Podcasts about Bridegroom

The Name Above Every Name Conference Four Becoming Prayer When the Name Becomes Our Life “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” — Galatians 2:20 Over these past conferences we have spoken of receiving the holy Name, guarding the heart, and learning to stand before God with a broken spirit. All of these are necessary. Yet none of them is the destination. The Jesus Prayer is not an achievement. It is not even the highest form of prayer. It is a road. It leads somewhere. Or rather, it leads to Someone. Its purpose is not that we should become occupied with prayer. Its purpose is that we should become occupied with Christ. Everything else is secondary. ⸻⸻⸻ When the Fathers speak of unceasing prayer, they do not imagine a person anxiously repeating words every moment of the day. Such an understanding would quickly become exhausting. Rather, they speak of a heart that has learned never to depart from Christ. The words remain precious. They accompany us throughout our life. Yet gradually the relationship they express becomes more important than the words themselves. The prayer begins on our lips. It descends into the mind. It finds rest in the heart. Finally, it becomes the atmosphere in which we live. Not because we are continually conscious of it. But because Christ has quietly become the center of everything. ⸻⸻⸻ This is why Archimandrite Zacharias insists that the measure of prayer is not extraordinary experiences. The measure is love. Has the heart become more patient? More forgiving? More merciful? More truthful? More humble? If not, then no matter how many prayers have been recited, the purpose has been missed. The true miracle of the Jesus Prayer is not mystical phenomena. It is the slow transformation of a human being into the likeness of Christ. ⸻⸻⸻ 2 There is a temptation that comes even in the spiritual life. We begin to love prayer more than we love God. We become attached to certain feelings. Certain consolations. Certain moments of peace. When they disappear, we imagine we have lost everything. The Fathers quietly remind us that God sometimes removes sensible consolation so that we may seek Him alone. The Bride must learn to love the Bridegroom more than His gifts. Only then does love become pure. ⸻⸻⸻ One of the most beautiful teachings of St. Silouan, so often repeated by Elder Sophrony and Archimandrite Zacharias, is that the heart gradually becomes capable of embracing the whole Adam. At first we pray for ourselves. Then for those closest to us. Then for those we love. Eventually, grace begins to enlarge the heart. We discover ourselves praying for strangers. For enemies. For those who have forgotten God. For those who have wounded us. For those who have never known love. 3 The circle widens until there are no longer any outsiders. This is not something we accomplish. It is something Christ accomplishes within us. His own love begins to beat within the human heart. ⸻⸻⸻ The Jesus Prayer therefore has a profoundly priestly character. Every baptized Christian is called to stand before God on behalf of the world. We bring before Him those who cannot pray. Those who no longer believe. Those crushed by despair. Those trapped in addiction. Those overwhelmed by grief. Those who have forgotten even their own dignity. We carry them quietly within our hearts. Not because we are strong enough. But because Christ carries them within His. Prayer becomes participation in His own intercession before the Father. ⸻⸻⸻ There is another fruit that often goes unnoticed. The heart becomes grateful. Not merely thankful when life is pleasant. 4 Grateful always. The one who continually invokes the Name slowly discovers that every breath is gift. Every sunrise. Every meal. Every encounter. Every sorrow. Even suffering becomes a place where Christ may be found. Thanksgiving begins to permeate ordinary life. The Eucharist extends into every hour of the day. ⸻⸻⸻ The Fathers speak often of stillness. Many misunderstand this word. Stillness is not merely external silence. Nor is it freedom from activity. Stillness is the quiet confidence that Christ is present. A person may live in a monastery or in a crowded city. He may spend his days alone or surrounded by people. Stillness is possible wherever the heart has learned to remain with Christ. The Jesus Prayer becomes the guardian of this hidden peace. ⸻⸻⸻ As years pass, the prayer itself often becomes simpler. Sometimes the full prayer is spoken. 5 Sometimes only the holy Name. Sometimes no words at all. Only the silent awareness of His presence. The Fathers do not prescribe these movements. Grace teaches each soul according to its need. The important thing is never to abandon humility. The closer we draw to Christ, the more clearly we perceive that everything is gift. Nothing has been earned. Everything has been received. ⸻⸻⸻ Perhaps this explains why the greatest saints seem so ordinary. They do not appear remarkable. They seldom speak about themselves. They rarely attract attention. Having forgotten themselves, they have become transparent to Christ. People leave their presence remembering Him rather than them. This is the hidden victory of the Jesus Prayer. Not that we become known as holy. But that Christ alone becomes visible. ⸻⸻⸻ When we first began this retreat, we asked a simple question. 6 Why this Name? Now perhaps we may answer it. Because within this Name dwells the whole mystery of our salvation. The humility of Bethlehem. The obedience of Nazareth. The compassion shown to sinners. The tears shed over Jerusalem. The Cross. The silence of Holy Saturday. The glory of the Resurrection. The fire of Pentecost. Everything is contained within the Person whose Name we invoke. Each time we whisper, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me,” we stand before the whole mystery of the Gospel. Nothing essential is absent. ⸻⸻⸻ Soon this retreat will end. We shall return to our homes. To our families. To our work. To our responsibilities. 7 The hidden battle will continue. Distractions will return. Weakness will remain. But now the holy Name goes with us. It accompanies every step. It enters every conversation. It sanctifies every sorrow. It illumines every joy. Little by little, almost unnoticed, Christ Himself begins to gather the scattered fragments of our lives into a single offering to the Father. This is the true work of the Jesus Prayer. Not escape from the world. But the transfiguration of the heart within the world. ⸻⸻⸻ Let us therefore ask for no extraordinary gifts. Let us ask only for faithfulness. May the Name of Jesus remain upon our lips in times of joy and in times of grief. May it guard us in temptation. Strengthen us in weakness. Console us in loneliness. Humble us in success. Sustain us in suffering. 8 And at the hour of our death, when every earthly support has fallen away, may the holy Name still be found within our hearts—not as a formula we have mastered, but as the living presence of the Friend who has walked beside us all our lives. For in the end, the greatest fruit of the Jesus Prayer is not that we have learned to repeat the Name of Christ. It is that, through His infinite mercy, the Name of Christ has slowly written itself upon our hearts. And when that has happened, prayer has become life, and life itself has become an unending hymn of love to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. Amen. 9

