Podcasts about grumbling

November 16, 2025 (Pastor Casey Shutt) - A sermon based on Exodus 17:8-16.

Philippians 2:12-16

Find a Christ-centered resource for your family's holidays.   Episode 275 // Sometimes, we find our greatest motivation in a reality check about life. And that is my goal in today's episode: not to discourage, but to encourage all of us to work intentionally on our grumbling hearts.    And we'll find that encouragement with a reality check about how our grumbling - and our gratitude! - impacts the people we love the most.   Last week, we looked at a biblical basis for working on this issue in our lives. But today, we're going to look around us. At our families. Our homes. Our kids. Our marriages.    Because the reality is, our grumbling is impacting our families. We don't need to beat ourselves up about it, but we can find motivation to address this issue in our hearts when we realize the impact it can have (that we might not even realize).    Join me in Part 2 of our series on Gratitude Over Grumbling. Let's dive in.   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Build a daily Bible and prayer habit with this free 45-day guide.   DEVOTIONAL: Find a Christmas devotional or Advent calendar for yourself or the whole family!   RELATED ON THE PODCAST: Yes, Your Emotional Struggles Are Impacting Your Family: How, Why, And What To Do (EP 243)   RELATED ON THE BLOG: 12 Easy Ways To Give More Positive Attention To Your Family   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Support the show on Patreon for just a few dollars a month, and grab access to our 2025 perk of daily(ish) devotionals!    Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

By Caleb Kinsella - Philippians 2:14-15, urges Christians to live without complaining or disputing to shine as lights in a self-centered world. Drawing from biblical examples to our own lives. We walk through some scenarios of work stress, traffic woes, home chores, and family demands that tempt grumbling, and

Following Christ often feels costly, but the apostle Paul reminds us that joy grows when we serve rather than complain. Even in hardship, God is at work in us, shaping His character within. When we stop grumbling and start serving with joy, our lives become a radiant testimony that points others to Christ and draws […] The post A Christ-Like Mindset: Gladness Over Grumbling appeared first on Clayton Church of Christ.

Episode Summary: In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, my co-host Rev. Jessica Van Roekel joins me to explore the heart issue behind grumbling and complaining and how it reflects a lack of trust in God’s provision and plan. Grumbling is self-focused and rooted in unmet expectations, comparison, stress, and a scarcity mindset, leading to drained joy, strained relationships, and a disconnection from God’s presence. In contrast, lament allows us to honestly share our pain with God while trusting His sovereignty. Together, we discuss practical ways to combat a grumbling spirit, such as focusing on blessings, practicing gratitude, and seeking accountability. By shifting our perspective from what we lack to what we have in Christ, we can experience renewed joy, peace, and a deeper dependence on God, even in life’s challenges. Join us for How God Views Grumbling and Complaining & How to Cultivate a Grateful Heart. Quotables from the episode: God has the standards but I sometimes like to superimpose my standards on it and so then I struggle with perfectionism which is really driven out of insecurity and fear of rejection and I find myself getting into this grumbling cycle. Sometimes when I'm in that cycle and then I choose gratitude, it feels a little fake. I don't know if I'm really truly genuine. And so I'm trying to understand that when God has called me to a new thing, it's going to feel a little not real at the moment or it's not going to feel as authentic because I'm starting a new habit. It's just like any time we try to establish a new habit. It takes time. It takes practice. It feels awkward at first and there are some personality types that lend themselves more quickly to grumbling and complaining and I think there are some personality types that lend themselves to always seeing the good in every situation and I want to be more like the latter than the former. God's heart for you is good he wants you to trust him he wants you to let the love for him flow from a heart of gratitude for what he's done. It is not just that grumbling reflects a lack of trust in God, but it really disdains him. And that's what really convicted me, is the fact that when I complain, I'm really disdaining God's work in my life because our circumstances flux from good to, they could be better, to I don't want to be here. Why am I here? And so when we then start complaining and grumbling against God, it really disdains the work that he's doing. There's a passage in Psalms that says that everything that touches our lives has to pass through his hands first. And when I, when I cut my hand, like a bowl like this, you know, there's, I think of God's hand being cupped. And I'm thinking, what is he actually also preventing from hitting my life? Because when we, when we cup our hands and water runs through them, there is a pool of water that stays in our hands. When we grumble and complain, it reminds me of when we give a gift to someone and they don't receive it with a heart of gratitude. How hurtful that can be when our heart is for them. Yet when we grumble and complain, it's like saying, "Yeah, that wasn't good enough, God. That's what I wanted." And who am I to tell God what to do? In fact, but we also have to give space for our heartaches too. Psalm 62:8 says to pour out your heart to God. To look at Lament at first glance, it could look like grumbling and complaining. It's a fine distinction. Grumbling and complaining come from a heart of, I deserve this. So, grumbling and complaining is very self -focused, but lament is approaching God honestly, sharing our pain but recognizing that he is sovereign and his will be done and it gives the essence of I don't like where I'm at but I trust that your way is best. Grumbling and complaining is self-driven with a heart that is not trusting God's sovereignty. Whereas lamenting is sharing our heartache. It's telling our heartache to God with a surrender to his sovereignty. It's almost as if grumbling and complaining is talking bad about God and lamenting is just talking to God, inviting him in to soothe our heart too. And then David has written so many wonderful songs where really it teaches us how to lament. He starts out with like, "Oh, my life is awful God. Why did you allow this to happen? You said you were faithful." And then in the next verse he's like, "But you are faithful God. I'm going to praise your name. I'm going to trust you. You're steadfast and merciful." God desires us to grow in trust and dependence on Him, even during challenging times. There are common reasons we fall into grumbling, like unmet expectations, comparison, stress, and focusing on what we lack rather than what we have. Grumbling and complaining is speaking against God and is forming idols out of what it is we want and/or think we deserve. A grumbling spirit can drain our joy, disconnect us from God’s presence, and even negatively impact our relationships with others. Focusing on blessings, even small ones, can reshape our perspective, making it easier to find peace and joy in God’s presence. Keep a journal or ask a friend to hold yourself accountable in a loving way. Maybe even wear a rubber band on your wrist and flick it every time you notice yourself complaining in order to increase our awareness of how habitual this really is. Practice replacing each complaint with something to be thankful for. This helps to shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance in God. Ask God for help in changing your hearts and to help you see His blessings more clearly each day. Scripture References: Philippians 2:14–15 "Do everything without grumbling or arguing…" 1 Corinthians 10:10 “And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Psalm 100:4 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

