Podcasts about although jesus

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - John 10:1-10 - Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what He was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3) Who was Pope Leo XIII, the father of social doctrine? https://catholicreview.org/who-was-pope-leo-xiii-the-father-of-social-doctrine/ 4) What you should know about Saint Augustine and the new Augustinian Pope https://aleteia.org/2025/05/08/what-you-should-know-about-st-augustine-andthe-new-augustinian-pope

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

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

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

Hebrews 13:7, 17-21 7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider their way of life, and imitate their faith. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom by the glory forever and ever. Amen. NOTES ON THE LESSON ON FOLLOWERSHIP Three Questions of Followership: 1 Whose faith are you imitating? 2 Are you willing to submit to someone else? 3 Are you a joy to lead? A Call to Imitate: 1 Corinthians 11:1 - "Be imitators of me, just as I imitate Christ." It is beneficial to have people in our lives whose faith we can imitate. Jesus Learned Obedience: Hebrews 5:8 - “Although Jesus was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” Obedience and submission are learned behaviors. The Whole of Christianity: The whole of Christianity is about learning to surrender and yield every aspect of your life – every part of it – all of it – to the lordship of Jesus Christ. That's what the Christian faith is all about. The Followership Continuum: The Hebrew writer makes a continuum for following leaders. On one side of the continuum is joy and on the other side of the continuum is burden. NOTES FROM THE LESSON ON SOUL CARE Book on Church Leadership: The Care of Souls:Cultivating a Pastor's Heart by Harold L. Senkbeil The task of the leader in the church is to maintain a constant watch over the souls who have been committed to his care. The Role of the Watchman in the Old Testament: Watchmen were individuals who were appointed to their role and given the responsibility to watch over a city. Typically, they would be posted on a high wall or a tower so that they could see either a messenger or the enemy coming from long distances. The Primary Task of the Church Leader is to "Tend to the Soul" Humans do not have souls, humans are uniquely souls. We are both physical and spiritual, mortal and immortal, ordinary and unique in all of creation. There is nothing else like us in all of God's creation. We are souls.  The Shepherd and His Sheepdog: The relationship of the shepherd and his sheepdog beautifully illustrates the work of the shepherd in the local church with his ears tuned attentively to the voice of the Great Shepherd and his eyes focused carefully on the Great Shepherd's sheep. The Because of Submission: We submit to the shepherds of the local church because they are in a position of responsibility and accountability to the one who is in a position of authority – our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep.  Discussion Questions 1. Who are some people who you have imitated in your life (in any aspect of life)? Who are two or three people whose faith you imitate? What is it about their faith that you imitate?  2. Are you willing to submit to someone else? Can you think of a time when it was hard to submit to someone else? What made it so difficult? Can you think of a time when it was a good thing to submit to someone else? What made it good? Does knowing the "because" of submission in verse 17 help you to be someone who is more willing to submit to them?  3. Where might you place yourself on the followership continuum? Can you think of an example when you or another person was a joy to lead? Can you think of an example when you or another person was a burden to lead?  4. What aspect of the lesson on soul care helped you to better understand the role of the leader in the church?  5. Spend some time praying for the shepherd nomination process at Southside. The shepherd selection team has provided us with a great prayer guide. There is a link to the prayer guide on church center. 

Although Jesus sympathises with our weaknesses, He still is determined to make us strong and fruitful. A text copy is available on the website.

Hebrews 13:7, 17 7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider their way of life, and imitate their faith. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.  Notes from the Lesson Three Questions of Followership: 1 Whose faith are you imitating? 2 Are you willing to submit to someone else? 3 Are you a joy to lead? A Call to Imitate: 1 Corinthians 11:1 - "Be imitators of me, just as I imitate Christ." It is beneficial to have people in our lives whose faith we can imitate. Jesus Learned Obedience: Hebrews 5:8 - “Although Jesus was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” Obedience and submission are learned behaviors. The Whole of Christianity: The whole of Christianity is about learning to surrender and yield every aspect of your life – every part of it – all of it – to the lordship of Jesus Christ. That's what the Christian faith is all about. The Followership Continuum:  The Hebrew writer makes a continuum for following leaders. On one side of the continuum is joy and on the other side of the continuum is burden.  Discussion Questions 1. Who are some people who you have imitated in your life (in any aspect of life)? Who are two or three people whose faith you imitate? What is it about their faith that you imitate?  2. Are you willing to submit to someone else? Can you think of a time when it was hard to submit to someone else? What made it so difficult? Can you think of a time when it was a good thing to submit to someone else? What made it good? 3. Where might you place yourself on the followership continuum? Can you think of an example when you or another person was a joy to lead? Can you think of an example when you or another person was a burden to lead?  4. Spend some time praying for the shepherd nomination process at Southside. Pray specifically for the Lord to bless our church family with a spirit of followership. 

