Podcasts about city on a hill

Universal Voices is back with an all new mini-series. This season we explore how different folks within the Universal Church are experiencing community within the Body of Christ. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Karina Breceda. Alissa and Karina discuss Fr. Rick Thomas whose case for canonization was recently opened. Fr. Rick was a central figure in Karina's life and she credits him for leading her to the work with migrants that she now does. The two chat about the rich community Fr. Thomas shepherded and how his model of prayer, joy, obedience, and service left a lasting impression. In this episode you'll also hear the two talk about:The blessing of place.The multiplication of Christmas Dinner.The miracle of a dump that becomes a "city on a hill."Being crazy for Jesus.The only thing that makes sense.Fr. Thomas' prophetic witness in creating a youth center.Being the 2025 version of the work of the Gospel.Being one day saints like Father Thomas.The video we reference (in which Father Thomas is interviewed about Christmas Dinner can be found here or by searching "The Glory of God" - Juarez Full Length on Youtube. Karina Breceda is a Fronteriza activist and cross-border advocate focusing on pro-life migrant work. She is Co-Founder and Director of Stela and Casa Maris, shelters located on both sides of the US/MX international border serving pregnant women and children seeking refuge. 

Today we bring you a show taped live at the CURE 2025 National Clergy Summit in Washington, D.C., at the iconic Willard Hotel—where history meets destiny just two blocks from the White House.   The voice you're about to hear belongs to the Honorable Janice Rogers Brown, a judicial titan who rose from segregated Alabama to the California Supreme Court and then to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, confirmed in a 56–43 Senate showdown that still echoes in conservative lore. She retired in 2017 as one of the sharpest originalist minds of her era, a Bradley Prize laureate, and the author of the explosive 2024 essay *"Bread and Stones,"* which declares the Supreme Court's 1873 *Slaughter-House* decision turned the 14th Amendment's promise of liberty into a stone of oppression for Black Americans and every citizen since.   But forget the résumé—this is no dusty lecture. Judge Brown steps to the Willard podium and delivers a sermon that feels like a lightning strike. She opens with a kindergarten story about a boy who draws God in ten minutes, then pivots to a chilling diagnosis: America has fallen from "city on a hill" to a meteorite streaking into the abyss, its light fading in a culture drunk on power and contemptuous of the Creator who once defined our equality. She quotes Ken Burns calling the American Founding the second greatest event in human history, then sharpens the blade: it only matters because the Founders tethered equality to God, not human whim. Calvin Coolidge's 1926 warning rings through her words—"If all men are created equal, that is final"—and anyone who denies it is marching backward into tyranny.   She resurrectes the "black regiment" of colonial preachers whose pulpits birthed the Revolution, then warns today's clergy: you are the last line before Canadian-style arrests for preaching biblical sexuality. California already fines citizens $250,000 for refusing to call a man "she," and the First Amendment's right to silence is dead under SOGI laws. Congress flipped from defending marriage in 1996 to codifying *Obergefell* in 2022, proving we are not the people who sustained liberty for 250 years. On campuses, students chant "Don't tell me facts!" and declare objective truth a Euro-West weapon to silence the oppressed—Isaiah's lament that "truth has fallen in the streets" has never felt more urgent.   Yet rebellion, she insists, isn't ignorance; it's defiance. We know right from wrong because it's written on our hearts. The rainbow flag isn't about tolerance—it's about forcing celebration to quiet guilty consciences. She closes with Martin Luther King's dream, updated for our moment: dissatisfied until no one shouts white power, black power, or trans power, but God's power and human power. "We've messed this up so badly no human can fix it," she says, voice steady with hope, "but that ain't all we got."   If you're a pastor, parent, or patriot who still believes America's founding was a spiritual revolution worth fighting for, this is your battle cry. Judge Brown doesn't just diagnose the darkness—she hands you the torch. Sit down, press play, and bring the salt. The culture's tomatoes are already flying.

In today's message, we explore what it truly means to live on mission as followers of Jesus. Too often, our faith gets confined to religious routines, comfort zones, and holy huddles but Jesus calls us to be a city on a hill, visible, present, and a haven for others. We'll unpack practical ways to let your light shine in everyday life, embody His presence in every interaction, and become a refuge for people who need hope. Stop hiding your life and start living so others can see God at work through you.

This Sunday, guest Pastor Guy Mason continued our sermon series, Making Sense of the Church, with a teaching on the Church as the City on a Hill. Anchored in Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5 commissioning His people to be the light of the world and a city set on a hill, we are reminded of our calling to pursue a life of undivided worship and Christ-centered holiness as a witness to the world. As we become a people set apart and built together in love to push back darkness with light, we can rest in the knowledge that this calling is simply a continuation of the perfect work Jesus began in and for us.

In this powerful sermon, Pastor Jarrod Walls delivers a wake-up call to believers about spiritual warfare and authentic faith. He challenges Christians to embrace their identity in Christ without compromise, warning against spiritual complacency and the distractions of modern life. Pastor Walls reminds us that we're called to be "a city on a hill" and "people of valor" in a spiritual battle, emphasizing that victory comes "not by might, nor by power, but by God's Spirit." This message is a bold call to return to biblical truth and live with quiet confidence in God's power.

In a world that feels increasingly broken and dark, we're reminded of our profound calling to be salt and light. Drawing from Jesus' declaration in Matthew 5, this message confronts us with a powerful truth: we are not merely suggested to influence the world—we ARE the salt of the earth and the light of the world. This isn't optional Christianity; it's our very identity. The sermon challenges two common errors we make: either retreating into isolation from a culture that makes us uncomfortable, or assimilating so completely that we become indistinguishable from the world around us. Instead, Jesus calls us to a third way—to live distinctively, visibly, intentionally, and courageously. The imagery is striking: salt that loses its flavor is useless, and a lamp hidden under a basket serves no purpose. We're confronted with sobering statistics about loneliness, mental health crises, and the decline of faith in America—a mirror shattered by sin, greed, and despair. Yet in this darkness, we're called not to despair but to action. This message from Pastor Tommy Carr beautifully illustrates how individual broken pieces of glass, when brought together and illuminated by Christ's light, create something breathtakingly beautiful—a disco ball effect where light scatters in every direction, touching the darkness wherever we go. This is the collective power of the church: alone we flicker small, but together we become a shining city on a hill that cannot be hidden.

In a world that feels increasingly broken and dark, we're reminded of our profound calling to be salt and light. Drawing from Jesus' declaration in Matthew 5, this message confronts us with a powerful truth: we are not merely suggested to influence the world—we ARE the salt of the earth and the light of the world. This isn't optional Christianity; it's our very identity. The sermon challenges two common errors we make: either retreating into isolation from a culture that makes us uncomfortable, or assimilating so completely that we become indistinguishable from the world around us. Instead, Jesus calls us to a third way—to live distinctively, visibly, intentionally, and courageously. The imagery is striking: salt that loses its flavor is useless, and a lamp hidden under a basket serves no purpose. We're confronted with sobering statistics about loneliness, mental health crises, and the decline of faith in America—a mirror shattered by sin, greed, and despair. Yet in this darkness, we're called not to despair but to action. This message from Pastor Tommy Carr beautifully illustrates how individual broken pieces of glass, when brought together and illuminated by Christ's light, create something breathtakingly beautiful—a disco ball effect where light scatters in every direction, touching the darkness wherever we go. This is the collective power of the church: alone we flicker small, but together we become a shining city on a hill that cannot be hidden.

When we are faithful to the Lord, our actions will point others to Him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"A daily practice, again, I want to leave this with you and I'm leaving it with myself. Is to just try as hard as you can to look at these challenges as opportunities. What can I learn here? Can this fill me with love? Can this teach me something I need to learn? Is this busting open a block that I've been carrying around my entire my life-- the inability to ask for help; the inability to accept love. Whatever it may be. It will serve a purpose if you let it."Today's episode is a sit down with Matt's friend & City on a Hill co-worker, Anne Carson. Anne has had a long & successful career working on hit TV shows and films including War of the Worlds, Free Solo, It Ends With Us, & The Morning Show to name a small, select few. This vulnerable, heartfelt conversation details not only Anne's love for filmmaking, but also her passion for running. Anne dives into how spinal injuries not only affected her career and love for running, but lead her to an inflection point; a point where she's not sure how to move forward. Matt and Anne talk about their time on set while filming City on a Hill (watch out for those staplers!) and how it's never to late to pivot in a new direction. Anne is a true alchemist and explains how to redefine focus, when your body says, "Cut!"10,000 NOs is here to inspire you and help you realize you are not alone if you're battling to overcome rejection in your career or life.So, if you're an actor, writer or filmmaker and you like what you hear in the snippets from our Working Actors Community zooms enough to want to be a part of it, CLICK HERE.Remember, “failure” is just opportunity in disguise, and you can flip the script to make your setbacks serve you.SHOW LINKS:10,000 NOs: THE BOOKSUBSCRIBE TO OUR (WEEKLY) NEWSLETTERFOLLOW MATT ON SOCIALFIND OUT HOW YOU CAN JOIN THE WORKING ACTORS COMMUNITY

In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal explores Jesus' parable of the leaven from Matthew 13:33, revealing profound insights about the nature of God's kingdom on earth. This short but powerful parable illustrates how the kingdom of heaven operates not through outward glory or conquest, but as a hidden, transformative influence throughout the world. Tony examines how this parable connects thematically with other parables in Matthew 13, showing that believers are called to be like leaven - seemingly small and hidden, yet profoundly impacting the entire "loaf" of society. This teaching offers a refreshing perspective on how Christians can understand their role in the world and how God's redemptive purposes work through His people. Key Takeaways The kingdom of heaven operates not through outward glory but as a hidden, transformative influence in the world Just as leaven permeates an entire batch of dough, Christians are called to influence the whole world around them The parable of leaven shares thematic connections with the parables of the sower and the wheat and tares in Matthew 13 God preserves the world (the "whole loaf") because of His redemptive purposes for those within it The seemingly small presence of believers in the world has a disproportionate impact, similar to how a small amount of leaven affects a large amount of flour Common grace benefits both believers and unbelievers as part of God's redemptive plan The church may not always appear dominant in society, but its influence continues to work invisibly and powerfully Understanding the Parable of Leaven The parable in Matthew 13:33 is deceptively simple: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour till it was all leavened." Tony notes that just as leaven is often the same color as flour but with a different texture, and just as a small amount can affect an entire batch, the kingdom of heaven may seem small and unassuming in the world, yet its influence permeates everything around it. This parable teaches us that God's kingdom doesn't operate through visible conquest or outward glory. Rather, it works quietly from within, transforming the whole of society as believers live out their faith in various contexts - whether at work, with family, or in other relationships. The impact of the kingdom, like leaven, is not always immediately visible but ultimately transforms everything it touches. The Kingdom's Hidden Presence This parable helps us understand that while the church may not always be the dominant visible institution in the world, its influence continues to work powerfully. Tony explains how this connects with the parable of the wheat and tares, where both grow together until the harvest. Similarly, the kingdom of heaven is present within the world, often hidden from plain sight but still exerting tremendous influence. This perspective counters triumphalistic views that expect Christianity to always visibly dominate culture, while also rejecting defeatist attitudes that minimize the church's impact. Instead, it offers a balanced understanding that even when believers are in the minority, they serve as God's means of leavening the whole of society with kingdom values and influence. Memorable Quotes "We should look at this parable and think about how the kingdom of heaven on this earth is not going to be about outward glory. It's not gonna be about outward conquests, accoutrements or accolades." "As we go into our workday, as we interact with our family, whether that's our immediate family, our wives or children, our parents, or it's our extended family, some of whom may not even know Christ, as we interact with our fellow Christians in the church or online, as we interact with unbelievers online, we are to be like leaven that is hidden in the flower and our presence in the flower, our presence in the world actually leavens the whole world." "If it were not for God's intent and desire to save a remnant from fallen humanity, if it was not for the covenant of redemption in which the father, son and the spirit pacted together to redeem a people for their very own, God would've had no reason not to just destroy the whole thing and start over. But because he has seen fit to redeem out of the fallen whole, a portion, he is leavening the whole with that portion." Full Transcript we should look at this parable and think about how the kingdom of heaven on this earth is not going to be about outward glory. It's not gonna be about outward conquests accoutrements or accolades. [00:00:21] Introduction and Experiment Setup Welcome back to episode 467 of the Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Tony and this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey, brothers and sisters, if you are joining us for this second part of, uh, episode 467, any of you have not listened to Jesse's contribution, then you are like me. I also have not listened to Jesse's contribution yet, but, uh, you should go back and listen because, uh, we're doing a fun little experiment this week, Jesse and I. Our schedules didn't quite line up, so we thought we would do something interesting. [00:01:03] Exploring the Parables of Christ Uh, we've been working through the parables of Christ, which has been an absolute joy, and we come to these two sort of little micro parables that, um, commentators and editors often clump together. And Justin and I thought it would be a fun experiment for us each two separately talk about, uh, one of the parables. Uh, and then next week, uh, we're gonna come back together and we will probably talk through all of it after we've had some chances to, uh, process and marinate in it a little bit. We thought it'd be fun to see kind of how the two episodes gel together or don't gel together, uh, when uh, we have not talked about it and did not record together. So I'm gonna go ahead and kick off. I don't know if Jesse did affirmations or denials. I don't know what Jesse did. I, all I know is he recorded an episode and I'm sure that it's amazing. Uh, but I'm just gonna go ahead and kick off right into the, uh, the. Uh, reading here. So we're looking at Matthew chapter 13. Uh, we've spent our entire time in this series so far in Matthew chapter 13, and I'm gonna pick it up at verse 33. It reads here, he told them another parable. The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, that a woman took and hid in three measures of flower till it was all leavened. Now this is a short parable. Uh, it's, it's pretty straightforward. And this episode will be a little bit shorter. I don't know how long Jesse went. I mean, I, I guess I kind of have an idea 'cause I edited the, uh, episode, but I dunno how long you went. So I'm gonna keep this short and sweet and we're gonna talk more about all of this next week. So I just wanna share a few observations with you first. I think it's important for us to sort of recognize that. Matthew as the inspired, uh, writer of this, uh, gospel and in some ways, uh, as an inspired compiler and editor of Christ's public Ministry. Right. He's writing the gospel, but he's also a witness to the events. He is probably, um, ordering things in particular ways to make a theological point. Christ probably also taught this same message multiple times in multiple venues, so there's nothing shady or a historical going on. Um, but Matthew is. Putting together these, uh, counts and particularly these parables, which probably were all given at the same time. Um, Christ probably deliver them all at the same time as well. And there's some good reasons in the text to think that. But these parables all fall within the context of each other. So when we talked about the parable of, uh, the soils, um, or the parable of the sower, we, we recognize, um, that the kingdom of heaven is not as obvious as we would think, right? The sower sows the seed, um, he sows it promiscuously a across various different kinds of soils, fully knowing that some of it will not be receptive. And then of course, we saw the outcome. And then when we looked at the parable of the weed, weed, uh, wheat and the tears, uh, we see that, you know, the, the good sower recognizes that the wheat and the weed will grow up next to each other, and that at the end of all things, he will separate those things and will, you know, destroy the wicked and will reward the righteous. And an interesting feature of this chapter is that Christ often tells a parable, and then there's either some commentary, or in this case today, there's actually additional parables in sort of inserted, and then Christ gives the, uh, interpretation of the parable. So the, the parable of the mustard seed immediately follows in the parable of the 11, kind of considering those together. Immediately follows the parable of, uh, the explanation, or no, sorry, the parable of, um, the weed and the weeds. And so he gives us this parable right in the middle there. Then he gives us a little explanation and a second, you know, explanation of why he speaks in parables. And then he goes on to interpret and. There's a, a technique that was often used in ancient text, in ancient documents called an iuso, where they would start an account. Uh, they would start sort of a literary segment with, um, a phrase or a concept. Then they would explain, you know, they would give all their explanation and then they would close that same section with a similar theme or a similar, um, kind of, um, concept. We see this in Luke, right? We see at the beginning of Luke. There's a statement that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature. Then we see the, um, the account of Jesus in the temple. And then we see again at the end of that, it says again, he grew in wisdom and stature. And so Luke, there is telling us that we should read that whole section, that whole area as a, a single unit. And the theme of that unit is Jesus growing in, um, wisdom and stature. A similar thing is happening here. So we have the, the parable of the sower. We have some commentary, then we have the interpretation of the parable of sower. Then we have the parable of the wheat and the tears, and then we have this in the middle, the parable of the weed of the, um, mustard seed and the lemon. And then we have the explanation or the interpretation of the parable of the wheat and the tears. So we should see this parable as part of that literary unit. That's, that's what Matthew is doing here. So we have to interpret it in light of that. [00:06:17] The Kingdom of Heaven and Its Implications And so what do we see in the first, uh, parable that we talked about? Well, we see that the kingdom of heaven is, uh, is sort of hidden within the world. We see that God sows or the, the good sower sows his seed. The master of the household sows his good seed into the world. The field is the world and it starts to grow, and then the enemy comes and he sows his seed into the world, and that starts to grow. And until the end of things, um, the good weeds, the good wheat is sort of hidden among the weeds just as the weed is hidden among the good wheat, the, the parable of the mustard seed, um, Jesse, I'm sure explain. We'll find out. Um, explain that the, the mustard seed is small. And so when it's planted into the garden, it becomes kind of hidden and it's an unexpected, um, influence on the, the rest of the garden. Not only does it grow, but it becomes, uh, it becomes a central feature of the garden. Uh, it gives shade to things. It, you know, birds come and live in it. Um. It becomes a central feature in an unexpected way. And the Parable of 11 is, in my opinion, is really just a restatement in some ways of the parable of, uh, the wheat and the tears. It says the kingdom of heaven is like 11 that the woman took and hid. In three measures of flour till it was all lemon. So Jesse could tell you more about baking bread than I could. Uh, he, he probably would've been better to give you this parable and, and if we did any sort of planning at all, we would've thought about that, but. Lemon is often, um, the same color as flour. Um, it's a different texture as flour, but it takes just a very small amount of it in a large portion of flour or bread dough or whatever you're putting into to then permeate and affect the whole thing. So you might have, you might have a pound of flour. Um, or in this case, three measures of flour, which I, I don't know off the top of my head how much that is. Um, my logos Bible software is, is not helping me all that much here. But you may have a, a large quantity of flour, say a pound of flour, you might put just a few, um, a few grams into that flour, and once you've mixed it all up. Even though that lemon, uh, that lemon is, is at a much lower ratio than the flour, it still affects the entire, the entire outcome and the entire loaf of that, uh, bread that you're making. So, in one sense, what Christ is saying is that the kingdom of heaven, uh, it's it's small. It's, it's unassuming. It is hidden in this broader bunch, just like the wheat is in the good field. Um, it's hidden in the good field in that when you first, you first sow it, you don't see it. And as it starts to grow alongside the weeds, it's hidden among the weeds just as the weeds are hidden among the weeds because you can't tell the difference. In this case, the lemon is, is hidden among the measures of flower, and that's what the kingdom of heaven is like. And so we should look at this parable and think about how the kingdom of heaven on this earth is not going to be about outward glory. It's not gonna be about outward conquests or outward, um, accoutrements or accolades. Um, it certainly should be visible, right? Christ also says that, uh, the kingdom of heaven is like a city on a hill, and we'll get to that when we get to that, or we'll talk about that at some point. But it's not as though this parable is saying The kingdom of heaven should be invisible. But it's not, um, it's not going to be the dominant outward force in the world, just as the wheat in the first parable we talk, or in the second parable we talked about is not gonna be outwardly, uh, visible and apparent. Um, but it's still present in the world and it's still. Part of the reason that the master retains the field instead of just burning it over. If, um, if we saw that an entire loaf was ruined, we'd throw it away. But because the leaven is present in the loaf or it's present in the three measures, it, it permeates that. And the second thing that I think that we should think about, uh, and this will be where I close here, is the kingdom of heaven is, um, is not an, an inert force in the world. Even though it's not going to be outwardly dominant, dominant, it's not going to be the primary, uh, visible institution in the world. Um, it, it certainly has been at points if, if you equate the. The visible church with the Kingdom of Heaven, which our tradition certainly does to a certain extent, but regardless of how present or hidden it, it visually appears and how apparent it is, it still is leavening the whole loaf. So when we read passages like God so loved the world, we don't have to do exegetical gymnastics to try to say, well, God so loved part of the world, or the world only means the elect. We can say without, you know, crossing our fingers or talking outta both sides of our mouth, that God loved the world, the whole world, but part of the reason he loved the whole world is because. One, he created it. But his love for the world in that passage and his sending of the sun is a particular love for the whole world. On the account of all of those who would believe so the, the, the parable here, just like the parable of the weeds. Or maybe as an extension of the parable of the wheat and the tears is teaching us that Christians, particularly the sons of the Kingdom, to use the language from the, the parable of the wheat, the sons of the Kingdom of God are hidden among the world. And just as we are commanded to be salt and light earlier in the gospel, here we are to leaven the whole world. So as we go into our workday, honestly, I'm sitting in my office at work recording this episode right now 'cause it's the most quiet place I can get. Um. As we go into our workday, as we interact with our family, whether that's our immediate family, our wives or children, our parents, or it's our extended family, some of whom may not even know Christ as we interact with our, our fellow Christians in the church or on online. As we interact with unbelievers online, we are to be like leaven that is hidden in the flower and our presence in the flower. Our presence in the world actually leavens the whole world if it were not for God's intent and desire to save a remnant from fallen humanity. It was not for the covenant of redemption in which the father, son and the spirit, uh, pacted together to redeem a people for their very own. If it were not for that, God would've had no reason, would have no reason not to just destroy the whole thing and start over. But because he has seen fit to redeem. Out of the fallen hole, a portion he is leavening the hole with that portion. So I'm obviously not arguing for some kind of universal salvation, but the the common grace that the fact that the rain falls on the just and the unjust or the fact that we all have air to breathe and there's food to eat and that. Uh, evil is restrained, uh, to a certain extent and, and that, um, the good things in life are preserved and that even, even the unbelievers can experience good and pleasurable things like marriage and good food and drink and, and other, um, common grace pleasures that God has provided. All of that is on account of, and because of his desire to redeem the whole, to have a kingdom of God on Earth. So I'm gonna leave you there and it'll be an interesting, fun experiment once these, uh, two dueling episodes come out to, to compare notes and to see how close Jesse and I. Are in interpreting these and where we overlap and where we may even disagree. And we will come back next week and see, uh, where we go when we start to discuss the two together. So thank you for bearing with us with this sort of interesting, unorthodox experiment. I hope that you've enjoyed this, and until next time, honor everyone. Love that brotherhood.

