Podcasts about christ god

คอลัมน์ “สดแต่เช้า”ปีที่6(ตอนที่69)ของขวัญแห่งการให้อภัย!“แต่จงมีใจกรุณา ใจสงสาร และใจให้อภัยแก่กันและกัน เหมือนอย่างที่พระเจ้าทรงให้อภัยพวกท่านในพระคริสต์”‭‭ ~เอเฟซัส‬ ‭4‬:‭32‬ ‭THSV11‬‬“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”‭‭ ~Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬วันนี้ ผมขอนำ ข้อคิดคำคมดีๆในเรื่อง“การให้อภัย“ หรือ ”การยกโทษ“มาแบ่งปัน เตือนสติทุกท่าน ยอมให้อภัยแก่กันและกัน เหมือนอย่างที่พระเจ้าทรงให้อภัยพวกท่านแล้วในพระคริสต์ขอให้พี่น้องตระหนักไว้ว่า# “การให้อภัยคือของขวัญที่คุณมอบให้แก่ตัวคุณเอง“”Forgiveness is the gift you give yourself.”ขอให้เรารู้ว่า การยกโทษ​ให้กับตัวเอง และ​ให้กับผู้อื่นจะเป็นผลดีต่อชีวิตเราอย่างมากมายเพราะว่า การยกโทษให้แก่ผู้ที่เราไม่ชอบหรือที่เราไม่พอใจนั้นจะ​เป็นการช่วยตัวเราให้พ้นจากการเป็นนักโทษของอดีต ดังคำกล่าวที่ว่า“การไม่ยอมยกโทษ คือการทำให้เรากลายเป็นนักโทษของอดีตทั้งๆที่ถือกุญแจแห่งอิสรภาพอยู่ในมือของตัวเราเอง“”Unforgiveness is becoming a prisoner of the pastwhile holding the key to freedom yourself.“​เป็นการปลดปล่อยตัวเราเองให้ออกมาจากคุกแห่งความขมขื่น เหมือนดังคำกล่าวที่ว่า“การให้อภัยคือการปลดปล่อยนักโทษแล้วพบว่านักโทษคนนั้นคือตัวเราเอง”“Forgiveness is setting a prisoner freeand discovering that prisoner was you.”​เป็นการช่วยไม่ให้เราทำร้ายหัวใจของตัวเราเองดังคำกล่าวที่ว่า“ความขมขื่นที่ไม่ยอมให้อภัย ไม่ได้ทำร้ายศัตรูของเรามากเท่ากับการที่มันทำร้ายหัวใจของเราเอง“”Bitterness rarely hurts your enemy as much as it hurts your own heart.”​เป็นการช่วยไม่ให้ตัวเราต้องตายเพราะยาพิษแห่งความขมขื่นที่เราดื่มเข้าไปเหมือนดังคำกล่าวที่ว่า“ความขมขื่นไม่ยอมให้อภัย ก็เหมือนการดื่มยาพิษแล้วหวังให้อีกฝ่ายหนึ่งตาย”(Resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.)​เป็นการช่วยไม่ให้เราทำผิดซ้ำๆอย่างโง่เขลา เพราะว่า“การทำผิดที่ทำไปแล้ว คือความผิดแค่ครั้งเดียวแต่การปฏิเสธที่จะให้อภัยคือการทำผิดซ้ำทุกๆวัน”(A mistake once done is one mistake.But refusing to forgive is a mistake repeated every day.)พี่น้องที่รัก วันนี้ ขอให้คุณกรุณามอบของขวัญแห่งการให้อภัย นี้ให้แก่1.ตัวคุณเอง2.กันและกัน และ2.คนทุกคนที่ทำให้คุณเสียใจและเจ็บปวด…จะได้ไหมครับ?…………………………………………ธงชัย ประดับชนานุรัตน์ 8มิถุนายน2026(ตอนที่69ปีที่6) #YoutubeCJCONNECT#คริสตจักรแห่งความรัก#Churchoflove #ShareTheLoveForward #ChurchOfJoy #คริสตจักรแห่งความสุข#NimitmaiChristianChurch #คริสตจักรนิมิตใหม่ #ฮักกัยประเทศไทย #อ#หนึ่งล้านความดี

Our Awesome God -- Part 3: Trinity; Jesus, the Christ MESSAGE SUMMARY: We pray and sing to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – the Trinity: one God and yet three persons in the one God. All analogies fall shot in explaining an incomprehensible God and the Trinity. The Trinity is a mystery, and the word Trinity is not found in the Bible – the Bible has inferences to the Word Trinity and each of its component persons without naming the overarching word “Trinity”. However, the authority of speaking about the Trinity comes from the Bible. During the first few centuries of the Church, Christians wrestled with how to describe and communicate God in writings and teachings. These early Christians, in their study of the Scriptures, saw that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were all Devine; however, they knew that God was one. Therefore, these early Christians concluded that the Scriptures taught that there was only one God; but that the Father is God, the Son is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God – what we now call the Trinity. Today, we will look at the second person of the Trinity – Jesus. Jesus is the rock upon which Christianity is built. Typically, we refer to “Jesus Christ”; however, “Christ “is not Jesus last name. “Christ” is a title that means Messiah. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, is viewed from three perspectives: 1) the pre-incarnate Christ; the incarnate Christ (God man); and the post-incarnate Christ. In John 1:1-5, the Apostle John tells us that the pre-incarnate Christ was the Word (Logos) and in the beginning. Also, the pre-incarnate Christ was a person, but He was: with God, a deity (God), and a participant in the Creation. Also, the pre-incarnate Christ, in the Old Testament, is referred to as “The Angel of the Lord” (Exodus 3:1-18). Whenever The Angel of the Lord appears in the Old Testament, God ends up being referenced as the person speaking. In John 8:58, Jesus removes all doubt that He was God, The Angel of the Lord, speaking to Abraham in Exodus 3: “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.'". In John 1:14, the Apostle John identifies the God-man Jesus, the incarnate Christ, as God: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.". Jesus was the person of God's Son and He was Devine. In the year 325, leaders from all over the Church met in Nicaea to debate and understand who Jesus was. These Church leaders came out of this meeting saying that Jesus was co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father. In the Incarnation, Jesus remained God; but, also, Jesus became fully a sinless human – Son of Man and Son of God. The incarnate Christ was crucified, and He was resurrected; and He is living today as the post-incarnate Christ. As the post-incarnate Christ, Jesus is the reigning and redeeming Christ. Also, we are told that the post-incarnate Christ will return. Therefore, Jesus is the visible expression of the invisible God. It is because of Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, that we are able to have access to the first person of the Trinity – God the Father. God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are inseparable because they are one God together in the Trinity. We are God's children; but God, our Father, has no grandchildren. Jesus tells us in John 14:6-7: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.'". The understanding of the Godhead and the Trinity are a gift to us through our Salvation brought to us by Jesus.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12f SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 1:1-5; Exodus 3:1-18; John 8:58; Exodus 17:1-6; 1 Corinthians 10:4; John 1:14; Luke 1:35; John 14:6-12; 1 Corinthians 15:3-11; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 1:19-24; Revelation 19:1-21; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15; Ephesians 2:18. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Our Relationship with God Is Based Solely on Our Relationship with God, and He Desires to Have a Relationship with Each of Us”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

This passage teaches several important truths:In these verses, Jesus teaches His disciples how to conduct themselves as they go out: When they are to seek out those who are willing to receive themWhen to remain in one place and not chase comfort• When to offer peace and keep that peace, even when rejected • When to respond to rejection without bitterness, leaving the outcome to God • When to understand that rejecting the message carries serious consequences • Endurance is necessary for salvation in times of trial • Believers will face hatred and opposition for the sake of Christ • God provides assurance and protection even in difficult times • Specific signs point to the beginning of a period of great trouble • The focus of these events is largely on the house of Israel • Faithfulness must continue until the end

Our Awesome God -- Part 3: Trinity; Jesus, the Christ MESSAGE SUMMARY: We pray and sing to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – the Trinity: one God and yet three persons in the one God. All analogies fall shot in explaining an incomprehensible God and the Trinity. The Trinity is a mystery, and the word Trinity is not found in the Bible – the Bible has inferences to the Word Trinity and each of its component persons without naming the overarching word “Trinity”. However, the authority of speaking about the Trinity comes from the Bible. During the first few centuries of the Church, Christians wrestled with how to describe and communicate God in writings and teachings. These early Christians, in their study of the Scriptures, saw that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were all Devine; however, they knew that God was one. Therefore, these early Christians concluded that the Scriptures taught that there was only one God; but that the Father is God, the Son is God, and that the Holy Spirit is God – what we now call the Trinity. Today, we will look at the second person of the Trinity – Jesus. Jesus is the rock upon which Christianity is built. Typically, we refer to “Jesus Christ”; however, “Christ “is not Jesus last name. “Christ” is a title that means Messiah. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, is viewed from three perspectives: 1) the pre-incarnate Christ; the incarnate Christ (God man); and the post-incarnate Christ. In John 1:1-5, the Apostle John tells us that the pre-incarnate Christ was the Word (Logos) and in the beginning. Also, the pre-incarnate Christ was a person, but He was: with God, a deity (God), and a participant in the Creation. Also, the pre-incarnate Christ, in the Old Testament, is referred to as “The Angel of the Lord” (Exodus 3:1-18). Whenever The Angel of the Lord appears in the Old Testament, God ends up being referenced as the person speaking. In John 8:58, Jesus removes all doubt that He was God, The Angel of the Lord, speaking to Abraham in Exodus 3: “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.'". In John 1:14, the Apostle John identifies the God-man Jesus, the incarnate Christ, as God: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.". Jesus was the person of God's Son and He was Devine. In the year 325, leaders from all over the Church met in Nicaea to debate and understand who Jesus was. These Church leaders came out of this meeting saying that Jesus was co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father. In the Incarnation, Jesus remained God; but, also, Jesus became fully a sinless human – Son of Man and Son of God. The incarnate Christ was crucified, and He was resurrected; and He is living today as the post-incarnate Christ. As the post-incarnate Christ, Jesus is the reigning and redeeming Christ. Also, we are told that the post-incarnate Christ will return. Therefore, Jesus is the visible expression of the invisible God. It is because of Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, that we are able to have access to the first person of the Trinity – God the Father. God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are inseparable because they are one God together in the Trinity. We are God's children; but God, our Father, has no grandchildren. Jesus tells us in John 14:6-7: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.'". The understanding of the Godhead and the Trinity are a gift to us through our Salvation brought to us by Jesus.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12f SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 1:1-5; Exodus 3:1-18; John 8:58; Exodus 17:1-6; 1 Corinthians 10:4; John 1:14; Luke 1:35; John 14:6-12; 1 Corinthians 15:3-11; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 1:19-24; Revelation 19:1-21; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15; Ephesians 2:18. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Our Relationship with God Is Based Solely on Our Relationship with God, and He Desires to Have a Relationship with Each of Us”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Beware of becoming jealous or ambitious about gifts or service for Christ - God has given each of us enough gifts and opportunities to thoroughly occupy us!

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LD 14 In the holy conception and birth of Christ, God has met our deepest human need His innocence and perfect holiness cover my original sin His innocence and perfect holiness cover my actual sin

May 15, 2026 Daily Devotional: “Mercy Cycle”Ephesians 4:32 ​"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."  This is the "logic of grace." Paul is arguing that Christians do not forgive based on whether the other person deserves it. Instead, they forgive because they have already received a massive, undeserved "payout" of forgiveness from God. It wasn't a shallow, sentimental feeling; it was a gut-level, visceral reaction to the pain of others. Paul isn't just asking usto be "polite." He is calling for a radical reshaping of our internal architecture. ​We often live with "armored" hearts. When someone cuts us off in traffic, neglects a deadline, or speaks a sharp word, our natural instinct is to thicken the walls. We justify our bitterness by calling it "standing ourground." But Paul offers a different blueprint: ​Kindness is grace in action, it is the decision to treat someone better than they deserve. ​Compassion is the "feeling" part and the willingness to let someone else's struggle resonate within your own soul. ​Forgiveness is the "release" part. ​The weight of this verse rests on that final phrase: "Just as in Christ God forgave you." Our capacity to forgive others is not fueled by our own willpower or by the "worthiness" of the person who hurt us. It is fueled by the realization of the massive debt we've already had cleared. We don't forgive to be "good people"; we forgive because we are "forgiven people. Is there a specific person whose name makes your chest tighten or your jaw clench? That "tightness" is the opposite of the "tenderheartedness" Paul describes. Before reacting to a "horizontal" conflict (between you and someone else), look "vertically." Remind yourself of a specific time God showed you mercy. Let that mercy spill over into your currentsituation. Kindness doesn't always need a grand stage. Today, look for one opportunity to offer a "soft" response where a "hard" one is expected. Ephesians 4:32 means that mercy is a cycle. Because God was "tenderhearted" enough to forgive us through the sacrifice of Christ, we are called to breakthe cycle of human resentment by treating others with that same unearned grace. Forgiveness isn't an occasional act; it's a permanent attitude born from the gratitude of being saved. 

Date: May 10th, 2026 Scripture: Ephesians 4:32Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. For more resources please visit crosslifechurch.org

Leviticus 13-14 By grace God reveals sinful corruption, and in Christ God rejuvenates corrupt sinners. The post Clean Skin appeared first on Grace Presbyterian Church (PCA).

Does God have a plan? How can mankind be redeemed? How will the world be reconciled to God? Pastor Micah Hayes continues our new series, “Ephesians: One in Christ,” preaching from Ephesians 1:7-10. Notes in this sermon: God's plan is your redemption and the world's reconciliation. Visit www.bluevalleychurch.org for more information about Blue Valley Church in Overland Park and Olathe, Kansas.

Doctrines, Part 4: The Divine Being Description: In Part 4 of the Doctrines series, Pastor Eric takes a deep and necessary step into one of the most foundational—and often misunderstood—truths of Scripture: the nature of God Himself. Rooted in Romans 11:33–36, this message explores what makes God truly God. He is not like anything in creation. He is uncreated, eternal, and exists outside of time itself. As Pastor Eric explains, God is not simply greater than us—He is categorically different from us. This episode walks through the defining attributes of the divine being: God is Spirit—not limited by physical form or location God is One—yet revealed in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit God is Eternal—the great “I AM,” without beginning or end God is Immutable—unchanging in His nature and character God is Omnipotent—all-powerful, with nothing beyond His ability God is Omniscient—all-knowing, fully aware of every thought and motive God is Omnipresent—present everywhere, at all times Special attention is given to understanding the Trinity—not as a contradiction, but as a revealed truth beyond human comparison. One being, three Persons, perfectly unified in will and purpose. The message then brings this doctrine into sharp focus through the person of Jesus Christ. The same God declared in Isaiah as “the First and the Last” is revealed in Revelation as Jesus Himself—fully God, fully man, and the Savior who entered creation to redeem it. This is not abstract theology. It leads to a very personal question: If this is who God is… what does that mean for you? Pastor Eric closes with a clear gospel call—reminding us that the all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present God has made a way for sinners to be forgiven through Jesus Christ. Key Themes: The uniqueness and incomprehensibility of God The Trinity: One Being, Three Persons God's eternal and self-existent nature The attributes of God and why they matter Jesus Christ as the full revelation of the divine being Salvation through the finished work of Christ “God doesn't become—He is. And the great I AM stepped into our world so we could know Him.”

Does God have a plan? How can mankind be redeemed? How will the world be reconciled to God? Zach Wiggins, Minister to Students, continues our new series, “Ephesians: One in Christ,” preaching from Ephesians 1:7-10. Notes in this sermon: God's plan is your redemption and the world's reconciliation. Visit www.bluevalleychurch.org for more information about Blue Valley Church in Overland Park and Olathe, Kansas.

Does God's love really reach the worst of sinners? In this Words From The Word daily devotion, Pastor Roderick Webster opens Ephesians 2:1-4 (KJV) and unpacks one of the most powerful turning points in all of Scripture — the words "But God."You might be asking yourself: Am I too far gone for God to forgive me? What is the difference between mercy and grace? Why would God love someone who has nothing good to offer Him? How do I know this salvation is real and lasting?In this message, Pastor Roderick Webster helps you see:- We were all spiritually dead in trespasses and sins before Christ- God is not just merciful — He is rich in mercy, with no limit and no measure- His love for us had nothing to do with our goodness and everything to do with His nature- Mercy removes the penalty we deserve; grace gives us what we do not deserve- The moment you trust Christ, your account is settled — long ago and foreverNo matter where you are today, those two words — But God — change everything.If this devotion encouraged you, please like, leave a comment, share it with someone who needs it, and subscribe so you never miss a morning word.#WordsFromTheWord #KJV #BibleDevotion #ChristianLiving #GoodNewsBaptistChurchStay connected with GNBC:

These brief thoughts by John Owen on the glory of Christ are not just excellent, but they will also be a helpful supplement to what the Holy Spirit put into my heart to release on Friday. I’ll be addressing what I believe is most needful and wanting in Christian political engagement today.

So much of our Christian lives is spent trying to get rid of things, things we hold onto and struggle with, all while knowing we need to let them go. From attitudes to toxic behaviors to unhealthy relationships. Today, we read a crucial concept for this process. It's called the Principle of Replacement. Listen to Ephesians 4:31-32 … Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (NIV) If you decide to get rid of bitterness today, that's going to be tough, right? But what if instead, you placed your focus and energy on being kind? What if day by day, you started to make the intentional choice to replace bitterness with kindness? If something triggers bitterness to come up into your throat and the feelings are overwhelming, then you do something kind. Text a friend a thank you. Find a way to encourage the very next person you encounter.Paul's teaching was always practical. Bitterness can be replaced with kindness. Rage and anger can be replaced with choosing compassion. Slander and malice can be replaced with forgiveness. If we only focus on getting rid of things, we can easily set ourselves up for failure. But when we instead find a positive and healthy replacement for what we must get rid of, we have a far better shot at success, as well as just creating a better experience.What is one ‘replacement principle' I will commit to practicing this week? Kindness? Compassion? Forgiveness?We all have things we need to rid ourselves of… let's remember The Principle of Replacement … whatever you're trying to get rid of to be whole again, ask God to give you something good to replace it with.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, help me to take the toxic things I have held onto and replace them with the good gifts You offer me, gifts like kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. As above, so below.”

These brief thoughts by John Owen on the glory of Christ are not just excellent, but they will also be a helpful supplement to what the Holy Spirit put into my heart to release on Friday. I’ll be addressing what I believe is most needful and wanting in Christian political engagement today.

Galatians tells us exactly what the fruit of the Spirit is. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). To answer the question of what it means to “be the fruit,” I want to look at each of them and offer some suggestions of how you implement this fruit in your life. It is the fruit of the Spirit, so obviously it must be a Spirit-empowered endeavor. But it won't just happen unless we as disciples of Jesus Christ determine to “be the fruit” each day. Let's start with that first one: Love. Here's what someone wrote, and I think it is a great way to be the fruit of love: True love needs a personal touch. Here’s a way to show people you love them in an unexpected way. Get a package of blank greeting cards and make a list of friends and family—especially the ones you don’t see often. Write them a short note that shares how much you appreciate them. Send your cards out at random far away from any holidays or birthday. Let the little love note surprise them! Now, that is a practical way to be the fruit of love. And cards have a greater impact than email, so spend a little money, buy a few stamps, and surprise some people with words of love. Next is joy. Joy should be the trademark of a Christian. When you are joyful, your strength increases, because the joy of the Lord is your strength. There is so much negativity and bad news in our world today that if you're not careful, you can let the enemy steal your joy. That's one of his favorite tactics. What's been stealing your joy? Or I might ask, who has been stealing your joy? Whatever or whoever it is, realize it is a satanic flaming arrow coming your way from the enemy, so put on your full armor and refuse to lose your joy. How? Sing good songs all day long. Find the humor in your day. Laugh a lot; laughter is incredibly good for you. Look for reasons to be happy, to be joyful. Now we come to peace. Jesus said he would give us his peace, his unique peace that is strong enough for the toughest circumstances. Have you ever gone to Jesus in prayer and said, “Please give me the peace you promised. I need peace.” I heard a statistic 40% of all people in our country today are in some kind of depression or despair. Have you noticed how many people are searching for some kind of peace? Remember, Jesus' peace is not like the peace the world offers. That peace is a band aid; it seeks to make you feel better with a temporary pain killer, but it just makes things worse. Peter wrote we should seek peace and pursue it. Maybe you need to learn to take peace breaks when your day is going south. Just stop, find an alone spot, refocus your mind on Jesus, quote a verse to yourself and pray for the peace Jesus promised to give you. Pursue peace; go for it. Be the fruit—be peaceful! Forbearance is next in this list of the fruit of the Spirit. We call it patience, and it can be one of the most difficult fruits for us to practice, at least it is for me. But there are so many opportunities in your day to practice patience, and patience takes practice. Pick one situation where you find it particularly difficult to be patient, and start working on it. When you go to the store, stand in the longest line to check out and make yourself wait. Talk to yourself, like: “Just cool it. This is not a big deal. You can wait a few minutes—it doesn't change your life.” Something like that. That is bringing your thoughts into captivity and learning to re-direct your thought patterns. And it is a good way to discipline yourself; to be the fruit—to be patient. Maybe you could use driving as a way for you to practice patience. Be kind to bad or slow drivers. Don’t yell or call other drivers names when you can’t get into the lane you need to. Keep at it until you see a difference in the way you drive and how you feel when you step out of the car. Go, be the fruit! Kindness is next, and we all know what that means, right? No doubt, like me, you're generally pretty kind to people you don't live with, strangers, or people in places of authority. Your words are likely kind and pleasant, but what about the people closest to you? I remember how, before my husband passed, if my words or the tone of my voice were not kind, he wouldn't let me get away with it. He would nicely confront me, and that was good! And you know, that's one way to be more kind—to be the fruit. Ask someone to hold you accountable and not allow you to get by with unkind words or actions. I discovered I simply was unaware that my words or actions sounded unkind. I never intended it but once it was brought to my attention, then I started to notice how quickly I can speak or respond, and how I can come across as unkind. Now that I'm aware, I am much more intentional about making sure my words are kind and sound kind. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32). I would guess Paul wrote this to the believers in Ephesus because they needed to learn to “be the fruit”—to practice kindness toward each other. Goodness is next. How do you practice goodness? Peter wrote, for this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge (2 Peter 1:5). Make every effort, he says. Isn't he saying, “Be the fruit”? How many times did you tell your children, “Be good!”? And somehow instinctively they knew what you meant, even at very young ages. Being good is directly connected to behavior, right? You do what is good. Here's an idea of how you can add to your faith goodness. Determine to be a better listener. Who needs a listening ear? I'm not talking about giving counsel or solving problems. Just listening. That is so good and it is so helpful to someone going through a difficult time. And of course, once you listen, you can always offer to pray for that person. That would be very good. Faithfulness is a requirement for all Christ-followers. Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth: Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2). Faithful to God—first and foremost—faithful to reading the Bible and prayer, faithful to church attendance and involvement. Faithful to your mate and friends. Keeping promises and being dependable. Would people who know you describe you as faithful or dependable? This is one fruit we can all be, regardless of how smart you are or how educated or experienced you may or may not be. Being faithful is a daily decision you make. Don't promise carelessly. Under promise and over deliver is a very good motto to live by. Then keep a record of all you're responsible to do, every place you're supposed to be, etc., etc. Don't trust your memory. Faithfulness is required—not optional. If this is an area of challenge for you, pray much about it and determine each day to be the fruit—be faithful! Gentleness is next in this list of the fruit of the Spirit. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1). And you'll remember our Lord Jesus described himself as gentle and lowly of heart. Frankly, the gentleness of Jesus is one thing about him I truly treasure because when he deals with me—and happens often—he always does so with such gentleness. Do you think of yourself as a gentle person? I don't mean wimpy or timid, but gentle; gentle in your words, reactions, facial expressions, tone of your voice? It is a very lovely fruit, and people will greatly appreciate it when you show gentleness to them. There's not a lot of it in our harsh world today, so be the fruit—be gentle. Self-control is putting discipline and restraints in your life to keep you from harm. Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control (Proverbs 25:28). Self-control is not allowing yourself to indulge in things that are not good for you—such as certain food, what you watch on television, what kind of conversations you engage in, etc. I remember a friend of mine, many years ago, was addicted to watching a trashy soap opera every day. She taped it while she was at work and the first thing she did each evening was watch it. God began to convict her of this, and she began to practice self-control. She stopped recording the program. She said it was really hard the first day to walk out of her apartment without turning on the recording, but she exercised self-control and kept it up. That was the beginning of a new vibrant relationship with the Lord, and she has gone on to serve Christ in amazing ways. But it took self-control to turn her back on what she knew was not good for her—for her thinking and her mind—and once she did, it was a marvelous breakthrough for her. By God's grace she broke that bad habit and through self-control, started growing into the outstanding woman she is today. She learned self-control. Is there something in your life that has you in bondage—something not good for you? If there is, I'm certain you can identify it right away. It could be something you watch or read, a place you go, or some eating habits. You can't imagine how freeing it will be for you when you can be the fruit—exercise self-control by God's grace and put that bad habit out of your life. That's my challenge for all of us today: Be the fruit! Memorize this passage from Galatians 5, pray it into your life, put reminders around you, and work on the areas that are the most challenging for you. But don't just talk about it or give verbal consent to the importance of bearing the fruit of the Spirit. Do it! Be the fruit! Paul wrote that against such, there is no law! Nobody can stop you from being the fruit and there is no greater testimony for your faith in Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8a Love never fails. Ephesians 4:1-3 NIV 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 1. Gifts of the Spirit Ephesians 4:7-8 NIV 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:1 ESV 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 ESV 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:11 ESV 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 1 Corinthians 14:1a NIV 1a Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit... 1 Timothy 4:14a 14 Do not neglect the gift you have... 1 Timothy 4:15 ESV 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 1. Gifts of the Spirit 2. Growth in the Spirit Ephesians 4:14-16 NIV 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 1. Gifts of the Spirit 2. Growth in the Spirit 3. Grieving the Spirit Ephesians 4:17-21 NIV 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:25-32 NIV 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 1. Gifts of the Spirit 2. Growth in the Spirit 3. Grieving the Spirit

Sunday, April 12, 2026 - Hebrews 1:1-4 | The writer of Hebrews opens his epistle by affirming that God spoke through both the Old and the New Testaments. His speaking through His Son, however, takes priority. This week we will learn why.

Sunday, April 12, 2026 - Hebrews 1:1-4 | The writer of Hebrews opens his epistle by affirming that God spoke through both the Old and the New Testaments. His speaking through His Son, however, takes priority. This week we will learn why.

Paul names exactly what Jesus does in the locked room: reconciliation that results in sending. “We are therefore Christ's ambassadors…” John 20:19–23 (ESV)On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”2 Corinthians 5:17–20 (ESV)Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Basic Bible Study | Galatians & Acts 15-18 (Acts Part 3) In today's podcast, join Chris and Robyn as they continue their discussion. Here is a breakdown of what was discussed: - a little chit-chat about life -the definition of "amen" - recap of James & Acts 8:1b-14 (Acts Part 2) - beware of people who say that we need more than a simple faith in Christ to be saved - Judaizers were twisting the truth about Christ - God chose you to be His even before you were born - while we wait for God's timing, we should continue to study, learn, and grow - we grow spiritually because of God's work in us by His Spirit & not by following special rules - confront in love rather than gossip - what matters to God is that we be completely changed from the inside out - God often worked in & through women in the early church - Chris asks a really good question - what to read for next time “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ABOUT Opening a Bible for the first time can be intimidating. Join Amy & Robyn in an easy-to-follow discussion. This Basic Bible Study is perfect for beginners & those who have never read the Bible. Look for new podcasts every Tuesday & Friday! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BIBLE RESOURCES https://biblehub.com/ https://www.bible.com/ http://betterdaysarecoming.com/bible/pronunciation.html https://biblespeak.org/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/mybasicbiblestudy WEBSITE http://www.mybasicbiblestudy.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You can contact us via e-mail or regular old snail-mail: Basic Bible Study 7797 N. 1st St. #34 Fresno, CA 93720 basicbiblestudy19@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope collapses fast when it's built on what can change. Money shrinks, plans unravel, people disappoint, and emotions swing. In A Living Hope, Tyler Lynde opens 1 Peter 1:3–9 to name a different kind of confidence: a living hope rooted in the Father's mercy and anchored in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is not vague optimism or denial; it is a confident expectation based on God's promises, not our mood, status, or circumstances.Tyler traces the source and motive of living hope—God the Father and his great mercy—and explains the miracle of new birth. Before Christ, we were spiritually dead and unable to bridge the gap to a holy God. But God, rich in mercy, makes us alive with Christ. This is regeneration, the Holy Spirit imparting spiritual life to a dead heart and creating a new capacity to trust Jesus. Living hope is not self-improvement; it is rescue, restoration, and right standing with God through the new covenant.He then slows down on the name of “our Lord Jesus Christ,” unfolding how Jesus is Lord (the Sovereign with the right to rule our lives), Jesus (the Savior who saves from sin), and Christ (God's anointed, exalted to the highest place). From the cross to the empty tomb, Tyler shows why the resurrection is the Father's public “Amen” to Jesus' “It is finished”—the sacrifice accepted and the victory secured. Because Jesus lives, we can live now in newness of life and forever in the age to come.This living hope also reframes suffering and the future. Trials refine faith like fire refines gold, producing joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. The Holy Spirit walks with believers, helping us persevere. Peter's promise of an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading points us ahead: whether we pass into God's presence or welcome the return of Christ, death is swallowed up in victory.Tyler speaks tenderly to those who have drifted, reminding us that the Father welcomes prodigals home. The message closes with a clear invitation to trust or return to Christ and with communion as a tangible reminder that we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.If you need durable hope for what you're facing, watch and share this message. What do you need living hope for right now?We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.Subscribe to our Podcast & YouTube channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more!Find us on Facebook & Instagram

