a servant girl.  She had a spirit in her that told the future.  Keep in mind, this spirit would not have been of God, so most likely the power was demonic.  She followed the men around and was really wearing on Paul's nerves so he cast out that spirit.  But she was quite a money-maker for her owners.  When they find out the future-telling spirit is gone, they are livid.  They drag Paul and Silas into the public square and have them beaten.  Then, they are put in prison.  It feels a lot like a local mob gone crazy.   But God is always up to something.  An earthquake basically opens up the prison so the men could have theoretically walked out.  But they didn't.  I don't know why they didn't leave.  Maybe the Holy Spirit impressed upon them to stay, we don't have that information.  But because they stayed, the jailer is saved and so is his family!  One door opens another.    God is always opening at doors, always at work, but we have to be paying attention.  How have you seen God working behind the scenes in your life this week?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

In his second chapter Peter continues the theme that closed chapter 1 i.e. human flesh is temporary and momentarily beautiful but in essence worthless, aside from its aesthetic beauty, and the hope of eternal life is that the Word of God can develop within us a character that our Father will choose to perpetuate. Verses 1-10 describe the building of an edifice to the Almighty God from stones He has chosen and enlivened by His satisfying Word which when consumed produces an intense thirst and desire. The foundation stone on which the house is built is our Lord Jesus Christ - Paul elaborates on this same theme in 1 Corinthians 3verses10-17 (note the similar introduction of Paul to Peter's thoughts i.e. compare the beginning verses of 1 Corinthians 3 and 1 Peter 2) and Ephesians 2verses19-22. Peter shows that the Father's purpose in making faith in His Son (our Lord Jesus Christ) was always the LORD's plan. Theo Apostle does this by citing Isaiah 8verses14-18; and Isaiah 28verses16. Our Lord Jesus Christ also quoted these words to prove that belief in him would be the basis of salvation, whereas rejecting Jesus as God's appointed means of saving can only lead to certain and total destruction. In verses 9-10 the Apostle Peter expresses his confidence that his readers have been chosen to show the praise of their Father. In verses 11-12 the Apostle urges his readers to live lives consistent with their profession of faith. From verse 13 to the end of chapter 2 Peter expresses God's requirement for believers to endure persecution for Christ's sake following his example of submission to rulers who cruelly took his life. The argument in verses 13-14 is that the authorities are in power because the Almighty has allowed this - compare Romans 13verses1-7.Peter's readers would find submission difficult as Rome was persecuting believers. In verses 17-20 the Apostle says that exemplary and faithful obedience even in the face of testing circumstances would demonstrate that believers were truly God's children. History tells us that such behaviour led to the acceptance of the truth by many of the pagans of that era. God will reward faithfulness which showed believers knew and understood the example that the Lord Jesus Christ had shown them in the laying down of his life for his saints - verses 21-25. Peter quotes Isaiah 53 which illustrates that our Lord was silent in his suffering that he might bring us to God. Now our Lord Jesus is overseeing and shepherding us as we walk in trust towards our Father's kingdom.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow

This paramount chapter involves Tolstoy using Andrei to grasp the transcendence of the Almighty God which the author revered. More particularly, when Andrei takes in the vastness of the sky, Tolstoy conveys the vulgarity of this earth compared with His infinite nature. Further, Tolstoy lays bare the senselessness of war for most of the men shooting and hacking each other. There will be a depiction of opposing soldiers in a tug-of-war over the most insignificant object – a broomstick, highlighting the meaninglessness many sacrifice themselves for.  The chapter begins with the battle intensifying while Kutuzov was riding near the rear of a column down a hill.  He stops at a deserted house on a majestic hell, symbolic of war interrupting civility.  Fog was clearing as some of the French became more visible, at first over a mile away. However, additional forces were quickly found to be ascending toward them. Upon noticing, the expressions on most of the Russian officers changed to Holy terror. Andrei embraces the moment, thinking “Here it is! The decisive moment! My turn has come!” Soon a cloud of smoke from a blast of artillery spread all round. A voice of naïve terror shouted, “Brothers! All is lost!” There was an instantaneous break of morale and the men ran in different directions.Andrei took in bewildering sights as Kutuzov was encouraged to leave and avoid being taken prisoner. With stoicism, Kutuzov wiped away blood flowing from his cheek and noted the true damage was to his army by reason of their humiliating performance.  He vainly called for the soldiers to maintain discipline.  Kutuzov rode toward the sound of artillery – where one of the batteries was under attack.  The French noticed Kutuzov and fired at him. There were many casualties, including an officer carrying the Battle Flag.  Kutuzov called out to Andrei with a trembling voice. Andrei, feeling shame and rage leapt from his horse and picked up the fallen Standard. He called to his men, in a piercing scream: “Forward, lads!” He was not physically powerful and was challenged in carrying the flag. Yet he proceeded with full confidence his army would follow him, which they did and soon overtook him.A burly sergeant assisted with the swaying flag, but was killed.  Undaunted, Andrei stumbled along. He embraced being the primary target and essentially dared the enemy to hit him. He reached within 20 paces of French soldiers seizing horses and canons as prizes. Through the whistle of bullets and men dropping, he focused on reaching the seized Battery. However, he became distracted by the most unusual but symbolic confrontation -- a red-haired gunner from his army in a tall cylindrical hat comically askew pulling one end of a cleaning mop while a French soldier tugged at the other. He took in their contorted faces filled with venom. Andrei realized the absurdity and that the gunner should have retreated, as there were other Frenchmen nearby.  His comrade won the broom but Tolstoy notes the man's fate was about to be decided when Andrei lost the moment though taking a heavy blow. He felt as if hit on the head with the full swing of a bludgeon. The pain was disorienting but he felt worse about not seeing how the fracas over the broom ended.  The Comment is that all such efforts, for the men doing the hacking and dying, are as useless as fighting over a broom.Andrei's perception slows down and as he falls on his back. “What's this? Am I falling? My legs are giving way…” He opens his eyes, hoping to see the struggle for the mop. However, he absorbed what couldn't be more opposite -- something vast and Godly,  Above him there was only the sky—the lofty sky, not clear yet immeasurably lofty, with gray clouds gliding. “How quiet, peaceful, and solemn; not as it was as I ran.  No, not as we ran, shouting and fighting, not at all as the gunner and the Frenchman with terrified faces struggling for the mop. How differently do those clouds glide across that lofty infinite sky! How was it I did not see that sky before? And how happy I am to have found it at last!"This is where Tolstoy briefly quotes and paraphrases Ecclesiastes:"Yes! All is vanity, all falsehood except that infinite sky. There is nothing, nothing but that. But even it does not exist, there is nothing but quiet and peace."And Andrei thanks God for this realization!

Job continues his reply to Bildad - in particular - and to his other friends generally. Job's argument in the first six verses is that the accusations of the three friends are just wind - words without any substance. The words of these men are the product of their evil minds and if Job were to agree with the point of view which has been made he would have to stop his respect for his God. From verses 7-17 Job contrasts the pitiful position of humanity with a tree which if it is cut down has a hope of reviving if the scent of water comes to it. Humanity seems to come and go and pass away for ever. But following through the analogy Job makes only exposure to the water of God's Word can bring hope, the raising up through resurrection to live again. God's call and offer is the only worthwhile portion in this life. Verses 18-22 say that even though Job understood this he laments his current deplorable state. The patriarch accepts that it is the   LORD's right to do whatever He chooses and it's our responsibility to accept this and hope that through life we can learn and grow closer to our Maker. The short prophecy of Habakkuk was written around BC 720 when Nineveh was the Assyrian capital city. The previous prophecy of Nahum told of God's judgments on that cruel and oppressive power. The prophet Habakkuk was a patriotic prophet from the southern kingdom of Judah which was to be extensively punished by the cruel Assyrians. In chapter 1 verse 1 the prophet describes his situation. In verses 2-4 the prophet expresses his complaint to the LORD that the violence within the nation of Judah appears to continue without any divine intervention. Verses 5-11 tell of the Almighty's answer to Habakkuk saying that Yahweh will punish guilty Judah by raising the Assyrian to punish the nation. The power, ferocity and speed of the Assyrian is outlined in these verses. In verses 12-17 the prophet makes his second complaint to the Almighty. Yahweh's prophet says surely God cannot use an evil nation like the Assyrian to judge Judah whose relative righteousness is greater than that of their ruthless enemy. This complaint will be answered by the Almighty in chapters 2 and 3. The practices and insatiable appetite for bloodshed and destruction are described by the prophet. In his second chapter Peter continues the theme that closed chapter 1 i.e. human flesh is temporary and momentarily beautiful but in essence worthless, aside from its aesthetic beauty, and the hope of eternal life is that the Word of God can develop within us a character that our Father will choose to perpetuate. Verses 1-10 describe the building of an edifice to the Almighty God from stones He has chosen and enlivened by His satisfying Word which when consumed produces an intense thirst and desire. The foundation stone on which the house is built is our Lord Jesus Christ - Paul elaborates on this same theme in 1 Corinthians 3verses10-17 (note the similar introduction of Paul to Peter's thoughts i.e. compare the beginning verses of 1 Corinthians 3 and 1 Peter 2) and Ephesians 2verses19-22. Peter shows that the Father's purpose in making faith in His Son (our Lord Jesus Christ) was always the LORD's plan. Theo Apostle does this by citing Isaiah 8verses14-18; and Isaiah 28verses16. Our Lord Jesus Christ also quoted these words to prove that belief in him would be the basis of salvation, whereas rejecting Jesus as God's appointed means of saving can only lead to certain and total destruction. In verses 9-10 the Apostle Peter expresses his confidence that his readers have been chosen to show the praise of their Father. In verses 11-12 the Apostle urges his readers to live lives consistent with their profession of faith. From verse 13 to the end of chapter 2 Peter expresses God's requirement for believers to endure persecution for Christ's sake following his example of submission to rulers who cruelly took his life. The argument in verses 13-14 is that the authorities are in power because the Almighty has allowed this - compare Romans 13verses1-7. Peter's readers would find submission difficult as Rome was persecuting believers. In verses 17-20 the Apostle says that exemplary and faithful obedience even in the face of testing circumstances would demonstrate that believers were truly God's children. History tells us that such behaviour led to the acceptance of the truth by many of the pagans of that era. God will reward faithfulness which showed believers knew and understood the example that the Lord Jesus Christ had shown them in the laying down of his life for his saints - verses 21-25. Peter quotes Isaiah 53 which illustrates that our Lord was silent in his suffering that he might bring us to God. Now our Lord Jesus is overseeing and shepherding us as we walk in trust towards our Father's kingdom. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow 

It's easy to treat faith casually when we lose sight of who Jesus truly is. Many believers don't deny His power; they just forget its weight. But Jesus is not merely an inspiring figure or a comforting presence. He is the Almighty God who deserves our full allegiance.

