Podcasts about Capernaum

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus  (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 8:5–13 - When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, [6] “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” [7] And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” [8] But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. [9] For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” [10] When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. [11] I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, [12] while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [13] And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Underwrite one daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: Subscribe to the SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish Subscribe to the CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com   

Healing the Nobleman's Son (Sermon Series on John) - Sunday, 17th May 2026[Episode 20 - John Chapter 4 KJV]1. A prophet has no honour in his own country.John 4:44-45  For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.2. A nobleman with a sick sonJohn 4:46-47  So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.3. Jesus rebukes himJohn 4:48  Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.4. Jesus heals his son.John 4:49-52  The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.5. He and his household believe.John 4:53-54  So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

by Aubrey Botha https://cpcchurchimages.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/18115449/May-17-Sermon.mp3 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (MSG) 16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. Matthew 8:5-10a,13 (NLT) The Faith of a Roman Officer 5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer[a] came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant[b] lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” 7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,' and they go, or ‘Come,' and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,' they do it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel! Transcript (Transcribed by TurboScribe) We’re ending our series on prayer today, and starting a new series next week. The new series will be called, At the Right Time. You’ll have to come listen to know what it’s all about, but gonna have some fun with that. That’s a four-part series that we’re doing, kind of just before we hit the summer. And then I’m gonna be gone, I’m gonna leave you alone, and you’ll have some other people that’ll preach for you. Lord, thank you for your word. Thank you that the word always speaks into our lives, calls us to that moment to stand before you and ask, so, so Lord, what do you ask of me? In this morning, as always, we pray. We want to see Jesus. And only Jesus. The road of life can sometimes be long and hard, right? Especially when we hit those lonely, those desolate, those broken sections that seem to just kind of go on and on and on. And all you have is prayer. But it’s also true that even the most desolate road will sometimes have its moments of beauty and comfort and care. Maybe you’ll find it sitting in the shade on a hot summer’s day and just being alone for a moment and being able to speak your heart with the Lord. Just talk to him about everything in your life. Maybe it’s in finding that solution for a problem that’s been bugging you for so long and you’ve been struggling with so long. And all of a sudden, there’s the solution that you’ve been waiting for. Maybe it’s in an answered prayer when a prodigal son or daughter finally returns home. No, the thing is this. It is easy to be grateful and to give thanks when things are going well, things are working out for you. But it’s a little more difficult to say a prayer of thanks when life is hard and things are difficult and you’re struggling. So how do we do that? How do we live that? That first congregation that I told you about this morning was huge. But the cool thing about that congregation was it was 4,000 members strong. Just, it’s crazy. The average age was 43. So that’s why I baptised 23 babies. You’ll understand now. So we didn’t have a lot of senior folks there, but there was one beautiful, beautiful lady in that church. 75 years old. I think she was one of the oldest members in the church. 75. The most godly, God-fearing, Christ-following person that you could ever meet in your life sold out to the Lord Jesus. It just radiated from her. Served the Lord with everything in her. And then she got sick. And it was a horrible illness that there was no cure for. It just sucked the life out of her. And we just saw this just going down until at some stage she was bedridden. I would often go visit her. And one day I stopped at her house and we sat talking. I just could see it was a hard, hard day. And I said to her, I can see it’s a tough day for you. She says, oh no, I’ve never been better. And I said, yeah, you’re a good liar like most of us. I can see that. I said, you know, your daughter called me and she said, you’re not sleeping lately. She says, yeah, that’s true. I don’t really sleep much at night. She says, but you know what I can do when I’m awake? I can pray. I talk to the Lord. So every time I’m awake, I just have this wonderful time in the presence of the Lord, just talking to Him and giving my life to Him and allowing Him to speak into my life. And I sat there and boy did I have to swallow because I wanted to cry in that moment. And I’m supposed to be this pastor guy who’s there for her. I just was quiet for a little bit. And we spoke more and we read and we prayed together as we did. When I got in that car, I bawled my eyes out. It was about five o’clock that afternoon. I got a call from her daughter. She said, mom’s gone home to be with Jesus. How do we obtain this kind of victory? How do we die with gratitude despite what’s going on and the struggles and the hurts and the pains? How do we do that? How do we live that victory? Can I give you an answer? By living a life of gratitude. Listen to what the Word says. This is not me. The Bible says this. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 16 to 18. I’m reading from the message for you. Be cheerful no matter what. Pray all the time and thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. Be cheerful no matter what. Thank God no matter what happens. This is how God wants you who belong to Jesus to live. In Scripture, giving thanks is not just something that I could decide that I want to do every now and then. In Scripture, it’s written right there. It’s not a suggestion but a command. More than a hundred times you’ll find it written. Give thanks to the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. Do not be anxious about anything but through prayer and petition and with thanksgiving. Give your requests to God over and over and over. Give thanks. Thanks. How do we obtain that victory? By living a life of gratitude. I think the first sin was the sin of ingratitude. Remember the story right? This man called Adam and Eve or the man called Adam and his wife Eve. They lived in this beautiful garden called Eden. Eden that means this place of beauty and provision. God put them there and there was everything you could see, you could love, you could want, you could eat, everything. They needed nothing. It was so beautiful that God came and just walked through this garden. That’s how amazing it was. And then the snake slithered in and asked the question about a forbidden tree. They had everything they needed. But all of a sudden Eden was not good enough. There should be more said the devil. And ingratitude moved in like a bully on the block. Can you imagine what would have happened if gratitude won the day? If Adam and Eve scoffed at the devil and said, you get out here you snake. You have no idea. Have you seen this place? It’s got orange groves. It’s got strawberry patches. It’s got apple trees. It’s got blueberry bushes. It’s got it all. You want a tour? Get yourself out of here. But he hissed and he hissed and oh the hisses we hear every day. You need more. You don’t have enough. More cars, more horsepower, more money. More fame, more of this, more, more, more. Sounds like a song, doesn’t it? But here’s the thing. God has given us a way to break that and to step on that thing’s head. It’s called gratitude. Living before the Lord with thanks no matter what. Praying with thanksgiving no matter what. As I was preparing, I was looking for an example and I read this kind of funny, sad story. The lawyer won a case for his client and the client was really grateful for that. And he said, can I take you out for lunch to say thank you? And then we can just square up there. I’ll pay you your bill and everything is well there. But let’s go for lunch and just celebrate this. So they went for lunch, had a wonderful lunch. At the end of the lunch, the client took out of his jacket pocket a brand spanking new genuine leather wallet. And he handed that to the lawyer. The lawyer looked at the wallet, he gave it back. He said, no, no, no, I’m sorry. My fee is $500. Client smiled, took the wallet, opened it up. And he took out 10 $100 notes, counted out five, put five in the wallet. He gave him the wallet back, right? Don’t be too quick in your assessment of God’s gifts in your life. Also in the broken and the desolate and the difficult moments. Thank God every moment, every day, I think of that woman again. It’s been a tough, no, no, I’m doing well because I was in the Lord’s presence. You don’t sleep. Oh, but I’m awake and I can talk to God. Don’t be too quick in your assessment of God’s gifts in your life. Thank you. Father, you are good. Sermon number one. I need help. Sermon number two. They need help. Last week, today. Thank you. But there’s one little element that still comes with that. In the name of Jesus. Why? Another story for you. It comes from Matthew. For this one, I need my glasses because I couldn’t print it as big as the other one. Thanks, Ted. Matthew 8, 5 to 13. When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him. Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralysed and in terrible pain. Jesus said, I’ll come and heal him. But the officer said, Lord, I’m not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say go and they go or come and they come. And if I say to my slaves, do this, they do it. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. And then I’m skipping to verse 13. And then Jesus said to the Roman officer, go back home because you believed it has happened. And the young servant was healed that same hour. This Roman officer understood authority because he stood under authority, but he had authority and understood to listen to him. But when he looked at Jesus, he knew what real authority was. You don’t have to come to my house. What you have, you can stand right here and you can heal that servant. He understood the authority of Jesus. Do we? Do you know the power of the name of Jesus Christ? Do you know the authority that it has when you speak that name? Do you know that Satan and all of his devils, every time we say that name, they cringe. When he was in their presence, you read that often. What did those devils do? Don’t hurt us. Don’t do this because in the name of Jesus Christ, there is so much power. Just think about it. The Roman authority, what did they try to do? They tried to get rid of Jesus. The false religion, they tried to silence Jesus. The devil tried to kill Jesus and they all failed. Even death couldn’t hold him. He could speak a coin from the mouth of a fish. The wind and the storm and the waves listened when he spoke. He spoke to a tree that died. He spoke to a basket and it became a banquet. That’s why we pray in the name of Jesus. Because does he not remind us, Matthew 28, 18. Anyone know what that one is? For I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. All authority. When we pray in the name of Jesus, we talk to our Father because of what Jesus did and because of what Jesus can do in our lives. When I pray in the name of Jesus, it’s not the talisman that I’m using. It’s a declaration. Sickness is not in charge of my life. Jesus is. The economy is not in charge. Jesus is. My grumpy old neighbour that thinks he’s in charge of the world is not. Jesus is. Because in the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is the Lord. And we pray in the name of Jesus. Why do we pray? Because prayer matters. We pray because prayer is good because God is good. And when you come to those moments where you feel I don’t know the words, try this. Father, you are good. I need help. So do they. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen. Take a few moments, silent prayer. Father, you are good. Your goodness and your mercy follow us all the days of our lives. Even if we tried, we could not get away from your goodness. Many of us sit here today, Lord, and we say the words, good Father, I need help. And that might be a need for many things. Thank you that we know that you’re here, that you understand, and that you are there. But Father, there are other people too who need your help. And we pray for each other. We pray that you will hear the prayers of those that we love. We pray that you will hear the prayers of those that we struggle to love. Thank you that you love all of us compassionately. Lord Jesus, thank you for the name above all names. Thank you for what you are, who you are in our lives. We pray this prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Exposición de Lucas 10:13-24. ¡Ay de ti, Corazín! ¡Ay de ti, Betsaida! que si en Tiro y en Sidón se hubieran hecho los milagros que se han hecho en vosotras, tiempo ha que sentadas en cilicio y ceniza, se habrían arrepentido. 14 Por tanto, en el juicio será más tolerable el castigo para Tiro y Sidón, que para vosotras. 15 Y tú, Capernaum, que hasta los cielos eres levantada, hasta el Hades serás abatida.16 El que a vosotros oye, a mí me oye; y el que a vosotros desecha, a mí me desecha; y el que me desecha a mí, desecha al que me envió.17 Volvieron los setenta con gozo, diciendo: Señor, aun los demonios se nos sujetan en tu nombre. 18 Y les dijo: Yo veía a Satanás caer del cielo como un rayo. 19 He aquí os doy potestad de hollar serpientes y escorpiones, y sobre toda fuerza del enemigo, y nada os dañará. 20 Pero no os regocijéis de que los espíritus se os sujetan, sino regocijaos de que vuestros nombres están escritos en los cielos.21 En aquella misma hora Jesús se regocijó en el Espíritu, y dijo: Yo te alabo, oh Padre, Señor del cielo y de la tierra, porque escondiste estas cosas de los sabios y entendidos, y las has revelado a los niños. Sí, Padre, porque así te agradó. 22 Todas las cosas me fueron entregadas por mi Padre; y nadie conoce quién es el Hijo sino el Padre; ni quién es el Padre, sino el Hijo, y aquel a quien el Hijo lo quiera revelar.23 Y volviéndose a los discípulos, les dijo aparte: Bienaventurados los ojos que ven lo que vosotros veis; 24 porque os digo que muchos profetas y reyes desearon ver lo que vosotros veis, y no lo vieron; y oír lo que oís, y no lo oyeron.Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR1960)

When Jesus stood up in Nazareth and proclaimed liberty for the captives, did he really have the power to deliver on that proclamation? Listen in as Luke sends us a battlefield report from Capernaum to answer that very question!

In this Commentary Edition episode, we hear Jesus denounce three cities in particular: Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum? Have you ever wondered, "why these three?" Have a listen!

Aloha and welcome to The Mission North Shore's podcast! This Sunday's message takes us into the heart of spiritual warfare, revealing a truth that should bring tremendous comfort to every believer: Jesus Christ holds absolute authority over the entire demonic realm. Walking through Luke chapter 4, we witness Jesus in the synagogue at Capernaum, teaching with unprecedented authority that amazed everyone present. But what happens next is truly remarkable—a demon-possessed man manifests, and Jesus simply commands the demon to leave. No struggle, no contest, just immediate obedience. This scene unveils a critical truth we must grasp: demons tremble in terror at the very existence of God.

In this Commentary Edition episode, we hear Jesus denounce three cities in particular: Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum? Have you ever wondered, "why these three?" Have a listen!

Preaching the gospel- In one action-packed day at Capernaum, Jesus taught with authority, cast out demons, and healed the sick. Jesus was clear that the objective of His work was that people would "repent, and believe in the gospel."

Send us a message! (or visit outloudbible.com/contact to start a conversation)We read Luke 3 and 4 and watch Jesus step into public ministry through baptism, genealogy, and a face-to-face fight with temptation. I connect Luke's focus on Jesus' humanity to everyday pressure around provision, power, and the way Scripture can be twisted. • John the Baptist's baptism of repentance and his demand for real fruit • Practical repentance for crowds, tax collectors, and soldiers • Jesus' baptism and the Father's delight over the Son • Why Luke traces Jesus' genealogy back to Adam • The three wilderness temptations and what they reveal about our lives • Jesus' Nazareth reading from Isaiah and the hometown backlash • Jesus' authority in teaching, deliverance, and healing in Capernaum • Why knowing Scripture in context matters more than isolated verses  At outloudbible.com, you can find free resources to help you study the Bible. And while you're there, send us a message to say hi, or start a conversation about having us at your church or event. If Outloud Bible has been a valuable part of your understanding of the Bible, please consider supporting the ministry by visiting outloudbible.com.Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Discover the incredible authority of Jesus Christ and how it changes everything when God speaks. This powerful biblical teaching explores Mark 1:21-28, where Jesus demonstrates unprecedented divine authority in the synagogue at Capernaum. Learn why people were amazed by Jesus's teaching and how His authority differs from all other religious leaders and teachers. Explore the dramatic encounter between Jesus and demon-possessed man, revealing four key aspects of Christ's authority: His authoritative word, divine judgment, supernatural power, and holy nature. Understand why demons immediately recognized Jesus as the Holy One of God while religious leaders questioned His identity. This biblical exposition examines the difference between being amazed by Jesus and truly submitting to His lordship. Discover practical applications for surrendering every area of your life to Christ's authority and experience the transformative power of complete submission to God. Key topics covered include: biblical authority, Jesus Christ lordship, spiritual warfare, demon possession, divine power, Christian discipleship, biblical submission, Mark Gospel, synagogue teaching, religious authority, spiritual transformation, holy living, biblical truth, Christian growth, and practical faith application. Whether you're seeking to understand Jesus's divine nature, struggling with submission to God's authority, or looking to deepen your relationship with Christ, this teaching provides biblical insights and practical guidance for living under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Learn how the same authority that commanded demons to flee can transform your life today.

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus  (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ ⇒Check out all of Carey's books - for adults and kids, fiction and non-fiction : https://CareyGreen.com/books ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 8:5–13 - When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, [6] “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” [7] And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” [8] But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. [9] For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” [10] When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. [11] I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, [12] while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [13] And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Underwrite one daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: Subscribe to the SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish Subscribe to the HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi Subscribe to the CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/   ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

John 4:46-54 - Faith in the Word, Not the Wonder Please turn to John 4:46-54. What we'll find in these verses is that Jesus and his disciples have arrived back in Galilee. They had left Jerusalem a few days earlier. On the way, they stopped in Samaria for a brief rest. However, that rest turned into two-days. As we saw last week, many Samaritans believed. It started with the testimony of the woman at the well, but then spread to many in her town. Some believed her testimony, but many more believed in Jesus' word. And do you remember how they came to meet Jesus? She invited them. She's a great example for us. They finished their journey to Galilee and were welcomed. That brings us to verse 46. Reading of John 4:46-54 Prayer There are moments in life when you would do absolutely anything to save someone you loved. Especially if it was your child. You would break down walls. You would run into burning buildings. You would stand in the way of someone attacking them. You would do whatever it took. In fact, there are some documented cases of mothers displaying a supernatural like strength to save their children… One such case happened in 1982 up in Lawrenceville. A teenage boy named Tony Cavallo, was working under his car. Unfortunately, the jack slipped and the car fell on him. It didn't crush him, but he passed out because of it. Well, his mom, Angela, saw it happen. She ran over and literally lifted up the side of the car. She yelled for help. A neighbor heard and ran and was able to replace the jacks and pull her son to safety. There's a name for it. They call it "hysterical strength." You know, in the hysteria of the moment, someone will have unnatural strength. And that's just one example of dozens. Well, our passage this morning is not about adrenaline-induced strength, but it is about a father willing to do anything to save his dying son. If you look at verse 47, you'll read that when this man heard that Jesus was in Cana, it says, "he went to him." That sounds simple enough, except, it was anything but simple. You see, Capernaum, where he and his family lived was about 15-20 miles from Cana. And not only was it a day's journey on foot, but when you travelled from Capernaum to Cana, you were travelling up. Capernaum was right on the Sea of Galilee and Cana was up in the hill country. You would be walking uphill about 1500 feet as you travelled those 15-20 miles. It was arduous and I suspect that this man would have travelled much further. After all, his son was gravely ill. Now, before we get into the specifics… let me remind you of two background things. First, at the very end of chapter 2, the apostle John wrote that Jesus knew all people. It says there that Jesus himself knew the heart of man. That statement introduces a series of conversations that Jesus had with different people. So far, we've met Nicodemus, a Jewish teacher and judge. Then, we met someone very different - the Samaritan woman, who had been living in sin. Today is the third person, a royal official - very different than the other two. And then next week, we'll meet a poor, paralyzed man in Jerusalem. Do you see how the apostle John is conveying the full extent of Jesus' ministry? He knows the heart of all men - all mankind, and he knows our needs, including and especially our need for him. So that is one reminder. The second reminder relates to verse 54. It says that this was now the second sign that Jesus did in Galilee. The first was back in chapter 2. Jesus turned water into wine. But remember, no one knew about that miracle except Jesus' mother and the servants. I bring that up because in verse 48, people were looking for signs and wonders. Word had gotten out that Jesus could perform miracles and could heal. The question is when and where would people have heard about or seen these signs? Well, the answer goes back to chapter 2 verse 23. After Jesus cleansed the temple area, it says that he stayed in Jerusalem for the Passover and then it says, "many believed in his name after seeing the signs that he was doing." In other words, Jesus had been performing other signs, not just the ones mentioned so far. We're also told that many Galileans had actually been in Jerusalem for the Passover. Look at chapter 4 verse 45. It says, "So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast." So, there were many in Galilee who had heard about or seen Jesus perform signs in Jerusalem. And because of that, there was a buzz. Word had gotten around that Jesus was back in Galilee. He was in Cana, and they wanted to see more. Well, that word also reached this official. And so he made his way to Cana.  But who was this man? Well, we're not exactly sure, but the Greek word for official indicates that he was more than just an officer in the Roman guard. The same word could be translated "royal" as a noun. He had some official royal capacity in the Roman hierarchy. We don't know exactly what and we're also not given his nationality, but he served the government in some kind of authoritative position. Perhaps he was over the region or over the city of Capernaum or over some aspect of civil life. Furthermore, he was either wealthy enough or had a high enough status to have multiple servants. Well, this man's son lay dying in bed at home. He had heard about Jesus, who performed signs and wonders. Could it be that this Jesus could heal my son? Would he be willing to come down to Capernaum before he dies? I mean, what parent in that situation would not make the same journey? He didn't send his servants. He went himself. And he pleaded with Jesus to come down and heal his son. That phrase "come down," by the way, simply refers to coming down from the hills of Cana down to Capernaum. Jesus, would you make the day's journey and come down and heal my son? As you and I know, this official misunderstood Jesus divine nature in two ways. First, he thought that Jesus had to be there in person - that's why he asked him to come to Capernaum. And second, he thought that Jesus had to heal his son before he died - the official didn't know that Jesus could raise the dead. All he knew was that Jesus had these powers and so he went to him hoping to save his son from death. In response, what did Jesus say? Verse 48: "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." Jesus, what did you say? All I asked is that you come to Capernaum … I think you would agree… Jesus' response is interesting. He didn't really answer the request. No, instead, he addressed a different problem. This is yet another example of Jesus disrupting the natural flow of the conversation to make a point. Back in college, I worked as a camp counsellor for a couple of summers. In our training, the camp director talked about "teachable moments." He said that when something out of the ordinary happens, that was the exact moment when you could speak into the hearts and minds of your campers. Like when a fight broke out or when the camp store ran out of candy or when a kid got hurt at an activity. In those moments, the kids would be more likely to hear spiritual truths… more so than regular cabin devotions. Teachable moments are very effective. By the way, parents, take note of that concept. Well, imagine the scene in Cana. A crowd of some size was there when this royal official approached Jesus. We know this is because the word "you" in verse 48 is plural. Jesus said, "unless you (meaning you all) see signs and wonders, you all will not believe." So, multiple people were there. Why were they there? Remember, word had gotten out. Jesus was no longer just the son of Mary and Joseph. No, this was the man who had been in Jerusalem performing signs and wonders, and people wanted to witness it. So, a crowd had gathered. Then, this nobleman approached Jesus. Perhaps the people knew him. They were, after all, from the region. But even if they didn't know him personally, they would have known his royal capacity. And then he asked Jesus to do exactly what they wanted to see. He asked Jesus to heal his son. It was a teachable moment. And so, Jesus took the opportunity to address their misunderstanding about his signs and wonders. Again, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe." Jesus was saying, "You've got it backwards! You are focused on the wrong thing. You care not about the one who is performing the signs and wonders. No, all you care to see are signs and wonders themselves." Jesus was not performing the signs as if it was a magic show, yet that is how the Galileans saw it. They didn't care that these signs signified who Jesus was. No, they only cared about the wonders. Ok, let's take a little tangent, here. As some of you noticed, Amy is not here this weekend. When I'm preparing my sermon, sometimes I'll ask her for input. Specifically, I ask her about something controversial that I want to say. And usually she'll say, "you may not want to include that." Well, she wasn't around for me to ask. I'm going to say something controversial. Today in the church, we do a similar thing as the Galileans. We look for signs and wonders instead of looking to Jesus. I think we do. Sometimes we search for experiences and emotional highs to somehow legitimate our faith… or we want to hear feel-good stories. Some in the church take the latest innovations and seek to merge them with ministries or merge them with worship practices. Worship in the church can easily become man centered and not God glorifying. It often becomes a show and not worship. Our ministries can be filled with strategies that manipulate rather than calling people to faith and repentance. Much of it, to be honest, directs our attention away from faith in Christ and away his word. Others are taken in by so-called healing ministries. Now, we believe that God can heal - we often pray for healing, but these ministries claim themselves to have the ability. It's a sham. Others are drawn in by so-called pastors who promise material blessing if you just have enough faith or you give to their program. But friends, all of it is distracting us from the truth and distracting us from Christ himself and faith in him. But what if it went away? What if those innovations and emotion-inducing experiences and prosperity-promising messages went away? What if our country was overthrown by a communist regime and the church had to go underground? What if church buildings were taken over and our bank accounts were seized. What if gatherings of more than 10 people were banned. If that happened and all the consumerism and emotionalism in the church went away, would people still believe? What if you lived in North Korea where it's illegal to own a Bible and if you are found with one, you'll receive the death penalty? Would you still believe? I'm just asking. I know it's a little off topic, but it's a legitimate question. The Galileans were drawn in by the mystery and wonder of what they heard. But, as Jesus pointed out, they missed the point. It was about belief in him. It wasn't about the signs that he was performing. Those merely testified to him as the Son of God, the Savior of the World, and all those other titles that we've seen in John's gospel so far. We are called to believe him and believe his Word. Going back to this official... he was part of the crowd and Jesus was talking to him. He was targeted in Jesus' critique just as much as the other. This man had been looking for a sign - a specific sign. It wasn't at first about Jesus. But then something changed in him. You know, one of the beautiful things in this passage is how this man's faith matured. He went from a simple faith, perhaps no faith, to a deep trust in Christ which led to his entire household believing. At first, it seemed that all he cared about was his son being healed. Jesus may have only been a means to that end at first. But what we see over the course of these two days is a deep belief in Jesus and a maturing of his faith. Let me take a moment to clarify something. The Bible uses the word "faith" in two different senses. ·      The first is saving faith. Faith in the Christ for salvation, like Ephesians 2:8 - By Grace you are saved through faith. It's saving faith in Jesus and what he has done that saves us, not our works, which cannot save. That's one use of the word faith. ·      But second, faith is also something that we can mature in. Some saints in the Bible are referred to as having a strong faith. Others are said to have weak faith, and all of us are called to increase our faith. This second sense of faith is about the level of trust that we have in God and his word. Well, in this short period of time, this official's faith was born and it grew. Look at what he said in response to Jesus' exhortation. He said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus had just said to believe and not look to signs. The man's statement affirmed that he believed the Lord could heal his son. By the way, that word "sir" in the Greek can also be translated "Lord." It's the word "kurios." In fact, in other places in John, it is translated "Lord" like in chapter 11 when Martha said to Jesus "Lord, if you had been here, my brother [Lazarus] would not have died." The word "sir" doesn't fully capture the sense of reverence in this man's response. And notice what happened next. Jesus said that his son would live. As it turns out, Jesus didn't even need to go down to Capernaum. Jesus said the word and the man believed. Look at verse 50. That phrase in the middle really captures the heart of the passage. "The man believed the word that Jesus spoke." He believed Jesus' word before he could even confirm that his son was healed. That's flipped around from Jesus' critique of the people. Do you see how the official's faith was increasing? It increased even more when he met his servants. He learned that his son was healed at the exact hour when Jesus gave the word. And what was his response? Verse 53, it says, "he himself believed, and all his household." Let me note two things: ·      First, the emphasis is on Jesus. Verses 50 and 53 repeat the same exact phrase: "Jesus said 'your son will live.'" That's repeated. Any time you see a repeated phrase, it indicates the author's focus. So here, the focus is on Jesus and his word. This father believed in Jesus and his word. He no longer just believed that Jesus could heal his son. He believed in him. ·      And second, he took the responsibility to let his entire household know this. Did you notice that verse 53 is the first time that he is referred to as father? He was acting as the father, as head of his household. His whole household believed. His son who had been sick, believed. His servants believed. We don't know anything else about his household, but we know, as it says, that "all his household" believed in Jesus. It's quite the testimony. He had moved from… (#1) An earnest pursuit to find this man who may be able to heal his son, to (#2) believing Jesus' word without even seeing his son healed, to (#3) a maturing faith in Christ believing in Jesus and testifying to his whole household. May we each strive to set aside any temptations to search for wonders or signs… but instead believe in the very word of God, which testifies to Christ. In closing, I want to go back to the repeated phrase there in verse 50 and 53. Jesus said, "your son will live." It's actually present tense. Your son lives. It makes sense to translate it, "your son will live" because he'd been deathly sick and Jesus was saying he would not die from his sickness - no, he will live. These few verses not only direct us to believe in Christ and believe in his word and mature in our faith… they clearly do that, but they also reinforce that Jesus is the life giver. Life is found in him. As we've heard over and over in the Gospel of John, he has come to bring eternal life. So yes, may we believe in Jesus and in his word, but may we also believe that in him we will live.  

