Podcasts about apostle paul

During difficult seasons, we often look for something steady—something that won’t shift beneath us when fear and uncertainty begin to rise. Scripture reminds us that God Himself is our firm foundation, the rock that holds us steady through every storm. His presence never wavers, and His peace never runs dry. Yet God, in His kindness, gives us another gift to help sustain us through life’s challenges: His people. The body of Christ is one of God’s most tangible expressions of care. Through fellow believers, God provides encouragement, prayer, wisdom, and comfort. Sometimes that support comes through a conversation, a message, a shared prayer, or simply someone willing to sit quietly beside us during a hard moment. The Apostle Paul understood the power of this gift. In Philippians 1:3-5, he expresses deep gratitude for the believers who partnered with him in the gospel. Their support strengthened him in his mission and reminded him that he was never alone in his calling. Many of us struggle to ask for help. Vulnerability can feel uncomfortable, and we often try to carry our burdens quietly. But God designed the church so that we would support one another. When we open our hearts and allow others to walk beside us, we experience the strength of a community bound together by Christ. And just as we receive encouragement from others, we are also called to extend that same care to those around us. Gratitude for God’s people naturally leads us to become a blessing ourselves—offering prayer, encouragement, and compassion whenever we can. When we pause to thank God for the people He places in our lives, we recognize that His provision often arrives through the hands and hearts of others. Main Takeaways God is our ultimate foundation and source of strength. The body of Christ is a tangible gift of encouragement and support. Asking for help allows others to serve as God’s hands and feet. Gratitude grows when we recognize how God works through His people. Believers are called to both receive and offer encouragement within the church. Today’s Bible Verse I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. - Philippians 1:3-5 Your Daily Prayer Prayer excerpt for listeners: “Thank You for the people You’ve placed in my life to encourage and strengthen me.” Listen to the full prayer here. To view the prayer in written format, visit the links below. Want More? Relevant Links & Resources Continue growing in faith and encouragement: LifeAudio.com – Christian podcasts and devotionals Crosswalk.com – Daily prayers, articles, and Bible study resources If you enjoyed this devotional, you may also appreciate Keri Eichberger’s book, Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes, available on Amazon and major online retailers. This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.orgTrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. https://trinitycredit.org Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The gospel changes everything. God's good news affects where we will spend eternity and how we live every day. Like the Apostle Paul, we must both know the gospel and make it known to others.  Listen to this overview of the Book of Romans.  Join our study through Scripture this year. Find resources for every book of the Bible at enjoyingthejourney.org/journey-through-scripture/ Whether you're a new believer or have walked with the Lord for years, you'll find thousands of free devotionals, Bible studies, audio series, and Scripture tools designed to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding of the Bible, and help you stay rooted in the Word of God. Explore now at EnjoyingTheJourney.org. Extend the Work Enjoying the Journey provides every resource for free worldwide. If you would like to help extend this Bible teaching, you may give at enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/

It's Thursday, March 12th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Nepal's new government less likely to feature Hindu nationalists Christians in Nepal are cautiously hopeful after recent elections in the Asian country located north of India and which features the Himalayan Mountains including Mount Everest. Youth-led protests toppled the government last year. The new government is poised to feature less Hindu-nationalist parties. Hindu extremists drive most persecution of Christians in Nepal.  One pastor in the country told International Christian Concern, “The [election] results are unexpected. Though the outcome is confusing, we remain hopeful, especially as there appears to be a decline in the influence of pro-Hindu nationalist parties.”  Franklin Graham preached to 90,000 in Lima, Peru Evangelist Franklin Graham shared the Gospel of Christ with over 90,000 people in Lima, Peru over the weekend.  Listen. GRAHAM: “The Bible says, ‘All we, like sheep, have gone astray. Each has turned to his own way.' But man has a problem. That problem is called sin. “Sin is a barrier. It's a wall between you and God, and sin has to be atoned, and the only way is through the shed blood of Jesus, Christ on the cross. “Without Jesus, you have no hope. You cannot save yourself, only the blood of Jesus. “You have a choice tonight.  Jesus said, ‘I'll never leave you nor forsake you.' Will you come to Him tonight?” Thousands responded to the message during the evangelical event. Peru is a predominantly Catholic country. However, the number of Evangelicals has been growing rapidly in the South American country in recent years.  Chile is first country to eliminate leprosy in the Americas Chile recently became the first country in the Americas to officially eliminate leprosy.  The World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization verified the achievement. Chile has not reported any locally acquired cases of the disease for over 30 years.  The World Health Organization noted, “Leprosy, also known as Hansen disease … primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, upper respiratory tract mucosa, and eyes. If untreated, it can lead to permanent nerve damage, disabilities, and social stigma.” U.S. and Ecuador team up to kick drug cartels out The United States and Ecuador launched joint military operations against drug cartels in the South American country last week.  Over a dozen other Latin American countries also plan to cooperate with the U.S. military against drug smuggling operations. U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed these countries during the Shield of Americas Summit in Florida on Saturday. Listen.  HEGSETH: “We don't have to live with communities flooded with drugs or violence or cartels and gangs. We can seal our border, and we have to for our citizens. “We share a hemisphere and geography. We share cultures, Western Christian civilization. We share these things together. We have to have the courage to defend it. We have a Commander-in-Chief in our country who's set that compass heading.” New poll: Don't need to believe in God to be moral Pew Research reports fewer people around the world believe it's necessary to believe in God to be moral. A majority of adults in the United States, Canada, and Europe say it's not necessary to believe in God to be moral and have good values. People in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America are much more likely to say belief in God is necessary for morality.  In the U.S., 31% of adults say it's necessary to believe in God to be moral. That's down from 42% in 2014. Wyoming passes Heartbeat bill Wyoming became the latest state to enact a fetal heartbeat law. Republican Governor Mark Gordon signed the Human Heartbeat Act into law on Monday. This makes Wyoming the fifth state to ban abortions on babies at about six weeks of pregnancy.  If a heartbeat is detected, the baby must be protected. Liberty Counsel noted, “The ‘Human Heartbeat Act' bans abortions after a heartbeat can be detected. However, it does include exceptions for medical emergencies when the mother's life is in danger, or her health is at risk of serious impairment. The law does not include exceptions for rape or incest.” John Newton, former slave ship captain, wrote “Amazing Grace” And finally, this week is the anniversary of John Newton's conversion.  Newton was a captain of slave ships in his early life. While at sea, a severe storm brought him to his spiritual senses. This led to his conversion on March 10, 1748. Newton went on to marry, become a pastor, and work to end the slave trade. Newton is well known for his hymns. Each week he would write a hymn to a familiar tune. Of his hundreds of hymns, he is especially remembered for “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken,” “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds!” and “Amazing Grace.” WINTLEY PHIPPS: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see.” That was sung by Wintley Phipps. Newton wrote his own epitaph for his tombstone which says, “Once an infidel … was by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ preserved, restored, pardoned and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.” Reminds me of the Apostle Paul. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”  Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, March 12th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

The Bible never denied other ‘Gods', it dethroned them is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. Does the Bible Actually Teach There Are “Many Gods”? In this episode, we tackle a question that surprises many Christians: Why does the Bible talk about “many gods”? When people encounter passages like Psalm 82 or Paul's words in 1 Corinthians, it can raise confusion. Does the Bible teach polytheism? Are these “Gods” just idols, metaphors, or something more? Scripture actually presents a much deeper and more supernatural worldview than most believers realize. Throughout the Bible, we see references to real spiritual beings intelligent, powerful, and active in the unseen realm. Some remain loyal to God, while others have rebelled and now oppose His purposes. Yet the Bible is absolutely clear: there is only one true God—eternal, uncreated, and sovereign—and He has revealed Himself fully in Jesus Christ. In this conversation, we walk carefully through the Bible's own language to understand what it means when Scripture refers to “Gods,” the divine council, and the unseen spiritual powers influencing the world today. In this episode, we discuss: • What Psalm 82 reveals about God's divine council • The meaning of the Hebrew word elohim and why it matters • Why Jesus quoted “you are gods” in John 10 • What the Apostle Paul meant by “many gods and many lords” • How Jesus is placed uniquely inside the identity of the one true God • The rebellion of corrupt spiritual powers in Scripture • Why the Bible connects idol worship to real demonic forces • How unseen spiritual powers influence cultures, governments, and systems • Why the biblical worldview is supernatural—but still firmly monotheistic This episode will help you see the Bible's spiritual worldview more clearly and understand why Jesus Christ stands above every power, authority, and spiritual being. No speculation. No mythology. Just the Bible explaining the Bible. Thanks for listening and don’t forget to: Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram Subscribe to our Youtube Channel Follow us on Rumble The RIOT PODCAST is a listener-supported podcast: Donate Now

