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Scripture Reading: John 1:16-17Speaker: Jim AngehrSeries: "The Gospel of John"
John closes his magnificent prologue using language with overt connections to Exodus 33-34, making clear his view of Jesus' divinity and beauty. Taught by Ryan Doucet
Overcoming deception and embracing the transforming power of divine love.Summary: We gathered for prayer and fellowship before diving into a powerful discussion on spiritual growth and the dangers of bad teaching. The meeting explored how false or incomplete doctrine often originates from the enemy's deception, subtly pulling believers away from God's love and grace. Through personal reflection and scriptural insight, we examined how the Holy Spirit exposes error and restores understanding through truth. The conversation also focused on humility, forgiveness, and submission to proper teaching as essential parts of growth. We ended by affirming that true transformation comes through grace—where God's love refines us, restores us, and replaces fear with freedom.Themes:Bad teaching and deception trace back to the enemy's lies (Revelation 12:9)Grace and truth expose error and lead to spiritual maturity (John 1:17)Overcoming fear through the perfect love of God (1 John 4:18)Submission to proper teaching brings protection and growth (Hebrews 13:17)God uses imperfect leaders to shape and refine His people (Romans 8:28)Forgiveness within the body of Christ strengthens unity and humility (Ephesians 4:31–32)Spiritual growth requires letting go of pride and relying on divine truth (James 4:6–8)Love and grace transform pain into understanding and maturity (2 Peter 3:18)Scripture References: Revelation 12:9; John 1:17; 1 John 4:18; Hebrews 13:17; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 4:31–32; James 4:6–8; 2 Peter 3:18Reflection Question: Am I willing to let God's truth confront my comfort—to unlearn what the world taught, so I can grow in grace and walk in His freedom?
Send us a textGood In Tension Week 1: Grace and TruthJesus' way of Loving was:Messy, Inconsistent, Unfair, ConfusingThe Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NIVIt's not a problem to solve, it's a tension to manage.Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety -nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:1-8“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.' 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:17-24“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' “‘My son,' the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'” Luke 15:28-32God could not love you more. Nothing you do will cause Him to love you less.Discussion Questions:What's a funny or everyday “tension” you deal with, something like coffee vs. sleep or eating healthy vs. eating happy?When you hear the phrase “full of grace and truth,” which word do you personally lean toward, grace or truth.How have you seen people misuse grace or truth — leaning too hard on one side and missing the heart of Jesus?In that story, Jesus says, “I don't condemn you. Go and leave your life of sin.” How does that sentence hold tension between grace and truth?What does it mean for Relate Church (or your small group) to be “comfortable in the messy”? Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today's message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved
The phrase “Have faith in God” is far more profound than we realize. It's not passive belief; it's an active choice to trust God over your own sensory knowledge. We must recognize that the world system is constantly being manipulated, designed to cause us to think opposite of the Word of God. Choosing to trust in the reality of God’s infinite truth is the key to living a successful life. Tune in as Pastor Mark A. Stroud delivers the powerful message, "Fight for Love" which is "Have Faith in God," Part 2, and learn how to make that essential choice. Connect with us at www.kingdomrock.org #FaithInGod #ChristianLiving #TrustGod #WordOfGod #ChristianMessage #SuccessfulLife #BibleStudy #Sermon #love #fightforlove
The phrase “Have faith in God” is far more profound than we realize. It's not passive belief; it's an active choice to trust God over your own sensory knowledge. We must recognize that the world system is constantly being manipulated, designed to cause us to think opposite of the Word of God. Choosing to trust in the reality of God’s infinite truth is the key to living a successful life. Tune in as Pastor Mark A. Stroud delivers the powerful message, "Fight for Love" which is "Have Faith in God," Part 2, and learn how to make that essential choice. Connect with us at www.kingdomrock.org #FaithInGod #ChristianLiving #TrustGod #WordOfGod #ChristianMessage #SuccessfulLife #BibleStudy #Sermon #love #fightforlove
The phrase “Have faith in God” is far more profound than we realize. It's not passive belief; it's an active choice to trust God over your own sensory knowledge. We must recognize that the world system is constantly being manipulated, designed to cause us to think opposite of the Word of God. Choosing to trust in the reality of God’s infinite truth is the key to living a successful life. Tune in as Pastor Mark A. Stroud delivers the powerful message, "Fight for Love" which is "Have Faith in God," Part 2, and learn how to make that essential choice. Connect with us at www.kingdomrock.org #FaithInGod #ChristianLiving #TrustGod #WordOfGod #ChristianMessage #SuccessfulLife #BibleStudy #Sermon #love #fightforlove
"Grace and truth are like two arms with which he embraces us in love." Eric Wayman
The phrase “Have faith in God” is far more profound than we realize. It's not passive belief; it's an active choice to trust God over your own sensory knowledge. We must recognize that the world system is constantly being manipulated, designed to cause us to think opposite of the Word of God. Choosing to trust in the reality of God’s infinite truth is the key to living a successful life. Tune in as Pastor Mark A. Stroud delivers the powerful message, "Have Faith in God," Part 1, and learn how to make that essential choice. Connect with us at www.kingdomrock.org #FaithInGod #ChristianLiving #TrustGod #WordOfGod #ChristianMessage #SuccessfulLife #BibleStudy #Sermon #love #fightforlove
The phrase “Have faith in God” is far more profound than we realize. It's not passive belief; it's an active choice to trust God over your own sensory knowledge. We must recognize that the world system is constantly being manipulated, designed to cause us to think opposite of the Word of God. Choosing to trust in the reality of God’s infinite truth is the key to living a successful life. Tune in as Pastor Mark A. Stroud delivers the powerful message, "Have Faith in God," Part 1, and learn how to make that essential choice. Connect with us at www.kingdomrock.org #FaithInGod #ChristianLiving #TrustGod #WordOfGod #ChristianMessage #SuccessfulLife #BibleStudy #Sermon #love #fightforlove
The phrase “Have faith in God” is far more profound than we realize. It's not passive belief; it's an active choice to trust God over your own sensory knowledge. We must recognize that the world system is constantly being manipulated, designed to cause us to think opposite of the Word of God. Choosing to trust in the reality of God’s infinite truth is the key to living a successful life. Tune in as Pastor Mark A. Stroud delivers the powerful message, "Have Faith in God," Part 1, and learn how to make that essential choice. Connect with us at www.kingdomrock.org #FaithInGod #ChristianLiving #TrustGod #WordOfGod #ChristianMessage #SuccessfulLife #BibleStudy #Sermon #love #fightforlove
In this message, Matt Simmonds explores what it means for Jesus to be “full of grace and truth” by unpacking John 1. In a world of lies, mistrust, and broken promises, he reminds us that God's truth is not only objective reality but also relational faithfulness. Through Jesus, we see God's steadfast love and covenant loyalty revealed - a foundation we can truly build our lives on.
Bob Strader. John's Gospel sermon series. Sept. 28, 2025. Christ Community Church: https://www.cccfamily.org. Watch online: https://www.youtube.com/user/CCCFamilyArlingtonTX
Grace AND Truth — not one or the other. Jesus didn't just come to make us feel better… He came to set us free.
Shame has a way of whispering lies that drown out truth. For today's girls, those lies are amplified by comparison, perfectionism, and a culture that magnifies flaws instead of celebrating God's design. Left unchecked, shame doesn't just shape how our daughters see themselves—it can entangle whole families in cycles of silence, generational sin, and negative self-talk. But as followers of Christ, we know shame doesn't get the last word. In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, co-hosts Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden step into one of the hardest yet most necessary conversations for parents: how to help our daughters battle shame with grace and truth. With vulnerability, Melissa shares how childhood trauma left her searching for comfort in all the wrong places—and how God's faithful love brought freedom where shame once ruled. Rachael opens up about the weight of generational patterns and the importance of showing our girls that Christ's redemption runs deeper than family history. Together, they explore why negative self-talk is so powerful, how inherited shame can quietly shape a girl's identity, and what it means for parents to model speaking God's truth over their own lives. This episode also offers practical tools—from “lie detector” check-ins to truth journals and worship playlists—that help girls replace the “not enough” lies with the promises of Scripture. And woven throughout is the unshakable hope that God rebuilds what shame has broken, turning burdens into blessings for generations to come. This Week's Reminders: Truth is the Antidote to Shame — Help your daughter identify lies and replace them with God's Word. You're Her Coach, Not Her Constant Companion — Equip her with tools, but let her practice walking in truth on her own. God Redeems Family Stories — Generational shame doesn't define her future—Christ does. Scripture Referenced in This Episode: 2 Timothy 1:7 Daniel 3 Romans 8:1 Isaiah 61:3 (beauty for ashes) Ecclesiastes 1:9 (“nothing new under the sun”) Moms, you'll walk away from this episode encouraged not to fear these conversations, but to step into them with honesty, authenticity, and faith. Because when we teach our daughters to name shame and answer it with truth, we give them the confidence to live free in Christ. Explore more resources to raise girls rooted in Christ at raisinggodlygirls.com. To find or start an AHG Troop in your area, visit americanheritagegirls.org.
Send us a textWhen King Rehoboam secured his throne, pride quickly followed--and it cost him everything. But when the nation finally bowed low before God, mercy moved, and wrath turned to grace.This message from 2 Chronicles 12:1-12 explores how pride can quietly pull us away from God, how humility opens the door to restoration, and why the way up in God's kingdom is always down.If you have ever tried to stand tall through your own strength and found yourself worn out instead, this message is for you. Discover the hope that comes when we stop fighting, stop pretending, and let God lift us up.Linkoln shares his story on why he started coming to Ravenna Church of the Nazarene and shares why you should consider doing the same.Ravenna Church of the Nazarene530 Main Street, Ravenna, KY 40472Support the showThe Dirt Path Sermon Podcast is a place for real sermons that speak to real life. Subscribe and walk the path with us every week. Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is the Senior Pastor. Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason? Email rav.naz.ky@gmail.com
October 5, 2025. Pastor Seth Bowker. John 1:1-18. The post “Grace and Truth” John 1:1-18 appeared first on First Baptist Church Aledo, IL.
How do you pass along the cold, hard truth and a warm and loving way? Is it in the words we choose . . . the body language we present . . . the context in which it’s expressed? Yes, yes and yes. But more than that, today Pastor Greg Laurie points out that it comes from a heart of genuine compassion and concern, energized by God’s love. Today here on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg begins the final message in his series in First, Second and Third John. Listen on harvest.org --- Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do you pass along the cold, hard truth and a warm and loving way? Is it in the words we choose . . . the body language we present . . . the context in which it’s expressed? Yes, yes and yes. But more than that, today Pastor Greg Laurie points out that it comes from a heart of genuine compassion and concern, energized by God’s love. Today here on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg begins the final message in his series in First, Second and Third John. Listen on harvest.org --- Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
John 1: 1 - 18.Pastor Jim Zondervanhttps://youtu.be/SCZaT4v7PwA
Over the last 6 weeks, we've been talking through our vision, mission, and philosophy as a church. We started with 4 sermons on the pillars to our ministry. · First, being a faithful church, which begins with God's faithfulness to us in the Gospel. · Second, the means through which God applies his grace in us – which are his Word, prayer, and the sacraments. · Third, the overarching theme of the entire Bible, God's covenant promises and their fulfillment in Christ. · And forth, God's appointed leaders for his church – elders. And now we are applying those pillars to our worship, our discipleship, and our missions. Last week we focused on worship – that is, corporate worship. This week's focus is on discipleship, and then next week, we will conclude with missions and outreach. Please turn to Matthew 28 in your Bibles. Our first of two sermon texts is what we call the great commission. Matthew 28:18-20. That is on page 993 in the Pew Bible. You may be wondering why our sermon text is the great commission, yet our focus is on discipleship. Well, that is because this passage is about discipleship. You can't really separate missions and discipleship. In fact, worship is in the mix as well. Discipleship begins in worship and includes missions. They all overlap. Reading of Matthew 28:18-20 Our second sermon text is from 2 Peter chapter 3. That is on page 1209 in the Pew Bible. 2 Peter 3 verses 14-18. This is one of the more traditional passages related to discipleship. The apostle Peter has just written about the second coming of Christ. And then Peter writes these very important words as far as our godliness and our knowledge of Jesus Christ, as we wait for the new heavens and hearth. Reading of 2 Peter 3:14-18 Prayer If you were to survey 1000 pastors and you were to ask each one for a definition of discipleship, you would get 1000 different answers. Some would focus on relationships. Others would focus on Bible study. Some would center their answer on serving. Others would say it's about being real. Others would make the case that discipleship is all about missions. Some would say that it is about God's kingdom – kingdom discipleship. For others, it's life-on-life ministry. Others talk about sonship – being sons of God. Yet others describe it as head, heart, and hands. For some, families are the most important thing. For others, the church is key. Some say discipleship is about self-denial and taking up your cross. And we ask why? Why are there a gazillion definitions of discipleship? Well, I think the main part of the answer is quite simple. The word “discipleship” is not in the Bible. It is therefore difficult to come up with a Biblical definition for that reason. To be sure, the word “disciple” singular and “disciples” plural are in the Bible. It's just that the word discipleship is not. It's is a word that we've come up with to capture the task of making disciples. The word discipleship seeks to answer the “how” questions. How do we make disciples of Jesus? Discipleship is about implementation. That is why there are so many definitions. And so, I think it's better not to come up with a single approach to discipleship. Rather, I think it's best to first understand what a disciple is, then second, consider the foundations to making disciples. And only after we do that, can we evaluate discipleship approaches and start identifying our own principles. Here's what I am saying… rather than trying to come up with a definition of discipleship, it's better to consider the broader Biblical framework for the task of making disciples. That framework can then be used to evaluate discipleship approaches. By the way, this is an impossible task. I'm not talking about identifying the Biblical principles for making disciples, I'm talking about trying to preach on it in one sermon. I realized this on Friday afternoon. I thought, what have I got myself into? There is no way to fit this into a 30+ minute sermon. I also thought, I'm looking forward to getting back to our regular expository sermons in a couple of weeks. But we are here now. And many of you have mentioned that this series has been helpful. So, I'm going to press on and try. 1. What is a disciple and what is the call? As I mentioned, let's begin with the question, what is a disciple? Let's start by looking at Matthew 28. These verses give us a good foundation on what a disciple is and what a disciple should pursue. And we know these verses well. Matthew 28 verse 19 – “Go therefore and make disciples.” By the way, much debate has been had about the underlying Greek words, especially the word “go.” We're not going to “go” there today. Let me simply say that the imperative here is to “make disciples.” The call is to bring people from not following Jesus to following Jesus. That is what the word disciple means - a follower. Being a follower includes, of course, believing in Jesus, but it implies a lot more. It includes a commitment to Jesus' teaching, and his ways, and pursuing his commands… just like Jesus' 12 disciples did. So the call in Matthew 28 is to “make disciples” and that involves two things here. First, it's bringing them into the covenant community. That's what Baptism is. It includes either being part of a household, like circumcision in the Old Testament – that's one reason why we disciple our children. Or it includes those coming into the covenant community for the first time as believers in Christ. So that's the first task. Second, making disciples also includes teaching the commandments of God. That is captured in verse 20. After the call to baptize, Jesus adds, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Being a disciple requires learning God's commands and pursuing them. I think that all makes sense because that is what a disciple is and what he does. He believes and follows Jesus. And the message to make disciples is simple. Faith, repentance, and obedience. Matthew 28 does not speak to the message. But Jesus has been clear. The Bible is clear. The core message is repentance from sin and faith in Christ. That is what we call our children to, and it is the call for all humanity. Obedience is part of that call. It comes after faith and repentance, as a response to God's grace. Again, Jesus said, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” However, let me say this. The call to faith and repentance does not end when we come to Christ. No, actually, faith, repentance, and obedience is the ongoing call for a disciple. Ongoing repentance from sin; an ongoing renewal of our faith; and an ongoing commitment to observe the commandments of God. Now, just to be sure, when you come to faith in Christ, you are secure in him. You are forgiven of your sin. That does not go away. Rather, renewing your faith in Christ, repentance from ongoing sin, and new obedience are in response to God's saving grace. I just want to be clear about that. Now, you may be thinking, “well, yeah, isn't that obvious? Of course, a disciple should believe that Jesus died for his or her sin and should believe that we need to pursue holiness despite our ongoing sin.” Well, the reason you may think those two points are obvious is because we teach them. We teach the heinousness of our sin before our holy God. We teach that the only path to God is by faith, repenting to God of our sin and trusting in Christ as our Savior. We teach that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is necessary to atone for our sin. And we teach that in our redeemed state, we are still sinners. We are redeemed sinners who struggle with sin but are empowered by God's Spirit to pursue holiness – and God calls us to pursue him. That is the Gospel. But let me say, that message is not emphasized in many parts of Christianity. Often sin is minimized. The word “sin” is not seen as culturally sensitive today. And so, some circles replace it with words like “brokenness” or “struggle” or “woundedness.” I am not saying that we are not broken nor struggle nor have wounds. But when those ideas are used in place of sin and not in connection to it, then the underlying problem of our separation from God because of sin is suppressed. What I am saying is that the task of making disciples of Jesus begins and ends with faith, repentance and the call to observe Jesus' commands. 2. How do we mature as disciples? Ok, let's move on to a second helpful question. Let me ask you, how do you mature as a disciple of Jesus? It's important to ask that question because the Bible calls us to mature in our faith. We call that maturity sanctification. It is the ongoing work of God's Spirit where more and more we die to our sin and live to righteousness. The task of making disciples needs to include that lifelong pursuit. All throughout the Bible we are called to grow in our faith. We're called to be conformed to the image of Christ. We are called to be filled with the knowledge of his will. Hebrews 5 calls us to mature from milk to solid food like children. Ephesians 4 calls us to mature into manhood, growing up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. In 2 Timothy 3, we're to know the Word that the man of God may be equipped for every good work. Romans 12, we're to renew our minds. We would be here all day if we were to go through every single passage that speaks of being conformed more and more to Christ. Rather than doing that, I picked one example that I find to be very helpful as a representative passage. 2 Peter 3:14-18 – it was our second sermon text. If you'll turn there. This is one of my favorite passages about our sanctification. We're going to focus on verse 18, but I don't want to overlook the context. The apostle Peter had just written about Christ's second coming when he will make all things new. While we are waiting, we're called in verse 14 to “be diligent” that we may be “found by him without spot or blemish…” And then a couple of verses later in verse 17, there is a warning against sin. It says, “…take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people...” Then we get to verse 18 which is my favorite. If you only remember one thing about this sermon on discipleship, I want you to remember this verse. 2 Peter 3:18. It says, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” I love it. Let me read it again. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Look first at the titles given to Jesus. Lord and Savior. He is to be both. He is to be Lord over us as we live. We look to him, as Lord. He is to lead us in what is true and right and good. But Jesus is not only our Lord. Jesus is not just a model for living. His teaching includes more than just commands about how to live. He is also our Savior. He has redeemed us. He calls us, as I mentioned earlier, to faith and repentance. And the command in verse 18 is to grow in two things: grace and knowledge of him. · First, we are to grow in grace. That is, more and more we need to see our sin and the depths of his mercy and love. We are to grow in our understanding of the cross and the hope of the resurrection in our suffering, and grief, and pain. That is all growing in grace. · And second, we are to grow in our knowledge of him. We need to know his Word, not for the sake of head knowledge but for the sake of knowing him, knowing God, in his fullness, and living out his commands. You see, when it comes to discipleship, verse 18 is so very helpful. It directs us to the core things that discipleship needs to be about. It direct us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And that is very consistent with the rest of Scripture. A few weeks ago do you remember that I sang you a song during my sermon? Remember it? “Read your Bible, pray every day, and you'll grow, grow, grow.” That was probably the first and last time that I'll do that. Remember that we talked about the ordinary means through which God changes us. And what are those ordinary means? God's Word, Prayer, and the sacraments. We considered Acts 2:42, about the early church, and we looked at Hebrews 4 as well as 1 Corinthians 10. Our sanctification, that is, our growth in grace, comes through the Holy Spirit's work in us as we engage in these appointed means – (1) reading and studying God's word, (2) praying to the one true God of heaven and earth, and (3) participating in the visible signs through which he shows us the Gospel and strengthens our faith, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. And to tie that back to what I mentioned earlier, through those means, we are called again and again to repentance, to a renewal of our faith, and to further observance of and obedience to God's word and will. Here's what I am saying. Any discipleship approach needs to include some aspect of those foundations. I'm not saying every discipleship approach needs to include all of it. But every discipleship approach needs to direct us toward maturing in Christ by… revealing our sin and his grace and commands… or directing us to God Word, prayer, and the sacraments. It is through those avenues, that God conforms us more and more to his image. · So, if a discipleship approach is only about loving as Jesus loved but mentions nothing about sin nor Jesus' call to repentance and faith, then it falls short. · If a discipleship approach is all about being a better husband or wife, or a better doctor or electrician, or a better neighbor, but there's nothing about the grace of God in Christ and being conformed to him and his commands, then it falls short. · If a discipleship approach is about the disciplines of the Christian life, but does not focus on knowing God's Word and being in prayer, then it falls short. I could go on with more examples. My point is that the Scriptures do give us a framework for making disciples. And that framework needs to be at the heart of our discipleship approach. Discipleship at Tucker Presbyterian Which brings us to our church – Tucker Presbyterian. Given what I've said already, how are we seeking to make disciples? By the way, it's entirely impossible for me to answer that question over the next 10 minutes. But I do want to let you know that on the welcome table is a draft of our new philosophy of discipleship. We, as your elders, have been working on this for the last 2-3 months. It includes the foundations to discipleship, which I've just mentioned, but also includes our priorities in discipleship and how we desire to work those out… in worship, in our children and youth ministry, and our adult ministries, which includes our men's and women's ministries. I can't cover it all, but I do want to highlight 8 priorities or principles of our discipleship. 1. We believe discipleship begins in worship. This is really important. Corporate worship is where the means of grace converge, as I mentioned last week. God works through our worship, including our family or private worship. Through worship, he conform us to him as we declare salvation in Jesus Christ and praise God for his grace and mercy. 2. In our discipleship, we desire to foster a heart for missions – a heart for our neighbor and a heart for the nations. In other words, disciple making involves disciple making, which is calling people to faith in Christ. More on this one next week. 3. Discipleship needs to direct people to the local church. Local congregations, where God's covenant people gather, are God's ordained avenues for worship, discipleship, and missions. The sign of baptism is the sign of our ingrafting into Christ and therefore ingrafting into one another as a body of believers. 4. We seek to disciple one another across generations. God's call for the church is to be a people of God together. We want our members, old and young alike, to know and care for and support one other in the task of discipleship. To be sure, we do not believe this should be the exclusive pattern. As Proverbs teaches, a brother is born for adversity, and as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. There is value in peer discipleship, but often times, churches overprioritize that and not intergenerational discipleship. 5. Every single one of us is called in one way or another to the task of making disciples. You may be a parent, you may be an ordained leader in the church, you may have been given one of several Holy Spirit given gifts mentioned in the Bible such as teaching or knowledge or wisdom. Even if none of that applies to you, you are still called to be a witness to your neighbor or co-worker or family member. We are all to be disciple makers. 6. This next one is about children and parents. Parents are ordinarily to be the primary disciplers of their children. However, not all children have believing parents or parent, nor are all parents available for different reasons. The church needs to support parents and children in the discipleship endeavor.o 7. Church discipline is a matter of discipleship. Two months ago, when we were in 2 Corinthians chapter 13, we considered the responsibility that the church has to disciple those whose sin is destroying the family of God or whose sin is unrepentant and grievous. We can't unpack all of that here, but that sermon is out on our website and podcast. And let me remind you that the goal of church disciple is always repentance, renewed faith, and restoration. 8. Finally, number 8. Discipleship needs to happen in the context of fellowship. In Acts 2:42 intentional fellowship, or koinonia fellowship, is included with the means of grace. Fellowship is important. We believe discipleship happens in relationships with one another because we are brothers and sisters united together in Christ. So, those are our priorities in discipleship: the priority of worship, a heart for missions, the centrality of the local church, discipleship across generations and in support of peers, assisting parents, church discipline, and all in the context of deep fellowship. Conclusion In summary, we do not believe there's a one-size-fits-all pattern for implementing discipleship. However, that does not mean that all discipleship approaches are good. We need to evaluate each according to God's pattern for making disciples which he has given in his Word. And at its core, that pattern for making disciples involves (1) calling each other to faith and repentance and obedience in Christ, and (2) directing one another to the Word, prayer, and the sacraments. It is through those means that God will grow us in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Over the last 6 weeks, we've been talking through our vision, mission, and philosophy as a church. We started with 4 sermons on the pillars to our ministry.· First, being a faithful church, which begins with God's faithfulness to us in the Gospel.· Second, the means through which God applies his grace in us – which are his Word, prayer, and the sacraments.· Third, the overarching theme of the entire Bible, God's covenant promises and their fulfillment in Christ.· And forth, God's appointed leaders for his church – elders.And now we are applying those pillars to our worship, our discipleship, and our missions. Last week we focused on worship – that is, corporate worship. This week's focus is on discipleship, and then next week, we will conclude with missions and outreach.Please turn to Matthew 28 in your Bibles. Our first of two sermon texts is what we call the great commission. Matthew 28:18-20. That is on page 993 in the Pew Bible.You may be wondering why our sermon text is the great commission, yet our focus is on discipleship. Well, that is because this passage is about discipleship. You can't really separate missions and discipleship. In fact, worship is in the mix as well. Discipleship begins in worship and includes missions. They all overlap.Reading of Matthew 28:18-20Our second sermon text is from 2 Peter chapter 3. That is on page 1209 in the Pew Bible. 2 Peter 3 verses 14-18.This is one of the more traditional passages related to discipleship. The apostle Peter has just written about the second coming of Christ. And then Peter writes these very important words as far as our godliness and our knowledge of Jesus Christ, as we wait for the new heavens and hearth.Reading of 2 Peter 3:14-18PrayerIf you were to survey 1000 pastors and you were to ask each one for a definition of discipleship, you would get 1000 different answers.Some would focus on relationships. Others would focus on Bible study. Some would center their answer on serving. Others would say it's about being real. Others would make the case that discipleship is all about missions. Some would say that it is about God's kingdom – kingdom discipleship. For others, it's life-on-life ministry. Others talk about sonship – being sons of God. Yet others describe it as head, heart, and hands. For some, families are the most important thing. For others, the church is key. Some say discipleship is about self-denial and taking up your cross.And we ask why? Why are there a gazillion definitions of discipleship?Well, I think the main part of the answer is quite simple.The word “discipleship” is not in the Bible. It is therefore difficult to come up with a Biblical definition for that reason. To be sure, the word “disciple” singular and “disciples” plural are in the Bible. It's just that the word discipleship is not. It's is a word that we've come up with to capture the task of making disciples. The word discipleship seeks to answer the “how” questions. How do we make disciples of Jesus? Discipleship is about implementation. That is why there are so many definitions.And so, I think it's better not to come up with a single approach to discipleship. Rather, I think it's best to first understand what a disciple is, then second, consider the foundations to making disciples. And only after we do that, can we evaluate discipleship approaches and start identifying our own principles.Here's what I am saying… rather than trying to come up with a definition of discipleship, it's better to consider the broader Biblical framework for the task of making disciples. That framework can then be used to evaluate discipleship approaches.By the way, this is an impossible task. I'm not talking about identifying the Biblical principles for making disciples, I'm talking about trying to preach on it in one sermon. I realized this on Friday afternoon. I thought, what have I got myself into? There is no way to fit this into a 30+ minute sermon. I also thought, I'm looking forward to getting back to our regular expository sermons in a couple of weeks.But we are here now. And many of you have mentioned that this series has been helpful. So, I'm going to press on and try.1. What is a disciple and what is the call?As I mentioned, let's begin with the question, what is a disciple?Let's start by looking at Matthew 28. These verses give us a good foundation on what a disciple is and what a disciple should pursue. And we know these verses well. Matthew 28 verse 19 – “Go therefore and make disciples.” By the way, much debate has been had about the underlying Greek words, especially the word “go.” We're not going to “go” there today. Let me simply say that the imperative here is to “make disciples.”The call is to bring people from not following Jesus to following Jesus. That is what the word disciple means - a follower. Being a follower includes, of course, believing in Jesus, but it implies a lot more. It includes a commitment to Jesus' teaching, and his ways, and pursuing his commands… just like Jesus' 12 disciples did.So the call in Matthew 28 is to “make disciples” and that involves two things here. First, it's bringing them into the covenant community. That's what Baptism is. It includes either being part of a household, like circumcision in the Old Testament – that's one reason why we disciple our children. Or it includes those coming into the covenant community for the first time as believers in Christ. So that's the first task.Second, making disciples also includes teaching the commandments of God. That is captured in verse 20. After the call to baptize, Jesus adds, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Being a disciple requires learning God's commands and pursuing them.I think that all makes sense because that is what a disciple is and what he does. He believes and follows Jesus.And the message to make disciples is simple. Faith, repentance, and obedience.Matthew 28 does not speak to the message. But Jesus has been clear. The Bible is clear. The core message is repentance from sin and faith in Christ. That is what we call our children to, and it is the call for all humanity. Obedience is part of that call. It comes after faith and repentance, as a response to God's grace. Again, Jesus said, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”However, let me say this. The call to faith and repentance does not end when we come to Christ. No, actually, faith, repentance, and obedience is the ongoing call for a disciple. Ongoing repentance from sin; an ongoing renewal of our faith; and an ongoing commitment to observe the commandments of God.Now, just to be sure, when you come to faith in Christ, you are secure in him. You are forgiven of your sin. That does not go away. Rather, renewing your faith in Christ, repentance from ongoing sin, and new obedience are in response to God's saving grace. I just want to be clear about that.Now, you may be thinking, “well, yeah, isn't that obvious? Of course, a disciple should believe that Jesus died for his or her sin and should believe that we need to pursue holiness despite our ongoing sin.”Well, the reason you may think those two points are obvious is because we teach them. We teach the heinousness of our sin before our holy God. We teach that the only path to God is by faith, repenting to God of our sin and trusting in Christ as our Savior. We teach that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is necessary to atone for our sin. And we teach that in our redeemed state, we are still sinners. We are redeemed sinners who struggle with sin but are empowered by God's Spirit to pursue holiness – and God calls us to pursue him. That is the Gospel.But let me say, that message is not emphasized in many parts of Christianity. Often sin is minimized. The word “sin” is not seen as culturally sensitive today. And so, some circles replace it with words like “brokenness” or “struggle” or “woundedness.” I am not saying that we are not broken nor struggle nor have wounds. But when those ideas are used in place of sin and not in connection to it, then the underlying problem of our separation from God because of sin is suppressed.What I am saying is that the task of making disciples of Jesus begins and ends with faith, repentance and the call to observe Jesus' commands.2. How do we mature as disciples?Ok, let's move on to a second helpful question. Let me ask you, how do you mature as a disciple of Jesus?It's important to ask that question because the Bible calls us to mature in our faith. We call that maturity sanctification. It is the ongoing work of God's Spirit where more and more we die to our sin and live to righteousness. The task of making disciples needs to include that lifelong pursuit. All throughout the Bible we are called to grow in our faith. We're called to be conformed to the image of Christ. We are called to be filled with the knowledge of his will. Hebrews 5 calls us to mature from milk to solid food like children. Ephesians 4 calls us to mature into manhood, growing up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. In 2 Timothy 3, we're to know the Word that the man of God may be equipped for every good work. Romans 12, we're to renew our minds.We would be here all day if we were to go through every single passage that speaks of being conformed more and more to Christ. Rather than doing that, I picked one example that I find to be very helpful as a representative passage. 2 Peter 3:14-18 – it was our second sermon text. If you'll turn there.This is one of my favorite passages about our sanctification.We're going to focus on verse 18, but I don't want to overlook the context.The apostle Peter had just written about Christ's second coming when he will make all things new. While we are waiting, we're called in verse 14 to “be diligent” that we may be “found by him without spot or blemish…” And then a couple of verses later in verse 17, there is a warning against sin. It says, “…take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people...”Then we get to verse 18 which is my favorite. If you only remember one thing about this sermon on discipleship, I want you to remember this verse. 