Podcast appearances and mentions of christ why

Our dear friend, Rachael Wrue, passed away Friday, March 28th, 2025. In loving memory, we are releasing our episode where we first interviewed them to hear her and her husband, Pete's personal testimony and to talk about their first book. Pete and Rachael have been long time friends of our podcast and were always fun to talk about the scriptures with together. Our prayers are with Pete and all of their family during this difficult time. She will be sorely missed by us. Much love!The Wrue's website:https://www.endtimes-explained.com/aboutHere are the links to the books that Pete and Rachael co-authored together:The Return of Christ: Why are we still waiting?https://www.amazon.com/Return-Christ-Why-still-waiting/dp/B0BCNZQ5YHEnd Times Explained: Understanding the Different Viewshttps://www.amazon.com/End-Times-Explained-Understanding-Different/dp/B0CQQ95XJJ?ref_=ast_author_dp

Previously ... • The Jews were expecting two things from God • The incarnation of Christ: the God-man • The virgin birth of Christ • Why a virgin birth? – Part 1 Why was the virgin birth necessary for Christ's birth? Listen to this lesson to learn that men pass down the sin nature to each member of the human race. Since Christ was fully God as well as fully man, He could not have a sin nature in order to qualify to die for the sins of all. Learn the role of the Holy Spirit in the virgin birth and how when anyone believes in Christ they receive the imputation of Christ's righteousness.

Welcome back to the Connect Podcast with Pastor Cole Phillips! We're kicking off 2025 with one powerful theme: BOLD. In this episode, we're diving into Romans 1:16, where Paul declares, “I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” What does it mean to live boldly for Jesus in a world that often challenges our faith? In today's message, you'll discover: ✔️ How to be bold in your identity as a follower of Christ ✔️ Why sharing the gospel boldly matters now more than ever ✔️ How to live out your faith with confidence every single day This episode includes a powerful teaching on boldness, equipping you to take a stand and walk in courage as we embrace a bold faith in 2025.

Send us a textWhat does it really mean to follow Jesus as King? Today we're joined by Tara-Leigh Cobble, creator of The Bible Recap and founder of D-Group, an international network of Bible studies helping believers dive deeper into Scripture. Tara-Leigh brings her passion for Biblical literacy to help us explore the Gospel of Matthew and understand Jesus's kingship in fresh, transformative ways. Drawing from her book “Knowing Jesus as King,” we'll discover: • How seeing Jesus as King changes our discipleship • Fresh insights from Matthew's Gospel • Practical ways to deepen your relationship with Christ • Why biblical literacy matters for spiritual growth • How to move from knowledge to transformation If you want to know Jesus more deeply, this conversation will teach you how to engage with Scripture in meaningful ways. Join us as we explore how following King Jesus leads to the abundant life He promised. Book: https://a.co/d/bskTAxS 

Freebie Alert: Don't miss out on your Fit God's Way Freebie—visit https://www.fitgodsway.com now! In this episode, I dive deep into the essentials of healthy, Christ-centered  sustainable weight loss and muscle gains. Here's what we cover: The Power of What You Eat: Discover why removing seed oils, supporting a healthy gut, and balancing protein and blood sugar are crucial steps. Understanding Key Hormones: Learn how insulin, leptin, and ghrelin impact your weight loss journey and how you can leverage this knowledge to break free from the dieting cycle. Consistency in Christ: Why fad diets don't work and how staying rooted in your faith leads to true, lasting transformation. Key Takeaways: 6 Pivotal Steps for sustainable weight loss and fat loss. (You're going to want to write these down!) How to make choices that honor both your body and God. Practical wisdom and understanding for your health journey. Action Step: Ready to start your Christ-centered weight loss and fitness journey? Download your free guide at https://www.fitgodsway.com/ If the Strong. Confident. His. Podcast has helped you, please rate and review the show where you are listening. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strong-confident-his/id1504962677 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ymer79UOqIbItrwPJErxC?si=aicAl7-ERVOMEsKqsUOX7w Can you think of a few friends who would find this episode helpful? Hit that share button and bless them!  *I'm launching a Live Guided Fit God's Way 30-Day Transformation Course in October. Space is limited, so sign up here  https://www.kimdolanleto.com/waitlist Connect with me!  WEBSITE: https://www.kimdolanleto.com PODCAST: https://www.kimdolanleto.com/strong-confident-his-podcast BOOKS: https://www.kimdolanleto.com/shop WORKOUT SERIES: https://www.kimdolanleto.com/shop FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/kimdolanleto INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/kimdolanleto YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/kimdolanletofit

Warriors welcome to W2W & Seeking the Son episode 7! A perfect one for what we chat about from our beliefs in Yeshua (Jesus) & how our trajectory of life changed, in finding out HE's already RETURNED! Wow! So much to share here & more to come! Thanks for listening & supporting W2W! XO

Romans 6:23Earned and Deserved to Unearned and UndeservedRev. Erik Veerman6/25/2023Just one verse this morning. Romans 6:23. This verse is probably one of the top 10 well-known verses in the Bible. We're not going to stay parked on verse 23 for the whole time. In fact, Romans 6:23 is a good summary chapter 6.The main purpose of Romans 6 is to answer the question in verses 1 and 15. Should we sin, that grace may abound? The apostle Paul clearly answers that and gives his reasons. We are dead to our sin, united to Christ, and therefore we should pursue righteousness. Our last two Romans 6 sermons have honed in on those themes. But there's something else going on. Romans 6 also reveals the beautiful work of salvation in our lives… starting with where we came from, a state of death, and ultimately where he's bringing us, eternal life. And included are the steps along the journey.Romans 6:23 basically summarizes that. After we focus on the verse, we'll be going back to different parts of the chapter to see the progression.Well, let's come now to this verse. You can find that on page 1121 in the pew Bible.As we come to God's word, please stand as you are able.Romans 6:23. In fact, because it's just one verse, let's read it together.PrayerPeople spent 76.5 Billion dollars on anti-aging medicine last year. Did you even know anti-aging medicine was a thing? That includes supplements, hormone treatments, and other medicine to try and extend life expectancy.It's an interesting commentary on our culture. It reveals a recognition of death and dying, but also in some way, a pursuit to overcome death. And we know, this is not new. In the late 1400s, the explorer, Ponce de Leon, sought to find the ubiquitous fountain of youth. And if you go back to the 3rd century BC, China's first Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, also sought to overcome death. He believed that consuming mercury would lead to eternal life. Can you guess what happened to him?Life and death are not peripheral matters for anyone. They may not always be front and center in our hearts and minds, but when confronted with the frailty of life, we often pursue some kind of self-preservation.Well, Romans 6:23 deals with those very things, the reality of death and the hope of life. But it takes those central matters to new levels – not just physical, but spiritual and eternal.•            The death that Romans 6:23 speaks about is a physical, spiritual, and eternal death. We'll come back to that in a couple of minutes. •            And the life that it speaks about is a physical, spiritual, and eternal life.That's one reason this verse is so well known. It's a rubber-meets-the-road reality that makes an eternal promise.For that reason, Romans 6:23 has been used in countless evangelism methods, like Evangelism Explosion, or the Roman Road, or the 4 Spiritual Laws.Some use it in what they call “one verse evangelism.” And I would say, it really does capture the heart of the good news of Jesus. It clearly presents the reality of sin, death, and life. One of my goals today is that you would see that.Now, I'm not opposed to evangelism methods – they can be helpful ways to explain the need for Christ and the hope he gives. Some of them, I believe, are better than others. And I'm not opposed to Romans 6:23 being used to help present the Gospel hope of Christ. It is helpful and clear.However, I do want to point something out. The apostle Paul was writing to Christians. The book of Romans is written to the church in Rome. His primary goal is to teach and encourage the church. And chapter 6 is especially for believers in Christ to lay hold of our union with Christ and its impact in our lives. If you are a believer in Christ, this verse summarizes your condition before coming to faith in Christ, and it reminds you of where you are headed in Christ for eternity. If that's you, what I'm saying is not to turn off your minds this morning. See this verse as a deep reminder of where you came from, what God has done, and what he will do for you. If you're not a believer in Jesus, or you are unsure about this Christianity thing, well then, see this verse in a different light. First, as a warning about the reality of death, but second, as an amazing gift of life that God offers to you.What I'd like to do is basically two things, this morning. First, get into the weeds of this verse. Each word is full of meaning. Doing so will make it even more weighty and even more glorious at the same time. And then, second, connect this verse to the rest of chapter 6. That will help us not just see our origin and destination, but also the path of Salvation that God has and is working in us.That's where we are headed. So, let's begin by analyzing some of these words and phrases. WagesFirst, “wages.” The English word “wages” really does capture the underlying meaning of the Greek. It's the salary, or you could say, reward due someone for their service. Of course, this verse is using it in the negative sense. When we think of compensation for work, we think of receiving a fair payment. Here, the word wages is applied to our sin. It's pointing us to what we deserve because of our sin. It's the just or fair compensation for sin. It's what we are due because of our sin. SinNow, briefly, let's get into that word “sin.” Our sin includes all the ways in which we have violated God's commands including defaming his name, rejecting him in unbelief, putting ourselves or others or other things before God in our lives. But it's also more than that. We didn't consider chapter 5, but that chapter speaks about how our very nature is sinful. All humanity inherited a sinful estate from Adam. We were born in sin. What I'm saying is that the reference to sin here is not just our sinful actions or inactions. It also includes how we are inherently sinful.DeathThat brings us to the word “death.” Death is described as the just payment for our sin. The word death means more than just physical death. Yes, it includes physical death (and the process of dying which we experience), but the word death here also includes spiritual death. That sense is also wrapped up in the underlying word. It's the separation from God and salvation forever.The wages of sin is death.God in all of his glory and majesty and goodness and truth is utterly holy – that means he's set apart from any and all things that go against his perfectly righteous nature. Sin is that thing which goes against God's character. Sin cannot remain in God presence. Because of his very character, God will deal with sin. So, when it says the “wages of sin is death,” it's saying that death is the fair payment for our sin. Death is God's righteous anger against sin. It's God's eternal wrath against sin and the sinner. Eternal and spiritual and physical death.But you say, “wait, wait, wait, time out! That sounds overly harsh and cruel of God to inflict that upon us. That comes across as ‘fire and brimstone,' like that well-known sermon by Jonathan Edwards ‘sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.' Aren't you overstating it?”I know that's what you are thinking because it's also my natural thought. I don't want to consider the wages of sin because it is a hard truth. But you see, God's justice is infinite. He cannot just sweep sin under the rug and ignore that it's there. No, any and all of our sin is an affront to our holy God. We deserve hell and eternal damnation. We've earned that because of our sinfulness. Scripture is not silent about the hard reality of God's wrath.Speaking of famous verses. I think the most well-known verse is John 3:16. Right? “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” It's a verse that speaks of God's love. And you say, “see, I told you so. God so loved the world. That's what it says!” And I would say, “amen!” But two things are important to note about John 3:16. First, don't skip over the part about not perishing. Those who believe shall not perish. John 3:16 is not avoiding the reality of death. But second, if you go down to later in the very same chapter, John 3:36, the apostle John clearly speaks of God's anger. Listen to these words: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”You say, “but what about Jesus' teaching? After all, he loved people.” Well, over and over, Jesus spoke about hell. He said that it's a place of eternal torment, of unquenchable fire, it's where people will gnash their teeth in anguish, from which there is no return. He said it is outer darkness.I'm a people pleaser, just like you. I don't want to offend you because deep down I want you to like me. But if I am not faithful to preach about the full wages of our sin, then I am not pleasing God, nor am I communicating the full message of the Gospel.Let me put it this way: We can't fully understand the second half of this verse unless we fully understand the first half of this verse. We can't know the fullness of God's love unless we understand the fullness of God's wrath. The more and more we realize the depth of our sin and what we deserve, the more and more we are in awe of God's love and grace. So, let's not minimize, ignore, or reject the utter atrociousness of our sin and the hell that we all deserve. No, instead, let's go there. Let's believe it because it is out of that understanding, the cross becomes utterly amazing… truly beautiful. The wages of sin have been satisfied for you who believe.Well, with that raw reality of the wages of our sin, now let's come to the amazing gift of God. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”GiftThat phrase “free gift” is one word in the Greek. The root of the word is Xaris, grace, but with the emphasis on free. God's gift is free. It's unmerited and underserved. Do you see the contrast to the first part of the verse? Our sin deserves death, but the answer is not doing good to deserve life. It does not say, “the wages of sin is death, but the wages of our righteousness is eternal life.” No. We cannot earn eternal life. A dead person cannot, in his own strength, come back to life. Rather, the only way to receive eternal life is as a gift from God. Eternal LifeThat phrase “eternal life” has so many dimensions to it. As I mentioned, physical, spiritual, and eternal – eternal in the sense of unending. But also, eternal in the sense of secure or protected forever. It is new life beyond this life in all those ways. Now, I'm not saying that each of us will not physically die. We will unless the Lord returns. Rather I'm saying that we will have new physical bodies in eternity. So, eternal life in the sense of overcoming physical, spiritual, and eternal death. This is the free gift of eternal life. What a contrast to the wages of sin!And notice the sentence does not end after the phrase “eternal life.” The sentence can't end there. There's still the problem of dealing with the wages of our sin. Something needed ot be done to replace the wages of our sin, death, with life. And so verse 23 continues… “in Christ Jesus our Lord.”In Christ Jesus, Our Lord Now, I want to talk to the teenagers for a moment. Let's say that you just received your drivers' license. You are so excited, but then something tragic happens. You are driving and your best friend texts you. You get distracted and try to reply. Well, you lose focus, you swerve into oncoming traffic, then overreact, and you swerve the other way, and go off the road… a young boy was riding his bike and you hit and kill him. The punishment handed down is life in prison, no chance for parole. But for the sake of the illustration, let's say there's a little-known law that allows one specific individual to serve the sentence for you. The father of the boy who was killed. And in an amazing display of undeserved love, he does that for you. You are free and for the rest of his life, he is in prison for you.You see, the wages for our sin still needed to be dealt with. And that's what God has done through Christ. Through the cross of Christ, the wages of sin were satisfied. And it's way beyond that example. The holy, righteous wrath of the one, true, living, and eternal God was satisfied. As God, Jesus was able to eternally satisfy the wages of our sin. And as a perfectly righteous man, Jesus was able to satisfy the wages of sin in our place.And don't miss that little word “in.” (back in verse 23) “In” as in “In Christ Jesus.” It takes us back to the beginning of chapter 6. We have been buried with him in our spiritual baptism (that was the idea in verse 4). Likewise, we have been raised with him to new life because we are united to him (that's what verse 5 says). That is where the free gift of eternal life comes from. Just as Jesus was resurrected, so those in him will be resurrected to new life withhim forever. Death has been defeated in Christ, and those in him, united to him, have died to death in him and will be alive in him forever. It's hard to even understand the eternal part of eternal life. But we know that we will be with Christ, forevermore.And that gift should profoundly impact your life, today. Back to the example, imagine how your life would change after that father willingly was imprisoned in your place. I want you to note another phrase that's easy to miss! It's those last 2 words. “Our Lord.” Really, they connect to the entire chapter. We've been considering what it means to be united to Christ. It means that grace is not cheap grace (remember that). It means that because we've died to sin, we should put our sin to death. In other words, Jesus cannot only be your Savior. He also needs to be your Lord. Lord of your life. Or to put it in Romans 6 terms. You are no longer a slave to sin, but a slave to God. He is your Lord. Do you see how the phrase “our Lord” ties verse 23 to the entire chapter?And really, chapter 6 gives you the full picture of your salvation in Christ. It begins with your state before God's gift. You were dead in your sin. And chapter 6 ends with the eternal life you will experience in Christ, forever. Verse 23 is like the book ends in your life. From your deadness to your aliveness. From the wages of your sin to the eternal gift of life.Let's briefly walk through those steps outlined in chapter 6. There are four of them.1. Condemned Slaves of SinFirst, the place of being dead in your sin because of the wages of sin. We were condemned to death – physical and spiritual death as we've discussed. Verse 17 says that we were slaves of sin. We were unable to break free from that slavery to sin. We could do nothing to free ourselves.2. Freed from slaveryBut thanks be to God. He did not leave us in that state of condemnation. Verse 6 captures step #2. “our old self was crucified with [Christ]” Why? It says, “so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” Verse 18 is similar. They both highlight that we've been set free from sin. And as we considered last week, it is God's work, not our work.3. Alive to GodSo, #1 we were condemned because of our sin. #2 God freed us through Jesus' death and resurrection. And now #3. We are alive to God. We are freed to now live for and in Christ. And this is the big emphasis of Chapter 6. As I mentioned last week, this chapter is considered the sanctification chapter in the Bible. Sanctification is God working in you conforming you more and more to Christ each day. And as we saw last week, we have a responsibility in that. We're to present ourselves to God, to pursue Christ and his righteousness. So that's step 3.4. Eternal lifeAnd the last part of God saving us is the gift of eternal life. Actually, look at the end of verse 21 into verse 22. It summarizes these four steps. It says, “For the end of those things is death.” It's speaking about being slave to sin. That's step #1, where we began. Next, verse 22 says, “but now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God.” That's the second step - God freed us in Christ. It continues, “the fruit you get leads to sanctification.” That's step #3. We've been freed in order that we may serve and honor God. And then, last, verse 22 concludes: “and its end, eternal life.” God is sanctifying us until that day that we will be with our Savior and Lord in heaven, forever.“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”Conclusion.Let me end where we began. Death is coming. Every single one of us, to one extent or another feels or fears death. Let that be a warning to each of us. The full condemnation of God's wrath is coming. But God has defeated death and defeated hell for you through Christ. And in him you will have life eternal. If you are a believer by faith in Christ, this is a deep and rich encouragement. Let this whole chapter draw you closer to Christ, especially this wonderful conclusion. The free gift of eternal life. It's yours in Christ Jesus, your Lord. Let it be that gift that you treasure and hope for and long for and which sustains you in this life.And if you don't know Jesus, now is the time. Death is coming, but God has overcome death and offers you eternal life in him. Will you believe?

