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Today, we examine how Christ abolished the legal barrier that once condemned us. By fulfilling the ceremonial ordinances of the Mosaic Law and removing its condemnation, Jesus established a new covenant that fuses Jewish and Gentile believers into one entirely new humanity.
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.
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 26, 2026) In the verses before us today, we learn about the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Paul’s ministry was wide-ranging through the ancient world, but he primarily ministered to the Gentiles. In the first half of this sermon, we began to see his calling and his...
In Acts 15 the early church faces a deadly internal threat as sincere men demand circumcision and the law be added to faith in Christ—yet Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James stand firm that God has already cleansed Gentile hearts by faith alone and that salvation is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as it is for the Jews. In this message, we are confronted by every quiet addition we still make—performance, culture, secondary convictions, or religious ladders—and shows that the free gospel is the narrow pass that must be held at all costs if the nations are ever to hear it. You will see how Scripture, not experience or preference, has the final word, how wisdom protects unity without loading new burdens, and how clarity on grace produces deep joy and renewed mission. Will you fight to keep the gospel unmixed and free, or will you keep rebuilding the yoke Christ has already shattered at the cross?
A @Christadelphians Video: **[Actual, provable Bible Truth]** We are living in the most prophetic generation since the first century. The Times of the Gentiles—that period when Jerusalem would be trampled underfoot by foreign powers—has concluded. In 1967, a miraculous event unfolded that fulfilled the 2,300-day prophecy of Daniel 8:14, marking the end of this era and ushering in the final countdown to the Kingdom of God.We explore the remarkable fulfilment of Bible prophecy unfolding before our eyes. From the Jewish return to the land and the revival of Hebrew, to the extraordinary events of the Six-Day War and the recapture of Jerusalem, we witness God's hand moving in history. Even more remarkably, we examine the awakening spiritual revival taking place in Israel today—a fulfilment of Ezekiel's prophecy that God would first bring His people back to the land, then sprinkle clean water upon them through the Word.## Chapters00:00 - Introduction: The Prophetic Unravelling05:44 - The Olivet Prophecy and Jerusalem's Destruction08:15 - Daniel's Vision: The 2,300 Days Explained13:56 - The 1967 Miracle: End of the Times of the Gentiles17:28 - The Danger of Complacency in Miraculous Times20:20 - The Mountains of Israel and God's Promise25:34 - The Revival of Torah Study in Israel Today30:04 - Spiritual Transformation Since October 7th36:27 - Ezekiel 36: God's Cleansing of the Nation43:50 - Romans 10: Faith Comes by Hearing47:56 - Peace and Prosperity: The Abraham Accords52:39 - Walls, Bars, and Gates: Prophetic Removal55:47 - The Russian Restraint and Current Events1:07:46 - Our Response: Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem1:11:41 - The Lord Stands at the Door## Bible Verse Category
IntroductionThere can be a disconnect in the Christian life. We can become so focused on doctrine that we forget that we are called to live out the gospel. Or we can become so focused on living the Christian life that we lose sight of the doctrine that gives us the strength and assurance to live it.The Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 23 understands this tension. As we come to justification by faith, it essentially asks us, Is this doctrine really helpful? Is this something that actually benefits us? Does knowing that we are justified by faith make any difference in the Christian life?I think those are important questions. So, let's begin. Is This Helpful?The first thing we have to understand is the seriousness of our problem.Our problem is that we minimize sin. We sometimes like to think that if we can just clean up enough of the outward problems, we will be okay. Maybe we haven't done everything right, but we have done better than the person next to us. Maybe we have kept 99.99% of the commandments.But the problem is that sin is not merely a collection of bad behaviors. Sin is at the core of who we are. Our behavior or actions are merely the fruit of the deeper root problem. In the fall, humanity essentially told God, We don't want your order. We don't want your holiness. We don't want you ruling over us. We were exiled from Eden, and God gave us what we wanted. And that leaves us in a desperate position.We see this even in some of the great saints of Scripture. Jacob spent much of his life trying to accomplish the promises of God in his own strength. He wrestled with God and came away limping, learning that the promises of God come through weakness and submission to the Lord.Job wanted his day in court with God. He wanted to present his case and demonstrate that God had gotten things wrong. But when Job finally comes face-to-face with the living God, he puts his hand over his mouth. He learns that God's wisdom is far greater than his own. Paul was a man who considered himself blameless according to the law, yet Christ had to stop him on the road to Damascus. Even Paul had to learn that God's strength is manifested in weakness.And then there is Isaiah. Isaiah appears to be one of those Old Testament saints who was pretty dialed in. Yet when he comes into the presence of God, he doesn't say, "I dwell in the midst of unclean people who make me unclean." No, he says, “Woe is me. I am a man of unclean lips” That is the point. Apart from Christ, we have nothing.Paul makes this very clear in Romans 3. He gives a staccato of Old Testament references and demonstrates that there is a universal problem that impacts Jew and Gentile. It doesn't matter how religious you are or how well you have cleaned up your life.All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.That is why justification by faith is so helpful. It tells us the truth about our condition. We cannot save ourselves. We need a rematch and not a participation trophy.The championship game has already been played. Adam failed, and in Adam we have all failed. The verdict has been issued. We need someone to reengage the competition and overturn the previous verdict. And that is exactly what Christ does in his work. However, this can still be all doctrine. Is there a place where this really impacts our Christian life? Is This Assuring? This is where the beauty of justification really comes into view. The Heidelberg Catechism says that I share in all of Christ's benefits. He has made perfect satisfaction for my sin. He has given me his perfect holiness. And I am regarded before God as if I had never sinned and as if I had perfectly obeyed all that God commanded. Think about the beauty of that.It is not my righteousness. It is Christ's righteousness.It is not my perfect obedience. It is Christ's perfect obedience. It is not something I have earned. It is a gift. God has freely given it to his unworthy children.Paul says in Romans 3 that we are justified by God's grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Justification is a legal declaration. Before the heavenly court, we deserve condemnation in Adam. But in Christ, we are declared righteous.And this is what makes grace so amazing.Sometimes we define grace as “unmerited favor.” But I think Scripture gives us an even deeper picture. Unmerited favor could mean that God just gave us something. We did not earn it. However, we could be neutral. For instance, you love your kid, so you just buy your kid ice cream. The kid did not specifically deserve it, but you want to spend some quality time together.We actively rebelled against him. We told God that we didn't want his holiness, his rule, or his order. If we continue with the illustration of buying a child ice cream, we can ask: Would you buy your child ice cream after your child washed your car with a Brillo pad? I am guessing that the child is not getting ice cream. However, we did far worse to God in the fall. He also gives us more than a participation trophy or ice cream. God gives us heaven through the work of his son. Christ doesn't simply overlook our sin. This is why Paul uses the language of redemption. Redemption is buying someone out of slavery. That is what Christ did. He purchased us out of our bondage of sin to set us free to live in him.Christ had to lay down his life in our place. He has to die because sin is that heinous. It is not that God is so villainous, but sin is that heinous. We cannot find a simple solution to this complex problem. So if someone wants to mock justification by faith as a “participation trophy,” I say, "I'll gladly take it." I'll put it on the shelf and proudly say, I am in Christ Jesus, and apart from Christ I have no hope. However, we need to remember that Christ reengaged the championship game. He won the game and gives us the credit.Conclusion So is justification by faith helpful?Absolutely.Because we have a 100% problem, and we need a 100% Savior.Is justification assuring?Absolutely.Because Christ has done what we could never do. He has satisfied God's justice, paid our debt, redeemed us from slavery, and given us his righteousness.And is my faith good enough?No, but Christ is.That is the good news. The gospel isn't that God looked at us and decided that we were basically good enough to receive a participation trophy. The gospel is that we were condemned in Adam, and Christ came into the heavenly courtroom and stood in our place. He took the judgment we deserved and gave us the righteousness we could never earn. He overturned the previous loss and won us our victory. And so we don't use grace as an excuse to push the boundaries of sin. If we really understand what sin is, why would we want to return to it? Sin is destructive. It tears us away from the true peace and shalom that God created us to enjoy.So let us continue to take hold of Christ by faith. Let us forget what lies behind and press forward toward what lies ahead. Christ Jesus has made us his own. And as the Holy Spirit continues to conform us to Christ, let us walk in him, trusting not in the strength of our faith, but in the strength of our Savior.
