Podcasts about first corinthians

The Basement Academy - July 15, 2025(REPLAY) "Themes from First Corinthians" (#16)Pastor Don Meeks

This week, we continue our series on 1 Corinthians. Join us as we learn that we can live free in Christ, but we need to love first.

This week, we continue our series on 1 Corinthians. Join us as we learn about the responsibilities of our liberty through God.

The Basement Academy - July 14, 2025(REPLAY) "Themes from First Corinthians" (#15)Pastor Don Meeks

We're about to open First Corinthians chapter eleven. If your church is like ours, you gather for communion every so often. But why do we do that? Pastor Ed is about to show us the essence of communion is coming together and sharing the life of Jesus together. But the church at Corinth had lost sight of this, and some problems were occurring surrounding communion. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

The church in Corinth wasn't perfect—and neither are we. In this series, we'll explore the real-life challenges faced by one of the earliest Christian communities and discover how Paul's letters to them still speak to our struggles today.From division and pride to spiritual gifts and love, First Corinthians is a mirror reflecting both the beauty and the mess of church life. Together, we'll see how God works powerfully through imperfect people to build a community grounded in grace, truth, and unity. This week, Pastor Kyle brings a teaching on God's wisdom, and how it differs from our own.Reflection Questions:1. Are you waiting for the wrong signs of God's hand and then stumbling over the way of the cross? If so how do you reframe your expectations?2. Are you desiring control over your own self preservation and success in turn seeing God's ways as foolishness? How do you correct course?Do you have a question you've been wanting answered? Head on over to our website www.invertedorthodoxy.com to submit a question. You can find us on Wednesdays on Youtube, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts. To learn more about our church, you can visit www.livingspringsairdrie.com

The Basement Academy - July 11, 2025(REPLAY) "Themes from First Corinthians" (#14)Pastor Don Meeks

If you've ever read First Corinthians eleven and all the talk about head coverings, maybe you were left wondering, “Well how does this apply to me today?” We're about to find out here on Abounding Grace, as pastor Ed Taylor continues his series in First Corinthians. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

The Basement Academy- July 10, 2025(REPLAY) "Themes from First Corinthians" (#13)Pastor Don Meeks

Send us a textTruth is sometimes painful, especially when it involves reassessing a preacher you once admired. My journey with Philip Anthony Mitchell began with genuine enthusiasm for his fiery preaching style that seemed to ignite spiritual passion. His practical applications of Scripture resonated with me deeply, and I found myself cheering for his ministry's success.The first warning sign appeared when Mitchell gave $50,000 to a follower who had relocated his entire family just to attend Mitchell's church. While concerning, this gesture alone wasn't definitive. However, when I encountered Mitchell's teachings on speaking in tongues, I faced the difficult realization that his doctrine fundamentally undermines the sufficiency of Scripture.Speaking in tongues as practiced in many charismatic circles today suggests that God's revelation remains open—that the Bible alone is insufficient. Yet Scripture provides clear filters for evaluating such claims. First Corinthians 14:15 establishes that prayer should be both spiritual and comprehensible: "I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with understanding also." First Thessalonians 5:17 commands believers to "pray without ceasing." Together, these verses reveal that authentic Christian prayer is spiritual, understandable, and continuous.The biblical record shows genuine tongues appearing only three times in Scripture, exclusively among the apostles, serving a specific purpose during that foundational era. What many call "tongues" today bears little resemblance to this apostolic gift, which involved speaking actual human languages the speaker had never learned.This painful discovery reminds us that acknowledging false teaching doesn't necessarily mean someone isn't a believer. Many sincere Christians teach incorrect doctrine through insufficient study or understanding. However, as Paul warned, "a little leaven leavens the whole lump"—seemingly minor theological errors can corrupt an entire belief system.Have you experienced the disappointment of discovering concerning doctrine from a teacher you once trusted? Share your story and join our conversation about maintaining biblical discernment in an age of charismatic personalities and compelling presentation styles.Support the show

Good morning! God bless you. This is the last part of First Corinthians 9, verses 17 to 27. DAY 320 ☕️ LAST BOOK — "Part 3-How Does A Preacher Get Paid?" This chapter is very important to all of us, not only the church elders. Okay?—JC. ★ Support this podcast ★

In your study of the Bible, have you ever encountered a verse or two that left you asking, “How in the world does that apply to us?” I think it's safe to say First Corinthians eleven is one such place. Here the subject of head coverings comes up. There were some women in the church at Corinth who chose not to wear head coverings and this caused quite a stir. Here we are centuries later and obviously that's not a cultural norm in America. So do we toss this passage out thinking it no longer applies? Actually pastor Ed Taylor says it has something very important to say to us. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

The Basement Academy - July 9, 2025 (REPLAY) "Themes from First Corinthians" (#12)Pastor Don Meeks

The Basement Academy - July 8, 2025 (REPLAY)"Themes from First Corinthians" (#11)Pastor Don Meeks

This week, we continue our series on 1 Corinthians. Join us as we learn that your current season is significant, and that right living is undivided devotion to the Lord. 