S Second chances  Work and home In the area of work, I've shared with you all how I spent this past year in receiving correction at work and how I received a second chance. Fortunately God worked through me to humble myself, receive the correction, make improvements, and I've ended up a better worker and better at what I do than before, and that has been validated by the same people who were earlier being critical of me.  At the same time I've been appreciating my job more than ever before. Here are some random thoughts I have on this topic. It's easy to look back on past events and have a good perspective on this issue of receiving correction and having second chances, it's harder when you're in the middle of it, but that is when your attitude matters the most since it impacts the choices you make in response. How to respond: gratitude and make the most of it  Pay it forward by giving others second chances.  This reminds me of what we have called the parable of the unforgiving servant which is found in the 18th chapter of Matthew.  Peter asks Jesus, or Yeshua, how often he should forgive his brother who sins against him, up to 7 times?  Yeshua replies that he should forgive seventy times seven, which I've heard taught means an unlimited number of times, though I recently heard an alternate explanation of the significance of the seventy times seven, but I'll leave that for another discussion.  Yeshua then goes on to tell a parable about the Kingdom of heaven where a king wants to settle accounts with his servants.  After one servant who owed a huge amount begs for mercy the king forgives his debt.  The king later finds out that the same servant was unmerciful to someone who owed him a relatively small amount and the king then delivered the servant to the torturers until his large debt was paid. As believers and followers of Yeshua, we know that his sacrifice on the cross and resurrection paid for the infinitely great debt of our sin, and that among other responses ours should be gratitude and to show great mercy to those in our lives, regardless of their sin toward us, owe us a relatively minor debt. Regardless what specific second chances you've received in your life, if you're a believer in Yeshua, you have received the ultimate forgiveness of debt and as such we should show the greatest possible mercy to others in our lives. While it's easy to focus on a particular, significant event in our lives, I believe this concept of second chances is more appropriately thought about as a journey than a one-time event. While we are alive, we will always have challenges, we'll always have sin in our lives that we need to confess and repent of, we'll always need forgiveness and we'll always need to forgive others. Learn from it - don't forget!!!  This is different than dwelling on the past, but rather in a positive way take the lessons from the past mistakes and apply them to your current and future choices. Avoiding second chances is better.  Recently, when I was talking to another brother about something in my life I had said sorry for and it wasn't the first time.  He asked me how many times I had said sorry, and I replied more than I could count.  While it's good to be genuinely sorry and to say so, it's much better to avoid the need to say you're sorry and thus avoiding the need to get a second chance, or in reality we're talking here not about second but third, fourth, and fifth chances.  If you're into golf, you might like this analogy.  A mulligan is different than a handicap, it's not a pass it's another chance and requires effort, more effort or a better effort than what was made the first time.  Even if at your work or in your personal you're forgiven, or given a pass (kind of like being given a handicap or an automatic reduction in your golf score), you should treat it as if it's a mulligan and needs to be corrected either to prevent it from happening again or out of sense of integrity, love, or justice (whichever applies). This may sound a bit like the difference between law and grace.  I don't believe grace has been properly defined and understood in the church but I'll save that for another discussion since I'm still working through that theological concept, but I believe John 14:15 applies well here "If you love me keep my commandments".  If if we're saved and forgiven for our sins, out of our love for our Savior we should treat it like a mulligan not a handicap, and choose to obey and correct what we've done wrong, and do things His way as He has told us is His preference. Just watched a movie on Amazon Prime called The Vow and here's a spoiler alert.  A couple gets married and is very happy.  The wife gets in an accident and as a result loses all her memory of the period of time during which her husband and her met, fell in love, and married.  The husband struggles with the loss of his wife's love for her and tries his best to recreate her love for him.  In her mind, she is not the same person she was when they first met and they ultimately divorce.  Over time, though, she comes to love him and they end up together though in a different way and a different love than they had before. THis makes me think that when we're given a second chance at work or at home, the correct response may not be just to recreate what we think worked in the past, but we may need to assess what is true about our current reality and what changes do we need to make in our way of thinking and our actions to meet the need that is present.  It may be that our poor choices created a different dynamic that requires us to get out of our comfort zone and change and adapt.  I know that may sound a bit abstract but I'm praying this thought I had may be what you need and that God speaks to you in how you need to apply it to your situation. This whole idea of getting a second chance makes me think of the larger concept of free will vs. God's sovereignty.  I heard a great message from Pastor Julio Calderon from the Mikdash Congregation this past Shabbat on that topic and here are some of his thoughts on this issue, paraphrased by me: "As with Joseph in prison, the best of us will come from difficult situations, God does not enjoy taking us into bad situations, but we sometimes make bad decisions which He does not approve of (e.g. the brothers decision to throw Joseph in a hole and them sell him as a slave), but Yah will use these bad decisions for good.  If not He is not sovereign. This frustrates Satan. "Story of woman praying for food and witch giving bread and saying it was from Satan, woman thanking the LORD that even the evil one obeys Him".  Big question: how much free will do we have? How do we believe both in divine intervention and free will? No perfect answer but imperfect answers are that only God knows how they mesh together, and that God only sometimes intervenes to accomplish his purposes, both are common explanations and both are imperfect. In the end God always wins, and if He wins, we win Goliath made David great, he made the best that was in David come out  The movie of our life is not over yet but it has a happy ending. Perhaps the most relevant scripture for this is one we probably are all familiar with, Romans 8:28-29"28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren"                                       L   From Patrick Morley video 4 in man in the mirror  dealt with the issue of purpose which all of us men struggle with at some level He asked "If who I am is what I do, what will I be when I don't do what I do?" Who am I? A disciple in Christ  Why do I exist? To abide, love and serve John 8:31 "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed" John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 15:5-"“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing"    A  For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 1 Peter 2:19-20 https://www.patreon.com/christianmenatwork https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/christianmenatwork H Dad jokes from Country Living website:   "How does a taco say grace?" "Lettuce pray."

