Podcasts about for christ

Join Pastor Jeff as he explores the incredible truth that Jesus became our substitute, taking the punishment for our sins so we could be forgiven and restored to a relationship with God. Discover why the cross is the greatest act of love and the foundation of our salvation. 1 Peter 3:18  For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.

10:05 – 10:22 (17mins) Paul Perez, President of the National Border Patrol Council TOPICS:On National Security, Iran, & Cuba — 10:41 – 10:56 (15mins) Weekly: Drew Thomas Allen Author: “For Christ and Country: the Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk” "Clinton Hoax, Obama Coup: The Declassified Story of the Trump–Russia Delusion”Host of ‘The Drew Allen Show’ podcast VP of client development at Publius PR & Editor of the Publius National Post.columnistSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10:05 – 10:22 (17mins) Paul Perez, President of the National Border Patrol Council TOPICS:On National Security, Iran, & Cuba — 10:41 – 10:56 (15mins) Weekly: Drew Thomas Allen Author: “For Christ and Country: the Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk” "Clinton Hoax, Obama Coup: The Declassified Story of the Trump–Russia Delusion”Host of ‘The Drew Allen Show’ podcast VP of client development at Publius PR & Editor of the Publius National Post.columnistSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isaiah 53:3-6,” He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”Escapism is the tendency to seek distraction or relief from unpleasant realities, stress, responsibilities, or emotional discomfort. We ask, ' How may I work to get some real easy living?” "Man was made for truth, but truth is costly and mysterious. Therefore, many choose pleasure—not because it satisfies, but because it distracts."Isaiah 53:4,"Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows"JOHN 6:53-58,”53 So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, the one who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread that came down out of heaven, not as the fathers ate and died; the one who eats this bread will live forever.”Charles Spurgeon, "Christ did not come merely that we might be better men, but that He might make us new men altogether."An invitation has been pronounced to enter into something new, different, better, the first and final plan.Faith in HIS suffering & gift.Hebrews 2:14-18,” 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”“Our bodies will break, and our blood will be spilled, but in Christ we have one who spilled the perfect blood and broke the perfect body that though we may suffer here on earth, it pales in comparison to what we have now received through one man's ultimate suffering.”ISAIAH 53 He carried our griefs He carried our sorrows He was wounded for us He was crushed for us He became all of our suffering, not for us to run & escape, but rather to stand with Him in freedom.1 PETER 3:18,”18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,”In suffering, we bring His work—not our escapePsalm 62:8 - “Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”In suffering, we look to Christ—not inward for answersHebrews 12:2 - “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…”John Piper - “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”In suffering, we remain with Jesus—not away from HimJohn 15:4 - “Abide in Me, and I in you.”Acts 16:25 - “Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God in prison.”In suffering, we trust Jesus—not the outcomePhilippians 1:21 - “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”Romans 8:38–39 - “Nothing… will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”

10:05 – 10:22 (17mins) RNC Guest: Amber Smith, to discuss the latest news on the Iran conflict and its potential impact on future energy costs. 10:41 – 10:56 (15mins) Weekly: Drew Thomas Allen @DrewThomasAllenAuthor: “For Christ and Country: the Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk” "Clinton Hoax, Obama Coup: The Declassified Story of the Trump–Russia Delusion”Host of ‘The Drew Allen Show’ podcast VP of client development at Publius PR & Editor of the Publius National Post.columnistSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this eye-opening podcast, Fritz gives a behind-the-scenes look into how Wheaton, the so-called “Harvard of Christian schools,” really operates. Is this evangelical flagship college really living out its motto: “For Christ and His Kingdom”? Or are leaders seeking their own preservation and their own kingdom?

~~~~~~~ No 16 in the series - The Epistles of Peter. ~~~~~~~ **Considering 1 Peter 3:18-22** For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, ...... once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah,..... The like figure whereunto even baptism ..... *1/ Christ - His suffering and death and resurrection - 1 Peter 3:18 2/ Noah - The gospel preached to those before Christ died and who did not profit from it - 1 Peter 3:19-20 3/ Baptism - The answer of a good conscience - 1 Peter 3:21* **Sermon summary:** The sermon centers on the redemptive work of Christ, emphasizing His substitutionary death as the just suffering for the unjust to bring his people back to God, a sacrifice that was once for all and fully satisfied divine justice. Drawing from Genesis and 1 Peter, it highlights Noah as a prophetic figure whose faith and obedience in building the ark—despite ridicule—foreshadowed the gospel message of salvation through faith, with only eight souls saved by water as a type of baptism. The sermon then connects this to believer's baptism, not as a ritual cleansing of the flesh, but as a public, obedient response of a good conscience toward God, rooted in the resurrection of Christ and the believer's identification with His death and new life. Through the lens of Noah's faith, Christ's atonement, and the sacrament of baptism, the preacher calls the congregation to live in faithful obedience, recognizing that true salvation is a gift of grace, not of works, and that the ultimate hope is eternal fellowship with God, secured by Christ's victory over sin and death.

Paul, a called apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of God, and Sosthenes the brother,1COR.1:2 to the assembly of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all those calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place - both theirs and ours:1COR.1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!1COR.1:4 I give thanks to my God always concerning you for the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus,1COR.1:5 that in every thing ye were enriched in him, in all discourse and all knowledge,1COR.1:6 according as the testimony of the Christ was confirmed in you,1COR.1:7 so that ye are not behind in any gift, waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,1COR.1:8 who also shall confirm you unto the end - unblamable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ;1COR.1:9 faithful [is] God, through whom ye were called to the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.1COR.1:10 And I call upon you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that the same thing ye may all say, and there may not be divisions among you, and ye may be perfected in the same mind, and in the same judgment,1COR.1:11 for it was signified to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe, that contentions are among you;1COR.1:12 and I say this, that each one of you saith, ‘I, indeed, am of Paul' - ‘and I of Apollos,' - ‘and I of Cephas,' - ‘and I of Christ.'1COR.1:13 Hath the Christ been divided? was Paul crucified for you? or to the name of Paul were ye baptized;1COR.1:14 I give thanks to God that no one of you did I baptize, except Crispus and Gaius -1COR.1:15 that no one may say that to my own name I did baptize;1COR.1:16 and I did baptize also Stephanas' household - further, I have not known if I did baptize any other.1COR.1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but - to proclaim good news; not in wisdom of discourse, that the cross of the Christ may not be made of none effect;1COR.1:18 for the word of the cross to those indeed perishing is foolishness, and to us - those being saved - it is the power of God,1COR.1:19 for it hath been written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the intelligence of the intelligent I will bring to nought;'1COR.1:20 where [is] the wise? where the scribe? where a disputer of this age? did not God make foolish the wisdom of this world?1COR.1:21 for, seeing in the wisdom of God the world through the wisdom knew not God, it did please God through the foolishness of the preaching to save those believing.PAYPAL:spiritforce01@gmail.comBITCOIN:3H4Z2X22DuVUjWPsXKPEsWZmT9c4hDmYvyVENMO:@faithbucksCASHAPP:$spiritforcebucksZelle:faithbucks@proton.mePATREON:Michael BashamHOME BASE SITE:faithbucks.com

10:05 – 10:22 (17mins) Michael Lettsthe Founder, President, and CEO of InVest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forcesthrough educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraisingprograms.Bystander in serious condition after fatal shooting near White House checkpoint 10:41 – 10:56 (15mins) Weekly: Drew Thomas Allen Author: “For Christ and Country: the Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk” "Clinton Hoax, Obama Coup: The Declassified Story of the Trump–Russia Delusion”Host of ‘The Drew Allen Show’ podcast VP of client development at Publius PR & Editor of the Publius National Post.columnistSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this homily on Christ's prayer "that they may be one," Father Anthony reflects on humanity's calling to communion and the tragic ease with which sin turns even good things into instruments of division. Drawing on the example of Arius and the divisions of the modern world, he argues that the deepest fractures in society begin not in institutions but in the human heart. The healing of the world therefore begins not with self-righteous outrage or victory over enemies, but with repentance, humility, holiness, and the difficult work of learning to love one another in Christ.  Enjoy the show! --- Homily - Becoming One in Christ Sunday after Ascension John 17:1-13 Today we hear our Lord pray for His people: that they may be one. Not merely friendly, not merely cooperative, but one. And not just one in purpose or organization. He says: "that they may be one, as We are one." This is an astonishing thing. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons, yet perfectly united in love, perfectly united in will, perfectly united in life. And this is what mankind was created for. We were not made for isolation. We were not made for hatred. We were not made for endless suspicion and division. We were made for communion. The Apostle Paul gives us another image for this mystery. He says that we are one body, with Christ Himself as the head. This is what salvation is: not merely individual forgiveness, but the healing and reunification of humanity in Christ. The Church exists so that the scattered may be gathered together. So that enemies may become brothers. So that strangers may become family. So that what sin shattered may be made whole again. But if we are honest, we know that we are not doing a very good job of this. We live in a world increasingly defined by division. And the frightening thing is how naturally division now comes to us. Even the tools that were meant to unite us become instruments of separation. Not long ago, new technologies promised to reconnect people. Families separated by distance could remain close. Old friends could reconnect. Communities could stay in touch. And for a moment, it seemed wonderful. But how quickly did sin find a way to use those same tools for anger, condemnation, mockery, tribalism, and hatred? Love creates communion. Pride creates factions. And pride is endlessly creative. We divide ourselves by politics, by class, by race, by ideology, by education, by culture, by nation, and even by theology. We define ourselves not by what we love together, but by whom we oppose. And once division takes hold, it begins to feel righteous. We become certain that we are the ones who see clearly, and everyone else is blind. This is not a new temptation. The early Church struggled with it as well. In the fourth century, a priest named Arius became convinced that he understood the mystery of Christ better than the Church herself. He read the Scriptures, formed his conclusions, and became absolutely certain that he was right. When the bishops gathered together at Nicaea and proclaimed the faith handed down through the apostles—that Christ is eternally begotten of the Father, true God of true God, of one essence with the Father—Arius refused to repent. Now it is easy for us to hear this story and imagine ourselves standing heroically with the saints. We imagine ourselves as Athanasius defending the truth. Or perhaps as Saint Nicholas rebuking heresy. But if I am honest, that is usually not who I am in the story. I am the man who justifies himself. I am the man who explains why his anger is righteous, why his condemnation is necessary, why his enemies deserve contempt, why his divisions are justified. I am the man who says: "I know how the world works. I know who is wrong. I know who is to blame." And this is where the healing must begin. Because the greatest divisions in the world do not begin in legislatures, or courts, or media, or institutions. They begin in the human heart. Sin always begins there. And sin does not remain private. We often imagine