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FREE PDF: How To Start A Weekly, Multigenerational Family Meal Rhythm: familyteams.com/meal --- This month we've talked about why having a weekly, multi-generational family meal is such a game changer for families who want to build a family team that lasts for generations. We've talked about how to make the meal fun and how to make it sustainable. Today we dive into how to maximize the meaning of this weekly family meal. And you might be surprised about how we've done that. This is a very counter-cultural thing to do, so make sure to listen to the full episode to get an idea of how this could look in your family, whether you're starting out as just a husband and wife with a small kid, or if you've got a large family and already have great relationships with the upstream generation. On this episode, we talk about: 0:00 Intro 0:27 What gives a meal real meaning? 2:00 Spiritual meaning 4:23 How to stop it from feeling forced 11:03 Deep meaning for moms 14:00 Removing the meaning-killers 16:25 Combatting hustle and hurry 19:45 Not so logistical 22:55 If you don't have a great relationship with your parents... Follow Family Teams: Facebook: https://facebook.com/famteams Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/familyteams Website: https://www.familyteams.com Resources Mentioned: FREE PDF: How To Start A Weekly, Multigenerational Family Meal Rhythm: familyteams.com/meal --- Hi, welcome to the Family Teams podcast! Our goal here is to help your family become a multigenerational team on mission by providing you with Biblically rooted concepts, tools and rhythms! Your hosts are Jeremy Pryor and Jefferson Bethke. Make sure to subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube so you don't miss out on future episodes!
Deaconess Michelle Downey joins Steph and Andy to talk about the differences and similarities between guilt and shame, and how to respond to both when they creep into our relationships. Bio: Deaconess Michelle Downey serves as Executive Director at Concordia Counseling: A Lutheran Outreach Ministry. Concordia Counseling exists to provide Biblically sound, clinically effective, and financially affordable counseling services. Michelle is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the State of Indiana. She received her Master's Degree in Counseling & Educational Psychology from Marquette University and Master's Degree in Deaconess Studies from Concordia Theological Seminary - Fort Wayne (CTSFW). Michelle and her husband, Patrick, have five children (Elizabeth, Ann Marie, Caroline, Victoria, and Michael) and attend Immanuel Lutheran Church in Seymour, IN. Resources: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life Ministry: lcms.org/life LCMS Family Ministry: lcms.org/family Find Concordia Counseling on lcms.org/rso Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.
What is AI and should Christians use it? Explore the phenomenon known as AI, get a brief overview of its history, define some terms and then think Biblically about it with our Associate Pastor, Johnathan Todd.
"Money Saving Mom" Crystal Paine examines the relationship between our full reliance on God and maximizing time and energy. She also shares a four step plan that focuses on prioritizing intentionality and productivity. Don't miss this informative interview on Takeaways with Kirk Cameron on TBN! Missed the last episode? Listen in as Dr. Art Ranier discusses building Biblically-based financial strategies. WATCH Takeaways with Kirk Cameron episodes for free on TBN+! Each episode of Takeaways with Kirk Cameron features knowledgeable guests having a respectful and thoughtful conversation surrounding topics that are impacting our society every day. Kirk's hope is that you will walk away from this show with practical steps on how to better your family, your community, and your nation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The person set free when you forgive someone else—-IS YOU! You are not excusing what they did to you. You are giving the right to get revenge over to God. He will settle the matter for you. He will heal you of your pain you still feel. Will you set yourself free today through Biblically forgiving the one who hurt you?
In this first episode of Season 6, Brandon Grable and Matthew Haas from Wisdom Wealth discuss the delicate balance between financial stewardship and faith. Brandon emphasizes the importance of maintaining financial health while being generous, using the analogy of securing one's own oxygen mask before assisting others. He advises prioritizing saving and tithing to ensure stability before extending generosity. Matt complements this by highlighting Biblical principles which encourage wise use of resources. He believes that giving and saving are both essential and Biblically supported. Together, they share their journeys of integrating professional careers with active ministry involvement, underscoring the blessings that come from serving others, and living out one's faith in everyday interactions.About Brandon:A passionate financial advisor, Brandon is dedicated to helping clients achieve financial clarity and peace of mind. With 10 years of experience in financial planning, wealth management, and retirement strategies, he is committed to offering personalized solutions that reflect each client's unique goals.Brandon believes in a client-first philosophy, working closely with individuals, families, and business owners to empower them to make informed and confident financial decisions. Whether it's comprehensive retirement planning, investment strategies, or charitable giving, Brandon ensures that every recommendation aligns with his clients' core values and long-term aspirations.Brandon enjoys leading worship at his church and spending quality time with his wife, Veronica, and their three children—Everett, Eden, and Nora. His approach to wealth management is rooted in a belief that financial success should align with life's deeper purposes.About Matt:With over 25 years of experience, Matt is deeply committed to helping individuals and families achieve their financial goals. With a strong foundation in banking, merchant services, real estate, life insurance, and financial planning, he takes pride in offering comprehensive financial solutions that align with his clients' values.Matt began his career at Bank of America, where he spent 14 years serving business customers and personal clients. After transitioning into financial advising in 2015, he has spent the last decade helping people make wise financial decisions by developing personalized strategies that emphasize stewardship, service, and financial wisdom.A graduate of Ouachita Baptist University with a degree in Business Administration, Matt also earned his MBA with a focus on Finance from the University of Memphis. Since 1995, he has called central Arkansas home, where he and his wife, D'Lisa, raise their three children—Owen, Katie, and Hudson.Support the showTransforming the workplace one Bible study at a time - GET STARTED today! CONNECT WITH US:B-B-T.org | News | LinkedIn Biblical Business Training (“BBT”) equips busy, working people to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and empowers them in small-group Bible study settings to apply Biblical principles to their every day lives - especially in the workplace. BBT is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization which exists to help people develop their Christian “Faith for Work – Leadership for Life!”
Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at PrayingChristianWomen.com/journal today!Letting go of our children isn’t a one-time event; it’s a lifelong process that begins the moment the umbilical cord is cut. Catherine Segars, host of the Christian Parent, Crazy World podcast, joins us this week to discuss the delicate and often difficult transition of releasing our children into the world, biblically and prayerfully. In our conversation, Catherine breaks down the four distinct phases of parenting—Caregiver, Cop, Coach, and Counselor—and warns of the friction that occurs when we try to parent our children from the wrong phase. Jaime unpacks a powerful insight from John 17, illustrating how Jesus modeled healthy detachment by praying for His disciples’ protection from the evil one rather than their removal from the world. You won’t want to miss this empowering episode highlighting the spiritual authority parents hold over what they have "authored," and powerful encouragement that it is never too late to impact your child’s life through prayer—even if they are currently in a prodigal season. Visit catherinesegars.com to connect with Catherine and access her free "Prodigal Bundle" and listen to her podcast, Christian Parent, Crazy World, on LifeAudio. Discover More: Explore additional episodes of Praying Christian Women, Mindful Christian Prayers, and other Christian podcasts at Lifeaudio.com Check out our new podcast, Christian True-Crime Junkies!, on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts! Connect with Us: Stay updated and engage with our community: On Substack @PrayingChristianWomen On Facebook @PrayingChristianWomen On Instagram @PrayingChristianWomen On YouTube: @PrayingChristianWomen Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Values aren't just catchy corporate catchphrases; values are what keep you on the path to your goals and keep you from drifting. Over the next several weeks, we will be examining our values as a church. The first is that we are Biblically Driven. Over the past few years, there has been a lot of interest in the Bible with people (especially men) engaging in it to find greater meaning and purpose in their lives. But we can't treat the Bible like an afterthought. As we'll see in 2 Timothy 3:14-17, to be Biblically Driven, we must live for the Word and according to the Word.
Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North Sermons - Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North
Introduction: John 4:23–24 - But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. Why Should I Sing on Sundays? (Colossians 3:16) Because singing works the WORD INTO MY HEART. (Col 3:16a) Because singing encourages the HEARTS OF EVERYONE WHO HEARS ME. (Col 3:16b) Ephesians 5:19 - ...addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart... Psalm 34:3 - Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! Psalm 107:32 - Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. Psalm 100:1 - Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Because singing voices my HEARTFELT THANKFULNESS TO GOD. (Col 3:16c) Ephesians 5:19 - ...addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart... Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Colossians 3:16What was your big take-away from this passage / message and the entire series?What are your biggest barriers to passionately singing on Sunday mornings? How can you begin to overcome these barriers and be a more faithful worshiper?How does singing help the Word dwell in you richly?How does singing on Sundays encourage others around you? What does their singing teach you?What did Taylor mean that your greatest instrument is your heart? How is your mouth like an amplifier?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Open your Bibles to Colossians chapter 3 verse 16.Colossians chapter 3 verse 16.Have you ever gone to someone else's houseand witnessed family traditions that didn't make sense to you?You had a friend in college, I went to visit his family onceand he's a part of a family that kisses each other on the lipswhenever they say hello or goodbye.And that's not my experience at all in my family.And to be clear, I'm not judging you,that's how your family does greeting time.You are loved and we're moving on from that, okay?I also had another friend I grew up with,his family drank milk with every single meal they ate.Three meals a day, three glasses of milk a day.And they thought it was really weirdthat I didn't want to drink milk with my pizza.And I thought it was really weird that they wanted meto drink milk with my pizza.Have you ever visited a different countryand been surprised and thrown off by the customs they have?In Netherlands, the person who's throwing a birthday partycongratulates every single person in the room,not just the person having the birthday.In Japan, it is not customary to tip.If you try to leave a tip,the server will probably be very offended by that.I've talked to a lot of people who've visitedor immigrated to America,who are really thrown off that we use,how are you, not as a genuine question,but as a throwaway hello.I've been to Kenya twice,and the first time I was there, I was surprisedthat as I walked from village to village,talking to a certain man,he would hold my hand as we walked.Now guys, will we do that in America?That's never happened to me, stateside.But in Kenya, it's a sign of friendship.It's a sign that person is really listeningto what you have to say.Many traditions and customs seem to be a bit randomand mysterious.When you press people on why they carry out these traditions,they usually don't know why.They don't know the origin or rationale.I don't know, it's what we've always done.We've always had milk with our pizza.We've always eaten funyons at Thanksgiving.One tradition that doesn't really make that much sense,but I'm glad you enjoy it, Pastor Jeff.Traditions and customs can become mechanical,can become rote.If you don't know why you're doing them,it can become a mechanical processof going through the motions.And the saying can be said for Christians in the church.If you pull many professing believersas they exit a Sunday morning serviceand ask them to provide the biblical rationalefor why they did what they just did,I think you'd receive a lot of blank stares.You'd hear a lot of us and ums.You'd hear a lot of hemming and hawing.Why is that?Because they are engaging in worshipwithout thought or intention.They are going through the motions.The traditions and customs that God has laid downin His word for the family gatherings of His peoplemay seem strange.Hard to explain and a bit random.I mean, think about it.Why do we gather once a week to listen to a guy like metalk about the Bible for 30 to 45 minutes?Every few months, why do we watch people get dunked in water?At the end of this service,why will we eat a cup of bread and a thimble full of juice?Why do we do that?Why do we spend almost half of the service singing together?And that final question is particularly hardfor some Christians to answerbecause they don't like to sing on Sundays.They don't want to sing on Sundaysand they don't even know why we sing on Sundays.They don't always see the point.And maybe you were a part of the demographicthat isn't really down with singing.Maybe this biblical tradition seems odd to you.It seems mysterious.You don't know why you have to do it.So what do you do?As Pastor Jeff and Pastor Rich have said in previous sermons,you barely sing above a whisper.You tune out.You mouth the words until you're told to sit down.Or maybe you arrive intentionally lateto skip the singing portions of the service.So you slip out early to skip the final song.You just don't get singing, so you just don't sing.This is the final sermon in a series calledGod is Seeking Worshipers.In John chapter four verses 23 through 24,Jesus makes it clear what kind of worshipis God's on the lookout for.Let's listen to what Jesus has to say.He says, "But the hour is coming and is now here"when the true worshipers will worship the Father"in spirit and truth,"for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him."God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship"in spirit and truth."God is seeking those who will worship Him"in spirit and in truth."Two weeks ago, Pastor Rich dug into what it looks liketo worship God according to the truth of His word.And last week, Pastor Jeff focused on worshiping Godin spirit, you were to have passionand not cold detachment.And this morning, we're gonna focus in particularon the importance of congregational singing.Whether you can't wait to sing or you can't stand to sing,I wanna help you answer one question this morning,just one question.Why should I sing on Sundays?Why should I sing on Sundays?There are a lot of places to turn to answer this question,but there is no place that is clearer and more concisethan Colossians 3/16, just one verse.Before we continue any further,let's go to Lord and ask for His help.Please pray for me, that I'll faithfully proclaim God's wordand I will pray for you, that you will faithfully receive it.Father, we come to you and we thank youfor this most important appointment of the week.This isn't the throwaway time that we can take or leave,Lord, it is the time we come togetherto worship your holy name.Come around your word to be challenged, to be convicted,to be encouraged, to be lifted up,to be pointed to your Son, Jesus Christ.We thank you in advance for what you will doand we pray more than anythingthat you would be pleased with what we do today,that you would be worshiped in spirit and in truth.And we ask all this in Jesus' name, amen.So Colossians is a New Testament letterwritten by the Apostle Pauland it is focused on the supremacy of Christ in all things.Christ is better than anything or anyone.Life is from Him, life is through Him, and life is for Him.In chapter three of Colossians,Paul calls the Colossians to live in light of who Christ isand where He is seated.Christ is Lord and He is seated in heaven,so we are called to submit to His heavenly standards.To be able to put on new clothes,you have to take off your old clothes.Or to put on the new self, you are to put off the old self.You are to put off old, ungodly attitudes and behaviorsso you can put on new and godly behaviors.In verse 12, Paul says the Colossiansare to put on compassionate hearts.And in verse 15, he says, "Let the peace of Christrule in your hearts."Then in verse 16, our passage for today,Paul says there to have worshipful and thankful hearts.And you and I are called to have these worshipful hearts as well.Why is that?What's the result?Well, worshipful and thankful hearts bless God.It blesses others, and it will bless you as well.Now that we have that background in mind,let's answer our main question.Why should I sing on Sundays?Why should I sing on Sundays?Number one, because singing works the word into my heart.Because singing works the word into my heart.Let's read Colossians chapter 3 verse 16."Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,singing psalms and hymns and spiritual psalmswith thankfulness in your hearts to God."Let's focus on that beginning chunk."Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."What does that mean?It means that your copy of God's word doesn't gather duston your bedside table.The words on these pages, don't just stay on these pages.The word of God finds a place in your heart.It lives within you.Scripture digs down deep into the very core of your beingto change how you think, how you feel, how you love,how you act, and how you react.How does this happen?It happens by reading the word.It happens by studying the word, meditating upon the word.I'm packing what it means and how it applies to your life.It involves writing notes in the margins,jotting down questions, highlighting verses,becoming a student of God's word.But according to Paul, this also happens through singing.And that may surprise you because you don't see the connection just yet.How does singing work the word into your heart?How does singing cause the word of Christ to dwell in you richly?Because lyrics set to music is the most effective methodof memorization and internalization.We all know this to be the case, right?In other areas of life.How did you learn the ABCs?Through your song, right?Prove it to me.ABCD.Very good. Very good.Wow. As a kid, how did you learn the basics of anatomy?Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees, and toes.Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees, and toes.Eyes and ears and mouth and nose.Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees, and toes.We're all cleaning up.Clean up, clean up.Everybody everywhere.Look at you guys.Those lessons are dwelling in you richly to this day.Do you see the point?Growing up in the church, I learned a lot of important biblical factsthrough songs.If you know the song I'm going to sing, please sing it with me.Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he.He climbed up the ladder in the country,the Lord he called to see, and the Savior asked him to pray.He looked up in the street, and the Lord said,"Zacchaeus, you come down, for I'm going to your house today,for I'm going to your house today."The B-I-B-L-E. Yes, that's the book for me.I stand alone on the word of God, the B-I-B-L-E.Isn't it astounding how much biblical truth can be containedin such simple and childlike songs?I sang these songs 30 years ago, and they still dwell in my heart richly.They worked the word into my heart.How arrogant we can be as adults by believing that we maturepast the need to learn and love the word of God through song.Do you feel that way right now?Do you think that the sermon is the only aspect of the Sunday servicethat teaches you something?That's just not true.Every single aspect of the service teaches you God's word.At harvest, we read the word, we preach the word, we pray the word,we see the word in baptism in the Lord's Supper, and we sing the word.All of these elements cause the word of Christ to dwell in you richly.All of these elements work the word into your heart.This is why it's important that we only sing what God's word says.And thankfully, Paul tells us what to sing in this verse.He gives us three types of songs, Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.Psalms are self-explanatory, right?He's talking about the 150 songs and prayers in the Old Testament book of Psalms.When you sing the Psalms, you're singing God's own word back to him.It's like you're speaking God's language.You're using his own divine vocabulary.And when Paul references hymns in this verse, he's not talking about the hymnsas we understand them in 2026.Remember Paul's writing about 2,000 years ago.He's not commanding us to buy old dusty hymns off eBaythat have this singing sheet and all the parts for men and women.But what is he saying?Well, back in his day, hymns were a pagan practice.Hymns were sung to a false God, a famous hero, or a military leader.These hymns were focused on a particular person.Paul is Christianizing and retrofitting this pagan practice for the church.He's saying instead of singing to that lame guy who's not as cool as you think he is,instead of singing to that bloodthirsty general,instead of singing to that false God, praise the Lord God Almighty.Praise him for who he is.Praise him for his sovereignty.Praise him for his glory.Praise him for his majesty.Praise him for his majesty.Praise God for who he is.And most likely spiritual songs were songs of personal testimony.If hymns mainly emphasize who God is,spiritual songs focus on what God has done for you,what he is doing for you, and what he will do for you in the future.Praise God that he gave you another day to worship him and to serve him.How many of us woke up today going, "Ugh, today's going to be terrible.I don't want to do this."Instead of doing that, praise him that he gave you breath in your lungs.Praise him that he has forgiven all of your sin past, present, and future.Praise him that he delivered you from the domain of darknessand has transferred you to the kingdom of his beloved Son.Praise him that he will never, ever let go of you, no matter what you do.Praise God for all the good gifts he has given to you.That is Psalms and hymns in spiritual songs.Why does Paul give us this breakdown of songs?In the past, did you ever make someone a mixtape?Did you ever burn someone a CD?Or for you teenagers who have no idea what I'm talking about?Have you ever made a playlist and shared it with someone else?Why did you do that?Because you wanted that person to experience the songs that you love.You wanted that person to get out of the rut of listening to that same kind of songover and over and over again.That's what Paul is doing here.He's giving the Colossians a godly mixtape, a CD.He's sharing a heavenly playlist with them.He wants to keep them from singing the same type of song over and over and over again.It's often said that variety is a spice of life.Variety is also the spice of worship.God wants to be worshiped by the inspired classics of the Psalms.He also wants to be worshiped as Pastor Jeff just read to us from Psalm 96 with a new song.He wants to be worshiped for who he is.But he also wants to be worshiped for what he does, what he has done, and what he will do.Singing these types of songs will keep us from only emphasizing the truth and missing spiritor only emphasizing spirit and missing the truth.Sticking to this list of songs will cause you to worship in spirit and in truthbecause both are needed to truly worship God.So much damage can be done.If the sermons we hear on Sundays get an A+ in theology,but the songs we sing receive a failing grade.Well, why is that?Because you'll remember the words you sing on Sundayfar longer than the words you hear from the pastor's mouth.If you don't believe me, have you ever been with a Christian on their deathbed?I gotta tell you, they don't invite their pastors then to repreach their favorite sermons.What do they do instead?They sing worship songs that are lodged in their brains and stuck in their hearts.As tired and as feeble as these saints feel, they belt out amazing grace in Christ alone.Crown Him with many crowns.It is well, blessed assurance.Biblically rich songs have the power to instruct your intellect.Spark your passions, engage your emotions, and involve your body.When the Word of Christ dwells in you richly, it will flow out of your mouth freely.Do you begrudgingly sing?Do you barely sing?Do you refuse to sing?If you've answered any of those questions with a yes,I want you to come to grips with what you're truly sacrificing.You are laying aside the blessing of knowing and loving the Word of Godon every single level of who you are as a person, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.You are cutting your spiritual growth off at the knees.You're saying, "I'm going to mature this far and no farther."You are cutting yourself off from a major source of the Word of Christ dwelling in you richly.Of the Word being worked into your heart.You are hurting yourself.But the damage doesn't just end with you.If you have a negative view of singing, you will negatively affect others around you.But in Colossians 3, 16, Paul shows us the opposite as well.If you have a positive view of singing, you will positively affect others around you.Let's read verse 16 for a second time."Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God."Why should I sing on Sundays?Second reason, because singing encourages the hearts of everyone who hears me.Because singing encourages the hearts of everyone who hears me.Paul says that we as a church should be teaching and admonishing who?One another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.He shares an almost identical truth in Ephesians 519.He says the believer should be addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.Pastor Rich and Pastor Jeff have made it clear over the past few weeks that the primary audienceof our worship is who?God, first and foremost, our worship is for and before the Lord.Again, He is the primary audience.But according to Paul, there is a secondary audience of our singing.And who is that secondary audience?One another.Every single person in this room, that person in front of you, those people behind you,those people next to you.To be clear, you're not worshiping other people as you sing.You are only worshiping God, but you are instructing and teaching others as you sing.The goal isn't to impress, the goal is to instruct.By singing, you are reinforcing the glorious truths of God's Word.By singing, you are warning, admonishing others to avoid the consequences of disobeying God's Word.You are playing an important role of the working of the Word into their hearts.You are playing an important role of the Word of Christ dwelling in their hearts, richly.Do you understand that Sunday morning is not your private worship time with God?Yes, it is personal, but it's by no means private.You are commanded to have your private worship time with God throughout the week.As you read the Bible, as you pray, as you fast,Sunday morning is the corporate worship time of God's people.It's not just about you and Jesus, it's about us and Jesus.Why is it so important that we gather together and we sing together?Why do we do that?Well, one pastor puts it this way.The people of God sing together because they have been saved together.And we see this truth in the book of Exodus.In Exodus 12 and 13, the Israelites are let go from slavery in Egypt.They're guided by the very presence of God.But then what happens?Pharaoh changed his mind to the armies of Egypt.Go after the Israelites.But God rescues them.He makes the Red Sea's part.He takes them through the water.Then those waters drown the Egyptian army.The Israelites are saved together by God.How do they respond to being saved together?According to Exodus 15, they sing together.Their voices become one communal voice to their God and their Savior.And we see this in the Psalms.There is a ton of "I," "me," "my," and "my" language in the Psalms.But there are 346 appearances of "we," "our," "us," as well.Again, it's not just private.It's corporate.In Psalm 343, David gives this command,"O magnify the Lord with me.Let us exalt his name together."Psalm 107.32."Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,and praise him in the assembly of the elders."Paul commands the Colossians and the Ephesiansto sing to the Lord together because they have been savedby the blood of Jesus Christ together.You and I are commanded to sing together because we have been savedby the blood of Jesus Christ together.You were not rescued and redeemed from your sinto be your own spiritual island by yourself.You were rescued and redeemed to be a part of the holy people of God,to be adopted into the family of God.You are not an only child.You have a countless number of brothers and sisters across this globeand throughout human history.But let's focus on our church for a minute.If you are a member at harvest,you have committed yourself to the holiness and maturityof the brothers and sisters you have in this roomand in the other service.By becoming a member,you have acknowledged that your faithful attendance,your active participation contributes to the unity and purity of this church.You have chosen to link arms with these peopleand marched through this evil world towards heaven together.You have agreed that I'm going to build up and encourage these peoplebecause they are my family.Do you realize that this service isn't just something you can slip in and slip out of?This is your family.This is a family gathering and you are here to encourage others,not just to be encouraged yourself.So how do you encourage others around you?You sing with passionate enthusiasm.You cannot teach and admonish other people around you with their singingif other people around you cannot hear your singing.You know what this means?This means that you do not have the biblical right to opt out of singing.You do not have God's permission to mumble or mouth the words you see on the screens.You are not given a hall pass from God to come late or to leave early.You are not allowed to be a conscientious objector during the worship set.I know exactly what some of you are thinking right now.I know you are internally sweating and thinking,"Pastor Taylor, you just don't get it.I have a horrible singing voice and I don't want anybody to hear me."Does God expect you to be a trained musician or a world-class vocalist to sing?I sure hope not because you all just heard my voice a few minutes agoand I fall way short of that standard.Does God command you to sing well in Scripture?He calls you to sing, period.Psalm 100 verse 1, "Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth."Can your mouth make noise?Make noise to your mouth by saying yes.Can your mouth make noise?Can you make that noise sound joyful?Even better than you are the perfect person to sing to the Lordto encourage other people in this room with your singing.All of you are not expected to stand on stage and lead the worship time,but you are expected to instruct others during the worship timeas you sing from where you stand.How many of you watched Elf last month before Christmas?Very few of you.Wow, okay, this may be harder for you than I thought.What is Buddy the Elf's singing advice for Christmas?The best way to spread Christmas cheer is..."Lose your mouth for all of the years."I'm going to steal that quote and use it for corporate worship.The best way to spread Christian cheer is..."Lose your mouth for all of the years."I read a study recently that laid out two markers of a healthy church.They're obviously way more than just two,but these two were the focus of the study.The first one was children.Children are being born.Children are being discipled.That discipleship is being reinforced in the life of the church,as Pastor Jeff often says, "Children are a sign of life."How are we doing with that first marker here at Harvest?If you're wondering, just count how many kids almost knock you over after the service is over.Here's the second mark.The second mark is "Men who sing."How are we doing with that one?I got to tell you, not as well as the first.I know what some of you might be thinking."Taylor, singing on Sundays just seems a little feminine.It doesn't seem very masculine to me."That's interesting.You didn't seem to have that same objectionwhen you were singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"at the pirate game this past summer.So let me understand this.It's masculine to sing about going to a baseball game,but it's feminine to sing to the Lord God Almighty.You didn't seem to have that same objectionwhen you were singing in the shower this morning,or singing in the car the way to work last week.You didn't seem to have this objectionwhen you were singing at the top of your lungswhen you saw your favorite band in concert.So let me get it straight.All those things are masculine,but singing to Jesus Christ,who laid down his own life to save yours, that's feminine.Do you see how ridiculous that objection iswhen you really think about it?Moses sang, "Are you more masculine than Moses?When was the last time you were used by Godto defeat the mightiest army on the planetand to lead a bunch of complaining people to the wilderness?"David sang to the Lord and even danced to himas we saw last week."Are you more masculine than David?You were killed a giantor ruled over God's chosen nation?Jesus sang in the Gospels.Are you more masculine than Jesus?Your entire life cannot compare to one secondof the masculinity Jesus displayedduring his