The Burros of Berea continue their testimony series at Berean Bible Church with Pete and Rachael Wrue! After a long time of study apart and then together, this dynamic duo, and our second married couple in our testimony series, made the decision to co-write a book that best described their alternative eschatalogical view of the Bible, titled, The Return of Christ: Why are we still waiting? As you listen to each of their personal testimonies as individuals grow into a relationship, you'll begin to see the lessons in their lives come to life on the pages of their book. You will hear an examination of the biblical doctrines that surround the second coming of Christ, the end times, the last days, the Great Tribulation, the Day of the Lord, and the New Heaven and New Earth. It's a fascinating story of two becoming one in their marriage and their faith like you've never heard before!

In this super ep Konrad speaks with Eastern Orthodox theologian and long time friend of the show Brad Jersak about the problems with religion and the downsides of deconstruction. We discuss- - How christianity is not like Christ - Why church is corrupted - Why people leave religion? - What is 'the age of deconstruction? - Is deconstructing from christianity necessary for everyone? - Does deconstruction lead to the 'radical left' - Do we need religion? - The problem with protestantism - the problem with Atheists - Why religious people believe in conspiracies - Is moral relativism good or bad? To hear the rest of the episode and Support the show www.ideasdigest.org Show Survey Connect with Matthew Connect with us Tune in to our live podcast recordings on instagram Twitter Email: Ideasdigest@gmail.com Show sponsors Apostates Anonymous Quoir Publishing Music: Lawson Hull Instagram Spotify --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ideasdigest/message

Day 99 of the Catechism in a Year continues with the Sacraments. Key points include: Third Effect of Baptism: Regeneration Fourth Effect of Baptism: Infused virtues and incorporation with Christ Why virtue is difficult even after Baptism Fifth Effect of Baptism: Character of Christian Like what you're hearing? Check out the following written works produced by Cayman Gabriel Media... Non-Fiction A Short Catechism of Cardinal Bellarmine (Translated and Annotated) Food For Thought: The Main Course: Nourishment For Hungry Souls by Mark Moorhead Food For Thought: An Appetizer by Mark Moorhead Fiction Love's Calling by Cayman Gabriel --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-moorhead2/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mark-moorhead2/support

If we simply fills our minds with knowledge of God's Word -and though it be ever so accurate-, if we do not add to our knowledge fervent, persistent, and urgent prayer, our knowledge of God's Word will simply become a means of spiritual pride and self-righteousness. That does not mean that we should go to the opposite extreme wherein we have fire and passion in prayer but have no real light to direct us because we are ignorant of God's revealed will in Scripture. God desires neither a zeal without knowledge, nor a knowledge without zeal, but rather a knowledge accompanied by zeal.-Moreover, our prayers will never reach the ceiling if they are not offered to God on the basis of Christ's perfect love and obedience for us. It is not prayer that saves us. It is Jesus who saves us. Only His perfect obedience saves, never our imperfect obedience. Only His perfect prayers for us save, never our imperfect prayers. In fact, it is always Christ and His perfect work of intercession that makes our prayers acceptable before God. Prayer is a means of grace. It is not the source of grace.-Having then laid the foundation for offered and answered prayer, let us proceed to ask some questions- Why do we not see more of the power of godliness manifest in our lives- Why do we not enjoy a greater communion with Christ- Why do we not seem to receive from God that for which we ask in prayer-

What is wrong with doing or having church online- Isn't virtual church attendance still being present and active with the body of Christ- Why is it so essential that churches meet face-to-face---These are questions that Dr. Philpot presents to Dr. Caldwell on this week's episode of the Straight Truth Podcast.

Yes guys, we're back again today with another episode and this one is a really special one! Bien & Dsq are in their interviewer bag as we interview our fellow member Kwabz. Kwabz discusses the following: - “Who is Kwabz?” - Living in Ghana as a kid - Pressures of growing up in a Christian family - Secondary school days & university - Social media - Life as a new creation in Christ - Why was Kwabz called “The Modern Myth? [LOOOOL!] This is a lit one! Enjoy the episode! All our socials: Insta: the29.11podcast Twitter: @The2911Podcast Email: the2911podcast@gmail.com Our personal socials [Insta]: @kwabz_00 @dsqrd247 @napzino_ @bienaime_1 @m.akwasi18

The Body of Christ- Why do we go? Why? Because God asks us to go – He sends us. What does he ask us to do? Micah 6:8 what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Matthew 28: 19.20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.” So what does God expect of us when we go? Bring Justice, mercy, humility to our neighbor & make disciples How do members of the Body follow those instructions? Vocation! A neighbor-oriented perspective on Christian living - that develops from the foundation of Grace alone, Faith Alone, Scripture alone, Christ alone. But just as God equips the body when He gathers it, he also equips it when he sends it too. So why do we go? Because God sends us! What does he send us to do? By giving us a vocation to serve our neighbor! How does he equip us to answer that call? Vocations. The book Mark was reading from in this episode is: Vieth, Gene. Working for Our Neighbor: A Lutheran Primer on Vocation, Economics, and Ordinary Life. Christian's Library Press. 2016 Link to order book: https://www.amazon.com/Working-Our-Neighbor-Lutheran-Economics/dp/1942503296/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=gene+veith+working&qid=1622173196&sr=8-2 Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theologyontap/message

Episode 302- The Body of Christ- Why do we gather? Link to Jacob Collier's website- https://www.jacobcollier.com/ (not a paid promotion) Psalm 147:2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. Jeremiah 23:3 Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply. Deuteronomy 30:3, 4 Then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. Matthew 23:37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. I Corinthians 12:13-18 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (Through baptism, the Holy Spirit makes believers to be members of Christ's body, the Christian church) ... Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them. So why do we gather? - Because that's how God designed humans - Because the Spirit of God gathers us for His good purposes and His good pleasure Continue the conversation with us by sending an email to theologyontap1517@gmail.com Join our Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/TheologyOnTapPodcast Please rate this podcast and comment on why you like the show. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theologyontap/message

Esther is now facing a position where she must make a decision- she must identify as either a pagan queen or a member of God's people. As the Jews are mourning and weeping over Haman's evil plans to destroy them, Mordecai tells Esther that she must go in and intercede on their behalf before the king. To go into the king's presence without an invitation was a dangerous venture that could very possibly cost her her life. After Mordecai reasons with Esther that the Lord has brought her to her high position for such a desperate time as this, she agrees to risk everything to plead for the lives of her people -- but only after Mordecai and the local Jews spend three days fasting. --Just as the Jews were under the threat of destruction, we also have a death sentence hanging over our heads. And just as Esther stepped up to intercede on her people's behalf, Jesus stepped up to die in our place. Let's pray for grace to step out in faith, like Esther did- and to risk everything in order to publicly acknowledge our identity in Christ- Why would we not be willing to identify ourselves with our Savior, in light of the great love that He has for us-

The Power of Intimacy with Christ | “Why you need to forgive yourself?”  Have you ever experienced negative thoughts and emotions popping up when you were in a conversation or relationship with someone that had nothing to do with that person, but were familiar attitudes of your past life before salvation? Well tune in, I will share how to overcome thoughts and emotions that are tied to your past and are encroaching on your behavior today. In this episode, I will speak to the tactics of the devil to bind you to negative thoughts and emotions of your past for the purpose of preventing you from building faith in your relationship with God. I will share how to survive these moments, gain the victory and transform the self-condemning thoughts from your emotional life into new behaviors that demonstrate your faith in God. You will take away some tactics and practical steps for actualizing the power Jesus made available in you and to you.

It is vital to establish the doctrine of Christ’s deity as strongly as any truth that can be established.Welcome to Season 2 of The Kitchen Table Theology Podcast, where we will discuss biblical theology in an understandable way. You will discover how to apply biblical truth to your life. In the next five episodes, I, your host Jen Denton and Pastor Jeff Cranston, will be discussing the theology or doctrine of Christology, the study of the person of Jesus Christ. Let’s dive into this episode as we will dig deeper about the deity of Jesus Christ. [00:01 - 04:00] Opening SegmentWelcome to the new season of The Kitchen Table Theology PodcastWe talk about a brief introduction of our today’s topic, “The Deity of Jesus Christ.”Pastor Jeff talks about understanding the word deity and the deity of Christ Why is our faith called ‘Christianity’ ?[04:01 - 11:00] The Deity of Jesus Christ Jen reads a quote from CS. Lewis’s book, Mere Christianity, about the deity of Jesus Christ.Pastor Jeff talks about how Jesus claimed himself to be God in the Scriptures and all of the divine characteristics He possesses :Eternity, Omnipresence, OmnipotenceHe talks about all of Christ’s miracles and power based on the New Testament.Pastor Jeff talks about the renouncing and proclaiming Christ’s deity by His disciples and followers. [11:01 - 14:50] The Question of Ages “Is Jesus God?”How we answer the question will determine the destiny of our soul.Jesus established that He is God by divine names (Ex. Lord, son of God, the word, etc.)He also established His deity through miracles.Pastor Jeff talks about and answers the question, “If Jesus is God, what difference does it make to our lives?”If Jesus is not God, we would not have salvation, nor Christianity.[14:51 - 16:46] Closing SegmentThe real power of Theology is not only knowing it but applying it.Final words from Pastor Jeff and JenTweetable Quotes:“It is really vital to establish the doctrine of Christ’s deity as strongly as any truth that can be established. ” - Pastor Jeff Cranston“Christianity is founded upon the Christ to whom we believe.” - Pastor Jeff Cranston“Jesus established that He is God by the divine names and His deity through the miracles He made.” - Pastor Jeff Cranston.Bible Verses Mentioned:Acts 11:261 John 2:23 2 John 1:19Join the ConversationWe love your feedback! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. If you have any questions or comments on today’s episode, email me at pastorjeff@lowcountrycc.orgVisit my website jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. Check in with us on Facebook or Instagram @pastorjeffcranston.Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it, but applying it. Thanks for listening!

Our faith in the amazing gospel is founded on the historical facts of Christ's first coming.-1. The apostles saw His majesty. -v.16--2. The Majestic Glory spoke. -v.17--3. The apostles heard the voice. -v.18- -Applying to ourselves- What is the truth about Christ--Why must there be sightings of Jesus- Mt.17-1-8, 1 Cor. 15-1-8.-How can humans see Christ's glory- Dan. 7-13, Rev. 1-13-Where does God show His glory to us- 2 Cor. 3-6-8. Heb. 1-1-3

The temptation of Christ and the unique focus of Mark's gospel, which emphasizes the wilderness, Satan, and the wild animals, up against Jesus and the ministering angels. Why doesn't Mark give us many details on the temptation of Christ- Why does he emphasize the wilderness, wild animals, and angels- He does so to show us how Jesus is walking in the steps of Adam, and Israel, and Job - as he is our faithful High Priest, and the one through Whom God's dominion over the world and the spiritual powers will finally be realized.

Matthew 5:8 says that the pure in heart will "see God." Is that true? Why don't we automatically have a pure heart when we accept Christ? Why does it seem like we have to work so hard at becoming pure? Guest: Dr. Darryl DelHousaye President of Phoenix Seminary

What happened at the cross of Christ? Why is this good news? Learn what Jesus bore on the cross and why that means we have peace with God.

What does the Bible mean when it says believers were crucified with Christ? Why is this so important to know and believe? Listen and be blessed. Love, Will

June 13 & 14, 2020 - What really impacts our growth in Christ? Why do some people seem to grow deep in their faith while others apparently wither? In the parable of the four soils, Jesus teaches us what inhibits our faith and what brings about deep roots and lasting growth.