2 Peter 3:18. It says, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” I love it. Let me read it again. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”Look first at the titles given to Jesus. Lord and Savior. He is to be both. He is to be Lord over us as we live. We look to him, as Lord. He is to lead us in what is true and right and good. But Jesus is not only our Lord. Jesus is not just a model for living. His teaching includes more than just commands about how to live. He is also our Savior. He has redeemed us. He calls us, as I mentioned earlier, to faith and repentance.And the command in verse 18 is to grow in two things: grace and knowledge of him.· First, we are to grow in grace. That is, more and more we need to see our sin and the depths of his mercy and love. We are to grow in our understanding of the cross and the hope of the resurrection in our suffering, and grief, and pain. That is all growing in grace.· And second, we are to grow in our knowledge of him. We need to know his Word, not for the sake of head knowledge but for the sake of knowing him, knowing God, in his fullness, and living out his commands.You see, when it comes to discipleship, verse 18 is so very helpful. It directs us to the core things that discipleship needs to be about. It direct us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And that is very consistent with the rest of Scripture.A few weeks ago do you remember that I sang you a song during my sermon? Remember it? “Read your Bible, pray every day, and you'll grow, grow, grow.”That was probably the first and last time that I'll do that. Remember that we talked about the ordinary means through which God changes us. And what are those ordinary means? God's Word, Prayer, and the sacraments. We considered Acts 2:42, about the early church, and we looked at Hebrews 4 as well as 1 Corinthians 10.Our sanctification, that is, our growth in grace, comes through the Holy Spirit's work in us as we engage in these appointed means – (1) reading and studying God's word, (2) praying to the one true God of heaven and earth, and (3) participating in the visible signs through which he shows us the Gospel and strengthens our faith, Baptism and the Lord's Supper.And to tie that back to what I mentioned earlier, through those means, we are called again and again to repentance, to a renewal of our faith, and to further observance of and obedience to God's word and will.Here's what I am saying. Any discipleship approach needs to include some aspect of those foundations. I'm not saying every discipleship approach needs to include all of it. But every discipleship approach needs to direct us toward maturing in Christ by… revealing our sin and his grace and commands… or directing us to God Word, prayer, and the sacraments. It is through those avenues, that God conforms us more and more to his image.· So, if a discipleship approach is only about loving as Jesus loved but mentions nothing about sin nor Jesus' call to repentance and faith, then it falls short.· If a discipleship approach is all about being a better husband or wife, or a better doctor or electrician, or a better neighbor, but there's nothing about the grace of God in Christ and being conformed to him and his commands, then it falls short.· If a discipleship approach is about the disciplines of the Christian life, but does not focus on knowing God's Word and being in prayer, then it falls short.I could go on with more examples. My point is that the Scriptures do give us a framework for making disciples. And that framework needs to be at the heart of our discipleship approach.Discipleship at Tucker PresbyterianWhich brings us to our church – Tucker Presbyterian. Given what I've said already, how are we seeking to make disciples?By the way, it's entirely impossible for me to answer that question over the next 10 minutes.But I do want to let you know that on the welcome table is a draft of our new philosophy of discipleship. We, as your elders, have been working on this for the last 2-3 months. It includes the foundations to discipleship, which I've just mentioned, but also includes our priorities in discipleship and how we desire to work those out… in worship, in our children and youth ministry, and our adult ministries, which includes our men's and women's ministries.I can't cover it all, but I do want to highlight 8 priorities or principles of our discipleship.1. We believe discipleship begins in worship. This is really important. Corporate worship is where the means of grace converge, as I mentioned last week. God works through our worship, including our family or private worship. Through worship, he conform us to him as we declare salvation in Jesus Christ and praise God for his grace and mercy.2. In our discipleship, we desire to foster a heart for missions – a heart for our neighbor and a heart for the nations. In other words, disciple making involves disciple making, which is calling people to faith in Christ. More on this one next week.3. Discipleship needs to direct people to the local church. Local congregations, where God's covenant people gather, are God's ordained avenues for worship, discipleship, and missions. The sign of baptism is the sign of our ingrafting into Christ and therefore ingrafting into one another as a body of believers.4. We seek to disciple one another across generations. God's call for the church is to be a people of God together. We want our members, old and young alike, to know and care for and support one other in the task of discipleship. To be sure, we do not believe this should be the exclusive pattern. As Proverbs teaches, a brother is born for adversity, and as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. There is value in peer discipleship, but often times, churches overprioritize that and not intergenerational discipleship.5. Every single one of us is called in one way or another to the task of making disciples. You may be a parent, you may be an ordained leader in the church, you may have been given one of several Holy Spirit given gifts mentioned in the Bible such as teaching or knowledge or wisdom. Even if none of that applies to you, you are still called to be a witness to your neighbor or co-worker or family member. We are all to be disciple makers.6. This next one is about children and parents. Parents are ordinarily to be the primary disciplers of their children. However, not all children have believing parents or parent, nor are all parents available for different reasons. The church needs to support parents and children in the discipleship endeavor.o7. Church discipline is a matter of discipleship. Two months ago, when we were in 2 Corinthians chapter 13, we considered the responsibility that the church has to disciple those whose sin is destroying the family of God or whose sin is unrepentant and grievous. We can't unpack all of that here, but that sermon is out on our website and podcast. And let me remind you that the goal of church disciple is always repentance, renewed faith, and restoration. 8. Finally, number 8. Discipleship needs to happen in the context of fellowship. In Acts 2:42 intentional fellowship, or koinonia fellowship, is included with the means of grace. Fellowship is important. We believe discipleship happens in relationships with one another because we are brothers and sisters united together in Christ.So, those are our priorities in discipleship: the priority of worship, a heart for missions, the centrality of the local church, discipleship across generations and in support of peers, assisting parents, church discipline, and all in the context of deep fellowship.ConclusionIn summary, we do not believe there's a one-size-fits-all pattern for implementing discipleship. However, that does not mean that all discipleship approaches are good. We need to evaluate each according to God's pattern for making disciples which he has given in his Word.And at its core, that pattern for making disciples involves (1) calling each other to faith and repentance and obedience in Christ, and (2) directing one another to the Word, prayer, and the sacraments. It is through those means that God will grow us in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
When Isaiah wrote "Truth has stumbled in the public squares" (Is. 59:14), he could just as well have been describing our day. Dennis and Barbara Rainey discuss the importance of training kids to recognize, appreciate, and love the truth.Barbara and Dennis Rainey tackle a question facing so many Christian families: how do we teach our children to love and stand for the truth in a world full of shifting values and competing ideas? Barbara shares insights from her own parenting journey—including the challenges of finding engaging material for kids of different ages—and explains why stories, especially those rooted in history and faith, are so powerful for passing down unchanging truths.Together, the Raineys reflect on our culture's drift toward relativism and the importance of grounding kids in the absolute standards found in Scripture. You'll hear why instilling a love for truth goes far beyond simple lessons about honesty, and discover the enduring role that family storytelling can play in shaping character and courage for generations to come. Stay tuned for practical encouragement and a preview of inspiring real-life stories that illuminate the hope and freedom found in living by the truth.00:00 Inspirational Family Storybooks05:37 "Passing Faith Through Storytelling"07:21 Stories About Truth for Families11:42 "I Am" Statements Poster Calendar13:25 "Dying Father's Words Revealed"
When we think of justice, we often think of fairness, punishment, or legal systems, but what does God's justice actually look like? And why is it good news, not just for the world, but for each of us personally?In this episode, we take a deep dive into a biblical look at God's justice. We explore how God's justice through Christ is beautiful, a blessing to us, and a reminder of how we should treat others. We also briefly address the tension that can arise when someone who has caused harm to us comes to Christ. How do we trust in God's justice when the person who hurt us is forgiven by Christ? What does it mean that Jesus paid for their sin, too?Join us for a conversation that re-centers our view of justice as we see it in scripture.Connect With Us providenceomaha.org | Instagram | Facebook Email Us formation@providenceomaha.org
Segment 1: • Kirk's assassination sparked memes and laughter—proof of hollowed-out consciences. • “Demons among us” isn't metaphorical—darkness rules when life is mocked. • Redemption through Christ, not politics, is the only cure for such depravity. Segment 2: • Culture sets standards low—and behavior sinks even lower. • Mandates, laws, and culture shifts can't fix broken hearts. • Only heart transformation raises behavior and restores dignity. Segment 3: • Attacks on penal substitution are assaults on forgiveness itself. • PSA: Christ bore our punishment as our substitute—without it, no salvation. • Critics dismiss it as “cosmic child abuse,” but Scripture repeatedly affirms it. Segment 4: • Denying PSA guts the meaning of the cross. • Alternative atonement models may explain effects, but not the cause. • With PSA, the cross is God's greatest act of love AND justice—without it, just sentiment. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!
In this episode with all five pastors we talk about our Sunday breakfast routine as pastors, we learn about what happens to Jeremy when he doesn't eat breakfast before his training session, and we discuss grace and truth.
Jesus' leadership was marked by both grace and truth—never one at the expense of the other. Truth sets boundaries, confronts sin, and reveals God's standards. Grace offers forgiveness, kindness, and help for people to flourish. When we look at Jesus' interactions—the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery—we see Him refusing to excuse sin while still welcoming sinners. Too often, we lean toward one side: emphasizing grace in a way that tolerates sin, or emphasizing truth in a way that crushes people under legalism. But Jesus shows us a better way. Compassion, not mere empathy, allows us to feel for others while staying anchored in God's truth, offering comfort and correction. As His people, we're called to represent Him by walking in this same framework of grace and truth—speaking truth in love, extending compassion, and standing firm in a culture that often demands one without the other.You can join our OneLife Sunday morning gatherings via livestream at 8:45am and 10:30am CST every Sunday morning. Or if you're local to the Bay Area of Houston, we'd love to have you join us in person Saturdays at 5pm and Sundays at 8:45am, 10:30am, and 12:30pm!Subscribe to our YouTube channel to join us live on Sunday mornings: / @onelifehoustonListen to more messages from OneLife Church at https://www.onelifehouston.com/messagesIf you would like to give to OneLife Church, you can do that here: https://www.onelifehouston.com/giveAt OneLife, we want to be and make disciples of Jesus who love God, one another, and our world. We are God's people making much of Jesus in everyday life for the good of the neighborhoods in the Bay Area of Houston and beyond.For more information about us and our gatherings, visit https://www.onelifehouston.com
Join Pastor Mark A. Stroud for Part 7 of his insightful series, "Grace and Truth." Unforgiveness is a trap. It appears to be sweet but it's bitter to the core. We must let them go so God can let us go. kingdomrock.org
Join Pastor Mark A. Stroud for Part 7 of his insightful series, "Grace and Truth." Unforgiveness is a trap. It appears to be sweet but it's bitter to the core. We must let them go so God can let us go. kingdomrock.org
Join Pastor Mark A. Stroud for Part 6 of his insightful series, "Grace and Truth." Unforgiveness is a trap. It appears to be sweet but it's bitter to the core. We must let them go so God can let us go. kingdomrock.org
Join Pastor Mark A. Stroud for Part 6 of his insightful series, "Grace and Truth." Unforgiveness is a trap. It appears to be sweet but it's bitter to the core. We must let them go so God can let us go. kingdomrock.org
Send us a textIn Episode 336 of Missions Incorporated, host Jesse Schreck tackles a vital question for missionaries in Italy: How should we engage Italians in spiritual discussions, considering their Catholic background? Jesse explores the nuances of Italy's predominantly Roman Catholic culture, where 90% identify as Catholic, yet only 5% actively practice. He emphasizes finding common ground, clarifying the true gospel, and addressing misconceptions like baptismal regeneration. Key strategies include encouraging Italians to read the Bible, discussing the necessity of being born again, and using presuppositional apologetics to challenge secular worldviews. Jesse also shares practical tips for effective outreach, such as forming missionary bands, distributing gospel literature, and hosting community events. Stick around for ministry updates, prayer requests, and opportunities to get involved with Practical Missions Cohort in Italy!Appreciate this content? Buy Jesse a coffee at BMC or support the PMc Mission directly.Links:PMc Short-term CohortsMission FacilityVision TripPMc Missions BlogPartnerLong-Term MissionsMissionary InternshipPMc AcademiaThe Italian Cohort - join PMc's online Discord communityServe - PMc has numerous avenues of involvementPodcast Producer - Available PositionLike Jesus driven to His cross, so we drive ourselves to the singular task of the edification (planting) of Biblical churches in Italy.Freely join the online Discord group of PMc! The Italian CohortSupport the showDo you love God, Italians, Italy, and the church of Jesus Christ? Do you want to play a more personal role in missions work abroad? Do you want to get all our content and updates (plus bonus material no one else sees) before anyone else? We invite you to join The Italian Cohort - our online community group on Discord - and gain inside access to the work going on in Italy.
In todays message Pastor Dan Martin shows parents how God loves and guides His children through grace, unconditional love, security, healthy boundaries, purpose, and truth. When we understand how our Heavenly Father parents us, we can raise strong, confident kids who know they are deeply loved and created for something significant.
In todays message Pastor Dan Martin shows parents how God loves and guides His children through grace, unconditional love, security, healthy boundaries, purpose, and truth. When we understand how our Heavenly Father parents us, we can raise strong, confident kids who know they are deeply loved and created for something significant.
Join Pastor Mark A. Stroud for Part 5 of his insightful series, "Grace and Truth." In today's message, we will explore the often-overlooked stages of salvation. Understanding these stages is crucial and will bring profound clarity and purpose to the life of every born-again believer. This is one message you don't want to miss!
Join Pastor Mark A. Stroud for Part 5 of his insightful series, "Grace and Truth." In today's message, we will explore the often-overlooked stages of salvation. Understanding these stages is crucial and will bring profound clarity and purpose to the life of every born-again believer. This is one message you don't want to miss!
Pastor, author, and activist Lucas Miles joins me today for a candid conversation about the challenges facing today's church. Lucas, author of Woke Jesus, brings a powerful perspective on how wokeness has infiltrated the pulpit and what it means for believers navigating these cultural shifts. We're exploring the importance of standing firm on biblical truth while engaging a culture that often resists it. Whether you're a church leader or a believer seeking to stay grounded in faith, this episode will encourage and equip you to think critically and biblically about the pressing issues of our time.Lucas Miles | lucasmiles.org | nfluencechurch.orgPrime Sponsor: No matter where you live, visit the Functional Medical Institute online today to connect with Drs Mark and Michele Sherwood. Go to homeschoolhealth.com to get connected and see some of my favorites items. Use coupon code HEIDI for 20% off!BRAVE Books | heidibrave.comLifestone Ministries | Lifestoneministries.com/heidiGive Send Go | givesendgo.comShow mentions: heidistjohn.com/mentionsWebsite | heidistjohn.comSupport the show! | donorbox.org/donation-827Rumble | rumble.com/user/HeidiStJohnYoutube | youtube.com/@HeidiStJohnPodcastInstagram | @heidistjohnFacebook | Heidi St. JohnX | @heidistjohnFaith That Speaks Online CommunitySubmit your questions for Mailbox Mondayheidistjohn.net/mailboxmonday
On this episode of Uncommon Sense with Ginny Robinson, we're addressing the troubling reality of the Epstein list and Donald Trump's failure to bring it to light, holding it up to the standard of biblical justice. God's Word commands that evil be exposed, not hidden in the darkness. I also take time to answer a variety of questions from you, my beloved audience.--https://policecoffee.com/collections/coffee
Join Pastor Mark A. Stroud for Part 4 of his insightful series, "Grace and Truth." In today's message, we will explore the often-overlooked stages of salvation. Understanding these stages is crucial and will bring profound clarity and purpose to the life of every born-again believer. This is one message you don't want to miss!
Leading With Purpose Summer SeriesJoin Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series designed to strengthen your leadership and renew your sense of mission. Every other week, you'll hear one of the most-listened-to conversations from past seasons. Each episode offering practical encouragement and a fresh reminder of why Christ-centered higher education matters.This episode originally aired Oct 2024Michael Lindsay, President of Taylor University, joins the show to share how the principles of grace and truth guide his leadership, especially in the turbulent times facing Christian higher education.Michael tells us why he believes the pandemic elevated expectations for the value proposition of biblical higher ed and how Christian leaders can turn these challenges into opportunities. He also provides insights into a successful fundraising campaign for some of Taylor's exciting projects, including community outreach and campus expansions.Tune in to hear how Taylor University is helping to shape the next generation of Christian leaders through discipleship initiatives.Join us as we discuss:[5:17] Finding the motivation in a college president's work[13:16] How Taylor University is giving back to their community [18:59] Discipleship and seeking counsel from your predecessorsCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:ABHE 78th Annual MeetingHinge Moments: Making the Most of Life's Transitions by Michael LindsayPresidential Fellows Program - Taylor UniversityTo hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
JOHN 1:14 b | FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH ILLUSTRATION : Just a couple weeks back we had wrapped up with family camp, but before we headed out the kids wanted to take one final walk up into the mountains to show us some things. There was just one problem, we had to cross the creek to get there. Now I have…
In "The Man in the Mirror," Part 3 of the "Grace and Truth" series, Pastor Mark A. Stroud asks a profound question: what do you see when you look in the mirror? Beyond the physical reflection lies a spiritual one. The Bible says we are "predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ." But how does God's incredible grace and unending forgiveness transform us into that image? In this sermon, Pastor Stroud unpacks the truth of Romans 8 and shows us how our identity in Christ is not based on what we've done, but on what God has done. Get ready to have your perspective shifted and your faith strengthened! Don't miss a message! Subscribe to our channel for new sermons every week. About this Series: "Grace and Truth" explores the perfect balance between God's grace and His truth, and how they work together to shape our lives. Find us online: Kingdomrock.org
Join Pastor Derek Neider in this inspiring episode of The Daily Devotional as he kicks off a powerful new series on the book of Romans. In today's devotional, Derek introduces us to one of the most theologically rich books of the Bible, unpacking the significance of the apostle Paul's words and the gospel's eternal message.In this first chapter, Derek dives deep into Paul's self-description as a servant of Christ and a chosen messenger of God's good news. Through thoughtful reflections, Derek encourages us to embrace our calling to serve Christ wholeheartedly and live out our faith with purpose and surrender.Tune in for insightful teachings, practical application, and a fresh perspective on what it means to live as servants of the gospel. This is just the beginning—there's so much more to come as we journey through Romans together!Thank you for listening! Here are some ways to learn more and stay connected!New to faith? Click here!Learn more about Pastor Derek NeiderFollow Derek on Instagramor FacebookSubscribe to email Subscribe to the daily devotionalExplore recent messages!This 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.
It's our favorite time of year! Summer at The Compass! Cook some burgers, light the camp fire, make s'mores and sing along to the hit of the summer! It's another summer of great guest speakers and you won't want to miss any of them no matter where you are.Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncardIf you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give
Romans 1:6-7 — The church in Rome was an extraordinary church whose faith was known by all the believers. In this sermon titled “Grace and Truth… by Jesus Christ,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines some of the reasons that the apostle Paul writes as highly as he does of this church in Romans 1:6–7. Like all believers, they were once sinful men and women, but God in His grace called them out of the world to be a holy people set apart for His great purposes. All Christians are saved by God's grace alone and there is nothing they can do to contribute to their salvation. Because they are saved, they are at peace with God and one another. These great doctrines of the Christian faith serve as the foundation of the Christian life. This is a life of loving one another and seeking to share the message of Christ with all. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that all true living must come from true doctrine and a true knowledge of God. This sermon confronts all with the message of God's free grace to sinners who have no other hope than Jesus Christ. The church in Rome was a congregation of redeemed believers who trusted in Jesus and sought to live according to the calling of God in their lives.
