Podcasts about Galilee

Read OnlineIn the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” Luke 1:26–29The phrase “full of grace” is a translation of the Greek word kecharitomene. It can be translated more literally as “having been graced” or “you who have been fully graced.” The tense of the word indicates that Mary has been graced by God in a unique and ongoing way, implying that this grace was not a one-time event but something encompassing her entire being and continuing to have effect.What was the Blessed Virgin Mary's response to this amazing greeting? She pondered the archangel's greeting with humility and initially responded with silence and in awe. Gabriel, aware of Mary's humility in her silence, says, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God…” Gabriel then goes on to tell her she will conceive the Son of God within her womb.Given her immaculate nature and the fullness of grace within her soul, Mary immediately obeyed the archangel's command and did not give into fear. Yet her “greatly troubled” heart led her to ongoing pondering and contemplation of all that was said to her.As we draw closer to the Solemnity of Christmas, we are invited to share in the Blessed Mother's contemplation of the mystery of the Incarnation. We can be certain that as Gabriel departed from her, her prayerful pondering did not cease. The ongoing fullness of grace within her soul led her to the deepest contemplation of this divine mystery that was humanly possible. Her mind would have penetrated the words spoken to her and perceived the mystery of the Incarnation taking place within her womb in ways that even she could not explain. With the fullness of grace came the fullness of infused knowledge, which is beyond human articulation.In our lives, we often fail to humbly ponder the profound reality of the Incarnation. We must have a “troubled heart” in the sense of remaining in awe of what God has done for us by taking on our human nature. We must allow Mary's pondering to become our own so that we enter more deeply into the great mystery we celebrate.As we prepare for the celebration of Christmas, reflect upon Mary's pondering mind and heart. Though we will never engage in her depth of contemplative prayer, she is our model. We must accept every divine mystery revealed to us with faith and then grapple with each mystery on a deeper level that can only be accomplished by contemplative prayer. Those who attain this depth of prayer are drawn exceptionally close to God Who uses them to continue the effect of the Incarnation by spiritually giving birth to Christ in their lives. Immaculate Mother of God, you were called “full of grace” by the Archangel Gabriel. You humbly listened to all that was spoken to you and accepted it with faith, surrender, and humility. Please pray for me, that I will imitate your pondering Immaculate Heart so that I will be better prepared for the great Solemnity of Christmas Day. Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Fra Angelico, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!’” (Luke 1:26–28 NLT) It’s difficult for us to understand, two thousand years after the events of Luke 1, the significance of the angel Gabriel’s appearance to Mary in Nazareth. After all, the Lord could have found the future mother of the Messiah in Rome, the capital of the greatest power on earth at the time. He could have found her in Athens, the cultural center of the world. He could have found her in Jerusalem, the spiritual center of the world. But God chose Nazareth, an obscure city that was notorious for its sin. Years later, when Jesus’ future disciple Nathaniel heard that Jesus was from there, he said, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46 NLT). If Nathaniel had been present during the events recorded in Judges 6, he might have asked, “Can anything good come from the least important member of the least important clan of the tribe of Manasseh?” And he would have been stunned at what God accomplished through Gideon. If Nathaniel had been present when Samuel was anointing the king of Israel, he might have asked, “Can anything good come from the eighth son of Jesse, a shepherd who writes and sings psalms?” And he would have been stunned by what God accomplished through David. If it seems to us that God chooses unlikely people—or people from unlikely places—to accomplish His work on earth, it’s only because we have such a limited perspective on people’s potential. In 1 Samuel 16:7, God said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (NIV). God obviously saw something extraordinary in Mary’s heart. What’s amazing about Mary is that she lived a godly life in a godless place—and that she did so as a very young teenager. Many Bible scholars believe she may have been as young as twelve, but not much older than fourteen, when God chose her. Here she was, a nobody living in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere—precisely the kind of person that God goes out of His way to call. He chose an unknown girl in a relatively unknown city to bring about the most well-known event in human history, an event so significant that we divide human time by it. Maybe you’re trying to live out your faith in a godless place today, maybe at work or school or among unbelieving family members. You’re wondering if it can be done. It can. Mary stands as an example for us, proving that it is possible to live a godly life in an ungodly world. Reflection question: What challenges do you face in trying to live a godly life in an ungodly world? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      NOW LETS LOOK A LITTLE FURTHER INTO THE TEXT IN LUKE 1 26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 Then the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a shining cloud]; and so the holy (pure, sinless) Thing (Offspring) which shall be born of you will be called the Son of God. 36 And listen! Your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is now the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment. 38 Then Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said. And the angel left her.     The Whole Christmas story is filled with fear… and Wonder… but fear none the less Angel to Zach “Don't be afraid” Angel to Joseph “Don't be afraid” Angel to Mary “Don't be afraid” Angel to Shepherds “Don't be afraid”   It seems to me that sometimes when God is at his finest work we might be a little afraid when we do not understand how or why!  A PLAN OF EPIC PROPORTIONS… and yet people are still afraid. Wether they know him or not, trust him or not - there was fear they had to overcome.  Zach did not believe Mary did believe - but both came with fear   Both Zach and Mary had doubt… but Zach got zapped… why not Mary? I have an idea… v. LK.1:38 Behold I am a servant of God… Zachariah was a priest… head knowledge, but not much heart knowledge. Mary not much head knowledge, but great heart knowledge.    *Mary did not ask in doubt, but rather with the intent of … ok, so go on, what further instruction do I need to know.  Zach said let me tell you why this won't happen. Mary said… how will this happen? 

26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,In mense autem sexto, missus est angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilaeae, cui nomen Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.ad virginem desponsatam viro, cui nomen erat Joseph, de domo David : et nomen virginis Maria. 28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.Et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit : Ave gratia plena : Dominus tecum : benedicta tu in mulieribus. 29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.Quae cum audisset, turbata est in sermone ejus, et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio. 30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.Et ait angelus ei : Ne timeas, Maria : invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum. 31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.Ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum : 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.hic erit magnus, et Filius Altissimi vocabitur, et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus : et regnabit in domo Jacob in aeternum, 33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end.et regni ejus non erit finis. 34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?Dixit autem Maria ad angelum : Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco? 35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.Et respondens angelus dixit ei : Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi. Ideoque et quod nascetur ex te sanctum, vocabitur Filius Dei. 36 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:Et ecce Elisabeth cognata tua, et ipsa concepit filium in senectute sua : et hic mensis sextus est illi, quae vocatur sterilis : 37 Because no word shall be impossible with God.quia non erit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum. 38 And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.Dixit autem Maria : Ecce ancilla Domini : fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Et discessit ab illa angelus.

Do you know the three great prophecies of Isaiah about the coming of the Christ child? Dr. Sri explains the three profound Messianic prophecies of Isaiah—chapters 7, 9, and 11—and their fulfillment in the Child Jesus. From Emmanuel, God with us, to the light shining in Galilee, and the branch from the stump of Jesse, these prophecies reveal God's incredible fidelity to His covenant and offer us great hope for our lives. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.

“When they say to you, ‘Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers'… should not a people inquire of their God?” In the dark days of Ahaz, Judah turns to superstition and political schemes instead of trusting the Lord. The result is gloom, fear, and thick darkness. Yet into that same darkness Isaiah speaks a breathtaking promise: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” In part 7 of our special 12-part series connecting Old Testament prophecy to New Testament fulfillment, we follow the movement from judgment to hope; from stumbling over the stone of offense to the dawning of a great light in Galilee of the nations. The promised Child, the Son who is given, will be God himself.  The Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Isaiah 8:19–9:7.  To learn more about Trinity in Edwardsville, visit trinitylutheranministries.org. This Advent series begins by covering the last Old Testament prophet, Malachi, and then spends twelve episodes alternating between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment, tracing God's promises from Isaiah to the birth of Christ. The series explores Emmanuel's promise, the Davidic King, John the Baptist as forerunner, and reaches its climax with the Nativity. The final episodes examine the Suffering Servant, the shadow of the cross in Christ's infancy, Isaiah's Messianic mission statement, and John's declaration that "the Word became flesh."  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ TODAY'S DAILY SPONSOR: Sponsoring in honor of my father, John, who beat cancer through faith, endurance and love. You can sponsor a daily episode of the Morning Mindset too, by going to https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/DailySponsor ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:1–5 - In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. [2] This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. [3] And all went to be registered, each to his own town. [4] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, [5] to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

Today’s Topics: Joshua Charles joins Terry for Friday with the Fathers 1) Gospel – Luke 1:26-38 – The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David His father, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the Child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Terry and Joshua discuss miracle stories of Early Father of the Church,  Saint Augustine

Dave Myers discusses Mark 1:9—“And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in the Jordan” (ASV).

This sermon explores Isaiah 9:6's prophecy of the Messiah by examining the historical context of 8th century BC Israel, when both northern and southern kingdoms had fallen into political corruption, moral debauchery, and spiritual darkness. Pastor Joe Fant demonstrates how God, through the prophet Isaiah, promised a coming child who would be the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. This prophecy was fulfilled 700 years later when Jesus began His ministry in Galilee—the very region Isaiah identified. The sermon emphasizes that while human governments and political alliances fail, Jesus established an eternal kingdom of justice and righteousness. God pursues His people even in their darkest moments, and the baby in the manger represents God's zealous love for His people, offering hope, victory over sin and death, and eternal joy to those who turn to Him in faith. Key Points: The historical context reveals three types of darkness in Isaiah's time: political (corrupt kings seeking pagan alliances), moral (idol worship and child sacrifice), and spiritual (turning to demons and necromancers instead of God) King Ahaz in the south and King Pekah in the north both rejected God and led the people into wickedness, seeking protection from Assyria through political alliances rather than trusting God Isaiah prophesied that the regions first devastated by darkness (Zebulun and Naphtali in Galilee) would be the first to see the great light Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by beginning His ministry in Galilee, bringing the light of the gospel to the darkest places first The victory Jesus won through His death and resurrection surpasses even Gideon's miraculous victory over 135,000 Midianites with only 300 men Jesus is the child born and son given who possesses perfect government, eternal wisdom, divine power, and brings true peace The solution to darkness is unwavering loyalty to Scripture and proper fear of the Lord, not looking to worldly solutions God pursues His people even when they are far from Him, demonstrating His zeal and love through sending prophets, His Word, and ultimately His Son Scripture Reference: Isaiah 9:1-7 (primary focus on verse 6) Isaiah 8:12-22 (context of darkness and calling to Scripture) Isaiah 1:2-4, 21-23 (description of Israel's moral corruption) 2 Kings 16 (King Ahaz's wickedness) 2 Kings 15:27-28 (King Pekah's evil reign) Matthew 4:12-17 (Jesus beginning ministry in Galilee, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy) John 1:1-14 (Jesus as the Light of the world) 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (victory over death through Christ)

