Podcasts about colossians

Lesson #1 for Saturday, January 3, 2026 Philippians and Colossians Adult Sabbath School Lesson 1st Quarter, 2026

Psalm 110:1-5,7 Psalm 130 Colossians 1:12-20 1 John 1:5b,7 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

SHOW NOTES:Ephesians 4:22-24, Ephesians 5:21-27, Ephesians 6:11-17, Colossians 3:12-21

Greg talks to a caller about whether Colossians 1:15 implies that Jesus is part of creation since it says he is the “firstborn,” then he reflects on the first Christmas and the birth of Jesus.   Topics: Does the statement in Colossians 1:15 that Jesus is the firstborn of creation imply he's part of creation? (13:00) Commentary: The first Christmas and the birth of Jesus (36:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 20–21 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA Donate to Stand to Reason Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves The Nativity Story – Film Related Links: Was Jesus the First Created Being? by Tim Barnett Deity of Christ: Case Closed by Greg Koukl Six Reasons to Believe Jesus Is God – Red Pen Logic (Tim Barnett)

Psalm 110:1-5,7 Psalm 130 Colossians 1:12-20 1 John 1:1-3 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

As Christmas draws near, many of us feel the pressure to buy just one more thing—or worry the season won't feel special unless we spend more. Tight deadlines, emotional expectations, and last-minute sales create the perfect environment for impulse spending to quietly take over. But Scripture offers a wiser, more freeing way to approach giving—one rooted in love rather than pressure.Christmas brings out many good desires. We want our homes to feel warm, our families to feel loved, and our gatherings to feel joyful. Emotional spending happens when those good desires turn into pressure—internal or external. We begin asking questions like: What if this isn't enough? What will they think if I don't give something big? If I don't hurry, will Christmas feel incomplete?Emotional buying often peaks in the final days before Christmas, not because we're unwise, but because we're human. We feel the weight of expectations, the excitement of the season, and the fear of missing out. But perfect moments aren't purchased. They're created through meaningful time together—not merely expensive gifts.A Biblical Rhythm for GivingScripture invites us into a different rhythm. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” He wasn't describing frantic shopping or panic-driven generosity, but joyful, intentional, heart-shaped giving.Paul echoes this in Colossians 3:2: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Christmas giving becomes a spiritual act when it flows from love, gratitude, and thoughtfulness rather than pressure or panic.Many of the most meaningful gifts can't be boxed or wrapped—a handwritten letter, a shared meal, a family tradition, a long walk with an aging parent, or a prayer spoken over someone you love. These are gifts that shape hearts, not clutter closets.In the final days before Christmas, urgency often speaks louder than wisdom. The sale is ending. Shelves are empty. Shipping won't arrive on time. Suddenly, our giving comes more from fear than love.Proverbs 21:5 offers a timely warning: “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” Hasty choices don't just strain our finances—they strain our hearts. They rob us of peace and shift our focus from Christ to consumption.You don't have to sprint your way into Christmas. You can choose a different pace.Four Practical Ways to Avoid Emotional Buying1. Pause before you purchase. Even a 30-second pause can interrupt an emotional decision. Ask yourself: Is this coming from love—or from pressure?2. Let your values set the tone. A healthy budget isn't restrictive—it's clarifying. It helps your spending reflect what matters most.3. Remember, generosity is more than money. Time, words, service, and presence are gifts money can't replicate.4. Let Christ—not culture—define Christmas. Before you buy, ask: Will this help us celebrate Jesus, or simply ease a momentary fear?When your giving aligns with faith rather than fear, Christmas becomes more meaningful—not less.The Freedom of Love-Led GivingMother Teresa captured this beautifully: “It's not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” You're not responsible for funding a flawless Christmas. You're responsible for loving the people God has placed in your life—and love doesn't require overspending.Christmas isn't a test of your financial ability. It's a celebration of God's generosity toward us. The angel didn't announce “great deals of consumer joy,” but “good news of great joy—a Savior has been born to you.” That's the center of Christmas, and the foundation of intentional giving.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I'm 57 and have about $300,000 in a 401(k). I owe $133,000 on my mortgage and am considering using retirement funds to pay it off. My employer mentioned rolling over just enough to cover the mortgage into a pension plan. Is that possible, and what should I consider before proceeding?You previously shared a list of scholarships. I have a daughter who's a high school freshman and may attend Liberty University. Do you still have that scholarship list? How can we start preparing now?I'm 74, retired, and have about $25,000 in an IRA. I want to invest some in gold, but I also owe $13,000 on a high-interest credit card from home repairs. Is there a way to negotiate that debt for a lump-sum payoff? And since I live on a pension and Social Security and haven't filed taxes in four years, do I still need to pay taxes?I taught vocational trades in the Texas prison system and was told that ex-felons can't get a job until seven years after probation. Is that actually the law in Texas? And if so, how are people expected to support themselves during that time?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Christian Credit CounselorsFinding Your Scholarships (Faith and Finance Episode - August 14, 2024)Scholarships.com | Fastweb.comWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today is day 357 and we are studying the Section on Justification and Sanctification: Living in Forgiveness and Healing. 357. Is it possible for you to keep these commandments? No. I fail to keep them perfectly, however hard I try. They show me my inability to obey God's Law and my need for God's grace in Christ Jesus. (1 Kings 8:46; Psalms 53:2–3; 130:3; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:9–20; 1 John 1:8, 10) 358. Since you cannot perfectly keep God's Law, what has Jesus done on your behalf? As the perfect human and unblemished Lamb of God, Jesus lived a wholly obedient and sinless life. He suffered death for my redemption upon the Cross, offering himself once for all as a “full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world.” (“Holy Communion, Anglican Standard Text,” Book of Common Prayer 2019; see also Isaiah 53:4–6; Mark 10:45; John 1:29; Romans 8:3–4; Colossians 2:13–15; Hebrews 10:10–14) Our prayers today are Proper 17 found on page 619 and The Pascha Nostrum on page 16 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

