Podcasts about ephesians

Attending church, singing hymns, and reading the Bible doesn't make you a believer. So how do you know when you're truly converted? On Truth For Life, Alistair Begg walks us through the radical transformation that occurs when you come to saving faith. ----------------------------------------- • Click here and look for "FROM THE SERMON" to stream or read the full message. •This program is part of the sermon ‘A Study in Ephesians, Volume 3' • Learn more about our current resource, request your copy with a donation of any amount. Helpful Resources - Learn about God's salvation plan - Read our most recent articles - Subscribe to our daily devotional Follow Us YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter This listener-funded program features the clear, relevant Bible teaching of Alistair Begg. Today's program and nearly 3,000 messages can be streamed and shared for free at tfl.org thanks to the generous giving from monthly donors called Truthpartners. Learn more about this Gospel-sharing team or become one today. Thanks for listening to Truth For Life!

Teaching from Ephesians 5:1-20, Pastor Leitu describes the patterns and behaviors we should imitate as those who follow and profess Jesus, as well as the consequences of those who don't or reject our Savior.Social MediaProphecy Website: http://jdfarag.orgMobile & TV Apps: https://subsplash.com/calvarychapelkaneohe/appChurch Website: http://www.calvarychapelkaneohe.comX:  https://x.com/JDFaragFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/JDFaragInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/JDFarag

In this episode, Bob and Linda unpack spiritual habits found in Scripture that quietly shape financial outcomes—habits that have nothing to do with spreadsheets or hustle culture, but everything to do with becoming the kind of person money can be trusted with.   These aren't the usual "Christian money tips." They're deeper.   And once you see them, you can't unsee them.    

Sermon by Mark Chase at 10:00 a.m. on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, January 18, 2025, at All Saints Church, Pasadena. Readings: Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 6:10-20, Psalm 77:11-20, A Reading from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Luke 6:27-36. Watch the sermon on YouTube.    Please consider pledging to All Saints Church at https://allsaints-pas.org/pledge/, or donate to support the mission and ministry of All Saints at https://allsaints-pas.org/giving/. Any donation, big or small, is appreciated! Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsPasadena/. Follow us on Instagram at #allsaintspas. Check out the rest of our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/allsaintspasadena1/videos. Subscribe, like, get notifications every time we post! Enjoy our extensive archive of stimulating and inspiring content!

President Trump being given the Nobel Peace Prize by the Venezuelan opposition leader creates the perfect moment to contrast the world's version of peace with God's. The guys argue that in moments of chaos—like what's unfolding in Minnesota—Christians are called to be the eye of the storm, not trapped in an Us vs. Them mindset. They connect true peace to faithfulness in parenting, marriage, and everyday relationships, reminding listeners that humility, responsibility, and forgiveness, not cultural wins, are what actually bring lasting peace. In this episode: 1 John 1, verses 6, 8, 10; 1 John 2, verses 9, 12–17; Ephesians 2, verse 10; Ephesians 2, verse 10; Ephesians 3, verses 14–17; Galatians 5, verse 22; Romans 8, verses 10–13; 2 Corinthians 1, verses 3–4; 1 Peter 3, verse 7 “Unashamed” Episode 1253 is sponsored by: Get firearm security redesigned and save 10% off @‌StopBoxUSA with code Unashamed at https://www.stopboxusa.com/unashamed #stopboxpod https://myphdweightloss.com — Find out how Al lost 80+ pounds. Schedule your one-on-one consultation today by visiting the website or calling 864-644-1900 and mention "FIX MY WEIGHT LOSS." http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ — Sign up now for free, and join the Unashamed hosts every Friday for Unashamed Academy Powered by Hillsdale College Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://open.spotify.com/show/3LY8eJ4ZBZHmsImGoDNK2l Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts. Chapters: 00:00 – Finding calm in chaos and storms of the century 05:42 – The reason Louisiana lifespans are shorter  11:06 – Why hardship makes gratitude possible 16:18 – Being the eye of the storm through the Spirit 21:34 – Vulnerability, humility, and apologizing to your kids 27:09 – From entitlement to gratitude in everyday life 33:58 – Parenting, responsibility, and pulling back comfort 40:36 – Faithfulness over achievement in families and marriage 47:28 – Living out forgiveness where it actually hurts — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley discuss what predestination and election mean.Questions Covered in This Episode:Can you remember how you were introduced to these doctrines?What is reformed theology?What is predestination? What is election? Are they synonyms? Where do we find them in scripture?What have been faithful approaches to these doctrines?Who do you disagree with on this, but you respect the way they articulate their view?What is determinism?What is the point? Why should we care about this?Helpful Definitions:Predestination: God has ordained specific things to happen.Election: God administers His saving benefits and/or judgment.Pelagius: Man is not stained by sin; humanity is neutral before God.Augustine: Humans are dead in their sin and saved by grace.Arminianism: Humans are dead in their sin and allowed to choose saving grace.Determinism: God is so other than, there is no meaningful place for human agency. Compatibilism: God directs our desires, and humans act in accordance with our desires.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Romans 9, Genesis 1-2, Genesis 12, Ephesians 1, Romans 5-6, Proverbs 16:9, Romans 8, John 6, Matthew 13, John 10Deep Discipleship ProgramLigonier MinistriesRenewing Your MindActs 29T4G“Let the Nations Be Glad!” by John PiperBFM 2000 Follow Us:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteOur Sister Podcast:Tiny TheologiansSupport Training the Church and Become a Patron:patreon.com/trainingthechurchYou can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway's Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.To learn more about our sponsors please visit our sponsor page.Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ Join the MMM Prayer Team: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/PrayerTeam ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2:1–6 - [1] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—[3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—[6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

You don't have to hurry or scurry. The Spirit-led life does not panic; it trusts. In Ephesians 1:19-20 (NCV) the...

Could have done an RFG today since we covered a Frank Turek clip and made some comments about Kevin Thompson and Ephesians 1:4 (might play the whole clip next week), but we also had to talk about how you need an IQ above 130, and a very high testosterone level, to understand how smashingly brilliant Joel Webbon and his crew actually is. We also addressed some Dan McClellan nonsense as well. Last in-studio program until we are on the road next week!

Send Us Your Prayer Requests --------Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

God shows us in the bible that the relationship between husband and wife is like the relationship between Jesus and the church. Since Jesus valued the church, we should value our spouses.  If you desire a happy marriage, then you must value your spouse.  __________ Ephesians 5:25–28 KJV, John 3:16 KJV, Ephesians 5:28,33 KJV, 1 Peter 3:7 KJV, 1 Corinthians 7:33–34 KJV, 1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV, Revelation 12:10 KJV, 2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV, Proverbs 15:1 KJV, Proverbs 23:7 KJV, Ephesians 5:26 KJV __________ Partner with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com/partner Connect with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com Leave a Comment: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com/comments __________    

Psalm 51 Habakkuk 3:2-4,13a,15-19 Psalm 147:12-20 Ephesians 2:13-16 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

In this episode of the Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew Johnson shares an update as the podcast enters a short hiatus. While the hosts are away on assignment, Andrew invites you to revisit the rich archive of over 200 episodes—conversations that continue to challenge, encourage, and shape how we do theology in community. Looking ahead to 2026, he offers a glimpse of what's coming next: renewed dialogue, fresh voices, and deeper explorations at the intersection of archaeology, mission, and the movement of God in the world. Connect With Us Follow Ephesiology: Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Follow Andrew Johnson @thediscfan.bsky.social If this episode encouraged you, please leave a review and share it with others exploring missional living in post-Christian contexts. Thanks for doing theology in community with us today! If you have a question or topic that you'd like to hear addressed on the Ephesiology Podcast, just send it to Andrew at thediscfan@gmail.com. Donate Find the podcast on your favorite podcast app Just search for “Ephesiology” Our Podcasters Michael CooperProfessor | Missiologist | AuthorMichael is the missiologist in residence with East West where he focuses on equipping and empowering church leaders in evangelism, discipleship, leadership, and catalyzing church planting movements in the most difficult to reach places on the planet. He is the author of Ephesiology: The Study of the Ephesian Movement as well as many other books and academic articles. He has lectured at universities around the world and serves as affiliate faculty at Kairos University where he facilitates the degree programs in partnership with Ephesiology Master Classes.Andrew JohnsonMinistry Lead, West Village ChurchAndrew is a proud husband, father and pastor who desires all to know the one true King. He is honored to serve at West Village Church in Victoria, BC. Previously, he's ministered in Houston, Chicago, Indy, Flagstaff and Tempe in a variety of church contexts. Andrew has a BA in Christian Ministry from Trinity International University and an MA from Phoenix Seminary. He is currently a Doctor of Ministry student at Kairos University and is the co-host of the Ephesiology Podcast. When not at work, he's an avid disc golfing, vinyl playing, Spider-Man following/collecting fellow. Go Pacers. Do you enjoy the Ephesiology Podcast? Partner with the Pod The Ephesiology Podcast comes to you from a desire to engage in community conversations about the intersection of theology and culture. We do not believe such dialogue should come with a cost so the podcast will always be free. However, if you've benefited from the Ephesiology Podcast, would you consider a nominal $5 per month donation? All proceeds from the podcast go toward helping bring needed theological education to the majority world through our Ephesiology Master Class initiative to end a theological famine. We'd be honored to partner with you to continue providing solid biblical, theological, and missiological content for listeners around the world. Donate Empowering Future Church Leaders Imagine a world where passionate, equipped Christian leaders spread God's Word in areas with the greatest need—leaders grounded in both deep theology and practical ministry skills, trained to make a lasting impact in their communities. Through your support, this vision can become a reality for students from countries like Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Nepal, and India who are eager to teach and multiply disciple-makers in their own regions. Learn More Ephesiology: A Study of the Ephesian Movement If you want to understand principles for the growth of Christianity in the first century, the place to begin is the city of Ephesus. In this winsome study, Ephesiology offers readers a comprehensive view of the empowering work of the Holy Spirit in the most significant city of the New Testament, and compels us to ask the question: how can we effectively connect Christ to our culture? “Masterfully handling the book of Ephesians and using its content as a definitive guide, Michael Cooper lays a theologically strong foundation that is both corrective and directive to disciple making movements. The principles he gleans from the book of Ephesians and related texts, help to ensure the on-going multiplication and maturation of a movement. Because these are supra-cultural principles, they are applicable anywhere in the world.” Marvin J. Newell, Staff Missiologist, Missio Nexus, Author of Crossing Cultures in Scripture Buy This Now! Educating to Shift the Tracks of History To shift the tracks of history requires leaders who are equipped to critically assess and engage the contours of contemporary culture. As a new initiative in collaboration with the Movement Leaders Collective, Kairos University, and Ephesiology, we deliver just-in-time theological education focused on issues important to you, mxAcademy is designed as the theological and missiological foundation to unlock your potential as a movement leader and catalytic thinker. mxAcademy is a dynamic and innovative educational experience rooted in mDNA.We dream of a church fully equipped, fully mature, fully mobilized, and fully alive. A church that lives and breathes the Good News of Jesus! Learn More Join a Community Conversation at Ephesiology Master Classes Areopagus Symposium Taking its inspiration from the historical and philosophical legacy of Athens, Greece, the Areopagus Symposium focuses on intellectual and philosophical topics related to Christology, missiology, and ecclesiology. We invite scholars, theologians, and practitioners from diverse backgrounds to engage in a profound exploration of the theological landscape at the intersection of these vital disciplines. Sign up for an Ephesiology Master Classes account and gain free access to the Areopagus Symposium. Check it out! The Ephesiology Podcast and Ephesiology Master Classes are ministries of TELOS.GO, a registered 501c3 non-profit agency committed to imaginatively missional ways of engageing culture, church planting, and theological education. Your donation to the podcast is tax deductible.