The message of Christmas is: I may mess things up, but I'm in them!  “In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don't be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.” Mary responded, “I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.” Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and environmental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. Following the IDF strike that killed top Hamas commander Raad Saad in Gaza City, Berman reviews the obstacles for Israel and Hamas in moving toward the second phase of the broader ceasefire. He discusses how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump will need to find a way to agree on the thorny and fundamental issue of how to get Hamas to disarm. As the IDF postponed a planned airstrike on Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon, Berman reports on the ongoing issue of needing Hezbollah to disarm, the Lebanese Army's efforts to work to accomplish that, and Israel's dissatisfaction with Lebanon's progress. After the Water Authority began channeling desalinated water to the Sea of Galilee, the first ever attempt anywhere in the world to top up a freshwater lake with processed seawater, Surkes reports on hopes that it will raise the level of the sea by half a centimeter a year. Surkes also discusses the new facility for the National Sea Turtle Rescue Center, featuring the world’s only sea turtle breeding program, helping protect and preserve these creatures that have existed on the planet for 330 million years. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US State Department said to ask 70 countries to contribute to Gaza stabilization force Report: Israel agrees to US demand to pay for massive Gaza rubble-clearing operation Beirut has been warned of possible Israeli offensive against Hezbollah — Lebanese FM Scientists tracking impact as desalinated water flows into Sea of Galilee for first time Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: Palestinians inspect a car belonging to Hamas commander Raad Saad after it was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on December 13, 2025. (Fathi Ibrahim/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION “And I'm not talking about the distant future, where super intelligence leads us to traveling the galaxies and overcoming death and All that. I mean the nearer term future...in a world where we keep accelerating towards better and better and more capable AI...I think AI is uncategorically the best hope for accelerating prosperity. It will touch everything.” ~Guillaume Verdon, better known for his X handle “Beff Jezos”, as heard on episode 8“The Accelerationists” of the podcast The Last Invention, hosted by Gregory Warner. “Turning and turning in the widening gyreThe falcon cannot hear the falconer;Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world… The best lack all conviction, while the worstAre full of passionate intensity…A vast image …Troubles my sight:Somewhere in sands of the desertA shape with lion body and the head of a man,A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,Is moving its slow thighs, while all about itReel shadows of the indignant desert birds.The darkness drops again; but now I knowThat twenty centuries of stony sleepWere vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?”~Written about the bleakness of the future by William Butler Yeats in 1919 in the aftermath of WWI, the height of the global flu pandemic of 1918-19 which nearly killed his pregnant wife, the wake of the Easter uprising in Ireland against the British crown, and the beginning (in his view) of the collapse of the civilization Europe had spent the last 1600 years building.SERMON PASSAGE selected passages (NIV)Exodus 16 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.” Deuteronomy 8 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Micah 5 2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Luke 2 1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.  John 6 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty…” 51 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”…58 “This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Luke 1:26-38 ESV Birth of Jesus Foretold26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. For more information about Redeemer Church Lubbock visit our website at redeemerlubbock.org.

Audio Recording Scripture TextsSpeaker: Rev. Scott StrickmanSermon Series: Lessons & CarolsLuke 1:26-38 (ESV)26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.Matthew 1:18-23 (ESV)18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”(which means, God with us).

Luke 1:26-38 English Standard VersionBirth of Jesus Foretold26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.English Standard Version (ESV)The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.ESV Text Edition: 2025. 

John 12:20-36,Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”When Faye delivered our first child, I wasn't ready. I mean no one's ever really ready, right, but I really wasn't ready. After our son was born, Faye was wiped out and fell asleep. The nurse came in to give us the “bad news” that there weren't any postpartum rooms available. I say “bad news” because our delivery room was big and beautiful and comfortable, and the postpartum rooms at this hospital were fine but tiny. She wasn't really giving us bad news. She was just being courteous and notifying us about the change. But the only place I had ever heard the word “postpartum” was with postpartum depression (again, I wasn't ready). So I looked over at my sleeping wife and then said to the nurse, “Oh, you know she seems pretty happy right now, I don't think she'll need a postpartum room.” The nurse stared at me blankly for a second, and then said, “Okaaay, that's great. . . .” In my mind, a woman had her baby and got to hold her baby, the baby she has carried and waited for all these months, and then immediately fell into some horrible depression. And so they must have these brightly colored rooms, with comfy pillows and happy music, to cheer her up — a postpartum room. The hour came, and I wasn't ready. I believe that's something like what's happening in these verses. Jesus's hour has been months in coming, years in coming, really centuries in coming — and yet when the hour finally comes, even his closest friends aren't ready. The hour has come in the Gospel of John, the eleven-chapter pregnancy is ending, and the people are ready for a king to be born, but they don't know what it really means for him to be king. They don't know what kind of king he is.And my prayer has been that God would make us more ready than they were, more ready than I was in that delivery room a little more than nine years ago. The Hour Has ComeOkay, John 12:20–36, this is a big moment in the Gospel of John. This is the hour. John wants us to know that something has changed in the story, and I know that because he's been telling us that this moment would come. Back in chapter 2, during the wedding in Cana, when Mary tells Jesus that they had run out of wine, Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4).Then in chapter 4, with the woman at the well, Jesus says, “The hour is coming . . . when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth . . .” (John 4:23).Then in chapter 7, during the confrontation at the Feast of Booths, Jesus claims to be sent by the Father, and “so they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come” (John 7:30).John's telling us: an hour is coming, an hour is coming, an hour is coming, and then here in John 12, Jesus says . . . now. “The hour has come.” Verse 23:“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. . . .”The time has come. And we should ask — he wants us to ask — the time for what? What hour is this? I believe that's what our passage is all about this morning. Jesus is going to tell us what time it is, and he's going to prepare us for that hour. He unpacks the hour for us in four ways (and those are my four points).1. An Hour for GlorySo what is the hour? What time is it? The clearest answer is in the same sentence, John 12:23,“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. . . .”So, point one, this is an hour for glory. Now, as Pastor David showed us last week, the people expected the Messiah to come in glory — to finally defeat all their enemies and take his throne as king. And they weren't totally wrong! The humble, unattractive man they saw ride in on the donkey is glorious. All along the way, we've seen glimpses of his glory, like when he turned the water into wine. “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee,” John says, “and manifested his glory” (John 2:11). Or when he healed the paralytic, or fed the five thousand, or gave the blind man new eyes. This Son has been glorious all along and yet the hour has now come, the verse says, for him to be glorified. What does that mean? It means that the glory we have only seen in bursts and glimpses — bursts and glimpses like calming a terrible storm or raising the dead — the glory that the Son has had from eternity past, that glory will now break forth in full dawn before our eyes. The Son of God came in the flesh, in a manger, in the small, obscure town of Bethlehem, and then he lived in darkness, he took on and bore our darkness, and now he's going to rise above the darkness and reveal who he really is. We're about to see the sunrise in the Gospel of John. Jesus is going to pull the veil back from all of his unlimited power, wisdom, and worth. This is the hour. We've gotten these tastes in the story — glorious tastes — but only just tastes, and now Jesus has announced the full meal has finally arrived. And the people were so hungry. They had waited for so long. Their parents had prayed for a king, and their grandparents, and their parents before them. And now they're under the heavy hand of Roman rule, with vicious soldiers and cruel taxes and public executions for those who resist. And into all of that darkness, Jesus says, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. . . .” It's time for the king to be king. We've seen these rays of light in his miracles, but now the sun's going to rise in full strength. Morning's coming. This is his hour.The Son and the FatherOne of the reasons we know something has changed in the Gospel of John is that Jesus is suddenly talking about his own glory. Up until now he's been focused on the glory of the Father. “I do not seek my own glory,” John 8:30, “there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.” Or 7:18: “The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true.” But now, the hour comes for the Son to be glorified. Even here, though, in the hour of the Son's glory, look how Jesus prays: “Father, glorify your name.” Verse 27:“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.”My hour's coming and I know what I have to do. Should I pray and ask the Father to spare me from the thorns, the nails, the wrath? No, this is why I came. I came for the glory of my Father. And so he prays, “Father, even in my hour of glory, glorify your name.” And how does the Father respond? He glorifies the Son, next verse:Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The Father's actually speaking to two audiences here. First, to Jesus: “I have already glorified my name in you these last thirty years (and in all the endless years before that), and now I will glorify my name in you again in this hour.”But there's a second audience here. We know that if we keep reading, verse 29, “The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.' 30 Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not mine.'”The message was for him (only he understood the actual words), but the thunder was for them. This was the Father's way at the end of Jesus's earthly life to say what the Father said at the beginning of his ministry, at his baptism: This thunder booms the chorus, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 17:5).2. An Hour for AgonySo, the hour is an hour for glory, but that glory doesn't come like the people expected. No, this hour is an hour for glory, but, second, this hour is also an hour of agony. We've already heard this, verse 27: “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour'?”Now you and I already know why Jesus would want to be saved from his hour of glory (and he's tried to tell his disciples what's about to happen), but you can still imagine their confusion. Wait, it's finally time for you to receive your glory as king, and you want the Father to rescue you from that glory? Shouldn't you want your hour of glory? Why is your soul so troubled now?Because he knows that his glory comes through terrible agony. Verse 31,“‘Now is the judgment of this world, now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.' 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.”So not just agony, but death. For the king to enter his glory, he had to die. This hour is a dying hour. He wants them to get this, and so he holds up something he knows they'll understand, verse 24: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”They're ready for the grain of wheat — the seed — to finally bear some fruit. They want the harvest! They're starving for a king and all the good he's going to do for them. And yet he reminds them that for a seed to bear fruit, it has to die first. The plant doesn't die, but everything that makes a seed a seed breaks down and falls away — it dies, it gives everything — so that new life might spring up out of its death. And if that little seed dies, it produces 30, 60, 100, sometimes 300 new grains in its place. That's a miracle. And that's what's happening in this hour.But how could the promised king die? He can't die, right? The crowd is confused, and for good reason, verse 34:“We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up?”The Christ was supposed to be different. So many kings have disappointed us and died. The Messiah was supposed to never leave. What they couldn't see yet is that this Messiah reveals his power and glory by dying to save sinners. We needed the cross to see what kind of king he is. That's why this can be an hour of both glory and agony — not just agony and then glory. Because the Good Shepherd dying for his sheep sets him apart from every god the world has ever known. Why is this an hour of agony? God made the universe — wheat and seeds, trees for beams, metal for nails, thorns for crowns — and he wrote out history to highlight the glory of his grace. This is what Ephesians 1 says, that in this Christ, in Jesus, God sets forth “a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and on earth.” And in that plan, he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, so that in him we might have redemption through his blood — through his dying — “to the praise of his glorious grace.” Not just to the praise of his glory (of his power and wisdom and holiness), but to the praise of his glorious grace. And the glorious grace he showed us cost him terrible agony. Even death on a cross.His hour of glory is an hour of agony because his glory is to rescue sinners like you, like me — to the praise of his glorious grace. 3. An Hour for VictoryThis brings us to the third point. This is an hour of terrible agony, but don't mistake his agony, his death for defeat. Don't mistake glory for easy — no, this is going to be excruciatingly hard. He's going to have to die. But don't mistake his dying for losing, either. This is an hour for great agony, but it is also, third, an hour for victory. And this really is how an hour of agony can be an hour of glory. Because it's by extraordinary agony that he achieves his victory. Hear verses 31–32 again: “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”I see great victory in these two verses, two great victories actually.First, this is the hour of victory over Satan.“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. . . .”Now why did Jesus call Satan “the ruler of this world”? Does that mean Satan is the ruler of this world and God is not? Absolutely not. No, God is the capital-R ruler of this world and every other one. Every ounce of influence Satan has for now, has been granted by God for the glory of God. No, God's working all things and uniting all things, even evil, to the praise of his glorious grace. And one reason he's allowed evil up until this hour, is so that evil could be crushed in this hour.“The ruler of this world is about to be cast out.”But at the cross, doesn't it seem like Satan won? His enemies thought they won. Surely Satan thought he'd won. He never would have done what he did if he'd known what was about to happen. He killed the incarnate Son of God. He killed the Messiah who was supposed to remain forever. And in that moment, in that hour, Satan lost everything. To be clear, he was never in control here, and he was never winning. Jesus told us, just two chapters before, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:18). And when he laid it down, he had already won. “Through death,” Hebrews 2:14–15, Jesus destroyed “the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and [delivered] all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” Does it look like Satan has the upper hand in your life? Are you going through something right now that makes it seem like the ruler of this world is in control of your body . . . or of some painful relationship in your family . . . or of some difficult situation at work? He's not! For a brief time, he's been given a measure of influence in this world and in your life, but he is on a leash. Your Father in heaven rules over the ruler of this world, and so, like the cross . . . your hour of agony can become your hour of greatest spiritual victory. . . .It's so much easier to see this in other people's suffering, right? This hard hour in your life really might be the moment when Jesus's glory and reign will be most obvious through you. That sure sounds like victory over Satan to me.There's a second victory here, though. This hour of agony is also an hour of great victory over unbelief. Where do I see that?“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”When I'm lifted up on the cross and killed and abandoned by everyone, then, at that lowest of all moments, I will draw all people to myself. I'll win all my sheep back from sin, death, and shame. I'll make my awful grave my conquering throne.And that's exactly what's happening in these verses! Did you notice in the first verse, verse 20?“Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.”When he says he'll draw “all people” to himself, he doesn't mean every person (we see this clearly because lots and lots of people, then and now, reject him and run away). No, he means all kinds of people from everywhere — Jewish people and non-Jewish people. When this king comes, he's not just winning people from Israel, but from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. And what does this victory sound like in the moment? It sounds like verse 21, when the Greeks say to Philip,“Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”That's the sound of victory. These people were dead in their trespasses and sins, following the course of this world, trusting the evil ruler of this world, living out the passions of their flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath. But God, “being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved them, even when they were dead in their trespasses, made them alive.” And when mercy did that to them, their desires changed and they said,“Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”Is there any better anthem for Advent? “We wish to see Jesus.” And that brings us to our last point, the fourth way Jesus unpacks this hour.4. An Hour for You This is an hour for glory, for agony, for great victory — this is Jesus's hour. But this isn't only his hour. Fourth, and lastly, this hour is an hour for you.When he's lifted up, he says, he will draw all people to himself — but not all people. Again, they ask him how the Christ could die if he's supposed to remain forever. Now, verse 35:So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” Jesus was ready for his hour. The question is are you ready for this hour? Some of you are walking in darkness this morning, and I don't want the darkness to overtake you. While you have the light — he's still inviting you to come! — while you have the light, believe in the light and walk in the light, that you may become forgiven and loved children of light.Now, Jesus warns us that walking in the light will bring some agony. Notice that he doesn't say here, “I'm going to die so that you don't have to.” It's true that those who believe will never face divine judgment for our sins. We'll never experience condemnation. But that doesn't mean we won't have to suffer, verse 25:“Whoever loves his life loses it [he's not talking about himself anymore] and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”In other words, if you want to live with me, you're going to have to die with me. You're going to have to pick up a cross to follow me. He bore our greater agony, the judgment we deserved, but he doesn't spare us from all agony in this life. Through that agony, though, we also receive his victory and glory. Next verse:“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”Do you hear that? The Father doesn't only glorify his Son. No, the hour is coming when the Father is going to honor you. For now, we pray like Jesus, in our hours of darkness and heartache, “Father, glorify your name.” And here in these verses, you can almost hear the thunder — the thunder of him responding, “I have glorified my name in you thus far — and I will glorify it again.”Following Jesus will come with some agony. But it will also come with great glory, your glory. The Father will honor you — if you believe in the light and walk in the light. You can't have his victory while you walk in darkness. The one who walks in darkness doesn't know where he's going. Some of you don't know where you're going right now. And the hour's come. Don't let the darkness overtake you. Walk while you have the light.

Audio Recording Scripture TextsSpeaker: Rev. Scott StrickmanSermon Series: Lessons & CarolsLuke 1:26-38 (ESV)26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.Matthew 1:18-23 (ESV)18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”(which means, God with us).

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --The prophetic fulfillment in the conception and birth of Jesus testify to the miracle of God's power!But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf. Micah 5:2 NLTAt that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. Luke 2:1-7 NLTGod's has the power to do both the improbable and impossible according to His will and purpose. To presume we know how God should act is to mistrust His sovereign wisdom and love. Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 NLTI pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else, not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. Ephesians 1:19-22 NLTTo believe God can't or doesn't do miracles today is to completely miss on the impact of His power and compassion! I dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. Lamentations 3:21- 25 NLTOur hope is forever in the compassion and power of our ever-present, all-knowing, miracle working Messiah!-POEM-Our merciful messiah came in a mangerWith hidden strength soon to be shown. Immanuel here to save and to heal,His power and presence, He came to make known. The God who created the stars and the heavensCreated my inner most being too. A universe so large it's hard to conceiveWith tiny electrons for creations glue.God's power is boundless, beyond descriptionHis love is vast, and yet intimately near. Awe and honor are owed to our SaviorStill He calls us to come, no reason to fear.This world is caught in a cosmic conflictThe fight is for every heart and soulThe prince of darkness, the architect of brokenKill, steal, and destroy his only goal. Our fallen world in the pangs of deathIncludes various hellish hurts and painMany are we in need of a miracle Exactly the reason Immanuel came. The babe born at Christmas is here to heal Discontentment, addiction, broken bodies and heartsHis sovereign discernment guides His compassionHis Grace and mercy never miss the mark. -------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

I greet you in Jesus precious name. It is Sunday morning, the 14th of December, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go straight to the Gospel of Mark 8:36:”For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? “ Where are we putting all our effort? What are we doing in this life? What are we trying to build up? What legacy are we leaving for our families? I looked up the dictionary to find out the literal meaning of the word “legacy.” It means “an amount of money or property left to someone in a will.” Casting Crowns is a very, very popular Christian band, and they have made many hit songs. They are one of my favourite groups and there is one song that they sing, it is called, “Only Jesus - take everything else I have just leave me Jesus.” There's a little video goes with that song and I watched it and the lead singer, Mark Hall, is driving an old pick-up to the rubbish dump, to the pit, and he stops in the middle of the pit and of course his whole band is playing in the background. He opens the back of the jeep and brings out a box full of trophies that have been won in sporting and different disciplines in life, and he throws them into the rubbish bin. “Take the world but give me Jesus!” I want to say to you today that we need to have a good look at what our priorities are in life.I met a gentleman a while back, a very good friend of mine, he's a very senior gentleman at the moment, and we were sitting talking. I was just encouraging him on the great job that he has done with his family, with his children. They are all serving the Lord - but he got a bit tearful and he said to me, ”But I haven't left anything for them in terms of a legacy. I haven't left them any money, any possessions because I don't have any.” And I said to him, ”You have left them the best thing you could have ever left them. You have left them Jesus Christ. They know Him as their Lord and Saviour, and they are serving Him.”There are many others who leave vast fortunes to their children but their children have never met the Man from Galilee. Today, let's throw all this worldly stuff aside and let us concentrate on leaving a legacy for our families that will last forever.Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day.Goodbye.

“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:8-11 NASB “And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:16-21 NASB These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 15:11 NASB How Do We Pursue And Experience Joy In A Broken World? Repent and believe Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14,15 NASB Practice gratitude Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 NIV Pray about everything Discipline your mind Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV

Galatians 4:4-6 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! Luke 2:21-39 21And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Jesus Presented at the Temple 22And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord) 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29Lord, now you are letting your servant[a] depart in peace,according to your word;30for my eyes have seen your salvation31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,and for glory to your people Israel. 33And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. 36And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[b] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. The Return to Nazareth 39And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

Matthew 4:19 This message takes us to the shores of Galilee, where Jesus interrupts the ordinary lives of fishermen with an extraordinary invitation. Through the lens of Matthew 4:18-20, we explore three powerful verbs that define our relationship with Christ: follow, make, and fish.

These days, having a child out of wedlock is pretty much a valid lifestyle choice in many cultures. I'm not saying that it's right, just that that's how it's perceived. But back in Jesus' day … man it was a huge scandal. Seriously.   A MISCONCEPTION Well, here we are hurtling towards Christmas. You know, it's interesting when you look at the candy cane – you know that simple little cane with the white and then the three small stripes and then the big stripe – and we think of it as a candy cane, but the confectioner who first created it, didn't create it as a candy cane. He created it as a "J" for Jesus and the white was there to symbolise the holiness of God and the three small stripes were there to symbolise the stripes on His back when He was beaten and the one thick stripe, the red stripe was there to symbolise the blood of Jesus. Isn't it funny how we take symbols to do with Christmas and a whole bunch of other things and we change their meaning – we re-interpret them – and I think it's really true of this thing that we call Christmas. You know, as I look at my four years studying at Bible College, the most profound thing that I learned was this – that theologians, and I can class myself as one of those – we love to take the stories of God in the Bible and snip them up and put them in little piles which we call doctrines. You know, the doctrine of the Trinity; the doctrine of original sin; the doctrine of the incarnation and so we think, "WOW, you know, I've sorted out God; I've got Him is little piles; I have a systematic theology and now I understand God." Well, in a sense that's good, because it's good to know what we believe and why we believe it and look at the whole council of God in His Word. But you know something, if that's all we do, I think maybe, we missed the point because God's chosen way of revealing Himself to us is mostly through stories. Stories throughout history of His engagement with His chosen people, Israel, and then in the New Testament, stories of His new promise; stories of His grace as the church grew out of a revelation of God through Jesus Christ. God speaks to us through His story in history and to me that's the most profound insight that I got after four years of Bible College. And no where is that more true than in Jesus. John in his Gospel calls Jesus the Word, "In the beginning was the Word." Jesus is God talking to us saying, "This is what I'm like." Jesus is a message in a bottle. And Jesus is unique – He is the only person in history, as the Son of God, who could have chosen the place, the time and the circumstances of His birth. Let's just think about that for a minute. It's true isn't it? If Jesus is who He says He is – the Son of God – He is the only person in history that could have chosen the circumstances of His birth. Well, if that's true; if it was a deliberate choice, what is God saying to us about Himself through the manner in which Jesus came into the world, through this story that we now call Christmas. See, it's not some neat doctrine; it's not some neat theology of the incarnation. We learn about Christmas through the stories in Matthew and Mark and Luke and John and I guess, in a sense, many of us know them backwards. But Matthew begins, after the great, long genealogy that we looked at the other week – Matthew now begins with this story – if you've got a Bible, grab it, open it – we are going to Matthew, chapter 1, beginning at verse 18. It says this: "Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way." So in other words, here's the story. "When His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he decided to do that, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife for the child conceived in her is from God the Holy Spirit. She will bear you a son and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "look the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and they shall name Him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us". When Joseph awoke from the sleep he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. He took her as his wife but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a Son and he named Him Jesus." So here's Mary, pregnant from the Holy Spirit. How? Well, Luke tells us the angel appeared to her and said, "Fear not!" Have you ever seen a Christmas card with "Fear not!" plastered across the front? Not really! So how to you think Mary felt? She gets spoken to by an angel; she gets told not to be afraid, "you're going to be pregnant because God the Holy Spirit is going to make you pregnant." Now how do you think it went when Mary told Joseph? Here's this single teenage girl from this place called Nazareth; Nowheresville and she wanders in with her belly swollen and she says to her fiancee, "Well, Joe, it's like this – I didn't sleep with anyone – God did this!" WOW! Would you believe her? Joseph didn't – he planned to dismiss her quietly because this was a society where getting pregnant out of wedlock was a disgraceful thing. I mean, the Hebrew law commanded the women who were caught in adultery be stoned to death so the social context was that it wasn't a life style choice; it was something that you stoned someone to death for. But Joseph has a dream. Remember he doesn't have a New Testament; he doesn't know how it's going to turn out. He has this subjective thing called a dream and even if it were true, what incredible pain. How many times would Mary have gone over the angel's words? How many times do you think Joseph would be second guessing his dream? How breathtakingly reckless was God to allow the whole future of humanity to hang on the responses of these two poorly educated, hapless, rural teenagers? I mean, we know Him as Lord, the Christ, the Son of God but His parents and family friends; Mary's little illegitimate baby; the bastard; the stigma. Yet that's what Jesus chose for Himself. That's why I've called this message, "The Illegitimate God". You and I, we read this story of Christmas with a sense of wander and awe and we know how it ended. Then, back then and there? Well, for them it was a scandal; it was a fantasy; it was, "Is God really doing this?"   SOME VISITORS So here we are looking at this story of Christmas – firstly, the way that this baby was conceived – the sense of scandal that would have followed Him around when He was a little child – but then He was born into this brutal, political climate. Let's read on the story; this space and time and situation that God chose for His Son to be born into. We are going to pick it up in Matthew, chapter 2, beginning at verse 1: In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem asking, "Where is this child that has been born the King of the Jews, because we observed His star at it's rising and we have come to pay homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened and all Jerusalem with him. And calling together all the chief priests and the scribes and the people, he enquired of them, 'where the Messiah was to be born?' And they told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet, "And you Bethlehem in the land of Judea, are by no means the least amongst the rulers of Judea, for from you shall come a ruler who is to be the Shepherd of His people, Israel." And the story goes on that Herod secretly called for the wise men and he told them, "Go and find this Jesus and come and tell me", because he wanted to kill Jesus. We look at the politics of Palestine and Israel today – the mess – there seems to be no solution – they just keep shooting each other and blowing each other up. Back then it wasn't much different! You had a brutal Roman empire and the Roman Emperor ruled over a whole bunch of countries including this little country called Israel. And under him you had a despot; an Herodian King. And then this Herodian dynasty – we know about Herod – they were sort of half breeds and they were illegitimate and they were in cahoots with the Romans – together they oppressed the people. The religious leaders were part of all that and there was this sense of hopelessness amongst the people. It was every bit as messy then as it is today. And into this malaise is born Jesus, the Son of God and then these wise men – these Magi (a Magi was an astrologer; a sooth sayer). All of this was forbidden in the Old Testament – people who worshipped the stars were to be stoned to death. And they came from where? From the East; from Babylon – eighty kilometres south of what today is Baghdad. And remember, Babylon was a place of horror and evil for first century Israelites because that's where in 587 and 586 BC they were exiled into slavery. So God invites the Magi; these astrologers from hell to come to the birth of His Son and to worship Him. If you and I were God would we have invited them? I don't think so. And yet God doesn't just invite them but how does He go and get them from Babylon to Bethlehem? Does He send them a prophet? Does He send them John the Baptist? Does He send them a letter? Does He send them the Scriptures? He doesn't do any of those, He sends them a star. You see, God chooses a symbol that they can understand and follow and brings them to worship this child. Babylon who once destroyed the temple and exiled the chosen people is now worshipping the true God. God may well have hated their sin but He loved them much more that He hated their sin. And then one night in a dream – if you flick over the page to Matthew, chapter 2, beginning at verse 13 – Joseph has another dream, it says this: Now after the Magi had left, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream and says: "Get up and take this child and His mother and flee to Egypt and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child and destroy Him. So Joseph got up, took the child and His mother by night and went to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord, through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I have called My Son." See, here we go again – Joseph is having another dream – this subjective thing. It's not like he sits down and he reads the New Testament; he reads the Old Testament and God speaks to him through His Word. No, God spoke to Joseph through a dream and so Joseph and Mary and Jesus all became refugees. They had no rights; they had no land; they had no possessions; they were fleeing for their lives. There are thirty two point nine million refugees in the world today. That's grown by almost fifty percent in just twelve months. Jesus, the Son of God becomes a refugee. How long? What would they live on? Where would they live? Where would they go? Would they be safe? They had to endure hardship for the first few years of His little life. Would you or I, if we were God, have put our son through this? And you read on in Matthew, chapter 2, verses 16 to 18. "When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. This massacre of the infants – have you ever seen a Christmas card about the massacre of the infants? See, we turn Christmas into this little pantomime, but the birth of Jesus into this world; the time when God stepped into this world and became man was a brutal time; it was a tough time and it was the time God chose for His Son. I mean, today we see suicide bombers in the Middle East and the shelling of targets and the shooting by snipers – imagine if you added to that the slaughter of all the children under two in and around Bethlehem – you don't see that on a Christmas card do you? What was God thinking by sending His Son into such a mess?   SO WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT GOD? And then of course, after they returned from Egypt, Jesus and His family moved to Nazareth – you can read it in Matthew, chapter 2, beginning at verse 19. When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up and take the child and His mother and go to the land of Israel for those who are seeking the child's life are now dead. So Joseph got up, took the child and His mother and he went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea, in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there and after being warned in a dream, he went to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: "He will be called a Nazarene." God allowed, indeed, constructed the circumstances so that the Son of God would grow up in the backblocks of nowhere – in Nazareth. Does anything good come out of Nazareth? And He became a carpenter; not the King; not the head of theology at Jerusalem seminary; not the chief grand whatever in the synagogue or the temple – a lowly carpenter. So what do we learn about God? If God chose the circumstances into which Jesus would be born; if He chose these two young teenagers; if He chose the stable in Bethlehem; if He chose Herod and the persecution and the flight, what does that tells us about God? If Jesus came to reveal God to us, what do we learn about God from the first Christmas? When you read through the Old Testament about God you see His sovereignty; His power; His hugeness; His transcendence. Isaiah says: To whom will you compare Me? Who is My equal," says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and see who created all these stars. See, God is great. Here at Christmas we see this greatness reduced to the size of the single fertilised egg – not even visible to the human eye. Born in the stable with the stench of cow dung and urine on the floor, hunted down, a refugee, the massacre of these infants around Him and then slinking back to Nazareth to eek out an ignominious existence as a carpenter, relying on two uneducated teenage bumpkins for safety and nurture – with always the hint of scandal – Mary's little illegitimate child. Well may God be great but hang on a minute, when you look at Christmas, my God is also small. My God is also humble. If you look at this theological doctrine of incarnation, Jesus the Son of God and the Son of Man – He's different to us yet He's the same as us. But if we really ask ourselves the question, we would mostly conclude that Jesus was fundamentally different from you and me. But like Luther, I believe that if we are even to begin to understand what God is saying in Jesus, we have to draw the conclusion that Jesus is God, deep graven into the flesh. Like the candy cane – on the one hand, white and pure and blameless and different, but with a red stripe; with the blood, suffering like us, He lived, He suffered, He cried, He struggled, like us. That's the point of Christmas; that's the point of Jesus being born into these brutal circumstances, in such humble surrounds. This is God saying, "Jesus is like us". We can have the best doctrine of the incarnation and completely miss the point. God is humble. He shows us that in a profound way at Christmas. He chose the time. He chose the circumstances. He chose the stable and the animals in it. He connects with us. That's why Jesus says later in Matthew, chapter 11, verse 28: Come to Me all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me for I am gentle and humble of heart and you will find rest in your souls." And later in John, chapter 16, verse 33: "I've said these things to you that in Me you might have peace for in this world you will have tribulations but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world." What a contradiction! God, the sovereign God who created all the universe through Jesus, all things that were created were, in fact, created. And yet He calls Himself humble; He makes Himself low at Christmas time. But then everything about Jesus is a contradiction. On the one hand He's the Lion of Judah; on the other hand He's the Lamb of God. When I look at the Christmas story – just the way it is, just plain and simple – look at the circumstances that Jesus was born into, you know what I see? I see something that rings true; I see an authenticity; I see a Jesus who comes humbly into this world and then says, "Come to Me because I'm gentle, I'm humble of heart." I see a Jesus who was prepared to be a refugee; who is prepared to be under threat of death. It's an amazing thing, Christmas and you know, if we just look at it as a pantomime; if we just sing the wonderful little songs and still look at it as children, I think we miss the point. God chose an amazing time for Jesus to be born and we look at Christmas by knowing how it all ended up. We've read the whole New Testament; we have the benefit of knowing that He died and rose again and the church grew up out of that and two thousand years on, you know, we are living the life. So we look back at Christmas through a whole bunch of history and stuff that those people, at that time, simply didn't have. Philip Yancey sums it up this way – I love what he says. This is what he writes: "He is the image of the invisible God; the first born over all creation," an apostle would later write, "He is before all things and in Him all things hold together," But the few eye witnesses on Christmas night saw none of those things. They saw an infant struggling to work never before used lungs. It's the story of a God who steps out of heaven, powerful, transcendent, able to choose anything He wants – He chooses Mary and Joseph; He chooses a stable; He chooses for His Son to become a refugee; He chooses for His Son to grow up in Nazareth as a carpenter. God speaks to us through this Christmas story. God went to extraordinary lengths to say this: "I am humble of heart. I have come to be one of you. I have come to walk in your shoes, in your skin, to experience all the things that you experience." It's the message of Christmas. A God who reaches out in the most amazing way; in the most startling way; in a way that we would never have done if we were God – and speaks to us His love and His desire to have a relationship with us. That is what Christmas is about.

The root of fear is doubt. How does God teach us to overcome doubt that leads to fear? Rabbi Schneider shares that Jesus teaches us to seize the Word of God to build our faith, overcome doubt, and build our confidence. In today's episode of Discovering the Jewish Jesus, visit the Sea of Galilee and learn the significance of that place in Jesus' ministry. Holy Land and holy places to help build your faith. **** BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER - https://djj.show/YTAPartner  **** DONATE - https://djj.show/YTADonate  **** TEACHING NOTES - https://djj.show/9cm 

As we read the Bible, it is very clear, Jesus is coming back. While many scoff and disbelieve, it doesn't change the truth of what Jesus has said. We don't know when He is coming, but we do know He is coming soon. Main Points:1. We live in a world today that scoffs at the idea of Jesus returning. Their cynicism fulfills the prophecy scripture gave concerning the end times. 2. I believe in the imminent return of Christ, meaning I believe Jesus could return at any time. Jesus could return today. He could return while you are listening to this episode. 3. Don't give up hope. Don't let go of your belief in the promise of Christ's return. He said he would come back, and he will. When is Jesus coming back? He is coming back soon.Today's Scripture Verses:Acts 1:10-11 tells the story. “They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”Revelation 22:20-21 - “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” “Amen, come, Lord Jesus.”2 Peter 3:4 - “They will say, “Where is this ‘coming' he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”Matthew 24:44 - “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

The angel Gabriel was sent from Godto a town of Galilee called Nazareth,to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,of the house of David,and the virgin's name was Mary.And coming to her, he said,“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”But she was greatly troubled at what was saidand pondered what sort of greeting this might be.Then the angel said to her,“Do not be afraid, Mary,for you have found favor with God.Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,and you shall name him Jesus.He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”But Mary said to the angel,“How can this be,since I have no relations with a man?”And the angel said to her in reply,“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.Therefore the child to be bornwill be called holy, the Son of God.And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,has also conceived a son in her old age,and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;for nothing will be impossible for God.”Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.May it be done to me according to your word.”Then the angel departed from her.

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:26-38 SHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, we invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you can access additional resources to enrich your Walk with God. Praise and Adoration. People and Angels.Angels are a key part of the Christmas story, appearing as messengers of God. When Zechariah was ministering in the Holy Place, the angel Gabriel appeared to announce the birth of a son to Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth (Luke 1:18-19). Once again, the angel Gabriel appears to deliver God's message in the town of Nazareth to a young virgin named Mary. "In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary." Luke 1:26-27 Gabriel greeted Mary with an unusual greeting. You are the favored one. The Lord is with you. Luke tells his readers that Mary was deeply troubled."And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Luke 1:30 Mary was chosen to be the mother of the promised Son. The angel told her that His name would be Jesus. He will be great, Jesus, the Son of the Most High. Mary's response to the God's messenger is an example for all of us today. "And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her." Luke 1:38 SONG: "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" - https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ez6QPDpgzXI

This year, the Kol ha-Musika Festival in the Upper Galilee will celebrate its 40th anniversary. After an absence from the evacuated Upper Galilee last year due to the war, the festival returns to Kfar Blum with a special program to mark its fourth decade and will also premier a number of fresh new works by promising young Israeli composers. Reporter Arieh O’Sullivan spoke to Ofra Yitzhaki, the artistic director of the festival. (photo: courtesy) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 2025 Gospel Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.  

Exploring the Connection Between Matthew 14 and 2 Chronicles For BibleInTen.com  By DH, 9th December 2025 Welcome back to Bible in Ten! In the last episode, we explored how every event in Matthew 14 functions as a living re-enactment of the entire history of Israel. Building on the astounding groundwork laid in the previous commentary - where CG showed how Israel's past and future are woven typologically and chronologically into Matthew's narrative - we now turn to yet another beautiful structural pattern in Scripture. Matthew's Gospel contains 28 chapters, and remarkably, it mirrors the first 28 books of the Old Testament as arranged in the Christian Bible. So in this episode, having concluded our walk through Matthew 14, we'll now look at its fascinating counterpart: Book 14 of the Old Testament, 2 Chronicles.   The Pattern: Matthew as the Echo of the Old Testament  The Gospel of Matthew has been recognised for its deep structural connection to the Old Testament, and one striking pattern is how each chapter of Matthew echoes themes found in the corresponding book from the Old Testament. Superior Scholars of the Word like Charlie Garret from the Superior Word have explained this pattern before.    Check out the episode linked in the description “the book of Matthew an introduction part 2 a” https://www.bibleinten.com/the-book-of-matthew-an-introduction-part-iia/   As book 1, Genesis introduces origins and genealogies, Matthew 1 opens with the genealogy of Christ. As book 2, Exodus recounts Israel's deliverance and early threats against God's chosen deliverer, Matthew 2 presents Jesus' birth, the flight into Egypt, and Herod's murderous rage. This pattern continues throughout the Gospel, with Matthew's chapters reflecting, summarizing, or re-framing the major themes of each Old Testament book.   So that the readers of the Old Testament have another source of proof to consider when evaluating the authority of the New Testament.   God certainly is not through with the Jew!   Whether or not Matthew intended this one-to-one mapping seems unlikely but, All Scripture is God breathed and so we can say God did intend them!   Furthermore we can therefore gain further confidence in book order and authority of the Scriptures as presented in the Christian Bible. The parallels are rich and unmistakable, showing Jesus as the fulfillment, continuation, and climax of Israel's story from Genesis to 2nd Chronicles. And the parallels are stunning. 2 Chronicles: Israel's Story in Summary   2 Chronicles is more than a historical account but contains a pattern of national Israel's spiritual trajectory. Parallel 1 - Sound advice is rejected.   (2 Ch. 10) Parallel 2 - Death Ends an Era    (2 Ch. 11) Parallel 3 - The people enter wilderness/exile.  (2 Ch. 12) Parallel 4 - God remains faithful.   (2 Ch 21) Parallel 5 - Out of Control and under threat.  (2 Chr 36) Parallel 6 - Restoration under a new leader (2 Chr 36:22-23) Now let us consider how every one of these six steps reappears in the same sequence in Matthew 14. Parallel #1: Sound advice is rejected 2 Chronicles Rehoboam rejects the counsel of the elders.      IN 2 Chronicles 10:6-8  (ICB) 6 There were some elders who had helped Solomon make decisions during his lifetime. So King Rehoboam asked them what he should do. He said, “How do you think I should answer these people?” 7 They answered, “Be kind to these people. Please them and give them a kind answer. If you do, they will serve you always.” 8 But Rehoboam did not listen to the advice the elders gave him.  Matthew 14 Herod plays a similar role.  He rejects John the Baptist, the final prophet under the Law.  Matthew 14 opens with the murder of the prophet Parallel #2: Death Ends an Era   2 Chronicles   After Solomon's death, the kingdom fractures. Rehoboam wants to fight and restore unity, but God says: “You shall not go up or fight against your brothers… for this thing is from Me.”  2 Chronicles 11:4 At this moment where God: cuts off the northern tribes from the Davidic monarchy, ends the united kingdom, begins a new era: Judah and Israel now separated. Matthew 14 John the Baptist's death signals the end of the old covenant era. The Law and the Prophets are closing; the Messiah's ministry moves into a new phase. Just as Solomon's death closed an age, John's death announces another ending—and a new beginning. Parallel #3: Wilderness as Divine Reset  2 Chronicles Israel repeatedly enters “wilderness experiences”: exile, loss, scattering and yet God preserves them and promises restoration. Israel abandons God (12:1). God sends Shishak of Egypt to strip them of security (12:2-4). A prophet says: “You have abandoned Me; therefore I have abandoned you.” (12:5) Judah is thrown into deep distress  - a wilderness-like, spiritual low point. They humble themselves (12:6). God responds with partial deliverance, not destruction (12:7-8).   Matthew 14 Immediately after John's death, the people follow Jesus into a desolate place. Here, a remnant gathers, they receive teaching, they are fed miraculously. Like Chronicles, in the wilderness is the place where God uses to reset the story. Parallel #4: The Remnant Theme   2 Chronicles God preserves a remnant who will return and rebuild.   “Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David,  because of the covenant”   2 Chronicles 21:7 Matthew 14 Jesus feeds the remnant in the wilderness: 5 loaves → God's grace Bread in the wilderness → Jesus the Bread of Life 12 baskets of Leftovers → abundance for the true Israel Both narratives insist: Israel is not destroyed; God preserves His people.  God is not finished with Israel.   “All Israel will be Saved” after the Church Age has finished (Romans Chapter 9-11 & the entire book of Revelation) Parallel #5: Israel “Out of control and Under Threat”  2 Chronicles The exile is described as being: Scattered,   2 Chronicles 36:19-20 (implied scattering through destruction and captivity) under threat, carried far away,    “He carried into exile to Babylon those who had escaped from the sword…” 2 Chronicles 36:20 yet preserved,    2 Chronicles 36:21  “The land enjoyed its sabbath rests… until the seventy years were completed…”   This verse shows God's intentional preservation of His plan, His land, and His people during exile. and finally brought home by God (2 Chr 36:23). Matthew 14 The disciples - symbolizing Israel - enter a boat and are: tossed by waves, in danger, alone in the night, visited by their God, saved by His hand, and brought safely to the other shore. This exile-and-return is played out on the Sea of Galilee. With the physical visitation of Jesus the God marking this encounter of added signficance. Peter's rescue mirrors the believers individual walk: Beginning with faith in Jesus the Lord, then failing to keep our eyes on Jesus, sinking, crying out and saved. Parallel #6: Restoration Under a New Leader   2 Chronicles Ends With… A new ruler: Cyrus A new beginning A return to the land A restoration of worship Matthew 14 Ends With… Recognition that Jesus is the God Safe arrival in Gennesaret “Princely Garden” - a fore shadow of the Renewed Kingdom of the Lord to come Healing, restoration, and grace Israel symbolically entering the promise of a renewed covenant Jesus is greater than Cyrus, His arrival on this land not only blessed the people in the land at the time, but it also symbolises his own future return which brings an infinitely greater restoration, when Jesus the Lord returns and the curse on the earth is reversed! CONCLUSION   The cohesion between 2 Chronicles and Matthew 14 reinforces typological assertions in the previous episode to be valid, correct and intentional. Matthew 14 isn't just a miracle chapter, or a super exciting day in the life of Jesus as it has most often been presented in sunday school but It's Israel's salvation history - from Israel leader rejection to Israel people exile, preservation and individual salvation offer and final restoration - retold through Jesus in a magnificent way. 2 Chronicles closes the Old Testament storyline. Matthew 14 shows Jesus stepping into that story as its fulfillment. He is the Prophet rejected, the God who walks on the sea, the Savior who brings His people home.  

Tuesday, 9 December 2025   and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well. Matthew 14:36   “And they invoked Him that only they might touch the tassel of His garment, and as many, they touched, they were rehabilitated” (CG).   In the previous verse, it's noted that the men of the area of Gennesaret recognized Jesus, and so they sent out to all the areas round about and brought to Jesus all that were sick. Now, to close out Chapter 14 (it is an exciting milestone as Matthew is 28 Chapters long), Matthew records, “And they invoked Him that only they might touch the tassel of His garment.”   This is the same hope-filled sign of faith that was seen in Chapter 9 –   “And, you behold! A woman, blood-flowing twelve years, having approached behind, she touched the tassel of His cloak. 21 For she said in herself, ‘If only I shall touch His cloak, I will be saved.' 22 And Jesus, having turned and having seen her, He said, ‘You take courage, daughter. Your faith, it has saved you.' And, the woman, she was saved from the very hour.” Matthew 9:20-22 (CG)   The people of Israel understood the significance of this tassel, and they knew that if they could get close enough to just touch it, there was the chance the Lord would favor them and heal their afflictions.   Being a tassel on the extremity of the garment meant that it was symbolically the furthest thing from His body. And yet, they felt that the power that radiated through this remote article would be sufficient to accomplish what they desired. It truly was an act of faith.   As a reminder concerning these tassels, they were mandated in the law by the Lord to spur the memory of the wearer of his obligation to the commands of the law. A blue cord was to be woven into them. This represented the law, blue being the color representing the law.   This extreme edge of the garment was the article they reached for. It is what Malachi prophesied hundreds of years earlier –   “But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings.” Malachi 4:2   The garments were cut in a way that they had four edges. The edge or wing of the garment is where the tassels would be affixed. Whether the people knew of the prophecy of Malachi, or whether the prophecy merely referred to the events surrounding Jesus' powers exuding even from these wings, the fact that the healing was prophesied means that a change should be expected in the people. Understanding this, Matthew continues, saying, “and as many, they touched, they were rehabilitated.”   A new word, diasózó, is seen. It is derived from dia, through, and sózó, to save. Thus, it signifies “to save thoroughly.” The people were thoroughly saved from their affliction and thus rehabilitated.   Life application: What is going on here? Why is this account placed where it is? One can review the history of Israel in his mind and see that what has happened in Chapter 14 is a snapshot of Israel's history in relation to the law. First, the account of John the Baptist being beheaded was given. Who is the only other person to have had a birthday celebration in Scripture? Pharaoh.   There is a reason why these two are mentioned. Pharaoh represents Egypt as its leader. Egypt typologically reflects living under the bondage of sin. It is Jesus who brought man out from under this bondage. But what is it that allows sin to wield its influence? Law.   Herod had John's head removed, picturing the end of the law. John is the last prophet of the law. Something new was coming to replace the law he proclaimed. It was Herodius' daughter who danced for Herod. Her name was Salome. Though not named in Matthew, the name still bears importance. It is from shalem, to be or make whole or complete. It signifies Peace.   Herodias is from the Hebrew arad, to flee or be free. She and Herod (same etymology) were condemned by John, the herald of the law, for their adulterous affair. They wanted to be free from the constraint of the law. Thus, Salome, Peace, was used to obtain this goal. In the beheading of John, the enmity between God and sinners is ended. Peace is restored.   With the law symbolically ended (Israel being brought out of Egypt). Jesus went to a deserted place across the sea, just as Israel was brought into the wilderness. The movement of Jesus from one place to another was across the Jordan. This is because the Jordan runs through the Sea of Galilee to the other side.   It is a picture of Israel's rejection of Jesus, even after the law was ended (in the picture of John's death). The Jordan pictures Jesus in His incarnation during His first advent, coming to die, as seen in the Superior Word Joshua sermons.   In the wilderness on the other side, Jesus is the Antitype of all of the implements prescribed under the law, such as the Ark, the Table of Showbread, the Menorah, etc. To understand this, one can review the Superior Word sermons of those passages.   The people of Israel joined Him in the desolate area where they were instructed and then provided the miracle of the bread and fish, just as Israel was provided the manna and quail in the wilderness. The five loaves symbolize God's grace, feeding His people, Jesus, the Bread of Life.   The two fish symbolize the two testaments of Scripture, which point to the abundance found in Christ Jesus. The twelve small baskets of remnants picture the remnant saved of the twelve tribes of Israel (Romans 11:5). The five thousand confirm the grace of God (5) and the completion of the cycle, where nothing is wanting and the whole cycle is complete (10).   The disciples then got into a boat to cross the sea. However, they were tossed about and almost perished. It is still reflective of the time when Israel walked in the wilderness for forty years. That is why the events are noted as being “amidst the sea” in Matthew 14:24.   Verse 25 specifically mentioned that Jesus departed unto them in the ship in the “night's fourth guarding.” Four is the number of material creation, the world number. It reflects the dispersion of the Jews around the world back to Israel and that they would finally cross over the waters in the end times.   Despite being alone on the sea, the Lord never really left them. He saved them from impending catastrophe, just as the Lord remained with Israel in the wilderness and just as He has remained with Israel for the past two thousand years, fully saving them as they individually looked to the cross. This was seen in the saving of Peter.   Peter's salvation on the water was noted, “And seeing the forcible wind, he feared, and having begun to submerge, he croaked, saying, ‘Lord, You save [sózó] me!'” That pictured the fulfillment of the individual salvation that was found while Israel was in the wilderness. This occurred when the fiery serpent was set on a pole, and “if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived” (Numbers 21:9).   Despite his failing faith and having his eyes temporarily misdirected, he was saved. As Peter was the apostle to the Jews, it makes a nice touch concerning his epistles, directed to the Jewish people. After being given this salvation, the boat arrived safely on the other shore. It anticipates Israel being brought safely to the end of their time of being without Christ.   Matthew specifically says the boat is said to have arrived in Gennesaret, Princely Garden. It anticipates the arrival of Israel in the land of promise (salvation in Christ) that had been anticipated since their rejection of Canaan (symbolizing their rejection of Christ) in Numbers 14.   Once arriving in Gennesaret, which is on the salvation side of the Jordan (Jesus in His first advent), the people flocked to Him, and for those who reached out to Him, there was total salvation. This anticipates the total salvation of Israel after their time of bondage under the law has ended. Touching the tassel with the blue cord (the law) signifies their acceptance of Jesus, the One who has fulfilled the law.   This chapter has been given as a brief snapshot of Israel's history in relation to Jesus, who is the Lord, Yehovah, incarnate. God is taking real historical events, such as a young girl dancing, the feeding of the multitude, the struggles amidst the sea, etc., and He is telling us that there is still a future for Israel, the people.   The importance of the law being opposed to grace is put on full display in this chapter. For those who want to live under the law, there is no hope. They remain “east of Jordan.” For those who are willing to be saved, they must come through Jesus to the other side. Give up law observance and be saved!   What a story of hope and ultimate redemption is found in the coming of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!   Lord God, how good it is to know of the full and eternal salvation that is found in Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank You that even when our eyes may be misdirected from You for a moment, Your hand is still there, reaching out and saving us! Hallelujah and Amen.    

In Job 12 we have a continuation of his response to Zophar. This chapter tells us Job accepts that all that has happened to him is from the Almighty (Shaddai - a Hebrew word which expresses two different aspects of God's character - it means "the destroyers" and also, "the nourishers"). In chapter 42verses11 we are told that Job's suffering was from God. Job starts chapter 12 with supreme sarcasm, "No doubt you (my 3 friends) are the people, and wisdom will die with you" ESV verse 1; i.e. you're know-alls so why should I, Job, bother talking to you. Can't you see the wicked also prospering, he contends. In verse 10 we have another Hebrew parallelism i.e. the first expression meaningfully correlates to the second - the life of the beasts equates to the breath of humanity (Ecclesiastes 3verses19).Nahum was an Elkoshite from the southern kingdom of Judah. His name means "comfort" (a similar idea to the "parakletos" - Comforter of the New Testament). Jesus made Capernaum (city of comfort, or consolation) his base of operations in Galilee. The comfort of the prophecy of Nahum was that Judah's oppressor would be dealt with by the Almighty. The book was written between 624 AD and612 AD when Nineveh was overthrown by Babylon. As Egyptian power declined from the middle of the 7th century BC Assyria rose to prominence. Firstly, Nineveh and then Babylon assumed the dominant position in the threatening Assyrian development. Then in 612 BC Babylon conquered Nineveh and she no longer had a rival. Judah rejoiced for although the Babylonians, who God would bring against them in His chastisement, were exceedingly cruel they were more humane than their Ninevite brothers. Chapter 1 of Nahum deals with the Almighty's wrath against Nineveh. Verse 2 describes God's jealousy - Nineveh had been the nation who had brought the LORD's punishment upon God's guilty people. But the Assyrians had delighted in the cruelty meted out on Israel. Israel's Sovereign demonstrated His power over nature. When Yahweh is aroused to judge who can withstand His might. But after chastisement has been given our Potentate will compassionately pardon His people and destroy their oppressors. Chapter 2 details the destruction of Nineveh. All of Nineveh's powerful defenders and defences would be useless against the coming Babylonian onslaught. The panic within Nineveh is graphically portrayed. Colourful and emotional language describes the chaos experienced by the Ninevites. The den of the former ravening lion has itself become plundered.

Today's Scripture Reading:John 7:37-4437 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”[c] 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.”Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David's descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.

In this episode, we journey to the house of Loreto, a simple home where the Annunciation took place. We reflect on how God meets us in the quiet, ordinary places of our own lives and how He meets us where we are, no matter how isolated we may feel. We also explore Mary's free and wholehearted yes, given without a request for details, and consider where the Holy Spirit may be inviting us to trust and surrender in our own hidden spaces. As Advent is a time to rest in stillness, we talk about making room for God in our schedules, noticing His gentle invitations in the everyday, and allowing His Word to take root in us even when the fruits of our yes are not yet visible.   Heather's One Thing - Registration for Glory: Women's Gathering is open! Michelle and I would love to see you there! Sister Miriam's One Thing - Live Dialogue with Pope Leo XIV and Teens at NCYC  Michelle's One Thing - Trader Joe's winter peonies    Next, we come to the House of Loreto, a humble home, walls worn by daily life, where the eternal interrupted the ordinary. Here, a young woman listens and her "yes" ripples through all of time. This is the place of surrender, of saying yes to what we cannot yet understand. The Word takes root in the quiet soil of her trust.   Other Resources Mentioned:  Litany of Loreto "The Annunciation" painting by Henry Tanner   Journal Questions: Where am I missing God's presence in the ordinary moments? What does God want to announce to me this Advent? Where have I said no to the Lord in the past? What parts of your life feel uncontrollable? How can I choose to surrender this Advent?   Discussion Questions: Where is the Lord inviting you to say yes? How has God interrupted and nudged you in the ordinary moments of life? Where is the Lord inviting you to surrender? How has God slowly unraveled His plan for your life?   Quote to Ponder: "This is a serious warning cry: Surrender without reservation to the Lord who has called us. This is required of us so that the face of the earth may be renewed."  (Edith Stein)   Scripture for Lectio: "The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth…" (Luke 1:26)   Sponsor - Small Town Catholic Living: Have you ever dreamed of living in a community where families flourish, bible studies abound, and you can walk to daily Mass and adoration? Have you desired to send your kids to an authentically Catholic school but could never afford the tuition or can afford it, but it lacks deeply rooted Catholic tradition and culture? Small Town Catholic Living is a thriving Catholic community located in Beloit, Kansas. It's a place where strong faith, family values, and small-town charm come together. Here, families and kids walk and ride their bikes around town, young families fill the local 120 year old Romanesque-Gothic Catholic Church, and Eucharisstic adoration is offered 24/7. There is also a PreK-12th grade Catholic school so that your kids can receive an authentic Catholic education for a fraction of what other private schools cost.  The town also features all the important necessities of life such as a full-service local hospital, an impressive recreation center, retirement communities, and remote workspace offices. Fishing, hunting, camping, and boating are popular at the nearby Waconda Lake.  If you've been dreaming of living in a community where your children can grow up surrounded by others living out their faith, where people truly know you, or a place that has taken a step back from the business of this world, we invite you to learn more by visiting our website at smalltowncatholicliving.com. It's not impossible to be spiritually fed while fulfilling your mission to raise your family!    Chapters:  00:00 Small Town Catholic Living 01:15 Intro 02:24 Welcome to Loreto 03:28 Guiding Quote and Scripture Verse 05:02 God Comes in the Ordinary 08:14 In the Fullness of Time 10:15 God Invites Us to Respond to His Invitations 11:50 When We Feel Like We are Isolated 15:20 Saying Yes to God Even When We don't Understand 19:19 The Quiet Work of Faith 21:55 Will We Make Space for God? 26:35 One Things   Music used under license i94Cr0 

Today’s Topics: Father Raymond of the Blessed Sacrament joins Terry 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel – Luke 1:26-38 – The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David his father, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the Child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. Memorial of Saint Saint , pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Gospel Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of Davidhis father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. Reflection When the angel Gabriel tells Mary that she is to be the mother of the Messiah, he also reveals another special birth. Elizabeth, her cousin, who is way past the time of being able to have a child, is also pregnant, and this child will be named John. It is important to note that John is the necessary link, the transition, the liminal space through which the world will understand fully the corruption of the old, and the beauty and the dignity and the value of the new. Closing Prayer Father, there's a continual work, a continual transformation from religion that has a power over us and a spirit that can enter into us and infuse us with the gifts that we're here to share with one another. Bless us in this continual transition. Never let us get lazy. Let us not fall back to what is simple and easy. Let us continue to work with this great mystery. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Advent reveals that love and vulnerability are inseparable, for God entered the world not in power but in the fragile form of a baby laid in a manger. The incarnation isn't distant theology—it is God with us, meeting us in our fear, grief, and limitations with a love strong enough to overcome darkness. True courage mirrors the infant Christ: a willingness to embrace uncertainty, rely on help when we are helpless, and love even when it hurts. In a world afraid of weakness, Advent invites us to begin again with vulnerability, interdependence, and the radical truth that the Father's love is strong enough to save. --- Scripture: Matthew 2:17-24 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,     weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children     and refusing to be comforted,     because they are no more.”[a] The Return to Nazareth 19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

The angel Gabriel was sent from Godto a town of Galilee called Nazareth,to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,of the house of David,and the virgin's name was Mary.And coming to her, he said,"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."But she was greatly troubled at what was saidand pondered what sort of greeting this might be.Then the angel said to her,"Do not be afraid, Mary,for you have found favor with God.Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,and you shall name him Jesus.He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,and of his Kingdom there will be no end."But Mary said to the angel,"How can this be,since I have no relations with a man?"And the angel said to her in reply,"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.Therefore the child to be bornwill be called holy, the Son of God.And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,has also conceived a son in her old age,and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;for nothing will be impossible for God."Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.May it be done to me according to your word."Then the angel departed from her.

Send us a textThe Might God Senior Pastor Keith StewartDecember 7, 2025When life feels overwhelming and the world seems increasingly unstable, you need more than a sentimental Christmas story—you need a God who is strong enough to fight for you. In this message, Mighty God, you'll discover that the Child in the cradle is the God of the universe in human flesh—able to break the chains you can't break, face the battles you can't win, and stand with you against every fear. If you've ever wondered whether Jesus is really enough, this message will help you see His power, His nearness, and His unmatched ability to carry you through.DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Names that define us. Which “old name badge” do you most tend to wear (unwanted, unworthy, abandoned, etc.)?Which name God gives you is hardest to believe—and why? 2. Jesus as Warrior. If “Mighty God” means God is a valiant warrior who fights on our behalf, what battle in your life right now feels bigger than your own strength? What might it look like, practically and specifically, to let Jesus fight that battle instead of you trying to manage it alone? 3. The Great I AM in the storm. In the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus walks on the water and says, “I AM. Don't be afraid.”Where does fear most show up in your life right now (finances, family, health, calling, the future)? How does it change things to imagine the Great I AM standing in that place saying, “Don't be afraid”? 4. If Jesus isn't God, He isn't safe. How have you seen people (or maybe even yourself at times) try to keep Jesus in the “good teacher” category without surrendering to Him as Mighty God? What part of your life most resists treating Him as God rather than adviser? 5. Christmas as a crisis point of decision. If someone close to you asked, “Who is Jesus to you—really?” How would you honestly answer today? What next step (trust, obedience, repentance, public declaration, baptism, etc.) would move your answer closer to “He is my Mighty God”? 6. Letting the Mighty God rename your story. Where do you see yourself slipping into self-focus, self-pity, or old identities this season?What is one specific “new name” or truth about Jesus as Mighty God that you want to hold onto this week—and how can you build a simple reminder into your day (a verse on your phone, a note on your mirror, a daily prayer, etc.)?

In this Advent sermon from Flourishing Grace Church, Pastor Benjer opens Isaiah 9:1-7 and invites us to see the Christmas story as the ultimate great reversal. Just like our favorite Pixar stories that move from ordinary life to crisis and then to a surprising, beautiful resolution, the Bible tells the true story of people walking in deep darkness who suddenly see a great light. Long before Jesus was born, Isaiah prophesied to a people under judgment, weighed down by their own sin, injustice, and idolatry. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali felt the brunt of God's discipline first, but in the kindness of God they were also the first to see the grace and mercy of Jesus when He began His ministry in Galilee. Where there was gloom, anguish, and spiritual night, God promised joy, freedom, and a decisive victory over every oppressor. As we walk through Advent, Pastor Benjer explains that this season is not just sentimental buildup to Christmas. It is a season of honest waiting, longing, and hope, where we learn to pause, rejoice, ask, and yield before God. Isaiah 9 shows us that the light of Christ is not something we produce by trying harder or fixing ourselves. When you stand in deep darkness, you cannot make your own light. Instead, God Himself breaks in. The Messiah shines into the very places we cannot manage, clean up, or control. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light because the light came to them. At the center of this message is the truth that we are not the heroes of our own story. We try to carry the weight of our pain, our sin, our responsibilities, and our fears on our own shoulders. We put our hope in careers, relationships, possessions, or our own strength, only to end up exhausted and disappointed. Isaiah reminds us that the government is on Jesus' shoulders, not ours. He is given four titles that reach beneath our surface desires into our deepest longings. As Wonderful Counselor, He brings divine wisdom and miraculous guidance right into the mess of real life. As Mighty God, He is not just a helpful friend but the victorious warrior who fights the battles we cannot win. As Everlasting Father, He is nothing like the broken or absent fathers many of us have known. His love is constant, protective, and never ending. As Prince of Peace, He does more than calm our circumstances. He gives us peace with God through His life, death, and resurrection. Pastor Benjer shows how the increase of Christ's government and peace will never end. Jesus keeps taking ground in human hearts, homes, churches, and communities. The more we hand over the hidden corners of our lives to His rule and reign, the more we experience true peace, even when circumstances are still hard. The most hopeful line in the passage is that the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will do this. It does not depend on our effort, our goodness, or our consistency. God is passionately committed to rescuing, restoring, and redeeming His people. He is zealous for His glory and for your good, and that is why the light of Christ is a gift, not a reward you earn. If you are watching this and feel stuck in darkness, shame, or quiet despair, this message is for you. Your darkness does not disqualify you from the light. It is exactly why the light came. To us a child is born. To us a son is given. Today can be the day you stop trying to be the hero and instead receive Jesus as your Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. If you are in or near Bountiful, Utah, we would love to welcome you in person at Flourishing Grace Church. If you are watching from elsewhere, we are grateful to walk with you online as you follow Jesus. Subscribe for more Christ centered teaching, share this message with someone who needs hope, and let us know in the comments how we can be praying for you this Advent season.

John 2:1–11 (ESV): 2 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.Subscribe to our channel ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ime97MH0c2Wfooh0Xl87wFor more information about our church visit ► https://biltmorechurch.com/https://www.instagram.com/biltmorechurch/https://www.facebook.com/mybiltmorechurch/https://twitter.com/biltmoreQuestions Jesus Asks ResourcesBelieve in Miracles, But Trust in Jesus – Adrian RogersNot God Enough – J.D. GreearAnything Is Possible – Joby Martin

Luke 1:26–38 - [26] In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, [27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. [28] And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” [29] But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. [30] And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. [31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” [34] And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” [35] And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. [36] And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. [37] For nothing will be impossible with God.” [38] And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (ESV)   THE EVENING MINDSET IS COMING! Beginning January 1 - 2026 - A new DAILY podcast will be available to help you wind down, reset your mind on God’s truth, and prepare for a night of rest and rejuvenation. “The Daily Mindset” will launch on the podcast player of your choice on January 1, 2026. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode: https://EveningMindset.com

Read OnlineThe angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Luke 1:26–29The Blessed Virgin Mary was “full of grace!” To be “full” means just that—full, lacking in nothing. This fullness of grace signified that she embodied the perfection of every virtue, particularly humility. Humility is seeing oneself in the light of truth, neither exaggerated nor diminished. Mary's humility is strikingly revealed in her reaction to the angel Gabriel's greeting—she was “greatly troubled at what was said” and pondered it deeply.Why would the Mother of God be troubled? Why not simply respond with confidence, saying, “Thank you for noticing that I am full of grace?” Because Mary knew that her fullness of grace was not due to her own merits. It was entirely beyond her natural abilities and was the result of God's gracious initiative. Mary freely cooperated with grace throughout her life, and she knew that God alone was the source of every gift. Therefore, her initial reaction of being “troubled” was not due to doubt or fear but was the fruit of her wonder and awe at the incomprehensible blessings bestowed upon her. She saw clearly her own lowliness and unworthiness in relation to God, and this profound humility made her the most beautiful of all creatures.Her heart, filled with wonder and contemplation, not only made Mary the Immaculate Mother of God but also sets before us a model of perfect discipleship. Though we are not “full” of grace as she was, we receive countless graces daily. Like Mary, we must strive to respond to these gifts with humility, awe, and gratitude.Today, as we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Immaculate Conception, we remember that while Adam and Eve were created in a state of Original Innocence, they fell from grace through disobedience. As a result, humanity inherited a fallen nature. However, by a singular grace, Mary was preserved from the stain of Original Sin from the very moment of her conception. This prevenient grace—a grace that was given to her before any merit or action on her part—was given to her in light of the future merits of her Son, Jesus Christ. Thus, Mary was redeemed in an extraordinary way, and her soul was preserved from concupiscence and all of the effects of sin. Unlike Adam and Eve, who turned away from God, Mary remained faithful to Him throughout her life, earning her the title, “The New Eve.”As we celebrate the Immaculate Conception, reflect today on the mystery of Mary's life and soul. While we can understand her unique role in salvation history to a certain degree, the full beauty and depth of her Immaculate Heart will only be fully revealed in Heaven. For now, we are invited to meditate upon her profound humility, her life of grace, and her role as the model of Christian discipleship. Dearest Mother of God, you are the Immaculate Conception, filled with grace from the first moment of your existence. You never turned away from God's gift of grace, given to you through the merits of your Son. Pray for me, that I may come to understand the virtues you embody and strive to imitate your holiness. Help me to embrace the grace that draws me closer to your Son, our Savior. Immaculate Conception, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. (Luke 1:26-29)

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Mary's Influence on Early Christian Teachings: Colleague James Tabor examines the "Q" source containing teachings shared by Matthew and Luke that parallel the words of James and John the Baptist, positing that Mary, as the mother, was the source of this shared wisdom, arguing that historians must reclaim her humanity and influence from theological erasure. 1947 GALILEE

Streamed from the north side of the Sea of Galilee, we look at Job's response to God and Peter healing the lame man around the temple mount.Connect with us on social:Telegram: @beholdisraelchannelInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amir.tsarfati/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beholdisrael/X: https://x.com/beholdisraelYouTube: https://youtube.com/@beholdisrael

Sepphoris: Urban Center of Jesus's Galilee Upbringing — James Tabor — Tabor identifies Sepphoris (also Sephus) as the substantial Roman administrative capital of Galilee, establishing it as the likely birthplace location for Mary rather than the village of Nazareth. Tabor suggests that Joseph functioned as a stonemason or construction worker helping rebuild Sepphoris following its destruction during a Jewish revolt, placing Jesus's early upbringing in a politically volatile, cosmopolitan urban environment characterized by Roman military occupation rather than rural isolation traditionally depicted in religious literature. 1650

Angel Studios https://Angel.com/HermanJoin the Angel Guild today where you can stream Thank You, Dr. Fauci and be part of the conversation demanding truth and accountability.  Renue Healthcare https://Renue.Healthcare/ToddYour journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare. Visit https://Renue.Healthcare/Todd Bulwark Capital https://KnowYourRiskPodcast.comBe confident in your portfolio with Bulwark! Schedule your free Know Your Risk Portfolio review. Go to KnowYourRiskPodcast.com today. Alan's Soaps https://www.AlansArtisanSoaps.comUse coupon code TODD to save an additional 10% off the bundle price.Bonefrog https://BonefrogCoffee.com/ToddThe new GOLDEN AGE is here!  Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE at:The Todd Herman Show - Podcast - Apple PodcastsThe Todd Herman Show | Podcast on SpotifyWATCH and SUBSCRIBE at: Todd Herman - The Todd Herman Show - YouTubeOne Question for Mark Kelly and His Supporters // The Tim Walz Matrix // The OTHER Christmas MiracleEpisode Links:Kelly: “People should be able to tell the difference between something that is unlawful and something that is lawful." Welker: "That puts a lot of burden on the troops to make a decision in real time." Kelly: "A reasonable person can tell something that is legal and something that is illegal." Kelly is openly encouraging dissent and threatening prosecutions for actions that Democrats will deem illegal should they reclaim power.The "Double Tap" War Crimes Hoax is a complete joke. Democrat Senator Mark Kelly accidentally admits on air to Rachel Maddow that there were no specific illegal orders from President Trump behind the viral video stunt warning the military to defy the White House.Tim Walz says he takes no responsibility for the Somalis who've been robbing Americans of billions in Minnesota and funneling those dollars back to terr*rists in Somalia. You'll notice he doesn't deny it's happening, of course. Walz is complicit.Tim Walz's new flagWhat Does God's Word Say?Isaiah 9:1-79 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—2 The people walking in darkness    have seen a great light;on those living in the land of deep darkness    a light has dawned.3 You have enlarged the nation    and increased their joy;they rejoice before you    as people rejoice at the harvest,as warriors rejoice    when dividing the plunder.4 For as in the day of Midian's defeat,    you have shatteredthe yoke that burdens them,    the bar across their shoulders,    the rod of their oppressor.5 Every warrior's boot used in battle    and every garment rolled in bloodwill be destined for burning,    will be fuel for the fire.6 For to us a child is born,    to us a son is given,    and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.7 Of the greatness of his government and peace    there will be no end.He will reign on David's throne    and over his kingdom,establishing and upholding it    with justice and righteousness    from that time on and forever.The zeal of the Lord Almighty    will accomplish this.