#catholic #sspx #ourladyThe Immaculate Conception of Our Lady was a unique privilege given to her alone by God. Of all of the people born into this world after the sin of Adam and Eve, only one was prevented from contracting Original Sin by the intervention of God.This is implied by Pope Pius IX when he defined the dogma in 1854: “We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God” (Ineffabilis Deus)At the beginning of the same document, the Pope says, “Above all creatures did God so love her that truly in her was the Father well pleased with singular delight. Therefore, far above all the angels and all the saints so wondrously did God endow her with the abundance of all heavenly gifts poured from the treasury of his divinity”.Our Lady saw fit to make it clear that the Immaculate Conception is her unique privilege in an extraordinary way just four years later, in her apparitions to St. Bernadette in 1858.St. Bernadette was given the mission by the parish priest to ask the lady who was appearing to her to say what her name was. It was uncertain that Our Lady was appearing.The Lady asked St. Bernadette to come for fifteen days in a row. St. Bernadette kept asking her name but the Lady never gave it, and the fifteen days ended on March 3.But St. Bernadette would sometimes get a strong urge to go to the grotto and this urge came to her on March 25. When Our Lady appeared to her, Bernadette was still quite focused on her mission. She asked the lady three times if she would not mind saying who she was and what was her name. Each time, the lady just smiled. She asked a fourth time and finally the lady became serious, lifted her eyes to heaven, and said those incredible words, “Lourdes: I AM the Immaculate Conception.”Bernadette was a simple girl who could not read and hardly knew her catechism, even though she was fourteen years old. She had no idea whatsoever what was meant by “Immaculate Conception”. Plus, her memory was bad so she just kept repeating the phrase to herself so she could faithfully tell it to the priest.If Our Lady chose to speak of herself in such an extraordinary way, it was to communicate to us an important fact about her immaculate conception: God gave the privilege only to her.

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for December 10, 2025. 0:30 We dig into what might be the political and economic turning point of our generation — the moment tariffs go from heresy to orthodoxy inside the Republican Party. For decades, the conservative establishment worshiped at the altar of free trade. Tariffs were the villain, protectionism was a dirty word, and anyone who questioned NAFTA got sent to the kids’ table. Not anymore. With new polling showing a full revolt inside the GOP — two-thirds of Republicans now wanting tariffs kept where they are or pushed even higher — we break down how Trump didn’t just shift the debate… he blew up the old economic playbook entirely. 9:30 Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. The ban on transgender members of the US Military is constitutional. That's the ruling of the US Appeals court for the District of Columbia. 12 fired FBI agents are suing the Trump Administration to get their jobs back. Two courts have now agreed to unseal several documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. 12:30 Get TrimROX from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 13:00 We break down a move from the Trump administration that has the media scrambling for cover: a brand-new public database from DHS called WOW — Worst of the Worst — a tool that finally exposes what legacy outlets have spent years trying to bury. For the first time, any American can pull up the rap sheets of criminal illegal aliens arrested and removed by ICE, cutting straight through the spin, the soft-pedaled headlines, and the endless attempts to pretend this problem doesn’t exist. We get into why the rollout is brilliant, how it undercuts the press narrative that ICE “only” targets harmless offenders, and why transparency like this terrifies the same institutions that have been whitewashing the consequences of illegal immigration for decades. But we also ask the tough question: if the media refuses to cover it, and most Americans never see it, how far does a database like this really go? 16:00 Today the American Mamas take on a question that hits every family sooner or later — and hits hard: What’s tougher? Losing a parent suddenly, or watching them fade slowly over time? It’s one of those raw, real-life dilemmas that doesn’t have an easy answer, but Terri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson go straight into it with honesty, humor, and the kind of lived experience you only get the hard way. From the shock of quick goodbyes to the long heartbreak of Alzheimer’s, from feeling helpless when distance keeps you away to witnessing the moment a parent realizes their body can’t do what their mind still thinks it can — the Mamas walk through the pain, the gratitude, the guilt, the grace, and even the unexpected moments of laughter that come with loving someone through their final chapter. If you'd like to ask our American Mamas a question, go to our website, AmericanGroundRadio.com/mamas and click on the Ask the Mamas button. 23:00 We get into a rare kind of headline — a move from one of America’s top business leaders that cuts completely against the gloomy narrative we’re all used to hearing. Michael Dell and his wife are dropping an eye-popping $6 billion to help kids open savings accounts under the new Trump-era “Trump Accounts” program, a donation so massive it’s forcing people to rethink what private generosity can actually do. 26:00 We dig into a story out of Massachusetts that’s lighting up both the pews and the comment sections: a Catholic parish swapping the Christ child out of its nativity scene and replacing Him with a sign that reads “ICE was here.” It’s the latest attempt to turn the Gospel into a campaign billboard — and the blowback isn’t subtle. The Archbishop has ordered it taken down. The pastor is refusing. And the national debate over immigration has now landed squarely in the manger. We break down why the comparison itself collapses on contact with the facts — from the legal status of Mary and Joseph under Roman rule, to the census that brought them to Bethlehem, to the actual historical context of the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt. We walk through how this narrative twist isn’t just sloppy theology, but a deliberate bending of Scripture to score political points, and why that crosses a line the Church itself has long warned against. We get into what the Catechism really says about immigration, why order and legality are central Catholic teachings, and how misrepresenting the nativity story for modern activism turns sacred history into propaganda. And we ask the harder question: if religious leaders start rewriting the Gospel to fit the politics of the moment, what does that do to trust, to doctrine, and to the faithful who expect the truth from their shepherds? 32:00 Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 32:30 We break down a story out of the New York Times that perfectly illustrates the disconnect between political theater and actual accomplishment: Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly plans to have a marble bust of herself installed in the U.S. Capitol. We dive into the optics — a self-proclaimed historical figure immortalized in stone — and the reality behind the pomp. We explore the context of Harris’s claim, the timing of the interview, and the ongoing speculation about 2028. And we ask the bigger question: what does it say about leadership when a career politician’s “legacy” is measured by statues and media headlines rather than tangible policy achievements? 35:30 We take listeners down a rabbit hole most Americans never explore: state mottos. Every state has one — some even have two — and many date back centuries. We break down the surprising number of mottos that reference God, from Arizona’s “God enriches” to Ohio’s “With God all things are possible,” highlighting the enduring role of faith in the foundation of our states. We also explore mottos rooted in liberty and freedom: New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die,” Massachusetts’ “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty,” and Delaware’s “Liberty and Independence.” The discussion points to a broader principle: our rights don’t come from bureaucrats, governors, or Washington politicians — they come from Almighty God, the ultimate antidote to tyranny. 39:30 We cut straight to the point on a simple truth about America: if you’re not happy here, get out. Drawing from personal experience, we highlight the story of families who came to this country chasing the American dream — moving from poverty to prosperity in a single generation — and who loved this country with every fiber of their being. If you came here seeking opportunity and blessings and you don’t appreciate them, it’s time to move on. No hostility, no resentment — just a clear reminder that America thrives when its people value what it offers. 41:30 And we finish off with a story about accountability, intervention, and life-changing moments. Follow us: americangroundradio.com Facebook: facebook.com/AmericanGroundRadio Instagram: instagram.com/americangroundradioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you considered the great mystery of Almighty God humbling Himself by coming down from heaven's throne, taking on human flesh, and dwelling among us? The miracle of the Incarnation is the foundation for Christmas because without it there is no Christianity and no salvation. In this message, Pastor Jeff Schreve shares three profound discoveries regarding the birth of Jesus.

Weekly devotion

Life often makes us feel powerless and overwhelmed, like standing before forces far beyond our control. In Isaiah 9, Jesus is called Mighty God, revealing two profound truths: He is fully God and possesses invincible power. The paradox of Christmas shows that God's mighty power was revealed through ultimate vulnerability when Jesus was born as a helpless baby. When we feel most powerless, that's exactly where Christ wants to unleash His mighty power. Coming to Jesus means acknowledging our need, asking for rescue and forgiveness, and surrendering our lives completely to Him.

A Biblical Defense of Christmas as a Holy Celebration unto the Lord - Pastor Joseph ClarkReclaiming December 25 as a holy day of celebration for the birth of Jesus Christ is not rooted in claiming that this date is His literal birthday, but in acknowledging that every day on the calendar belongs to our Almighty God. Some claim that Christmas is inherently pagan because celebrations once occurred on that date within the Roman calendar. Yet Scripture reveals that pagan claims over days, seasons, or traditions have no spiritual weight, for pagan gods are false gods, and falsehood cannot own time, creation, or sacred observance. “For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens” (Psalm 96:5). The calendar, the earth, and the universe belong to the Lord, not to paganism and not to Satan. “The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). Satan owns nothing. He possesses no realm of truth, no portion of creation, and no authority over time. “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Because God reigns, His people may consecrate any moment unto Him, and that moment becomes holy—not by tradition or history, but by worship in spirit and truth.Christians have never proclaimed December 25 as the literal day of Christ's birth. Rather, it is the day set aside to commemorate and celebrate the incarnation—the moment when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Scripture reveals that not all biblical observances correspond directly to the exact date of the event they commemorate. God commanded Israel to hold feasts at appointed times (Leviticus 23:4), yet the feasts did not always reflect the literal historical anniversary of the event; they reflected a sacred remembrance within the calendar year. Even more remarkable is the example of Jesus Himself keeping a holiday that was not commanded in the Law—the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in John 10:22–23. This holiday arose after Israel reclaimed the Temple from pagan corruption and rededicated it unto the Lord. Jesus celebrated it, not because Moses commanded it, but because reclaiming what once belonged to darkness is a testimony of God's victory. This is precisely what Christians have done with December 25.Time does not become holy because of its origin; time becomes holy because of its dedication. When the Temple was built, the stones, gold, curtains, and vessels were common until God consecrated them. “I have consecrated this house… to put My name there forever” (1 Kings 9:3). The materials did not define sacredness—God did. Likewise, a day does not become sacred because of its ancient association; it becomes sacred because it is set apart unto the Lord. Paul writes concerning food once sacrificed to idols, “We know that an idol is nothing” (1 Corinthians 8:4). The same is true of dates. Paganism has no power to define them. “One person esteems one day above another, another esteems every day alike; let each be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5). The enemy cannot maintain ownership of what has been surrendered to Jesus Christ.Christ declared that worship does not require a location or temple, nor a specific day or hour. “The hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem worship the Father… true worshipers will worship… in spirit and truth” (John 4:21–24). Because of the finished work of Jesus Christ, every moment is sacred, and believers live within continual Sabbath. “There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9). Therefore, December 25 is holy not because of its past, but because of its present identity in Christ. When believers glorify God on a specific day, that day is redeemed by the blood of Jesus and reclaimed out of darkness..

December 7th, 2025 | Attributes of Advent | Luke 1:26-38In this Advent message, Pastor Todd Kaunitz continues our series Attributes of Advent by exploring two profound characteristics of God revealed in the Christmas story: His omnipotence and His immanence. While God is all-powerful and sovereign over all creation, He is also deeply personal—near, involved, and present with His people.Drawing from Luke 1:26–38, Pastor Todd walks us through the miracle of the virgin birth, a stunning display of God's unlimited power. Yet this same miracle also reveals His intimate nearness as He steps into human history through the incarnation—God becoming flesh in the person of Jesus. Through Mary's honest questions and humble surrender, we see a model of trust when God's plans stretch beyond our understanding.This episode invites us to marvel at the God who both can do anything and who comes close. The God who defies natural laws to bring forth a Savior also draws near to the brokenhearted, the fearful, and the weary. Pastor Todd reminds us that because God is both omnipotent and immanent, we can trust Him fully, surrender to Him confidently, and bring our burdens before Him knowing He will never leave us.Whether you need reassurance of God's power or a reminder of His presence, this message calls you to draw near to the One who is both Almighty God and Ever-Present Savior.Do you know JESUS?: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nblongview.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need PRAYER?: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nblongview.org/pray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT through giving: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbbctx.org/giving⁠⁠

Have you considered the great mystery of Almighty God humbling Himself by coming down from heaven's throne, taking on human flesh, and dwelling among us? The miracle of the Incarnation is the foundation for Christmas because without it there is no Christianity and no salvation. In this message, Pastor Jeff Schreve shares three profound discoveries regarding the birth of Jesus. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.lightsource.com/donate/863/29

Almighty God, You have called us to the holystate of Matrimony and have shared with us Your gift of creation. We thank You for makingour love fruitful. May we be worthy representativesof You, dear Lord, in forming our childrenin Your knowledge and love.You have given us children, Almighty God,to teach in Your ways which will lead to their eternal home of heaven. May our children ever walk in the ways of Your commandments andlive according to the teachings of Your holyCatholic Church. May our example, dear God,be such as to inspire our children to grow intothe likeness of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May we be firm but kind in discipline. May we stand asone united in authority so as to be consistent.May we never confuse permissiveness withlove. May we teach our children respect forYour authority in ourselves and in all Yourrepresentatives upon earth.May our home be as a Church, for You, Lord Jesus Christ, are present wherever two or threeare gathered together in Your name. Maypraises of God frequently rise from the lipsand hearts of our family and may we all one day be united in our eternal home.Amen.Thank you for your support. God bless you.Send us a textSupport the show

Personal Revival, Nation Awakening & Generational ReformationWe are just weeks away from celebrating Christmas, the miracle of Almighty God sending His only begotten Son to save and redeem all who would believe upon Him—and give us the right to become the sons and daughters of God. Join Brian in this newest episode of The Torch as we explore the beauty and unfolding miracle of Christmas—from Bethlehem of old, the glorious Light of the world, manifesting salvation and redemption to the hearts of all men.For all the latest on all things from Brian, be sure to check out our website at https://victoryfla.com and follow us on social media.Welcome to The Torch. A podcast with Brian Gibbs, presenting Biblical insights and prophetic perspectives for cultural and current events in this day and age. Contending for personal revival, national awakening and generational reformation.Download our app at: https://victoryfla.com/appFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/victorychurchfla/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchfla/X: https://twitter.com/victorychurchfl/

Has Christ returned as a female in China? Believe it or not, this is the shameless assertion of the Church of the Almighty God, also known as Eastern Lightning. Unfortunately, this is not a fringe group of fanatics, but a cult that is growing globally with millions of devotees and deep pockets. This edition of Hank Unplugged is dedicated to discussing the dangers of Eastern Lightning, what CRI is doing to combat the cults and how you can help make a difference.For further study: CRI Resource: The Eastern Lighting Cult: Christ Returns to Earth as a Female? https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-special-print-issue-48-02-03-the-eastern-lighting-cult-christ-returns-to-earth-as-a-female-hup1225/As a preview of the extensive and new primary research done on this topic, please see Hank's From the President column from this issue, “Christ Returns to Earth as a Female — An Exposé of the Eastern Lightning Cult “ https://www.equip.org/articles/christ-returns-to-earth-as-a-female-an-expose-of-the-eastern-lightning-cult/  and also one of the feature articles by Hank, “Contrasting Eastern Lightning Deception and Essential Christian D-O-C-T-R-I-N-E”.https://www.equip.org/articles/contrasting-eastern-lightning-deception-and-essential-christian-d-o-c-t-r-i-n-e/

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)YouTube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comIII John John writes to his dear friend Gaius, praising him for his faithfulness and love in supporting fellow believers, even those who are strangers. Gaius walks in the truth, and John expresses great joy in hearing that his spiritual children are living faithfully. He encourages continued support for those doing God's work, as they rely on the hospitality of believers. John contrasts Gaius with Diotrephes, a man who rejects authority, spreads malicious words, and refuses to welcome other believers. He warns against following such bad examples and instead urges believers to imitate what is good. He also commends Demetrius for his strong reputation and faithful life. John hopes to visit soon and closes with greetings of peace and love from mutual friends in the faith.  We will greatly prosper in Christ as we walk in truth and express love through our actions. Like Gaius, we are called to support those who serve God, even if we do not know them personally. Our hospitality and encouragement can genuinely make a difference in the work of the gospel. Meanwhile, we must avoid following the example of pride or selfishness, as seen with Diotrephes. Our goal is to be recognized for our kindness, humility, and commitment to serving others. When we live with integrity and care for our fellow believers, we bring joy to those in leadership and honor God with our lives. Let us continue to walk in truth, serve faithfully, and love deeply every day.  Almighty God, thank You for the truth that shapes our lives and for people who encourage us to walk faithfully. Help us to be like Gaius, generous and welcoming to those who serve in Your name. Grant us discernment to recognize what is good and courage to turn away from pride and division. Fill our hearts with joy as we serve others and open our homes in love. May we be known for building up the body of Christ, not tearing it down. Let our words bring peace, our actions show grace, and our lives reflect the light of Christ.  Thought Questions: Why has hospitality become so rare, particularly toward unfamiliar people? How do you show kindness to brethren who pass through? Why did Diotrephes accuse John and refuse to accept Christians? How do you prevent a level of pride that does such evil to brethren? Demetrius received a good testimony from everyone. How do you think he built that reputation, and how are you doing the same?

When I visited the Gulf Coast of Florida, I got to see a couple of glorious earth turns. The sky was ablaze with color and the sun disappeared on the horizon. You say, "Excuse me, Ron, that's a sunset." Hey, wait a minute. Are you from the 14th century or something? The sun doesn't set, it doesn't move! The earth moves! As it makes its revolution, your point on earth turns away from the sun every 24 hours. So that would be an earth turn, right? And we say the sun sets. Well, the earth is turning and you can see how mankind got it wrong for so many centuries. I mean, it looks as if the sun is revolving around the earth. It revolutionized a lot of thinking when people finally understood what was revolving around what. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Changing World, Unchanging Truth." Our word for today from the Word of God comes from 2 Timothy 3:16. It says this: "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." Verse 17: "so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." Now, what this is really saying is the Bible is the sun - God's unchanging, unmoving truth. Everything else has to revolve around what God's Word says. God's Word on any subject is the final word. If you read this passage, it's written in the context of a time when Paul is predicting that moral values will be in total confusion, when wrong's going to seem right, when what's right will seem wrong. Doesn't that sound familiar? It's a time when imposters and false ideas will be deceiving many people. And so God's instructions to Timothy are, "You continue in what you've learned and become convinced of what you've learned from infancy - the Holy Scriptures." In other words, you've got to stay where you are. Don't let anything make you compromise on what God's Word says. It's unsettling to see that some research indicates that only about a fourth of America's Christians are sure there's absolute truth. We're shaky on this authority issue, especially when it comes to areas that cramp our style or require us to change or go against what our group or our culture says is true today. We sometimes try to make our idea the sun, and then we try to make the Bible a planet that revolves around it. We put more weight on what is politically correct or culturally correct than what is biblically correct. In academic circles, for example, there's this subtle temptation to submit the Bible to whatever your discipline is, whether that's the current trend in sociology, or literature, or the arts, or science. Well, you've got to submit your discipline to the Bible. God's Word is the final word of origin of the universe and the origin of man. And any explanation that says God did anything other than instantly creating a fully developed adult is wrong. God's Word is the final word on divorce, on re-marriage, on sexuality, whether it's hetero or homosexuality. Or what it means to be a woman, what it means to be a man. It's the final word on justice, on wealth, on sex, on the value of an unborn life. No mental contortions can neutralize God's authoritative Word on the subject. You do no one a favor by trying to make God's Word more acceptable by diluting what it says. We stand on this book, and I hope every day as we're together this book becomes more practical and more living in your life. The planets in our world are in chaos as human wisdoms are confusing, they're colliding. But God gave us this brilliant sun, one settled, unmoving, always true authority to keep the planets in the orbits they belong in - the Word of Almighty God, the Bible. People came out of the dark ages when they realized that the sun did not revolve around them. We come out of the darkness when we realize and we never compromise the final centrality of the Bible in our personal universe, and when we put the planets of all those other ideas where they belong - in orbit around the sun of the Word of God.