For decades, people have been addressing love letters to an oak tree deep in the Dodauer Forest in Germany called the Bridegroom's Oak. The hope is that a passerby might find their letter, write back and form a connection. Journalist Elliot Stein visited this romantic post office box and talked to the mail carrier who used to deliver these letters and who one day, found a letter that was addressed to him.  If you would like to address your own love letter to the Bridegroom's Oak, the mailing address is:  Bräutigamseiche, Dodau 99 Dodauer Forst, 23701 Eutin, Germany Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

John 4 is one of the most beloved stories in the Gospels—but what if it is about far more than a private conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman? In this lesson, we explore John chapter 4 through the symbolic world of the Bible, uncovering how John's Gospel presents Jesus as the divine Bridegroom who has come to reclaim His bride. Throughout the Old Testament, wells are repeatedly the setting for covenant and betrothal. Abraham's servant meets Rebekah at a well. Jacob meets Rachel at a well. Moses meets Zipporah at a well. By intentionally placing Jesus at Jacob's Well, John invites us to recognize a familiar biblical pattern: a bridegroom has arrived. But who is the bride? By the first century, the region once known as the northern kingdom of Israel was called Samaria. Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman becomes a symbolic encounter with the people of Samaria themselves—a people long separated from Judah, yet still sought by God. We also examine Jesus' enigmatic statement that the woman has had "five husbands." Rather than focusing on her personal morality, we connect these words to 2 Kings 17, where five foreign nations were settled in Samaria following the Assyrian conquest. Their gods and religious practices profoundly shaped the identity of the region, providing a remarkable historical backdrop to Jesus' words. Finally, we explore Jesus' statement that the woman is "living with a man who is not your husband." We consider how this points beyond an individual relationship to the political and religious realities of first-century Samaria, including Roman rule and the temple to Caesar Augustus built by Herod the Great in the city of Samaria (Sebaste). Against this backdrop, Jesus calls His people away from earthly allegiances and back into a covenant relationship with God. Join us as we uncover the historical, cultural, and symbolic richness of John 4 and discover how this familiar story proclaims God's enduring desire to restore His covenant people. --------------------------------------------------------------------- www.figtreeministries.org **New Site!! www.figtreeteaching.com (Old Site) Lesson Handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/the-hidden-meaning-of-john-4-a-bride-at-a-well Article: John 4 & the Samaritan Woman at the Well https://www.figtreeministries.org/post/john-4-the-samaritan-woman-at-the-well

Send us a comment or question!Calvary Chapel Franklin: http://calvarychapelfranklin.com/  Email: info@calvarychapelfranklin.com  Telegram: https://t.me/parsonspadpodcastTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ccfranklintn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelFranklin/  Subscribe to the audio podcast: https://parsonspad.buzzsprout.com/  iTunes: Parson's Pad Podcast Calvary Chapel Franklin meets on Sunday mornings / Wednesday Evenings at: 415 Franklin Rd, Franklin TN 37069 Mail: PO Box 1993 Spring Hill TN 37174 If you need a Bible, please download the free Gideon's app for iPhone or Android: https://gideons.org/  Calvary Chapel Franklin is a 501c3 tax exempt religious organization. If you would like to donate to support this ministry, please click here: https://calvarychapelfranklin.churchcenter.com/giving 

This week's sermon was delivered by Nick Wood, who used the analogy of a wedding day and marriage to illustrate the covenant between the Israelites and God. Nick explained that the covenant established in the Old Testament revealed its limitations, as it was impossible for the Israelites to keep God's Law through their own strength. Their relationship with God depended on their ability to remain holy, yet they continually fell short. In contrast, believers are recipients of God's grace through Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom, who sacrificed His life on our behalf. Through His death and resurrection, we are atoned for and saved, something we could never achieve through our own efforts or strength.

In this message from our The Names of Jesus series, we explore what it means for Jesus to be the Bridegroom. Throughout Scripture, God reveals His faithful, covenant love for His people, and in Christ we see that love fully displayed. Discover how Jesus invites us to receive Him, find lasting joy in His presence, and faithfully await the day He returns for His bride.⚫CONNECT WITH US:

What if every wedding is pointing to a far greater celebration? In this powerful message from Revelation 19, we're reminded that the greatest love story ever told is God's relentless pursuit of His people. Through the beautiful imagery of a wedding feast, this sermon reveals the unwavering faithfulness of Christ—the Bridegroom who never abandons His bride, but instead lays down His life to cleanse, restore, and prepare her for the day they will be united forever. Discover why our confidence rests not in our own faithfulness, but in God's unchanging promises. Learn what it means to rejoice in the certainty of Christ's victory, embrace the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, and fight for the beauty and purity of His Church with grace, truth, and love.

Send us a comment or question!Calvary Chapel Franklin: http://calvarychapelfranklin.com/  Email: info@calvarychapelfranklin.com  Telegram: https://t.me/parsonspadpodcastTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ccfranklintn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelFranklin/  Subscribe to the audio podcast: https://parsonspad.buzzsprout.com/  iTunes: Parson's Pad Podcast Calvary Chapel Franklin meets on Sunday mornings / Wednesday Evenings at: 415 Franklin Rd, Franklin TN 37069 Mail: PO Box 1993 Spring Hill TN 37174 If you need a Bible, please download the free Gideon's app for iPhone or Android: https://gideons.org/  Calvary Chapel Franklin is a 501c3 tax exempt religious organization. If you would like to donate to support this ministry, please click here: https://calvarychapelfranklin.churchcenter.com/giving 

Horror: Witch's Tale “House of the Bridegroom” 6/26/33 Syndicated, Mysterious Traveler “The Visiting Corpse” 8/17/48 MBS.

Speaker: Pastor Brent Armstrong Passage: Matthew 25:1-13  

Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish virgins emphasizes the need to be ready for when he comes.  It is something that we must always be ready for, and not something when he can get ready for when it arrives.  More than just desiring to be at the wedding feast of the Lamb, we must … Continue reading Are You Ready for the Bridegroom? – Matthew 25:1-13 (7/26/26 a.m. sermon)

She was from Tyre in Syria, the daughter of a pagan named Urban. She is a miraculous example of one brought to faith in Christ without any human intervention. When she was about eleven years old, her father, seeing her great beauty and wanting to protect her from men until she was grown, made her live alone on the top floor of a fine house, with slaves, all worldly comforts, and gold and silver idols. Passing the time by looking out the window, Christina came by her meditations on the beauty and order of nature to believe in the one, living God. An Angel of the Lord then came to her, who marked her with the sign of the Cross and instructed her in the truth of the Gospel. The newly-enlightened Christina smashed all the idols in her room, so infuriating her father that he sent her to be tortured and beheaded for her faith. Her father, though in good health and in the prime of life, died that night. Christina was subjected to horrible tortures and mutilations, and finally died by the sword, her faith unshaken.   Troparion to St Christina: O Lord Jesus, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice:* O my Bridegroom, Thee I love;* and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy baptism am crucified and buried.* I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee;* for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee:* accept me offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice.* Lord, save our souls through her intercessions,* since Thou art great in mercy.

This is an episode that was recorded and released about a year ago, but we wanted to bring a few of our favorites back since we've covered so many good titles in the past! We hope you enjoy.

The Parable of the 10 Bridesmaids gives us a clear picture of pieces of Jesus' return.  The Bridegroom in Coming!  We have a responsibility to be prepared for his return.  Of course, as Christ Followers, we expect it, but we have to be prepared for it!  Watch through the end of the message, the images of the Jewish wedding and Christ return in mind blowing.  Praying for you as you watch and listen!Welcome to the Liberty Church online experience!_If you would like more information about Liberty, get on our email list or just simply want to get better connected, text "INFO" to 478.217.7563 _Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? You may be wondering what's next on your journey. We want to help or answer any questions you may have. Let us guide you to your next steps in your walk with Christ: https://lbcdublin.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/133/responses/new_Looking for a place to serve and partner with us? Click here: https://lbcdublin.com/serve_Want to give online or set up automatic giving? Click here: https://lbcdublin.com/give

Michael Guertin Sermon

Revelation 19:11–20:15

Six days before Passover, as all Jerusalem prepares lambs for slaughter, Mary pours out a pound of costly perfume over Jesus' feet at a dinner in the slum of Bethany, and the whole house fills with its fragrance. In this single extravagant act, Jesus is revealed as the Passover lamb, the consecrated priest, the anointed King, and the Bridegroom on his way to the grave. David and Christine walk through Jesus' anointing in John 12, tracing how Mary's offering prepares the body of Life himself to carry the aroma of resurrection down into the tomb.

Scripture describes the church as a bride preparing to appear in unblemished splendor before her loving Bridegroom. Today, Sinclair Ferguson shows how this image helps us be patient with one another's progress in sanctification. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/things-unseen-with-sinclair-ferguson/the-bride-of-christ/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

This week, one of our elders, Blake Smith, shares about the Church as the Bride. The Bride is one of the most frequent ways the Bible refers to the Church and the analogy of Christ and the Church displayed in marriage is deeply meaningful. The Church is an imperfect, yet wholly loved and chosen Bride, and we get to be pursued by the greatest Bridegroom of all time. Listen in as we unpack The Church as the Bride of Christ.