Click here to WATCH LIVE STREAM Worship Service on our Youtube Channel. That You May Believe, Part 14 John 6:22-71 · Many follow Jesus for the wrong reasons. John 6:22-25 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” John 6:26-27 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” John 6:28-29 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” · Jesus is the only bread of life. John 6:30-31 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'” John 6:32-34 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:36-40 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” · Stop longing for what doesn't satisfy. John 6:41-42 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven'?” John 6:43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:45-46 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. John 6:47-49 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. John 6:50-51 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” · The necessity of faith. John 6:52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” John 6:53-54 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:55-58 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” · The responses we can give. John 6:59-60 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. 60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” John 6:61-63 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. John 6:64-66 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” 66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. John 6:67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” John 6:68-69 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:70-71 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him. James 1:16-18 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Jeremiah 2:12-13 Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord, 13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. Isaiah 55:1-3 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.” Respond | Connect | Next Steps The post John: That You May Believe appeared first on Charleston Baptist Church.

Why are you here today? That's the question Jesus put to the crowd that tracked him down in Capernaum the day after he fed the five thousand. They'd crossed the sea to find him, but Jesus knew exactly why. Not because they believed in him, but because they ate their fill. In this sermon from John 6:22–27, we take a hard look at the motives behind our pursuit of Jesus, and we hear his call to stop laboring for the food that perishes and start laboring for the food that endures to eternal life. Give it a listen and let God's Word challenge you to examine where your affections truly are.Also on YouTube:⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz4K7jUVYYo⁠Sunday, April 26, 2026Pastor Kevin PierpontCalvary Church, Webberville, Michigan⁠https://calvarychurch.xyz⁠

APR 26 | Who Is This King? | Mark 9:30-50 ...They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

APR 26 | Who Is This King? | Mark 9:30-50 ...They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

APR 26 | Who Is This King? | Mark 9:30-50 ...They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

APR 26 | Who Is This King? | Mark 9:30-50 ...They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Jesus  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ ⇒ TODAY'S DAILY SPONSOR: Today’s episode is financially supported by an anonymous listener who is thankful for Gods abundant and unceasing provision. You can sponsor a daily episode of the Morning Mindset too, by going to https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/DailySponsor ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4:13–17 -And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, [14] so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: [15] “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” [17] From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: https://venmo.com/CareyNGreen  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ NON-ENGLISH VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/

Today’s Topics: William Albrecht  joins Terry for Friday with the Fathers 1) Gospel – John 6:52-59 – The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His Flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For My Flesh is true food, and My Blood is true drink. Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood remains in Me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent Me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will have life because of Me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things He said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Memorial of Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Priest and Martyr Saint Fidelis, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Terry and William discuss Early Fathers of the Church and how they believed and taught the reality that the Holy Eucharist IS the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ

Gospel John 6:52-59 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever." These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Reflection It's fascinating to me that when Jesus comes to the end of his ministry, he reveals the essence of the mystery that is the hope of all of us. God living in us. God guiding us, God using His power to help us heal one another. And he uses such a dramatic statement about standing in front of a crowd in the synagogue, and he's already a sort of a questionable character. And he screams out something that nobody would be able to make sense of by hearing it. Eat my flesh, drink my blood. I mean, that's that's really a bizarre thing. It's almost like he's stirring their imaginations on purpose so that they can say, this man who now has the authority of miracles, is claiming something that is absolutely out of our categories, because this new category that they are bringing into the world, this category of God living in you is radical. Closing Prayer Father, the words that Jesus spoke to us were so difficult in one sense to understand, but at the same time so rich, so loaded with meaning that when we ponder them, we grow slowly into the fullness of what it really means. You are choosing to live within us. You dwell in our hearts, You are in me and I am in you. That is a mystery that I can only surrender to without really understanding exactly how it works. But to know that it is changes everything. Because I'm no longer doing what I do alone, out of my own understanding or my own strength. It is you in me that does the real work. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friends of the Rosary,As we read today, on the feast day of 5th-century Saint and Father of the Church St. Cyril of Alexandria, while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus said to unbelieving Jews (John 6:52-59) that “He is the bread that came down from heaven” and “Whoever eats this bread will live forever.”“Amen, amen, I say to you,unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood,you do not have life within you.Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Bloodhas eternal life,and I will raise him on the last day.For my Flesh is true food,and my Blood is true drink.Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Bloodremains in me and I in him."When Christ spoke of giving his flesh to eat, He revealed a profound mystery that we must understand: the life-giving flesh of Christ nourishes the whole human race through divine power. Alleluia! Christ is Risen!Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠April 24, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

I've only been to Israel once, and just for a short visit, but I will never forget the thrill of seeing those places where Jesus walked when He was there, and watching all those names and places in the Bible suddenly come alive. It really was one of the highlights of my life, except for one thing. I went alone, on my way back home from a ministry trip to Africa. As I stood on the Mount of Olives, and as I walked the streets of old Jerusalem, as I experienced the feel of Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee, you know what I kept thinking? "I want my wife to see all of this. I want to experience this with my kids!" Yes, Israel was terrific, but I really wanted to share it with the people I love. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Your People In Heaven." I guess that's just the way it is when you're enjoying a special place; you want the people you care about to be there, sharing it with you. That must include the most special place of all - heaven. Imagine that you get to heaven and you see Jesus. After you fall on your face in adoration and awe, you begin to thank Him for all He did to get you to heaven. And then you ask a question that's been on your mind since you arrived, "Lord, is Scott here? Is Linda here?" What if Jesus says, "Oh, did you bring him? Did you bring her?" See, Jesus was counting on you to help those people you love understand what He did for them on the cross and to point them to the only One who could get them to heaven. In our word for today from the Word of God, Paul anticipated the joys he was expecting when he got to heaven. In 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, he says, "For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy." Now, when Paul sees Jesus, his joy is going to be that the people he loved - that he loved enough to introduce to Jesus - will be there with him. I wonder who you'll be looking for when you get to heaven; people who, as far as you know, may not be headed there right now. If you want them to be there in heaven with you, you've got to tell them how they can know the Savior who died to get them there. In fact, that's why God has you in their lives, to help them go to heaven with you. So, how are you doing with that? There are very few sadnesses deeper in life than standing by the casket of someone you could have told about Christ - you should have told about Christ - but you didn't. Well, you know, we can't have any of those opportunities back, but we do have the friends and neighbors and coworkers and loved ones who are still with us. And we still have time to tell them, but no one knows how much time. This very day you could start praying what I call the "3-open prayer." First, "Lord, open a door." That's a natural, God-given opportunity to bring up your relationship with Christ. Then, "Lord, open their heart." And then finally, "Lord, open my mouth." You don't even have to pray, "Lord, if it's Your will." It is His will. "Lord, open a door. Lord, a natural opportunity. Lord, open their heart; get them ready, and Lord, open my mouth with the words, and the approach, and the tone, and the courage to tell them what I know about You." Begin to seek opportunities, pursue opportunities to tell the people in your personal world about the Son of God who loved them enough to pay for their sin so they don't have to. If there are people you want to have in heaven with you, please while there's still time, share with them the only message that can get them there.