In our special Resurrection Sunday message, Pastor Neli reflects on the significance of Easter, focusing on the period between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.  Although Jesus had been crucified and placed in a tomb, God was still at work behind the scenes. We can find comfort in the idea that waiting seasons are not wasted, as God often works in the unseen and unknown. This is a reminder of God's presence even when He seems silent.  Resurrection is always on the way. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.- 1 Corinthians 15:16-19 (ESV)

Welcome back to another episode of Stay True Podcast! In a culture that celebrates busyness, Madi reveals the power of a simple and quiet life. Although Jesus could have been the busiest person, He chose to be unhurried. He never let the chaos of life get in the way of resting in the presence of the Father. As Christians, we are to follow that example. In this episode, Madi tells us how! She uncovers the secret to a simple life and the blessing that comes from it! Don't forget to stay you and stay true! Questions/topics discussed and answered: - How to stay peaceful and unhurried in a fast-paced world - The impact of a quiet life on your soul and spirit  - How to eliminate hurry and stress in your life  - Practical ways to rest in the presence of God AND SO MUCH MORE! Helpful Resources! The Love Everybody Wants by Madison Prewett Troutt: https://a.co/d/36EkEhT  Stay True Website: https://www.staytruepodcast.com/ Stay True Merch: https://www.staytruepodcast.com/merch Connect with Stay True!

In this Palm Sunday message, Beccy Pitts compares two contrasting kings. Firstly King Xerxes mentioned in the book of Esther would have been the kind of king that the Jewish people would have had in mind when King Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem. Although Jesus and Xerxes were similar in their ultimate authority, ownership and responsibility, they were very different. Jesus was humble whereas Xerxes grand, Jesus was perfect whereas Xerxes was flawed, and Jesus was approachable whereas Xerxes was not. Finally Jesus is an eternal King whereas Xerxes was only finite. The question Beccy poses in this message is an important one, is Jesus your king? Secondly, is he king in every area of your life? -------- For more information about Breathe New Life Church or if you'd like to make a decision to follow Jesus, visit our website here: https://breathenewlife.church/becomeachristian

 Ordained minister, Dr. Dennis Hall, uses the recent violence aimed at Tesla dealerships and Tesla vehicles along with the 2020 Black Lives Matter and ANTIFA ransacking of over 200 American cities to demonstrate how violent and destructive protests have become commonplace. He points out the correlation between the acceptance of these attacks on our citizens and decline in church attendance. He uses recent surveys that shockingly reveal that more than half of US adults believe Jesus is not God. Furthermore, the surveys demonstrate that only 51% of Americans consider God to be “all powerful, all-knowing, perfect and just creator of the universe who still rules the world today” Dr. Hall uses this backdrop to talk about who Jesus is. Although Jesus never said, “I am God” his words and miraculous feats were things that only God could do. Dr. Hall addresses accusations made about Jesus that come from doubters. The podcast ends with an explanation about why Jesus came. Can be seen on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/kk80deeedR8.