🕊️ Sermon Summary: Transformed by the Spirit of God This week, we were blessed to hear from our speaker, Erica Lugg, as she continued our series on "Life in the Spirit" with a powerful message titled "Transformed by the Spirit of God." Erica's message focused on the profound promise of transformation found in 2 Corinthians 3:16-18. Key Scripture and Context The message centred on 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NIV): "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all who with unveiled faces, when we contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."  Erica first set the scene by explaining that the "veil" Paul refers to is no longer needed because of Jesus' sacrifice. The barrier that once separated people from God's glory, as with Moses' veiled face in Exodus 34, is now removed for all who turn to the Lord. This means everyone can freely come into God's presence and encounter His glory. Understanding Transformation Erica explored the question: What does it mean to be transformed? More than "Change": The Greek word used is metamorpho, the root of metamorphosis. This is far deeper than simply "changing clothes" or improving our appearance. The Butterfly Analogy: Transformation is likened to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. The caterpillar doesn't just get "wings"—it dissolves into an unrecognisable form where every single cell is broken down and reformed. A New Creation: God's vision is not for us to be a "better version of ourselves" (a "caterpillar with wings") but a completely brand new creation. This transformative work is from the inside out and is done by the Holy Spirit. Why Does God Transform Us? God transforms us because He is restoring His original image in us. The Original Image: Mankind was made in the image of God to walk with Him in a relationship characterised by natural joy, peace, and freedom from shame and sin. The Broken Image: Sin broke that image, like "hot tar" thrown on the relationship, shattering the natural flow of joy and peace. Restoration, Not Improvement: The Spirit is not "improving" us but restoring, reforming, or reborning the image of Jesus in us, back to how it was meant to be. Power vs. Self-Help: This transformation is God's power at work, not "costume Christianity" or self-help. Information is not transformation. The world offers tips, but the Spirit offers transformation and freedom. The Process of Transformation Erica used the moving story of Little Ted, Liz Patton's rescue dog, to illustrate the nature of the Holy Spirit's work. It's a Process, Not a Moment: Erica's initial idea to "fix" the anxious and fearful dog in one moment by introducing him to another gentle dog was a disaster. The true transformation began only through faithful, consistent love, security, and boundaries over two years. Steady, Patient Work: The Holy Spirit's work is not a "one-time fix" or an "abracadabra" moment. It is a steady, patient transformation from the inside out. Celebrating All Progress: We are changed from "one degree of glory to another". We must celebrate the small degrees of change, as they are still the work of the Holy Spirit. Our Role: Contemplating His Glory While the Spirit sustains and completes the work, we have a role to play: Contemplate, Behold, Look Upon: The scripture says, "those who contemplate, behold, look upon, they're the ones being transformed". Renewal of the Mind: Romans 12:2 says, "be transformed by the renewal of your mind". There is no neutral ground; we are either conforming to the pattern of the world or being transformed by the Spirit. Mindsets to Surrender: We need to discern the "lean" or "posture" of our minds. Do we lean towards: Fear instead of Trust?  Grumbling instead of Gratitude?  Pride instead of Humility?  Worry instead of Worship?  Positioning Ourselves: We position ourselves for transformation by beholding or contemplating Jesus, allowing His truth to renew our minds. Erica concluded by encouraging us to listen to the words of our own hearts to discern our mind's "slant" and to surrender those worldly mindsets to God, committing to be transformed to be like Jesus. Transcript We pray. Amen. Good morning, everybody. Really good to see you all. We're continuing in our theme. My microphone is at the hem of my jumper. There's always a drama with this when I'm speaking, isn't there? There's always something I haven't done. There we go. Is that better? Great, okay. Good morning, everybody. Great. It's good to see you all again. We're following our series on being in life in the Spirit. We've looked at what it means to be led by the Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, and there'll be more of that coming as we go on in the next few weeks. But the title of my message this morning is Transformed by the Spirit of God. And we're going to be looking at 2 Corinthians 3, verses 16 to 18, if you've got your Bibles on you, or this is a great opportunity to get out your phone, and you could even pretend to be on games. And people will think you're reading the Bible. Except the Holy Spirit sees, you know. He sees everything. Just saying. So 2 Corinthians 3, verses 16 to 18, and I'm going to be using the NIV version. Karen mentioned last week about using different versions of the Bible, which I like doing, but the NIV uses a word here that I think is really important. Now, before I come to reading that scripture, I want to kind of set the scene a little bit, because we've kind of arrived at the end of, or in the middle of, Paul's thoughts to the church in Corinth. And if you want to know more about the church in Corinth, you can look that up in Acts chapter 18. So they were a vibrant church, a passionate church, but also they were a bit of an immature church. And although they loved Jesus, they were easily swayed by all the different snazzy teachings that were coming up. And so what Paul is doing is establishing a foundation, and that's where we come to. And before we get to our verse this morning, Paul is reminding the people about an encounter with God that Moses had back in Exodus 34. So those of you that will remember where Moses fits into the picture, if you don't, Exodus 34 and the chapters before will fit you in. But Moses goes up Mount Sinai, he has this incredible encounter with God, separate to the people that he's leading, and God's glory shone so brightly on him that as he comes down from Mount Sinai, that glory is radiated all over his face. And there is this veil that covers the glory of God to protect the people from the shine, but also so that the people couldn't see the glory of God fading, because that's what happened. And what Paul is saying before we come to our scripture is that that veil, that protection isn't needed anymore. That with Jesus, there isn't an elite bunch of people that can encounter God, and those that weren't elite that just got the ends of everything, but all of us, we can come freely into the presence of God and encounter his glory freely because of the sacrifice of Jesus. That when we turn to Jesus, he removes everything that blocks us from truly seeing him, and that's the work of the Holy Spirit. With me so far? Okay. Thank you, Cornelius. I'm looking out for your amens there, the rest of you. Okay. So, 2 Corinthians 3, 16 to 18 says this. Paul is saying to the people, but whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. What's the criteria? Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. This thing that separates, this barrier. Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Now, you can read it the other way on that says if the Spirit of the Lord is not involved, whatever we are experiencing is not freedom. Looks like freedom, masquerades of freedom, but where the Spirit of the Lord is, that is where there is true freedom. Good so far? Good. And we all who with unveiled faces, these are the people that have turned to the Lord. Nick, if I could have a glass of water, that would be really good. Thank you. We all who with unveiled faces, when we contemplate the Lord's glory, so contemplate means to behold, to look upon, to think upon, to be at the presence of, are being transformed into his image with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Verse 16 is the promise. Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. So if you have given your heart to Jesus, and you have opened your life to him, God removes the veil, that barrier is taken away, which means we have the opportunity not only to see God, to encounter his glory, but for that glory then to be reflected out of us to the people around. Which is great news. Paul says, we all can see and reflect the Lord's glory. This is not just for spiritual elite, this is for all of us. And then he goes on to say, the Lord is the Spirit. And I just want to... Is this yours, Roland? Yeah. It's in my space. I nearly drank it. Is there vodka in there? Just checking. The Lord is the Spirit. It's important to remember that the Holy Spirit is not an it, or a force, or a vibe, or a thing, or an emotion, or a tingle down the spine, or a moment in the church service. The Lord is the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is God himself in our presence, here with us today. He's a person. So we all, who with unveiled faces, contemplate or look upon the Lord's glory, we are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory. And that is the verse that I want us to kind of look at today. And there are four questions that I want us to ask. I want us to ask what it means to be transformed. I want us to ask the question, why are we being transformed? How does it work? And when does it happen? And then, I also want to ask the question, what does that mean for me tomorrow morning, Monday morning, at work, Tuesday morning, in the middle of all the things that I'm going through? What does this scripture mean for me? And how do I apply it to my life? So, some translations, we're going to ask the question, what does it mean to be transformed? Some translations use the word changed. We are being changed. But I feel that that is really a very weak word. Because we change clothes all the time, don't we? We change appearance all the time. Cut our hair, grow our hair, dye our hair. Some of you haven't got any hair. That's okay. But we change things all the time. I'm a different person to how I was when I was a lot younger. There's a lot about change that I can do myself. But the scripture here is talking about transformation, which is a deeper thing. In fact, the Greek word is the word metamorpho, which is the word that Paul uses in this translation, which is where we get the word metamorphosis. Is that how you pronounce it? Metamorphosis. When you say that word, what does it remind you of? Caterpillar and butterflies. Okay. Thank you very much because that's in the notes. Ten points for Jules over there. It's the same word that we use to describe what happens to a caterpillar. Now, a caterpillar starts small. It crawls around on its belly on the ground. It is incredibly limited. It has a very limited lifespan. And then there comes a moment when it spins a cocoon and then something incredible happens inside the cocoon. Any of you that have done biology before, what happens inside that cocoon to that caterpillar? It dissolves. It does what? It dissolves. It dissolves. It mulches down into an unrecognisable blob of something. It's good, isn't it? A blob of something. Very technical. Every single cell changes. Thank you. Every single cell changes. It's the same word. It's the same word in here, the transformation. And it becomes unrecognisable. And in the process of the cocoon, where every single cell is broken down, something is then reformed or reborn, and out comes... Thank you. Out of the cocoon comes a butterfly. It doesn't come and become a caterpillar with wings. Because that's what change does, isn't it? When we change ourselves, we become caterpillars with wings. But what God is speaking about here is that the old has gone, the shape of the caterpillar, all of that is gone. And out of this cocoon is reborn something completely brand new because every single cell has been broken down. And out comes this thing that we call a butterfly. And which is the thing that we ooh and ah at when we see? Do we ooh and ah at the caterpillar or do we ooh and ah at the butterfly? It's the butterfly. And it somehow becomes from this grovelling on the ground kind of creature to this beautiful, unlimited, expansive life of freedom that this butterfly has. I remember once... Was it you or was it Aidan? We went to... Oh, no. When I was a TA in a school, went to the butterfly farm in Cleethorpe. Have you ever been in there? And we walked into the butterfly house and a butterfly landed on... His name was Charlie, actually. A little boy's Charlie's head. And one of the kids said, Oh, look, Charlie, there's a butterfly on your head. And he went... That's just a bit of an aside. It's nothing to do with the scripture. No one's going to start whacking you on the head or anything like that. It's just a... Okay. So, and that's the Holy Spirit work in us. When we turn to Jesus, he begins to transform us from the inside out. He breaks down the cells. He mulches us into something, bit by bit, so that out of it comes this new creation. That's what it means to be reborn. God's vision is not that we become better versions of ourselves. I have to admit that I've used that in some of my evangelistic spiel and said, you know, what God wants to do is to make you kind of the best version of yourself. God knows. He's breaking everything down and transforming us completely, not into caterpillars with wings, but into butterflies. Isn't that amazing? Okay. So that's the first question. That's what it means to be transformed. We are not being edited or adjusted or tweaked or... improved. We are being changed. We are being transformed from one degree of glory to another. So why does God want to transform us? And to answer that question, which is point number two, we have to go back to the beginning. In the beginning, God made mankind in his own image. No other creature on the face of the earth is made in the image of God. No other creature. We are completely different to the rest of God's creation. We were made in the image of God. And you have that wonderful picture of God walking in the garden with his creation, those that were made in the image of him. And in that relationship, because of that uniqueness of it, it was shame-free and blame-free and sin-free and peace and joy were natural. Can you imagine a world where peace and joy comes naturally to us? Put your hands up this morning if peace and joy flow naturally out of you all the time. David, I'm going to ask Jen. I'm going to ask Jen. She's my friend. She'll tell me. But imagine that, where peace and joy flow naturally. That's what the relationship used to be like. And that is because we were made in the image of our creator. So there was that natural sense of relationship. and then we all know the story that a lie was told and a lie was believed and humanity, we weren't content to be like God. We wanted to be God himself and so all of that. And basically, what happened in that moment, it was as if somebody came along with hot tar and threw it up against that beautiful relationship, up against that image of God that was in us. And then that relationship, the natural flow of joy and peace, shame free, sin free, all of that was destroyed. And