Podcasts about faith in jesus

Freedom in Christ is not just a spiritual idea—it’s a lived reality. This Christian devotional explores what it means to be alive in Christ, revealing how faith in Jesus breaks the power of sin and invites believers into a transformed life of obedience and hope. Rooted in Romans 6:11–12, this devotion reminds us that through Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin but children of God, empowered to live differently. Highlights Faith in Jesus breaks the bondage of sin Believers are no longer slaves but children of God True transformation comes through surrender to Christ God offers redemption and second chances to anyone who believes Being alive in Christ means choosing obedience over fleshly desires Temptation loses power when we submit ourselves to God Lasting freedom is found only in Christ, not in the world Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: Alive in ChristBy Vivian Bricker Bible Reading:“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires” (Romans 6:11-12). From the moment we place faith in Jesus, our lives change. We are no longer held in bondage to sin in the same way as we used to be. While we will all continue to struggle with sin throughout our lives, we are no longer slaves to sin. Instead, we are children of God. As His children, we are no longer compelled to obey the sinful flesh as we should want to follow, glorify, and obey God in every area of our lives. Many people have radical changes after placing faith in Jesus and I had the privilege of getting to know someone who had one of these amazing changes in their life. There was an employee at my former Bible college who was known to be a previous criminal, and he served many years in prison due to his crimes. While he was in prison, he placed faith in the Lord and his entire life changed. I did not know this person prior to his conversion, but I do know he is one of the kindest individuals I have ever had the honor of meeting. Whenever I think of this individual, I am reminded of the power of the Lord. He can completely transform a person’s life and give them a second chance. This man was always more than happy to tell anyone about Jesus and how much He had done in his life. When we choose to follow Jesus and surrender our lives to Him, only good will come from it. By turning to Jesus, we are choosing life. If you have not placed faith in Jesus yet, know that it is never too late to believe in Him. If you believe that Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and rose again, you will be saved (Romans 10:9-11). Intersecting Faith & Life: The Bible tells us, “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires” (Romans 6:11-12). The Apostle Paul spoke these words to the Roman Church, but they still apply to us today. We are dead to sin, but alive in Christ Jesus. This means that we are no longer subject to obey the sinful flesh. Rather than submitting to worldly desires, we submit ourselves to God (James 4:7). God has powerful things in store for us; all we need to do is follow Him. Even if the sinful flesh tries to tempt us by saying sin is the “better way,” we know that true life is only found in Christ. Turning away from sin looks like staying away from anything that tempts us or causes sin to rise in our hearts. For example, if jealousy is a common sin you struggle with, avoid spending too much time on social media. Choose to practice thankfulness for all the blessings of God in your life and avoid comparing yourself to others. Talk with God in prayer, lean on Him, and study His Word. It may also help to lean on other believers and ask them for their advice in rising above the temptations of the flesh. Jesus Himself knows what it feels like to be tempted, and He will help us find a way to escape it (Hebrews 4:15). Have you been made alive in Christ? If not, what is holding you back? What sin keeps you bogged down? How might you ask the Lord to help you fight back against this sin? Further Reading: Romans 6:23 2 Corinthians 5:17 Ephesians 3:20-21 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode, I talk with Erez Soref of @oneforisrael about his Jewish journey to faith in Jesus, why Nehemiah matters right now, and why they see modern antisemitism as spiritual, not just political. TIMESTAMPS (0:00) Intro (0:19) Dr Erez Saraf Joins (2:11) How A Jewish Israeli Met Jesus (5:23) Why Nehemiah Still Matters (7:31) Exile, Return, And Rebuilding Walls (13:05) Who Was Nehemiah's Persian King? (14:24) Is Israel Setting The Stage? (17:11) Why Is Antisemitism Surging Again? (22:34) One For Israel And Bible College

If you placed your faith in Jesus, we are celebrating with you!Subscribe to Our Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEHNDPb5XMkf1LyqoTU30vg Help Support and Grow our Ministry to reach people around our community and spread the love of Jesus: https://transformchurch.com/giving/ Stay connected with us through our:Transform Church Website: https://transformchurch.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformchurchnj/Plan your next in-person visit. We are located at:Rutherford Location- The Williams Center9AM, 11AM, 1PM 15 Sylvan St, Rutherford NJLyndhurst Location- 10AM, 12PM525 Riverside Ave, Lyndhurst NJ

Marco David is both a Chicago cop and pastor who finds himself leading Bert Berrios to faith in Jesus in prison–after he was one of the men who put him there. Learn how he came into that dual career and how God's true calling on his life was neither of these. Hear how Marco came to faith after overhearing another conversation where the gospel was preached. You never know who's listening as you are witnessing to others! Marco shares about what he calls collateral blessings, things that the enemy meant for evil and God uses for good, like his own multiple cancer diagnoses and the collateral blessings he finds in others' circumstances. He guides us in reading the Bible, hearing what God has to say, and prayer.Helpful links:6:4 fellowship Collateral Blessings, Marco's bookManny Mill, Koinonia HouseRadical Time OutLet us know what you thought of the show!Follow One80 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website.Never miss a One80. Join our email list. Follow us on Instagram.Share One80, here's how!OneWay Ministries

If you placed your faith in Jesus, we are celebrating with you!Subscribe to Our Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEHNDPb5XMkf1LyqoTU30vg Help Support and Grow our Ministry to reach people around our community and spread the love of Jesus: https://transformchurch.com/giving/ Stay connected with us through our:Transform Church Website: https://transformchurch.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformchurchnj/Plan your next in-person visit. We are located at:Rutherford Location- The Williams Center9AM, 11AM, 1PM 15 Sylvan St, Rutherford NJLyndhurst Location- 10AM, 12PM525 Riverside Ave, Lyndhurst NJ

Playing favorites may feel like a phase we outgrow, but James confronts how deeply partiality still shapes our lives—and our faith. In James 2:1–13, we are warned that favoritism based on status, appearance, wealth, or ideology is incompatible with faith in Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.This teaching by Pastor Aaron McRae exposes how easily we absorb the world's habits of ranking, judging, and dividing others, often without realizing it. James reminds us that true faith is not merely held—it is lived. Faith in Jesus must look like Jesus, expressed through mercy, humility, and love for neighbor without exception.Through Scripture, cultural insight, and practical application, this message calls believers to examine their hearts, reject unconscious bias, and live under the “royal law” of love. Ultimately, James leaves us with a defining vision for Christian living: mercy triumphs over judgment.James Study Journal – Weekly Scripture readings, reflection prompts, and space to apply the teaching personally or with a group - https://hillsidechurches.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/James2026_Journal_FINAL.pdf Discussion Guide – Designed for small groups, coffee groups, or families to process the message together - https://hillsidechurches.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Discussion-Guide-1.18.26.pdf Resources & Scripture ReferencesPrimary Text: James 2:1–13Supporting Scripture-Leviticus 19:15, 18-Genesis 1:27-Galatians 3:26–28-John 1:14-John 15:12–13-Exodus 33:18–19-Ephesians 3:17–19Referenced Authors-Douglas Moo, James-Scot McKnight, The Letter of James-N.T. Wright, Early Christian Letters for Everyone-Scott Sauls, Irresistible FaithStay Connected:Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/c/HillsideCommunityChurchInstagram | https://www.instagram.com/hillsidechurches/Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/hillsidechurchesHillside Website | https://hillsidechurches.comFor the full gathering of this message which includes worship, visit our Youtube channel. Stay Connected With Hillside Community Church.Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/c/HillsideCommunityChurchInstagram | https://www.instagram.com/hillsidechurches/Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/hillsidechurchesWebsite | https://hillsidechurches.com

