Podcasts about epistles

In 2025, we traced the Old Testament roots of the Gospels. Now in 2026, we're diving into the rest of the New Testament! Join us as we journey through Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation, discovering how they connect back to Old Testament foundations. Plus, we're adding something special this year: Jesus' words woven throughout. Get ready to see the entire New Testament in a whole new light as we uncover the ancient roots of early church history, Paul's letters, and prophetic revelation. Let's find out together!

Notes - https://www.generationword.com/notes/Epistles/20-Hebrews_the_Epistle.pdf

Sermon Date: December 28, 2025 Speaker: Pastor Landon Churchill If Christmas only lives in December, we never truly understood it. In this message, we move into Christmas in the Epistles—where the New Testament letters explain what the incarnation changed and how it reshapes our identity, obedience, hope, and everyday life. From Hebrews 1, we see that God has spoken fully and finally through His Son—Jesus is not a partial message, but God revealed. From Galatians 4, we're reminded that because Christ came at the perfect time to redeem us, we are no longer slaves but adopted sons and daughters, able to cry “Abba, Father.” In Philippians 2, we're called to live with the same humble mindset of Christ, who laid aside privilege and became obedient even to death on a cross. And in Titus 2, we learn that grace doesn't just forgive—it trains and transforms us as we live with hope, watching for Christ's return. Finally, 1 John 4 shows us what real love looks like: love moved toward us—so now love must flow through us. This is Christmas theology for real life: God has spoken, we belong, humility matters, grace is active, and love must move. Christmas doesn't end—it expands into every day of the year. ComeToFreedom.com

Friends of the Rosary,Yesterday, we honored St. Stephen, who by his words and by laying down his life for his faith, bore witness to Christ. Today, December 27, we receive the testimony of John, Apostle and Evangelist (d. 101).The Church celebrates the Feast of this Galilean fisherman born in Bethsaida, son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother to St. James the Greater, who became the beloved disciple of Jesus.John and James were called by Jesus to be disciples as they were mending their nets by the Sea of Galilee.The pure and spiritual life of John kept him very close to Jesus and Mary, resting on the Master's breast at the Last Supper and being filled with divine wisdom.He wrote the fourth Gospel (about sixty-three years after the Ascension of Christ), three Epistles, and an excellent and mysterious Book of the Apocalypse or Revelation.John is the evangelist of the divinity and fraternal love of Christ. With James, his brother, and Simon Peter, he was one of the witnesses of the Transfiguration.He was permitted to witness His agony in the Garden. At the foot of the cross, Jesus entrusted His Mother to his care as He hung dying on the Cross.St. John was the only one of the Apostles who did not forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion and Death.He was brought to Rome and, according to tradition, cast into a caldron of boiling oil by Emperor Domitian's order, but he was miraculously preserved unhurt. He was later exiled to the Island of Patmos, where he wrote the Apocalypse.In his extreme old age, he continued to visit the churches of Asia. Every time he preached, he said: "My dear children, love one another."St. John died in peace at about ninety-four years old at Ephesus in the hundredth year of the Christian era, or the sixty-sixth from the crucifixion of Christ.Ave MariaCome, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkNew Upgrade! Enhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠December 27, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Third Day in the Octave of Christmas19 And this he said, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had said this, he saith to him: Follow me.Hoc autem dixit significans qua morte clarificaturus esset Deum. Et cum hoc dixisset, dicit ei : Sequere me. 20 Peter turning about, saw that disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also leaned on his breast at supper, and said: Lord, who is he that shall betray thee?Conversus Petrus vidit illum discipulum, quem diligebat Jesus, sequentem, qui et recubuit in coena super pectus ejus, et dixit : Domine, quis est qui tradet te? 21 Him therefore when Peter had seen, he saith to Jesus: Lord, and what shall this man do?Hunc ergo cum vidisset Petrus, dixit Jesu : Domine, hic autem quid? 22 Jesus saith to him: So I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee? follow thou me.Dicit ei Jesus : Sic eum volo manere donec veniam, quid ad te? tu me sequere. 23 This saying therefore went abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. And Jesus did not say to him: He should not die; but, So I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee?Exiit ergo sermo iste inter fratres quia discipulus ille non moritur. Et non dixit ei Jesus : Non moritur, sed : Sic eum volo manere donec veniam, quid ad te? 24 This is that disciple who giveth testimony of these things, and hath written these things; and we know that his testimony is true.Hic est discipulus ille qui testimonium perhibet de his, et scripsit haec : et scimus quia verum est testimonium ejus.St John is the virgin Apostle, crowned with the halo of those who knew how to conquer their flesh; for this reason, he became "the disciple whom Jesus loved." Thanks to his angelic purity, he imbibed that wholesome wisdom of which that Epistle of which the Mass speaks and which has given to him the halo of the Doctors. Finally he received the halo of the Martyrs, since he barely escaped a violent death. It is to St John, who wrote a Gospel, three Epistles, and the Apocalypse, that we owe the most beautiful pages on the Divinity on the Word made flesh, and it is for this reason that the virgin Apostle is symbolised by the eagle. His name is mentioned with the other Apostles' names in the Canon of the Mass. St John the Evangelist departed this life at Ephesus. (101).

