Podcasts about apostle paul

Monks and money don't seem to go together—but maybe they should. Early Christian monastics developed a biblical approach to possessions that offered freedom from fear and created space for generosity. Their example continues to resonate with believers navigating modern financial pressures.Dr. Shane Enete, Chair of the Finance Department at Biola University, joins the show today to help us explore what he calls “monk finances,” drawing on early Christian history to uncover insights that remain strikingly relevant today.Why Monks and Finances Feel Like OppositesFor many people, the idea of monks and money in the same sentence feels contradictory. That perception has historical roots.In the early centuries of the church, some believers reacted to growing spiritual complacency by withdrawing from society. These early monks sought lives of radical devotion and discipline. In extreme cases, they rejected material possessions entirely, viewing the physical world—and even the body itself—as spiritually dangerous.But this wasn't the final word on monastic life.Leaders like St. Anthony and St. Benedict helped reshape the movement. They recognized that God created the material world before the fall; therefore, possessions, work, and even money could be used for His glory. Instead of rejecting material things, they began developing thoughtful, disciplined ways to steward them.Out of that shift came a surprisingly rich theology of money.Recovering a Biblical View of PossessionsAs monastic communities formed, they began to rethink how Christians should live with resources.Rather than treating money as evil, they saw it as necessary for life—but not as a source of identity or security. Their approach emphasized moderation, equality, and shared responsibility.Their guiding principle was simple: Meet your needs, then help meet the needs of others.Money became a tool for self-sufficiency that led to hospitality, not a means of achieving independence from God. This perspective echoed the Apostle Paul's teaching to the early church, especially in communities wrestling with wealth and inequality.In many ways, the monks' worldview stands in contrast to modern financial culture. Where today's systems often prioritize accumulation and long-term personal security, the monastic tradition emphasized dependence on God and care for neighbor.Economic Sufficiency vs. Economic SecurityOne of the most striking insights from monastic life is the distinction between economic sufficiency and economic security.The monks worked hard. They cultivated gardens, produced goods, and provided for themselves. But they intentionally stopped short of building wealth for personal protection. Their goal was sufficiency—having enough to live and to share.A well-known story about St. Anthony illustrates this progression. After initially living in isolation, he began growing food to avoid burdening others. Eventually, he expanded his efforts to feed visitors and care for those who came seeking wisdom. His work produced enough for his needs and created margin for generosity. That pattern shaped monastic communities:Work diligentlyMeet basic needsCreate marginPractice hospitalityThey believed the danger came when financial planning shifted from provision to self-protection—when wealth began to replace trust in God.Guarding the Heart from the Love of MoneyMonks viewed wealth with a sober realism. They saw it as useful but spiritually risky.Money, they believed, has a way of whispering false assurances: “You're safe. You're secure. You don't need God.”To guard against this, monastic communities developed “rules of living”—structured rhythms that shaped how they worked, spent, and shared. These practices served as guardrails, protecting their hearts from drifting into consumption and self-reliance.The goal wasn't deprivation. It was clarity. They wanted money to remain a servant, never a master.The Power of an “Economy of Excess”One of the most compelling ideas to emerge from monastic life is what might be called an “economy of excess.”In many monasteries, individuals were trained not to consume everything they were given. Instead, they intentionally left a portion unused—placing it at the center of the table for others.Imagine a community of dozens of people, each holding back a small amount. The result was abundance. Tables overflowed, and anyone in need could be cared for.This practice created margin without requiring wealth.It also mirrors biblical principles found throughout Scripture. In the Old Testament, landowners were instructed not to harvest their fields to the edges so the poor could gather what remained. The design was intentional: leave space for others, and generosity becomes woven into everyday life.When consumption stops short of the limit, community flourishes.Freedom from Financial AnxietyThe monks' approach offers a powerful corrective to modern financial anxiety.Today's culture often promotes endless striving—more income, more savings, more security. Yet the pursuit rarely ends. Wants expand, expectations rise, and contentment slips further away.Monastic wisdom points in another direction: simplify, define “enough,” and trust God with the rest.There is a surprising freedom in that posture. When life is not driven by maximizing consumption, gratitude grows. When security is not tied solely to accounts and assets, dependence on God deepens.Their example reminds us that peace is not found in having everything, but in needing less and sharing more.What We Can Learn TodayThe monks did not reject money. They reoriented it. They used resources to:Depend on GodCare for their communitiesPractice hospitalityServe the poorTheir lives challenge modern assumptions about success, security, and sufficiency. They invite believers to examine not just how money is used, but what role it plays in shaping the heart.Perhaps their most enduring lesson is this: Financial wisdom is not measured by accumulation, but by alignment—with God, with others, and with the purposes of His Kingdom.Ancient as it may seem, that vision speaks directly to our moment.———————————————————————————————————————Dr. Shane Enete's full article, “Monk Finances: The Economic Brilliance of Early Christian Monks,” appears in the latest issue of Faithful Steward magazine. When you become a FaithFi Partner with a monthly gift of $35 (or $400 annually), you'll receive Faithful Steward magazine and other exclusive resources to help you grow as a faithful steward. Visit FaithFi.com/Partner to learn more.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I'm working with a new financial advisor who's recommending an Allianz Index Advantage Plus annuity. He says it offers downside protection, no fees to us, and growth potential with gains that can be locked in several times a year. I'm not familiar with this—what should I know?My mom, my sister, and I all own a home together. When my mom passes away, will her share automatically be divided between us, or does something else happen legally?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Monk Finances: The Economic Brilliance of Early Christian Monks - Article by Dr. Shane Enete - Faithful Steward: Issue 4)Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful StewardshipWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the peace you're looking for isn't found in getting more—but in trusting Jesus more deeply? In a world that constantly tells us we need more to be happy, true contentment can feel out of reach. In this episode, Christine Caine unpacks the Apostle Paul's powerful teaching on contentment, revealing how real peace is learned, cultivated, and sustained through dependence on Christ—not circumstances. No matter what life brings, you can live anchored, joyful, and purpose-filled. ✨ In this message, you'll learn: • Why contentment must be learned, not wished for • How to break free from comparison, scrolling, and constant dissatisfaction • How to live content in Christ while still pursuing God's purpose with passion

A series of exhortations given by Apostle Paul that gives us some practical pointers for improving our service to othersOrder this full message on MP3 HERE. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1213/29?v=20251111

In this episode, Caleb Lenard (DEdMin) and Brian Rosner (PhD, Cambridge) discuss his new book, 'A Theology of Romans,' exploring the depth and richness of the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans. Rosner emphasizes the importance of understanding the purpose and structure of Romans, the significance of the Gospel, and the connections to the Old Testament. He also provides practical tips for teaching Romans and recommends resources for further study, making this conversation a valuable resource for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of this foundational text.Resources​Strengthened by the Gospel: A Theology of Romans by Brian Rosner​ Paul and the Law: Keeping the Commandments of God by Brian Rosner​Romans by Tom Schreiner​The Letter to the Romans by Doug Moo​Romans: A Theological and Pastoral Commentary by Michael Gorman

Why do you exist? Why did God save you? Why did God save you from your sin? Why are you a part of the faith family at First Baptist Church? Why are you here? In our message today, the Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5 that we have been reconciled to reconcile. We have a purpose in this life, and it is to proclaim the life-transforming gospel of the Lord Jesus from our neighborhoods to the nations. We are God's Plan A to take the good news that God wants to reconcile people to Himself through His Son.   No matter who you are or what you've done, God has a plan for your life. And that plan is to know Him, and ultimately to make Him known. Join with us today as we see that we are reconciled to reconcile.    ---    Have you ever felt powerless? I have, and it's a horrible feeling. I'm used to being able typically to figure out the challenges that come my way. Sometimes, though, nothing seems to work. As we walk together through 2 Corinthians, we're going to see what true power really looks like. We're going to see in various ways that God's power is made perfect in our weakness, and we're going to see why Paul would say “when I am weak, then I am strong.”    Sermon Notes: http://bible.com/events/49563122 Submit a Question: bit.ly/BeyondSundayQuestions

In this Episode, we go through 1 Timothy 3 and we talk about what God's design is to be a leader and what the order is for both Men & Women. Join us as we unravel with what Apostle Paul is saying!

Pastor Gabriel Hughes preaches on Romans 8:31-36 where the Apostle Paul asks several questions, including, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" and says that no one can bring a charge against God's elect. Visit providencasagrande.com for more info about our church!