In this powerful message, Pastor Clay NeSmith explores the vital role of the Holy Spirit in believers' lives. He challenges us to consider how we're engaging with the third person of the Trinity and invites non-believers to embrace God's family through faith in Christ's finished work. Pastor Clay emphasizes that God equips each believer with unique spiritual gifts meant to be used in community, not in isolation. Discover how unity, surrender, and operating in your God-given competencies can transform both your life and the church's mission to be "a city on a hill" that shines Christ's light to the world.

Today we welcome guest speaker Layla Nahavandi as she shares a powerful message titled “Citizens of Heaven.” In this sermon, Layla challenges us to remember that as followers of Jesus, we belong to a different kingdom—one not of this world. She reminds us that our true identity is not defined by earthly status or circumstance but by our citizenship in heaven. Through scripture and revelation, we learn that: 1.Citizens of Heaven have a new King and Kingdom. 2.Citizens of Heaven carry a name with authority and access. 3.Citizens of Heaven live by kingdom laws. 4.Citizens of Heaven speak a new language and develop a new accent. 5.Citizens of Heaven walk in new rights, privileges, and freedoms through Christ. Citizens of Heaven Bill of Rights I am God's possession, His child, His workmanship, His friend, His temple, co-laborer, witness, soldier, ambassador, and building. I am able to do all things because He strengthens me. I am a minister and an instrument; His chosen, His beloved, His jewel, and His heritage. In Christ I have been redeemed by blood—set free from sin, set free from Satan, and set free from the kingdom of darkness. I have been chosen before the foundation of the world, predestined to be like Jesus, forgiven of all trespasses, washed in His blood, and accepted into God's family. I have been justified freely by His grace, given all things pertaining to life, given great and precious promises, a sound mind, and the Holy Spirit. I have the ministry of reconciliation, authority over the enemy, access to God, and wisdom for free. In Christ I am complete—sanctified, justified, and fit for the Master's use. I am loved eternally, kept by His power, not condemned, one with the Lord, and seated in heavenly places. I am the head and not the tail, the light in darkness, a candle in a dark place, a city on a hill, and the salt of the earth. I am His sheep, hidden with Christ in God, and protected from the evil one. I am secure in Christ, set on a rock, more than a conqueror, born again, filled with His power, a victor, healed by His stripes, covered by His blood, sheltered by His wings, and hidden in the secret place. I have access to the Father, a home in heaven, all things in Christ, a living hope, and an anchor for my soul. I have authority to tread on serpents, power to witness, the tongue of the learned, the mind of Christ, boldness, access, and peace with God. I have faith like a mustard seed. In Him I can do all things, find mercy, come boldly to His throne, quench the fiery darts of the enemy, declare liberty to the captives, pray always, and overcome the enemy. The only things I cannot do in Christ are to be separated from God, to perish or be lost, to be moved, taken out of my Father's hand, charged, accused, or condemned. I am a citizen of heaven, and this is my identity in Christ. Scripture References: Hebrews 11:13–16 | Philippians 3:20 | Romans 8:15–30 | Mark 16:17–18 | John 14:13 | Acts 2:1–4 | Colossians 2:13–14 | John 10:10

I don't know about you, but I find I can easily make commitments. I can decide I really want to do something and set my mind to do it. But if I don't have a plan as to how it gets done, it just remains good intentions that usually don't become reality. So, what I'm hoping is that you will not only be inspired to reflect Christ more on your job, but you'll have some specific actions that will make a difference in your life and in your workplace. So, here's my fourth suggestion (view part one for the first three suggestions) as to how we can more perfectly reflect Christ on our jobs: Be Transparent and Vulnerable Jesus gave us clear instructions as to how we are to live as Christ-followers in our worlds. In Matthew 5:14-16 we read from his sermon on the mount: You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. In other words, we're not called to be undercover Christians. Even in our post-Christian culture, Jesus' challenge does not change. We are not to hide our lamp—our witness—as Christ-followers, and that includes on our jobs. The challenge we face is how to do that naturally, organically, and not in an unnecessarily offensive way. Someone has said that too often we Christians are more interested in giving out the right news instead of the good news. We believe we're right, based on God's Word, and we never compromise those beliefs. But we do it through being real, not with a know-it-all attitude or arrogance of any kind. You and I must be approachable, real, and transparent in the way we live if we ever hope to have influence in our world today. If you project a plastic image to those around you, an image of “I've got this all figured out, and my life is always together,” then who can ever relate to you? Let me ask you: Do you fake happiness even when you are sad about something? Do you share personal struggles and concerns with coworkers appropriately? Can you and do you naturally talk about how God has helped you through hard times, how he has answered your prayers? Are you willing to be vulnerable, admit your mistakes, or talk about your struggles? Or are you trying not to show a trace of doubt or misgivings or let anyone see the pain in your life? If so, you are putting up a barrier between you and others, and they just don't know how to relate to someone who seems to always be in control! Living a transparent and authentic life means being yourself, without any pretensions. There was a woman who worked for me many years ago who was just always perfect. She was vocal about her faith, but she was also vocal about how perfectly she did her job. She subtly would let everyone else know they should be like her and do their work like she did. Now, she was an excellent worker, but she made everyone else in the department uncomfortable by her perfectionist demeanor. I often wondered what she was like at home with her husband. And I noticed that she really had no connections in our office; she worked in an isolated atmosphere. That's never going to be an effective way to reflect Christ. So, one powerful way you and I can reflect Christ—be like Jesus—in our workplaces is to be transparent, inviting, and willing to share our lives, the good and the bad, with others. Reflect Christ by Developing the Fruit of the Spirit I come to the fifth suggestion for reflecting Christ on your job, and it is to consistently display the fruit of God's Spirit in your life. Honestly, this is an impossible assignment until and unless you become intentional about bearing much fruit. In John 15:8 Jesus said, This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

#acting #LynneJebens #NewYorkOne of the most important goals in this podcast is to have some kind of eclecticism, variety or diversity in the kind of artistic and cultural matters we try and cover. Lynne Jebens' episode certainly is a paramount example of this. Going into this episode, the first with a talent agent on our sows I had no idea we would be discussing being on the road with a Southern Rock band, the musical stylings of Bix Beiderbick, and the Joseph Mankiewicz masterpiece All About Eve all in the same episode! But this is an inevitability when you spend anytime at all with Lynne Jebens. With close to 40 years in the talent industry, Lynne Jebens gives the essentials on what an Actor must do in order to be successful in the business. Lynne is one of NYC's most respected agents who gives truly usable, incisive critiques. She works in all legit areas (film, TV and theater) as well as commercials.I certainly hope you enjoy listening to us at least as much as we enjoyed creating this episode. Lynne's BioAn agent for over 30 years who was a former actor and director, Lynne is one of NYC's most respected agents who gives truly usable, incisive critiques. She works in all legit areas (Film, TV and Theater) as well as commercials.Recent or Upcoming Broadway/Tours: & Juliet, A Beautiful Noise, Ain't Too Proud, Aladdin, Annie, Back to the Future, Beauty and the Beast, Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon, Boop!, Cabaret, Chicago, Clue, Come From Away, Dolly, Floyd Collins, Funny Girl, The Great Gatsby, Hadestown, Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Hell's Kitchen, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, The Lost Boys, Mean Girls, MJ, Moulin Rouge, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Notebook, The Outsiders, Peter Pan, Pirates: The Penzance Musical, Redwood, Shucked, Six, Smash, Some Like it Hot, Wicked, The Wiz.Recent Film/TV: American Horror Story, And Just Like That, Beth and Don, The Blacklist, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Blue Bloods, Brass Tactics, Bull, Chicago Med, Christmas With You, City on a Hill, Daredevil: Born Again, Dear Edward, Dexter: Resurrection, The Devil Wears Prada 2, Eleanor the Great, Elsbeth, The Endgame, The Equalizer, Etoile, Ever's Blueberry, Evil, FBI, Feud: Capote and the Women, The Friend, Full Circle, Genie, The Gilded Age, The Girls on the Bus, Godfather of Harlem, The Good Fight, Goosebumps: The Vanishing, Gossip Girl, Happy Gilmore 2, The History of Sound, The Holdovers, Hondo, Imaginary Friends, Jigsaw, Kaleidoscope, The Knowing, Law & Order (all of them), Let the Right One In, Manifest, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, New Amsterdam, Notice to Quit, Only Murders in the Building, The Other Two, Poker Face, Power: Raising Kanan, Queens of Christmas, Random Acts of Flyness, Servant, Severance, The Sex Lives of College Girls, Succession, Summer of 69, The Watcher, Your Friends & Neighbors and Zero Day.Besides Broadway and Tour, this office also books clients in numerous NY and Off-Broadway shows and every AEA regional theatre in the country.A truly caring agent who LOVES her actors.With close to 40 years in the talent industry, Lynne Jebens gives the essentials on what an Actor must do in order to be successful in the business. Lynne is one of NYC's most respected agents who gives truly usable, incisive critiques. She works in all legit areas (film, TV and theater) as well as commercials.I certainly hope you enjoy listening to us at least as much as we enjoyed creating this episode.Links to wonderful interviews on Lynne's works: https://www.nycastings.com/being-professional-and-prepared-an-interview-with-talent-agent-lynne-jebens/

Summary of the Message: “Kingdom, Power, Glory: Quietness + Confidence = Strength” by Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min. I. INTRODUCTION: THE DISCIPLE'S REQUEST AND THE KINGDOM CONTEXT A. The Request: “Lord, Teach Us to Pray” (Luke 11:1; Matthew 6:9–13) Jesus models prayer for His disciples—not the Lord's prayer, but our prayer. The prayer closes with a reminder of divine ownership and sovereignty: “For Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory forever.” B. Meaning of the Three Realms of God Kingdom – God's rule and authority. Power – God's ability to accomplish His will. Glory – God's majesty and divine presence. These belong to God alone; not to governments, politicians, or human systems. Believers operate in a higher kingdom, with higher power, for the glory of God. II. THE KINGDOM IS LIGHT IN A DARK WORLD A. The Bright Light of God's Kingdom (Matthew 5:14) Jesus said, “You are the light of the world; a city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Christ has transferred His light to His followers. Application: You are already visible—so shine. Others are already watching, so be the light. “You may as well shine!” III. THE KINGDOM IS TRANSFORMATIVE A. The Call of the Disciples (Matthew 4:18–20) Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Transformation begins when we follow; God makes us. The Kingdom changes identity and purpose. B. Cooperation with God's Transforming Power Transformation requires yielding, not striving. God's kingdom forms new purpose, power, and personhood. IV. THE KINGDOM IS FULL OF STRENGTH (Isaiah 30:15–16) “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength; But you would not…” A. The Prophetic Context Judah sought political alliances (Egypt) instead of trusting God. God rebuked them: “You take counsel, but not of Me.” The warning: reliance on worldly systems leads to weakness and dependence. B. Worldly Systems vs. God's Kingdom Earthly systems concentrate power and wealth among a few. God's kingdom strengthens, uplifts, and liberates people. True strength is found only in God's rule. V. THE FALSE STRENGTH OF SPEED AND STRIVING A. The Futility of Running Faster “We will flee on swift horses…” — but “those who pursue you shall be swift.” You cannot outrun anxiety, distraction, or fear. The faster you run, the faster your troubles seem to chase you. Principle: The answer is not speed but stillness. B. Modern Application People try to fix weakness by posturing strength—pretending to be powerful. Strength doesn't come from acting strong but from quietness of heart and confidence in God. VI. TRUE STRENGTH ILLUSTRATED: HARRIET TUBMAN A. Example of Spiritual Strength Physically small (about 5 feet tall), formerly enslaved, but mighty in faith. Escaped 90 miles to freedom and returned to rescue ~70 others. Served as a scout and spy during the Civil War and later as an activist. B. The Source of Her Strength Quote: “I prayed to God to make me strong and able to fight.” Her strength came from God, not size or status. True strength is moral, spiritual, and rooted in trust and courage. VII. RETURNING, RESTING, AND KNOWING GOD A. Returning and Rest (Isaiah 30:15) Returning = repentance — turning back to God. Rest = tranquility and settledness. Deliverance comes through surrender, not striving. Rest is not inactivity—it is trusting the power of another (God). B. Quietness and Confidence Quietness: Calm heart; stillness of spirit. Confidence: Assurance in God's character and promises. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). You know only after you be still. Stillness allows God's presence to fill the heart. C. Results of Quiet Confidence “The work of righteousness will be peace” (Isaiah 32:17). When God is with you, you can move without fear. If you are still fearful—sit back down until peace returns. VIII. THE HUMAN TENDENCY TO MOVE FASTER A. God Says: “Rest.” Humanity Says: “No.” Israel said, “We will flee on swift horses.” Principle: The human reflex is to move faster rather than trust deeper. Lesson: You need stillness, not speed. B. Trust in God, Not in Systems “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalm 20:7) Wealth, systems, and networks can change—but God remains faithful. Even abundance (money, success) is no substitute for trust in the Lord. IX. THE POWER OF STILLNESS A. Stillness Is Productive, Not Passive God's kingdom is productive—just not busy. Stillness reorders priorities and aligns you with God's presence. It helps you reframe life's situations through faith: “It's bad, but God's got it.” “It's chaotic, but God's got me.” B. Illustration: Captain “Sully” Sullenberger During the “Miracle on the Hudson,” he acted calmly under pressure. His stillness allowed his training—and God's grace—to work. Lesson: You can't perform CPR, pilot a plane, or save a life while frantic. Stillness lets knowledge, faith, and grace operate effectively. X. THE INVITATION TO REST IN CHRIST (Matthew 11:28) “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” A. God's Offer vs. Humanity's Resistance Many hear this call but refuse it—choosing “swift horses” instead. Jesus invites us to stop striving and receive His rest. XI. APPLICATION AND RESPONSE 1. Return to God Daily Repent, realign, and rest—make it a daily rhythm. Don't wait for crisis to return; stay aligned continuously. 2. Seek Strength Through Quiet Time Prayer and meditation on God's Word. Meditate—turn truth over and over until it shapes your heart. 3. Value Stillness with God Over Speed Without Him Resist the culture of hurry. Strength grows in quiet confidence, not constant motion. 4. Trust That When You Stop Striving, God Starts Moving Let surrender activate divine strength. Faith rests, and rest becomes power. XII. CONCLUSION AND PRAYER Summary Statement: “Quietness + Confidence = Strength.” God's kingdom is not built on noise, speed, or display—but on returning, resting, and trusting. Closing Prayer Highlights: Thank God for His kingdom, power, and glory. Ask for grace to practice stillness, repentance, and confidence. Celebrate examples of spiritual strength (like Harriet Tubman). Reaffirm trust in God's rule: “Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, forever.”

Jesus declares Himself the true light of the world, the eternal Son of God, whose divine nature and redemptive mission are confirmed by His own testimony and the Father's witness, calling all to recognize, follow, and walk in His life-giving light. In the context of the Feast of Tabernacles, where temporary lamps symbolized God's past provision, Christ reveals Himself as the ultimate fulfillment—light that overcomes darkness, transforms lives, and demands a response of faith, repentance, and spiritual discernment. The sermon emphasizes that only through embracing Christ as the sole source of truth can one escape the domain of sin and death, for belief in Him is inseparable from knowing the Father, and unbelief leads to eternal judgment. As believers, the church is called to reflect Christ's light in Sonoma County, living as a city on a hill, producing good fruit through the Spirit, and awaiting the day when faith will become sight, and Christ will be our everlasting light.

SCRIPTURE: Mathew 5:14-16; Isaiah 39:5-6, 40:3-5, 42:1-9 & 49:4-6 YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY'S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE!REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:Kenny discussed how the Puritans once saw themselves as a “city on a hill” for others to admire from afar. How does this view compare/contrast to the story of Exile we have been studying? In what ways might you be trying to create a perfect “Christian bubble”... rather than engaging with the community around you?Read Isaiah 42:1-9 again. How does the description of the “suffering servant” challenge our typical ideas of what power and justice look like? Where in your life might God be calling you to exercise power through gentleness rather than force?How might the description of “exile” in this series impact our understanding of what it means to be God's people in our current cultural moment?What would change in your daily life if you viewed your current situation not as an accident… but as God's purposeful placement? What can our study of the Exile teach us about how to be a healthy church here at Revolution? What part can you play in creating this kind of community?

In Part 1 of our Vision series, Pastor Pete shares ‘We are City on a Hill' – a message exploring the meaning behind our name, drawn from Matthew 5, and our calling to shine brightly as a welcoming church. We celebrate how God has worked through us in the last few years, shaping our influence and preparing us for what's ahead.

The roles and responsibilities of women and men in the church have been the source of much debate and controversy since the early church – so what does the Bible really say about it all? What do we know about God's design for men and women in ministry, and how do we live that out here at City on a Hill?

By Sal Cimino Jr - America's founding was rooted in the idea of being a “city on a hill,” a nation blessed by God so long as it remained faithful to Him. Like ancient Israel, America was warned that turning from God would bring loss of blessings and eventual judgment. As Christians today, we are called to be that city

Broadway, television, and film stars Lakisha May and Matt Wilkas join host Joel Crump for another edition of “Broadway Time at Carmine's.” About Lakisha: Lakisha May is an actor, producer, and advocate who originated roles on Broadway in Jaja's African Hair Braiding and appeared off-Broadway in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Everybody and Robert Askins' The Squirrels. She was most recently seen in Alice Childress' Wine in the Wilderness at CSC and Molière's The Miser at MIP. On screen, she has appeared in Law and Order: SVU, City on a Hill, and Historias del Canal. As an assistant producer with LaChanze Productions and through her company CCC, Lakisha has collaborated with artists including Nikyatu Jusu, Rashad Frett, and Saheem Ali. Beyond the stage and screen, she has served as chair of the James Beard Leadership Awards Committee and organized the grand opening block party for SÜPRMARKT, a low-cost organic vegan grocery store in South Central LA. She is a graduate of Spelman College and holds an MFA in Acting from The American Conservatory Theater. About Matt: Matthew Wilkas is an actor and writer who most recently recurred on Amazon Prime's The Better Sister and CBS' So Help Me Todd opposite Marcia Gay Harden and Skylar Astin. He starred alongside RuPaul in Netflix's AJ & The Queen and appeared in Netflix's Bonding, Gayby, Modern Family, Looking, Island Zero, and Chris Rock's Top Five. On Broadway, Matt played Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark and recently starred as Orin the Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors at the Pasadena Playhouse with MJ Rodriguez and Amber Riley. He wrote, produced, and starred in the series New York Is Dead, which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and won Best Comedy at the New York Television Festival. His sketch comedy YouTube channel Matt and Dan has been screened at over 40 LGBTQ film festivals worldwide. Broadway Time at Carmine's features Broadway stars over lunch in engaging conversations at the iconic Carmine's Times Square eatery. For more, visit www.BwayTime.com, and follow:

What makes America the “shining city on a hill”? According to our guests, it's the simple but powerful fact that we are a nation of laws — not of men. In this episode of See You In Court, hosts Robin Frazer Clark and Lester Tate sit down with Seth Kirschenbaum and Lynne Borsuk, founders of Georgia Lawyers for the Rule of Law. Together, they explore why the rule of law is the foundation of justice, why people around the world look to America for inspiration, and what's at stake if we fail to protect our legal system. This conversation goes beyond legal theory — it's about safeguarding fairness, protecting judges and lawyers from unfair attacks, and ensuring that the Constitution continues to guide us toward a just society.

If your brand feels “nice” but not necessary — this episode is your permission slip to break the rules.Cult brands don't beg for engagement. They create belief systems that move people to action.In today's episode, Randa unpacks what truly makes a magnetic brand — one that leads movements, builds legacy wealth, and multiplies in impact… without needing everyone to like you.Why likable is forgettable — and what cult brands do differentlyThe difference between clarity and consensus (and why one converts more)Real-world examples of polarizing brand leaders (from Dave Ramsey to Leanne Morgan)Why your belief system is the real conversion strategy — not the algorithmThe biblical anchor for obedience over popularity (John 15:18)How Randa built 2 seven-figure brands from betrayal, burnout, and brokennessWhat to do when you feel called to more but your business still feels… stuckThe truth about silence when you share wins — and why it's actually proof you're shifting cultureThe #1 shift that changed how Randa shows up, sells, and scalesWho really joins your business (hint: it's not just about the product — it's about YOU)Randa's personal story of restarting at 31 and the identity shift that sparked her second 7-figure businessWhy heartbreak, betrayal, and “starting from zero” give you everything you need to build a cult brandClient transformation example (insert here) that proves belief beats algorithmThe ICON Method™ breakdown (I = Identity, C = Conversion, O = Offer, N = Narrative)Plus: A reminder that you weren't called to blend in. You were built to build movements.John 15:18 – “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”Proverbs 28:1 – “The righteous are bold as a lion.”Matthew 5:14–16 – “You are the light of the world... A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed…”Galatians 1:10 – “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?”“You don't build cult brands by being louder. You build them by being clearer.”“People don't join businesses. People join people.”“If you've survived heartbreak, betrayal, or starting from zero — you already have what it takes.”“Silence doesn't mean you're not making an impact. It means your story is making people uncomfortable enough to change.”“Money isn't your god. But if you steward it — it becomes your fuel.”Whether you're just starting or scaling into multi-6 or 7-figures — there's a room for you inside the Iconique ecosystem:

A Republic...a city on a hill...a three-branch system...under God, this nation has prospered and advanced truth that will make you free! #ConstitutionDay How to be a citizen of Heaven.The Voice in the Wilderness does not endorse any link or other material found at buzzsprout.More at https://www.thevoiceinthewilderness.org/

This year marks twenty-four years since the events of September 11, 2001. In today's prayer and devotional, we remember that though decades have passed, the grief, memory, and impact of that day remain deeply etched in our hearts. Nearly everyone remembers where they were when tragedy struck, and as a nation — and as people created in God’s image — we carry both the sorrow and the call to remembrance. In today's devotional, Cally Logan leads us in five heartfelt prayers: for the families who lost loved ones, for the survivors, for the memory of the fallen, for our nation, and for peace in our world. These prayers not only honor those directly impacted but also point us to the God who keeps record of every tear and whose compassion is unending. As we pause today, let’s choose to remember — not only the events of that day but also the way God’s presence sustains us through grief and how His love compels us to seek peace with one another. Today's Bible Reading “Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll — are they not in your record?” – Psalm 56:8 Key Takeaways Families of the fallen still need our prayers for comfort and peace. Survivors carry both visible and invisible scars; we can pray for healing and strength. The memory of the lost — including first responders and ordinary citizens who acted heroically — deserves to be honored. Our nation needs God’s wisdom, unity, and revival to remain a “city on a hill.” Lasting peace in the world can only be found through Christ, who transforms hearts. Let’s Pray Together Heavenly Father, on this day of remembrance, we lift up families who lost loved ones, survivors who carry wounds, and our nation as it seeks unity. Comfort those who grieve, strengthen those who struggle, and help us honor the memory of the fallen. Lord, bring peace to our hearts and to our world. Let us never forget, and let us always turn to You as our hope and refuge. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Calls to Action Take a moment of silence today to pray for families affected by 9/11. Share this devotional with a friend or family member as a way of remembering together. Subscribe to Your Daily Prayer for more guided moments of prayer and Scripture reflection. Resources & Mentions Where Is God When Bad Things Happen? Crosswalk.com Why We Must Remember 9/11 – Christianity.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Daily sponsor of the Rightside Way Monologue: https://wilmerandlee.com/stan-macdonald

Listen to a special service for Mission Sunday. We hear from two ministries that City on a Hill is excited to partner with! 

Audio Recording Sermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. Scott StrickmanSermon Series: Imagining the ChurchMatthew 5:1-16 (ESV)1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.Sermon OutlineThe church is called to be light for the world (v14).1. Which Light?v16 “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”2. What Do We Uphold And What Do We Hide?v15 “Nor do people… put it under a basket, but on a stand…”3. Why Are We Left In The World?v14 “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”Prayer of ConfessionOur glorious God, you are the Creator and Sustainer of life. We are a people who walk in darkness. Forgive us for wanting to take your place. Forgive us for presuming darkness could be used for our own advantage. Forgive us for all the things we have thought and done that we fear could be found out. Forgive us for ways we have made the world a darker place through our sinful actions. We look to Jesus, the true light, and through faith ask that you dispel the darkness in our lives. Thank you for how you have blessed us; grant us the grace to live in the world as those who generously bring your blessing and light to the world around us. Amen.Questions for ReflectionWhy does the church exist?How should we understand that Jesus tells us not to do good works in order to be seen (Matthew 6), yet tells us to do good works so that people may see them (Matthew 5)? What distinction is Jesus making? Where do you look for “light”? What do you see in the world that promises life?Why does the Bible insist that we look to God? What happens if we try to become like God (take God's place)? What happens if we devote ourselves to people, things, ideals, with the devotion and hope that should be in God alone?When Jesus claimed to be the light of the world, what did he reveal in his character, teachings and actions that demonstrate this? Where can we see the glory of God? When the Holy Spirit open eyes to discern God's reality, what kinds of things does the Spirit show you?How does the pattern of the church – gathering every week, on the first day of the week since Jesus was raised to worship God – sustain us with spiritual health? What are some ways that church becomes lifeless and draining instead of life giving?How do churches become a “city on a hill”? What characterizes faithful disciples who go into the world to bring God's light into it?What habits will help you remain in the paradigm of receiving blessing and light from God, and stewarding it by seeking to bless and bring light to your family, friends, coworkers, NYC?