Isaiah 9:6 tells us what Jesus, the name above all names, means to us. Pastor Greg Laurie brings us insight in this message. Notes: Focus verse - Isaiah 9:6 Jesus Christ.That is the name above all names. Isaiah 9:6For unto us a Child is born,Unto us a Son is given;And the government will be upon His shoulder.And His name will be calledWonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. From Heaven’s perspective, Jesus was given.From earth’s perspective, Jesus was born. Jesus lived our life and then He died our death. The first Christmas gift was not a gift to a child but the gift of a child. Each of these descriptions of Jesus’ name deals with an important part of our life. Jesus said, “Lo, I come, in the volume of the book it is written of Me.(Hebrews 10:7 KJV) Jesus is in the Old Testament concealed and in the New Testament revealed. Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad.”(John 8:56 KJV) Jacob wrestled with Jesus.Before conquering Jericho, Joshua met Jesus and bowed before Him. Let’s look at these descriptions Isaiah gives us of Christ. #1 His name is Wonderful: this takes care of the dullness of life. Wonderful comes from the word wonder. There is nothing this world has to offer that will fill the void in your life.That’s where Jesus comes in. The word, wonder, means:amazement, surprise, astonishment, admiration, bewilderment, worship, and awe. The best way to sum it up is, “God is awesome!” Knowing this wonderful God personally takes care of the dullness of life. When the shepherds shared what happened,“All that heard it wondered at these things told to them by the shepherds.”(Luke 2:18) Everything about Jesus was wonderful:His birth, His life, His words, His death, and His resurrection. Wonder will lead to worship and a desire to know Jesus better. #2 His name is Counselor: this takes care of the decisions of life. Do you know that God wants to give personal counsel and direction to you? Psalm 73:24 (NKJV)You will guide me with Your counsel,And afterward receive me to glory. Almighty God, the Everlasting Father, Jesus Christ, is offering you His counsel. Jesus, our Counselor, has a plan for our lives. Jesus has given us His word so we might learn to think and act biblically.Everything you need to know about God and life is found in Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16–17All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is trueand to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.It is God's way of preparing us in every way,fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. But your Counselor, Jesus, is very involved and wants the best for you. Jesus, our Counselor, prays for us too. #3 His name is Mighty God: this takes care of the demands of life. Jesus Christ was not just a “good man,” but the “God-Man.” The Creator became a creation.He did not lose His deity, but He added humanity. Eternal, yet an infant, the Infinite became touchable. Jesus was fully God and became fully man. Jesus did not become identical to us, but He did become identified with us. Jesus could not have identified with us more closely than He did.It was total identification without any loss of identity. Jesus claimed to be God many times. On one occasion, Jesus was crossing the Sea of Galilee and He fell asleep.What could be more human than that? Jesus rebuked the storm and it stopped instantly.What could be more divine than that?He was fully God. Being fully human reminds you that He understands what you are facing. Some say, “It’s very hard to be a Christian.” It’s impossible to be a Christian without the power of Jesus Christ. That’s like trying to run your electric car with no charge. We work out what God has already worked in. We don’t manufacture the power, we access it. You say, “I can’t break free from drugs or drinking or immorality.”The bible says, “You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” #4 His name is Everlasting Father: this takes care of the future of life. We know life is not merely what we experience here and now on earth.As Christians, we will live forever. God is the Everlasting Father. He will always be there for you. With so many broken homes today and absentee fathers, this is a great comfort. You have an Everlasting Father who chose you. After His resurrection, Jesus said to Mary, “I go to my Father and your Father.” #5 His name is Prince of Peace: this takes care of the disturbances of life. In the storms of life, we all long for peace within. Isaiah 9:6And the government shall be upon His shoulder. For over 2000 years we are awaiting the fulfillment of this verse when Jesus returnsand establishes His kingdom (at the end of the 7-year Tribulation). When Christ returns there will be no more corruption, war, or terrorism. He will reign righteously as King of kings and Lord of lords. The five names represent five dimensions of what every believer needs:“Wonderful” answers our disillusionment.“Counselor” answers our confusion.“Mighty God” answers our weakness.“Everlasting Father” answers our loneliness.“Prince of Peace” answers our turmoil. Every knee will bow. Will you bow before Him today? — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isaiah 9:6 tells us what Jesus, the name above all names, means to us. Pastor Greg Laurie brings us insight in this message. Notes: Focus verse - Isaiah 9:6 Jesus Christ.That is the name above all names. Isaiah 9:6For unto us a Child is born,Unto us a Son is given;And the government will be upon His shoulder.And His name will be calledWonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. From Heaven’s perspective, Jesus was given.From earth’s perspective, Jesus was born. Jesus lived our life and then He died our death. The first Christmas gift was not a gift to a child but the gift of a child. Each of these descriptions of Jesus’ name deals with an important part of our life. Jesus said, “Lo, I come, in the volume of the book it is written of Me.(Hebrews 10:7 KJV) Jesus is in the Old Testament concealed and in the New Testament revealed. Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad.”(John 8:56 KJV) Jacob wrestled with Jesus.Before conquering Jericho, Joshua met Jesus and bowed before Him. Let’s look at these descriptions Isaiah gives us of Christ. #1 His name is Wonderful: this takes care of the dullness of life. Wonderful comes from the word wonder. There is nothing this world has to offer that will fill the void in your life.That’s where Jesus comes in. The word, wonder, means:amazement, surprise, astonishment, admiration, bewilderment, worship, and awe. The best way to sum it up is, “God is awesome!” Knowing this wonderful God personally takes care of the dullness of life. When the shepherds shared what happened,“All that heard it wondered at these things told to them by the shepherds.”(Luke 2:18) Everything about Jesus was wonderful:His birth, His life, His words, His death, and His resurrection. Wonder will lead to worship and a desire to know Jesus better. #2 His name is Counselor: this takes care of the decisions of life. Do you know that God wants to give personal counsel and direction to you? Psalm 73:24 (NKJV)You will guide me with Your counsel,And afterward receive me to glory. Almighty God, the Everlasting Father, Jesus Christ, is offering you His counsel. Jesus, our Counselor, has a plan for our lives. Jesus has given us His word so we might learn to think and act biblically.Everything you need to know about God and life is found in Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16–17All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is trueand to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.It is God's way of preparing us in every way,fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. But your Counselor, Jesus, is very involved and wants the best for you. Jesus, our Counselor, prays for us too. #3 His name is Mighty God: this takes care of the demands of life. Jesus Christ was not just a “good man,” but the “God-Man.” The Creator became a creation.He did not lose His deity, but He added humanity. Eternal, yet an infant, the Infinite became touchable. Jesus was fully God and became fully man. Jesus did not become identical to us, but He did become identified with us. Jesus could not have identified with us more closely than He did.It was total identification without any loss of identity. Jesus claimed to be God many times. On one occasion, Jesus was crossing the Sea of Galilee and He fell asleep.What could be more human than that? Jesus rebuked the storm and it stopped instantly.What could be more divine than that?He was fully God. Being fully human reminds you that He understands what you are facing. Some say, “It’s very hard to be a Christian.” It’s impossible to be a Christian without the power of Jesus Christ. That’s like trying to run your electric car with no charge. We work out what God has already worked in. We don’t manufacture the power, we access it. You say, “I can’t break free from drugs or drinking or immorality.”The bible says, “You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” #4 His name is Everlasting Father: this takes care of the future of life. We know life is not merely what we experience here and now on earth.As Christians, we will live forever. God is the Everlasting Father. He will always be there for you. With so many broken homes today and absentee fathers, this is a great comfort. You have an Everlasting Father who chose you. After His resurrection, Jesus said to Mary, “I go to my Father and your Father.” #5 His name is Prince of Peace: this takes care of the disturbances of life. In the storms of life, we all long for peace within. Isaiah 9:6And the government shall be upon His shoulder. For over 2000 years we are awaiting the fulfillment of this verse when Jesus returnsand establishes His kingdom (at the end of the 7-year Tribulation). When Christ returns there will be no more corruption, war, or terrorism. He will reign righteously as King of kings and Lord of lords. The five names represent five dimensions of what every believer needs:“Wonderful” answers our disillusionment.“Counselor” answers our confusion.“Mighty God” answers our weakness.“Everlasting Father” answers our loneliness.“Prince of Peace” answers our turmoil. Every knee will bow. Will you bow before Him today? — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Summary. For the next four weeks, our focus is on the first and most foundational part of our mission—deepening our love relationship with Christ. We will do this by zooming the camera in on four titles of Jesus given in the Isaiah 9 prophecy of the coming Messiah Jesus—Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. What do these titles tell us about Jesus and what difference these descriptions of our Commander in Chief make in our everyday lives? This episode examines Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor.For Further Prayerful ThoughtDo you agree or disagree that every man has a little of Pat Tillman in him—a capacity to be inspired by a great mission.How would you argue that the most foundational part of our mission as Christ-followers to deepen our love relationship with Jesus?What stood out to you as take aways from the truth revealed to us by God the Jesus the Messiah would be the Wonderful Counselor?For the printed version of this message click here.For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.For FREE downloadable studies on men's issues click here.To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

A Sermon for the First Sunday in Advent St. Matthew 21:1-13 by William Klock The Gospel we read on Christmas Day is the introduction to St. John's Gospel.  Those familiar words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” The light, God's Messiah, Jesus has come into the world.  He's brought light into the darkness.  He's brought life into the middle of death.  In him, God has become present to the world.  But between us and Christmas, between us and the coming of the light, stands Advent—to remind us what the world was like before light and life came into the midst of darkness and death—so that we might appreciate more the gift that God has given us in Jesus, so that we might appreciate more his love, his mercy, and his grace; so that we might appreciate more his faithfulness as we see his promises fulfilled in the Christmas story.  So that we might better live out the story he's given us in preparation for the day when he comes again. And so Advent begins with Jesus, the Messiah, the anointed king, on the Sunday before his crucifixion.  Palm Sunday.  Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.  Today we have St. Matthew's telling of that day.  He writes—at the beginning of Chapter 21: “When they came near to Jerusalem and arrived at Bethpage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of the disciples on ahead.” The road from Jericho up to Jerusalem made its final approach to the city around the southern slope of the Mount of Olives. As the road came over the ridge, there was Jerusalem, across the Kidron Valley, a mass of great walls and rooftops, and above it all on Mount Zion, was the temple—the place where earth and heaven were supposed to overlap, the place where men and women could draw near to the presence of God, the shekinah, the cloud of glory that sat on the ark in the holy of holies.  A cloud of smoke went up perpetually from the altar in the temple court where the burnt offerings were made.  This was the scene that met Jesus as the road took him over the Mount of Olives: the city, bustling with crowds of visitors for the Passover, the temple in all its beautiful glory standing above the city, and that column of smoke going up, an aroma to the Lord. A Jewish man or woman, walking over that ridge and seeing this scene ahead, might be overcome.  It was heaven on earth—or the closest you could get to it.  It was a scene of glory.  It was a scene that would make your heart swell with pride, knowing that you were the people who lived with the living God in your midst.  And it was exciting for all these people travelling from the outlying regions of Judea and Galilee—like they were arriving at the centre of the universe.  I think of the description Victorian travellers gave of arriving in London, to the heart of the British Empire.  To the way I've heard New Yorkers talk of flying home from other parts of the world and seeing the skyscrapers or the Statue of Liberty out the window and knowing that you're home and swelling with pride because their home is—today—the centre of the universe.  This past March, Veronica I drove down Highway 101 to the central California Coast.  Between Sausalito and the Marin Headlands, you pass through the Waldo Tunnel and when you come out the south end of the tunnel, you're greeted with a stunning panoramic vista of the Golden Gate Bridge with San Francisco's skyscrapers in the background.  That's where I was born.  And when we drove out of the tunnel and saw that view, I think I felt something very much like the Jews would have felt coming round the Mount of Olives and seeing Jerusalem and the temple in the distance.  Jesus' disciples—a bunch of bumpkins from Galilee, way up in the north—must have felt that way.  But not Jesus.  Matthew leaves this part out, but St. Luke tells us that Jesus, seeing that beautiful and glorious view, stopped and began to sob.  The beauty, the glory wasn't lost on him, but he sobbed because he knew that it masked a people with no heart for God.  The city and temple were like a whitewashed tomb—beautiful, but full of dead men's bones.  He knew—as everyone knew, but dared not admit—the glory, the presence of God was not there.  The smoke my have risen from the altar, but the holy holies was bare and empty—just like the heart of the people.  Jesus saw the coming judgement of God on a faithless people.  He saw the city and the temple as they would be in a generation: a smoking ruin. Matthew puts our attention on Jesus' acted out prophecy.  He sends two of his disciples ahead into the village of Bethphage, “‘Go into the village,' he said, ‘and at once you'll find a donkey tied up and a foal beside it.  Untie them and bring them to me.  And if anyone says anything to you, say, “The lord needs them, and he'll send them back straightaway.”'  He sent them off at once….So the disciples went off and did as Jesus had told them.  They brought the donkey and its foal and put their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.”  Why?  Well, says Matthew, “This happened so that the prophet's words might be fulfilled: ‘Tell this to Zion's daughter: Behold!  Here comes your king; humble and riding on a donkey, yes, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Matthew quotes from the Prophet Zechariah.  Matthew could see what Jesus was doing here.  Jesus never did anything randomly or without reason.  The location, the donkey, the colt—they're all important.  Jesus could have taken a different route to Jerusalem, but he picked this one so that he'd be standing on the Mount of Olives when all this happened.  This was the spot were Zechariah said that the Lord would stand when he came in judgement on faithless Jerusalem.  And Zechariah explains the strange command to the disciples about the donkey.  This was not how kings made their triumphal processions.  At least, not ordinary kings.  They were carried by their servants or they rode on horseback or in a chariot.  But Zechariah, hundreds of years before, had highlighted the humble nature of the coming Messiah.  He was the one who would ride to his coronation on the back of a humble donkey. Jesus' acted out prophecy reveals who he is and it exposes all the wrong ideas his people had about the Lord and his Messiah—and it probably exposes some of our wrong ideas, too.  To the people who longed for the Lord to come in judgement on the nations, Jesus comes in judgement to his own people.  To the people who imagined the Messiah coming in a chariot with a great army to liberate Jerusalem and to reign over his people like a greater David, Jesus comes riding on a donkey with an army of ordinary pilgrims.  To the people who imagined God coming in merciless, vengeful, pitiless wrath to bring judgement on sin, Jesus comes in humility, weeping over the coming judgement.  Jesus is coming to take his throne, to fulfil what the Prophets—like Zechariah—had spoken, to show the Lord's faithfulness, but not in the way anyone expected. I think of our Epistle today from Romans, where St. Paul writes those words: “Owe no one anything, but to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the torah.”  I don't think Paul could have written those words before he met the risen Jesus.  He certainly knew what the greatest commandments were: to love God and to love his neighbour.  But he didn't understand.  He was part of that Jerusalem Jesus wept over.  A city that talked about love of God and love of neighbour, but a city—a nation—of people at each other's throats, a people longing eagerly for fire and brimstone to rain down on their enemies, a people with little if any thought for those in their midst most in need, a people ready to cry out in demonic rage for the crucifixion of their own Messiah.  And a people who did all these things with an absolute and devoted passion for a God they utterly misunderstood.  And this was why what should have been the beating heart of Jerusalem—the presence of the living God in the temple—this is why it, why he was missing.  The people had returned from their Babylonian exile, they had rebuilt the temple, but the heart of the people was still far from God.  They were impure.  Their salt had lost its savour.  Their light had turned to darkness.  They were false witnesses of their God.  And so his presence, the cloud of glory, had never returned. The road to Jerusalem was jammed with people who say Jesus sobbing.  They probably thought his tears were tears of joy to see the holy city.  Little did they know.  They were just excited to see him.  They'd heard the stories.  Word was no doubt spread through about the healing of blind Bartimaeus in Jericho.  Pilgrims from Galilee told others of the amazing things Jesus had done and taught there.  And as the disciples places their coats on the donkey and Jesus took his place, word was going through the crowd: “That's him!” So, says Matthew, “the great crowd spread their coats on the road.  Others cut branches from the trees and scattered them on the road.  The crowds went on ahead of him and those who were following behind shouted: ‘Hosanna to the son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest!” The crowd surrounds Jesus. All the way to Jerusalem they'd been singing the psalms of ascent and the royal psalms.  Songs full of hope.  Psalms about that recalled the glory days of David, psalms about God coming to his people, psalms about God finally setting this broken world to rights.  Psalms that looked forward to the coming Messiah.  And now—maybe, they hoped—here he was.  Not like anyone expected, but they'd heard the stories.  Maybe they'd heard him preaching.  Maybe they'd seen his miracles.  And that was enough.  So they parade him down the Mount of Olives, across the valley, and back up and into the gates of Jerusalem. Along the way they, Matthew says, they laid their coats and palm branches on the ground.  Now it's the people acting out prophetically even if they didn't know it. Matthew, writing to a Jewish audience makes sure that as they read this, they're reminded of a scene or two from their own history.  In 2 Kings 9 we read about Jehoram.  He was King of Israel, the son of the wicked King Ahab.  And in Jehoram, the apple had not fallen far from the tree.  He was as wicked as his father, so the prophet Elisha ordered that Jehu, instead, was to be anointed King in his place.  He announced that Jehu would bring the Lord's judgement on the wicked house of Ahab.  As Jehu was anointed by the prophet, the men who were gathered cast their coats on the ground before him and blew a trumpet. And then there's Judas Maccabeus.  2 Maccabees 10:7 describes the people hailing Judas as king by laying wreathes and palm branches at his feet.  Judas had not only defeated Israel's enemies and liberated the nation, but he had purified the temple from its defilement by the Greeks.  He was a national hero—particularly for the Pharisees and the Zealots.  Judas' kingdom inspired hope. But Jehu was not the saviour the people hoped for.  As a king he was a mixed bag.  He put an end to the more outrageous form of idolatry in Judah.  He got rid of the altars to Baal.  But he never removed the golden calves that Jeroboam has set up at Bethel and Dan.  He failed to dig out the root of Judah's idolatry and faithlessness to the Lord.  In the end, the Lord still allowed the people to be exiled for their faithlessness.  And Judas Maccabeus.  He was a national hero.  But his kingdom was short-lived.  The shekinah never returned to the temple, despite his zealousness for torah.  The hope he'd brought to the people was quickly crushed.  But this time, looking at Jesus, the people hoped, it would be different.  And so they sing to him.  They acclaim him as the Messiah, the anointed king.  “Hosanna—save us—O son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  O Hosanna—save us—we cry to heaven!” Matthew gives us a sense of the longing and hope of the people.  They're desperate for the Lord to come and set their broken world to rights.  Jesus sees it too and I expect it made him weep all the more, because he knew that God's new world was not going to come the way they wanted it to, he knew that he would not going to his messianic throne the way they wanted him to, because he knew that to set everything to rights would mean judging the sin and corruption of his people and the city and even the temple.  And he knew the only way to his throne was through their rejection and death on Roman cross. But on he went into the city.  Acting out the prophecy.  Matthew writes that “When they came into Jerusalem, the whole city was gripped with excitement.  ‘Who is this?' they were saying.  ‘This is the prophet, Jesus,' replied the crowds, ‘from Nazareth in Galilee!”  This is the Prophet.  They weren't saying that Jesus was just another prophet.  He was the Prophet.  The one the people hailed Jesus as in our Gospel last Sunday, after he fed the multitude.  He was the one promised to come, like another Moses, to save the people and lead them out of bondage.  In other words, “This is the Messiah, Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” He had come to take his throne.  And so from the gate of the city, Jesus led the triumphal parade of cheering people through the winding streets—the same route he would take in reverse, bearing a cross, just five days later.  He made his way up and up through the city to the temple and through the gate.  And when he got there, Matthew says, “Jesus threw out all the people who were buying and selling in the temple.  He flipped over the tables of the money-changers and the seats of the dove-sellers.  ‘It is written,' he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a lair of bandits!” Jehu and Judas Maccabeus had cleansed the temple.  That was the expectation of the Messiah.  But not like this.  I think we often focus too much on Jesus' actions as a condemnation of the commerce going on in the temple—probably because we're aware of the evils of our own overly materialistic and commercialistic culture.  I don't think Jesus was angered by the commerce itself.  People needed animals for the sacrifices and not everyone was a farmer.  A lot of people were travelling from far away and it wasn't easy or realistic to bring the animals with them.  And the money changers, well, since the temple only used its own coinage, they were at least a necessary evil.  Nevertheless when you think of Mary and Joseph going to the temple for her purification after the birth of Jesus and offering two turtledoves, it says something about how poor they were.  When you think about the words of her Magnificat, singing about filling the hungry with good things and sending the rich away empty, when you think of the widow offering her “mite” in the offering box, you certainly get the sense that the system was privileging the rich and making access to the temple a burden for the poor—and in that this whole system was emblematic of the way in which Israel had lost the heart of God and was desperately in need of judgment…or renewal…or as it would happen: both.   But the really important thing about Jesus flipping tables and driving out the merchants is something I think we're prone to missing.  Again, this is another acted out prophecy.  The really important thing is that what Jesus did brought the work of the priests and the whole sacrificial system that day to a grinding halt.  It goes along with everything else he said about the temple—like announcing that he would tear it down and rebuild it in three day—and it goes right along with all the times that he bypassed the temple, the priests, and the sacrificial system by offering forgiveness apart from them.  That, far more than everything else, is what had angered the Pharisees.  That was what got him arrested and crucified. So what Jesus is getting at here is that the Messiah has come, not just to purify the temple, but to establish a new and better one.  To really inaugurate the work of new creation that the old temple had always pointed to.  The people had forgotten this.  The temple was never meant to be an end in itself.  The temple pointed to God's future—to the day when sin is gone, to the day when creation is made new and the garden restored, and to the day when men and women are made new as well, to the day when a renewed humanity once again lives in God's presence and serves in his temple as priests. And, Brothers and Sisters, that's what Jesus inaugurated through his crucifixion and resurrection.  He shed his blood, not for a building, not for an altar made of stone, but for a people: a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for their sins.  At the cross, Jesus washed his people clean and he's washed them—he's washed us clean—so that we can be God's temple.  And so Jesus rose from the grave and ascended to the right hand of his Father, the perfect man, the new Adam, to take up his vocation as high priest.  And as high priest, he's poured God's Spirit into his people, purified by his blood.  He's made us his temple and called us to join in the vocation we were originally created for: to be God's priests and stewards serving beside our saviour. So Advent comes as a forced pause.  We're racing towards Christmas and to the joy it represents.  And the church says, “Hold on.  Slow down.  You need to stop and think about what it all means.  You need to stop and think about why Jesus came, why he was born, why it was necessary for light and life to be born into the world.  You need to reflect on the darkness of this fallen and broken world.  You need to reflect on the awfulness of sin and of death and of our slavery to them so that you can fully appreciate the gift in the manger with more than mushy holiday sentimentalism.  This is the Messiah, this is the saviour—Israel's saviour and now our saviour.  Come not just to make us feel good, but come to deliver us from sin and death, come to set God's creation to rights.  Come to purify us with his blood, to dwell in the midst of the people, to fill us with Gods' Spirit, and to sweep us up into his messianic mission.  Brothers and Sisters, to make us the people in whom the world encounters the glory of the living God and meets the humble saviour whose kingdom has come, not by a sword, but by the cross.  To make us stewards of the Gospel that, empowered by the Spirit, we might prepare the world for Jesus' return. Let's pray: Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