Are you ready for the wedding? In this episode, Pastor Nicholas Hodge unpacks what it means to prepare for Christ's return.Jesus is coming back for his Bride, but this isn't just a future event to wait on, it's a present reality that calls us to live ready now. Just as Esther prepared to meet the king, we're called to prepare our hearts for our Bridegroom, examining his character, his fragrance, and the garments he's given his people. True readiness isn't about appearances. It's a life transformed by Jesus.Does your life reflect the One you belong to?Learn more about who we are at rochesterchristian.church

July 8th, 2026:  Poverty - The Marrow of Martyrs;  St Elizabeth of Portugal - God Is on the Side of Virtue;  Our Incredible Marriage with God;  St Elizabeth of Portugal & A Third Order to Counteract Freemasonry;  Christ the Bridegroom

The story of Samson is a challenging test, a riddle, a parable. Even as we examine the text, the text is examining us – it is testing and cross-examining our loyalties. Samson is not a tidy Sunday school story. He is a wild man, often driven by the Holy Spirit, sometimes driven by his lusts. And the questions require us to think carefully and apply them to ourselves. The Text: “Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines. Then he came up and told his father and mother, “I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife…” (Judges 14:1-20)King's Cross Church is a member congregation of the CREC in Moscow, ID. Visit our website at https://kingscrossmoscow.com.Follow us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/kingscrossmoscow.

In this episode, we begin our summer book study on Friendship in the Lord by Fr. Paul Hinnebusch, OP. We focus on the foreword and prologue and reflect on the difference between prudence and fear, the ways we self-protect in relationships, and our longing for authentic communion. We also talk about what it means to love without possessing, how to receive others as a gift, and why friendship is a foretaste of heaven.    Other Resources Mentioned: Friendship in the Lord Study Webpage Small Group Discussion Guide   Announcement: If you'd like a copy of Friendship in the Lord, you can buy your copy from Ave Maria Press (or Amazon).   Journal Questions: How do I self protect and hide myself in my relationships? When have I felt embarrassed by my own need for friendship? Do I allow people to be free in my relationships? How has a friend failed me and how have I failed a friend?   Discussion Questions: How do you define good friendship? How have your friendships brought you closer to the Lord? How is God inviting you to bring your relationships into closer communion with God? When have you experienced possessiveness in your friendships? What hopes and desires do I have for my friendships?   Quotes to Ponder: "A true friend is a sort of icon of God, an other through whom the Lord's kindness and mercy shine in a manner that binds up and anoints our brokenness." (Forward to Friendship in the Lord, Fr. John Burns, xv)    "As Fr. Hinnebusch says so well, "What a Christian friend wants above all else for the loved one is his or her communion with the Lord. The one I love, my wife, my husband, my friend, belongs first of all to the Lord. And in that sense, I am only the friend of the Bridegroom. He alone is true Spouse of each and every human heart. He must increase, while I must decrease."" (Forward to Friendship in the Lord, xvii)   "A friendship is two lives joined in love and lived as one. But friendship in the Lord is never two people closed in upon themselves. Each of the friends is fully open to the Lord and open to other friends in such a way that the friendship is always part of a larger community. The Christian community is a cluster of many friendships knit together." (Preface to Friendship in the Lord, xix)    Scripture for Lectio: "Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.  But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,     and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."  When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,  but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus." (Matthew 1:10-25)   Sponsor - Ascension: For the first time in more than 50 years, the Church in the United States will begin praying with a new translation of The Liturgy of the Hours starting in 2027. This long-awaited update marks a historic moment in the life of the Church and offers the opportunity for a renewed encounter with her daily prayer. Chosen by the USCCB as one of the official publishers, Ascension has carefully crafted an edition designed to serve the Church's prayer for generations. Every detail has been thoughtfully considered to provide exceptional readability, lasting durability, and beauty worthy of this sacred tradition. Ascension's Edition features: Original commissioned artwork rooted in Catholic Tradition Top-of-the-line typesetting to maximize readability Custom Ascension Serif typeface to support extended prayer Durable Smyth-sewn binding and premium materials crafted for daily use Availability in multiple formats to support individual prayer needs Available in both Standard and Large Print formats, with three cover materials to choose from, The Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition may be preordered as individual volumes or as the complete four-volume bundle. Volume II will begin shipping on January 1, 2027, in time for use beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027. Experience the beauty of the Church's daily prayer in an edition thoughtfully crafted to support prayer for generations. Preorder The Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition at www.AscensionPress.com/Abiding.   Timestamps: 00:00 Ascension 01:32 Intro 02:19 Welcome 07:06 Scripture Verse and Quote to Ponder 08:32 Becoming an Icon of God 10:21 Self Protection in Relationships 12:40 Adult Friendships Must Be Cultivated 15:11 One Person Cannot Satisfy All Our Desires 19:55 Christian Community is a Cluster of Friendships 23:39 The Temptation to Possess 27:42 Closing Prayer

The term “the bride of Christ” is widely misunderstood. Many Christians assume that everyone who is saved automatically belongs to the Bride who will reign with Christ. Yet Scripture presents a far more searching picture. Throughout the Bible, the bride is portrayed as a virtuous woman—set apart, faithful, and wholly devoted to her Bridegroom.

Fr. Patrick preached this homily on July 4, 2026. The readings are from Amos 9:11-15, Psalm 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14, Matthew 9:14-17 (Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time). Connect with us! Website: https://slakingthirsts.com/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SlakingThirsts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slakingthirsts/

In Mark 2:18–22, Jesus is asked why His disciples do not fast like the disciples of John and the Pharisees. His answer reveals that the real issue is not merely fasting, but the identity and mission of Christ. Jesus is the Bridegroom who has come for His people. His presence brings joy, yet He also foretells the day when the Bridegroom will be taken away, pointing forward to the cross. Through the images of old garments, new cloth, old wineskins, and new wine, Christ teaches that He cannot be treated as a patch for self-righteous religion. He brings the fulfillment of God's promises, the life of the new covenant, and the joy of sinners welcomed by grace. This sermon calls hearers to come to Christ, not as those trusting in outward religion, but as needy sinners receiving the Bridegroom by faith.

Read OnlineThe Eternal Marriage to ComeThe disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Matthew 9:14–15In Isaiah 54:5 and Hosea 2:16–20, God is portrayed as the divine Bridegroom who espouses Israel. By invoking this imagery, Jesus reveals His divine identity as the Bridegroom who establishes a new relationship between God and His people—a relationship initially characterized by joy, intimacy, and celebration rather than sorrow.However, Jesus quickly adds a sobering note: “The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” This verse points directly to His coming Passion and death, and to our interior participation in His Passion. It is for those moments that fasting produces a necessary preparation for the sense of loss and sacrifice we are called to make throughout life.Everyone loves a wedding, especially when celebrated by faith-filled people who anticipate a fruitful life together. As the bride walks down the aisle, her face radiates joy, and the groom waits eagerly at the altar. A holy marriage reflects the ultimate destiny of Christ and His Bride, the Church. Fidelity, unity, fruitfulness, consolation, and permanence are all aspects of the communion we are invited to share with our loving God.These beautiful aspects of marriage prophetically anticipate what is to come, especially when the Bridegroom returns in glory to usher in the New Heavens and the New Earth. They also represent what we are invited to experience, by grace, during our earthly pilgrimage toward the final union in Heaven—a relationship with God that is grounded in joy, intimacy, and celebration.During this pilgrimage, the Bridegroom is at times “taken away.” Spiritually speaking, this means that Christ occasionally permits His consoling presence to be withdrawn from the soul. He does this not because He abandons us, but because, in His wisdom, He desires our growth in virtue, faith, and spiritual maturity through trials. Such purification is our participation in Christ's Passion, which both cleanses and restores the soul, transforming us into the new creation we are called to be by fully dying with and in Christ, so as to share in His new life.When the sensible consolations of grace diminish, the soul experiences spiritual fasting. Although initially painful, this fasting instills a greater urgency to seek Christ through deeper prayer. If we continually felt God's consoling presence, our love might become self-centered—loving God only because He comforts us.In the Old Testament, fasting primarily expressed external repentance. Jesus transforms fasting into a spiritual exercise that strengthens the soul during trials, dryness, and loss. Habitual fasting, such as weekly abstinence, disciplines our interior life, enabling us to love God even when consolation is absent.When the Bridegroom is “taken away,” our spiritual senses sharpen, and our longing for Christ grows more fervent. Thus, Christ's apparent absence becomes an opportunity for greater intimacy, guiding us toward a more profound, selfless love—seeking Christ Himself purely for His sake. Reflect today on how you respond when God seems distant. Do you turn toward Him with increased trust and prayer, or do you withdraw? When God seems distant or when your prayer feels dry, do you recognize the value in those moments? Resolve to engage in forms of physical fasting and other penitential acts as a way of training yourself to enter spiritual fasting with hope and strength. Let spiritual fasting become an act of pure love, preparing your heart for the eternal marriage feast to come.My Lord and Bridegroom of the Church, You call each of us, Your sons and daughters, into an eternal marriage of pure union and fidelity with You. Form and purify me by allowing me to share in Your Passion, so that my love may become holy, and I may love You with the same love with which You love me. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: word on the mountain, by vukkosticSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Send us a comment or question!0:00-7:09:Who are the 144,0007:09-14:23: Why did God create Adam and Eve when He knew they would fall in sin14:23-28:37: Does Revelation 22:19 apply to those who do not teach Revelation28:37-34:55: Will all children be raptured34:55-40:46: Trump's spiritual influences in regard to Israel40:46-46:46: Will the church replace the fallen angels in heavenCalvary Chapel Franklin: http://calvarychapelfranklin.com/  Email: info@calvarychapelfranklin.com  Telegram: https://t.me/parsonspadpodcastTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ccfranklintn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelFranklin/  Subscribe to the audio podcast: https://parsonspad.buzzsprout.com/  iTunes: Parson's Pad Podcast Calvary Chapel Franklin meets on Sunday mornings / Wednesday Evenings at: 415 Franklin Rd, Franklin TN 37069 Mail: PO Box 1993 Spring Hill TN 37174 If you need a Bible, please download the free Gideon's app for iPhone or Android: https://gideons.org/  Calvary Chapel Franklin is a 501c3 tax exempt religious organization. If you would like to donate to support this ministry, please click here: https://calvarychapelfranklin.churchcenter.com/giving 

A message from "The Gospel of Matthew" a sermon series from Pastor Matt Woods.