This week, we continue our series on 1 Corinthians. Join us as we learn that marriage is a great reminder that our bodies do not belong to us, and that singular devotion to the Lord is beautiful and honorable.

The Basement Academy - July 7, 2025 (REPLAY) "Themes from First Corinthians" (#10)Pastor Don Meeks

The Lord has given the Christian a great amount of liberty but as we're learning in First Corinthians we need to learn how to handle them in a God-glorifying way. Just as it was in the city of Corinth there are a good number of people today planting themselves way to close to sin and the world, all in the name of liberty. The problem is, over time it becomes very easy to cross the line and before you know it you're referring to sin as a liberty. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

When we have a need – a real need – something we can't do or fix or resolve for ourselves – what we need, is a helping hand. And if we get that helping hand – the person who's attached to that hand, well, they go up in our estimation. They earn the right to say things that others can't to us.  Funny thing happens through a helping hand.   Healing with our Hands Well, welcome to the programme this week – the last message in a series that I've called, “Living Life as an Ambassador for Christ”. And today... today I would like to share with you how you and I can be real ambassadors ... ambassadors with a difference; ambassadors that really stand out from the crowd. Whenever there's a disaster somewhere in the world – a tsunami or an earthquake or a cyclone or a tornado – it seems to me that the wealthy countries like my own; the countries with the logistics and the equipment and the resources to help – it seems we take forever to mobilise. When people are buried under rubble, they only have days, perhaps only hours to live and what they need right then, is specialist search and rescue teams, with sniffer dogs and listening equipment and all that stuff. And the survivors, what they need, is medical help, food, water, shelter. And the last thing I want to do is be critical but it seems to take so long for the wealthy countries to mobilise their resources. We know that these disasters are going to happen every year – they just happen and I am always left kind of scratching my head as to why it is that it takes us so long to respond. What those poor people need, within the first twenty four hours, is a huge influx of capability to save lives. And these days, I mean, you can pretty much fly from anywhere to anywhere in not much more than twenty fours and yet, time and time and time again these disasters happen and it takes us weeks to mobilise. Does that kind of strike you as strange? You know, as a tax payer in a relatively wealthy country – all be it a smallish population, but never the less, a wealthy country – when I see the way public monies are spent, the last thing that I'd have a problem with is my government setting aside some money to establish and maintain some rapid response capabilities to help other nations when disasters strike. But as easy as it is to sit there and criticise a government, I wonder whether this lethargy in responding to need isn‘t something that you and I experience in our personal lives. I read about an extreme example of this in a newspaper recently. Have a listen to this short article. A South Korean couple addicted to online gaming, let their baby starve to death while raising a virtual daughter. Parents, Kim You-Chul and Choi Mi-sun, spent up to 12 hours a day at an internet café tending to their avatar child in the online game Prius. But they left their real baby home alone and fed her just one bottle of milk a day. Police have charged the couple with child abuse and neglect. Pretty bizarre, pretty extreme, one might think, "Got nothing to do with me; I'm not like that. I don't neglect my children like that." I would hope not but what about our friends; what about our family members; what about our neighbours; what about the couple next door whose marriage is falling apart? We hear them screaming and arguing but do we ever invite them over for a barbecue, to share in their lives and for them to share in ours? What about that person at church – you know the one – single; overweight; they're life's a mess, they talk a bit too much and no one ever invites them to their place on Sunday for lunch? What about that man at work – you see he's a workaholic; he's ruining his marriage, neglecting his children – ruining everything, all for want of a friend who can show him a better way of living? Where are we then, you and I? I'll tell you where: we are like ‘online' that Korean couple, watching TV! We're doing all the things we want to do in the comfort of our own lives and our own homes. And the more affluent we become the less we care for one another. But we justify that; we rationalise it away; we sit in our homes with more than enough – many of us – more than enough, telling ourselves, "We worked hard for it and now we need a rest." We are living virtual lives, watching TV shows about cooking, instead of cooking ourselves; watching TV shows about travelling, instead of travelling ourselves. Raising our virtual lives, our virtual gods and ignoring the real world. It sounds harsh doesn't it? Well, sometimes we need to be direct. Sometimes we need to call a spade a spade. God does that too. Have a listen to this – First John chapter 3, verse 17. If you have a Bible, open it up – towards the end – the First Letter of John chapter 3, verse 17: How does God's love abide in anyone who has all the world's goods and yet sees a brother or sister in need but refuses to help? Now, I know that's hard because there seems to be so much need out there in the world. Sometimes we look at the news and we see the misery and we just turn it off, you and I – we can't make a difference; it's too big. Okay, I kind of understand that, although we can always make some small difference, but there are so many people closer to home; sometimes even within our homes, that we have the opportunity to serve – to heal with our hands; to heal with what we do as well as with what we say. Speaking first hand here, there is nothing ... absolutely nothing that speaks more about God's love into someone's life than when we step in to help them with that one thing they need help with. Sometimes it's the smallest thing – just a word of encouragement; a meal to someone just out of hospital; a visit or a phone call. Sometimes it's loving them over the long run; being there with them and for them. Whatever it is, when we have a need and someone just meets that need, there is nothing that speaks more of the love of Jesus than that. Believe you me, I know. It was people doing just that in my life who played such a powerful role in me coming to faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, their investment in meeting my needs bears fruit every day, as I sit down behind this microphone. Listen again to what Paul writes about how he sees his role and ours in this world. Second Corinthians chapter 5, verse 20: So we are ambassadors for Christ; since God is making his appeal through us we entreat you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. Imagine now, an ambassador of a wealthy country who has taken up his or her post in a poor country. And one day that poor country suffers a devastating earthquake and that ambassador from the wealthy country moves heaven and earth to quickly mobilise rescue and medical capabilities. They come quickly; they meet the desperate needs and then, when finally the crisis is over, what do you think the ambassador's actions have just said to the people of that poor country, about the wealthy country that the ambassador represents? That ambassador's actions will have spoken volumes into the poorer nation about how much the richer nation cares for them. It's simply not rocket science! Do you believe in Jesus? I do! And anyone who does is called to be an ambassador of Christ and as the Apostle Paul writes, it is through His ambassadors, dotted all over the planet, that God makes His appeal for people to be reconciled to Him. We don't have to look very far to find the need, do we? Often it's right under our noses. And we can spend time in prayer and at church and worshipping God and all those wonderful, good things while the babies starve; while the needs go unmet; while marriages next door fall apart and people right across the street are living in fear. Or we can go ... go and be ambassadors of Christ. For how does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or a sister in need and yet refuses to help?   Loving with our Hearts As I said at the beginning of today's programme, this is our last message in this four part series, “Living Life as an Ambassador for Christ”. And as we draw to the end I always find myself thinking of so many other things we could have talked about. Over the last three weeks I guess, what we have been doing is taking a look at the different aspects of the Apostle Paul's assertion that he and by implication, you and me - if we believe in this amazing, loving, compassionate, powerful Jesus – are ambassadors for Christ. Have a listen again to how he put it – Second Corinthians chapter 5, verse 20: So we are ambassadors for Christ; since God is making his appeal through us, we entreat you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. We have talked a lot about what it means to be an ambassador through whom God would make His appeal to a lost and hurting world. We've looked a bit at the way Jesus was an emissary of God into this world when He became a man. How He communicated God's message of grace to the blind and the poor and the diseased and the needy and the outcast. And I wish we could spend weeks and months more, taking a closer look at that. Maybe we will come back to it in a little while because at the centre of everything ... EVERYTHING is Jesus, the Son of God; the Maker of the heavens and the earth. So, as we draw this series together today, with so much more left to talk about, I had to decide on just one thing – the most important thing – and that most important thing; the one thing that Paul, at the end of First Corinthians 12 calls, "the yet more excellent way", is this: love! That's what we are going to finish up with today. I had a friend who, several years ago now, was called into Christian ministry, out of Australia into the United Kingdom. Now the particular place where he went to live and to work was, well, it was a part of the U.K. that was particularly depressed at the time. His job wasn't to work directly with the people but when I went to visit him and I wandered around the local town, I could feel that ... that oppression. There were derelict factories, rusting, decaying remnants of the industrial age. There was high youth unemployment and I spoke with the people; there seemed to be a hopeless; a lost-ness; an emptiness in this part of the country. It really stood out. Now we Australians, by and large, are a pretty optimistic lot. We have in our National character this ‘can do' attitude that to other cultures sometimes, comes across as being a bit brash. And so when I was confronted with this sad community's spirit, it really struck me between the eyes. And as I chatted with my friend over coffee late one night, he too confessed that he was finding that really difficult – moving from one culture to another – it's never easy. But the sadness and the listlessness and the hopelessness all around, particularly, coupled with the long, grey, cold winters, was really getting to him. Now, please understand me, I am not knocking the Brits. I love travelling to England but there are parts of the country – any Brit will tell you this – there are parts of the country where there is high unemployment, particularly amongst the youth – and it's tough going. Anyhow, a year or so later I was chatting with this man over Skype and he's a great guy – I love keeping in touch with him – and so I assumed he was still doing it tough in this unfamiliar culture. I started empathising with him and his response ... his response shocked me. He said in effect, "Oh no; no, no, we love it here; absolutely love it here. This is where God means us to be and it's really great." That was quite a turn around, so I asked him, "What's changed? You've moved your position a long way from where you were and what you were feeling a few years ago." And as I listened to him talk, it clicked! I could hear it in his voice – he had fallen in love with the people. God had touched his heart and he had this real compassion for the people out there – the unemployed; the people with that sense of hopelessness. He'd become part of a local church and he was part of the community and he realised that the joy and the enthusiasm and the optimism that he had in his heart could be a light in that place. He had fallen in love with the people. Sometimes we Christians feel like misfits in this world. There's a reason for that. As Jesus said in His prayer, just before He was crucified – John chapter 17 – He said that, “... we are in the world but not of the world.” The Apostle Paul makes the point that “ ... we are citizens of heaven, not of this world.” We are misfits; just like my friend the Aussie felt – he was a misfit in his new surroundings. And when we are misfits, the easiest thing in the world is to kind of criticise and poke fun and belittle those around us and complain – "I know Jesus; I have my life sorted out; I know what's right and all those other people out there, whose lives are in a mess, well, they're somehow less that I am." We criticise, we argue, we demean – it's called, "religious superiority". You see it often between races and cultures – one race looks down on another because of their skin colour or their traditions or just who they are. And I've seen people get this wrong over and over and over again. I love it when the Apostle Paul says in First Corinthians 13, it doesn't matter what gifts or abilities or what you do or how much you