that is because the image of God in us became broken and damaged. Still with me? Okay. And that natural relationship was shattered and separation came. Now, before Adam and Eve ever knew how to even ask for forgiveness or ask for a way back, we already see God beginning his restoration process, process, don't you? And that's why you can see Jesus all the way through the Old Testament. So, we were made to bear God's image but sin covered the image with self and when the spirit comes along to transform us, he is not improving us, he is restoring or reforming or reborning the image of Jesus in us that was there right back at the beginning of time. because he's not changed his mind, he's actually saying I want it back the way it was, I want you to know, I want you to experience what it means to live in the natural place of joy and peace and relationship with God. Ezekiel 36, 26 says this, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you and that's the difference between costume Christianity and spirit transformation because we all can wear costumes can't we? We all do wear costumes. I know that it's a gift that I've learnt over many years how to put a costume on but that's the difference between costume Christianity and spirit transformation. We can change our image, what we look like on the outside but only God can transform the identity within us and I don't want to live from a place of costume Christianity, I want to know day by day what it means to live the identity of Christ, Jesus in me, Christ in me, the hope of glory. That's why we need power. Not self-help or how to be a better person podcast. Those things are good because they help us to manage habits but they can't make us new. They polish the outside but only the Holy Spirit can change the inside of who we are. In fact, we can't change the inside of who we are and we're arrogant if we think we can somehow change the core of who we are. You can read every book and still feel stuck because information is not transformation. That's why we need power. The world offers tips but the Spirit offers transformation. The world will give us advice but God is the only one that gives us power and the only one that gives us freedom through the Holy Spirit. Now I want to tell you a story this morning about a dog. If I could have his picture up here. Oh, I knew that would get you. Do you know who he is? Little Ted. His name is Little Ted. So I kind of want to use this story. He's really had a huge impact on me. This story to try and give us a bit of an idea of what I mean. So all of you know Liz Patton. Yes. So this is Liz Patton's dog. And by the way I have asked permission to put him up on screen this morning. He's allowed to be streamed by the way. It's all right. We've got permission. Now Little Ted was a rescue dog until about two years ago. And two years ago I had the privilege of going to the rescue center to meet him. And Liz and I took him out for a walk and immediately could see that he was an incredibly anxious and fearful dog. You could tell from his behavior. And also really reactive to other dogs. Really I've never seen anything quite like him and his response. And all you could imagine was what has he experienced in his little life to have got to the stage where he was such a distressed and sad to say trauma. So sad. Is that the word? Trauma? I can't. And when we went to the shelter and inquired about him, Liz obviously had to go away and make up her mind. And so she said to the owner of the shelter, do you mind if I let you know on Friday? I think this was probably Wednesday. And the woman said, oh don't worry about it, let me know any time because nobody wants him, he'll still be here. I know, doesn't it pull on your heart strings? And I didn't say a word to Liz, I thought I can't say anything, I can't even look at her and went to where I thought because my heart was already like well I can't leave him behind. Anyway, within just a few hours Liz had decided that she was going to have him and I don't know that whether or not at the very beginning of having him she thought maybe it had been a mistake because he was incredibly, incredibly difficult dog because of what he'd gone through. Anyway, I had this idea, I said I know what will help him and because he's reactive to other dogs and he's scared of other dogs, I'm going to introduce him to Max. Oh. He died in January. Oh. Max is like a big baluba bear, just a real big therapy dog, everybody loved him, in fact when he died in January the condolences I received were just, everybody loved Max and I thought I know what I'll do, I'm going to invite Liz and little Ted over and we're going to introduce little Ted to Max and there's going to be this huge, just like this amazing transformation as little Ted comes into contact with Max. What a brilliant idea you've had Erica and Liz was saying to me all the time, do you think it will work? And I'm going, absolutely it will work. First of all it's my idea and my ideas generally work, isn't that right Nick? Yeah. And also we're talking about Max here, I mean, and she said to me, are you sure? And all the way in the car, yeah, yeah, I'm absolutely sure. So we pulled up to the house and little Ted started barking in response to Max and then we put them out in the garden together and guess what? It was a disaster. It was an absolute disaster. It was utter chaos. With this gentle giant here ending up with little Ted's head in his mouth. And it was not friendly. And I think the only reason that Max didn't come out without any marks is because little Ted has got no teeth. But it was absolute chaos. Now I have thought about this a lot. That actually although it was kindly motivated, it was incredibly arrogant of me to think that a dog that had been through everything that little Ted had could be fixed in a moment by one of my bright ideas. Now you all know I'm a bit of a fixer. That's how I work. I like to fix. And if I can't fix, I get frustrated. Now I want you to move on two years. And Isla knows this. Two years on little Ted has been at Liz's and he's not perfect. but he's a completely different dog. And it wasn't Max that did it. It was Liz who took the long view. Faithful, consistent love, discipline, security, acceptance, boundaries, and the determination that said, and I admire her for it, she said, no matter what, you are my dog. And that has been a faithful commitment over two years. What I thought I could fix in a moment, Liz has with her faithful commitment to this dog over two years begun and is continuing a transforming work in this dog. Now he's not perfect but I tell you what, he's a million miles better than he was. And I just want to encourage you because that's what the Holy Spirit does in us. He is working Jesus in me. And it's not a one-time fix. I didn't say the sinner's prayer and suddenly all the issues that I deal with or all the issues that are as a result of my broken character, they're not dealt with in a way abracadabra but a steady, patient transformation from the inside out and out working of the Holy Spirit in me. Yes, Amen. I looked back as part of this message, I looked back and saw what God has been doing. So he goes on to say it's changed from one degree of glory to another. I want to encourage you that small degrees are still a work of the Holy Spirit. We celebrate the big jumps, don't we? Wow, look how much that person has changed. But then we often look at ourselves and yeah, but look at me, I'm really rubbish at this or what is God doing? Celebrate the small things that the Holy Spirit is doing in you and then don't despise the small things that the Holy Spirit is doing in someone else. Are you still with me? Okay, so it's the power of the Holy Spirit, aware of time. When does transformation happen? When? Well, it starts the moment the veil is removed, the moment we surrender to God. In fact, that in itself is a work of the Holy Spirit. To be able to see is a work of the Holy Spirit. But then the Bible goes on to say that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. There's the promise, he will do it. Completion, there's the fulfilment. When we stand before Jesus on that day, we will be like him in entirety. But in the process, we are being changed. The Spirit began it, he sustains it, and he completes it. Good with that. So now we know what, and we know why, and we know how, and we will know when. What does that mean? If the Spirit does it all, does that just mean we get to sit around and go, Holy Spirit, change me? No, we don't. The Bible says in that scripture, it says, those who contemplate, behold, look upon, they're the ones being transformed. In Romans 12, 2, it says, do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the of your mind. Paul is not talking about gaining more information. He's not saying we should all go home and read a concordance. Information is not transformation. But we do all have mindsets. We all lean towards something, and the Bible says either we are conforming to the world or we are being transformed. There is no neutral ground. So either we are leaning into the spirit and we are allowing him to change us, or we can have a lean into things of the world. And he's talking about mindsets. And so when we are thinking about the renewal of our minds, we are thinking about what position has my mind taken? What is the posture or the lean or the attitude of my mind? If it leans towards the things of the world, we will by nature be conformed to the patterns of the world. But if we, with unfilled faces, contemplate his glory, lean into the spirit, then he is faithful to begin that work within us. Still with me? Minds are never neutral. Sometimes they lean our minds towards fear or self-reliance or pride or negativity or shame. That's just some. That's the pattern of the world. But when the Holy Spirit renews our mind, he wants to straighten our lean so that we lean into him. So instead of fear, we begin to trust. I'm learning that a lot when I have one of my children on tracker. They've allowed me to have them on tracker. But when that little green thing stops flashing and it's three o'clock in the morning and and they're no longer, you know what I'm talking about, right? They're no longer live and you, last time they were connected to the internet was 20 minutes ago and it's three o'clock in the morning and they're in the middle of Luton coming out of the airport walking. My mind in the middle of the night goes down the road of fear. As natural as that. And I'm learning, last night, learning to drag it back. And say, I trust you, God. I trust you. My mind has a lean towards fear. My mind can have a lean towards grumbling if I'm not careful. But the Holy Spirit wants to lean me into an attitude of gratitude. As you can see with Max, my mind has a lean towards pride instead of humility, thinking I could fix something. It can lean towards despair instead of hope. Or rebellion instead of obedience. Or criticism instead of compassion or worry instead of worship. Am I the only person in this room? Yeah, let's be honest here. Come on. Renewal isn't about knowing more, but it is learning to think differently. And that's what the Bible says. So, we need to position ourselves. We position ourselves to contemplate him, to think about him, to look over him, to have our minds changed by his truth, and allow him to renew our minds in order that the transforming work of the Holy Spirit can continue freely. I'm going to ask the musicians if you could come back for me. Please. How do you know if your mind is leaning in the right direction? And let's say, just begin to play something. I'm going to ask us to respond. Because maybe you've realised this morning that you do have a slant towards something of a worldly pattern of thinking, a mindset, an attitude. Maybe your mind automatically goes towards fear or control. My mind goes towards control or pride or worry. And the way I think about it is, or the way I discern it in my own life is to listen to the words that I use. Because you know that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. And when we speak, not when we speak to our friends and we're putting on a costume, but when we speak in the privacy of our own hearts, what are the words that we use? Because that will tell us which way we are slanted. Do I talk about Jesus but really and truly I trust myself? Or maybe you can tell because peace is not the norm for you, it's the exception. We've been called to a life of peace and part of the transformation of our minds and of our lives is to recognise that we are completely safe in him. That's the truth. Maybe we go down the road of controlling everything and thinking if it's hard it mustn't be God or I need to somehow control it in order for it to work out well. You know, God is great and all that but he really needs my help. Maybe you just feel exhausted but you feel you can't stop pretending or performing. Could be an indicator of where our hearts and our minds are leaning. It might be that you know your heart is sharp about something or someone but you know that Jesus' heart is soft. well there immediately is a what do they call a disparity. It's forming him, Jesus in us. Or maybe it's living in fear so more influenced by the headlines than by scripture. Or maybe faith is tired and hope feels naive. Well it's all very well to have faith but we need to be people that live in the real world. Have you heard that before? Or maybe it's just really simply I know that Jesus, yeah he's part of my life but he's not really the centre. Those things lean us into conforming to the patterns, the mindsets, the postures of the world. And the way we recentre and lean into Jesus is by beholding or contemplating him. So I just wonder if we could stand together. Maybe we need to surrender some of these things to God and actually name them for what they are. I have recognized, and I'm being really open here today, I have recognized how easy it is for me to live in a place of fear. Not about everything, but about certain things. I live in a place of fear and see how my mind goes down that road. It's just like a light switch, it goes down that road. And I know that I have to keep bringing that to God and surrendering it to Him and saying, I trust you. And it might be that's where you're at today and you just know, you know that there's a lean and there's an imbalance. We're leaning into the logic or the understanding or the wise words of the world. Lord, as we worship, I would just love for us to respond together. Holy Spirit, thank you for the transforming work of your power within me. Thank you that you are faithful to complete that which you've started. But our Father, I also know that I have a role to play in all of this. Forgive me for believing the lies of the enemy. Forgive me for my prideful heart that thinks that somehow I can fix things. And if you feel that the Holy Spirit's been pointing something in your heart or highlighting something, just we've got a few minutes. Let's come down to the front and join me here. Let's just pray together. As we surrender our lives, Holy Spirit, we want to be transformed to be like Jesus. I don't want mindsets that don't look like Jesus in my life. I don't want that. I don't want to proclaim freedom and Jesus with my mouth and yet live in bondage in my heart because of something that I'm scared to let go of. If the Holy Spirit's been speaking to you, come and join me as we worship together.

🕊️ Sermon Summary: Transformed by the Spirit of God This week, we were blessed to hear from our speaker, Erica Lugg, as she continued our series on "Life in the Spirit" with a powerful message titled "Transformed by the Spirit of God." Erica's message focused on the profound promise of transformation found in 2 Corinthians 3:16-18. Key Scripture and Context The message centred on 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NIV): "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all who with unveiled faces, when we contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."  Erica first set the scene by explaining that the "veil" Paul refers to is no longer needed because of Jesus' sacrifice. The barrier that once separated people from God's glory, as with Moses' veiled face in Exodus 34, is now removed for all who turn to the Lord. This means everyone can freely come into God's presence and encounter His glory. Understanding Transformation Erica explored the question: What does it mean to be transformed? More than "Change": The Greek word used is metamorpho, the root of metamorphosis. This is far deeper than simply "changing clothes" or improving our appearance. The Butterfly Analogy: Transformation is likened to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. The caterpillar doesn't just get "wings"—it dissolves into an unrecognisable form where every single cell is broken down and reformed. A New Creation: God's vision is not for us to be a "better version of ourselves" (a "caterpillar with wings") but a completely brand new creation. This transformative work is from the inside out and is done by the Holy Spirit. Why Does God Transform Us? God transforms us because He is restoring His original image in us. The Original Image: Mankind was made in the image of God to walk with Him in a relationship characterised by natural joy, peace, and freedom from shame and sin. The Broken Image: Sin broke that image, like "hot tar" thrown on the relationship, shattering the natural flow of joy and peace. Restoration, Not Improvement: The Spirit is not "improving" us but restoring, reforming, or reborning the image of Jesus in us, back to how it was meant to be. Power vs. Self-Help: This transformation is God's power at work, not "costume Christianity" or self-help. Information is not transformation. The world offers tips, but the Spirit offers transformation and freedom. The Process of Transformation Erica used the moving story of Little Ted, Liz Patton's rescue dog, to illustrate the nature of the Holy Spirit's work. It's a Process, Not a Moment: Erica's initial idea to "fix" the anxious and fearful dog in one moment by introducing him to another gentle dog was a disaster. The true transformation began only through faithful, consistent love, security, and boundaries over two years. Steady, Patient Work: The Holy Spirit's work is not a "one-time fix" or an "abracadabra" moment. It is a steady, patient transformation from the inside out. Celebrating All Progress: We are changed from "one degree of glory to another". We must celebrate the small degrees of change, as they are still the work of the Holy Spirit. Our Role: Contemplating His Glory While the Spirit sustains and completes the work, we have a role to play: Contemplate, Behold, Look Upon: The scripture says, "those who contemplate, behold, look upon, they're the ones being transformed". Renewal of the Mind: Romans 12:2 says, "be transformed by the renewal of your mind". There is no neutral ground; we are either conforming to the pattern of the world or being transformed by the Spirit. Mindsets to Surrender: We need to discern the "lean" or "posture" of our minds. Do we lean towards: Fear instead of Trust?  Grumbling instead of Gratitude?  Pride instead of Humility?  Worry instead of Worship?  Positioning Ourselves: We position ourselves for transformation by beholding or contemplating Jesus, allowing His truth to renew our minds. Erica concluded by encouraging us to listen to the words of our own hearts to discern our mind's "slant" and to surrender those worldly mindsets to God, committing to be transformed to be like Jesus. Transcript We pray. Amen. Good morning, everybody. Really good to see you all. We're continuing in our theme. My microphone is at the hem of my jumper. There's always a drama with this when I'm speaking, isn't there? There's always something I haven't done. There we go. Is that better? Great, okay. Good morning, everybody. Great. It's good to see you all again. We're following our series on being in life in the Spirit. We've looked at what it means to be led by the Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, and there'll be more of that coming as we go on in the next few weeks. But the title of my message this morning is Transformed by the Spirit of God. And we're going to be looking at 2 Corinthians 3, verses 16 to 18, if you've got your Bibles on you, or this is a great opportunity to get out your phone, and you could even pretend to be on games. And people will think you're reading the Bible. Except the Holy Spirit sees, you know. He sees everything. Just saying. So 2 Corinthians 3, verses 16 to 18, and I'm going to be using the NIV version. Karen mentioned last week about using different versions of the Bible, which I like doing, but the NIV uses a word here that I think is really important. Now, before I come to reading that scripture, I want to kind of set the scene a little bit, because we've kind of arrived at the end of, or in the middle of, Paul's thoughts to the church in Corinth. And if you want to know more about the church in Corinth, you can look that up in Acts chapter 18. So they were a vibrant church, a passionate church, but also they were a bit of an immature church. And although they loved Jesus, they were easily swayed by all the different snazzy teachings that were coming up. And so what Paul is doing is establishing a foundation, and that's where we come to. And before we get to our verse this morning, Paul is reminding the people about an encounter with God that Moses had back in Exodus 34. So those of you that will remember where Moses fits into the picture, if you don't, Exodus 34 and the chapters before will fit you in. But Moses goes up Mount Sinai, he has this incredible encounter with God, separate to the people that he's leading, and God's glory shone so brightly on him that as he comes down from Mount Sinai, that glory is radiated all over his face. And there is this veil that covers the glory of God to protect the people from the shine, but also so that the people couldn't see the glory of God fading, because that's what happened. And what Paul is saying before we come to our scripture is that that veil, that protection isn't needed anymore. That with Jesus, there isn't an elite bunch of people that can encounter God, and those that weren't elite that just got the ends of everything, but all of us, we can come freely into the presence of God and encounter his glory freely because of the sacrifice of Jesus. That when we turn to Jesus, he removes everything that blocks us from truly seeing him, and that's the work of the Holy Spirit. With me so far? Okay. Thank you, Cornelius. I'm looking out for your amens there, the rest of you. Okay. So, 2 Corinthians 3, 16 to 18 says this. Paul is saying to the people, but whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. What's the criteria? Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. This thing that separates, this barrier. Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Now, you can read it the other way on that says if the Spirit of the Lord is not involved, whatever we are experiencing is not freedom. Looks like freedom, masquerades of freedom, but where the Spirit of the Lord is, that is where there is true freedom. Good so far? Good. And we all who with unveiled faces, these are the people that have turned to the Lord. Nick, if I could have a glass of water, that would be really good. Thank you. We all who with unveiled faces, when we contemplate the Lord's glory, so contemplate means to behold, to look upon, to think upon, to be at the presence of, are being transformed into his image with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Verse 16 is the promise. Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. So if you have given your heart to Jesus, and you have opened your life to him, God removes the veil, that barrier is taken away, which means we have the opportunity not only to see God, to encounter his glory, but for that glory then to be reflected out of us to the people around. Which is great news. Paul says, we all can see and reflect the Lord's glory. This is not just for spiritual elite, this is for all of us. And then he goes on to say, the Lord is the Spirit. And I just want to... Is this yours, Roland? Yeah. It's in my space. I nearly drank it. Is there vodka in there? Just checking. The Lord is the Spirit. It's important to remember that the Holy Spirit is not an it, or a force, or a vibe, or a thing, or an emotion, or a tingle down the spine, or a moment in the church service. The Lord is the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is God himself in our presence, here with us today. He's a person. So we all, who with unveiled faces, contemplate or look upon the Lord's glory, we are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory. And that is the verse that I want us to kind of look at today. And there are four questions that I want us to ask. I want us to ask what it means to be transformed. I want us to ask the question, why are we being transformed? How does it work? And when does it happen? And then, I also want to ask the question, what does that mean for me tomorrow morning, Monday morning, at work, Tuesday morning, in the middle of all the things that I'm going through? What does this scripture mean for me? And how do I apply it to my life? So, some translations, we're going to ask the question, what does it mean to be transformed? Some translations use the word changed. We are being changed. But I feel that that is really a very weak word. Because we change clothes all the time, don't we? We change appearance all the time. Cut our hair, grow our hair, dye our hair. Some of you haven't got any hair. That's okay. But we change things all the time. I'm a different person to how I was when I was a lot younger. There's a lot about change that I can do myself. But the scripture here is talking about transformation, which is a deeper thing. In fact, the Greek word is the word metamorpho, which is the word that Paul uses in this translation, which is where we get the word metamorphosis. Is that how you pronounce it? Metamorphosis. When you say that word, what does it remind you of? Caterpillar and butterflies. Okay. Thank you very much because that's in the notes. Ten points for Jules over there. It's the same word that we use to describe what happens to a caterpillar. Now, a caterpillar starts small. It crawls around on its belly on the ground. It is incredibly limited. It has a very limited lifespan. And then there comes a moment when it spins a cocoon and then something incredible happens inside the cocoon. Any of you that have done biology before, what happens inside that cocoon to that caterpillar? It dissolves. It does what? It dissolves. It dissolves. It mulches down into an unrecognisable blob of something. It's good, isn't it? A blob of something. Very technical. Every single cell changes. Thank you. Every single cell changes. It's the same word. It's the same word in here, the transformation. And it becomes unrecognisable. And in the process of the cocoon, where every single cell is broken down, something is then reformed or reborn, and out comes... Thank you. Out of the cocoon comes a butterfly. It doesn't come and become a caterpillar with wings. Because that's what change does, isn't it? When we change ourselves, we become caterpillars with wings. But what God is speaking about here is that the old has gone, the shape of the caterpillar, all of that is gone. And out of this cocoon is reborn something completely brand new because every single cell has been broken down. And out comes this thing that we call a butterfly. And which is the thing that we ooh and ah at when we see? Do we ooh and ah at the caterpillar or do we ooh and ah at the butterfly? It's the butterfly. And it somehow becomes from this grovelling on the ground kind of creature to this beautiful, unlimited, expansive life of freedom that this butterfly has. I remember once... Was it you or was it Aidan? We went to... Oh, no. When I was a TA in a school, went to the butterfly farm in Cleethorpe. Have you ever been in there? And we walked into the butterfly house and a butterfly landed on... His name was Charlie, actually. A little boy's Charlie's head. And one of the kids said, Oh, look, Charlie, there's a butterfly on your head. And he went... That's just a bit of an aside. It's nothing to do with the scripture. No one's going to start whacking you on the head or anything like that. It's just a... Okay. So, and that's the Holy Spirit work in us. When we turn to Jesus, he begins to transform us from the inside out. He breaks down the cells. He mulches us into something, bit by bit, so that out of it comes this new creation. That's what it means to be reborn. God's vision is not that we become better versions of ourselves. I have to admit that I've used that in some of my evangelistic spiel and said, you know, what God wants to do is to make you kind of the best version of yourself. God knows. He's breaking everything down and transforming us completely, not into caterpillars with wings, but into butterflies. Isn't that amazing? Okay. So that's the first question. That's what it means to be transformed. We are not being edited or adjusted or tweaked or... improved. We are being changed. We are being transformed from one degree of glory to another. So why does God want to transform us? And to answer that question, which is point number two, we have to go back to the beginning. In the beginning, God made mankind in his own image. No other creature on the face of the earth is made in the image of God. No other creature. We are completely different to the rest of God's creation. We were made in the image of God. And you have that wonderful picture of God walking in the garden with his creation, those that were made in the image of him. And in that relationship, because of that uniqueness of it, it was shame-free and blame-free and sin-free and peace and joy were natural. Can you imagine a world where peace and joy comes naturally to us? Put your hands up this morning if peace and joy flow naturally out of you all the time. David, I'm going to ask Jen. I'm going to ask Jen. She's my friend. She'll tell me. But imagine that, where peace and joy flow naturally. That's what the relationship used to be like. And that is because we were made in the image of our creator. So there was that natural sense of relationship. and then we all know the story that a lie was told and a lie was believed and humanity, we weren't content to be like God. We wanted to be God himself and so all of that. And basically, what happened in that moment, it was as if somebody came along with hot tar and threw it up against that beautiful relationship, up against that image of God that was in us. And then that relationship, the natural flow of joy and peace, shame free, sin free, all of that was destroyed. And