Tap here to send us a message!The Bride of Christ is called to live in continual preparation, allowing the cleansing power of God's Word and Spirit to make her ready for the coming of the King. Holiness is not merely an outward appearance but a life that is being purified and clothed in the righteousness that God provides. Every day is an opportunity to remain watchful, faithful, and ready, knowing that the Bridegroom will return for a bride who has made herself prepared.06/26/26 - Thursday NightScriptures:  Revelation 19:7-8Titus 3:5Ephesians 5:26Isaiah 61:10II Corinthians 7:1

Send us a comment or question!Calvary Chapel Franklin: http://calvarychapelfranklin.com/  Email: info@calvarychapelfranklin.com  Telegram: https://t.me/parsonspadpodcastTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ccfranklintn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelFranklin/  Subscribe to the audio podcast: https://parsonspad.buzzsprout.com/  iTunes: Parson's Pad Podcast Calvary Chapel Franklin meets on Sunday mornings / Wednesday Evenings at: 415 Franklin Rd, Franklin TN 37069 Mail: PO Box 1993 Spring Hill TN 37174 If you need a Bible, please download the free Gideon's app for iPhone or Android: https://gideons.org/  Calvary Chapel Franklin is a 501c3 tax exempt religious organization. If you would like to donate to support this ministry, please click here: https://calvarychapelfranklin.churchcenter.com/giving 

Send us a comment or question!Calvary Chapel Franklin: http://calvarychapelfranklin.com/  Email: info@calvarychapelfranklin.com  Telegram: https://t.me/parsonspadpodcastTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/ccfranklintn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelFranklin/  Subscribe to the audio podcast: https://parsonspad.buzzsprout.com/  iTunes: Parson's Pad Podcast Calvary Chapel Franklin meets on Sunday mornings / Wednesday Evenings at: 415 Franklin Rd, Franklin TN 37069 Mail: PO Box 1993 Spring Hill TN 37174 If you need a Bible, please download the free Gideon's app for iPhone or Android: https://gideons.org/  Calvary Chapel Franklin is a 501c3 tax exempt religious organization. If you would like to donate to support this ministry, please click here: https://calvarychapelfranklin.churchcenter.com/giving 

It's Last Call! Mother Natalia is back to teach us a realistic way to pray without ceasing.  Pints: Last Call Ep. 19 - - -

Share a commentDarkness has a way of making our deepest desires louder and our best sales pitches weaker. We start the conversation with a blunt claim: without the gospel there is no real light, no solid truth, no lasting life, and no dependable hope, only speculation and futility dressed up as confidence. That frame reshapes what we think we're offering the world and what we're actually calling people to when we talk about Jesus Christ.From there, we challenge a common habit in modern evangelism, treating Christianity like a personal upgrade: feel better, get your needs met, be happier. Drawing on Martin Lloyd-Jones and Paul's words in Romans 7:4, we argue that union with Christ is not built on making the unbeliever the center. The purpose is startling and clarifying: we are joined to the risen Bridegroom so that we might bear fruit for God. We walk through what that fruit looks like in Christian discipleship: thankful speech, surrender that dies to self, spiritual maturity through discipline, sacrificial giving that invests in people, and saving truth that multiplies across the world.Then a real-life story drives it home: a hydroplane crash, a replacement van, a breakdown in Connecticut, and a chain of frustrations that turns into an unexpected gospel conversation with a man who thinks he has six months to live. It's a practical reminder that providence often looks like interruption before it looks like meaning.If you care about the gospel, spiritual growth, and what “bearing fruit for God” actually means on an ordinary Tuesday, listen through to the closing questions. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with the fruit you want to see grow next. Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/Support the show

Share a commentDarkness has a way of making our deepest desires louder and our best sales pitches weaker. We start the conversation with a blunt claim: without the gospel there is no real light, no solid truth, no lasting life, and no dependable hope, only speculation and futility dressed up as confidence. That frame reshapes what we think we're offering the world and what we're actually calling people to when we talk about Jesus Christ.From there, we challenge a common habit in modern evangelism, treating Christianity like a personal upgrade: feel better, get your needs met, be happier. Drawing on Martin Lloyd-Jones and Paul's words in Romans 7:4, we argue that union with Christ is not built on making the unbeliever the center. The purpose is startling and clarifying: we are joined to the risen Bridegroom so that we might bear fruit for God. We walk through what that fruit looks like in Christian discipleship: thankful speech, surrender that dies to self, spiritual maturity through discipline, sacrificial giving that invests in people, and saving truth that multiplies across the world.Then a real-life story drives it home: a hydroplane crash, a replacement van, a breakdown in Connecticut, and a chain of frustrations that turns into an unexpected gospel conversation with a man who thinks he has six months to live. It's a practical reminder that providence often looks like interruption before it looks like meaning.If you care about the gospel, spiritual growth, and what “bearing fruit for God” actually means on an ordinary Tuesday, listen through to the closing questions. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with the fruit you want to see grow next. Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/Support the show

Discover the profound spiritual lesson hidden in the viral 2015 dress debate that divided the internet. This message explores the crucial difference between biblical truth, personal convictions, and opinions, and why understanding these distinctions is essential for healthy Christian living and relationships. Learn from Jesus's encounter with religious leaders in Mark chapter 2, where Pharisees and John's disciples criticized Him for not fasting according to their traditions. Explore how Jesus responded with powerful analogies about wedding celebrations, patches on old garments, and new wine in old wineskins to reveal a transformative truth about His mission. This teaching addresses common misconceptions about Christianity, including the tendency to judge other believers based on personal convictions and the mistake of trying to add Jesus to an existing lifestyle rather than embracing complete transformation. Discover why Jesus didn't come to patch up your old life but to give you an entirely new one. Key topics covered include understanding biblical truth versus personal conviction, avoiding the trap of mandating personal preferences on others, recognizing Jesus as the Bridegroom and Messiah, and embracing genuine spiritual transformation rather than religious performance. Perfect for anyone struggling with legalistic thinking, judgmental attitudes toward other believers, or confusion about what it means to truly follow Christ. This message will challenge you to examine whether you're treating Jesus as a life improvement or allowing Him to give you completely new life. Whether you're a new believer, longtime Christian, or someone exploring faith, this biblical teaching offers practical insights for authentic spiritual growth and healthier relationships within the Christian community.

God sends Moses on a mission and immediately threatens to kill him? Why does his wife then call him a "bridegroom of blood?"In today's episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie continue through their Strange Scriptures series and talk through an account in Exodus 4 where Zipporah has to circumcise her son to prevent Moses from being killed by God. This passage brings a lot of questions, and we seek to answer them!The 17:17 podcast is a ministry of Roseville Baptist Church (MN) that seeks to tackle cultural issues and societal questions from a biblical worldview so that listeners discover what the Bible has to say about the key issues they face on a daily basis. The 17:17 podcast seeks to teach the truth of God's Word in a way that is glorifying to God and easy to understand with the hope of furthering God's kingdom in Spirit and in Truth. Scriptures: Exo. 4:19-30; Exo. 2:15; Exo. 3:1; Gen. 17:7-14, 26-27; Gen. 21:2-4; Lev. 12:1-3; Josh. 5:1-7; James 4:17; 1 Tim. 3:4-5; Prov. 22:6; James 3:1.If you'd like access to our show notes, please visit www.rosevillebaptist.com/1717podcast to see them in Google Drive!Please listen, subscribe, rate, and review the podcast so that we can reach to larger audiences and share the truth of God's Word with them!Write in your own questions to be answered on the show at 1717pod@gmail.com.  God bless!

Share a commentNames matter more than we like to admit. We start with a wedding moment where getting the groom's name wrong freezes the whole room, then we follow that thread straight into the apostle Peter's claim that salvation comes through one Name: Jesus Christ. That single point becomes a doorway into Romans 7 and the weighty question so many people feel but rarely say out loud: if God's law is good, why does it feel like it always wins the case against us?We walk through Paul's careful structure in Romans 7: a principle, an illustration, and an application. The principle is blunt and universally understood: law only has jurisdiction over the living. The illustration is surprisingly intimate: marriage as a binding covenant that lasts until death. From there we explore natural law and conscience, bringing in C.S. Lewis and everyday stories that show how quickly we reach for “right” and “wrong” even when we claim morality is relative. These connections make the episode especially relevant if you're searching for Romans 7 explained, law and grace, Christian sanctification, or how the gospel actually frees a person.Then we land on Paul's answer: the law doesn't die, we do in Christ. By faith, we are made to die to the law through the body of Christ so we can belong to the One raised from the dead. We close with the hope-filled picture of the Bridegroom and the bride, the coming marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19, and the promise that this union is personal and permanent. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. What line or image stayed with you most? Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/Support the show

Share a commentNames matter more than we like to admit. We start with a wedding moment where getting the groom's name wrong freezes the whole room, then we follow that thread straight into the apostle Peter's claim that salvation comes through one Name: Jesus Christ. That single point becomes a doorway into Romans 7 and the weighty question so many people feel but rarely say out loud: if God's law is good, why does it feel like it always wins the case against us?We walk through Paul's careful structure in Romans 7: a principle, an illustration, and an application. The principle is blunt and universally understood: law only has jurisdiction over the living. The illustration is surprisingly intimate: marriage as a binding covenant that lasts until death. From there we explore natural law and conscience, bringing in C.S. Lewis and everyday stories that show how quickly we reach for “right” and “wrong” even when we claim morality is relative. These connections make the episode especially relevant if you're searching for Romans 7 explained, law and grace, Christian sanctification, or how the gospel actually frees a person.Then we land on Paul's answer: the law doesn't die, we do in Christ. By faith, we are made to die to the law through the body of Christ so we can belong to the One raised from the dead. We close with the hope-filled picture of the Bridegroom and the bride, the coming marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19, and the promise that this union is personal and permanent. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. What line or image stayed with you most? Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/Support the show

In this inspiring message titled “My Walk,” we are reminded that the Christian life is more than religious activity—it is a journey of intimacy with Jesus Christ, our Bridegroom. The sermon highlights God's desire for a close and personal relationship with every believer and emphasizes that we are not only saved but also called for a purpose. Each believer has a unique role and responsibility in God's Kingdom. As you listen, be encouraged to deepen your walk with God, embrace your calling, and faithfully serve in the place God has prepared for you in His divine plan.