Jase, Al, and Zach condemn a Minnesota church protest as “pure chaos” while expressing sympathy for the pastor forced to restore order as kids cried and the service unraveled. The conversation widens to how protest culture, immigration clashes, and nonstop crisis headlines are driving national anxiety and division. As “storm of the century” headlines fuel panic across the South, the guys cut through the hype with chainsaws and confidence. Zach points out how Jesus isn't confined to one side of the political aisle, his love is open to socialists, MAGA, and everyone in between.  In this episode: 1 John 1, verse 5; 1 John 1, verses 6–7; 1 John 2, verses 1–2; John 16, verse 33; Ephesians 1, verses 4–22; Ephesians 2, verse 6; Ephesians 2, verses 14–16; Ephesians 3, verses 6-10 “Unashamed” Episode 1252 is sponsored by: https://bravebooks.com/unashamed — Get 20% off with code UNASHAMED https://andrewandtodd.com or call 888-888-1172 — These guys are the real deal. Get trusted mortgage guidance and expertise from someone who shares your values! http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ — Sign up now for free, and join the Unashamed hosts every Friday for Unashamed Academy Powered by Hillsdale College Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-home-with-phil-robertson/id1835224621 Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts. Chapters: 00:00 “Storm of the century” weather warnings take over the news 04:58 Why the South can't hang with cold weather 09:02 Jase is giddy for the ducks accompanying the storm 13:26 How the Robertsons are prepping for the freeze 18:41 Living in nonstop crisis cycles 24:07 Minnesota church disruption creates chaos & fear  30:55 Protest culture & public confrontation culture 37:42 Courage in an anxious, divided world 45:58 Having personal peace in uncertain times — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ephesians 6:10-13 Are we really in a spiritual battle? Who is our enemy and how does he attack? How do I discern if I'm hearing God, Satan, or my own thoughts? How do I fight?Jonathan Pokluda, Joel Muddamalle, and Brian McCormack point us toward the answers. For more information about Breakaway, check out www.breakaway.org and follow us on social media @breakawaymin. If Breakaway has impacted your life and you want to generously give back, visit www.breakaway.org/give

Welcome to our Reveal podcast,When we talk about a church family, we're not just talking about a place to attend on Sundays we're talking about a God-designed community that shapes us for every part of life. Biblically, the church is called the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12), meaning we grow stronger together than we ever could alone.A church family equips us through spiritual growth. As we learn God's Word together, we're taught, encouraged, and corrected in love so we can mature in our faith (Ephesians 4:11–13). This foundation helps us make wise decisions, endure hardships, and live with purpose.It also equips us through relationships and accountability. Scripture reminds us that “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17). In a church family, we find people who pray with us, walk with us through life's challenges, and lovingly help us stay aligned with God's will.To support this ministry and help us continue our God-given mission, click here:Subscribe to our channel for the latest sermons:https://www.youtube.com/@revealvineyardLearn more about Vineyard Church Reveal Campus:https://www.revealvineyard.com/Follow us on social media!Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/vineyardrevealcampus Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/RevealVineyard

That is what we live for: to experience the glory of God, to reflect it, to bring it to the world around us, not for our own sake but for the praise of His glory and honor.Main Points:1. The glory of God refers to his beauty, majesty, purity, and power. It speaks of the greatness and wonder of God. 2. In His love for us, God created us to experience himself. He created us to experience his glory. We get to experience God's beauty, power, love, and mercy.3. Not only do we experience His glory, but we were also created to reflect it. Like the moon reflects the light and radiance of the son, we are to reflect the glory of God to others around us. People should see and notice there is something different about our lives.Today's Scripture Verses:Isaiah 43:7 - “Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.”2 Corinthians 4:6 - “For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.”Ephesians 2:8-9 - “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”Matthew 5:16 - “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Psalm 31:1-6 Psalm 130 Ephesians 4:26-27 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

What if the difference between feeling like roommates and feeling deeply connected was as simple as dating your spouse again? In this episode, the team unpacks the powerful framework of DATE—Dialogue, Affection, Time, and Ephesians 5 (love and respect)—and how practicing it can transform your marriage in any season.Discussion Questions:1- Which part of DATE do we currently do best? Which one do we tend to neglect?2- How has busyness, kids, or phones affected our dialogue?3- How can I love or respect you more clearly this week—in how I say things, not just what I say?4- What would one simple, realistic date look like in our current season?

The Apostle Paul reminded the Ephesians that at one time they were aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, without Christ, and without hope in the world. This was the sad state of Gentile peoples before Jesus came. But now, Gentile believers, just like 1st century Ephesians, have been brought near to God by the blood of Jesus Christ. Has God performed His work of salvation in you? Tune in to Dr. Barnhouse and the Bible. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/791/29?v=20251111

Have you ever asked God to give you a vision of what he wants you to do? Living without God's vision for your life is missing the abundant life Jesus came to give you. It is living in mediocrity. It is settling for so much less than God intends for you. Ephesians 2:10 says we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. God has a vision for each of us who are born from above and have been made part of his family. He has prepared this vision for us—these good works he wants us to do. Here is one of the most common reasons we don't seek God's vision for our lives: We're not willing to take a risk. Ron Hutchcraft tells the story of being invited to go hiking with some friends to see a breathtaking waterfall. So, as they hiked up the mountain, they came to a large stream they needed to cross to get to the waterfall. Not seeing a bridge, he said to his companions, “How do we get across here?” “Oh,” they said, “you have to walk across the pipe there.” Ron looked at the pipe and saw it was small; it was wet; it was dangerous. And his first reaction was, “Thanks but no thanks. I’ll stay here.” But his friends urged him, “Come on. The view is on the other side. Come on; walk across the pipe.” Ron had a decision to make. Either stay where he was and miss the view or walk across the pipe. He decided to take the risky way, and he said, “I wouldn’t have missed that view for anything. But I had to walk the pipe to get there.” Is Jesus calling you to walk across a pipe, but you are afraid to take the risk? Psalm 18:36 says, You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn. When we start across the pipe that looks risky, as soon as you set foot on it, the pipe becomes a broad path, and your ankles don’t turn! Walk across the pipe today. Ask God for a vision. When he gives you one that looks risky, go by faith and prove he can do more than you can ask or think.

"The Dangers of Forfeiting Your Own Advantages"Genesis 25:19-34The Book of Genesis Series - In The Beginning, GodPastor Nate ClarkeJanuary 18, 2026Join us February 1st for the GRAND OPENING of our new church building Sunday services start at 9am & 11am7339 Atlee Road, Mechanicsville VAHow should Christians respond to wickedness in the world? https://youtu.be/2OJUIM9YRwAVirginia's proposed Constitutional amendments on Abortion & Marriage - How to VOTE BIBLICALLY: https://youtu.be/Y8z8xTFsOn8SERMON NOTES:- Genesis 25:19-34- The Dangers of Forfeiting Your Own Advantages- Genesis 25:21- Genesis 25:22-23- ESAU:    - “hairy / rough”    - A man of the woods    - Preferred by his father, Isaac    - Worldly, flesh, no spiritual desire- JACOB:    - “Heel / one who grasps”    - A man of the home    - Preferred by his mother, Rebekah    - Chosen by God, divine promise (Romans 8)- Birthright:    - A double portion of property / wealth (material)    - Head of family line, patriarch     - Spiritual head of family, priests - Beware of your tendency to be like Esau- Hebrews 12:14-17- Those who follow Esau:    - Are in a spiritual line without a spiritual desire    - Have a celebratory emphasis on inferior things       - Genesis 25:28    - Allow their flesh to blind them of realities      - Genesis 25:32a    - Make natural excuses for spiritual circumstances      - Genesis 25:31-33- Esau forfeits spiritual things for material things- Esau forfeits eternal things for temporary things- Genesis 25:34- Ephesians 1:3 Oasis Church exists to Worship God, Equip the believers, and Reach the lost.We are led by Pastor Nate Clarke and are located in Mechanicsville outside Richmond in Central Virginia.STAY CONNECTEDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OasisChurchRVA/Website: https://oasischurch.online

Sometimes life can feel like one giant group project where we didn't get to pick our teammates. Combine that tension with short emotional fuses, and we can easily lash out at the people closest to us - the people we love most. We aren't the only ones to face this - Paul's letter in Ephesians discloses that the early church faced similar tensions that we do today. What if there were a way to create space between what happens to us and how we react? We learn about three powerful ways to lengthen our fuse and transform relationships.

Reed compares our world to that of the Ephesians while also pointing to what real grace and peace looks like.

Rev. Kim DuBreuil will be preaching on Ephesians 2:8-9, to continue the Epiphany series 'Awakened to Grace.'

281. Excel in Social Skills and Etiquette and Teach Your Children To Do The Same with Monica Irvine   Proverbs 20:11 NIV “Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?”   Ephesians 4:32a AMP “Be kind and helpful to one another,”   *Transcription Below*   Monica Irvine, President and creator of The Etiquette Factory, LLC, is a master motivator and dedicated instructor who loves to help children and adults see the benefits and rewards of having proper etiquette, mastering professionalism and excelling in social skills. As a Certified Etiquette Instructor and working in the hospitality industry for 24 years, Mrs. Irvine specializes in etiquette and professional instruction to help ensure the success of each individual both personally and professionally.   Mrs. Irvine is the published author of three books on Etiquette and one book on Scheduling including: Etiquette for Beginners, Etiquette Intermediate, Etiquette Masters and A Schedule Makes for a Happy Family, in addition to authoring several monthly columns in national publications such as Everything Knoxville, The Homeschool Handbook and the Homeschool Magazine.   Mrs. Irvine is a national speaker, speaking to thousands of parents, educators and children every year.   Residing in Knoxville, TN with her husband, Mrs. Irvine spends her free time playing tennis, running and enjoying her family of three boys and a granddaughter.   You may contact Mrs. Irvine at monica@TheEtiquetteFactory.com  or via her website at www.TheEtiquetteFactory.com. Rise Up Parenting FUNdamentals 4 Kids Life Skills Essentials   Thank You to Our Sponsor: Sam Leman Eureka   Questions and Topics We Cover: What are some red flags we can identify in our lives if we are too busy and what wisdom do you recommend instead of our overstuffed schedules? As parents, why must we proactively teach these qualities to our children, rather than just instruct them in a moment of correction? Will you share stories of ways the Holy Spirit has nudged you to use etiquette and it resulted in something miraculous?    Other Savvy Sauce Episode Mentioned: Unexpected Grief and What Helped Me Through It Can Help You Too with Singer and Blogger, Brittany Price Brooker   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:10)   Laura Dugger: (0:11 - 2:19) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   The principles of honesty and integrity that Sam Leman founded his business on continue today, over 55 years later, at Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka. Owned and operated by the Burchie family, Sam Leman in Eureka appreciates the support they've received from their customers all over central Illinois and beyond. Visit them today at LemanGM.com.   My guest for today is the charming Monica Irvine. She is president and creator of The Etiquette Factory. She's a master motivator and dedicated instructor who just loves helping children and adults to see the benefits and rewards of having proper etiquette. She also loves to help people master professionalism and excel in social skills.   So, she's going to give us insight into all of these ideas and share stories today for ways that we can actually seek the Lord and love others well and value people through the proper use of etiquette.   Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Monica.   Monica Irvine: (2:19 - 2:20) Thank you. Thanks for having me, Laura.   Laura Dugger: (2:20 - 5:41) Well, I'm so excited to get a chat with you today, but let's just begin here. I'm so fascinated because you were born and raised in the South. Is that right?   Monica Irvine: Well, yes, Tennessee. Absolutely consider myself Southern.   Laura Dugger: I love it. And I grew up in the Midwest and got to live in the South for a few years. And I was very struck by the difference in manners. And I'm just curious if manners and etiquette were intentionally taught to you, both in your family and then just kind of in your Southern culture around you.   Monica Irvine: (2:20 - 5:32) Well, yes. So, when I think about being raised in the South, I think and maybe my mom and my grandmas were a little different. But what I would describe my upbringing is very particular, meaning everything was made special.   And my parents and my grandparents took a lot of pride in making things beautiful and lovely. And so, of course, my mom cooked every night. But like at my home growing up and we did not have a lot of money, just know that my parents struggled.   But my mother would never put a ketchup bottle on the table or a mayonnaise jar. Everything had to be put in little bowls with little spoons. And it's funny because my friends that I have today, I get given little spoons for birthdays and occasions because my friends all know how much I love little dainty things.   But, you know, and some people, you know, might think that's a little ridiculous. But I'll tell you something. I don't know that we need to eat that way every night, seven nights a week.   But it made dinner time feel special. And even the way my mother and my grandmothers kept their house, everything had its place. It was not messy.   We had clean homes. And I think it also just helped me be proud of my home. I mean, once again, we did not have a lot of money, but my friends thought my home was so nice.   Well, the reason it was so nice is because my mother kept such care of it. And so, I was raised with a lot of cousins and live close to both of my grandparents. And so even the outside of their homes, both sets of grandparents, everything was beautiful.   And so there was a lot of pride in who we are, how we presented ourselves. But you're going to laugh at this. So, my mom, my dad tells me this story that right after my mom and dad got married, my dad came home from work one day and my mom was ironing.   You know, she'd spend a whole day ironing every week or half a day. And my mom was ironing my dad's underwear. And my mom's name is Janice.   And he was like, “Janice, honey, what are you doing?” And “I know just ironing, Bob.” And he's like, “Babe, you don't need to iron my underwear.”   But, you know, the thing is, that to my mother and my grandmothers being a good wife and being a good mother meant making sure everyone in the family looked nice, that their clothes were clean, that the home was clean, that there was good food on the table. And that was part of their identity, of this is what it means to be a good wife and mother. And I love that about my upbringing.   Laura Dugger: (5:33 - 5:41) And do you have any reasons why you think that's changed a little bit over the years?   Monica Irvine: (5:42 - 8:34) Yeah, I think we've gotten lazy. Well, no, I just I think there you know, there's balance, right? There's when I look back, I can't really remember my mom playing with me.   But now, listen, I don't feel like I missed out, but I do recognize it. But I guess even as a little girl, sure, I would have loved my mom to play with me. But that's just not in my mind what moms did.   Moms cleaned house and made everything and cooked your meal. And so, I do. I'm grateful that as a society, we have adjusted somewhat.   Sometimes I believe too much but have adjusted in going. What's the most important things? And because I'm a big believer in playing with our children and our grandchildren and creating memories.   But now my family, my parents and we worked a lot together. Like if we were if the yard needed raking, it wasn't kids go rake the yard. Mom, dad, kids were in the yard raking.   If a car needed to be washed, it wasn't go wash the car. We were all out there washing the car. So, I think that's why I don't feel like I missed out because my family did so many things together.   Whereas today we're so separated. No parents give their children and babies phones and iPads so they'll just be quiet so they can get their important work done. Like grocery shopping or cooking.   And I just think that instead of teaching our children how to self-soothe and self-entertain and how to creatively play even by yourself, sometimes we just always believe there has to be a babysitter to distract our children from wanting mom and dad. It's just I you know, this could be a whole other talk, Laura, but I just you know, I see it. It breaks my heart sometimes on the lack of how often families work together, play together and do things together.   But now, you know, dad's watching his game in this room. Mom is in another room, maybe on her computer doing social media. The kids are in their rooms on their games.   And I see a lack of family unity. So once again, even though maybe my mom and dad didn't play with us and I'm glad we've shifted with that thought process. Still, we were a united family.   Laura Dugger: (8:35 - 8:56) I love that. And the Lord has clearly given you a passion for that instilling that in others. And He invited you into a journey that eventually led to The Etiquette Factory, which is the work that you get to do today.   So, can you share the impetus for that and what that journey looked like for you?   Monica Irvine: (8:56 - 13:54) I will. I love my company. I feel like it's just yet another beautiful adventure the Lord has allowed me to be on in my life.   And so, I feel like I'm just outside looking in at this beautiful little business that has allowed me to minister to children and adults in need. So, years ago, I was homeschooling our kids. I was homeschooling our youngest son at the time, and we were studying the life of President George Washington.   And I just kind of stumbled upon this list. It was called George Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior. It is a beautiful list of 110 chivalry skills.   And apparently, President Washington was encouraged to focus on some chivalry as was part of a formal education in those days. He found a French book that had these list of chivalry kind of considerations, and he copied them. He hand copied them, of course.   And we have that list of 110 chivalry skills in President Washington's handwriting. But as I started reading over this list, the Lord penetrated my heart. I just I was like, these are so beautiful.   I mean, some of them were kind of funny. Some of them were. It's not polite to remove lice from your companion in public, which I think is good to know.   But most of the beautiful chivalry skills were very applicable to today. And I was like I want my son to memorize these skills. So, we started memorizing one Washington skill a week.   And because they were written in that old English, you know, sometimes we were like, what does this mean? And it just I just decided for my son's sake, who was nine at the time, I wanted to just kind of make my own version. But what was so a light bulb moment for me is as we started making manners part of our daily discussion in school, I noticed a change in my child's behavior and my son would be like, “Mom, let's do another one. What's the next one? Let's do one more.”   And I found that so fascinating because, as you know, most of us parents, when we teach manners, we're teaching it in the moment, usually correcting bad behavior. It's not that that's our goal. It's just that that's when we think about it.   Our child says, or does something that's not the most polite, and all of a sudden we're going, “Oh, honey, no, honey, you can't say that. That's not polite.” And then we make the correction and then we teach the skill.   And what I learned and realized is that so often that's when I was teaching my children manners in the moment of correcting. And what I've learned about that is when we're being corrected, whether you're three years old or 30 years old, we harden our heart typically because it's self-preservation. You know, we stiffen up when someone's like, “Monica, you really shouldn't have.” I'm like, whoa.   And it's just because of our own pride. We don't like being called out and neither do our children, even when we're doing it gently and politely. It's still a correction.   And so, what I found is when our heart is hardened, as the scripture says, it's not the best time to absorb information. It's the opposite of being humble. To be humble means to be teachable.   To be hardened means to not be teachable. So, when we have a hardened heart, it's hard for us to absorb things of the spirit, which all truth comes from God. So, anything that is lovely of good rapport is of God.   So, when we're teaching our children to be kind and to have kind considerations for others, those are God's truths and God's truths cannot seep into the soul of our heart unless our heart is soft. And so that is what happened is I was like, today we're going to learn how to use our napkin properly. Or today we're going to learn how to apologize.   But how do you make it sound sincere and how do you be sincere when you don't really feel it? And so, as we started just working on one skill at a time, the conversations were typically beautiful. Parts were changed and behavior ended up changing.   And so really, that's what then later became The Etiquette Factory.   Laura Dugger: (13:55 - 14:20) I love that because I think it gives our children confidence because then they're equipped and prepared and understand what's expected of them in different situations or what can bless others in the way they act. But then I'm curious, you gave a few examples of those. Can you think of any of George Washington's chivalry lines that would still apply today?   Monica Irvine: (14:21 - 19:07) Yes, well, so I'm not quoting, I'm summarizing. So, for instance, one is it is not polite to hum or sing in the presence of others that would cause distraction. And so basically it's not polite to draw attention to ourselves but also draw attention or interrupt other people's day life when we haven't been invited to do so.   So let me give you this definition we use for etiquette. So, at The Etiquette Factory, etiquette is helping those around us to feel valued and to feel comfortable. Well, if I'm sitting there humming along, but the person beside me really doesn't want to hear my humming, then I might be causing that person to feel uncomfortable.   Same thing, you know, whenever I start off teaching a class, because usually when everyone thinks of manners, they think of table manners. Of course, there's so much more. But I use this example.   I say, well, if I were to come to your home and sit down and I started eating like a pig in the presence of your family, I mean, I'm chewing with my mouth open. I'm making a smacking my lips. I'm taking too big of bites and food is falling in my lap or I'm making a mess on the table.   Or I eat so fast that I am finished eating, getting up to leave. And you're just on your third bite of food. Well, any of those behaviors, I would be sending a message.   And that message is, look, I'm here for one person and that person is myself. I came to fill up my belly because I'm hungry. And beyond that, I really don't care.   I don't care if I'm making you uncomfortable. I don't care if I'm grossing you out. I don't care if you actually wanted to talk to me because I just came here to eat and I'm out of here.   You see, we don't realize it, but a lack of chivalry is called selfishness. A lack of chivalry is inward focused. When we focus outwardly on what message am I sending to those around me?   Am I sending a message of love and care and value? That is etiquette. I get emailed all the time and message like, “OK, Monica, I've got this shower I'm putting on.   And my daughter is not going to invite her work friends to the wedding. But is it OK if we invite all of them to a wedding shower?” And they'll go, so what's the etiquette rule?   