Podcasts about his church

We are the bride, and Jesus is our Hero Husband. Marriage isn't just a human institution—it's holy matrimony because it reflects the sacred covenant between Christ and His Church.In Episode 3 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explores the profound biblical truth that marriage was divinely ordained by God before sin entered the world, revealing Christ's covenant relationship with His bride. Drawing from Ephesians 5, Genesis, and Revelation 21, he explains why marriage is called holy matrimony and how this sacred institution points to Jesus' faithful, sacrificial love for His Church.As the world's assault on biblical marriage continues, this message reveals that the battle is ultimately against the gospel itself and God's original design. More importantly, it reminds believers of their true identity as the bride of Christ, cherished, nourished, and forever united to their Hero Husband. As we embrace this great mystery, we find lasting security, purpose, and confidence in Christ's covenant love, allowing His truth—not the confusion of our culture—to define who we are.

What if the depth of God's love for us is far greater than we've ever imagined? In Episode 2 of "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff explores one of Scripture's greatest mysteries: Christ's covenant relationship with His Church, revealed through the institution of marriage. Drawing from Ephesians 3 and 5, he invites us to comprehend the width, length, depth, and height of God's love—a love that surpasses mere intellectual knowledge and can only be grasped by the Spirit.Rather than measuring God's love by our emotions or circumstances, discover how it was demonstrated at the cross. As we come to understand His sacrificial, unconditional love, we are transformed and filled with the fullness of God. Through the biblical picture of marriage, we learn that Jesus loves us as He loves Himself because we are one spirit with Him, flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones. This breathtaking truth revolutionizes our relationship with God and draws us into deeper intimacy with our Hero Husband.

Thomas named the papacy as one of the biggest speed bumps on the Road to Rome. The questions are familiar: Who made a man in Rome the boss of Christianity? What about the corrupt popes? Can he just make things up? In this episode Greg takes those questions head-on, beginning with Jesus' words to Peter in Matthew 16 and the early Church's recognition of that office. He looks honestly at the mixed historical record of the men who have sat in the chair, explains the real (and limited) nature of papal authority, and asks the deeper question: if not the papacy, then what? For anyone who feels the weight of imperfect leaders yet still senses that Christ left His Church a visible center of unity, this episode is for you. SUPPORT THIS SHOW Considering Catholicism is 100% listener-supported. If this podcast has helped you on your journey, please become a patron today! For as little as $5/month you get: • Every regular episode ad-free and organized into topical playlists • Exclusive bonus content (extra Q&As, Deep-Dive courses, live streams, and more) • My deepest gratitude and a growing community of like-minded listeners ➡️ Join now: https://patreon.com/consideringcatholicism (or tap the Patreon link in your podcast app) One-time gift: Donate with PayPal! CONNECT WITH US • Website & contact form: https://consideringcatholicism.com • Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com • Leave a comment on Patreon (I read every one!) RATE & REVIEW If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating (and even better, a review) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen — it really helps new listeners find us. SHARE THE SHOW Know someone who's curious about Catholicism? Send them a link or share an episode on social media. Thank you! Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat.

In today's sermon, Burning Daylight, Pastor Mark takes us to Romans 13:11–14, where the Apostle Paul reminds believers that the time is short and the call to live for Christ is urgent. As followers of Jesus, we cannot afford to drift through life spiritually asleep.Pastor Mark challenges us with three simple but powerful commands:Wake up – Recognize the urgency of the times and our need to live with spiritual awareness.Get dressed – Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and live in a way that reflects His holiness and righteousness.Be ready – Live each day prepared to fulfill the mission Christ has given His Church.This message reminds us that our ultimate purpose is found in The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20). Every believer has been called to make disciples, and every church has been commissioned to take the gospel to the world.Pastor Mark also gives a timely reminder that the enemy often distracts the church with internal disagreements. Instead of allowing conflict and personal preferences to divide us, we are called to pursue unity, love one another, and stay focused on the mission Jesus has entrusted to us.

Elder Scott N. Taylor is a professor of Organizational Behavior holding the Arthur M. Blank Endowed Chair for Values-Based Leadership at Babson College, having previously taught at Boston University and the University of New Mexico. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Brigham Young University as well as an MBA and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from Case Western Reserve University. An award-winning educator and researcher whose work centers on leader assessment, executive coaching, and emotional competence, Scott has authored numerous scholarly publications and consulted internationally with dozens of major companies and government entities. Elder Taylor has served as an Area Seventy since 2022. His Church service includes callings as a missionary in the Spain Bilbao Mission, young single adult branch president, bishop, high councilor, stake presidency counselor, and stake president. Scott married Ashley Anne Boyter and they are the parents of four children and reside in Franklin, Massachusetts. Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights Scott discusses the intersection of organizational behavior and church leadership. He shares insights on effective leadership qualities, the importance of creating a positive environment, and the balance between achieving goals and fostering relationships within church communities. Key Insights Outward Focus: Effective leaders prioritize the needs and well-being of others, creating a connection that fosters trust and engagement. Positive Environment: Leaders should cultivate a supportive and uplifting atmosphere, which enhances motivation and collaboration among members. Relational Leadership: Leadership is fundamentally relational; outstanding leaders are not necessarily the most technically skilled but excel in building relationships and fostering a sense of belonging. Cognitive Dynamics: The brain’s analytical and empathetic networks are antagonistic; leaders must be aware of emotional climates to encourage creativity and openness rather than stress and defensiveness. Charisma vs. Competence: Charismatic leaders can inspire hope, but relying solely on charisma can lead to overlooking effective leadership qualities that are not immediately visible. Leadership Applications Storytelling: Latter-day Saint leaders can use personal stories to illustrate the impact of ministering, helping members connect emotionally and understand the importance of their roles in the community. Cultural Focus: By emphasizing a culture of belonging and support, leaders can motivate members to engage in ministering efforts naturally, rather than through pressure or performance metrics. Awareness of Bias: Leaders should recognize their biases when selecting individuals for leadership roles, ensuring that they look beyond charisma and traditional expectations to identify those who truly embody the principles of effective leadership. The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

The book of Ephesians is one of the richest and most practical letters in the New Testament. Over four weeks, 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.

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. Acts 1:1-5 Spencer Carey Download TranscriptGood morning. My name is Spencer. I am one of the pastors here. We did it you guys. We made it through 2 Samuel. 1 and 2 Samuel.And now we're in the book of Acts. So if you're new to our church, we typically, not exclusively, but the majority of what we do is we walk through books of the Bible. And we're gonna go verse by verse, passage by passage. And we're in Acts chapter 1 today. As we begin the book of Acts, we'll be in this for the next season. We're in the first five verses of the book of Acts.That is on page 1053, 1053 in your black Bibles. The main text will be coming from the Bible. So we will hold a Bible and read that with this. There'll be other texts. They'll be on the screen. But we're gonna introduce the book of Acts because it is wise when you jump into a book to have some context for what you're actually studying.So I want to point out three things as we begin to introduce us, I think, well to understanding the book of Acts. If you grab a study Bible, like the ESV study Bible, you open it up before we start reading a book. If you're gonna study it, you're gonna see different introductory elements. And I'm gonna give you three that kind of help us frame our time together in the book of Acts. Genre, author, and purpose. So let me hit those very quickly.It's important to first know the genre because not all scripture is the same. You don't read Proverbs like you read the Psalms, like you read Genesis, like you read the Gospels, like you read the epistles, the letters in the New Testament. They are all, they come from different genres. So it's important to understand what you're reading before you jump in. The book of Acts is historical narrative. Functions like the Gospels in that way.It's historical narrative. It's a bunch of stories that tell the story of how the church began starting in the first three decades of the church is what the book of Acts and 28 chapters covers. So from around 33 AD to around 60 to 65 AD, we're gonna read a bunch of stories and teachings that shaped the church early on and that we get to be shaped by as well. So it's one of the longest books in the New Testament. The Gospel of Luke is the only book that's longer and we'll be in it for a bit. So the second thing that is helpful to know is the author.And the author is Luke. So Luke was inspired by God to write this. So let's introduce ourselves to Luke. We don't know a ton. Here's what we do know. Luke was likely Greek.Okay. He may have been Jewish, it's debated, but if he's Jewish, he's very what you would call Hellenistic, meaning he's very Greek influenced. So he's Greek. What we also can see from the letters of the New Testament is he's likely a doctor. So likely a physician like Mike Goble who was just standing here leading us in prayer.He's a doctor. It's also clear that he's an historian. He was tasked with the job of both telling an orderly account of the Gospel in Luke of Jesus Christ and his life, his ministry, his death, his resurrection and the book of Acts, which tells the story of the early church. So some will say that Paul wrote most of the New Testament. It's actually not true. When you go by word count, Luke actually was inspired to write most of the New Testament because Luke and Acts is longer than all Paul's 13 letters combined.Fun fact. Three, purpose. Okay. Why is the book of Acts and our Bibles? Why did God inspire it? Why was it so important that it became an essential part of what's called the New Testament canon?What is the official books of the New Testament? Why do we have this? That's what we get to look at today. One of the things that's clear when you read the book of Luke is that there's this foreshadowing of the inclusion of the Gentiles. So that's basically, I would assume everybody in this room that comes from a non-Jewish background.There's this foreshadowing that the Gospel is going to go to the nations and that we're going to be included. And the book of Acts is going to show us how. How we are brought into the household of faith. So we're going to see this. We're going to look at the values and the witness and the Gospel that spread all that comes out of this. We're going to look at key figures like Philip and Peter and James, the brother of Jesus Christ, and Paul.We're going to look at all of this. And when you actually, if you look at a Bible and you go to Acts, oftentimes they're going to have the subscript that we have from the earliest manuscripts that says Acts of the Apostles. And if you read that, it may lead you to believe that this book is primarily about the work of the apostles. But what we're going to see is this book is primarily about a God rescuing his people and his rescue plan for the nations. And then even more of the point, one of the things that makes Acts so unique and so essential is it gives us the most comprehensive window into the third member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.We're going to read a lot about the Holy Spirit. No book in the Bible mentions the Holy Spirit more than the book of Acts. It would be wrong to say that this book is only about the work of the Holy Spirit, because God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son are both present and loom large in this book. But there's no other book in the Bible that gives us a more upfront window to the work of the Holy Spirit than the book of Acts, which makes this very helpful for us as we want to be a Spirit empowered people and the season that we're in trying to be missional and planting a church. So we're very excited to be able to walk this book together.And what we're going to see today and these first few verses and what we're going to see throughout this series can be summarized in this sentence, the Holy Spirit in God's church taking Jesus to the world. That what we're going to see is the Holy Spirit in God's church taking Jesus to the world. So let me pray and then we'll walk through this introduction together. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the good news of the gospel that we just sang about, that we just prayed for, that we just recited from the Scriptures. God, I pray that you would help us be, have open eyes to see how you started your church and what it's built upon.And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. All right, go to verse one. In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach. So let's pause there.Out the gate, there should be some questions that jump off the page. Who's Theophilus? When did you do all this, where you dealt with all the things that Jesus began and taught? And that is why understanding Acts, it's very helpful to have a working general knowledge of the book of Luke. The gospel of Luke helps us understand the book of Acts. Luke functions very much like a part one and Acts functions very much like a part two.So what I want to do a little bit today is to go to the book of Luke and to help us see a little bit of how this helps us understand Acts. I want to go to Luke chapter one. This will be on the screen. You can look up here and hold that place in Acts because we'll come back to it. Luke chapter one says, many have undertaken to draw up an account of these things that have been fulfilled among us just as they were handed down to us by those who were, who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the Word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you most excellent Theophilus so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.So this is very similar to the introduction to the book of Acts. Who is Theophilus? We don't know for sure. We know that his name means lover of God. Theo and Phyllis, those are two different Greek words to come together, lover of God. It is very likely that he was a wealthy Christian who put the money forward for Luke to do the work of gathering all these reports.It takes time and energy and effort and money to go and travel throughout all of the New Testament world and to put together what is the gospel of Luke? What is these stories that tell us about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? And we should be familiar with that concept because we know today they are investigative reporters, that they make their living, they get paid to go out and do investigative work and put together reports from Bob Woodward and his work all the way to reporters like Christopher Rufo today. They are all types of different people that get paid to put together reports.And that is what Luke was. He was an historian who got paid and traveled to go and put together this gospel of Luke that tells us about Jesus Christ. And what I appreciate about Luke is that he's not only just giving us a bunch of facts about Jesus, he does the work of organizing it into a story. So when you read it, like the other gospels, it has story arc. So most stories, the gospels, stories in the Bible and stories that you go and you watch in the movie theaters, most stories have a general story arc.There's an introduction, there's rising tension, so there's going to be some different plot things that happen. There's rising tension, there's a climax, and then there's resolution. That's the majority of stories. And when you read the gospel of Luke, there's an introduction to who Jesus Christ is. He was born. And then all of a sudden, very early, you see the rising tension as he's ministering and establishing and teaching the kingdom of God.He's got the tension with the Pharisees and the religious leaders. And there's this tension that builds all the way towards Jerusalem where Jesus Christ is crucified, where he is resurrected. And then there's this resulting action, which is the commissioning of the church. And I appreciate that because it makes reading the gospels a lot of fun. It helps us see that he's a good storyteller in pulling all these stories together for us to see. But buried in the end of the gospel of Luke, in what we just read a few minutes ago, is a bit of a cliffhanger.And I also appreciate the art of a cliffhanger. My oldest recently has gotten really into books. She loves reading. And what happens sometimes is that she'll come down tired. And she's like, I'm so frustrated because I just want to go to sleep. But every chapter, there's just this cliffhanger.And I just have to keep reading. And it's like, I love that you love reading. We're going to have to learn to live with a cliffhanger for a bit because you actually need to go to sleep. But cliffhangers do that. They kind of leave something lingering that draw you into the next part. And that's what's the genius of the end of the gospel of Luke.And I want to go back to what we read just a few minutes ago so that we can see that. You get the very end of Luke, chapter 24, verses 44 through 49. This is how the gospel of Luke ends. Then he said to them, this is on the screen, these are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Okay. That's what we call biblical theology.That's the reality that the entire Old Testament, all of it points to Jesus Christ. And he sang it. Listen, law, the prophets, Psalms, all of it points to me. Verse 45. Then he opened their minds to the scriptures, which is Jesus Christ, opening their minds to understand.46, And said to them, thus it is written that the Christ should suffer, and on the third day rise from the dead. 47, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed and is named to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things, and behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you, but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. So Jesus points to the climactic work, his death, his resurrection. And then he tells them in verse 47, really a preview of what is ahead. He nods to, you're going to go and preach.It's going to be the message of this gospel of his life, death, and resurrection. You go preach that there's going to be a call for repentance of sins. They're going to experience forgiveness that washes and covers us. This is what you're going to proclaim, and that message is going to the nations. You are going to be witnesses of this. But first, you're going to go to Jerusalem, and you're going to wait, because power is going to come from on high.Wait for the promise of the Father. It's coming, but you go into Jerusalem first, and that's like the cliff thing. Oh, wait, what? And it's like, oh, I want to know more about that. And here's the good news. You don't have to wait a year for part two of the movie to come out.You can just flip over the book of Acts, which is what we're in. So go back to verse one. Now, we have a good working knowledge of what Luke is doing in the gospel of Luke. Pick up in verse one, the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, verse two, until the day when he was taken up after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. Which just for a moment, I appreciate that what is clear is that when Jesus is teaching his disciples throughout his ministry, the Holy Spirit is present with him, teaching his followers.Verse three, he presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God. Okay, so there's a period of time between Christ's resurrection and his ascension, which is what we're going to look at next week is when he ascended to the right hand of God the Father. That period of time is 40 days. So in that 40 days, when you look and read the end of the gospels and you pick up in this part of the book of Acts, we don't get all likely of what Jesus did during that period. We can tell that he appears to them at various times.He's not with them every second, but he appears to them and what he's doing is he's preparing them. He's teaching them the kingdom of God and he's preparing them for what awaits them. He appears to them in Jerusalem. He appears to them on a mountain in Galilee. He appears to them on a lake in Galilee and he's doing the work of preparing them for what's next for the unfolding plan to reach the nation. So he's preparing them, but also what I like in this passage is it points out that he's also establishing that he is alive, that there are witnesses who have seen Christ.That's why Paul in 1 Corinthians, he points out that there are 500 people at one point that saw Jesus in the flesh. So Jesus is both preparing his church for what is ahead and establishing I am alive through all types of eyewitness accounts that we read in the scriptures. So he's in the period of preparation preparing them for what's next over that 40 days and now he's here verse 4. And while staying with them, he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which he said, you heard from me for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.So Jesus is getting ready to ascend, but he tells them you're going to wait. You're going to wait in Jerusalem. You're gonna wait for the promise of the Father and that's foreshadowing what we're going to see the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the church. You're gonna wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon you. Now at this point, it's very likely Jesus has taught them all about water baptism from the moment that he's baptized until now.And they should have the understanding at this point that baptism is the new covenant sign that you belong to God. But what they're going to learn is that faith does not begin with water baptism. It doesn't begin with water that faith begins with fire. That faith begins with fire that comes upon you when the Holy Spirit changes you into a new creation in Christ Jesus. When you believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, the baptism of the Holy Spirit overtakes you and changes you into someone who is new that you belong to Jesus Christ. And then you enter the waters of baptism to declare that you belong to him, which is why we as good Baptists baptize after someone is converted to Jesus Christ.That's what he's giving a nod to here at the end of this verse five. So he's telling them they need to wait. You're gonna go to Jerusalem and you're gonna wait for the Spirit to come upon you. And then you're going to begin to see this wonderful redemption plan that's going to unfold. And the rest of the book of Acts is how that plan unfolds. God in his people with them, bringing them into his mission to reach the nations.And I personally am very thankful that God brings us out of the stands and into the game so that we get to participate with our God in doing the most important eternal work there is. Around this time every year, I get excited because football is not far away. Okay. I love football. It's my favorite sport. I like other sports.Football is my favorite. I like how in August as the first game approaches, how delusional I get into thinking I will convince myself by the end of August that Lenora Sellers may be a Heisman candidate for the University of South Carolina. It's going to happen. I can convince myself of that delusion while also know I can't wait for the disappointment. It's going to be so exciting. I hold those two intention simultaneously and I get excited because I love watching the Gamecocks.I love watching us take on like blue blooded SEC programs like Kentucky and Mississippi State on the SEC Plus Network where we usually play. I just I look forward to it. I like pro football. I like watching. I'm a huge Indianapolis Colts fan. I love watching every season.I was like one time we won the Super Bowl in my entire life and I enjoy doing it. I love watching it. But let me tell you something. When I play football, I had way more fun. When I got to play football growing up, I mean Friday nights were way better than Saturday mornings in the stands. Friday nights in the field were far superior to ever watching something on TV or being there in person to watch it.No, it was a lot more rewarding, a lot more fun to be in the game playing. And what I appreciate about our God is that this wonderful redemption plan that He has given us, that He's unfolding for us, we get to participate in. That we get to wait for the power of God to come upon us and we get to be obedient to where He calls us to go. We get to see the spirit change people's lives. Guys, there's nothing more wonderful in this world than declaring the good news of Jesus Christ to someone who does not believe. And then God goes to work in their heart, brings them to faith in Jesus Christ.And then 10,000 years from now, you are standing in the presence of Christ with that brother's sister because you leveraged your life now for eternity. There is nothing more important. There's nothing more glorious. There's nothing more wonderful. And none of that happens unless the Holy Spirit is present. None of that happens unless the Spirit goes to work.We're like little kids that just want to get in the game and we're like three feet tall and we want to dunk a basketball and we can jump two inches off the ground and we're dreaming up just I want to dunk it and then we get picked up and we get to participate. And that's what the spirit does in us. He works in us in a way where we get to be a part of this, the Holy Spirit in God's church taking Jesus to the world. That's what all of this is about. And that's what we're gonna see throughout the book of Acts. The Holy Spirit in God's church taking Jesus to the world.I just want to give you a preview of what's ahead. I want us to see how this this theme of the Holy Spirit and God's church taking Jesus to the world, how it shows up all