Podcasts about epistles

Stuart Wachowicz - TVCA1404 - To fully understand the Epistles of Paul and much of the teaching of the New Testament, one must first understand the context of the times and society in which they were written. What was society like in those Jewish, Greek, and Roman communities that allowed Christianity to suddenly flourish?

Orthodoxy and Orthopraxis (right belief and right practice) are intimately tied together. All of the fathers and, in particular, Saint Isaac the Syrian want us to understand that our perception of revelation, who God is to us and what we have become in his Son through the Paschal mystery, and how we live our life are inseparable. God has revealed himself to us in a unique and distinctive fashion, and has made known to us our dignity and destiny in Christ. Therefore, having a clear understanding of our human nature, the sickness of sin and the passions that follow and the healing that takes place through Grace is imperative. Isaac pushes us to understand that virtue is the natural health of the soul and the passions are an illness of the soul that follow and invade our nature and despoil its proper health. One can see how essential this is when looking at our life in this world and the struggles of the spiritual life. We can attribute sin and the hold that passions have upon us simply to human nature. However, when we do this, we lose sight of the fact that we have been created in the image and likeness of God and that sin is antecedent to that reality. We have been created for love and to manifest this love through virtue. A faulty or incomplete understanding of human anthropology and psychology, has often been the pretext that the Evil One uses to distort our vision to the point that we willingly embrace that which enslaves us.  To understand that we have been created good, conversely, establishes a firm desire within the human heart for that which is of God. It also establishes confidence and hope in the grace of God who tells us precisely that he has come not to judge the world but to save it!  One of the beautiful things that the desert fathers would have us understand is that Christ is the divine physician who has come to heal us. He is the Good Samaritan from the gospel who takes our burden upon himself in order that we might be nursed to the fullness of health.  Again, if Isaac makes us work to understand this, we must see it as a labor of love. To grasp these truths allows us to give free expression to our desire for God and to run towards Him with the freedom of those aided by His Grace. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:01:52 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 128 paragraph 6 00:10:40 Anthony: I just read that there is a "Holy Transfiguration East" in Burnsville, NC. 00:11:43 Anthony: Gotcha thanks 00:26:20 Joshua Sander: I've missed the last couple of weeks, and so you may have already explained this, but when Isaac uses the term "passions," what exactly does he mean? I've heard the term used roughly in the sense of "emotions" (i.e. anger, sadness, etc.), but does Isaac mean it more in the sense of "temptations"? I think you may have just explained this now, but in that case, could you briefly restate this? 00:30:04 Suzanne Romano: Does Isaac distinguish between original nature and fallen nature? 00:33:15 David: I found this helpful from Fr. Maximos- So, we have five stages in the evolution of a logismos,” he concluded, spreading out the five fingers of his right hand. “Assault, interaction, consent, captivity/defeat, and passion/obsession. These are more or less all the stages. While they use the same word in translation it helped me to realize the different stages in context. 00:37:23 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "I found this helpful..." with

Series: Signs & GloryTitle: “Am I living in the Light--or just near it?Subtitle: Scripture: John 8:12-30Bottom line: Jesus is the Light of the World. To follow Him is to walk in light, know God, and live. To reject Him is to remain in darkness and die in your sin.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDOpening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. INTRODUCTION"Have you ever tried going through an obstacle course blindfolded? The smallest obstacles become difficult obstructions. If we are not walking in the light of Christ, the obstacles that should not be a problem are great stumbling blocks to us. But when we have that light, we understand how to make our way through this dark world." -Hughes, p. 234Air Florida Flight ✈️ 90"Arland Williams and five others knew their situation was hopeless.Floating in the icy Potomac River, the six survivors of Air Florida Flight 90 knew there was no way to reach the shore just forty yards away.They could hear the rescuers trying to reach them, but each attempt to cross the icy waters failed. Just as they were giving up hope, they heard the sound of an approaching helicopter. A life ring fell into the hands of one of the survivors, and he was pulled to safety. Next it fell in Arland's hands. He could be saved. But before the helicopter could pull him up, he handed the life ring to someone else. The chopper could only hold two, so it turned toward the shore and sped away. Just a few minutes later it returned. Again the life ring fell into Arland's hands, and again he handed it to someone else. The third time he did the same.There would be no fourth opportunity. By the time the helicopter had returned, Arland had disappeared below the surface.In 2007 an article was written about Arland Williams's sacrifice and appeared in Men's Health magazine. After recounting Williams's story, the author of the article asks,Why would anyone put the lives of strangers ahead of his own?He couldn't even see the faces of the people he was saving, because they were on the opposite side of the wreckage, yet he made a sacrifice for them that their best friends might have refused. (McDougall, "The Hidden Cost of Heroism")The concepts of heroism and self-sacrifice puzzle the writer. Why would someone die for someone he didn't know? He tries to analyze it scientifically and concludes,Extreme heroism springs from something that no scientific theory can fully explain; it's an illogical impulse that flies in the face of biology, psychology, actuarial statistics, and basic common sense. (Ibid.)He even quotes Charles Darwin, who "couldn't figure out how to crowbar heroism into his survival-of-the-fittest theory" (ibid.). Darwin said,He who was ready to sacrifice his life, as many a savage has been, rather than betray his comrades, would often leave no offspring to inherit his noble nature. (Ibid.)After examining the story and different theories, the writer concludes that though the act was heroic, there would be no one to pass down the family name." Carter, pp. 189-190More on crash:https://www.perplexity.ai/search/44ed00c4-9db0-41ca-b62e-70378c94be00#0 OUTLINE (includes some input from ChatGPT)Bottom line: Jesus is the Light of the World. To follow Him is to walk in light, know God, and live. To reject Him is to remain in darkness and die in your sin.Are You Living in the Light—or Just Near It?Illustration: “Lost in the Cave”A few years ago, a soccer team of twelve boys and their coach were trapped deep inside a cave in Thailand. Rising floodwaters had cut off their way out, and they were completely in the dark. One of the greatest challenges rescuers faced wasn't just the physical danger—it was the total absence of light. In complete darkness, there's no sense of direction, no way to move forward, no way to know what's safe or deadly. The first thing rescuers brought them wasn't food or even water—it was light. Only with light could they begin the journey toward life again.In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” Without Him, we are spiritually trapped—no direction, no hope. But with Him, we not only see clearly—we live.I. Jesus is the Light of the World (v. 12)Following Jesus means walking no longer in darkness.You receive the light of life—truth, clarity, and direction.Light is essential for spiritual life.Application:→ Walk in the light as He is in the light.→ Shine like stars in a dark and crooked world (Philippians 2:15).II. To Know Jesus is to Know God (v. 19)Jesus is one with the Father—there is no knowing God apart from Him.Religion without relationship with Jesus is still darkness.Application:→ Humble yourself and respond to God's call to know Him today.→ Don't settle for proximity to spiritual things—pursue Christ.III. Apart from Jesus, You Will Die in Your Sin(s) (vv. 21–24)Those who reject Jesus remain “of this world,” in rebellion.The consequence is not just spiritual wandering—it's spiritual death.Application:→ Believe that Jesus is who He says He is and will do what He promised.→ Without faith in Him, sin still owns you.IV. Follow Jesus the Way Jesus Followed the Father (vv. 25–30)Jesus lived sent—submissively, sacrificially, and obediently.He didn't act independently but responded to the Father in everything.Application:→ Follow Jesus in the same way: as a mission-minded, obedient light-bearer.→ You are now the light of the world on Jesus' behalf (Matthew 5:14–16).CONCLUSION 'Crazy Love'Francis Chan's mother died giving birth to him. The only affection he can remember receiving from his father lasted about thirty seconds when he was on the way to his stepmother's funeral aged nine. When he was twelve, his father also died. Francis cried, but also felt relieved. Francis is now a pastor. He and his wife, Lisa, have seven children. When his children were born, his own love for his children and his desire for their love was so strong that it opened his eyes to how much God desires and loves *us*. He said, ‘Through this experience, I came to understand that my desire for my children is only a faint echo of God's great love for me and for every person he made… I love my kids so much it hurts.' Calling his first book *Crazy Love*, he wrote, ‘The idea of Crazy Love has to do with our relationship with God. All my life I've heard people say, “God loves you.” It's probably the most insane statement you could make to say that the eternal Creator of this universe is in love with me. There is a response that ought to take place in believers, a crazy reaction to that love. Do you really understand what God has done for you? If so, why is your response so lukewarm?' The word ‘zeal' implies an *intense or passionate desire*. It can be misdirected, but as Paul writes, it is right to be zealous provided that the purpose is good (Galatians 4:18). Elsewhere he says, ‘Never be lacking in zeal' (Romans 12:11). Perhaps a good modern translation of the word ‘zeal' is ‘crazy love'.Bottom line: Jesus is the Light of the World. `To follow Him is to walk in light, know God, and live. To reject Him is to remain in darkness and die in your sin.Who do you trust?"All the time we each decide whom to trust. When we pick up medicine from the pharmacy, we trust our doctor who prescribed it and our pharmacist who prepared it. We also trust the company that developed it and the government that approved it, plus the people who trained the doctor and pharmacist and the many hands at the drug company who prepared and packaged it. When it comes to physical life, we trust our care to a lot of people. When it comes to your spiritual life, whom do you trust? Your authority is either yourself—what you think, how you feel, what you have experienced—or it's God and what he says. Do you really want to trust yourself with your eternal future? You are flesh. You didn't exist until thirty or fifty or eighty years ago. You can't keep yourself from getting sick or hurt. You cannot guarantee you will be alive tomorrow.Do you really think you're the best choice to be the ultimate authority in your life?" -CarterINVITATIONWhat about you?Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions: What is God saying to me right now?What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper. What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don't have to get too specific to give him praise.Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)PrayNOTESIsaiah 49:6 lightPsalm 27:1 light Exodus 14:19-20 lightMalachi 4:2 lightLuke 1:78-79 light Exodus 13:21–22Ephesians 5:8Matt 5:14; 13:43 Phil 2:15 stars in the skyNumbers 6:24-26 benedictionNumbers 9:15-22 cloud & FireJohn 3:14 lifted upIsaiah 43:11-13 "I am he"Imagine you're in a remote cabin deep in the woods. Night falls quickly, and darkness surrounds you. You fumble for a flashlight or a lantern, and there it is—sitting on the table, fully charged and ready.But instead of turning it on, you leave it sitting there. You try to find your way in the dark—bumping into furniture, stumbling over bags, even hurting yourself. You complain that it's too dark, that you can't see where you're going, that you're scared.And all the while… the light is right there.Jesus is the Light of the World. He's not a philosophy or an idea—He's a living Person who brings truth, clarity, and life. But you have to turn to Him. You have to walk in the light—not just be near it.Don't go home tonight bumping around in the dark when the Light has already come.Historical and Liturgical Background: Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)Timing:John 7–8 takes place during or just after the Feast of Tabernacles, one of the three major Jewish pilgrimage festivals. It commemorated Israel's 40 years in the wilderness after the Exodus, when God provided water, food, and guidance.The Setting of John 8:12:Jesus says, “I am the light of the world,” likely in the Temple courts (v. 20 specifies “in the temple treasury,” which was in the Court of Women).John 8:28 video link https://youtu.be/CZSlHdEoz40?si=OD54C1Ch0BKCQKc6The Four Giant CandelabrasDuring the Feast of Tabernacles, Jewish tradition says that in the Court of Women, the priests lit four huge candelabras (sometimes described as 75 feet tall) every night:Each had four golden bowls at the top, with strong young priests climbing ladders to fill them with oil and light them.The light was so bright, Jewish writings say, that “there was not a courtyard in Jerusalem that did not reflect the light from the Temple.”This lighting ceremony celebrated God's presence—especially the pillar of fire that guided Israel through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21–22).OUTLINESee aboveQUESTIONS TO CONSIDERWhat do I want them to know? Why do I want them to know it?What do I want them to do?Why do I want them to do it?How do they do this?DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/Read the passage together.Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really true, what should I do?What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)Who am I going to tell about this?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I do? (In light of who I am)How do I do it?Final Questions (Write this down)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent HughesExalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh WredbergThe Gospels & Epistles of John, FF BruceJohn, RC SproulJohn, KöstenbergerThe Gospel According to John, DA CarsonThe Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.orgThe Bible Project https://bibleproject.comNicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersionClaude.aiChatGPT AIGrok AIPerplexity AIGoogle Gemini AI

This is our last Sunday in the Epistles of John and we are looking at the third letter where John the Elder is writing to Gaius. In the brief letter, he defines three men by one trait - truth.

Luke Looks Back Chapter 2 Not all the stories commonly believed about the birth of Jesus are true to the actual facts. He was born before Herod died in 4 BC ,in Bethlehem, which was not his parent's home village, probably in an ordinary house (the word translated 'inn' can mean a guest room or just the sleeping area in a house; the manger would be between the family area and the livestock area). Not all the stories commonly believed about the birth of Jesus are true to the actual facts. He was born before Herod died in 4 BC ,in Bethlehem, which was not his parent's home village, probably in an ordinary house (the word translated 'inn' can mean a guest room or just the sleeping area in a house; the manger would be between the family area and the livestock area). Luke 1:1-20 Question 1. Luke carefully says the birth of King Jesus occurred during the reign of Caesar Augustus (v 1), who was a great and good Roman Emperor who brought lasting peace to a world in which there had been many wars. What does he want us to learn from this? One of the main themes of this, as all the Gospels, is the collision between the kingdom of Caesar and the kingdom of God. Luke was writing to Christians who might be martyred for refusing to say Caesar is Lord because they believed Jesus is Lord. Luke wants us to understand the enormous significance of what was happening. Question 2. Why does Luke choose to focus on the low caste shepherds rather than Matthew's high caste Wise Men? As we noted in the first study Luke emphasises the poor, the weak and the lost; not the rich, the healthy and the found. The title 'Christ the Lord' appears only here in the NT. The word 'Christ' has two meanings. It is a Greek word of the New Testament equivalent to the Hebrew word 'Messiah' of the Old Testament. Here, and generally in the Gospels, it is a title meaning 'the Anointed One'; later, in the Epistles it becomes part of Jesus' name. The most recent English versions use 'Messiah' when it is a title; 'Christ' when it is a name. Here it should be "the Lord Messiah". Our nearest translation in everyday words is "King Jesus". It is important to remember that when Luke uses this title he means 'the very special God-appointed Anointed One'. Question 3. A lot of people travelled to Bethlehem: Joseph and Mary, the shepherds, the Wise Men. Why did each of them go? What did they intend to do when they got there? Why are we told these things? What are we meant to learn from what happened? They all travelled in the purposes of God. It was important that those from both the top and the bottom of the society of those days should be there to see the baby King. They probably had only the vaguest idea of why they were there; they were there for our benefit - so we could be told about them and marvel at the stories. Luke 2: 21-52 Question 4. What does Simeon say (v 30 - 32) which introduces a new and important idea that neither Zechariah nor Mary mentioned? Simeon relates what is happening to the lives of ordinary people. They will experience salvation and the promise made to Abraham long ago that "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" will finally come true. Question 5. Remembering that the Romans occupied their country, what did Anna mean when she spoke about the 'redemption of Jerusalem' (v 38)? She was probably thinking in a very practical way that the Romans would be thrown out of Jerusalem. It wasn't going to work like that! She spoke something that was a true prophecy but not in the way she thought. Question 6. In order to emphasise that Jesus came for both men and women Luke pairs up a story involving a man with one involving a woman at least 27 times in his gospel. Identify where he does this in these first two chapters. Which is the most important member of the pair on each of these occasions? Zechariah and Elizabeth, Joseph and Mary, Simeon and Anna. The men and the women are about evenly balanced in importance. Question 7. What do the episodes from the childhood of Jesus (v 40, 46 - 48, 51, 52) tell us about Jesus? What are we being told here: he was God or he was a man? Which do you find it most difficult to believe? Why? His life as a human being is being emphasised here. Jesus appears to have been a particularly bright and intelligent lad. Right mouse click or tap here to download as an audio mp3 Right mouse click or tap here to download as a PDF

Jesus left a legacy of stories, and as Luke ends and we reread Acts and the Epistles, we remember his disciples spread his teachings and established the church by telling his and their stories over and over. During worship this Eastertide season, we have the gift of hearing members of the congregation reflect on the practices that flow from our congregational covenant. Those 11 practices, along with the covenant, were affirmed by the congregation 10 years ago. We invite you to listen deeply to these reflections, and to engage with what you both read and hear. Are these practices still a good fit for SMC in 2025? Do these practices ground our collective sense of mission in the world? Today we hear from Morlin Elias on Creation Care, and Laura Schlabach on Justice for Oppressed Peoples.Stories begin at minute marker 6:55​​​Acts 15.1-18ResourcesSMC Congregational Covenant and Practices, written and affirmed by the congregation in 2015, and re-affirmed in our annual covenanting service every Pentecost.Poem read:   https://www.thefreelibrary.com/My+Son+Throws+a+Blanket+Over+My+Daughter.-a0776923256Mennonite Action: https://www.mennoniteaction.org/"Letter to my newborn son" - https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/05/15/letter-to-my-newborn-son/Image by Matheus Bertelli on pexels

He is mentioned in the Epistles of St Paul (Romans 16:14). He served as a bishop in the first-century Church, and died a martyr. His book, The Shepherd, is one of the earliest Christian writings outside of the New Testament, and was held in such esteem by the early Church that it is sometimes found in ancient collections of the Holy Scriptures.   Hermas had been a wealthy man, but had fallen into poverty through his sins. A man, clad all in white and holding a staff, appeared to St Hermas and, telling him that he was an angel of repentance, gave St Hermas twelve commandments: To believe in God To live in simplicity and innocence To love truth and flee from falsehood To guard his thoughts in chastity To learn patience and magnanimity of soul To know that a good and an evil spirit attend every man To fear God, but not the devil To perform every good deed and to restrain himself from every evil one To pray to God in faith from the depths of his heart, so that his prayer might be heard To preserve himself from melancholy, the daughter of doubt, and from anger To try true and false prophecies To preserve himself from every evil desire.

Presented by Lauren Stibgen How will God use me as an ambassador? I have such a terrible past and I really don't know how he will ever use me! How often do thoughts of your past life as a citizen of this world creep into your mind? Are you overcome with thinking God cannot use you as an ambassador for Jesus at work? I hope you are a regular reader of the Bible and abiding in this way! If not, I want to take this moment to encourage you to pick up a Bible reading plan because this is the best way to see how God can redeem and use anyone for his glory! Even if you are not in the Word daily, you surely have heard of the apostle Paul. In fact, Paul was used by God to write the most books in the Bible! What do you know about Paul? What I can tell you is he was one of the most ardent adversaries of the followers of Jesus Christ. In fact, many of the followers at that time were met in persecution and even execution for their faith under the direction of Paul who was, at the time, named Saul. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison (Acts 8:3). He speaks of his life contrary to following Jesus in Acts 26:9-11. But God changed Saul in an instant and redeemed him to be one of his greatest ambassadors! Saul is renamed Paul. You can read about this in Acts 9:1-19. Was this you? Were you walking in a way contrary to leading people to faith in Jesus? Maybe you were making fun of the Christian lifestyle, but now you whole heartedly follow Jesus. Paul went to prison for his belief in Jesus. He worshiped in prison. He wrote letters (the Epistles) to tell the early church to repent and follow the ways of Christ. Paul was beaten for his faith. All of this was after an entire life persecuting the church! Paul was able to use his past life to be a testimony of the huge change Jesus made in his life. Have you prepared to share your testimony? Sometimes sharing your testimony can be one of the most powerful ways Jesus uses you as his ambassador.