Well, there is no etiquette rule about that, except etiquette is about helping those around us to feel valued. And so that's how I answer every question. I'm like, well, let me ask you if you were invited to a wedding shower, where you're asking her friends to shower your daughter with gifts and love to celebrate her wedding.   But yet those friends were not valued enough to invite to the wedding. How do you think it would make them feel? And so that's what the answer is with etiquette.   Now, there's exceptions. In fact, that case, that's a real email I got. And she ended up having the shower because her daughter went and told her co-worker who offered to give her a wedding shower.   “You know what? I thought that is so thoughtful. I'm so grateful that you were willing to do that. But we're having a very small, intimate wedding, you know, for financial reasons and intimacy reasons. And so, I just don't feel comfortable inviting people to bring gifts for me and knowing that we're just we're not going to be able to invite everyone to the wedding.”   And that co-worker said, “We don't care. We knew you were having a small wedding. We want to celebrate you.”   And so, you know, you can there be exceptions, but a lady and a gentleman always try to be very aware of those unspoken messages. And that guides our conversation, our answers, our actions. And that's what we teach children and adults to do at The Etiquette Factory.   Laura Dugger: (19:07 - 21:17) And now a brief message from our sponsor.   Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka has been owned and operated by the Burchie family for over 25 years. A lot has changed in the car business since Sam and Stephen's grandfather, Sam Leman, opened his first Chevrolet dealership over 55 years ago.   If you visit their dealership today, though, you'll find that not everything has changed. They still operate their dealership like their grandfather did with honesty and integrity. Sam and Stephen understand that you have many different choices in where you buy or service your vehicle.   This is why they do everything they can to make the car buying process as easy and hassle free as possible. They are thankful for the many lasting friendships that began with a simple, welcome to Sam Leman's. Their customers keep coming back because they experience something different.   I've known Sam and Stephen and their wives my entire life, and I can vouch for their character and integrity, which makes it easy to highly recommend you check them out today. Your car buying process doesn't have to be something you dread, so come see for yourself at Sam Leman Chevrolet in Eureka. Sam and Stephen would love to see you, and they appreciate your business.   Learn more at their website, LemanEureka.com, or visit them on Facebook  by searching for Sam Leman Eureka. You can also call them at 309-467-2351. Thanks for your sponsorship.   I loved, this was a few months back, but we came to a homeschool convention, and I loved your talk on purposeful parenting. One thing that you said, just I think backing it up and looking at our family in general, you said, “If we're too busy to do the most important things, we're too busy. Stop allowing the adversary to tempt us to remain too busy.”   So, Monica, what wisdom can you share for maybe red flags that can help us identify when we're too busy to focus on the most important things, and what do you recommend instead of overstuffing our schedules and our lives?   Monica Irvine: (21:18 - 26:23) You know, that's a great question. Those are good questions that every family should ask themselves. You know, I think that if we are to strive to focus on the most important things, step number one is, has mom and dad identified the most important things?   Because if you don't know what your goal is, then you're not going to as easily recognize when something is interfering with your goal. So, for instance, maybe mom and dad sits down and says, “Well, our number one goal is to make sure that our children know Jesus Christ. And so, what do we need to do to make sure that we're doing our best to help our children know who He is?”   Well, and so a family might decide, well, we want to have daily scripture study and daily family and individual prayer. We want to make it a priority to be at church so that we can worship on the Sabbath, but also so that we can meet together with other like-minded Christians and minister to one another as we're taught by the Savior. That's important for us to do.   And perhaps we want to learn to do as the Savior does. And that's why we're going to learn of His attributes and try to follow in His footsteps and be a family of service. So, let's just say those are our four of the most important things.   If that's our goal, then hopefully mom and dad could recognize when we're starting to stumble off the path that leads to our goal. For instance, I can't tell you how many parents have come up to me after they hear me speak on this topic and say, “Monica, I wish I had heard you say this 10 years ago. But we got sucked up into the what the world has to offer, and we started allowing our children to play competitive sports on Sunday. And so, we stopped going to church years ago because there was always a championship game on Sunday morning and always another tournament. And we wanted our children to have, you know, college opportunities.”   And there's nothing wrong with college opportunities unless that college opportunity interferes with our most important goal. And so that's why first mom and dad have to decide what is the most important, because then it's easier to recognize when we are being tempted by the adversary to focus on what the world is trying to offer us.   And the world offers us shiny things that tempt our human nature to want to be popular and loved by all and wealthy. And so, we just have to always go back to our goals. You know, I've got families that say, “I wish we had eaten dinner together more often. But we allowed our children to be so scheduled that there was not one night or there was only one night a week that we actually sat down at the table together.”   You know, parents. You will regret that. And you can't take back these precious, very short years that you have your children under your roof in your home.   And you will be someone like me one day where all of my kids are graduating and grandchildren and all you live for is your children to come visit and your children to come have dinner. And so, when you allow the world to creep in and be more important than spending time with your family, time with the Lord, time on good and lovely things, you will regret it. And I just think that probably every year come January, mom and dad should sit down and go, let's look at last year.   What were we missing from our family schedule? What do we need to reevaluate whether that is the most important thing? And so that's something I think all of us have to do on a regular basis.   Laura Dugger: (26:24 - 27:20) I think you're hitting on something profound there, that reflection with the Lord or with our spouse. I think we have no excuse because if there is no spouse in the picture, we always have the Lord. But to be intentional, to take that time, maybe on a Sabbath and go through a few questions and reflect back.   I think that could save us from a lot of regret. So, I really appreciate that response. And going back to etiquette, then you've taught us that it is a learned behavior.   This isn't something that our children will just naturally pick up. It's best to do in times where their hearts are soft, so proactive if possible. But I'd love to know in your own life, when were times that the Holy Spirit nudged you to use etiquette and it resulted in something miraculous?   Monica Irvine: (27:21 - 32:56) Oh, goodness. Okay, well, to me, I think miraculous is seeing the Lord's divine hand in our life. I see the miracle of the Lord every day in my life.   But probably most often is when I kneel down at the end of a day, I repent daily because I need to daily. And it's always a little nervous because I pray and I ask the Lord, as sometimes I know what I need to repent of. I know that I recognized I stumbled that day on something, but sometimes I just I pray and I say, “Lord, you know, just help.”   If something needs to be brought to my mind that I need to repent of and that I need to do better, would you bring it to my mind at this time? And it wasn't that long ago that the Lord brought to my mind something that I had gotten in the habit of doing that I didn't feel like it was wrong, but it was wrong. And so, etiquette, one of the etiquette skills I teach everyone is that it's not polite for us to gossip.   A lady and a gentleman always draw attention to the lovely and wonderful things that other people do. Now, if there's a safety issue, that's different, but I'm just talking about we don't share negative things about other people. And so, it's something I teach every year, all year long.   But I feel like I've done so much better than I did twenty-five years ago when the Lord really chastised me one time for gossiping. But in the last couple of months, I had gotten in the habit of sharing with my husband. So sometimes, you know, when you share with your spouse that you kind of feel like that's a safe place that the same rules don't apply because you and your spouse kind of talk about everything.   And so, I was in the habit of sharing with my spouse something that I was worried about that another person in our family did. But I was constantly going, “Oh, I don't like that. They do this and I don't like that. They do this and I'm worried about it.” And I actually was worried about it. But I just was constantly kind of highlighting these things that I didn't like that someone in our family did.   Well, one night I was praying and asked the Lord to bring to my mind and the Lord brought that to my mind. And it was kind of like he said, “Monica, don't you remember that? If you're worried about someone. Instead of sharing those negative things, even with Charles, my husband, what would be more effective is if you prayed and asked me to bless that person, to help that person, you know, in the ways that they need help and ask me to help, you know, of ways that you could be a better example to that person. But you don't need to constantly draw attention because it's starting to make you be negative towards this person.”   And I just like right when the Lord said that to me, I was embarrassed. I was like, “Monica, that. Yeah. Like, how do you not know that? That you should know better than that.”   Well, so immediately I repented and I apologized to the Lord and I and I started doing what he asked me to do. And within just a couple of days, like I started just noticing all of the wonderful, lovely things that this person is and does. And so, just to me, that is miraculous and it happens all the time.   And if I'm humble enough to repent and to listen to the Lord, because the Lord wants to help us and he wants us to strive to be like him. But we've got to ask where we need to be corrected. And so, I teach etiquette, I teach we don't gossip.   And then lo and behold, I had kind of gotten myself in another trap again. You know, and I just I think it's a miracle what happens when we listen to the Lord. He immediately turns our mind to good, lovely, beautiful things and allows us to be a vessel of light instead of vessel of darkness.   And we can be that vessel of darkness just right inside our own marriage, even though we think that's kind of a safe place to maybe be a little looser with our tongue. So, there's one example.   Laura Dugger: (32:57 - 33:26) I love that. And I remember you also explaining whenever you get a thought in your head that you don't want to do, it's likely 100 percent from God. So, can you share a couple specific stories of times that that was the Holy Spirit telling you something that you didn't maybe want to do, but you obeyed?   I'm remembering something about a grocery store and another time separately about a phone call. Yeah.   Monica Irvine: (33:26 - 40:29) OK, well, I'll tell about the phone call just because it's less sad. So, yeah, one time there was this lady and she was just kind of investigating our church and starting to come to our church and kind of fill it out. So, I had just met her and I found out that her what led her to come looking for God is her husband was an addict and she was just at her wits end and their marriage and family was falling apart.   And so, she came looking for the for help for the Lord. And so, I learned a little bit about her story. I ended up taking her to one of those celebrate recovery places at another church because I knew they had a wonderful program.   And so, I had interacted with her a couple of times. I probably had only known her about a month when one night I was running late to take my kids to youth on Wednesday night and I was cooking some spaghetti and I was just, you know, cooking that spaghetti at the stove. And all of a sudden I had a thought come into my mind, “Call her.”   And, you know, I was like, oh, yeah, I do need to call her. I need to call and check on her. I will, you know, after church tonight.   And so, I, you know, kept cooking that spaghetti. And the second time the Spirit, because that's who it was talking to me, because that's who tells us to do good things. Not us, but God.   The Spirit said, “Monica, call her.” But I was running late and I was trying to get my kids fed and I was like, I will call her as soon as I get the kids fed, you know, drop them off at church and then I'll call her, you know, and so I really meant to call her. But I.   Finally, a third time, and it seems to always take me three times before I realize, OK, he means now. And so, a third time it was like “Monica call.” And so, it was so strong.   And I, I know it's the Lord, but I, I just turned the stove off. I went into my bedroom, got my phone out, dialed her number. And as it was ringing, she picked up the phone and all I heard was just some quiet sobbing.   And she couldn't speak. And I, you know, I said her name. I said, “Hey, so and so it's Monica. I just. I see that you're upset. I just wanted to call and check on you. In fact, the Lord insisted that I call and check on you.”   And then her, you know, her crying just continued. It wasn't until, you know, she had calmed down and she just said, you know, “Monica, I had been praying and just asking the Lord to just show me that, you know, show me that you care that this is happening to me.” Something like that.   And, you know, I, I, in that moment, my stomach kind of did that little knot because I knew how close I had come to just not calling. And sure, I could have called her an hour later. It would have been at least an hour later and maybe, you know, it would have mattered.   But the Lord knew that it mattered right in that moment. She needed an answer. She needed to know that the Lord was listening.   And I've learned that in my life, that whenever we get a thought that comes into our mind and that thought is to do something good, like calling someone, you all is a good thing. Visiting someone, writing a letter to someone. Those are good things.   And all good comes from the Lord. And sometimes I wonder, does the Lord trust me? Does he know I'll respond when the stakes are high?   You know, sometimes I think as we continue to learn how to hear the spirit, we have to practice. Oh, that was the spirit. And probably if you're like me, I've learned a lot about the spirit by not listening.   And then later going, “Oh, yeah, Lord, I did miss that. You tried. You tried to warn me, or you tried to get me to do that. And I dismissed it.”   But so, you all I just think it takes practice and I'm still practicing. But I do believe that especially when it's something that we don't really want to do or we think we don't have time. And I just realize I felt the Lord going, “Monica, do you not think I know you're cooking spaghetti? Do you not think I know you're running late? But right now, there's something more important I need you to do than to get your kids to church on time.”   And so, I think at some point we have to decide, do we trust Him or don't we? And if we trust Him, we have to trust Him completely. And that means when we receive a prompting that we will act quickly because the Lord knows what we're doing.   And He knows that we don't have the best relationship with that person. Yet you're feeling like you should call. He already knows that.   And it doesn't mean that everything's always going to turn out the way we think it will. Sometimes I think the Lord just wants us to know ourselves that we'll do what He asked us to do, regardless of how it will turn out. And sometimes I feel like the Lord has told me to do something and I did it and it didn't go well.   And I'm like, “Lord, like, why? Why?” And I know all of us, you all sit there and go, wait, was that my thought or was it God's thought?   And you know what I have learned is that just stop worrying about it. Just act in faith. And the Lord always backs up His people.   The Lord doesn't, as you and I are praying and striving to understand the Lord's will. And let's say we get an idea and so we act on it because we feel like it was a prompting and then it does not go well. I believe the Lord loves so much that you were trying to listen and be obedient and the blessings will come.   Sometimes we just don't know the timing or how, but we've just got to trust.   Laura Dugger: (40:29 - 43:59) I love that. And we never know what's happening on the other side of our obedience. And I'll link back to Brittany Price Brooker's episode because she was one who had lost her husband and was crying out to the Lord.   I think she was bathing her young children, and they didn't have food in the house and maybe they were sick. And the only thing that sounded good to their child was apples, but it was late at night. She couldn't go get them herself.   And she was just praying like, “Lord, do You see me? Do You know my needs? I need You to meet my needs.”   And right then the doorbell rings and somebody showed up and she said, “The Lord told me to buy you these apples and bring them to you.” And I think that highlights something else. You articulated it well when you say whenever you get that thought in your head that you something that you don't want to do, it's likely 100% from God.   I would say a lot of times too, it's also awkward or inconvenient. We don't know why. And then I think back to the Bible, Abraham was put in a very awkward situation with his son and Noah, that was very awkward to be building the boat when there wasn't rain.   But look at the blessing that comes on the other side of obedience. So, appreciate those stories are really helpful.   By now, I hope you've checked out our updated website, thesavvysauce.com, so that you can have access to all the additional freebies we are offering, including all of our previous articles and all of our previous episodes, which now include transcriptions. You will be equipped to have your own practical chats for intentional living when you read all the recommended questions in the articles or gain insight from expert guests and past episodes as you read through the transcriptions. Because many people have shared with us that they want to take notes on previous episodes, or maybe their spouse prefers to read our conversations rather than listen to them or watch them now that we're offering video rather than just audio. So, we heard all of that and we now have provided transcripts for all our episodes.   Just visit thesavvysauce.com. All of this is conveniently located under the tab show notes on our website. Happy reading.   So, at that same conference, when I heard you speak, you shared something that really stuck with me. This one was about our daughters. So, I want to talk about daughters first and then we'll move to sons.   But you mentioned there was this one study where over 3,000 men were surveyed. And they were asked, what's the number one quality that you desire in your wife? Either current wife or someday in the future when you're married.   And do you remember the response? Yeah, it was kindness. Kindness.   That she is kind. And so, I wondered, was there another side for the boys then too? What do you think women would say for their future or their current spouse?   What attribute do you think they would identify?   Monica Irvine: (44:00 - 47:35) It didn't have that for the other side, but a word that we don't use as much anymore. And I try to use it a lot is, I think most women, even if it wouldn't come to their mind immediately, once they heard it, they'd be like, oh, wait, no, yeah, that. And that is honorable.   They would want their husbands to be honorable. And to be honorable means that we do honorable things. And honorable things always 100 percent of the time require some level of sacrifice.   That's what makes them honorable when we sacrifice and give up our time, ourself in order to better someone else to help our country, our family, others. And so, I think today what we all want is for our spouses, husbands and wives to be kind and to live honorable lives. Those lives, it doesn't mean a perfect life, but to be honorable means we strive to have integrity.   We strive to be godly. We strive to do what we say we're going to do. We strive to live up to our divine nature as God called mothers and fathers and husbands.   And so, I would think to me that is the most important, because if you live an honorable life, then you honor God. You honor your marriage covenant. You honor your children by treating them and speaking to them with honor.   You honor your job. You make sure that you have integrity at work and that you're dependable. And the same goes for us women.   You know, but I think I think we all struggle with selfishness. I mean, that is ultimately what we struggle with every day is what do I want? What do I need?   What's important to me versus trying to live a selfless life for our spouse, for our family? Anyway, it would be interesting to do that survey, but I think what's so kind of funny about the kindness is that whenever I read that survey results that I had read years ago, when I say that to a crowd of women. And men, but when I say that to the crowd, you can always see I just see this rippling of women making this kind of gesture.   Or because they know that they could be more kind, because usually we can be kind to everyone in the world. But in the walls of our home, we struggle more with just kindness.   Laura Dugger: (47:37 - 48:00) And so if we go further upstream than before we're married, if that's what God has for us, what are practical ways that we can teach and instill kindness in our children and honorable character? Or any other practical tips for conduct?   Monica Irvine: (48:00 - 53:03) Yeah, well, I love when I do a workshop at a convention on a family of service, because honestly, when we have our children in our home, it's practice ground. We have once again a few years to help them learn to love the Lord and to love others. You know, the two great commandments, love me and love others.   Well, to me, the best way to teach our children to love God and love others is to get our children out and serving others. Because, as you know, typically, like, for instance, when someone calls us and says, “Oh, hey, Monica, hey, would you mind, you know, the Smith family, they just had their new baby. Do you think you could cook dinner for them one night next week?”   If you're like me, I'm going to say yes. And then I'm going to hang up. And then I'm going to have that anxiety because already my week is so full and I was already stressed out about how I was going to get all the things done I needed to get done.   And now I've just added another thing. And I'm not saying there are not times that we don't need to say no, because we absolutely have to say no sometimes. But my point is, I cook the dinner and I go drop it off.   And as I'm pulling, as we are pulling away from that home, how do we feel? Do we feel better or do we feel worse? Do we feel happy or do we feel sad?   Honestly, almost 100 percent of the time, y'all, we're going to feel happier. We're going to feel grateful. We're going to be grateful that we had the opportunity to cook that dinner for that sweet family.   We're going to be reminded of how sweet the Lord is to give us opportunities to be His hands and His feet and His mouth here on the earth. And so, we want our children to learn to love. To love others, but it takes practice.   It's not until you serve again and again and again that you start to realize that the secret to being happy, the secret to having peace in your life and love abounding in your home is when we lose ourselves in the service of others. It's the secret to fixing siblings arguing with each other. It's the secret to helping husbands and wives draw closer together and have more love for one another.   It's the secret to less contention overall, to more peace, to more joy and happiness is to lose ourselves in the service of others. And so, to me, if you want to raise if we want to raise honorable, kind, generous, compassionate, empathetic human beings, they've got to lose themselves. To find themselves and define God.   And so, yeah, I think that's the secret. And of course, Jesus Christ tried to teach us that over and over and over again. He tried to teach His disciples over and over again that if you love me.   Then love my sheep, feed my sheep, teach my sheep. And what's interesting is that you all. The more we do that, the more we serve and love others.   Do you know what I believe? I believe it's kind of like the Grinch. Remember when the Grinch's heart grew?   That's real. That's really what happens. The God expands our ability to love others.   And in doing that, it actually expands our deep love of God. I think it's so fascinating that that's the fruit of service is a deeper and abiding love of Jesus Christ. It seems like it would be the opposite, right?   Well, I've got to love Jesus more in order to have a greater desire to serve. But it's the opposite. He wants you to go serve when you don't really feel like it.   And he wants you to go serve when it's not convenient. And your kids are crying and no one wants to go rake her yard. And then the fruit of acting in faith and trusting God is the love.   Laura Dugger: (53:05 - 53:34) That's what I would do. That's so good. Such a good medicine or anecdote to selfishness and issues we're having in the home with our children and for ourselves.   Well, Monica, you have shared so much goodness with us throughout this conversation. Can you explain how you can help partner with us as parents to help us teach our children etiquette at neutral times? Like you said, when their hearts are softer?   Monica Irvine: (53:35 - 56:52) Yes. Yeah. So, we've got some awesome resources, parents.   And number one is we do have a parenting course called Rise Up Parenting. And it's just this beautiful 52-week course that you get lifetime access to in case it takes you three years to get through your 52 weeks. But it is a course for mom and dad, or mom, or dad by themselves.   But it's just a beautiful way to help parents focus on one parenting skill a week. I've learned that when we have purposeful parenting, when we focus on one improvement at a time because we can get so overwhelmed, like we want we want to teach our kids to be selfless and that be ambitious and to serve and share. And I mean, it's just, it's endless.   But the Lord is a house of order. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a house of order. And so as long as we're going in the right direction, y'all, we are successful.   And so, this parenting course teaches a biblical principle and then a parenting principle that are related and allows you to just make little increment steps of improvement. Because when mom and dad improve, it blesses your children. So that's the first resource.   And then the other two most popular resources is we just have two programs. We have a program called FUNdamentals4Kids that targets children preschool through about third grade. And it's so fun.   It's just these wonderful, fun board games, flashcards, songs, stories, crafts, where we try to encourage you to twice a week set aside 15 minutes of your school day for an official manners activity and watch what happens. So, we've organized it for you. And for the little kids, we found out that if they can play with it, sing about it, make some food with it, that it helps them to go, “Mom, let's do a manners lesson.”   And then they don't even know that they're being taught these beautiful, wonderful skills. So that is so wonderful. And then for kids about fourth grade through 12th grade, we have a course called Life Skills for You.   And it's just so fun and it's so effective. Basically, it's 142 little three-minute lessons. We once again just try to get you to commit to twice a week sitting down with your family, watching a three-minute lesson where I'm teaching the etiquette skill.   Plus, we show teenagers doing the skill the wrong way and the right way. So, it's kind of funny, but it just creates some really great conversation with the family. And so those are our top three selling product lines.   And you can find all of that on our website, theetiquettefactory.com.   Laura Dugger: (56:53 - 57:15) Thank you for sharing. We will certainly link to all of that in the show notes for today's episode. And Monica, you may be familiar that we are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge.   And so, this is my final question for you today. What is your savvy sauce? Yeah.   Oh, that's a hard one.   Monica Irvine: (57:15 - 59:06) I thought about this and I'm like, it's so hard. You all. Honestly, my savvy sauce is Jesus Christ.   It just is. I know sometimes we want the answer to be something else, but in all practical terms, it's Jesus. Meaning I start my morning out every day with Jesus.   I end every night with Jesus. I pray throughout the day and ask Him to help me make a decision. And I thank Him for all the beautiful things that happened to me throughout the day.   And I just He is this person, this real person that is at my side every day, all day, I hope. And that's how I do anything. That's why I am the mother that I am.   Not that I'm the best mother, but because of Him, I can mother and because of Him, I can be a good wife. And because of Him, I can be a good friend and I can minister to others through The Etiquette Factory. It's just it is Him.   And, you know, sometimes people will ask me, “Monica, I I want to have the knowledge you have or I want to be able to whatever parent the way it sounds like you parent.” And I'm like, you guys know, it's just it's called Jesus Christ. And Jesus will tell us all things that we should do.   And so my sauce is having a relationship with Jesus Christ. It truly is well said.   Laura Dugger: (59:06 - 59:24) And, Monica, you are such a gifted communicator and your heart of compassion is evident in your outward behavior. It's been such a joy to get to spend an hour with you today. So, I just want to say thank you for being my guest.   Monica Irvine: (59:24 - 59:43) Oh, thank you, Laura. And it's been such a joy. You're so kind.   And I appreciate the beautiful ministry that you're doing here on The Savvy Sauce. What a blessing for families to be able to just hear these resources that you've created. So, thank you.   Laura Dugger: (59:44 - 1:03:26) Thank you for being a part of it.   One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.   This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.   Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.   And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.   First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.   You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.   We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

What is the biblical purpose of marriage? Is marriage meant for happiness and companionship, or something more?In this episode of the One Degree Podcast, we walk through Ephesians 5 and Genesis 2 to explore what it looks like to not waste your marriage. We unpack servant leadership, biblical submission, and why Scripture calls you to focus on becoming a better spouse rather than wishing for a different one.Ultimately, marriage isn't just about having a healthy relationship. It's about becoming faithful followers of Jesus who live on mission together and make disciples... starting in your home.RESOURCES MENTIONED:Don't Waste Your Life by John PiperConnect with us on Instagram!Grab your Weekly Marriage Meeting Journal

Struggling with perfectionism, productivity pressure, or the constant need to do more? This devotional reflection on Ephesians 2:8–9 reminds us that peace is found not in performance, but in God’s grace. When achievement becomes identity, rest feels uncomfortable—but Scripture gently redirects our hearts back to the truth that salvation, worth, and purpose are gifts from God, not something we earn. Through honest reflection and biblical truth, this message invites us to release perfectionism, embrace weakness, and rest in the grace of a God who completes the work He began in us. Highlights Perfectionism often disguises itself as faithfulness and diligence God’s grace, not our effort, defines our worth Productivity is not the same as purpose God’s power is made perfect in weakness, not strength Rest is an act of trust, not laziness Busyness can quietly pull our hearts away from God Peace grows when we surrender control and performance Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Trading Perfectionism for PeaceBy Megan J. Conner Bible Reading:“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph. 2:8-9 (NIV) Do you wrestle with the incessant need to do more, be more? Do you find yourself struggling to sit still? Are you bothered by empty hours or blank spaces on the planner? Do you worry about how others perceive your efforts, or lack thereof? Do you feel frustrated by days that cannot be quantified as “productive”? If any of these prompts ring true for you, know you are not alone. One of my greatest struggles in life has been my inner battle with performance and perfectionism. A typical, Type-A, first-born, I am naturally a mover, a shaker, and a doer. I can possess a fierce determination when something needs doing, and can conjure endless endurance to accomplish whatever goal lies ahead. If there is a job to do, you can likely find me in line, ready and waiting to help. Our current culture esteems and celebrates such traits, but at what cost? I used to be proud of these characteristics. However, I have learned over time that all of the “achieving” can cause unwanted repercussions. Several years back, I recognized this reality the hard way, through hurt inflicted on those I love most. Full of grief and repentance, I spent years surrendering my pursuits of performance and perfectionism to the Lord and saw a real change in my behavior and my heart, so much so that I joked that I was a recovering perfectionist. You would think, after putting so much effort towards such an outcome, I would steer clear of potential pitfalls in this area. However… “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jer. 17:9, NIV). As I reflect on where I find myself today, I am disappointed and frustrated that I have once again journeyed down the slippery slope of achievement and works. I am deeply grieved by the recognition of this repeated pattern. How do I keep ending up here? What am I doing wrong? I feel like Paul when he said, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate,” (Rom. 7:15, NLT). Perhaps you can relate. Despite my failings, hope remains because hope stems from a source far beyond me. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph. 2:8-9 (NIV) Even further, the Bible says His power is best demonstrated through my weakness, not my strength (2 Cor. 12:9), and the good work God began in me will be completed by HIM (Phil. 1:6). I am not responsible for anything other than surrender and worship to HIM. The Lord does have work for each of us to do, but He is not requiring us to take on more than He asks. If you are anything like me, then there is a good chance you, too, are doing more than God has called you to do. He isn’t asking you to prove your worth to Him or anyone else around you. You are precious and valuable simply because you are. He is pleased with who He created you to be, and any effort to gain approval or satisfaction from busyness and productivity will only draw you farther away from Him rather than towards Him. Will you join me today in laying down the clamor and call of perfectionism? If so, pray this prayer with me: “Lord, I recognize that my longing for productivity is an attempt to validate my purpose in this world outside of you. Would you forgive me for trying to gain Your approval and the approval of others through my own efforts rather than depending on you? Would you help me to see how I can rest in You? Today, I yield my heart to you. Help me to understand how I can live differently, how I can live in the present moment, filled with peace. Thank you for your unending mercy and grace. Amen.” Intersecting Faith & Life: Where do you find yourself today? Have you overfilled your plate with endless commitments and now feel overwhelmed and exhausted? If so, spend some time with the Lord today and ask Him to reveal to you if there are any changes He is calling you to make, either now or in the future. If helpful, set a timer for ten minutes and simply sit in the quiet. Don’t pick up your phone or check your email. Don’t read a book. Just sit in the quietness and converse with your Lord. Further Reading:Ps. 46:10 2 Cor. 12:7-9 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What is the church really? Pastor Heath Lambert explains that the church isn't a building or a place - it's the blood-bought people of Jesus, both local and global, identified with Christ and accomplishing His purposes in the world. This foundational teaching clarifies what most Christians misunderstand.Timestamps0:00 - Introduction and the question0:40 - Most Christians would stumble on this answer1:46 - The short answer begins with Jesus1:56 - Titus 2:14: Jesus purified a people for Himself2:42 - The church is the people of Jesus3:27 - The church as an organic group, not a building3:49 - 1 Corinthians 1:2: Two ways to talk about the church4:35 - The local church in a specific place4:59 - The global church in every place5:56 - The church is identified with Jesus6:12 - Acts 9:4: Persecuting the church is persecuting Jesus7:24 - The church as the body of Christ7:46 - Other metaphors: Bride, vine and branches8:24 - The church accomplishes Jesus's purposes8:42 - Ephesians 3:10: Making God's wisdom known9:16 - 1 Timothy 3:15: Pillar and buttress of truthKey Topics Covered- Common Misunderstandings - Why most Christians can't properly define the church- Jesus as Starting Point - Titus 2:14 and the foundation of the church- Blood-Bought People - Those redeemed from lawlessness who trust in Christ- Not a Building - Why the church is people, not places or structures- Two Dimensions - Local assemblies and the global body of believers- Local Church - Believers gathering in a specific geographic location- Global Church - All believers across the world in every place- Identified with Christ - Acts 9:4 showing Jesus's unity with His people- Body of Christ - The church as Christ's organism in the world- Bride of Christ - The marriage metaphor showing intimate unity- Vine and Branches - Jesus as source, church dependent on Him- Accomplishing His Purposes - How Jesus works through the church today- Pillar of Truth - The church as God's means of proclaiming truth to the worldScripture ReferencesTitus 2:14 - Jesus purified a people for His own possession1 Corinthians 1:2 - The church locally and globallyActs 9:4 - Saul persecuting Jesus by persecuting the churchEphesians 3:10 - God's wisdom made known through the church1 Timothy 3:15 - The church as pillar and buttress of truthAbout The Ten Commandments BookHeath Lambert's new book "The Ten Commandments: A Short Book for Normal People" is now available. This accessible guide explains how God's commands apply to modern life without requiring theological education. Perfect for personal study, evangelism, or gifts to friends, neighbors, and family.Order now and download a free chapter at fbcjax.com/tencommandmentsLike this episode? Subscribe for more biblical teaching from Marked by Grace. Share your thoughts in the comments below about how understanding the church as people rather than a place changes your perspective.Have a question you'd like answered? Send it to markedbygrace@fbcjax.com

#fruitsofthespirit #humiliation  #pride How do you develop humility, gentleness, kindness, and patience? When a heart is planted in the love of God, it's grows fruit. We hope you enjoy this message by Pastor Alex Klimchuk on how to cultivate fruits in your life. Ephesians 4:1-3, Psalm 35:13, Psalm 51:17, Proverbs 16:32, Philippians 2:2 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, & SUBSCRIBE for more biblical teachings!   Please follow our websites for more! Website: http://www.newlifechurchsf.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewLifeSF/ Youtube: https://youtu.be/7Ig-qXgVAmE/ Pastor Alex Klimchuk New Life Church 500 S 1st Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Hello Friends! I love to hear from you! Please send me a text message by clicking on this link! Blessings to You!In this episode, Dr. Jori discusses with her listeners  about how Jesus is GOD's "Yes".  Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 1:19; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Matthew 10:1-4; Acts 8:1-3; Acts 9, 22, 26; Acts 18;  Romans 10:4; Matthew 5:17; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Corinthians 1:3-23 Scripture translation used is the NASB “Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995, 2020 (only use the last year corresponding to the edition quoted) by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.Lockman.org”CHECK OUT DR. JORI'S NEW PODCAST- The First Love ProjectHere is the video introducing the podcast on You Tube-https://youtu.be/PhFY1moDDms FIND DR. JORI ON OTHER PLATFORMS https://linktr.ee/drjorishafferCHECK OUT THE DWELL AUDIO BIBLE APP:Click this link for my unique referral code.  I use this frequently. Such a wonderful audio bible app. https://dwellapp.io/aff?ref=jorishafferBIBLE STUDY TOOLS DR. JORI USES:Note: These contain  Amazon affiliate links, meaning I get a commission, at no extra cost to you,  if you decide to make a purchase through my links.Here is a link to some of my favorite bible study tools on Amazon:https://geni.us/cHtrfEMr. Pen Bible Journaling Kitshttps://lvnta.com/lv_PTrHSCogbRim4yhEDnhttps://lvnta.com/lv_mkaMOuGe6m4oHR88uqhttps://lvnta.com/lv_dgvsxOc99t663A628z  BOOKS OF BIBLE COLOR CHARTI made this chart as a helpful tool for grouping the collections of books or letters  in the Holy Bible.  The colors in the different sections are the ones that I use in my journals.  Books of Bible Chart (color) (4).pdf - Google Drive    LOOKING TO RETAIN MORE OF WHAT YOUR PASTOR IS TEACHING?              CHECK OUT DR. JORI'S SERMON REFLECTION JOURNALS! Sermon Notes, Reflections and Applications Journal/Notebooks by Dr. Jori. Click the links below to be directed to amazon.com for purchase. Or search “Dr. Jori Shaffer” on Amazon to bring these up.  https://amzn.to/418LfRshttps://amzn.to/41862EyHere is a brief YouTube video that tells about the Journal/Notebooks as well:https://youtu.be/aXpQNYUEzds   Email: awordforthisday@gmail.comPodcast website:  https://awordforthisday.buzzsprout.com  Support the show

Ephesians 4:11-16. It is easy to take the leadership of Christ's church for granted and to fail to fully appreciate the efforts our Shepherds put into strengthening the church and benefiting us. In this study, Evangelist Jacob Holman reflects on Paul's teachings in Ephesians 4 about the importance of Christ's leaders.

This Sunday, Pastor Curtis kicks off a new series titled 'Shadowboxing', reminding us that the battles we face aren't merely physical, but spiritual. Drawing from Ephesians 6, he challenges us to stop fighting the wrong enemy and instead stand firm, fully armored, and pray from a place of victory already won in Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-16 with Pastor Greg Denham

Recorded on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Other scripture cited: Isaiah 61:1-3; Ephesians 2:17-19.Support the show

Romans 12:2 ESV2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. • • •1. Do not conformed to the pattern of this world. • • •Ephesians 6:12 ESV12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. • • •1 John 2:15-17 ESV15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. • • •James 4:4-5 ESV4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? • • •2. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. • • •2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. • • •Colossians 3:1-3 ESV1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. • • •Psalm 119:9-11 ESV9 How can a young man keep his way pure?By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you;let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. • • •Application:Life transformation happens through the renewal of our mind.

Our minds cannot contain the infinite glory of God. Yet since He has made us in His image, we can know the Lord truly through His revelation. From his Ephesians sermon series, today R.C. Sproul considers the role of the church in spreading the knowledge of God. Request R.C. Sproul's commentary on the book of Ephesians with your donation of any amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4563/offer   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Request the Ephesians commentary ebook with your donation: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global Are you subscribed to Renewing Your Mind on YouTube? Subscribe today and turn on notifications to receive each day's episode: https://www.youtube.com/@rymradio   Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Mike Slater confronts the spiritual dimensions of global Christian persecution, drawing from Ephesians 6:12 to expose how unseen "principalities and powers" manifest in earthly systems of oppression, authoritarian control, extremist ideologies, and societal rejection. This episode explores the ongoing realities in the world's most hostile regions, including North Korea—where faith can lead to immediate execution or labor camps—alongside escalating pressures in places like Somalia, Nigeria, Sudan, Eritrea, and others marked by violence, discrimination, and restrictions on worship. Viewers are invited to grapple with these truths, recognize the spiritual warfare behind the headlines, and consider the call to vigilance, prayer, and faithful response in light of Christ's ultimate authority. This is part two of two. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Slater confronts the spiritual dimensions of global Christian persecution, drawing from Ephesians 6:12 to expose how unseen "principalities and powers" manifest in earthly systems of oppression, authoritarian control, extremist ideologies, and societal rejection. This episode explores the ongoing realities in the world's most hostile regions, including North Korea—where faith can lead to immediate execution or labor camps—alongside escalating pressures in places like Somalia, Nigeria, Sudan, Eritrea, and others marked by violence, discrimination, and restrictions on worship. Viewers are invited to grapple with these truths, recognize the spiritual warfare behind the headlines, and consider the call to vigilance, prayer, and faithful response in light of Christ's ultimate authority. This is part two of two. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Psalm 45 Ephesians 1:3-10 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

We must be sober and ready, clothed in the armor of God. And today, we heard about the shoes—“the readiness given by the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:14-18). Peace—what peace? Romans 5 says we were enemies of God, now reconciled through Jesus. That peace is not a mood; it's a new status that births a new spirit. Ephesians 2:14 says this peace can spread horizontally, breaking tribal walls. Without it, we elevate our tribe, banish “those people,” and never own our own need. With it, we become peacemakers. Richard Morgan, an atheist moderating Dawkins' website, printed months of vicious comments aimed at Pastor David Robertson—and David's steady, non-anxious kindness. That witness won him. Peacemaking is not soft; it's a weapon. Shoes mean movement. What moves the church forward is not shepherding schemes, TV glitz, small-group fads, social niceness, or celebrity cool. The world is drowning in image and hunger for the real. Jesus is the real. The gospel of peace is the power. That's why we fight for simplicity here: pray, praise, preach, the table, fellowship (Acts 2:42). We won't boast in buildings or methods (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). I'm convinced: I can be full of myself, or full of the Spirit. And I want the church Jesus builds (Matthew 16:18), planted firmly in the shoes of the gospel of peace.

A Study of Ephesians Part 2 - Dr. Lynn Hiles dynamically teaches on the finished work of the cross, the message of God's never-ending love, and His grace which causes us to have an abundant life. www.lynnhiles.comBooks: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dr.-Lynn-Hiles/author/B08PDLRVMV?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1764788077&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=4f7b2b7c-3e5b-4ac7-ad8f-04e599d41a15Giving: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=7NJ2V7SAJGYV8

Tim Keel The Way: Week 3, The Life Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, Psalm 90:12, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Psalm 71:17-18, Ephesians 4:13-16, 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Hebrews 5:12-14, Acts 13:1-3 website: jacobswellchurch.org facebook: jacobswellkc twitter: @jacobswell

Pastor Andy Cass In this message from the If I Won the Lottery… series, we confront the lie of scarcity and discover a better way forward. Jesus reframes losing, finding, and generosity through three powerful stories — a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. God is a giver, which makes us winners — but distraction, waste, and isolation can cause us to live like we're losing. TEXT: Luke 15:3–12, Ephesians 2:10, Joel 2:25, John 10:10, Hebrews 10:24–25 NOTES: Big Idea: Patch the Pitcher and Pour out the first 10% God gives purpose — Satan takes purpose and replaces it with distraction. God gives restoration — Satan takes what is broken and exploits it. God gives community — Satan takes community and isolates. Stop losing, Start Finding God is a Giver, Satan is a Taker, What are you? Stay Connected: Give: https://theecho.churchcenter.com/giving Online Service: Sundays 9 AM (YouTube & Facebook Live) Connect: https://theecho.churchcenter.com/people/forms/113001 Instagram: @wearetheechochurch #EchoChurch #ChristianSermon #FaithGrowth #BibleTeaching

Hello Friends! I love to hear from you! Please send me a text message by clicking on this link! Blessings to You!In this episode, Dr. Jori discusses with her listeners  James' reminder that the LORD , by the exercise of His will, "brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures". Scripture References: John 1:14; James 1:18; John 7:5; 1 Corinthians 15:1-7; James 1:1-18; Ephesians 1:13-14 Scripture translation used is the NASB “Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995, 2020 (only use the last year corresponding to the edition quoted) by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.Lockman.org”CHECK OUT DR. JORI'S NEW PODCAST- The First Love ProjectHere is the video introducing the podcast on You Tube-https://youtu.be/PhFY1moDDms FIND DR. JORI ON OTHER PLATFORMS https://linktr.ee/drjorishafferCHECK OUT THE DWELL AUDIO BIBLE APP:Click this link for my unique referral code.  I use this frequently. Such a wonderful audio bible app. https://dwellapp.io/aff?ref=jorishafferBIBLE STUDY TOOLS DR. JORI USES:Note: These contain  Amazon affiliate links, meaning I get a commission, at no extra cost to you,  if you decide to make a purchase through my links.Here is a link to some of my favorite bible study tools on Amazon:https://geni.us/cHtrfEMr. Pen Bible Journaling Kitshttps://lvnta.com/lv_PTrHSCogbRim4yhEDnhttps://lvnta.com/lv_mkaMOuGe6m4oHR88uqhttps://lvnta.com/lv_dgvsxOc99t663A628z  BOOKS OF BIBLE COLOR CHARTI made this chart as a helpful tool for grouping the collections of books or letters  in the Holy Bible.  The colors in the different sections are the ones that I use in my journals.  Books of Bible Chart (color) (4).pdf - Google Drive    LOOKING TO RETAIN MORE OF WHAT YOUR PASTOR IS TEACHING?              CHECK OUT DR. JORI'S SERMON REFLECTION JOURNALS! Sermon Notes, Reflections and Applications Journal/Notebooks by Dr. Jori. Click the links below to be directed to amazon.com for purchase. Or search “Dr. Jori Shaffer” on Amazon to bring these up.  https://amzn.to/418LfRshttps://amzn.to/41862EyHere is a brief YouTube video that tells about the Journal/Notebooks as well:https://youtu.be/aXpQNYUEzds   Email: awordforthisday@gmail.comPodcast website:  https://awordforthisday.buzzsprout.com  Support the show

Series: Starting StrongWeek: 3Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18A; Genesis 3:7-13; 2 Corinthians 5:21Preacher: Brian Lowe

Where do you go to find peace? Do you head to the beach, the mountains, the woods—or maybe your garden or a special room? Learn about the only place where true and lasting peace can be found. Study along with Alistair Begg on Truth For Life. ----------------------------------------- • Click here and look for "FROM THE SERMON" to stream or read the full message. • This program is part of the sermon ‘A Study in Ephesians, Volume 3' • Learn more about our current resource, request your copy with a donation of any amount. Helpful Resources - Learn about God's salvation plan - Read our most recent articles - Subscribe to our daily devotional Follow Us YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter This listener-funded program features the clear, relevant Bible teaching of Alistair Begg. Today's program and nearly 3,000 messages can be streamed and shared for free at tfl.org thanks to the generous giving from monthly donors called Truthpartners. Learn more about this Gospel-sharing team or become one today. Thanks for listening to Truth For Life!

Mike Slater confronts the spiritual dimensions of global Christian persecution, drawing from Ephesians 6:12 to expose how unseen "principalities and powers" manifest in earthly systems of oppression, authoritarian control, extremist ideologies, and societal rejection. This episode explores the ongoing realities in the world's most hostile regions, including North Korea—where faith can lead to immediate execution or labor camps—alongside escalating pressures in places like Somalia, Nigeria, Sudan, Eritrea, and others marked by violence, discrimination, and restrictions on worship. Viewers are invited to grapple with these truths, recognize the spiritual warfare behind the headlines, and consider the call to vigilance, prayer, and faithful response in light of Christ's ultimate authority. This is part one of two. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jase and Al celebrate Miss Kay's latest unexpected milestone that reflects her strength and progress after a difficult season. The guys emphasize that real faith isn't just something you claim but a relationship that transforms you from the inside out. That leads into a thoughtful discussion about a “reformed” adult film star who publicly professed Christianity before returning to her old life, raising hard questions about belief, trust, and lasting change. Plus, the guys dig into Scripture to explore why people in the Old Testament lived hundreds of years and what that reveals about age, time, and eternity. In this episode: 1 John 1, verses 1–10; 1 John 2, verses 1–2; Genesis 6, verse 3; Psalm 90, verses 1–17; 1 Corinthians 2, verses 6–16; John 3, verse 36; John 5, verse 24; John 15, verses 9–12; John 16, verses 22–24; Romans 5, verses 1–11; Romans 6, verses 1–11; Philippians 4, verses 10–13; Ephesians 2, verses 8–10 “Unashamed” Episode 1248 is sponsored by: https://cozyearth.com/unashamed — Get up to 20% off when you use our link or code UNASHAMED! Get $35 off your first box of wild-caught, sustainable seafood — delivered right to your door. Go to: https://www.wildalaskan.com/UNASHAMED. https://andrewandtodd.com or call 888-888-1172 — These guys are the real deal. Get trusted mortgage guidance and expertise from someone who shares your values! http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ — Sign up now for free, and join the Unashamed hosts every Friday for Unashamed Academy Powered by Hillsdale College Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://open.spotify.com/show/3LY8eJ4ZBZHmsImGoDNK2l Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts. Chapters: 00:00-06:54 Miss Kay hits a new milestone! 06:55-20:44 Why people lived so long in the Old Testament 20:45-29:37 The Holy Spirit is a portal to eternity 29:38-38:55 How to have “complete” joy, even in suffering 38:56-45:03 You can't claim Christ & still live in darkness 45:04-54:45 Who did you bury with your baptism? — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices