Podcasts about apostle paul

Everyone talks about love, so what in the world could I say about love that hasn't already been said thousands of time and much more eloquently? I find talking about love is pretty easy, but putting it into practice can be quite challenging. Love is such an abused word that it almost becomes meaningless in today's culture. But when we understand the Bible's definition of love, it becomes quite a challenge. If you and I are going to be the kind of lovers the Bible says we should be, we'll need some help in knowing how to practice love. That's my goal. I've prepared a two-week plan to help you and me learn to practice love by the Bible's definition. The truth is, if you're not intentional about putting God's principles into practice, they just remain words on the pages of your Bible. They don't become transformational in your life. That's why I often use specific plans, in writing, to keep me on track and help me do what I really want to do. This two-week plan is based on 1 Corinthians 13, which gives us very explicit and practical instruction on just what it means to love. It has very little to do with our emotions, but it has everything to do with our attitudes and our actions. This plan will help you focus on one thing at a time—one characteristic of real love each day—and give you ideas on how to implement them in your life. The Apostle Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus that they would be “rooted and established in love.” In John 13, Jesus says to his disciples, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34-35). I think it's so interesting Jesus says this is a new command; loving one another wasn't required under the Law but under the New Covenant, under grace, we have a new commandment, and it is to love as we have been loved by Jesus. I invite you to join me in this two-week plan to practice love. It's important we take this love thing seriously, and if you will join me in learning to practice love, I think it will be transformational for you and me.

The great mystery was hidden throughout the ages until revealed to the Apostle Paul. If it was known, the evil rulers would not have crucified Jesus, and God's plan for humanity's redemption would have been thwarted. The inclusion of the Gentiles and the full significance of what Christ accomplished on the cross are part of the mystery that is now revealed in the Ephesians Epistle. Ephesians 3:1-9. What Christ accomplished for humanity was kept secret until Paul received it by revelation. Luke 9:44-45. God wanted the information concealed. Luke 18:31-34. Many things are written in the OT foretelling what Jesus would do and accomplish; however, much of it was hidden until Paul. Mark 8:31-33. Not only did Peter not understand what Jesus said, he also thought he was wrong. 1 Corinthians 2: 6-8. Had they understood, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Ephesians 3:2. The word “stewardship” and “administration” in verse 9 are the same Greek word oikonomia. 3:4-5. Before, no one understood; now, we can understand. 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. Ephesians 3:6. Gentiles were now fellow heirs, members, partakers of the promise. Ephesians 2:12-22. 3:8. The riches are so deep, vast, and profound they can never be fully discovered until Christ returns. They are infinitely rich and abundant. Colossians 1:27. Christ in you Ephesians 3:10. Rulers and the authorities – 1:19-21; 6:12 3:11. The mystery explains God's purpose of the ages. 3:12. Only the high priest once a year had access to God. Now every disciple has direct, bold, and confident access to God. 3:13. Do not be discouraged I am in prison; rather, accept it is actually a glorious thingThe post Ephesians Part 5: The Mystery of Christ first appeared on Living Hope.

In this sermon on Colossians 4:2–6, we're invited to consider how we live and speak in a time of spiritual openness and cultural uncertainty. Drawing from personal stories, recent Australian research, and the Apostle Paul's words, the message challenges us to “live a questionable life” — one that sparks curiosity and conversation about Jesus. With prayerful devotion, watchfulness, and thankfulness, we're called to talk to God about people and talk to people about God. This is a timely encouragement to be salt and light in our world and to boldly, yet graciously, make the most of every opportunity.

God doesn't change. His words are true. He is completely and totally reliable in every way. While everything else around us changes, there is Someone who does not change. He does not lie, and we can build our lives on His Word, His plan, and His promises. It's a sure deal! The writer of Hebrews said it this way, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,” (Heb 13:8). This means that GOD is faithful! We can trust Him. What He says is true. What He said He will do, we know He will do. Moses spoke of how God was faithful to bring Israel through to the Promised Land (Dt 7). David said that the faithfulness of God “reaches to the skies,” (Ps 36:5). The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah both spoke of how faithful God was to them and the nation of Israel. And in our text today, we'll read several times where the Apostle Paul spoke of how faithful God was in it all and through it all.   Speaker: Pastor Ben Dixon Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:8-13 Series: Stand Alone For more information visit www.BenDixon.org

I want to begin by saying that God has put each of us who are Christ-followers in this time, in this place in history, as we read in Esther, “for such a time as this.” So, we must first see this as an opportunity, privilege, and blessing to be part of God's plan for this time. It's no accident that we are living in this culture. Now, here's my first suggestion for sharing the gospel with people who don't care: Share your life. If anyone is going to be open to the gospel, it will be because they sense we are real people and we really care about them. Don't you hate those cold calls you get trying to sell you something? Usually, they try to sound so friendly and make you think they really care about you personally when they're selling a new cable system or whatever. But no matter how slick their presentation may be, you know they don't know you and they don't really care about you. They're just trying to make a sale. If we come off that way when we talk about our faith in Jesus Christ, it simply won't work. In reaching the people in Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul wrote that: we dared to tell you this gospel in spite of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you (1 Thessalonians 2:2-3). He was facing very similar circumstances there as we do here, and he made it known that he was sharing the gospel with them because he cared for them. His motivation was transparent and pure. There was no hidden agenda with him. He further wrote: We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us (1 Thessalonians 2:8). When people believe we are sharing our faith in Jesus Christ with them because they are dear to us and that we are sharing not only our faith, but our lives with them, then there's hope that they will begin to believe the gospel is relevant, real, and worthy of consideration. So, if there are some people in your life right now who just simply don't seem to care about things of God, about hearing the truth of the gospel, don't be discouraged and don't give up. Share your life with them and let them know you care about them personally. That is a big step one in sharing the gospel with people who don't care. Here's another suggestion that can be powerful—tell stories. I never cease to be amazed at the power of storytelling. Jesus used parables almost exclusively in his short ministry on earth. That should give us the first clue that storytelling is an effective way of sharing truth because you and I will listen to a story, give it our full attention, and remember it better than anything else. Stories stick with you. Stories from the Bible are, of course, very powerful, so the more familiar you are with the stories of Scripture, the more you can tell them to others. For example, suppose you have a friend who is grieving over a wayward son or daughter. You could at an appropriate time tell them the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) and encourage them to believe that there is hope for their child, too. Or if you're in a discussion about social issues, helping the poor, homeless people, or something similar, you could tell the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). You don't have to read from the Bible; just tell the stories of the Bible in your own words. I think of a friend, Kate, who spent five years in Afghanistan in a culture totally opposed to the gospel. She was very effective at sharing the gospel in that environment. Besides loving the people and caring about them, she also found that telling the stories of the Bible was the best way possible to share truth with them. Time and again God opened a door for her to share a Bible story. The women listened and learned, and many came to saving faith. Keep in mind it is not your job to win people to Christ. Only the Holy Spirit can do that.

This is Pastor Tom Arnould welcoming you to the Good News Radio Broadcast. In the books of Ephesians and Colossians, the Apostle Paul begins his instructions regarding the Christian marriage, by speaking to the wives. If a wife doesn't have a cooperative attitude towards her husband, it will make his role very difficult to accomplish.

It's Thursday, May 29th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Christianity growing in Asia despite persecution International Christian Concern reports that Christianity is growing in Asia despite severe persecution. In 2024, there were 415 million Christians in Asia, making up 8% of the continent's population. That's up from 3% in 2010. Since 2020, Christianity's growth rate in Asia has been 1.6% per year. The church is growing in Communist, Buddhist, and Islam-dominated countries like China, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar. All this growth continues despite persecution in the from of harassment, anti-conversion laws, restrictions on Bibles, arrests, imprisonments, and even violence and murder.  In 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, the Apostle Paul wrote, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed .  … persecuted, but not forsaken … always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” 50% of kids in United Kingdom do not live with both biological parents Research from the Marriage Foundation found that nearly half of children in the United Kingdom do not live with both of their biological parents. The report showed a record 45% of teenagers are not living with both parents by the age of 14.  This trend is not driven by divorce which is at its lowest level since 1970. Instead, family breakdown is driven by a collapse in marriage rates. Harry Benson, the Research Director for the Marriage Foundation, said, “The level of family breakdown in the UK is at epidemic proportions and is set to get worse.” French House voted to legalize assisted suicide France's National Assembly voted in favor of a bill to legalize assisted suicide on Tuesday.  The measure allows adult patients with painful and incurable illness to take a lethal substance. The bill must also pass in France's Senate. Matt Vallière, the Executive Director of the Patients' Rights Action Fund, warned, “The French National Assembly cast a fateful and terrible vote that will put a great many at risk of deadly harm and discrimination under an unprecedented euthanasia regime.” Proverbs 12:10 says, “The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” Supremes declines case of Christian kid's t-shirt affirming 2 genders In the United States, the Supreme Court declined to hear a free speech case Tuesday. The case involves a Massachusetts public school student named Liam Morrison. In 2023, he wore a T-shirt to class that said, “There are only 2 genders.” In response, the school banned him from wearing the shirt. The Morrison family challenged the decision; however, the courts ruled against them. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito authored a dissenting opinion to the court's decision to not hear the case. He said the free speech case “presents an issue of great importance for our Nation's youth.” Listen to viral comments from Liam, the boy at the epicenter. He made them before his school board. MORRISON: “What did my shirt say? Five simple words. ‘There are only two genders.' Nothing harmful, nothing threatening. Just a statement I believe to be a fact. “I have been told that my shirt was targeting a protected class. Who is this protected class? Are their feelings more important than my rights? … “Not one person, staff or student, told me that they were bothered by what I was wearing. Actually, just the opposite. Several kids told me that they supported my actions and that they wanted one too.” Defense Secretary Hegseth affirms homeschooling for military families Earlier this month, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth  ordered the department to review how well it supports homeschooling for military families.  The directive follows an executive order from President Donald Trump on supporting school choice in the military.  Hegseth wrote, “Homeschooling offers an individualized approach for students and highlights the significant role parents play in the educational process.” Liberal Presbyterian Church (USA) keeps losing members The Presbyterian Church (USA) lost nearly 50,000 members last year according to its latest report.  The liberal denomination has been losing a similar number of members each year since the COVID-19 pandemic. Their unbiblical stands have cemented their own demise. In 2014, it voted to allow pastors to marry two homosexual men or two lesbians.  Plus, PC(USA) contends that there should be no laws restricting abortion. At its current rate of decline, the PC(USA) will likely fall below one million members this year. Protestors harass Christians promoting Biblically-defined family, sexuality And finally, MayDay USA held a prayer event in Seattle, Washington last Saturday. The group gathers Christians to seek God, proclaim the Gospel, and promote the “sacredness of gender and family as defined by God.” In response, violent rioters, including Antifa members, showed up to harass the Christians. This ended in police making over 20 arrests.  Sadly, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell blamed the Christians for the violence.  In response, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino  announced, “We have asked our team to fully investigate allegations of targeted violence against religious groups at the Seattle concert. Freedom of religion isn't a suggestion.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, May 29th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

This is Pastor Tom Arnould welcoming you to the Good News Radio Broadcast. In the books of Ephesians and Colossians, the Apostle Paul begins his instructions regarding the Christian marriage, by speaking to the wives. If a wife doesn't have a cooperative attitude towards her husband, it will make his role very difficult to accomplish.

In the final segment In the final segment of our Bible readings we are introduced a picture of ourself – Onesimus, a profligate runaway slave, who in Rome is liberated from his wasteful state to become a brother in Christ. The key words in this letter are related to BOWELS. Paul is demonstrating his love for God, His Son, His Word, His truth, and for Philemon and his family and the ecclesia, as well as for Onesimus. The Apostle is demonstrating to Philemon that, we must not only know and live the truth, we must love it, and God and His Son and His Word, His truth, His ecclesia, His family: we must be emotionally involved and committed. Paul sends Onesimus back to his master, as a fellow believer in Christ carrying this letter and the epistle to the Colossians. Onesimus is formerly described as being “unprofitable”, which is our condition before we believed the gospel and received forgiveness. But now he has learnt to abound in his grateful realisation of his elevated status see Ephesians 2:1-12. The Apostle Paul had taught Philemon the truth of the gospel. He speaks of Philemon's debt to God in the forgiveness which he has been given. Therefore Philemon ought to show the same forgiveness to his fellow believer – even though Onesimus was his slave. The Apostle Paul is confident that Philemon will comply with the Apostle's request. Final greetings are conveyed through Epaphras, who carries the letter to Philemon.

This is Pastor Tom Arnould welcoming you to the Good News Radio Broadcast. In the books of Ephesians and Colossians, the Apostle Paul begins his instructions regarding the Christian marriage, by speaking to the wives. If a wife doesn't have a cooperative attitude towards her husband, it will make his role very difficult to accomplish.

The Apostle Paul was one of the greatest missionaries the world has ever known. In this message, Adrian Rogers highlights the missionary challenge of Paul's life: his faithfulness, his flexibility, and his fearlessness for the sake of the Gospel.

Did you know you don't HAVE to sin?This might come as a shock to hear me say this. It might be even more shocking to realize it's not me saying this -- it's the writing of the Apostle Paul, and it comes right out of the Bible! Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more.Scripture Used in Today's Message1 Corinthians 10:132 Timothy 2:22Psalm 50:15Exodus 14:10-31Matthew 6:13Mattherw 4:4, 7, 10If you've not read my book, Takin' it to Their Turf. request a copy on my website, www.CampusAmerica.com.You'll be inspired, encouraged, and learn plenty about evangelism and spiritual warfare through the 70+ stories I share of my campus evangelism experiences.We send a copy to anyone who donates to our ministry, but if you can't do so, simply request a copy by sending us an email. Who do you know that needs to hear today's message? Go ahead and forward this to them, along with a prayer that God will use it in their life.To find Tom on Instagram, Facebook, TiKTok, and elsewhere, go to linktr.ee/tomthepreacher To support Tom Short Campus Ministries, click herehttps://www.tomthepreacher.com/support************ Do you want to have all your sins forgiven and know God personally? *********Check out my video "The Bridge Diagram" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0Kjwrlind8&t=1sCheck out my website, www.TomthePreacher.com, to learn more about my ministry and sign up for my daily email. And make sure to request a copy of my book, Takin' it to Their Turf, when you visit my website.Check out my videos on this channel to learn how to answer tough questions challenging our faith.

Today, this episode is all about the local church at Antioch in the early days. Do you remember some of the particulars that Dr. Luke and the Apostle Paul documented about that extraordinary church? Well, for two thousand years, Antioch has been an amazing model for local churches desiring high impact for God's mission. Join Kevin as we walk through the nine key lessons for our churches that we can glean from the church at Antioch! // Download this episode's Application & Action questions and PDF transcript at whitestone.org.

In this powerful Memorial Day weekend message, Pastor Mike Stevens opens our eyes to the unseen war being fought over our identity, security, and emotions. Drawing from 2 Corinthians, Luke, Matthew, and 2 Chronicles, he reminds us that spiritual warfare is real, but God has equipped us with divine weapons — prayer, Scripture, and community.Through stories like the Apostle Paul's struggles and the temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness, we learn that even heroes of the faith wrestled with insecurity and emotional weight. But we also discover how to respond: by listening to God's voice over the enemy's lies, standing on God's Word, and leaning on our brothers and sisters in Christ. Now is the time to rise, pray bold prayers, and fight the good fight — not in fear, but in faith.#SpiritualWarfare #FaithOverFear #ArmorOfGod #PrayerPower #IdentityInChrist #FightTheGoodFight #KingdomCulture #BoldFaith #ReviveUs #GoodHopeChurch #PastorMikeStevens #ChurchOnline[ Video Version ] / [ Sermon Notes ]STAY CONNECTEDSermon Podcast: https://sermons.goodhope.agInstagram: http://instagram.com/goodhopemnFacebook: http://fb.com/goodhopemn 

This is Pastor Tom Arnould welcoming you to the Good News Radio Broadcast. In the books of Ephesians and Colossians, the Apostle Paul begins his instructions regarding the Christian marriage, by speaking to the wives. If a wife doesn't have a cooperative attitude towards her husband, it will make his role very difficult to accomplish.

Today, Pastor Jack teaches that the Apostle Paul confirms in his letters to the churches, his expectation for Christ's return. That, as Christ followers, Jesus is our hope, and our joy, and He will deliver us from the destruction that is coming to the earth. The post Parable Of The Ten Virgins – 1C first appeared on Pastor Jack Hibbs.

In this video, we dive deep into Romans chapters 6, 7, and 8 to explore the powerful truth about the struggle between law and grace. The Apostle Paul's journey reveals that true freedom and salvation come not through works or religious rituals, but through a life fully surrendered to Christ. We break down how Paul came to the life-changing realization that it is only in Christ that we are saved and empowered to live a victorious life. If you've ever wrestled with guilt, legalism, or the pressure to earn God's favor, this message will encourage you to rest in the finished work of Jesus and walk boldly in His grace.Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on Facebook also leave us a review If You Like To donate to this podcast you can through cashapp or email us at brothersjustsearchingpodcast@gmail.com for more infoAnything is appreciated Cashapp infoBJSmediaThis podcast is brought to you by BJS MEDIA. A christian media production from the swamps of Louisiana. Teaching THE WORD OF GOD (The Bible) and discussing religion, cults, and other world events. Brothers Just Searching Links Check out our website https://brothersjustsearching.wordpress.com/Check out Our Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/bjspodcastCheck out our YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/channel/UCSKi3Aywyd1PQWQ5K1rrIUAhttps://campsite.to/bjsmediaThis is where you can listen to our podcast “Brothers Just Searching”. Below me :). Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brothers-just-searching/id1490823255?uo=4Google Podcast https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xMDk2MjdhMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0xxj0itGZrlN6EvUpHnel1Breakerhttps://www.breaker.audio/brothers-just-searchingOvercasthttps://overcast.fm/itunes1490823255/brothers-just-searchingPocket Casts https://pca.st/7uduo3tzRadio Public https://radiopublic.com/brothers-just-searching-G7PLoENew Beginning Fellowship Church New Beginning FChttps://www.facebook.com/NewBeginningFellowshipChurchTB/Coteau Holmes Fellowship Church https://www.facebook.com/coteauholmesfellowship/Music Provided ByUltima Thule by a href="https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/51198"Blue Dot Sessions/a- [ ]#Bible Study Podcast #Bible Study # Going Through God's Word

Relevance For Today Episode 350 How To Live a Christ-Like Life: Paul's Pathway Made Easy Part 2 In this new series, I'll be sharing key passages from the Apostle Paul's letters to the churches in Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae—what we know today as the books Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. My goal is to give you some Bible-based nuggets that'll encourage your walk with the Lord and equip you with practical truths to help you live a Christ-like life every day. I truly hope you feel blessed and encouraged by what I share. If you enjoyed the message, please consider sharing, subscribing, and leaving a rating to help us grow. Thank you, and blessings to you all! Facebook: Stephen Lewis Relevance For Today rftministry@gmail.com Instagram: @relevancefortoday TikTok: @stephenlewisrft YouTube Channel Relevance For Today: Stephen Lewis #FaithBasedPodcast #relevancefortodaypodcast #spiritualspotlightpodcast #hopeinChrist  #ReflectJesus #ChristianLiving #FaithWalk #BeTheLight #JesusFollower #LiveForChrist #WalkInLove #ScriptureTeaching #LiveChristLike #ChristInYou #FruitOfTheSpirit #WalkingInTheSpirit #BibleStudySeries #relevancefortodaypodcast #spiritualspotlightpodcast

Introduction: The Trustworthiness Test (Matthew 5:33-37): Do I Need to CONVINCE OTHERS of the TRUTHFULNESS of what I say? (Matt 5:33–34a) Do I Look for LOOPHOLES to GET OUT of what I say? (Matt 5:34b–36) Matthew 23:22 – And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. 1 Peter 2:22 – He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. Do I Always FOLLOW THROUGH on what I say? (Matt 5:37) James 5:12 – But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. John 8:44 – You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 5:33-37What was your big take-away from this passage / message?How can you strengthen your reputation when it comes to honesty and trustworthiness? How can you weaken it?Do you ever make excuses or look for loopholes to get out of what you say?Do you struggle with being a “yes or no” person? How do you fail to be reliable and follow through on what you say?What does it look like to truly repent of deception and make things right with those you have lied to?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Return your Bibles to Matthew chapter 5 verses 33 through 37.Matthew chapter 5 verses 33 through 37.Is it safe to say that trust is in short supply in 2025?We are constantly bombarded with lies, conspiracies, fraud,lame excuses, propaganda, cover-ups.With each passing year, we become less and less trustingas others seem less and less trustworthy.I was going to use an object lesson to prove this point,but for the sake of unity, which you'll see in a minutewhy I'm not doing this, I'm going to have you use your imaginations instead.Imagine with me that a bunch of images are from the screens behind meof famous individuals, politicians, billionaires, tech gurus, celebrities,social media influencers, world-renowned doctors,and popular preachers who you see pop up on Spotify, YouTube, and television.And with each image, with each person, I ask this very simple question,is this person trustworthy?And with some of these famous people, the answer would be a decisive yes,while others would be a resounding no.But some examples may prove to be a bit controversial and divisive.It may be a bit of a mixed reaction, which could lead to some frustration,heated debates, and strained relationships.Hence my unwillingness to show these images in service today.What if I were to close out this slideshow with a picture of you?And for the final time, I ask this very simple question, is this person trustworthy?What would be the response?What would your family members, friends, and fellow church members say about you?Maybe you don't want to play along with my made-up scenario,because you're afraid of what other people would say about you.But you cannot be oblivious in this area of life, because your reputation,when it comes to honesty and trustworthiness, is not a throwaway issue.Your credibility with others on the outside speaks to your integrity before the Lord on the inside.We've been studying the Sermon on the Mount for the past few months,and now this is the fourth week of our latest section, "The Heart of the Law."And throughout Matthew chapter 5, Jesus doesn't lessen the Old Testament law.He elevates it. He doesn't abolish it and throw it away.He digs down deep into our hearts to show how it applies at the deepest levels of who we are.Jesus proves that obeying God's commands and displaying true righteousness are matters of the heart.Jesus cares way more about the internal than the external,because who you are internally shapes all that you say and do externally.So far, we have covered what Christ commands and expects when it comes to anger,sexuality, and marriage.In Matthew chapter 5, verses 33 through 37,the Lord turns your attention to what he has to say about making promises and keeping your word.To help you gauge your own personal credibility, Jesus assigns an important testthat you cannot afford to skip or to fail.And this test is the trustworthiness test.Before we dig into the first question, let's go to the Lord in prayer.Please pray that I will faithfully proclaim God's word.While I pray that you will faithfully and joyfully receive God's word.Father, we thank you for the gift of your word.It is a mirror that you hold up to our hearts to show us what means to change.Lord, this morning you're going to show us some very challenging and difficult things about ourselvesthat we do not want to see,but we must recognize them and we must make changes by the power of your Holy Spirit.So may you do the work that only you can.We ask all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.All right, who is ready for the trustworthiness test?Well, we're going to take it anyway. So the trustworthiness test, question one.Do I need to convince others of the truthfulness of what I say?Do I need to convince others of the truthfulness of what I say?Let's read verses 33 through 34.Jesus says, "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old,'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'But I say to you, do not take an oath at all."This is the fourth time in Matthew chapter 5 that Jesus repeats the same verbal pattern."You have heard that it was said, but I say to you."So let's cover what was said in the past."You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn."You will not find this exact sentence word for word in the Old Testamentbecause it is a mashup of three different passages about keeping oaths.With the Nicos 19-2, Numbers chapter 30 verse 2 and Deuteronomy 23-21.In the Old Testament, oath taking was serious business.It wasn't something to be entered into lightly or carelessly.Vows were reserved for important matters.And God put them in place as a first line of defense against dishonesty.I find it helpful to view Old Testament oaths like spiritual speed bumps.Why do speed bumps exist?To cause you to slow down and keep pedestrian safe.Let me ask you, do speed bumps always do that?No, we've all seen maniacs treat speed bumps like challenges and jumps instead of warnings.And maybe you've been that maniac from time to time.Oaths were set up by God to curb the natural tendency to be deceitful and unreliable.They were like speed bumps.By taking an oath, you were saying,"God, you can bring judgment and cursing upon me if I do not keep my side of the bargain."But these spiritual speed bumps could not stop all dishonesty.It couldn't do away with people being deceitful.So vows help provide accountability, but they could not change the human heart,which is seen most clearly in the lives of the religious leaders of Jesus' day.The rabbis, the scribes, the Pharisees misinterpreted the Old Testament commands about vowsand twisted God's word to advance their own dishonest agenda.They believe that you shall not swear falsely, only spoke to perjuring yourself in a court of law.We'll talk about this in even greater detail in a few minutes,but they also believe that the instruction you shall perform to the Lord what you have swornleft some room for coloring outside the lines when it came to keeping your word.If you weren't in a court setting or you didn't make vows directly to Godand in His name there was some wiggle room to tell some lies.It wasn't ideal, but hey, not a big deal.As long as you said the right things and as long as you kept their man-made rules.Once again, the religious leaders are taking God's word, taking His commandsand putting it into their own man-made box.Their standards were shallow and their righteousness was phony.But Jesus calls His followers to a greater righteousness, to a higher standardwhen He says, "But I say to you, do not take an oath at all."This command brings up an important question that we have to answer.Is Jesus saying that it's always sinful to make a promise or a vow of any kind at any time?Well, some Christians, some scholars and pastors certainly think so,but that's a really hard stance to defend from the rest of Scripture.The Apostle Paul kept and he made and kept a vow in Acts 18-18.In Revelation chapter 10 verses 5 through 6, the Apostle John records an angel swearing enough.In the Old Testament, God made oaths to show the seriousness of His covenant promises.God didn't do that because he had a shaky reputation.He lovingly did that to give His people a rock-solid confidence in His trustworthinessand the certainty of His purposes and His plans.God's vows were like exclamation points that highlighted His credibilitybecause we so often do not trust Him even though His track record is flawless.The Lord established the Old Covenant with Israel and He has established a new covenant with all who believein the life, death, and resurrection of His Son.And at its core, a covenant is an oath-bound relationship that is built upon promises being keptand the Bible is crystal clear that God always keeps His promises.And speaking of covenants, the Bible describes marriage as a covenant relationshipwhich means that as a good and godly thing, you swear your devotion to your spouse.You know, 11 years ago, Pastor Jeff married my wife and Iand when he asked me to repeat my vows to Kate after him, I didn't say, "Whoa, wait preacher boy,I don't make promises or take vows. Don't you study the Bible for a living?Shouldn't you know that? Pass." Did I do that? Jeff, do you remember that? I don't think I did that.Let's move from the marriage ceremony to the courtroom.I'm called to testify in a very important case and the judge tells me to raise my right handand he asked me, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?"What should I say?Sorry, judge. I'm a Christian. I can't do that. You may as well call the next witness. I'm out of here. Deuces.Is that going to go very well with the judge?Listen, Jesus is not condemning vows in the context of a courtroom or a wedding ceremony.Jesus is forbidding the practice of taking frivolous oaths and making pointless promises in everyday life situations.He's saying, "Do not be the kind of person who needs to swear on something or someone to be believed.Do not be the kind of person who needs to clarify that you're not lying.Who needs to clarify that you're telling the truth.Be so trustworthy that your word can be taken at face value without jumping through hoops.As a follower of Christ, you shouldn't need the spiritual speed bumps of promises, oaths, and vows to be taken seriously.You should be a person of such great integrity that promises are unnecessary because your past performance speaks for itself.Others should trust you implicitly because you have proven yourself explicitly.Your heart should be so full of the truth that lying doesn't even register as a valid option to choose or path to take.For the Christian, honesty is like breathing.You inhale the truth of God's word and then you exhale the truth in every situation.You don't tell white lies because you understand that there are no such thing as white lies.Every lie, no matter how small, is a huge deal to the Lord.You don't embellish your stories or add on extra details to impress people because who cares what other people think about you.What matters most is what God thinks about you.And He knows what you're saying is not true.You don't cut corners at work because you ultimately serve the Lord of all creation who sees everything,not the human boss across the hall who cannot see into your heart.You cannot control much in this life, but you do have the ability to deepen your credibility or destroy it,to strengthen it day by day or to willingly weaken it.You have no right to be offended when someone doesn't believe you if you have a shady history of saying things that are not trueand making promises that you didn't keep.You are simply reaping the consequences of what you have sown.You are receiving the label of untrustworthy, which is a title that you have repeatedly earned.The trustworthiness test.Move on to the second question.And it will not be easier than the first.Do I look for loopholes to get out of what I say?Do I look for loopholes to get out of what I say?So Jesus pulls the rug out from underneath the religious leaders and exposes their ridiculous schemes in verses 34 through 36.But I say to you, do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,or by the earth, for it is His footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king.And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.As I said earlier, the scribes and Pharisees were experts at looking for loopholes and creating escape patches to get out of what they said,especially if what they said wasn't made in a court setting.So instead of swearing in God's name, they would swear by heaven, they would swear by the earth, the city of Jerusalem, or even their own heads.In their minds, swearing on these things was not binding like swearing in God's name.This is the verbal equivalent of crossing your fingers behind your back whenever you make a promise.They thought they were so clever. They found their own get out of oaths free card.But Jesus shows them that this line of thinking is childish and dumb.He destroys their loopholes and he closes their escape patches.Let's follow his logic.Jesus says, "Do not swear by heaven because who does heaven belong to?"All right. I know it's early. I'm going to ask that question again.Who does heaven belong to?It is His throne.And Matthew actually reinforces this later on when Jesus says,"And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits on it."He also says, "Don't swear by the earth because who does it belong to?"Once again, I'm going to try it again. Who does the earth belong to, everyone?It is His footstool. God is so awesome. He is so big.The earth is like a teeny tiny ottoman where He puts His feet up.The earth belongs to God, so don't swear by it.It's also not a great idea to swear by Jerusalem because who does it belong to?Great job, everyone.The king of Jerusalem, the king of the earth, and that is God.You swear by Jerusalem. You swear by the one who created and rules over Israel.And He also says, "Don't swear by your own head."It seems kind of weird, right? What does that even mean?Well, it means this. "If I don't keep my word, let me be decapitated."A modern day equivalent of this would be, "Cross my heart and hope to die. Stick a needle in my..."These words mean nothing and they control nothing.Jesus says, "You cannot make one hair white or black."Back in those days, people could not control their hair color with hair dye like we can today.Once your hair started going gray, there was no going back.But even today in 2025, you can't speak a change of hair color into existence, right?You can't say, "Let my hair be black. Let my hair be blonde again."You cannot do that.So Jesus is saying, "If you cannot even control the color of your hair with your words,your words definitely cannot control if you're decapitated or not."God is saying, "My words certainly control that."Which means, "I own you. I own your head. I am the one who controls all things.So do not swear by heaven, by earth, by Jerusalem, or your own head."Jesus even exposes the other things the religious leaders swore by in Matthew chapter 23 verses 16 through 22.They would swear by the gold of the temple instead of the temple itself.They would swear by the gift on the altar instead of the altar itself.Jesus doesn't actually commend them for their shrewd thinking and their creative brainstorming.He calls them blind fools who cannot see the stupidity of their own actions.He labels them as blind guides who have fallen into a sinful pitand are calling the rest of Jerusalem to join them in the darkness.I know what you may be thinking at this point.Taylor, this is an interesting history lesson at all.I just don't see how this relates to me.I haven't sworn by anything or anyone for a long time.I haven't said, "I swear on my mother's life. I swear on my grandma's grave.I swear by my life that I'm not lying."So how does this relate to me? I haven't done that for many years.Well, here's how the text relates to you."Don't be a sneaky word ninja like the scribes and Pharisees.Do not be a sneaky person.Do not look for escape hatches and loopholes to get out of what you say,because that does not honor the Lord."Let me give you some examples that may hit close to home.Husbands, you're supposed to carry out a task for your wife, but then you forget.Yeah, stretch your imagination because that never happens, right?Then your wife calls you on it and to save face you say, "Oh, I was just about to do it.You didn't give me enough time. That's sneaky. So don't do it."You commit to a small group, but on one particular night, you don't really feel like going.So you call your small group leader, "Oh, man, I'm really under the weather.I don't want anybody else to get what I have. So I'm not going to make it tonight."That's sneaky. So don't do it.Someone texts or calls, someone texts or emails youand really annoying message that you do not want to respond to.So the next time you see that person, you pretend like you accidentally missed it.That's sneaky. So don't do it.You get invited to an event that you desperately do not want to go to.So what do you say? "Yeah, maybe that might work. Let me get back to my calendar and get back to you."You ain't getting back to them about nothing. You are going to ghost this person.That's sneaky. So don't do it.Unfortunately, you do get sucked into that event that you do not want to go to.Instead of biting the bullet and attending, you call that person the day of,"I really wanted to come, but something came up."But nothing came up.That's sneaky. So don't do it.And I know what some of you are saying to yourselves right now."Taylor, this seems like really small potatoes in the grand scheme of things."Shouldn't we move on to something a bit bigger?I mean, come on. These kinds of excuses are harmless and they hurt no one.Actually, these kinds of excuses are harmful and they hurt everyone, including you.You are numbing yourself to the deceitfulness of sin.And you are paving the way to lie in bigger and bolder ways moving forward.Listen, no one starts out as a pathological liar.It starts with one compromise that you get away with.And then it's way easier to make another compromise.You cross the line, you get away with it,and then you make a habit out of pushing boundaries and testing the limits.If you keep this up, you will end up saying and doing things that you never thought you were capable of.Sneakiness is a way of slipping into your heart and taking over if you're not on guard against it.But most importantly, these kind of devious excuses are sinful and sinning against the Lord.And that alone should give you pause and cause you to cut this behavior out of your life.It is not wise, it is not right to walk in the sneaky footsteps of the scribes and Phariseeswho rejected and murdered the Son of God.Instead, walk in the footsteps of the one who committed no sin.Neither was deceit found in his mouth.Jesus always told the truth even when it cost his own life.Jesus never made excuses to get out of his mission of dying on the cross.You must always tell the truth even when it gets you into trouble.Never make excuses even when it seems like everyone else around you is.The final question of the trustworthiness test.Do I always follow through on what I say?Do I always follow through on what I say?Jesus wraps up by showing the alternative to being an undependable and sneaky person in verse 37.Let what you say be simply yes or no.Anything more than this comes from evil.Well, according to our Lord, being an honest person is not a complex concept.Say yes if you'll do something. Say no if you will not do something.That's super easy, right?Not really.It is so simple, but it is also so hard to live out.It isn't convenient to be a yes or no person, but it is the freest way to live.It is so stressful to not keep your word.It is so stressful to have all those deceitful plates spinning in your mindbecause at some point one will come crashing down and you will have to deal with the consequences.It is exhausting to put on a mask and pretend to be someone who you are not.It is painful to not be the person who you project yourself to be.It is embarrassing to be unreliableand to have the reputation of being a constant flake and not an unshakable rock.When I am closing things down in my office for the day and packing things up,I often text my wife to let her know that I am on the way home.But sometimes I get distracted with other things after I send that text.Writing down a sermon thought that I don't want to lose,wrapping up a task that I forgot to complete, or talking to Pastor Jeff.That never happens, right Jeff?Several months ago I arrived home way later than I told Kate that I would.And I profusely apologized and I will never forget her blunt response with a loving smile on her face."Oh, that's okay. I always add an extra 15 minutes to your arrival time when you text me."Ouch!That loving burn really stung my conscience.My wife gave me some extra wiggle roombecause she was aware that I often missed the target of my stated arrival time.Do people need to give you wiggle room because they know that you often missed the target of keeping your word?They know you'll be somewhere off on the board but way off-center,or maybe you'll miss the board completely.You mean well, you have good intentions but your follow-through fall short.Maybe you feel very discouraged by your unreliable reputation.You're thinking to yourself, "I don't want to be this way. I want to help everyone.I want to be there for everyone but I can't seem to keep all of my commitments."Well, it sounds like you have a no problem.You say yes to everything because you don't want to let anyone down.But in the process, you let everyone down because you cannot equally serve everyone.If you say yes to everyone, your word will not carry weight with anyone.And to be clear, saying no can be wrong and sinful.Some of you in this room say no way more than you should at home, at work, and even in this church.God may be calling you to step up more, not step back less.But at the same time, saying no can also be right and productive.Because you have to recognize that you are not God.You cannot be everywhere all the time and you cannot do everything at the same exact time.You are a limited person.You need to count the cost of what you are committing yourself to before you say yes or no.It takes great wisdom and discernment to say no to good things.So that you can say yes to the best things.And Jesus is so direct at the end of verse 37 and says that anything beyond being a yes or no person is evil.It is wicked.And this is recapt in James 512.Some translations of Matthew 537 say that this kind of behavior beyond being a yes or no person is from the evil one.Meaning if you live this kind of deceitful lifestyle, you are way worse off than just being like the scribes and Pharisees.You are also like their spiritual father, Satan.Listen to what Jesus says to religious leaders in John 844.You are of your father the devil and your will is to do your father's desires.He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him.When he lies, he speaks out of his own character for he is a liar and the father of lies.My kids bear a family resemblance to Kate and me.They have my eye color and thankfully they have her good looks.After service, you see them running around.It shouldn't come as a surprise that they belong to Kate and me because they look just like us.There are two spiritual families and it's obvious which one you belong to based on which father you resemble the most.Do you resemble Satan who lies, cheats and steals or do you resemble God who tells the truth, does the right thing in the right way and selflessly serves?Which father do you resemble the most?We've reached the end of the trustworthiness test.How did you do?Did you pass or did you fail?Did you stick the landing or did you crash into the runway?Maybe the Lord has encouraged your heart and revealed to you that you have a strong and solid reputation that is well deserved.If that's you, keep up the good work, keep your foot on the gas pedal and keep moving forward by the grace of God.Maybe you're convicted that yes, you are in the family of God, but you sure aren't acting like it right now.Instead of hiding away and keeping your lies a secret, be honest about your dishonesty to God and to those you have betrayed.It is not enough to just stop lying from now on. You also have to uncover the lies that you've already told.I know that's hard. I know that feels shameful.But remember, if you are a true believer in Christ, there is no condemnation for you.You can be honest about your sin and ask for forgiveness from others because the penalty has already been paid by Jesus Christ.We can share openly about our failures because they're no longer held against us.Maybe you've come to the realization that you resemble the evil one and belong to the wrong family.For years, you've unapologetically told bold-faced lies. You've shared half truths.You've led people on. You've been underhanded and you've covered your tracks so you can avoid getting in trouble.You may feel crushed under the weight of your own dishonesty right now.If that's you, please do not try to do better or be better on your own.Do not try to clean up your act because that will not solve the problem.Self-improvement and self-help are fools errands that lead straight to hell.Those worldly methods will not solve the problem that is truly within you, which is the problem of your heart.Please come clean and confess your sins to the Lord.Turn from your deceptive ways and throw yourself at the mercy of Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose again to save liars like you and me.If you do that, the Lord will give you a brand new heart that loves the truth, that desires the truth.A heart that is overflowing with a desire to share the truth with everyone.Only the most trustworthy one in all of existence can truly turn you into a trustworthy person.Let's pray.Father, I am a man of unclean lips who dwells among the people of unclean lips.Lord, we have sinned against you with our deception and our lies and our half truths.Lord, on our own, we are so helpless. We are so hopeless.But we thank you for your redeeming work.We thank you that you have cleansed us.You've cast our lies away from us as far as the east is from the west.Lord, help us not to be sneaky anymore.To not be deceptive anymore. To not make untrue excuses.Lord, help us to be people of our word who don't need to make promises.Help us to be people who have a solid reputation because our reputation impacts your reputation in this world.Lord, there's someone in this room who does not know and love you.May today be the day where they finally make the most important decision of their livesand are transformed and changed forever.We thank you for your goodness. We thank you that you are unchanging even though we're constantly changing.We ask all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

The man and woman of Christ needs to continue daily in being transformed by the renewing of the mind.  The carnal paradigm toward suffering is often avoidance, anger, or bitterness.  The Christian is called to learn and embrace the mindset of Christ with regard suffering.  The Apostle Paul communicates to us three great blessings we… Read more The post Three Great Blessings of Suffering Affliction! appeared first on Pleasant Hill Church of Christ.

We've all pondered the ultimate question in life: What happens when you die? Well, the Apostle Paul tells us it's much different for believers than it is for unbelievers. Of course we know about heaven and hell, but in our study today, Pastor Al shows us that Paul gets a little more specific in this passage. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

In this continuation of our look at what the Apostle Paul has been instructing, we have seen the issue of the night (the ignorance) that individuals end up in. This episode looks at the danger for believers of falling into this trap.

This is Pastor Tom Arnould welcoming you to the Good News Radio Broadcast. In the books of Ephesians and Colossians, the Apostle Paul begins his instructions regarding the Christian marriage, by speaking to the wives. If a wife doesn't have a cooperative attitude towards her husband, it will make his role very difficult to accomplish.

Ever felt like you were called… but stuck in a season of “not yet”? You’re not alone. Whether it’s King David or King Jesus, even God’s greatest waited between their anointing and appointing. But take heart—your “in-between” is never wasted. Key Takeaways You’re Sealed and Claimed – God put His Spirit in you as a guarantee of what’s to come (2 Cor 1:21-22). Anointed ≠ Immediately Appointed – David waited decades; Jesus waited years. Waiting doesn’t mean forgotten. God Doesn’t Rush – He moves in perfect timing (Isaiah 60:22). You’re not behind schedule—you’re being prepared. Your Wait Has a Purpose – David gathered strength and support; Jesus discipled and taught. Your delay is part of your development. Join the Conversation How are you holding onto faith in your waiting season? What has God been refining in you while you wait? Share your reflections using #LifeaudioNetwork. And remember: if He’s anointed you, He will appoint you—right on time.

Several modern statistics reveal that this could be the most anxious generation to ever exist. There are many reasons for why this may be the case, but we need to know that worry and anxiety are not just a modern struggle. In fact, Jesus speaks about worry, anxiety and peace many times and so do the other writers of the New Testament. All of this points to a very important truth: our mental health matters. Worry and anxiety have lots of contributing factors which we need to understand, but more than that, we need to understand the promise of Scripture that God will give us His peace in exchange for our anxiety. How do we make that exchange? Well, that is what the Apostle Paul talks about in our passage today! Speaker: Pastor Ben Dixon Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7 Series: Philippians: Joy From a Jail Cell Northwest Church - www.nwcfoursquare.org "On mission with Jesus to see the lost saved and disciples made."

"Have you received The Holy Spirit?" What a strange question to ask a person who claims to be a disciple! But this was the question that the Apostle Paul asks 12 disciples of John the baptizer in Acts 19, what is even more strange is their response, "we have never even heard of a Holy Spirit!" Many "believers" today claim to be disciples, and might have heard of The Holy Spirit, but have no evidence of His manifest presence in their lives, are you one of them? In this message, my goal is to encourage you to seek The Holy Spirit by showing you who He is, why we need Him and how to receive Him. If you see areas you need to correct but have no strength in yourself to change, stay tuned, The Helper is on His way!

In this powerful Memorial Day weekend message, Pastor Daniel Stevens opens our eyes to the unseen war being fought over our identity, security, and emotions. Drawing from 2 Corinthians, Luke, Matthew, and 2 Chronicles, he reminds us that spiritual warfare is real, but God has equipped us with divine weapons — prayer, Scripture, and community.Through stories like the Apostle Paul's struggles and the temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness, we learn that even heroes of the faith wrestled with insecurity and emotional weight. But we also discover how to respond: by listening to God's voice over the enemy's lies, standing on God's Word, and leaning on our brothers and sisters in Christ. Now is the time to rise, pray bold prayers, and fight the good fight — not in fear, but in faith.#SpiritualWarfare #FaithOverFear #ArmorOfGod #PrayerPower #IdentityInChrist #FightTheGoodFight #KingdomCulture #BoldFaith #ReviveUs #GoodHopeChurch #PastorDanielStevens #ChurchOnline[ Video Version ] / [ Sermon Notes ]STAY CONNECTEDSermon Podcast: https://sermons.goodhope.agInstagram: http://instagram.com/goodhopemnFacebook: http://fb.com/goodhopemn 

2 Timothy is the last letter the Apostle Paul writes. The Apostle has been hunted throughout the Roman world as a criminal, and then taken to Rome and placed in a cold dark cell awaiting execution by beheading. The year is 63-64 AD. The fire which destroys half of the buildings in Rome was blamed on the Christians by Nero; and Paul as a recognised ringleader of the hated sect is to be made the chief scapegoat. The introduction to this letter additionally contains the greeting of mercy (to grace and peace) which start all the letters before the Apostle's second imprisonment; excepting Philemon which is a personal letter. As one gets older one becomes even more conscious of the need for Divine mercy – for without it we are all doomed. The words of this letter are Paul's last and chosen very carefully to warn and advise. The first great charge was to safeguard the deposit of the sound teachings which were believed. Timothy's love of the truth goes back to his mother and grandmother (Lois and Eunice). Timothy had been given the gift of prophecy by the laying on of the hands of the elders. Paul encourages this faithful young man to stir up that gift and to be invigorated to enthusiastically testify as to what Timothy knew to be true. What a hope he has embraced and he stands unshakable in his conviction that, “Jesus Christ had abolished death and brought life (Zoe) and immortality (deathlessness) to light through the gospel” (v10). Timothy is exhorted to follow the great example of faith and love that had been lived out and constantly exhibited by Paul. The Apostle says that he has fathered Timothy in the gospel. Sadly in Paul's time of needing support he is abandoned by many. Paul names two in particular – Phygellus and Hermogenes – as foremost in his abandonment. But he commends Onesiphorus, who appears to have been killed for his going to Rome to aid the aged and suffering Apostle.

In this session of the Wonderful Words of Life Radio Program we will be looking into 2 Corinthians Chapter 4, which is a marvelous work of the Apostle Paul who writes about the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. +++++++ You can find more information on my website: https://pastorjohndunning.com/ You can hear my personal testimony on this website: https://www.ifyouonlyknew.life/

Ever feel like you’re stuck in a cycle of “I know better, but I still mess up”? You’re not alone. Even the Apostle Paul wrestled with doing the very things he didn’t want to do. This devotional reminds us that the Christian walk isn’t about flawless performance—it’s about daily surrender and steady growth.

It's Thursday, May 22nd, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Pakistani Muslim man abducted, forcibly converted, and “married” Christian teen A Christian 15-year-old girl in Pakistan reunited with her parents yesterday after being abducted five months ago. A 29-year-old Muslim man, Muhammad Anees, kidnapped her with four other men from her aunt's home, forcibly converted her to Islam, and married her. The girl suffered abuse for months and is now pregnant.  Attorney Hanif Hameed told Morning Star News, “This is a clear case of false conversion and fake marriage to cover the crime of abduction and rape.” Sadly, such cases are increasing in the South Asian country. Pakistan is ranked eighth on the Open Doors' World Watch List of nations where it is most difficult to be a Christian.  Billy Graham Association to host evangelism meeting in Germany The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is hosting the largest meeting on evangelism in 25 years in Berlin, Germany later this month. It's the same location that Rev. Billy Graham held the first World Congress on Evangelism in 1966. Evangelist Franklin Graham is focusing the upcoming event on the church in Europe. Listen to his comments to CBN News. GRAHAM: “We want to ignite a fire in Europe to where there's an excitement for evangelism and the churches are willing to be bold and not ashamed of the Gospel. “We've got Ukrainian churches coming. We have churches coming from Russia. You know, some say, ‘These countries are at war.'  Yes, they are, but the Gospel is more powerful than any of that stuff.” In Romans 1:16, the Apostle Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” Trump announces “Golden Dome” missile defense system U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans for a $175 billion missile defense system on Tuesday. U.S. Space Force General Michael Guetlein is leading the project, known as the “Golden Dome.”  Trump said the system should be completed in about three years. Defunding Planned Parenthood remains in Trump's budget bill A handful of conservative Republicans, who hesitated to support Trump's “big, beautiful bill,” appear ready to support the massive package after a furious pressure campaign from President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson, reports The Hill. After meeting with Trump at the White House on Wednesday afternoon, and then huddling together afterward on Capitol Hill, the members of the conservative Freedom Caucus emerged to say they're on the cusp of supporting the package — if a laundry list of changes promised by the White House is reflected in the final proposal. Their newfound enthusiasm appears to stem from assurances Trump and Johnson made during the White House meeting, including a promise from the president to issue more executive orders addressing some of the spending concerns the conservatives couldn't secure in the legislation, and expanding the rollback of green energy tax credits enacted in the Democrats' 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.  The bill seeks to deliver on Trump's key campaign promises, including making permanent Trump's 2017 tax cuts and eliminating taxes on tips.  And, thanks in part to the calls of Worldview listeners, the defunding of Planned Parenthood remains in the bill. Court: Florida should require parental consent for a minor's abortion Last Friday, a federal appeals court ruled against a Florida law that allows minors to get abortions without parental consent. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Fifth District Court of Appeals ruled that the law was unconstitutional and violated parental rights. The decision stated, “Whatever asserted constitutional abortion rights may have justified Florida's [law] in the past unequivocally have been repudiated by both the U.S. Supreme Court and the Florida Supreme Court.” Married, employed, church-attending people happier Harvard University recently published their Global Flourishing Study which surveyed 200,000 people across 22 countries over the past five years. The study found people experienced higher levels of wellbeing when married, employed, and attending religious services. Professor Tyler VanderWeele led the research. He noted, “Religious service attendance was one of the factors most consistently associated with present or subsequent wellbeing, across countries and across outcomes.” Anniversary of First Council of Nicaea And finally, this month marks the anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, 1,700 years ago. In May A.D. 325, about 300 Christian leaders convened in the city of Nicaea, located in modern-day Turkey.  The council dealt with the doctrine of the Trinity. In particular, the church at the time had to refute the heresy of Arianism, which denied that Jesus is fully and eternally divine.  The council went on to affirm the Trinity and Christ as fully God in the Nicene Creed. It is recited by churches worldwide to this day.  The creed affirms there is “one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by Whom all things were made.” John 1:1 and 4 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, May 22nd, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

"If" can be a very important word if someone thinks it means they can lose their salvation. That is how some might interpret 1 Corinthians 15:2 where the Apostle Paul says, "you are saved , if you hold fast to that word which I preached to you." The word that Paul preached is the gospel he reminds them of in verses 3-4. The readers had received the gospel and believed it, so there is no doubt they are saved (as many other passages in the epistle show). They were saved or delivered from hell. But what does Paul mean by using the present tense as if to say "you are being saved"? He is telling them that their steadfastness to the truths of the gospel will continue to deliver them from sin. That is why he reminds them about the death of Christ for our sins and His resurrectioin in verses 3-4. Those truths that were the foundation of our salvation are also the foundation of our Christian growth and sanctification, as also explained by our union with Christ in Romans 6:2-5. If they depart from these identification truths, then their salvation will be "in vain," or not reach its intended purpose of their sanctification. The gospel truths that saved us also sanctify us, or continue to save us. This episode is from GraceNotes no. 62. Please let us know what you think, like it, and share it. #GraceLifeMinistries#sanctification#eternalsecurity

In 1 Corinthians 10, the Apostle Paul warns the Corinthians against overconfidence and idolatry by drawing lessons from Israel's history. He reminds them how the Israelites experienced God's blessings the cloud, the sea, spiritual food and drink, yet many were still judged because of their disobedience and sin. He emphasizes that these examples were written as warnings for believers today.

This is Pastor Tom Arnould welcoming you to the Good News Radio Broadcast. Ephesians 5:25 reads, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." In Ephesians 5, the Apostle Paul gives three times the amount of instruction to the husband compared to the wife.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” These words from the Apostle Paul might be some of the most relatable in the Bible. Have you ever felt that way—caught in a struggle with yourself, wanting to do better but falling into the same patterns? We all do at times. We overextend or overindulge in areas like spending, drinking, working, losing our temper, or overcommitting on our schedules. It can feel like we're powerless to get things under control. Why is it so hard to live the life we truly desire, even when we have the best intentions? This sermon explores the challenge of mastering our desires so that we can live for what we want most, rather than what we want right now. What if real change isn't just about trying harder? What if it isn't something that's missing in our lives, but someone? Understanding this difference could be the key to lasting change and a new kind of freedom.

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” These words from the Apostle Paul might be some of the most relatable in the Bible. Have you ever felt that way—caught in a struggle with yourself, wanting to do better but falling into the same patterns? We all do at times. We overextend or overindulge in areas like spending, drinking, working, losing our temper, or overcommitting on our schedules. It can feel like we're powerless to get things under control. Why is it so hard to live the life we truly desire, even when we have the best intentions? This sermon explores the challenge of mastering our desires so that we can live for what we want most, rather than what we want right now. What if real change isn't just about trying harder? What if it isn't something that's missing in our lives, but someone? Understanding this difference could be the key to lasting change and a new kind of freedom.

The personal letter of Paul to his son in the faith, Timothy, is written from Rome during the Apostle Paul's first imprisonment (during his house arrest of two years) between 61-63 AD. The standard greeting of the Greeks “charis” – “grace”; and of the Hebrews, “shalom” – “peace”, or “wholeness”; begin the letter. Verses 3-11 warn against false teachers. The Apostle starts with genealogies because the false teachers were asserting to their hearers the importance which they placed on their own lineage. Law is a necessity for humans are, by weakness and choice, sinners. From verses 12-17 the Apostle Paul states the first of five faithful sayings, written in the pastoral letters of 1 and 2 Timothy; and Titus. The first of these sayings is that “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners”. Paul acknowledges that he is one of the foremost in this category; because he persecuted believers. In verses 18-20 Timothy is entrusted with the “charge” – Greek “deposit” ie solemn responsibility – to oppose false teachers and their teachings. In chapter 2:1-6 Timothy is told to pray for all people so that believers may be allowed to worship God in peace. Paul states that God is the Father alone. He further adds that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of the Father, whose offering of himself brings believers to God. From verses 8-15 there are explanations about the right way to worship God. These include sincere prayer from dedicated believers; modesty in all aspects of appearance – avoiding drawing attention to oneself in the wearing of jewellery and in the wearing of immodest clothing. The Apostle says that in the meetings of believers that sisters acknowledge their God appointed roles by the wearing of a head covering and by allowing the men to teach. Nonetheless the sisters bearing of children is fulfilling (if by circumstances they are able) a God given role. A sister, Mary, gave birth to our Saviour. In chapter 3:1 the Apostle gives the second faithful saying, “those aspiring to guiding believers have chosen a noble path”. Verses 2-7 speak of the qualifications for an overseer (bishop), or guide of believers. Verses 8-13 outline the requirements for deacons (assistant guides for believers). Verses 14-16 talk about God and contain the great truth of the gospel that Jesus Christ is the pillar and foundation of the temple of faithful believers. Christ has revealed to all believers the character and traits of our Sovereign Father. Pivotal to understanding the gospel is a grasp of the doctrine of God manifestation.God was revealed in Christ who has revealed the character and attributes of his Father. Having done that, the Father then welcomes His Son to join Him in heaven. It seems that the Apostle Paul's thoughts may be based on Daniel 6:19-26. Read aloud, pause and ponder.

Have you ever found yourself basing your mood and happiness on your teenagers mood and happiness?  I've learned that that's not a good thing to do. If you do, you're just setting yourself up for disappointment. We've learned that even though we began our parenting adventure with a wonderfully written script. . . a script written by us that looked quite a bit like a Norman Rockwell painting. . . God had a different script for us to live. His script wasn't 100% percent happy like ours. While it was a struggle for us, we learned that God gives us and our kids the opportunity to struggle through life so that we might grow and mature. If we were all to base our happiness on how well things were going with our kids. . . well, we'd all wind up spending time being miserable people. The Apostle Paul laid out a better way. . . in fact, it's the right way. He writes in Romans 12: 12, “Base your happiness on your hope in Christ. When trials come endure them patiently, steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer.”

The Apostle Paul praised the Church of the Thessalonians for their display of faith, hope, and love. These traits prove their devotion to Jesus and to His Gospel.visit us at: conejochurch.com

In this thought-provoking episode of Upon Further Review, hosts Cody Kitchen and Dr. John Hall shift the focus to one of the most foundational and often-misunderstood elements of the Christian faith: the theology of the cross.Drawing from the writings of the Apostle Paul, Cody and Dr. Hall dive deep into what the cross truly means—not just as a symbol, but as a declaration of God's power, wisdom, and grace. They explore how Christ's crucifixion reframes human pride, redefines strength, and reveals the stunning humility at the heart of salvation.Key Takeaways:The Power of the Cross: What makes the cross more than just a historical event?The Significance of the Cross: Why Paul makes it central to his theology.Christ Crucified: What does this say about God's character and our redemption?Humility in Salvation: How the cross confronts human pride.Why the Cross Still Matters Today.And don't miss our fan-favorite finale—the "That's Stupid" Segment—where things get a little lighter as we poke fun at some of life's oddities and our pastor's favorite hobby!

Text: Acts 27In Acts 27, the Apostle Paul finds himself in the middle of a violent storm at sea — a moment of chaos, fear, and uncertainty. Yet through it all, God's presence, purpose, and promise shine through the darkness.Join us in this powerful sermon as we unpack the truths found in this gripping chapter of Scripture, and find what a true disciple looks like through Paul's example. Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) May 18, 2025Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

In 2 Thessalonians 3 Paul asks for the believers' prayers that he might be helped to freely teach the gospel without hindrance. From verses 6-15 the Apostle urges the Macedonian faithful to keep working and avoiding idleness. Many had ceased working because they mistakenly thought that the coming of Jesus Christ was so close that they didn't need to work. Idle brothers had to learn to heed the advice contained in this letter. In the last two verses the Apostle Paul asks God to give the believers peace.

Kyle Packnick shares this weeks message on the Apostle Paul's conversion experience and his response to the grace of God.   STAY CONNECTED // Sanctuary Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearesanctuary/ // Sanctuary Website - https://www.blackrock.org/sanctuary/   HONOR | MERCY | GENEROSITY Sanctuary is the young adult community of Black Rock Church built on living out the honor, mercy, and generosity found in the love and life of Jesus.

Send us a textThe ancient city of Ephesus was home to a church started by the Holy Spirit using the Apostle Paul to teach the believers in this city the way to Jesus.  It is one of my favorite books in the Bible because it's packed with so many great truths that if the believer receives them, their lives are radically impacted by God.  

What was Paul's legacy to Christians? Paul was a man that was given a real vision. He was an apostle to the Gentiles and he was a man on the move. In many senses we might think of the Apostle Paul in today's terminology as a church planter, but not one who would plant a church in Jasper, Alabama and then stay there for the next 20 years. Instead, he would be like one who planted a church at Jasper, build up some leadership there in that local congregation, and then he's going to move on to Pell City, Alabama - Paul is on the move. >>Watch on YouTubeDr. Mark Gignilliat is professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School, where he teaches courses in Old Testament and Hebrew, and also serves as theologian in residence at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Birmingham. Dr. Gignilliat is married to Naomi, and they have four children.

Welcome to the Harvest Bible Chapel podcast. This weekend, we're in Acts 20:1–12 with a message titled “A Good Example.” There's something powerful about a life worth imitating. From the heroes of Hebrews 11 to faithful believers we've known personally, their stories stir us to live differently. In the same way, the life of the Apostle Paul in Acts compels us—not just to admire him, but to follow his lead. So what does a faithful example look like? Paul shows us: be encouraging, be a friend, and ultimately, be like Jesus. This is a message that calls us to build others up, link arms with one another, and carry the presence of Christ into every space we occupy. We're so glad you're listening in. Now let's open God's Word together. This podcast is a production of Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago. Executive Producer: Flavius Herlo Speaker: Dr. Jeff Bucknam Sound design, mixing, and editing: Bryan Tripp Graphic Design: Wesley Cassford Social Media: Bryan Spahr Producer: Dave Putnam WE INVITE YOU TO CONNECT WITH US: • Website: www.harvestbible.org/ WE INVITE YOU TO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: • Instagram: @harvestbiblechapel • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harvestbiblechapel/

My friend Judy was a missionary living in Nairobi, Kenya. She traveled a good deal in and around Nairobi, and if you've ever been there, you know it's pretty much a continual traffic jam. And there are always people lined up on the streets selling everything you can imagine—including to my horror, puppies. One day Judy was traveling with her driver, Baraza, and she saw a woman selling bananas, with a baby strapped to her back and two others playing at her feet. Judy told Baraza, “Pull over; I want to buy some bananas.” She gave him the equivalent of about two dollars and told him to buy all her bananas—about 20. “But Sister,” he said, “why are you buying 20 bananas? You can't eat that many.” “Just buy them,” she told him. He was baffled as to why Judy would want so many bananas, since she lives alone, but he did as she insisted. When he paid the lady for all her bananas, her face lit up with a huge, incredulous smile. That probably represented two days of food for her and her family. Baraza said, “Sister, did you see how happy she was. You did a good thing for her.” Then they traveled on, and Judy saw a crippled man with only one leg by the side of the road. She told Baraza to stop and give him some bananas. Once again, Baraza saw how thrilled the man was to get the bananas. This went on for their entire journey until Judy had given away all the bananas. Baraza—who is a wonderful believer—said, “Sister, this was so good. I can do this. I can give away bananas.” And as a result, Baraza began to carry bananas, apples, and other fruit with him to give to people randomly as God led him. So, he had a banana ministry. What do you have in your hands that could easily become gifts of love to the people in your life—strangers, coworkers, family, friends—whoever?  I'm suggesting that every one of us should look for our banana ministry—something we intentionally do to share the love of God. You're probably familiar with the phrase “random acts of kindness.” Actually, it has become a movement, encouraging people to purposely plan and perform kind acts for others. Lots of research has been done that shows the incredible benefits for the person who decides to plan and execute random acts of kindness. According to research from Emory University, when you are kind to another person, your brain's pleasure and reward centers light up, as if you were the recipient of the good deed—not the giver. This phenomenon is called the “helper's high.” Isn't it interesting that when people follow the principles of Scripture, whether they are believers or not, they discover it benefits everyone. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone. . . (2 Timothy 2:24). And to the church in Colossae he wrote: Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12). He was preaching “random acts of kindness” long before the term was coined. Certainly, as followers of Jesus Christ, we should share “random acts of kindness” more than any others because we have the Holy Spirit, and we also have the great privilege of showing God's love to a loveless, often cruel world. And then, as the studies show, we discover what Jesus told us—it is truly more blessed to give than to receive. Let me tell you about my friend, Kiyoko, a Japanese woman in my church. She was inspired to use her creativity to share the gospel. So, she made beautiful little bookmarks with a Bible verses, using things people throw away, like candy wrappers. She carried her bookmarks with her and whenever she had an opportunity—with a stranger, a store clerk, someone she sat by on the bus or airplane—she gave them one of her bookmarks. She called them “born-again bookmarks,” and explained how she makes them from scraps of paper that people throw away. This opened the door for her to tell them that her born-again boo...

This episode begins an examination of the Apostle Paul's proclamation that where there is no law, there is no sin. From here, Dr. Paulson will examine Erasmus and Luther as they consider what it means to be free and what, if any, glimpse can be gathered from looking back to Eden.  Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Preorder Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley Ditching the Checklist by Mark Mattes Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation, Book 1 of 2 by Amy Mantravadi More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson  

In this episode, Christine Caine draws wisdom from the life of the Apostle Paul as he delivers his farewell address in Acts 20. Paul's unwavering passion to finish his race and fulfill his purpose in Christ—despite persecution, hardship, and uncertainty—is a compelling call for every believer. Christine reminds us that there is no age, stage, or circumstance that excuses us from obedience to God's call. The wisdom to live well isn't just about knowledge—it's about surrender, perseverance, and keeping our eyes on eternity. This episode will challenge you to recommit to your purpose and finish strong, no matter what it costs. Get your free Episode Reflection Guide at ChristineCaine.com/Podcast. + + + + + Christine Caine is a speaker, activist, and best-selling author. She and her husband, Nick, founded the anti-human trafficking organization The A21 Campaign. They also founded Propel Women, an initiative that is dedicated to coming alongside women all over the globe to activate their God-given purpose. Each week she brings you a Gospel-centered message filled with Biblical truths that will equip and empower you to step into the life God has for you. Purchase Sacred Marriage HERE.