time on this earth."Men, please stop making excuses for why you can't sing.Sing for the sake of your wife.Sing for the sake of your kids.Sing for the sake of the church.Your silence is deafening and destructive.Harvest, we should be teaching and admonishing one anotherand all wisdom by singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.We should be instructing and encouraging one anotherby how we sing.This starts at an individual leveland it has corporate ramifications.You have no idea how big of an impactyour singing has on the people around you.And you have no idea how much their singinghas an impact on you.Imagine that there is a woman in the seat in front of youwho is fighting a losing battle with a serious illness.Yet every single Sunday she is worshiping the Lordwith hands lifted high.Does that teach you something?That teaches you that God is worthy of your praiseeven when your physical strength is being sapped from your body.Imagine that there is a dad down the aisle from youwho just lost his son.Yet he is still worshiping the Lord with tears in his eyesand sorrow in his heart.Doesn't that teach you something?That teaches you that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away.Blessed be the name of the Lord.That group of teenagers in the intersectionis rejecting the worldly desire to look coolby worshiping God with reckless abandon.Doesn't that teach you something?That teaches you that age doesn't always equal maturityand they can set you an example to follow.Please sing.Sing to encourage your own heartbut also sing to encourage the hearts of other people around you.Why should I sing on Sundays?Final reason.Because singing voices my heart felt thankfulness to God.Because singing voices my heart felt thankfulness to God.Singing blesses you.Singing blesses others.But most importantly, singing blesses God.Let's read verse 16 and a third and final time.Let the word of Christ dwell in you richlyteaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom.Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songswith thankfulness in your hearts to God.Once again, Paul shares a very similar truth in Ephesians 519.He says that you should sing and address other Christians in songwhile making melody to the Lord with your heart.You realize that your mouth isn't your primary instrument of praise.It's your heart.Your heart is where everything starts.Your heart is where your passions live.Your heart is where your emotions reside.What is in your heart will come out of your mouth.Your heart is like a guitar or a keyboard.While your mouth is a speaker.Your mouth amplifies what is inside.Your mouth amplifies what is in your heart.If your heart is full of negativity and complaining,what will come out of your mouth?Negativity and complaining.If your heart is full of love and praise to the Lord,what will be amplified by your mouth?Love and praise to the Lord.You were made to worship God.And God has revealed that he loves to be sung to.And if you refuse to sing to him,you were refusing to give him the love and thanks that he deserves.At this point, you may be waving the white flag.Okay, Taylor, I get it.I get it.You and other pastors can stop selling me.These sermons have convinced me.I just sing a little bit louder.Fine, I guess I'll sing.Is that honoring to the Lord?You know, my wife has revealed to me that she loves flowers.And she feels loved by me whenever I give her flowers.But imagine that she loves flowers.But imagine I come home after service with a frown on my faceand shove some flowers in her arms and say, "There you go.Will you stop bugging me about the stupid flowers?I did what you wanted.You're not getting more until your birthday.Hope you enjoy it."Would my wife feel very loved by that?I shouldn't buy my wife flowers because I have to.I should buy my wife flowers because I love her and I want to.And the same way, singing to the Lord shouldn't be viewed as something you have to do.It should be viewed as something you want to do.It should be your greatest joy to verbally and physically express the love you feel for him on the inside.And if that's not how you feel, there's a problem going on that you should address.The worship team can make their way forward.God is seeking worshipers.God is seeking those who will worship him in truth.God is seeking those who will worship him in spirit.God is seeking those who will worship him in song.How do you feel about this job description?How do you feel about being a full-time worshiper of God?Some of you in this room are not a worshiper of God.You have not yet trusted in Christ.You are worshiping yourself.You are living for yourself.Let me ask you something.How is that working out for you?I'm guessing not very well.You may think you're happy.You may act happy, but you know something is missing.You know something is wrong.You know there is someone far greater than you who deserves the glory and honor that you're hogging for yourself.This person is God who reveals himself most clearly to the person and work of his Son.Jesus came to this earth to serve sinners.Choose to serve him for all of eternity.Jesus humbled himself by dying on the cross to pay the penalty for sin,even though he was and still is fully perfect and sinless.Choose to exalt him forever and ever.Jesus will not turn you away if you come to him with genuine faith and repentance.Choose to believe in him.Stop believing in yourself.Choose to worship him.Stop worshiping yourself.The role of a full-time worshiper is being offered to you.Accept that job offer.Others of you have accepted that job offer in the past,but you haven't been carrying out your responsibilities lately.Maybe you've been making excuses for why you can't sing.Maybe you've been distracted by a million other things you sit in this service and you're not focusing on Jesus Christ.Maybe you're not truly singing with passionate enthusiasm.If you're honest, you would say, "I've been lazy in my worship."If that's true, let me give you one final exhortation.If Jesus Christ rose from the dead on a Sunday morning, 2000 years ago,you can get up bright and early every Sunday to worship his holy namewith every ounce of energy and passion that you have.It's not too late.You can do it right now.You can do it today.Others of you have been faithful and you've been consistent in your worship.Obviously, it's not perfect, but you have been consistent.If that's you, keep it up.Keep up the good work.Do not waver in the job that God has saved you to carry out.We spend a lot of time talking about singing.Let's actually stand.Let's actually sing.Stand and do what you are made to do.Do what you are saved to do.Do what you should want to do.Let's sing to the Lord.
FREE PDF: How To Start A Weekly, Multigenerational Family Meal Rhythm: familyteams.com/meal --- If you decide to craft a weekly, multi-generational family meal, and stick with it every week, we're convinced that this is THE thing that will unlock a close, cohesive, loving family that lasts for generations. BUT... And it's a big but... If it's not fun, nobody's going to want to do it. You can only force little kids to join you at the table for so long until they're big enough to decide for themselves. Ideally we want our kids to come back to the weekly family dinner table when they're 10, 20, 30, 40, 50...you get the idea. So in this episode, we're talking about how to unlock the FUN of the weekly family meal (especially for dads). Dive in and lay the foundation so you can get the most out of this month's weekly family meal deep-dives! On this episode, we talk about: 0:00 Intro 0:52 The ONE tool that will turn your family into a multi-generational family 2:47 Why fun matters 5:00 The risk of missing fun 10:05 Fun killers 14:40 Let it be meaningful 16:35 How dads can prepare their hearts for joy Follow Family Teams: Facebook: https://facebook.com/famteams Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/familyteams Website: https://www.familyteams.com Resources Mentioned: FREE PDF: How To Start A Weekly, Multigenerational Family Meal Rhythm: familyteams.com/meal --- Hi, welcome to the Family Teams podcast! Our goal here is to help your family become a multigenerational team on mission by providing you with Biblically rooted concepts, tools and rhythms! Your hosts are Jeremy Pryor and Jefferson Bethke. Make sure to subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube so you don't miss out on future episodes!
