Podcasts about gentiles

Send us a message!We read Colossians 1–2 and sit with Paul's big vision of Jesus as the head of the church and the center of everything that holds together. I also wrestle with Paul's goals and ask whether my everyday goals actually support helping people grow mature in Christ. • the church as Christ's body continuing his work on earth • Paul's gratitude for a growing faith he did not personally plant • a prayer for wisdom, endurance, joy, and a life that pleases God • Jesus as the image of the invisible God and the one who reconciles through the cross • “Christ in you, the hope of glory” as the revealed mystery for Gentiles • ministry defined as teaching toward maturity in Christ • warning against empty philosophy rooted in human tradition rather than Christ • freedom from legalism and shadow rules because Christ is the reality • adopting Paul's goals for our relationships: encouragement, assurance, and maturity • sharing Scripture as a practical way maturity compounds over time At outloudbible.com, you can find free resources to help you study the Bible. And while you're there, send us a message to say hi, or start a conversation about having us at your church or event. If Outloud Bible has been a valuable part of your understanding of the Bible, please consider supporting the ministry by visiting outloudbible.com.Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Jesus is the most written about, fought over, and misunderstood person in history. But who was he, really? What does the Bible say? Peter's sermon in Acts 10 – the first sermon preached specifically to non-Jews – shows us five teachings of the early church on who Jesus was and what he did to save us. View series on PursueGOD.org: Pursuit (Series)--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--Lord of AllThe first teaching about Jesus starts with his identity. Was he just a prophet or priest, or was he something more? Peter answers:Acts 10:36 (NLT) There is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Peter calls Jesus “Lord,” a reference to his divinity. Jesus is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity (John 1:1-4). Jesus himself taught this (John 8:58), and his followers believed it. Scripture affirms that Jesus is fully God, creator and sustainer of all things. Colossians 1:15,19-20 (NLT) Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation…. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself.But why does this matter? Why is it important to believe that Jesus is fully God instead of just a good man? The answer is that Jesus could not offer us “peace with God” if he were merely human. Jesus is God, and his divinity qualifies him to be our savior.But let's not miss the last part of Acts 10:36. Jesus is Lord of “all,” not just Lord of the Israelites. God's desire from the beginning was that all people would come to know him. That's why Peter was preaching this sermon in the first place. God had sent him to the house of a Gentile, and this was the inauguration of a new kind of movement. Christianity would be a faith for both Jews and Gentiles, because Jesus is Lord of all. Perfectly GoodThe next teaching fills us in on Christ's activity while he was here on the earth. What kind of a person was he? How did he live?Acts 10:38 (NLT) Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.Jesus was a miracle worker unlike anything the world had ever seen. He cast out demons (Luke 4:40-41) and healed lepers (Luke 5:12-13). He miraculously fed thousands (Matthew 14:13-21), walked on water (Matthew 14:22-33), and even raised a dead guy to life (John 11:38-44).On top of his miracles, Jesus “went around doing good.” This affirms what we learned about God earlier in this series. God is for you, not against you. He's a good God, and Jesus proved it by his actions while he walked this earth.But most important of all was what Jesus didn't do: he never sinned. Jesus was perfect and sinless from start to finish. During his lifetime Jesus proved his power over sin and its consequences. Read his story for yourself and here's what you'll find: Jesus was fully God and fully man, living a sinless life and perfectly modeling the love of God. Again, why is this important? Consider this: if Jesus had been a sinner like the rest of us, then he would have had to die for his own sins. But since he was sinless, he could go to the cross on our behalf. The sin-debt that he paid could be credited to our account, because Jesus didn't owe on the debt. Crucified and RisenSo far we've learned that Jesus is fully God and perfectly sinless. That sets us up for the core teaching of the early church on the person and work of Jesus: he died and rose again. The power of faith in Jesus hinges on these two simple, historical facts. Acts 10:39-40 (NLT) They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day. Jesus was about thirty three years old when the Jews put him on trial and the Romans nailed him to the cross (Luke 23:44-46, 24:1-6). From the outside looking in, this was an epic tragedy. But it was God's plan all along, even though nobody saw it coming (Isaiah 53:8-10).And here's the most important part: Jesus didn't stay dead. He rose from the grave after three days, proving once and for all his power over sin and death. This is central to the Christian faith, because a dead savior would be no savior at all: 1 Corinthians 15:14 (NLT) And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.But how do we know that the resurrection isn't just a myth? The simplest proof was the response of his closest followers. Though they abandoned Jesus in fear before the crucifixion, they sold out their lives to his message just three days later. Almost all of Jesus' first disciples died for their faith, because they firmly believed that Jesus was raised to life.Judge of AllThe fourth point of Peter's sermon might come as a surprise to modern listeners. Up until now it has all been good news. But Peter adds a stern warning:Acts 10:42 (NLT) Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. The Bible teaches that someday Jesus will judge you for every good and bad thing you've ever done. And here's the bad news: left to yourself, there's no hope of passing the test at the end of eternity. You were born into sin, remember? The thought of a judgment day should get every person's attention (Hebrews 10:31). That's why Peter included it in his sermon.God is not only loving; he is also fair. And so we can't blame God for not flippantly dismissing our sins (Romans 2:9,16). God did not cancel his wrath against us – he spent it on his Son. At the cross, the justice of God collides with the love of God in the person of Jesus.Forgiver of SinsThank God that Peter doesn't end his sermon at judgment! Here's the final truth he teaches us about Jesus: Acts 10:43 (NLT) Everyone who believes in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name. This is the new birth that Jesus offers to sinners. The good news of the Bible is that we can be forgiven – but not through a lifetime of good works. Peace with God comes only through faith in a person: Jesus Christ. This is offered to anyone who believes.Jesus is Lord of all, perfectly good, crucified and risen, judge of all, and forgiver of sins. This is what Peter preached that day to the Gentile household of Cornelius, and it remains the basic message for seekers of God today.So we have a choice to

Hosts Shelly and June Volk continue their series on living in "newness of life," focusing on how the daily Christian walk requires surrendering human self-reliance to allow the Holy Spirit to produce authentic spiritual fruit. Key Takeaways Defining the Christian Walk: Scriptural references to "walking" signify a total way of life—living by faith, in the Spirit, in wisdom, light, and truth. Prophetic Heart Restoration: Ezekiel 36:26–27 serves as a foundational promise where God replaces a hardened heart with a heart of flesh, enabling believers to live out His statutes through the indwelling Spirit. Unity in the Body: Rebirth into newness of life unifies believers across backgrounds (Jew and Gentile) into one body under Christ. Embracing Necessary Transition: Transitioning into a new spiritual condition can be uncomfortable or disturbing, but stepping out of old habits is essential to entering God's fullness. Scripture Links Romans 6:1–4: Buried through baptism into death to walk in newness of life. 2 Corinthians 5:17: Becoming a new creation where old things pass away. Colossians 2:6–7: Four characteristics of walking in Christ: rooted, built up, established in faith, and overflowing with gratitude. Ezekiel 36:26–27: Promise of a new heart, a new spirit, and the indwelling Holy Spirit to observe God's statutes. 2 Corinthians 5:7: Walking by faith, not by sight. Galatians 5:16: Walking by the Spirit. Ephesians 4:1: Walking in a manner worthy of the calling. Ephesians 5:15: Walking wisely. 1 John 1:7: Walking in the light. 1 John 2:6: Walking in the same manner as Jesus walked. 3 John 1:3: Walking and living in the truth. John 14:6: Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. Support the show: https://shellyandjunevolk.com/product/partner-with-us-psalm-127-fund/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drop us a note about the podcast. America loves to talk about greatness but what if the real measure is spiritual, not national? We start with Romans 11 and the sobering picture of branches broken off and Gentiles grafted in, then apply that warning straight to modern pride: we don't stand strong because we're Americans, we stand only if we keep turning to God through Jesus Christ. That tension between gratitude and fear runs through everything we read and everything we say.We also bring daily life into the conversation with a sharp proverb about marriage and conflict, then move into Psalm 22, where faith sounds like anguish before it sounds like victory. If you've ever prayed and felt no relief, the language of lament is here on purpose, not as a detour. We talk about integrity as a lived witness that shapes families and, eventually, nations.From there, we pivot to history and civic life with a Medal of Honor spotlight and a striking Alexis de Tocqueville account from 1831: a New York court rejects a witness who denies God, arguing belief is the sanction behind testimony. That story opens bigger questions we don't dodge: what a “Christian nation” means, what public trust should require, and how immigration and assimilation fit into a culture shaped by Christianity.If this challenged you or encouraged you, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. What part did you agree with most, and what part pushed back on you?#ChristianNation#AmericanPatriot#AlexisdeTocqueville Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribeCountryside Book Serieshttps://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2 America's Christian Heritage Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2622483

It's Wednesday, September 2nd, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Another state in India passed anti-conversion law India's state of Maharashtra became the 13th in the country to enact an “anti-conversion” law last week. It's the country's second-most populous state. This has prompted thousands of churches in the area to have worshippers sign a form. The form simply says the person is attending freely and not under coercion.  India's “anti-conversion” laws are often used to target Christians. Hindu nationalists have attacked churches in Maharashtra 11 times in the last six months. India is ranked 12th on the Open Doors' World Watch List of the most dangerous places to be a Christian.  In John 15:18-19, Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet, because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Send a polite, 4-sentence note to Vinay Kwatra, the Indian Ambassador to America, asking that he urge his government not to pass these anti-conversion laws which target Christians. Address it to the Embassy of India, 2107 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008. You'll find the correct spelling of the ambassador's name and the address in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com. Australia's new assisted suicide law ABC News Australia reports Australia's Northern Territory passed a bill legalizing assisted suicide last week. The territory was the first in the world to legalize voluntary euthanasia in the 1990s. Australia's federal government overturned the law within a couple years. But in 2022, the government reversed its decision, allowing the territory to legalize assisted suicide once again.  Now, all states and territories in Australia allow for this form of killing. Over 7,200 people have died this way in the country since 2019. Trump's Venezuelan oil deal gives access to 65 billion barrels The Trump administration announced a major oil deal with Venezuela on Friday.  The deal would give the United States access to 17 oil fields in Venezuela with proven reserves of 65 billion barrels of oil. That's about 20 percent of the country's reserves. By comparison, the U.S. has 46 billion barrels of proven oil reserves.  President Donald Trump hopes the deal will lower gas prices for Americans. However, analysts suggest that the deal will not relieve prices in the short-term.  Homeland Security investigates voter fraud in 9 states CNN reports that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is investigating voter fraud in nine states ahead of the midterm elections in November. These states include California, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin. The Trump administration is pushing for states to phase out certain electronic voting systems and move to paper ballots. The administration has threatened to withhold significant homeland security funds from states that do not adopt such election changes.  ICE arrested 51,000 immigration arrests in July U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made 51,000 immigration arrests in July. That's up from 43,000 arrests in June. Both months set records for the agency.  Nearly 20,000 of July's arrests were in Texas and Florida. Both states have been very cooperative with the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts.  Gallup poll: Americans supportive of marriage if couple has kids A new Gallup poll found that more Americans are supportive of marriage when children are involved. Thirty-nine percent of U.S. adults say it is very important for a couple to be legally married if they have a child together. That's up from 29 percent in 2020. However, it's down from 49 percent in 2006. Gallup noted, “Weekly church attendees show one of the largest increases since 2020 in the belief that couples, who have a child together, should be married, up 24 points, from 41% to 65%.” Bible societies distributed 148 million Scriptures in 2025 And finally, the United Bible Societies distributed over 148 million printed Scriptures in 2025.  The top countries for Bible distribution last year were Brazil, China, India, Nigeria, and the Philippines.  Rev. Dirk Gevers, Secretary General of the United Bibles Societies, said, “While printed Scriptures continue to reach hundreds of millions of people each year, digital engagement is growing, opening new opportunities to connect with the Bible through mobile devices and online platforms.” This year is the organization's 80th anniversary. Since 1946, the Bible society has distributed 25 billion Scriptures, including 1.1 billion complete Bibles.  Malachi 1:11 says, “From the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering; for My name shall be great among the nations.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, September 2nd, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

I have typically read Paul's letter to Rome like it was an essay written for the church at large for all times and for all places.  In fact Paul, Jesus' apostle to the nations, in about 57 A.D., wrote a pastoral letter to several house churches in Rome. He mentions 26 members of the Roman church by name in chapter 16.  He knew a lot about the churches and he was very concerned with simmering divisions within those churches.  The churches were composed of a great diversity of folks, Jews and Gentiles, slave and free, as well as male and female.  A dispute was heating up in the church between a group that Paul called the "Weak," primarily Jewish believers, and a group that Paul called the "Strong," primarily Gentile believers.  Neither group had much use for the other and that was the problem!  He had strong words for both groups. The issues have to do with the place of circumcision, sabbath keeping, and the Jewish food laws in the life of the Churches.  Paul used eleven chapters to give the churches a solid Christ centered foundation on which to live together as "One People of God."  His overriding message was that one church, composed of Jews and Gentiles, living to the Glory of God, is the will of the LORD God.  He declared in chapter 12, "All of us are members one of another."  He followed up this declarative in chapter 15 with the imperative:  "Welcome each other as Christ has welcomed you, for the Glory of God." Tom Wright was recently asked, "What about today's church would most disturb the apostle Paul?" To which he replied. "Our many, many divisions and our LACK OF CONCERN about it." Come on this journey with us through Paul's wonderful letter which invites us to rediscover the "Power of Oneness."

Galatians 3:8 contains one of the most astonishing sentences Paul ever wrote: "The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham." The gospel was not launched at Pentecost. It was preached — in advance, in seed form — to a man in Ur of the Chaldeans. This sermon sits with that claim. What exactly was the gospel preached to Abraham, and how does it connect to the third thing Jesus said was written — that repentance and forgiveness should be proclaimed to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem? The mission to the nations was not a backup plan or a new development. It was the original promise, now fulfilled in the One who suffered, rose, and sent his disciples from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We close where Luke 24 ends: with witnesses who finally understood what had been written all along — and were sent.Special Guest: Nick Carter.

Welcome to Day 2939 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2939– “Grave Warnings for the IN Crowd” – Luke 11:29-36 Putnam Church Message – 08/23/2026 The Good News According to Luke: “Grave Warnings for the “IN” Crowd”   Last week, our message was “The Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness,” and we learned that Jesus Christ was sent to reclaim the nations and finalize God's kingdom. Today, we continue with our thirty-fifth message from Luke's narrative of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Today's message is: “Grave Warnings for the “IN” Crowd.” Our core passage today is Luke 11:29-36, starting on page 1615 of your pew Bibles. The Sign of Jonah 29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here. The Lamp of the Body 33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,[b] your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” Opening Prayer   Father, we come before You today asking for more than information. We ask for illumination. Shine the light of Your Word into every corner of our hearts. Lord Jesus, protect us from becoming people who stand close to You outwardly / while resisting You inwardly. / Keep us from demanding more evidence when You have already given us more than enough. Expose our pride, our hidden motives, our fears, and our excuses. Holy Spirit, give us clear eyes, humble hearts, and willing spirits. Help us not merely to admire the Light, but to walk in it. In Jesus' name, amen.       Introduction: Being “In” Does Not Mean Being Right By this point in Luke's Gospel, Jesus was no longer an unknown teacher from Galilee. His name was everywhere. John the Baptizer had drawn huge crowds and pointed people toward Him. Jesus had healed the sick, cleansed lepers, cast out demons, fed thousands, commanded storms, raised the dead, forgiven sinners, confronted hypocrisy, and commissioned His followers to carry His message throughout the land. People were talking about Him. / Some loved Him. / Some hated Him. / Some were afraid of Him. / And many were simply watching to see which way things would go. That is human nature, isn't it? / When something becomes popular, people begin asking, “Is this going to succeed?” / When an election approaches, some people wait to see who appears most likely to win. / When a business reorganizes, employees may quietly watch to see which executive is gaining influence. / When a controversy divides a community, some people hesitate to take a position until they know which side will cost them the least. And apparently, many people surrounding Jesus were doing something similar. / They were interested. / They were impressed. / They were curious. / But they were not committed. / They wanted Jesus to prove that following Him would be a safe investment. / Give us another sign. / Give us one more miracle. / Give us enough assurance that we can join Your side without risking too much.  / But Jesus refused to play that game. Last week, in “The Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness,” we saw Jesus draw a sharp line. There is no neutral ground. The Stronger Man has entered the strong man's territory. The Kingdom of God has come near, and everyone must decide where their allegiance lies. Now Jesus takes that truth one step further. / He turns from the obvious darkness around them to the hidden darkness within them. / And that is where this message becomes uncomfortable. Because Jesus' strongest warning is not directed toward people who know nothing about God. / It is directed toward the people standing closest to the revelation. / The “IN” crowd. / The religiously informed. / The culturally familiar. / The people who have seen much, heard much, and know much. And Jesus says, in effect: The greater the light you receive, / the more responsible you are for what you do with it. Let's look at four truths that will help us to understand this passage, which are on your bulletin insert. Main Point 1: Demanding More Proof Can Become an Excuse for Not Believing Luke tells us that as the crowd pressed in around Jesus, He said: “This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah.” That sounds almost shocking. / Hadn't Jesus already given signs? / How many signs did they need? He had healed the blind. / He had cleansed lepers. / He had restored crippled bodies. / He had raised the dead. / He had fed thousands. / He had cast out demons. Immediately before this passage, He had delivered a man who could not speak because of demonic oppression. / And some still said, “Show us a sign.” At some point, the problem is no longer a lack of evidence. / The problem is unwillingness to respond to the evidence already given. The Sign of Jonah Jesus says Jonah will be the sign. / Jonah carried two powerful meanings. First, Jonah was a prophet sent by God with a message. / He went to Nineveh and said, essentially, “Judgment is coming. Repent.” / There were no fireworks. / No extended miracle campaign. /No entertainment. Just the Word of God. / And Nineveh responded. Second, as Matthew 12 makes clearer, Jonah's experience in the great fish also points forward to Jesus' death and resurrection. Jonah disappeared into the depths and emerged alive. / Jesus would descend into death and emerge victorious on the third day. The ultimate sign would not be another temporary miracle. / It would be the empty tomb.   Ancient Context: Nineveh Nineveh was not a pleasant little Gentile village. / It was associated with Assyria, one of the most brutal imperial powers of the ancient world. / Assyrian warfare was infamous for cruelty. They terrorized conquered...

