POPULARITY
The disciples of Jesus have been praying in the wake of their Lord's ascension and departure, waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. In a magnificent display, the Holy Spirit arrives and the disciples begin to clearly speak different languages. Native-born peoples from various lands hear their own tongues being spoken by these Galileans and are simultaneously amazed and confused. Peter stands to address this crowd of Jews, quoting Scripture and explaining what happened to Christ, God's Messiah. He calls them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and about 3,000 are added to the number of those following Christ. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org
Sermons Archive RSS John 4:43-54 Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee. 44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.John 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.John 6:41,42 The Jews complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” And they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, “I have come down from heaven”? John 7:5 For even His brothers did not believe in HimJohn 6:66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. John 12:3: But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in HimJohn 1:11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.Matthew 8:10 & 13 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!13: Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” John 20:30-31 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.James 1:5-8 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.Luke 18:1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. Sermon Discussion Questions:Why did Jesus decide to go to Galilee rather than remain in Judea?How do we see the faith of the Nobleman Progress throughout this section?What is Jesus' initial response to the man's requestAccording to what was discussed, in which two ways are we supposed to pray? “Despised Samaritans turn to Christ, while many of the historic covenant community either actively oppose Him, or cannot progress beyond a fascination for miracles” — Hendrickson
Healing FaithJohn 4:46-54 John 4:39-4239 Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of what the woman said when she testified, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 Many more believed because of what he said. 42 And they told the woman, “We no longer believe because of what you said, since we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.”John 4:43-4543 After two days he left there for Galilee. 44 (Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45 When they entered Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him because they had seen everything he did in Jerusalem during the festival. For they also had gone to the festival.John 4:46-5446 He went again to Cana of Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a certain royal official whose son was ill at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to him and pleaded with him to come down and heal his son, since he was about to die.48 Jesus told him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”49 “Sir,” the official said to him, “come down before my boy dies.”50 “Go,” Jesus told him, “your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and departed.51 While he was still going down, his servants met him saying that his boy was alive. 52 He asked them at what time he got better. “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him,” they answered. 53 The father realized this was the very hour at which Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” So he himself believed, along with his whole household.54 Now this was also the second sign Jesus performed after he came from Judea to Galilee.John 4:47-4847 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to him and pleaded with him to come down and heal his son, since he was about to die.48 Jesus told him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”There is a deeper need for healing in this story– the boy's father needs the healing touch of authentic faith.The greatest need in the story is not to be healed. The greatest need is to have saving faith in the Savior of the world who does heal. –Darrell JohnsonJohn 4:49-5049 “Sir,” the official said to him, “come down before my boy dies.”50 “Go,” Jesus told him, “your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and departed.Jesus' word is enough.What do we learn from this story?We go to Jesus.Ask with boldness.Receive what Jesus has for you.Listen. Trust. Leave it to Him.
This is disturbing and sad. Joshua Link, a 24-year-old man on transgender hormones from Belleville, Illinois, reportedly took his own life. Joshua supposedly "transitioned" five years ago.Joshua's parents are blaming their son's death on the church that employed Joshua as a custodian. The church is St. John's Lutheran Church - an LC-MS church - in Granite City. The parents blame the church because the pastor did not permit their son to wear a French maid outfit and cat ears while working.Joshua is dead. Not because the church held to God's truths. But because he believed the Devil's lies. He was trapped in physical, emotional, and spiritual darkness.There is a spiritual darkness that has fallen like a shadow over our nation. The recent political unrest is the result of long-term spiritual unrest that has been allowed to settle over America for decades. People celebrate the dismemberment of unborn children and call it a "woman's choice." They use hormones and surgery to mutilate and castrate children, and they call it "gender affirming care." They encourage an unwell, elderly person to end their God-given life and call it "dying with dignity." They burst into a worship service and liken it to Jesus overturning tables in the temple courtyard.This darkness is nothing new. A spiritual, emotional, and physical darkness had fallen upon the land of Zebulon and Naphtali in northern Galilee for centuries. This area was an invasion corridor often used by armies throughout Israel's history. Assyria and Babylon invaded from the north trampling this area. It was often humbled by the struggle of nations.Isaiah prophesies what will happen in this area. "There will be no more gloom for the land that was in anguish. In former times, he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will cause it to be glorious, along the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, in Galilee of the Gentiles" (Isaiah 9:1).The same territory where the feet of invading soldiers trampled every hope and left nothing but gloom and distress would be the scene of a bright future. God had chosen this area for a special honor. Matthew writes about the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. "[Jesus] left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. He did this to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and on those dwelling in the region and the shadow of death a light has dawned" (Matthew 4:13-16).An oppressive pall of unbelief had settled upon the people in this northern territory. It was filled with Gentiles who did not believe in the true God of Israel. It was far away from the worship in the temple in Jerusalem. True believers would travel great distances - between 70-90 miles - to bring their lambs for sacrifice on Jerusalem's altar.Yet, this dark, gloomy land of unbelief and Gentiles was blessed because this is where Jesus chose to do the bulk of his ministry. Jesus' message was simple and direct. "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 4:17). Jesus proclaimed to Galileans that they could be free from the idolatry, work righteousness, and materialism that completely captivated them.Galileans were the first to see the light of God's day dawning over the world. The Lamb of God came not to the altar in Jerusalem but to the people in faraway Galilee. Jesus began shining his light into the shadowed nooks and crannies of the world. From fishing boats to synagogues, from workmen to lame men, Christ cast a beacon of light into the darkened world around him with his three-fold ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing. God called his children to follow the light and live in the light.Jesus is the Light of the world. His Word is the Light that confronts, converts, and consoles in present-day darkness, too. He is the Truth that confronts the Devil's lies. He is the only Way of salvation in a polytheistic world. He is the Life in a culture of death. He is the Wisdom of God in a world ruled by toxic empathy, half-truths, and illogical thought. Jesus and his Word are the solution to every issue in our world today.I've heard for years that pastors and Christians should not talk about politics. "Politics" is Greek for "the affairs of the city or citizen." I counter that politics is nothing more than Christian sanctification in the public square. What happens when pastors and Christians