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Don't Stop Believing, Part 3 A sermon by Pastor Richard Sfameni, Lead Pastor at Victory Church in Providence, RI I. Introduction Welcome and purpose of the podcast: sharing powerful messages from services. Victory Church's mission: reaching the lost, restoring the broken, reviving believers. Call to engagement: readiness to receive the Word of God. Message title: "Don't Stop Believing" (better phrased as "Keep Believing"). Central theme: The necessity and critical importance of living by faith. II. The Nature and Gift of Faith Biblical definition: Faith as the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is confidence in God's promises and His character. Every believer has a “seed/measure” of faith—faith given by God (Romans 12). Faith as a muscle: grows stronger through use, challenges, and spiritual exercise. Warning against comparing levels of faith among believers. Personal testimony: growth through spiritual trials and resistance, analogy to physical training. III. The Importance of Faith (Scriptural Emphasis) Essential for pleasing God: “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). Two elements: belief that God exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Faith is required in every circumstance; God knows individual limits and provides grace for endurance. IV. Faith as the Primary Metric in the Church Examination of Paul's concern for faith in the church (1 Thessalonians 3). Paul's repeated focus on the faith of the congregation rather than external measures. What Paul didn't emphasize: not the size, budget, or facilities of the church. Critique of cultural (non-biblical) values in assessing church success. Dangers of equating “bigness” or material signs with spiritual greatness. Examples: 85% of American churches have fewer than 200 people, illustrating that size is not the key measure. Example from church history: Charles Spurgeon's conversion in a small chapel, demonstrating greatness is about spiritual impact, not size. V. Keeping Faith Central The importance of keeping “the main thing the main thing”—focus on the growth and exercise of faith. Individuals and churches must prioritize spiritual metrics over worldly metrics. VI. Lessons from the Heroes of Faith Review of “the cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews 11-12. Faith exemplars: those who faced challenges and saw God's faithfulness. The value of biographies/autobiographies of Christians for practical insights into a life of faith. Example: George Mueller's dependence on faith for provision. Recognition of current church members as examples of faith and faithfulness. VII. Hindrances to Faith Identifying and “laying aside every weight”: Bitterness, unforgiveness, distractions, and past failures. Analogy of running a race: shed anything that slows spiritual progress. Biblical example: Paul “forgets what is behind and presses on.” The need for “divine forgetfulness” and remembrance of what matters (the cross, God's promises). VIII. Perseverance of Faith Faith requires perseverance, endurance—keep moving forward despite obstacles and struggles. Examples of perseverance from secular figures (Walt Disney, Einstein, Churchill, Lincoln) to illustrate endurance. Claim: with the Spirit of God, believers have even greater potential for perseverance. Encouragement for listeners to resolve to succeed and trust in God's enabling power. IX. The Focus of Faith: Fixing Eyes on Jesus The source and goal (“author and finisher”) of faith is Jesus. Spiritual direction comes from focusing on Christ—not on people or circumstances. Analogy: Just as a runner focuses on the finish line, Christians must fix their gaze on Jesus. Biblical example: Peter walking on water by looking at Jesus, sinking when distracted by the storm (Matthew 14). Isaiah 26:3—Perfect peace comes from “mind stayed on Thee.” Hymn: “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” used to reinforce the point. The danger of spiritual distraction; importance of continual refocusing on Christ. X. The Cross as Spiritual North Point Story: Beach analogy—currents can pull us off course unnoticed, requiring realignment. The cross of Christ as a central, guiding reference for believers. Regular course corrections are necessary due to “the currents” of worldly distractions and sin. Importance of always coming back to Christ and the cross. XI. Application and Call to Action Self-examination: Is your faith growing? Are you focused on Jesus? Urge to lay aside distractions/weights and make the necessary spiritual adjustments. Invitaton for reflection, response, prayer, and renewed commitment as the service closes.

Holiness and Intimacy with God: Hebrews 9 with Jeannie CunnionIn this special episode of Divine Table Talk, Jamie and Jane welcome author and speaker Jeannie Cunnion to dive into the rich truths of Hebrews 9. Together, they explore how Jesus' perfect sacrifice opens the way to true holiness and deeper intimacy with God. Jeannie shares her heart for understanding grace, letting go of striving, and embracing the closeness God offers through Christ. Join us for an honest, encouraging conversation that will help you see holiness not as distance from God—but as an invitation to draw near.____________________________________Connect with Jeannie Cunnion:Website: https://www.jeanniecunnion.com/____________________________________Connect with Jamie:Website: www.jamieklusacek.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamieklusacekConnect with Jane:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janewwilliams____________________________________ Get Jamie's Newest Book:Living Loved: An 8-week Journey to Living Fully Loved

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com God is not hiding from you—He longs to be known and trusted. After all, how can we have a genuine relationship with someone we don't truly know? Even more essential is the faith factor. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). But how can we trust someone we don't understand? The question so many ask is this: How can I come to know Him? The answer begins with the very first commandment that says, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exodus 20:7). This isn't just about using His name irreverently—it's about misunderstanding or misrepresenting who He truly is. Every name of God reveals an aspect of His character and a promise He has made to you. His names aren't just titles—they are truths backed by His integrity. When you know His names, you'll begin to understand His heart. And when you understand His heart, trust comes naturally. For example, when we call Him Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our Peace, we dishonor that name if we then accuse Him of bringing chaos into our lives. That is taking His name in vain. When we know Him as Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals, yet blame Him for our sickness, we are rejecting the very identity He has revealed to us. Most of us hold onto vain notions of God's character and nature. Therefore, we don't know Him as He is; we know a concept of Him that is man-made! We have accepted how religious tradition characterizes God, rather than knowing and trusting how He describes Himself. Join me this week as we discover The Ultimate Foundation—a journey that will open your heart to see God as He truly is. When you see God clearly: Your struggle with faith fades, Your confidence in Him soars, and His voice becomes unmistakable in your heart. God's promises are inseparably linked to His names. When you know and trust those names, you will walk with unshakable confidence in every promise He has made.

Send us a textHebrews reminds us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. But how do we actually live that out in everyday life?Focus Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-40Faith is given to every believer in the salvation experience. (Ephesians 2:8-9)Faith has a focal point - God (Hebrews 12:2)Faith always drives us to a place of surrender (Matthew 6:33)Faith is a spiritual gift of the Holy Spirit and it is a fruit of the spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9; Galatians 5:22)Our faith may be tested at times Genesis 22:1-24;6:9-22THE BIG DISCOVERYFaith begins and ends with God. It is not just your ability to believe. It is your ability to believe in God, based on his terms, conditions, principles and teachings. Faith is knowing He's in control and trusting Him for the outcome.DEVELOPING OUR FAITHRead Hebrews 11:1-40Exercise your faith in God through one spiritual habit this week. (pray/study/witness/serve/teach/share)Pray every day this week about one area of your life where you are struggling to trust God. Joins us on Sundays! Our 9:15am worship experience takes place in-person only while our 11:15am is both in-person and online (via the DLC App & YouTube). Connect with us! https://www.discoverlifega.org Instagram & Facebook @ discoverlifega

Send us a text“Looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).Written and sent out from the morning prayer time of Tommy Hays each day.God bless you and may you have a great day!—Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministrieshttp://messiah-ministries.org

Preached in 2023. For more resources for knowing and loving God's word, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠bcnewton.co⁠⁠⁠⁠Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠Exegetical & Theological Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews // Robert Paul Martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul // R. Kent Hughes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ESV Expository Commentary Vol 12: Hebrews-Revelation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hebrews // Richard Phillips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠New Testament Commentaries Vol 2: Philippians-Hebrews and Revelation // Geoffrey Wilson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hebrews // John Brown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hebrews // John Calvin⁠⁠⁠⁠

Enoch and Noah are the two people that the book of Genesis say "walked with God." But does this mean that they were especially righteous in themselves, and God rewarded them according to what they deserve? And how did they point to Jesus?

"If you're hard in your heart, you can't perceive certain things. If you're hard in your heart, you can't even understand certain things. If you're hard in your heart, I can't even get to you what I want to get to you. I've got a whole warehouse with your name on it and you can't receive any of it because your heart is hardened." --Pastor Omar Ellison In "The Father's Voice - Part 2," Pastor Omar Ellison delivers a crucial message about the perils of a hardened heart, building on the foundation of Hebrews 3. He defines hardening as becoming callous, preventing us from perceiving, understanding, or receiving anything God desires to send our way—His voice, His blessings, His will. The sermon delves into how this hardening often stems from errors in our thinking, urging listeners to align their thoughts with God's Word rather than their feelings or external circumstances. Pastor Ellison highlights that unbelief is a choice and can lead to a slow departure from God (Hebrews 3:12), often undetected for years. He stresses the biblical mandate to exhort one another daily (Hebrews 3:13), keeping each other encouraged to prevent hearts from hardening through the deceitfulness of sin. This isn't just about mistakes, but a continuous, comfortable indulgence in known wrong, which ultimately dulls conviction and spiritual sensitivity. Through vivid examples from Mark's Gospel (Mark 3, Mark 6, Mark 8), Pastor Ellison illustrates how a hardened heart prevents recognition of God's power, even in the face of undeniable miracles. He shows how the Pharisees, witnessing Jesus' healing (Mark 3:2-6), were so hardened that they sought to destroy Him rather than receive the truth. He points out that being "amazed" or "struck with awe" at God's goodness can ironically indicate a hardened heart if it means we haven't been considering or meditating on His past works (Mark 6:51-52; Mark 8:14-21). The teaching powerfully calls believers to rehearse God's miracles daily, no matter how small, as a vital practice to maintain a soft, receptive heart, capable of perceiving, understanding, and applying His truth, even amidst life's storms. Failure to do so, he warns (Proverbs 29:1), leads to a sudden, remediless destruction in our spiritual lives. ******* Find more information on our website: https://www.saltandlightcovenant.com/

Preached in 2023. For more resources for knowing and loving God's word, visit ⁠bcnewton.co⁠Resources⁠Exegetical & Theological Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews // Robert Paul Martin⁠⁠Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul // R. Kent Hughes⁠⁠ESV Expository Commentary Vol 12: Hebrews-Revelation⁠⁠Hebrews // Richard Phillips⁠⁠New Testament Commentaries Vol 2: Philippians-Hebrews and Revelation // Geoffrey Wilson⁠⁠Hebrews // John Brown⁠⁠Hebrews // John Calvin⁠

Sermon Direct Link 6/22/25 Rev. Clint Smith Angels, Jesus, and the Voice of God (Hebrews 1:1-14) Throughout history, humans have often held unbiblical or worldly views of angels. In some religions and belief systems, angels ... Read More The post Angels, Jesus, and the Voice of God (Hebrews 1:1-14) appeared first on Town Creek Baptist Church.

Pastor Luke Simmons explores the complexities of God's fatherly love and discipline in this sermon from our series in Hebrews.Delving into the questions that arise when facing life's challenges, Luke emphasizes the importance of understanding God's discipline not as punishment but as a means to grow closer to Him. By examining Hebrews 12:5-11, Pastor Luke explains how God, as our loving Father, is committed to shaping us into His likeness, inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him.Whether you're experiencing hardship or seeking to understand God's role in your life's trials, this sermon offers a thoughtful perspective on embracing God's transformative love.Join us as we journey through the book of Hebrews and uncover the profound truths it holds for our lives today.00:00 - Introduction09:25 - What does it mean to have God as Father?18:47 - How should we understand our Father's discipline?34:41 - What is God inviting me into through this?**HOW TO FIND US*** SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YouTube CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@IronwoodChurchAZFACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/ironwoodchurchaz/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/ironwood.church/WEBSITE https://www.ironwoodchurch.org/

This Father's Day, we reflect on the steadfast love of our Heavenly Father through the powerful words of Hebrews 6:13–20. In a world full of shifting values and broken promises, God's word stands unshakable. His promises are sure, His character unchanging, and His hope an anchor for our souls.In this message, we explore how God's covenant with Abraham points us to Jesus, who is our forerunner, our High Priest, and our eternal hope. Whether you're a father, had a godly father, or carry wounds from an absent one, this sermon reminds us that we are anchored by the faithful love of God.