“How good is good enough?”  Here's the short answer. We could never be good enough to go to Heaven. It's simply not possible for humans to satisfy the justice of God with our efforts at being good.  The Bible teaches us that being a good person could never save us. Instead, salvation is based on the goodness of Jesus, on our behalf.Main Points:1. Jesus, in kindness and love, took our sins upon himself and once and for all died in our place. This is the definition of goodness. God did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, satisfying the justice of a righteous and holy God.2. Forgiveness of our sins and the promise of eternal life is received as a gift from God. We receive this gift as we confess Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. We place our faith in his death and resurrection for our sins, instead of placing our faith in our good works.3. Refuse to buy into the deception that you could be good enough to go to Heaven. Put your faith in Jesus, who was good on our behalf.Today's Scripture Verses:Judges 21:25 - “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.Proverbs 14:12 - “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”Isaiah 64:6 - “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.”Titus 3:4-5 - “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260121dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 The Lamb of God Takes Away Our Sins When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But what does it mean that he “takes away our sin”? Sin is defined in various ways throughout the Bible. It is rebellion against God; it is failing to live up to God’s law of perfect love; it is every thought, word, and action that does not flow from a right relationship with our Creator. Sin’s corruption permeates every part of our lives. Not only does sin lead to needless pain and cause countless problems in every personal relationship, but it also separates us from the holy God who made us and who will be our judge. Finally, the wages of sin is death. As one preacher of the gospel, Martin Luther, said, there are only two places where sin can be: on the sinner or on Christ. Either we carry the weight of our disobedience ourselves and accept its consequences of eternal separation from God, or we rejoice in God's work of placing our sin—all our sin—squarely on Jesus, the Lamb of God. This is the heart of the gospel, the good news of what Christ came to accomplish for us. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). The result for those who turn to Jesus in faith is that God no longer treats us as our sins deserve. Although our corrupted nature still leads us to act contrary to his word, sin does not factor into how God sees us. Instead, he assures us that, in Christ, we have been forgiven. He gives us strength to live for him and joy in the knowledge that we are his dearly loved children through faith in Jesus. Prayer: Lamb of God, you took away the sin of the world. Thank you for your mercy! Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260121dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 The Lamb of God Takes Away Our Sins When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But what does it mean that he “takes away our sin”? Sin is defined in various ways throughout the Bible. It is rebellion against God; it is failing to live up to God’s law of perfect love; it is every thought, word, and action that does not flow from a right relationship with our Creator. Sin’s corruption permeates every part of our lives. Not only does sin lead to needless pain and cause countless problems in every personal relationship, but it also separates us from the holy God who made us and who will be our judge. Finally, the wages of sin is death. As one preacher of the gospel, Martin Luther, said, there are only two places where sin can be: on the sinner or on Christ. Either we carry the weight of our disobedience ourselves and accept its consequences of eternal separation from God, or we rejoice in God's work of placing our sin—all our sin—squarely on Jesus, the Lamb of God. This is the heart of the gospel, the good news of what Christ came to accomplish for us. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). The result for those who turn to Jesus in faith is that God no longer treats us as our sins deserve. Although our corrupted nature still leads us to act contrary to his word, sin does not factor into how God sees us. Instead, he assures us that, in Christ, we have been forgiven. He gives us strength to live for him and joy in the knowledge that we are his dearly loved children through faith in Jesus. Prayer: Lamb of God, you took away the sin of the world. Thank you for your mercy! Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

This podcast and other resources from Lorehaven focus on readers. That's why, when aspiring writers post questions like, Where can I find an agent? or Will you look at my unpublished manuscript?, we don't have much to share in that department. Until now. We're journeying into new lands. This month we're launching the Lorehaven Authorship within the Lorehaven Guild on Discord. Let's explore how these new digital channels with pro livestreams and a fan-focused Book Festival will help writers cultivate their God-given imaginations. Episode sponsors Audio-Epic.com: “1232” podcast The Case of the Heart Stone by Tulli Cole Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett Mission update Discern the Top Three Negative Evangelical Myths about Popular Culture by E. Stephen Burnett Gabriel's Song, new review by Sierra Simopoulos Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild How to join the Lorehaven Authorship Hosted in the Lorehaven Guild, the Authorship offers three member levels: Creative ($3.99/month). Fight for your calling. Enjoy livestreams with the pros. Discover why God created us to make stories for His glory and our joy. Pro Novelist ($9.99/month). All benefits for Creative members, plus your own “booth” to seek new readers in our virtual fan-centered Book Festival! Terraformer ($29.99/month). Get all above benefits plus more perks. Help invest in the future of fantastical fiction and expand the Lorehaven mission. How to join? Subscribe free to Lorehaven. (Or in January 2026, just click here.) We'll send you the Guild invitation. Once you've entered the Guild, look for the LOREHAVEN AUTHORSHIP channels. Then click one to see your options. Pro tip: To avoid added fees, avoid signing up for the Authorship on Apple devices. Instead, use the desktop app or browser version. 1. Why our Author gives us imaginations How can writers sometimes fall into ‘writicism' traps? For a while, many Christian fantasy writers seemed hyperfocused. Blogs and conferences focused mainly on the craft of writing. And some complained about publishers not being interested. Some did try these books. Only a few succeeded. How come? My take for 20-ish years: not enough writer focus on our Only in the last decade-ish have we gotten better at fan outreach. We've also seen more writers get serious about their faith in Jesus. They've earned trust with more readers and therefore succeed. Do fantasy fans like writing more than other fans? Still, we've found that unlike other genres like biography, mystery, and historical romance, fantastical fans enjoy the craft of writing. Some write fanfiction or other stories just for fun. Others share their stories with friends or family. Still others have aspirations for indie or traditional publication. But writers must not hope publishers or fans will make them happy. The best authors are already happy, or joyous, for other reasons. Maybe they're simply really ambitious or gifted, as non-Christians. Or maybe they're Christians and find their joy/happiness in Christ. How does fantastical creation give us joy in Jesus? In any case, if you're a Christian, create stories for Christ's glory! God has called you to worship Him. Only in this can we be happy. Worship includes biblical practice of His gift of imagination. That's why we make things for His glory and for our happiness. This joy can begins today, yet is also practice for eternal joy. And this pursuit is our “chief end”—before all the challenges of plotting vs. pantsing, or whether to seek agents vs. indie-publish. How will the Lorehaven Authorship help you find joy? In the Authorship, published pros will train creatives in the craft of writing. However, we'll also help you discover your purpose for your imagination. Why did God create you? And why do we feel this drive to create other stuff? If you sense the need to know this greater godly mission, welcome aboard! 2. How we grow His gifts into writing skills How has this biblical joy kept us going over decades? To repeat: God gives us creative imagination to glorify Him. So His divine purpose empowers us for creative challenges. Personally, Stephen can testify that I've been renewed by this biblical mission for over 25 writing years of minor wins and major losses. Even when the day job boss says, “We need to lay you off”? Even when the editor says, “This project isn't right for us? Often Stephen has asked himself, “If I never got published as a ‘pro novelist,' could I still write, if only for my joy in Christ?” How will the Authorship help writers grow their craft? I'll put my 25+ years of creative struggles to work here. So will other pro novelists. This reflects our shared need for training. After all, you can't go directly from “Let's write!” to “Let's change the world with our stories.” Don't skip that big step in between—the step of Christians helping one another grow our creative gifts. For example, later this month I'm hosting a fully public livestream: How to Sell a Sci-Fi Novel in Just Twenty-Five Easy Years Saturday, Jan. 31 6 p.m. Eastern (3 p.m. Pacific) exclusively in the Guild Future livestreams will be available for all Authorship members. Apart from livestreams, we'll share this training in every room of the Authorship—from C.S. Lewis's three-stage view of story-making, to creative challenges like the “Christian” label, to the thorny issue of whether fictional characters can curse. How will authors reach fans at the Book Festival? Lorehaven has spent years connecting authors not just with other authors, but with faithful readers. So the Authorship will also feature the Lorehaven Book Festival. Anyone in the free Guild can visit the Book Festival to browse virtual booths. Yet only members at the Pro Novelist level can host their own booth spaces. They can recruit readers, share links, or host Q&As—for any length of time. 3. How ‘terraformers' can change this world What's the state of the Christian fantastical world? We'd love to see more Christian-made novels in sci-fi and horror. As reality-observant persons, however, we must admit the truth. Teen/YA women's fantasy continues to rule these worlds. A day may come when all subgenres live in harmony and success. But it is not this day. Bad publishers? No. Limited/quiet readership. Why do we need not just writers, but “terraformers”? To fulfill this future, we need spaces to help these genres grow. Lorehaven is generational. That's why we call for terraforming. Maybe the Lord has blessed you with success you'd like to share. Or maybe you're not a writer, but you want to support writers. You can become an Authorship Terraformer, sponsoring this work. (Only after supporting family, local church, and faithful groups!) How will the Authorship grow fantastical fiction? Our ultimate purpose: offer even more resources from Lorehaven. More library titles. More reviews. Digitally published book quests. Perhaps even more episodes of this very podcast, shared to all. Right now our main limitation is not willingness or skills, but time. Thank the Lord, Lorehaven is a sponsor-supported digital mission! Still, if He brought other supporters our way, we'd be glad to grow. Com station Top question for listeners If you write, which groups and mentors have helped you grow? Comment from @‌johnfollis2357 about episode 219: I am forever grateful to these people for putting this wonderful drama together. I won’t spoil it much here, but there is a part in Glorious Appearing that had me convicted of my sin and my need for a savior several years ago. And as a result, I was converted to Christianity. A follower of Jesus Christ. God saved me. And I did not do anything to earn it. It is all his doing. Next on Fantastical Truth Imagine, if you will, that Christian Author X creates a futuristic tale in which cyborg detectives explore the boundaries of good and evil. That seems cool. But how does that compare with, say, Christian Author Y's fantasy story in which verses and prayer are like magic, people and place names are anagrams for virtues, and the king represents Jesus Christ? Many fine Christians get confused by Author X's story but get impressed by Author Y's story—because, after all, it's allegory! Is this kind of allegory, however, really a more “Christian” kind of story?