Audio Recording Sermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. Scott StrickmanSermon Series: Imagining the ChurchMatthew 5:1-16 (ESV)1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.Sermon OutlineThe church is called to be light for the world (v14).1. Which Light?v16 “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”2. What Do We Uphold And What Do We Hide?v15 “Nor do people… put it under a basket, but on a stand…”3. Why Are We Left In The World?v14 “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”Prayer of ConfessionOur glorious God, you are the Creator and Sustainer of life. We are a people who walk in darkness. Forgive us for wanting to take your place. Forgive us for presuming darkness could be used for our own advantage. Forgive us for all the things we have thought and done that we fear could be found out. Forgive us for ways we have made the world a darker place through our sinful actions. We look to Jesus, the true light, and through faith ask that you dispel the darkness in our lives. Thank you for how you have blessed us; grant us the grace to live in the world as those who generously bring your blessing and light to the world around us. Amen.Questions for ReflectionWhy does the church exist?How should we understand that Jesus tells us not to do good works in order to be seen (Matthew 6), yet tells us to do good works so that people may see them (Matthew 5)? What distinction is Jesus making? Where do you look for “light”? What do you see in the world that promises life?Why does the Bible insist that we look to God? What happens if we try to become like God (take God's place)? What happens if we devote ourselves to people, things, ideals, with the devotion and hope that should be in God alone?When Jesus claimed to be the light of the world, what did he reveal in his character, teachings and actions that demonstrate this? Where can we see the glory of God? When the Holy Spirit open eyes to discern God's reality, what kinds of things does the Spirit show you?How does the pattern of the church – gathering every week, on the first day of the week since Jesus was raised to worship God – sustain us with spiritual health? What are some ways that church becomes lifeless and draining instead of life giving?How do churches become a “city on a hill”? What characterizes faithful disciples who go into the world to bring God's light into it?What habits will help you remain in the paradigm of receiving blessing and light from God, and stewarding it by seeking to bless and bring light to your family, friends, coworkers, NYC?

n this solo episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse Schwamb dives into a theological exploration of work as an extension of Christian calling that extends far beyond paid employment. Building upon their previous discussion about vocational choices for Christians, Jesse addresses the question: "Does a Christian's work ever cease?" Through careful examination of Ephesians 2:8-10 and other passages, he argues that while the nature of our work may change through different seasons of life—including retirement, caregiving, or illness—God has prepared good works for believers to walk in throughout their entire earthly journey. The episode offers both theological foundations and practical guidance on how Christians can approach all forms of labor as worship, finding purpose and meaning in every season of life. Key Takeaways Good works are not the basis of salvation but its goal—Christians are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), not by works, yet they are saved for good works that God has prepared in advance (Ephesians 2:10). The Christian's work never ceases but changes form—Whether in paid employment, retirement, caregiving, or even during illness, God has prepared meaningful work for believers in every season of life. All work has spiritual value when done unto the Lord—The Reformed tradition elevates all forms of work, not just paid employment, as having potential to glorify God. Prayer is a significant and valuable form of work—Even those who cannot engage in physical labor can participate in the vital spiritual work of intercessory prayer. Good works offer multiple benefits to believers—According to the Westminster Confession, good works manifest gratitude to God, bolster assurance of faith, encourage other Christians, adorn Christian doctrine, silence critics, and glorify God. Christian workers should be distinctively different—Believers can stand out in the workplace by being fair and committed, genuinely caring for others, demonstrating generosity, remaining calm under pressure, and being authentic about their faith. Finding our identity in Christ transforms our approach to work—When we place our ultimate treasure in heaven rather than earthly gain, we can approach our labors with greater peace, purpose, and freedom from anxiety. Elaboration on Key Points The Christian's Work Never Ceases but Changes Form Jesse challenges the modern Western notion that work is merely a season of life that eventually ends with retirement. Instead, he presents a more ancient and biblical perspective: that work never ceases but merely takes different forms throughout our lives. Using Paul's metaphor of "walking" in the good works God has prepared (Ephesians 2:10), Jesse explains that our journey continues throughout life, with the landscape changing as we move through different seasons. Whether we're in paid employment, caring for loved ones, serving in retirement, or confined to a bed during illness, God has prepared meaningful work for us to do. Even those who are physically limited can engage in the vital work of intercessory prayer, which Jesse describes as "the kind of work that is so glorious... that while it exhausts us, it exhausts us in a way that brings us the greatest kind of sleep or refreshment." This perspective eliminates the anxiety many Christians feel about the purpose of their later years and affirms the ongoing value of their contributions to God's kingdom regardless of their physical capacity or economic productivity. Good Works Offer Multiple Benefits to Believers Drawing from the Westminster Confession of Faith, Jesse outlines six significant benefits of good works in the Christian life. First, good works manifest our gratitude to God for the gift of His Son—they become tangible expressions of thankfulness for salvation. Second, they bolster assurance of faith by providing evidence of God's work in our lives. Third, good works encourage other Christians toward greater acts of Christ-centered love, as we witness the transforming power of the gospel in one another. Fourth, they adorn the doctrine of God our Savior, making abstract theological truths visible and attractive to others. Fifth, good works silence critics who devalue biblical Christianity by demonstrating its positive impact. Finally, they glorify God by displaying His transformative work of love in our lives. These benefits apply to all forms of work—paid or unpaid—and give eternal significance to even the most mundane tasks when done unto the Lord. As Jesse emphasizes, "There are no mundane things. There are no small works... There are just these small things that come alongside with the great work that God has done already in our lives." Memorable Quotes "Good works aren't bad when they're seen as the goal of salvation, not its ground. The goal, because it's worthwhile to want to worship God and to obey him by doing good works." "Keep walking on that journey knowing that God all along the way has already prepared good works for you to do because he loves you and because this is our opportunity to worship him together in everything that we do." "When we are performing this work for God, he assures our faith. He refreshes us in it. He exhausts us in the best possible way so that we might love him more, cherish him more, encourage one another more, and really come to understand his character more forthrightly."   Full Transcript [00:00:08] Jesse Schwamb: Keep walking on that journey knowing that God all along the way has already prepared good works for you to do because he loves you and because this is our opportunity to worship him together and everything that we do. [00:00:32] Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 459 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse, and this is the podcast where the tulip never wilts. Hey, brothers and sisters. [00:00:48] Recap of Previous Episode [00:00:48] Jesse Schwamb: So in this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, this solo episode, I'm gonna wrap up a conversation that Tony and I just had in the last episode and set us up, wet Your Appetite for a whole brand new series. [00:01:03] Jesse Schwamb: That's gonna be starting in the next episode. So you find yourself bookended by two really great things. One, a great conversation we just had about the Christian and work. Are there jobs that really Christians shouldn't have? Because it takes us away from what it means to serve the Lord vocationally, as strange as that sounds. [00:01:22] Jesse Schwamb: So if you didn't hear that, you're gonna wanna go check that out before you listen to me, wrap all of us up right now. In fact, here's what you should do. Stop everything you're doing, unless it's operating a vehicle or a backhoe. Power those things down. Get off the side of the road, then go to reformed brotherhood.com and you can find all of the episodes living out there that we've ever recorded, including the one from last week, and I believe will be greatly blessed by hanging out with some of those conversations. [00:01:49] Jesse Schwamb: So go and do that first. [00:01:51] The Christian's Work and Retirement [00:01:51] Jesse Schwamb: On this episode, I'm gonna talk a little bit as a follow up about. Does the Christian's work ever cease? Is there a time, because we just spoke about vocational work and work for which we're remunerated, where once that goes away, what happens next? Is it a different kind of work? [00:02:07] Jesse Schwamb: Is it no work? Should we be the kind of people that are trying to pursue an end to that remunerated work as quick as possible? Is that okay? What happens if we can't be compensated for our work anymore? What happens? We're gonna reason from the scriptures a little bit more about work, our calling and all of that by way of vocation. [00:02:26] Jesse Schwamb: And part of this conversation has actually come from a larger conversation. So one of the greatest and best things about this podcast, something I wanna boast in right now, because it has nothing to do with Tony or me, and that is. There are lots of people listening, brothers and sisters from all over the world who gathered together and debrief. [00:02:47] Jesse Schwamb: Talk about the episodes, hang out and talk about life, share funny stories, share prayer requests, support one another. And you can do that by joining our little group on a messaging app called Telegram. So in fact, here's the second thing you should do. If you go to T Me Reform Brotherhood one more time, T Me Back slash Reform Brotherhood, slap that bad boy in your favorite browser, and that'll give you a link to our little corner of this messaging app. [00:03:13] Jesse Schwamb: And there's a channel within that app just to talk about. The various episodes as a way of interacting with all of us, and as a result of the episode that we recorded last about this idea of vocational work and calling, how does that all come together? Brother Joshua posed an excellent question, which is in part the reason for the conversation I'm about to have with you all, and that is what happens. [00:03:33] Jesse Schwamb: When we retire, or what happens when we desire to set aside sufficient resources if we can, so that we can get to that place as soon as possible. What then what about work or what if we have to care for a sick, sick, loved one? Or what if we have to come and take responsibility for our family in a different or unique way that takes us away from work where we're not being paid for things in the same way anymore? [00:03:52] Jesse Schwamb: What happens then? So we are going to get to all of that on this little brief little episode that's gonna sit in between the end of our conversation on work and the beginning of our brand new series, which, you know, you want me to tell you what it is, but I'm not gonna do it. It's just not gonna happen on this episode. [00:04:09] Jesse Schwamb: So you're just gonna have to sit in that anticipation waiting. Waiting for it to come next week, but for now, let's talk a little bit more about work. [00:04:17] Good Works and Salvation [00:04:17] Jesse Schwamb: And let me start with a, a phrase that's like so obvious, but you can say it with me if you want, because we have to agree on this. At least that good works aren't bad. [00:04:27] Jesse Schwamb: I mean, good works aren't bad. They're good. By definition it seems like self-reinforcing. And as Christians, we should want to do those good works. Now, I haven't said what the good works are, haven't even explained really. Although we, Tony and I talked about this before, how they really fit into that pattern and that normative behavior of the Christian life. [00:04:44] Jesse Schwamb: But can we just agree that if the Bible is saying there are good works for us to do, then they must be good. And they must be there for a purpose. They must be there for a reason and we can't debate that. Just because we're not saved according to our works doesn't mean that we shouldn't be concerned about pursuing a life of joyful obedience to God's word. [00:05:01] Jesse Schwamb: I mean, this is why Jesus like emphatically states in the gospel. If you love me, you'll keep my commandments in obedience. However frail it is. However much we stumble, however feeble we are in actually executing it is our evidence. Our love for God and for his son Jesus Christ. So far from undermining the gospel of grace, good works are the perfect compliment to the gospel, and this is why good works are good. [00:05:29] Jesse Schwamb: So to be clear, good works are bad when they're seen as the basis of salvation. And I think if you've been with us for any length of time or you're familiar with the reform. Theological movement. If you've been steeped in the scriptures, you're gonna find that kind of compulsion, that pull that says like, well, I understand that when I use my good works as a means of somehow Meritoriously earning my salvation, they cease to be good. [00:05:54] Jesse Schwamb: This is why, of course, Jonathan Edwards called Good works of this nature, only glittering sin because they're, they have no power to redeem. They have no power to save. They have no power to. Transition yourself into some kind of a righteous sense or rubric. It's impossible. They will not do that. They do not serve that purpose. [00:06:12] Jesse Schwamb: A person is not saved by works, but by God's grace through faith in Christ. [00:06:17] The Role of Good Works in Christian Life [00:06:17] Jesse Schwamb: So this is the time where we have to love ones. Go to Ephesians chapter two. It's impossible for me to continue without at least sharing this good news. If you need to hear this again, and this may be a well rehearsed verse or a well rehearsed writing from the Apostle Paul to you, but I ask that you hear it again. [00:06:32] Jesse Schwamb: If you can with these ears that are unstopped, that are almost fresh with excitement for this really good news, this is what Paul writes to the church and Ephesus for. By grace, you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not as a result of works so that no one may boast. [00:06:51] Jesse Schwamb: For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. I mean, there's so much there that is. Lovely and refreshing. And freeing. It's not works righteousness, it's not meritorious. Salvation is clearly not of our own doing. It's not the result of these works, even the faith through which we receive salvation is a gracious, gracious gift from God. [00:07:21] Jesse Schwamb: So what a just burden taken off of our shoulders. The mantle has been removed from us. To somehow even equate or think that, well, if I have a good day and I've done a lot for God, he must love me more. I must be more ingratiated towards him, even if I have the sense that. I feel closer to him. Hopefully that closeness is the sense of joy and obedience. [00:07:40] Jesse Schwamb: And now where we get the sense that, well, because I've done something for God, he ought to do something for me or me more favorably disposed towards me. All of that is nonsense and that way just. Total foolishness and madness lies. Instead, when we turn that into our rejoicing first for the faith itself by which we receive from God, that grants us access to this great salvation. [00:08:02] Jesse Schwamb: When we see that as a gift first, then all of this other mongering for responsibility and trying to placate through the things that we can do and having this sense of guilt in our minds about what we should have done or what we did not accomplish, or even if in our own obedience toward Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we've fallen short. [00:08:20] Jesse Schwamb: We can still find there is this gift for us and the gift of salvation is ours in Christ through faith, not by works. It's very, very clear in what Paul writes to the church here as fallen creatures, even our best efforts are completely laced with sin. This also is, by the way, a really great kindness of God that we can never really be contrite enough in our coming before him and, and even in our humility, we probably can never be humble enough. [00:08:47] Jesse Schwamb: So the fact that God accepts because of Christ us into the family of God without having to put upon us this burden that you must be sorry enough for your sin, or you're not repentant enough, you haven't expressed the severe and necessary amount of contrition to really placate and understand that you have cosmically committed treason against the all powerful God of the universe. [00:09:13] Jesse Schwamb: Who could stand underneath that kind of weight. And the answer is no one, but by the grace of God through Jesus. So it's amazing. That when we start to think about work, what we find is that God is first doing all of the work in us, and we see that the first work is not our work, but his work, the secondary work, this means of obedience, of showing, our gratitude of expressing praise and worship. [00:09:37] Jesse Schwamb: Must, I think, necessarily be manifest in work that is labor of some kind, because God has first expressed himself in that kind of labor. And second, he's given it to us to do as an experience into his very being and his character, but also in service to him and to those who are around us. I promise I'm getting to all of this good stuff about what does this practically mean, but all this I think is so necessary for us. [00:10:02] Jesse Schwamb: To really set the proper understanding for what it means to have good work to do and to do this work. So these good works provide no basis for boasting because they're utterly worthless to save. They have worth in other ways, but it just turns out they're worthless In this way. It's a bit like if you take your, take your, whatever your domestic currency is, whatever the currency you, you transact in, I live and hang out in the United States, so my currency is the US dollar. [00:10:24] Jesse Schwamb: If I take a bunch of dollars with me and I go travel almost anywhere else in the world. There's a small chance they'll be accepted. And I realize I've picked the wrong currency for this metaphor at this point, but if I let, let's say, let's just pick a different one. Let's say that you live in Zimbabwe or you just happen to have a bunch of Zimbabwean dollars hanging out in your pocket. [00:10:42] Jesse Schwamb: I'm sure some of you do, and you take that currency and you come to the United States and you wanna go buy something, those dollars will not work. They just won't work. Nobody will accept them. They're worthless. They're without value. Now, do they have value? In a certain sense, of course they do. In that domestic currency, in that homeland they do. [00:10:59] Jesse Schwamb: And in the same way, though, of course, slightly different here, our works are these expression of. Obedience of love for God. But the minute we try to exchange them for salvation, what we're gonna find is God says that's worthless here. And it again, is a fool's errand to build your entire life on some kinda system or belief that says, what I'm doing is earning these dollars, making these good works, performing these things. [00:11:22] Jesse Schwamb: So I'll have gathered to myself all of this currency, which I'm then going to use to buy my salvation now, I think even in my own ears, that sounds ridiculous to say, and yet so many of us. Get caught up in that. And if we don't get caught up in whole, we sometimes get caught up in it peace wise, because again, we have a sense that, well, if I've been a particularly good Christian today, doesn't that mean that God is more happy with me? [00:11:45] Jesse Schwamb: And Paul says, no, you have been saved as a gift of God. It is his gracious act that through faith you have been given salvation, and that faith was not of your own. That itself as well was a gift. It's gift upon gift upon gift. And so even the work itself is shaped. By the sense that all that God gives us and him doing all the verbs is his gifting. [00:12:09] Jesse Schwamb: So good works are gonna provide no basis for boasting because they are worthless to save. And the only foundation for salvation is Christ, we're saved by his works, not ours. If you're looking for that good, that first, that perfect work, the thing that you could latch onto, the thing that you would say this, I'm gonna hang my hat. [00:12:27] Jesse Schwamb: And all of my life on the work that you're looking for is not the one that you can accomplish. It is the one that Jesus has already done on your behalf. So that's why I always think when I see those W wait, they're not as prevalent anymore I suppose. But do you remember a time loved ones when like the ubiquity of the WAJD bracelet and I always thought about the question, what would Jesus do? [00:12:49] Jesse Schwamb: And to me, the answer I give now somewhat tongue in cheek is everything and it's already been done. And so that is really the promise. The great blessing of the gospel that now we are saved for works and boy does that preposition make a difference. Like we should be underlining that, like putting that gilded gold in our Bibles like we are saved now for God works good, works are not bad then when they're seen as the goal of salvation, not its ground. [00:13:14] Jesse Schwamb: I wanna say that again because I think that might sound a little bit funny to some, but I've long really come to cherish this idea that it is the goal but not the ground. The goal, because it's worthwhile to want to worship God. And to obey him by doing good works. And Paul gives us an avenue in which to travel and to understand this and to reason it from the scripture so that we can be confident that that's exactly what God intends for us. [00:13:37] Jesse Schwamb: And so again, while these good works aren't meritorious salvation, they are a necessary component of Christian faith. And the first important thing that we ought to mention here. Is that when we think about work, it's not that like the reform tradition, that that theological perspective has somehow elevated work for remuneration. [00:13:55] Jesse Schwamb: I, I don't think that entirely was the whole emphasis of talking about vocation in that kind of theological sphere. That is, we have a bunch of Christians and they have to do work to survive, and some of them are cobblers and of them are cooks and some of them are cleaners. And so what we really need to do here is make sure that people understand that whatever you're getting paid for God has made you to do. [00:14:15] Jesse Schwamb: And that is not a great thing. That's all true, but the goal wasn't just to elevate that style or type of work that is the work for which you get compensated. It was to elevate all work, all work of every kind, all labor of every kind, because God is big enough that every bit of labor paid or unpaid in direct service for somebody. [00:14:34] Jesse Schwamb: Fortunately, there is no compensation or in service to someone for which there is that all of that work. It does give God glory if we mean it to. And so this is why they do all things. Whatever you do, whether you eat or whether you drink, all of even these tiny things roll up into this argument from the lesser to the greater all of work is for God's glory. [00:14:53] Jesse Schwamb: And so to tip my hat a little bit here, then I think an answer to, to Brother Joshua's question, and in a nice compliment to what Tony and I were talking about last week, there is no end to the Christian's work. There's just different types of work. Oh, we'll get to that. I'm a little bit ahead of myself here. [00:15:08] Jesse Schwamb: But of course we find in Ephesians two, it's important to understand this because there's so much of the dynamic of good works in the Christian life that are being explained there. And of course we learn that good works are the result and not the cause of being new creations, and they're testifying to the fact that we have been redeemed. [00:15:24] Jesse Schwamb: So our lives might reflect craftsmanship and character of God. So amazing, isn't it? That God has given work, that work is not a four letter word, that labor is good labor of all kinds. Is good because it's reflecting the craftsmanship in character of God in unique ways. That is like apart from doing work from this work which God has called us to, from traveling in it through our lives and participating in all kinds of different work, that there's something that would be missing in our exemplifying, the craftsmanship in character of God. [00:15:56] Jesse Schwamb: And so we see that apart from Christ. We can do nothing that pleases God, but in Christ. And here's a great promise. We are created to perform God honoring acts of obedience in Christ. We can be confident that God accepts our weak and wobbly efforts. You know, Paul further goes on to talk about good works, a result of God's pattern for the Christian life. [00:16:15] Jesse Schwamb: We don't need to wonder what God requires from us. He's told us in his word, good works are deeds done in conformity to God's word. Now the beauty of that is. That we have this pattern for the Christian life in which Paul is saying, and I think this is really helpful for our conversation, that all of the things that God has given us to do, he's already prepared. [00:16:39] Jesse Schwamb: He's already me and plus it. He's already set the table for us. He's already put all the things in place. He's already organized all the details. And he says that because he's done that we are now free to walk in them. And I interpret that walk as this idea, which I think is very particular to the way that Paul is writing here. [00:16:57] Jesse Schwamb: It's a word of encouragement that is speaking of more of a marathon and rather a sprint. So of course, like a lot of times in the West, we think of our work as a season of life in which we're doing something in service for a company and for others, creating value, which is good. All of these things can be in service to God, of course, especially when they're in honoring. [00:17:15] Jesse Schwamb: With a full counsel of the scriptures and that when we do those things, that time will end and then we start to think about what work do have left. Whereas really, of course, a more ancient way of thinking about work was that it never ceased. It was of different kinds, and we know it was of different kinds because of this idea of walking that is like you never says stop the walk. [00:17:32] Jesse Schwamb: It never says take a break. It says you're gonna continue throughout your life in this metaphor of. Your journey of life being a walk, and as that walk changes, as the landscape undulates, as you move and transverse over different geographies on this walk in this metaphor, there's no doubt that the work will be different. [00:17:50] Jesse Schwamb: And there may be a season when you no longer have to work and be compensated, but it doesn't mean, of course, that the work ends. In fact, the work is still there. It's a different kind. And we don't want it to go away, in fact, and we don't want it to feel, uh, like it should be a, a lesser thing because it's not because we've been given in this verse the sense that this is the pattern that's been given to us. [00:18:12] Jesse Schwamb: It's the value of walking the pathway of obedience. And Paul makes it manifold. In fact, the Westminster Confession of Faith, which I'm 17 minutes in and you can mark your clock. That's the first time I mentioned it. I've gotten there already. Loved ones. Don't worry, we're always gonna bring in a confession. [00:18:27] Encouragement and Assurance Through Good Works [00:18:27] Jesse Schwamb: And on this week, it's the confession of faith from the Westminster states that there are at least six benefits of good work. So here these out, this is just my quick rundown of what the Westminster puts forward thinking about these good works and when you hear these benefits. Think about them in the broadest way. [00:18:41] Jesse Schwamb: That is like, think about how these benefits apply to all kinds of work, not just like your nine to five, but like of course your family society and the church and your work there is needed both because it is an exemplification of obedience to Christ, but also because it is accomplishing good and creating value. [00:18:58] Jesse Schwamb: So the first is that good works manifest our gratitude to God for the gift of his son. Now think about this. If that's true, that this in a concrete way. No matter what, we're able to do that we, if we're doing these good works, we're showing gratitude to God. Why would we ever want those good works to go away? [00:19:14] Jesse Schwamb: Why do we wanna break that pattern? We don't want to. And again, this gives a, a high level, a high calling to all the things that we can do, both like again, in our paid work and then thereafter. Or even if we, we never have paid work that all of these things, there's something for us to do here and it manifests our gratitude to God and the gift of his son. [00:19:32] Jesse Schwamb: The second thing is good work's, bolster assurances of faith. So it is the Christian who in obedience to Christ has a compulsion is as Paul would say elsewhere, hemmed in by the love of God to work towards a specific end in love and service toward others. That is a good work. And when we're doing that good work, there's a mutual kind of reinforcement that occurs that as we humble ourselves before God and that we work to. [00:19:57] Jesse Schwamb: Or to obey him and that we walk in the good works that he has prepared for us, that we find that we are sure that God is who he is, that his character and craftsmanship is, is in fact manifest in us and demonstrated by us. And in this way as we worship him, we find that our faith grows. Especially perhaps when we're called to do things that are difficult or we're called to participate in work, especially in the church, that requires some kind of leap of faith and we're in so doing where we must trust God forthrightly. [00:20:27] Jesse Schwamb: We find that doing those good works bolster our assurance of faith. Number three. Good works are a means of encouraging other Christians toward greater acts of Christ-centered love. There's so much in Hebrews chapter 10 that we could talk about there. This is an incredible idea that when we work towards obeying God laboring on his behalf in all of the spheres of life, to which he has given us to participate in that Christians receive this as a. [00:20:55] Jesse Schwamb: Form of encouragement. You know, think about how you've seen the testifying work of somebody else in your church, in their patience, in their kind behavior. You know, we often speak about a person who is graceful, and by that of course, we mean there's a beauty to their outer movement, as it were. That's maybe they're a graceful dancer. [00:21:11] Jesse Schwamb: Maybe they're a grace or a baseball player, but you'll find that you can apply this word in so many ways whenever you are trying to really show that somebody in their outward movements does things particularly well, or just with ease or in a way that conveys a certain kind of beauty. When we say that somebody is gracious, what we essentially mean is that there's a beauty to their inner movement that is, that the exemplification of who they are in Christ is so firmly rooted in solid, that the way they behave in situations and circumstances clearly shows. [00:21:43] Jesse Schwamb: That there's something different about the way that they process the world and in the way that they work. And when we see that we are prone to be encouraged to see that God is real, that he does intervene and interact in situations that he does, in fact still do the most miraculous thing ever, which is take the sinner, take the gospel abuser, take the unregenerate, and perform that surgical movement. [00:22:05] Jesse Schwamb: Where that heart of stone is replaced with one of flesh, it's the greatest miracle in the entire universe. And so when we're seeing that work exemplified, we're allowing ourselves to participate in encouraging our brothers and sisters. Fourth good works are concrete avenues for adorning the doctrine of God, our savior in life, in ministry. [00:22:25] Jesse Schwamb: So again, it's uniting this idea of who we are, that we say we are, who we are in our transformation regeneration, marrying that up with work. And this is, again, why a. All of this reform of theology elevates work to this place of saying, whatever you do, you can do it to the glory of God and you ought to, you ought to be thinking that way because this is the way God intended all the things that we do to be done. [00:22:47] Jesse Schwamb: So idea of like when Paul says, like, pray without ceasing, be constantly in the Lord. I think in some ways what he's saying is. When you shift your mindset to recognize that there are no mundane things to do because God has prepared all those things ahead of time, they're, they're mundane, maybe in their smallness, in our own like really myopic kind of human natural man perspective. [00:23:06] Jesse Schwamb: They are certainly not mundane with respect to the power of love that may be communicated in them with the encouragement that flows out of them, and with the expression of gratitude for God, our savior and his son. All of those things are high and lifted up worthy of exaltation