that our bitterness, our contempt, our pride, our hatred remain safely hidden within us. But they do not. Sin has consequences. Sin shapes perception. Sin distorts judgment. Sin affects families, friendships, communities, and nations. Love creates communion. Pride creates factions. And if pride rules the heart, even good things become corrupted. Policies cannot save us. Technology cannot save us. Political victories cannot save us. Because sin will always find a way to weaponize them. A divided heart creates division wherever it goes. This does not mean that justice does not matter. It does not mean that laws do not matter. It does not mean that evil should be ignored. But it does mean that the healing of the world begins somewhere much closer than we often imagine. It begins with repentance. Not the repentance of our enemies. Our own. The saints understood this. Saint Seraphim famously said: "Acquire the Spirit of peace, and thousands around you will be saved." Notice where he begins. Not with controlling the world. Not with defeating enemies. Not with forcing outcomes. But with repentance. With purification of the heart. With peace in Christ. This is incredibly liberating. Because when we look at the divisions of the world, it is easy to become overwhelmed. It is easy to think: "This can never be healed." But Christ has already shown us how healing begins. I repent of my sins. I learn humility. I learn patience. I learn how to forgive. I learn how to see my brother not as an enemy, but as someone for whom Christ died. And then grace begins to spread outward. Christ heals my heart. Then my family. Then my friendships. Then my parish. And through the lives of repentant people, the world itself begins to change. This is how the saints transformed civilizations. Not primarily through power. Not through outrage. Not through self-righteousness. But through holiness. The Lord did not command us to win every argument. He commanded us to love one another. And this love is not sentimental weakness. It is crucifixion. It is humility. It is patience. It is refusing to hate. It is the hard and holy work of becoming one in Christ. My brothers and sisters, the world is hungry for this kind of witness. Not more noise. Not more fury. Not more factions. The world is hungry for peace. For holiness. For communion. For Christ. So let us begin where the saints always begin: with repentance. "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." And through that prayer, may Christ heal our hearts, our homes, our parish, and through them, the world. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:24–26 NLT) When we lose a loved one, there’s a time and place for mourning. The depth of our sorrow is an indication of the depth of our love for that person. But there’s also a place for rejoicing if that loved one is a believer because we know we will see them again. Even Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus when He saw the devastating power of death. Death is an enemy, although one whose fate is already determined. The apostle Paul wrote, “After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:24–26 NLT). No one wants to die. After all, this life is all we know. No one looks forward to the end of it. But the reality is that we all will die. That’s why it’s important to put our faith in Christ before we enter eternity. It’s also important that we not lose sight of what awaits believers when we die. The Bible doesn’t offer pictorials of Heaven, but it does provide some tantalizing descriptions. Paul was given a glimpse of Heaven and tried to put his experience into words. “I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell” (2 Corinthians 12:2–4 NLT). (We’ll explore this passage further next week in our study of 2 Corinthians.) You’ll notice that he used the word paradise to describe what he saw. Paradise is a Greek word that refers to the royal garden of a king. Think about the most beautiful garden you’ve ever seen. If you’re not into gardens, think about the most amazing sight you’ve ever laid eyes on. That’s the depiction of Heaven Paul gave. He was saying, “I don’t really have the words for it, but it was like a paradise.” As Pastor Adrian Rogers put it, “The God who sculpted the wings of the butterfly, blended the hues of the rainbow, and painted the meadows with daffodils is the same who made Heaven.” In Heaven all questions are answered, all tears are dried, and all pain is gone. Heaven is pure bliss. That’s why Paul said that he longed to be there. He saw for himself that Heaven is far, far better than earth. And that’s what all believers can look forward to. Reflection question: What are your feelings about Heaven? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! The Harvest Crusade is coming to Angel Stadium on July 11! Stay updated on all important event details. — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." - 1 Corinthians 5:7A visual learner? Watch the stream back now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10:25 – 10:37 (17mins) Vic and Ken each receive an “Unhinged Bio” from Chat GPT. 10:41 – 10:56 (15mins) Weekly: Drew Thomas Allen Author: “For Christ and Country: the Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk” "Clinton Hoax, Obama Coup: The Declassified Story of the Trump–Russia Delusion”Host of ‘The Drew Allen Show’ podcast VP of client development at Publius PR & Editor of the Publius National Post.columnistSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10:25 – 10:37 (17mins) Vic and Ken each receive an “Unhinged Bio” from Chat GPT. 10:41 – 10:56 (15mins) Weekly: Drew Thomas Allen Author: “For Christ and Country: the Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk” "Clinton Hoax, Obama Coup: The Declassified Story of the Trump–Russia Delusion”Host of ‘The Drew Allen Show’ podcast VP of client development at Publius PR & Editor of the Publius National Post.columnistSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7 takeaways from this study Take sin's consequences seriously, but not hopelessly. The study shows that sin always carries real liability before God. Yet God also provides a concrete, legal way for that liability to be transferred and paid, ultimately in Messiah's sacrifice. See forgiveness as removing penalty, not erasing history. Forgiveness does not make the past unhappen. It removes the ongoing penalty and relational barrier. That frees you to walk in restored fellowship without denying what actually occurred. Let the cross shape how you forgive others. When you forgive someone, you are choosing to absorb or release the consequence instead of demanding repayment. That mirrors how God transfers and resolves guilt through sacrifice, rather than pretending there was no offense. Treat holiness as contagious in both directions. In Torah, impurity can contaminate, but consecrated blood can also sanctify what it touches. Your choices and habits either defile or “set apart” spaces, relationships, and communities. Live as someone whose presence should make things cleaner, not dirtier. Recognize there are sins with lasting vocational impact. Ezekiel 44 shows that some betrayals of trust permanently limit a person's role, even if God spares their life. Practically, guard positions of spiritual influence and leadership with extra caution; some lines, once crossed, cannot be fully “undone.” Rely on a living Mediator, not a past event alone. Messiah's death was once-for-all, but His ongoing intercession is present-tense. In prayer and repentance, think of coming to a living High Priest who actively applies His already-finished work to you now. Connect atonement with real-life change. If Messiah carried your penalty, then persisting in the same sin ignores the cost paid. Let gratitude for that legal-cleansing drive concrete changes in behavior — how you use your time, your body, your money, your words. The Torah does not hide the failures of its central human figures. Moses killed an Egyptian. Aaron participated in the sin of the Golden Calf. Israel repeatedly defiled itself through rebellion and idolatry. Yet Scripture consistently presents HaShem1Hebrew for “The Name,” a circumlocution for the ineffable name of the Holy One of Israel as the One who provides the means by which imperfect people may draw near to Him. From the consecration of Aaron in Leviticus, to Ezekiel's vision of purified worship, to the priesthood of Messiah in Hebrews, the same pattern emerges repeatedly: judgment, atonement, sanctification, covenant relationship, and ongoing mediation through God's appointed means. We’ll focus especially on how guilt transfers in sacrificial law, why blood is central to atonement, how priestly authority functions, and why resurrection becomes essential to the eternal priesthood of Yeshua. Moses as surrogate priest in Aaron's inauguration Leviticus 8 records the actual inauguration of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. Exodus 29 had already outlined the ceremony in advance. In Leviticus 8:1–3, HaShem commands Moses: “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread, and assemble all the congregation at the doorway of the tent of meeting.” Leviticus 8:1–3 NASB95 Something unusual immediately appears in the text: Moses functions as the officiant for the consecration ceremony. He washes Aaron and his sons, clothes them, anoints the tabernacle and altar, offers sacrifices, applies blood, and even receives portions normally associated with priestly service. Yet Moses himself is not formally part of the Aaronic priesthood. Scripture identifies him primarily as a prophet and covenant mediator (Deuteronomy 18:15). He belongs to Levi, but God did not appoint him to serve as an ongoing priest within the normal Levitical structure. This creates an important theological tension. Exodus 2:11–12 records that Moses killed an Egyptian and hid the body. Later Torah legislation prescribes death for murder (Numbers 35:16–21). Moses never undergoes a formal legal execution for that act. From a strict covenantal standpoint, he carries unresolved death liability. Aaron likewise carries severe covenant guilt. In Exodus 32, he fashions the Golden Calf, builds an altar before it, and participates in Israel's idolatrous worship (Exodus 32:1–6). Torah law later prescribes death for idolatry (Deuteronomy 13:6–10; 17:2–5). Deuteronomy 9:20 notes that Moses interceded specifically for Aaron so that HaShem would not destroy him. Thus, the two central human figures involved in inaugurating Israel's priesthood are themselves compromised sinners. From a human perspective, this seems paradoxical. Ordinarily, the greater consecrates the lesser. Yet Moses—the younger brother, a man with bloodguilt in his past—is appointed to consecrate Aaron, who himself had led Israel into idolatry. The Torah intentionally forces the reader to ask a deeper question: how can flawed mediators stand before the Holy One at all? The answer is not human worthiness. The answer is divine appointment, covenant mercy, and sacrificial atonement. The bull, the laying on of hands and the transfer of guilt The consecration ceremony begins with a חַטָּאת khatat — a sin offering. Before priestly ministry could begin, there first had to be cleansing and atonement. Leviticus 8 describes three primary sacrificial animals: A bull for the sin offering A ram for the burnt offering A second ram for ordination The bull receives particular emphasis. Aaron and his sons lay their hands upon the bull's head: Then he presented the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. Leviticus 8:14 NASB95 This act reflects a broader Torah pattern found throughout Leviticus (Leviticus 4:4, 15, 24, 29; 16:21). The Hebrew verb used is סָמַךְ sāmakh, meaning “to lean upon,” “support,” or “lay upon.” The gesture symbolizes identification and transfer. Importantly, the Torah does not present this as a transfer of the historical act itself. The sin remains a real event in the past. Murder still occurred. Idolatry still occurred. The act cannot be undone. Rather, what transfers is the liability, consequence, or judicial penalty associated with the offense. The sinner does not cease to have committed the sin. Instead, the sacrificial victim symbolically bears the consequence that justice demands. This pattern resembles interpersonal forgiveness. When one person forgives another, the offense remains historically real, but the offended party relinquishes the ongoing claim of vengeance, estrangement, or penalty. In the sacrificial system, the animal becomes the substitute bearer of covenant liability. The Torah therefore demonstrates that reconciliation with God requires more than sentiment. Sin carries objective consequences, and those consequences must be addressed through God's appointed means. Aaron could not simply enter the priesthood while ignoring the guilt associated with the Golden Calf. Moses could not sanctify the altar apart from atonement. Before sacred service could begin, sacrifice had to intervene. Perfected blood and the purification of the altar After the laying on of hands, Moses slaughters the bull and applies its blood to the altar: Next Moses slaughtered it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar, and purified the altar. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it, to make atonement for it. Leviticus 8:15 NASB95 The Torah uses terms such as: כִּפֶּר kipper — “to make atonement,” “to cover” טָהֵר ṭāhēr — “to cleanse,” “to purify” קֹדֶשׁ qōdesh — “holiness,” “set-apartness” At first glance, the logic appears paradoxical. The animal becomes associated with guilt through the laying on of hands. Yet after death, its blood becomes the means by which the altar is purified and sanctified. The key lies in the completion of penalty. Before death, the bull bears covenant liability. But once the animal dies, the penalty has been executed. Justice has been carried out against the substitute. The liability cannot be demanded a second time. In that sense, the blood now stands in a “perfected” or “guiltless” relation to the offense. The claim of judgment has been exhausted. Because the penalty has been fully discharged, the blood becomes the cleansing agent within the ceremonial system. The altar — which beforehand was merely common material — becomes sanctified through contact with blood associated with completed atonement. Exodus 29:36–37 explains that the altar itself required consecration before it could function as the meeting place between Israel and the Holy One. The sacrificial system therefore teaches a profound covenant principle: death terminates liability. Yet the Torah simultaneously reveals the limitation of the earthly system. The animal dies once. Its blood is applied once. The effects remain temporary within history. Israel sins again. Priests continue to fail. New impurity accumulates. The process repeats continually. Hebrews later reflects upon this limitation: For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never… make perfect those who draw near. Hebrews 10:1 NASB95 The problem is not that Torah's sacrificial system fails on its own terms. Rather, the problem is mortality, repetition, and the ongoing weakness of human mediators. The burnt offering and the ram of ordination Following the bull comes the עֹלָה ‘olah, the burnt offering. Unlike other sacrifices in which portions are retained for priestly use, the burnt offering ascends wholly upon the altar as a symbol of complete surrender and devotion to God. Then comes the second ram, the ram of ordination: Moses then had Aaron and his sons come near and lay their hands on the head of the ram. Leviticus 8:22 NASB95 Moses applies the ram's blood to Aaron's right ear, right thumb, and right big toe, and then to those of Aaron's sons (Leviticus 8:23–24). These actions symbolize total consecration: The ear sanctified for hearing and obeying The hand sanctified for service and work The foot sanctified for walking in covenant faithfulness Leviticus then describes the wave offering and heave offering. The Hebrew term for wave offering is תְּנוּפָה tenūfāh, referring to a side-to-side motion. For heave offering, it’s תְּרוּמָה terūmāh, referring to lifting upward. The wave offering symbolizes transfer or presentation before HaShem. The heave offering symbolizes something lifted upward and dedicated to God. Normally, in peace offerings, both the breast and right thigh become priestly portions (Leviticus 7:30–34). Yet in this ordination ceremony, the arrangement differs. Moses receives the breast as his portion: Moses also took the breast and presented it for a wave offering before the Lord; it was Moses' portion of the ram of ordination. Leviticus 8:29 NASB95 Other portions ordinarily associated with priestly consumption instead ascend upon the altar. This unusual distribution further emphasizes Moses' temporary and derivative priestly role. He functions as HaShem's appointed mediator for the inauguration, but he does not become the enduring high priest of Israel. Ezekiel 44: Idolatry, priesthood and restricted service The themes of priesthood and covenant faithfulness continue in Ezekiel 44. Here the prophet addresses Levites who previously participated in idolatrous worship: “Because they ministered to them before their idols and became a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel… they shall not come near to Me to serve as a priest to Me.” Ezekiel 44:12–13 NASB95 These Levites are not executed or entirely cut off from temple service. They continue serving in subordinate functions such as gatekeeping and slaughtering sacrifices for the people (Ezekiel 44:10–14). Yet they may not approach the inner sanctuary or handle the most sacred priestly duties. In contrast, the sons of Zadok — who remained faithful when others went astray — retain the privilege of drawing near to minister directly before HaShem: “But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok… shall come near to Me to minister to Me.” Ezekiel 44:15 NASB95 Ezekiel therefore introduces an important covenant principle. Some sins carry lasting vocational consequences. Forgiveness and covenant mercy do not always erase every earthly effect of prior unfaithfulness. Certain breaches of sacred trust permanently alter one's role and authority. The corrupt Levites could not simply offer sacrifices on their own behalf to erase the consequences of their priestly corruption. This reveals that the sacrificial system does not function mechanically. Sacrifice is not a ritual loophole that nullifies every covenant consequence. Sacred office requires faithfulness, trustworthiness, and holiness. The prince in Ezekiel and partial priestly authority Ezekiel 44–46 also introduces a mysterious figure called “the prince” (הַנָּשִׂיא hannāśī'). The prince occupies a unique middle ground. He is not identical with the Zadokite priests, yet he possesses privileges beyond those of an ordinary Israelite. He offers sacrifices on Sabbaths and appointed feasts (Ezekiel 46:2–8), receives a designated inheritance in the land (Ezekiel 45:7), and possesses authority involving worship and temple administration. Yet the prince also appears fully human, with sons and inheritance concerns (Ezekiel 46:16–18). Interpreters have long debated the prince's identity. Rather than forcing a single interpretation, the broader biblical pattern may be more important: Scripture occasionally presents figures who exercise limited or derivative priestly authority without fully occupying the high-priestly office. Moses in Leviticus 8 and the prince in Ezekiel both function in this intermediate category. These patterns prepare the reader for the Apostolic Writings' presentation of a priesthood fundamentally different from the Aaronic order. The Melchizedek pattern and a different order of priesthood Hebrews 7 turns to the figure of Melchizedek (מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק Malkî-ṣeḏeq), first introduced in Genesis 14:18–20. Melchizedek appears suddenly as both king of Salem and “priest of God Most High.” Scripture records no genealogy, no ordination ritual, and no priestly succession. Psalm 110:4 declares: “The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.'” Hebrews identifies this as a messianic prophecy fulfilled in Yeshua. The Greek word translated “order” is τάξις taxis, meaning arrangement, order or succession. Yeshua does not belong to the tribe of Levi. Hebrews explicitly states: For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah. Hebrews 7:14 NASB95 Yet God appoints Him priest according to a different priestly order. This does not abolish Torah. Rather, it introduces a parallel and superior priesthood grounded in divine oath and eternal life rather than hereditary descent. Hebrews explains the weakness of the earthly priesthood: The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing. Hebrews 7:23 NASB95 But Messiah: holds His priesthood permanently. Hebrews 7:24 NASB95 The Greek term translated “permanently” is ἀπαράβατος aparabatos, meaning untransferable or unchangeable. The central issue is not that Torah itself was defective. The problem lies with mortal, sinful priests who continually die and require replacement. Yeshua as both priest and sacrificial victim The sacrificial patterns established in Leviticus reach their fullest expression in Yeshua. Throughout His earthly ministry, Yeshua forgives sins: “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5 NASB95 His opponents immediately recognize the theological implication: “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Mark 2:7 NASB95 The Apostolic Writings present Yeshua as acting under divine authority to remove the penalty associated with sin. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2Corinthians 5:21 NASB95 The Greek term ἁμαρτία hamartia can refer both to sin itself and to a sin offering. Yeshua does not become morally sinful. Rather, He bears covenant liability on behalf of others. Here the pattern from Leviticus intensifies.In the earthly system, the priest transfers guilt to the sacrificial victim. The victim dies, and its blood becomes the means of atonement. Yet the priest himself remains mortal and imperfect. In Messiah, priest and victim become united in one person. Yeshua bears the penalty associated with human sin and then offers His own blood before the heavenly sanctuary: Not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12 NASB95 The Greek term λύτρωσις lutrōsis refers to ransom, release or redemption through payment. Unlike the blood of bulls and goats, Messiah's offering is not external to the priest offering it. He presents Himself. Resurrection and the eternal application of atonement The resurrection becomes the decisive difference between Messiah and every previous priest. If Yeshua merely died, His sacrifice would resemble the earthly sacrifices in Leviticus — powerful, meaningful, but historically limited. The resurrection transforms the priesthood into a perpetual ministry. Romans 1:3–4 declares that Yeshua was publicly identified as the Son of God in power through resurrection from the dead. Hebrews 7:25 explains the practical consequence: Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. NASB95 The Greek verb ἐντυγχάνω entynchano means “to intercede,” “to petition,” or “to mediate on behalf of another.” This is the critical distinction. Levitical priests died. Their ministry ended. Their sacrifices required continual repetition. Messiah lives permanently. Therefore His once-offered sacrifice can be continually applied across generations and throughout history. His blood does not “run out.” His priesthood does not terminate. The sacrifice occurred once in history, but its efficacy remains continually active through the living High Priest. Hebrews 9:24 describes Messiah entering the heavenly sanctuary itself: For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands … but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. NASB1995 Without resurrection, Yeshua would be remembered only as a righteous martyr. With resurrection, He becomes the eternal mediator who continually applies the benefits of His completed atonement. Sanctification, obedience, and continuing sacrifices The removal of covenant penalty does not eliminate moral responsibility. Throughout Scripture, forgiveness is linked with transformed behavior. Yeshua repeatedly instructs healed or forgiven individuals to turn away from sin: “Do not sin anymore.” John 5:14 NASB95 Apostle Ya’akov likewise insists: Faith without works is dead. James 2:17 NASB95 Hebrews 10:14 states: For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. NASB95 The Greek verb ἁγιάζω hagiazō means “to sanctify,” “to make holy,” or “to set apart.” Believers are perfected covenantally through Messiah's sacrifice, yet sanctification continues progressively in daily life. The Apostolic Writings also maintain the broader biblical concept of sacrifice. The Torah included not only sin offerings, but also peace offerings, thanksgiving offerings, and offerings of worship and fellowship. Hebrews 13:15–16 therefore exhorts believers: Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God … and do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. NASB95 The Greek term θυσία thysia continues to describe offerings presented before God. Messiah's once-for-all atonement fulfills and surpasses the sin-offering system, but worship, thanksgiving, obedience, generosity, and praise remain covenant sacrifices offered through Him. The Holy One uses broken men The Holy One uses flawed human beings while simultaneously providing the means by which they may approach Him. Moses was a man with blood on his hands. Aaron participated in idolatry. Israel repeatedly failed. Even the priests themselves required sacrifice and cleansing. Yet HaShem established priesthood, altar, sacrifice and covenant mediation anyway. The Torah does not minimize sin. Instead, it magnifies the holiness, justice, and mercy of God. Leviticus demonstrates that sacred service requires atonement. Ezekiel demonstrates that covenant unfaithfulness carries real consequences. Hebrews demonstrates that Yeshua fulfills and surpasses the sacrificial patterns established in Torah. He is the priest of a different order — the order of Melchizedek. He is both sacrificial victim and eternal High Priest. He bears covenant liability on behalf of others. He offers His own blood before the heavenly sanctuary. And because He lives forever through resurrection, He continually intercedes for those who draw near to God through Him. The result is a priesthood that fulfills Torah's patterns while surpassing the limitations of mortal mediators. Through Messiah, flawed human beings may receive forgiveness of penalty, ongoing cleansing, covenant access to the Holy One, and a calling into lives increasingly marked by holiness, obedience, faithfulness and grateful worship before the God of Israel. 1 Hebrew for “The Name,” a circumlocution for the ineffable name of the Holy One of IsraelThe post Shadows of Messiah in the consecration of Aaron and his sons (Leviticus 8; Ezekiel 44; Hebrews 7) appeared first on Hallel Fellowship.

Dear brothers, I beg you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so that there won't be splits in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. For some of those who live at Chloe's house have told me of your arguments and quarrels, dear brothers. Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul”; and others say that they are for Apollos or for Peter; and some that they alone are the true followers of Christ. And so, in effect, you have broken Christ into many pieces. But did I, Paul, die for your sins? Were any of you baptised in my name? I am so thankful now that I didn't baptise any of you except Crispus and Gaius. For now no one can think that I have been trying to start something new, beginning a “Church of Paul.” Oh, yes, and I baptized the family of Stephanas. I don't remember ever baptising anyone else. For Christ didn't send me to baptise, but to preach the Gospel; and even my preaching sounds poor, for I do not fill my sermons with profound words and high-sounding ideas, for fear of diluting the mighty power there is in the simple message of the cross of Christ. I know very well how foolish it sounds to those who are lost, when they hear that Jesus died to save them. But we who are saved recognize this message as the very power of God. For God says, “I will destroy all human plans of salvation no matter how wise they seem to be, and ignore the best ideas of men, even the most brilliant of them.” For it is from God alone that you have your life through Christ Jesus. He showed us God's plan of salvation; he was the one who made us acceptable to God; he made us pure and holy and gave himself to purchase our salvation. As it says in the Scriptures, “If anyone is going to boast, let him boast only of what the Lord has done.” (1 Corinthians 1.10-18, 30-31, TLB)

The Apostle Paul, said Peter (2 Peter 3 v.16), writes “some things … that are hard to understand which the ignorant and unstable twist”!  We suspect some verses in today's reading of Chapter 1 of Colossians are an example of this. Paul writes about Jesus as “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” [1 v.15].  He goes on to say that “he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” [v.18].From this we learn that the resurrection of Jesus, following a life in which he succeeded in making God's will his will led to his being made pre-eminent by God. . But doing God's will was not an automatic process, it was an incredible challenge, remember his agonizing in the garden of Gethsemane.  (see Luke 22 v.42).  His resurrection to eternal life was the starting point at which he was made pre-eminent in everything. It was a new beginning, one could say, a new creation. Paul says, in reasoning with the Galatians, that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, “but a new creation” [6 v.15]  He said the same thing in 2 Corinthians 5 v.17, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation”.  Our awareness of these quotations provide the foundation for our understanding of how all things were created FOR Christ. God's work of creation was with him in mind from the very beginning. We note how Peter expresses this about Christ, “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times … “ [1 Peter 1 v.20] by “God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory …” [v.21] The glory of Jesus came from God, he gave him pre-eminence because he was obedient unto death.  Our understanding can be confused by translators who, thinking of Jesus as God himself; this appears to have influenced their translation in a few places.  An example is the Greek preposition ek.  It occurs in our Colossians chapter no less than 31 times. It has the primary meaning of in, but the translators have used no less than 6 different English words in that chapter. Now we know you cannot translate from one language to another word for word and always make meaningful sense, but we noticed how in verse 16, they have rendered it as “by” – “for by him were all things created”  Yet the ESV, we use has a footnote against ‘by' – that says – That is, ‘by means of', or ‘in'Think, if they were created for him, it does not make sense that they were created by him.  Have we confused you?  God created the world with Jesus in mind.  Jesus lived and died with us in mind (Read John 20 v.20-21)   The “new creation” flows on from the original creation of Adam and Eve.  Are you part of the new creation, taking on the name of Christ in baptism?   Or will you be among those who fail because they stay related to Adam? 

Reading 1Acts 8:5-8, 14-17Philip went down to the city of Samariaand proclaimed the Christ to them.With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philipwhen they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,came out of many possessed people,and many paralyzed or crippled people were cured.There was great joy in that city.Now when the apostles in Jerusalemheard that Samaria had accepted the word of God,they sent them Peter and John,who went down and prayed for them,that they might receive the Holy Spirit,for it had not yet fallen upon any of them;they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.Then they laid hands on themand they received the Holy Spirit.Reading 21 Peter 3:15-18Beloved:Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.Always be ready to give an explanationto anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope,but do it with gentleness and reverence,keeping your conscience clear,so that, when you are maligned,those who defame your good conduct in Christmay themselves be put to shame.For it is better to suffer for doing good,if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.For Christ also suffered for sins once,the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous,that he might lead you to God.Put to death in the flesh,he was brought to life in the Spirit.GospelJohn 14:15-21Jesus said to his disciples:“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.And I will ask the Father,and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always,the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept,because it neither sees nor knows him.But you know him, because he remains with you,and will be in you.I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.In a little while the world will no longer see me,but you will see me, because I live and you will live.On that day you will realize that I am in my Fatherand you are in me and I in you.Whoever has my commandments and observes themis the one who loves me.And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”

10:05 – 10:22 (17mins) Mark Harder, STL Co. Council Vice Chair 10:41 – 10:56 (15mins) Weekly: Drew Thomas Allen Author: “For Christ and Country: the Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk” "Clinton Hoax, Obama Coup: The Declassified Story of the Trump–Russia Delusion”Host of ‘The Drew Allen Show’ podcast VP of client development at Publius PR & Editor of the Publius National Post.columnist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10:05 – 10:22 (17mins) Mark Harder, STL Co. Council Vice Chair 10:41 – 10:56 (15mins) Weekly: Drew Thomas Allen Author: “For Christ and Country: the Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk” "Clinton Hoax, Obama Coup: The Declassified Story of the Trump–Russia Delusion”Host of ‘The Drew Allen Show’ podcast VP of client development at Publius PR & Editor of the Publius National Post.columnist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sermon for Easter 6 (May 10, 2026) 1 Peter 3:13-22 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you-- not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. 1 Corinthians 1:10-2:5 Isaac Hill Download TranscriptWell, good morning again. If you have been with us on Sunday mornings, you'll know that we have been working our way through the book of Second Samuel. But we are actually going to take a pause this morning. It just so happened to be that in terms of calendaring, if we had stayed in 2 Samuel today, it would have been a rather emotionally heavy and difficult topic to discuss. And on Mother's Day, we figured that maybe wasn't the best approach. And so with Chet and Spencer out of town, they asked if I would preach. And they said the choice is yours. You get to choose, which is great for me. So for those that maybe don't know, we have been in the process of sending and planting a church out in Lexington. And as somebody who is committed to going and to serving in a leadership capacity, we over there, that has kind of been where my mental space and where my heart has been drawn as of late. And so what I wanted to do is share some encouragement with you that I have been receiving from the opening chapters of First Corinthians. And so that's where we're going to be this morning. As we're gearing up as a church to enter into this time, in this season of transition, there's going to be a lot of change. And change can kind of be frightening and scary. If you don't like change, I'm sorry, but it's coming to us. And whether or not you're going or whether or not you are staying, things will look different and there'll be a lot of things that have to be done and there'll be a lot of little tasks and a lot of little stuff that we're trying to work at. There's a way that in the middle of all of that, we could start to forget what is essential and we could start to focus too much of our attention on what is non essential. In the letter of First Corinthians, right out of the gate, Paul is helping point out to this church some ways that they specifically have been getting caught up in non essentials. And he wants to remind them of what is the main thing. And so that's what I want to remind us of this morning. What is the main thing. So let me pray and then we'll dive in.Father, we, we thank youk for your word, the way that it instructs us. And would you'd be instructing us this morning, would you'd word not return void in Jesus name. Amen.If you will open up your Bibles and turn To First Corinthians, Chapter one. I actually don't have any on the slides behind me. There won't be any text there. We're trying out some new stuff. Instead of having the text on the screen, you can open up a physical Bible. We are blessed to live in a time and a space where we have physical Bibles available to us. So if you didn't bring yours with you, you can grab one that is provided in the seat racks in front of you. If you're using one of those Bibles, it's going to be on page 1102. And as you're turning there, since we're jumping right into the middle of a book, I figure I'd give a little bit of context to help position us. First Corinthians is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the church in Corinth. And what we read in Acts 18 is that Paul actually was at the forefront of spreading the gospel and helping start the church in Corinth. And so this letter is written about three to five years after his time there. Now, a little bit of brief context on the city itself. Corinth was a port city, which really, the only reason that's important to know is that port cities often grow and become prosperous because there's a lot of trade that's going through there. If you can kind of visualize the setting of what this church was started in, in this city, if you think maybe like a Charleston or a Savannah or maybe Virginia beach area, that's kind of the space where the church is in. That's the culture that is around them. Paul, he's writing to them, and at the beginning, he's trying to remind them of what he preached to them when he first came. We're going to pick up in chapter one, verse ten and the first six verses that we read, we're kind of. We're going to go kind of quickly through them because they're also still just helping build some context for us. So verse 10.> I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.> For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.> What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ."> Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?> I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,> lest anyone should say that you were baptized in my name.> (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)> For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.Paul, he's concerned about some quarreling, about some bickering that's coming up in the church. He's received a report about this Chloe, we don't know her. We don't know what it means to be Chloe's people, but we assume it means something to the people at Corinth. This is the report that is given to Paul about the issue, the quarreling that's showing up.What I mean is that each one of you says, I follow Paul, or I follow Apollos, which he was a teacher that came after Paul in Corinth, or, I follow Cephas, that would be the apostle Peter, or I follow Christ. The picture that we get here is that it appears that the people in the church have almost kind of like been forming factions where they're grabbing on to kind of important figureheads in the church at the time, and they're claiming them as some sort of way for, like, status and position. You're like, paul, Paul is my guy. And as if that's supposed to communicate something about my importance, my intellect, my ability to know what's going on. It's a very interesting one as well. The very last one where he says, I follow Christ. Because you might think, well, that's the good crowd. They're the ones figuring it out. You're supposed to follow Christ. But it doesn't seem that he's really saying that because he's batched them in with the rest of this group. And it seems that there's a way in which the people have even started to say, I follow Christ as some kind of way to try to jockey for position and kind of power and strength in the church. And so that's the situation that Paul is finding himself riding into here, is that the people are beginning to miss the main point because they're needing in their own cells to try to hold on to some kind of strength.> For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.> For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."> Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?> For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.> For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,> but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,> but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.> For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.When you're reading Scripture, paying attention to repetition is a good hint at what's being pointed, pointed out as important. You have this idea of wisdom and its opposite folly coming up over and over again in a very short time. The image that we're getting here is that we have the wisdom of the world and we have it stacked up against God. That's what Paul is beginning to do here, building these ideas.> For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.> But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;> God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,> so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.> And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,> so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."If you can use your imaginations, with Paul here, you would consider a spectrum where on one end you had wisdom and power, wisdom and strength, and then on the other side of the spectrum, you had weakness and foolishness. Paul says, wherever you put the message of the cross, he's been talking about it as weakness and foolishness. He said, wherever you put it, it's wiser and it's stronger than you and I. Consider for a moment what is the message of Christ crucified? It begins with Jesus coming to us, condescending to us, taking on flesh, like you and I. I would assume that all of us here in the room know the limitations of your body. You know the weakness that we are. And that's all just before we even get close to what is the cross, and you start to approach it, and you have the night before Jesus is betrayed, he's stabbed in the back by a friend, and then he's turned over to be arrested. When he's arrested, all of his close friends now leave him and he's left on his own. Then he goes. The crowds who once just a couple days earlier were shouting his name are now scorning him. They're saying, release for us a guy who we know, he's rotten, he's a criminal, but we'd rather have him than this Jesus guy. Then he's handed over to random soldiers who beat him within an inch of his life. Then he's taken out to the entrance of the city and he's hung on a tree next to common thieves. This is the message of Christ crucified. Such weakness, such foolishness. How weak and foolish we must be. But deep in this truth is precisely where we find the wisdom and where we find the power.> And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.> For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.> And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling.> My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,> so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.This is the same as us here, unless some of you have a kingly line that I didn't know about. God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not to bring to nothing, things that are so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. This is the wisdom. That it would be such a way where you and I couldn't boast in ourselves. We're torn. We have two sets of desires. On one hand, we really want to boast in ourselves. We really want to be able to tell you, I've got it figured out. But on the other hand, deep within you, your soul aches for what is true in Jesus, the message of this cross. Because do you really want to boast in yourself? Do you know what kind of weight that is that you have to carry to boast in yourself? You don't have to. You get to boast in Christ. You get to boast in his weakness, in his foolishness at the cross. And the weight can be lifted because it's about him, it's not about us.And because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that as it is written, let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.Now, it's not been until recently, in the last several months of sitting in and meditating on this passage, that I've come to understand what I think Paul is actually getting it here when he says the phrase demonstration of spirit and of power. Every time I've read this passage, I've just assumed that as a great apostle, at the birth of the church, he's talking about some kind of sign, some kind of miraculous work. I mean, it happens all over the book of Acts as the church is getting going. And it even happens now and today that you can go to something like Acts 3. You can see Peter and John, they heal a lame man. Or maybe in Acts 9, where Peter raises Tabitha from the dead. Or Paul himself, he does miraculous work. He exercises a demonic spirit out of a man, and then he's thrown in prison for it. And then there's this miraculous work of him being broken out of jail. That's in Acts 16. And so I've always just assumed that, well, this is what he means here. And then that's always created a disconnect between me and Paul because that's not really what my lived experience is. I wrote it off and just continued on. But if you go and read Acts 18, which gives the account of his time in Corinth, not one time is there an instance of a mention of some miraculous work. There's not some big sign. If we just stayed inside of 1 Corinthians, he said that Jews demand signs. Why would he go and flip what he was saying? He just said, I decided to only know Christ and him crucified. Why would he turn around and start talking about something different? This is what I've come to understand. Paul hasn't changed the subject at all. He's still saying the same thing he's been saying the whole time, that the power of God, the demonstration of the Spirit, is Christ crucified at work in you. That's power, us coming to life in him. Paul says in verse five why he wanted to stay out of the way of the message so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Paul didn't want to come and try to sound intelligent and eloquent. He simply wanted to share the message of Christ crucified because he had tasted the power of God in his life. He knew he didn't want people saying, I follow Paul. He wanted people to say, how great is God, that his power would be at work within me to bring me new life. I boast in him and him alone. That's what he wants.Now, I want to share some encouragement for us as a church, specifically as it relates to the season that we're in, as we're about to send a church, and some of us are about to go and begin a new work out in Lexington. One of the reasons that we're doing this work, aside from the fact that we think God has said, go, so we're going to go, but it's because we want to create more seats at the table. We use that language all the time when our groups multiply. What we're trying to accomplish is create more seats at the table. We want to see others welcomed in and joined in to what we are doing. Very specifically, we want to see those who do not know the hope of Christ join us at the table. The reality is those people come to join us because we, as his people, are faithful to share the message. Just like Paul. The church in Corinth is the church at Corinth because Paul went and he declared the message.The specific encouragement is that Paul says he was in weakness and in fear and in trembling. If I had to guess, when we talk about the idea of evangelism or sharing the message that for all those believers in the room here now, myself included, if you have ever been at that precipice of sharing the message of Christ crucified, you've been afraid. You, like Paul, have trembled. As I've reflected on my own life, I've thought, why is it. Why is it that we can stand here in this room and say, oh, the cross of Jesus Christ, it's the reason that I am alive. And then I'm there in that moment where a friend, a neighbor, who doesn't know Christ, and there's a part of me that wants to. It's terrifying. I think the reason why is exactly what Paul has been saying here in First Corinthians, that the message of the cross is a stumbling block and it's foolishness. If I'm going to share the message of Christ, it's not about pointing to me and how great I am. If I do that, then I've emptied the cross of its power. When you're in that moment, what you're afraid of is exactly what Paul has come to experience. There are some people, oh, they get tripped up. That's pretty tense, awkward conversation. When you're in that moment, somebody gets tripped up like that and we don't want to be there. Or maybe you just get written off as a silly, foolish person. You're one of those weird Christians. The encouragement is that what Paul offers to us is not that we have to go and hone our skill into perfection, to be able to say it just right, to make it work, that we can be just like Paul. You can be weak, you can be afraid, you can tremble. Because it might be getting tense when I talk about this. But the message is not just foolishness and not just weakness, but for those who are called, those who the Lord is working in their heart. This message is power. Christ crucified is power and wisdom for new life. Some of us in the room here, you're already in the position. You already have the relationship with a neighbor or a co worker or a friend. You've been in Paul's spot, you know exactly, you've heard them talk about their life and you have in your head thought, if you only knew the gospel of Jesus. But you stopped at fear and trembling. My encouragement to you is take the next step of faith and share the message of Christ crucified. Your fears might be realized, but this message that while I was an enemy in my disobedience in love, Christ came to go to the cross to absolve the guilt of my rebellion and to give to me the right standing with the Father. That's a message that has power and wisdom to bring about new life. And that is worth it. It's worth it to share. That's what Paul has found to be true. May we find it to be true as well as a church. Whether you are somebody who is staying and going, those of us who are going, or whether you're packing it up and you're going. May we share this message. May we share in fear and in weakness and in trembling. And may we not use eloquent words of wisdom so that the cross would be empty. But may we simply share.Father, we thank you for the cross of Jesus that though it is weakness, though it is foolishness, it is power and it is wisdom. We have felt it because our eyes have been opened and we have been made alive in you. Father, you know us and where we are at. You know the fear and the trembling we that we feel and we face as we consider the notion of sharing this weak, foolish message with those around us. Would you'd empower us in the middle of that weakness and fear to simply say, christ crucified, we love you, praise you. Amen.I'm going to transition into a time of taking the Lord's Supper. Matt's going to come up and prepare to sing for us. In a moment when we have a moment of reflection, I want you to consider, take a moment to consider the cross of Christ. Specifically. Think about the power and the wisdom that it has been for you. Remember the work that the Lord has done in your life. And then when you're up and you're at the table, look around, look around this table and see your brothers and sisters. Remember, the power of the cross has been at work in them too. What joy. And then for a moment, just consider that there are people in this city that the Lord right now is working in their heart and in their life. And when they hear the message of Christ crucified out of our mouths, they will join us at the table and the cross will become power and wisdom.> For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,> and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."> In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."> For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.When you're ready, come to the table and proclaim the Lord's death. Need gluten free bread? It'll be in the back corner as well in the balcony.

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit … [We are saved] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to Him. (1 Peter 3:13-18, 21b-22)

Jim Franks discusses Romans 10:4—“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

Color: White Old Testament: Job 19:23–27 Psalm: Psalm 118:15–29; antiphon: v. 1 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:51–57 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 5:6–8 Gospel: Mark 16:1–8 Introit: Psalm 8:1, 5–6, 9; antiphon: Luke 24:5b–6b Gradual: Psalm 118:24, 1 Verse: 1 Corinthians 5:7b–8a, c Christ's Resurrection Means That We Will One Day Be Raised   “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7). By the shed blood of Christ, the Lamb of God, eternal death has passed over us. Now we pass with Christ through death into life everlasting. For Christ the crucified One is risen! The stone has been rolled away from the tomb, revealing that the tomb could not hold Him (Mark 16:1–8). Now our Redeemer lives eternally to save us from sin and Satan and the grave, and we can live in the sure hope of our own bodily resurrection with Christ. “After my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:26). Feasting on the living Christ, who is our meat and drink indeed, we boldly say: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? . . . But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:54–55, 57). Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

10:05 – 10:22 (17mins) Ward Clark, 907-414-5174 @TheGreatLander RedState.com @RedStateJudge Apologizes to Would-Be Trump Assassin, Sparks OutrageBy Ward Clark | 3:00 PM on May 04, 2026 10:41 – 10:56 (15mins) Weekly: Drew Thomas Allen Author: “For Christ and Country: the Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk” "Clinton Hoax, Obama Coup: The Declassified Story of the Trump–Russia Delusion”Host of ‘The Drew Allen Show’ podcast VP of client development at Publius PR & Editor of the Publius National Post.columnist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.   7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. The Alwaysness of Confidence 2 Corinthians 5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.  2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.  4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.  5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.  7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.  9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.  10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.  12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.  13 If we are "out of our mind," as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.  14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.  17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.   We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

“But the latter, out of love, knowing that I am appointed for thedefense of the gospel, what then? Only that in every way, whether in pretenseor in truth, Christ is preached. In this I rejoice, and will rejoice.” Idon't know about you, but for me today—with the internet, all the social platforms, television programs and somany preachers coming to us in so many ways—there are many who presentthemselves as ministers of the gospel, yet some are doing it with wrong and doing it in ways thatwe may not feel comfortable with, iIt can be very difficult to discern what isright and what is wrong. So how do we deal with it? TheApostle Paul has just acknowledged that some were preaching Christ with wrongmotives—out of envy, strife, and selfish ambition. Now he adds that others werepreaching out of love and sincerity, understanding his calling to defend thegospel. So Paul asks this remarkable question: “What then?” In other words, howshould we respond to this mixture of motives and methods in ministry? Paul'sanswer is both simple and profound: “Christ is preached; and therein do Irejoice. Yea, and will rejoice.” Nowwe must be careful to understand that Paul is not saying wrong motives areacceptable. He is not approving insincere or self-serving preaching. He hasalready exposed those motives for what they are—insincere, selfish, and evenharmful. But at the same time, Paul refuses to lose sight of what matters most:that Christ is being proclaimed. This was the consistent focus of Paul'sministry throughout his life. In1 Corinthians 2:1–2, Paul writes: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, camenot with excellency of speech or of wisdom…For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Paul made adeliberate decision. His message, his focus, and his primary goal were topreach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Then in 1 Corinthians 1:17–18, he wrote:“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not withwisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. Forthe preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto uswhich are saved it is the power of God.” Paulunderstood that the power of the gospel is not found in personality,presentation, or human wisdom. The power is in the cross of Jesus Christ. Wesee this again in Galatians 6:14: “But God forbid that I should glory, savein the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And in Colossians 1:28: “Whom wepreach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we maypresent every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Do you see the pattern? TheApostle Paul's message was not about himself. It was not about his reputation.It was not about comparison with others. It was Jesus Christ—and always Christ. Sowhen Paul says in Philippians 1:18 that he rejoices, it is not because heagrees with wrong motives. It is because he rejoices that the true message ofthe gospel is still going forth. This gives us a very important balance for ourown lives today: We must not approve wrong motives in ministry. We must guardour own hearts before the Lord. But we must also keep our focus on Christ andthe gospel, not becoming distracted or discouraged by the failures of others. Myfriend, it is so easy—and you know it is—to become critical, cynical, or evensidetracked when we see people serving for the wrong reasons. But Paul remindsus here today: let's not lose sight of the mission. Lift up Christ. Preach thegospel. Stay faithful. Inthe end, it is not about personalities, preferences, or presentations. It isabout Jesus Christ and Him crucified. May God help us to keep our focus, ourpriorities, and our eyes on Jesus Christ—our message centered on the cross andour hearts pure before Him. And like Paul, may we rejoice whenever Christ ispreached, even as we walk humbly and sincerely before the Lord. Godbless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!