NOT UNTO DEATH  Jesus and his disciples had fled Judea where the Jewish leaders had tried to stone him and had gone out to the rugged mountainous area far from Judea. It was only a few weeks till Passover and Jesus had set his course to be in Jerusalem for the Passover feast - where he would become the Lamb slain for all Mankind from before the foundation of the world. He had been doing many signs and wonders and crowds were following him everywhere and the Jewish leaders were becoming more and more agitated and threatened by his fame and popularity. While they were out there a messenger came to Jesus that his good friend Lazarus was sick and in need of help. The message was sent by the two sisters of his friend Lazarus in Bethany, which was close to Jerusalem in Judea. We read the account of this in John's Gospel. John 11:1 Lazarus, who lived in Bethany with Mary and her sister Martha, was sick. So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Sir, your good friend is very, very sick.” But when Jesus heard about it he said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”  Although Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days and made no move to go to them. Finally, after the two days, he said to his disciples, “Let's go to Judea.” But his disciples objected. “Master,” they said, “only a few days ago the Jewish leaders in Judea were trying to kill you. Are you going there again?” But that did not deter Jesus, and he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has gone to sleep, but now I will go and awaken him!” The disciples, thought Jesus meant Lazarus was having a good night's rest and said, “That means he is getting better!” But Jesus meant that Lazarus had died. Then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And for your sake, I am glad I wasn't there, for this will give you another opportunity to believe in me. Come, let's go to him. It seems that Jesus had to remind himself that what he often said was not understood or even heard by those who heard it. And two days later when Jesus knew the time was right, he took his disciples to the place where Lazarus had been buried. When they arrived at Bethany, they were told that Lazarus had already been in his tomb for four days. Bethany was only a couple of miles down the road from Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish leaders had come to pay their respects and to console Martha and Mary on their loss. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Sir, if you had been here, my brother wouldn't have died. And even now it's not too late, for I know that God will bring my brother back to life again, if you will only ask him to.” Jesus told her, “Your brother will come back to life again.” “Yes,” Martha said, “when everyone else does, on Resurrection Day.” Jesus said, “I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish. Do you believe this, Martha?” “Yes, Master,” she told him. “I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one we have so long awaited.” Then she left him and returned to Mary and called her aside from the mourners and told her, “He is here and wants to see you.” So Mary went to him at once. Jesus had stayed outside the village at the place where Martha met him and when the Jewish leaders who were at the house trying to console Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus' tomb to weep; so they followed her. When Mary arrived at where Jesus was, she fell down at his feet, saying, “Sir, if you had been here, my brother would still be alive.” When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jewish leaders wailing with her, he was moved with exasperation and deeply troubled. “Where is he buried?” he asked them. They told him, “Come and see.” Jesus wept. And some of the Jewish leaders saw that as a sign of how much Jesus loved Lazarus  But some said, “This fellow healed a blind man—why couldn't he keep Lazarus from dying?” And that caused Jesus to feel deeply troubled and he groaned inwardly at their unbelief in him. Jesus indeed wept. This was a moment of deep and mixed human emotion for Jesus, not just for the grief that his beloved friends were suffering but also because he had agonised deeply within his spirit many times because of how little his disciples and other followers and critics understood what he said and did in bringing a new Kingdom Age to the earth. And not least he was confronting the reality of his own imminent torturous death and resurrection. He was creating a new spiritual age of faith and love and divine power, not one of human ability and materialism and political power. Noone realized that Jesus did not make up his own mind about when Heaven's power would touch the earth, and whether someone would or should be healed. It was not done by his own reckoning. He had told his disciples on more than one occasion that he could do nothing until he heard his Father tell him to do it, but people interpreted his supernatural acts as being for people who in their opinion deserved them or were worthy of them.  Then they came to the tomb. It was a cave with a heavy stone rolled across its door. “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha said, “By now the smell will be terrible, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said, “But didn't I tell you that you will see a wonderful miracle from God if you believe?”  So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me – I know You always hear me, but I said it because of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me”. Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And Lazarus came out, bound up in grave cloths and his face muffled in a head swath. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” And so at last many of the Jewish leaders who were with Mary and saw it happen, finally believed on him. But some went away to the Pharisees and reported it to them. Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened a council to discuss the situation. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “For this man certainly does miracles. If we let him alone the whole nation will follow him—and then the Roman army will come and kill us and take over the Jewish government.” And one of them, Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year, said, “You just don't understand - let this one man die for the people—why should the whole nation perish?” This prophecy that Jesus should die for the entire nation came from Caiaphas in his position as High Priest—he didn't think of it by himself but was inspired to say it. It was a prediction that Jesus' death would not be for Israel only, but for all the children of God scattered around the world. Then the Jewish leaders began plotting Jesus' death. The death of this man Jesus would bring divine life into the world. The Bible says Through the disobedience of one man, Adam, death came to all men, but through the obedience of one man Jesus life has come to all mankind. (Romans 5:18) People had a wrong perception of what true faith was, and this constantly troubled Jesus - the Bible says ‘consider Him who endured such contradiction from sinful flesh against Himself, (Hebrews 12:3). Their thoughts were not God's thoughts nor their ways God's ways. People followed him out into the fields to hear this greatest teacher and prophet of their time. Many said that he was The Messiah and that he would set up the kingdom of God on the earth. But to the materially and politically minded Jews this meant an army with a leader sent from heaven that would overthrow the Roman Empire and free them from its oppression over them  Jesus knew something about the resurrection of Lazarus that nobody else knew because his Father had revealed it to him by the Spirit. The consequence of the illness was death. But the purpose of the illness was not death, but glory to God – God on display for all to see - Resurrection. Jesus had spoken the words of life into the spirit of Lazarus and his spirit heard the voice of his friend Jesus saying to him ‘Lazarus come out ‘and his body received that lifegiving word and he came back to life. And something came to life in the spirit of all who believed in Jesus at that moment. The offence of Adam resulted in a mindset of separation from God for all of mankind and that is the pain that every human soul suffers throughout life. Spiritual death is the inner suffering of feeling separated from God. Jesus came to banish the curse of the separation mindset and he bring us into oneness with his life, resurrection life – the joy of the presence of God with us. Jesus banishes all sense of separation between us and himself in our minds and hearts. There is no more spiritual death and no need to feel separated from the powerful resurrected life of Jesus within us. Jesus waited for his Father to speak from Heaven to call forth human life from Lazarus, and we listen for Jesus to speak from Heaven to call forth his spiritual life from within us. The Holy Spirit helps us pray our heartfelt prayer and Jesus intercedes from his heart and the Father brings about his good and perfect will. No prayer is wasted or discarded. From such a humble and heartfelt prayer healing and salvation for spirit, soul and body flow to us - and through us for others - and nothing is impossible with God. So bless you all and I just want to pray now that as you go through this week when you feel that inner conflict, that is simply a little signal saying I'd like you closer to me. It's God allowing that to happen because we can't live with an inner peace if we're separated from the source of peace and love. He welcomes us home and it doesn't matter who we are - we say I'd like to be there, and he starts showing you that he is there - it's a miraculous thing. You just know all of a sudden that things change and you say to yourself, that couldn't have been a coincidence – but you think it must have been coincidence, and it happens again and God says that was a God incidence - keep asking and you will receive keep seeking and you will find. We're living in days when God is drawing us closer and closer from his big yes to our yes - as little as it might seem, our little yes, and that just needs to be a ‘thank you Lord for being there'. So thank you Lord for being with us this morning and drawing us closer to you. You are the resurrection and the life, and you live within us. Amen  

