Podcasts about Common English Bible

Year A – Fourth Sunday of Easter – April 26, 2026 Pastor Megan Floyd Acts 2:42-47 Psalm 23 1 Peter 2:18-25 John 10:1-10 Grace and peace to you from God and the Holy Spirit, and from Jesus Christ, who came so that we may have life, and have it abundantly. Amen. *** The Common English Bible translation of John 10:10 reads, "I came so that they could have life - indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest." I share that… because I've often heard this verse misconstrued as promoting the acquisition of wealth and power. …choosing instead to understand Jesus to mean a "life of abundance" rather than… "abundant life." The abundance that Jesus has in mind… the fullness of life… isn't a life of material wealth, but rather, it is a life that is full of love and intimacy with God, and with Creation… like that of the trusted companionship of sheep and their shepherd. But this comparison of sheep and shepherds… and of Jesus being the gate to the protective enclosure of the fold… it doesn't come out of nowhere… Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, who have accused him of being against God after he healed the man who was born blind… A man who proclaimed Jesus to be from God… and that Jesus must be the Messiah. He came to this conclusion after having worked out the only possible explanation of his miraculous healing… and for his proclamation, the Pharisees cast him out of their community. And Jesus, ever the Good Shepherd, finds that man again… and returns him to the safety of the fold among his disciples. Jesus protects him from those who would do him harm on account of his being a follower of Jesus. Jesus is the shepherd who protects his flock, not for the sake of harvesting wool or mutton, but rather for the sake of the sheep themselves… So the sheep may have lives that are flourishing… thriving… abundant… so we may have the very fullness of life. And by identifying himself as the gate, Jesus proclaims that through him, the sheep will find protection from the dangers of the night, and in the morning, it is through him that they will go out to green pastures to find nourishment. And we, who are the sheep, know and follow the sound of our shepherd's voice… not because we are mindless, but because we recognize that our shepherd has our best interests at heart, and also, we rejoice and glorify God …and so we live in a relationship of mutuality with our shepherd. The abundant life that Jesus longs for us to have… the fullness of life… is one that is full of love… full of grace and mercy… full of community that genuinely cares for one another and ensures that all are provided for and all are safe from harm. The abundant life that Jesus longs for us to have is built on faith, which manifests itself as experiential love and trust, and shapes the way we live. Yes, that…. That is abundant life… It looks a lot like the community described in our reading from Acts 2… which gives the four marks of a faithful community: they are devoted to the teachings of the apostles, to fellowship, to sharing meals with each other, and to prayer. And equally so, an abundant life looks like the trust proclaimed in Psalm 23… of being led to green pastures where no one goes hungry… of a cup that overflows so there is plenty to share. An abundant life looks like pausing long enough to appreciate all God has done for us, and trusting that God's goodness and mercy pursue us always. Yes, that is abundant life… life lived to the fullest. It's a glimpse of what the full kindom of heaven looks like… a glimpse of what we are building as we live together as children of God, grounded in our faith… in our trust in God's promise and provision. I appreciate this glimpse of abundant life in our reading from Acts and the Psalms… but you might be wondering how the suffering that Peter writes about comes into play. This one is difficult for our modern ears to hear, and we really should not hear it without also acknowledging the immense harm that has been done at the knife's edge of these words. This passage seems to glorify suffering and has led many to seek suffering. But moreover, it takes an even more chilling tone when we include the verse immediately before our selection… a verse our reading left off… Verse 18… which is… "Slaves, accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh." …the text goes on, then, to talk about suffering for Christ. I knew this woman who got married young and then found herself in an abusive and oppressive marriage. She had two kids and was torn between her drive to protect herself and her children… and her marriage vows, which she had taken seriously. She consulted the pastor of her non-denominational church and was told… her suffering was for the Lord, and she needed to endure it. She was told her husband was her Lord and she needed to submit to him. She was cast aside as less valuable in God's eyes and in the eyes of the faith community… she was alone and full of shame. She tried to endure it for years… But the violence was harming her children, and so she eventually left her husband… and the church… never having heard the promise that our Good Shepherd desires to protect us from harm… never having heard the promise from her faith community that her life mattered. This is one of those passages that oppressive powers have used to justify their oppression… to keep themselves in power and to dismiss and even glorify the harm they perpetrate on others… all in the name of being a "faithful Christian." The woman I knew was one of countless wives across centuries, who have been abused and worse, and told they must endure. …and I'm willing to wager that many of you also know someone who was shamed into enduring harm, with scripture as the threat that kept them there. This is one of those passages also wielded like a whip by people who kept other humans enslaved… they used these words to try and break the wills and spirits of those they kept in shackles… refusing to consider the one they held in bondage was, in truth, their brother… or sister… in Christ. The twisting of these teachings, and the incredible harm that has been caused, and is still caused today… is heartbreaking. But it can only be achieved by taking these passages out of context… and by not considering the population to which these letters were addressed. You see, most of the early followers of Jesus were already enslaved… already living in servitude… marginalized and oppressed… and already enduring pain and suffering at the hands of those who held power over them. It was NOT oppression in the name of being a "faithful Christian." It was oppression in the name of Empire… in the name of attaining and retaining power, wealth, and privilege… something that can only be achieved if you keep entire groups of people as a permanent underclass. And so, these words… they were never intended to be a prescription to seek suffering… or to justify gross abuses of power… no… These words were meant to be a lifeline… a message of hope that the harm you are already suffering is not all there is in life… that the Christ who suffered with you has defeated death and the grave… and offers you salvation. The encouragement to endure is shared to strengthen the wills of those who are being harmed on account of their faith in Christ… And so that they can make it to the next gathering of their faith community, where they are welcomed as equals… sharing together in the fullness of the life their community offers. It is important to name all this "Because any interpretation of the Gospel which supports, justifies, or remains silent in the face of slavery and oppression… is not the Good News… and it is not the way of Jesus." (Pulpit Fiction podcast) So, for us to understand this text from 1 Peter, we must hear it in the fuller context of God's promise of abundant life for us. We must hear it alongside the promise of Jesus as our Good Shepherd, who leads us to green pastures… And alongside the celebration of faith communities that share all in common, and are devoted to the teachings of the apostles, to community, to fellowship, and to prayer. And we must hear it alongside Jesus' promise that we will know the sound of his voice… and trust in his provision. For Jesus Christ came so that we may have life… and have it abundantly. Amen.  

Episode: In this episode, Kyle sits down for a chat with David deSilva about his two new volumes, Archaeology and the Ministry of Paul: A Visual Guide and Archaeology and the World of Jesus: A Visual Guide (Baker Academic, 2025). The two chat about the importance of material culture for understanding the New Testament, discerning between good church traditions and "other" church traditions, and whether or not it is important to get one's historical details right as a part of one's theology. Kyle also recounts his unique baptism experience, and David gushes about the Via Dolorosa.  Guest: David DeSilva is is Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary, and an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church. He is the author of over 35 books, including Day of Atonement: A Novel of the Maccabean Revolt (Kregel, 2015), The Jewish Teachers of Jesus, James, and Jude: What Earliest Christianity Learned from the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha (Oxford, 2012), An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & Ministry Formation (InterVarsity, 2004), Introducing the Apocrypha (Baker Academic, 2002), Honor, Patronage, Kinship & Purity: Unlocking New Testament Culture (InterVarsity, 2000), A Week in the Life of Ephesus (IVP Academic, 2020), and the two books in this interview here, Archaeology and the Ministry of Paul: A Visual Guide and Archaeology and the World of Jesus: A Visual Guide (Baker Academic, 2025). He was involved in several major Bible translation projects, serving as the Apocrypha Editor for the Common English Bible and working on the revision of the Apocrypha for the English Standard Version. (Adapted from the ATS website).   Give: Visit our Donate Page if you want to help Biblical World and OnScript continue by becoming a regular donor.  

As the one-year anniversary of the Westminster Study Bible approaches, I am joined by one of its editors, Dr. Emerson Powery, to dive into the vision, process, and purpose behind it. What really goes into the notes, commentary, and theological decisions of a study Bible? How does a study Bible shape the way we read Scripture? And why does the Westminster Study Bible offer something distinct from the many others already available?Emerson B. Powery is Professor of Biblical Studies at Messiah College. He is the coeditor of True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary and the author of Jesus Reads Scripture: The Function of Jesus' Use of Scripture in the Synoptic Gospels and Mark in the Immersion Bible Studies series. Powery also serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Biblical Literature and the Common English Bible.Personal Website/Writing: https://www.ryleyheppner.comApologetics Canada: https://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryleyhepp/

Psalm 52 (from the Common English Bible); Psalm 15 (from the New Revised Standard Bible); Luke 10:38-42“For too long we have thought of the Christian life as essentially either involvementin political, economic, social concerns that wear us out… or activity which keepsthe church intact and doctrinally pure. Our primary orientation cannot be aninstitution or some great cause or even other people, but first and forever to God.Unless our identity is hid in God we will never know who we are or what we are todo. Our first act must be prayer.” - from The Spiritual Life by John H. Westerhoff III andJohn D. Eusden

Roy E. Gane is professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Languages at the Theological Seminary at Andrews University, where he has served since 1994. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in biblical Hebrew from the University of California, Berkeley, and served as president of the Adventist Theological Society (2009–10). Gane has published extensively in scholarly journals and authored several books, including Leviticus, Numbers (NIV Application Commentary), Old Testament Law for Christians, and The Sanctuary and Salvation. He was also the primary translator for Leviticus in the Common English Bible.

Roy E. Gane is professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Languages at the Theological Seminary at Andrews University, where he has served since 1994. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in biblical Hebrew from the University of California, Berkeley, and served as president of the Adventist Theological Society (2009–10). Gane has published extensively in scholarly journals and authored several books, including Leviticus, Numbers (NIV Application Commentary), Old Testament Law for Christians, and The Sanctuary and Salvation. He was also the primary translator for Leviticus in the Common English Bible.

Roy E. Gane is professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Languages at the Theological Seminary at Andrews University, where he has served since 1994. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in biblical Hebrew from the University of California, Berkeley, and served as president of the Adventist Theological Society (2009–10). Gane has published extensively in scholarly journals and authored several books, including Leviticus, Numbers (NIV Application Commentary), Old Testament Law for Christians, and The Sanctuary and Salvation. He was also the primary translator for Leviticus in the Common English Bible.

Roy E. Gane is professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Languages at the Theological Seminary at Andrews University, where he has served since 1994. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in biblical Hebrew from the University of California, Berkeley, and served as president of the Adventist Theological Society (2009–10). Gane has published extensively in scholarly journals and authored several books, including Leviticus, Numbers (NIV Application Commentary), Old Testament Law for Christians, and The Sanctuary and Salvation. He was also the primary translator for Leviticus in the Common English Bible.

Roy E. Gane is professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Languages at the Theological Seminary at Andrews University, where he has served since 1994. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in biblical Hebrew from the University of California, Berkeley, and served as president of the Adventist Theological Society (2009–10). Gane has published extensively in scholarly journals and authored several books, including Leviticus, Numbers (NIV Application Commentary), Old Testament Law for Christians, and The Sanctuary and Salvation. He was also the primary translator for Leviticus in the Common English Bible.

The sermon from the Sunday, April 6, 2025, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Associate Pastor Rev. Chris Rapko. “Practice Makes Perfect: Confession” in the worship series “Practice Makes Perfect.” Scripture lesson: 1 John 1:8-10 (Common English Bible).Support the show

The sermon from the Sunday, February 23, 2025, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by guest preacher Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz. “Let's Behave Like God's Children” in the worship series “A Different Rhythm: Stepping Out of the World's Beat.” Scripture lesson: Luke 6:27-38 (Common English Bible).Support the show

The sermon from the Sunday, December 29, 2024, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Associate Pastor Rev. Chris Rapko. “Home Alone 12(A.D.): Lost in Jerusalem” in the worship series “Unwrapping the Gift of Joy.” Scripture lesson: Luke 2:41-52 (Common English Bible).Happy New Year! In this week's midweek service we continue to celebrate Christmas as we are in the Twelve Days of Christmas, also called the Season of Christmastide, which are the days between December 25 and Epiphany on January 6. Associate Pastor Rev. Chris Rapko's sermon is called “Home Alone 12(A.D.): Lost in Jerusalem” and the scripture lesson is Luke 2:41-52 (Common English Bible).Download the worship guide at:http://www.atlantafirstumc.org/pdf/24/AFUMC-Worship-24-12-29.pdfDownload the children's handout at:http://www.atlantafirstumc.org/pdf/24/AFUMC-Children-24-12-29.pdfSupport the show

A contemporary Christian Science Bible Study read from Common English Bible, copyright Common English Bible, and from 21st Century Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: A modern version of Mary Baker Eddy's Science and Health, copyright by Cheryl Petersen https://healingsciencetoday.wordpress.com/

The sermon from the Reformation Sunday, October 27, 2024, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Associate Pastor Rev. Chris Rapko. “An Invitation to Generosity: How to Engage” in the worship series “An Invitation to Generosity,” and scripture lesson: Mark 10:46-52 (Common English Bible).Support the show

The sermon from the Laity Sunday, October 20, 2024, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Melanie Long, Laity Sunday Preacher. “An Invitation to Generosity: Grow Together” in the worship series “An Invitation to Generosity,” and scripture lesson: Romans 12:4-8 and Hebrews 10:24-5 (Common English Bible).Support the show

The sermon from the Sunday, August 25, 2024, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Associate Pastor Rev. Chris Rapko. “Holiness When It's Not Easy” in the worship series “Back 2 Basics,” and scripture lesson: Ephesians 6:10-20 (Common English Bible).Support the Show.

The sermon from the Sunday, August 11, 2024, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Associate Pastor Rev. Chris Rapko. “Created for Community” in the worship series “Back 2 Basics,” and scripture lesson: Ephesians 4:25-5:2 (Common English Bible).Support the Show.

The sermon from the Sunday, July 7, 2024, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Associate Pastor Rev. Chris Rapko. Sermon “He's Still Speaking Through Faith” in the worship series “The Gospel According to Disney-Pixar's Coco,” and scripture lesson: Hebrews 10:32-11:7 (Common English Bible).Support the Show.

The sermon from the Laity Sunday, October 22, 2023, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by guest preacher Mr. Nate Abrams, the Lay Leader of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. Scripture lesson: 2 Timothy 1:8-14 (Common English Bible).Support the show

Grace and peace to you. I'm Rev. Joe Cailles, the pastor of Peakland United Methodist Church in Lynchburg Virginia. Today is Wednesday, October 11, 2023 On February 9, 1709, a five-year-old boy by the name of John Wesley was caught in a house fire. Young John Wesley was the son of Susanna Wesley and Rev Samuel Wesley, a priest in the church of England, and they lived in the rectory in the town of Epworth in central England. On the night of February 9, the rectory caught fire, and John was trapped in the second-floor nursery. John's father tried in vain to rescue his son, but the flames beat him back each time. Convinced that John could not be saved, the family knelt in the garden and prayed God to receive his soul. A couple of quick-thinking neighbors acted to save John, one standing on the shoulders of the other, pulling John through the open window to safety, just as the house fire brought the roof down on John's room. After the fire, Susanah referred to John as the brand plucked from the fire, which is a Biblical reference to Zechariah 3:2, in which God saves a High priest of the Temple from ruin. John Wesley would grow to become a priest in the Church of England like his father and when he was in his mid-20s John Wesley led a group of fellow college students at Oxford University in daily and weekly bible studies and acts of service to those in need. Those were the first methodists. That small group grew and expanded beyond Oxford into all of Britain and into the British settlements in North America. In 1784, the methodists in America established the Methodist episcopal church, the first Christian denomination established in the new United States. We at Peakland United Methodist Church are reading this book Being United Methodist Christians, and this week we consider how United Methodists read and understand the Bible. From our start, we United Methodists have been people of the Bible. Scriptures are at the heart of every Sunday worship service. We United Methodists read our Bibles individually and in small groups. When we consider how we are to be in mission out in the world, the first place we look is our Bibles. At Peakland our mission is reaching out, serving all and extending God's table, and that comes straight from the stories of what Jesus and his first disciples did. When we consider God's actions throughout the Bible, we see God reaching out to all of humanity, serving us with grace and mercy and salvation, and extending God's love and God's table to all. We United Methodists have no official version of the Bible. I tend to read the New Revised Standard Version. Many folks like the NIV or the Message or the Common English Bible. And in the same way, we United Methodist have no one person who is the end all be all authority in interpreting the Bible. As your pastor, part of my ministry is preaching and interpreting the scriptures in the way God has laid on my heart, and you may agree or disagree with what I say. That's normal. That's one of the best parts of being United methodist. We read the scriptures and talk about them and debate them and maybe disagree and then we go about our ministries with each other and out in the world. As I said this past Sunday in worship, that's one of the things I love about being a United Methodist. This upcoming Sunday, October 15, Peakland welcomes Rev. Denise Bates, our Mountain View district superintendent to preach in our worship services. She will share with us the challenges and blessings she sees in being a united methodist and what we United Methodist have in common with other Christian churches. Join me on Sundays in person at our 8:30 and 11:00 worship services in the sanctuary, our 9:45 contemporary Horizons worship service in the fellowship hall and online beginning at 11:00 a.m.

This week I'm excited to have another return conversation with a longtime friend, and an amazing biblical scholar and author, Dr. Brent Strawn. Brent was actually my very first guest when I launched this podcast a couple of years ago, and I always learn new things when I get together with Brent and talk about the Old Testament. Brent is the D. Moody Smith Distinguished Professor of Old Testament (and Professor of Law) at Duke Divinity School and Duke University School of Law.  He's a grad of Point Loma Nazarene University and he did his MDiv and PhD at Princeton Theological Seminary. He's taught for several years now at Asbury Theological Seminary, Emory University's Candler School of Theology, and now Duke Divinity. He's written several books and over two hundred and fifty articles, chapters, reference works and reviews, and he served as both a translator and editor for the Common English Bible. Just this week it was announced that he has won a National Endowment for the Humanities grant for a project to create the first critical, eclectic edition of the Hebrew Psalter. This work will bring in all kinds of new resources into work on the Psalms – including the Dead Sea Scrolls. Our conversation today centers on his most recent book The Incomparable God: Readings in Biblical Theology (published by Eerdmans). This book is actually the bringing together of 18 of Brent's unpublished essays (and a couple of original chapters for the book), put together and edited by a couple of Brent's former students. The essays cover topics like the complex portrayal of God in Genesis, God's mercy in Exodus, the poetic description of God in the Psalms, the Trinity in both testaments, the integration of faith and scholarship, and (my favorite) an amazing reflection on the story of Elisha and the bears. It's a great book and really an honor for Brent to have former students already doing this kind of work on his behalf. I always love talking with my friend Brent, and I think you will love this conversation also.

Scripture reading and sermon from worship Sunday, May 14. Rev. Mariah Furness Tollgaard preaching. Scripture reading: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16 (Common English Bible).

This has been a contemporary Christian Science Bible lesson sermon from Common English Bible Copyrighted by Common English Bible and from 21 Century Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, a Modern version of Mary Baker Eddy's Science and Health Copyrighted by Cheryl Petersen http://healingsciencetoday.com http://anchor.fm/cheryl-petersen
https://21stcenturyscience.wordpress.com/ http://www.christ-scientist.com/

Imagine a man who sees himself as so incredibly righteous that even the small town Baptist church that he founded might be a bit too liberal for him. That was Dr. John Huntington Story of Lovell, Wyoming. The town had a population of just under 2500 people and one traffic light. It also had a monster who molested hundreds of women and girls as young as three years old. More than 20 years after the monster was finally caged, the town is still divided on who the real monster was. This is Season 4, Episode 21. Our book this week is “Doc: The Rape of the Town of Lovell” by legendary true crime author Jack Olsen and our guest is Beth Hoel, founder of BHG Consulting Group. She has been a member of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers since 2017 and serves on the Governor's Commission to Prevent Violence Against Women in Arizona. We'll talk to her in just a bit, but first we are going to investigate this week's case. Just like John Story was eventually released from prison, so are the majority of people convicted of crimes. Beth is dedicated to ending generational abuse within families who have experienced the hardship and trauma resulting from sexually abusive behavior. Amazingly, she works with both victims and offenders to make communities safer for us all. I know you'll find her work as impactful as I did. Isaiah 59:14-15 Common English Bible says this: Justice is pushed aside; righteousness stands far off, because truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty can't enter. Truth is missing; anyone turning from evil is plundered. The Lord looked and was upset at the absence of justice. Not much has changed since Isaiah's time has it? Justice and righteousness still seem far away at times. But this isn't what God wants! Not everyone welcomes the truth being made known, but the truth is always worth telling. Even an Unlovely Truth. Maybe especially an Unlovely Truth. How else can we hold people accountable and get justice for hurting people? It can be very hard to share traumatic experiences we have or information about a crime. Let people know that you are someone who will listen to their story and give them no judgment or shame. If you have a story to tell and don't think you have any safe people in your circle, please know that you can share with me. Highlights from this episode include: Gain tips for teaching your children what an unsafe person might say or try to do Learn how a holistic approach to sexual abuse helps address the fact that most convicted offenders will re-enter society Be challenged to let people know you are a safe person to disclose abuse to If you like this episode, listen to Season 3, Episode 28: Not MY Son Visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com. Grab your own copy of Doc Check out Beth's work here Read more about sexual abuse by medical professionals Check out Beth and Missy Talk on YouTube Get Dr. Anna Salter's book Predators: Pedophiles, Rapists, And Other Offenders (fair warning - I've read this book and while it's extremely informative, their are some graphic portions) Show your support! Share the episode Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn Let me know how The Unlovely Truth has made a difference in your life.

Welcome to the FBC Athens Podcast, Open to Explore Devotions. Today is Wednesday of Holy Week, day 37 of the Lenten Journey. The devotion is given by Marcia Caskey. The scripture reading is Matthew 21:1-17, and is read from The Common English Bible. Addison Aycock plays Beneath the Cross of Jesus. 

Welcome to the FBC Athens Podcast, Open to Explore Devotions. Today marks the 30th day of the pilgrimage to the cross. The devotion is given by Alexis Jorgensen and is based on the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids recorded in Matthew 25:1-13. It will be read today from the Common English Bible. Addison Aycock plays Amazing Grace to begin the devotion.  

Welcome to the FBC Athens Podcast, Open to Explore Devotions. We are now in the fourth week of our Lenten journey, today being the 26th day of our pilgrimage to the cross. The devotion is given by Jamie Hogan; it is based on Jesus' words in Matthew 25:31-46, and read today from the Common English Bible. Addison Aycock plays the tune Simple Gifts to begin the devotion. 

The FBC Athens Podcast, Open to Explore Devotions presents today's devotion for day 20 in our Lenten journey to the cross. It given by Rick Dawson and is based on the parable of the Wedding Banquet in Matthew 22:1-14. The reading today is from the Common English Bible. Allow for the music played by Addison Aycock, to quiet your mind and open your spirit to listen for God.

Today is the 5th day of the Lenten Journey.  First Baptist Church of Athens offers daily devotions prepared by our members to support you in your pilgrimage to the cross.  Anne McDonald shares the devotion today, which follows a reading of Matthew 18:15-35 from the Common English Bible. The instrumental music of Amazing Grace is played on saxophone by Addison Aycock. 

The sermon from the Epiphany Sunday, January 1, 2023, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Jay Burns-Horton. “Go Another Route. Be The Hope.” in the worship series “A Reason for Hope.” Scripture lessons: Matthew 2:1-12 (Common English Bible).Support the show

Luke 2:8-20 (King James Version), Matthew 2:1-12 (Common English Bible)

The sermon from the Third Sunday of Advent, December 11, 2022, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by guest preacher Rev. Olu Brown. “Don't Be Afraid!” in the worship series “A Reason for Hope.” Sermon scripture: Luke 2:8-11 (Common English Bible).Support the show

It is still technically summer! At least for a few more moments. So here is Part 2 of our Glad You Asked, Summer of 2022 edition!

The sermon from the Sunday, August 28, 2022, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by guest preacher Rev. Dr. Gregory C. Ellison, II. “Forward In Faith” in the sermon series “FORWARD IN FAITH.” Sermon scripture: Philippians 1:9-10 (Common English Bible).Support the show

The sermon from the Sunday, August 21, 2022, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Jay Burns-Horton, our Director of Community Engagement and Connections. “SERIOUSLY!? Walk Humbly.” in the sermon series “SERIOUSLY!?” Sermon scripture: Micah 6:6-9 (Common English Bible) and Matthew 18:1-5 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

"LUKE 10:25-37 READING" Kids Ministry Coffee Break 49: The readings of a passage known as "the good samaritan" offers us a chance to encounter the Holy Spirit. Where will you be led today? We will read through Luke 10:25-37 multiple times to allow us to enter into the text and the text to enter into us. I know that sounds like a weird way to describe what we are doing, but that's what happens when we intentionally hear the reading multiple times like this. I'll use the Common English Bible again. I want to say a quick word about why I choose that translation. I'm United Methodist. We don't have an official or required translation, but the recommended one is the New Revised Standard Version as well as the Common English Bible which is basically just a more down to earth version of the NRSV. The NRSV is what is widely used in seminaries. It's very familiar to many pastors. I like the CEB because it's slightly different than what most of you have probably heard. This allows the text to be a bit fresher in the hearing. This translation takes the words and meaning of the holy scripture very seriously, so please, rest assured that this is a trustworthy translation even if it's new. Of course, it doesn't mean you have to like every word choice they make. My hope is that the unfamiliar phrasing to otherwise familiar stories will offer some intrigue and enlightenment. so…let's begin Reading 1—just hear the reading. Close your eyes, relax, and let the passage come to life in your mind and imagination. Try and imagine what the characters are wearing, what kind of noises were occurring in the background, what it smelled like to be there at that moment, what it felt like (maybe you imagine the weather was hot or the crowd packed or the anxieties of people raised during the discussion). Just hear and enter the passage. A legal expert stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?” A Samaritan, who was on a journey, came to where the man was. But when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. The Samaritan went to him and bandaged his wounds, tending them with oil and wine. Then he placed the wounded man on his own donkey, took him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day, he took two full days' worth of wages and gave them to the innkeeper. He said, ‘Take care of him, and when I return, I will pay you back for any additional costs.' What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?” Then the legal expert said, “The one who demonstrated mercy toward him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Reading 2: identify what word or phrase is sticking out to you today. Reading 3: identify WHY you think that word or phrase is sticking out. Is there something going on in your life that may have the Spirit drawing you to that word or phrase? Reading 4: how do you feel called to respond to that word or phrase? Where is the Spirit leading your heart, soul, mind, or efforts today? Message brought to you by Rev. Joseph Sanford of Sanford Curriculum Read more Bible verses on loving your neighbor. Download free Sunday School curriculum this week.

A reading of Psalm 103, first from the New American Standard Bible, and then from the Common English Bible. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: Psalm 103 (New American Standard Bible) Psalm 103 (Common English Bible) Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing  Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

In today's episode I'm whispering Psalms 96. I pray it helps someone today. To help this podcast grow, make sure you share, follow, and turn on notifications for new episodes! Thank you for joining me on this podcasting and life journey! Blessings... Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Common English Bible. © Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/whisper-grace/message

In today's episode I'm whispering Psalms 97. I pray it helps someone today. To help this podcast grow, make sure you share, follow, and turn on notifications for new episodes! Thank you for joining me on this podcasting and life journey! Blessings... Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Common English Bible. © Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/whisper-grace/message

Welcome to episode forty-three of New Creation Conversations. In today's conversation I am joined by my first repeat guest. When I started this podcast ten months ago my very first conversation was with Dr. Brent Stawn. Forty-something episodes later, I hope I've become a better interviewer. Nevertheless, that first episode still is one of my favorites. In part, because Brent is such a good friend, but also because I get such a joy out of talking Old Testament theology and all other things related to church and seminary life with Brent. Thankfully, Brent has a brand-new book out on preaching the Old Testament, and so we have the perfect excuse to pick up our conversation where we left off last time.Brent is a Professor of Old Testament, and now also a Professor of Law, at Duke Divinity School and at Duke University. He's a graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University and has both a Master Divinity degree and PhD in Old Testament Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary. Brent is in his third year of teaching at Duke. Prior to that, he taught at Asbury Theological Seminary and at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He has authored or contributed to a number of books, journals, and scholarly magazines. He has also appeared on CNN, invited to share his expertise on issues ranging from Easter celebrations to Pope Francis to gun violence, and he served as both a translator and a member of the editorial board for the Common English Bible.In our last conversation, we talked about his recent book, Lies My Preacher Told Me: An Honest Look at the Old Testament; published early in 2021. This conversation primarily centers on his brand new book - just released a few days ago and published by Fortress Press - entitled, Honest to God Preaching: Talking Sin, Suffering, and Violence. We also talked about his contribution to another recently released book entitled God and Guns: The Bible Against American Gun Culture - edited by Christopher Hayes and Carly Crouch.Brent is truly one of my favorite people to get to talk to about life, theology, and ministry. Our conversations are always filled with laughter, joy, and occasionally even an insight or two. I hope that you enjoy this second New Creation Conversation between two friends. 

In today's episode I'm whispering Psalms 96. I pray it helps someone today. To help this podcast grow, make sure you share, follow, and turn on notifications for new episodes! Thank you for joining me on this podcasting and life journey! Blessings... Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Common English Bible. © Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/whisper-grace/message

In today's episode I'm whispering John 10. I pray it helps someone today. Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Common English Bible. © Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. To help this podcast grow, make sure you share, follow, and turn on notifications for new episodes! Thank you for joining me on this podcasting and life journey! Blessings...  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/whisper-grace/message

In this episode I'm reading Romans 5 soft spoken ASMR. I pray it helps someone today. To help this podcast grow, make sure you share, follow, and turn on notifications for new episodes! Thank you for joining me on this podcasting and life journey! Blessings... Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Common English Bible.© Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/whisper-grace/message

In this episode I'm whispering Isaiah 43. I pray it helps someone today. To help this podcast grow, make sure you share, follow, and turn on notifications for new episodes! Thank you for joining me on this podcasting and life journey! Blessings...  Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Common English Bible.© Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/whisper-grace/message

In this episode I'm whispering Roman's 1. I pray it helps someone today. To help this podcast grow, make sure you share, follow, and turn on notifications for new episodes! Thank you for joining me on this podcasting and life journey! Blessings... Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Common English Bible.© Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/whisper-grace/message

To help this podcast grow, make sure you share, follow, and turn on notifications for new episodes! Thank you for joining me on this podcasting and life journey! Blessings...In this episode I'm whispering Psalms 37. I pray it helps someone today.Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Common English Bible.© Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Usedby permission. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/whisper-grace/message

To help this podcast grow, make sure you share, follow, and turn on notifications for new episodes! Thank you for joining me on this podcasting and life journey! Blessings...In this episode I'm whispering a little prayer. I hope it helps someone. AmenScripture quotations in this publication are from the Common English Bible.© Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Usedby permission. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/whisper-grace/message

To help this podcast grow, make sure you share, follow, and turn on notifications for new episodes! Thank you for joining me on this podcasting and life journey! Blessings...In this episode I am reading Psalms 31 - CEB version.Enjoy!Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Common English Bible.© Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Usedby permission. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/whisper-grace/message

To help this podcast grow, make sure you share, follow, and turn on notifications for new episodes! Thank you for joining me on this podcasting and life journey! Blessings...In this episode I am reading Psalms 31 - CEB version.Enjoy!Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Common English Bible.© Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Usedby permission. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/whisper-grace/message

To help this podcast grow, make sure you share, follow, and turn on notifications for new episodes! Thank you for joining me on this podcasting and life journey! Blessings...This series is for those who enjoy ASMR whispers.In this episode I am reading Psalms 30 - CEB version.Enjoy!Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Common English Bible.© Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Usedby permission. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/whisper-grace/message