Isaiah 11 paints one of Scripture's most beautiful pictures of the coming reign of the Messiah. But when we read the entire chapter carefully, an important question emerges: When do the events of Isaiah 11:10–16 actually occur?In this episode, we explore why these verses cannot be describing the eternal state of Revelation 21–22, where sin, rebellion, war, and hostile nations have already passed away. Yet they also do not comfortably fit the period before Christ's return, because Isaiah explicitly connects them to "that day"—the same day in which the Messiah establishes universal peace and his righteous rule in Isaiah 11:6–9.This leads us into an important principle of biblical prophecy: the prophets often present the future in interconnected snapshots rather than complete chronological timelines. Like mountain peaks viewed from a distance, events that appear side by side in one prophecy are often separated by periods of time that become visible only as other prophetic passages fill in the landscape. Isaiah, Zechariah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the New Testament writers together provide a fuller picture than any one prophet alone.From there we explore how Scripture portrays the Messiah's millennial kingdom as a progressive and incremental expansion of His reign. Rather than appearing instantaneously in its final form, Christ's kingdom ripples outward from Jerusalem, progressively bringing the nations under His righteous rule. This framework helps illuminate the surviving nations described in Zechariah 12 and 14 and explains why the Messiah's reign involves the ongoing subjugation of peoples who remain from the rebellion preceding His return.We then turn to Romans 15, where Paul quotes Isaiah 11:10 to demonstrate that God's plan has always included both Jews and Gentiles united in worship under Israel's Messiah. Paul sees Jesus as the promised Root of Jesse who gathers the nations to Himself and reigns over them in fulfillment of Isaiah's vision.Ultimately, this episode is about hope. God's purpose in revealing the future is not merely to satisfy our curiosity about prophecy but to shape the way we live in the present. Isaiah's vision reminds us that evil, injustice, violence, and war will not have the final word. That future gives us confidence, endurance, and hope today.Key Passages: Isaiah 11:10-16 Romans 15:7-13Explainer Video on how to use www.biblehub.com and www.blueletterbible.orgLeave us a question or comment at our website podcast page.
In Acts 15:8 we read: “God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.” This was God's confirmation that the Gentiles could receive salvation without first coming under the requirements of the Jewish law. The gift of the Holy Spirit was the evidence that God had accepted them. I hope you remember that. Peter goes on to say in verse 9: “He made no distinction between us and them, for He purified their hearts by faith.” What a powerful statement. God makes no distinction between Jew and Gentile. Salvation is not based on nationality, tradition, or keeping religious laws. It is received by faith alone. That is the very foundation of the Christian faith. Everything centres on the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection. The believers in the Old Testament were saved by looking forward in faith to the coming Messiah. Today, we are saved by looking back in faith to the finished work of Christ. The object of our faith is the same Saviour; only the direction in which we look has changed.
I ask, then, has God rejected His people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. … Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? As regards the Gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that He may have mercy on all. (Romans 11:1-2a, 13-15, 28-32)
Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Father Charles Murr joins Terry Gospel – Matthew 18:15-20 – Jesus said to His disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church. If he refuses to listen even to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by My heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them.” Memorial of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious Saint Jane, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day
Pastoral Reflections Finding God In Ourselves by Msgr. Don Fischer
Original Post Date: August 14, 2024 === Gospel Matthew 18:15-20 Jesus said to his disciples: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church. If he refuses to listen even to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Reflection The beautiful thing about the ministry of Jesus is he cares for the church, the institution in a sense, where we're all going, but it also cares for the individuals involved. He cares about our relationships because they are so crucial. And if someone is in a relationship with you and they're doing something negative, you need to point it out. If they won't listen you ask others to join you. If they don't listen, you use the authority of others. But the key is you don't stay in the relationship. You leave it because the heart of the message is the truth that God has placed in our hearts. And that truth is, that what God is creating is people that think alike, that work together, that aren't at odds with each other. And when they gather in Jesus' name and want the truth, there is Jesus in their midst accomplishing and bringing the truth and light and life. Closing Prayer Father, nothing is more important in your kingdom than the flow of life between us. As individuals seeking you, loving you. Wanting to be more what you call us to be. Bless us in our relationships. Help them to be healthy, and life giving, and everything you intend them to be. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Table of Contents: STRATEGIC WARFARE PRAYER Another Blatant DEW's Attack! Houses Burned into Their Footprint in Spokane but the Trees Around Them Are Still Green & Standing! Jewish Hatred of Christians Grows as the US Government Gives Israel More Than Ever Before! The Wall Street Journal reported that some Israelis believe it is the “religious duty” of the Jew to spit on the Christians! Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir clarified that spitting on Christians is an ancient Jewish custom and should not be considered a crime! In addition to the spitting; head injuries, graffiti, trespassing, vandalism, stone-throwing, garbage dumping, and arson are being increasingly utilized by Jews against Christians! Jesus Said in John 15:18-21: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” Israel-Jews Killed Jesus–Bible Verses Israeli military demands removal of dead soldier's Christian headstone–Officials have said displaying a cross in the cemetery is offensive to the relatives of Jewish troops laid to rest nearby Netanyahu Now Presents Himself as Defender of ‘Judeo-Christian’ Evangelism!The Goal of the Synagogue of Satan: Gal 1:13: For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it… Trump is Totally Surrounded and Owned by Kabbala Loving / Synagogue of Satan Zionist Jews! Mossad Blackmail- Israel Has Trump right where they want him–Donald Trump Controlled By The Mossad — Parts 1-3 The Zionist Israeli Pledge Almost Every Member of Congress Has Taken! The Zionist intention to kill off all of humanity other than Jews [his words, not mine, including “Hey, we ARE god's chosen people. Its just most Jews do not like to admit it, but our god is Lucifer.” What is the Main Goal and True Definition of Zionism?: “The goal for which we have striven so concertedly for three thousand years is at last within our reach, and because its fulfilment is so apparent, it behooves us to increase our efforts and our caution tenfold. I can safely promise you that before ten years have passed, our race will take its rightful place in the world, with every Jew a king and every Gentile a slave. I can state with assurance that the last generation of white children is now being born.” Israeli Spy: Anyone Who Gets in Our way – even Politicians in the west . . . Will FALL” Mosab Yousef, a documented Israeli Spy, said on Peirce Morgan’s TV Show “Anyone who gets in the way, even if they are politicians in the West, they are going to FALL. We have the right to bring them up, and to bring them DOWN.” The AIPAC PAC is a bipartisan, pro-Israel political action committee. It is the largest pro-Israel PAC in America and contributed more resources directly to candidates than any other PAC. 98% of AIPAC-backed candidates won their general election races in 2022. Every member of US Congress has an “AIPAC person” — a liaison between AIPAC and the politician. This “AIPAC baby sitter” tells the Congressman how to vote, what to tweet/say etc. This is just one way on how Israel controls America. DEARBORN MICHIGAN EXPOSED: IT'S STARTING IN America now! Non-Muslims openly being targeted for assault!: Anti-Islam Protestors Nearly Beaten to Death by Muslim Mob – Police Overpowered, Islamic Security Joined the Attack, Media Calls It “Peaceful” Americans are planning on going to Dearborn, Michigan on August 18th to support Anti-Islam speakers at the Dearborn City Council meeting about the discrimination against Christians in the city–“So the Christians who were attacked in Dearborn are going back August 18th to the city hall to speak in regards to the growing discrimination towards American Christians Ex-Muslim Christians Go to Dearborn Michigan Islamic Parade with the Gospel Christian Tracts Exposing Islam PDF: Emergency Freedom Alerts 8-10-26 Click Here To Play The Part 1 Audio Source
Join us as we dig deeper into last Sunday's sermon from Pastor Gabe Kasper "The Gospel for the Gentiles" and hear from Amy Duncan and Nate Zuellig on "Praise The Lord Forever". Digging Deeper Questions: Who is someone that helped you grow in your faith? Has there been a time where you felt clear on what God was calling you to do? How did you respond? How did it go? Jesus is the God who comes to us. Where have you seen Jesus meet you? Scripture Reading: Acts 10:1-16, 34-48 1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius." 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea." 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common." 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. 34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." 44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. Intro/Outro Song: "Only One" Nate Zuellig ULC Artist In Residence "Praise The Lord Forever" Pat Barrett CCLI Song # 7260101 CCLI License # 11254293
Ephesians 2:11-13 New International Version 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 26, 2026) In this sermon, we look at the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Paul’s journeys throughout the ancient world carried him over ten thousand miles according to some estimates! Paul ministered among both Jews and Gentiles, but his primary focus was upon the Gentiles. In fact,...