Believers are under constant attack from the devil. Although Jesus has already defeated the enemy through His finished works, Satan continues to focus his attacks on our minds in an attempt to convince us that those works have not been finished. He uses fear and intimidation, with the intent of introducing doubt as to whether God's promises will come to pass for us. Our thoughts carry great power; this is why we must think about what we're thinking about. Satan is sneaky and devious; he tries to move us away from listening to God's Word, and toward paying more attention to his philosophies. He knows that if he can capture our attention, he can distract us from paying attention to Christ and push us out of operating in the realm of the supernatural. To maintain the victory Jesus won for us, we must therefore be mindful of who we are looking at. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Although Jesus knew he would be betrayed, he wrestled with the temptation to deny it and urged his disciples to pray against it as well. Jesus emphasized the importance of prayer, of open communion with God. To make it Practical 1. Pray thanking Jesus for voluntarily drinking of the cup (in our place) 2. Pray to God and ask Him to help you not fall into temptation 3. Pray to God for someone close to you; not to fall into temptation

Are you tired of being knocked down, oppressed and living in defeat? If Jesus conquered death, hell and the devil, why aren't we seeing that victory? Why is the enemy continuing to steal, kill and destroy if Jesus has defeated him? The answer lies with us. Although Jesus won the victory, it's not automatic. It will require us to "PUT OUR FOOT DOWN". Listen in as we unpack this phrase and give you keys to unlock the victory that has already been won for you!

According to Open Doors, 1 in 7 Christians around the world were persecuted for their faith in 2024. Statistics show Christian persecution is on the rise. Although Jesus warned us the world would hate us because it hates Him, does that mean our response to persecution should be passive? In this episode, we look back at the attitude of bystanders during the Holocaust, and the reaction of the German church who went with the status quo. What can we learn from their example and what is the appropriate response of Christians in the West even though "it doesn't happen here"?  Stats mentioned from: https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/just-not-bearable-70-christians-beheaded-in-democratic-republic-of-congo/ https://www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/persecution/countries/ Book Recommendation:  Bystanders: Conscience And Complicity During the Holocaust Find Shanda www.shandafulbright.com Instagram & Facebook: @shandafulbright Email: hello@shandafulbright.com Free Resources: https://shandafulbright.com/links YouTube: http://bit.ly/ShandaYT2021 Store: www.Shandafulbright.com/shop  

The family that serves together stays together! Although Jesus was rejected by religious leaders...and even his own family...he created a new family that still exists today, and YOU can be a part of it!Our Scripture comes from Mark 3:20-35. Click here for the message notes.

In the Gospel of Mark, the disciples experienced a massive storm one night on the Sea of Galilee. This storm came without warning and with great severity. Although Jesus was with them in the boat, He was asleep. What would they do? In the storms of life, you and I will either walk in fear or walk in faith. While fear is a natural response, it must be confronted with faith. In this message from Pastor Jeff Schreve, discover how to put your trust in the Lord and walk by faith, even in the worst of storms.

Although Jesus healed many people, and almost never denied kindness to others, this passage in Mark shows Jesus stating his most important mission on earth: to preach.

In the Gospel of Mark, the disciples experienced a massive storm one night on the Sea of Galilee. This storm came without warning and with great severity. Although Jesus was with them in the boat, He was asleep. What would they do? In the storms of life, you and I will either walk in fear or walk in faith. While fear is a natural response, it must be confronted with faith. In this message from Pastor Jeff Schreve, discover how to put your trust in the Lord and walk by faith, even in the worst of storms.

Anyone can read the pages of the Bible repeatedly and still miss many themes and chunks of valuable information. One of these subjects which is found threaded throughout, especially in the New Testament, is the matter of two groups of people—those who are Jewish and those who are not ... referred to as Gentiles. Although Jesus came to minister primarily to Jews under the Mosaic law during His time on earth, He would drop some hints that salvation would not be limited to the people of Israel. Of course, the book of Acts and epistles that followed revealed even more about this within the message of the gospel. One example is the parable known as the prodigal or the prodigal son. Just who was this guy? He was left for dead and came seeking life without needing to lift a finger to do anything to earn it ... even though he felt obligated to do so. And then there is the older brother who worked so faithfully and diligently, declaring he never neglected a command while refusing the Father's invitation to a celebration. How offensive that the younger brother be treated as an equal! In the previous chapters leading up to this parable, Jesus alluded to some things about Jews rejecting the Messiah, turning down an invitation to an eternal fellowship with free food, and then ordering that the unwanted and ignored from the city be invited. But that wasn't all ... the invitation would also extend to those far off, beyond the highways and the hedges. The hedges? The prodigal was described as being *far off.* All of this is carefully planted evidence, providing us with exciting answers from Ephesians chapter 2 ... and it's worth celebrating. --Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7

Today's Promise: Matthew 2:1-2 After the birth of Jesus, wise men show up, asking where the King of the Jews was born. Although Jesus came to the Jews, some of the first people who came to worship Him were not Jews but Gentiles. What a wonderful example of how Jesus was the Savior for all people. Jesus invites you and me to seek Him with all our hearts. He promises that when we seek Him, we will find Him. (Matthew 6:33,7:7) The wise men sought out Jesus. The wise men and women of today still seek with all they are.