What is AI and should Christians use it? Explore the phenomenon known as AI, get a brief overview of its history, define some terms and then think Biblically about it with our Associate Pastor, Johnathan Todd.
On this podcast, I am committed to helping listeners (and myself) understand beauty in its truest, most life-giving sense. And that is why I am so excited to start the new year with David Taylor as today's guest.David Taylor is a theologian, author, speaker, priest, and director of initiatives in art and faith. As Associate Professor of Theology & Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, he has lectured widely on the arts, from Thailand to South Africa. He has also written for The Washington Post, Image Journal, Theology Today, Worship, Religion News Service, and Christianity Today, among others. Additionally, in 2016 he produced a short film with Bono and Eugene Peterson, entitled Bono and Eugene Peterson: THE PSALMS.In today's episode, David not only gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his class on beauty at Fuller Seminary, but also shares his own Biblically grounded understanding of what true beauty is. David also uncovers lies about beauty he sees at work in Western society, discusses how we might navigate aging in a broken world, and helps us see how we can know God in and through the arts. My hope is that this conversation will leave you feeling deeply encouraged, as you are reminded that true beauty is alive and at work in the world.David's latest book: Naming the Spirit: Pneumatology Through the Arts Buy Melissa L. Johnson's book, Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless, here. Learn more about Impossible Beauty and join the community here.
Ever spent time actually looking at what a church should be? And what implications might there be for each of us as we look deeper into what a Biblically based church looks like? We'll head that direction in this study.Acts 2:42-47
Compulsive behavior is the product of ones need to establish a sense of control amidst all their anxious thoughts. Obsessive compulsion is fairly common — the National Institute of Mental Health say 2.3% of adults struggle with OCD in their lifetime. Many people get stuck in cycles of excessive and irrational performance BUT what if I told you that oftentimes spirituality and religion can exacerbate these tendencies?Scrupulosity—often called religious OCD—is a quiet struggle in many churches, where sincere Christians feel stuck in constant guilt and fear. They worry they're never doing enough for God, replaying thoughts and prayers over and over just to feel “safe.” Instead of resting in Christ, they live exhausted and unsure. It looks like devotion on the outside, but inside it's a trap of fear that steals joy and confidence. On today's show we hope to shine a light on this often-misunderstood battle to better understand how the gospel frees people from the weight of compulsive religion and leads them back into real peace with Christ.To guide us through this important conversation, we're joined by Jonathan Kindler, biblical counselor, faculty professor at LFBI and host of the Sound Mind podcast.Visit https://www.soundmind.live/podcastVisit https://www.lfbi.org/learnmore
BEST OF TST: Peter Thiel of Palantir is hosting a lecture series on the Antichrist in San Francisco between September 15 and October 6, 2025. Entirely secretive, the talk is put on by Acts 17 Collective, referring to the Biblical book of Acts wherein we read about how the divine being is not like material things (gold and silver) but instead something far more valuable. Is this ironic or intentional? Many see this as the fulfillment of prophecy, but perhaps it is the fulfilling of pop-culture prophecy instead. Perhaps technocrats are playing and preying on 4 billion Christians and Muslims to run a scenario designed to strip away faith in the divine and parlay it into technology. A satirizing of eschatology? The tech-bros believe that God messed up and man can fix it by replacing organic creation with synthetics. Everlasting life can be achieved through gold and silver (material means) which will extinguish the real spiritual nature of mankind - the true gold that is ‘Christ' consciousness - and replace it with antichrist consciousness. In the process, vampires like Thiel will feed on your corpse. True eternal life begins with recognizing death and choosing to make the world a better place anyways rather than becoming a nihilist. It is the choice of Christ consciousness and of faith in what lies beyond. One often overlooked detail of the technocracy is the apparent obsession with homosexuality, transgenderism, and Judaism. Consider the gay technocrats of Thiel, Yuval Harari, Sam Altman, and the debated sexuality of Alex Karp. All but Thiel are also Jewish, as is Larry Ellison and Curtis Yarvin, the man giving JD Vance many of his philosophical ideas. In fact, Thiel and Yarvin created Vance and influence him through their Dark Enlightenment philosophy, which wants to replace governments with a techno-monarchy equivalent to the Christian concept of a NWO. Are their Homosexual practices recycling sexual energy to create synthetic life? Homosexuality is also a rejection of God's creation, which is why so many Jews embrace not just homosexuality but the entirety of LGBTQ. People like Sam Altman have placed the hexagram into his ChatGPT logo while he has unveiled an ORB device that is a machine which confirms your humanity. We need only recall Matthew 26 where the high priest Pharisees accuse Jesus of being the Son of God to which Jesus rejects such a notion and lectures them on the end of their monopoly over salvation. The tech-bros are the modern pharisees and they not only reject Christ, but intend to convince his followers to fight a Holy War, and then offer salvation from the destruction with their vampiric machines. Alex Karp has promised a 3-front war is coming and Larry Ellison did say that most of the advanced AI technology was coming from Herzliya Israel, not Silicon Valley, which would make it a brother to transgenderism which finds its home in Tel Aviv. If all of this is slightly more true then it means Israel is the beast and the Balfour Declaration of 1917 was the dragon giving power unto the same. This is probably why the Trump administration has given military roles to the tech-bros and held high-profile dinners for Silicon Valley technocrats who he is himself a slave too. Hence the cutting of his right ear as a result of an assassination attempt, which Biblically speaks to the servant of the high priest, which in the Church of Satan is MAGA.*The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.WEBSITEFREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVE-X / TWITTERFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMYOUTUBERUMBLE-BUY ME A COFFEECashApp: $rdgable Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-secret-teachings--5328407/support.
Jon Haley
There's an unhinged consensus that patriarchy is a problem, it's bad, and it needs to be dismantled. That's one of the core tenets of the new, secular world order and "morality". It's totally false, but it's been spurred onward over the past 100 years by feminism, which has also become a consensus. We're so steeped in it that seemingly everyone has assumed feminist tendencies and beliefs, just due to the waters in which we swim, culturally. Jeremy is joined by Dr. Carrie Gress today to talk about feminism, gender, abortion, and why all of this is a slow but steady under-the-radar revolution in an attempt to destroy America and Christianity. This conversation is VITAL to understand if you don't want to be polluted by the world. On this episode, we talk about: 0:00 Intro 1:28 Something Wicked and End of Woman 5:06 This is NOT what feminism means 8:48 Should you want your daughters to be empowered and independent? (clip?) 12:46 Freedom as license vs to do what you ought (clip?) 20:59 Does this require theology? 26:33 Birth control (catholic birth control clip) 33:00 Abortion as a Feminist sacrament 41:54 The IDEAL Feminist movement ---
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef encourages us that God grants His vision to those who steward their lives well. If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch or listen to Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon series Healthy Living in a Sick World, Part 12: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
Episode 15 | Thinking Biblically Leadership Lesson with Neil Spencer Neil Spencer, pastor of Coastline Calvary Chapel Gulf Breeze, FL shares, based on Proverbs 14:15-16, a 7-step pathway to process or think about every situation. One Piece of Advice with Troy Chappell Troy Chapell, a leader in the recovery ministry here in South Florida, shares his advice about learning not to take offense.