What if your spiritual journey isn’t about becoming—but remembering who you’ve always been in Christ? In this luminous episode of Perspectives with Catherine Toon, Dr. Steve McVey, author of Beyond the Veil: My Mystical Journey with Saints and Sages, unveils how love, grace, and divine union rewrite the story of separation and fear. In this fictional work full of Truth, Steve explores profound conversations with voices of wisdom—Christian saints, early theologians, philosophers, even mystics outside the faith tradition—revealing how truth, wherever found, ultimately points back to Christ. Together, Steve and Catherine dive deep into: * The illusion of distance and the revelation that heaven is here and now
 * Remembering our soul’s eternal identity and walking in the Spirit * The “Cosmic Christ” as Lord of all creation—seen and unseen
 * How divine Love is the last and final word This episode will stretch your mind, ignite your heart, and comfort your soul. It’s an invitation to trust that Love Himself is big enough to guide, heal, and hold you—no matter where you are on the journey. “You aren’t defined by your theology or your failures—you’re defined by My love.” – Jesus, Beyond the Veil Experience the grace that dismantles fear and awakens you to the union you already share with the Father, Son, and Spirit. * Key Scriptures: John 17:21–23, Acts 17:28, Colossians 1:16–17, 1 John 4:18 Contact Steve: Facebook: @Steve McVey Instagram: @stevemcvey Twitter: @drstevemcvey stevemcvey.com info@gracewalk.org “Beyond the Veil” available on Amazon If this blessed you: • Subscribe for more conversations on God’s love, identity in Christ, and inner healing • Share this with a friend who needs hope today • Explore Catherine’s resources & community for next-step support Exhausted and worn out? Register for Pursued By Love: A Love Encounter with the God Who Adores You https://catherinetoon.com/pursuedbylove To support the ministry with tax-deductible donations: https://catherinetoon.com/support/ Please Like, Share, & Subscribe -- a little thing that makes a big difference! Thank You! Marked by Love, Revised & Expanded Edition is here:
#1 Best Seller & #1 New Release in our category! Get your copy: https://amzn.to/3K2J9ZV God, Male & Female?: https://amzn.to/49hzCIM CONNECT WITH CATHERINE: ► Website: https://catherinetoon.com/ ► Facebook: @catherinetoonmd
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In this solo episode of Don't Waste the Chaos, Kerri Roberts, Christian business & HR consultant and founder of Salt & Light Advisors, opens up about a deeper tension many high-achieving Christians carry but rarely say out loud: when ambition, excellence, and drive cross the line from worship to idolatry. Drawing from her own story as a COO in the insurance industry, Kerri shares how private jets, big titles, and record-breaking performance still left her 50 pounds heavier, exhausted, bitter, and spiritually depleted.Kerri walks listeners through the difference between godly excellence and achievement-as-an-idol for anyone in leadership: employees, executives, entrepreneurs, and business owners. She unpacks the cultural pull toward workaholism and toxic productivity, where identity becomes fused to output and status, and pairs it with the biblical call to worship God alone, honor our limits, and receive Sabbath as a gift instead of a rule. Scriptures like Exodus 20:3 and Colossians 3:23 frame the conversation and help listeners recognize when work, money, or achievement has taken the functional place of God.Finally, Kerri offers six practical guardrails for faith-driven professionals who want to keep excellence but lose the bondage: redefining success beyond output, building real rhythms of rest, creating boundaries and delegation (including automations), seeking accountability and community, regularly checking motives and heart posture, and leading people instead of worshiping productivity. With honest stories about motherhood, job loss, identity, money guilt, and rebuilding her life and business with healthier rhythms, Kerri invites Christian leaders to pause, reflect, and choose one concrete step toward grace, balance, and true godly success.Key TakeawaysExcellence is biblical—but it's not your identity. Workaholism is a warning sign, not a virtue. Idolatry is often subtle and internal. Healthy excellence honors human limits. You can rewrite your relationship with work.  Sponsors & Ways to Work with Kerri1. HR in a BoxIf you're a small business owner or faith-driven entrepreneur who knows you need HR, culture, and people systems—but you're not ready to hire a full-time HR leader—HR in a Box is for you. Over 6 or 12 months, Kerri walks you through building a strong HR and people-operations foundation that supports sustainable, godly success instead of burnout.Learn more at www.saltandlightadvisors.com/hrinabox2. Weekly Leadership & Identity Email ListStay grounded each week with Kerri's email on leadership and faith-driven work. It's designed for Christians in business and leadership who want to grow in spiritual confidence and lead from a place of wholeness—not hustle.Join the list at www.saltandlightadvisors.com/contact3. Magic MindThis episode is brought to you by Magic Mind, my go-to support for focused, calm productivity—especially on those long consulting days, heavy leadership weeks, or marathon podcast batching sessions. If you've ever felt overstimulated from too much caffeine or struggled with focus because you're mentally overloaded, Magic Mind is an adaptogenic blend designed to steady your energy rather than spike it. It's been a meaningful tool in my own journey toward healthier, more sustainable excellence—not the burnout-driven version I talk about in today's episode.You can try Magic Mind and get a discount using my link: https://magicmind.superfiliate.com/KERRIROBERTSSupport the show

20 Proverbs 13-14; Genesis 34-39; 19 Psalms 31-34; 50 Philippians 4; 51 Colossians 1-4; 1 Thessalonians 1-2

Principle 4 – Colossians 1:15-20A Principle to Live By – Putting Christ FirstTo walk in God's will, Jesus Christ must always be the central focus in our personal and corporate lives.NEW! - Let us know what you think of the program! Support the show

Join us this morning as we read through Colossians 1:19-23 and explore how Jesus, by giving himself completely at the Cross, is our reconciliation. We're glad you're here. ABOUT US | We are cultivating a vibrant community of faith, hope and love that follows Jesus into the world so our neighbors may also experience God's goodness. Learn more at https://www.cpchb.org/core-values/PRAY  | To request prayer or pray with us, visit https://www.cpchb.org/prayer GIVE  |  To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people, visit  https://www.cpchb.org/give/ PRAYER REQUESTS | https://www.cpchb.org/prayerGIVE  | https://www.cpchb.org/give/CONNECT  |  We want to connect with you!  Visit us at  https://www.facebook.com/cpchb/    https://www.instagram.com/christpacificchurch/    Weekly eBlast: https://tinyurl.com/swy75ujv  MORE INFO | https://www.cpchb.org/

In this final Advent music episode, Nicole Unice explores the beloved hymn “O Come, All You Faithful” as a powerful invitation—not just to celebrate Christmas, but to respond to it. Rather than merely observing the season, listeners are invited to come, behold, adore, and worship Christ as the center of the Christmas story. Drawing from Scripture across the Old and New Testaments, Nicole unpacks how this hymn calls us into joyful worship, faithful perseverance, and intentional participation in the life of Christ. This episode closes the Christmas hymns series with a reminder that true joy is found not in tradition alone, but in worshiping Jesus as Lord. Key Takeaways / Learning Points Joy is a posture of worship, not just a feeling Jesus is not just part of the Christmas story—He is the center of it Worship is the natural response to beholding Christ Faithfulness means continuing to receive God’s love, even in imperfection Christmas invites us to actively respond, not passively observe When we adore Christ, our hearts find true rest and alignment Bible Verses Referenced Psalm 100:1–2 – Worship the Lord with joyhttps://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/100-1.html Micah 5:2 – The prophecy of Bethlehemhttps://www.biblestudytools.com/micah/5-2.html Matthew 2 – The Magi worship Jesushttps://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/2.html Luke 2:8–20 – Angels announce Christ’s birthhttps://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/2-8.html John 1:1–14 – The Word became fleshhttps://www.biblestudytools.com/john/1-14.html Colossians 1:15–17 – Christ supreme over creationhttps://www.biblestudytools.com/colossians/1-15.html Revelation 5:12 – Worthy is the Lambhttps://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/5-12.html Resources Mentioned: Free Christmas Eve Family Liturgyhttps://nicoleunice.com/christmas Hymn: “O Come, All You Faithful” Author Quote: C.S. Lewis “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, but if true, of infinite importance.” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

At our Longmont training event, Pastor Nate Morris explores the heart behind preaching and the practical movements that help us communicate Scripture faithfully. Opening with a story about waiting tables, Nate reminds us that preachers do not invent the meal. We carry what God has already prepared and deliver it with care. This session combines pastoral insight, clear structure, and encouragement for anyone who wants to handle God's word well.About Pastor Nate MorrisNate Morris is the lead pastor of Mountain Life Calvary Chapel, a multi location church serving Vail, Gypsum, and Glenwood Springs, Colorado. He and his wife Jen live in the Colorado mountains with their children Caleb, Zoe, and Josiah. Having grown up in the mountains himself, Nate has a deep passion to see mountain communities reached and transformed by the gospel.He hosts Truth and Love with Nate and Jen Morris and is a regular contributor to Mountain Life Church's Unscripted podcast. You can learn more at mountainlife.church, follow @natemorris1, or visit pastorn8.com.Speaking with the Weight of Scripture1 Peter 4:11 calls those who speak to speak as those delivering God's words. Nate anchors the room in this reminder: preaching is a sacred trust. Our role is not to improve the message but to carry it faithfully, just as a good waiter brings a prepared meal without dropping the plate.Two Questions That Shape Every SermonWhere am I taking them?Preaching needs a clear destination shaped by the passage itself.How do we get there?Listeners need a guided path. Structure is one of the ways we serve them well.Caring for Souls Through the WordNate highlights the preacher's pastoral task: understanding people's real needs and showing how the gospel addresses them. As Samuel Brengle observed, the truth in Jesus brings healing to every kind of spiritual condition. Preaching becomes an act of care as we discern and apply Scripture wisely.Five Movements That Help People Follow the Message1. IntroductionHelp listeners orient themselves to the theme and direction of the passage.2. NecessitationShow why the message matters and surface the tension the text resolves.3. ExpositionOpen the Scriptures carefully. Let the text drive the content.4. ApplicationInvite people to respond. Show what trust, obedience, or repentance looks like in daily life.5. InspirationLeave listeners with hope in Christ, not pressure to perform.Tools That Support Clear and Helpful DeliveryHumour, illustrations, vulnerability, inflection, and physical movement can all help the message connect, provided they serve the text rather than distract from it.Working Heartily, Depending FullyNate ends by reminding us that preaching is both labour and reliance.Colossians 3:23 calls us to work heartily for the Lord, while Augustine's well known line captures the balance: pray as though everything depends on God, work as though everything depends on you.For information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective

What was the world like before Jesus was born? It was a very dark place and people had no hope. In this message by Pastor Alex Klimchuk, he talks about God revealing His mystery on the earth. Ephesians 3:11-13, Matthew 4:15-16, Hebrews 2:11, Colossians 2:15 #JesusisKing #Thegospel Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, & SUBSCRIBE for more biblical teachings!   Please follow our websites for more! Website: http://www.newlifechurchsf.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewLifeSF/ Youtube: https://youtu.be/7Ig-qXgVAmE/ Pastor Alex Klimchuk New Life Church 500 S 1st Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57104

How are you holding up? With only a few days to go until the Big One, are you exhausted yet? Stressed out? Depressed? Anxious? Frustrated? Or peaceful? If we could see things from Heaven's perspective - and that's what we're instructed to do in Colossians 3 - we would find pretty much the opposite of what the world's offering. And we would feel that "heavenly peace" that we sing about. Here's Jim with the rest of his sermon, The Mystery: Christ in You. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS12222025_0.mp3Scripture References: Colossians 1 & 3

Did you grow up learning about Bible stories through Sunday school felt boards while holding your storybook picture Bible? Does your grandmother have a picture of blonde-haired, blue-eyed Jesus hanging in her home? Have you watched Mel Gibson's The Passion or Dallas Jenkins' The Chosen and felt as if it helped you to better connect with Jesus' humanity?In this episode, we dive deep into the scope of the Second Commandment - "You shall not make for yourself an idol" - exploring both what Scripture has to say and how it was viewed historically. From Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 4, we unpack God's prohibition against fashioning representations of Himself, including the two-fold command against making and worshiping them. We trace the regulative principle of worship through church history: from early Christian symbols to the Roman Catholic veneration of images, the Reformers' ban under Calvin and the Puritans, and its modern relaxation.Drawing on the golden calf in Exodus 32, we see how "good" intentions don't excuse transgression, as God declares His jealousy and promises blessings for obedience (Exodus 20:5-6). God's holiness (Leviticus 19:2) and invisibility (Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:15) demand faith in the unseen (Hebrews 11:1), not visual aids.We address common concerns: intentions of the heart, classical art, teaching children about Jesus, and more, all while affirming the Westminster Larger Catechism's clear stance against any depiction of the Godhead. Whether you're Reformed or curious, join us for a Scripture-saturated discussion on worshiping God as He commands, especially in the season celebrating the Incarnation.Keep Up with Reformed Faith and Family in the Following Ways:Never miss an episode, article, or a new FREEBIE by joining our weekly newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/subscribe/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Build your library with our recommended resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/recommended-resources/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read the latest articles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/blog/⁠⁠⁠⁠Download your FREEBIES in our store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/educational-resources-store/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Gift Shop: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/gift-shop/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Dog Bible Rebinds: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/good-dog-designs-and-rebinds/⁠⁠⁠⁠WE HAVE A FAVOR TO ASK! If you are excited about our mission at Reformed Faith and Family to guide men and women as they seek to learn more about Reformed theology and equip families as they disciple their children, then please leave our podcast a 5-star review and share it with a friend. We appreciate each one of our faithful listeners, but we also depend on you to help us get the word out. Thank you for your continued support!

Seven Ways to Know You're in the Will of God • Sunday Service Website: www.PastorTodd.org To give: www.ToddCoconato.com/give Seven Ways to Know You're in the Will of God (And How You Know When You're Not) Let me tell you something up front: The will of God is not a mystery! Religion paints this picture like God is hiding His will from you, and you've got to stumble around in the dark hoping you trip into it. No! God's will is clear, God's will is knowable, and God's will brings you into blessing and kingdom advancement. If you're not in the will of God, you're wasting time, spinning your wheels, and giving the devil a foothold in your life. But when you're in His will, you don't just survive—you multiply, you advance, and you shake the nations for Christ. 1. Peace in Your Spirit Scripture: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” — Colossians 3:15 (NKJV) 2. Confirmation by the Word of God Scripture: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105 (NKJV) 3. Fruitfulness and Multiplication Scripture: “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” — Matthew 7:16 (NKJV) 4. Open Doors by God's Hand Scripture: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” — Revelation 3:8 (NKJV) 5. The Witness of the Holy Spirit Scripture: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” — Romans 8:16 (NKJV) 6. Provision in the Assignment Scripture: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) 7. Advancing the Kingdom of God Scripture: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” — Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) How You Know You're NOT in the Will of God Let me hit this quickly and clearly. The Bible shows us markers of being outside His will: 1. Confusion and unrest. “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace.” — 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV) 2. Compromise against Scripture. “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you… let him be accursed.” — Galatians 1:8 (NKJV) 3. Lack of fruit. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered.” — John 15:6 (NKJV) 4. Constant striving with no breakthrough. “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) 5. Ignoring conviction. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” — Ephesians 4:30 (NKJV) 6. Living in lack. “You have sown much, and bring in little… he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” — Haggai 1:6 (NKJV) 7. Self-glory instead of God's glory. “I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another.” — Isaiah 42:8 (NKJV) Conclusion Friend, the will of God is not something you have to stumble into—it's something you step into by faith and obedience. When you're in His will, peace rules your heart, doors open, fruit multiplies, provision flows, and the Kingdom advances. When you're out of it, confusion reigns, doors slam shut, provision dries up, and your life feels like pushing a boulder uphill. Make up your mind tonight: I will live in the center of God's will. I will not be distracted. I will not compromise. I will not settle. Because when you're in His will—you're unstoppable.

Jesus Gave His Followers the Earth's Most Intimate Relationship – a Personal Relationship with God, the Universe's Creator MESSAGE SUMMARY: The idea of an intimate relationship is to truly know someone; and you are given the privilege of knowing God, the Creator of the Universe. You are given the privilege of being close to Him and to have a personal and dynamic relationship with the God of the universe. Your relationship with God is made possible through Jesus the Christ and God's gracious gift of the Holy Spirit.  Paul, in Romans 8:37-39, succinctly defines God's uncompromising love for you through His personal relationship with you: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.". Jesus puts the Holy Spirit in your life so that you can commune and have personal fellowship with God -- the most intimate relationship on earth.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to be still and to wait patiently for you in silence. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 125). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Hatred. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Love. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): 1 Corinthians 11:25; Colossians 2:2-3; John 10:25-30; Psalms 70:1-5. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “A Christmas Message – What God Has Done For Us”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Colossians 1:13-14 Preached in the Sanctuary of Bethesda Shalom, England, Sunday 21st December, 2025. 

Colossians 1:20-23 Reconciled! 1. How God Reconciles —Through the Blood of Christ (1:20) 2. What God Reconciles — All Things (1:20) 3. Who God Reconciles — Enemies of God (1:21-22) 4. How Many God Reconciles — All who Respond in Faith to the Gospel (1:23)

In this message, Dr. Carl Follingstad explores the deep and lasting joy found in salvation. From the humble arrival of Jesus in Luke 2 to the victorious triumph of Christ in Colossians, this teaching traces God's redemptive plan and reminds us that true joy is rooted not in circumstances, but in who Jesus is and what He has done.

From the very beginning, Scripture tells us that God created humanity with intention, dignity, and purpose. But sin distorted the reflection we were meant to display. In this message, we explore what it truly means to be made in the image of God—and how Christ restores what sin has broken.   We begin with the foundational truth from Genesis 1:26–27, where God declares that we are made in His likeness. This means we carry inherent value and purpose. Psalm 139:14 reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made—crafted with care by a God who knows us intimately. We also look at the calling God placed on humanity in Genesis 1:28—to represent Him on earth and steward His creation. But because of sin, that image was marred. Romans 3:23 shows us the universal reality of our brokenness. The good news is that Christ came not only to forgive but to restore. Through the power of the gospel, we “put off the old self” and “put on the new self,” as described in Colossians 3:6–10—a transformation that renews us into the image of our Creator. We close with the powerful promise of 2 Corinthians 5:17: anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone. The new has come.   If you've ever wrestled with identity, purpose, or the effects of sin, this message is for you. God's image in you is not lost—and through Christ, it is being made new. Tune in and be encouraged.

Discover the true meaning of "peace on earth" in this powerful Christmas sermon from Luke 2. Pastor Josiah explains why the peace the angels announced isn't about a calm life or perfect circumstances — it's a verdict from God, secured by the cross, and given through grace, not performance.In this Advent message on the shepherds, we explore:-Peace is a verdict, not a feeling (Romans 5:1)-Peace is given through God's favor, not our performance (Luke 2:14)-Peace is purchased by the blood of Jesus, not the manger (Colossians 1:20)If you're searching for lasting peace this Christmas season, this message will point you to the Prince of Peace.

Send us a textSince you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand.  Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth - Colossians 3:1-2 NLT.  We welcome your comments or send us an email to Rlwmsmedia@gmail.com or visit our website at www.hisredeeminglove.com.  3 Ways to Support the Ministry:- GIVE ONLINE AT HISREDEEMINGLOVE.COM- GIVE VIA THE RLWM APP AT 'MY CHURCH HOME' IN THE GOOGLE/APPLE STORE- TEXT ‘GIVE' TO (336) 360-0443

Richard Tamburro & Treyson West // December 21, 2025

Who is this Savior, this King of Heaven, this baby born in a manger? What difference does His birth make in the midst of all the things our lives entail? What miracle is required for us to grasp the extent of His love?As we enter into our Christmas celebrations, let us remember what Joy it is that our Lord has come and that He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love!Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Luke 2:1-7 with Colossians 1:15-23 & Hebrews 1:3For your continued pursuit, utilize our Advent Reflections each week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Scriptures:Colossians 3:15, Luke 2:14, Colossians 1:19-21, Psalm 3:3, Romans 12:17-18Points:1. Peace with God2. Inner Peace3. Peace with Others

This sermon concludes the three-week series "God Our Home," connecting the longing for God's presence with the reality of Christmas. We recap that God's desire to dwell with His people is the entire storyline of the Bible—from Eden to the New Creation. However, significant barriers like disobedience, shame, lies, and God's holiness keep us from experiencing this intimacy.The Good News of Christmas is that Jesus came to address every single barrier. He is the "obedience of the one" that makes many righteous. He clothes our shame so we can hide in Him rather than from Him. He reveals the true nature of the Father, dispelling lies. He comes full of grace and truth to make us holy, paying the entrance fee we could never afford. And He empowers us to forgive by first forgiving us.Scripture ReferencesRevelation 21:3: "I will be your God, you will be my people, and I will dwell in your midst."Psalm 22:3: God inhabits the praises of His people.Deuteronomy 8:10-14: A warning not to forget God in times of plenty.John 8:28-29: Jesus' perfect obedience to the Father.Romans 5:19: "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."Colossians 3:3: "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."Hebrews 4:15: We have a High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses.John 14:6-9: Jesus reveals the Father: "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."John 1:14: The Word became flesh, full of grace and truth.Matthew 6:9-15: The Lord's Prayer, emphasizing forgiveness.Key PointsJesus Addresses Our BarriersDisobedience: Jesus' perfect submission overthrows our rebellion. His obedience is credited to us, making us righteous.Shame: Instead of hiding from God in shame, we can hide in Christ. He clothes us in His righteousness, fully knowing and fully loving us.Lies: Jesus reveals the true nature of the Father, dispelling the enemy's lies about God's character.Holiness: Jesus doesn't lower the standard; He pays the price. He comes full of grace and truth to make us holy and blameless in God's sight.Unforgiveness: We are empowered to forgive others because we have been forgiven a debt we could never pay.How to Not Miss His Presence Like the characters in the first Christmas story who did experience God, we must:Worship: Adore Him to gain perspective and crush comparison.Ponder: Like Mary, treasure God's work in your heart. Be curious and wonder about Him.Seek: Like the Wise Men, actively pursue Him. Don't assume His presence; hunt for it.ConclusionWe don't have to live separated from God. Jesus, Emmanuel, has come to bridge the gap. He has dealt with our sin, shame, and separation so that we can once again stand in the presence of a holy God—not with fear, but with boldness and joy.Calls to ActionInvite Someone: 80% of people are willing to come to church if invited. Use this Christmas season to invite someone to the Fox Theatre service.Worship & Ponder: In the busyness of the season, take time to worship and ponder what Christ has done to bring you near.Come to the Table: As you take communion, reflect on the cost Jesus paid to remove every barrier between you and the Father. Support the show*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI. Please notify us if you find any errors.

How can a baby be an "Everlasting Father?" In this message, Lead Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares about this name given to our Savior before His birth. The name Jesus in Hebrew is Yeshua (Joshua). Yeshua in Greek is Iēsoûs. Translated from Greek to English, it becomes Jesus.Joshua, Yeshua, Iēsoûs, and Jesus are the same name in different languages, all meaning "Yahweh is salvation.""Christ" comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning "anointed one." Christ is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Mashiach or "Messiah." It's not Jesus' last name—it's His title. In the end, it doesn't matter which language you use to call on the Savior; what matters is that you call on Him.Isaiah 9:6 tells us that His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.In Hebrew culture, names don't just identify a person; they declare purpose, describe ability, and reveal character. So why is a baby—who grows into a man with no natural-born children—called Everlasting Father?Everlasting means "from here on out." From this point forward, Jesus is the perfect and final representation of God the Father.Jesus made this clear in John 14: "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." He wasn't just a prophet bringing God's message—He was bringing God Himself to us.He said, "The Father and I are one" (John 10).Scripture declares that Christ is "the visible image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15) and "the exact imprint of his nature" (Hebrews 1:3).Five ways Jesus displayed the Father to us:A father protects. When danger came, Jesus stepped forward so His disciples could go free (John 18). Protection is love in action.A father provides. God meets your needs through your relationship with the Son (Philippians 4:19). Jesus didn't just preach to the 5,000—He fed them.A father is approachable. We come boldly to God's throne to receive mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16). In Christ, the throne room isn't a courtroom—it's a living room.A father disciplines. God's correction is proof that we belong to Him (Hebrews 12). Discipline is formative, not punitive—it's about who you are becoming.A father loves unconditionally. God loved us first and sent His Son because He is love (1 John 4).You may not have had a father in the home, but you have a Father in heaven who wants to be the Father of your heart.Humanity misunderstood God's heart, so God didn't shout louder from heaven—He translated Himself into flesh.Jesus is God, translated into our language.At Christmas, God didn't just send a message—He sent us one of us.Some of us believe in Jesus but still relate to God through fear or distance. Let God translate Himself through the Son. Receive Jesus as your Everlasting Father.Are you letting Jesus be your Everlasting Father? 

Click here to WATCH LIVE STREAM Worship Service on our Youtube Channel. “Christmas, Part 2” Matthew 2 Micah 5:2-6 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; 6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border.   Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”   Numbers 24:17 …a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel…   Matthew 2:3-4 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.   Matthew 2:5-6 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'”   Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.   2 Samuel 5:2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'”   Matthew 2:7-8 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”   Matthew 2:9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.   Matthew 2:10-12 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.   Matthew 2:13-15 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”   Exodus 4:21-23 And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.'” Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.   Galatians 3:16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.    Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.   Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.   Matthew 2:17-18 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”   Jeremiah 31:15-17 Thus says the LORD: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” 16 Thus says the LORD: “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the LORD,   and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children shall come back to their own country.   Jeremiah 33:14-16 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.'   Mathew 2:19-21 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.   Matthew 2:22-23 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. John 1:46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”   Jesus is our true deliverer.   Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.   Jesus is our true comforter.   Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.   Jesus is our true King.   Isaiah 11:1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. Isaiah 53:2-3 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Respond | Connect | Next Steps The post Christmas 2 appeared first on Charleston Baptist Church.

The message starts with Matthew 1:18 "This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit."  Pastor explores today's question: "What about the Virgin Birth?" by tackling these 5 questions:     ⁃    Is the "Virgin Birth" really that important?     ⁃    Why do only Matthew and Luke mention it?     ⁃    Couldn't this have been a later development?     ⁃    This seems impossible to the modern mind!     ⁃    Isn't it based on pagan mythology? Importance of the Virgin Birth     ⁃    It is taught by clear Scripture throughout the Bible. Note: Matthew 1:18 (above) and Matthew 1:22-23 "…an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."     ⁃    It is foreshadowed in Genesis 3:15 - a Messiah from the seed of a woman.     ⁃    It is announced by angelic authority     ⁃    It explains the sinlessness of Christ     ⁃    It confirms Christ's two natures - that Jesus is both fully human - but also fully divine. He is God incarnate, became flesh. His nature shows the Good News, because God loved this world so much He offered up His only Son for each one of us. This is the Good News. Only in Matthew and Luke?     ⁃    Only 2 Gospels (Matthew and Luke) mention the Nativity     ⁃    John (from the Gospel of John) goes back to the beginning, "In the beginning was the Word and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us…"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning…"     ⁃    Mark repeatedly asserts Jesus' deity     ⁃    See Philippians 2:5 & Colossians 1:15-16 - these verse tell us Jesus was in the very form and nature of God and took on human flesh, died and rose. Makes it clear that God has come down to earth in the flesh and that the universe was created by the pre-incarnate Christ. A later development?     ⁃    Early dating of the New Testament - always been a part of the testimony from eye-witnesses     ⁃    Clearly taught by early authors (examples: writings by Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, and the great scholar Irenaeus,)     ⁃    Testimony of the early Christian Creeds - the virgin birth was from the early teaching of followers. Impossible for modern people to accept this?     ⁃    The ancients weren't gullible! Even Joseph didn't accept it until the angelic visit.      ⁃    The real issue is the miraculous. "If I haven't seen a miracle, then they don't happen!"     ⁃    God is supernatural! He does supernatural things. Pastor shares some miraculous stories.  When we, in our own wisdom, seek to remove and erase the miraculous, we are not proving our brilliance, we are showing, for all the world to see, our folly. Pagan mythology?     ⁃    Note the differences!  Example the "birth" of Athena from Zeus' head Pastor closes with a graphic showing: incarnation, virgin birth and deity of Christ stating that if these are true then that changes everything. And it changes each one of us because God loves us and wants us back.  He calls us to accept Him for who He really is: The Almighty Creator of the Universe who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for each on of us that we might live forever with Him! And THAT is the Good News! Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Dec 21, 2025 - Sunday AM Sermon   Raised with Christ: Living the Resurrection Life (Colossians 3)  Hiram Kemp    1. Put ________________ Ways to ________________ (Colossians 3:1-9)  2. _____________ on _____________ New ______________ (Colossians 3:10-14)  3. Let _______________ Dominate Your ________________ (Colossians 3:15)  4. ______________ Out Your _______________ in ___________ (Colossians 3:16-17)  5. Practice _________________ in Every ___________________ (Colossians 3:18-25)   Duration 30:08

Dec. 21, 2025 - What Child is This? (Colossians 1:15-20) - Barry Smith - cpcspokane.org

A Christmas Message – What God Has Done For Us MESSAGE SUMMARY: The people in and around Jesus' birth were just ordinary people like us. In our celebration of Jesus' birth on this Christmas, we celebrate the event that transformed world history and many of our lives. The birth of Jesus was a supernatural birth and was God's intervention into the Universe's natural order. This birth was foretold hundreds of years before Jesus' birth, and these prophesies were written and recorded, for us, in the Bible. Jesus' birth was the birth, of a child, that did for the human race what the human race could not do for itself. Jesus was born for all people. This baby, Jesus, was born to be a Savior for all humankind. The birth of Jesus was the birth of God as both human and divine – the Incarnation, as the Angels told the Shepherds on the first Christmas Eve in Luke 2:9-11: “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'". In Isaiah 53:4-6, Jesus, birth, death, and Resurrection, as our means for our Salvation, were foretold more than five-hundred years before Jesus birth: “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.". God, through His Grace, gave of Himself what we could not do for ourselves, thereby, providing, through the birth of Jesus, us with the means for our Salvation from our sins and for our Eternal Life. This Gift of and by God is what Christmas and Christianity are all about. Is Jesus your Savior? God has given you the greatest Christmas gift that you will ever receive. Have you accepted His Gift and opened His gift into your life? If not, then why not? With your hands open, you can accept God's Christmas gift by saying: “I am sorry; thank you; and please”.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 2:9-11; Matthew 1:21; Isaiah 53:4-6; Colossians 1:15-19; Hebrews 1-3; John 1:4; John10:30; John 14:8-11; John 3:16-17. (Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “J As a Jesus Follower, the Greatest Witness for the Gospel that You Can Give Is for Others to See Jesus IN You”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Speaker: Chris Cooke — Passage(s): Colossians 1:15–20

A Study of Colossians 1: 21-22

Pastor Kurt takes a deep dive into Colossians 3:18–25, where Paul shows how the lordship of Christ shapes everyday faithfulness in both family life and serving relationships. In the family, faithfulness is expressed through Christ-shaped stewardship—marked by love, obedience, and restrained authority that protects dignity. In serving, faithfulness is practiced through sincere, wholehearted work offered not to people, but to the Lord who sees and rewards what is unseen.

Take Aways:1. Paul warned the Colossians to reject legalism which wrongly condemns and enslaves believers by emphasizing works rather than trusting in the sufficiency of Christ—“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:282. Paul reminded the Colossians of their liberty from the law, that they might live fully unto Christ—“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1

Today's Advent devotion was written by Solomon Junnuri. The Scripture reading comes from Colossians 3:12-17. Access the Advent guide online.

I had another episode planned for today, but at the last minute I decided to rerun this Christmas episode for you. I think this will become our traditional Christmas episode here at Gnostic Insights. And, if you are new to this podcast, welcome! Next week’s episode will be controversial, so I thought it best to wait until after Christmas for its release. Today, we're going to look at the nature of the Christ—the who, what, why of Christ. Most people are familiar with seeing the baby Jesus in the manger and that's what we celebrate at Christmas time, the birth of the Christ on Earth in the form of a human. But the Christ is an ethereal creature that predates the birth of Jesus. Jesus and the Christ aren't exactly the same, although Jesus was fully Christ. The Christ predates the birth of the human known as Jesus. So, let's learn more about the Christ and why the Christ figure is so essential to us Second Order Powers.  Gnosticism is the forerunner of the modern Christian faith. As such, a better understanding of the figure of the Christ is essential to understanding both Gnosticism and Christianity. The cosmology that I talk about here on the podcast was well known to Jesus and his original followers, but it was cut out of Christianity about 1700 years ago by the Nicene Council, at the urging of the Pope and the Roman Emperor. Because this theology was subtracted from orthodox Christianity, many of the ideas of gnostic cosmology sound odd and unfamiliar to modern churchgoers. Some of the ideas may even sound heretical at first glance due to their unfamiliarity. Yet the theology contained in these early scriptures makes sense of so many puzzling aspects of Christian faith that they must be reexamined. That's why I call the Substack The Gnostic Reformation. I'm confident that once you understand gnostic Christianity, you will better understand your relationship with God. According to gnostic cosmology as laid out in the Nag Hammadi, we humans and all other forms of life on Earth, from bacteria and eukaryotes on up, are the fruit of the Pleroma and Logos. We Second Order Powers find ourselves locked in a never-ending battle for dominion over the Earth with forces that were generated as a result of the Fall. Due to the law of mutual combat, we have forgotten our origin in the Fullness and our mission to bring love and harmony to creation and have instead taken on many of the characteristics of the shadows of the Deficiency. The Second Order Powers are locked in a never-ending war with the Deficiency. Here below, we constantly battle the physical forces of death and entropy, as well as the spiritual forces of vice, sin, delusion and despair. In order to restore memory and reason to the Second Order Powers, the Aeons of the Fullness, every one of them individually and all of them collectively, gave glory in unison to their Father while praying for a helper to bring peace to the Deficiency and forgiveness to Logos. Out of this focused prayer, a unique fruit emerged, one that contained all of the capabilities and powers of the Fullness, along with all of the love and eternal qualities of the Father. The singular fruit of the Fullness and the Father is known by various names: the Christ, the Savior and the Redeemer, the Advocate, the Light, and the Beloved. In Simple Explanation terms, the Christ is a perfect and full fractal of the Father and the Son, all rolled-up into one perfect form. Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth was both perfect man and perfect God incarnate. Christian Gnostics believed the same. Here is a more complete explanation of who Jesus was. It's said that Jesus was conceived without sin because he carried within his body the perfection of man and God. This would mean that Jesus was perfect and true to the original DNA formula for humanity. Hence the importance of the virgin birth that then imparted that perfect DNA to the baby. Jesus was also without negative karma attached to his soul, as his soul was the soul of God. The components of Jesus's body were also without sin, as the cells and flesh that became Jesus were in fact the Aeons of the Fullness incarnate. As Colossians 1:19 says, “For God was pleased to have all his Fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on Earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross.” This one sentence from Colossians contains the entire Christian Gnostic Gospel. Because Jesus brought along the entire Fullness of the Pleroma when he incarnated, every aspect of the Father and Son came to material instantiation on Earth. In this manner, the eternal God experienced the finite life of us Second Order Powers and all of the struggle between birth and death that plague us all. Here is how the Tripartite Tractate of the Nag Hammadi scriptures describes this process: “As for those of the shadow, Logos separated himself from them in every way, since they fight against him and are not at all humble before him. The stumbling which happened to the Aeons of the Father was brought to them as if it were their own, in a careful and non-malicious and immensely sweet way. It was brought to the Fullnesses so that they might be instructed about the Deficiency by the single One, from whom alone they all received strength to eliminate the defects. They gathered together, asking the Father, with beneficent intent, that there be aid from above from the Father for his glory, since the defective one could not become perfect in any other way unless it was the will of the Pleroma of the Father, which he had drawn to himself, revealed, and given to the defective one. Then, from the harmony, in a joyous willingness which had come into being, they brought forth the fruit which was a begetting from the harmony, a unity, a possession of the Fullnesses, revealing the countenance of the Father of whom the Aeons thought as they gave glory and prayed for help for their brother with a wish in which the Father counted himself with them. Thus it was willingly and gladly that they brought forth the fruit. And he made manifest the agreement of the revelation of his union with them, which was his beloved Son, but the Son in whom the Fullnesses are pleased to put himself on them as a garment through which he gave perfection to the defective one and gave confirmation to those who are perfect, the One who is properly called Savior and the Redeemer and the Well-pleasing One, and the Beloved, the One to whom prayers have been offered, and the Christ and the light of those appointed in accordance with the ones from whom he was brought forth, since he has become the names of the positions which were given to him. Yet what other name may be applied to him except the Son, as we have previously said, since he is the knowledge of the Father whom he wanted them to know? Not only did the Aeons generate the countenance of the Father to whom they gave praise, but also they generated their own, for the Aeons who give glory, generated their countenance and their face. They came forth in a multifaceted form in order that the one to whom help was to be given might see those to whom he had prayed for help. He also sees the One who gave it to him.” (That is from the Tripartite Tractate sections 85 through 87.) So you see, the mission of the Christ, as stated in Colossians, was to redeem all of creation, including the fallen Aeon who had founded our material universe. Because the Christ came to redeem everyone, the body of Jesus came to Earth with every one of the Fullnesses on board. For every fallen spirit, the Christ brought forth their own personal and recognizable Savior. Redemption has already taken place. It is up to the Second Order Powers and the one who fell to recognize and accept that redemption in order to complete the mission of the Christ. In Simple Explanation terms, the Christ brought the correcting formula for all of our spirits and souls, each unique and personally formulated to meet our individual needs. The baptism of the Christ washes away the mental and spiritual confusion brought on by the endless war with shadows of the Fall. Gnostics are apocalyptic, as are Christians. Gnostics believe that some day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus, the Christ, is Lord. Repentance and redemption comes harder for some than for others. Some souls take more time to recognize and remember. Ultimately, though, there comes a day of reckoning, for the Father will not be denied forever. There will soon come a day when the Deficiency ends. On that day, a new economy will unite Heaven and Earth, and all souls will find their joyful place in Paradise. The only forms banished to the outer darkness will be the shadows and phantoms of the Fall, which did not exist within the Father's consciousness from the beginning. These shadows are not real and they will have no home with us in Paradise. The hierarchy of the Fullness of God dreams of Paradise. Logos crowns the hierarchy and contains fractals of all the other Aeons. Now here's a gnostic perspective of Jesus on the cross. One of the central themes of the Christian faith is the death of Jesus on the cross. Christians the world over focus on the body of Jesus hanging on the cross, and I've often wondered, why this fixation of Jesus on the cross? Why is the crucifix the focal point of every church and altar? Why do people wear the cross as jewelry or hang a crucifix in their bedroom? The obvious answer Christians give is that without the cross, Jesus could not have saved humanity from sin, for he bore our sins into the grave with his death and they were washed away with his resurrection from the dead. Praise be to God, but why the cross? If Jesus had been stoned to death or drowned or beaten or thrown from a high tower, would we still feel such affinity for the stone, a lake, a club or a roof? I don't think so. I think there is something very special about the shape of the cross itself. I ask this question because Jesus never said, I'm soon to pass on from this world, and I want you to focus on my body hanging on the cross as I take on the sins of the world. And yet, that's what people do, as if that were the entire point of the Gospel. As far as I can tell, Jesus did not ask for his death and resurrection to be the focal point of worship. What Jesus actually said was: “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30), and, “Whoever welcomes me welcomes the Father that sent me” (Luke 9:48). In other words, Jesus acknowledged himself in reference to his Father and he deflected glory to his Father. Yet Jesus is worshipped by modern Christians to the extent that the Father almost goes unmentioned. Thank goodness for the Lord's prayer, which is directed to the Father and not to the Son. Jesus taught it to be said to the Father; he did not teach it to be recited to himself. No slight to the Son, of course, we're merely emphasizing the importance of the God Above All Gods. During the last supper, Jesus instructed his followers to think of his broken body as they break and eat bread and to consider his blood as the fulfillment of a contract with humanity as they drink wine. This is what Jesus left the church as instruction regarding his death. He did not instruct them to erect images of crosses and to worship him hanging on a cross, as if he were stuck up there forever. Yes, Protestants have allowed Jesus to come down off the cross and therefore their crosses are unoccupied to remind us that Jesus resurrected, but still the focus is on the cross. Again—why the cross in particular? Here is the symbolism of the cross as I understand it. We who dwell on Earth are engaged in endless warfare with the Imitation that always seeks to lure us away from our Father in Heaven. Oftentimes we don't even realize we're engaged in warfare with the Imitation, because it can appear disguised as goodness. This is what is meant by the Devil being a liar. Things are proposed “for our own good,” but they're not; they're proposed for power and control. We Second Order of Powers are engaged in this endless warfare and, although we come from a good disposition of the Father and the Fullness, we have forgotten our heavenly nature and become deluded because of rage and other passions and addictions. The Christ came to Earth in the form of a Son of Man to bring the Third Order of Powers to Earth as the solution to overcoming the phantoms of the Imitation that have mired the Second Order Powers in error and ignorance. Those who have eyes to see the Christ are able to remember their Father in Heaven. Those who remember their Father in Heaven and repent from the Imitation are redeemed. Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the promise to redeem the fallen. Jesus as the Son of God and the Son of Man brought salvation to the Deficiency and restored it to the Kingdom of Heaven. The reason the cross looks as it does and occupies such a central role in worship is that the cross represents human beings. The Cross is shaped like a human, a Son of Man. It is no accident that Jesus was crucified on a cross because Jesus is a Son of Man, the Son of Man. The Cross should remind us that humankind has been redeemed by the body and blood of Christ in an even more profound way than acknowledging the indignity and suffering of Christ on the cross. It should remind us that the Son of God—the Christ—bridged with the form of his human body spirit-to-matter, which is top-to-bottom, and neighbor-to-neighbor, which is side-to-side, just as the shape of the cross. In the Gnostic Gospel, redemption comes to all of creation through the incarnation of the Son of God into the body of the Son of Man. The manner of the Savior's birth, death, and resurrection will come to every soul as they realize their Father is in Heaven and to Heaven they will return. For, as it says, “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” That affirmation comes from the New Testament (Philippians 2:10). It just takes time. We aren't there yet because of the common delusion of presumptuous thought, which causes people to behave selfishly. Ego must first make way for the love of Christ to take over the throne of the Self. Only then may you rise above the egoic imitation, for then you will have a champion and a king. The very public way that Jesus was crucified and the very public way that he resurrected gives us all hope of the same: Jesus demonstrates proof of resurrection and his life, death, and resurrection is about all of us, not only about the Christ. Jesus is the exemplar of our resurrection. And, by the way, in a Gnostic sense, which could be considered heretical by many Christians, the story of Jesus and the Christ and the Father don't even have to be believed as historical fact, which many nay-sayers make the cornerstone of their argument against Christ and God. The very concepts themselves—the very thoughts, the mind—is what carries this. We are consciousness and this Christ story is in our consciousness for our salvation. Think on that… I acknowledge that this is a very different version of Christianity than has been traditionally presented to us. This is gnosis that was originally contained in the sacred scriptures that formed the New Testament prior to the Pope and Emperor of Rome getting their hands on it and stripping it out. It's nice to know. I hope you get it. It doesn't really matter, because all you need to know is that we come from the Father and to the Father we will return. That is the bottom line. We are emanations directly of the Father and the Father has promised to save us all and bring us all home. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me.” This has been taken to mean that one must acknowledge the power of the Christ before the Christ can redeem you. But, you see, this would put all of the power of redemption in your hands rather than Christ's. The Christ will redeem all Second Order Powers by the end of time, with or without your prior acknowledgment. All redemption comes to the Father through the Christ, and that is in Christ's hands. What accepting the Christ now does for you is open the door for the Third Order Powers to enter your egoic soul. This power makes it possible to live a joyous and virtuous life. It allows the love of the Father to flow through you and out into the world. And it eases your transition after the physical death of your body, so you may enter the afterlife without fear, knowing that you rest in the Pleroma of the Christ. The Final Economy is our foretaste of Paradise. No more shadows, no more sorrow. I hope that this information is helpful to you and will help you remember your gnosis. Merry Christmas. God bless us all. And onward and upward. If you are getting any gnosis from this information, please consider supporting Gnostic Insights with a generous donation. It helps keep me motivated. I’m a one-person enterprise with full responsibility for every aspect of this podcast, from writing to recording to editing to artwork to paying for the hosting services that bring this gnosis to you. I could really use some more support! Please do what you can. Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmail *Stripe Credit Card *Choose your item *Item A - $10.00Item B - $25.00Item C - $50.00Total$0.00Submit

Niki and Gavin discuss The Bema Seat and The Wedding Supper of the Lamb.Scripture readings:  1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Micah 7:19, John 5:24, 1 Peter 2:24, Hebrews 12:1-3, 1 Corinthians 3:14, Revelation 1:14, 2 Chronicles 16:19, Ephesians 5:15, Colossians 3:23-24, Revelation 19:6-9, Matthew 26:27-29, Zephaniah 3:17, Isaiah 11:6-9, Revelation 3:20Contact Information:  FinalDestinationHeaven@outlook.com

It's not about Christ in the manger; the objective is Christ in you! For all those who think they can fit God into their puny, broken minds, or neatly graph His eternal plan in their seminar, we have Colossians, chapter 1. There we read that the divine strategy was a "mystery," a glorious secret, revealed only to His "holy ones." And to solve that enigma will take us all the way to death, and a new life. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS12192025_0.mp3Scripture References: Colossians 1 & 3

Forgiving the unforgivable isn't easy—and sometimes it feels impossible. When the betrayal was deep, the wound was public, or the pain altered the course of your life, forgiveness can feel like a betrayal of yourself. In this episode of So Lux Life, we confront the hardest kind of forgiveness—the kind that requires surrender, not strength. We unpack what forgiveness truly is (and what it is not), why unforgiveness quietly keeps us bound to the very pain we're trying to escape, and how God uses forgiveness as a tool for freedom—not denial. If you've been carrying resentment, anger, or unanswered “why” questions, this conversation is for you. Healing doesn't mean excusing the offense—it means releasing your right to remain wounded. This episode will help you: Understand forgiveness from a biblical perspective Release emotional weight without minimizing your pain Break free from cycles of bitterness and spiritual blockage Step into peace, clarity, and restoration Because freedom begins where forgiveness starts—even when it feels undeserved. Scripture References: Matthew 18:21–22, Ephesians 4:31–32, Colossians 3:13

Continuing our study of Colossians chapter 3, Steve Wood offers a practical life application Bible study focused on forming a lasting Catholic faith in today's youth. Drawing directly from Scripture, Steve outlines three essential steps that parents, catechists, and youth leaders can use to help young people internalize the faith and live it out in everyday life. For more resources, visit us online at www.BibleforCatholics.com.  

As we begin reading 1 Peter today, Fr. Mike walks us through Peter's powerful message about persevering in trials, trusting that those sufferings purify our love and faith by teaching us to love God for his own sake and not just the gifts he blesses us with. Finally, as we wrap up Colossians, Fr. Mike highlights St. Paul's call to uphold the obligations we have to others in society, in our family, and in our work. Today we read 1 Peter 1-2, Colossians 3-4, and Proverbs 30:10-14. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

We're back for part two of Matthew Stephen Brown's conversation with Pastor John Martinez of Sandals Church Banning. After a powerful first episode, this debrief continues by turning to your questions — honest, practical, and rooted in everyday faith.In this episode, Pastor Matthew and Pastor John respond to audience-submitted questions about what it really looks like to live out your faith in today's culture. From navigating music and entertainment as a Christian, to understanding what “great faith” actually means and how it grows, to discerning the difference between genuine worship and performance, this conversation is thoughtful, biblical, and refreshingly real.Show notes:  Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 NLT 

Fr. Mike reflects on the effects of wealth on our souls and our relationship with God. He emphasizes the importance of resisting the devil and invites us to draw near to God because he is constantly pursuing us, especially as we share in his suffering. Today's readings are James 3-5, Colossians 1-2, and Proverbs 30:7-9. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.