Podcasts about delighting

Sermon, "Delighting in Scripture." by Rick McNally during the Morning Worship Service on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at Calvary Baptist Church in Battle Creek, Michigan

Sermon Summary: "The Discipline of Bible Study" - Psalm 119:9-16 Series: Sacred Rhythms (Message 2) Main Message: Regular, thoughtful engagement with Scripture transforms our hearts, renews our minds, and directs our steps. Overview Imagine receiving a personal letter from someone who loves you deeply and has wisdom that could change your future. Would you skim it quickly, or would you study every word? That's exactly what you have in the Bible—a personal letter from God. Yet many Christians treat it casually, glancing at it occasionally rather than studying it intentionally. This message explores how to move beyond casual reading to transformative Bible study that changes lives. The Psalmist's Passion Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible—176 verses almost entirely about God's Word. The psalmist didn't see Scripture as religious duty but as spiritual delight. He found more joy in God's Word than in material riches because he understood its power to guide, cleanse, and transform. Key Points 1. God's Word Is Our Guide for Righteous Living "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word." Scripture serves as our moral GPS, showing us where we are, where we should be, and how to get there. The difference between casual reading and intentional study is this: reading says "That's a nice verse," while study asks "How does this apply to my life?" 2. Delighting in God's Word Brings Joy and Stability The psalmist "rejoiced" in God's testimonies and found "delight" in His statutes. This wasn't drudgery—this was genuine happiness. God's Word provides what our hearts desperately need: stability in chaos, wisdom for decisions, comfort in pain, hope in despair, and identity in confusion. 3. Consistent Study Requires Intentional Methods and Habits Passion for God's Word doesn't happen accidentally—it requires intentional practices. The message introduces five practical study methods: SOAP (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer), the 5 W's and H, Book Study, Topical Study, and Verse-by-Verse Study. Consistency matters more than length—start with 15-20 minutes daily. 4. Bible Study Must Move from Knowledge to Obedience The ultimate goal isn't just knowing more about God but knowing God more and living differently. Knowledge without obedience leads to spiritual pride. True Bible study always asks: "What is God calling me to do differently because of what I've learned?" Practical Study Methods Introduced SOAP Method: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer 5 W's and H: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How Book Study: Study entire books chapter by chapter Topical Study: Explore what the Bible says about specific topics Verse-by-Verse: Intensive study of individual passages This Week's Challenge Beginners: 15 minutes daily using the SOAP method with the Gospel of John Developing: Choose one book to study over the next month with multiple methods Experienced: Complete a thorough topical study on a relevant subject Everyone: Apply one recent biblical truth more fully in your life The Invitation God has given you a treasure more valuable than gold—His Word. But like any treasure, its value is only realized through careful study, not casual glances. Your Bible isn't just a book—it's a bridge to the heart of God. The psalmist found incredible joy in Scripture because he invested time studying it, meditating on it, and applying it. The same opportunity is yours today. God is waiting to speak to you through His Word, offering wisdom for decisions, comfort for pain, and direction for your future. Start today. Start small. But start. Don't miss what God wants to say to you through His Word. Listen to the full sermon audio above. This continues our six-part "Sacred Rhythms" series on spiritual disciplines. For upcoming messages and other sermon resources, visit our sermon archive.

https://www.youtube.com/@FamilyGoalsPod?sub_confirmation=1On this week's episode, David Pollack and Pastor J discuss your heart's approach to each and every day. Do you spend more time delighting or desiring?You are listening to David Pollack, former College GameDay Analyst, and Jonathan Howes, Lead Pastor of Graystone Church, have a weekly conversation about God, Family, and Sports.#familygoalspodcast #familygoals #christianfamilyRespond in the comments, SUBSCRIBE and CLICK THE BELL for notificationsSUBSCRIBE to The Family Goals Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/family-goals-with-david-pollack-and-pastor-j/id1585214791X: https://x.com/familygoalspodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/familygoalspod/Pollack Family Foundation Banquet of Blessings: https://www.pollackfamilyfoundation.com/banquet-of-blessingsCompassion International: compassion.com/familygoalsToney Financial Services: https://www.toneyfinancialinc.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@FamilyGoalsPod?sub_confirmation=1On this week's episode, David Pollack and Pastor J discuss your heart's approach to each and every day. Do you spend more time delighting or desiring?You are listening to David Pollack, former College GameDay Analyst, and Jonathan Howes, Lead Pastor of Graystone Church, have a weekly conversation about God, Family, and Sports.#familygoalspodcast #familygoals #christianfamilyRespond in the comments, SUBSCRIBE and CLICK THE BELL for notificationsSUBSCRIBE to The Family Goals Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/family-goals-with-david-pollack-and-pastor-j/id1585214791X: https://x.com/familygoalspodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/familygoalspod/Pollack Family Foundation Banquet of Blessings: https://www.pollackfamilyfoundation.com/banquet-of-blessingsCompassion International: compassion.com/familygoalsToney Financial Services: https://www.toneyfinancialinc.com/