From the Gospel acclamation: "Come and save us, LORD our God; Let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved." A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 8:5-11) When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully." He said to him, "I will come and cure him." The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." Although Jesus is willing to go to the servant's house, the centurion feels unworthy to have him under his roof. He asks Jesus to simply speak a word of healing, drawing on his experience as a leader and as one who leads others. He trusts the authority of Jesus and has faith in him. Jesus is amazed by this and turns to those following him, witnesses to the centurion's faith, and says, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven." We hear also in the first reading the hope of having the Lord enter under our roof, as Isaiah prays, "O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!" God, let me follow the centurion's example of faith and trust in the word of Jesus to heal me. In the Gospel, the servant is "lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully." I am sure there will be moments throughout the day when I am completely stuck, stifled by uncertainty and wondering where you are and how to move toward you. I may be paralyzed in that moment, but you are not. Give me the grace to remember this prayer and bear witness to your mercy: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lectio-divina-daily/support

Thursday, 28 November 2024   Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, Matthew 5:23   “If, therefore, you might offer your gift upon the altar, and there you might remember that your brother – he has something against you” (CG).   The previous verse conveyed Jesus' words about the strictness of God's judgment in matters such as anger and reviling others with words like Raca and moronic. With that remembered, Jesus continues with, “If, therefore, you might offer your gift upon the altar.”   Everything about this conveys the idea of interacting with God. First, the word prospheró is a word generally used when referring to the offering of gifts, sacrifices, etc. In this case, it is an offering of a dóron, a gift. More often than not, the word is used when referring to gifts or offerings presented to God. Finally, the offering is offered “upon the altar.” This is specifically referring to an altar for sacrifice.   As such, the meaning is that a person is bringing an offering to God at the temple. The purpose of the offering depends on the type of offering. It could be for atonement, fellowship, as a freewill gift (an expression of honor), etc.   Regardless of the type, the person is coming before God. In such an instance, he is to be right with God. However, Jesus next says, “and there you might remember that your brother – he has something against you.”   There in the temple, while about to offer to the Lord, a person is taking a moment for self-examination. One can think of the words of Paul concerning the taking of the Lord's Supper –   “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.” 1 Corinthians 11:27-29   The Christian is now coming before the Lord to symbolically partake in the offering of Christ as his means of reconciliation with God. In essence, he is about to fellowship with God through the remembrance of Christ's death. Although Jesus' words in Matthew 5 are dealing with Jews under the Law of Moses, the parallel is valid.   Both are coming before God in anticipation of a friendly meeting. However, God is there searching the hearts and minds of His people. The Jew, coming to the altar, realizes that he has something wrong between him and his brother (meaning another Jew or even another human in general).   Rather than presumptuously continue with his offering, he will need to get the matter with his brother settled first. This will be seen in the coming verse. Likewise, when a Christian comes before the Lord, he needs to be in a right standing with the Lord and with those he interacts with. To not do so would then be to come forward in “an unworthy manner.” In such an instance, he would then “be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”   Before taking the Lord's Supper, there should be a time of reflection and even confession between the person and the Lord. To not have such an attitude would be presumptuous. The result of such an attitude is explained by Paul –   “For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:30-32   We are to “judge ourselves” and acknowledge that we are unworthy of the great favor of partaking in the Lord's Supper. This does not mean, however, that we might lose our salvation. This is a matter of fellowshipping with the Lord in a right standing. When our attitude is not proper, our fellowshipping is tainted. Paul noted that in such a state, many were sick and “many sleep,” meaning they had died.   Life application: Remember what precipitated Jesus' words of this verse. He has been talking about righteousness before the Lord. The scribes and Pharisees trusted in their own righteousness before God because of their adherence to the law. Jesus never told Israel that the law was unimportant or could be disobeyed.   However, He noted that unless a person's righteousness exceeded that of the scribes and Pharisees, they would not enter the kingdom of the heavens. He then gave an example of past teachings on the issue of murder. He then showed that hating one's brother or maligning him with caustic words was like murdering him in God's eyes.   Now, Jesus is telling them that if their hearts are in a bad state with their brother, it is affecting their fellowship or right standing with the Lord. In bringing an offering at such a time, the offering would not be accepted by God. John explains this type of situation for us to understand how God views such things –   “If someone says, ‘I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” 1 John 4:20, 21   Lord God, You are looking at our hearts, searching us out, and finding out where our failings are. And yes, our hearts can be deep, dark places of hatred, enmity, and iniquity. Help us, O God, to search ourselves out, cleanse the impurities of our hearts, and come before You, acknowledging that only through Jesus are we worthy of fellowship with You. How thankful we are that You have sent Jesus. Amen.  

In Matthew 20:20-24, the mother of James and John asked Jesus to allow her sons to sit at Jesus' right and left hand in His kingdom. This request, and their assertion that they were able to 'drink the cup' that Jesus was to drink reveals they did not grasp the suffering that Christ was about to endure. Although Jesus did not grant their request, His answer makes clear that His followers will suffer for His name's sake. This sermon was preached at Legacy Reformed Baptist Church in East Grand Forks, MN. For more information, visit LegacyRBC.org.