don't apply God's Word to the issues of the day - "politics"? Satan fills the void. When we Christians are silent on the issues of the day, men will listen to non-Christian men for leadership. Women will be filled with toxic empathy.Notice what Satan has done. He's taken religious issues on marriage, sex, children, beginning of life, end of life, rule of law, and so on, and made them political. Then many in the Church won't talk about them because they are deemed political. We do ourselves, our neighbors, and our nation a disservice when we cede these issues only to the government. But they are first moral and theological issues that Christians should be discussing, debating, and deciding based on the doctrines of the Bible.I believe we should not be silent about the cultural, social, political, or theological issues of the day. Instead, we should be sharing God's Word and wisdom on all these issues. We should preach Jesus and his doctrines to every facet of life. We preach Jesus' message, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Satan is the Prince of this world. But this world also belongs to Jesus Christ. All things are under his feet (Ephesians 1:22). We shine the light of God's Word into the darkness of this culture. When the Church is silent on issues that the culture is screaming about, then a whole generation only hears one worldview - an un-Christian worldview. The Church must speak up, pray up, disciple up, and train up generations to navigate through cultural issues with the truth of God's Word.The more we talk about issues as pastors and Christians, the less "political" they become. Soren Kierkegaard was correct when he wrote, "What looks like politics, and imagines itself to be political, will one day unmask itself as a religious movement."A darkness has moved like a shadow to cover our nation because people have replaced God's truths with the Devil's lies. They celebrate death and call it good. They praise butchery of the body and call it "health care." They admire those who are confused by their mental illness and call it brave. We need to start calling these atrocities by their proper names. When someone talks about "abortion," correct them by calling it "murder of the unborn." "Gender affirming care," we call "butchery of the body." "Transgenderism," we call "dysphoria" and "confusion." People have bought into these lies because they have placed emotions and feelings over logic and God's truths.Satan's strategy is simple - make sin look normal and make righteousness look weird. The closer you get to God, the weirder you look to people. Don't fall for it.These issues of believing the Devil's lies aren't just "out there" in the world. They are also within our own hearts. We have bought into these lies that the Devil tells and the world promotes because we don't know God's truths well enough; because we aren't bold in our preaching and teaching; and because we just want to be liked. We, too, are susceptible to these lies because our sinful nature is hostile to God and his truths. We are also naturally inclined to the Devil's untruths because they are scratching our itching ears. As Christ's modern-day disciples, we are often drawn away from God's truths and his Christian Church. We want to belong. We don't want to be left out. We don't want to be considered weird. Standing up for God's truths is hard. Sitting quietly on the sideline while other Christians are fighting is much easier and safer.We cannot become angry at those who oppose us and God's truths. St. John makes that clear. "The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is still in the darkness. The one who loves his brother remains in the light, and nothing causes him to stumble." (1 John 2:9-10). We love them with the love of Christ who first loved us.Unbelievers are trapped by the Devil. They have been tricked into believing his lies. They are enslaved by the passions of their bodies. They are where we once were. By God's grace, Jesus has saved us from our sins of believing the Devil's lies and not standing up for God's truths.We show love to those who are trapped in the Devil's lies by ourselves first resisting the Devil and his lies. We submit ourselves to God, his will, and his truths. Then we share God's will and truths with others. We work to free our friends and family from their imprisonment by telling them about a Savior and Conqueror who has come to set them free. We keep speaking the truth in love. We unleash the Holy Spirit through God's Word. He's the only one who can convert them. He can replace their spiritual darkness with the light of faith in Christ Jesus.What happens when you share the Light of Christ in the darkness of this world? Isaiah gives us a glimpse. "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. For those living in the land of the shadow of death, the light has dawned. You have multiplied the nation. You have increased its joy. They rejoice before you like the joy at harvest time, like the celebration when people divide the plunder. For you have shattered the yoke that burdened them. You have broken the bar on their shoulders and the rod of their oppressor, as you did in the day of Midian" (Isaiah 9:2-4).Jesus dawns in people's dark lives. Through his Word and the Holy Spirit, he converts sinners into saints. He changes their eternal destination from hell to heaven. He then sanctifies their lives, so they desire to escape Satan's chaos and rejoice in God's calm. He rescues them from their sexual sins to enjoy married life of a man and a woman that is blessed with lots of children. He calms their minds, so they become comfortable with who and what God made them to be. He makes them lovers of life - protectors for the men and nurturers for the women - from the unborn to the elderly. He allows them to resist and protest when they feel there is government overreach. But now that Jesus' kingdom is in their hearts, they follow St. John's words, "This is how we know that we have known [Jesus Christ]: if we keep his commands" (1 John 2:3). That means they'll resist and protest while keeping God's commandments.Jesus coming into people's lives is painful at first. His Light can hurt when our eyes are not used to his glory and our sins show up in painfully obvious ways. But it's so worth it. Like the people of Galilee, we rejoice. When Jesus enters a person's life, it is like a Wyoming sunrise. It's a brand-new day. All the hurts, pain, and anguish of the day before can be forgotten. It's a new day of Christ shining in you and you living in Christ.When Jesus enters a person's life, it's like the harvest of grain. He has converted the unbelieving weeds into believing wheat. The weeds are burned up like chaff. But the wheat is gathered by his angels into the storehouses of heaven. Like a rancher rejoices that his hard work has paid off and his grain is harvested, so Jesus rejoices that his hard work of justification and sanctification has paid off and his harvest of souls is safe in heaven.When Jesus enters a person's life and they hear and believe his message of repentance and faith, it's like a dreadful battle. The sinful nature, spurred on by Satan and the world fights. But the Holy Spirit has almighty strength. When the precious soul is baptized, converted, and crucified with Christ, the battle is won. Jesus has destroyed all the enemies that frightened his people. Nothing is left but to rejoice and divide the spoil.There is great darkness that has cast a shadow over our nation. Don't ever back down from sharing the Light of Jesus Christ. Keep speaking God's truths against the Devil's lies. Keep knocking down political arguments and point people to Jesus Christ as the way to believe and live. Keep injecting God's eternal wisdom into a world that seems to have lost common sense. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has become the Light that makes our lives worth living. We are his, and he is ours. Now that we have his Light, let us walk as children of the Light. Amen.View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/the-light-has-dawned/
Jesus Heals an Official's Son John 4:46-54 43 After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast. 46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.
https://drummoynebaptist.org.au/podcast/mp3s/923Barnes180126-Luke13v1-5.mp3 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen […]
In this episode Pastor Jason Polk dives into John Chapter 4, verses 43 to 54, exploring the profound themes of true faith and belief. The discussion contrasts the Galileans' desire for signs and wonders with the Samaritans' faith in Jesus' word. We also examine the story of a royal official whose faith is tested as he seeks healing for his son. Join us as we uncover the power and kindness of Jesus and the essence of true faith that emerges from real-life needs.
Kendrick Diaz discusses Luke 13:2-3—“And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.'”