What does a church with a real testimony actually look like? In Part 5 of our six-part Ephesians series, Pastor Stephen Martin teaches through Ephesians 5, revealing four biblical pillars every Christian must build their life on: guarded purity, resistance to deception, loyalty to the body of Christ, and the courage to expose evil.Listen as Pastor Stephen connects the Apostle Paul's ancient letter to the pressures Christians face right now—from sexual temptation and greed to cultural confusion and division in the church. This episode is as convicting as it is clarifying.You'll Learn:✅ Why purity and deception are directly connected✅ How to identify dividers and unifiers in your church✅ What it means to walk as children of light✅ How remaining planted leads to lasting spiritual fruitPerfect for your commute, workout, or morning routine. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Be honest with yourself - are you living for comfort or a purpose worth giving your life to?Sunday's message explores Acts 20 - 21, where Apostle Paul chooses to continue his mission to Jerusalem even though he knows suffering and imprisonment await him. Through Paul's example, Pastor Toran challenged us to consider whether we are living for comfort or for a purpose worth giving our lives to.Following God's calling can be costly - not only for us, but also sometimes for the people around us. However, it ultimately leads to a life of deeper meaning and impact. ---Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 9AM & 10:45AM.Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what's next! Let us know at https://bit.ly/TLC-i-decided Stay Connected!Website: http://localchurchgr.orgFacebook: http://facebook.com/localchurchgrInstagram: http://instagram.com/localchurchgrWeekly Email Newsletter: https://bit.ly/trendingatTLCVisit & What to Expect: http://localchurchgr.org/expectEvents: http://my.localchurchgr.org/eventsIf you would like to support The Local Church GR's ministry and help us continue reaching people in the Grand Rapids area, click here: https://localchurchgr.org/giveNeed prayer? Please let us know! https://localchurchgr.org/care

Pastor Lance gives an illustration demonstrating the similarities between nurturing a young church and a growing tree, emphasizing care and protection amidst challenges. He recognizes the Apostle Paul's pastoral heart, his experiences with persecution, and the importance of sacrificial love and servant leadership within the Christian community. He highlights how trials strengthen faith and encourages believers to remain steadfast in God's Word.

Today,as we continue our introduction to the book of Epistle to the Philippians, Iwant us to think about the amazing circumstances in which this letter waswritten. When you look at the book of Philippians, you find that it is one ofthe most joyful books in the New Testament. In fact, it overflows withencouragement, gratitude, and rejoicing. Yet the Apostle Paul wrote this letterwhile he was a prisoner in Rome. In chapter 1 of Philippians, you will findthat at least four times he mentions the phrase “my chains”—in verse 7,verse 13, verse 14, and verse 16. Even in the opening chapter of this letter tothe church at Philippi, he keeps referring to “my chains.” Paul isreminding them that he is a prisoner in Rome. Tounderstand how remarkable that is, we need to remember a little about the lifeof the Apostle Paul. When you study his life, you go back to the book of Actsof the Apostles. In chapter 9 you find the story of his conversion. But evenbefore that, in chapter 7, you see Paul standing there when Stephen is beingmartyred. He was one of the instigators of the riot that led to Stephen beingstoned. Then in chapter 8 you find him actively persecuting the church. But inchapter 9 everything changes when he encounters Jesus Christ on the road toDamascus. Yet from that moment forward, his life became a life of hardship andsacrifice for the sake of the gospel. Soonafter his conversion, while still in Damascus, he began preaching the gospel.But when he preached, he made many people angry. In fact, there was a plot tokill him there in Damascus, and he had to be lowered down in a basket over thecity wall to escape. Later, in the city of Lystra during his first missionaryjourney in Acts 13, he was stoned by a mob and left for dead.InPhilippi, he and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison.InThessalonica, a riot broke out because of his preaching.InAthens, the philosophers mocked him.InCorinth, he was dragged before the Roman authorities.InEphesus, a massive riot broke out that threatened his life.Againand again, Paul faced opposition, persecution, danger, and suffering for thesake of Christ. Yethere he is, writing from prison to the church at Philippi. And in verse 12 hesays something remarkable:“ButI want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me haveactually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.” In other words, Paulwas saying, “What has happened to me has actually helped the gospel spread.” Evenin his imprisonment he found opportunities to tell people about Jesus Christ.Roman guards were hearing the gospel. Other believers were becoming more boldin their witness. The message of Jesus Christ was advancing. Paulhad learned to see his circumstances through the lens of God's purposes. Insteadof asking, “Why is this happening to me?” Paul asked, “How can God use this forHis glory and for the spread of the gospel?” That perspective is what filledhis heart with joy. The book of Philippians reminds us that joy is notdetermined by our circumstances. Circumstances change constantly. Some days aregood, and some days are difficult. Some seasons of life bring blessings, whileothers bring great trials. So our joy cannot be based on changingcircumstances.Todaywe need to remember this simple truth: Real joy is not found in perfectcircumstances. Real joy is found in trusting a perfect Savior. And that is thekind of joy the book of Philippians will teach us about as we study it togetherover the next few weeks. Godbless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.

In this message, Pastor Woody Morwood shares a powerful teaching from 2 Corinthians 9:6–8, exploring the biblical heart behind generosity, stewardship, and joyful giving.Through a moving personal story from 1991—when he lived with a Christian family in the former Soviet Union—Pastor Woody illustrates what sacrificial generosity truly looks like. Despite living with very little, this family demonstrated deep joy and faith by giving generously out of what they had. Their example becomes a living picture of the kind of generosity the Apostle Paul encourages in his letter to the church in Corinth.This message reminds us that biblical generosity is not primarily about money—it's about the posture of our hearts as followers of Jesus.Paul teaches that believers are called to live with three key attitudes:1. Generously Our generosity reflects God's own generosity toward us. Every good gift comes from Him, and when we trust His provision, we can live open-handedly rather than fearfully.2. Joyfully God loves a cheerful giver. Giving should not come from guilt, pressure, or obligation, but from gratitude for the grace we've received through Jesus.3. Willingly Everything we have ultimately belongs to God. We are not owners but stewards, entrusted with resources to participate in God's work in the world.Pastor Woody challenges believers to take a step forward in their generosity journey—from nothing, to something, to consistent giving, and ultimately toward sacrificial generosity that reflects trust in God's faithfulness.The message concludes with an opportunity for the congregation to respond together through prayer, connection, and participation in giving.Resources & Scriptures MentionedBible Passages2 Corinthians 9:6–82 Corinthians 9:72 Corinthians 9:102 Corinthians 8:2–52 Corinthians 8:8–92 Corinthians 8:11–12James 1:17John 3:16Mark 12:41–44 (Widow's Offering)Luke 21:1–4Psalm 24:1Psalm 112:9Genesis 1–22 Corinthians 6:1Biblical Locations ReferencedCorinthMacedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica)For the full gathering of this message which includes worship, visit our Youtube channel. Stay Connected With Hillside Community Church.Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/c/HillsideCommunityChurchInstagram | https://www.instagram.com/hillsidechurches/Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/hillsidechurchesWebsite | https://hillsidechurches.com

In this powerful message, Pastor Jarrod Walls challenges the modern church to wake up from comfort and step into a life of active, relentless love. Drawing from the Apostle Paul's two years under house arrest in Acts 28, Pastor Jarrod asks a hard-hitting question: Are you willing to be a blessing to others, even if you remain in the struggle?Explore the true meaning of prophecy, the importance of servant leadership, and how God can use our most difficult circumstances—just like Paul's chains—to boldly proclaim the Kingdom of God. If you've been on the fence about getting involved in God's mission, this message is your call to step up to the plate and show the world what a "love that just won't quit" truly looks like.

gets thrown around a lot but is rarely understood in its full weight: hypocrisy.We aren't just looking at the modern definition; we are diving deep into the biblical anatomy of a hypocrite. From the scathing rebukes of the Gospels to the convicting insights of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, we'll explore the dangerous gap between outward appearance and inward reality. What does it actually mean to "wear the mask," and how does the Word of God challenge us to strip it away?

We all tend to measure ourselves by what we have, who we belong to, or what we accomplish. From humble brags to competing for recognition, our hearts constantly look for reasons to boast. But in Romans 3:27-31, the Apostle Paul dismantles every reason for pride by reminding us that salvation is not earned, but received. Because we are justified by faith apart from works, there is no room for pride. The gospel humbles us, levels us, and redirects our boasting away from ourselves and toward Jesus. In this passage, Paul shows that saving faith is also changing faith. The same grace that saves our souls reshapes how we see ourselves, how we see others, and how we live before God. In this message you'll learn: - Why the gospel completely eliminates pride and boasting - How faith reorients our identity away from performance - Why the gospel unites all people under one God and one way of salvation - How faith helps us see others as image bearers of God who need a Savior - Why justification by faith doesn't abolish the law but fulfills its purpose

In this week's PODCAST, let's take a little trip to the not-so-little Antonia Fortress, where Jesus and now Paul stood trial for their lives. Thank you for listening, and for sharing this message!!! Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it may take up to 60 seconds for this podcast to begin to play. God bless you richly as you listen.

Romans is the Apostle Paul's fullest and clearest treatise on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Throughout history, this letter has opened eyes, awakened hearts, and set movements in motion. It's both profoundly theological and deeply personal, revealing the truth about God, humanity, and salvation. John Stott rightly called Romans a manifesto of freedom in Christ - a freedom that remakes our lives, forms us into God's people, and sends us as witnesses of Jesus in the world.

When we read the epistles of St. Paul, we are mainly reading letters written by an Apostle to former pagans. These were people who had grown up in the world of the Roman Empire. It was a world of great military power and of amazing engineering feats, but also one of great decadence.These people were not just used to leading immoral lives; leading such lives was a way of life. In other words, it was considered normal behavior to be immoral. By this, I mean getting drunk, committing fornication, seeking after riches, and so on.Then, this Jewish man named Paul came into their lives, explaining to them that God Himself came down upon this earth and that He taught what we are made for, He redeemed us from our sins, and He showed us how we must live our lives in order to get to Heaven.Many of these pagans converted and, when they did, they completely changed their lives. They stopped living as pagans in the Roman Empire and started living as Catholics.At the same time, they still had to struggle greatly against their old habits, particularly the habit of impurity. It is striking that, in today's epistle and in last Sunday's epistle, the Church wants us to read St. Paul exhorting these former pagans to fight against impurity.We are Catholics living 2,000 years later, we are in the middle of the penitential season of Lent, and the Church wants us to hear these words of the Apostle Paul to help us make that same fight against sins of the flesh that the first Catholics were doing.Today, I would like us to hear some words of these two epistles about impurity, to understand what they mean, and also to understand why it is so important to fight impurity.