November 30, 2025Today's Reading: John 1:35-42aDaily Lectionary: Isaiah 6:1-7:9; 1 Peter 2:13-25“One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah' (which means Christ)” (John 1:40-41)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Andrew told his brother that they had found Jesus, the Messiah. It seemed that way. They believed the Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah would come. Now, they had found Him! Except that Jesus hadn't been lost. Instead of Andrew and Simon finding Jesus, Jesus came and found them. Jesus, the all-knowing Lord, walked past John the Baptist while he was teaching, and John pointed out Jesus, the Lamb of God. When Andrew followed Him, Jesus invited Andrew to “come and see” where Jesus was staying and what Jesus was doing. In other words, Jesus invited Andrew to follow Him.  Sometimes, it's easy for people, including you, to think that they've “found Jesus” or “got Jesus.” From our perspective, that's what it seems like. Yet, it's not that we find Jesus, but that Jesus finds us. In the Small Catechism about the Creed's Third Article, we confess, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.”  We who cannot believe in Jesus as Lord or come to Him don't find. Instead, Jesus and the Holy Spirit find us!That's great news, because it takes the burden off you. It can be tempting to think that you need to find Jesus or that you need to make sure that you are following Jesus the right way. Don't be confused: you aren't in charge of God's grace. Jesus isn't lost, and Jesus doesn't need finding. You were lost, but Jesus has found you and called you His own new creation, baptized into His name and an heir of eternal life with Him! Jesus now invites you to “come and see” His gracious work for you because of His great love for you!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, by Your grace, the apostle Andrew obeyed the call of Your Son to be a disciple. Grant us also to follow the same Lord Jesus Christ in heart and life, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Author: Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL.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.

THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS Every year, as the leaves turn and the air gets that crisp bite, I'm pulled back to 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts where a group of English Pilgrims, religious refugees who had crossed an ocean to breathe free, and their Wampanoag neighbors sat down together for three days of feasting. No treaties, no agendas, just gratitude for a successful harvest and the simple miracle that two very different peoples could share a meal in peace. Food and friendship. That was the entire point. At least, that is what history tells us. Fast-forward two centuries and Abraham Lincoln, in the middle of the bloodiest war this country has ever known, paused on October 3, 1863 to proclaim a national day of Thanksgiving. His words still ring true: “The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.... Dr. M

On this Thanksgiving podcast, we review the Thanksgiving Proclamation issued by our nation's first president, George Washington, in which he admonished Americans to thank Almighty God for His many benefits and to render our National Government our gratitude, honor and respect as citizens. This is why we should all be shocked by the reckless and seditious acts of members of our Congress calling upon military personnel to "refuse illegal orders" and "unlawful commands" from the duly elected President of the United States. Find out more at https://ron-johnson-discipleship-podca.pinecast.co

When Jesus Christ rose from the dead, it wasn't just a fantastic miracle. It was the power of Almighty God defeating sin and darkness. The same power offered to you and me! Pastor John Munro teaches how the resurrection of Jesus can change every aspect of our lives.

Thankfulness isn’t just a seasonal tradition—it’s a spiritual posture rooted deep in Scripture and woven through history. Psalm 100:4 calls us to enter God’s presence with gratitude, a theme that began long before American holidays and continues to shape the way believers respond to God’s goodness today. From Old Testament thank offerings to the Pilgrims’ courageous faith, we’re reminded that gratitude grows strongest in hearts that remember God’s faithfulness through every circumstance. Highlights Biblical thanksgiving began with offerings of gratitude long before modern celebrations. Leviticus and 2 Chronicles reveal how God invited His people to display thankfulness through worship. America’s Thanksgiving tradition is deeply influenced by the Pilgrims’ commitment to biblical truth. Despite tremendous suffering, the Pilgrims lived out 1 Thessalonians 5:18 by giving thanks in all circumstances. Historical accounts show how miraculous their survival truly was—only a fraction lived to see the first feast. The Pilgrims’ perseverance helped lay the foundation for a national day dedicated to thanking God. Leaders like Washington and Lincoln carried forward the tradition of national gratitude to the Lord. Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas! Full Transcript Below: Cultivating a Heart Full of Thanksgiving By Lynette Kittle Bible Reading: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name”—Psalm 100:4 Offering thanksgiving didn’t begin in America; it began in the Bible, taught to humankind by a loving and gracious God who is deserving and worthy of our gratitude, and to receive thankfulness that comes from hearts truly grateful for all He has done and is still doing in our lives and in our nation. Thanksgiving to God, often associated with food offerings, began in the Bible. As early as Leviticus 7:12, we read how God instructed, “If they offer it as an expression of thankfulness, then along with this thank offering they are to offer thick loaves made without yeast and with olive oil mixed in, thin loaves made without yeast and brushed with oil, and thick loaves of the finest flour well-kneaded and with oil mixed in.” Again, in 2 Chronicles 29:31, the King calls for the people to give thanks. “Then Hezekiah said, ‘You have now dedicated yourselves to the Lord. Come and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the temple of the Lord.’ So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings.” America’s Thankfulness Rooted in Biblical Truth Remarkably, Thanksgiving Day in America is rooted in the biblical faith brought and carried to our land through the Pilgrims who courageously escaped Europe’s tightly held religious control to pursue freedom to worship God. Creator and Executive Producer of The Pilgrims documentary, Dr. Jerry Newcombe, follows the Pilgrims from Europe to the New World, documenting their faith and journey to America. The Pilgrims, even in the suffering they endured in Europe and after arriving in America, believed what 1 Thessalonians 5:18 urges, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Newcombe describes the harsh winter leading up to the first 1621 Thanksgiving, marked by illness, cold, and starvation. Of the eighteen women aboard the Mayflower, only four survived. As well, half the married men and ten of the twenty-nine unmarried men died. Children survived better than the adults, with seventeen of the twenty surviving the brutal conditions. Still, very few Pilgrims survived the devastating “starving times” and sickness to participate in the first Thanksgiving, enduring what 2 Corinthians 4:8 describes. “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.” As well, historian and author of The Treacherous World of the 16th Century & How the Pilgrims Escaped It: The Prequel to America's Freedom, William J. Federer, discusses facts that some may overlook, such as how miraculous it was for the Pilgrims to escape Europe and birth America. “Of the 102 Pilgrims, only 47 survived till spring,” writes Federer, “At one point, only a half dozen were healthy enough to care for the rest.” The Pilgrims Laid the Groundwork for Thanksgiving “Without the Pilgrims, Thanksgiving Day, set aside to thank God,” states Federer, “it may not have ever been established. They laid the groundwork and foundation for America to set aside a holiday to thank God.” Although not officially called Thanksgiving Day at the time, the Pilgrims were able to kick off America’s tradition of giving thanks to God with a three-day feast with the Native Americans. Devoted to a purity of the Gospel, the Pilgrims recognized the importance of thankfulness, even in the most difficult of times, understanding it as a sacrifice to God. As Psalm 116:17 directs, “I will sacrifice a thank offering to You and call on the name of the Lord. “ “Because of them,” writes Newcombe, “we have had 400 years of Thanksgiving in America, and thanks to Presidents Washington (who declared the first national day of Thanksgiving) and Lincoln (who made it a yearly event), we even celebrate it as an annual holiday.” Newcombe, who also serves as Executive Director of Providence Forum, an outreach of Coral Ridge Ministries, shares President George Washington’s declaration for a national day of Thanksgiving, “[I]t is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.” Intersecting Faith & Life: Ask God to lead you in cultivating a heart full of thanksgiving. Begin by studying His word, spending time in prayer thanking Him for His faithfulness, and telling others of all He has done in your life. Further Reading:Entering His Gates with Thanksgiving: 5 Ways to Cultivate a Grateful Heart Towards God Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Lauren revisits her conversation with Author and Historian, Dr. Jerry Newcombe, on the faith-steeped history of the holiday and the Pilgrims who landed in the New World. Fleeing from Europe to the New World in search of religious freedom in 1620, the Pilgrims initially intended to settle in northern Virginia, near Jamestown, where an established community already existed. But their ship was blown off course and landed instead at Plymouth, Massachusetts. And because they were in unsettled territory, the Pilgrims (before disembarking the Mayflower) created a document that became the prototype for America's Declaration of Independence and Constitution.  Lauren and Dr. Newcombe discuss the very first Thanksgiving, as the Pilgrims sat down with the Indians to share a meal, which was always about giving thanks to an Almighty God, through whose Providence they were brought to a new land.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1. Crying for Mercy2. Thanking the Lord3. Jesus WonderedToday's sermon explored the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19, where Jesus healed all ten men, but only one—a Samaritan—returned to give thanks. This account challenges us to examine our own prayer lives: Do we spend more time asking God for what we don't have, or thanking Him for what we do have? The message traced Thanksgiving's history from the Pilgrims in 1621 through presidential proclamations, reminding us that this holiday was established as a day to acknowledge "with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God." Just as the nine lepers forgot to return with thanksgiving, we too can easily forget to praise God for His daily blessings—our breath, our heartbeat, our food, our forgiveness, and most importantly, our salvation from the disease of sin.Takeaways:- Cry out for mercy with faith: The lepers had to step out in faith before they saw their healing. God often asks us to move in obedience before we see the results. What has God been asking you to do that requires a step of faith?- Return with a thankful heart: Only one out of ten returned to thank Jesus. This Thanksgiving, let's not be among the nine who forgot. Take time to fall on your face before God—not with a laundry list of requests, but with genuine thanksgiving for His countless blessings we take for granted daily.- Remember what the holidays truly mean: Thanksgiving celebrates God's provision; Christmas celebrates the Savior who delivered us from sin. These aren't just days off work—they're reminders of the hope God has given humanity. Share this hope with others and invite them to our Christmas Eve service.This week, I challenge you to spend more time thanking God than asking Him for things. Make a list of blessings you've overlooked. Remember that God can "make up for the years the locusts have eaten" (Joel 2:25)—He specializes in restoration and redemption.Let the redeemed of the Lord say so! Rise up and go, sharing the greatest gift of all time: Hope in Jesus Christ.

Many Americans do not fully know the faith-filled story behind the nation’s origins. In today's prayer and devotional, Lynette Kittle shares how long before the United States existed, a small group of Christian separatists—the Pilgrims—risked everything to worship Jesus freely and to practice their faith without fear. Their journey, grounded in prayer, Scripture, and dependence on God, laid a foundation that ultimately influenced the birth of a nation built on biblical principles. Seeking to follow Christ according to their convictions, the Pilgrims left England due to persecution and later departed Holland when secular influences threatened their children’s faith. Their bold voyage across the Atlantic in 1620 was not a pursuit of comfort but a pursuit of the freedom to worship God in truth and sincerity. America’s early identity was shaped through this legacy of faith, humility, and thanksgiving. Even before our nation was formed, colonial leaders called for days of prayer, fasting, and gratitude to God. Later, Presidents Washington, Adams, and Madison continued this practice, acknowledging that national blessings flow from the hand of Almighty God. Eventually, Thanksgiving became a national holiday through the persistence of Sarah Josepha Hale, who believed a national day of gratitude was a “pledge of Christian faith in God.” Today, the same call remains: remember what God has done, give Him thanks, and pray for America to remain anchored in His truth. Today's Bible Reading:“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done.” – Psalm 105:1 Takeaway Truths America’s earliest foundations were shaped by believers seeking freedom to worship God. Thanksgiving has deep Christian roots tied to prayer, humility, and national gratitude. God calls His people to remember His works and proclaim His faithfulness to the nations. We can pray for America to return to biblical truth and godly leadership. Let’s Pray Dear Father,We lift our voices to praise and thank You for America. We acknowledge that it was Your hand that guided the Pilgrims to a new land where they could worship Christ freely. Thank You for establishing this nation on godly principles and granting us the blessing of religious liberty. Remind us this Thanksgiving of the believers who trusted You enough to leave everything behind for the sake of Your glory. Strengthen and restore America’s spiritual foundation. Lead our nation’s leaders to return to Your Word, Your truth, and Your righteousness. Above all, thank You for the gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ—undeserved, unearned, and freely given. May our hearts remain humble and full of gratitude for all You have done. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Additional Scriptures James 4:10 Psalm 33:12 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 Psalm 105:1–5 Related Resources 7 Epic Things You Didn't Know about Pilgrims - Crosswalk.com The Christian Roots of Thanksgiving – Christianity.com More encouraging devotionals available at LifeAudio.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In a season of Stillness, but I'm still here. ❤️‍

Prayer is one of the greatest privileges of the Christian life. Prayer gives us access to the highest office - the Almighty God. Prayer isn't a ritual or a formula. It's an open invitation into the presence of the living God. Whether you're praying for healing, for help, or for hope, this conversation will remind you that the veil has been torn, the way is open, and the Father is listening.   To learn more about Ronnie Smith's ministry or to connect with him, visit ronniesmith.org   Thank you for listening to the Truth for Today Podcast! For more content from Pastor Terry Fant, click the links below! www.youtube.com/@terryfant885 www.facebook.com/terry.fant.14 www.instagram.com/pastorterryfant  

This powerful message invites us into a profound truth: we don't need to know everything—we just need to hold firmly to what God has revealed to us personally. Drawing from 2 Timothy 3, we're reminded that while the world spirals in deception and chaos, we are called to continue in what we've learned and become convinced of. The emphasis here is transformative: it's not about accumulating more positive thinking, but about eliminating negative thinking. It's not about gaining more faith, but about removing unbelief. When we anchor ourselves in the few core truths God has entrusted to us—that we are in an unbreakable covenant with Almighty God, that we are deeply loved and completely forgiven through Christ's perfect sacrifice, and that we live under the Father's favor—everything changes. These aren't just theological concepts; they're weapons for our journey. As we walk the winding path God has set before us, through valleys and peaks alike, these truths become our stability. The invitation is clear: take inventory of what you're absolutely convinced of, meditate on the promises God has spoken over your life, and watch as peace replaces anxiety and worship overtakes worry. We're called to be custodians and stewards of divine revelation, holding fast to what has been entrusted to us, allowing it to frame our reality even when circumstances suggest otherwise.