Self-giving Love Every grandiose scenario imagined for the arrival of Messiah was eclipsed by the Father. The poverty and obscurity, the no-name couple, Galileans of all disqualifying things, the lack of royal preparations and announcement, none of these things corresponded with Jewish thinking. His would not be a love seeking national sovereignty but spiritual liberation. His would not be a love that strutted about boasting, ‘Here I am!' His would not be a love commanding armies. Rather, his would be a love of seeing eternal souls set free from sin and death. His would be a self-giving love, and that love would promote self-giving love. John 3:1-21, John 15:9-13, John 13:12-17, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 John 3:1-21 – Love's __________________________________________________ John 15:9-13 – Love's _________________________________________________ John 13:12-17, 1 Cor. 13:1-13 – Love's __________________________________
Series: LukeService: Sunday Bible StudyType: Gospel of Luke Bible StudySpeaker: Jeremy Bowling Luke 1313:1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig…
The Life Of Christ # 114 The slaughtered Galileans by John Martin
QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“The church…is not meant to call men and women out of the world into a safe religious enclave but to call them out in order to send them back as agents of God's kingship.”~Lesslie Newbigin (1909-1998), British theologian and missionary “The people who heard Jesus' disciples proclaiming the Good News were as impressed by what they saw as by what they heard. They saw lives that had been transformed…. A new quality, Christian love, was born. Conventional love is evoked by lovable qualities in the beloved, but the love people encountered from Christ embraced sinners and outcasts, Samaritans and enemies. It gave…because giving was its nature.”~Huston Smith (1919-2016), religious scholar and chair of the Philosophy Department at MIT “Why do we not observe how the charity of Christians to strangers…has done the most to advance their cause? For it is disgraceful…the impious Galileans support our poor in addition to their own, while everyone is able to see that our coreligionists lack aid from us!”~The Pagan Roman Emperor Julian (332-363), Letter to Arsacius, 360 AD “Why among all of the varieties of Judaism in the first century did only two survive….? One, the religion of the Rabbis – the other, the religion of Christianity. [This] rather improbable message that the Son of God has come to earth and been crucified, in human form, and risen from the dead ... appealed to a lot of perfectly ordinary people…in such a way that they were willing…to become initiated into a group which brought them only hostility, estrangement from their families and neighbors, and the possibility of persecution to the point of death.”~Wayne A. Meeks (1932-2023), Religious Studies Professor at Yale University “I believe that it was the religion's particular doctrines that permitted Christianity to be among the most sweeping and successful revitalization movements in history. And it was the way these doctrines took on actual flesh, the way they directed organizational actions and individual behavior, that led to the rise of Christianity.”~Sociologist Rodney Stark (1934-2022) in The Rise of Christianity “Assist…one another in good faith, and by deed and with a hearty will; nor let anyone remove his hand from the help of a brother, since ‘by this' saith the Lord, ‘shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.'”~Zephyrinus, bishop of Rome from A.D. 199 to 217 on John 13:35 “The person characterized by humility, gentleness, mercy and righteousness does not build a fence around good deeds. Rather, that one ensures that these good fountains overflow for the benefit of others. One who is pure in heart and a peacemaker, even when persecuted for the sake of truth, orders his way of life for the common good.”~John Chrysostom (347-407) revered early church leader in homily on Matthew 5SERMON PASSAGE selected passages (ESV)Genesis 12 1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Psalm 671 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Isaiah 22 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Matthew 5 – Jesus's Teaching to His Disciples 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.13 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 1 1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Matthew 28 – Jesus's Commission to the Church 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” John 13 – Jesus's Commandment to the Church 34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 17 – Jesus's Prayer for the Church 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”
Pastoral Reflections Finding God In Ourselves by Msgr. Don Fischer
Gospel Luke 13:1-9 Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them— do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?' He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.'” Reflection Jesus makes clear that there is a work that we have to do. He's not saying that we can judge the world and how God is working in the world, and why some things happen, and some people have different kind of the lives that we do. But he wants us to get back to something so basic. You are on this planet to grow and to evolve and to change. To be transformed by his grace. And he says, if you don't do that, you will be destroyed by pride, greed, power over people. He doesn't want that to happen, but in telling people unless they change, they will be destroyed. He adds this wonderful disposition that he will never give up on us and he will continue to dig around us. Soil, fertilize us, water us, and pray and continue to work for our transformation. He is a loving God. When he warns us that we might be destroyed, he is there to do everything he can to make sure that doesn't happen. Closing Prayer Father, as we examine ourselves as we looked at our life and our choices, it's so important for us to see where we're off, where we're not functioning as God wants us to. Make us aware of our sinfulness. At the same time, bless us with his patience. His love, his continual forgiveness, and his nurturing Holy Spirit. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Some people told Jesus about the Galileanswhose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?By no means!But I tell you, if you do not repent,you will all perish as they did!Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?By no means!But I tell you, if you do not repent,you will all perish as they did!”And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,he said to the gardener,‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none.So cut it down.Why should it exhaust the soil?'He said to him in reply,‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future.If not you can cut it down.'”
The Galileans honored what they saw, but the nobleman honored what he heard. His faith rested not in evidence, but in a word—and that word brought life. True honor is still the same today: trusting Jesus is enough, even when sight is not.
The Galileans honored what they saw, but the nobleman honored what he heard. His faith rested not in evidence, but in a word—and that word brought life. True honor is still the same today: trusting Jesus is enough, even when sight is not.
In Luke 13:1–9, Jesus responds to news of two tragedies—the Galileans killed by Pilate and the people crushed when the tower of Siloam fell—by rejecting the idea that their suffering was God's punishment. He reminds us that tragedy isn't always tied to sin; sometimes bad things just happen in a broken world. Then Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree that hasn't borne fruit, but instead of cutting it down, the gardener pleads for more time and care. That's the heart of God—patient, merciful, always giving us another chance to repent and grow. Repentance isn't about guilt; it's about grace and the opportunity to start fresh. Today, let's take that chance—to turn back to God, bear good fruit, and live in the joy of His mercy and love.Shameless plug: here's a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.You can read today's passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013%3A%201-9&version=NRSVUEClick here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. - https://groupme.com/join_group/107837407/vtYqtb6CYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Zechariah 7-9; Luke 13 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible, where we journey together through the pages of scripture and let the Word point us to the Living Word—Jesus himself. In today's episode for September 30th, our host Hunter invites us to warm our hearts by the fires of God's love as we read from Zechariah 7–9 and Luke 13. We'll witness powerful prophecies of restoration and hope in Zechariah, and hear Jesus challenge our assumptions about tragedy and repentance in Luke. As Hunter reflects, the headlines of both the ancient and modern world often declare that "the world is falling down," but Jesus brings good news—a kingdom that is rising up in the midst of brokenness. With gentle encouragement, Hunter leads us to consider our own need for God's renewing grace, to trust in the hope he offers, and to join in prayer for our world, our families, and our own hearts. So whether this is your first day or your twelfth year with us, settle in as we center our lives on the One who holds all things together. TODAY'S DEVOTION: The world is falling down. Those are the headlines—then and now. Tragedy, disaster, violence—they fill the news and our lives with sorrow and confusion. When Jesus looked at the headlines of his own day, he spoke of Galileans killed by Pilate, and of people crushed when a tower fell in Siloam. He posed the question many of us have probably wondered: Were their suffering and deaths the sign that they were the worst sinners? Was this God's judgment against them, or a measure of their worth in God's eyes? But Jesus turns our thinking upside down. He tells us no, their suffering was not because they were the worst, or because God didn't care, or that they were unimportant to Him. The world is broken, Jesus says. Towers fall, tragedy strikes, death comes—sometimes seemingly at random, sometimes to the pious and sometimes to the publican. This is the world we inhabit: a world fallen, groaning, filled with loss. But Jesus is not content just to comment on the news. He proclaims something entirely new: The kingdom of God is rising up. Where the world falls, God's kingdom grows. The kingdom is like a gardener, patient with a barren fig tree, tending it, waiting for fruit. It's like a woman bent over for eighteen years, suddenly raised up and set free. It's like a tiny mustard seed that grows into a tree, so large that the birds can make their nests there. It's yeast, small and hidden at first, yet permeating the whole loaf. Jesus brings good news into this falling world. He goes to Jerusalem; He is lifted up on a cross for this very reason—that the world, broken and lost, could be made new. He offers hope: not just for the world, but for each of us, for our own broken souls. He calls us to repent, to turn to Him, to let Him meet our needs and restore what is shattered in us. This is our invitation—to center our lives on the good news of Jesus, to trust Him and join Him in His mission. We can participate with Him: shining light in the darkness, extending mercy and justice, and bearing witness to the kingdom rising up in a world that so desperately needs it. That's a prayer I have for my own soul. That's a prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's a prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Zechariah 7-9; Luke 13 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible, where we journey together through the pages of scripture and let the Word point us to the Living Word—Jesus himself. In today's episode for September 30th, our host Hunter invites us to warm our hearts by the fires of God's love as we read from Zechariah 7–9 and Luke 13. We'll witness powerful prophecies of restoration and hope in Zechariah, and hear Jesus challenge our assumptions about tragedy and repentance in Luke. As Hunter reflects, the headlines of both the ancient and modern world often declare that "the world is falling down," but Jesus brings good news—a kingdom that is rising up in the midst of brokenness. With gentle encouragement, Hunter leads us to consider our own need for God's renewing grace, to trust in the hope he offers, and to join in prayer for our world, our families, and our own hearts. So whether this is your first day or your twelfth year with us, settle in as we center our lives on the One who holds all things together. TODAY'S DEVOTION: The world is falling down. Those are the headlines—then and now. Tragedy, disaster, violence—they fill the news and our lives with sorrow and confusion. When Jesus looked at the headlines of his own day, he spoke of Galileans killed by Pilate, and of people crushed when a tower fell in Siloam. He posed the question many of us have probably wondered: Were their suffering and deaths the sign that they were the worst sinners? Was this God's judgment against them, or a measure of their worth in God's eyes? But Jesus turns our thinking upside down. He tells us no, their suffering was not because they were the worst, or because God didn't care, or that they were unimportant to Him. The world is broken, Jesus says. Towers fall, tragedy strikes, death comes—sometimes seemingly at random, sometimes to the pious and sometimes to the publican. This is the world we inhabit: a world fallen, groaning, filled with loss. But Jesus is not content just to comment on the news. He proclaims something entirely new: The kingdom of God is rising up. Where the world falls, God's kingdom grows. The kingdom is like a gardener, patient with a barren fig tree, tending it, waiting for fruit. It's like a woman bent over for eighteen years, suddenly raised up and set free. It's like a tiny mustard seed that grows into a tree, so large that the birds can make their nests there. It's yeast, small and hidden at first, yet permeating the whole loaf. Jesus brings good news into this falling world. He goes to Jerusalem; He is lifted up on a cross for this very reason—that the world, broken and lost, could be made new. He offers hope: not just for the world, but for each of us, for our own broken souls. He calls us to repent, to turn to Him, to let Him meet our needs and restore what is shattered in us. This is our invitation—to center our lives on the good news of Jesus, to trust Him and join Him in His mission. We can participate with Him: shining light in the darkness, extending mercy and justice, and bearing witness to the kingdom rising up in a world that so desperately needs it. That's a prayer I have for my own soul. That's a prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's a prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Acts 2:1-24When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens aboveand signs on the earth below,blood and fire and billows of smoke.The sun will be turned to darknessand the moon to bloodbefore the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who callson the name of the Lord will be saved.'“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
1 Chronicles 4 records the descendants of Judah. One of the notable descendants was Jabez, whose prayer to God and subsequent blessing is told in verses 9-10. What we learn is that Yahweh is ever attentive to the pleas of His children both small and great. We know nothing about Jabez except for his prayer seeking for the Almighty to bless and prosper him. Next the record tells of Simeon's descendants - perhaps we would have expected those of Reuben. But Reuben lost the position of firstborn through a disgraceful act (Genesis 49 verses 3-4). Ezekiel 17 records the parable of the two eagles. The eagles were those kings of Judah who were promoted to prominence by the king of Babylon. But the eagles did not maintain faith with Nebuchadnezzar but broke the covenant which they had made with the Babylonian monarch. Those kings rebelled and were savagely dealt with by the king of Babylon. Our God expects His children to be truthful at all times verses Matthew 5 verses 33-37; Zechariah 8 verses 16-17; Revelation 22 verses 14-15. Yahweh will exalt the lowly and abase the lofty verses James 4 verses 7-10; 1 Peter 5 verses 5-6. In Luke 13 the enemies of the Lord maliciously attack him by drawing his attention to the Galileans, who Pilate had slaughtered as they were sacrificing in Jerusalem. Jesus tells his audience of Judeans of a recent event where a wall in Siloam - Jerusalem's backyard - fell on many Judeans. Did it happen because they were bad sinners? No, on both counts - but both tragedies provided opportunities for reflection and repentance, as any report of suffering does for us today. This is followed in chapter 13 by the parable of the barren fig tree which represents Israel's failure to bring forth fruit to God. Jesus next, on the Sabbath day heals a woman with an unclean spirit. The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven come next in the record. Then the record speaks of the parable of the narrow door, through which every disciple must strive to enter. Our Lord Jesus Christ laments over Jerusalem - to be torn down stone by stone as the leprous house. He will be welcomed in the Kingdom, when they would say, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord" (Psalm 118 verses 26). Chapter 14 of Luke begins with Jesus healing a man on the Sabbath day. That man had clearly been planted as a test for Jesus. Would he heal on the Sabbath day? The Lord was invited to speak at a dinner for Pharisees and Jesus gives advice in the parable of the wedding feast. Then came another parable about the great banquet to which each invited class found excuses not to attend. These people who were called by the gospel to come to the wedding feast of the Son of God all adjudged themselves unworthy of eternal life in the kingdom. As a result of their rejection, we have graciously been offered a place. Two parables follow which tell us that as disciples of Jesus we must always count the cost of discipleship and wholeheartedly pursue that goal. Every disciple of our Lord must accept the peace that our Sovereign offers to us through the emissaries of the gospel and then make peace with Him verses Ephesians 2 verses 11-22. The chapter concludes with the need for zest and salt among our Master's disciples. Salt was an essential ingredient of every sacrifice and spoke of keeping covenant with the Almighty. And so, it is a vital component of the disciple's faithful walk before his/her Sovereign leading onto His gracious bestowing of eternal life on His saints. Salt speaks of sincerity in Christ's disciples as we are told in Colossians 4 verses 6. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
Listen to Justin C. Gleason on Apple Podcasts & Spotify … GIVE (Not a 501c3 contribution): Cash App: $JustinCGleason PayPal: @JustinCGleason Venmo: @JustinCGleason … Facebook @Justin C. Gleason Instagram @justincgleason X @justincgleason
In Luke 13:1–9, Jesus calls us to examine our hearts through repentance and to bear fruit that reflects a life turned toward God. Building on last week's focus on living ready for Christ's return, this teaching shows that readiness is impossible without repentance — without it, there is no fruit and no life. Jesus uses two tragedies — Pilate's slaughter of Galileans and the collapse of the Tower of Siloam — to shift our focus from speculating about others to examining ourselves. Repentance (metanoia) is more than regret; it's a complete change of mind and direction, a daily turning from sin and self toward God. It's not a punishment but a gift that leads to joy, renewal, and a deeper relationship with Him. Through the parable of the barren fig tree, we see God's expectation for His people to bear fruit and His patience in giving us opportunities to respond. This message explores what that fruit looks like in practice — from forgiveness and generosity to growth in the Spirit and turning from idols — and challenges us to live lives of ongoing repentance as we await Christ's return. ✅ Key Points: • Why repentance is central to Christian life and readiness • Jesus' response to tragedy: self-examination over speculation • What true repentance means and how it transforms direction • The daily practice of repentance and its connection to abundant life • God's expectation of fruit and the urgency to bear it • Practical examples of fruitfulness: forgiveness, generosity, growth, and turning from idols
Send us a textThe battle between biblical truth and modern spiritual practices takes center stage as we dive deep into one of Christianity's most divisive topics: speaking in tongues. What exactly happened at Pentecost when the apostles—simple Galileans with no reputation for education—suddenly spoke in languages they'd never learned? Why were the hearers amazed not by unintelligible babbling but by understanding clear messages in their native tongues?Through careful examination of Scripture, we uncover how today's common practice of "speaking in tongues" fundamentally differs from the biblical gift. The apostle Paul himself states, "If I'm going to speak, I'm going to speak with my understanding as well"—challenging the notion of unintelligible "prayer languages." More troubling is how this practice has become a spiritual measuring stick, with some believers claiming those without this gift lack the Holy Spirit entirely.Former practitioners are now coming forward, admitting they "faked it for years" under intense social pressure from their congregations. When similar manifestations appear in non-Christian religious groups, we must ask the difficult question: what spiritual source is really behind these experiences?At its core, this conversation addresses the sufficiency of God's Word. Do modern Christians need miraculous gifts when Scripture "truly furnishes us for every good work"? Every era of church history faces unique spiritual battles, and today's challenges include discerning between walking in the Spirit and fulfilling the lusts of the flesh—between genuine spiritual experiences and counterfeit ones that may feel supernatural but lead away from biblical truth.Whether you've experienced charismatic worship or come from more traditional church backgrounds, this eye-opening exploration will challenge you to evaluate all spiritual experiences against the measuring stick of Scripture. The question remains: are we satisfied with Christ and His Word alone, or are we seeking additional experiences to validate our faith?The Balance of GrayFaith That Challenges. Conversations that Matter. Laughs included. Subscribe Now!Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show
Daily Dose of Hope August 29, 2025 Scripture – Luke 13:1-21 Prayer: Father God, hear our prayer this morning. We are awed by your power and strength. We are amazed by your love. Thank you, Lord, for the many ways you show in our lives to teach us and care for us. Help us gather our scattered thoughts right now and focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, help us (help me) be still and know that you are God...Come Holy Spirit, and help us walk through this Scripture in a way that honors you. Show up and help us discover whatever it is you want us to learn. This is your Word and we want to hear from you. In Your powerful name, Amen. Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we dive into the first half of Luke 13. Our reading begins today with Jesus' discission about repenting. It seems that the death of the Galileans is weighing heavy but what happened to them is not clear. Most scholars agree that there was a group of Galileans who died at the hands of the Roman government, possibly engaging in resistance. Keep in mind, the Galileans would have been Jewish. After killing them, Pilate mixed their blood with the blood of animals used in sacrifices. Of course, this would have been appalling to the Jews. Surprisingly, Jesus in this text is not concerned with anger toward the Romans or empathy toward the Jews. He is concerned with repentance. He tells the group around him that their sins, whatever they are, are not less than the Galileans killed for their resistance. Keep in mind, in that culture, there would have been a general consensus that suffering was a result of great sin. But Jesus is clear, we are all guilty of sin in God's eyes and we need to repent. Don't get too caught up pointing out the sins of others; we are all sinners. Every single one of us. Be careful who you point fingers at. We move from there to another healing on the Sabbath. A woman crippled for eighteen years is set free by Jesus. If Jesus didn't seem to have compassion about the Galileans, he certainly shows it here. The Jewish leaders insist that healing should only occur on the six working days and not on the Sabbath. But he calls them out on that, “Don't you guys take your animals out to get water on the Sabbath? And you won't allow me to free this poor woman from bondage?” He doesn't hesitate to point out their hypocrisy, which has been a theme over the last few chapters. It sure is easy to hold others to a standard to which you don't hold yourself. We close with the final part of today's reading. Jesus gives us two examples of what God's Kingdom is like. First, he says that the Kingdom is like a mustard seed. The listeners would have been familiar with these little seeds; they were the smallest of all the garden seeds available in Palestine during the time of Jesus. But even though they were small, these seeds could grow into a really big bush or tree. It was actually against the law to plant these seeds in a public garden because they would literally take over and choke out the other plants. It's amazing that something so little, almost invisible really, became something that took over the whole garden. Jesus then moves from the garden to the kitchen and says the Kingdom of God is like yeast that a women mixed with sixty pounds of flour until it was all mixed through. Yeast is also really small. Of course, what we know is that the woman would not have used yeast from a little package like we have (that's a modern invention). In Jesus' time, when you prepared dough for baking, you would take a small piece of leavened dough (dough with the yeast already in it) that you had been saving, and mix it in the new batch of dough. When the new batch was done, you would take a small piece of the dough from that and save it for the next batch. So picture this: the woman has one piece of leavened dough and she takes it and works it all the way through sixty pounds of flour. That's a lot of flour! Jesus puts these two parables together to help us get a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. You see, in God's Kingdom, small things can yield really big results. Tiny seeds can produce a big tree, so big that birds can nest in it. A little bit of yeasty dough can be mixed with flour to make enough bread to feed hundreds of people. Here are some thoughts about this: · God's economy is different. In the world, big things are valued–big money, big jobs, big cars, big houses, big, flashy, noticeable---these are all things that indicate power, prestige, control. In God's Kingdom, it's okay for things to be small. Small, seemingly insignificant things can make a huge difference. Mustard seeds, yeast, loaves & fishes, a random act of kindness, a kind or encouraging word, spending time with God in prayer, offering a prayer over someone else, the widow's mite, a humble life lived with integrity, sharing our faith story with someone, or our willingness to serve others. Small things that all can yield huge results for God's Kingdom. · God does the work but human action is required. In each of these parables, there is human action that was part of the growth. The seed must be planted in the ground and probably watered too. The yeast must be worked through the flour. Although God could accomplish these things on his own, he asks people to invest part of ourselves in his work. Then, God honors that obedience, he honors our effort, our willingness, and our faith, no matter how small and insignificant we think it is and he grows it exponentially. · Things aren't always as they seem. God works in ways we cannot see or understand. Science is amazing in that it can show us what is happening under the ground with the seed and what's going on in that loaf of bread, but science can't necessarily explain why it happens. In God's Kingdom, things aren't always what they seem. This is important: we might not always see God's power at work, but it's there in the smallest and most unusual ways, changing and transforming us, guiding us, and leading us closer to Jesus. God is at work there in ways you can't see. The chronic health issue that is so debilitating and limiting-God's at work there in ways you can't understand. Your troubled marriage, your difficult job situation, your finances-God has the ability to work in and through them (with your help) in ways you can't see or understand. Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Welcome to Day 2706 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “The Great Reversal” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2706 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2706 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today, we continue with the 13th of 16 segments of our Theology Thursday lessons. I will read through the book "Supernatural," written by Hebrew Bible scholar, professor, and mentor Dr. Michael S. Heiser, who has since passed away. Supernatural is a condensed version of his comprehensive book, ‘The Unseen Realm.' If these readings pique your interest, I would recommend that you read ‘The Unseen Realm.' Today, we will read through chapter thirteen: “The Great Reversal” Aside from stories about Jesus in the Gospels—such as accounts of his birth, death, and Sermon on the Mount—perhaps the most familiar passage in the New Testament is Acts 2, where the Holy Spirit rushes upon the followers of Jesus at the day of Pentecost. It marks the launch of the fledgling church and the beginning of global evangelism in the name of Jesus. As familiar as the passage is, there's a lot more going on in it than most realize. Acts 2 is in fact designed to telegraph the campaign to reverse the post-Babel cosmic geography of the Old Testament, in which the nations other than Israel were under the dominion of lesser gods. What happened at Pentecost was a battle plan for infiltrating all the nations disinherited by God at Babel with the gospel of Jesus—an ancient strategy for spiritual war. Pentecost What Acts 2 describes as happening on the day of Pentecost was certainly unusual: And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in the same place. And suddenly a sound like a violent rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. And divided tongues like fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them ability to speak out. Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one was hearing them speaking in his own language. And they were astounded and astonished, saying, “Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how do we hear, each one of us, in our own native language?” (Acts 2:1–8 leb) Some of the things that take us into the supernatural worldview of the Old Testament in that remarkable passage aren't obvious in the English translation. The “rushing wind” associated with the arrival of the Spirit is a familiar description of the presence of God in the Old Testament (2 Kings 2:1, 11; Job 38:1; 40:6). Fire is also familiar in descriptions of God (Ezek. 1:4; Isa. 6:4, 6; Dan. 7:9; Ex. 3:2; 19:18; 20:18). It's clear from those references that God was present at the event and behind what was going on. His intention was to launch his campaign to take back the nations from the lesser gods he assigned to the nations (Deut. 4:19–20; 32:8–9) but who became his enemies (Ps. 82). God's tool for doing that was the words of the disciples—hence the imagery of tongues. God enabled the Jewish followers of Jesus to speak...
39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” 43 After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.
Psalm 10:1 ESV 1 Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? PSALM 73:3-5 NI 3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. PSALM 73:13 NIV 13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. JOB 21:7-9 NIV 7 Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? 8 They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not on them. ECCLESIASTES 8:14 NIV 14 There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless. The reason we can't make sense of evil and suffering and brokenness in the world, is because we were never meant to. GENESIS 2:15 ESV 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. LUKE 13:1-5 NIV 1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” "Don't settle for simplistic answers to complex problems." LUKE 13:4-5 ESV 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” "Don't waste your life!" JOHN 9:1-3 ESV 1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. “She is grateful for her dad's size and his fists, which she has never understood until now. She knows what fists are for now." -CHARLOTTE MCCONAGHY, Wild Dark Shore
John 6:3-6 Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. Therefore, Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. Jesus and His disciples went up on the mountain just north of the hometown of Andrew, Peter, and Philip. He may have chosen that location because He was thinking of where 15,000 people could sit and listen. He knew they were following Him, and knew why—they were seeking Him as a material, political savior and provider. The timing of this event was significant, it was during a time of preparation for the Passover, which was preceded by 30 days of solemn consideration of the significance of the event. Perhaps that's why Jesus and His disciples were retreating, but unsuccessfully, as the horde of Galileans ascended the hill. Jesus received the crowd as if the Father had sent them to His house. He was obligated to provide refreshment. It was the hospitable thing to do in their middle eastern culture, so He passed the responsibility over to Philip, as a test of his faith. Jesus knew He was going to do a miracle of provision for them. This is where we draw our live to love encouragement for today. Jesus always knows what He intends to do in and through our lives in every situation that is given to Him by the Father. In this case, the Father put around 15,000 hungry, expectant people in Jesus' path. In our cases, we may find ourselves facing impossible situations where there are no apparent, sufficient resources. It's a test! The situation given to Jesus in us will become a test for us. Will we respond to the situation from a secular, natural worldview or from Jesus' position of trust? Remember, Jesus is our life! If we have adopted God's purpose for us, which is to glorify Him by living to love with Jesus, we will pause and filter the situation through Jesus' three foundational worldview truths. 1). There's only one God from whom are all things, and He is love. 2). Our souls are satisfied with God's love and will, revealed in Jesus' love with and in us. 3). God's purpose for this situation is to reveal the life of Christ in us and prepare us for glory. That's how Jesus viewed the situation on the mountain, and He passed the test on to Philip. He did so with a question, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” We will see Philip's answer in the next verse, but for now, we know that the situation is impossible from a natural perspective. Have you ever been in such a predicament, an impossible situation with inadequate resources or abilities? I'm sure you have been in, may presently be in, or will be in such a situation. I encourage you to memorize these three worldview perspectives, and apply them to your situation. You are not alone. You have Jesus dwelling with and in you. Expect God to glorify His Son in you as you trust in Him to reveal His life and power in your life. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
Today’s Bible Verse: "Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?" - Luke 13:2 “Want to listen without ads? Become a BibleStudyTools.com PLUS Member today: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/ MEET YOUR HOST: Dr. Kyle Norman at https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ The Reverend Dr. Kyle Norman is the Rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral, located in Kamloops BC, Canada. He holds a doctorate in Spiritual formation and is a sought-after writer, speaker, and retreat leader. His writing can be found at Christianity.com, crosswalk.com, ibelieve.com, Renovare Canada, and many others. Rev. Norman has 20 years of pastoral experience, and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times of spiritual discouragement.Find more from Rev. Norman at revkylenorman.ca Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Send us a textThe rushing wind of Pentecost marked more than just a powerful spiritual moment—it signaled the birth of the Church and the authentication of God's messengers for a new era. This thought-provoking conversation explores what exactly happened when "tongues like fire" descended upon the apostles and why this matters for believers today.Throughout Scripture, God established a pattern of authenticating His messengers through miraculous signs. Moses performed wonders before Pharaoh, Elijah called down fire on Mount Carmel, and Christ Himself performed miracles to validate His divine identity. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit continued this tradition by empowering the apostles—specifically identified as Galileans—to speak in actual languages they had never learned.Diving into the Greek text, we discover that "glossalia" refers to real human languages, not ecstatic utterances. This gift served a practical purpose in the infancy of the Church: spreading the gospel across language barriers and providing divine guidance before the New Testament was complete. The evidence suggests these gifts were imparted solely through the apostles' hands, pointing to their temporary nature.Today's believers have something far more accessible and permanent—the complete Word of God available in virtually every language on Earth. The spiritual gifts that once authenticated the apostolic message have fulfilled their purpose, giving way to the "more excellent way" Paul described. Rather than seeking ecstatic experiences, we find God's voice in Scripture and His presence through the indwelling Spirit.What makes this conversation particularly valuable is how it encourages believers to examine Scripture objectively rather than relying on emotional experiences. By understanding the historical context and purpose of spiritual gifts, we can appreciate God's wisdom in providing exactly what His church needed at each stage of its development.How might your understanding of spiritual gifts change if you approach them through the lens of their original purpose rather than modern expectations? Join us as we separate biblical truth from cultural assumptions and discover a deeper appreciation for God's perfect design in building His church.Support the show
43 After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast. Jesus Heals an Official’s Son 46 So he came […]
The Galileans were taught terrible, false things about God by their own religious leaders. Then Jesus came along and cleared it up for them (and us)—that our Heavenly Father is greater than we know—and more loving than we ever imagined…
Acts 2:1-41 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' 22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.' 29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”' 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Acts 2:1-12 NASB 1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and a tongue rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out.5 Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? 9 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty deeds of God.” 12 And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
Pastor John Ryan Cantu brings this week's message, “Pentecostal Posture." Donate to Sister Elida Alanis's Memorial Fund Kay Verse: Acts 2:1-21 ESV: “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'” Sermon Topics: Holy Spirit, Pentecost If you enjoyed the podcast, please subscribe and share it with your friends on social media. For more information about PNEUMA Church, visit our website at mypneumachurch.org. Connect with Us: Instagram: https://instagram.com/mypneumachurch YouTube: https://youtube.com/mypneumachurch Facebook: https://facebook.com/mypneumachurch Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - Welcome 10:48 - Acts 2:1-21 ESV 13:26 - Pentecostal Posture
Monday - Acts 2:1-12When the day of Pentecost came, they wereall together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed tobe tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterlyamazed, they asked: “Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “Theyhave had too much wine.”
Friends of the Rosary,Today, June 8, is Pentecost Sunday. In this Solemnity of Pentecost — one of the greatest feasts of Christianity alongside Christmas and Easter, we commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, Mary, and the Disciples, as well as the fruits and effects of the completion of the work of redemption.As we read in Acts 2:1-11,When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,they were all in one place together.And suddenly there came from the skya noise like a strong driving wind,and it filled the entire house in which they were.Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,which parted and came to rest on each one of them.And they were all filled with the Holy Spiritand began to speak in different tongues,as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.Devout Jews from every nation staying in Jerusalem gathered in a large crowd at this sound. They were astounded and amazed because each one heard the apostles and disciples, who were Galileans, speaking in their language of the mighty acts of God.Pentecost means the fullness of grace for the Church and its children, and the gift of faith for all nations.During Mass, we recite or sing the ancient sequence “Veni, Sancte Spiritus” (Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.)The Responsorial Psalm says, Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.We also pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit across every people and nation and the sanctification of the whole Church through divine grace.In the readings, we hear the voice of Christ:In John 7:37-39, Jesus stood up and exclaimed,“Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink.”As Scripture says: Rivers of living water will flow from within him who believes in me.”In John 20:19-23, Jesus came and stood amid the apostlesand said to them,“Peace be with you.”When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,“Receive the Holy Spirit.Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,and whose sins you retain are retained.”Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• June 8, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET
Entrance Hymn #516 Come Down, O Love DivineSequence Hymn #513 Like the Murmur of the Dove's SongOffertory Anthem Precious Spirit, Breath of Peace (Martin)Communion Anthem Veni Sancte Spiritus (Berthier) Lawren Casagrande, soloistPost-Communion Hymn #506 Praise the Spirit in Creation THE COLLECT OF THE DAYO God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christyour Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.FIRST READING Acts 2:1-21When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came asound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, theyasked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in...
Join us this Sunday, June 8th, 2025 for our worship experience. For more information about Redemption Church or to get in touch please visit our website at: https://www.redemptionchurchokc.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedemptionChurchOKC If you would like to support our ministry you can donate at: https:/www.aplos.com/aws/give/RedemptionChurch1/
On Pentecost, the Spirit is poured out with power, transforming the fearful into the bold. The Spirit is not just a gentle helper — but the fire and breath of God that equips the Church for its mission. Acts 2:1–13 ESVWhen the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Acts 2:1-8, 11b, 14a, 16-17a, 21 - When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? … We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” … But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, ... This is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh … And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.'”
Contact us at: thewavecolumbus@gmail.com, or www.thewavecolumbus.com or daniel@thewavecolumbus.com ContentActs 2:1-10When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and a tongue rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out.Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes. Acts 2:42-47They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all the believers were together and had all things in common; and they would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.Contact us at: thewavecolumbus@gmail.com, or daniel@thewavecolumbus.com or www.thewavecolumbus.com
What is Pentecost? When did this happen in relation to the crucifixion and resurrection? What is the significance of the tongues of fire? Dr. Croghan turns to Martin Luther's Small Catechism: "I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel." This is the Holy Spirit's work, to deliver the Gospel to you. The Holy Spirit comes to convict you of your sin. The conviction comes when you say, “Your sins are forgiven.” You have mercy. You have the Gospel. CARE OF SOULS - ADDICTIONIn Care of Souls, a special mini-series podcast from Luther House of Study, Lutheran pastors and theologians come together to explore the deeply personal and pastoral task of preaching to and caring for those struggling with life's challenging situations: addiction, death, family disharmony, and more. Rooted in the theology of the cross and the Lutheran tradition of radical grace, this series offers both theological depth and practical guidance for pastors, church workers, and lay leaders. Because in the end, it's not about fixing people—it's about preaching the Gospel. Care of Souls - Addiction GOSPEL Acts 2:1-21 1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs -- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" 13 But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine." 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' Support the showInterested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?Email Sarah at sarah@lhos.org or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate
John 4:43-45 After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast. […]
Reading Luke 13:1-5 where Jesus responds to a couple of scenarios, one where Pilate killed some Galileans and another where a tragic accident occurred, and points them to repentance. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!
JOHN 4:43-54 - NOBLEMANS SON - BRIAN SUMNER - 2025JOHN 4:34 "Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee. 44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.46 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.54 This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee."To support this channel and partner with Brian in Ministryhttps://www.briansumner.net/support/For more on Brianhttp://www.briansumner.nethttps://www.instagram.com/BRIANSUMNER/https://www.facebook.com/BRIANSUMNEROFFICIALTo listen to Brians Podcast, click below.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Purchase Brians Marriage book at https://www.amazon.com/Never-Fails-Da...Brian is a full time "Urban Missionary" both locally and internationally with a focus on MISSIONS - MARRIAGES - MINISTRY. Since coming to faith in 2004 doors continued opening locally and internationally to do more and more ministry with a focus on Evangelism, Outreach Missions, Marriage, Counsel, Schools, Festivals, Conferences and the like. Everything about this ministry is made possible because of people personally partnering through the non profit. God Bless and thank you. †Support the showSUPPORT THE SHOW
“Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.” (Acts 2:41 NLT) Jesus’ followers experienced a profound change after His resurrection. Jesus had conquered sin and death forever. He had already won the war against humankind’s two greatest enemies. So His followers were emboldened to fight the battles against those who opposed Jesus’ work. They literally had nothing to fear any longer. We can see the evidence of their newfound boldness in the events that took place during the celebration of Pentecost at the temple in Jerusalem about ten days after Jesus returned to Heaven. Pentecost (which is also known as Shavuot) is a major Jewish festival. In the first century AD, people traveled from foreign lands to celebrate it at the Jerusalem temple, the center of Jewish worship. Jesus’ followers were also in Jerusalem at the time. About 120 of them had continued to meet since Jesus’ departure. According to Acts 2:1–4, a roaring wind suddenly swept through their meeting place. Small flames appeared and rested on each of them. The Holy Spirit filled them, and they began to speak in languages they didn’t know. A large crowd rushed in to investigate the commotion. Foreign visitors to the city were stunned to hear stories about the wonderful things God had done being spoken in their native languages by uneducated Galileans. Peter seized the moment. The disciple who, just a short time earlier, had been too scared even to identify himself with Jesus, boldly stepped forward and explained that the people were witnessing the fulfillment of a prophecy God had made hundreds of years earlier, as recorded in Joel 2:28–32. God had promised to pour out His Spirit on all people, and now the Spirit had arrived. Peter then launched into an impromptu sermon. He reminded people of the miracles Jesus had performed. He pointed to those miracles, as well as to Jesus’ death and resurrection, to show them that Jesus had carried out God’s plan of salvation. Peter quoted the prophetic words King David wrote about Jesus hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth. And then he identified Jesus as the long-promised Lord and Messiah. Peter urged the people to repent and be baptized so that they, too, would be filled with the Holy Spirit. His words had a powerful impact. Acts 2:42 says that about three thousand people believed in Jesus that day. With one bold push, Peter and the others started the snowball rolling downhill. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they established the church and began to fulfill the Great Commission—to make disciples of all nations. The world would never be the same. The same Holy Spirit who gave wisdom, strength, and boldness to Peter and the others fills everyone who believes in Jesus today. His power is always available to us. He equips us to step out of our comfort zone, to reach across the invisible lines that separate us from others, and to boldly share the Good News of Jesus. Reflection question: What specifically can the Holy Spirit equip you to do? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Father Charles Murr joins Terry Gospel - John 4:43-54 - At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place. When He came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed Him, since they had seen all He had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast. Then He returned to Cana in Galilee, where He had made the water wine. Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to Him and asked Him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. While the man was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, “The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.” The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole household came to believe. Now this was the second sign Jesus did when He came to Galilee from Judea. Bishop Sheen quote of the day