He was a Phrygian by birth, a slave of Philemon, to whom the Apostle Paul addressed his epistle. Onesimos escaped from Philemon and fled to Rome, where he was converted to the Faith by St Paul. St Paul sent him back to his master, who at St Paul's urging gave him his freedom. He served the Church for many years before dying a martyr, beaten to death with clubs.   Saint Onesimos is also commemorated on November 22, with Sts Philemon, Archippus and Aphia; and on January 4 at the Synaxis of the Seventy Disciples. Our Venerable Father Dalmatius of Siberia (1697) Saint Dalmatius is venerated as a pioneer of the movement that took many ascetics to dwell in the wilderness of Siberia, establishing a new company of Desert Fathers and causing the Russian Far North to be called the 'Northern Thebaid.' He was born in Tobolsk and reared in piety by his family, recently-converted Tatars. When grown, he entered the imperial army as a Cossack and served with such distinction that the Tsar awarded him a noble title. He married and lived in Tobolsk in comfort and prosperity. One day — after the destruction of Tobolsk in a great fire in 1643 — struck by a realization of the vanity of worldly things, he left family, wealth and property and went to a monastery in the Ural Mountains, taking with him only an icon of the Dormition of the Theotokos.   He was tonsured a monk with the name of Dalmatius, and devoted himself to prayer and ascesis with such fervor that, a short time later, the brethren elected him Abbot. Fearing pride and fleeing honor, Dalmatius fled with his icon of the Theotokos to a remote cave, where he lived a life of silence and continual prayer. His presence did not long remain secret in that sparsely-settled region, and soon Christians were coming from far and wide to ask his prayer and counsel; many pagans came to him for holy Baptism. Soon his habitation became too small for those who had chosen to stay as his disciples, and the Saint received a blessing from the Bishop of Tobolsk to build a wooden chapel and some cells. This was the beginning of the great Monastery of the Dormition (also called the Monastery of St Dalmatius).   Over the years the brethren endured many tribulations. Once the Tatar Prince of the region, provoked by false rumors, planned to destroy the monastery and kill all the monks. The night before the attack, the holy Mother of God appeared to the prince in resplendent clothes, holding a flaming sword in one hand and a scourge in the other. She forbade the Prince to harm the monastery or the brethren, and commanded him to give them a permanent concession over the region. Convinced by this vision, the Prince made peace with the monks and became the Monastery's protector, though he was a Muslim.   In the succeeding years the Monastery was repeatedly burned down by the fierce pagan tribes which inhabited the area; once all the monks except St Dalmatius himself were butchered, but always the monastery was rebuilt. The Saint reposed in peace in 1697, and was succeeded as abbot by his own son Isaac, who built a stone shrine at the Monastery to house the relics of the Saint and the icon of the Mother of God which he had kept with him throughout his monastic life.

In this message, we unpack what the Apostle Paul meant by “spirituals” and charismata—supernatural grace-gifts given by the Holy Spirit to build up the Church and advance God's Kingdom. Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 explain how each believer is uniquely gifted and positioned by God to serve with purpose, humility, and obedience. Discover how to discern your spiritual gifts, grow in godly character, and embrace your role on God's team!

Rules of Engagement: A Journey Through 1 CorinthiansWhat does it look like to be the church in a world that doesn't always understand—or welcome—what we're about? That's the question the Apostle Paul tackled head-on in his letter to the church in Corinth, and it's the question we're wrestling with together this series.Paul planted a church in one of the most diverse, culturally complex cities in the ancient world. And almost immediately, things got messy. Division. Pride. Tolerance of things that shouldn't be tolerated. Silence where there should have been honesty. The Corinthian church was full of people who had the Spirit of God and the mind of Christ—and were still acting like the world around them.Sound familiar?Week by week, chapter by chapter, we'll walk through Paul's letter and discover that we are God's temple, keepers of an extraordinary mystery, and called to live like it. Rules of Engagement // Chapter 6A Study in 1 CorinthiansFebruary 15, 2026Jeremy Olimb // Lead Pastor

Welcome to the Podcast of Southwest Bible Fellowship in Tempe, Arizona. WHO ARE WE? • We are a group of people who are committed to living the grace life as set forth by the apostle of the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul. • We come together to study our Bibles, and yes, we believe we have God's perfect Word in the King James Bible. It and it alone is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice! • We do not come together and study our Bibles for the intent of being smarter than others. We understand that knowledge for the sake of knowledge is purely vain and serves no Godly purpose. • We do come together and study our Bibles for the intent of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that we have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless we live; yet not us, but Christ liveth in us: and the life which we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us. (Galatians 2:20) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that because Jesus Christ shed His blood for us and we should not live for ourselves but for Him, who died for us and rose again. (2 Cor. 5:15) • We do not claim to have attained to these lofty goals, but we press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) You can donate to this ministry through www.butnow.org and the PayPal button on the homepage.

Welcome to the Podcast of Southwest Bible Fellowship in Tempe, Arizona. WHO ARE WE? • We are a group of people who are committed to living the grace life as set forth by the apostle of the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul. • We come together to study our Bibles, and yes, we believe we have God's perfect Word in the King James Bible. It and it alone is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice! • We do not come together and study our Bibles for the intent of being smarter than others. We understand that knowledge for the sake of knowledge is purely vain and serves no Godly purpose. • We do come together and study our Bibles for the intent of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that we have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless we live; yet not us, but Christ liveth in us: and the life which we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us. (Galatians 2:20) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that because Jesus Christ shed His blood for us and we should not live for ourselves but for Him, who died for us and rose again. (2 Cor. 5:15) • We do not claim to have attained to these lofty goals, but we press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) You can donate to this ministry through www.butnow.org and the PayPal button on the homepage.

In Week 2 of our No Other Gospel series, Pastor Sean Gasperetti walks through Epistle to the Galatians 1:11–24 and asks the question: Do you believe the Gospel can change someone's life? Looking at the radical transformation of the Apostle Paul—from persecutor to preacher—we're reminded that God loves to reveal His heart to the people you'd least expect, and that private formation leads to public fruitfulness. If God can change Paul, He can change anyone—not to elevate us, but to magnify Him.

What are the true marks of a Christian? In Philippians 3:3, the Apostle Paul gives three defining evidences of a life transformed by grace:• Worship by the Spirit of God• Glory in Christ Jesus• Put no confidence in the flesh Christianity is not about what you add to Christ. It is about what God has done to you. Like a surgeon who cuts in order to heal, God performs sovereign surgery on the human heart—removing what is dead and diseased and leaving behind unmistakable “scars of grace.” Has God cut to your heart?Has He removed your confidence in yourself?Has He left the marks of true conversion on your life? This sermon explores the biblical meaning of “we are the circumcision,” tracing the promise of heart transformation from Deuteronomy 30:6 and Romans 2:28–29 to its fulfillment in Christ. We'll see how true worship (John 4:23–24), spiritual discernment (1 Corinthians 2:12–14), and boasting in Christ alone define the people of God. Three marks. One Savior. No confidence in the flesh.

The Apostle Paul teaches that while the Old Sin Nature has been put to death in believers, they continue to wrestle with the Flesh and may yield to its temptations. Pastor Rick interprets Paul's words in Romans 7:14-25 as a reflection on a period when Paul was disconnected from God—a frustrating season marked by attempts to live righteously apart from the Holy Spirit's presence and empowerment. The passage reveals a crucial truth: we lack the capacity within ourselves to experience the joyful, abundant life God intends. Paul recognizes that Christ alone is his hope, effectively preparing readers for the solution unveiled in Romans 8. This message was delivered at CrossPoint church.

