Podcasts about eccl

Have you ever walked into a space and instantly felt lighter, calmer, or inspired — just because of what you saw? Beauty isn’t just decoration. Science shows that what surrounds you can change how you feel, help you break stress cycles, and even make new habits stick.Yet many Christian women hesitate to add beauty to their own lives — worrying it’s “selfish” or “unnecessary.” But friend, God designed beauty as a gift to restore your soul. It’s not extra. It’s essential.In this episode, you’ll discover how adding beauty into your space can renew your spirit and spark joy — inside and out. You’ll learn the neuroscience of why beauty matters, how visual cues can help you stick to life-giving rhythms, and a simple soul care practice to bring God’s peace and joy into your daily environment.I’ll also share a personal story of the surprising way adding color to my own bedroom has transformed my mornings — giving me a more peaceful start to the day and helping me connect more deeply with God.Key Takeaways:
 The neuroscience of how beauty lowers stress and boosts motivation
 Why visual cues are powerful triggers for building new habits
 How God uses beauty to reflect His care for you — it’s not “extra,” it’s essential
 A personal reflection on “clothing yourself with Christ” and embracing His beauty in your life 
 A practical soul care challenge to add one beauty cue to your environment this week Breath Prayer:
 Inhale: You make all things beautiful
 Exhale: in your time Scripture:
 “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”
 Eccl.3:11 Join NEW Wellness Course: Breathe Joy with Jesus: Creating Happy Healthy Habits with God's Promises Register at mysoulcareschool.com → Take the FREE Soul Care Quiz at soulcarequiz.comGet your free personal wellness assessment and learn which area of wellness you need most. Connect with Bonnie: Bestselling Books by Bonnie:https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd Join the Soul Care Newsletter:https://thebonniegray.com/subscribe Watch Weekly YouTube Devotionals:https://youtube.com/thebonniegray Follow Bonnie on Instagram & Facebook:@thebonniegray Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this message, Bishop Walker teaches according to Eccl 7:12. Visit our website https://www.aplaceofrefugechurch.org Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofrefugechurch  Also enjoy these powerful podcasts: The Way 2 Go Podcast - https://goo.gl/xmctVQ Making People Productive Podcast - https://goo.gl/R53KGa The L.I.F.E. Podcast - https://tinyurl.com/4t2vapjb

Fr. Chase preaches Eccl 1:12—2:11 Ps 49:1-12(13-21); Col 3:5-17 Luke 12:13-21

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Homily of Fr. Mike O'Connor from Mass on August 3, 2025 at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Eccl 1:2; 2:21-23 Col 3:1-5, 9-11 Lk 12:13-21 If you would like to donate to OLG and her livestream ministry, please go to https://olgchurch.net/give

1. Jesus gives us REST v. 30-32Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Matthew 11:282. Jesus shows us COMPASSION v. 33-34 Isa. 53:6 - All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned — everyone — to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.3. Jesus PROVIDES our needs HIS way - v. 35-41 Mark 14:22 - And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”John 15:5  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.4. Jesus is our source of CONTENTMENT v. 42-4410 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. Eccl 2:10–11.7But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. 8More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ — the righteousness from God based on faith.Phil. 3:7-9 (CSB)Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Msgr. Roger J. Landry Annunciation Convent of the Sisters of Life, Suffern, New York Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C August 3, 2025 Eccl 1:2.21-23, Ps 90, Col 3:1-5,9-11; Lk 12:13-21   To listen to an audio recording of today’s homily, please click below:  https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/8.3.24_Homily_1.mp3   The following text guided the homily:  Earlier this […] The post The Answer to the Burning Question in Our Hearts, Eighteenth Sunday (C), August 3, 2025 appeared first on Catholic Preaching.

"In this sermon, we explore the sobering message of Ecclesiastes 1:1–11, where Solomon proclaims: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Why does life feel so futile? Why do all things seem to pass without lasting significance? Solomon tells us the reason: death makes all things under the sun meaningless when considered apart from God.We consider:The deep human longing for meaning.The failure of atheism and existentialism to provide that meaning.How the fleeting nature of life and inevitable reality of death prove the vanity of all things “under the sun.”The weariness of life as a result of the fall (Genesis 3) and the curse of death.Why even the pursuit of “newness” or remembrance cannot solve the problem of meaning.Ultimately, Solomon's goal is not despair but direction: to drive us to the only source of true and lasting meaning—God Himself. The book ends not with nihilism, but with a call: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all.” (Eccl. 12:13)

Send us a textIn this new episode Brian continues with the understanding of the days of Daniel and Noah and how there are parallels taking place in this time of transition.  The Lord Jesus has announced that we are in an "appointed time- a time to live and a time to die (Eccl. 3:1-2)."  Brian shares how some of the recent floods and fires are highlighting the days where the righteous are being spared in the midst of evil.  The key is whether we are living righteously before the Lord Jesus in walking in the day to day will of God for our lives.  According to Ezekiel 14:14-26 these three righteous men-Noah, Daniel and Job- could not save their own sons and daughters from judgment because of their righteousness.  Each must know the righteousness of Christ for themselves!

A new MP3 sermon from Grace Community Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Biblical Hermeneutics: Interpreting “Do Not Be Overly Righteous” (Eccl. 7:16) Speaker: Tim Conway Broadcaster: Grace Community Church Event: Question & Answer Date: 8/1/2025 Bible: Ecclesiastes 7:16 Length: 50 min.

In this Ask Pastor Tim (from 2019) we study Ecclesiastes 7:16—"Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise"—and unpack what Solomon really meant by that warning. We'll walk through three foundational hermeneutical methods (compare Scripture with Scripture, examine context and genre, cross‑reference translations), see how translation differences affect our understanding, and survey New Testament passages that call us to genuine holiness without slipping into legalism or laxity.

In this Ask Pastor Tim (from 2019) we study Ecclesiastes 7:16—"Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise"—and unpack what Solomon really meant by that warning. We'll walk through three foundational hermeneutical methods (compare Scripture with Scripture, examine context and genre, cross‑reference translations), see how translation differences affect our understanding, and survey New Testament passages that call us to genuine holiness without slipping into legalism or laxity.

"What are we to make of a book that opens with the bold claim, ""All is vanity""?In this sermon, we begin our journey through the book of Ecclesiastes by considering its opening words and the man who spoke them: Solomon, son of David, king in Jerusalem. Though often misunderstood as a work of pessimism or contradiction, Ecclesiastes is a deeply theological reflection on life “under the sun”—a life disconnected from God.Historically attributed to Solomon, this book represents the reflections of a man who had everything—wisdom, wealth, power, pleasure—and yet found it all empty apart from God. By exploring the historical context and internal evidence for Solomonic authorship, we find that Ecclesiastes is not a contradiction to the wisdom of Proverbs but its necessary complement. It is the mature confession of one who once wandered and came to see the futility of life without God.This message is especially relevant for our modern age, where the pursuit of success, beauty, knowledge, and pleasure often takes center stage. But the Preacher tells us, as does Christ himself through these inspired words: Only in God is there true meaning.

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Coucou tout le monde, ça fait longtemps un peu

Daily Morning Prayer and the Litany (7/16/25) from Trinity Anglican Church (Connersville, IN): Psalms 79-81; Eccl. 11; John 4; Metrical Psalm 128 To read along, visit: https://ie.dailyoffice1662.com/To sing along with the Brady and Tate Metrical Psalter, visit: https://www.friendsofsabbath.org/cgmusic.com/workshop/newver_frame.htmTo own a Bible, visit: https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/product/kjv-center-column-reference-bible-with-apocrypha/To own a prayer book, visit: https://anglicanway.org/product/the-1662-book-of-common-prayer-international-edition-hardcover-march-2-2021/To own a hymnal, visit: https://anglicanhousepublishers.org/shop/the-book-of-common-praise-of-the-reformed-episcopal-church/

Daily Morning Prayer and the Litany (7/16/25) from Trinity Anglican Church (Connersville, IN): Psalms 79-81; Eccl. 11; John 4; Metrical Psalm 128 To read along, visit: https://ie.dailyoffice1662.com/To sing along with the Brady and Tate Metrical Psalter, visit: https://www.friendsofsabbath.org/cgmusic.com/workshop/newver_frame.htmTo own a Bible, visit: https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/product/kjv-center-column-reference-bible-with-apocrypha/To own a prayer book, visit: https://anglicanway.org/product/the-1662-book-of-common-prayer-international-edition-hardcover-march-2-2021/To own a hymnal, visit: https://anglicanhousepublishers.org/shop/the-book-of-common-praise-of-the-reformed-episcopal-church/

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Daily Morning Prayer (7/12/25) from Trinity Anglican Church (Connersville, IN): Psalms 62-64; Eccl. 3; Luke 24; Metrical Psalm 106 and a reading from The Books of HomiliesTo read along, visit: https://ie.dailyoffice1662.com/To sing along with the Brady and Tate Metrical Psalter, visit: https://www.friendsofsabbath.org/cgmusic.com/workshop/newver_frame.htmTo own a Bible, visit: https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/product/kjv-center-column-reference-bible-with-apocrypha/To own a prayer book, visit: https://anglicanway.org/product/the-1662-book-of-common-prayer-international-edition-hardcover-march-2-2021/To own a hymnal, visit: https://anglicanhousepublishers.org/shop/the-book-of-common-praise-of-the-reformed-episcopal-church/

Daily Morning Prayer (7/12/25) from Trinity Anglican Church (Connersville, IN): Psalms 62-64; Eccl. 3; Luke 24; Metrical Psalm 106 and a reading from The Books of HomiliesTo read along, visit: https://ie.dailyoffice1662.com/To sing along with the Brady and Tate Metrical Psalter, visit: https://www.friendsofsabbath.org/cgmusic.com/workshop/newver_frame.htmTo own a Bible, visit: https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/product/kjv-center-column-reference-bible-with-apocrypha/To own a prayer book, visit: https://anglicanway.org/product/the-1662-book-of-common-prayer-international-edition-hardcover-march-2-2021/To own a hymnal, visit: https://anglicanhousepublishers.org/shop/the-book-of-common-praise-of-the-reformed-episcopal-church/

Daily Evening Prayer (7/11/25) from Trinity Anglican Church (Connersville, IN): Psalms 59-61; Eccl. 2;1 Thess. 3; Metrical Psalm 116 and a reading from The Books of HomiliesTo read along, visit: https://ie.dailyoffice1662.com/To sing along with the Brady and Tate Metrical Psalter, visit: https://www.friendsofsabbath.org/cgmusic.com/workshop/newver_frame.htmTo own a Bible, visit: https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/product/kjv-center-column-reference-bible-with-apocrypha/To own a prayer book, visit: https://anglicanway.org/product/the-1662-book-of-common-prayer-international-edition-hardcover-march-2-2021/To own a hymnal, visit: https://anglicanhousepublishers.org/shop/the-book-of-common-praise-of-the-reformed-episcopal-church/

Daily Evening Prayer (7/11/25) from Trinity Anglican Church (Connersville, IN): Psalms 59-61; Eccl. 2;1 Thess. 3; Metrical Psalm 116 and a reading from The Books of HomiliesTo read along, visit: https://ie.dailyoffice1662.com/To sing along with the Brady and Tate Metrical Psalter, visit: https://www.friendsofsabbath.org/cgmusic.com/workshop/newver_frame.htmTo own a Bible, visit: https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/product/kjv-center-column-reference-bible-with-apocrypha/To own a prayer book, visit: https://anglicanway.org/product/the-1662-book-of-common-prayer-international-edition-hardcover-march-2-2021/To own a hymnal, visit: https://anglicanhousepublishers.org/shop/the-book-of-common-praise-of-the-reformed-episcopal-church/

Chapter 8 In this attribute is our safety and rest, amidst the confusions of the world, and daily disappointments we are vexed withal, through the vanity and falseness of the creature; as to creatures, the very best of them are but vanity, yea, vanity of vanity, the vainest vanity, Eccl. 1:2. "Every man in his best estate is altogether vanity," Psal. 39:5. Yea, those that we expect most from, give us most trouble, Mic. 7:5.

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Restore Broken Fellowship      All believers sin, and there are none who attain perfection in this life (Prov 20:9; Eccl 7:20; 1 John 1:8, 10). Chafer rightly notes, “We are never wonderful saints of whom God may justly be proud: we are His little children, immature and filled with foolishness, with whom He is endlessly patient and on whom He has been pleased to set all His infinite heart of love. He is wonderful. We are not.”[1] When we commit sin, we break fellowship with the Lord. For this reason, familial forgiveness is necessary for our fellowship with God to be restored. David understood the folly of trying to conceal his sins, which resulted in psychological disequilibrium and pain; however, when he confessed his sin, God forgave him (Psa 32:2-5). John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). God forgives because it is His nature to do so, for He “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth” (Psa 86:15; cf. Psa 103:8-14). And He is able to forgive because Christ has atoned for our sins at the cross, satisfying the Father's righteous demands regarding our offenses. The apostle John wrote, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2). The challenge for many believers is to trust God at His word and accept His forgiveness and not operate on guilty feelings. William MacDonald states: "The forgiveness John speaks about here [i.e., 1 John 1:9] is parental, not judicial. Judicial forgiveness means forgiveness from the penalty of sins, which the sinner receives when he believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is called judicial because it is granted by God acting as Judge. But what about sins which a person commits after conversion? As far as the penalty is concerned, the price has already been paid by the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary. But as far as fellowship in the family of God is concerned, the sinning saint needs parental forgiveness, that is, the forgiveness of His Father. He obtains it by confessing his sin. We need judicial forgiveness only once; that takes care of the penalty of all our sins—past, present, and future. But we need parental forgiveness throughout our Christian life.[2] Be Filled with the Spirit      Paul wrote to Christians, “don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit” (Eph 5:18 CSB). If a believer consumes too much alcohol, it can lead to cognitive impairment and harmful behavior. But the believer who is filled with the Spirit will possess divine viewpoint and manifest the fruit of godliness, worship, and thankfulness to the Lord (Eph 5:19-20). Being filled with the Spirit means being guided by Him rather than our own desires or the desires of others. The Spirit's guidance is always according to Scripture. Being filled with the Spirit does not mean we have more of Him, but that He has more of us, as we submit to His leading. Warren Wiersbe comments: “Be filled with the Spirit” is God's command, and He expects us to obey. The command is plural, so it applies to all Christians and not just to a select few. The verb is in the present tense, “keep on being filled”, so it is an experience we should enjoy constantly and not just on special occasions. And the verb is passive. We do not fill ourselves but permit the Spirit to fill us. The verb “fill” has nothing to do with contents or quantity, as though we are empty vessels that need a required amount of spiritual fuel to keep going. In the Bible, filled means “controlled by.” “They... were filled with wrath” (Luke 4:28) means “they were controlled by wrath” and for that reason tried to kill Jesus. “The Jews were filled with envy” (Acts 13:45) means that the Jews were controlled by envy and opposed the ministry of Paul and Barnabas. To be “filled with the Spirit” means to be constantly controlled by the Spirit in our mind, emotions, and will…But how can a person tell whether or not he is filled with the Spirit? Paul stated that there are three evidences of the fullness of the Spirit in the life of the believer: he is joyful (Eph. 5:19), thankful (Eph. 5:20), and submissive (Eph. 5:21–33). Paul said nothing about miracles or tongues, or other special manifestations.[3] Lewis S. Chafer wrote: "To be filled with the Spirit is to have the Spirit fulfilling in us all that God intended Him to do when he placed Him there. To be filled is not the problem of getting more of the Spirit: it is rather the problem of the Spirit getting more of us. We shall never have more of the Spirit than the anointing which every true Christian has received. On the other hand, the Spirit may have all of the believer and thus be able to manifest in him the life and character of Christ. A spiritual person, then, is one who experiences the divine purpose and plan in his daily life through the power of the indwelling Spirit. The character of that life will be the out-lived Christ. The cause of that life will be the unhindered indwelling Spirit (Eph 3:16-21; 2 Cor 3:18)."[4] Charles Ryrie states: "To be filled with the Spirit means to be controlled by the Spirit. The clue to this definition is found in Ephesians 5:18 where there is contrast and comparison between drunkenness and Spirit-filling. It is the comparison which gives the clue, for just as a drunken person is controlled by the liquor which he consumes, so a Spirit-filled Christian is controlled by the Spirit. This will cause him to act in ways which are unnatural to him, not implying that such ways will be erratic or abnormal, but asserting that they will not be the ways of the old life. Control by the Spirit is a necessary part of spirituality."[5] Walk by the Spirit      Paul wrote, “walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal 5:16). In this passage walking is a metaphor for daily living, which can be influenced by God (Deut 5:33; 10:12), other righteous persons (Prov 13:20), sinners (Psa 1:1; Prov 1:10-16; 1 Cor 15:33), or one's own sin nature (Gal 5:17-21). To walk in the Spirit means we depend on His counsel to guide and power to sustain as we seek to do His will. The Spirit most often guides us directly by Scripture. Jesus, speaking of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, said, “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit helps the Christian know the Word of God, and to recall Scripture when needed for guidance. The Holy Spirit also works through mature believers—whose thinking is saturated with God's Word—to help provide sound biblical advice for others. Warren Wiersbe states: The New Testament calls the Christian life a “walk.” This walk begins with a step of faith when we trust Christ as our Savior. But salvation is not the end—it's only the beginning—of spiritual life. “Walking” involves progress, and Christians are supposed to advance in the spiritual life. Just as a child must learn to walk and must overcome many difficulties in doing so, a Christian must learn to “walk in the light.”[6] Charles Ryrie adds: Constant dependence on the power of the indwelling Spirit of God is essential to spiritual growth and victory. By its very nature, walking is a succession of dependent acts. When one foot is lifted in order to place it front of the other one, it is done in faith—faith that the foot that remains on the ground will support the full weight of the body. You can only walk by the exercise of faith. You can live the Christian life only by dependence on the Holy Spirit. Such dependence will result in the Spirit's control over the deeds of the flesh (Gal 5:17-21) and the Spirit's production of the fruit of the Spirit (vv. 22-23). Dependence on the power of God and effort on the part of the believer are not mutually exclusive. Self-discipline and Spirit-dependence can and must be practiced at the same time in a balanced spiritual life. Dependence itself is an attitude, but that attitude does not come automatically; it usually requires cultivation. How many genuine Christians there are who live day after day without even sensing their need of dependence on Him. Experience, routine, pride, self-confidence all tend to drag all of us away from that conscious dependence on God which we must have in order to live and act righteously.[7] Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] Lewis Sperry Chafer, He That Is Spiritual, 150. [2] William MacDonald, Believer's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2310-11. [3] Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament, Vol. 2 (Colorado Springs, Col., Victor Publishing, 2001), 48. [4] Lewis S. Chafer, He that is Spiritual, 43-44. [5] Charles C. Ryrie, “What is Spirituality?” Bibliotheca Sacra 126 (1969): 206. [6] Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament, Vol. 2, 479. [7] Charles Ryrie, Balancing the Christian Life (Chicago. Ill., Moody Press, 1994), 198.

Join my husband and I as we go through the entire Bible in a year, in conjunction with the Bible Discovery Guide and The Daily Show. This weekend we answer some of the big questions and viewer questions concerning love, law, and discerning right from wrong. If you want to know your Bible better, then this is a great place to help deepen your big picture understanding.

Welcome to Day 2651 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “The Unseen Realm: God and the Gods” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2651 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2651 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today, we begin a new focus on this 2nd of 16 segments of our Theology Thursday lessons. I will read through the book Supernatural, written by Hebrew Bible scholar, professor, and mentor, the late Dr. Michael S. Heiser. Supernatural is a condensed version of his comprehensive book ‘The Unseen Realm.' If these readings pique your interest, I would recommend that you read ‘The Unseen Realm.' Today, we will read through chapter two: ‘The Unseen Realm: God and the Gods.' People are fascinated by the supernatural and the superhuman. Just think about the entertainment industry in recent years. Thousands of books, television shows, and movies from the past decade have explored themes such as angels, aliens, monsters, demons, ghosts, witches, magic, vampires, werewolves, and superheroes. Many of Hollywood's blockbuster franchises feature the supernatural: the X-Men, the Avengers, the Harry Potter series, Superman, and the Twilight Saga. Television shows like Fringe, and, of course, Supernatural and The X-Files, have dedicated followings even long after filming new episodes ends. And really, haven't these things always been popular—in tales, in books, in art? Why? One answer is that they're an escape from the ordinary. They offer us a world that's more interesting and exciting than our own. There's something about good versus evil, magnified on a cosmic scale, that thrills us. The epic struggle by the heroes of Middle-earth (Gandalf, Frodo, and company) against the Dark Lord Sauron in The Lord of the Rings trilogy has captivated readers (and now moviegoers) for over half a century now. The more otherworldly the villain, the more spectacular the triumph. On another level, people are drawn to other worlds because, as the book of Ecclesiastes puts it, God has “put eternity into [our] hearts” (Eccl. 3:11). There's something about the human condition that longs for something beyond human experience—something divine. The Apostle Paul also wrote about this yearning. He taught that it comes from just being alive in the world God has made. The creation bears witness to a creator, and, therefore, to a realm beyond our own (Rom. 1:18–23). Paul said this impulse was so powerful that it had to be willfully suppressed (v. 18). And yet we don't seem to think of the epic story of the Bible in the same way we think of our own tales of the supernatural in books, movies, and legend. There are reasons for that, and they go beyond the lack of special effects. For some, the Bible's characters are too ordinary or grandfatherly. They don't feel dynamic or heroic. After all, these are the same people and the same stories we've been hearing since Sunday school as kids. Then there's the cultural barrier. It's hard for us to identify with what seems like an endless parade of ancient shepherds and men wearing robes, like so many actors in your church's nativity play. But I think an even bigger factor in why science fiction or supernatural fantasy captures our imagination more...

Preached by Lead Pastor, Rev. Aubrey Spears, on June 11, 2025.

Preached by Lead Pastor, Rev. Aubrey Spears, on June 11, 2025.

In this week's episode -- the twenty-fourth episode in our "overcomers" series -- we will discuss how to overcome fear, why we do not need to fear, the dangers of fear and both the truth and lies of fear. Scripture discussed: 1 Samuel 10 and 13, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 23:4, 2 Timothy 1:6-7, Psalm 34:4, John 14:1, John 14:27, John 16:33, Proverbs 9:10 and Eccl. 12:13.follow me on instagram! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/braxtenhm⁠⁠⁠⁠follow me on tik tok! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@UCKFDLPcSq_V1LP76Kq4HL1g⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Gal 2:15-16 Eccl 7:20 Gal 3:10-15 II Cor 5:12 Rom 4:5 Gen 15:6 Gal 2:17-21 Rom 5:1

In today's world, there is an obsession with knowledge but a growing resistance to true wisdom. While knowledge is the accumulation of information, wisdom is the right application of that knowledge, something our society increasingly overlooks. Ecclesiastes 4 echoes this truth by exposing the emptiness of ambition, isolation, and toil without purpose. It reminds us that life's value is not in what we know or achieve, but in how we live in relationship with others and with God.

143:1 Hear my prayer, O LORD- Hear is often used in the Psalms as an imperative directed to God (17:7; 27:7; 28:2; 30:10; 54:2; 64:1). Give ear to my supplications! Give ear is also an imperative addressed to God in the Psalms (5:1; 17:1; 39:12; 54:2; 55:1; 84:8; 86:6; 140:6; 141:1; 143:1). The fact these imperatives are used together stresses the urgency of the request. For supplications the ESV and NIV have cries for mercy.  Supplications are found in Ps. 28:2, 6; 31:22; 116:1; 130:2; 140:6.Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness- “The psalmist makes his plea for deliverance, not on the merit of his own righteousness (vs. 2), but on that basis of God's righteousness (vss. 1, 11)” Miller, 436. “His only claim is to a covenant relationship with his God (servant, cf. vs. 10), initiated and maintained by divine grace” Laymen 697. “His confidence lies, not in himself, but in the one who promised. He is true, faithful, and righteous” VanGemeren, 856. “Righteousness is an appositive of faithfulness, so that the one word helps explain the other. The use of righteousness with steadfast love (covenant loyalty, vss. 11-12) also tempers the meaning of righteous (innocent) before God's courts (vs. 2). God is faithful to His covenant commitment to His servant (vss. 2a, 12) and He is true to His own righteousness (character) in forgiving the penitent sinner” Miller, 436. 143:2 And do not enter into judgment with Your servant- The writer describes His relationship to God as Your servant (2, 12). For in Your sight no man living is righteous- Job 4:17; 9:2; 15:4; 25:4; Eccl. 7:20. “No creature (not even the angels, according to Job) can hope to be blameless before God's inexorable judgment” Alter, 492. “The OT also teaches that God freely forgives because of His grace (cf. Pss. 32:1-2, 5; 51:1-2; 103:3, 11-13; 130:3-4)” Miller, 437. This word righteous is a verb while vs. 1 and 11 are nouns. While God is righteous in the sense that He is faithful to His covenant, we are not righteous.“While the psalmist is aware that no-one is perfectly righteous (v. 2), he does believe that he has grounds for saying that he does not deserve the violent treatment of those who are persecuting (pursuing) him” Longman, 462. “The reference to human waywardness (cf. 130:3; I Kings 8:46) is no shoulder-shrugging excuse but expresses a conviction of the power of sin” Laymen, 697. “The covenant relationship can be sustained only on the basis of continual divine forgiveness (cf. 51:5)” Allen, 281. 143:3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul- “Three metaphors describe the intensity of His suffering” Miller, 437. “Like a hunted beast he has been chased, grounded, caged (3; cf. 142 title)” Motyer, 580. The word enemy or enemies is used in vs. 3, 9, 12.                                   He has crushed my life to the ground- “Like the suffering servant in the book of Isaiah, crushed (see Isa. 53:5, 10; see also Ps. 94:5; Lam. 3:34)” McCann, 1251. He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead- If you need further notes please send a facebook message..                                                                                       

Time is precious. God has given us life. We were born for a reason and a purpose. We often complain that we don't have enough time. It is really not about time, but about priorities. Therefore, we must prioritize the time God has given us and live each moment for Him. To know  God is Sovereign over this world and over our lives. May we learn to understand how precious our time is so that we gain a heart of wisdom. Wisdom to live each moment for the glory of God.

May 11, 2025 Eccl. 12:1-14; Ps. 50:1-6; Prov. 15:1-3; II Cor. 8:10-15

May 11, 2025 Eccl. 12:1-14; Ps. 50:1-6; Prov. 15:1-3; 2 Cor. 8:10-15

In Ecclesiastes Chapter 2, Solomon explores the pursuits of pleasure, achievement and possessions, ultimately finding them all meaningless apart from God. While God wants us to enjoy life, these pursuits become empty when they are self-centered or disconnected from Him. Solomon concludes that true fulfillment—wisdom, joy and purpose—comes only from God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism affirms that “Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” Let's determine to invest the rest of our lives in the pursuit of what really matters - a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus. 

May 10, 2025 Eccl. 10:1-11:10; Ps. 49:10-20; Prov. 14:34-35; II Cor. 8:1-9

May 10, 2025 Eccl. 10:1-11:10; Ps. 49:10-20; Prov. 14:34-35; 2 Cor. 8:1-9

May 9, 2025 Eccl. 8:9-9:18; Ps. 49:1-9; Prov. 14:32-33; II Cor. 7:11-16

May 8, 2025 Eccl. 7:1-8:8; Ps. 48:9-14; Prov. 14:30-31; II Cor. 7:8-10

May 8, 2025 Eccl. 7:1-8:8; Ps. 48:9-14; Prov. 14:30-31; 2 Cor. 7:8-10

May 9, 2025 Eccl. 8:9-9:18; Ps. 49:1-9; Prov. 14:32-33; II Cor. 7:11-16

May 7, 2025 Eccl. 5:10-6:12; Ps. 48:1-8; Prov. 14:28-29; 2 Cor. 7:2-7

May 7, 2025 Eccl. 5:10-6:12; Ps. 48:1-8; Prov. 14:28-29; II Cor. 7:2-7

May 5, 2025 Eccl. 2:24-3:22; Ps. 47:1-7; Prov. 14:25; II Cor. 6:3-13

May 6, 2025 Eccl. 4:1-5:9; Ps. 47:8-9; Prov. 14:26-27; II Cor. 6:14-7:1

May 4, 2025 Eccl. 1:1-2:23; Ps. 46:8-11; Prov. 14:22-24; II Cor. 6:1-2