Phil Hudson - What is the bedrock for single-minded faith in Jesus as we meet various trials? Assurance of the single-minded goodness of God.

Paul's positivity was about faith in Jesus, not about naive optimism. Paul was no fool and was under no illusions about the state of the world. He knew people were going “from bad to worse.” However, he wanted Timothy to remain encouraged and persevere faithfully and fearlessly. All around the world we can find reasons […]

It is our prayer that today's word would encourage and challenge to walk out your faith in Jesus, shine brightly in darkness and experience Kingdom impact in all you do! Stay connected with Belmont Church on our Facebook page, website or on the Church Center App.

Belonging to a Spirit-shaped community is essential to following Christ. Faith in Jesus must be personal, but it is never private. The Holy Spirit forms not only individuals into the likeness of Christ but also binds believers together into a local church community. A Christian disconnected from the church is like a severed limb—disoriented and dying. The New Testament consistently portrays believers as members of a body, joined together and dependent on one another through the Spirit. The unity of […] The post The Spirit that Unites Us appeared first on Revival Life Church Boca Raton, FL.

In this sermon by Chris Romig, the key focus is Revelation chapter 12, which offers a cosmic perspective on God's plan for salvation. Chris Romig interprets the main symbols shown, the woman as Israel, the dragon as Satan, and the male child as Jesus. He explains that this vision is not merely a distant prophecy but the deeper reality behind the Christmas story, revealing a spiritual battle in which God's plan triumphs over every attempt by Satan to thwart it. Throughout history, Satan's efforts to destroy God's people and stop the Messiah were repeatedly defeated. Chris reassures listeners that, although Satan appears powerful, he is ultimately thrown down and defeated by God. The sermon emphasizes that Christians should not fear evil, but instead find confidence in God's sovereignty and the victory achieved through Christ. In moments of struggle, believers are encouraged to remember that Satan is already a defeated foe, and that true victory is assured through faith in Jesus.

In ad 155, the early church father Polycarp was threatened with death by fire for his faith in Christ. He replied, “For eighty and six years I have been his servant, and he has done me no wrong. And how can I now blaspheme my king who saved me?” Polycarp’s response can be an inspiration for us when we face extreme trial because of our faith in Jesus, our King. Just hours before Jesus’ death, Peter boldly pledged His allegiance to Christ: “I will lay down my life for you” (John 13:37). Jesus, who knew Peter better than Peter knew himself, replied, “Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” (v. 38). However, after Jesus’ resurrection, the same one who’d denied Him began to serve Him courageously and would eventually glorify Him through his own death (see 21:16–19). Are you a Polycarp or a Peter? Most of us, if we’re honest, are more of a Peter with a “courage outage”—a failure to speak or act honorably as a believer in Jesus. Such occasions—whether in a classroom, boardroom, or breakroom—needn’t indelibly define us. When those failures occur, we must prayerfully dust ourselves off and turn to Jesus, the One who died for us and lives for us. He’ll help us to be faithful to Him and courageously live for Him daily in difficult places.

Southside Tribe! In this episode, we are joined again by our good friend Ray Chang, as well as the biblical powerhouse Amy Lynnettee. This conversation turns toward one of the most urgent issues facing the Church today: why so many young people are disaffiliating from Christianity—and what it will take to make faith in Jesus matter again. Through the lens of the TENx10 initiative, we explore discipleship and mentorship, the power of relational formation, and why content alone can't produce transformation. We dive into real stories of generational tension, women in ministry, Scripture-centered digital outreach, and the courage required to empower younger believers without fear of "being replaced". With our signature honesty, humor, and conviction, this conversation challenges leaders and communities alike to examine whether we're guarding platforms—or passing the baton for the sake of Christ's Kingdom. Episode on all audio platforms, and bonus content on our Patreon community!! Become a Patreon member for Early Access & Exclusive Bonus Content - https://patreon.com/Southsiderabbi Southside Rabbi is proudly sponsored by TENx10. Tenx10.org Southside Rabbi is proudly sponsored by Redeem Healthshare, a division of Samaritan Ministries. Learn more here: https://hubs.ly/Q03MQXV_0 Southside Rabbi is proudly sponsored by Native Supply - grab SR merch there! https://www.native.supply https://native.supply/collections/southside-rabbi Follow us Online: Southsiderabbipodcast.com https://linktr.ee/southsiderabbi Email us at Southsiderabbipodcast@gmail.com Intro music produced by Randeaux- https://www.instagram.com/randeauxbandeaux/ Contact at randeauxbandeaux@gmail.com All rights reserved by their respective owners.

St. Louis Cardinals legendary pitcher Adam Wainwright returns to the pod for a brand new chat with Matt Forte on his country music career, his faith journey and life in retirement. Chapters:- (01:49) - Adjusting to retirement from baseball- (05:54) - His journey of faith in Jesus Christ- (12:07) - Advice for those doubting in their faith- (15:55) - Living out his faith in Jesus as an MLB player- (18:47) - Adam's budding music career- (22:39) - Choosing the genre of music to glorify ChristHave a question? Got a guest suggestion? Want to advertise with us? Email us - jason@sportsspectrum.comWATCH all of our podcast episodes on our YouTube page:https://www.youtube.com/SportsSpectrumMagazineSign up for our Sports Spectrum Magazine and receive 15% off a 1-year subscription by using the code PODCAST15https://www.theincrease.com/products/sports-spectrum-magazine Do you know Christ personally? Click below to learn how you can commit your life to Him.https://sportsspectrum.com/gospel/

Send us a textJames Gutierrez had already come to faith in Jesus—but freedom required going deeper.In this episode, James shares how Jesus patiently led him back through places of trauma and abuse where wounds had become demonic strongholds. Rather than force or fear, Jesus brought healing through kindness, truth, and presence.Karl Gessler and James unpack what real deliverance looks like when Jesus Himself leads the process—and how that freedom now flows through James as he helps others find healing in Christ.This conversation is honest, grounded, and deeply pastoral.❤️ SHOW YOUR SUPPORT - LINKS BELOW...➡️ Email me: https://www.karlgessler.com/deliverance➡️ DONATE ➡️  Join our team!https://www.givesendgo.com/karlgesslerfamilybandhttps://www.patreon.com/karlgesslerhttps://cash.app/$KarlgesslerSocial Media➡️Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089357625739➡️Telegram - https://t.me/FaithoftheFathers➡️Truth Social - https://truthsocial.com/@UCLOvq6O4aIXLrkKxwXkq3uASupport the show

This is an introduction to the Gospel of John, Part 1 of 8: Of all the books in the New Testament, the Gospel of John sits unto itself. There is nothing else quite like it in the Christian Scriptures. Its most unique feature is its focus. From John 6:29: “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” AndvJohn 20:31: This book was written “so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.” More than any other author in all the canon, John writes to induce belief in the reader; he invites the reader to put his or her faith in Jesus - in the One.

“Your faith will never be great until it becomes a part of your present reality.”   In this episode of Revival Cry, Eric Miller shares how to measure your faith in Jesus, drawing from Romans 12:3 and Matthew 9:18–26. He explores four expressions of faith—devoted, delayed, desperate, and decorated—showing how each reflects our walk with God. Devoted faith trusts and worships Jesus wholeheartedly; delayed faith waits patiently for His perfect timing; desperate faith reaches out in urgent belief; and decorated faith only appears outwardly faithful without true surrender. Eric encourages listeners to live in present faith, the kind that actively reaches toward Jesus today and reveals His power in our lives.   Click here to go to the official Revival Cry YouTube channel. To see the Revival Cry podcast on another streaming service, click here.   To support Revival Cry or find out more information, go to revivalcry.org Email us at info@revivalcry.org  Follow @RevivalCryInternational on Facebook and Instagram.   Purchase Eric's 30-Day Devotional Books:  ⏵ “How to Become a Burning Bush”, available in English and Italian ⏵ “Hearing God through His Creation”, available in English, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese

Lucy Malmberg: Cradled in a Box, Carried by FaithLucy Malmberg's life began in the shadow of World War II. Born in a refugee camp and carried onto a plane bound for America inside a handmade box, she traveled hidden beneath a blanket with nothing but a handwritten birth certificate and her father's whispered prayer. Her parents had fled the devastation of Ukraine with no home, no country, and little more than their steadfast faith in Jesus. That improbable journey — marked by desperation, courage, and divine protection — became the opening chapter of a life defined by God's unwavering faithfulness.From her earliest memories, Lucy recognized God's fingerprints on every detail of her story. He met her family with miracles both great and small, providing exactly what they needed when they needed it. Through seasons of hardship and abundance, Lucy learned to trust His timing, His provision, and His plan.Pharmacy eventually became Lucy's calling, but it was never just about medicine. She approached her work as a ministry, caring for the whole person — body, mind, and soul. Together with her late husband, George, she founded Wedgewood Pharmacy and helped build it into one of the nation's most respected veterinary compounding pharmacies. Yet professional achievement was never her ultimate goal. What mattered most was stewarding the platform God had given her to share the hope of Jesus.Lucy inherited her passion for introducing people to Christ from her father, a man whose ever-present smile opened the door to countless Gospel conversations in grocery lines, gas stations, and diners. She carries that same joyful boldness. More than anything, Lucy longs to live a life that helps populate heaven.When the opportunity arose to invest in Christian pharmacy education, she didn't hesitate. Her recent $1 million gift to Cedarville University's School of Pharmacy will equip future pharmacists to serve as both excellent clinicians and courageous ambassadors for Christ. Meeting students whose lives were transformed through the scholarship moved Lucy to tears. For her, it was unmistakable confirmation that God was at work.Lucy recently shared her testimony on the Cedarville Stories podcast. With warmth and humility, she reflected on a life shaped by hardship, hope, and the joy of Jesus. She sees Cedarville as a place where students are not only trained with excellence but also sent out to share the Gospel wherever God leads.For Lucy, that is the legacy that matters most: hearts turned toward heaven, one faithful life at a time.https://share.transistor.fm/s/09c46197https://youtu.be/nd03ddxGU5w

Daily Dose of Hope January 14, 2026   Scripture: I Thessalonians 2   Prayer:  Lord, We come to you today with humble hearts.  Help us think less of ourselves and more about others.  Help us focus more on you, and less on our own wants.  It is our inclination to complain and whine.  Forgive us, Lord.  We need you.  More of you and less of me.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently on a journey through the letters of Paul, working through them in chronological order.  We are currently on Paul's second pastoral letter, I Thessalonians.  Today, we read I Thessalonians 2. The authors start out the chapter by discussing their motives for preaching the Gospel message.  They have pure motives and have no desire to trick people into becoming converts, which must have been an issue in the day.  Gaining converts at any cost suggests manipulation and the desire to look successful before others.  But their main concern was pleasing God, not people.  That does not mean that the Gospel message isn't pleasing to people, because it certainly is, but that wasn't their main reason for sharing it.  God had called them to this and they were being obedient. Unfortunately, throughout the course of history, Christians haven't always had such pure motives in sharing the Gospel.  Evangelism has often occurred with a Bible in one hand and a sword in the other.  I think Paul, Timothy, and Silas, would be appalled at how far people representing the Christian faith have gone to simply gain converts, without concern for the hearts of people.  As twenty-first century believers, we get to stand on the shoulders of those who witnessed well and those who made a terrible mess of it.  And yet, we are still called to share the Gospel with others with pure motives.  Guided by the Holy Spirit rather than our own prideful motivations, we are called to share the source of our hope.  Just as Paul and friends write in this chapter, our core motivation must be to please God.  It's great if other people are pleased as well with the message, but that isn't our primary purpose.  It's simply all about Jesus. Paul isn't shy.  He tells the Thessalonians that he serves an a model for faithfulness.  In all fairness, he says the Thessalonians are also to be emulated as models of faithfulness.  I want to talk about this a bit.  Paul isn't bragging.  He is making a statement about how the Gospel of Jesus is not a set of ideas to believe but rather a way of life.  The Gospel might be seen as a set of lived commitments.  Paul is saying that believers model the Word of God in their context, they live it out, even when it is hard.  And it was very hard for the Thessalonians but they did it anyway.  Paul wants them to know he sees their sacrifice and loves them; he is willing to sacrifice alongside them as well.   Do you live out your faith in the way Paul is describing?  Is your faith a set a beliefs or is it a total and complete lifestyle with Jesus at the center?  What would it take for you to move toward a lifestyle in which your faith in Jesus is all-consuming?  Who do you know who models this kind of faith?  Paul certainly alludes to attributes that suggest someone is living this way: humility, honesty, sincerity, willingness to work hard on tasks that seem lowly, willingness to be vulnerable, courage to take risks for the Gospel, and a true trust in Jesus.   Take some time and pray about this.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

If you placed your faith in Jesus, we are celebrating with you!Subscribe to Our Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEHNDPb5XMkf1LyqoTU30vg Help Support and Grow our Ministry to reach people around our community and spread the love of Jesus: https://transformchurch.com/giving/ Stay connected with us through our:Transform Church Website: https://transformchurch.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformchurchnj/Plan your next in-person visit. We are located at:Rutherford Location- The Williams Center9AM, 11AM, 1PM 15 Sylvan St, Rutherford NJLyndhurst Location- 10AM, 12PM525 Riverside Ave, Lyndhurst NJ

If you placed your faith in Jesus, we are celebrating with you!Subscribe to Our Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEHNDPb5XMkf1LyqoTU30vg Help Support and Grow our Ministry to reach people around our community and spread the love of Jesus: https://transformchurch.com/giving/ Stay connected with us through our:Transform Church Website: https://transformchurch.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformchurchnj/Plan your next in-person visit. We are located at:Rutherford Location- The Williams Center9AM, 11AM, 1PM 15 Sylvan St, Rutherford NJLyndhurst Location- 10AM, 12PM525 Riverside Ave, Lyndhurst NJ

When we place our faith in Jesus, a change takes place at the deepest level of who we are—dying to the old life and rising into new life in Christ. Tim explores how in baptism, God gives us a visible expression of this inward transformation and invites us to step fully into the life He has for us.