give, if you don't have love, friend you are nothing. And the love that Jesus showed was more than just love – it was compassion, it was empathy, it was kindness and gentleness. There are two Letters in the New Testament – First Timothy and Second Timothy – they are written by Paul to Tim, his young protégée. And in the second one, the Apostle Paul writes these words – Second Timothy chapter 2, verses 24 to 26: And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. The bit I love most in there is the bit about God perhaps granting that they will repent and come to know the truth; they may escape the snare of the devil and be set free. It's oh so easy, as someone who loves Jesus and is passionate about Him and who wants to see people's lives transformed, to start getting this idea that it's up to us. You know, we see many, many lives transformed through these radio programmes, all over the world but let me tell you this, with all that I am: nothing that I can do; nothing that I can say, can change lives! Just yesterday I received an email from a man in another country who wrote about a particular programme he'd listen to over the New Year period and he said, "One small thing you said, God took that and changed my life." He was an alcoholic and he'd stopped drinking. Now, I can't do that – only God can, by His Spirit when He takes His Word and brings it to life in our hearts. That bit is God's job. And when you or I become arrogant or pushy or superior in our attitudes we are working against God because, “God always opposes the proud but He gives grace to the humble.” And I don't care what gift you or I have, how hard we work for Jesus, how much of our cash we contribute to His work, unless we have love, my friend, we are enemies of God; enemies of our fellow men, women and children. “These three things remain”, writes Paul in First Corinthians chapter 13, “faith, hope and love. All really good but the greatest amongst these is love.” Whatever we do, however we do it, if we do it in love, God can use it – kind, gentle, patient – that's what Paul writes to Timothy. The wisdom of a man towards the end of his life after many, many years of very difficult ministry – bound in chains; about to be executed, writing to his young protégée, just starting out on his career - kindness, gentleness, patience and love.   A Price to Pay Now, I had the honour the other evening of sitting and having dinner with a man who heads up a large international ministry that touches young people with the love of Jesus Christ. They have a passion for seeing the lives of young folk transformed and they have missions and people kind of all over the world doing that – it's a huge organisation. Now this man happens to be an Australian and him and his wife and a couple of kids had to move from Australia to the U.S. for him to be able to take up the role as global president of this missions and ministry organisation. So, several years ago they received the call and off they went. Now you would imagine Australia and America – both English speaking; both Western cultures; pretty similar countries in many ways – you would imagine. But as someone who has travelled to the U.S. a lot and as someone who's just received an American into our ministry; a man and his family who immigrated the other direction – from the U.S. to Australia – I can tell you, there are some huge cultural differences between these two, apparently similar countries. Anyhow, I asked this man and his wife, as we were having dinner together, how did they find things when they moved their family to a large city in the U.S. several years ago. ‘Aw,' they said, ‘it wasn't easy. Oh, there were some big adjustments. Oh, that first twelve months was really tough going and we still missed those familiar things and the people and the culture that we grew up in.' So, I guess this is my point, is that it would be easy for you and me to sit and look at and listen to this man and think to ourselves, "Well, he's blessed; he made it; he's at the top of the heap in this large ministry, without ever seeing the cost. It cost him something, it cost his wife, it cost his children to uproot themselves and follow the call of God." Now, this guy is such a gifted leader – he is so the right man to head up that organisation but it cost him. You get it – it cost him. And these days he spends a lot of time flying around the world at the back of the plane – he's a tall man – and that's tiring and uncomfortable and as someone said to me recently, this guy could be the head of any large global corporation. He just has what it takes – he could be flying first class; he could be earning stacks of money but he's doing neither because his heart burns with a fire ... a fire; a passion to see peoples' lives changed. Not as they embrace some new religion or learn a new set of rules but as they meet and encounter Jesus Christ. As they discover His love and His power and His compassion and His vision for their lives – Jesus. This man; this leader is an ambassador for Christ. For two reasons – first is his soft heart; his passion and the second are his hard feet. In other words, he was prepared to go. I think it was Corrie Ten Boom who once said something along the lines that, God calls us to have soft hearts and hard feet. But the problem is that many Christians have the exact opposite – they have hard hearts and soft feet. My friend, whenever we are called to be an ambassador for Jesus Christ, there is a price to pay. Jesus said, “If anyone would be my disciple then he must take up his cross and follow me.” Count the cost – there is a cost and, “Unless you take up your cross and follow me,” said Jesus, follow me where I lead, “then you cannot ... you cannot be my disciple.” Being an ambassador of Christ is going to cost us something. It is not for the faint hearted; it is not for the hard hearted. It is for those in who burns a fire for Jesus; a passion to see hurting, needy people encounter this risen Saviour, Jesus, whether it's across the world or across the street – a passion to see lives transformed by Jesus. Does that mean we all have to immigrate to a foreign land and head up a ministry? Of course, it doesn't! But it does mean that each one of us, in some way, shape or form, wherever Jesus leads, has to go. Just as Jesus came to us, so we are called to go to the lost – to the sinners, to the outcasts, to those amongst our family and our friends and our work colleagues and our local football club and our neighbours and our enemies – even our enemies – to go and make disciples of all the nations – to go and be ambassadors ... ambassadors of Christ. My friend, if you believe in Jesus; if you have given your life to Him, I encourage you to do something today – I want encourage you to go to Him, in prayer, and say: Lord Jesus, I want to be Your ambassador. I want to be part of Your great plan for this world, of transforming lives; I want to carry You into this world, Lord, I want to see people meet You. Lord God, show me how ... show me how.

(1 Corinthians 16:13-14) Preaching Through First Corinthians - Live The Letter Part 3 - Pastor Mark Ralston New King James Version1 Corinthians 16:13-142 Corinthians 2:11John 15:9-131 Corinthians 13:13For more from Reformation Church please visit: www.reformationchurch.co.uk

The church in Corinth wasn't perfect—and neither are we. In this series, we'll explore the real-life challenges faced by one of the earliest Christian communities and discover how Paul's letters to them still speak to our struggles today. From division and pride to spiritual gifts and love, First Corinthians is a mirror reflecting both the beauty and the mess of church life. Together, we'll see how God works powerfully through imperfect people to build a community grounded in grace, truth, and unity.Pastor Blake brings us the first of this long form series, beginning now until December.Reflection Questions:1.Are you holding a grudge or have something against someone right now?2.What is stopping you from forgiving them? What is God saying to you about that? 3. What divisions are you aware of among your family, friends, our church, that are hurting our witness? 4. What can you do about those divisions? What is God asking you to do? Do you have a question you've been wanting answered? Head on over to our website www.invertedorthodoxy.com to submit a question. You can find us on Wednesdays on Youtube, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts. To learn more about our church, you can visit www.livingspringsairdrie.com

The Basement Academy - July 4, 2025(REPLAY) "Themes from First Corinthians" (#9)Pastor Don Meeks

Longtime Journey community member Ty Hasty joins Kevin Dixon and Robert Gonzalez to talk about his charity organization, IC13.Named after the famous First Corinthians passage on love, IC13 organizes housing and medical missions to Honduras and Uganda. Journey has long partnered with Ty and IC13 on mission trips and financial support.To find out more, visit IC13 online at: https://ic13.org. - - - - -Have a question or comment for the NOW team? Join the conversation by texting us at +1 615 861 9503.

The Basement Academy - July 3, 2025 (REPLAY) "Themes from First Corinthians" (#8)Pastor Don Meeks

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit.” We tend to use this reading from First Corinthians to affirm community and unity in diversity, and that it does. However, when we think about real life in communities and families, how does a diversity of gifts manifest? Do we really affirm the gifts in each person? And do we appreciate our own gifts? by Sister Leslie Keener, CDPSign up to receive our weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.GodSpaceCommunity.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Providence Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! At God Space, you can come as you are. You belong here. God Space is a ministry of the Sisters of Divine Providence of Kentucky. Do you want to learn more about the Sisters of Divine Providence? Check out our website here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.CDPKentucky.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Music credits: Thanks to Pixabay and these artists for their royalty free music: intro and outro music Acoustic Inspire by The_Mountain, reflection questions music, Relaxing Meditation Music by SamuelFrancisJohnson

The Basement Academy - July 2, 2025(REPLAY) "Themes from First Corinthians" (#7)Pastor Don Meeks

Maybe as you were going through school you had a history teacher that would say something along the lines of, “Those that don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it!” It's a reminder that there's something important to be learned from those that have gone on before us, and not only their victories but their mistakes. Today on Abounding Grace pastor Ed Taylor opens First Corinthians ten. And we'll receive sort of a history lesson regarding the people of Israel as they were wandering in the wilderness and engaged in warfare in the Promised Land. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

The Basement Academy - July 1, 2025 (REPLAY) "Themes from First Corinthians" (#6)Pastor Don Meeks

In this podcast episode, Pastor Joel dives into the importance of prophecy from First Corinthians chapters 12-14. If you are in a fight, or a dry season, you need a prophetic word from God!

This week, we continue our series on 1 Corinthians. Join us as we learn about dealing with conflict within the church. 

This week, we continue our series on 1 Corinthians. Join us as we learn what scripture says about dealing with conflict between other believers and confronting sin in our lives. 

The Basement Academy - June 30, 2025 (REPLAY) "Themes from First Corinthians" (#5)Pastor Don Meeks

The Basement Academy - June 27, 2025(REPLAY) "Themes from First Corinthians" (#4)Pastor Don Meeks

This sermon was preached in mid-2004 by Reverend Simon Thomas entitled, "There is a God Somewhere. The foundational text was taken from First Corinthians chapter two verses fourteen and fifteen, which reads, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they cannot be spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man."

The Basement Academy - June 26, 2025(REPLAY) "Themes from First Corinthians" (#3)Pastor Don Meeks

The conversation with Father Castello Vore, an Independent Catholic Priest, spiritual director, and TikTok influencer, delves into the profound significance of spiritual gifts and the nature of church unity. Father Vore articulates the necessity of adhering to an intuitive love, rather than a strictly institutional approach, in order to foster genuine connections within the faith community. He elucidates the transformative power of the sacraments and emphasizes that the Holy Spirit inherently binds believers together in unity. The discussion further touches upon the importance of recognizing God's presence in others, advocating for a more accessible spirituality through modern platforms such as TikTok. As we engage in this enlightening dialogue, we encourage listeners to reflect on their own spiritual journeys and the essence of communal faith.Father Castello Vore, a distinguished Independent Catholic Priest, spiritual director, and TikTok influencer, engages in a profound dialogue with Joshua Noel and TJ Blackwell on The Whole Church Podcast. This episode delves into the intricacies of faith, the role of the sacraments, and the essence of Christian unity, highlighting the necessity of love and humility in ecclesiastical discourse. Father Vore elucidates his journey from a Pentecostal upbringing to embracing the sacramental life, articulating how his spiritual evolution has not only deepened his faith but also enhanced his understanding of community within the church. The conversation navigates the complexities of modern spirituality, emphasizing the importance of recognizing God's presence in every individual, irrespective of denominational differences.Central to this episode is the exploration of spiritual gifts and their manifestations within the church. Father Vore discusses the relevance of scriptural teachings, particularly from First Corinthians, to contemporary church practices, advocating for an intuitive love that transcends institutional confines. He posits that the exercise of spiritual gifts should be rooted in genuine love and mutual respect, fostering an environment where all members can contribute to the collective spirituality. The dialogue also touches upon the challenges faced by independent churches in maintaining unity with broader Catholic traditions, as well as the innovative ways in which social media can facilitate spiritual engagement and community-building.Listeners are invited to reflect on their own spiritual journeys and the ways in which they can contribute to church unity. Father Vore encourages an open-minded approach to inter-denominational relationships, urging listeners to engage with others who hold differing views, thereby enriching their own faith experiences. This episode serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of love, humility, and understanding in the quest for a unified Christian witness in a diverse world.Takeaways: Father Castello Vore articulates the significance of intuitive love over institutional rigidity in contemporary church practices. He emphasizes that the sacramental nature of faith allows for a deeper commitment to one's spiritual life and community. The dialogue on ecumenism reveals how various denominations can enrich each other by sharing their unique insights and gifts. Vore encourages individuals to meditate on their inherent calling towards unity, emphasizing the Holy Spirit's role in fostering connections among diverse believers. .Check out all of the other shows in the Anazao Podcast Network:https://anazao-ministries.captivate.fm.Listen to other episodes we have done around the topic of LGBTQ inclusion in Church (and hear how our own perspectives have changed since starting this show):

The Basement Academy - June 25, 2025 (REPLAY) "Themes from First Corinthians" (#2)Pastor Don Meeks

The Basement Academy - June 24, 2025(REPLAY) "Themes from First Corinthians" (#1)Pastor Don Meeks

“Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” (2 Timothy 2:22 NLT) Several years ago, there was a story in the news about a man who had a tree fall on his leg. With no one around to come to his rescue, he took out a pocketknife and proceeded to amputate his leg. Then he made his way up the road until someone picked him up and raced him to help. Amazingly, this man who had a severed leg still had enough presence of mind to tell the driver of the vehicle not to go too fast. He said, “I didn’t come this far to die on the road. Take it easy.” I remember reading that story and thinking, “He did what? How could this guy cut off his leg? I would have laid under the tree and just waited for help.” But the doctors who treated him later said that if he hadn’t taken such a drastic measure, he would have died. He did it to save his life. Sometimes we must take radical, drastic steps to remove ourselves from whatever it is that is hurting us spiritually. That may mean immediate change. It may mean physically getting up and saying, “I’m out of here.” One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the Holy Spirit, who dwells inside every believer. Jesus said the Holy Spirit “will convict the world of its sin” (John 16:8 NLT). The Holy Spirit warns us when we’re in situations that threaten our spiritual well-being. What we do with His warnings is up to us. Ignoring His prompts is like ignoring a fire alarm or a beeping carbon monoxide detector or the check engine light in your car. You might be at that party. Watching that movie. In that relationship. In that group of people. In that setting. Wherever it is, you realize you shouldn’t be there. The Holy Spirit is convicting you. He is saying, “What are you doing here?” Don’t be foolish. Just get up and go. You can make your explanations later, if necessary. The important thing is to remove yourself from the situation immediately. The apostle Paul wrote, “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11 NLT). The best place to stand firm is a distance away from the devil’s traps and temptations. In other words, maintain the high ground and stay out of the trenches. First Corinthians 10:13 says, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (NLT). No matter what you’re facing, God has an escape plan, a way out. Do the wise thing and take it. Reflection question: What are some scenarios, situations, and places that you need to run from? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we continue our series on 1 Corinthians. Join us as we learn that love is wanting what's best for someone, not accepting them as they are

This week, we continue our series on 1 Corinthians. Join us as we learn that how people see us doesn't change how God sees our heart.

In this powerful sermon delivered on June 22, 2025, at First Christian Church in Brazil, Indiana, Pastor Chris Gregg dives into the transformative message of 1 Corinthians 2:1-16. Addressing a world filled with division—whether over global events like the recent bombing of Iran or local rivalries like Cubs vs. Cardinals fans—Pastor Chris emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the only one big enough to unite us. Drawing from the Apostle Paul's letter to the Corinthian church, he highlights the simplicity and power of the gospel, urging believers to focus on the message of the cross rather than worldly wisdom.Key Topics DiscussedUnity Through Jesus: Pastor Chris discusses how countless issues, big and small, can divide us, but Jesus is the unifying force for believers (00:01:04 - 00:01:52).The Message of the Cross: Paul's approach to sharing the gospel was not through persuasive speech but through the power of God, a model for all Christians (00:04:22 - 00:05:34).God's Hidden Wisdom: The sermon explores the “mysterion” (mystery) of God's plan, revealed through the Holy Spirit to those who believe (00:07:00 - 00:09:06).Spiritual vs. Natural Understanding: Pastor Chris explains why some reject the gospel, not due to comprehension but because they deem it worthless without the Spirit's revelation (00:15:33 - 00:19:02).Living as Ambassadors: All believers are called to share their faith, valuing the cross through their lives to spark curiosity in others (00:19:30 - 00:22:04).Prayer and Intimacy with God: The sermon closes with a call to pray fervently for those far from God and to seek God's specific guidance through prayer and His Word (00:21:00 - 00:25:30).Useful Timestamps00:01:04: Introduction to division in the world and the church.00:04:22: Reading of 1 Corinthians 2:1-16.00:07:00: Explanation of the “mystery” (mysterion) of God's wisdom.00:15:33: Contrast between worldly and godly wisdom.00:19:30: Call to value the message of the cross in daily life.00:24:18: Closing prayer for believers and those far from God.Additional NotesThis sermon is part of a series on the book of First Corinthians, addressing the challenges faced by the early church in Corinth—a community Pastor Chris describes as “really messed up” yet relevant to modern congregations. The message is both an encouragement for believers to deepen their relationship with God and a heartfelt invitation for those exploring faith to encounter Jesus. For those interested in further study, Pastor Chris references Isaiah 64:4 and the parable of the hidden treasure in Matthew 13:44.Connect with First Christian ChurchWebsite: fccbrazil.orgSocial Media: Follow us on all platforms @fccbrazil (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)Contact: Reach out via email at info@fccbrazil.org or call (812) 446-1111 for more information or to connect with our community.Recommended ResourcesBible Gateway for exploring scripture references.YouVersion Bible App for daily Bible reading plans, including First Corinthians.Join us next week for the continuation of our First Corinthians series, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear the unifying message of Jesus Christ!

Mass readings for Corpus Christi – 6/22/25 Reading 1, Genesis 14:18-20 Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 110:1, 2, 3, 4 Reading 2, First Corinthians 11:23-26 Gospel, Luke 9:11-17

This summer as a church we are diving into the book of First Corinthians! This week Pastor Curt preached out of 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 and pointed out the "foolishness of the cross" and how God turned something that at one time was foolish into something that changed the world!

This week, we continue our series on 1 Corinthians. Join us as we learn that division is really immaturity disguised as passion, and that we should always keep the important things, the important things.

This week, we continue our series on 1 Corinthians. Join us as we learn that success is not a sign of righteousness, and that hardship is a badge of honor for Christians.

LOOKING A LITTLE MORE REDEEMED - Pentecost Sunday 6/8/25 Mass Readings for the Solemnity of Pentecost - Sunday June 8, 2025 Reading 1, Acts 2:1-11 Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 Reading 2, First Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 Gospel, John 20:19-23

The Bible doesn't tell us to like everyone, but we are commanded to love everyone. Here are just a few of the scriptures that make it clear: 1 John 4:21: And he has given us this command:  Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 1 John 4:8: Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. Luke  6:32 & 35 Jesus said: Love your enemies. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. Leviticus 19:18: Love your neighbor as yourself. In fact, Jesus said there are two great and primary commandments (Matthew 22:37-40) and simply put, they are: Love God and love people. In fact, Jesus said all the commandments hang on these two; they are foundational to our faith. Easy to say, right? Love God, love people—but when you run into unlikable people, you feel like you've hit the spiritual brick wall. Since we cannot like them, we usually conclude we cannot love them either. Isn't it true that we just naturally think you have to like someone before you can love them? Like is the first step, the beginning of love. So how can you love someone you don't like? Part of the problem is that love has different definitions, and we sometimes get them confused. In the Bible we find three types of love in the original language. The first is Philo, which is the love we have toward friends, family, and others in our lives. Philo love is what Paul describes in Romans 12:10: Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Then there is Eros love, which is a more physical form of love. It's the kind of love shared between a husband and wife, hopefully accompanied by Philo love as well. Then there is Agape love, which is the unconditional love God has for you and me. Nothing you do can change how God loves you. Ephesians 2:4-5 describe this Agape love: But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. This is love which loves because its own inherent nature is to love. That's why the Bible says, God is love (1 John 4:8). Love is his nature. The kind of love we need to love people we don't like is agape love. Now, agape love is not necessarily a feeling. We can love with agape love whether the feelings are present or absent, whether they are good or bad, whether this love is reciprocated or not. It is not based on feelings. Agape love is an action. That's how it's always described in Scripture. The Bible tells us we know God loves us because he sent his Son into the world to redeem us. We know Jesus loves us because he gave his life for us. The Bible says,  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends (John 15:13). And Jesus said that we know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands (1 Johnn 2:3). God's kind of love is an action, not a feeling. Now, that really is good news, because it means we can love people toward whom we do not necessarily have good feelings. You can love people toward whom you have no feelings at all. Since love is an action, you can obey God's command to love everyone. First Corinthians 13 is a good place to look for a practical description of love. A few of these are: Patience: When you act with patience toward someone, you are loving them. Keep in mind that love is not a feeling, so we don't have to feel patient. Can you remember acting with patience even when you did not feel patient? That is agape love. Kindness: When you feel like saying something sarcastic or cutting or angry, but instead you say something kind, that is a love action. Not Jealous: When you refuse to behave jealously or possessively, you are showing love. Has Good Manners: Just plain courtesy is a love action. How often we forget good manners, like not interrupting others when they're talking, letting others go ahead of us, etc.

This week, we continue our series on 1 Corinthians. Join us as we learn that human wisdom, speech, and strength may impress, but have no real power.

This week, we continue our series on 1 Corinthians. Join us as we learn that how we live reveals what we truly believe, and that what we believe about God shapes everything about us.