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Fr. Mike continues to describe Nehemiah's process of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem and encountering a variety of challenges in his calling. He explains that in doing God's work, we will often face internal or external opposition which we must meet with prayer and perseverance, trusting God entirely. Today's readings are Nehemiah 4-5, Esther 11-12, and Proverbs 20:27-30. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike continues discussing the call of Nehemiah and how we should approach the work the Lord calls us to do. He explains why all work is divine participation in God's Kingdom on earth and encourages us to remember our service to God and to others, keeping our focus on serving and loving in the realm of our influence. Today's readings are Nehemiah 3, Zechariah 14, and Proverbs 20:23-26. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike introduces the book of Nehemiah and takes us through Nehemiah's exemplary response to the call of God as he does what God asks simply because he asks. He also encourages us to pray for our enemies and explains the need to refrain from vengeance in our interactions with others, especially when we are provoked by their actions. Today's readings are Nehemiah 1-2, Zechariah 12-13, and Proverbs 20:20-22. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike discusses God's instruction to the people of Israel not to marry women from foreign lands. He explains why God would provide this instruction and how Ezra reacted when he discovered that many prominent Israelites had not obeyed it. He also identifies the prophecies of Palm Sunday and the thirty pieces of silver found in Zechariah. Today's readings are Ezra 9-10, Zechariah 9-11, and Proverbs 20:16-19. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
For the first time in GB Podcast history, an episode release falls on September 28. Today, Chris turns 30 and Ethan turns 32, and friend/also podcast producer Drew McFadyen joins the show. No notes, just three friends talking about music. Support the show on Patreon! Becoming a Patron is the most effective way to support the show:https://www.patreon.com/grunge_bible Support the show, buy some merch! https://grungebible.creator-spring.com/
With Jo on holiday, Chris and Alex open with a quick recap of chapter 7. The law was good but powerless, sin was pervasive, and the chapter ended with Paul's cry: who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ. They then read verses 1–11. They unpack "no condemnation" as both a verdict and a penalty. The cross deals with the believer's forensic status, but it also deals with sin's power and its wages of death. They note how the chapter brings the Holy Spirit to centre stage, and how Paul contrasts "the law of the Spirit of life" with "the law of sin and death". For the Trinitarian nerds, verses 3–4 show all three persons at work. Chris points out that the Greek peri hamartias ("for sin") carries the language of the Septuagint's sin offering. Christ both fulfils the law's standard and becomes the offering for those who can't meet it. They also hear echoes of Ezekiel's returning Spirit and Jeremiah's law written on the heart. And, as promised to Jo, the new Exodus gets a mention.Verses 12–17 move the metaphor from slavery to family. Chris suggests adoption is less a picture than the underlying reality of the relationship, with both obligations and blessings. Alex brings in the prodigal son and his older brother: our identity rests in the Father, and our obligations flow out of that identity rather than earning it. The pair explore adoption in first-century Jewish and Roman settings, where an adoptee took on a new father's name, status and inheritance (hence the outrageous number of men called Gaius Julius Caesar). They discuss how best to render "Abba": not "Daddy", but something closer to an Australian "Dad", both reverent and intimate. They close the section on verse 17's condition that heirs suffer with Christ in order to be glorified with him.Verses 18–27 zoom out to the cosmic scale. Paul's "present sufferings" carry real weight coming from a former persecutor who now suffers for the faith. Alex pushes back on a narrow "where do I go when I die?" view of salvation. Paul's vision is a whole creation set free from its bondage to decay, reversing the effects of Genesis 3. Chris draws on being present for his wife's two labours to unpack the childbirth imagery: real anguish, with anticipation and new life on the other side. The Spirit becomes the bridge between the now and the not yet, interceding with groans too deep for words, a striking contrast to the helplessness of chapter 7. Both hosts firmly reject the idea that suffering is a sign that blessing has failed.The final section, verses 28–39, is a dense run of famous verses. "All things work together for good" is read against Genesis 50 and the Joseph story, where the good God brings may land generations later, and where the personal good is conformity to Christ rather than material blessing. On the "golden chain" of foreknew, predestined, called, justified and glorified, Chris and Alex outline several readings. They include whether foreknowledge and predestination should be merged or kept distinct, and whether "calling" is an invitation or a summons. Chris also notes the link between kaleō and ekklēsia. Both argue the chain is mainly about sanctification and family likeness to Christ, read corporately more than individually. The past-tense "glorified" speaks of a future so certain it can be described as done. Alex notes that every link in the chain is an act of God rather than a human response. Then come Paul's rhetorical questions, the quotation from Psalm 44 and the rare word hupernikōmen, "more than conquerors" (or in Chris's words, "uber victorious", not to be confused with the delivery app). The episode ends on Paul's sweeping list of things that cannot separate us from God's love, which Alex offers as the pastoral takeaway. Chris and Alex also flag that chapters 9–11 are coming next, where Paul turns to what all this means for the history of God's people.Resources used for this episode: Tom Schreiner and Colin Kruse on Romans; Douglas Moo; Ernst Käsemann; N.T. Wright's Paul: Fresh Perspectives and The Climax of the Covenant;Beverly Roberts Gaventa's When in Romans; Michael Gorman; Leon Morris. Big thanks to Tim Whittle for editing and extra production on this podcast. Get more info at Riverlife Church, and find us on Facebook and Instagram.Subscribe to Bible Streams on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Amazon.
In this episode of Kingdom Now, Pastor Karl walks through Matthew 25:1-30, where Jesus, days before the cross, tells his disciples how to live while they wait for his return. Karl opens with a personal story about the excitement of waiting on a renovation, and how it exposed how little joyful anticipation he had for Christ's return. Building on Jesus' warning in Matthew 24 that no one knows the day or the hour, he gives two reasons to live with joyful anticipation: it motivates holy living, and it recalibrates how we see our lives and the world around us. He then explores the Parable of the Ten Virgins, explaining the stages of a Jewish wedding and how they picture Christ's return, and teaching that it's possible to look ready without actually being ready. Next, through the Parable of the Talents, Karl offers five practical observations about stewardship before making the deeper point that the most precious thing entrusted to us is the gospel itself. He closes with a challenge to be ready rather than just look ready, starting with repentance and putting sin to death. Join us in person 8:00am, 9:30am & 11:00am every Sunday morning.37193 Ave 12 #3h, Madera, CA 93636For more visit us at flipside.churchFor more podcasts visit flipsidepodcasts.transistor.fm
Fr. Mike explains how God's favor was with Ezra because he set his heart to study God's laws, to obey his laws, and to teach his laws to others. We also learn about hypocritical fasting, and how our sacrifices should remind us that everything ultimately belongs to God at all times. Today's readings are Ezra 7-8, Zechariah 7-8, and Proverbs 20:12-15. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike encourages us not to be discouraged about the small things happening in our lives, because just as we see through Zechariah's visions, God takes small things and turns them into great triumphs. He also touches on the dedication of Israel to rebuild the temple, and the connection between the crowing of Joshua and the crowning of Christ the King. Today's readings are Ezra 5-6, Zechariah 4-6, and Proverbs 20:8-11. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Has the Ark of Noah been found? Reportedly, yes. But the reports stretch back to 1960 and repeat at least once a decade. The recent discovery is not actually a find so much as it is a core drilling test that has not been finalized. So how can people claim the Ark has been found and proved for sure? They can't, honestly. Additionally, the Ark story has been used as proof that Jesus really resurrected from the grave, literally, even though we are talking about different books, chronologies, languages, and testaments. The completed scientific research done on the same Durupınar Formation in Turkey dates back in the 1990s and proved that an iron bracket was actually “derived from weathered volcanic minerals.” For those who think questioning the story is somehow anti-Christian, perhaps they fail to realize that promoting misleading stories about the Ark could actually damage the already external, fragile reputation of Christianity. Furthermore, the same could be said about flood stories because they are found all over the world, several pre-dating Genesis. Wouldn't their existence reinforce the biblical story? The argument that these stories are somehow different is all a matter of language and perspective, when in fact, they are telling the exact same story assuming that the flood was global and not localized. Also, assuming we're not talking about archetypes. The Ark story, like the recent Shroud of Turin story which was literally reported to prove that Jesus resurrected from the dead because of salt and water, is also almost certainly being pushed by Israeli propagandists alongside similar magical finds of temple beams, Biblical cities, etc., to manipulate Christians into supporting global economic and physical war in the name of framed prophecy. *The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. Subscribe to remove ads. The show has no sponsorship and has been banned countless places.
Fr. Mike continues to take us through the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, and the importance of moving on from the past to see what God is doing in our lives right now. He also gives some context on the Samaritans and what was happening across Jerusalem, post return. Today's readings are Ezra 3-4, Zechariah 1-3, and Proverbs 20:4-7. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike introduces us to the books of Ezra and Haggai, explaining the Israelites' return to the promised land. He also warns us against apathy and indifference in our relationship with God, as we see Israel display towards the temple. Today's readings are Ezra 1-2, Haggai 1-2, and Proverbs 20:1-3. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Welcome to the Return period! Jeff Cavins joins Fr. Mike to introduce the ninth biblical period, which covers the Israelites' return to Jerusalem, the rise of the Pharisees, and the establishment of common household practices. They explain the pattern of exiles and returns throughout the Bible, starting with Exodus and leading all the way to Jesus' ministry. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
As we finish the Gospel of Matthew, Fr. Mike takes us through Christ's passion, explaining the meaning of "Barabbas", the importance of saints, and temptation towards false truth. He also explains the context of the gospels, and how we fit into them in the new and eternal covenant. Today's readings are Matthew 27-28 and Proverbs 19:25-29. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Our cups overflowith this week. Welcome to the 167!Connect with usWebsite: https://www.newlifegardner.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewLifeGardner/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newlifegardner
Fr. Mike explains sins of omission, and how these are some of the biggest deciding factors of who goes to heaven and who goes to hell: whether or not we did good works God called us to. He also reminds us that not all of the New Testament parables are universally relevant, recalling the parable of the talents and the parable of the wise and foolish maidens. Today's readings are Matthew 25-26 and Proverbs 19:21-24. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike continues to explain the parables Christ recites in Jerusalem, specifically focusing on the dangers of preaching God's Word without practicing it in our lives. Jesus goes on to speak against the Scribes and Pharisees, reminding us that he's not only the Prince of Peace, but the Way and the Truth. Today's readings are Matthew 22-24 and Proverbs 19:17-20. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
After a short break, Jo, Chris and Alex are back for episode eight of the To Rome with Love series, and they open with a quick recap of chapters 1 to 6: the universal problem of sin, Israel's share in it despite having the law, faith as the way into right standing, the Adam and Christ contrast, and baptism as union with Christ's death and resurrection. They point out that chapter 7 has Paul coming back to something he raised briefly in chapter 5 and then left alone: the law's arrival made sin increase. They also flag that chapters 7 and 8 really belong together, and that verses 5 and 6 work almost as headings for the rest of chapter 7 and for chapter 8.Verses 1 to 6 start with the "which law?" question. One reading separates "works of the law" (the covenant markers like circumcision and purity) from "the law" as the whole Mosaic framework, ethical commands included. Another follows N.T. Wright's language of solidarities, where the law is a sphere you take part in, much like being "in Adam" or "in Christ", and Paul gives it an almost personal force. The marriage illustration gets unpacked against first-century practice, where only the husband could start a divorce, so a wife was bound until death. The team push back on reading every detail of the analogy as code. Is the husband sin and death, Christ, or the Adam life? The metaphor is probably doing several jobs at once, and the main point is that death releases you legitimately into a new covenant. Fruitfulness, the natural result of a marriage, becomes the image for what life with God produces, and the alternative is fruit for death. There's also a note of caution about sarx (flesh). Paul doesn't always mean "sinful nature" by it, and every translation choice is also an interpretation.The middle section (verses 7 to 12) takes on Paul's next mē genoito: is the law sin? The discussion separates "is the law sinful by nature?" from "does the law give sin an opening?" The law works as a diagnostic tool, holy and good in itself, and sin takes the opening it creates. The choice of "you shall not covet" is picked out as deliberate, because it's an entirely internal command and it follows naturally from the marriage illustration. There's a pastoral aside about how simply naming a sin from the pulpit can plant the idea. The team then wrestle with Schreiner's description of sin as an "alien power". Scripture personifies sin ("sin is crouching at your door") without making it Satan or a demon, and the team suggest sin works as much from inside us as from outside.That leads into the big question of who the "I" is. The options on the table are Paul himself (drawing on his own experience but not straight autobiography), Adam, Israel personified, or some mix that retells a universal story. They also cover the two readings most common in church life. The first is the pre-conversion reading linked to Origen and Augustine and later German scholarship. The second is the Christian's ongoing struggle, linked to the Lutheran and Reformation tradition. Philippians 3 ("as to righteousness under the law, blameless") is weighed against the chapter, and the team agree that being blameless before the law is not the same thing as being sinless.The final section (verses 13 to 25) covers the "I do not do what I want" passage. The problem isn't knowing what's right. It's approving of the right thing and still not being able to do it. The law is spiritual, but it provides no power to keep its own commands, and whatever you live under ends up filling you and showing in how you live. Paul switching between past and present tense is part of why the debate never settles. The team land on a representative reading with some personal element: this is "pre-Christ" more than "pre-Christian", Israel's story and Adam's story told in the first person, and they argue chapters 9 to 11 only make sense on that reading. It isn't only a Jewish experience either, because devotion to any moral code without transformation meets the same dead end. They close with Paul's use of classical rhetoric (logos, pathos and ethos). His "I" builds a connection with his listeners, and in a way that turns the usual rules upside down, admitting his own struggle becomes part of what makes him worth listening to.Resources mentioned in the episode: Tom Schreiner and Colin Kruse on Romans; Douglas Moo; Ernst Käsemann; N.T. Wright's Paul: Fresh Perspectives and The Climax of the Covenant; Beverly Roberts Gaventa's When in Romans; Michael Gorman; Leon Morris. Suggested pre-reading for chapter 8: N.T. Wright's Into the Heart of Romans. Don't forget the code word for this episode (even Chris missed it on the day).* Big thanks to Tim Whittle for editing and extra production on this podcast. Get more info at Riverlife Church, and find us on Facebook and Instagram.Subscribe to Bible Streams on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Amazon.
Fr. Mike takes us through various parables in Matthew such as the parable of the lost sheep, the merciful servant, and the laborers in the vineyard. He invites us not to be envious when others are blessed, but to allow the Father to be generous. Today's readings are Matthew 18-21, and Proverbs 19:13-16. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
As we read about the many miracles Jesus performs in today's readings from Matthew, Fr. Mike asserts the objective reality of those miracles and reinforces that Jesus is truly the Son of God who has power over matter. We learn that in Jesus, we too can do things that we could never do on our own. Today's readings are Matthew 14-17, and Proverbs 19:9-12. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike explains the many parables we hear today in Matthew, including the return of the unclean spirit, and the danger of ornate souls. He emphasizes that when God sweeps the sin out of our souls, we must replace it with virtue, otherwise our souls remain empty without a relationship with God. Today's readings are Matthew 11-13 and Proverbs 19:5-8. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil. Welcome to the 167!Connect with usWebsite: https://www.newlifegardner.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewLifeGardner/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newlifegardner
Fr. Mike reinforces Jesus' divinity as we read about how Jesus heals people physically, mentally, and spiritually and frees them from the enemy's kingdom of darkness. Fr. Mike also encourages us to not be afraid when we experience persecution and division for the sake of Christ, but to rather courageously carry the Cross. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike reads the Sermon on the Mount and explains how Jesus' teachings powerfully fulfill the old testament law, and identify the broken human heart as the source of our sinful actions. We learn that Jesus himself is the remedy to our sins, and that the secret to holiness is living in the perfect will of God. Today's readings are Matthew 5-7, and Proverbs 18:21-24. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
In this episode of Marked, Mary Wiley joins us to talk about why both our vertical relationship with God and our horizontal relationships with others—loving God and loving others—matter deeply in the Christian life. She shares practical wisdom on how relationships shape theology, ministry, parenting, and spiritual growth, and explains how the church helps us remember the truth when our faith feels shaky. Mary also introduces her new resource, Every Day in the Bible, a yearlong Bible study and companion podcast designed to help readers see the full story of Scripture and the connections between the Old and New Testaments. LINKSEvery Day in the Bible Bible StudyEvery Day in the Bible Podcast — launching January 1 Free sample of Every Day in the BiblePre-order the print resource and subscribe to the podcast so you're ready to start reading through the Bible with fresh eyes in the new year. Hosted by Angie Elkins and Andrea Lennon with guest Mary Wiley. CONNECT WITH US!Marked is a podcast from Lifeway Women. Learn more at lifeway.com/allwhodrawnear.
Today on Uncommon Sense with Ginny Robinson, I'm clarifying something about where this show is headed and what I am, and am not, here to do.Over time, people have tried to attach my voice to all kinds of movements, causes, and political factions. I'm not a mouthpiece for anybody's movement. My focus is moving back to the two subjects that have always been at the center of my work: Christianity and America.I'm again addressing my position on Palestine and the Middle East. I still support the Palestinian people, while also believing that Palestinians have to take responsibility for supporting and building their own society. Being opposed to the actions or policies of the Israeli government does not mean that I have adopted every belief, political position, or religious identity associated with the Palestinian cause.The Middle East has experienced conflict for generations, and my audience should not expect me to become a Muslim or pretend to be a Palestinian simply because I oppose particular actions of the Israeli government. My Christian faith and my commitment to America remain central to how I understand the world.We'll also discuss updates on Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the Ed Sheeran vs Macklemore drama.--https://www.youversion.com/bible-app
Fr. Mike introduces us to the Gospel of Matthew, including his genealogy, nativity, and the first days of his ministry. He pulls it all together to show that not only is Jesus reconstituting the kingdom in his ministry, but he's inviting us to join him in this kingdom. Today's readings are Matthew 1-4, and Proverbs 18:17-20. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Welcome to the third Messianic Checkpoint! Jeff Cavins joins Fr. Mike to introduce the Gospel of Matthew and explain what makes this gospel unique, such as its emphasis on joining the call of Christ as his disciple, sharing the things we've learned during this journey with others in our lives. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike finishes the book of Jeremiah and highlights the final moment of hope at the conclusion. We also read the book of Obadiah and Fr. Mike challenges us to see who the Lord is asking us to choose to love, noting that it might may be someone who is closer to us than we think. Today's readings are Jeremiah 52, Obadiah 1, and Proverbs 18:13-16. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike encourages us to never stop talking to God, even in the hardest seasons of our lives. Much like yesterday's readings, we're seeing a lot of pain and suffering the lives of our brothers and sisters, but we still have so much to hope for. Today's readings are Jeremiah 51, Lamentations 4-5, and Proverbs 18:9-12. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike guides us through another chapter of Jeremiah and connects it to the sorrow and pain we hear in Lamentations. He reminds us that, even with such evil and desperation filing the world these days, God is still good, and we still have reason to hope in him. Today's readings are Jeremiah 49-50, Lamentations 3, and Proverbs 18:5-8. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike continues reading from the book of Jeremiah and emphasizes God's judgment against the nations surrounding Israel. Fr. Mike also invites us to meditate on the words of the prophets and repent for our own failures and shortcomings. Today's readings are Jeremiah 47-48, Lamentations 2, and Proverbs 18:1-4. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
As Fr. Mike begins the book of Lamentations, we read about Jeremiah's sorrow as he witnesses the siege and suffering of Jerusalem. In the book of Jeremiah, we hear a word of comfort from the Lord to Baruch. Today's readings are Jeremiah 45-46, Lamentations 1, and Proverbs 17:21-28. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike points out Israel's continual disbelief in the prophet Jeremiah, and also explains who the queen of heaven refers to. We also conclude the book of Judith with Judith's song of praise. Today's readings are Jeremiah 43-44, Judith 15-16, and Proverbs 17:17-20. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
In our reading of Jeremiah today, Fr. Mike highlights Ishmael's insurrection against Gedaliah and Jeremiah's response. We also read about the defeat of Holofernes and the praise of Judith for her courage and virtue. Today's readings are Jeremiah 41-42, Judith 12-14, and Proverbs 17:13-16. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike expands on our reading today from Proverbs about the need to guard our speech toward one another. In Jeremiah, we see the final wave of destruction of Jerusalem and the events that followed. Today's readings are Jeremiah 39-40, Judith 10-11, and Proverbs 17:9-12. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike highlights the wisdom and faith of Judith, heroine of the Old Testament, and shows us how her prayer in not just a prayer of intercession, but also one of praise. The readings are Jeremiah 37-38, Judith 8-9, and Proverbs 17:5-8. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike points out how, like King Jehoiakim, we too can dismiss God's teachings instead of letting them cut into our hearts. The readings are Jeremiah 35-36, Judith 6-7, and Proverbs 17:1-4. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike points out the difference between the insincere repentance of King Zedekiah and the people in Jerusalem, and the true repentance of the people in the Book of Judith. The readings are Jeremiah 33-34, Judith 3-5, and Proverbs 16:29-33. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