04/03/2026 Hwihu Kang   2 Corinthians 5:16-21 English Standard Version   16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[b] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Taste and See that the Lord is Good UOL Retreat in Philadelphia PA on 3/28/2026 In this episode, we look at how the Church's pre- and post-Communion prayers prepare us not just to receive the Eucharist, but to be changed by it. They help us see our need, turn us toward God, and then teach us how to carry His presence into daily life. Communion becomes not just something we receive, but something we learn to live. --- PRE-COMMUNION PRAYERS (UOC-USA PRAYER BOOK) Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Glory to You, our God, glory to You. Prayer to the Holy Spirit О Heavenly King, the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, everywhere present and filling all things. Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell in us, cleanse us from every impurity and save our souls, O Good One. Thrice-Holy Hymn Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3 times) Small Doxology Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Prayer to the Holy Trinity All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake. Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. The Lord's Prayer Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our Daily Bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Invocation to Jesus Christ Come, let us worship God, our King. Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and our God. Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ Himself, our King and our God. Psalm 22 The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. He settles me in a place of green grass; beside restful water He leads me. He restores my soul; He guides me on the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake. For even if I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil because You are with me. Your rod and Your staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil and my cup overflows. Behold, Your mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the Lord for the length of my days. Psalm 23 The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness, the world and all who live in it. For He has founded it above the seas and prepared it above the waters. Who will ascend into the mountain of the Lord and who will stand in His holy place? One whose hands are harmless and whose heart is pure, who has not received his soul in vain and has not sworn deceitfully to his neighbor. He will receive blessing from the Lord and mercy from God his Savior. This is the kind who seek the Lord, who seek the Face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your gates, you rulers and be lifted up, you eternal doors and the King of Glory will come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory. Psalm 115 I kept my Faith even when I said I am greatly afflicted. I said in my amazement: "Every person is a liar!" What shall I give to the Lord for all that He has given me? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord, in the presence of all His people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Lord, I am Your servant – and the child of Your handmaiden. You have burst my bonds apart. I will offer to You the sacrifice of praise and I will call upon the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, Jerusalem. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, alleluiа, alleluia, glory to You, our God. (3 times) Tropar, Tone 8 Lord, born of a Virgin, overlook my faults, purify my heart and make it a temple for Your Spotless Body and Blood. Cast me not from Your presence for You have infinitely great mercy. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;How can I who am unworthy, dare to come to the Communion of Your Holy Things? For even if I should dare to approach You with those who are worthy, my garment betrays me, for it is not a festal robe and I shall bring about the condemnation of my sinful soul. Lord, Lover of mankind, cleanse the pollution from my soul and save me. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.Great is the multitude of my sins, Birth-Giver of God. To you, Pure One, I flee and implore salvation. Visit my sick and feeble soul and intercede with Your Son and our God, that He may grant me remission of my sins, for You alone are blessed. First Prayer – Saint Basil the Great Lord and Master, Jesus Christ our God, Wellspring of Life and Immortality, Maker of every visible and invisible thing, Co-eternal and Co-everlasting Son of the Everlasting Father: in the abundance of Your Goodness, You were incarnate in these latter times, and crucified and buried for us ungrateful and graceless people. Through Your own Blood You have renewed our nature corrupted by sin. Immortal King, though I am a sinner, accept my repentance, incline Your Ear to me and hearken to my words. I have sinned before heaven and before Your Countenance and I am not worthy to gaze upon the immensity of Your Glory. For I have provoked Your Goodness, I have transgressed Your commandments and I have not obeyed Your ordinances. But, Lord, since You do not remember evil, but are long suffering and have great mercy, You have not given me over to destruction for my lawlessness, but have continually awaited my conversion. For You, Lover of Mankind have said through Your prophet, "I desire not the death of sinners, but that they may turn from their evil ways and live." Because You do not wish, Master, that the work of Your Hands should perish, neither, do You take pleasure in the destruction of humanity. Rather, You desire that all people should be saved and come to a knowledge of the Truth. Therefore, even I, though I am unworthy of heaven, earth and of this transitory life, having given myself completely to sin becoming a slave to pleasure and defiling Your Image – yet being Your creation – I despair not of my salvation in my wretchedness. But, emboldened by Your infinite Compassion, I draw near. Therefore, Loving Christ, receive me also as You received the harlot, the thief, the publican and the prodigal. Take away the heavy burden of my sins, You Who take away the sins of the world, Who heal all human infirmity, Who call to Yourself those who are weary and heavy-laden, granting them rest. You came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Cleanse me from every stain of flesh and spirit and teach me to achieve perfect holiness in fear of You, that receiving my share of Your sacred things, I may be united to Your Holy Body and Blood and may have You dwell and abide in me with the Father and Your Holy Spirit. Yes, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, may the partaking of Your Most Pure and Life-Giving Mysteries bring me not to condemnation, nor may I partake unworthily of them. Grant that I, even to my final breath, may receive my share of Your sacred things without condemnation and thereby receive communion with the Holy Spirit as a provision for the journey to eternal life and an acceptable defense before Your Dread Judgment Seat. Lord, grant that I, together with all Your elect, may also be a partaker of immaculate good things which You have prepared for those who love You, with whom You abide and are glorified to the ages. Amen. Second Prayer — Saint John Chrysostom Lord my God, I know that I am not sufficiently worthy that You should come under the roof of the house of my soul, for it is entirely desolate and fallen in ruin and You cannot find in me a worthy place for Your head. But, as You humbled Yourself from on high for our sake, humble Yourself not to the measure of my lowliness. As You took it upon Yourself in the cave to lie in the manger for dumb animals, so take it upon Yourself now to enter into the manger of my ignorant soul and into my defiled body. Since You did not disdain to enter and eat with sinners in the house of Simon the Leper, so take it upon Yourself to likewise enter also into the house of my humble, leprous and sinful soul. As You did not cast out the harlot, a sinner much like me, who came and touched You, so have compassion on me, a sinner, coming to touch You. Since You did not detest the kiss of her sin-stained and unclean mouth, detest not my mouth, which is stained even worse and more unclean than hers as well as my sordid, unclean and shameless lips, nor my even more unclean tongue. Let the fiery coal of Your Most Pure Body and of Your Precious Blood bring me the sanctification, enlightenment and strengthening of my humble soul and body, a relief from the burden of my many transgressions, protection against every operation of the Devil, an aversion and hindrance of my base and evil habits, a mortification of my passions, an accomplishment of your Commandments, an increase in Your divine Grace and an entrance into Your Kingdom. For I do not come to You, Christ my God, in presumption, but having been given full confidence by Your Ineffable Goodness, I approach, lest I stray far from Your communion and become the prey of the wolf of souls. Therefore, I pray, Master Who alone are Holy; sanctify both my soul and body, my mind and heart and my emotions and affections. Renew me entirely, implant Your Fear in my members and make Your sanctification indelible within me. Be my helper and foundation, govern my life in peace and make me worthy to stand at your right hand with Your saints. Through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother, the pure and immaterial Powers that always serve You and of all the saints who have been well pleasing to You from the ages. Amen. Third Prayer – Saint Simeon the Translator Only Pure and Spotless Lord, Jesus Christ, Wisdom of God, Peace and Power: moved by Your ineffable mercy and love for all mankind, You took up our whole nature from the chaste and virginal blood of the one who wondrously conceived You through the coming of the Holy Spirit and by the favor of Your Eternal Father. In that nature you took it upon Yourself to undergo Your life-giving and saving Passion – the cross, the nails, the spear and death itself. Mortify in me the soul-destroying passions of the body. As you despoiled the dominion of Hades in the tomb, bury in me the spirit of evil. You raised fallen Adam through Your life-bearing Resurrection - so raise me for I am immersed in sin and counsel me in the ways of repentance. You made divine the flesh You assumed and honored it on Your Throne at the Right Hand of the Father in Your Glorious Ascension. By the communion of Your Holy Mysteries make me worthy of a place at Your Right Hand with the saved. You made Your sacred disciples precious vessels by the coming of the Comforter, the Spirit – confirm me also to be a receptacle of His Coming. You promised to come again to judge the world in righteousness – grant that I shall go to meet You in the clouds with all Your saints. For You have made and formed me that I may unceasingly praise and chant hymns to You with Your Eternal Father and Your All-Holy, Good and Life-Creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Fourth Prayer – Saint Simeon the Translator Christ my God, as though standing before Your Dread Judgment Seat which does not regard personalities awaiting judgment and rendering an account of the evils I have committed: so today before the day of my condemnation appears, I stand before Your Holy Altar in Your Sight and in the Sight of Your awesome and holy angels. Bowed low by my own conscience, I offer my wicked and lawless actions, triumphing over them by declaring them. Lord, I know my iniquities have increased beyond the number of hairs on my head. The multitude of Your loving kindness is immeasurable and the mercy of Your Goodness and Forbearance beyond description and there is no sin which overcomes Your love for all mankind. Therefore, all marvelous King and merciful Lord, cause Your wondrous mercy to touch even me, a sinner. Receive me, a sinner, as I return to You, as You received the prodigal, the thief and the harlot. As You received those who came at the eleventh hour unworthily, so receive me also, a sinner. I know that You will set these sins I have committed before me and require an accounting of the sins which I have knowingly and unpardonably committed, but neither convict me with fitting judgment, nor chastise me in Your Anger. Lord have mercy on me for though I am weak, I am also the work of Your Hands. You have granted me to revere You, Lord, but I have done evil in Your Sight. Against You only have I sinned, but I beg You, Lord, judge not Your servant for if You will severely mark iniquity, who will survive it? For I am in a sea of sin and am neither worthy nor sufficient to behold and gaze upon the height of heaven for the multitude of my innumerable sins. Who will raise me up? Who has fallen into such evils and transgressions? Lord God, in You have I hoped. Have mercy on me, God, according to Your great mercy and do not reward me, as my deeds deserve. Rather convert, uphold and deliver my soul from the evils implanted in it and from fearsome designs. I will praise and glorify You all the days of my life. For You are the God of those who repent and we glorify You with Your Father without beginning and Your All Holy, Good and Life-Creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Fifth Prayer – Saint John of Damascus Lord and Master Jesus Christ our God, You alone have the power to absolve sin. Because You are Good and love all mankind, forgive all my iniquities committed in knowledge or in ignorance. Make me worthy to partake without condemnation of Your divine, glorious, pure and life creating Mysteries, that I may incur neither punishment nor an increase in my sins, but receive cleansing, sanctification, a pledge of the Life and the Kingdom to come, protection, an aid, a turning aside of my adversaries and the blotting out of my many transgressions. For You are a God of Mercy, Loving Kindness and Love for all mankind and we glorify You Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Sixth Prayer – Saint Basil the Great Lord, I know that I partake unworthily of Your Pure Body and Your Precious Blood, my Christ and my God. Yet emboldened by Your Loving Kindness I come to You for You have said, "Those who eat My Flesh and drink My Blood abide in Me and I in them." Therefore, be merciful, Lord and do not rebuke me, a sinner, but deal with me according to Your mercy. And let these Holy Things afford me healing, cleansing, enlightenment, protection, sanctification of soul and body, the averting of every fantasy, evil practice and operation of the devil which works within me. Let them give me confidence and love for You, amendment of life and perseverance, an increase in perfection and virtue, the fulfillment of Your Commandments, communion of the Holy Spirit and a provision for the journey to eternal life and an acceptable answer at Your Dread Judgment Seat, but neither for judgment nor condemnation. Amen. Seventh Prayer - Saint Symeon the New Theologian From lips besmirched and heart impure, from unclean tongue and sin stained soul, receive my pleas, my Christ. Neither overlook my words, my way of speech, nor my annoyingly persistent cry. Grant me the boldness to express all the things for which I long, my Christ, and teach me all that it is fitting for me to do and say. More than the harlot have I sinned. When she learned where You were visiting she brought myrrh, boldly came there and anointed Your Feet. As You, Divine Word, did not cast her out when she came in eagerness of heart, detest me not. Rather give me Your Feet, I pray, for my embrace and my kiss. With the torrent of my tears, as with an ointment of great price, let me dare to anoint them. Purify me, O Word, in my own tears and cleanse me with them. Forgive my errors; grant pardon, for You know the multitude of my sins. You also know the wounds I bear. You see the bruises of my soul. Yet You know my faith, You see my eager heart and hear my sighs. From You, my God, Creator and Redeemer, not one tear is hidden, nor even part of one. Your Eyes know my imperfection, for in Your Book are found those things which are yet unfashioned. Behold my lowliness; behold how great is my weariness. Then God of the entire world, grant me release from all my sins, that with a clean heart and conscience filled with holy fear and a contrite soul, I may partake of Your most pure and spotless Mysteries. The one who eats and drinks with a pure heart has life and divinity. For You have said, my Master, that "those who eat of My Flesh and drink of My Blood do indeed abide in Me and I am likewise found in them." My Master and my God, this saying of Christ is completely true. For one who shares in these Divine and Deifying Graces is not alone, but is with You, Christ, the Triple Radiant Light Who enlightens the whole world. You see that for this I have drawn near to You with tears and contrite soul. Thus, I dare to hope in Your good deeds for us, I partake – both rejoicing and trembling – for I am but grass in fire and behold, a strange wonder! I am refreshed with dew, beyond all words, just as in ancient times the bush burning with fire was not consumed. Therefore, thankful in mind and heart, thankful with all my body and all my soul I worship You, magnify and glorify You, my God for You are blessed both now and to all the ages. Amen. Eighth Prayer - Saint John Chrysostom Lord Jesus Christ, my God, absolve, remit, forgive and pardon me, of all the errors, transgressions and trespasses which I have committed before You – whether in knowledge or in ignorance, in words, deeds, thoughts or intentions. Through the intercession of Your All-Pure Mother, Your heavenly hosts and all the saints, who through the ages have been faithful to You, count me worthy to partake without condemnation of Your Holy and Precious Body and Blood for the healing of both soul and body and for the elimination and the cleansing of my evil thoughts. For Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, the Glory, the Honor and the Worship of the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Ninth Prayer – Saint John of Damascus I stand before the doors of Your temple and I refrain not from evil thoughts. But You, Christ my God, justified the tax collector: You showed mercy to the woman of Canaan and opened the Gates of Paradise to the Thief. Open to me the depths of Your love for all mankind and receive me as I draw near and touch You, even as You did the harlot and the woman with the issue of blood. The latter merely touched the hem of Your garment and immediately received healing and the former, clinging to Your Pure Feet, obtained the release from her sins. But, I in my pitiful state, dare to receive Your Whole Body. May I not be consumed, but receive me even as You received those others and enlighten the feelings of my soul, cleansing my sins; through the prayers of the one who gave You birth without seed and of the heavenly powers, for You are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen. POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS (UOC-USA PRAYER BOOK) Glory to You, O God! (3 times) Lord my God, I thank You that You have not rejected me, a sinner, but have allowed me to be a partaker of Your Holy Things.  I thank You that You have permitted me, though unworthy, to have a share in Your Most Pure and Heavenly Gifts. Master and Lover of Mankind, Who for our sake died and rose again and gave us these Awe-inspiring and Life-giving Mysteries for the benefit and sanctification of our souls and bodies: let these Gifts be for the healing of my own soul and body, for the averting of every adversary, the illumination of the eyes of my heart, the peace of my spiritual powers, an unashamed faith, an unfeigned love, the realizing of wisdom, the observance of Your Commandments, the receiving of Your Divine Grace and the inheritance of Your Kingdom. Preserved by them in Your holiness, may I always be mindful of Your Grace, no longer living for myself, but for You, our Master and Benefactor.  May I then pass from this life in the hope of Eternal Life and attain to the Everlasting Rest where the voice of those who feast is unceasing and the unending delight of those who behold the beauty of Your Face is inexpressible. For You, Christ our God, are truly the ineffable joy and desire of all those who love You and all creation sings Your praise to the ages of ages. Amen. Second Prayer following Communion By Saint Basil the Great I thank You, Christ, Master and God, King of the Ages and Maker of All Things, for all the Good Gifts You have given me and especially for the participation in Your Most Pure and Life-creating Mysteries. Therefore, I pray, Gracious Lord, Who loves all mankind, that You preserve me under Your protection and beneath the shadow of Your Wings. Grant that even to my final breath, I may partake worthily and with a pure conscience of Your Holy Things for the remission of my sins and for Eternal Life. For You are the Bread of Life, the Wellspring of Holiness, the Giver of all Good and we glorify You, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Third Prayer following Communion By Saint Simeon the Translator You Who willingly give Your Flesh to me as Food, Who are a Fire burning the unworthy; let me not be consumed, my Creator. Rather, enter into all my members – my joints, my inner being and my heart. Burn the thorns of my iniquities. Purify my soul and sanctify my reasoning.  Strengthen my joints and bones. Enlighten my five senses. Bind me completely with reverence for You. Always shelter, guard and keep me from every soul-corrupting word and deed. Cleanse, purify and harmonize my being. Beautify me, grant me understanding and enlighten me. Show me to be the Habitation of Your One Holy Spirit and no longer the abode of sin, that having become Your Dwelling Place because of the Communion of Your Holy Mysteries, every evil deed and passion may flee from me as from fire. As intercessors, I bring all the Saints: the leaders of the Bodiless Hosts, Your Forerunner, the Most Wise Apostles and with them, Your undefiled, Most-pure Mother. Accept their prayers Christ, my Merciful One and make me a Child of Light. For You, Good One, are the only Sanctification and Enlightenment of our souls and to You, as God and Master, we worthily render glory day by day. Amen. Fourth Prayer following Communion May Your Holy Body, Lord Jesus Christ our God, be for me Life Eternal and Your Precious Blood for the remission of my sins. May this Eucharist grant me joy, health and gladness. At Your Dread Second Coming make me, a sinner, worthy to stand at the Right Hand of Your Glory, through the intercessions of Your All-pure Mother and of all Your saints. Fifth Prayer following Communion To the Birth-Giver of God All Holy Lady, Birth-Giver of God, light of my darkened soul – my hope, my shelter and refuge, my consolation and joy; I thank you for accepting me, the unworthy one, as a communicant of the Most-pure Body and Precious Blood of your Son. In that you gave birth to the True Light, enlighten the intellectual eyes of my heart. As the one who carried the Fountain of Immortality in your womb, enliven me, slain by sin. Merciful Mother of the Most-merciful God, full of loving kindness, have mercy on me, grant me contrition and compunction of heart, humility in my thoughts, and the ability to recall my reasoning from its captivity. Make me worthy, until my final breath, to receive the sanctification of the Most Pure Mysteries without condemnation, for healing of soul and body. Grant me tears of repentance and confession, that I may chant hymns and glorify You all the days of my life, for blessed and glorified are You to the ages. Amen. Master, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3 times) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake. Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our Daily Bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One. For Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Depending upon which Liturgy was celebrated, one of the following Tropars and Kondaks are said.Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom Tropar, Tone 8 Grace shining forth from your mouth like a beacon has enlightened the universe, disclosing to the world treasures of generosity and showing us the heights of humility.  Since you instruct us by your words, Father John Chrysostom, intercede with Christ God, the Word Himself, to save our souls. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Kondak, Tone 6 From heaven you received divine grace and by your lips you teach all to worship the one God in Trinity, All-blessed and Venerable John Chrysostom. Worthily do we extol you, for you are an instructor who reveals things divine. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Liturgy of Saint Basil the GreatTropar, Tone 1 Your voice has gone out to all the earth and it has received your word. By it you taught divine doctrine making the nature of things, which exist, clear and giving good order to human behavior. Venerable Father and Royal Priest Basil, intercede with Christ our God, that He may save our souls. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Kondak, Tone 4 You appeared as an unshakable foundation of the Church passing down an inviolate dominion to all mortals, sealing it with your teachings, Venerable Basil, revealer of Heaven. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.Bohorodychnyi, Tone 6 Protection of Christians not put to shame, unwavering Mediation before the Creator; despise not the prayer of sinners, but because you are good, quickly come to help us who call on you in faith. Be swift to intercede and make haste to supplicate, Birth-Giver of God, who always protects those who honor you. Lord, have mercy. (12 times) More honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim. You, Who without defilement did bare God the Word, true Birth-Giver of God, we magnify You. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.    

How can we live "strong in grace.”? The answer is quite plain and simple: We grow strong in grace when we understand God's unconditional forgiveness of us, then learn to unconditionally forgive others. God calls us to grow strong in giving grace to others — growing in Christlikeness Giving grace to another person is simply to forgive them, unconditionally, just as God forgave us through Christ SO, WHAT IS FORGIVENESS? Forgiveness = Deliberate release of anger, resentment, and other negative feelings toward someone who has wronged you GRUDGE (Merriam-Webster) A persistent, long-lasting feeling of deep-seated resentment, bitterness, or ill will toward someone, often stemming from a past insult, injury, or perceived wrongdoing. It involves holding onto anger rather than letting it go, sometimes leading to a desire for retaliation or a continued refusal to forgive.   Not all negative emotions are the same.   Healthy anger motivates action, sets boundaries, and seeks solutions.   Grudges, however, act as long-lasting emotional weights with negative outcomes.  It negatively impacts your relationship with God. It negatively impacts your other relationships. It affects your health. — mentally and physically It affects your soul Hebrews 12:14-15 (tells us what happens when we fall short of grace): Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.  Ephesians 4:30-32 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN? Oswald Chambers. We trample the blood of the Son of God if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only explanation for the forgiveness of God and for the unfathomable depth of His forgetting is the death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the outcome of our personal realization of the atonement which He has worked out for us. It does not matter who or what we are; there is absolute reinstatement into God by the death of Jesus Christ and by no other way, not because Jesus Christ pleads, but because He died. It is not earned, but accepted. All the pleading which deliberately refuses to recognize the Cross is of no avail; it is battering at a door other than the one that Jesus has opened. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The atonement is a propitiation whereby God, through the death of Jesus, makes an unholy man holy. "The purpose of the cross," someone observed, "is to repair the irreparable.” “If someone says, ‘I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother who he has seen, how can he love God who he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20-21 NKJV).  If our relationship with God is so intricately connected with how we relate to others, it won't be surprising then for us to read what Jesus said  Matthew 6:14-15 (directly after teaching them how to pray ‘Lord's Prayer')  14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.   Matthew 6:12   And forgive us our debts,      as we also have forgiven our debtors.  Imagine that, before we get this warning from Jesus (14-15), Jesus told us to ask God for grace (forgiveness) but only at the same level and frequency as the forgiveness we extend to others.   Whether we admit it or not, we often think we have the right to “punish” others because they have hurt us or offended us. We believe we are justified in withholding forgiveness from them.  Unforgiveness is inherently contradictory to godliness “Often it is the case that we judge others by their worst actions, and we judge ourselves by our best intentions.” Just as we don't deserve God's forgiveness, someone you know may not deserve yours. It doesn't matter  We are still commanded to forgive them because we have been forgiven so much first.  “The devil doesn't care if you go to church or read your Bible as long as you don't apply it to your life.” THE LITMUS TEST FOR GRACE Have you extended the grace of God, the grace of forgiveness, towards the person(s) who has hurt you the most and least deserves it? Forgiveness is an action you must choose, rather than a feeling you must create THE CHOICE IS CLEAR AND IT'S YOURS TODAY Repent of unforgiveness & Release it so you no longer carry that anger/resentment/grudge no matter how justified you feel in doing so.

Washington Presbyterian ChurchSermon Date: March 22, 2026Speaker: Mike BowenTitle: United to Christ: God Is for UsBible Text: Romans 8:31–34 https://archive.org/download/sermon-2026-03-22/sermon%202026%2003%2022.mp3

Introduction: Are You Committed to Winning People with the Gospel? (1 Corinthians 9:15-23) SACRIFICE: Do You Give Up Your Rights in Order to WIN People? STEWARD: Do You See Yourself as ENTRUSTED with the Gospel? 2 Corinthians 5:19 - that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. SHARER: Do You Know the Joy of Sharing the Blessings of the Gospel? Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Audio Transcript 00:00-00:04Open up those Bibles to 1 Corinthians 9.00:07-00:10While you're turning there, let's just take a moment.00:10-00:18I'm going to ask that you would please pray for me to proclaim the Word of God as I should.00:19-00:26And I will pray for you to have a heart open to receive what it is the Lord wants to teach us today.00:27-00:28Let's pray.00:31-00:38Father, we understand that what is about to happen is supernatural.00:42-00:46This isn't giving some TED Talk.00:48-00:55This is the proclamation of your eternal word that somehow your Holy Spirit works with your word.00:59-01:01to conform us into the image of your Son.01:03-01:08Father, I pray that you would do a mighty work in all of us this morning.01:11-01:16Thank you, Father, in advance for the work that you're going to do.01:17-01:20We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.01:22-01:241 Corinthians 9, are you there?01:24-01:29Before we start this, Doug, did Taylor get paid this week?01:31-01:31He did not.01:32-01:34We don't usually do this publicly, but would you pay Taylor?01:40-01:41(congregation laughing)01:45-01:49You gotta keep the pastor humble, thank you, Doug.01:50-01:51You gotta keep the pastor humble.01:54-01:56Don't expect anything else for like a month.01:58-01:59You're gonna have to stretch it.02:01-02:03You got him the king-size Kit Kat, right?02:03-02:06Okay, then I don't wanna hear nothing about no second service.02:07-02:09You got plenty.02:10-02:10Don't be a hog.02:14-02:33When Erin and I were first married, we lived in town and we had a neighbor up the street that would often walk his dog right by our house and he would often stop in our front yard and let his dog do what dogs do on walks.02:35-02:37And there was no cleanup, by the way.02:39-03:09But this went on for some time and one day he was walking the dog up the street on the sidewalk in front of our house and Erin was outside and she said, "Hey, I'm buying you a shovel for Christmas." He got a little smile on his face and he goes, "So, you think I'd look pretty good with a shovel?" I think he thought that Erin was flirting with him.03:10-03:15And if so, that is a really weird pickup line to use.03:17-03:19Hey baby, you look good with a shovel.03:22-03:23It's pretty easy to miss the point, isn't it?03:24-03:25At least it was for him.03:25-03:28It was easy to miss the point.03:29-03:40And as we get to this next section in 1 Corinthians, I think that's what's going on here is I think Paul wanted to make sure that none of the Corinthians missed his point.03:42-03:42All right?03:42-03:44This is the Q&A section.03:44-04:03In this section in particular, they had asked him about eating meat that was used in pagan worship and they're like, "Well, it's just meat, but it bothers some of the weaker Christians that are, you know, just kind of fresh coming out of paganism." So what do we do about that, Paul?04:04-04:21Paul says, "You are free." But love says, "I will lay down my rights so that I don't offend a weaker brother." And then Paul, led by example, that's what we saw last week.04:21-04:24Paul goes, "Look, I'm showing you an example from my own life.04:25-04:36I have every right to be paid to preach." And he went through all the reasons it is legitimate for the pastor to get paid.04:36-04:38He gave us five very compelling reasons.04:39-04:43"Yes, the pastor should be paid." He said, "That's a right that I have.04:44-05:48That's a freedom that I have, but I'm laying it down for the sake of the gospel." And I think when you get to this point in chapter 9, Paul knew that some of the Corinthians were going to miss the point, and Paul's talking about paying the pastor, paying the pastor, while you pay the past year's while and they're like, "Ah, um. Yeah, Paul, we asked about meat. That was what we asked about. It's a bigger issue. It's not about the meat." "Oh, not about the meat. Oh, oh, this is about getting paid to preach. No, no, no, it's not about the money. That's like saying the fall of man. That's like saying Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden is a story about fruit trees. You missed the point.05:50-05:59The bigger issue is this, examining how does what I do affect somebody else?05:59-06:00That is the issue.06:03-06:12It's about not letting anything be an obstacle to not only loving a weaker brother, but winning people to Christ.06:19-07:26people to Christ. How high of a priority is that for you? I mean, can we just take an honest assessment today? How often do you think about winning somebody to Christ. How committed are you to personal evangelism? I thought so much about this this past week. And I want you to hear what I'm saying here because this isn't pack your bags we're going on a guilt trip. This is deeply convicting to me. And I'm right here with you, church. Please hear me, corporately and individually, corporately and individually, church, we are distracted and we are insulated.07:29-07:36We are, first of all, distracted. We're distracted. We are so distracted. Winning people to Christ, What are you talking about?07:37-07:38Oh yeah, I guess that is a thing.07:38-07:43I've been so distracted, distracted with good things.07:44-07:48Work and sports and home projects.07:48-07:53There is so much that demands our attention.07:56-08:00I think especially in a church like ours, we're insulated.08:02-08:10How much of our lives revolve around going to church, going to small group, going to event at the church.08:11-08:20And then when we're not at Harvest Bible Chapel, we are sending our kids to Christian school, or we volunteer at a Christian school.08:20-08:25And all of that is great stuff, obviously.08:26-08:31But I have to ask, how often are we even interacting with lost people?08:33-08:35I think we're insulated.08:38-08:40Look, there's so much.08:42-08:48There's so much that this church does so well when it comes to discipleship.08:49-08:51We have an excellent small group ministry.08:55-09:02We just had two excellent conferences, one for the men last month, one for the women yesterday.09:03-09:04Excellent.09:08-09:12Our giving to missions, I've never seen a church like this one.09:13-09:22Whether it's the Vision Appalachia or Thailand or somebody taking a short-term trip, our Forgiving to missions is excellent.09:28-09:34But when we get to this passage, we have to ask ourselves, "When was the last time that you led somebody to Christ?09:37-09:39When was the last time that happened?09:41-09:45When was the last time that you even shared the gospel with someone?09:45-09:51When was the last time that you even invited somebody to come to church to hear the gospel here?09:56-09:58Are you committed to personal evangelism?10:02-10:06Not just talking about the church at large, obviously that is a concern for me.10:06-10:07I'm talking about you as an individual.10:08-10:09Are you committed to that?10:12-10:14Look down at verse 23 here in chapter 9.10:16-10:27Paul says, "I do it all for the sake of the gospel." Paul says, "Everything in my life revolves around the gospel.10:27-10:41Everything in my life revolves around winning people to Christ." And this verse has a very special place in my heart because our missionary in Thailand, This is His verse.10:42-10:46This is the verse that fuels everything that He does.10:46-10:55Several years ago, He was at our house and He was talking to Erin and I about how this verse fuels everything in His ministry.10:55-10:58"I do all things for the sake of the gospel." He kept going back to that.10:58-11:04"I do all things for the sake of the gospel." Twenty-three churches, four children's homes, a Bible institute.11:06-11:12I do all things for the sake of the gospel." That's how that mission started, by the way.11:12-11:13Do you know how that started?11:14-11:20It was Barnabas, this Burmese man going through the northern mountain jungles of Thailand looking for villages.11:22-11:30Looking, looking for lost people in the middle of the jungle and finding a village and walking in and just sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with them.11:31-11:32That's how that started.11:36-11:38All things for the sake of the gospel.11:39-11:43He is like spiritually hilarious to talk to.11:43-11:50He was telling me recently about a telemarketer that was calling to try to sell him on some kind of goofy energy pills or something.11:50-11:52And do you know what he told her?11:54-11:54The gospel!11:55-11:56He told her the gospel.11:56-11:58He also told me, this was just a couple weeks ago.11:59-12:04He had a couple guys show up to pump their septic tank.12:04-12:05And do you know what he told them?12:06-12:08The gospel, yeah.12:10-12:13One of my favorite stories, he had to get some sound equipment.12:13-12:18They do this big outdoor Christmas program as an outreach.12:20-12:25It's kind of like open air preaching and the Lisu tribe, they're dancers and there's this whole thing, right?12:26-12:27But he had to get like this PA system.12:28-12:35So he goes into the store, the electronics store, where they sell these things, and he wants to buy one.12:35-12:37He goes, "I wanna try it out." Remember this, Justin?12:37-12:49He goes, "I wanna try this out." And they're like, "Okay, you can try it out." He's like, "I wanna make sure it works." So they fire up this PA system, and he gets on the microphone, and do you know what he says?12:51-13:06"He proclaimed the gospel to the whole store!" I'm gonna give you the short version of the story, I don't have time to get into all of it, but he told me about a village across the border that was guarded by four armies that needed fish.13:08-13:12And he took them fish, and I said, "How did you keep the fish from spoiling?" He's like, "What are you talking about?13:13-13:29"What do you mean spoil?" I'm like, "Well, he said it took him 10 days "to walk through the jungle with these fish." I'm like, "Fish is gonna get bad after a while." He goes, "No, no, no, no, no, no, live fish." I'm like, "How did you take live fish?" And then it hit me.13:30-13:31I said, "Hang on, hang on.13:33-13:53"Did you carry bags of water full of fish "through the jungle for 10 days "to take fish to a village?" And as a matter of fact, he just says, "Yeah, they needed fish." You carried an aquarium through the jungle for 10 days.13:54-14:00He's like, "They needed fish." Why would somebody do something like that?14:01-14:04What would possess a man to do something like that?14:04-14:06I'll tell you what possesses a man.14:07-14:09He does all things for the sake of the gospel.14:09-14:19He says, "The reason I'm taking these fish to them is it's going to open the door for me to share the gospel with them." Who does something like that?14:20-14:23A person who wants to win people to Christ, that's who.14:28-14:28So what about you?14:30-14:31Do you love lost people?14:38-14:53You're like, "Man, I guess I don't love lost people like that." Now, this section here in 1 Corinthians shows us what the heart of an evangelist looks like.14:55-14:56I think there's something here for all of us.14:56-15:09I just want to go through the text, and then I want to go back and pick up some of the key principles that motivated Paul here, but let's pick up in verse 15.15:13-15:21Paul says, "But I have made no use of any of these rights." He didn't use his right to get paid to preach.15:21-15:22That's what he's talking about.15:22-15:24Like, why didn't you do that?15:25-15:26Well we talked about that.15:27-15:32Paul didn't want anybody to think that he was using some new religion to try to get rich.15:36-15:38He didn't want people to assume that he had bad motives.15:39-15:40Time out here for a second.15:40-15:52They're like, "Well, if Paul had this conviction, why didn't the other apostles have this conviction?" I mean, it makes sense, but why didn't the others have this conviction?15:52-15:53And the answer is very simple.15:53-15:56Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles.15:58-15:59He was reaching pagan people.16:00-16:06That Peter and the rest that were going to the Jews, the Jews already had this system in place about paying the spiritual leaders.16:07-16:08That wasn't a weird concept to them.16:09-16:11Paul going to the Gentiles, it was a different ball game.16:14-16:15All right, look, keep going to verse 15.16:16-16:27He says, "Nor am I writing these things "to secure any such provision." Paul's like, "I'm not writing this to you "to secure provision." Like, what's he mean by that?16:27-16:34Paul's saying, "To be clear, "I'm not trying to use reverse psychology here "to make you pay me." All right?16:34-16:44Paul's like, "I'm not trying to be like, "Well, you know, I'm just out here preaching for free." And then you're like, "Oh, poor Paul, preaching for free.16:45-16:46"We should pay him.16:46-16:47"He shouldn't have to do that.16:47-16:51"We should pay him." Paul's like, "I'm not trying to reverse psychology you, okay?16:52-17:00"This isn't, I'm not throwing this out there "so that you're convicted to pay me." He goes, "That's not it at all." All right, go on.17:01-17:09He says, "For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting." Wow.17:10-17:24Paul says, "I would rather die than somebody accuse me of using the gospel to rip people off." But what's this boasting thing?17:25-17:26You see that?17:26-17:35He says, "Deprive me of my ground for boasting." So that word for boasting literally is rejoicing.17:35-17:38Usually when we hear boasting we have a bad connotation with that.17:38-17:40The word literally is rejoicing.17:41-17:41Okay?17:42-17:45And boasting is really not a bad thing, it just depends on what you're boasting in.17:46-17:48Because we're called to boast in the Lord, right?17:50-17:52But the question is, what is Paul's ground for boasting?17:52-17:53What is it?17:54-17:55What's he boasting about?17:55-17:58What about this is occasion for boasting?17:58-18:01Well, first he tells us what it's not.18:01-18:08Look at verse 16, he says, "For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting.18:09-18:11For necessity is laid upon me.18:11-18:14Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.18:16-18:28If I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship." He says, first of all, the boasting is not about preaching the gospel.18:28-18:29Let's get that off the table.18:29-18:34That's not...because that's not in the actual preaching the gospel itself.18:34-18:47I'm not like boasting in the opportunity to preach, because you realize, church, the gospel leaves no room for boasting, right?18:49-19:00You can't earn your salvation not by what you do, not by who you are, not by who you You know, you cannot do a thing to earn your salvation.19:00-19:08You can't do a thing to make God happy with you because you are a guilty, rebellious sinner before the eyes of your holy creator.19:08-19:09That's reality.19:10-19:12There is not a thing that we can do.19:12-19:14We are guilty of sin.19:15-19:18But God, because of His great love, He's given us grace.19:18-19:30God says, "Because I love you, I am providing salvation, not through what you do, but through what my son did on your behalf." It is a gift, and when you receive a gift, there is no room for boasting.19:34-19:36So okay, so what is the reward?19:36-19:37What is it?19:38-19:40Well, he tells us, look at verse 18.19:41-19:43He says, "What then is my reward?19:44-19:59That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel." See, Paul says, "You know what thrills me?19:59-20:02Do you know what I'm really like fired up about?20:03-20:04It's this.20:05-20:19There's this one thing, this one thing that I can choose to do, and that is to preach the gospel for free." In other words, Paul is saying, "God's not making me do this.20:22-20:27God's not making me lay down my right to be paid." Paul goes, "I chose that.20:27-20:29That is my contribution.20:29-20:31That is Paul's contribution to the kingdom.20:32-20:38I choose to do it for free." He's so excited in this passage.20:39-20:45He's so excited to forfeit his rights so he can preach.20:45-20:52Paul's like, it is such a joy for me that I have the ability to love people in a unique way.20:52-20:56That I can give to them and not get a thing in return from them.20:56-20:58That is such a joy for me!21:01-21:05Right now, somebody's like, look good with a shovel.21:05-21:08I don't get it. I don't get it.21:10-21:19Who gets joy from denying themselves something that they are rightfully entitled to?21:23-21:24Who does that?21:26-21:29The person who wants to win people to Christ, that's who.21:33-21:48Verse 19, he goes on, "For though I am free from all, "I have made myself a servant to all "that I might win more of them." He's like, I'm free, I'm a child of God.21:49-21:55My salvation is not based on my performance, but I made myself a servant for the sake of winning people.21:57-22:00Paul is always about winning people.22:01-22:05And Paul would do anything to win someone to Christ.22:05-22:10He found so much joy that he could give up his rights to win people to Christ.22:12-22:21So what does that look like, to lay down your rights in order to share the gospel?22:21-22:25What does that look like, to lay down your rights for the sake of evangelism?22:26-22:27Well, he tells us what it looks like.22:27-22:28Look at verse 20.22:30-22:36He says, "To the Jews, I became as a Jew in order to win Jews.22:37-22:53To those under the law, I became as one under the law, though not being myself under the law, that I might win those under the law." So Paul says, let me tell you what that's like.22:53-22:57When I'm with the Jews, I'm not going to violate the law in front of them.22:59-23:04Paul saying, "I'm not going to walk into the synagogue eating a ham sandwich in front of them.23:04-23:06That would really offend them.23:06-23:08Like, "Look, I'm free in Christ.23:08-23:17I can eat a ham sandwich." Like, he goes, "I would never do something like that." I mean this is all through the book of Acts.23:20-23:24All throughout, you see in Acts chapter 15 with the Jerusalem council, that's what that whole thing was about.23:25-23:27You see it in Acts chapter 16, that was an interesting story.23:28-23:30Paul had Timothy circumcised.23:31-23:31Like why?23:31-23:32So Timothy can get saved?23:32-23:34No, no, no, that has nothing to do with that.23:36-23:42Paul had Timothy circumcised so that they didn't offend the Jews that they were trying to win.23:47-23:49Boy, that had to have been an awkward exchange, don't you think?23:53-23:53Did you imagine?23:53-24:28Paul's like, "I will do whatever it takes to win people!" And Timothy's like, "Yeah!" And Paul's like, "Make any sacrifice for the gospel!" And Timothy's like, "Yeah!" And Paul's like, "Circumcise Timothy!" And Timothy's like, "What?" Paul's like, "Are you committed or not?" That's the point, though.24:30-24:31Anything.24:31-24:32What's it going to take?24:32-24:33What's it going to take?24:36-25:05He goes on, verse 21, he says, "To those outside the law, I became as one outside the law," being outside the law of God, but under the law of Christ, clarifying. We'll talk about that more in a minute. He says that I might win those outside the law. You see, you also see that in Acts, right? When Paul was with the Gentiles, he acted like the Gentiles.25:05-25:11Not in a sinful way, but he assimilated with them. You see it in, what is it, Acts 17.25:12-25:14Paul quoted one of their poets.25:14-25:15It was a bridge.25:15-25:17He goes, "You know what one of your poets says?25:17-25:24Ah, he was on to something." And he uses that as a bridge, but he assimilated with them.25:24-25:25That's what he's talking about.25:25-25:33Verse 22, he says, "To the weak I became weak that I might win the weak.25:33-25:39I have become all things to all people that by all means I might save some." The weak.25:40-25:41We've been talking about the weak.25:41-25:42These are the baby Christians.25:43-25:45These are the people that are coming out of paganism.25:45-25:50It's just so hard to let go of things that we were so used to.25:50-25:54And that's what really the whole meat issue was about, right?25:54-26:06And Paul goes, "Oh, if eating meat is a problem for them, I will be a vegan." And then we land on verse 23.26:06-26:06Here it is.26:08-26:20I do it all for the sake of the gospel that I may share with them in its blessings." That's the thesis.26:21-26:24That's the thesis of the passage.26:25-26:30That's the thesis of Paul's whole life.26:31-26:33Everything I do is for the gospel.26:35-26:36Is that the thesis of your life?26:41-26:45You see the passion for winning lost people in the past?26:45-26:45Did you see it?26:49-26:50Don't miss it.26:51-26:53You think I'd look good with a shovel, don't miss it.26:58-26:59It's passion for the lost.27:01-27:03So on your outline, I just want you to draw some things down here.27:06-27:17You see, three big ingredients, three things that motivated Paul that I have to ask myself and you have to ask yourself.27:20-27:22Are you committed to winning people with the gospel?27:22-27:22Are you?27:23-27:24Are you?27:25-27:30Are you committed to winning people with the gospel?27:39-27:42The first ingredient, it's the most obvious one, right?27:42-27:43It's sacrifice.27:44-27:47Sacrifice, do you give up your rights in order to win people?27:49-27:51Do you give up your rights in order to win people?27:53-27:58Again, Paul found laying down a freedom for the sake of the gospel to be an absolute joy.27:58-28:00He goes, "I will go along with whoever I'm with.28:02-28:19Gray areas, I'll give up anything that might cause an offense." You're like, "Wait, wait, so you're saying that you win people by accommodating them?" No, that's not what we're saying at all.28:20-28:23You accommodate yourself so that you have the right to speak to people.28:24-28:25That's what he's saying.28:26-28:34If you offend somebody because you insist on your freedom, you lost the audience.28:35-28:36They're not going to hear you.28:37-28:41That's what he's talking about, removing anything that would offend.28:44-28:45What does that look like today?28:48-28:50Here's a few examples today of what that could look like.28:50-29:04Let's say you have some Catholic friends that you've been witnessing to, and you know that they're faithful Catholics, but you're not sure if they truly know Christ.29:04-29:10And it's Lent season, and you invite them over to your house for dinner on a Friday.29:12-29:13You're not serving hamburgers.29:16-29:16You see?29:18-29:20You're gonna offend them right out the gate, and they're not gonna hear you.29:24-29:30Let's say you have some Muslim neighbors, and it's summertime, and you're like, "I wanna reach them with the gospel.29:30-29:34"I wanna have an opportunity to share Jesus with them." You invite them over to your house for a barbecue.29:34-29:36You're not having pork at your barbecue.29:38-29:41You offend them, you've lost your audience.29:46-29:48Let's talk about the big one.29:49-29:56Is there any issue in our day that really quickly brings offense?29:57-29:58Can you think of anything?29:59-30:00Say anything at all.30:00-30:03Anything at all that you could mention that people would immediately get offended.30:05-30:07Politics, right?30:10-30:18Let's say that you have a neighbor that is a true blue Democrat and you are of the MAGA persuasion.30:18-30:20This isn't a political statement, okay?30:21-30:22This is an illustration.30:23-30:29But if you're inviting your hardcore Democrat friend to your house, you're putting away the MAGA stuff, okay?30:30-30:32You're not wearing your little red ball cap to the dinner table.30:40-30:44Why would you want to offend them over something you don't need to offend them over?30:44-30:45It works the other way too, by the way.30:47-30:54If you're a Democrat and you have a Republican friend over, take down your Bernie Sanders banner.30:57-30:59By the way, it's 2026.31:01-31:02You've needed to take that down anyways.31:07-31:13And I think one of the biggest places where we're so quick to offend people is in social media.31:15-31:20Look, if you're one of these social media people, yes, post your Bible verses, sure.31:20-31:23Post your excerpts from the devotional.31:24-31:26But can I tell you this just lovingly?31:27-31:31Stop posting all the political garbage, because you know what you're doing?31:32-31:34You're losing half your audience.31:35-31:38And someday you're going to want to tell them about the gospel.31:38-31:47Someday you're going to have an opportunity, and they're not going to want to hear it because they know that you're on the other side of the political aisle, and we know that automatically makes you a demon.31:50-31:56Either way, all things to all people.31:58-32:00Not compromising the gospel.32:00-32:01We have to be clear about that.32:01-32:03Not compromising the gospel.32:03-32:05Church, this is a call for discernment.32:05-32:08You have to discern what is optional and what is not.32:09-32:12Some things are not optional, right?32:12-32:26Some things are not optional, like the truth, like Jesus, like the gospel, like God's command to repent, God's command to believe, not optional.32:28-32:29Truth is not optional.32:29-32:30You know what else is not optional?32:35-32:48walk." Meaning, in no way is Paul saying, he made this very clear, that you should sin to fit in. Right? You think, "Oh, I'm gonna win them. I'm gonna be just like them.32:49-33:03We're gonna get into the crude anatomy jokes so he'll know I'm one of the boys." No. No. Gossip. Well, they're all gossiping. I jump in the gossip with them. No.33:07-33:33Getting drunk. No. We're not compromising our walk. That's not optional. But there are some things that are optional. Like we've said, food, music played. Maybe you know they have a big issue with tattoos, and you go to tattoo, you wear long sleeves and cover it up, so you don't offend them.33:38-35:08Nothing at the expense of the gospel, nothing at the expense of being an ambassador of Christ, but if it's a gray area that might offend, I'll always seek to take the high road, because committed to winning people means committed to giving up your rights. So that's the first S and these are all alliterated. I get paid more when that happens. The second S is steward. What are the ingredients? What are the ingredients of somebody that's committed to people with the gospel? The second one is steward. Do you see yourself as entrusted with the gospel? Do you see yourself as entrusted with the gospel. Look at verse 17 again. The very last phrase, he says, "I am still entrusted with a stewardship." God is trusting you to give this out. He's trusting you. You got a Bible on your lap? He's trusting you with that, to give it out. You're entrusted. Like, "Well, yeah, that's good for Paul. I mean, he obviously was. What about the rest of us? He ropes us all in." Look at 2 Corinthians 5.19. Look, that is, "In Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, thanks to Jesus.35:09-35:21Look at this last phrase, "and entrusting to us, us, the message of reconciliation." Do you realize how awesome that is?35:22-35:32That the God of the universe, your Creator and your Savior said, "Here, here, here is the message that's going to forgive sin.35:32-35:35Here is the message that's going to transform people.35:36-35:39Here is the message that's going to save people from hell.35:40-35:40Here it is.35:40-35:41Here it is.35:41-35:42And I'm giving it to you.35:47-35:48Do you know the gospel?35:50-35:51You know it?35:53-35:56If you do, that means that God's entrusting you to make sure that people hear it.35:57-35:58He's trusting you with it.36:02-36:13You know, last week, Bob Brown and Jesse Boggs went down to deliver some boxes that were packed.36:13-36:22Our small groups donated boxes for the needy that were given out through the ministry Vision Appalachia.36:24-36:28And to nobody's surprise, they packed way more boxes than our target goal, right?36:29-36:31How many boxes were sent, Bob?36:32-36:33250.36:34-36:38How many were asked, like, we were shooting for like 25 or something from this church, right?36:39-36:41And didn't we get like, we got 30.36:41-36:42All right.36:43-36:44Nobody's shocked, Bob.36:44-36:45Nobody's shocked.36:46-36:48Again, you guys are so generous.36:50-36:53But Bob and Jesse took the boxes down.36:54-36:58Let me ask you, they had the U-Haul trailer right out here.36:59-37:08Bob, want you another van we had out here?" With all these boxes with the donations for Vision Appalachia, let me ask you this.37:09-37:11Did Bob and Jesse have a choice in what happened with those boxes?37:13-37:14Did they have a choice what would happen with them?37:16-37:16No.37:17-37:17No.37:20-37:21Not convinced of that?37:21-37:21Okay.37:22-37:27What if Bob would have drove that U-Haul back to his house and him and Jesse threw the mother of all block parties with those supplies.37:31-37:32Would you have been like, "Good for you, Bob.37:33-37:36Live it up." Is that what you would have said?37:38-37:39You would have been like, "What are you doing?37:40-37:43That was given to you to give to them.37:44-37:51What are you doing?" We trusted that stuff to them, and they are faithful stewards.37:51-37:53They got it where it needed to go.37:53-37:54principle here, church.37:55-37:57God is trusting you with His message.37:58-37:59You don't have a choice.38:01-38:03Like, I don't really feel like a steward.38:03-38:04You are a steward.38:09-38:12God did not give you the option to keep it to yourself.38:13-38:14He didn't give you that option.38:17-38:25And somehow we get saved and down the road we forget and we get all self-focused and all we care about is our walk with Christ.38:31-38:39I'm going to tell you, it's so convicting to me, you know, you plant a church because you want to win lost people for Christ.38:39-38:43You want to win lost people, and then you get down the road, you know what we end up doing?38:43-38:47We end up swapping complaining sheep with other churches.38:47-38:48That's what we end up doing.38:50-38:59The guy complaining about his last church is now here, and the person leaving this church complaining about this one is going there, and we call that doing gospel ministry.39:04-39:11You know, we're talking about putting up this new building, an opportunity to win more people to Christ, but are we winning people to Christ here and now?39:14-39:26If we're not passionate for the gospel and reaching lost people here and now, what makes us think that we're going to get this new building and all of a sudden we're going to be magically converted into evangelists.39:32-39:35Committed to winning people means you've got to see yourself as entrusted with the gospel.39:37-39:38You're a steward.39:41-39:45The third S, number three, is shareer.39:46-40:00a word. You know how I know it's a word? Is my computer didn't give me a red squiggly line underneath it when I typed it. And in my world, that's a word. Share.40:02-40:27Do you know the joy of sharing the blessings of the gospel? Look, there is there is nothing more exciting than leading someone to Christ. Have you ever done that? If you have, you know, right? If you have, you know. There is nothing more exciting than that, seeing them baptized and knowing that God used you to reach somebody for eternity. There is nothing in the world greater than that.40:30-40:45Look at verse 23 again. This is the verse, "I do it all for the sake of the gospel," look, "that I may share with them in its pleasures," in its blessings, excuse me, "share with them and its blessings.40:51-40:53Think of everything you've experienced as a follower of Jesus.40:55-40:57Everything you experienced, think of it.40:58-40:59If you're a Christian, you get it.41:00-41:01You know the forgiveness of sin.41:01-41:03God will never hold your sins against you.41:04-41:17You know the joy that comes, the peace that you have no matter how horrible things get, The comfort God gives you in the tragedies of life, the fellowship of the church, oh and the hope of heaven that our best days are ahead of us.41:18-41:25Everything you experience as a Christian, to go to somebody that doesn't have that and say you can have all of that too.41:31-41:36Sharing the blessings, that should be a natural inclination, you know?41:37-41:37You know?41:38-41:40It's like, imagine this scenario.41:40-41:47Imagine Erin and I are at a restaurant and we order different dishes, something neither of us have ever had before, but we got different things.41:47-41:52And I take a bite and I'm like, this is the best thing I've ever tasted.41:54-41:55I gotta be sure.41:55-41:56And I take another bite.41:57-41:58I'm like, yeah, verified.41:58-42:02This is the best thing I've ever tasted in my life.42:06-42:08What's the next part of that story?42:09-42:18Oh, oh, Erin goes, "Can I try it?" I'm like, "No, eat your own." That's not how the story goes, is it?42:18-42:19That's not how it goes.42:19-42:21The story goes like this.42:22-42:23This is the best thing I ever had in my life.42:24-42:25Erin, you have got to try this.42:26-42:27You have got to try this.42:27-42:29And she's like, "I don't want to try it." You're trying it.42:31-42:33That's actually happened, hasn't it?42:34-42:34Both ways.42:35-42:37I'm like, she's like, this is so, I don't wanna try that.42:37-42:41Erin's like, you know, next thing you know, she's like, the fork can go in your mouth or in your forehead, pick one.42:52-42:53You gotta try this.42:54-43:02See, when you have something, when you experience something so glorious, so beautiful, there's something in you that wants to share that.43:04-43:05God put that in us.43:06-43:08That's how it is with the gospel, by the way, to that lost person.43:09-43:11Like, bro, you have got to get in on this.43:12-43:33You have got to get in on all of the blessings that comes in the gospel, knowing Jesus, the fellowship of the church, serving Him locally and in international missions, worshiping Him together, oh, and heaven, we'll get to share that one for all of eternity.43:36-43:42One of your greatest joys in life should be winning people to Jesus and sharing in the blessings of knowing Him.43:44-43:49Because committed to winning people means sharing in the blessings of the gospel.43:50-43:55Our worship team would make their way back up front.43:58-44:02Next week, our Easter series begins.44:04-44:05I don't really like the word Easter.44:06-44:07It doesn't mean anything to me.44:07-44:11I call it Resurrection Day, but you know what I mean.44:15-44:47Our Easter series begins next week, and it's a season where talking about Jesus and inviting someone to church is going to be much more natural. God is entrusting you to share the blessings of the gospel. Will you do whatever it takes to win someone? Let's pray.44:50-45:58Father in heaven, I confess before you in front of my brothers and sisters here that this passage tears me up because we look at the life of Paul and we look at the life of like Barnabas today, we look at people like that and we see Father Such passion to win lost people and we look inwardly and don't see that in ourselves sometimes, a lot of times. Father we come to you because you're the God who changes us, you're the God who transforms us, and I pray Father, I just pray simply this, that you would stir in the hearts of all of your people here to have the same mindset of Paul, an attitude of sacrifice, an attitude of being a steward, and the joy that comes in sharing the blessings of Christ.45:58-46:15Stir that spirit in us, Father, so that evangelism isn't some mechanical, obligatory thing that we think we have to do, but it's just so natural for us to to share the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.46:16-46:18It's in his name that we pray, amen. Small Group DiscussionRead 1 Corinthians 9:15-23What was your big take-away from this passage / message?How would you respond to someone who says, “I don't really share the Gospel with anyone. I don't know what to say.”?Reread 1 Cor 9:17. What does Paul mean that he was “entrusted with a stewardship.”? Is that true of all Christians? See 2 Corinthians 5:19.What are the “blessings to be shared” when you win someone to Christ (1 Cor 9:23)?BreakoutWhen was the last time you shared the Gospel with someone or invited them to church? What happened? Who has God put on your heart to win with the Gospel? What are you doing about it?Pray for one another.

Send a textThe devotion for today, Friday, March 13, 2026 was written by Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley and is narrated by Adam Carter. Today's Words of Inspiration come from Philippians 3:7-9 (The Message)“The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I'm tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God's righteousness.”  Support the show

The topic for this episode is something that is absolutely essential to building a strong and happy marriage. In fact, I have never seen a marriage truly thrive without this thing, but I've seen many a marriage crumble in its absence. Tune in to find what this important ingredient is, and how it can miraculously transform a not-so-happily-ever-after marriage. Show Notes VERSES CITED: Ephesians 4:15 -“...speaking the truth in love.” 2 Timothy 3:1-6 - "...in the last days difficult times will come...." Colossians 3:12-17 - "...clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion...." James 4:6-10 - ” ...Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." 1 Peter 5:5-6 - "...humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you..." Matthew 18:21-22 - "...Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me?..." Ephesians 4:32 - "...forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Philippians 2:3-4 - "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit...." Romans 15:1-2 -  "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those..." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - “In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” Colossians 4:2 – “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Ephesians 5:20 – “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Psalm 105:1  - “Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done.” Psalm 107:1 – “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” James 1:17 - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father..." Philippians 4:8 - “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:6 - “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” John 2:9-10 - "When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and...." RELATED LINKS: Free Printable Prayer Guides - download as many of these as you like from my Loving Life at Home blog Love Your Husband/Love Yourself - with regard to sex, this is a why-to book, not a how-to EP 82: On Cultivating Contentment - another really important trait for marital bliss! EP 10: We Find What We Look For - motivation to change your focus if you tend to find fault EP 104: Giving Thanks Through Hardship - admittedly a challenge, but it is doable Don't Let Anything Steal Your Joy - we must guard against these stealthy theives of joy and contentment On Remembering to Say Thank You - because gratitude begs to be expressed Free Printable Thank You Notes - several designs to choose from Be Thankful -- and Give Thanks - a short post, but with a great quote on gratitude   STAY CONNECTED: - Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources - Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content - Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, printables - Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers - My Books: Shop Online - find on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, or through our website        

Preaching Point: Embrace your assignment as Christ's ambassador by living a reconciled life and calling others to be reconciled to God through the Gospel.Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (ESV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

How are Christians a new creation in Christ?How did Paul view and defend his ministry?Why must we all open our hearts toward God and one another?Living as New Creation | 2 Corinthians 5:17-6:13 | Paul's Second Letter to the CorinthiansOutline | ConversationSo then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come! And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people's trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ's behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “I heard you at the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation!We do not give anyone an occasion for taking an offense in anything, so that no fault may be found with our ministry. But as God's servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in hunger, by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love, by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left, through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet – see! – we continue to live; as those who are scourged and yet not executed; as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide to you. Our affection for you is not restricted, but you are restricted in your affections for us. Now as a fair exchange – I speak as to my children – open wide your hearts to us also (2 Corinthians 5:17-6:13).

Hey y'all ! Welcome to another Friday with CWCOI ! In this week's episode, our host, Ally Yost talks about grace within the church. In most cases, it is relatively easy for us to extend grace to those around us who are in the world and it's not always as easy to extend that same grace to those who are are in the body of Christ. We all recieve grace from God and when we understand and recieve that, we are then able to equally extend that same grace to others. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32 _____________________________________________ ☆ If you're struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help ➤ Book a free 15 minute call to get started ➤ https://learn.nocd.com/CWCOI ☆ College Women, to start a Delight chapter on your campus or to learn more information visit ➤  www.delightministries.com/startadelight ☆ For their buy 1 get 1 50% off deal, head to ➤ 3DayBlinds.com/COFFEE ☆ Go to ➤ cozyearth.com/COFFEE for up to 20% off! ☆ Go to ➤ brooklynbedding.com and use code COFFEE at checkout for 30% off sitewide ☆ REP CWCOI MERCH ➤ https://allyyost.com  ☆ MY BIBLE (code 'ALLYYOST' at checkout) ➤ https://hosannarevival.com/collections/beautiful-bibles/products/nlt-notetaking-bible-versailles-theme  ☆ TUMBLER LINK ➤ https://allyyost.com/products/travel-tumbler _____________________________________________ Connect further with us ! TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@christwithcoffeeonice  Instagram ➤ https://instagram.com/christwithcoffeeonice  _____________________________________________ Connect further with Ally ! TikTok (2M) ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@ally_yost  Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/ally_yost/  ShopMy ➤ https://shopmy.us/allyyost  Pinterest ➤ https://www.pinterest.com/ally_yost1/_created/

Send a textProphecy that never lands still pulls crowds—and cash. We open with a hard look at how unfalsifiable end-times claims, red heifer headlines, and celebrity pulpits keep believers distracted from the quiet work of reading the Bible and obeying Jesus. If you've felt that tug toward the sensational while your soul grows thin, this conversation brings you back to center: Scripture over spectacle, discernment over vibes, faithfulness over hype.We trace a thread from Judges through Israel's history to the life of Christ: God's people often choose comfort over courage and sometimes sell out their own. Samson's binding, Moses' exposure, Joseph's betrayal, and the crowd's rejection of Jesus remind us why bold faith today still meets resistance at the dinner table and in the pews. We talk frankly about examining our hearts, guarding our minds, and learning to contend for doctrine without tearing down people. The Psalms anchor us: don't trust war horses or platforms; trust the Lord's steadfast love.From there we reframe mission with Paul's victory procession: Christ has already won, and the church moves on offense. That means the gospel will smell like life to some and death to others, but it must be spoken. We share encouragement for the weary, stories of gratitude and humility, and a practical path back to strength—rest when needed, then reengage with open Bibles and steady hearts. We also hint at a future study of Revelation that treats the book as urgent and pastoral, not a playground for speculation.If you're ready to trade speculation for Scripture and comfort for courage, you're in the right place. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs clarity, and leave a review with the one insight you're taking into your week. What will you do differently starting today?Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

HEAR THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND CHRIST CENTERED MESSAGES. HEAR MESSAGES ON THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST AND HIS FINISHED WORK ON THE CROSS.

HEAR THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND CHRIST CENTERED MESSAGES. HEAR MESSAGES ON THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST AND HIS FINISHED WORK ON THE CROSS.

HEAR THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND CHRIST CENTERED MESSAGES. HEAR MESSAGES ON THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST AND HIS FINISHED WORK ON THE CROSS.

Sunday, February 15th • Beau Bradberry"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation." – 2 Corinthians 5:18-19–Podcast: https://pod.link/willowridgechurchWebsite: https://willowridgechurch.orgInstagram: https://instagram.com/willowridgechurchFacebook: https://facebook.com/willowridgechurchYouTube: https://youtube.com/@willowridgechurch

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

         Feb. 08, 2026  John 11:4-8Matthew 2:1-12 

God Sees a Jesus Follower as Being “In Christ”; Therefore, God Sees a Jesus Follower as His Son or Daughter MESSAGE SUMMARY: As Followers of Jesus, you are "In Christ" -- God looks at you, as a Jesus Follower, and He sees Jesus in you. Throughout the Epistles we find: "In Christ" or "In Him". In Galatians 3:14, Paul tells you that your faith in Jesus makes you “In Christ” and a recipient of God's Covenant with Abraham: “so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.". Also, Paul goes even further, in Galatians 3:25-28, to tell you that, through your faith in Jesus, you no longer need any kind of intermediary because you are “In Christ” and you have a personal relationship with God, the Creator of the Universe: “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”. When God sees you, “In Christ" as a Jesus Follower, He sees Jesus, the Son. Therefore, God sees you as His son or daughter.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, everything in me resists following you into the garden of Gethsemane to fall on my face to the ground before you. Grant me the courage to follow you all the way to the cross, whatever that might mean for my life. And then, by your grace, lead me to resurrection life and power. In Jesus' name, amen.   Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 100). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Despair. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Joy. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Romans 3:21-26; Romans 6:5-11; Romans 6:22-23; Psalms 63:1-11. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Essentials Part 3 – Incomplete Finished Work”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

If this congregation can help you in any way, please contact us at www.normanchurch.com

Church Life, “The Testimony of a Missionary, Pt. 1”                                    Acts 20:17-24In Service (vv. 17-19) -           Humility (Phil. 2:3-8) -           Heart (Eph. 1:15b-16; 6:21) . -           Endurance In the Word (vv. 20-21)  Ma. 1:15b-c  the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (these may have been the 1st words of JC ever uttered in public when he launched his ministry. Jo. 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes (places their faith, trusts) in him should not perish but have eternal life. Ro. 10:9b-10  if 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. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Lu. 9:23-24 23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.2 Cor. 5:17-20 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[c] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[d] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. In Perseverance (vv. 22-24) 1 Pet. 4:12-14 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 

You are loved before you perform, before you obey, and before you understand. This Crosswalk Devotional centers on 1 John 4:19, unpacking the freeing truth that God’s love is not earned—it is initiated by Him. In a world shaped by rejection, comparison, and performance-based approval, Scripture reminds us that God’s love picks first, not last, and it becomes the foundation for genuine transformation. Rather than striving to earn affection through obedience or spiritual productivity, this devotional invites listeners to rest in the reality that God loved us while we were still sinners. His love is not the reward at the end of the Christian life—it is the starting point. From that secure place, growth, repentance, and obedience naturally flow. Highlights God’s love is the source of our love, not the result of it We are loved before belief, obedience, or understanding The gospel reverses performance-based love Growth flows from being loved, not striving for love Nothing can separate believers from God’s love in Christ God’s love moves first—even at our worst Obedience becomes a response, not a requirement for acceptance Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: Loved First, Not Last By: Sarah Frazer Bible Reading:“We love because he first loved us.” - 1 John 4:19 (ESV) When you were younger, did you ever get picked last for a game? Or did you have your friends leave you out of a fun activity? A sleepover? A party? Even as adults, we get left out, too. Rejection feels horrible. It really does. Even people who might have stepped out of your life can hurt you, and that sometimes feels like a rejection. Over the years, if we let rejection be the narrative by which we formulate our lives, we might not believe the truth we read in 1 John 4:19. “We love because he first loved us.” This kind of love picks first, not last. This love isn’t something we earn. There isn’t something inside our hearts that can earn it either. We are so used to being loved because of what we do. Even in our faith circles, we see language such as “grow, repentance, and sanctification.” All of these are good things, necessary things. But those things have nothing to do with us being loved. What is this kind of love? It is not like a love we have ever experienced before; it is much deeper. In this verse, chapter, and book of the Bible, we get a glimpse of this amazing love. God’s love is not the result of our love for Him; it is the source of it. Notice that the Apostle John uses the word “first.” This means a couple of things. It means we are loved before we believe, before we obey, before we understand, before we cry out to God. God loves first. Romans 5:8 says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (ESV) There was no fixing ourselves or proving ourselves before God would love us. God loved us first, while we were still sinners. It also means God moved first. He did not wait for you and me to be spiritually or morally ready for his love. It existed before we had a chance to even change. God’s love came towards us when we were at our worst, not our best. Performance-based love focuses on doing better, and then you will be loved. A gospel-centered love says you are loved; therefore, you can change. Growth, repentance, and sanctification come after we experience God’s love! As a perfectionist, people-pleaser, I still find this amazing truth a source of great freedom. Although I had heard it all growing up at church, it never really sank in until later in my life. In my mid-thirties, I came to realize that my productivity, my goodness, and faithfulness never earned me one ounce of God’s love. In addition to that, my failings, faults, and sins could never lose me an ounce of His love either. While I grew up trying to earn the love of those around me, God loved me first. This means I’ll never have to earn more love, nor do I need to fear losing God’s love. Listen to what Paul says in Romans 8 about Christ’s love for us: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 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.” - Romans 8:35-38 (ESV) You might feel crushed, persecuted, unloved, unwanted, and distressed, but none of these things will ever keep you from God’s love. In fact, knowing God’s love comes first means God’s love is not at the end of our spiritual journey, but the beginning. It has always been with us, as soon as we became Christians. It will carry us through until the end. You are not loved because you responded to God; you respond because He loved you first. So if you think back to a time when you were picked last, remember that today, you have been picked first. You have been chosen by God to be loved. Rest in this truth and believe you can walk in obedience because of this love! Intersecting Faith & Life: In what areas of your faith are you still trying to earn God’s affection rather than rest in the love He has already given? How might your daily walk with God change if you believed obedience flows from being loved, rather than working for love? Further Reading:Psalm 103:8-14Ephesians 1:4-5Isaiah 43:1-4John 6:372 Thessalonians 2:16 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

If you want to know where your life is headed, listen to what's coming out of your mouth. Join Pastor Stephen Mizell for this week's message from James 3 about the incredible power of our words to direct, destroy, and diagnose our lives. In this online-only service (due to weather), we continue our journey through the book of James, exploring how faith moves from belief to behavior. This week, we discover that your tongue is the steering wheel of your life—and the words you speak reveal the condition of your heart. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Your words have the power to DIRECT your life's trajectory Your words have the power to DESTROY relationships and opportunities Your words have the power to DIAGNOSE the condition of your heart Small things (like bits, rudders, and sparks) can control or destroy massive things Inconsistent speech points to incomplete surrender to Christ God doesn't just want cleaner language—He wants a cleaner heart SCRIPTURES REFERENCED: James 3:1-12 Matthew 12:34 (Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks) THREE REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What tone dominates my speech? Who has been wounded by my words? Where do I need a heart change, not just a habit change?

Freedom in Christ is not just a spiritual idea—it’s a lived reality. This Christian devotional explores what it means to be alive in Christ, revealing how faith in Jesus breaks the power of sin and invites believers into a transformed life of obedience and hope. Rooted in Romans 6:11–12, this devotion reminds us that through Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin but children of God, empowered to live differently. Highlights Faith in Jesus breaks the bondage of sin Believers are no longer slaves but children of God True transformation comes through surrender to Christ God offers redemption and second chances to anyone who believes Being alive in Christ means choosing obedience over fleshly desires Temptation loses power when we submit ourselves to God Lasting freedom is found only in Christ, not in the world Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: Alive in ChristBy Vivian Bricker Bible Reading:“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires” (Romans 6:11-12). From the moment we place faith in Jesus, our lives change. We are no longer held in bondage to sin in the same way as we used to be. While we will all continue to struggle with sin throughout our lives, we are no longer slaves to sin. Instead, we are children of God. As His children, we are no longer compelled to obey the sinful flesh as we should want to follow, glorify, and obey God in every area of our lives. Many people have radical changes after placing faith in Jesus and I had the privilege of getting to know someone who had one of these amazing changes in their life. There was an employee at my former Bible college who was known to be a previous criminal, and he served many years in prison due to his crimes. While he was in prison, he placed faith in the Lord and his entire life changed. I did not know this person prior to his conversion, but I do know he is one of the kindest individuals I have ever had the honor of meeting. Whenever I think of this individual, I am reminded of the power of the Lord. He can completely transform a person’s life and give them a second chance. This man was always more than happy to tell anyone about Jesus and how much He had done in his life. When we choose to follow Jesus and surrender our lives to Him, only good will come from it. By turning to Jesus, we are choosing life. If you have not placed faith in Jesus yet, know that it is never too late to believe in Him. If you believe that Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and rose again, you will be saved (Romans 10:9-11). Intersecting Faith & Life: The Bible tells us, “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires” (Romans 6:11-12). The Apostle Paul spoke these words to the Roman Church, but they still apply to us today. We are dead to sin, but alive in Christ Jesus. This means that we are no longer subject to obey the sinful flesh. Rather than submitting to worldly desires, we submit ourselves to God (James 4:7). God has powerful things in store for us; all we need to do is follow Him. Even if the sinful flesh tries to tempt us by saying sin is the “better way,” we know that true life is only found in Christ. Turning away from sin looks like staying away from anything that tempts us or causes sin to rise in our hearts. For example, if jealousy is a common sin you struggle with, avoid spending too much time on social media. Choose to practice thankfulness for all the blessings of God in your life and avoid comparing yourself to others. Talk with God in prayer, lean on Him, and study His Word. It may also help to lean on other believers and ask them for their advice in rising above the temptations of the flesh. Jesus Himself knows what it feels like to be tempted, and He will help us find a way to escape it (Hebrews 4:15). Have you been made alive in Christ? If not, what is holding you back? What sin keeps you bogged down? How might you ask the Lord to help you fight back against this sin? Further Reading: Romans 6:23 2 Corinthians 5:17 Ephesians 3:20-21 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

WHO IS GOD? - Christ: God's Righteousness Romans 3:21-26 Greg Davis October 26, 2025

This is the audio podcast of our weekly Sunday message, recorded live during our church service in San Francisco.This podcast is designed for those who prefer a simple, audio-only experience of the message as it was shared in the room—no edits, no commentary, just the teaching from Sunday.New episodes are released weekly following our Sunday services._The Holy Spirit meets us in the rubble of what's still broken, calls us to rebuild with patience and faith, and reminds us that in Christ God's plans are still for our welfare: a future, a hope, and better days ahead.Invite and share this message with your family and friends and bless them with this great message. If you're new to Cornerstone and this is your first time watching us, we'd love to say “hello!” Just click on this url ⁠⁠http://cornerstonesf.org/welcome⁠⁠ to fill out our Welcome Card and one of our community members will follow up with you. Also if you are in need of prayer, don't hesitate to put in a prayer request at ⁠⁠http://cornerstonesf.org/prayer

Service Speaker: Terry Brisbane, Lead PastorBecome a CornerstoneSF Builder today! http://cornerstonesf.org/giveThe Holy Spirit meets us in the rubble of what's still broken, calls us to rebuild with patience and faith, and reminds us that in Christ God's plans are still for our welfare: a future, a hope, and better days ahead.Invite and share this message with your family and friends and bless them with this great message. If you're new to Cornerstone and this is your first time watching us, we'd love to say “hello!” Just click on this url http://cornerstonesf.org/welcome to fill out our Welcome Card and one of our community members will follow up with you. Also if you are in need of prayer, don't hesitate to put in a prayer request at http://cornerstonesf.org/prayer----Song Credits:Better Days - Robbie Seay Band Dan Hamilton, Michael Romero, Robbie Seay, Ryan Owens, Taylor Johnson© 2005 Sparrow RecordsAll music performed by the CornerstoneSF Worship Band under CCLI license No. 48786, CCS No. 8434 #cornerstonesf #liveitoutsf #ACommitmentToBuild #BuildingForTomorrow