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This episode is for singles and married women! Allie and Christian Bevere discuss the importance of intentionality in the dating and marriage journey. Christian shares her experience of praying for her future husband from age 21, which led to her meeting and marrying her husband at 23. They emphasize the significance of infusing prayers with scripture and the value of accountability. Christian highlights the transformative power of prayer in her life and marriage and the need for faith and hope, especially for those who have been waiting long periods. Allie and Christian also touch on the challenges of modern dating and the benefits of a community-based courting system. At the end of the day, the ultimate pursuit should be after godliness in dating, marriage, and parenting. Share the Arrows 2026 is on October 10 in Dallas, Texas! Tickets are on sale now at: https://sharethearrows.com Buy Allie's book "Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion": https://www.toxicempathy.com — Timecodes: (00:00) Intro (02:25) Praying for Your Future Husband (09:00) Mistakes while Dating (16:55) Pursuit of Godliness (24:15) Dating & Marriage Story (33:05) Perspectives on Dating (43:10) Prayers Answered (55:00) Praying for Your Current Husband — Today's Sponsors: Seven Weeks Coffee | Go to SevenWeeksCoffee.com and save 15% forever when you subscribe, plus get a free gift with your order! And exclusively, use code ALLIE for an extra 10% off your first order. Good Ranchers | If you go to GoodRanchers.com and subscribe to any of their boxes of 100% American meat, you'll save up to $500 a year! Plus, if you use the code ALLIE, you'll get an additional $25 off your first order. PreBorn | 100% of your donation will go toward saving babies. Will you help us? Just dial #250 and say the keyword BABY. Or donate securely at PreBorn.com/ALLIE. Geviti | Go to GoGeviti.com/Allie and use code ALLIE for 20% off. Taking care of yourself isn't selfish. It's stewardship. Alliance Defending Freedom | Visit JoinADF.com/Allie or text ALLIE to 83848 to sign the statement of support for Moody Bible Institute. — Relevant Episodes: Ep 1116 | Women Preachers, The Roots of Feminism, & Battling Eating Disorders | Guest: Lisa Bevere https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-1116-women-preachers-the-roots-of-feminism/id1359249098?i=1000681465777 Ep 683 | How to Date, Marry, and Parent Biblically | Guest: John Mason https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-683-how-to-date-marry-and-parent-biblically-guest/id1359249098?i=1000580345749 Ep 1140 | What Christian Men Look For in a Woman | Guest: Timothy Stuckey (Chief Relatabro) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-1140-what-christian-men-look-for-in-a-woman/id1359249098?i=1000691988398 Ep 1243 | Gen Z Wants Authentic Faith. Here's What They Need to Know | Madi Prewett Troutt https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relatable-with-allie-beth-stuckey/id1359249098?i=1000727538533 — Buy Allie's book "You're Not Enough (and That's Okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love": https://www.alliebethstuckey.com Relatable merchandise: Use promo code ALLIE10 for a discount: https://shop.blazemedia.com/collections/allie-stuckey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Author Kylie Ora Lobell joins Bridget for a thoughtful conversation about her book, Choosing to Be Chosen, which tells the story of her conversion from atheist to Orthodox Jew. Kylie's shift from atheism was sparked by a melting warmth she recognized as God at a Shabbat dinner, and it led her on a five-year journey of embracing kosher laws, rituals, the challenges of conversion, and a profound trust in God amid life's darkest questions (like child suffering and October 7th). They discuss why taking care of yourself is a Godly instinct, how most Americans in general are not that exposed to Judaism, resilience, mourning, introversion and extroversion, child-rearing, seeing the Godliness in everyone, why you really step into gender roles when you're a parent, the importance of finding a community, and why Kylie thinks finding God and faith regardless of religion is a good thing for everyone. ----------------------------------------------------------------------Sponsor Links:- Try Qualia Stem for up to 50% off at qualialife.com/BRIDGET and use the code BRIDGET for an additional 15% off your order - https://bit.ly/WiW-Qualia- Quest offers 100+ lab tests to empower you to have more control over your health journey. Choose from a variety of test types that best suit your needs, use code WALKINS25 to get 25% off - https://www.questhealth.com- If you love Walk-Ins Welcome become a supporter at https://phetasy.com---------------------------------------------------------------------Walk-Ins Welcome with Bridget Phetasy - PodcastBridget Phetasy admires grit and authenticity. On Walk-Ins Welcome, she talks about the beautiful failures and frightening successes of her own life and the lives of her guests. She doesn't conduct interviews—she has conversations. Conversations with real people about the real struggle and will remind you that we can laugh in pain and cry in joy but there's no greater mistake than hiding from it all. By embracing it all, and celebrating it with the stories she'll bring listeners, she believes that our lowest moments can be the building blocks for our eventual fulfillment.----------------------------------------------------------------------PHETASY IS a movement disguised as a company. We just want to make you laugh while the world burns. https://www.phetasy.com/Buy PHETASY MERCH here: https://www.bridgetphetasy.com/For more content, including the unedited version of Dumpster Fire, BTS content, writing, photos, livestreams and a kick-ass community, subscribe at https://phetasy.com/Twitter - https://twitter.com/BridgetPhetasy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bridgetphetasy/ Podcast - Walk-Ins Welcome with Bridget Phetasy https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/walk-ins-welcome/id1437447846 https://open.spotify.com/show/7jbRU0qOjbxZJf9d49AHEhhttps://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/I3gqggwe23u6mnsdgqynu447wvaSupport the show
In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef reminds us that our actions speak and will impact how the next generation receives the Gospel. If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch or listen to Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Healthy Living in a Sick World, Part 6: LISTEN NOW | WATCH NOWNEW FOR YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNTYou've seen the shift. You've felt the uneasiness. You know something is changing in America—and not for the better. Under the guise of political correctness, a quiet takeover is happening in our nation. In Unholy Alliance, Dr. Michael A. Youssef reveals the coordinated movement behind it all—and how you can stand firm in a time of deception.Unholy Alliance is Dr. Youssef's most urgent book in 50 years. It's time for the Church to find its voice—and rediscover its mission—before it's too late. Pre-order your copy today for your gift of any amount!*Offer valid through April 5, 2026, in US, UK, and Canada. The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.
How far are you willing to go with forgiveness?
Are you open-handed or tight-fisted?
The Reconciling Grace Panel (Josh Cougle, Don MacDonald and Pete Vecchi) spends sometime on why we should approach our Christian faith walk like that of a well trained athlete. The Bible has many references to athletic symbolism as it relates to our Christian faith walks. Come and listen to this podcast and grow in your Christian faith walk. (This podcast was recorded around the Super Bowl of 2026 and the Winter Olympics of 2026)
How far will you sacrifice for others?
The Value of Godliness 1 Timothy 4:7-8 Pastor Manny Vera February 2, 2026
Receive God's great gift - for free.Grace is the free unmerited favor of God, towards the undeserving and the ill-deserving. God offered us good which we did not deserve, we had no claims on, it simply came from God's grace.Support the show
2 Peter 1:2-11 (NKJV)Andrew, Isack, and Edwin discuss the path of spiritual maturity for Christians.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here. Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=24314The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/
2 Peter 1:1-11 (ESV)Andrew, Isack, and Edwin discuss God's grace to give us all we need to partake in His divine nature. We don't do it by following Satan's advice to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We do it by actually knowing Jesus Christ.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here. Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=24300The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/
Guest: Randell Holmes, Jr., college student/athlete at Texas A&M University, author of Daily Devotional for Teen Boys Welcome back to our conversation with Randell Holmes. This week Randell starts off firing from both barrels as he challenges us to grasp the difference between what he calls “fruitfulness over faithfulness.” Many young men are more concerned with the “fruitfulness” of the things of this world - God is concerned with your faithfulness to produce SPIRITUAL fruit in your life and your community! I mentioned the incredible book Thoughts for Young Men by J.C. Ryle and the question that Ryle asks, “Where are the godly older men?” Ryle thought there were so few godly older men because the enemy and worldly ambition bent them closer to the temporary things of this world and they never grew up tall and strong for the Lord's service. Randell reminds us that a lot of young men don't believe that following God is “truly worth it.” Scripture reminds us in Psalm 84:10 that it is better to be “one day” in the presence of God than a thousand elsewhere! You might ask, “Is following God truly worth it?” Randell's challenge to you is that you'll never know unless you truly try it. That reminds me of an incredible statement from the British author G.K. Chesterton who said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.” Our next topic of conversation brings up the idea of Christian hedonism put forth by John Piper in Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. Piper says that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. Check out this article from Desiring God's website for further explanation. Randell reminds us that Romans 8:5-6 addresses this same concept - that when our minds are set on what the flesh desires, that “mind governed by the flesh is death.” But those who set their minds on “things above” or the “Spirit” have “life and peace.” Randell's recommendations for this year: Recognize that you cannot manage sin. Sin will take you farther than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to pay. “Be killing sin or sin will be killing you,” John Owen. Make a priority to open up God's Word. The same breath that God breathed into Adam is breathed into us through His Word. Find a mentor who will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Final word from Randell - if you're not a believer/follower of Jesus Christ - you're missing out on God's purpose for you! Find a good church, open the Word of God, ask some questions and get some answers about the true meaning of life! Randell's book is part of a 3-part series that covers young men from youth through college: Devotions for Preteen Boys by Randell Holmes, Jr. and Chandler Fletcher Daily Devotionals for Teen Boys (ages 14-16) by Randell Holmes, Jr. Daily Devotionals for College Men by Brett Trefren T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle (info@training4manhood.com) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.
God’s Plan for Your Growth 2 Peter 1:3-4 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. (NLT) 2 Peter 1:5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith… (NLT) 2 Peter 1:5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence… (NLT) 1. Moral Excellence Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (NLT) Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. (NIV) 2. Knowledge 2 Peter 1:5 Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge. (NLT) 2 Peter 3:18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NLT) 3. Self-control 2 Peter 1:5-6 Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control. (NLT) Proverbs 25:28 A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. (NLT) Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. (NIV) 4. Patient endurance 2 Peter 1:5-6 Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance. (NLT) Hebrews 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (NIV) 5. Godliness 2 Peter 1:5-7 Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness. (NLT) 2 Peter 2:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life. (NIV) 6. Brotherly affection 2 Peter 1:5-7 Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection. (NLT) 1 John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? (NLT) Hebrews 13:1 Keep on loving each other as brothers. (NIV) 7. Love for everyone. 2 Peter 1:5-7 Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. (NLT) 1 Corinthians 13:13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. (NLT) 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. (NIV) 1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. (NIV) 2 Peter 1:8 For IF you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV) 2 Peter 1:8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT)
Do you love those outside of your family?
How patient are you with others?
Do you love God more than anyone or anything?
Do you treat others with respect?
Audio Transcript Yeah, Full house this morning. There we go. So, yeah, it’s good to meet in God’s house and to sing praises to the Lord. So today we are going to continue our sermon series in the book of Luke. And so if you have a Bible, you can go ahead and open up there. And if you don’t have a Bible, there should be some blue Bibles in the chairs that you can go ahead and grab. And so we are in Luke chapter six. And we’re going to be reading verses 12 through 19. And so this passage is focusing on the calling of the 12 disciples and the events that follow right after their calling. And so I’m going to read this passage and then I’ll pray and we’ll get started. So here’s what the word of the Lord has for us this morning. Luke 6:12. In these days he went out to the mountain to pray. And all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them 12 whom he named Apostles Simon, whom he named Peter and Andrew his brother, and James and John and Philip and Bartholomew and. And Matthew and Thomas and James the son of Alphaeus and Simon, who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. And he came down with them and stood on a level place with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all. So that’s God’s word for us. Please pray with me. God, thank you that you speak to us through, through your holy word that you have preserved so that we might hear from you. Now I pray God that you would indeed speak, and God you would help me to speak your word and that you would give us hearts and ears to receive what you are saying this morning. It’s in Jesus name we ask these things. Amen. All right. So up until this point in Luke’s eyewitness account of Jesus life, Jesus has done a lot in the region of Galilee and in Judea. And in the very beginning of Jesus ministry, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, followed by a supernatural phenomenon with the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus like a dove and the voice of the Father declaring, this is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Jesus was then led into the wilderness for 40 days, where he was tested and tempted by Satan and where he overcame the devil through God’s word. Jesus taught in the synagogues throughout the surrounding area of Galilee, teaching that the scriptures were now being fulfilled in him. Jesus declared that he is the Son of man, who has authority to forgive sins. The Bridegroom of God, the Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus had casted out demons, proving his authority over spiritual realms of darkness. Jesus had healed many people of a variety of sicknesses and malformities, including fever, disease, leprosy, paralytics, withered hand and and much, much more. Jesus had called forth specific individuals to begin following him that nobody would expect, including outcasts and fishermen and a tax collector. And with all of these things Jesus had done and continued to do, he was doing the will of his Father. But now a shift in Jesus ministry strategy was about to happen. So no longer was Jesus going to continue his mission in solidarity. And although Jesus certainly could have done this, that’s not what God planned to happen. Instead, Jesus would now choose 12among those who had been following him since the baptism of John, and they would become his personal disciples. And so understand, like this is no small thing for the ministry of the Son of God this moment here in our passage, as we know that these 12 disciples would go on after Jesus to establish God’s church for the edification of the saints and for the proclamation of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. So the establishment of God’s kingdom for generations would come, beginning with these 12 disciples. Through these 12, by the power of God, lives would change and the world would change. So how does Jesus make this very big decision? Looking at verse 12 in our text, it says in these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. So before choosing the 12 disciples, we learn that Jesus removes himself from all distractions by going to a mountain in Galilee and he goes there alone to pray to God the Father. And Jesus did this actually early, early on in his ministry that Luke mentions. And he’s doing this at the days when the Pharisees hate for Jesus was only increasing more and more as we learned about from last week’s sermon. And as Luke had mentioned, Jesus had done this in the past. What is unique here in this passage is that this is the only time Luke records Jesus takes all night to pray in isolation. Like the only other time Jesus comes close to doing this is in the Garden of Gethsemane before his crucifixion. And so there’s two Reasons why I think God’s Word gives us this information and why Jesus prays all night. The first reason is to show us the humanity of Christ. Jesus is fully God and fully man. And therefore during his time on earth, there are times when Jesus knowledge or power were willingly limited in order for him to be fully human. And so to put it another way, Jesus subjected himself to the Father’s will by choosing not to exercise the full limit of his divinity during his life and ministry on earth. So Jesus never stopped being God, but also he was man. And Jesus dependency upon prayer with his heavenly Father shows us the humility of Christ as he had to depend on his Father at times to reveal to him what the Father’s will was. And since this is such a large decision happening here, Jesus spent the entire night in prayer seeking the Father’s will. The second reason I think Jesus did this is to teach us about the vital importance of prayer. So when faced with a large decision that Jesus knew was part of God’s will for his life, he didn’t say like, I’ll pray about it and then like walk away and like forget to pray about it or just kind of briefly mention it to God in prayer and then just kind of go further about his day. Like actually Jesus, like knowing that he was going to choose the 12among this crowd of disciples, like took, made the disciplinary action to step away from the busyness of ministry to be alone with God and to pray not for five minutes, not for 15 minutes, and not for an hour, but all night long until the text tells us like the sun rose the next day. Like, let that sink in. This is vitally important what Jesus is doing and taking this time to pray. And if the Son of God felt that prayer was this vitally important for his ministry, then how much more vitally important is prayer for God’s people and determining God’s will for our lives? Jesus is the perfect example of what it means to be a Christian and what it means to walk by faith in the living God who hears and answers prayer. And so we as God’s people, we must do the same and carve out devoted time to pray to God individually as a family and corporately if we want to carry out God’s will for our lives. And so if your prayer life is lacking, then let the example of Jesus encourage you to make time for prayer this week. Make some like, attainable goals on how you can devote more time to prayer this week so that God’s will may be done in your life. For God delights in hearing and answering the prayers of his saints. And if the perfect Son of God depended on His Father to lead and direct him while on this earth through the power of prayer, how much more do we need to depend on our heavenly Father through prayer? That being said, moving to verse 13, it says, and when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them 12 whom he named apostles. So the sun rises after Jesus long night of prayer, and Jesus knows who he is going to choose as his 12 student. 12 students. The meeting that Jesus had with his heavenly Father in prayer made it clear who would be chosen and what he would teach them that morning. It’s important to note that the only reason the disciples are made like one of the 12 is, is because Jesus graciously chose them to become his apostles. Like, this isn’t something that they signed up for, but rather something Jesus called them forth to do and chose them to do. And with that line, like John the Baptist understood this as well. John the Baptist said this about his own ministry. A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given to him from heaven. It is by the grace of God and his choosing that these men are made into 12 disciples for the purposes that God set long ago. And the word apostle that is here in our text that Luke points out, it literally means to send. And so this is signifying the mission that was given to these men, to these disciples from Jesus. So in both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Mark, Jesus choosing of the 12 apostles involves giving them authority to be sent out to preach, to cast out demons, and to heal every disease and affliction, which is exactly what Jesus is about to do in the next few verses. And so the 12 apostles were God’s chosen disciples in whom he gave authority to carry out his great mission. Jesus was instituting a new office of apostleship for the early church, who would serve as his official representatives. And the way he would teach his apostles is by spending time with them. 24, 7. Because of this, these 12 disciples would get to know their teacher and their Lord on a much more personal level from this point on, which is such a privilege for each of these 12 disciples. And then in our text, verses 14 through 16 gives us a list of these apostles names. And so A list of 12 disciples is also given in Matthew, Mark, and Acts. And in each of these lists, Simon Peter is always listed as first. And then Judas Iscariot is always listed as last. This is because Simon, who was renamed Peter, which literally means rock, is whom Jesus said, on this rock, I will Build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Jesus chose Peter to be the leader in whom he would begin to build his church after his resurrection. And Jesus words are actually fulfilled later in the Book of Acts we read on the day of Pentecost, Peter preaches a sermon of repentance to all who gather to hear him in Jerusalem. And about 3,000 people profess faith in Jesus that day and are baptized. And so hence, Jesus uses Peter to begin to build his church. So overall, there’s not actually a ton of information known about each of these apostles based on what God gives us in His Word. We know that, like, four of these guys were just simple fishermen and they were called to follow Jesus. And this was Peter and Peter’s brother Andrew, and then two other men named James and John, who Jesus called the Sons of Thunder. We know that John was called the disciple of whom Jesus loved, and that John wrote the Gospel of John and as well as three epistles and the Book of Revelation. And then we know that John was exiled to the island of Patmos at the end of his life. We know that Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector who wrote the Gospel of Matthew, which we just spent some time learning about him a few weeks ago. We know Bartholomew was also known as Nathanael, and he was described by Jesus in the Book of John as an Israelite in whom there is no deceit. We know Thomas doubted the resurrection of Jesus until he saw him again, which, honestly is kind of a bummer thing to be remembered as. But I’m pretty sure as we get to heaven, we’ll learn like, there’s some other great things that Thomas did in faith. We know that Simon was a zealot, in which the zealots was like a zealous religious group who are committed to the fall of Rome. And then we know about Judas Iscariot, who was the money keeper for the apostles and who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. And after betraying Jesus, Judas hung himself in the field of blood and was later replaced by a man named Matthias, who became the 12th apostle in his place. And as for the rest of the disciples in this list, like, the Bible actually doesn’t give us a ton of information about them. And from what we know, these apostles, like, they did not come from noble or wealthy families. They weren’t priests or scholars. They weren’t even like, really educated. They were like untrained, ordinary people like you and me. And so don’t miss this with this list that is provided here. By Luke, these guys were just ordinary men. And yet they were called and chosen by an extraordinary God. And because they were chosen by an extraordinary God, by Jesus, their names will stand as pillars in heaven for all of eternity. Which is wild to think about. Just listen to what Revelation 12:14 says concerning the new Jerusalem that represents the city of God in the new heavens and new earth. It says this, and the wall of the city had 12 foundations, and on them were the 12 names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb. So these apostles, they may have been just ordinary guys before Jesus called them to himself, but because they were called by an extraordinary God, their names will be remembered as pillars in heaven forever. And the Bible doesn’t tell us much about the apostles, but that’s because it’s not about who the apostles are, it’s about the extraordinary God the apostles were called by and who followed for the sake of Christ’s kingdom. That’s what matters here in this passage. And because Jesus chose these 12 disciples who gave up their lives for the sake of the Gospel, according to church tradition, today there is a foundation that the household of God’s church stands upon and will forever stand upon, namely, because Christ is its cornerstone. And so we, Red Village Church, we are in debt to the way that God used these 12 disciples. And that is something incredible to think about. God chooses ordinary people like you and like me for extraordinary purposes that make ripples into eternity. And we would do good to never forget that. Moving on to verses 17 through 19, our text says, and he came down with them and stood on a level place with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them. So after Jesus chooses his 12 disciples, he now comes off of the mountain that he was on in prayer with these 12 at his side, to what Luke said, a level place. Now, this description of a level place, it’s important because it seems to be signifying that this is a different place from the Sermon on the Mount, where Matthew clearly says Jesus went up on the mountain, and then he began preaching the Sermon on the Mount after he had ascended the mountain. And so the sermon, this sermon right here, it differs from the Sermon on the Mount in that it doesn’t focus on the Jewish law, but instead its focus is on love and fruit that a disciple’s life should have. And so although this like sermon is very similar and it’s actually using the same information that Jesus uses on the Sermon on the Mount, it’s actually only half as long as the Sermon on the Mount. And because of this, this sermon is often referred to as the Sermon on the Plain, in which many scholars agree was a similar sermon to the Sermon on the Mount, but it was given a different. It was given at a different time, likely before the Sermon on the Mount. So before Jesus preaches the Sermon on the Plain, Luke tells us a great crowd of Jesus, other disciples, and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon. They all gather to Jesus for these three reasons that Luke gives us. To hear Jesus preach, to be healed of their diseases and to be freed of unclean demonic spirit. So it’s important to note that Jesus fame, like it’s now spreading beyond just the region of Galilee and Judea in which Jesus has been up to this point. And so now, like Luke says, great multitudes, which is most likely in the thousands, are now coming from the sea coast of the cities on the Mediterranean, which means these were Gentile cities. And so Gentiles are now coming in to gather around Jesus to hear him teach and to be healed and to be freed by demonic spirits by Jesus. So we know that this is the reason why Jesus came is to redeem and to save not only the Jews, but also the Gentiles from every tribe and language and tongue on the earth. And as people came from near and far, their diseases were healed. And the demons that oppressed those who were troubled were cast out and cured. And those who came wondering like, could this be the long awaited Messiah that we have been waiting for? Truly they heard and they seen that this is the Christ. Verse 19 tells us that as people began to be healed and cured, others in the crowd who had not been healed simply made it their mission to just touch Jesus. Because Luke says divine power was radiating out from Jesus that healed them all. Now this is like an incredible scene that Luke is portraying for us. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of people pressing in just to simply touch Jesus. For just by touching him, lifelong illnesses, chronic pain, infirmities, and agonized demon possessed people who have been dealing with this for who knows how long are instantly healed when they touch Jesus. Like that is incredible. All because the Son of God, the Christ, was standing on level ground on planet earth and from him was radiating this life restoring power to whom all were healed. That came to him like, what a sight this must have been. This, this had to been incredible to witness, especially for the 12 disciples that are now called to join in with Jesus ministry. Like this had to be mind blowing. And the word for power here that Luke gives is actually the Greek word dunamis, which is where we get the English word for dynamite. And so this is the same power that Luke describes Jesus having in Luke 4:14, where Luke says, and Jesus returned in the power of the Holy Spirit to Galilee. So this power that Jesus has coming from him is directly related to the Holy Spirit who we see brings life and restoration both to creation and to all of mankind throughout the Bible. And this is the Holy Spirit’s life changing power being poured out from Jesus to everybody who is coming to him and to everybody who is touching him. And so this picture is certainly painting for us. A picture of the nations coming to Jesus in great physical and spiritual need. And Jesus is at the center, allowing all to come to him and to be healed as they believe and touch the Son of God, who is the supply and source of the Holy Spirit’s power, which knows no bounds. And it’s important to think about this scene in relation to the 12 disciples who were just chosen. Like up to this point, they’ve listened to Jesus teach, they’ve watched him heal and cast out demons. But this, this is on a completely different level. Directly after being chosen to be Jesus apostles and given authority to do the same work as Jesus, this scene unfolds. And so this is the work that Jesus is doing and will continue to do with all of his 12 disciples at his side. People will be drawn to Jesus in both physical and spiritual need, both Jews and Gentiles. And Jesus will continue to restore and change lives through the power of the Holy Spirit living in his disciples. This is what Jesus Kingdom looks like. And he invites his 12 disciples to join in on this work. For it is only the beginning and that ends our passage. And so from this I have three applications for you that I want to give you from this passage of Scripture that I think speak loudest. And so the first application I have for you, if you have put your faith in Christ, remember you are chosen by Christ for the purposes of his kingdom as his disciple. In the same way that Jesus chose the 12, he has chosen you that all may be drawn to Christ. Ephesians 1:4:5 says this. He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love. He predestined us for adoption to Himself as the sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will. That being said, there is purpose in the will of God as He calls his people from death to. So if you are a Christian here this morning, meaning that you have made Jesus like the Lord of your life, then just like the 12 disciples, remember that God has purpose for your life. As his disciple, he wants to use you to draw others to himself by sharing the gospel and by living as Christ’s ambassador, not because of what you’ve done, but because of who God is. And that is really encouraging to know that if you are in Christ, God created you for good works to do today, tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day and the next day that will ripple into eternity. When I was in college at a fall retreat for a collegiate ministry that I was a part of, it was in New Mexico. This was a collegiate ministry called the Christian Challenge. And the director there was named David Engelhardt. And so David led us out from this little Bible camp in the mountains of New Mexico. And he had all these students, including myself, gather around a little pond that was about 50 yards wide. And what David taught me that day and the rest of the students, I will never forget. With everyone gathered around this pond, he picked up a rock and then he just threw it into the pond and told all of us just to be silent and to watch. And so David does this. The rock goes. Splashes into this pond. And then ripples are sent out from this rock that go out all the way to the edges of this pond and. And then bounce off of different things in the pond until they all begin to go completely still. And so, in silence, everyone, including myself, watches these ripples go out. And after the ripples disappeared, David said this. Serving Christ is a lot like ripples in a pond. You, by faith, make a splash in obedience to Christ. And ripples are sent all across the pond, but the rock is at the bottom of the pond. And often the rock does not see the ripples that are going on up above. But God, he sees all that his hand is doing with these ripples. And so what he is saying is, God has purpose in every splash, every good work, every step of faith, every Gospel conversation, every Sunday service that we gather. God says he is working. And even if we can’t see it, God is building his kingdom through his chosen disciples, and that is through you. If you have put your faith in Jesus, he has chosen to use you to make ripples that will last for eternity. An extraordinary God calls ordinary people like you, like me, to follow him so that they might live with extraordinary purpose for the glory of God. So first application is, do not forget this. My second application from this passage is very simple, and that is to seek to make disciples of Christ Jesus. Master plan of evangelizing the world started with investing more time into just 12 disciples. And then Jesus spent even more time in just three of those disciples who were Peter, James and John. And so Jesus intentionally invited these disciples to not only join his ministry, but to also get a glimpse into his personal walk with God. And we are called to do the exact same thing. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave the great commission for his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach them to observe all that Christ has commanded his people. And so if you’re here and you believe in Jesus as the Lord of your life, then you are his disciple. And you too are called to make other disciples through baptism and teaching other followers of Jesus to observe all that Jesus has commanded in the Bible. So if you’re a believer, my question to you is, who are you discipling right now? Who are you helping to follow Christ? Discipleship can look like a lot of different things. It can look like serving in kids ministry to help teach kids about the Bible and how they can know God. It can look like having a daily time of family worship with your kids and teaching them about the Bible and how to walk with God. It can look like inviting people to church so they can hear God’s Word preached and then grow in their faith through community with other believers. It can look like meeting together with a believer who is new to the faith or with someone who is considering the claims of Christ and to study the Bible with them and teach them about Jesus. It can look like leading a small group Bible study that is teaching others God’s Word and how to put it into action. Or it can look like inviting a college student to your home for a meal to see how you are following Christ while encouraging them to do the same. Which is what I personally am praying that God will do with Adoptive Student Day today. And so, regardless of how we do discipleship, what’s important is that we do seek to do it no matter what it will. No matter what it will require you to be intentional and to invite another person into your life and into the church so that they too may become a disciple who follows Jesus and who keeps his commands and if you’re not sure where to start, then I encourage you to do what Jesus does here in our passage of scripture. Carve out some intentional time to pray to God that God would give you someone to disciple and to show you who that person is. And if you do this, then God will guide you in the right direction and he will equip you with what you need to help others grow in Christ. This is the work that God is doing and what he’s called us to do. And it’s not about who you are and how good you are at teaching or helping others. It’s about just seeking to be faithful and God using you to build up and raise up other disciples. My third and last application from this passage is point all people to the life restoring power found in Christ alone. Our passage ends with human need, both little and great being met in the person of Jesus. So Jesus is the only one with the power to change a person’s life from spiritual death to spiritual life. Only in Jesus can the Holy Spirit change a dead heart to beat for God and to live the extraordinary life that God calls us to live by faith. Jesus lived the life that we could not and died on a cross in our place. And then three days later, Jesus rose again from the dead and is victorious over sin and death. And today, Jesus is alive. That’s why we gather here and that’s why we continue to worship God. It’s because Jesus lives. And if you repent today and believe that Jesus truly is the Lord over all the earth who rose again from the dead, then scripture says you too will receive the resurrection power by the Holy Spirit who will come to live inside of you and who guarantees that you will be with God in heaven for eternity. Which is incredible. This is the gospel, the good news given to mankind. And so no matter who you are, where you’ve been, or what you’ve done, the power of God can change your life today. And I believe that wholeheartedly, because I am a walking example of that. God has changed my life from death to life through faith in Him. And so, in summary, point all people to the life restoring power that is found in Christ alone. May we never grow weary in doing that and in seeing that our Savior is the one who has life life restoring power so that all who believe may find new life and joy in him for eternity. That being said, please pray with me, God. We believe that Jesus truly is alive. And we believe, God, that you can use us as you use these 12 disciples to bring about life for others, to bring about Godliness, to bring about godly fruit that is good and righteous and holy. And Lord, that you call us to make other disciples. And so I pray, help us to be faithful in trusting Lord in your choosing and being faithful, to step out works of faith and to be intentional with others so that others may grow in Christ and be able to know and love you and walk with you and God, that the Gospel by your grace, may go to the ends of the earth, that you would use our small little church to fulfill your great commission. And God, that we would never grow weary in pointing people to the all powerful Christ who is alive and who gives new life to all who believe in him. And I pray God be with us as we continue our service today. And it’s in Jesus name we all pray. Amen. The post Chosen Disciples – Luke 6: 12-19 appeared first on Red Village Church.
Our services are live streamed on YouTube every week from our church in Corpus Christi, Texas at https://www.youtube.com/@HBCCorpus More information about our church or what it means to be a Christian can be found at: http://www.heritagebaptistcctx.org Follow us on Facebook for upcoming events! https://www.facebook.com/HeritageBaptistCorpus/
Godliness gives glory to God.
Guest: Randell Holmes, Jr., college student/athlete at Texas A&M University, author of Daily Devotional for Teen Boys As a young man, Randell found his identity in football…but in college, something changed. To be honest, what changed was Randell himself. God truly got a hold of Randell's heart, his life, his passion and his trajectory in life changed forever! Randell went from a “football player” to a young man passionately pursuing a relationship with the Lord. Great reminder from Randell that walking with Jesus is a relationship…and for a relationship to grow and mature, it takes intentionality - time, energy, focus. If you want to get closer to God, get in the Word, spend time in prayer, and find an older, more mature Christian man to disciple you. Some guys don't want to “get closer” to God - they are fine with “distance” because then they control the relationship - but that's like having a Ferrari and driving it in first gear - it's time to shift and accelerate that relationship! What's next for Randell - well, he's off to an incredible place called Campus by the Sea, a Christian camp on Catalina Island in sunny California! Join me in praying for Randell and this incredible opportunity to impact the lives of others! And don't forget to come back next week for the incredible continuation of our conversation with Randell. Randell's book is part of a 3-part series that covers young men from youth through college: Devotions for Preteen Boys by Randell Holmes, Jr. and Chandler Fletcher Daily Devotionals for Teen Boys (ages 14-16) by Randell Holmes, Jr. Daily Devotionals for College Men by Brett Trefren T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle (info@training4manhood.com) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.
Pastor Gabe continues our teaching series, Breakthrough.
Growth happens daily. Not instantly. Spiritual disciplines are habits of freedom.
Growth happens daily. Not instantly. Spiritual disciplines are habits of freedom.
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Spiritual drift rarely announces itself. It doesn't show up as rebellion or collapse. It shows up as subtle disorder, numbed discernment, and a slow loss of fire in the ordinary rhythms of life. Most people don't abandon discipleship; they simply stop training for it. This week on Win Today, Ian Simkins, lead pastor of The Bridge Church in Tennessee, joins me as part of our Formed discipleship series to expose the quiet ways formation breaks down and to recover the daily practices that restore spiritual clarity, hunger, and endurance. We talk about why the wilderness of everyday life—not the mountaintop—is where God does His deepest work, and how discernment must be trained intentionally if we're going to mature in godliness. If your faith feels cluttered, distracted, or quietly cooling, this conversation will help you recognize the fingerprints of disorder and reclaim the fire of discipleship to Jesus, right where you are. Guest Bio Ian Simkins is the lead pastor of The Bridge Church in Tennessee and a longtime pastor and teacher focused on spiritual formation, discernment, and everyday discipleship. Known for practical, Scripture-rooted teaching, he equips believers to develop resilient faith through disciplined rhythms, community, and faithful obedience to Jesus. Show Partner We spend a third of our lives asleep, so stop treating your bed like an afterthought. Cozy Earth's Bamboo Sheets are a game-changer. They're silky smooth, breathable, and cool to the touch. And they're more than bedding; Cozy Earth also makes bath essentials, pajamas, and men's and women's loungewear designed to bring calm and comfort to everyday life. Try their sheets risk-free with a 100-Night Sleep Trial and a 10-Year Warranty. Start the New Year right. Head to cozyearth.com and use code WINTODAY for up to 20% off. And if you see a post-purchase survey, tell them you heard about Cozy Earth on Win Today. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
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In this episode of Uncommon Sense, I'm calling out a problem no one wants to confront: the normalization of partying, drinking, and casual sex especially among so-called “conservative influencers.”You cannot claim to defend Western Civilization while publicly celebrating the very behaviors that destroyed past civilizations. Conservatism without morality is just aesthetic rebellion.We don't need more clout, cocktails, or compromised values. We need a return to godliness, self-discipline, and moral responsibility because the future generations watching us will inherit whatever standard we tolerate today.If we want to save the West, we have to get serious about being truly Christian again.--https://www.bible.com/
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Pastor Whit continues our teaching series, Breakthrough.
Thank you for listening! Here are some ways to learn more and stay connected!New To Faith? Visit our New To Faith page!Learn more about Pastor Derek NeiderFollow Derek on Instagramor FacebookSubscribe to email.Subscribe to the daily devotionalExplore recent messagesThis podcast was created by Pastor Derek Neider as a ministry of Awaken Las Vegas. Visit our website!We are located at 7175 W. Oquendo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89113. Our gathering times are 9am & 11am Sundays and 6:30pm Thursdays.
Cameron called in to ask about the “perfection” we have in Christ versus the “godliness” we're called to in our attitudes and actions.How do these two fit together?In this episode, I address these two concepts and also talk about God's answer to perfectionism.Enjoy
1 Peter 3:1-6 (ESV)Andrew, Isack, and Edwin discuss how wives live honorably even when their husbands don't obey the Word.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here. Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=24024The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/
There's a reason your hunger fades when life gets busy and your soul gets loud: boredom becomes a shortcut to numbing, entitlement masquerades as discernment, and self-pity convinces you that endurance is optional. This week on Win Today, Bethel Music's Kristene DiMarco joins me to confront the quiet habits that starve spiritual hunger and to show us how to train the soul when worship feels flat, prayer drags, and offense stands in the doorway of growth. We talk about the discipline of boredom, the anatomy of hunger, why entitlement and self-pity atrophy endurance, and how to lay down your "right" to be offended by everything in life so true formation can continue. If you feel dulled by distraction, easily offended, or tired of mistaking relief for transformation, this conversation will call you back to the long road of love. Guest Bio Kristene DiMarco is a songwriter and worship leader with Bethel Music, known for penning and recording modern hymns and congregational anthems and for leading worship at churches and conferences around the world. Her albums and collaborations with Bethel Music and Jesus Culture have introduced a wide range of songs to the global church, and she continues to write and lead with a focus on honest lyrics, theological clarity, and resilient faith. Show Partners We spend a third of our lives asleep, so stop treating your bed like an afterthought. Cozy Earth's Bamboo Sheets are a game-changer. They're silky smooth, breathable, and cool to the touch. And they're more than bedding; Cozy Earth also makes bath essentials, pajamas, and men's and women's loungewear designed to bring calm and comfort to everyday life. Try their sheets risk-free with a 100-Night Sleep Trial and a 10-Year Warranty. Start the New Year right. Head to cozyearth.com and use code WINTODAY for up to 20% off. And if you see a post-purchase survey, tell them you heard about Cozy Earth on Win Today. SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters, because a lot of so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
The love of money is a heart issue. It's called greed. Greed is one of the enemies of our hearts. Very quietly it slips in and begins to guide and direct our decisions. The Bible calls greed sin because it can lead us to push God out of our lives. Greed is dangerous because it blinds us to what is truly important.Main Points:1. The problem with the love of money is that it is never satisfied. When will you have enough? It doesn't matter how much we possess, we still want more. The love of money can motivate any evil on this earth. There is no sin that cannot be committed for the sake of money.2. Jesus identifies the love of money as a heart issue. Here is an important biblical truth: Satisfaction can only be found in Christ. Contentment can only be gained through a relationship with Jesus. Apart from living for Jesus, our hearts wander in search of fulfillment, only to never find it.3. We rid ourselves of greed and materialism when we treasure Jesus above all things. He is our ultimate treasure. When we have Jesus we have everything we need. This is how we guard our hearts against the root of all evil. Today's Scripture Verses:1 Timothy 6:10 - “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Luke 12:34 - “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”1 Timothy 6:6 – “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group