  What are the ways the church influences a city? What are some practical steps she can take to affect a city for Jesus Christ and defend her from the assault of the enemy? These are the questions every church should be asking, because God designed the church to be an influence in her community as the salt and light of the world. Jesus was making the journey from the Upper Room to the Garden of Gethsemane. He made this a teaching opportunity. “… I am the way the truth and the life… Most assuredly, I say unto you, he who believes in me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father.” Did you catch that? “The works that I do, he will do also.” And… “and greater works than these he will do…” Are you kidding me? Who is Jesus talking about? “He who believes in Me…” The Church Can Influence a City Jesus is talking about the redeemed sons and daughters of God.Those who have been born again will do the same works Jesus did. How is that possible? Jesus said, “And whatever you ask in my Name, that will I do that the Father maybe glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My Name I will do it” (John 14:13-14 NKJV).  Jesus, the Last Adam, restored the covenant God originally made with mankind. All those who have been redeemed are to be the stewards of God’s creation, extending the Kingdom of God throughout the earth and displacing the rulers of the darkness of this world. We are to do the works Jesus did.“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8 NKJV). Jesus said, “…on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19 NKJV).  The authority of the Kingdom has been restored to the redeemed son and daughters. Mankind is no longer at the mercy of the principalities and powers of the rulers of darkness. The church is the first line of defense for every home; every neighborhood; every city; every region; every nation. When the church will rise and proclaim, “Not on my watch”, she will have the authority to drive out the drug dealers from their neighborhood. She can drive out domestic violence and other crime in their city. When the church will take seriously the authority she has in Jesus Name over the forces of hell she will not allow their family, neighborhood or city to be plundered. The church will do the plundering. She will plunder hell to populate Heaven. Here are 4 ways the church can influence a city Prayer-walk your neighborhood. Adopt a school and pray around it on a regular basis. Ask God to give you discernment of spirit and words of knowledge what to pray. Ask Holy Spirit to pray through you the will of the Father for your family, your neighborhood and your city. This is the will of the Father. This is the privilege of the redeemed. This is the purpose of the church. Take up the responsibility given the church. Let the devil and his forces know. Not On My Watch! Learn how to intercede for your city in my book Agape - a handbook for spiritual warfare and authority in everyday life. Get Agape 30% off today with the coupon code: Warfare More Articles Like This:  8 Transforming Truths About Your Authority in Christ Why the Church Should Intercede for a City 4 Ways the Church Influences a City 5 Things We Must Know When the Church Is Under Attack

UNSHACKLED: UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF FREEDOM •••Bible Study Verses: John 3:16, Luke 1:74-75, Luke 1:71, Genesis 1:26, Galatians 5:13-15, John 8:32-36, John 10:10, Matthew 11:28-29. “Logic Is The Antithesis To Faith" Dr. Daniel Passini † “...without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6, NKJV Why was it difficult for God’s chosen to maintain freedom after being freed from captivity by the awesome and powerful hand of Our Creator God? Why is it that God wants us to be free, but for some reason many of us are living in one form of bondage or the other? Why is that living a life of freedom in Christ can be such a struggle? What are 3-Basic concepts about your liberty and freedom in Christ? Why is the experience of freedom elusive EVEN in the lives of many who claim to know Him? What are 4-key life actions for experiencing true freedom in Christ? Are you willing to bow your knee to the only One who can give you true freedom, Our Creator, the Lord Christ Jesus? Pastor Godwin Otuno expounds on this and much more on the exciting journey of Fresh Encounter Radio Podcast originally aired on July 4, 2020 on WNQM, Nashville Quality Ministries and WWCR World Wide Christian Radio broadcast to all 7-continents on this big beautiful blue marble, earth, floating through space. Please be prayerful before studying The Word of God so that you will receive the most inspiration possible. This Teaching Podcast is brought to you by Christian Leadership International and all the beloved of God who believe in it’s mission through prayer and support. Thank you. COVER ART CREDIT: Photos by joshua woroniecki art direction by gil on his mac. † https://danielpassini.org/logic-is-the-antithesis-to-faith/ FERP200704 Episode #127 GOT200704ep127Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/Fresh-Encounter-Radio-Podcast. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Discussion Questions June 21, 2020Read Colossians 3:12-171) From last week to this week, we shifted from being (silence/stillness) to doing (acts of service). How would you describe the relationship between being and doing in our lifewith Christ? Why are both important?2) What does the interplay between being and doing look like for you? As you consider that, is there anything that you sense God’s Spirit leading you to let go of or to take up?3) In verses 12-14, Paul lists several characteristics that we are to “clothe ourselves with”—compassion, humility, meekness, patience, gratitude, and love. Which of those aremost well formed in you? Which ones are most in need of further growth? Take a moment to share these with God in prayer—thanking God for the growth that has been nurtured in you and asking for God’s help in fostering further growth in Christ.4) How have you experienced acts of service during this pandemic? Take a moment to thank God both for the opportunities to serve others and for the ways others have served you.Putting it into practice…What is one intentional way that you can serve someone else this week? Someone in your household? A neighbor? A friend? A stranger? Choose one act of service and do it this week. Also, pay attention for opportunities to serve others that pop up throughout the week. Our service of others can be planned out in advance, and it might also be an unexpected response to the Spirit’s leading in a given moment.

On tonight's programme we look at the sufferings of Christ for His people as described in Psalm 22, and we also then look at what kind of material is typically peddled by Sid Roth. What should we make of claims of dreams, visions and extra revelations from God from people who profess to know Christ- Why is this so popular today-

June 6 & 7, 2020 - What really impacts our growth in Christ? Why do some people seem to grow deep in their faith while others apparently wither? In the parable of the four soils, Jesus teaches us what inhibits our faith and what brings about deep roots and lasting growth.

What really impacts our growth in Christ? Why do some people seem to grow deep in their faith while others apparently wither? In the parable of the four soils, Jesus teaches us what inhibits our faith and what brings about deep roots and lasting growth.

Point: Life in Christ was never intended to be lived alone. But in order to pursue this life the way He intended we must love each other the way He commanded. Scripture: Jn. 13:34-35; 1 Peter 1:22-23; Romans 12:1-2 Questions: 1. Read 1 Peter 1:22-23. What are the requirements of good, even great, friendships/relationships? Explain. 2. When Christians truly love one another how is life in Christ better and sometimes even easier? 3. What are some of the roadblocks to doing life together with other brothers and sisters in Christ? Why do you think it’s hard to get involved? 4. Read Rom. 12:1-2 How does allowing God to renew the way you think about others in His church help create a pathway to loving them the way Jesus loves you? 5. Right now the term social distancing is taking a toll on our world and the church especially. What are some ways we can be intentional and engaged in our relationships, while at the same time respecting others' space and not putting people in danger?

ENGAGING LIFE IN LIGHT OF HIS RESURRECTION •••Bible Study Verses: John 21:1-7, John 20:19, John 20:5-9, 1 Corinthians 15:14-19, Colossians 1:27, 1 Corinthians 5:9-10, John 21:15. “One can do all in his or her power to change society and transform social institutions but, until individual hearts are transformed the society will remain the same. Lewis believed this and, therefore, evangelism was as important to his own spiritual disciplines as daily prayer, Bible study, church attendance, and sacrificial giving to meet the needs of others” Jerry Root † "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” 2 Corinthians 5:20, NKJV Now that Christ is alive, how are we suppose to engage the world around us? Does the Resurrection make any difference in our Lives? Why do so many people have fear in their hearts? What are 7-negative results of being unconscious of the resurrected Christ? Why is a life lived without the reality of the resurrection characterized by these things? What is the point of intersection? What are 6-reasons why those who are called by the name of the Lord, living like people without hope? What Does it Mean to Engage? Why must a believer be engaged in the life of the community where he resides? What are 6-reasons why we should engage with our neighbors? What Does Engagement look like to the believer in the Light of the Resurrection? How does a believer engage life in the light of the resurrection of Christ? How do you inject the grace of God into your neighbor’s lives? Now that Christ is alive, how are we suppose to live? Are you engaged in life knowing that Christ is a live and coming soon? Pastor Godwin Otuno expounds on this and much more on the exciting journey of Fresh Encounter Radio Podcast originally aired on April 18, 2020 on WNQM, Nashville Quality Ministries and WWCR World Wide Christian Radio broadcast to all 7-continents on this big beautiful blue marble, earth, floating through space. Please be prayerful before studying The Word of God so that you will receive the most inspiration possible. This Teaching Podcast is brought to you by Christian Leadership International and all the beloved of God who believe in it’s mission through prayer and support. Thank you. COVER ART CREDIT: Photo by Mario Purisic, art direction by gil on his mac. † https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2018/april/cs-lewis-evangelism-and-cultural-engagement.html FERP200418Episode #116 GOT200418ep116 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

200405 Palm Sunday Drive in Service 

Earlier, because Jesus’ time had not yet come, he withdrew when Pharisees conspired against him and ordered the crowds “not to make Him known”. However, we have seen a progressive unveiling of his identity. Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”; even though he did not understand the full meaning of Jesus’ identity. Then Jesus was revealed in all his glory to Peter, James, and John at the Transfiguration. Jesus predicted his Passion three times. Then, immediately before his entry into Jerusalem, two blind men identified Jesus as “Lord” and “son of David. Now a great crowd greets him as “son of David” as he enters Jerusalem.When the crowds shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” what were they acknowledging about Christ? Do you think everyone in the crowd was a true worshiper of Christ? Why do you think Jesus allowed this kind of worship and public announcing of Himself as the Messiah to happen when he had stopped it so many times before.Listen as Pastor Nancy answers these questions and delivers a deeply moving message to take us into Holy Week.Support the show (http://www.perrychristian.church)

In this episode, we talk about different types of denominations and our confusion around them. Are they good or bad for the body of Christ? Why are Catholics included in the world's census of Christians? Could you enlighten us? And quickly touch on weird tendencies some denominations have.Anna's Twitter: https://twitter.com/annasia_oxJireh's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ray_G95Want to read one of our articles!? Here's our website https://secondnaturepod.co.ukFollow Us on our socials Twitter: https://twitter.com/SecondNaturePod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SecondNaturePod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondnature_pod/ Music Intro and Outro by DaveCreates! Check out his EP: One Day I Will Fly on Spotify and Apple Music

Why do we need growth in our lives? In the Epistle to the Romans Paul lay's out for us a doctrinal foundation of growth for the Christian life. Over the next few weeks we are going to explore this important doctrine of sanctification as Paul explains it to us in Romans 6,7,8. In Romans 6 Paul asks a question that really helps us grasp this idea of not only our position in Christ but why should a Christian live in such a way that it reflects what is true about those who know Christ. What is your motive for living and growing in Christ? Why do you desire sanctification in your life?

In this message, Pastor Chris explores Paul’s teaching in the second chapter of Ephesians. Here we learn that not only are we made alive in Christ, raised up in Christ, but we are also seated with Christ. What does it mean to be seated with Christ? Why is it so critical we learn this posture? How does us learning to sit, influence our ability to learn how to walk?

Why do we have hope in return of Christ?  Why do we have trust in the sacrifice of Christ? Why do we labor for His kingdom?  We are Sons of Light! And that changes our thoughts and our actions! Listen to this sermon and reflect on your own life. Does it reveal that you also are a Son of Light?

John Zaal preaches on 1 Peter 2:1-12 and living our identity in Christ. Small group questions:What are we meant to build as those who find identity in Christ?Why are we so reluctant to obey the word and way of Christ?How can we encourage each other to go about the work of proclamation?