Daily Dose of Hope January 12, 2026   Scripture: Galatians 6   Prayer:  Dear Lord, I feel the need to just start with silence this morning.  Help us sit and reflect on you and your presence...Jesus, we need you.  We go through our days distracted and in a hurry, sometimes even forgetting to pray or acknowledge you.  Help us to be aware of your presence, knowing that you walk with us every step of the way, guiding us and leading us in all our words, actions, and decisions.  This is your day, Lord.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a journey through the letters of Paul.   Today's reading is Galatians 6.  We have reached the final chapter of Paul's letter to the Galatians.  Keep in mind, as we read this and many of Paul's letters, we are privy to only one side of the conversation. It would be really helpful to know how the Galatians responded to Paul!  What were their initial concerns and fears that made their way to Paul in the first place?  Paul is about to close out this conversation with the Galatians and it's impossible for us to get the whole picture.   That being said, we get the gist.  In this final chapter, Paul certainly emphasizes the main point of the letter, that salvation is found in the cross of Jesus and not in the law.  But it's here that Paul is also addressing "so what does this mean for our everyday lives?"  Faith is what is absolutely critical for Galatian believers but works demonstrate that belief.  While the specific works of the law are no longer relevant, how a believer behaves is still very much relevant!  One scholar said that Paul is saying that faith in Jesus and actions are inseparable, like breathing in and breathing out.  You can't say you believe in Jesus and then not change your actions.  That's why Paul is encouraging the Galatians to bear one another's burdens and fulfill the law of Christ in verse 2, why each person must bear their own load in verse 5, and why each person will reap what they sow in verse 7.  He encourages them to not lose heart in doing good, don't grow weary in the assurance that they will reap what they've planted in verse 9.    The next part is actually kind of humorous.  In verse 11, Paul is actually taking the pen from the scribe (letters at that time were usually dictated to a professional scribe) and writing his own conclusion. He is clear that he is writing this part on his own with large letters.  It's especially critical to him and he wants to emphasize it one more time.  He is going back, one last time, to his main point.  He has preached to him the true Gospel – salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus alone.  Works of the law have nothing to do with salvation.  The false teachers who came after him have preached a false Gospel, saying that to be in right relationship with God, the Galatians have to be circumcised (and follow the whole law as well).    Then, he closes by saying that neither circumcision or uncircumsion matter.  What matters is the new creation.  What does this mean?  The best way to describe it might be a radical transformation that occurs because of our belief in Jesus.  The old ways are gone and we are new people.  It means spiritual rebirth, characterized by a new identity and life purpose.  The new creation means we are no longer defined by our old identity and divisions but by our union with Jesus.    How have you experienced this new creation in your life?  How would you describe you before and after identity in Jesus?    Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Tired of the lies playing on repeat in your mind? Feeling like a fraud, rejected, or not good enough—even when you're managing everything? In this vulnerable episode, we're exploring how to speak the truth over yourself and your children, exchanging lies for God's identity and calling for your life.Kerry shares her deeply personal story of walking through rejection and discovering that speaking the truth out loud daily—not just thinking it—is what transforms your mind and breaks the power of lies.What you'll learn in this episode:✅Why we must speak the truth out loud (not just think positive thoughts) to renew our minds✅The white stone with a new name in Revelation 2:17 and what it means for your identity✅The two questions that replace "Why, God?" and actually move you forward✅Kerry's story: learning to speak the truth as a warrior on her knees after 31 years of marriage ended✅How to help your kids speak the truth over the lies they believe about themselvesReady to start your identity exchange? Download the FREE Biblical Truths Printable mentioned in this episode—sample truths Kerry speaks over herself daily plus a blank page for your own. Grab your copy of Jamie Winship's book Living Fearless! Podcast: Stop Negative Thinking for You & Your KidsShow Notes: Hey everyone, Kerry Beck here with Homeschool Coffee Break, where we help you stop the overwhelm so you can actually take a coffee break.We talked last week about lies in our head and lies that our kids believe. This week, we're going to get to the hopeful part. That may have been a little depressing. We're going to get to the hopeful part. We're going to come talk to God about what our identity is in Him, what His calling is for us, and how we can replace those lies.Jamie Winship calls it identity exchange. We are going to exchange those lies for truth.Learning from Living FearlessWhat I'm sharing are things that I have learned from a man named Jamie Winship. He's written a book called Living Fearless. You can get the link to it in the show notes, and I highly recommend it. A few years ago, I bought a copy for every one of my children, and for my parents and my sister as well, because it had such a huge impact on us.We're going to talk today about how God actually gives you a new name, a true identity, and how to listen for it, how to find out what it is. We're going to start with Revelation 2. This is where Jesus is writing to the different churches, and he's written to a church called Pergamum. He says, you have remained true to my name, to God's name. You did not renounce your faith in me. And that was a good thing.But at the end of his letter, he has this to say in Revelation 2:17: Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious, I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away up in heaven. I will give to each of you a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands, except the one who receives it.You may be going, what is this white stone he's talking about? And how do we get a new name? Because that new name has something to do with your identity. Well, in ancient Greece, the jury members would give a white stone if they were going to acquit the man. They would give a black stone if the defendant was guilty. In ancient Rome, they had a custom of awarding white stones to the winner of athletic events, and their name was written on that stone.We want to talk about that new name, because we walk in newness of life. We walk in a new covenant. We're going to put away our sins. We're going to leave our past in the past, and we are going to walk in newness of life. That's what I want for you, Mom. That's what I want for your children as well.Can You Really Hear from God?If you've ever wondered, can I really hear God about my identity? How do I know? Sometimes we don't truly believe God and what He is saying. We say He can do the impossible, but we don't really think it for us.Let me share a couple stories that Jamie Winship shares. He met a man in Washington, D.C. who had been working with Congress, and this man comes up to him, like a bodybuilder, very well-built, very healthy. And he says, how can I know if I can really hear from God? And he said, well, you can come with me to a mission, because Jamie Winship had worked with the CIA over in the Middle East for decades, and he was now helping Congress with some things about working with conflict.He and this Jason Bourne dude and a Navy guy, they all got dropped off in Northern Africa, pitch dark. They get there, they're staying in tents, their host would fix their meals, and they would fix 4 plates. And the Jason Bourne guy would go, why is there someone else? Why do they keep fixing 4? There's only three of us.Eventually, after a few days, he says, well, go ask them. Since this guy could speak that language, he says, why do you have four plates? Well, it's for your security detail. He's like, what are you talking about? Well, long story short, they're like, the guy that's guarding y'all outside. And he's like, what does he look like? He's the big, bulky guy that's protecting you. And what is he? He has a sword.Come to find out, they could see this angel of God that was protecting Jamie and this Jason Bourne guy and the other guy from enemy attack, and he had a sword. Muslims believe in visions like that. They believe these things. They believe you can hear from the gods. And they could see this angel, even though Jamie and Jason Bourne person couldn't.But when he heard that, Jason Bourne is like, okay, how do I hear God? I want to know. How do I hear God? And basically, Jamie says, what about your situation? He's like, why can't we have kids? And he says, you're asking the wrong question. And for some of you, you're asking the wrong question when it comes to the problems in your life, your identity. You're saying, why, why, why? That is the wrong question.Here are the two questions that Jamie suggests. We need to say, God, what do you want me to know, God? What do you want me to do? And that was a question that I actually wrestled with. This morning, again, on my walk, I was gonna go right into prayer. I'm like, no, I need to listen to God.A lot of believers, we all believe, yes, God's powerful, we've seen Him do miracles, all this stuff, but we don't really believe that we can hear from God. And if we don't believe that, we believe in a weak God. I do believe that I can hear from God. We believe in a God that can do it for everyone else, but not for us. Or that He will do miracles, but I don't know about for us.Well, that is not total faith. Total faith is believing that God can do miracles. And we need to let God tell us what He is doing, instead of our past dictating what we do. Instead of our failures dictating what we do. Instead of our fears. Do you have fears about homeschooling? Or raising kids? You see, this is what leads to bad identity, to the lies that we talked about.But when you live from what God says you are, you are going to become more creative, more resilient, you're going to have more peace, even in the hard circumstances. I am a product of that as well. You see, you may be great at multitasking, teaching, managing your home, but you still feel like a fraud.Identity Exchange is going to God and letting him rename you. Like that white stone with a new name.The Story of HamzaThere was a young man in the Middle East that Jamie ran across. I actually shared this story at Homeschool Superheroes about 3 or 4 years ago, and in the chat, people are like, is this for real? Is this a real story? Is she really telling the truth? And yes, it is real, and you can read about it or listen to it when Jamie tells that story. But there was a man named Hamza.He had found a Bible at a hotel, and somehow he connected with Jamie, and he's like, who is this man? And they go, well, do you want to hear from him? Or do you want us to tell you about him? I want to hear from him, talking about Jesus, because he had read parts of the New Testament.They got together, and they didn't tell him what they knew about Jesus. They were like, we're gonna let God speak. And what they did was they prayed and said, okay, God, Hamza really wants to hear from you. Would you please speak your truth to Him and let him hear that?Would that be a scary prayer? In the United States, we don't pray that. You know why? We're afraid God's not going to show up. We're afraid God's not going to show up for me, for our friends, for our own children. We're afraid he's not going to speak.Well, they weren't afraid, and God has shown up over and over. I've heard many stories that He has shared of Him speaking, and Hamza heard, and he began to grow in his new identity in Jesus Christ. He has walked through so many hardships. His family tried to kill him several times, like, throw him off a cliff, shoot him with a gun, and somehow he's made it through all of this because he walks in his identity of Christ, and what God spoke to him.His hardships and fear began to change as he learned to listen to God's voice and receive that new identity of who He is in Christ Jesus. This has opened doors to things he would never imagine, and it can be the same with you in your homeschool. If God can reach a young man, a Muslim man, being killed by his family because he has faith in Jesus, and even more dangerous situations, he can speak to you, tired homeschool mom, in your minivan, or at the kitchen table.My Story of Identity ExchangeI know from experience that God has spoken to me. I don't know how many of you know my story, but about nine and a half years ago, my husband left. We'd been married for 31 years. I'd be a very rich person if I had money from all my friends that looked at me and went, you and Steve? No, that's not true. Because they'd seen a marriage that seemed to be working.But I felt, when I found out he was leaving, totally rejected. I'd never felt depression before. I felt hopeless. And I could have walked in those lies. I probably did for a while. My friend says, Kerry, you were walking in PTSD for a few years. That's probably true.But I began praying for him all the time. I pray for him every single day. Sometimes it's a quick prayer, sometimes it's prayers of tears, but it is a prayer for his soul. His soul needs to go back to accepting the redemption that He has through Jesus Christ. I also pray for reconciliation for our marriage and our family. And there are people that are like, just get over it and move on, and go find someone else. No.I made a covenant with God, a three-way covenant. Not a contract, where if he does something wrong, it's broken, go off and do whatever. A covenant. God's never broken His covenant with Israel. He's remained faithful, even through discipline. And I decided that is what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna remain faithful to our covenant. God and I are still waiting for Steve's return.The question isn't why, God? Why is this happening? It's, God, what do you want me to know? What do you want me to do about this? And then let God work in and through me through the Holy Spirit. You see, I need to focus on me growing with God, and I'll let God deal with Steve. I believe He is faithful to the promises He's made, Steve and me. God says, I will never leave you or abandon you. I will work on you until the day of Christ Jesus.Over time, I've learned who I am. What is my identity? And it's not the same as for you, but I will share mine. I believe I'm a warrior, a warrior on her knees, a teacher. A teacher of women and kids, both online and in person. An encourager. I never wanted to be a counselor. That's the thing I ever wanted to do. But God has used me to counsel kids and women. And I've pressed into that. And I'm a networker. I'm an organizer networker, trying to pull people together, trying to get things, not programs, but relationships. That's where it's all about, a networker of relationships.You need to know your identity comes first, and then the outcome. I am a prayer warrior for Steve and for our family on my knees pretty every day. Again, sometimes there are quick prayers, but a lot of times, when I go for a walk, that's my prayer time. When I sit at the kitchen table, that's my prayer and Bible time. That is who God made me, a warrior of people's souls. A warrior that fights and contends for people's souls, starting with my own marriage and husband, and family, kids, and grandkids.We haven't seen reconciliation, but I know God is good, I know God loves Steve, and He is still working, and I totally believe that He is reconciling our marriage. In the middle of my pain, it wasn't why God. Well, yeah, I had asked that, honestly. Why is this happening to me? It's not supposed to be like this.But I have learned it's more important for me to keep my eyes upward and my faith in Jesus. Because this world is passing away, and there is nothing that I need to do. I need to change my identity and not believe the lies that I was a terrible wife or a terrible mom. I've been rejected multiple times since Steve left by him, neighbors, church, family members, and it hurts.But I keep going back to God, because He's the one that's going to move me forward. I can't change people. I can just deal with myself. And He will meet me in the messiness of my broken marriage, my sleeping marriage, my destroyed marriage. He will meet you in your homeschool. He will meet you in your family, in your home, in your marriage, and in your heart.Simple Steps to Get UnstuckThere are two key questions you need to be asking yourself. Not why, although you can ask why. I'm not expecting to, well, I do, I'll be honest, the reason why is so I would trust Him, and I would grow closer to Him. I would never wish my life on anyone. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. Because I am closer to God than I have ever been.So, God, what do you want me to do about this situation, your situation? God, what do you want me to know, and then what do you want me to do?Your child melts down over math. The old question is, why is this always happening? What is wrong with us? The new question is, God, what do you want me to know about my child? What do you want me to do? Comfort? Pause, change the approach, stop doing math. I did that for a whole year, actually, when I had a child that wasn't doing well with math, and had a bad attitude about it.Maybe skip it first. You're a gentle shepherd, not a drill sergeant. Then speak that truth out loud. Start acting as a gentle shepherd and not that frazzled failure. Just like I did.What I want you to do is I want you to look at the lies, pick one, and write a truth, hopefully a Bible verse that will go along with that truth. And then once you've wrestled through this, work with each of your children. What is the lie they are believing? I can't do it. I'm not smart enough. I need this, or I need that. I don't want this, I don't want that. Blaming people, whatever the lie is.Do it with your kids as well, and write a truth down, and say it out loud. Here are the simple steps so that you can get unstuck with the lies that you're believing. Number one, name one lie. That was last week's episode. Ask the two questions. What, God, do you want me to know about this? What do you want me to do about this?Then, I want you to find a truth and write it down, and put it somewhere that you're going to see it every single day. Kitchen sink, I have some in the bathroom window, I actually have some in the kitchen sink, I have some in my car. So I have different truths that I will see at different times of my day. And then I want you to say it aloud every single day.Do this with your kids, maybe at the breakfast table. They read out loud that Bible verse or that truth about themselves, maybe at their desk, if they have a desk, and they are going to read that out loud as well, before they get started on their homeschool.Speak the Truth Over Your LifeIf you want more ideas, you can get Jamie's book, Living Fearless, that'll be in the show notes. If you want these free things here that I have, I'm going to read these in a second, then you can get those, the link is in the show notes as well. It's just a printable, and there is a page for you to write your own truth. You don't need mine, but mine can be just sort of a sample.And I'll close with this. Like Jesus, I am chosen by God to be holy. I am chosen by God for great honor. I trust in Jesus, therefore I am not put to shame. God loves me and always takes care of me.I am precious to God, because He bought me with Jesus' blood. I am a daughter of the king, a princess. I live in the light shining for Jesus all day long. I control my thoughts, my words, my food, my drink.I receive God's mercy and grace, so I give grace, mercy, and forgiveness to others. I lead my case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. I speak with words. I speak with pure and reverent behavior, and with a gentle and quiet spirit. I wait quietly on God.Some things I have to really work on, and when I'm really struggling with a lie at that time, I may just pull that one out and say it every day, sometimes multiple times. I am patient. I am kind. I always forgive. I forget offenses against me. And some of you are like, I can't forget that. Well, you know what? If I have the Holy Spirit inside of me, I have the power that God has inside of me, and I can overcome, and God can take those thoughts away. He takes other thoughts away that I forget. Surely He can take those offenses, and I forget them.The Holy Spirit renews my mind and attitudes every day. God never leaves me, never abandons me, never fails me. I listen well. I trust in God to fight my battles. He wins my battles.Thanks for spending time with me. If any of this hits home, please share this with just one friend, maybe another homeschool mom, that this might encourage. That would mean the world to me. I'm Kerry Beck with Homeschool Coffee Break. We'll talk to you next time.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260111dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17 How’s Your Approval Rating? Whether it’s at work, school, or home, we are constantly graded, compared to others, and rated. The boss gives us our annual review. The teacher hands out report cards. The son informs mom that her Mac & Cheese isn't as good as what Dylan’s mom makes. It is strange how these “ratings” can affect our day. If they’re good, we feel good. If they’re lousy, we feel lousy. If they’re nothing special, then we are tempted to feel that we’re nothing special. How's your approval rating with God? How have you been keeping up with those Ten Commandments? Remember, they’re not God’s suggestions; they are his commands. How’s it going between you and your neighbor, all your neighbors? Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If we’re going to talk comparisons, why not go all the way and, as God says, compare ourselves to him. “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Yikes! Will I ever meet with God’s approval? Will God ever say of me, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”? This is what makes the Baptism of Jesus, as well as our own baptisms so special. God, in his grace, has connected me to Jesus. God has given me faith in Jesus as my Savior. Jesus has taken away all my sins. Jesus gives me his perfection and holiness. When God looks at me, he sees Jesus and he says, “This is my son, my daughter, whom I love! With him, with her, I am well pleased.” Approval ratings don’t get any higher than this. God be praised! Prayer: Dear Jesus, when doubts of my worth come, drown them in the waters of Baptism and remind me of your love for me in Jesus. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

It is our prayer that today's word would encourage and challenge to walk out your faith in Jesus, shine brightly in darkness and experience Kingdom impact in all you do! Stay connected with Belmont Church on our Facebook page, website or on the Church Center App.

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is Judges 21:1-3. Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, "No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin." And the people came to Bethel and sat there till evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. And they said, "O Lord, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?"  — Judges 21:1-3 Israel weeps. They mourn the destruction they caused, but their tears are not repentance—they're regret. They're not asking, "What did we do wrong?" but "How did this happen?" The difference may seem small, but it's everything. Regret is sorrow over consequences. Repentance is sorrow over sin. Israel doesn't confess their rebellion or seek God's direction. They simply grieve what they've lost, not what they've done. We do the same thing. We cry over the fallout but ignore the cause. We mourn broken marriages, fractured friendships, or spiritual dryness—but we rarely look inward at the pride, anger, or idolatry that caused it. Here are a few reasons why we avoid dealing with the heart of our sin: Pride. We don't want to admit we were wrong. Shame. We believe our sin defines us. Fear. We're scared of what repentance might cost. Control. We still want to manage the situation instead of surrendering it. Comfort. We prefer the illusion of peace over the pain of change. But regret doesn't bring freedom—repentance does. Regret keeps you chained to the past, while repentance opens the door to grace. The only way out is through confession, humility, and faith in Jesus. So say it with me: I'm done with regret. I'm done living in sorrow that never changes me. I'm done replaying my mistakes while ignoring the Savior who redeems them. Jesus didn't just die for your sin—He died for your shame, your guilt, and every ounce of regret you still carry. If you're tired of replaying the pain and ready to be renewed, it's time to stop asking "why" and start asking "what now, Lord?" In the comments below, share your step toward repentance—your decision to confess, turn from sin, and trust in the grace of Jesus. He's not done with you yet. And if today you're ready to move beyond regret, I want to invite you to take a simple step of faith—type "I'm done with regret" in the comments below as a public declaration. Let that phrase be your line in the sand, your confession that you're turning from sin and coming home to the grace of Jesus, who died for both your sin and your shame. ASK THIS: Am I more upset about the consequences of sin or the sin itself? What has regret kept me from fully surrendering to God? Which of the five reasons above do I relate to most? What would real repentance look like for me today? DO THIS: Write down one area where regret has replaced repentance—and confess it to God. Say it out loud: I'm done with regret. Then walk in that truth today. PRAY THIS: Lord, I've spent too long living in regret instead of repentance. Search my heart, expose my sin, and lead me to the freedom that only comes through Jesus. Today I declare, I'm done with regret. Thank You for dying for both my sin and my shame. I surrender it all to You. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Because He Lives."

How did the gospel travel from Jerusalem to your life today?In this series, Pastor Clayton reveals the heart of God's mission: the Father's love that sent the Son so the world could be saved. John 3:16 shows us that salvation is not an accident—it's the result of God's intentional, sacrificial love for a world in darkness.This message explores the Father's love, the Son's sacrifice, and our invitation to believe and be sent. Jesus was lifted up not for praise, but to take on sin and judgment so that everyone who believes can have eternal life. The gospel is both a rescue and a mission—meant to be received and shared.Scriptures Referenced:- John 3:13–21- Numbers 21:4–9- John 20:21Keywords:John 3:16 explained, why Jesus was sent, God's love for the world, gospel message, eternal life, Christian mission, faith in Jesus, Bible sermon, salvation, evangelismGod loved the world enough to send His Son. The question is how we will respond—to hide from the light or step into it and live sent.Subscribe for more sermons and biblical teachingShare this message with someone who needs hope

This weekend, we'll move deeper into the core of Paul's appeal to believers who are tempted to shift their dependence from simple faith in Jesus to their own ability to follow the rules. In Galatians 3:10-14, Paul uses the Law to prove that rule keeping was never intended to give us the life we're looking for.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260111dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17 How’s Your Approval Rating? Whether it’s at work, school, or home, we are constantly graded, compared to others, and rated. The boss gives us our annual review. The teacher hands out report cards. The son informs mom that her Mac & Cheese isn't as good as what Dylan’s mom makes. It is strange how these “ratings” can affect our day. If they’re good, we feel good. If they’re lousy, we feel lousy. If they’re nothing special, then we are tempted to feel that we’re nothing special. How's your approval rating with God? How have you been keeping up with those Ten Commandments? Remember, they’re not God’s suggestions; they are his commands. How’s it going between you and your neighbor, all your neighbors? Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If we’re going to talk comparisons, why not go all the way and, as God says, compare ourselves to him. “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Yikes! Will I ever meet with God’s approval? Will God ever say of me, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”? This is what makes the Baptism of Jesus, as well as our own baptisms so special. God, in his grace, has connected me to Jesus. God has given me faith in Jesus as my Savior. Jesus has taken away all my sins. Jesus gives me his perfection and holiness. When God looks at me, he sees Jesus and he says, “This is my son, my daughter, whom I love! With him, with her, I am well pleased.” Approval ratings don’t get any higher than this. God be praised! Prayer: Dear Jesus, when doubts of my worth come, drown them in the waters of Baptism and remind me of your love for me in Jesus. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Bible StudyDon't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: .Sermon NotesI. Introduction: The Word We All Need“Please” is a magic word — but there is a deeper one.An ancient word written into the fabric of the universe.Without it, we wither; with it, we flourish.Spoken by the Father, received through the Son.II. Jesus at the JordanJesus comes to John for baptism.John resists; Jesus insists — “to fulfill all righteousness.”Jesus' baptism marks the beginning of his public ministry.III. Why Jesus Was BaptizedIdentification — Jesus stands with sinners.Initiation — Baptism becomes Spirit-filled and ongoing.Inauguration — God's Kingdom is breaking in.IV. Heaven RespondsHeavens opened — God reveals who Jesus is.Spirit descends like a dove — humility, new creation.Voice from heaven — the climax.“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”V. The Magic Word: BelovedSpoken publicly by the Father.Defines Jesus' identity before his work begins.From all eternity, the Son is beloved.VI. Beloved — And UsWe all long to hear this word.Human love is good, but not enough.In Christ, the Father now speaks it over us.Not earned. Not lost. Not performance-based.2 Corinthians 5:21 — Jesus gives us his righteousness.VII. InvitationHave you received this word?Through faith in Christ, you are God's beloved.Feelings may lag — the truth remains.Receive it. Rest in it. Live from it.Discussion Questions1. When does Jesus baptize us "with the Holy Spirit"? When we are baptized? When we place our faith in Jesus? At a later time, when we receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit?2. Can one have assurance in being beloved by God apart from faith in Christ and what he has done? Why or why not?3. What difference does it make to a person's identity to live as God's beloved?4. In what ways do you personally experience the reality of being beloved? What gets in the way of it for you?Bonus - Watch this music video: Questions?Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Randy Forrester ().

The church should be filled with diversity, but never division! This week we continue the Culture Shock Series and dive into 1 Corinthians, Chapter 11. We are reminded that God loves ALL people and we receive all of Jesus when we put our faith in Jesus! Verse 23 states what it truly means to take Communion and Who we are to remember when we take Communion. 

Grace relates to unmerited favor (you get something good that you don't deserve). The greatest expression of God's grace is the gospel, the good news that salvation is available through faith in Christ. God graciously offers forgiveness, restoration, spiritual life and Himself through faith in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and resurrection.  This chapter reveals a picture of this process of renewal as Joseph is a picture of the savior and his brothers are a picture of humanity, sinners in need of restoration. Let's discover together and appreciate our restoration even more…

The Worst Kind of DemonA 41-year-old man, previously indifferent to religion despite a vague belief in God, shares a chilling personal experience that led to his Christian faith. In July of the previous year, his family moved from Calgary to his elderly parents' rural property near Edmonton to help care for his terminally ill father, who was dying of lung cancer after decades of smoking. Shortly after arriving, his mother confided that she had seen a tall, hunched black figure with long fingers and deep black eye pits in her bedroom. Terrified, she began sleeping with the lights on and avoided the room without a dog. The man initially dismissed it as a hallucination related to her health. Weeks later, he began experiencing strange phenomena himself: sensations of bugs crawling all over his body at night (only relieved by sleeping on the couch), followed by nightmares, light poking that escalated to aggressive jabbing, grabbing, squeezing, and pulling. No one else in the family was affected. The encounters intensified. One night on the couch, an invisible large, cold, rough hand with long fingers grabbed his face and forced his head into the pillow, causing pain. When he fought back, he felt something walk along the couch and then grab his ankles; he saw his sweatpants move as if squeezed. Another time in the garage, he felt overwhelming malevolence, a sudden cold, and physical grabs on his thigh and neck. In desperation during the neck grab, he began reciting the Lord's Prayer aloud. The pressure immediately released, warmth returned, and the malevolent feeling vanished. The next day, deeply shaken and sleep-deprived, he contacted his pastor aunt and uncle. They guided him to pray out loud, surrendering his life and soul to Jesus Christ. He did so sincerely. That night, for the first time in months, he slept peacefully with no disturbances. Three weeks later, a final attack occurred: a presence grabbed his head. Though initially paralyzed with fear and unable to speak, he eventually commanded the entity to leave in Jesus' name (as his relatives had instructed). The grip released instantly, though it briefly caused sharp pain in his knee before departing permanently. He describes this as the moment he truly felt God's presence. His father passed away a week later. Afterward, his young son reported feeling watched and getting “bad feelings” at night. The man led his son in the same prayer of surrender to Jesus, and all disturbances in the house ceased completely. Since then, the man reads the Bible daily (sometimes twice), prays multiple times a day, and the family studies scripture together. His son, now ten, reminds him to pray at bedtime. Previously having never opened a Bible and feeling unworthy of redemption due to past mistakes, he now believes both demonic forces and God's protective power are real. He credits prayer and faith in Jesus for his deliverance and ongoing peace.Join my Supporters Club for $4.99 per month for exclusive stories:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/what-if-it-s-true-podcast--5445587/support

Full Text of Readings The Saint of the day is Saint Gregory of Nyssa Saint Gregory of Nyssa's Story The son of two saints, Basil and Emmilia, young Gregory was raised by his older brother, Saint Basil the Great, and his sister, Macrina, in modern-day Turkey. Saint Gregory of Nyssa‘s success in his studies suggested great things were ahead for him. After becoming a professor of rhetoric, he was persuaded to devote his learning and efforts to the Church. By then married, Gregory went on to study for the priesthood and become ordained (this at a time when celibacy was not a matter of law for priests). He was elected Bishop of Nyssa in 372, a period of great tension over the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. Briefly arrested after being falsely accused of embezzling Church funds, Gregory was restored to his see in 378, an act met with great joy by his people. It was after the death of his beloved brother Basil, that Gregory really came into his own. He wrote with great effectiveness against Arianism and other questionable doctrines, gaining a reputation as a defender of orthodoxy. He was sent on missions to counter other heresies and held a position of prominence at the Council of Constantinople. His fine reputation stayed with him for the remainder of his life, but over the centuries it gradually declined as the authorship of his writings became less and less certain. But, thanks to the work of scholars in the 20th century, his stature is once again appreciated. Indeed, Saint Gregory of Nyssa is seen not simply as a pillar of orthodoxy but as one of the great contributors to the mystical tradition in Christian spirituality and to monasticism itself. Reflection Orthodoxy is a word that can raise red flags in our minds. To some people it may connote rigid attitudes that make no room for honest differences of opinion. But it might just as well suggest something else: faith that has settled deep in one's bones. Gregory's faith was like that. So deeply embedded was his faith in Jesus that he knew the divinity that Arianism denied. When we resist something offered as truth without knowing exactly why, it may be because our faith has settled in our bones.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Using his testimony as a starting point,  this message tackles Jacob's assigned theme: how prophecy and evangelism are inseparably linked. Anchoring the talk in Isaiah 1:18 (“Come now, let us reason together”), he argues that the gospel is not a blind leap but intellectually credible and historically defensible, contrasting it with what he portrays as religion's subjective claims and man-made attempts to reach God. Drawing from his own background in 1960s counterculture, leftist politics, science-minded skepticism, and occult involvement, he describes how the “Jesus Freak” revival confronted him with evidence he could not dismiss—especially fulfilled messianic prophecies and external historical attestations that forced him from trying to disprove Christianity to accepting Christ. He critiques alternative religious systems and Christian counterfeits, then pivots to end-times themes—Israel's centrality, geopolitical convergence, cultural decay, and deception within the church—to emphasize urgency: personal mortality and global instability are “time bombs,” but the “blessed hope” is available now through repentance and faith in Jesus the Messiah. 

Read OnlineIt happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Luke 5:12What a perfect prayer! This leper, likely shunned by the townspeople, including his own family, had been reduced to a life of isolation and rejection. Some might have pitied him, but out of fear of contracting his dread disease, they kept their distance. The emotional and social isolation he endured would have been even more painful than the physical suffering caused by leprosy. This miracle takes place shortly after the people in Jesus' hometown of Nazareth rejected Him. The Nazarenes' rejection stemmed from a sense of entitlement; they saw themselves as God's chosen people and thus believed they were entitled to His grace and blessings. When Jesus confronted their false beliefs, they became hostile and even attempted to kill Him. As a result, He left Nazareth and continued His ministry in Capernaum and other towns. Jesus did not perform miracles to impress others or to win their esteem. Instead, He performed miracles for those who already exhibited deep faith. The miracles were not only intended to reveal His identity but were primarily acts of love meant to invite the faithful to believe more deeply. This leper is a perfect example of such faith. First, the man approached Jesus and “fell prostrate” before Him. In doing so, he professed his faith in Jesus as the Messiah. This act of faith was enough to open the floodgates of God's blessings. The leper believed and worshiped first, and because of this, God's grace was poured out upon him. Too often, we seek blessings first, as if we are entitled to anything from God. We might say, “Please do me this favor, Lord, and then I will believe.” But that is not how it works. Jesus is God and must be treated as such. Whether we are blessed or not, whether we suffer or not, we must worship God because He is God. This leper understood that. The leper's prayer for healing is also a model of humility and trust. He did not directly ask Jesus to heal him. Instead, he professed his faith in Jesus' ability to heal, saying, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” This expression of faith unlocked the tender compassion of our Lord, who responded, “I do will it. Be made clean.” When you pray, do you tell God what He should do for you? Do you present Him with a list of your ideas and expectations? If so, try setting those aside. Begin your prayer by worshiping God simply because He is God. When it comes to your needs, place them before Him with trust, but avoid telling God what to do. God knows what is best for you. Presenting your needs to Him should not be a plea for Him to fulfill your will; rather, it should be an act of trust, believing that He will do what is best according to His will. We must desire nothing other than that.Reflect today on the example of this leper. Though the disease of leprosy is a dreadful affliction, the leper's model of prayer is truly admirable. Consider whether you follow his example. Love, worship, and profess your faith in God, and then entrust yourself to His providential care, ready to embrace His will no matter what it may be. This form of holy detachment will unleash God's mercy and provide you with what you need most—God's will. My miraculous Lord, too often I come to You with my needs, telling You what I want You to do for me. Please grant me a humble and faith-filled heart like that of the leper. May my first prayer always be one of worship. May my worship lead to trust so that Your will, not mine, may be done in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.Image:  NT140.Jesus Heals Ten Lepers by pcstratman, license CC BY-SA 2.0Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

This week, Pastor Mateo unpacks what real, saving faith looks like through the book of James. He teaches that faith in Jesus is more than belief and is the conviction that He is Lord, expressed through love, mercy, obedience, and a life that is truly transformed.

Join us to hear the amazing true story of the Jesus Movement of the 1960s and 1970s! Learn how God powerfully revealed Himself to a young misfit who'd rejected the "stuffy religion" of his parents' generation---and called him to true faith in Jesus. Hear riveting personal accounts from Greg Laurie, who will challenge you to be radically transformed from the inside out.Become a Parshall Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/inthemarket/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you placed your faith in Jesus, we are celebrating with you!Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEHNDPb5XMkf1LyqoTU30vg Help Support and Grow our Ministry to reach people around our community and spread the love of Jesus: https://transformchurch.com/giving/ Stay connected with us through our:Transform Church Website: https://transformchurch.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformchurchnj/Plan your next in-person visit. We are located at:Rutherford Location- The Williams Center9AM, 11AM, 1PM 15 Sylvan St, Rutherford NJLyndhurst Location- 10AM, 12PM525 Riverside Ave, Lyndhurst NJ

This sermon explores the foundational nature of the church as revealed in Matthew 16:13-20, where Peter confesses Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God." The message emphasizes that the church is built upon this confession of faith in Jesus as both fully God and fully man, the only Savior who can reconcile sinful humanity to a holy God. Pastor Joe Fant stresses that salvation comes through faith alone in Christ alone, not through human works or righteousness. The sermon challenges believers to understand their vital role in building God's church through witnessing, serving, and prayer, while maintaining confidence that no force of darkness can ultimately prevail against the gospel's advance. The message calls for practical commitment in 2026 to share the gospel, serve in the local church body, and devote oneself to prayer, recognizing that God uses Spirit-empowered human effort to accomplish His eternal purposes. Key Points: Jesus deliberately chose Caesarea Philippi, a pagan Roman city with false worship, to declare His authority and announce His church The world remains confused about Jesus' identity, but true believers confess Him as the Christ, the Son of the living God This confession is the foundation upon which Christ builds His church, and it comes only through divine revelation, not human reasoning The gospel is simple: God requires perfection, we are sinful, and only Jesus—fully God and fully man—could live perfectly, die for our sins, and offer His righteousness in exchange The gates of hell cannot prevail against the church; the gospel is an unstoppable offensive force, not merely a defensive position God builds His church through the Spirit-empowered efforts of believers who witness, serve, and pray Every church member has a responsibility to share the gospel, serve in the body, and commit to prayer The challenge for 2026: commit to sharing the gospel with two specific people in your sphere of influence Scripture Reference: Matthew 16:13-20 (primary passage) Supporting references: Genesis 3, Isaiah 53, Deuteronomy 5, Joshua 3, Daniel, John 1:1, John 3, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Corinthians 12-13, Matthew 5-7, Matthew 18, Acts 2, 3, and 10, Colossians 4, Matthew 9, Luke 11, James 5:13

As we begin the new year, we're reminded that every step forward requires faith in Jesus, who is with us in every season.

SummaryThis conversation explores key biblical themes from the Gospel of John, focusing on the interactions between Jesus and various individuals, including Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, and a royal official. It delves into the concepts of spiritual rebirth, the significance of faith, and the transformative power of Jesus' message.TakeawaysNicodemus represents the struggle to understand spiritual rebirth.Jesus emphasizes the necessity of being born of water and spirit.The concept of eternal life is central to Jesus' teachings.John the Baptist acknowledges his role in relation to Jesus.The Samaritan woman symbolizes the breaking of social barriers.True worship is defined by spirit and truth, not location.Jesus reveals his identity as the Messiah to the Samaritan woman.Faith can lead to transformative experiences and testimonies.The royal official's faith in Jesus' word leads to healing.Jesus' miracles serve as signs to inspire belief. Chapters00:00 The Encounter with Nicodemus05:37 The Woman at the Well11:00 The Healing of the Royal Official's SonNewsletter and Blogs: ⁠https://benjaminlee.blog⁠I Can Do Podcasts: ⁠https://icandopodcast.com⁠Youtube Channel: ⁠https://youtube.com/@icandopodcast?si=5wh_kCwzVh_p8Vve

Phil Hudson - James is calling the church, amid the pressures of the world, to a single-minded faith in Jesus as Lord, trusting in the grace of God. Because how we respond to the various trials we face has a real bearing on our faith and fruitfulness, James seeks to equip us to respond wisely.

It is our prayer that today's word would encourage and challenge to walk out your faith in Jesus, shine brightly in darkness and experience Kingdom impact in all you do! Stay connected with Belmont Church on our Facebook page, website or on the Church Center App.

Today’s Bible Verse – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” When we place our faith in Jesus, we’re not just improved—we’re made new. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul reminds believers of their brand-new identity in Christ. The past no longer defines you. This verse is a powerful promise of transformation, forgiveness, and fresh beginnings through God’s grace. If you’re in Christ, the old is gone—and your new life has begun.