"This Martyr was the daughter of most distinguished and noble parents named Philip and Claudia. Philip, a Prefect of Rome, moved to Alexandria with his family. In Alexandria, Eugenia had the occasion to learn the Christian Faith, in particular when she encountered the Epistles of Saint Paul, the reading of which filled her with compunction and showed her clearly the vanity of the world. Secretly taking two of her servants, Protas and Hyacinth, she departed from Alexandria by night. Disguised as a man, she called herself Eugene [Eugenios -ed.] while pretending to be a eunuch, and departed with her servants and took up the monastic life in a monastery of men. Her parents mourned for her, but could not find her. After Saint Eugenia had laboured for some time in the monastic life, a certain woman named Melanthia, thinking Eugene to be a monk, conceived lust and constrained Eugenia to comply with her desire; when Eugenia refused, Melanthia slandered Eugenia to the Prefect as having done insult to her honour. Eugenia was brought before the Prefect, her own father Philip, and revealed to him both that she was innocent of the accusations, and that she was his own daughter. Through this, Philip became a Christian; he was afterwards beheaded at Alexandria. Eugenia was taken back to Rome with Protas and Hyacinth. All three of them ended their life in martyrdom in the years of Commodus, who reigned from 180 to 192." (Great Horologion)

Topics: The Word Disciple Is Not Used in Epistles, Doctrine of the New Covenant, Great Commission Completed in Acts 2, No Need to be Discipled, No Disciples Now, No Apostles Now, Cannot be Jesus' Disciple (Luke 14:26-33), Literal Following in that Time, Disciple Means Student or Learner, John the Baptist's Disciples, Law-Based Prayer in Luke 11, Grace-Based Prayer in John 17, Jesus' Yoke is Easy, None Truly Followed Him by Counting the Cost, Holy Spirit Counsels from Within, One Spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17), Sins No Longer Held (2 Corinthians 5:19), New Covenant Based on Christ's Blood, Old Covenant Obsolete, Better Covenant on Better Promises, Sins Remembered No More, Hebrews Chapters 8-10, New and Living Way (Hebrews 10:20), Rightly Dividing Scripture (2 Timothy 2), Foundations of New Covenant, James and Covenant Mixture Theology, Apostles are Sent Out, Disciples and Apostles Interchangeable (Luke 16:13), Apostle Must be Taught by Jesus, Paul Taught by Risen Jesus (Galatians 1), Apostleship of Paul (Multiple 2 Corinthians Passages), Greater Things Now Is Christ in All of Us Equally, Must Hate Family and Self (Luke 14:26), Must Carry a Cross (Luke 14:27), Count the Cost of Building a Tower, Cannot Win the War (Luke 14:31-32), Accept the Terms of Peace, You are One with Him (1 John 3:1), Grow in Grace and Knowledge (2 Peter 3:18)Support the showSign up for Matt's free daily devotional! https://mattmcmillen.com/newsletter

Notes - https://www.generationword.com/notes/Epistles/19-Second_Corinthians.pdf

In this Advent message, Pastor Jeremiah Genin of Dwelling House Church teaches on Jesus Our Love—revealing that Christmas is far more than a sentimental story. It is the powerful rescue mission of God, planned before the foundation of the world, to redeem humanity through Jesus Christ. Walking through Genesis, Isaiah, the Gospels, and the Epistles, this sermon shows how God's love was demonstrated not through force or demand, but through humility. Jesus came lowly, took on human flesh, endured suffering, and ultimately crushed the power of sin and death through the cross. From the very first promise of a coming Savior in Genesis 3 to the fulfillment of Emmanuel—God with us—this message highlights how deeply and intentionally God has loved us. Pastor Jeremiah challenges believers to respond to this love with humility, surrender, and wholehearted devotion, reminding us that Jesus is not only the answer to sin, but the answer to every longing of the human heart. If you're searching for a church that teaches the Bible clearly, honors Jesus fully, and invites people into real transformation, this message from Dwelling House Church will encourage and strengthen your faith. Questions this sermon answers: 1. What does the birth of Jesus reveal about the depth of God's love for humanity? 2. Why is humility central to how Jesus saves and how believers should live? 3. How should we respond personally to the love God has shown us through Christ?

Matt, Ken, and Kenny continue their discussion about one of the most important questions a Christian can ask: what is the Gospel? Former Baptist pastor Ken Hensley looks at how St. Paul reflects on the nature of justification in his Epistles, to see how it compares with the Reformed and Catholic understandings of how we are saved. More episodes: https://chnetwork.org/on-the-journey-show/ Join our Online Community: https://www.chnetwork.org/community Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass  

This is the eight episode in a series of introductory overviews to various sections of the scriptures.  We are now dealing with the writings of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, from Romans through Hebrews.  These 14 books represent 52% of the NT scriptures by number of books, but an even greater percentage by volume of writing.Romans 15:4 KJVFor whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.Hebrews 4:12 KJVFor the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.Related Podcasts:— Introduction to the Writings of Moses— Introduction to New Testament History— Why the Resurrection is so Vital to Christianity— Missing the Mark— Rejecting God— The Law of Faith— The Law and Grace— It Is All About Worship— Ye Must Be Born Again— Fully Persuaded in his Own Mind— The Differences Between the Old and New Covenants— Why isn't everything repeated in the New Testament?Related Podcasts at TrueWisdom:— It's Always Been about Faith— Text UsSupport the showSend questions or comments to: BibleQuestions@ASBzone.comThe Key Principles of Effective Bible Study is a resource which outlines core concepts shown in the Scriptures that will help you to better understand many Biblical themes and doctrines. We have an extended, 24-part podcast series on these principles, and a condensed, 9-part series called God's Precious Word, that is based on the same resource. We also recommend that you check out the True Wisdom podcast which I co-host with Robert Baker -- a different format for Bible Study. Finally, check out these awesome Bible Maps! We pray that all of these resources will be very helpful to you in your Bible Studies.

Monday, December 15, 2025 Our Monday host is Kerby Anderson! He opens the show by welcoming Dr. Paul Barreca. Paul joins Kerby live in our studio. They'll discuss how wisdom from the Epistles can help today's churches. Then Kerby welcomes Gen Z'er Sofia Hamilton. They'll answer the question “Is America Crossing a Constitutional Red Line?” […]

This is the concluding message in this brief Peter Series and begins by pointing out why New Testament scholars consider that Jude was either the amanuensis of Second Peter or was at least a significant influence on Second Peter. Both apostles were concerned that their audiences would be prone to the errors of the false teachers, and that they would need something to remind them of what had taught His apostles to teach. The two New Testament epistles ascribed to the Apostle Peter are lesser known by most Christians than the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. Some scholars believe that First Peter may have been written to young Christians and may have even served as a 'catechism' for those about to be water baptised. In this episode, we look at how Peter presents God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and how Christianity commences with becoming 'born again'. But this is not where Christianity ends - and that aged Apostle Peter gives instructions on how a new believer is to grow in the faith by exploring what the knowledge of God and HIs grace requires.

Notes – https://www.generationword.com/notes/Epistles/19-Second_Corinthians.pdf

These verses are vitallyimportant to the unity of the church, to the growth of the believer, and to thewitness of the church in the community. That's why we're taking so longcontinuing to look at this passage of Scripture. Remember the leaders of thechurch are told to lead and teach the people to grow in their Christianmaturity, to grow in faith, and to understand how that as a body of believersthat are diverse, that have different opinions, have different ideas, maybeeven different cultural backgrounds, that it is vitally important that they loveone another, and care for one another.  Readthe New Testament. Read the book of First John. Read all the Epistles. Almostall of them speak about this love for one another. Jesus, in His last words inthe upper room were that His disciples might be one. His prayer was that theywould be one (John 17). That they would be one in Christ, one in unity, one inlove, caring for one another. Then they would be a witness to the world aroundthem. That's why this passage in Ephesians 4 is so important. Now,one of the things that will happen whenever God's at work, you can rest assuredthat the devil is also at work and he has his angels, agents of false teachersto lead people astray. Today, my friend, the internet and churches are full offalse teachers who would cause people to follow after them with false doctrines.That's why Paul, Peter and others writers of the New Testament wrote aboutthese people. Even in the first century church, Jude wrote about them. John, warnedof them in his epistles of 1st and 2nd John. Almost everyNew Testament Apostle, teacher, leader warned about these false teachers. Evenhere in Ephesians 4, where Paul is saying to build up the people in the unityof the faith he goes on to say in verse 14 that we should “no longer bechildren tossed to and fro”. Tossed to and fro by what? Because we would be“carried about by every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men and cunningcraftiness of deceitful plotting”, by the false teachers. In Acts 20:28-31,Paul in his last visit to the church at Ephesus, warned the elders: “Thereforetake heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit hasmade you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with Hisown blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come inamong you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up,speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.  In2 Peter 2:1-3, Peter warned the believers he's writing to about these false teachers:“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will befalse teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, evendenying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. Andmany will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth willbe blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words…”.  Like Paul, he is warning us not to be deceivedby false teachers with their false doctrine. Acharacteristic of a Christlike Christian is that he is not only bathed in thetruth, living in the truth, walking in the truth, but he is stable. He issteadfast. He's not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. Everybody thatcomes along with some new teaching about this or that or especially about theLord Jesus Christ and who He is. My friend, you must be careful what you'relistening to and make sure you look at everything in light of the context ofthe entire word of God. Then listen to faithful teachers and preachers who havestayed the course over many many years. Again,these are very important words because the devil is at work to destroy theunity of the church with false teachers. We must be aware of them. They'reeverywhere. So be aware, don't be children about this danger. Grow up, listento the truth, and walk in the truth. 

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

The apostle Peter knows that his execution as a martyr is imminent and now pours out his pastoral heart for those he is writing to. He is deeply aware in the Spirit that after his 'departure' that false teachers will arise within the churches he has helped to plant and will try to deceive many of them. What he warns them of is still relevant for us today. May God grant us open hearts to hear what the Spirit is saying to us today. The two New Testament epistles ascribed to the Apostle Peter are lesser known by most Christians than the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. Some scholars believe that First Peter may have been written to young Christians and may have even served as a 'catechism' for those about to be water baptised. In this episode, we look at how Peter presents God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and how Christianity commences with becoming 'born again'. But this is not where Christianity ends - and that aged Apostle Peter gives instructions on how a new believer is to grow in the faith by exploring what the knowledge of God and HIs grace requires. For more Biblical teaching via podcast subscribe to Messages That Matters with Dr. Andrew Corbett on iTunes, Soundcloud or Spotify: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/messages-that-matter-by-dr-andrew-corbett/id1059252114 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3GuYKpgiAyKiF56LCekRSS Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/DrAndrewC Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/u/0/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zb3VuZGNsb3VkLmNvbS91c2Vycy9zb3VuZGNsb3VkOnVzZXJzOjY5NjkzNjY5L3NvdW5kcy5yc3M For Biblical Thinking Resources - https://www.andrewcorbett.net/ Read “The Most Embarrassing Book in the Bible -understanding the Book of Revelation” on Kindle https://www.amazon.com/MOST-EMBARRASSING-BOOK-BIBLE-ebook/dp/B0081RZ91O/ Read “Authentic Apostolic Leadership - Structure For the Church” https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Apostolic-Leadership-Structure-Church-ebook/dp/B003GIRESO/

Notes - https://www.generationword.com/notes/Epistles/18-First_Corinthians_chapters_1-8.pdf

During the month of December Rick and Svea turn the microphone around and answer your questions on the podcast. Do you have a questions you'd like them to address? Email your questions to podcast@autumnridge.church.Topics discussed in this episode:00:00 Intro01:55 Send your questions for the podcast to podcast@autumnridge.church03:18 QUESTION 1: What advice or insight would you give on silencing or at least quieting the questions of "Is God real?" or "Did Jesus really die for us?"06:10 An unexpected answer: lean in to those doubts and questions. Jude 22: Be merciful to those who doubt.09:52 It's not my responsibility to convince you. It's my responsibility to share with you what convinced me.11:55 Hold on to profound moments and experiences with Jesus - they can be powerful motivational tools to keep on keeping on.13:04 Resources: Podcasts - Undeceptions with John Dixon; Theology in the Raw with Preston Sprinkle; books on topics like the resurrection by N.T. Wright.14:59 QUESTION 2: How do we reconcile once saved always saved and losing salvation? Individuals use scripture for both approaches.15:33 Those two positions can't be reconciles. They are mutually exclusive. Looking at the whole of Scripture, what Jesus said, and the Epistles point to security.17:50 If we could lose our salvation, we would.18:05 Two passages people look at about losing salvation: Galatians 5 and Hebrews 6.23:24 Passages that convinced Rick about security in Christ: John 10, Romans 8, Ephesians 1.27:44 QUESTIONS 3: Can you comment on spiritual circumcision? Is this a requirement and specifically who does the circumcising of the heart?29:17 Used as a symbol like a wedding ring or baptism. It's a profound symbol of something that has been done.36:48 It is a synergy. We can't circumcise our hearts on our own and God won't circumcise our heart on his own even though he could; he wants a relationship.38:05 QUESTION 4: How do we reconcile that we are all made in the image of God and yet we live outside of God's design?40:39 Good news - we are made in the image of God. Bad news - we've all fallen short. Good news - Jesus stepped into the world to be with us and make it possible to be united with him through his life, death, and resurrection.42:22 Being made in God's image we should expect that people from all walks of life will exhibit things that reflect the goodness of God.48:53 The assumption that Christians "should be" more of all these good things than non-Christians. That assumption implies we're Christians because of our behavior not our Savior. We should see a trajectory of personal growth, but we shouldn't assume that Christians are the "good guys" and the non-Christians aren't. As Jesus followers, we need to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do as he did.

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

Notes – https://www.generationword.com/notes/Epistles/18-First_Corinthians_chapters_1-8.pdf

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Senior Pastor, Clint PressleyWednesday November 12, 2025

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

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

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

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“Men sometimes speak as if humility and meekness would rob us of what is noble and bold and manlike. O that all would believe that this is the nobility of the kingdom of heaven, that this is the royal spirit that the king of heaven displayed, that this is godlike, to humble oneself, to become servant of all!”~Andrew Murray (1828-1917), writer and pastor “It is blasphemy if you pray before God while you are full of anger.”~Ephrem the Syrian (c.306-373), Aramean Christian theologian and writer         My dear Wormwood,Be sure that the patient remains completely fixated on politics. Arguments, political gossip, and obsessing on the faults of people they have never met serves as an excellent distraction from advancing in personal virtue, character, and the things the patient can control. Make sure to keep the patient in a constant state of angst, frustration, and general disdain towards the rest of the human race in order to avoid any kind of charity or inner peace from further developing. Ensure the patient continues to believe that the problem is “out there” in the “broken system” rather than recognizing there is a problem with himself.Keep up the good work,Uncle Screwtape~from C.S. Lewis's devilish book, The Screwtape Letters (1941) “They all therefore were glorified and magnified, not through themselves or their own works or the righteous doing which they wrought, but through His will. And so we, having been called through His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified through ourselves or through our own wisdom or understanding or piety or works which we wrought in holiness of heart, but through faith, whereby the Almighty God justified all men that have been from the beginning; to whom be the glory forever and ever.”~Clement of Rome in 1 Clement 32:3-4, a letter written to Corinth in c. A.D. 96 “God allowed his Son to suffer as if a condemned sinner, so that we might be delivered from the penalty of our sins. This is God's righteousness, that we are not justified by works (for then they would have to be perfect, which is impossible), but by grace, in which case all our sin is removed.”~John Chrysostom (c. 347-407), Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians Question 33: What is justification? Answer: Justification is the act of God's free grace by which He pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous in His sight. He does so only because He counts the righteousness of Christ as ours. Justification is received by faith alone.~Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647)SERMON PASSAGEselected passages (ESV)Acts 2 41 So those who received [Peter's] word were baptized, and there were added that day [to the church] about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.Ephesians 2 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.Ephesians 4 & 5 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

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

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

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