In this episode of The Postscript, Jake Ford joins Pastor Ian Thomas to discuss Ian's recent teaching from Revelation 18–19. Focusing on Revelation 19:6–10, they explore the Bible's wedding motif, from Eden through Israel's covenant, Christ the Bridegroom, and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and the call for the Bride to prepare through sanctification, “putting on” Christ, and zeal for good works as a response to grace."You've Already Won" - Shane & Shane"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." - Hebrews 12:11

The Parable of the 10 Virgins that describe a wedding feast and betrothing process that is a prophetic picture of the preparation period we are in as Believers as we wait for our Bridegroom to return, Jesus Christ. Ps. Jenny unpacks the importance of spiritual preparedness through a consecrated life in order to maintain your overflow of oil supply. It is the oil supply that each individual carries that will be the factor of being let into the wedding ceremony, which is a prophetic picture of eternity with God.

Exodus 4 : 18-26

In Jude's closing benediction, we're given one of the most stabilizing promises in all of Scripture: God is able to keep you from stumbling (Jude 1:24). In this episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef explains why saving faith is not only God's gift—but also God's sustaining work. You are not kept by fear-driven performance; you are kept by Christ's faithful power. Dr. Youssef brings this promise to life through the imagery behind Jude's words: Jewish wedding traditions. In betrothal, the groom would seal the commitment with a costly dowry—then return home to prepare a place—then come again for his bride with joyful announcement. In the same way, Jesus—our Bridegroom—paid the highest price with His own blood, returned to the Father to prepare a place, and will come again. And when He does, He will present His redeemed bride without blemish or stain, declaring what His cross and resurrection accomplished. This devotional strengthens believers living in dark seasons of apostasy and pressure: keep your eyes on the future Christ secured. When you feel weak, unstable, or tempted to spiral into “trying harder,” remember the Truth—Jesus is holding you up. He will keep you from falling. Prayer: Father, help me to rest in the Truth that You will never let me go. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.  “[T]o the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen” (Jude 1:25). Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon series Contend for the Faith: WATCH NOW|LISTEN NOW The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.

If Jesus returned today, would you be ready?In this episode, John uses his own wedding day as a powerful analogy to unpack how every act of faithful obedience literally weaves your eternal wedding garment. This isn't about earning salvation, but preparing for the greatest wedding in history with a pure heart and genuine love for Christ.Watch now for an urgent, joy-filled call to examine your readiness and run wholeheartedly toward your Bridegroom.Additional ResourcesFREE Show Notes Here: https://page.church.tech/9a64fa76

Could we actually be the final generation? In this episode, Tony and John Bevere dive deep into the biblical, historical, and prophetic markers that point to a critical timeline between 2026 and 2075. From the ancient calculations of the Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls to the modern state of the global church, we explore the urgent reality of the season we are living in.  John Bevere is a respected minister, bestselling author, and co-founder of Messenger International, whose decades of teaching have deeply shaped the global Christian community. With more than 40 years in ministry and over 25 books to his name, John brings a weighty, Scripture-centered perspective to one of the most avoided and misunderstood topics in the church today: the return of Jesus Christ. Together, Tony and John discuss John's new book, "The King Is Coming", and why studying the second coming should not produce fear, laziness, or arguments, but urgency, holiness, and a deeper love for Jesus. John explains why believers must see Christ's return not merely as an end-times event, but as the long-awaited wedding of the ages between the Bridegroom and His bride.Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890

What will it feel like to see Jesus—truly see Him—for the very first time? In today's episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef shares the true account of William Montague Dyke, a blind man who longed to see his bride's face. After a risky surgery, he asked that his bandages be removed at the altar so his first sight would be her coming down the aisle. When he finally saw her, he whispered, “At last.” Dr. Youssef points to a far greater moment awaiting every believer: in heaven we won't first see the bride—we will see the Bridegroom. All our lives we've seen “through a glass darkly,” but the day is coming when we will behold Jesus face to face—and John tells us we will be transformed in that moment: “We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). The hope of Christ's return is a comfort to those who love Him and long for His appearing, but it is also a warning—and an invitation—to those who have not yet received Him. Jesus' promise still stands: “Yes, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20). Don't delay. Receive Him now—and He will receive you into heaven. Prayer: Jesus, may my love for You ever deepen as I understand the magnitude of my sin and the overwhelming redemptive power of Your love. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lambhas come, and his bridehas made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Revelation for Today, Coming Soon: WATCH NOW|LISTEN NOW The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.

Can Christ be trusted to meet his people's needs? John Piper opens John 2:1–11 to show that the Savior who gave himself for his bride will not withhold what she needs.

The Bridegroom is coming—but will the church be ready, or asleep at midnight? I want to uncover the true biblical timeline of the Second Coming, the meaning of the last trump, and why the parable of the ten virgins is more urgent today than ever. Don't miss this eye-opening message that could change how you understand prophecy—and determine whether you're prepared when He returns. 👉 Subscribe for daily updates on world events and prophecy👉 Learn more at https://watch.osn.tv/browse ⭐️: True Gold Republic: Get The Endtime Show special on precious metals at https://www.endtimegold.com 📱: It's never been easier to understand. Stream Only Source Network and access exclusive content: https://watch.osn.tv/browse 📚: Check out Jerusalem Prophecy College Online for less than $60 per course: https://jerusalemprophecycollege.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices