Podcasts about Faithful

Who is the most loyal person you've ever known? A parent? Spouse? Friend?Truthfully, we all crave loyalty. It gives us a sense of safety. We feel that if there is some loyalty in our world, it's like a warm blanket on a cold night. Life seems less scary.As we discuss the role of Jesus in our personal stories, it is good to remind ourselves often of ultimate loyalty. In turn, it encourages us to be loyal to that One person we can always count on.John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”Jesus gives us loyalty that cannot be broken. Are we willing to stay true to Him, as well? In other words, if life's road gets rough, do we stay on the path He has set for us? Like Peter, we tend to think nothing could pry us from Jesus, but our choices can do that. Then we regret being disloyal to Christ.Resolve to never let that happen to you. Keep His sacrifice for you in your mind and heart. That will help you stay true to Him when life isn't so great.He promised to never leave you. Tell Jesus that you love Him for that, and keep your eyes looking ahead to the eternity He has made for you.Let's pray. Lord, make us strong in our loyalty to our Savior. Then let that light shine for those who see us. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

We are learning about a very sad story in the Bible. John the Baptist had been preaching and teaching, but the king had him thrown into jail. While he was sitting in jail there was a big party with lots of people drinking alcohol. When one of the young ladies pleased the king he asked her for any request to be granted. Her mother told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. The king didn't want to have John killed, but his mind was so confused by the alcohol that he couldn't make good choices. What would he do??? You'll have to listen to find out. Year B Quarter 3 Week 36All Bible verses are from the NKJVHymn: More About JesusWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here: Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comStarting With Jesus - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusSeedPod - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCvU2FBPEL5-Zi2QW0STVLg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this Week: AshleyPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson  for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/  for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music. To learn more about her music or to get her CD, email her: lindsey@startingwithjesus.com

An estimated $124 trillion is expected to pass from Baby Boomers to their heirs by 2048, marking one of the largest transfers of wealth in history. And women are expected to play a particularly significant role. Sharon Epps, President of Kingdom Advisors, joined the show today to discuss this historic shift and the opportunity it presents for women to approach wealth with wisdom, preparation, and biblical faithfulness. Why Women Are at the Center of the Wealth Transfer Economists have been talking about the Great Wealth Transfer for years, but it is no longer simply a future prediction. The transfer is already underway. Women are uniquely positioned within it in part because they tend to live longer than men. As a result, many women will experience both intragenerational transfers—wealth passing from a spouse—and intergenerational transfers from parents and other family members. But inheritance is only one part of the picture. Women already earn income, manage household resources, invest, give, and make significant financial decisions. Research indicates that women are involved in approximately 94% of household purchasing decisions. That means the stewardship opportunity ahead doesn't begin when an inheritance arrives. It is already here. A Biblical Legacy of Women and Stewardship Women using financial resources to advance God's purposes is nothing new. Luke 8:1–3 describes several women who supported Jesus and His disciples out of their own means. These women were not merely observers of Christ's ministry. Their financial generosity helped make the work possible. Likewise, in Romans 16:1–2, Paul commends Phoebe and describes her as a benefactor of many, including himself. In a culture where women often had limited social and economic influence, Phoebe used what God had entrusted to her to serve others and help advance the gospel. Their examples remind us that financial stewardship has always been about something greater than accumulating or managing money. It is about faithfully using whatever God provides for His purposes. Faithfulness Changes With the Seasons 1 Corinthians 4:2 says, “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” That calling applies to every believer, but the practical responsibilities of stewardship can look different in different seasons. A woman may move through seasons as a student, professional, wife, mother, caregiver, business owner, widow, retiree, or some combination of these roles. At various times, she may be an earner, an inheritor, a household financial manager, or all three. The circumstances change, but the responsibility remains: stay informed, equipped, and engaged with the resources God has entrusted to you. That can mean understanding the household finances, learning how investments work, participating in conversations about estate planning, preparing for retirement, or developing a thoughtful plan for generosity. Faithful stewardship does not require becoming a financial expert. But it does require engagement. Money as a Tool for Purpose For some women, managing finances comes naturally. Others may quickly say, “I'm just not a numbers person.” But stewardship is about much more than numbers. Money is a tool that can help us care for family, support ministries, meet needs, practice hospitality, create opportunities for others, and generously participate in work that matters to us. Seen through that lens, financial stewardship becomes less about mastering spreadsheets and more about connecting resources with purpose. Whether wealth is earned, inherited, or managed on behalf of a household, every dollar presents an opportunity to ask: How can I use what God has entrusted to me faithfully? An Opportunity for the Whole Family The Great Wealth Transfer also creates an opportunity for important conversations between husbands and wives, parents and children, and across generations. Preparing the next steward involves more than transferring assets. It means passing along wisdom. Families can begin discussing questions such as: What has God entrusted to us? What values do we want our financial decisions to reflect? How much is enough? What role should generosity play in our estate plans? Is the next generation prepared to manage what they may eventually receive? These conversations can help transform inheritance from a simple financial transaction into an intentional act of stewardship. Preparing for an Historic Stewardship Opportunity The coming wealth transfer represents an extraordinary financial moment, but for Christians, the most important question is not simply who will control the wealth. It is how that wealth will be stewarded. Women have faithfully earned, managed, given, and used resources for God's purposes for generations. As trillions of dollars change hands in the decades ahead, women of faith have another significant opportunity to continue that legacy. The goal is not merely to receive more wealth, but to be prepared to manage God's money God's way—using it wisely, generously, and faithfully for the purposes He places before us. This month, FaithFi is releasing its first-ever special edition of Faithful Steward magazine, entirely focused on women stewarding wealth. When you become a FaithFi Partner, we'll send you this special issue as our way of saying thank you for supporting the ministry. Learn more at FaithFi.com/Give. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Can you recommend a reputable Christian debt consolidation company that could help lower a large monthly payment? I'm almost 69 and plan to wait until 70 to claim Social Security. If I keep working after 70, will my benefit continue to increase, and do I still pay Social Security taxes? I also keep having to pull from savings to cover my checking account. Who can help me build a realistic budget and get my spending under control? My wife and I earn a good income but still owe taxes each year. I've increased my 401(k) contributions to lower taxable income. Is that the best approach, or should I adjust my withholding or set money aside for taxes? I'm 65, plan to keep working, and have about $20,000 in savings with monthly expenses around $4,000. How should I use that money to prepare for retirement? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Christian Credit Counselors FaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough? Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We are learning about a very sad story in the Bible. John the Baptist had been preaching and teaching, but the king had him thrown into jail. While he was sitting in jail there was a big party with lots of people drinking alcohol. When one of the young ladies pleased the king he asked her for any request to be granted. Her mother told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. The king didn't want to have John killed, but his mind was so confused by the alcohol that he couldn't make good choices. What would he do??? You'll have to listen to find out. Year B Quarter 3 Week 36All Bible verses are from the NKJVHymn: More About JesusWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here: Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comStarting With Jesus - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusSeedPod - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCvU2FBPEL5-Zi2QW0STVLg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this Week: AshleyPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson  for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/  for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music. To learn more about her music or to get her CD, email her: lindsey@startingwithjesus.com

We are learning about a very sad story in the Bible. John the Baptist had been preaching and teaching, but the king had him thrown into jail. While he was sitting in jail there was a big party with lots of people drinking alcohol. When one of the young ladies pleased the king he asked her for any request to be granted. Her mother told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. The king didn't want to have John killed, but his mind was so confused by the alcohol that he couldn't make good choices. What would he do??? You'll have to listen to find out. Year B Quarter 3 Week 36All Bible verses are from the NKJVHymn: More About JesusWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here: Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comStarting With Jesus - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusSeedPod - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCvU2FBPEL5-Zi2QW0STVLg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this Week: AshleyPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson  for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/  for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music. To learn more about her music or to get her CD, email her: lindsey@startingwithjesus.com

Fr. Mike shares one of his favorite Bible verses, and guides us through the story of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah as they are thrown into the fiery furnace. He also emphasizes the significance of their Hebrew names, and how powerful name changes are in Scripture. Today's readings are Jeremiah 22, Daniel 3, and Proverbs 15:29-33. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

In this sermon, Meredith looks at God's faithfulness to Paul through his trials and Paul's faithfulness to Jesus through his hardship

Traitors AU Season 3 Eps 7+8 Recap Watch the podcast on YouTube! The We Know Traitors podcast is back, with hosts Pooya and Annabel Fidler diving into episodes 7 and 8 of The Traitors Australia season 3. With the last OG Traitor standing and the fate of the infamous twins hanging in the balance, Pooya and Annabel break down pivotal moves and shifting alliances in the castle's high-stakes atmosphere. Who has the grit, influence, and strategy to survive as suspicion swirls and alliances fracture? This episode unpacks the intense drama around the Luke and Josh death match, the aftermath of AJ's murder, and shifting suspicions as both Traitors and Faithfuls try to navigate the endgame. Annabel reflects on Kirby's steadying presence as the sole original Traitor left, while Pooya spotlights the twins' influence and how their rivalry fuels game chaos. They trace how Josh and Luke's detective work, Luke's high-profile banishments, and Chrissy's emerging alliance with Kira, Tully, and Rachel recalibrate the pecking order. The discussion also looks at Rachel's rise from suspicion, Tully's struggle with losing allies, and why Rhys, now a Traitor, operates in an increasingly precarious spot. The dramatic showdown between brothers Luke and Josh, and how each's approach affects their credibility and survival Kirby's unique path as the last OG Traitor standing and her method for avoiding banishment despite early suspicion AJ's exit after a failed attempt to outmaneuver the Traitors, and what his banishment means for remaining Faithfuls Chrissy's proactive alliance building, including the formation of her core quartet with Kira, Rachel, and Tully The group's analysis of key missions gone sideways, from failed shield grabs to Lawson's mission mishaps Is Kirby's run as a lone Traitor bound for triumph, or have Faithfuls like Chrissy and Rachel set the stage for a Faithful win? As the remaining contestants shift allegiances and plot their next moves, who can keep control of this unpredictable endgame? Catch the full breakdown for nuanced takes on strategy, betrayals, and the odd phone flirtation that could change the game. Chapters: 0:00 Last OG Traitor Standing 6:33 Luke's Bold Roundtable Showdown 11:30 AJ's Downfall and Missed Strategy 16:14 Rhys Recruited as New Traitor 19:16 Twins Face Off: Death Match 24:01 Chrissy Forms Power Alliance 29:29 Tully Torn by Alex's Exit 33:22 Luke Leads Claudia Banishment 39:04 Luke and Josh: Social Masters 46:01 Claudia Targeted Over Shield Drama 48:33 Alex's Banishment: Final Breakdown 54:40 Predictions: Who Falls Next? 1:00:37 Kirby's Miraculous Endgame Survival Never all our Traitors US recaps plus recaps from other versions around the world! LISTEN:  Subscribe to the Traitors Around the World podcast feed WATCH:  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Are you in a season where life feels full of small, ordinary moments?In today's episode, The Alessies guide us through the idea of "Faithful Steps," inspired by Luke 16:10. Together, we'll explore how God values our faithfulness in the little things. Whether it's managing our time, caring for our relationships, or serving at church. We'll learn how small acts of obedience can lead to a greater harvest and why cultivating trust with God in seemingly minor moments prepares us for bigger blessings ahead.Join our community in prayer and devotion today as we ask God to help us recognize and honor the everyday opportunities to be faithful.Tap HERE to send us a text! Our podcast family is growing - introducing Men's Morning Devotional! Our dad, Steve Alessi, and all of our husbands are now hosting their own 5 minute devotionals every weekday - for men who want to become better husbands, fathers, and leaders! Listen, follow and subscribe here - MensMorningDevotional.comSupport the showNEW VIDEO EPISODES! You can watch our new video episodes on YouTube! Watch Our Video DevotionalsNEW TO MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL? Welcome! We're four sisters - Stephanie, Lauren, Gaby, and Richelle - and our family works together at Metro Life Church in Miami, FL. We're so blessed to produce this daily devotional podcast for you and continue the great work done by the show's founder, Alison Delamota.We pray these devotions will help you to grow in your faith, and that you'll join us every weekday for a morning prayer and some time in God's Word! JOIN THE MMD COMMUNITYSubscribe to the showShare with a friendJoin our newsletter Follow Us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠⁠Leave a reviewMORE PODCASTS YOU'LL ENJOYEnjoy more podcasts from Metro Life Studios, including:The Family Business with The AlessisMen's Morning DevotionalThe Mary and Martha Show Available on our Metro Life Studios app!Get The Metro Life Studios app 

Traitors AU Season 3 Eps 7+8 Recap Watch the podcast on YouTube! The We Know Traitors podcast is back, with hosts Pooya and Annabel Fidler diving into episodes 7 and 8 of The Traitors Australia season 3. With the last OG Traitor standing and the fate of the infamous twins hanging in the balance, Pooya and Annabel break down pivotal moves and shifting alliances in the castle's high-stakes atmosphere. Who has the grit, influence, and strategy to survive as suspicion swirls and alliances fracture? This episode unpacks the intense drama around the Luke and Josh death match, the aftermath of AJ's murder, and shifting suspicions as both Traitors and Faithfuls try to navigate the endgame. Annabel reflects on Kirby's steadying presence as the sole original Traitor left, while Pooya spotlights the twins' influence and how their rivalry fuels game chaos. They trace how Josh and Luke's detective work, Luke's high-profile banishments, and Chrissy's emerging alliance with Kira, Tully, and Rachel recalibrate the pecking order. The discussion also looks at Rachel's rise from suspicion, Tully's struggle with losing allies, and why Rhys, now a Traitor, operates in an increasingly precarious spot. The dramatic showdown between brothers Luke and Josh, and how each's approach affects their credibility and survival Kirby's unique path as the last OG Traitor standing and her method for avoiding banishment despite early suspicion AJ's exit after a failed attempt to outmaneuver the Traitors, and what his banishment means for remaining Faithfuls Chrissy's proactive alliance building, including the formation of her core quartet with Kira, Rachel, and Tully The group's analysis of key missions gone sideways, from failed shield grabs to Lawson's mission mishaps Is Kirby's run as a lone Traitor bound for triumph, or have Faithfuls like Chrissy and Rachel set the stage for a Faithful win? As the remaining contestants shift allegiances and plot their next moves, who can keep control of this unpredictable endgame? Catch the full breakdown for nuanced takes on strategy, betrayals, and the odd phone flirtation that could change the game. Chapters:0:00 Last OG Traitor Standing6:33 Luke's Bold Roundtable Showdown11:30 AJ's Downfall and Missed Strategy16:14 Rhys Recruited as New Traitor19:16 Twins Face Off: Death Match24:01 Chrissy Forms Power Alliance29:29 Tully Torn by Alex's Exit33:22 Luke Leads Claudia Banishment39:04 Luke and Josh: Social Masters46:01 Claudia Targeted Over Shield Drama48:33 Alex's Banishment: Final Breakdown54:40 Predictions: Who Falls Next?1:00:37 Kirby's Miraculous Endgame Survival Never all our Traitors US recaps plus recaps from other versions around the world!LISTEN:  Subscribe to the Traitors Around the World podcast feedWATCH:  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTubeSUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all lack self control in some area of our lives. But there are ways to overcome some of the hardest temptations. I give some tactical steps in this episode and pray it encourages you. Let's not be controlled by the enemy!    1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT God is Faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. He will show you a way out so that you can endure.    Freebie- www.simplyjenniferbrown.com  

If there’s one of these stories that Jesus told that has most impacted my life, it is this one. It’s a guide for daily living and it will meet you exactly where you are every day of your life. The moral of the story – JUST BE FAITHFUL. What happens when you are faithful with little? God sees you can be trusted with more. What happens when you aren’t faithful with little? God knows he simply can’t give you more. Whatever you’re doing with what you’ve already been given determines what you’re given next. The story Jesus tells is about money, but I assure you this is a lesson on more than just finances. This is about your time. This is about your talent. This is about your treasures. Today, God is asking each of his girls to take an inventory and measure what we’ve been doing with what we’ve been given. Maybe you’ll find what I’ve found … it’s time to step up and do more with what I already have before I ask for one more thing. Okay, so it’s story time and it’s a long story. Grab your Bible and read along. I’ll insert a few details along the way to help you understand the story Jesus is telling us. Matthew 25: 14-30 Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. Some translations will read ‘talents’ and that means money. My translation reads silver, again meaning money. How much money are we talking about? Answer: A ridiculous amount of money. All 3 of them received MUCH. One talent or bag was around 75 pounds of silver. To put that into perspective, the smallest measure of money given here was about 16 to 20 years of daily wages. The story Jesus is telling isn’t about the dollar amount – everyone received a lot from their master, even the one who received the least. The story is about faithfulness with what is given. The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master's money. What do you think digging a hole in the ground and hiding away what you’ve been given would look like? Wouldn’t it look like wasting it? Wouldn’t it look like doing nothing with it? Wouldn’t it look like playing it safe? Yes. And wouldn’t it sometimes look like waiting until you’re more qualified, more confident, more ready? Wouldn’t it look like comparing what you have to what someone else has and deciding yours isn’t enough? Wouldn’t it look like being so afraid of losing what you’ve been given that you never actually use it? A buried gift is simply an unused gift. It’s the thing you’ve been entrusted with, but you’ve done absolutely nothing with it. It’s the talent to sing, but you’re too afraid to raise your voice for the One who gave it to you. It’s the money to give, but you’re too concerned about what they might do with it. It’s the story you’ve lived, but you’re too ashamed to tell it because you don’t want anyone to know where you’ve been. It’s the opportunity in front of you, but you’re too afraid to fail. It’s the idea God put in your heart, but you’ve talked yourself out of it before you’ve ever taken the first step. It’s the time you have, but you’ve spent it scrolling and staying busy instead of investing it in what matters. It’s the people God has placed around you, but you’re so distracted by your own life that you never stop long enough to pour into theirs. It’s the calling you’ve sensed, but you’ve buried it under a thousand excuses: “I’m too old. I’m too young. I’m not qualified. I’m not ready. Someone else could do it better.” Are you the one who has buried what you’ve been given? You haven’t invested it. You haven’t put it to work. You haven’t used it to build or grow or impact. You’ve simply buried it. Waiting. Sometimes that’s exactly how we waste what God has given us. Not by doing something terrible with it—just by doing nothing with it. Girl, do you have a hole in the ground where your calling is buried? You’ve been given so much, but you’re not doing anything with it. Not really. And you know it. What has God placed in your hands that you’ve stopped using. Look at your time, your talents and your treasures – what’s sitting stagnant in your life? What opportunity, gift, resource, idea, story, or calling have you buried because fear convinced you it was safer underground? Well, what happens when God has given us something but we have refused to use it? What happens when we’re not faithful with what we’ve already been given? Here comes the rest of the story … After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.' The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!' The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.' The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!' Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.' But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn't plant and gathered crops I didn't cultivate, why didn't you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.' Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' The master is God, and when the master returns he calls for each of us to give an account of how we used everything he has given us. It doesn’t matter what you’ve been given or how much you’ve been given – what matters is what you’ve done with it. The master wants to know. It matters! If you’ve been given 40 years of life – what have you done with those 40 years? If you’ve been given 2 children – what have you done with those 2 children? If you’ve been given a weekly paycheck of $1000 – what have you done with that pay? If you’ve been given a 2,000 square foot house – what have you done with that house? If you’ve been given mercy and grace from past mistakes – what have you done with that mercy and grace? If you’ve been given health – what have you done with that body that can move and go? You never see the master asking a servant to produce the same as what another servant produced. He’s not comparing. The master is asking each one to produce with precisely what they’ve been given. He expected each one to do something with what they had. It’s so easy for us to look at someone with extreme wealth and assume we would be so ridiculously generous if we were in their position. Oh, the good we would do with their money! But God isn’t fooled! Who you are with a $40,000 salary is who you would be with a $40 million dollar salary. More money just makes you more of who you already are. Without children it’s easy to paint a fantasy world of how we would sing sweet songs as we cooked breakfast for our little angels. Girl, if you’re not singing songs while you feed the dog, you certainly wouldn’t sing cooking for ungrateful creatures who refuse to eat. Isn’t it fun to fantasize about what you would do with a big new house with all that storage space? Oh to have a butler’s pantry! Oh mercy, walk in closets in every room! Built in storage in the garage. But do you know what you would do with it – the same exact thing you’re doing with a smaller house. If you’re complaining about this one, you would complain about that one. If you’re messy with this one, you would be messy with the next one. If you’ve overfilled this one with junk, you would overfill the next one with bigger junk. Have you ever thought – well if I could sing like her I would use it for God in big ways? Uh huh – well girl, you can cook – are you cooking for God? You can talk to a rock – are you talking to others for God? You can clean – are you cleaning that church building for God? Really, let’s check ourselves. So, let’s get to the point of the story Jesus is telling. The point isn’t to make you feel guilty about what you haven’t done. The point is to wake you up to what you still CAN do. Because here’s the beautiful thing about this story: You are not standing at the end of your story. You’re standing in the middle of it. And if you’ve buried something, you can dig it up now! If you’ve been sitting on something, you can put it to work today. If you’ve been waiting, you can start right here. The master hasn’t returned YET – but he may soon. And he’ll want to know what you’ve done with what he’s given you. You don’t have to have five bags. You don’t have to be the most talented, the most educated, the wealthiest, the prettiest, the healthiest, or the most qualified. You just have to be faithful with what is already in your hands. Stop looking at what she has. Stop wishing you had her life, her resources, her opportunities, her gifts, her energy, her story or her butt. That’s not your assignment. Your assignment is your life. Your people. Your resources. Your opportunities. Your gifts. Your story. Your time. And maybe you’ve been waiting for God to give you more when He’s been waiting for you to do something with what He’s already given you. Today, let’s stop asking for more and instead ask this – “God, what have you already given me that I’m not using?” Then let’s dig it up. Use it. Invest it. Give it. Share it. Build with it. Love with it. Serve with it. Do something with it. Because one day, the Master is coming back. And when He does, I don’t want to stand before Him with a list of reasons why I was afraid. I want to stand there with open hands and say, “You gave me this—and I gave it everything I had. I did everything I could with it God. It hasn’t been perfect, but I sure tried.” And I want to hear those words every one of us longs to hear: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Notice what the Master celebrates. He doesn’t say, “Well done, my successful servant.” He doesn’t say, “Well done, my impressive servant.” He says, “Well done, my GOOD and FAITHFUL servant.” That’s the goal. Not bigger. Not better. Not more impressive. Faithful. JUST BE FAITHFUL. Faithful with the little. Faithful with the much. Faithful when nobody is watching. Faithful when it feels insignificant. Faithful when you’re tired. Faithful when you’re afraid. Faithful with the time, the talent, the treasure, the opportunity, and the life God has placed in your hands. Girl, you have been given so much. Don’t bury it. Take what you’ve been given and put it to work. And let’s live the rest of our lives with one simple prayer: “God, everything I have is Yours. Show me what You’ve put in my hands – and give me the courage to be faithful with it.” That’s it. That’s the assignment. JUST. BE. FAITHFUL. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

Do you find yourself in a season of waiting, wondering when your prayers will be answered?In today's episode, Gabby invites us to reflect on the beauty of "Faithful Waiting." Together, we'll explore how our faith can grow during times of delay, what it means to hope in the Lord as we wait, and how God uses these moments to prepare us for the blessings ahead. Let's uncover the strength found in steadfast hope and the reassurance that a delay is never a denial from God.Come join our community as we unite in prayer and devotion, trusting that God is at work in us while we wait for what's next.Tap HERE to send us a text! Our podcast family is growing - introducing Men's Morning Devotional! Our dad, Steve Alessi, and all of our husbands are now hosting their own 5 minute devotionals every weekday - for men who want to become better husbands, fathers, and leaders! Listen, follow and subscribe here - MensMorningDevotional.comSupport the showNEW VIDEO EPISODES! You can watch our new video episodes on YouTube! Watch Our Video DevotionalsNEW TO MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL? Welcome! We're four sisters - Stephanie, Lauren, Gaby, and Richelle - and our family works together at Metro Life Church in Miami, FL. We're so blessed to produce this daily devotional podcast for you and continue the great work done by the show's founder, Alison Delamota.We pray these devotions will help you to grow in your faith, and that you'll join us every weekday for a morning prayer and some time in God's Word! JOIN THE MMD COMMUNITYSubscribe to the showShare with a friendJoin our newsletter Follow Us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠⁠Leave a reviewMORE PODCASTS YOU'LL ENJOYEnjoy more podcasts from Metro Life Studios, including:The Family Business with The AlessisMen's Morning DevotionalThe Mary and Martha Show Available on our Metro Life Studios app!Get The Metro Life Studios app 

Reverse mortgages have carried a negative reputation for years, especially among Christians who are cautious about debt. But as with any financial tool, faithful stewardship calls us to understand how it works before deciding whether it belongs in a financial plan. Harlan Accola leads the reverse mortgage team at Movement Mortgage, a FaithFi underwriter. He joined the show today to explain why reverse mortgages remain controversial, how today's Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) differs from older products, and when it might play a useful role in retirement planning. Why Are Christians Hesitant About Reverse Mortgages? For many believers, the hesitation begins with debt itself. Scripture repeatedly encourages wisdom, contentment, and caution in financial matters, so borrowing against a home's equity can feel contrary to good stewardship. There is also the lingering reputation of earlier reverse mortgage products. Many people remember stories involving high costs, confusing terms, or homeowners facing difficult circumstances later in life. Accola says those concerns are understandable. “I felt the same way in the past before I understood them,” he said. But he argues that many people are evaluating today's federally insured reverse mortgages based on older versions of the product—or confusing them with other home-equity arrangements that work very differently. That makes it important to understand exactly which product is being considered and how its protections, costs, and obligations work. What Is a HECM? The most common type of reverse mortgage is the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, or HECM, which is insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Unlike a traditional mortgage, a HECM generally does not require the borrower to make monthly principal and interest payments. Instead, the loan balance typically grows over time and becomes due when the borrower no longer occupies the home as a principal residence, sells the property, or dies. The homeowner still retains ownership of the home and remains responsible for obligations such as property taxes, homeowners insurance, and property maintenance. HECMs also include protections designed specifically for older homeowners. Borrowers must complete independent counseling before obtaining the loan, and the loans are non-recourse, meaning the borrower or heirs generally will not owe more than the home's value when the loan is repaid. Certain eligible non-borrowing spouses may also be able to remain in the home after the borrowing spouse dies, provided they meet program requirements. Those features make today's HECM significantly different from some of the products that contributed to reverse mortgages' poor reputation in earlier decades. Turning Home Equity Into Retirement Flexibility For many retirees, a home represents one of their largest assets. Yet that wealth is often difficult to use without selling the property or taking on more debt. A reverse mortgage can potentially convert a portion of that equity into accessible funds. One possible benefit is improved monthly cash flow. Eliminating a required mortgage payment could help a retiree living on reduced income balance a budget without turning to credit cards or other higher-cost borrowing. Reverse mortgage proceeds may also provide additional resources for expenses such as home repairs, healthcare, or long-term care. A HECM line of credit can offer another form of flexibility. For example, retirees may be able to draw from home equity during a market downturn rather than selling investments after they have declined in value. Used carefully, that could give an investment portfolio more time to recover. Home equity might also help preserve other retirement assets for later years, a surviving spouse, or heirs. The goal isn't simply to access more money. It's to consider all the resources God has entrusted to us and ask how they can work together wisely. As Luke 16:10 reminds us, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.” Faithfulness includes not only how we accumulate resources but also how thoughtfully we use what God has already provided. Could a Reverse Mortgage Support Generosity? Accola has also seen situations where accessing home equity allowed retirees to give more generously during their lifetime rather than waiting for assets to transfer after death. That won't be the right choice for everyone. Giving should never come at the expense of maintaining appropriate provision for yourself or a spouse. But the example highlights an important stewardship principle: a home is not necessarily separate from the rest of a financial plan simply because its value is tied up in real estate. For some families, home equity may be another resource to consider prayerfully alongside savings, investments, retirement income, and other assets. Start With the Plan, Not the Product A reverse mortgage is not appropriate for every homeowner. Before pursuing one, Accola recommends beginning with the bigger financial picture. Ask questions such as: How long do we expect to remain in this home? How would a reverse mortgage affect our monthly cash flow? What costs are associated with the loan? How will we continue paying property taxes, insurance, and maintenance? How could the loan affect what we eventually leave to our heirs? Are there other resources available that might accomplish the same goal? How does this decision fit within our overall retirement, estate, and generosity plans? That last question may be the most important. A reverse mortgage should not be viewed simply as a financial product to purchase. It should be evaluated within the context of a thoughtful retirement plan. Working with professionals who understand both the technical details of the loan and the homeowner's broader financial goals can help families consider the tradeoffs carefully. Is a Reverse Mortgage Right for You? A reverse mortgage isn't for every household, and using home equity should never be an excuse for careless spending. But you shouldn't reject the product simply because of its reputation. For the right homeowner, a modern HECM may turn otherwise inaccessible home equity into a flexible resource for cash flow, retirement planning, long-term care, or even greater generosity. Faithful stewardship means looking carefully at every resource God has entrusted to us, understanding our options, and making decisions that serve the larger financial plan. To learn more about reverse mortgages through Movement Mortgage, visit FaithFi.com/Movement. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: My daughter was approved for a $325,000 mortgage, but the rate wasn't locked. Now that she's found a home, the lender says she has to choose when to lock, with rates ranging from about 5.6% to 6.75%. How should she decide when to lock in her rate? I'm 78 and considering buying a $300,000 home in a 55+ community. I also own a rental property with about $88,000 left on a 4% mortgage, and I don't need the rental income to cover my expenses. Should I keep the rental or move into it? And if I buy in the 55+ community, how should I balance paying cash versus taking a traditional or reverse mortgage? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Movement Mortgage Thriving in Love and Money: 5 Game-Changing Insights about Your Relationship, Your Money, and Yourself by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn FaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough?  Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When addiction and betrayal impact a family, children often know more than parents realize. In this episode of the Faithful & True Podcast, Dr. Greg Miller and Alexis Greeves discuss how parents can talk honestly with their kids about recovery while sharing age-appropriate information. Discover why clarity, authenticity, and validating a child's experience can be an important part of healing for the entire family.#SexAddictionRecovery #BetrayalTrauma #FamilyHealing #Parenting #FaithfulAndTrueSend us Fan Mail

Season 6 kicks off in October 2026. In the meantime, while we take a short break, you're getting the most popular episodes from Season 5. Enjoy! One small choice… and suddenly it feels like everything is ruined. If you've ever found yourself stuck in the cycle of “I'll start over tomorrow,” this episode offers a different way forward. Learn how small, faithful habits can break the cycle, help you reset in the moment, and grow into lasting change over time. Get your show notes: https://gracefilledplate.com/growing-lasting-change/ Links mentioned: Get your 15 Tips from the Bible to Overcome Overeating For a deep dive, check out Grace Filled Plate Platinum and be sure to get on the waiting list You may also love: Armor + Fruit Bible Study Bundle Season 1 Episode 29: How to Be TRULY, Biblically Healthy Season 2 Episode 5: What are the First Steps to Finding Freedom IN CHRIST From Overeating? Season 3 Episode 16: What Does the Bible Say about Eating Healthy? Season 4 Episode 7: How Do You Follow God's Leading in Your Food Choices Get a FREEBIE: Get your FREE Faith [is greater than] Food Jumpstart

In today's Morning Manna, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart conclude Proverbs 27 with verses 25–27 and Solomon's picture of faithful stewardship. The hay appears, the flock provides, and ultimately there is enough for everyone under the steward's care. This lesson explores the partnership between diligent labor and God's provision, the importance of tending the foundations that sustain what He has entrusted to us, and a biblical vision of prosperity centered on sufficiency rather than accumulation. Faithful stewardship works within God's seasons, recognizes that He gives the increase, and measures success by whether His provision reaches those entrusted to our care. Lesson 166-2026 Teachers: Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart You can partner with us by visiting MannaNation.com, calling 1-888-519-4935, or by mail at PO Box 399 Vero Beach, FL 32961 MEGA FIRE reveals the ancient recurring cycles of war and economic collapse that have shaped history for 600 years. These patterns predict America is now entering its most dangerous period since World War II. Get your copy today! www.megafire.world Get high-quality emergency preparedness food today from American Reserves! www.AmericanReserves.com It's the Final Day! The day Jesus Christ bursts into our dimension of time, space, and matter. Now available in eBook and audio formats! Order Final Day from Amazon today! www.Amazon.com/Final-Day Apple users, you can download the audio version on Apple Books! www.books.apple.com/final-day Purchase the 4-part DVD set or start streaming Sacrificing Liberty today. www.Sacrificingliberty.com

Institutions confuse their own survival with the work of God. Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Ashish Varma close the diagnostic arc of this series with transaction, meaning the trade a person or an organization makes when preserving the platform becomes more important than the faithfulness the platform was built for. The anchor text is Jeroboam, who sets up worship at Dan and Bethel not to introduce a different god but to keep his people from traveling south. Varma's reading sharpens it: the question is whether Israel gathers around the presence of God or whether God is expected to gather around Israel. The conversation turns on how easily success gets read as approval. Spencer flags the language of institutions insisting that God needs them to be what they are now more than ever. Varma answers with Habakkuk, where God raises up Babylon in response to injustice and Babylon is still judged for how it behaves, and extends the point to a mission history in which the gospel genuinely spread through colonial expansion that was itself blessed by churches and was still indefensible. Being used is not the same as being approved. Spencer adds Nebuchadnezzar, named as God's servant and punished seventy years later, and the distinction holds: the exile was deserved, the brutality was not. What follows is uncomfortable for anyone who works in one of these places. Institutions may end because their course is run, or because they failed, or in spite of their faithfulness, and outcomes do not tell you which. Spencer, who consults with seminaries and Christian colleges, describes leaders trapped by buildings, accreditation, and systems, protecting a vehicle rather than the thing the vehicle was for. Nobody pursues a doctorate in order to preserve an institution. The question both men land on is whether the model has quietly been substituted for the mission. Resources The diagnosis guide: https://www.thinkingchristian.org/about/framework Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman- amazon.com Norman Wirzba on creation and nature- amazon.com Passages referenced: Genesis 6 and 11 and 15, Deuteronomy 8, 1 Kings 12 and 17, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, John 12 Follow and subscribe Subscribe to Thinking Christian: https://episodes.thinkingchristian.org Website: https://www.thinkingchristian.org Chapters 0:00 What transaction means 2:24 Jeroboam and the shortcut 3:10 Not a different god 7:18 Why it looked legitimate 10:42 Institutional inertia 13:44 In defense of the word lucky 15:36 Habakkuk and Babylon 19:52 Spread and consequence 20:19 Kahneman on luck 22:43 Nebuchadnezzar as servant 26:50 Two theological problems 31:34 Babel and human capability 33:50 The patience of God 35:51 Institutions that simply end 39:35 Ideology defines the questions 41:34 What higher ed is protecting 43:16 Substituting the vehicle 45:38 Faithful in the moment 47:56 Repentance and repudiation 50:15 Walking beside someone bigger 53:19 What comes next in the series Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In Episode 229, we explore Luke 12:41-48 and Jesus' parable of the faithful and unfaithful servants. Peter asks a great question that opens the door to one of Jesus' most personal and searching teachings: "Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?" And Jesus answers with a parable that makes it personal for every single one of us—regardless of our role, our position, or our level of spiritual maturity. Through guided meditation, discover the two servants Jesus describes. Both have been given responsibility. Both know what the master wants. But they respond in completely opposite ways when the master is away. The first servant is faithful and sensible. He does his job. He feeds the other servants. He manages well. He doesn't need the master's presence to motivate his faithfulness—he simply does what he was called to do, day after day, in the ordinary and unseen moments. And when the master returns—whenever that is—he's found doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing. The reward is staggering: the master puts him in charge of everything he owns. The second servant makes a dangerous assumption that changes everything: "My master won't be back for a while." And that single assumption—that the master's return is distant and therefore his accountability is suspended—leads to complete moral collapse. He starts abusing his position. He mistreats the other servants. He parties. He loses himself in comfort and self-indulgence. And when the master returns—unexpectedly, as masters always do—he's found doing exactly the opposite of what he was supposed to be doing. The contrast is stark and the principle is unmistakable: faithfulness is not about what you do when the master is watching. It's about what you do when you think he isn't. This episode explores what this means for your life. Jesus then delivers the line that should make every one of us pause and examine ourselves: "When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required." We have been given much. We have the complete Scriptures. We have the Holy Spirit living inside us. We have access to Jesus through prayer, through community, through two thousand years of His faithfulness recorded and available to us. We have been entrusted with relationships, with influence, with resources, with spiritual gifts, with callings. And with all of that comes responsibility. Not to perform for approval or to earn the master's favor—but to be faithful with what we've been entrusted, whether or not anyone is watching. Learn how to identify the specific responsibility God has entrusted to you that you've been neglecting—the relationship you've been ignoring, the spiritual discipline you've let slide, the calling you've been putting off, the stewardship you've been managing poorly—because no one has been holding you accountable. Discover what it means to be faithful in the unseen moments, and find the motivation that comes not from fear of punishment but from love for the Master and the desire to be found doing what He called you to do when He returns.

Should Christians want to be losers? In this episode of The Missions Show, hosts Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford talk with pastor and author D. Michael Clary about the ideas behind his book, Loser Theology. Clary challenges the belief that Christians are somehow more faithful when they are suffering, struggling, or losing. Scripture teaches believers how to endure hardship faithfully, but that does not mean suffering should become the goal. For missionaries and ministry leaders, this distinction matters: faithfulness may require sacrifice, but Christians should not seek hardship simply to prove their devotion to Christ. The conversation also explores a healthier view of success in missions. Faithful ministry often means years of patient work with little visible fruit, and results ultimately belong to God. Yet that truth should not lead Christians to passivity. God calls his people to take initiative, use the gifts and opportunities he has given them, proclaim the gospel, love their neighbors, and pursue the Great Commission with courage. Key Topics: Why suffering should not become a measure of Christian faithfulness The danger of romanticizing martyrdom and difficult ministry How missionaries can remain faithful when they see little visible fruit Balancing God's sovereignty with human initiative and responsibility Why ordinary, faithful Christian service has eternal value Taking risks for the Great Commission while trusting God with the results Do you love The Missions Show? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber! Premium Subscribers get access to: Exclusive bonus content A community Signal thread with other listeners and the hosts Invite-only webinars A free gift! Support The Missions Show and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionsshow.com/premium The Missions Show is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionsshow.com.

Midlife…Maybe you've noticed it too.You still care deeply about your calling. You still want to make an impact. You still have ideas, responsibilities and people you love.But the pace you once kept doesn't fit quite the same anymore.Your energy has changed. Your capacity may have changed. Your roles are changing.And somewhere in the middle of it all, you may be asking, “What is this season for?”We've been talking a lot around here about a theology of time, how what we believe about God and time shapes what we do with our days. Today's conversation with Claire Davis of The Midlife Mentors adds another layer:The God who created time also created you. Your body isn't an inconvenience to your calling. Your limitations aren't something you have to outsmart. And a change in season doesn't necessarily mean you're becoming less useful.It may be an invitation to become more discerning about what you're carrying into the next one.Ready to Start Redeeming Your Time?If this conversation has you realizing it's time for a different rhythm, you don't need another productivity system. You need a place to start.I've put together the free REDEEM Her Time Starter Kit to help you begin asking the question that changes everything: “Lord, what is it time for?”Inside, you'll get the foundational tools to start giving what matters a home in your actual week, while leaving room for your capacity, your season, and real life.When you grab the Starter Kit, you'll also join me here on REDEEM Her Time, where we'll keep looking to the Author of Time for what it means to faithfully steward what He's entrusted to us.What If Midlife Isn't a Decline?Claire knows something about reaching the point where striving stops working. After years of putting so much of her identity and meaning into her career, work and brand, she experienced burnout and eventually found herself at the end of herself.And that's where God met her.What followed reshaped how she understood who she was and what her life was for.That's especially significant in midlife because so much is already changing. Children may be leaving home. Parents may need more care. Hormones change. And suddenly the roles that have answered “Who am I?” for decades don't answer quite as easily anymore.Claire describes midlife as an opportunity to get curious rather than assume we're in decline.What still matters? What have we been carrying because someone else told us success was supposed to look that way? And what might God be asking us to lay down so we have the capacity to hear what He's inviting us into next?As Claire put it:“It's not about adding. It's about subtracting. It's about taking things out and living more in our natural rhythms.”That sounds a lot like stewardship to me.Healthy Ambition Requires a Different RhythmI especially wanted to ask Claire about healthy ambition because the women in this community aren't looking for permission to stop caring.We want our lives to matter. We want to build, serve, love our families and use what God has entrusted to us well.The real question is what's driving our ambition, not whether we should have it.Unhealthy ambition can look a lot like stress, striving, and not-enoughness. And we can make our striving sound very spiritual.“I'm doing this for God.” “I'm serving people.” “This opportunity could make such an impact.”All of those things may be true. And we can still outrun our capacity.Claire reminded us that the body we're living in is also part of what God has entrusted to us. Sleep matters. Movement matters. Creating space to be with God instead of filling every available minute, even with good things, matters.And sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is remove something that no longer belongs, not squeeze another healthy habit into an already-full schedule.Faithful stewardship means discerning what God has entrusted to us and letting that determine our yeses, not doing less simply for the sake of doing less.So What Is It Time for Now?Toward the end of our conversation, Claire offered a simple place to begin.Take 10 minutes a day. Grab a journal. And get curious with God.Who does God say I am? What used to bring me joy? What might He be calling me toward now?You don't need to figure out the entire second half of your life in one sitting. You simply need enough space to begin listening.Because maybe this season isn't asking you to become more efficient at carrying everything you've always carried. Maybe it's asking you to discern what belongs now.So before you move on to the next thing, sit with this week's stewardship question: “What am I still carrying because it fit a previous season, but may not belong in the one God has me in now?”Don't rush to fix it. Get curious. Bring it before God. And then ask the question we've been practicing together: “Lord, what is it time for?”I'd love to hear what comes up for you in the comments.Ready to Let That Answer Shape Your Actual Week?Recognizing that your season has changed is one thing. Letting it change the way you live Monday through Sunday is another.Inside the Stewardship Circle, you'll start with the Faithful Week Framework™ to discern what God has entrusted to you in this season, decide what deserves your yes, and give those priorities a realistic home in your week, with room for your actual capacity and real life.Because great information can help us see differently. But transformation comes as we begin living differently.And change takes time. Pun fully intended.About Claire DavisClaire Davis is an award-winning coach, speaker, host of a top 1.5% global podcast and co-founder of The Midlife Mentors, helping midlife men and women thrive with clarity, confidence and purpose.With more than two decades of experience in health, wellbeing and resilience, Claire blends science-based strategies with real-world insights to help people navigate the psychological and physiological complexities of midlife. She's a certified health and business coach, personal trainer, NLP practitioner, stress-management consultant, menopause specialist and nutrition advisor.Take Claire's Free Midlife Reset AuditClaire also created a free Midlife Reset Audit to help you discover what may be holding you back from living your healthiest, happiest midlife, and where you may want to focus next without adding more pressure or burning yourself out.→ Take Claire's Free Midlife Reset Audit Get full access to REDEEM Her Time at lissafiggins.substack.com/subscribe

Pastor Nate continued our series, "Preach the Gospel, Die, and Be Forgotten," teaching from Luke 19 on the Parable of the Minas.For more info, visit thebridgebiblechurch.com.

Isaiah contrasts the confidence of Babylon with the hope of God's people. God's people have a sure and certain hope. False confidences pass away—whether as evidently as the ruins of Babylon have declared, or in any other case. By contrast, our God abides always the same. Even to old age—and this is a particular emphasis of Spurgeon in the sermon, given its textual context—he will carry us. Whatever else may change in us or around us, God himself does not change in himself or in his disposition toward us. And so it remains true that he has made us, both as creatures and as his people. He carries us, and those mercies toward us never alter. He also will deliver us. The structure of the sermon toward the end gets a little ragged, but the point is clear. We have the same God and the same mercy all through life. Spurgeon's two primary applications go in two opposite directions. The first is to the young, with whom he pleads to begin life with God, in order that they may enjoy him to the end. The second is to the aged, urging them to trust a God who has never let them down. Read the sermon here: https://www.mediagratiae.org/resources/idols-found-wanting-but-jehovah-found-faithful Check out the new From the Heart of Spurgeon Book! British: https://amzn.to/48rV1OR American: https://amzn.to/48oHjft Connect with the Reading Spurgeon Community on Twitter! https://twitter.com/ReadingSpurgeon Sign up to get the weekly readings emailed to you: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts-1/from-the-heart-of-spurgeon. Check out other Media Gratiae podcasts at www.mediagratiae.org Download the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Isaiah contrasts the confidence of Babylon with the hope of God's people. God's people have a sure and certain hope. False confidences pass away—whether as evidently as the ruins of Babylon have declared, or in any other case. By contrast, our God abides always the same. Even to old age—and this is a particular emphasis of Spurgeon in the sermon, given its textual context—he will carry us. Whatever else may change in us or around us, God himself does not change in himself or in his disposition toward us. And so it remains true that he has made us, both as creatures and as his people. He carries us, and those mercies toward us never alter. He also will deliver us. The structure of the sermon toward the end gets a little ragged, but the point is clear. We have the same God and the same mercy all through life. Spurgeon's two primary applications go in two opposite directions. The first is to the young, with whom he pleads to begin life with God, in order that they may enjoy him to the end. The second is to the aged, urging them to trust a God who has never let them down.

Isaiah contrasts the confidence of Babylon with the hope of God's people. God's people have a sure and certain hope. False confidences pass away—whether as evidently as the ruins of Babylon have declared, or in any other case. By contrast, our God abides always the same. Even to old age—and this is a particular emphasis of Spurgeon in the sermon, given its textual context—he will carry us. Whatever else may change in us or around us, God himself does not change in himself or in his disposition toward us. And so it remains true that he has made us, both as creatures and as his people. He carries us, and those mercies toward us never alter. He also will deliver us. The structure of the sermon toward the end gets a little ragged, but the point is clear. We have the same God and the same mercy all through life. Spurgeon's two primary applications go in two opposite directions. The first is to the young, with whom he pleads to begin life with God, in order that they may enjoy him to the end. The second is to the aged, urging them to trust a God who has never let them down.

We'd prefer to fill a storehouse with a lifetime's worth of courage, cash, and convictions. Yet God wants us to...

Get Liar's Dice here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/.../liars-dice-by.../   An astonishing debut about a teenage girl in 1970s Brazil who is torn away from her twin sister—and who must learn what it means to fight for those she loves when all the odds are stacked against her.   Check out our new bi-weekly series, "The Crisis Papers" here: https://www.patreon.com/bitterlakepresents/shop   READ THE WEEKLY TIR NEWSLETTER HERE: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1853497   Thank you guys again for taking the time to check this out. We appreciate each and everyone of you. If you have the means, and you feel so inclined, BECOME A PATRON! We're creating patron only programing, you'll get bonus content from many of the episodes, and you get MERCH!   Become a patron now https://www.patreon.com/join/BitterLakePresents?   Please also like, subscribe, and follow us on these platforms as well, (specially YouTube!)   THANKS Y'ALL   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG9WtLyoP9QU8sxuIfxk3eg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thisisrevolutionpodcast/ Twitter: @TIRShowOakland Instagram: @thisisrevolutionoakland   Substack: https://jmylesoftir.substack.com/.../the-money-will-roll...   Read Jason Myles in Current Affairs Magazine here: https://www.currentaffairs.org/.../donald-trump-is-a-pro... Read Jason Myles in Damage Magazine https://damagemag.com/2023/11/07/the-man-who-sold-the-world/ Read Jason in Black Agenda Report: https://www.blackagendareport.com/rainbow-and-machine

 What the Faithful 5K Proved: It's Time for the Body of Christ to Get in Shape“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…” — Hebrews 12:1–2The inaugural Faithful 5K is over—but I don't think what happened in Greenbrier was really about running 3.1 miles.We had 165 people register, families running together, churches serving side by side, businesses investing in their community, volunteers pouring themselves out, and virtual racers participating across seven different states.And underneath all of it was something deeper:God is doing something in His Church that has to do with the body—both our physical bodies and the Body of Christ.In this episode, I'm taking a short break from the Menopause in the Light series to reflect on what the Faithful 5K taught me about fitness, faith, community, endurance, and why I believe it's time for the Bride of Christ to get in better shape.We'll talk about:Why people are hungry for something deeper than sets, reps, macros, and aestheticsWhat happened when multiple churches and Christian organizations chose to serve together without needing their own name at the centerWhy the Faithful Cross became one of the most meaningful parts of the morningWhat it means to recognize your body as something through which you live your callingWhy Christian fitness was never supposed to be an isolated pursuitThe unexpected power of an out-and-back race where runners continually encouraged one anotherWhy your body does not have to be impressive to glorify GodWhat this event reminded me about the mission of Faithful FitnessAnd I'll tell you about Mr. Roy.When we first started working together more than five years ago, Roy had battled heart disease, multiple surgeries, pain, and a body that made something as simple as walking my driveway difficult.Saturday, he finished a 5K.He finished last. He refused rides. Men went back onto the course to walk beside him. Police stayed with him. His family waited. Racers who had finished long before stayed at the finish line because they wanted to see him cross it.And when someone asked how he was able to keep going, his answer was basically:Get a good coach. Walk with God. And be stubborn enough not to stop.That'll preach.Because Hebrews doesn't tell us, “Let me run with endurance.” It says:“Let us run with endurance.”Maybe you're crushing it right now.Turn around and encourage somebody behind you. Maybe you're struggling. Keep going. But either way, stop trying to do this fitness thing alone. Your Next Faithful Step -If you want to get honest about where you are and identify your next step, take the Faithful Fitness Assessment. https://faithfulfitness.co/assessmentYou'll assess yourself across the four areas we use in Faithful Fitness:Integrity. Grit. Growth. Awe.The goal isn't a perfect score. It's clarity. And completing the assessment will also reserve your place for our upcoming LIVE Faithful Fitness seminar on September 2nd, where we'll continue this conversation together.Take the Faithful Fitness Assessment and find your next faithful step. Make the most of the body God's given you.Train Hard. Pray Harder.—Coach AlexBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.

Christian McCaffrey is dealing with "tightness" according to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, how sick are you hearing of that word? What does this mean for CMC this preseason? Will he be ready by Week 1?

2 Timothy 2:8-13 (NKJV)Andrew and Edwin discuss the poem of confession Paul includes about living, reigning, confessing, and denying. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today. ________________________________________________ If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser:  Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/2026/08/18/2-timothy-2-we-will-live-and-reign/The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheText Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalk Michael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

Is anger always something we need to control—or could it actually be pointing us toward healing?Faithful and True's own Greg and Beth Miller, director of the men's and women's workshop, explore the idea of clean anger: learning to recognize anger as a meaningful emotion, understand what's underneath it, and express it without blame, shame, or harm. Discover how curiosity, ownership, and healthy expression can turn anger into an opportunity for healing and growth.Send us Fan Mail

This message is about learning to trust God in the process of becoming who He created us to be, even when fear, uncertainty, and difficult circumstances make us want to hold back. Through surrender, community, and faithful obedience, we discover that God is working in us even when we cannot yet see what He is doing, and that sometimes the next step of faith begins with simply asking, “Why not now?”

Amy Hunt became the first athlete in the 92-year history of the European Championships to win four gold medals in a single event, claiming titles in the 100m, 200m, women's 4x100m relay and the new mixed 4x100m relay. She had stated that her intention was to become "iconic". She joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her sporting achievements. BBC Sport correspondent Jane Dougall also joins Nuala to discuss the other female successes of the championships, including Dina Asher-Smith, who is now the most decorated athlete in European Championships history.In tonight's BBC Panorama, reporter Krupa Padhy has been investigating the Child Maintenance Service. For separated parents, child maintenance payments can help cover essential expenses, from childcare costs to the weekly food shop. But BBC Panorama has spoken to parents who say they are missing out on thousands of pounds they are owed. Some say mistakes within the system have pushed them to breaking point. Krupa joins Nuala to discuss the findings, alongside Katy, who shares her experience of the service.From child classical singing sensation to pop artist, founder of the Arwen Project, an alternative education model, and now wellness retreat owner, Charlotte Church has spent her career continually evolving. Most recently, she appeared as a Faithful on Celebrity Traitors. She tells us about her latest musical project, End Time Pop Dungeon and more.Lucy Porter has been touring as a stand-up comedian for more than 20 years. She is a sought-after comedy writer for television, theatre and film, a regular on television panel shows, and a familiar voice on Radio 4 programmes including The News Quiz and The Now Show. Next year, she will celebrate 30 years in comedy. She discusses her new book, Middle-Aged Women Get Sht Done*, a love letter to middle-aged women.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Dianne McGregor

Your objective as a rhythm maker is to fight against the “patterns of this world” and consider how to use the regular cycles of your day/week to advance the values that are most precious to you. How can a woman intentionally direct lifegiving rhythms in her home?Recognize that homemaking (and ordering your time) is a uniquely high calling.  (Genesis 2, 1 Peter 3, Titus 2) Homemakers are tasked with tending to a dwelling that is intended to be a reflection of heaven.That is a HIGH calling!As women, we are especially commissioned on earth with being keepers at home. As you cultivate a beautiful and sacred home you are cultivating a place that will hopefully reflect our heavenly home and draw others to long for our Heavenly Father.Plan in the short term and the long term Consider long term goals/ priorities and then consider what daily rhythms would help move forward those aims. In order to form godly habits we have to have “imaginations that have absorbed a vision for how things ought to be.”Where would those routines most naturally flow in the daily rhythm of my day?Consider goals that are geared towards faithfulness not accomplishment.Remember nothing you do is invisible to God! He saw you faithfully clean the bathroom and waste a naptime scrolling.Edith Schaeffer once stated, “Time cannot be used over again. Time cannot be taken to the cleaners and brought back as good as new, to be used another way. The use of time is a very permanent thing… Time moves from the present tense into the past tense very relentlessly. Childhood cannot be used over again for another set of preparations nor a different set of memories.”“Look carefully at how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15)Invite your husband into the planning process. Although I might say I am complimentarian in theory, sometimes I don't act like it.God designed motherhood to occur in a marriage. Although sadly that isn't a reality for some, many of us are married. Men were created by God to lovingly lead. Do we give our husbands chances to do that? Or do we assume we understand the situation better?Utilize tools that provide structure, accountability, and flexibility. A variety of tools can help us practice godly rhythms. We ought to remember that the natural bent of this world is towards disorder, we will be prone to sin, and the life of a mom changes day to day. Thus when considering tools look for systems that will provide you structure, accountability, and flexibility. Structure: Proverbs 24:27 encourages us, “Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.” We don't live haphazardly. Get your plans and your materials sorted and then go about the work of pattern forming.D.A. Carson stated, “we don't drift towards holiness.”Accountability: Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.Proverbs 27:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.” Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:10 "Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend, and do not go to your brother's house on the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away". Pray for true friends who can share in your life rhythms and provide faithful accountability. Flexibility: James 4:13-15a “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit” –yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “if the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” Doesn't every mom with a spoiled afternoon nap know this to be true!! Be flexible, hold your plans before the Lord, and trust that he will order your steps.

This is the climax of the summer's Matthew arc. Everything since Trinity has been building toward Peter's answer to the question Jesus finally asks him directly: “Who do you say that I am?” Today Peter answers, and the answer shapes everything that follows.* Track One begins Exodus — the birth of Moses, protected by an unlikely coalition of women who defy Pharaoh's murderous order. Psalm 124 sings the deliverance from the other side. * Track Two brings us Isaiah's call to remember the rock from which we were hewn, paired with Psalm 138's personal thanksgiving. * The Epistle turns an important corner: after eleven chapters of theological argument, Paul opens Romans 12 with “therefore” — the practical application begins. Present your bodies. One body, many members. Different gifts, all needed.For preachers continuing a series: this is the destination. The confession is what the summer has been building toward. Next week the Gospel will turn — Peter will be corrected, the way of the cross will be named — but this week we stop and let the confession stand.The ReadingsExodus 1:8–2:10First Reading (Track One) — The Midwives and the Birth of MosesSummaryA new king arises in Egypt who does not know Joseph. Threatened by the growing number of Hebrews, he enslaves them and orders the Hebrew midwives to kill every male child at birth. But the midwives — Shiphrah and Puah, named by the text against Pharaoh's namelessness — refuse. When Pharaoh escalates and orders all male children thrown into the Nile, three more women defy him: Moses's mother, who hides him and then places him in a basket on the river; his sister, who watches from the reeds; and Pharaoh's own daughter, who finds the baby and takes him as her own. Deliverance begins through the courage of women.Key Ideas for Preaching* The story of Israel's deliverance begins with women whose defiance no one wrote down until much later. An unlikely coalition forms across ethnic and class lines. Where in your congregation might God's deliverance be already beginning through people whose work no one has yet noticed?* Shiphrah and Puah are named by the text. Pharaoh, the most powerful man in the story, is not. The narrator has decided who matters. What might it mean for your congregation to notice whose names Scripture chooses to lift up?* The midwives lie — or, dissemble at the very least — to Pharaoh, and the text approves — God deals well with them. Where in your congregation has an obedience to institutional authority been quietly mistaken for faithfulness, when a deeper faithfulness would have refused?Significant Cautions* Do not idealize any of the characters. The midwives are ordinary working women doing what they can. Pharaoh's daughter defies her father but does not free the Hebrews. Their courage is real and it is also partial.* The civil disobedience reading of this text is available, but should not be pressed into any particular contemporary political program.* Say the names — Shiphrah and Puah — from the pulpit when you can. Pharaoh's namelessness is part of the text's judgment on him.Psalm 124The Psalm (Track One) — If It Had Not Been the LordSummaryA psalm of thanksgiving for deliverance, sung from the safe side. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side when enemies rose against us, when the waters would have swept us away, we would have been overwhelmed. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.Key Ideas for Preaching* The psalm is written in retrospect — thanksgiving from safety, not desperate pleading in the moment. What might it look like for your congregation to make a practice of naming past deliverances honestly, so that hope in future ones is grounded in something remembered?* Paired with today's Exodus reading, the psalm reads like a song sung generations after the midwives did their quiet work in a birthing room. What began as unnoticed courage becomes a whole people singing.Significant Cautions* Be careful not to preach this in a way that identifies contemporary political opponents as the “enemies” God delivers us from. The psalm is looking back at Egypt, not writing policy for today.Isaiah 51:1–6First Reading (Track Two) — Look to the RockSummaryA word of comfort to God's people in exile. Look to the rock from which you were hewn, the quarry from which you were dug — remember Abraham and Sarah, from whom your whole people came. God is bringing comfort to Zion, making her wilderness like Eden. Instruction will go out; justice will be a light to the peoples. The heavens will vanish like smoke and the earth wear out like a garment, but God's salvation will endure forever.Key Ideas for Preaching* The prophet asks the people to remember. Look to the rock. Remember Abraham and Sarah. Where in your congregation has the loss of memory made the current moment feel more precarious than it should?* The pairing of “the heavens will vanish like smoke” with “my salvation will be forever” is a striking piece of realism about what lasts. Where has your congregation been placing lasting trust in what will not last?* Paired with the Gospel, this text sets up the wordplay Jesus will use with Peter — “on this rock.” Isaiah's rock is Abraham and Sarah; Matthew's rock is Peter's confession. Both texts are asking about the ground beneath our feet.Significant Cautions* The imagery of Zion's restoration is specific to Israel's exile. Do not press it into a program for any modern nation.* “Look to the rock from which you were hewn” is an invitation to remember, not a mandate to romanticize the past.Psalm 138The Psalm (Track Two) — Do Not Forsake the Work of Your HandsSummaryA psalm of personal thanksgiving that expands to a global vision. The psalmist gives thanks with his whole heart and praises God's steadfast love. All the kings of the earth will one day praise God. The closing line is a prayer that God will not forsake the work of God's hands.Key Ideas for Preaching* “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me… do not forsake the work of your hands.” That is one of the most reassuring sentences in the Psalter — a prayer that trusts God is not done. Where in your congregation are people who need to hear that they are still the work of God's hands?* The psalm begins with a personal thanksgiving and ends with all the kings of the earth. What might your sermon do with a psalm whose horizon widens that quickly?Significant Cautions* “All the kings of the earth” praising God should not be read as a program for religious empire. It is a prayer for a widening praise, not a mandate.Romans 12:1–8The Epistle — A Living Sacrifice; One Body, Many MembersSummaryAfter eleven chapters of theological argument, Paul turns a corner. “I appeal to you, therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds. Paul then turns to community life: think of yourselves with sober judgment. We are one body with many members, and no member is complete without the others. Different gifts have been given — prophecy, ministry, teaching, encouragement, giving, leading, showing mercy — and each should be exercised in the measure of faith God has given.Key Ideas for Preaching* “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice” is one of the strangest images in Paul. Sacrifices in the ancient world were dead. Living sacrifices are not a category. Paul is describing a whole life, offered without being consumed. What does it look like to preach whole-life offering in a culture that keeps splitting body from soul, work from worship?* Paul opens the practical section with an appeal for humility — think of yourself with sober judgment, not more highly than you ought. This is his first instruction for community life. Where in your congregation might humble self-assessment be the missing precondition for everything else Paul goes on to ask?* The list of gifts is illustrative, not comprehensive. Some are visible (prophecy, teaching, leading). Others are quieter (ministry, showing mercy, giving with generosity). Where in your congregation have visible gifts been overvalued and quieter gifts overlooked?Significant Cautions* “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice” has been misused to justify Christians accepting abuse or unhealthy suffering. That is not what Paul is describing. Handle the language carefully in pastoral contexts where suffering is not chosen.* The gifts list has sometimes been made into a personality test. Paul is describing what happens in a healthy community, not offering a diagnostic for individuals.Matthew 16:13–20The Gospel — Peter's Confession at Caesarea PhilippiSummaryJesus takes his disciples to Caesarea Philippi — a city built by Herod's son at the base of Mount Hermon, next to a massive rock cave that was a shrine to the Greek god Pan, and named after Caesar. In this heavily symbolic place, Jesus asks two questions. First: who do people say that the Son of Man is? The disciples report the various answers — John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the prophets. Then the sharper question: who do you say that I am? Peter answers: you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus blesses him — this insight, he says, has come from God, not from human reasoning. Then comes the famous wordplay: you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.* (see excursus below) Peter is given the keys of the kingdom. And the disciples are charged to tell no one that Jesus is the Messiah.Photo by Emile Guillemot on UnsplashKey Ideas for Preaching* The setting is not accidental. Caesarea Philippi was named after Caesar and built next to a shrine to Pan. When Jesus asks “who do you say that I am?” he is asking in the shadow of empire and of another religion's holy place. What does it mean for your congregation to make Peter's confession in the shadows of the powers of our own moment?* The other answers the disciples report — John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah — are good answers. Great prophets. Faithful witnesses. But they are not enough. Where might your congregation be settling for a good answer to who Jesus is when a deeper one is being offered?* Jesus tells Peter the confession did not come from “flesh and blood” — it was given to him by God. The confession is not a reward for Peter's cleverness; it is a gift from the Father. Where in your congregation has faith been imagined as something we work out, when the text describes it as something we receive?* Whatever your tradition makes of the Petros/petra wordplay, the fundamental picture is worth preaching: the church is built on a confession. Not on our cleverness, not on our numbers, not on our building, not on our institutional strength. On a confession. What would change if your congregation actually believed that?Significant Cautions* The Petros/petra wordplay has been the site of long controversy between Catholic and Protestant traditions. Both readings have real defenders; do not preach one as the only faithful option.* “The gates of Hades will not prevail” has been used triumphally in ways Jesus's own life will complicate — he is about to head to Jerusalem and be crucified. The victory the passage promises is not the kind that avoids the cross.* The command to tell no one has puzzled readers for centuries. This is the “messianic secret” that runs through Matthew and Mark, and scholars have not settled its meaning. Do not preach a confident theory as if it were obvious.An exursus on the text: I found the following brief commentary from You.com to be helpful in my deliberation of how much to make of the difference between Petros and petra:* The Petros/Πέτρος vs. Petra/πέτρα Contrast (Matthew 16:18)Lexical and Grammatical Background* Πέτρος (Petros): Masculine, used as Simon's new name, means “rock” or “stone.” In Koine Greek, it is not used generically for “small stone”—that would be λίθος (lithos)* πέτρα (petra): Feminine, means “bedrock,” “massive rock,” or “rock formation.” Used metaphorically for a strong foundation* Gender Accommodation: The distinction is primarily grammatical—πέτρα is feminine and unsuitable as a male name, so the masculine Πέτρος is used for SimonAramaic Background* Kepha (כֵּיפָא): In Aramaic, the same word is used for both Peter's name and “rock,” with no gender distinctionJesus likely spoke Aramaic, so the Greek distinction is a translation artifact, not a theological oneMatthew 16:13–20 is a foundational passage for Christian theology and ecclesiology. The Petros/petra wordplay, rooted in Aramaic and preserved in Greek, affirms Peter's foundational role without excluding the importance of his confession or the broader apostolic witness. The passage's other key terms—ἐκκλησία, πύλαι ᾅδου, κλεῖδες τῆς βασιλείας, δήσῃς/λύσῃς, Υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος—draw deeply from Jewish, Old Testament, and Greco-Roman backgrounds, establishing the church as a new, Christ-centered community with authority, resilience, and a confession rooted in divine revelation.Thematic ConnectionsThe Gospel is the climax of the summer's Matthew arc. Since Trinity we have been reading with Peter and the disciples — call, sending, warning, welcome, feeding, walking on water, encounter with the Canaanite woman — and today the question that has been building finally gets asked directly. Peter answers, and the answer shapes everything that follows.On Track One, the Exodus reading pairs with the Gospel in a specific way. Israel's deliverance begins with midwives whose courage no one recorded until later; the church, in the Gospel, is built on a confession made by a fisherman in the shadow of a pagan shrine. Both texts insist that the beginnings of God's great works often happen in unnoticed places, through unexpected people.On Track Two, Isaiah's “look to the rock from which you were hewn” and the Gospel's “on this rock” are worth reading side by side. Isaiah asks the people to remember Abraham and Sarah as their foundation. Jesus builds the church on the foundation of Peter's confession. Both texts are asking the same question in different tenses: what is the ground beneath your feet?Romans 12 sits inside the day as the “so what.” If Peter's confession is true, something has to change about how we live. Present your bodies. Think of yourselves with sober judgment. Use your gifts for the good of the whole body. Paul is describing what a community looks like when it takes Peter's confession seriously.For preachers finishing the summer series: this is the destination. Next week the Gospel will turn — Peter will be corrected, the way of the cross will be named — but this week we stop and let the confession stand. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionarypro.substack.com/subscribe

In The Ways of A Faithful Guardian of Spiritual Treasure Part 3, discover how to be a good soldier of Christ and endure hardship for the gospel. To be a faithful steward of the Word of God requires courageous and hopeful faith. Believers are engaged in real spiritual warfare that demands significant personal cost and steadfast commitment. In this 2 Timothy 2 sermon, Pastor Richard Caldwell explains the apostle Paul's metaphor of the Christian as a dedicated soldier. A faithful guardian of truth refuses to become entangled in the affairs of everyday life. We must recognize that pleasing our divine commander takes absolute priority over everything else the world has to offer. This expository preaching reminds us that our earthly devotion is fueled by a profound heavenly hope. We gladly relinquish worldly distractions to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Ultimately, true loyalty is rooted in a God granted faith that looks toward the glorious revelation and return of Jesus Christ. Key Biblical Takeaways: - The entire Christian life is a spiritual battlefield that requires believers to embrace the expected hardships necessary for faithfully guarding God's truth. - A good soldier of Jesus Christ refuses entanglement in everyday civilian affairs that would interfere with their preeminent commitment to the kingdom of God. - Pleasing God must take priority over all earthly pursuits, compelling believers to gladly relinquish even permissible activities if they hinder divine obedience. - Faithful endurance in the present is motivated by future hope, looking forward to the good pleasure and eternal reward of the Savior who enlisted us.

In The Ways of A Faithful Guardian of Spiritual Treasure Part 4, Pastor Richard Caldwell explains endurance in the Christian life. The Apostle Paul compares a faithful steward of truth to a disciplined athlete in his second letter to Timothy. A genuine calling to serve Christ requires a deep desire for the work and a willingness to face hardship. Believers must run the race with eagerness rather than under compulsion. Winning this spiritual contest requires living by the strict standards of God revealed in Scripture. A successful ministry prioritizes pleasing the Lord over worldly entanglements or perishable rewards. Christians must constantly discipline themselves to obey the truth and avoid being disqualified. True present endurance is impossible without a biblical eschatology and a focus on eternal rewards. Believers must fix their eyes on the coming judgment seat of Christ where faithful service receives an imperishable crown. This literal future hope is the greatest motivation for faithful discipleship today. Key Biblical Takeaways: - Faithful ministry requires a voluntary and eager desire for the work of the Lord. - The ultimate goal of the Christian life is pleasing Jesus Christ and receiving His imperishable reward. - Present endurance in hardship is directly fueled by a biblical eschatology and the promise of future glory. - Believers must compete according to the strict standards of Scripture to avoid disqualification.

Speciality of the House: Sbirro's has no menu, no sign and no interest in new customers, and the handful of men who eat there have taken a solemn oath never to speak of the one dish that keeps them coming back.Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/OTRCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “A Matter of Faith” (June 21, 1978) ***WD00:45:51.326 = Obsession, “Ebb Tide” (October 01, 1951) ***WD01:14:46.759 = Origin of Superstition, “Black Cat” (1935) ***WD01:28:25.308 = Pat Novak For Hire, “Father Leahy Joe Feldman” (April 02, 1949)01:57:11.365 = Peril, “Mask of Hate” (1953) ***WD02:21:19.624 = Mystery Playhouse, “Letter” (December 26, 1944) ***WD(LQ)02:43:57.936 = Philip Morris Playhouse, “Four Hours to Kill” (May 13, 1949) ***WD(LQ)03:12:47.766 = The Price of Fear, “Speciality Of The House” (April 13, 1974) ***WD03:41:18.848 = Adventures of Ellery Queen, “One Diamond” (May 06, 1948)04:10:28.639 = Quiet Please, “Dialogue For A Tragedy” (April 10, 1949) ***WD04:40:22.415 = Radio City Playhouse, “Sibling” (December 11, 1949) ***WD05:08:43.222 = Show Close(ADU) = Air Date Unknown(LQ) = Low Quality***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0745

Sunday Service (8/8/26) // *Revelation 19:11-16* (ESV) // *The Rider on a White Horse* // 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in[a] blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule[b] them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.*Footnotes*a. Revelation 19:13 Some manuscripts sprinkled withb. Revelation 19:15 Greek shepherd#Revelation #BookofRevelation #BibleStudy #BibleExplained #BiblicalStudies #BibleTeacher #WordOfGod #BiblicalLessons #BibleJournal #BibleReading #BibleStudyCommunity #BibleVerse #prophecy #prophetic #jerusalemWebsite: https://mbchicago.org *FOLLOW US* Facebook: https://facebook.com/mbc.chicago Instagram: https://instagram.com/mbc.chicago TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@mbc.chicago Podcasts: Listen on Apple, Spotify & others *TO SUPPORT US* Zelle to: info@mbchicago.org Web: https://mbchicago.org/give Venmo: https://venmo.com/mbchurch DAF Donations: https://every.org/mbc.chicago PayPal/Credit: https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=AA74AC7V5WYMJ*Chapters and main sections of the message:*

Camden Bucey speaks with Derek C. Schuurman, professor and chair of computer science at Calvin University, about Christian wisdom in the age of artificial intelligence. Drawing upon Shaping a Digital World, Schuurman explains why technology is never neutral: people shape their tools, and those tools in turn reshape habits, institutions, and communities.The conversation sets contemporary AI within the biblical story of creation, fall, redemption, and new creation. Bucey and Schuurman contrast Christian hope with technicism—the belief that technology can solve humanity's deepest problems and build a technological heaven on earth. They also discuss human nature, transhumanism, responsible design, Christian higher education, autonomous weapons, and the need to keep human moral judgment and accountability in the loop.Chapters00:00 Introduction03:41 Derek C. Schuurman's path from engineering to Christian higher education08:29 Technology, cultural change, and the need for wisdom11:45 Technology is not neutral14:36 How tools reshape people and societies18:08 Reading technology through creation, fall, redemption, and new creation20:18 Two cities, two loves, and the biblical story22:22 Babel, idolatry, and the temptation to build heaven on earth23:21 Technicism and the promises of Silicon Valley26:52 Transhumanism and a Christian account of humanity29:14 Practical frameworks for responsible technological design30:36 Dooyeweerd's non-reductionistic view of creation33:19 Eight norms for faithful design37:34 Integrating Christian faith throughout education41:21 Liberal arts, AI, and well-rounded technical formation42:29 AI, labor, and the human calling to work43:42 Autonomous systems, accountability, and just-war questions45:55 Why moral judgment requires a human in the loop49:12 Faithful presence and wise Christian vocation51:41 Resources for engineers, designers, pastors, and parents53:24 Calvin University's “Wisdom in the Age of AI” conference55:36 ConclusionResourcesShaping a Digital World: Faith, Culture and Computer TechnologyA Christian Field Guide to Technology for Engineers and DesignersWisdom in the Age of AI Conference, Calvin University, October 8–10, 2026Magnifica HumanitasEpisode resources

The Decisions That Keep You Faithful: 6 Christians Share What Changed Everything What decisions help a Christian stay faithful—not just for a few months or years, but for a lifetime? In this special live edition of the Rob Skinner Podcast, recorded during the Downtown Boston Midweek service, Rob sits down with six disciples at very different stages of their spiritual journeys. Some have followed Jesus for less than a year. Others have been faithful for more than four decades. Rob asks each person one question: What one decision changed the trajectory of your spiritual life? Their answers are different, but remarkably practical. You'll hear about choosing your environment carefully, building a lifelong habit of prayer and Bible study, allowing Scripture to continually correct you, replacing complaining with action, choosing contentment, taking responsibility for your own discipleship, and surrounding yourself with people who will continually carry you back to Jesus. In this episode, you'll hear: Why the people and environments surrounding you can either strengthen or weaken your faith How consistency with God can carry you through decades of change and hardship The importance of finding "anchor scriptures" you return to during difficult seasons Why complaining rarely changes anything—and what to do instead The difference between being discontent and becoming chronically malcontent Why you shouldn't wait for someone else to take responsibility for your spiritual growth The importance of finding mentors who will challenge and inspire you Why every Christian needs "mat carriers" who keep bringing them back to Jesus How bitterness, grief, loss, and hope deferred can challenge long-term faithfulness Why God's power has already given us what we need to live a godly life Romans 12:2 reminds us that transformation begins with the renewing of our minds. Revival isn't reserved for a select few. It happens one life—and often one decision—at a time. As you listen to these stories, ask yourself: What decision is God calling me to make today? If this episode encourages you, share it with someone who needs hope or encouragement to keep growing. Rob's goal is to inspire you to live a no-regrets life, make this life count, and multiply disciples, leaders, and churches. Learn more at RobSkinner.com.

In this Male/Female episode of Timeless Wisdom, Dennis discusses a topic that's often considered taboo: men's sexual nature. In this episode, he tackles the age-old question of how men can control their desires and stay faithful in their marriages. With a mix of humor and sincerity, he shares his insights on the importance of being busy, spending quality time with one's partner, and wearing a wedding band as a symbol of commitment. Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timeless-wisdom-with-dennis-prager/id1517302239 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZEYeH4tuLr2FvG4ok1rl Learn more about Dennis Prager: https://pragertopia.com/ Follow Dennis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DennisPrager Follow Dennis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedennisprager/ Follow Dennis on X: https://x.com/DennisPrager Learn more about the Salem Podcast Network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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"The Holy Spirit is drawing us back as the people of God, faithful to God as our one Husband." In Episode 9 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff reveals why faithfulness and loyalty to Jesus are essential to a thriving relationship with Him. Building on the biblical picture of Christ as our Bridegroom, he explains that friendship with the world weakens our intimacy with the Lord and divides the heart He created to belong to Him alone. Drawing from James 4, Matthew 6, Zechariah 8, and Revelation 12, Duane shows that God's jealousy flows from His covenant love, not insecurity. Jesus is our faithful Hero Husband who will never leave us, break His promises, or forsake His bride. His loyal love calls forth our loyal response. Discover why God fiercely opposes everything that seeks to steal, wound, or draw His people away from Him, and how growing in covenant love produces unwavering faithfulness, wholehearted devotion, and the strength to stand firm in an increasingly hostile world.