The following message is taken from the video teaching series on Preaching. To watch the full series visit www.uniongrow.coTo support or become a friend of Union, visit ⁠⁠⁠https://uniontheology.org/friends-of-union⁠⁠⁠Delighting in the Trinity with Michael Reeves is brought to you by Union. For more resources visit www.unionpublishing.org

Delighting in the Word _ Psalm 119_1-40 by Cypress Bible Church

A new MP3 sermon from Christ Church Presbyterian is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: A Day of Growth and Blessing Subtitle: Delighting in the Sabbath Speaker: Dr. Jon D. Payne Broadcaster: Christ Church Presbyterian Event: Sunday - AM Date: 6/29/2025 Bible: Leviticus 19:30 Length: 55 min.

Have you ever struggled to delight in God or even know what that means practically? Did you know that God delights in YOU? Today, I am joined by Elle Cardel from Daughter of Delight. We talk about delighting in the Lord, spending time in the Bible, the truth that God delights in us, fighting perfectionism, and changing the mentality of the need to earn God's favor.  Show Outline: 00:00 Intro  04:30 What does delighting in God mean? 10:00 Practical ways to grow in our delight of God; being too busy for God; and the importance of Scripture 15:00 Nothing satisfies like our God does 18:00 Fighting the lie that we don't need to study God's Word 21:00 Popular, WRONG Biblical teachings to be wary of 24:30 “God won't give us more than we can handle”… or will He? 31:00 God delights in YOU Buy She Delights: https://amzn.to/4lqkqPP  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard A. MansfieldVictorious Living Series, Part 4

Sunday evening message from the pulpit of Shawano Baptist Church

Lords Day 36

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about Meditating in The Word, from John 14:23, Psalm 1:1–3; Deuteronomy 4:9, and Matthew 4:1–4, including: Chewing, Remembering, and Delighting in it. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, June 17, 2025.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we discussed the importance of being rooted in the Lord and His Word. We turned to Psalm 1, which compares a child of God to a tree. A child of God is considered a tree planted by the waters, has flourishing leaves, yields fruit in their season, meditates on the word day and night, and their nourishment comes from God. The chapter then speaks about the ungodly and how its tree is weaker, taken by the wind, and will perish because it's not rooted in Him. We turned to the phone lines to hear from our listeners about the scriptures they hold onto. We also had Greg Dempter join us to talk about the disruptive emotions leaders can feel during chaos and busyness, and how inner peace comes only from God through all that noise. Greg Dempster is the Founder and Director of ChristLife Ministries, an organization that transforms Christian leaders from various denominational backgrounds. He has also been a senior leader, elder, and ministry director. We also had Asheritah CiuCiu join us to discuss the importance of intimacy with the Lord during quiet time. Asheritah is a national speaker, bestselling author, and founder of One Thing Alone Ministries, an online ministry that helps overwhelmed women find joy in Jesus. She also has a YouTube page where she has posted a video called “Delighting in Jesus: Guided Prayers and Bible Study Tips.” You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we discussed the importance of being rooted in the Lord and His Word. We turned to Psalm 1, which compares a child of God to a tree. A child of God is considered a tree planted by the waters, has flourishing leaves, yields fruit in their season, meditates on the word day and night, and their nourishment comes from God. The chapter then speaks about the ungodly and how its tree is weaker, taken by the wind, and will perish because it's not rooted in Him. We turned to the phone lines to hear from our listeners about the scriptures they hold onto. We also had Greg Dempter join us to talk about the disruptive emotions leaders can feel during chaos and busyness, and how inner peace comes only from God through all that noise. Greg Dempster is the Founder and Director of ChristLife Ministries, an organization that transforms Christian leaders from various denominational backgrounds. He has also been a senior leader, elder, and ministry director. We also had Asheritah CiuCiu join us to discuss the importance of intimacy with the Lord during quiet time. Asheritah is a national speaker, bestselling author, and founder of One Thing Alone Ministries, an online ministry that helps overwhelmed women find joy in Jesus. She also has a YouTube page where she has posted a video called “Delighting in Jesus: Guided Prayers and Bible Study Tips.” You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we discussed the importance of being rooted in the Lord and His Word. We turned to Psalm 1, which compares a child of God to a tree. A child of God is considered a tree planted by the waters, has flourishing leaves, yields fruit in their season, meditates on the word day and night, and their nourishment comes from God. The chapter then speaks about the ungodly and how its tree is weaker, taken by the wind, and will perish because it's not rooted in Him. We turned to the phone lines to hear from our listeners about the scriptures they hold onto. We also had Greg Dempter join us to talk about the disruptive emotions leaders can feel during chaos and busyness, and how inner peace comes only from God through all that noise. Greg Dempster is the Founder and Director of ChristLife Ministries, an organization that transforms Christian leaders from various denominational backgrounds. He has also been a senior leader, elder, and ministry director. We also had Asheritah CiuCiu join us to discuss the importance of intimacy with the Lord during quiet time. Asheritah is a national speaker, bestselling author, and founder of One Thing Alone Ministries, an online ministry that helps overwhelmed women find joy in Jesus. She also has a YouTube page where she has posted a video called “Delighting in Jesus: Guided Prayers and Bible Study Tips.” You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we discussed the importance of being rooted in the Lord and His Word. We turned to Psalm 1, which compares a child of God to a tree. A child of God is considered a tree planted by the waters, has flourishing leaves, yields fruit in their season, meditates on the word day and night, and their nourishment comes from God. The chapter then speaks about the ungodly and how its tree is weaker, taken by the wind, and will perish because it's not rooted in Him. We turned to the phone lines to hear from our listeners about the scriptures they hold onto. We also had Greg Dempter join us to talk about the disruptive emotions leaders can feel during chaos and busyness, and how inner peace comes only from God through all that noise. Greg Dempster is the Founder and Director of ChristLife Ministries, an organization that transforms Christian leaders from various denominational backgrounds. He has also been a senior leader, elder, and ministry director. We also had Asheritah CiuCiu join us to discuss the importance of intimacy with the Lord during quiet time. Asheritah is a national speaker, bestselling author, and founder of One Thing Alone Ministries, an online ministry that helps overwhelmed women find joy in Jesus. She also has a YouTube page where she has posted a video called “Delighting in Jesus: Guided Prayers and Bible Study Tips.” You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we discussed the importance of being rooted in the Lord and His Word. We turned to Psalm 1, which compares a child of God to a tree. A child of God is considered a tree planted by the waters, has flourishing leaves, yields fruit in their season, meditates on the word day and night, and their nourishment comes from God. The chapter then speaks about the ungodly and how its tree is weaker, taken by the wind, and will perish because it's not rooted in Him. We turned to the phone lines to hear from our listeners about the scriptures they hold onto. We also had Greg Dempter join us to talk about the disruptive emotions leaders can feel during chaos and busyness, and how inner peace comes only from God through all that noise. Greg Dempster is the Founder and Director of ChristLife Ministries, an organization that transforms Christian leaders from various denominational backgrounds. He has also been a senior leader, elder, and ministry director. We also had Asheritah CiuCiu join us to discuss the importance of intimacy with the Lord during quiet time. Asheritah is a national speaker, bestselling author, and founder of One Thing Alone Ministries, an online ministry that helps overwhelmed women find joy in Jesus. She also has a YouTube page where she has posted a video called “Delighting in Jesus: Guided Prayers and Bible Study Tips.” You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we discussed the importance of being rooted in the Lord and His Word. We turned to Psalm 1, which compares a child of God to a tree. A child of God is considered a tree planted by the waters, has flourishing leaves, yields fruit in their season, meditates on the word day and night, and their nourishment comes from God. The chapter then speaks about the ungodly and how its tree is weaker, taken by the wind, and will perish because it's not rooted in Him. We turned to the phone lines to hear from our listeners about the scriptures they hold onto. We also had Greg Dempter join us to talk about the disruptive emotions leaders can feel during chaos and busyness, and how inner peace comes only from God through all that noise. Greg Dempster is the Founder and Director of ChristLife Ministries, an organization that transforms Christian leaders from various denominational backgrounds. He has also been a senior leader, elder, and ministry director. We also had Asheritah CiuCiu join us to discuss the importance of intimacy with the Lord during quiet time. Asheritah is a national speaker, bestselling author, and founder of One Thing Alone Ministries, an online ministry that helps overwhelmed women find joy in Jesus. She also has a YouTube page where she has posted a video called “Delighting in Jesus: Guided Prayers and Bible Study Tips.” You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we discussed the importance of being rooted in the Lord and His Word. We turned to Psalm 1, which compares a child of God to a tree. A child of God is considered a tree planted by the waters, has flourishing leaves, yields fruit in their season, meditates on the word day and night, and their nourishment comes from God. The chapter then speaks about the ungodly and how its tree is weaker, taken by the wind, and will perish because it's not rooted in Him. We turned to the phone lines to hear from our listeners about the scriptures they hold onto. We also had Greg Dempter join us to talk about the disruptive emotions leaders can feel during chaos and busyness, and how inner peace comes only from God through all that noise. Greg Dempster is the Founder and Director of ChristLife Ministries, an organization that transforms Christian leaders from various denominational backgrounds. He has also been a senior leader, elder, and ministry director. We also had Asheritah CiuCiu join us to discuss the importance of intimacy with the Lord during quiet time. Asheritah is a national speaker, bestselling author, and founder of One Thing Alone Ministries, an online ministry that helps overwhelmed women find joy in Jesus. She also has a YouTube page where she has posted a video called “Delighting in Jesus: Guided Prayers and Bible Study Tips.” You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it truly mean to live a receptive life? The Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann, Waldemar A. and June Schuette Professor of Systematic Theology and author of Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play from Concordia Publishing House, joins Andy and Sarah for a series on what Sabbath means for us. In this final episode on chapter 7, they discuss what re-enchantment in God's Word looks like, how we can appreciate the metaphysical realities of this world, what truth, goodness, and beauty have to do with living a receptive life, and what it means to live in the fullness of God's Sabbath. Find Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play at cph.org/day-7-for-work-rest-or-play. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

The following message was given at the 2025 BGEA European Congress© 2025 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Used by permission. All rights reserved.To support or become a friend of Union, visit ⁠⁠https://uniontheology.org/friends-of-union⁠⁠Delighting in the Trinity with Michael Reeves is brought to you by Union. For more resources visit www.unionpublishing.org

The post Delighting in the Triune God… appeared first on The Anglican Connection.

A sermon from the sermon series "That We May Live" on the 10 commandments

On this episode of This vs. That, we sit down with Eric Schumacher to explore the profound concept of weakness in Christian life. We discuss how recognizing our limitations and dependence on God's grace can lead to greater freedom and spiritual growth. Eric shares personal insights from his latest book, addressing the paradox of working diligently while maintaining complete reliance on God's strength.We examine how understanding our weakness doesn't eliminate it, but rather transforms our perspective on dependence, grief, and human limitations. Book Resources Mention:The Good Gift of Weakness by Eric Schumacher - A lay-level biblical theology examining weakness from Genesis to RevelationHe Is Strong: Devotions for When You Feel Weak by Emily Jensen - 30 devotional readings about finding strength in Christ during times of weaknessStrong and Weak by Andy Crouch - Explores vulnerability and authority in relation to vocation and workGlorious Weakness by Alia Joy - A memoir examining poverty and hardship through the lens of God's power in weaknessYou're Only Human by Kelly Kapic - Focuses on human limitations with practical applicationsWeakness Is the Way by J.I. Packer - An examination of weakness from Packer's personal experienceThe Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Tim Keller - Referenced during the discussion about finding freedom in Christ-----We're really excited to tell you about Anchored Virtual's new podcast, Consult the Counselor. There are very few spaces that are designed for long form conversations on difficult counseling topics. On Consult a Counselor, that's what we want to provide.In each episode, we invite two of our counselors at Anchored Virtual into a deep dive conversation on a counseling topic. Once a month, we'll release episodes on issues such as addictions, trauma, church hurt, infertility, forgiveness, abuse, and more. You'll get to hear expert counselors discuss the nuances and challenges of these issues and ultimately apply the hope of the gospel in practical and meaningful ways.To listen search for Consult the Counselor wherever you listen to podcasts.----For more information about Anchored Virtual, visit anchoredvirtual.com

Is play really that important? The Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann, Waldemar A. and June Schuette Professor of Systematic Theology and author of Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play from Concordia Publishing House, joins Andy and Sarah for a series on what Sabbath means for us. In this episode on chapter 6, they discuss how we distinguish between work and play, whether work counts as work if we really enjoy it, why play is actually very important (even for adults!), whether worship is play, how sleep forces us to understand our humanity and the nature of God, and the theological connection between sleep and death. Find Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play at cph.org/day-7-for-work-rest-or-play. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

How can we know our purpose and understand life's meaning? The Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann, Waldemar A. and June Schuette Professor of Systematic Theology and author of Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play from Concordia Publishing House, joins Andy and Sarah for a series on what Sabbath means for us. In this episode on chapter 5, they discuss the current state of Western culture, how a focus on the individual has shaped our culture, what happens when we remove meaning from the world, how we can know our purpose and life's meaning, what it means to have a receptive life, and how we can use the receptive life to live outside ourselves and serve our neighbor. Find Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play at cph.org/day-7-for-work-rest-or-play. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

In this episode, Colleen Searcy walks through the stories of seven lesser-known women in Scripture. Colleen D. Searcy is a Bible teacher, speaker, and creator of the Meet Me in the Bible study series. She is on staff at the Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas, and leads workshops for churches across the country. ⁠⁠⁠Read the full transcript of this episode.⁠⁠⁠ ❖ Listen to “Delighting in the Ten Commandments” with Jen Wilkin: ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show! ⁠⁠⁠Complete this survey for a free audiobook by Kevin DeYoung!

Tiffani Long | Respond Women's RetreatIn this session, Tiffani Long talks about what it means to grow closer to God through spiritual disciplines—like reading the Bible, praying, and memorizing Scripture. These aren't just rules to follow—they're ways we get to hear from God and enjoy time with Him.She shares how it's easy to rush through these habits or do them just to check a box, and how she's learning to slow down and truly delight in spending time with the Lord. Tiffani will help us see the difference between discipline that feels like a chore and one that brings joy.This session offers simple, practical ways to stay consistent, fight distractions, and make time with God a natural part of everyday life. It's about shifting from routine to relationship—learning to truly enjoy time with the Lord, knowing that the more we're with Him, the more we'll love Him.Respond Women's RetreatWomen of the Word by Jen WilkinPraying the Bible by Donald WhitneyPlease leave a review on Apple or Spotify to help others grow in their faith. Click here to get our Colossians Bible study.

The church has long recognized the priority of worship, acknowledging that we are redeemed in order to become faithful worshipers of the one true God. In this message, Dr. Michael Reeves asserts that worship is the end for which we are created and saved. This message is from I Will Build My Church, our 2025 National Conference.To support or become a friend of Union, visit ⁠https://uniontheology.org/friends-of-union⁠Delighting in the Trinity with Michael Reeves is brought to you by Union. For more resources visit www.unionpublishing.org 

How is leisure part of being human? The Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann, Waldemar A. and June Schuette Professor of Systematic Theology and author of Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play from Concordia Publishing House, joins Andy and Sarah for a series on what Sabbath means for us. In this episode on chapter 4, they discuss how we normally consider "leisure" and how Josef Pieper gives us a deeper explanation. They also consider several questions: Does it matter if we have time to think deep thoughts about the world? How does our Western culture make true leisure difficult? How are leisure and worship connected? What is acedia, and what about it is dangerous? Shouldn't leisure be equated with laziness?  Find Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play at cph.org/day-7-for-work-rest-or-play. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

See how happiness comes from delighting ourselves in God as Brett Andrews shares.To watch the full message go to: https://youtu.be/AJOAYPxFpzMShare your stories, prayer requests, or your response to this devotional in the comments below.If you would like to know more about New Life, who we are, what we believe, or when we meet, visit http://newlife.church. Or you can fill out a digital connection card at http://newlife.church/connect - we would love to get to know you better!

See how happiness comes from delighting ourselves in God as Brett Andrews shares.To watch the full message go to: https://youtu.be/AJOAYPxFpzMShare your stories, prayer requests, or your response to this devotional in the comments below.If you would like to know more about New Life, who we are, what we believe, or when we meet, visit http://newlife.church. Or you can fill out a digital connection card at http://newlife.church/connect - we would love to get to know you better!

Sermon from Aaron Anderson on May 18, 2025

The Bible begins with a garden, and it ends with a garden. In the first garden, Adam and Eve sinned and what they received and what we inherited was a curse. To Eve and all her daughters, God said: I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you shall deliver children; yet your desire will be for your husband, and he shall rule over you (Gen. 3:16). To Adam and all his sons, God said: Cursed is the ground because of you; with hard labor you shall eat from it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; yet you shall eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return (Gen. 3:1719). Essentially, what the curse would produce for them was the kind of suffering that sticks. What do I mean by characterizing the curse with the kind of pain that sticks with you? If you have ever suffered from nerve pain, you know from experience the kind of pain I am talking about. There are some prescription medications that can help numb you to the pain, but nerve pain is very difficult to treat. If you have had sciatica, any form of back pain, a pinched nerve, or anything of that nature, you have experienced the kind of pain that sticks. Sometime ago I read a quote from someone who said, Our first parents bit into the forbidden fruit and our teeth have ached ever since. That person was not referring to the kind of ache you might experience when you bit into something cold or hard, no... the kind of ache is the one I experienced after having all four impacted wisdom teeth taken out of my jaw in my late 20s. The curse has left us with a kind of aching that sticks and is with us until our final breath, and it is this ache that leaves us with tears. Tears over our broken world, tears over a relationship, tears over wayward children, tears over the hurt and damage caused by parents, tears over the problems sin causes in our world and to our own selves. The House that Adam and Eve Had Adam and Eve enjoyed the presence of God in a Garden that was not at all dissimilar to the tabernacle the Israelites set up and tore down as they journeyed in the wilderness, nor was it unlike the temple Solomon built after Davids death. The tabernacle and temple were designed as a model to reflect Eden as the house of the Lord. What Adam and Eve had in the garden was a gift from God that included the presence of God; In his excellent book, The Warrior Savior, Owen Strachan wrote of Eden, From the start, God sought faithfulness on the part of his people through testing. He gave them a forest-garden overflowing with beauty and gladness, trees spilling unblemished fruit, but he also gave them a prohibitionone delivered under the starkest terms: death from disobedience.[1] The tabernacle and the temple served to remind Gods people not only of the beauty of Eden but the promise that His people would one day be where He is... in His presence. So, when David wrote the last line in Psalm 23, it was the promise of God to restore what was lost in Eden that he had his heart and eyes set upon. To be in the house of the Lord is to be with the Lord. David does not have a building in mind here, but to be in the presence of God. The house of the Lord is not a structure but wherever it is that He dwells. What made the loss of Eden so devastating and catastrophic was not Adam and Eves expulsion from the garden, but that they were driven away from the presence of God. In other words, what made Eden home was the presence of God not the other things that were a part of Edens beauty. Before Adam and Eve were driven outside of the garden, God cursed the snake and promised the first couple that things would not stay cursed because He would send a Deliverer to reverse the curse of sin. The serpent entered Gods house (the Garden) and enticed Eve and her husband to doubt God and question both His goodness and faithfulness! In the garden the crafty and cunning snake spoke: Has God really said, You shall not eat from any tree of the garden? Eve replied: From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die (Gen. 3:23). The serpent then went in for the strike: You certainly will not die! For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil (Gen. 3:45). Adam and Eve succumbed to Satans temptation and bit into the forbidden fruit, but that is not how the story ends! God found the couple and He spoke to the great serpent what is a promise to all mankind: And I will make enemies of you and the woman, and of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel (Gen. 3:15). Strachan observes: In Genesis 3, the snake spoke first. But the snake did not have the last word in Eden, just as the devil will not have the last word in history. Strachan continues: When God shows up, the hiding stops, and justice rolls down.... the God who comes to earth is not only pursuing a mission of justice. This God is, even more, about to unleash a great rolling flood of mercy.[2] It is the promise of a better Eden through the promise of a snake-stomping redeemer that David had in mind when he wrote: Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, and my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever (v. 6). Who can guide me, who can restore me, who will keep me, who will bless me, and who is it that loves me? It is the Lord of the 23rd Psalm and He will lead me to the place where I will be able to see Him face-to-face in His house forever. The House that We are Promised We have seen over and over again throughout this series that the Lord of the 23rd Psalm is Jesus the Good Shepherd, for He said of Himself: I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep (John 10:14-15). The serpent is a thief, and Jesus said of him: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10). The 23rd Psalm is the promise of the abundant life that can only be experienced through the good shepherd. The abundant life includes the table He has prepared before me in the presence of my enemies (v. 5a). The abundant life is to have His favor in the form of the oil He has anointed my head with and the cup he has placed in my hand that is overflowing with His blessing! This is what Paul meant when he wrote Ephesians 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ... The cup of Gods favor is Ephesians 1:7, In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace. Now, think again what it is that the 23rd Psalm is saying to those of us who have been found by the good shepherd. The good shepherd leads me: The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. The good shepherd restores me: He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. The good shepherd keeps me: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. The good shepherd blesses me: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. The good shepherd loves me: Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, and my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever. What does this all mean? There are no green pastures or quiet waters without Jesus leading you. There is no restoration for your soul or the righteousness you need apart from Jesus as your guide. There is no walking THROUGH the valley of deep darkness apart from Jesus keeping and guarding you. There is no blessing and treasuring of God upon you without Jesus. Finally, there is no goodness, faithfulness, and a better Eden apart from the God who loved you so much that He sent His one and only Son! Why did David long to dwell in the house of the Lord? What is it that makes heaven great? For what reasons does the promise of a better Eden outweigh all the sorrows of this world? These questions have nothing to do with the place and location of the house of the Lord, heaven, a new and better Eden, but everything to do with the One who is in the House David longed to dwell, heaven, and the new and better Eden. When Jesus prayed hours before His crucifixion, He prayed this: Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24). This is one of the reasons Jesus assured His disciples: In My Fathers house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be (John 14:23). For David, the blessing of being in the house of the Lord forever was that he would be with the Good Shepherd forever. In his commentary on Psalm 23, James Johnston commented on this very point: Take away the people and a house becomes a sad and empty place. The joy of Heaven is not mansions or streets of gold. Jesus is the joy of Heaven. It will be home because he is there.[3] The Better House that David Longed For For starters, what we know from verse six is that it is certainly ours, which means that without any doubt, for those of us whose shepherd is Jesus, our dwelling will be with him. How long will our dwelling be with Him? The answer is simple: Forever. What is the House that we will dwell in forever, besides the fact that it is the Lords house? It is the restoration of what was lost in the first Eden, but better! It is the city that Davids great, great, great grandfather longed to receive, for we are told from the book of Hebrews: By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as a stranger in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Heb. 11:810). Abraham was looking for a city not made with human hands because he longed for the same thing David longed for in Psalm 23:6. The house of the Lord is the city that belongs to the Christian: For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come (Heb. 13:14). We will receive the city we are looking and longing for when God makes all things new once and for all. It is the thing that Paul wrote about in Romans eight, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Rom. 8:1821) The house of the Lord that David was looking forward to spending forever in is a resurrected and redeemed earth free from the curse of sin. The Bible is full of images describing what it will be like to live in a resurrected earth free of the curse of sin. In Revelation 21, we are told that when God does make all things new and we inherit the city He has promised us, He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away (Rev. 21:4). On that day, we will see God face to face in the same way that Adam and Eve did; here is what we are told in Revelation 21:3, Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them... God will wipe away our tears because there will be no curse to cause them ever again. The new earth will be like the Garden of Eden but better; it will also be like heaven today, but better. We will enjoy physical bodies and a physical planet where the veil that shields our complete interaction of all that is spiritual will be pulled back. We will walk with angels; enjoy a full and perfect creation that will include trees, mountains, and rivers. There will be one City the City of God where we will be able to go in and out. We will run through the forests, climb mountains, eat amazing food, run barefoot through the prairies, enjoy the light of something more powerful and radiant than the sun. We will dwell on a new earth that will never again know the cold of night, but the light of a day illuminated by the Glory of God. But understand this: none of it will be worth it if our Triune God is not there! Listen, we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever because of the certainty of His goodness and faithfulness that pursues His sheep. [1] Owen Strachan, The Warrior Savior (Phillipsburg, NY: PR Publishing; 2024), 3. [2] Ibid., 6-7. [3] James A. Johnston, Preaching the Word: The Psalms: Rejoice, the Lord Is KingPsalms 1 to 41, ed. R. Kent Hughes, vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2015), 251.

Are work and Sabbath polar opposites? The Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann, Waldemar A. and June Schuette Professor of Systematic Theology and author of Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play from Concordia Publishing House joins Andy and Sarah for a series on what Sabbath means for us. In this episode on chapter 3, they discuss how the “Protestant Work Ethic” affects how we consider work, our culture's “therapeutic” mindset, how the concept of being “made to work” is affected by the fall, the ways in which work and Sabbath are related, how we define and categorize work, whether work is part of what it means to be human, and what we learn about vocation from Luther's teaching. Find Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play at cph.org/day-7-for-work-rest-or-play. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

In this compelling episode of the CX Goalkeeper Podcast, Gregorio Uglioni invites Stacy Sherman to delve into the heart of customer experience (CX) and leadership. Known for her mantra of “Doing CX Right,” Stacy shares her journey, emphasizing the human aspect of businesses and the crucial role of leadership in fostering a culture of engagement and loyalty.A Short Description of the GuestStacy Sherman is a distinguished voice in customer experience. She focuses on humanizing business and ensuring that CX is done right. Her dedication to improving customer and employee experiences shines through her work, including speaking engagements, workshops, and her podcast.Contact Details:Connect with Stacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacysherman/ Stacy's webpage: https://doingcxright.com/ Stacy's podcast: https://doingcxright.com/podcasts/3 Key LearningsHuman Connection is Key: Beyond processes and technology, the essence of CX and leadership lies in genuine human connection and understanding.Leadership is a Practice of Empathy: Effective leadership is characterized by empathy, active engagement, and the ability to unify and motivate.The Importance of Reflection: Taking time to pause and reflect can significantly enhance decision-making and interpersonal relationships.Follow and Subscribe for More Insights:Don't miss out on valuable conversations like this! Subscribe to the CX Goalkeeper Podcast on your favorite platform and follow us for the latest episodes on transformation, leadership, and customer experience.Apple Podcast: http://cxgoalkeeper.com/apple Spotify: http://cxgoalkeeper.com/spotify Your feedback is invaluable to us. Please subscribe, follow, and leave us your thoughts or reviews. Your insights help us keep the conversation going and deliver content that resonates with you.

The following message was given at The Voice of the Martyrs. Used with kind permission.To support or become a friend of Union, visit https://uniontheology.org/friends-of-union Delighting in the Trinity with Michael Reeves is brought to you by Union. For more resources visit www.unionpublishing.org

It's pretty significant that the one time we're told the disciples ask Jesus to teach them something, they say, “Teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). After everything they saw Jesus doing—preaching, performing miracles, healing, casting out demons—what caught their attention was the devotion and commitment Jesus seemed to have when it came to prayer. When Jesus answered his disciples' request, the first thing He told them to do was address God as a Father. “Our Father in heaven…” as the prayer goes. Many of us know it by heart, but this was a radical move on Jesus' part. In a culture full of both reverence and uncertainty about the divine, Jesus was demonstrating to His disciples a very simple, yet radical truth: God is knowable. He's not simply “up there” in the clouds, nor is He passively waiting for us to approach Him with the right words, mantra, or sacrifice. God is near, and we can talk to Him the same way a child would talk to their father. The starting point of prayer is delight. We can't develop the kind of prayer life Jesus had until we get our heads and hearts around the truth that God wants to be near us in prayer more than we want to be near Him. To truly delight in God requires a proper theology, a patient consistency, and a practicing community.

After seeing her baby girl undergo back to back heart surgeries, Elle Cardel knows the struggle of delighting in God and His Word when life is not what we expected. We all find ourselves bombarded by busy schedules, overwhelmed with unexpected grief, carrying financial burdens, feeling an emptiness in our hearts and souls, and more. How do we love the life we have and take joy in Jesus and His Word when we feel less than enthusiastic? We're answering these questions and more in today's episode. Elle is a breath of fresh air - I know you'll love this one. Grab a copy of "She Delights" - out now. -- OUR SPONSORS: Go to https://www.thrivemarket.com/truthtalks for 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift! Get 25% off your first month of Ritual for a limited time at ritual.com/truthtalks. -- Connect with Tara: Instagram / Her book / Her website / Her discount code page / YouTube / The free, email family / Sponsor a child through Compassion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices