Podcasts about Discernment

Father McTeigue takes a look at the efforts in the Knoxville Diocese to explain how the modern Mass relates to actual Vatican II documents, and he asks some pointed questions. Father finishes with Weekend Readiness, to prepare you for Sunday Mass.  Show Notes YET ANOTHER Sermon by the Rector of D. Knoxville's Basilica: The 3rd time's not the charm | Fr. Z's Blog  Weekly Roundup, October 17, 2025 - by Peter Kwasniewski  The "Latin Novus Ordo" Is Not the Solution  On the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Novus Ordo: Dr. Kwasniewski's Lecture "Beyond 'Smells and Bells': Why We Need the Objective Content of the Usus Antiquior"  United we stand? Kneel? Chant? | Charlotte was Both RORATE CÆLI: Full Text of Dr. Kwasniewski's Talk on the Superiority of the Old Lectionary over the New  True Obedience in the Church: A Guide to Discernment in Challenging Times Two Dates, Two Different Feasts: October vs. November "Christ the Kings" New Liturgical Movement: Sadness in the Diocese of Knoxville  A Wider View of Vatican II: Memories and Analysis of a Council Consultor The Memoirs of Louis Bouyer: From Youth and Conversion to Vatican II, the Liturgical Reform, and After Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul Nonprofit Removes 300,000 Landmines in Sri Lanka, Allows 280K People to Return to Their Homes  The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)  Massimo Faggioli explains that the theology of the TLM and the NO are not the same German woman seeks political asylum in US Vatican to weigh in on Mary's role in salvation with doctrine document on Nov. 4 | Catholic News Agency  With thousands in Sudan trapped in besieged city, Catholic leaders amplify calls to end war  Is a Reverent Novus Ordo Just as Good? - Catholic Family News  

Halloween can be full of confusion for Christian parents, with spooky decorations, dark themes, and cultural tension. Dr. Kathy and Wayne Stender explore how to approach the holiday with grace, discernment, and purpose. Learn how knocking on doors and sharing candy can become an opportunity to teach kids about community, belonging, and being a light for Jesus in their neighborhood.  

Did you know that the concept of spiritual covering originated from the "Shepherding Movement" in the 1970s? Many prideful leaders are pounding ungodly doctrine down the throats of many wounded Christians ... manipulating and trying to gain control over souls, which is a form of witchcraft. This pattern is still being witnessed in various churches and on social media as a worldly recognition; often involving occult impartations and the glorification of self! A spiritual covering is NOT required for accountability. Let's be clear: You're covering and ultimate authority belongs to God, NOT man! Be wary of leaders who twist Scripture and prioritize submission to themselves over God. There are dangers of occult traditions and rituals that glorify self and place humans as divine authority, my friends! Spiritual coverings are a SCAM: You're covering comes from our Creator, not His creation! Chapters: *   00:00:00 Welcome Melia & The Vertical Relationship Show *   00:00:20 Vertical Relationship with Jesus is Vital *   00:00:50 Ungodly Spiritual Coverings Exposed *   00:01:25 Ungodly Pride & Stealing God's Glory *   00:02:00 Accountability to God, Not Man *   00:02:40 The Roots of Spiritual Covering *   00:03:30 Occultic Impartations and False Authority *   00:04:15 The Shepherding Movement's Downfall *   00:05:00 Leaders' Mistakes and the Need for Humility *   00:05:45 The Deception of Spiritual Coverings *   00:06:30 The Holy Spirit as Our Guide *   00:07:00 Submission to God vs. Man *   00:07:45 Ministry Without Covering *   00:08:30 Fivefold Ministry: Co-laboring, 1 Body under 1 Christ *   00:09:15 God's Direct Order and Avoiding Control *   00:10:00 God Raises His Chosen Leaders, Not Systems *   00:10:45 God's Pick for our Calling, Appoint, Anointing & Commissioning *   00:11:30 Biblical Examples of God's Final Authority  *   00:12:15 Understanding Scripture in Context *   00:13:00 Leaders' Accountability and Responsibility *   00:13:45 Serving God, Not Titles of Man *   00:14:30 The Importance of Discernment & Testing the Spirit *   00:15:15 Walking Alone & Relying on God *   00:16:00 Seeking Truth Through Repentance *   00:16:30 Spreading the Love of Jesus *   00:17:00 Support God's Mission *   00:17:30 Love & Blessings Blessings xo- Melia's Courses -> https://meliadiana.com/vertical-relationship-academy Melia's Services -> https://meliadiana.com/our-services Melia's Books ->https://meliadiana.com/books Melia's Prophetic Mentorship-> https://meliadiana.com/vertical-ambassador-mentorship  

Our children are fluent in technology — but are they fluent in wisdom?In Episode 6 of Living Theology, Brendon Naicker shares how parents and pastors can disciple “digital natives” in a world shaped by screens.This episode offers a biblical, hopeful vision for raising a generation that uses technology with discernment, grace, and love.

Our children are fluent in technology — but are they fluent in wisdom?In Episode 6 of Living Theology, Brendon Naicker shares how parents and pastors can disciple “digital natives” in a world shaped by screens.This episode offers a biblical, hopeful vision for raising a generation that uses technology with discernment, grace, and love.

This week I go solo to reflect on my 10-week sabbatical and how it reshaped 2025 and even 2026. I share four core lessons, creating rhythms that make rest possible, trusting your team and processes, discerning rather than just deciding, and refusing to journey alone. I open  up about falling back in love with ordinary life on the family farm and the clarity that followed. If you are feeling the tug to pause, this conversation will give you language, courage, and a practical path.In this episodeWhy planning from the balcony in October created space for true restHow trusting people, systems, and the Holy Spirit changes your calendarDiscernment versus decision making for coaches who like to move fastWhy transformation happens in community, not isolationA personal story from the farm that reframed home and callingReferenced episodesEp 291, Preparing for Sabbatical, dreams and fearsEp 299, Facing my fears of sabbatical, interview with EricaResources and linksOne-Day REALIFE Process Certification Accelerator, choose December 11 or January 29, 2026, therealifeprocess.com/acceleratorConnect with Teresa, teresa@therealifeprocess.comThe book, Do What Matters, Live from Rest, Not RushTakeawaysRested success is built through repeatable rhythmsPlan the year early, announce in the fall, create holiday marginSlower discernment brings deeper alignmentDo not journey alone, coaches and spiritual directors matterCall to ActionFeeling a nudge toward a pause or a sabbatical, reach out and let us help you map a simple starting rhythm. And if you want to step into 2026 with clear tools for yourself and your clients, grab a seat at the One-Day Accelerator.FREE RESOURCES:Take the FREE Intro to Needs & Values AssessmentReady to discover what uniquely matters to YOU? CLICK HERE to take our FREE Intro to the Needs & Values Assessment.FREE Download: 4 Steps to Simplify Your CalendarReady to uncover more time on your calendar? This FREE download will help you remove what doesn't matter, so you have space for what does. Click here to get this FREE resource!OTHER RESOURCES:Join the REALIFE Practice Membership!The REALIFE Practice Membership is designed for those who want to grow spiritually, but feel like REALIFE is getting in the way. We'll learn how to integrate meaningful spiritual practices and tools into our daily lives through live group calls, group coaching, training videos, downloadable resources, and an interactive community. Visit www.therealifeprocess.com/membership to join us today!Check out our YouTube Channel!Prefer to watch AND listen? Check out our YouTube channel for the podcast episode on video! Make sure to subscribe so you get all the latest updates.My Book LinkMy new book, Do What Matters, is available NOW! Banish busyness and discover a new way of being productive around what truly matters. Learn more at DoWhatMattersBook.com.LifeMapping ToolsWould you life to discover  Life Mapping tools to help you recognize and respond to God in your Story. Check out these tools here https://www.onelifemaps.com/JOIN OUR COMMUNITY & CONNECT WITH ME:Become part of the FREE REALIFE Process® Community! Connect with Teresa and other podcast listeners, plus find additional content to help you discover your best REALIFE.Connect with your host, Teresa McCloy, on:Facebook - The REALIFE Process® with Teresa McCloyInstagram - teresa.mccloyLinkedIn - teresamccloyAbout Teresa McCloy:Teresa McCloy is the founder and creator of the REALIFE Process®, a framework designed to empower individuals and groups with the tools, training, and community needed for personal and professional growth. Through the REALIFE Process®, Teresa is on a mission to help others grow in self-awareness, establish sustainable rhythms, and enhance their influence and impact by integrating faith and work into their everyday lives. She lives with her husband of 42 years on their 5th generation family farm in central Illinois and enjoys great coffee, growing beautiful flower gardens and traveling as much as possible. About Erica Vinson:Erica Vinson helps clients walk through defining moments with confidence and courage enabling them to move forward in freedom and embrace fearless living. As an ACC Credentialed and Certified Professional Life & Leadership Coach, she uses wisdom from all 3 Centers of Intelligence to help clients gain deeper self-awareness and grow in relationships with others both personally and professionally. Erica is a certified REALIFE Process® Master Coach, an ©iEnneagram Motions of the Soul Practitioner, and has a certificate in Spiritual Transformation through the Transforming Center. She lives in the Metro East St. Louis area and enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, golfing, tennis, boating/water skiing, traveling, is a bit of a technology nerd and loves learning!

Hello, my friends in Monsterland. Join us tonight on The Untold Radio Network's Real American Monsters as we welcome Linda Sigman to the studio. Linda isn't just a witness—she's a survivor. In 1967, at just 16 years old, near the banks of the Ohio River (20 miles from Point Pleasant, WV), Linda had a terrifying, life-altering encounter with a massive cryptid she identified as the Mothman, alongside two unidentified flying objects (UFOs).This shocking event is only one part of her incredible story. Linda is a lifelong Psychic Empath with the rare gift of Discernment, having experienced the paranormal since age 3, when she recalls a visit from her Guardian Angel. Now, she considers these gifts a blessing, using them to help others process their own unexplained experiences.

CONTROLLING YOUR WORRY & ANXIETY PT. 2 Morning Devotions and Meditations designed to bring Spiritual Insight to your daily life. Building A Better Life, Starts With Building A Better You. The Keys to a Life in Focus are Wisdom, Courage, Strength, Faith, Commitment, Confidence, Boldness, and Discernment. DEVOTION AND MEDITATION Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus Teaches Us How To Overcome Worry and Anxiety. MUSIC COMPOSED BY: MIKE OUTLAND MUSIC

Call to Faith and Repentance Personal Testimony Inability to preach without God's presence. Acknowledges reliance on God since being called to preach. Admits personal failings but emphasizes God's faithfulness. Invitation to approach the altar for prayer and repentance. Encouragement to seek humility and communicate with God. Reassurance of God's willingness to listen to His children. Accessibility of prayer beyond the church setting. Personal experience of conversing with God while driving. Urgency to address spiritual needs immediately rather than delaying. Scriptural Reflection (Job 14) Acknowledgement of life's brevity and challenges. Reference to the fleeting nature of life, comparing it to a flower. Prayer for divine guidance and blessing. Request for the Holy Spirit's presence and direction in words and actions. The Universality of Trouble Life before salvation as a troubled time. Personal experience of being "doomed for a devil's hell" before salvation. Troubles persist even after salvation. Troubles are incomparable to the trouble of not knowing Jesus Christ. Salvation through Jesus Christ as the ultimate solution to life's troubles. The Cleansing Power of Jesus Christ The Unique Ability of Jesus to Cleanse Only Jesus can make a man's vessel fair. Salvation comes from Jesus Christ, not from any man. Rejection of the idea that signing a card can guarantee salvation. Emphasis on the necessity of the Holy Spirit's conviction and repentance. Importance of touching Jesus' blood for salvation. Personal Testimony of Salvation Personal experience of being saved at the altar. The preacher could not cleanse the heart, only Jesus could. God's love demonstrated through the sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus experienced human suffering to save humanity. God knows what individuals are going through and wants to help. Caution and Discernment in Seeking Spiritual Guidance The Importance of Sound Doctrine Doctors and scientists can cure diseases, but only Jesus can save from hell. Caution against false teachers and preachers. Some preachers distort the gospel and remove the blood of Jesus from their teachings. Need to ensure preachers are teaching the true gospel. The need to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel should be preached in truth and spirit. The Corrupting Influence of Sin and the Cleansing Power of Christ The Inevitability of Sin As people live longer, they become more corrupt. The heart becomes filled with sin. Only Jesus can cleanse a dirty heart. Jesus' willingness to be crucified demonstrates His love. His sacrifice allows people to be eternally with Him in heaven. The Importance of Repentance and Forgiveness Elder Roger still sins, but has a place to return to for forgiveness. The Holy Spirit convicts the heart when one sins. One can ask for forgiveness and receive it immediately. God is still in control, no matter how bad things get. Those saved by Jesus Christ have a better place waiting for them. The Promise of Heaven and the Importance of Salvation The Hope of Heaven Looking forward to going home to heaven. Anticipation of seeing castles, streets of gold, and a mansion. God built a mansion in heaven for Elder Roger. Jesus laid down His life and bled for humanity. He was beaten so that people could have a mansion in heaven. The Call to Salvation God knows each person's heart and what troubles them. There is no shame in talking to God. It is more shameful not to talk to God. One should not carry burdens alone. One can come to God's house and praise Him. Give Him honor for what He has done. If one needs His honors,

Take Off the Masks: Choosing God's Reality Over Babylon's Illusions | KIB 503 Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Description There's a war on for your identity. In this Kingdom Intelligence Briefing, Dr. Michael and Mary Lou Lake expose the spiritual "masks" the enemy uses—from sanitized cultural traditions to personal coping personas—and invite the Remnant to step into truth, transparency, and freedom in Christ. From Halloween's ancient roots to the modern pressure to "perform," we trace how unreality keeps believers stuck—and how the Holy Spirit heals, restores, and re-aligns us with God's design. We also pray for the grieving, cover the Remnant during this season, and offer practical next steps: renouncing occult doors, affirming our children's identity in Jesus, seeking wise counsel when needed, and learning to live mask-free before God and one another. "Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another." — Ephesians 4:25 (ESV) Highlights Why the Word of God is a war book—and why unreality is a weapon of the enemy Ancient and modern uses of masks (ritual, identity-shifting, and social control) The danger of "sanitized" paganism and why God says "Come out of her, my people" Parenting through cultural pressure—affirming identity in Christ Personal testimonies: fear of rejection, humor as a mask, and God's gentle dismantling Practical deliverance: renouncing doors, pleading the blood of Jesus, and wise counseling Helmet of salvation vs. masks of unreality—how to walk in truth

Leadership under pressure can look a lot like control. In this real, faith-informed conversation, Kerri and her husband Terry (USMC veteran & entrepreneur) unpack why trust beats micromanagement, how devotion without discernment derails good leaders, and the simple practices that help you hear the Holy Spirit, set healthy boundaries, and steward your people, brand, and resources well. You'll walk away with a practical self-audit for trust, a 60-second focus exercise to cut distraction, and a framework for bringing values that never waver into everyday decisions - at work and at home. What you'll learnThe leadership shift from command & control to trust & inspireHow to tell if you're controlling or actually leadingThe difference between devotion and discernment (and how both can coexist)A 60-second Holy Spirit focus practice you can use anywhereWhat stewardship looks like in business: money, brand, reputation, and cultureMarriage & leadership: building implied trust, shared boundaries, and aligned rhythms Resources mentionedThe Speed of Trust & Trust & Inspire — Stephen M.R. Covey https://amzn.to/4nOyHYfThe Screwtape Letters — C.S. Lewis (on distraction as a spiritual tactic) https://amzn.to/4q6ueBGJesus Calling — Sarah Young (daily devotional; verify Scripture in the Word) https://amzn.to/4q8Nvm3Main Street Summit (Columbia, MO) — faith + business conference Try this this weekSelf-audit for trust: Do I extend trust proactively? Do I narrate reality without panic? Do I manage outcomes or micromanage process?60-second focus: 5 things you see, 4 you hear, 3 you can touch, 2 you can smell, 1 you can taste. Breathe. Listen. For small business owners Want HR that's values-aligned and effective? Explore HR in a Box - our practical, faith-informed HR foundation for small businesses. https://www.saltandlightadvisors.com/hrinaboxPlus, Kerri's book The HR Easy Button helps you lead with clarity and courage. https://www.saltandlightadvisors.com/bookone About the showDon't Waste the Chaos with Kerri M. Roberts is a faith-informed masterclass on leadership, work, wellness, and marriage—rooted in values that never waver. New episodes weekly. https://kerrimroberts.com/dontwastethechaos Connect & subscribeSubscribe on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify (new episodes every week)Visit: saltandlightadvisors.com for resources & consultingLearn more about Kerri M. Roberts or book her for your next company retreat kerrimroberts.com Navigating leadership can feel like chaos - but the work is worth it. So don't waste the chaos, embrace it. 'Til next time.Support the show

In this engaging interview, ACFAR staff researcher Wanjiru Ng'ang'a recounts her story of coming out of a hyper-charismatic church and embracing a healthy biblical faith.This content originally appeared on The Reconciled Heart podcast.

We look at the Spiritual Gifts of Intercession Faith, and Discernment

CONTROLLING YOUR WORRY & ANXIETY PT. 2 Morning Devotions and Meditations designed to bring Spiritual Insight to your daily life. Building A Better Life, Starts With Building A Better You. The Keys to a Life in Focus are Wisdom, Courage, Strength, Faith, Commitment, Confidence, Boldness, and Discernment. DEVOTION AND MEDITATION Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus Teaches Us How To Overcome Worry and Anxiety. MUSIC COMPOSED BY: MIKE OUTLAND MUSIC

Questions about whether the claim in 1 Corinthians that “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord' except in the Holy Spirit” is a black-and-white tool for discernment, and how to have a better relationship with Jesus when reading the Bible feels like a chore and you can't remember to pray.   Since First Corinthians 12:3 says that “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord' except in the Holy Spirit,” if TV evangelists who seem to preach another gospel and act overtly un-Christlike claim Jesus is Lord, is that evidence the Holy Spirit dwells in them? Is this a black-and-white tool for discernment? How can I have a better relationship with Jesus when reading the Bible feels like a chore and I can never remember to pray? I feel like I don't know him at all.

Join Dan and Stephanie Burke as they speak about their marriage retreats and dive into the secret of divine intimacy with your spouse and with God! Resources: Divine Intimacy in Marriage - retreat Finding Peace in the Storm - Dan Burke Into the Deep – Dan Burke Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits - Dan Burke The Contemplative Rosary - Dan Burke and Connie Rossini A Catholic Guide to Mindfulness - Susan Brinkmann OCDS Avila-Institute.org/events - website Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation EWTN Religious Catalogue – online

The real problems we have had, and may yet have again, with discernment in America. Argentine President Javier Milei has won a crucial midterm election, securing his party a veto-proof bloc in the legislature. We're joined by John Dombroski, founder and president of Grand Canyon Planning Associates. A clip from former Vice President Kamala Harris discussing her 2024 run for the presidency and relationship with President Biden before his own departure from the race.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this powerful episode, Margaux interviews Heather O'Brien, a fellow podcaster and cocah who walks with people in hearing God's voice to receive healing. Heather shares her journey into deliverance and healing and a few key dreams that catalyzed her process. Dreams can reveal deep truths—even the weird ones! Don't throw them away. Deliverance and healing start when we're willing to face the truth. What looks attractive isn't always good—Heather shares a key to expose what's real. God often uses community to help interpret dreams and see what we might miss. Root issues can't hide when God shines His light—freedom is possible for every believer.Connect with all things Heather O'Brien here: https://linktr.ee/healwithgodpodcastListen & Subscribe:Don't miss this conversation and many others like it that will challenge fear, deepen your understanding, and stir your spirit.We are going TOGETHER: BREATHING UNDERWATER MEMBERSHIPSMore on Breathing Underwater Memberships HEREJoin the Community and Newsletter: HERE Email: margaux@permissiontoreign.comInstagram: @permission_to_reignIntro Music by Coma-Media from PixabayImage by Claire Fischer from Unsplash

Hosted by Pastor Josh SorensenOriginating from GRACE FM in Aurora, Colorado, Calvary Live is a one hour program that answers questions about issues surrounding life, godliness, and living for Jesus Christ in our current ever changing culture.

Good or Bad Sermon Series

Kris Voss-Rothmeier

CONTROLLING YOUR WORRY & ANXIETY PT. 1 Morning Devotions and Meditations designed to bring Spiritual Insight to your daily life. Building A Better Life, Starts With Building A Better You. The Keys to a Life in Focus are Wisdom, Courage, Strength, Faith, Commitment, Confidence, Boldness, and Discernment. DEVOTION AND MEDITATION Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus Teaches Us How To Overcome Worry and Anxiety. MUSIC COMPOSED BY: MIKE OUTLAND MUSIC

Jason Sterling October 26, 2025 Faith Presbyterian Church Birmingham, AL BulletinThank you for listening! Please visit us at www.faith-pca.org.

Recognizing false teaching, embracing weakness, and standing firm in spiritual warfare.We gathered to discuss the importance of spiritual discernment, the danger of false teaching, and the centrality of maintaining intimacy with Christ. Our conversation centered around how doctrine shapes our relationship with God and how easily deception can spread when believers drift from truth. We reflected on the rarity of sound teaching in local assemblies and our responsibility to remain grounded in the gospel of grace rather than performance-based religion.We shared about how God often uses weakness as a vessel for growth and revelation. The topic of spiritual dyslexia emerged as a metaphor for how harmful teachings can distort the truth—causing fear, suspicion, or guilt where love and freedom should reign. We reminded ourselves that even when believers fall into error, they are still loved by God and can be restored through humility and dependence on Him.The discussion then turned toward Christ's authority and presence, emphasizing that we are seated with Him spiritually—secure and victorious in His love. We explored how faith, not feelings, sustains our walk, and how prayer strengthens us against doubt and deception. We also reflected on how creation itself reveals Christ's sustaining power: He holds all things together, even those who deny Him.We concluded by reflecting on spiritual warfare and divine love, affirming that no darkness can overcome the light of Christ. Scriptures like Revelation 2:17, Isaiah 59:19, and Ephesians 6:10–18 reminded us that victory comes through faith, prayer, and God's armor. We closed by thanking God for His hidden treasures—those moments of intimacy and revelation found even in darkness—and by praying for protection and continual discernment as we grow in His grace.Themes:Spiritual discernment and sound doctrine God's strength revealed through human weakness Christ's authority and light in spiritual warfare The unity and love of the Trinity God's hidden treasures in seasons of darknessScripture References: Revelation 2:17; Isaiah 45:3; Isaiah 59:19; Ephesians 6:10–18Reflection Question: How can we better discern between man's teaching and God's truth, allowing Christ's love—not fear—to define our faith and guide our walk?

Rev. Robin-Huws Barnes shares a deeply personal testimony about prophecies, seasons of lows, and how God's spoken word unfolds in our lives. He explores the authority and power of words, the difference between the old covenant (Aaronic law) and the priesthood of Melchizedek, and how Christians are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ. He challenges listeners to renew their minds with kingdom knowledge, avoid ignorance that hands the enemy a foothold, and steward the blessings God has already placed inside them. Scriptures Referenced: James 3:7 10 Hosea 4:6  Romans 5:8 Ephesians 1:3  Ephesians 2:6 Psalm 110:4 Hebrews 7 Ephesians 4:27 Matthew 12:36 John 7:38 Luke 11:11 13  Matthew 7:9–11 Romans 12:2 

Natasha Pentin is joined by Dr. Joe Tafur himself and Xochi Bucuru. Dr. Tafur is a Colombo-American integrative physician, traditionally trained spiritual healer (Ayahuasquero), and highly acclaimed author. Xochi is a Colombian traditional healer (Yagecera), educator, and promoter of Indigenous community projects. They discuss supporting Indigenous traditions, navigating the learning curve of ancestral healing, advice for finding respectful plant medicine ceremonies, the power of music, discernment, upcoming projects, and more.Modern Spirit Website: https://www.modernspirit.org/ Joe's books:  Fellowship of the River https://bit.ly/47v6y1A  Medicine Song http://bit.ly/4hqkHl7  Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction to the Modern Spirit Podcast(00:47) Introducing the Guests: Dr. Joe Tafur & Xochi Bucuru(02:15) How Joe & Xochi Met(04:17) Elevating Indigenous Voices(06:37) Combining Science and Spirit(09:10) Yagé Used As Medicine(10:32) The Influence of Many Teachers(11:56) Combining Traditions in Ceremony(19:45) The Power of Music in Healing (25:50) Unlocking Your Natural Healing Intelligence (30:50) Discernment & Interpreting Messages(36:04) Finding Safe Spiritual Experiences (38:55) Building Genuine Relationships (42:54) Conserving Traditional Knowledge & Social Mobility (50:22) Xochi's Upcoming Projects (53:22) Overcoming Stereotypes (55:14) How to Hear More (56:47) Seeking Donations for Scholarships 

The Demystify Duo sits down for a conversation about the hidden variable that decides how successful someone's ideas will be. Normally, you hear that intelligence, the “g-factor” that Richard Haier and other intelligence reasearchers point to, is the decisive factor for worldly success. And while that might be true in some purely quantitative sense that's measured in terms of salary or stock options or whatever, that seems to not be the most important thing for being able to see the world accurately. We spend the conversation trying to define what that hidden variable is, and why it's so important to cultivate, and how weird it is that no one seems to realize it's there. PATREON https://www.patreon.com/c/demystifysciPARADIGM DRIFThttps://demystifysci.com/paradigm-drift-showHOMEBREW MUSIC - Check out our new album!Hard Copies (Vinyl): FREE SHIPPING https://demystifysci-shop.fourthwall.com/products/vinyl-lp-secretary-of-nature-everything-is-so-good-hereStreaming:https://secretaryofnature.bandcamp.com/album/everything-is-so-good-here00:00 Go! Scientific Rationality vs. Pseudosc!ence 00:01:00 Anxiety in Teaching New Perspectives 00:03:00 The Demarcation Problem 00:06:00 The Evolution of Rational Inquiry 00:09:00 The Limits of Mathematical Rigor 00:12:00 The Acceptance of Mystical Thinking in Physics 00:15:00 The Dilemma of Measurement in Quantum Physics 00:18:00 Disparity Between Ideals and Practices 00:21:00 The Role of Theories in Understanding 00:21:30 Theories of Continental Formation and Consensus 00:23:09 The Value of Expertise vs. Radical Ideas 00:25:51 Expertise and Obsession in Fields of Study 00:28:31 The Nature of Radical Claims 00:32:51 Models and Simplification 00:37:54 Overlap of Science and Supernaturalism 00:43:01 Positivism and Rational Inquiry 00:46:00 Physics as Storytelling 00:49:39 Intelligence and Great Ideas 00:54:50 Discernment vs. Intelligence#philosophy , #quantummechanics , #quantumphysics , #cosmos, #intellectual , #logicpuzzles , #reasoningtricks , #perspective, #enlightenment, #curiosity #philosophypodcast , #physicsfun, #longformpodcastMERCH: Rock some DemystifySci gear : https://demystifysci-shop.fourthwall.com/AMAZON: Do your shopping through this link: https://amzn.to/3YyoT98DONATE: https://bit.ly/3wkPqaDSUBSTACK: https://substack.com/@UCqV4_7i9h1_V7hY48eZZSLw@demystifysci RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/2be66934/podcast/rssMAILING LIST: https://bit.ly/3v3kz2S SOCIAL: - Discord: https://discord.gg/MJzKT8CQub- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DemystifySci- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DemystifySci/- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DemystifySciMUSIC: -Shilo Delay: https://g.co/kgs/oty671

LIVING WITH HOPE Rev. 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” This message reminds us that even in life's darkest moments, the promise of God's eternal comfort gives us strength to endure. Morning Devotions and Meditations designed to bring Spiritual Insight to your daily life. Building A Better Life, Starts With Building A Better You. The Keys to a Life in Focus are Wisdom, Courage, Strength, Faith, Commitment, Confidence, Boldness, and Discernment. Music composed by: MIKE OUTLAND MUSIC

In this episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, I'm opening up about something that isn't talked about enough in our industry — the not-so-pretty side of meeting your mentors.I recently hosted my first event for someone else, and it reminded me how much I love community, connection, and growth. I'm so grateful for all the beautiful opportunities that keep flowing my way. But as much as I love highlighting the positive moments, I also believe it's important to share the other side — the experiences that challenge us and teach us valuable lessons.In this episode, I talk about the moments when meeting people you admire doesn't go as you imagined. From unexpected interactions with mentors to disappointing experiences with people I once looked up to, I share how those moments taught me about discernment, boundaries, and the importance of staying grounded in who I am.I still believe in mentorship and community with all my heart, but I've learned that admiration without discernment can lead to disappointment. Everyone we meet, no matter their status or achievements, is human. And sometimes, those uncomfortable experiences are exactly what we need to grow stronger and more self-aware.

In “Exposing Emotional Manipulation: Break the Control, Grow Relationally, Heal Emotionally,” Ryan LeStrange exposes an often overlooked and misunderstood aspect of spiritual warfare that we all face. Ryan's book is packed full of Spiritual and practical help to live free from emotional manipulation and control. We cover a lot of ground in today's interview, including Emotional Witchcraft, Discernment, Emotional Manipulation Strategies, Shifting Seasons, and Contemplative Prayer, to name a few.   You can connect with Ryan here: https://www.ryanlestrange.com/   You can purchase your copy of Exposing Emotional Manipulation here using my affiliate link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0800773306/ref=nosim?tag=da2he-20  

In this episode Rev Zoë Garry is joined by Community Church of Seattle's Youth Pastor Rev. Tim Yi to talk about what is means to create intentional conversations around discernment with the youth at his church and also the volunteers that help support the church's Christian education program. Tim is passionate in reaching the next generation through relationships, discipleship, and creativity. Tim also creates YouTube videos that help people grow in their faith with over 30,000 subscribers. He hopes his online ministry will reach the next generation and inspire them to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind. Some of his hobbies include playing volleyball, basketball, and watching superhero movies.

Some walls hold up the house; others just look pretty. We talk about the kind of community that actually carries weight—confidential, honest, and steady enough to challenge you when you drift—and why it's the difference between a life that creaks and a life that thrives.We break down clear traits of a safe circle: people who honor your story, keep confidence, resist quick judgment, and offer real challenge rather than empty agreement. From showing up at a small group when it felt inconvenient to marking a painful anniversary by serving the city, we show how commitment and generosity turn community from a buzzword into muscle. You'll hear how a team closed the office to pick up trash with Parish Proud, why caring for places builds pride, and how grief can become an engine for giving back. Along the way, we explore layered networks—spiritual family, friends, colleagues, trades, and vendors—and how each one strengthens resilience at home and at work.Not an extrovert? Good. Discernment, calm presence, and meaningful questions connect as powerfully as small talk. We share practical scripts and small moves: learn names, notice values, offer precise compliments, and create routines that hardwire safety—no gossip, high candor, high care. If you feel alone, start with three traits you need in safe people, look for those patterns, and take the first honest step toward them. Community isn't a luxury; it's load-bearing. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a safer circle, and leave a review with one trait you look for in your people.

Truth vs. Twisting: Isaiah 5, Leviathan, and Courage for the Remnant  |  KIB 502 Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Description “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil…” (Isaiah 5:20, ESV). In Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Episode 502, Dr. Michael and Mary Lou Lake address today's climate of fear, the cultural normalization of darkness (especially around Halloween), and the Leviathan spirit that twists truth and communication. From Isaiah 5's “wild grapes” to Jesus' teaching on the vineyard, we explore how societies—and even churches—descend into madness when they reject God's covenant, and how the remnant can stand firm in humility, prayer, and truth. Key Scriptures (ESV): Isaiah 5:1–7, 20 — Wild grapes & calling evil good 2 Timothy 1:7 — “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” John 15:5 — “I am the vine; you are the branches…” What you'll gain: biblical clarity on fear vs. faith, how to recognize Leviathan's twisting, practical steps for spiritual warfare, and hope that God is extending a “loop of mercy” for preparation and harvest.

Knowing and feelings are two different things. Saying the phrase “it has to be” is not certainty. Faith is not discernment. Discernment is not certainty.

Join Dan and Stephanie Burke as they speak about their marriage and listen to Dan's testimony as he shares how he gave his life to Jesus, no matter the cost! Resources: Divine Intimacy in Marriage - retreat Finding Peace in the Storm - Dan Burke Into the Deep – Dan Burke Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits - Dan Burke The Contemplative Rosary - Dan Burke and Connie Rossini A Catholic Guide to Mindfulness - Susan Brinkmann OCDS Avila-Institute.org/events - website Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation EWTN Religious Catalogue – online

This weekend in our At the Movies series, we looked at the story of Wicked, and how often leads us to hide, perform, or control, and how the gospel offers a better way. In this podcast, Chad and Robert explore how perfect love drives out fear and what it means to live as people fully known, fully forgiven, and set free by God's grace.*Due to copyright restrictions, these messages can only be experienced live during scheduled service times in-person or at live.sv.cc and will not be made available for on-demand viewing.Subscribe to receive our latest videos!Website: https://www.sunvalleycc.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunvalleycc/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunvalleycc/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sunvalleyccTo support Sun Valley and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: https://www.sunvalleycc.com/givingGod loves you no matter who you are, what you've done, or what's been done to you. This is the vision of Sun Valley Community Church, led by Pastor Chad Moore and based in Gilbert, AZ with multiple locations throughout the Phoenix valley.Chapters:01:34 The Theme of Fear in Wicked and Scripture  03:44 Fear in Genesis and God's Response of Love  06:04 Addressing Witchcraft & Discernment  07:28 Is Fear the Root of Sin?  09:57 How the Wizard Uses Fear to Control  11:54 Perfect Love Casts Out Fear  13:52 What to Do When You Feel Afraid  14:55 Living on Mission Replaces Fear with Joy  19:29 The Gospel Is the Answer to Every Problem

A lack of the Spirit leads to a lack of discernment

There's more going on in that infamous Republicans groupchat than most realize but the real issue isn't the gossip, it's how easily people trade conviction for comfort. In this episode, we talk about the growing weakness on the Right, the danger of valuing offense over free speech, and why all of our rights must be protected at all costs. We'll also cover more updates on the Charlie Kirk case and how Trump's failures in his second term (including his refusal to release the Epstein list and his submission to Israel) prove that no man should ever be placed where only God belongs.--https://policecoffee.com/collections/coffee

Darkness is not just an abstract concept—it’s real, pervasive, and often alluring. In our daily prayer and devotional, Lynette Kittle points out that because people often choose what is hidden over what is light, believers need God-given discernment more than ever. Self-understanding, cultural noise, and even spiritual deception can make it difficult to tell what is truly of God and what is not. That’s why we must cultivate spiritual insight—not just rely on our instincts or emotions. She outlines four foundational ways to train discernment: Ask God for discernment (like Solomon in 1 Kings 3:9). Feast on God’s Word, because Scripture anchors our thinking (Hebrews 5:14; Acts 17:11). Test the spirits, discerning whether what we hear or sense aligns with Christ (1 John 4:1–3; 2 John 1:7; 1 Timothy 4:1; Galatians 1:8). Walk in God’s light—live transparently, in fellowship, guided by truth, not shadows (1 John 1:5–7). Discernment isn’t optional. In a world crowded with competing voices and moral confusion, we must actively choose to walk in the light, reject deception, and embrace truth. Today's Bible Reading “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”— Ephesians 5:11 Key Takeaways Darkness is real, and we must avoid complicity with its works. Discernment is a spiritual skill—learned by dependence on God, not self. The Word of God is our measuring rod—if “revelations” conflict with Scripture, they must be rejected. Walking in the light is both protective and revealing. Let’s Pray Together Father, thank You that You call us out of darkness into Your marvelous light. Grant me a discerning heart today—teach me to ask You, to read Your Word, to test what I hear, and to walk in Your light. Protect me from deception. May I see clearly in a confusing world, and may my life reflect Your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Related Articles 4 Ways Christians Can Cultivate Discernment Against False Teaching – Crosswalk.com The Spiritual Gift of Discernment: What Is It & How Prayer Helps – Crosswalk.com What Is Discernment & Why Is It Important? – Christianity.com 10 Habits of Discerning People – Crosswalk.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Welcome to Lake Hills Church, we hope you find what you are looking for and that you feel at home here. To give you a brief overview, Pastor Mac and Julie Richard founded Lake Hills Church in 1997, with the aspiration to redefine church for the city of Austin and beyond. We believe deeply in the unique power that the local church has to change lives and unite people. We are committed to living out and sharing the vision of LHC: to grow the community of Christ one life at a time, through evangelism + discipleship. Enjoy your visit! Find us online: Visit our website: https://www.lhc.org/ Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakeHillsChurch Like our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lhcatx Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lhcatx/ Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/lhcatx

In this sermon, Pastor Rick shows how the people and voices you allow in your life are never neutral—they either pull you off course or propel you toward God’s purpose. He gives practical questions for discernment and biblical examples of right and wrong influences.

It's not always popular to stand for the truth, but are we willing to be voices for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel anyway? In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses the heritage of faith we inherited from the Jewish people. God has not and will not reject them, and it's from them we receive our Messiah, Jesus. As World Outreach Church joins with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews to commemorate the October 7 attacks, Pastor Allen shares practical steps we can take to show support and mercy for Israel. God is shaking the earth, and we want to move with Him.

In a world full of voices, hearing the right one is vital.

In episode 465 of The Reformed Brotherhood, hosts Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb explore Jesus's parable of the wheat and tares (weeds) from Matthew 13. This thought-provoking discussion examines Christ's startling teaching that good and evil will always coexist within the visible church until the end of time. The brothers carefully unpack the theological implications of Jesus's command not to separate wheat from weeds prematurely, challenging our natural tendency to judge others while offering wisdom about God's sovereign plan for final judgment. This episode wrestles with difficult questions about church purity, assurance of salvation, and how believers should approach the reality of false professors within Christ's church—providing biblical guidance for faithfully enduring in a mixed communion. Key Takeaways The Coexistence of True and False Believers: Jesus teaches that the visible church will always contain a mixture of genuine believers and false professors until the final judgment. The Danger of Premature Judgment: Christ explicitly warns against attempting to completely purify the church before the harvest (end of age) because doing so would damage the wheat (true believers). Proper Biblical Interpretation: Unlike some parables, Jesus provides a detailed allegorical explanation of this parable—the sower is Christ, the field is the world, the good seed represents believers, and the weeds are the sons of the evil one. The Challenge of Discernment: One of the most difficult theological pills to swallow is that it's often impossible to perfectly distinguish between true and false believers. Final Judgment as God's Prerogative: The separation of wheat from weeds is reserved for the angels at the end of the age, not for current church leaders or members. The Reality of False Assurance: Some professing Christians may have false assurance of salvation while genuinely believing they are saved. The Importance of Theological Integrity: Public theologians and pastors have a moral responsibility to be transparent about their theological convictions and changes in their beliefs. Deeper Explanations The Difficult Reality of a Mixed Church Jesus's teaching in the parable of the wheat and weeds directly challenges our natural desire for a perfectly pure church. By instructing the servants not to pull up the weeds lest they damage the wheat, Christ is establishing an important ecclesiological principle that will hold true until His return. This means that no matter how rigorously we apply church discipline or how carefully we examine profession of faith, we will never achieve a perfectly pure communion this side of eternity. The visible church—which can be understood as those who profess faith and are baptized—will always include both true and false believers. This reality should cultivate humility in how we approach church membership and discipline. Jesus isn't suggesting that all attempts at church purity are wrong (as other Scripture passages clearly call for church discipline), but rather that perfect purification is impossible and attempts at achieving it will inevitably damage true believers. This teaching directly refutes movements throughout church history (like Donatism) that have sought absolute purity in the visible church. The Problem of Discernment and Assurance One of the most challenging aspects of this parable is Christ's implicit teaching that true and false professors can appear nearly identical, especially in their early development. Like tares growing alongside wheat, false believers can profess orthodox doctrine, participate in church life, and exhibit what appears to be spiritual fruit. This creates profound implications for how we understand assurance of salvation. As Tony notes, while "assurance is the proper and rightful possession and inheritance of every Christian," there's also the sobering reality of false assurance. Some may sincerely believe they are saved when they are not, raising difficult questions about self-examination and spiritual discernment. This doesn't mean believers should live in perpetual doubt, but rather that we should approach assurance with both confidence in God's promises and healthy self-examination. True assurance must be grounded in the finished work of Christ rather than merely in our experiences or behaviors, while false assurance often lacks this proper foundation. The brothers wisely note that final judgment belongs to God alone, who perfectly knows who belongs to Him. Memorable Quotes "The visible church is set before us as a mixed body. Maybe everybody else's churches, but certainly not my church, like the one that I actually go to on the Lord's day. So it seems like there might be this shocking statement possibly that he has for us, whether you're Episcopalian or Presbyterian or independent or Baptist or Christian life assembly, whatever it is, that no matter what we do to purify the church, our churches, we're never gonna succeed in obtaining a perfectly pure communion." - Jesse Schwamb "I think that's what I find shocking. It is like a massive statement of reality that is at equal points totally sensible. And other times we would think, 'well, surely not in the church Lord, like of all the places, like aren't we talking about a kind of purity of your people?' ...and what I think he's striking at, which I do find a little bit wild, is that Jesus is essentially saying, at least to my ear, anything we try to do, even the purest preaching of the gospel, is not gonna prevent this in every age of the church." - Jesse Schwamb "I'm affirming that assurance is the proper and rightful possession and inheritance of every Christian." - Tony Arsenal Full Transcript Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 465 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I am Jesse. Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony. And this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey brother. Jesse Schwamb: Hey brother. Guess what? It looks like you and I are taking another trip back to the farm on this episode. Tony Arsenal: Yes. For a couple episodes. Jesse Schwamb: For a couple episodes. Yeah. [00:01:01] Exploring Jesus' Parables in Matthew 13 Jesse Schwamb: Because what, Jesus will not stop leading us there. We're looking at his teachings, specifically the parables, and we're gonna be looking in Matthew chapter 13, where it seems like, is it possible that Jesus, once again has something very shocking for us to hear? That is for all the ages. 'cause it seems like he might actually be saying, Tony, that good and evil will always be found together in the professing church until the end of the world. Like in other words, that the visible church is set before a mixed body. I mean. Maybe everybody else chose churches, but certainly not my church, like the one that I actually go to on the Lord's day. So it seems like there might be this shocking statement possibly that he has for us, whether you're Episcopalian or Presbyterian or independent or Baptist or Christian life assembly, whatever it is, that no matter what we do to purify the church, our churches, we're never gonna succeed in obtaining a perfectly pure communion. Could that possibly be what Jesus is saying to us? I don't know what we're gonna find out. Tony Arsenal: We are. We are gonna find out. Jesse Schwamb: It's gonna be definitive. And if now that makes sense. If you don't even know why we're looking at Jesus' teachings, you could do us a favor even before you go any further. And that is just head on over in your favor, interwebs browser to or reform brotherhood.com, and you can find out all of the other episodes, all 464 that are living out there. There's all kinds of good stuff, at least we think so, or at least entertaining stuff for you to listen to. And when you're done with all of that in a year or two, then we'll pick it up right back here where we're about to go with some affirmations or some denials. [00:02:39] Affirmations and Denials Jesse Schwamb: So Tony, before we figure out what Jesus has for us in Matthew 13, in the parable of the weeds, or the tears, or the tears in the weed, what gets all of that? Are you affirming with, are you denying against, Tony Arsenal: I am denying. First of all, I'm denying whatever this thing is that's going on with my throat. Sorry for the rest of the episode, everyone. Um, I'm denying something that I, I think it is. How do I want to phrase this? Um, maybe I'll call it theological integrity, and maybe that's too strong of a word, but maybe not. So the listener who's been with us for a little while will remember that a while back. Um, you know, we've, we've talked about Matthew Barrett and he was a Baptist, uh, who's heavily involved in sort of the theology, proper controversies. He wrote Simply Trinity, which is just a fantastic book. He was a teacher or a professor at Midwestern, um, Baptist Theological Seminary. And he recently, um, uh, converted is not the right word. I hate calling it a conversion when you go from one faithful Bible tradition to another. But he recently, um, changed his perspective and joined the Anglican Church. And at the time I kind of, you know, I kind of talked about it as like, it's a little bit disappointing, like the reasons he cited. [00:03:57] Theological Integrity and Public Disclosure Tony Arsenal: Where I'm bringing this into a matter of sort of theological integrity. And it's not, it's not just Matthew Barrett. Um, there's other elements of things going on that I'll, I'll point to too is it's often the case when someone who is in some form of professional theological work or professional vocational ministry, that as they start to change perspectives, um, there comes to be like an inflection point where they should notify whoever it is that they are accountable to in that job or vocation, uh, uh, and then do the right thing and step down. Right? And so with Matthew Barrett, um. He continued to teach systematic theology at a Baptist Theological Seminary, which has a faith statement which he was obligated to affirm and hold in good faith. He continued to teach there for quite some time, if, you know, when he, when he published the timeline and he's the one that put all the timelines out there. So it's not like people had to go digging for this. Um, he continued to teach under contract and under that, that faith statement, um, for quite some time after his positions changed. I remember in college, um, sim very similar situation, one of my professors, um, and I went to a Baptist college. It was a General Baptist college. Um, one of my professors became Roman Catholic and for quite some time he continued to teach without telling anyone that he had converted to Roman Catholicism. Um. And I think that there's a, there's a, a level of integrity that public theologians need to have. Um, and it, it really makes it difficult when something like this happens to be able to say that this is not a moral failing or some sort of failure. Um, you know, James White has jumped on the bandwagon very quickly to say, of course we told you that this was the way it was gonna lead. That if you affirm the great tradition, you know, he was very quick to say like, this is the road to Rome. And I think in his mind, um, Canterbury is just sort of one, one stop on that trip. Um, it becomes very hard after the fact to not have this color and tarnish all of your work before. 'cause it starts to be questions like, well, when, when did you start to hold these views? Were you writing, were you, were you publicizing Baptist theology when you no longer believed it to be the truth? Were you teaching theology students that this is what the Bible teaches when you no longer thought that to be true? Um. Were you secretly attending Anglican services and even teaching and, and helping deliver the service when you were, you know, still outwardly affirming a Baptist faith statement. And the reason I, I'll point out one other thing, 'cause I don't want this to be entirely about Matthew Barrett, but there's a big, uh, hub glue going on in the PCA right now. Um, a guy named Michael Foster, who some of our audience will probably be familiar with, um, he and I have had our desktops in the past, but I think he and I have come to a little bit of a, of a uneasy truce on certain things. He, uh, went to work compiling a, a list and there's some problems with the data, like it's, it's not clean data, so take it for what it's worth. But he compiled a list of. Every publicly available church website in the PCA. So something like 1800 websites or something like that. Huge numbers. And he went and looked at all of the staff and leadership directories, and he cataloged all the churches that had some sort of office or some sort of position that appeared to have a, a woman leading in a way that the Bible restricts. And that more importantly, and starting to say it this way, but more importantly, that the PCA itself restricts. So we're not talking about him going to random church websites and making assessments of their polity. We're talking about a, a denomination that has stated standards for who can bear office and it's not women. Um. So he compiled this and people in the PCA are coming out of the woodwork to basically defend the practice of having shepherdess and deacons. There was one that he cataloged where, um, the website actually said, uh, that was the pastor's wife and the title was Pastor of Women. Um, and then as soon as it became public that this was the case, they very quickly went in and changed the title to Shepherd of Women or Shepherdess of Women or something like that. So it's, it's really the same phenomena, not commenting, you know, I think we've been clear where we stand on the ordination of female officers and things like that, but not that all that withstanding, um, when you are going to be a part of a body that has a stated perspective on something and then just decide not to follow it, the right thing to do the, the upstanding morally. Uh, in full of integrity move would be to simply go to another denomination where your views align more closely. PCA churches, it's not super easy, but it's not impossible to leave the PCA as an entire congregation and then go somewhere like the EPC, which is the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, which still on the spectrum of things is still relatively conservative, but is in general is in favor of, uh, female officers, elders, and diegans. So I, I think, you know, and you see this with podcasters, there was the big, there was a big fu and Les became a Presbyterian, and then when Tanner became a Presbyterian on the pub, I think it is, um, incumbent on people who do any form of public theology and that that would include me and Jesse when our views change. There comes a point where we need to disclose that, be honest about it, um, and not try to pretend that we continue to hold a view that we don't be just because it's convenient or because it might be super inconvenient to make a change. I don't even want to pretend to imagine the pressures, uh, that someone like Matthew Barrett would face. I mean, you're talking about losing your entire livelihood. I, I understand that from an intellectual perspective, how difficult that must be, but in some ways, like that kind of comes with the territory. Same thing with a pastor. You have a Baptist pastor or a Presbyterian pastor. It can go both ways, I think. I'm more familiar with Baptist becoming Presbyterians. I don't, I don't see as many going the other direction. But you have a, a Baptist pastor who comes to pay to Baptist convictions and then continues to minister in their church for, I've, I've seen cases where they continue to minister for years, um, because they don't, they don't have the ability to now just go get a job in a Presbyterian context because there's all sorts of, um, training and certification and ordination process that needs to happen. Um, so they just continue ministering where they are, even though they no longer believe the church's state of, you know, state of faith statement. So that's a lot to say. Like, let your yes be yes and your no be no, and when we really all boil it down. So I think that's enough of that. It, it just sort of got in my craw this week and I couldn't really stop thinking about it. 'cause it's been very frustrating. And now there are stories coming out of. Doctoral students that, um, that Barrett was teaching who have now also become Anglican. Um, so, you know, there starts to be questions of like, was he actively pros? I mean, this is like Jacob Arminius did this stuff and, and like the reform tradition would look down on it, where he was in secret in like sort of small group private settings. He was teaching convictions very different than the uni. I'm talking about Arminius now. Not necessarily Barrett. He was teaching convictions very different than the, the stated theology of the university he taught for, and then in public he was sort of towing the line. You have to ask the question and it is just a question. There's been no confirmation that I'm aware of, but you have to ask the question if that was what was going on with Barrett, was he teaching Baptist theology publicly and then meeting with, with PhD students privately and, and sort of convincing them of Anglican theology. I don't know. I'm not speculating on that, but I think it, the situation definitely right, brings that question to mind. It forces us to ask it. Um, and had he. Been transparent about his theological shifts sooner than that may not be a, a question we have to ask. Um, the situation may not be all that different, but we wouldn't have to ask the question. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, that's totally fair. I mean, disclosure is important in lots of places in life and we shouldn't think that theological dis disclosure, especially like you're saying among our teachers, among our pastors, it is a critical thing. It's helpful for people to know when perspectives have changed, especially when they're looking to their leaders who are exhibiting trust and care over their discipleship or their education to express that difference. If there's been a mark, change it. It's worth it. Disclose, I'm guessing you don't have to over disclose, but that we're talking about a critical, we're talking about like subversive anglicanism, allegedly. Yeah. Then. It would be more than helpful to know that that is now shaping not just perspective, but of course like major doctrine, major understanding. Yeah. And then of course by necessary conviction and extension, everything that's being promulgated or proclamation in the public sphere from that person is likely now been permeated by that. And we'd expect so. Right. If convictions change, and especially like you're talking about, we're just talking about moving from, especially among like Bible believing traditions, just raise the hand and say loved ones, uh, this is my firm conviction now. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. I think if someone walks up to you and says, do you think that we should baptize babies? And you're like, yeah, I think so. Then you probably shouldn't be teaching at a Baptist seminary anymore. Like, seems like a reasonable standard. And that seems to be what happened, at least for some period of time. Um, you know, and, and it, that's not to say like, I think, I think there are instances where the church, a given church or um, or a university or seminary or, or whatever the situation might be, can be gracious and recognize like, yeah, people's perspectives change and maybe we can find a way for you to continue to finish out the semester or, you know, we can bridge you for a little while until you can find a new, a new job. Um, you know, we'll, we'll only have you teach certain courses or we'll have a guest lecturer come in when you have to cover this subject that is at variance and like, we'll make sure we're all clear about it, but it doesn't seem like any of that happened. And that's, um, that's no bueno. So anyway, Jesse. What are you affirming and or denying Tonight? [00:13:43] Music Recommendations Jesse Schwamb: I'm just gonna go with something brief. I suppose this is an affirmation of me. I'm saying that like somewhat tongue in cheek, but maybe it's, wait, I'll rephrase. It's because this will be more humble. I'm affirming getting it right, even more than I thought. So I'm just gonna come back to the well and dip it into something that I mentioned on the last episode. So the keen listener, the up-to-date listener might remember. And if you're not up to date, uh, just let this be fresh for you. It'll, and I, it's gonna be correct because now I have posts, you know, I'm on the other side of it. I've clear hindsight. I am affirming with the album Keep It Quiet by Gray Haven, which I affirmed last week, but it came out on the same day that the episode released. And since you and I don't really like record in real time and release it like exactly as it's happening, I only did that with some, a little bit of reservation because I only heard they only released three songs in the album. And I thought I was overwhelmed that they were, they were so good that I was ready to jump in and loved ones. Oh, it, it turns out. I was so correct and it was, it's even better than I thought. So go check it out. It's Grey, GRE, YH, and they are, this is the warning, just because I have to give it out there and then I'll balance it with something else for something for everybody here today. So, gr Haven is music that's post hardcore and metal core. You're getting two cores for the price of one, if that is your jam. It has strong maleic sensibilities. It's very emotional, it's very experimental. But this new album, which is called, um, again, keep It Quiet, is like just a work of arts. It real like the guitar work is intricate haunting, lovely, and it's bold, like very intentional in its structure and very el loose in its construction. It's got hook driven melodies and it's got both heart and soft. It really is truly a work of art. So if you're trying to, to put it in your minds, like what other bands are like this? I would compare them to bands like, every Time I Die, Norma Jean, let Live Hail the Sun. If you just heard those as combinations of words that don't mean anything to you, that's also okay. No worries. But if you're looking for something different, if you're looking for something that's maybe gonna challenge your ear a little bit, but is like orchestral and has all of these metal core post hardcore, melodic, textured movements, there's no wasted notes in this album. It's really tremendous. If that's not your thing. I get, that's not everybody's thing. Here's something else I think would be equally challenging to the ear in a different way. And that is, I'm going back to one other album to balance things out here, and that's an album that was released in 2019 by Mark Barlow, who I think is like just. So underrated. For some reason, like people have slept on Mike Barlow. I have no idea why he put together an album with Isla Vista Worship called Soul Hymns, and it's like a distinct soul and r and b album of praise with like these really lovely like falsetto, harmonies. It's got these minimalistic instrumentation, warm keys, groove oriented percussion, like again, like these false soul driven melodies. It's contemplative. It's got a groove to it. This is also equally a beautiful album for a totally different reason. So I think I've given two very book-ended, very different affirmations, but I think there's something for everybody. So my challenge to your loved ones is you gotta pick one or the other. Actually, you could do both, but either go to Gray Havens, keep it quiet, or go to Mike Bellow's Soul hymns. I do not think you will be disappointed. There's something for everybody on this one. Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I, it was funny because as you were saying the names of those bands, I literally was thinking like Jesse could be speaking Swahili and I wouldn't know the difference. And then you, you, you know me well, yeah. Uh, I haven't listened to Gray Haven. Uh, I probably will give it a couple minutes 'cause that's how it usually goes with songs that meet that description. Uh, I can always tell that the music that Jesse recommends is good from a technical perspective, but I never really, I never really vibe with it. So that's okay. But I mean, lots of people who listen to our show do so check that out. If, if you ever. Want a good recommendation for music. Jesse is the pers so much so that he can recommend amazing music before it's even available and be a hundred percent correct, apparently. That's right. So Jesse Schwamb: affirm with me everybody, because turns out I was right. Uh, it was easy to be correct when of course I had all of that fair sightedness by being able to listen to those. Yeah, those couple of songs, it, this is a kind of album. Both of these, both of these albums. When I heard them, I reacted audibly out loud. There are parts of both of 'em where I actually said, oh wow. Or yeah, like there's just good stuff in there. And the older you get, if you're a music fan, even if you're not, if you don't listen to a lot of music, you know when that hook gets you. You know when that turn of melody or phrase really like hits you just, right. Everybody has that. Where the beat drops in a way. You're just like, yes, gimme, you make a face like you get into it. I definitely had that experience with both of these albums and because. I've listened to a lot of music because I love listening to music. It's increasingly rare where I get surprised where, you know, like sometimes stuff is just like popular music is popular for a reason and it's good because it's popular and it follows generally some kind of like well established roots. But with these albums, it's always so nice when somebody does something that is totally unexpected. And in these, I heard things that I did not expect at all. And it's so good to be surprised in a way that's like, why have I never heard that before? That is amazing. And both of these bands did it for me, so I know I'm like really hyping them up, but they're worth it. They're, they're totally worth it. Good music is always worth it. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. I, uh, I think that is a good recommendation. I will check those out because, you know, you're a good brother. I usually do, and I trust your judgment even though it, you'll like the second one. Yes. Hopefully. Yeah. Yeah. Jesse Schwamb: You'll like the second one. Second one is like, just filled with praise and worship. And like, if, if you're trying to think, like say, here's how I'd couch the proper atmosphere for Mark Barlow's soul hymns you're having, you know, it's, it's a cold and chilly. A tal evening, the wind is blowing outside. You can hear the crisp leaves moving around on the pavement and the sun has gone down. The kids are in bed, the dinner dishes are piled up in the sink. But you think to yourselves, not tonight. I don't think so, and you just want that toneage to put on. You want that music as you dim the lights and you sit there to just hang out with each other and take a breath. You don't just want some kind of nice r and b moving music. You don't want just relaxing vibes. You want worshipful spirit filled vibes that propel your conversation and your intimacy, not just into the marital realm, but into worship and harmony with the triune God. If you're looking for that album, because that situation is before you, then sol hymns is the music you're looking for. Tony Arsenal: See, I'm gonna get the, I'm gonna get the recommendations backwards and I'm gonna sit down with my wife with a nice like evening cup of decaf tea and I'm gonna turn the music on. Yes, it's gonna be like, yes. That was me screaming into the microphone. That was not good for my voice. Well, the good news is it's gonna, it's gonna wake the kids up. That's, I'm gonna sleep on the couch. That's, it's gonna be bad. That's, Jesse Schwamb: honestly, that's also a good evening. It's just a different kind of evening. It's true. So it's just keep it separated again, uh, by way of your denial slash affirmation. Tony disclosure, I'm just giving you proper disclosure. Everybody know your music KYM, so that way when you have the setting that you want, you can match it with the music that you need. So it's true. Speaking of things that are always worth it. [00:21:30] Parable of the Weeds Jesse Schwamb: I think the Bible's gotta be one of those things. Tony Arsenal: It's true. Jesse Schwamb: And this is like the loosest of all segues because it's like the Sunday school segue into any topic that involves the scriptures. We're gonna be in Matthew 13, and how about we do this? So this is one of these parables and in my lovely ESV translation of the scriptures, the, we're just gonna go with the heading, which says the parable of the weeds. You may have something different and I wanna speak to that just briefly, but how do we do this, Tony? I'll hit us up with the parable and then it just so happens that this is one of the parables in the scripture that comes with an interpretation from our savior. It's true. How about you hit us up with the interpretation, which is in the same chapter if you're tracking with us, it's just a couple verses way. Does that sound good? Tony Arsenal: Let's do it. Jesse Schwamb: Okay. Here is the parable of the weeds. Jesus puts another parable before them saying The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sewed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sewed weeds among the weeds and went away. So when the plants came up and bork rain, then the weeds also appeared, and the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds? He said to them, an enemy has done this. So the servant said to him, then, do you want us to go and gather them? Then he said, no. Lest in gathering the weeds, you root up the wheat along with them, but let them grow together until the harvest and at harvest time, I will tell the reapers, gather the weeds first, and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn. Tony Arsenal: Alright, so then jumping down. To verse 36. We're still in Matthew 13, he says, then he left the crowds and went into the house and his disciples came to him saying, explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field. He answered, the one who sows the good seed is the son of man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angel. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age, the son of man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom, all that, all causes of sin in all lawbreakers and throw them into the fiery furnace. It is that in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father. He who has ears let him hear. Jesse Schwamb: So let me start with just like a little bit of language here, which I've always loved in this passage because where else in like the contemporary context, do you get the word tear? Yeah. Aside if you're like using a scale, and that's a totally different definition. I like this. I like the word tear. It force, it forces to understand that what's common to our ear, why that's being used, it often is translated weed. Here's just like my, my little like linguistic addition to the front end of our discussion and is the reason I like it is because here does have a specific definition. If like you were to look this up in almost any dictionary, what you're gonna find is it's like a particular type of weed. It's actually like an injurious weed that is indistinguishable in its infant form from the outgrowing of green. So I like that because of course that is exactly why. Then there's all this explanation of why then to not touch anything in the beginning because one, it causes damage to it looks like everybody else. I just thought I'd put that out there as we begin our discussion. Tony Arsenal: Yeah, yeah. You know, I, um, I am a homeowner and I don't own the land that I'm on, but I'm responsible for the land that I'm on. And we have this really gnarly weed problem. There's this, uh, sort of floor growing, uh, carpeting weed called, uh, I think it's called like a carpeting knob, head weed or something like that. Some really descriptive thing. And I went out there the other day and there's really nothing you can do about this other than to rip it up. But I went out there the other day to start to pull some of it up and it totally wrecks the yard. Like it totally pulls up the grass, it destroys the sod. And when you're done, this is why it's kind of nice that I don't have, I'm not responsible for the land as I'm not gonna have to pay to resod the land. But when you're done pulling up this weed, you have to resod the whole place. You have to regrow all the grass because it, first, it takes over for the grass, and then when you rip it up, it rips the roots of the grass up as well. And so this parable, um, on one level is immediately obvious, like what the problem is, right? The situation is such. That the good, uh, the good sower, right? He's a good sower. He knows what he's doing. He understands that simply ripping up the weeds. Even if you could distinguish them right, there's this element that like at an early stage, they would be very difficult, if not impossible to distinguish from, uh, from wheat. Even if you could distinguish them, you still wouldn't be able to pull up the weeds and not do damage to the grain. And so we, we have this sort of like, um, conflict if you wanna follow like literary standards, right? We have this conflict and as we come to sort of the climax of this, of this plot is when all of a sudden we see that, that the problem needs a resolution and there is a resolution, but it's not necessarily what we would think it would be. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, I think that's what I find shocking. It is like a massive statement of reality that is that like equal points or equal times totally sensible. And other times we would think, well why surely not in the church Lord, like of all the places, like aren't we talking about a kind of purity of your people, the very people that you're assembling together, the chief of which is Christ and the apostles being the building stones and Christ of course being the cornerstone. And I, I think that's what I find and I wonder the people hearing this, if they thought like, well, surely Lord, that not be the case like you are bringing in and ushering in this new kingdom. Isn't this new kingdom gonna be one of absolute purity? And, and what I think he's striking at, which I do find a little bit wild, is that Jesus essentially saying, at least to my ear, anything we try to do, even like the purest preaching of the gospel, is not gonna prevent this in every age of the church. The same state of the things that's existed in that is in the time of the early fathers. In the first century, and the church as it stands right now in the land and the time of the reformers, and of course with the best ministers at this hour right now and on your next Lord's day, and everyone after that, there is always and ever will be a visible church or a religious assembly in which the members are not all wheat. Yeah. And then I like what you're saying. It's this idea that. There's a great harm that's gonna come about if you try to lift them up because you cannot tell. So, and this is what's hard, I think this does influence like how we interact with people online. Certainly how we interact with people in our own congregations, but we are going to have no clear convicted proofs. We might only have like probable symptoms if we're really trying to judge and weigh out to discern the weeds from the weeds, which at most can only give us some kind of conjectural knowledge of another state. And that is gonna sometimes preemptively judge cause us to judge others in a way that basically there's a warning against here. It, it's, it's not the right time. And ba I think mainly from the outside where I find like this parable coming together, if there's like maybe a weird Venn diagram of the way Christians read this and the way unbelievers hear this, the overlap between them is for me, often this idea of like hypocrisy and you know. When people tell me that the church is full of hypocrites, either like Christian or non-Christian, but typically that's a, a, you know, statement that comes from the non-Christian tongue. When people say that the church is full of hypocrites, I do with a little bit of snark, say it's definitely not full of hypocrites. There are always room for more in the church and, and there's like a distinction of course between the fact that there is hypocrisy in the Christian or whether the Christian is in fact or that person is a hypocrite. So like when I look through the scriptures, we see like Pharaoh confessing, we see Herod practicing, we see Judas preaching Christ Alexander venturing his life for Paul. Yeah, we see David condemning in another, what he himself practiced and like hezeki glorifying and riches Peter. Doing all kinds of peter stuff that he does, and even all the disciples forsaken Christ, an hour of trouble and danger. So all that to say, it goes back to this like lack of clear, convicted proofs that I think Jesus is bringing forward here, but only probable symptoms. And I'm still processing, of course, like the practicality of what you're saying, Tony, that in some ways it seems like abundantly clear and sensible that you should, you're, you're gonna have a problem distinguishing. But our human nature wants to go toward distinguishing and then toward uprooting sometimes. And the warning here is do not uproot at the improper time. And in fact, it's not even yours to uproot because God will send in the laborers to do that at the time of, of harvest. And so there will be weeds found among the wheat. It's just like full stop statement. And at the same time it's warning, do not go after them now. Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I, I'm sure this, um, I, I'm sure this will spill over into a second conversation, but we, I think we have to talk a little bit about the interpretation here before we, before we even like talk more about the parable itself, because if you're not careful, um, and, and. I need to do a little bit more study on this, but it, it's interesting because Matthew almost seems to want you to sort of blend these parables together a little bit. Jesse Schwamb: Yes. Tony Arsenal: Right. These, these, there's three, um, there's three, maybe four if you count the parable of the treasure in the field. But there's three agricultural parables that have to do with sowing seed of one, of, one way or another. And in each one the seed is something different. And I, it almost seems to me. And then on top of that, the parables are like interwoven within each other. So like right smack in the middle of this, we have the parable. Uh, is given. Then the next parable of the mustard seed, which we're gonna talk about in a future episode, is given, and then the explanation of this parable of the tears is given. Um, and so we have to talk a little bit about it and sort of establish what the seed is, because we just spent three weeks talking about the seed in the par of the sower. Um, or the parable of the, of the soils. And in that parable, the seed was the word of God in this parable. And this is where I think sometimes, um, and again, this is like the doctrine of election in parable form, right? Yes. I think sometimes we read this and we, we misstep because the seed is not, uh, is not the word of God in this. The seed is the believers. Jesse Schwamb: Yes. Tony Arsenal: Right. So the good seed is sewn into, uh, into the field, which, you know, I think maybe there'll be some, we, we can save this for, for next week. But a little sneak peek is, it's not always clear exactly what the field is. Right. And I think we often, we often talk about the field as though it's the church that doesn't necessarily align a hundred percent with how Christ explains the parable. So we'll have to, we'll have to talk through that a little bit. I affirm that it is the church in, in a, a broad sense. Um, but, but the, the way that Christ explains it slightly different, but the, the seed is sewn into the world. The sons of the kingdom of heaven are sowed into the, into the world. And then the seed of the enemy, the bad seed, is the sons of the devil that's also sewn into the world. And so these two seeds grow up next to each other. If we think about the seed here as though it's the word of God, rather than the, the actual believers and unbelievers that elect in the ate, we're gonna make some missteps on how we understand this because we're not talking about, um, the, the seed being, you know, doctrine being sewn into the world. And some of it grows up good and some of it grows up bad or good doctrine and bad doctrine. We're talking about the believers themselves. Sorry, Jesse is mocking my rapid attempt to mute before I cough, which I, I did. That was pretty good. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, that was, that was pretty good. Listen, this is real. Podcasting is how it goes. Yeah, I'm with you. Thank you for pulling out that distinction. 'cause it is critical. We, we have some overlap of course, with Jesus being really ascribed as the farmer, the son of man, right. He's sowing this good seed, but not the word. It's believers or the sons of the kingdom. And it is into his field, which is the world. Part of that world of course, is necessarily the church, right? But while everybody's sleeping, this enemy, the devil, he comes, he sows weeds or unbelievers, the sons of the evil one among this weed, they grow, go up together. And of course, like if I were servants in this household, I'd ask the same thing, which was like, should we get the gloves out? Yeah. Just pull those bad boys out. Like and, and so again, that's why I find it very so somewhat shocking that. It's not just, you could see like Jesus saying something like, don't worry about it now because listen, at the end of all time when the harvest comes, uh, I'm gonna take care of it. Like it's just not worth it to go out now. Right. That's not entirely The reason he gives, the reason is lest they uproot the wheat by mistake. So this is showing that the servants who are coming before Jesus in the parable, in this teaching here to really volitionally and with great fidelity and good obedience to him to want to please him to do his will. He there, he's basically saying, you are not qualified to undertake this kind of horticulture because you're just not either skilled enough or discerning enough to be able to do it right. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And you know, I think, um. Maybe just a word of meth methodology too. Um, this parable also flies in the face of all of the, like, parables are not allegories, kind of kind of people. Um, and this is, we talked about this in our introductory episode. You have to take each parable for what it's worth, this parable very much is explained like a traditional allegory, right? Right. [00:35:39] Understanding the Parable's Symbols Tony Arsenal: It's got, it's got several different elements and Christ goes through and the first thing he does is tell you what each element represents, right? The sower is the son of man, the field is the word. The good seed is the sons of the kingdom of the weed. It's like, he's like clicking down all of the symbols and then he explains how all of it works together and like a good, all like a good allegory. Once you understand what each element and each symbol is, the rest of it actually is very self-explanatory, right? When you understand who's what in the parable. The outcome and the sort of the punchline writes itself as it were. And I think this is one of those parables that we would do. [00:36:18] Challenging Our Sensibilities Tony Arsenal: I think we would do well to sort of let marinate a little bit because it does challenge a lot of our sensibilities of what, um, what is real in the world, what is real in terms of our interaction with the world, right? What's real in terms of the role of unbelievers in the life of a Christian, um, whether we can identify who is or isn't an unbeliever. Um, I think we, you know, I, I'm not one of those people that's like, we should assume everyone's a Christian. And I'm certainly not one of those people who's like, we should assume nobody is a Christian. But I think there are a lot of times where we have figures either in public or people in our lives. Like personal acquaintances that have some sort of outward appearance. And, and that's like the key here that that distinction between weeds is a, is not a great translation as you said. Right. Because right. That distinction between wheat and weeds, to go to my analogy, like it's very clear what is grass and what is this like carpeting, knob weed. Like there's no, there's no doubt in my mind, which is the weed and which is the grass. Um, that's not what we're talking about here. And so it does, it does say here, I mean, it implies here that it's not going to be easy to distinguish the difference between exactly. The, a son of the kingdom and a son of the evil one. And I think that's a, that's a. A theological pill that is very difficult to swallow. Yes. [00:37:43] Personal Reflections on Identifying Christians Tony Arsenal: Because a lot of us, um, and this goes back to like what I, what we were saying in the last, the last parable, A lot of us were reared in our Christian faith on sort of this idea that like, you can check your fruit or you can check other people's fruits and you can determine, you can easily identify who's a Christian and who's not. I remember when I was in high school, you know, I got, I was converted when, when I was 15 and, um, I got to high school and it felt very easy to me to be able to identify the people who were play acting Christianity and the people who were real Christians. That felt like the most natural thing in the world to me. Um, it, it's an interesting story, but one of the people that I was absolutely sure was not a Christian. That he was just doing kinda civic Christianity. He was in confirmation 'cause his parents wanted him to. Um, and I had good reason to believe that at the time he was very worldly. He, he, um, did not seem to be serious about his faith at all. There was good reason to make the assessment that I did. And then I ran into him on Facebook like 15 years later and he's a pastor at the Lutheran Church and he's, you know, he loves the Lord Jesus Christ. And he would not explain it as though he had a later conversion story. It's not as though he would say like, well yeah, in high school I pretended to be a Christian. And then, you know, I got through college and uh, I really became like I got converted. He would, would grow this, or he would explain this as slow, steady growth from an immature state that knew the facts of the gospel and in a certain sense trusted that Jesus was his savior and didn't fully understand the ramifications of that. I mean, who did at 15 years old? Mm-hmm. Um. And, and that it was a slow, steady growth to the place that he's in now. [00:39:21] The Difficulty of Distinguishing Believers Tony Arsenal: So I, I think we should take seriously, and maybe this is the takeaway for this week at least, and we can, we can talk about it more, is we should take seriously the fact that the Sons of the Kingdom and the Sons of the evil one in this parable are not only inseparable without doing damage, but in many ways they are not easily distinguishable. Jesse Schwamb: Right. On. Tony Arsenal: Um, and that, that's a baked into the parable. And I think we do spend a fair amount of time and I, I'll. I'll throw myself on on this. You know, this, we, I'm not just saying we, um, we as a genuine statement, like I have participated in this. I'm sure that I still do participate in this sometimes intentionally. Other times, uh, subconsciously we spend a fair amount of time probably in our Christian lives trying to figure out who is a Christian who's not. And it's not as though that is entirely illegitimate, right? The, the, as much as we kind of poke at the, the, um, workers in this who sort of are kind of chumps, right? They're sort of like the idiots in this. They, they don't seem to know how this happened. They propose a course of action that then the master's like, no, no, that's not, that's not gonna work. They can tell the difference, right? They can see that some are weeds and some are are weeds, and they're asking, well, what do we do about it? But at the same time he is saying like, you're not really competent to tell the difference, Jesse Schwamb: right? On Tony Arsenal: a good, uh, a good. Competent farmer could probably go out and take all the weeds out. Just like a really good, I dunno, landscape technician, I'm not sure what you would call it. I'm sure someone could come into my yard and if I paid them enough money they could probably fix this knobby grass, weed, whatever it is. Um, infestation. They could probably fix it without damaging the lawn. Like there are probably people that could do it. I am not that competent person and the workers in this are not that competent person. And I would say by and large in our Christian life, we are not that competent person to be able to identify who is and who isn't, um, a Christian who is or isn't a son of the kingdom versus a son of the devil. Jesse Schwamb: And there's sometimes like we just get history reprised, or it's like, again, the same thing microwaved over and served to you three or four times as leftovers. So it's also gonna remember like any as extension that like any attempt to like purify the church perfectly, and this has happened like donatism in the fourth century I think, or even like now, certain sectarian movements are completely misguided. Yeah. And Jesus already puts that out ahead of us here. It's almost like, do not worry what God is doing because God again is, is doing all the verbs. So here's a question I think we should discuss as we, we move toward like the top of the hour. And I think this is interesting. I don't know if you'll think it's interesting. I, I kind of have an answer, but I, I'll post it here first. [00:42:01] Visible vs. Invisible Church Jesse Schwamb: So the setup like you've just given us is two things. One, we got the visible church, we talk about the visible church. I think a lot across our conversations. Yeah. And we might summarize it, saying it's like the community of all who profess faith, maybe even the community of all who are baptized. Right. Possibly. Yeah. And it's going to include then necessarily as Jesus describes it here, true and false believers. So that's one group. Then we've got this invisible church, which as you said is the elect. Those who are known perfectly to God. So the good seed is those elect true believers. The weeds, then the weeds to me, or the tears, even better, they sound a lot like that. Second and third soils that we talked about previously to some, to some degree. I'm not, I'm not gonna lump them all in because we talked about receiving the word and it taking root, all that stuff, but to some degree, and also probably like a soil one. But here's, here's the way I would define them up and against or in contradistinction to the elector believers. They're the reprobate. They're false professors or they're children of the evil one. Now here's the question, Doni, Alex, I, I think this is very interesting. I'm trying to build this up for like more dramatic effect. 'cause now I'm worried it's not that good. The question is, I'm going to presume that this good seed, the elect, true to believers, the confidence of perseverance of the saints, the justification in sanctification of God's children is in fact though we at some points have our own doubts, it is made fully aware and known to the good seed. That is, we should have, as you and I have talked about before, the confidence that God has in fact saved his elect. So the question that on the other side is for the ta, do the tears always know that they are the tears? Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I mean, you know, I think, um, I've said this before and I, I mean it, and I think it takes probably more. More discussion than we have time for tonight. And and that's fine because we can do as many episodes on this as we want to. 'cause this is our show and you can't stop us actually. Jesse Schwamb: Correct. [00:43:56] Assurance of Faith and False Assurance Tony Arsenal: Um, I've said before that assurance is the proper and rightful possession and inheritance of every Christian. Jesse Schwamb: Amen. Tony Arsenal: Right. So I, I am not one to say that the technical terminology is that assurance is not of the essence of faith. Um, I think we have to be really careful when we say that it's not, but we have to be equally careful when we say that it is. Because if we say that assurance is of the essence of faith, then what that means is someone who doesn't have assurance, doesn't have faith. Um, the reason I say that we can say that is because there's a sense that that's true, right? If you don't believe you're saved, then you don't believe you're saved and you don't trust that you're saved. But that doesn't mean that you always have full awareness of that confidence. And, you know, I think, um, I think. I think you're, you're right that, um, it may not always be, let me put it this way. I, I think that we have to consider the entire life of a Christian when we're, when we're making that analysis. And in a certain sense, like, I'm not even sure we should be making that analysis. That's kind of the point of the, the, um, the parable here, or at least one of the points. But, um, when that analysis is made, we'll, we'll channel a little bit of RC sprawl. It's not as funny when he's actually, uh, gone. I don't really mean channel RC sprawl. We will, uh, speak in the tradition of RC sprawl, um, in the final analysis, whatever that means. Whenever that is. You have to consider the whole life of a Christian, the whole life of a believer. And so there may be times in the life of a believer where they don't possess that full assurance of faith or that that full assurance is weak or that it seems to be absent. But when we look at the entire life of a believer, um, is it a life that overall is marked by a confident trust, that they are in fact children of God? Um, that a confident, uh, a confident embracing of what the spirit testifies to their spirit, to, to borrow language from Romans, I think in, in the life of a true elect Christian, um, that with the perseverance of the saints, uh, with the persistence of the saints and the preservation of the saints, um, I think that yes, those who are finally saved, those who are saved unto salvation, if you wanna phrase it that way. They finish the race, they claim the prize. Um, that assurance will be their possession in their life as a Christian. Jesse Schwamb: Right on. Tony Arsenal: All of that to say, I think there are, are, there's a good case to be made for the fact that there is also people who have false assurance, right? And this is where it takes a lot more, you know, finagling and jockeying and theological explanation of how can we know we have true assurance versus false assurance. You know, it's kinda like that question, like, does an insane person know they're insane? Well, does a false, does someone with false assurance know that their assurance is false? I don't think, I don't think so. Otherwise, it wouldn't be false assurance. Um, if they knew it wasn't real assurance, then they wouldn't have any kind of assurance. So I, I think I agree with you at least where, where I think you're going is that we do have to, we do have to make some judgements. We have to look at our own life, right? Um, there is an element of fruitfulness in this parable, right? We'll talk about that. I, I think we'll get into that next week. But it's not as though this is entirely disconnected from the parable of the soils. Both of them have a very similar kind of. End point. [00:47:20] Final Judgment and Eschatology Tony Arsenal: At the end of all things, at the end of the harvest, when the end of the age comes, and the reapers, the angels are sent, what they're gathering up are fruitful Christians, right in the parable, he sends out the, it's funny be, I love my dispensational brothers and sisters, but in this parable, like the rapture is the rapture of the unbelievers, right? The angels go out and reap the unbelievers first. The, the weeds are bundled up and thrown into the fire, and then the, the fruitful wheat is gathered into the barns. Um, there is this delineation between the fruitless weeds and the fruitful wheat or the, the grain that has borne, you know, borne fruit. That is part of what the, the outward. Elements of this parable are, so we should talk about that more, of what is this trying to get at in terms of not just the difference between weeds and wheat and how that maps up to those who are in Christ versus those who are not in Christ, but also like what is this telling us about the, the end of the age eschatology. All of that's baked in here and we haven't even scratched the surface of that Jesse Schwamb: yet. Yeah, we, we, I, and we just can't, even on this episode, probably, you're right, we're gonna have to go to two so that, I guess it's like a teaser for the next one. I'm told they're with you. It's interesting. I've been thinking about that, that question a lot. And I do like what you're saying. You know, at the end here, it's almost as if Christ is saying at the time of harvest, things become more plain, more evident In the beginning. The chutes are gonna look really, really similar, and you're gonna go in and you're gonna think you're guessing properly or using your best judgment, and you're gonna get it wrong in the end when he sends out those who are harvesting. I liken this passage here in the explanation as you read to us starting in verse 36, how there's this comparison of heat and light. And so there is the heat and light of the fiery furnace into which, as you said, all of those who are the children of the enemy will be gathered up and burned. And then there's that contrast with in verse 43, then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father. So there is like a reward that comes from the bearing of the fruit and that made evidence by a different type of heat and light. So I do struggle with this question because. It's easy to answer in some ways if we're defining the weeds in pirate or the tears in pirates as false professors typically. Let's say false professors of a nefarious kind, then it seems pretty plain that somebody, right, that the enemy has implanted certain people to stir up trouble with the intention to stir up trouble that is in fact their jam. Or they know that even if they're putting on heirs, that they're in fact play acting that the hypocrisy is purposeful and that it is part of like the missional efforts that they're doing to disrupt what God is doing in the world. So I might think of somebody like when we go, when we're looking in, um, Exodus, and we find that at least to some degree, all of Pharaoh's magicians can replicate everything that Moses is doing. Moses doing that by the power of God. But the magicians are so good and whatever means they're using, but they know, I presume they know they're not, they're not using Yahweh, they're not drawing their power or their influence from Yahweh. Tony Arsenal: Right? Jesse Schwamb: But it's so convincing to the people that Pharaoh is like, eh. Obviously I've seen that before because we just, we just did that here. Come back with your next trick until God flexes his mighty muscles in a really profound way, which cannot be replicated. And at some point there's a harvest that happens there. There's a separation between the two, those who are truly professing, the power that comes from God, the one true God, and those that are just replicating the cheap copy, the one that's just pure trickery and smoke and mirrors. So. That's an easy category. I'm with you. And I'm not saying that this is an invitation to bring the kind of judgment here that we've just spoken against. I'm not condoning this. What I do find interesting though is if the enemy is crafty, is it possible that they're always going to be forms of terror in the world that do feel that they have very strong conviction and belief about biblical things? Maybe there's, there's strong hobby horses or there are misguided directions here that pull us apart, that become distractions. Or maybe it's just even attitudes, uh, things that can be divisive, disruptive, derogatory that again, pull us away. For making the plain things, the main things and the main things, the plain things, which in some ways draws us back to like the whole purpose of you and I talking every week, which is we wanna get back to what the scripture teaches. We wanna follow the our Lord Jesus Christ very, very closely. I'm gonna clinging to the hymn of his rob as we walk through life so that we do not fall to those kind of false convictions. So I'm not, please hear me, loved ones. I'm not trying to call into question your faith as Tony just said. I am saying that there, this is kind of scary, just like we talked about. There are elements of the parables of the, of the soil that were equally scary. And so it's just in some ways to say, we gotta keep our heads not theological, swivel. We, we gotta be about the Lord's business, and we gotta be about understanding through prayer and study and communion with him, what it is that he wants to teach us in the purest way, knowing that the church itself and the world, of course, is never going to be entirely pure. At the same time, it is our responsibility to, as you already said, test for ourselves to understand what is that true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because some tears are going to be maybe easy to identify and with without, you know, throwing too much shade or. I was gonna say spilling the TI don't think that works here, but I'm not young anymore, so I'm trying to use or or put on blast. Yeah. I'm looking at you Mormons or Jehovah's witnesses. Like it's, it's easier there to be like, yeah, right, this is wrong. It is a false profession, but we've just gotta be careful even in our own hobby, horses not deviates into ground. I think that doesn't preclude us from being children of the light and children of the kingdom, but can still be disruptive or uh, you know, just distracting. But either way, yeah. I think what's scary to me about this is exactly what you said, Tony, is, is could it be that there are people that are very sincere about the Christian faith, but are sincerely wrong? Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Jesse Schwamb: And what does that mean for God's elected purpose? What does that mean for our understanding of how to interact in our churches in the world? Does that make sense? Tony Arsenal: It does. And I'm not sure whether you were trying to set up the, what might be the first genuine reformed brotherhood cliffhanger, but you did. Because we're on minute 54 of a 60 minute podcast, and, uh, there's no way we're gonna get into that and not go for another 60 minutes. So, Jesse, I, I'm, I'm glad that we are taking our time. Um, I know that sometimes it's easy when you put out a schedule or you put out a sort of projected content calendar to feel like you have to stick to it. But I wanna give these parables, the time they deserve and the effort and the, uh, the, uh, study and the discussion that they deserve. And I think the questions you're posing here at the end of this episode are really, really important. And they are questions that this parable forces us to ask. Right, right. It's not as though we're just using this as a launching pad. Um. If the workers can't tell the difference between the, the seed and the, or the, the weeds and the weeds, it's reasonable to think that the weeds themselves may not be able to tell the difference. Right? The sons of the evil one, um, are probably not in this parable, are probably not the people like in the back, like doing fake devil horns, right? And like, you know, like there's, there's probably more going on that we need to unpack and, and we'll do that next week. Jesse Schwamb: I love it. So we've got some good stuff coming then, because we've gotta, this is like, do you ever remember when you were in, uh, you know, doing your undergraduate postgraduate work, you'd get like a topic or an assignment or a paper and you'd be super stoked about it and you start reaching it, be like, okay, researching it. And you'd be like, all right, I've got some good topics here. And then you get into it, you're like, oh, but I'm gonna have to talk about this. And Oh, like before I could talk, I'm gonna have to explain this. Sometimes when we get into these, as you and I have been talking, that's what it feels li

Not every message, voice, or feeling we experience is from God. In our daily prayer and devotional, the apostle John warns believers to test the spirits because our emotions, cultural influences, or even spiritual opposition can lead us astray. God’s Spirit always aligns with His Word, glorifies Jesus, and produces peace and holiness in our hearts. When you face decisions or conflicting messages, take time to pray for discernment and measure everything against Scripture. If what you sense points you closer to Christ and aligns with biblical truth, you can move forward with confidence. If it distracts or divides, wait on God’s timing and continue seeking His direction. Discernment takes practice. The more time you spend in God’s Word and in prayer, the more clearly you’ll recognize His voice amid the noise of the world. God has promised to guide you faithfully—trust Him to do it in His way and His time. Today's Bible Reading: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God… This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God…”— 1 John 4:1–3 (NIV) Key Takeaways Test every spirit. God’s truth never contradicts His Word. Keep Jesus central. The Holy Spirit’s leading always exalts Christ. Check the fruit. True guidance produces love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control. Wait on God’s timing. Rushing ahead often leads to confusion. Seek wise counsel. Godly community helps confirm God’s direction. Let’s Pray Dear God,Thank You for reminding me that not every spirit or voice I hear is from You. Forgive me for the times I’ve trusted my emotions or rushed ahead without seeking Your wisdom. Teach me to test the spirits and recognize what is truly from You. Guide me through Your Word and Your Spirit, and help me make choices that glorify Jesus. Guard my heart and mind from confusion, and let Your peace lead me.In Jesus’ name, Amen. Related Articles Looking for more on discernment and hearing God’s voice? Explore these helpful reads: What Does It Mean to Test the Spirits? (and How Can We Do It?) – Christianity.com What Is a Spirit of Discernment and How Can Prayer Help? – Crosswalk.com How to Know If You’re Hearing God’s Voice or Your Own – Crosswalk.com 7 Ways the Holy Spirit Helps You Make Godly Decisions – Christianity.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today I want to get into the subject of self-discernment, specifically the ability to discern what's going on in your heart and what you need for healing, especially when it comes to healing from trauma. It involves addressing how you see yourself, and I pray that what I share here will help you see yourself […]

We reacted to the best (and worst!) advice you shared about navigating your twenties. From finding faith-filled mentors to practical hacks like travel credit cards, we covered it all—yes, even a slightly controversial convo about giving up a dog. We laughed, we disagreed, and we got real about everything from building community to trusting God's voice in seasons of uncertainty. Whether we're looking back on our twenties or walking through them now, this episode reminded us how important it is to stay rooted in Jesus, go all in with our people, and keep saying yes to what He's doing. In This Episode [00:00] Real Talk on Twenties: Chaos, Faith, and... Dog Drama?[06:00] Friendship, Mentors & Finding Women Who Sparkle for Jesus[10:30] Creating Community & Trusting God with the Next Right Thing[14:30] Travel Hacks, Gut Checks & Discernment vs. Desire[18:30] When You Feel Stuck: Pivoting, Surrendering, and Letting God Lead[24:00] Altar Moments, Obedience, and God's Faithfulness in the Unknown Thanks to Our Sponsors Brooklyn Bedding: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠brooklynbedding.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use our promo code FTG at checkout to get 30% off site wide. This offer is not available anywhere else. NIV Application Study Bible - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab your copy today!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Winshape: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more or submit your application today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you'd like to partner with For The Girl as a sponsor, fill out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form! Follow us!

In Yesterday's Lesson for Today, Dr. Michael Youssef urges believers to reject the shallow comforts of modern Christianity and return to the unchanging truth of God's Word. Preaching from Acts 20, he shows how the Apostle Paul lived with unwavering obedience, bold witness, and tear-filled urgency. Paul's life was a living sermon—his walk matched his talk. Dr. Youssef warns that wolves are not only outside the church but sitting within, seeking to devour the undiscerning. We must be vigilant—over our homes, pulpits, and hearts. The Gospel never changes, no matter how loud the world shouts. Now is the time to repent, intercede, and stand firm—for ourselves and for the next generation.

In this episode of The Catholic Talk Show, Ryan and Ryan discuss the warped historical views of figure like Columbus, The Crusaders, Missionaries, and more. Episode 337: In this episode, we will discuss: • Was Columbus a Hero or Villain? • Were The Crusades Justified? • The Black Legend Propaganda • How History, Science, & Stats Can Be Manipulated • and much more 00:00 Revisiting Historical Figures 02:28 The Legacy of Christopher Columbus 08:16 The Crusaders: Misunderstood Heroes 11:02 The Galileo Affair: Myths and Realities 13:49 The Role of Science in History 16:36 The Impact of Historical Narratives 19:34 The Complexity of Historical Figures 22:17 The Need for Discernment in History 25:00 The Search for Truth in Modern Society 27:56 The Importance of Love and Understanding 30:39 Conclusion: Embracing Historical Truths Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices