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The image of God is our created purpose—the very reason we exist. But Genesis 3 records humanity's fall from this reality. So what does it mean now to live out our purpose? How can fallen man reflect the image of God today? Join Kelly as he looks to scripture for the answers to these questions.www.instagram.com/thehishillpodcast/www.hishill.orgkelly@hishill.org
Scripture: Genesis 24+ A life that experiences God is one oriented toward God's purpose.“…you might ask, “Why should God speak to me? What am I doing in life that would make him speaking to me a reasonable thing for him to do? Are we in businesstogether in life? Or am I in business just for myself, trying to ‘use a little God' to advance my projects?” – Dallas Willard, Hearing God.+ A life that experiences God is one of faith-filled action.+ A life that experiences God is one that is growing in prayer.Psalm 127:1
Sermon preached by Issam Saddy at the Evangelical Christian Church of Dubai on Genesis 13:2-18.
What does God do when we say "no" to him and his purposes? Can we, by our own rebellion and rejection of God, change or disrupt his plans in the world? In this second message in the Missio Dei series, we explore Genesis 11 and how our pride will not stop God's purposes.
In this episode of Pray the Word on Genesis 17:3, David Platt teaches us to respond appropriately to God's glory and God's Word.Explore more content from Radical.
Pastor Jay Song
Pastor Jared Richard began 2026 with a new sermon series on Genesis, starting with Genesis 1:1–5 and 1:26-31. He set the context by imagining the Israelites in the wilderness after the Exodus, questioning who this God was who had rescued them from Egypt. Richard argued that Genesis 1 was written primarily to answer “who” questions about God rather than “how” questions about the mechanics of creation, though he acknowledged that those questions still have importance. The pastor identified four key attributes of God revealed in Genesis 1. First, God is eternal. He has no beginning and exists before all creation. Second, God is singular. He is one God with no equals or competitors, though Richard noted the early hints of the Trinity in the text. Third, God is Creator who made everything powerfully by speaking, purposefully with intentional design, and personally with intimate involvement in the process. Fourth, God is good. He makes good things, enjoys His creation, and invites us to share in that enjoyment. Richard emphasized that understanding these attributes of God helps believers rest in His faithfulness and promises, knowing that nothing can stop His plans for salvation and new creation. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Take a moment to fill out our digital connection card here: https://www.bayleaf.org/connect We hope you enjoy this programming and please let us know if there is anything we can do to be of service to you. ONE CHURCH. TWO LOCATIONS. ONE MISSION. Bay Leaf at Falls Lake: 12200 Bayleaf Church Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27614 Bay Leaf at 540: 10921 Leesville Rd, Raleigh, NC 27613 SERVICE TIMES Come join us on Sundays at Bay Leaf at Falls Lake (8:30 AM or 11:00 AM) or at Bay Leaf at 540 (10:00 AM)! CONTACT www.bayleaf.org (919) 847-4477 #BayLeafLife #Worship #Inspiration
In this episode of Pray the Word on Genesis 5:24, David Platt challenges us to imitate the life of Enoch, who walked with God.Explore more content from Radical.
Pray for One Another in Our Race Issues and Go Make a Difference in Our Communities; Jesus Followers Are Here for Times Like This MESSAGE SUMMARY: With regards to our race issues, it will NOT be through political parties, rallies, elections, slogans, or marches that our attitudes and practices are changed or the souls of our nations are converted. Rather, the deep change, which we all need, will only be through a spiritual awakening. This spiritual awakening will come only from repentance – the turning away from our sin and toward God and his righteous ways in Jesus Christ. As Jesus commanded us in John 5:12: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”. Also, in John 13:34-35, Jesus commanded us: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”. Jesus' “one another” is all inclusive and not just those that look like you and/or of your culture. The Bible makes it unequivocally clear that we are all made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27): “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”. You can start real “racial change” right where you are -- in your own heart first and then in your own relationship with God. At that point, you can then lead the change your own community -- one person at a time; one relationship at a time; and one act a time. You can reach out and build a relationship with someone different than you. However, doing nothing is no longer an option for us. Let us pray for one another about these things and let us get out and make a difference in our local communities. God has placed us here for such a time as this. TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, fill me with the simple trust that even out of the most awful evil around me, you are able to bring great good — for me, for others, and for your great glory. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 91). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Procrastination. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Self-Control. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Genesis 1:27; Revelation 7:1-17; Ephesians 2:19; John.13:35; Galatians 6:2; Romans 12:15; Psalms 103:12; Isiah 1:18. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “A Christmas Message” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
In this episode of Pray the Word on Genesis 1:27, David Platt explains how man was fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image.Explore more content from Radical.
Do you trust God? Is God even trustworthy? These are two of the most important questions a person can ever ask, and they are the questions Jay and George are discussing today. Listen to the guys talk about Abram as he learns of the absolute trustworthiness of God. Conformed to Christ aims to engage the mind, affect the heart, and call people to follow Christ. Additionally, our aim is to introduce and explain passages of Scripture and difficult theological doctrines in a down-to-earth and easy-to-grasp manner. Theology and the Bible should impact your life, and our goal is that we might play a small part in seeing that happen. Conformed to Christ is a ministry of Christ's Fellowship Church. https://cfclawton.org/ ***Be sure to subscribe on YouTube, iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, and Amazon Music YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCgQBeT-Mj1CmngPdhZyWybQ iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conformed-to-christ/id1503247486 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2NvbmZvcm1lZHRvY2hyaXN0L2ZlZWQueG1s Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5YruCZu4hla6Ll3rBu7UPY
What is the appropriate response to Christmas? At its heart, Christmas is the grace of God appearing in flesh to die and defeat death for us so that we might have salvation through faith. What is the application of such a divine truth that has penetrated our hearts? The appropriate response is faith. But what exactly does that look like in our everyday lives? I hope you will make plans today to join us for one of our many worship opportunities this weekend. In Christ, Pastor Chad
What is the appropriate response to Christmas? At its heart, Christmas is the grace of God appearing in flesh to die and defeat death for us so that we might have salvation through faith. What is the application of such a divine truth that has penetrated our hearts? The appropriate response is faith. But what exactly does that look like in our everyday lives? I hope you will make plans today to join us for one of our many worship opportunities this weekend. In Christ, Pastor Chad
In Our Race Issues, Pray for One Another and Make a Difference Through Repentance and Reconciliation; Jesus Followers Are Placed Here for These Times MESSAGE SUMMARY: With regards to our race issues, it will not be through political parties, rallies, elections, slogans, or marches that our attitudes and practices are changed or the souls of our nations are converted. The deep change, which we all need, will only be through revival that comes from repentance – turning away from our sin and toward God and his righteous ways in Jesus Christ. As Jesus commanded us in John 5:12: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”. Also, in John 13:34-35, Jesus commanded us: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”. Jesus' “one another” is all inclusive and not just those that look like you and/or of your culture. We do not have just a “skin problem”, we have a “sin problem”. As Dr. Tony Evans of Oak Cliff Bible Church in Dallas Texas recently said: “The evangelical church needs to speak up where it has been silent on injustice and racism. The biggest problem, in the culture today, is the failure of the church. We would not even have a racial crisis in America if the church had not consistently failed to deal with racism as the severe sin it is. But because the church has historically ignored and downplayed it {racial crisis}, the issue still exists. Where the church is called to set an example, we have cowered.”. The Bible makes it unequivocally clear that we are all made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27): “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”. Any hostility between brothers and sisters in Christ is an affront to God and damages our souls and the “blessed community” so many of us seek. You can start real “racial change” right where you are -- in your own heart first and then in your own relationship with God. At that point, you can then lead the change your own community -- one person at a time; one relationship at a time; and one act a time. You can reach out and build a relationship with someone different than you. However, doing nothing is no longer an option for us. Let us pray for one another about these things and let us get out and make a difference in our local communities. God has placed you and me here for such a time as this. TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I can relate to the Israelites in the desert and their desire to return to what is predictable — even if it is miserable. Change is hard. Grant me the courage of Moses to walk the delicate balance of being still and moving on to the new life in Christ that you have for me. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 72). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Past Failures. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Grace. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Genesis 1:27; Revelation 7:1-17; Ephesians 2:19; John.13:35; Galatians 6:2; Romans 12:15; Psalms 103:12; Isiah 1:18 WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “A Christmas Message – What God Has Done For Us” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Lutheran Preaching and Teaching from St. John Random Lake, Wisconsin
December 9, 2025
. . . and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. — Matthew 1:16 Christmas often brings families together for celebrations. In many ways this can be a wonderful time of celebration and encouragement. But families can be complicated, so at times our holidays can come with baggage we can't escape.The book of Matthew introduces the story of Jesus by sharing his family tree. Some names in this list can be found in the Old Testament; others are lost to history. The Christmas story bears the imprint of kings and commoners, some who wanted to live for God and some who did not.Most notable are the people whose stories include pain or even great sins but who came to experience God's grace and healing. Jacob was a schemer who wrestled with God (Genesis 32:22-32). Tamar (Genesis 38) and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12) were victims of abuse. Rahab (Joshua 2-6) and Ruth (Ruth 1-4) were foreigners who would have been looked down on in Israel. Manasseh was a wicked king who only repented late in life (2 Chronicles 33). Jesus' human lineage was anything but pure and holy. Yet the Son of God chose to enter the human race through this collection of imperfect ancestors.If your Christmas celebrations include imperfect people, or you feel wounds from your own imperfect past, give thanks that Jesus the Messiah chose the same kind of family through which to bring salvation to the human race. Jesus, thank you for coming into our imperfect lives to bring your perfect love to us. Amen.
Sunday, December 7, 2025Immanuel: The Presence of God…Genesis 3:8–13, 23–24 Do you love Christmas? I am not referring to the commercialism and worldly influence of the holiday. I am talking about Christmas. The truth behind theholiday. The reality that was brought it into existence. Jesus, the Son of God, intentionally came to this Earth as a baby to save us from our sin! To reconcile, to purchase us back from death. To show us the full extent of God's love for us! Does that stir anything within you? If for some reason it does not, then I pray that God will use the next few weeks to rekindle that fire that should be stoked every year at this time.
United Against God - Genesis 10-11 - Stephen Watson
In Job 8 Bildad, the next youngest in age, of Job's friends speaks. He together with Eliphaz contends that Job suffers because he has sinned. What is needed from Job is repentance. God will not allow you to suffer if you are upright. The fact that your suffering persists is proof of your guilt. Don't question the Almighty about your suffering - our experience is too limited to rightly judge - just acknowledge your guilt. He, like Eliphaz, musters his arguments from his understanding of nature. Job you must relent, change your way, confess to God and you will be restored.In Micah 3 the rulers and prophets are denounced for their corruption, contempt for God's people, callousness to the poor and total self-interest. Yahweh's face would be hidden from these godless religious leaders. These leaders prophesied of a peace that was not possible given the deplorable state they had brought upon their nation. The consequence of the nation's refusal to receive the Word of God would, verse 6, be a withdrawal of the inspired prophetic guidance - "the sun would go down over the prophets". We notice the parallels of Hebrew poetry - the expression is repeated to be reinforced in different words to say the same thing, "I am filled with power, with the spirit of Yahweh and with justice and might" (v 6 ESV). In this verse, the spirit of Yahweh is power, and is also the same as might. I This occurred from about BC 444 until the ministry of John the Baptist around 21 AD. There would be for them (verse 7) "no answer from God". By way of contrast to this the prophet Micah was "the inspired Word of Yahweh" to the kingdom of Judah (verse 8). And Micah would forthrightly denounce their transgressions, in order that God may save a remnant of them. The prophet's message was that their violence had filled up the cup of LORD's patience. God's exhausted patience the reason "Zion would be ploughed as a field" (verse 15). This message shook king Hezekiah to the core (see Jeremiah 26verses18-19). The prophecy was fulfilled by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 135 AD. Chapter 4 says that, nonetheless, Zion (meaning "conspicuous"), Jerusalem's aspirational future glorious state would be realised at Christ's coming kingdom. Read verses 1-5 aloud, and pause and ponder - compare with Isaiah 2verses1-4. Verses 6-13 tell us that at that future time Yahweh will restore Zion (Jerusalem). The prophet calls the nation Jacob, after the father of the nation. Micah shows us that Jacob's personal life finds echoes in the nation's history - "her that halters" loops back to when Jacob's thigh was dislocated to teach him dependence on his God (Genesis 32). Likewise, the Almighty's affliction of the nation was designed to bring her finally in faith to her Maker. And through restored Zion Yahweh will bring all nations of the earth into subjection to Zion's glorious king.
This week, we will be studying Genesis 37 under the theme “Big Dreams, Much Pride, and a Sovereign God.” We see Joseph's pride and his father's favoritism create a toxic environment where his brothers' envy boils over, resulting in his betrayal and being sold into slavery. In the midst of this profound evil and suffering, the account reveals the unwavering sovereignty of God, who is working even through the worst human actions, our deepest valleys of suffering, and our most confusing detours to accomplish his purposes.Series Summary: Our fall worship series will lead us through the Book of Genesis, arguably the most profound, insightful text in human history. Over this series, we'll uncover how the narratives of Genesis reveal God's design for creation, humanity, relationships, and purpose. We'll explore truths that continue to shape our lives today, from the Garden of Eden to the promise of redemption.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you'd like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.
Jacob wrestled God in the dark and came out limping, blessed, and finally honest about who he was. His lesson is certainly relevant for all of us who have ever fought for control or chased validation.Series Summary: Our fall worship series will lead us through the Book of Genesis, arguably the most profound, insightful text in human history. Over this series, we'll uncover how the narratives of Genesis reveal God's design for creation, humanity, relationships, and purpose. We'll explore truths that continue to shape our lives today, from the Garden of Eden to the promise of redemption.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you'd like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.
Preacher: Pastor John Schubert Text: Genesis 3
Hello everyone, I'm not a huge fan of these sort of admin episodes, but there's enough going on I figure it'll be worth it. So here's an update on three fronts: first, the upcoming consistory, which may be on your radar already since you listen to my show, second, what's been going on at the USCCB this past week, and third, some show updates, including something I've put together to feel a bit better about having these admin updates periodically. So first, CONSISTORY Those of you already familiar with the word will know why it grabbed my attention earlier in the month, when various sources announced that Pope Leo was calling the Cardinals together for a consistory in January of next year. You see, it was a consistory that threw a wrench onto my daily show plans in 2023, and in 2024 it was another consistory that sent me back into a hiatus I'm still recovering from. For those not in the know already, a consistory is a meeting of the Cardinals of the Catholic Church, a group so particular they have multiple terms even for their administrative meetings, the other being a conclave, and which, well, if you're listening to this, I'm just going to assume you're already familiar with the idea of a conclave, if only because that's what I spent most of my air time covering the first half of this year. So enough about conclaves. Those are different from consistories. The type of consistory that gets me scrambling when I see the word is a consistory for the creation of new cardinals. The consistory that showed up on our radars earlier this month shows no particular signs of being one of those, though stranger things have happened and I'm fully expecting Pope Leo to hand out some red hats and titles sometime in 2026. I just don't think it'll be at this promised January 8th meeting, since that's usually included in the description—often with names—right from the start when we've got that on the docket. Don't be disappointed though—we can still expect this to be an extraordinary consistory, and not least because “extraordinary consistory” is the technical term for this specific type of consistory and I enjoy punning with ya'll. You see, an “extraordinary” consistory is when the Pope calls together all the Catholic Cardinals around the world for a meet-up in Rome, as opposed to an ordinary consistory, which is typically just a meeting of the Cardinals resident in the Eternal City, which are generally unremarkable enough that they don't get reported on, unless he's creating new Cardinals. Oh, and by the way, I kind of had a hunch about this but this research is where I first confirmed Cardinals are actually *required* to live in Rome unless they're serving out and about as a diocesan bishop somewhere. Which makes sense given their role as an advisory body for the Pope. It's clear there are exceptions—the Argentine Capuchin priest Cardinal Dri, may he rest in peace, died in Buenos Aires a few months ago. He's the one Pope Francis elevated at the age of 96 in 2023, we did an episode about him. Nor are such exceptions particularly new–Saint John Henry Newman, who Pope Leo recently proclaimed as a Doctor of the Church, became a Cardinal late in life and travelled to the Eternal City for the occasion but continued to reside in England. All right, enough about what older Cardinals get up to. How common are these extraordinary consistories? Well, these meetings are unusual, but not unheard of. According to the incredible Gabriel Chow of GCatholic.org, Pope Saint John Paul II held seven of them, all but one within a few months of him creating a batch of new Cardinals, something he tended to do every three years. It seems like he got Cardinals on his mind and liked to both create new ones and catch up with the old ones as a group in the same general stretch. Cardinal season, if you will. A lot of the reporting on this upcoming consistory notes that Pope Benedict, JPII's successor, never held an extraordinary consistory, and that might technically be true if we're only counting things officially declared “extraordinary consistories”, but GCatholic disagrees, counting the meetings of cardinals held the night before his first creations of new Cardinals as extraordinary consistories. I'm not sold on that interpretation, as from what I've seen those gatherings were not as well attended as a typical extraordinary consistory would be, since again, those are mandatory. But they did seem to be private affairs of the Cardinals, which is one of the hallmarks of extraordinary consistories and another factor that distinguishes them from ordinary consistories, at least as far as the Code of Canon Law is concerned. Put a pin in that.Also, even though, yeah, it was officially a pretty minor meeting, the consistory where Pope Benedict announced that he was going to be resigning the Papacy–yeah– I mean–wasn't officially an “extraordinary consistory”, but it was an *extraordinary* consistory. As for Pope Francis, most of the coverage agreed he held two extraordinary consistories: one in 2014, with the topic of the family, which was part of the ramp up to Amoris Laetitia where communion for divorced Catholics was the apparent hot-button subtext. He also held one in 2022, where they discussed the new Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium. If that's not ringing a bell, that's the one where pretty much every Vatican department got renamed to a Dicastery. If it's still not ringing a bell, don't worry about it. For what it's worth, both of these were either right before or right after new batches of Cardinals were made. I think if I got made a Cardinal the day *after* a two-day closed-door meeting of all the Cardinals I'd feel a little bit left out. Though maybe the Cardinals who formally joined the body just in time to hear two days of explanations of that new Constitution changing all the department names would have preferred to have been left out of that one. Either way, GCatholic counts a third Extraordinary Consistory for Pope Francis, a two-day affair right before he made a batch of new Cardinals in 2015. But like the ones GCatholic reported as happening in Pope Benedict's pontificate, this gathering didn't have all the Cardinals–or at least it didn't have enough Cardinals around that it had a “mandatory for everyone” vibe like an extraordinary consistory is supposed to. According to Catholic News Agency, 148 cardinals made an appearance, and because I'm the sort of nerd I am, I can tell you that that was out of a full college of 212 at the time, and yes that includes disgraced Cardinal Keith O'Brien, because he never renounced the Cardinalate itself, only renouncing the rights and privileges associated with it, and it also incidentally includes Mr. Theodore McCarrick, who would go on to renounce the Cardinalate in later years and would wind up deservedly laicized, but who was still a Cardinal at this stage.You probably didn't need me to mention all that, but just in case, there you have it. It's worth noting that one of the reported topics during the 2025 conclave, at least during the meetings in the leadup to the conclave, was frustration from the Cardinals over a general lack of consultation of the Pope with the College of Cardinals as a whole, i.e. they wanted more extraordinary consistories. I wouldn't be too shocked if we saw such gatherings in say, January and June, fit in between the end of Christmas and the beginning of Lent and around the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, respectively, become a regular thing, if Pope Leo does want to lean into these big extraordinary consistories being a regular thing. Now, it's fun and all to hear reports that the expected meeting is a response to popular demand by the Cardinals, but what will it actually be about? Why is Pope Leo apparently calling a closed-door meeting of all the Cardinals of the Catholic Church? Well, first off, despite all my talk, and despite a lot of other people's talk, no such meeting has actually been called yet. What we have at this stage is a letter that went out from the Secretariat of State stating that “Holy Father Leo XIV has in mind to convene an Extraordinary Consistory for the days of January 7 and 8, 2026.” Which, admittedly, is pretty straightforward, and is coming from an official source. But Pope Leo having that “in mind” is not the same as actually announcing it, which matters because the letter goes on to state that “In due course, the Dean of the College of Cardinals will send to Your Eminence the relevant letter with further details”. In other words, watch this space. And yes, it's entirely possible that “further details” could still include noting that by the way while everyone is in town Pope Leo's going to create some more new Cardinals too. I don't expect that since my read on him is he's going to want to be more respectful of the official 120-elector cap than his predecessor was, but it wouldn't be the first time they've covered multiple items while the Cardinals were gathered. It's probably more efficient from a travel cost perspective, anyhow. By the way, if they DO create more new Cardinals, it won't be right after the Extraordinary Consistory On An Unknown Topic, because Pope Leo is already booked for the next day, when he is due for his annual meeting with diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, followed by him meeting with all the ambassadors from the 184 states that have full diplomatic relations with the Holy See. With that context–while recognizing those are regular annual meetings so it could be a coincidence–I am tempted to think there *will* be something big Pope Leo hopes to talk about with all the Cardinals and then all the diplomats. Maybe something going back to my hope–and the hope of many–on Catholic-Orthodox relations, some fruit of Pope Leo's visit to Turkey to mark the 1700th anniversary of Nicea later this month, a council which Catholics and Orthodox agree on, and which helped set the date of Easter. To speculate one step yet further, if they were looking at something relating to the dating of Easter, the timing would be pretty good, a few months out. ***To complicate matters further, *** the day *before* the expected Extraordinary Consistory, Pope Leo will be closing the Holy Doors to finish out the Holy Year. So yeah, that date's booked too, unless he wants to multitask, which given all he's got going on, he doesn't seem opposed to doing. *** IN THE END, it's likely the bulk of the discussion will be the fruit of the “study groups” that came out of the Synod on Synodality, which are meant to reach some form of consensus on a number of active topics discussed over the course of the synod during the last few years. The study groups are so idiosyncratic and generally wonkish that even I, who love listing off obscure stuff at you, refuse to go through them in detail, but they contain are hot button issues such as women deacons and polygamy alongside, uh, cold-button topics such as canon law and the role of nuncios, although I suppose it depends on what you're into. Anyways, it's worth noting that—following what has proven to be a pattern for the Synod on Synodality with extension after extension—the end-of-the-year “deadline” for the study groups doesn't seem to be a hard deadline and at least some of the study group discussions may well still be ongoing past the time of the Extraordinary Consistory, so really, who knows? Again, time will tell.*** Ok, time for the second promised topic: the USCCB, that is, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. They had one of their Plenary or General assemblies this week–I believe they use the word interchangeably–-which, now that you're hip to consistory talk you can think of Plenary Assemblies as the US Catholic Bishops' version of an extraordinary consistory with everyone gathered to chat about whatever. In this case, a major order of business was the election of new leadership, especially a new USCCB President and Vice-President. When it comes to the USCCB, often the Vice-Presidency is the real election to watch, since unless they've hit retirement age the Vice President usually gets elected the President after putting in their three-year term as VP. But in this case, both President and Vice President were retiring, so this was one of the more open election years, with ten candidates nominated by their peers, including Bishop Barron of the Word on Fire media empire which will be printing breviaries for Americans in the coming years–more on that lucrative endeavor some other time. In the end, Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City was elected USSB President, and will serve in that capacity until 2028 when, if tradition holds, he will be succeeded by the man who was runner-up this time around, Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas. We'll see if tradition does hold, as it's not really a secret that US politics is deeply divided and the shift would be from a perceived conservative to a perceived liberal if that's the way it goes, although yes, both are Catholic bishops so there's a lot of agreement between the two. One bishop who was not particularly agreeing with the rest of the body present was the emeritus bishop of Tyler, Texas, one Joseph Strickland. I've discussed Bishop Strickland here and there, and he seems interested in continuing to pop up, despite his removal from his see a couple years ago after publicly endorsing a video calling Pope Francis a “diabolically disordered clown”. In any case, he is apparently still part of the USCCB–which makes sense as he's still a bishop, though I'm not going to act like I expected him there. From what I can tell, since he's officially an emeritus bishop, he does not get to vote. But he did have some floor time, and used it to try to add condemning Fr James Martin's outreach to LGBT folks to the docket, a plea which went unanswered. There's video of this online if you want to find it, and sure, a link in the notes for your convenience. Don't get the wrong idea though, the bishops actually have been pretty active since the new USCCB President took up his role, on the one hand banning gender-affirming care for transgender patients at Catholic hospitals, something which I honestly was surprised wasn't already done, and on the other hand speaking up pretty loudly about all the deporting going on around here. It's the latter topic I'm going to focus on for today, no offense to my friends who might love a word on the former, but I'm trying to stay positive, you know? Plus there's more meat on the immigration side of the discussion, specifically my favorite thing: a statement short enough to read in its entirety for ya'll.Yes, for the first time in over a decade–since their Special Message on the contraceptive mandate in the Affordable Care Act–the Bishops overwhelmingly voted in support of releasing the following Special Message, and by overwhelmingly I mean 216-5 with three abstentions. Without further ado: “As pastors, we the bishops of the United States are bound to our people by ties of communion and compassion in Our Lord Jesus Christ. We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement. We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants. We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care. We lament that some immigrants in the United States have arbitrarily lost their legal status. We are troubled by threats against the sanctity of houses of worship and the special nature of hospitals and schools. We are grieved when we meet parents who fear being detained when taking their children to school and when we try to console family members who have already been separated from their loved ones. Despite obstacles and prejudices, generations of immigrants have made enormous contributions to the well-being of our nation. We as Catholic bishops love our country and pray for its peace and prosperity. For this very reason, we feel compelled now in this environment to raise our voices in defense of God-given human dignity. Catholic teaching exhorts nations to recognize the fundamental dignity of all persons, including immigrants. We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation's immigration laws and procedures. Human dignity and national security are not in conflict. Both are possible if people of good will work together. We recognize that nations have a responsibility to regulate their borders and establish a just and orderly immigration system for the sake of the common good. Without such processes, immigrants face the risk of trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Safe and legal pathways serve as an antidote to such risks. The Church's teaching rests on the foundational concern for the human person, as created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). As pastors, we look to Sacred Scripture and the example of the Lord Himself, where we find the wisdom of God's compassion. The priority of the Lord, as the Prophets remind us, is for those who are most vulnerable: the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the stranger (Zechariah 7:10). In the Lord Jesus, we see the One who became poor for our sake (2 Corinthians 8:9), we see the Good Samaritan who lifts us from the dust (Luke 10:30–37), and we see the One who is found in the least of these (Matthew 25). The Church's concern for neighbor and our concern here for immigrants is a response to the Lord's command to love as He has loved us (John 13:34). To our immigrant brothers and sisters, we stand with you in your suffering, since, when one member suffers, all suffer (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:26). You are not alone! We note with gratitude that so many of our clergy, consecrated religious, and lay faithful already accompany and assist immigrants in meeting their basic human needs. We urge all people of good will to continue and expand such efforts. We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people. We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement. We pray that the Lord may guide the leaders of our nation, and we are grateful for past and present opportunities to dialogue with public and elected officials. In this dialogue, we will continue to advocate for meaningful immigration reform. As disciples of the Lord, we remain men and women of hope, and hope does not disappoint! (cf. Romans 5:5) May the mantle of Our Lady of Guadalupe enfold us all in her maternal and loving care and draw us ever closer to the heart of Christ.” Alright, now for the final topic, PODCAST ADMIN. Assuming you've been around for a minute, you've probably noticed that Popeular History is approximately eight projects in a trenchcoat. You might think that sounds like an exaggeration, but I did wind up with 8 tabs when I organized all my episodes i nto a spreadsheet I plan to use as a roadmap for the show. The Cardinal Numbers tab even has info about the Cardinals in question from my cardinals database. Not all the Cardinals, mind you, for now it's focused on the current cardinals since that's where the show is focused. Eventually the full database will be made public-facing in some form, minus perhaps some embarrassing scribbled notes like instructions on how to pronounce names that will only make sense to me since I'm bad at phonetic alphabet stuff. Oh, and the Worldbuilding section has the epitomes next to links to the episodes they're summarizing! Cool stuff like that, and as an added bonus I'll even be putting things like when I expect to get to the next episode or two of a particular series, that way if you want an answer it's there without relying on me randomly mentioning on the show at some point. I'm even including notes about things like when I have something recorded and am just working on editing it. So that's all exciting! Check it out!–I'm putting that link at the tail end of the show notes for your convenience. It should be publicly accessible, let me know via email to popeularhistory@gmail.com if you hit any snags. Also, jubilation! Popeularhistory.com is back up, and I have no idea how that happened. My ability to make changes to it directly went away about a year ago, hence all but the RSS feeds being frozen, zombie mode, but now it's back. I didn't even have to log in to anything. I think St Carlo Acutis just did another miracle (miracles effect from Pontifacts). So that's an unexpected plus that literally only came up when I googled up the name of my old host as part of an explanation that the spreadsheet I just described was going to replace the website moving forward. I guess it isn't? We'll see–I am very confused, I was already prepared to move on–but I'm not mad about it. Finally, one more last-minute thing has popped up. Our hero, Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, will be visiting Detroit December 4th through 7th, raising funds for the struggling Christian remnant in the Holy Land. Detroit is a manageable trip from my home base in Ohio (go Bucks) and I'd love to meet Pierbattista Pizzaballa. But I don't plan to crash Pierbattista Pizzaballa's fundraising trip emptyhanded. And so, I've created a gofundme to raise money so I can give Pierbattista Pizzaballa a real check for a grand in addition to a comedically oversized check made by my children, which I'm sure Pierbattista Pizzaballa will really truly appreciate as a Franciscan friar. Obviously December 4th through 7th is soon, so act now via the link in the show notes if you'd like to contribute to what is already my most successful fundraiser to date. And don't worry if you miss the deadline, I still intend to forward funds to him and his cause as appropriate, whatever way I can. Full disclosure: I'm setting aside $200 of the funds for travel expenses for me getting there, and giant check. Thank you in advance and remember: prayer support is just as welcome and is even more important than financial support. Alright, that's all for tonight! November's Habemus Pointsam is coming out soon, I just need to edit it! Of course, you already knew that, because you saw it on the database, right? Thank you for listening, God bless you all! Thanks, Joe! LINKS: Early reporting on upcoming extraordinary consistory: https://www.americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2025/11/08/pope-leo-to-call-college-of-cardinals-to-rome-for-a-two-day-january-meeting/ https://thecatholicherald.com/article/pope-leo-to-call-cardinals-to-rome-for-extraordinary-consistory-amid-speculation-of-first-encyclical https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pope-leo-xiv-to-convene-extraordinary-consistory-of-cardinals-in-january-report/?utm_source=lsncathfb&fbclid=IwY2xjawN_jjJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA80MDk5NjI2MjMwODU2MDkAAR7SwHBdI9sPFNkrmLzutgXvu6eUyuUQPNbHpBxEEej8S63RLNA83qCYOPDyqQ_aem_kfnzrdO3vyL7EE2rqlgcWg https://www.ncregister.com/news/pope-leo-calls-january-2026-consistory Gcatholic.org consistory notes: https://gcatholic.org/documents/tag/consistory CNA Reporting on 2015 consistory: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/31501/a-reform-to-promote-harmony-%E2%80%93-pope-francis-opens-a-much-debated-consistory Bishop Strickland at the USCCB: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OU0i97XFTlw USCCB Special Message: https://www.usccb.org/news/2025/us-bishops-issue-special-message-immigration-plenary-assembly-baltimore Popeular History Episode Spreadsheet link (feel free to share, this should give public access) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17NFWcln6CA8yjH96-bORP2G3HA2ct331E6Zi880BewU/edit?usp=sharing Pizzaballa Trip Gofundme: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-gregg-bring-pierbattista-pizzaballa-a-giant-check?fbclid=IwY2xjawOKzAVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA80MDk5NjI2MjMwODU2MDkAAR4IokJTnLt5tbazv1IuHqeQowX8-horhHZ0HRkHo5beXwCliQi3avOZ4LXDaA_aem_Lsc6fiO4LRUoTq6WizJ3fQ
Rev. Clay Wooten
Sermon Series: Crowdfunding the Kingdom Sermon Title: How to Love Mondays Key Scripture: See below Speaker: Andy Bratton Big Idea: In each giving situation, we see one thing; we give of our firsts. And we do it for the one who gave first. From the Heart – Matthew 6:19-21 Identifying our Best – Genesis 4:1-7 Returning to God – Genesis 14:17-24 Simply Living – Genesis 28:20-22 Together with Others – Numbers 18:21-24 So my life reflects my gratitude – Luke How COVID has affected us The post How to Love Mondays appeared first on Kalkaska Church of Christ.
Sermon Title: The Goodness of God Scripture: Genesis 3:1-6 Date: 11.16.2025 Message By: Mark Farris
A sermon by Pastor Joseph Colon. More about Grace Bible Church: http://begrace.org
Send us a textThis episode was originally released as a Patreon-only bonus episode on the 5th of March 2025.Episode Summary:In this special bonus episode, I explore the political thought of Hannah Arendt—particularly her seminal work The Origins of Totalitarianism—from a biblical and theological perspective. Arendt's analysis of 20th-century totalitarianism is as relevant today as ever, but what happens when we place her ideas alongside the timeless truths of Scripture?We begin with a look back at the philosophical split between Plato's “contemplative life” and the “active life” exemplified by Socrates and Aristotle. Arendt's critique of Western philosophy's retreat from political engagement opens up rich questions for Christians: Is our faith a private, introspective affair—or a public, active witness?Drawing from The Origins of Totalitarianism and The Human Condition, this episode reflects on:The spiritual and moral roots of totalitarian regimesThe dangers of ideological conformity and the erosion of personal responsibilityThe biblical understanding of action, identity, and communityThe importance of grounding public and political life in divine truthWe also examine Arendt's critique of Enlightenment thought, her categories of Labor, Work, and Action, and how they hold up against a biblical vision of human purpose and flourishing.Key Themes:Faith in Action: Christianity is not merely a contemplative retreat—it calls us to be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13–16).The Heart of the Problem: Totalitarianism is ultimately a manifestation of humanity's fallen nature, not just failed politics.Identity in Christ: Unlike Arendt's political anthropology, the Bible teaches that identity is found not through action alone but in relationship with God (Genesis 1:27, Galatians 3:26).Political Systems and the Gospel: Both capitalism and Marxism fall short of the biblical vision for justice, mercy, and dignity.True Freedom: Jesus declares, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32)—a freedom deeper than political liberation.Scripture References:Matthew 5:13–16John 8:32Genesis 1:271 John 4:8Matthew 4:4Matthew 6:19–20Micah 6:8Acts 2:44–45Galatians 3:26Featured Thinkers:Hannah Arendt – Political theorist known for her works on totalitarianism, authority, and the nature of political life.Plato & Socrates – Contrasting visions of philosophy and public life.Stanley Milgram – Psychologist whose experiments reveal the dangers of blind obedience.Takeaway:Arendt's analysis challenges us to reflect deeply on the nature of evil, the meaning of action, and the role of individuals in resisting oppressive systems. But as Christians, we recognize that no amount of political engagement can change the human heart. Only Christ can do that. And through Him, we're called not just to think, but to live faithfully in the world—witSupport the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com
What makes a person right with God?In this sermon, Pastor Ben Smith preaches from Genesis 4:1–7, exploring the testimony of Cain and Abel to reveal what true acceptance before God requires. Through this powerful passage, we learn that being right with God depends not on human desire or opinion but on obedience, faith, and submission to His will.Pastor Smith addresses the modern idol of self—the belief that personal autonomy and preference define truth—and shows how this false worship has deeply influenced our culture, from the breakdown of marriage and family to the devaluation of life itself. Yet this message goes beyond cultural critique; it calls the church and every believer to repentance, faith, and wholehearted submission to God's Word.Through the example of Cain's rejected offering and Abel's accepted one, listeners will discover three essential truths about what it means to be right with God:1. You must give a worthy offering.Worship that pleases God is not based on what we think is beautiful or impressive, but on obedience and atonement for sin.2. Your heart's desire must be to please God.Cain's anger reveals a self-centered heart, while Abel's faith displays true joy in honoring the Lord.3. You must submit to the will of God.True freedom is not found in doing things “your way,” but in surrendering to the authority of God and being ruled by His righteousness.Drawing from Scripture and practical examples, Pastor Smith reminds us that righteousness before God cannot be achieved through human effort. It is received only through Jesus Christ, the one perfect, acceptable sacrifice who makes sinners right with a holy God.Key Scripture: Genesis 4:1–7Main Theme: True acceptance with God comes through obedience, faith, and submission—not self-will or personal autonomy.Speaker: Pastor Ben SmithSeries: GenesisFormat: Expository SermonFind Out More:Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben's sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org.You can find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.This sermon was originally preached on 10/26/2025.
Today,as we are looking at the last verses of Ephesians 2, we need to remember thatPaul has been talking about separation beginning in verses 11-12. TheJews were separated from the Gentiles, the Gentiles from the Jews. They bothwere separated from God because of sin. Next, we see reconciliation inverses 13-18. How now through the blood of Jesus Christ, we've been reconciledto God. We can be reconciled and have peace with one another. In these lastverses, Paul speaks of unification. Paulhas repeated the word "one" to emphasize the unifyingwork of Christ: "who has made both one" (Ephesians2:14); "to create in Himself one new man" (Ephesians2:15); "might reconcile them both to God in one body" (Ephesians2:16); and, "we both have access by one Spirit" (Ephesians2:18). All spiritual distance and division have been overcome by Christ. In theclosing verses of this chapter, Paul gives three pictures that illustrate theunity of believing Jews and Gentiles in the church. Weare now one new nation (v. 19a). Israel was God'schosen nation, but they rejected their Redeemer and suffered the consequences.The kingdom was taken from them and given to "a nation bringing forththe fruits thereof” (Matthew 21:43). This "new nation" isthe church. “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holynation, His own special people, (1 Peter 2:9-10). Inthe Old Testament, the nations were reckoned by their descent from Shem, Ham,or Japheth (Genesis 10). In the Book of Acts, we see these three familiesunited in Christ. In Acts 8, a descendant of Ham is saved, the Ethiopiantreasurer. In Acts 9, a descendant of Shem, Saul of Tarsus, who became Paul theapostle. And in Acts 10, the descendants of Japheth, the Gentiles in thehousehold of the Roman soldier, Cornelius. Sin has divided mankind, but Christunites by His Spirit. All believers, regardless of national background, belongto that "holy nation" with citizenship in heaven (Philippians3:20-21). “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly waitfor the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ". Weare now one family(v. 19b). “But fellow citizens with the saints and members of the householdof God”. Through our faith in Jesus Christ,we enter into God's family, and God becomes our Father. This wonderful familyof God is found in two places, "in heaven and earth" (Ephesians3:15). Living believers are on earth and believers who have died are in heaven.None of God's children are "under the earth" (Philippians2:10) or in any other place in the universe. We are all brothers and sisters inthe one family, no matter what racial, national, or physical distinctions wemay possess. Weare now one temple(vv. 20-22). In the Book of Genesis, God "walked" with His people.Enoch walked with God (Genesis. 5:22-24). And Noah walked with God (Genesis6:9). But then in the Book of Exodus, God decided to "dwell" with Hispeople: (Exodus 25:8). God dwelt in thetabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38) until Israel's sins caused "the glory todepart" when the Philistines captured the ark in battle. (1 Samuel 4). ThenGod dwelt in the temple Solomon built (1 Kings 8:1-11). But again Israel sinnedand the glory departed: “Then the glory of the LORD departed from thethreshold of the temple…” (Ezekiel 10:18-19). God's next dwelling place wasthe body of Christ: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and webeheld His glory " (John 1:14). But men took and nailed this body to a cross. Today,through His Spirit, God dwells in the church, the temple of God. God does notdwell in man-made temples, including church buildings (Acts 7:48-50). Goddwells in the hearts of those who have trusted Christ: (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). And God dwellsin the church collectively as we see in these last verses in Ephesians 2:20-22. Ourunity is in Christ and is best displayed when we love one another despite ourdifferences! GodBless!
This week, we will be studying Genesis 27:18-34 under the theme “Who Deserves Blessing From God?” All humans are living for some level of affirmation. We often even pretend to be something we're not to attempt to receive it. However, this pursuit typically backfires. Only when we hear clearly the opinion of the One who truly matters can we become our truest selves.Series Summary: Our fall worship series will lead us through the Book of Genesis, arguably the most profound, insightful text in human history. Over this series, we'll uncover how the narratives of Genesis reveal God's design for creation, humanity, relationships, and purpose. We'll explore truths that continue to shape our lives today, from the Garden of Eden to the promise of redemption.Add St. Marcus as your church on the Church Center App!Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you'd like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.
A sermon by Pastor Dave McMurry. More about Grace Bible Church: http://begrace.org
Scripture: Genesis 19 Key Takeaways: + The Spiritual Condition of Sodom Ezekiel 16:49 + The Spiritual Condition of Lot Hebrews 11:8-10 + The judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah is a dress rehearsal for a future and greater judgment Jude 1:7 Luke 17:26-35 Romans 5:8-10 Matthew 11:20-24 + Judgement begins with the household of God 1 Peter 4:14-19 1 John 2:15-17 “Sin is never at a stay; if we do not retreat from it, we shall advance in it.” – Puritan Writer “But we can guess why He is delaying. He wants to give us the chance to join His side freely. God will invade...When that happens it is the end of the world. When the author walks on to the stage, the play is over. God is going to invade, all right: but what is the good of saying you are on his side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like and dream and something else - something it never entered your head to conceive - comes crashing in; something so beautiful to some of us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left. For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing; it will be the time when we discover which side we have really chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last forever. We must take it or leave it.” – CS Lewis, Mere Christianity.
Scripture: Genesis 18:16-33 Key Takeaways: + God is a comprehensive judge + God is a just judge Genesis 15:6 Psalm 32:1 + God is a merciful judge Isaiah 53:11- 12 Hebrews 7:25 John 15:15-16
Scripture: Genesis 18:16-33 Key Takeaways: + God is a comprehensive judge + God is a just judge Genesis 15:6 Psalm 32:1 + God is a merciful judge Isaiah 53:11- 12 Hebrews 7:25 John 15:15-16
Genesis 35:7-15
Scripture: Genesis 17 Key Takeaways: + Revelation The revelation of God's character to us is the answer for all the struggles in us. The revelation of God's character to us always requires a response from us. + Promise + Expectations + A Sign Sign and Seal Cleansing and Consecration Jeremiah 4:4 Jeremiah 6:10 Jeremiah 9:25-26 Deuteronomy 10:16 Deuteronomy 30:6 Ezekiel 36:25–27 Hebrews 8:7–11 Matthew 26:26–28 Colossians 2:11–14 Galatians 3:7–8
"The Test of Departure"Genesis 21:8-21The Book of Genesis Series - In The Beginning, GodPastor Nate ClarkeOctober 5, 2025How to VOTE BIBLICALLY - highlighting Virginia's proposed Constitutional amendments on Abortion & Marriage https://youtu.be/Y8z8xTFsOn8How should Christians respond to wickedness in the world? https://youtu.be/2OJUIM9YRwAShould Christians pay attention to POLITICS? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak82aD16r04Have you heard the news about the FUTURE of Oasis Church?https://www.oasischurch.online/futureSERMON NOTES:- Genesis 21:8-21- The Test of Departure- Salvation from God- Genesis 21:12-14- Galatians 4:22-23- Galatians 4:28-31- Galatians 5:24- Romans 8:3-4- Trust in God- Genesis 21:12- Genesis 21:14- Ishmael: - Loved by Abraham - Produced by Abraham - Assurance for Abraham (back up plan)- Walking by faith is being willing to part with anything that God says to let go of- Luke 9:59-62- Matthew 19:29- The provision of God- Genesis 21:13- Genesis 21:14- Genesis 21:15-16- Genesis 21:17-19- “Believer, though all things are apparently against you, rest assured that God has made a reservation on your behalf; in the rolls of your grief there is a saving clause. Somehow He will deliver you, and somewhere He will provide for you. Your rescue may come from a very unexpected source, but help will definitely come in your extremity, and you will magnify the name of the Lord. If men do not feed you, ravens will; and if the earth does not yield wheat, heaven will drop mana.” Charles SpurgeonOasis Church exists to Worship God, Equip the believers, and Reach the lost.We are led by Pastor Nate Clarke and are located in Henrico on the north side of Richmond, VA.STAY CONNECTEDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OasisChurchRVA/Website: https://oasischurch.onlineOasis Church exists to Worship God, Equip the believers, and Reach the lost.We are led by Pastor Nate Clarke and are located in Richmond, VA.Stay Connected:Website: https://oasischurch.online Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OasisChurchRVA/
In this message, Pastor Chris Donald teaches that “Do not murder” is more than avoiding physical violence—it's about valuing life because every person carries the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Murder is an assault against God Himself, but Jesus raises the standard by addressing the heart behind it: anger, bitterness, and hatred (Matthew 5:21–22). Radical love transforms us from taking life to giving life, from cursing to blessing. Pastor Chris reminds us that life is sacred, abortion is murder, and the Church must stand for the innocent and voiceless. True obedience flows not from legalism, but from radical love for God and people.
Genesis 31:27-42
Genesis 31:1-16