Preaching on the healing of the "Daughter of Abraham" (Luke 13:10-17), Sr. Christine Schenk, CSJ offers a reflection on the abundant love and vision of our healing God: "Jesus decries the rigidity of the rule keepers—a perennial affliction of religious leaders of every denomination even to our own day— 'Don't you understand? Freeing this woman, this daughter of Abraham is more important than freeing the ox and ass as your religious rules allow?'   The phrase 'Daughter of Abraham' occurs nowhere else in either the Hebrew or Christian scriptures.  Jesus is saying 'This woman is a fully equal member of God's own people,  and her dignity and well-being must be the priority here.'" Hidden Sister: The Gospel of Luke is the only one that recounts Jesus' healing of a woman who had been bent over for eighteen years (Luke 13:10-17). This passage is assigned to Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time. Although Jesus recognizes her as a “daughter of Abraham,” this touching story of her faith and Jesus' willingness to break the Sabbath law in the synagogue and heal her is not proclaimed on any Sunday. Moreover, in 2024, this reading is replaced by the proper readings for the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude. Christine Schenk, CSJ has worked as a nurse midwife to low-income families, a community organizer, an award-winning writer-researcher, and the founding director of an international church reform organization, FutureChurch. Schenk also writes a regular column for the National Catholic Reporter and is one of three nuns featured in the award-winning documentary "Radical Grace."

Although Jesus ministered to multitudes, His circle was a small group of 12. Following Jesus' example is how we find community as believers. Too many Christians are isolated in their Christian life, but God has created us to share life together. Join us each Sunday @ 10:45am for our latest teaching series "Better Together."

Although Jesus ministered to multitudes, His circle was a small group of 12. Following Jesus' example is how we find community as believers. Too many Christians are isolated in their Christian life, but God has created us to share life together. Join us each Sunday @ 10:45am for our latest teaching series "Better Together."

Although Jesus ministered to multitudes, His circle was a small group of 12. Following Jesus' example is how we find community as believers. Too many Christians are isolated in their Christian life, but God has created us to share life together. Join us each Sunday @ 10:45am for our latest teaching series "Better Together."

Although Jesus ministered to multitudes, His circle was a small group of 12. Following Jesus' example is how we find community as believers. Too many Christians are isolated in their Christian life, but God has created us to share life together. Join us each Sunday @ 10:45am for our latest teaching series "Better Together."

Although Jesus ministered to multitudes, His circle was a small group of 12. Following Jesus' example is how we find community as believers. Too many Christians are isolated in their Christian life, but God has created us to share life together. Join us each Sunday @ 10:45am for our latest teaching series "Better Together."

In this Bible Story, Jesus speaks hard truths about being the bread of life. He speaks of how he was sent by God from heaven, and whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood would inherit eternal life. Although Jesus spoke metaphorically, his words cause many to leave. However the disciples stayed, for they knew that only Jesus held the words of eternal life. This story is inspired by John 6:22-71 & Matthew 15:21-28 & Mark 7:24-30. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is John 6:35 from the King James Version.Episode 194: The very next day as He and His disciples were on the other side of the sea, the crowd had tracked Him down. They wanted another miracle but Jesus cared more about their hearts than their bellies. And as Jesus was trying to teach them these things, they became confused and frustrated. The teaching was too hard for many of those in the crowd to accept, so they left. Later on, the disciples that stayed learned a lesson about God's grace to those outside of the family of Israel, as a Canaanite woman begged the Jewish Messiah for help, hope, and healing.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although Jesus ministered to multitudes, His circle was a small group of 12. Following Jesus' example is how we find community as believers. Too many Christians are isolated in their Christian life, but God has created us to share life together.

This week at NTC Massena, Pastor Greg starts our "Growing" Series! Maturity and Growth is essential to the life of the Believer, Although Jesus loves us where we are, we don't want to stay where we are, We Need to be Growing!

Although Jesus ministered to multitudes, His circle was a small group of 12. Following Jesus' example is how we find community as believers. Too many Christians are isolated in their Christian life, but God has created us to share life together.

If Jesus were living in America today, would He even vote? The answer is emphatically “yes.” Although Jesus wasn't born into a constitutional republic like the one we live in and doesn't have a voting record, we do have His Word, in which He reveals His values, standards, priorities, and desires. We can look at what God says, look at what He did, and then apply His wisdom to our lives.

Although Jesus ministered to multitudes, His circle was a small group of 12. Following Jesus' example is how we find community as believers. Too many Christians are isolated in their Christian life, but God has created us to share life together.

Although Jesus ministered to multitudes, His circle was a small group of 12. Following Jesus' example is how we find community as believers. Too many Christians are isolated in their Christian life, but God has created us to share life together.

Although Jesus ministered to multitudes, His circle was a small group of 12. Following Jesus' example is how we find community as believers. Too many Christians are isolated in their Christian life, but God has created us to share life together.