So often we try to make changes in our lives, you know, the difficult things, those entrenched behaviours that keep ruining things for us – but try as we might, somehow we always seem to fail. But worship, well, that's something that changes us – from the inside out.   Worship Sets us Free Well, welcome to this programme; it's the last programme in our four part series called, "Worship as a Way of Life". I guess the guts of it has been getting our hearts and our minds around the fact that worship is more than just going to church and singing songs on Sunday morning – so much more. And over the last three weeks we have seen that there are really two aspects to worship. Two different words used for worship in the New Testament. Worship on the inside – bowing down our lives to God, the thing that happens in our hearts, and then what we go on and do with that – living out that worship through our service, on the outside. It makes sense – look at a marriage. I love my wife, Jacqui, with all my heart – I adore her but if that's all I did it wouldn't be a very great marriage. Once a week, if I just said, "Darling, I love you", come on, what sort of a marriage would it be? I have to live out that marriage; I have to live out that love. I don't always do that perfectly, but she has to know that I love her through how I treat her and what I say to her and what I do for her and as I live out that love, it changes me on the inside and I love her even more. So this "inside", "outside" thing, well they feed off each other. The question is, is it like that in our relationship with God? Today we are going to conclude this series by asking that question. Ok, so if I worship God, what happens to me? I mean, does it change me, does it transform me, does it change the way I am on the inside and the outside? We are going to start off today back in the Book of Exodus, so if you have a Bible, go and grab it. We will go to the Book of Exodus and we are looking where Moses went up to Mount Sinai and got the Ten Commandments. Something happened to him up there. Have a look at Exodus, chapter 34, beginning at verse 29. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he wasn't aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken to the Lord. When his brother Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses his face was radiant and they were afraid to come near him but Moses called to them. So Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him and he spoke with them. Afterwards all the Israelites came near to him and he gave them all the Commandments that the Lord had given him up on the mountain. When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face but whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with Him he removed the veil until he came out again. And when he came out and told the Israelites what had been commanded they saw that his face was radiant again. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord again. See, when you go into God's presence, you can't help it, something happens to you. And with Moses, he went into God's presence up on Mount Sinai and then in the tabernacle (the tent), which was the tent of the meeting place. When Israel were out there in the desert for forty years in the exodus, they built a tent and in the centre of that tent; in a place called the Holy of Holies, is where the presence of God rested with them. And only Moses would go in and speak with God. And when he did that there was this radiance; something different about him, when he came out from having been in God's presence. He was transformed in a way that the people, well, they really noticed this. A few thousand years later the Apostle Paul looks back on all of that and comes up with the conclusion that when we turn to the Lord our God and worship Him, something like that happens, only much better. Let's again go to God's Word and have a look at Second Corinthians, chapter 3, beginning at verse 13. This is what Paul writes: We aren't like Moses who had to put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. Their minds were made dull for to this day, that same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day, when Moses' laws are read, a veil covers their hearts but whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. What's this thing that Paul is talking about here? I mean the Israelites in the first century, were bound up in God's law and in legalism. You know, it was all about rules – there were six hundred and thirteen commandments and prohibitions in the Torah; in the Hebrew Law that was given through Moses and they got so rule-bound and legalistic and that's the thing that Jesus came to set us free from. I mean, Moses, in the Old Testament, was able to go into the presence of God, and when he came out he used to have to hide his transformation – the glory of God shinning out from his face, because people didn't understand it; they couldn't take it – the whole bunch of people around in his day who just didn't get it. A bit like today really. Whenever we turn to the Lord, to Jesus, the veil is taken away. And then Paul goes on to say in verse 17: Now, the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. The picture here is of our faces shinning with the glory of God – not a sense of a bunch of rules that we have to keep – not that at all – a sense of freedom. See, here's what so often happens – someone accepts Jesus Christ into their lives as Lord and Saviour – right? Fantastic! All great intentions but then little by little we get bound up in rules and regulations and "you have to do this and you can't do that" – it's called legalism. And Paul is saying, "No, you get up on the mountain top and you worship God – you don't have to be like that. He changes you on the inside and you end up shinning on the outside." The veil is removed – you don't have to hide it anymore. Have you ever met someone who is just glowing with the glory of God; with the goodness of God? You know, they walk into the room and there's a kind of a light and when they leave something lingers – this sense that somehow, God is in this place. When we like Moses, go to that mountain top and worship God, it changes us; it transforms us on the inside and you end up glowing that on the outside. There's a sense that this person has been up there worshipping in the presence of God. You know what we try to do? We try to do this in our own strength. We look at God and go, "WOW, God is so amazing", and the more we look at Him the more we realise our own weaknesses, so then we set about trying to change them. We think, "you know something, I have to stop doing this or I have to start doing that, or I have to do this and don't do that", and before you know it we are peddling so hard, we're exhausted. And ultimately, we end up failing; it's too hard, we can't do it. Paul is saying here that when we worship God on that mountain top, God does something amazing. He fills us on the inside and we can't help it – it ends up shinning out on the outside. We'll take a look at that next.   Worship Transforms Us When we worship God, that bears fruit in our lives – it changes us on the inside and on the outside in ways that we simply couldn't do on our own. In fact, as we worship Him, we end up looking more and more like Jesus. Have a read here in Second Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 18, what Paul goes on to say. And we, who with unveiled faces, all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness from glory to glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. See, that veil that Paul was talking about before and here in this passage, is the veil of misunderstanding; it's the veil of separation; it's the veil that says, "I can't come before God because I'm not worthy." In the first century the Jews had the temple, in fact, they had had it for quite a long time before then. And in the centre of the temple, on the inside, was the Holy of Holies, the place where the presence of God was. And only the High Priest was allowed to go into the Holy of Holies and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement – to make atonement with God through sacrifice for the sins of Israel. Anyone else went in there they would die because they couldn't stand the presence of the Lord – He's holy and He's perfect and we're not! – and we would surely die in His presence. That's why, when Moses came down from the mountain and his face was glowing with the glory of God, people were afraid. The Holy of Holies was closed off from the rest of us in the temple, by a thick curtain or a veil. So what's changed? How come we can go into God's presence and worship Him? How is it that we can come before a holy God just as we are with our faces uncovered and our hearts uncovered open to Him? Luke explains it in his Gospel as he records the crucifixion of Jesus. You can read this in Luke, chapter 23, verse 44. It was now about the sixth hour and the darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour for the sun had stopped shining and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit." When He said this, He breathed His last. See, the death of Jesus Christ paid for all my sins – He paid for all your sins And that one thing that stopped us from coming into the very presence of God, our sin, was dealt with and so God tore the veil in two – the veil that closed off the Holy of Holies. He opened that up to you and me, the instant that Christ died. That means if we put our faith in Jesus we can go and stand in His presence unveiled; just as we are and just gaze on His beauty with wonder and awe and worship Him. And when we do that then we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness from glory to glory, which comes from God who is the Spirit. Just as we stand in His presence and know that He is God, He transforms us into His likeness, from glory to glory to glory and it works its way out from the inside to our outside and we're transformed into His likeness. We end up looking more and more like Jesus. Let me ask you a question: Why is it that so many Christians are just plain hypocrites? They go to church on Sunday and yet you look at their lives for the rest of the week and they look nothing like Jesus. I'll tell you why – because they haven't adopted worship as their way of life. I struggle so much in my life when I don't spend time with Jesus. If I've been sick or I've been travelling or I'm really busy or really tired, in those times I just know that I haven't got what it takes to do it on my own. And time and time again that's what brings me back to the foot of the cross. Time and time again I discover and I rediscover I can't do this on my own. Only when I worship God on the inside and then I live that out on the outside, that's when I can look like Him. When we get off that mountain top and wander round in the marshes of day to day life, like Moses, the glory fades. But when we spend time worshipping Jesus on the mountain top, on the inside; we don't have to go out there in life and wander round on our own any more, in our own strength. Instead the joy of the Lord is our strength. When we worship God, He fills us with His joy, just as having been in His presence. The joy of just having seen Him and heard Him and experienced Him changes us – He fills us with the joy of the Lord; the fullness of His Spirit. We need to experience Jesus for ourselves – that's what real worship is – making music unto Him in our hearts – singing, delighting, resting, praying and when we do that, we who with unveiled faces, all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness, with ever increasing glory which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. I love this because we can't do it in our own strength. God has this amazing plan to transform you and me into His image from glory to glory. Just as we turn to worship Him and bow down before Him – to set us free, to fill us with the calm delight of His presence. This is where the rubber hits the road – this is so much better than keeping the veil over our hearts and trying to go out there and do it in our own strength. This is ... well, it's so God, isn't it? It's so.. Him! Do you get it? He wants to change you and me from glory to glory. He wants to transform us to, in effect, be Christ to a lost and hurting world; to look like and to walk like and to talk like Jesus – to ache like Jesus for those around us – in His image – that was always the plan.   A Treasure in Jars of Clay I was accosted recently by a man in a coffee shop in Chicago. It turns out, sad to say, that he was an Australian who heard me talking with my colleague in the coffee shop, and so he picked up my accent. Anyhow, this guy accosts me quite aggressively and starts telling me that if we believe in God, it's possible for us to be perfect here on earth. Unfortunately, I didn't think quickly enough – what I should have done is ask him, "So, do you know anyone who's like that, perfect, I mean?" Because the only perfect person I know is Jesus Christ. Now I want to deal with this because it's important. From what we've seen so far on the programme you could easily get the impression that I agree with that guy in the coffee shop. Just keep worshipping Jesus and you'll be exactly like Him – perfecto! My experience is that there are sometimes gaps between the glory – you know when it talks about us being transformed from glory to glory – I make mistakes every day, I fall short every day and my hunch is so do you. And if we think that we can end up being "perfecto", well, we are going to become very discouraged very quickly. Paul addresses this in the next few verses – go to Second Corinthians, chapter 4 and verse 6 – let's have a listen to what he says. For the God who said, "Let a light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. That kind of reinforces what we've been talking about. God does something, "He shines His light" as we get to know Jesus; He shines His light into our hearts. The same God who created light out of darkness – it's the first thing He did – "Let there be light" – that God speaks light into our hearts through Jesus Christ. But look at what He says in the next verse, verse 7. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our bodies. See, the treasure that Paul is talking about here is the wonder and the glory of God – that light that shines out from our faces and from all that we do when we are people of worship. The jars of clay, well, that's you and me – that's who we are! What a great contrast – the light shinning out the glory of God – bright and pure and perfect – but God takes it and He puts it in this rough and imperfect earthenware jar. Maybe it has some chips and cracks and that brilliant light of God's glory shines out from that imperfect and rough jar. See, sometimes we go and worship God and we come down from the mountain top and we are full of His glory and we think "everything is going to go well", but look what Paul says: We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus Christ so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. He was going through some difficult times in ministry – people were trying to kill him, they were locking him up, they were beating him, they were abandoning him. Just because we worship God doesn't mean that those things aren't going to happen to us – they do! We are in an earthenware jar. And what a sharp contrast between this beautiful, perfect, glorious light of God and this rough and imperfect and sometimes cracked and broken earthenware jar – they are so different you can tell the difference, you can't help it. And there's a reason for that. So that people will know that this light that they see on our faces – this glory of God, this all surpassing power comes from God and not from us. God is so realistic, isn't He? He doesn't expect perfection – He just wants us to come as we are – a bit rough around the edges, a bit perfect, with pressures and tensions in our lives and when we worship Him He pours His glory into us to shine out into the world. It's so easy for us to get discouraged! The more we worship God the more we see our own imperfections in His light but that's the plan – just for us to let Him take our lives as we are and for God to use them for His glory. That's worship – worship as a way of life. You go up to the mountain top and you worship Jesus – you do it with all your heart – you bow down and you worship Him in song and in prayer and in just resting in His presence and His glory with thanksgiving and with praise. And then we come down from that mountain top and we are walking around doing all the stuff we do in life and His glory just shines out into the world through the cracks in our earthenware jars. We go up to that mountain top again and He fills us again and again and we come down again and again and we live out that worship – it's just the way He made us. My earthenware jar was made for a different purpose to yours – yours is different to the next persons. We are all imperfect – that's the way it's meant to be so that nobody can be in any doubt that the glory comes from God. I love getting together with God's people and singing songs of worship and praise but you know the greatest times of worship for me are in my study with the door closed, with the Bible open, just praying and delighting and worshipping God and being filled with the sense of His presence; being filled with His Spirit. And then when I open that door and I go and do all the things I do in life, I'm a better husband; I'm a better father; I'm a better teacher; I'm a better manager; I'm a better everything because I spent that time worshipping God. Worship on the inside becomes worship on the outside – the things that we do in life. Worship – worship is a way of life.

The Apostle Paul prays for the church in Ephesus to grow as a group, in their awareness of God’s amazing love and the power it gives. We can learn from this prayer the importance of being fully engaged with our God. The post Life Changing Love (Eph 3.14-21) appeared first on PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH.

Why should we study the salutations in the Apostle Paul's letters? Listen to this lesson to learn that all the words in Scripture are there to help us understand more about God. Hear two trends in history concerning God's Word that we should watch for. Learn about Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timothy. Find out what made the city of Thessaloniki important at that time. Be challenged to imitate the Apostle Paul and the priority in his life after his salvation.

This week in our New Beginnings series Andre traces Saul's journey from the zealot to the Apostle Paul . An encounter with Jesus can dismantle our certainty to make room for a new identity . He takes us through the roles of repentance , community confirmation and spiritual retraining using the example of Ananias.

To encourage the Hebrew Christians to remain faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul reminds them that the Jewish Patriarchs lived and died in faith, not seeing the full fulfilment of the promises that God had made to them.

By Gary Smith - In 2 Thessalonians 2, the Apostle Paul exhorts the church not to allow anyone to undermine their faith. He wants them to adhere to what they have been taught. Paul then lays out information about the time of Christ's coming so that have the knowledge to counter more fully the false teaching.

Rejoice in all things. Welcome To BARAH MINISTRIES An Online Christian Church Teaching the Word of God RORY CLARK Pastor-Teacher Good Morning! Welcome to Barah Ministries, an... for full notes: http://www.barahministries.com/index.php?proc=lsn&sf=v&tid=1983

In this powerful message, we dive into Romans 5:1–5 and Psalm 105:16–21 to discover how God uses seasons of hardship to shape, strengthen, and prepare us for greater purpose.The Apostle Paul teaches that tribulation produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. But Psalm 105 gives us a real-life example through Joseph — a man whose character was tested in betrayal, slavery, and prison before he stepped into divine promotion. The Word says, “Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.”If you're in a season of testing, this message will encourage you to stand firm, trust God's process, and believe that hope will not disappoint.

A series of exhortations given by Apostle Paul that gives us some practical pointers for improving our service to others To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1213/29?v=20251111

It's Friday, February 13th, 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 Adam McManus China named global ‘Puppet Master' of religious persecution At a congressional hearing on February 4, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback asserted that China continues to aid authoritarian and communist nations worldwide in their quest to suppress religious freedom, reports International Christian Concern. Brownback explained that China is the main driver of assistance to religious persecutors throughout the world. He said, “This alliance of communist, authoritarian, [and] totalitarian regimes will literally stop at nothing to control people of faith. China is the puppet master behind all of it.” According to Bob Fu of China Aid, “The Chinese Communist Party has a powerful civilian surveillance system with hundreds of millions of face-recognition cameras. They are all over China, including all four walls of the church building and pulpits and every corner of the street.” Known as “digital authoritarianism,” China is sharing its technological surveillance programs with nations, including Iran, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, that are known for abuses of religious freedom. Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You [God] are with me; Your rod and staff, they comfort me.” Hawley demands congressional oversight of abortion pill after FDA's safety failure Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri is calling for a crackdown on the abortion kill pill, Mifepristone, saying it's time for Congress to increase oversight of the drug and reinstate what he describes as basic safety guardrails, reports Fox News. He said, "Abortions are going up every single year. What's driving that is Mifepristone. It's the chemical abortion drug that is getting mailed into every state in the country. It doesn't matter what the state laws are. It doesn't matter if your state restricts abortion, bans abortion, or bans Mifepristone. It doesn't matter. It's getting mailed into every single state without a doctor visit, many times, without even a doctor's prescription. No follow-up. It's unbelievable!" Chemical abortions now account for 63% of all U.S. abortions. Not only do 11% of women who swallow the Abortion Kill Pill have to go to the emergency room due to hemorrhaging and sever bleeding, but the FDA has not completed the study of its dangers to women which it promised. Senator Kennedy: “The Karen wing of Democrat Party wants to defund ICE!” Democrats and Republicans are still battling over the funding for the Department of Homeland Security bill as Democrats demand restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement or I.C.E., reports RedState.com. But, on Fox News,  Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana had a very direct message to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, about the Democrats' demands to defund I.C.E. KENNEDY: "The Karen wing of the Democratic Party wants to defund ICE, just like they wanted to defund the police. And we know how that vampire movie turned out. The Karen wing of the Democratic Party is in control of the Democratic Party. “Even if we agreed to every one of Senator Schumer's conditions -- and I won't vote for 'em -- he couldn't deliver the Democratic votes. Because the Karen wing will punish any Democrat who votes to keep the Department of Homeland Security open." Jelly Roll's wife says backlash to his Gospel message at Grammy Awards is 'borderline demonic' As The Worldview reported on February 3rd, Jason DeFord, known as Jelly Roll, won three Grammys including one for the Best Contemporary Country album. In a February 8th episode of her podcast, Jelly Roll's wife, Alisa, claims that the backlash against her husband has been “horrific” and “borderline demonic” after the singer thanked Jesus for saving his life and encouraged others to trust Christ at the Grammy Awards, reports The Christian Post. Listen. ALISA DEFORD: “Who would have thought that my husband's speech would set the internet on fire? The problem is people are weaponizing the Bible and religion way more than they are celebrating the name of Jesus. “They're just proving why people do not want to be a Christian. Seeing all of these people online just tearing apart my husband's walk of faith makes me not want to associate with that type of Christianity. It's so horrific and it is so sad and it's borderline demonic. “I've been seeing videos where people are saying that my husband, he's a ‘performative Christian.' If I wasn't trying to walk with God, I would find you and slap you, lady, but I'm trying to turn the other cheek and be better. “In what world is it okay to ever question somebody's walk with God? All he's saying is, ‘Hey, Jesus is for everybody. Jesus does not belong to one political party. Jesus loves you and the Internet lost their minds.” Some critics claimed that Jelly Roll's words were “very MAGA,” while others accused him of using religion to try to grow his brand.  Jelly Roll credited Jesus and his “beautiful wife” with changing his life. Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” Valentine's Day birthed through Christian martyr's death And finally, have you ever wondered why we celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th? Well, Pastor Valentine or Valentinus was a clergyman in the Roman Empire who lived during the reign of Claudius Gothicus or Claudius II. Because the Emperor was having difficulty getting young men to volunteer to serve in the army to fight his wars, he prohibited marriage which would further hurt the conscription rate. Pastor Valentine, who celebrated God's love and Biblical love between husband and wife, secretly married Christian couples in the forest which ultimately led to his arrest and imprisonment.  While Claudius took a liking to Pastor Valentinus, the bold preacher tried to convert the Emperor which resulted in a sentence of death. In Romans 10:14, the Apostle Paul asks, "How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” Valentine was beaten with clubs and stones.  And when that failed to kill him, Valentine was beheaded on February 14, A.D. 269. And now you know the rest of the story. Pick up a copy of the excellent children's book entitled Valentine: God's Courageous Evangelist. Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, February 13th, 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.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