Sometimes the Gospels raise questions that feel dangerous to ask: if Jesus is fully God and fully man, how can Scripture also show Him growing, developing, responding, and acting within a specific mission? Joe Rockey brings that tension directly to Father Boniface Hicks through examples like the wedding at Cana, the Canaanite woman, the cleansing of the Temple, and Jesus' outreach beyond Israel. The result is a careful conversation about Christ's humanity, His divinity, and how God's universal plan unfolds through particular people, places, and relationships.Father explains that Jesus' mission is universal in its final purpose—He desires the salvation of the whole world—but proximate in its historical method. Jesus ministers first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, forms the apostles, fulfills the covenant, and then sends the Church outward to the Gentiles. The apostles themselves had to grow into that understanding, especially through Peter, Cornelius, the Holy Spirit, and the early Church's discernment.The conversation also turns practical: every Christian has a mission field. The whole world matters, but most of us serve the whole by loving, teaching, witnessing, and evangelizing the people directly entrusted to us—family, parish, workplace, friends, and the communities God places before us. Father's own mission field as a parish priest becomes one example of how a specific assignment participates in the broader mission of Christ.Finally, Joe and Father discuss how to read Scripture faithfully. The Gospels are not distortions of Jesus; they are true witness, written by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the Holy Spirit preserves details whose full meaning becomes clearer later, like “Easter eggs” in salvation history. Jesus truly grows in His humanity, while His divine mission remains ordered by the Father from the beginning.**Key Ideas*** Jesus is fully God and fully man; His humanity truly develops without His divine mission being confused or incomplete.* Jesus' mission is universal in purpose, but historically begins with Israel and then extends through the Church to the Gentiles.* The Canaanite woman reveals faith and order: the children first, then the household pets—not rejection, but mission unfolding.* Every Christian has a mission field: not everyone all at once, but the people God actually places before us.* Scripture is written through real human authors, but the Holy Spirit is the primary author guiding the deeper unity of salvation history.**Scripture Mentioned*** Wedding at Cana* The Canaanite woman / “lost sheep of the house of Israel”* Cleansing of the Temple / courtyard of the Gentiles* Peter and Cornelius* Council of Jerusalem* The centurion / “Lord, I am not worthy”* Luke 2:51–52 — Jesus growing in wisdom and grace* Moses' staff and the hyssop branch at the Crucifixion**Links & References**None explicitly referenced with a clear official/source link in this episode.**CTA:** If this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend.Questions or thoughts? Email [FatherAndJoe@gmail.com](mailto:FatherAndJoe@gmail.com).### TagsFather and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, Jesus Christ, fully God fully man, Incarnation, humanity of Jesus, divinity of Jesus, mission of Jesus, universal salvation, Israel, Gentiles, Canaanite woman, lost sheep of Israel, wedding at Cana, Mary, do whatever he tells you, cleansing of the Temple, courtyard of the Gentiles, Peter and Cornelius, Council of Jerusalem, centurion, Lord I am not worthy, Luke 2, Jesus grew in wisdom, Holy Spirit, inspiration of Scripture, Gospel writers, salvation history, Old Testament, New Testament, Moses, Moses' staff, hyssop, covenant, chosen people, evangelization, mission field, parish mission, family mission, Catholic faith, relationship with God, relationship with others, relationship with self, discernment, Scripture study, Catholic podcast, Christology, faith questions, asking hard questions

Send us a message!We read Ephesians 3–4 and trace the shift from what God has done in Christ to how we live as his body in the world. We lean into Paul's vision of the church as God's dwelling place and ask what it looks like to submit when God's work in us feels disruptive.• Gentiles welcomed as fellow citizens in God's household• The church as God's revealed mystery and cosmic display• Paul's prayer for inner strength and rooted love• The “therefore” turning point toward living worthy• Unity of the Spirit grounded in one Lord and one faith• Spiritual gifts and leaders equipping the saints for ministry• Growing into maturity by speaking truth in love• Putting off the old self and putting on the new• Practical commands about anger, speech, work, and forgiveness• Salvation framed as a heart transplant and a rebuilt house At outloudbible.com, you can find free resources to help you study the Bible. And while you're there, send us a message to say hi, or start a conversation about having us at your church or event. If Outloud Bible has been a valuable part of your understanding of the Bible, please consider supporting the ministry by visiting outloudbible.com.Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Read OnlineThe Holy One of GodIn the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. Luke 4:33–35Yesterday, we began reading from the Gospel of Luke in our weekday liturgies, and we will continue to do so until the season of Advent. Luke's Gospel was written especially for Gentile converts—those unfamiliar with Jewish customs—presenting Jesus not only as the fulfillment of Israel's hopes but also as the Savior of all humanity. Unlike Matthew, who highlights Christ's fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, Luke reveals a broader vision: a universal Savior who brings healing, mercy, and salvation to the poor, the outcast, and the sinner.In today's passage, that universal mission is subtly foreshadowed through Jesus' divine authority. Though the setting is a Jewish synagogue in Capernaum, His actions speak to a power not confined to time, place, or people. With a simple word, Jesus rebukes the demon, silences its protest, and frees the afflicted man. The astonishment of the crowd—“What is there about his word?”—captures the essence of the moment: Here is One whose authority reaches even into the unseen spiritual world and commands it.Though He ministers among His own people, Jesus is not merely a teacher of the Law or a local prophet. His authority is absolute, His identity divine. The demon's cry—“I know who you are, the Holy One of God!”—offers a strange testimony: Even the spiritual forces of darkness recognize and submit to Him. This is not just a healing; it is a confrontation between the kingdom of God and the powers of evil. And it is only the beginning.Luke includes this scene early in his Gospel to show that Jesus' mission is one of liberation—liberation from sin, bondage, and every form of darkness. The fact that this miracle occurs in a synagogue reminds us that no place, however sacred, is immune to the presence of evil. But more importantly, it reminds us that no evil is immune to the authority of Christ.It is also helpful to recall the broader context. This event comes shortly after Jesus' baptism, His forty days in the desert, and His rejection in Nazareth. That rejection led Him to Capernaum, a humble fishing village that would become the center of His Galilean ministry. It is here that He will call Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew—men who will carry His Gospel to the ends of the earth. Thus, what begins in a small synagogue soon echoes to the nations.Reflect today on the universal scope of Luke's Gospel, which we will hear over the coming months. Though Jesus begins within Israel, His mission reaches every soul. By beginning His ministry with a confrontation against evil, Jesus reveals that He has come not only to teach but to conquer—to break the chains of darkness and bring divine healing to the world. His Word still speaks with authority. May we listen, believe, and be set free from the evil one and all his demonic powers, so that we may help proclaim Christ's Kingdom to the ends of the earth in our own unique ways.My Lord and Holy One of God, from the very beginning of Your public ministry, You established Your divine authority over evil, revealing that You came to destroy the kingdom of darkness and to build Your Eternal Kingdom of truth and grace. Please cast out all evil and sin from my heart, so that Your reign may take full possession of my soul. Use me as You will to further Your Kingdom on earth, bringing Your light and truth to the ends of the earth, one soul at a time. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Jesus Casts Out the Evil Spirit, by Julius Schnorr von CarolsfeldSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Episode Synopsis:The church in Rome was predominately Gentile–made up of recent converts from Greco-Roman paganism to Christianity.  Such Gentiles knew little if anything about the Old Testament, nor its central figures, Abraham, Moses, and David.  They knew that Jewish Christians cared about dietary restrictions, as well as circumcision–a surgical procedure which seemed bizarre to former Gentile pagans.  They knew the Jews revered the law of Moses–which they claimed to be the very commandments from God.  Gentiles ate things Jews did not.  They touched things Jews regarded as unclean.  As new Christians, Gentiles were learning about the evils of idolatry and the importance of rejecting the libertine sexual ethics and practices of Roman life in favor of a biblical sexuality.  But they were also learning about Moses, Abraham, the law, and the covenants God made with Abraham and Moses.  Paul has been clear in the opening chapter of his letter to Rome.  “You Gentiles may not have known who Moses was, nor why the commandments God gave to Israel through him at Mount Sinai were so important, but you do know what is right and what is wrong because God has made it plain to you through the created order, which, until coming to faith in Jesus, you tried to suppress in unrighteousness.  You may claim ignorance, but you knew deep down inside that the things you were doing lead to death."  But Paul is not finished.  Even as he exposes Gentile godlessness and the futility of exchanging the truth of God for pagan nonsense, you can almost hear the Jewish Christians in Rome cheering Paul on.  Eyewitnesses of bad Gentile behavior and victims of Gentile oppression, Jewish converts, of course, were thrilled to hear Paul “give it to them good.”  “About time someone called out the Gentiles for their sinful and immoral practices.”But as the second chapter of Romans unfolds, Paul shifts gears and raises the uncomfortable reality of Jewish hypocrisy.  “OK, you Jews who criticize the Gentiles, do you do the same things they do?”  “How can you judge the Gentiles when you are no better.”  The truth is, God is going to judge all people according to their works–Jew and Gentile.  The blessing/curse principle will apply to all humanity.  Those who do good will receive God's blessing, while those who do not keep God's commands will face him on the day of judgment.  Yes, Paul has good news to proclaim, but there can be no good news until we realize that we are sinful, law-breakers, and deserving of God's wrath whether we be Jew or Gentile.For show notes and other recommended materials located at the Riddleblog as mentioned during the Blessed Hope Podcast, click here:  https://www.kimriddlebarger.com/

What if one of the most loving things a Christian can say to another Christian is, “You have sinned against me”? In this episode, we confront Jesus' startling command to name sin—not to win an argument, punish someone, or make the church a better organization, but so that a sinner can hear the forgiveness of Christ. Jesus gives the church the authority to bind and loose sin, because sometimes the Gospel cannot be heard until someone is willing to hold up the mirror and say, “You have a problem—and Christ has come to forgive it.”GOSPEL Matthew 18:15-2015 "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. 16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."CARE OF SOULS: DEATHIn Care of Souls, a special mini-series podcast from Luther House of Study, Lutheran pastors and theologians come together to explore the deeply personal and pastoral task of preaching to and caring for those facing death, grief, and loss.Rooted in the theology of the cross and the Lutheran tradition of radical grace, this series offers both theological depth and practical guidance for pastors, church workers, and lay leaders.Across five episodes, the hosts tackle tough but essential questions on death:How does Lutheran theology speak uniquely to death and grief?What does faithful pastoral care look like when walking alongside those who mourn?How can pastors offer both honesty and hope in the face of tragedy and loss?What does ministry look like when death impacts the pastor as well as the congregation?Why do funerals matter, and what is God giving through them?With conversations, real-life stories, and reflections from the front lines of ministry, Care of Souls equips listeners to enter the sorrow of death not with easy answers, but with the crucified and risen Christ.Because in the end, it's not about avoiding death—it's about hearing the Gospel from the One who has passed through death and opened the way to life.Listen to Care of Souls wherever you listen to podcasts or on the Luther House website: Care of SoulsSupport the showInterested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?Email Sarah at sarah@lhos.org or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

In this Q&A, we tackle life struggles with chronic fear, reconciling with abusers, alongside Biblical questions about baptism, the biblical feasts, Levitical law and more! What We Cover in This Episode: 1. Paul & The Biblical Feasts: Why does it seem like the Apostle Paul didn't encourage Gentile believers to keep the biblical festivals? 2. Rules of Baptism?: Does it matter who baptizes you? We cover gender, denominations, and whether you can baptize yourself. 3. Levitical Unclean Laws: Do Old Testament laws of ritual uncleanness apply to followers of Christ today? 4. Forgiving Abusers: Does true forgiveness require you to stay in close proximity with someone who abused you? 5. Overcoming Chronic Fear: How to defeat the paralyzing anxiety of constant "what if" scenarios. Support Rise on Fire Ministries by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/rise-on-fireRead transcript

What does it really mean to be part of the family of God? In this episode of the Other Six Podcast, we dive deeper into Romans 12 and Ephesians 2 to uncover what it means to move from being strangers and outsiders to being fully welcomed into God's household. Paul's message to the early church was more than an invitation to attend—it was a call to belong, to serve, and to recognize that we are members of one another. We'll explore the tension between Jewish and Gentile believers in the first-century church, the difference between spiritual gifts and natural talents, and why serving isn't simply about volunteering—it's one of the ways we live out our identity as the family of God. Because church feels like family when you treat it like family.

God brings together diverse people through faith in Jesus and makes them a family.

Send us a message!We start Ephesians by tracing Paul's history with Ephesus and then reading chapters 1 and 2 as a focused picture of what God has done for us in Christ. We end by challenging ourselves to rethink peace as reconciliation and to take seriously what it means to be Jesus' body on earth.• the origin story of the Ephesian church in Acts 19 and the clash with Artemis worship and occult practices • Paul writing from house arrest in Rome and why the prison letters carry urgency and heart • how Ephesians is structured around what God has done and how we respond • spiritual blessings, adoption, redemption and the Holy Spirit as the seal of our inheritance • “by grace you are saved through faith” as the center of identity and assurance • Gentiles brought near, hostility killed and a new unified people formed in Christ • the church as Christ's body and why unity matters for mission • Jehovah Shalom and peace as God's declared end of conflict • reflection questions on living as a member of Jesus' body  At outloudbible.com, you can find free resources to help you study the Bible. And while you're there, send us a message to say hi, or start a conversation about having us at your church or event. If Outloud Bible has been a valuable part of your understanding of the Bible, please consider supporting the ministry by visiting outloudbible.com.Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

The church in Antioch was something else. Antioch was the third largest and most influential city in the Roman Empire, about 300 miles north of Jerusalem. While the first converts there were Jewish, the church exploded when the Gospel was proclaimed to Gentiles. This church became the model for all the churches planted in Acts. They were active on mission in their city, cared for their hurting brothers and sisters in Judea, and sent their best leaders to the nations on mission. We desire to be a church in the mold of Antioch. So to stay on mission we have a set of eight core values that has shaped our church for 20 years and we hope will shape our church for decades more. These are the pillars that support our vision and the tools we use to evaluate everything we do here. We hope these values will help us lift our chin to see our neighbors in Eureka/Pacific while also shaping us to be a church in getting the Gospel to all nations.

With season 1 and 2 complete we move into Acts: Season 3. The narrative shifts to Antioch and the focus is on Paul - previously called Saul - as he shares the gospel in Gentile areas. ___ At the end of season three we wrap up Acts 19 with the impact of the Gospel affecting the economy in Ephesus. The way of Ephesus is threatened and those making the most money off of her worship of Artemis are in fear of losing their abundance.

Read OnlineA Holy ProvocationWhen the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away. Luke 4:28–30What a sobering beginning to our Lord's public ministry. Shortly after His baptism in the Jordan River and the establishment of Capernaum as the center of His ministry, Jesus began calling His disciples and performing powerful miracles. News of His preaching and healing spread rapidly, reaching His hometown of Nazareth.When Jesus returned to Nazareth, those who had known Him from His youth were not prepared for what they witnessed. In the synagogue, He stood and read from the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah. It was a messianic passage foretelling the One anointed by the Spirit to bring glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed. After reading, Jesus sat down and solemnly proclaimed, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” With these words, He revealed Himself to be the long-awaited Messiah.At first, the people were amazed at the gracious words He spoke. But their awe quickly turned to confusion, then to hostility. “Is this not the son of Joseph?” they asked, unable to reconcile the divine authority they had just encountered with the humble figure they remembered from years past. Their familiarity bred contempt. Their hearts, bound by human reasoning and pride, could not accept the divine mystery standing before them.Perceiving their thoughts, Jesus addressed the unspoken demand in their hearts—the desire to see in Nazareth the same wonders He had performed elsewhere. But He offered them no signs. Instead, He offered truth, recalling that in the days of Elijah and Elisha, God's blessings were extended not to Israelites, but to Gentiles—a widow in Zarephath and a leper from Syria. This comparison deeply offended their national pride and shattered their assumptions about divine favor. Rather than receiving His rebuke with humility, they were filled with fury. The crowd attempted to kill the very One they had once known as neighbor and craftsman. Yet Jesus, untouched, “passed through the midst of them and went away.”Jesus certainly knew this would happen. In His divine wisdom, He foresaw the reaction He would receive. And in a mysterious way, He even appears to draw it out. Why? Because this holy provocation was an act of mercy. In exposing the hardness of their hearts, Jesus gave them an opportunity to confront their pride, repent, and receive the Kingdom in truth.In the months and years ahead, many of the people of Nazareth likely benefited from this initial encounter. There is little doubt that after Jesus left Nazareth, He remained the talk of the town. There is no record of Him returning. However, as He continued His public ministry, the people who had rejected Him would have continued to hear reports of His authoritative preaching and miraculous works. Some may have even traveled to nearby towns, such as Capernaum, to witness Him for themselves. In doing so, their initial rejection would have confronted them anew—forcing a choice: Either repent and believe, or grow in bitterness and confusion. Either Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah or He was a false prophet. There could be no middle ground.Reflect today on the mysterious ways Jesus continues to provoke hearts—including your own. Sometimes His Word unsettles us not because it is harsh, but because it is true, and we are unprepared to accept it and change. The people of Nazareth teach us that we—like them—sometimes need our pride stirred up so we can see it and reject it. As you consider the people of Nazareth from that moment forward, see yourself in them. Recognize any ways that you respond with hostility to humbling truths that are hard to accept, and allow time and grace to heal you—helping you to repent and grow in gratitude for Jesus' humbling and holy provocation.My challenging Lord, You see into the depths of my heart. When I resist Your Word, provoke me in mercy. Confront my pride, reveal my blindness, and call me to repentance. May I never reject You, but always surrender with trust to the truth You offer. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: The Brow of the Hill near Nazareth, by James Tissot  Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Pastor Jordan Boyce is preaching on Divine Orchestration: When God Answers Prayer Through People.

Sunday evening message from the pulpit of Falls Baptist Church

Romans 2:12–29 shows that conscience, knowledge, and religious rituals cannot make us right with God. Everyone has some awareness of right and wrong, but none of us consistently lives up to even our own standards. Knowing Scripture and correct doctrine is important, but simply knowing the truth is not enough if we don't live it. In the same way, outward religious practices like baptism, traditions, and ceremonies have value, but they cannot replace genuine faith and a transformed heart. Paul's point is that we cannot rescue ourselves through being good, knowing the Bible, or practicing religion. When we trust those things, they can actually lead to pride and hypocrisy because we begin judging others while overlooking our own failures. What we truly need is Jesus. God isn't looking merely for outward religious behavior; He wants inward transformation. Our hope is not in how much we know or what religious things we do, but in Christ's grace that forgives us, changes our hearts, and makes us children of God.

Join Paul and Barnabas as they embark on a bold journey to unite Jews and Gentiles under Christ, fulfilling the Great Commission amidst persecution and trials.In this episode, Paul and Barnabas set out on their mission to spread the gospel, facing resistance and hardships but remaining steadfast in their calling. As they witness the growing movement of believers in Antioch, they prepare for greater challenges and an emerging role as leaders of the early church.Today's Bible verse is Matthew 28:19, from the King James Version.Download the ⁠Pray.com⁠ app for more Christian content including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.ories.Pray.com is the digital destination for faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Topic: Justification Whiskey Review: Monkey Shoulder the Original Check out our Substack: Manhood Neat Podcast  Follow us on all your podcast platforms and: Instagram: @manhoodneat X: Manhood Neat (@ManhoodNeat) / X Youtube: Manhood, Neat Podcast - YouTube Reach out: manhood.neat@gmail.com   Show Notes: Justification Salvation Justification - Sanctification - Glorification How are the benefits of the cross transferred into our lives or how does that saving work become ours? We are declared right before God by faith in Jesus Christ alone.  Justification by faith.  We do not achieve righteousness. We receive it.  The Performance Reward System Eph. 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” We are trained from early life to think about how performance produces reward.  From childhood on we learn: Behave well and receive praise Achieve and receive recognition Fail and experience disappointment Perform and prove your worth This framework has quietly shaped how we approach God.  Eph 2 destroys that logic. Its Salvation: By grace Through faith Not from ourselves Not by works Good works matter, but they come after Salvation, not before it.  They are the evidence of salvation and part of sanctification, not the basis. Have I done enough? No. Christ has.  The only thing we bring to our salvation is the sin that requires it A disciple obeys from acceptance, not for acceptance.  The Righteousness of God: Just and Justifier Rom. 3:21-26 “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[b] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” “The righteousness of God” is often misunderstood.  “God is righteous and we are sinful” This drives us into religious performance, trying to please a God that we fear we can never please. God feels: Difficult to please Perpetually disappointed Constantly evaluating Always waiting for improvement God is not only just, He is also the One who justifies. He gives us righteousness.  Our confidence must lie in Christ's completed work, not in our ability to satisfy.  God does not look at sinners and pretend no crime occurred.  We are “guilty as charged” And immediately we are told “ You are free. The payment has been made” Justice has not been ignored. It has been satisfied.  Forgiveness/Justification is not divine denial.  God remains perfectly just while also justifying sinners.  Redemption and Propitiation: Justice Meets Mercy Rom. 3:24-25 “24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[a] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—” Redemption is the price paid to set someone free. Christ's life becomes the ransom price for ours.  Propitiation is the satisfaction of righteous anger. We do not provide the sacrifice to satisfy God. The Father gave the Son  Christ bears the penalty Justice is satisfied Mercy is extended The cross says two things at once: Sin is more serious than we want to believe God loves us more deeply than we dare to imagine.  Faith in Jesus Christ Rom. 3: 21-31 “21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[b] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law. Faith is the means by which the righteousness of Christ becomes ours. Faith is not: Temporary dependence Not an emergency phone call An intellectual agreement Knowing Christian facts is not the same thing as trusting yourself to Christ.  Saving faith has an object: Christ Do I have faith? Where or what is your faith placed in? Faith is an admission of Bankruptcy Saving faith means recognizing that our spiritual account is overdrawn We are bankrupt. Works-based religion says: “Let me show God I can make this right” Faith says” “ I have nothing with which to make myself right” Saving faith is abandoning self-righteousness and ego and throwing ourselves at the foot of the cross and asking for mercy.  We all come to Christ the same way. Empty handed.  There is no room for spiritual superiority when everybody got in the same way.  Faith Produces Obedience - Sanctification Rom. 1:5 “5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from[a] faith for his name's sake.” Faith is not passive. Faith means putting our entire life at Christ's disposal. Trust Dependence Commitment Surrender Obedience does not create justification Real faith does produce an obedient life.  Grace and obedience are not enemies.  Works cannot save us.  Resting in the Finished Verdict.  Rom. 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” We can trust ourselves: Our goodness Our effort Our ability to control outcomes Our religious performance. Or we can trust Christ. To trust in Christ means to relinquish control and receive His righteousness as a gift.  Christ righteousness has credited our account and we are “Paid in full” Justification gives us something the performance-reward system never can: Rest.  No more endless “Have I done enough?” We stop trying to impress God. We live faithfully because Christ has secured a place for us before God.  Closing Thoughts: Justification means the full truth about us is known: Guilty.  And because of Christ, another verdict is spoken: Free.  The righteousness we could never produce has been given to us.  Questions: Where do I still approach God through a performance-reward mindset? When I fail, do I run toward God or try and fix things myself? What am I most tempted to trust besides Christ? Where should my faith be producing more visible obedience?

The Gospel is a practical continuation of last week's way-of-the-cross language. If we are going to follow Jesus together, how do we handle it when we hurt each other? Matthew 18 gives us one of the most concrete passages in the New Testament about how a Christian community handles conflict — a text often preached badly and often skipped altogether.Track One brings us the institution of Passover — the community meal that will define God's people, remembered forever. Track Two brings us Ezekiel as watchman — the prophet made responsible to warn, but not responsible for the response. The Epistle gives us the ethical grounding for all of it: owe no one anything except love, for love is the fulfillment of the law.For preachers continuing a series: last week we heard about taking up the cross and following. This week, the road brings us into a specific and hard question — what does following look like when the person following alongside us has hurt us?Photo curated by Unsplash.comThe ReadingsExodus 12:1–14First Reading (Track One) — Passover InstitutedSummaryGod gives Moses and Aaron detailed instructions for a meal — one that will mark a whole new calendar, and one that will be remembered for generations. Each household takes a year-old lamb without blemish, keeps it until the fourteenth of the month, and then slaughters it at twilight. The blood is put on the doorposts and lintel. The lamb is roasted whole, eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, and the family eats in haste — dressed to travel, sandals on their feet, staff in hand. It is the Passover of the Lord. And this night is to be remembered as a festival forever.Key Ideas for Preaching* The instructions are elaborate and detailed — a whole liturgy for a meal. Israel's freedom will begin with a shared table and a specific practice of remembering. Where in your congregation has the shared table been reduced to a formality, and how might this text restore its weight?* The lamb is to be shared — if your household is too small, join with a neighbor. Even the meal of deliverance requires community. What might it mean for your people to hear that no one is meant to eat this meal alone?* The meal is eaten “in haste, ready to travel.” This is not a celebration of arrival but a meal for the road. God's people are being fed for a journey they have not yet made. Where in your congregation has faith been imagined as arrival, when the biblical picture is more often provision for the road?* Jesus will later use this meal as the frame for his own last supper with his disciples. Christian preachers should honor both readings — the meal as it is celebrated by our Jewish neighbors, and the meal as it has shaped the Christian eucharist — without letting the second erase the first.Significant Cautions* Do not preach the Passover in a way that reduces its meaning for Jewish communities who continue to celebrate it. The Christian tradition of reading Jesus into this meal is real, but it does not replace the meal's own meaning.* The tenth plague, which frames this text, involves the death of every firstborn in Egypt. Do not skip this or celebrate it. It is a hard, painful part of the story that deserves acknowledgment rather than triumphalism.Psalm 149The Psalm (Track One) — The Lord Takes Pleasure in His PeopleSummaryA short psalm of praise for the community of the faithful. Sing a new song. Praise God in the assembly. Let the faithful dance and rejoice, for the Lord takes pleasure in his people and adorns the humble with victory. The closing verses take a sharp turn toward warfare — a two-edged sword, vengeance on the nations, binding kings — that has troubled Christian readers for centuries.Key Ideas for Preaching* “The Lord takes pleasure in his people.” That is one of the most tender lines in the psalter — God as a delighted parent, not a distant judge. Where has your congregation quietly assumed God's default posture toward them was disappointment?* “He adorns the humble with victory.” The word for adorn is not the language of grim reward — it is the language of dressing up, decorating, honoring. God does not merely permit the humble to succeed; God delights in decking them out. What might your sermon do with a God whose delight in the humble is that concrete?Significant Cautions* The closing verses about the two-edged sword and executing vengeance have been used in some of the worst chapters of Christian history — to justify religious violence, crusades, and colonial conquest. Do not preach the joyful opening without acknowledging what the closing verses have done in the world.Ezekiel 33:7–11First Reading (Track Two) — The WatchmanSummaryGod appoints Ezekiel as a watchman for the house of Israel. He is to warn the wicked when he hears God's word — and if he fails to warn them and they die in their iniquity, their blood will be on his hands. But if he warns them and they refuse to turn, he has done his duty. The passage ends with a striking word from God: “As I live, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live. Turn back, turn back... why will you die, O house of Israel?”Key Ideas for Preaching* The watchman is responsible to warn, not responsible for the response. That is a distinction many faithful people have not been given. Where in your congregation are people carrying the weight of outcomes that were never theirs to control?* “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live.” That is God's own posture. The God we serve is not eager for judgment; God is longing for return. Where in your congregation has God been imagined as more eager to judge than the text actually depicts?* The plea “why will you die?” is the heart of this passage. It is not the voice of a wrathful judge; it is the voice of a heartbroken parent. What might it look like to preach a God who genuinely does not want the people God loves to be destroyed?Significant Cautions* The watchman role has been used throughout Christian history to justify harsh, aggressive, and self-righteous confrontation. That is a distortion. Ezekiel is not being given license to browbeat; he is being given a solemn responsibility of loving witness.* The “blood on your hands” language is meant to weigh on the prophet, not to be used to weigh on ordinary Christians who are silent for good reasons. Be careful.Psalm 119:33–40The Psalm (Track Two) — Turn My Eyes from VanitiesSummaryAnother section of the long acrostic psalm on God's word. The psalmist prays to be taught God's statutes, given understanding to keep them, turned from vanities, and given life. The prayer is not that God's law be made easy but that the psalmist be shaped to receive it.Key Ideas for Preaching* “Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.” That is a beautiful pairing — asking to be turned from what wastes attention and asking, in the same breath, for life. Where in your congregation are people whose eyes have been captured by vanities they cannot easily look away from?* Every verb in this section is a request. The psalmist is not boasting about his obedience; he is asking to be made able to obey. What might it look like to preach a faith that begins with asking, not with claiming?Significant Cautions* The psalm's love for God's law is not legalism. Do not preach against a strawman the psalm never sets up.Romans 13:8–14The Epistle — Love Fulfills the LawSummaryPaul turns to specific ethical instruction. Owe no one anything except the debt to love one another — for the one who loves fulfills the law. The commandments — do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet — are all summed up in one word: love your neighbor as yourself. Then Paul shifts key. You know what time it is, he says. The night is far gone; the day is near. Wake from sleep. Lay aside the works of darkness. Put on the armor of light. Live honorably as in the day. And put on the Lord Jesus Christ.Key Ideas for Preaching* “Owe no one anything except to love one another.” Paul frames love as a debt that cannot be paid off — it is owed continually, freshly, to every neighbor. Where has your congregation quietly imagined love as a finite currency, when Paul describes it as a debt you carry always?* Love, Paul says, is the fulfillment of the law. Not its opposite. Not its softening. Its fulfillment. What does it mean for your sermon to hold together the demands of Christian ethics and the primacy of love, without letting one erase the other?* “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ” is one of the most striking phrases in Paul. He treats Christ like a garment we put on each morning. Where in your congregation might people be helped by the practice of consciously beginning the day this way?Significant Cautions* “The night is far gone, the day is near” has been misused as fuel for end-times prediction. Paul is describing a posture of expectant readiness, not a timetable.* The love-fulfills-the-law language has been used to argue against Christian ethical seriousness — “as long as we love, anything goes.” That is not Paul's argument. He names the specific commandments and says love is what actually makes them possible.Matthew 18:15–20The Gospel — If Your Brother Sins Against YouSummaryJesus gives his disciples a specific process for handling harm within the community. If a member sins against you, go first alone and speak with them privately. If they will not listen, take one or two others as witnesses. If they still will not listen, tell the church. And if they still refuse, treat them as a Gentile and a tax collector. Then Jesus repeats the binding and loosing language he gave Peter two chapters ago — but now given to the whole community. And he closes with a promise that has become one of the most quoted verses in the New Testament: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”Key Ideas for Preaching* Jesus takes it as a given that members of the community will hurt each other. He does not offer a formula for avoiding conflict; he offers a process for handling it faithfully. Where in your congregation has the desire to avoid conflict been mistaken for the practice of peace?* The process starts private. Alone. One-on-one. Not a public accusation. Not a group text. Not a whispered campaign. The person who has been hurt is asked to go to the person who hurt them, face to face. What would your congregation look like if this were the default rather than the exception?* “Treat them as a Gentile and a tax collector” is one of the most misinterpreted lines in the Gospels. Matthew's Jesus eats with Gentiles and tax collectors constantly. He calls a tax collector to be his disciple. The instruction is not “shun them” — it is closer to “regard them as one who is still being invited in.” What might your sermon do with the possibility that this passage is not about excommunication but about the persistence of love?* “Where two or three are gathered in my name” is almost always quoted as a promise for small groups, retreats, and prayer meetings. In context, it is the promise that Christ is present in the community's hardest work — its discernment about hurt and reconciliation. What might it change to hear this verse in its actual context?Significant Cautions* The whole passage has been used throughout Christian history to justify shunning, excommunication, church trials, and harsh discipline. Jesus is not endorsing any of that. The process he outlines is designed to protect the offender's dignity at every step, keeping the circle as small as possible for as long as possible.* The “two or three gathered” verse has been so thoroughly severed from its context that many congregations have never heard it in the passage where it actually appears. If you can restore that connection, do.* Do not use this passage to force conflict-avoidant congregations into confrontation they are not ready for. The text describes what a mature community's process should look like; it does not weaponize confrontation for its own sake.Thematic ConnectionsThe Gospel is the natural center — a specific, practical passage about how a following community handles its own harm.On Track One, Passover pairs with the Gospel in a specific way. Both texts are about how a community holds itself together — one through a shared meal remembered across generations, the other through a shared process for repair. Both assume the community is worth preserving, and that preservation requires practice.On Track Two, Ezekiel's watchman pairs directly with the Gospel's opening instruction to go and tell your brother. Both texts insist that loving witness includes the willingness to speak. And both temper that responsibility with a limit — the watchman is not accountable for the response, and neither is the disciple in Matthew 18.Romans 13 gives us the ground under all of it. Owe no one anything except love. If love is genuinely the fulfillment of the law, then the Matthew process is not a code of church discipline; it is what love looks like when it refuses to give up on someone.For preachers continuing a series: last week's “get behind me” was about following. This week's passage is about what happens when the ones following alongside us hurt us. Next week will bring the parable of the unforgiving servant — a continuation of the same Matthew 18 arc on community life. This is a public episode. 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Welcome to the Podcast of Southwest Bible Fellowship in Tempe, Arizona. WHO ARE WE? • We are a group of people who are committed to living the grace life as set forth by the apostle of the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul. • We come together to study our Bibles, and yes, we believe we have God's perfect Word in the King James Bible. It and it alone is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice! • We do not come together and study our Bibles for the intent of being smarter than others. We understand that knowledge for the sake of knowledge is purely vain and serves no Godly purpose. • We do come together and study our Bibles for the intent of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that we have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless we live; yet not us, but Christ liveth in us: and the life which we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us. (Galatians 2:20) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that because Jesus Christ shed His blood for us and we should not live for ourselves but for Him, who died for us and rose again. (2 Cor. 5:15) • We do not claim to have attained to these lofty goals, but we press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) You can donate to this ministry through www.butnow.org and the PayPal button on the homepage.

Welcome to the Podcast of Southwest Bible Fellowship in Tempe, Arizona. WHO ARE WE? • We are a group of people who are committed to living the grace life as set forth by the apostle of the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul. • We come together to study our Bibles, and yes, we believe we have God's perfect Word in the King James Bible. It and it alone is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice! • We do not come together and study our Bibles for the intent of being smarter than others. We understand that knowledge for the sake of knowledge is purely vain and serves no Godly purpose. • We do come together and study our Bibles for the intent of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that we have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless we live; yet not us, but Christ liveth in us: and the life which we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us. (Galatians 2:20) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that because Jesus Christ shed His blood for us and we should not live for ourselves but for Him, who died for us and rose again. (2 Cor. 5:15) • We do not claim to have attained to these lofty goals, but we press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) You can donate to this ministry through www.butnow.org and the PayPal button on the homepage.

Paul never met this church. A preacher named Epaphras rode all the way from Colossae to Rome to ask the greatest church starter there ever was what to do about the mess back home. What Paul sent back was three colossal warnings. Kevin Weatherby preaches Colossians 2, where a young Gentile church sits on the main trade route between Laodicea and Hierapolis with every philosophy in the known world hauled straight through town. Shallow roots that pull up the first time something takes a bite. New revelation that is neither new nor true. And the Jesus plus crowd, always adding a rule Jesus never said. Jesus plus anything equals nothing. Jesus plus nothing equals everything. In this message: Get a good root system: belief is the seed, following is the fruit Beware Christian seasoning: if it's new, it ain't true Beware legalism: the Jesus plus crowd and the joy vampires Scripture: Colossians 2:2-3, 6-8, 16, 18-23, Jeremiah 6:16 Grab this week's free 5-day Bible study at savethecowboy.org. Watch the full message: vimeo.com/1220605018 Read the Bible in plain cowboy talk, the Simplified Cowboy Version: simplifiedcowboyversion.com Ride with the Long X Ranch Cowboys: lxranch.org Give to the ministry: savethecowboy.org A sick pen for sinners, not a show ring for saints.

How should we be sharing our faith in the public square? Paul gives us some great instruction about dealing with with those outside the faith. In Colossians 4:5-6 he says, "Conduct yourself with wisdom towards outsiders (those outside of the faith). Let your speech be with grace, seasoned as it were with salt, so that you know how to respond to each person."I think Paul is following his own instruction and we should too.Acts 17:16-17 tells of Paul's time in Athens:"Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be present." >>Watch on YouTube

Send us Fan MailImportant Note: Next Episode will be Sept. 27thKen Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison mark five years of “Pondering the Bible” (240 episodes heard in 112 countries and 795 cities) before continuing their Romans study in season 18, episode 25, covering Romans 11:11–21 and noting translation differences in paragraph breaks. They discuss Paul's question about whether Israel stumbled to be damned, his emphatic “by no means,” and the idea that Jewish rejection opened salvation to Gentiles to provoke Jewish jealousy leading to some Jews being saved, clarifying that “full inclusion” refers to the completeness of salvation, not all Jews. They explore “life from the dead” as end-times resurrection (citing R.C. Sproul), the firstfruits/root/branches and olive tree grafting illustration, debate what the “root” represents, and emphasize Paul's warning that Gentile believers must not boast, since God can also remove them. 00:00 Welcome and Milestone 01:13 Romans 11 Setup 02:42 Reading the Passage 04:25 Stumbled or Hardened 06:14 Jealousy and Inclusion 09:03 Save Some of Them 12:06 Life from the Dead 14:22 Firstfruits and Root 17:09 Grafted In Warning 22:12 Gentile Pride Check 23:50 Travel Break and WrapNEW!: Rate us at Podchaser  Find us at www.pondergmc.org. Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team.Cover Art: Joe WagnerRecorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock 

Sunday Morning Service Series - A Series covering the Book of Romans: Today we cover Romans 7: 1-6, License to Sin v, Legalism Pt 1 Romans is a theological letter written by Paul the Apostle explaining the gospel and how God saves humanity through grace by faith in Jesus Christ. It teaches that all people—both Jews and Gentiles—are sinners in need of salvation, and that righteousness comes not through the law but through faith in Christ. The letter also calls believers to live transformed lives marked by humility, unity, love, and obedience to God. If you are interested in attending our LIVE teachings (Wednesdays @ 7:00 pm & Sundays @ 10:00 am), you are invited to visit us at 4218 Boston Ave. Lubbock, Texas. To connect with us, you can call us at (806) 799-2227, email us at calvarylubbock@hotmail.com, or checkout our website at CalvaryChapelLubbock.church. You can also watch us on Facebook and contact us through Facebook Messenger. Please feel free to let us know about your walk with Jesus, as we would love to hear it and pray with you. If you'd like to partner with us to help us take the Gospel to the world, just click on the DONATE button on our website, let us know through Facebook Messenger, or in person. We pray that the rest of your week be blessed and that you share the love of Jesus with everyone that you encounter.

This sermon explores the doctrine of justification by faith alone, using Abraham as the primary example from Romans 4. It contrasts human works and religious rituals with God's grace, explaining that righteousness is imputed to believers solely through trust in Christ rather than earned by merit. The preacher emphasizes that salvation is a gift received by believing in Jesus' death and resurrection, ensuring that all glory belongs to God. This theological foundation applies equally to Jews and Gentiles, establishing faith as the only requirement for being counted righteous before God.

Read OnlineA Stark Contrast“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Matthew 16:23This scene likely unfolds in or near Caesarea Philippi, a Gentile region steeped in pagan worship. There, at the mouth of a cave long associated with the entrance to the netherworld—believed by some pagans to be the very gate of Hades—Jesus had just questioned His disciples: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” and then more directly, “But who do you say that I am?” (cf. Matthew 16:13–15). Peter, speaking with conviction on behalf of the Twelve, boldly proclaimed, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus responded by declaring him “Peter,” the rock upon which He would build His Church, promising that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”Just moments later, Jesus issues one of the strongest rebukes recorded in the Gospels: “Get behind me, Satan!” The same Peter who had just spoken divine truth now speaks human fear and shortsightedness. In trying to dissuade Jesus from His suffering and death, Peter unknowingly opposes the very mission of the Messiah. Jesus calls this mindset not merely a mistake, but a diabolical temptation—echoing the same temptation He faced in the desert, when satan sought to lure Him away from the Cross with promises of worldly glory.What a stark contrast. Peter goes from being the rock of faith to an obstacle in the Lord's path. But why was Jesus so severe in His response?Because the stakes were eternal. The Cross is not optional. It is the means of salvation—not just for Jesus, but for all who would follow Him. To think otherwise, even with good intention, is to prefer human comfort over divine wisdom. Peter's protest reflects a natural aversion to suffering, but Jesus exposes it for what it truly is: a stumbling block to the will of the Father.This dramatic Gospel scene is recorded for a reason. By calling Peter “Satan,” Jesus wanted to warn him, and us, of the real and ever-present danger of rejecting the way of the Cross. Like Peter, we can easily fall into the trap of wishful thinking and misguided compassion by saying about ourselves or those close to us, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen…” We are saying, in essence: “Lord, please make sure that neither I nor anyone I love ever has to suffer!” But such a prayer, though well-meaning, is clearly mistaken, and Jesus wants that point to be clearly understood.Peter was troubled because “Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” But all that Jesus revealed about His suffering was good—very good. Though His suffering was inflicted by the sins of others, His free and loving embrace of that suffering was the greatest act of love the world has ever known. Peter was blinded to this truth. He could not yet see beyond the horror of suffering to the divine good that would come through Jesus' sacrificial embrace of it.Reflect today on Peter's and Jesus' words: “God forbid, Lord!” and “Get behind me, Satan!” In this exchange, Jesus is also speaking to each of us, saying, “Never run from the Cross!” We must never flee from a selfless and sacrificial embrace of suffering, even when that suffering is unjust. God can and will transform all freely embraced suffering into a means of His eternal glory and our sanctification. With our Lord, reject the evil one's false empathy. Reject the lie that suffering is meaningless. Choose instead to lay down your life in love with Christ, and in doing so, you will rise with Him, victorious over every sin and diabolical lie, overcoming even the sufferings of this life through your free and faithful embrace.My compassionate Lord, Your firm rebuke of Peter was direct, powerful, and loving. Rather than offering false comfort or misleading empathy, You spoke a hard truth to awaken Peter—and all of us—to the spiritual necessity of the Cross. Grant me the grace, dear Lord, to say “Yes” to the suffering I must face. May I embrace it not with fear or resistance, but with a heart filled with Your love and unwavering courage. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Wilfredor, CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Witness how Peter's obedience to God's vision opens the door for the Gentiles to receive the Holy Spirit, transforming lives and expanding the reach of the gospel beyond boundaries.In this episode, Peter receives a divine vision challenging long-held beliefs about clean and unclean, ultimately leading him to share the gospel with the Roman centurion Cornelius and his household. Through this encounter, the Holy Spirit moves powerfully, breaking down cultural barriers and extending God's grace to the Gentiles.Today's Bible verse is Matthew 5:6, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian content including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Pray.com is the digital destination for faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Be Careful When You Share The Truth, Your Tone Or Attitude Can Close The Ears Who Néed To Hear Acts 15:22-29 22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. 23With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. 24We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

Try the BibleACTS app!: https://bibleacts.goodbarber.app/subscribe Shop "Cut to the Heart" apparel: https://cut2theheart.com In this episode, we continue our verse-by-verse study through **Acts 13**, where Paul and Barnabas are set apart by the Holy Spirit and sent out to preach the gospel. In this study, we discuss: * The Holy Spirit calling Paul and Barnabas to ministry * Fasting, prayer, and being sent out by the Church * Paul confronting Elymas the sorcerer * Paul's powerful sermon in Antioch * How Israel's history points to Jesus as the promised Savior * Forgiveness and justification through faith in Christ * The response of both Jews and Gentiles to the gospel * Opposition, persecution, and continuing faithfully in God's mission Acts 13 shows the gospel advancing into new territory as ordinary believers obey the leading of the Holy Spirit. Even when the message brings opposition, Paul and Barnabas continue boldly proclaiming Jesus and making Him known. Watch, listen, and grow in your faith — and subscribe for more verse-by-verse Bible teaching, podcast discussions, and biblical commentary. #Acts13 #BibleStudy #Paul #Barnabas #Gospel #MissionaryJourney #EarlyChurch #BibleCommentary #ChristianPodcast #VerseByVerse

Romans 15:16–33 | Ministry, Mission & the God of PeacePaul gives us a picture of faithful gospel ministry where the fruit belongs to God, the glory belongs to Christ, and the power belongs to the Holy Spirit.In this episode, we look at Paul's description of the Gentile believers as an offering to God, why he refuses to boast in anything except what Christ accomplished through him, and the purpose of the signs and wonders that accompanied the apostles.We also follow Paul's missionary ambitions from Jerusalem to Rome and eventually toward Spain. Paul had plans—but God determined the route. It's a reminder that Christians can plan boldly while still trusting completely in God's providence.Paul's collection for the struggling believers in Jerusalem also shows us that gospel unity produces real generosity, and he closes the chapter by asking the Romans to “strive together” with him in prayer.Even the Apostle Paul knew ministry wasn't something he could accomplish in his own strength.✝️ “Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” — Romans 15:33

Title: Living by Faith: Holding Fast Until the End Description: In this broadcast message presented by For Zion's Sake, hosts Shelley and June Volk conclude their week-long study of Hebrews 3:1–6, focusing on verse 6. They explore the core call for believers to "hold fast" to their confidence and hope in Jesus Messiah amid life's trials and cultural challenges. Highlighting believers as "living stones" forming the house of God built upon Christ as the cornerstone, the hosts unpack key biblical passages on endurance, perseverance, and maintaining a heavenly perspective. Key Takeaways: Holding Fast: Derived from Greek nuances meaning to seize upon, possess, keep in memory, and never forget who believers are in God's eyes. The Living House of God: Believers are identified as the sanctuary and house of God, with Christ as the cornerstone who holds the spiritual house together. Perseverance and Endurance: Believers are called to persist through trials, counter-influences, and discouragement, keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus as the author and perfecter of faith. Unity and Heritage: The broadcast underscores the vision of Jew and Gentile coming together in faith, concluding with the recitation of the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4). Featured Bible Passages: Hebrews 3:1–6 – Jesus as the divine Builder and faithful Son over God's house. Hebrews 12:1–2 – Running the race with endurance and fixing eyes on Jesus. James 1:2–4, 12 – Persevering under trials to produce spiritual maturity. Hebrews 10:35–39 – Holding fast to confidence and living by faith without shrinking back. 1 Peter 1:13 – Girding the mind and fixing hope completely on the grace of Christ. Support the show: https://shellyandjunevolk.com/product/partner-with-us-psalm-127-fund/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There Should Be No Yoke By Us On Anyone To Be Saved, God Knows The Heart Acts 15:6-11 6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

Paul says in verse 14: “For you, brethren, became followersof the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus.” The wordtranslated “followers” carries the idea of becoming imitators. The Thessalonianbelievers had never visited those churches in Judaea, but they had somethingvery important in common with them. They were suffering because of their faithin Jesus Christ. Paulcontinues: “For you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen.” Rememberwhat happened when Paul first came to Thessalonica in Acts chapter 17. Paulwent into the synagogue and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them out ofthe Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that Jesus was the Christ. Somebelieved. A great multitude of devout Greeks believed. And a number of theleading women believed. But almost immediately, opposition arose. A mobgathered. Jason's house was attacked, and eventually Paul and Silas had toleave the city by night. But the persecution did not end when Paul left. Thenew believers were left behind to face it. Think about that. These were youngChristians. They had not known the Lord for many years. They didn't havedecades of Christian experience behind them. Yet when opposition came, theystood firm. That teaches us something very important. Genuine faith is notproven merely by how loudly we praise God when everything is going well.Sometimes it is proven by how faithfully we continue to trust Him whenfollowing Jesus becomes difficult. Paul says in verse 15 concerning those whoopposed the Gospel: “Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets,and have persecuted us.” Paul then tells ussomething particularly serious in verse 16. Their opponents were: “Forbiddingus to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved.” Thatwas the heart of the problem. They weren't satisfied simply to reject theGospel themselves. They wanted to prevent others from hearing it. And noticePaul's words: “That they might be saved.” There is the heart of theGospel! Why did Paul endure beatings, imprisonment, rejection, persecution,hunger, weariness, and eventually martyrdom? Because people need to be saved. Whydo we preach the Gospel? Why do we support missionaries? Why do we send theGospel around the world? Why do we share Christ with our neighbors, ourfriends, our children, and our grandchildren? Because people need to be saved. Paulunderstood that the Gospel is “the power of God unto salvation to everyonethat believeth.” Then Paul closes this section with a very solemn warning.He says that these opponents continued: “To fill up their sins alway: forthe wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” Persistent rejection ofGod's truth has consequences. God is patient. God is longsuffering. God ismerciful. But God's patience should never be mistaken for God's approval. Therecomes a point when persistent unbelief and rebellion bring judgment. Thisshould not make us proud or self-righteous. It should make us compassionate andurgent about sharing the Gospel. We should never look at someone who rejectsChrist and think, “They deserve judgment.” Instead, our hearts should say,“They need Jesus.” Because apart from God's grace, every one of us would belost. AndI believe there is a wonderful connection between yesterday's verse and today'spassage. Verse 13 tells us that the Word works in those who believe. Verses 14through 16 show us what that working Word can produce. These Thessalonians hadreceived God's Word so deeply that when persecution came, they would notabandon their faith. Their circumstances changed. Their friends may havechanged. Their neighbors may have turned against them. But the Word of God wasstill working in them. Maybe today you are facing opposition or difficultybecause you have chosen to follow Jesus. Remember the Thessalonians. Rememberthe believers in Judaea. Remember Paul. And most importantly, remember Jesus.

Send us Fan MailThe word “Israel” gets thrown around like it is self-explanatory, but Romans 9 refuses to let us keep it vague. We take Paul's argument seriously: national Israel functions as a type, and God's saving purpose is realized in what he calls his true people, defined not by bloodline but by mercy and faith. That is why we keep coming back to the same uncomfortable theme Paul quotes from Isaiah, that only a remnant is saved, and that it was never going to be otherwise.We walk through Romans 9:27–29 and the prophetic logic behind the remnant, then ask the question head-on: who is Israel? Pulling from Romans 2, Galatians 6:16, and 1 Peter 2, we talk about inward identity, heart circumcision, and the church as God's holy nation. Along the way, we clarify “Lord of Sabaoth” as the Lord of hosts, highlighting that the remnant exists because God intervenes, not because any people group earns special standing.Then we pivot to Romans 9:30–33, where the rubber meets the road: Gentiles attain righteousness by faith, while Israel stumbles because righteousness is pursued by works. We connect that to modern debates about losing salvation and the temptation to mix covenants, insisting that grace and works cannot be blended without gutting the gospel. If you want a clearer view of sovereign grace, assurance, and why Christ becomes a stumbling stone to religious effort, press play, then subscribe, share, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

Send us Fan MailThe hardest parts of Romans 9 aren't the vocabulary, they're the implications. When Paul looks at Israel's unbelief and still says God's word has not failed, he's not dodging reality, he's explaining it. We walk line by line through the logic: Jew and Gentile stand on equal ground, God's saving plan doesn't wobble with human resistance, and “vessels of mercy” are called from both groups into one family in Christ. If you've ever wondered how election, predestination, and grace fit with the Old Testament story, this conversation is built to help you think clearly.We also follow Paul's method, because he doesn't make bold claims without Scripture. Romans 9:25-26 pulls from Hosea to show that the “not my people” would be named God's people, and the “not beloved” would be called beloved. That divine calling doesn't just rename an old identity, it creates a new one. We talk about new birth, the reversal of status, and why being called “children of the living God” leaves no room for spiritual class systems based on ancestry or background.From there we bring in Philippians and Paul's warning about Judaizers, then we let Isaiah speak: Israel may be as the sand of the sea, yet only a remnant is saved. We close by connecting that remnant theme to Old Testament fulfillment texts in Joshua and by challenging modern dispensational assumptions with a covenant-focused reading that centers Christ and his church. If this sharpened your thinking, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review, then tell us what passage you want us to tackle next.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

Send us Fan MailRomans 9:24 sounds simple until you slow down and let it hit: God calls “even us,” and that “us” includes Jews and Gentiles on the same footing. We walk through Paul's argument step by step, starting with the potter and the clay and then zeroing in on what it means to be a “vessel of mercy” prepared beforehand for glory. The focus is not human potential or religious advantage, but the way God makes known the riches of his glory through sovereign mercy.We also draw a bright line between an outward invitation to hear the gospel and the inward, effectual calling that actually brings sinners to Christ and produces faith. That distinction matters because it explains why the “called” can only point to God, not to personal merit, willpower, family history, or moral achievement. It is meant to humble us, steady our assurance, and keep grace at the center where Paul keeps putting it.From there, we tackle the tension Paul anticipates: if many ethnic Israelites reject the Messiah, has God's word failed? We follow Romans 9:6 and the claim that “not all Israel is Israel,” clarifying the difference between physical descent and the Israel of promise. We close by previewing the transition into Romans 9:25–29 and tying the theme to John 3:16 as God's love for the world without distinction or partiality.If this sharpened your thinking, subscribe for more, share it with a friend who loves Romans, and leave a review with your take: how do you understand God's calling in Romans 9:24?Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

In the land of Uz, out in Gentile wilderness, a blameless king-priest tends a pocket of paradise—a flourishing household he rules and intercedes for, keeping the snakes out. Then the accuser appears in God's throne room and takes every good gift Job has been given and twists it into an indictment: remove the hedge, and this man will curse God to his face. David and Christine walk through Job's first two trials and the leash God places on chaos, and show how Job defeats the accuser not by arguing with him but by blessing God in the middle of his suffering.

Jesus Died to Make Peace Jesus didn't only die to reconcile us to God; he also died to make peace between people, even in the face of long-standing hostilities. God's plan is to unite people of all kinds together into one new humanity in Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 2:11-18   11 Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; 16 and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.    Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/ The Listener's Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.

The chief apostle. The man who preached the first sermon. The one in all the stained glass windows across western Europe. And he still caved to peer pressure — pulling away from Gentile believers the moment Jewish leaders showed up, not wanting to look bad in front of the wrong people. Paul confronted him publicly, face to face. If the man at the top of the church was still working through his stuff, the question of whether you have it all together before God can use you starts to look very different.Paul's response to all of it — the opposition, the hypocrisy, the friendly fire from within — boils down to one verse he returns to throughout his entire life: I have been crucified with Christ. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. He's not trying to construct a righteousness of his own. He's living in the grace of God, acknowledging that if righteousness could be gained through the law, what Jesus did meant nothing.The people most likely to discourage your faith aren't always outside the church. Sometimes they're inside it — convinced that purity means meeting their specific standard, that following Jesus only counts if it looks a certain way. That's friendly fire. And the answer to it isn't bitterness or retreat. It's the same answer Paul gives: I'm not building a righteousness of my own. I'm living in his.Support the mission of the Salty Pastor ministry! Visit our donations page at https://pushpay.com/g/thesaltypastor to help us continue sharing truth with a world in need. Visit thesaltypastor.com to sign up for our weekly email, designed to coach, inspire, and encourage you to a mature faith.Discussion Questions1. Have you ever experienced "friendly fire" — opposition or discouragement from inside the church rather than outside it? How did it affect your faith?2. What does "I have been crucified with Christ, I no longer live" actually look like on a Tuesday? What does that verse mean in practice for how you live?3. Do you ever hold back from being used by Jesus because you don't feel like you have it together enough yet? What would it look like to stop waiting for that moment?

Welcome to the Podcast of Southwest Bible Fellowship in Tempe, Arizona. WHO ARE WE? • We are a group of people who are committed to living the grace life as set forth by the apostle of the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul. • We come together to study our Bibles, and yes, we believe we have God's perfect Word in the King James Bible. It and it alone is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice! • We do not come together and study our Bibles for the intent of being smarter than others. We understand that knowledge for the sake of knowledge is purely vain and serves no Godly purpose. • We do come together and study our Bibles for the intent of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that we have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless we live; yet not us, but Christ liveth in us: and the life which we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us. (Galatians 2:20) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that because Jesus Christ shed His blood for us and we should not live for ourselves but for Him, who died for us and rose again. (2 Cor. 5:15) • We do not claim to have attained to these lofty goals, but we press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) You can donate to this ministry through www.butnow.org and the PayPal button on the homepage.

Head of School Scott Hauss shares the inspiration behind the 2026-2027 school theme, UNASHAMED, from Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

"For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen." Romans 15:22-33