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef explains how to develop discernment for daily living.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch or listen to Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon series Never Give Up: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
If Your Brother Sins Against You...15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[f] in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:15-20)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reason-for-truth--2774396/support.
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef tackles some misconceptions when it comes to discerning God's will for our lives.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch or listen to Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Vision for Life, Part 3: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef reminds us to pursue holiness as God is holy.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch or listen to Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Discipleship 101: God's Holiness: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef identifies the way to grow in patience.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Spirituality That Heals: Patience: LISTEN NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef tackles the problems that arise when we are constantly frustrated that life isn't going as we had planned. If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch or listen to Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Marking the New Year: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef calls us to remember that Christ has destroyed the devil's work. If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Why Did Jesus Come from Heaven?: WATCH NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef reveals Jesus' ultimate motive for leaving heaven to come to earth. If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Why Did Jesus Come from Heaven?: WATCH NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
Norm Wielsch was a police officer for more than 26 years, developing severe PTSD and eventually becoming addicted to opioids. With a lifetime of trauma in his wake, he didn't realize that true healing was possible until he read the Word of God and embraced the saving grace of Christ. Today, Norm is a chaplain and addiction counselor. He's also the author of two books centered on Biblically-based trauma healing. Norm explains the toxic and sometimes damaging effects of working in violent jobs like law enforcement, and how it affected him and his personal life. He also talks about the Biblical way to deal with personal pain, and why forgiveness is a big factor in all of it.TAKEAWAYSSin separates us from God and keeps us from healing completely from past traumaCops are often dissuaded from showing any type of perceived weakness or emotion, which can cause major traumaNorm says his difficulty in dealing with the emotional pain of being a cop led to his breakdownYou'll never completely forget trauma, but you can get to a point where it no longer controls your life
Truth.Love.Parent. with AMBrewster | Christian | Parenting | Family
Regardless of the current age of your children, Lord willing this will be a journey through which you'll have to help your kids walk. Join AMBrewster to better understand key truths that must be considered when choosing a spouse.Truth.Love.Parent. is a podcast of Truth.Love.Family., an Evermind Ministry.Action Steps Purchase “Quit: how to stop family strife for good.” https://amzn.to/40haxLz Support our 501(c)(3) by becoming a TLP Friend! https://www.truthloveparent.com/donate.html Download the Evermind App. https://evermind.passion.io/checkout/102683 Use the promo code EVERMIND at MyPillow.com. https://www.mypillow.com/evermind Discover the following episodes by clicking the titles or navigating to the episode in your app: Entertainment, Technology, and Media Collection https://www.truthloveparent.com/technology-topic.html TLP 61: Are There Failure Philosophies in Your Home? https://www.truthloveparent.com/taking-back-the-family-blog/tlp-61-are-there-failure-philosophies-in-your-home The Evidence of Spiritual Life Series https://www.celebrationofgod.com/evidence-of-spiritual-life.html TLP 45: The Second Most Important Question You Need to Ask Your Kids https://www.truthloveparent.com/taking-back-the-family-blog/tlp-45-the-second-most-important-question-you-need-to-ask-your-kids TLP 30: Teens and Dating | what God has to say about their crush https://www.truthloveparent.com/taking-back-the-family-blog/tlp-30-teens-and-dating-what-god-has-to-say-about-their-crush TLP 134: What Is Romantic Love? https://www.truthloveparent.com/taking-back-the-family-blog/tlp-134-what-is-romantic-love Parenting Your Kids to Adulthood Series https://www.truthloveparent.com/parenting-your-children-to-adulthood.html Sexuality https://www.truthloveparent.com/sexuality.html Click here for Today's episode notes, resources, and transcript: https://www.truthloveparent.com/taking-back-the-family-blog/tlp-611-how-to-biblically-help-your-chidren-find-a-spouseLike us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TruthLoveParent/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truth.love.parent/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TruthLoveParentPin us on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TruthLoveParent/Need some help? Write to us at Counselor@TruthLoveParent.com.
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef reminds us that through Christ we are made alive! If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Why Did Jesus Come from Heaven?: WATCH NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
You've probably heard about this phrase, "DINK Lifestyle"...it stands for "Dual Income, No Kids". This is a lifestyle that some couples are choosing to live, whereby they prioritize work and income and doing whatever they want, without the "burden" of kids. This is a selfish, anti-family, and very sad way to live, and it's vital that we put forward a more compelling vision for the future so that we save as many people as possible from going down this path of regret. Jeremy is joined by Robert Bortins, CEO of Classical Conversations, to talk about the SILK lifestyle..."Single Income, Lots of Kids". We talk about why DINK is so destructive, the underlying philosophy behind it, and how to create a real vision for flourishing. On this episode, we talk about: 0:00 Intro 1:08 DINK vs SILK 3:59 Promotion of certain lifestyles 9:37 What's wrong with celebrating DINK? 15:45 Vision for flourishing 21:40 Narratives and deciding what to celebrate Follow Family Teams: Facebook: https://facebook.com/famteams Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/familyteams Website: https://www.familyteams.com Resources Mentioned: X Post: https://x.com/TheRobertBshow/status/1994556735764533374 Classical Conversations: https://classicalconversations.com/ New York Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/opinion/marriage-divorce-happy.html Woke and Weaponized by Robert Bortins: https://wokeandweaponized.com/ Robert's Substack: https://substack.com/@therobertbshow --- Hi, welcome to the Family Teams podcast! Our goal here is to help your family become a multigenerational team on mission by providing you with Biblically rooted concepts, tools and rhythms! Your hosts are Jeremy Pryor and Jefferson Bethke. Make sure to subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube so you don't miss out on future episodes!
