Podcasts about epistles

Todaywill continue to look at Ephesians 4:7-11. These verses are about the Spiritualgifts that God gives “to each one of us” for unity in the church.These gifts can either be used to build us up or used to tear us down. God hasalready given us the Gift of the Holy Spirit at the moment of our salvation. Atthat time, we were baptized into the body of Christ, and the Holy Spirit cameto dwell within us. This great truth is taught throughout the Epistles in theNew Testament.  Butalong with the Gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit,also imparted Spiritual gifts into our life. These gifts are many and you willfind them listed in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12-14 and also in Ephesians 4. Weneed to also understand that these Spiritual gifts are not the naturalabilities that we're born with, such as mechanical ability, musical ability,athletic ability, or artistic ability. No, those are natural abilities anddifferent people have different natural abilities.  Butthese are Spiritual gifts and this gifting is very important for us tounderstand as believers. I'm convinced, we will not find real fulfillment,satisfaction, and real contentment in our lives unless we're fulfilling thepurpose for which God created us. Remember in Ephesians 2:8-10 we learned that Godsaved us by His grace, not just so we could go to heaven when we died, butbecause, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, whichGod prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” He saves us to do “goodworks” for Him through the abilities we have from our Spiritual gifts.  Godknew exactly what gifts the body needed in that particular local church and He “preparedbeforehand” and gifted every believer that became a part of that localchurch with specific spiritual gifts to build up that body of Jesus Christwhich builds up the whole body of Christ around the world. So these arepowerful verses to understand and make sure we begin to comprehend and apply to“each” of our lives as we see in verse 7: “But to each one of us,grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift”.  Paulsaid something similar in Romans 12:4-6: "For aswe have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the samefunction. So we being many are one body in Christ and individually members ofone another." Having then gifts differing according to the grace that isgiven to us, let us use them”. We should make sure we're exercising thosespiritual gifts that God has given us. Thenin verses 8-10, we read something very interesting. These are wonderful versesreminding us that Jesus Christ first descended that He might ascend. And He ledcaptivity captive. I believe the meaning of this is that just as we werecaptive to Satan by sin before salvation, Jesus Christ because He wasvictorious over death and sin and hell and the grave, He now takes us captivefor His glory, and gives the Spiritual gifts that we need to serve Him. “Jesusdescended that He might ascend”. He descended in obedience to “death of thecross and for that God has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name that isabove every name…” (Philippians 2:8-11).  Jesus“descended to the lower parts of the earth”. I believe that this couldmean that Jesus took there those in paradise previous to the cross and He ledthem up to the third heaven. And Jesus also delivered us from our captivity tosin and Satan and made us His captives to be free to live holy and Godly livesand gave us the Spiritual gifts to serve Him.  Ohmy friend, aren't you so thankful that Jesus “though He was rich, He becamepoor that we through His poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Wehave the riches of Christ, and the Spiritual gifts that He's given “toeach one of us”, the wealth of Christ Himself living within “eachone of us” today.  Doyou know your Spiritual gifts? Are you using them for the glory of God and thebuilding up of the body of Jesus Christ?

In this episode the Apostle Peter describes one of the most dramatic encounters he had with Jesus when he and James and John were taken up a mountain one night by Jesus where they literally heard the voice of God declare that Jesus was the Son of the God! Yet he goes on to say that there is something even more persuasive for anyone — if they would open their hearts and accept it. The two New Testament epistles ascribed to the Apostle Peter are lesser known by most Christians than the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. Some scholars believe that First Peter may have been written to young Christians and may have even served as a 'catechism' for those about to be water baptised. In this episode, we look at how Peter presents God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and how Christianity commences with becoming 'born again'. But this is not where Christianity ends - and that aged Apostle Peter gives instructions on how a new believer is to grow in the faith by exploring what the knowledge of God and HIs grace requires. For more Biblical teaching via podcast subscribe to Messages That Matters with Dr. Andrew Corbett on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/messages-that-matter-by-dr-andrew-corbett/id1059252114 For Biblical Thinking Resources - https://www.andrewcorbett.net/ Read “The Most Embarrassing Book in the Bible -understanding the Book of Revelation” on Kindle - https://www.amazon.com/MOST-EMBARRASSING-BOOK-BIBLE-ebook/dp/B0081RZ91O/ Read “Authentic Apostolic Leadership - Structure For the Church” https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Apostolic-Leadership-Structure-Church-ebook/dp/B003GIRESO/

Topics: Meaning of Counting the Cost, Context of Luke 14:26-33, Impossible Standards to be a Disciple, Hating Family in Luke 14:26, Hating Own Life in Luke 14:26, Bearing Your Cross in Luke 14:27, Building a Tower in Luke 14:28, Insufficient Funds to Finish, Mockery in Luke 14:29-30, Kings at War in Luke 14:31, Terms of Peace in Luke 14:32, Giving Up Everything in Luke 14:33, Added Biblical Subheadings, Man-Made Religious Narratives, Origin of Sermons, Greek Sophists and Preaching, Disciples in the Epistles, One Spirit with the Lord in 1 Corinthians 6:17, Difference Between Disciple and Christian, Definition of a Disciple, Physical Followers of Jesus, End of Discipleship Model, Spirit Poured Out in Acts 2, Preaching the Gospel, Holy Spirit Teaching in John 14:26, Internal Witness of Truth, God Speaking through His Son in Hebrews 1, Effort-Based Ministries, Hidden in Christ in Colossians 3:3, Cannot Afford the Cost, Jesus Paying the Cost, Accepting the Delegation, Union with Christ, Resting and Trusting, Not Owing Jesus AnythingSupport the showSign up for Matt's free daily devotional! https://mattmcmillen.com/newsletter

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the first Sunday of the new Church Year. It is the first Sunday of our annual journey through Jesus's life, from his birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension, on to Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down upon the Apostles and then sent them, and us, as the Body of Christ out into the world to be Christ's loving hands and heart. We go through this journey of the first part of Jesus's life so we can pattern our own lives on his and better be the Body of Christ. The first steps of this journey more properly belong on Christmas, when we celebrate his birth. That is when his life began, after all. So what are we doing in Advent? Why is this the start of the new Church Year?This short four-Sunday season of Advent, which is three and a half weeks this year, is a season of preparation for the journey. It is always wise to prepare for any journey. We need to get our tickets, line up our lodging, pack our bags, throw in a couple of changes of clothes and any medication, find a good book to read, and anything else we might need for a successful trip. Whether this journey is a hike or a car ride, a train trip or airplane flight, or a boat voyage, we also need to throw in our pack some good snacks to keep us well nourished.Of course, our liturgical journey, our journey with Christ through his life, is not literal. It is a spiritual journey, and Advent is a time to prepare spiritually. While the preparations we do in Advent are things like getting the Christmas tree up and trimmed, hanging the lights, baking the cookies, wrapping the presents and so forth, Advent is also, and I would suggest more importantly, a time for us to fill our spiritual baggage with all that we need for this journey through Jesus's life, to prepare our souls to grow with Christ this year.One of the items that Advent gives us to throw into our pack for the journey is some rich and meaningful Scripture readings. There are certainly some great Psalms, Epistles, and Gospels, like we heard today, but I encourage you to pay extra close attention this season to the first reading from Isaiah every week. We will hear from Isaiah every week of Advent this year. Make sure that you pack those readings into your luggage.Isaiah lived in a time of great despair, and a time of great hope. These two things are not opposites. They are related to each other. I recently read a book on hope by a Korean-German philosopher, Byung-Chul Han, in which he argues that despair and hope go hand in hand like a mountain and a valley. They need each other, they create each other. The deeper the despair, the higher the hope we can have.Isaiah lived in a time in which everything that he and his people thought about the world, their identity as a people, and their relationship to God had been uprooted. The temple, the center of their faith, was destroyed, and the people were sent to live in exile. This was the time the Psalmist would say we hung up our harps and wept. Into this time, God sent Isaiah for two purposes: to explain what happened and why they were living in this great despair, and to offer them hope. The explanation that Isaiah and almost all of the prophets gave for why they were in this situation, is pretty straightforward. They failed in the twin commandments to love God and love neighbor. These two commands are linked in creation, for where does the image of God reside but in your neighbor. As Genesis teaches us, every single person is made in God's image. They had failed to worship God, and equally failed to honor the image of God in others. Their failures were especially acute around those who were suffering, the poor, the widow, the orphan, and many more.And yet, Isaiah was also sent to offer hope. Out of the deepest despair can come the highest hope. They need each other, they create each other. And boy, did Isaiah have some lofty hopes that he shared in the depths of this despair. Like in today's reading where Isaiah shows us God's dream of peace in which the swords are turned into plowshares and the spears into pruning hooks. War doesn't just end in this vision, but the weapons of war are transformed into tools of agriculture. That which once took life now gives life. The heights of these hopes can reveal the depths of the despair, and throughout the weeks ahead we will see how deep the despair was when we hear some of the wild visions of hope that Isaiah had. We will hear of God's dream of vegetarian lions, and Isaiah will share about the predator and the prey resting peacefully in each other's presence. It is a radical transformation of this world's order.We will hear of the miraculous healing of people, and the transformation of barren landscapes from death into life. And we will hear of leaders who are not strong and mighty, but gentle and lowly like children. In fact, we will hear of one Child in particular whom we have come to understand and to know as the one humbly born in a stable and placed in a manger among the straw and the animals. Born to more than lead us, he was born to nourish us with his very body in a holy and divine life.While this dream, this vision, this hope is partially realized in the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, it does not take much looking around to realize that it has not been fully realized. We still live far from the dream. But the thing about hope is that it is like dawn, the period every morning when the sun hasn't yet risen, but the light is beginning to peek up over the horizon. Hope looks to the horizon and sees the light that precedes the sun's rise.I used to run a lot, but I'm out of the habit, although Ryan is working hard to get me back into it. But back in the day when I used to run a lot, my favorite time to run was early in the morning, starting while it was still dark before dawn, then running through dawn until the sun rose. Often a line from Psalm 57 was repeating in my head like a mantra, “wake up my spirit, awake, lute and harp. I myself will waken the dawn.” Dawn is a beautiful anticipatory moment of what could be when the day isn't quite here, and it holds all of the day's potential. For me, running at dawn was a great moment of hope, a moment of what a full, complete, and thriving life could be.How much more is Isaiah's great vision? A dawn not of the daily return of the light radiating from our solar system's star, the sun, but the dawn from the light of Christ, and the peaceable Kingdom that it illuminates. Isaiah offers hope to us by sharing God's dream of what this world could be like. He shares his hope out of the depths of his people's deepest despair, and continues to share that hope with the depths of our despair today. Even if it feels like the entire world has been turned upside down, our identity destroyed, and our relationship and understanding of God has been shaken, there is still hope. And hope opens the imagination to see new possibilities.So get ready for Advent. Get ready for this Advent, my friends. Prepare yourself for the journey. Pack your bags, and don't forget to throw in Isaiah's vision of God's dream into your pack. You will want to read, learn, mark, and inwardly digest it as we go on this journey with Christ. As you more fully pattern your life on His this year, you can help waken the dawn and move one step closer to that moment of the realization of the hope of God's dream.AMEN.

We now venture into Second Peter which has quite a different tone than First Peter. In this episode we hear the apostle Peter talk about his own impending death and offering his faithfulness as a model for steadfast Christian living. He then offers the 8 qualities of a mature Christian and how these eight qualities should be what every Christian strives for. The two New Testament epistles ascribed to the Apostle Peter are lesser known by most Christians than the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. Some scholars believe that First Peter may have been written to young Christians and may have even served as a 'catechism' for those about to be water baptised. In this episode, we look at how Peter presents God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and how Christianity commences with becoming 'born again'. But this is not where Christianity ends - and that aged Apostle Peter gives instructions on how a new believer is to grow in the faith by exploring what the knowledge of God and HIs grace requires.

Teaching by Kent Bateman based on Daniel 2:44. Week 7 of our series, Prophets & Epistles. Part of our Year of the Bible. For more information, visit citychurchknox.com.

Series: Signs & GloryTitle: Why does Jesus lead us into dark places?Scripture:

What kind of person do you want to be? Or better, what kind of person does God want you to be? In 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4 the Apostle Paul speaks about four kinds of people: the natural person, the spiritual, the carnal, and the newborn. Charlie describes each from a spiritual perspective, then defines God's ideal, the spiritual person. But what does it mean to be spiritual? It has everything to do with the permanent indwelling Holy Spirit who Christians have today. While there is much written and spoken about making disciples, which is an emphasis in the Gospels, we cannot ignore the Epistles which tell us how to keep the commitments of discipleship. It seems there has been some neglect of the Epistles' view of spirituality. Hear this message and ask youself again, what kind of person does God want me to be and how do I become that person? #GraceLifeMinistries#Spirituality#CarnalChristian#ChristianLife#SimplybyGrace

In this episode of the Bible in a year we move from the book of Acts to look at some of the Epistles that were written during this time. Once again this is where the chronological version takes on a different approach and these epistles are included within the timeline of the overall book of Acts. We read through the book of James, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and also begin into 1 Corinthians.

In this episode, we dive into a popular modern debate: Are the teachings of the Apostle Paul at odds with the teachings of Jesus?Together, they unpack why this misconception keeps circulating, how soundbite theology spreads confusion, and what Scripture actually reveals about the unity between Jesus, Paul, and the early church. From understanding the context of the early church to exploring Paul's encounter with Jesus, to addressing why the apostles themselves affirmed Paul's ministry, this conversation brings clarity, depth, and biblical grounding.Along the way, the pastors discuss:✨ The rise of good delivery but bad theology on social media✨ Why the next generation needs Biblically rooted voices✨ How Paul expanded on Jesus' teachings through the Holy Spirit✨ Why dismissing Paul often reveals deeper issues in the heart✨ The continuity between the Gospels, the Epistles, and the entire counsel of Scripture✨ The danger of deception when believers stop studying the WordIf you've ever wondered how Paul fits into the bigger story of Scripture—or if you've heard the claim that Paul “taught a different gospel”—this episode is for you.

Welcome to The Church period! Jeff Cavins joins Fr. Mike to discuss the final time period of the Bible Timeline. They discuss the historical context of the early Church, why Rome and the early martyrs are so significant, and how the Holy Spirit takes on a major role. They also explain the differences between Acts, the epistles, and the book of Revelation. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Today, we begin the age of the church, transitioning from the Gospel of Luke to the beginning of the book of Acts. Fr. Mike draws our attention to the Ascension of Jesus and encourages us to respond to Christ's call to participate in his mission. He invites us to be part of his story and not be ashamed of the Gospel. Today's readings are Acts 1, Romans 1, and Proverbs 26:24-26. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

This oft-overlooked little epistle of the New Testament is very likely the first extant work of Christian literature—characterized by the apostle Paul's intense pastoral love for his congregation in Thessalonica and comforting hope in the return on the clouds of the Lord Jesus. In this episode Dad and I dig into both these themes, the abundance of family language (some of it startling, to say the least!), explore non-creepy ways to affirm the Parousia, and note early themes of Paul that will stay the course as well as undergo development on the way to his late Epistles. We're in our SEVENTH year! Show your support by becoming a Patron! Notes: 1. Sarah's book Forty Facets of the Ascension is available now! 2. Gaventa, First and Second Thessalonians 3. Malherbe, Paul and the Thessalonians: The Philosophic Tradition of Pastoral Care 4. Related episodes: Apostleship Envy, Triple Predestination, Galatians 1, Galatians 2, Philemon, Romans

Apocalypse Now: An Eye-Opening Study of the Book of EphesiansWhat if the greatest revelation wasn't about the end of the world, but the unveiling of a new one? Apocalypse Now is a deep and eye-opening journey through the book of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul—writing from prison—pulls back the curtain on God's grand design for His people.Set against the backdrop of ancient Ephesus, a city of power, culture, and spiritual darkness, this series explores how Paul's letter reveals Jesus as Lord over every empire, idol, and authority. Known as the “Queen of the Epistles,” Ephesians lifts our eyes to the breathtaking view of Christ and His Church—our identity, our unity, our calling, and our hope.Each episode uncovers the “apocalypse”—the great unveiling of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the Spirit's gifts—and asks how this revelation reshapes the way we live right now. From household relationships to spiritual warfare, from ancient temples to modern challenges, Apocalypse Now helps us see with fresh eyes what it means to belong to God's family and live as people of another Kingdom.If you're ready for a faith that feels alive, courageous, and countercultural—this is your invitation. We don't just need an apocalypse someday. We need one now.For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

Apocalypse Now: An Eye-Opening Study of the Book of EphesiansWhat if the greatest revelation wasn't about the end of the world, but the unveiling of a new one? Apocalypse Now is a deep and eye-opening journey through the book of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul—writing from prison—pulls back the curtain on God's grand design for His people.Set against the backdrop of ancient Ephesus, a city of power, culture, and spiritual darkness, this series explores how Paul's letter reveals Jesus as Lord over every empire, idol, and authority. Known as the “Queen of the Epistles,” Ephesians lifts our eyes to the breathtaking view of Christ and His Church—our identity, our unity, our calling, and our hope.Each episode uncovers the “apocalypse”—the great unveiling of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the Spirit's gifts—and asks how this revelation reshapes the way we live right now. From household relationships to spiritual warfare, from ancient temples to modern challenges, Apocalypse Now helps us see with fresh eyes what it means to belong to God's family and live as people of another Kingdom.If you're ready for a faith that feels alive, courageous, and countercultural—this is your invitation. We don't just need an apocalypse someday. We need one now.For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

Apocalypse Now: An Eye-Opening Study of the Book of EphesiansWhat if the greatest revelation wasn't about the end of the world, but the unveiling of a new one? Apocalypse Now is a deep and eye-opening journey through the book of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul—writing from prison—pulls back the curtain on God's grand design for His people.Set against the backdrop of ancient Ephesus, a city of power, culture, and spiritual darkness, this series explores how Paul's letter reveals Jesus as Lord over every empire, idol, and authority. Known as the “Queen of the Epistles,” Ephesians lifts our eyes to the breathtaking view of Christ and His Church—our identity, our unity, our calling, and our hope.Each episode uncovers the “apocalypse”—the great unveiling of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the Spirit's gifts—and asks how this revelation reshapes the way we live right now. From household relationships to spiritual warfare, from ancient temples to modern challenges, Apocalypse Now helps us see with fresh eyes what it means to belong to God's family and live as people of another Kingdom.If you're ready for a faith that feels alive, courageous, and countercultural—this is your invitation. We don't just need an apocalypse someday. We need one now.For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

Apocalypse Now: An Eye-Opening Study of the Book of EphesiansWhat if the greatest revelation wasn't about the end of the world, but the unveiling of a new one? Apocalypse Now is a deep and eye-opening journey through the book of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul—writing from prison—pulls back the curtain on God's grand design for His people.Set against the backdrop of ancient Ephesus, a city of power, culture, and spiritual darkness, this series explores how Paul's letter reveals Jesus as Lord over every empire, idol, and authority. Known as the “Queen of the Epistles,” Ephesians lifts our eyes to the breathtaking view of Christ and His Church—our identity, our unity, our calling, and our hope.Each episode uncovers the “apocalypse”—the great unveiling of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the Spirit's gifts—and asks how this revelation reshapes the way we live right now. From household relationships to spiritual warfare, from ancient temples to modern challenges, Apocalypse Now helps us see with fresh eyes what it means to belong to God's family and live as people of another Kingdom.If you're ready for a faith that feels alive, courageous, and countercultural—this is your invitation. We don't just need an apocalypse someday. We need one now.For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

Laura and Pastor Justin discuss Sunday's message from the Bible 2025 series!

This is Peter writing to church leaders about the kind of heart and attitude they should have in order to serve a local church. The two New Testament epistles ascribed to the Apostle Peter are lesser known by most Christians than the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. Some scholars believe that First Peter may have been written to young Christians and may have even served as a 'catechism' for those about to be water baptised. In this episode, we look at how Peter presents God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and how Christianity commences with becoming 'born again'. But this is not where Christianity ends - and that aged Apostle Peter gives instructions on how a new believer is to grow in the faith by exploring what the knowledge of God and HIs grace requires.

Teaching by Jordan Gaut based on James 1:22-25. Week 6 of our series, Prophets & Epistles. Part of our Year of the Bible. For more information, visit citychurchknox.com.

Series: Signs & GloryTitle: Part 2: How Does Jesus' Prayer Still Shape the World Today?Scripture:

This greatest of Christian orators is commemorated not only today, but as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs (with St Basil the Great and St Gregory the Theologian) on January 30.   He was born in Antioch to pious parents around 345. His mother was widowed at the age of twenty, and devoted herself to rearing her son in piety. He received his literary and oratorical training from the greatest pagan teachers of the day. Though an illustrious and profitable career as a secular orator was open to him, he chose instead to dedicate himself to God. He lived as a monk from 374 to 381, eventually dwelling as a hermit in a cave near Antioch. Here his extreme ascetic practices ruined his health, so that he was forced to return to Antioch, where he was ordained to the priesthood. In Antioch his astonishing gifts of preaching first showed themselves, earning him the epithet Chrysostomos, "Golden-mouth", by which he became universally known. His gifts became so far-famed that he was chosen to succeed St Nectarius as Patriarch of Constantinople. He was taken to Constantinople secretly (some say he was actually kidnapped) to avoid the opposition of the Antiochian people to losing their beloved preacher. He was made Patriarch of Constantinople in 398.   Archbishop John shone in his sermons as always, often censuring the corrupt morals and luxurious living of the nobility. For this he incurred the anger of the Empress Eudoxia, who had him exiled to Pontus in 403. The people protested by rioting, and the following night an earthquake shook the city, so frightening the Empress that she had Chrysostom called back. The reconciliation was short-lived. Saint John did not at all moderate the intensity of his sermons, and when the Empress had a silver statue of herself erected outside the Great Church in 403, accompanied by much revelry, the Patriarch spoke out against her, earning her unforgiving anger. In 404 he was exiled to Cucusus, near Armenia. When Pope Innocent of Rome interceded on his behalf, the imperial family only exiled him further, to a town called Pityus near the Caucasus. The journey was so difficult and his guards so cruel that the frail Archbishop gave up his soul to God before reaching his final place of exile, in 407. His last words were "Glory be to God for all things."   Saint John Chrysostom is the author of more written works than any other Church Father: his works include 1,447 recorded sermons, 240 epistles, and complete commentaries on Genesis, the Gospels of Matthew and John, the Acts of the Apostles, and all the Epistles of St Paul.   His repose was on September 14, but since that is the date of the Exaltation of the Cross, his commemoration has been transferred to this day.

This greatest of Christian orators is commemorated not only today, but as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs (with St Basil the Great and St Gregory the Theologian) on January 30.   He was born in Antioch to pious parents around 345. His mother was widowed at the age of twenty, and devoted herself to rearing her son in piety. He received his literary and oratorical training from the greatest pagan teachers of the day. Though an illustrious and profitable career as a secular orator was open to him, he chose instead to dedicate himself to God. He lived as a monk from 374 to 381, eventually dwelling as a hermit in a cave near Antioch. Here his extreme ascetic practices ruined his health, so that he was forced to return to Antioch, where he was ordained to the priesthood. In Antioch his astonishing gifts of preaching first showed themselves, earning him the epithet Chrysostomos, "Golden-mouth", by which he became universally known. His gifts became so far-famed that he was chosen to succeed St Nectarius as Patriarch of Constantinople. He was taken to Constantinople secretly (some say he was actually kidnapped) to avoid the opposition of the Antiochian people to losing their beloved preacher. He was made Patriarch of Constantinople in 398.   Archbishop John shone in his sermons as always, often censuring the corrupt morals and luxurious living of the nobility. For this he incurred the anger of the Empress Eudoxia, who had him exiled to Pontus in 403. The people protested by rioting, and the following night an earthquake shook the city, so frightening the Empress that she had Chrysostom called back. The reconciliation was short-lived. Saint John did not at all moderate the intensity of his sermons, and when the Empress had a silver statue of herself erected outside the Great Church in 403, accompanied by much revelry, the Patriarch spoke out against her, earning her unforgiving anger. In 404 he was exiled to Cucusus, near Armenia. When Pope Innocent of Rome interceded on his behalf, the imperial family only exiled him further, to a town called Pityus near the Caucasus. The journey was so difficult and his guards so cruel that the frail Archbishop gave up his soul to God before reaching his final place of exile, in 407. His last words were "Glory be to God for all things."   Saint John Chrysostom is the author of more written works than any other Church Father: his works include 1,447 recorded sermons, 240 epistles, and complete commentaries on Genesis, the Gospels of Matthew and John, the Acts of the Apostles, and all the Epistles of St Paul.   His repose was on September 14, but since that is the date of the Exaltation of the Cross, his commemoration has been transferred to this day.

 Senior Pastor, Clint PressleyWednesday November 12, 2025

Pre-Trib Rapture? The Ancient Hebrew Thessalonian Epistles (Episode 1) by Shawn Ozbun

In this episode, we ask the question, Is It God's Will for His Children to Suffer? We look at the 4 types of suffering that Christians can experience and compare them what the Apostle Peter details in this passage. The two New Testament epistles ascribed to the Apostle Peter are lesser known by most Christians than the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. Some scholars believe that First Peter may have been written to young Christians and may have even served as a 'catechism' for those about to be water baptised. In this episode, we look at how Peter presents God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and how Christianity commences with becoming 'born again'. But this is not where Christianity ends - and that aged Apostle Peter gives instructions on how a new believer is to grow in the faith by exploring what the knowledge of God and HIs grace requires.

Teaching by Kent Bateman based on Ezekiel 1:27-28. Week 5 of our series, Prophets & Epistles. Part of our Year of the Bible. For more information, visit citychurchknox.com.

My Grace is Sufficient MESSAGE SUMMARY: All of us face difficulties in our lives, but how we respond to our difficulties determines the blessedness of the life that we enjoy. Paul, in Corinthians 12:7b-10, tells us that he is stricken with a “thorn in the flesh. A messenger from Satan to harass me”. Paul pleaded with God to remove this “thorn” and life difficulty from his life. However, God's response to Paul, and to us is: “a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in {your} weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.". God's Grace is enough; it is all we need for our lives' difficulties. However, this teaching from 2 Corinthians 12 is “counter worldly”, and it flies in the face of everything that we have ever been taught outside of the Gospel. This teaching from Paul is like exercising with weights – when we begin to face our muscle “burn” in our exercise, we can either stop our exercise and gain nothing; or we can push through the difficulty of the “burn” to benefit from our exercise. As the workout slogan summarizes Paul in 2 Corinthians 12: ”No pain; no gain!”. In other words, when we encounter our life's difficulty, we push through the pain and rely on the God's Grace to make us even stronger in our faith and to realize God's power, which is manifest in us and through us. We can not live a spiritual life only in our own strength. Paul, throughout his Epistles, illustrated the Kingdom of God through God's focus on human weakness to use His power to create strength. For example in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Paul describes God's manifestation of His power through earthly weakness: “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”. From Paul's teaching and from the way he lived his life, we learn that we should accept and own our limitations; however, we should and can push through these limitations and constraints because the Grace and power of God empower us to greater heights than what our capabilities, without God, permit us. We need to repent and change our way of thinking and to become, like Paul, completely yielded to the Lord. Paul turned every one of his Life's difficulties into a manifestation of God's power and glory. Paul was a servant of God 100% of the time! When you are weak, God is strong in you because, as God told Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in {your} weakness.”.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): 2 Corinthians 10:2-12; 2 Corinthians 11:4 -13; 2 Corinthians 11:23-33; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; 1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 4:7-11; Philippians 4:13. (Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Do You Struggle with Your “Prayer Life”? Find a Quiet Place for Your Personal Relationship with God and Pray to the Universe's Creator”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Series: Signs & GloryTitle: How Does Jesus' Prayer Still Shape the World Today? Or How does Jesus' prayer for us change the way we live? Part 1Scripture:

 Senior Pastor, Clint PressleyWednesday November 5, 2025

Throughout the centuries and into the present day, the Gospel of John has indelibly shaped Christian theology and thinkers in significant ways, but major new questions are being raised about the genesis of that gospel, its relationship to other Christian writings and influences, and especially the masked identity of its author. In The Gospel of John: A New History (Oxford University Press, 2025), Hugo Méndez presents a provocative new thesis that the Fourth Gospel was produced under false authorial pretenses, in a period after the distribution of the preceding Synoptic Gospels, to propound not just a high Logos-Christology amenable to trends in prevailing Jewish and Greco-Roman philosophy from the first century CE, but also its author's stark new vision of salvation in which believers could participate in Christ's exaltation and deification in the present. To plot out his new history and as a reintroduction to the New Testament's Johannine literature, Dr. Méndez joined the New Books Network recently to discuss John's relationship to the historical Jesus and other early Christian writings, the “invented” identity of the Fourth Gospel's “beloved disciple,” the gospel's later attribution to John of Zebedee in the church fathers, and the “afterlives” of the “beloved disciple” as a letter and treatise writer in canonical and extracanonical Christian texts. For a 30% discount on Dr. Mendez's The Gospel of John: A New History from Oxford University Press, use code AUFLY30. Hugo Méndez (Ph.D., University of Georgia, 2013) is Associate Professor in Ancient Mediterranean Religions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he teaches New Testament and Early Christianity. His research interests include the Gospel and Epistles of John and the reception of biblical texts, figures, and images in late antiquity. He has published multiple books, including The Cult of Stephen in Jerusalem (Oxford UP, 2022) and the most recent edition of a popular introductory textbook about The New Testament (8th ed.; Oxford UP, 2023), co-authored with Bart D. Ehrman. His research has also been featured in the Journal of Biblical Literature, the Journal of Early Christian Studies, and New Testament Studies, among other prominent venues, and in his spare time, he enjoys cooking and spending time outdoors with his family. For more on Hugo's work and research interests, visit his website at https://www.hugomendez.com/. Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books/Bloomsbury, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, or to offer feedback related to this episode, please visit his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout the centuries and into the present day, the Gospel of John has indelibly shaped Christian theology and thinkers in significant ways, but major new questions are being raised about the genesis of that gospel, its relationship to other Christian writings and influences, and especially the masked identity of its author. In The Gospel of John: A New History (Oxford University Press, 2025), Hugo Méndez presents a provocative new thesis that the Fourth Gospel was produced under false authorial pretenses, in a period after the distribution of the preceding Synoptic Gospels, to propound not just a high Logos-Christology amenable to trends in prevailing Jewish and Greco-Roman philosophy from the first century CE, but also its author's stark new vision of salvation in which believers could participate in Christ's exaltation and deification in the present. To plot out his new history and as a reintroduction to the New Testament's Johannine literature, Dr. Méndez joined the New Books Network recently to discuss John's relationship to the historical Jesus and other early Christian writings, the “invented” identity of the Fourth Gospel's “beloved disciple,” the gospel's later attribution to John of Zebedee in the church fathers, and the “afterlives” of the “beloved disciple” as a letter and treatise writer in canonical and extracanonical Christian texts. For a 30% discount on Dr. Mendez's The Gospel of John: A New History from Oxford University Press, use code AUFLY30. Hugo Méndez (Ph.D., University of Georgia, 2013) is Associate Professor in Ancient Mediterranean Religions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he teaches New Testament and Early Christianity. His research interests include the Gospel and Epistles of John and the reception of biblical texts, figures, and images in late antiquity. He has published multiple books, including The Cult of Stephen in Jerusalem (Oxford UP, 2022) and the most recent edition of a popular introductory textbook about The New Testament (8th ed.; Oxford UP, 2023), co-authored with Bart D. Ehrman. His research has also been featured in the Journal of Biblical Literature, the Journal of Early Christian Studies, and New Testament Studies, among other prominent venues, and in his spare time, he enjoys cooking and spending time outdoors with his family. For more on Hugo's work and research interests, visit his website at https://www.hugomendez.com/. Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books/Bloomsbury, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, or to offer feedback related to this episode, please visit his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

Throughout the centuries and into the present day, the Gospel of John has indelibly shaped Christian theology and thinkers in significant ways, but major new questions are being raised about the genesis of that gospel, its relationship to other Christian writings and influences, and especially the masked identity of its author. In The Gospel of John: A New History (Oxford University Press, 2025), Hugo Méndez presents a provocative new thesis that the Fourth Gospel was produced under false authorial pretenses, in a period after the distribution of the preceding Synoptic Gospels, to propound not just a high Logos-Christology amenable to trends in prevailing Jewish and Greco-Roman philosophy from the first century CE, but also its author's stark new vision of salvation in which believers could participate in Christ's exaltation and deification in the present. To plot out his new history and as a reintroduction to the New Testament's Johannine literature, Dr. Méndez joined the New Books Network recently to discuss John's relationship to the historical Jesus and other early Christian writings, the “invented” identity of the Fourth Gospel's “beloved disciple,” the gospel's later attribution to John of Zebedee in the church fathers, and the “afterlives” of the “beloved disciple” as a letter and treatise writer in canonical and extracanonical Christian texts. For a 30% discount on Dr. Mendez's The Gospel of John: A New History from Oxford University Press, use code AUFLY30. Hugo Méndez (Ph.D., University of Georgia, 2013) is Associate Professor in Ancient Mediterranean Religions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he teaches New Testament and Early Christianity. His research interests include the Gospel and Epistles of John and the reception of biblical texts, figures, and images in late antiquity. He has published multiple books, including The Cult of Stephen in Jerusalem (Oxford UP, 2022) and the most recent edition of a popular introductory textbook about The New Testament (8th ed.; Oxford UP, 2023), co-authored with Bart D. Ehrman. His research has also been featured in the Journal of Biblical Literature, the Journal of Early Christian Studies, and New Testament Studies, among other prominent venues, and in his spare time, he enjoys cooking and spending time outdoors with his family. For more on Hugo's work and research interests, visit his website at https://www.hugomendez.com/. Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books/Bloomsbury, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, or to offer feedback related to this episode, please visit his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

The two New Testament epistles ascribed to the Apostle Peter are lesser known by most Christians than the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. Some scholars believe that First Peter may have been written to young Christians and may have even served as a 'catechism' for those about to be water baptised. In this episode, we look at how Peter presents God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and how Christianity commences with becoming 'born again'. But this is not where Christianity ends - and that aged Apostle Peter gives instructions on how a new believer is to grow in the faith by exploring what the knowledge of God and HIs grace requires. In this episode we explore how the Apostle Peter told these new believers that they no longer belonged to their old way of life and its ways - despite the ridicule they all received from their former friends. Instead, they now belonged to a community of care, love and belonging. There is a very practical implication for us today as to how we are to live as believers and as a local church.

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“Men sometimes speak as if humility and meekness would rob us of what is noble and bold and manlike. O that all would believe that this is the nobility of the kingdom of heaven, that this is the royal spirit that the king of heaven displayed, that this is godlike, to humble oneself, to become servant of all!”~Andrew Murray (1828-1917), writer and pastor “It is blasphemy if you pray before God while you are full of anger.”~Ephrem the Syrian (c.306-373), Aramean Christian theologian and writer         My dear Wormwood,Be sure that the patient remains completely fixated on politics. Arguments, political gossip, and obsessing on the faults of people they have never met serves as an excellent distraction from advancing in personal virtue, character, and the things the patient can control. Make sure to keep the patient in a constant state of angst, frustration, and general disdain towards the rest of the human race in order to avoid any kind of charity or inner peace from further developing. Ensure the patient continues to believe that the problem is “out there” in the “broken system” rather than recognizing there is a problem with himself.Keep up the good work,Uncle Screwtape~from C.S. Lewis's devilish book, The Screwtape Letters (1941) “They all therefore were glorified and magnified, not through themselves or their own works or the righteous doing which they wrought, but through His will. And so we, having been called through His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified through ourselves or through our own wisdom or understanding or piety or works which we wrought in holiness of heart, but through faith, whereby the Almighty God justified all men that have been from the beginning; to whom be the glory forever and ever.”~Clement of Rome in 1 Clement 32:3-4, a letter written to Corinth in c. A.D. 96 “God allowed his Son to suffer as if a condemned sinner, so that we might be delivered from the penalty of our sins. This is God's righteousness, that we are not justified by works (for then they would have to be perfect, which is impossible), but by grace, in which case all our sin is removed.”~John Chrysostom (c. 347-407), Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians Question 33: What is justification? Answer: Justification is the act of God's free grace by which He pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous in His sight. He does so only because He counts the righteousness of Christ as ours. Justification is received by faith alone.~Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647)SERMON PASSAGEselected passages (ESV)Acts 2 41 So those who received [Peter's] word were baptized, and there were added that day [to the church] about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.Ephesians 2 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, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.Ephesians 4 & 5 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

From the book of Acts, through the Epistles, to our modern day, followers of Jesus have wrestled with how to live a life worthy of the identity "Christian," and what our call is for The Church today. How do we carry the presence of God in this world? What does it mean to follow Jesus, to live out that calling as The Church today if we truly are living stones, and God dwells in our midst? In other words, Now What?

Teaching by Kent Bateman based on Hebrews 1:1-3. Week 4 of our series, Prophets & Epistles. Part of our Year of the Bible. For more information, visit citychurchknox.com.

Notes - https://www.generationword.com/notes/Epistles/17-Revelation_chapters_1-11.pdf Verse by verse teaching through Revelation - https://www.generationword.com/audio_series/revelation_audio.htm Eschatology or end times teaching overview - https://www.generationword.com/audio_series/Eschatology_overview_book_by_book_Genesis_to_Revelation.html

 Discipleship Pastor, Ric BlaziWednesday October 29, 2025

Crystal Rivers | Kingdom Mysteries | Oct 29, 2025 Pursue real discipleship: lay down your old life and move through the foundations (repentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection, eternal judgment) until you mature from needing offices and gifts to living in union with Christ's life and character. Make prayer—especially praying in tongues—a lifestyle: use it morning and night to let your spirit lead, subdue the body, and pray God's flawless will; linger there so your present is “pulled” into the future God has framed, and revisit God every few minutes through the day (short re-engagements) to keep your inner atmosphere governed. Expect fruit—holiness, love, power, wisdom, and healthy relationships—as the evidence, not hype. Honor diverse ministers for the specific graces they carry, but don't canonize anyone: “take the fish, spit the bones,” keep a soft heart, and test everything by the whole counsel of Scripture, not one verse out of context; revelation is progressive, but God's moral demands are not—pride, lust, deceit, and worldliness remain sin. Refuse churchy politics and passive spectatorship; return to the apostolic pattern where every believer contributes (psalms, hymns, teachings, prophecy), and treat gifts and spectacular experiences as scaffolding that becomes secondary as Christlike meekness and humility take over. Guard and train your conscience toward holiness; govern your own body and immediate atmosphere before presuming to govern cities or nations. Learn from history: moves of God are meant to restore apostolic conviction and power, not entertain; what you “know” must become what you live and “eat.” Keep journaling what you receive in prayer, confirm it in Scripture across Genesis-to-Revelation, revise your understanding when corrected, and stay hungry and teachable so your life steadily manifests the commanded blessing—consistent obedience, sustained presence, and practical love—until faith, hope, and love define everything you do. Choose real discipleship over spectatorship: lay down your former life, repent from dead works, and place active faith toward God; then keep advancing through the foundations—baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection, and eternal judgment—until you mature from relying on offices and gifts to living from union with Christ's life and character. Make prayer a rhythm, not an event: pray much in the Spirit (tongues) so your spirit takes the lead, your body is subdued, and God's flawless will is prayed through you; linger there long enough for your present to be drawn into the future God has framed, and re-engage Him briefly and often through the day to govern your inner atmosphere before presuming to govern cities or nations. Expect fruit as proof—holiness, love, wisdom, power, and healthy relationships—not hype. Learn from many “streams,” but canonize none: honor specific graces (healing, worship, sight, teaching), take the fish and spit the bones, and test everything by the whole counsel of Scripture rather than isolated verses; revelation is progressive, but God's moral demands are not—pride, lust, deceit, worldliness, and offense still corrupt. Recover the apostolic pattern where every joint supplies—psalms, hymns, teachings, prophecy—and treat gifts and dramatic experiences as scaffolding that becomes secondary as meekness and humility take over. Guard and train your conscience toward holiness; practice correction gladly when light comes; study to rightly divide the word so your conclusions align from Torah to Prophets to Gospels to Epistles, not by proof-texts. Understand that history's revivals are restorations toward the early church's conviction and purity; knowledge that is not “eaten” as life remains theory. Govern your body and attention: fast distraction, steward rest, and cultivate night-watch and morning prayer so your heart learns constancy. Use tongues with purpose—frame your future, align with the “commanded blessing,” and let the river of life flow through you into practical love; don't chase fame or credit in prayer, but yield so the Spirit prays God's will, strengthens infirmities, and produces steady transformation. Stay free from offense; keep a soft, teachable heart; journal what you receive and confirm it in Scripture; revise your language when corrected; prefer character over reputation. Live as a son or daughter whose life plainly shows a people returning to the faith of the apostles—rooted, discerning, prayerful, communal, and pure—until faith working through love defines everything you do. Zoom every weekday : http://www.caveadullam.org/zoom Zoom every weekday : http://www.caveadullam.org/zoom Crystal Rivers | Kingdom Mysteries | Oct 29, 2025

The two New Testament epistles ascribed to the Apostle Peter are lesser known by most Christians than the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. Some scholars believe that First Peter may have been written to young Christians and may have even served as a 'catechism' for those about to be water baptised. In this episode, we look at how Peter presents God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and how Christianity commences with becoming 'born again'. But this is not where Christianity ends - and that aged Apostle Peter gives instructions on how a new believer is to grow in the faith by exploring what the knowledge of God and HIs grace requires. In this episode, based on First Peter chapter 3 and verses 13 to 22, we consider how he told these new Christian that they were to live apologetically - that is, to live in a way that they could answer any questions or respond to any arguments against Christianity.

Notes - https://www.generationword.com/notes/Epistles/16-Jude-the_Epistle.pdf Verse by Verse through Jude in twenty classes with notes - https://www.generationword.com/audio_series/jude.html

WELCOME to our brand-new teaching series: No Longer Strangers. For six weeks, we'll take a deep dive into Ephesians. If you were with us last year, we did a teaching series on 1 Corinthians, with the title, MESSY SAINTS. These two letters—1 Corinthians and Ephesians—belong to the same group of letters St. Paul wrote when the early Church was spreading in the first century. Some Bible scholars call Ephesians the Queen of the Epistles, the masterpiece of Paul's theology. Ephesians declares God's cosmic, eternal plan from the very beginning of history to its ultimate completion. And what is that cosmic plan? The unity of everything under Jesus. The key message of Talk 1 is: God Has a Plan.

In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil welcomes Dr. Kyle Dunham to discuss Michael B. Shepherd's new book, An Introduction to the Making and Meaning of the Bible. They explore how Scripture's composition—especially in the Old Testament—reveals its message through narrative framed by poetry, editorial comments, and programmatic passages. Dunham highlights examples like Jacob's and Moses's blessings, the Balaam oracles, and the way books begin and end to signal theological themes. The conversation also covers textual criticism and translation, including the roles of the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and why Jeremiah's textual history is uniquely complex. Turning to compositional strategy, they trace messianic trajectories in the Old Testament and show how the New Testament mirrors and fulfills these patterns through the Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles. Along the way, Dunham offers appreciative engagement with Shepherd's insights while noting points of critique—such as privileging the Septuagint in certain cases and the balance of kingdom and covenant themes.Learn More about DBTS at https://dbts.eduLearn More about Rice Lecture Series at https://dbts.edu/rice

Apocalypse Now: An Eye-Opening Study of the Book of EphesiansWhat if the greatest revelation wasn't about the end of the world, but the unveiling of a new one? Apocalypse Now is a deep and eye-opening journey through the book of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul—writing from prison—pulls back the curtain on God's grand design for His people.Set against the backdrop of ancient Ephesus, a city of power, culture, and spiritual darkness, this series explores how Paul's letter reveals Jesus as Lord over every empire, idol, and authority. Known as the “Queen of the Epistles,” Ephesians lifts our eyes to the breathtaking view of Christ and His Church—our identity, our unity, our calling, and our hope.Each episode uncovers the “apocalypse”—the great unveiling of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the Spirit's gifts—and asks how this revelation reshapes the way we live right now. From household relationships to spiritual warfare, from ancient temples to modern challenges, Apocalypse Now helps us see with fresh eyes what it means to belong to God's family and live as people of another Kingdom.If you're ready for a faith that feels alive, courageous, and countercultural—this is your invitation. We don't just need an apocalypse someday. We need one now.For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

 Family Discipleship Pastor, Campbell BenfieldWednesday October 22, 2025

Teaching by Eric Freemon based on 1 Timothy 6:11-16. Week 3 of our series, Prophets & Epistles. Part of our Year of the Bible. For more information, visit citychurchknox.com.

Motes - https://www.generationword.com/notes/Epistles/15-Second_and_Third_John.pdf

Teaching by Kent Bateman based on Jeremiah 20:7-13. Week 2 of our series, Prophets & Epistles. Part of our Year of the Bible. For more information, visit citychurchknox.com.