Podcasts about gentiles

What does it mean that Gentiles are made clean? How can the Holy Spirit fill Gentiles supposedly outside of God's Kingdom? David and Christine explore the events surrounding Peter's visit to Cornelius, the implications that Jesus' ascension and worldwide atonement have on the nations, and how the Gentile Pentecost connects to the stories of Ezekiel, Jonah, and even Noah's descendants.

The Rise of Replacement Theology and Anti-Jewish Propaganda | KWR-0057 Kingdom War Room Episode Description In this Kingdom War Room roundtable, Dr. Michael Lake is joined by Dr. Mike Spaulding, Dr. Corby Shuey, and Dr. Justin Elwell for a sober, Scripture-centered discussion on replacement theology (supersessionism)—its historical roots, its modern resurgence, and why it fuels dangerous anti-Israel rhetoric in our day. We address: how supersessionism was codified historically and how it continues to shape today's conversations why God's covenants (especially the Abrahamic) are foundational to understanding the entire Bible the warning of Romans 11 and the inconsistency of claiming "Israel is replaced" while still appealing to Israel in end-times frameworks why "unhitching" from the Old Testament throws away the very definitions that make the New Testament intelligible the difference between critiquing a government's policies and condemning an entire people why the remnant must return to the Word of God—with God's definitions—if we're going to stand faithfully in the days ahead

Romans 11:16-17 — In this sermon on Romans 11:16–17 titled “The Olive Tree,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones discusses what or who is the olive tree and the relationship of the Jews to the Gentiles within God's economy of salvation. Learn of the importance to understand what Paul means in Romans 11 and the tendency to lean towards the two extremes—to make too much or too little of this relationship. What is meant by this “olive tree”? Who are the children of the promise? Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones dives into explaining who are the true spiritual people of God. There is a spiritual nation that surpasses the natural. Understand from where the roots of this olive tree are derived. There is a continuity that binds the Old and New Testaments: “There is only one way of salvation and it has always been the same one.” See that salvation is not a matter of nationality but of being grafted into God's people. What does it mean that the Jews have a “special” yet not “separate” position? Rejoice that both Jews and Gentiles will be joint heirs and partake in the promised blessings of God. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29?v=20251111

A star baseball player will not be cut from the team if he is injured. The manager can keep him on the bench as a pinch hitter and get a player from the Minor Leagues to fill his position. If they win the World Series, both players will be champions. God has not cast off Israel, but has set them aside for a time so that the Gentiles might receive the riches of salvation in Jesus Christ. Dr. Barnhouse preaches about Gentile blessings on Dr. Barnhouse and the Bible. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/791/29?v=20251111

Romans 11:16-17 — In Romans 11:16–17, Paul provides more evidence of why the rejection of Israel was not final. Israel's stumbling was only temporary and because of their fall, the gentiles have received salvation. Paul explains that Israel's belief will be like coming to life from death. In this passage, he uses two illustrations to explain the Jews' and the Gentiles' relationship to the truth. In this sermon on Romans 11:16–17 titled “The Terms Defined,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones breaks down both illustrations and defines the words and context of the words. In essence, if one is part of the whole, and the whole is holy, then they, too, are also holy. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that the term “holy” does not always mean sinless, but it means set apart by God. Some parts of the "dough" or "branches" (as used in the illustrations) have been cut off, but can once again be grafted in and take the blessings of the whole. God has the power to remove something once and for all, but He can also graft a part back into the whole. This is what will be done with the Jews. It will be a glorious day when all of Christ's followers and those who believe the true gospel will be raised up and reunited with the whole. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29?v=20251111

Wednesday, 25 February 2026   Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. Matthew 17:11   “And Jesus answering, He said to them, ‘Elijah indeed, he comes first, and he will reconstitute all'” (CG).   In the previous verse, the disciples queried Jesus, asking, “Why therefore the scribes, they say that Elijah, it necessitates, to come first?” Having recalled that, Matthew next records, “And Jesus answering.”   What Jesus says is the spoken word of God. Therefore, what He says is to be taken literally. He will make His statement based on what Scripture has already taught about Elijah. Therefore, what seems contradictory in the coming verse is due to a misunderstanding of what Jesus is saying. Understanding this, “He said to them, ‘Elijah indeed, he comes first.'”   Some texts omit the word “first,” as if this resolves the issue that many find difficult to understand. However, Mark 9:12 includes the word “first,” but accompanies it with an aorist participle, saying, “Elijah, indeed, having come first, he reconstitutes all.”   Thus, there is no reason to assume the word “first” doesn't belong here. The words of Jesus so far don't tell when Elijah is coming. It is a statement of fact, “He comes first.” However, the next words add more clarification, saying, “and he will reconstitute all.”   The future tense leaves no doubt that Elijah's coming is yet ahead. Therefore, what is coming is what was prophesied in Malachi 4 concerning him –   “Behold! I sending to you Elijah the prophet, To faces coming day Yehovah – The whopping and the ‘being feared,' 6 And he will cause to return, heart fathers, upon sons, And heart sons, upon their fathers. Lest I come, and I cause to strike the land – anathema.” Malachi 4:5, 6 (CG)   These are not words describing immediate family relations, as in, “He will turn the people in the families to love one another.” Rather, this is a word concerning the Hebrew people as a whole. The fathers are the patriarchs, especially Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.   The children are those who have misunderstood both the promise to the patriarchs and the purpose of the law. The heart of the fathers was that of promise while trusting in the gospel of the grace of God. Paul explains this in Galatians 3 –   “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.' 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.”  ... “And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” Galatians 3:8, 9, & 17, 18   The hearts of the children, the unbelievers of Israel, will have their hearts turned to the hearts of the fathers who trusted the gospel of Christ as a certain and sure promise. If they do not turn their hearts, the warning stands.   Life application: The Old Testament, the time of man's living under the curse of law, ends with the word kherem, anathema. It speaks of the utter destruction or ban of something. It is a fitting end to the thirty-nine books of law.   Only with the hope of God in Christ is there life and renewed fellowship with God. Only in understanding the gospel can that state be realized.   As with the whole chapter of Malachi 4, the final words speak of a dual fulfillment. The first part of it came about when Israel rejected Jesus. He told them as much in Matthew 23:36, saying, “Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”   The nation as a whole rejected Jesus, remained under law, and fell under the ban because of it. The second fulfillment will be for those of Israel who continue to reject Jesus during the tribulation. However, for the nation, that will eventually end. The land of Israel, symbolized by Jerusalem, was anathema because of Israel's rejection of Jesus. This is seen in Zechariah 14:11 –   “The people shall dwell in it; And no longer shall there be utter destruction [kherem], But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.”   This prophecy concerns the future when Israel finally receives Jesus. Only when the hearts of the children are turned to the hearts of the fathers, meaning those who lived in faith and not by law, will this time of woe for Israel end.   The day is coming, and the world is being readied for it with the return of Israel to her land. The nation has been reestablished, prophecies of the past have come to their fulfillment, and many more prophecies are set to be fulfilled.   The book is written, and these things will come about. We are simply spectators watching as the words of Scripture are faithfully realized, often before our own eyes. At some point, the rapture will take place, and the attention of the Lord will be directed to bringing about the final restoration of Israel while also bringing about judgment upon all who refuse to believe.   Malachi sets forth both the hope of restoration and the warning of rejecting it. Though it is directed to Israel, for those who know Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles, we can learn from what is said there.   Our trust is not to be in the Law of Moses but in the One who is spoken of there and throughout all of Scripture. It is not easy to let go and place ourselves solely under the authority of another, but we must do so. If we are in need of surgery, we have to trust that the surgeon will get us through the ordeal.   In the case of our eternal souls, we have to let go of trusting in ourselves and look to the eternal gospel, which God has slowly and methodically revealed to the world through His word. And that gospel is centered completely and entirely on the Person of Jesus Christ.   Lord God, help us in our stubborn desire to earn what You have so freely given. May we never assume that we can somehow merit Your gracious offering of Jesus. Rather, may we trust only in the word that tells us of what He has done, accepting it as the one acceptable means of restoration with You. Thank You for Your grace, which is found in Jesus Christ! Amen.

Paul speaks to the leaders of the church who are excited about what God is doing among the Gentiles. But they warn Paul that not everyone will be as excited as they are. Some zealous Jews actually believe Paul is breaking Old Testament law when he shares with Gentiles. So what does God want? Let's find out as we read  Acts 21:17-25 and Jeremiah 7:1-26.#WhatDoesGodWant #Acts21 #Jeremiah7 #GodsDesire #GentilesAndJews #BreakingTheLaw #ZealousJews #GodsPriority #Acts2117 #Jeremiah726 #LetsFindOutTogether #DailyDevotional #BibleStudy #BookOfActs #ActsOfTheApostles #PaulTheMissionary #OldTestamentLaw #GospelToGentiles #JewishLaw #GodsWill

Is there any significance to the Jews coming first and then the gentiles? is it simply someone has to be first? How does this impact the Money Gentiles sent the Jews? Why does Paul care about not building on someone's foundation? It comes across as ego (Also 2Cor 10:16). Why not water someone else's seed? (1Cor 3:6) If Romans 15:27 says Gentiles owe sharing material blessings with Jews, is that putting a price on the Gospel? Something that Paul has strong views against.

Romans 11:13-15 — What is the future of the Jewish nation? According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in this sermon on Romans 11:13–15 titled “Life From the Dead,” one does not have to wonder since God prophesied through the apostle Paul that there will be a great day when Israel is saved. While they may have stumbled, this was only temporary in order that the gospel might go to all the nations of the Gentiles. God has promised that there will come a day when the dead come to life; that is, when the spiritually dead Israelites receive the gospel of Jesus Christ and believe in Him. All Christians ought to pray and seek the day when God moves and causes a great revival amongst the people of Israel. Furthermore, Paul warns Gentile Christians from becoming prideful and boastful towards the Jewish people, for both Jew and Gentile are justified by faith in Christ as a gift from God. How should this message change the way Christians live now? Christians ought to seek to evangelize the people of Israel because they know that there will be a day when God causes a great revival amongst them. The church ought to pray and eagerly await the day when God fulfills His promise and brings many national Israelites into the church of Jesus Christ. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29?v=20251111

O you poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell over you, unto whom—right before your very eyes—Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified? 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?] 3 Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things and experienced so much all for nothing (to no purpose)—if it really is to no purpose and in vain? 5 Then does He Who supplies you with His marvelous [Holy] Spirit and works powerfully and miraculously among you do so on [the grounds of your doing] what the Law demands, or because of your believing in and adhering to and trusting in and relying on the message that you heard? 6 Thus Abraham believed in and adhered to and trusted in and relied on God, and it was reckoned and placed to his account and credited as righteousness (as conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action). 7 Know and understand that it is [really] the people [who live] by faith who are [the true] sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify (declare righteous, put in right standing with Himself) the Gentiles in consequence of faith, proclaimed the Gospel [foretelling the glad tidings of a Savior long beforehand] to Abraham in the promise, saying, In you shall all the nations [of the earth] be blessed. 9 So then, those who are people of faith are blessed and made happy and favored by God [as partners in fellowship] with the believing and trusting Abraham. 10 And all who depend on the Law [who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals] are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and destruction, for it is written in the Scriptures, Cursed (accursed, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment) be everyone who does not continue to abide (live and remain) by all the precepts and commands written in the Book of the Law and to practice them. 11 Now it is evident that no person is justified (declared righteous and brought into right standing with God) through the Law, for the Scripture says, The man in right standing with God [the just, the righteous] shall live by and out of faith and he who through and by faith is declared righteous and in right standing with God shall live.

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Romans 11:13-15 — In this sermon on Romans 11:13–15 titled “Apostle to the Gentiles,” Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones works through the teaching of Paul to the Gentiles. Different interpretations of these controversial words by Paul are examined and the various out-workings of each are addressed. He explains the difference between translation and interpretation. Paul preaches as an apostle to the Gentiles and he emphasizes this office, perhaps with an ultimate and ulterior motive for the salvation of the Jews. Dr. Lloyd-Jones addresses these questions along with the false notions that surround both the Jew and the Gentile. Evangelism, teaching, and warning are all essential to Paul's word to these people and for today's believers. Is the gospel different for Jew and Gentile? Listeners are encouraged to be diligent in study and see the full blessing that God has offered through Christ, embracing the word of God and the hope of the gospel that is now available for every human, no matter the race, gender, or ethnicity. Salvation has been purchased through the blood of Christ for the purification of more than just the Jews. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29?v=20251111

Episode Synopsis:After completing the first 9 chapters of the letter we know as 2 Corinthians, and even as he was preparing to leave Macedonia and head south to Corinth, Paul received word from Corinth that a group of men whom he describes as false teachers and false apostles were wreaking havoc in the church.  Not good news, and certainly a cause for immediate action.  In Paul's estimation, these men were the agents of Satan who deceitfully disguises himself as an angel of light.  As his agents, these men were able to do their master's bidding, disguising themselves as servants of righteousness, taking credit for the work done by Paul, and all the while undermining his efforts and seeking to divide Paul from the church he had founded through the proclamation of the apostolic gospel of Christ crucified.Although criticizing Paul's speaking abilities and less than imposing presence, their real crime was introducing a false gospel, another Jesus, and another Holy Spirit–a heretical departure from what Paul had proclaimed.  The true gospel (which had been revealed to Paul by the Lord himself), the true Jesus (who had appeared to Paul and commissioned him to his apostolic office as the apostle to the Gentiles), and the true Holy Spirit (who gave life to Paul's preaching of Christ and him crucified) were replaced by counterfeits.  The goal of the false teachers was to undermine Paul's office and authority so that they would have a free hand to teach their distorted gospel, false Jesus, and false Holy Spirit while displacing Paul's role in Corinth.  These men and their names, as well as the specifics of their false gospel have been lost to history, but Paul's warnings to the Corinthians and rebuke of these false teachers stands across time.Satan never seems to weary of distorting the gospel and creating false doctrine just as he did in Corinth.  He was a liar from the beginning and remains so to this day.  In warning the Corinthians of his efforts, Paul is warning us.  By identifying a false gospel, a false Jesus, and a false Holy Spirit, Paul is warning Christians of the methods used by Satan and his minions to disguise his intentions and his agents.  No doubt these men were refined orators, addressed the issues of life in a way which appealed to Greco-Roman pagans, and they had been welcomed in the congregation.  But Paul exposes their master, their false teaching, and their methods.  How could the Corinthians allow themselves to be taken in by such men?For show notes and other recommended materials located at the Riddleblog as mentioned during the Blessed Hope Podcast, click here: https://www.kimriddlebarger.com/

Ephesians 1:1-14 (ESV)Andrew and Edwin discuss Paul's prayer of praise at the opening of his letter to the Ephesians. They propose Paul is highlighting how God chose to bless the Jews, and then how in Christ the Gentiles are added into the blessings.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=24604The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

Daniel 2 "The Gentile Kingdoms" - Matt Freeman by Matt Freeman

From Outsiders to One: The Ministry of Reconciliation (Ephesians 2) In this message at Journey during a series through Ephesians, JonnyMac invites the church to reflect on times they've felt like an outsider and connects that experience to an “us vs. them” culture. Teaching from Ephesians 2:11–18, he explains the historical divide between Jews and Gentiles, how a “Jesus plus” system of traditions created barriers, and how Christ's death broke down the wall of hostility and brought peace, uniting two groups into one and reconciling people to God. He illustrates the challenge of reconciliation with the story of the Prodigal Son, focusing on the older brother's anger and how people can love the idea of God's grace while resisting the “guest list.” The message emphasizes that reconciliation is not only between individuals and God but also a calling for believers, with the church meant to lead in reconciliation in a divided world. Practical next steps begin with prayer, referencing Isaiah 56:7 and Jesus' words about God's house being a house of prayer for all nations, and Matthew 5:44 about praying for enemies. The speaker shares examples of reconciliation seen in a diverse Louisville coffee shop community and a personal story of repairing a broken relationship with a former coworker through ownership, prayer, grace, and restored friendship. The talk concludes with an invitation to use the church's prayer wall to pray for reconciliation and to remember in communion that believers were once outsiders but have been brought near through Christ. 00:00 Welcome to Journey + Springtime Small Talk 00:17 Icebreaker: When Was the Last Time You Felt Like an Outsider? 02:55 Why Outsider Stories Matter: Living in an ‘Us vs. Them' Culture 03:55 Ephesians 2 Setup: Paul, Ephesus, and Reading the Passage 07:22 Gentiles, Israel, and How the Wall of Hostility Got Built 10:07 The ‘Jesus Plus' Problem: Traditions That Keep People Out 12:07 Jesus Breaks Down the Wall: Peace and One New People 14:04 Prodigal Son & the Older Brother: Loving the Party, Hating the Guest List 19:17 Our Calling: The Church as a Ministry of Reconciliation 24:08 How to Begin: Prayer, a House of Prayer for All Nations 27:52 A Personal Reconciliation Story (and a Call to the Prayer Wall) 31:53 Communion & Closing Prayer: Remember You Were Brought Near

In Romans 2:11–29, Paul continues developing his argument by stressing that “God shows no favoritism.” Having established that God judges impartially, he now addresses a specific confidence many of his fellow Jews held — reliance on the Law and on the outward sign of circumcision. Paul affirms the privilege of having God's Law, yet he makes clear that possession of it is not the same as obedience to it. Hearing the Law does not justify anyone; doing it is what matters.He confronts the inconsistency of teaching others while failing to practice the same truths. Boasting in the Law while breaking it dishonors God and undermines the very covenant identity it claims to uphold. Circumcision, the visible mark of belonging to God's people, is valuable only if it reflects an obedient heart. Otherwise, it becomes empty symbolism. In a striking reversal, Paul explains that genuine faithfulness — even among Gentiles who do not possess the written Law — demonstrates that God's standards reach deeper than external markers.This section climaxes with a profound redefinition of what it means to belong to God. True Jewishness, Paul says, is not merely outward or physical; it is inward. Real circumcision is a matter of the heart, brought about by the Spirit, not simply by adherence to the written code.As Romans unfolds, this passage calls us beyond religious identity and external performance. It challenges us to examine whether our faith is merely outward or truly transforming within. God's approval does not rest on heritage, rituals, or knowledge alone, but on a heart renewed by His Spirit — one that lives in humble obedience before Him.Connect with us!Missioncity.church

Today we will start a new journey through the book of Galatians with Part 1 - An Introduction. Join us in the conversation. This is the audio podcast.

Black History Month Celebration Pastors JF and Ashley Wilkerson Matthew 28:18–20 NIV 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 1. A PROMISE TO ALL Galatians 3:7-9 NIV 7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 1. A PROMISE TO ALL 2. A FAMILY OF ALL Galatians 3:26–29 NIV 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:28 NIV    28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 1. A PROMISE TO ALL 2. A FAMILY OF ALL 3. HIS GLORY THROUGH ALL 1 Corinthians 12:12–14 NIV 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 1 Corinthians 12:18–27 NIV 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don't need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. Romans 12:3–5; 9–10; 15–16a NIV 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others…9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves…15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16a Live in harmony with one another. 1. A PROMISE TO ALL 2. A FAMILY OF ALL 3. HIS GLORY THROUGH ALL

The story moves from miracles to misunderstanding—and that tension is where the deepest formation happens. We step into Acts 21 as Paul is accused, seized, and carried away under the shout of death, and we unpack why long obedience often collides with confusion before it bears any visible fruit. No instant vindication arrives, yet something more resilient takes root: steadiness under pressure and the quiet strength of composure.We walk through how assumptions harden into certainty, how sacred space and identity fuel the crowd's fury, and why Luke refuses to polish the scene. Paul's choice to remain present in Jerusalem—among his own people, with shared Scripture and story—reveals a costly kind of faithfulness. Renewal within established communities is rarely smooth; it is frequently misunderstood before it is received. Still, Paul does not withdraw. Even in chains, he asks to address the crowd, trusting that God can turn interruption into direction and confinement into opportunity.Across the episode, we explore the hard but hopeful truth that obedience does not guarantee clarity. You can do the right thing and still be misread. Yet the mission of God is not dependent on favorable conditions. Sometimes it advances through restraint, through hearings and custody rather than open roads and fast wins. We reflect on Paul's transformed past, his enduring love for Jew and Gentile, and the way grace forms patience for slow, contested spaces. The takeaway is simple and strong: faithfulness is measured by endurance, not applause—and endurance is sustained by presence. If you're facing noise, delay, or misunderstanding, this conversation offers a path to stay rooted in grace and steady on the long way forward.If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs courage for a slow road, and leave a rating to help others find it.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to Madison Church on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback means the world to us, so please take a moment to leave a review and share the podcast with your friends and family.For inquiries, suggestions, or collaboration opportunities, please reach out to us at help@madisonchurch.com. For the latest updates and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube New episodes are released every Monday, so mark your calendars and join us weekly! If you'd like to support the show, you can make a donation here. Your generosity helps us continue to bring you meaningful content. This podcast is intended for general informational purposes only. The views expressed by the hosts or guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Madison Church. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. For detailed information regarding our terms of use and privacy policy, please visit our website.Thank you for being part of the Madison Church community! We appreciate your support.

Circumcision was “the single clearest distinguishing feature of the covenant people.” When the gospel reached the Gentiles, a controversy broke out among the Jews, with some declaring, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” (Acts 15:1). Paul dealt with the issue of circumcision throughout his entire ministry. He was an expert in the Scriptures and a former Pharisee, so he was uniquely positioned by the Holy Spirit to bring clarity to the true meaning of circumcision. As the Holy Spirit-inspired author of Romans, he stated: “For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” (Rom. 2:28-29)Circumcision was a good thing, but it became a bad thing when the Jews sought to attach it to the finished work of Christ as necessary for salvation. As followers of Jesus, we must guard against creating any system that attaches human efforts to Christ's finished work. Even good things, like baptism and communion, have been attached by some to the finished work of Christ as necessary for salvation. We reject this view (Eph. 2:8-9), while seeking to uphold the crucial and essential nature of Biblically mandated Christian rituals. Jesus was circumcised and placed Himself under the Law. He perfectly kept the Law and thus redeemed those under the Law (Gal. 4:4-5). We are now in Christ! “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” (Gal. 5:6)Take-Home Message: Circumcision is a matter of the heart.Circumcision ExplainedCircumcision Illustrated (25-27)Circumcision Applied (28-29)We must emphasize coming to Jesus and following Jesus as the true evidence of a believer.We must guard against adding requirements to the gospel. We must strive for unity with Christians of different backgrounds.

God promised Abraham that He would choose his descendants and make them His own people; the Chosen People. We read in the Scriptures the promises fulfillment in Israel being saved out of Egypt and becoming the people of God via the covenant of Moses. Jesus the Jew from Nazareth proclaims that Salvation is of the Jews. He tells his disciples to bypass the Gentiles and bring the gospel to the lost sheep of Israel for he was sent only to them. So, what about the Gentiles? The Apostle Paul who resolves confusion about the Gentiles. It is a mystery that God kept hidden from everyone until He revealed it to Paul, His Apostle to the Gentiles. Join us as we continue to unpack this mystery surrounding the Gentiles.

In this first message of our new series, "Truth Bombs," we explore one of the most provocative and memorable moments in Jesus' ministry: the clearing of the temple.While we often imagine Jesus flipping tables with righteous anger, the background of this event reveals a deeper issue of "drift" and "project creep". At the time, Jerusalem would swell to 250,000 people for Passover, and the temple's Court of the Gentiles—the only place non-Jewish believers could worship—had been turned into a noisy, crowded marketplace for the sake of convenience. Jesus stepped into this chaos and declared, "My house will be a house of prayer... but you have made it a den of robbers".The base message asks: Is your heart overheating? Just as an old electrical outlet can melt when overloaded with too many appliances, our hearts can "overheat" when we allow disordered priorities—like our careers, finances, or family schedules—to crowd out our communion with God.Jesus exposes the drift in our hearts not to crush us, but because He takes His love for us seriously. The same hands that overturned the tables of the money changers were the hands eventually spread out on a cross to absorb the burden of our sin and offer us total forgiveness.Key Takeaways from the Sermon:• The Scale of the Temple: Understanding the majesty and theological design of the temple in Jerusalem.• The Concept of Drift: How a "great cause" can slowly degenerate from a movement into a business and finally a "racket".• Disordered Priorities: Recognizing when "good things" (like providing for family or saving money) begin to usurp God's place in our hearts.• Grace in the Overturning: How Jesus mends and heals us even as He exposes the things that hold us back from Him.

Romans 11:11-12 — What can we learn from the apostle Paul's teachings on the Jewish people? In this sermon on Romans 11:11–12 titled “Lessons from the Jews,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that Christians have much to learn from Paul about the church, themselves, and the gospel. He says that this prophesy will take place in the future. Paul believed that there would be a great revival amongst the people of Israel when they come to know Jesus Christ. The reason why the Jews rejected the gospel was in order that the truth of Christ might go to the Gentiles. The church must understand that oftentimes God uses rejection to actually further the proclamation of the gospel. The church must trust in God and in His goodness, believing that He will accomplish all He intends. The future restoration of Israel ought to cause Christians to lay aside prejudice and evil feelings toward the Jewish people, and they ought to love them and bring the gospel to them. Christ Jesus is the only means of salvation for both Jew and Gentile. The church is to proclaim this message of forgiveness and mercy to all people until Christ returns in glory. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29?v=20251111

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION “Before you call the snail a weakling, tie your house to your back and carry it around for a week.”~Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, Nigerian novelist “Before pointing fingers make sure your hands are clean.”~Bob Marley (1945-1981), Jamaican singer and songwriter “People get addicted to feeling offended all the time because it gives them a high; being self-righteous and morally superior feels good.”~Mark Manson, author and blogger “We judge people in areas where we're vulnerable to shame, especially picking folks who are doing worse than we're doing. If I feel good about my parenting, I have no interest in judging other people's choices. If I feel good about my body, I don't go around making fun of other people's weight or appearance. We're hard on each other because we're using each other as a launching pad out of our own perceived deficiency.”~Brené Brown, academic, podcaster, and writer “We judge ourselves by our intentions. And others by their actions.”~Stephen Covey (1932-2012), educator, author, businessman “There are only two kinds of men: the righteous who think they are sinners and the sinners who think they are righteous.”~Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), French mathematician and philosopher, in his Pensées (534) “Nothing can damn a man but his own righteousness; nothing can save him but the righteousness of Christ.” “The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation.”~Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), famed London preacher “Self-justification and judging others go together, as justification by grace and serving others go together.”~Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), pastor-theologian executed for his opposition to the NazisSERMON PASSAGERomans 2:1-16 (ESV)Romans 1 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse…. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.Romans 2 1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

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.

Pastor Mel's sermon on Romans 2:1-16 challenges listeners not to hypocritically judge others for the sins listed in Romans 1:29-32—such as wickedness, greed, envy, gossip, and heartlessness—while committing the same things themselves, as this self-condemnation leaves no excuse before God's impartial justice. He emphasizes that God's kindness, tolerance, and patience are intended to lead people to repentance, yet a stubborn, hard, and impenitent heart stores up wrath for the coming day of righteous judgment, where God will render to each person according to their deeds rather than mere intentions or hearing the law. Good actions, pursued in seeking God's glory, lead to eternal life, honor, and peace for both Jews and Gentiles alike, while self-centered wickedness brings anger and calamity, with no favoritism shown. Even Gentiles without the written law demonstrate an innate moral awareness through conscience, proving God's law is written on human hearts. The sermon concludes by underscoring that on the day of judgment through Christ Jesus, all secret lives and hidden motives will be revealed, echoing Jesus' warning in Luke 12 about hypocrisy and the exposure of what is whispered in darkness.

Pastor Mel's sermon on Romans 2:17-29 challenges those who rely on external religious identity and privileges—particularly the Jews in the Roman church who boasted in their knowledge of God's law, their special relationship with God, and circumcision—while failing to live in obedience to it. He highlights Paul's pointed confrontation: they teach others yet fail to teach themselves, condemning sins like stealing, adultery, and idolatry while secretly committing them, thereby dishonoring God and causing Gentiles to blaspheme His name. Drawing modern parallels, Mel equates outward circumcision or church attendance with having value only when accompanied by genuine obedience; otherwise, it offers no advantage. True Jewish identity (and by extension, true belonging to God's people) is not outward or merely physical but inward—a heart transformed by the Spirit, producing real righteousness through faith rather than legalistic performance. This inward change seeks God's praise alone, underscoring Paul's call for authentic, heart-level faith that unites a divided church rather than relying on cultural or ritualistic superiority.

This question is often asked this way:     ⁃    Is the Holy Spirit an impersonal force?     ⁃    What does the Bible say about this?     ⁃    What does the Holy Spirit do?     ⁃    Why are some afraid of the Holy Spirit? Let us consider: Is the Holy Spirit a "Force" or a "Person"  Marks of Personality:     ⁃    Intellect     ⁃    Emotion     ⁃    Will Are these evident in the Holy Spirit? Let's look in the Bible and see what we find, as there is so much confusion about the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit     ⁃    Speaks  - Acts 13:20 (….the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."     ⁃    Forbids certain things - Acts 16:6-7 (….having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching….but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to."      ⁃    Guides - gives direction - John 16:13 Jesus says, "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth…."     ⁃    Teaches - John 14:26 Jesus says, "but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my team, will teach you all things…."     ⁃    Helps - John 14:16-17 Jesus says, "And I will ask the Father and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever, the Spirit of truth….."     ⁃    Predicts - insight and prophetic revelation - Acts 21:11 "Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" And this is something that did happen to Paul.     ⁃    Can Be Lied to - Acts 5:3-4 The story of Ananias and Sepphira selling property. Peter says, "Ananias how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit ….. You have not lied just to human beings but to God."     ⁃    Can be Grieved - disappointed by our behavior or when we do not listen to God - Ephesians 4:30 "And do not grieve the Holt Spirit of God…"     ⁃    Intercedes for us - he prays - Romans 8:27 "And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God."       ⁃    Testifies - bears witness to Jesus and makes Jesus known - John 15:26 Jesus says, "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about the Me." The Holy Spirit testifies to who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. The Holy Spirit testifies to each one of us that Jesus is our only Hope, and our Messiah. Back to the question of why be afraid of the Holy Spirit?  Father - Son - Spirit = three in One. The Holy Spirit is real and is part of the essence of the One True Living God. And Holy Spirit desires to move in power in our lives and desires that we experience a real and personal relationship with Him. It is only in the Living God that we have life forever. Pastor closes with: The Father gives the Holy Spirit to those that ask Him. That's a promise for each one of us.(Luke 11:13 "…how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!") Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/whats-the-answer Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Matthew 18:15-2015 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, 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. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

With this final section of chapter eleven the Apostle Paul brings to a close his explanation of how despite the widespread rejection of Christ by so many ethnic Israelites, the word of God has not failed. In doing so Paul reveals a great mystery about God's saving plans for Jews and Gentiles and confirms the faithfulness of our sovereign God.

Jesus, the Suffering Servant, redefines greatness; we serve because He first served us Isaiah 53:4–11Surely he has borne our griefs    and carried our sorrows;yet we esteemed him stricken,    smitten by God, and afflicted.But he was pierced for our transgressions;    he was crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,    and with his wounds we are healed.All we like sheep have gone astray;    we have turned—every one—to his own way;and the Lord has laid on him    the iniquity of us all.He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,    yet he opened not his mouth;like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,    and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,    so he opened not his mouth.By oppression and judgment he was taken away;    and as for his generation, who consideredthat he was cut off out of the land of the living,    stricken for the transgression of my people?And they made his grave with the wicked    and with a rich man in his death,although he had done no violence,    and there was no deceit in his mouth.Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;    he has put him to grief;when his soul makes an offering for guilt,    he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,    make many to be accounted righteous,    and he shall bear their iniquities.Mark 10:35–45And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Introduction: Introduction: What Should I Do If I'm Not Content? (1 Corinthians 7:17-24) I should recognize THAT MY CALLING IS A GIFT. (1 Cor 7:17) 1 Timothy 6:6 - But godliness with contentment is great gain, I should resolve to OBEY NO MATTER WHAT. (1 Cor 7:18-19) John 14:23-24 - Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. 1 John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. I should remember WHO I AM IN CHRIST. (1 Cor 7:20-23) Philippians 4:11-13 - Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. I should rejoice THAT GOD IS WITH ME. (1 Cor 7:24) Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! AUDIO TRANSCRIPT 00:36-00:40Please open your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 7, verses 17 through 24.00:41-00:451 Corinthians chapter 7, verses 17 through 24.00:47-00:53Have you ever stopped to consider how much of your life is beyond your control?00:55-00:57And some of you are thinking, no, because that sounds very depressing.00:57-01:00It doesn't sound very fun at all.01:00-01:02And I get that, but just go with me for a second.01:03-01:07Did you have any control over when you came into this world?01:08-01:17You had no say on who your parents were, how much money they had, what hospital you were born at, what doctors delivered you.01:18-01:21Did you have any control over your genetic makeup and DNA?01:23-01:32You had zero input into what you would look like, what inherent talents you would possess, and what natural personality you would receive.01:33-01:35Are you able to control the weather?01:36-01:39Are you able to keep snow storms and frigid temperatures away?01:41-01:44If you're able to do that, you have failed us these past two months.01:44-01:47What have you been doing if you're able to control those things?01:47-01:48Where were you last night?01:50-01:54Are you able to control every single situation that pops up in your life?01:55-01:59Are you able to keep all forms of pain and suffering away?02:00-02:06I assume not because if you're able to do that, you'd be a billionaire right now because you sold your secret methods to others.02:08-02:11So much of your life is beyond your control.02:13-02:18Discontentment comes when you fail to acknowledge and submit to this basic truth.02:19-02:27And at its core, dissatisfaction, discontentment, is you not being happy with what God has given to you.02:28-02:34you being dissatisfied with who the Lord is and the life he has entrusted to you.02:36-02:41So many of your problems come from trying to control the uncontrollable.02:42-02:50Guys in the room like me who are under six feet tall, I'm sorry, those exercises, those stretches will not add any inches to your height.02:50-02:52Those height-boosting shoes aren't fooling anybody.02:54-02:56We're just gonna have to enjoy the view from down here.02:58-03:03So many of your frustrations find their root in trying to stop the inevitable.03:05-03:09Ladies, I'm sorry to say it, please don't pelt me with tomatoes and other produce.03:11-03:15You're going to get older, and there is going to be signs of aging.03:16-03:19Okay, good. (laughs) No produce, phew.03:20-03:22It's impossible to avoid.03:23-03:29Instead of resisting this, accept that your meaning is not bound up what you look like on the outside.03:30-03:32What truly matters is what you look like on the inside.03:34-03:39So many of your disappointments come from an unwillingness to accept your limitations.03:40-03:50And I'm sorry to burst your bubble, I'm sorry to ruin all the lessons you learned from Disney movies growing up, but you cannot be whoever you wanna be and do whatever you wanna do.03:52-03:54I see some of you not agreeing with me internally.03:55-05:21I'm sorry, but it's not every boy's future athlete. It's not in every girl's future to be a famous celebrity or singer. There are things that you are good at and you should work on honing those natural talents and abilities. But there are other things that you stink at and no matter how hard you try you'll never rise above mediocrity when it comes to those activities. At this point you may be thinking, "Taylor, this is my favorite sermon so far. Are you saying that I have no control over my life at all? I'm actually not saying that. You do have some control over your life, but you do not have as much control as you would like. You cannot control the life you receive from the Lord, but you can't control what you do with the life you receive from the Lord. You cannot control the calling that you are given from the hand of God, but you can control if you are discontent or content with the calling you have received from the hand of God. Which best describes you in this season of life? Discontent or content? Dissatisfied or satisfied? Unfulfilled or or fulfilled.05:23-05:28I don't think it would take much introspection for some of you to realize that you are not content right now.05:29-05:31That you lack true joy.05:33-05:37That you wake up with a sense of dread that you have to be you.05:38-05:40And that you have to deal with what's in front of you.05:42-05:44You feel like your life is stuck in limbo.05:44-05:47You feel like things will never get better.05:47-05:50feel like things will never improve.05:52-05:55You may be wondering, what should I do if I'm not content?05:56-05:59What should I do if I'm not content?06:01-06:11We're towards the beginning of the Q and A section of 1 Corinthians and that is the exact question that the Apostle Paul answers for us in 1 Corinthians chapter seven, verses 17 through 24.06:12-06:25And just like the Corinthians, you need to be reminded that true contentment is not found in your circumstances, which are always changing, true contentment is found in Jesus Christ, who never changes.06:28-06:30Let's go to the Lord in prayer and ask for His help.06:30-06:37Please pray for me, that I'll faithfully proclaim God's word, and I will pray for you, that you will faithfully receive God's word.06:41-06:49Father, we thank you for yet another opportunity to worship you together, sit under your word together as your people.06:49-06:52Lord, this is a subject that touches every single one of us.06:53-06:58There isn't a single person in this room who isn't struggling with a sense of discontentment on some level.06:59-07:02I pray you'd use your word to comfort us.07:03-07:06You would use your word to challenge us.07:07-07:10You would use your word to point us to Christ.07:11-07:14We ask all these things in Jesus' name, amen.07:16-07:21The first Corinthians 7 is mainly about marriage and singleness.07:21-07:29Two weeks ago, Pastor Jeff preached on two gifts, the gift of sex and marriage and the gift of contentment and singleness.07:30-07:34And last week, you heard four sermons for the price of one.07:36-07:41If you are single and you want to stay single and remain single.07:42-07:46If you are single and do not want to remain single, get married.07:47-07:50If you are a Christian couple, stay married.07:52-07:56If you are married to an unbeliever while you are a believer, stay in that marriage.07:57-08:01Do not cut and run once you become a Christian.08:01-08:06God may use you to save your unbelieving spouse.08:07-08:11You can only control yourself in that situation.08:12-08:14You can control if you stay.08:14-08:19If that unbelieving spouse chooses to leave you, that is on him or her.08:20-08:22You cannot control what they do.08:22-08:25You can only control what you do.08:26-08:28And this kind of marital situation is hard.08:28-08:29I don't wanna sugarcoat it.08:29-08:32It's not easy or simple on any level.08:32-08:37It's painful, but according to this text, that will be used by God for his purposes.08:38-08:43No matter your relational status, it is not your job to figure out what God is up to.08:44-08:49It's your job to submit to the life that God has given to you.08:50-08:56It's your job to play the cards you've been dealt instead of throwing them down and walking away from the table.08:57-09:02This principle for marriage and singleness applies to every other area of life as well.09:02-09:08your social status, your family, your finances, your career, and the list goes on and on.09:09-09:18In verses 17 through 24, Paul jumps off the main highway of marriage and singleness to explore a much needed detour.09:19-09:23So let's return to our main question for this morning that sums up this detour.09:23-09:26What should I do if I'm not content?09:27-09:30What should I do if I'm not content?09:31-09:35Firstly, I should recognize that my calling is a gift.09:36-09:39I should recognize that my calling is a gift.09:44-09:47Let's read chapter seven, verse 17.09:47-09:55The apostle Paul writes, "Only let each person lead the life "the Lord has assigned to him "and to which God has called him.09:56-10:02"This is my rule in all the churches." Do you have house rules in your family?10:04-10:07Do you have expectations that are to be followed?10:08-10:19No Nerf gun bullets to the face, no running with scissors, bedtime is at 8 p.m. sharp, only kind and respectful words will be spoken in this family.10:20-10:27In this verse, the Apostle Paul makes it crystal clear that he has a house rule for the Corinthian church and every other church as well.10:28-10:32He establishes an expectation as for each person in all the churches.10:34-10:36Are you a person in the church?10:37-10:38Then this verse applies to you.10:39-10:43Paul gives no wiggle room, he gives you no excuse, he gives you no hall pass.10:44-10:49If you were a Christian, you were expected to obey what the apostle Paul has to say.10:50-10:51And what does he have to say?10:53-10:55Be faithful where God has placed you.10:56-11:00Be faithful where God has placed you.11:01-11:06Instead of constantly daydreaming about what's next, focus on what's in front of you.11:08-11:10Is that hard for anybody else besides me?11:12-11:16It's so tempting for life to become a series of what's next.11:17-11:20You and I can think, oh man, this current season of life stinks.11:20-11:23I can't wait for the next thing 'cause it's gonna be so much better.11:25-11:28When you're in middle school, what are you looking forward to?11:30-11:35High school, you're excited to get out of those years of early puberty and Axe body spray.11:36-11:37You can't wait.11:39-11:41When you're in high school, what are you anxious for?11:42-11:45Getting out of high school and going to the workforce or college.11:45-11:49Once you're in the workforce or college, what are you looking forward to?11:51-11:53Meeting that special someone?11:56-11:59And then once you meet that special someone, what are you anxious for?12:01-12:02Marriage and children.12:03-12:17And then once you're married and you have kids, or one kid, two kids, three kids, four kids, five kids for even some of you, when you're in the midst of the hardship of parenting, what are you anxious for?12:19-12:20Getting them out of the house.12:21-12:21Thank you, Andrew.12:22-12:23You're very excited to say that.12:25-12:29For your kids to mature, to get older, and to get out of the house, as Andrew Colburn would say.12:30-12:33You're excited for the house to be quiet.12:35-12:37But once the house is quiet, what are you anxious for?12:39-12:45For the loud noises to come back in the form of grandkids, to finally reach that retirement you've been working so hard for.12:45-12:47You don't want to set your alarm anymore.12:48-12:52But then once you're retired, you're thinking, What's next?12:52-12:54What is going to be my final chapter?12:56-12:59So much of my life can be spent on wishing it away.13:00-13:05And so much of your life can be spent on wishing it away.13:06-13:12Instead of being present in the moment, you and I can be fixated, I'm pressing the fast forward button so we can just get on with it already.13:14-13:17Because satisfaction must come when you climb that next ladder.13:18-13:19But then it doesn't.13:20-13:23So you keep climbing and you keep being disappointed.13:24-13:28The grass must be greener once you ascend that next hill, but then it isn't.13:29-13:34You keep walking up and down each hill, hoping for what won't be there.13:36-13:41The next thing has to be more fulfilling than this current season of life.13:42-13:49It won't be, because if you're not content with what you have right now, you will not be content with what you have then.13:51-13:58It's never been more challenging in the history of the world to be fully present than it is in 2026.13:59-14:06You and I have a device in our pockets that are gateways to discontentment and thanklessness.14:08-14:14You're constantly bombarded with videos and images of people's lives that seem better than your own.14:15-14:18"Oh, if only I could have that SUV or that minivan.14:18-14:20If only I could have a house that nice.14:21-14:24If only I could have that remodeled kitchen or bathroom.14:25-14:28If only I could afford that dream vacation.14:29-14:32If only my husband was as handy as that guy on that reel.14:34-14:38If only my wife was as supportive as that woman on that account.14:40-14:43If only my kids were that well behaved.14:44-14:49If only I didn't live in a place that was gray and overcast and snowy for what seems six months of the year.14:50-14:53If only, if only, if only, if only.14:55-14:56If only is a thief of joy.14:57-15:00If only is a recipe for discontentment.15:01-15:07If only obscures the reality that your life and the calling given to you from God are precious gifts.15:10-15:15To be clear, I'm not saying that it's wrong to consider the future, that it's wrong to plan ahead.15:15-15:20It's wise to think over, pray over, and make career moves.15:21-15:26It's a good thing to save for retirement and wanna leave something for your kids and grandkids.15:27-15:30It's not a bad thing to move or want a bigger space for your family.15:31-15:41Godly ambition can be a good thing, but there is a very thin line between godly ambition and ungodly discontentment.15:43-15:46Godly ambition and ungodly discontentment.15:48-15:49What's the difference?15:50-15:52Godly ambition looks like this.15:52-15:55God, thank you for all the good gifts that you've given to me.15:55-16:03Help me to invest my talents, my resources, my efforts into your kingdom for the sake of my family and for the sake of your glory.16:05-16:08Well, ungodly discontentment looks like this.16:09-16:12God, what you've given me is not good enough.16:12-16:14I need more.16:16-16:21Godly ambition is a life of open-handedness to the Lord.16:22-16:27Everything that you have belongs to Him, and everything you do is for His sake.16:28-16:33While ungodly discontentment is a life of pointing the finger of blame at God.16:34-16:39Everything that you have is yours, and everything you do is for your sake.16:39-16:40Do you see the difference?16:42-16:52In this verse, Paul is telling you enough of ungodly discontentment, enough of bitterness and resentment, enough of being thankless.16:52-16:55Stop being faithless and start being faithful.16:56-17:01No matter your circumstance, no matter your station in life, you can honor Christ.17:03-17:06What life has the Lord assigned to you?17:08-17:12What calling has God given you in this season of life?17:13-17:19Are you a teenager or a college student who's tired of taking tests, writing papers, and sitting in a classroom?17:21-17:24Recognize that your calling as a student is a gift from God.17:26-17:33Give your studies 100% of your effort because you are not working for your parents, you're not working for your teachers or your professors.17:33-17:34Who are you working for?17:36-17:37You are working for Christ.17:38-17:40You're working for the Lord himself.17:42-17:45Are you a mom whose life feels like Groundhog's Day?17:46-17:52Every single day feels the exact same, it's just the same thing over and over and over again.17:54-17:58Recognize that your calling as a mother is a gift from God.17:59-18:05Be faithful and pour into your children, point them to Jesus Christ every single chance that you get.18:05-18:13you'll never be able to press the rewind button and see your kids at the age they are now, even though you'll desperately want to.18:14-18:17Be faithful with this opportunity that God has given to you.18:19-18:21Are you in a job that you hate?18:23-18:27Are you in a job that is thankless and unfulfilling?18:28-18:34Recognize that that calling is a gift from God, even when it seems like a curse.18:35-18:37Don't be lazy, don't just skate by.18:38-18:45Outwork every single person at work, at the office, until that next opportunity arises.18:46-18:51Share the gospel, be faithful in showing your coworkers who Jesus Christ is.18:52-19:02I wish I had the time and ability to address all of your specific circumstances, but I don't really need to, because this principle from Paul applies to every single one of you.19:03-19:09Whatever you do and wherever you are, recognize your calling is a gift from God.19:10-19:13Be content, be thankful, be faithful.19:15-19:21Because Paul says elsewhere, godliness with contentment is great gain.19:23-19:30Discontentment always leads to loss, while contentment always leads to gain.19:32-19:33What should I do if I'm not content?19:34-19:37Secondly, I should resolve to obey no matter what.19:38-19:40I should resolve to obey no matter what.19:46-19:54After Paul commands the Corinthians to be faithful and content, he provides a real life example of what it looks like to be faithful and content.19:55-19:56Let's read verse 18.19:57-20:00Was anyone at the time of his call circumcised?20:00-20:03Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision.20:03-20:06Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised?20:07-20:09Let him not seek circumcision.20:10-20:11I know what you're thinking.20:12-20:15Oh dear, this is not the direction I expected this passage to take.20:15-20:17How is Pastor Taylor gonna apply this to my life?20:18-20:19How is he gonna explain this?20:19-20:25Well, I'm gonna take a page out of Pastor Jeff's book and not be explicit, but be straightforward.20:26-20:30In Paul's day, circumcision was not a medical issue.20:31-20:34It was a societal and religious issue.20:35-20:40Under the old covenant, the Israelites were commanded to circumcise their baby boys on the eighth day.20:41-20:51And circumcision was an outward sign that these boys were to be set apart for God and different than the pagan nations surrounding them.20:52-20:54And this outward sign is no longer needed.20:54-21:01this side of the cross and the empty tomb and the new covenant, we are not expected or commanded to carry out circumcision.21:03-21:12In this verse, Paul is addressing two sets of men in Corinth, those who are already circumcised and those who are not circumcised.21:13-21:16He has a very similar message for both groups.21:16-21:22If you're circumcised, don't try to remove the marks of your circumcision to blend in with the Gentiles.21:24-21:28I have no desire to get into the details of what that exactly means.21:28-21:38Let me just say that 2,000 years ago, Jewish Christian men had the option to have a surgery to undo what was done to them as infants.21:39-21:42And you may be thinking, why in the world would they wanna do that?21:42-21:43That sounds horrible.21:44-21:47We have to remember that Corinth was a Roman city.21:48-21:52It was filled with anti-Semitism, with hatred of Jews.21:52-21:57So Christian men would be tempted to make this change to blend in.21:58-22:08To use a modern day example, this would be like moving to Cleveland and to add insult to injury, you trade in all of your Steeler stuff for Cleveland Browns memorabilia.22:10-22:11Why do you do that?22:12-22:13'Cause you don't wanna be ridiculed.22:13-22:14You don't wanna be made fun of.22:14-22:17You wanna blend in in this new place that you live.22:18-22:21You make an external change to please other people.22:22-22:27And that was the temptation for Jewish Christians in Corinth.22:28-22:34On the other hand, Paul calls those who were uncircumcised to not seek circumcision because that would be pointless.22:35-22:42Back then there was a group called the Judaizers who believed that you had to be circumcised as a man to be saved.22:42-22:46But that totally goes against the message of Paul and the other apostles.22:47-22:52Paul is saying in this verse, if you were a Jewish Christian, Don't try to be like a Gentile Christian.22:53-22:56If you're a Gentile Christian, don't try to be Jewish.22:56-22:59That's a waste of time because you're both on equal footing.22:59-23:01You're both one in Christ.23:04-23:06And Paul explains this in even more detail in verse 19.23:07-23:21He says, "For neither circumcision counts for anything "nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God." that you're faithful.23:22-23:26An uncircumcision does not prove that you're unfaithful.23:27-23:32What matters, according to this text, heartfelt obedience to the Lord's commands.23:34-23:38God isn't after external religious rituals that cannot change you.23:38-23:42He is after an inward change that leads to an outward change.23:42-23:47God doesn't want you just to look the part and pretend that you have true faith.23:47-23:50He wants you to act the part and live out your faith.23:51-23:58And the test of true faith is that you are willing to obey God no matter what.23:58-24:09You are willing to obey Him even when life is hard, even when life isn't going the way you want it to, even when the world is telling you to do the exact opposite.24:10-24:16The Roman world pressured Jewish Christians to blend in while God commanded them to stand out.24:17-24:45The Judaizers pressured Gentile Christians to follow the ceremonial law that they could blend in with them while God called them to a deeper level of obedience and submission. Who should the Jewish Christians obey? The Romans and Corinth or God? God. Who should the Gentile Christians obey? The Judaizers or God?24:46-24:47You guys can do a lot better.24:47-24:49I'm giving you one more chance for this third one.24:50-24:54Who should you obey, this sinful culture or God?24:55-24:56Much better.24:58-24:59Here's the thing.24:59-25:04It's so challenging to obey God and his word when you are discontent.25:06-25:06Why is that?25:08-25:14When you are discontent, you can believe that God isn't holding up his end of the bargain, so why should you?25:16-25:20You can view your relationship with God as an exchange of goods and services.25:21-25:33God gives you material wealth, he gives you good health, he gives you easy weeks with the least amount of road bumps possible, and in exchange, you obey him with joy in your heart and a smile on your face.25:36-25:54But when your health takes a bad turn, when you get a pay decrease, when you receive a pink slip, when you experience the hardest week of your life, you feel betrayed by the Lord, and you no longer wanna give Him what He has owed.25:55-26:02You feel like Charlie Brown, when he went to kick the football at the last minute, it's pulled away by Lucy, and he has a somersault into his back.26:02-26:08You just feel totally dejected, totally betrayed.26:11-26:13You just want to take your ball and go home.26:16-26:23But friends, it is in those moments when you come face to face with the real motivation for your obedience to the Lord.26:24-26:28Do you obey Him because of who He is?26:30-26:32Or do you obey Him for what you can get from Him?26:33-26:37Do you listen to Him because you desire to twist His arm into giving you what you want?26:38-26:43Or do you listen to Him no matter what.26:45-26:48Do you follow his instructions because you love him?26:50-26:52Or do you follow his instructions to use him?26:55-26:57The Lord sees right through your exterior.26:58-27:03He sees right through the polished outside you can have, and he sees your motivations.27:06-27:08Like the Corinthians, you can focus on the wrong thing.27:10-27:18You can focus on the outside instead of the heart, instead of the obedience that God is calling you to.27:19-27:26You can come to church, you can participate in small group but still live in blatant disobedience behind closed doors.27:27-27:29You can say the right things but not do the right things.27:30-27:32You can talk the talk but not walk the walk.27:33-27:34Is that you today?27:36-27:37Am I describing you at all?27:38-27:40If I am, it's time to stop faking.27:41-27:42It's time to own up to your sin.27:42-27:49It's time to come to grips with your discontentment and your warped rationale for obeying or disobeying the Lord.27:50-27:55It's time to keep God's commandments no matter what, no matter what life throws your way.27:57-27:58This isn't my opinion.27:58-28:00This is God's authoritative word.28:01-28:05Listen to what Jesus says about this in John 14, 23 through 24.28:06-28:10He says, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word.28:11-28:17Whoever does not love me does not keep my word." Could it be any clearer than that?28:21-28:37The apostle John ups the ante in 1 John 5, 3, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome." Your love for God is not proven by checking all the Christian boxes.28:38-28:43Your love for God is not proven by having all the correct theological answers.28:44-28:47Your love for God is not proven by your feelings.28:48-28:51Your love for God is proven by your obedience.28:53-28:54It's an objective test.28:55-28:59And obedience, no matter what, is hard, but it's rewarding.29:00-29:08Obedience no matter what will take everything that you have, but it will give you more than you could possibly imagine.29:10-29:13Obedience no matter what is costly, but it's not impossible.29:16-29:18What should I do if I'm not content?29:19-29:22Number three, I should remember who I am in Christ.29:22-29:26I should remember who I am in Christ.29:30-29:35So, Paul gives another practical example of faithfulness and contentment in action.29:36-29:44He moves on from a controversial and uncomfortable topic to an even more controversial and uncomfortable topic, slavery.29:45-29:47Let's read verses 20 through 21.29:48-29:50Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.29:51-29:52Were you a bond servant when called?29:53-29:54Don't be concerned about it.29:55-29:59But if you gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.30:00-30:11I could spend half this sermon talking to you about how slavery 2,000 years ago looked a lot different than it did in America, and how it looks across the world today.30:11-30:27I could deliver a long and boring lecture about indentured servitude, which is the truth that in the first century, many people willingly sold themselves into slavery to pay off debts, to manage households, to have a successful business.30:30-30:37I can tell you that 50% of the Roman Empire were slaves, and most of the time manual labor was not a part of the deal.30:38-30:44I keep going and going and going, but I'm not going to preach my homework because it doesn't affect the meaning of this text.30:44-30:51Paul is in no way trying to celebrate or endorse slavery in this passage or anywhere else in his letters at all.30:52-30:55Paul is not a fan of slavery on any level.30:56-30:57Is that clear to everyone?30:58-30:58Okay, good.30:59-31:04In fact, Paul even says, if you have an opportunity to gain your freedom, take it.31:05-31:06Grab a hold of it.31:06-31:07Enjoy your freedom.31:09-31:17But he also offers a very blunt reality to those Corinthian Christians who are slaves but will not receive their freedom anytime soon.31:18-31:20He says, don't worry about it.31:22-31:23Don't be concerned about it.31:24-31:25Remain where you are.31:27-31:29How could Paul say something like that?31:29-31:31It sounds so cold and unfeeling.31:34-31:34Well, not really.31:36-31:41Paul was never willing to call people to something that he wasn't willing to do himself.31:43-31:48Sure, Paul wasn't a slave, but he was a prisoner for a decent chunk of his life.31:48-31:51Did Paul resist that God-given assignment?31:52-31:56Did he waste his time complaining and hatching elaborate escape plans?31:57-32:02No, he remained in the position that God called him to with humility and contentment.32:04-32:04I'll prove it to you.32:04-32:11Listen to Philippians 4, 11 through 13, the most out of context taken passage in the history of the Bible.32:12-32:13And most people totally do not understand.32:14-32:17Paul wrote this while he was a prisoner.32:17-32:22I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.32:23-32:28I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound in any and every circumstance.32:28-32:33I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance, and need.32:34-32:35What's the secret, Paul?32:36-32:40I can do all things through him who strengthens me.32:41-32:44I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.32:46-32:48Paul practiced what he preached.32:48-32:50He led by example.32:50-32:57He learned through experience that Jesus was all he needed because there were many times when Jesus was all that he had.33:01-33:04If that doesn't convince you, check out Paul's rationale for remaining as a slave.33:04-33:11In verses 22 through 23, he says, "For he who was called to the Lord as a bondservant is a freed man of the Lord.33:12-33:47Likewise, he who was free when called a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price. Do not become bondservants of men. So what's Paul's rationale here for remaining as a slave? If you are a Christian slave, remember that you are free in Christ. Because of Christ's death on the cross, this victorious resurrection, you have been forgiven, you have been redeemed, you have been ransomed from the slave market of sin, you've been set free from the power and penalty of sin.33:47-33:52Your sinful debt has been paid in full and you owe nothing.33:56-34:06And if you're a Christian who is not enslaved to an earthly master, don't look down on your Christian brother or sister who is enslaved to an earthly master.34:07-34:13Because even though you may not have a earthly master in this life, you have a heavenly master that you are enslaved to.34:13-34:16You are enslaved to Jesus Christ.34:17-34:21Your life is to be in service of him and what he has called you to do.34:21-34:24So don't be high and mighty because you are a slave.34:27-34:30He says to both groups, you were bought with a price.34:31-34:34You were bought with the precious blood of Jesus.34:36-34:40You have immense value because God says that you do.34:41-34:47God would not spend the most valuable resource in existence on that which is worthless in his eyes.34:49-34:51Again, you have worth because God says that you do.34:53-34:58In light of this, Paul commands the Corinthians to not become bondservants of men.34:59-34:59What does that mean?35:00-35:05Don't become enshackled to the thoughts and opinions of others.35:05-35:10How other people view you has no bearing on how God views you.35:10-35:17Your man-given identity in the world does not affect your God-given identity in Christ.35:17-35:24The opinion of others matters very little in comparison to the authoritative opinion of the creator of the universe.35:27-35:30Maybe you feel down about yourself right now.35:31-35:35You feel like your contribution to this church is negligible.35:36-35:40You're envious of those who seem to have a lot of talents 'cause you don't think you're good at anything.35:42-35:46You're envious of those who have a lot of confidence because you have no confidence.35:48-35:50You're embarrassed to tell people what you do for a living.35:51-35:54You're even embarrassed to invite people over to your small house.35:56-35:58Or maybe you're on the other side of the spectrum.35:59-36:00You have a very high view of yourself.36:01-36:04You feed on the praise and affirmation of others.36:04-36:06You're buying into your own press.36:08-36:12Do you know who can both lift you up and bring you back down to earth at the same time?36:14-36:14Dogs.36:17-36:18Some of you were surprised by that.36:18-36:20Brian thought something different I was gonna say.36:21-36:23If you have a dog, you know exactly what I mean.36:24-36:27My dog Murdoch has no regard for my appearance.36:28-36:31He couldn't care less if I'm skinny or overweight.36:32-36:34He couldn't care less if I'm up 20 pounds or down 30 pounds.36:36-36:39Murdoch has no regard for the money in my account.36:41-36:46If I were to list my many successes to him, he wouldn't be impressed at all.36:47-36:52If I were to list my many, many, many more failures, he wouldn't judge me or look down on me.36:54-36:59Whether this sermon tanks or succeeds, Murdoch will treat me the same exact way when I get home.37:00-37:06He'll run up to me with that goofy grin on his face, with his tail wagging and pawing at me for attention.37:07-37:09Murdoch's love for me has not changed from day to day.37:10-37:12His love is firm and fixed.37:13-37:16Murdoch shows no partiality or preferential treatment.37:18-37:22Do you know who else doesn't show partiality or preferential treatment?37:23-37:23The Lord.37:24-37:27God does not play favorites with his children.37:28-37:34He loves low-status Christians just as much as believers who are viewed as successful and accomplished.37:34-37:39He cherishes women who cannot have biological children just as much as women who can.37:41-37:49God's view of you does not depend upon your status and popularity, God's view of you depends upon His Son and what He has done for you.37:52-37:57If you don't feel content right now, stop looking at your circumstances.37:57-38:05Start looking at the cross of Christ where God's love for you was displayed in the most graphic and conclusive way possible.38:08-38:11Stop thinking about who you are in the eyes of the world.38:11-38:13Think about who you are in the eyes of God.38:14-38:25Consider who you are in Christ, loved, cherished, adopted, free from the power of sin forever and bound to Jesus Christ forever.38:28-38:29What should I do if I'm not content?38:30-38:34Finally, I should rejoice that God is with me.38:35-38:37I should rejoice that God is with me.38:42-38:47Paul makes one final appeal, to be faithful where God has placed you.38:47-38:48Let's read verse 24.38:50-38:58So brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there, let him remain with God.39:00-39:03What's the motivation for remaining where you are?39:03-39:07What's the motivation for being faithful where God has placed you?39:08-39:12That same God is with you wherever you go.39:12-39:16No matter what job you have, God is with you.39:16-39:19No matter your financial struggles, God is with you.39:20-39:24No matter your relational status, God is with you there.39:25-39:28And he will never leave you or forsake you.39:30-39:33Have you ever had to go on a walk with a fast walker?39:34-39:37Or go on a hike with someone that you cannot keep up with?39:37-39:46No matter how hard you try, no matter how much you lengthen your stride, there is always way ahead of you and you are lagging so far behind.39:49-39:52So often that's how we feel when it comes to our relationship with the Lord.39:53-39:57Like he's an infinite amount of steps in front of us and we'll never be able to catch up.39:57-39:58It just feels hopeless.39:59-40:00He's always gonna feel so distant.40:00-40:03He's always gonna feel so far away.40:05-40:06Is that actually true?40:08-40:11God is in step with you the entire time.40:11-40:19He is right there with you, comforting you, encouraging you, calling you to keep it up instead of giving up.40:20-40:22Do you feel discontent?40:24-40:26Do you feel alone?40:27-40:29Do you feel like no one cares about you?40:29-40:31No one sees the struggles that you're going through?40:33-40:38It's my hope this morning that you will believe in God's nearness like never before.40:39-40:45It is my prayer that you will believe in God's presence even when he feels far away.40:48-40:53You may be discontent this morning because the content of your life is so shallow.40:54-41:00You are discontent because you do not know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.41:01-41:09You are trusting in the provision of this world, which never satisfies, instead the provision of Christ, which eternally satisfies.41:10-41:22You will never experience true and lasting fulfillment until you turn from your sin and and you turn to Jesus Christ, who will satisfy you both now and forever.41:24-41:29He won't give you all that you want, but he will give you all that you need.41:31-41:35On the other hand, you may know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, but you're still discontent.41:37-41:38And why is that?41:40-41:44Because you were expecting what God never promised in the first place.41:45-41:55You're forgetting that Jesus Christ didn't come to this earth to suffer, die, and rise again to give you more of the stuff of this world that will just be taken away from you when you die.41:56-42:07Jesus Christ came and did all those things to give you that which can never be taken away from you, to give you that which will be even more satisfying and enjoyable when you stand in his presence.42:09-42:20Until that day, be faithful, no matter your location, no matter your calling, no matter your limitations, live the life that God has assigned to you.42:20-42:26Enjoy every single moment he gives you as a precious gift.42:27-42:33God didn't save you from your sins so you could lead a successful life in the eyes of the world.42:34-42:42God saved you so that you would faithfully do what he's called you to do in every single season of life.42:43-42:44Let's pray.42:47-43:00Father, we come to you as your people and we admit that we can be discontent, that we grumble, we complain both internally and externally, we grumble in our minds and we grumble with our mouths.43:01-43:12Lord, help us to remember how truly blessed we are in Christ that we have been forgiven, we have been redeemed, we have been adopted into your family and we are bound for heaven.43:13-43:19And when life is hard, help us to remember that it's through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of heaven.43:19-43:22It shouldn't be a surprising thing that we go through fiery trials.43:24-43:27Lord, it should be a constant reminder of how much we need you.43:29-43:32It should be a constant reminder that we can't live this life on our own.43:34-43:37I'll lift up those who do not know you this morning.43:38-43:44May they not be able to leave this room until they place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.43:45-43:53And for those of us who do know and love you, but are struggling with discontentment, Father, help us not to leave this room until we talk to someone else about this.43:54-43:57Until we ask someone else for prayer, we ask someone else for encouragement.43:57-44:05Help us to be the body of Christ this morning, not just individuals coming and then leaving, but a family who is here for one another.44:06-44:09We ask all these things in Jesus' name, amen. Small Group DiscussionRead 1 Corinthians 7:17-24What was your big take-away from this passage / message?What is the difference between godly ambition and ungodly discontentment?What are you the most discontent with right now? How can you take steps to address this dissatisfaction in your heart?What is your calling and assignment from the Lord in this season of life? How can you be faithful where He has placed you?BreakoutPray for one another.

A Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent Ephesians 2:1-10 by The Rev'd Dr. Matthew Colvin             Week after week, I see Pastor Bill preaching the Bible to you on Sundays, and I want to commend him to you. I'm not sure you are aware how rare it is to have a pastor who does his own translation work in the Hebrew and Greek, and who attempts, with diligence and great effort, to read the text of the Bible anew, divide it up properly, and serve it to you. What matters to Pastor Bill in his preaching to you is what the Bible actually says — the actual point of the gospels' stories, or the actual meaning of the prophecies of the prophets, or the actual meaning of Paul's arguments in his letters — not what famous theologians have used the Bible to say, or what scholastic medieval philosophy says it can and cannot mean, or the way modern self-help gurus can use Bible verses out of context to tell a very different story. If you attend to the words delivered from this pulpit, you are being trained to understand the Bible on its own terms, rather than watching as a slick speaker uses the Bible to express his own ideas. The story needs to be your story; you are to think of yourself as a child of Abraham, as a sharer in Israel's Messiah, as someone in covenant with Israel's God. Since it is the first Sunday in Lent, we are confronted with the very first episode of Jesus' public ministry after his baptism by John the Baptist. This story has much to teach us about Jesus' work as the Messiah, the nature of his sufferings, and ultimately, the way we ought to think about God Himself. I want to start by thinking about what it means when the Messiah goes into the desert. In Acts 21, when Paul is arrested in Jerusalem, the Roman centurion is surprised that he knows Greek: “Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?" -Acts 21:38 (I joke to my Greek students that knowing Greek is handy if you are ever suspected of being a terrorist.) In Acts 5, Gamaliel mentioned Judas of Galilee and Theudas, false messiahs who also started their rebellions against Rome by going out into the wilderness. Why do so many messiahs begin this way? Because they are attempting recapitulate of Israel's story. And the true Messiah also relives the story of Israel, embodying it in the events that happen to him: he has already gone down to Egypt to escape a tyrannical attempt to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem, much as Pharaoh tried to kill all the male Hebrew babies; he has already been baptized in the Jordan, as Paul says Israel was “baptized in the cloud and in the sea” of the Exodus; and now he goes into the Wilderness to be tempted for 40 days, as Israel was tempted for 40 years. Covenant history rhymes, as the saying goes. So that is why Jesus is in the desert. There remains explain why he is being tested, and how he resists that temptation, and what these things tell us about the Messiah and about God. We must recognize that Jesus resisted Satan's temptation as true man, as a matter of his messianic office. Jesus' self-understanding as the Messiah was in terms of the latter chapters of Isaiah, i.e. the suffering servant. This understanding of his calling is why he girded himself with a towel and washed his disciples' feet at the Last Supper; it is why he set his face like flint to go to Jerusalem; it is why he undertakes to drink the cup of suffering, and sheds sweat like drops of blood falling to the ground during his agonized prayer in Gethsemane. Being this kind of Messiah involved contradicting the expectations that other men had about what the Messiah would be like. When Jesus is on trial, the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate, for instance, asks him — in a question whose statement-like word order indicates incredulity — “You are the king of the Jews?” (that is the word order, sarcastic or incredulous), and then puts over his head a sign reading “Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews,” in three languages, so that everyone could get the joke. Pilate mocks Jewish pretensions to even have a king. That is why he refused to change the sign to say only “He claimed to be the king of the Jews.”  It is also why he also brings out Barabbas and asks the Jews, “Whom do you want me to give to you? Barabbas, or the king of the Jews?” Pilate is operating with the standard pagan understanding of kingship: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28) Pontius Pilate and the Romans were expecting someone taller, perhaps. Of course, Jesus could have met those expectations, as he told the soldiers who arrested him in Gethsemane: “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53) It isn't that he couldn't just blow the Romans away with fire from heaven. But that is not his agenda. That is not what the Messiah has come to do. He has come “not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus also has to correct the expectation of the Jews about what the Messiah is to be like — even the expectation of his own disciples! It is this self-understanding that makes Jesus tell his disciples in Mt 16:22-23 that “he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." Peter's suggestion that Jesus could be the Mesiah without suffering and dying is so inimical to Jesus' self-understanding and his mission that he calls Peter “Satan.” And rightly so, because what Peter is suggesting is pretty much of the same spirit as what Satan himself suggests in our gospel lesson this morning. So that is the background: Jesus as the true Israelite, the Messiah, is in the desert, not to lead a rebellion or a gang of terrorists, but to be tested as Israel was tested. Against all this background, we are ready to hear the words, both of Satan tempting, and of Jesus answering, and hear them with richer and fuller meaning — meaning not from Greek philosophy or self-help gurus or even systematic theologians, but rather, from the story of Israel. With his first temptation, Satan seeks to exploit Jesus' hunger: “The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written,  "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:3-4) Any of you who have ever been hangry know exactly why Satan is doing this. Jesus, no less than we, lived his earthly incarnate life in a body, and that body was subject to weakness. Jesus is not like Superman, so that bullets or nails would bounce off his skin. He was capable of suffering, and he did suffer. Satan is suggesting that Jesus should exploit his Messianic status — for that is what is meant by “If you are the Son of God” — and use it to avoid this suffering. Take your authority over all creation and use it to transform stones into bread. This is not a ridiculous suggestion. It is similar to Jesus' first miracle in John's gospel, where he turned water into wine for the wedding at Cana. But the aim of the action here would be quite different. Satan's meaning is basically the same as Peter's suggestion: “Suffer from hunger? Why put up with that? This shall never happen to you!” Jesus' answer is a quotation from Deuteronomy 8:3. (In fact, all three of Jesus' answers to Satan are from Deuteronomy. (Dt. 8:3, 6:16, and 6:13). That is, they are taken from Moses' instructions to Israel about how to live with the Lord. Jesus is the one who follows Deuteronomy's description of the faithful Israelite perfectly.) As so often, however, Jesus' quotations of the Old Testament are metaleptic —a fancy Greek word that means “takes along with it.” The idea here is that if I say, “We stand on guard for thee,” it would be a mistake for someone to try to understand that utterance merely by using a dictionary to look up “stand” and “guard” and so forth. The meaning of that phrase is rather to be found in the larger context of the Canadian national anthem as a whole, because that is how everyone who hears it will immediately start thinking in their minds: all the other verses will come flooding into your minds; you will perhaps recall occasions when you sang it: in school, or at sporting events; or watching a Olympic medal ceremony. Just so, when Jesus quotes the Old Testament, every Israelite hearer will not just think of the words he quotes; he will think also of the surrounding context, the story in which those words first occurred. So when we look at Deuteronomy 8:3, we should also think about the immediately preceding verse: "The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers. And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.” (Deuteronomy 8:1-2) And then it goes on to say, in the very next verse, “And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 8:3) This is what Jesus has in mind: he has been in the wilderness for forty days, being humbled, being tested. He answers Satan from the very passage of Deuteronomy that has to do with his situation: it is about testing in the wilderness. He has been thinking about this verse for a while now. The tempter's second try is with a more showy possibility: Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,  "'He will command his angels concerning you,'  and  "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" -Matthew 4:6 This would be an impressive display! Who could fail to follow a Messiah who had made such a proof of divine power? Jesus had answered the first temptation by quoting Scripture. But the devil can quote Scripture for his purposes, so Satan appeals to lines from Psalm 91:11-12. And again, he knows what he is doing: at a time when Jesus feels alone, when he is in the desert, Satan tempts him with lines from that most comforting song: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” It is full of promises of God's protection and deliverance: in battle, from wild animals, from dangerous diseases. And yet it is singularly inappropriate for Jesus' messianic vocation: He has come to suffer and die. To avail himself of divine protection against these sufferings would be to deny his messiahship. So Jesus replies with words from Deuteronomy again. "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" -Matthew 4:7 This is from Deuteronomy 6, that chapter which contains the Shema, the single verse of the Torah that could be called the creed of Israel: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” It is the core chapter of the Torah about Israel's relationship with God. He has rescued her from Egypt and taken her to Himself to be His bride; at Mount Sinai, he has married her. But Israel was not faithful. She tested the Lord like a wife acting up to trying to make her husband angry. When there was no water to drink, Exodus 17 says, “Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?" (Exodus 17:2) The verb used here, and also by Jesus in Matthew 4:7, is πειράζω. Note well: Who was doing the testing in the wilderness for 40 years? Exodus and Deuteronomy say it clearly: Israel was testing YHWH. And thus, we may perceive some clever irony in Jesus' answer to Satan here. For Satan is called “the tempter,” and in Greek, that is nothing other than a participle form of this same verb πειράζω, literally, “the testing one.” So on the one hand, Jesus' quotation of Deuteronomy 6:16 could mean, “You are asking me to test God by throwing myself down from the Temple. I am not going to do it, because Moses warned Israel not to test God.” But it could also mean, “You are testing God, Satan.” Satan doesn't take the hint. He keeps on testing Jesus. There will be more attempts later, but the last temptation that Satan tries on Jesus in the wilderness is narrated like this: Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." -Matthew 4:8-9 Why does Satan take him to a very high mountain? In the Bible, mountaintop scenes are real estate transactions. If I sell you this pen, it's simple enough: you put money in my hand, and I put the pen in yours, and you carry it away with you. But houses and land don't fit in your pocket. So we have other procedures. In our day, we get banks and notaries involved and sign a lot of documents. But in the ancient world, you took possession by inspecting the property after the transfer.  This is done in the case of Abram in Genesis 13:17: “Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.” The same thing happens when Moses is about to die; in one sense, Moses doesn't get the promised land, because he dies before he can enter into it; but in another sense, God actually gives him the land, because he takes him up on a mountain and shows it to him, and this is the formal transfer of the land: “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession..” (Deuteronomy 32:49) Satan is attempting to use the same convention in Matthew 4:8. He is trying to get Jesus to make a deal, offering the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship. But Jesus has no need to make such a bargain, for God had already promised to give the Messiah everything Satan is offering, and Jesus, whose self-understanding as the Messiah is shaped by Isaiah's description of the suffering servant, knows it very well from Isaiah 49: The Lord says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6) He knows it also from Psalm 2: I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. Ask of God. Not of Satan. The nations belong to the Lord, not to Satan. Jesus has no intention of making a bargain to purchase what Satan wrongly claims to own. In Matthew 12, after the Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Satan, Jesus replies that, How can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. (Matthew 12:29) And he does plunder it. We see the result in Revelation 20: “And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer...” -Revelation 20:3 And as for the real estate deal Satan was trying to make, well, we see the end of that at the very end of Matthew's gospel. For the Great Commission too takes place on a mountain, and this setting seems significant, especially in light of Jesus' declaration that “all authority in heaven and earth” has been given to Him. This is a pointed contrast with Satan's lying statement, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.” (Luke 4:6 NKJV) Quite the contrary, Jesus, having refused Satan's bargain, and having bound him and plundered his goods, now bestows the kingdom on His disciples and takes possession of the nations by sending his disciples to teach and baptize them. I want to end by correcting three misapprehensions that some people might have about this story, which may prevent them from grasping what it teaches us about God. One mistake some have is that Jesus didn't really suffer in the wilderness; that His divine nature was smirking and unbothered by Satan's temptations aimed at his human nature; that all these things just rolled off of Jesus like water off a duck's back. We know this was not the case. Recall Gethsemane again, where Jesus begged the Father to “take this cup from me,” and his sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood — drops of blood, not water off a duck's back. A second mistake would be to think that, yes, Jesus suffered, but that's only because He is human. But that is not what the Bible says. It says that Jesus revealed the Father by his sufferings; that if you want to know what the Father is like, you should look at Jesus, for He who has seen Him has seen the Father. Greek philosophers say that God is an unmoved mover, and that God cannot suffer because he is perfect; but the Bible tells us that Jesus was “made perfect by sufferings.” (Heb. 5:9) Greek philosophers tell us that God cannot be afflicted; the Bible says that “in all their afflictions, He was afflicted.” (Isaiah 63:9) Greeks and Romans thought that suffering was miserable and degrading, and that if you are suffering, you must not have any glory or power; the Bible says that Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore — not in spite of his sufferings, but because of them! — God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.” (Philippians 2:8) There is no clearer picture of Israel's God than the cross of Jesus Christ. That is where we finally see God fully revealed. Finally, a third mistake would be to think that, yes, Jesus' sufferings were powerful and important, but ours are not. The truth is exactly the opposite. As George MacDonald put it, “The Son of God suffered, not that we might not suffer, but that our sufferings might be like His.” And they are. “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory...” (2 Corinthians 4:17) We are in the Messiah. His story, Israel's story, is our story. In Him, we are faithful Israelites, true to Deuteronomy 6. In Him, we are the suffering servant of Isaiah's prophecies. In Him, the kingdoms of the world belong to us. In Him, we too are victorious over Satan. Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, for our sake you fasted forty days and forty nights: give us grace so to discipline ourselves that our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may always obey your will in righteousness and true holiness, to the honour and glory of your name; for you live and reign with the Father and Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

WATCH NOW:  “Our Identity As Givers” – Rabbi Steve Weiler (01/31/2026)Shabbat Service, January 31, 2026More videos available on the Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue of Tampa Youtube channel https://youtu.be/hwqRQyuHGCs 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

In Ephesians 2:11–22, the apostle Paul reveals one of the most radical truths of the gospel: Jesus didn’t merely reconcile individuals to God — He demolished the wall of hostility between people and formed one new family. Jew and Gentile. Far and near. Outsiders and insiders. Now one. In this message, “The Third Race,” we explore how the cross brings peace, identity, belonging, and purpose — and why the church is meant to be the world’s greatest example of unity across every barrier

The sermon presents a comprehensive, biblically grounded vision of the Kingdom of God as a three-phase reality: its inauguration in Christ's earthly ministry, its ongoing mediatorial reign following His ascension, and its ultimate fulfillment at His second coming. Emphasizing that Christ's rule is not merely future but actively present and expanding today, the message challenges a prevalent dispensational view that reduces the kingdom to a future, earthly establishment, instead affirming that Christ, seated at God's right hand, is currently exercising sovereign authority over all nations, rulers, and history. Through references to Hebrews, Acts, Revelation, and Psalm 2, the sermon illustrates how Christ's mediatorial kingship is manifested in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the writing of Scripture, the gathering of Gentile believers, and continual intercession, all while actively restraining and judging rebellious powers with divine authority. The call to the church is clear: to recognize Christ as Lord, serve Him in humility, and live as His ambassadors, actively participating in the expansion of His kingdom through discipleship and submission to His rule, which is both present and progressively growing.

Galatians 2:15-21 NASB “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

“Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:12-14 CSBJesus is speaking to his disciples after the Passover Feast - the last supper - and he's telling them he's leaving but they can't follow him yet. Thomas says, “We don't know where you are going? How can we know the way?” John 14:5Jesus, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. If you know me, you will also know my father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6Jesus, “The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does His works. Believe me that I am in the father and the father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.” John 14:10-11“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”Philippians 2:5-8(ESV)All that Jesus did, God did through him. Jesus is telling us that we have access to the Father through Him, and in Him we can do greater works than even Jesus did. Do you feel qualified? God Qualifies the Called“God does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called.” Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest FearsWe see this throughout scripture. Here are just a few examples: Joseph - A despised younger brother sold into slavery then imprisoned. Genesis 37, 39 God helps him interpret dreams - saves his family and Egypt from a famine. Gen. 39, 41Moses - Not eloquent, slow of speech and tongue - killed someone Exodus 4:10-12 2:1-12 God calls him to lead the people out of Egypt. Exodus 3:10-12David - A shepherd boy and the youngest son. 1 Samuel 16:11 God gives him strength and courage to kill a giant - becomes King 1 Samuel 17:45-47The First Disciples - Fishermen, a tax collector, other unspecified jobs - Matt. 3:18-21 Jesus calls them to be fishers of men. Matthew 4:19 Jesus commissions them to make disciples of all nations. Matt. 28:16-20 Jesus sends them to preach, to have authority to cast out demons. Mark 3:14-15Saul/Paul - Persecuted early Christians and tried to destroy the church Gal. 1:13 Preaches that Jesus is the Son of God and spreads the gospel to gentiles Acts 9:20 Romans 3:23 NIV “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God Qualified Peter to do the Miraculous Fisherman turned disciple - Matt. 4:18-20Walked on water - Matt. 14:28-31Renamed Peter (Rock) from Simon - John 1:42 Matt. 16:18Confesses Jesus is the Messiah - Matt. 16:18Rebuked Jesus and was corrected - Matt. 16:21-23 Saw Jesus Transfigured - Matt. 17:1-5Cut off the servant's ear - John 18:10Denied knowing Jesus 3 times - Matt. 26:69–75, Mark 14:66–72, Luke 22:55–62, and John 18:15-27Restored by Jesus (Feed my sheep) - John 21:15-19-------------------------------- Preached at Pentecost- first sermon - 3,000 people come to believe - Acts 2 Healed a lame man - Acts 3:1-10Preached in Solomon's Colonnade - second sermon - 5,000 believe - Acts 3:11- Acts 4:4Arrested and testified about Jesus before the Sanhedrin - Acts 4:1-22 Judgment resulting in death of Ananias and Sapphira - Acts 5:1-10Healed the sick and those with “unclean spirits” - Acts 5:12-16Arrested, put on trial and flogged - Acts 5:17-42Healed a paralyzed man, Aeneas - Acts 9:32-35Raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead - Acts 9:36-43Received a vision, then defended the gospel being for Gentiles too- Acts 10 - Acts 11:18 Imprisoned again then rescued by an angel - Acts 12:1-18 Writes 1 & 2 Peter Crucified around 66 yrs. OldNotes From Time Before Jesus Ascended: During his time as a disciple of Jesus, Peter saw many miracles and experienced some directly - walking on water - coin in the fish's mouth - mother-in-law healed. Disciples were given authority to heal and cast out demons. Matt. 10, Luke 9Reasonable to think Peter had done miracles while Jesus was alive too. The specific miracles Peter does begin in Acts, after the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Notes About Peter's Specific Miracles First sermon: after the Holy Spirit descended upon them and they started speaking in different tongues. Some sneered and tried to say they were drunk. Peter spoke up and and rebuke them and gave his first sermon. Takes a lot to speak in front of a large group. Jerry Sinfield joke: people would rather be the one in the coffin than giving the eulogy. 3,000 people were baptized after his message! Healed a lame man: A man who couldn't walk since birth was carried to the temple so he could beg as people came by. Peter and John walked by and he asked them for money. Peter said, “I don't have silver or gold but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk! Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong.” Acts 3:6-7 Peter was doing as Jesus did! BY FAITH: Acts 3:16 Peter tells the people, “By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong…” Judgment resulting in death of Ananias and Sapphira: Acts 5:1-10Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold some property but decided to keep some for themselves. Shows Peter had supernatural knowledge of the actual amount Ananias and Sapphira sold their property for. When Ananias came in and lied to the Holy Spirit he died. After Sapphira came in and lied about the amount too, Peter prophesied she would die too. Healed the sick and those with “unclean spirits”: Acts 5:12-16Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon's Colonnade. 13 No one else dared to join them, but the people spoke well of them. 14 Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers—multitudes of both men and women. 15 As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.Healing Aeneas a paralyzed and bedridden man of 8 years.Acts 9:34 “Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed, and immediately he got up.” Raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead! Dorcas was a disciple - a follower of Jesus She became sick and diedTwo other disciples went and got Peter who was in a nearby town.He sent everyone out of the room. He knelt, prayed and told her to get up! Peter went from being a fisherman to a fisher of men! Jesus called Peter and Peter followed him until the day Peter died around 66 years old. God Calls Us to Follow Him And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" Luke 9:23, Matthew 16:24 "Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" John 8:12 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" John 10:27 "If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also" John 12:26 Notes: Peter started off as a fisherman. He was called to follow Jesus and he did.Through walking and talking with Jesus and watching and listening, Peter learned who Jesus was. After 3 years, it didn't stop him from making mistakes. Called out many times He kept believing and learning and growing. He kept followingAfter Jesus ascended into Heaven and the disciples were in the upper room, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and then Peter started to lead.Do as Jesus did! Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember I am with you always to the end of the age.” We've been commissioned to go out into the world to do miraculous things. Leading people into the fullness of forgiveness and redemption and who they are called to be in Christ is no less than miraculous! Jesus dying, defeating death, and redeeming us from our sins is a miracle! The fullness of that miracle won't fully be realized until we die but there is nothing more miraculous than being made clean and living with our creator. God Equips Us With different gifts Romans 12:6-8 Prophesying, Serving, Teaching, Encouraging, Giving, Leading, Showing Mercy“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully”Through the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 12:7-11A message of wisdom, a message of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”Through the grace given to us through Jesus 2 Timothy 1:9-10“…not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace….”“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”With qualities that keep us from being unfruitful 2 Peter 1:3-8 Faith, Goodness, Self-Control, Endurance, Godliness, Brotherly Affection, Love“His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”John 15:1-8 Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Those who remain in him will produce much fruit, because we can do nothing without him. Romans 8:11 “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.”If the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you - (Romans 8:11) then you don't have to do this in your own strength. You have the strength of God with you. No matter how strong you are on your own, you are not strong enough without the power of God living inside you. He's given us everything we need to live for Him! God is calling you to follow Him! As you step out in faith and obedience, he equips you with what you need and qualifies you for what he calls you to do. Acts 4:13 NIV - When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Romans 11:11-12 — According to the apostle Paul, why are the Jewish people permitted to stumble? In this sermon on Romans 11:11–12 titled “Riches of the Gentiles,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones takes up this difficult question. He says that ultimately God allowed the Jewish people to stumble and reject the gospel of Jesus Christ in order that the gospel might go to all the nations. Because they rejected the gospel, the early church spread the gospel from the land of Israel and it went to the whole world. At the same time, Paul himself was Jewish by birth and a believer of Christ. This shows that not all Jews rejected Jesus. What of the future of the Jewish people? Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that in the future there will be a great revival among the nation of Israel and many will come to a true knowledge of Jesus and His gospel. They will put their faith in their long-awaited Messiah. The apostle Paul argues that just as it was a blessing to the Gentiles that Israel stumbled over the gospel, it will be an even greater blessing when the people of Israel believe and come into the church of Jesus Christ. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29?v=20251111

Full Text of Readings First Sunday of Lent Lectionary: 22 The Saint of the day is Chair of Saint Peter The Story of the Chair of Saint Peter This feast commemorates Christ's choosing Peter to sit in his place as the servant-authority of the whole Church. After the “lost weekend” of pain, doubt, and self-torment, Peter hears the Good News. Angels at the tomb say to Magdalene, “The Lord has risen! Go, tell his disciples and Peter.” John relates that when he and Peter ran to the tomb, the younger outraced the older, then waited for him. Peter entered, saw the wrappings on the ground, the headpiece rolled up in a place by itself. John saw and believed. But he adds a reminder: “…[T]hey did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead” (John 20:9). They went home. There the slowly exploding, impossible idea became reality. Jesus appeared to them as they waited fearfully behind locked doors. “Peace be with you,” he said (John 20:21b), and they rejoiced. The Pentecost event completed Peter's experience of the risen Christ. “…[T]hey were all filled with the holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4a) and began to express themselves in foreign tongues and make bold proclamation as the Spirit prompted them. Only then can Peter fulfill the task Jesus had given him: “… [O]nce you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32). He at once becomes the spokesman for the Twelve about their experience of the Holy Spirit—before the civil authorities who wished to quash their preaching, before the Council of Jerusalem, for the community in the problem of Ananias and Sapphira. He is the first to preach the Good News to the Gentiles. The healing power of Jesus in him is well attested: the raising of Tabitha from the dead, the cure of the crippled beggar. People carry the sick into the streets so that when Peter passed his shadow might fall on them. Even a saint experiences difficulty in Christian living. When Peter stopped eating with Gentile converts because he did not want to wound the sensibilities of Jewish Christians, Paul says, “…I opposed him to his face because he clearly was wrong…. [T]hey were not on the right road in line with the truth of the gospel…” (Galatians 2:11b, 14a). At the end of John's Gospel, Jesus says to Peter, “Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go” (John 21:18). What Jesus said indicated the sort of death by which Peter was to glorify God. On Vatican Hill, in Rome, during the reign of Nero, Peter did glorify his Lord with a martyr's death, probably in the company of many Christians. Second-century Christians built a small memorial over his burial spot. In the fourth century, the Emperor Constantine built a basilica, which was replaced in the 16th century. Reflection Like the committee chair, the chair refers to the occupant, not the furniture. Its first occupant stumbled a bit, denying Jesus three times and hesitating to welcome gentiles into the new Church. But, as we know, he turned toward the light. Some of its later occupants have also stumbled a bit, sometimes even failed scandalously. As individuals, we may sometimes think a particular pope has let us down. Still, the office endures as a sign of the long tradition we cherish and as a focus for the universal Church.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Today, I sit down with Brandon Gentile, fellow Bitcoin content creator and homeschooling father, to talk about the war most people don't even know is being fought. We cover the late-stage fiat death spiral, multiple societal cycles converging all at once, why Max Pain is probably unavoidable, and why separating education from the state matters just as much as separating money from the state. FOLLOW BRANDON: NOSTR: https://primal.net/brandon_gentile X: https://x.com/brandon_gentile PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS: LEDN: Bitcoin-backed lending. Go to ledn.io/walker and unlock liquidity WITHOUT selling your bitcoin. BLOCKSTREAM JADE: BLOCKSTREAM JADE HARDWARE WALLET: Head to https://store.blockstream.com/ and use coupon code WALKER for 10% off! BDIC™ is building an insurance marketplace on the bitcoin standard. Sign up for the waitlist at: http://bdic.io/walker Buy Bitcoin with River: http://partner.river.com/walker GET FOLD ($10 in bitcoin): https://use.foldapp.com/r/WALKER JOIN THE SUBSTACK TO GET NEW EPISODES DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX: https://walkeramerica.substack.com/ If you enjoy THE Bitcoin Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following: FOLLOW ME (Walker) on @WalkerAmerica on X | @TitcoinPodcast on X | Nostr Personal (walker) | Nostr Podcast (Titcoin) | Instagram Subscribe to THE Bitcoin Podcast (and leave a review) on Fountain | YouTube | Spotify | Rumble | EVERYWHERE ELSE

Well today is our last episode in the book of Acts, and as this book concludes, we see Paul continue to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all. He presents his position to kings and noblemen, respectfully arguing that his position is valid and worthy of consideration. We also see that his Jewish audience is willing to listen to him up until a certain point, and that breaking point is sadly consistent. The Jews turn on Paul in outrage as soon as he suggests that this good news is not just for Israelites, but for believing Gentiles as well.Acts 25 – 1:14 . Acts 26 – 6:09 . Acts 27 – 12:24 . Acts 28 – 19:39 . Proverbs 15 – 25:12 . :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Romans 11:11-32 — Paul has been teaching about the Jews and how as a nation they have blatantly rejected the gospel. In this portion of Romans, Paul is now stating what the real position of the Jews is and how that relates to the Gentiles. In this sermon on Romans 11:11–12 titled “Stumbling of the Jews,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that the Jews stumbled so that the Gentiles could come to salvation. Not only was their stumbling permitted by God, he also inflicted them with blindness so that the Gentiles could have the opportunity to believe. This rejection of the Jews gave the blessings to the Gentiles. So have the Jews been cast away forever? Paul says that they have not. They have in turn seen the blessings of the gentiles and have been provoked to jealousy. This causes them to think twice and consider the gospel that the Lord has given. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29?v=20251111

Orienting Our Hearts Towards Jerusalem: At the moment Gentiles are saved, they enter into a story far beyond themselves—God's story with the Jewish people. Their salvation signals the fulfillment of God's covenant promise with Israel. Specifically, the Holy Spirit draws Gentile believers' hearts to Jerusalem, God's chosen city and the epicenter of His redemptive plan. Thanks to the Spirit's indwelling ... Read More The post Why Should I Pray for Israel? Orienting Our Hearts Towards Jerusalem (Part 3 of 3) | February 21, 2026 appeared first on The Friends of Israel Today Radio.

A mother’s faith breaks through the barriers of culture and tradition as she pleads with Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter, proving that God’s mercy knows no bounds.A desperate Gentile mother, Josephine, seeks out Jesus, pleading for her daughter’s healing from demonic possession. Though Jesus initially reminds her of His mission to the Jews, her unwavering faith moves Him to compassion, and He frees the girl, bringing peace to the broken family.Today's Bible verse is Romans 10:13, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian content including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Pray.com is the digital destination for faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.