In this episode, we explore a powerful moment from the Book of Acts where the Apostle Paul shows what it means to choose love over outrage. Through persecution, false accusations, and conflict, Paul demonstrates how followers of Jesus can respond with grace, courage, and truth in a divided world.

What's the difference between religious performance and genuine faith? In this week's message from Grand Point Church, we walk through Romans 2:17–29 — one of the most uncomfortable and convicting passages in all of Paul's letters. The Apostle Paul confronts the religious insiders of his day with a bold accusation: their outward religiosity was actually making things worse. Paul identifies four destructive patterns of religiosity — smugness, over-sensitivity, judgmentalism, and hypocrisy — and then uses the imagery of circumcision to make a radical point: God is after the heart, not the badge.Whether you've been a church-going believer for decades or you're brand new to faith, this message will challenge you to examine not just what you do as a Christian, but who you are when no one's watching.Show Notes:Key Scripture:Romans 2:17–24 — Paul's indictment of religious hypocrisyRomans 2:25–29 — Circumcision of the heart vs. outward signsColossians 2:11–12 — What happens spiritually when you come to ChristKey Themes:The danger of religiosity vs. genuine faithFour fruits of religiosity: smugness, over-sensitivity, judgmentalism, hypocrisyThe meaning of "circumcision of the heart" (Romans 2:29; Colossians 2:11)Seven markers of genuine, transformed faithThe prodigal son — and why both sons needed the Father's graceResource Referenced:Romans for You by Tim KellerHow Leaders Lose Their Way by Peter GreerNext Steps:Examine your faith honestly — Work through the seven markers of genuine faith mentioned in this message. Ask someone who knows you well if they see evidence of Christ's transformation in your life.Consider baptism — If you've trusted Christ but haven't been baptized, baptism is the next step of obedience. Reach out at grandpoint.church to learn more.Come home — Whether you've drifted into religiosity or walked away from faith entirely, the Father's door is open. Take a step toward Him this week.Connect with Grand Point Church:

What a meaningful morning of worship together at Little Flock as Pastor Nate continued our journey through Romans 9 and reminded us of a powerful truth:Do you believe the promise?God's family is not defined by who we know, what we've done, or the effort we bring. It is defined by His sovereign grace and His unfailing promise to save.In Romans 9, the Apostle Paul points us to the reality that salvation doesn't come through lineage, personal effort, or merit. It comes through God's promise alone. Just as God brought life to Sarah's barren womb, He brings spiritual life where there was once only death. And just as He chose Jacob before he was even born, God is still actively drawing people to Himself today—perhaps even someone in your life.The beautiful truth of the gospel is this:God doesn't wait for us to seek Him—He seeks us.He is calling, wooing, and drawing people to salvation even now.So how should we respond?We live lives marked by holiness and godliness, and we share the hope of Jesus with the people around us. Our witness isn't about perfection—it's about humble obedience and a life transformed by Christ.God is still building His kingdom. He is patient, not wanting any to perish.The question for each of us is simple:Will we join Him in reaching the lost?#GodsPromise #Romans9 #SalvationByGrace #LittleFlock #LiveHoly

You are very important to God. It does not matter who you are or what you have gone through, God has a plan to use you as a key part of His kingdom. Many of us may not see how everything unfolds, but we can trust that He knows our past, present, and future, and He knows how to put us in the right place at the right time. Your life has a destiny, and God wants to use everything about you to accomplish His will.In his letter to the church in Thessaloniki, the Apostle Paul encourages believers to develop a heart for ministry. This is not a call reserved for pastors or missionaries; it is for every person who follows Christ. As we explore 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, the Holy Spirit will give us clarity on how to apply God's Word to our lives today, reminding us that we are deeply significant to His eternal plan.

What does it really mean to be in Christ?In this powerful teaching series from Central City Assembly, Pastor Kai walks verse-by-verse through the book of Ephesians to help believers understand their true identity in Jesus, the transforming power of the gospel, and how to live with purpose every day.The phrase “in Christ” changes everything. It speaks to who we are, what we've been given, and how we're called to live. In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul reveals the spiritual blessings we have in Christ, the grace that saves us, the unity of the Church, and the practical call to walk in holiness, love, and spiritual strength.Whether you're new to faith, exploring Christianity, or a long-time believer wanting deeper spiritual growth, In Christ will anchor your heart in the gospel and equip you to walk confidently in who Jesus says you are.Reflection Questions:When pressure rises in my life, what name do I instinctively look to for peace and security?What identity, influence, or cultural promise am I tempted to wear alongside—or instead of—Christ?If following Jesus became socially costly tomorrow, would my allegiance remain the same?What would it practically look like this week for me to live fully and boldly in Christ?

Remember, as we were studying the book of Ephesians, we talked about how firstwe need to know that we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places. We arein Christ. We are blessed with all the spiritual blessings of heaven right nowin Christ. Then we learned that we need to walk in purity—walk in love—walk ina way that identifies us as true followers of Christ. Third, we need to be ableto stand against the wiles of the devil. In three words: Sit, Walk, Stand. NowPaul concludes this book with this final word by saying to us today that “gracebe to those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen”. It'sfitting that the Apostle Paul ends this letter with the word grace, becausegrace is the foundation of the entire Christian life. In fact, if you remember,Paul began this letter the same way in Ephesians 1:2: “Grace to you andpeace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” As a matter of fact,if you read all of Paul's epistles, every one of them begins with this wordgrace, and every one ends with this word grace. ExperiencingGod's grace is very important. Grace is often defined as God's unmerited favortoward us. It's grace that saved us when we trusted in Christ. It's grace thatsustains us throughout life. And it's grace that one day will bring us safelyinto the presence of God in heaven. I've often said that, “Grace is God givingme everything I need to live the Christian life, which includes the desire, thewill, the power, and the ability to always do those things that please Him!  ButPaul adds a very important description here. He says, “This grace belongs tothose who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.” The word translatedsincerity carries the idea of something that is incorruptible—unfading. Itdescribes a love that is genuine, pure, and lasting. In other words, Paul isnot talking about a temporary emotional feeling. True love for Christ is fardeeper than that. It is a sincere devotion that remains steady throughout everyseason of life. Our love for Christ should not be sentimental or shallow. Ourlove should be rooted in truth, grounded in faith, and demonstrated inobedience. Rememberwhen the Lord was restoring Peter in John 21. He asked him three times, “Do youlove me?” And Peter replied, “You know that I love you.” The Lord responded tohim each time with three simple instructions: First Jesus said, “Feed mylambs.” Secondly, “Tend my sheep.” The third time He said, “Feedmy sheep.” He is not asking us to stand in a garden with a sword and fightthe enemies of Jesus. No, He is asking us to feed His lambs—to care for Hischildren—to make sure they are growing. He calls us to join Him in sharing Hislove and caring for the believers around us. Something very simple!!! When wesincerely love the Lord, Jesus said it this way in John 14:21 says, “He thatloves me will keep my commandments.” That's the proof. We obey Him. We joinHim in what He is doing. AsPaul closes the book, he intentionally uses the full title: our Lord JesusChrist. Each part of that name reminds us who He is. He is Lord—the one who hasthe final authority over our lives. He is Jesus—the Savior who rescued us fromour sins. He is Christ—the promised Messiah of God. Oh, my friend, when wetruly understand who Jesus is, our love for Him should grow stronger and deeperevery day. So, Paul ends this powerful letter by leaving us with our eyes fixedon Jesus. Yes, this grace is for those who love our Lord Jesus Christ withsincerity. TheChristian life really is all about a relationship with Jesus Christ—every daytaking time to spend time with Him in His Word, in prayer, in communion. Beingon mission with Him—feeding and loving His sheep, taking care of others, andsharing the good news with those who do not know Him. My friend, those who loveHim with a sincere, enduring heart will experience the grace of God throughoutthe entire journey of faith. And that grace will lead us all the way home. 

What Are Your Goals?  -  English only.  We all have goals in life. The Apostle Paul made a list that seems unusual to many followers of Messiah. Based on Philippians chapter 3.  Recorded January 29, 2026.

In Galatians 1:1–9, the Apostle Paul writes to the young churches in Galatia to confront a serious threat to the gospel. Not long after these churches were planted during Paul's first missionary journey, false teachers had begun distorting the message of salvation by adding human works to the grace of Christ. Paul responds with urgency, reminding believers that the true gospel is founded on justification by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. This passage reveals that the gospel is not something we improve, modify, or add to. Christ gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, and salvation is entirely the work of God's grace. Any message that adds human effort or religious requirements to the finished work of Christ is not the gospel at all—it is a dangerous distortion that must be rejected.

Living With Christ — Review of Lesson #11 of the 1st Quarter of 2026 -The Sabbath School Lesson study guide can be found here:— https://ssnet.org/lessons/26a/less11.html— https://www.adultbiblestudyguide.org/archives— https://sabbath-school.adventech.io/enThe title of this quarter's theme is: Uniting Heaven and EarthFor the next 13 weeks (January to March 2026), we will look at two important letters that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians and the Philippians.  In them, we will see what the Apostle writes concerning Christ and Him crucified.Related Podcasts:— Introduction to Introduction to the Writings of Paul— The Purpose of the Church— Unity in Christ— Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?— Christ, Humanity and Salvation— The Divinity of Jesus ChristRelated Podcasts at TrueWisdom:— If Christ is NOT risen...— Revelations of the Godhead— Why Hasn't Christ Returned Yet - Part 1— Why Hasn't Christ Returned Yet - Part 2 Text UsSupport the showSend questions or comments to: BibleQuestions@ASBzone.comThe Key Principles of Effective Bible Study is a resource which outlines core concepts shown in the Scriptures that will help you to better understand many Biblical themes and doctrines. We have an extended, 24-part podcast series on these principles, and a condensed, 9-part series called God's Precious Word, that is based on the same resource. We also recommend that you check out the True Wisdom podcast which I co-host with Robert Baker -- a different format for Bible Study. Finally, check out these awesome Bible Maps! We pray that all of these resources will be very helpful to you in your Bible Studies.

Sometimes – we're just living life the best way we know how, honouring God and Whammo, something so unfair hits us – right out of the blue.  You've been there too, right?   His Way, Not Ours There are times in life when bad things happen to good people. And perhaps you are someone who believes in Jesus and you have been living your life just the best way that you know how; just day after day walking with Him and all of a sudden "Whamo"; something happens. The sky turns dark and all of a sudden you are in one of those dark, black times that we can go through in life. A time of loss or pain or sickness or whatever it is and you kind of look around and think, "What is going on here, God? I mean I know I'm not perfect but every day I just get up and just do my best and I walk with You and now this!" My hunch is that there are a few people who kind of relate to that today. And so I want to deal with that because when bad things happen to good people, it's such a shock – it seems so unfair, especially when we take a look around and we see there is a whole bunch of "good" things happening to some really 'bad' people out there. "What is going on, God?" Well, over these last few weeks on the programme we have been just working our way through Psalm 34 in a series that I've called, "Dark Night, Bright Light". Psalm 34 is a Psalm written by King David and King David was a man who went through more dark times in his life than you or I would ever hope for. And yes, he makes some mistakes but right from the beginning God had him picked as a man after His own heart. And yet David lived through so many dark and difficult times; scary times; on the run for his life from King Saul who wanted to kill him, for years; battles with enemies and it looked like he would lose and yet, God would show up. When you take a look at his life and you weigh David's life on our human scale of justice, well, you come to the conclusion David was definitely one of the good guys. He tried with all his might to honour God and even though some days, he blew it, he was probably the greatest King that Israel ever had. And I'm sure that as David would take a look at his life, he'd probably come to the same conclusion. And yet this man went through so many difficult things – dark and lonely times – times when his people criticised him and times when he was in fear of his life. So God, what's going on? Why is that? How come bad things happen to good people? I'm not sure I can answer all of those things. I mean, God is God and He decides those things but as we continue to walk through Psalm 34, let me share with you David's own wisdom on this, because Psalm 34 is a Psalm where he looks back on all those bad times and he reflects with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. Let's pick it up in Psalm 34, verse 15, he writes: The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil to cut off their memory from the earth. The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him from them all. Well, David doesn't even bother with the "why" question here, does he? When we hit those dark times the first question we want to know is 'Why me, God? Why is this happening? Right? And the second question is: "How long is this going to go on, God – how long?" Well, David doesn't carry on with any of that. He seems in this Psalm to accept the sovereignty of God and after all that he has been through in his life, he draws this obvious conclusion – Psalm 34, verse 19: Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all. In other words, stuff happens – it just does. Jesus put it this way: Your Father in heaven causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and He sends the rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Good stuff and bad stuff happens to good people and bad people – there you go, that's just it. And it seems to be a rule that the more a man or a woman turns their lives to following hard after God, walking in the footsteps of Jesus, the more afflictions they suffer. It's such an incredible contradiction because on the one hand, God wants to bless us – He does – all the way through His Word the Bible, He tells us that. But on the other, when we set our hearts like flint to follow Him, it seems like the rest of the world wants to stop us. Many are the afflictions of the righteous. "Many" – gee, there's one of the promises of God! I don't hear many people shouting, "Halleluiah, Amen" to that promise. But the Lord delivers us from them all. His eyes are on His people; His ear is attentive to their cry. We cry out, He hears us and He delivers us from our troubles. You know what I have learned? He doesn't always deliver us in the way that we expect Him to. Sometimes we want Him to do one thing and He does exactly the opposite. Sometimes we cry out to Him and things seem to get worse. Sometimes we want Him to do "A" and He turns around and does "B". And sometimes it seems like His solution; His answer means that we lose and someone else wins. But in the wondrous fabric of His mighty plan for our lives, He is so much more interested in our characters – who we are – and our relationship with Him than He is in our perceptions of what we think we need and our comfort. He is so much more concerned about His glory shining out into this world than He is about some of the things that at the time, well, we think they are important but in the bigger scheme of things, they really aren't. The Apostle Paul puts it this way in Romans chapter 5: Suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope and this hope doesn't disappoint us because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. And the longer we walk with God the more afflictions we have to suffer, the more we discover the truth of King David's words: Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all.   It's not Fair You know when I think when the darkness is the worst? I think when something happens to us that's not fair – someone treads on us or hurts us or stabs us in the back and it's not fair. And when that happens, instead of running to God, we are so tempted to behave badly – to stoop as low as the person that has hurt us. If they stabbed us in the back, well, we have to do the same only ten times worse. Many are the afflictions of the righteous and we will avenge them all, right? No, that's not what God tells us in Psalm 34: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, He says in verse 19, but the Lord delivers us from them all. But boy, oh boy, it is so tempting to carve the other guy's heart out isn't it? I want to take you to one of the most challenging verses in the Bible, for me – I mean, really challenging. It's talking about when things happen that are not fair and it's about a slave and his or her master. It was written a thousand or so years after King David penned Psalm 34, by the Apostle Peter. Come with me almost to the end of the New Testament – to the letter, First Peter – it's a letter to Christians who were being persecuted. They were going through incredibly dark times; it was incredibly unfair, and Peter writes this piece of wisdom. First Peter chapter 2, verse 18 and listen, if you have a Bible, open it up, come with me here to this verse – First Peter chapter 2, verse 18. This is what he writes: Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect. Not only to those who are good and considerate but also to those who are harsh, for it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God but how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. This is what you are called to because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps. He committed no sin and no deceit was found in His mouth. When they hurled insults at Him, He didn't retaliate. When He suffered, He made no threats, instead, He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly. He, Himself bore our sins in His body on that tree so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness: by His wounds you have been healed. For you, like sheep, have gone astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and the overseer of your souls. Do you find that challenging? I certainly do. See there's something in our makeup that when injustice happens to us; when we are on the receiving end, we want to rail against it and in the hurt and the pain and the anger – we want revenge, we want justice ... Peter is writing to slaves – I mean, slavery is something in the twenty first century, we just find disgusting and abhorrent and yet here in God's Word, Peter is writing to slaves - one human being, being owned by another human being, to labour without payment – human degradation at its worst. How can one person do that to another? And yet Peter says: "Submit to your masters who are harsh." Slave, submit to your masters with all respect. Not only to those who are good and considerate but also to those who are harsh, for it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. See, travelling through pain, we want to end that pain in our own strength – it is a natural human instinct. It is so unnatural to honour God in that place. It is so unnatural to wait for Him to deliver us. It is so unnatural for us to do what is commendable in God's eyes but if you suffer for doing good and you endure it this is commendable before God. To this you are called because Christ suffered for you; leaving you an example that you should follow in His footsteps. It is unnatural to suffer for doing good but it is commendable before God and in that, Christ is our example. He committed no sin and no deceit was found in His mouth and yet when they hurled insults at Him, He didn't retaliate. When He suffered, He made no threats instead He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly. See – insults and He didn't retaliate! Imagine what the Son of God could have done to those people? When they hurled insults at Him, He bore them like nails in His flesh; when He suffered, He didn't make any threats; He didn't utter any words of revenge. And you might say, "Berni, how can you be preaching this stuff at me? How can you believe this stuff? This is so hurtful." Well, the answer and the solution come in the very next verse. Listen: Instead, He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly. There it is again – a millennium after Psalm 34 was written, Peter is saying exactly the same thing that David said in Psalm 34, verse 19: Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all. So many of the things that happen to us in life aren't fair but in that darkness God's light shines; a certain hope. Look at how Peter finishes off this letter: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore, under God's might hand that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.   God's Deliverance I just want to finish up today by encouraging you that God is in the deliverance business. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, Peter writes in First Peter chapter 5, beginning at verse 5: Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you. You know, for me as I have travelled through these incredibly dark times, every now and then, when I have been treated unfairly – what I have learned is that it is not about getting my outcome or my way – it's about humbling myself before God and that is so hard sometimes. It's about being like Christ and saying, "God, not my will but Your will be done." And God somehow always, always comes through and so do I, but as a changed man. A few more of the rough edges knocked off; a little of God's polishing here and there – definitely a work in progress but it changes you, little by little. When we are passed over; when we are being ignored; when someone who is half as good as us is promoted twice as quickly; when people whisper behind our backs, those are painful times. Yet they are precious times when we have a choice to make – to get our own back or to humble ourselves under His mighty hand; to retaliate and threaten or to wait patiently in pain for God to deliver us like He did with Jesus; to be like everyone else in this world or to be Christ like - to be about the devil's business or about God's business. We started off today looking at this wonderful part of Psalm 34, beginning at verse 15: The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth. The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and He saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all. You see, God's eyes are on the righteous; He does hear our cries. And God is a righteous God – we are going to look at that next week. God is against those who do evil and ultimately, there will be a price for those people to pay. One day they will stand before God and be judged. When we cry out God hears us and He delivers us from our troubles. When we are broken hearted; when it's so dark and it's so lonely and it's so scary, He is in that place. And even sometimes when we can't see it, He's out there protecting us; keeping us safe; doing things that we can't imagine. Take a look back a page or two at Psalm 31, beginning at verse 20. See, this is one of those times that David is talking about that is so unfair. This is what he writes: In the shelter of Your presence You hide them from the intrigues of men. In Your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues. Praise be to the Lord our God, for He showed His wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city. In my alarm I said "I am cut off from Your sight," yet You heard my cry for mercy when I called to You for help. Love the Lord all His saints. The Lord preserves the faithful but the proud He will pay back in full. Be strong and take heart all you that hope in the Lord. Isn't that wonderful? Isn't it sometimes when we are the subject of the intrigues of men and accusing tongues, it's God who keeps us safe in Him? And when we come through that and we see what's happened and we are changed, we can look back and say, "Praise be to God for He showed His wonderful love to me when I felt like I was in a besieged city." Have you ever felt that? In relationships it's like everyone turns against you and you feel like you are under siege. Praise be to the Lord for He showed His wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city. In alarm I said "I am cut off from Your sight" yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. So often in those dark places it just kind of feels like there is no one there. It feels like "I'm cut off" – we are afraid and we cry out "I'm cut off" but God is always in that place. Can I just say to you from now on, when you are suffering afflictions; when you are the subject of human plots or accusing tongues; when you are in that incredibly dark place; when you feel cut off like a city under siege; when it's black, I believe that the Holy Spirit is going to shine a light into that dark place. I remember back in my life when it hurt so much and it was so dark, I just quietly sat there in pain and somehow the Holy Spirit turned my heart to humble myself. See, I was so used to lashing out – I was so used to stooping as low as the other people who were inflicting the pain and yet the Holy Spirit did something. And I believe that as we receive His Word today, the Holy Spirit is going to speak His Word, this Word into your heart, one day, just when you need it. Just when you feel like a city under siege; just when you are in that dark place, this beautiful Word that we have looked at in Psalm 34 and Psalm 31 and First Peter chapters 3 and 5, this is the very Word of God. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all. I don't know about you but some days are really rotten. You know, we go along; we do; we live our lives just the best way we can and something comes out of the blue and it's so unfair and you know, it's so unexpected and it hurts and it's scary. And dark nights – well, they are so dark aren't they? They are so lonely and often so painful but in that dark night there is a bright light and it's a light that shines when we put our trust in Jesus Christ – the same Jesus who suffered a scandalous death on the cross; a death that was unfair; a death that He didn't deserve. When they hurled insults at Him; when they beat Him and when ... He just took it. He just humbled Himself because He knew there was a purpose; He knew that He would have to die for you and me. When we put our faith in that Jesus to deliver us in His time and His way, He will. See, we can have faith in Jesus from a distance; you know, we can believe in Him with our heads from a long way off but that sort of belief is pretty useless when you get to one of those dark nights. Because Jesus never meant for us to have Him at arm's length; He never meant for us to believe in Him just with our heads; He never meant for us to say, "Well, yea, I have an insurance policy", He meant to be part of our lives. And when we believe Him with our lives – do you know what that means? It means in those dark times when people are doing bad things to us, not lashing out in pain. It means saying, "You know, I'm not going to do the thing that comes naturally, which is wrong, I'm going to humble myself; I am going to believe in Jesus' deliverance with my life and just sit here and be like Christ – not like the rest of the world." When we believe like that with our lives; when we put our lives on the line and honour Him in those times of affliction, that's when He shows up. For God opposes the proud but He gives grace to the humble. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all. May He bless you as you receive His Word, today?

The Apostle Paul gave a reminder that anyone in Christ is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17); in short, na-reboot na. And we have to intentionally live a Spirit-filled life, living peaceably with everyone. All Rights Reserved, CBN Asia Inc.https://www.cbnasia.com/giveSupport the show

As we continue this sermon series through the Gospel of Mark, Pastor Glenn Lawson covers the text where Jesus enters the temple and chases out corruption. As the Apostle Paul explains in 1 Corinthians, Christians are now the temple where the Holy Spirit dwells. Glenn invites everyone to allow God to clear that temple of corruption and take up residence.

Many people find themselves trapped in works-based religion, believing they must earn their way to God through good deeds, rituals, or self-improvement. The Apostle Paul reveals a radical alternative in Romans 9:30-33: the gift of faith in Jesus Christ. Unlike works-based approaches that operate from the outside up through rule-following, true Christianity works from the inside out as the Holy Spirit transforms hearts and minds. Jesus offers rest from the exhausting cycle of trying, failing, and feeling guilty. Instead of earning God's approval through performance, believers can rest in Christ's finished work and live from a place of acceptance rather than striving.

Todaywe come to Ephesians 6:23, where the Apostle Paul finishes this letter with abeautiful blessing: “Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from Godthe Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” First,Paul speaks about “peace to the brethren”. Earlier in the letter,remember in Ephesians 2:13-17, the Apostle Paul wrote about this: “But nowin Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the bloodof Christ. For He Himself is our peace... And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off andto those who were near.” Jesus Christ Himself is our peace. Remember,this peace comes in two ways as far as the believer is concerned. First, wehave “peace with God”. Romans 5:1 says: “Therefore being justified by faith,we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Also inEphesians 2:8-9 we read: “For by grace are you saved through faith, and thatnot of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man shouldboast.” We are justified. We are made right before a holy God. We have aright standing before Him. We are without guilt, without shame, and without theburden of sin when we stand before God. Why? Because we have peace with God byfaith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Thenthere is another kind of peace. As believers we can experience the “peace ofGod”. Philippians 4:6 says: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything byprayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known toGod; and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guardyour hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” This is the peace of God thatcomes when we commit and yield everything we are facing—our circumstances, oursituations, and our lives—to the Lord Jesus Christ. We give it over to Him. Thenin Philippians 4:9, Paul says: “And the God of peace will be with you.” Whenwe do the things Paul instructed the believers in Philippi to do—when wemeditate on the right things and live according to the truth—then we can havethe confidence and assurance that the God of peace is with us. Myfriend, peace comes first. After that, notice Paul mentions “love with faith”.Three powerful words: peace, love, and faith. Faith and love belongtogether. Love is the source, and faith is the strength that sustains theChristian life. Love reaches down from God to us. Faith reaches up from us toGod. Love provides everything we need. Faith takes hold of what God hasprovided. Throughout this book, the Apostle Paul repeatedly emphasizes thesetruths. We are saved by faith, and then we are called by faith to walk in love,just as Christ loved us. Noticealso something very important: these blessings come from God the Father and theLord Jesus Christ. Every spiritual blessing originates with God. Peace does notcome from circumstances. Love does not come from human effort alone. Faith isnot something we produce in our own strength. These gifts flow from ourrelationship with God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is thesource. Jesus is the source of every spiritual blessing. Itis remarkable that the Apostle Paul was writing these words while sitting in aRoman prison. From a worldly perspective, his circumstances looked verydiscouraging. Yet Paul spoke about peace, love, and faith. Why? Because hisconfidence and his joy were not rooted in his surroundings. They were rooted inthe unchanging character of God. Ohmy friend, that is the same way it should be for us today. No matter what weface in life, our peace, our love, and our faith come from the Lord Himself andfrom our daily relationship with Him. As we dive into His Word, as we take timeto meditate on who He is and what He is doing for us right now—“ever living tomake intercession for us”—we can experience that peace.  Godbless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful, peaceful day.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      If you want crazy results you gotta train with crazy people. If you wanna be rich you gotta hang out with rich people, if you want to be smart you gotta hang out with smart people and if you want to be Godly… you guessed it - and thats where we are going today.      My Granddaughter has one functioning kidney…  Since birth, her non-functonal left kidney has had fluid surrounding it. They've monitored it because if it gets to be any more, she has risk for infection or something more serious.    Today, for the first time, our urologist said that the dilation around that kidney was GONE.    They don't wanna see her again until she's 13!   BUT UNDERSTAND LIFE IS SHORT Life is short Olympics is years for seconds. The 100 meter dash, years of training, dieting, working out, stretching, overcoming injuries, saying no to normal life activities - all for less than 10 seconds…  I run the race to finish (Apostle Paul) life is short! The training isn't for life, its for eternity.      THE LAST DANCE  Key Quotes and Descriptions:  Jud Buechler: "People were afraid of him... The fear factor of MJ was so, so thick". Will Perdue: "Let's not get it wrong: He was an a--hole... He was a jerk. He crossed the line numerous times". Horace Grant: "It was a bully approach... If you didn't confront Mike, he would ride you every day, all day, all the time". Scottie Pippen: "He Couldn't Have Been More Condescending If He Tried". Steve Kerr: Regarding their practice fight, Kerr noted that Jordan "tested everybody he played with”. BJ Armstrong: "Was he a nice guy? He couldn't have been nice. With that kind of mentality he had, you can't be a nice guy. He would be difficult to be around if you didn't truly love the game of basketball". Michael Jordan (defending his approach): "Winning has a price. And leadership has a price".  MJ emotional in the last dance: You ask my teammates and they will say One thing about Michael Jordan was he never asked me to do something that he didn't do when people see this well he wasn't really a nice guy. He may have been a tyrant well that's you because you never wanted anything. I wanted to win, but I wanted them to win and to be a part of that as well, but I don't have to do this. I'm only doing it because it is who I am. That's how I played the game that was my mentality, if you don't wanna play that way, don't play that way. Break     When Jesus says “take up your cross” he says it in this same context as MJ. Right here in verse 22 Luke 9:22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Has your dream or your project run into some rough patches lately? I can promise you pursuing your vision and your passion will always have times of setback and discouragement, and you will want to give up. When we experience this, we must resist this urge: Resist the urge to quit just because it's getting wicked hard to do something. I don't care how motivated you are or how passionately you are pursing something, there will come a day when you will want to quit. In the forty plus years I've been broadcasting this program, I've had those urges to run away. I think that's what David was feeling when he wrote, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” It's that common urge to just walk away. It's hard; it's not fun anymore; we're running into opposition; people are criticizing us; others are not doing what they promised to do. These things start piling up and we get the urge to quit because it's really hard. I remember a meeting in which we discussed a new project we had started and the criticism that came as a result, and it was especially hard on the one person who had planned and led the project. She had been treated unfairly and harshly by her fellow-believers. It's hard to believe, but it happens! And after all her hard work, this was really discouraging. But I reminded her that we were breaking new ground and following God's leading. I encouraged her not to even think of giving up now, and she didn't! She did the hard stuff. God was in it, and we had to stick it out through the hard times. The Apostle Paul had to resist this urge to quit in hard times probably more than anyone else ever has. And he wrote to the Galatians. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). Let's covenant with God that we will resist the urge to quit just because it's not easy!