John 14:4-6 And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you don't know where you are going, how can you know the way to where you are going? Sensible reasoning and question from Thomas. Jesus made it clear where He was going. He was going to the Father. This isn't news to us, but it was for the disciples. John told his readers that Jesus was going back to God in 13:3. Jesus knew it before He washed the disciples' feet. In fact, returning from this world to His Father was the goal of His life from the moment He left His throne in glory, humbled Himself, and entered into this dark, fallen, realm of death and destruction. He came to bring His people to the Father! Listen to the words from the man who just moments before had been told he would deny Jesus three times. “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit” (1 Pet. 3:18). The way to the Father: revealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The truth about the Father: revealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Life of the Father: revealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is what sinners like Peter—and like us—preach and place our confidence in. We know where we are going. To God, the Father. And we know the way where we are going. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, given to us from God, the Father, that we might go to where He is—forever. That is love: the sustained will of God toward our highest good, that is union with Him, no matter what it cost Him. Abide in His love today. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

10:05 – 10:22 (17mins) John Cox John Cox's op-ed in The Hill this week calls out Gavin Newsom as a "political magician" who says everything and means nothing.Gavin Newsom’s political magic: Will America fall for his tricks? The "crocodile tears" tour and Newsom's pattern of performance over policy Why Bloomberg's "economic maestro" narrative is fantasy "Californication": Why California's collapse is America's coming attractions 10:41 – 10:56 (15mins) Weekly: Drew Thomas Allen Author: “For Christ and Country: the Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk” "Clinton Hoax, Obama Coup: The Declassified Story of the Trump–Russia Delusion”Host of ‘The Drew Allen Show’ podcast VP of client development at Publius PR & Editor of the Publius National Post.columnistSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the great gifts God gave humanity is the gift of marriage and sex. Sexuality is designed to bring oneness to a man and woman in a covenant relationship and paint a picture of Christ’s love for His people. In the right context, sexuality is actually an act that glorifies God. On the other hand, sex is a terrible god and our sexuality is a powerful substitute. Everywhere false gods are worshiped, they are accompanied by broken and destructive sexual practices that often lead to the horrible objectification and mistreatment of people. As Samson steps on the scene, the first thing we discover about him is that he is a sexually broken person. He desires a woman from the Philistines. The conflict between his desires and the call of God will define the rest of Samson’s life and lead to his downfall. We live in a sexually broken culture that now defines identity around sexuality. For Christ-followers, the call is to submit even their sexuality to the purpose and for the glory of God. Yet, the Samson story reminds us that God orchestrates the events of our lives in such a way that He even weaves the mess of our brokenness into a beautiful tapestry of redemption.

Brethren, [with all] my heart's desire and goodwill for [Israel], I long and pray to God that they may be saved. 2 I bear them witness that they have a [certain] zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to [correct and vital] knowledge. 3 For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes [which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed] and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him. 5 For Moses writes that the man who [can] practice the righteousness (perfect conformity to God's will) which is based on the Law [with all its intricate demands] shall live by it. 6 But the righteousness based on faith [imputed by God and bringing right relationship with Him] says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into Heaven? that is, to bring Christ down; 7 Or who will descend into the abyss? that is, to bring Christ up from the dead [as if we could be saved by our own efforts]. 8 But what does it say? The Word (God's message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach, 9 Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation. 11 The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed. 12 [No one] for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. The same Lord is Lord over all [of us] and He generously bestows His riches upon all who call upon Him [in faith]. 13 For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved. 14 But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed [in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance]? And how are they to believe in Him [adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him] of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? 15 And how can men [be expected to] preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings! [How welcome is the coming of those who preach the good news of His good things!] 16 But they have not all heeded the Gospel; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed (had faith in) what he has heard from us? 17 So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself). 18 But I ask, Have they not heard? Indeed they have; [for the Scripture says] Their voice [that of nature bearing God's message] has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world. 19 Again I ask, Did Israel not understand? [Did the Jews have no warning that the Gospel was to go forth to the Gentiles, to all the earth?] First, there is Moses who says, I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry. 20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, I have been found by those who did not seek Me; I have shown (revealed) Myself to those who did not [consciously] ask for Me. 21 But of Israel he says, All day long I have stretched out My hands to a people unyielding and disobedient and self-willed [to a faultfinding, contrary, and contradicting people].

Today's Reading: Introit for Easter 2 - Psalm 81:1, 7a, 10, 16b; antiphon: 1 Peter 2:2aDaily Lectionary: Exodus 19:1-25; Hebrews 13:1-21“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:10)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.” For Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Asaph was a Levite, a member of David's court. The words of this psalm open to us the scriptures, giving us certainty of who God is, what He has done, and continues to do for His people. The people of Israel are described as stubborn, as those who do not listen or submit to God. Yet God conquers their enemies, delivers them from the land of Egypt. Despite their unfaithfulness and constant idolatry, God continues to care and deliver them. The same is true for us. We have seen all that God has done for us, and yet we still sin much and deserve nothing but God's wrath and punishment. We cannot, by our own reason or strength, believe in Jesus Christ as our God and Lord, or even come to Him. So God becomes the doer, the rescuer, the redeemer of us His people.  God comes down, that ancient Word that gave life to all flesh, puts on human flesh. The Word made flesh comes down, begotten of His Father, born of woman, to subdue our enemies of sin, death, and the devil. He does this not with gold or silver, but with His holy and precious blood by His innocent suffering and death. What is left for us to do then? Die. That's all we can do. God sees our stubbornness, our stopped-up ears, our sin and brokenness, and He overcomes them. His holy Law adjusts our stiff necks, and opens our ears, it kills our sinfulness, our very broken bodies, and kills all free will and go-getter attitude we might bring to the table. All we can do in history towards God is die. That's exactly what God does. He comes, and He dies to the Law in our place, bearing our sin that He might raise us the dead up and declare us His holy people. There's nothing we contribute. We die to sin, and are raised to new life. This is a daily reality we live in, that we would remember the God who brought His people out of Egypt, who fed them, and delivered them. God does the same for us. He does the redeeming, the saving, the life-giving, the absolving. We die to sin in our baptisms daily, and emerge in the daily resurrection to receive our daily bread. That we might receive the bread of life to fill us with the life that we will know fully on the Last Day. We are stubborn and unworthy, so we do all we can do is die. Yet united to our Lord and Savior Jesus, who came down, bore the cross, and rose again. We too shall rise.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Help us to serve you evermore with hearts both pure and lowly; and may your Word, that light divine, shine on in splendor holy that we repentance show, in faith ever grow; the pow'r of sin destroy and evils that annoy. O make us faithful Christians. (LSB 647:3)

So, what motivates us to speak up, while the culture is trying to silence our voice? What enables us to push past our fear of offending someone to let them know what Jesus has done for us?  There is only one answer: it is our love for Jesus. We speak up because we love Jesus.Main Points:1. It's as simple as this: If we love Jesus, we will obey his command to make disciples. If we love Jesus, we will look for opportunities to tell others of His saving grace. We should not feel afraid or intimidated. We have been given the Holy Spirit for this very purpose, to empower us to be a witness.2. And remember, the gospel is good news. The truth that Jesus died for our sins and rose again is good news. That God would offer us grace, mercy, and forgiveness is good news. The promise of eternal life is good news. Why would we keep this good news from anyone?3. Our love for Jesus, must overcome our fear of offending people. Why do we assume they will be offended anyway? We don't know, but perhaps the Holy Spirit has been working in their heart and they are perfectly ready to hear the good news about Jesus. Today's Scripture Verses:Romans 10:14 - “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - “For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”John 14:23 - “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.”1 Peter 3:15 - “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

In this episode I welcome back Husband, Father, former Executive for large houses of worship, Award Winning Speaker, Author of Running on Full, and Coach at Refill Coaching, Mitch Harrison to discuss The Need to Follow Through on Goals to Replenish From Stress and Burnout. Listen at Mitch shares how God's mercies are new every day. He believes that we should be able to make a frest start; brushing off what happened yesterday, leaving behind failures of the past, and making new opportunities. Perfection does not equal success. Failure is a chance to learn and renew.  Having faith in Jesus gives you permission to lay down your mess and receive forgiveness and grace to start new. Listen as Mitch shares practical and spiritual insight to help you replenish from your past failures to walk calmly in accomplishments of future expectations. Find Mitch :    the website    Listen to Episode 214 - Turning Stress and Burnout Into Replenishment So That You Can Lead Well   Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-23 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.   2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!   Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,which God prepared in advance for us to do.   James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.   Psalm 37:7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.   Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.   Matthew 11:28  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.   Mark 9:25 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"   John 14:15 "If you love me, keep my commands.   1 John 5:3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,   Matthew 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."   1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.   1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.   2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.   Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'   Additional Scripture: Jeremiah 1:5, 1 Corinthians 12:27, Proverbs 3:5-6, Luke 9:23, Acts 5:29, Isaiah 1:19, Colossians 3:17 REGISTER @ CFLEX Academy Arts Enrichment   Listen to our sister podcast:  Abundantly Rooted   Other Resourses: Grab your Artza Subscription Box and bring home a bit of Israel.  use promo code: ARTZAKRISTINARISINGER for 25% off   Check out our Linktree   Get the Books:  Life After Losing A Loved One: How to Turn Grief Into Hope Strength and Purpose Adventures of LiLy and Izzy Bee: The Imagination Journey 

Ihave good news. They have finally scheduled the surgery for May 7th. On top ofthat, it will be an in-and-out procedure. It is not highly invasive. They willperform the surgery, and when I wake up and begin to feel a little better, Iwill be able to get in the car and come home. Please continue to pray that everything goes well. Now,we are looking at Philippians 1:7. In the previous verses the Apostle Paul hastold the church at Philippi and how thankful he is for them, how he prays forthem with joy, and is confident that God will complete the good work He hasbegun in them. Now Paul says in verse 7, “Just as it is right for me tothink this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in mychains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakerswith me of grace.” Today,I want to talk about what Paul means when he says, “in the defense andconfirmation of the gospel.” The Apostle Paul saw his mission in life asproclaiming Jesus Christ and Christ alone. That meant he defended and confirmedthe gospel. What does that mean for you and me today? He says, “You arepartakers with me in this mission of defending and confirming the gospel.”  Todefend, of course, means to stand up for the truth. The Apostle Peter, in 1Peter 3:13-17 addresses this same subject: “And who is he who will harm youif you become followers of what is good?” He is talking about suffering. “Buteven if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. And do notbe afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in yourhearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reasonfor the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience,that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct inChrist may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to sufferfor doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for our sins.” Basically,what he is saying is that suffering gives us the opportunity to stand up andproclaim the gospel. It confirms the gospel. And we need to always be ready togive a defense of the gospel because they will be amazed at the hope that youhave and they will ask, “How do you still have joy and peace when you aresuffering wrong?” Ialso like what Jude wrote in the book of Jude, verse 3: “Beloved, while Iwas very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found itnecessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faithwhich was once for all delivered to the saints.” Why? Because certain ungodlymen had come in and were trying to undermine the deity of Jesus Christ (v. 4).  Now,my friend, in this world today that mocks and derides the Christian faith, youand I have the opportunity to defend and confirm the truth of the gospel. In 2Corinthians 5:17 we are told if we are in Christ Jesus, everything has changed.We are new creations. In 2 Corinthians 4 our conduct should reflect the “lifeof Christ in our mortal flesh” in the midst of our suffering. We have thistreasure in earthen vessels. It is often through suffering that the goodness ofGod, the grace of God, and the mercy of God are most clearly seen—and thatgives us an opportunity to contend for the faith. Not to be contentious for thefaith, but to contend—to speak up for it, to defend it, and to live it out soothers can see Christ in us. Thisis so important. People are watching. What do they want to know? They want toknow if what you have is real. It is real when you have Jesus, and He is livingHis life through you in the midst of difficult times. That is what Paul isspeaking of in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. “You arepartakers with me.” Let us be partakers with Christ and with the ApostlePaul, even today, in a world that desperately needs the reality of JesusChrist.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God - ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭Thank you for joining us for Good Friday.

Brethren, [with all] my heart's desire and goodwill for [Israel], I long and pray to God that they may be saved.2 I bear them witness that they have a [certain] zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to [correct and vital] knowledge.3 For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes [which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed] and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness.4 For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him.5 For Moses writes that the man who [can] practice the righteousness (perfect conformity to God's will) which is based on the Law [with all its intricate demands] shall live by it.6 But the righteousness based on faith [imputed by God and bringing right relationship with Him] says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into Heaven? that is, to bring Christ down;7 Or who will descend into the abyss? that is, to bring Christ up from the dead [as if we could be saved by our own efforts].8 But what does it say? The Word (God's message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach,9 Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.11 The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.12 [No one] for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. The same Lord is Lord over all [of us] and He generously bestows His riches upon all who call upon Him [in faith].13 For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved.14 But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed [in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance]? And how are they to believe in Him [adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him] of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?15 And how can men [be expected to] preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings! [How welcome is the coming of those who preach the good news of His good things!]16 But they have not all heeded the Gospel; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed (had faith in) what he has heard from us?17 So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).18 But I ask, Have they not heard? Indeed they have; [for the Scripture says] Their voice [that of nature bearing God's message] has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world.19 Again I ask, Did Israel not understand? [Did the Jews have no warning that the Gospel was to go forth to the Gentiles, to all the earth?] First, there is Moses who says, I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, I have been found by those who did not seek Me; I have shown (revealed) Myself to those who did not [consciously] ask for Me.21 But of Israel he says, All day long I have stretched out My hands to a people unyielding and disobedient and self-willed [to a faultfinding, contrary, and contradicting people].

Happy Palm Sunday!  Hosanna!  Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem: Palm Sunday - Passion Sunday - story is found in: Matthew 21 Mark 11
Luke 19 John 12 Many of us know the Palm Sunday story, but do we know the details? Today we will look at some of the most fascinating and intentional details of this story.     1.     Did you know that donkeys around the world have a similar dark marking on their backs that runs along the spine and across their shoulders?  It is a cross.  Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a beast with a cross emblazoned on its back.      2.    Why haven't I heard this before - meaning why didn't I know about this and other details before? Join us as we talk a look at the Palm Sunday story with a Jewish view of the story to see some amazing and significant pieces of the story.    PASSOVER - Pastor reviews the story of the Passover and the 10th plague. By placing lamb's blood on their door posts, the angel of death would pass over their homes. Passover was celebrated annually. In Exodus we read about God telling Moses how to annually celebrate the Passover event, "This month (Nissan) is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household."  Jewish Passover Schedule: Nissan 10 - the lamb was chosen and set apart and we read in Exodus 12:6 "take care of them (lambs) until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight." Nissan 14 - the lamb was killed as the sun was setting. Nissan 15 - the Passover lamb was eaten. A closer look using several verses from the Bible, we see:     ⁃    Nissan 9 - John 11:1 we read "Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead."     ⁃    Nissan 10 - Palm Sunday - John 12:12-13 "The next day (the day after Nissan 9) the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the king of Israel!""       ⁃    Reminder - Nissan 10 is the day the Passover lambs were herded into Jerusalem and set aside for sacrifice and it is at this very time that Jesus, the Lamb of God sets Himself apart as the sacrifice for all Israel and all the world as He comes into Jerusalem with all the other lambs.      ⁃    Nissan 14 - Luke 22:7-8 "Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."" The Jewish people had all come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. As many as a quarter-million lambs would be needed and slaughtered. Then at sunset the next day starts - so that evening it is Nissan 15 - the day the Passover meal is eaten. Our God is a God with a plan! He's sets all pieces of the story in line for the coming of the Messiah. The prophetic pieces all fit together as we look through the scriptures.  Jesus is our Passover Lamb who sets us free. 1 Corinthians 5:7 "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."  And because of His sacrifice we willingly surrender our lives over to Him for He alone is worthy. Revelation 5:12 tells us, "In a loud voice they were saying: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise." Every piece fits together - God's plan and purpose AND His deep love for each of us is revealed. His love is a love that caused the Lamb of God to lay down His life for us. It is a love that culminates at the cross where the Son of God was killed by man. God's love knows no limits and His faithfulness knows no bounds.  It's at the cross that he shows us the magnitude of His love. And it's in the empty tomb that He shows us the victory. And that changes everything and is why our lives can no longer be the same. Because He loves us that much - now our lives are never the same once we see the fulfillment of the scriptures in Jesus our Messiah. John 3:16 " For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Palm Sunday isn't Jewish, but when we look at the event of that day with Jewish eyes the significance of God's plan and His love cannot be missed. Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Brethren, [with all] my heart's desire and goodwill for [Israel], I long and pray to God that they may be saved. 2 I bear them witness that they have a [certain] zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to [correct and vital] knowledge. 3 For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes [which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed] and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him. 5 For Moses writes that the man who [can] practice the righteousness (perfect conformity to God's will) which is based on the Law [with all its intricate demands] shall live by it. 6 But the righteousness based on faith [imputed by God and bringing right relationship with Him] says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into Heaven? that is, to bring Christ down; 7 Or who will descend into the abyss? that is, to bring Christ up from the dead [as if we could be saved by our own efforts]. 8 But what does it say? The Word (God's message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach, 9 Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation. 11 The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed. 12 [No one] for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. The same Lord is Lord over all [of us] and He generously bestows His riches upon all who call upon Him [in faith]. 13 For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved. 14 But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed [in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance]? And how are they to believe in Him [adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him] of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? 15 And how can men [be expected to] preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings! [How welcome is the coming of those who preach the good news of His good things!] 16 But they have not all heeded the Gospel; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed (had faith in) what he has heard from us? 17 So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself). 18 But I ask, Have they not heard? Indeed they have; [for the Scripture says] Their voice [that of nature bearing God's message] has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world. 19 Again I ask, Did Israel not understand? [Did the Jews have no warning that the Gospel was to go forth to the Gentiles, to all the earth?] First, there is Moses who says, I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry. 20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, I have been found by those who did not seek Me; I have shown (revealed) Myself to those who did not [consciously] ask for Me. 21 But of Israel he says, All day long I have stretched out My hands to a people unyielding and disobedient and self-willed [to a faultfinding, contrary, and contradicting people].

Welcome to Courageous Leadership with Virginia Prodan #Podcast.

Reading IExodus 17:3-7In those days, in their thirst for water,the people grumbled against Moses,saying, “Why did you ever make us leave Egypt?Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our livestock?”So Moses cried out to the LORD, “What shall I do with this people?a little more and they will stone me!”The LORD answered Moses,“Go over there in front of the people, along with some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the river.I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb.Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink.”This Moses did, in the presence of the elders of Israel.The place was called Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled thereand tested the LORD, saying,“Is the LORD in our midst or not?”Reading IIRomans 5:1-2, 5-8Brothers and sisters:Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God.And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly.Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.But God proves his love for usin that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.GospelJohn 4:5-42Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.Jacob's well was there.Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.It was about noon.A woman of Samaria came to draw water.Jesus said to her,“Give me a drink.”His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.The Samaritan woman said to him,“How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”—For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.—Jesus answered and said to her,“If you knew the gift of Godand who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”The woman said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water?Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?”Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in hima spring of water welling up to eternal life.”The woman said to him,“Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”Jesus said to her,“Go call your husband and come back.”The woman answered and said to him,“I do not have a husband.”Jesus answered her,“You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.'For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband.What you have said is true.”The woman said to him,“Sir, I can see that you are a prophet.Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”Jesus said to her,“Believe me, woman, the hour is comingwhen you will worship the Fatherneither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews.But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him.God is Spirit, and those who worship himmust worship in Spirit and truth.”The woman said to him,“I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.”Jesus said to her,“I am he, the one speaking with you.”At that moment his disciples returned, and were amazed that he was talking with a woman, but still no one said, “What are you looking for?” or “Why are you talking with her?”The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done.Could he possibly be the Christ?”They went out of the town and came to him.Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat.”But he said to them,“I have food to eat of which you do not know.”So the disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought him something to eat?”Jesus said to them,“My food is to do the will of the one who sent meand to finish his work.Do you not say, ‘In four months the harvest will be here'?I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest.The reaper is already receiving payment and gathering crops for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together.For here the saying is verified that ‘One sows and another reaps.'I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the work, and you are sharing the fruits of their work.”Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in himbecause of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I have done.”When the Samaritans came to him,they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days.Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

30 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written,“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;    and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?'” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?'” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.1.In what ways do you find yourself responding to your need to be special? What about you in your mind sets you apart, or you are hoping sets you apart?2.If you are regularly involved in Christian community, do you ever get “imposter syndrome”? What is the gospel's answer to that?3.Paul continues to hammer the idea that forgiveness and righteous come through simple faith. Are there any ways you try “ascending into heaven” (trying to earn God's approval) or “descending into the abyss” (trying to pay for sin)? 4.Paul gives a simple definition of faith. For those who have it, what do you find challenging about believing in the resurrection, or confessing Jesus is Lord? Do you find the two to be connected?5.What are some challenges with sharing the Gospel in Silicon Valley? Does being reminded of God's love and that you have nothing to prove encourage and empower you to share Jesus with others?6.How could you articulate your personal experience of God's grace in such a way that might make even your feet beautiful?

There is a peculiar mercy in the way Our Lord heals. We, in our modern cleverness, are often inclined to imagine that healing ought to be immediate, painless, and, above all, understandable. Yet in the Gospel we encounter something altogether different: a healing that begins in mystery, passes through obedience, and ends in sight. It's the restoration of not merely the eyes, but even more magnificently the soul.Consider the man born blind whom Christ meets on the roadside. The disciples, like many of us, are preoccupied with explanations: Who sinned? Who is to blame? But Our Lord will not be trapped in that small courtroom of human reasoning. Instead, He stoops to the ground, makes clay, anoints the blind man's eyes, and sends him to wash in the Pool of Siloam.Now this is a strange prescription if one pauses to think about it. Mud upon the eyes does not look like medicine; it looks rather like further blindness. And yet the man obeys. He goes to the pool, washes, and returns seeing.Here we begin to glimpse a truth that is as unsettling as it is hopeful: the true source of healing is not the pool, nor the clay, nor even the man's obedience in itself. The source is Christ. The pool is merely the place where trust meets grace.Many of us wander through life rather like that blind man though we seldom admit it. Our sight may be sharp enough to read the morning paper, but we stumble in darker matters: forgiveness, meaning, love, hope. We seek remedies in every direction—self-improvement, distraction, ambition—yet find that none quite reaches the deeper wound.For the soul's blindness is not cured by clearer information. It is cured by encounter.Christ does not merely instruct the blind man; He touches him. And that touch begins a process. First comes the clay, then the journey, then the washing, then the sight. In much the same way, the healing of the human soul rarely arrives as a sudden bolt of lightning. More often it comes disguised as small acts of trust: a prayer whispered in uncertainty, a forgiveness offered when it is undeserved, a step taken toward God when we can hardly see the road ahead.Indeed, the curious thing is that Christ often places clay upon our eyes before He gives us sight. He allows circumstances that confuse us, humble us, even darken our view of ourselves. Yet these moments are not evidence of His absence but of His craftsmanship. The Great Physician is preparing the eyes of the heart.And when at last we wash, when we surrender our cleverness and come honestly before Him, we begin to see. Not perfectly, not all at once, but truly. We see that we are known and loved.We see that grace was at work long before we recognized it. And, most astonishing of all, we begin to see Christ Himself.The pool of Siloam was never the final destination. It was only the place where the blind man discovered that the One who sent him there was, in fact, the Light of the World. And so it remains. Every true healing of the soul begins and ends in Him. For Christ does not merely restore sight; He gives us a new way of seeing altogether. --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian's homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the hope of Jesus—one homily at a time. Give Here: https://frbriansoliven.org/give

Great Lent 2026; Sunday of the Cross "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24) Christ is talking as if "coming after" or "following" Him is something good. What is that all about? Where is He going? Where is He leading us? Christ talks about "denying" ourselves. In the next verse He ties that to being willing to die. This sounds important. We need to get it right. There is a great lie in our world: that all religions are basically the same. But Scripture warns us that the devil himself can appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). So it is not enough simply to have faith in something. Why in the world are there so many warnings in the Bible about idolatry? Some people focus on sexual sin. But even Scripture often uses sexual sin as a metaphor for something even worse: worshipping false gods. One is bad—but the other is worse. Just as marriage is good, but union with God is even greater. So we need to get this cross thing right. Is it just about perseverance? Everyone has their own cross to bear? Well… kind of. But even that needs to be grounded. We are not simply stoics. If we are stoics at all, we are stoics of a very particular kind. So what is the cross? Yes, it involves pain. But not just any pain. Look to the prototype. We are Christians, and Christ is our standard. His cross was painful—but it was pain put to a purpose. It was sacrificial. He gave Himself as a sacrifice. And all sacrifice involves something valuable—something costly, something difficult. Pain can be like that. The cross was Christ's sacrifice on behalf of the people and the world that He loved. That gives us something to work with. Taking up our cross means doing things that are hard on behalf of others. At the very least, it means denying what we might prefer so that others can thrive. For Christ, that meant leaving the place where He was given the glory and honor that was His due and coming to live in a world where He would be disrespected, misunderstood, and even tortured and killed. And He did it so that we—the ones He loves—could join Him in eternal glory. When we voluntarily sacrifice our time, when we put up with people who misunderstand us, who may not value us, who may never fully appreciate what we are doing—and we do it out of a desire for their health and salvation … … then we are taking up our cross and following Christ into glory. So be patient when your ego tells you to lash out. Be courageous when your instincts tell you to hide. Figure out what love requires in each moment—and then dedicate yourself to it. In addition to patience and courage, this requires paying attention. It requires humility. It requires dedication to the needs of the moment. And it surely won't be easy. But this is the cup that our Lord accepted in the Garden of Gethsemane—the cup that led to the salvation of the world. And when we drink of that cup, we are united to Him through His passion on the Cross. But we must remember something very important. The cross is not the end of the story. Christ did not go to the cross in order to remain in the grave. He went through the cross into resurrection. And this is exactly where the Church is leading us during Great Lent. We are walking the road of the cross now so that we may stand together in the light of Pascha. Our Lord Himself told us how this works: "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." In Christ, the cross is never the final word. What passes through the cross is changed. We die with Him so that we may live with Him. Buried with Him in death, we rise with Him into newness of life. As St. Maximus the Confessor says, "The one who participates in Christ's sufferings also shares in His glory." Suffering offered in love becomes glory. Sacrifice becomes participation in His life. And even death becomes the doorway to life. This is the mystery the Church sings every year at Pascha: Yesterday I was buried with Thee, O Christ;today I arise with Thee in Thy resurrection. This is where Christ is leading us. Through the cross. Into resurrection. So when the moment comes—and it will come—when love requires something difficult from you, do not be afraid of the cross. Take it up. Follow Him. Because on the other side of the cross is life— life with Christ, life with all the saints, and life in the glory of the Kingdom.  

Exodus 5:1-2 ESV 1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'” 2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.”   • • • 1. God's power revealed   • • • Exodus 6:1-2 ESV 1 But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” 2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord.   • • • 2. God's protection revealed   • • • Exodus 8:22-23 ESV 22 But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. 23 Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.”'”   • • • 3. God's plan revealed   • • • Exodus 3:7-10 ESV 7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”   • • • Exodus 12:12-14 ESV 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.   • • • 1 Corinthians 5:7 ESV 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.   • • • 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 ESV 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.   • • • Application: We can trust God to be faithful to His promises.

Today is day 67 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the eighth line: “was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead” and studying question 67. 67. Why does the Creed emphasize Jesus' death in this way? The Creed emphasizes Jesus' death to counter suspicions that Jesus did not truly die on the Cross, to celebrate the fact that he died there to secure our salvation, and to prepare our minds to grasp the glory of his bodily resurrection. ( John 19:31–34; 1 John 5:6–8) We will conclude today with Prayer 71. For Christ to be Formed in Us found on page 668 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Paul emphatically states the message found throughout Philippians: Rejoice, I say it again, rejoice. Though chained in a cell, his joy couldn't be restrained. He will help us step farther into peace and joy. For Christ-followers, peace is a promise. Philippians 4:1-10 Speaker: Kyle Idleman

What if the greatest danger to your faith isn't rebellion—but delay?In this message, “For Christ's Sake,” Pastor Jennie Lusko reminds us that how we use our time matters far more than we realize. Jesus, just days before the cross, tells two back-to-back parables in Matthew 25 to show us what it looks like to live ready for His return and faithful with what He's entrusted to us.Many of us aren't intentionally rejecting God… we're just putting Him off, living with spiritual time-blindness.In this sermon, you'll discover:What spiritual time-blindness looks like—and how to break free from itSeven ways to manage spiritual time-blindness and live with urgency, purpose, and surrender in light of Christ's returnWhy every moment, every gift, and every opportunity matters for eternityThis message is a call to wake up, to stop delaying obedience, to stop drifting spiritually, and to start living fully, faithfully, and urgently—for Christ's sake.NEXT STEPS:Ask for prayer or connect with a pastor: https://freshlife.church/contactRegister your decision to follow Jesus and receive free resources: https://freshlife.church/know-godGive a financial gift to support what God is doing as we take steps forward to see the Gospel reach far and wide: https://freshlife.church/giveSUBSCRIBE:Sign up to receive encouragement straight to your inbox, and to stay up to date with announcements, events, and more: https://church.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6ea4d82b2567db3e86b7767cd&id=451f2fe63eDon't miss a video! Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/freshlifechurch?sub_confirmation=1CONNECT ON SOCIALS:Website: https://freshlife.churchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshlifeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshlifechurchTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/freshlifeYoutube: https://youtube.com/c/freshlifechurch/Fresh Life Church was pioneered by Pastors Levi and Jennie Lusko in 2007. We exist to see those stranded in sin find life and liberty in Jesus Christ. Today Fresh Life's ministry impacts people with the radical, life-changing message of Jesus' grace, spilling across Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho… and beyond.

On this episode of The Federalist Radio Hour, Drew Allen Thomas, author and host of The Drew Allen Show, joins Federalist Senior Elections Correspondent Matt Kittle to examine Charlie Kirk's faith-filled mission and explain what the Turning Point USA founder's martyrdom means for Christians and the future of the country. You can find Allen's book For Christ and Country: The Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk here. The Federalist Foundation is a nonprofit, and we depend entirely on our listeners and readers — not corporations. If you value fearless, independent journalism, please consider a tax-deductible gift today at TheFederalist.com/donate. Your support keeps us going.