Psalm 86,Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.2 Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.3 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them.15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant.17 Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. This Sunday begins another summer in the psalms for us at Cities Church, and after several years, we're now more than halfway through the book. The psalms are something of the Bible's prayer guide and songbook. They teach us, in more than a hundred shapes and sizes, how to sing and how to pray. They model the inner life of genuine faith — the emotional life of a follower of Christ. They give us the mountains and valleys that come with trusting and following him. And there are great mountains, and great valleys, that come for anyone who follows Christ.Psalm 86 is a valley psalm. It's a desperate psalm — not a hopeless psalm, but a desperate one. It teaches us how to pray when trouble comes.Do you know how to pray when trouble comes? Not just: “Lord, help me” or “fix this,” but do you pray about trouble the way the Bible prays about trouble? I know I don't always pray the way this psalm prays. Preparing for this sermon, I was reminded of a prayer we prayed before meals in our home growing up:“God is great, God is good, and we thank you for this food.”I have no idea where the prayer came (maybe my parents made it up), and I don't entirely understand it. “God is great, and God is good. . . .” Isn't great better than good? Maybe “great” means big, mighty, awesome, and good means he's for us? Whatever it means, I'm so thankful for those thirteen simple words. How many children grow up in homes where they never acknowledge God has anything to do with the food on the table? How many children never hear their parents acknowledge God at all (except maybe to use his name in vain)? But I heard — PB&J after PB&J, spaghetti after spaghetti — “God is great, God is good, and he's the one who gave us this food.”It was a good prayer for 3-year-old, 4-year-old, 5-year old heart and mind — and yet if you and I had lunch this week and I still prayed like that, there would be something off, right? Hopefully I've grown some in the ways I express my thankfulness for spaghetti. Hopefully I still grow in thanking him.I wonder if some of us are praying 4-year-old prayers about trials. We haven't learned how to pray grown-up prayers about the trouble in our lives — and we all have trouble in our lives of various kinds. We haven't said, like the disciples, “Lord, teach us to pray.” And that's my prayer for this morning, “Lord, teach us to pray, in this case about the hard things in our lives.” Four Prayers for Any TroubleBefore we try and learn how to pray about our trouble, we need to ask about the actual trouble here in Psalm 86. Why is David crying out to God like this?We don't know a lot, and it takes a while before we really learn any details about his situation, but we do find out what's going on near the end of the psalm. Look at verse 14:O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them.We have plenty of insolent men in our day, but we don't call them that. Insolent men are rude men who don't show respect for others (even the king). They're troublemakers who stir up division and hostility. These horrible men are trying to kill the king. We don't know who these particular insolent men were, and unfortunately there were so many insolent men who tried to kill David throughout his life that we can't even guess which ones these might be. Can you imagine? I don't think any of you have ever gone to bed knowing someone is driving around looking for you, trying to kill you. That was normal for David. He was in serious trouble here.And while our trouble is different from his, I believe God means for David's trouble to teach us how to pray in our trouble, whatever trouble we face. I want to summarize the lessons in four simple prayers:Meet my need.Glorify your name.Teach me your way.Gladden my heart.Grown-up prayers don't need to be long or complicated. There are precious lessons for us in these four simple prayers.Prayer 1: Meet My NeedFirst, “Lord, meet my need.” David doesn't mention the insolent men in the first verses, but he does start right off by praying for what he needs in the moment. Beginning in verse 1:Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you — you are my God.Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.In other words, meet my immediate need. These guys are really trying to kill me, and I'm asking you to stoop down and intervene on my behalf. Do something about this, God. I know there are millions of people on earth, but I'm asking you to focus your infinite wisdom and strength to protect one of those millions from a few men.When you think about what the psalms are — these divinely-inspired prayer-songs, meant to be studied, memorized, and rehearsed for thousands of years — it's kind of wild how specific some of them are. God clearly wanted us to hear godly saints pray for specifics. It's one of the great gifts of the psalms (and of all the prayers in the Bible). We get to hear real people pray about real stuff. God knew we would have our own specifics (and he knew that our specifics would be really different from theirs), and he wanted us to know how to pray for specifics.Do you still pray for the specifics in your life, even the little specifics?Philippians 4:6 says:Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.God wants us to pray for specific needs — large or small, anything and everything. If you're anxious about something this morning — about anything — he wants you to pray about it. One way God accomplishes his God-sized plans for the world is to address you-sized needs in the world.Lord, meet my need.Prayer 2: Glorify Your NameOkay, so the first prayer — “Meet my need” — is a real and good prayer. We pray for specifics — like when mad men are trying to kill us or when the youngest child's eye starts swelling suddenly. David really wants God to intervene in his actual human life and change something. Meet my need! That's not the highest prayer in Psalm 86, though. And this is where our prayers start to grow up into fuller maturity. Let's start in verse 6:Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. He's still asking for help. Give ear to my prayer — meet my specific need. What does he say next? This is the second prayer: “Glorify your name.” Here's how David prays it:There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.Why would he pray like that? Lord, I need you to protect me from these bad guys. They're trying to kill me, and I need you to stop them. “There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.” Why does he pray like that? Why would he suddenly go from his particular need that day to the promise that all nations are going to worship this God? David prays like this because our confidence in asking God to do anything in our lives is rooted in his commitment to do all things for his glory. God will glorify his name — we see this all throughout the Bible, from beginning to end — and, amazingly, he chooses to glorify himself through showing kindness to us. He pours grace on undeserving people like me — grace to forgive me and save me from hell, grace to change me and empower me to live more like him, and grace to meet my very practical needs — to provide the food I need, and the home I need, and the job I need. God spreads his glory by loving his needy people. And so we don't just pray, “God, deliver me from insolent men because you like to help people.” (He does.) No, we pray, like David, “Meet my need, because meeting my need will show the world what kind of God you are — that you are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, that you never abandon your children, that you own everything in the universe and will spend your infinite riches to care for us, that you have the power and authority to heal any illness and mend any relationship, no matter how hopeless it seems right now. How glorious will you look, God, if you do this! Glorify your name through my need.This prayer — for God to glorify his name among all the nations — serves at least two great purposes in trouble, though. First, it grounds our hope that he might actually do something. He'll care for us because that's how he reveals his glory. But second, a prayer like this widens our eyes beyond our immediate need or heartache to remember what God is and will absolutely do in the world. “The nations you have made shall come and worship before you.” That's going to happen, no question — no matter what happens in my little circumstances here. And when that happens, all my little (or big) circumstances will be made right. Oh man, things are hard right now — really hard — but I know what you're doing in the universe. And I know no one can stop you. And when you do it, I won't have to pray these prayers anymore. Praying “glorify your name” gets us out of the ruts of only praying about our needs. You've probably been here. I know I have been. Our prayer lives can become almost all about the job, the job, the job. The spouse, the spouse, the spouse. The child, the child, the child. The injury or sickness or weakness or conflict. Praying like David lifts out of our need to see the bigger picture. God is glorifying his name all over the world, and one day soon all the nations will worship him. That doesn't mean we don't pray meet-my-need prayers; it just puts those prayers into perspective.God, meet my need, for your glory.Prayer 3: Teach Me Your WayThose aren't the only two prayers in this psalm, though. When trouble comes to David, he prays, meet my need, glorify your name, and then, third, teach me your way. Verse 11:Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.Let this trouble, this trial be an opportunity for you to make me more holy — to refine away more of the remaining sin in my life. More than peace or relief from this trouble, I want greater godliness. Notice he says, verse 2: “Preserve my life, for I am godly.” He doesn't think God's using this trouble mainly to confront him (we see that in other psalms). But even though he believes he's doing the right things in this case, he wants to be even more like God. God, use this trouble to sanctify me. Teach me your way, O Lord.This is James 1:Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4).And don't just teach me to do certain things (and avoid others). No, this prayer is much bolder than that.Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.I don't want you to just help me do the right things (and not the bad things). I want you to change me somewhere deeper than my doing. I want you to change me in here. I want you to unite my heart toward you. I feel how distracted and divided my heart can be, and I want my whole heart to be united, aligned toward you.And I know that you often change me for the better in here through something hard out there. Do you think that way when trouble comes? You get bad news of some kind. You feel hostility or opposition of some kind. Do you think, Oh, God's about to make me more like God. I know I don't always think that way. I think, I don't like this. God, why this? Why now? Why this long?I've talked before about a bad leak we had in our kitchen late last summer. Well, that trial isn't over yet, now more than nine months later. I won't get into all of it, but it's been a real trial. I call it a “small-t trial” because we're praying for some of you going through far worse. But it's been a trial. And in my low moments, I haven't had a Psalm 86 heart about it. I've had a can't-this-just-be-over attitude. We've wrestled with God. Reading these verses again these last couple weeks, as the back-and-forth with the contractor took another bad turn, was so good for my soul. Oh Lord, this is getting worse again, you must be about to make me more like you. . . . Lord, deliver me from bad actors, for we are godly. We're doing all we can to deal with this in a way that honors you. But we're not content to be delivered. We want to be sanctified. We want the fire of this trial to burn off more of our sin and to prove and fortify whatever in us pleases you. Teach us your way, O Lord.And, at least in this psalm, we want you to make us more like you in one way in particular. This brings us to the fourth and final prayer. This one's the most surprising to me.Prayer 4: Gladden My SoulI really want you to see this fourth prayer. We'll start again in verse 3:Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.Do you pray like this when trouble comes? Not just, “Get me through this,” but “God, make me happier in you, even now, even here.” Gladden my heart in this darkness, this valley. Give me reasons to rejoice in you, reasons bigger than all the pain and uncertainty I'm experiencing right now.I want to have faith like David's. It was so dark in his life at this moment that he can't see around the corner — he's not sure if he'll survive — and yet he can see enough to enjoy God. This reminds us of the Christians in 1 Peter 1, who were being grieved by various trials, and yet Peter writes, verses 8–9,“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.” All David can see is hostility and deceit and loneliness, and yet his joy doesn't rest on what he can see. It rests on what he can't see, because he knows he can't see the most important things, the most precious things. His treasure is in heaven. His citizenship is in heaven. His hope is in heaven. And so his valleys, even his darkest valleys, hold a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. The world can't explain this kind of joy — in David or in you.And it's here that we remember that David is not only teaching us to pray here in Psalm 86, but he's also teaching us to sing. The psalms were not written merely to be read and recited. No, they were written and memorized to be sung. As we walk through some especially dark psalms this summer, it's good to be reminded that these are songs. This is worship. Is there anything more Christian than singing through suffering? God is teaching us to bear what we have to bear by lifting our voices in praise — because songs like these say more about reality than our eyes ever could. Our eyes betray us, but the psalms never betray us.We always have a reason to sing about who God is for us and what he's done for us, and that's where I want to close.You Have Delivered My SoulAs we prepare to baptize two people now, they're coming to declare that God has delivered them. He hasn't delivered them from pain and suffering yet. In fact, they may experience more trouble because they've chosen to follow Jesus. Many do experience more trouble. Maybe you have suffered more trouble in your family, your neighborhood, or your workplace because you're a Christian. Jesus says,“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). These two haven't been delivered from all trouble, but they have been saved from the worst trouble. And David prays that way right here in Psalm 86. Verse 12:I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.I might die, but I'm not going to die — because you have already delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol, from that awful prison called death. I'm still suffering for now, but you've already delivered me. . . . How much more boldly can we sing this now, in Christ? This is Hebrews 2:14–15:Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.And how did he destroy the one who has the power of death and deliver those who were enslaved to the fear of death? By dying at the hands of insolent men. And he didn't bear it with groaning, but with gladness.“For the joy that was set before him, [he] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).In other words, when insolent men came to arrest him, abuse him, and crucify him, the Father gladdened the heart of his servant. He took the cross for you, with joy. And if he could bear that trial with joy in the Father, surely I can bear my small-t trials with greater joy in him.

 Ep.366 – Run With Horses Podcast – Stewarding Your Time Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube:  https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Author pages with links to all books on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BCSDDVLB – James Norman Smith https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BMGW51FW – Susan Jane Smith **(24:00)** If you are like me you have a long list fo things you would like to see accomplished this week. Time always seems in short supply with way more to do than time to do it. in the middle of the busyness, what is God doing? How can we keep Him first in the middle of the rat race. That our topic today! Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is simple in many ways, but potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to grow, to live intentionally and to join in His mission. It's very cool that we can do that together! Thank you for joining me today! “If you're new here, you can check out past episodes at runwithhorses.net. As always, I appreciate your feedback, questions, and reviews!” **(23:00 – 0:00)* *  PART 1 Run With Horses is on the radio! If you are enjoying Run With Horses, would you let someone know? Contact the radio station or leave a review on your favorite app. We want to hear from you! ### 1. Stewardship of our Time: “Redeeming the Time” Passage: Ephesians 5:15–17 (NKJV) “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Principle: Every minute is a gift. We must “buy back” each hour from distractions by aligning our schedules with God's priorities—especially the Great Commission. ### 2. Wisdom in Planning: “The Plans of the Diligent” Passage: Proverbs 21:5 (NKJV) “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, to poverty.” Principle: Thoughtful, prayerful planning prevents wasted time and creates margin for gospel opportunities (e.g., inviting neighbors, mentoring new believers). ### 3. Counting Our Days: “Teach Us to Number Our Days” Passage: Psalm 90:12 (NKJV) “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Principle: An eternal-perspective reminder that life is brief. When we internalize our limited hours, we'll prioritize what lasts—making disciples. ### 4. Purposeful Living: “Doing All to the Glory of God” Passage: 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV) “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Principle: Every task—work, rest, family time, evangelism—should be offered as worship. That reshapes even “routine” minutes into Kingdom service. ### 5. Prioritizing Prayer & Communion: “Jesus Prayed Early” Passage: Mark 1:35 (NKJV) “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Principle: Jesus structured His day around communion with the Father—our ultimate source of wisdom for time management and disciple-making. ### 6. Eternal Urgency: “For What Is Your Life?” Passage: James 4:14 (NKJV) “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” Principle: The fleetingness of life compels urgent obedience to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20). ### 7. Single-Mindfulness: “Deny Yourself” Passage: Luke 9:23–24 (NKJV) “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” Principle: Self-discipline in scheduling (saying “no” to lesser things) frees us to “lose” our lives in service—especially in making disciples. ### 8. Balance Work & Rest: “Six Days You Shall Labor…” Passage: Exodus 20:8–10,12 (NKJV) “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy…6 for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth…12 ‘Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long…'” Principle: Biblical sabbath—and honoring family—establish healthy rhythms that prevent burnout and protect time for disciple-care. ###9. Investing in Others: “Do Not Steal” (as Stealing Time) Passage: Ephesians 4:28 (NKJV) “Let him who stole steal no longer… but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” Principle: Our work (and your time!) isn't just for self—but for generosity. Freeing up “spare” hours to invest in new believers. ### 10. The Great Commission as First Priority Passage: Matthew 28:19–20 (NKJV) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always…” Principle: Every time-management decision must be filtered through: “Will this help me obey Jesus's command to make disciples?” **(00:00) END PART 1** **(27:00 – 5:00) BEGIN PART 2** ### Part 2: Practical Advice for Using Time to Be and Make Disciples ### 1. Begin with a Paradigm Shift: Time is Kingdom Currency  • Time is not just something we “spend”; it's something we invest. Just like money, time can be stewarded for temporary or eternal purposes.  • Regularly ask: “Is this activity helping me know Jesus more deeply or helping someone else follow Him better?” “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time…” (Ephesians 5:15–16) ### 2. Build Life Around Jesus's Priorities, Not Just Adding Him In  • Many busy Christians are trying to fit Jesus into their schedule instead of building their schedule around Him.  • Suggest starting with these 3 buckets and planning around them:  • Time with God (Being a disciple) – prayer, Scripture, Sabbath, silence.  • Time with others (Making disciples) – intentional meals, mentoring, small groups.  • Time on mission (Living sent) – workplace witness, neighborhood engagement, volunteering. ### 3. Combine Your Calling With Your Calendar Help them redeem ordinary rhythms by integrating disciple-making into:  • Meals – “Who can you eat with this week that needs encouragement or the gospel?”  • Commutes – Use it for prayer, audio Bibles, check-in calls with mentees.  • Family time – Lead short devotionals, model hospitality, include kids in ministry moments.  • Work breaks – Strategic encouragement or follow-up with someone God's placed nearby. “Disciple-making doesn't always need new time blocks—it often needs intentionality in existing ones.” ### 4. Create a Disciple-Making Weekly Rhythm Encourage a simple rhythm:  • Daily: Time with God, open eyes to opportunities.  • Weekly: 1 relational touchpoint (e.g., coffee, call, prayer walk).  • Monthly: One deeper investment (e.g., mentoring conversation, service together).  • Quarterly: Retreat or reevaluation—Am I growing? Is anyone growing because of me? ### 5. Say No to Say Yes Help them see that every “yes” is a “no” to something else.  • Challenge: “What are you doing that someone else could do, so you can do what only you can do?”  • Sometimes the most spiritual thing they can do is decline a good thing for the sake of the best thing (Luke 10:41–42 – “Martha, Martha…”). ### 6. Use Tools with Intentionality  • Calendar: Block time for people, not just tasks.  • Alarms/reminders: Prompt prayer, Scripture, check-ins.  • Apps: Bible apps, group chats for discipleship groups, accountability tools.  • Notebooks or journals: Record prayers, disciple progress, insights from Scripture. ### 7. Don't Go Alone—Form a Band of Disciple-Makers  • Encourage small discipleship bands of 2–4 people with shared goals and check-ins.  • Ask: “Who's helping you follow Jesus better? Who are you helping?”  • This builds encouragement, accountability, and shared momentum. ### 8. Encouragement: Grace Over Guilt, Progress Over Perfection  • Remind them that they are not earning God's favor by being busy for Him.  • Jesus is not measuring productivity; He's forming people.  • Celebrate small, faithful steps. Even 5 minutes of prayer for someone is eternally significant.  • God multiplies what we surrender, even if it's small (loaves and fish principle). “You may feel behind, but Jesus is not. He's patient, and He delights in every act of love in His name.” ### Challenge  • “Imagine if every one of us made just one disciple this year.”  • write one name they'll pray for or pursue this month.  • You don't need more time—you need more focus and faith. **(5:00 – 1:00)**  Doctrine Today Jesus and His Present Ministry The Holy Spirit's Role in Disciple Making. Dispensational Baptist view of the End Times Understanding Theology is Important The Gospel and Ongoing Disciple Making Church Role in Discerning God's Will Barriers to Disciple Making Spiritual Warfare Jesus – Incarnation God's Sovereignty Sin and the Call to Make Disciples I. Introduction: The Clear Call of Jesus  • Matthew 28:18–20 (NKJV) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…”  • The Great Commission is not a suggestion, but a command.  • Discipleship is not optional for the believer—it's our identity and mission.  • Briefly affirm your audience's desire to follow Jesus more faithfully. II. The Nature and Consequence of Sin  • Romans 3:23 (NKJV) “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  • Isaiah 59:2 (NKJV) “But your iniquities have separated you from your God…”  • Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV) “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us…” Key Points:  • Sin is not just moral failure—it's a barrier to intimacy with God and others.  • Sin entangles and weighs down believers, keeping us from active obedience.  • Our mission to make disciples is spiritual warfare—sin compromises our witness, our clarity, and our power. III. Sin's Direct Impact on Discipleship A. It Weakens Our Witness  • 1 Peter 2:11–12 (NKJV) “…abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable… that they may, by your good works… glorify God.”  • Our credibility is tied to our character. Ongoing, unrepentant sin dulls our message. B. It Diminishes Our Passion  • Revelation 2:4–5 (NKJV) “…you have left your first love. Remember… repent and do the first works.”  • Sin numbs the heart. A lukewarm heart does not multiply disciples—it replicates complacency. C. It Breaks Fellowship and Unity  • John 13:34–35 (NKJV) “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  • Sin disrupts love and unity, weakening the Church's witness and the environment in which disciples are formed. IV. Repentance and Restoration for Disciple Makers  • 1 John 1:9 (NKJV) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us…”  • Psalm 51:10–13 (NKJV) “Create in me a clean heart… Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.”  • Repentance is not the end of ministry—it's often the beginning of renewed fruitfulness.  • David sinned greatly, but through repentance, his voice became a song of redemption that still disciples us today. V. Living Holy to Make Disciples Effectively  • 2 Timothy 2:21 (NKJV) “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself… he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master…”  • Holiness is not perfection, but readiness—an availability for God's use.  • Personal holiness fuels spiritual authority and fruitfulness in disciple-making. VI. Conclusion: Renew the Mission  • Luke 9:23 (NKJV) “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”  • Philippians 2:15–16 (NKJV) “…shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life…”  • The world needs disciples. The church needs disciple-makers. Jesus is still calling.  • Let us repent where we've fallen, recommit where we've grown weary, and re-engage the mission with holy fire. **(1:00)**  Busyness can suck that life out of you. One reason is that other activities intrude on the work that God is doing in you and through you. Be proactive and put God first in every activity, every day. It's not always easy but it's always right. – “Thank you for listening today!  -If you enjoyed the show you can listen to all the past shows wherever you listen to podcasts. A good place to start is at runwithhorses.net. You can also write me at norman@runwithhorses.net or leave a comment on the Run With Horses Podcast facebook page. Don't be discouraged by the challenges you face. Keep your eyes on Jesus and embrace the opportunity to grow through the trial. Until next time, keep your eyes on Jesus and never stop running." **(00:00)**

Draw Near To God (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Happiness in life doesn't come by direct pursuit. Pastor Ray Bentley says it comes by fulfilling our God given purpose in life. The Bible says that what we were really made for is to bring pleasure to God and in so doing, fulfilling the reason that we exist. Then in return, we experience more love, more peace, more joy, more pleasure than we could have ever dreamed, and a hundred lifetimes spread.

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-16 Key Takeaways: + The Nature of Worship True Religion vs Transactional Ritual Hebrews 11:4 1 John 3:11-13 + The Nature of Sin + The Nature of God Hebrews 12:24

Derricke Gray teaches the Wednesday Night Bible study at River of Life, an inter-denominational, Spirit-filled church in the heart of Wakulla County, Florida. We share them for those determined to worship God in spirit and in truth.

Derricke Gray teaches the Wednesday Night Bible study at River of Life, an inter-denominational, Spirit-filled church in the heart of Wakulla County, Florida. We share them for those determined to worship God in spirit and in truth.

Sin separates us from God. But pastor Ray Bentley reminds us God is an expert at forgiving sin. For we know that God is gracious. God is merciful. God is long suffering. God is patient. We know that he doesn't reward us according to our iniquities. But as high as the heavens are above the earth, so are his mercies toward those who love him.

This One Behavior Makes You Impossible to ManipulateImagine walking through a pitch-black room, filled with hidden traps. You're stumbling, unsure of your next step. But then—someone flips on the light. Suddenly, you see everything clearly. The confusion ends. The danger loses its grip.Manipulators thrive in darkness—confusion, doubt, and emotional chaos are their playground. But when you develop discernment, it's like flipping on that light. You begin to see people's true motives, not just with your eyes, but with spiritual clarity.What Is Discernment?Discernment isn't just a gut feeling—it's clarity. It's the ability to see beyond appearances and recognize what's really going on beneath the surface. Biblically, it's a gift from God (Hebrews 5:14) that helps you separate truth from lies, care from control.Discernment allows you to:Recognize manipulation, even when it's subtle.Trust what God reveals over what someone says.Understand motives, not just messages.Think of it as a spiritual lie detector—one that exposes deception before it takes hold.Why Manipulators Lose Power When You Have DiscernmentThey Can't Confuse You Anymore You stop second-guessing yourself and clearly see through:GaslightingGuilt tripsHalf-truthsThey Lose Control Over Your Emotions Discernment helps you respond with wisdom, not reactivity. Without access to your emotions, manipulators lose their grip.They Get Exposed Manipulators hide in confusion—but clarity shines a light they can't escape.The Catch: Discernment Requires Emotional StabilityDiscernment is powerful, but without emotional stability, it won't protect you. Emotional instability makes you vulnerable—even when you see the truth. For example:Craving love can blind you to toxic patterns.Loyalty to “family at all costs” can keep you in dysfunction.Fear of conflict can make you over-apologize and backtrack.Build Emotional Resilience in 3 StepsDetach from the Need for Approval Let go of needing to be liked—it's your greatest defense.Stop Explaining Yourself Manipulators don't need more info—they want control. Silence disarms them.Master the Power of the Pause Don't react. Pause. Breathe. Respond in strength, not fear.When you combine discernment with emotional stability, manipulation loses its power. In the next episode, we'll explore what to do when manipulators escalate—even after you've reclaimed your clarity and peace.

Without Faith Its Impossible To Please God (Hebrews 11:6) | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start The DaySUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/CONNECT WITH US:YouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook

In the message titled Faith with Substance, Pr Kenneth Chin shares that God desires for us to live a life of faith and complete reliance on Him. He teaches that true faith is not just belief but has substance—it is active, steadfast, and fully dependent on God's promises.Drawing from the scripture, "Without faith, it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6), Pr Kenneth challenges us to keep our eyes on God, trust in His provision, and walk in faith that is real, tangible, and life-changing.

Receiving The “Deep Things Of God” 1 Corinthians 2:9-12, 16 March 23, 2025 1 Corinthians 2:16 – The mind of Christ is In the Believer, by the Spirit! The Holy Spirit, in the believer, reveals the Blessings of God's provision! (1 Corinthians 2:9-12) (Competition to Spirit's voice: Fear, anger, shame) *Can't receive this information naturally! Some things/issues are not readily identified. The Spirit is the Believer's inner witness of the Truth! (John 14:16, 17; John 15:26; John 16:13-15) The Spirit gives witness to the Believer of “the deep things of God”. For example: We have eternal, never ending life with our God! (John 3:16) We have been Blessed with every spiritual Blessing in Christ! A righteous, blessed, personal identity that is connect to our Father now and will forever be manifested in eternity! He saw you, loved you, chose you, accepted you, redeemed you, forgave you …. (Ephesians 1:3-7) Bold access to the Throne of God (Hebrews 4:15, 16) The Spirit is your internal Guide in all of life's issues! (John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12) ✸The Lord hears what the Spirit is saying in you and prays For You in accordance with God's perfect will for you! (Romans 8:27) And the Father works, oversees, overrules, overcomes and causes it all to work for Good in those who Love Him, trusting and submitting to His perfect plan for us! (Romans 8:28) Hearing the Voice of the holy Spirit Worship Prayer Intake of the Word of God Counsel, input from others Providential orchestration of life events, circumstances

In this sermon in the series "Faith", Dr. Travis Dickinson shares a sermon entitled, “Living Out the Reality of God (Hebrews 11:1-3).”Link to Sermon notes and Wednesday Bible Study page: ⁠⁠⁠https://waialaebaptist.org/worshipservices/⁠⁠Join us on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. for a Bible study led by the preaching pastor on the upcoming sermon passage. Attend either in person or via Zoom. Please ⁠contact us⁠ if you would like to receive the Zoom link.Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://waialaebaptist.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/WaialaeBaptistChurch⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/waialaebaptistchurch/⁠⁠⁠YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/c/WaialaeBaptistChurch

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Erin Pacheco, Director of Worship

Join us on Patreon for Daily Prayer Matins - Wednesday in the First Week of Lent Opening Scripture:If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, but if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.I John 1:8, 9 Confession:Let us take a moment to confess our sinsMost merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Grant to your faithful people, merciful Lord, pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Invitatory and PsalterLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. ¶ Then follows the Invitatory Psalm with a Lenten antiphon.  Lenten AntiphonThe Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him.VeniteCome, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God,and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. * Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!Lenten AntiphonThe Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him. The PsalmsPsalm 119: ZayinRemember your word to your servant, *because you have given me hope.This is my comfort in my trouble, *that your promise gives me life.The proud have derided me cruelly, *but I have not turned from your law.When I remember your judgments of old, *O Lord, I take great comfort.I am filled with a burning rage, *because of the wicked who forsake your law.Your statutes have been like songs to me *wherever I have lived as a stranger.I remember your Name in the night, O Lord, *and dwell upon your law.This is how it has been with me, *because I have kept your commandments. Psalm 119: HethYou only are my portion, O Lord; *I have promised to keep your words.I entreat you with all my heart, *be merciful to me according to your promise.I have considered my ways *and turned my feet toward your decrees.I hasten and do not tarry *to keep your commandments.Though the cords of the wicked entangle me, *I do not forget your law.At midnight I will rise to give you thanks, *because of your righteous judgments.I am a companion of all who fear you *and of those who keep your commandments.The earth, O Lord, is full of your love; *instruct me in your statutes. Psalm 119: TethO Lord, you have dealt graciously with your servant, *according to your word.Teach me discernment and knowledge, *for I have believed in your commandments.Before I was afflicted I went astray, *but now I keep your word.You are good and you bring forth good; *instruct me in your statutes.The proud have smeared me with lies, *but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart.Their heart is gross and fat, *but my delight is in your law.It is good for me that I have been afflicted, *that I might learn your statutes.The law of your mouth is dearer to me *than thousands in gold and silver.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.ReadingsDeuteronomy 9:13-21English Standard Version13 “Furthermore, the Lord said to me, ‘I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stubborn people. 14 Let me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.' 15 So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire. And the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands. 16 And I looked, and behold, you had sinned against the Lord your God. You had made yourselves a golden calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the Lord had commanded you. 17 So I took hold of the two tablets and threw them out of my two hands and broke them before your eyes. 18 Then I lay prostrate before the Lord as before, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin that you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger. 19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure that the Lord bore against you, so that he was ready to destroy you. But the Lord listened to me that time also. 20 And the Lord was so angry with Aaron that he was ready to destroy him. And I prayed for Aaron also at the same time. 21 Then I took the sinful thing, the calf that you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust. And I threw the dust of it into the brook that ran down from the mountain.The Word of the LordThanks be to God Hebrews 3:12-19English Standard Version12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,“Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.The Word of the LordThanks be to God John 2:23-3:15English Standard Version23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.The Word of the LordThanks be to God The Third Song IsaiahSurge, illuminare (Isaiah 60:1-3, 11a, 14c, 18-19)Arise, shine, for your light has come, *and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.For behold, darkness covers the land; *deep gloom enshrouds the peoples.But over you the Lord will rise, *and his glory will appear upon you.Nations Will stream to your light, *and kings to the brightness of your dawning.Your gates will always be open; *by day or night they will never be shut.They will call you, The City of the Lord, *The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.Violence will no more be heard in your land, *ruin or destruction within your borders.You will call your walls, Salvation, *and all your portals, Praise.The sun will no more be your light by day; *by night you will not need the brightness of the moon.The Lord will be your everlasting light, *and your God will be your glory.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles' CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy upon us.Christ, have mercy upon us.Lord, have mercy upon us.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousness And let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsCollect of the DayAlmighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Prayer for MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.Let us bless the Lord.Thanks be to God.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

Join us on Patreon for Daily Prayer Matins - Monday in the First Week of Lent Opening Scripture:If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, but if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.I John 1:8, 9 Confession:Let us take a moment to confess our sinsMost merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Grant to your faithful people, merciful Lord, pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Invitatory and PsalterLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. ¶ Then follows the Invitatory Psalm with a Lenten antiphon.  Lenten AntiphonThe Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him.VeniteCome, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God,and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. * Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!Lenten AntiphonThe Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him. The PsalmsPsalm 411Happy are they who consider the poor and needy! *the Lord will deliver them in the time of trouble.2The Lord preserves them and keeps them alive,so that they may be happy in the land; *he does not hand them over to the will of their enemies.3The Lord sustains them on their sickbed *and ministers to them in their illness.4I said, “Lord, be merciful to me; *heal me, for I have sinned against you.”5My enemies are saying wicked things about me: *“When will he die, and his name perish?”6Even if they come to see me, they speak empty words; *their heart collects false rumors;they go outside and spread them.7All my enemies whisper together about me *and devise evil against me.8“A deadly thing,” they say, “has fastened on him; *he has taken to his bed and will never get up again.”9Even my best friend, whom I trusted,who broke bread with me, *has lifted up his heel and turned against me.10But you, O Lord, be merciful to me and raise me up, *and I shall repay them.11By this I know you are pleased with me, *that my enemy does not triumph over me.12In my integrity you hold me fast, *and shall set me before your face for ever.13Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, *from age to age. Amen. Amen. Psalm 521You tyrant, why do you boast of wickedness *against the godly all day long?2You plot ruin;your tongue is like a sharpened razor, *O worker of deception.3You love evil more than good *and lying more than speaking the truth.4You love all words that hurt, *O you deceitful tongue.5Oh, that God would demolish you utterly, *topple you, and snatch you from your dwelling,and root you out of the land of the living!6The righteous shall see and tremble, *and they shall laugh at him, saying,7“This is the one who did not take God for a refuge, *but trusted in great wealthand relied upon wickedness.”8But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; *I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.9I will give you thanks for what you have done *and declare the goodness of your Name in the presence of the godly. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. ReadingsDeuteronomy 8:11-20English Standard Version“Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock, who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.The Word of the LordThanks be to God Hebrews 2:11-18English Standard VersionFor he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying,“I will tell of your name to my brothers;    in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”And again,“I will put my trust in him.”And again,“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.The Word of the LordThanks be to God John 2:1-12English Standard VersionOn the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.The Word of the LordThanks be to God The Third Song IsaiahSurge, illuminare (Isaiah 60:1-3, 11a, 14c, 18-19)Arise, shine, for your light has come, *and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.For behold, darkness covers the land; *deep gloom enshrouds the peoples.But over you the Lord will rise, *and his glory will appear upon you.Nations Will stream to your light, *and kings to the brightness of your dawning.Your gates will always be open; *by day or night they will never be shut.They will call you, The City of the Lord, *The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.Violence will no more be heard in your land, *ruin or destruction within your borders.You will call your walls, Salvation, *and all your portals, Praise.The sun will no more be your light by day; *by night you will not need the brightness of the moon.The Lord will be your everlasting light, *and your God will be your glory.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles' CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy upon us.Christ, have mercy upon us.Lord, have mercy upon us.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousness And let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsCollect of the DayAlmighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Prayer for MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. Let us bless the Lord.Thanks be to God.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

To find out more about River Rock Church or to visit our online store, go to https://www.riverrockchurch.net.To stay connected to us via Facebook, go to https://www.facebook.com/riverrockchurchsprings!

MESSAGE | Kevin Webb (Minister to Students) "The Loving Discipline of God" Hebrews 12:3-17 1 | The Purpose of God's Discipline (v. 3-11) 2 | The Responses to God's Discipline (v. 12-17)

“… let us draw near to God…” Hebrews 10:22 NIV “Be still, and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10 NLT The practice of solitude: Withdrawing to privacy for the purpose focusing on God, spiritual growth and strength. “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he… Read More »Solitude

1.  The difficulty of walking with God      A.        Peers are not walking with God           B.        Elders are not walking with God                  C.        Enemies are not walking with God           2.  The decision to walk with God      A.  The birth of a child        B.  The purpose of life        C. The hand of God   3.  The change of direction (repentance)      A. Walk in love because of the fellowship of God      B. Walk in light because of the righteousness of God      C. Walk in wisdom being a witness for God     4. The message shared      A. The coming judgement of God      B. The good news from God      C. The picture of the rapture    

Erin Pacheco, Director of Worship

Weekly sermon from Trinity Church Denver

"Why I Fast"Matthew 9:14-15Pastor Nate ClarkeJanuary 5, 2025SEEK WEEK is January 5–11. Join us as we dedicate time at the beginning of the year to seek the Lord in prayer and worship. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DETUqVNONXj/NEW KIDS SPACE NOW OPEN!We have expanded with 3x more space for the babies, kids, and youth in your family. https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/reel/C8FqHIipr3u/Learn about this year's Kingdom Builder's project: https://www.oasischurch.online/kingdom-buildersHow should Christians think about voting and politics? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak82aD16r04OUR NEW VISION STATEMENT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0WFhtL7h3ISERMON NOTES- Matthew 9:14-15- Why I Fast - Fasting: Temporarily abstaining from the gift of food in order to increase our hunger for the gift of God. - I fast because Jesus assumed that his disciples would. - Matthew 6:16a “When you fast…” - Matthew 6:2a “So when you give…” - Matthew 6:5a “And when you pray…” - Matthew 6:16a “When you fast…”- I fast because I want to get the attention of heaven, not the attention of man. - Matthew 6:16-18- I fast because it can lead to miracles and breakthrough - Mark 9:29- I fast because it forces my mind and dependence on God - Hebrews 5:8- I fast because it exposes sin in my heart for me to deal with- I fast because it prepares me for the ministry God has assigned to me - Matthew 4:1-2 - Acts 13:2-3- I fast because it reveals and grows my longing for God - Matthew 9:14-15 - “Fasting is a physical exclamation point at the end of our plea to God.” John Piper- John 6:35- John 4:31-34Oasis 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/

Today we renew our study of Hebrews with the next section, Hebrews 4–6.

This year was a reminder of the ephemeral reality of our earthly experience. Last Christmas we sent out a Christmas card featuring a joyful photo of Hank from a trip to India—a trip with his dear Friend K.P. Yohannan where they witnessed firsthand our ongoing Going Global efforts in the 10-40 window and excitedly discussed plans to continue to carry out the great commission as commanded by our Lord. https://www.equip.org/product/going-global-10-40-window-training-support/ This Christmas season, K. P. is absent the body, present with the Lord. But we are still here! Here — as yet — to make a difference for time and for eternity. Moreover, a reminder of “Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.” As Hank approaches three quarters of a century in age, he is acutely aware of the reality of being in the fourth quarter of his life. A life motivated by the apostle Paul's admonition to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ­fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1–2). On behalf of the entire team here at the Christian Research Institute, we would like to thank you for being a co-laborer in Christ in the battle for life and truth. We are excited for you to listen—or re-listen—to this encore edition of the Hank Unplugged podcasting featuring a conversation with K P Yohannan—a generational disciple of the Lord.  May the conversation you are about to hear inspire you to join the abundant harvest to be found in Christ Jesus our Lord—that you might develop a passion for proclaiming his very name to the billions around that globe who have yet to hear His holy name.   “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:36-38). *If you aren't already subscribed to the mailing list and email updates, simply go to the web at www.equip.org  and go sign up for one of both our our email lists here. https://www.equip.org/master-series/

A @Christadelphians Video: Everyone knows that Jesus Christ is the son of God. Hardly anyone knows what this means. The phrased "Son of God" is explained to us in several passages in the New Testament; it also appears in the Old Testament. Luke 1:35 tells us that Jesus is called the Son of God because he has no human father, but was born as the result of a miracle, the power of God acting on Jesus' mother who was a virgin until his birth. He is literally the Son of God. The same passage tells us that Jesus is not God. God brought him into existence and promised to give him the throne of the Kingdom of God. Had Jesus been God, God would never have needed to give him anything; Jesus would already have had whatever it was. The act of giving implies two different beings. The Gospels also show that Jesus was sent by God and that he died and was raised by God. Because Jesus was the Son of God he had a closeness to God which was greater than that of any other being. He was able to act as a perfect image of God (Hebrews 1:1-4) and therefor to show us what God is like. This video is produced by the Gospel Online project which is arranged and supported by the Christadelphian community in the United Kingdom. # Summary This presentation explores the biblical accounts of Jesus Christ being the Son of God, and what that means for believers. It examines key passages from the Gospels of Luke, Matthew, and John, as well as references from the Epistles, to establish that Jesus was the Son of God and Mary, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. The presentation highlights that Jesus, as the Son of God, had the power to overcome sin and grant eternal life to those who believe in him. ### Highlights

I am five years removed from a stem-cell transplant that saved my life. And seven years removed from an initial cancer diagnosis of stage four mantle cell lymphoma. I greet you with a heart of gratitude but also a spirit of resolve. Resolve to remember that life is fleeting. Resolve captured by the words, “Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.”During the past twelve months, users have accessed our website equip.org from more than 230 countries—benefiting from our vast reservoir of unrestricted resources, such as the Bible Answer Man broadcast, Hank Unplugged podcast, Bible Answer Man YouTube Channel, Daily e-Truths, and Christian Research Journal online, available to anyone with Internet access anywhere in the world.I am deeply grateful to all who answer by your continued support of the many outreaches of the Christian Research Institute. I am sincerely grateful for all you do to strengthen our 24/7 outreaches. Outreaches making a strategic difference at home and around the globe.As I approach three quarters of a century in age, I am acutely aware of the reality of being in the fourth quarter of my life. A life motivated by the apostle Paul's admonition to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1–2).In closing,  I've provided a link to our Website here. Thank you for the vital difference your year-end gift will make in so many lives. https://www.equip.org/product/year-end-gift-2024-hup/ Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are  on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

December 15, 2024 Pastor Chris Wachter http://www.hiawathachurch.com

The New Testament clearly presents Jesus as not only Messiah but God.  It is vital to remember who that baby in the manger truly is. 

**What are you believing God for in 2025?**What would happen if you “stepped up”?Stepping forward and taking a risk can feel daunting, right? Yet this is exactly what God calls us to do. Without faith, it's impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6) In the Bible, Peter boldly stepped up with the eleven apostles, raised his voice to the crowd, and preached. The apostles stood with him, and God moved powerfully through them. When we stand together and step forward in faith, there's no limit to what God can do. This week, we conclude our “Heart for the House” series with Part 4, “They Stepped Up.”  Pastor Stu will inspire us with stories from the Bible and modern times, showing how God uses those willing to step up to advance His mission. We have an amazing opportunity to put our faith into action, believing that God is going to use our obedience to reach even more people for Jesus. Don't miss this transformative message about faith, trust, and the incredible things God can do when we "step up". #HeartForTheHouse #ChangeTheWay #WatersEdgeChurchCome visit us online or in-person at one of our campuses in Yorktown, VA, or Newport News, VA! Check Us Out!Official Websitehttps://watersedgechurch.netFacebookhttps://facebook.com/watersedgechurchInstagramhttps://instagram.com/watersedgechurchTik Tokhttps://tiktok.com/@watersedgechurchBioSitehttps://bio.site/watersedgechurch

**What are you believing God for in 2025?**What would happen if you “stepped up”?Stepping forward and taking a risk can feel daunting, right? Yet this is exactly what God calls us to do. Without faith, it's impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6) In the Bible, Peter boldly stepped up with the eleven apostles, raised his voice to the crowd, and preached. The apostles stood with him, and God moved powerfully through them. When we stand together and step forward in faith, there's no limit to what God can do. This week, we conclude our “Heart for the House” series with Part 4, “They Stepped Up.”  Pastor Stu will inspire us with stories from the Bible and modern times, showing how God uses those willing to step up to advance His mission. We have an amazing opportunity to put our faith into action, believing that God is going to use our obedience to reach even more people for Jesus. Don't miss this transformative message about faith, trust, and the incredible things God can do when we "step up". #HeartForTheHouse #ChangeTheWay #WatersEdgeChurchCome visit us online or in-person at one of our campuses in Yorktown, VA, or Newport News, VA! Check Us Out!Official Websitehttps://watersedgechurch.netFacebookhttps://facebook.com/watersedgechurchInstagramhttps://instagram.com/watersedgechurchTik Tokhttps://tiktok.com/@watersedgechurchBioSitehttps://bio.site/watersedgechurch

Watch the full message at: https://imagechurchlive.churchcenter.com/episodes/386650 How Not to Chase Success Ecclesiastes 4:1-16   "I am not the richest, smartest or most talented person in the world, but I succeed because I keep going and going and going." - Sylvester Stallone 1. Chasing Success by Oppressing others to Gain More Power  2. Chasing Success by Never Learning the Secret to Contentment  3. Chasing Success by Neglecting the Importance of Community  4. Chasing Success by Exchanging Wisdom for Foolishness  Today's Takeaway.  *Here's something to chew on. Remember, success has a moral and a missional component. It's not just about finding out what we're “to do”, but who we're “to be.” As followers of Christ, we are to be like Jesus and the more we are like in our being, the more we will impact others through our missional “doing.”  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-3).