Welcome to Day 2844 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2844 – There is Always Hope – Luke 7:1-17 Putnam Church Message – 03/22/2026 Luke's Account of the Good News – “There is Always Hope!.”   Last week, we continued our study of the ministry of Jesus Christ with a message titled “The Twelve and Their Marching Orders.”  We learned that discipleship is: Building a life on His words until His kingdom becomes more real to us than the world around us. Today, we continue with the seventeenth message in Luke's narrative of the Good News of Jesus Christ in a message titled “There is Always Hope!”  Our Core verses for this week are Luke 7:1-17, found on page 1602 of your Pew Bibles.  The Faith of the Centurion 1 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,' and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,' and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well. Jesus Raises a Widow's Son 11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don't cry.” 14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country. Opening Prayer Father, thank You that You are the God of hope. When our strength runs out, when our wisdom fails, when our circumstances overwhelm us, You remain faithful, present, and powerful. As we open Your Word today, lift our eyes above what we can see. Strengthen those who are weary. Encourage those who are grieving. Help us to trust that with Jesus, there is always hope. Speak to our hearts through Your Spirit and shape us by Your truth. In Christ's name we pray, amen. Introduction — The Thing People Cannot Live Without There are some things human beings simply cannot do without for very long. We need water. /We need food. /We need shelter. /And in a way that is harder to measure /but no less real, /we need hope. Hope is one of those invisible necessities of life. A person can survive longer without food than we might imagine. A person can endure terrible cold, staggering pain, and crushing loss as long as hope remains alive. But when hope dies, the human spirit begins to collapse. That is why despair is so dangerous. Despair does not merely make us sad; it drains us of motion, imagination, prayer, and endurance. Hope is what keeps the stranded person scanning the horizon. Hope is what keeps the grieving mother praying one more prayer. Hope is what keeps the exhausted unemployed worker filling out one more application. Hope is what keeps the suffering saint from surrendering to the lie that nothing will ever change. And Luke 7:1–17 is a passage about hope.  Not vague optimism. Not wishful thinking. Not positive self-talk. Hope anchored in Jesus. Luke gives us two stories and places them side by side very carefully. In one story, a Gentile centurion has a beloved servant at the point of death. In the other, a widowed mother is walking behind the body of her only son. One story is full of urgent fear; the other has moved all the way into open grief. One person sends for Jesus; the other never even asks. One situation is desperate; the other, humanly speaking, is final. And Luke sets them side by side so that we will see the same truth in both directions: When Jesus steps into the situation, hopelessness does not have the last word. So if you came this morning carrying discouragement, grief, uncertainty, or some private ache that has worn your heart thin, hear this clearly at the start: There is always hope when Jesus is near. Main Point 1 — Hope Begins When We Trust Jesus Beyond What We Can See Luke 7:1–10 Luke tells us that after Jesus finished teaching the people, He returned to Capernaum. And there, the first story begins. A Roman centurion had a servant who was very sick and near death. Now that fact alone is striking. This is not a Jewish elder. This is not one of the Twelve. This is not a synagogue leader's child. This is a Roman officer. A centurion commanded roughly one hundred soldiers. He was not at the very top of the military chain, but he was significant. He had authority, experience, discipline, and social standing. He was a man used to being obeyed. And yet here he is in a place of need. That is an important reminder already: rank does not prevent sorrow. Influence does not shield the heart. Power does not protect a person from pain. This centurion has a servant he deeply values, and that servant is close to death. Now Luke gives us another surprising detail. The centurion sends Jewish elders to Jesus. That tells us something about the delicacy of the situation. A Roman officer understood enough about Jewish customs to know that asking Jesus to enter a Gentile home could create a cultural and ceremonial problem. So, he sends respected Jewish men to speak on his behalf. And these elders come to Jesus, saying, “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, 5 “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.” Their argument is based on worthiness. “He's a good man.” “He's been generous.” “He has done good things.” “He deserves kindness.” And humanly speaking, we understand that argument. We all talk that way. We say, “If anyone deserves a break, it's her.” Or, “If anyone deserves help, it's him.” But then the centurion interrupts that whole line of thinking. As Jesus approaches the house, the centurion sends another message: “Lord, don't trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. I am not even worthy to come and meet You. Just say the word from where You are, and my servant will be healed.” (Luke 7:6–7, NLT) That is extraordinary. The Jewish elders say, “He is worthy.” The centurion says, “I am not worthy.” That difference matters. The elders looked at the man's résumé. The centurion looked at Jesus. The elders were weighing merit. The centurion was resting on mercy. A Man Who Understood Authority Then he says something remarkable: “I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,' and they go, or ‘Come,' and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,' they do it.” (Luke 7:8, NLT) This man understood authority. He knew what it meant for a word backed by real authority to produce immediate action. And he believed Jesus had that kind of authority over disease. He is saying, in effect: “I do not need You to touch him. I do not need You to enter the room. I do not need a visible ritual. I do not need a dramatic display. If Your authority is what I believe it is, then distance is irrelevant. Just speak.” That is deep faith. And Jesus marvels. Luke says:...

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel – John 6:22-29 – [After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, His disciples saw him walking on the sea.] The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with His disciples in the boat, but only His disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found Him across the sea they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for Me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” So they said to Him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the One He sent.” Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Gospel John 6:22-29 After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.] The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” Reflection Taking Salvation History from the first book of the Bible till the present day. We see this evolution in understanding of who God is and who we are with Him, and in Him, and for him. And what's clear is that there had to be a major shift from Old Testament to New Testament, and there had to be a voice, a powerful voice that had authority to make this shift, to explain it, to do something that in a sense took away their need to work for. It is a gift. And to believe in that gift and to know what it is, is the key to the great transformation from Old Testament to New Testament. Closing Prayer Father, you have revealed yourself in the person of Jesus. Open our hearts to fully understand who He is, and what it means for us that He is who he is so that we too can become that and continue his work of bringing life and hope and mercy to all who meet us. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Noah Grimm preaches on Mark 2:1-17 on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

Read Online“Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” John 6:26–27The crowd desired one thing, but Jesus desired another. This reality is common to us all. Earlier in this chapter from John's Gospel, Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 men—not counting the women and children—with five barley loaves and two fish.The crowd was so ecstatic that they wanted to carry Jesus off and crown Him king. Jesus, however, had no desire to be an earthly king, so He withdrew to a mountain to be alone.The next morning, when the crowd discovered Jesus had left, they searched for Him and found Him in Capernaum with the Twelve. When they found Him, they asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus' response revealed their true motivation: “You are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.” In other words, they desired another meal. Their interest in Jesus was superficial.In John's Gospel, Jesus' miracles are referred to as “signs.” These signs point to His divine Sonship and salvific mission, revealing Him as the source of eternal life. Jesus recognized that the people sought Him not because they sought spiritual understanding or insight into His divine nature, but solely for material satisfaction—another meal. The crowd desired physical food, but Jesus desired to give them spiritual nourishment to strengthen their faith so that they would believe and receive the eternal and superabundant treasures He came to bestow. Jesus then exhorted them to work for “food that endures for eternal life.” That “food” is their belief in Him, whom the Father sent to bring eternal life.We often find ourselves desiring the passing things of this world more than we desire God. It is natural, not sinful, to experience physical hunger and desire food. But if such desires become the driving force in our lives, then they become disordered.In addition to natural desires, our spiritual desires can also become misguided. For example, if we seek Jesus in prayer solely because we have a favor to ask of Him, then we are acting much like the crowd in today's Gospel, and Jesus' words to them would apply to us: “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”Our pursuit of Jesus must not be centered on our own ideas of what is best for us. Only God knows what is best. We must understand this and allow Him to redirect our desires to seek what is eternal. We must not only seek but also desire God's work in our lives. His greatest work is that we “believe in the one he sent.” We must desire faith in Jesus and His eternal plan, abandoning every superficial or misguided pursuit.Reflect today on what you desire most from your relationship with our Lord. If your ambitions are earthly and fleeting, look higher. Seek the eternal realities God wishes to bestow, and work to realign your desires toward those alone. God is aware of our natural needs and will provide for them according to His will when we prioritize understanding Him, His divine Sonship, and His mission. Learn from the crowd in today's Gospel and heed Jesus' gentle rebuke. Believe in the One the Father sent—Jesus, the Son of God—and all good and eternal things will be lavished upon you according to His will. My heavenly King, You desire to be the King of my life, directing my every action and controlling my every desire. I give all control to You, dear Lord, and ask that you redirect my every ambition and desire in accord with Your perfect will. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: The Sermon on the Mount. by Guillaume FouaceSource: 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.

Jesus casts out demon in Capernaum

Click here to WATCH LIVE STREAM Worship Service on our Youtube Channel. That You May Believe, Part 13 John 6:1-21 John 5:46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. John 6:1-21 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. · Jesus sees the impossible. John 6:1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. Luke 9:10 On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. John 6:2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. John 6:3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Mark 6:30-32 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. John 6:4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. John 6:5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” Matthew 14:14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Mark 6:35-37 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” John 6:6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. John 6:7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” John 6:8-9 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” · Jesus does the impossible. John 6:10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Mark 6:39-40 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. John 6:11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. John 6:12-13 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. · Jesus is present in the impossible. John 6:16-17 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. Matthew 14:22-23a Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. John 6:18-20 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Mark 6:48-50 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:28-31 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Mark 6:51-52 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. John 6:21Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. Matthew 14:32-33 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” John 6:14-15 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. Respond | Connect | Next Steps The post John: That You May Believe appeared first on Charleston Baptist Church.

Gospel John 6:16-21 When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading. Reflection Nothing is repeated more in the Scriptures, in the words of Jesus, when he says, Do not be afraid. Fear is the awareness of something that is so strange and different that when we experience it, there is a sense that we are not in a place where we are in charge or in control. He invites us into a world that is so beyond our imagining. We're on a journey across the sea of darkness. And God has promised, if we do not fall into fear when we are in a place where what is happening to us doesn't make any sense. It's not something familiar. It's then that we are offered the chance to believe and to trust, and we reach our goal through faith. Closing Prayer Father, that which is not understandable, that which is mysterious is always a struggle for us to surrender to. And it's strange that there is something in us that when we don't live in a world that we know, we're afraid, we're uneasy, were unsure. We lose our confidence. Help us through those moments of fear to trust in you. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You have heard the expression:To Him who is given much, much is required. Capernaum is given, of all places in Israel, THE MOST. Will Capernaum be the epicenter of repentance? Will spiritual revival happen there?Will the PLACE that is given the MOST give back the most? Have you been given a lot? or at least ENOUGH to do the right thing with? Let's use Capernaum as an example for us in 7 short minutes.https://youtu.be/wZb2vrUqh-8

Luke 5 Explained: Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew), Dines with Sinners & the New Wine/New Wineskins Continuing the Life of Messiah series in Luke 5, Thomas Fretwell revisits Jesus' healing of the paralytic in Capernaum and then focuses on Jesus calling the tax collector Levi (Matthew), highlighting the scandal of a rabbi welcoming an ostracised Roman collaborator and the cost of discipleship as Levi leaves everything to follow Christ. Levi hosts a banquet for Jesus with tax collectors and “sinners,” prompting Pharisaic criticism, to which Jesus replies that the sick need a physician and that He came to call sinners to repentance. The episode then provides historical background on the rise of Pharisaic/rabbinic “oral law” and the fence around Torah, explaining how this context clarifies Jesus' illustrations about fasting, patching old garments, and new wine in new wineskins as a refusal to fit His mission into Pharisaic tradition and a call to bring people to Jesus. Become a supporter and get unlimited questions turned into podcasts at: www.patreon.com/theologyandapologetics YouTube Channel: Theology & Apologetics www.youtube.com/channel/UChoiZ46uyDZZY7W1K9UGAnw TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@dr.fretwell?_t=ZN-8w8NXIFTHkc&_r=1 Instagram: www.instagram.com/theology.apologetics Websites: www.ezrafoundation.org www.theologyandapologetics.com

In this powerful message, "The Offense of the Messiah," we explore Matthew 11:1–24 and uncover why Jesus was rejected—not because there was a lack of evidence, but because of offense, resistance, and refusal to repent; while John the Baptist, the greatest prophet, struggled in prison when Jesus didn't meet his expectations, Jesus responds by pointing to fulfilled Scripture and warning, "Blessed is the one who is not offended because of Me," revealing that the real issue is not doubt but stumbling over the kind of Messiah He is, and this same offense is seen in the religious leaders and the generation as a whole, who rejected both John for being too extreme and Jesus for being too gracious, proving that a hardened heart will always find a reason to reject truth, and this culminates in Jesus pronouncing judgment on the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum—places that saw His miracles and heard His teaching yet refused to repent—showing that greater revelation brings greater accountability; ultimately, this message confronts us with a sobering question: will we be like John, who questioned but stayed, or like the cities and leaders who saw everything and still rejected the King, because the greatest danger is not lacking evidence about Jesus, but refusing to surrender to Him when the truth is clear. #TheOffenseOfTheMessiah #Matthew11 #BibleTeaching #Sermon #ChristianTeaching #JesusChrist #FaithInGod #BiblicalTruth #GospelMessage #EndTimesTeaching #KingdomOfGod #JohnTheBaptist #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianFaith #TruthMatters #Repentance #FaithOverFeelings #TrustGod #WhenGodIsSilent #ChristianLiving #Scripture #BibleStudy #ChurchOnline #Preaching #GodsWord #JesusIsKing

In this powerful message, “The Offense of the Messiah,” we explore Matthew 11:1–24 and uncover why Jesus was rejected—not because there was a lack of evidence, but because of offense, resistance, and refusal to repent; while John the Baptist, the greatest prophet, struggled in prison when Jesus didn't meet his expectations, Jesus responds by pointing to fulfilled Scripture and warning, “Blessed is the one who is not offended because of Me,” revealing that the real issue is not doubt but stumbling over the kind of Messiah He is, and this same offense is seen in the religious leaders and the generation as a whole, who rejected both John for being too extreme and Jesus for being too gracious, proving that a hardened heart will always find a reason to reject truth, and this culminates in Jesus pronouncing judgment on the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum—places that saw His miracles and heard His teaching yet refused to repent—showing that greater revelation brings greater accountability; ultimately, this message confronts us with a sobering question: will we be like John, who questioned but stayed, or like the cities and leaders who saw everything and still rejected the King, because the greatest danger is not lacking evidence about Jesus, but refusing to surrender to Him when the truth is clear.   #TheOffenseOfTheMessiah #Matthew11 #BibleTeaching #Sermon #ChristianTeaching #JesusChrist #FaithInGod #BiblicalTruth #GospelMessage #EndTimesTeaching #KingdomOfGod #JohnTheBaptist #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianFaith #TruthMatters #Repentance #FaithOverFeelings #TrustGod #WhenGodIsSilent #ChristianLiving #Scripture #BibleStudy #ChurchOnline #Preaching #GodsWord #JesusIsKing #FaithJourney #SpiritualTruth #UnmetExpectations #KingdomTruth

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      Going to see G3 and not being able to get up front… but looking for a bathroom upstairs I walked in on him - “your Joe Satriani… Yes I am”.    Mark 2 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God's word (OUR JOB- PREACH THE WORD OF GOD - Preaching Gods word always messes up the religious and the traditional) to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn't bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, (PEOPLE ARE SELFISH EVEN WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS) so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. (SOMEBODY'S GOTTA GET DIRTY - uh…thats not how we do things here - the religious are always quick to point out the “right way”) 5 Seeing their faith ( GK-auton personal possessive pronoun all 5 had faith), Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” (CHILD, I AM YOUR FATHER, YOU ARE MY CHILD, I DISCERN YOUR BELIEF - you believe in me therefore you are now my child/I am your Father)  6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”  (WHY DO YOU THINK THESE MEN SAW JESUS AS THE MESSIAH BUT NOT THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS?) 8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk'? (RELIGIOUS LEADERS TAUGHT THAT SICKNESS WAS DUE TO SIN IN A PERSONS LIFE - so healing and forgiveness were intertwined) 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We've never seen anything like this before!”   a series of controversy stories (Mark 2:1–3:6) that highlight growing opposition to Jesus from Jewish religious authorities       Both reveal Jesus exercising divine authority in ways that clash with first-century Jewish expectations.     Jesus first declares, “Son, your sins are forgiven”—bypassing expected healing and striking at the root issue.     (forgiving sins is “easier” because invisible and unprovable; healing is verifiable), and performs the harder visible act to authenticate the invisible one. The healed man's immediate obedience proves Jesus' authority as the “Son of Man” who exercises divine power now, not just in a future kingdom. The crowd's reaction (“We never saw anything like this!”) underscores the unprecedented nature of the claim.   Taxi drivers in NY - get out now. Uber is coming. It will change everything.     This incident challenges the entire religious establishment: forgiveness is no longer Temple-bound but available through Jesus' word; institutional mediators (scribes, sacrifices, Pharisees, Rules and Temple system) are sidelined.

Click here to WATCH LIVE STREAM Worship Service on our Youtube Channel. That You May Believe, Part 10 John 4:46-54 John 4:46-54 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. · Faith acknowledges our desperation. John 4:46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. John 4:47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. · Faith depends on God's powerful words. John 4:48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” John 4:49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” John 4:50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. · Faith grows as we experience God's faithfulness. John 4:51-52 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” John 4:53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. John 20:30-31 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 4:54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. Matthew 27:45-46 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Psalm 22:6-8 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Psalm 22:9-11 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Psalm 22:12-13 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. Psalm 22:14-18 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— 17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. Luke 23:44-45a It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun’s light failed… Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORDhas laid on him the iniquity of us all. Psalm 22:1-2 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Psalm 22:3-5 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. Psalm 22:19-24 But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! 22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: 23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Lord's Supper Scripture Matthew 26:26-30 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Respond | Connect | Next Steps The post John: That You May Believe appeared first on Charleston Baptist Church.

He expected Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea to be unforgettable. He knew Capernaum, Caesarea, and Jerusalem would leave him in awe. But what he didn't expect? That this would be the trip he not only wanted but deeply needed. That walking the Land would feel like reading a “fifth Gospel.” And that the friendships and sense of community—*not in the brochure—would become one of the most meaningful parts of the journey. In this episode, Matt Olson of Laurel, Mississippi shares his experience from the Pastors' Trip to Jordan & Israel with Rich Ferreira (Jan. 11–23, 2026), reflecting on how this trip was far more than a tour—it was a transformative encounter with Scripture, impactful places, and most importantly, the Person of Christ. Read their trip blog: https://gtitours.org/tour-journal/israelfam26 Dancing on the Galilee boat ride: https://vimeo.com/1155614132?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci More about the pastors' discounted tour: https://gtitours.org/discipleshipincontext Video podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcitijwd7YQpy-2gjQn9DrMXJWRpGEEq&si=FP5SWjoy5rzAOFc_  

Introduction: Hebrews 1:1-3 - Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high... The Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:14-22): Will Speak God's Words – But they did not all listen See: John 12:49-50 and John 14:10, 24 Will be Like Moses – But they did not all believe See: John 6:32-35 and John 6:51, 57b-58 Will Die if He Lies – But they killed Jesus for telling the truth See: John 8:26b-28 | Psalm 22:7-8, 16-18 | Psalm 22:22-25 Jesus is the Prophet – Will You: Listen to Him? Believe Him? Speak His words? Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Audio Transcript 00:00-00:01Good morning, Harvest.00:03-00:05It's a joy to be with you this morning.00:06-00:11Open your Bibles, please, if you haven't already, to Deuteronomy chapter 18.00:12-00:16It's where we will be studying God's Word this morning.00:18-00:37And as is our usual, sometimes usual custom, I would ask, please, that you pray for me, that I would clearly, accurately preach God's Word, and I will pray for you that your hearts will be open to receive it.00:37-00:37Let's pray.00:43-01:18Gracious and holy Father, I pray, Father, you would open our hearts and minds to receive your word, that we would be absolutely convinced beyond all doubt that your word is true and that Jesus is your prophet who speaks your truth to us through your word, through your spirit at all times.01:19-01:30And I pray as we believe and trust in Him, you would transform our lives and make us more like Him every day.01:30-01:33We pray in Jesus' great name, Amen.01:35-01:44So in preparation for Resurrection Sunday, we are beginning a three-part series examining the three offices of Christ.01:45-01:47the office of prophet, priest, and king.01:49-01:53And we begin this morning with the first of these, which is prophet.01:55-01:59Now, we may listen to a lot of modern day prophets for advice on how to live.02:00-02:12The experts, the doctors, the internet influencers, the media talking heads, podcasters, entertainment celebrities, even astrologists and politicians.02:14-02:16The sources of information are endless.02:17-02:24And now we have AI at our fingertips to synthesize and summarize the sum and substance of human experience.02:27-02:40Now to be clear, I'm not talking about doctors who say eating this one food three times a day cures sleep apnea or the weird trick that cures tinnitus caused by eating this one food three times a day.02:40-02:47Now I'm talking about the major life information, answers to questions like, "Who am I?02:48-02:49What's my purpose?02:50-03:03What's the best way to live?" And when it comes to that kind of information, few to none of the infotainment talking heads can really help us, because they can only tell us what they know.03:04-03:11I'm not suggesting they aren't intelligent, but what they say may or may not be true.03:12-03:15But you say like, well, no, hold on, hold on Sprung.03:15-03:20I've heard it said that all truth is God's truth, wherever it's found.03:22-03:24Well, let's think about that for a minute.03:25-03:29God's word is perfect, pure and true according to Psalm 19.03:30-03:44So I have a metaphor this morning for us, For God's word, I think that everyone can relate to the delight over opening a brand new container of Play-Doh.03:45-03:46It's all one color.03:47-03:49Nobody's played with it yet.03:49-03:51It's not mixed up with other colors.03:52-03:57It's just fresh and clean, and it's ready for my artistic expression.04:00-04:04But you know, the inevitable happens, doesn't it?04:04-04:19Soon, what was once pure and clean, it's all mashed together with a lot of other colors and that original color becomes unidentifiable.04:22-04:23I think you get the point.04:25-04:29How do you discern God's truth in a mishmash of worldly ideas?04:30-04:37How do you extract the truth once it's all blended into futile human thoughts?04:40-04:45Well, this is the problem with the infotainment experts.04:46-04:53Their learning and experience and perspective is just a conglomeration of worldly thinking.04:54-05:09They can make educated guesses as to how to live and what's going to happen, but ultimately every single one of them is going to reach a point where they have to say, "I don't know." And some of them are speaking directly out of the pit of hell.05:10-05:13And those folks will drag you down to hell with them.05:14-05:20So you see, that's why when it comes to the astrologists and the mediums and perhaps the to celebrities and influencers.05:22-05:33Verse 14 of this morning's passage says that, "As for you, the Lord, your God, has not allowed you to do this." So to whom or what can we turn?05:33-05:37Where can we get truth for an accurate world view?05:38-05:41Because we need a perspective that is outside of ourselves.05:42-05:46Outside of this world, really, and that's what God's Word is.05:47-05:53It is the specific and special revelation of God about himself.05:58-06:01It comes from the throne of God.06:02-06:18The problem with the world is, people in the world, they look at the Bible and like, "Well, yeah, that's just one more system of thought like any other." In fact, it's probably even not as good as what AI can tell us now.06:19-06:21They have a low view of scripture.06:22-06:24We need to have a high view of scripture.06:26-06:33And as we learn from the word that was just read, we can get the truth from the prophet.06:34-06:36It is to him we must listen.06:38-06:40But what is a prophet anyway?06:41-06:42What does a prophet do?06:42-06:52We typically think of prophets as forecasting future events, often in a cryptic or mystical way, like that Nostradamus guy.06:52-06:58But biblically, that is only a partial description of what a prophet does.06:59-07:03Basically a biblical prophet speaks God's words to people.07:05-07:09The Old Testament prophets revealed three basic messages.07:11-07:18The first was that God sent many prophets to his people to rebuke them for breaking the covenant and worshiping idols.07:19-07:31This was perhaps the prophet's most important function, to remind the people of Israel that they, and only they, were in a covenantal relationship with the Lord God Most High.07:33-07:36and they were violating His covenant in a high-handed way.07:37-07:47Time and again He warned them to return to Him, or they would face the ultimate covenant punishment of being expelled from the Promised Land.07:48-08:03Not only did the prophets warn Israel and Judah that they would be punished by pagan nations for their idolatry, God also spoke to them about a future restoration, both near and at the end of the age.08:05-08:09And indeed, after the exile, they would return to the promised land.08:10-08:18And the nations that assaulted and tormented Israel in their exile, they would in turn be punished and overthrown by God.08:19-08:29And then finally, the Old Testament prophets spoke of the coming Messiah, a sometimes suffering, but ultimately victorious anointed servant.08:30-08:33The anointed one would bring salvation to his people.08:33-08:37He would inaugurate a new covenant between God and his people.08:38-08:45And the prophets gave many clues that would help the people identify the anointed one when he arrived.08:46-08:51Now, what did God expect his people to do in response to the prophets' messages?08:52-09:29expected, well no, he commanded them to repent and believe the messages to return to him and live in accordance with the covenant he made with them at Mount Sinai. And yet the Old Testament records a nearly continuous account of Israel's idolatry. They worship the idols of the nations around them. They And they sought out and listened to the words of false prophets, mediums, fortune tellers, and diviners.09:30-09:31They did not listen.09:32-09:34They did not believe.09:34-09:37They became futile in their thinking and their worship.09:37-09:47They mixed God's truth with the religions and lifestyles of the surrounding nations, and they ended up with the equivalent of this, gudo.09:49-09:52It's just a mash, a mishmash of ideas.09:53-10:02And when the prophets exposed their sin and their hypocrisy, they took offense and they put them to death.10:04-10:13So God, after bearing with his people for hundreds of years, he brought the covenantal curses down upon their heads and inflicted the ultimate punishment.10:14-10:16He exiled them from the promised land.10:18-10:22Now God of course kept his promises and he returned them to the land.10:23-10:37And roughly 400 years after that, the anointed one who was known before the foundation of the world, he was made manifest in the last times for the sake of all who would believe in and through him.10:39-10:45We of course know from the New Testament that Jesus is the promised Messiah.10:46-10:52He's the Son of God who fulfilled all that was spoken of Him by the Old Testament prophets.10:55-11:03As the writer of Hebrews says, "Long ago and at many times and in many ways, "God spoke to our fathers by the prophets.11:04-11:12"But in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, "whom He appointed the heir of all things, "through whom also He created the world.11:13-11:21"He's the radiance of the glory of God God in the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power.11:21-11:36After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." And this verse summarizes the three offices of Christ that we're going to be studying this week.11:36-11:37First is prophet.11:38-11:48"In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son." And then priest, he has made purification for sins.11:48-11:53And then finally king, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high.11:56-12:01So how do we know Jesus is the prophet foretold by Moses?12:02-12:08What evidence is there to conclusively connect Jesus to the promise of a prophet just like Moses?12:11-12:15Well, first the prophet will speak God's words.12:16-12:19Look at verse 15 of chapter 18 in Deuteronomy.12:21-12:27Verse 15 says, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers.12:28-12:35It is to him you shall listen." Thus the prophet would be raised up by God from among the Israelites.12:36-12:46And the gospels of Matthew and Luke establish that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary, and he was adopted by Joseph.12:47-12:50And both Mary and Joseph were descendants of David.12:51-12:53Jesus was born in Bethlehem.12:54-12:57His birth was attended by an angelic announcement.12:59-13:08And then when John baptized Jesus, God the Father announced that Jesus was his beloved son with whom he was well-pleased.13:09-13:17All of these events attest that Jesus was indeed raised up by God the Father from among the Israelites.13:18-13:29And these events disprove the idea that Jesus was merely a self-appointed and possibly deluded religious figure, as some people think he was.13:31-13:35And then verse 18 tells us that God's words would be in his mouth.13:36-13:47"I will put my words in his mouth and He shall speak to them all that I command Him." Now, we've already established that the prophets spoke God's words to the people.13:48-13:59But whereas they prefaced their statements with, "Thus saith the Lord," Jesus spoke as the Lord, out of the oneness that existed between Him and the Father.14:00-14:17For example, in John 12, verses 49 and 50, Jesus said, "For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment, what to say and what to speak.14:17-14:20And I know that his commandment is eternal life.14:21-14:38What I say therefore, I say as the Father has told me." And then in John 14, verses 10 and 24, he said, "The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.14:38-14:59And the word that you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me." As further proof of his prophetic office, Jesus spoke God's words in the way that the Israelites requested.15:00-15:13What I mean is this, In Exodus chapters 19 and 20, God descended in a dark cloud on Mount Sinai with thunders and lightnings and the mountains shook.15:14-15:18And out of that cloud, God spoke the 10 commandments to the people.15:19-15:54And when all the people saw the thunder and the lightning and the sound of the trumpet that they heard and they were seeing the mountain shake and the ground shaking beneath their feet, They were terrified and they stood far off and they told Moses, they said, "You speak to us and we will listen, "but do not let God speak to us lest we die." Certainly Moses continued to speak to the people and gave them God's commands during their journey to the promised land and during their wandering for 40 years in the desert.15:55-15:57And then in his final address to them in the book of Deuteronomy.16:00-16:21But in chapter 18, verses 16 and 17, Moses told the people that God would send a prophet in direct response to their request at Mount Sinai, to let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, or see this great fire anymore, lest I die.16:24-16:31So how did Jesus, in his speaking, demonstrate that he was the prophet sent by the Lord?16:32-16:37Well, there's three events that directly identify Jesus as the prophet.16:38-16:42And all of them occurred, not coincidentally, on a mountainside.16:44-16:48First, he was on the mountain when he was transfigured before Peter, James, and John.16:48-16:59and while talking with Moses and Elijah, and a bright cloud appeared and God said, "This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.17:00-17:08Listen to him." And the three disciples were like the Israelites of old, terrified by the voice of God.17:09-17:11But when they looked up, they saw only Jesus.17:14-17:26Second, the most direct connection A connection between the prophet and God speaking in the 10 commandments out of a stormy cloud is found in Matthew 5-7, the Sermon on the Mount.17:29-17:33Jesus, seeing the crowds, went up on the mountain.17:34-17:36And when he sat down, his disciples came to him.17:37-17:39And he opened his mouth and taught them.17:41-17:42And what did he teach them?17:44-17:50Well, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus exegeted the law, including most of the 10 commandments.17:51-17:59The greatest commandment, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and then to love your neighbor as yourself.18:01-18:12In that sermon, he showed the people that righteousness was not about outwardly keeping rules, but inward devotion to God that flowed from a broken and contrite heart.18:14-18:18a heart that revealed itself in confident dependence on God.18:20-18:31Instead of fire and terror, Jesus spoke to the people face to face on the mountain, just as they requested of Moses so long ago.18:32-18:41He revealed God to be merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.18:42-18:50And when Jesus finished, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority.18:52-18:57And yet, as so often happened in Israel's history, they did not all listen.18:59-19:06Yeah, there were those who did, but it seems for the most part, people were going out to Jesus for signs and wonders.19:07-19:08The crowds were fickle.19:08-19:10They were ambivalent about him.19:11-19:15and the religious leaders were so hostile, they wanted to kill him.19:18-19:26In Jesus, Israel got what she asked for hundreds of years earlier, a prophet speaking God's words to them face to face.19:27-19:35And even though his teaching astonished them, they eventually decided that Jesus really wasn't the prophet or Messiah they wanted after all.19:36-19:38They wanted a vending machine God.19:38-19:42They wanted a Messiah-o-matic and give them what they wanted.19:46-19:57You see, the divide between what the people craved and who Jesus is, is revealed in a third event that demonstrated the prophet would be like Moses.20:00-20:06The third thing Jesus did on a mountainside that proved He was the prophet like Moses is this.20:07-20:12He fed well over 5,000 people with bread and fish.20:14-20:36According to John 6, after everyone had eaten their fill and 12 baskets of leftovers were collected, the people said, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world." And a day or two later, the people went looking for Jesus in Capernaum because they wanted more bread to eat.20:37-20:49Jesus knew what they wanted and he told them, "Do not work for the food that perishes, "but for the food that endures to eternal life, "which the Son of Man will give you.20:52-21:16"For on Him, God the Father has set His seal." And then the people said to him, "What must we do to be doing the works of God?" And Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." So the people said, "Jesus, what sign do you do that we might believe you?21:18-21:26What are you going to do for us, Jesus, that will persuade us to believe in you?" And then they said, "Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness.21:27-21:40Have you got more bread?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, "it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, "but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.21:41-22:02"For the bread of God is he who comes down "from heaven and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life." The people responded to Jesus' assertion with grumbling.22:03-22:11First, because he said, "He's the bread that comes down from heaven." They're like, "We want food.22:11-22:12We want bread.22:12-22:21We don't want you." But their grumbling increased because of Jesus' next extraordinary statement.22:24-22:28He said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven.22:28-22:31"If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.22:32-22:36"And the bread that I will give "for the life of the world is my flesh.22:36-22:41"Whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.22:42-22:47"This is the bread that came down from heaven, "not like the bread the fathers ate and died.22:48-22:57"Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever." Well, this was just all too much for the Jews.22:57-22:59This was just too bizarre.23:01-23:09Jesus was speaking of himself as eternal nourishment, and all they could think about was their temporary physical hunger.23:10-23:24Like the Jews in the wilderness who grumbled about God providing manna for 40 years, the crowds and even many of Jesus' disciples grumbled about Jesus being the true bread of God.23:25-23:32Like Moses, Jesus led and fed the people in ways that revealed His prophetic office.23:33-23:35But they did not all believe.23:36-23:37They took offense at Him.23:39-23:42Many turned back and no longer walked with Him.23:45-23:50So Jesus asked the 12 if they too wanted to leave Him.23:50-23:52But Peter said, "Lord, to whom shall we go?23:53-23:55You have the words of eternal life.23:56-24:00And we have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.24:03-24:07You see, Peter recognized Jesus is more than the prophet.24:07-24:14He declares Jesus is the anointed one, the Son of God, because Jesus spoke God's words of eternal life.24:17-24:22And what was the most important thing that Jesus said during his earthly ministry?24:23-24:27What did he explicitly prophesy at least three times?24:29-24:33And what did he emphasize in other ways multiple times to his disciples?24:35-24:41That he would be mocked and flogged and crucified and that he would be raised to life the third day.24:42-24:44It's a pretty extraordinary prophecy.24:47-25:05But you see, this was extremely perplexing to the disciples because they said, "Jesus, you're telling the truth." And along with the words that he spoke and the signs and wonders that he performed, all of this amply demonstrated that Jesus was in fact the Messiah.25:06-25:14There's no way he could be a false prophet because they knew that a false prophet will die if he lies.25:16-25:18Look at Deuteronomy 18.20.25:19-25:38"The prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name, that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die." The religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees and their lawyers, they insisted that Jesus was a liar.25:39-25:43They claimed he was merely witnessing about himself and that his testimony wasn't true.25:45-25:57Well, Jesus countered that by saying that God the Father is also born witness about me and that he who sent me is true and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.25:58-26:02They did not understand that he'd been speaking to them about the Father.26:04-26:25So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak just as the Father taught me." In this passage from John chapter 8, Jesus hints at what the religious leaders are planning to do to him.26:26-26:34They want to kill him, and he knows that their murderous maneuverings will result in his crucifixion.26:36-26:38You see, this is the supreme irony.26:39-26:42A prophet will die if he lies.26:43-26:49But they killed Jesus for telling the truth, just like they did the prophets of old.26:50-26:56And when Jesus was lifted up on the cross, his opponents thought he got what he deserved.26:57-27:06They were certain he was a false prophet, because if he wasn't, he wouldn't be suffering a vicious and humiliating death at the hand of Gentiles.27:09-27:17He was on the cross, the chief priests and other religious leaders mocked Him, saying, "He saved others. He can't save Himself.27:18-27:40Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe." And yet in the midst of His agony, Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" His enemies might have said, You're forsaken because you're a liar.27:41-27:44Everyone who gets hung on a tree is accursed.27:45-27:51The fact that we were able to get you crucified is proof that you, Jesus, are accursed by God.27:52-27:53You're no prophet.27:57-28:02But by crying out the first line of Psalm 22, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?28:03-28:13Jesus continues to speak the word of God in a way that reveals that the cross is the culmination of his earthly mission.28:15-28:17Psalm 22 is a messianic psalm.28:18-28:22It summarizes the Messiah's humiliation and exaltation.28:23-28:24Let's look at a few passages.28:26-28:27Verses seven and eight.28:28-28:30All who see me mock me.28:30-28:32They make mouths at me.28:32-28:33"For they wag their heads.28:34-28:35"He trusts in the Lord.28:36-28:37"Let Him deliver him.28:37-28:44"Let Him rescue him, for He delights in him." Then verses 16 and 18, through 18.28:45-28:46"For dogs encompass me.28:47-28:49"A company of evil doers encircles me.28:50-28:53"They have pierced my hands and feet.28:53-28:55"I can count all my bones.28:55-28:57"They stare and gloat over me.28:57-29:00"They divide my garments among them.29:00-29:27"For My clothing they cast lots." And finally, verses 22-25, "Reflect the Father's care in the midst of Jesus' great suffering and His resurrection." He says, "I will tell of Your name to My brothers, and in the midst of the congregation, I will praise You." Stop there for a minute and think about that.29:28-29:34Christ is on the cross, and he's telling the name of God to his brothers.29:34-29:39In the midst of the congregation, he is praising God.29:40-29:42All you who fear the Lord, praise him.29:42-29:48All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him.29:49-30:03All you offspring of Israel, for he is not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, "And He has not hidden His face from him, but He has heard when he cried to Him.30:04-30:19And from you comes my praise in the great congregation, my vows I will perform before those who fear Him." You see, even in the throes of death, Jesus preached to all who would listen and believe.30:20-30:38If those who heard Jesus cry began themselves to recite this Messianic Psalm, perhaps the realization began to take hold that what they were reciting was happening right before their eyes.30:41-31:00The psalmist's words are being fulfilled here and now, just as Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, "then you will know that I am He." And perhaps the horrible realization set in, we've killed the Messiah.31:01-31:12And perhaps that is why, as Luke records, all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, they returned home beating their breasts.31:13-31:15We have killed the Messiah.31:18-31:24But what looked like an accursed death to the crowd instead a triumph over death.31:25-31:34On the cross, Jesus put death to death, and in his resurrection, he offers eternal life to all who would believe in him.31:36-31:38All that Jesus said came to pass.31:39-31:41He said he would die, and he did.31:42-31:44He said he would return to life, and he did.31:45-31:48He is the reliable and trustworthy prophet.31:48-31:51Every word He spoke was true.31:53-31:55And He is still our prophet today.31:56-31:58We have His word.31:58-32:03We have God's word and His Spirit to lead us into all truth.32:05-32:17You know, everyone who preaches is obligated to faithfully and accurately speak in the name of the Lord Jesus and to preach His words, not our own.32:17-32:20In this way, Jesus is still our prophet.32:21-32:25He indwells his people to speak to his people from his word.32:28-32:35Therefore, now that you know that Jesus is the prophet, will you listen to him?32:38-32:45Will you daily cast off worldly thinking and unbiblical ideas and commit to reading and meditating on God's word?32:47-32:58Are you willing to jettison old patterns of negative thinking and replace them with what the Bible says about your worth and your purpose in Jesus Christ?32:58-33:05Will you conform your thinking to God's truth and Jesus' example and teaching?33:08-33:14Or will you continue to seek advice from the influencers and false prophets clamoring for your attention?33:16-33:17Will you look for guidance?33:18-33:26Will you look for guidance in the gudo that shapes and drives the lives of so many people?33:30-33:35The skeptic will say, "Ah, I don't believe anything in the Bible is true.33:36-33:37It offends my reason.33:38-33:39I'm an independent thinker.33:40-33:52I don't need a God or a religion to tell me what to do." But that same person has no problem with the collective hive mind telling them what to think.33:53-33:57And they'll employ artificial intelligence to do their thinking for them.34:00-34:03So much intelligence, so little wisdom.34:05-34:20The short of it is, if you refuse to listen to what Jesus says, If you take offense at him and his words, you're just like the Israelites and the religious leaders in past time.34:21-34:26You're essentially putting him to death in your heart and in your mind.34:28-34:31Now, there are probably very few people in this room that hate Jesus.34:34-34:44And if we took a survey of the people in this room, probably most of you would agree that, Yeah, we shouldn't be committing the kinds of sins which the world heartily approves.34:46-34:49We shouldn't be following all that chatter out there.34:51-35:05And yet how many of us choose to remain on friendly terms with the world and feel free to indulge in all its whims and entertainments and pleasures so long as we avoid open sin.35:08-35:22The most dangerous sin is the idea that we can listen to worldly prophets advocating for the lusts and pleasures of the world and follow along and yet still be devoted to Christ.35:23-35:30Beloved, you cannot listen to and serve multiple masters and still walk uprightly before Jesus Christ.35:31-35:35You must listen to Christ and serve Him only.35:38-36:14Jesus is the prophet. Will you believe in him? In some ways I have laid this sermon out like a closing argument in a court case. You've heard from the witnesses Moses, God the Father, Peter, and of course Jesus himself. And you have evidence to consider more than 5,000 people fed on a mountainside. Jesus transfigured on a mountain. And of course Jesus crucified on a cross just as he said he would be.36:17-36:36And then this singular fact. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures and according to his own prophetic words. He to pay the penalty for their sins and remove the penalty of death.36:37-36:43And rising again, he offers forgiveness of sin and eternal life for all who would believe in him.36:46-36:48So you've heard the evidence.36:49-36:51You must now render a verdict.36:52-36:59Will you believe that Jesus is everything he says he is, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world?37:00-37:03He's the one mediator between God the Father and humanity.37:04-37:07He is the only priest, prophet, and king.37:08-37:13And Jesus is the only name given among people under heaven by which we can be saved.37:15-37:22If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.37:23-37:26With the heart one believes and is justified.37:27-37:30and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.37:32-37:33Jesus is the prophet.37:35-37:37Will you speak His words?37:40-37:44As disciples of Christ, we are all prophets of His gospel.37:45-37:49We are to proclaim His life, death, and resurrection until He returns.37:50-37:52This is no mystery religion.37:53-37:56There is no hidden knowledge in the Scriptures.37:56-37:58There are no secret rites to perform.37:59-38:02The words of Christ are all out in the open.38:03-38:10And we have the awesome privilege of possessing the oracles of God, the word of God.38:10-38:13We have God's words in our hands.38:16-38:20It's not always been true, but it's true for us.38:22-38:28Do we have the ability to read it, to reason through it, to engage with it by the help of the Holy Spirit?38:31-38:38We can personally and intimately know God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.38:40-38:50Jesus reveals the truth so that we can repent of our sins, trust in His finished work on the cross and receive the gift of eternal life now and forever.38:55-39:16And we have the responsibility of repeating his words clearly to others so that they may hear and believe in him by faith too. God forgive us for shirking our responsibility to share the gospel and for being insensible to the the spiritual condition of the lost and the dying.39:18-39:19We must speak His words.39:19-39:22We must share the good news of what He has done.39:24-39:33We are like beggars dressed in fine linen telling other beggars where to find bread and new garments.39:34-39:37It is the most loving and kindest thing we can do.39:39-39:42as our worship team returns to the stage.39:45-39:46I will conclude with this.39:49-39:52Not everyone will listen to us.39:53-39:55But then they didn't all listen to Jesus either.39:57-39:58Not everyone will believe.40:00-40:02But then they did not all believe in Jesus either.40:04-40:08We are not responsible for the results of sharing the gospel.40:09-40:11The results are for God to work out.40:13-40:18Our responsibility is to faithfully speak the words of God from Scripture.40:19-40:24For faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.40:25-40:25Let's pray.40:28-40:31The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.40:32-40:36The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.40:37-40:40The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.40:42-40:45The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.40:47-40:49The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.40:51-40:54The rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.40:56-41:04Let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in your sight.41:04-41:08O Lord, our rock and our Redeemer.41:09-41:09Amen. Small Group DiscussionRead Deuteronomy 18:14-22What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Can you assess how deeply worldly ideas influence your thinking? What about how deeply they influence your view of Scripture? How about your walk with Christ?What expectations do you have of God? That is, what do you want from Him, and what do you want to hear from Him? How do these questions and your answers relate to Israel's history with the LORD?It was said the sermon was constructed like a closing argument, requiring a verdict. Imagine you are a jury member – was enough evidence and testimony presented to render a judgment that Jesus is the Messiah? If not, what further evidence would you seek? Where would you look for that evidence?What are some reasons we don't take seriously our responsibility share the Gospel of Christ with others? How valid are those reasons?BreakoutPray for one another.

By Howard Baker - Jesus spent most of His life in Nazareth and Capernaum, which were two small towns in the region of Galilee. Everyone knew Jesus, heard His teaching, and witnessed His miracles. Yet the majority of the people in both towns rejected Jesus. Why? What sobering warning should we consider today from

Scripture: Mark 2:1–12 Jesus returns to Capernaum and a massive crowd gathers so tightly packed that there isn't even room outside the door. While Jesus preaches the Word, four friends arrive carrying a paralyzed man—so desperate to get him to Jesus that they climb onto the roof, dig through it, and lower their friend down right in front of Him. But instead of healing the man first, Jesus says something surprising: “Son, your sins are forgiven.” This becomes the beginning of controversy because the teachers of the law know that only God can forgive sins. Jesus responds by showing that He has authority on earth to forgive sins, and then proves it by commanding the man to stand, pick up his mat, and walk home. This story reminds us that Jesus cares about our bodies and our needs, but our greatest need is to be forgiven and made right with God—something Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection. Want Weekly Activities & Family Resources? If your family loves Kids Bible Stories and you want to keep the learning going, check out the Family Library on Patreon. You'll get episode-based resources like activity sheets, coloring pages, member-only audio, and more—all saved and organized by episode number so you can easily revisit favorites anytime. Join here: https://patreon.com/kidsbiblestories try it for free!

Today’s Topics: Father Thomas Czeck, OFM Conv., joins Terry 1) Gospel – John 4:43-54 – At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place. When He came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed Him, since they had seen all He had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast. Then He returned to Cana in Galilee, where He had made the water wine. Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to Him and asked Him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. While the man was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, “The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.” The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole household came to believe. Now this was the second sign Jesus did when He came to Galilee from Judea. Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Terry and Father Thomas discuss Franciscan Spirituality and the hidden secrets of the Franciscan Order    

Gospel John 4:43-54 At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place. When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast. Then he returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. While the man was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, “The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.” The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole household came to believe. Now this was the second sign Jesus did when he came to Galilee from Judea. Reflection Jesus was used to people constantly looking at him, wondering who he was, and they wanted some kind of proof that he was who said he was. And it was tiring to Jesus to constantly prove before anyone would believe in him that he was who he said he was. What's different here is this man looked at Jesus and knew who he was, knew the power he had, believed he had it, and simply said, Please come before my child dies. And Jesus knew the difference in a moment. He was not asking for Jesus to prove who he was. He was simply asking Jesus to do what he came into the world to do. It's a beautiful way of understanding what belief and faith really is in Jesus. Closing Prayer Father, confidence. Confidence is you are in our life giving us all that we need. Enabling us to do the things we're called to do. Help us to be always conscious of this presence within us that will always accomplish what is necessary. It is not we who do your work, it is you who do your work through us. That's our confidence, always in you and in your presence. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Read Online“Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. John 4:48–50What is the most precious gift our Lord could give to you? If your spouse, child, or close friend were gravely ill, would a miracle be the gift you sought? If your financial situation were dire, would you ask for monetary assistance? If you were suffering from a chronic disease, would your prayer be for a cure?Though we should entrust these situations to God's grace, it's important to understand that the gift of faith far surpasses any immediate miracle, assistance, or relief we might seek. Faith is a most precious gift because it enables us to turn away from our limited assessment of earthly situations and be open to God's wisdom, which far surpasses anything we could conceive of by ourselves.Though Jesus performed many miracles, He regularly challenged those whose faith was based on their desire for signs and wonders. In today's Gospel, a royal official, likely of high rank, traveled from Capernaum to Cana, about twenty miles, because his child was dying. His journey illustrates faith in Jesus' divine authority, but his faith was imperfect—he believed Jesus had to be physically present to heal his son. Jesus heals the child from a distance, but He also challenges the official and the crowd: “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” Jesus desires a faith that trusts in His word, not one that depends on visible signs.When we pray with a litany of requests, God in His mercy hears us. Sometimes He grants them, and sometimes He doesn't. But He wants us to know that such prayers are not the ideal. God already knows our needs better than we do. He knows our struggles within family, finances, health, and every other detail of our lives.The ideal prayer is one of adoration and trust. It's a prayer that surrenders everything to God without dictating the outcome. It trusts God's wisdom more than our own, enabling us to rest in His loving care, unburdened by our difficulties.The royal official's faith grew when he believed Jesus' word without needing Him to be physically present. This is evident when he learned that his son was healed at the exact time Jesus said, “Your son will live.” The official's faith was deepened, and his whole household came to believe. This shows how true faith, once rooted in trust, grows and spreads to others.If this man's faith had not matured, it could have been lost if another crisis arose and no miracle followed. A deeper faith rests in God's will, whether or not another miracle occurs. The same is true for us. Our faith must not depend on God's answer to our prayers. If He allows suffering, we must trust Him. If He heals, we must trust Him. Our faith must remain strong, rooted in Who God is, not in what He does.Reflect today on the depth of your faith and how it shapes your prayers. Believe, worship God for who He is, love Him above all else, and trust His perfect will. Then entrust yourself and your loved ones to His providence, believing that God knows what is best. My miraculous Lord, You are all-powerful and capable of anything You will. Please grant me a depth of faith that enables me to trust You more than I trust myself. May I always believe in You and worship You, not because of the favors You do for me, but because of Who You are. Jesus, I trust in You.Source: 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.

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Welcome to Day 2814 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2814 of our trek. The purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Each Tuesday, I will share the messages I have delivered at Putnam Congregational Church this year. This is the eleventh message in a year-long series covering the Good News as narrated by Luke. Today's message covers Luke four verses thirty-one through forty-four and is titled “Ministry at the Grassroots Level” . I pray it will be a conduit for learning and encouragement for you. Putnam Church Message – 02/08/2026 Luke's Account of the Good News - “Ministry at the Grassroots Level.”    Last week, we began our study of the ministry of Jesus Christ with a message titled “Into the Fire,” where we learned that the Road to Calvary began in Nazareth. Today, we continue with the eleventh message in Luke's narrative of the Good News of Jesus Christ in a message titled “Ministry at the Grassroots Level.” Our Core verses for this week are Luke 4:31-44, found on page 1597 of your Pew Bibles. Follow along as I read. SCRIPTURE READING — Luke 4:31-44 (NIV) Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit 31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 35 “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. 36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. Jesus Heals Many 38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. 40 At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. 41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. 42 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” 44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.   Opening Prayer Lord God, as we open Your Word today, we ask that You would do more than inform our minds. Shape our hearts. Correct our assumptions. And show us what faithful ministry really looks like— not from a distance, but right in the middle of ordinary life.  Give us ears to hear, hearts to obey, and courage to follow where Jesus leads. In His name we pray. Amen. Introduction: Learning by Watching the Master I was not a great student, especially in grade school and high school. In college, I buckled down somewhat and did okay, grade-wise, even while working two part-time jobs to pay for school.  But when I look back, the moments that shaped me most weren't lectures—they were moments of watching someone who really knew what they were doing. I learn best by observing an expert. I need a mentor, not just a teacher. I even find that hands-on YouTube videos are extremely helpful, much more than a manual or set of instructions. Someone who doesn't just explain the theory but shows me how it works in real life. That's exactly what Luke gives us in Luke 4:31–44. This passage is the third part of Luke's introduction to Jesus' public ministry: First, Luke summarized Jesus' growing influence (4:14–15) Then he showed us the scope of Jesus' mission in Nazareth—saving those who want a Savior (4:16–30) And now, here in Capernaum, Luke shows us how Jesus actually did ministry. Not from a platform. Not from a palace. Not from the center of religious power. But at ground level, among real people with real problems. Main Point 1: Jesus Taught with Authority Where Life Was Actually Lived Luke 4:31–32 “Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. There, too, the people were amazed at His teaching, because He spoke with authority.” (NLT) Jesus leaves Nazareth behind and travels downhill—literally and figuratively. Nazareth sat high in the hills. Capernaum sat along the Sea of Galilee, nearly 2,000 feet lower. Luke wants us to notice that while Jesus went down in elevation, His ministry went up in influence. Capernaum wasn't glamorous, but it was strategic: A fishing town, /A trade hub, /A place where ordinary people lived and worked. /And there, Jesus taught. What Made His Teaching Different? Luke tells us the people were “amazed” because Jesus taught with authority — exousia. That word doesn't mean volume. / It doesn't mean charisma. / It doesn't mean clever arguments. / It means as someone who has the right to speak. Most rabbis taught by quoting other rabbis: “Rabbi so-and-so says… but Rabbi such-and-such disagrees…” Jesus didn't do that. /He didn't borrow authority. /He didn't hide behind tradition. /He didn't perform. / He spoke directly from the Word of God, as someone who knew it from the inside out. / Not just because He was divine—but because He lived what He taught. Object Lesson: The Difference Between a Map and a Guide Imagine preparing to hike a difficult trail that you have never seen before. One ranger hands you a map and says, “Good luck.” Another ranger comes alongside you and says, “Follow me—I've hiked this trail before and know it well.” Jesus didn't just give people information. He invited them to follow Him.  That's why His teaching carried weight. Ancient Context → Modern Parallel In Jesus' day, people were tired of religious talk that didn't touch real life. In our day, people are tired of: Empty slogans / Shallow answers / Advice that sounds good but doesn't work on Monday morning. What people hunger for—then and now—is truth that meets them where they live. Jesus didn't water down the truth. But He delivered it in a way people could grasp and trust. Supporting Scripture Matthew 7:28–29 — “He taught as one who had authority.” James 1:22 — “Do not merely listen… do what it says.” John 7:46 — “No one ever spoke the way this man does.” Summary of Main Point 1 Jesus' ministry didn't begin with miracles. It began with truth spoken clearly, lived consistently, and offered humbly.  Authority in ministry is not about position. It is about faithfulness to God's Word and alignment with God's heart.

ISAIAH'S PROPHECY of a coming Messiah included foreseeing where Jesus would declare war on the fallen realm.  Chapter 9 of the book of Isaiah picks up where the prophet left off, condemning the people of Israel, for consulting the dead on behalf of the living. His prophecy that a light would shine on those dwelling in a land of deep darkness was cited by Matthew as fulfilled when Jesus moved from Nazareth to Capernaum. We connect this to Psalm 23 in the valley of the shadow of death, which in our view is the Jordan River Valley between Mount Hermon and the Sea of Galilee. Isaiah 9 also includes the prophecy of a coming Savior who is called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). We discussed the interesting rendering of this verse in the Lexham English Septuagint, in which “Wonderful Counselor” is translated “Messenger of the Great Council.” The second half of this chapter is devoted to God's judgment on the northern Kingdom of Israel, which was fulfilled when the Assyrians overran and conquered Samaria in 722 BC. Here is a link to a PDF copy of the R. H. Charles translation of The Ascension of Isaiah (link opens PDF document). Sharon's niece, Sarah Sachleben, has been diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, and the medical bills are piling up. If you are led to help, please go to GilbertHouse.org/hopeforsarah. Our new book The Gates of Hell is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible! Derek's new book Destination: Earth, co-authored with Donna Howell and Allie Anderson, is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible! If you are looking for a text of the Book of 1 Enoch to follow our monthly study, you can try these sources: Parallel translations by R. H. Charles (1917) and Richard Laurence (1821)Modern English translation by George W. E. Nickelsburg and James VanderKam (link to book at Amazon)Book of 1 Enoch - Standard English Version by Dr. Jay Winter (link opens free PDF)Book of 1 Enoch - R. H. Charles translation (link opens free PDF) The SkyWatchTV store has a special offer on Dr. Michael Heiser's two-volume set A Companion to the Book of Enoch. Get both books, the R. H. Charles translation of 1 Enoch, and a DVD interview with Mike and Steven Bancarz for a donation of $35 plus shipping and handling. Link: https://bit.ly/heiser-enoch Follow us!• X: @gilberthouse_tv | @sharonkgilbert | @derekgilbert• Telegram: t.me/gilberthouse | t.me/sharonsroom | t.me/viewfromthebunker• YouTube: @GilbertHouse | @UnravelingRevelation | @thebiblesgreatestmysteries• Facebook.com/GilbertHouseFellowship Thank you for making our Build Barn Better project a reality! We truly appreciate your support. If you are so led, you can help out at GilbertHouse.org/donate. Get our free app! It connects you to these studies plus our weekly video programs Unraveling Revelation and A View from the Bunker, and the podcast that started this journey in 2005, P.I.D. Radio. Best of all, it bypasses the gatekeepers of Big Tech! The app is available for iOS, Android, Roku, and Apple TV. Links to the app stores are at www.gilberthouse.org/app/. Video on demand of our best teachings! Stream presentations and teachings based on our research at our new video on demand site! Gilbert House T-shirts and mugs! New to our store is a line of GHTV and Redwing Saga merch! Check it out at GilbertHouse.org/store! Think better, feel better! Our partners at Simply Clean Foods offer freeze-dried, 100% GMO-free food and delicious, vacuum-packed fair trade coffee from Honduras. Find out more at GilbertHouse.org/store. Our favorite Bible study tools! Check the links in the left-hand column at www.GilbertHouse.org.

Today’s Topics: Father Thomas Czeck, OFM Conv., joins Terry 1) Gospel – John 4:43-54 – At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place. When He came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed Him, since they had seen all He had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast. Then He returned to Cana in Galilee, where He had made the water wine. Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to Him and asked Him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. While the man was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, “The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.” The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole household came to believe. Now this was the second sign Jesus did when He came to Galilee from Judea. Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Terry and Father Thomas discuss Franciscan Spirituality and the hidden secrets of the Franciscan Order