By Jorge de Campos - Paul expounds in greater practical detail how to Walk worthy of this calling with all humility and meekness to BUILD UNITY in LOVE. He uses practical examples of how to build unity in love in our family, both in the marriage relationship and in the parental-child relationship, as well as in our work

The Bible - NT Epistles - Revelation Eternity - Part 40Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us as we end our series in the Epistles of John.

The Bible - NT Epistles - Revelation - Part 39Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF ACTS (Acts 1:1-8) Today, we begin our study of the book of Acts.  The KJV lists the title of this book as “THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.”  Of course, the titles of the books in our Bibles are not inspired, they were inserted by the translators, so there will be differences based on the translation, although this, and the “THE ACTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,” are the two that you will generally see.  But to me, a title that would more accurately describe the book is “The Lord Jesus Christ at Work by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles.”  The reason I like that title is this book is, first and foremost, about the work of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, to establish the New Testament church, in order to call out a body of believers, whose mission would be to spread the Gospel message to the uttermost parts of the earth.   The Book of Acts, which is sometimes called the fifth Gospel, is a continuation of the Gospel of Luke.  Luke is the writer, and it was written in about the year 60 A.D.  The Book of Acts is remarkable in many ways, for it is a bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles. The New Testament without the Book of Acts leaves a great hole that needs to be filled.   The Book of Acts furnishes a ladder on which to place the Epistles.  It is something that allows us to climb from the gospels into the Epistles.  For the book of Acts gives the history of the founding of the churches to which the Epistles are directed. The book of Genesis records the origin of the spiritual body, and the book of Acts records the origin of the church.   Click on the play button to hear a message on the special features of this wonderful book.  It speaks of the prominence of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is prominent. He is at work from the vantage place of heaven itself.  And it also speaks on the Prominence of the Holy Spirit. Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit. You and I are living in the age of the Holy Spirit. The great fact of this age is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers. This is a live recording of The Master's Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS. Amen.

Series: Signs & GloryTitle: “Would Jesus Cancel Me?"Subtitle: Scripture: John 7:53-8:11John 3:16-18; Matt 7:3-5Bottom line: Jesus meets us in our guilt not to condemn us, but to restore us to a new way of life.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDOpening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. INTRODUCTION"Cancel culture is a modern social phenomenon where individuals, organizations, or public figures are called out, boycotted, or publicly shamed—often on social media—for actions, statements, or behaviors that are considered offensive, harmful, or morally wrong.Here's a clear definition:Cancel culture refers to the practice of withdrawing support from someone—often publicly and collectively—due to something they've said or done that is viewed as objectionable or offensive, often without a process of forgiveness, dialogue, or restoration."-ChatGPT"(JK Rowling, author of Harry Potter) is a notable example of cancel culture targeting an individual recently:J.K. Rowling (Ongoing, Intensified 2020–2023)
, the author of the Harry Potter series, has faced sustained backlash for her comments on transgender issues, particularly since 2020. Her tweets and essays expressing concerns about the implications of transgender rights on women's spaces were labeled transphobic by critics, leading to widespread calls for boycotts of her books, films, and related media. Fans and organizations publicly distanced themselves, and some Harry Potter actors, like Daniel Radcliffe, openly opposed her views..." -Grok AIBlack Dot Analogy"The black dot analogy is a powerful metaphor often used to illustrate how people tend to focus on negative aspects or flaws—represented by a small black dot—while overlooking the broader, positive context--symbolized by a large white space surrounding it. It's frequently applied in discussions about judgment, perspective, and human behavior, particularly in the context of not judging others based on their worst moments or traits. Origins and Core ConceptThe black dot analogy often appears in motivational, psychological, and educational contexts. One common version...involves a classroom exercise where a professor presents students with a blank sheet of paper featuring a single black dot in the center. Students are asked to write about what they see, and invariably, they focus on the dot, ignoring the vast white space around it. The professor then explains that this mirrors how people fixate on small negatives in life—such as health issues, financial struggles, or personal failures—while neglecting the abundance of positive aspects, like relationships, opportunities, or blessings." -Grok AIThe Security Camera Moment"Imagine a moment you wouldn't want anyone to see—maybe you lost your temper, told a lie, or clicked on something you knew you shouldn't have. Now imagine that moment being played on a giant screen in the middle of your church, with everyone watching.That's what the woman caught in adultery was living. Her worst moment was dragged into the light, not in private, but publicly—before religious leaders, before a crowd, and before Jesus. But instead of condemnation, she encountered something completely unexpected: mercy." -Grok AI For our purposes today, cancel = condemn. When Jesus meets us in our guilt, he doesn't cancel or condemn us; he restores us to a new way to live.OUTLINE (input from ChatGPT)Bottom line: Jesus meets us in our guilt not to condemn us, but to restore us to a new way of life.Transition:If you look at John 8:1-11 in your bible, you may notice that it is in brackets, italics, or footnoted. In my bible, it's all in italics. I have wrestled all week with whether to preach this passage today or not. The reason is that this portion of John (8:1-11) is not in the earliest manuscripts. (that we have so far) It is in many manuscripts, however, it's not in the same place in those manuscripts. It's found in different places throughout the book of John. It's sometimes found in Luke as well. From this I draw 3 conclusions:It's probably not in the original book of John, meaning that I cannot consider it scripture for certain. Many of my commentaries just skip this passage with no comment. Others address it even though they do not see it as scripture. Other commentaries see value in it and address leaving this decision up to the reader. It very well could be a true event in the life of Jesus. I think this is a true account and that some who copied this down felt it was worthy of scripture. And maybe it is. But it doesn't meet the standard of what qualifies as scripture and not just history. (Add qualification of NT scripture here)It's worth our time to preach/teach it because it includes biblical principles and applications relevant to us and aligns with the rest of scripture. In other words, it's not going to take us somewhere we wouldn't otherwise go. The Bible Knowledge Commentary states, "It is probably a part of true oral tradition which was added to later Greek manuscripts by copyists." Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 303). Victor Books.1. The Setup: Grace Confronts a Trap (vv. 1–6a)The scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery—not out of love for the law, but to trap Jesus.The law said such a sin was punishable by death (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22), but this was clearly a setup:Where is the man?Why is this happening publicly in the temple?They use the woman's shame as a tool to undermine Jesus.Application: People still weaponize sin and shame to feel superior or to discredit others. But Jesus won't participate in that game.2. The Silence: Grace Slows the Fury (vv. 6b–8)Jesus bends down and writes on the ground. It's an intentional pause.It shifts attention away from the woman, lowers the emotional temperature, and gives space for reflection.His challenge—“Let him who is without sin cast the first stone”—puts judgment back where it belongs: in the hands of the truly holy.Matthew 7:3–5 (NIV)“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”Application: Jesus slows the mob mentality. When we want to throw stones (even mental ones), Jesus reminds us to examine ourselves first.3. The Departure: Grace Exposes Everyone (vv. 9)One by one, they drop their stones and leave—starting with the oldest, perhaps because they had lived long enough to know their sin more clearly.Jesus' words don't just defend the woman—they shine a light on everyone present.Application: In the presence of Jesus, no one gets to act like they're righteous on their own.4. The Restoration: Grace Speaks a Better Word (vv. 10–11)“Where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord.”“Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on sin no more.”He doesn't ignore her sin—He lifts her from it. Grace first, then transformation.Application: Jesus is not soft on sin—He's strong on mercy. Grace doesn't excuse sin; it empowers change.Pastoral Notes/transition:This woman doesn't ask for forgiveness—Jesus simply gives it.The grace of Jesus doesn't depend on the eloquence of our repentance but on the fullness of His mercy.CONCLUSION "(Jesus) doesn't give her a license to keep sinning. He gives her a reason to stop." -M Carter"Is Jesus reversing the Mosaic system? No. He is placing His cross between that woman and her sin." -J. Vernon McGeeApplications:Jesus came to show us the way out from under our condemnation to mercy. Let God forgive you--and you yourself.Jesus is not soft on sin—He's strong on mercy. Let God find us quick to forgive instead of condemn or cancel.Grace doesn't excuse sin; it empowers change. Let God find us moving towards holy, pure living instead of compromised living.The Torn Report CardA student hides his report card from his parents—he's failed multiple classes and is ashamed. When the truth finally comes out, he expects anger, punishment, maybe rejection. But instead, his father gently says, “This doesn't change that you're my son. We're going to face this together. But we are going to face it.”That's the heart of Jesus in this story. He doesn't pretend our sin doesn't matter—but He makes sure we know: we don't face it alone, and we don't face it condemned.The Courtroom SurpriseImagine standing in court, guilty, and the judge reads the list of charges. The evidence is overwhelming. Then the judge steps down from the bench, walks toward you, and says, “I'll take your sentence.”That's what Jesus did—not just for the woman, but for each of us. He didn't just defend her; He bore her shame. He doesn't say, “You're not guilty.” He says, “I'll take the guilt.”Bottom line: Jesus meets us in our guilt not to condemn us, but to restore us to a new way of life.INVITATIONThe Dropped StonesPicture the sound that must've filled the temple courtyard that day—not just silence, but the clink and thud of stones hitting the ground one by one. That was the sound of people walking away from condemnation.And maybe today, that sound is what needs to happen in your own heart—not just dropping the stones you've been ready to throw at others, but dropping the ones you've been throwing at yourself.What about you?Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions: What is God saying to me right now?What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper. What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don't have to get too specific to give him praise.Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)PrayNOTES"She's been disgraced. Then Jesus covers her disgrace with his grace. He levels the playing field by quietly, making each man admit his own sin, and then instead of condemning her, he forgives her. Not only does he forgive her, but he also transforms her future. He doesn't give her a license to keep sinning. He gives her a reason to stop." -M Carter"Is Jesus reversing the Mosaic system? No. He is placing His cross between that woman and her sin. This One who is the Son of the virgin, who Himself was under a cloud all of His life, is going to the cross to pay the penalty for even the sin of this woman. He did not come into the world to condemn the wold. (John 3:17) He did not come to judge this woman. He came into the world to be a Savior!" -J. Vernon McGee"We must not misinterpret this event to mean that Jesus was 'easy on sin' or that he contradicted the law. For Jesus to forgive this woman meant that he had to one day die for her sins. Forgiveness is free, but it is not cheap. Furthermore, Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law so that no one could just accuse him of opposing his teachings or weakening its power by applying the law to the woman, and not to themselves. The Jewish leaders were violating both the letter and the spirit of the law--and they thought they were defending Moses!The law was given to reveal sin (Romans 3:20), and we must be condemned by the law before we can be cleansed by God's grace. Law and grace do not compete with each other; they complement each other. Nobody was ever saved by keeping the law, but nobody was ever saved by grace, who was not first convicted by the law. There must be conviction before they can be conversion.Nor is Christ's gracious forgiveness an excuse to sin. "Go, and sin, no more!" was our Lord's counsel... Certainly the experience of gracious forgiveness would motivate the penitent sinner to live a holy and obedient life to the glory of God." -W WiersbeBlack Dot Analogy"The black dot analogy is a powerful metaphor often used to illustrate how people tend to focus on negative aspects or flaws—represented by a small black dot—while overlooking the broader, positive context, symbolized by a large white space surrounding it. It's frequently applied in discussions about judgment, perspective, and human behavior, particularly in the context of not judging others based on their worst moments or traits. Below, I'll explore the analogy's origins, its applications, and its relevance to your original query about a post on X regarding not judging people by their worst moments.Origins and Core ConceptThe black dot analogy often appears in motivational, psychological, and educational contexts. One common version, as described in sources like the Rotary e-Club of Houston and Medium, involves a classroom exercise where a professor presents students with a blank sheet of paper featuring a single black dot in the center. Students are asked to write about what they see, and invariably, they focus on the dot, ignoring the vast white space around it. The professor then explains that this mirrors how people fixate on small negatives in life—such as health issues, financial struggles, or personal failures—while neglecting the abundance of positive aspects, like relationships, opportunities, or blessings." -Grok AINT Canon - who decided what books?The process of recognizing the New Testament canon unfolded gradually over several centuries. Here's a brief timeline of how and when this happened:1st Century (c. 45–100 AD)The New Testament books were being written (e.g., Paul's letters, the Gospels, Acts, Revelation).Some letters were already being shared and read in various churches (e.g., see 2 Peter 3:15–16, where Paul's letters are referred to as Scripture).2nd Century (100–200 AD)Many churches were using core texts like the four Gospels, Acts, and Paul's letters.Early church leaders (like Irenaeus, c. 180 AD) affirmed the authority of these writings.Heretical movements (e.g., Marcionism, which rejected the Old Testament and some NT books) forced the church to clarify which writings were truly apostolic and orthodox.3rd Century (200–300 AD)More consensus was forming, especially around most of the current New Testament books.Disputed books included Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2–3 John, Jude, and Revelation.Church fathers like Origen and Cyprian used most of the New Testament books but noted which were disputed.4th Century (300–400 AD)Athanasius' Easter Letter (367 AD): This was the first known list to include exactly the 27 books of the New Testament as we have today.Councils of Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage (397 AD): These regional church councils affirmed the same list.While these councils didn't “create” the canon, they recognized and confirmed what many churches were already using.By the 5th CenturyThe 27-book New Testament was widely accepted across the Christian world.The canon was functionally closed, and later councils reaffirmed the same set of writings.So, while the New Testament canon wasn't decided at one single moment, by the end of the 4th century, the list of 27 books was largely settled and universally recognized in the church. -ChatGPTFrom me to ChatGPT: Would you say then that they were decided using an “open source” or “wiki” method?That's a great analogy—and yes, to an extent, the formation of the New Testament canon functioned somewhat like an “open source” or “wiki” process, though with important differences.Here's how the comparison fits:✅ Collaborative Process (like open source/wiki)The canon wasn't determined by a single person or moment.Churches across different regions contributed to the process by using, preserving, copying, and teaching from certain texts.Early church leaders and communities evaluated writings based on shared criteria, and over time a consensus emerged.✅ Organic DevelopmentBooks were recognized as authoritative because they were already functioning as such in Christian worship and teaching—not simply declared authoritative from above.The canon grew from usage and recognition rather than being imposed arbitrarily.Books were recognized as authoritative because they were already functioning as such in Christian worship and teaching—not simply declared authoritative from above.The canon grew from usage and recognition rather than being imposed arbitrarily.✅ Community DiscernmentJust like open-source projects evolve through community review and refinement, the canon evolved through careful theological reflection, discussion, and testing against apostolic truth. -ChatGPTBut here's where the analogy has limits:❌ Not Unlimited or Constantly EditableUnlike a true wiki, the canon wasn't meant to be open-ended or perpetually editable. Once consensus was reached, it was closed and considered authoritative and complete.The church believed that God's revelation in Christ—and through the apostles—was once for all (cf. Jude 1:3), not ongoing in the way an open-source codebase might be.❌ Guided by Theology, Not Just ConsensusTheological and spiritual discernment—especially about apostolicity and inspiration—played a key role. It wasn't just a democratic vote or popularity contest. -ChatGPTSummary:"Yes, the canonization process had a lot in common with an “open source” or “wiki-style” model—distributed, collaborative, community-tested—but it was also guided by deep convictions about divine revelation and was ultimately closed to preserve the apostolic foundation of the faith.The Councils of Hippo (393) and Carthage (397) were the most decisive early church gatherings to affirm the full 27-book New Testament canon. They didn't invent the canon but codified what had already become widespread consensus in the life of the church." -ChatGPTOUTLINESee aboveQUESTIONS TO CONSIDERWhat do I want them to know? Why do I want them to know it?What do I want them to do?Why do I want them to do it?How do they do this?DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/Read the passage together.Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really true, what should I do?What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)Who am I going to tell about this?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I do? (In light of who I am)How do I do it?Final Questions (Write this down)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent HughesExalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh WredbergThe Gospels & Epistles of John, FF BruceJohn, RC SproulJohn, KöstenbergerThe Gospel According to John, DA CarsonThe Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.orgThe Bible Project https://bibleproject.comNicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersionClaude.aiChatGPT AIGrok AIPerplexity AIGoogle Gemini AI

