Podcasts about because god

Every day the people who broadcast the news to us have to decide what's going to be big news and what's going to be little news. The big news they talk about first. And the little news may not get mentioned at all. Unfortunately, there are often disasters that occur every day, and they may or may not be big news. Most disasters produce casualties, but casualties are sort of little news. That means people just got hurt. Then there are fatalities. And when there are fatalities, well, sadly, that makes it big news - somebody was killed. The fatality factor seems to propel news to page one. The story of Christmas has a casualty in it, a fatality and a champion. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Christmas Knockout." Now, I know you thought this was about Christmas and it is. But we're suddenly going to be in the Garden of Eden for a minute with our word for today from the Word of God which is in Genesis 3:15. The great tragedy; perhaps the greatest tragedy of history has just taken place as Adam and Eve have chosen to disobey God. Sin has entered a perfect world, and God is already talking about the solution. He speaks to the serpent, who is the Devil, and says, "I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers. He (that's her offspring) will crush your head and you (that's the serpent) will strike his heel." Did you know that Christmas began in the Garden of Eden? The answer for sin began at the moment sin entered the world. Because God says here there will come a man ultimately descended from Adam and Eve - from the very people who perpetrated sin in the world - a man will come who will crush the serpent. Notice the verbs here. It says the serpent, Satan, will strike the heel of the Messiah who will come. Satan's going to be able to hurt the Redeemer. That happened at the cross. But it was canceled three days later when Jesus Christ walked out of His grave. But notice what the Redeemer is going to do to the serpent - crush his head. That's the difference between a casualty and a fatality. When the Redeemer comes, Satan will receive a death blow He says. You need to know that the Devil, for all of his interference in your life right now, is a dead man. Colossians 2:15 says "Christ disarmed the powers and the authorities, and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." If you're in Christ, if you belong to Jesus, the most the Devil can do is to wound you. You may be a casualty, but thank God you will never be a fatality. Satan tried over and over again to wipe out the Messianic line - the family from which Jesus would come. And then he tried to wipe out all the babies that were the age of baby Jesus. It didn't work. He's beaten! Why would you ever let the Devil or his people beat you or intimidate you? God has entered human history in person. Everywhere Jesus went the forces of darkness surrendered. Everywhere Jesus goes now through your life, those forces of darkness still must surrender. So, Christmas isn't just a warm and fuzzy little story about a baby in a stable and a star. In the battle for human lives, in the battle you're facing today, Christmas is God's knockout punch.

We're getting to the heart of Christmas in this message, uncovering the beautiful truth that when Jesus enters the picture everything changes. That was true for Mary, Joseph, and a group of ordinary shepherds on the very first Christmas, and that can be true of you today. Because God became man so we could become new.__In this Plan, we're exploring the gospel as it's revealed in every New Testament book so we can understand more of what Jesus and His good news means for us and others. https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/63628-the-full-gospel| SWITCH IRL |Find a location near you here: https://www.life.church/locations/| SOCIAL |

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Peter 1-3; John 1 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible podcast! On this December 17th episode, your host Hunter (joined throughout by Hunter, Hunter, and Hunter) invites you into a heartfelt journey through the Scriptures as we near the end of the year-long Bible reading adventure. Today, we dive into 2 Peter chapters 1 through 3, reflecting on the promises and transformation offered by God, and finish in the rich opening of John chapter 1, exploring the mystery and hope of Christ—the Word made flesh. As Hunter guides us, you'll hear words of encouragement for those who are struggling during this season, and for those rejoicing as well—reminders that God's love and light are present no matter where we find ourselves. There's practical advice on embracing joy, finding peace, and living in the reality of being included in God's family. Prayerful moments anchor the episode, inviting you to seek God's goodness and purpose in your life. Whether you're searching for hope or celebrating life's gifts, this episode is an opportunity to pause, listen, and let God's Word be spoken over your heart—reminding you that you are loved and never alone. So grab your coffee, settle in, and let's walk together through another day in Scripture with the Daily Radio Bible. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Make every effort to respond to his promises. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. Because God fulfilled his promise to Abraham, that Abraham would become the father of many nations, the peoples of the world would recognize and understand the fatherhood of God. They would see that they have been included, adopted into a relationship with the Creator of all the world. Because of this promise and what Christ has done, we share in God's divine nature. That's something that will and should blow our minds. Peter says that we share in God's divine nature. And Peter wants us to participate in that. To participate in what is. To acknowledge and see and live in the joy of what is your inclusion into the life and love of God. Because God was true to his word. God did what he said he would do. He came and he rescued us and made us his own. So let's live in that, my friends. The triune God sent his Son to come and rescue us, to awaken us to who we really are, to who he is, what he has done and who we really are. We are those that share in his divine nature. We are children of God, made in the image of God. God has come to reveal this, to make this known, to let it become the thing that animates our lives, sets us free and gives us joy. So let's do that. It's as we live in the reality of this amazing truth and good news, we will indeed escape the corruptions of this world. We will not give in to the lusts of the world, the sinfulness of our flesh. No, we will be walking in the Spirit. That's the desire and the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that is the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Today, we explore the powerful contrast between two very different gifts brought to Jesus, costly treasures from the wise men and two simple pigeons from Mary and Joseph. One extravagant, one humble… yet both equally honoring to God. Why? Because God doesn't measure the amount, He measures the proportion and the heart behind it.Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside's conviction that God's grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God's presence and activity in your life.

In this episode, we journey to Elizabeth's house, the place of the Visitation. We reflect on Mary's haste as she makes the journey to visit Elizabeth and how Elizabeth creates space for Mary as the mystery of the incarnation unfolds. We also ponder Elizabeth's years of longing for a child, how God fulfills our desires in ways different than we expect, and why we should hold onto hope instead of disappointment. Finally, we talk about cultivating a deeper sensitivity to God's presence, trusting that even when His work is hidden, beauty is unfolding within our lives.   Heather's One Thing - High King of Heaven / Jesus We Love You by Bethel Music Sister Miriam's Half Thing - As part of the Sacred Anchor Marketplace, any Religious Order/ Clergy will have a free storefront with no charges to list or commission fees. (The only cost will be bank fees of about 3% of any sale). Sign up here! Sister Miriam's One Thing -  Forgiving as Unity with Christ by Dr. Robert Enright Michelle's One Thing - Notre Dame Football (especially Marcus Freeman)   And then, we travel to Elizabeth's house, high in the hills. Two women meet, and the air is thick with recognition. Promises leap, joy erupts, and prophecy dances between them. This is the place of friendship, of shared waiting, of laughter through tears. Because God often comes to us in the embrace of another who believes.   Journal Questions: In what places of my life can I allow mystery to breathe and unfold? Who can I share the deep places of disappointment with and not feel judged? Where do I feel disappointed? How can I be a nest for others? What promise is leaping within you right now wanting to be recognized? Where do I run when God is doing something new in me? Who is my Elizabeth?   Discussion Questions: When has the Holy Spirit asked you to do something that didn't make sense in the natural world? How can we cultivate a home for others within our own hearts? Where is the Holy Spirit moving in your life and in other's lives? When was the last time you experienced someone speaking prophetically over your life?   Quote to Ponder: "If there ever comes a time when the women of the world come together purely and simply for the benefit of mankind, it will be a force such as the world has never known." (Matthew Arnold)   Scripture for Lectio: "Blessed is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her." (Luke 1:45)   Sponsor - Chews Life: Rosaries for Every Age and Season of Life. Sister Lucia of Fatima once said, "There is no problem, no matter how difficult, that we cannot solve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary."  At Chews Life , that isn't just a beautiful quote, it's the heartbeat of everything they do.  Chews Life is a Catholic-owned small business whose mission is simple but bold: to equip every Catholic, in every age and season of life, with Rosaries for life. Whether you're a new mom juggling family life, a student on the go, or someone rediscovering the beauty of prayer, Chews Life creates practical and beautiful ways to make the Rosary part of your everyday rhythm.   For the Littlest Catholics one of the most beloved parts of the Chews Life mission is their dedication to helping children grow up surrounded by prayer. Their silicone Rosaries  are soft, durable, and made for little hands to safely explore and grow in their love for the Rosary. Parents often say that watching their child hold one feels like watching them reach out to hold Our Lady's hand.  Each design is thoughtfully created to be both faith-filled and family-safe, something little ones can hold, and carry as they begin learning the gentle rhythm of prayer. It's never too early to begin planting those seeds of devotion.   For women, Chews Life offers their signature excuse-proof Rosary bracelet, a gemstone Rosary that is both beautiful and wearable. Designed to help you pray throughout the day, this bracelet is a quiet but powerful companion for busy women who long to stay connected to God in the middle of everyday life.  Whether you're at work, running errands, or caring for your family, these bracelets make it easy to keep prayer close. Each one includes Chews Life's signature "bookmark" crucifix charm, allowing you to pause your Rosary and pick it up right where you left off. Because real life and real prayer go hand-in-hand.  Made with genuine gemstones and durable materials, every bracelet is a tangible reminder that holiness grows in the middle of ordinary moments, and that beauty and faith were always meant to belong together.  For the Men in Your Life: Crux Invicta  That same level of craftsmanship and devotion extends to the men's line, Crux Invicta, Chews Life's brother brand. The name means "The Cross Invincible," and it captures the heart of what this collection stands for: bold, rugged faith rooted in strength and sacrifice.  Crux Invicta features paracord and gemstone Rosary bracelets designed for durability and purpose. Each piece carries the reminder that victory comes through the Cross, offering men a tangible way to live out their faith in the everyday battles of life. And for those looking to go deeper and learn more about the mysteries of the Rosary, Chews Life founder Shannon Wendt invites you on a journey of prayer through her new book, The Way of the Rosary: A Journey with Mary through Scripture, Liturgy, and Life .  This book is a heartfelt invitation to walk with Mary and discover the mysteries of the Rosary as they unfold through Scripture, the rhythm of the Liturgy, and the ordinary moments of daily life. Shannon's reflections reveal how Mary accompanies us in joy and in sorrow, guiding us always closer to her Son From their baby-safe silicone Rosaries, to their gemstone Rosary bracelets, to the Crux Invicta men's line and The Way of the Rosary book, every part of Chews Life's mission is designed to make prayer not just accessible but truly lived.  Because for Chews Life, prayer isn't something you fit in when you can. It's something that fits beautifully into the life you're already living.   You can explore the full collections and learn more at  ChewsLife.com  and CruxInvicta.com .  And as a special thank-you to Abiding Together listeners, use the code ABIDE15 for 15% off your order on either site.     Chapters:  00:00 Chews Life 01:37 Intro 02:30 Welcome to Elizabeth's House 06:02 The Shared Gift of the Visitation 08:15 Having A Safe Place to Allow Mystery to Unfold 10:08 The Holy Spirit Reveals Jesus 12:!5 Sacred Companionship 13:40 When We Carry Disappointments 16:50 Speaking Life Into Other People 18:36 Living Out of Our Insecurities 19:49 Being A Safe Place for Others 22:37 Having Sensitivity to the Presence of God 25:26 One Things   Music used under license i94Cr0 

This Sunday, Pastor Suzy Silk continued our Advent series, He Shall Be, with a teaching on the significance of Jesus as the Messiah, reminding us how Advent and Hanukkah point us back to God's faithfulness and His promise-keeping nature, even in fearful and anxious times. Jesus is the Messiah whom God had long promised, perfectly accomplishing what no earthly king could and fulfilling dozens of specific Old Testament prophecies. Because God is the Lord of history and has proven Himself faithful time and time again, we can trust Him with our futures. Pastor Suzy invited us to lift our eyes above the chaos into a long-term perspective focused on God's faithfulness and to remember that the antidote to anxiety is not answers but the person of Jesus—resting in the certainty that the Messiah has come and will come again.

Following Christ isn't about pretending everything is okay; it's about learning to trust God's promises even when we can't see what He is doing. In his message, “The Dawn of God's Faithfulness,” Pastor Josiah walks us through Luke 1:39–80 and shows how God breaks 400 years of silence with the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. We watch Mary and Zechariah move from confusion and waiting to Spirit-filled praise as they realize God is fulfilling the promises He made to Abraham and David. Along the way, we connect their story to ours: what it feels like when life is barren, when prayers seem unanswered, when God feels distant. Because God has already kept His biggest promise in Jesus, we can trust Him in the darkest moments of our lives and worship Him even when life seems hopeless.

December 14th, 2025 | Attributes of Advent | Luke 2:1-7In this message from the Attributes of Advent series, Pastor Todd Kauntiz invites us to lift our eyes to the providence and faithfulness of God revealed in the Christmas story. What many see as a familiar passage in Luke 2 becomes a powerful window into the heart of a God who is sovereign over history and unwavering in keeping His promises.As Pastor Todd walks through the birth of Jesus, we see how God orchestrated rulers, decrees, geography, and family lineage to fulfill ancient promises—that the Messiah would come from the line of David and be born in Bethlehem. From Caesar Augustus' decree to a manger in an insignificant town, nothing was accidental. God was providentially guiding history to bring redemption to the world.This message is especially for those carrying uncertainty, weariness, or anxiety about the future. Through fulfilled prophecy and God's faithfulness in the first Advent, we are reminded that the same God is still at work today—and can be trusted with what we are still waiting for. Because God has proven faithful before, we can place our hope in His promises yet to come.Listen and be encouraged: God is in control, He is always moving, and He always keeps His promises.Do you know JESUS?: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nblongview.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need PRAYER?: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nblongview.org/pray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT through giving: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbbctx.org/giving⁠⁠

In this message, we explore the breathtaking truth at the center of Christmas: God became human and dwelt among us. Walking through John 1:1–18, we linger on the mystery of the incarnation and what it means that Jesus fully entered the human experience—our weakness, suffering, sorrow, and joy. Far from being distant or unrelatable, Jesus is the God who understands, sympathizes, and draws near in our pain. Because God is with us, we are invited to approach him with confidence, honesty, and hope.

Because God is faithful to keep all His promises, we can trust Him even in the most fearful times to keep His word, as confirmed in His sending of His Son to be born of the Virgin. I. God Speaks to Bring Assurance to a Terrified King vv 10-11 II. God Rebukes the Unbelief of a Faithless King vv 12-13 III. God Promises to Keep His Word and Send His Salvation through a Virgin-Born Son! vv 14-17

Zephaniah 3:9-20 Because God sings over us with loud singing, we sing to God with unending joy. The post Coming Joy! appeared first on Grace Presbyterian Church (PCA).

Because God is the eternal King, believers have a responsibility to declare the greatness of His rule to all through actions and words.

In this short Advent sermon the preacher reflects on Matthew 1:18–25, Joseph's faith amid scandal, and how God brings joy in the middle of messy, painful circumstances. Joy is defined not as a fleeting feeling but as deep confidence in God's presence, character, and promises. The message points forward to Revelation's promise of a new heaven and earth, encouraging listeners to hold a joyful hope that God is with us now and will make all things new. Hope of the Earth - Joy Matthew 1:18–25 Introduction Main Idea: Joy is a deep confidence that God is with us and is making all things new. Experiencing Joy in Hard Seasons of Life Life is filled with Pain and Confusion​ Joseph discovers Mary is pregnant and assumes unfaithfulness. Joseph tries to do the right thing while deeply hurt. God Meets us in the Dark God does not leave us in confusion and shame. God joins us working for the hope and peace of the world. Because God is at work, we can rejoice even as hardship continues. God brings Joy amid Sorrow​ God's joy does not rest on circumstances but on God's character, presence, and promises. Joy is resting in the truth that, whatever comes, God is with us. Joy means entrusting ourselves and our world to the God who will redeem and restore all creation, truly making all things new. Conclusion: Be a People of Joyful Hope​ (Revelation 21:1–6) Advent invites us to find our joy in the God of Mary and Joseph, who brings life out of apparent dead ends. God will dwell with us, wipe away every tear, and make all things new. Choose to live as a people of deep, resilient joy—trusting that God is with us now and that the story ends in new creation. ---- Find other Podcasts, Sermon Notes and the Bulletin here. https://www.mvcnaz.org/live Stay in touch with our Church Center App at https://www.mvcnaz.org/churchcenter Contact us through our CONNECT form at https://www.mvcnaz.org/connect   With Pastor Mike Curry.