As a member of the Jewish ruling council, Nicodemus would have much knowledge of the scriptures and God's promises to send a rescuer for His people. But his knowledge lacked understanding and when Jesus came on the scene his curiosity overcame his fear enough to visit Jesus at night. Jesus' answers to Nicodemus' questions led to more questions, as Jesus sought to draw Nicodemus away from the inadequacy of his intellect, proclaiming to him the necessity of spiritual re-birth. Later in the gospel of John we see Nicodemus defending Jesus before his peers on the basis of Jewish law. John gives us one last glimpse into Nicodemus with his open act of reverence in providing the hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes with which the body of Jesus was embalmed (Joh 19:39) Finally Nicodemus is willing publicly associate with Jesus, the King of the Jews.The Hero of this story is Jesus who met Nicodemus where he was at, challenging him to embrace the truth of Jesus identity and Nicodemus' only source of righteousness and rescue. Although Jesus gave Nicodemus everything he needed to believe and be reborn, it took Nicodemus time to understand and be willing to commit to Jesus in a public way. Jesus helped Nicodemus when Nicodemus was afraid for people to know he was Jesus' friend. Our own intellect is inadequate to lead us to Faith in Jesus and active obedience in following Him and sometimes it takes us time to fully grasp His character and His worth. Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to show us our need and to understand His sufficiency in meeting that need. Jesus' keeps His promise to be found by all those who seek Him and to save all those who call on His name.

Not all miracles of Jesus were to heal people who were sick or broken because life in the Kingdom of God will not just be about us having resurrected life. Some miracles were done to glimpse how we will relate to God in resurrected life. Although Jesus has hit a dark place in his ministry, his transfiguration showed his disciples, and us, that this was part of his rescue plan to lead his people into the ultimate freedom and glory of the Kingdom of God.

Although Jesus ministered to multitudes, His circle was a small group of 12. Following Jesus' example is how we find community as believers. Too many Christians are isolated in their Christian life, but God has created us to share life together.

"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:32Although Jesus was referring to His death on the cross, this truth is still a very real experience today. As we continue to grow together and lift Christ higher together, people in our community will be drawn to Jesus. This Sunday, we are going to learn how to be a church that attracts others to Christ and the gospel. DOXA Family, as you go throughout the rest of this week remember that You Are Loved!  

Hebrews 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, Jesus Christ is God's Son. After He made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Father. That's our confession of faith in Jesus. The author of Hebrews wanted his readers to place their confidence in Jesus Christ as their Messiah and great high priest. Unlike the priests in the temple, whose work was never finished, so they had to continually stand, serve, and make sacrifices, Jesus' work on earth is finished. He can and has sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, our Father's right hand. This seat at the right hand is the place of authority and power in the kingdom of God. Having accomplished what the Father gave Him to do, God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name above all names. At His name, every knee in heaven and earth will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God. There is no greater name than the name of Jesus. The name isn't primarily how the name is spelled or pronounced. There's no greater work than the work Jesus accomplished on the cross. He sits now at the right hand of God because of the great work He has done, not because we call Him, Jesus. Although Jesus' redemptive work on earth is done, we still have work to do with Him. We are encouraged today that the one who loves us and who lives in us has given His life for us so we could know Him and His love. Knowing Him, we understand why we are here in this world. We were made by the rhema of God so we could be vessels of His love and revelation. That's our purpose in life—to live to love with Jesus.

