Podcasts about his church

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Are Texas Democrats, through a Soros-funded PAC, effectively paying people to vote? One of the group's own managers says “Yes!”Also, more alarming anti-moral, anti-Christian items coming from little Jimmy “The Creep” Talarico's Austin so-called “church”: Lesbian “Minister” at James Talarico's “Church” Brags About Him Fooling People As a Moderate (WATCH) Why Is James Talarico Silent About Reported Support for Political Violence Among Members of His Church? – the key part of this is not the violence issue but the media double standard we've lived through seemingly forever. Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick calls on ERCOT to reverse $150,000 retention bonuses for its board members. Why the heck are they paid beyond meeting expenses to begin with? What happened to civic service?For the informed, Bowtie Bully Curtis Parrish's statement today on his phantom commissioner pay scandal is worthy of tremendous derision. He created the problem, involved Meurer in it, made sure the pay checks didn't stop after a court ruled Meurer is not the commissioner, and now acts as if it all just happened and we are to feel sorry for Meurer when it is Parrish who created the entire affair.Texas Teacher Misconduct Reports Triple in 2026 reports Erin Anderson of  Texas Scorecard.Get updates on Texas Wildfires here. The Forest Service responded to 8 active wildfires yesterday.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

September 12, 2026.Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Patty Miller to discuss the behind-the-scenes experience of one who supports others' ministries.Serving from behind—what does that mean in today's world of women's rights and strident individualism? A woman of God has value and merit in the eyes of God regardless of her place in society or degree of visibility. Instead of oppressing women, Christianity gave women freedom and dignity that was unknown in the culture of the day. This responsibility comes with instructions on how to use this strength in a Christlike way, from a specific position in relation to Christ, His Church, and the men who are our authority. When we occupy that position in its fullness, we find peace, joy, and fulfillment. The speaker will share biblical examples and personal experiences of serving God from behind.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/the-power-of-the-hidden-woman/

As a former high school theology teacher and perpetual theology student, I like to think of myself as a Catholic theology nerd. I like to write papers on obscure, confusing Old Testament Bible passages that I've studied, and I love sharing what I learn about God, His Word, and His Church with others. So, when I became a parent and my infant son did every single thing a baby could do during the one hour Mass (including pooping LOUDLY during the consecration), I was both shocked and frustrated. ‘I just want to pray!' I exclaimed internally. This was my one hour per week to get out of the house and experience the beauty of Mass! I thought: ‘Finally, it was my turn to be encouraged and spiritually fed.' Instead, I fed someone else.Fast forward four years, and my husband and I have three children under 5 years old in the pew with us, and our funny stories about the things that have happened during Mass could fill a book and make you laugh till your sides hurt! From chasing a toddler track star down the main aisle to a child bursting into tears after receiving Lenten ashes saying between sobs, “But I don't want dirt on my face!,” no Sunday Mass with the Ferguson family is ever boring. Sometimes, just sometimes, I'm able to detach from my embarrassment long enough to laugh. More often than I'd like to admit, I find myself tired, weary, and overall just at a loss for how to survive Mass with my little saints. Recently, the Holy Spirit filled me with an idea; ‘Ask other moms what works for them.' So, I did. I polled every mother of small children I knew, and what I got in return was nothing short of pure mom genius! In speaking about Mass with small children, many of the moms pointed out that the frustrations we parents often feel in Mass are normal and reasonable.One mom said, “It's OK to feel sad about [how different Mass is with children compared to going to Mass before having kids] because it is frustrating and can start to feel like spiritual dryness if you aren't able to devote the same amount of attention to [Mass] as before.” “This is a new season of life to get used to,” a different mom explained, “and you probably won't be able to pray the same way at Mass as you did before motherhood. Accepting that means less frustration, … There will come a time again when the kids are older and aren't as needy and you can focus on the Mass again.”Mass as a parent with young children will not (and should not) look the same as Mass when you were a single adult. It could be that for many Sundays, we parents just won't hear the homily, or we miss the readings and the Eucharistic prayer because someone got fussy or needed to be changed, or said they needed to go potty for the fourth time in an hour.During these years, still another explained, “You may not ‘get much' out of Mass for yourself. Think of it as a season of ‘giving much' at Mass. Don't guilt trip yourself over being distracted by your kids, just offer it to the Lord. In a way, you are offering more to Jesus by coming to Him when it is difficult and you don't get much spiritual sweetness - not to mention that you are bringing Him your children, the most precious gift you can bring to the Church!” Personally, I like to imagine the rest of the parish community saying, ‘You care for that precious baby or toddler, we'll handle the Mass responses.' After all, everyone present prays the Mass together, as a community, so when my attention is divided, someone in the pew next to me can focus on my behalf, and pray on my behalf. Still another mom put it this way: Caring for your children during Mass “is your mission work. It's okay if they whine and talk, … They're little and can only handle so much. They're going to have times where it's too much! … Sometimes it's okay if [it feels like] the only good thing about Mass was that you showed up.”How powerful it is to ponder the difficulty overcome by parents who continue to show up to Mass, week after week, when they know it will be a struggle! Acknowledging the challenge and continuing to bring your children to Mass is truly a commendable endeavor! The Greatest ‘Catholic Mom Wins'Overall, I received responses back from 17 young moms with littles ranging from newborns to toddlers across half a dozen states. When asked, “What tips or tricks do you have that helped make attending Mass with little ones easier?” From parent to parent, here's their best advice: “Choose a Mass time that works for your family. I liked going first thing in the morning … because our kids were fresher in the morning.” “I tried to plan nap time around when Mass started.”If you choose to attend an early morning Mass, “set [out] outfits the night before (even for myself).” “We tried different areas of the church until we found “our spot”. We like sitting [in] the back row of [the] church so there aren't any distractions behind us. And if our kids are crying or need to use the restroom we can get out quickly. … For the big kids we try to have a Catholic coloring sheet or some small toys they can play with quietly until they become of age to be able to pay attention more fully. We've also tested different Mass times and found that our kids do best at the Noon Mass.” “We have a church book bag that we keep in the car, [and] the [books in that church bag] are only books they see at church; they seem “new' and not something that is played with all the time. I use books … that are religious based like a Noah's ark book or Toddler missal, etc. … I also have realized that sitting where they can see what is going on really helps too. Basically we can explain what is happening a lot easier this way.” For babies, we always bring “a clip and tether that keeps the teether [or pacifier] attached to the child.” If you have more than one child, “sitting between children [helps a lot], so as they [do] not get each other overly excited.” Bring “Books about Mass! Books about saints or Bible stories for them to look at during [the Mass]. A couple of favorite small toys or a favorite stuffy (keep it light. Don't get overwhelmed with their stuff), definitely a snack or two and water!... [and] Talk to them about everything that's happening in Mass!” “When managing kid behavior, prioritize silence over stillness. If a kid is screaming or making noise, that's distracting others, so … [you can] take them to the back. But if kids are walking up and down the aisles a bit, it's not a big deal. I have boys and it's simply not realistic to expect them to sit still for an hour … But they can usually fidget or color quietly. And when they can also participate noisily (Alleluia, Great Amen, etc.) encourage and model it! … Sitting up front helps my kids behave better because they can see what's going on and get interested to participate, and I think also because they are visible to others, … a certain amount of ‘stage fright' tones them down.” Finally, “remember to ask Mary to help you mother them like she mothered Jesus.” Author:Meg Kanatzar Ferguson, D.Min. is the Curriculum Coordinator at the Catholic Apostolate Center. She helps develop online course materials and curriculums and assists with the development of Catholic Apostolate Center publications. Resources:Listen to On MissionRead the Ad Infinitum blogMarriage and family resources Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

BJ Chursinoff is the pastor of Gospel City Church in Port Coquitlam, where he has served in ministry for over a decade. Alongside his wife Jess, BJ walked closely with Kyla Gillespie (formerly Brycen) through her journey out of gender transition and into full surrender to Jesus — a story shared in Kyla's own book and in a previous episode of this podcast.In this conversation, BJ shares:+ His own journey to faith and a decade of walking away before God called him back+How a Saturday-night recovery ministry called God Rock became Gospel City Church +The night Jess first approached Brycen (now Kyla) at a worship service + Why "everyone is broken" makes recovery ministry uniquely honest+ The moment Kyla shared her story — and why BJ and Jess responded, "We love you even more" + Why they asked Kyla for grace in the relationship, and what that cost them + Holding the traditional sexual ethic without wavering, while never pushing Kyla away + The invitation to live in their home during Kyla's detransition+ What it means to walk in both grace and truth like Jesus did BJ is passionate about the clear and faithful teaching of God's Word and longs to see people transformed by the grace of God. He loves Jesus, His Church, His Word, and the lost, and is committed to helping others grow in a deeper, more authentic walk with Christ. He is married to his wife Jessica, and together they have a daughter, Sydney.Links:Gospel City Church: http://gospelcity.ca/"Transformed" by Kyla Gillespie: https://www.amazon.ca/TransFormed-Journey-Confusion-Reassignment-Detransitioning/dp/B0FCL13CD7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3RMB2RGDCMCGW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5JDi_aQXnLEQtzuMoi8PynJ58BYoMe1lVwmizmQhwF4.g-H52-FqRKnu7KEqkPbT9ougvPrzPzdq9WQ4ybxh-bc&dib_tag=se&keywords=transformed+kyla+gillespie&qid=1788534926&sprefix=transformed+kyla+gillespi%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-1Episode #118 with Kyla Gillespie on The Sowers: youtube.com/watch?v=ZrqxDwczqDU&source_ve_path=NzY3NTg&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.thesowerspod.ca%2F

What did Jesus intend His Church to be?Acts 1 takes us back to the beginning of the Church and gives us a picture of the movement Jesus started—a people centered on Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and sent on mission.The Church was never meant to exist simply for itself. Jesus gives His people the power of the Holy Spirit and sends ordinary men and women into the world as His witnesses.As we begin our journey through Acts, we're asking what it would look like for us to become that kind of church in Boston today: Jesus at the center, dependent on the Spirit, and willing to go wherever He sends us.

Please consider how you can be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ through your financial support to the continued work of His Church in this time. Contributions can be made by PayPal by visiting our website ( faithbiblepres.org ) or by mailing your contribution to: Faith Bible Presbyterian Church 3001 Marian Dr. Trenton Mi 48183 "The Pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both." ~ John Calvin (July 10, 1509 - May 27, 1564). "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." ~ NKJV John 10:27 "Satan's greatest success is in making people think they have plenty of time before they die to consider their eternal welfare" ~ John Owen (1616 - August 1683). "For the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ." ~ NKJV Rev. 1:9 Fᴀɪᴛʜ Bɪʙʟᴇ Pʀᴇsʙʏᴛᴇʀɪᴀɴ Cʜᴜʀᴄʜ ~ Tʀᴜᴇ Worship & Aᴜᴛʜᴇɴᴛɪᴄ Fᴇʟʟᴏᴡsʜɪᴘ ~ Faith Bible Presbyterian Church is a Bible believing and Christ honoring church that is committed to teaching|preaching the Word of God with diligence and authority. We stand for the historic Christian faith, and we welcome you to our services of worship. Won't you join us? faithbiblepres.org

Please consider how you can be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ through your financial support to the continued work of His Church in this time. Contributions can be made by PayPal by visiting our website ( faithbiblepres.org ) or by mailing your contribution to: Faith Bible Presbyterian Church 3001 Marian Dr. Trenton Mi 48183 "The Pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both." ~ John Calvin (July 10, 1509 - May 27, 1564). "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." ~ NKJV John 10:27 "Satan's greatest success is in making people think they have plenty of time before they die to consider their eternal welfare" ~ John Owen (1616 - August 1683). "For the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ." ~ NKJV Rev. 1:9 Fᴀɪᴛʜ Bɪʙʟᴇ Pʀᴇsʙʏᴛᴇʀɪᴀɴ Cʜᴜʀᴄʜ ~ Tʀᴜᴇ Worship & Aᴜᴛʜᴇɴᴛɪᴄ Fᴇʟʟᴏᴡsʜɪᴘ ~ Faith Bible Presbyterian Church is a Bible believing and Christ honoring church that is committed to teaching|preaching the Word of God with diligence and authority. We stand for the historic Christian faith, and we welcome you to our services of worship. Won't you join us? faithbiblepres.org

The book of Ephesians is one of the richest and most practical letters in the New Testament. During this month, we'll discover who God says we are, what Christ has accomplished for us, and how those truths shape the way we live. Together, we'll explore God's incredible grace, His plan for His Church, and the invitation to walk in a manner worthy of the calling we've received.

Please consider how you can be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ through your financial support to the continued work of His Church in this time. Contributions can be made by PayPal by visiting our website ( faithbiblepres.org ) or by mailing your contribution to: Faith Bible Presbyterian Church 3001 Marian Dr. Trenton Mi 48183 "The Pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both." ~ John Calvin (July 10, 1509 - May 27, 1564). "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." ~ NKJV John 10:27 "Satan's greatest success is in making people think they have plenty of time before they die to consider their eternal welfare" ~ John Owen (1616 - August 1683). "For the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ." ~ NKJV Rev. 1:9 Fᴀɪᴛʜ Bɪʙʟᴇ Pʀᴇsʙʏᴛᴇʀɪᴀɴ Cʜᴜʀᴄʜ ~ Tʀᴜᴇ Worship & Aᴜᴛʜᴇɴᴛɪᴄ Fᴇʟʟᴏᴡsʜɪᴘ ~ Faith Bible Presbyterian Church is a Bible believing and Christ honoring church that is committed to teaching|preaching the Word of God with diligence and authority. We stand for the historic Christian faith, and we welcome you to our services of worship. Won't you join us? faithbiblepres.org

Please consider how you can be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ through your financial support to the continued work of His Church in this time. Contributions can be made by PayPal by visiting our website ( faithbiblepres.org ) or by mailing your contribution to: Faith Bible Presbyterian Church 3001 Marian Dr. Trenton Mi 48183 "The Pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both." ~ John Calvin (July 10, 1509 - May 27, 1564). "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." ~ NKJV John 10:27 "Satan's greatest success is in making people think they have plenty of time before they die to consider their eternal welfare" ~ John Owen (1616 - August 1683). "For the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ." ~ NKJV Rev. 1:9 Fᴀɪᴛʜ Bɪʙʟᴇ Pʀᴇsʙʏᴛᴇʀɪᴀɴ Cʜᴜʀᴄʜ ~ Tʀᴜᴇ Worship & Aᴜᴛʜᴇɴᴛɪᴄ Fᴇʟʟᴏᴡsʜɪᴘ ~ Faith Bible Presbyterian Church is a Bible believing and Christ honoring church that is committed to teaching|preaching the Word of God with diligence and authority. We stand for the historic Christian faith, and we welcome you to our services of worship. Won't you join us? faithbiblepres.org

Please consider how you can be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ through your financial support to the continued work of His Church in this time. Contributions can be made by PayPal by visiting our website ( faithbiblepres.org ) or by mailing your contribution to: Faith Bible Presbyterian Church 3001 Marian Dr. Trenton Mi 48183 "The Pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both." ~ John Calvin (July 10, 1509 - May 27, 1564). "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." ~ NKJV John 10:27 "Satan's greatest success is in making people think they have plenty of time before they die to consider their eternal welfare" ~ John Owen (1616 - August 1683). "For the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ." ~ NKJV Rev. 1:9 Fᴀɪᴛʜ Bɪʙʟᴇ Pʀᴇsʙʏᴛᴇʀɪᴀɴ Cʜᴜʀᴄʜ ~ Tʀᴜᴇ Worship & Aᴜᴛʜᴇɴᴛɪᴄ Fᴇʟʟᴏᴡsʜɪᴘ ~ Faith Bible Presbyterian Church is a Bible believing and Christ honoring church that is committed to teaching|preaching the Word of God with diligence and authority. We stand for the historic Christian faith, and we welcome you to our services of worship. Won't you join us? faithbiblepres.org

9-13-26 Flight Plans and Fire | Acts 2:42–47 | Pastor Steve & Lauire Rahter Flight Plans and Fire Pastor Steve & Lauire Rahter Take Flight Series

One of the ways that God gets us on a firm foundation is through His Church! From the beginning, it has been His design that we live in community with one another as His family.

God wants shepherds for His Church that will be faithful so that they can teach and defend the sound doctrine of the Gospel.

9-13-26 AM "Christ Prepares His Missionary and His Church"Scripture Reading: Acts 9:1-19Sermon Text: Acts 9:1-19 Rev. Pablo Landazuri

Read OnlineExponential Mercy“That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt.” Matthew 18:23–25Jesus tells this parable in response to Peter, who asked, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Peter likely thought he was being generous. But Jesus invited him to go far beyond what he imagined, responding, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” The context is helpful. Not long before this dialogue, Jesus had changed Simon's name to Peter—Petros—meaning “rock,” the foundation upon which He would build His Church. He further promised Peter that the gates of hell would not prevail against it and said, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).Soon after that, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, where they were privileged to witness His Transfiguration—a glimpse of His divine glory. Peter had also witnessed many other miracles, some quite personal. For example, when asked by tax collectors whether Jesus paid the Temple tax, Jesus told Peter to go to the sea, cast a hook, and open the mouth of the first fish he caught. Inside, he found a coin worth twice the Temple tax—enough for both Jesus and Peter (Matthew 17:27).Perhaps these recent events in which Peter played a privileged role left him feeling quite favored. He may have begun to think well of himself, sensing a special place in Jesus' mission. Wanting to demonstrate his spiritual maturity, Peter made what he thought was a generous offer: to forgive his brother up to seven times.In Jewish tradition, to forgive seven times was seen as more than sufficient. The rabbinic teaching often suggested forgiving up to three times, based loosely on interpretations of the Prophet Amos (cf. Amos 1:3). So when Peter offered seven, he was doubling that and adding one for good measure—a symbolic act of exceeding piety.But Jesus' response radically shifted the paradigm. Seventy-seven times—or, in some manuscripts, seventy times seven—is not a precise numerical limit. It's a symbolic expression that conveys the idea of limitless forgiveness, echoing God's own mercy toward sinners. Jesus was not simply raising the bar; He was inviting Peter—and all of us—into the boundless love of the Father.The parable Jesus then taught illustrates this clearly: Because God has shown us immeasurable mercy, we must extend mercy to others. But it also begins with a shocking image. When the king began the accounting and the servant who owed a “huge amount” was brought before him—an amount so large he had no way of repaying—the master ordered that the servant, his wife, his children, and all his property be sold. This illustrates the incalculable debt we owe to God for our sins. Not only are we incapable of repaying it, but even everything we hold dear cannot cover the cost. At the heart of the parable is this truth: Unless we extend limitless mercy to others, we will be held accountable for our own unpayable debt before God. But if we imitate God's mercy and forgive from the heart, that enormous debt will be entirely wiped away.Reflect today on the mercy you have received from God. Has He not been patient with you, gentle with your faults, and generous with His grace? Now consider someone in your life whom you have found difficult to forgive. Does that person's offense compare to the debt God has forgiven you? Let this parable challenge you to a deeper conversion of heart, one that forgives as it has been forgiven, not seven times, but seventy-seven times, and more. Only then will the kingdom of Heaven truly reign in you.Most generous Lord, You forgive more than seventy-seven times—more than seventy times seven. Your mercy is unconditional in its origin and limitless in its reach, yet it bears one condition: that I, too, show mercy to others. Grant me, dear Lord, a heart that is merciful like Yours, one that participates in and reflects Your Divine Mercy. May I forgive as I have been forgiven, so that the full debt of my sin may be wiped away and that others may be drawn to You through the witness of mercy in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, by Claude VignonSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

By David Chornomaz - This sermon presents the Feast of Trumpets as a reminder that God has always warned humanity, Israel, and His Church before bringing judgment or consequences. The central message calls believers to examine themselves, stay close to God, be like the Bereans in testing teachings by Scripture, and

Having answered His enemies' temptations three times now, Jesus takes the offensive during Holy Week. He warns the crowds and His disciples against the scribes and Pharisees. Although they rightly read the Word of God, which must be obeyed, their preaching and their practice are full of deceit and hypocrisy which must not be obeyed. Their preaching only proclaims the burden of the Law, with no salvation from the Gospel. Their concern for earthly glory only exacerbates the problem. In contrast, Jesus upholds the life of a servant as the paradigm for all who are members of His Church, for we know that God is the One who exalts us.  Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Linn, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 23:1-12.  To learn more about Zion in Linn, visit zionlinn.org. “The Reign of Heaven Stands Near” is a series on Sharper Iron that studies the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The first evangelist proclaims that God has fulfilled His Old Testament promises by sending Jesus to bring the reign of the heavens among us. As the Son of David, Jesus is the gracious King we need, and as the Son of Abraham, Jesus is the blessing to all the families of the earth.  Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Pastor Appel serves at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, IL. Learn more at flcgodfrey.org. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

We often refer to joining the military as "answering the cali to serve our country." Every person who hears that call is forced to make a very serious decision. The very act of putting on a uniform means that person has accepted the possibiiity that they might die defending us. They choose to put our safety ahead of their own. And joining the military means a radical change in lifestyle. You join a community. You're taught to submit and work cooperatively with others. You develop special skills that others on your team will depend on. You're trained to endure hardship and in the process form deep loyalties toward one another to such a degree that many are willing to risk their own lives to rescue one of their own who is injured or has been captured. In this passage Paul makes it clear that God expects this same level of commitment from us toward His Church. Following Jesus places profound demands upon us. What's asked of us is no less, and in many ways more, than what's asked of a soldier. We too are called to commit ourselves to one another and have courage under fire. We too accept the possibility that we might die fulfilling our duty. We too must learn to submit and work together as a team. We too have special skills given to us which others in our team depend on. We too must learn to endure hardship and in the process form deep loyalties, to the point that we will risk our own lives to rescue one who's injured or been captured. And like those in the miiitary, we do all this to save others. In our case, people's eternity depends on us fulfilling our duty. To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at info@lifelessonspublishing.com and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series. Also check out our website for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge. And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Genesis at no charge, we are giving out this book as well!      

TWPC D1S1 | September 10, 2026 | THE BIRTH-PANGS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT PRIESTS You have not been called merely to attend church, adopt Christian language, receive a ministry title, or wait for heaven. You have been invited into the Kingdom of God, and that Kingdom must become a present reality within you. When you pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done,” you are not simply asking God to change the world around you; you are yielding yourself as the territory in which His will must first be established. God desires to make you His habitation. Your life, therefore, must become a place where the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit can dwell, govern and express themselves without resistance. This means that Christianity cannot remain an outward religion. You must allow the life of God to penetrate every part of you. New birth is the beginning, not the completion, of this journey. When you are born again, your spirit is made alive to God, but your mind, emotions, desires, will, imagination, appetites and patterns of thought still require transformation. Your soul must progressively come under the government of Christ. The life you received in your spirit must spread into the rest of your being until the way you think, feel, desire, respond and choose increasingly resembles Christ. You must therefore become like a little child before God. Childlikeness does not mean immaturity or ignorance; it describes a heart that is humble, receptive, teachable, trusting and quick to forgive. You must remain capable of receiving from others. God has deliberately refused to deposit everything He wants His Church to know in one person. He gives one part to one member and another part to someone else so that His body must remain dependent upon fellowship. You need what another believer carries, and another believer may need what God has placed in you. Pride prevents this exchange. Humility makes it possible. Do not build your identity around being above others. Spiritual leadership does not make you a superior class of Christian. If you lead others, come close enough to them to serve, teach, correct, model and impart the life of Christ. Your calling is not to gather people around your personality or make them permanently dependent upon you. You are meant to prepare people for God. Raise people who can follow the Lamb wherever He leads, even when He leads them beyond your own sphere of influence. True ministry does not possess people; it prepares them for Christ. This requires you to recover the seriousness of priesthood. Priesthood is not merely another title for ministry. A priest must be trained. A priest must learn the ways of the One he serves. You cannot administer spiritual realities simply because you are enthusiastic, gifted or educated. God must train your senses, correct your motives, discipline your appetites and teach you how to live before Him. The purpose of that training is not to make you impressive; it is to make you suitable for His habitation and useful in His purpose. You are also part of a covenant family. God is not merely a distant deity whom you occasionally approach for assistance; He has brought you into relationship with Himself as Father. Through Christ you have received His life and have become part of His household. This means your Christianity is not primarily a transaction designed to prevent you from going to hell. You have been brought into a family, made an heir and called to share in the inheritance of Christ. The greatest blessing God could give you is not money, property, influence or earthly success. He has given you Himself. Because He has given you Himself, you must learn to value what heaven values. Do not measure your life by houses, cars, crowds, applause, church size or public recognition. These things cannot define spiritual success. A person may possess visible abundance and still be inwardly poor, blind or empty. Ask instead whether Christ is increasing in you. Ask whether your soul is becoming more yielded. Ask whether you are becoming easier for the Holy Spirit to lead. Ask whether your life is becoming a genuine expression of God. Recover also the family life of the Church. The Church should not be a competitive marketplace where believers climb over one another in pursuit of influence. It should be a community marked by love, sacrifice, care, humility and shared life. When one member suffers, others should draw near. When someone is weak, others should strengthen them rather than exploit them. When someone carries grace, others should receive it without jealousy. The Kingdom grows where brethren genuinely love one another. The call is ultimately to become a people through whom God's will can be done on earth as it is in heaven—a holy habitation, a prepared priesthood, an awakened Bride and a family in whom the life, character, authority and glory of Christ can be seen.

The early church didn't grow through programs or events alone, but through devoted relationships centered on the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Jesus' commission is lived out as ordinary believers walk together in authentic community—devoted to Christ and to one another. This is relational discipleship: not isolated faith or busy activity, but life-on-life investment where the Gospel is shared, believers are connected and trained in the Word, and disciples are released to multiply. God still builds His Church this way today—by grace, shared in friendships.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

This Week's EpisodeGod never intended the church to run on the gifts of a few people while everyone else watches. Every believer has been uniquely gifted, uniquely wired, and uniquely positioned to make a difference. Different stories. Different personalities. Different abilities… One mission. We'll discover how God brings together ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. The Church is at its strongest when every person finds their place and faithfully plays their part.

From the gates of hell to a glimpse of glory, Jesus reveals who He truly is and what He intends to do through His Church. At Caesarea Philippi, Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ and Jesus declares that the gates of hell will not prevail against His Church. Six days later, Peter, James, and John witness the Transfiguration and see Christ's glory for themselves. This message explores what these moments reveal about the identity of Jesus, the power of His Church, and our calling to stand together in a dark world.

God needs women in His Church just as much as He needs men. At creation, He made both in his image, and even in perfection, both were needed. He made us different for a reason, but those differences are often unappreciated by both sexes, particularly women by men. The critical work done by women often goes unnoticed. We see disciples of Pentecost but not women who joined them in prayer. We see St. Augustine's works, and not Monica prayers for her boy's salvation. But God notices.

God designed His Church to be a family, not an audience. Healing, encouragement, accountability, and growth all flourish when believers intentionally pursue biblical community.

Have you stopped dreaming because disappointment, fear, or the weight of life convinced you not to hope anymore? This message is a call to let God awaken your imagination, restore your hope, and help you see what your life—and His Church—could become when you fully trust Him.

Division can quietly turn brothers and sisters into opponents, but Jesus calls His Church to something greater: unity. In this message, we confront the attitudes that divide us and rediscover what it means to be one body in Christ. Our prayer is that God would use this message in your life! Pursuit Church on Social Media:facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PursuitChurchDenver/?ref=bookmarksinstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pursuit_church/Pursuit Worship on Social Media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pursuit-Worship-671274439695803/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pursuit.worship/

It’s easy to think of church as something we do. We go to church. We attend a service. We sing, listen, serve, volunteer, and then head back into another week. But what if Jesus intended His Church to be far more than something we attend or add to our schedules? What if church isn’t primarily something we do, but something we are? This Sunday, we’ll look at Ephesians 4:1–6 and what it means to live as people who have been called together by Jesus. In a world that seems increasingly divided, the Church has an opportunity to show something radically different—a community marked by humility, love, peace, and a unity that goes deeper than simply gathering in the same room. Join us this Sunday at 8am for “Do” vs. “Be” as we discover what it looks like not just to go to church, but to be the Church. REMEMBER: We only have ONE SERVICE this week! Join us at Mitchell Berean at 8am, and then at Five Rocks Amphitheater for the Horizon Community Church Service at 11am. - Pastor Ben For this week's Scripture and notes: https://bible.com/events/49642704

Sunday Morning Message - "Rising Up to Build"In this message from September 6, Pastor Kyle is back in Nehemiah 2:17-20 spending more time about what it means for us to be revival ready. Just as Nehemiah called the people of God to stop living acclimated to the ruins around them and rise up to rebuild, we are being called to open our eyes to the true condition of our lives, our families, our city, and our church — and then respond with courageous, committed action. God's hand is upon His people, King Jesus has already declared that the gates of hell will not prevail against His Church, and the time to lean in is now.

Please consider how you can be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ through your financial support to the continued work of His Church in this time. Contributions can be made by PayPal by visiting our website ( faithbiblepres.org ) or by mailing your contribution to: Faith Bible Presbyterian Church 3001 Marian Dr. Trenton Mi 48183 "The Pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both." ~ John Calvin (July 10, 1509 - May 27, 1564). "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." ~ NKJV John 10:27 "Satan's greatest success is in making people think they have plenty of time before they die to consider their eternal welfare" ~ John Owen (1616 - August 1683). "For the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ." ~ NKJV Rev. 1:9 Fᴀɪᴛʜ Bɪʙʟᴇ Pʀᴇsʙʏᴛᴇʀɪᴀɴ Cʜᴜʀᴄʜ ~ Tʀᴜᴇ Worship & Aᴜᴛʜᴇɴᴛɪᴄ Fᴇʟʟᴏᴡsʜɪᴘ ~ Faith Bible Presbyterian Church is a Bible believing and Christ honoring church that is committed to teaching|preaching the Word of God with diligence and authority. We stand for the historic Christian faith, and we welcome you to our services of worship. Won't you join us? faithbiblepres.org

Send us Fan MailWhat makes the Church beautiful? It isn't a building, a program, or a perfect group of people. It's people—different people brought together by Jesus and learning to live and love like Him.Welcome to Week 1 of Isn't She Beautiful? In this full Crossroads service, Reid Robinette takes us into Ephesians 2:11–22 and God's vision for His Church. We discover a community where people who might otherwise have little in common are brought together as citizens of the same Kingdom, members of the same family, and people being built together as a dwelling place for God.Following Jesus is personal, but it isn't private. Church isn't something we're meant to simply watch from a distance. We are invited to belong, gather, grow, serve, and follow Jesus together.Wherever you are in your faith journey—even if you're still deciding what you believe—there is a place for you here.Key Scripture: Ephesians 2:11–22Speaker: Reid Robinette

Please consider how you can be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ through your financial support to the continued work of His Church in this time. Contributions can be made by PayPal by visiting our website ( faithbiblepres.org ) or by mailing your contribution to: Faith Bible Presbyterian Church 3001 Marian Dr. Trenton Mi 48183 "The Pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both." ~ John Calvin (July 10, 1509 - May 27, 1564). "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." ~ NKJV John 10:27 "Satan's greatest success is in making people think they have plenty of time before they die to consider their eternal welfare" ~ John Owen (1616 - August 1683). "For the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ." ~ NKJV Rev. 1:9 Fᴀɪᴛʜ Bɪʙʟᴇ Pʀᴇsʙʏᴛᴇʀɪᴀɴ Cʜᴜʀᴄʜ ~ Tʀᴜᴇ Worship & Aᴜᴛʜᴇɴᴛɪᴄ Fᴇʟʟᴏᴡsʜɪᴘ ~ Faith Bible Presbyterian Church is a Bible believing and Christ honoring church that is committed to teaching|preaching the Word of God with diligence and authority. We stand for the historic Christian faith, and we welcome you to our services of worship. Won't you join us? faithbiblepres.org

Justin Hibbard continues the series on Vatican II by reading one of the four constitutions - Lumen Gentium (Light of the Nations) - The Dogmatic Constitution of the Catholic Church. This episode covers chapter 3 - On the Hierarchical Structure of the Church and in Particular on the Episcopate (sections 18-29). In this episode, you will learn order how Jesus, in order to preserve the unity of His Church, established a perpetual system of bishops to lead, shepherd, and govern the Church. The bishops are the successors of the apostles with the Pope the successor of Peter - the visible Head of the whole Church.READ ALONG: Lumen GentiumReading begins at 1:26Commentary begins at 30:25SOCIAL LINKS* Follow Why Catholic on Instagram.* Subscribe to Why Catholic on YouTube.* Follow Why Catholic on Facebook* Follow Justin on Facebook.SHOW NOTES* #63 - Not all Catholics are Roman Catholics* #110 - Papal Supremacy* #111 - Papal InfallibilityEPISODES IN THIS SERIES:* #190 - Introduction to Vatican II* #191 - Lumen Gentium (Part 1)* #192 - Lumen Gentium (Part 2) Get full access to Why Catholic? at whycatholic.substack.com/subscribe

Jesus Christ is not merely part of history—He is its focal point, the Beginning and the End, worthy of all glory, honor, majesty, and praise. In today's episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef turns to John's extraordinary vision of the glorified Christ in Revelation. Jesus stands among seven golden lampstands representing His churches, reminding us that the Church exists to shine His light faithfully into a dark world. John sees Christ in overwhelming majesty: clothed with authority, perfectly holy, seeing all things, speaking with supreme power, and prepared to judge with righteousness. His Word penetrates the deepest places of the heart, and His face shines with glorious brilliance. This is the risen Lord who knows His Church completely—and whose return should shape how we live today. That urgency lies behind Christ's messages to the seven churches of Revelation. His words include warning, correction, encouragement, conviction, and invitation. And one of His most searching challenges concerns our love for Him. It is possible to defend Biblical Truth, pursue good works, and still allow our affection for Jesus to grow cold. Accurate theology and faithful service can never replace wholehearted love for the Savior Himself. If your love for Christ has weakened, His invitation remains open: confess, repent, and return. Rekindle your first love, order your life in light of eternity, and live today with the joyful expectation that your glorious King could return at any time. Let us pray. Lord Jesus, forgive me for setting my eyes on the things of this world rather than You, my Redeemer. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.

God Is Building His Church in the Midst of WarFor many people, Ukraine is known primarily through the images and stories that come out of the war: destroyed buildings, missile strikes, soldiers at the front, and families who have lost loved ones. But spending time in Ukraine reveals something that is harder to see from a distance. People are still living their lives, churches are still gathering, communities are being served, and Christians are continuing to share the hope of the Gospel.Recently, Gospel Today had the opportunity to sit down with Graham Marshall, who was visiting Ukraine for the first time. Graham and his wife, Sharon, have been connected to ministry in Ukraine for more than 30 years, dating back to their involvement with Ukrainian churches and ministry leaders in the 90s. After eight days in the country, Graham shared some of the things that surprised him and how the visit changed his perspective on life and ministry during wartime.Seeing Ukraine for the First TimeGraham knew before coming that Ukraine was at war, and some of his family members wondered whether it was the right time to visit. For Graham and Sharon, however, there was a confidence that if God was leading them to come, there was a purpose in being there.One of the things that surprised him was how little military presence he saw in everyday life. He expected to see more soldiers and more obvious signs of the war. Of course, there were reminders of the destruction, particularly during their trip to Mykolaiv, where they saw places that had been damaged by missiles. He also noticed that there were relatively few men on the streets, as many are serving at the front. But what stood out even more was that ordinary life continues.Life Continues During WarGraham was struck by the fact that people were still paying attention to things that might seem unimportant during wartime. In parks and public spaces, flowers were being planted. People were reading books and spending time together. At a prayer meeting, he met a woman who had spent time composing poetry.These things may seem small, but they revealed something significant about the Ukrainian people. There is still a desire to build, create, and prepare for a future beyond the war. People are not simply focused on surviving the present, they are looking forward to the day when the fighting will end and Ukraine can once again be a place of peace and beauty.After more than four years of war, Ukrainians have also had to learn how to continue with everyday life. The constant urgency and fear that marked the beginning of the full-scale invasion cannot be maintained forever. People still have to work, read, spend time with others, and carry on with daily responsibilities.That does not mean the war has become less painful or that people have forgotten what has happened. Instead, it demonstrates the resilience of a people who continue to value life and look toward the future.Remembering Those Who Have Been LostAt the same time, the reality of war is impossible to separate from everyday life. Graham described sensing a quietness among many Ukrainians, comparing it to the atmosphere of a memorial service. During a walk through the city, he came across a memorial with dozens of Ukrainian flags representing people who had been killed. Behind each flag was a person with a family and a story: fathers, husbands, grandfathers, and sons.For Ukrainians, the war is not something happening somewhere far away. It has affected families, churches, and communities personally. The loss is visible throughout the country, even as people continue with their daily lives.The Church Is Serving Its CommunityOn the other hand, a big encouragement for the Marshalls was what they saw in Ukrainian churches. During his visit, he had the opportunity to visit several churches and meet with pastors in the Mykolaiv region, as well as churches in Odesa. His impression was that the churches were healthy. In several places, churches were expanding their facilities, and unbelievers were coming through their doors looking for hope and answers.For pastors and ministry leaders, the circumstances have created opportunities to preach the Gospel and serve people who are searching for something they cannot find elsewhere. Rather than simply waiting for the war to end, these churches are actively reaching their communities and looking for ways to bring glory to God in the middle of difficult circumstances.One example was a humanitarian aid distribution that Graham attended. Around 300 people came to receive bread from the church. However what made the ministry particularly meaningful was that this was not a temporary response. The church had been providing this assistance for four years. That kind of sustained service demonstrates the role the church can play during a crisis. The church is meeting practical needs while building relationships with people in the community and creating opportunities to point them toward Christ.God Is Building His ChurchThe growth of some Ukrainian churches is particularly striking when considering everything the war has taken from the country. Graham and Caleb discussed how many pastors and ministry leaders have left Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Yet, even with those losses, churches remain. Some churches continue to grow, and some are even being planted.From a human perspective, it can be tempting to explain church growth through systems, programs, finances, or leadership. Those things can certainly be useful, but the situation in Ukraine provides a reminder that the work of building the Church ultimately belongs to God.We often see circumstances from a very limited perspective. We see pastors leaving, families being separated, and people suffering. We naturally focus on what has been lost. But God sees what we cannot see, and He is able to work through circumstances in ways that we may not immediately understand.As Graham reflected, God can use difficult circumstances to accomplish His purposes and build His Church.God Working Through SufferingThis also changes the way we think about suffering. Caleb noted how easy it is to say that God is working “despite the war.” But he has come to think about it differently: God is working through the war.That does not make the suffering good, nor does it minimize the pain Ukrainians have experienced. But it reminds us that suffering does not place God outside of His purposes. He remains sovereign, even when we cannot understand what He is doing.Ukraine's experience also reminds us that suffering itself is not unique to one country. The circumstances may be different, but every person will eventually experience some form of pain, loss, or tragedy. The scale of Ukraine's suffering may be different, but the human need for hope is the same.The question is where we turn when suffering comes.

What does Jesus' Parable of the Mustard Seed really mean? In Matthew 13:31–32, Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven as a tiny mustard seed that grows into a great tree where the birds of the air come to rest. In this episode, Steve Wood explores the Kingdom of Christ, the Book of Daniel, and the meaning of the tree and birds in the parable. What does this seemingly simple parable reveal about the worldwide reign of Jesus Christ the King? And what does it mean for Christians and the nations today? Discover why this “harmless” two-verse parable has a much bigger message than it first appears. Listen and discover the powerful message Jesus has for His Church and the world. For more resources, visit us online at www.BibleforCatholics.com.  

Read OnlineWhile the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Luke 5:1–4At that moment, Simon could not have grasped the full significance of Jesus' actions. Our Lord chose to preach to the crowds from the boat “belonging to Simon.” When He had finished speaking, He turned to Simon and said, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”Traditionally, the boat has been understood as a symbol of the Church. It is particularly meaningful that this first use of a boat in Jesus' public ministry involved Simon's vessel. Later in Luke's Gospel, Jesus says: “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31–32).In this powerful passage, Jesus entrusts Simon with the unique mission of leadership and fraternal support. Though Simon would stumble during the Passion, his faith would be restored, and his role confirmed, not merely as a disciple, but as one called to fortify the faith of others. This divine commission echoes the symbolic act at the Lake of Gennesaret, where Simon's boat becomes the pulpit from which the Word is proclaimed. And, as is recorded in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus later changed Simon's name to Peter, making him the rock foundation upon which He would build His Church, promising the gates of hell would not prevail against it (cf. Matthew 16:17–19).By choosing Simon's boat, Jesus foreshadowed that the Gospel would go forth from the Church, built upon Simon Peter's faith and leadership. Christ remains the cornerstone, yet Simon would serve as the rock: a foundational witness whose confession and fidelity would uphold the apostolic Church.This moment by the lake is far more than a simple teaching setting. It is a prophetic image of the Church: anchored by Peter, guided by Christ, and commissioned to cast its nets into the deep waters of the world, drawing souls into the Kingdom of God. Christ alone has the power to draw all people to Himself, yet He chooses to do so through Peter, his successors, and all faithful collaborators who serve as fishers of men.As the passage continues, Simon obeys Jesus' command and puts out into deep water. The result is an astonishing catch that is so abundant that the nets begin to tear. Others must come to help, a clear symbol of the necessary collaboration among all members of the Church, working together in Christ's divinely guided mission.We, too, are called to share in that same mission and to imitate Simon's humility upon witnessing the miraculous catch. He fell at Jesus' feet and cried out, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). He was deeply humbled and recognized his unworthiness before the divine presence.Jesus, however, looked upon Simon and those with him, including Andrew, James, and John, and said, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men” (Luke 5:10). These words are meant for each of us. Fear is often the greatest obstacle to fully embracing God's call. But when we respond with humility and courage, trusting in His grace, we will find ourselves part of the great mission to draw others into the safety of the Church. Reflect today on the sacred image of Simon's boat. See in it a foreshadowing of the Church, and consider how you are called to serve within her. Christ continues to preach from this vessel, to call others into its safety, and to call you to cast your net into the deep where many souls await the Gospel and God's mercy.All-powerful Lord, You first preached from a humble fishing boat owned by Simon. Today, You continue to preach and reach out to those caught in the deep and turbulent waters of this world. Please send me, as You later sent Simon Peter, to bring Your Gospel to those who need it most. Purify me of every fear, so that I may answer Your call with courage and zeal. Jesus, I trust in You.Image via Adobe StockSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Is America on the verge of a THIRD GREAT AWAKENING—and if so, what is trying to stop it?Pastor Brian Gibson joins David and Stacy for a powerful conversation about revival, the prophetic, the spiritual battle facing America, and why he believes the Church must wake up. Brian shares why he is praying for a Third Great Awakening, what he believes has attempted to derail it, and why Christians cannot afford to remain spiritually or culturally passive.Brian also reveals how the prophetic transformed his own life—and shares the incredible story of giving Troy Brewer a prophetic word that was fulfilled just DAYS later. From learning to hear the voice of God to cultivating the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Brian challenges believers to ask a life-changing question: What would your life look like if you could hear God's voice and follow?

In this message, Pastor Ann speaks about how the path we choose matters, and how Scripture calls us to follow God's good path rather than taking spiritual shortcuts. God uses His Church to help us mature in Christ, discover our purpose, and grow together as each person contributes their unique gifts. Centerpoint's discipleship pathway, worship, connect, serve, and influence, provides practical steps for following Jesus and participating in His mission. Ultimately, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and discipleship is the ongoing journey of following Him, being transformed by Him, and growing in commitment to His Church.

The Church doesn't gather out of habit. We gather because God is forming a people who will change the world. It's easy to mistake attending church for being the Church. We don't gather to fill a room. We gather to fuel the mission. About the Series: Church can easily become something we attend, something we fit into the schedule, or something we evaluate by what we get out of it. But Jesus formed His Church to be a people united by the Gospel, growing together and carrying His mission into the world around them. The Church is God's Plan A to bring hope to the world. There is no Plan B. In One Church / One Mission, we'll rediscover why we gather, why the one who is far from God still matters, how we grow into mature disciples, and what it means to live sent. At Mount Pleasant, that means we Reach not yet believers with the love of God. We Raise disciples who are becoming more like Jesus every day. We Release people to live boldly for Him right where they are. This series is an invitation to see our place in that mission more clearly and take the next step God is calling us to take, right where we are. This week's notes in the Bible app: https://www.bible.com/events/49655880 Pastor Sean Kelly | One Church / One Mission | Acts 2:42-47, Hebrews 10:24-25 CONNECT WITH US Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mpccgreenwood Twitter: https://twitter.com/mpccgreenwood Instagram: https://instagram.com/mpccgreenwood Website: https://mpcc.info/

Romans 6:3-4 (NLT) Have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in BAPTISM, we joined Him in His death? For we died and were buried with Christ by BAPTISM. And JUST AS Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, NOW WE ALSO MAY LIVE NEW LIVES. Just like Jesus was raised, so are we, called to live life like Him, and it all starts with each of us embracing our NEW CREATION. Baptism is this beautiful acknowledgment of The Father, The Son, Holy Spirit, and YOU

Pastor Jordan Boyce is preaching on Divine Orchestration: When God Answers Prayer Through People.

Pastor Samson reminded us that even in seasons of disappointment and lost hope, Jesus is often closer than we realize, meeting us in our sadness and revealing Himself through Scripture. As we commit to seeking Him in His Word and gathering faithfully with His Church, our eyes are opened to the risen Savior who transforms hopeless hearts into hopeful proclaimers of the Gospel. Listen and be challenged. Support the show

The early church didn't grow through programs or events alone, but through devoted relationships centered on the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Jesus' commission is lived out as ordinary believers walk together in authentic community—devoted to Christ and to one another. This is relational discipleship: not isolated faith or busy activity, but life-on-life investment where the Gospel is shared, believers are connected and trained in the Word, and disciples are released to multiply. God still builds His Church this way today—by grace, shared in friendships.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

Read OnlineA Stark Contrast“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Matthew 16:23This scene likely unfolds in or near Caesarea Philippi, a Gentile region steeped in pagan worship. There, at the mouth of a cave long associated with the entrance to the netherworld—believed by some pagans to be the very gate of Hades—Jesus had just questioned His disciples: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” and then more directly, “But who do you say that I am?” (cf. Matthew 16:13–15). Peter, speaking with conviction on behalf of the Twelve, boldly proclaimed, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus responded by declaring him “Peter,” the rock upon which He would build His Church, promising that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”Just moments later, Jesus issues one of the strongest rebukes recorded in the Gospels: “Get behind me, Satan!” The same Peter who had just spoken divine truth now speaks human fear and shortsightedness. In trying to dissuade Jesus from His suffering and death, Peter unknowingly opposes the very mission of the Messiah. Jesus calls this mindset not merely a mistake, but a diabolical temptation—echoing the same temptation He faced in the desert, when satan sought to lure Him away from the Cross with promises of worldly glory.What a stark contrast. Peter goes from being the rock of faith to an obstacle in the Lord's path. But why was Jesus so severe in His response?Because the stakes were eternal. The Cross is not optional. It is the means of salvation—not just for Jesus, but for all who would follow Him. To think otherwise, even with good intention, is to prefer human comfort over divine wisdom. Peter's protest reflects a natural aversion to suffering, but Jesus exposes it for what it truly is: a stumbling block to the will of the Father.This dramatic Gospel scene is recorded for a reason. By calling Peter “Satan,” Jesus wanted to warn him, and us, of the real and ever-present danger of rejecting the way of the Cross. Like Peter, we can easily fall into the trap of wishful thinking and misguided compassion by saying about ourselves or those close to us, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen…” We are saying, in essence: “Lord, please make sure that neither I nor anyone I love ever has to suffer!” But such a prayer, though well-meaning, is clearly mistaken, and Jesus wants that point to be clearly understood.Peter was troubled because “Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” But all that Jesus revealed about His suffering was good—very good. Though His suffering was inflicted by the sins of others, His free and loving embrace of that suffering was the greatest act of love the world has ever known. Peter was blinded to this truth. He could not yet see beyond the horror of suffering to the divine good that would come through Jesus' sacrificial embrace of it.Reflect today on Peter's and Jesus' words: “God forbid, Lord!” and “Get behind me, Satan!” In this exchange, Jesus is also speaking to each of us, saying, “Never run from the Cross!” We must never flee from a selfless and sacrificial embrace of suffering, even when that suffering is unjust. God can and will transform all freely embraced suffering into a means of His eternal glory and our sanctification. With our Lord, reject the evil one's false empathy. Reject the lie that suffering is meaningless. Choose instead to lay down your life in love with Christ, and in doing so, you will rise with Him, victorious over every sin and diabolical lie, overcoming even the sufferings of this life through your free and faithful embrace.My compassionate Lord, Your firm rebuke of Peter was direct, powerful, and loving. Rather than offering false comfort or misleading empathy, You spoke a hard truth to awaken Peter—and all of us—to the spiritual necessity of the Cross. Grant me the grace, dear Lord, to say “Yes” to the suffering I must face. May I embrace it not with fear or resistance, but with a heart filled with Your love and unwavering courage. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Wilfredor, CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

By Jay Ledbetter - Marriage is far more than two people sharing a life together, it is a sacred creation of God designed to reveal something of His own divine relationship with Jesus Christ and to reflect the beautiful, self-giving love between Jesus Christ and His Church. When husbands sacrificially love and cherish

The bridegroom stands in front of his bride on their wedding night and starts recounting her features. Her eyes, her hair, her teeth, her lips, even the way she holds her head. He goes on like that for six verses, smitten, and then he pronounces something she knows is not true: there is no flaw in you. The Hebrew word underneath "flaw" is the word Leviticus uses for the defect that keeps a priest away from the altar and keeps an animal off it. Solomon said to his bride, Jesus says it about His Church. The Rev. Steven Theiss, serving St. John Lutheran Church (AALC) in Pocahontas, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Song of Solomon 4:1-16. The Song of Solomon is a book of love poetry, a bride and her bridegroom singing to each other across eight chapters. God's people have sung it since Solomon's day, and Jewish congregations still read it at Passover. The Church has heard in it the voice of Christ and His bride, and Luther quoted the Song in The Freedom of a Christian to describe what happens when Christ takes a sinner as His own. Paul was working the same ground in Ephesians five, where he set marriage beside Christ and the Church and called it a great mystery.  This series works through the whole book verse by verse, from the kiss in chapter one to the seal on the heart in chapter eight. We hear what it says about the body, about desire, and about the marriage God instituted in the garden. We also ask where Christ is in it, since the Church has long heard in these songs the voice of the Bridegroom who gave His life for His bride. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Bride of Jesus by Oried E Graves https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXNFR5LQ Christredeemsme.com Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and becomes part of the body and Church of Christ. The Church is the bride of Jesus on earth, and Jesus is her Bridegroom. He died to redeem her from sin and death, and He rose again to prepare a place for her in heaven where she becomes His wife. Jesus made His Church His bride on earth and His wife in heaven because she kept His Word and abided in His love, just as He kept His Father’s Word and abided in His love (John 15:10). Before the Church could become the wife of Christ, she first had to be redeemed into the spiritual image and likeness of God. Only Christ could redeem His Church, for she was created in His image and likeness as His closest relative. Jesus did not redeem her merely to marry her He redeemed her because He was already united with her from creation, and He came to save her from sin and the lake of fire. Do you believe this truth? You should want to if you don’t. For this is the greatest life mankind can live on earth or in heaven (Matthew 11:11).

Church isn't something we consume, it's a family where we help one another follow Jesus by engaging the lost, equipping the saints, and empowering members for service. JP challenges us to pursue those far from Jesus, grow in spiritual maturity, and use our God-given gifts to serve His Church.At Harris Creek we ENGAGE the lostAt Harris Creek we EQUIP the SaintsAt Harris Creek we EMPOWER members for serviceLife Group Discussion:JP said we are representatives of the Truth. How does the way you live either point people toward or away from Jesus?What is the difference between simply knowing more about God and actually becoming more like Jesus?How does viewing church as a place where we do ministry through people, not just to people change the way you think about being part of the Church?

Church isn't something we consume, it's a family where we help one another follow Jesus by engaging the lost, equipping the saints, and empowering members for service. JP challenges us to pursue those far from Jesus, grow in spiritual maturity, and use our God-given gifts to serve His Church.At Harris Creek we ENGAGE the lostAt Harris Creek we EQUIP the SaintsAt Harris Creek we EMPOWER members for serviceLife Group Discussion:JP said we are representatives of the Truth. How does the way you live either point people toward or away from Jesus?What is the difference between simply knowing more about God and actually becoming more like Jesus?How does viewing church as a place where we do ministry through people, not just to people change the way you think about being part of the Church?