Sermon Summary Title: Fall on Your Knees Speaker: Nick Lugg Context: A Christmas message exploring the true cost and response required by the coming of Jesus. Overview: In this message, Nick Lugg challenges the congregation to move past the sentimental traditions of Christmas and confront the reality of who Jesus is. Referencing the line "Fall on your knees" from O Holy Night, the sermon asks a central question: "What is Jesus worth to you?" Key Themes: Response is Mandatory: Just like the Shepherds, Wise Men, and King Herod, no one can remain neutral to Jesus. His presence demands a response—either worship or resistance. Worship as Surrender: True worship isn't just singing songs; it is a life posture of "falling on your knees." Nick uses the imagery of the 24 Elders in Revelation casting down their crowns to illustrate surrendering our status, identity, and security to God. Jesus is Central, Not an Add-on: The sermon warns against treating Jesus like an "interior decorator" who just enhances our existing lives. Instead, He often comes as a "wrecking ball," dismantling our wrong priorities to rebuild us on a better foundation. The Call to Re-evaluate: Listeners are urged to identify what "crowns" they are holding onto—career, reputation, comfort, or sin—and to determine if those things are worth more to them than Jesus. Audio Transcript [00:00] Nick Lugg: Good morning. Congregation: Good morning. Nick Lugg: Happy Christmas. Not quite there. We, um... Oh look, it's there. Because it's Christmas we are going to do PowerPoint. Now, this is not my primary skill set, so it's a bit like rubbing your stomach, patting your head, and standing on a beach ball all at the same time. So I'm hoping to remember to press the button at the right time. [00:26] Our prayer and our desire all the time—and always has been every Christmas—is to enjoy the Christmas season, to enjoy the atmosphere, to enjoy all that Christmas is to us. But at the same time, by God's grace, crack it open and get to the reality of what God is wanting to say to us each and every time. We can't be reduced to people that just do traditions. That just do, um, repeat—you know, we just get on rinse and repeat every year. Same thing: bring out the same songs, do the same things, go through the same motions. Because God has always got something fresh to say to us. [01:05] And that's why we've had this mini-series over Christmas where we've, uh... the eagle-eyed amongst you will know that it's been related to the carol O Holy Night. The first one—I think they were slightly in the wrong order, but it doesn't matter because we've got grace—but the first one Johnny spoke was "A weary world rejoices." And then I think Andy, uh, last week was speaking on "The thrill of hope." [01:32] And it's just those... just those lines have so much relevance and so much resonance for us in the world that we live in and the lives that we are leading. A weary world rejoices. But yet, and behind everything that we seek to do as a church, and everything we seek to begin, is to bring that thrill of hope. But as the curtains open, and as heaven is drawn back, and as we begin to see all that is going on behind Christmas, there is also the response, which is: Fall on your knees. [02:07] And the question this morning: What is Jesus worth to you? What is Jesus worth to me? That if we don't come out of Christmas with a greater sense... You know, we've sung these majestic carols—Adore, come let us adore, let's worship Him, and all the other lines that I've forgotten. You know, they—but they are majestic, honestly. But... you know, we adore Him. But if we don't actually adore Him, if we don't actually wrestle with the question: What does, therefore, it mean that He's worth to me? How does His coming—Christmas, the coming of Christ—how does His coming impact my life? How does it change the shape and the way that I think and the way that I act and the way that I live this life that He's given me? [02:54] What is Jesus worth to me? Oh look... [clicks clicker]. So the real story of Christmas, we say it every year, it's not sentimental, is it? But it's one of humility. Anonymity. Struggle. And the telling and the retelling of the story of Mary and Joseph and all that they went through doesn't really ever quite connect and communicate what it must have been like for them to experience what they experienced. [03:22] There was pain. Discomfort. Fear. Anxiety, no doubt. Stress. Uncertainty. Tears. Maybe there were short tempers. There were... there were all sorts of things going on that we would instantly relate to, and yet we don't see on the Christmas cards. But it's into that world, not the Christmas card world, that Jesus came. Jesus came to our world. We might think, "Well, it was all right, you know, Christmas was just so lovely and everything was just so beautiful and there was like shining tinsel and angels and shepherds and it's all so peaceful and everything else on the Christmas cards." But what about us? What about Sheffield? What about Jordanthorpe, Batemoor? What about where I live? What about my background? What about my world? Jesus came into that world. [04:15] And everyone who encountered Jesus had to respond. And the question for us today is the same. As we ask "What is Jesus worth to me?", how do I respond to Him? How do I respond to the fact that He has come? Not just come to the world, not just come to all people—He's come into my life. How do I respond, therefore, to this majestic appearance? [04:42] He's the Son of God. [Struggles with clicker] Is that the one? This is where it all goes wrong, you see. Anyway, it don't matter... [Adjusts slides]. He comes on the margins of society. He's ignored by society. He's unnoticed by society. He's born away from comfort and privilege. The Bible tells us in Philippians that He, though being in very nature God, He didn't consider equality with God something to be grasped, but He came down, took on the very nature of a servant. He took the opposite of what we would think somebody of His power and authority had. [05:22] I was... saw an article or a video report about Air Force One—the President of the United States' plane. You know how when it flies around, all the preparations and all the protection that it has, you know, fighter jet escorts and all of that. None of that for Jesus. But even as a baby, before He ever taught anything, before He said anything—He just cried like babies do—before He healed anyone, before He performed a miracle, He provoked profound responses. [05:54] You know, the first miracle we read about was when He turned water into wine at a wedding. He was an adult. But before all of that, the story of Christmas is about the responses that people made to who He was. Not what He did. Who He is is what makes a difference in our lives and causes us to respond. [06:14] And so we have the Shepherds. Ordinary people. Caught in their routines. But shaken awake by God to say: "Good news of great joy for all the earth, a Savior is born." Pointing the way to Him. And so they got up from their routine, they got up from their humdrum existence, and they left everything to go and see Him, to go and worship Him. [06:37] The Wise Men. Men of influence and education. They were willing to travel hundreds of miles and bring costly gifts because He was worth it. That's not an easy thing to do. It's not easy to travel. You might think it's easy... you know, even traveling these days, going to Zambia or going to Nepal, it's a... it's a consideration. Even just sitting still doing nothing on a plane. Let alone getting on a camel and going hundreds and hundreds of miles. But they considered that they needed to respond to what they had heard and what they had seen. [07:11] There was King Herod. He was a king with wealth and power and influence and all the things that the world could give him. And yet he saw Jesus as a threat and said He's worth eliminating. He wanted... he responded to Jesus. There's no neutrality. One baby, three responses, but everyone responds. There is no neutrality when it comes to Jesus. When He comes into our world, there is no neutrality for us today. When He comes into... we have to respond. We have to ask: What does His coming demand of me? What is He worth to me? What do I do... what do I do about His coming? [07:51] Jesus demands a response. His very presence draws a response from our hearts. Or it should do. Because there is no neutral. No matter how much we want to live in neutral gear. No matter how much we want to be observers and spectators of all of this and just say, "Oh well, you know, we'll see how it goes." Jesus demands a response. And His very presence forces a collision with our priorities. He comes into our hearts. [08:19] I remember that experience. I've given my testimony before, but I remember how I was like a spectator. I was somebody who was beginning to think, when I was 17 years old, and thinking, "Oh yeah, I think I believe in Jesus. I think He's real. I think..." and I went through all of that process for a year. But at that moment that I asked Him to come into my life—BANG—there was that explosion. Things happened. Everything changed shape in my life, in my priorities, in my understanding, in the values. All of that had to be reassessed. [08:50] When Jesus comes into our world, everything has to be reassessed. When He steps into someone's world... when He steps into your world... you cannot carry on as before. I cannot carry on just as before. Everything that we hold dear. Everything that we love. Everything that shapes our identity, that makes us say, "Well this is who I am." Jesus confronts it. He collides with it. Causes it to change shape permanently and forever. [09:20] Not just an emotional moment where we just say, "Oh I think I believe in Jesus now." But actually He physically comes... and He comes into our hearts, He changes the shape of everything from the inside out. Everything that commands our time, our energy, our attention has to be reassessed in the light of Jesus coming. All of it challenged by that one question: Is it worth more to me than Jesus? [09:44] I remember when I was on a mission trip one time in Russia—in the old Soviet Union actually, I can say it now, we had to keep it secret in those days. But, um, we went and there was somebody that was really taken with the Gospel message and they were listening to it all. And they were saying to the person who was sharing with them, they said, "But if I become a Christian though, do I have to... do I have to stop smoking?" And the person was like getting into a bit of a twist, you know, "Oh well, you know, God understands us and God doesn't judge..." and trying to explain it all. [10:14] And then there was this evangelist guy that was with us who was much more to the point. He just came in and said, "Yes. You do." He said, "And if you ask me if I believe in Jesus, do I have to stop wearing blue jeans? I tell you: Yes, you do." He said, "Because it's not about the smoking, it's not about the blue jeans, it's not about the whatever. But the very fact that you're asking that question means that there is a confrontation with what you want. With what you hold dear. Is it worth more to you than Jesus? Give it up! Change it! Change shape!" That's what happened at Christmas. Jesus came into our lives. And so those little questions that come in the light of Jesus... they should become irrelevant. "Can I still do this? Can I still do that?" Why are you asking those questions? Jesus is worth more than all of it. [10:59] And so we have to reassess our priorities. That's what happened at Christmas. So the Shepherds left their livelihood. They left... presumably they left the sheep... couldn't have taken all the sheep to see Jesus, could they? The Wise Men gave their treasure. Herod protected his throne. And we do the same. When Jesus comes, we have to respond. Either we worship, or we resist. There is no neutrality. [11:27] Worship is more than a song. "For a song in itself is not what you have required." And the rest of it. It's not just what happens on a Sunday, is it? We enjoy it. We enjoy the worship. We enjoy our singing. But we call it "worship," we label it "worship," and yet there is so much more to worship. Worship is not an event. Worship is not 30 minutes. Worship is a life posture. It's a life position. It's a life decision that says: "Come what may, Jesus, you are worth it. You are worth my life. You are worth everything I have, everything I can give you." [12:02] I remember a friend of mine who was on mission in India, and he took a team to India. And these sort of young, enthusiastic people that were there, and they encountered a church that was quite different to the type of lively, charismatic church they were involved in. And yet this church was full of people that had been imprisoned for their faith, had been beaten up for their faith, had been through all sorts of struggle. And this bright-eyed young evangelist person said to the guy who was leading the team, he said, "They don't seem to know much about worship, do they?" [12:35] And he said, "Well, it depends what you mean by worship. If you mean music and singing and songs, then maybe they don't know... you know, all of that. But there's an awful lot that they do know about giving their entire life for Jesus and saying: You are worth everything that I can give you." Worship says you are more than anything else in my life. The old carol says: "What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part. Yet what can I give Him? Give Him my heart." [13:12] So there isn't anything we can give that impresses Jesus. There isn't anything that He says, "Oh, I think I quite like..."—whether it's our blue jeans or our cigarettes or whatever. It's not about what we give up in that sense. But what we give Him. We give Him our trust. We give Him our obedience. We give Him our love. We give Him our hearts. And that is a whole life thing. That's something that brings a change from the start, and it goes through year after year after year. It's where Christianity is not a flash in the pan. It's not something that we do for a season and then we move on to something else. It's that if truly Jesus has come into our hearts, things have changed. Our priorities have changed. Our vision has changed. Our values have changed. Everything changes and it can't change back. [13:58] But our hearts are shaped, aren't they, by our culture. By comfort. By self-protection. And so we're tempted to use Jesus as an add-on. As a "life enhancer." Someone who fits in with our lives. Instead of someone who rearranges our lives. We treat Him a bit like an interior decorator. Comes in and, you know, tells us what color curtains to have and how to enhance the arrangement of our furniture to give us the best energy and all of that sort of thing. And yet, when He turns up with His hard hat on and a crane with a wrecking ball to come and knock the whole thing down, we don't like that. [14:38] His arrival demands more. And so the only response that we can give Him is to fall on our knees. One day in eternity, scripture says, the 24 Elders fall down and worship. They lay their crowns before the throne. They lay their crowns. In many translations, they take their crowns and they cast them. They throw them. They throw them down at the feet of Jesus. Why do they do that? Why the crowns? Because the crown is a symbol. The crown is a symbol of their identity. Their status. Their achievements. Their authority. Whatever gives their life value in the eyes of others. [15:20] We love it, don't we? Medals and gongs and crowns and uniforms and achievements and things that we can say about who we are and what we've done and what we've achieved. All of that constitutes our crown. And yet when they were in the presence of Jesus, they fell down and worshipped and they lay their crowns before the throne. Say: "Everything that I am, Lord God... have it. Whatever I think I am, You take it, Lord. Because it's... YOU are worth more than that." [15:52] Fall down on your knees. Nothing I have. Nothing I achieve. Nothing that defines me comes close to the value of Jesus. And that's what falling on our knees means. So we let Him question what we hold onto. We let Him reorder what we value. Rather than let's have a discussion about it—"Lord, I think, you know, do a trade, do a deal. Maybe I can keep some of this... you can have this, but I'll have that." It's a complete, radical reorganization, reordering of everything that is valuable to us. [16:26] There are things that define our lives wrongly. Things that we would say about ourselves if somebody asked us, "Well this is what I am. This is why I am like I am. This is what has made me to be like I am." And we settle into that because we think, "Well, this is me. This is just how I am made. This is how I am wired." What if Jesus comes in and dismantles the things that wrongly define us? What if He wants to reshape and rebuild and change our outlook and change our vision of ourselves and change our vision of others and change our vision of the world? He can do that. And He does that as He comes into our hearts. [17:03] Let Him replace our plans with His purposes. What is it that You want, Lord, in my life? What is it that You want in our life? What is it that You want for us as a church? Jesus. Because You are worth it. Whatever we think that we might be or we might achieve or we might... what status we might have... we lay it all before Jesus and say we fall on our knees before You, Lord. Have Your way among us. Fill us, God, with Your Spirit. Not only just to give us an experience that blesses us, but an experience that changes us from the inside out. That reshapes us. That demolishes us and rebuilds us. [17:42] Let Him confront our comforts. The things that give us security. The things that we hold onto. All of those things. Like I said, He's not an interior decorator. Someone making suggestions to make life better. But our worship says: "Do whatever You need to do, Lord, because I am Yours." [18:02] And so, as we fall on our knees, we re-evaluate what we treasure. Ask yourself a question: What in my life currently holds a higher value than Jesus? It's a tough question. And it's not coming from the pulpit saying "Ask yourself!"—pointing back at me—ask yourself. There's so much that takes place in our lives, so much that is established in our lives that is... takes the place of Jesus. So re-evaluate what we treasure. Our comfort. Our time. Our reputation. Our resources. A career. Relationship. Control. A painful identity I don't want to let go of. A sin that I cling to. [18:50] All of that can form a crown. That Jesus demands a response. That we know that we are holding onto those things, but when we come into His presence, we know there has to be a response. There is no neutrality. There's no "Oh, well I think I'll take it or leave it" or "I think I'll wait until next month and see how I feel then." No. When we meet Jesus, there has to be that change. There has to be that response. There has to be that worship. [19:14] And so, take one thing today that has become a crown you hold tightly and consciously place it before Jesus. What is it in your life this morning that you know... Ask God to reveal to you, to show you, what is it that you hold that you can actually... that you need to throw before Him? You need to surrender it. And tell Him: "Jesus, You are worth more than this. All my life I've held onto this thing. All my life this has defined me. All my life this has been the one thing that I don't want to let go of. But Jesus, You are worth more than all of that. And I lay it before You today." There's an opportunity today to lay these things before the feet of Jesus. [19:54] Secondly, reorient our priorities around Him. What are our priorities in life? Does our lifestyle reflect the value of Jesus? The one we adore? The one we sing about? What about the application of that worship? Do we adore Him so much so that our decisions honor Him? Our schedule and our priorities reflect His importance? Our giving, our serving, our obedience demonstrate that He is worth it? Not only to Him, but to anybody that looks at our lives, they say, "No, this person values Jesus more than anything." [20:30] Does our worship cost us anything? Or is it just convenient? Those who responded to Jesus right back at the beginning, in the beginning of the Christmas story—their worship cost them. It took something out of them. It tired them. It stressed them. It pained them. But it was worth it because they were coming to Jesus. [20:53] And so think about an area of life where Jesus has been an add-on. Where we've just invited Him and said, "I like the fact that You're in my life, Jesus, and perhaps You can help me. Give me a little bit of power here and there just to help me through a few things, over a few humps. But don't get too much involved. Don't get too nosey into what's going on. Because I think... I think You know Your place, Jesus." Is He an add-on? Or is He central? [21:18] That's the challenge as we go forward. Not about "Can we raise enough money for 146?" or "Can we, you know, what do we do about this or that?" What's the practical things to do with the growth of a church? It's about as we grow as a community, will we actually have Him in the center of everything that we are and everything that we do? Will He be our first and our last thought in every decision that we make? How does this honor Him? How does this reflect His worth? How does this reflect His value? Because then the church will grow with people that will also know that Jesus is the priority. Jesus is the center. Jesus is the focus. [21:55] And thirdly, reopen our heart to encounter Him. Some of these questions can be at the first stage of our faith... you know, "What's Jesus worth?" But in actual fact, you can have that radical encounter with Jesus, you can have that moment where you know that you've given your all to Him... but five years, ten years, fifteen years down the line, things can look different. You can get jaded. You can get settled into "routine Christianity." Familiar. Predictable. Safe. Christmas is familiar, predictable, safe. But Jesus is coming. Jesus comes into our lives and challenges our priorities. [22:38] And so He's calling us to meet Him again. And for those of us that have become dulled and routine and predictable and safe, there is still that call from Jesus to say: Will you actually reorient? Will you actually re-evaluate? Will you actually reopen your heart to encounter me again? Not emotionally or artificially, but deeply. Pray: "Lord, show me Your worth again. Disrupt me if You must. Call me out of my routine and lead me back to worship." [23:09] And so there's a challenge. Will you worship Him now—today, this morning—and will you worship Him forever? Because it's not sentiment, it's transformation. Christmas is sentimental. It pulls at our emotions. It pulls at our nostalgia. If you ever spend any time on Instagram, these videos come up of what it used to be like in the 80s... I know some of you are thinking "What's the 80s?" But they were good. Christmas was good. It was sentimental and it was emotional and you've got all sorts of childhood memories from there. Probably go a little bit back before the 80s as well, but we won't go there. [23:49] But Christmas is sentimental. But Jesus is transformational. The coming of Jesus transforms. He didn't come to give us sentiment. He didn't come to give us emotion. He's not Father Christmas. But He did come to change everything. And so when the Shepherds saw Him, they ran to Him. When the Wise Men saw His worth, they knelt before Him. When the Elders see His worth, they throw their crowns down in front of Him. And when we see Him, what do we do? Fall on our knees. [24:26] And so today the question isn't simply "Do you believe in Jesus?", but "What is He worth to you?" Will you worship Him not just now, but forever? Will you lay your crown before Him? Will you allow His presence to rearrange your life? Reshape you. Not just now, but forever. For the rest of your life. And into eternity. That Jesus will be worth it. What a terrible thing to just touch the surface of what it means to know Jesus and then arrive in eternity and think, "Oh, that's what it was all about." That we would know Jesus now. This Christmas, may we truly see Him. And when we see Him, fall on our knees. Amen. [25:12] Nick Lugg: Jonathan, are you there? Oh, you're there. The worship team can come back, please.