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)YouTube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comI Peter 2Peter urges believers to eliminate all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. Like newborn infants, they should crave pure spiritual milk so they may grow in their salvation. He describes believers as living stones being constructed into a spiritual house, with Jesus as the chosen and precious cornerstone. Those who believe in Him will never be put to shame, while those who reject Him will stumble. Peter reminds believers that they are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God's special possession. They are called to declare His praises and live honorable lives among nonbelievers. He encourages submission to authority and urges servants to endure suffering for doing good. Christ is presented as the ultimate example of patient endurance and sacrificial love. By His wounds, we are healed.  We are taught to live differently because we belong to God. As His chosen people, we must rid our lives of harmful attitudes and actions and yearn for the truth of His Word. We are being built together as a spiritual house, with Jesus as our cornerstone. When we trust in Him, we stand firm. Even when the world rejects us, we know we are valuable to God. We are called to reflect His light through our choices so that others may see His goodness. We must live honorably, respect those in authority, and show patience even when treated unfairly. Christ suffered for doing good, and we are to follow His example of love, humility, and trust in God's justice. Almighty God, thank You for challenging us to grow in respect to salvation. Help us live as Your chosen people, holy and set apart for Your purpose. Teach us to lay aside all sin and to hunger for the truth of Your Word. Thank You for establishing us as Your own, grounded in Jesus Christ, our cornerstone. Give us strength to live honorably and bring Your glory in every situation. When we face injustice, help us respond with patience and trust in Your perfect justice. May we follow the example of Christ, who suffered for us and showed boundless love. Thought Questions: Why is it crucial to put away malice and envy in order to be nourished by the word and to taste of the kindness of the Lord? As part of the temple of God, a member of His chosen people, what are your responsibilities in that special role and family?  Why must you keep your behavior excellent among non-believers? When that is hard, how does Jesus's life and choices inspire you?

When you know who you are, you stop striving to become what you already are. Last week, we discovered that we are the Imago Dei, the visible image of the invisible God. That's deep! This week, we delve deeper.You were never meant to live for identity, but instead to live from the power of your God-ordained identity. You already carry Heaven's authentication and Heaven's validation. You walk in His authority because His Spirit gives you full backing. The revelation of who you already are is what releases the power to live differently. To see as God sees, to speak as God speaks, and to act with much assurance of one who represents The Almighty God.When you learn to live with that understanding, alignments begin to happen. Divine structures and architecture with people groups and many opportunities start coming together to facilitate God's plan and purpose for your life. Stay connected to your source, for He is the vine and we are the branches. Live aware of your divine nature and walk in the authority that already carries Heaven's endorsement.

November 9, 2025Pastor Matt KendrickStand Firm, Go ForwardExodus 14:10-14God had shown His people that He would fight on their behalf, and He had proven that He would not abandon them. How quickly they forgot those lessons when confronted by an enemy. It's like they forgot who they were and who they belonged to. God hasn't delivered yet? Hang on and have faith, because He's a God who delivers. God hasn't answered yet? Listen up and have faith, because He's a God who answers. Remember… we can trust the Almighty God who knows all, sees all, and is good. Planted faith grows into bigger faithFear notStand firmExpect God to saveGo ForwardThank you for listening!For more info on Redemption City Church check out our website. If you'd like to connect with us further, please fill out a Connection Card and one of our staff will get in touch with you.Follow us on on social media: Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Liberty Dispatch ~ November 07, 2025 In this episode of Liberty Dispatch, hosts Andrew DeBartolo and Matthew Hallick respond to the insanity of Budget 2025 and Canada's rulers' desire to lead the nation headlong into the wrath of Almighty God. For full access to all our content, including the extended interviews, become a paid subscriber at: https://ldcanada.substack.com; Opening & Intro (00:00-01:15)Welcome & Introduction (01:15-02:53)Segment 1 - A BAD, BAD Canadian Budget (05:35-25:19):“Liberals finally unveil budget, bringing deficit to $78.3 billion this year” | Juno News: https://www.junonews.com/p/liberals-finally-unveil-budget-bringing;“Carney’s $50B conflict of interest?” | Juno News: https://www.junonews.com/p/carneys-50b-conflict-of-interest;“Canadian MP quits opposition party to join Carney’s Liberal government” | CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/chris-dentremont-liberals-poilievre-9.6967559; Segment 2 - Canada Rejects the Bible (26:58–01:01:16):“Liberal wants to clamp down on “hateful” religious scripture” | Juno News: https://www.junonews.com/p/liberal-wants-to-clamp-down-on-hateful;“OLDCORN: Is Ottawa trying to censor the Bible? Liberals’ assault on Christianity continues” | Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/opinion/oldcorn-is-ottawa-trying-to-censor-the-bible-liberals-assault-on-christianity-continues/68713; Segment 3 - Bill C-3 & the Canadian Invasion (01:03:18–01:21:42):“Bill C-3: An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025)” | Canada.ca (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2025/06/bill-c-3-an-act-to-amend-the-citizenship-act-2025.html;“Bill C-3 (45-1) – LEGISinfo – Parliament of Canada” | Parliament of Canada – LEGISinfo: https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/en/bill/45-1/c-3;“Bill C-3: An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act (2025) – First Reading” | Parliament of Canada – DocumentViewer: https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/45-1/bill/C-3/first-reading;Conclusion (01:21:42–01:37:47)Outro (01:37:47–01:38:16)SHOW SPONSORS:Bitcoin Mentor: https://bitcoinmentor.io/aff/liberty Invest with Rocklinc: info@rocklinc.com or call them at 905-631-546; Diversify Your Money with Bull Bitcoin: https://mission.bullbitcoin.com/dispatch; BarterPay: https://barterpay.ca/; Barter It: https://www.barterit.ca/; Get freedom from Censorious CRMS by signing up for SalesNexus: https://www.salesnexus.com/; SUBSCRIBE TO OUR SHOWS/CHANNELS:LIBERTY DISPATCH PODCAST: https://libertydispatch.podbean.com; https://rumble.com/LDshow; CONTACT US: libertydispatch@pm.me STAY UP-TO-DATE ON ALL THINGS LD:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liberty_dispatch/; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LibertyDispatchCanada; X: @LDCanada - https://x.com/_LDCanada; Rumble: https://rumble.com/LDshow; YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@libertydispatch Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, RATE, & REVIEW, and SHARE it with others!

When God created the universe, everything was in perfect harmony—until one angel named Lucifer made a big mistake. In pride, he tried to steal glory from God. In this message, Pastor Lutzer further explores the five stages of Satan's career. It's futile to stand in opposition to Almighty God. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/172/29

When God created the universe, everything was in perfect harmony—until one angel named Lucifer made a big mistake. In pride, he tried to steal glory from God. In this message, Pastor Lutzer further explores the five stages of Satan's career. It's futile to stand in opposition to Almighty God. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. Moody Church Media [https://www.moodymedia.org/], home of "Running To Win," exists to bring glory to God through the transformation of lives. Erwin W. Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of The Moody Church in Chicago, where he served as Senior Pastor for 36 years. He is a prolific author of over seventy books. A clear expositor of the Bible, he is the featured speaker on "Running To Win" and "Songs In The Night," with programs broadcasting on over a thousand outlets in the U.S. and across more than fifty countries in seven languages. He and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area. They have three grown children and eight grandchildren.   SUPPORT: Tax Deductible Support: https://www.moodymedia.org/donate/ Become an Endurance Partner: https://endurancepartners.org/   SUBSCRIBE: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoodyChurchMedia Weekly Digest: https://www.moodymedia.org/newsletters/subscription/

The reality of Almighty God in your life is a by-product of the presence of the Holy Spirit. People will know, beloved. They will know that God is real when they touch your life. Broadcast #6936To help support this podcast, please visit walkwiththeking.org/donate and select "Podcast" from the dropdown menuA transcript of this broadcast is available on our website here. To hear more from Bob Cook, you can find Walk With The King on Facebook or Instagram.

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“Men sometimes speak as if humility and meekness would rob us of what is noble and bold and manlike. O that all would believe that this is the nobility of the kingdom of heaven, that this is the royal spirit that the king of heaven displayed, that this is godlike, to humble oneself, to become servant of all!”~Andrew Murray (1828-1917), writer and pastor “It is blasphemy if you pray before God while you are full of anger.”~Ephrem the Syrian (c.306-373), Aramean Christian theologian and writer         My dear Wormwood,Be sure that the patient remains completely fixated on politics. Arguments, political gossip, and obsessing on the faults of people they have never met serves as an excellent distraction from advancing in personal virtue, character, and the things the patient can control. Make sure to keep the patient in a constant state of angst, frustration, and general disdain towards the rest of the human race in order to avoid any kind of charity or inner peace from further developing. Ensure the patient continues to believe that the problem is “out there” in the “broken system” rather than recognizing there is a problem with himself.Keep up the good work,Uncle Screwtape~from C.S. Lewis's devilish book, The Screwtape Letters (1941) “They all therefore were glorified and magnified, not through themselves or their own works or the righteous doing which they wrought, but through His will. And so we, having been called through His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified through ourselves or through our own wisdom or understanding or piety or works which we wrought in holiness of heart, but through faith, whereby the Almighty God justified all men that have been from the beginning; to whom be the glory forever and ever.”~Clement of Rome in 1 Clement 32:3-4, a letter written to Corinth in c. A.D. 96 “God allowed his Son to suffer as if a condemned sinner, so that we might be delivered from the penalty of our sins. This is God's righteousness, that we are not justified by works (for then they would have to be perfect, which is impossible), but by grace, in which case all our sin is removed.”~John Chrysostom (c. 347-407), Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians Question 33: What is justification? Answer: Justification is the act of God's free grace by which He pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous in His sight. He does so only because He counts the righteousness of Christ as ours. Justification is received by faith alone.~Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647)SERMON PASSAGEselected passages (ESV)Acts 2 41 So those who received [Peter's] word were baptized, and there were added that day [to the church] about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.Ephesians 2 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.Ephesians 4 & 5 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

How amazing is it that Almighty God wants to be with us? He keeps our prayers in Heaven—they are that precious to Him! In our churches and our personal lives, we need to spend more time in prayer. The most effective stance we have against Satan is a strong prayer life. The Holy Spirit makes us aware of situations we can avoid when we spend time with Him. Let's get praying!

Kids learn early on the playground that if a bully is bigger than them, it’s good to have a friend who’s bigger than the bully. A bully who’s met his match is no longer a threat. Well as Pastor Greg just said, greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Our adversary is no match for our Almighty God. We stand in victory when we stand with the Lord. A good lesson on that today on A NEW BEGINNING as Pastor Greg continues his series: Joshua: Living in the Land of Promises. Join us for the Harvest Crusade: Hope for America on November 16! Listen on harvest.org --- Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.