Podcasts about because god

In this episode, we examine the short yet tragic reign of Abijam in 1 Kings 15:1–8, exploring how God's enduring faithfulness to the Davidic Covenant shapes His dealings with unrighteous kings in Judah. Despite Abijam's clear failure to walk in the ways of David, the kingdom is not torn from his line. Why? Because of God's promise to David.We explore how this divine loyalty can create the appearance of partiality, especially when compared to the judgment God brings on the kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Is God playing favorites—or is something deeper at work?Zooming out, we reflect on how the book of Kings functions like an autopsy report, diagnosing the spiritual and moral decay that led both Israel and Judah into captivity. The civil war between Abijam and Jeroboam becomes a tragic symbol of Israel turning in on itself—God's chosen people, called to be agents of healing, now self-destructing like a cancerous body at war with itself. The irony is profound: the nation meant to heal the world has become a source of its own affliction.But this is not where the story ends.We turn to Luke 1:30–33, where the angel announces that God will give Jesus the throne of His father David. Here we see the beauty of God's faithfulness—God does not break His promises. Instead, He actively advances the Davidic Covenant through Jesus, who will inherit the Davidic throne in Jerusalem not merely to rule, but to redeem. In Jesus - the Son of David and Son of God, God picks up the broken pieces of Israel's failure and continues the project to heal human nature from the inside out.We close by wrestling with the tension this raises: God's covenant faithfulness may sometimes feel like favoritism, but ultimately it is our hope. Because God keeps His word, the mission is still alive. The King has come—and He's finishing what Israel started.Key Passages: 1 Kings 15:1-8Luke 1:30-33⁠⁠⁠Explainer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Video⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on how to use ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.biblehub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blueletterbible.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave us a question or comment at our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website podcast page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Welcome, everyone, to the 55th episode of Professor P's Podcast. I am back for the Fall Semester, and I couldn't be more excited to be with you all. I am kicking us off in true Professor Palumbo fashion, and I am coming with a dose of Elixir, that energetic power. Our topic today is The JOURNEY #mastery. Everyone wants the destination—the breakthrough, the answer, the promise fulfilled. But it's the journey that shapes us, heals us, and grows us. The journey is where God teaches us who we really are, and who He really is. Here's the thing, though: sometimes on the journey, we stop moving. We get stuck. We take a campground—something that was meant to be temporary—and try to make it a permanent home. Maybe it's a place of pain. Maybe it's a comfort zone. Maybe it's just familiarity. But the journey isn't about staying—it's about growing. You can't let a season that was meant to shape you turn into a prison that defines you. Don't camp where God called you to pass through. Trust the process of the journey. Even when it's slow, even when it's uncomfortable, even when it feels like everyone else is “further ahead.” Enjoy the journey. Let yourself notice the small victories, the unexpected blessings, the ways God provides strength for each step. You don't have to rush. You don't have to compare. You don't have to camp in yesterday's grief or yesterday's success. Because God's process is perfect. And when you trust His process, you'll realize the journey isn't wasted time—it's the very thing that prepares you for the promise. Questions to ask your listeners while speaking: Where have you been camping that God only meant you to pass through? Are you trusting the process of your journey, or are you fighting it? What would it look like for you to enjoy the season you're in right now, even before the destination? Homework / Call to Action: This week, write down three things about your current journey that you can be grateful for. Not the destination, not what you're waiting on—but right here, right now. Then pray over them and thank God for being with you on the journey. Jump into today's episode to hear more. Remember to connect with me on social media. My handles are below. And I would love for you to subscribe, leave me a review, and share this podcast with everyone you know. Also, if there is a topic you want me to talk about, if you have an empowerment story, or if you are an entrepreneur and would like to be on the show, please send me an email! Thank you in advance!  Contact with Professor P Website www.natashapalumbo.com www.calempowered.com Email natasha@natashapalumbo.com  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/natasha_m_palumbo/   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LdyBug  LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-m-palumbo-mba-entrepreneurship-empowered/ 

Daily Dose of Hope September 16, 2025   Scripture – Luke 19:28-48   Prayer: Lord, We need you. Our world is unstable and unjust. It is a place where innocent people die and power and control take precedent over mercy and compassion.  While we know that sin and brokenness are everywhere, it is still hard to take it in.  We don't know which way to turn.  So, we need you.  We need your peace, your justice, and your wisdom.  Help us be the people you have called us to be, even when it's hard.  Fill us with your courage to speak truth and grace.  More of you and less of me.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we finish up Luke 19.   We start with Jesus entering Jerusalem as King; this is what we call the Palm Sunday passage.  We are so used to this narrative that sometimes we don't see the strangeness of it.  This is an odd scene.  Jesus sends two of his disciples to go on ahead to the village and find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.  If someone asks why you are taking it, then just say the Lord needs it.  What this says to us is that Jesus has taken care of every single detail.  We don't know how he has done it, but Jesus is God and he has made sure everything is right.    So, they get the colt.  They put their cloaks on the colt and Jesus rides on it.  Others spread their cloaks on the road.  As he makes his way down the Mount of Olives, a crowd of his disciples gather and begin praising God.  Now, this isn't just the twelve disciples.  This is probably a fairly large group of believers that have seen his power, the people who have heard his teaching, watched his miracles.  And they shout out, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”   A couple things to note here: ·      All of this is very intentional.  This is not a coincidence.  This is a very intentional show of power.  Jesus is being given a royal welcoming.  First, he is riding on a colt.  In the Old Testament, new kings would come riding in on the mule or donkey of the the previous king.  We see in 1 Kings 1 that David puts his son Solomon on his own mule, a trumpet is sounded, and the people rejoice and shout, then the priest and the prophet Nathan anoint him as king of Israel.  The mule is like the presidential limo, a sign of power and prestige that says that this is the new leader. ·      What's interesting here is that Jesus is not riding on the previous king's mule or donkey.  He is riding on a colt that has never been ridden.  Scripture makes a point of telling us this.  Why?  Because God is doing a new thing, Jesus is a different kind of king. ·      Then, there is this whole issue of the cloaks being thrown down on the path for Jesus to pass.  The people are running ahead and shouting his praises.  This is the kind of welcome that a royal official of the Roman government would receive.  Think of it like the red carpet being rolled out.  This is the sign that a very important leader, the new king, has arrived.  All of this has meaning.   And for the Jews in the crowd, and most of them would have been Jewish, they would have known that this was a fulfillment of prophecy.  Zechariah 9:9, Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. All of this is pointing to the fact that Jesus is the king.   This large group of disciples were praising God joyfully and shouting, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord…” What might not be apparent to us is that when they shout this – Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord, Peace in heaven and glory on highest” they are expressing that this is the Messiah, this is the anointed one, the one they had been waiting for that God had sent to save them.  These words echo Psalm 118:22-26, The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 23 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. 25 Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.   Surely, this is the long-expected Messiah, this is the one that God sent to sit on the throne of David, just as he promised some 600 years before.  You see, its all coming together for them.  And thus, there is much joy and celebration for God has sent King Jesus to save us.    But what happens next is worth noting.  The Pharisees tell Jesus to make his disciples stop.  Stop the praising.  Stop the quoting of Scripture.  In fact, what they say is, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”  Seriously, make them stop.  Why was it that the Pharisees wanted the people to stop praising Jesus?  What was behind this rebuke?    Could it be that they know exactly what's going on?  They know that Jesus is declaring himself to be the long-awaited Messiah.  Maybe they are scared, maybe they are angry, we really don't know.  What we know is that they want it to stop quickly.  And Jesus refuses this request.  He says, “...if they keep quiet, then the rocks themselves will cry out.”  Creation itself will cry out and proclaim that Jesus is Lord.  Think about that.    And this narrative ends with Jesus crying over Jerusalem, this city that he loves but he knows will reject him.    I want to focus briefly on the crowd.  What kinds of people were part of this group of disciples, praising Jesus and hailing him as King?    I would imagine that some of them were those who saw his miracles.  They were those people who had life-changing encounters with him.  People like Zacchaeus, Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus (who Jesus raised from the dead), the Roman centurion whose slave was healed, Mary Magdalene, the bleeding woman who Jesus healed…people who experienced the expansive love and miraculous healing power of Jesus.  They received grace in ways they never knew possible.  I'm guessing they were in the crowd, cheering loudly and throwing their cloaks on the ground.  They know Jesus as Lord and King.   But who else?  What about those who so badly wanted a king to overthrow the Romans?  Everything about Jesus screamed revolutionary.  Wasn't the long-expected King going to return the Jews to their rightful place?  Wasn't he going to put an end to this oppression and take care of these stupid Romans for good?  Yes, there were probably some of those in the crowd.   So, let's get this clear:  There were those who wanted something from Jesus, there were those who liked the idea of Jesus, and there were those who truly worshiped Jesus.  What group would you fall into?  Before you quickly make a decision, really think about this.  What kind of king is Jesus to you?  What are your expectations of Jesus?    So often in the Christian life, we give lip service to Jesus being King of Kings and Lord of Lords but we don't really live like it.  What kind of king is Jesus to you?  What are your expectations for King Jesus and what happens when they aren't met?  How often have we expected Jesus to ensure us that nothing bad will happen?  If only we believe and are faithful, maybe my loved ones won't get sick, my job will be protected, my marriage will be secure, you get the idea.  How often have we wanted to lean on Jesus as counselor, as self-help guru, as protector, as doctor, but we aren't really that keen on making him Lord of our Lives.   You see, Jesus as Lord means turning everything over to him.  It means giving him our desires, our relationships, our resources, our thoughts, our time, everything, and saying --- Jesus, your will be done, not mine.  Lately, I've been really wrestling with this whole concept of seeking God's will, not my own.  I've found that my prayers too often are a list of what I want to see happen and I'm not really, truly asking Jesus for his will to be done.  I'm working on this.  Because if Jesus is my King, then it's his will I desire.  It's his solution to the problem.  It's his desire for this church, for my children, for my marriage, for my future.  How often do we want Jesus to be provider, sustainer, protector, and friend BUT not Lord?  What kind of king is Jesus to you?   I don't want to end this devotional without talking, at least a bit, about Jesus in the Temple.  According to Luke's Gospel, he enters Jerusalem as King and goes directly to the Temple.  Things are a mess there.  To put it mildly, there was much unholy commerce in the Court of the Gentiles. There were many merchants selling animals for sacrifice and there were money changers present for foreign Jews to exchange their money to the local currency for the temple tax.    So why was Jesus so upset?  Wasn't this all part of the sacrificial system?  This was the one area of the temple designated for Gentiles (the nations) to pray. They weren't allowed in any other area of the temple. And the Jewish people had taken over the entire area for trade and profit. Lots of money was being made here.  Jesus is beyond angry.  The religious leaders have an interesting reaction to this.  They are scared.  I'm thinking that they know they are in the wrong but they don't want to submit to this Jesus character.  Thus, they begin to plot how to kill him.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Because God called us to an eternal covenant, we can have unshakable faith in the face of life's uncertainties.

Because God is God and we are not, we must accept our finite and bow before him. Genesis 1:1–3, 31 1  In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. … 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

I'mso amazed how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. I heard thatquote yesterday and how true it is when we look at the situation going on inAmerica today. God can use ordinary people like a Charlie Kirk to doextraordinary things that can impact a generation of young people for the gloryof God. And my friend, God can use you. I remember one of the clips of CharlieKirk when someone asked him who could take his place, he responded, "Youare the answer. Todayas believers, we have access to the great wealth of God that's in Christ Jesus.If we only knew how to tap into it and live in that power of His resurrectionevery day as weak vessels, ordinary people depending on a mighty awesome,extraordinary God to do great and awesome things for His glory. That's whatthese verses in Ephesians chapter 1 are about.  Ordinarypeople like you and me can face an evil generation. We can face it with hope.We can face it with faith. We can face it with grace to do the will of God inthe power of God. Paul begins this letter to the believers by telling them,"I'm praying for you. I'm praying for you to know God." My friend,when you have an intimate relationship, not just a religion, but relationshipwith Jesus Christ, it makes all the difference in the world. This relationshipand knowledge of God lead to knowing the hope in our inheritance in Christ. Wehave been chosen for His glory both for today and for eternity.  Bymaking us His inheritance, God has shown His love. By promising us a wonderfulfuture, He has encouraged our hope. Paul now offers us something to challengeour faith: "the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward whobelieve" (Eph. 1:19). Themoment you trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you wereplaced into the body of Christ, you are His body. You are the church. We arethe called-out ones, as we mentioned yesterday, that we might know the hope ofour calling. We have a calling as a church to stand up for Jesus to tell theworld the gospel of Jesus Christ. Wesee this great example in Charlie Kirk in both his life and death. And Aso in hiswife Erika, how even now in a time of tragedy she has proclaimed the gospel ofJesus Christ to anyone that would listen. The grace and strength to do this isavailable only through the “exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.”This is available to every believer and can make a powerful difference ineveryone's life because it's not our reasoning and our logic that changespeople. It's the power of the gospel through the ministry of the Holy Spiritthat opens people's eyes to the truth. Today,let us go on to know the Lord. Let us pursue Him and let us pursue the wealththat He's given us in Christ and the power to live a life that's different. Thespirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. But it is when we realize how weak wereally are, that's when we depend on the power of God. Paul tells us that thisis his experience in  2 Corinthians12:9-10: “And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for Mystrength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will ratherboast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore Itake pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, indistresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Weare at a major crossroads in America. We are at the tipping point. You are theanswer! Because God delights in using ordinary people to do extraordinary thingsthrough His strength and resurrection power! This is available to those whowill “believe”. “What is the exceeding greatness of His power towardus who believe, according to the working of His mighty power”. Will youbelieve and trust Him today? Godbless!

Why was Noah favored in God's sight? Because God is full of kindness and compassion.

What fears or ambitions keep you from fully submitting your life to God's will? In his sermon, “Stop Playing God,” Pastor Josiah shows us how James 4:11-17 calls us to humble ourselves in full submission before God. As Christians we need to stop criticizing our brothers and sisters, stop pretending we control tomorrow, and start entrusting every part of our lives to the Lord's will. Our lives are but a vapor, and at the end of the day, only what is done in Christ will last. Because God alone is the final authority, we must quit playing God and joyfully submit our lives to Him.

Because God is all-powerful and has promised ultimate victory over evil, we must remain hopeful when evil tries to discourage us. Genesis 50:15–21 (ESV): 15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Because God cares deeply about His people, He gives clear standards for healthy leadership, calling His church to be led by qualified elders who shepherd and deacons who serve.---We desire to see the Gospel saturate a people, awakening them by the glory of God to treasure Jesus as better.For more Gospel-centered teaching and resources, including audio and video downloads of our sermons, please visit our website: http://www.thewellchurchok.com/resourcesInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/thewellchurchokFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/thewellchurchok

Because God has a plan for His children, connected with all of creation, even suffering cannot destroy our hope. Think about it: If you are connected to the creation around you, does that make you responsible for it in any way?

The Gospel1. God is righteous and perfect.“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.” (Romans 1:18)“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)2. Because God is righteous, He must judge sin.“For He will render to each one according to his works.” (Romans 2:6)“The Lord is a God of justice.” (Isaiah 30:18)3. All people have sinned and deserve judgment.“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)4. The payment for sin is death.“For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23a)“But as for the cowardly, the faithless… their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)5. Jesus, fully God and fully man, died the death we deserve.“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:1, 14)“…and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” (Romans 3:24–26)6. Through faith in Jesus, God forgives sin and declares us righteous.“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)“…that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures… that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4)7. By faith, we receive eternal life with God.“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)“We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)

09/07/2025 Hallowed: Honoring God's NameBig Idea: God's Name demands honor - so honor His Name with your words and your life. (Philippians 2:9-11 - “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”)Because God's Name is His identity:1. God's Name demands honor (Ex 20:7 - “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.) (Matt 6:9 - “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name.) “in vain” - empty, meaningless, worthless, false or deceptive “hallowed” - set apart, sacred, treated with the ultimate respect see Psalm 1:8a “take” - to lift up, to bear, to carry  “name” - God's identity, character, and reputation2. Christ followers honor God's Name by how we carry it. (Matt 12:34b - For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.) Don't carry, bear, or represent God's Name in a way that is empty, worthless, false, worthless or disrespectful.How are you carrying God's Name right now? How about when no one else is listening? Col 3:17; 1 Peter 2:12; Gal 2:20

Worship Stories: Why Do We Worship? Marnie Dahle Backer talks with Heather Wald, Spirit of Joy's Director of Worship Arts, about why we worship. The short answer: Because God tells us to! But the conversation doesn't end there. Heather dives into the reality that worship is so much more than just Sunday mornings—the truth is we worship all the time, in every way. Topics include confession, forgiveness, communion, community, music, and livestreaming.

Title: “Who Commands the Waves and Wind?” Part 2 Text: Acts 27:13-38 FCF: We often struggle with the paradox of God's grace and man's responsibility Prop: Because God's grace alone through faith alone saves, we must trust the Lord. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 27. In a moment we'll read from the Legacy Standard Bible starting from verse 1 and going through verse 38. You can follow along in the pew bible or whatever version you prefer. Our maritime adventure continues today. After leaving Paul, his companions, and an Alexandrian grain ship struggling to make progress to Italy, now they are docked in a place called Fair Havens. Paul attempted to convince the centurion to winter the ship in this port, but the pilot and captain of the ship have convinced him instead to try for Phoenix, a port 40 miles up the coast of Crete. The opposition of the wind and waves will continue to be an issue as we go forward, but in the midst of the tempest God gives grace and expects faith from all those aboard the ship. The rest of this story serves as a potent example of how God saves His people. Please stand with me to focus on and give honor to the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Good and Gracious God. We are humbled that You would transcend to us and commune with us in Your worship. Yet You have promised that You are among us. I pray that You would allow Your Spirit to speak to us today. To illuminate the text of the scriptures and show us Your love. I pray that You might unveil difficult mysteries to our hearts to perceive truth. And I pray that You would open eyes and give new hearts so that if there are those among us who do not truly believe on You, that today would be the day of their salvation. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. Transition: We have a LOT of text to cover. So, let's get to it. I.) God's sovereign grace alone saves, so we must trust the Lord. (13-29) a. [Slide 2] 13 - And when a moderate south wind came up, thinking that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began sailing along the shore of Crete. i. As they waited for the opportune moment to depart for Phoenix, it seemed that the wisdom of the sailors was superior to the words of the apostle. ii. At least at first. iii. A southern wind comes up from Africa allowing them to sail north west along the coast of Crete. iv. All seems to be going their way and Paul proves to be another ignorant religious nut. b. [Slide 3] 14 - But before very long there rushed down from the land a violent wind, called Euraquilo; 15 - and when the ship was caught in it and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and let ourselves be carried along. 16 - And running under the shelter of a small island called Clauda, we were scarcely able to get the ship's boat under control. i. There are several things happening here that are shrouded in maritime understanding. ii. This violent wind called a Euraquilo, is what we might refer to as a Nor'easter. Eura is the Greek word for East wind and Aquilo is the Latin word for North wind. iii. Such winds on the Mediterranean were greatly feared by sailors. They could come up out of nowhere and usually had disastrous impacts leading to loss of cargo and life. iv. Luke tells how the ship was caught in the wind and could not face it. Meaning that though they lowered the sails and attempted to row their way back to shore while keeping the bow of the ship pointed into the wind, they were unable to do so. v. [Slide 4] This being the case, they stopped rowing and allowed the waves and wind to carry them out to sea. vi. They were driven down past a very small island called Clauda or Cauda and were, as Luke says, scarcely able to get the ship's boat under control. vii. But what is the ship's boat? viii. A large ship like this would require a smaller vessel to allow for maintenance to be done on the ship. It also would allow for the large ship to anchor in greater depths while a small complement would sail to the coast for supplies. ix. These boats were usually towed at the back of the boat during the voyage. x. Losing the ship's boat would spell certain doom for the cargo and all those aboard. xi. So, using the shelter of the tiny island of Clauda, they were able to raise the boat to the deck. c. [Slide 5] 17 - After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship. Fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and in this way let themselves be carried along. i. Upon successfully rescuing the boat and hoisting it up to the deck, they wrapped cables under the ship's hull. These cables would be tightened down to add even more stability to the ship's hull, keeping it from breaking apart. ii. The shallows of Syrtis are a group of sandbars and shoals off the coast of Northern Africa. At this time, it was known as a ship's graveyard having claimed many ships who had run aground. iii. Also, to keep themselves from being blown this far south, they dropped their sea anchor. iv. Unlike other anchors which are designed to hold a ship in place as it is catches on the ground under water… a Sea anchor is used to stabilize a boat's movements adding drag in deep water which allowed them to keep the bow of the ship pointed into the coming waves or winds, effectively preventing the ship from being blown over and capsizing and giving them some control over how far they were pushed by the waves. v. With the sea anchor down, the sails would remain down and as Luke says, they were carried to wherever the waves would take them. d. [Slide 6] 18 - And the next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo; 19 - and on the third day they cast the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 - And since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned. i. This Nor'easter continued for 3 days dragging them along. ii. What is the danger they face? iii. They face two dangers. 1. The first is running aground on some rocks or sandbar with no land in sight. 2. The second is the waves and wind themselves. Which would constantly be blowing the ship around and filling the ship with water. iv. So how do they mitigate both of these dangers? Make the ship lighter. If the ship is lighter it will sit in the water higher. If it sits in the water higher it can travel through shallower waters and go over waves much easier. v. So that is what they do. They jettison the cargo. As we said before, this was a grain ship. By cargo, Luke probably does not mean the grain. At least not yet. vi. Cargo here means anything that is not absolutely essential. They also toss the tackle overboard. The tackle would be anything used to move and lift cargo as well as sailing and mooring equipment. vii. This would be a desperate move to be sure. To spare their lives, they must even risk being without sailing and mooring equipment. If they make it out of the storm alive, they would have to row their way to a port. viii. But their chances of finding their heading were very low. Because they had neither seen sun, nor stars for many days. This is how they navigated on the sea. By the sun and the stars and their positions. ix. Not only were they without sailing capabilities – they were also without navigation. They were blind and set adrift. x. No wonder Luke says that their hope was fading. Yes, even Luke himself is giving up hope that he would make it out alive. Beacuse as far as Luke was concerned, God could rescue Paul without saving him. xi. Once again, the voyage faces great peril and difficulty from “nature.” And once again, Paul has some words of advice for all of those on this voyage. e. [Slide 7] 21 - And when they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice to not set sail from Crete and to avoid this damage and loss. 22 - “And now I advise you to be cheerful, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 - “For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, 24 - saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.' 25 - “Therefore, be cheerful, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. 26 - “But we must run aground on some island.” i. No doubt they were not eating because of the inevitable sea sickness that would have overtaken most of the passengers aboard. ii. Nothing kills hunger like nausea. iii. Tired, sick, drenched, and afraid, Paul addresses these men with a message of hope. iv. First, he points out that his advice was to stay in Crete at Fair Havens and that advice being disregarded has led them down this path of destruction and loss. v. I don't think Paul says this as an “I told you so” but rather to motivate them to take his next piece of advice. vi. He advises that they be cheerful because just as he rightly predicted the destruction and loss, he now predicts that although the ship and all its cargo will be lost, not one member of the ship would lose their lives. vii. But how does Paul know this? viii. He explains how God's messenger, an angel, told him not to be afraid because he will surely stand before Caesar and that God has given or granted to Paul all that are sailing with him. ix. Contextually we know that this doesn't mean that all of these men will convert to Christ… but rather that all of their earthly lives will be spared from this storm. x. So, Paul reasserts his advice. They must rejoice because God will do what He has promised… xi. But then he reveals a terrifying prospect. They must abandon the hope of saving the ship and its cargo. Why? xii. He revels exactly how the ship will be lost. It will be run aground on an island. Paul was not told which one specifically. f. [Slide 8] 27 - But when the fourteenth night came, as we were being carried about in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors began to suspect that some land was approaching them. 28 - And when they took soundings, they found it to be twenty fathoms; and a little farther on they took another sounding and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29 - And fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and were praying for daybreak. i. We don't know exactly how long it was since Paul gave this advice, but on the 14th day of the storm, they were still being carried about by the Adriatic Sea. ii. Today, the Adriatic Sea is what we would call the sea between the Apennine Peninsula and the Balkan Peninsula. In the first century this would have been known as the Gulf of Adria and the Adriatic Sea would refer to central portion of the Mediterranean Sea. iii. About midnight the sailors began suspecting that they were approaching land. They no doubt began hearing the crashing of waves against something in the distance. iv. So, they began to take soundings to measure the depths. Their first measurement came in at 120 feet or 20 fathoms. Their next measurement was 90 feet. v. Knowing now that the land below them was rising, they fearfully took measures to anchor the ship in place to prevent it being dashed to pieces on the rocks. vi. They cast four anchors from the back of the ship. And they began to pray – to various gods no doubt – for daybreak to come so they could get their bearings. vii. So once again we see the cycle repeat. viii. Things are going well, things start going bad, Paul gives advice, they do not heed it, and things get worse. ix. They have tried everything in their own power to save the ship and prevent financial ruin. When all has failed, they finally beg the gods, any who might hear them, to bring them through the storm. x. In contrast, Paul told them that a God they did not serve, and never sought, had already informed him that although the ship would be lost by being run aground, not one single life aboard the ship would be lost. xi. This is the contrast of works and grace. This is the contrast of false gods and the only true God. Yahweh alone is full of grace and love. g. [Slide 9] Summary of the Point: Luke's primary point of teaching is found within the second piece of advice given by Paul. I call it advice by Paul, but really it is a Word from the Lord. God has told Paul that he will go before Caesar and that all the people aboard the ship will make it through this storm with their lives. God does this, not because these passengers aboard believe on Him, not because they have sought His face, not because they have prayed to Him, not because they are His faithful people. Indeed, God does not need to save all those on board in order to bring Paul to Caesar. But by the Word of His Sovereign grace, God chooses freely to save and preserve the life of all 276 people aboard the ship. Such a God deserves our exclusive trust and devotion. And that is exactly what Paul does. Paul is convinced that God will do as He has promised. We too must trust what God has said and reorient our lives around everything He says as truth. This is what saving faith is. Transition: [Slide 10 (blank)] Well, the situation is dire. Paul has given two pieces of advice and both have been disregarded by the passengers on board. Things continue to get worse and worse for them. And what usually happens when a group of people are in a desperate situation? Things start to get ugly as people start to get selfish. II.) It is by God's sovereign grace through faith that we are saved, so we must trust the Lord. (30-38) a. [Slide 11] 30 - But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had let down the ship's boat into the sea, on the pretense of intending to lay out anchors from the bow, i. In this Maritime adventure the pattern has remained consistent. 1. Things are going well. 2. Things start NOT going well 3. Paul gives advice. 4. No one heeds his advice. ii. That cycle repeated itself twice. iii. Most recently, they were still trying to save the ship and the cargo along with the lives of the sailors even though Paul clearly said that the ship would be lost. iv. But now we omit step 1. Things don't go well again. In fact, things get worse. v. The sailors, pretending to go to tie anchors to the bow, began to take the boat of the ship for themselves and abandon everyone else and the cargo to the waves and the wind. vi. Again, we see the natural sinful and selfish nature of man. Rather than believing Paul's words and risking being shipwrecked on some island, they intended to leave those untrained at sailing to their fate. vii. But Paul speaks yet again with a warning. b. [Slide 12] 31 - Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.” i. But wait a second. God already promised them that not one life would be lost. ii. Does it matter if these sailors leave? iii. Remember, this isn't all God said. He also said the ship must run aground and be lost. iv. This forms the first of two examples demonstrating the paradoxical tension between God's sovereign grace and man's responsibility. 1. Who is going to save these men from dying in this storm? Certainly, God is. That is what the Angel said. “God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.” 2. But God's sovereign grace in that promise is not without men's responsibility to act in ways that pursue that salvation. 3. God's sovereign grace to spare these men included their participation in using their skills to run the ship aground in a controlled way so that they could all abandon the ship together and get to shore safely. 4. So, using their skills becomes an exercise of faith. 5. God ultimately doesn't need their skills to do this – but certainly abandoning the ship is done in disbelief that running aground and all of their lives being spared somehow both will be true like God said. 6. As James endeavors to demonstrate, faith that saves is woven to works. Not that faith and works save. They do not. But there is more than one kind of faith. The faith that saves is a faith that produces action. Belief without pursuit of what is believed in… is not belief at all. 7. Saying you believe zip lines are completely safe, but never going on one… means you have no idea what you are talking about. v. Paul's point is, that ultimately these sailors must act in faith that the ship will run aground and all the lives will be spared. There is no reason to try to save your own life before the ship is run aground. This is not faith in God's word. vi. This is the third time Paul has given advice in this maritime adventure. And the first two times, no one listened to him. And things have only gotten worse. vii. So, what will happen now? Have they learned their lesson? c. [Slide 13] 32 - Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat and let it fall away. i. For the first time, someone is listening to Paul's advice. ii. The Roman soldiers, in a sense, force a response of everyone aboard the ship. They cut away the boat preventing anyone from trying to escape. iii. In doing this, they ensure that the ship runs aground, not on the beach, but in some way that the ship will not survive; just as God said. d. [Slide 14] 33 - Until the day was about to dawn, Paul was encouraging them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly watching and going without eating, having taken nothing. 34 - Therefore, I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your salvation, for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.” 35 - And having said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of all. And he broke it and began to eat. i. The first thing we see Paul do after they listen to his latest piece of advice, is to reiterate his previous advice. ii. Now that they are beginning to believe God – yes, they are that desperate that they will believe Paul's God… iii. Paul now reiterates his previous advice. iv. They should be cheerful; they should take food for themselves. v. And this is the second example in this point where the sovereign grace of God is paradoxically linked with the responsibility of men. 1. Once again, we ask, who is going to save these men from dying in this storm? Certainly, God is. 2. But here, Paul encourages them to eat. And he says “for this is for your salvation, for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.” 3. Well, is food saving them or is God saving them? 4. God is the ultimate actor in the salvation of their present lives, but just as the sailors must execute their duties as an act of faith that the ship would be lost but all the lives saved, so also everyone aboard must eat food as an act of faith in the same promise. a. Will they really believe that the ship and all its cargo will be lost, as God has said? b. Will they really believe that their lives will be spared by God? c. How would we know? d. Taking food to sustain their bodies is an act of faith. How so? i. Eating food is a confession of faith that God will save their life. ii. Eating food is an act that comes with the expectation that by taking this, they will live on the energy this food provides for many more days. iii. Eating food is a confession that these supplies will be lost soon anyway, so they might as well use them while they still have them. iv. Eating food is an act of faith in that they believe they must have strength to swim to shore, since they will run aground and they don't have a boat. v. Eating food breaks a fast to recognize that the answer has been given and they need not seek another. e. Is eating some great act of merit? Does eating require great effort on their part? No. f. Is the food they eat something that is theirs or has it been granted to them? It has been given to them, as all things have by God. g. There is deep symbolism here of the work of salvation. Luke intends for us to see the correlation between God saving these men and how God saves us. h. Christ is our spiritual food and drink. He is the bread and the water and the wine. He is the vine. We must eat and drink and live by Him… but doing so is all given to us by God. 5. God has provided their salvation and the means He uses to communicate their salvation to them is their faith in His words. 6. In a similar way, God has provided salvation to us by grace but uses His gift of ongoing faith in Christ to sustain us to the day of our salvation. vi. So, Paul breaks bread and gives thanks to God and gives an example of faith by eating. While the language here is similar to the Lord's Supper, I do not think that is what is happening here. I think Luke would make it more obvious if this was the case. vii. But we do see this at very least as a picture of that picture. This is a meal of faith to be sure. They eat while they still can, preparing to be shipwrecked and so sustain their lives and strengthen their bodies believing God that they will run aground but live through this storm. e. [Slide 15] 36 - And all of them became cheerful and they themselves also took food. 37 - And all of us in the ship were 276 persons. 38 - And when they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship by throwing out the wheat into the sea. i. And here we see, after faith, the last vestige of hope in their previous endeavor dies. ii. They finally lighten the ship with throwing out… probably millions of dollars' worth of wheat. iii. Just as the rich young ruler was told to sell all he had to follow Jesus… These people had a choice to make. iv. Will they believe God to the extent that they abandon hope in any other outcome than what God has said? v. Will they stay on the ship until it runs aground? vi. Will they eat enough to give them strength to swim to shore and fight for their life? vii. Will they abandon all hopes of getting their payday? viii. They believe. They eat… and they throw the wheat into the sea. ix. This is akin to crucifying yourself and following Christ. They give the wheat and their hopes at making money, and potentially even their future careers as sailors, to the depths of the earth… so that they can save what is more precious… Their lives. x. This seems a lot like the parable of Jesus. Jesus said that the gospel was like a man who found a treasure in a field and sold all he owned to purchase the field to acquire the treasure knowing that the treasure was more precious than all his riches. xi. All 276 persons aboard the ship trust what Paul's God has said. xii. We'll have to wait until next week to see what happens to them. f. [Slide 16] Summary of the Point: It is interesting to see the correlation between God saving these passenger's lives from the storm and how God saves us from sin. Sin is a raging storm tossing us about. We are all born as slaves of sin and of our father the devil. We are by nature the offspring of the serpent. Children of wrath like the rest. And just as God freely chose to save the lives of the people on board this ship, so God has freely chosen to save the souls of His elect. What God has determined to do by His Sovereign grace, will be done. But that, as we see here, includes men's response. Even though these people were told that God would spare their lives, it is clear that God would communicate that deliverance through their active faith. True and genuine belief that God would destroy the ship but save their lives, meant that they would use their skills, energy, and strength to both abandon hope in anything else and hope in His promise. In a similar way, God saves us by grace through faith. It is all of Him. He gives us new hearts to receive gifts of repentance and faith… but these gifts when received will produce action. Belief that produces action is what saving faith looks like. Conclusion: So CBC, what have we learned today and how does that inform or correct our belief and guide our lifestyles? Basics of Faith and Practice: [Slide 17] Today we have seen that great paradox, that tension of God's sovereign grace and man's responsibility. God told Paul that He would spare the lives of everyone aboard the ship but that the ship would run aground on an island and be lost. If everyone aboard did not believe it would God have still saved them? I think we can answer that question with a yes. Why? Because God doesn't lie. But… Paul makes it clear that without the sailor's skill in navigating the boat safely to run aground, and without the passengers eating to sustain their life and give themselves energy and strength to swim to shore, then they cannot be saved. In this we see that part of God's grace included a means of getting them safely to an island. It included them believing God. And so, we see Ephesians 2:8-9 demonstrated for us. God saved them by His grace. He did not allow them to earn this salvation. But to be saved they must believe His word, to the extent that they live as if it were true. In a similar way God, by grace, gives new hearts to His people. Hearts now capable of receiving and responding with His gifts of repentance and faith. God removes all other responses as desirable. We see Him doing the same in this maritime adventure. All other options are unavailable and undesirable. By the end, the only option any of them had was to trust God and live in such a way that what He said would be. But even if you got completely lost in all the discussion of God's grace and man's responsibility… the good news is that all you really have to understand is that because you can't save yourself, God sent His Son to pay the ransom for many. And if you are hearing this news and wanting it and believing it, it is because one of those people whom He paid that ransom for… was you! So, trust Him! Trust what He has said and trust what He has done. Trust it so much that your entire life will now be lived in its truth. But let me get a little more specific this morning. 1.) [Slide 18] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that God acts alone in saving His people. This is what grace is. a. There is one truth stated clearly by Paul and rescued by the reformers coming out of the reformation. b. The capstone of reformation theology is that God saves us by His grace alone. c. Grace is God's favor granted according to His counsel and His purposes and His will. d. It, by definition, cannot be granted based on anything a person is or does. e. God promised to save all 276 people aboard this ship. He did this without asking their permission, without seeking their input, and without considering who they worshipped. f. A great example of this is the twins Jacob and Esau. g. God says, plainly, that despite the fact that neither of them had ever done anything good or evil, having not yet been born, God chose to love Jacob. He chose to love Jacob so much that by comparison He chose to hate Esau. h. God did not look into the future to see who Jacob and Esau would be and then chose to love Jacob. i. Instead, God's love for Jacob formed who Jacob was. God's lack of love for Esau allowed Esau to carve his own wicked path. j. God's favor… changes the trajectory of a person's life. So much so that when God's grace is given, the recipient of that grace will not and indeed cannot fail in the purposes for which God has given them favor. k. And the scriptures teach us that it is by grace that God saves His people. l. Not an ineffectual grace given to every person that may or may not accomplish what He gave it to do. m. But an effectual grace which will produce the result God desires. n. If we conclude otherwise than passages that speak of God's grace being something we all need and hope in, prove to be… in a word… useless. o. If God's grace has a possibility of not working… and the reason it doesn't work is because of me… then there is literally no difference between me doing something with or without God's grace. p. But if God's grace ALWAYS produces the result God gave it for… than we can rest that when the bible says that we are saved by God's grace… that it is not only sure but also… empty of us. It doesn't depend on us at all. q. God's grace alone saves and all who are given God's saving grace will be saved. This is how it must be. There is no other real alternative if we are to give God's grace the definition the New Testament writers do. r. But… 2.) [Slide 19] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that man has a responsibility to act upon God's gifts of repentance and faith. a. God does not merely give favor… to anyone… ever… and expect them to do NOTHING with it. b. In fact, I can't think of a single example where God empowers someone to do… nothing. I can't think of a single example where God favors someone and then ends up doing everything while they do nothing. c. This is what Paul points out on the ship. God has promised to favor these men and spare their lives. But that is not without the expectation that they would believe His word to the extent that they act in such a way to live out everything He has said. Even that they exert themselves using their skills, strength and energy to make it safely to shore. d. In the scriptures we note that repentance and faith, the message that Jesus preached, are both gifts of God. They are given to men after God has communicated saving grace to them. e. Meaning that God's favor, his power, his ability is granted so that men can receive the things He gives them… namely the reception of truth that they are wicked sinners and that Jesus is a marvelous savior. f. Upon truly receiving these gifts, which God's grace enables them to do, this person does what? g. They live as though it is true. h. How might one live if God has convinced you by grace through faith that you are a wicked sinner in need of a Savior and that Jesus is that savior? i. Would you trust the One who saved you? Would you desire to obey the God who rescued you? Would you seek to know more and more about Him? j. Indeed… k. But these responses are baked into God's grace. They are a necessary and sure response every time God gives saving grace to someone. l. That is why the 1689 confession calls faith… a grace. God gives it in His grace as a gift to be received and acted upon. m. So what must we do with the grace of faith if it has been gifted to us? 3.) [Slide 20] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must trust the Lord. a. Very simply… for everyone in this room… whether you are a follower of Christ or not… b. Here is the challenge of this passage. c. Will you believe God? d. Will you trust what God has said… to the fullest degree. So much so that your entire life reorients around His Word being true. e. This is the testimony of one of your Elders. He came to faith in Christ after beginning to assume that everything in the bible was true. It wasn't long before God captured His heart. f. And this is the testimony of every flailing Christian who can't seem to make progress. g. Well Christian… do you really believe that everything God says is true… h. So much so that your entire life is lived as if it is? i. My guess is… probably not. j. Let me illustrate simply by the example of prayer. k. If God is the creator and most high God, ruler of the universe, as He says He is. If God is Holy and awesome and causes instant fear to all who approach, as He says He is and does. If Christ has suffered violent death to provide access to God's throne and purification through His blood to stand before this God as His child… as He says… l. Then why do we rarely pray? m. Ah. n. You see, all our sins… all our failures… they are a faith problem not an obedience problem. Faith and works go hand in hand remember? If we are not obeying – it is because we are not believing. o. So, we must trust the Lord. p. But let me provide some comfort to you… 4.) [Slide 21] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” All the believing ones will be saved. a. My friends, do not cheapen what John 3:16 says. b. Do not turn it into a formula for “getting saved.” c. Jesus does NOT tell Nicodemus this to explain how someone gets saved. d. Let me give you the Chris paraphrase of this verse… Ready? e. God's love for all the people groups of the world is so immense, so great, that He took His unique Son, whom He ordained since the foundation of the world to be THE substitute and Savior, and He gave Him to fulfill that purpose so that all the ones who are believing on Him would not believe in vain and suffer eternal death, but would eventually be saved and granted eternal life. f. John 3:16 is not a formula for how to get saved… it is a promise to those who continue to trust God. g. Your faith… will be counted to you as righteousness. h. It is a promise predicated on God's great love for all the peoples of the world. i. What a comfort to us who are believers. j. But it is a terrifying thought for those who are not believing. k. So, what do you do? 5.) [Slide 22] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” Though natural man is unable to understand and receive the gospel, God's grace enables men to see the truth and receive the gifts of repentance and faith. So, repent and believe the gospel. a. My friends. If you are here today… and you have seen clearly now that God is holy and will not allow even 1 sin to go unpunished. b. If you hear my voice and understand what I am saying that your sin has done nothing for you but carve your way to hell and wrath. c. If you have heard today of the grace of God and His gifts of faith and repentance and the assurances He has provided by trusting fully on Jesus as your LORD and your SAVIOR… d. Then it is reasonable for you to assume that God is calling you. e. It is reasonable to assume that God is giving you gifts of repentance and faith. f. So I implore you to use them. Turn from your sin. Trust Him enough to hate what He hates and flee what He says to flee. And believe on His Son who has paid your ransom price. Believe on Him so much that you will, from now on, endeavor to do all that He has commanded. g. Believe on Him so much that your allegiance has shifted from yourself, your will, your ways… to His. h. Become one who believes and keeps on believing on Jesus Christ alone… i. Then and only then can you inherit the promise of John 3:16. Then and only then will you know life and not death. [Slide 23 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the Puritan Richard Alleine Lord, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised goodness to your servants. You have left us nothing to ask from your hands but what you have already freely granted. Establish forever the word which you have spoken concerning your servants. Do as you have said, and let your name be magnified forever, saying, "The Lord of armies, he is the God of Israel." In Jesus' name we pray… Amen. Hallelujah. Benediction: The God who sent His Son to save, From guilt and darkness and the grave, be gracious to you and bless you And cause His face to shine upon you. Until we gather again tonight for the Lord's Supper, go in peace.

Romans 5:12-21 Why would Jesus be our substitute and take the wrath that we deserve? Why would the King of Kings willingly lay down His life? Why would the Author of Life submit to death? Because God loves us with a love greater than we could possibly comprehend. If we are ever tempted to doubt God's love for us, we need only look to the cross.

"Because God said so." Have you ever gotten this answer when asking a question about the Bible? Our entire faith is placed in God's Word, but it can be difficult for us to defend when, how, or even why it was put together. In Week 4 of “TikTok Theology,” we take a broad look at how the Bible was assembled and why we can still trust it thousands of years from the original Scriptures being written.

Because God is eternal, we must be willing to wait for God's story to unfold over however long He chooses. Genesis 48:1–21 (ESV): 48 After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.' 5 And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).” 8 When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, 16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” 17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.' ” Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers.

Community Pastor Karen Guess preaches from Luke 14. Because God invites us to his table in humility and hospitality, we can come to every table as welcomed and welcoming people.

What does it really mean to be free? Because God became flesh in Jesus, we no longer live under the weight of sin and death and we can have freedom in Christ. In this hopeful message, we'll discover how to embrace that freedom and live with confidence, courage, and joy in every season of life.

From Pastor David Peck | From the sermon series Family Discipleship.  Because God created and instituted the family to display His glory, we will study His word to see more clearly how the roles He has given us reveal His character to us individually, as families, as a church and to the world around us. 

Q: I recently finished a Bible study on Revelation and have a lingering question. Revelation states that after Satan is permanently cast into the lake of fire and after the final judgement, God will create a new heavens and a new earth. In the new heavens and new earth there will be no more tears, mourning, etc because sin is no longer present and the heirs of Christ are transformed to be like Him. Because God remains in control, Satan must ask permission or be allowed to wreak havoc, evil, and pain on earth. Since (If) Satan still has access to God and the souls of the heirs of Christ that have died physically are in God's presence, is there mourning in heaven for the souls, angels, and God until the new heavens and new earth? Summary In this episode, Dr. E addresses a listener's question about whether there is mourning in heaven before the creation of the new heavens and new earth. Drawing from Revelation 20, Dr. E explains the premillennial view: Christ will reign for a literal thousand years before Satan is released to deceive the nations. Even in a perfect environment, humanity's sinful nature will persist, revealing mankind's deep depravity and God's sovereign plan. While Satan is the tempter and deceiver, he does not force people to sin, and not every hardship should be attributed to him. In heaven, believers will have shed their sin nature and be fully transformed in Christ's presence. The overwhelming glory and holiness of Jesus will eclipse earthly concerns, leaving no room for fear, worry, or grief. Dr. E emphasizes that while we may speculate about prophetic details, Scripture assures us that God's justice will be complete and His people fully redeemed. In light of eternity's reality, our greatest focus should be on faithful living now, knowing that the presence of Christ will surpass every sorrow we have ever known. Takeaways: In the premillennial view, Christ will reign on earth for a literal thousand years before Satan's final rebellion. Even in perfect conditions, humanity's sin nature leads to rebellion against God. Satan tempts and deceives but cannot force people to sin. Not every hardship is directly caused by Satan—life happens in a fallen world. In heaven, believers will be fully transformed, free from sin and grief. The presence of Christ will overshadow all earthly concerns and sorrows. Find more episodes of Ask Dr. E here. If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.

Theresa Rosenthal had a rough start in life. She watched her father abuse her mother, and then when she was six, a family friend sexually abused her. Like so many that suffered at the hands of a predator, Theresa pushed the pain down into a secret place, and for decades, she battled with depression and substance abuse. Finally, one day she was sitting in front of her house and just blurted out to God, “What am I supposed to do?”Within 24 hours, she had a Bible from a new friend who reached out to her, and even though some of Theresa's bad choices would land her in jail, her friend and that Bible, were constant sources of healing. Today, she's a member of a loving church, and she tells anyone who will listen about God's grace in her life. Daniel 4:2 says, “I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me.” Too often we are too tribal. We think God only works in our circles, but the fact is, God has always been the definition of inclusive. The Bible makes it very clear that God's grace is available to anyone in all times and places. Matthew 5:45 is a very interesting verse that illustrates this. It says, “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” That's fascinating. What might seem unusual or even unjust to us is routine for God. Because God takes the long view. He knows that our lives on Earth are brief. So, if he gives grace to a bad person, he's thinking of that person's eternal place. And let's face it, there are plenty of times in our lives that we didn't deserve grace. But he gave it anyway. In God's economy, a Babylonian brickmaker from 3,000 years ago is as valuable as you are. Theresa Rosenthal was warmed by that grace at a time when she was doing drugs and spiraling into depression, and she had no ability to improve her life. And that's the point of grace. God gives it to a variety of people and circumstances. And life would be unbearable without it. Let's pray. Father God, your grace sustains us, in bad times and in good times, and we might take our focus off you. Sometimes that grace is almost unseen. We might not be aware of it until years later when looking back gives us insight. Thank you for giving us what we don't deserve. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Today's promise: Psalm 37:23-24 Falling and failure are part of life. Most of us have or will have a great fall. It may be a financial fall, it could be a relational fall, or even a moral fall. No matter what your fall looks like, it is common to all of us. For the Christian, there is never a fatal fall. You can survive, get back up, and keep going. Why? Because God has you by the hand. He is there, ready to pull you back up and get you going again.

How do you know you've been forgiven? Do you have assurance thatyou've been forgiven for every sin that you've ever committed?  Well,the evidence and the proof is in the fact that you now have the ability toforgive others. You have the desire to forgive others instead of being a bitterperson, speaking evil against others, being full of malice and envy and wantingto get even and all those sorts of things and carrying a grudge on your shoulder.I'm telling you, my friend, the proof, the evidence that you have experiencedthe forgiveness of God through Christ Jesus is that you are willing and areable and have the power and ability to forgive others who have offended andhurt you, and who have caused you great pain and maybe loss.  RememberPeter ask Jesus in Matthew 18:21-22, "How often should I forgive mybrother? Seven times?” Jesus answers and says no, forgive him seventy times seven.That's how often you forgive the brother that sins against you and offends youand hurts you. Seventy time seven—that's limitless. That means you forget tocount after a while and you continue to forgive no matter what. Why and how? BecauseGod forgave you in Christ Jesus! And instead of talking evil against the personand being bitter.  Overthe years, the hardest and most difficult thing for me to deal with is bitterpeople. People who are full of bitterness because they feel like they've beenoffended. They have become a victim. It's everyone else's fault, and always blamingothers for their problems and attitudes. But my friend, the greatest blessingis to meet and know someone who has been hurt and been offended, yet likeCorrie ten Boom who forgave that guard who abused her and caused death to herfamily, they have forgiven the person who deeply hurt them.  Ohmy friend, through the grace of God we can forgive others, and we need to dothat. I love the story of Joseph in the last chapters of Genesis and how histen brothers threw him in a pit. They thought to kill him, but instead theysold him into slavery and they thought it was over. Then they lied to theirfather and said a beast must have killed him. You know the story how laterafter they were reconciled to their brother and after their father died inGenesis 50, they go to Joseph and they say, "Our father told us to cometo you again and ask for your forgiveness." And Joseph replied, "AmI in the place of God?" He went on to say, "Listen, you mighthave meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. And I'm not only going toforgive you. You don't need to be afraid. I'm going to provide for you." Bythe way, that's another evidence that you have been forgiven. You are willingto do good and “provide” to others who have deeply hurt and offended you. Why?Because God has been good to you through your forgiveness. My friend, I sure hopeand pray that we take this lesson to heart. It's one of the biggest, greatest,most powerful lessons in the Bible. There are over thirteen passages in the NewTestament encouraging us to forgive one another. In Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus said,"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father willalso forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither willyour Father forgive your trespasses.” HasGod spoken to your heart today? Is there someone you need to forgive because ofthe pain, the hurt, the bitterness in your heart that wells up inside of youwhen you think of them? You can because of the grace of God you haveexperienced! You need to see them in Christ. Remember God loves them. Christdied for them, and God wants them to have the salvation you have.  Yes,my friend, you have the ability and power to forgive when you have experienced,and you know God's forgiveness for your sins. And if you can't forgive others,maybe you need to check out whether you have truly been forgiven or notyourself. Please think about these things today! Godbless!

The glory of God is a multifaceted subject that rightly lies at the heart of Christian motivation. Because God is glorious, we aim to spread His glory to all of creation.Preached on August 24th, 2025 by Jared Kress.Series: "God Is _____: The Attributes of God" Join us in person Sundays at 10:30am at 6325 Poplar Ave, Memphis TN or online at https://www.kirbywoods.org/live. Follow us online! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kirbywoodsmemphis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirbywoodsmemphis YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kirbywoods Podcast: https://kirbywoodspodcast.buzzsprout.com

Pastor Greg Laurie provides his biblical perspective on Israel and the end times in today's message. Notes: Focus verses - Romans 11, 1 Thessalonians 4 God keeps every one of his promises to us. #1 God says we will never be alone in life.Isaiah 41 Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)For Jesus Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." #2 God promises to get us through whatever we’re facing.Isaiah 43:2 Psalm 119:50 (ESV)This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. #3 Jesus promised that He would come again.John 14:1–3 We know God’s future promises are true because He has kept His former promises. Genesis 12:2–3 #1 Because God kept His promises to Israel, we know He will keep His promises to us!Romans 11:17 #2 God uses us to bless the people who have blessed us.Romans 11:14 #3 Israel plays a key role in the last days.Romans 11:25–26 Romans 11:2 (ESV)God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. A sign of the times of the last days is the regathering of the nation Israel to their land. A modern-day miracle occurred when the Jews formed a nation on May 14th, 1948. The Jews are the indigenous people that God himself gave that land to. A checklist of things the Bible predicted about Israel:Israel will be scattered.Israel will be regathered.Israel will regain Jerusalem.Israel will be isolated.Israel will be attacked. God will intervene on behalf of Israel.Ezekiel 38:18 God promises to pour His spirit out on Israel.Ezekiel 39:29 Romans 11:25 Every soul matters to God. When the rapture happens, we will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.1 Thessalonians 4:16 #4 What is the rapture? 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 Jesus spoke of the rapture.John 14:3 Believing in and teaching about the rapture brings much needed hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who have died, so that you will not grieve as those who have no hope. Revelation promises a blessing too. Believing in and teaching about the rapture motivates godliness.1 John 3:3 One of the signs of the last days will be a renewed interest in bible prophecy. Daniel 12:4 (NLT)But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase." The rapture must take place first before the Antichrist will be revealed.2 Thessalonians 2:7–8 If antichrist is close, then the coming of Jesus Christ is even closer! #5 When is the Rapture?Matthew 24:36 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 When Christ returns for us in the rapture, first up is the resurrection of the dead.Then we who are alive will meet them in the air.1 Thessalonians 4:16 –17 THE RAPTURE WILL BE A STEALTH EVENT.THE SECOND COMING WILL BE A VERY PUBLIC ONE. IN THE RAPTURE, JESUS COMES IN THE AIR.​​​​IN THE SECOND COMING, HE COMES TO THE EARTH. DURING THE RAPTURE, CHRIST COMES FOR HIS BRIDE.DURING THE SECOND COMING, HE COMES WITH HIS BRIDE. IN THE RAPTURE, CHRIST COMES LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.​IN THE SECOND COMING, THE WHOLE EARTH SEES HIM.​IN THE RAPTURE, JESUS COMES BEFORE JUDGMENT.IN THE SECOND COMING, JESUS COMES WITH JUDGMENT. If we are a believer, we should be awake and spiritually alert.Romans 13:11 #2 if you are not yet a Christian, you should get right with God. --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners. Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Greg Laurie provides his biblical perspective on Israel and the end times in today's message. Notes: Focus verses - Romans 11, 1 Thessalonians 4 God keeps every one of his promises to us. #1 God says we will never be alone in life.Isaiah 41 Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)For Jesus Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." #2 God promises to get us through whatever we’re facing.Isaiah 43:2 Psalm 119:50 (ESV)This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. #3 Jesus promised that He would come again.John 14:1–3 We know God’s future promises are true because He has kept His former promises. Genesis 12:2–3 #1 Because God kept His promises to Israel, we know He will keep His promises to us!Romans 11:17 #2 God uses us to bless the people who have blessed us.Romans 11:14 #3 Israel plays a key role in the last days.Romans 11:25–26 Romans 11:2 (ESV)God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. A sign of the times of the last days is the regathering of the nation Israel to their land. A modern-day miracle occurred when the Jews formed a nation on May 14th, 1948. The Jews are the indigenous people that God himself gave that land to. A checklist of things the Bible predicted about Israel:Israel will be scattered.Israel will be regathered.Israel will regain Jerusalem.Israel will be isolated.Israel will be attacked. God will intervene on behalf of Israel.Ezekiel 38:18 God promises to pour His spirit out on Israel.Ezekiel 39:29 Romans 11:25 Every soul matters to God. When the rapture happens, we will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.1 Thessalonians 4:16 #4 What is the rapture? 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 Jesus spoke of the rapture.John 14:3 Believing in and teaching about the rapture brings much needed hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who have died, so that you will not grieve as those who have no hope. Revelation promises a blessing too. Believing in and teaching about the rapture motivates godliness.1 John 3:3 One of the signs of the last days will be a renewed interest in bible prophecy. Daniel 12:4 (NLT)But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase." The rapture must take place first before the Antichrist will be revealed.2 Thessalonians 2:7–8 If antichrist is close, then the coming of Jesus Christ is even closer! #5 When is the Rapture?Matthew 24:36 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 When Christ returns for us in the rapture, first up is the resurrection of the dead.Then we who are alive will meet them in the air.1 Thessalonians 4:16 –17 THE RAPTURE WILL BE A STEALTH EVENT.THE SECOND COMING WILL BE A VERY PUBLIC ONE. IN THE RAPTURE, JESUS COMES IN THE AIR.​​​​IN THE SECOND COMING, HE COMES TO THE EARTH. DURING THE RAPTURE, CHRIST COMES FOR HIS BRIDE.DURING THE SECOND COMING, HE COMES WITH HIS BRIDE. IN THE RAPTURE, CHRIST COMES LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.​IN THE SECOND COMING, THE WHOLE EARTH SEES HIM.​IN THE RAPTURE, JESUS COMES BEFORE JUDGMENT.IN THE SECOND COMING, JESUS COMES WITH JUDGMENT. If we are a believer, we should be awake and spiritually alert.Romans 13:11 #2 if you are not yet a Christian, you should get right with God. --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners. Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The more you get to know God the more you'll love God. The more you love God, the more you'll want to pray. Why is praying important? Because God wants to communicate with you about everything, and your prayers make a difference.

The more you get to know God the more you'll love God. The more you love God, the more you'll want to pray. Why is praying important? Because God wants to communicate with you about everything, and your prayers make a difference.

Gratitude is a natural response to God's goodness—but does it show up in the way we give?Many pastors wish their congregation knew that giving isn't just about meeting a church budget—it's a vital part of growing as a disciple of Jesus. Today, Leo Sabo joins us to unpack three things your pastor wishes you knew about giving.Leo Sabo is the President of the Christian Stewardship Network (CSN). He has spent the last 22 years working with couples, individuals, and church leaders, helping them understand and manage their finances according to biblical principles.Why Conversations About Giving MatterEffective conversations between church members and leadership aren't just about meeting financial goals. Because God owns everything and we are His stewards, money decisions are both practical and deeply spiritual. How we handle what God has entrusted to us reveals our hearts and our motives.1. The Spiritual Benefits of GivingPastors understand the connection between generosity and discipleship. Trusting God with our money is a significant part of our spiritual journey—and once we embrace that, giving becomes a joyful act of worship.Stewardship is holistic, involving our time, talents, and treasures. A love-inspired steward sees everything—not just what we give—as belonging to God. Pastors want you to know that giving isn't a “membership fee” to the church. It's an offering to God, through the church, out of gratitude and worship.2. Stewardship Is Part of DiscipleshipStewardship means responsibly managing the resources God has entrusted to us, including money. Many churches offer classes and programs to help members budget, save, avoid debt, and invest wisely—all grounded in biblical principles.Jesus spoke often about money and possessions because He knew our relationship with them reveals the condition of our hearts. Faithful stewardship naturally leads to generosity, reinforcing the spiritual benefits of giving.3. Transparency and Accountability Build TrustIn an era when people are increasingly concerned about financial transparency, pastors want to ensure that members understand that the responsible use of donations is a priority. Church leaders have both a responsibility and an opportunity to demonstrate accountability.When you give, you're funding ministry—teaching, worship, community support, and the staff who make it all possible. Every act of generosity fuels the church's mission to serve both its members and the surrounding community.If you'd like to learn more about starting or strengthening a stewardship ministry in your church, visit ChristianStewardshipNetwork.com.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My 22-year-old son is graduating from college and starting his first job next year. What retirement planning advice should I give him—especially when it comes to private investments outside of his workplace retirement plan?I'm concerned that the housing market may be headed for a downturn similar to 2008. Here in Indiana, I see many new houses being built that most people can't afford, along with more foreclosures and repossessions. Why isn't anyone sounding the alarm? Am I overreacting, or do you see the same risks?I'm 61 with $300,000 in a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and about a year from retirement. Should I adjust my investments, move my money, or make any other changes as I approach retirement?My wife and I want to relocate from Florida to Colorado, where we already own a piece of land. We currently have two Florida homes with mortgages and have invested $80,000 in a Christian women's network. We'd like to speed up our move and build our Colorado home, but I'm unsure how to align our finances to make it happen. What's the best way forward?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Christian Stewardship Network (CSN)The Sound Mind Investing Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Money From a Biblical Perspective by Austin Pryer with Mark BillerWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

August 21, 2025LISTEN HERESUBSCRIBE HERE to Winning with the WordSUBSCRIBE HERE to The Relationship RoadVISIT MARYANN'S BOOKSHOP Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, Novelist and Life Coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Thursday, August 21, 2025, and this is episode #14 in Series 2025. This episode is titled, “It's Almost Midnight!” Before we get into our message for this week, I want to extend a warm welcome to all of our new subscribers around the world. By the grace of God, Winning with the Word now reaches 85 countries all over the globe! Praise the Lord and glory to God!I want you to know how much I appreciate your support, and I trust that Winning with the Word blesses you and encourages you during these difficult end times. Please share this podcast and blog with your family and friends. I would love to bless them and encourage them as well.Now on to our message. The World Is AsleepWhile the world sleeps, God's watchmen are at their posts .For the past decade and more, they have been studying the Word, watching the heavens, and keeping their eyes on the geopolitical pulse of the world, especially on the Middle East, and specifically on Israel. Their conclusions coincide: the world is approaching its end as we know it, and approaching its end at warp speed.Something shifted in the world back in 2020, and the world has never been the same. Normal did not come back, as people had hoped. But the watchmen know that Jesus is coming back. And they are risking their names and their reputations to warn us.Why?Because God, in His infinite love, has given the watchmen a mandate to warn the world. We read this mandate spoken by God in the Book of Ezekiel 33: 6:"But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and does not sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths."The Enemy is ComingSo, what enemy is coming that the watchmen are warning us about? They are warning us about the coming Tribulation under the brutal dictatorship of the AntiChrist. More than that, they are warning the world of the eternal fires of Hell which no one will escape unless he is born again.And what are the watchmen getting for their warnings? They are being mocked, ridiculed, and scorned. They are being called alarmists and fanatics and lunatics. But they don't care. Why not? Because they love God and they love you!You may find this hard to believe, but it is the truth. How do I know? I have followed the watchmen for a decade now, and, indeed, I have joined their ranks. So, what are the watchmen seeing as they watch?1) They are seeing that the earth is groaning in labor pains that will only increase before the Tribulation and then result in the birth of the Kingdom in the Millennium, the thousand-year period of time during which Jesus Christ will rule on the earth. These labor pains are appearing in the form of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, monstrous storms, solar flares, falling asteroids, and so on.Romans 8: 20-23 NLT says this: "Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." And in Luke 21: 11 NLT we read: "There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven."2) The watchmen are seeing the entire world gang up against Israel and demanding a two-state solution. Scripture clearly warns in the Book of Joel that any nation that divides Israel will itself be divided. Listen to the prophet's sobering warning in Joel chapter 3, verse 2:“I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat.

Words to Live By: Never Short Sell an Immeasurably More GodEphesians 3:16-21August 17th, 2025—We can always trust God's Word because…God's Word always produces. Isaiah 55:10,11 (NIV) As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.We can always trust God's Word because…God's Word never fails. Luke 1:37 (NIV) 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” Spoken to Mary on her inquiry, “how can a virgin give birth to a savior?”We can always trust God's Word because…God's Word always sustains. Matthew 4:4 (NIV) 4 ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Matthew 4:4 (message) “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth.” Jesus' response to Satan's first temptation in the desert.We can always trust God's Word because…God's Word always frees. John 8:31b-32 (NIV)31b “If you hold to my teaching [words], you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus' admonition to His disciples.We can always trust God's Word because…God's Word is always fresh. Hebrews 4:12a (NIV) 12 For the word of God is alive and active. We can always trust God's Word because…God's Word never expires. Mt 24:35 (NIV) 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. There isn't anything you can read that will add more life to your life than the Bible! 6 words to live by Never short sell an immeasurably more God.Never underestimate the power of a simple prayer offered on behalf of a complex situation.Never under value the implications/impact of obedience.Never be afraid of the repercussions of telling the truth in love. One of those repercussions is freedom.When lost or in the dark always ask for more of God. You need Him more than answers, advice or direction.Change always requires change.Ephesians 3:16-21 (NIV) 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.Prayer Ask #1: Supernatural Strength & Indwelling Presence. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. God is neither poor or stingy.Paul is asking God to stop the courage drain and build strength in you from the reservoir of His glorious riches. Christ isn't out there, He's in here. Think less link arms with Christ and more live out the power of Christ.Prayer Ask #1: Supernatural Strength & Indwelling Presence. Prayer Ask #2 To Be Filled Up with the Fullness with God. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. God's love is wide enough, long enough and deep enough to heal all of our holes and fill up all of our emptiness. The core lies Satan feeds us are God is not enough and/or we are not enough. The Truth is God's love is enough to fill us and make us whole! Our lack isn't a match for His riches! Our holes aren't don't overwhelm His love.To know the love of God is both intellectual grasp and experiential knowledge. The components of the intellectual grasp include the following. Sin creates a gap un-crossable by us. Jesus came down to us because we couldn't get up to Him. We don't have the capacity to pay for our own sin. The penalty of sin is death. Jesus died for us because a perfect sacrifice was necessary to pay the penalty of our sin and to expunge our record of sin. Jesus died but He didn't stay dead. Jesus resurrection ended deaths mastery over us. We can live full in Christ through the power of the Holy SpiritPrayer Ask #1: Supernatural Strength & Indwelling Presence. Prayer Ask #2 To Be Filled with the Fullness with God.“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” A.W. Tozer The knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God; Their Meaning in the Christian Life. We have to have a supernatural understanding of who God is to have faith for supernatural outcomes – internal or external.V20. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.Why did Paul feel such an encouraging and elaborate description of God was necessary? Because… God isn't just an external force, He is also a present, active and partnering internal force. … “at work within us”. What's in front of you isn't a match for the God inside of you. No challenge is a match for God's capacity. God exceeds our expectations (more than we can think or imagine). Don't settle for less or even ask for more, ask for full.We are not the children of a small, limited, ill-informed God. We pray to an immeasurably more God who wants us to experience more of Him and His love than we do right now and who wants to accomplish more in us and through us than we could ever dream. How does this word impact my world in real time? We can be consumed by a challenge or we can be consumed by God but we can't be consumed by both – you have to pick.

In this message we experience the thunder of God's holiness rumbling down from the Mountain of God's Law (Sinai), and then find the grace of God's mercy in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because God is fearsome in his holiness and His law cannot save, we must flee by faith to the Mediator He has provided in Jesus who leads us away from Sinai to the mountain of His grace. I. The Terror of the Law. vv 18-19a II. The Cry for a Mediator. vv 19-20 III. We Have a Better Mediator and a Better Mountain in Jesus. v 21; Heb 12:18-21

Is there any music left in a world falling apart? In this episode, Stephen Davey walks through Revelation 14:1–5, where we are given a preview of victory at the end of the Great Tribulation. The scene opens with the Lamb standing on Mount Zion—Jesus Christ, returned to Earth. And standing with Him are 144,000 Jewish believers who have faithfully served Him throughout the Tribulation. Against all odds and through global terror, not one of them is missing. They are sealed, preserved, and victorious. And they sing. Their song is new—unlike anything the world has heard. It's personal, filled with praise, and taught by heaven's choir. Why? Because God is always writing new music for His people. Whether you're walking through trial, experiencing grace, or waiting on God's promises, He invites you to sing. This scene reminds you that your salvation story—your trials, your surrender, your trust—is also a song in progress. And it points you forward: one day, you too will stand with the Lamb in victory. So let the music begin.

Is there any music left in a world falling apart? In this episode, Stephen Davey walks through Revelation 14:1–5, where we are given a preview of victory at the end of the Great Tribulation. The scene opens with the Lamb standing on Mount Zion—Jesus Christ, returned to Earth. And standing with Him are 144,000 Jewish believers who have faithfully served Him throughout the Tribulation. Against all odds and through global terror, not one of them is missing. They are sealed, preserved, and victorious. And they sing. Their song is new—unlike anything the world has heard. It's personal, filled with praise, and taught by heaven's choir. Why? Because God is always writing new music for His people. Whether you're walking through trial, experiencing grace, or waiting on God's promises, He invites you to sing. This scene reminds you that your salvation story—your trials, your surrender, your trust—is also a song in progress. And it points you forward: one day, you too will stand with the Lamb in victory. So let the music begin.

Is there any music left in a world falling apart? In this episode, Stephen Davey walks through Revelation 14:1–5, where we are given a preview of victory at the end of the Great Tribulation. The scene opens with the Lamb standing on Mount Zion—Jesus Christ, returned to Earth. And standing with Him are 144,000 Jewish believers who have faithfully served Him throughout the Tribulation. Against all odds and through global terror, not one of them is missing. They are sealed, preserved, and victorious. And they sing. Their song is new—unlike anything the world has heard. It's personal, filled with praise, and taught by heaven's choir. Why? Because God is always writing new music for His people. Whether you're walking through trial, experiencing grace, or waiting on God's promises, He invites you to sing. This scene reminds you that your salvation story—your trials, your surrender, your trust—is also a song in progress. And it points you forward: one day, you too will stand with the Lamb in victory. So let the music begin.

Is there any music left in a world falling apart? In this episode, Stephen Davey walks through Revelation 14:1–5, where we are given a preview of victory at the end of the Great Tribulation. The scene opens with the Lamb standing on Mount Zion—Jesus Christ, returned to Earth. And standing with Him are 144,000 Jewish believers who have faithfully served Him throughout the Tribulation. Against all odds and through global terror, not one of them is missing. They are sealed, preserved, and victorious. And they sing. Their song is new—unlike anything the world has heard. It's personal, filled with praise, and taught by heaven's choir. Why? Because God is always writing new music for His people. Whether you're walking through trial, experiencing grace, or waiting on God's promises, He invites you to sing. This scene reminds you that your salvation story—your trials, your surrender, your trust—is also a song in progress. And it points you forward: one day, you too will stand with the Lamb in victory. So let the music begin.

These Countries are Inviting God's JudgementThis September, a number of nations once allied with Israelhave promised to recognize a Palestinian state - among them are France, Canada,and the United Kingdom. In fact, over three-fourths of the member states in theUnited Nations agree with them.To the world, it looks like Israel is increasingly isolated.But even if every nation on earth turns its back on Israel, it won't matter.Why? Because God has made it clear which side He's on.This is just my opinion.Intro song is '⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bring Me Down⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Slippery Slope Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠J Fallon Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Slippery Slope Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Slippery Slope YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#jfallonmusic#theslipperyslopepodcast

This isn't business as usual. It's time to rethink what it means to be the Church. Over the next three weeks, we're challenging every person at MPCC to go All-In, not just with your time, but with your heart, your purpose, and your life. Because God's not looking for spectators. He's calling us to move. We'll wrestle with questions like: * What kind of church are we becoming? * Where is your heart really planted? * And what part are you called to play? This series is bold. It's honest. And it's personal. If you've been waiting for the right time to take your next step… this is it. This week's notes in the Bible app: https://www.bible.com/events/49473800 Pastor Sean Kelly | All In for Everyone | Selected Scriptures CONNECT WITH US Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mpccgreenwood Twitter: https://twitter.com/mpccgreenwood Instagram: https://instagram.com/mpccgreenwood Website: https://mpcc.info/

     Second, there is God's directive will, which refers to His actively guiding His people to do what He expects. It is sometimes called His prescriptive will because it prescribes how people are to think, live, and relate to Him and others. For example, God directed Adam and Eve to be “fruitful and multiply” and to “rule” as theocratic administrators over His creation (Gen 1:28). After creating the garden of Eden, He directed them to “cultivate it and keep it” (Gen 2:15). He also gave them freedom, saying, “from any tree of the garden you may eat freely” (Gen 2:16), but also gave one prohibition, saying, “from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die” (Gen 2:17). Other examples include God directing Noah to build an ark (Gen 6:13-14), directing Abraham to leave his country and go to the place where God wanted (Gen 12:1), directing Moses to go to Egypt to liberate His people (Ex 3:10), and later to give them the Law so they could walk in His will (Ex 34:27-28).[1] It should be remembered that the four Gospels reveal that Jesus was born and lived under the Mosaic Law code (Gal 4:4), and during His time of ministry, He directed others to obey that code (i.e., Matt 8:1-4; 23:1-3). However, that covenant and law code has been fulfilled by Christ and rendered obsolete (Matt 5:17-18; Heb 8:13). And now, God has given commands to Christians which are found in the New Testament. The book of Acts covers the first thirty years of the Church and is generally historical information, being descriptive but not prescriptive. Specific commands for the Christian living in the dispensation of the Church age generally start in Romans 1 and extend to Revelation 3. However, Jesus' discourse in the Upper Room (John chapters 13-17), the Lord's Supper (Luke 22:19-20), and the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-2) belong to the Church.      These biblical distinctions are important, for though all Scripture is written for us, only some portions of it speak specifically to us and command our walk with the Lord. Just as Christians would not try to obey the commands God gave to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1-2, or the commands God gave to Noah in Genesis 6-9, so we should not try to obey the commands God gave to Israel in Exodus through Deuteronomy. Christians are not under the Mosaic Law (Rom 6:14), which has been rendered obsolete (Heb 8:13). but operate under the Law of Christ (1 Cor 9:21; Gal 6:2). Charles Ryrie states: "Adam lived under laws, the sum of which may be called the code of Adam or the code of Eden. Noah was expected to obey the laws of God, so there was a Noahic code. We know that God revealed many commands and laws to Abraham (Gen 26:5). They may be called the Abrahamic code. The Mosaic code contained all the laws of the Law. And today we live under the law of Christ (Gal 6:2) or the law of the Spirit of life in Christ (Rom 8:2). This code contains the hundreds of specific commandments recorded in the New Testament."[2]      Because God is the Author of both law-codes (i.e., the Law of Moses as well as the Law of Christ), it is not surprising that He chose to incorporate some of the laws He gave to Israel into the law-code which He has given to the Church. Nine of the 10 commandments are restated in the New Testament (the Sabbath is excluded because it was the sign of the Mosaic Covenant; Ex 31:13-17).[3] Steven R. Cook, D.Min., M.Div.   [1] God had revealed His will for Israel through the Law of Moses, and this gave them clear guidelines for how to live as God desired. Because God cares for His people, He provided them rules for living in relationship with Himself and others. If His people walked in the ways of the Lord, He promised them blessing (Deut 28:1-14). But if they turned away from His revealed will, He promised them cursing (Deut 28:15-68). The blessed life or the cursed life was always before them (Deut 11:26-28). God's directives were communicated through Moses to God's people (Deut 6:1-2), who were to receive them and adhere to them (Deut 6:3-6), and communicate them to their children (Deut 6:7). [2] Charles Ryrie, Basic Theology (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 351. [3] Additional biblical distinctions reveal that Israel is a nation (Ex 19:6), but the church is not a nation (Rom 10:19). God's program for Israel focused on the land promised to Abraham (Gen 12:1; 15:18; 17:8), whereas the church is called to go out to many lands (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). Israel was mentioned throughout the Old Testament and recognized by other nations (Num 14:15; Josh 5:1), but the church was a mystery not known in the Old Testament (Eph 3:1-6; Col 1:26-27; cf. Rom 16:25-26). Israel had a priesthood that was specific to the tribe of Levi (Num 3:6-7), whereas all Christians are priests to God (Rev 1:6). Israel worshipped first at the Tabernacle and later the Temple (Ex 40:18-38; 2 Ch 8:14-16), but for Christians, their body is the temple of the Lord and they gather locally where they want (1 Cor 6:19-20; cf. 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15). Israel offered animal sacrifices to God (Lev 4:1-35), but Christians offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Pet 2:5; cf. Rom 12:1; Heb 13:15). Israel was required to tithe from the produce of their land (Deut 14:22-23; 28-29; Num 18:21), but there is no tithe required from Christians, only a joyful attitude when giving, “for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7).

A Sermon for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity Matthew 7:15-21 by William Klock In 597 b.c. the Babylonians conquered Judah.  The Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, ordered the deportation of the ruling elite of Jerusalem.  That meant King Jehoiachin, most of the royal family, and thousands of others including many of the priests.  That included Ezekiel.  He had been born into one of the important priestly families.  He was twenty-five years old.  Had everything gone as expected, had everything gone to plan, he would have been ordained a priest at the age of thirty and gone on to serve before the presence of the Lord in the temple.  Instead, with the rest of those Jewish exiles, he sat down by the rivers of Babylon and wept as he remembered Zion—as one of the psalmists put it.  And he wondered how he and his people could ever sing the Lord's song in a strange land. And then, on Ezekiel's thirtieth birthday, he had a vision.  He saw the Lord enthroned in glory and the Lord commissioned him.  Instead of being a priest, the Lord ordained Ezekiel a prophet—a prophet to the exiles and to the people of Judah.  Ezekiel was to announce to his people why they had been defeated and carried off into exile.  He was to accuse his people of their idolatry and of their unfaithfulness to the Lord's covenant.  And he was also to announce that the Lord's judgement on Judah had only just begun.  And so Ezekiel's ministry began with a series of acted out prophecies.  He acted out the coming destruction of Jerusalem with miniatures.  He lay on his side for a year, acting the part of the scapegoat, while eating food cooked over human waste.  He cut off his hair with a sword.  Again, to announce the coming judgement on Jerusalem.  And all for nought.  The Lord told him that no one would listen and they didn't—because Israel's heart was hardened against the Lord. But just because the people wouldn't listen didn't mean Ezekiel's job as a prophet was done.  The Lord gave him another vision, this time of the temple in Jerusalem.  He saw his people worshipping idols in the temple court and then he saw the Lord's glory—the cloud that rested on the ark of the covenant in the holy of holies—he saw that cloud of glory depart from the temple.  And the Lord announced to him that the temple would be destroyed.  Again, because of Israel's idolatry and lack of covenant faithfulness.  Ezekiel accused his people of being like a rebellious wife and like a rampaging lion.  He described Israel and Judah as two shameless and reprobate prostitute sisters.  And he dragged his people into the divine courtroom and put them on trial before the Lord.  They could beg for mercy all they wanted, but the time for mercy had passed.  God's goodness and faithfulness demanded that he judge his people.  For centuries he had shown them his patient mercy, but now is was time for justice.  And that's when word reached Ezekiel that Jerusalem had fallen, the temple had been destroyed, and that the Lord's judgement had come on Judah. But that wasn't the end of Ezekiel's ministry.  The Lord would not leave his people in judgement forever.  If being faithful to his word meant judgement on their unfaithfulness, it also meant restoring them and making them faithful.  And so Ezekiel's prophetic messaged shifted from judgement to hope.  Through him the Lord promised the restoration of his people under a new king, under a David-like messiah.  And the Lord promised to breathe his Spirit into his people to take away their heart of stone and to give them a heart of flesh.  He gave Ezekiel a vision of a valley of dry bones and commanded the prophet to speak his word over those bones.  And the word of the Lord brought them back to life.  It was a promise of new creation.  But the wicked pagan nations still stood in the way of that new creation.  And so the Lord also gave Ezekiel a series of visions in which he defeated the nations.  And then, finally, Ezekiel had a vision of creation set to rights.  That vision begins with a temple.  Not the old temple, but a new one.  A new one infinitely grander and more beautiful than even Solomon's temple.  And after being given a tour of this temple, Ezekiel has a vision of the Lord's glory descending to fill it.  It's the Lord's way of saying that he will not abandon his people forever.  He will be with them again.  And out of this temple's gate flows a stream and as it flows down the mountain from the temple the stream turns into a great river.  Wherever it flows trees and lush vegetation spring up.  And eventually the river flow down into the desert and there it causes a lush garden to grow—Eden restored—a garden named “the Lord is there”. Now, everyone likes that last part.  Everyone wants to hear and to claim for themselves the messages of hope.  No one wants to hear the call to repentance and the warning of coming judgement.  No one would listen to Ezekiel's warnings.  It's not that they didn't hear them—or see them.  It was hard to miss the weird guy playing with action figures or hacking his hair off with a sword or laying on his side and cooking food over poop.  They saw it all.  But they refused to take it to heart.  They were convinced their exile to Babylon was an accident of history, not the Lord's judgement on their idolatry.  But once Ezekiel's prophecies of doom came true, I expect the people were hanging on his every last word of hope.  That's the test of a prophet, after all: does his word come to pass.  Ezekiel's did. And for that reason the people were still hanging onto his words when Jesus came, still looking for and longing for those divine promises to finally be fulfilled.  Because judgement had happened as the prophet foretold, that restoration of the people, that new creation, that new life with God would happen just as surely too.  It was just a matter of time.  So it shouldn't be a surprise that as Jesus preached he drew on the words of the old prophets like Ezekiel.  But it was the same old thing all over again.  The people gathered to hear Jesus preach good news.  They flocked to him for healing and deliverance and miracles that showed the kingdom of God was breaking in.  But they didn't want to hear the warnings.  They gasped when he told them that to see that coming kingdom, to know that garden called “the Lord is there”, they needed righteousness, they needed covenant faithfulness far beyond that of the scribes and Pharisees.  Judgement was coming on Judah again and Jesus was there to create a new people, a new community that would have that righteousness, that would be salt and light, that would be a city on a hill, that would come out the other side of God's judgement to see his kingdom.  The people in Ezekiel's day didn't want to hear that part of the message and neither did the people in Jesus' day.  Ed Stetzer likes to say, “If you want everyone to like you don't be a pastor, go sell ice cream.”  I think Ezekiel (and Jesus) would say the same thing about being a prophet. Our Gospel today is taken from the closing words of Jesus' sermon on the mount.  Jesus has spoken hard words—just as Ezekiel had.  But there was reason to hope.  In him the Lord was finally doing that new thing everyone had been waiting for since the prophets, but Jesus was also condemning their covenant faithlessness and announcing coming judgement.  And so he warns the people—this is Matthew 7:13—“Go in by the narrow gate.  The gate that leads to destruction, you see, is nice and wide and the road going there has plenty of room.  Lots of people go that way.  But the gate leading to life is narrow, and the road going there is a tight squeeze.  Not many people find their way through.”   In other words, “Yes, I know what I've been saying is hard.  Yes, I know it means repentance and turning away from sin and pursuing covenant faithfulness with everything you've got and even then you're going to need God's help, but that's the way to life.  Listen to me, because judgement is coming again and it's coming soon.  (He later told the disciples: before this generation passes away!)  And if you refuse to listen and if you keep going down the wide and easy path you're on, you're as sure to meet that judgement as the people of Ezekiel's day did. “Watch out for false prophets!” Jesus says.  There are people invested in the ways and the ideas and the systems of the present evil age.  They don't want to see you repent and turn back to the Lord.  They know everyone loves ice cream and they're going to show up with a cart full of it and everyone's going to listen to them—because ice cream is a lot more fun than calls to repentance.  “They will come to you dressed like sheep, but inside they are hungry wolves.”  Jesus draws on Ezekiel's condemnation of the leaders of Israel and Judah.  They were like wolves in the midst of the flock, tearing apart the sheep, shedding blood, all for their own gain.  It's always the way of false prophets.  They proclaim what people want to hear.  When the Lord desires repentance, the false prophets proclaim the status quo.  When the Lord desires sacrifice, the false prophets proclaim health and wealth.  When the Lord warns of judgement, the prophets proclaim “Peace!  Peace!”  And so Jesus warns in verse 16, “You'll be able to tell them by the fruit they bear: you don't find grapes growing on thorn-bushes, do you, or figs on thistles?  Well, in the same way, good trees produce good fruit and bad trees produce bad fruit.  Actually, good trees can't produce bad fruit, nor can bad ones produce good fruit.  Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire.  So you must recognise them by their fruits.”   There's never been any shortage of false prophets in the world.  In the Old Testament the test of a prophet was whether or not what he said came to pass.  The punishment for false prophecy was death.  Brothers and Sisters, claiming to speak the very word of the Lord is serious business.  His words are life.  When people claim to speak for the Lord, but speak falsely, it gives people reason to doubt his actual word.  But people took it lightly in Ezekiel's day, people took it lightly in Jesus' day, and far too many people take it lightly today.  The Old Testament test of a prophet still stands: Do his words come to pass?  But when Jesus warned the people, there wasn't time for that.  Judgement was coming soon.  So Jesus gives another way: look at the fruit.  It was a good test then and it's a good test now.  When someone says, “Thus says the Lord,” look at that person's life.  Does their life show the fruit of the Spirit?  Do you see things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control?  Or are they just selling ice cream and getting rich?  It's always amazing to me how many people flock to men and women who claim to work miracles and who claim to speak for God, but the miracles are false, the words are heresy, and the things they say never come to pass.  But it is a testimony to just how much we like ice cream, how much we'd rather hear “Peace, peace!” than a message about repentance.  Look at the fruit.  If the fruit is bad, the tree is bad and there's only one destination for bad trees: the fire—judgement.  Don't end up in the same place. Look for the fruit.  I know the language of the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit is something that developed later with Paul, but I think it's worth noting that Jesus talks here about fruit.  Too many people look for signs—what Paul would call “gifts” of the Spirit.  But even Paul warns these things can be faked.  Signs and wonders aren't necessarily evidence of a true prophet.  Fruit is the evidence. And Jesus goes on, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; only people who do the will of my Father in heaven.  On that day lots of people will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, didn't we?  We cast out demons in your name.  We performed lots of powerful deeds in your name.'  Then I will have to say to them, ‘I never knew you.  You're a bunch of evildoers.  Go away from me.'”   “On that day.”  That's language right out of the Old Testament prophets about the coming day of the Lord, about the day of judgement when the Lord will punish evil and vindicate the righteous.  A lot of people thought that just being an Israelite and having the Lord as their God gave them a place in the coming kingdom, but Jesus says that, no, that's not enough.  In fact, he narrows it down even further: a lot of people will think that because they've thought of Jesus as their Lord and done amazing things in his name, that they'll have a place in the kingdom—and not even that will cut it. It's important, I think, to remember here that Jesus isn't talking directly to us.  He was talking to First Century Jews and the judgement he was warning about was the judgement that would come forty years later when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple.  Those who would survive, those who would see the birth of the kingdom, would be those who truly identified themselves with Jesus in faith.  The people who followed him in the new exodus through baptism and into whom God would pour his Spirit.  They're the ones—not the ones who merely had an appreciation for what Jesus was teaching or thought of him as a great prophet—but the ones who truly recognised the God of Israel at work in Jesus the Messiah and who became part of his family, this new Israel redeemed by his death and given a new heart of flesh by the Holy Spirit.  They would be the dry bones that lived again.  They would be the ones whom God would deliver from the coming judgement.  They're the ones who would live to testify to the nations of the glory of the God of Israel revealed in the cross.  They're the ones who would live to proclaim the good news to the nations. And so Jesus concludes his sermon with a final allusion to Ezekiel.  In verse 24 he says, “So, then, everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  Heavy rain fell; floods rose up; the winds blew and beat on that house.  It didn't fall, because it was founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn't do them—they will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  Heavy rain fell; floods rose up; the winds blew and battered the house—and down it fell.  It fell with a great crash.”   Ezekiel warned the false prophets about the wall they'd built.  It's a pretty clear reference to the temple just as Jesus' “house” here is, too.  The false prophets had built a wall and they'd whitewashed it and it looked great.  It looked like a wall for the ages.  But when the Lord's judgement came, when he sent the rains and the floods and the winds, that wall came crashing down and exposed its builders as the unfaithful and idolatrous false prophets they really were.  The same thing would happen again.  The people of Jerusalem and Judea looked up to the temple as their hope, but Jesus condemns them.  Not this time as whitewashed walls, but as whitewashed tombs.  They went through the motions of faithfulness, they maintained their ritual purity, they proclaimed their love for and their loyalty to God, but their hearts were far from him.  Because God's heart was in Jesus. Jesus had to come to fulfil the prophecies of hope and life.  He'd come to build God's new temple.  Not one whitewashed with false piety, but one washed with his own blood.  Listen to Peter's call in his first epistle: “Come to him, to that living stone.  Men rejected him, but God chose him and values him very highly!  Like living stones yourselves, you are being built up into a spiritual house—a new temple!—to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that will be pleasing to God through Jesus the Messiah.  That's why it stands in scripture: ‘Look!  I am setting up in Zion a chosen, precious cornerstone.  Believe in him!  You will not be ashamed.'”   The false prophets, the wolves in sheep's clothing, the grifters selling spiritual ice cream, they whitewash false piety, they whitewash selfishness, they whitewash heresies—they whitewash the ugly things of the world.  They proclaim “Peace, peace” in the face of coming judgement.  Brothers and Sisters, don't be duped.  Listen to Jesus.  Stay focused on Jesus.  Think of Peter's confession later in Matthew's Gospel: “You are the Messiah, the son of the living God!”  This is the rock on which Jesus has built his church—his people, his new temple—and not even the gates of hell will overpower it.  Never forget that this is the temple in which his Spirit dwells. Never forget that this the temple from which God's new life flows to the world.  Never forget that this temple is the source of God's new creation.  And it's built on the rock and nothing but the rock that is Jesus. Come to the Lord's Table this morning and be reminded that in Jesus, God has given his own life for you—for us.  Come to the Lord's Table and be reminded that in Jesus, God has breathed his life into our dry bones and made us live again.  Come to the Lord's Table and be reminded that he's made us the precious stones of his temple.  Then be that Spirit-filled and life-giving water that Ezekiel saw flowing out from the temple into the world carrying God's life, carrying his new creation. Let's pray: Gracious Father, in Jesus you have washed us clean from sin and by your Spirit you have renewed our hearts and made the priests of your new temple.  Guard our hearts from the temptations of false prophets and false gods that our desires might always be for you and your kingdom, through Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Because God does not abandon His afflicted people, persevere in praying to Him for deliverance, for you will one day again praise Him.

Because God has an eternal perspective and is always good, we can trust Him through difficult seasons.

This isn't business as usual. It's time to rethink what it means to be the Church. Over the next three weeks, we're challenging every person at MPCC to go All-In, not just with your time, but with your heart, your purpose, and your life. Because God's not looking for spectators. He's calling us to move. We'll wrestle with questions like: * What kind of church are we becoming? * Where is your heart really planted? * And what part are you called to play? This series is bold. It's honest. And it's personal. If you've been waiting for the right time to take your next step… this is it. This week's notes in the Bible app: https://www.bible.com/events/49470494 Pastor Sean Kelly | All In for Everyone | Selected Scriptures CONNECT WITH US Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mpccgreenwood Twitter: https://twitter.com/mpccgreenwood Instagram: https://instagram.com/mpccgreenwood Website: https://mpcc.info/

Asaph knows that God is good to His people, and yet the prosperity of the wicked almost leads him to stumble from the faith. Even as he recognizes the wickedness of the arrogant, he sees that their riches increase, and he wonders if faith in the LORD is worth it. He holds his tongue from leading others astray and turns instead to the LORD's saving presence in His sanctuary. There, he recalls that the wicked do not have the only thing that lasts: eternal life in Christ. Because God is the heritage that belongs to all the faithful, we can confidently confess with Asaph that the LORD Himself is our very portion forever.  Rev. Tom Eckstein, pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 73.  To learn more about Concordia Lutheran, visit www.concordiajt.org. Join Sharper Iron this summer to study selected Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.  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

Send us a textThis week, I'm asking a question that's been stirring in my spirit: Do I need to see something before I believe it—or does belief come first?Psalm 27:13 says, “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” That kind of faith—believing before we see—isn't always easy. But it's where hope begins.In this episode, I reflect on what it means to nourish our faith in the middle of the storm, to choose belief over despair, and to declare God's goodness even when it hasn't shown up yet. I'll share the questions I've been wrestling with this week:Do my circumstances determine my faith?How can I believe first, and watch as His goodness unfolds?Is God really good, all the time?If your heart feels weary or your faith feels shaky, I pray this episode encourages you to press in—to believe before you see.Because God's goodness is coming. Right here. In the land of the living.✨ Listen now and be reminded: the reward of faith is seeing what we believe.

We’d been driving for fifteen hours, and it was late at night when a tornado alert jolted us to attention. The warning said we should take cover immediately. As if on cue, lightning exploded in the sky, and wind pressed against our car windows. We sped off the highway and parked near a concrete hotel building. Sprinting inside, we were thankful to find shelter. Trouble reminds us we need a safe place to stay. Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Theologians tell us the phrase “the name of the Lord” means the entirety of who God is. All of His attributes provide security as we hide ourselves in Him. Because God is kind, He welcomes us. Because He’s good, He listens to us. Because He’s love, He empathizes with us. But God isn’t just another way to cope with problems. He’s more than a quick fix or a distraction. Taking refuge in Him means choosing His help over everything else. We can run to Him in prayer, meditate on Scripture, or surrender to the Holy Spirit in times of stress and anxiety. Over the years, these habits lead to a lifetime of reliance on the One who is our true shelter.

What if what you've been chasing isn't the promise, but the presence? In this awakening word from Exodus 33:18-23, Bishop T.D. Jakes walks us through the sacred conversation between Moses and God. It's not just about miracles, laws, or leadership — it's about proximity. Moses pleads, “Show me Your glory,” not for blessings, but for closeness. He doesn't want the promised land without the Lord. And neither should we. You have survived what should have consumed you. Bishop Jakes says that is your sign. The bush is still burning, and you're still standing. Why? Because God has had His hand on you all along, even before you recognized it. This message calls us out of covenant with religious routine and idols and into real intimacy. Into the cleft of the Rock — Jesus — where God promises, “There is a place beside me.” There is a covering. A glory that will not just carry you but transform you. Watch the full sermon and revisit until your soul cries out: SHOW ME YOUR GLORY! Because without God, we have nothing at all. Message: “Close Proximity” Scripture: Exodus 33:18-23 (KJV) Speaker: Bishop T.D. Jakes Date: July 20, 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if what you've been chasing isn't the promise, but the presence? In this awakening word from Exodus 33:18-23, Bishop T.D. Jakes walks us through the sacred conversation between Moses and God. It's not just about miracles, laws, or leadership — it's about proximity. Moses pleads, “Show me Your glory,” not for blessings, but for closeness. He doesn't want the promised land without the Lord. And neither should we. You have survived what should have consumed you. Bishop Jakes says that is your sign. The bush is still burning, and you're still standing. Why? Because God has had His hand on you all along, even before you recognized it. This message calls us out of covenant with religious routine and idols and into real intimacy. Into the cleft of the Rock — Jesus — where God promises, “There is a place beside me.” There is a covering. A glory that will not just carry you but transform you. Watch the full sermon and revisit until your soul cries out: SHOW ME YOUR GLORY! Because without God, we have nothing at all. Message: “Close Proximity” Scripture: Exodus 33:18-23 (KJV) Speaker: Bishop T.D. Jakes Date: July 20, 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.