December 12, 2025Today's Reading: Jude 1-25Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 29:1-14; Jude 1-25"I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 3b) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The letter from St. Jude, also known as Thaddeus, to the Church is short. But in it, the apostle sees that false teachers are twisting God's Word, and people are following after them. He reminds the Church that this is not the first time this has happened. In fact, it has been happening throughout the history of God's people. From Cain, who killed his brother, to Balaam, who had to be repeatedly warned not to go beyond God's Word, no matter what earthly gain he got from it, to Korah, who rebelled against God and Moses (and whom we will see more of in tomorrow's devotion). We have always needed to be on the lookout for those who say things we want to hear. For the desires of our hearts are only evil continuously (Genesis 6:5). As we saw a couple of days ago, false prophets don't come with warning labels. However, the Lord has let us know that they will be here. And that means we can watch for them. We test everything we hear against the Word of God. Even what you read here, even what you hear from your own pastor. And if there's something that doesn't seem to fit, ask. The misunderstanding may be with you, and he can help. Or the misunderstanding is with him, and you have been a help. For we're all to have mercy on those who doubt, according to St. Jude. Hold tightly to God's Word. For in it we're given Christ. His work of the cross is delivered to us, faith is created in us by the Holy Spirit relaying this Word. God's Word comes to our ears as we hear it read, and as we hear sermons rooted in what God reveals in that Word. God's Word comes to us as Absolution, Christ forgiving our sins directly. God's Word is connected to water in Baptism, where we are buried with Christ in death in order that we can rise with Him in the resurrection. Where we are washed and made clean from all our sin. God's Word says of bread, "This is My body, given for you." The Word says of wine, "This is my blood, shed for your forgiveness." And we receive that word in our mouths.The book of Jude has many other interesting details in it as well. Yet the central theme is to hold tight to that Word, no matter what the world wants you to hear. Because God gives His Gifts by His Word. And that Word is given to you.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes, The Savior promised long; Let ev'ry heart prepare a throne And ev'ry voice a song (LSB 349:1)Author: Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you'll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew's Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

Presented by Julie Busteed Do you like to work in the garden? I love to see the results of all the work—planting, watering, weeding and pruning. In John 15, Jesus teaches the Father is the gardener who lovingly tends the vine. Part of that tending is pruning. Pruning is essential to the life of a vine, and Scripture uses that imagery to help us understand our own life with Christ. In a vineyard, pruning renews the vine and shapes it. Without pruning, a vine grows wild. It will produce many shoots and leaves but far fewer grapes. The gardener cuts back healthy branches—not to harm the vine, but to help it focus its energy so it can thrive. Pruning makes room for new growth and greater fruitfulness. Pruning happens when the vine is dormant, after the harvest season. Even in dormancy, the vine is still alive and still supplying what the branches need. This resting period isn't wasted time; it's preparation. The vine is strengthening its core, preserving its energy, and getting ready for the next season of growth and fruitfulness. In the same way, God prunes us. Seasons of pruning might feel like cutting back, slowing down, or letting go. God may remove distractions, attitudes, habits, or commitments that keep us from bearing fruit. Sometimes he even prunes good things so better things can grow. These seasons can feel quiet—almost dormant—but God is still at work, nourishing, shaping, and preparing us. Pruning is so important because it leads to even greater fruit. Jesus says, every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit (John 15:2). Pruning isn't punishment—it’s intentional care from a Father who wants our lives to flourish. When we remain connected to Christ, the true Vine, we can trust his pruning is purposeful. It clears away what hinders us, renews us, and positions us for greater growth in the seasons to come. For the Christian, pruning is a mark of God's love and his desire to make our lives fruitful, meaningful, and deeply rooted in him. When we stay connected to Christ, every season—even the dormant ones—becomes part of his transforming work in us. Joseph's life in the Old Testament is a powerful picture of pruning before fruitfulness. He endured deep hardship—sold into slavery by his own brothers, then falsely accused and imprisoned. Yet through every season of suffering, God was shaping his character and preparing him for a greater purpose. In time, Joseph was elevated to second-in-command under Pharaoh, where he used his God-given wisdom to save Egypt and ultimately rescue the very family who had betrayed him. His story reminds us seasons of pruning often precede seasons of remarkable fruit. May you and I remain faithful—connected to the true Vine—even during the dormant times. Even when we are being pruned. Because God is a loving Gardner and is doing this for even greater fruit in our lives.

Praise Series #9 Praise & Thanksgiving Psalm 145:1-3 “I will proclaim your greatness, my God and king;  I will thank you forever and ever.  Every day I will thank you; I will praise you forever and ever.  The Lord is great and is to be highly praised; his greatness is beyond understanding.”I read this and thought it was a great verse for this series.  I was talking to a friend on the phone, and she mentioned that she was talking to a family member and they had a great discussion on gratitude.  She said they talked about being thankful for this day, the sun, and all the little things.  She was explaining to him how important gratitude is.I was talking with another friend after mass, and she also happened to mention gratitude. She suggested picking one night of the week and having the kids think of at least one thing they can be thankful for and then talking about how important gratitude is.  There are so many benefits to gratitude and no downside.  One benefit of gratitude is that it can help you shift your mood.  You can take any circumstance that you are in and find something in that moment to be grateful for.  No matter how bad the situation is, if you can find something to be grateful for, then it will help shift your mood.For example, if you have lost a loved one recently, you can be grateful that you had that loved one to lose; some people don't.  If you broke your arm, you can be thankful that you still have your arm, or that it will heal eventually.  Some people lose their arms and have to figure out how to live life without them.  Although even in that circumstance, you can be grateful that you didn't lose more than your arm, or you can be grateful that although you lost your arm, at least you didn't lose your life.  These are examples of how you can find something to be grateful for in any situation, even the bad ones.  However, what about the good times?  It is important to be grateful in the good times as well.  Sometimes, when things are going well, we don't take the time to stop and be grateful for it.  Why is this?  Is it that we are just too busy?  Is it that we don't think of it?  Is it because we don't want to jinx it?  I'm not sure why we don't do this more. Maybe it is a combination of all those reasons.  The reason why isn't really important.  What is important is that we start doing it now.  If we want God to trust us with more, then we need to show him that we appreciate what we already have.  What can you be thankful for today?  Can you pause this episode and list five things that you are grateful for today?  They don't have to be big things; it could be as simple as the changing of the leaves or the snow falling.  I find myself so much more grateful this time of year.  I drive around in awe of God's magnificent beauty, and it makes me so grateful to be alive.  What makes you smile, brings you joy, and makes you grateful to be alive?  Have you thanked the good Lord above for it yet?  Why not? You wouldn't have it without Him.  “I will proclaim your greatness, my God and king;  I will thank you forever and ever.  Every day I will thank you; I will praise you forever and ever.  The Lord is great and is to be highly praised; his greatness is beyond understanding.”  I just talked about gratitude and how we should be grateful to God for all that we have.  Now, I want to talk about praise.  This is why I read the verse to you again.  It is so beautiful.  I will proclaim your greatness, my God and king, I will thank you forever and ever.  Do you see how the two sentiments go together so nicely in this verse?  First is the praise, talking about how great the Lord is.  Then it ends with I will thank you forever and ever.  The author is taking time to stop and thank the Lord for all that He has done for him.  Then it says, Every day I will thank you; I will praise you forever and ever.  Do you see how both of these things are so important to the Lord?  He wants us to thank Him every single day and also praise Him forever.  Praising the Lord can be something else that we forget to do.  We don't usually forget to pray to the Lord when we need something; however, praising him is not something that we think to do.  What if you started adding praise into your prayers?  What if, at the same time as you are asking God for something, you were also telling Him how great He is?  For instance, “Dear Lord, I ask that you be with my son as he has a contest at school today.  Please help him to be calm and remember what he has learned.  Please help him to be gracious, whether he wins or not.  Lord, you are truly amazing.  You do so much for us, and we are so very thankful.  I love you, Lord, and I ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus' holy name, Amen.  Did you see how easy it is to praise the Lord?  It could be as simple as adding a line or two to the prayers you are already saying.  Another time we seem to forget to praise the Lord is after He has answered our prayers.  This may sound strange, as you would think the first thing we would do when our prayers are answered is thank the Lord.  However, sometimes, we don't realize our prayers have been answered.  Sometimes we see good things happen and think we are lucky.  Or we know something great happened, but we don't remember that just so happens to be the exact thing that we were praying for.  It is not that we are trying to forget about God; we just don't see the miracle He gave us.  I have been noticing God's miracles much more often ever since I started writing down my prayers.  I have been making a conscious effort to write down the things I am asking God for and those that others ask me to pray for.  I write them down in a notebook, and then I leave space underneath so I can go back and write notes when they have been answered.  Here are a few answered prayers:My friend's eye was healed!A young severely depressed girl found a treatment center after being told all the beds were filled.My friend is raising more than $20,000 for her mission cause in Haiti.  A woman who was losing hope that her baby would ever get to come home, as he was in the hospital for over a year, got to take her baby home.  Someone else's toe was healed.A woman who had several miscarriages was finally able to get pregnant again and have a healthy pregnancy.A friend who was really ill with COVID and then had a blood clot and was in the ICU for a while is now home with his family.A church was starting a new UNBOUND ministry and wanted prayers for its success.  Their first session was awesome.A friend had to have eye surgery and was very anxious.  She had a very successful surgery and was able to sleep through it all.  A friend's brother needed to find a new residential facility.  He was living on the other side of the state, and it was hard for my friend to get to see him.  Now he is living just minutes away.  God is so good!  He is there answering our prayers.  If you can't see how God is working in your lives, then may I suggest you start writing down your prayers?  Keep a list of all the things you have asked God for, and periodically review it to see if any have been answered.  It's not really if they have been answered as much as it is noticing when they are answered.  Because God tells us, “Ask and it will be given to you.”  He does answer our prayers; we just need to pay attention.  I believe the more you can praise the Lord and thank the Lord, the more you will be aware of His presence in your life.  I don't think that if you praise and thank the Lord, He will show up more; He is already showing up.  I just think if you are praising Him and thanking Him, you will see it more.  Will you take the time to notice Him?Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you bless all those listening to this episode today.  Lord, we want to praise you and thank you.  We repent for all the times that you answered our prayers, and we did not thank you or praise you.  Lord, we are sorry for all the times that you answered our prayers, and we didn't even recognize that you answered them.  Lord, help us notice this more.  You are so great, and you always answer our prayers, help us to see this every time, Lord.  We love you so much, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus' holy name, Amen. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus.  I look forward to spending time with you tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day!Today's Word from the Lord was received in July 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “When My love covers you, you know you are covered. You feel My presence, but when you fall, and you think you have messed up, you think that My love is gone. No, My love is more, so get up and start again, for I never cease to teach and I never fail to love. Stand firm even if you fall. Stand firm.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

December 7th, 2025 | Attributes of Advent | Luke 1:26-38In this week's Advent message, Pastor Matt Darby invites us into Luke 1 to rediscover the heart of Christmas: a God who longs to be known. As we continue our Attributes of Advent series, we see two breathtaking truths about God woven through the story of Jesus' arrival—He is omnipotent (all-powerful) and immanent (always present).Pastor Matt shows how God's power and God's nearness converge in unexpected places. From a forgotten town like Nazareth to a humble young woman like Mary, we see that God draws near not because we are impressive, but because He is gracious. His presence lifts our fears, speaks peace into our anxieties, and meets us in the quiet corners of life where we least expect Him.Through Gabriel's announcement, we are reminded that God's unstoppable power is building a kingdom no force on earth can disrupt. The virgin birth becomes more than a miracle—it becomes the foundation of our salvation, showing us that Jesus is both fully God and fully man, the only One able to redeem us. And yet, this same omnipotent God comes near, overshadowing His people with the power of the Holy Spirit, accomplishing in us what we could never accomplish on our own.Pastor Matt challenges us to consider: What happens when the God who can do anything also promises to be with us in everything? The answer is found in Mary's response—full surrender. Not a surrender of defeat, but a surrender of trust. A willingness to say, “Let it be to me according to Your word,” even when the path is unclear.This episode calls us to rest instead of strive, trust instead of fear, and surrender instead of control. Because God is both stronger than we think and closer than we realize.Do you know JESUS? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need PRAYER? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/pray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support through GIVING: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbbctx.org/giving⁠

Because God sent His Holy Spirit to indwell us, we have authority to push back darkness with the light of His truth and enforce the victory won on the cross! As a believer in Christ, you have authority over the enemy!

Pastor John Murphy emphasized that God repeated the same promise for thousands of years, and in the first Advent of Jesus He fulfilled it, proving His perfect faithfulness. He explained from Isaiah 11 that God would send a Spirit-filled, just, and righteous King who brings new life out of what feels like a “stump,” and Jesus is the One who fulfills every part of that promise. Because God kept His first promise in Christ's coming, Pastor John reminded us that we can trust Him to keep every promise still to come—including Jesus' return.

IntroductionAs we continue through the Canons of Dort, it is important to remember how this confession is structured. Each head of doctrine has a positive section, where the churches state what they believe, and a “rejection of errors” section, where they clarify what they do not believe. The goal is not to be reactionary or merely negative, but to confess positively what Scripture teaches about God's grace and then explain why certain opposing views must be rejected.​When we come to the rejections concerning election, we are really dealing with one central question: do we in any way influence God's decision to choose us for his kingdom? The Arminian position says, in various ways, that there is something in us—our decision, our perseverance, our right use of grace—that becomes the decisive factor in God's choice. The Canons insist instead that election is entirely of God's grace, so that all glory belongs to him alone.We Do Not Influence GodThe first cluster of Arminian errors says that God looks ahead in history, sees who will believe, who will persevere, and then chooses those people as his elect. In that scheme, God's choice finally rests on something in us. We make the decision for God. We are faithful enough for God's mercy. We have made a wise choice. But this turns God into a passive observer of history rather than the sovereign Lord who orders it. God is only watching who reacts rather than God definitively securing His people as His citizens in His kingdom. Scripture paints a very different picture. Ephesians 2 describes us not as spiritually sick but as “dead” in trespasses and sins. We were walking according to the course of this fallen world and following the prince of the power of the air. Dead people do not reach out to God, climb a ladder out of the sewer of sin, or give God a reason to choose them. God acts when there is nothing in us that would or could move him to love us. When Paul says that God made us alive with Christ “even when we were dead,” he is insisting that God's gracious choice and saving action are not responses to our initiative. Rather, God is the one who is the cause of our new life and faith.Because of this, election cannot be based on foreseen faith, foreseen perseverance, or any foreseen quality in us. If God's choice depended even partly on something in us, grace would no longer be grace, and we could boast that we were, in some sense, more receptive, more responsive, or more lovable than others. Instead, the biblical doctrine of unconditional election guards the truth that salvation is “not because of works but because of him who calls,” so that no flesh may boast before God. God is PersonalA common charge against the Reformed doctrine of election is that it makes God cold, impersonal, and mechanical. There is the accusation that God is a distant force who decrees without caring. But Ephesians 2 shows precisely the opposite. After exposing the depth of our misery in verses 1–3, Paul turns with those rich words, “But God…” and then grounds everything that follows in God's mercy and great love. God is not moved by our efforts to escape the sewer of sin; he is moved by his own compassion and covenant love toward his people. This is what the Canons want us to understand. God's intervention is intensely personal. He does not merely offer an opportunity and wait to see what we will do with it. He takes hold of those who are content to remain in rebellion and refuses to leave them there. He makes us alive together with Christ, raises us with him, and seats us with him in the heavenly places. That is not the action of a distant bystander but of a Father who refuses to let his children live in filth and death.The Arminian scheme, for all its concern to protect human freedom, actually makes God more indifferent. In that view, God gives the same general help to all, stands back, and waits for us to use it well or poorly. This makes God indifferent because many, and more likely all, will perish. In the Reformed view, God comes down into the mess, interrupts our course, overcomes our resistance, and claims us as his own. The doctrine of unconditional election, far from making God impersonal, magnifies his intimate, pursuing, intervening love. It is God who not only cares about us, but He also advocates and intervenes for us.Election without Works/God's Choice is CertainFinally, the election is without our work and therefore absolutely certain. The Arminian errors the Canons reject say that all people are in some sense “elect” in possibility, but that this election only becomes real and final if they continue to meet certain conditions. On the Arminian system, we have to choose Christ. We have to persevere to the end, utilizing grace. Sewer-dwelling sinful saints would not enter Christ's kingdom because our performance falls below the perfect mark.Paul again cuts across this in Ephesians 2. By the time he says, “By grace you have been saved through faith,” he has already made clear that even that faith is “not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Faith itself is not the one good work we contribute; it is God's gift. God gives Christ, God gives new life, and God gifts the power of faith that takes hold of Christ. Election is therefore not conditioned on works, not even on the “work” of a wiser decision or stronger perseverance; it rests solely on God's purpose and grace given in Christ before the ages.Because God's choice is free, gracious, and not founded on anything in us, it is unshakably certain. The same God who chose his people in Christ before the foundation of the world also prepared the good works in which they will walk. This means that perseverance is nothing we achieve to secure our place; it is something God produces in us as the fruit of his electing love. The God who pulls us out of the sewer does not drop us halfway; he carries us all the way home. ConclusionSo, do we influence God's decision in the election? No. By nature, we are dead in sin and children of wrath. We are naturally content to rebel against God. We are naturally content to follow the course of this world. We cannot be merely aided to follow God. We have to be recreated from our core. God is the one who acts first, who loves first, and who gives life where there is only death. That is why all boasting is excluded, and all glory belongs to him.Our sovereign God is not distant or indifferent. He is rich in mercy and great in love. He personally intervenes and intercedes to save his people from the sewer of sin. He lifts them out of sin's sewer and seats us with Christ in heavenly glory. His choice is not cold fate but fatherly favor. And because the election rests entirely on his gracious will and not on our works, it is sure and unchangeable. The doctrine of unconditional election, rightly understood, does not make God impersonal, but it reveals that God acts to secure his people to dwell with him forever. We taste it now by his mercy as we possess Christ in faith. We have the privilege of seeing the fruits of holiness as we conform to him.

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120425.cfmIn this powerful Advent homily, Fr. Mark reveals why the Church gives us such seemingly “unrelated” readings during the early days of the season. Beneath the surface, he shows a single thread tying them together: Israel's longing for a Messiah who would finally give humanity the power to live God's will. From the failures of the Old Testament to the warnings of the prophets, the people discovered what we must rediscover—misery always follows when we trust ourselves more than God.Israel's exile, their suffering, and their longing formed the backdrop for Advent hope: a Messiah who would restore not only the kingdom, but the human heart. As Fr. Mark explains, God's will is never arbitrary. Because “God is goodness itself” (CCC 199), His will can only be good, healing, and life-giving. When we surrender to that will, we stand on the unchanging rock of divine truth—immovable, stable, and at peace. “Order brings peace,” says St. Thomas Aquinas, and Advent invites us to let God reorder our desires so that our hearts may rest in Him.Jesus warns us in today's Gospel that salvation is inseparable from doing the Father's will. Advent, then, becomes a season of holy realignment: turning from sin, renouncing self-reliance, and trusting in God's providence with the same hopeful expectation Israel once knew. As we prepare for Christmas, Fr. Mark urges us to pray with conviction: “Not my will, Lord, but Yours be done.”To deepen your Advent journey, explore more teachings on DivineMercyPlus.org and the free, ad-free Divine Mercy Plus app. Visit the link in our bio for homilies, reflections, the Rosary, the Chaplet, and Advent resources to guide you toward Christ.#marian #marians #marianfathers #marianhelpers #divinemercy #thedivinemercy#frmarkbaron #catholic #catholicism #romancatholic #romancatholicism #catholictiktok#godswill #advent #preparetheway #catholichomily #dailyhomily #scripture #faith #hope #repentance ★ Support this podcast ★

Want to submit an episode topic request? Text 'em here!Pick your head up, my friend. If you clicked on this episode because your bank account is stressing you out, your launches aren't landing, or you're stuck in the same financial cycles month after month in business...you are not alone.And you're not crazy! You're just overwhelmed, worried, and quietly wondering, “God…why isn't anything shifting for me?”In today's heart-to-heart, I'm walking you through the exact shifts God had to make in ME when I was financially struggling, worried sick about my bills, and feeling embarrassed that I “should be further along by now.”We're going straight into:Why worrying about money makes it nearly impossible to hear God clearlyHow financial stress quietly becomes an idol without you realizing itThe difference between trusting God and using “I trust God” as an excuse to stop taking actionWhy obsessing over solutions is blocking divine directionThe heart-position God needs you to return to before He releases increaseThis is tough love...but it's love that lifts you back up, re-centers you, and reminds you that God is bigger than your bank account, your bills, your debt, your clients, your sales, and the fear that's been running your emotions.If you are waiting on God to open a financial door in your entrepreneurial endeavors, but your mind has been consumed with stress, comparison, and “trying to figure it all out,” this episode is your wake-up call AND your relief.By the end, you'll feel lighter, clearer, and more spiritually aligned with the way God is trying to lead you in this season.Share this with a friend who's financially going through it.Because God is fighting for them too...they just need to wake up and see it!  Prefer Video? Get the full podcast video experience on YouTube RIGHT HERE!

Hebrews 2v14 - "Because God's children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death." (NLT)Jesus was the promised MessiahJesus became a man that he might take our place and defeat deathHe is therefore the true Messiah and there is salvation in no one else

In chapter 1 of Ruth, God is showing that He can create blessing out of the bitterest circumstances, even when caused by our own sin. Crosses we bear make hope a difficult thing. Because God has visited His people in Jesus Christ, our Savior, Christians always have a certain hope.

Welcome back to the Motion Church Podcast. Today we step into Week 4 of our series Double-Minded — a journey that challenges us to confront the tension between who we say we are and who we actually are becoming. In this week's message, we're invited to look deeply at the moments where our faith wavers, not because we don't believe God can move, but because our hearts are pulled between two worlds — two loyalties, two desires, two identities. The Scriptures remind us that a double-minded person becomes unstable not overnight, but slowly… choice by choice… thought by thought. And yet, God continues to call us back to clarity, to wholeness, to a singleness of devotion. You'll hear teaching that cuts straight to the core: • about the inner conflict between spirit and flesh, • about the danger of living with divided priorities, • and about the freedom God offers when we surrender every competing voice in our heads and hearts. Through stories, scripture, and raw honesty, this week challenges us to stop living split lives — one version of ourselves for God and another shaped by fear, ego, or habit. It's an invitation to alignment. To focus. To transformation. So wherever you are — driving, working, resting, or needing a reset — take a breath, lean in, and let this message anchor you. Because God is not asking you to be perfect… He is asking you to be undivided. This is Double-Minded, Week 4. Let's get into the message.

Neil McClendon, Lead PastorGRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCHMatthew 1:1-17Finding Hope In The Genealogy of Jesus1. Because God is telling a big Story, v. 1Genesis 3:15Psalm 89:49-51Genesis 2:42. Because God uses imperfect people as a part of His story, v. 2-15a) Tamarb) Rahabc) Ruthd) Bathshebae) King Solomonf) Manassehg) Jacob3. Because of the virgin birth the perfection of Jesus is sufficient for yourimperfection, v. 16Matthew 1:16Isaiah 7:10-14Romans 5:12-144. Because God was at work then and is now, v. 17Romans 5:1-5Mental worship...1. How often do you feel connected to the bigness of the Story God is telling?2. Do you most often use your imperfection as an excuse or your perfection inChrist as an explanation?3. How does the doctrine of original sin help you explain the state of the world, aperson's need for the redemption that is found only in Christ and the doctrine ofthe virgin birth?4. Do you ever confuse the “then” and the “now” of the Christian life?5. Have you developed enough character to be a hopeful person?

Because God has fulfilled His promises in the past, we can know and have hope that God will fulfill them today and into the future.Jeremiah 33:10-16 (NIV)Reverend Matthew LakeNovember 30, 2025

Summary: We continue "Opening up Romans" and Paul's devastating critique of humanity's sin- including the Jewish people. Romans 2:12-16 speaks of how God's righteous judgment is true even for Gentiles who don't have the Ten Commandments. Because God has written his law on the walls of the courtroom of our hearts and appointed Christ as the final Judge, no one can escape his righteousness and impartial judgment- and no believer needs to fear this. THE STANDARDS OF JUDGMENT (v.12) *note the subtle shift from perish to be judged application: more light means more liability. Exposure to the law doesn't lower but raises the bar THE STANDARD OF ACQUITTAL (v.13) *see James 1:22-25 Theology: Why does Paul say the doers of the law…will be justified? Summary: For those in Christ, he case isn't pending; the case is closed. We're justified by faith alone; on the last day, that faith will be seen in a life of obedience. Faith alone justifies, but the faith that justifies is never alone. THE COURTROOM OF THE HEART (vv.14-15) scene 1: The heart scene 2: The conscience scene 3: Your thoughts scene 4: The judge THE VERDICT OF THE JUDGE (vv.16) Bridging to the Gospel: Our judge is also our Savior!

many of us say God is alive, but we don't actually live like it. We panic when life goes left, pray like God is distant, and make decisions as if He can't see, can't hear, and can't intervene. This message challenges believers to examine their actions, reactions, priorities, and standards through the lens of a God who is fully alive, fully aware, and fully powerful.We talk about the difference between believing in God and living like He's active, why we often settle for “microwave miracles,” and why God uses process—not shortcuts—to build our faith. From Abraham's long wait to David's training season, we explore how God develops us before He promotes us.Today you will be called into boldness: Pray like He's alive. Obey like He's alive. Give like He's alive. Move like He's alive. Because God isn't distant or inactive—He is present, powerful, and still working today.  If He's alive… It's time our lifestyle agrees.Closing Song:  God Is Alive - Live Like It by Deborah OcasioSupport the showwww.BibleDeliverance.org

Hope is at the heart of Christmas! Because God is our source of hope, may you be filled with joy, peace, and confident hope this Advent. Romans 15:13 reminds us: when we trust in Him, His Spirit overflows in us. Let's celebrate the promise of Christmas—hope alive in our hearts! If you are new to Community Church, WELCOME! We would love to get to know you. Please fill in the following form and we look forward to connecting with you: https://bit.ly/cc-new-connect You can find all timely and relevant links from this service on https://bit.ly/cc-links You can also find out more about us at https://communitychurch.hk/ ================ This Week's Scripture: // Hebrews 6:16-20 (NLT) // Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NLT) God loves you. Those words are so simple and so familiar that they might be mistaken for a cliché if they weren’t also so profound. The fact that God loves you gives you immeasurable worth. It also gives you context for your entire life. Nothing in this world, good or bad, can begin to compare to God’s love for you. No grief or trouble can overwhelm you because God loves you too much to let it happen. No difficult circumstance can defeat you because God loves you. No struggles are too difficult for you because God loves you. So, when grief, trouble, difficult circumstances, or struggles come, you can put them in perspective by remembering and being thankful for God’s love for you. The apostle Paul wrote, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NLT). God’s love lasts forever. Paul also wrote, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38 NLT). Because God loves you, He is always looking for your eternal benefit. God is wiser than you are. So, if He tells you to do something or not to do something, He does so for good reason. The devil doesn’t want you to believe that. He will whisper in your ear, “God hates you. God wants to ruin your life. All those rules in the Bible are just there to make life miserable. You Christians serve an oppressive God who doesn’t want you to have any fun.” What a bunch of nonsense. I’ve lived apart from Christ. I’ve had the so-called fun this world has to offer, and it wasn’t fun at all. I’ve also found that a life with Christ is a life of fulfillment and purpose. Let us never lose our spirit of thankfulness for the fact that God loves us and is always looking out for our eternal benefit, even if what we’re presently going through is difficult. Reflection question: How can you keep the devil from interfering with your relationship with the Lord? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By Steve Parker - True gratitude is not superficial but draws from a deeper, sacrificial thanksgiving modeled in Psalm 116. Because God hears, rescues, and loves us first, our fitting response is to offer our lives back to Him as a living sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

Brad shares his journey from childhood faith to a life-changing accident that redefined everything—and reveals how God's fingerprints were all over his recovery.From planting churches as a kid in the Sutherland Shire to designing rockets as an aerospace engineer, Brad's story is full of "but God" moments. But nothing prepared him for the morning a cycling accident left him unconscious for 16 days with severed arteries and a broken neck in three places.The odds of survival were almost zero. The first responders who showed up were an off-duty police officer, a running mate with nappies, and an ER nurse—all in the right place at the right time. The ambulance that arrived in 4 minutes and 32 seconds during peak hour happened to carry the only trial dressing in Australia for major arterial bleeds.Brad opens up about growing up choosing service over comfort, making hard faith choices as a teenager, and what it's like learning to live with a severe traumatic brain injury. He graduated as an aerospace engineer, but some of those abilities are gone now. He grieves that loss, but he's not giving up. He's taking it all back with God's help, running marathons, and telling his story to anyone who will listen.This is a story about asking "Why am I here?" and finding boldness to share faith in unexpected places. Because God's gift isn't the injury—it's the recovery, and the platform it's given him to share his faith.

When God leads His people out of Egypt, He doesn't take them on the shortest or most obvious route. Instead, He guides them the long way — into detours, delays, and even places that look impossible. Why? Because God is not just getting Israel out of Egypt… He is forming them to follow Him.In this message from Exodus 13–14, Pastor Tommy shows us why God's leadership so often defies our logic.God leads based on divine wisdom, not human efficiency.Some battles would crush us before we're ready. Some seasons are preparation, not punishment. And sometimes God leads us straight into a place where the world says we are “trapped” — just so His glory can be revealed.Through the pillar of cloud and fire, the incarnation of Christ, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we see the same truth across Scripture:God does not send us from afar. He goes with us.His presence is our safety. His guidance is our security. His glory is our purpose.Whether you're facing a delayed calling, a confusing season, or a situation that feels impossible, this passage reminds us:The safest place is not the easiest place — it's wherever God is leading.

November 23, 2025: May God's words be spoken, may God's words be heard.  Amen. For some, this is a day called Christ the King Sunday, but as I say every year, that is not a title he would have ever claimed.  As we heard in the Gospel, it was a title given to him by the oppressors who crucified him.  No, Jesus would not be happy with this King business I believe, Jesus is Lord is enough, and was for centuries for his followers, as Christ the King wasn't even a thing until 1925.  So, not Christ the King…but it is Advent. And we have practiced the original seven week Advent here at Christ Church since 2016, and as then, it seems so appropriate now, because Advent is about a people walking in darkness, but not a people without hope. The people are in crisis.  Many live in fear.  The country is divided against itself.  People don't know which way to turn, how to take the next step, what to do, because the leaders have failed them.  Certainly, this sounds like it is a time of darkness, and even very familiar – but I am not talking about the events in this country, at least not yet. I am talking about the passage in Jeremiah we heard this morning.  If you were in doubt about whether Advent, from a lectionary point of view, is seven weeks long, just look again at our reading today from Jeremiah and the Canticle. Jeremiah begins with a stern warning from God for those in power that because they have abused their people, because they have not care for their flock, they will meet with God's wrath.  Jeremiah had been speaking about the failure of leaders in the time of the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 587 bce.  And the passage ends with a very Advent-y verse “The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch…” God clearly was not happy with the shepherds who failed their sheep. One of the things that our faith, our scriptures, make abundantly clear, is the importance of shepherds.  And being a shepherd is about never forgetting that the focus of your work must always be on the welfare of the sheep. This is true, not only for those who watch over flocks, but for all kinds of leadership positions – from President to parent, from CEOs to church leaders.  We don't have to have lived in the Ancient Near East to understand what can happen when shepherds fail in their work.   We have borne witness to this in our lifetimes. Today, we can certainly understand what it must have felt like back in the days of Jeremiah to be a people divided, scattered, fearful of our leaders, and not sure what tomorrow will bring.  Our own nation's leaders have not only failed to be good shepherds, it is far worse than that.  They have actually turned on the sheep.  Our country – once a beacon of freedom and democracy to the world – has entered into the dark shadows of oligarchy and systemic oppression. The President has put masked troops in the street shooting tear gas and pepper balls into crowds of citizens, and callously throwing people, including clergy, onto the pavement – arresting them for the crime of free speech.  He is responsible for the execution of over 80 people without due process of law through drone strikes on boats in international waters.  He has had thousands detained, including zip tying children (let that sink in), again without due process of law, and even deported many of them to foreign prisons notorious for their human rights abuses.  He has dismissed the concern of over a thousand female victims of a child sex predator to protect his own hide, calling their abuse a hoax.  And his government has stolen affordable access to healthcare for the poor to give money in tax breaks to the rich and powerful. And while some may feel this is less important – it goes to his misogyny and eroding of the freedom of the press – the silencing of those who courageously try to protect the flock from predators.  He told one woman reporter who dared ask him a question, “Quiet Piggy!”  Then he held a meeting at the White House with Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, known for his brutality, including the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a US citizen, by having him chopped up while still alive.  When the President was asked about meeting with him by another reporter (also a woman) he called her “insubordinate.”  Insubordinate – as though he is a king who cannot be questioned.  And to another who asked directly about the murder of Khashoggi, he said “A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen.”  Things happen?  Sure, a guy walks into a bathroom and things like a bone saw just kinda happen to him. Seriously.  You can't make this stuff up.  These are dark days we find ourselves walking in, to be sure. And it could make anyone feel like just pulling the covers over their heads and praying that things will change.  That perhaps new leaders will emerge and make everything better in some distant future.  But, that would be like reading only parts of this passage from Jeremiah – the beginning condemnation of the current leaders in the first two verses, and the promise of a new leader in the final verses, when what we need most to pay attention to today is everything in between. Because if we focus only on the current predicament, and the hope of new leadership, we miss what God intends for us, and it is something so very needed now. After condemning the current leaders, God then says “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock, and…I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing.”  God declares “I will raise up shepherds…”  Well, guess where God gets those new shepherds?  From right within the flock!  God intends to call from among the sheep new shepherds. As one commentator noted, “While [Jeremiah] opens with judgment and closes with a promise of a future leader who will save and protect the people, the larger book of Jeremiah does not let us — the people — off the hook as we wait.” So, both sheep and shepherds have responsibilities to the full flock.  Everyone has a role to play, especially when we talk about our lives in Christ.  Some are called to a dedicated shepherd role.  Bishops are the shepherds for a diocese and Deacons assist in that work.  Priests are the shepherds for a parish or other type of faith community.  But what about the laity, the sheep?  Well, that's what we hear about in the Song of Zachariah, the canticle, or for Latin nerds, the Benedictus, chanted so beautifully this morning by our choir.  Zachariah, after the miraculous birth of his son John by his wife Elizabeth, had a lot to say.  Now, you can understand why when we remember what the angel Gabriel did to him before this.  See, back about nine months earlier, Zach was a priest, and it was his turn to serve in the temple.  This was not an every week thing.  There were a lot of them, and so maybe this was his one shot a year.  So, he's back there doing his priestly work, burning some incense, as you do, when the angel Gabe pops in to tell him “Hey Zach!  You and Liz are gonna have a baby!  You will call him John, and he will be a great prophet, who will proclaim the coming of the Lord.” Now, Zach was a bit skeptical, after all, he and Liz were getting on in years.  So, he says “Seriously?  How is that gonna happen?  My wife and I are already on Medicare for crying out loud.”  Gabe was not pleased.  “I am Gabriel – the best messenger God has!  I came all this way to give you this awesome news and you doubt me?”  Knowing priests love to talk, he made Zach mute until the baby was born.  Which tells you that if an angel appears, even in flames like the movie Dogma, keep your doubts to yourself. So, as we know now, Liz did get pregnant.  Her cousin Mary, the mother of Jesus, came to visit her, etc.  Fast forward to today's passage, and that baby was just born.  Zach's mouth was opened, and he wasn't holding back.  He told all that had gathered to celebrate this birth what this miracle child would do.  He told them that salvation was coming for all of them, and that John would be called a prophet, and prepare the way for the coming of Christ.  That's a lot right there for this newborn.  But there's more.  John's prophetic witness would shine light “…on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” This prophet John, through his witness in the world, would give light where there is darkness, and guide others toward peace.  John would be a great prophet of God in a time of deep darkness.  He was also an example to us all, most especially now. John, a sheep of God's flock, was made for such a time as he lived.  And you know what? So are you.  So is every single one of you. It is in times such as when John was born, such as what we are experiencing now, that light is needed most within the shadows of despair, longing, fear, and hate.  And that is when God raises up prophets to carry the light of hope and love into a world of darkness and discord.  While it is true that some will do this in particular calls to ordained life – all of us are called to be John – to be the prophets that guide others to the way of peace.  And if you think about it, there is a shepherding quality to prophet work, right? If you are guiding others, you are a shepherd.  And in the church, as all are part of the priesthood of all believers, so each of you is called to be both sheep and shepherd.  That is our life as a part of the flock of God, most especially when the flock – the people of God, and the creation in which we dwell – are in danger, are being hurt, are living in fear.  Folks, is it clear that we are in Advent – both in the church and in the world.  And God is looking for prophets, for shepherds, to listen, to lead, and to love.  Forget looking to someone else to do it – look in the mirror instead. Because God is calling you – here, now. In Advent most of all, we know that in the darkest of times, the light will always come.  But it is up to each of us, following where the Holy Spirit leads, to be that light too – to be Christ's light shining in the world.  And one way we do that is by what we will do here today.  Later in this service, each of you will bring forward food for the those in need and your pledge cards – a commitment to stewardship of this place, out of which we bring the gospel message of hope to a world in need, and in which we are given restoration for our souls as we do this prophetic work of being shepherds in the world.  The food, for both humans and animals, is our commitment to caring for the folk of God. The pledges are a commitment to be the prophet our Creator needs today, and proclaim from the highest hills, and the lowest valleys, that God loves everyone – no exceptions.  They are a pledge to be the shepherd of a people who are lost, alone, or living in fear. They are a step in the longer journey of our life, and in the long history of shepherds and prophets of God. Long ago, God, through the prophet Jeremiah, lamented those called to be shepherds who failed their flock, who failed in God's mission and call for them, and declared that other shepherds would be raised up instead.  And they were to the hope of all creation. Long ago, John was born with a call to prepare the way for the One who would bring light into the world.  Today, we are the ones that God has raised up – born in baptism – not to prepare the way, but to be the way – to guide others, by the light of Christ shining in us and through us, into the path of peace. To be both the sheep of God's pasture, and the shepherd of others.  These are dark and dangerous times, and this will not be easy work.  And, so I want to leave you with these words of a 13th century woman who heard her own call to be a shepherd.  She cast aside all she knew and left the wealthy life of her noble birth to follow Christ.  She was Clare of Assisi, who started the monastic order known as the Poor Clares.  On her deathbed, St. Clare offered this blessing – words that still ring out through the centuries, serving as a reminder that we never do this work alone.  Christ is always our partner in our call.  And so I offer them now to you to take into your heart as you leave here today to be the shepherds, the prophets, who light the way and guide others into the path of peace, the ones God calls for the sake of the world: “Live without fear: your Creator has made you whole, always walks with you, and loves you as a mother. So, follow the good road in peace, and may God's blessing remain with you always.” Amen. For the audio, click below, or subscribe to our iTunes Sermon Podcast by clicking here (also available on Audible): Sermon Podcast https://christchurchepiscopal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Rec-001-Sermon-November_23_2025.m4a   The Rev. Diana L. Wilcox             Christ Church in Bloomfield & Glen Ridge November 23, 2025 Advent 2 (7 Week Advent) – Year C Texts 1st Reading – Jeremiah 23:1-6 Canticle 16 2nd Reading – Colossians 1:11-20 Gospel – Luke 23:33-43   The post “Live Without Fear” appeared first on Christ Episcopal Church.

Have you ever bought a writing course or joined a program… and still didn't finish your book? You're not alone—and you're not the problem. In this episode, we're unpacking the real reason so many Christian writers stay stuck—even after investing in programs. If you've felt overwhelmed, burned out, or discouraged by past experiences, this message is for you. You'll hear what makes Christian Book Academy different—and how hundreds of writers are finally finishing and publishing their books with a system that actually fits how God wired them. This isn't about trying harder. It's about having the right support. Because God's not done with your message. Let's take the next step—together. Take a step of faith and finally finish your book. Join Christian Book Academy: https://christianbookacademy.com/

When you think of the word “Church”, what do you picture? Do you see a building, or do you picture God's people? In today's message, Pastor Dan will inform you that the Church is just the gathering of God's people…no matter where! The Bible tells us that where two or more are gathered IN HIS NAME, He will be there. So, if the body of Christ meets at a grocery store, a park, or the church building in your community, that place can become Holy ground! Because God's presence resides with His people!

Then Sings My Soul - Week 4 - Because God is Good by The Summit Church

The story of Jacob's sons is messy, painful, redemptive, and beautiful. It's the story of betrayal and forgiveness, grief and healing, famine and provision. But more than that, it's the story of how God takes a broken family and forms a people through whom He will bless the whole world. From the very beginning, God's heart has been to include the outsider and heal what's been fractured. This series invites us into that story—not just to watch it unfold, but to find ourselves in it. Because God is still using crooked sticks to draw straight lines—and to build His family today.

Because God intends our relationships in the church to be marked by a quality that the world cannot match, we must be serious about building friendships that are uniquely loving, loyal, and encouraging.

Because God intends our relationships in the church to be marked by a quality that the world cannot match, we must be serious about building friendships that are uniquely loving, loyal, and encouraging.

Sunday November 23, 2025 Main idea: Because God gives all things by grace, every believer must have a heart of gratitude every day, despite circumstances. Intro: for full notes: https://www.cgtruth.org/index.php?proc=msg&sf=vw&tid=3228

Welcome to Day 2737 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2737 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 92:8-15 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2737 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day two thousand seven hundred thirty-seven of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title of today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Eternal Exaltation and the Flourishing Righteous Today, we conclude our journey through Psalm Ninety-two, the beautiful Song for the Sabbath Day.   We are covering the final, triumphant verses, eight through fifteen, in the New Living Translation. In our last conversation, we affirmed that it is "good to give thanks to the Lord," proclaiming His Unfailing Love in the morning and His Faithfulness in the evening (Psalm Ninety-two, verses one through four).   We wrestled with the temporary flourishing of the wicked—who "sprout like grass"—but concluded that they are destined to be "destroyed forever," for God's thoughts are simply "deeper than anyone can comprehend" (Psalm Ninety-two, verses five through seven). Now, the psalm moves to its magnificent climax.   It declares the eternal nature of God's sovereignty, contrasts the certain ruin of His foes with the flourishing destiny of the righteous, and celebrates the lifelong vitality of those who trust in the Most High.   This final section is a powerful declaration of vindication and blessing, a perfect capstone to the Sabbath celebration. So, let us open our hearts to this triumphant assurance, embracing the destiny of the righteous and the certainty of God's eternal rule. The first segment is: The Eternal Judgment and the Exaltation of the Righteous Psalm Ninety-two: verses eight through eleven But you, O Lord, will remain supreme forever.  Your enemies, Lord, will be destroyed;  all evil doers will be scattered.  But you have made me as strong as a wild ox;  you have poured olive oil on my head.  My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;  my ears have heard the defeat of my wicked foes. After acknowledging the fleeting power of the wicked, the psalmist immediately shifts focus to the unchanging reality of God's reign: "But you, O Lord, will remain supreme forever." The "But" is the most important word in the psalm, signaling the ultimate pivot from the temporary to the eternal.   The wicked are ephemeral, but God "will remain supreme forever."   This affirms His sovereignty over all time and space, including His supreme position over the Divine Council, guaranteeing that His justice will prevail. Because God is eternally supreme, the fate of His enemies is sealed: "Your enemies, Lord, will be destroyed; all evil doers will be scattered." This is a prophetic certainty, a final judgment that will

Most Americans are one emergency away from financial disaster. But what if AI could help you pay off debt faster, invest smarter, and even make money while you sleep?**I've been using AI in my own financial journey and I'm seeing results I never thought possible. Today I'm breaking down 4 PROVEN ways AI is helping everyday people build REAL wealth - and I'm giving you the exact tools you can start using TODAY.In this video, you'll discover:✅ How to use AI to analyze stocks and investments (even if you're a beginner)✅ The AI tools that can increase your income by learning new skills FAST✅ How to create a personalized debt snowball plan using ChatGPT✅ Why AI is the tool that can help you work smarter, not harder

“Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans.” (Psalm 119:91 NLT) In our next set of devotions, we’re going to look at God’s perfections. Our goal is not only to get to know Him better but also to prepare our hearts for Thanksgiving. The more we understand about who God is, the more our gratitude will grow. We’re going to start by looking at God’s sovereignty. The fact that God is sovereign means that He has the power and authority to do anything He chooses with His creation. He answers to no one. Luke’s Gospel tells the story of ten men with leprosy who needed Jesus’ touch. Leprosy was an incurable disease. Without Jesus’ intervention, the men had no hope. They asked Jesus for healing, and He extended it to them. But out of the ten, only one returned to give Him thanks. We read, “One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, ‘Praise God!’ He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan” (Luke 17:15–16 NLT). Earlier, he had prayed loudly for a healing, and then he was loud with his praise. I love the fact that the original language uses two words from which we get our English word megaphone. The man was loud in thanking Jesus for what He had done for him. As Christians, we should give thanks to God because we recognize that He is in control of all circumstances surrounding our lives. As Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps” (NLT). Because God is sovereign, He is able to do what He pleases with whomever He chooses whenever He wishes. Some people bristle at that truth. Control—or even the idea of control—is a difficult thing to surrender. They prefer to operate under the illusion that they control their own destiny. The Bible writers held no such illusions. In fact, they saw God’s sovereignty as something to celebrate—something to be thankful for. The prophet Jeremiah said, “I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course” (Jeremiah 10:23 NLT). And we read in Proverbs 20:24, “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” (NLT). That’s the sovereignty of God. But what about when bad things happen? Is God still in control? Yes. And the Bible tells us that despite the bad things that happen, which many times are inexplicable, God can work all things together for good for those who love Him (see Romans 8:28). As the psalmist wrote, “Everything serves plans” (Psalm 119:91 NLT). That’s cause for thanksgiving because God’s plans put us exactly where we need to be. We never have to wonder whether we’re doing the right thing when we submit to God. Because He is sovereign, we can trust Him as our ultimate authority. Reflection question: What difference does God’s sovereignty make in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story of Jacob's sons is messy, painful, redemptive, and beautiful. It's the story of betrayal and forgiveness, grief and healing, famine and provision. But more than that, it's the story of how God takes a broken family and forms a people through whom He will bless the whole world. From the very beginning, God's heart has been to include the outsider and heal what's been fractured. This series invites us into that story—not just to watch it unfold, but to find ourselves in it. Because God is still using crooked sticks to draw straight lines—and to build His family today.

Summary Every believer knows the sting of regret and the weight of guilt that can linger long after coming to Christ. In this powerful sermon on Romans 8:1–4, Dr. Michael Easley unpacks one of the most freeing truths in all of Scripture: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We all live with memories of past failures, yet in Christ, those sins are not just forgiven—they're washed away in Him.  Dr. Easley walks through Paul's rich theological argument to show that our freedom from condemnation isn't based on self-improvement or keeping the law. It's entirely rooted in the work of Christ and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now empowers believers to overcome sin and live righteously. Because God did what the law could never do—He sent His Son to deal with sin once and for all—we can live free from shame and confident in His grace. This message invites listeners to walk not in guilt, but in gratitude, boldly declaring, “I am in Christ.” Takeaways Every believer wrestles with guilt and regret, but the gospel declares us free from condemnation. God's righteousness demands perfection, yet Christ meets that standard on our behalf. Jesus condemned sin in His own flesh, taking our punishment once and for all. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to overcome the power of sin and live righteously. What the law could never accomplish, God accomplished through His Son. To be “in Christ” means to live with confidence, freedom, and no fear of condemnation. To read the book of Romans, click here.Click here for other Michael Easley Sermons.

Today's question, "Why read the Old Testament" is often asked by church going people. It is often stated this way:     ⁃    The Old Testament is so hard to understand.     ⁃    I like the New Testament better than the Old.     ⁃    God seems so angry and mean in the Old.     ⁃    Hasn't the New Testament replaced the Old?     ⁃    All those animal sacrifices are a huge turn off. Why read the Old Testament? Here are four main themes which Pastor will use to answer today's question:     ⁃    Revelation     ⁃    Foundation     ⁃    Confirmation     ⁃    Salvation Revelation: God reveals Himself, the past, the future, His plan, His character:     ⁃    All Scripture is God-breathed. God breaths life. The Old Testament is God's Living word, it's Him speaking, His breath - a God-breathed book.     ⁃    The Old Testament is for future generations - 1 Corinthians 10:11 tells us, "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come." The Old Testament is for all generations. It's not out of date and aids us in understanding the time in which we live.     ⁃    The Old Testament is for our instruction. Not just the story of people from long ago, it is for our instruction. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."     ⁃    The Old Testament is revealing God's character. It shows us what God is like. It's a record of thousands of years and we see His patience with a goal of bringing people back to Himself. Exodus 34:6-7 "And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin." God's character is good. Foundation:     ⁃    The Old Testament shows God is our Creator. Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."      ⁃    The Old Testament shows the Sin-Death connection. Death is not natural it is a result of rebellion against God. Genesis 2:16-17 - sin brings death.     ⁃    The Old Testament shows the need for Sacrifice. Genesis 3:21. An innocent animal had to die to clothe Adam and Eve after they sinned. Salvation requires an innocent victim to die for sin.     ⁃    The Old Testament shows Grace and Faith. What saves is God's grace and our response of faith. Genesis 15:6.  Confirmation: The Old Testament confirms what we read in the New Testament.     ⁃    The Old Testament points to Christ. It carries a unified theme that points us to the One that was promised, the One who would defeat the devil. John 5:39-40. Luke 24:27 "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself."     ⁃    The Old Testament points to the Son of Man. Jesus' favorite term for Himself. Daniel 7:13-14. The Old Testament reveals Jesus.     ⁃    The Old Testament points to the cross. 1 Peter 1:10-11 "Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the suffering of the Messiah and the glories that would follow."      ⁃    The Old Testament points to the resurrection of Jesus. Luke 24:46-47. Salvation:     ⁃    The Old Testament makes us wise for salvation. 2 Timothy 3:15 "…from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."      ⁃    The Old Testament makes the New Covenant clear. The definition for the word "testament" has changed over the last several hundred years. Testament originally meant "a covenant."  Jeremiah 31:31 "The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the People of Judah."      ⁃    The Old Testament makes Messiah's death our's. Isaiah 53:4-5.      ⁃    The Old Testament makes the world's future clear. Philippians 2:10-11 "…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  Isiah 45:23 the Living God says, "By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked; before Me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear."  Why should I read the Old Testament? Because God speaks in it! Let Him speak to you through ALL of His Word. Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Why did the Reformers upend Europe? Because God's Word belongs in the common tongue—and in common homes. From Tyndale's plowboy to Knox's "church in the house," Kevin, Scott, and Danny show how Scripture reshaped family life, restored marriage, and redirected education. The stakes remain: man-centered modernity or God-centered discipleship in every sphere.