You Didn't Do That, Paul. Jesus Did! MESSAGE SUMMARY: What are we truly aiming for in life? This powerful message challenges us to examine our ultimate goals and purpose. Drawing from Philippians 3:7-15, we're invited to reflect on the Apostle Paul's radical transformation - from chasing earthly accolades to pursuing an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul's journey reminds us that success without Christ isn't true success at all. The message encourages us to shift our focus from temporary achievements to lasting transformation, emphasizing that our identity should be rooted in our relationship with Jesus, not in our accomplishments or status. As we contemplate our own lives, we're urged to consider: are we striving for Christ-centered righteousness or merely following religious rules? This introspection can lead us to a deeper, more purposeful faith journey.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I now take a deep breath and stop. So often I miss your hand and gifts in my life because I am preoccupied and anxious. Grant me the power to pause each day and each week to simply rest in your arms of love. In Jesus' name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 132). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Heartlessness. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Kindness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  Philippians 3:7-15 (main passage); Philippians 3:4-6; Acts 9 (Paul's conversion); Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21; Philippians 1:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Timothy 6:10; Luke 6:38; Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Essentials Part 6– A Peculiar People” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

According to Acts, Chapter 9, Saul, who would later become the Apostle Paul obsessed with hatred and disdain for the followers of Jesus, had requested arrests warrants from the Sanhedrin to travel to Damascus, and bring Christians back to Jerusalem for trial.  But on the Damascus Road, the Risen Lord appeared to him.  Blinded and taken to a house on Straight Street in Damasus, he met Ananias who God had appeared to in a vision.  On Straight Street, their encounter would transform the church and the world.  There, the saint met the sinner, love met hate, the Law met grace, and truth met and conquered the lie.  How does this encounter challenge Christians today?  Listen and learn.  

When you study the Bible and come across the word, "therefore", it is always a good idea to ask, "What is it there for?" When the Apostle Paul uses the word "therefore" at the beginning of chapter 12, we must realize he is building on what he's taught in previous chapters. Listen to Dr. Barnhouse to find out how Paul's prior instruction lays a solid foundation for Christian ethics and godly living on Dr. Barnhouse and the Bible. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/791/29?v=20251111

Spring break often brings anticipation — travel plans, family bonding, and time away from daily routines. But it can also bring tension, exhaustion, misunderstandings, and unexpected disruptions. In this episode, we talk about preparing our hearts — not just packing our bags. Whether your plans involve a staycation or a getaway, the real goal isn’t a perfect trip. It’s loving one another well in the middle of it. Through Scripture, we’re reminded that even the bumps, delays, and disagreements can produce growth, peace, and deeper connection when Christ remains at the center. What We Discuss Why family trips can magnify both joy and tension How to respond when plans fall apart Choosing perspective over frustration Practicing humility and patience in close quarters Allowing challenges to strengthen — not strain — relationships This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: Preparing Our Hearts for Spring Break By Lynette Kittle Bible Reading: “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” - Hebrews 12:11 It’s that time of year again when our minds start thinking about spring break and where our families will plan to spend it. Whether it’s a staycation close to home or at the beach, the mountains, an amusement park, or on an island paradise, it’s about loving and enjoying our families. Gratefully, our family has experienced wonderful spring break getaways where everything went well, but we’ve also waded through difficult and challenging ones where everything seemed to fall apart, no one seemed to get along, the influenza hit us, we ran out of gas in the desert, traffic was chaotic, and travel didn’t go the way we planned. During times like these, when it’s easy for emotions to run wild and feelings to easily get hurt, we want to remember what Colossians 3:12-13 urges, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Spring Break Bumps Although issues often arise during family getaways, they don’t have to color our experience and memories negatively. We can ask God to help us put situations into perspective, letting go of the less-than-pleasant and holding onto the warm and loving moments. We don’t have to allow life’s displeasures to take away from the joy of being with one another and spending time together, despite the circumstances, through thick and thin, the fun and not-so-fun moments. Rather than letting various difficulties and challenges ruin our time together, we can view them as bumps in our relationships, with the opportunity to learn how to walk through disputes and disruptions with God’s grace and forgiveness. We can be determined not to let challenging moments define our time together. As the Apostle Paul urges us in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Hearts Open to Growth During spring break, we can look to God to help us learn, grow, and even discover joy in the middle of mishaps, troubles, and difficulties. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:18: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” When we are willing to set our minds on it, we can trust God to work the hardships, difficulties, and disagreements together for our good by bringing us closer together with a common goal of making it through whatever is happening, drawing us closer to one another, and growing together rather than further apart. 1 Peter 1:6 reminds us that, “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” Delight Over Despair Spending time together as a family is often where everyone’s weaknesses flare up, fueled by spending a non-stop week together, instead of us all going our own ways for school, work, and church. During concentrated time together, it doesn’t take long for our frailties and faults to rear their ugly heads. Rather than feel despair when spring break misunderstandings and disappointments happen, Paul encourages us in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Instead of being in despair over them, we can believe it gives God the opportunity to show Himself strongly in our lives, including our families’ lives. With Christ as the center of our lives, Paul, who definitely knew what it was like to experience difficulties, weaknesses, and challenges in his life, reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 that when “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” Intersecting Faith & Life: Before spending spring break as a family, gather together to pray for God to prepare your hearts to be loving and kind to each other during your extended family time. As well, discuss beforehand how God can help you to be patient and long-suffering with each other during your time together. Further Reading: 15 Spring Break Trips that Are Budget and Family Friendly Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Our midweek study, taught by Gabe Jauregui, explores the profound joy found in Christ, even amidst severe hardship, drawing parallels from the Apostle Paul's life and ministry. Gabe shares how reliance on God's power through prayer can transform struggles into opportunities for His glory. He encourages the church to learn to shift focus from personal needs to eternal purposes, finding true fulfillment and spreading the gospel.

Was the Apostle Paul a Slave? | Dr. Mark Fairchild on Paul's Early Life as Saul the ZealotWas Paul once a slave? If so, how did his early life shape his theology, mission, and message? In this compelling episode of the Bible and Theology Matters podcast, Dr. Paul Weaver sits down with Dr. Mark Fairchild to discuss his groundbreaking book, Paul's Enslavement: The Early Life of Saul the Zealot. Together, they explore the provocative thesis that the Apostle Paul may have been a former slave—and how that possibility sheds powerful new light on his language of slavery, freedom, adoption, redemption, and identity in Christ.Dr. Fairchild draws from the Book of Acts, Paul's letters (especially Galatians), early church tradition from Jerome, and the historical writings of Josephus to examine:-Paul's Roman citizenship and how slaves could receive citizenship through-manumission -The “Synagogue of the Freedmen” in Acts 6-The meaning of stigmata in Galatians 6:17-Honor, shame, and status in the first-century Mediterranean world-How slavery differed from modern conceptions of 16th–19th century chattel slavery-Why does Paul use slavery and adoption language more than any other New Testament writer -How Saul's zealotry transformed after his encounter with Christ on the Damascus RoadThis conversation also explores Paul's rabbinic training under Gamaliel, his intense persecution of the early church, and how his radical conversion reshaped his understanding of identity, freedom, and gospel ministry.If you want deeper insight into:-The historical Paul: First-century slavery in the Roman world-The background of Galatians: Paul's theology of freedom and redemption-How archaeology and ancient sources illuminate Scripture…you won't want to miss this episode. Dr. Fairchild also discusses his extensive research in Turkey (ancient Asia Minor) and his work on Paul's “unknown years” in Cilicia. This episode is hosted by Dr. Paul Weaver, Associate Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary and host of the Bible and Theology Matters podcast.