over the place. Because we'll work through Acts 1, then we'll get to Acts 2. And in Acts 2 we're gonna see at the festival of Pentecost where all the Jews are coming in to celebrate that at the right time the Holy Spirit will descend upon the church. And then Peter who, think about this, just six weeks before that was denying Jesus Christ repeatedly, stands up what we'll see at Pentecost and preaches a sermon where 3,000 plus people, their eternity has changed and the church begins.And then we're gonna watch from Acts 3 to Acts 6 as the church explodes in Jerusalem. The Spirit working in profoundly wonderful ways as people are being changed. And with that comes what Jesus promised. That if you declare the good news of Jesus Christ, you will be persecuted. You will suffer and they do. And as the church begins to declare the good news of Jesus Christ and powerful, wonderful things begin to happen, the church begins to be persecuted.And that comes to the head in Acts 7 when Stephen, a servant of Jesus Christ, is declaring the gospel and he's murdered and martyred for his faith. And then we'll see how the Spirit uses that. Because the Spirit uses that to expand the church further. When we get to Acts 8 we'll see how this plan is unfolding because they're gonna spread when they're being persecuted into Samaria, into Syria. And now the gospel is spreading. And then we'll follow this as Acts 10 to Acts 12 we'll see the finally how the Gentiles are included and how God works in that.We'll see in Acts 13 at Antioch when the church is commissioned and Paul and Barnabas are sent to go and take the gospel to Asia Minor into Europe and the gospel begins to spread from Acts 13 to Acts 20 all over from Turkey to Greece. The gospel begins to go everywhere. And then as we finish the book of Acts we're gonna see in Acts 21 to 26 when Paul is giving a defense for the gospel as being persecuted, being imprisoned, and that he uses his imprisonment for the gospel to go forward. He uses imprisonment to get the gospel to Rome. He's like I want to get to Rome. So I'm gonna be in prison and that's where I'm going.And then Acts 27 there's a shipwreck and then Acts 28 he finally gets there. And what I love about Acts 28 is when he gets there guess what there are any Christians there. That's what God does. He keeps working in lots of different people. But you keep reading this the Holy Spirit and God's church taking Jesus to the world.You keep following chapter after chapter after chapter and then all of a sudden you get to 28 you get done reading it and it just ends. It's like Luke just dropped the pen and said I'm done. It's the wildest thing. Go read through the book of Acts. I encourage you guys as we start this series go read through the whole book. And you get to the end and it's just like this isn't complete.And we know that Luke knows how to write a story because you can read the gospel of Luke and you can see such compelling story arc and how it and it just that's not we just have this rising tension and it just stops. He just quits writing and it's clearly so incomplete. It's not like any other book in the Bible just stops. And the question that should linger is why. Why? Why is it just that?And the answer is because the story isn't finished. Acts continues. The story isn't finished. The gospel is still trying. We're still taking the gospel to every tribe nation and tongue. The story isn't over.The church keeps going. Years ago there were some clever Christians that came up with a church network name called Acts 29. Which was brilliant. But it was a statement on it keeps going. That we are living and Acts continues. That the story continues.And it does. It continued in the first century as the gospel spread from North Africa to as far as Spain over to India and to Asia. The gospel spread as of the next few centuries as the church began to be further established as they were once a persecuted minority. Faith becomes a majority faith in the Roman empire. And the church begins to grow and to expand and that eventually you follow the centuries and centuries later that there were some Christians who were being persecuted for their faith by the established church of England. And they say we want to go to this new place called America.And they travel to America and that kind of starts a big wave of Christians moving and pastors moving and missionaries moving to America. And eventually you saw land in this state where they start churches from the coast up to the upstate. And eventually at around the early 1900s people came to this part of the river and they began a new church. First Baptist Church of Casey. And this church ministered for a century and then all of a sudden another church started up in the area of Mill City Church. And then a few years later we merged together as one church, Mill City Church.And the spirit is still at work taking Jesus to the world. And what I love is that if you've ever read a book, you ever watched a movie that leaves the ending ambiguous? That leaves a cliffhanger? Instead of getting frustrated, what I like to do is I like to dream a bit. I like to imagine what actually is going on and what could be. Like if you watch the movie Inception, you get to imagine does the top fall or does it keep spinning?And you get to dream a bit about what that can be. If you read a book like The Giver, you get to imagine does he make it? Did he die in the snow or did he make it to experience reality? Whatever story has this ambiguous ending that is unclear, you get to dream a little bit about what that gets to be. And when you read the book of Acts, what I want us to do is I want us to dream a little bit. When we walk through this series, I want to dream about what can be.That if the Holy Spirit is at work in the church to take Jesus to the world, then let's dream a little bit. Because I'll tell you something, we dreamed for years about doing what we just prayed about earlier. For years we dreamed about planting a church. We want to multiply this church. We want to expand to a different part of the city. And then finally God put the pieces together.And if you've been here the last six months, you remember to hear this story. And I'm excited about sending out Oak Ridge. I'm excited about our little small version of Acts continued that we get to do. I'm excited that Mike who is just standing up here and that Isaac get to head out with right now it seems like 60 of y'all counting to go and take the gospel to a very strategic place on exit 51 to reach that part of Lexington that expands all the way into Gilbert and as far as Leesville. Like I'm pumped about that. But if we do that and we go, yes, we did it.We nailed it. We accomplished it. Then we missed it. If we think we've arrived at this, if we think that Jesus Christ's blood was poured out and wrath came upon him, that he conquered death at the resurrection, that he ascended to the right hand of God the Father to be king over all of creation, that the Holy Spirit descended upon the church for just Mill City in Oak Ridge. We missed it. So we need to dream a little bit.We need to dream about what can be. Dream about how God can continue to work because we got work to do. I'm gonna put up a timeline that'll hopefully help visualize this. You can go to that slide. Christ ascended almost 2,000 years ago. Like literally we're getting close to almost literally 2,000 years ago.Okay. At some point he's promised he's going to come back. He's going to return. Now you go to the next slide. I don't know where we are in this timeline. Don't get hung up on this.If you were in the book of Revelation, it's clear that you know we don't know where we are in this timeline, but we're somewhere in the middle of this. Now this expands for thousands of years. We've got a small place in that timeline where we have work to do until he comes back. And we should dream about what that gets to be. Because here's the deal. We've talked about this and we'll keep saying this, that once we set out Oak Ridge, everyone has work to do.There's no neutrality in how this is going down in January. Oak Ridge is going out and they've got work to do. And everyone who's staying here, we have work to do. So I want you to dream. How are we going to be obedient to the call to go and make disciples? How are we going to do that in our version of the Acts-continued story?What are we going to do? I want to give you some considerations for how you should think of this. Some of you need to start taking your faith more seriously. Some of you come on Sundays and you go to a group and or hopefully both. But what it has largely been is a time for you to be filled up.And don't miss something. We want we want you to be filled up. We want you to grow in maturity. But maturity in Christ is not just consuming and being filled up. It's pouring out. That God fills us so that we might multiply ourselves into others.That we might make disciples. The great commission is to make disciples. And some of you need to press into maturity. You get the wonderful opportunity to do that. You get to go deeper into the Bible, deeper into the discipline of prayer. You get to help you have a zeal for evangelizing, for sharing the gospel with your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers.And then I hope you get people that are coming around that don't know Jesus or just new to Jesus and you get to sit with them and point them to who Jesus Christ is and say, come follow me as I follow Christ. There's no better way to use your life than for the sake of helping others know Christ. And you get to. And this next season, you get to be a disciple maker. Some of you will have the opportunity to become a leader in training in your group. And you should take it and you should want this because community groups are the means by which we advance the mission in our city.Okay. Our groups are how we reach our city and our group leaders, you can talk to them. Leading a group is wonderful, but it's also quite difficult at times because the good work that God calls us to do is difficult. That's told to us. And what you get to be as a leader in training is not only grow in knowing more of Christ and maturity, but you get to be a helpful and healthy part of your group. You get to breathe life into your group that when everyone just opts out last minute and the person who was supposed to bring the meat just says, I got the sniffles and I'm out.But you're just like, I'm okay. Well, I'm jumping in. What do you need? That you're going to be a helpful part of your group. And some of you should aspire to them. You should want that.You should want to be a leader. You should want to say, hey, come follow me as I follow Christ. And I want to follow you as you're following Christ. We should want that. There's another thing I want to point out. And when I say this, this is autobiographical.When I led a group, it's reality in my group. Now, I already told my group leader, I'm like, this isn't, this is, this is not just us. This is widespread, but I want to put up group content for a moment. All right. This is last week's group content. This is second Samuel.We have five different versions of group content that show up. It's typically this format. If you're not in a group, you should be in a group and you'll see this and it's pretty great, but there's a gospel centered section. There's a community section. There's on mission section. Something that I've noticed that happens in not just my group, but in a lot of groups is that we will love discussing the Bible.We will love getting deep. We'll get the community and everyone has updates and we'll share and we'll talk. And then all of a sudden it's like time to leave and kids are going crazy and someone hurt themselves. And, and, and, you know, because they ran into the wall or something downstairs, not a, not an adult, but a child. And then it's on mission and it's like, ah, we should do it, right? Yeah.Cool. All right. Let's go home. I'm not going to ask you to show your hands, but how many times does that get buried? That's an afterthought. And it's like that, that needs to come to the foreground.There might be weeks where it's just like, ah, you know what? I love, but let's, we're eating a meal. Let's, let's, let's share some life updates. Let's, let's have some time for this. Let's not miss this because we have friends and neighbors and coworkers who we need to understand the eternal situation that right now they are journeying towards an eternity under the wrath of God because of their sin.And the church is plan a for advancing. You are the person that God has put in their life to tell them Jesus is better, that, that eternity is real and God wants you and is for you and desires you. And it's you. And we need to remember that because what could happen when you get to a church of our size is that you can get comfortable and you can think there isn't a need, but there is. And we can't miss that for a moment. So some of you, some of us need to regain our missional hustle in this season as we dream about what we could be in this Acts continued story.Some of us, some of you need to step up and serve. We've run some Numbers that are out of retreat. We kind of looked at all this stuff. There are 58 members of our church who currently do not serve in any capacity. Now there are some folks who have very, very real legitimate excuses, members of our church who have legitimate excuses for why that cannot happen.But there's a lot that don't. And here's the problem. There's 58 members of our church right now who've set in their commitment. They're committed to serving the church, but they're not serving in any capacity. When we send out Oak Ridge, there's going to be that number drops to 54. Now that tells us a couple things.First Oak Ridge is about to go out with a bunch of people who've served for years. And what Mike and Isaac are going to tell you is guess what? There's more where that came from. You got more work to do there. But what that means for us is that we're losing a big part of our church that has served for years.Like if I put up a chart right now, which I don't have, but if I put up a chart of all the different areas that people serve in our church and I just put in bright colors all the different people who've committed to go to the Oak Ridge church plan and the next slide, after they're gone, it just gets real dark. And it's because we will have opportunities for everyone to pick up a shovel and go. And I'm excited about that. I think you should be too excited about the opportunity to step into Kid City and breathe life into it, to our kids excited to step into hospitality and into groups and a bunch of different ways and to serve and to hustle and to grind because Jesus Christ is worth it.He's worthy of our worship and our service that is worthy of the gospel going forward. We're going to have a variety of ways that we get to dream. And I want you to dream. I want you to have personal dreams where you pray about this. I hope the series of Acts opens that up for you. I've got some.I want to share one of just one that's personal to me. That I feel called to this land and in this area. All right. That wasn't always the case. At one point when I went to seminary, I was like, I'm never coming back. I said it out loud.I'm never coming back. And I came back. Let me tell you something. I love this people. I love this place. Okay.My family history, they came over like 300 years ago to Pelion and they like never left. Like Pillion, West Columbia, Casey Lexington, you draw a triangle and my people have posted up in that area for 300 years. And I personally, I want this part of the Midlands, I want the Midlands to see scores and hundreds and thousands of people come to Christ. Because there's so, I know you think there's, there's lots of people that are, there's lots of churches that there are thousands of people in and around you that do not know and are not following Jesus Christ. And what I'm also seeing is that there are a lot of churches in our area that are dying as a statistical fact.There are a lot of churches in our area that are running in the red financially, that if they lose a few members, they're losing a big part of their church. They're physically dying. They are like a roof replacement away from just, it just have to shut the doors. My personal dream right now is that I want to see men in this church aspire to the office of overseer elder pastor. I want to see men in this church who want to step up and become pastors and pastor churches in this area over the next 10 years that need to be replanted, that need to be revitalized, that need life again. And right now there's a massive pastor shortage across the country.There's a massive pastor shortage. There's a bunch of boomers who are retiring, who are dying, and it's not being filled with younger generations. So what I want to see is men in this church. I want you to pray some dangerous prayers and I want you to ask, do I need to be the kind of man of character that says, follow me as I follow Christ as I shepherd the people of God here or somewhere else? And that's my personal part of the dream. And for the next 10 years, I want to see that happen all over the city.I want 50 years from now the Midlands to look dramatically different in churches because for the next 10 years, we leveraged our time, our energy, our money, and our people to send out pastors and teams of people to go and make more disciples in this city. And I want it to go further because it's been a few years since we have sent a missionary to the foreign mission field. It's been a few years and there are unreached peoples that get the smallest amount of resources and people. And some of you need to go and you don't need to be here in five years. And some of you need to have a conversation with Ben Johnson at 1040 Hub with Tim.Where's he at? Tim Rice over there, who works with IMB. We got missions, opportunities, good Lord. I'd love to see someone go to the nations, but we're going to have to pray and we're going to have to dream and we're going to have to own our part of the Acts-continued story. So in this next season, let's dream a little bit.Let's pray some dangerous prayers. Let's let the Holy Spirit work in a way that gets us in the game. Let's be obedient even when it feels risky, even when it feels uncomfortable. Let's own our part of our very small part, but important part of the story of the Holy Spirit and His Church taking Jesus to this city and the world. Let's pray.Heavenly Father, I pray that You might work in us in this season to stir us towards faith and trusting You. And the fruit of that would show up in beautiful, eternal ways. God, that first means that in this season there are people that do not know You that need to. There are people in this room who do not know You, have not surrendered their life to You, do not see You as Lord, and they need to. And I pray that You open their eyes to who You are and a baptism of the Holy Spirit would take over their lives. God, there are folks in this room that are going, that are going with Oak Ridge, and I am so thankful for their obedience to go, to be uncomfortable, to take risks.Lord, may You bless their labor, and may there be people in the kingdom of God a thousand years from now because they were obedient to go. And God, may You stir in us. May You give us a hustle. May You empower us for the good work that You have right here and beyond for years to come. In Jesus' name, amen.Transcript

What if the greatest move of God in your life isn't something you watch, but something you're part of?In Part 6 of The Acts of the Disciples, Pastor George Sawyer reminds us that the Book of Acts isn't just the story of apostles, it's the story of ordinary believers empowered by the Holy Spirit to change the world. The same Spirit that transformed the early church is still at work today, calling every disciple to discover their purpose and use their gifts for God's Kingdom.Drawing from Acts 2, Ephesians 4, and the relationship between Paul and Timothy, this message explores how God builds His Church through supernatural connections. The Day of Pentecost was about more than just the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, but a picture of God's heart to unite generations, cultures, and people from every background into one Spirit-filled family.Whether you're young or old, new in your faith or have followed Jesus for decades, you have a vital place in the Body of Christ. God has uniquely gifted you, and now is the time to "fan into flame" what He's placed within you.If you're searching for biblical teaching on Acts 2, Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, discovering your purpose, Christian discipleship, Ephesians 4, church unity, mentoring, or God's calling on your life, this message will encourage you to step confidently into all God has prepared for you.In this message you'll discover:Why the Book of Acts is about every disciple, not just church leadersHow Ephesians 4 explains every believer's role in the ChurchWhat Pentecost teaches about unity across generations, cultures, and backgroundsWhy supernatural connections are essential for spiritual growthHow Paul and Timothy modeled biblical mentorshipHow to overcome fear and boldly use the gifts God has given youIf this message encouraged you, subscribe for weekly biblical teaching from Calvary, share it with someone who needs encouragement, and leave a comment letting us know how God is helping you discover and use your gifts. Your testimony may inspire someone else to step into their calling.Digital Connect Card: www.calvaryassembly.org/new  Giving: https://calvarylive.churchcenter.com/giving  Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CalvaryLiveAL/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvary_live/  Need prayer? https://www.calvaryassembly.org/prayer  Want to take your next step in faith? Https://www.calvaryassembly.org/next Calvary Assembly exists so that people can experience life at the highest level through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Located at 4839 Calvary Blvd., Tanner, Alabama 35671 Two miles west of I-65 & I-565 Intersection on HWY 20 Service Times: Sundays 10AM Contact us at (256) 355-7440 or email us at calvary@calvaryassembly.orgLearn more at our website: calvaryassembly.org00:00 The Acts of the Disciples: Every Believer Has a Purpose00:27 Why Acts Is About Ordinary Disciples00:57 The Holy Spirit Is Still Moving Today01:40 Discovering Your God-Given Purpose03:16 What Are Supernatural Connections?05:28 God's Design for the Church vs. Culture07:46 Ephesians 4: Equipping Every Believer10:38 Acts 2: The Pentecost Blueprint for the Church13:40 Three Supernatural Connections That Build the Church18:01 Paul and Timothy: A Model of Biblical Mentorship21:32 Passing Faith to the Next Generation22:17 Honoring Every Generation in the Church24:02 Remember the Gift God Placed in You25:22 How to Fan Into Flame Your Spiritual Gifts26:54 God Has Not Given You a Spirit of Fear (2 Timothy 1)29:57 Moving Beyond Nostalgia Into God's Mission31:39 The Power of Spiritual Partnership34:24 Called for Such a Time as This35:23 Stir Up the Gift Within You37:09 Walking in Power, Love, and Self-Discipline39:41 Prayer for Holy Spirit Empowerment

What if the deepest expression of God's love for us was hidden in plain sight within the institution of marriage? The Bible calls marriage "a great mystery," yet many believers have never discovered what it was designed to reveal. Behind God's design for a husband and wife is a breathtaking picture of Christ's covenant love for His Church—a revelation that transforms both our understanding of marriage and our relationship with Jesus.In "Jesus - Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff uncovers this "great mystery" from Ephesians 5, revealing that the covenant relationship between Christ and His Church mirrors the sacred bond between a husband and wife. As he explains how Jesus loves, nourishes, cherishes, and remains faithful to His people, you'll discover the depth, width, length, and height of God's love in a fresh and personal way.When this mystery is unveiled, fear gives way to confidence, intimacy with Christ deepens, and God's beautiful design for marriage is revealed. Discover the Hero Husband who will never leave you and whose covenant love changes everything.

Read OnlineTestifying to the TruthJesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.”  Luke 10:1–3One of the clearest safeguards for ensuring the authenticity and integrity of Christian duty is that we proclaim the Gospel in communion with others. The Christian disciple is never a lone ranger. We do not carry the mission of Christ by private inspiration or isolated insight, but in the context of the Church. The Gospel we preach is not our own. It originates in God, is handed on through Sacred Tradition, and is entrusted to the Church as a whole.When Jesus sent out the seventy-two disciples, He sent them in pairs. This had deep theological and scriptural significance. According to Mosaic Law, the testimony of two or three witnesses was necessary to establish truth (cf. Deuteronomy 19:15). This standard was well known in Jewish culture and was traditionally applied to legal cases, but Jesus elevated it to strengthen the credibility of evangelization. Two disciples witnessing together to the truth of the Gospel would speak with a kind of moral and spiritual authority that mirrored this ancient tradition. Moreover, when we speak in union with the Church and act in concert with other faithful witnesses, our united work of evangelization becomes a harmonious echo of God's Word rather than a solitary voice subject to distortion.Even our Lord Himself respected this principle. When the Pharisees challenged Jesus for speaking on His own authority, He responded, “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified… I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me” (cf. John 8:14, 18). Jesus makes clear that He does not speak in isolation; the Father testifies on His behalf. Thus, even the Son, in His earthly mission, models the humility of cooperative testimony.Consider your own duty to testify to the truth of the Gospel. The Twelve whom Jesus had earlier sent represent the bishops of the Church, who form the foundation of Christ's mission through their participation in apostolic succession. In today's Gospel, the seventy-two represent every disciple of Christ, including each of us today. Discipleship is much more than following Jesus through a personal devotion to Him and His teachings. It also includes being sent by Him. Once we receive the Gospel and interiorize it through living faith and prayer, we will then be sent by Christ to go forth and testify to the truth we have received. This is not an option; it's a necessity.How well do you do this? Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that our faith is something personal that we keep to ourselves. But it is not. It must be shared, and if we are disciples, then we are also evangelists.Being an evangelist does not necessarily mean we enter into a full-time apostolate by which we preach and teach as we travel from town to town. For most, evangelization takes place in the ordinary rhythms of life—in our families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and social settings. It means living our faith with authenticity, speaking the truth with charity, and radiating Christ through our actions as well as our words. It means being willing to witness to the Gospel even when it is uncomfortable, unpopular, or rejected, and doing so in union with others in the faith.Reflect today on whether you are testifying to the truth in the way God is asking of you. Have you embraced both the privilege and the responsibility of being sent? Resolve to go forth with the courage of a lamb in the midst of wolves, never alone, but always in communion with Christ and His Church, bearing witness to the Kingdom that is at hand. Doing so will not only bring blessings to others, it will also deepen your faith and communion with God.My Lord and Living Word, Your voice must go out to the ends of the earth, drawing many to You through the members of Your Mystical Body, the Church. Please draw me close to You, dear Lord, and when I am ready, send me forth with others to testify to the Truth of Your saving Word. Use me as an instrument of Your grace, that through my witness, You may draw many souls into the glory of Your Eternal Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.Source: 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.

Millions of people practice yoga believing it is simply exercise or stretching. But is that really true?In this fascinating interview, Steve Cunningham sits down with Linda Clark, former yoga instructor and author of Yoga Unveiled: My Spiritual Journey from Darkness to Light, to discuss her twenty-year involvement in yoga, Reiki, and New Age spirituality before returning fully to the Catholic faith.Linda explains how her conversion led her to abandon yoga after discovering its deep religious roots within Hindu spirituality. Drawing from years of research, personal experience, and testimony from others, she discusses why Catholics should carefully discern the spiritual origins of practices often presented as harmless exercise.Topics include:• The religious origins of yoga• Why yoga cannot be separated from its spiritual foundation• Kundalini and chakra spirituality• Reiki and New Age practices• "Christian Yoga" examined• The meaning of "AUM," Namaste, Sun Salutations, and other yoga practices• Personal testimony of conversion from New Age spirituality• Safer alternatives for physical fitness• Why Catholics should approach yoga with discernmentWhether you currently practice yoga, have family members involved, or simply want to better understand the Church's concerns regarding New Age spirituality, this interview offers an important discussion rooted in one woman's journey back to Christ.Purchase Linda Clark's book:Yoga Unveiled: My Spiritual Journey from Darkness to Light (https://sophiainstitute.com/product/yoga-unveiled/)00:00 Introduction00:46 Welcome & Book Introduction01:29 Linda Clark's Background02:05 Returning to the Catholic Faith03:13 Conviction About Teaching Yoga03:53 Scripture Leads Her to Leave Yoga05:03 Why She Wrote Yoga Unveiled06:23 Exercise vs. Yoga07:59 Is Yoga Addictive?09:11 What Hindus Say About Yoga10:24 Stories from the Book11:18 Stretching Without Yoga12:42 What Does "Yoga" Really Mean?13:24 Yoga Is More Than Exercise15:09 Yoga's Influence in Fitness Culture16:26 Kundalini Explained18:18 Kundalini and Spiritual Dangers19:16 Returning to the Catholic Faith20:29 Rosary and Adoration20:59 Meaning of "AUM"22:36 Can There Be Christian Yoga?24:46 Sun Salutations Explained26:18 Serpent Breathing28:14 Corpse Pose and Spiritual Meaning30:07 Clergy and the Need for Awareness31:26 Yoga Even Among Religious33:34 Final Advice for Catholics34:46 Reiki and New Age Practices36:08 Opposition to the Book38:06 Personal Experience with Spiritual Warfare40:39 Final Thoughts41:50 Closing Remarks

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Today's Gospel reminds us that God's kingdom is not a life free from suffering, but the certainty that God can bring good out of every hardship. Like the merchant who joyfully sold everything for the pearl of great price, we are invited to rediscover the incomparable treasure of Jesus Christ and His Church. Even though the Church is made up of saints and sinners in a broken world, its true worth never diminishes because Christ remains present in the Eucharist, His Word, and the sacraments. This week, reflect on two simple questions: Do I truly recognize Jesus as my greatest treasure? And have I grown so familiar with that gift that I've forgotten its wonder? Ask God for the grace to see the pearl of great price with fresh eyes once again.

Why do sincere Christians who love God's Word arrive at different theological conclusions? In this episode, Dr. E answers a listener's question about denominational differences, Protestantism, Catholicism, and why faithful believers disagree on issues like baptism, Calvinism, spiritual gifts, and church authority. Drawing from Scripture and church history, Dr. Easley explains the difference between essential doctrines and secondary issues, why church hierarchy cannot eliminate human sin, and how believers can hold firm convictions while maintaining biblical unity. Most importantly, he reminds us that Jesus never commanded us to build impressive institutions—He commanded us to make disciples while He builds His Church. Whether you've struggled with church differences or simply want to better understand Christian unity, this episode offers practical wisdom rooted in Scripture. Key Topics Covered Why Christians disagree on doctrine Essentials vs. non-essential beliefs Protestant and Catholic views of authority Unity without compromising truth Church history and theological diversity Why disciple-making is the Church's primary mission Loving believers who hold different convictions Chapters 0:00 Why do faithful Christians disagree? 2:37 "In essentials, unity" explained 5:50 Liberty, love, and Christian maturity 7:20 MacArthur, Sproul, and charitable disagreement 8:15 What are the essential doctrines? 9:45 Catholic authority and doctrinal consistency 14:05 The universal Church vs. the local church 16:47 When should Christians draw doctrinal lines? 17:45 Jesus' command: Make disciples 22:34 What perfect unity will look like in eternity Links Mentioned: Article by Mark Ross on Church unity The Nicene Creed by Phillip Cary Find more episodes of Ask Dr. E here. If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.

Over the course of these two messages, we have watched God's faithfulness unfold across the centuries. When His truth became obscured, He raised up faithful witnesses. John Wycliffe reminded the Church that God's Word stands above every human authority. William Tyndale devoted his life to placing that Word into the hands of ordinary people. Jan Hus proclaimed that Jesus Christ alone is the Head of His Church. Patrick Hamilton joyfully declared that sinners are justified by grace through faith in Christ alone. Thomas Cranmer ensured that these glorious truths would be proclaimed whenever God's people gathered for worship. These convictions have become so common that we seldom consider the price that faithful witnesses paid to preserve them. Yet the greatest lesson from these men isn't how they died but their devotion. They loved Christ more than comfort, treasured God's truth more than safety, and believed that faithfulness justified sacrifice. Every generation, God looks for people who value His truth and are ready to stand with humility, courage, and conviction. Hopefully, we will also be remembered for overcoming "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony," staying faithful to Christ and His truth until the very end.

Message by: Scott Treadway The new community Jesus came to establish - His Church - is invited to be deeply connected, present, empathetic , and authentic. No matter how we're wired or how our life experiences shaped us, we can each strive to live as a deeply connected community of friends loving one another as Jesus loved us. For more please visit https://www.rancho.tv/events #wearerancho

Join Alex Logan of SEND International as he shares encouraging stories of God's faithfulness and the ways He is building His Church across Japan.

The size of a church is not a good indicator of how healthy it is. God anoints His Church for increase, not by sheer numbers or size, but by the quality of disciples trained and thrust forth into the harvest field. May our goal not be to grow a big church, but a big people!

The size of a church is not a good indicator of how healthy it is. God anoints His Church for increase, not by sheer numbers or size, but by the quality of disciples trained and thrust forth into the harvest field. May our goal not be to grow a big church, but a big people!

Read OnlineEntering and Becoming the House of GodJesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” Matthew 13:36Today's Gospel begins with a subtle yet significant detail: “Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.” This transition from the public to the private reflects a recurring pattern in the Gospels: Our Lord teaches the crowds in parables, veiling the mysteries of the Kingdom, while reserving their fuller explanation for the disciples in the quiet intimacy of the house. In this context, the house becomes a symbol of the Church—the inner sanctuary where Christ reveals His secrets to those who follow Him not only outwardly, but with humble faith and spiritual hunger.Though the disciples—likely the Twelve Apostles—were uniquely privileged to share this moment with Jesus, in which He explained the Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat in precise detail, this sacred setting is not closed to us. Each of us is invited into this “house” through the life of the Church. Though the Apostles were weak and sinful like all of us, they were nevertheless chosen to be the first bishops—visible shepherds who would continue Christ's mission after His Ascension. Through their fidelity, the Word of God went forth to the ends of the earth, a proclamation that continues today through their successors.While each of the baptized is called to proclaim the Gospel in accord with his or her vocation and mission, the bishops—and their co-workers, the priests—uniquely form the spiritual household through which Christ continues to speak with clarity. Through their preaching, governance, and sacramental ministry, the hidden mysteries of Christ's teaching are continually made known. This is not due to their personal merit, but because of the sacred office entrusted to them by Christ through Apostolic Succession. They became the foundation of the Church—the spiritual House of God—in which Jesus continues to minister.Place yourself in this Gospel scene. You, too, are called to draw near to Christ, to enter the house with Him, and to seek understanding with the heart of a disciple. In the Church—this household of faith—the Master still teaches, still explains, still reveals the mysteries of the Kingdom to those who desire to listen.As you prayerfully see yourself in this scene, unite it with your experience of your parish church and other sacred places where God has spoken to you, nourished you, and transformed you. When the Gospel changes us, the Sacraments nourish us, and the Church guides us, it is always Christ who is teaching, feeding, and leading. We must, therefore, learn to see beyond the minister or the building, recognizing Christ's presence, speaking to us and sanctifying us through His Church.Though the Church—the visible presence of the Kingdom of God on earth—is the privileged place where we encounter Christ, each of us, in our own unique way, is also called to be this “house” for others. Because God dwells within us, His Kingdom is present within our souls. Thus, this Gospel scene is not only about entering the house—it is also an invitation to become that house: a dwelling place where others may encounter Christ, hear His Word, receive His mercy, and be drawn into His love through the witness of our charity.Reflect today on this house. First, see the Church as the house in which Christ speaks to you most clearly. Give thanks for the many ways our Lord has spoken to you and fed you in this sacred House of God. Reflect also on your own soul as a dwelling place of God. Believe that Christ desires to use you to bring others into His presence, dwelling within your soul. Give thanks for this gift, and pray that you may be both a faithful disciple within the house and a radiant house of grace for others to enter and meet Christ our Lord.Most intimate Lord, You desire to reveal to me—and to all Your children—the deep and profound mysteries of Your Kingdom of grace. Draw me to Yourself, to Your House of Grace and Mercy, which resides within Your holy Church. Teach me, sanctify me, and form me according to Your holy will. As You make Your dwelling within me, make my soul a place where others may encounter You, hear Your Word, and receive Your grace. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles, by Duccio di BuoninsegnaSource: 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.

What voice is waking you up? In a world full of distractions, shame, fear, and endless noise, God is calling His Church to be a louder bell. Our phones jolt us out of bed every morning — but what's jolting us into prayer? Into mission? Into His presence? In Acts 12, the church prayed and God woke Peter up. It's time for that same bell to ring again. This message will encourage you to wake up, rise in prayer, and step into what God is calling you to do.Are you ready to step into all God has called you to be through our Christ-Like Leader Pathway? There are so many ways to start, and we're here to walk with you every step of the way.-CLICK HERE TO SERVE: https://www.shorelinecity.church/join-CLICK HERE TO GET IN COMMUNITY: https://www.shorelinecity.church/connectgroups -CLICK HERE TO LIVE GENEROUSLY: https://www.shorelinecity.church/give-JESUS FIRST: We've been praying for you! If you made the decision to put Jesus first, text “JESUS” to 73000.-PRAYER: We believe there isn't anything too small or too big to bring to God. It would be our honor to pray with you. Text “PRAYER” to 73000STAY CONNECTEDWebsite: https://www.shorelinecity.church/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shorelinecity/Facebook:   / shorelinecity  Pastor Earl:   / earlmcclellan  Pastor Oneka:   / onekamcclellan  #ShorelineCity

1 John 2:3-6 (NKJV) Now BY THIS we know that we know Him, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. 4, He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5, But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6, He who says he ABIDES in Him ought himself also to walk JUST AS HE WALKED. Knowing about Jesus is in no way the same as knowing Him.

What if every wedding is pointing to a far greater celebration? In this powerful message from Revelation 19, we're reminded that the greatest love story ever told is God's relentless pursuit of His people. Through the beautiful imagery of a wedding feast, this sermon reveals the unwavering faithfulness of Christ—the Bridegroom who never abandons His bride, but instead lays down His life to cleanse, restore, and prepare her for the day they will be united forever. Discover why our confidence rests not in our own faithfulness, but in God's unchanging promises. Learn what it means to rejoice in the certainty of Christ's victory, embrace the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, and fight for the beauty and purity of His Church with grace, truth, and love.

July 26 2026 Success in God's Kingdom isn't about talent, personality, or striving harder it's about walking in the anointing God has already given you. In this message from the final week of the Elisha series, we follow Elisha's final journey with Elijah and discover the powerful symbolism of the falling mantle. Just as Elijah ascended and left his mantle, Jesus ascended and sent the Holy Spirit, giving every believer everything they need to live out God's purpose. You'll be encouraged to trust God's provision, stay connected to His Church, depend on the Holy Spirit, and believe that the same God who called you will also empower you.   https://www.lifechurchwilm.com/ No matter what you're walking through today, remember: God will get you through whatever you're going through, because in Him, you have everything you need to succeed.

Continuing our study through 1 Corinthians, Pastor Mike Newcomb focuses on chapter 12 and the incredible gifts God has given His Church. This message highlights how every believer has value and purpose, reminding us that spiritual gifts are designed to strengthen the body of Christ, encourage fellow believers, and glorify Jesus above all else.Rather than comparing ourselves to others or doubting our abilities, we're invited to trust God's power working through us. As we seek the Lord, stay anchored in Scripture, and remain available to the Holy Spirit, God can accomplish far more than we could ever do on our own. Be encouraged to discover how He wants to use your life for His Kingdom.#1Corinthians #PastorMikeNewcomb #SpiritualGifts #HolySpirit #BibleTeaching #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #Jesus #ServeOthers #BodyOfChrist #GoodHopeChurchSermon Notes: https://link.goodhope.ag/corinthians-4-mnGiving Information: https://goodhope.ag/givingSTAY CONNECTEDYoutube: https://youtube.com/GoodHopeChurchInstagram: http://instagram.com/goodhopemnFacebook: http://fb.com/goodhopemn 

In this message from the 1 Corinthians series, Pastor Daniel Stevens walks through chapter 12 and unpacks the biblical teaching on spiritual gifts. Every believer has a place in the body of Christ, and God gives gifts not for personal gain, but to build up His Church and encourage others. This message offers practical insight into how spiritual gifts operate alongside biblical truth and discernment.As followers of Christ, we're encouraged to remain open to the work of the Holy Spirit while keeping our foundation firmly rooted in God's Word. No matter where you are in your faith journey, God can use you in ways you may never have imagined. Discover how unity, humility, and obedience allow the Holy Spirit to work through ordinary people for God's glory.#1Corinthians #SpiritualGifts #PastorDanielStevens #HolySpirit #BibleStudy #ChristianFaith #ChurchFamily #FaithInAction #JesusChrist #BiblicalTruth #GoodHopeChurchSermon Notes: https://link.goodhope.ag/corinthians-4Giving Information: https://goodhope.ag/givingSTAY CONNECTEDYoutube: https://youtube.com/GoodHopeChurchInstagram: http://instagram.com/goodhopemnFacebook: http://fb.com/goodhopemn

You are uniquely created by God to uniquely influence and invite others to Christ and His Church.

July 26th | Dream Disciple | Acts 2:42–47 What does it truly mean to be plugged in to the Body of Christ?In this message from Acts 2:42–47, Pastor Matt Darby continues the Dream Disciple series by exploring the fourth marker of a disciple: Plugged In. More than simply attending church, biblical community is about being meaningfully connected to a local body where you are known, loved, challenged, and encouraged to grow in Christ.Looking at the birth of the early church, Pastor Matt unpacks God's design for His people to live in authentic community—devoted to His Word, prayer, fellowship, generosity, and the mission of Jesus. Through powerful biblical imagery, he reminds us that the Church is the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, the Family of God, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, a Holy Nation, and the Flock of God. We were never intended to follow Jesus in isolation.This message challenges the mindset of "it's just me and Jesus" and calls believers to move from attendance to engagement, from anonymity to belonging, and from independence to interdependence. Whether you've experienced church hurt, struggle with vulnerability, or simply feel disconnected, you'll discover God's invitation to find healing, purpose, and identity within His people.In this episode you'll discover:Why the local church is essential to every believer's spiritual growth.What biblical community looks like in everyday life.How the gospel transforms strangers into family.Four practical steps to becoming truly plugged in: Be Known, Be Needed, Be Dependent, and Be Committed.Why God's design for your life has always included His people.The question isn't, "Do you go to church?" The question is, "Are you plugged in to the Body of Christ?"Listen now and discover how God calls us to grow, serve, and experience His presence together as His Church.Do you know JESUS? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need PRAYER? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/pray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support through GIVING: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbbctx.org/giving⁠ 

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

Marriage is more than a commitment between two people—it's a reflection of Christ's love for His Church. In this message, we unpack God's design for marriage through Ephesians 5 and discover how love, respect, forgiveness, and selflessness build relationships that honor Him. No matter your relationship status, God has a purpose for your life today.

Jesus knows His Church. In His letters to the seven churches of Revelation, He encourages faithfulness, confronts compromise, and calls His people to persevere.

God is calling His Church to be "fire watchers" in these last days. We are to watch for and call out the enemies of our soul. We sound the alarm in prayer and rely on God to fight for us and bring us His victory.

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

God is calling His Church to be "fire watchers" in these last days. We are to watch for and call out the enemies of our soul. We sound the alarm in prayer and rely on God to fight for us and bring us His victory.

Reflecting on St. Paul's description of believers as “infants in Christ,” Fr. David Gunter reminded us that the struggles faced by the early Church in Corinth are still present today. False teachings, division, confusion, and the influence of secular culture can weaken the faith and prevent Christians from growing into spiritual maturity.Although the Church is now spread throughout the world, many believers still need to learn what it truly means to live as children of God. The chaos and division we see around us reveal how urgently we need deeper conversion, sound teaching, and greater unity in Christ.The Church continues to face a violent spiritual storm, but our response must never be hatred or despair. We are called to remain faithful, love those who are wounded or confused, and pray for everyone—trusting that Christ will guide and protect His Church.#TodaysHomily #FrDavidGunterMIC #ChildrenOfGod #CatholicFaith #SpiritualMaturity #PrayForTheChurch #divinemercy © 2026 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. All rights reserved.Readings for July 25th. 2026:https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072326.cfm ★ Support this podcast ★

What do the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price really teach? In this Christ-centered Lutheran sermon, Pastor David Balla proclaims the biblical distinction between Law and Gospel, revealing that these parables are not primarily about what we sacrifice for God, but about what Christ gave to redeem us. Jesus is the One who sold everything to purchase His treasured possession—His Church.Drawing from Matthew 13:44–46 (ESV), this expository sermon explores God's grace, salvation by faith alone, Christ's atoning death, redemption, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the priceless gift of forgiveness. Discover how your worth is not found in possessions, success, reputation, or achievements, but in Christ, who gave His life on the cross and continues to deliver His saving gifts through Word and Sacrament, including the Lord's Supper.This sermon is rooted in Confessional Lutheran theology (LCMS) and is ideal for Christians seeking faithful biblical preaching, verse-by-verse exposition, Gospel-centered teaching, and deeper understanding of Jesus' parables.Support this ministry: https://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphWebsite (plain text): buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphSubscribe for weekly sermons, Bible studies, and daily devotions that proclaim Christ crucified for sinners.Hashtags#Matthew13 #LCMS #LutheranSermon #LawAndGospel #KingdomOfHeaven

Join Derek Walker as he delves into the profound spiritual insights found in the Song of Solomon. This biblical love poem is unveiled as a representation of the deep, intimate relationship between Christ and His Church. Learn about the divine romance, the symbolism of Solomon and Shulamith, and how this sacred text reveals God's ultimate purpose and desire for loving fellowship with His people. The Song of Songs, the greatest of all love poems, reveals the drama of the Divine Romance between Christ and His Bride, from His 1st Coming as our Shepherd-Lover to His Coming for us in the Rapture.

Join Derek Walker as he delves into the profound spiritual insights found in the Song of Solomon. This biblical love poem is unveiled as a representation of the deep, intimate relationship between Christ and His Church. Learn about the divine romance, the symbolism of Solomon and Shulamith, and how this sacred text reveals God's ultimate purpose and desire for loving fellowship with His people. The Song of Songs, the greatest of all love poems, reveals the drama of the Divine Romance between Christ and His Bride, from His 1st Coming as our Shepherd-Lover to His Coming for us in the Rapture.

In this episode, you will learn how the enemy uses accusation, offense, and jealousy to bring division in the Body of Christ. Learn how to recognize his schemes, reject his lies, and choose love, humility, and unity instead. This wisdom-packed episode will equip you to protect the unity God desires for His Church and walk in victory over the enemy's tactics. "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future." Ephesians 4 :2-4 NLT

Join Lead Time+Learn more about Lead Time+One of the clearest moments of pushback at the LCMS Convention came when the body rejected a proposal that would have moved the Synod presidential election to the convention floor—choosing instead to preserve and strengthen the broader congregational voting process.Jack Kalleberg and Pastor Joe Beran explain why that vote mattered, what it revealed about authority and trust within the LCMS, and how President Harrison handled a result that went against the committee's recommendation.They also enter the deeper debate underneath several convention decisions: Is Lutheran identity defined by Scripture and the Confessions alone, or is it also connected to a particular style of worship? What should worship look like at the Concordias? Is the LCMS prepared to reach people across America's different cultures—or are we asking people to first conform to a culture we have labeled “Lutheran”?The episode concludes with the complicated relationship between the LCMS and the AALC, the limits of what delegates were able to know before voting, and a reminder that even through a messy convention process, Jesus remains Lord of His Church.Support the show⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️Care about the future of the LCMS?Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter)⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

Love, Community, and Truth: A Conversation with Natalie Runion In Episode 144 of Divine Table Talk, Jamie and Jane welcome Natalie Runion—USA Today bestselling author, speaker, worship leader, and founder of the Raised to Stay community—for an honest conversation about love, biblical community, and living in truth. Drawing from her experiences in ministry and the messages of her bestselling books Raised to Stay and The House That Jesus Built, Natalie shares how believers can pursue healing without abandoning the Church, embrace authentic Christian community, and hold tightly to truth while extending grace. Together, they discuss the beauty of imperfect people pursuing a perfect Savior and why healthy relationships are essential to spiritual growth. Whether you've experienced church hurt, are longing for deeper community, or simply want to love people more like Jesus, this conversation will encourage you to remain rooted in Christ and committed to building His Church. Learn more about Natalie, her ministry, speaking events, books, and the Raised to Stay community at: NatalieRunion.com ____________________________________ Connect with Jamie: Website: www.jamieklusacek.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamieklusacek Connect with Jane: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janewwilliams ____________________________________   Get Jamie's Newest Book: Living Loved: An 8-week Journey to Living Fully Loved

Register for Luminosity: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Register⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign Up for Prayer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Orbis Prayer Ministry Network – Receive prayer for healing, prophecy, inner healing and deliverance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Give - Orbis Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In this episode of God Is Not a Theory, Ken Fish is joined by Grant Pemberton and Joel Taylor to discuss the heart behind this year's Luminosity Conference and why its theme—Consecration and Holiness—is especially timely.As they reflect on the journey from Fusion and Ignition to Illumination and now Luminosity, the conversation moves beyond conference planning to explore a deeper question: What kind of Church is God preparing for the days ahead? Ken shares how each conference has built on the previous one, leading to this year's emphasis on becoming people who shine and who are radiant with the character of Jesus.Together, they discuss why miracles and healing should always be accompanied by discipleship and character formation, why humility and holiness are essential for lasting ministry, and how believers can pursue both the power of God and the life that reflects His nature. They also explain why Luminosity is designed to be more than an event—it's an invitation to deeper transformation and a renewed commitment to Christ that goes beyond the conference.Whether you're attending Luminosity or simply longing to grow in your walk with God, this conversation will encourage you to pursue a life marked by both holiness and the power of the Holy Spirit.Topics Include:The vision behind LuminosityWhy consecration and holiness matter todayCharacter and power working togetherHealing ministry and discipleshipThe importance of humility in leadershipBuilding lasting spiritual foundationsThe Church's witness in a dark worldWhy revival begins with transformed livesPreparing for what God is doing nextWhat to expect at Luminosity

When it comes to following Jesus, there are things He put in motion specifically designed for He our new covenant. And possibly the key component of the new covenant is the fact that it requires a believer for it to actually work. Here's something else to keep in mind, when it comes to our new covenant, as one of His children, one of His disciples, we don't have to talk God into doing something that He's already established in Jesus. Something He's already put in motion.

“I am married unto you.” — Jeremiah 3:14 Christ Jesus is joined unto His people in marriage-union. In love He espoused His Church as a chaste virgin, long before she fell under the yoke of bondage. Full of burning affection He toiled, like Jacob for Rachel, until the whole of her purchase-money had been paid, […]

As we were recording last weeks episode, I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to recording a specific episode regarding women in the church. Specifically because in Acts 5:12-16 this is the first time Luke mentions the salvation of women and men and not just mentioning the total of  men being saved.  Both in Acts and the Gospel of Luke, Luke has a lot to say about women and their relationship to Jesus Christ and His Church.    Again, as always, Scripture is our foundation and context matters. So we are tackling the hot button topic of Women in Ministry and Church Leadership. We look at the context of Scripture in both the Old and New Testament. We look at historical context and also translation choices of the original Greek words to get a full picture of God's heart and intention towards women in church. We ask that you join us for this powerful conversation with an open heart and open mind as we search for God's truth.   You can connect with Amie on her website: https://rawandrealministries.com/   You can connect with me or order my books on my website here: https://debbiekitterman.com/ click on the store tab and choose the book(s) you would like to view under the book tab.   OR on Amazon here using my affiliate links:  Check out my Amazon Store front here:https://a.co/d/0fSFMjq0 D2h Podcast Books  https://amzn.to/4wnk96D Podcast Equipment https://amzn.to/4u8PloC  I even have other categories for my sourdough, chickens, my favorite things, and more…. check my entire storefront out here: https://a.co/d/0fSFMjq0   For Specific Individual Books:   Legacy: The Lost Art of Blessing  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNJNNHKY/ref=nosim?tag=da2he-20   Releasing God's Heart through Hearing His Voice:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615316220/ref=nosim?tag=da2he-20   The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement: Hearing the Word of God for Others:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/0800798864/ref=nosim?tag=da2he-20   The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement Bible Study: Living a Lifestyle of Encouragement  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B083J3RCYP/ref=nosim?tag=da2he-20   Symbolism Reference Guide & Dream Journal: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0984012346/ref=nosim?tag=da2he-20  

John 10:27, Jesus said, MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, and I KNOW THEM, and THEY FOLLOW ME. Understand, following Jesus is a reality every disciple has to grow in. And make no mistake, it'll never happen on accident.

1 John 5:11-13 (NIRV) Here is what God says about the Son. God has given us ETERNAL LIFE. And this life is found in his Son. Whoever BELONGS to the Son has life. 12, Whoever doesn't belong to the Son of God doesn't have life. 13, I'm writing these things to you who BELIEVE IN THE NAME of the Son of God. I'm writing so you will know that you have eternal life. As one of the Lord's Eternal Witnesses, according to His Word, there's only one way to ETERNAL LIFE. At the end of the day, it always comes back to believing. Absolutely everything about our new lives is built to function one way, by faith.

What happens when Orthodox Christians stop simply criticizing culture and start creating it? In this episode, Buck chats with his good friend Mano Elia—host of the Study of Stuff Podcast, founder of Spoon Records, and one of the driving forces behind the Bored No More movement—to discuss what it means to reclaim culture by creating art, music, film, and authentic community centered on Christ and His Church. Mano shares the vision behind Bored No More, a growing network of Orthodox Christian creators dedicated to producing meaningful media, cultivating community, and encouraging artists to create work rooted in Christ. He also discusses Bored No More's partnership with Logos Cinema, where the network's growing catalog of content will soon be available alongside a broader streaming platform devoted to faith-centered films and entertainment. Rather than merely reacting to a culture in decline, Mano challenges Orthodox Christians to what he calls "inverting the inversion"—reclaiming the very spaces that have been distorted and restoring them to the service of God. Buck and Mano also discuss the spiritual condition of Canada, the growing sense of isolation and nihilism they see throughout the country, the expansion of medically assisted suicide, and what these trends reveal about a society that has lost hope. They also explore the blessings and pitfalls of online Orthodoxy, why internet debates should never replace life in the parish, and why our hardworking priests deserve far more grace and gratitude than criticism. Topics include: * What "inverting the inversion" really means * Why Orthodox Christians should create culture instead of merely critique it * The vision behind the Bored No More movement * Bored No More's partnership with Logos Cinema * Spoon Records and cultivating meaningful music * Canada's growing spiritual crisis * Loneliness, nihilism, and medically assisted suicide * The strengths and weaknesses of online Orthodoxy * Why faithful parish life matters more than internet arguments * Showing grace and appreciation for our priests Learn more about Mano's work: Bored No More Community Support the mission Bored No More Study of Stuff Podcast (YouTube) Study of Stuff on Instagram Logos Cinema Sponsor: Donate to the show here: https://www.patreon.com/counterflow  Podsworth App: https://podsworth.com  Code: BUCK50 for HALF off your first order! Clean up your recordings, sound like a pro, and support the Counterflow Podcast! Full Ad Read BEFORE processing: https://youtu.be/F4ljjtR5QfA  Full Ad Read AFTER processing: https://youtu.be/J6trRTgmpwE Visit my website: https://www.counterflowpodcast.com  Audio Production by Podsworth Media: https://www.podsworth.com  Leave us a review and rating on Apple Podcasts! Thanks!

Where do Christians find safety as the world grows darker? In this episode of Shadows to Substance, Pastor George Sayour shows that Noah's Ark wasn't merely a vessel of salvation—it was a shadow pointing to Christ, His Church, and the Christian household. Tracing themes through Genesis, the Exodus, Lot's rescue, covenant families, and the New Testament, George reveals how God's pattern of refuge culminates in Christ. Discover why the Christian home is meant to be a place of grace, protection, discipleship, and hope in the midst of a fallen world.