POPULARITY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjxN2VF1Fr4 { “article”: “## When You’re Standing at the Edge of Your PromisennThere’s a moment every believer eventually faces — you’ve stepped out in faith, you’ve followed the call of God, and just when fulfillment seems within reach, everything starts pressing against you. The enemy shows up. Doubt creeps in. You begin to wonder if you heard God correctly in the first place.nnBishop Robert Daniels, speaking at Lineage Church on Father’s Day, delivered a timely word for anyone standing at that threshold: the edge between wilderness and inheritance. Drawing from Isaiah 59, Isaiah 60, and the Gospel of John, he unpacked what it truly means to possess what God has promised — and why the standard God raises against the enemy is more powerful than most believers realize.nn## The Wilderness Strikes Hardest Right Before BreakthroughnnOne of the most important observations Bishop Daniels shared was this: the enemy doesn’t attack randomly. He comes in specifically when you are about to enter into fulfillment.nn”God is a God that declares the end from the beginning,” he said, “but he doesn’t give you any indication about that middle part — that wilderness part, that part where you don’t know your own name sometimes.”nnThis is a pattern as old as Scripture itself. When the children of Israel stood at the border of the Promised Land, they weren’t defeated by the giants — they were defeated by their own perception. Numbers 13 records that the spies said, “We saw ourselves as grasshoppers in our own eyes.” The enemy’s most effective weapon isn’t brute force — it’s psychological warfare that causes you to disqualify yourself from what God has already declared belongs to you.nnWhen you say “I can’t possess this,” Bishop Daniels reminded the congregation, it is essentially the same as saying “God can’t.” That posture grieves the Spirit and cuts you off from the very power that was meant to carry you through.nn## Isaiah 59:19 — Understanding the StandardnnThe anchor scripture for this message comes from Isaiah 59:19:nn”So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”nnMost believers are more familiar with what the enemy is doing than with what the Spirit of God is doing. We can easily list the attacks, the setbacks, the pressures. But Isaiah tells us something critical: when the flood comes, the Holy Spirit doesn’t stand idle. He raises a standard.nnBishop Daniels spent years studying this passage — consulting Hebrew concordances, examining alternate translations — and arrived at a profound revelation through prayer: the standard the Holy Spirit raises is Jesus Christ himself, lifted up in his crucifixion.nnThis connects directly to Jesus’ words in John 12:31-32: “Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” The cross is not just a historical event. It is the active, ongoing standard raised against every flood the enemy sends.nn## The Power You Don’t See Because You’re Focused on the EnemynnOne of the most convicting threads throughout this message is the challenge Bishop Daniels places before every believer: do you know what Jesus has done better than you know what the devil is doing?nnMany believers operate from a sin-consciousness rather than a righteousness-consciousness. They measure themselves by their failures or their successes and find their identity in what they do rather than in what Christ has accomplished. This is precisely why spiritual fathers matter — the bishop pointed out that fathers in the faith help circumcise that sin-consciousness from their spiritual children, freeing them to walk in the righteousness that comes not from performance, but from the finished work of Jesus.nn”It’s not what you do or what you’ve done, good or bad,” he declared. “It’s what Jesus did.”nnThis is the foundation of possessing your inheritance. You cannot step into what God has for you if your faith is anchored in your own track record. The moment your eyes shift from the standard — from the lifted-up Christ — to your own capabilities or failures, you begin to shrink back just like the ten spies who saw themselves as grasshoppers.nn## John 3:14 — The Pattern of the Serpent in the WildernessnnBishop Daniels brought in a powerful parallel from John 3:14, where Jesus himself draws a comparison: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”nnIn Numbers 21, the Israelites were being bitten by serpents because they had spoken against God and Moses during a difficult stretch of the journey — a detour that felt unnecessary to them. God’s instruction for healing was simple and strange: look at the bronze serpent Moses lifted up, and live. No striving. No earning. Just look.nnJesus says he is that standard lifted up. The healing, the freedom, the possession of inheritance — it all flows from looking to him. From believing what has already been accomplished.nnThis is not passive Christianity. It is the deepest kind of faith — the faith that says “it is finished” and acts accordingly, even when the circumstances look like a flood.nn## Entering Your Isaiah 60 MomentnnBishop Daniels spoke of a season he believes the church is entering — what he called an Isaiah 60 moment. Isaiah 60:1 commands, “Arise, shine, for your light has come.” It is a declaration that what belongs to you will come to you. Not because you are striving in need, but because God wants to move his people out of a needy, striving posture and into the fullness of what he has already deposited within them.nnThe Holy Spirit, dwelling inside every believer, reveals what the Father has hidden within you. But you will never access it if you are consumed with what the enemy is doing rather than what the Spirit is revealing.nn## What the Wilderness Is Teaching YounnBefore closing, Bishop Daniels offered a question every believer in a hard season should sit with: “What have you learned about the Father in this season?”nnWilderness seasons are not accidents. They are not signs that God has abandoned you or that you missed his voice. They are the very crucible in which faith becomes real — not just recited, but lived. “You won’t know what faith really is,” he said plainly, “until you come to the end of yourself.”nnGod brings his people to the end of themselves not to humiliate them, but to show them how strong they really are in him. The same God who called you out is the same God who will bring you in.nnIf you find yourself in a season of pressure, discouragement, or confusion today, Bishop Daniels’ word is a timely reminder: the standard has already been raised. The flood the enemy sent against your house does not have the final word. The Holy Spirit has lifted up Jesus — and that changes everything.nnLook up. Your inheritance is closer than you think.”, “keywords”: [“Spiritual Inheritance”, “Faith”, “Identity in Christ”, “Spiritual Warfare”, “The Cross”, “Isaiah 59”, “Breakthrough”, “Spiritual Fatherhood”], “meta_description”: “Discover how to possess your God-given inheritance by understanding the standard God raises against the enemy — the lifted-up Christ of Isaiah 59 and John 12.”, “slug”: “possessing-your-inheritance-through-the-standard”, “summary”: “Bishop Robert Daniels unpacks Isaiah 59:19 and the power of Christ as God’s standard raised against the enemy when you’re on the verge of your inheritance.” }
Sunday, June 14, 2026Exodus | Importance of His PresenceJonathan LabelleExodus 32-34Moses experienced a lot of difficulty leading the people of God. They were already making other gods and attributing the success of the only God to these other false deities. As Moses was processing the call that God had put on his life, he declared that he could not do the task without God, leading him to ask God to reveal His glory to Moses.
Worship with us 9 + 11 AM 390 N 400 E Bountiful, UT 84010. For more information or to get connected, please visit: www.flourishinggrace.org/plan-your-visit. What is the story of Exodus really about? Is it simply a story about Moses, the plagues, and the parting of the Red Sea, or is there something much deeper taking place? In this opening message of our Exodus series, we discover that the book of Exodus is ultimately not a story about human heroes. It is the story of a faithful God who draws near to rescue His people and claim them as His own. Throughout Scripture, God consistently reveals Himself as a God who takes the initiative. He is the one who pursues, rescues, and restores. The story of Exodus begins by introducing us to this central truth. God draws near to Israel to rescue them and claim them as His own. This theme not only shapes the entire book of Exodus but also reveals the heart of the gospel and the story of the entire Bible. In this sermon, we trace the origins of God's covenant people through the promises made to Abraham. God called Abraham out of his homeland and promised to make him into a great nation through whom all the families of the earth would be blessed. Despite impossible circumstances, waiting, uncertainty, and generations of challenges, God remained faithful to His promises. Even when His people could not see what He was doing, God was working behind the scenes to accomplish His purposes. The message then takes us into the opening chapters of Exodus where we encounter a heartbreaking reality. The descendants of Abraham have multiplied just as God promised, but they are now living under oppression and slavery in Egypt. A new Pharaoh rises to power and begins to fear the growing population of Israel. What follows is one of the darkest moments in Israel's history as God's people suffer under brutal oppression and experience unimaginable loss and suffering. As we examine these difficult chapters, we are confronted with an important question. What happens when God's promises seem impossible to reconcile with our circumstances? Many believers have experienced seasons where they know God is faithful, yet life feels overwhelming, painful, or confusing. Exodus reminds us that God is still working even when we cannot yet see the rescue He is preparing. This message also introduces us to Moses, one of the most significant figures in Scripture. Born into impossible circumstances and rescued from death as an infant, Moses grows up with a complicated identity. He is born Hebrew but raised in the household of Pharaoh. He belongs to both worlds and yet feels at home in neither. His struggle with identity becomes a powerful reminder that lasting identity can never be found in status, success, background, accomplishments, or earthly labels. As Moses attempts to take matters into his own hands, he discovers the limits of human strength and self reliance. His efforts to bring justice through his own power lead to failure, isolation, and exile. Yet even in Moses' mistakes, God is preparing him for a greater purpose. The story reminds us that God's plans are not dependent upon our perfection. God often works through flawed, broken, and unlikely people to accomplish His purposes. One of the most encouraging moments in this message comes as we see Moses wrestling with God's calling. When God invites Moses into His rescue plan, Moses immediately focuses on his weaknesses, failures, and limitations. His response is one many of us can relate to. “Who am I?” Yet the story of Exodus continually points away from human ability and back toward God's faithfulness. The focus is never on what Moses can accomplish. The focus is on what God will do.
Pastor Christian wraps up our Holy Ground series with a message from Numbers 27:12–23. As Moses comes to the end of his journey, we see the weight of a missed reward, the beauty of his surprising response, and God's provision through a new replacement. Through this passage, we're reminded that even when our own story takes an unexpected turn, God's faithfulness continues and His purposes move forward.We hope you were blessed by this message! Visit our website for more information about Grove City Vineyard.