St. Isaac does not flatter us. He does not tell us that the ascetic life is noble. He tells us it burns. He does not tell us it is peaceful. He tells us it wounds. He does not tell us it feels like fulfillment. He tells us it feels like loss. Because what stands at the heart of the ascetic life is not discipline. It is death. Not the death of the body, but the death of the self that has lived for itself. And until that self begins to die, the soul remains cold. The modern man wants illumination without humiliation. He wants consolation without affliction. He wants joy without tears. He wants Christ without crucifixion. But St. Isaac tells us plainly. The sign that the soul is drawing near to life is not comfort. It is fire. Your heart is aflame both day and night. This fire does not come from effort. It comes from surrender. It comes when a man has ceased defending himself. It comes when he has ceased preserving his image. It comes when he has ceased negotiating with God. He stands stripped of illusions. He sees his poverty. He sees his weakness. He sees that he has nothing. And this is where grace begins. Because God does not fill what is full. He fills what has been emptied. The Lord says through the prophet Isaiah I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite. The fathers knew this. Abba Poemen said The man who understands his sins is greater than the man who raises the dead. Because the one who raises the dead may still live for himself. But the one who sees his sins has begun to die. And it is this death that gives birth to tears. St. Isaac says that tears join themselves to every work. Not because the man is trying to weep. But because he can no longer protect himself from reality. He sees God. He sees himself. He sees the distance between them. And he weeps. These tears are not weakness. They are truth. They are the breaking of the heart that has lived in false strength. King David understood this when he said My sacrifice is a contrite spirit. A humbled and contrite heart you will not spurn. God does not desire your accomplishments. He desires your brokenness. Because brokenness is the door through which He enters. This is why St. Isaac says that afflictions suffered for the Lord are more precious than every offering. Because affliction destroys the illusion that you are alive apart from God. Affliction reveals the truth. That you are dust. That you are weak. That you cannot save yourself. And the ego cannot survive this revelation. This is why affliction is feared. Not because it harms us. But because it exposes us. The Apostle Paul understood this mystery when he said We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed. Perplexed, but not driven to despair. Struck down, but not destroyed. Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. Affliction carries death into the false self. So that life may be born in the true self. And this is where the paradox appears. Because the man who embraces affliction does not become miserable. He becomes free. St. Isaac says that when this fire is born in the soul, the whole world becomes ashes. Not because the world is hated. But because it no longer enslaves him. He no longer needs it to feel alive. He no longer needs recognition. He no longer needs control. He no longer needs to preserve himself. Because he has found something greater. He has found Christ. And Christ becomes his life. St. Paul says I count all things as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. This is not poetry. This is the testimony of a man who has passed through affliction into freedom. Because when the false life dies, the true life appears. And this life cannot be taken. This is the joy that St. Isaac speaks of. Not emotional happiness. But the unshakable certainty that Christ has become your life. This joy is born in tears. It is born in humiliation. It is born in affliction. It is born when the man ceases running from the cross. Christ did not say Avoid suffering. He said Take up your cross and follow me. Because the cross is not the end. It is the door. On the other side of affliction stands resurrection. On the other side of humiliation stands freedom. On the other side of tears stands joy. This is why St. Isaac warns us. If the fire grows cold, woe to you. Because the greatest tragedy is not suffering. It is returning to sleep. It is returning to self protection. It is returning to the illusion that you can live apart from God. The ascetic life is not about becoming strong. It is about becoming defenseless before God. It is about allowing Him to strip away everything false. It is about allowing Him to destroy what cannot live. So that what is eternal may appear. And when this happens, the man no longer fears affliction. Because he has seen what it produces. He has seen the fire. He has tasted the tears. He has known the joy that cannot be taken. And he understands at last the words of Christ Your sorrow will turn into joy. Not because suffering disappears. But because Christ has become your life. And nothing can take Him away. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:00:58 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 177 paragraph 24 00:07:15 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 177 paragraph 24 00:07:36 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Ascetic life begins where excuses die When a man stops speaking about God and begins to suffer for Him Humility takes root so deeply that tear flow unceasingly Heart burns without knowing why When grace comes the battle grows more dangerous - soul tempted to become prudent. Where most turn back Ascetic life requires a kind of violence against instinct to survive 00:16:15 Jesssica Imanaka: Looks I can attend these retreats since they don't start until the 21st. 00:20:28 Angela Bellamy: The devil does not only tempt with sin — he tempts with carefulness. I remember that from the "Unseen warfare" 00:30:50 Sr Barbara Jean Mihalchick: Baptism of the Holy Spirit? 00:31:58 Ryan Ngeve: Father with his emphasis on tears, does that mean a lack of tears entails the lack of working of the Holy Spirit 00:32:00 Angela Bellamy: Does such a thing that has happened that the unemotional/tenderness tears come... Would "carefulness take it away before time" 00:36:24 Angela Bellamy: Reacted to "Does such a thing th..." with ❤️ 00:39:24 Angela Bellamy: But with certainty one can assume that they are the one who pulled away, not Him? So there can be a drawing near again...? 00:46:03 Holly Hecker: it would appear that consolations at these times could be sort of dangerous - do we want to go back or go forward 00:46:09 David Swiderski, WI: I have noticed when repentance seems distant my mind turns towards pride forgetting being freed from it is not by me but by grace of something. When I turn back to repentance I find myself like Abba moses walking around with a hole in a bag of sand and more open to others struggles 00:50:21 John ‘Jack': Since reading the fathers, I've come to realize that I am only responsible for my own salvation, it seems like our culture has convinced us that we are somehow responsible for others salvation. Since I've been focused on this I've found my “witness” if you will has become far less burdensome. 00:54:35 Joan Chakonas: My prayers are usually in context of afflictions (my judgmentalism, my ridicule, my thoughts in general from living my day )and asking for Gods help and guidance.  When I am at peace I am not actively petitioning God for abstract things - I am trying to repent all the time and peace is what I get when I get His message. 00:55:09 David Swiderski, WI: Sin is followed by shame, Repentance is followed by boldness- St. John Chrysotom 00:56:10 Joan Chakonas: I just say thank you God over and over when I get to peace. 00:56:26 John ‘Jack': Perfectly stated, Father thank you. 00:56:53 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "I just say thank you..." with ❤️ 01:01:18 Anthony: Preach Father! I saw the Faith in Southern Italy was so different in its tone than what I've seen as an American Catholic. 01:01:41 Myles Davidson: A word for sorrowful joy seems like a word we lack in English (bittersweet is probably the closest). Is this the Greek word you mean Father? χαρμολύπη (charmolýpi)… pronounced as khar-mo-LEE-pee 01:02:05 Ben: Anna; This conversation reminds me of something Jesus said, "This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you." 01:02:45 Angela Bellamy: Reacted to "Anna; This conversat..." with ❤️ 01:02:57 David Swiderski, WI: Reacted to "Anna; This conversat..." with ❤️ 01:05:51 Angela Bellamy: I'm not really sure why this conversation reminds me of Malachi.

Wise words from the Apostle Paul as he instructs the children of God to walk in the power of God! When we walk in the Spirit of God, our actions are completely different! The things we used to do, we find ourselves not doing anymore. When we used to hate, we now show love. It's amazing how the Lord steps into a situation, shines a light, and now we can see why He instructed us to live holy. There is a reward coming, saints—walk in the Spirit!  Focus: Galatians 5:16  All Verses Covered: Galatians 5:16-17, Revelation 1:9-11  Original Air Date: February 12, 2026  We have bible studies via Zoom every Monday at 7 pm Central Standard Time. Here is the meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86546164133?pwd=R3IwVTdJN3E1Wm1kU2JNOU1ZZlVJdz09  Access all of our messages: https://www.jmsbible.com/messages  Got a topic you want us to cover in our Facebook live streams? Fill out our form here: https://www.jmsbible.com/requests. We go live every Thursday evening at 6:30 pm central time. Join us LIVE on our Facebook page to ask questions and get live answers! Even if you disagree with something we say, mention it to us so we can see what the scriptures say!  If you have any questions about a specific scripture or topic and would like for us to discuss it on our Facebook live streams, please contact us at https://www.jmsbible.com/contact. We are open to any and all questions or concerns.  If you would like to donate, our CashApp tag is $JoyStorm12. Thank you for all of your support!  Joy in the Midst of the Storm Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JMSBible/

A series of exhortations given by Apostle Paul that gives us some practical pointers for improving our service to others To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1213/29?v=20251111

Welcome to the Podcast of Southwest Bible Fellowship in Tempe, Arizona. WHO ARE WE? • We are a group of people who are committed to living the grace life as set forth by the apostle of the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul. • We come together to study our Bibles, and yes, we believe we have God's perfect Word in the King James Bible. It and it alone is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice! • We do not come together and study our Bibles for the intent of being smarter than others. We understand that knowledge for the sake of knowledge is purely vain and serves no Godly purpose. • We do come together and study our Bibles for the intent of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that we have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless we live; yet not us, but Christ liveth in us: and the life which we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us. (Galatians 2:20) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that because Jesus Christ shed His blood for us and we should not live for ourselves but for Him, who died for us and rose again. (2 Cor. 5:15) • We do not claim to have attained to these lofty goals, but we press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) You can donate to this ministry through www.butnow.org and the PayPal button on the homepage.

Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or worn down by life's pressures? God has good news for you—your peace is being restored.In this powerful message from Philippians 4:6–9, we discover God's divine prescription for peace in the middle of chaos. The Apostle Paul reveals how prayer, thanksgiving, and guarding our thoughts unlock the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.No matter what you're facing, God's peace is not out of reach. It's available, it's powerful, and it's being restored to you right now.

A series of exhortations given by Apostle Paul that gives us some practical pointers for improving our service to others To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1213/29?v=20251111

A Heavenly Citizenship — Review of Lesson #7 of the 1st Quarter of 2026 -The Sabbath School Lesson study guide can be found here:— https://ssnet.org/lessons/26a/less07.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— Faith and the Christian Experience— Persistent and Consistent — Prayer Life— All About Jabez and his Prayer— Obedience is the Consequence, not the Cause— Christ, Humanity and Salvation— Is Right Doing That Complex?Related Podcasts at TrueWisdom:— Knowing God's Will, Part 1— Knowing God's Will, Part 2— How Should We Relate to the Cares of This Life?— Caring for Who God Cares ForText 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.

 Victory Romans 5:12, Romans 6:16, Romans 6:23, Colossians 2:14-15, Hebrews 2:14-15, 1 Corinthians 15: 54b-56Jesus died on the cross to defeat the powers of evil: sin, death, and Satan, freeing us from our bondage to them and restoring our life-giving relationship with God.The CrossIn the ancient world, the cross was a symbol of shame, death, and defeat. Among the Jewish people, anyone who died on a cross was considered cursed by God, and the Romans viewed those who were crucified with contempt. This is why the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:23, “but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.” Even today, the cross remains difficult for many to understand. Yet, the cross stands at the center of God's redemptive plan and the very heart of the gospel.  Every believer knows Jesus died for them on the cross, but even for people of faith, its meaning can be challenging to fully grasp.  Further, scripture describes the work of Christ on the cross in several different ways, adding complexity to our endeavors to understand it.  With this series, we will examine key biblical passages that illuminate these different dimensions of the cross and help us to grow a deeper and fuller understanding of its profound significance.Orchard Community Church8180 Telephone RdVentura CA 93004www.OrchardVentura.orgContact us at Info@OrchardVentura.orgOrchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190

Today's Promise: Philippians 4:13 Feeling overwhelmed by life's challenges? In this episode, we explore the powerful promise of Philippians 4:13 and what it truly means to live in the strength of Christ.   The Apostle Paul wrote these words from a place of hardship, imprisonment, and uncertainty, yet his confidence in Christ never wavered. You'll be reminded that God does not call you to face struggles alone. He empowers you to overcome them.   Whether you're climbing a difficult hill, facing discouragement, or stepping into a calling that feels bigger than your ability, this episode will help you refocus on the source of your strength. Through biblical insight, practical encouragement, and spoken confessions of faith, you'll be inspired to trust Christ's power working within you. No challenge is greater than the strength He provides. Discover renewed courage to keep going today. Be encouraged to stand firm, persevere in faith, and depend on Jesus daily for victory.

Guest: Anthony Hunt, Next Gen Pastor & Author of The AI-Powered Church From performing as a professional mascot for over 20 years to leading in Next Gen ministry, Anthony Hunt brings a unique energy to the conversation about the future of the church. In this episode, Anthony breaks down the walls of fear surrounding Artificial Intelligence, arguing that when used correctly, AI isn't just a shortcut, it's a partner that can help us reclaim our time for what matters most: discipleship and people. If you are a ministry leader feeling burnt out, a tech skeptic worried about the "soulless" nature of digital tools, or a creative looking to amplify your impact, this episode offers a theological and practical framework for moving forward.

In the Apostle Paul's 1st Biblical letter to Timothy, Paul writes that Christ came into the world to save sinners. He follows that up by stating that he is the foremost sinner.This is sometimes translated as Paul being “chief of sinners” and even as him being, plainly, “the worst.”It's this idea that Christian actor, writer, and podcaster Nathan Clarkson uses to justify the title of his new book: “I'm The Worst.”Nathan's work goes against the cultural current.In an age where many loud voices urge us to put away thoughts of self-criticism and turn instead toward radical self-acceptance, Nathan argues that to truly value ourselves is to understand where we have failed and where we need to grow.Furthermore, Nathan encourages his readers to spend less time bemoaning the people who are making the world worse and more time actively working on what we can do to make the world better.Nathan has acted in The Purge, Silicon Valley, FBI: Most Wanted, Past Lives, and many other movies and TV shows. In addition to acting Nathan has produced multiple feature films through his production company, Clarkson's Creations. He is also a Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author for his book Finding God in Hollywood, among others.Religion Unplugged's Culture Critic, Joseph Holmes regularly co hosts a podcast with Nathan called The Overthinkers, so this week, the pair sat down on our podcast, to discuss Nathan's personal cycles of failure and self-improvement, the ways we villainize the people who differ from us, and how a self-critical mindset can still coincide with self-love.

The Apostle Paul, in Colossians 2:8-10, warns readers to reject vain philosophies, human traditions, and worldly rudiments that can lead believers away from Biblical truth. The episode emphasizes that all fullness dwells in Christ, believers are complete in Him, and practical vigilance is needed to protect faith and spiritual well-being.

Todaywe're continuing in Ephesians chapter 6, where the Apostle Paul is teachingbelievers how to stand strong in spiritual warfare. And our verse today isEphesians 6:17: “And take the helmet of salvation…” Now Paul says morein this verse—he also mentions the sword of the Spirit—but today I want tofocus only on this one piece of armor: The helmet of salvation. Because ifthere is one place Satan loves to attack, it is the believer's mind. And ifthere is one thing God wants to protect, strengthen, and stabilize in theChristian life, it is the mind. First,the Helmet Protects the Most Vulnerable Place: The MindLetme begin with something very simple. A soldier can take a wound in the arm andstill fight. He can take a wound in the leg and still move. But a blow to thehead can be fatal. That's why Roman soldiers would never enter battle without ahelmet. We have read that these helmets were sometimes made of thick leather,and other times heavy metal, and they often had pieces that protected thecheeks and face. In other words, this was not decorative. It was essential for theirprotection in the battle. Weneed to remember that the head is the center of our intellectual life, the seatof thought, reason, and understanding. So Paul is telling us that if Satan canget control of your thinking, he can influence your living. That is why thebattle for the Christian is usually a battle for the mind. I will never forgetthat in my early years as pastor I had an entire message called “The Battle forthe Mind.” Right after that a book came out—I believe by Tim LaHaye—called “TheBattle for the Mind”. Kiddingly, I would say, I think he got it from me. Thereal battle is right there in your thinking.  Second,Satan Attacks the Mind Because That's Where He Has Always WorkedYoumight remember going back to Genesis chapter 3. That is where Satan attackedEve—through her mind. That is what God is speaking to us about. He did notbegin by telling her to commit a gross sin. He began by planting a thought.What was that thought? “Has God indeed said?” The moment Eve beganquestioning the Word of God, her mind became the battlefield. Paul even warnsChristians that Satan still works the same way in 2 Corinthians 11:3: “But Ifear lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your mindsmay be corrupted.” That is his strategy. Satan's first move is almostalways to distort the truth, to question God's goodness, to twist theScripture, and to weaken confidence in what God has said. When that happens,the believer becomes spiritually vulnerable. Third,The Helmet of Salvation Is Not About Getting Saved Again. Nowwe need to be very clear about something. Paul is writing to believers. He'snot giving an evangelistic invitation. He's telling Christians how to standfirm. So when Paul says, “take the helmet of salvation,” he is not saying, “getsaved again.” You don't put on the helmet by repeating a prayer. You don't puton the helmet by re-doing your conversion. Only saved people can wear God'sarmor. The armor is not for people outside Christ. The armor is for believerswho are already in the fight. So what does Paul mean? Fourth,The Helmet of Salvation Is Assurance and Hope—The Confidence That You Belong toChristMyfriend, Satan's blows are aimed at our security. The two sharp edges of Satan'ssword are discouragement and doubt. You can be assured he is going to use them.I'll never forget what Dr. Falwell said many times during my years at LynchburgBaptist College (today Liberty University): He said, “Satan favorite tool tokeep the Christian down is the tool of discouragement. God cannot use adiscouraged Christian.” We will be looking more about the “helmet of salvation”over the next few days.  Godbless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.

Daily World Living from our heavenly identity invites believers to shift from striving to become someone in Christ to confidently living from who they already are in him. Rooted in Colossians 3:1-3, the message emphasizes that our true identity is established through resurrection with Christ, not through effort, performance, or earning. Apostle Paul reminds us that because we have been raised with Christ, our focus and mindset are to be set on heavenly realities rather than earthly distractions. Our old life has died, and our true life is now hidden securely with Christ in God.  __________ Colossians 3:1–3 ESV, 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV, Matthew 6:33 ESV, Romans 12:2 ESV, Galatians 2:20 ESV, Psalm 91:1 ESV, Philippians 3:20 ESV __________ Partner with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com/partner Connect with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com Leave a Comment: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com/comments __________    

It's Monday, February 9th, 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 Adam McManus U.S. sends troops to Nigeria amid ISIS fight The U.S. has deployed a military team to Nigeria as part of a growing effort to assist in counterterrorism operations against Islamic State-linked terrorists. The move marks the first publicly acknowledged presence of American forces on the ground following U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria on Christmas Day, reports The Christian Post. A senior U.S. military commander told Reuters the deployment was carried out in agreement with the Nigerian government. Nigerian Defense Minister Christopher Musa confirmed that U.S. personnel were active in the country. Team USA skiers not proud of America because of Trump (Audio: Olympic theme song) American freestyle skiers are facing intense backlash on social media after comments made about representing the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy amid the Trump administration's recent immigration enforcement operations in the U.S., reports Fox News. Speaking to the media ahead of Friday's opening ceremony, two-time Olympian and Olympic gold medalist Chris Lillis, who's competing in the men's aerials, said, "I feel heartbroken about what's happening in the United States. I'm pretty sure you're referencing I.C.E. and some of the protests and things like that. I think that, as a country, we need to focus on respecting everybody's rights." And first-time Olympian Hunter Hess, who's competing in the men's free ski halfpipe, said, “It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now. … There's obviously a lot going on that I'm not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren't. "I'm representing my friends and family back home … all the things that I believe are good about the U.S. If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I'm representing it. Just because I'm wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S.” The remarks elicited a strong response from Team USA supporters on social media. One wrote, "The anti-ICE, liberal athletes are already insufferable at the Olympics. If you're not proud to represent the red, white, & blue, stay home." Another wrote, "Chris Lillis and Hunter Hess should be sent back home immediately. They have insulted our entire nation on the world stage and should no longer be allowed to represent us." House Speaker Johnson: “Borders and walls are Biblical.” In response to Pope Leo's claim that Trump's deportation efforts are unbiblical, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana was asked to defend President Trump's deportation of illegal immigrants Biblically. REPORTER: “Pope Leo has cited Matthew 25:35 to critique Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda. How would you respond to Pope Leo in Scripture?” JOHNSON: “Borders and walls are Biblical. From the Old Testament to the New [Testament], God has allowed us to set up our civil societies and have separate nations. Immigration is not something that's frowned upon in Scripture. In fact, it's welcome. We're to welcome the sojourner and love our neighbor as ourself. “When people cite passages out of the Old Testament, they say, well, you're supposed to take care of the sojourner and the neighbor, treat them as yourself, welcome then in. Yes, but that is an admonition to individuals, not to the civil authorities.” Speaker Johnson cited the book of Romans to bolster his point Biblically. JOHNSON: “The civil authorities are given authority under Scripture to maintain order. Romans 13 says that the ‘civil authorities are God's agents of wrath to bring punishment upon the wrongdoer.' And it says, ‘If you do right, you have no fear of the civil authorities.' “But those civil authorities are necessary. It's a calling. It's a calling to maintain order in society. And we have not had that. “When Biden and Harris opened the borders wide for four years, we had as many as 20 million illegals come across the country. And we all know many dangerous people -- hardened criminals, child molesters, rapists, murderers, all the rest, terrorists -- who came into the country. We did not take care of our borders. “Sovereign borders are Biblical and good and right and they're just. It's not because we hate the people on the outside. It's because we love the people on the inside.” Planned Parenthood drops lawsuit trying to get federal funding back Planned Parenthood has thrown in the towel on its efforts to preserve its primary federal funding, voluntarily dismissing its lawsuit against the defunding provision of the Trump administration's signature legislation, reports LifeSiteNews.com. Last July, President Donald Trump signed into law his “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, a wide-ranging policy package that includes a one-year ban on federal tax dollars going through Medicaid to any that provides abortions for reasons other than rape, incest, or supposed threats to the mother's life.  According to Operation Rescue, 54 abortion mills shut their doors in 2025, 36 of which were Planned Parenthood abortuaries. Planned Parenthood sued, alleging that even though it was not specifically named in the Trump defunding bill, it was effectively the only organization that qualified under the bill's language and that losing that money would cause “devastating” layoffs and location closures. Erik Baptist, an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom, said, “The American people do not want their tax dollars propping up the abortion industry. … We will continue to stand against any attempts by the abortion giant to force Americans to fund dangerous procedures.” Actor Tim Allen ‘amazed' after reading entire Bible And finally, actor Tim Allen recently finished reading through the entire Bible word for word, reports FaithWire.com. On X, he wrote, “Finished the entire Bible. It's been a 13-month, word-by-word, page-by-page, no-skimming journey. Humbled, enlightened and amazed at what I read and what I learned. I will rest and meditate on so much.” Allen has recently been increasingly vocal about his Christian faith journey. He also sat down with fellow comedian Bill Maher for a conversation on Maher's “Club Random.” The “Home Improvement” star had quite a bit to say about the Apostle Paul and the downside of empty philosophy. ALLEN: “Without law, you don't know what sinful is. So, law was basically just to give you guardrails of what the world is. What you're going to find is the cycle of ignorance with philosophy. And that's where I've been in the last 20 years. Philosophy gets run in these circles. It can't explain anything really.” In Colossians 2:8, the Apostle Paul warns, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, February 9th, 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.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

We are kicking off a brand new series entitled The Art of Relationships. I think we all know there is an art to doing relationships and doing them well. Friendship, marriage, parenting, relationships with our coworkers- all of it takes work, intentionality, and wisdom. For this series together, we are going to gather the wisdom presented to us by the Apostle Paul in the book of Ephesians. Through the words of Paul, we are going to study how to honor God in our relationships, and love the people that God has placed in our lives well. This episode, Pastor Lydia Miller we will look at the framework that God gives us for love: what love looks like from Him, and how that should impact how we love, as well.--WebsiteFacebookInstagramSunday SetlistSunnybrook App (ios)Sunnybrook App (Google)Connect with us!How can we prayer for you? Let us know.

Aloha and welcome to The Mission North Shore's Podcast! This powerful message takes us to the ancient city of Beit She'an, where we witness the tragic end of King Saul's life and discover what it truly means to finish well. Through the contrasting lives of two men named Saul—King Saul and Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul)—we're confronted with a sobering truth: it's not how we start our spiritual journey that matters most, but how we finish it. 

Understanding Ephesians: A Journey Through Identity and Faith In this episode, we transition from discussing new beginnings to embarking on a six-week series on the Book of Ephesians. We'll delve into each chapter week by week, exploring the historical context of Ephesus, a powerhouse of trade, intellectual ideas, and religious practices under the Roman Empire. Ephesians, written by the Apostle Paul, is analyzed to reveal its timeless relevance, examining how ancient challenges of identity, fear, and societal fragmentation mirror our current struggles. Discover the profound impact of being 'in Christ' and understand how Paul's message of identity and grace was both revolutionary then and remains so today. Join us as we uncover the theological richness, practical lessons, and transformative power of Ephesians. 00:00 Introduction to the Series on Ephesians 01:13 Historical Context of Ephesus 06:59 Paul's Arrival and Impact in Ephesus 10:10 Paul's Letter from Prison 11:11 The Core Message of Ephesians 14:13 Identity in Christ 17:07 Paul's Revolutionary Approach 21:23 Spiritual Blessings in Christ 24:49 Paul's Reminder of Holiness and Blamelessness 26:21 The True Meaning of Adoption in Roman Culture 30:19 The Concept of Civil Death and New Identity 34:36 Redemption and Its Economic Implications 37:23 Living from Acceptance, Not for Acceptance 40:59 The Importance of Identity in Christ 42:20 Concluding Prayer and Reflection