How do you keep a church strong? The Apostle Paul gives (3) clear ways in his close to the book of Romans (16:17-27). First, guard the unity of the church against “those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learn.” Watch out for smooth talkers who flatter and “avoid them.” Second, show grace, love, and care for your fellow saints. We see this pictured as believers, from some 800 miles away, sent kind greetings to the church at Rome. Third, establish the church by preaching Jesus Christ. Paul’s clear implication is, without sound preaching, the church will be weak and malnourished, but with it they will be grounded and strong. Sermon: https://churchandfamilylife.com/sermons/698979860df6c37ba98e6e44

Send a textIt seems that in the Apostle Paul's day, some Jews, particularly a contingent based out of Jerusalem, followed him from newly established church to church and told the people there that in order to be truly acceptable to God, you also had to keep the Jewish religious rituals, called ‘The Law'. Now, in truth, a version of the same message still circulates today. But those who know the Lord, and who study His Word, understand that it says something very different. We know that being forgiven and being declared righteous before God is by faith alone, aside from any religious obligations that people try to put on you. And yet… the Mosaic law is still there; we can still see it in the Old Testament. And its very presence raises a question that has troubled believers for centuries: And that's not an unimportant question. If you've ever studied the Bible seriously, you know it's a real issue. However, God gave us one book in the New Testament whose main purpose is to answer that question in detail and address every possible implication that arises out of that fact: The book of Galatians….RISE RADIOEach week we discuss some of the most important issues we face in our society today.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showFollow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Bible Project: https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send a textHave you ever known exactly what you should do… and still done the opposite? In Romans 7:15–20, the Apostle Paul describes one of the most relatable struggles in the entire Bible: “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”In this episode, Coach Chris Wilson unpacks Paul's raw honesty about the internal war between the desire to obey God and the pull of the sinful nature. This isn't just about bad habits — it's about the deeper spiritual conflict every believer faces.You'll learn:• Why the struggle with sin doesn't mean your faith is fake• The difference between conviction and condemnation• The two common traps that keep Christians stuck (shame and self-reliance)• Why willpower alone can't defeat the flesh• How Romans 8 provides the hope and power that Romans 7 exposesIf you've ever felt frustrated, discouraged, or tired of repeating the same cycle — this conversation will remind you that the fight itself is evidence of spiritual life. The war within is real… but so is the Spirit of God.Your struggle is not proof that God has left you. Sometimes it's proof that He's working.Scripture: Romans 7:15–20 (NIV), with references to Romans 7:24–25 and Romans 8:1-4, 26-28.Time Stamps0:00 – Is your struggle proof you're spiritually alive?0:32 – Welcome to the Strong by Design podcast!0:55 – Join host Chris Wilson for today's special solo episode4:51 – Why you keep doing the very thing you hate6:59 – The inner battle nobody talks about8:35 – Is it lack of discipline or spiritual warfare?10:32 – Why the fight doesn't mean you've failed God13:40 – The two subtle lies that keep you stuck15:45 – Why “trying harder” keeps backfiring17:42 – The turning point that changes everything18:23 – From constant defeat to unexpected power19:14 – What if freedom is already available?21:42 – Why the struggle shouldn't shock you22:16 – The secret strength found in confession23:02 – Surrender: the daily move that shifts everything27:08 – Why you can stop chasing perfection27:28 – Could the struggle mean God is at work?29:14 – You're not broken — you're in a battle!30:32 – Please share and leave ratings & reviews for the SBD podcast!Resources:YouVersion Bible AppConnect with Chris:InstagramGo to criticalnutritionlabs.com/sbdUse code STRONGMEN25 for 25% off your order

I was writing an article last night and all of a sudden this flood of thoughts just came rushing into my brain. I never did finish that article and I ended up writing something else. You're about to hear what came flooding into my brain, because it's what's been going on in the world. We all know, look at the news. The world is like exploding. And this is the conflict in the Middle East right now, dominates the news - and the hearts of a lot of people. The world is once again, we've been here before, plunged into a season of unnerving peril and uncertainty. Not long ago, remember? I know you do, it was a mutated virus. This time it's drones and missiles and terror. I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "Dangerous Times, Destiny Times." And the Apostle Paul's sober warning to his young protégé Timothy echoes across the centuries at times like these: "In the last days, perilous times will come" (2 Timothy 3:1). He went on to describe why it would be so dangerous as history's fourth quarter approaches. It's not because of weapons or wars. But because of what people will become. The description here, I'll have to say, is disturbingly familiar. He said, "People will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving... and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good." You know I can probably go on social media right now and find everything I just read about. But don't you get the feeling that there's something much bigger going on here than just global politics and converging crises? Maybe you're feeling what I'm feeling... There's something profoundly spiritual going on in our world right now. In our world, in our time! Like something climactic. I don't have words for it. Except to say - our world is increasingly starved for a Messiah. Someone who can fix what seems hopelessly broken. But we're increasingly disillusioned with all the messiahs we've tried, all the things and people we thought might be a messiah for us. And waiting at the threshold of human history - and billions of fearful hearts - there stands Jesus. Returning one day to the world that the Bible says, "crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Corinthians 2:8). But this time coming as "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16). To a world described in Biblical prophecies as remarkably like our own. So my bottom line is simple: all that really matters is what will matter when Jesus comes! Now the truth is, a lot that won't matter then tends to matter too much to us. And a lot that will matter then kinda gets pushed to the margins. Now, once again, I hear Paul's voice, this time giving Timothy his marching orders. It's our word for today from the Word of God; it's in 2 Timothy 1:7-8, and chapter 4 beginning with verse 1 - "God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord... I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead... preach the Word of God... work at telling others the Good News." Man I want to see what Jesus sees when He looks at the people in my world. I want to see those "Sheep without a shepherd." "Lost." "Perishing." In Him, we have the Hope people have despaired of ever finding. We have the peace that defies the storm. We have the love that finally fills these empty hearts of ours. We have the Message that changes eternities! Friends, we have the Gospel! And with our eyes on the fourth quarter game clock, we need to be spreading that Good News as never before! Faster. Farther. Better. God has assigned us here "for such a time as this." Hard times? Yes. But it's harvest time!

This episode explores the dramatic transformation of the Apostle Paul in the Epistle to the Galatians 1:13–24, tracing his journey from zealous persecutor of the church to passionate proclaimer of Christ. Reflecting on Paul's own testimony, we examine his honest reckoning with a violent past, his refusal to minimize sin or be immobilized by guilt, and his wholehearted embrace of grace. Connecting his words with Epistle to the Philippians 3:7–9, we consider what it means to count former gains as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. From God's sovereign calling “from the womb,” to all he accomplished, and the astonished response of the early believers, this conversation highlights the power of repentance, divine calling, and a life lived for the glory of God alone.

✈️ Come to Greece with Me! Eat amazing food, walk where Apostle Paul walked, explore biblical history, and encounter Jesus.

Pastor Whit continues our teaching series, Breakthrough.

Welcome to Day 2808 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2808 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 117:1-2 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2808 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day two thousand eight hundred eight of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for Today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Shortest Song with the Largest Stage – Calling the Nations Home Today, we are undertaking a fascinating and entirely unique stage of our journey. We are stepping into the absolute center of the Bible to explore Psalm One Hundred Seventeen, covering its entirety—which is just verses one through two, in the New Living Translation. This is a milestone for a couple of reasons. First, Psalm One Hundred Seventeen holds the distinct title of being the shortest chapter in the entire Bible. It consists of only two verses and, in the original Hebrew, a mere seventeen words. Second, it is widely considered the middle chapter of the Protestant Bible. But do not let its brevity fool you. What this psalm lacks in word count, it makes up for in cosmic, earth-shaking theology. In our previous trek through Psalm One Hundred Sixteen, we listened to an intensely personal, intimate testimony. We heard the voice of a single, desperate individual who had been wrapped in the terrifying cords of death. We saw Yahweh, the Most High God, stoop down from heaven to listen to one man's whispered cry for help. It was a beautiful picture of individual salvation, ending with the psalmist paying his vows in the temple courts of Jerusalem. Today, the camera pans out. We move from the microscopic to the macroscopic. The single voice of the rescued individual in Psalm One Hundred Sixteen suddenly turns into a megaphone, broadcasting a summons to the entire planet. Psalm One Hundred Seventeen is still part of the "Egyptian Hallel," the songs sung during the Passover festival. But here, the focus breaks completely out of the borders of Israel. It is a trumpet blast directed at the pagan world. It is a declaration of cosmic warfare, and a radical invitation of grace. So, let us unpack these two massive, monumental verses together. The First Segment is: The Cosmic Summons: Reclaiming the Disinherited. Psalm One Hundred Seventeen: verse one. Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. The psalm explodes right out of the gate with a command: "Praise the Lord, all you nations." To modern ears, this sounds like a standard, generic call to worship. But to the Ancient Israelite, singing this in the courts of the temple, this was a jaw-dropping, radical statement. It requires us to look through the lens of the Ancient Israelite Divine Council worldview, as taught by scholars like Dr. Michael S. Heiser. We must go all the way back to Genesis Chapter Eleven and the Tower of Babel. At Babel, humanity rebelled against Yahweh, refusing to spread out and fill the earth. In response, God judged the nations. But He didn't just confuse their languages; He disinherited them. According to Deuteronomy Chapter Thirty-two, verses eight through nine, God divided the nations and placed them under the authority of lesser spiritual beings—the "sons of God," or the divine council. Yahweh then stepped back and started over with one man, Abraham, to create His own special portion: Israel. From that moment on, the "nations" (the goyim) were viewed as foreign territory. They were under the jurisdiction of rebel gods, hostile principalities, and dark spiritual forces. They worshipped idols of wood and stone, which we saw mocked so thoroughly back in Psalm One Hundred Fifteen. So, when the psalmist stands up and shouts, "Praise Yahweh, all you nations!" he is doing something incredibly audacious. He is crossing enemy lines. He is essentially serving an eviction notice to the rebel gods. He is looking at the people of Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, and Assyria, and he is saying, "Your gods have failed you. They are dead. The time of your exile from the Creator is coming to an end. Yahweh is calling you back!" The parallel phrase, "Praise him, all you people of the earth," uses the Hebrew word ummim, which refers to tribes, clans, and people groups. The psalmist leaves no one out. The invitation is universal. God is not content to simply be the local deity of a small strip of land in the Middle East. He is the Maker of Heaven and Earth, and He demands, and invites, the adoration of every human being on the planet. This is why the Apostle Paul quotes this exact verse in Romans Chapter Fifteen, verse eleven. Paul uses Psalm One Hundred Seventeen to prove to the early church that the inclusion of the Gentiles—the non-Jewish people—was not a New Testament "Plan B." It was God's plan all along. The ultimate goal of choosing Israel was to create a beacon of light that would eventually draw all the disinherited nations back into the family of God. The Second Segment is: The Gravity of Grace: Why the Nations Should Sing. Psalm One Hundred Seventeen: verse two. For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord's faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord! If verse one is the Command, verse two provides the Reason. Why should the pagan nations, who have spent centuries worshipping other gods, suddenly turn and praise Yahweh? The psalmist gives two reasons, rooted in two of the most important words in the Hebrew Bible: Unfailing Love (Hesed) and Faithfulness (Emet). Let us look closely at the first phrase: "For his unfailing love for us is powerful." Hesed is God's loyal, covenant-keeping, relentless love. But notice the direction of this love. The psalmist says His love for "us" is powerful. "Us" refers to Israel. This raises a fascinating question. Why should the nations praise God for the love He showed to Israel? If you are a Babylonian, why do you care that God loves the Jewish people? The answer lies in the promise given to Abraham in Genesis Chapter Twelve: "I will bless you... and all the families on earth will be blessed through you." Israel was never meant to be a reservoir of God's grace; they were meant to be a river. God's Hesed toward Israel—rescuing them from Egypt, giving them the law, protecting them from enemies, and bearing patiently with their constant rebellion—was the vehicle through which salvation would reach the rest of the world. When the nations look at how Yahweh treated Israel, they see a God who keeps His promises. They see a God who does not annihilate His people when they mess up. And they realize, "If this God is that intensely loyal and loving to Israel, maybe there is hope for us, too. Maybe we can be grafted into that same covenant." Furthermore, the word translated as "powerful" (gabar) is an incredibly muscular word. It means to prevail, to be mighty, or to overwhelm. It is the same word used in the story of Noah's Ark, when the floodwaters "prevailed" over the tops of the highest mountains. The psalmist is saying that God's unfailing love is a flood. It cannot be contained by the borders of Israel. It prevails over human sin. It prevails over the rebellious spiritual principalities of the Divine Council. It overtops the highest mountains of human resistance, and spills out to cover the entire globe. The Third Segment is: The Eternal Echo: Truth That Outlasts Time. The second half of the reason is just as anchoring: "...the Lord's faithfulness endures forever." The word for faithfulness is Emet, which means truth, reliability, and stability. In a world governed by chaotic pagan gods who were unpredictable, petty, and easily angered, the concept of a God whose truth "endures forever" was revolutionary. The gods of the nations rose and fell with their empires. Where is Marduk today? Where is Baal? They are buried in the dust of history, remembered only in museums and archaeological digs. But the faithfulness of Yahweh remains. His truth does not have an expiration date. Because His love is overwhelmingly powerful, and His truth is eternally stable, the nations have a solid rock upon which to stand. They are invited to leave the shifting sands of the world's chaos, and step into the eternal security of the Creator's household. The psalm concludes with the great bookend of the Hallel: "Praise the Lord!" Or, Hallelujah! When Jesus sang this psalm with His disciples on the night of the Last Supper, He knew exactly what He was about to do. He was about to walk to the cross to demonstrate the ultimate, prevailing power of God's Hesed. He was...

Mystery rides were part of growing up at our house. Usually it was a Sunday afternoon, and I'd pile our three kids into our car for a ride. I think we explored every corner of our area. And as we did, we discovered over the years, a lot of great things. But I've got one son who's a lot like me. He wants to know the plan before we leave. "Hey, Dad, where are we going? Where are we going to eat? What are we going to eat? What are we going to do while we're there? How long will we be there? What time are we going to get home?" He would pump me with more questions; I felt like I was being interrogated by a police sergeant. Sometimes I knew it was better not to explain where we were going. I mean we've done things that would have sounded boring if I had told about them, but they turned out to be exciting and I knew they would. Plus surprises are fun anyway. So, my kids got used to hearing two words when we were about to begin a mystery trip, "Trust me." I don't think I let them down. It was good training for journeys with their other Father. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Going Not Knowing." Our word for today from the Word of God comes from the life of the Apostle Paul. He's still Saul of Tarsus here. Acts 9 - he's on his way to wipe out Christians. He missed some in Jerusalem. So he said, "I'll get them in Damascus. They all went there; I'll find them in Syria." We begin in verse 3: "As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?' 'Well, who are you, Lord?' Saul asked. 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. 'Now, get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.'" Now, it's interesting that Saul's training for his whole life in Christ began immediately with a mystery trip. Yeah, did you notice that? He has just opened up to Jesus, and the Lord says, "Go into the city and you will be told." "Lord, what do you want me to do there? Who am I going to meet there? How am I even going to be able to see; I'm blind right now?" The Lord says, "Go and you will be told." Well, he spent the rest of his life living like that. In Acts 20, when he was on his way to Jerusalem as the great Apostle Paul and his friends were trying to discourage him, he said, "Compelled by the Spirit, I am going not knowing." See, you have a heavenly Father who often takes His children on mystery trips. Maybe you're on one of His mystery trips right now. There's a good destination He's got in mind, but right now He's telling you just the next step. In essence, He's saying to you as He did to Saul, "Go, and you will be told as you are on the way." It may well be that you're in the middle of one of those times right now, and the tendency is to say, "Now, Lord, if you'll just give me all the information, give me all the facts, I'll start going that direction." And the Lord says, "No, you start moving in that direction I've told you to go, and you'll get more information as you go." Now, maybe you're waiting to have all your questions answered before you move, and right now there are more question marks than there are periods or exclamation points for sure. Can you almost hear your Father saying as He bundles you into His car, "Trust Me, let's start traveling together." Hey, He died for you. Is He ever going to do you wrong? God's mystery trips always lead to a destination that is selected with you in mind, for your good. So, why not settle back, enjoy the trip, and let Him drive. Trust your Father and don't be afraid of going not knowing.

Are you already tempted to quit on the goals and dreams you were so excited about in January? By March, motivation fades. Discipline feels heavy. The vision doesn't feel as shiny anymore. In this episode of The Journey to Becoming, I share a powerful story from when my husband played minor league baseball and what it meant to be “called up” to the next level. Players weren't called up randomly. They were called up because someone saw the potential in them. They had demonstrated growth. They had proven they were ready for more. And as believers, we are called to a higher standard too. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” That is not a passive invitation — it is a call to spiritual maturity, discipline, and stewardship. In this episode, we talk about: Why so many people quit by March The difference between goals and standards What it truly means to be “called higher” as a Christian woman Raising your discipline, integrity, and emotional maturity Why excellence isn't about ego — it's about bringing glory to God Calling you higher doesn't mean hustle culture or burnout. It means obedience. It means stewardship. It means refusing to settle for mediocrity in the areas God has entrusted to you. There is potential inside of you. The question is — will you rise to meet it? This episode is your March reset. If you're ready to stop shrinking back and start stewarding your life for God's glory, this conversation will challenge and encourage you. Scriptures Referenced:  1 Corinthians 11:1   JOIN THE FREE 5 DAY BECOMING A WOMAN OF VALUE CHALLENGE

We enter the final week of our relationship series, taking a look at one of the most complicated, all-consuming relationships: our relationship to our work. Though it's sometimes easy for us to connect how our faith should impact our marriage or our parenting, it can often be difficult to connect it to our workplace. How does being a believer in Jesus impact how I should approach my work? How should it change the role that work plays in my life? What bearing does it have on how I handle that annoying co-worker?This episode, Pastor Lydia Miller concludes our study of this portion of scripture from the Apostle Paul, taking an in-depth look at the wisdom he offers on how we posture ourselves towards our authority, our employees, and our task at the workplace.--WebsiteFacebookInstagramSunday SetlistSunnybrook App (ios)Sunnybrook App (Google)Connect with us!How can we pray for you? Let us know.Giving

On this episode, Paul White talks about the Apostle Paul's use of "the Gospel of God". Accompanying scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:2-2.