In today's reading from Jeremiah, Fr. Mike points out how God rejoices in doing us good, and wants to pour out his grace and mercy upon us. As we begin reading from Judith, he explains that, while it might not be historically accurate, the story is there to convey truth. The readings are Jeremiah 32, Judith 1-2, and Proverbs 16:25-28. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike takes us through the last chapter of Daniel and explains how Daniel models for us on how to live in exile and still be faithful to the Lord. We also see in Jeremiah the Lord promise a new covenant that will ultimately be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Today's readings are Jeremiah 31, Daniel 14, and Proverbs 16:21-24. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike reflects on the story of Susanna's righteousness in the book of Daniel. While celebrating Susanna's virtue, Daniel's wisdom, and God's faithfulness, Fr. Mike also warns us that, like the corrupt elders in the story, we too can allow our hearts to become perverted by the things we fix our eyes on. The readings are Jeremiah 30, Daniel 12-13, and Proverbs 16:17-20. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike highlights verse 11 from Jeremiah 29: "I know the plans I have for you...plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Since we know God is a good Father, we too can count on this promise and know that God has a plan for each of us. The reading are Jeremiah 28-29, Daniel 10-11, and Proverbs 16:13-16. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike explains why God asks his people to surrender to King Nebuchadnezzar even though it seems contradicting. We learn that God can use evil circumstances to win the hearts of his people back. In Daniel, as we read about the vision of the ram and the goat, Fr. Mike reminds us that prophecy is always shrouded in mystery. Today we read Jeremiah 26-27, Daniel 8-9, and Proverbs 16:9-12. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
As we read the epic story of Daniel in the den of lions, Fr. Mike points out Daniel's valor and faithfulness in the midst of his powerless. We also learn the meaning of Daniel's vision of the four beasts and the ancient of days. Finally, Fr. Mike explains the prophetic significance of Jeremiah's vision of good and bad figs. Today's readings are Jeremiah 24-25, Daniel 6-7, and Proverbs 16:5-8. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike touches on Proverbs 16:3, which is about giving everything in our lives to the service of the Lord. He also emphasizes how important it is to humble ourselves before the Lord, so to avoid becoming like the false prophets Jeremiah talks about today. Today's readings are Jeremiah 23, Daniel 4-5, and Proverbs 16:1-4. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike shares one of his favorite Bible verses, and guides us through the story of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah as they are thrown into the fiery furnace. He also emphasizes the significance of their Hebrew names, and how powerful name changes are in Scripture. Today's readings are Jeremiah 22, Daniel 3, and Proverbs 15:29-33. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike walks us through the fall of Jerusalem, and the intense lament of Jeremiah as he watches the people of Israel fall into captivity. He also introduces us to the Prophet Daniel, and his incredible gift of discerning dreams and proclaiming God's Word. Today's readings are Jeremiah 20-21, Daniel 1-2, and Proverbs 15:25-28. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike guides us through the last two chapters of Ezekiel, explaining the biblical significance of the water flowing from the right side of the temple, and how it foreshadows Christ's passion. He also emphasizes the imagery of the clay and the potter in Jeremiah, signifying how our lives are meant to be open for God to mold and shape, according to his will. Today's readings are Jeremiah 18-19, Ezekiel 47-48, and Proverbs 15:21-24. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike focuses on the concept of being rich in love instead of rich in wealth today, as we read about the heart of a mother and father in our verse from Proverbs. He also emphasizes the presence of sacrificial love in the vocation of marriage and family through God's decision to keep Jeremiah single, saving him from more suffering. Today's readings are Jeremiah 16-17, Ezekiel 45-46, and Proverbs 15:17-20. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.