and call worthy of all of our efforts. [00:23:23] Jesse Schwamb: And so there we find that there are really no mundane things. There are no small works as it were. There are just these small things that come alongside with the great work that God has done already in our lives and our expression of that first work that he has done. So Fifth Good Works, silence critics who devalue the goodness of biblical Christianity. [00:23:43] Jesse Schwamb: You know, there's a lot here that we could talk about. Jesus was so outspoken about what it meant for his followers to adorn themselves to be in Christ, and in so doing, they were gonna be these lights set on a, like a city on a hill for all to see. And sometimes as Christians, we get a little, eh, strange about this kind of thing, don't we? [00:24:01] Jesse Schwamb: Because we, we wanna be careful that we need to be humble. You know, we, we want to make sure that as we're serving God, that we are not boasting in that in any kind of way, and yet there is something here where we ought to be giving and testifying to why we do certain things. I've been thinking about this a lot because I think it's one thing for us to say, well, we wanna live in such a manner. [00:24:21] Jesse Schwamb: We wanna do our work in such a manner, whatever that is, so others know there's something different and, and this is noble and honorable. I think what's even better is to let them know why it's different. Sometimes you shouldn't wait for somebody to ask. You know, if it's clear that you're doing something and you wanna express why we're doing it, say, I'm, I'm doing this 'cause Jesus loves me, he's changed me, and Jesus loves you. [00:24:39] Jesse Schwamb: I mean, this is okay to say loved ones. And I think in doing that, making that connection clear, what it's gonna do is it's going to make sure that those who would say like the, the Bible is antiquated out wounded document. It's a document that's filled with strife. It's a document that pits won't people against one another. [00:24:54] Jesse Schwamb: It's a document that is not progressive enough. What they'll find instead is. When our good works, our truly good works are accompanied by a verbal testimony of why we do these works in obedience to God for, because of his great love for us. It will discredit those who would say all of those things. It turns away a. [00:25:14] Jesse Schwamb: All of the critics would say that the Bible is, is not relevant, that Christians are too, uh, bigoted, that we are the kind of people that are too hypocritical. Instead, when we acknowledge that we are far from perfect, but that we have a perfect savior when we talk about our weak faith, but that our, the faith that we have is not in its size, but in the size of the savior. [00:25:34] Jesse Schwamb: When we can say all these things alongside of our efforts to be obedient. Being humble, asking for forgiveness, seeking repentance from those whom we hurt, that in this way, we are again doing all of the things that are the theology of the cross, that even in our small weaknesses, even in our great failures, what we find is God does more than just to fill in the gaps He overflows with through the power of His Holy Spirit into a powerful testimony into the lives of others with whom we interact, and especially in the things that we do. [00:26:05] Jesse Schwamb: So six. And lastly, this is from the Westminster. These benefits of good works. Last Good works glorify God by displaying his work of love in our lives. I think we often forget about this. That God has given us work because he loves us. Of course, God is always working. There's something beautiful about the fact that God is ever present in our lives working in our hearts. [00:26:29] Jesse Schwamb: And sometimes of course, as the, the older reformers have said, he lays us over the Anil, as it were, and he hammers on us, and those are painful times. And other times he's really polishing up our sharp edges or sanding off those places where we need a little bit of attention. But everywhere he's working in us and what a blessing that he never stops, isn't it that he comes to us constantly because he loves us. [00:26:51] Jesse Schwamb: He refuses to leave us in a state that is less than the abundant life. Now we know that we will never accomplish that, this side of glory. But what a benefit that God never gives up on us. That he continues to show his great love for us in how he attentively comes into our lives to hone us in this progressive sanctification, whereby his work doesn't stop. [00:27:13] The Unending Nature of Work [00:27:13] Jesse Schwamb: And so because his work doesn't stop. Neither does ours. So the beauty of this is for anybody else, for us, for brother Joshua, for those who are thinking about, you know, what if I, I want to maybe try to set aside more resources now so I can stop my work of re of compensation to do other things, I would say. [00:27:31] Jesse Schwamb: Well, Godspeed by, by the power of God, I, I hope that happens for you. And what about those who would say, well, my work is gonna have to be caring for a loved one who's ill? I would say that is great and good work. What about those for who are retiring now or thinking about retirement? What's left? Tons. Of good work. [00:27:48] Jesse Schwamb: I think we know this. Now, what about for those who are in the final stages of their life, those who are not ambulatory, maybe those who are weak, maybe those who are ill themselves. There is still good work because the work that God gives us is not the heavy kind that causes our bodies or our minds to be crushed in despair, to have to till the ground as it were in such a way that it leaves us lacking replenishment instead, even for those. [00:28:16] Jesse Schwamb: Who are saying, what is my place when my body is wasting away? [00:28:21] The Value of Prayer in Our Work [00:28:21] Jesse Schwamb: When I'm having a, a season of sickness and I feel like there's nothing I can do, there is so much that the church needs from you in particular, especially your work in prayer. And again, I think we've been outspoken. Prayer is absolutely a work. [00:28:34] Jesse Schwamb: If you don't believe me, just. Try to pray. So just being able to participate in something like that, which is in many ways maybe the greatest calling. I, I always think about this phrase, when we work, we work, when we pray, God works. And so just the act of saying I'm gonna devote myself in prayer, in intercessory prayer for my church, for my community, for my family, is a kind of work that is unparalleled. [00:28:58] Jesse Schwamb: And so if that's the work that God has given you to walk in right now. Then would you please do it? Because it is the season to which he's called you because he's with you on that journey. And Paul says, wherever you go, wherever you are walking, God has already prepared before you get to the next stop sign, before you get to the next wave point, before you get to the next pin drop. [00:29:17] Jesse Schwamb: God has already prepared for you good works, and you're mealing to walk in them. [00:29:22] Finding Joy and Refreshment in Labor [00:29:22] Jesse Schwamb: And so the work of prayer by itself is the kind of work that is so glorious, like all the work of Christ that we find refreshment and it changes. There's a theme here, like all of our work changes because when we are doing it onto the Lord, we're doing it with him in mind when we're understanding that this is our obligation, but also our greatest privilege, that while it exhausts us. [00:29:41] Jesse Schwamb: It exhausts us in a way that brings us the greatest kind of sleep or refreshment. Does that make sense? We ever had like a really great day at work where, you know, I, I worked hard and I did work worth doing, and in that I felt that there was a sweetness. In fact, Ecclesiastes five 12 says, sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich man will not let him sleep. [00:30:05] Jesse Schwamb: This idea that. Why as we work, as we labor for God, that he does restore us, he gives us joy and satisfaction in that work. And again, there's this, all this mutual reinforcement, this kind of self-fulfilling and reinforcing idea that. When we are performing this work for God, he assures our faith. He refreshes us in it. [00:30:24] Jesse Schwamb: He exhausts us in the best possible way so that we might love him more, cherish him more, encourage one another more, and to really come and understand his character more forthrightly. [00:30:34] Living Quietly and Minding Your Affairs [00:30:34] Jesse Schwamb: I like what Paul says in one Thessalonians chapter four, aspire to live quietly and to mind your own affairs. I mean, that's. [00:30:42] Jesse Schwamb: Good advice for all of us, mind your own affairs and to work with your hands as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. So we talked before about what it means, that really in our work, we ought to care for those who we love. We ought to make sure that we can provide for them, but there will also be seasons. [00:30:59] Jesse Schwamb: One, there will be others who need to provide for us. And so in so doing, again, we're honoring God by walking in this path that he has given us, uh, to do. I like this. There's a couple of other great verses I think that are helpful for us to really think about what it means to have good work to do and to understand that good work. [00:31:17] The Blessing of Giving [00:31:17] Jesse Schwamb: Here's from Acts chapter 20. Paul says, in all things I've shown you that by working hard in this way, we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus. How He himself said, it is more blessed to give than to receive. So think about that there. There is an expression right there about work and what is this working hard. [00:31:35] Jesse Schwamb: It's to help the weak and to remember the words of Lord Jesus Christ. It is more blessed to give, to receive than to receive. Love always leads to giving for God. So love the world that he. Gave, and I think part of this good work that God calls us to is just giving. And so like right now, you may be in a season where you are giving of your labor in return for compensation, for that labor, but presumably there will, and there should come a time when you'll be giving it and you'll not be receiving that. [00:32:00] Jesse Schwamb: But it doesn't lessen the work. It doesn't take it away. It doesn't mean that it's not necessary anymore. We ought to continue to pursue that because love always leads to giving. Now I want to just finish our short little time together today as we've reasoned, hopefully. [00:32:15] Practical Ways to Exemplify Christian Values at Work [00:32:15] Jesse Schwamb: In a profound way from the scriptures helping us to be encouraged in this work by just a couple of things that if you are thinking in the sense of what can I do right now in my work of all kinds to exemplify and to be driven by unique view of humanity and a love rooted in the wisdom of the cross to stand out, what, what can we do as Christians, practically speaking. [00:32:37] Jesse Schwamb: To take everything that Paul has just given us here, appreciating this beautiful pattern that work is just gonna be part of our lives forever. And by the way, loved ones I, I have a strong conviction that in the new heavens and new Earth, that work will still be present there in a fully orbed and fully expressed, fully realized way that it's not capable today because of everything being mined by sin. [00:32:59] Jesse Schwamb: But then we're gonna find that this is just like an amm bush. It's the taste that. The thing that's coming for us, the appetizer of how work is gonna be fully satisfying, fully encouraging, fully joyful, and a full expression of how God has made us to do things. One of those things again are laboring in prayer, laboring on the construction site, laboring on a desk, laboring in the education and the teaching and ammunition of children. [00:33:24] Jesse Schwamb: All of these things are just really, really good. So what are a couple of things that we can do? Well, here's some things that that come to my mind. The first is that I think Christians can be known as the most care fairing and committed kind of people. So. Think about it this way, driven by the father's love and his acceptance of us through Jesus, we can be the kind of people that are known as fair, caring, and committed to others. [00:33:52] Jesse Schwamb: Since we know the depths of our own sin and the magnitude of God's grace to us, we can be ready to forgive and reconcile with others, and we should be quick to do so if we're doing that in their work environments. Whatever that environment is, there's no doubt this is gonna draw some fair amount of attention. [00:34:07] Jesse Schwamb: We may actually, and this is gonna sound a little bit wild. We may even have opportunities to take risks for the benefit of others. Now imagine it this way. Let's say that everybody has somebody to whom they're responsible and almost everybody else has somebody who's responsible to them. So think of it this way, if you are leading any kind of group of people, formerly or informally, you may have a unique opportunity to take risks on the behalf of those people. [00:34:30] Jesse Schwamb: Now, that may be may mean advocating for them. It could mean yielding to them, even if you have a hierarchical position that's above them. But more than anything, it could mean that you actually take a risk to take responsibility at times. So it's possible that let's say you're a leading a team and you're a place of work, and one of the people who is responsible to you, that is one of the people who reports to you, makes a mistake. [00:34:52] Jesse Schwamb: Let's say that the person that you are responsible to, your boss finds out about this. There's lots of ways you could go about this. Now, you may feel that you want to be easy just to say, well, this wasn't me. It was their fault. But consider how a Christian might approach this in love. It's possible that it may be entirely appropriate for that leader to take responsibility for the mistake, not taking blame for it, but taking responsibility for it as an act and expression of what it means to be fair, caring, and committed to others. [00:35:20] Jesse Schwamb: And now this may mean that if you were that person, you might lose a little bit of cloud to the organization. You might use a little bit of reputation or ability to maneuver within the organization, but there could be a very powerful, could be testimony in your ability to risk yourself for others in a way that I believe, again, is walking in this path of good works and that you are reasonable people. [00:35:41] Jesse Schwamb: You can sort out, I think in a situation like that. What kind of responsibility you might have, but I think it's important for us to consider that we may have that kind of responsibility and that to be known as fair, caring and committed to others. To advocate for them to again, forgive and to reconcile, and then sometimes to take risks of opportunity for the benefit of others is something that is unique to the Christian. [00:36:00] Jesse Schwamb: I think we at least agree on that, that kind of response to a s. We'll be wholeheartedly unique. [00:36:06] Generosity and Kingdom Living [00:36:06] Jesse Schwamb: I think we also need to be known as generous and depending on the context and opportunity, generosity at work can be expressed in so many different ways. Managers can be generous with their advice, their access, their investment in people. [00:36:17] Jesse Schwamb: All of us can be generous with our time, our money sharing our resources. Sacrificially. If you're a small business owner, and this is gonna sound wild, but let's, let's talk about kingdom living for a second. Loved ones like I presumably you're listening to this because we're not just satisfied with the small things. [00:36:31] Jesse Schwamb: We wanna think big in what it means. For the gospel to go out, for Jesus to be known. And so in this context of being generous, maybe it means if you're a small business owner, that you're willing to take less personal profit to benefit your neighbors or your customers or your employees. You know, I think of this company called a Go. [00:36:47] Jesse Schwamb: Which is a wooden toy company and it's, it was founded by a couple of Christians and driven by their Christian faith. They intentionally take smaller profit margins to benefit the people of Honduras where the wood is sourced and to create an employee savings program for them. I mean, that what a remarkable thing what, what a counter-cultural expression of what it means to be doing good. [00:37:08] Jesse Schwamb: Work. And so we can also grow and show our generosity to our colleagues by loving them outside work. You know, cooking a meal, preparing a meal for them when they have a child or attending a funeral if they lose a loved one, grabbing dinner with them if they're struggling, joining their club sports team, attending their wedding. [00:37:23] Jesse Schwamb: You know, generosity during, after work hours is a testimony of love. It shows that you see them as a whole person, not merely as like a productive asset or just a colleague. So I think we should push back a little bit on being generous and maybe sometimes I, I wanna say this. Gently because we are a benefit ourselves in this podcast of this, but not just with your money, especially with your time and maybe with like your attentional focus, maybe with your prayer time. [00:37:47] Jesse Schwamb: Maybe with your labor, in your prayer closet, that of all the things you could focus on, how often are we praying for our colleagues, like really praying that they would come to see the gospel in us, that we would be courageous in expressing that gospel and that God would arrest their hearts, which snatch them up and bring them into his kingdom so that all of our workplaces would be filled, uh, with Christians, that they would be everywhere. [00:38:08] Jesse Schwamb: Doing all kinds of things in som, much as God calls us to those things in submission to him, an expression of who he is and in obedience to what he's done for us. Here's another thing. I think this is a big one. It's one that I struggle with in my own life. [00:38:23] The Importance of Calmness and Authenticity [00:38:23] Jesse Schwamb: So I think another place, another way in which we can really stand out as Christians in our good work is to be known as calm. [00:38:30] Jesse Schwamb: Poised in the face of difficulty, failure or struggle. This might be the most telling way to judge if a person is drawing on the resources of the gospel and the development of their character. And this goes back to this idea of like, what does the a voracious person mean? It's, it's somebody who has like that inner. [00:38:47] Jesse Schwamb: Beauty expression of inner inner beauty. You know, how do we act when our boss passes over us for a promotion? How do we act if we fail to get that bonus we expected or, or if like a colleague is placed on a team we want to be on, how do we respond to those things really reveals where we placed our hope and identity. [00:39:03] Jesse Schwamb: And that can be a whole nother. Podcast. But if it's true that we have rooted ourselves, grounded ourselves, securely in Christ, then that is the supreme treasure that we have, and then everything else should be like, oh, that's no big deal. It's not to say that we're not gonna have big emotions, but even as we experience those big emotions, part of what it means to be humble is to come before God and say, God, I'm feeling this way. [00:39:26] Jesse Schwamb: And I'm a contingent being and I'm upset about this. Would you help me to reveal your gospel in this situation? And what a blessing in our progressive sanctification where God moves us into that space so that what becomes normative is when everybody else is losing their minds, when everybody else is gossiping, when everybody else is complaining. [00:39:46] Jesse Schwamb: What everybody else is pushing back here is the Christian who is resolute in firm and is speaking words of life. Encouragement into their workplace or those whom they're doing their work, who is speaking the gospel to them, who is calm and is poised and is ready to lead in such a way that brings value to everybody, helps 'em to find the true security in the situation and is not willing to compromise by participating in a meaningless backtalk. [00:40:12] Jesse Schwamb: That is an incredible testimony, and there's no doubt it's gonna cause us to stand out. There is something about this placing value that I think is important to mention. And I think I mentioned this before, but Tony's not here and I'm just talking. And so my experience, my professional career is all in the realm of finance. [00:40:30] Jesse Schwamb: So I've gotta use this because I think about this a lot and it's certainly relevant to us thinking about where is our value. [00:40:38] The Concept of True Treasure [00:40:38] Jesse Schwamb: I find it so interesting. That in the sermon on the mound. And when Jesus is speaking about treasures, he doesn't completely say that we should forsake treasures. Have you ever thought about that? [00:40:50] Jesse Schwamb: So instead of saying, you know, listen, don't worry about the treasure, just focus on me. Don't try to go after things. Just focus on me. And somebody says, listen. Listen, listen. You're going after the wrong treasure. So don't go after treasure where you know a moth or Russ is gonna destroy it or where like you're gonna be worried. [00:41:09] Jesse Schwamb: A thief is gonna break in and steal it. All those things are not just temporal, they can be taken from you. In fact, they, they will be taken from you. This is the wild part to me. He says instead, rather than do that, here's what you should do. Seek after the treasure that's in heaven. In other words, the proclivity to want to grab hold of valuable things and to keep them close to you, that is not bad in and of itself. [00:41:32] Jesse Schwamb: It's that you are focusing on the wrong thing that you want to grab and hold close. Seek after those treasures in heaven. And I can tell you why. This just shows the brilliancy with which Jesus knows us because he has created us loved ones, and in our fallen state, he's so kind to condescend to be like us, yet of course, without sin. [00:41:50] Jesse Schwamb: And in that he expresses a great knowledge of who we are and how we are. So. There's a very famous study done, actually very many versions of this study done, and what they'll do, and you can play along, I know I've done this before, but as you're sitting there listening to my voice play along with the scenario that I'm about to give you, and you can answer for yourself what you would do in this situation. [00:42:11] Jesse Schwamb: There's no right or wrong answer. So here's the situation. Researchers gave per people two options. They said, you, I can either give you a thousand dollars for sure, or. Or we can play a game. We'll flip a coin. If the coin is heads, you get $2,000, but if the coin comes up, tails, you get nothing. So the choices were you could have a sure thousand dollars or you could risk it. [00:42:39] Jesse Schwamb: And with a coin flip, a fair coin flip, you could get either $2,000 or zero. Now I'll pause. What would you prefer if you're like most people? You would take the sure $1,000 because you'd rather have for sure a thousand dollars in your pocket than giving up the gamble. Even though you could get twice as much the gamble of $2,000 or zero, who wants to walk away with zero when somebody's like, I'll give you a thousand dollars for certain. [00:43:06] Jesse Schwamb: Most people would prefer the certainty. Now those who are like keen have a turn of mind for mathematics are gonna realize that on average, those two options are exactly the same. So whether you get a thousand dollars. For certain, you got the a thousand dollars on the other option, half the time you'll get zero. [00:43:23] Jesse Schwamb: Half the time you'll get a $2,000. If you average those out, that's sequel to a thousand dollars over the long term. So there's something interesting there too, isn't it? See how our minds are working that we prefer, we are loss averse. In other words, we do not like loss. In fact, there's a very famous. [00:43:39] Jesse Schwamb: Theorem about this that says the pain of losing a dollar is twice as great as the pain of gaining one. And this is why it's so hard. If you have a retirement account, you have investments somewhere. When you look at your accounts and the numbers are down, you feel particularly awful. And when they're up, you feel good, but not that great. [00:43:54] Jesse Schwamb: Uh, this is the idea of. Being a loss averse. Now, here's the other thing that these researchers did. They flipped the whole scenario, and I'm gonna give you one more thing to think about. So rather than talking about gains, they said these people, okay, here's your choice, and you have to choose one of these. [00:44:09] Jesse Schwamb: Either you can take a sure loss of a thousand dollars, or you can take a gamble. And you can take a, we'll flip a coin and if it comes up heads, you'll lose $2,000. But if it comes up tails, you will lose zero. So again, here are the two options, but now we're talking about losses. You either have to take a loss of a thousand dollars for certain, or you could take the gamble, flip a fail fair coin, and you could lose $2,000 or you might lose nothing if it comes up tails. [00:44:42] Jesse Schwamb: Now what would you do? Now if you're like most people, what these researchers found is people gravitated toward taking the risk. That is, they chose the option when they said, let me flip the coin, because at least if I flip the coin, there's a chance I might not lose anything. I know I might lose $2,000, but I would rather take the risk of losing 2000, but have the opportunity to lose nothing than take the sure loss of a thousand dollars. [00:45:05] Jesse Schwamb: So here's what's crazy about all this. Here's what it teaches us, is we make the wrong choices all the time. You know, technically speaking, when it comes to gains, we should prefer the risk, the risk of zero, because you started out with zero, so you're not better. You're not worse off by having zero, and if you win, you get $2,000. [00:45:22] Jesse Schwamb: But when it comes to the loss, we should take the sure loss of a thousand dollars because we might end up having a loss of $2,000. We tend to behave poorly given the situations. This is an example of loss aversion and risk aversion, and Jesus knows this. That's the brilliance of it, of course, because he says, I know that your hearts will be troubled by losing your treasure. [00:45:45] Jesse Schwamb: So here's the thing. It's not the treasure that's bad, it's that you're putting your faith, you're going after the wrong thing. So loved ones. When we find ourselves rooted in Christ, when we find our identity right there in him, when we are sure that all that we have is in the heavenly realms and therefore everything else can float and fl away, then we find ourselves able to be the kind of people in our workplaces where we're calm, poised in the face of difficulty failure, or all kinds of challenges. [00:46:14] Jesse Schwamb: One more thing I would encourage you with, and that is just be known as authentic and integrated. This goes back to something Tony and I have really challenged ourselves with so much, and that is some Christians aren't very open about their faith at work and others talk about it all the time, but act and speak in ways that marginalize nonbelievers. [00:46:30] Jesse Schwamb: We should, of course, be really wise about how we share the reason for the hope that we're, we have when we're at work. But staying silent isn't an option. If we wanna be authentic people, we have to bring our whole selves to work. I think this is where we all, at times could use a little work. I, I've barely been encouraged by brothers and sisters who are far better at this than I, where. [00:46:50] Jesse Schwamb: They're really good at explaining why they do something, and perhaps they've been building a relationship with non-believers, serving them, working with them. And, but when the right opportunity approaches when the moment arrives, they're right there with their explanation. They're quick to say, it's because Jesus loves me. [00:47:06] Jesse Schwamb: They're quick to talk about the transforming power of the gospel. And it's not in a way that's overbearing. It's not in a way that seems disingenuous or somehow like they're, they're shoehorning in some kind of, you know, bully pulpit testimony. Instead, it's a natural expression. Because they were ready and willing and brave. [00:47:22] Jesse Schwamb: To do that. So we've got to be known as authentic and integrated, and that integration is just as important as the authenticity. What, what is the good, what is the point of doing many of these good works if there is not a commensurate explanation or expression of why we are doing them, because. Plenty of people who are non-believers also do good work. [00:47:42] Jesse Schwamb: This is part of the common grace that God has given to all of our world and to the entire universe writ large. So in that being said, sometimes we just need to say, this is why I'm doing it. And it's possible that probably people are sometimes thinking, I have no idea why this person is doing this, but I'm not gonna ask them. [00:47:57] Jesse Schwamb: 'cause that's super weird. So by us stepping forward and saying, listen, I love you, God is good to me, uh, there there's a God over the universe who saved me. I was in this pit of despair and he's taken me out of that pit. My work, the things I do, I do now for him. I do it not just because I wanna provide for my family, but because I love God. [00:48:16] Jesse Schwamb: I want to be obedient in worshiping him, and part of how I worship him is doing my work this particular way. That's why you see me. Work like this. What a beautiful thing. Loved ones. [00:48:25] Final Thoughts and Encouragement [00:48:25] Jesse Schwamb: So there's so much I think for us to think about here. I could go on and on, and at this point, this is no longer a short episode. [00:48:32] Jesse Schwamb: You've gotten almost 50 minutes of me just talking. So I want to thank some people for good works right now. And that is. For those of you who have joined in the Telegram chat and are hanging out. Thank you. I really appreciate that. And there's so much good conversation going on there. Again, I gotta plug it. [00:48:48] Jesse Schwamb: If you haven't, if you're not in there, you're really missing out on this experience. It's not just hearing Tony and I talk. It's coming alongside and being integrated with all kinds of other brothers and sisters. So do yourself and us a favor and go to T Me Rhyme, see t me slash reform brotherhood and come hang out with us in addition. [00:49:10] Jesse Schwamb: I'm so grateful for all those who contribute to the podcast financially to make sure that just keeps going. If you've ever wondered like, how is this all free, and there's a website where I can go surf the back catalog@reformbrotherhood.com and it just shows up in my podcast feed, and it doesn't sound like they're in a tin can somewhere or in a hurricane recording this. [00:49:28] Jesse Schwamb: How does all of that happened? It happens because there's so many lovely brothers and sisters who's come alongside and said. Yeah, you know what? After all my responsibilities, I have a little bit left over and I wanna make sure that this thing just continues to keep going. And so I say to you, thank you so much. [00:49:43] Jesse Schwamb: If you would like to be a part of that and I challenge you, come join us in giving toward the podcast, Tony and I do. And there's somebody I love, our brothers and sisters who do as well. That's what makes this happen. You can go to patreon.com, reformed brotherhood, so we've got all kinds of good stuff coming up. [00:49:59] Jesse Schwamb: I love the fall season, autumn in the Western hemisphere here, because it feels like a reset in many ways. Like the kids go back to school, the weather changes depending on where you are, the

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, Luke 14:1,7-14 Ellen Hall 

Everyone wants change in the world. There are many different opinions on how this change should take place. Some believe it is through politics, economics, family, education, or technology. As Christians, we believe that the gospel changes everything! God saves us by His grace and transforms us from the inside out. And then that transformation moves to our family and into the world. Don't miss a message for In the Making as we learn about how God is bringing change to our world.PRAYERText (904) 770-3037 if you would like a member of our prayer team to pray with or for you.NEXT STEPSAre you ready to learn more about what it means to walk with Christ, get baptized, or get connected within the church body? Click here to complete our digital connect card: https://fathom.churchcenter.com/people/forms/31883GOT QUESTIONS?Learn more about Fathom Church at http://fathom.church/WE'RE HERE FOR YOU!If you are looking for more encouragement and biblical teaching throughout the week, we hope you'll follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or download the Churchcenter app: https://churchcenter.com/setupMORE WAYS TO LISTEN:Fathom Beyond Sunday Podcast - Conversations with a biblical worldview and real life application - listen in on an engaging chat between leaders at Fathom discussing faith, life, and how we can carry the truth of the word taught on Sunday into our week Monday through Saturday.Fathom Family Podcast - Real talk on how to build a Godly marriage that is in it for the long haul while leading your kids toward their God-given potential and purpose in Christ.See all the ways to listen here: http://fathom.church/category/listen/

We explore the importance of regular spiritual self-examination and biblical literacy as foundations for discernment in a world full of deception. Our daily habits reveal our true priorities, challenging us to align our actions with our professed values of faith and family.• Taking time for a daily spiritual "audit" of how we spend our time and energy• Reading scripture daily as protection against deception and cultural manipulation• Understanding Ephesians 4 on unity in the body of Christ and spiritual maturity• Speaking truth in love, even when it requires difficult conversations• Recognizing America's historical purpose as "a city on a hill" pointing to Christ• Medal of Honor recipient James Bell and his service during the Indian Campaigns• John Adams' vision for America as a light to other nationsIf you're looking for clean reading material for children or grandchildren similar to The Hobbit or Narnia, check out my Countryside series available on Amazon. The Kindle version is currently available for 99 cents, with paperback and hardback options also available. I'd be grateful if you'd leave a review if you enjoy it.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

In these verses, Matthew 5:13-16, we are presented with the responsibility of the citizens of the kingdom.There are four things that Matthew writes that Jesus said the citizens of the kingdom are to be.The first is to be the salt of the earth. The second is to be the light of the world. The third is being a city on a hill which cannot be hidden. The fourth is to be the kind of light that can light up all who are in the house. The purpose of being on display before the world is to display the glory of God thru Jesus Christ, which is the supreme purpose of the Christian.On the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast here is Dr. John G. Mitchell, Matthew 5:13 thru 16.

Welcome to episode 211 of Grasp the Bible. In this episode, we continues our series entitled Taste and See. Today we will cover· Lighto God's word is a light (Psalm 119)o Jesus is the Light (John 8)o We are the Light (Matthew 5)Key takeaways:· Taste and see that the Lord is good.· Jesus gives you the light of life.· Put the light on a stand. Don't hide it.Quotable:· “Share the gospel. It's necessary. Use words.”· “98-99% of God's will for your life is found explicitly in scripture.”· “Not just called to show it, we must proclaim it.”Application:- Use God's word to expose sin in your life.- God's word not only calls you to action it also convicts your heart.- A city on a hill is seen from miles and miles away.Connect with us:Web site: https://springbaptist.orgFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/SBCKleinCampus (Klein Campus)https://www.facebook.com/SpringBaptist (Spring Campus)Need us to pray for you? Submit your prayer request to: https://springbaptist.org/prayer/If you haven't already done so, please leave us a rating and review in your podcast provide

A Sermon for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity Matthew 7:15-21 by William Klock In 597 b.c. the Babylonians conquered Judah.  The Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, ordered the deportation of the ruling elite of Jerusalem.  That meant King Jehoiachin, most of the royal family, and thousands of others including many of the priests.  That included Ezekiel.  He had been born into one of the important priestly families.  He was twenty-five years old.  Had everything gone as expected, had everything gone to plan, he would have been ordained a priest at the age of thirty and gone on to serve before the presence of the Lord in the temple.  Instead, with the rest of those Jewish exiles, he sat down by the rivers of Babylon and wept as he remembered Zion—as one of the psalmists put it.  And he wondered how he and his people could ever sing the Lord's song in a strange land. And then, on Ezekiel's thirtieth birthday, he had a vision.  He saw the Lord enthroned in glory and the Lord commissioned him.  Instead of being a priest, the Lord ordained Ezekiel a prophet—a prophet to the exiles and to the people of Judah.  Ezekiel was to announce to his people why they had been defeated and carried off into exile.  He was to accuse his people of their idolatry and of their unfaithfulness to the Lord's covenant.  And he was also to announce that the Lord's judgement on Judah had only just begun.  And so Ezekiel's ministry began with a series of acted out prophecies.  He acted out the coming destruction of Jerusalem with miniatures.  He lay on his side for a year, acting the part of the scapegoat, while eating food cooked over human waste.  He cut off his hair with a sword.  Again, to announce the coming judgement on Jerusalem.  And all for nought.  The Lord told him that no one would listen and they didn't—because Israel's heart was hardened against the Lord. But just because the people wouldn't listen didn't mean Ezekiel's job as a prophet was done.  The Lord gave him another vision, this time of the temple in Jerusalem.  He saw his people worshipping idols in the temple court and then he saw the Lord's glory—the cloud that rested on the ark of the covenant in the holy of holies—he saw that cloud of glory depart from the temple.  And the Lord announced to him that the temple would be destroyed.  Again, because of Israel's idolatry and lack of covenant faithfulness.  Ezekiel accused his people of being like a rebellious wife and like a rampaging lion.  He described Israel and Judah as two shameless and reprobate prostitute sisters.  And he dragged his people into the divine courtroom and put them on trial before the Lord.  They could beg for mercy all they wanted, but the time for mercy had passed.  God's goodness and faithfulness demanded that he judge his people.  For centuries he had shown them his patient mercy, but now is was time for justice.  And that's when word reached Ezekiel that Jerusalem had fallen, the temple had been destroyed, and that the Lord's judgement had come on Judah. But that wasn't the end of Ezekiel's ministry.  The Lord would not leave his people in judgement forever.  If being faithful to his word meant judgement on their unfaithfulness, it also meant restoring them and making them faithful.  And so Ezekiel's prophetic messaged shifted from judgement to hope.  Through him the Lord promised the restoration of his people under a new king, under a David-like messiah.  And the Lord promised to breathe his Spirit into his people to take away their heart of stone and to give them a heart of flesh.  He gave Ezekiel a vision of a valley of dry bones and commanded the prophet to speak his word over those bones.  And the word of the Lord brought them back to life.  It was a promise of new creation.  But the wicked pagan nations still stood in the way of that new creation.  And so the Lord also gave Ezekiel a series of visions in which he defeated the nations.  And then, finally, Ezekiel had a vision of creation set to rights.  That vision begins with a temple.  Not the old temple, but a new one.  A new one infinitely grander and more beautiful than even Solomon's temple.  And after being given a tour of this temple, Ezekiel has a vision of the Lord's glory descending to fill it.  It's the Lord's way of saying that he will not abandon his people forever.  He will be with them again.  And out of this temple's gate flows a stream and as it flows down the mountain from the temple the stream turns into a great river.  Wherever it flows trees and lush vegetation spring up.  And eventually the river flow down into the desert and there it causes a lush garden to grow—Eden restored—a garden named “the Lord is there”. Now, everyone likes that last part.  Everyone wants to hear and to claim for themselves the messages of hope.  No one wants to hear the call to repentance and the warning of coming judgement.  No one would listen to Ezekiel's warnings.  It's not that they didn't hear them—or see them.  It was hard to miss the weird guy playing with action figures or hacking his hair off with a sword or laying on his side and cooking food over poop.  They saw it all.  But they refused to take it to heart.  They were convinced their exile to Babylon was an accident of history, not the Lord's judgement on their idolatry.  But once Ezekiel's prophecies of doom came true, I expect the people were hanging on his every last word of hope.  That's the test of a prophet, after all: does his word come to pass.  Ezekiel's did. And for that reason the people were still hanging onto his words when Jesus came, still looking for and longing for those divine promises to finally be fulfilled.  Because judgement had happened as the prophet foretold, that restoration of the people, that new creation, that new life with God would happen just as surely too.  It was just a matter of time.  So it shouldn't be a surprise that as Jesus preached he drew on the words of the old prophets like Ezekiel.  But it was the same old thing all over again.  The people gathered to hear Jesus preach good news.  They flocked to him for healing and deliverance and miracles that showed the kingdom of God was breaking in.  But they didn't want to hear the warnings.  They gasped when he told them that to see that coming kingdom, to know that garden called “the Lord is there”, they needed righteousness, they needed covenant faithfulness far beyond that of the scribes and Pharisees.  Judgement was coming on Judah again and Jesus was there to create a new people, a new community that would have that righteousness, that would be salt and light, that would be a city on a hill, that would come out the other side of God's judgement to see his kingdom.  The people in Ezekiel's day didn't want to hear that part of the message and neither did the people in Jesus' day.  Ed Stetzer likes to say, “If you want everyone to like you don't be a pastor, go sell ice cream.”  I think Ezekiel (and Jesus) would say the same thing about being a prophet. Our Gospel today is taken from the closing words of Jesus' sermon on the mount.  Jesus has spoken hard words—just as Ezekiel had.  But there was reason to hope.  In him the Lord was finally doing that new thing everyone had been waiting for since the prophets, but Jesus was also condemning their covenant faithlessness and announcing coming judgement.  And so he warns the people—this is Matthew 7:13—“Go in by the narrow gate.  The gate that leads to destruction, you see, is nice and wide and the road going there has plenty of room.  Lots of people go that way.  But the gate leading to life is narrow, and the road going there is a tight squeeze.  Not many people find their way through.”   In other words, “Yes, I know what I've been saying is hard.  Yes, I know it means repentance and turning away from sin and pursuing covenant faithfulness with everything you've got and even then you're going to need God's help, but that's the way to life.  Listen to me, because judgement is coming again and it's coming soon.  (He later told the disciples: before this generation passes away!)  And if you refuse to listen and if you keep going down the wide and easy path you're on, you're as sure to meet that judgement as the people of Ezekiel's day did. “Watch out for false prophets!” Jesus says.  There are people invested in the ways and the ideas and the systems of the present evil age.  They don't want to see you repent and turn back to the Lord.  They know everyone loves ice cream and they're going to show up with a cart full of it and everyone's going to listen to them—because ice cream is a lot more fun than calls to repentance.  “They will come to you dressed like sheep, but inside they are hungry wolves.”  Jesus draws on Ezekiel's condemnation of the leaders of Israel and Judah.  They were like wolves in the midst of the flock, tearing apart the sheep, shedding blood, all for their own gain.  It's always the way of false prophets.  They proclaim what people want to hear.  When the Lord desires repentance, the false prophets proclaim the status quo.  When the Lord desires sacrifice, the false prophets proclaim health and wealth.  When the Lord warns of judgement, the prophets proclaim “Peace!  Peace!”  And so Jesus warns in verse 16, “You'll be able to tell them by the fruit they bear: you don't find grapes growing on thorn-bushes, do you, or figs on thistles?  Well, in the same way, good trees produce good fruit and bad trees produce bad fruit.  Actually, good trees can't produce bad fruit, nor can bad ones produce good fruit.  Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire.  So you must recognise them by their fruits.”   There's never been any shortage of false prophets in the world.  In the Old Testament the test of a prophet was whether or not what he said came to pass.  The punishment for false prophecy was death.  Brothers and Sisters, claiming to speak the very word of the Lord is serious business.  His words are life.  When people claim to speak for the Lord, but speak falsely, it gives people reason to doubt his actual word.  But people took it lightly in Ezekiel's day, people took it lightly in Jesus' day, and far too many people take it lightly today.  The Old Testament test of a prophet still stands: Do his words come to pass?  But when Jesus warned the people, there wasn't time for that.  Judgement was coming soon.  So Jesus gives another way: look at the fruit.  It was a good test then and it's a good test now.  When someone says, “Thus says the Lord,” look at that person's life.  Does their life show the fruit of the Spirit?  Do you see things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control?  Or are they just selling ice cream and getting rich?  It's always amazing to me how many people flock to men and women who claim to work miracles and who claim to speak for God, but the miracles are false, the words are heresy, and the things they say never come to pass.  But it is a testimony to just how much we like ice cream, how much we'd rather hear “Peace, peace!” than a message about repentance.  Look at the fruit.  If the fruit is bad, the tree is bad and there's only one destination for bad trees: the fire—judgement.  Don't end up in the same place. Look for the fruit.  I know the language of the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit is something that developed later with Paul, but I think it's worth noting that Jesus talks here about fruit.  Too many people look for signs—what Paul would call “gifts” of the Spirit.  But even Paul warns these things can be faked.  Signs and wonders aren't necessarily evidence of a true prophet.  Fruit is the evidence. And Jesus goes on, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; only people who do the will of my Father in heaven.  On that day lots of people will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, didn't we?  We cast out demons in your name.  We performed lots of powerful deeds in your name.'  Then I will have to say to them, ‘I never knew you.  You're a bunch of evildoers.  Go away from me.'”   “On that day.”  That's language right out of the Old Testament prophets about the coming day of the Lord, about the day of judgement when the Lord will punish evil and vindicate the righteous.  A lot of people thought that just being an Israelite and having the Lord as their God gave them a place in the coming kingdom, but Jesus says that, no, that's not enough.  In fact, he narrows it down even further: a lot of people will think that because they've thought of Jesus as their Lord and done amazing things in his name, that they'll have a place in the kingdom—and not even that will cut it. It's important, I think, to remember here that Jesus isn't talking directly to us.  He was talking to First Century Jews and the judgement he was warning about was the judgement that would come forty years later when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple.  Those who would survive, those who would see the birth of the kingdom, would be those who truly identified themselves with Jesus in faith.  The people who followed him in the new exodus through baptism and into whom God would pour his Spirit.  They're the ones—not the ones who merely had an appreciation for what Jesus was teaching or thought of him as a great prophet—but the ones who truly recognised the God of Israel at work in Jesus the Messiah and who became part of his family, this new Israel redeemed by his death and given a new heart of flesh by the Holy Spirit.  They would be the dry bones that lived again.  They would be the ones whom God would deliver from the coming judgement.  They're the ones who would live to testify to the nations of the glory of the God of Israel revealed in the cross.  They're the ones who would live to proclaim the good news to the nations. And so Jesus concludes his sermon with a final allusion to Ezekiel.  In verse 24 he says, “So, then, everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  Heavy rain fell; floods rose up; the winds blew and beat on that house.  It didn't fall, because it was founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn't do them—they will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  Heavy rain fell; floods rose up; the winds blew and battered the house—and down it fell.  It fell with a great crash.”   Ezekiel warned the false prophets about the wall they'd built.  It's a pretty clear reference to the temple just as Jesus' “house” here is, too.  The false prophets had built a wall and they'd whitewashed it and it looked great.  It looked like a wall for the ages.  But when the Lord's judgement came, when he sent the rains and the floods and the winds, that wall came crashing down and exposed its builders as the unfaithful and idolatrous false prophets they really were.  The same thing would happen again.  The people of Jerusalem and Judea looked up to the temple as their hope, but Jesus condemns them.  Not this time as whitewashed walls, but as whitewashed tombs.  They went through the motions of faithfulness, they maintained their ritual purity, they proclaimed their love for and their loyalty to God, but their hearts were far from him.  Because God's heart was in Jesus. Jesus had to come to fulfil the prophecies of hope and life.  He'd come to build God's new temple.  Not one whitewashed with false piety, but one washed with his own blood.  Listen to Peter's call in his first epistle: “Come to him, to that living stone.  Men rejected him, but God chose him and values him very highly!  Like living stones yourselves, you are being built up into a spiritual house—a new temple!—to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that will be pleasing to God through Jesus the Messiah.  That's why it stands in scripture: ‘Look!  I am setting up in Zion a chosen, precious cornerstone.  Believe in him!  You will not be ashamed.'”   The false prophets, the wolves in sheep's clothing, the grifters selling spiritual ice cream, they whitewash false piety, they whitewash selfishness, they whitewash heresies—they whitewash the ugly things of the world.  They proclaim “Peace, peace” in the face of coming judgement.  Brothers and Sisters, don't be duped.  Listen to Jesus.  Stay focused on Jesus.  Think of Peter's confession later in Matthew's Gospel: “You are the Messiah, the son of the living God!”  This is the rock on which Jesus has built his church—his people, his new temple—and not even the gates of hell will overpower it.  Never forget that this is the temple in which his Spirit dwells. Never forget that this the temple from which God's new life flows to the world.  Never forget that this temple is the source of God's new creation.  And it's built on the rock and nothing but the rock that is Jesus. Come to the Lord's Table this morning and be reminded that in Jesus, God has given his own life for you—for us.  Come to the Lord's Table and be reminded that in Jesus, God has breathed his life into our dry bones and made us live again.  Come to the Lord's Table and be reminded that he's made us the precious stones of his temple.  Then be that Spirit-filled and life-giving water that Ezekiel saw flowing out from the temple into the world carrying God's life, carrying his new creation. Let's pray: Gracious Father, in Jesus you have washed us clean from sin and by your Spirit you have renewed our hearts and made the priests of your new temple.  Guard our hearts from the temptations of false prophets and false gods that our desires might always be for you and your kingdom, through Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Christ in you is the hope of glory. Because He dwells within us, He is changing us from the inside out—and that change should be visible. We are called to shine, to radiate His glory, to be a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Every part of our lives—our marriages, families, work, and leadership—is meant to reflect the gospel to the world. Colossians 3 shows us that God has a divine design for our relationships, and all of it falls under the authority of Jesus. The challenge isn't just admitting He's Lord—it's submitting to His Lordship in every area of our lives. As we focus and dwell more on Him, we begin to reflect Him even more to the world. Listen to this sermon about reflecting God's design in the seventh part of our In The Word series, walking through the book of Colossians. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/u0P3HnD4DCISubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zkLearn more about us at chestnutmountain.orgFollow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

Jesus invites us to a way of life that feels upside down to the world—but in it, we discover God's right-side-up truth. A call to LIVE AS PEOPLE OF HEAVEN while still on earth. A CROWD OF NOBODIES Jesus began not among the powerful in Jerusalem, but among nobodies in Galilee—people who were poor, sick, and oppressed. To them, He speaks words that still flip the world upside down. THE KINGDOM BEGINS WITH THE BROKEN “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:3 The “kingdom of heaven” isn't just about the afterlife—it's God's new reality on earth. It begins with the spiritually bankrupt and humble. COMFORT FOR THE GRIEVING, INHERITANCE FOR THE OVERLOOKED “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” – Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” – Matthew 5:5 Jesus offers hope: comfort for grief and inheritance for the overlooked. This movement isn't for the power-hungry—it's led by those who long for healing, mercy, and reconciliation. A REVOLUTION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, MERCY, AND PURITY “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” – Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” – Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” – Matthew 5:8 These are people who seek justice, offer mercy, and long for hearts aligned with God. Jesus doesn't demand perfection—He calls for transformation. PEACEMAKERS AND THE PERSECUTED “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” – Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:10 Jesus wants peacemakers—those who enter conflict to bring healing. But He warns: it comes with a cost. “Blessed are you when people insult you… Rejoice and be glad… for in the same way they persecuted the prophets…” – Matthew 5:11–12 THE BLESSED BECOME THE WITNESS (MATTHEW 5:13–16) “You are the salt of the earth.” – Matthew 5:13 “You are the light of the world… A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” – Matthew 5:14 Jesus declares: Salt preserves—"You are God's faithful ones.” Light reveals—"You now carry God's presence.” City leads—"You are the new Jerusalem.” God's kingdom breaks into the world through the righteous—those who live rightly with God and others. JESUS DIDN'T CANCEL THE LAW—HE COMPLETED IT “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law… I have not… but to fulfill them.” – Matthew 5:17 Jesus didn't discard the Old Testament—He embodied it. He lived out what the Law pointed toward. EVERY WORD STILL MATTERS “Not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” – Matthew 5:18 Every word still holds weight. Jesus calls us not to legalism, but alignment with God's heart. GREATNESS IN THE KINGDOM COMES THROUGH OBEDIENCE “Whoever relaxes… and teaches others… will be called least… but whoever does them and teaches… will be called great.” – Matthew 5:19 Greatness is not about status—but about living and teaching God's ways. It's not about perfection, but intentional pursuit. MORE RIGHTEOUS THAN THE RIGHTEOUS? “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees… you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:20 To the crowd, this was shocking. The Pharisees looked holy—but it was a performance. Jesus calls us to inner transformation, not outward appearances. JESUS' VISION: WHOLEHEARTED LIVING Jesus will now reveal the heart behind commands like “Do not murder” and “Do not commit adultery.” He's calling us to a righteousness rooted in love—not fear. A life aligned with God's heart. FIVE PRACTICAL STEPS TO APPLY MATTHEW 5:17–20 Recommit to SCRIPTURE AS WISDOM Read the Bible as relational guidance. Start with Psalm 119:97–105. Ask: AM I PERFORMING OR TRANSFORMING? Am I acting to look good—or to grow in love? PRACTICE OBEDIENCE IN SMALL THINGS Faithfulness in small things—generosity, humility—matters. TEACH WHAT YOU LIVE Share what you're living, not just what you know. INVITE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SHAPE YOUR HEART Pray: “Holy Spirit, transform me from the inside out.” THE WAY FORWARD IS DEEPER, not easier Jesus raises the bar—but walks the path with us. He fulfilled the Law so we don't live in fear, but in faith that transforms. Let's stop settling for surface spirituality. Let's live righteously—by loving God, obeying His Word, and reflecting His Kingdom… from the inside out.

Send us a textAuthor and Advocate Ted Neill joins the show to share his powerful journey from working at a home for orphans in Nairobi, Kenya, and then in human services, to becoming a full-time author of nearly 30 books! We explore his middle-grade book series that celebrates disabilities through young superheroes, as well as his advocacy work amplifying the voices of children he once cared for, who are now grown. Ted's BioGlobetrotter and writer Ted Neill has worked on five continents as an educator, health professional, and journalist. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Recovery Today, and he has published a number of novels exploring issues related to science, religion, class, and social justice. He is the 2013 winner of the Martin Luther King Jr. Torch of Peace Award. His 2017 novel, The Selah Branch, attempts to confront issues of racism and the divided political environment of the US today and the 1950s. His debut novel, City on a Hill, examines the fault lines of religious conflict in the Middle East. His 2019 novel, Reaper Moon, takes place against the backdrop of a global virus pandemic and explores how the aftermath unfolds along familiar social divides of race and politics. His young adult series, Snog Team Six, is a romp through global mythology, science fiction, video games, the Old West and Southeast Asia. His high-fantasy series, Elk Riders, has won numerous awards including two Kirkus starred reviews. His upcoming series, The Post Apocalyptic Space Shakespeare, will provide an updated and exciting entrée to seventeen of the bard's plays for old and new readers alike.He is also an accomplished author of nonfiction. He is the author of two memoirs about his time working at a home for orphans with HIV/AIDS in Nairobi, Kenya.Neill's passion project is his illustrated middle grade series Mystery Force. Mystery Force is a collaboration with friends in the disability community to create a series where children with disabilities are the protagonists and heroes. Mystery Force came about when Neill's friend who uses a motorized wheelchair and has a canine companion approached him and said, “There needs to me more stories where kids with disabilities can see themselves as heroic.” So, they made one.Connect with TedWebsite Check out Ted's books on his website under the "books" tab!Follow Ted on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram @therealauthortedneillTikTokStay in the loop with the new Different Ability® product I'll be launching!Sign Up Here!Shop new products here!Places you can reach me at:Website:https://kateyfortun.com/https://kateyfortun.com/podcastInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/kateyfortun/https://www.instagram.com/differentabilitypodcast/

116church celebrates 5 years! Billy & Jenn share from Matthew 5 on who Jesus says we are - both individually and as a church community: 1. A Light in the Dark2. A City on a Hill 3. A Beacon of Hope-----Official WebsiteInstagramTwitterFacebook

What do coaching, salt, and a city on a hill have in common? This week in our “2K: The Sermon on the Mount” series, we're diving into Jesus' challenge to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. In a culture quick to complain or hide, what does it look like to bring out the best in others and shine with hope? Join us Sunday as we explore how small, faithful actions can make a big difference.

We are A Shining City on a Hill. Everyone sees, everyone is watching. Praise your Father in heaven. There is no God like our God.

We are A Shining City on a Hill. Everyone sees, everyone is watching. Praise your Father in heaven. There is no God like our God.

​ ⁨@MarkDParker⁩  House of Woo | 3 June 2025 | The City on a Hill https://www.youtube.com/live/0AMOJ_eq5yI?si=LJOFl6jbJezXiIVs   ⁨@transfigured3673⁩  John Vervaeke & Jonathan Pageau - Fellowship in the Spirit https://youtu.be/3yk8HtOQBuE?si=zTbxiD1svPA-cinX  https://roddreher.substack.com/p/second-thoughts-on-woke-right    Paul Vander Klay clips channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0jIcadtoxELSwehCh5QTg Midwestuary Conference August 22-24 in Chicago https://www.midwestuary.com/ https://www.meetup.com/sacramento-estuary/ My Substack https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/ Bridges of meaning https://discord.gg/tWDuYmBB Estuary Hub Link https://www.estuaryhub.com/ If you want to schedule a one-on-one conversation check here. https://calendly.com/paulvanderklay/one2one There is a video version of this podcast on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/paulvanderklay To listen to this on ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-vanderklays-podcast/id1394314333  If you need the RSS feed for your podcast player https://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/feed/  All Amazon links here are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Amazon pays me a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through one of the product links here. This is is one (free to you) way to support my videos.  https://paypal.me/paulvanderklay Blockchain backup on Lbry https://odysee.com/@paulvanderklay https://www.patreon.com/paulvanderklay Paul's Church Content at Living Stones Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7bdktIALZ9Nq41oVCvW-A To support Paul's work by supporting his church give here. https://tithe.ly/give?c=2160640 https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give

How are you using your influence? Now, you might think you are not very influential because you define influence as position, fame, prominence, or name recognition. But listen to this definition of influence. Influence is the effect of something on a person; the power that somebody has to affect other people's lives, beliefs, thinking, and actions.Main Points:1. Everyone listening to this podcast episode has influence. You have people who like you and look up to you. There are people to come to you for your opinion, advice, or wisdom. You have acquaintances, friends, and colleagues who respect you. People are watching your life and being influenced by it, without you even knowing it. Everyone has a circle of influence.2. Our influence is not to be egotistical.  It is not for our benefit.  It is for Christ's sake.  The reason you let your light shine, the reason you are the salt of the earth, is for God.  We are an influence so we can bring more people to Jesus.  3. Let's use the influence God has given us for God's glory and to point others to the Savior.Today's Scripture Verses:Matthew 5:13-16 – “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.  “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”   Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

What happens when an actor stops waiting for the phone to ring—and starts building the damn set themselves? In this inspiring and action-packed episode, Alyshia sits down with actor, writer, and podcaster Matt Del Negro (City on a Hill, Scandal, The Sopranos, Mayor of Kingstown) to dive deep into what it really takes to get your own project off the ground. From brainstorming with trusted collaborators to navigating Kickstarter campaigns and tax-deductible donations—Matt's doing it all, and he's here to walk us through it. We explore his latest project, Mickey Brash, a gritty, character-driven indie film with a nostalgic 1970s Midwest vibe and a whole lot of heart. Matt shares how he's balancing creative control with practical limitations and how community—yes, your community—can make all the difference. Plus, we break down the evolution of his script Mickey Brasch, originally inspired by a TV role from 2013, shaped by feedback from actors like Chris Messina, and now a sharp, funny, father-daughter road movie with serious Blacklist buzz. If you've ever dreamed of creating your own content but didn't know where to start, this episode is your permission slip and your blueprint.