The blueprint for Christian character development that the Apostle Peter gives us in 2 Peter 1 focuses us on a profound series of steps we need to take in order to be more Christlike. As a basis for this needed growth, we have seen how God's promises help us to be ready to systematically take the next step up Peter's “ladder” of Christian character development. So far in our series, we have begun to see how each step up this ladder needs the step before in order to actually bring us towards true daily discipleship. We now continue this character development process by looking into the fourth step up towards Christlikeness. This fourth rung in Peter's “virtue ladder” from 2 Peter 1:5‑7 is self‑control, the “allegiance of our passions.” The first three rungs—faith, moral excellence and knowledge, deal primarily with internal transformation. Self‑control is the pivot point where that inner work begins to show up in real‑world choices. The Greek word for this conveys mastery, inner power and dominion over oneself. For Christians, this begins with preventing harmful or unproductive thoughts from becoming actions, and culminates in actively choosing what is spiritual, wholesome and Christlike. Our discipline requires self‑examination: identifying what naturally pulls us off course so we can learn to make adjustments. The self-control of an athlete running a race Paul's athletic metaphors in 1 Corinthians 9 highlight three components of self-control: intentional focus on the goal, embracing necessary limitations and wholehearted perseverance. Like a trained athlete, we as Christians must make many daily small, disciplined choices that strengthen spiritual “muscle memory.” Self-control also shapes how we view and treat others, enabling us to respond with grace rather than instinctive frustration. It's important to recognize that self-control is not a standalone virtue, and it stabilizes the entire structure of our Christian characters. Without knowledge, self-control becomes directionless; without self-control, perseverance becomes impossible. When rooted in faith, moral excellence, and knowledge, self-control opens the door to genuine spiritual growth and Christlike living. Key Takeaways Self-control is the “allegiance of our passions,” the disciplined governing of our impulses and desires. It is the pivot point where inner transformation becomes outward behavior. True self-control begins with restraint and culminates in choosing what is spiritually beneficial. The Apostle Paul's athletic imagery teaches focus, limitation and perseverance as essential components. Self-control shapes how we respond to others, reflecting Christ rather than our impulses. It stabilizes the entire virtue ladder and enables the next step: perseverance.

To Speak or Not to Speak #NK #NormanKissinger #RTTBROS #Nightlight"Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy." — Proverbs 31:8-9You know, I've been wrestling with something lately, and I bet some of you have too. It's this question that keeps coming up in my mind: when do we speak up, and when do we stay silent? In this age of the internet where you can post that you love apples and somebody's going to insult you for it, that's become a real dilemma for followers of Christ. There's so much noise out there, so many voices, and the stakes feel higher than they've ever been because thousands of people can see what we say in an instant.For years, I pretty much stayed quiet online except for official ministry work, wishing people happy birthday, or thanking folks from my past. I'd see posts that were way off biblically, things that grieved my spirit, but I'd just assume somebody else would address it. I'd think to myself, "It's a slippery slope. You can hurt the kingdom by saying the wrong thing or saying the right thing the wrong way." And that's true, it is a slippery slope. But lately, the Holy Spirit's been convicting me that silence has its own cost.Here's what I've been learning, and I'm too soon old and too late smart on this one: when we stay silent in the face of error, especially doctrinal error that's being spread by people who claim Christ, we're not just being careful, we're letting people slip into beliefs that aren't even close to biblical. Weak Christians, and let's be honest, even mature Christians sometimes, will hear stuff and believe it without questioning whether it lines up with what God actually says in His Word.The problem isn't that Christians disagree on things, there's always been healthy debate about secondary issues. Arminian or Calvinist, charismatic gifts or not, end times views, all of that, good godly people can land in different places and still love Jesus and hold to the fundamentals. But when somebody starts building entire theologies on conjecture, making heroes out of people the Scripture doesn't even clearly vindicate, or worse, when they start chipping away at the virgin birth, the inerrancy of Scripture, the deity of Christ, the necessity of holy living, that's when we've got to find our voice.I think about the Apostle Paul. That man didn't stay quiet when error crept into the church. He wrote whole letters confronting false teaching. He stood up to Peter's face when Peter was being a hypocrite in Galatians. He warned Timothy, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:2). Paul understood that truth doesn't defend itself, it needs voices willing to speak it clearly and boldly.But here's the balance, and this is where we need the Holy Spirit's wisdom. Jesus himself stayed silent sometimes. He didn't answer every accusation, didn't engage every critic. There were moments when silence was the most powerful thing He could do. So we've got to be Spirit-led in this. We can't just respond to everything, we'd consume ourselves with arguing on the internet and accomplish nothing for the kingdom. But we also can't be so silent that error goes unchallenged and people drift into heresy.#Faith #Truth #ChristianLiving #DailyDevotion #StandForTruth #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

In Romans 2, the Apostle Paul asks a confronting question: based on what does God judge a person? In this message, we explore God's objective moral standard and why both religious and irreligious people are accountable before Him. Paul shows that while some have the written law, others have the law written on their hearts through conscience, and yet no one lives up to the standard they know. This passage exposes the danger of moral hypocrisy and false confidence in religious symbols, and it dismantles the idea that outward performance can save us. Romans 2 leads us to a clear verdict and points us to our only real hope: not moral effort, but redemption through Jesus Christ. In this message, you'll learn: - What standard God actually uses to judge every person - Why conscience means no one is without moral knowledge - How religious effort can create false confidence and hypocrisy - Why outward signs and performance can't save - Where real hope and redemption are found

How do you choose joy when your tomorrow looks terrifying? Whether you are facing a difficult medical report, a job layoff, or relational hurt, the Apostle Paul's life shows us that uncertainty is inevitable, but misery is optional.In this message, Jacob continues our series, "An Invitation for Joy," by looking at Philippians 1:19. Even while chained in a Roman prison facing a potential death sentence, Paul remained full of joy.Key Takeaways from This Message:- Isolation is a joy-stealer that affects our physical, mental, and spiritual health. Paul's joy was fueled by the prayers of his community.- While "rows" are for instruction, "circles" are where connection and life change happen.- Paul relied on the Holy Spirit as both the "Spirit of Jesus" (providing empathy for suffering) and the "Spirit of Christ" (providing power for victory).- We often lose our joy by obsessing over results we can't control. Joy rushes in when we focus on faithfulness and leave the outcomes to God.Scripture References:Philippians 1:19 — "For I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance." Hebrews 11:1 — Faith as evidence of things unseen.Job 13:16 — Paul's source of confidence in vindication.Declaration for the Series: "I can't change yesterday. I can't control the future. But I can choose joy today."Support the showMade a decision to follow Jesus? We want to know about it! Fill out our connect card here: https://local.churchcenter.com/people/forms/115766Thank you for your generosity. For information on how to give, visit https://localvineyard.church/give.

Rules of Engagement: A Journey Through 1 CorinthiansWhat does it look like to be the church in a world that doesn't always understand—or welcome—what we're about? That's the question the Apostle Paul tackled head-on in his letter to the church in Corinth, and it's the question we're wrestling with together this series.Paul planted a church in one of the most diverse, culturally complex cities in the ancient world. And almost immediately, things got messy. Division. Pride. Tolerance of things that shouldn't be tolerated. Silence where there should have been honesty. The Corinthian church was full of people who had the Spirit of God and the mind of Christ—and were still acting like the world around them.Sound familiar?Week by week, chapter by chapter, we'll walk through Paul's letter and discover that we are God's temple, keepers of an extraordinary mystery, and called to live like it. Rules of Engagement // Chapter 5A Study in 1 CorinthiansFebruary 8, 2026Jeremy Olimb // Lead Pastor

Welcome to the Podcast of Southwest Bible Fellowship in Tempe, Arizona. WHO ARE WE? • We are a group of people who are committed to living the grace life as set forth by the apostle of the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul. • We come together to study our Bibles, and yes, we believe we have God's perfect Word in the King James Bible. It and it alone is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice! • We do not come together and study our Bibles for the intent of being smarter than others. We understand that knowledge for the sake of knowledge is purely vain and serves no Godly purpose. • We do come together and study our Bibles for the intent of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that we have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless we live; yet not us, but Christ liveth in us: and the life which we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us. (Galatians 2:20) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that because Jesus Christ shed His blood for us and we should not live for ourselves but for Him, who died for us and rose again. (2 Cor. 5:15) • We do not claim to have attained to these lofty goals, but we press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) You can donate to this ministry through www.butnow.org and the PayPal button on the homepage.

It is God alone who brings restoration and healing to us, and we can trust in Him for renewal. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses how our ability to receive from the Lord is linked to our willingness to invite Him into our lives. The Lord will not always respond right when we want Him to, but through faith, we can overcome disappointment and trust that God is moving—regardless of how we feel. Pastor Allen shares stories of eye-opening acts of God's power in the lives of people like Apostle Paul, Apostle Peter, and even himself. God is inviting us to live out a bolder faith as He moves in new ways. Let's respond with "Yes!"