that is because the image of God in us became broken and damaged. Still with me? Okay. And that natural relationship was shattered and separation came. Now, before Adam and Eve ever knew how to even ask for forgiveness or ask for a way back, we already see God beginning his restoration process, process, don't you? And that's why you can see Jesus all the way through the Old Testament. So, we were made to bear God's image but sin covered the image with self and when the spirit comes along to transform us, he is not improving us, he is restoring or reforming or reborning the image of Jesus in us that was there right back at the beginning of time. because he's not changed his mind, he's actually saying I want it back the way it was, I want you to know, I want you to experience what it means to live in the natural place of joy and peace and relationship with God. Ezekiel 36, 26 says this, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you and that's the difference between costume Christianity and spirit transformation because we all can wear costumes can't we? We all do wear costumes. I know that it's a gift that I've learnt over many years how to put a costume on but that's the difference between costume Christianity and spirit transformation. We can change our image, what we look like on the outside but only God can transform the identity within us and I don't want to live from a place of costume Christianity, I want to know day by day what it means to live the identity of Christ, Jesus in me, Christ in me, the hope of glory. That's why we need power. Not self-help or how to be a better person podcast. Those things are good because they help us to manage habits but they can't make us new. They polish the outside but only the Holy Spirit can change the inside of who we are. In fact, we can't change the inside of who we are and we're arrogant if we think we can somehow change the core of who we are. You can read every book and still feel stuck because information is not transformation. That's why we need power. The world offers tips but the Spirit offers transformation. The world will give us advice but God is the only one that gives us power and the only one that gives us freedom through the Holy Spirit. Now I want to tell you a story this morning about a dog. If I could have his picture up here. Oh, I knew that would get you. Do you know who he is? Little Ted. His name is Little Ted. So I kind of want to use this story. He's really had a huge impact on me. This story to try and give us a bit of an idea of what I mean. So all of you know Liz Patton. Yes. So this is Liz Patton's dog. And by the way I have asked permission to put him up on screen this morning. He's allowed to be streamed by the way. It's all right. We've got permission. Now Little Ted was a rescue dog until about two years ago. And two years ago I had the privilege of going to the rescue center to meet him. And Liz and I took him out for a walk and immediately could see that he was an incredibly anxious and fearful dog. You could tell from his behavior. And also really reactive to other dogs. Really I've never seen anything quite like him and his response. And all you could imagine was what has he experienced in his little life to have got to the stage where he was such a distressed and sad to say trauma. So sad. Is that the word? Trauma? I can't. And when we went to the shelter and inquired about him, Liz obviously had to go away and make up her mind. And so she said to the owner of the shelter, do you mind if I let you know on Friday? I think this was probably Wednesday. And the woman said, oh don't worry about it, let me know any time because nobody wants him, he'll still be here. I know, doesn't it pull on your heart strings? And I didn't say a word to Liz, I thought I can't say anything, I can't even look at her and went to where I thought because my heart was already like well I can't leave him behind. Anyway, within just a few hours Liz had decided that she was going to have him and I don't know that whether or not at the very beginning of having him she thought maybe it had been a mistake because he was incredibly, incredibly difficult dog because of what he'd gone through. Anyway, I had this idea, I said I know what will help him and because he's reactive to other dogs and he's scared of other dogs, I'm going to introduce him to Max. Oh. He died in January. Oh. Max is like a big baluba bear, just a real big therapy dog, everybody loved him, in fact when he died in January the condolences I received were just, everybody loved Max and I thought I know what I'll do, I'm going to invite Liz and little Ted over and we're going to introduce little Ted to Max and there's going to be this huge, just like this amazing transformation as little Ted comes into contact with Max. What a brilliant idea you've had Erica and Liz was saying to me all the time, do you think it will work? And I'm going, absolutely it will work. First of all it's my idea and my ideas generally work, isn't that right Nick? Yeah. And also we're talking about Max here, I mean, and she said to me, are you sure? And all the way in the car, yeah, yeah, I'm absolutely sure. So we pulled up to the house and little Ted started barking in response to Max and then we put them out in the garden together and guess what? It was a disaster. It was an absolute disaster. It was utter chaos. With this gentle giant here ending up with little Ted's head in his mouth. And it was not friendly. And I think the only reason that Max didn't come out without any marks is because little Ted has got no teeth. But it was absolute chaos. Now I have thought about this a lot. That actually although it was kindly motivated, it was incredibly arrogant of me to think that a dog that had been through everything that little Ted had could be fixed in a moment by one of my bright ideas. Now you all know I'm a bit of a fixer. That's how I work. I like to fix. And if I can't fix, I get frustrated. Now I want you to move on two years. And Isla knows this. Two years on little Ted has been at Liz's and he's not perfect. but he's a completely different dog. And it wasn't Max that did it. It was Liz who took the long view. Faithful, consistent love, discipline, security, acceptance, boundaries, and the determination that said, and I admire her for it, she said, no matter what, you are my dog. And that has been a faithful commitment over two years. What I thought I could fix in a moment, Liz has with her faithful commitment to this dog over two years begun and is continuing a transforming work in this dog. Now he's not perfect but I tell you what, he's a million miles better than he was. And I just want to encourage you because that's what the Holy Spirit does in us. He is working Jesus in me. And it's not a one-time fix. I didn't say the sinner's prayer and suddenly all the issues that I deal with or all the issues that are as a result of my broken character, they're not dealt with in a way abracadabra but a steady, patient transformation from the inside out and out working of the Holy Spirit in me. Yes, Amen. I looked back as part of this message, I looked back and saw what God has been doing. So he goes on to say it's changed from one degree of glory to another. I want to encourage you that small degrees are still a work of the Holy Spirit. We celebrate the big jumps, don't we? Wow, look how much that person has changed. But then we often look at ourselves and yeah, but look at me, I'm really rubbish at this or what is God doing? Celebrate the small things that the Holy Spirit is doing in you and then don't despise the small things that the Holy Spirit is doing in someone else. Are you still with me? Okay, so it's the power of the Holy Spirit, aware of time. When does transformation happen? When? Well, it starts the moment the veil is removed, the moment we surrender to God. In fact, that in itself is a work of the Holy Spirit. To be able to see is a work of the Holy Spirit. But then the Bible goes on to say that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. There's the promise, he will do it. Completion, there's the fulfilment. When we stand before Jesus on that day, we will be like him in entirety. But in the process, we are being changed. The Spirit began it, he sustains it, and he completes it. Good with that. So now we know what, and we know why, and we know how, and we will know when. What does that mean? If the Spirit does it all, does that just mean we get to sit around and go, Holy Spirit, change me? No, we don't. The Bible says in that scripture, it says, those who contemplate, behold, look upon, they're the ones being transformed. In Romans 12, 2, it says, do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the of your mind. Paul is not talking about gaining more information. He's not saying we should all go home and read a concordance. Information is not transformation. But we do all have mindsets. We all lean towards something, and the Bible says either we are conforming to the world or we are being transformed. There is no neutral ground. So either we are leaning into the spirit and we are allowing him to change us, or we can have a lean into things of the world. And he's talking about mindsets. And so when we are thinking about the renewal of our minds, we are thinking about what position has my mind taken? What is the posture or the lean or the attitude of my mind? If it leans towards the things of the world, we will by nature be conformed to the patterns of the world. But if we, with unfilled faces, contemplate his glory, lean into the spirit, then he is faithful to begin that work within us. Still with me? Minds are never neutral. Sometimes they lean our minds towards fear or self-reliance or pride or negativity or shame. That's just some. That's the pattern of the world. But when the Holy Spirit renews our mind, he wants to straighten our lean so that we lean into him. So instead of fear, we begin to trust. I'm learning that a lot when I have one of my children on tracker. They've allowed me to have them on tracker. But when that little green thing stops flashing and it's three o'clock in the morning and and they're no longer, you know what I'm talking about, right? They're no longer live and you, last time they were connected to the internet was 20 minutes ago and it's three o'clock in the morning and they're in the middle of Luton coming out of the airport walking. My mind in the middle of the night goes down the road of fear. As natural as that. And I'm learning, last night, learning to drag it back. And say, I trust you, God. I trust you. My mind has a lean towards fear. My mind can have a lean towards grumbling if I'm not careful. But the Holy Spirit wants to lean me into an attitude of gratitude. As you can see with Max, my mind has a lean towards pride instead of humility, thinking I could fix something. It can lean towards despair instead of hope. Or rebellion instead of obedience. Or criticism instead of compassion or worry instead of worship. Am I the only person in this room? Yeah, let's be honest here. Come on. Renewal isn't about knowing more, but it is learning to think differently. And that's what the Bible says. So, we need to position ourselves. We position ourselves to contemplate him, to think about him, to look over him, to have our minds changed by his truth, and allow him to renew our minds in order that the transforming work of the Holy Spirit can continue freely. I'm going to ask the musicians if you could come back for me. Please. How do you know if your mind is leaning in the right direction? And let's say, just begin to play something. I'm going to ask us to respond. Because maybe you've realised this morning that you do have a slant towards something of a worldly pattern of thinking, a mindset, an attitude. Maybe your mind automatically goes towards fear or control. My mind goes towards control or pride or worry. And the way I think about it is, or the way I discern it in my own life is to listen to the words that I use. Because you know that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. And when we speak, not when we speak to our friends and we're putting on a costume, but when we speak in the privacy of our own hearts, what are the words that we use? Because that will tell us which way we are slanted. Do I talk about Jesus but really and truly I trust myself? Or maybe you can tell because peace is not the norm for you, it's the exception. We've been called to a life of peace and part of the transformation of our minds and of our lives is to recognise that we are completely safe in him. That's the truth. Maybe we go down the road of controlling everything and thinking if it's hard it mustn't be God or I need to somehow control it in order for it to work out well. You know, God is great and all that but he really needs my help. Maybe you just feel exhausted but you feel you can't stop pretending or performing. Could be an indicator of where our hearts and our minds are leaning. It might be that you know your heart is sharp about something or someone but you know that Jesus' heart is soft. well there immediately is a what do they call a disparity. It's forming him, Jesus in us. Or maybe it's living in fear so more influenced by the headlines than by scripture. Or maybe faith is tired and hope feels naive. Well it's all very well to have faith but we need to be people that live in the real world. Have you heard that before? Or maybe it's just really simply I know that Jesus, yeah he's part of my life but he's not really the centre. Those things lean us into conforming to the patterns, the mindsets, the postures of the world. And the way we recentre and lean into Jesus is by beholding or contemplating him. So I just wonder if we could stand together. Maybe we need to surrender some of these things to God and actually name them for what they are. I have recognized, and I'm being really open here today, I have recognized how easy it is for me to live in a place of fear. Not about everything, but about certain things. I live in a place of fear and see how my mind goes down that road. It's just like a light switch, it goes down that road. And I know that I have to keep bringing that to God and surrendering it to Him and saying, I trust you. And it might be that's where you're at today and you just know, you know that there's a lean and there's an imbalance. We're leaning into the logic or the understanding or the wise words of the world. Lord, as we worship, I would just love for us to respond together. Holy Spirit, thank you for the transforming work of your power within me. Thank you that you are faithful to complete that which you've started. But our Father, I also know that I have a role to play in all of this. Forgive me for believing the lies of the enemy. Forgive me for my prideful heart that thinks that somehow I can fix things. And if you feel that the Holy Spirit's been pointing something in your heart or highlighting something, just we've got a few minutes. Let's come down to the front and join me here. Let's just pray together. As we surrender our lives, Holy Spirit, we want to be transformed to be like Jesus. I don't want mindsets that don't look like Jesus in my life. I don't want that. I don't want to proclaim freedom and Jesus with my mouth and yet live in bondage in my heart because of something that I'm scared to let go of. If the Holy Spirit's been speaking to you, come and join me as we worship together.

Find a Christ-centered resource for your family's holidays.   Episode 274 // Happy November, friend! This is the time of year when we have gratitude on the brain. But is it really in our hearts all year long? As Christians, it should be. As moms, we long for it to be.    So we're kicking off a mini-series today, diving deep into our calling and desire. How can we become more thankful people? What will it take to stop the grumbling in our hearts and our negative thinking?    Well, it starts by grounding ourselves in Scripture.God repeatedly tells his people to be thankful and joyful instead of grumbling and anxious. That's where everything good and wise in life starts - with the Bible itself!   Dive in with me today, friend, as we look deeply at Scripture to set the biblical stage for our dive into Gratitude Over Grumbling.   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Build a daily Bible and prayer habit with this free 45-day guide.   DEVOTIONAL: Find a Christmas devotional or Advent calendar for yourself or the whole family!   RELATED ON THE PODCAST: How To Stop Negative Thinking And Change Direction (EP 271)   RELATED ON THE BLOG: 12 Quick Tips For A Low-Stress Holiday Season   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Support the show on Patreon for just a few dollars a month, and grab access to our 2025 perk of daily(ish) devotionals!    Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

When life gets hard, what comes out of our mouth? Grumbling or gratitude?

Bible Direction for Life is the sermon podcast of Westside Baptist Church in Bremerton, Washington. This sermon is entitled “Grumbling at Grace” and was preached by Pastor Peter Montoro on October 12th, 2025. If you would like to learn more about Westside Baptist Church, please visit our Website: www.BibleDirectionForLife.com. Subscribe to the Podcast if you would like to hear new sermons and lessons each week.  

October 12, 2025 Ezek. 43:5-27; Ps. 118:27-29; Prov. 25:9-10; James 5:9-20

Here we are for episode 793! In which Paul and the gang attempt to help Hubert with his anxiety - but things don't quite go to plan! We also have some grumbling with Martin Holmes and you may even experience a moment or two of de ja vu... but it's been happening a lot on The Shy Life Podcast recently... How odd!! Our next episode, #794 the gang heading to watch Bettina and Charlotte at their two woman show but - as usual - there are troubles behind-the-scenes! Do join us! Email us at shyyeti@yahoo.co.uk if you have comments - you can even send a sound-file and I'll include it. The music is by Shy Yeti, Muffleyontour, Luca and Udio. Sound effects by Paul C and Soundbible. Logo by Owen O and Shy Yeti. All other content is Copyright Paul Chandler, 2025. Episode 793 was recorded on the 15th March 2025 and the extra material was recorded on the 12th March 2025. 

1. Habitual grumbling 2. Dissatisfaction with manna: Rejecting God himself 3. Kibroth Hattaavah: The grave of cravingTime:MorningMinister:Rev. Kwangyoung ParkTexts:Numbers 11:1–23Numbers 11:31–351 Corinthians 10:1–13

Curtis Bronzan 

Curtis Bronzan

The Wilderness E4 — After God delivers the Israelites out of Egypt, he tells Moses to lead them to the promised land—through the wilderness. This is perplexing because a much shorter, safer route existed along the coast. So why does God lead his people along the longer, harder way? In this episode, Jon and Tim explore Israel's wilderness tests, reflecting on God's plan to create a new people through a relationship of radical trust and dependence.CHAPTERSRecap and Setup for the Israelites in the Wilderness (0:00-10:05)God's Intentional Path Into the Wilderness (10:05-27:11)Three Wilderness Tests in Exodus (27:11-47:28)Seven Wilderness Tests in Numbers (47:28-1:02:23)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode's official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESYou can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Check out Tim's extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC“Blue Sky ft. TBabz” by Lofi Sunday“Mist Of Blessing ft. Marc Vanparla” by Lofi Sunday“Chilling In London” by Lofi Sunday, Just DerrickBibleProject theme song by TENTSSHOW CREDITSProduction of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, who also edited today's episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie. Powered and distributed by Simplecast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send Us Your Prayer Requests --------Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

Pastor Kurt takes a deep dive into Philippians 2:12-18, highlighting how Paul shows that God is working in you to shape your heart and actions, and through you to shine His light in a dark world.

In Luke 15:1–10, Jesus speaks to two very different audiences—tax collectors and sinners who listen with open hearts, and Pharisees and scribes who grumble in judgment. In this message, Pastor Jason Storbakken explore how Jesus disrupts polarized categories, centering the marginalized and revealing God's heart through stories of a shepherd and a woman searching for what was lost. These parables remind us that our worth is never diminished, no matter how hidden or burdened we may feel, and that joy erupts in heaven when we are restored. What does it mean to seek mercy over sacrifice, to remove anything that stands in the way of love, and to see the eternal value in every person?

Keith Green -Grumbling and Complaining - Pa by RealCUF

Keith Green-grumbling and complaining part1 by RealCUF

It seems like in the Bible, miracles are happening all the time. Did they stop happening when they invented the Polaroid or something? What's up with that?Some of us feel like if we saw a miracle happen before our own eyes, we'd be the best believers of all time. Yet the Israelites saw the Red Sea part and were grumbling and complaining again three days later. Jump in to hear Brian Tome break down why growth, faith, and gratitude often starts with having a good memory.  Recorded live at Crossroads Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Join Profs. Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson for another insightful episode of Sermon Brainwave as they dive deep into the lectionary texts for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost (September 14, 2025). In this episode, the hosts explore the powerful contrast between grumbling and joy found in Luke 15:1-10, where Jesus tells the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin. They discuss how these stories reveal God's character as one who celebrates finding the lost, and examine why the Pharisees and scribes struggled with Jesus's radical inclusivity at the table. The conversation also covers Exodus 32:7-14, exploring the golden calf incident as a paradigmatic story of idolatry and God's faithfulness to the covenant despite human unfaithfulness. They touch on the challenging passage from Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, examining themes of judgment and restoration. The hosts provide practical preaching insights on Psalm 51:1-10 as a confession text and discuss 1 Timothy 1:12-17, highlighting how Paul's story serves as a tableau of God's mercy and transformation. Commentaries for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost can be found on the Working Preacher website at https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-24-3/commentary-on-luke-151-10-6. ⏰Timecodes⏰ 00:00 Introduction to the 14th Sunday after Pentecost 00:58 Grumbling vs. Joy: A Theological Contrast 03:19 The Parables of the Lost: Context and Meaning 09:35 Idolatry and Divine Fidelity in Exodus 12:49 Jeremiah: The Weeping Prophet and National Consequences 17:19 Psalm 51: A Call to Repentance 20:15 Paul's Legacy: Mercy and Transformation *  *  * Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share to stay connected with more insightful lectionary discussions! Reminder: We have commentaries for the Revised Common Lectionary, the Narrative Lectionary, and Evangelio (Spanish-language Gospel). We're here for you, working preachers! ABOUT SERMON BRAINWAVE: Sermon Brainwave is a production of Luther Seminary's Working Preacher, which has been providing trusted biblical interpretation and preaching inspiration since 2007. Subscribe for weekly episodes and visit workingpreacher.org for additional preaching resources. Find more episodes and resources by visiting https://www.workingpreacher.org/. Watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/EH9NlVl2CvY.

Here we are for episode 785! In which Mister Yeti returns to the Little Island - TWICE - but for one of the two visits he's on the hunt for garlic! We also have some grumpy extra material with Martin Holmes too in which we discuss dodgy haircuts, the evils of manscaping and our complete lack of interest in personal fashion! Our next episode, #786 sees us catching up with DJ Starsage and his new co-host to discuss the films that they watched during the 7th season of Matinee Minutiae! Do join us! Email us at shyyeti@yahoo.co.uk if you have comments - you can even send a sound-file and I'll include it. The music is by Shy Yeti, Muffleyontour, Luca and Udio. Sound effects by Paul C and Soundbible. Logo by Owen O and Shy Yeti. All other content is Copyright Paul Chandler, 2025. Episode 785 was recorded between the 25th July and the 19th August 2025, with extra material recorded on the 4th June 2025.

Sermon from 08-24-2025

Sermon from Exodus 15:22-17:7 in St. Charles, IL

Are you a grumbler… or an encourager?

Let's Talk about Grumbling and Complaining  It's common to tell kids "to do all things without grumbling or complaining." But who reminds us adults of that?  Let's talk about it together.  Bible Passages for this Episode:  Do all things without complaining or arguments; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world -Philippians 2:14-15   Numbers 11:1-6 1Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the ears of the Lord; and the Lord heard them and His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some at the outskirts of the camp. 2 The people then cried out to Moses; and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died out. 3 So that place was named Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burned among them. 4 Now the rabble who were among them had greedy cravings; and the sons of Israel also wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? 5 We remember the fish which we used to eat for free in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; 6 but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna!”   Numbers 14:1-4 Then all the congregation raised their voices and cried out, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the entire congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or even if we had died in this wilderness! 3 So why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder! Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let's appoint a leader and return to Egypt!”     Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net   Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener's Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Grumbling and our sovereign provider & healer.

This week Steve taught about the wilderness wanderings and how we can learn from Moses and Jesus to defeat the pride of grumbling. 

In this special episode, Shane Willard brings a powerful, practical, and perspective-shifting message from Philippians 2. What does it really mean to “do all things without grumbling”? And how does our attitude impact the way the world sees Jesus in us?With historical insights, psychological wisdom, and classic Shane humor, this sermon challenges us to stop complaining, regain perspective, and become people who shine like stars in a dark world.00:00 - Intro & July Update  00:50 - "Enough Already" Book Shoutout  01:32 - Why Shane Willard Sermons This Month  03:18 - Shane's Intro & Mission  06:11 - Opening the Bible: Philippians 2  07:13 - Do All Things Without Grumbling  10:35 - Historical Backdrop of Philippi  13:49 - Paul's Arrest & Final Words  20:11 - Don't Be Like the Grumbling Israelites  21:05 - Grumbling as a Clanging Gong  23:59 - Hope Requires Perspective  25:56 - Be Part of the Song, Not the Gong  27:26 - Why We Grumble  30:53 - Perspective: Then vs. Now  33:41 - Don't Miss the Water for the Mud  35:36 - Comparison & Sacred Object Syndrome  39:00 - Freezing the Present  42:57 - Final Summary: No Grumbling, Shine Like Stars  43:50 - What This Means for Us

We would love to pray for you! Please send us your request here. --------Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

(Exodus 16:1-36 (ESV) Some Thoughts on Grumbling, Feasting, and Resting Road Trip, Part 3 July 13, 2025 – Dr. Cameron Schweitzer

Exodus 15:22-17:7 // Gabe CoyleThis sermon covers the journey of the Israelites in Exodus 15:22 through 17:7, highlighting their initial trials in the wilderness. We examine the turning of bitter water into drinkable water, the provision of manna, and the miraculous sourcing of water from a rock at Horeb.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49460345PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2542/responses/new25.07.13

Exodus 15:22-17:7 // Tom NelsonThis sermon covers the journey of the Israelites in Exodus 15:22 through 17:7, highlighting their initial trials in the wilderness. We examine the turning of bitter water into drinkable water, the provision of manna, and the miraculous sourcing of water from a rock at Horeb.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49460346PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new25.07.13

Exodus 15:22-17:7 // Manny CheryThis sermon covers the journey of the Israelites in Exodus 15:22 through 17:7, highlighting their initial trials in the wilderness. We examine the turning of bitter water into drinkable water, the provision of manna, and the miraculous sourcing of water from a rock at Horeb.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49460347PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2553/responses/new25.07.13

Exodus 15:22-17:7 // Peyton OttThis sermon covers the journey of the Israelites in Exodus 15:22 through 17:7, highlighting their initial trials in the wilderness. We examine the turning of bitter water into drinkable water, the provision of manna, and the miraculous sourcing of water from a rock at Horeb.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49460348PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2546/responses/new25.07.13

Pastor Tony Scarcello teaches on depending on God for your daily bread, as the Israelites trusted for Him to provide manna from heaven. ++++ LINKS +++++ Online Gathering Details: http://redhills.church/online Give Online: http://redhills.church/give Connect Card: http://redhills.church/connectcard +++++ JOIN US +++++ In-Person Gatherings // Sundays at 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 AM Third Street Location // 115 W Third Street, Newberg, OR, 97132 http://redhills.church/online +++++ CONNECT +++++ Website: http://redhills.church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redhillschurchnewberg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redhillschurchnewberg YouTube: http://bit.ly/rhcyoutube +++++ CONTACT +++++ Email: info@redhills.church Phone: 971.225.3737 Church Office: 200 S Grant Street, Newberg, OR 97132

Topics:  Psalm 44, Grumbling, Narnia, God Knows You, Character Change, Be A Disciple, Gifts From God, What Your Snacks Say About You, A Big Question, Cool People, Breaking Animal News BONUS CONTENT: Breaking Animal News Follow-up   Quotes: “I'm going to follow the things Jesus said. I'm going to be His disciple.” “I'm a perfectionist. That's why I'm spilling salsa on my shirt and also on my pants.” “Talent does equal maturity.” “God likes our participation in growing up.” . . . Holy Ghost Mama Pre-Order! Want more of the Oddcast? Check out our website! Watch our YouTube videos here. Connect with us on Facebook! For Christian banking you can trust, click here!

Despite Israel's miraculous deliverance, grumbling is the order of the day and will prove fatal for the Exodus generation which serves as both a warning for the church and the backdrop for God's amazing grace.

A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 10 - The Grumbling Heart of Unbelievers, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We continue our discussion of the healing at Bethesda in John 5 and include a brief overview of John 6. These passages clearly demonstrate the sin nature. Though the lame man was healed and the crowd was fed, they grumbled and remained in their unbelief. (duration 00:21:24) Click here to play

++++ LINKS +++++ Online Gathering Details: http://redhills.church/online Give Online: http://redhills.church/give Connect Card: http://redhills.church/connectcard +++++ JOIN US +++++ In-Person Gatherings // Sundays at 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 AM Third Street Location // 115 W Third Street, Newberg, OR, 97132 http://redhills.church/online +++++ CONNECT +++++ Website: http://redhills.church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redhillschurchnewberg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redhillschurchnewberg YouTube: http://bit.ly/rhcyoutube +++++ CONTACT +++++ Email: info@redhills.church Phone: 971.225.3737 Church Office: 200 S Grant Street, Newberg, OR 9713ŵŵ

Pastor Nicoletti continues his series in Philippians to talk about living without complaining.

The post The Grumbling Saints: See The Lord (Exodus 16-17) appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

In this episode we welcome Dr. Michael Morales—professor of biblical studies at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary—for a conversation exploring the profound theological vision of the book of Numbers. Drawing from his newly released two-volume commentary in the Apollos Old Testament Commentary series, Dr. Morales unveils Numbers as more than ancient census lists and wilderness wanderings. Instead, it emerges as a richly textured narrative of covenant community, leadership, and the Lord's presence among his people. Listeners will discover how the structure of Israel's camp reflects Edenic hope and eschatological promise, how Numbers addresses the roles of prophet, priest, and king, and why the priestly blessing and Balaam's oracles form theological bookends to this journey toward the Promised Land. Dr. Morales also shares personal reflections from his ten-year labor on the commentary, emphasizing the pastoral power and redemptive-historical depth of this often-overlooked book. Whether you're a pastor, seminary student, or serious Bible reader, this conversation will reinvigorate your love for the Pentateuch and deepen your grasp of how all Scripture points us to Christ. Resources Mentioned Numbers Volumes 1 & 2 (Apollos Old Testament Commentary) Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord? Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption Watch on YouTube Chapters 01:10 Introduction 03:22 Update About Current Projects 05:55 The Experience of Working on This Project for 10 Years 12:39 The Camp Metaphor 19:02 God Dwelling in the Midst of His People 23:53 Grumbling and Rebellion 28:47 The Orientation of God's People 34:40 The New Generation 43:19 The Close of the Book 45:12 Conclusion

Worship Leader Taylor Cummings walks through how God supplied manna in the wilderness, teaching the Israelites to gather just enough each day and to rest on the seventh. He emphasizes God's faithful provision and the daily rhythm of dependence and rest.