The Bible - NT Epistles - Part 123Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The post The Lord's Prayer & Epistles appeared first on CrossPoint Modesto.

Jesus left a legacy of stories, and as Luke ends and we reread Acts and the Epistles, we remember his disciples spread his teachings and established the church by telling his and their stories over and over. During worship this Eastertide season, we have the gift of hearing members of the congregation reflect on the practices that flow from our congregational covenant. Those 11 practices, along with the covenant, were affirmed by the congregation 10 years ago. We invite you to listen deeply to these reflections, and to engage with what you both read and hear. Are these practices still a good fit for SMC in 2025? Do these practices ground our collective sense of mission in the world? Today we hear from Ann Marchand on Relationships, and Greg Thiessen on Economics.Stories begin at minute marker 7:40​​​Acts 8.26-39ResourcesSMC Congregational Covenant and Practices, written and affirmed by the congregation in 2015, and re-affirmed in our annual covenanting service every Pentecost.Image by Matheus Bertelli on pexelsHymn 453, As I Went Down to the River to Pray Text: African American spiritua.l  Music: African American spiritual.  Permission to podcast the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, license #A-726929, #77600.  All rights reserved.

Jesus left a legacy of stories, and as Luke ends and we reread Acts and the Epistles, we remember his disciples spread his teachings and established the church by telling his and their stories over and over.   During worship this Eastertide season, we have the gift of hearing members of the congregation reflect on the practices that flow from our congregational covenant. Those 11 practices, along with the covenant, were affirmed by the congregation 10 years ago. We invite you to listen deeply to these reflections, and to engage with what you both read and hear. Are these practices still a good fit for SMC in 2025? Do these practices ground our collective sense of mission in the world? Today we hear from Rita Kowats on Spiritual Practices, and Anita Stokes on Spiritual Formation of Children.Stories begin at minute marker 15:13Acts 1.1-14ResourcesSMC Congregational Covenant and Practices, written and affirmed by the congregation in 2015, and re-affirmed in our annual covenanting service every Pentecost.Image by willsantt on pexelsHymn 386 One is the Body. Text: based on Ephesians 4:4-13, John L. Bell (Scotland) Music: John L. Bell, © 1997, 2002 WGRG, Iona Community (admin. GIA Publications, Inc.) Permission to podcast the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, license #A-726929, #77600.  All rights reserved.

By Jorge de Campos - Paul builds on the theme of Unity through Christ by encouraging us to walk in Godly love, living the Truth and being wise. All this is based on humility.

Our year-long study in Paul's Epistles continues as we focus on Pauline Paradoxes. Today we look at Stong Weakness from 2 Corinthians 12:1-12.

This Mother's Day episode is very fitting for those questioning where they are in life and in the faith. We get an introduction to Peter's Epistles. But we also learn in the first two verses that God has believers right where He wants them, when He wants them, for the reason He wants them. We serve a Good God!

Jesus left a legacy of stories, and as Luke ends and we reread Acts and the Epistles, we remember his disciples spread his teachings and established the church by telling his and their stories over and over.   During worship this Eastertide season, we have the gift of hearing members of the congregation reflect on the practices that flow from our congregational covenant. Those 11 practices, along with the covenant, were affirmed by the congregation 10 years ago. We invite you to listen deeply to these reflections, and to engage with what you both read and hear. Are these practices still a good fit for SMC in 2025? Do these practices ground our collective sense of mission in the world? Today we hear from Rex on Spiritual Journeys, and David on Giving and Receiving Counsel.Pastoral Reflection begins at minute marker 2:31. Stories begin at minute marker 16:38.Luke 24.36-53ResourcesSMC Congregational Covenant and Practices, written and affirmed by the congregation in 2015, and re-affirmed in our annual covenanting service every Pentecost.Image by Zayceva Tatiana on pexelsHymn: VT 366 - Although the Lord Has Left Us Text: Fred Kaan (England), © 1972, 1997 Hope Publishing Co. Music: Melchior Vulpius (present-day Germany), Ein schön geistlich Gesangbuch, 1609 Permission to podcast the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, license #A-726929, #77600.  All rights reserved.

Series: Signs & GloryTitle: “Why Do People Reject Jesus?”Subtitle: Scripture: John 7:1-52 Isaiah 55:1-7Jeremiah 2:13Deuteronomy 18:15-18, Acts 3:20-22Matthew 10:34-35Look for the drama in scriptureBottom line: People reject Jesus for many reasons, but He still calls the thirsty to come and receive real life.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDOpening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. INTRODUCTIONSome people in history seem to split the world in two. Say their name, and you immediately stir debate. Martin Luther King Jr.—hero of justice or dangerous disruptor? Galileo—scientific genius or arrogant heretic? Nelson Mandela, Joan of Arc, Malcolm X—each one beloved by some, opposed by others. But history's most polarizing figure? Jesus. No one sparked more debate, division, or devotion. And in John 7, we see that clearly. The question is: Why do people reject Him—and could we be doing the same?John Bunyan knew all about that and wrote, "There was a man, the world did think him mad, the more he gave away, the more he had."Feast of Tabernacles...Originally a harvest festival coming at the end of the last major harvest of the year (grapes). They celebrated God who brought the rain.Became a celebration of God's deliverance of Israel through the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness where God had to supernaturally supply them water for the whole nation in the desert.It had eschatological hopesFor the restoration of the nation of IsraelFor the ingathering of all nations under GodJesus presents himself as God's agent to make these end time events a reality. He does this as the source of life--abundant (like being celebrated during this festival) and eternal (like living water).Bottom line: People reject Jesus for many reasons, but He still calls the thirsty to come and receive real life.In his last 6 months, Jesus enters Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles surrounded by confusion, debate and division over who he is and why he matters. This is the context around his famous teaching about the Holy Spirit's role when he ascends and why he's called living water. OUTLINE (input from ChatGPT)1. Some reject Jesus because He doesn't follow their expectations.(John 7:1–10)Jesus' own brothers didn't believe because He didn't fit their agenda or timeline.We still wrestle with disappointment or control when Jesus won't do what we want, when we want.2. Some reject Jesus because His truth exposes their hypocrisy.(John 7:11–24)Jesus confronts those judging Him wrongly, especially for healing on the Sabbath.We resist truth when it challenges our comfort, image, or self-righteousness.3. Some reject Jesus because of assumptions and incomplete knowledge.(John 7:25–36)The crowd “knows” where Jesus is from and assumes He can't be the Christ.Spiritual blindness often comes from thinking we already understand everything.4. Some reject Jesus because they fear people more than God.(John 7:40–52)Division rises. Leaders pressure, mock, and dismiss. Nicodemus is silenced.Following Jesus means risking disapproval—but silence is a choice too.5. But Jesus still calls: If you're thirsty, come to Me and drink.(John 7:37–39)On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus invites all to receive living water—the Holy Spirit.Rejection isn't the end of the story. Jesus still offers Himself to anyone willing to come in faith.CONCLUSION Bottom line: People reject Jesus for many reasons, but He still calls the thirsty to come and receive real life."For decades one of the first places immigrants to America landed was Ellis Island. They came hoping for a better life, longing for a chance to find happiness. Near Ellis Island was a statue, and the statue was an invitation. A poem by Emma Lazarus captured the invitation:"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"What a beautiful invitation. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses." Jesus extends a better invitation. "Come, weary and broken. Come, thirsty and dying. Come to me and find life."" -Carter, p. 181The Lion"How are we to drink this water? Although the offer is free and open to all, there are yet some terms to be met. C. S. Lewis in his children's novel The Silver Chair puts his finger on this in the clearest of terms. Jill, seeing a lion, is scared out of her wits and runs into the forest. She runs so hard that she wears herself out and is just about to die of thirst, or so she thinks, when she hears the gurgling of a brook in the distance. She approaches it and is almost ready to go to the brook when on the grass before her is the same lion."Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion."I'm dying of thirst," said Jill."Then drink, " said the Lion."May I— could I-would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill.The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience. The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic."Will you promise not to — do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill."I make no promise,'" said the Lion.Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer."Do you eat girls?" she said. "I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and em-perors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it."I daren't come and drink," said Jill."Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion."Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer."I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.""There is no other stream," said the Lion.It never occurred to Jill to disbelieve the Lion —no one who had seen his stern face could do that-and her mind suddenly made itself up. It was the worst thing she had ever had to do, but she went forward to the stream, knelt down, and began scooping up water in her hand. It was the coldest, most refreshing water she had ever tasted.Do you see what Lewis is saying? When you come to the water, you are coming to a Lion, you must come on the Lion's terms, and you have to yield yourself by faith in order to get the water. Some of us need to realize that we are thirsty, that we need that water so badly that we are going to die without it. We need to step out on faith, yielding to the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and receive the water of eternal life.INVITATIONWhat about you?Are you paralyzed by the confusion, division and debate over who Jesus is and what he came to do?““Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it's all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David. See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations. You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.” Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions: What is God saying to me right now?What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper. What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don't have to get too specific to give him praise.Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)PrayNOTESJesus' brothers believed in Jesus but not the biblical Jesus; we see this all the timeJesus recognized that his brothers didn't believe in him as the Messiah yet though they'd lived with him for 30+ years; never sinned; Mary knowing who he was; favorite son; perfect son; resentment and sibling rivalry aboundsDoes Jesus divide people? (Yes)Family can be the toughest mission fieldFamily misunderstands when they don't believe in the biblical JesusReligious leaders miss the leader of their religion due to their self-righteousness, ambition and unbelief"Christ did not want to bring division. But because of the sinfulness of our hearts, because of our fallenness, because of our unwillingness to repent and bow to him, the Prince of Peace is Christ the Divider.When snow descends upon the Continental Divide, it melts and flows off either to the west or to the east, never to meet again. Christ is the continental divide in our lives. We will either go up with the morning stars or, to use Eliot's phrase, join the valley of the dying stars. Christ brings division to everyday life." -Hughes, p. 226Water"On the seven days of the Feast, a golden flagon was filled with water from the pool of Siloam and was carried in a procession led by the High Priest back to the temple. As the procession approached the watergate on the south side of the inner court three blasts from the shôphar - a trumpet connected with joyful occasions - were sounded. While the pilgrims watched, the priests processed around the altar with the flagon, the temple choir singing the Hallel (Pss. 113 - 118). When the choir reached Psalm 118, every male pilgrim shook a lulab (willow and myrtle twigs tied with palm) in his right hand, while his left raised a piece of citrus fruit (a sign of the ingathered harvest), and all cried 'Give thanks to the LORD!' three times. The water was offered to God at the time of the morning sacrifice, along with the daily drink-offering (of wine). The wine and the water were poured into their respective silver bowls, and then poured out before the LORD. Moreover, these ceremonies of the Feast of Tabernacles were related in Jewish thought both to the LorD's provision of water in the desert and to the Lord's pouring out of the Spirit in the last days. Pouring at the Feast of Tabernacles refers symbolically to the messianic age in which a stream from the sacred rock would flow over the whole earth." -Carson, p. 321-322"In general terms, then, Jesus' pronouncement is clear: he is the fulfil-ment of all that the Feast of Tabernacles anticipated." -Carson, p. 322OUTLINESee aboveQUESTIONS TO CONSIDERWhat do I want them to know? Why do I want them to know it?What do I want them to do?Why do I want them to do it?How do they do this?DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/Read the passage together.Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really true, what should I do?What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)Who am I going to tell about this?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I do? (In light of who I am)How do I do it?Final Questions (Write this down)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent HughesExalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh WredbergThe Gospels & Epistles of John, FF BruceJohn, RC SproulJohn, KöstenbergerThe Gospel According to John, DA CarsonThe Light Has Come, Leslie NewbiginThe Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.orgThe Bible Project https://bibleproject.comNicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersionClaude.aiChatGPT Google Gemini

Jesus left a legacy of stories, and as Luke ends and we reread Acts and the Epistles, we remember his disciples spread his teachings and established the church by telling his and their stories over and over. During worship this Eastertide season, we have the gift of hearing members of the congregation reflect on the practices that flow from our congregational covenant. Those 11 practices, along with the covenant, were affirmed by the congregation 10 years ago. We invite you to listen deeply to these reflections, and to engage with what you both read and hear. Are these practices still a good fit for SMC in 2025? Do these practices ground our collective sense of mission in the world? Today we hear from Janet on worship, Jennifer on discernment, and Pete on hospitality.Sermon begins at minute marker 3:05Scripture: ​​​Luke 24.13-35ResourcesSMC Congregational Covenant and Practices, written and affirmed by the congregation in 2015, and re-affirmed in our annual covenanting service every Pentecost.Image: Photo by George Becker on pexels hands holding candleHymn 459 Let the Hungry Come to Me Text: stanzas 1–3 Delores Dufner, OSB (USA), © 1985 Sisters of St. Benedict; stanzas 4–5 “Adoro te devote,” attr. Thomas Aquinas (present-day Italy), 13th c., trans. Omer Westendorf (USA), © World Library Publications. Music: plainsong, 13th c., Processionale (present-day France), 1697. Streaming permission from One License #40476.

Series: Signs & GloryTitle: “Does Jesus offend you?"Subtitle: “Does Jesus' uniqueness offend you or draw you?”Scripture: John 6:52-71Isaiah 52:13-53:12John 13:27Bottom line: Jesus' uniqueness makes him a polarizing figure. While drawing a few, his words offend many.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDOpening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. INTRODUCTIONBottom line: Jesus' uniqueness makes him a polarizing figure. While drawing a few, his words offend many.Does Jesus offend you?Apparently, the uniqueness of Jesus offended many in the first century...and today.The Battle Today Is Around Jesus"I have been involved in hosting or helping a small group on [Alpha](https://www.alpha.org/ ) for over thirty years. During this time, I have noticed a shift in our culture. There is a change in the attitude towards Jesus, especially among young people. Many will say that they believe in God and are even open to the idea of the Holy Spirit. But increasingly, Jesus has become the stumbling-block. Some youth and young people say things like, ‘I don't get the reason for *Jesus*.' As Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa has often said, ‘The battle today is around Jesus.' Is Jesus the universal Saviour? This is the same battle as the first century. People today are happy to accept Jesus as ‘one of many'. It is the uniqueness of Jesus that causes offence......while we meet some exceptional people throughout the Bible, like Moses, Joshua, Elijah and John the Baptist, there was no one like Jesus. Jesus is unique. He is the *universal Saviour*."The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Classic Version, 2025: Day 119 • DevotionalBottom line: Jesus' uniqueness makes him a polarizing figure. While drawing a few, his words offend many.Does Jesus offend you too?OUTLINE1. Trust & follow Jesus, even when His words offend you.Verses 52–59 • Jesus speaks of eating His flesh and drinking His blood—language that's deeply disturbing to His hearers. The Old Testament taught to not drink blood or eat meat with blood in it. • He doesn't explain it away, because following Him means trusting what we can't fully understand yet. His words are hard to understand and demanding. • Application: When Jesus offends your expectations, don't walk away—lean in and trust His word.2. Trust & follow Jesus, even when many turn away from His words.Verses 60–66 • Many disciples leave, calling His teaching too hard to accept. • Jesus says only the Spirit gives life—fleshly thinking won't grasp the kingdom. • Application: Don't measure truth by popular opinion—stay faithful to His word, even when others fall away.3. Trust & follow Jesus, because only He has what you truly need.Verses 67–69 • Peter's confession is both humble and bold: “To whom shall we go?” • Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. • Application: When you're tempted to quit, remember why you started—Jesus alone gives life. He is the Bread of Life.4. Examine your heart—proximity to Jesus is not the same as following His word.Verses 70–71 • Judas was chosen, included, and close—but not surrendered. • Even among the Twelve, there's a warning: not all who appear near truly believe. • Application: Don't just walk with Jesus outwardly—depend on His word inwardly.CONCLUSION Bottom line: Jesus' uniqueness makes him a polarizing figure. While drawing a few, his words offend many.Does Jesus offend you too?1. Trust & follow Jesus, even when His words offend you.2. Trust & follow Jesus, even when many turn away from His words.3. Trust & follow Jesus, because only He has what you truly need.4. Examine your heart—proximity to Jesus is not the same as following His word.This poem is what could happen to you and me if we fully embrace and believe Jesus is who he says he is and will do all he's promised to do:The Touch of the Master's Hand''Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer Thought it scarcely worth his while To waste much time on the old violin But held it up with a smile."What am I bid, good folks," he cried, "Who'll start the bidding for me?A dollar, a dollar—now two, only two-Two dollars, and who'll make it three?"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, Going for three"-but no!From the room far back a gray-haired man Came forward and picked up the bow;Then wiping the dust from the old violin And tightening up the strings, He played a melody, pure and sweet. As sweet as an angel sings.The music ceased, and the auctioneer With a voice that was quiet and low, Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow."A thousand dollars—and who'll make it two? Two thousand—and who'll make it three?Three thousand once and three thousand twice And going and gone," said he.The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not quite understandWhat changed its worth?" The man replied, "THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND."And many a man with a life out of tune, And battered and torn with sin.Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, Much like the old violin.A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine, A game and he travels on.He's going once and going twice, He's going—and almost—gone!But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd Never can quite understandThe worth of a soul, and the change that's wrought By the TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND.Myra Brooks-WelchHas he touched you?Does he offend you?Bottom line: Jesus' uniqueness makes him a polarizing figure. While drawing a few, his words offend many.Does Jesus offend you too?INVITATIONWhat about you?Does Jesus offend you...or does he draw you?A Table Set by God • The Lord's Supper is a living illustration of this passage. The bread we break is a sign of the true bread from heaven-Jesus' body given for us. Every time we eat, we remember that our deepest hunger is met in Him.Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions: What is God saying to me right now?What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper. What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don't have to get too specific to give him praise.Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)PrayNOTESFlesh = real food+ Blood = real drinkReal life/eternal lifeEats/drinks = remains/abides/believes as seen in rhythms/habits/means of grace (Acts 2:36-47)wordPrayerServeGiveWorshipShareThe Father sent Jesus, alive and well because of the FatherJesus sent Disciples, alive and well because of JesusBread from heaven = Jesus the Christ => spiritual lifebread from heaven (manna) = physical nourishment => physical life60-71Hard (to hear) teaching (harsh; offensive) => grumbling ie. Unbelief"Does this offend you?" "Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before?" Reminds them that he stated that he came from God.Spirit => lifeFlesh => Ø or deathWords => Spirit => LifeYet, some still did not believeOUTLINESOutline Bible (Willmington) -- SECTION OUTLINE SIX JOHN 6 Jesus feeds the 5,000 and walks on water. He teaches that he is the "bread from heaven" and that all who wish to have eternal life must eat his flesh and drink his blood. Many of his followers, unable to accept this difficult symbolism, desert him. I. TWO MIRACLES (6:1-24) A. First miracle (6:1-15): Jesus feeds the 5,000.B. Second miracle (6:16-24): Jesus walks on water. II. Two MESSAGES (6:25-71) A. Public comments (6:25-66)Christ and the curious (6:25-40)a. He speaks concerning God's salvation (6:25-36). (1) Their confusion (6:25-26, 28, 30-31, 36) (a) They want to know how he got there (6:25).(b) They seek him only for physical bread (6:26). (c) They don't know how to please God (6:28). (d) They assume the Old Testament manna came from Moses (6:30-31). (e) They don't believe in him even though they have seen him (6:36). (2) His correction (6:27, 29, 32-35) (a) They are to seek him for spiritual bread (6:27, 33-35). (b) They will please God by believing in him (6:29). (c) He says the Old Testament manna came from God (6:32). b. He speaks concerning God's sovereignty (6:37-40). (1) Guaranteeing that all the elect will come to Christ (6:37): They will never be rejected (2) Guaranteeing that all the elect will continue in Christ (6:38-40): All who believe in him will be raised at the last day. 2. Christ and the critical (6:41-59) a. Their criticism (6:41-42, 52) (1) He is simply the son of Joseph (6:41-42). (2) No one can (physically) eat his flesh and drink his blood (6:52). b. His correction (6:43-51, 53-59) (1) Jesus says he is the bread of life (6:43-51). (2) Jesus says that anyone who wants eternal life must (spiritually) eat his flesh and drink his blood (6:53-59). 3. Christ and the carnal (6:60-66) a. Many of his followers now decide against him (6:60-65). b. Many of his followers now depart from him (60:66).QUESTIONS TO CONSIDERWhat do I want them to know? Why do I want them to know it?What do I want them to do?Why do I want them to do it?How do they do this?DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/Read the passage together.Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really true, what should I do?What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)Who am I going to tell about this?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I do? (In light of who I am)How do I do it?Final Questions (Write this down)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent HughesExalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh WredbergThe Gospels & Epistles of John, FF BruceJohn, RC SproulJohn, KöstenbergerThe Gospel According to John, DA CarsonThe Light Has Come, Leslie NewbiginThe Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.orgThe Bible Project https://bibleproject.comNicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersionClaude.aiChatGPT Google GeminiGrok Perplexity

God Sees a Jesus Follower as Being “In Christ”; Therefore, God Sees a Jesus Follower as His Son or Daughter MESSAGE SUMMARY: As Followers of Jesus, you are "In Christ" -- God looks at you, as a Jesus Follower, and He sees Jesus in you. Throughout the Epistles we find: "In Christ" or "In Him". In Galatians 3:14, Paul tells you that your faith in Jesus makes you “In Christ” and a recipient of God's Covenant with Abraham: “so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.". Also, Paul goes even further, in Galatians 3:25-28, to tell you that, through your faith in Jesus, you no longer need any kind of intermediary because you are “In Christ” and you have a personal relationship with God, the Creator of the Universe: “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”. When God sees you, “In Christ" as a Jesus Follower, He sees Jesus, the Son. Therefore, God sees you as His son or daughter.     TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, everything in me resists following you into the garden of Gethsemane to fall on my face to the ground before you. Grant me the courage to follow you all the way to the cross, whatever that might mean for my life. And then, by your grace, lead me to resurrection life and power. In Jesus' name, amen.   Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 100). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Addictions. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Self-Control. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Romans 3:21-26; Romans 6:5-11; Romans 6:22-23; Psalms 63:1-11. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Being in Christ, Part 1”,at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

By Jorge de Campos - After Paul explainied the great eternal purpose of God to create a Family, which is a mystery to the world, he focused on the need for us to grow to the measure of the stature of Christ. To do that we have to put off the old man and renew our minds through the power of God's Holy Spirit, and put on

The Exodus Way E11 — After Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension, his followers grew into a movement known simply as “The Way”—a new exodus people delivered from sin and death, following the narrow way of Jesus through the wilderness of our present world and awaiting entry into a promised new creation. The Apostle Paul is a central figure in this movement, commissioned by the risen Jesus to spread the good news of the new exodus to the nations. He planted churches in several Roman cities and wrote letters to congregations of Jewish and Gentile believers. Paul was a Jewish man steeped in Israel's Scriptures, which is why we see him infusing Exodus language and imagery into his letters to the early Church. In this episode, Jon and Tim explore Paul's letters to the churches in Corinth, Galatia, and Rome, discovering how Paul saw the death and resurrection of Jesus, the life of the Christian, and the larger story of creation as a cosmic exodus.View all of our resources for The Exodus Way →CHAPTERSRecap of Where We've Been (0:00-3:01)Exodus Imagery in 1 Corinthians 5 (3:01-14:03)Exodus Language in Galatians (14:03-31:41)The Cosmic Exodus in Romans 8 (31:41-44:33)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode's official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESThe Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistles of St. Paul to the Corinthians by John ChrysostomPaul and His Story: (Re)Interpreting the Exodus Tradition by Sylvia KeesmaatYou can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Check out Tim's extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC“Lilo” by The Field Tapes & Middle School“Loving Someone You Lost” by The Field TapesBibleProject theme song by TENTSSHOW CREDITSProduction of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Frank Garza and Aaron Olsen edited today's episode. Aaron Olsen and Tyler Bailey provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Series: Signs & GloryTitle: “What Difference Does the Resurrection Make?"Scripture: John 11:25-26John 20:19-22Bottom line: The resurrection gives us power for today and hope for tomorrow.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDOpening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. INTRODUCTIONHow to Pray with Power by Nicky Gumbel"I received a call from someone in our church. He wanted me to go and pray for his wife who had suddenly been admitted to hospital for an operation. As it happened, I myself had an appointment nearby to have an injection in my shoulder. I'd had a ‘frozen shoulder' for almost two years. However, in the previous couple of days, it had suddenly got better. I explained what had happened to the consultant. He looked at me and said, ‘It's a miracle!' I said, ‘Don't frozen shoulders suddenly get better?' Over and over again, he repeated, ‘No, it is a miracle.' Here was a secular doctor trying to persuade a rather faithless pastor that what had happened could only be explained by the supernatural power of God!I thanked him very much for raising my faith, as I was about to go and pray in the hospital. As I walked through the corridors, I passed a hospital porter who was singing (quite loudly!), ‘Lay your hands on the sick and they will be healed.' I said, ‘That is exactly what I am about to go and do.' He looked deeply shocked and surprised. He obviously didn't think I looked like the sort of person who could possibly believe that!I went upstairs to pray for the woman and explained why my faith was riding high. She then said she had been reading James 5 (our passage for today), which says, ‘Is any one of you sick? Call the elders of the church to pray over you… And the prayer offered in faith will make you well' (James 5:14–15). By now the Lord had given (even me!) enough signs to pray in faith. The Holy Spirit came upon her with great power. She was not immediately healed (although she is better now), but it gave me a greater understanding of ‘the prayer of faith'.Watchman Nee wrote, ‘Our prayers lay the track down which God's power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails.'"Bible in One Year 2020 With Nicky Gumbel: Day 325 • DevotionalBottom line: The resurrection gives us power for today and hope for tomorrow.“What Difference Does the Resurrection Make?”Answer: It gives us power for today and hope for forever. Big Idea: The resurrection of Jesus isn't just a belief—it's power for your real life. First, Jesus reveals himself further to his disciples by announcing that he is the resurrection and the life.I. "I am the resurrection and the life" - Jesus says he's life; his power is unstoppableJesus isn't just alive--he's life itself.Death is only defeated by life.Second, Jesus appears in his resurrection body to the cowering disciples following his resurrection. He gives them his personal presence to overcome their fear, peace in the midst of chaos, their mission as the broken to the broken, and His Holy Spirit and resurrection power over darkness and evil.1. Jesus shows up helping them overcome their fear. (John 20:19)“The doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews.”Context: The disciples were terrified—Jesus was dead, they were next.But then: Jesus enters locked rooms. Resurrection power doesn't need your permission—it comes through fear.Application:Where are you hiding? What fear is keeping you locked up?If Jesus can enter that room, He can enter yours—your anxiety, your regret, your trauma.2. Jesus Gives Peace in the midst of chaos. (John 20:19, 21)“Jesus said to them, ‘Peace be with you.'”He doesn't say “Everything's fine.” He says, “I'm here.”Peace is not the absence of trouble—it's the presence of Jesus.Application:What if peace isn't about getting out of your situation, but inviting Jesus into it?Resurrection means your circumstances don't get the last word.3. Jesus restores their mission as the broken to the broken. (John 20:21)“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”These are the same guys who abandoned Him—but He still calls them.The resurrection doesn't just restore life—it restores calling.Application:Have you disqualified yourself in your own mind?Jesus doesn't just forgive your past—He commissions your future.4. Jesus Gives You His Spirit and resurrection power over darkness and evil. (John 20:22)“He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.'”The same breath that filled Adam with life in Genesis now fills disciples with resurrection power.Application:This isn't about trying harder to live better. It's about receiving the life only He can give.The Holy Spirit is resurrection applied—personal, powerful, present.Conclusion: “Do You Believe This?” (John 11:26)Back to John 11, Jesus asks Martha, "Do you believe this?"Jesus asked Martha that question before He raised Lazarus.He's asking you the same question today.Bottom line: The resurrection gives us power for today and hope for tomorrow.In September 2019 I was in a coaching cohort led by pastor and author Mike Breen. He was challenging us to imitate Peter's last healing (Acts) where he said, "Jesus heals you." (Instead of seeing himself as the healer)In preparation for that day's cohort, I wrote the following things I think would change in my life if I lived as if the sky had opened up and the resurrection power of God was available to me like it was to Jesus:I'd teach and preach with more authority given to me by Jesus MessiahI'd rely more on the Holy Spirit believing that he connects me with heaven.I'd be more likely to pray for healing over anyone—even a stranger. I'd be more evangelistically bold. I would assume that God will be putting opportunities in front of me over and over again to lead people to Christ. I would spend more extended time in prayer early in the morning/late at night.I would take more mini-retreats.I would gather with the saints for prayer more often and less formally.I'd fast and pray more.I would find myself more in the harvest than I am. Away from the church building and amongst the people. Especially needy people. The least, last and lost.I would be less concerned with the things of this world. I would live simply and not pursue trivial pursuits.I would be more about making disciples and less about building the church (though in making disciples I will build the Church).I would be more kingdom-minded. I'd constantly be looking for people of peace.I'd live fearlessly.I'd walk in truth, wisdom and love.I'd have a spirit of power, love and self-control. (2 Tim 1:7)I'd see suffering as an opportunity to fellowship more deeply with Christ instead of the pain that it is.What about you?Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬InvitationHow do we respond? Answer 2 questions:Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions: What is God saying to me right now?What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper. What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don't have to get too specific to give him praise.Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)PrayNOTES"Imitating Peter," Sept 2019, MMQB I wroteMike Breen asked us to consider the following in preparation for our huddle tomorrow. Here are my thoughts…Mike points to Peter's last healing in scripture in Acts where he says, “Jesus heals you.”In Mark 15:33- we see the curtain in the temple torn from top to bottom after Jesus dies on the cross. This rending is symbolic of our new, unfettered access to heaven and God. An access that Jesus enjoyed while walking among us.Jesus had direct access to heaven. If not before, he received it at his baptism when the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove. (Mark 1:11) There the “sky is torn” demonstrating an opening of access to Jesus that ushered in his earthly and amazing public ministry culminating in the cross and resurrection.Jesus lived under this open heaven enjoying a supernatural connection to God through his Holy Spirit. This rending of the curtain signified a breaking away from the Old Testament. A New Testament is at hand.So our access is now open to heaven as well. We now seem to have the same access that Jesus had while on earth. Is this what Peter is trying to say through Mark in his gospel, Mike Breen asks?Jesus removes the barrier of the sky and curtain between us and heaven. Therefore, what Jesus experienced uniquely is generally available. Peter is explaining what Jesus' practice is all about through Mark's gospel, he thinks.This reminded me of Mark 2 and the paralytic. “Which is easier to say…”Mike can't leave the question unanswered why does Peter's last healing does he say, “Jesus Christ heals you”?Here's Mike's sermon question he's going to preach soon (Luke 3 message at Apex):“What would it be like if we left today with the actual belief that heaven is open above you and the Holy Spirit is continuously connecting to you?”So our homework is to wrestle with my ministry practice and teaching and ask what would it look like (my practice and teaching) if I started functioning like Peter was doing? I.e. Imitating Peter in Mark and ActsSo I need to re-read Mark and Acts 1-8. At first blush, I think I would say the following:I'd teach and preach with more authority given to me by Jesus MessiahI'd rely more on the Holy Spirit believing that he connects me with heaven.I'd be more likely to pray for healing over anyone—even a stranger. I'd be more evangelistically bold. I would assume that God will be putting opportunities in front of me over and over again to lead people to Christ. I would spend more extended time in prayer early in the morning/late at night.I would take more mini-retreats.I would gather with the saints for prayer more often and less formally.I'd fast and pray more.I would find myself more in the harvest than I am. Away from the church building and amongst the people. Especially needy people. The least, last and lost.I would be less concerned with the things of this world. I would live simply and not pursue trivial pursuits.I would be more about making disciples and less about building the church (though in making disciples I will build the Church).I would be more kingdom-minded. I'd constantly be looking for people of peace.I'd live fearlessly.I'd walk in truth, wisdom and love.I'd have a spirit of power, love and self-control. (2 Tim 1:7)I'd see suffering as an opportunity to fellowship more deeply with Christ instead of the pain that it is.OUTLINESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDERWhat do I want them to know? Why do I want them to know it?What do I want them to do?Why do I want them to do it?How do they do this?DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/Read the passage together.Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really true, what should I do?What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)Who am I going to tell about this?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I do? (In light of who I am)How do I do it?Final Questions (Write this down)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent HughesExalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh WredbergThe Gospels & Epistles of John, FF BruceJohn, RC SproulJohn, KöstenbergerThe Gospel According to John, DA CarsonThe Light Has Come, Leslie NewbiginThe Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.orgThe Bible Project https://bibleproject.comNicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersionClaude.aiChatGPT Google Gemini

By Jorge de Campos - Paul pleads with us to live our lives in a way that is worthy of Christ's sacrifice. God gives us His ministry to help us come to the unity of faith and to be equipped to serve the fellow saints. We must be mature, so that we are not to a carried about by various winds of doctrine to deceive us.

In this episode, Father Anthony, O.F.M., and Sister Catherine, T.O.R., delve into the profound significance of one of the holiest weeks in the Liturgical Year—Holy Week. They explore key moments from the Passion of Our Lord, including the poignant betrayal by Judas, and the heart-wrenching denial by Peter, showcasing the frailty of human loyalty. The conversation also highlights the Last Supper, where Jesus shared a final meal with His disciples, and afterwards, instituting the Holy Eucharist. Drawing upon reflective readings from the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. John, as well as the Epistles of St. Paul, Father and Sister provide deep insights into these transformative events that define the essence of Holy Week. Gospel of St. Matthew: Chapter 26, verses 1-35 St. Paul's Letter to the First Corinthians: Chapter 11, verses 23-34 Gospel of St. Luke: Chapter 13, verses 1-38

Just weeks after October 7, 2023—the worst moment in Jewish history since the Holocaust—Pastor Jeff Durbin of Apologia Studios released a video discussing the massacre. In it, he argued that Jewish people who do not believe in Jesus are not truly Jewish and are not God's chosen people. Instead, he claimed that Christians are the true Jews—that Christians are Israel. Through this video, Pastor Jeff Durbin fuels and spreads antisemitism. The video you are about to watch is a Messianic Jewish response, correcting the gross errors Pastor Jeff makes and offering a careful exegesis of the biblical passages he misuses to support his claims.0:00 – Responding to Pastor Jeff Durbin taking advantage of October 7th to promote replacement theology7:00 – Showing why Pastor Jeff Durbin's interpretation of Romans 2.27–29 is incorrect and exegeting the text 26:53 – Responding to Pastor Jeff Durbin's antisemitic comments29:43 – Showing why Pastor Jeff Durbin's interpretation of Romans 9:6 is incorrect and exegeting the text46:24 – What God says about Israel in the Tanakh 47:31 – What Paul says about Israel Original clip You can also watch on our YouTube channelFollow us on Social Media: FacebookInstagramIf you are looking for a way to support us and gain early access to our content, you can become a monthly supporter on Subscribestar We also have: PayPal___________________________ Resources:David J. Rudolph, “Zionism in Pauline Literature: Does Paul Eliminate Particularity for Israel & the Land in His Portrayal of Salvation Available for All the World?” in New Christian Zionism Fresh Perspectives on Israel and the Land, ed. Gerald R. McDermott (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2016), 167–194. Mark D. Nanos, “‘The Gifts and the Calling of God Are Irrevocable' (Romans 11.29): If So, How Can Paul Declare That ‘Not All Israelites Truly Belong to Israel' (9.6)” SCJR 11 (2016): 1–17. Matthew Thiessen, “Paul's Argument against Gentile Circumcision in Romans 2.17–29,” Novum Testamentum 56, no. 4 (2014): 373–391. Matthew V. Novenson, Paul, Then and Now (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2022), 91–117.Ryan D. Cullman, Apostle to the Foreskin: Circumcision in the Letters of Paul (Berlin: de Gruyter, 2023), 148–196. Ryan D. Cullman, "(Un)Making a Theological Mountain Out of a Cardiological Mohel: Heart-Circumcision in Paul's Epistles,” Journal for the Jesus Movement in its Jewish Setting, no. 10 (2023): 89–105. “Are Christians ‘the True Jews?'”“Is the Church the ‘True Israel'?”Our interview with Michael Jones of Inspiring Philosophy addressing the question: “Is the New Testament Antisemitic?” For an excellent movie documenting October 7, 2023, and the antisemitism that has been raging since, watch October 8

Rev. Austin Gilliland I John 4 Galatians 4:1-4

In this sermon, we journey together into the remarkable story found in Mark 5, where Jesus encounters a man tormented by a legion of demons. We witness the profound authority of Christ, who, with a single command, liberates the man from his chains and restores him to wholeness. We are reminded that, like this man, our lives are living epistles, read by those around us, and we are called to testify of the great things the Lord has done for us. As we reflect on our own stories of transformation and healing, we are encouraged to share them with others, proclaiming the faithfulness of a God who sees us, loves us, and continues to break down walls to reach us. Together, we celebrate the power of Jesus over darkness and commit to being vessels of His light in a world in need of hope.

By Jorge de Campos - God's plan of salvation that all mankind, Jews and gentiles, could become sons of God, was revealed through God's Holy Spirit to the Chruch and was preached to the gentiles by Paul. This mystery had been hidden, even from angels. The "eternal purpose" of God is through faith and is rooted and

What do we know for certain about the Apostle Paul, and how are we to interpret the Pauline Epistles? In this episode, Dr. Weaver provides an introduction to the Apostle Paul, discusses the occasion of the Pauline Epistles, and situates the Epistles in the order and sequence in which they were written. Watch or listen as Dr. Weaver explains the progress of revelation as it unfolded.To download the PowerPoint and Class Notes that Dr. Weaver used in this presentation follow this link: https://pauldweaver.com/articles

By Jorge de Campos - Gentiles were alienated by the Jews and were cut off from God. Now, through Jesus Christ's sacrifice, gentiles are brought near to God. The middle wall of separation did not allow gentiles to pass beyond this 5 foot high stone wall. This wall was not scriptural, but it was a wall built by the Jews

Series: Epistles of JohnService: Wed ClassType: Bible ClassSpeaker: Josh Morris

Series: Epistles of JohnService: Wed ClassType: Bible ClassSpeaker: Josh Morris

Series: Epistles of JohnService: Wed ClassType: Bible ClassSpeaker: Josh Morris

In this episode, we reflect on the depth of God's love and its transformative impact on believers. We discuss what it means to be constrained by His love and the importance of living in the life of Christ within us. The conversation explores oneness and dependency on God, drawing from Hebrews 13:5-6, as well as insights from the Epistles to the Hebrews and Ephesians in understanding God's plan for His people. We conclude with reflections on the beauty of God's love—how it refreshes, renews, and is personally revealed within the local assembly.

Speaker: Rick Scatterday;Title: Selected Aspects of the Enjoyment of the All-Inclusive Christ as Typified by the Good Land.Scripture Reading: 1 Pet. 1:2b, 10, 13; 2:19-20; 3:7; 4:10; 5:5, 10, 12; 2 Pet. 1:2; 3:18.Source: Irving, USA.

By Jorge de Campos - God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly through Christ. We are predestined to be His very sons by Jesus Christ, according to God's good pleasure. In Him we have also obtained the guarantee of a predestined inheritance at the redemption of the purchased possession, to the

The book of Acts narrates the birth and early history of the church. But this history is presented piecemeal and doesn't include all the drama that the individual churches went through. The Epistles give us one part of the “phone conversation” but plenty is left out. What would it look like to fill in the missing information? In this episode, the guys interview Frank Viola who has just produced a work that attempts to bring out some of these missing details. Check out their discussion about “The Untold Story of the New Testament Church.” https://www.amazon.com/Untold-Testament-Church-Revised-Expanded/dp/0768461626

In this episode we interview Frank Viola about his new book The Untold Story of the New Testament Church (Revised and Expanded). Bio:Frank is a bestselling author, speaker, podcaster, and blogger. He helps serious followers of Jesus know their Lord more deeply so they can experience real transformation and make a lasting impact. His blog – frankviola.org – is regularly ranked in the top 5 of all Christian blogs on the Web and his podcast – Christ is All – has ranked #1 in Canada and #2 in the USA on Apple Podcasts. He and his conversation partners also host The Insurgence Podcast.About the Book:Experience the New Testament Like Never BeforeOne famous scholar said that reading the New Testament letters is like hearing one end of a phone conversation. The Untold Story of the New Testament Church (Revised and Expanded) reconstructs the other end so you can understand virtually every word.Seamlessly weaving the narrative of Acts with the Epistles, you'll discover a coherent story enriched by intriguing details of first-century life. This unique and innovative presentation of the New Testament unlocks its epic story in a way that will leave you breathless and equipped to understand the Bible like never before.Though it's non-fiction, this masterpiece reads like a cinematic experience that will captivate your heart by putting you in the center of the drama. Drawing on the best of contemporary scholarship, Frank Viola includes background information about the people, cities, and places that are mentioned throughout the New Testament, all in an engaging narrative.As you dive into this riveting volume, you will:Gain an intimate glimpse into the lives of apostles Peter, James, John, Paul, and their colleagues.Uncover the events that inspired each New Testament letter, shedding new light on every line from Romans to Revelation.Meet the key figures who shaped the world, like Priscilla, Apollos, Lydia, Luke, John Mark, Phoebe, Aristarchus, and Epaphras.Witness the dynamic tumult of first-century churches, individuals, and events as they unfold vividly before you.Prepare to be ushered into the living, breathing atmosphere of the first century so you can uncover the hidden riches contained in God's Word.Buy the Book: https://a.co/d/cgKpHh6Book Website: www.theuntoldstory.net

By Jorge de Campos - God predestined before the creation to have sons and daughters of God in His Kingdom. He also decided before the creation that He would start His creation through just a few called out ones (His Church) whom He would train to lead in the World Tomorrow (in the millenium). All this requires men to be