Podcasts about Antioch

"Saint Justina, who was from Damascus, lived in virginity for the sake of Christ. Saint Cyprian, who was from Antioch, began as an initiate of magic and worshipper of the demons. A certain foolish young man who had been smitten with Justina's beauty hired Cyprian to draw her to love him; when Cyprian had used every demonic device he knew, and had failed, being repulsed by the power of Christ Whom Justina invoked, he understood the weakness of the demons and came to know the truth. Delivered from demonic delusion, he came to Christ and burned all his books of magic, was baptized, and later ascended the episcopal throne in his country. Later, he and Justina were arrested by the Count of Damascus, and having endured many torments at his hands, they were sent finally to Diocletian in Nicomedia, where they were beheaded in the year 304." (Great Horologion)

In this episode of Antioch Conversations, worship directors Kert Prater and Melissa Bergeson reflect on the role of songwriting in Antioch Georgetown's life. They discuss the biblical invitation to sing new songs, share how Antioch's songwriting journey has unfolded, and discuss the “testimonial songs” that tell stories of hardship, hope, and finding Jesus in the middle of it all. They also introduce Jesus Changes Everything, a brand new series of songs and stories beginning with the song “All of Me,” which is set to release on Friday, October 9.

PRINCIPLES OF #BREAKTHROUGHPRAYER. Get free download of our articles and books on effective prayer and other kingdom principles materials. https://www.Portalsgate.orgThe greatest deception of the season is to assume that we know everything that needs to be known regarding the subject of prayer and spiritual warfare. Any Christian who assume the place of prayer is to assume their spiritual identity, efficacy, and authority. Prayers, intercession and the general ideas of spiritual warfare are often reduced to the language of confrontation by those who have not understood the art of divine engagement. Many Christians limit kingdom warfare to binding, loosing, resisting, casting down, and engaging the powers of darkness, as Scripture commands. Prayer carries authority that must be proclaimed and declared, and the church must learn to pray with the highest level of spiritual intelligence. Sound biblical warfare begins before our regular prayer meetings, before declarations are voiced, and before the moment of spiritual confrontation. Intelligent, kingdom-driven prayer begins in the realm of thought, in the mind, in our thinking and perception, and in our ability to recognise what heaven requires in a particular moment of meditation and spiritual reflection.Many of us know what it means to be busy for God. We carry responsibilities in the church, serve people, pray for families, build ministries, pursue work, raise children, and seek to fulfil the assignments placed before us. The danger does not always come through an obvious invitation to abandon these things. It can come when we remain occupied with good work while our hearts are gradually drawn away from the One who gave us the work.The enemy understands the power of distraction. He knows that a believer whose focus has shifted can still appear committed, productive, disciplined, and spiritually active. That person may attend the meetings, speak the right language, carry visible responsibilities, and remain present among the people of God. Yet inwardly, the heart may have lost its sensitivity to the present desire of the Father.1. Prayer is the only discipline that moves a person from self-diagnosis to divine disclosure. Psychology can help someone understand their patterns; only prayer positions a person to receive what only God can reveal about their life, their assignment, and their times.2. Coaching optimizes what a person can already see. Prayer opens what remains invisible to natural sight, since Paul's request in Ephesians was never for better strategy but for the eyes of the heart to be enlightened.3. Every generation that has carried genuine spiritual authority in scripture, Moses, Elijah, the early church at Antioch, arrived at that authority through prayer, not through therapeutic insight into their own condition.4. James is direct about this. Prayer that exists only to secure personal comfort will not be answered on those terms, because it was never meant to function as a private wish-granting mechanism; its purpose is larger than the person praying.5. A therapeutic culture treats the self as the final subject of inquiry. Prayer interrupts that, insisting the person praying is not the center of what is actually happening; God's purpose is.6. Coaching can help someone set a goal. Prayer is how a person discovers whether that goal was ever God's assignment for them in the first place.7. The church at Antioch did not plan first and pray for blessing afterward. They prayed and fasted until the assignment became clear, and only then did they send. Direction, in scripture, is discovered in prayer before it is executed in strategy.

PRINCIPLES OF #BREAKTHROUGHPRAYER. Get free download of our articles and books on effective prayer and other kingdom principles materials. https://www.Portalsgate.orgThe greatest deception of the season is to assume that we know everything that needs to be known regarding the subject of prayer and spiritual warfare. Any Christian who assume the place of prayer is to assume their spiritual identity, efficacy, and authority. Prayers, intercession and the general ideas of spiritual warfare are often reduced to the language of confrontation by those who have not understood the art of divine engagement. Many Christians limit kingdom warfare to binding, loosing, resisting, casting down, and engaging the powers of darkness, as Scripture commands. Prayer carries authority that must be proclaimed and declared, and the church must learn to pray with the highest level of spiritual intelligence. Sound biblical warfare begins before our regular prayer meetings, before declarations are voiced, and before the moment of spiritual confrontation. Intelligent, kingdom-driven prayer begins in the realm of thought, in the mind, in our thinking and perception, and in our ability to recognise what heaven requires in a particular moment of meditation and spiritual reflection.Many of us know what it means to be busy for God. We carry responsibilities in the church, serve people, pray for families, build ministries, pursue work, raise children, and seek to fulfil the assignments placed before us. The danger does not always come through an obvious invitation to abandon these things. It can come when we remain occupied with good work while our hearts are gradually drawn away from the One who gave us the work.The enemy understands the power of distraction. He knows that a believer whose focus has shifted can still appear committed, productive, disciplined, and spiritually active. That person may attend the meetings, speak the right language, carry visible responsibilities, and remain present among the people of God. Yet inwardly, the heart may have lost its sensitivity to the present desire of the Father.1. Prayer is the only discipline that moves a person from self-diagnosis to divine disclosure. Psychology can help someone understand their patterns; only prayer positions a person to receive what only God can reveal about their life, their assignment, and their times.2. Coaching optimizes what a person can already see. Prayer opens what remains invisible to natural sight, since Paul's request in Ephesians was never for better strategy but for the eyes of the heart to be enlightened.3. Every generation that has carried genuine spiritual authority in scripture, Moses, Elijah, the early church at Antioch, arrived at that authority through prayer, not through therapeutic insight into their own condition.4. James is direct about this. Prayer that exists only to secure personal comfort will not be answered on those terms, because it was never meant to function as a private wish-granting mechanism; its purpose is larger than the person praying.5. A therapeutic culture treats the self as the final subject of inquiry. Prayer interrupts that, insisting the person praying is not the center of what is actually happening; God's purpose is.6. Coaching can help someone set a goal. Prayer is how a person discovers whether that goal was ever God's assignment for them in the first place.7. The church at Antioch did not plan first and pray for blessing afterward. They prayed and fasted until the assignment became clear, and only then did they send. Direction, in scripture, is discovered in prayer before it is executed in strategy.

Anna and Matt follow Paul and Barnabas as they travel to Antioch sharing the good news about Jesus. Some people believe and others reject their message, but Paul and Barnabas keep going because they know the results belong to God. ⭐ What Kids Will Learn:

How good do you have to be to go to heaven? Jesus said that we have to be perfectly righteous, but isn't that impossible? This sermon series looks at Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount to find out what heavenly kingdom lives should look like. Pastor Derrick Lynch continues our series, “The right-side up kingdom,” preaching from Matthew 5:17-20. Notes in this sermon: Jesus fulfills righteousness Jesus empowers righteousness Visit www.bluevalleychurch.org for more information about Blue Valley Church in Overland Park, Olathe, and Gardner, Kansas.

What happens when the church gathers on Sunday should shape the way we live when we scatter into the rest of the week.In Acts 13–14, the church at Antioch worships, prays, listens to the Spirit, and sends Paul and Barnabas out. They go from place to place sharing the gospel, strengthening believers, and helping new Christians remain faithful. Then they return to Antioch, gather the church again, and tell what God has done.That rhythm still matters for the church today. We gather around Jesus to be formed, we go out into ordinary life to strengthen people and represent Him well, and we come back together ready to recognize and share what God has done.Sunday is not meant to stay on Sunday.Different places. Same purpose. Sent together.Acts 13:1–4; Acts 14:21–28Chandler Street Church of ChristKilgore, TexasLane Brown, Preaching Minister#ChristianSermon #Acts #ChristianLiving #Discipleship #HolySpirit #ChurchOfChrist

Discussion Questions Week of: September 27, 2026 // Sermon Text: Galatians 2:1-10Sermon Overview The gospel that frees us by grace also unites us in love.I. The question: will the apostles approve the gospel of grace? (vv. 1-2)II. The stakes: losing the truth leads to slavery (vv. 3-5)III. The outcome: the gospel of grace is the gospel for all (vv. 6-10)   Prepare A suggestion before the Digging Deeper questions is to do the following:1. Read the passage2. As a group, explain the passage in your own words3. As a group, recount the sermon outline4. Open time to ask questions for understanding the passage or sermon5. Pray togetherDigging Deeper    How can we use the freedom that comes with knowing Jesus to strengthen our unity together at CrossWay? In Gospel Community?The question: will the apostles approve the gospel of grace? (vv. 1-2)1. God used Barnabas to recruit Paul to teach the gospel to the church in Antioch.    Might God be using a human agent to recruit you into a ministry?  Might God be spurring you to recruit someone else?2. If the other apostles were preaching a different (false) gospel, then Paul's efforts would have been “in vain” (verse 2).  Paul was concerned with the truth of the gospel and with church unity.  Are you ever tempted to sacrifice truth for unity, getting along with others?  On the other hand, are there any areas where you should perhaps care more about unity within the church?  The stakes: losing the truth leads to slavery (vv. 3-5)3. In verse 4, Paul refers to those who were teaching that keeping the law was required for salvation as “false brothers who were secretly slipped in.”  Are you aware of any areas in your life where false teaching might secretly slip in?  How can you stay vigilant?    4. Brett also preached, “Freedom is not doing whatever we want to do.  That's just slavery to sin.  Freedom is doing what we were made to do.”  Are there any ways right now where you are experiencing slavery to sin?  How can you pursue real freedom instead?  The outcome: the gospel of grace is the gospel for all (vv. 6-10)  5. “Only they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”  (v. 10).  The church is a family.  Does anyone within the church family come to mind who is suffering because of poverty or other hard circumstances?  Are there practical ways that you can remember and demonstrate real love for that person?  Prayer

Jerusalem is often called “the Mother Church” because the earliest community of Jesus' followers emerged there. According to Acts, after the resurrection of Jesus, the apostles remained in Jerusalem, where the Holy Spirit was received at Pentecost and the first organized community of believers took shape (Acts 1–2). This community remained deeply rooted in its Jewish setting: believers prayed, gathered together, remembered the teaching of Jesus, and continued to participate in the life of the Temple (Acts 2:42–47; 3:1). Jerusalem also became the place where major questions facing the expanding movement were addressed, most notably at the Jerusalem Council around AD 49 (Acts 15). Early leadership was associated first with Peter and the apostles and increasingly with James the Just, the brother of Jesus, who became a central figure in the Jerusalem church. From this mother community the message concerning Jesus spread outward—to Judea, Samaria, Antioch, and eventually throughout the Roman and Eastern worlds—making Jerusalem the historical and spiritual starting point from which the early Church expanded.

If Acts has two streams (the ministries of Peter and of Paul) then it also has three waves, as Christ's gospel spreads from Jerusalem, through Judea and Samaria, to the end of the earth. Here we are in Antioch, as the church separates Barnabas and Saul to the work of gospel preaching beyond the Mediterranean. We look at the men involved, the ministry they had, the motion of the Holy Spirit, and then the mission on which they were sent.

The secrets of creation were contained in an oath—and one of the fallen Watchers demanded that Michael reveal to him the "secret name" so that those who heard the oath would quake before it. That's one of the revelations in this week's study of 1 Enoch. Bear in mind, this section of the book was written just before the birth of Jesus so any specifics regarding the names of fallen angels and their abilities or misdeeds must be taken with a grain of salt. However, it is interesting that this section, in the translation by R. H. Charles, is titled, "The Names and Functions of the (fallen Angels and) Satans.” Apparently, during the Second Temple, it was believed there was more than one Satan. We need to remember that Satan was not even considered a fallen angel until Ignatius of Antioch in the early second century A.D.. Again, the study is important because of New Testament doctrines that are not found in any Jewish writing prior to 1 Enoch. Here is the link to the Academia page for scholar John Ben-Daniel, whose research into the book of 1 Enoch has been so helpful to us: https://independent.academia.edu/DrJohnBenDanielWe're asking for your help to Build Bunker Better! We've decided to remain in our home, but we need certain upgrades to make it safe for Derek given his recent mobility limitations compounded by mild COPD. Find out more at Gilberthouse.org/donate. 

If Acts has two streams (the ministries of Peter and of Paul) then it also has three waves, as Christ's gospel spreads from Jerusalem, through Judea and Samaria, to the end of the earth. Here we are in Antioch, as the church separates Barnabas and Saul to the work of gospel preaching beyond the Mediterranean. We look at the men involved, the ministry they had, the motion of the Holy Spirit, and then the mission on which they were sent.

In this evening message from Acts 11:19-30, Pastor Rockhill presses a single searching question upon the congregation: what does it mean to be a Christian? Drawing from the account of the scattered believers who carried the gospel to Antioch, he shows that the name first given to the disciples there marks not merely a label but a life visibly conformed to Christ. Pastor Rockhill traces four marks of true Christianity from the passage. Believers were diligent in sharing the gospel with all who were in need, breaking through old prejudices to reach Jew and Gentile alike. In Barnabas, the encourager, he sets before the flock the calling of every saint to build up and strengthen one another, and he notes the early seeds of Presbyterial oversight in the church's care to see all things done decently and in order. In the year-long teaching ministry of Barnabas and Saul, he reminds hearers that every Christian is called to be a disciple and learner. Finally, in the famine relief sent to Judea, Pastor Rockhill highlights the church's mercy ministry, as Gentile believers generously served their suffering brethren. He underscores the unity of Christ's one body, where the members bear one another's burdens. Applying the text to a day of rising hostility toward the faith, he urges believers not to wear Christian merely as a name but to live it out through gospel witness, encouragement, discipleship, and self-giving love, that the watching world may know them as true disciples of Jesus, to the glory of God alone.

If Acts has two streams (the ministries of Peter and of Paul) then it also has three waves, as Christ's gospel spreads from Jerusalem, through Judea and Samaria, to the end of the earth. Here we are in Antioch, as the church separates Barnabas and Saul to the work of gospel preaching beyond the Mediterranean. We look at the men involved, the ministry they had, the motion of the Holy Spirit, and then the mission on which they were sent.

If Acts has two streams (the ministries of Peter and of Paul) then it also has three waves, as Christ's gospel spreads from Jerusalem, through Judea and Samaria, to the end of the earth. Here we are in Antioch, as the church separates Barnabas and Saul to the work of gospel preaching beyond the Mediterranean. We look at the men involved, the ministry they had, the motion of the Holy Spirit, and then the mission on which they were sent.

In this evening message from Acts 11:19-30, Pastor Rockhill presses a single searching question upon the congregation: what does it mean to be a Christian? Drawing from the account of the scattered believers who carried the gospel to Antioch, he shows that the name first given to the disciples there marks not merely a label but a life visibly conformed to Christ. Pastor Rockhill traces four marks of true Christianity from the passage. Believers were diligent in sharing the gospel with all who were in need, breaking through old prejudices to reach Jew and Gentile alike. In Barnabas, the encourager, he sets before the flock the calling of every saint to build up and strengthen one another, and he notes the early seeds of Presbyterial oversight in the church's care to see all things done decently and in order. In the year-long teaching ministry of Barnabas and Saul, he reminds hearers that every Christian is called to be a disciple and learner. Finally, in the famine relief sent to Judea, Pastor Rockhill highlights the church's mercy ministry, as Gentile believers generously served their suffering brethren. He underscores the unity of Christ's one body, where the members bear one another's burdens. Applying the text to a day of rising hostility toward the faith, he urges believers not to wear Christian merely as a name but to live it out through gospel witness, encouragement, discipleship, and self-giving love, that the watching world may know them as true disciples of Jesus, to the glory of God alone.

This sermon examines the early church's transition from Jerusalem to Antioch, emphasizing that God desires an outward-looking body of believers who extend the gospel beyond their own cultural and ethnic boundaries. The text contrasts the partial obedience of those who preached only to Jews with the faithful witness of Hellenists who shared the faith with Greeks, demonstrating that the hand of the Lord rests upon those who align their hearts with His inclusive mission. Furthermore, the passage highlights the critical role of encouragement in church growth, using Barnabas as a model of a Spirit-filled believer who builds others up rather than criticizing their shortcomings. The preacher argues that a culture of encouragement, rooted in the character of the Holy Spirit, fosters spiritual maturity and practical service, whereas a spirit of fault-finding drives believers away and stifles the church's vitality. Ultimately, the message calls for a community that reflects God's grace by actively seeking the lost and supporting one another in their walk with Christ.

This week we return to GO: Participating in His Redemptive Mission, our journey through the book of Acts. In Week 7: Antioch - Grace Made Visible, Pastor Matthew Fourie will preach from Acts 11 & 13. In Antioch we see the grace of God taking visible shape in a new community - people from different backgrounds formed around Jesus, sharing life together, giving generously, listening to the Spirit, and holding what God has given them with open hands. Together we'll ask what it might look like for grace to become visible among us - so that the life we share points unmistakably toward Jesus. Follow along on the Bible App: bible.com/events/49670731

In this evening message from Acts 11:19-30, Pastor Rockhill presses a single searching question upon the congregation: what does it mean to be a Christian? Drawing from the account of the scattered believers who carried the gospel to Antioch, he shows that the name first given to the disciples there marks not merely a label but a life visibly conformed to Christ. Pastor Rockhill traces four marks of true Christianity from the passage. Believers were diligent in sharing the gospel with all who were in need, breaking through old prejudices to reach Jew and Gentile alike. In Barnabas, the encourager, he sets before the flock the calling of every saint to build up and strengthen one another, and he notes the early seeds of Presbyterial oversight in the church's care to see all things done decently and in order. In the year-long teaching ministry of Barnabas and Saul, he reminds hearers that every Christian is called to be a disciple and learner. Finally, in the famine relief sent to Judea, Pastor Rockhill highlights the church's mercy ministry, as Gentile believers generously served their suffering brethren. He underscores the unity of Christ's one body, where the members bear one another's burdens. Applying the text to a day of rising hostility toward the faith, he urges believers not to wear Christian merely as a name but to live it out through gospel witness, encouragement, discipleship, and self-giving love, that the watching world may know them as true disciples of Jesus, to the glory of God alone.

Dr. Brent Black shared a message from Acts 13 about what happened when a local church listened to the Holy Spirit and responded with immediate obedience. He highlighted the diverse church in Antioch, gathered in worship and fasting, and how the Spirit spoke clearly as they surrendered to God's leading. The message reminded us that hearing God is not reserved for a spiritual elite, but requires an attentive and surrendered heart. Dr. Black challenged us to examine how sin, unforgiveness, disobedience, doubt, and the noise of daily life may hinder us from hearing the Spirit clearly and responding faithfully.New here or need prayer?We would love to connect with you. Visit: https://form.church/connectionGive online: https://subsplash.com/u/-QJD4RD/give

Join us for a short series called Overwhelming Grace, where we sit down with friends to hear their stories of encountering God's grace.In this two part story with Kristin Shaffer, we pick up her story of her sharing her journey learning to trust God's people again after experiencing church hurt. She talks about stepping away from ministry as a single mom and working as a massage therapist, only to watch God show up on her massage table as clients forgave, found freedom and even came to know Jesus. She opens up about a sudden, two-year illness that kept her in bed most of the day with nothing to give. She shares about finally hearing God tell her He loved her even if she never did anything for Him again, and how that moment set her free from a lifetime of striving and shame. Kristin finishes sharing her slow road back into ministry at YWAM Kona, and how God led her to Waco and into the Antioch family. Kristin Shaffer serves as the House of Prayer Director at Antioch Waco and for the Antioch Movement.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/p8eoE6lPe6QKitchen table conversations, biblical wisdom, and testimonies from Jimmy and the Antioch Movement.Passion & Purpose is a podcast that desires to help you fall more in love with Jesus and have a greater passion for Him and His purposes in the earth. Subscribe to my channel for weekly episodes  @jimmy_seibert Subscribe to my weekly newsletter to receive teachings, new resources and helpful tips straight to your inbox, visit https://passionandpurpose.kit.com/jimmyFor more resources to help you in transforming your personal life and every sphere of society, visit my website at https://www.jimmyseibert.comFollow me for more ways to grow in your love for Jesus on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jimmy_seibert/For more information on the Antioch Movement, visit https://antioch.org

In this episode, Howard Farran welcomes back Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca for her sixth appearance on the show. An orthodontist with more than 36 years of experience, she is a graduate of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine with a Master's in Public Health from Harvard's Department of Health Management and Policy, completed her orthodontic residency at Northwestern, and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and Past President of the Northern California Angle Society of Orthodontists. She taught practice management to orthodontic residents in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly a decade, leads her team at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California, and is the author of five practice management books — with her sixth and final entry in the series, One Team, One Score, arriving in September 2026. The conversation centers on leadership as the capstone of everything she's written. Dr. Gorczyca explains what "One Team, One Score" actually means, walks through the four forms of leadership — authoritative, bureaucratic, democratic, and laissez-faire — and how a dentist knows which to use and when. She shares what she learned studying leaders like Alan Mulally, Indra Nooyi, and Ursula Burns, why the single word "WE" changes the dynamic of an entire practice, and the "Achilles' heel" she sees in women leaders and how she coaches them through it. She and Howard also dig into the deceptively simple communication rules teams still get wrong, the warrior-versus-victim mindset in daily practice, where most dental teams get stuck in the forming-storming-norming-performing cycle, and the right way to address insubordination before it quietly poisons a team. The episode closes on a fitting note: quoting Michelangelo at 87 saying "I am still learning," Dr. Gorczyca reflects on what she's still figuring out after 36 years and six books.   Episode #1740 : Dentistry Uncensored with Howard Farran, Howard welcomes back Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca — orthodontist, author, and practice management expert — for her sixth appearance on the show! With 36+ years in orthodontics and a Harvard DMD and MPH behind her, Dr. Gorczyca joins to discuss her sixth and final book, One Team, One Score. From the four styles of leadership to the warrior-versus-victim mindset, she breaks down how great dental teams are actually built.

Teach The Entirety Of Scripture. Always Include Jesus Acts 18:23-26 23After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor a and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

“If It Is God's Will” Should Always Have More Authority Than Our Plan Acts 18:19-22 18Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. 19They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God's will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.

Episode 255 of The Hitstreak, a podcast where we talk about anything and everything!This week we are on location with portrait artist Tim Liddle!Let us know in the comments what YOU want to hear about next!Episode in a Glance:In this episode of The Hitstreak, we leave the Hitlab and set up inside the Point View Gallery in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, the lakeside home, gallery and working studio of portrait artist Tim Liddle. Tim is a Nashville native from a blue collar Antioch baseball family, and I grew up knowing a very different Tim Liddle: the successful advertising man whose family name is front and center in Middle Tennessee baseball. We talk about the summer job crews and the day a car slid off its jack onto his chest at 17 before his father lifted it off with his bare hands, playing ball at Lipscomb while his brother went on to coach in the big leagues, four decades of catalogs, commercials and websites, and the whole time, quietly, he painted. Then the reveal: the long hair, the gallery, and the second act as a portrait artist at 66 years old, because as Tim puts it, I have casted my life a lot, and I am ready to start fishing. Plus the surprise portrait he painted of me that started this whole episode, the Psalm 42 landscape that means the most to him, and the interview he filmed with his 96 year old grandfather Otis and the one piece of advice that came out of it.Key Points:- You can reinvent yourself at any age. Tim is 66 and just getting started.- I have casted my life a lot. I am ready to start fishing.- Respect authority. If you want life to go well for you, respect authority.- Once you get the drawing accurate, the painting starts to reveal itself.- Kids need to be pushed into doing things outside their comfort zone.- You cannot get that time back. Be intentional as a father.- If you do not ask for something, you will not get it. Speak what matters out loud.- Better is not a place you arrive. It is a progression of improving your craft.- Being content is the key. Do not get the cart before the horse.- Life can turn on you in an instant. Do not take it for granted.About our guest:Tim Liddle is a portrait artist working out of the Point View Gallery, his home studio on the lake in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Raised on a small farm in Antioch in a close knit baseball family, he played at Lipscomb while his older brother Steve went on to play and then coach in Major League Baseball. Tim built a career in advertising, starting his own company in 1990 and spending four decades on catalogs, television commercials and later web work, and through all of it he kept painting, watercolors while the kids were young, always something on an easel.The second act is the reason for this episode. Tim rebuilt an old ranch house and its two car garage into a home, gallery and studio, let the hair grow, and introduced himself to the world as the portrait artist he had quietly been all along. At 66 he paints commissions for families, businesses and institutions, works three canvases at a time between Tennessee and the Gulf, and counts a Psalm 42 landscape among his favorite work. He interviewed his grandfather Otis at 96 so his family would keep his voice forever, and the advice from that film runs through this whole conversation: respect authority, honor your people, and be grateful. His portrait of yours truly hangs front and center at the Hitlab.Follow and contact:Instagram: @timliddleartWebsite: TimLiddle.comSubscribe to Nick's top-rated podcast The Hitstreak on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/NickHiterFollow and Rate us on Spotify: https://spotify.com/NickHiterFollow and Rate us on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/NickHiterFollow and Rate us on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/NickHiter

Walter and Father Jim Drucker discuss a report from Blue Origin safety professional and UFO researcher Joe Jordan, who investigated over 700 alleged alien abduction cases and found that calling on the name of Jesus or God immediately stopped the incidents. Father Drucker considers whether UFOs could be evil or satanic, sharing 1st-century spiritual defense advice from St. Ignatius of Antioch and explaining why he keeps a bottle of holy water handy for flying saucer.

What does it mean to be the salt of the earth and to shine your light before men? Jesus' words challenge Christians to live out their faith in a way that makes a noticeable difference in the world. This sermon series looks at Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount to find out what heavenly kingdom lives should look like. Pastor Micah Hayes begins our series, “The right-side up kingdom,” preaching from Matthew 5:13-16. Notes in this sermon: What are you known for? What are you pointing to? Where are you needed? Visit www.bluevalleychurch.org for more information about Blue Valley Church in Overland Park, Olathe, and Gardner, Kansas.

Jesus never called His Church to simply gather. He called us to go. In this message, we look at the Great Commission and the church at Antioch to see how God gathers, forms, and equips His people so they can be sent into the places He has already put them. What would change if we began to see our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and relationships as places Jesus has already sent us? We gather so we can go, for generations to come.

Acts 13:1–3 – The church at Antioch worshiped, listened to the Holy Spirit, and willingly sent some of its best people to advance the gospel. Consider how everything we have committed through M2 can position us to send more people for generations to come.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/tmb-ehv/03-0919db.mp3 Listen to Bible reading Through My Bible Yr 03 – September 19 Galatians 2 Paul's Fellowship With Those in Jerusalem 1 Then, after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, also taking Titus with me. 2 I went up in keeping with a revelation, and I laid before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately before those who were considered important, in order to make sure that I was not running—or had not run—in vain. 3 But Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, even though he is Greek. 4 This was an issue because of the false brothers, who slipped in under false pretenses to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. Their goal was to make us slaves. 5 We refused to give in to them even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would continue with you. 6 But as for those who were considered to be important (what sort of people they once were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality), indeed, those who were considered to be important added nothing to my gospel. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter was entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised. 8 For God, who worked effectively in Peter to serve as an apostle to the circumcised, also worked effectively in me to serve as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 And because James, Cephas, and John, who were considered to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship. They agreed that we were to go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 The only thing they asked was that we remember the poor, the very thing that I was also eager to do. Paul Opposed Cephas (Peter) 11 But when Cephas [1] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly wrong. 12 For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when those people came, he drew back and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision group. 13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not acting according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of all of them, “If you, a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, why do you compel the Gentiles to live like the Jews?” Justified Through Faith! 15 “We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners. 16 We know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. So we also believed in Christ Jesus that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because no one [2] will be justified by the works of the law. 17 But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were also found to be sinners, then is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 “In fact, if I build up again those things that I destroyed, I bring on myself the judgment of being a lawbreaker. 19 Indeed, through the law I died to the law that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I am now living in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not regard the grace of God as nothing. As a matter of fact, if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!” Footnotes Galatians 2:11 Some witnesses to the text read Peter. (“Witnesses to the text” mentioned in footnotes may include Greek manuscripts, lectionaries, translations, and quotations in the church fathers.) Galatians 2:16 Literally flesh The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

Christianity was born in the East. Before the Gospel reached Rome and Western Europe, it was proclaimed in Jerusalem, carried north to Antioch, and received by communities throughout Syria, Egypt, Armenia, Georgia, Mesopotamia, and Persia. In this teaching, we follow the historical journey of the Early Eastern Church from Jerusalem to Antioch, Edessa, Alexandria, Nisibis, Armenia, Georgia, and Persia. We explore how persecution scattered the first believers, how Antioch became a missionary center, and how Syriac—an important Eastern Aramaic language—became a language of Scripture, worship, poetry, and theology. We will also meet influential Eastern Fathers such as Ephrem the Syrian, Aphrahat the Persian Sage, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Antony, and Pachomius. Through biblical texts, historical sources, geography, and meaningful Aramaic terms, we will discover a Christian world shaped by covenant, prayer, martyrdom, hospitality, monasticism, and the living memory of the biblical lands. Join me as we recover this important chapter of Church history and discover how the Eastern Church carried the Gospel across cultures and toward the nations. Learn more at Twins Biblical Academy: www.twinsbiblicalacademy.com

Acts 9–14 captures the church's transformation from a small, persecuted movement into a bold, Spirit‑driven mission stretching across cultures and continents. Saul's encounter with the risen Jesus turns an enemy into an apostle, Peter's ministry reveals that God welcomes Gentiles without barrier, and the church in Antioch becomes a diverse, generous base for global mission. Paul and Barnabas' first journey then shows the gospel's disruptive power—bringing healing, confrontation, joy, and opposition—as they proclaim Jesus from Cyprus to the cities of Galatia, strengthening new believers and entrusting emerging communities to God's grace.

ACTS 6:1-7 - SPIRIT & WISDOM - BRIAN SUMNER - 2026ACTS 6:1-7  "In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews[ among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith."To support this channel and partner with Brian in Ministryhttps://www.briansumner.net/support/For more on Brianhttp://www.briansumner.nethttps://www.instagram.com/BRIANSUMNER/https://www.facebook.com/BRIANSUMNEROFFICIALTo listen to Brians Podcast, click below.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Purchase Brians Marriage book at https://www.amazon.com/Never-Fails-Da...Brian is a full time "Urban Missionary" both locally and internationally with a focus on MISSIONS - MARRIAGES - MINISTRY. Since coming to faith in 2004 doors continued opening locally and internationally to do more and more ministry with a focus on Evangelism, Outreach Missions, Marriage, Counsel, Schools, Festivals, Conferences and the like.  Everything about this ministry is made possible because of people personally partnering through the non profit. God Bless and thank you. †Support the showSUPPORT THE SHOW

Bearing Christ: St. Ignatius, Modern Martyrs, and the Call to Faithful Witness Release Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026What does it mean to carry God with you into the ordinary, daily moments of your life?In this episode, we explore a moving reflection from Cardinal John Henry Newman's Parochial and Plain Sermonsdetailing the story of St. Ignatius of Antioch. When brought before Emperor Trajan, Ignatius referred to himself as Theophorus ("God-bearer"). He boldly proclaimed that there is only one Creator, that Jesus Christ conquered evil on the cross, and that he carried the living Lord in his very heart.Together, we connect Ignatius's ancient stand to modern-day witnesses like Pastor Wang Yi in China, showing that the chain of faithful witness remains unbroken. We unpack Paul's words in Galatians 2:20 and Colossians 1:27 ("Christ in you, the hope of glory"), discovering how Newman's takeaway applies directly to us today. To close our study, we pray an adapted prayer originally written by Scottish reformer John Knox—found during a daily devotional time—asking God to raise up faithful messengers of His truth.Key Takeaways:The Meaning of Theophorus: How carrying Christ in our hearts defines the identity of every believer.An Unbroken Lineage: Tracing the witness of faith from St. Peter and St. Ignatius down to Pastor Wang Yi today.Christ in You: How Galatians 2:20 and Colossians 1:27 ground our daily lives in the living presence of Jesus.A Historic Closing Prayer: Praying an adaptation of John Knox's 16th-century prayer for faithful evangelists and messengers.Scriptures & Texts Referenced:Galatians 2:20 (Anchor Reading)Colossians 1:27Romans 8:37–391 Peter 3:15Parochial and Plain Sermons by John Henry NewmanAdapted 16th-century prayer by John KnoxReflection Questions for Your Week:Where in your daily routine do you need to remind yourself that you carry Christ (Theophorus)—the hope of glory—within your heart?How does seeing Ignatius before an emperor—or Pastor Wang Yi in prison today—give you courage when you feel isolated in your faith journey?Where in your daily walk might you be tempted to stay silent, rather than bearing gentle witness to the hope within you?How can your words and actions this week glorify God by reflecting Christ's passion, death, and resurrection to someone around you?Share the WordIf this episode encouraged you, please consider sharing it with a friend and leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. New episodes publish weekly!

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF Jaycee Dugard: 18 Years Stolen Special Guest: Paul Holes On June 10, 1991, eleven-year-old Jaycee Dugard was walking toward her school bus stop near her home in Meyers, California, when a car approached. A man emerged, incapacitated her with a stun gun and pulled her into the vehicle. Jaycee's stepfather witnessed the abduction and gave chase, but within moments she was gone. For the next 18 years, Jaycee remained a captive of Phillip and Nancy Garrido, hidden largely in a concealed compound of sheds, tents and makeshift structures behind their Antioch, California, home. She endured years of abuse and gave birth to two daughters while still being held captive. All the while, the outside world continued searching for the little girl who seemed to have vanished without a trace. Then, in 2009, the case broke open in an almost unbelievable way. Garrido's increasingly bizarre behavior brought him to the attention of authorities, eventually leading investigators to question the identities of the young women and girls accompanying him. On August 26, 2009, Jaycee finally revealed who she was. Eighteen years after her kidnapping, Jaycee Dugard had been found alive. This week on Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio revisits the extraordinary investigation into Jaycee's disappearance and recovery with special guest Paul Holes, the legendary cold-case investigator and forensic criminologist whose career has included work on some of California's most notorious crimes. Carolyn and Paul examine the case through an investigator's eyes: the initial abduction, the enormous search for Jaycee, the behavior of Phillip Garrido, and the disturbing opportunities authorities had to discover what was happening years before Jaycee was finally rescued. They explore how a registered sex offender under supervision managed to conceal a kidnapped child on his own property, what investigators can learn from the failures surrounding the case, and how seemingly insignificant observations can ultimately crack an investigation wide open. But this is also a story about something far more important than the people who abducted Jaycee. It is about survival. Jaycee Dugard emerged from eighteen years of captivity, reunited with her family and began the difficult process of reclaiming a life that had been interrupted when she was eleven years old. Her story remains one of the most extraordinary survival stories in modern American criminal history—and an enduring reminder that a missing-person case is never simply a file waiting to be closed. Listen & Follow: Follow Criminal Mischief wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode. Rate & Review: If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review. It remains one of the best ways to help other true-crime listeners discover the show. Watch & Subscribe: Watch Criminal Mischief on the Evio Creative YouTube channel. Subscribe and turn on notifications for new episodes, interviews and investigations. Join the Conversation: Have a case you think Carolyn should investigate? Send your stories and tips to info@eviocreative.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF Jaycee Dugard: 18 Years Stolen Special Guest: Paul Holes On June 10, 1991, eleven-year-old Jaycee Dugard was walking toward her school bus stop near her home in Meyers, California, when a car approached. A man emerged, incapacitated her with a stun gun and pulled her into the vehicle. Jaycee's stepfather witnessed the abduction and gave chase, but within moments she was gone. For the next 18 years, Jaycee remained a captive of Phillip and Nancy Garrido, hidden largely in a concealed compound of sheds, tents and makeshift structures behind their Antioch, California, home. She endured years of abuse and gave birth to two daughters while still being held captive. All the while, the outside world continued searching for the little girl who seemed to have vanished without a trace. Then, in 2009, the case broke open in an almost unbelievable way. Garrido's increasingly bizarre behavior brought him to the attention of authorities, eventually leading investigators to question the identities of the young women and girls accompanying him. On August 26, 2009, Jaycee finally revealed who she was. Eighteen years after her kidnapping, Jaycee Dugard had been found alive. This week on Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio revisits the extraordinary investigation into Jaycee's disappearance and recovery with special guest Paul Holes, the legendary cold-case investigator and forensic criminologist whose career has included work on some of California's most notorious crimes. Carolyn and Paul examine the case through an investigator's eyes: the initial abduction, the enormous search for Jaycee, the behavior of Phillip Garrido, and the disturbing opportunities authorities had to discover what was happening years before Jaycee was finally rescued. They explore how a registered sex offender under supervision managed to conceal a kidnapped child on his own property, what investigators can learn from the failures surrounding the case, and how seemingly insignificant observations can ultimately crack an investigation wide open. But this is also a story about something far more important than the people who abducted Jaycee. It is about survival. Jaycee Dugard emerged from eighteen years of captivity, reunited with her family and began the difficult process of reclaiming a life that had been interrupted when she was eleven years old. Her story remains one of the most extraordinary survival stories in modern American criminal history—and an enduring reminder that a missing-person case is never simply a file waiting to be closed. Listen & Follow: Follow Criminal Mischief wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode. Rate & Review: If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review. It remains one of the best ways to help other true-crime listeners discover the show. Watch & Subscribe: Watch Criminal Mischief on the Evio Creative YouTube channel. Subscribe and turn on notifications for new episodes, interviews and investigations. Join the Conversation: Have a case you think Carolyn should investigate? Send your stories and tips to info@eviocreative.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Kingdom of God turns the world upside down, or should we say “right side up?” What this world thinks is strength, power, and influence flies in the face of how Jesus says the true Kingdom citizen lives. This sermon series looks at Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount to find out what heavenly kingdom lives should look like. Pastor Derrick Lynch begins our series, “The right-side up kingdom,” preaching from Matthew 5:1-12. Notes in this sermon: The Kingdom citizen is weak, dependent, last, and grounded. Visit www.bluevalleychurch.org for more information about Blue Valley Church in Overland Park, Olathe, and Gardner, Kansas.

The story of the early church in Antioch reveals how pluralism can sharpen our faith, diversity can teach us self-denial, proximity to need can cultivate compassion, and pressure can deepen our devotion. Rather than seeing the city as an obstacle to the gospel, we are called to stay planted, love our neighbors, and pray boldly, trusting that God can make difficult places holy ground.

John and Ken Schenck read Galatians 1:11–2:14. They explore Paul's own story, his calling, his years away, his fight with Peter at Antioch, and why Paul tells the Gentiles that taking up the law now isn't going all the way in. It's how you fall from grace.

When Paul and Barnabas come to Antioch in Pisidia, the first place they take the gospel is the synagogue. This is in keeping with Paul's belief that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes; first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. This encounter in Antioch reveals several things about the gospel: It's a fulfillment, it's an offer of forgiveness and freedom, and it's a fork in the road.

Acts 15: This chapter deals with Entrance Requirements for entering the Kingdom of God.   Acts 15:1 tells us what some people are saying in order to be saved: you had to be circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses.    THEN and NOW:  Proclaim God's Goodness -  As we continue on with the next verses we read that Paul and Barnabas dispute what these people are saying. So they head to Jerusalem to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. As they travel to Jerusalem they shared how the Gentiles had been converted to faith and this news made all the believers very glad. Paul and Barnabas keep proclaiming God's goodness to encourage other believers, even in the light of the upcoming meeting/debate in Jerusalem.  Address False Teaching - wrestle for truth and search the scriptures to make sure what we hear is in sync with what the Bible says, and that we are not taking what the Bible says and adding to it or subtracting from it or taking one verse out of context. Acts 15:4-5  they arrive in Jerusalem and share all the Lord was accomplishing. But the Pharisees stand up and say that the Gentiles must be circumcised and were to be required to keep the law of Moses. Then the apostles and elders met to consider the question and search the scriptures. Gospel of Grace Alone -  Acts 15:6-11  Peter addresses the gathering reminding them how the Gentiles had believed in Jesus and had been given the Holy Spirit, too. Then Peter tells them that Jew and Gentile alike are saved ONLY through the grace of Jesus. Laws don't save - they help show us how to live in response to God's incredible love. Unity of the Body -  Acts 15:12-21  we read about the assembly becoming silent as they listen to the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles.  Then James, Jesus half-brother, tells how God intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles as well and quotes from Amos "…and even all the Gentiles who bear my name…"  and he goes on to encourage Jewish believers not to make it difficult for Gentiles who are turning to God. Meaning let's not add additions to the Gospel of Grace. James goes on saying let's encourage them to not offend Jewish believers and thus to abstain from food offered to idols and from sexual immorality, meat from abused animals and blood.  He was teaching both Jew and Gentile to  have respect for one another and not drive each other away from the faith. Letter + Leaders Acts 15:22-32 - They sent out letters of encouragement to the other churches. Spirit-Guided Living - Acts 15:35 Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch where they and others taught and preached the word of the Lord. Flesh vs Spirit - in Galatians 5:19-26 we see the encouragement we need to walk in the Spirit. We are saved by grace and no longer live by the flesh but by the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We are saved by Grace and empowered to be who God has made us, living for Him alone, transformed by the Holy Spirit.   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT: Acts chapter 15-16.      Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Matthew Week 153     Luke 23:20-22 ESV   22 A third time he said to them, "Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him."       John 19:1 ESV   Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him.       Matthew 27:27-30 ESV   Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.             John 19:4-5 ESV   4 Pilate went out again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him." 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!"       John 19:6a ESV   6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!"       Matthew 27:24-26 ESV   24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." 25 And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.       Deuteronomy 21:6-8 ESV   6 And all the elders of that city nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley, 7 and they shall testify, 'Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it shed.8 Accept atonement, O Lord, for your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, and do not set the guilt of innocent blood in the midst of your people Israel, so that their blood guilt be atoned for.'       Genesis 9:6 ESV   6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man,   by man shall his blood be shed,   for God made man in his own image.       Psalm 26:6-7 ESV   I wash my hands in innocence   and go around your altar, O Lord,   7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,   and telling all your wondrous deeds.       John 19:11 ESV   11 Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin."       John 19:16-17a ESV   16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, 17 and he went out, bearing his own cross       Matthew 27:32 ESV (with Mark 15 and Luke 23)   32 As they went out, they found {luke they seized} a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. {mark and luke who was coming in from the country}, {mark the father of Alexander and Rufus} They compelled this man to carry his cross. {luke They laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus}     Acts 2:8-10 ESV   8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome       Acts 11:19-21 ESV   19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.       Romans 16:13 ESV   13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.    

Full Text of Readings Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 130 The Saint of the day is Saint John Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom's Story The ambiguity and intrigue surrounding John, the great preacher (his name means “golden-mouthed”) from Antioch, are characteristic of the life of any great man in a capital city. Brought to Constantinople after a dozen years of priestly service in Syria, John found himself the reluctant victim of an imperial ruse to make him bishop in the greatest city of the empire. Ascetic, unimposing but dignified, and troubled by stomach ailments from his desert days as a monk, Saint John Chrysostom became a bishop under the cloud of imperial politics. If his body was weak, his tongue was powerful. The content of his sermons, his exegesis of Scripture, were never without a point. Sometimes the point stung the high and mighty. Some sermons lasted up to two hours. His lifestyle at the imperial court was not appreciated by many courtiers. He offered a modest table to episcopal sycophants hanging around for imperial and ecclesiastical favors. John deplored the court protocol that accorded him precedence before the highest state officials. He would not be a kept man. His zeal led him to decisive action. Bishops who bribed their way into office were deposed. Many of his sermons called for concrete steps to share wealth with the poor. The rich did not appreciate hearing from Saint John Chrysostom that private property existed because of Adam's fall from grace any more than married men liked to hear that they were bound to marital fidelity just as much as their wives were. When it came to justice and charity, John acknowledged no double standards. Aloof, energetic, outspoken, especially when he became excited in the pulpit, Saint John Chrysostom was a sure target for criticism and personal trouble. He was accused of gorging himself secretly on rich wines and fine foods. His faithfulness as spiritual director to the rich widow, Olympia, provoked much gossip attempting to prove him a hypocrite where wealth and chastity were concerned. His actions taken against unworthy bishops in Asia Minor were viewed by other ecclesiastics as a greedy, uncanonical extension of his authority. Theophilus, archbishop of Alexandria, and Empress Eudoxia were determined to discredit John. Theophilus feared the growth in importance of the Bishop of Constantinople and took occasion to charge John with fostering heresy. Theophilus and other angered bishops were supported by Eudoxia. The empress resented his sermons contrasting gospel values with the excesses of imperial court life. Whether intended or not, sermons mentioning the lurid Jezebel and impious Herodias were associated with the empress, who finally did manage to have John exiled. He died in exile in 407. Reflection Saint John Chrysostom's preaching, by word and example, exemplifies the role of the prophet to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. For his honesty and courage, he paid the price of a turbulent ministry as bishop, personal vilification, and exile.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260911dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. . . “[We] know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.” Galatians 2:11,16 Hard Conversations The apostle Paul had to have a hard conversation with Cephas, better known as the apostle Peter. You know the kind of conversation—the one that puts your stomach in knots and that you'd really rather avoid. Paul had to call Peter out in front of the whole church because Peter’s actions were damaging the church. As more and more Gentiles came to faith in Jesus, cultural questions naturally arose. Did these non-Jewish believers have to follow Jewish customs to belong to the Christian church? Did they have to live like Jews in order to be true Christians? The Bible’s answer is clear: of course not. Yet Peter had stopped eating with Gentile Christians and ate only with Jewish Christians. By his actions, he was sending the message that faith in Jesus was not enough. If you wanted to be a true believer, you needed faith in Christ and obedience to the Old Testament ceremonial laws. Paul saw what was happening and recognized the effect it was having on the other believers. Without hesitation, he confronted Peter. Paul was not concerned about fitting in, hurting feelings, or offending people. He was concerned for the spiritual welfare of the entire church. He recognized Peter’s actions for what they really were: a threat to the very message of forgiveness through faith in Jesus alone. So, Paul reminded them that we are justified—acquitted in God’s courtroom—not by what we do, how we act, or how we live, but solely by what Jesus has done for us. Jesus calls us to confront a brother or sister’s sin not only for that person’s sake, but also for the good of the whole church. When we refuse to have those difficult conversations, our silence can strengthen others in their sin as well. Confronting sin is never easy. Yet God gives his people the privilege and responsibility to have these hard conversations for the greater good of his people. Prayer: Lord Jesus, please keep me mindful of the importance of having hard conversations about sin. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260911dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. . . “[We] know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.” Galatians 2:11,16 Hard Conversations The apostle Paul had to have a hard conversation with Cephas, better known as the apostle Peter. You know the kind of conversation—the one that puts your stomach in knots and that you'd really rather avoid. Paul had to call Peter out in front of the whole church because Peter’s actions were damaging the church. As more and more Gentiles came to faith in Jesus, cultural questions naturally arose. Did these non-Jewish believers have to follow Jewish customs to belong to the Christian church? Did they have to live like Jews in order to be true Christians? The Bible’s answer is clear: of course not. Yet Peter had stopped eating with Gentile Christians and ate only with Jewish Christians. By his actions, he was sending the message that faith in Jesus was not enough. If you wanted to be a true believer, you needed faith in Christ and obedience to the Old Testament ceremonial laws. Paul saw what was happening and recognized the effect it was having on the other believers. Without hesitation, he confronted Peter. Paul was not concerned about fitting in, hurting feelings, or offending people. He was concerned for the spiritual welfare of the entire church. He recognized Peter’s actions for what they really were: a threat to the very message of forgiveness through faith in Jesus alone. So, Paul reminded them that we are justified—acquitted in God’s courtroom—not by what we do, how we act, or how we live, but solely by what Jesus has done for us. Jesus calls us to confront a brother or sister’s sin not only for that person’s sake, but also for the good of the whole church. When we refuse to have those difficult conversations, our silence can strengthen others in their sin as well. Confronting sin is never easy. Yet God gives his people the privilege and responsibility to have these hard conversations for the greater good of his people. Prayer: Lord Jesus, please keep me mindful of the importance of having hard conversations about sin. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

2025.09.18 NCU Chapel Antioch Conference 1 He Calls us Friends