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef reveals the only cure for sin. If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Why Did Jesus Come from Heaven?: WATCH NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
Send us a textAudio Note: One of our microphones has a slight echo in this episode. Thanks for bearing with us—despite the technical hiccup, the conversation is strong and we believe it's worth sharing.Christian and Biblically inspired media is on the rise, offering new ways to share faith and spark spiritual conversations. But is it actually helping people grow, or becoming a substitute for real Bible study and discipleship? In this episode, we explore the strengths and shortcomings of this trend and what role Christian media should—and shouldn't—play in evangelism today.Does Christian media serve as a replacement for searching the scriptures for you? Does the media you consume inspire you to pursue a perishable wreath, or the everlasting crown of life?Give us your answers in the comments below. =====Searching for answers to life's questions? Need help finding a church? Drop us a line. We would love to help you find a congregation that practices the love of Christ. The Extra Mile Podcast is a work of Milwaukee Ave Church of Christ in Lubbock, TX. Assembly times:9:30 AM - Classes for all ages10:30 AM - Sunday Morning Assembly5:00 PM - Sunday Evening Assembly7:00 PM - Wednesday Evening AssemblyEmail us: the.emile.pod@gmail.comInstagram: @extramilepodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/546CHn6Qvdh807yhYC5sHL?si=j6-jHRTiRh6_Non9E9URagApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-extra-mile-podcast/id1550189689Google Play: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xMjgwNTI1LnJzcwWe would love to hear from you! Email: the.emile.pod@gmail.com Instagram: @extramilepodcast
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef explores the wonder of Christmas through the beloved hymn “O Holy Night.” If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Why Did Jesus Come from Heaven?: WATCH NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef looks at God's message to you through Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. This devotional is adapted from MY Journal, Leading The Way's monthly devotional magazine. Sign up now for a free six-month subscription to MY Journal—Dr. Youssef's gift to you.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch or listen to Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Let's Go to Bethlehem: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef explores the significance of Bethlehem in the Christmas story. This devotional is adapted from MY Journal, Leading The Way's monthly devotional magazine. Sign up now for a free six-month subscription to MY Journal—Dr. Youssef's gift to you.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch or listen to Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Let's Go to Bethlehem: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef explains the arrival of the Wise Men onto the scene of the young Savior. This devotional is adapted from MY Journal, Leading The Way's monthly devotional magazine. Sign up now for a free six-month subscription to MY Journal—Dr. Youssef's gift to you.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch or listen to Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Let's Go to Bethlehem: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef explores God's purposes in choosing Bethlehem as the birthplace of our Savior.This devotional is adapted from MY Journal, Leading The Way's monthly devotional magazine. Sign up now for a free six-month subscription to MY Journal—Dr. Youssef's gift to you.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch or listen to Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Let's Go to Bethlehem: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef exhorts us not to crowd out Christ this Christmas.This devotional is adapted from MY Journal, Leading The Way's monthly devotional magazine. Sign up now for a free six-month subscription to MY Journal—Dr. Youssef's gift to you.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Make Room for Him so That He May Have Room for You: LISTEN NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
Many Christians are also successful business people, entrepreneurs, and leaders in the corporate world. A good portion of these people steward their gifts and influence within their communities to advance the mission of Christ through their work.Navigating business ownership can be overwhelming, and without a clear foundation many believers simply adopt the patterns and the philosophies of the world around them. Today's conversation is about recovering a distinctly biblical way of building a business, one rooted in wisdom, integrity, stewardship, and the character of God himself. Whether you're running a small side hustle or leading a growing company, Scripture offers practical principles that speak directly to leadership, culture, planning, and the everyday decisions that shape a business. To help us unpack all of this, we are joined by Eric Phillips, who serves as the praise and worship pastor at Midtown Baptist Temple and has spent years working in the secular business world in sales strategy and leadership. He is here to discuss his new book, Building Business Biblically, and to help us think wisely about what it means to build a business that honors Christ.Visit https://www.lfbi.org/books to purchase Building Business Biblically by Eric PhillipsVisit https://www.lfbi.org/learnmore
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef distinguishes true peace from false peace.This devotional is adapted from MY Journal, Leading The Way's monthly devotional magazine. Sign up now for a free six-month subscription to MY Journal—Dr. Youssef's gift to you.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon It's Contagious . . . Pass It On, Part 7: LISTEN NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
In this final episode of our Family God's Way series, Pastor Jeff explores two pillars essential to every Christian household: the wisdom of God and the grace of God. Drawing from Proverbs 3:5–6 and Acts 20:32, we discover that families cannot flourish on human insight or human strength alone. Instead, the Lord invites us to trust Him with all our hearts, acknowledge Him in every matter, and receive the supernatural strength that comes through His grace. This episode unpacks: Why marriages and families must learn to lean on the Lord's understanding—not their own How God promises to direct our paths when we acknowledge Him in all things The indispensable role of grace in sustaining relationships, overcoming weakness, and walking in unity Why Christian homes must become households of prayer, continually seeking God's help and enabling How the Lord builds, strengthens, and upholds the family by His Spirit If you long for a home guided by God's wisdom and strengthened by His grace, this episode will point you back to the One who faithfully leads, empowers, and builds every household that trusts in Him. Many believers want to help others but feel unprepared to counsel Biblically. If that's you, you're not alone. We train Christians to counsel with Scripture so they can help hurting people find hope in Christ. At the Biblical Counseling Academy, you'll receive clear and practical training rooted in God's Word—designed for real ministry and real people. In as little as 12 months, with just 5 hours per week, you'll be equipped and certified to counsel with confidence and clarity. If you sense the Lord calling you to grow in this area…
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef shows the power of praise to bring peace drawing from Mary's Magnificat.This devotional is adapted from MY Journal, Leading The Way's monthly devotional magazine. Sign up now for a free six-month subscription to MY Journal—Dr. Youssef's gift to you.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon The People Who Missed Christmas: WATCH NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!
What if Christians approached Scripture with the same passion fans bring to their favorite series?Ben and pastor Landon MacDonald explore why biblical engagement is collapsing, how the seeker-sensitive era shaped our assumptions, and what it looks like to rediscover a living, Spirit-led relationship with the BibleListen to the full episode hereSpotifyiTunes----------------------Ben has completely revised and updated his powerful book, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis—a must-read guide for anyone longing to reach those who may never step foot in a church. Packed with real-world insights and practical strategies, this book could be the breakthrough you've been searching for.Don't wait—get your copy today!Click HERE to check it out on Amazon.For more information, go to: jesusinthesecularworld.com------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Click below to follow the regulars on Instagram!Ben PierceDavid PierceChad JohnsonLuke GreenwoodSend us a text
If you've ever struggled to find the line between teaching your children life skills while also not putting them in dangerous situations, then this episode is for you. In it, we explore what the true purpose of promoting autonomy in our kids is from a biblical perspective and how we can do that while fulfilling our God-given parental roles of protecting and discipling.Practicing discernment in parenting is hard in lots of areas—but especially ones in which there is so much noise about the psychological ramifications of we do/do not do something just so. Be encouraged we have great agency, as Spirit-led parents, to make judgment calls in this area of responsibility and safety that work for our families. Mentions:MIFM Podcast Episode 15: Giving Our Kids Appropriate ResponsibilitiesSponsor Info:Voetberg Music AcademyVoetberg Music Academy provides online, at home, shareable lessons so that your kids can pursue their musical passions without stress or hassle.Use Code: MISFORMAMA20 For 20% Off Of Each Month That You're Enrolled!Bible References:Psalm 82:3-41 Timothy 4:12Ephesians 6:4James 1:5Matthew 18:2-6Philippians 2:4Links:The Gentleness ChallengePenny Reward SystemPaint & ProseM Is for MamaPenny Reward System