As Moses blesses the tribes of Israel, he clearly invokes the Presence of God upon them in each blessing, noting that God is the Provider and the Warrior Who is present with His people.
The sermon focuses on the theme of “Faith to Choose” from Hebrews 11:24–29, highlighting the faith of Moses. As Moses grew up, he made a deliberate choice to identify with God's people rather than enjoy the temporary privileges and wealth of Egypt. By faith, he valued obedience to God above earthly treasures and was willing to endure suffering for a greater eternal reward. Moses trusted God even when he could not see the outcome, persevering because he kept his eyes on the invisible God. His faith was demonstrated through actions such as observing the Passover and leading Israel through the Red Sea. These events show that genuine faith requires difficult choices, steadfast trust, and obedience to God's direction. The message challenges believers to choose God's purposes over temporary comforts and to live by faith in every season of life.
As Moses stands in the dust with God before the burning bush, he is vulnerable and exposed. In their interaction, God is revealing to Moses what he believes about himself, i.e. who he thinks he is, and what he believes about God, i.e. who he thinks God is. As the conversation proceeds, it becomes increasingly clear that Moses has some major misconceptions about Who God is and who he is. One of the many things God is up to is making more clear who He Himself really is, The Great I Am, and making more clear who Moses really is as one created by, loved by, and provided for by God.
As Moses stands in the dust with God before the burning bush, he is vulnerable and exposed. In their interaction, God is revealing to Moses what he believes about himself, i.e. who he thinks he is, and what he believes about God, i.e. who he thinks God is. As the conversation proceeds, it becomes increasingly clear that Moses has some major misconceptions about Who God is and who he is. One of the many things God is up to is making more clear who He Himself really is, The Great I Am, and making more clear who Moses really is as one created by, loved by, and provided for by God.
Since there is a God, nothing is more important than Who He is and What He is like. In this part of Exodus, He introduces Himself to Moses personally as the great "I Am." He is the true God, the living God, the everlasting God, the One who always has been and always will be. He is the God who loves His people and is committed to their freedom. As Moses stands vulnerable and exposed before Him at the burning bush, God reveals Himself with greatest clarity as the great "I Am" who has always been with and for His people and who has both the plan and the provisions to set His people free. He will execute His plan with perfection and to completion, in His way and time. Just as God worked in the lives of Moses and the Israelites, He works in our lives as well, showing us the desperation of our predicament and the sufficiency of His redemption. He shows us the various ways in which we are enslaved and He reveals Jesus as the One who alone can set free. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Since there is a God, nothing is more important than Who He is and What He is like. In this part of Exodus, He introduces Himself to Moses personally as the great "I Am." He is the true God, the living God, the everlasting God, the One who always has been and always will be. He is the God who loves His people and is committed to their freedom. As Moses stands vulnerable and exposed before Him at the burning bush, God reveals Himself with greatest clarity as the great "I Am" who has always been with and for His people and who has both the plan and the provisions to set His people free. He will execute His plan with perfection and to completion, in His way and time. Just as God worked in the lives of Moses and the Israelites, He works in our lives as well, showing us the desperation of our predicament and the sufficiency of His redemption. He shows us the various ways in which we are enslaved and He reveals Jesus as the One who alone can set free. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Numbers 27:15-23 As Moses' life and ministry were coming to an end, God had Moses appoint Joshua to take his place. The Foundation Preacher Podcast is provided to you by WELS Congregational Services. The Foundation resources were created to help churches allow the gospel message heard in worship, to echo throughout the week. Listen to […]
In Exodus 17, Joshua and the army of Israel are dependent upon the Lord for victory over their enemies. The way their victory comes? As Moses holds up his the rod in his hands, they take win the battle. And so it is in our lives. As our hands are held high, we win!The Bible is filled with stories of faithful men and women doing the impossible. They accomplished what the Lord instructed them to do even though it was humanly impossible. In studying these testimonies we discover powerful insights and spiritual principles that we can imitate so that we too can do the impossible! If you prayed the prayer of Salvation please fill out this form so that we can mail you a free gift!https://gospeltabernacle.breezechms.com/form/salvationIf you would like to check out all our resources, send a message, or sow a seed into the ministry work please visit:https://www.faithformygeneration.com
Text: Numbers 11-14; 20-24; 27 Supplemental Text: The Third Thousand Years chapters 18-19 BYU Lecture 22: The law of carnal commandments include many different sacrifices and oblations which are discussed. The Lord hates them because as a schoolmaster, the law was not obeyed by Israel with humility or a contrite spirit. These carnal commandments were fulfilled and taken away at the time of Christ. The laws of reparation are discussed and explained, such as “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” This God-given law is not a law of vengeance or revenge as it is taught generally, but a beautiful law of reparation which benefits the victim, the perpetrator and the entire society. The law of Capital Punishment is also largely misunderstood, which is discussed and explained according to scripture as God delivered it. Properly understood, this sacred law allows for agency and it benefits society. As Moses brings the people of Israel closer to the promised land, their complaints and whining become so unbearable that Moses goes to the Lord for help. The Lord organizes the Sanhedrin, or council of 70, to assist Moses. He also sends them quail for meat because they complained about the manna. Those who lusted for the quail died from gluttony. As the camp arrives near the Promised Land they send in spies to check the military might of the enemy. To their astonishment, they find the land full of mighty Anaks, or very large people (similar to Goliath). They panick, replace Moses with a new leader and flee. This so angers the Lord that He refuses to let any of the adult Israelites to ever enter the promised land, with the only exception to be Caleb and Joshua. Israel is condemned to wander in the wilderness 38 more years until all these original adult Israelites die off.
As Moses prepares to make his way back to Egypt, he has four strange interactions. None of them really make much sense on their own, but together they paint a picture of things to come. | Exodus | Series: Going Home the Long Way (Exodus)
As Moses and Aaron prepared to enter the tabernacle, there were certain clothing items that they wore that were very symbolic and a reminder of those “glorious and beautiful” covenants. So grateful that the Lord has done the same for us today.If you'd like to view the video that goes with the podcast, click here!
As Moses and Aaron prepared to enter the tabernacle, there were certain clothing items that they wore that were very symbolic and a reminder of those “glorious and beautiful” covenants. So grateful that the Lord has done the same for us today.If you'd like to view the video that goes with the podcast, click here!
Saturday, 25 April 2026 They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” Matthew 19:7 “They say to Him, ‘Therefore, why he did enjoin, Moses, to give a divorce scroll to dismiss her?'” (CG) In the previous verse, Jesus, having cited Scripture to justify His conclusion, said that what God has joined, man should not separate. With that stated, an obvious question arose. Matthew records, “They say to Him, ‘Therefore, why he did enjoin, Moses, to give a divorce scroll to dismiss her?'” The reason this is obvious is that it is found in the Pentateuch or Torah, the same five books in which Genesis is recorded. There is nothing wrong with the question, and such confusion should be expected. If a truth is evidently being taught in one part of the Torah and elsewhere something seems contradictory to that, then how can those thoughts be reconciled? Such confusion will often cause one to take the laxer stand in the debate unless there is a compelling reason why they shouldn't. In other words, “This appears to say something in Genesis, but it isn't explicit. Our teacher has noted that Deuteronomy says something different, which is stated explicitly. Therefore, we must go with Deuteronomy.” That is why there were different schools of thought, such as Shammai and Hillel. One may have deduced that the precept implied in Genesis had limitations. The other held firmly to Deuteronomy due to its explicitly stated nature. As Moses didn't give any further qualifications, then the laxer approach must be acceptable. However, there is one more consideration at this time in Israel's history. In Malachi 2:16, the prophet declared to the people – “And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the Lord with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. 14 Yet you say, ‘For what reason?' Because the Lord has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant. 15 But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. 16 For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one's garment with violence, Says the Lord of hosts. Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.” Malachi 2:13-16 Because of this, Israel should have carefully considered the words of Moses and taken a second look at their actions and attitudes concerning divorce. Life application: Theology is not always black and white and clearly set on the pages of Scripture. Many things have to be carefully considered from a much wider angle than a single precept on a page. It is true that Moses gave an allowance for divorce. But what was the reason for it? Jesus will give a clear and exacting response to the question. When thought through, it should make sense to those who hear it. But Jesus' response will elicit more concerns in the minds of His disciples. But this is how the Bible presents things. There are things to be inferred. Directives come along that may seem confusing. Other things are stated later that are hard to reconcile with what has already been said, etc. Eventually, however, as the years pass, the greater plan of redemption becomes clearer and clearer. Little steps are taken to give lessons. From there, things will take their place. When that occurs, people may still not understand what is happening because they have failed to see the progression of what God is doing. Those who continue to hold to the law are in such a category. They failed to see that the law was a steppingstone to lead Israel to Jesus. In failing to see that, they rejected the new direction. Along with their rejection, they teach others who were never under the law that they need to go back to the part of the plan where those teaching law observance still are. All of this is because of a failure to see the greater picture of what God is doing. That is why God has made the gospel so hugely simple. If people can't understand the basic gospel, and the world is full of people who don't, imagine if it were any more complicated! God is looking to get people saved through Christ. Once that is done, it is important to grow in Christ, lest someone come along and pull you back into a part of what God has already set aside. Keep reading the Bible! Keep looking at what God has done from the bigger and more complete plan of redemption. This is how you will be firm and secure in what is a big and complicated book. Glorious Lord God, thank You for the simple gospel. By it we are saved. Once that is out of the way, help us to continue to grow in our walk with You. May we be responsible stewards of the time You have given us. Help us in this, O God. Amen.
As Moses is helping the children of Israel make and keep covenants with God, he does a pretty crazy object lesson that has deep spiritual meaning for us.If you'd like to view the video that goes with the podcast, click here!
In Exodus 2, the life of Moses begins to unfold under the quiet but steady hand of God's providence. We see a mother entrusting her child to the river with an uncertain future, a sister watching from a distance, and Pharaoh's daughter unexpectedly raising the very one who would later challenge Egypt's power. As Moses grows, he witnesses injustice, acts in haste, and flees to Midian, where his life again seems hidden and uncertain. Yet while Moses' story develops in the background, Israel cries out in their suffering, and the chapter closes with a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness: God remembered His covenant, God saw His people, and God knew.
This week, God reveals His character to Moses, compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Even after Israel's failure, the Lord renews His covenant, showing both His mercy and His holiness. Moses responds with worship and obedience, reminding us of the beauty of repentance and restoration. As Moses beholds the glory of the Lord, his life is visibly transformed, pointing us to the invitation to behold God ourselves and be changed by His presence. It's a reminder that we are shaped by what we fix our eyes on. Want to watch a version of this message? Check out our live broadcast archive at www.declarationchurch.net/live.
Today, Moses preaches against the very sins that end up bringing a curse upon Israel. As Moses continues his prelude to a recounting of the Law to Israel's next generation, he warns them against both idolatry and self-righteousness, which in both cases is a means of robbing God of the glory that is due Him and Him alone. He urges them to remember that the land they are entering has been given to them, not because of their righteousness, but because of the wickedness of the nations they are entering. When they become satisfied with the good of the land, they are not forget to worship God, love Him, and keep his commands. Deuteronomy 8 - 1:01 . Deuteronomy 9 - 4:42 . Deuteronomy 10 - 12:34 . Psalm 62 - 17:01 . :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org
“He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, ‘My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’” (Matthew 26:37–38 NLT) Jesus was fully God and fully human. Because He was fully human, He had the same needs that other people have. He enjoyed the same things that other people enjoy, including companionship. He surrounded Himself with disciples not just so that He could teach and prepare them for ministry, but also because He enjoyed their companionship. He found comfort and pleasure in interacting with them. When Jesus retreated to the Garden of Gethsemane before He was arrested, He brought along His closest friends. And He made a simple request of them. “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matthew 26:38 NLT). Actually, it was more of an opportunity than a request. Jesus was giving them a chance to play a role in God’s plan. Maybe if His companions had recognized the opportunity embedded in the request, they would have been more diligent in carrying out Jesus’ instructions. Instead, they gave in to their physical desire and fell asleep. It wasn’t the first time. Matthew 17:1–13 records the story of the Transfiguration, in which Jesus led Peter, James, and John up a mountain so that they could see Him in His glory. On the mountain, Moses and Elijah appeared to them. “As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, ‘Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’” (Luke 9:33 NLT). The previous verse explains why he suddenly spouted such nonsense. “Peter and the others had fallen asleep” (Luke 9:32 NLT). Imagine what else Peter might have witnessed had he been fully awake and watchful at the Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane. It makes me wonder how much we miss out on because of our spiritual slumber. How often are we spiritually slumbering when God wants to speak to us through His Word? How often are we spiritually slumbering instead of opening our hearts to a message at church? How often are we spiritually slumbering when the Lord would want us to speak up for Him? Staying awake, spiritually speaking, means directing our gaze toward the things of God—the things that matter. Look at the words of the psalmist in Psalm 119:37: “Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word” (NLT). Like the disciples, we, too, can miss out on what God wants to do in and through us. So, we need to be awake, alert, and paying attention. Good things happen to those who keep their spiritual eyes open. Reflection question: What would spiritual slumber look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Handmaidens, Harems, and Heroines, host Lynne Hilton Wilson explores the Book of Exodus chapters 7–13, where God's power is revealed through the dramatic plagues that fall upon Egypt. As Moses confronts Pharaoh again and again, the escalating plagues show that the Lord alone rules heaven and earth, giving Pharaoh repeated opportunities to recognize His authority. For the enslaved Israelites, these events must have strengthened their faith as they witnessed the Lord defending His covenant people. Through these miracles, the narrative builds toward the ultimate act of deliverance—the Passover—foreshadowing the saving power of the Lamb of God. While these chapters center on Moses and Pharaoh, this episode also highlights the often-overlooked experiences of women within Israelite homes during these pivotal moments. Israelite mothers played a crucial role in faithfully preparing the Passover meal, marking their doorposts with the lamb's blood, and teaching their children the sacred meaning of the night of deliverance. Their quiet obedience and faith helped preserve the covenant within the family and ensured that the memory of God's saving power would be passed from generation to generation. As Lynne Hilton Wilson explains, these women stand as powerful examples of covenant faith—participating in God's work of redemption within their homes and pointing symbolically to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Firstborn who delivers all God's children from spiritual bondage.
Lesson 3 - The King's Teaching Begins: A Revolutionary New Way to LiveMatthew 5:1-48. As Moses revealed God's Law on the mountain of Sinai, Jesus introduced the Kingdom of God and all its blessings on a Galilean hillside. His words brought joy and comfort to the humble and revealed what God really required of those who would truly follow Him. They also exposed the pride and hypocrisy of the religious leaders, a revelation that would only grow in the days ahead and bear its own sorrowful fruit.To learn more about Michele or to support this international ministry please visit https://intheword.com
As Moses continues his prelude to a recounting of the Law to Israel's next generation, he warns them against both idolatry and self-righteousness, which in both cases is a means of robbing God of the glory that is due Him and Him alone. He urges them to remember that the land they are entering has been given to them, not because of their righteousness, but because of the wickedness of the nations they are entering. When they become satisfied with the good of the land, they are not forget to worship God, love Him, and keep his commands. If they turn from the Lord, they will receive a curse from the Lord, rather than a blessing. Deuteronomy 8 - 1:09 . Deuteronomy 9 - 4:40 . Deuteronomy 10 - 12:11 . Deuteronomy 11 - 17:22 . Psalm 42 - 22:56 . Psalm 43 - 25:04 . :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org
As Moses concludes the story of Abraham's life, we learn about another wife of Abraham through whom God gave more children to Abraham, even as Isaac remained the child of promise. Upon Abraham's death at the age of 175, Isaac and Ishmael join together to bury their father in the Promised Land in the same place Abraham had previously buried Sarah. Before telling us the continued story of Isaac, Moses gives further information on the family of Ishmael. Even though Abraham has now died, the line of the Promised Christ continues. Rev. Dr. Martin Dressler, pastor at Salem Lutheran Church and School in Black Jack, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Genesis 25:1-18. To learn more about Salem Lutheran, visit salembjmo.org. “In the Beginning” is a series on Sharper Iron that studies Genesis. The first book of Moses sets the stage for God's entire story of salvation. As we learn the beginning of the story, God prepares us to receive the fulfillment of the story: Jesus Christ, the Offspring of the woman who has crushed our enemy's head. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org
In today's episode of Open Our Bibles Together, we're digging into Deuteronomy chapters 23–25, and what might seem like a list of random rules at first actually comes together around one powerful theme: remembering the God who rescues. Moses keeps reminding Israel—over and over again—to look back before they move forward. In Deuteronomy 24:18, he says, "Always remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God redeemed you from your slavery." God isn't just giving instructions—He's pointing His people back to their rescue story and saying, Let that shape how you live. Their compassion for the vulnerable, their care for one another, and their pursuit of holiness were all meant to flow out of remembering what God had already done for them. We'll also talk through why these laws mattered so much—especially since God Himself was living in the midst of their camp—and how His commands were never about pushing people away, but about protecting His people and reflecting His heart. Along the way, we revisit key moments from Israel's past, including Balaam's failed attempt to curse God's people, and we trace the redemptive thread through Ruth and Boaz, discovering how even in laws and boundaries, God's grace and redemption are never far away. As Moses speaks like a man running out of time—standing at the edge of the Promised Land—he urges the people to remember where they came from and who brought them out. And ultimately, we see how all of this points us forward to Jesus, our Rescuer, who redeems us and calls us to live differently because of His grace. For the full episode show notes, please go to https://mfahring.com/deuteronomy-23-25/
What happens when the people of Israel miscalculate Moses' return from Mount Sinai — and panic sets in? In this week's Torah portion, Ki Tisa, we explore one of the most dramatic and painful episodes in the entire Torah: the fashioning of the Golden Calf.As Moses spends 40 days and 40 nights atop Har Sinai, communing with God and receiving the Torah, the people grow restless. They lose track of time, grow anxious, and begin to fear the worst — "What has happened to Moses?" In their uncertainty, they turn to Aaron with a desperate request: give us something tangible, a stand-in for the Divine presence that has guided us.What follows is a lesson about faith, fear, and what we reach for when our spiritual anchor seems to disappear.Rabbi Dweck has held rabbinic leadership roles in the US and the UK. He is the Rosh Bet Midrash of TheHabura.com and the Rabbi Levy Chair of Jewish Wisdom at the London School of Jewish Studies.For more, check out rabbijosephdweck.com.Instagram: https://instagram.com/rabbidweckTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidweckYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RabbiJosephDweck Rabbi Dweck has held rabbinic leadership roles in the US and the UK. He is the Rosh Bet Midrash of TheHabura.com and the Rabbi Levy Chair of Jewish Wisdom at the London School of Jewish Studies.For more, check out rabbijosephdweck.com.Instagram: https://instagram.com/rabbidweckTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbidweckYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RabbiJosephDweck
The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021926.cfmFather Matthew Tomeny, MIC invites us to contemplate today's Gospel in light of the witness of St. Thomas More and St. Anthony the Great.Jesus warns, “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Mt 16:24; NABRE). In the same breath He calls us to “pick up our cross daily and follow Me” (Lk 9:23; NABRE).The drama of Thomas More, who refused King Henry's demand for a divorce and chose fidelity to Christ above crown and comfort, illustrates the cost of true discipleship. When Rich perjured himself for worldly gain, the saint reminded him that “the whole world is fleeting; what truly matters is the kingdom of God.” This echoes the “Catechism”: “The Christian is called to die to self and live for God” (CCC 1033).Saint Anthony the Great taught the same radical love: “Die daily, if you wish to live eternally.” Our lives are like a house on fire — clinging to material treasures ensures our destruction, while abandoning them opens the path to everlasting life. As Moses declared, “I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom” (Dt 30:15; NABRE).Thus, each day presents a choice: hold fast to the fleeting comforts of this world, or lay them down at the foot of the Cross. The cross is not a burden to be avoided; it is the gateway to the resurrection. By surrendering our will to God's will, we align ourselves with the divine plan and secure the promise of eternal life.Let us, like St. Thomas More, abandon pride, ambition, and fear, and like St. Anthony, practice the daily death to self. In doing so, we fulfill Christ's invitation: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn 14:15; NABRE). ★ Support this podcast ★
In this Bible Story, Pharaoh is at war against God and refuses to let Israel go. Pharaoh sees himself as God’s equal, and does not budge despite numerous plagues. This story is inspired by Exodus 7:8-9:35. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Exodus 9:14 from the King James Version.Episode 36: As Moses and Aaron bring God’s request before Pharaoh and Pharaoh refuses, signs are given from God to prove His request. But Pharoah, far from scared, replicates these signs and tells Moses and Aaron no! Thus begins God’s display of power upon Egypt, sending plague after plague.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On Transfiguration Sunday, just before Lent begins, we climb the mountain with Peter, James, and John and watch Jesus reveal who he truly is. Our conversation with Lars Olson leans heavily into Luther's Law and Gospel distinction: God's holy voice exposes our sin and leaves us in fear, while Jesus delivers mercy through his speaking. As Moses and Elijah fade and only Christ remains, we hear that salvation doesn't come from building booths or getting it right, but from listening to the Son who goes down the mountain to the cross for us. CARE OF SOULS - ADDICTIONIn Care of Souls, a special mini-series podcast from Luther House of Study, Lutheran pastors and theologians come together to explore the deeply personal and pastoral task of preaching to and caring for those struggling with life's challenging situations: addiction, death, family disharmony, and more. Rooted in the theology of the cross and the Lutheran tradition of radical grace, this series offers both theological depth and practical guidance for pastors, church workers, and lay leaders.With conversations, real-life stories, and reflections from the front lines of ministry, Care of Souls equips listeners to enter the broken places of addiction not with easy answers, but with the crucified and risen Christ.Because in the end, it's not about fixing people—it's about preaching the Gospel.Listen to Care of Souls wherever you listen to podcasts or on the Luther House website: Care of Souls - AddictionCOURSES Do you like what you learn in the conversations on Scripture First? Luther House of Study has numerous interactive courses available for free on subjects ranging from the Lutheran Catechism to core Christian beliefs. Visit lutherhouseofstudy.org to see their available courses, create an account to track your progress, and dive deeper into your learning. GOSPEL Matthew 17:1-9 1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead"Support the showInterested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?Email Sarah at sarah@lhos.org or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate
Audio Transcript All right, well, beautiful singing. So I’ve not met you. My name is Aaron and I’m the preaching pastor here. And we’re glad you’re with us. I know sickness is kind of spreading around right now, and so I’m glad that you’re well enough to be with us this morning. So if you have a Bible with you, could open up to the Gospel of Luke. Our texture study today is going to be Luke 6, 2020. If you don’t have a Bible with you, there are pew Bibles kind of scattered throughout if you want to find your way there to Luke 6. Also, the word should be on the screen on either end of the stage if you want to follow along there. And if you’re visiting, if you open up your Bible, please do keep them open. So we do a style of preaching here. Actually, we talk about this in a sermon called Expository Preaching. So I’m going to read the passage, we’re going to pray, and then I’m going to walk us right back through the text. And so please do keep your Bibles open in this time. So Luke 6 starting verse 20. So please hear the words of our God. So Luke wrote, and he lifted up his eyes on disciples and said, blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you and they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil on account of the Son of man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy. For behold, your reward is great in heaven. For so their fathers did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. So that’s God’s word for us this morning. Would you please pray with me? Lord, thank you for your word. And Lord, please help me to be a good communicator of your word today. Please give the congregation ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. I pray this all in Jesus name. Amen. Okay, so if you’ve been around here, you know every story starts out, at least for mine. So there we were. So there you were, myself and a man from our home church in Greenway, Wisconsin, and we’re getting together for breakfast. And this is Shortly before my wife, Tia and I were about to move to Louisville, Kentucky for seminary. Now, the man I got breakfast with that morning from our home church is actually a very influential, strong leader in his field. Before he retired, actually, he was the CEO of one of the largest and most profitable companies in the state. Over 7 billion in annual sales. And we got together that morning for breakfast. My friend had a bit of a surprise for me that was very much tied to sobering encouragement that he wanted me to have. Surprise he had for me was an autographed baseball. A baseball that I actually received through some personal connections to a legendary player who signed it for me, a former player, an all time great player named Hank Aaron, who played a good portion of his career for the Milwaukee Braves before that team relocated to Atlanta and then finished up his career for my beloved Milwaukee Brewers. And Hank Aaron not only is one of the greatest players of all time, but he also was my dad’s favorite player when he was growing up. A player that he just adored when Aaron played for both the Braves and the Brewers. In fact, my dad loved Hank Aaron so much that I was born. He named me Aaron after him. And this is something actually my friend knew, and this is one of the reasons why he got this autographed baseball for me, because he knew that it meant a lot to me to have that ball. It’s a pretty sweet gift, pretty thoughtful. But what made that ball even more sweet, even more thoughtful was the sobering encouragement tied to the ball that my friend also wanted to pass on to me. And that sobering encouragement from my friend was reminded me of a different man named Aaron. Not his last name, but his first name, Aaron. Aaron from the Old Testament, who was the brother of Moses. You may remember that now if you remember Moses. So he’s a great leader and prophet, but he also had a stuttering problem. So much so that Moses actually pleaded with the Lord to provide someone who could speak on his behalf, which ended up being his brother Aaron. As Moses spoke on behalf of, or as Aaron spoke on behalf of Moses the prophet who was speaking on behalf of God himself. And for my friend, his sobering encouragement to me through this ball, as I was about to head off to seminary to hopefully get trained to be a preacher, was that every time I look at this baseball, which is currently sitting amidst all my sports treasures in my basement ball, that I see often, by the way, college students, if you’re planning to come to my house next week for pass the pass pastor’s house, I’ll show it to You. But as I look at this baseball with the name Aaron on it, my friend hoped I had the sober encouragement that as I preach like Aaron for Moses, as I preach, I’m speaking on behalf of God from His perfect holy word. Now, obviously, I’m not a prophet like Aaron was as a preacher, but preaching still is speaking God’s word to his people, which, my friend, he wanted this to be a sobering truth for me, sobering as I went to seminary to study there, to study hard, to put forth my best effort in that seminary experience. You also want to be sobering for me one day as I write sermons, as I prep for sermons the way I should, to never cut corners, to give my best effort each sermon I write. You want to be sobering for me as I deliver sermons every time I stand behind the pulpit, that there should be a real, sober sense of what I’m doing, because the weighty responsibility and privilege it is to communicate God’s word. Now, I tell you all this this morning, so sobering this should be for me every time I do this, but maybe even more sobering for me this week, because this week and actually the next couple weeks, my assignment is to preach you from God’s perfect holy word on a passage that is often viewed as the greatest sermon of all time. Meaning my attempt is to give you a sermon from the greatest of all sermons, a sermon that was given by the Lord Jesus Christ, one that he actually gave on more than one occasion. If you’re with us, last week Wes actually mentioned this. I’m going to mention it again today. The sermon we’re about to go through is often referred to as a sermon on the plain, as we learned in our text last week. Verse 17. If you want to take your eyes there, that Jesus gave this sermon, he was standing on a level place. And this sermon on the plain that Luke records is very similar in content to perhaps the most famous of all sermons, that Jesus gave, the Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded in Matthew 5, where Jesus gave that the side of a mountain. Now, I will mention that for some, the Sermon on the Plain here in Luke 6, as well as the Sermon on the mount in Matthew 5. Some believe this actually is like the same event of the exact same sermon. So perhaps there was maybe like a little bit of a plateau on the mountain that gave a level ground for Jesus to preach. And while it is possible that Matthew 5 and Luke 6 record the same event, the exact same sermon, there’s enough little details between the Sermon on the Mount and the sermon on the plain that led many, myself included, to believe these are actually two different events where Jesus preached to two different people, but basically gave the same sermon two different times. You know, as mentioned, to two different people groups, which, by the way, this is actually not a problem. Jesus gave the same sermon at least two times, so. So in this time frame, rabbis are annoying, giving like the same teachings on multiple occasions throughout history, church history, many pastors, myself included, have preached the same passage more than once, where the sermons are very similar. In fact, maybe the most famous sermon, at least in our culture here, that God used to help ignite the Great Awakening first Great Awakening, the sermon titled Sinners in the Hands of Angry God. Maybe you heard that one by Jonathan Edwards. He actually preached that on multiple occasions. So it’s not an issue that Jesus preached the same basic sermon more than once. In fact, knowing that Jesus preached this same basic sermon more than once probably just highlights how important of a message this was from our Lord, which for me further underscores why this is often viewed as the greatest sermon of all time. Okay, now before we get to the text, the sermon that Luke records, just a few things, just a reminder where we’ve been the last few weeks. So. So the ministry of Jesus is now very much in public view. He’s become like the trending topic all over the region, leading more and more to come to him as great crowds were forming around our Lord. And from these crowds included some who Jesus uniquely called to himself to be his disciples, which included some fishermen who we met in chapter five, a despised tax collector who we met in the beginning of chapter six, as well as those listed in our text. Last week, in the middle of chapter six, where none of the disciples seem to be like popular people or influential people, rather they just seem to be like normal, everyday common people like you and me. Yet in his grace, in his wisdom, that is who the Lord Jesus called uniquely to himself, where he’d use these men to become his apostles that in time would like, he would use to completely set the world on his head. Furthermore, as mentioned in previous sermons, but I wanted to mention this again here, as the public ministry of Jesus is in full swing, as the crowds of people are coming to Him. No doubt a large part were coming because of the signs and wonders that Jesus was performing through various healings as well as like exorcism of demons. But the primary reason why the crowds were forming around Jesus because of the primary ministry he had, was actually preaching and teaching, which by the way, would also be the primary ministry that his disciples would have as disciples would be used by God, as mentioned, to turn the world on his head through preaching. So all the different things happening around Jesus, all the things signs he was performing, yet preaching, teaching, giving sermons like the one that we’re about to look at in the text, this is at the center, this is at the focal point of Jesus’s ministry. Which actually leads to the second thing I want to mention here this morning as it relates to sermons and the sermon on the greatest of all sermons of Jesus. The main focus I have to you this morning is to communicate to you from the text, what does the text say? However, as we work through this sermon, the sermon on the plane, I also want to just give you something that I did for myself personally this week was to try to pull insights from the sermon when it comes to preaching. So this is actually a good exercise for me this week as one who preaches often and I thought it would be a good exercise for us as a church as a whole today just to kind of help us think about preaching. What does it look like? What does that mean? Why is it so important mentioned? This is at the heart of the ministry of Jesus and hopefully it means it’s at the heart of our ministry here at Red Village Church as well. We desire preaching and teaching to be the focal point of our church. Not that other things in church life are important, but the pulpit is to me remains central. Many others throughout church history have said as the pulpit goes, so does the rest of the church. So as members, yes, pray for sermons, keep the pulpit accountable. And for some, you at some point you maybe are moving out of Madison. You have to look for another church. Unite to. There are many factors for you to consider discern as you’re trying to find a church. But the pulpit, the sermons really ought to be at the top of your priority list where there’s a steady diet of expositional Christ centered preaching. I hope I do feel for us in this time. So if that is a little bit longer intro, look back with me in the text on the sermon on the plain, they would be looking at just the start of the sermon, verses 20 through 26. So verse 20 we see in the passage that as Jesus stood on the level place, the plain, we see in the text that he began the sermon by lifting up his eyes on his disciples. Okay, not ready. Just a couple things. So first the lifting up of eyes. So commentary is read this week signified from Jesus that there’s like resolve in him, like he has resolve as he’s about to speak mean this is going to be some type of like casual conversation from his pulpit on the plane. Rather, Jesus is about to speak in ways that carried weight significance. Let’s go back to the story I began the sermon with. That’s what my friend was trying to impress upon me. When it comes to preaching, there ought to be a real weight significance that preachers are to understand as they communicate God’s word. By the way, as a church, this is why we pray for those who fill the pulpit, myself included, the preachers will preach with like resolve, resolve to you, the congregation that you have resolve. Actually you take in sermons, right? This should not be something that’s like casual lackadaisical for any of us. A lot of different points. The sermons can have some light hearted elements tied to them, but overall the tone, the tenor should have like sober minded resolve. That’s what Jesus has as he looks up as the disciples. Second, the sermon that Jesus was about to give was primarily meant for his disciples, those he named, verses 14 through 16 that Wes gave us last week. Now I assume other people are there who are listening in. In fact we get the sense when we get to verse 24 does seem like Jesus changes the primary audience that he’s talking to for just a bit there. But the first primary audience of this sermon was to disciples, those who were followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the risk of trying to push this too far, but unless the sermon is clearly intended for those who are not Christian, with some type of evangelistic thrust to it, which Scripture tells us is a thing, sermons, particularly in church life, the primary audience is meant for disciples to teach disciples of Jesus, those who are trusting in him, what it looks like to joyfully follow and obey him, which is certainly the case in this sermon that Jesus gave on the plane, right? This is not a sermon on how one becomes a follower of Jesus, which comes through repentance and faith. Rather, this is a sermon for those who are disciples, those who have repented, who have trusted in Jesus, as Jesus is going to help them to know how to live out their faith in ways that honor him. As Jesus looks at his disciples, we see him begin the sermon, which in our time today this will be in two parts. So the first part will revolve around the blessings that comes by faithfully following after him. Which by the way, this is why this sermon started. It as well as the Sermon on the Mount is often referred to as like the Beatitudes of Jesus with the beatitude word for like blessing. So the first part of the sermon are blessings from Christ. But then the second part, this is a series of woes, strong rebukes for actually not following after him. And we get to the woes. This is the section where I think there’s a little bit of a change in who Jesus is communicating to, as the woes have actually a bit of evangelistic thrust to them, to those who are on the plane who are not yet disciples of Christ, as Jesus is warning them that if they do not repent and believe in him, what would happen? Let’s go back to the blessings, and I want to say I’m going to read them as a whole again with the hopes of like kind of rereading these as a whole. Just capture some of the weight, momentum that I think is there in the sermon of Jesus. And after rereading it again, let me just point out a few things. So look back with me again. John, verse 20. He, Jesus told them, blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry, for you should be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you should be satisfied. Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you, and when they revile you and spur your name as evil on account of the Son of man. Verse 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for your reward is great in heaven. For so their fathers did so, for the fathers did so to the prophets. Okay, now just to break this up, a few things I want to point out. So first, just this term, blessing or blessed. So this is a term or phrase that’s actually scattered throughout Scripture, particularly in the Old Testament, where the word blessing is often correlated with wisdom, particularly wisdom in this life. Now, this week I thought about Psalm 1, and I did kind of wonder if Jesus maybe had this passage in mind as he gave this sermon. So in Psalm 1, so blessed or happy is the man who walks in this life in the wisdom of God, where this blessed happy one in this life does not associate with evil. Rather, the blessed happy man is the one who delights in God’s word and obeying God’s word, what plants him like a tree by streams of water. And while the sermon on the plain, this teaching of Jesus on wisdom certainly is tying to some stuff in this life. But it’s a little different in that Jesus connects the ultimate blessing, the ultimate happiness, not in this life, which so much of the Old Testament is, but rather in the life that is to come, the eternal life that Jesus would usher in. So look back with Me again just to see the forward pointing blessedness that Jesus preached on that was to come for his people. So verse 20. Yes, you’re poor now, but for yours is the kingdom of God, which is the kingdom of God that is, yes, here, now. But a kingdom, the fullness of, of it is still yet to come. And when the fullness of kingdom comes, that’s where the fullness of blessedness, happiness will be found, in the life that is to come. Verse 21. Sure, you are hungry in the here and now, but look ahead, you will be satisfied. The future will come and you will be satisfied. Yes, in the here and now, in this life you weep, but in the future, there is a time that is going to come that you will laugh. Yes, in the here and now, in this life there might be people who hate you and exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil because of your faith in Christ. But look ahead to the future, you will rejoice, you will leap for joy, because in heaven there awaits a reward for you. And for us, this is actually really important for us as we think about being disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, in this life we live with wisdom, but we do so even more with our eyes towards that which is to come. That is where wisdom is set to faithfully live out this life with an eye towards that which will last forever. And this is actually so much of the teaching and preaching of Jesus on, on the better country that is to come, the heavenly one, as Jesus reminds us, the scripture reminds us that we’re simply sojourners, pilgrims headed to the promised land. And that’s where the blessedness will fully be experienced, this eternal reality that waits God’s people. Which by the way, this is why we strive to seek up, to store up treasures in heaven. This is why we poured our lives as offering, as an offering to service to God and others. This is why we’re even willing to suffer in this life for the cause of Jesus. Because we know that our suffering is not in vain. To know that one day our eyes will be our tears and our eyes will be dried. That this will all be temporary. And as that day comes, we’ll be replaced with blessedness, with joy, with rejoicing. Second, in this sermon, Jesus is helping his disciples understand the reality that as we live out our faith like in this life, it might bring some painful, unpleasant realities that we’ll have to endure. In the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus talked about the reality of potentially being poor. In the Sermon on the Mount speaks Of being poor in spirit, which is tied to humility and as maybe this is what Jesus is referring to here, the sermon on the plain. But to me this actually feels like Jesus is speaking towards like financial poverty of being poor. Where many throughout church history, including the 12 disciples falling after Jesus in his life, would bring like financial hardships for a host of different reasons which because of financial hardships at times in this present life, in this sermon, God’s people had to battle real physical hunger. Although we mentioned here, the hunger here could also be a hungering for righteousness with the sermon the Mount speaks to. However, I do think that Jesus is actually speaking towards like physical hunger here where plenty throughout church history, including his disciples. They didn’t always know where their next meal might come from, which adds meanings to like the Lord’s Prayer and give us our daily bread. Furthermore, in this life many Christians have faced hardships for being disciples of Jesus. Hardships that even the prophets had to endure. Hardships in the text has caused many to weep. Weeping that has come because of others have hated them or excluded them from certain things. Weeping because of how their name has been reviled and spurned as evil simply because of their faith in Jesus, the Son of Man. Yes, as a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, we live with the joy of eternal life that is to come, which is a joy that we can even experience in different measures in this life. However, that being said in this sermon, for disciples of Jesus, if we faithfully live out our faith, pain, difficulty, hardships, they can be a reality. A reality is part of the cost of following after Christ. A cost that we must count. A cost that many throughout history, including many today face. For us, this is like a hard truth that Jesus is giving to his disciples in this sermon on the plain. This is not like an easy thing for them to hear or for us to hear, which by the way also should be part of what preaching should have. Where at times, as the text calls for it, hard things need to be said, hard things need to be heard. Scripture warns us that sermons just can’t be there just like to tickle our ears, to just maybe tell us what we want to hear. Rather to tell us the hard truth like this, the sermon that we need to hear. As you keep going. As hard as it would have been for disciples to hear this, how being a disciple could bring a lot of hardships towards them in this life, hard things could come their way, but it actually would have been a harder truth for those who are like listening in, who are not yet his disciples, which, by the way, I do recognize might be somewhat true for some of us here this morning. That you’re here, we’re grateful you’re here, but you’re here, you’re not yet a follower of Christ. So in this sermon, after the four blessings, blessings that come for those who by faith follow him, we see in verses 24 through 26, we now see Jesus pronounced four woes, woes that come for not following him. Woes. If you’re not a Christian, I actually want to plead with you to hear hears. It’s almost like ice water, like running down your back, back that causes you to like to wake up and to by faith run to Jesus and the blessedness that he is. So let’s read through the woes again. I want to read them the same way I read through the blessings and ways that hopefully create some momentum and weight that the sermon Jesus had. And then I want to circle back to give some details, details on the Wo. So verse 24 says, but woe to you who are rich, for you received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did, the false prophets. Okay, now a few things here. So first, the four woes, these obviously stand in sharp contrast to the four blessings that Jesus started his sermon with. And this woe here, this is actually used by Jesus in very forceful ways where he’s still having like, resolve in his eyes as he communicates these woes, where through these woes, Jesus communicated like a declaration of like, judgment and misery from God on those who reject him. So I mentioned this in the past, but I want to mention this again. So in Scripture, there’s. There’s really only two ways that one can live. There’s a blessed way that comes from following Jesus, that will result in eternal life with him. But then there’s the woeful way of judgment and misery that will come with eternity apart from Jesus. Since Scripture does not give us some type of middle ground option, yes, this is a hard but important truth for us to hear to understand. This life is headed to two different, very different realities. The blessed way, the woeful way. Second, this word woe is actually something we also see throughout the Old Testament, much like we see the word blessing throughout the Old Testament, where throughout the Old Testament there’s actually woes given to God’s people for entertaining false prophets. What the sermon speaks upon and for us, I think maybe a little bit more subtle ways. So Jesus was giving his sermon here on the plain. This is like a sermon based on scripture, as Jesus is expounding, expositing scripture in light of himself. And this is actually one of the main reasons why we believe expository preaching is so important. If Jesus preached God’s word, should not every preacher and every sermon preach God’s word? Third, do you notice how the four woes, like the four blessings also are grounded in what? That. That which lies ahead. We’re in the kingdom of God as it fully comes. Like everything’s like turned around. We’re in this life. For the Christians who are suffering through hardship, in the end they’re going to be rewarded with blessing upon blessing, the fullness of joy and happiness for all eternity as you get to be with Jesus. But for those who reject God, who might be like receiving some benefits here and now, but in the end, not only will those benefits be removed, but with misery that will never wane. So back to the text. So sure, in this present life one can get rich without God in their life and enjoy some of the temporary benefits that wealth can offer. Where yes, those riches you can use to fill up your stomach. Where yes, in this life one can laugh it up and receive some type of like worldly praise. But if that’s all you have in this life, that’s all you have without God. In the end, not only will those things all vanish, but as mentioned, they’ll be replaced with misery. A couple things just on this back to winter earlier. So poor and hungry. This is why I think real physical poverty. Hungry is what Jesus is speaking to here. Not speaking about some type of poor in spirit or hunger and righteousness. This is how the rich and the full are used. So I think it’s meant to be. In contrast, second, having wealth, a full belly, laughter, reputation, others admire. So none of those things are wrong in themselves in this life. Okay, so don’t be mistaken there. In fact, in this life, those things actually be like blessings from, from God. In this life, the problem lies if we have those things apart from Christ, where these things almost become like idols to us that we’re putting like our hope and our trust in like wealth or reputation. That’s the problem, A problem that we actually must be warned of because those idols in the end will be idols that proved to be vain, where in the end they will not satisfy you, they will not in the end make you happy, they will not deliver to you what you need, which is forgiveness of sin and eternal blessedness of heaven. Only Jesus can offer those things through his death, through his resurrection from the dead, right? Those things in himself are not wrong. In the end, if you do not have Jesus, they’re in vain. They will not satisfy. They will lead you to misery. Which, by the way, kind of on that note, this is why every sermon should point us to Jesus Christ as the only one who will satisfy, as the one that we do desperately need, the One who loves us in such a way that he would die for us to take on all of the woes of God on the cross, where Jesus bore all of the misery, eternal misery upon himself to bear the punishment of our sin, so that through him we could find forgiveness and eternal life and joy forever and ever. Which leads to the conclusion of our sermon today. So let me just get a couple just summary thoughts on this greatest of all sermons of Jesus. So the first two will just be from the text and the last one is just from sermons. So first let God’s Word teach us that which is true. This is why the preaching and teaching was at the center of Jesus’s ministry, right? Jesus is the the way, the truth and the life. And he came to teach us the truth so that by the truth, the truth of God’s Word, that’s how we can be set free. So that by the truth we could have life, abundant life, both now and in eternity. While a sermon might be hard for us to digest, maybe some of the truths here in this passage might be hard for us to digest. These are truths that we need to hear, truths that we need to know, truths we need to believe in, truths we must obey, right? These hard truths are connected to the blessings of God. These harder truths are also connected to the woes of God. So we must hear that which is true. Second thing to where these truths of this text are pointing us to is we’re to live our life in light of eternal life that is to come and the kingdom of God that Jesus promises one day to usher in. So if this is it, just like just this life, nothing more, then sure, eat, drink, be merry, live for self, enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. But Scripture is so clear, including the sermon here from Jesus. The truth is, there’s so much more than just the here and now. There is an eternal life that is to come that for those who have faith in Christ will be the blessed life. Living with Christ in the heavenly places, experiencing the fullness of his joy in the new heavens and new earth. Let’s say it again. For those who reject him, there’s a life of eternal misery and judgment of sin for us. We must live our life in light of this eternal reality that is to come. Even though there could be a great cost in this life for doing so. Cost like suffering and pain. However, we must trust what our suffering that we might suffer for our faith in Christ and eternal life. Not only will Jesus fully comfort us in the text, he will even reward us when the sermon says even a great reward which reward whenever suffering we have in this life. As we get that rewards we’re with Jesus. Any suffering will feel slight and momentary in comparison to the weight of glory that awaits. And by the way, if you’re looking for some help on maybe how to think ahead, like how to live your life with an eternal like view. So there’s great ministry that is called Eternal Perspectives and I find it pretty helpful. So established by a former pastor named Randy Elkhorn who wrote one of my favorite books. I haven’t mentioned this in a little while, so I’ll mention it again. Book called Heaven. And so if you’d want some help to try to think through, you know, how do you live your life in ways that’s looking ahead, you know, I would look to eternal perspective ministry. Read the book on heaven. Especially now if you’re looking to try to read a book for the stretch run of winter that we have left, that’s one I’d recommend. Okay, last one. So be sober minded about preaching. Which brings us back to the start, what my friend wanted me to have as a preacher. But it’s actually not just preachers who are to be sober minded when it comes to preaching. The congregation should as well. Now, when it comes to preaching, obviously none of us can preach a sermon like Jesus. In fact, even the Apostle Paul referred to his preaching as folly, which is true for all preachers. Even more so, right? None of us are apostles like Paul was. It’s folly. Folly where every sermon is like soon forgotten. Almost like a meal that we consume. Soon forgotten. However, scripture tells us that it’s through preaching. That’s how God chooses to manifest His Word in ways that through His Holy Spirit he speaks to his people in ways that we can see. The Lord Jesus Christ that God is using preaching to bring people to faith, to grow us in our faith, to sustain us in our faith, to persevere us in our faith all the way to the life that is to come. So be sober minded when it comes to preaching. If a preacher should have resolve in his eyes, a congregation should have resolve in your ears. So say it again. Please pray for the preaching here at Red Village that God would use it to communicate truth, even hard truth. Please keep the pulpit here at Red Village like lovingly accountable that the word is preached in season and out of season. As a congregation, we never settle for anything less than God’s words exposited in ways that point us to Christ, who he is, what he’s done for us. Have a longing in your heart to hear the word preached. We’re actually seeking to prepare your own heart to receive sermons. By the way, this is also one of the reasons, maybe a primary reason, why we hope you’re actually here every Sunday to take in a steady diet of the word preached. I say it not to guilt you or shame you. Things can happen. But just imagine if you went weeks without feeding your physical body or if you just happen to feed your physical body just like every so often as is kind of convenient, just imagine how weak, how malnourished your body would be. As important it is to feed your physical body to the steady diet, how much more important to feed your souls week in, week out with God’s Word. Yes, most sermons are like meals. You consume them and you forget them. But yes, say it again. That is how God is revealing himself to us, to grow us, to sustain us, to persevere us in the faith. So church, whether you’re preaching God’s word or taking it in, may we all be sober minded when it comes to the word that is preached. Knowing that in the grace of God, the preached word is a pretty sweet gift, a pretty thoughtful gift from a kind and generous God. Let’s pray. Lord, I do pray that you’d help us to not only hear your word but heed to it. Lord, please help us to live rightly in ways that you defined are true for blessedness. God, help us to live in light of that which is to come. I pray for those who might be here this morning, who are not yet disciples of Christ, that today you would open up their eyes to see the beauty of Jesus, that they would turn into him. And Lord, I do pray just for just this pulpit, the sermons that come from it, whether it be me or others. Lord, please help us to rightly divide the word of truth. And Lord, please bless the preaching of your Word for our good and your glory in Jesus name, Amen. The post The Greatest Sermon of All Time – Luke 6: 20-26 appeared first on Red Village Church.
As Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh once more, they don't know what to expect. They don't know what the plagues will be or how God will rescue His people. But as the story unfolds before them, the great work of God is on full display! (Exodus 7)
As Moses headed back to Egypt, uncertain as he was, hesitant, fearful, unsure, he held tightly to the "staff of God." In the years ahead, whenever he felt anxious again, Moses would hold tightly to that same staff because God had promised him that it would be instrumental in bringing forth miraculous things. We don't have a staff like that today as Christians, but we have something even better to hold on to when we are anxious or unsure: we have God's promises as found in His Word!
Psalm 90 calls us to consider the weight of eternity and the reality of our fleeting days in light of who God is. This message invites us to reflect on the contrast between our weakness and God's greatness, urging us to live with wisdom, humility, and reverence before Him. As Moses leads us to number our days, we are drawn to trust the God who stands outside of time, rules with perfect authority, judges with righteousness, and shows steadfast compassion to His people.Key Points:1. The Eternality of God 2. The Sovereignty of God 3. The Justice of God 4. The Grace of God
As Moses tried to convince God that he was not the right man to go to Egypt and be used by God to deliver the Israelites from slavery, God made three promises and gave Moses three signs to show him that he would be successful. Yet Moses still hesitated. One of the excuses Moses used was that he was "slow of speech." What did he mean by that?
Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!Revelation 15 John sees another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels with the seven last plagues, which complete God's wrath. Standing beside a sea of glass mixed with fire are those who were victorious over the beast and its image. They hold harps given by God and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, praising God's mighty works and justice. All nations will come to worship Him, for His righteous acts have been revealed. After this, the sanctuary in heaven is opened, and the seven angels come out dressed in pure, shining linen. One of the four living creatures gives them seven golden bowls filled with God's wrath. The sanctuary is filled with smoke from God's glory and power, and no one can enter until the plagues are finished. This worshipful chapter demonstrates that God's judgment is not random or cruel, but rather holy, complete, and characterized by justice and righteousness. Those who overcome the beast stand victorious, worshiping God with songs of praise. Their faithfulness reminds us that suffering is not the end, and that victory belongs to those who remain faithful to the Lord. The song of Moses and the Lamb celebrates God's power, His works, and His justice. We are called to worship Him with the same awe and devotion. Even when the world rejects His truth, we are to stand firm. God is preparing to complete His plan, and we must live in reverence, trusting His timing and walking in purity, hope, and faithfulness. Worthy Lord, You are great and marvelous in all Your works; all Your ways are just and true. As Moses sang, You are our strength, our song, and our salvation. Who among the nations will not fear You and glorify Your name? All Your judgments are righteous, and all creation will worship before You. Help us stand firm like those who overcame, singing with joy and trust in Your power. Fill our hearts with awe at Your holiness and prepare us to live in purity. May our lives reflect Your glory as we wait for the completion of Your perfect plan. Thought Questions: How does it bring you comfort to know that the faithful who have died are in a place of pure joy, singing songs of praise to God? What is the original context of the Song of Moses? How is a faithful life in Christ like the Israelites crossing the parted Red Sea in Exodus? Revelation often mentions “the wrath of God.” Who has that wrath always been poured out on, and how far will you go to avoid that fate?
Jairus appears as an administrator. He was named, titled, and located inside a functioning system. He knew how things worked, when to ask, when to stop, when a situation was resolved. When he knelt before Jesus, it was already a breach of role, but the text does not stop there. It presses him.While he was still on the way, while the instruction was still unfolding, a message arrived from his own house: Your daughter has died. Do not trouble the Teacher.It sounds compassionate. It sounds final. But it is not merely a report. It is a deception and a false command. Those who pressed Jairus pressed him to stop searching Scripture, to stop pursuing the call of the Prophet. They said: return to your place. Accept the verdict the system of human words has rendered.But there is only one Judge.Jesus answered without addressing death at all. He promised nothing. He uttered the command, Do not fear. Only trust.With that command, the axis of the text shifts. Fear here is not panic. Fear is obedience to human reasonableness. It is enclosure within narrative walls built of human words. Trust is remaining under instruction, exposed to reality, out in the open, where only living, breathing divine words can give life, even when every visible sign says the moment has passed.The crowd moves with them. They are practical. They know how death works. They know when grief must become resignation. They are not simply onlookers. They are the stone Temple outside the synagogue, walls built of human words, set against the living, breathing Word.They do what walls always do. They mark the human boundary. They decide what may pass and what must stop. What they call wisdom is fear of man disciplined into respectability. What they call obedience is resignation taught to bow to something other than God. They are the domesticated gatekeepers of reasonableness, the infrastructure of Herod, the architecture of fear.They are like the children in the marketplace who said:“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.” (Luke 7:32)They do not listen for the sound of God. They pipe their own tune. Whether the sound is mourning or rejoicing, their demand is the same: respond within our script. The problem was not his music. It was their refusal to hear.They are the makers of garments, woven out of fig leaves. As Moses wrote:“Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9)“I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:10)Jesus emptied the room. Only Peter, James, John, and the parents remained. When Jesus said She is not dead but sleeping, they laughed. Their laughter was not a misunderstanding. It was fear covered, not by God, but by human craftiness. It restored their order. It set a guard around the girl's tomb. It domesticated the moment. It said: this voice may sing only within the borders of our melodies.No one expected what was about to happen. No one could later claim trust in his Command:“And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?'” (Ezekiel 37:2-3)Jesus took the girl by the hand and spoke: Child, arise. The text is not Greco-Roman. It is not written that her “mind” returns. It is not written that her Platonic “soul” is restored. It is written that her pneuma, her ruaḥ, returns. Breath that had gone out came back in. Life does not rise from within the human system of words. It enters from outside, at the sound of his voice (Genesis 2:7; Ezekiel 37:2-10).“Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:4)Peter, James, and John, like the parents, said and did nothing. They bore witness. Life does not come from parents. Wisdom does not come from disciples, let alone stone temples:“So I prophesied as I was commanded, and as I prophesied there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh came upon them, and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God, Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.'” (Ezekiel 37:7-9)The living breath comes not from human words, but from him who commands the four winds, who commanded the Son of Man to breathe his living words upon her.Immediately, Jesus commanded practical care. Feed her. Life is not human spectacle. It is divine instruction, followed by silent obedience:“Tell no one.” (Luke 8:56)Silence is not secrecy. It is judgment. To speak at that moment would rebuild the stone temple of human words in narrative form. It would turn instruction into explanation, breath into human property, life into idolatry.Silence is the test.Like Zechariah leaving the temple unable to speak, the witnesses were stripped of their voice so that God's voice was no longer imprisoned.Hearing must remain intact.Come from the four winds, O breath!The girl was raised and returned, not unto comfort but unto function under his command. As with the man freed from Legion, return to the path of Scripture is always the assignment. Living, moving breath restored from God cannot be managed by those who witness it. They too are sent back under his command, to love the neighbor.Luke tears down every refuge at once. The crowd's boundary-making, parental love, administrative reasonableness, and Jairus's partial trust are all human shelters made of fear. Life, which came before man, will not be housed, measured, ruled, judged, explained, or secured by the words with which humans try to protect themselves.Life, it is written, is not from men, nor through man, but from God, through God:“Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand,O house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 18:6)“On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God?The thing molded will not say to the molder, ‘Why did you make me like this,' will it?Does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?” (Romans 9:20–21)Fear, St. Paul explained, tries to build a platform over God. Fear builds. The gospel dismantles (Genesis 11:4).This week, I discuss Luke 8:49-56. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Friends of the Rosary,Today is Day Three of the Christmas Novena. It's also the Second of the O Antiphons, O Adonai (O Almighty God/O Lord and Ruler).As Moses approached the burning bush ("Put off the shoes from thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground . . . I am who am."). So we approach the divine Savior in the form of the consecrated host, falling to adore Him.We say, "Come and redeem us with outstretched arm." Ave MariaCome, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• December 18, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET
Have you ever needed a reminder that God doesn't just lead His people — He loves them, protects them, and holds them close? Deuteronomy chapter 33 is Moses' final blessing over the tribes of Israel, spoken just before his death, and it is overflowing with the tender, faithful love of God. It is a chapter filled with hope, promise, identity, and blessing. As Moses reviews the journey of the Israelites, he reminds them that they are a people loved by God, carried by God, and held in His hand. And in our key verse, Deuteronomy 33:3, we read these powerful words: “Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand.” This chapter shows us a God who goes before His people, fights for them, shelters them, and promises them a future. And just as He blessed the tribes of Israel, He continues to bless, guide, and guard His people today. Join us as we walk through this chapter and discover what it means to be people who are loved, chosen, and held securely in the hands of our faithful God. Did you enjoy this podcast? Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can listen to us on all major podcasting platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, and Podbean. Check out Kim's latest Bible Bit book on Amazon! Do you want to bring Kim Miller to your church, upcoming retreat, or conference? Contact us! This podcast is brought to you by Woman at the Well Ministries and is supported by our faithful listeners. To support this podcast, please visit our support page.
As Moses leads his people into the desert, God provides manna and quail for His people. He insists that they take one rule very seriously. Rest. (Ex 16:13-26, Matt 5:17-18, Gal 3:24-27, Matt 6:25-34, Ex 20:8-11, Gen 2:2-3, Is 40:28, Matt 12:8, Heb 4:9-11)
As Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush continues, he's got questions! Moses asks, “Who am I?” and “Who are you?” The answer to the first question is wrapped up in the answer to the second. Exodus 3:11-22
Find the complete show notes here: https://watwm.podbean.com/. Have you ever faced a season of change and wondered how you would move forward? Deuteronomy chapter 31 meets us right in the middle of those moments. As Moses prepares to leave the people he has shepherded for forty years, he speaks words that every believer needs to hear: “Be strong and of a good courage… for the Lord thy God goes with you.” This chapter is a reminder that even when seasons shift, God remains faithful. Moses passes leadership to Joshua, but the real Leader -the Lord Himself - never changes. The people of God are called to courage, not because life is easy, but because God is present. In this episode of Woman at the Well Ministries, Erika Klose teaches from Deuteronomy chapter 31 and focuses on verse 6, a verse filled with strength, comfort, and promise: “He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Join us as we learn how to face life's transitions with confidence, how to anchor our hearts in the Word of God, and how to trust the Lord who goes before us, walks beside us, and keeps His promises to the very end. Did you enjoy this podcast? Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can listen to us on all major podcasting platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, and Podbean. Check out Kim's latest Bible Bit book on Amazon! Do you want to bring Kim Miller to your church, upcoming retreat, or conference? Contact us! This podcast is brought to you by Woman at the Well Ministries and is supported by our faithful listeners. To support this podcast, please visit our support page.
Adam Hoeft was preacher for this service. John 3:14-18: (Jesus said) “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Order of Service: - Prelude - Hymn 544 - Wake, Awake, For Night is Flying: vv. 1 - The Versicles (pp. 120-121) - The Gloria Patri (p. 121) - John 3:14-18: (Jesus said) “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” - Homily - Hymn 544 - Wake, Awake, For Night is Flying: vv. 2 (choir) - The Kyrie (p. 124) - The Lord's Prayer (p. 125) - Hymn 584 - Grant Peace, We Pray, in Mercy, Lord - The Collect (pp. 125-127) - The Benedicamus (p. 127) - The Benediction (p. 127) - Hymn 544 - Wake, Awake, For Night is Flying: vv. 3 - Postlude Service Participants: Adam Hoeft (Preacher), Rev. Prof. Mark DeGarmeaux (Organist), BLC Concert Choir (Choral Group)
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezra 7-8; Luke 20 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, host Hunter guides us through a meaningful journey in Scripture, as we open the pages of Ezra chapters 7 and 8, and finish with Luke 20. As Hunter reads and reflects, we follow Ezra leading the Israelites out of Babylon—a profound echo of the Exodus led by Moses—as God's gracious hand brings his people home after years of exile. We'll also hear Jesus challenging religious leaders in Jerusalem, teaching about divine authority, true obedience, and the promise of resurrection. Throughout the episode, Hunter explores the powerful theme of exodus—moving from captivity to freedom, from the kingdoms of this world into God's kingdom through Christ. We're invited to see how God's mercy and deliverance reach across generations, guiding us homeward today just as surely as they did for Ezra and the Israelites. Settle in as we listen, pray, and are reminded that God's gracious hand is still upon his people, leading us toward his love, mercy, and true life. Let's set our hearts homeward together on this October 7th edition of the Daily Radio Bible. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Ezra is leading an Exodus. As Moses led the people of Israel into the Promised Land, Ezra is leading an exodus out of Babylon. He's going home. For 70 long years, the Israelites were held captive in Babylon. Now the tide's turned. God has once again shown himself strong, and the kings of the day are now bowing in deference to the God of Israel. They're actually paying for their subjects to leave. The theme of Exodus is perhaps the most profound and significant theme that we read throughout all of Scripture. God is performing a grand exodus – He's taking people from the kingdoms of this world into the kingdom of our God in Christ. When God's gracious hand of deliverance is on his people, nothing can stop him. It may take some time—maybe 70 long years—but when the tide of God's mercy has shifted, when the flood comes in, there's nothing that will stop it. The gracious hand of our God was always upon Ezra, but now it is evident for all to see. Ezra was trusting. He was faithful. He was obedient, long before King Artaxerxes had his change of mind and heart. Jesus, too, is leading an Exodus. But he is far greater than Moses. He's far greater than Ezra. And God's gracious hand is certainly on his Son, Jesus—the Father exclaimed on multiple occasions: “This is my Son, whom I love.” People of every tribe and nation and language from every place on planet Earth are being led out and onto an exodus into life. In him, the destination is ultimately the same for all of us. We're all headed back to that new Jerusalem in God's new kingdom with our new King, our Liberator, our Jesus. Greater than Moses, greater than Ezra—He's leading us back home. There may be days of great confusion and heartache, and lots of questions along the way, but rest assured: we are headed home. God is leading this exodus. And as we read in this story, they volunteered to go—it was open and available for everyone to return. So sign yourself up today, to walk with him as we walk with him. God's gracious hand is upon the Son, and we are in him. So that gracious hand is upon you too. And this becomes more and more evident in our lives the more we set our hearts toward home. So let's set our hearts homeward. Be swept up in the tide of mercy and love that is yours today. And know his gracious hand is upon you. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul today. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
This Sunday we'll continue our study of Deuteronomy. As Moses brings his first great sermon to a close, he sums up all he has been saying to the people of Israel, a passage which scholar Chris Wright calls “one of the richest texts in the Hebrew Bible.”
Mark Booker | Exodus 4:1-18 | This sermon continues to explore Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush. As Moses interacts and wrestles further, God reveals more about his provision for Moses and calls him to trust him and to go on the mission. We, too, are invited to trust the God who has revealed his provision to us in Jesus.
As Moses approached the end of his life, his focus wasn’t on regret, bitterness, or personal loss—it was on God’s people. In Numbers 27:15-17, Moses prayed that the Lord would appoint a leader to guide Israel so they wouldn’t be “like sheep without a shepherd.” Despite his mistakes and missed opportunities, Moses left a legacy of faith, humility, and care for God’s people. This devotional reminds us that true spiritual leadership looks beyond ourselves and points others toward the ultimate Good Shepherd—Jesus—who leads us into rest, protection, and eternal promise. ✨ Highlights Moses’ selfless prayer — Even at the end of his life, Moses was focused on God’s people, not his own loss A legacy of faith — Despite failure, Moses’ life still pointed others toward God’s promises Jesus, our ultimate Shepherd — The fulfillment of Moses’ prayer is found in Jesus, who leads us to spiritual safety and rest (John 10:11) Kingdom perspective — God calls us to live with an eternal mindset, thinking beyond our present circumstances and investing in future generations Carrying God’s light — As Christ-followers, we are called to shine His light wherever we go and leave the world “better than we found it”
Joshua: Slave, Understudy, Warrior, Spy, Successor, Conqueror, and Ruler by Louis McCall Louismccallinternational.com https://www.amazon.com/Joshua-Understudy-Warrior-Successor-Conqueror/dp/B0DGDDY2ZV Joshua is the story of an underdog. His amazing arc of development saw his remarkable rise from the slave pits of Egypt to the pinnacle of triumphantly leading three million former slaves and their descendants into the promised land of Canaan. He had an intimate relationship with God. It showed what God could do. During a 40-year apprenticeship under Moses, Joshua rose from being a slave under the whip of his Egyptian masters to being a prince of his tribe in Israel. He became Israel's first military Field Marshal. Joshua ascended Mount Sinai with Moses, saw God, and heard the voice of God with his natural ears. As Moses neared the end of his natural life, God directed Moses to choose and publicly ordain Joshua as his successor, rather than one of his own two sons or anyone else. Then Joshua went on to see God perform physical miracles for him on a par with what God did for Moses, defying the laws of nature and physics. Miracles of this magnitude did not occur again until 1,400 years later when Jesus Christ walked the earth in the flesh as God and man. Joshua ruled, not as a king, but as the intermediary for God's theocratic governance of the descendants of Israel. Joshua's final work was driving the pagan nations God abhorred out of the promised land of Canaan, including subduing the progeny of a race of giants, and then distributing the land among the tribes of Israel. Being advised by God of his approaching transition from life to death, Joshua assembled the nation, recounted all that God had brought them through and then charged them to serve God or come under a curse that he himself pronounced, before they could eventually be restored.