Podcasts about god himself

In our world, evil so often seems to win. Daniel's prophecy reminds us that God Himself removes kings and sets up kings. In this message, Pastor Lutzer shows that God rules, Christ returns, and we must respond. Few things in life are certain, but this one we can count on. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://offerrtw.com or call us at 1-800-215-5001. Moody Church Media [https://www.moodymedia.org/], home of "Running To Win," exists to bring glory to God through the transformation of lives. Erwin W. Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of The Moody Church in Chicago, where he served as Senior Pastor for 36 years. He is a prolific author of over seventy books. A clear expositor of the Bible, he is the featured speaker on "Running To Win" and "Songs In The Night," with programs broadcasting on over a thousand outlets in the U.S. and across more than fifty countries in seven languages. He and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area. They have three grown children and eight grandchildren.   SUPPORT: Tax Deductible Support: https://www.moodymedia.org/donate/ Become an Endurance Partner: https://endurancepartners.org/   SUBSCRIBE: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoodyChurchMedia Daily Devotional and Weekly Digest: https://www.moodymedia.org/newsletters/subscription/

October 1, 2026Today's Reading: Catechism: Daily Prayers: Asking a blessing & Returning ThanksDaily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 2:16-37; Matthew 6:16-34The eyes of all look to You, O LORD, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (Ps. 145: 15–16) (Luther's Small Catechism “Asking a Blessing”)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.As we've been discussing humility this week, we've talked about repentance, angels, and how we bear with one another. Today, God's Word helps us consider the Gift of prayer in our lives.Prayer is part of the life of God's people. We should pray at all times and in all places (Luke 18:1, 1 Timothy 2:8). Perhaps you pray every morning and evening during family devotions. You pray at the beginning or end of personal devotions. Before every meal, you pray, as the Small Catechism teaches us. Creating a continual habit of prayer is good. God desires to hear your prayers, and Jesus even taught His disciples how to pray (Matthew 6:9-13). Prayer is also a good exercise in humility.If you could do whatever you wanted, you wouldn't ask anyone for anything. You'd never need to look to anybody else for help or call on someone in every trouble. Definitely, you wouldn't need to praise anyone, since you'd be able to do everything alone. Of course, you know you can't do everything. Prayer reminds us of this every time. When we ask for a blessing, we remember God is the one we're looking to. God alone is in control of every single moment and minute of this marvelous miracle called life. Before we eat, we remember that this food is a gift from God Himself, who has opened His hand to satisfy our desires and the desires of every living thing. You're humbling yourself to acknowledge how God is satisfying your desires. God is taking care of every living being, true enough, but take a moment and realize how amazing it is that God is taking care of you in this moment of prayer. He has put the food on your table. Not only does God know you need food, but God has provided for you in this moment. Prayer is humility in action, and it's a good discipline to practice at all times and in all places. May you continually look to God in prayer, who provides the needs of body and soul through your daily bread, but most importantly in His Word and Sacraments.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“Hear us, dear Father, when we pray For needed help from day to day That as Your children we may live, Whom you baptized and so received” (LSB 865:3)Rev. Miguel Gonzalez-Feliciano, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Klinger and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Readlyn, IA. Tackle the book of Revelation and discover both the promise and challenge of the end times in this new volume in the Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series. Dive into the wide breadth of information available in the Concordia Commentary series with this new line of Bible studies. Each volume covers one of the Concordia Commentaries to help break up deep, theological content into easy-to-digest sections.

There's a difference between human opinion and divine truth. Dr. Tony Evans explains how the Bible wasn't simply written by people, but was breathed out by God Himself, giving His Word the authority and power to teach, correct and prepare us for the lives He has called us to live.

There's a difference between human opinion and divine truth. Dr. Tony Evans explains how the Bible wasn't simply written by people, but was breathed out by God Himself, giving His Word the authority and power to teach, correct and prepare us for the lives He has called us to live.

Many people vie for the opportunity to be a citizen of a great nation, but Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones dives into the reality that Christians have a far greater privilege and responsibility as citizens of the kingdom of God. In this sermon on Ephesians 2:19 titled “Privileges and Responsibilities,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains the magnificent realities that entail being made a citizen of the kingdom. God is actively pursuing the good of each and every member of the kingdom. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes, “All the resources of the Godhead are for us.” Accordingly, Christians have been given all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places and find their pinnacle in access to God Himself. Dr. Lloyd-Jones turns the sermon to discuss some of the responsibilities of the Christian. By way of illustration, if a person is in the army, they are going to be expected and required to live, look, and act a certain way, and it will be the greatest joy to do so. They want to represent their king and kingdom well. How much greater is the weight of responsibility for the Christian who was brought into the kingdom by the blood of their King? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29?v=20251111

LESSON 273The Stillness Of The Peace Of God Is Mine.Perhaps we are now ready for a day of undisturbed tranquility. If this is not yet feasible, we are content and even more than satisfied to learn how such a day can be achieved. If we give way to a disturbance, let us learn how to dismiss it and return to peace. We need but tell our minds, with certainty, “The stillness of the peace of God is mine,” and nothing can intrude upon the peace that God Himself has given to His Son.Father, Your peace is mine. What need have I to fear that anything can rob me of what You would have me keep? I cannot lose Your gifts to me. And so the peace You gave Your Son is with me still, in quietness and in my own eternal love for You.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

In this Daily Devotion for September 29, 2026, Pastor David Balla walks through Psalm 83:1-3, an urgent cry against organized hostility rising up against God's own people, treated as an attack against God Himself, because His people belong to Him so closely that what touches them touches Him too.This devotion carries that closeness forward to you today. Whatever opposition you face because you belong to Christ, you are not facing it alone or unnoticed. That belonging was secured completely through Jesus, who bore the full weight of every attack sin could raise against you. There we find true grace, forgiveness, and salvation, given to us as His treasured ones through His finished work. Through His redemption we are welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven, and in the Lord's Supper He assures us again that we belong to Him, giving His true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.Whatever opposition surrounds you, remember whose treasured one you are. God remains fully aware of every plan raised against you, even when His answer takes longer than you would like. He is watching over you closely, in Christ.Subscribe for weekly sermons and Daily Devotions.If this devotion has blessed you, consider supporting this ministry: https://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphYou can also give directly at https://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphHashtags (5)#DailyDevotion #Lutheran #LCMS #BibleStudy #Christianity

Why are tents mentioned nearly 400 times in Sacred Scripture? Catholic author, speaker, and pilgrimage leader Steve Ray (catholicconvert.com) joins host Matt Swaim on The Son Rise Morning Show to explore the spiritual, historical, and practical significance of tents and tent-making in the Bible. Ray breaks down how the Israelites and God Himself dwelt in tents during the 40 years in the wilderness, how St. Paul crafted tents using the unique black goat's wool (cilicium) from his hometown of Tarsus, and the various biblical symbolic meanings of "tents"—from earthly tabernacles to human bodies. Stream now to listen!Support the show: https://www.sacredheartradio.com/donate-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As new creations in Christ Jesus, we carry the very life of Christ within. God Himself is now living inside of us. His Spirit is perpetually infusing us with resurrection life.

ACCESS | Ask. Seek. Knock.You can be three feet away from something you desperately need and still not have access to it.You can see it. You can know it's there. You can even need it desperately. But without access, proximity doesn't help you.That's what makes Jesus' words in Matthew 7:7 so powerful: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”We often hear three commands: ASK. SEEK. KNOCK.But underneath all three is one massive theological reality: ACCESS.Jesus is revealing something astonishing about God. The holy God who once required restricted access to His presence now invites us to approach Him as Father.In this message, Sergio unpacks what it means to live from the access Jesus has opened for us.ASK means bringing our needs honestly into the presence of God.SEEK means pursuing God Himself, not merely what God can give us.KNOCK means continuing to come when the door hasn't opened yet.And then Jesus brings it all back to one reality: Your Father.Prayer isn't about manipulating God into giving us what we want. Access to God does not mean control over God. We don't pray because God is reluctant. We pray because He is Father.The wilderness teaches us dependence. David teaches us how to seek God's face. Waiting teaches us how to trust. The torn veil points us to the Gospel.Because through Jesus, the barrier has been broken.Ephesians 2:18 “For through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.”The Gospel is the story of access.You couldn't earn it.You couldn't perform for it.You couldn't make yourself worthy of it.Jesus opened the way. So when you're anxious, ask. When you're confused, seek. When you've prayed and the door still hasn't opened, knock. When you've failed, come. When you're ashamed, come. When you don't have the words, come.You have access.And the greatest gift isn't simply that God will give you something.The greatest gift is that through Christ, you have been given access to the Father.Not a formula for controlling God. An invitation to come near.

September 28, 2026Today's Reading: Proverbs 25:6-14Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 1:1-18; Matthew 5:1-20“Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here,' than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.” (Proverbs 25:6-7)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Throughout the book of Proverbs, God gives His people wisdom regarding humility. This week, God's Word offers an opportunity to reflect on humility as defined by God. Today, we focus on repentance as a Gift of humility given by the King.There is only one King. God Himself is the Maker of the universe and is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise. Here, many of us trip up because of our Old Adam. Simply put, we don't like being told what to do. This is the sin we've inherited from Adam and Eve, who rebelled at the urging of Satan to be “like God” (Genesis 3:5). Rebelling against God, Adam and Eve sought a “higher” place than what they'd already been given. Pride blinded them to the fact that God had already put them as the crown jewel of creation! Yet, it wasn't enough. The tempting serpent led them to rebel against God as they put themselves forward to stand in the place of the Greatest King. Afterward, they try to hide, but are called to account for their sin. Finally, Adam and Eve are cast out of the Garden, far away from their previous place of honor as “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall”(Proverbs 16:18). This is the sin you've inherited, along with all mankind. Own up to the fact that this sin is a deadly sin that infects our thoughts, words, and deeds. Repent of pride, which is always present in our lives. Confess and receive the Absolution of the King. In our confession, we place ourselves rightly in the order of the universe; we admit what we deserve as we petition the King for mercy. God gives it freely and richly. Repentance is that gift of Spirit: humility. Through the Holy Spirit, cultivate a repentant heart, read God's Word, see how the King establishes the universe, and acknowledge how far we fall short. The Holy Spirit enables you to desire the better things God has for you, not what your sinful heart chases after. Repent, believe in the Gospel, and follow the King.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“To Thee, omniscient Lord of all, In grief and shame I humbly call; I see my sins against Thee, Lord, The sins of thought, and deed, and word. They press me Sore; I cry to Thee: O God, be merciful to me!” (LSB 613:1)Rev. Miguel Gonzalez-Feliciano, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Klinger and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Readlyn, IA. Tackle the book of Revelation and discover both the promise and challenge of the end times in this new volume in the Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series. Dive into the wide breadth of information available in the Concordia Commentary series with this new line of Bible studies. Each volume covers one of the Concordia Commentaries to help break up deep, theological content into easy-to-digest sections.

When we manage our earthly goods poorly, we're not only wasting our possessions. We're robbing God Himself. From his sermon series in the gospel of Luke, today R.C. Sproul calls us to be responsible and generous with the resources that the Lord has given us. Receive R.C. Sproul's ebook commentary on the gospel of Luke with your donation: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/    Save 35% on your registration to Ligonier's 2027 National Conference in Orlando. The early-bird rate ends soon. https://www.ligonier.org/2027 Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Topic:  The Holy Spirit Whiskey Review: Maker's Mark 46 Check out our Substack: Manhood Neat Podcast  Follow us on all your podcast platforms and: Instagram: @manhoodneat X: Manhood Neat (@ManhoodNeat) / X Youtube: Manhood, Neat Podcast - YouTube Reach out: manhood.neat@gmail.com   Show Notes: Jesus Did Not Leave His Disciples Alone John 14:15-18 “If you love me, you will ckeep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another dHelper,1 to be with you forever, 17 even ethe Spirit of truth, fwhom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and gwill be2 in you.18 “I will not leave you as orphans; hI will come to you.” John 16:5-7 “5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?' 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” Jesus prepared His disciples for life without Him, For 3 years they had known: His companionship His protection His teaching His affection His physical presence He tells them they will not be abandoned. He will send another counselor The Christian life is not Jesus giving instructions and then leaving us to go figure it out.  As disciples of Christ we do not live from abandonment We live from the promise: Christ is with us through His Spirit.  The Holy Spirit Is a Person John 14:16-17 “16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,[a] to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be[b] in you. The Spirit is not an impersonal force or vague spiritual energy. The Spirit: Speaks Leads Teaches Gives direction Bear witness Can be resisted Can be grieved The Spirit is someone we can relate to, not something we manipulate  If the Spirit is an “it”, we can keep Him at a distance If the Spirit is a Person, we have to decide how we are going to respond to Him Am I responsive to the Spirit's presence and direction? The Holy Spirit Is “Another Like Jesus” John 14:16 “16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,[a] to be with you forever,” The Spirit is not a replacement unrelated to Jesus The Spirit carries forward the presence and ministry of Jesus To be in Christ is to be in the Spirit. To be indwelt by Christ is to be indwelt by the Spirit. The Spirit carries the personality and presence of Jesus.  The Spirit's ministry is not separate from Christ.  The Spirit does not draw us away from Jesus.  He makes Jesus present to us.  The Spirit Is With Us Always Matthew 28:20 “20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus' human physical presence was limited. If He was in one city, He could not physically be in another.  The Spirit removes those limitations “I am with you always” As a disciple we never face trials alone: Temptation Suffering Uncertainty  Obedience Mission Spiritual maturity includes learning to live with an awareness of Christ's continual presence.  The Spirit Dwells in Us John 14:16-17 ““16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,[a] to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be[b] in you.” The Spirit does not merely come alongside believers. He lives within us. Christ has been with the disciples The Spirit would be in them. We can be a dwelling place of God The presence of God is no longer associated only with a sacred building or holy place. The believer becomes a sacred space.  We can live with the understanding that our life belongs to God because God Himself dwells within me.  The Spirit Makes Us Holy Ephesians 5:18-20 “18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” 1 Peter 1:15-16 “15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” The Holy Spirit is not given to just comfort us. He is also given to transform us.  The Holy Spirit reveals a “Holy Discomfort” or a “Holy Discontent” with anything in us that is inconsistent with God's character.  The Spirit: Convicts Cleanses Reshapes Purifies Leads us toward holiness His work may comfort us, but it also may disturb us. He refuses to leave us unchanged.  Many people want the Spirit's encouragement without the Spirit's correction. The same Spirit that comforts also confronts. As disciples we learn to welcome conviction instead of resisting it.  The Spirit's discomfort is often an act of mercy.  The Spirit Leads Us Into Truth John 14:26 “26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 16:13 “13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” Jesus calls Him the Spirit of truth The Spirit teaches us the truth about: God Ourselves The world Jesus Christ We resist the work of the Spirit when we: Hide Exaggerate Distort Lie Manipulate truth The Spirit constantly draws us toward honesty because He is leading us toward Christ, who is truth Himself. Truthfulness is not merely a personality trait It is the evidence of spiritual formation The Spirit's Passion Is to Glorify Jesus John 16:14-15 “14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” The Holy Spirit does not seek attention for Himself His passion is to make Christ central He's been described as the “shy member of the Trinity” because He continually turns the spotlight away from Himself and onto Jesus.  We should ask “Does this lead me/us toward Christ?” If something claims to be spiritual but makes Jesus less central, it is not the work of the Spirit of God A spirit-filled disciple becomes increasingly fascinated with Christ, not with the spiritual experience itself.  Being Filled With the Spirit Is an Ongoing Life Ephesians 5:18-20 “18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Paul contrasts being drunk with wine and being filled with the Spirit One is a picture of influence and the other is a picture of control.  Just like alcohol can take control of behavior, Paul says believers should live under the continual influence of the Holy Spirit. This is not a one-time event. We must continually be filled. It is an ongoing posture of: Surrender Openness Repentance Dependence We can be indwelt by the Spirit while still resisting His influence: The question is not only: Do I have the Holy Spirit? It's “How much freedom am I giving the Spirit to shape me?” As disciples we should strive to empty ourselves of known sin and self-rule so that the Spirit has greater freedom to work.  Closing Thoughts: The Christian life is not sustained by willpower. It is sustained by the intimate presence of God Jesus does not simply stand ahead of us saying: “Follow Me.” Through the Spirit, He comes alongside and within us so that we actually can.  Questions: How do you think of the Holy Spirit? As a person or more as a spiritual force? How aware are you of the Spirit's presence in ordinary daily life? Where is the Spirit currently creating holy discomfort in you? What would it look like for me to seek continual filling rather than occasional spiritual intensity?    

“Believers are not dependent upon circumstances. Their joy comes not from what they have, but from what they are; not from where they are, but from whose they are; not from what they enjoy, but from that which was suffered for them by their Lord.” – Charles SpurgeonOur joy's foundation is God Himself and can be found as a result of experiencing His grace.  Jesus promises in John 16 that there is a joy that cannot be taken, He prays that we may have the full measure of His joy within us (John 17). Psalms 16:8-11 speaks of a Joy that comes from the presence of God. While we may not feel God's presence or experience the full measure of Jesus' joy, we can, whatever the circumstances, dwell on the reality that Jesus has come, that He has brought God's presence near through His death, resurrection, and gift of the Holy Spirit. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Galatians 5:22-26 with John 16-17 and Psalm 16

SEEING CLEARLY: Then + Now   Scandal of Idolatry - Then - Acts 17:16 we read that Paul was in Athens and was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 1 Corinthians 10:20 Paul writes that the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And in Romans 1:22-23 "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal human beings and birds and animals and reptiles." In Athens life revolved around the idols. Sampling: Festival of Athena Festival of Apollo Festival of Demeter Festival of Poseidon Festival of Dionysus Festival of Zeus Now - Today we need to have our eyes opened to the idolatry of this age. The worship of things and self.   Reason vs Ridicule - Then - Acts 17:17-18 Paul reasoned in the synagogue and the market place to both Jews and God-fearing Greeks regarding idolatry. Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. They accused him of advocating foreign gods because he was preaching the good news of Jesus and the resurrection - something they had not heard before.  Now - Today there are many who ridicule the Christian faith so it is important to reason with them and to bring into their lives the truth of what the scriptures say. (See 1 Corinthians 1:21)    Tyranny of Fads - Then - Acts 17:19-21 - Paul is taken to a meeting of the Areopagus (legislative body) where they question Paul about what he was teaching. They were interested in new ideas, interested in going with the latest fad. However the good news of Jesus is not a fad and in Romans 12:2 we are encouraged to not conform to the patterns of the world.  Now - Today we are called to be grounded in the word of God, to be transformed by it and not follow the ways of the world.   The Unknown is made Known - Then - Acts 17:22-25 Paul stands up and addresses the group saying that he sees they are "very religious." He had observed their objects of worship and told them they were ignorant and then he reveals that God who made the world and everything in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples built by human hands. He told them that God gives life and breath and everything else.  Now - today just like then, many have heard of God but they do not know Him. (See 1 Timothy 6:15-16) Paul seeks to communicate who God truly is: all powerful, all knowing and good.   The Priority of Repentance - Then - Acts 17:26-30 -  Paul tells them of the one true God who made nations from one man. "For in Him we live and move and have our beings." He goes on to say that since we are God's offspring, we shouldn't think that God is like an idol of gold or silver. God commands all people to repent.  Now - today - we too are to repent. To turn around, change our direction and return to God.    Resurrection of Christ - Then - Acts 17:31-33 - Paul tells of the day that the Lord has set to judge the world with justice by the One who God Himself raised from the dead. (Jesus - Redeemer, Deliverer) When Paul talked of the resurrection of the dead, some sneered, but others wanted to learn more.  Now - today - the resurrection of Christ is the key biblical teaching and the heart of the New Testament teaching. By human standards, Christ's resurrection seems ridiculous - unless it's REAL!  And that is precisely what the scriptures declare AND what the evidence points to!  1 Corinthians 15:20 tells us that Christ has indeed been risen from the dead! And that news can change even the most devout skeptic.    Pastor shares the story of a cold case investigator, detective and atheist, J. Warner Wallace. Using cold case investigation tools and tactics Wallace uncovers compelling evidences for Christ's resurrection, yet he still chose to ignore what he uncovered and chose NOT to see clearly. However, that's not the end of the story. Pastor closes class with how it all ended for J. Warner Wallace and how it ends for all of us.    God has set a day when He will judge the world - Thus we need to repent - because God has raised His Son from the grave and He IS coming back!     This week's READING ASSIGNMENT: Acts chapter 17-18.      Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

This episode explores the central theological claim that humanity's ultimate purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, as summarized in the Westminster Shorter Catechism. It argues that human beings do not create their own meaning but receive it from the Creator, establishing that all aspects of life, from ordinary activities to profound suffering, are ordered toward God's glory. The teaching distinguishes between intrinsic glory, which God possesses in Himself, and ascribed glory, which creatures acknowledge, while correcting common errors such as the belief that God needs human affirmation or that Christian joy is merely emotional happiness. By examining Psalm 73 and the life of Christ as the faithful Second Adam, the episode demonstrates that true enjoyment of God remains constant even when earthly blessings are withdrawn. Ultimately, the episode calls believers to redirect their worship, vocation, and desires away from rival idols and toward the supreme good of God Himself.

In Habakkuk 3:16–19, we find a man who knows difficult days are coming. Habakkuk is afraid, his circumstances are uncertain, and the future appears bleak. Yet in the middle of that fear, he makes a remarkable declaration: "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation." Habakkuk shows us a faith that does not depend on favorable circumstances. Even if the fields produce nothing, the flocks disappear, and everything he once depended upon is gone, God remains. His joy is not found in what God gives him, but in God Himself. This message explores what it means to trust God when life does not go according to plan, to rejoice even when we cannot see the outcome, and to find our strength in the Lord. Habakkuk reminds us that genuine faith can tremble and still trust. When everything else is stripped away, God is still enough.

This episode explores the central theological claim that humanity's ultimate purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, as summarized in the Westminster Shorter Catechism. It argues that human beings do not create their own meaning but receive it from the Creator, establishing that all aspects of life, from ordinary activities to profound suffering, are ordered toward God's glory. The teaching distinguishes between intrinsic glory, which God possesses in Himself, and ascribed glory, which creatures acknowledge, while correcting common errors such as the belief that God needs human affirmation or that Christian joy is merely emotional happiness. By examining Psalm 73 and the life of Christ as the faithful Second Adam, the episode demonstrates that true enjoyment of God remains constant even when earthly blessings are withdrawn. Ultimately, the episode calls believers to redirect their worship, vocation, and desires away from rival idols and toward the supreme good of God Himself.

Joshua BoydEvery Light Has a SourceWalk Through the Bible: The TabernacleAs we continue our study of the Tabernacle and the golden lampstand, we turn our attention from the light to the oil that made the light possible. The lampstand was commanded to burn continually—but every light has a source.The Oil for the LampIn Exodus 27:20–21, God commanded the Israelites to bring pure olive oil so the lamps could remain continually lit. Significantly, the oil was supplied by the people. If the oil stopped flowing, the light went out.The Tabernacle was never merely about furniture, rituals, or sacrifices. God revealed its purpose in His command to Moses: build Me a sanctuary “so I can live among them.” The Tabernacle pointed toward God's continuing desire to dwell with His people.Revelation shows the fulfillment of that desire. In the New Jerusalem, there is no need for the sun or moon because God's glory illuminates the city and the Lamb is its light (Revelation 21:22–25). God Himself is the ultimate source of light.Not by Might, but by My SpiritZechariah 4 gives us another picture of the lampstand. Zechariah sees a golden lampstand continually supplied with oil from two olive trees. Unlike the Tabernacle, where people continually replenished the oil, this lampstand was connected directly to its source.When Zechariah asks what the vision means, God answers:“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.”The oil points us toward the Holy Spirit. Our spiritual light isn't sustained by our intelligence, strength, determination, or ability. The Holy Spirit is our source.We aren't called to manufacture the light—we're called to stay connected to the source.Keep Your Oil FullJesus' parable of the ten bridesmaids in Matthew 25:1–13 reinforces this truth. Five were prepared with enough oil; five allowed their supply to run out. When the bridegroom arrived, only those who were prepared were ready.The lesson is both future and present: keep your lamp lit and your oil full.The cares and distractions of life can slowly drain us. We can continue moving for a while on our own strength, but eventually we discover that we've been “riding the gas light.”How Do We Stay Filled?Ephesians 5:18–20 gives us a practical answer:Be filled with the Spirit.Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.Make music to the Lord from your heart.Continually give thanks to God.Notice Scripture doesn't simply say to listen to worship—it tells us to participate. Singing, worshiping, and giving thanks turn our attention away from ourselves and back toward our source.When we feel like everything depends on our strength, wisdom, or ability, it's time to reconnect:Not by my might.Not by my power.But by His Spirit.Bringing the Oil TogetherThere is also something powerful about believers gathering together. Just as the congregation brought oil for the Tabernacle, believers today gather with the Spirit of God dwelling within them.We can receive from God individually, but there is something special about coming together hungry for His presence. We aren't simply an audience—we participate together in worship, revelation, ministry, and the presence of God.Keep the Lamp BurningDon't wait until Sunday to worship. Keep a song in your heart throughout the week. Give thanks to God. Stay connected to the Holy Spirit.We don't know the day or hour of Christ's return, but we also need His light for today—for our families, our jobs, our church, and every decision before us.Every light has a source.If we want our light to continue shining, we must remain connected to ours.Keep your oil full.Keep your lamp lit.Stay filled with the Spirit.ScripturesExodus 25:31–40 • Exodus 27:20–21 • Zechariah 4:1–6 • Matthew 25:1–13 • Ephesians 5:18–20 • Revelation 21:10, 22–25

Pastor Carl explores the nuances and misunderstandings surrounding Christian faith, reassuring believers that faith is not a self-generated mental effort or a performance to produce miraculous outcomes, but a gracious gift initiated and perfected by God. Addressing the quiet guilt and pressure many experience when struggling with doubt or unanswered prayers, he explains that scripture reveals God Himself—rather than the strength of our own belief or specific desired results—as the true object of our faith, while our deep longings for breakthrough and healing rest in hope for His promises. He emphasizes that faith is received by positioning ourselves to hear God speak through His written and quickened Word, removing all human boasting and liberating believers from self-reliance. Ultimately, he encourages the congregation to release their performance-driven burdens, hold fast to their hope with joy, and step out in active trust whenever God prompts them, confident in His limitless capability and enduring goodness.---Referenced Scriptures Genesis 15:2–6 — Abram brings his concerns about having no heir to the Lord, and God promises him a son and descendants as numerous as the stars. Genesis 15:6 — Abram believed the Lord, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Matthew 8:7 — Jesus offers to come and heal the centurion's servant, demonstrating authority and quickening faith. Matthew 9:22 — The woman with the issue of blood directs her faith toward Jesus, trusting that touching His cloak will bring healing. Matthew 17:20 — Jesus teaches that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains and that nothing will be impossible. Luke 6:46 — Jesus questions why people call Him "Lord, Lord" yet do not do what He asks them to do. John 6:28–29 — Jesus clarifies that the work God requires is to believe in the One He sent. Acts 6:5 — Stephen is described as a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. Acts 11 — Barnabas is highlighted as a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, through whose ministry many were brought to the Lord. Romans 4:18 — Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed, becoming the father of many nations. Romans 10:17 — Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Ephesians 2:8–9 — Salvation comes by grace through faith, and it is a gift from God, not from ourselves, so that no one can boast. Philippians 1:29 — Believers are granted not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for Him. Hebrews 11:1 — Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:8 — By faith, Abraham obeyed when called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, going without knowing where he was going. Hebrews 12:2 — Looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

In this bonus Kitchen Table episode, host Carol Roper shares her personal story of how God called her into ministry at just 29 years old — and the 30+ years of twists, turns, and seasons of confusion that followed as she pursued that calling. Carol opens up about what it feels like to sense the tug of the Holy Spirit pulling you toward something deeper, even when the path forward isn't clear. If you've ever wondered whether you're truly hearing from God or questioned the direction of your own calling, this episode offers honesty, encouragement, and practical courage for the journey — along with a reminder that the most important calling of all is a deep relationship with God Himself. Carol also shares an invitation to the Flourish Retreat, an upcoming retreat for women seeking community, clarity, and closer relationship with God in this season of life.

In this Daily Devotion for September 24, 2026, Pastor David Balla walks through Psalm 81:13-15, a lament from God Himself, wishing His people would simply listen and receive what He was already offering freely. It was never a bargain requiring obedience first, but a gift refused only by stubbornness that chose something lesser instead.This devotion applies that same pattern to how people resist the good news today. God is not reluctantly offering salvation, waiting to see whether anyone will earn it first. In Christ, the gift is already fully prepared, already fully paid for, already fully offered. There we find true grace, forgiveness, and salvation, ready and available to anyone willing to receive it. Through His redemption we are welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven, and in the Lord's Supper that same freely given gift is placed into our hands again, His true body and blood, for the forgiveness of sins.Hear this lament today as an invitation, not a complaint aimed at someone else. Whatever ways you have walked instead of His, God's wish over you remains the same. Everything you need is already His to give.Subscribe for weekly sermons and Daily Devotions.If this devotion has blessed you, consider supporting this ministry: https://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphYou can also give directly at https://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphHashtags (5)#DailyDevotion #Lutheran #LCMS #BibleStudy #Christianity

https://square.link/u/UHRU92rp - Donate HereToday's reading takes us to Exodus 33:12–23, where Moses shows us what it looks like to pray for more of God Himself. He grounds his prayer in what God has already said, asks to know His ways, and refuses to move forward without His presence. Moses understands that what makes God's people distinct is not merely where they are going, but Who goes with them.Exodus 33 reminds us that the deepest prayer is not simply, “God, fix my circumstances,” but “God, show me Your glory.” Even after Israel's rebellion, God reveals Himself as gracious and allows Moses to experience His goodness and presence. So today, read Exodus 33:12–23 and pray boldly: Lord, teach me Your ways, do not let me move without Your presence, and show me as much of Your glory as You are willing to reveal.

When Job asked for the purpose of his suffering, he didn't receive an immediate answer. Instead, Job encountered God Himself. Today, R.C. Sproul considers how the Lord brings dignity to our pain. Download R.C. Sproul's teaching series Surprised by Suffering, plus the digital study guide, with your donation: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/   Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

The first miracle that Jesus performs is a straightforward miracle that comes to the rescue of a young couple celebrating their recent wedding.  We'll see tonight that Jesus' sign has far greater implications than just this wedding celebration.  Jesus has come to bring God's favor on those who believe by cleansing them from their sin and restoring the joy of fellowship with God Himself.

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!GENESIS, EXODUS, LEVITICUS: JESUS BOOKS (Book on Amazon)emersonk78@me.comExcel Still More Journal - AmazonNew GENESIS Daily Bible Devotional!Daily Bible Devotional Series - AmazonSponsor: Jon Cunningham, Cunningham FinancialEmail: jon@cunninghamfinancialgroup.comPhone: 205-913-1720Sponsor: Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer Email: Tcain@embracehomeloans.comPhone: 813-380-8487Stages of GrowthWhat does spiritual maturity actually look like?In 1 John 2:12–24, John speaks to little children, young men, and fathers—a beautiful picture of stages of growth in the Christian life. We begin as little children, overwhelmed with gratitude that our sins are forgiven and that we belong to God. As we grow, that gratitude develops into the strength of young men—a life of sacrificial service, overcoming the evil one and giving ourselves fully to the work of God.But maturity takes us even deeper. Like fathers who have “known Him who is from the beginning,” we learn to rest in something greater than what God has done for us or even what we can do for Him: simply knowing God Himself.We never leave gratitude behind. We never outgrow service. We carry both with us as we mature into a deeper relationship with the eternal God.Grateful for what He has done.Committed to what we can do for Him.Growing to simply know Him.That is the journey of spiritual growth.

Psalms - Songs of the King "I Have Made The Lord My Refuge" (Psalm 73) Psalm 73 opens with an honest confession: Asaph nearly lost his footing because the wicked seemed to prosper while he stayed faithful and still suffered. He watched people who ignored God grow comfortable and untroubled, and he began to wonder whether following God was worth it. Everything changed when he entered the presence of God and saw the end of the story. What looked like the good life was standing on the edge of ruin, and what he had counted as loss was the nearness of God Himself. This message walks through Asaph's slide, his turning point, and his settled peace, and it leaves you with the one thing worth holding when life does not seem fair: God is enough, and being near Him is the real treasure. Sermon Notes September 20, 2026 Russell Howard • Lead Pastor Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com There's a place for you here. Plan your first Sunday at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

Guided Question What step are you on in learning to live God's way — recognizing your spiritual poverty, mourning what keeps you from Him, submitting your life to His direction, or hungering and thirsting for righteousness? Summary In this episode, Dr. Robert Lewis explores the first four Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1–12 and Jesus' surprising teaching about the path to true happiness. Rather than finding happiness through the things the world tells us will satisfy us, Jesus presents a different way of living—one rooted in dependence upon God, repentance, submission, and a deep desire for righteousness. Lewis explains that the Beatitudes are not merely actions but attitudes that become part of who we are. The first four focus on our relationship with God and build upon one another like steps leading us toward deeper spiritual maturity. The first step is poverty of spirit. To be “poor in spirit” means recognizing our complete inadequacy and realizing that we cannot live this life successfully on our own. Lewis contrasts this with the cultural message of self-sufficiency and emphasizes that spiritual life begins when we are willing to admit our need and cry out, “God, help.” The second step is mourning. Jesus is not simply talking about sadness but about a deep inward grief over the things that block our relationship with God. Through the story of the sinful woman in Luke 7 and the example of the rich young ruler, Lewis shows how genuine sorrow over sin can lead to repentance and ultimately to the comfort God promises. The third step is submission. Lewis explains that biblical meekness is not weakness or passivity but strength brought under control. Just as a wild horse is brought under the control of its rider, believers are called to bring their goals, priorities, time, talents, and desires under God's direction. This submission is an ongoing process as God exposes and removes the areas of resistance in our lives. The fourth and highest step is hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Jesus describes a passion so intense that everything else becomes secondary. Those who deeply desire God, His will, and His righteousness are promised that they will be satisfied. Lewis describes this as the deep fulfillment and stability that the world's temporary promises cannot provide. Lewis contrasts this path with the emptiness that can come from pursuing success, wealth, achievement, intellect, or worldly philosophies without God. He points to Abraham as an example of someone who progressively walked these four steps—leaving what was familiar, allowing God to remove obstacles, submitting to God's direction, and ultimately demonstrating complete trust when asked to offer Isaac. Abraham's life ended with the biblical description that he was “satisfied with life.” The message closes with a personal challenge: What step are you on? Have you admitted your spiritual poverty? Have you mourned deeply enough over the things that separate you from God? Have you submitted your life to His direction? And are you hungering and thirsting for God Himself? Jesus' promise is that this difficult path ultimately leads to comfort, spiritual life, and deep satisfaction. Outline 1. The Foundation of True Happiness Jesus presents a different path to happiness. The Beatitudes establish the foundation for life in God's kingdom. The first four focus on our relationship with God. 2. The Happiness of Poverty Recognizing our spiritual inadequacy. Rejecting self-sufficiency and pride. Depending upon God and receiving the reality of His kingdom. 3. The Happiness of Sadness Mourning over the things that block our relationship with God. Recognizing sin and allowing God to expose it. Finding comfort through repentance and forgiveness. 4. The Happiness of Submission Understanding meekness as strength under God's control. Bringing our goals, priorities, time, and abilities under His direction. Surrendering the areas of resistance in our lives. 5. The Happiness of Hunger Developing an intense desire for God and His righteousness. Moving beyond spiritual complacency. Trusting Jesus' promise that those who hunger and thirst will be satisfied. 6. The Path to a Satisfied Life Abraham demonstrates these principles through his life. Worldly pursuits cannot provide lasting satisfaction. True happiness comes from living according to God's way. Key Takeaways True happiness is found through a life oriented toward God. Spiritual poverty begins with admitting that we need God. Mourning over sin can lead to repentance and comfort. Meekness means bringing our strength and self-will under God's control. Following God requires surrendering the areas of resistance in our lives. Spiritual hunger means developing a deep desire for God and His righteousness. The things that seem difficult in Jesus' teaching are ultimately intended to lead us to life and satisfaction. Worldly success, possessions, and achievement cannot provide the deep fulfillment found in God. The four Beatitudes build upon one another: poverty → mourning → submission → hunger and thirst for righteousness. Jesus promises that those who pursue this path will ultimately be satisfied. Scripture References Matthew 5:1–12 — Jesus introduces the Beatitudes and the path to true happiness. Matthew 5:3 — Spiritual poverty recognizes our need for God. Matthew 5:4 — Those who mourn over spiritual brokenness will be comforted. Matthew 5:5 — The meek, those submitted to God, will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:6 — Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied. Isaiah 57:15 — God dwells with the humble and contrite. Luke 7:36–50 — A sinful woman demonstrates deep mourning, faith, and repentance. Romans 7:15–25 — Paul recognizes his struggle with sin and cries out for deliverance. James 4:4–10 — Believers are called to reject friendship with the world, repent, and humble themselves before God. 2 Corinthians 7:8–11 — Godly sorrow produces repentance. Mark 10:17–27 — The rich young ruler struggles to surrender what stands between him and following Jesus. Daniel 7:27 — The saints of the Most High are promised dominion over the kingdoms. Genesis 22:1–18 — Abraham demonstrates complete submission and trust in God. Genesis 25:7–8 — Abraham dies at a good old age, described as satisfied with life. Ecclesiastes 12:1, 13–14 — Solomon urges people to remember their Creator and live in light of God's ultimate purposes.   Recorded 2.20.83

This week's message takes us into Exodus 33–34, where Moses finds himself needing more than God's provision—he needs God's presence. After Israel's failure, Moses asks God some deeply personal questions: Who are You? Where is this going? And will You go with us? What follows is almost like a re-introduction to God Himself. We're reminded that His presence is what makes His people distinct, His glory reveals who He is, His name is the LORD, and His character is compassionate, gracious, patient, faithful, and forgiving. It's easy to want what God can provide for us, but Moses understood that the greater gift is God Himself. If His presence doesn't go with us, nothing else is enough. Join us as we look at what it means to know God, not just know about Him, and be reminded of the God who stays faithful even when we don't. Join us Sundays: 8.30 + 9.45 + 11.15 at 312 E Wood Street, Palatine, Illinois — Good News in the Neighborhood is a multi-ethnic, Bible-teaching, life-giving church in the NW suburbs of Chicago. www.gnn.church

In Isaiah we hear him say, "Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near." What does this mean? Isaiah explains. So, where do you and I pick up the search? God Himself gives us the answer!

Romans Volume II: Living Under GraceBecause Jesus has already done the greater work of justifying and reconciling us through His death, we can trust Him to complete our salvation and rescue us from God's wrath. And because of all He has done and all that is still to come, we have every reason to rejoice not only in His gifts, but in God Himself.Sermon Preached by Chris Lewis on September 20, 2026Foothill Church exists to glorify God by living as disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus.https://foothill.church

Pastor John's sermon, “A Quieted Soul,” from Psalm 131 reflects on what God taught him during his sabbatical: that joy is found not in controlling circumstances or becoming stronger, but in waiting on Jesus, embracing our humanity, and trusting God with what we cannot carry. Through the imagery of a weaned child resting with its mother, John describes learning to desire God Himself rather than simply what God can give, recognizing that his wounds, weaknesses, and limitations are not obstacles to faithfulness but gifts that deepen dependence on Jesus. The invitation of Psalm 131 is ultimately for all of us: to release what was never ours to control, rest in the Father's care, remain in Jesus, and receive His joy. We can become small because our Father isn't.

You know, for years before I met Jesus, I'd hear Christians rabbiting on about the Good news of Jesus. Give me a break. But it wasn't until I heard the bad news that I realised how fantastic the Good News really is!   The Bad News Now depending on whether you enjoy your job or not, Monday is either good news or bad news. And the statistics tells us that around two thirds of people don't enjoy their jobs. That's a tragedy! So for them, for these two thirds – there is every chance that you are one of them – this work thing is a bunch of bad news. Now you and I, we would rather have good news than bad news. I would and I'm sure you would too. And so when it comes to thinking about God, well, that has to be good news, doesn't it? I mean, that's what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about. That word "Gospel" literally means, not "truth" as many people think it does, although it is the truth. No, word "Gospel" means "Good News and glad tidings". That's why the angel who spoke to the shepherds on the night of Jesus birth said to them: Don't be afraid; for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people: to you is born this day in the city of David, a saviour who is the Messiah, the Lord. Ahaa! There it was! Good News! Hallelujah! But sad to say, before we talk about the good news, which we are going to do later in the programme, first … first we have to talk about the bad news. How many times have we heard that line, "There's good news and there's bad news, which one do you want to hear first – right?" And inevitably, there are two sides to each coin. And if all I ever talked about on this programme was the good news side of God, then yours truly simply would not be doing his job. But as much as sometimes I would rather ignore it, there is a side to God which, quite frankly, is bad news for the likes of thee and me. At least, as first glance that's how it seems and yet, the reality is that without the bad news, the good news wouldn't seem that good at all. It's when we understand the bad news about God that the good news becomes, well, absolutely fantastic news. That's why today we are kicking off with the bad news. So what's Berni rabbiting on about – good news, bad news? Well, we are in the middle of a series called "Reaping the Harvest of Righteousness". It's about the righteousness of God and it's about the blessing that flows in our lives when you and I live out God's righteousness. And we kind of touched on this a little bit, fleetingly, last week. But we are going to pick up on it and really understand it because understanding the bad news about the righteousness of God is absolutely critical in a) making a decision whether we want to accept Jesus as our Saviour or not and, b) living out His righteousness and experiencing the blessing of that. So what's the bad news? Well, the bad news is that God is righteous. What's this righteousness all about? Well, God is completely, absolutely and utterly free from the scourge of humanity which is sin. There is nothing "wrong" in God. There is nothing impure or unholy or deficient or horrible about God. He is one thousand percent; one million percent righteous, from beginning to end; from eternity to eternity. And the only reason that this is bad news is that you and I aren't! You know that about you and I know that about me – we are nothing like that. We are often selfish and proud and angry and rude. The list goes on. And whilst perhaps, you have been walking with God for a while now and perhaps a lot has changed in your life, some of that muck is still around, right? It's like that classic little prayer that goes something like this: Dear Lord,So far today, I've done all right. I haven't gossiped, haven't lost my temper, haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or over indulgent. I'm very thankful for that. But in just a few minutes, God, I'm going to be getting out of bed. And from then on, I'm probably going to need a lot more help. So, as the Apostle Paul writes: We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans chapter 3, verse 23. And the consequences of this sin – this is Romans chapter 6, verse 23: The wages of sin is death. Now, that seems a little harsh, until we get back to the bad news – God is righteous and we aren't. There is nothing in God that is wrong and so His standard, quite simply, is perfection. Now as I was coming to grips with that, early on in my walk with Jesus, the question that I had to resolve in my mind was: well, isn't this just a tad unreasonable? I mean, when I was a child, I made mistakes; I wronged my parents. In fact, I did that over and over and over again, but they didn't take me out the back and shoot me. They might have felt like it and sometimes I was punished but they didn't kick me out of the house or do anything drastic like that. They suffered through my immaturities as parents are meant to do for their children so that the kids can grow up and mature and become responsible adults. That's what parents do so, if God is God the Father, what's with this "the wages of sin is death" thing? I mean, isn't it unreasonable? The original Greek word used in the New Testament for this word "righteousness" had its roots in the concept and the notion of "justice". God is a just God; there are no favourites; there is no partiality. And pretty much none of us would want to argue with that. That's as it should be because injustice is wrong. Often times when a criminal is handed a light sentence by the courts for something that we consider should have attracted a much harsher penalty, well, you and I are incensed. Why, because we are mean? No! It's because one of the things that God has handed on to us is His sense of justice. It's part of our DNA. And so God is a just God. It would be something of a disaster if He wasn't – right? And that's the bad news: break the law, get caught. You have to pay the penalty. And in the case of God, because He is pure and He is just and holy and completely righteous, that standard is way, way beyond anything that any human being can attain. I haven't lived a perfect life and nor have you. The only One who has is Jesus, God's own Son. And so the bad news is that you and I fall short of the glory of God and there is an eternal penalty for our rebellion. There is a price to be paid. Hebrews chapter 10: For if we wilfully persist in sin, having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins but a fearful prospect of judgement and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. So there it is: that's the bad news and it's very, very bad news. Eternity is, after all, a very long time. "The wages of sin is death" – Romans chapter 6, verse 23 – but that's only half the verse and it's only half of the story. The second half of the verse goes like this: But the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. And that is the good news that we are going to be talking about soon. Friend, we don't want to think too much about the fact that sin has a penalty but if we stop and think about it now, we know that our sin has penalties and consequences in our lives today. I know that if I am angry all the time, it is going to ruin my relationships and rob me of peace and joy – it will rob me of a great life. I know that! And as much as our sin has its out-workings and consequences, here in this life – short term, medium term – it also has consequences long term. It definitely has consequences on that day that you and I stand before God and have to give an account of our lives. In a parable that Jesus told, this is what happened to a man who approached God in an unworthy state – Matthew chapter 22, verse 13: The king said to his attendants, "Bind him hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." And it's the terror of this bad news that makes the good news so fantastically good. For the wages of sin are death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.   The Good News Let me ask you a question: how are you doing this fine day? The one thing I know, with frankly millions of people listening to this same message this week, in one hundred and sixty countries around the globe, is that there is going to be a myriad of answers and responses to that question – how are you doing this fine day? Some people are on top of the world, others are in the absolute depths of despair. And between those two extremes there is every shade of grey, right? And wherever we are, some good news would sure go down well: some good news to shine some light into a dark place; some good news to just brighten a mundane day; and even when we are in the middle of a fantastic patch in life, some good news to put it all into perspective. Well, right now we are going to take a look at the good news. As we spend this time together, we are not just going share in some good news, we are going to roll in it; we are going to revel in it; we are going to delight in it because the good news that I am talking about isn't some cliché; it's not some transient spin. This good news is meant to make a difference in our lives, a real difference, in fact a world of difference, an eternal difference. As I said earlier, when it comes to God, there's good news and there's bad news. We are in the middle of a series right now of messages that I have called "Reaping the Harvest of Righteousness", because when we live out the goodness and the holiness and the wonderfulness; the righteousness of God, there's a huge harvest of blessing in that. Not only the sort of blessing always that the world tells us we should have, you know – healthy, wealthy and wise, but a depth of reward, a joy, a peace as we live out the righteousness of God in our own lives. Bad news though, is that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death. The bad news is that God is righteous, you and I aren't and no matter how hard we work; how hard we labour at it, we will still always fall short of the glory and the righteousness and the wonderful perfection of God. And whilst at first, it might seem a tad unreasonable – death because we're not as good as God (seems harsh doesn't it?) – it's that bad news that makes the good news so absolutely, incredibly, wonderfully fantastic. The Apostle Paul has this fantastic knack for hitting the nail on the head; for boiling big things down; huge things – seemingly complex things – down into a sentence or two that people like me and perhaps people like you, can actually get our hearts and our minds around. Have another listen. We looked at it earlier. Romans chapter 6, verse 23: The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. There they are – the two sides of the coin – the bad news and the good news. And remember when we talk about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that word Gospel means "good news". We are talking about the Good News of Jesus. If I were writing a Bible Dictionary, trying to define that Greek word that's used in the New Testament for "Gospel", I'd redefine it to mean not just good news but absolutely, mind-blowingly fantastic news! Now if you are a Christian and you have sat in a pew for a good many years, each Sunday, maybe this Good News has, well, it's lost its lustre a little bit. You hear something often enough, over and over and over again and well, it becomes mundane; passé; just the way things are. Have to tell you it's happened to me too from time to time. But here's the thing: I wonder how many people really, I mean REALLY understand the enormity of this fantastic news about Jesus? What is going on here, when God does this amazing thing in the face of such terrible news? For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news part of that equation of grace is shockingly terrible news. And if you are someone who has never put their trust in Jesus; if you are someone who has never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and your Saviour, wrap your mind around this because it's meant to be shocking. Luke chapter 16, verses 19 to 26: There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man, Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, there he was, being tormented; he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in cool water to cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames." But Abraham said, "Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner received evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us is a great chasm that has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to there cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us." Go ahead, be shocked, come to grips with it! Jesus isn't mincing His words here. He knows about hell and He is painting a vivid picture of the eternal torment of hell. But it's this picture that makes the Good News so great, because when we believe in this Jesus we become as righteous as God and the horrible penalty is lifted off us. See, this is the bit I didn't understand at first. It took me a while to get it. Christians talked about the fact that Jesus' death on the cross bought me a ticket to heaven if I believed, but no one ever explained to me why that was. I needed to know why. For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. I get the first bit. It's just; it's the law – I understand that, but the second bit … Why? Well, let me explain it a little bit further, using some other stuff that Paul wrote, from Second Corinthians chapter 5, verse 21: For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin". In other words, he is talking about Jesus. "For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. If we think of God as a God of justice, then the penalty for our sin has to be paid. Someone has to pay. And out of His love and His mercy, God came up with this crazy plan that He Himself, Jesus His Son, should pay. So He became a man. He was nailed to a cross. He took the sins of all the world – you and me and everyone else – on His shoulders, on that cross. He in effect, became sin: He, who knew no sin, was made to be sin, why? So that you and I might become the righteousness of God – stand before God completely free from sin because the legal price for our sin has been paid – NOT BY US but by the death of the Son of God on the cross. And how do we lay hold of this incredible blessing – of that freedom of forgiveness and eternal life – how do we get it? How do we become as righteous as God Himself? Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 and 9: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result of works, so that no one may boast. So, how do we get it? By working hard? No! Not at all! God's grace in Jesus is activated towards us through faith. We obtain the righteousness of God; in fact, we become the righteousness of God, not by working hard, but by believing in Jesus. It's that simple. And that is why this isn't just good news, not even just great news, it's mind-blowingly fantastic news because all … ALL is forgiven! The anger and the wrath and the punishment of God on us, is removed and we now have a new life to live – a life that goes on from now and for all eternity – simply by trusting in what Jesus did for you and for me on that cross. It is that simple!   What Do We Make of it All? So, what do you make of all that – the bad news, the good news? I'm trying to imagine standing in front of a judge; a magistrate, having done something wrong. In fact, I remember when I was nineteen years old, driving my car into the back of someone else's car and being charged by the police. I ended up in front of a judge and it was an incredibly daunting thing. He heard the charge, he found me guilty, and what I heard him say was, "Three days in prison." I was utterly, well, I had the stuffing completely knocked out of me – I was in shock. The judge's gavel hit the bench and the Clerk of the Court ushered me out of the stand and out of the court room. And I said to this man, "Did he just say three days in prison?" I was in shock! And the Clerk of the Court turned to me and said, "No, that's only if you don't pay the sixty five dollar fine - the sentence for sixty five dollars, or in lieu of that, three days in prison." I can't tell you the relief that flooded through my whole body when I heard that. I thought I was going to jail over something as minor as a traffic infringement, when all I had to do was pay the small fine instead. That, in a very small way, is what this Good News means to me. The sentence that was hovering over my life; the punishment for all of my life was lifted the moment I believed in Jesus; the sentence of eternal death; an eternity in a ferocious hell separated from God, was lifted because Jesus died on the cross and I've chosen to believe. Do you see? The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. And Romans chapter 5, verse 1, says this: Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we now stand;And we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. Friend, that grace makes all the difference in our lives. Do you believe in Jesus? Then, if you do, you stand justified by that faith – you have been made right with God through your faith in what Jesus accomplished for you on that brutal cross – complete forgiveness, and through that empty tomb, a new life; a resurrection life; born anew into an eternal life. Do you see how fantastic that news is? The problem for so many Christians is we have heard this so many times, it's kind of become "ho, hum", hasn't it? And the problem for many who have never believed in Jesus is that, although consequences of their sin has been nagging away, it never really worked through the bad news, because once you do that – consider and understand this bad news – tell you what, you will want to lay hold of the Good News in Jesus Christ. And friend, if that's something that you want to do today, then why don't you pray this prayer with me right now: Father God, I have heard today and understood the terrible consequences of my sin; my rebellion and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what I have done wrong and I turn away from that here and now. But I have also heard this Good News; the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ and I believe in Him and this day I give my life over to You. Thank You that I am forgiven. Thank You that I am safe. Thank You that You will place Your Spirit in me to change my life. And thank You that I have a new life; an eternal life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. Friend, if you have just prayed that prayer with me, then get to and do something about it. Your enemy, the devil, will come and sow seeds of doubt in your mind. Get a Bible, start reading it. Get with some other Christians in a vibrant, Bible believing faith community and grow into the new life that Jesus, the Son of God, purchased for you on that cross, through His death. The Good News isn't just good news, it is truly fantastic news. Now it's time for each one of us to live it out, for now and for all eternity.

September 20, 2026Today's Reading: Luke 7:11-17Daily Lectionary: Nehemiah 4:7-23; 1 Timothy 3:1-16“Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has arisen among us!' and ‘God has visited his people!'” (Luke 7:16)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Have you ever had to clean up your room before someone comes to visit? Maybe you were told to, or even wanted to, get things ready so you could impress whoever was coming. Either way, there are things that are usually done in preparation to receive a visitor. Things get put away, things get straightened up, and the space is made ready for the visitor. What happens when the visitor is God Himself? Are the things that we do to receive family and friends worthy things to do before receiving the creator of the universe? Can you get things clean enough for God to visit?The truth is that this kind of question is the wrong place to start when it comes to Jesus. In today's reading, Jesus arrives at a town, and nothing has been done in preparation for his arrival. In fact, when he gets close to the gate of Nain, he finds a funeral is taking place, and the dead son of a widow is being carried out. Things had not been cleaned up for Jesus; the presence of a dead body even made things manifestly unclean. This does not bother Jesus. He immediately tells the mother not to weep, then actually touches the bier holding the body, raises the man from the dead, and gives him back to his mother. In other words, Jesus did not need things to be changed because of his presence; instead, his presence changed things. Jesus gets right in the middle of the mess and makes things better. Nothing is too unclean for Jesus.So it is with you. There is nothing that you need to clean up for the presence of Jesus. His presence is what makes you clean. His presence is what makes you worthy for His visitation. Jesus comes into the uncleanliness of your sin and washes it away. You are dead in trespasses and sin, and He cleanses you, raises you to new life, and makes you worthy to receive Him. This happened in your Baptism and continues to happen in every Divine Service at your church. Every time you hear the Absolution, receive Communion, or remember your own Baptism, God has visited you.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Oh Lord, we pray that Your grace may always go before and follow after us, that we may continually be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.Rev. Grant Knepper, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Modesto, CA.

Bible Old Testament Isaiah 1–12: The Direct Calling of a ProphetIn this lesson, Apostle of Jesus Christ D. Todd Harrison teaches Isaiah 1–12 with unique apostolic authority. The Prophet Isaiah — Apostle D. Todd Harrison's forefather — was called directly by the Lord in the heavenly throne room (Isaiah 6). His prophetic commission did not come from the Presiding High Priest Hilkiah, but from God Himself.Apostle D. Todd Harrison's own calling follows this same ancient pattern: a direct commission from the Lord Jesus Christ, without mortal intermediaries. The same God who called Isaiah has now called His descendant to witness Christ to all nations in the last days.These first twelve chapters of Isaiah contain some of the most powerful doctrines in all scripture:Latter‑day Saint Themes in Isaiah 1–12Isaiah 2 — The prophecy of “the mountain of the Lord's house” points directly to the Salt Lake Temple, an ensign to all nations.Isaiah 5 & 11 — Ensigns of the Restoration, the gathering of Israel, and the rise of latter‑day prophets and apostles.Isaiah 1–12 — A sweeping witness of Jesus Christ, including:The cleansing power of repentance (Isaiah 1:18)“Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9)The Rod of Jesse and the millennial reign (Isaiah 11)The song of salvation (Isaiah 12)Isaiah's voice echoes through the ages — and through his descendant, Apostle of Jesus Christ D. Todd Harrison — testifying of Jesus Christ, the Holy One of Israel."I testify as a direct witness that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that He is ALIVE!In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."The Apostle D. Todd HarrisonDirect Apostle of Jesus Christ Called directly by the Lord Himself through divine revelation and commissioning, following His New Testament pattern of calling apostles as He did with the Twelve and with Paul, and sending them to all nations(Galatians 1:1; Acts 26:13–20)“Not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.”— Galatians 1:1Set apart by the Lord according to the ancient scriptural patternFollowing many years of apostolic calling and increasing service, now in the Seventh Year of Global Apostolic MinistryHonoring the sacred stewardship of the First Presidency in their inspired callings to the Church, while fulfilling the Lord's commission as a Direct Apostle of Jesus Christ to All NationsPaul — Apostle to the Nations/Gentiles (Galatians 2:7; Romans 11:13)John — Apostle to the Nations (D&C 7)The Twelve — Church Stewardship (D&C 107)This video was originally presented on 09/09/2022. Future lessons will elaborate even further on these important doctrines.

What if financial success isn't the destination, but simply the foundation for something greater?We spend a great deal of time thinking about how to earn, save, invest, and manage money wisely. Those things matter. Faithful stewardship requires care and wisdom with what God has entrusted to us.But what happens when you've done many of those things well and still find yourself wondering, Is there something more?Scott Highmark, President and Co-Founder of Mosaic Wealth, a Certified Kingdom Advisor®, and author of The Significance Pyramid: Climb Beyond Success to Find Lasting Significance, believes there is.His “Significance Pyramid” offers a framework for moving beyond financial success toward a life increasingly shaped by purpose, generosity, service, and ultimately surrender to Christ.Why Success Alone Can't SatisfyOur culture often encourages us to keep moving “up and to the right”—more income, more achievement, more possessions, more recognition.There's nothing inherently wrong with achievement. The problem comes when we expect it to satisfy desires it was never designed to fulfill.Highmark points out that even people who reach the top of their professions often discover that the fulfillment they expected doesn't last. Accomplishment may bring genuine satisfaction for a season, but our appetites continually reach for something more.Ultimately, the human heart's deepest longing cannot be satisfied by another financial milestone or professional achievement. We were created for God Himself.That conviction is at the heart of the Significance Pyramid. Every life points somewhere. The question is whether ours ultimately points toward ourselves or toward something greater.Stewardship: Building the FoundationThe pyramid's first level is stewardship.Stewardship involves wisely managing all God has entrusted to us—not simply our money, but our time, abilities, opportunities, and relationships.Financially, that means understanding what we have, knowing where it is going, and learning to live within our means. Practices such as budgeting can sometimes feel restrictive, but healthy financial boundaries can actually create freedom. When our finances are in order, we can spend and give more intentionally instead of constantly reacting to financial pressure.But stewardship is only the foundation. Once money consumes less of our attention, we can begin asking deeper questions about what our resources are actually for.As Highmark puts it, money can help fund our purpose, but it cannot help us find our purpose.Symmetry: Bringing Our Lives Into AlignmentThe second level is symmetry, or alignment.Most of us can quickly name what matters most to us: faith, family, marriage, generosity, service, relationships. But would someone looking at our calendars and financial statements reach the same conclusion?Symmetry means aligning the way we actually live with the things we say we value.James 1 describes a person who looks at himself in a mirror, walks away, and immediately forgets what he looks like. In a similar way, we can profess certain priorities while organizing our lives around completely different ones.Highmark tells the story of a successful executive who traveled more than 150 days a year. His children were nearing adulthood, his mother was aging, and financially, he no longer needed to continue working at the same pace. Yet striving had become such a normal part of his life that he had never seriously considered another way.One simple question changed his perspective: Why are you still working like this?Eventually, he stepped away from that role. In doing so, he gained more time with his children and his mother and began serving through ministry.Sometimes faithful stewardship requires more than accumulating enough. It requires asking whether the life we are living actually reflects what we say matters most.Purpose: Using What God Has Given YouThe third level of the pyramid is what Highmark calls self-satisfaction. The name can sound self-focused, but the idea is really about discovering meaningful work and using our unique gifts well. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”God has made each of us with different abilities, experiences, relationships, and opportunities. Faithful stewardship includes learning to use those things in service to Him.Highmark draws on an insight from Henry Blackaby: Rather than beginning with the question, What is God's will for my life? we should begin with, What is God's will? Then we ask whether we are willing to adjust our lives to participate faithfully in what He is doing.That changes the focus. Purpose is no longer primarily about finding the career or activity that makes us feel fulfilled. It becomes a matter of offering our lives to God and faithfully using what He has entrusted to us.And even personal fulfillment isn't the top of the pyramid. If our purpose ends with ourselves, it still falls short.Significance: Turning OutwardThe fourth level is significance.Here, the focus shifts from inward to outward. Instead of asking, What will make me happy? we begin asking, How can I use what God has entrusted to me for someone else's good?That may require sacrifice. We may willingly choose to have less so someone else can have what they need. We may surrender time, comfort, opportunity, or resources for another person's good.Jesus Himself models this kind of life. Philippians 2 describes Christ as taking “the form of a servant.” Rather than using His position for His own advantage, Jesus humbled Himself and served.Significance, then, isn't simply about accomplishing something impressive or leaving behind a recognizable legacy. It is about loving and serving others faithfully—even when doing so costs us something.That can show up in countless ways: generosity, hospitality, mentoring, caring for family, serving through the local church, investing in younger generations, or simply making ourselves available to people God has placed around us.Surrender: The Ultimate DestinationEven significance isn't the final destination. At the top of Highmark's framework is surrender.A person can live generously, serve others, and pursue meaningful work and still remain at the center of their own life. Biblical surrender goes further. It means offering our whole lives to Christ.Our money belongs to Him. Our careers belong to Him. Our families, abilities, ambitions, plans, and futures belong to Him. That doesn't mean financial planning or professional success is unimportant. It means those things find their proper place beneath the lordship of Christ.Success asks, How much can I accomplish? Significance asks, How can what I have been given serve others? Surrender asks an even deeper question: Lord, how would You have me faithfully use everything You have entrusted to me?Financial success can be good. Wise stewardship can create margin, opportunity, and freedom. But success was never meant to become our ultimate destination. The goal is faithfulness—a life in which everything God has entrusted to us increasingly points beyond ourselves and toward Him.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My husband and I are entering retirement and use a credit card for groceries, paying it off monthly to earn travel rewards. Is that a wise strategy, or would it be better to pay directly from our monthly budget?I'm 71 and want to use Qualified Charitable Distributions for my tithes and offerings. How do QCDs work, can they come from an annuity, and can I direct part of my RMD to myself and part directly to my church?Resources Mentioned:Become a FaithFi PartnerThe Significance Pyramid: Climb Beyond Success to Find Lasting Significance by Scott HighmarkMosaic WealthFaithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly MagazineFaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough? Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob WestWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. 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Welcome to Day 2951 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain and today is Day 2951 – Theology Thursday – A Foretaste of Eternity: Worship and Relics in Orthodox Christianity Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2951 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps!   I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2951 of our Trek.   The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Our current series of Theology Thursday lessons is written by theologian and teacher John Daniels. I have found his lessons short, easy to understand, doctrinally sound, and applicable to all who want to learn more of God's Word. John's lessons are available on his website, theologyinfive.com. Today's episode is:  A Foretaste of Eternity: Worship and Relics in Orthodox Christianity. At the heart of Orthodox Christianity lies a profoundly sacramental vision of reality, one in which worship does not merely recall past events or anticipate future fulfillment but draws the faithful into the living presence of God. Orthodox spirituality understands the Church's rites as encounters with eternity, moments where heaven and earth overlap and the constraints of ordinary time are set aside. This conviction shapes the entire liturgical life of the Church, from the Divine Liturgy to the veneration of relics, both of which testify to the belief that the Kingdom of God is not only awaited but actively entered through worship. Orthodoxy does not treat sacred rites as symbolic gestures meant to stimulate memory or emotion. Instead, the Church understands worship as participation in divine realities that exist beyond chronological time. When believers gather, they are not reenacting sacred history but stepping into it. This perspective is grounded in the biblical distinction between chronos, measured and sequential time, and kairos, the appointed moment of God's decisive action. In Orthodox worship, kairos breaks into chronos, allowing the faithful to encounter the eternal now of God's kingdom. The first segment is: Liturgical Time and the Reality of Kairos. The Orthodox Church views liturgical time as fundamentally different from ordinary time. While daily life moves forward in linear progression, the liturgy unfolds as an entry into God's eternal present. This is why Orthodox services are saturated with language that collapses past, present, and future into a single act of worship. The Church does not merely remember Christ's saving work but proclaims it as a present and active reality. This understanding is deeply rooted in Scripture, particularly in passages that describe heavenly worship as ongoing and unceasing. The book of Revelation does not portray heaven as waiting for history to conclude before worship begins. Instead, it reveals a realm where praise is already underway and where redeemed humanity already stands before God, even while the full restoration of all things is not yet complete. Orthodox worship understands itself as a participation in that same heavenly liturgy, not a symbolic imitation of it. The second segment is: The Divine Liturgy as Heavenly Worship. Nowhere is this eternal perspective more fully expressed than in the Divine Liturgy, the central act of Orthodox worship. The Liturgy is not approached as a service observed from a distance but as an act in which the faithful actively participate. The Church gathers with the conviction that it stands before God alongside the angels and the saints, offering praise that transcends earthly limitations. This is why Orthodox churches are intentionally designed to reflect heaven rather than accommodate modern efficiency. Icons, incense, chant, and ritual movement are not aesthetic additions but theological statements. They proclaim that worship is not confined to the material world and that the senses themselves are drawn into the experience of eternity. When the Liturgy begins, the Church does not imagine heaven but enters into its worship. The third segment is: The Eucharist and the Eternal Sacrifice of Christ. At the heart of the Divine Liturgy stands the Eucharist, which most clearly embodies the Orthodox understanding of time and eternity. The Eucharist is not treated as a symbolic reminder of Christ's sacrifice, nor as a repetition of it. Orthodox theology holds that Christ's sacrifice is once for all, complete and unrepeatable, yet eternally present before the Father. In the Eucharist, the Church is brought into that eternal offering. The faithful do not travel back in time to the Last Supper, nor do they merely recall the crucifixion and resurrection. Instead, they participate in the timeless reality of Christ's self-offering, which stands outside historical sequence. This is why the Eucharist is spoken of as a mystery, not because it is vague or irrational, but because it transcends the categories of ordinary experience. The fourth segment is: The Communion of Saints Beyond Time. The Orthodox understanding of worship also reshapes the Church's view of the communion of saints. The Church is not divided between the living and the departed, nor fractured by centuries of history. All who are in Christ are alive in Him, and all worship together as one body. This unity is not poetic language but a lived reality expressed every time the Church gathers for prayer. In Orthodox services, the saints are not treated as distant figures from the past but as present members of the worshiping community. Their hymns are sung, their intercessions are invoked, and their lives are held up as evidence that the victory of Christ over death is already at work. This reinforces the conviction that the Church's worship transcends time and that believers participate in a fellowship that stretches across centuries without losing its unity. The fifth segment is: Relics as Witnesses to the Eternal Kingdom. The veneration of relics flows naturally from this understanding of time and eternity. Relics are not honored as historical curiosities or sentimental connections to the past. They are revered as tangible witnesses to the reality of resurrection and the transformation of the human person through union with Christ. Orthodox Christianity affirms that salvation involves the whole person, body and soul. The saints are not disembodied spirits awaiting redemption but glorified members of Christ's body whose lives testify to the sanctification of creation itself. Relics bear witness to this truth by proclaiming that holiness is not abstract or purely spiritual but leaves its mark on the physical world. The sixth segment is: Relics and Sacred Space. The placement of relics within Orthodox churches further reinforces their theological significance. Altars are traditionally consecrated with relics, reflecting the early Christian practice of celebrating the Eucharist over the graves of martyrs. This practice proclaims that the Church's worship is inseparable from the witness of those who have already finished the race. Relics also sanctify sacred space by declaring that heaven and earth meet within the Church. They remind the faithful that death has been defeated and that the resurrection is not merely a future hope but an already unfolding reality. Through the presence of relics, the Church visibly confesses its belief in the ultimate restoration of creation and the bodily resurrection of the faithful. In Conclusion. The transcendent nature of Orthodox worship and the veneration of relics together offer a vision of faith rooted in participation rather than observation. The sacred rites of the Church are not educational tools designed to convey information about God. They are encounters with God Himself, drawing believers into communion with Christ, the saints, and the heavenly host. In Orthodox Christianity, worship is not confined to the flow of ordinary time. It is an entry into eternity, a foretaste of the age to come. Through the Divine Liturgy, the Eucharist, and the veneration of relics, the faithful are invited to step beyond the limits of the temporal world and into the living reality of God's kingdom, where death is overcome and worship never ends. For further study, consider these Discussion Questions. How does the Orthodox understanding of worship as participation in eternity challenge modern assumptions that worship is primarily symbolic or commemorative? In what ways does the distinction between chronos and kairos help explain how the Divine Liturgy brings past, present, and future together in a single act

The devotional centers on the profound significance of Gideon naming his altar 'The Lord is Peace,' emphasizing that God Himself is not merely the source of peace but is peace incarnate, revealed through the Hebrew concept of shalom—encompassing wholeness, harmony, safety, and divine covenantal faithfulness. It explores how this divine identity calls believers to anchor their minds and hearts in God's unchanging nature, trusting that His peace transcends circumstances and is cultivated through focused faith, not emotional states. Drawing from key passages like Isaiah 26:3 and John 14:27, the message underscores that true peace is not derived from external conditions but from a steadfast orientation toward God, who is the ultimate source and sustainer of shalom. The preacher calls the audience to embrace this truth as a daily spiritual discipline, allowing God's peace to guard the mind and transform life in every sphere, from family to work to personal trials. Ultimately, the sermon invites a posture of trust and worship, rooted in the conviction that God's very being is peace, and that His presence is the foundation of lasting well-being.

When trouble comes your way, are you quick to question it? Have you ever gone so far as to question God Himself? The world can tempt us into asking, How could a loving God let something so terrible happen? Have you ever found yourself pondering that question?Instead of questioning the character of God, Job willingly received suffering from God's hands. But how was he able to accept the seemingly unacceptable? Jill shares how we can experience a transformation of attitude and move from a place of questioning God to a place of trusting God. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1141/29?v=20251111

John 20:30-31 (NKJV) And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that BELIEVING you may have life in His name. John's revelation from the Father is that “The Word” is in fact the self-existent God Himself.

The devotional centers on the profound significance of Gideon naming his altar 'The Lord is Peace,' emphasizing that God Himself is not merely the source of peace but is peace incarnate, revealed through the Hebrew concept of shalom—encompassing wholeness, harmony, safety, and divine covenantal faithfulness. It explores how this divine identity calls believers to anchor their minds and hearts in God's unchanging nature, trusting that His peace transcends circumstances and is cultivated through focused faith, not emotional states. Drawing from key passages like Isaiah 26:3 and John 14:27, the message underscores that true peace is not derived from external conditions but from a steadfast orientation toward God, who is the ultimate source and sustainer of shalom. The preacher calls the audience to embrace this truth as a daily spiritual discipline, allowing God's peace to guard the mind and transform life in every sphere, from family to work to personal trials. Ultimately, the sermon invites a posture of trust and worship, rooted in the conviction that God's very being is peace, and that His presence is the foundation of lasting well-being.

It won't be long before Job receives a proper rebuke from Elihu and then from God Himself, but until that time comes, Job continues to vent and express frustration with the situation he finds himself in. His friends keep telling him to repent of his evil, assuming that his sin is the cause of his state. Meanwhile, Job continues to declare himself as pure, which is also untrue, but in his state of despair he can't see his self-righteous posture. Job thinks so highly of himself that he unabashedly accuses God of not executing justice properly, and in so doing, exalts himself above His Maker. At times he gives God his due with words, but in his heart, Job is sure that God has treated him unfairly.Job 23 - 1:11 . Job 24 - 3:20 . Job 25 - 7:54 . Job 26 - 8:47 . Job 27 - 10:25 . Job 28 - 13:15 . Isaiah 30 - 17:10 . :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Peace can feel like the one promise we keep missing, especially when we're praying hard and still living with an anxious mind. Today we sit with Isaiah 26:3 and let it read us back: God keeps us in perfect peace when our minds stay on Him, because we trust Him. That “because” is where the breakthrough lives, and it's also where many of us realize we've been trying to do God's part after we finish our own.We talk honestly about what it looks like to confuse spiritual activity with trust. Repeating the same prayer while mentally monitoring the situation all day isn't rest, and it isn't the same as fixing our thoughts on God. We explore the difference between thinking about what we handed to God and thinking about God Himself, then move into the deeper heart issue that often drives control: transactional faith, the belief that we have to earn love, earn answers, and earn peace.You'll leave with a clear reflection question to journal and a practical obedience step you can use immediately: identify one thing you keep “checking on,” choose one truth about God's character, and return to that truth every time fear tries to pull you back into control. If you're craving Christian encouragement, a short devotional, and real tools for trusting God through anxiety, press play, then subscribe, share, and leave a review so more women can find this journey.

God boldly declares a day of rest for you.  Are we still obligated to it? Why might we still be needing this day of rest?Because the design of God has not changed.Because the need of man has not changed.Because our obligation to respond to the interventions of God by worship has not changedBecause resting from worldly work opens opportunities for spiritual workBecause it is a shadow of things to come. We shouldn't be ignoring such breadcrumbs, as they point to God Himself.Do some work and subscribe and share.https://youtu.be/K8kUS02q3qY

Scripture teaches that every good and perfect gift is from above—but would you ever think to see adversity as a gift from God? In the same way we receive good things from above, we should learn to accept trouble as well. But how can we do that?In this message, Jill answers that question by diving deep into Job's story and sharing how our eyes can be opened to see hardships—and God Himself—in a whole new way. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1141/29?v=20251111

What if waiting isn't dead time—but the very place where God is keeping His promise?In “I Will Make You,” Pastor Aaron Powers explores 1 Peter 5:1–11 and 2 Peter 1:3–11 through the story of Peter's transformation. More than thirty years of failures, suffering, and restoration reveal the faithfulness of Jesus to His promise: “Follow me, and I will make you.”God often does His deepest work slowly. When waiting gets long, we can reach for control, drift away, or assume nothing is happening. Peter reminds us that God Himself is at work—restoring, confirming, strengthening, and establishing us. The invitation is to trust His work even before we can see its results.In this message, we explore letting go of the wheel, holding still, and putting to use what God has already given us. Through Jesus, suffering can shape a life that is unshakeable and unhardened—with a growing capacity to love God and others.SCRIPTURE1 Peter 5:1–112 Peter 1:3–11Proverbs 3:34Matthew 4:21Mark 1:19REFLECTIONWhat is one thing you're white-knuckling that God is asking you to hand over?Share this episode with someone who needs the reminder that God is still working in the waiting. Follow the River City Church podcast and continue with us through Peter's Life & Letters.River City Church exists to be a church for New Braunfels, authentically experiencing and expressing God's love in our lives and in our community.River City Church | New Braunfels, TexasRCNB.org

Tuesday, September 15, 2026What does it look like to truly pursue God—even when He asks us to surrender what we hold most dear?Today we continue Spiritual Classics by Richard Foster with a reading from A. W. Tozer's “The Pursuit of God”, alongside Genesis 22:1–18. Abraham's story challenges us to consider the depth of our trust, the cost of surrender, and whether God Himself is truly our greatest desire. Join us for Scripture, reflection, and a fresh invitation to pursue God with our whole heart.-----This is the unfiltered and unscripted daily podcast of Dr. Terry Rolen. Whether you're a devout Christian seeking spiritual growth or someone curious about the teachings of the Bible, this whimsical podcast offers a dynamic, relatable platform for deepening your faith and understanding.

God can restore what was lost, but what if restoration isn't the greatest promise? In Joel 2, the story moves from repentance and restoration to something far greater: God pouring out His Spirit on all people. Peter later declared that promise fulfilled at Pentecost. Listen to America Pray Now Director, Hanna Alway, as she asks what Joel's prophecy means for the church today—and whether we have become so busy working for God that we've lost sight of the greatest gift of all: God Himself.----------------

Every room you walk into, you leave a scent behind. Not the perfume you're wearing — your presence. The thing that lingers after you've left. The spiritual fragrance that people associate with your name, your home, your workplace, your family. And Christine Caine wants to ask you directly: what does yours smell like? In episode five of A Life Unleashed, Christine Caine opens 2 Corinthians 2:14–17 and unpacks one of the most sensory and surprising images Paul ever used for the Christian life: the Roman triumph parade, where priests carried incense through the streets of Rome so that every citizen could smell the victory before they ever saw it. Paul says that is exactly what we are: the aroma of Christ, diffused through us everywhere we go, to everyone we meet. In this episode, Christine Caine shows that the gospel is not only good news to the ears — it is a good smell to the nose, and God Himself can smell it. She takes us through Scripture to show that smell has always mattered to God, from Noah's offering in Genesis to Mary's perfume filling the house in John 12 to Jesus Himself, the ultimate sweet-smelling sacrifice of Ephesians 5. She makes the case that whatever is in our hearts will inevitably diffuse out of our spiritual pores and that we cannot manufacture the fragrance of Christ through behavior alone. Just as perfume is made by the pressing and crushing of flowers, the sweet fragrance of Christ comes forth in us through the very seasons of brokenness and dying to self that we most want to avoid. And she names the hard truth: not everyone will love the scent. The same fragrance that smells like life to believers may smell like death to the lost, and the temptation to dilute the gospel to make it more palatable to the world will always be there. But if you change the chemical composition, it is no longer the same aroma. The takeaway that will stay with you: our spiritual influence on other people is directly proportional to the vitality of our own intimacy with Jesus. ✨ If you've ever asked questions like… ✅ How do I make my faith feel real and visible to the people around me, not just something I believe privately? ✅ Why does it seem like some Christians have a quality about them that draws people in, while others repel? ✅ What does it actually mean to be a witness and is it something I do or something I am? ✅ How do I keep sharing the gospel when the world seems more hostile to it than ever? ✅ What do I do when following Jesus starts costing me socially or professionally? ✅ How do I let God change what's in my heart, not just my behavior? ✅ Why does brokenness and hardship seem to produce the most spiritually compelling people? …then this is your episode.

Work is not a consequence of the Fall. It is a gift that preceded it. Before sin entered the world, before anything broke or became difficult, God placed man in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Work was designed for our good from the very beginning — established by a God who worked first and then rested, modeling for us the rhythm He built into human life from its earliest days. Sin has affected work, as it has affected everything. The frustration, the exhaustion, the grumbling — these are real. But the original design and purpose of labor remains intact for those who choose to see it. Colossians 3:23 reframes every kind of work with a single shift of perspective: whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord. Not for a boss. Not for a paycheck. Not for the approval of others. For Him. Jesus Himself modeled this, telling His Heavenly Father that He had brought glory on earth by finishing the work He was given to do. That is the template for every believer's labor, whether it happens in an office, a field, a kitchen, or a classroom. Labor Day is an invitation to pause, appreciate the gift of meaningful work, honor the rest that God modeled after His own labor, and recommit to doing everything we are given to do with hearts that are fully engaged — not for human masters, but for the One who gave us the work in the first place. Bible Verse "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."— Colossians 3:23, NIV Ponder Today Work is a gift from God, not a consequence of sin. It was established before the Fall as part of God's good design for human life. Viewing work through that lens changes how we approach even the most tedious or demanding tasks. Working for the Lord transforms the nature of every task. When the audience for our labor shifts from human masters to God Himself, the meaning and motivation behind our work shifts with it. Nothing done for Him is insignificant. Rest is not optional — even God rested. Hebrews 4 makes clear that rest after labor is part of God's design, modeled by God Himself. Believing we can skip rest is believing we are stronger than God, who chose to rest from His work. Jesus brought glory to the Father by finishing His work. That same purpose is available to every believer. Our labor is not random — it is assigned, it is meaningful, and it is designed to bring glory to God and accomplish His will on earth. Do everything without grumbling or arguing. Philippians 2:14 places the attitude of our labor as important as the labor itself. A heart that works willingly and wholeheartedly for God honors Him in ways that grudging productivity never can. A Prayer for You Today Dear Father, soften my heart to truly appreciate Labor Day and the work You gave me to do on earth. Daily remind me that work is Your idea. Help me to work unto You, to fulfill Your will and purposes, and to bring glory to Your name. Strengthen my hands and open my eyes to appreciate labor and to see the many benefits that come through working faithfully. Lead me to be a diligent worker who honors You through every task. Convince my heart to believe that my work is not in vain, but is working together in my life and in this world for good. Above all, let Your name be praised through my labor. In Jesus' name, Amen. Want More? Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.