Daily Dose of Hope June 19, 2024, Day 4 of week 12 Scripture: Deuteronomy chapter 19 through 22, Psalm 6, and the gospel Luke chapter 10  Welcome back to the daily dose of hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church's Bible reading plan.  Let get into our scripture today:  Chapter 19-22 of Deuteronomy continues to lay out the rules and laws that God expected the Israelites to govern themselves by. In essence God wants them to behave and learn to live together with mutual respect. All of these laws are geared in conjunction with the 6th commandments. "You shall not murder". The representative laws in these chapters all protected people who were vulnerable for one reason or another. Criminal law, specifically crimes against persons, is in view. God instructed Moses to cover the regulation that dealt with various circumstances the Israelites would have to encounter before they reach Canaan. God's concern for His people's possessions and reputations, as well as their lives, stands out clearly in these  chapters. What can we learn from this passage of scripture? Whatever we come up against God has our back. “Do not be afraid, for the LORD your God is with you.” A quote from God that often spoke to the Israelites. Understanding God's love for his chosen people was key to him protecting them even in their rebellion.  To arrive at Canaan there had to be some sort of respect for human lives, but also the  Israelites needed to know how to protect themselves. Israel's warfare as they journey to Canaan was not to eliminate their enemies. God just wanted peace among the people as the Israelites inhabit the land. God wanted them to possess. This section ends with various laws being enacted, one in particular is laws concerning sexual relations. These statues defended the sanctity of marriage, the purity and innocence of virginity, and the honor of a women's reputation. One way they were to express faithfulness to God was by honoring the covenant of marriage. The same is true for us.  Moving to Psalm 6. In this psalm, David is seeking to discover the reasons behind his suffering. He believes his suffering is the result of God disciplining him due to his sin. Like a son appealing to his father , he asks for relief from his earned rebuke. David had sin, and his spiritual condition has physical and emotional repercussions. How long would he have to suffer, he asked of the Lord? But notice David does not run from God; He runs to God. His pleads to  God was on the basis of his covenant and faithful love to God. He asks God to rescue him before he descended to the grave. He is confident the Lord heard his weeping plea for help and his prayer for mercy and deliverance has been accepted. He looks forward to how God would act on his behalf, turn back his enemies, and disgrace them for their deeds against God's anointed one. As Christian we too can go to God for mercy and understanding according to (1 John 1:5-9) even in the context of our sin and failure because our covenant relationship with him through Jesus Christ. My friend that Good News for all of us.  Lastly moving to the New Testament; Luke chapter 10. We continue looking at heading toward Jerusalem. This chapter of scripture brings us back to some familiar texts. The sending out of the seventy, the good Samaritan and a visit to Martha and Mary. Here we see Jesus draws away from public ministry and theological debates to focus on his continue preparation of his disciples for what will happen in Jerusalem. This was a kind of “internship,” a training time while Jesus was still with them. Although Jesus wanted those then and wants Christian now to spread the message concerning the teaching of the Kingdom of God. He knew it would not be a simple task. It was difficult to give a message many in the world did not want to hear then and now. Still, efforts to tell others about our savior is our Christian's responsibility. If we do not tell them, who will? No matter the difficulty and rejection of God's salvific invitation, we must rejoice over our God-appointed responsibility. To lead someone to have their names written in Heaven's records along aside of ours. As I end this devotional podcast what will it take to get you out of your comfort zone? Here is your opportunity to fulfill God's purpose for your life! Until tomorrow remember our goal as a congregation to read the bible in one year together as a family of faith. Five days a week we read. Two days rest or catch up. Reading the is the way we increase and walk out our faith as believers. This is Pastor Lavetta, and this is the daily Dose of Hope.  The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan.  It's our goal  to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith.  Five days a week we read.  Two days a week we either rest or catch up.  Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus.  We have to know God's Word to live God's Word.  Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com  

Pastor preached “First Born Part 2” and taught us the truth of Jesus' death and resurrection. We learned that:✨ Just as death came through one man, resurrection also came through one man (Jesus).✨ The nature of sin is what leads us to produce sin.✨ Jesus experienced our penalty for sin so that we could experience His perks of righteousness.✨ Jesus didn't renovate us or repair us; He renewed us.✨ Although Jesus never sinned, He bore our sins, taking on our responsibility and punishment.PARTNER WITH US Thank you for your generosity! To give, visit https://www.radiantchurchtxk.com/give____ PRAYER We would be honored to pray with you. Text the word "Prayer" to 903-201-0606. ____ FIRST TIMEIs this your first time visiting Radiant Church Online? Text the word "First Time" to 903-201-0606.Connect With Us: Website: https://www.radiantchurchtxk.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Radianttxk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radiantchurchtxk/DOWNLOAD OUR APP https://apps.apple.com/us/app/radiant-txk/id6473744016https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.pushpay.radiantchurchtxk&pcampaignid=web_shareCatch us LIVE on Youtube at 9:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. CST to experience powerful worship and a life-changing message!Support the Show.

Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel - Jn 10:1-10 - Jesus said: "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers." Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. Bishop Sheen quote of the day Father Chars Murr joins Terry to discuss the stabbing of Assyrian Orthodox Bishop Mari Emmanuel, and how most Catholics neither know nor understand their Catholic Faith.  Why is that, and how can this be rectified?

Gospel John 10:1-10 Jesus said: "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers." Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” Reflection Jesus uses the role of Shepherd to instill within his disciples an understanding of who they will be once Jesus fills them with the truth. God is the source of all truth. Jesus is filled with God. The way you enter into the Kingdom of God is through an acknowledgment of what is true, what is real, what is unchangeable. And what we see in this story is that Jesus is also saying that those who have not opened their heart to the truth are thieves and robbers when they try to take care of people. And he is obviously talking about the people of the temple. The Scribes and Pharisees were thieves and robbers keeping people from truth. And God has come in the form of Jesus to change all of that. Closing Prayer Father, so many voices speak to us about who you are and what you call us to be. Ground us in your truth. So we hear your truth, we will open our hearts to it, when we hear lies and half truths, we will turn away. Bless us with wisdom to know the difference. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

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

In this Bible Story, Jesus speaks hard truths about being the bread of life. He speaks of how he was sent by God from heaven, and whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood would inherit eternal life. Although Jesus spoke metaphorically, his words cause many to leave. However the disciples stayed, for they knew that only Jesus held the words of eternal life. This story is inspired by John 6:22-71 & Matthew 15:21-28 & Mark 7:24-30. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is John 6:35 from the King James Version.Episode 194: The very next day as He and His disciples were on the other side of the sea, the crowd had tracked Him down. They wanted another miracle but Jesus cared more about their hearts than their bellies. And as Jesus was trying to teach them these things, they became confused and frustrated. The teaching was too hard for many of those in the crowd to accept, so they left. Later on, the disciples that stayed learned a lesson about God's grace to those outside of the family of Israel, as a Canaanite woman begged the Jewish Messiah for help, hope, and healing.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.