"And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand." Romans 15:14-21
In this episode, the hosts examine Charles Spurgeon's sermon “Walking in the Light of the Lord,” preached from Isaiah 2:5: “O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.” The discussion begins by placing a widely shared Spurgeon quote about the Jews back into its original sermon context, then expands into a challenging Bible study on Israel, the church, the Gentiles, Zionism, dispensationalism, prophecy, and Christian political influence.The hosts read Isaiah 2:1–5 and consider whether the passage points to the millennial reign, the future restoration of Israel, and a time when the nations will seek the teaching of the Lord. They discuss the distinction between natural Israel and the spiritual people of God, the grafted olive tree, the rejection of the Messiah, and Spurgeon's call for Christians to pray for the conversion and ingathering of the Jewish people.A major question runs throughout the episode: What does it actually mean to “bless Israel”? The conversation compares modern political and military support for Israel with the biblical call to seek a people's true good through repentance, salvation, and faith in Jesus Christ. Passages and concepts include Genesis 12, Numbers 22–24 and Balaam, Numbers 24:9, Galatians 3, Jacob and Esau, covenant blessings and curses, the birthright, and the Messiah as the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham.The episode also explores whether politics flows downstream from culture, how churches shape political narratives, Donald Trump's populist movement, the Epstein files, propaganda, MKUltra, and the tension between political power and the local mission of the church. In the final section, Spurgeon's sermon turns toward evangelism, the joy of seeing converts come to Christ, the meaning of blessing God, free will, Christian service, house-church fellowship, new converts, spiritual zeal, Luke 5 and the old wine, and the danger of becoming lukewarm inside religious institutions.How should Christians think biblically about Israel without surrendering discernment to either political extreme? Share your perspective in the comments.Patreon (Watch Live episodes, early & ad free): https://www.patreon.com/NephilimDeathSquadWebsite & Merch: https://nephilimdeathsquad.comListen/Watch:Audio Podcast: nephilimdeathsquad.carrd.co/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NephilimDeathSquadX: https://twitter.com/NephilimDSquadInstagram: https://instagram.com/nephilimdeathsquadFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/share/1AscxBNoH4/ Contact: chroniclesnds@gmail.com TopLobsta:X: https://twitter.com/TopLobstaInstagram: https://instagram.com/TopLobstaMerch: https://TopLobsta.comRaven:X: https://twitter.com/DavidLCorboInstagram: https://instagram.com/ravenofndsCredits:Intro Animation: @jslashr on XMusic: @Dallas_spitfire on X | https://gmbpod.com/ Listen to full intro music here!https://m.soundcloud.com/gmbsounds/nephilim-death-squad?utm_source=mobi&utm_campaign=social_sharing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/nephilim-death-squad--6389018/support.☠️ Nephilim Death Squad — New episodes 5x/week.Join our Patreon for early access, bonus shows & the private Telegram hive.Subscribe on YouTube & Rumble, follow @NephilimDSquad on X/Instagram, grab merch at toplobsta.com. Questions/bookings: chroniclesnds@gmail.com — Stay dangerous.
Matthew 18:15-20Jesus said to his disciples:"If your brother sins against you,go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.If he does not listen,take one or two others along with you,so that every fact may be establishedon the testimony of two or three witnesses.If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church.If he refuses to listen even to the Church,then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.Amen, I say to you,whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earthabout anything for which they are to pray,it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.For where two or three are gathered together in my name,there am I in the midst of them."
+ Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 18: 15 – 20Jesus said to his disciples:"If your brother sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, (amen,) I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." The Gospel of the Lord
Read OnlineFraternal CharityJesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” Matthew 18:15–16Fraternal charity is an absolute necessity. We are called to love everyone unconditionally, even those who have sinned against us. Moreover, our charity must go beyond an interior disposition; it must be expressed in action. At times, such love is easy—like the natural affection parents feel toward a child entrusted to them by God. But when a family member, friend, or stranger sins against us, offering unconditional love becomes far more difficult.In today's Gospel, Jesus addresses this difficult form of love: “If your brother sins against you…” Here, “brother” refers to every person. In Christ, we are all brothers and sisters, children of our Heavenly Father—even those who have strayed. When someone sins against us, the natural result is a wound. If charity is absent from our response, that wound can fester, giving way to bitterness, resentment, and even a desire for revenge.The love to which Jesus calls us is one that allows grace to quickly heal the wounds inflicted by sin. Yes, the pain is real—there is always a wound—but that wound does not have to infect the soul. Instead, God's grace can transform our pain into a source of healing, even for the one who has harmed us. In fact, when someone sins against us, we may become instruments of God's mercy in a unique and powerful way, drawing the sinner back to God.To facilitate this, Jesus lays out four progressive expressions of mercy that His disciples—and we—are to follow when someone sins against us. The first is to approach the offender privately: “Go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.” This is an act of mercy. Our first instinct may be to speak about the offense with others—to gossip or vent in anger. Yet even when the wrongdoing is real, we must guard against the sin of detraction, the unjust or unnecessary revelation of another's faults. The Lord's method preserves the person's dignity and seeks the offender's repentance, not shame.Second, if a private conversation proves ineffective, we are to return with one or two others. In Jewish law, a matter was legally confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. Jesus draws on this tradition, not to humiliate, but to validate the concern and strengthen the call to conversion, extending mercy more firmly.Third, if the person still refuses to repent, Jesus says: “Tell the Church.” The Church, as the sacrament of salvation, is the final guardian of both truth and mercy. Through her pastoral authority, she may exercise spiritual discipline—not to condemn, but to awaken the sinner to the seriousness of his actions and call him to repentance. In appropriate circumstances, members of the Church, such as parents or grandparents, may also fulfill this role within their proper sphere of influence.Finally, “If he refuses to listen even to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.” This is not a call to hatred or rejection, but a recognition that the person has placed himself outside the communion of grace. Even at this stage, charity remains: We pray, love, and await the moment when God's grace might heal. Treating someone this way is not to condemn, but to call that person back through God's mercy and justice.Reflect today on the mercy to which you are called when others sin against you. Consider the wounds you carry and whether they have become occasions of grace or sources of resentment. Pray for the strength to follow our Lord's clear path of fraternal correction—not with harshness or judgment, but with the gentle firmness of love. Let your wounds become channels of healing, and allow Christ's mercy to flow through you so that others may be drawn back to God. In this way, you will not only win your brother or sister back but also grow in holiness yourself.Most merciful Jesus, You desire that every sinner turn back to You and be restored to Your grace. When someone sins against me, please place the desire of Your Heart in mine, so that I never seek retribution but love. May I become a powerful instrument of Your mercy for others, especially those who have sinned against me most deeply. Jesus, I trust in You. Image: Sermon on the Mount Stained Glass, by Jean-Baptiste CapronnierSource: 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.
Reading Acts 15:6-12 where Peter stands up at the Jerusalem Council and testifies to the gospel of Christ going out to the Gentiles, a gospel that is to be received by faith. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!
Historically, the people of Tyre and Sidon were enemies of God's people. It's no wonder, then, that the Evangelist draws our attention to the presence of a Canaanite woman there who confesses the truth about Jesus as the Son of David as she prays for His mercy upon her daughter. Jesus' seemingly enigmatic responses throughout teach His disciples about the nature of His ultimate ministry to Gentiles, even as Jesus also tests the woman's faith. Despite Jesus' harsh responses, she continues to cling to Him, knowing that she is a Gentile sinner but that He is the generous God who has enough for her to have some crumbs. Jesus vindicates her faith in Him and gives her the mercy He loves to give. Rev. Charles St-Onge, pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Pembroke, Ontario, Canada, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 15:21-28. “The Reign of Heaven Stands Near” is a series on Sharper Iron that studies the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The first evangelist proclaims that God has fulfilled His Old Testament promises by sending Jesus to bring the reign of the heavens among us. As the Son of David, Jesus is the gracious King we need, and as the Son of Abraham, Jesus is the blessing to all the families of the earth. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Pastor Appel serves at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, IL. Learn more at flcgodfrey.org. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org
Paul reveals one of the Gospel's greatest triumphs: that Christ unites people who were once deeply divided. In the first-century world, Jews and Gentiles lived as bitter, lifelong enemies, yet Christ brought them together as one family. Pastor Tom helps us see how the ministry of Christ tore down those ancient walls of partition.
Hosts Pastor Robert Baltodano and Pastor Lloyd Pulley Question Timestamps: Bobby, DE (2:01) - Where does the idea that not tithing is a sin come from in the Bible? Nina, MA (6:10) - Is it okay to have cut off my marriage after my fiancé pressed me for certain things meant to happen only after marriage? Lisa, NY (11:02) - How can I convince my son that Jesus is God? He married a Jehovah's Witness. Cindy, NJ (16:45) - Where did the Gentiles go that died before Jesus died on the cross? Iris, Facebook (23:49) - Are the promises in the Bible for me? E.T., email (26:00) - My wife has taken off her ring after finding out about my sins. What should I do? Nina, MA (33:37) - Is it true that once you are engaged, you are married? Carrie, YouTube (35:52) - Does Isaiah 24 speak about Jesus's second coming? Kat, YouTube (39:47) - How do I talk to my brother, who is part of the Church of Christ, about the truth? Ed, VA (41:58) - Is the word "Jehovah" in the Bible? Where do the Jehovah's Witnesses come from? Why do we call them a cult? Henriquez, HI (45:01) - Can man change God's commandments? whassupwu, YouTube (46:56) - How close do you think our society is to Sodom and Gomorrah? Wild, YouTube (49:06) - Why do Christians say "Jehovah Jirah?" Bob, email (50:55) - How do you know the difference between instincts and when God is guiding you? What is the difference between coincidence and God's answer to prayer? Ask Your Questions: Call: 888-712-7434 Email: Answers@bbtlive.org
Preorder my new book Politics, Economics and New Testament Interpretation here: https://libertarianchristians.com/store/politics-economics-and-new-testament-interpretation/In this episode I talk with Dr. Jeff Roper about his book To the Ends of the Earth: Romans and the Mission of God, out now on Wipf and Stock. In this book Roper reads Paul's letter to Rome not as a work of abstract theology but as a missionary appeal to a culturally diverse church. Roper explains the social and cultural background of the church in Rome, the tension between Jews and Gentiles, Roman attitudes towards the Spanish barbarians Paul seeks to evangelize, and the diversity within the Roman congregation. We discuss how the main themes of Romans contribute to this larger missionary goal, and why Paul is concerned about contextualizing his gospel to ensure that people from every tribe, tongue, and nation place their faith in Jesus. He then shows how Romans is a fruitful framework for thinking about missions today, and how the Western church should embrace the cross-cultural missionary challenge of Romans. Media Referenced:To the Ends of the Earth: https://a.co/d/0h90GSvrJeff Roper Website: www.jeffroper.comFoursquare Missions: www.foursquaremissions.orgJeff Roper Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.roper.7/ Sign up for LCI's 2026 Conference in Cincinnati, OH on Saturday, October 17! Many LCI content creators, including myself, will be speaking at the event, and it will be an excellent opportunity to connect with likeminded, liberty-loving Christians. Check out the event and sign up here: https://libertarianchristians.com/conference/The Protestant Libertarian Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute and a part of the Christians For Liberty Network. The Libertarian Christian Institute can be found at www.libertarianchristians.com. Questions, comments, suggestions? Please reach out to me at theprotestantlibertarian@gmail.com. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter: @prolibertypod, and YouTube, @ProLibertyPod, where you will get shorts and other exclusive video content. For more about the show, you can go to theprotestantlibertarianpodcast.com. If you like the show and want to support it, you can! Go to libertarianchristians.com, where you can donate to LCI and buy The Protestant Libertarian Podcast Merch! Also, please consider giving me a star rating and leaving me a review, it really helps expand the show's profile! Thanks!
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 5, 2026) In the final verses of Romans 15, Paul’s focus is on “ministry.” In the first half of this sermon, we primarily explored the ministry of Jesus to the Jews. We learned that His purpose was to fulfill the “promises made unto the fathers,” which most...
A sermon preached by Rev. Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli with Foundry UMC, August 2, 2026, tenth Sunday after Pentecost. “We Know Who We Are”series. Texts: Romans 15:5-7; Luke 19:1-10 For days now, I've been ruminating on what it means to say of Foundry: “No outsiders here…” The clear intent of the phrase is to suggest that no one will be turned away, ignored, left out, or treated as less than. It's one of Foundry's corevalues to “make especially sure that people who feel excluded elsewhere are welcomed and invited to be an integral part of our congregation.” As Guy preached so powerfully last week, our biblically-rooted convictions around inclusion, affirmation, equity, and diversity are clear—regardless of the critiques those convictions draw. Our goal is to practice what we preach—to mean it when we say you are welcome here “no matter what.” As I study our texts for today it becomes clear that, to do that, we can't rely on our banners outside or the words of welcome we repeat at the beginning of every service to carry all our welcome water. We can't settle for our core values tucked onto a webpage to be the only communication of our commitment to cultivate a certain kind of community. We can't get so comfortable that we forget what it is like to be a stranger in a strange land, or to forget that souls tend to be shy and that people carry wounds that are often invisible to the eye. To truly advance our goal of radical welcome, we need a more muscular strategy, theologically and biblically grounded, physically embodied, and embedded in the very DNA of our congregation. And our texts provide the guidance we need. The few verses from Romans 15 that were read aloud today are a summary of at least two chapters of Paul's letter to the church in Rome. That community was experiencing deep tensions between Jewish and Gentile Christians—driven by disagreements related to Torah observance, holy days, and dietary practices. These issues were flashpoints for deeper questions: Who belongs? Whose interpretation of Torah is correct? What practices are central to our shared life? Paul writes to a diverse people who are all trying to follow Jesus. They have different backgrounds—some began as highly observant Jews and others as pagan Gentiles. But here's the thing they have in common: they have all been welcomed “προσλαμβάνω (proslambanō)” by Christ. And because of that, Paul teaches, they need to welcome one another in the same way. The question then, is how does Christ welcome people? Our familiar text from Luke 19 helps us answer the question. For those who may not be familiar with the story of the “wee little man,” Zacchaeus, here's some context. Just before our story Jesus has welcomed children his disciples tried to send away, taught a rich ruler what it would take for him to enter the kin-dom, and showed mercy to a begger at the roadside who asked Jesus to restore his sight. Then Jesus enters the prosperous city of Jericho where his reputation precedes him. People know he is coming by. And Zacchaeus, a rich, chief tax collector wants to see him. Now to be a tax collector in that time and place was to be associated with the exploitation, violence, and ritual impurity of the Roman empire. A “chief” tax collector was at least in middle management—if not the CEO of collusion. All of that to say, Zacchaeus was not popular or trusted, but rather seen by the general public as an enemy and a threat. The crowds must have been shocked when the CEO climbs a tree— high profile, wealthy men didn't climb trees. Zacchaeus' willingness to do so suggests something in him was already stirring. Jesus picks up on that and proceeds to invite himself over. The text says, Zacchaeus “hurried down and was happy to welcome Jesus.” The crowds were not so happy. Why is Jesus going in to share table fellowship with this sinner? Because Jesus makes it his habit to welcome and befriend those whom others want nothing to do with. Children, beggars, the ill and disabled, women; and with those others judged as sinners—including rich tax collectors. Jesus puts it this way: “I came to seek out and save the lost.” And based on the whole story of Jesus, the “lost” include both those who inflict harm and those who suffer it. So which category of “lost” is Zacchaeus? In one sense, he's the one doing harm as he supports an exploitive and unjust regime. But the crowd has also written him off as unworthy of fellowship with Jesus and beyond the possibility of change. Jesus' action creates an opportunity for transformation—not only for Zacchaeus, but also for those who have decided that he is nothing more than a hopeless sinner. That day salvation comes because everyone is reminded that Zacchaeus is also a son of Abraham, a beloved child of God, worthy of mercy and care, capable of growth and change. Jesus' welcome is fueled by the love of God: love strong enough to receive each of us as we are, and strong enough to call us toward growth, change, and restored relationship. That means Jesus' welcome is not a cheap welcome characterized as indiscriminate acceptance and “anything goes.” Nor is it conditional welcome that requires change as the price of admission. It is welcome offered not simply for comfort, but for transformation through God's embrace and mercy. So back to us, what does it mean for Foundry to say, “no outsiders here?” We rightly celebrate that people who have been excluded elsewhere often discover a home at Foundry. But every church eventually develops its own insiders and outsiders. We instinctively know whom we trust. And, if we're honest, we instinctively know whom we've already decided not to trust. If Jesus were walking through Washington today who would make us grumble if they showed up to see him? Whose house would surprise and disturb us if Jesus said, “That's where I'm going to dinner.”? Part of the invitation for us is to consider if there are those we really want to remain “outsiders”—if there are limits to our welcome. // That question leads us to something Fr. Greg Boyle says. After decades in Los Angeles accompanying gang members through violence, incarceration, and new beginnings, Fr. Boyle writes: “Human beings…settle for a puny, vindictive God when we are being nudged always closer to this wildly inclusive, larger-than-any life God. We allow our sense of God to atrophy. We settle for the illusion of separation when we are endlessly asked to enter into kinship with all.” Our wildly inclusive God asks us to enter into kinship with all. Even when it's hard. Through his journey with those whom others fear, judge, or write off as hopeless cases, Fr. Boyle knows something about that kind of kinship. Paul doesn't ask the diverse members of the church in Rome to agree on every matter of faith and practice, but to learn how to enter into kinship with one another in the manner of Christ. He asks believers to become more committed to welcoming one another than they are to winning every disputed argument. Jesus creates space for people in Jericho to remember that even public enemy #1 is a sibling and a beloved child of God who is not beyond God's capacity to save AND that they are also the “lost”—the recipients of harm, the grumblers, the judgy ones—who Jesus came to seek out—and who need some saving as well. That is the pattern of Christ's welcome. And it is the pattern our welcome is meant to follow. Radical welcome—which is Christ's welcome—is neither cheap welcome nor conditional welcome. At Foundry, everyone is welcome. No matter what. No conditions required. // But no one is welcome to deny someone else's belovedness. No one is welcome to demean another child of God. No one is welcome to make this community unsafe for those Christ has welcomed. And no one is welcome to declare a person beyond God's capacity to save while forgetting that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The boundary, then, is not ideology. The boundary is love. And that means radical welcome asks more of us than hanging banners and opening the doors. It asks us to notice who enters and still feels invisible. It asks us to cross the room, learn a name, make space at the table, and remain curious about a life we do not yet understand. It asks us to confront harm when it occurs—not because we have stopped loving the person doing harm, but because love refuses to abandon either the one being wounded or the one whose soul is being diminished by the wounding. It asks us to believe that transformation is possible, even in people we have given up on. And perhaps most difficult of all, it asks us to remain open to our own transformation—to the possibility that Christ may expose the limits of our welcome, unsettle our assumptions, and lead us into kinship with someone we would never have chosen for ourselves. This is the more muscular welcome to which we are called. Not mere politeness. Not tolerance from a safe distance. Not the pride of believing that we are already the welcoming people and everyone else needs to catch up. It is the patient, courageous, embodied work of becoming a community where strangers become neighbors and neighbors become siblings; where those who have been pushed aside are drawn into the center; where harm is named and interrupted; where repentance is possible; and where grace keeps making more of us than we believed we could become. The measure of our welcome is not whether people like us feel comfortable. The measure is whether people unlike us encounter the welcome of Christ through us. That is a demanding call. But it begins not with what we are able to accomplish. It begins with what Christ has already done. Christ has welcomed us. Christ has come looking for us when we were lost. And Christ has not given up on us. So we do not practice radical welcome in order to prove that we are good people or the right kind of church. We welcome because we have been welcomed. We make room because Christ has made room for us. We enter into kinship because, through grace, Christ has already made us one. “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Amen. Benediction: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Send us Fan MailSome ideas sound “prophetic” until you measure them against the cross. We dig into a hard but necessary question: does God maintain a covenant relationship with national Israel apart from faith in Jesus, or does Scripture define God's people as one new community made up of Jew and Gentile in Christ?We walk through key texts like Matthew 21:43, Philippians 3, and Revelation 3:9, including the controversial “synagogue of Satan” language and what we believe it actually means in context. Along the way, we ask why so many Christians are eager to challenge Islam, Mormonism, or Catholicism, yet rarely speak plainly about the need for Jewish people to repent and believe in Jesus as Messiah. For us, the issue is simple and urgent: religious heritage and spiritual vocabulary cannot replace union with Christ.Then we take on the modern end times machine: red heifer hype, calls for renewed sacrifices, and dispensational claims that Jesus came to set up an earthly kingdom, got rejected, and moved to “plan B” at Calvary. We explain why that story undermines the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice and distorts the nature of his kingdom. We also touch the uneasy intersection of theology and geopolitics, including how Christian Zionism can shape churches, leaders, and even what congregations publicly celebrate.If you care about biblical theology, covenant identity, and clear gospel priorities, listen through and weigh everything against Scripture. Subscribe, share this with a friend who's caught in end times speculation, and leave a review with the verse or question that challenged you most.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!
IntroductionStephen's trial draws to a conclusion. We are confronted with the hardship of living in a sin-cursed world. Stephen is doing everything right. He is faithful to the Lord. He speaks the truth. He boldly proclaims Christ. The apostles' faithfulness has been rewarded with thousands of converts. One would think that this is going to be the trend. Stephen tells us otherwise. Stephen is faithful, and his reward is rejection, being dragged outside the city, and killed.We are moved to a question: What do we do with a gospel like this? We might second-guess and ask, should Stephen have backed off? Should he have softened his message? Should he have simply swept Christ under the carpet so that he could preserve his life?This narrative forces us to question: Is Jesus really essential to the Christian life, or is he something we can make optional when following him becomes difficult? We see in Acts 7 that Christ is not optional. We need Christ because our own righteousness will never be enough. And what we discover in Stephen's death is that earthly suffering does not mean Christ has abandoned his people. In fact, Christ is standing in heaven. He is not taking a passive stance, but an active stance in advancing his gospel despite this setback.The Contrasted Perspectives: Stephen and the MobThe first thing we see is the contrast between Stephen and the crowd. Stephen has just laid out the history of God's covenant interaction with Israel. His summary is that God is faithful and his people have been unfaithful. The crowd is furious. They are shouting, grinding their teeth, covering their ears, and eventually rushing him as a group. Stephen has called them "uncircumcised in heart and ears." The crowd only confirms his indictment. They cover their ears, they refuse to listen, and they refuse to evaluate their own history. They are physically demonstrating fruits that prove Stephen's accusation. They have decided that they know the truth, they know their theology, they know their system, and they are not going to listen to anything that challenges it. We are reminded to be careful when we are so certain.How do we know when to be certain and when to repent? The real issue is Christ. Stephen is not saying that Moses was unimportant or that God's covenant dealings with Israel were meaningless. He is showing that all of these things were pointing beyond themselves to Christ. The law reveals the holiness of God, and it exposes our inability to meet that holiness by our own efforts. The administration given through Moses points us toward the greater reality that comes in Jesus Christ. If we think we can stand before God on the basis of our own accomplishments, we will end up aligned with the crowd. We need Christ. Christ is not optional. We need to take his yoke upon us because there is no other way to life. He is the proper successor to Moses.The ultimate contrast is that as the crowd accuses Stephen, he receives vindication. Luke tells us, Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looks up and sees heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. The very Christ whom they rejected, the Christ whom they killed, is standing in glory. Stephen sees the risen and vindicated messiah advocating on his behalf.A Contradictory Profession of FaithThis leads us to the second thing we see: Stephen's profession of faith stands in direct contradiction to the profession of the mob. Political wisdom might have told Stephen to keep his mouth shut. Sometimes silence is golden. They are already angry, and Stephen has every reason to know that saying more is not going to make things better. But Stephen is overwhelmed by the Spirit, and he says, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."Stephen's testimony is very important. Stephen is identifying Jesus as the Son of Man, the Messiah, the one Daniel 7 points us toward. The very man whom they had rejected and killed is now standing in the glory of heaven. And notice that Christ is standing. Normally we think of Christ seated at the right hand of God (Psalm 110), enthroned in glory. But here he stands. The picture is not of a passive Savior who has gone to heaven and simply watches what happens to his people. Christ is active. He is ruling. He sees Stephen. He knows what is happening. Stephen may look abandoned from an earthly perspective, but heaven tells us that Christ is active in his rule.The crowd thinks they are judging Stephen, but Stephen has already been vindicated by Christ. They want to put down a dangerous heretic, but Stephen bears witness to the reality that they did kill the messiah. This communicates the complexity of a fallen world. We might think that our current circumstances mean we are bearing the weight of our sin. However, we might be part of the bigger picture. We need to see that our hope is not found in our circumstances, our reputation, or our earthly success. Our hope is found in the risen Christ who stands at the right hand of God. We might not always understand why history unravels the way it does, but we know that Christ is standing as our shepherd-king.The Contrasted VictoriesThe world will view Stephen's death as an absolute failure. Stephen is dragged outside the city and executed. The crowd gets what it wants. The Sanhedrin does not stop them. A man who faithfully preached Christ is dead. If we were simply looking at the circumstances, we might ask, "Where is the victory?"But Luke is showing us something much bigger. Stephen's death identifies him with Christ. Stephen is now experiencing exactly what Christ said would happen. He is cast outside the city, just as Christ was rejected and cast out (Luke 4:29). And even in his death, Stephen echoes the posture of his Savior. He asks the Lord not to hold this sin against them, and he entrusts his spirit to Christ (Acts 7:59-60; cf. Luke 23:34, 46). There is no bitterness here. There is confidence. Stephen knows that death does not have the final word. He is passing from this life into the presence of the Lord who is standing at the right hand of God.And then Luke gives us another remarkable detail: Saul is there. Stephen's outer garment is laid at Saul's feet. This tells us that Saul has authority and could stop it. He might not give the order, but he approves of this execution. This is the man who goes to ravage the church.The Lord's victory still shines through. The persecution drives the gospel to Samaria. Saul will become one of the most aggressive missionaries in the early church. Ironically, this man will have a passion to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. We see that Christ is still ruling in the midst of what appears to be a setback.That is the irony of the Christian life. The Lord does not promise that faithfulness will always produce earthly comfort. Sometimes obedience hurts. Sometimes faithfulness costs us something. Sometimes the church appears to be losing. But Christ is not passive. He is standing and ruling over history. The gospel advances despite what appears to be a huge setback.ConclusionShould Stephen have watered down Christ's significance? Should he have made Christ less central? Should he have treated Jesus as something optional?No. Because Christ is Lord. Stephen sees him standing in heaven. And that is what gives Stephen confidence in the middle of suffering. The world may say that Stephen is the loser, that he was a fool for being so committed to Christ, that he should have kept his mouth shut. But Stephen knows something the mob does not know. His life is not ultimately defined by what happens to him in this age. His life is defined by Jesus Christ, and his certainty is guaranteed in Christ.And that is our hope as well. We live in a sinful world, and God's redemptive purposes often work themselves out in ways that are not pretty or comfortable. But Christ is not passive. He is standing in the glory of heaven. He is ruling, defending, protecting, and advancing his church. And even when we cannot see how he is doing it, Christ is still at work.Stephen's confidence was not in Stephen. It was in Christ. His hope was not that this life would turn out in victory. His hope was that Christ would shepherd him through this life and into the life to come. And so when we find ourselves facing suffering, opposition, disappointment, or things that simply do not make sense, we remember where our hope is. It is not in ourselves. It is in Jesus Christ. We are assured that taking the yoke of Christ is not tyranny. It is life. And because Christ has made us his own, we can press forward with confidence in his power.Our life is found in Christ. Therefore, let us press forward, trusting him, even when faithfulness is costly, because Christ Jesus has made us his own.
What happens when God's work doesn't fit inside the boundaries we've created? In Acts 11:1–18, Peter finds himself explaining to the believers why he entered the home of a Gentile and witnessed God pour out His Spirit on people they never expected. The challenge wasn't simply accepting what God had done; it was being willing to change their perspective when God revealed something bigger than their traditions. In this message, we discover that sometimes God calls us to grow beyond the boundaries of our expectations, traditions, and comfort zones so we can see what He is doing in the lives of others. God's grace is bigger. His kingdom is wider. And His purposes are greater than our boundaries.
Guided Question Are you faithfully using the spiritual gifts God has given you to serve others in love, or have you allowed those gifts to remain unused or misunderstood? Summary This episode examines the purpose and use of spiritual gifts, with particular attention to the gift of tongues. Dr. Robert Lewis begins by explaining that spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to equip every believer for ministry and service. The gifts are not given for personal recognition but to be given away for the benefit of the body of Christ. Because using a gift is an act of self-giving, love must be the motivation behind its use. Without love, spiritual gifts can either be misused or remain dormant. Outline 1. Spiritual Gifts Equip Us for Ministry God gives every believer spiritual gifts so they can actively serve others. No gift is insignificant, and every gift contributes to the health of the body of Christ. 2. Love Must Motivate Our Gifts 1 Corinthians 13 shows that spiritual gifts must be exercised in love. Without love, gifts can be misused or left unused. 3. Understanding the Gift of Tongues Lewis turns to 1 Corinthians 14 and addresses the controversy surrounding tongues. Rather than beginning with modern debates, he encourages listeners to examine what Scripture teaches about the gift. 4. Acts as a Book of Spiritual Transition Lewis emphasizes that Acts records a unique period of spiritual transition as God moved from the Old Testament ministry of the Spirit to the New Testament ministry of the Spirit and established the church. Because of this, the experiences recorded in Acts should not automatically be treated as normative for believers today. 5. The Holy Spirit and the Believer Lewis argues that the New Testament presents the Holy Spirit as indwelling believers when they place their faith in Christ, rather than as an experience believers must seek at a later time. The unusual experiences recorded in Acts occurred within its unique transitional setting. 6. Tongues at Pentecost Acts 2 describes tongues as recognizable human languages spoken supernaturally by people who had never learned them. The gift served as a sign that attracted attention and enabled people from different nations to hear the disciples proclaiming the mighty works of God. Key Takeaways Spiritual gifts equip believers for ministry. God gives gifts so that believers can function as servants and build up one another. Gifts are meant to be given away. A spiritual gift is not primarily for personal benefit or recognition but for serving the body of Christ. Love must motivate spiritual gifts. Without love, gifts can be misused or left completely dormant. Acts records a unique spiritual transition. The book describes God's transition from the Old Testament ministry of the Spirit to the New Testament ministry of the Spirit and the establishment of the church. Acts should not automatically become today's doctrine. The unusual experiences surrounding the apostles must be understood within their transitional context. The Holy Spirit indwells believers at faith. Lewis argues that the rest of the New Testament presents receiving the Spirit as part of becoming a believer rather than as a later experience believers must seek. Tongues in Acts 2 were human languages. The disciples spoke languages they had never learned, and people from different nations understood them in their own languages. Tongues were supernatural. The ability was not learned or practiced beforehand; it was given by the Spirit. Spiritual gifts should point people toward God. In Acts 2, tongues helped gather attention so that people could hear the disciples proclaiming God's mighty works. Scripture References 1 Peter 4:10 — Use spiritual gifts to serve one another. 1 Corinthians 12 — The Spirit sovereignly gives different gifts, and every gift is important. 1 Corinthians 13 — Love provides the motivation for using spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 14 — Instructions concerning tongues, prophecy, and public worship. Acts 1:4–8 — Jesus promises the coming ministry of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:1–11 — The Spirit comes at Pentecost, and the disciples speak in other languages. Acts 8 — The Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit in a unique transitional event. Acts 10 — Gentiles receive the Spirit and speak in tongues. Acts 19 — Disciples of John receive the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues and prophesy. John 14:16–17 — Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will permanently dwell in His followers. 1 Corinthians 12:13 — All believers are baptized into one body by the Holy Spirit. Recorded 10.24.82
Jesus, wrapping up His discussion with the woman caught in adultery, turns back to the crowd and makes a bold, profound statement: "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life". "The Light of the World" - John 8:12 Dan Jaussen Download Sermons Archive RSS Numbers 24:17 I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.Isaiah 49:6 Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.'Luke 2:32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people IsraelJohn 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.John 12:35-36 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light that you may become sons of light.”Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp ad put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. (I have this one twice because I am going to reference it again in this order for PP)Philippians 2:14-15 do all things without complaining or disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked an perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the worldMatthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven Sermon Discussion Questions:Who were some of the people that prophesied Jesus coming as a light?Describe the way that John describes Jesus in the beginning of John 1.What are the two ways that people react when encountering the Light of the World.In what ways are we to be light unto the world?
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. ___ A brilliant up and coming speaker makes his way from Egypt to Ephesus with a passionate and accurate yet incomplete message about Jesus.
God's family is not defined by outward rites or religious résumés; it is marked by faith. Abraham was declared righteous before he ever received the covenant sign, and his true children — Jew and Gentile alike — are known by that same believing trust.Romans chapter 4, verses 9 through 12 brings that idea into sharp focus. In a sermon titled, "Family Resemblance," Pastor Brian shows us why faith, not ritual, is the mark of Abraham's family.
Jesus came into the world to save the lost. He came to die for sinners. He did not come for one group of people or another. He did not come only for the Jews or only for the Gentiles. He came for all people, so that everyone might have the opportunity to be saved. And today, our calling is to take that message of salvation to everyone. Jesus is the Son of God, who came into the world to die for sinners – whatever their nationality, whatever their background, whatever their religion or creed. That is why I have travelled so widely, preaching the Gospel, because I want to reach everyone with the good news of Christ. In Acts 10:47, after the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit, Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptising these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” The message is clear: whether Jew or Gentile, everyone needs the Holy Spirit, and everyone who believes should be baptised in water. What does water baptism mean? Paul explains it in Romans. When we are baptised, it symbolises our identification with Christ in His death. Water baptism is a picture of death and resurrection. As you go down into the water, it is as though you are buried with Christ. As you come up out of the water, you rise to new life as a new creation. Just as Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, so water baptism declares that your old life has died and that you now live a new life in Him.
In this message, Pastor Brandon Holthaus concludes Jesus' Mystery Kingdom parables by examining the Hidden Treasure, the Pearl of Great Price, the Dragnet, and the Householder. Discover how these final parables reveal God's ongoing plan for Israel, His calling out of believing Gentiles during the Church Age, the coming Judgment of the Nations, and the establishment of Christ's Messianic Kingdom. This study explains why the Hidden Treasure represents Israel's believing remnant, why the Pearl of Great Price pictures Gentile believers, how the Net points to the future separation of the righteous from the wicked at Christ's return, and how the Householder summarizes God's entire Kingdom program. You'll also see how these parables fit together with Romans 11, Acts 15, Micah 5, Daniel 7, Revelation 17, and Matthew 25 to reveal the prophetic roadmap leading to the Second Coming. If you want to understand God's prophetic plan for Israel, the Church, the Gentile nations, and the Kingdom, this message ties these crucial passages together into one cohesive biblical picture. If this message encourages you, please Like, Subscribe, and Share it with others as we continue proclaiming the full counsel of God's Word. #BibleProphecy #Matthew13 #KingdomParables #Israel #ChurchAge #MessianicKingdom #EndTimes #SecondComing #Prophecy #Dispensationalism #Romans11 #Acts15 #Gentiles #IsraelOfGod #JudgmentOfTheNations #SheepAndGoats #HiddenTreasure #PearlOfGreatPrice #Dragnet #ArielMinistries #ArnoldFruchtenbaum #TipOfTheSpearMinistries #RockHarborChurch #BrandonHolthaus Matthew 13:44–58
In this message, Pastor Brandon Holthaus concludes Jesus' Mystery Kingdom parables by examining the Hidden Treasure, the Pearl of Great Price, the Dragnet, and the Householder. Discover how these final parables reveal God's ongoing plan for Israel, His calling out of believing Gentiles during the Church Age, the coming Judgment of the Nations, and the establishment of Christ's Messianic Kingdom. This study explains why the Hidden Treasure represents Israel's believing remnant, why the Pearl of Great Price pictures Gentile believers, how the Net points to the future separation of the righteous from the wicked at Christ's return, and how the Householder summarizes God's entire Kingdom program. You'll also see how these parables fit together with Romans 11, Acts 15, Micah 5, Daniel 7, Revelation 17, and Matthew 25 to reveal the prophetic roadmap leading to the Second Coming. If you want to understand God's prophetic plan for Israel, the Church, the Gentile nations, and the Kingdom, this message ties these crucial passages together into one cohesive biblical picture. If this message encourages you, please Like, Subscribe, and Share it with others as we continue proclaiming the full counsel of God's Word. #BibleProphecy #Matthew13 #KingdomParables #Israel #ChurchAge #MessianicKingdom #EndTimes #SecondComing #Prophecy #Dispensationalism #Romans11 #Acts15 #Gentiles #IsraelOfGod #JudgmentOfTheNations #SheepAndGoats #HiddenTreasure #PearlOfGreatPrice #Dragnet #ArielMinistries #ArnoldFruchtenbaum #TipOfTheSpearMinistries #RockHarborChurch #BrandonHolthaus
Romans 1:16-17 declares that the Gospel is the power of God for salvation and calls believers to live unashamed of its message. The Gospel confronts human sin while offering forgiveness and new life through Christ alone, bringing real transformation to hearts, relationships, and communities. Paul emphasizes that salvation is not earned through moral effort, religious rituals, or good works, but is received by faith alone in Jesus Christ. At the heart of the passage is the truth that justification comes before sanctification. God declares sinners righteous through faith, giving them a new identity as His children, and that identity then produces a transformed life. True faith is more than agreeing with facts about Jesus; it is personally trusting Him and resting in His finished work. Communion continually reminds believers that Christ's death and resurrection have secured their adoption, righteousness, and calling to live each day by faith.
Have you ever shared good news in a place you were welcomed in? In Acts 13, God made Paul and Barnabus the light to the Gentiles and many even became believers. So how can you share the gospel where you're welcomed?MESSAGE NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49647981RESOURCES: https://www.canyonridge.orgBLOG: https://www.canyonridge.org/blogs/
As the gospel continues to move throughout the early church, we see it reach the gentiles. A Roman centurion named Cornelius gets a vision of an angel. Peter gets a vision of some food. The Holy Spirit shows up, and now the gentiles are brought into God's people as well. We have a God who is in the business of drawing near to us! Scripture Reading: Acts 10:1-16, 34-48 Digging Deeper Questions: Who is someone that helped you grow in your faith? Has there been a time where you felt clear on what God was calling you to do? How did you respond? How did it go? Jesus is the God who comes to us. Where have you seen Jesus meet you?
MICHAELBASHAM.COMTo the twelve tribes scattered abroad [among the Gentiles in the dispersion]: Greetings (rejoice)! Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.
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.
Series: Jesus Loves OutsidersOverview: This week we will unpack Luke 7:1:17. To access our message notes, click here. Passages: Luke 7:1:17Speaker: Tim Howey (8/9/26)
God's Gospel Goes Global After Peter told the story of his vision and going to Joppa to the home of Cornelius, we read in Acts 11:18 that "… the believers in Jerusalem had no further objections and praised God saying, 'So even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.'" And now the barriers that had existed between the Jewish world and the non-Jewish world are down in a single moment. The believers in Jerusalem that had grown up as devout Jewish people had their eyes opened to understand the new age that God promised had arrived. AND God's Gospel Goes Global!!! Then + Now GOD's Plan - His plan and intent have always been to win the entire world to Himself. God's plan is coming to fruition. Romans 10:12-13 we see that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile because the Lord saves all who call on Him. In verse 19 and 20 we read that those scattered by the persecution following Stephen's martyrdom are spreading into Cyprus, Phoenicia and Antioch sharing the gospel message to Jews and Greeks. Peter's ministry to Cornelius opened the flood gates!! Verse 21 tells us that the Lord was with them and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. We see the gospel exploding in Antioch, a place with many from multiple backgrounds and cultures, a wealthy city and an incredibly immoral city and this is where the Gospel explodes!! Unbelievers discover what they are living for has no lasting value, leaving them empty. Does this sound like the world today? It is there that God desires to bring the Good News that changes people lives, transforming them from the inside out, that brings an eternal destiny, and great joy and He does that through His people then and NOW! God's People - God uses His people to do mighty things. He desires to use us to touch our families, neighbors, and even our enemies with His word and his love. In verse 22 the news of the spread of the Gospel got back to the church in Jerusalem, so they send Barnabas to Antioch. Barnabas was from Cypress and was known as an encourager and once he saw what the grace of God was doing there, he encouraged the new believers to persevere in their faith with all their hearts, just as we need to do TODAY! God's Grace - God's breaks into our lives because He is good, not because of anything we have done, but because He is gracious. It is all based on what Jesus did at the cross. We all need to encounter that grace and know that God cares for us. His grace is powerful and changes lives, families, marriages, communities and the world both then and NOW!. God's Leaders - Through Barnabas a great number of people are brought to the Lord. And Barnabas goes to Tarsus to bring Saul to Antioch. God assembles a great group of leaders, an amazing team uniquely qualified to carry out God's plan. In verse 26 we read that great numbers of people in Antioch were taught for an entire year by this leadership team, equipping God's people to know God, His Word, His guidance, His direction, and His Holy Spirit. These leaders were specially needed in a corrupt age, in a corrupt city, because if God's people are not equipped they will fall prey to the enemy. Today we see God continuing to raise up leaders to do His work, in His strength and with His guidance and Holy Spirit. God's Teaching - we need to be instructed in the Truth. It is a matter of connecting what the Bible says to the life of a believer. Orthodoxy - right opinion - Beliefs - essential to be grounded in God's truth - the message of Christ's forgiveness. Orthopraxy - right practice - Conduct - knowing how to live our lives in a fallen world. It's not just head knowledge, it is about heartfelt, Spirit-guided living - conduct that becomes a follower of Jesus. Titus 2:11-14 - the grace of God offers salvation to ALL people and teaches us to live self-controlled, godly lives as we await Christ's return. God's Mercy - In verses 28-30 we read that Agabus, a prophet, predicts a famine, so the disciples decide to support the believers living in Judea. In the mercy of God they reached out to those in the midst of famine, then. Today, God's mercy shows in us as we walk by faith and follow the Holy Spirit's leading. … and God's Gospel continues to Go Global! This week's READING ASSIGNMENT: Acts chapter 11-12. Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service
Send us Fan MailRomans 10:14–21: Hearing, Preaching, and Israel's Response Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison continue “Pondering the Bible” in Romans 10:14–21 (RSV), aiming to finish chapter 10. They unpack Paul's chain of questions about calling, believing, hearing, preaching, and being sent, suggesting it reads more clearly in reverse: God sends a preacher, people hear, believe, then call on Jesus. They discuss why this passage is controversial, since Paul quotes Isaiah, Psalms, and Deuteronomy throughout and sometimes not word-for-word, raising debate about context and accuracy. Paul argues Israel has heard and had both general revelation (creation) and specific revelation (Scripture), yet many still reject the gospel, while Gentiles accept it. Using William Barclay's outline, they frame the section as four questions with four answers emphasizing Israel's responsibility for unbelief. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:35 Reading Romans 10 02:14 Why So Confusing 02:26 Chain of Questions 09:34 Isaiah and Faith 12:43 Have They Heard 16:30 Israel and Gentiles 19:52 Hands Held Out 22:03 Barclay Simplifies 25:27 Final Thoughts 26:16 Closing Sign OffNEW!: 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
WATCH NOW: “Be Obedient to God, Step 2” – Rabbi Steve Weiler (07/25/2026)Shabbat Service, July 25, 2026More videos available on the Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue of Tampa Youtube channel https://youtu.be/LKybITFmBL0 Copyright Licensing InformationCCLI Profile #: 3931821Shoresh David is a congregation where Jews and Gentiles worship together. Whether you are an interfaith couple, Jewish person or a Christian, Shoresh David is a place where you can belong. We look forward to seeing you at Services. Shalom!Website: http://www.shoreshdavid.orgFacebook: http://facebook.com/shoreshdavid - You can watch services live, Friday night 7:00pm ET / Saturday morning 11:00am ET via the Shoresh David Facebook Page.Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue of Tampa4320 W Bay to Bay Blvd, Tampa, FL 33629Phone: (813) 831-5673#messianicjudaism #yeshua #tampaSupport the show
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."
Lutheran Preaching and Teaching from St. John Random Lake, Wisconsin
17 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?”She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”They said to Him, “We are able.”23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Political peace and social unity is something often heard about in the media and how communities need to strive to embrace unity and lay down their tribal identities that divide people. How might Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones respond to this kind of plea? More importantly, how does the apostle Paul talk about unity? In this sermon on Ephesians 1:11 titled “Predestined and Sealed in Christ,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones expounds on the great themes of unity, harmony, and peace in the letter to the Ephesians. In the church, there is no nationalistic boasting from the Jews nor philosophical snobbery from the Greeks for they are all one in Christ. The apostle Paul, who first boasted in his flesh as a Hebrew of Hebrews, now boasts that he is an apostle to the Gentiles. How did this come about? It comes about from God's grand purpose of reuniting all things together in Christ. It is only when one looks to their inheritance as Christians can true peace and true unity be realized. Only by setting affection upon the spiritual inheritance in Christ can true reconciliation take place. The world does not know this or understand this unity. Hear Dr. Lloyd-Jones speak to this important topic that has implications for lives today.