Q: Who is this Christ born in Bethlehem's manger? Doctrine: He is the true & glorious, Heaven-sent Messiah the world so desperately needs I. The Jewish Expectation of the Christ What kind of Messiah were they anticipating? II. The Jewish Rejection of the Christ Why did they reject Jesus as their Messiah? III. The Sinners' Reception of the Christ Why do we believe Jesus is the true Messiah? A. Testimony of His Supernatural Birth B. Testimony of Trinity C. Testimony of many Eyewitnesses D. Testimony of His Supernatural Life 

Questions: from the thriving facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thrivedeeper/ Kellyanne C. "Catching up on podcasts from a few weeks back. Matt’s sermons on Genesis say we are created in God’s image and this alludes to us being God’s children. I’m confused- are all human beings God’s children? Or only those who come to faith in Christ? Why would the New Testament say we (believers) have been adopted into God’s family if we already belonged to God’s family?" Cheryne B. "What is light? It was created before the sun so it isn't really physical light. In the past when I read 1st John - I assumed that light is God, but if God created light then it isn't God is it? What is it exactly? Like I understand what it is to live in the light and what it is to live in darkness, but it is something God created and it kind of puzzled me a bit." Kristi B. "Did Adam and eve ever eat from the tree of life? Genesis 2:9 and Genesis 3:22" Meg T. "A) were we, in fact, actually made flawed? We had a choice to eat from the wrong tree or not, and we were so weak that on first temptation we folded and gave in to the temptation. So were we made flawed? Weak? God knew we were going to do it, why? Did we ever stand a chance or did we always have evil in us? How can something God made be inherently evil from the very Beginning? In that case, what is the point of anything? B ) would anything have happened differently if Adam and Eve had if owned up to God the instant they sinned? Or would things have still unfolded the same way because man was so weak and hid?" And an announcement that we will be starting a new podcast in 2020 "Thrive: Topics"!

Stories in this episode: Encouraging words at a low point in Matt’s mission show how missionary work can be done beyond the veil. Melissa finally finds a way to share her testimony with her extended family after an unusual prompting. Amidst her son's battle with cancer, Cheryl finds angels sometimes come in the form of a kind neighbor with a red wagon. Brooke learns how angels can help us in ways we don’t always anticipate after the unexpected passing of her mother. This Episode of This Is The Gospel is sponsored by LIGHT THE WORLD. Join us as we #LightTheWorld this Christmas and sign up to get daily service prompts through text message or email. Text the word “LIGHT” to the number: 71234 or visit LighttheWorld.org. That's also where you'll find "The Christ Child", a brand new short film that New Testament scholars are calling the most historically accurate depiction of the Nativity ever filmed.  SHOW NOTES: To see pictures, and find links to things mentioned in this episode, go here. To find out more about the themes we're developing for upcoming episodes, follow us @thisisthegospel_podcast on Instagram and Facebook :) TRANSCRIPT: KaRyn Lay Welcome to This Is the Gospel, an LDS Living podcast where we feature real stories from real people who are practicing and living their faith every day. I'm your host, KaRyn Lay.  Last year right around this time, I was lucky enough to attend the Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concert featuring Kristin Chenoweth. And even though our seats were far from fancy, my friend and I were literally going to sit in the nosebleed section of the conference center, you know those seats up at the very top that makes you feel just a little bit dizzy if you look down too quickly? I didn't even care. I am such a huge musical theater nerd that the thought of watching Glinda from Wicked singing with Mack Wilberg, it totally had me fangirling.  But then, just moments before we made it into the Conference Center to find our seats, I got a phone call from my mom telling me that my grandma, my nanny, was not doing well and was not expected to live through the night. And even though I knew this might be coming, I found myself unable to keep my emotions at bay. I cried all the way to my nosebleed seat. I wept through the first half of the concert. I ran out of tissues by intermission. And I really thought that the tears were not going to stop.  But as I sat there listening to that beautiful music, suddenly they did stop. Somehow, in the midst of my feelings of deep loss and sorrow, something else came over me. And I don't really know what else to call it, but it was a wave of comfort, of sweetness. It washed over me, and I was finally able to breathe again. The theme of that concert was "Angels among Us" and many of the songs were pointedly dedicated to the angels, both earthly and beyond, who point us towards the Christ child. It might seem strange to say this, but as the choir and sweet Sister Chenoweth, as I like to call her, sang about the work of angels to herald the birth of Jesus, it's like I could feel the angels there with me too, reminding me that heaven and earth are not that far removed from one another. And that I can take comfort in the birth and the life of One who restores the distance that does exist.  My nanny surprisingly rallied. And, in fact, she's still with us today. But I knew when we were thinking of story themes for this season, that I wanted to honor that moment in the conference center with stories about angels. About the angels in our lives, both earthly and heavenly, who continue the work of drawing us towards the Christ child. And today, we've got four stories that do just that.  Our first storyteller is Matt, who didn't realize he needed the help of angels until it was already in progress. Here's Matt. Matt (2:47) I was the first person in my family to be called on a mission that required the learning of the language. I had been called to serve in Nicaragua, Spanish speaking, and I didn't get any insight or counsel from my brother, for example, or my dad because they didn't know what it was like to learn a language.  I was naive at the time and for whatever reason, I thought that the gift of tongues was something that came more immediate. I was four days into my stay at the MTC, and I was thinking to myself, "Gosh, this is just not coming to me." With hindsight and perspective now, it's funny as I look back on that. That I would have thought that somehow four days in I'd be learning and understanding and being able to speak the language.  I was in a meeting one day and I had my head down, and I was discouraged. I was really discouraged. I was missing my, my house, my family, and having a difficult time with what I perceived to be the inability to learn Spanish. While in that frame of mind, and with my head down, I began to wonder, "Can I even do this? Is this worth it?" And I had a very clear message come into my mind. It was the voice of a man, nonaudible but almost felt audible. And he said, "Elder Hill, pick up your head. I need you to find my family." And I thought, "Wow." I knew it wasn't me because it wouldn't have been a thought that I would have had at the time. My thoughts were far distant from that thought. My thoughts were, "How do I get out of this? How do I go home?"  I wrote in my journal that night and thought nothing of it. I actually didn't even mention it that night. It wasn't until the next day it, almost as an afterthought, I wrote in parentheses, almost as like a P.S., "Oh yeah, by the way, while in a meeting the other day, I heard the voice of a man tell me to pick up my head because he was counting on me and needed me to find his family." And then I wrote, "I guess he's dead. I guess we'll have to see if I can find his family." And that was it.  You know, I didn't think much on this experience the rest of my stay there. I didn't even share the experience with anybody. Nobody in my district there at the MTC, I didn't write about it in any letters, it was something that just had taken place that day. And I thought, "Well, I guess I'll write a little bit about it. And we'll see at some point if that ever really translates to anything."  I know it sounds funny that I put this thought in parentheses almost as like a P.S. at the end of my journal entry, but there's a reason for that. I had an experience prior to my mission in a similar nature came while in the Logan temple one day. I had just received my mission call and I was going into be confirmed for the dead. And I close my eyes and out of nowhere, I felt the presence of my grandpa, who I have never met. My grandpa passed away when my dad was nearly turning 12 and so I've never met him. And so for me to have an experience where he's there, it seems like this would be something kind of out of that world, but it just felt so natural. I knew that it was my grandpa. And I'm not sure how I knew that. I could see him in my mind's eye. And I absolutely felt that it was him. I knew it was him. As I think back and reflect upon that, that experience, it seems odd, even to my mind, to consider and to think on that. How did I know it was him? I instantly knew. There wasn't a second guess. I close my eyes and there was my grandpa.  In fact, the very second I perceived his presence I said, "Hey gramps, how are you?" And his response to me was, "So Nicaragua, huh?" And he expressed how proud he was for my decision that I had made to go and to serve a mission. And I got the chills. And I immediately was just so, it was like a longing, like a, "I haven't seen you forever," kind of a feel. And that's the way it felt is, "Grandpa, how are you?" And I missed him, and I knew I had missed him. And I guess it was my spirit who knew him and who missed him. Because like I said, I had never met him before. So the idea of that sounds very strange that I may have known him. And he told me that he had come to tell me he was going down to prepare the hearts of people that I would come in contact with and to give me a bit of advice, and he gave me some advice. He told me that, "While on your mission, I want you to make sure that you are obedient to the mission rules." Because I will find protection and safety through my obedience. And then he said, "I want you to go home and I want you to tell your mother that you will be protected on your mission. She is worried about you, where you've been called to serve."  And I went home and I told my mom the experience and she broke down, and she had hid it really well. My mom had hid it, I had no idea that she was concerned and that she was worried about where I was going. She'd been looking up all about it that they had recently had a war not long prior, a civil war in the country. And I was pretty clueless. I was just excited to go. I had prepared for it and was excited and had no idea that my mom was beat up inside about this. And so I look back on that experience with my grandpa in the temple that day, I think in part it was maybe for me. But I think the bigger reason, I should say, for the experience was more for my mom to give her some peace of mind. Three months later, I was walking out of a pueblo one day with my trainer, that the pueblo was Sunny Isidro. And as we were walking out of the pueblo, I looked over to the right at the very last house in this little pueblo. And I saw two little kids playing out front in the dirt. I kind of looked at him and then continued to walk forward. And I had an impression that we should go talk to that family. So I turned to my trainer and said, "Hey, do you mind if we go introduce yourself to them real fast?" He said, "Okay, yeah, let's do it." So we get into the house and my campaign starts to talk with the mom and she was knitting a little piece of clothing at the time and sitting in a rocking chair. And I, as I mentioned, I didn't speak very much Spanish. I had kind of suggested we'd come introduce ourselves here.  And, and one thing my dad, one bit of counsel he gave me before I serve my mission, he said, "You know, when you go into these homes, look at the walls and look at things that are on the walls. Typically, those are things that have meaning to people and comment on them." So, I made that a practice of mine and I noticed a picture on the wall of a police force. I walked over to the picture, and I looked at it, there was about 15 or 20 policemen in this picture. And as I was looking at the picture, there was a man who jumped out at me, and I didn't know why. With my limited abilities in Spanish, I said, "Quien es el?" Which meant, "Who is he?" And I pointed at him. And the mom as she was knitting, she put her head down, and she began to cry. She said, "He was my husband. And he was shot and killed this last year."  I immediately had the chills overtake my body and the hairs on my arms stood up. And I was so excited because I knew this, the Holy Ghost had confirmed to me this is that man's house. And I knew I had found the family. And so my reaction, I know that the normal, typical reaction in a scenario such as this would be to say, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for your loss." But inside what I was feeling is just complete joy and excitement and I wanted to scream out, "Your husband is alive and he cares about you. And he wants you to be happy. And he spoke to me." I had no words, I couldn't speak Spanish. I knew I had no chance at articulating that thought, and I knew the moment wasn't right to express joy and to be excited. And so what I did is I said, "I'm sorry." But inside, if she could have seen my true emotions, my emotions were jumping for joy. And that's how I felt. I had forgotten about the words that I had come into my mind in the MTC, I'd forgotten all about it. It had been months and there I was, standing in that home and connection was very vivid and clear. This is my family. We left that home. And I said to my campaign, my trainer, I said, "Elder, they're going to join the Church. They're going to accept the gospel. And he looked at me and he kind of chuckled, he says, "You know, I felt the same way. You know, when I was new, I felt the same way about everybody I came in contact with." And I left it at that. He was, he was getting close to going home and I didn't feel like the moment was right to share the experience I had had.  So a couple of weeks later, my trainer went home, and I was sent a new campaign. His name was Elder Wilson. Elder Wilson only had himself maybe three or four months out in the field as well. And so he came and said, "Hey, tell me about who we are teaching in the area." And I said, "Elder, I want to share an experience I had in the MTC a few months back." And he looked at me and he said, "Elder Hill, if we do nothing more together with the time that we have then help this family by giving them every opportunity to join the gospel, I believe our time together will have been a success. And I thanked him for that. And I said, "I agree." And he said, "We cannot and we will not give up on that family." And, oddly enough, I started to laugh and he looked at me, he said, "What are you laughing about?" And I said, "I'm laughing because of the idea and thought of you and I going out and trying to teach this gospel because you don't speak much Spanish and I speak far less." And we both just started to laugh as we envision what it might be like to receive the gospel in that way. And we realized that in there, it wasn't going to be much what we did. It was really going to come down to the Spirit testifying that whatever we were trying to say, was true. And we relied heavily upon the Spirit more so during that phase of my mission than any other just simply because of the fact we didn't have the benefit of our words to help express what we were trying to convey.  We didn't give up on that family. And a couple of months later, I was in the baptismal font watching as the mother entered the waters of baptism with tears coming down her face. And I was in a similar emotional state at the time and I was crying as well and we embraced. And again, I wanted so badly to tell her so much about her husband and how excited and happy he would be because I knew it. But, again, I didn't have the words in Spanish to express and convey that message.  The next day she received the gift of the Holy Ghost, her and her daughters. And it was fast Sunday and she bore her testimony. And in her testimony, she said, "Ever since my husband passed away, I have felt the yearning to come to this church. And I haven't known why. Now I know why." She said that this gospel, with the limited time she has spent in it and learned about it, has brought her so much peace and joy. And she is convinced that her husband is super happy with her and her daughters' decision. Having the perspective of being a father myself, there isn't anything that I wouldn't do for my children. It connects me with the father who spoke with me in the MTC in a very real way now because I have the perspective that he has. I understand the, the longing that must be present there as he watches his family live their lives in his absence. It helps me to know that I would do the very same thing. That I would do anything in my power to help my family in any way possible. I didn't have the ability to ever have a full conversation with that family, to express to them what had happened to me and what their dad had come and told me. And I look back on that and maybe I'm grateful that I didn't have the words to express that, because maybe they joined the gospel more free willing of their own accord rather than feeling like they were doing it for their dad.  I don't think there's anything special about me, per se. The times where these experiences have happened. It has always been for the benefit of somebody else. And why I've been having the ability to have that happen or to be able to perceive those words and those thoughts, I don't know. But I do believe that our Heavenly Father does know how to reach us. And oftentimes I think the way He chooses to do that is different for all of us. The gospel of Jesus Christ is very important to those that are living and those that have passed on. I've learned that our Father allows those on the other side to be very much a part of the work that we are doing here. He allows my grandpa, as an example, to go and to go in advance of me and help prepare people for people I would meet. And every time I had somebody accept the gospel, I would always think back on my grandpa, and I would think, "Man, I'm grateful to have a grandpa that cares enough to be out here. And that cares to help me find these people." KaRyn (19:59) That was Matt.  Matt first shared his story with us on the pitch line and when we contacted him to develop it for the episode he, like so many others, wondered if this experience was too sacred to share. I get that. Telling our stories is a sacred business because our stories are powerful. And because of that, we have a duty and an obligation to seek counsel with the Lord about how we share our stories and when we share them.  I'm always humbled when the right place and time to share the story is on our podcast and even more humbled when someone realizes that the time is not right. I honor that. Ultimately, the choice to share a personal witness of a sacred experience is between the storyteller and the Spirit. In his own process of determining the timing to tell this story, Matt found this beautiful quote from Elder Holland's message entitled "For a Wise Purpose" from the January 1996 Ensign. In that message, Elder Holland said, quote:    "I believe we need to speak of and believe in and bear testimony of the ministry of angels more than we sometimes do. They constitute one of God's great methods of witnessing through the veil, and no document in all this world teaches that principle so clearly and so powerfully as does the Book of Mormon," end quote. I really believe that our stories, when used for a wise purpose or gift to one another, testify of Jesus Christ and His power and His glory.  Our next story bearing witness of the ministry of angels comes from Melissa, who believed she was alone in her new faith until a unique heavenly message helped her see that she was anything but alone. Here's Melissa. Melissa (21:41) I grew up with the memory of my cousin. She was nine months old when she passed away. She actually passed away before I was even born. But I was named after her, my middle name was after her, and I missed her. And I couldn't figure out why, I didn't understand why I missed her so much. But I knew that I wish that she could be here.  That was until I learned about the plan of salvation. And I learned about how we live before we were born. I learned about how we had relationships, and we chose to come to this earth to be able to progress. It made sense that we had relationships because I felt this bond that I probably was best friends with my cousin. And she's probably been rooting for me this whole time. So I knew I had to be a part of that kind of truth.  But joining the Church wasn't really the easiest thing in the world. My mom wasn't very excited about it. Neither my mom or dad were excited about it. I think it was because I was 18 years old. I was just graduating from high school about to move away to a new world, a new life away from them. I was the oldest too so it's the first time any of us are going through it. So not only my throwing in moving away and experiencing life but also I threw in a new religion and a new way of life. And I think my mom at one time told me she just couldn't go with me. She couldn't follow where I was going. And it really broke her heart. And it was hard for me because I felt like I was going to truth and I was going closer to my Savior, and if anything, I was doing things so that way my family could be together forever. So going to Church was a little bit tough. As much as it's so exciting, and I felt so whole and connected to my Heavenly Father, my Savior, it was very lonely going to church.  I would walk into church and you see all these families, regardless of probably how hard it was to keep everybody reverent during sacrament, you can feel and tell the love that just embodied everybody and their families. And it was, I was so jealous to see that and be able to have those families sit together and be able to share these experiences together.  And don't get me wrong, I was pretty popular. Everybody wanted me to sit with them. They always wanted me to make sure I felt welcome and loved. And so definitely was not a lack of support from anybody. But it was hard when you go with friends when they go through the temple of the first time and you see this crowd of family at the luncheon afterwards. And you just see this, people from so many different sources, whether aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas, all there to support you in your decision and your journey spiritually. So I always felt super lonely and just really sad and longed for the day that I could be able to be sealed to somebody and be able to have family that I was able to share the gospel with. Luckily, my husband took me on, and we have four beautiful children. And we've been sharing testimonies and stories and it's wonderful to have that. But again, it's so, it's just saddened because I wish that I can share it with my family, too.  About a couple years ago, I started hearing this voice in my head, "Ugh, aye mi hija!" And my grandmother has passed away 10 years ago. When I was a kid growing up, I did a lot, a lot of dumb things. And whenever she'd catch me doing something she'd be like, "Aye, mi hija!" And she was so disappointed in me for being, making just dumb choices. And I was hearing that sound, "Aye, mi hija!" And I knew what it was. "Aye, mi hija!" It was my grandmother. "Aye, mi hija!" Why have you done my work yet? Why have you not gotten me sealed to your grandfather yet? "Aye, mi hija!" So I knew I had to get her work done. Because I was not gonna be here that was the rest of my life. So I start, I started working hard getting all of her work done. Through my grandparents, who had passed away, I was able to get all of their parents' work done and sealed. And so we got this nice lot of work done now for my family. And it was super exciting to be able to get all that stuff done.  Well, a couple of months ago, I was training for a marathon and I was on a 20-mile run that day. I had to leave at four in the morning. I was 10 miles into my run, and it was just a beautiful, was a beautiful day. The sun hadn't come out yet and the stars were shining. The area that I happened to be in was a gated community so there wasn't any streetlights. So the stars were able to even shine brighter, and it was a completely clear sky. So I looked up to the sky and it was just gorgeous. And I couldn't help but admire how beautiful this creation that God had given me, this earth that just naturally brings beauty. And then as I was running, I felt somebody running beside me. And I knew it was my grandmother. She started running beside me. And then, then someone became beside her. And on the other side, there was someone else that came beside, and all of a sudden I had a row of angels running beside me. And I knew It wasn't just angels. It was my family. It was my grandfathers, it was my cousin, it was my great-grandparents.  And they ran with me for a little bit. And so I started bearing my testimony, my soul, sharing up all the wonderful things that I have found by coming to know of the truth of the gospel, that I was able to share my testimony and able to share my experiences with my family.  Because of that experience, I have felt them so much more lately in my life. I even felt them actually on my marathon. I was running, and I was only at mile seven, and I felt them coming down and I was like, "Wait on guys, hold on, hold on. Appreciate you coming down. But I'm going to need your help around mile 18. Mile seven, I'm good, keeping good pace." And they did come at mile 18 and had to stay with me the whole entire time because I barely made it till mile 26.  I was reading in the Doctrine and Covenants when the Kirtland Temple was being dedicated. And it talks about how to leave this temple with angels having charge over us. It made me really connect that to my family, that the angels being charged over me are not just any random angels, they're my family. That loneliness has been able to to go away because I do have those family members that are part of the gospel. That were most likely there when I got sealed to my wonderful husband. That had been there when my sons have gotten baptized. That will continue to be there as we go through these great moments. I am so grateful to have that knowledge, to have those angels with me as I go forth. KaRyn (30:24) That was Melissa.  I love the image of her ancestors coming to run next to her. Every time I think about it, it reminds me of some kind of scene from the end of a movie. It's like, after the montage and there's this amazing music playing and then all of a sudden the heroine looks to her left and looks to her right and realizes that she is not alone. And honestly, couldn't we all use a little shove in the middle of a marathon from those who've already finished the race? I know I could.  Our next story is a short and sweet one from Cheryl whose angel came right to the front door.  Here's Cheryl. Cheryl (30:56) My son Lincoln was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which is the cancer of the blood when he was 2-and-a-half years old. We also had a 1-year-old, Sawyer. So our hands were pretty full, and it was pretty devastating to get that diagnosis.  About six months later, we moved to Greenville, North Carolina, so my husband could do his residency program. Shortly after we moved to North Carolina, things got really hard for me. Lincoln was in a phase of his chemotherapy treatment that was really intense. And he was on these medications that made him super cranky and really agitated, particularly the steroids that were bad. They caused him to want to eat constantly. He ate so much, he retained so much water that he had what the doctors called moon face because his face got so big and round that it looked like the shape of a moon. On top of all that, I was pregnant and in my first trimester. I just remember being so nauseous and waking up with Lincoln, sometimes multiple times a night, to spoon-feed him chicken broccoli casserole and Pasta Roni, those are the two things he always wanted because he was so hungry. And it broke my heart to see him so uncomfortable and so miserable.  Meanwhile, Sawyer, his little brother, was almost two and I felt so guilty for the life that he'd been experiencing for the past several months. I felt so bad for him being stuck inside all the time with a sick brother and a sick mom day after day, and I did, I just didn't have the energy and I couldn't do much about it. I couldn't take him out and play with him and go to the park, anything like that. And we just moved to the area so I didn't know anybody so I didn't feel like I had friends or support to draw on at the time. And I remember one day, I just hit an all-time low and had a bad night hadn't slept. And I just I picked up my phone, and I text my three sisters who live all across the country. And my text said something like, "This is awful. I can't do this anymore. Help." And I'm a very dramatic person so I knew that text would be alarming to them. But I was just so desperate.  Right after I send the text, my sister Wendy called, but I was busy and I couldn't answer the phone. So then about five minutes later, she called back again and that time I, I did answer. About a minute into our conversation, the doorbell rang. And I told my sister and she said, "Well, go answer the door." and I said, "I'm not answering the door. I am not expecting anyone. I don't know anyone here. My house is a mess. I look horrific. I'm not answering the door." And then she told me that for the past five minutes since she received my text, she'd been on her knees praying that someone would come help me because she couldn't. So I swallow my pride going out to the door, and standing there was my neighbor who lived down the street. And I had only met her once before that, maybe twice, just in passing. And she was there with her daughter who was in a red wagon. Carolyn told me she felt like she should just come see how I was doing and she wanted to know if Sawyer, my son who had been feeling particularly bad about neglecting, if he might want to go on a wagon ride with her daughter around the neighborhood.  It was such a simple act, such a simple gesture, but it meant the world to me. I started crying and I told her that I felt like she was an angel and that God had sent her and she was an answer to prayer. And I'm sure she thought I was a little bit crazy but in that moment, I was just so grateful. And I really, truly felt like she was an angel that had been sent. I knew my Heavenly Father was aware of me and I felt His love so strongly. It just washed over me. I knew He'd heard my sister's prayer, and I felt His love and His awareness so strongly that I just, I couldn't deny it, and I still can't deny it today.  Though nothing really changed drastically after that day, Lincoln and I continued to feel sick and struggle together. But I had received a witness that God was aware of me in my darkest hour, and He sent my neighbor who I barely knew as a ministering angel to offer the perfect act of service. And that was just enough to keep me going.  Lincoln continued to have chemo treatments for another three years but he made it through and he's cured. He's in remission now and he's been cancer-free for the past four years. And I'm just so grateful.  I often look back on that experience with Carolyn and it just reminds me that we can get through hard times. And we can be angels for other people just like she was for me. So we can lift each other, and we can be the hands of heaven here on earth. KaRyn (36:52) That was Cheryl.  Do you ever worry that what you're offering is weird or wrong or might offend somebody? I know I do. And I think that sometimes that stops me from showing up for people in their time of need. But Cheryl's story is exactly what I needed this week to kick my shame to the curb. Ministering is all about trusting that who you are and how you move in the world is already enough for the people you've been paired with or prompted toward. And that God will transform your offer of a red wagon ride into exactly what your neighbor needs. I also think it helps me to remember that the work of heaven and angels is not limited to those and other realms. We get to be a part of that work, too. And what a privilege that is.  Our final story today comes from Brooke and if you've been silently listening to today's stories, wondering where your angels are, well, this one's for you. Here's Brooke. Brooke (37:46) I was on a conference call with Whitney and Soni, the two girls that I sing with. And we were discussing our upcoming tours and I got a phone call from my mom. My mom was diagnosed with the flu the day before, so I thought, "Oh, she's just calling to tell me how she's feeling." And she kept calling. She'd call hang-up, call hang-up, which is normal for my mom. That's, that's what my mom does until you answer the phone. So I finally texted her and just said, "Hey, I am on a conference call, I'll call you back as soon as I'm done." And I sent this text and as soon as I sent the text, she called again. And I thought, "Okay, that, that's not like my mom." It was my dad calling from my mom's phone and told me that my mom had stopped breathing and the ambulance was on their way and to just hang tight until they got to a hospital. And then he would call us from there. But I live fairly close to my dad so I told him I would just jump in the car and just run over and just be with him until they get that figured out. And I remember driving and just praying, "Just let her be okay." I just assumed she'd be okay. It's the flu, right? It's 2018, it's not 1740, so I felt okay about it but obviously a little nervous.  When I got there, there was two or three ambulances there and a police car and they were rolling out a stretcher, the stretcher was empty. And I thought, "Oh, maybe she's okay." So I asked them quickly, "What happened? Where's my mom?" They said, "Well, are you Brooke? Just go inside." And my dad was standing there with the most blank look and said, "There's nothing they can do. They couldn't do anything." And I just froze. I couldn't believe this was actually happening. And I even remember kind of yelling at the, yelling at the EMTs saying, "How long did you try? You didn't try long enough." They just kind of stared at me. And I just I couldn't believe that I had lost my mom to the flu. You know, she'd been at my house three days before just loving on my kids and she was, she was gone. My mom was very full of life. I know that sounds cliche, but I don't know how else to describe her. Everything she did was so big: her actions were big her, her voice was loud, just her hair was big. She even would had this whistle. And, you know, it was interesting no matter where you were, what event you were at, what school play you were at, you knew where my mom was sitting because of this whistle that would just kill everybody's ears. That was her signature thing.  She was the person that would walk up to strangers, even like homeless people, and hug them and talk to them. Sometimes the, the stranger's face would have a look of confusion like, "Who is this lady touching me and why is she touching me?" But a lot of times you'd almost see their faces just kind of melt just, "I just I really needed that." Even though she's a stranger, you know.  We found out all these really great stories about her after. She would visit her Young Women with flowers when their sister moved away to college because she knew that this little girl was struggling with her sister leaving. Or, she'd show up at lacrosse games or she did tea parties for my kids. She was a grandma that came to things and showed up. I think we definitely took it for granted. I don't know if you're ever really done grieving. I think the first year was fog and a lot of drowning. And I think that's typical. Second year, maybe it's a little bit easier. That first year was horrible. I still have a lot of triggers. It sounds so funny, but she loved "Downton Abbey." She thought she was British. We always laugh like, "You're not British, Mom." But she thought she was British so she loved "Downton Abbey." It was her ringtone on my phone. And after she passed away, you know, the show is not on anymore and I was sitting in the movie theater just a couple months ago and the preview for the new movie coming out came up. The second I heard the music, it was just, just waterworks. You know, I don't expect to be sitting in a movie theater crying about a song that represents my mom. There's triggers everywhere and I just, all the firsts you expect, but the little things are hard. I don't even know how to tell somebody how to get through this other than I just know you become a part of this crazy club of people grieving lost ones. And so there are days where you feel really alone and days that you know you're not. One of the things that comforted me after I lost her was that I knew angels existed and I knew that they were very present in our lives. I have had experiences with that before. I have felt my great-grandmother with me through really hard times. My great-grandmother was a singer and there was no other singers in my family. And so I've always felt connected to her. I've never met her, but I felt her presence. I don't know how to explain the feeling. I don't see her or hear her. I just know she's there. Even times before I'm going to go on stage and I'm nervous I felt my great-grandma with me. You know, she's a singer so she knows what it's like to to step on a stage and be nervous.  During the birth of my last baby, it was a really traumatic experience where we almost lost her, and it was bad enough that even my life was in danger. I was, I had to be sedated for that one. Waking up and kind of slowly opening my eyes, I could see my husband and I could see my mom in the room, but the room felt full of people. And I just kind of sat there thinking, "Who else is here?" And the room was just filled with love, a bigger love than can be contained in just the two people that were there. And, even from that moment, I've always felt like my youngest, Claire, belongs to a collective group of people. I just get to be her, her mom here.  Having had those experiences, I had an expectation that I would have the same experiences with my mom. And my patriarchal blessing even talks about angels and that the presence of my loved ones will be very important to me in my life. I expected my mom to come and visit me just the way I had been visited in the past. I thought that she won't feel very far away. She'll always feel close. What added to that belief was that a couple years before my mom passed away, I had a very strong impression to study angels, not just because they were mentioned in my patriarchal blessing, but I was really intrigued with the idea of them. So I studied scriptures and talks and books and I went to the temple, they're talked about all over in the temple. I would read experiences that people have had, and I just really gained a huge testimony in their existence and in their roles in our lives. All of these things led me to believe and to expect that my mom would come to me in certain ways, and I will feel her presence on a regular basis. But I haven't. I haven't felt my mom since she's passed. It's been a year and a half, and I had all these expectations. Maybe when I was, after the year when I could see more clearly or I wasn't in this fog or during some big life thing that would happen: my daughter's baptism, during my dad getting remarried. Would I feel her that week? And I haven't, I haven't felt her. That's been difficult. It's been hard because I have expectations. And I know what it feels like and I know it's possible. So why, why not my mom? Why my great-grandma, why people that I don't know? Why can I feel angels but not my mom? Why does it talk about my patriarchal blessing how important they'll be in my life, but the one who's the most important feels silent? So the questioning did come to a point where I, I was angry. And it's interesting because, throughout the entire process, I never felt angry at God. I know death is a part of this experience. I saw His hand in all the service and all the love that we were given. I even looked back and saw all the ways He actually prepared us for her passing. I was never mad at God. I really wasn't, until one night I really wanted to talk to my mom, and I don't even remember, honestly, what it was about. And I remember praying out loud and I was in the car driving and I was praying out loud. And I asked him, "Why? Why have you let me have all these experiences and gained such a testimony of angels and their existence and their involvement, how close they are. And I've been led to so much study and pondering and praying about the subject of angels. Why have you not let me feel my mom?" And it was a really clear moment, a really clear answer that came to me and it's, I don't have a lot of those in my life. I have seen the Lord's hand and the Spirit has spoken to me, but this is one of those clear like, "I hear the words. I'm sitting on your shoulder in your ear." And He said, "I had to come to that knowledge, I had to study all of this so that you would know she was there even when you don't feel her."  Everything kind of turned at that point, my vision shifted a little bit. I started to look for my mom in different ways. It's interesting because I still, still haven't felt my mom the way I felt my great-grandma. But I see my mom through the actions of other people. Right when she died, a sweet friend did a painting for me. And she said, "I felt like somebody took my hand and the paintbrush and painted this," and had a painting out in 10 minutes. I wish like everybody can see this painting. It's a painting of an angel, which she didn't know that that's my love. You know, I have an angel wall in my office and the colors that she used were all the same colors on my wall and the angel looked just like my mom. Big hair, you know, and she's never met my mom.  It was just really interesting that I thought, "Oh, that's my mom. She knows I love angels, of course." In fact, even at Christmas time, this gal in my neighborhood, she had a very strong impression for two weeks, "You need to buy Brooke an angel." And she kept saying, "Why? I don't even know Brooke that well. That's gonna look so weird." And so she's like, "I'll just buy her a candle or something like that." She bought something else. But it kept coming, "No, buy her an angel. Buy her an angel." So she's like, "I finally just bought you an angel. I'm so, I don't even know why." She doesn't know that I have this love of angels.  You know, I got a letter, this beautiful letter from a friend that said, "Was listening to your song and your mom was there with me and this is what she told me and this is what she wants me to tell you." And it was a really beautiful moment for my friend that became a really beautiful moment for me. We were both blessed from this, you know, and that's how my mom operates. That's what she, that totally sounds like my mom. My mom works in heaven the same way she works on Earth. She works with other people a lot and I, it's interesting because I think she'll do something to bless somebody who will then turn and tell me so that we kind of both get blessed. So it's like a two birds with one stone kind of a thing you know, she just, she knows she can bless two people with one action. So that's what she's gonna do. And it makes sense to me that she's going to do the same things in heaven that she did here on Earth. They don't change, you know. I still want to feel her all the time. I think I'll always miss her and there will always be moments where I'm just kind of, maybe angry is not the right word, but sad. Sad she's not here with me. It's been interesting to see the compassion that's grown and how much I've learned to lean on Heavenly Father instead. Like, I had an experience one night. I was praying and telling Heavenly Father I was frustrated I couldn't talk to my mom about my, my mothering. My mom was really good at telling me I was doing a good job. I can't talk to my friends about that because we're all, everybody's in the trenches together. We all think we're a horrible mom. All of us think we're ruining our kids. But my mom was out of the trenches and could tell me from a different perspective I was doing okay. And I remember praying and saying, "I miss my mom being here to tell me I'm doing a good job. And the Spirit said, "Well, I can tell you you're doing a good job." I thought, "Oh, of course, why don't I just go to Christ? Why don't I tell Him everything?" And honestly, it's been interesting because I've never before relied so much on Him, even as being a connection to my mom. I can't tell you how often I've said in a prayer, "Will you please tell my mom I love her?" And how often the Spirit has said to me, "She knows." So even though I can't feel my mom, or even sometimes I don't know if she hears what I was saying, He does. Christ knows how I feel. He knows what I'm saying. He hears my thoughts. And if there's something that my mom needs to know, He'll make sure it happens. And I trust that. KaRyn (52:36) That was Brooke. Brooke Stone is one-third of the music group Mercy River, and she first shared part of this story at Time Out for Women where I heard it and realized that it had to be a part of this episode.  We celebrate heavenly visitation when it happens because in these latter days, we do believe in angels. We believe in a realm beyond this one, but we also believe as with any friends form of divine communication, that heavenly visitation is only one way that God reaches us in our need. And just like Brooke said, how we receive that revelation is no indication of our goodness or lack of goodness. We may long for and work for and study and seek for angels only to find that God needs us to hear His message a different way at a different time.  Like Brooke, I don't understand the whys of revelation. I don't understand why one time it's an angel and the next time it's a feeling and the next time it's silence. But I do know that someday it's going to all make sense. And I hold onto that day with hope that I'll rejoice in my heavenly, "Aha," moment.  One thing that is clear from our stories today is that the work of angels is always beautifully related to the work of discipleship. As I was sitting in the Conference Center listening to what felt like a choir of angels heralding the birth of the Savior with those tears for my grandma falling freely, I heard the lyrics from the chorus of the song "Angels among Us," and I felt something shifted in me. I felt a new understanding beginning. Here's a little piece of that song for you.   Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us, Sent down to us from somewhere up above.  They come to you and me in our darkest hours To show us how to live To teach us how to give   To guide us with a light of love.     That guiding light of love that the song speaks about? Well, that light was the guiding force for Matt and the families he taught as a missionary. It was the homing beacon for Melissa as she found her place in the family of Christ. It was the knock at the door for Cheryl who just needed to know that she was known. And it was the gentle reminder for Brooke that even in her grief and her loss and her longing for comfort, He can be the one to tell her she's getting it right, that she's not alone, and that she's got back up. Our angels, whether we feel them or not, will always show up. And they will always point us towards the true light of all love, our Savior, Jesus Christ. So as we feel inspired to, as Elder Holland suggested speak of and believe in and bear testimony of the ministry of angels more than we sometimes do, we can trust that those inspired expressions will also bear witness of Him and His holy life and His holy work. That's it for this episode of This Is the Gospel. Thanks for joining us today. And thank you to Matt, Melissa, Cheryl, and Brooke for allowing us to help tell their stories of divine communication.  We'll have so many good things in the show notes for this episode, you guys, so many good things. You really, really want to go there. We're going to have a transcript of the episode along with some pictures and we will have a link to the Tabernacle Choir's Angels among Us album, which is so beautiful and it has that song that we played from Kristin Chenoweth and the choir.  You can also follow us at @thisisthegospel_podcast on Instagram and Facebook to get more about the podcasts and about this episode. All of our stories on the podcast are true and accurate as affirmed by our storytellers. If you have a great story about your experience living the gospel of Jesus Christ, well guess what? we have a pitch line and we want to hear from you. Leave us a short three-minute story pitch at 515-519-6179. We're still looking for some stories for season two, so don't hesitate to call and leave that message. You can find out what themes we're working on right now by following us on Instagram and Facebook @thisisthegospel_podcast.  Don't forget to tell us about your experience with this podcast. Take the time to leave a review on the Apple podcast app or on Bookshelf PLUS+ app from Deseret Book. We really do appreciate it. We love to hear your thoughts about the episodes, about the podcast as a whole, and it really does help more people to find our stories.  This episode was produced by me, KaRyn Lay, with story producing and editing by Katie Lambert and Kelly Campbell. It was scored, mixed, and mastered by Mix at 6 Studios, and our executive producer is Erin Hallstrom. You can find past episodes of this podcast and other LDS Living podcasts at ldsliving.com/podcasts. Have a beautiful week.

What does it mean to Die to self and surrender to Christ- Why is this one of the hardest things to do as a believer- So many christians are walking around surrendered to themselves.

Subscribe for more Videos: http://www.youtube.com/c/PlantationSDAChurchTV Deeper Dive Theme: JWald, Dawn, Dr. Fidel Soto, Cara Soto and Dr. Hyveth Williams discuss the Jesus at the Center series, how God restores us and whether we should fear the judgement. We also find out if Dr. Soto has even crashed his drone. Episode Title: Jesus at the Center III Host: JWald & Dawn Williams Guest: Dr. Fidel Soto and Dr. Hyveth Williams Key text: https://www.bible.com/bible/59/REV.22.1-6.esv Notes: http://bible.com/events/2013712 Key text: https://www.bible.com/bible/59/GEN.32.24-32.esv Notes: http://bible.com/events/3191807 Sermon Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/plantationsda/jesus-at-the-center-episode-7-the-god-of-restoration Sermon Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/plantationsda/jesus-at-the-center-episode-8-face-to-face-with-god-as-judge Date: October 22, 2019 Dawn and JWald's Question to Dr. Fidel and Cara: Explain why you chose your sermon title? What does God restore? Why did you say that God is generous when He restores us? Cara, what are your thoughts on how God's restoration works? Will our restoration exceed that of the state of Adam pre-sin? Why do you have a drone? How far have you flown the drone? Have you ever crashed the drone? Cara, do you know how to fly the drone? Have you crashed it also? Is it OK to question God? What are the different kinds of touch? Dawn and JWald's Question to Dr. Hyveth: Why was Jacob so blessed? Why did Jacob suffer so much tragedy? Why is God the God of those who have had bitter experiences? Why does God break us before restoring us? What accents do you have? If Jacob thought it was Essau, why did he ask for a blessing? Why was Uzzah killed by God? What can we learn by Uzzah's touch of the ark? Is it good to wrestle with God? Do we wrestle with God or does God wrestle with us? Why do we fear God judging us? Why don't we think God is fair? Questions for Dr. Hyveth from the Pastor's Line Did Jacob wrestle with an angel or with Christ? Why does God favor sinners? Tags: #psdatv #psdapodcast #podcast #AdventistPodcast #ChristianPodcast #AdventistPodcasts #jatc #JesusAtTheCenter #restoration #restore #enemy #thief #relationships #steal #stolen #fellowship #life #paradise #TreeOfLife #death #victory #fear #curse #judge #jacob #wrestle #Israel #wrestle #bless #blessing #overcome #prevail #deliver #deliverance For more information on Plantation SDA Church, please visit us at http://www.plantationsda.tv. Church Copyright License (CCLI) License Number: 1659090 CCLI Stream License License Number: CSPL079645 Support the show.

Subscribe for more Videos: http://www.youtube.com/c/PlantationSDAChurchTV Deeper Dive Theme: JWald, Dawn, Dr. Fidel Soto, Cara Soto and Dr. Hyveth Williams discuss the Jesus at the Center series, how God restores us and whether we should fear the judgement. We also find out if Dr. Soto has even crashed his drone. Episode Title: Jesus at the Center III Host: JWald & Dawn Williams Guest: Dr. Fidel Soto and Dr. Hyveth Williams Key text: https://www.bible.com/bible/59/REV.22.1-6.esv Notes: http://bible.com/events/2013712 Key text: https://www.bible.com/bible/59/GEN.32.24-32.esv Notes: http://bible.com/events/3191807 Sermon Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/plantationsda/jesus-at-the-center-episode-7-the-god-of-restoration Sermon Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/plantationsda/jesus-at-the-center-episode-8-face-to-face-with-god-as-judge Date: October 22, 2019 Dawn and JWald's Question to Dr. Fidel and Cara: Explain why you chose your sermon title? What does God restore? Why did you say that God is generous when He restores us? Cara, what are your thoughts on how God's restoration works? Will our restoration exceed that of the state of Adam pre-sin? Why do you have a drone? How far have you flown the drone? Have you ever crashed the drone? Cara, do you know how to fly the drone? Have you crashed it also? Is it OK to question God? What are the different kinds of touch? Dawn and JWald's Question to Dr. Hyveth: Why was Jacob so blessed? Why did Jacob suffer so much tragedy? Why is God the God of those who have had bitter experiences? Why does God break us before restoring us? What accents do you have? If Jacob thought it was Essau, why did he ask for a blessing? Why was Uzzah killed by God? What can we learn by Uzzah's touch of the ark? Is it good to wrestle with God? Do we wrestle with God or does God wrestle with us? Why do we fear God judging us? Why don't we think God is fair? Questions for Dr. Hyveth from the Pastor's Line Did Jacob wrestle with an angel or with Christ? Why does God favor sinners? Tags: #psdatv #psdapodcast #podcast #AdventistPodcast #ChristianPodcast #AdventistPodcasts #jatc #JesusAtTheCenter #restoration #restore #enemy #thief #relationships #steal #stolen #fellowship #life #paradise #TreeOfLife #death #victory #fear #curse #judge #jacob #wrestle #Israel #wrestle #bless #blessing #overcome #prevail #deliver #deliverance For more information on Plantation SDA Church, please visit us at http://www.plantationsda.tv. Church Copyright License (CCLI) License Number: 1659090 CCLI Stream License License Number: CSPL079645 Support the show.

“For Then There Will Be Great Tribulation Part 2”9/22/19Matthew 24:15-31This Week’s Core Belief: Eternity I believe there is a heaven and a hell and that Jesus Christ is returning to judge the earth and to establish His eternal kingdom.John 14:1-4“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”Scripture: Matthew 24:15-3115 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.The Message of this Passage:I don’t think there’s any more intriguing, any more fascinating subject than the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know of no biblical subject which can create the same amount of curiosity that this subject can create. And really, there are few things in Scripture that are as highly motivating to the believer and to the unbeliever as the sense of reality regarding the second coming of Jesus Christ. Which is one of the reasons, the Left Behind series was so popular and in the 1970’s Hal Lindsey’s book The Late Great Planet Earth was a best seller.The apostle Paul said: “Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” In other words, realizing that Christ will come in judgment and bring a terrorizing holocaust upon the earth, we present the gospel so that men may escape that. Also, Paul said that we labor whether present or absent that we may be in a sense accepted by Him. So we who are believers serve the Lord knowing that someday He’ll come to reward us, and we want to be found faithful.So the second coming of Jesus Christ, both from the standpoint of warning an unbeliever of the judgment to come and of encouraging a believer with the reward to come, is a highly motivating subject. And there’s no place in the Scripture, where it’s presented more wonderfully than right here in Matthew 24 and 25 by the Lord Himself.For Further Discussion:Identify one or two new insights that seemed important to you. Why are they important?Is there a spiritual truth in this section that is especially significant for you?According to Jesus, what will the final days on earth be like?What important warning about spiritual deception did Jesus issue?How will people recognize Jesus’ return?Why were the Jewish people of Jesus' day especially curious about the return of Christ?Why do you think Christians today are especially curious about the return of Christ?Pondering the PrinciplesGod's sovereignty is evident in Matthew 24 and 25. God is in full control of everything that happens--even to the point of leading the Romans against Jerusalem. If God can control major events like that, surely He can control the circumstances in your life! However, you won't always understand the purpose for every situation in your life. The key is trusting in God's sovereignty and His promise that "all things work together for good to them that love God" (Rom. 8:28). In every situation, yield yourself to God, and ask Him to work out His sovereign will, knowing that it will be carried out to His greater glory and your greatest good.Notes:

Regret reminds us that all of us, every single one of us, are people still in process, there’s still room to grow and most hopefully of all, that God isn’t done with us yet. Regret… None of us like feeling and yet, all of us at one point or another already have or one day will experience it. We know the right thing to do and we don’t do it. We know the wrong thing to do and we end up doing. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Christian or not, all of us know that terrible, nagging sense of regret. Many times, as followers of Jesus, this feeling of regret can weigh even heavier upon our hearts. We say things to ourselves like, “I’m supposed to be a follower of Jesus. Why in the world did I just do that?” Or, “I’m supposed to be a new creation in Christ…Why didn’t I speak up when I had the chance?” Today’s question centers around this experience common to all of us but brought to light in a more nuanced fashion for Christians: How can we be holy and sinful at the same time? If you’ve ever wrestled with this question, we hope tonight’s sermon will help you process your own experiences and make sense of this tension in light of the truth of scripture. Thanks for joining us tonight and as always, if there’s anything we can do to better be the church for you, please don’t hesitate to stop by the connect table and let us know. God bless and thanks for joining us!

A lot of people don't understand that what they call "fighting for the faith" on the internet, is actually fake fighting. What do I mean by that? Does anyone really believe that ranting or cutting and pasting, is fighting for the faith? Whoever does is sorely mistaken. IN THIS EPISODE Why ranting on the internet is not real fighting, but fake fighting. What does it mean to be a soldier of Christ? Why not everyone is meant to be Michael Voris or Michael Hichborn. The various roles that need to be filled in a war. Why the battle for your soul is the greatest battle you'll ever fight. What are some real "fights" you can undertake offline? When you need to pull back from the fight for a bit. How the idea of "fighting" can be a temptation. Which is your greatest weapon in a fight? EPISODE NOTES  Lifesmything is a podcast of beautysoancient.com.