Podcasts about how christ

Today’s devotional takes us deep into the compassionate heart of Jesus. In a world loud with noise and performance, Christ shows us a love that is deeply personal, quietly powerful, and beautifully intentional. Jennifer Slattery unpacks the healing of a deaf man in Mark 7 to reveal how Jesus doesn’t just care for the crowd—He cherishes the individual. This story is a powerful reminder that God sees you, values you, and offers healing not as a show, but as an intimate act of love. What You'll Learn: Why Jesus may have taken the deaf man aside before healing him How Christ’s actions protect dignity and demonstrate personal compassion The difference between public miracles and private moments of grace What this tells us about how God views you—not as a project, but as a person

Christ's Church: Would You Like To Be Healed? | 05/18/25

1. How Christ suffered2. Why Christ suffered

Christ came into this world not just to share our humanity, but also to transform it.We'll consider:- How Christ came to be one of us.- How Christ came to transform us.Time:AfternoonMinister:Rev. Joe PoppeTexts:Heidelberg Catechism: Lord's Day 14Hebrews 2:10–18Series:The Heidelberg Catechism

In Colossians 2:16-23, Pastor Abraham walks through the passage where Paul describes how Christ is the fulfillment of the traditions practiced in the Old Testament. How Christ is the substance that the shadows preceded. Find related discussion questions here: cbcnyc.org/sermon-discussion-questions

How Christ comforts His church and His people.

How Christ comforts His church and His people.

Do you ever feel like you're fighting your battles alone—that no one truly understands the heaviness of what you're carrying?Or maybe you've been trying so hard to be strong, to do everything right, but you're still exhausted, overwhelmed, and questioning if you're enough?In this episode of Mothers Who Know, host Karen Broadhead and a group of faith-filled women dive deep into the simple yet life-changing power of noticing—noticing how Jesus Christ is already present in your life, even when everything feels like it's falling apart.✔️ How to notice the Savior's power in your hardest moments✔️ Why your peace isn't found in a change of circumstances—but in a skill you can develop✔️ How Christ empowers, enlightens, and energizes us—no matter what storm we're in✔️ The real reason we struggle to trust God, and how to shift that✔️ How connecting with Christ-centered women accelerates healingIf you've ever thought, "Why can't I feel God's love in this trial?" or "How can I find peace when everything is chaos?"—this episode will help you find the clarity, strength, and comfort you've been seeking.

This is it. The highest form of love—the love that sent Christ to the Cross and the love that will transform you if you let it.We've covered storge (affection), philia (friendship), and eros (romantic love), but agape? This is the love that separates boys from men. It's sacrificial. It's relentless. It's the love that doesn't ask, “What's in it for me?” but instead, “How can I give more?”In this episode, we dig deep into what agape really is and why it's the foundation of everything in the Christian life. We break down: ✅ How Christ showed the ultimate act of agape on the Cross ✅ Why agape isn't a feeling—it's an act of the will ✅ The Eucharist: The tangible sign of agape love, given to us daily ✅ Practical ways to live agape as a husband, father, priest, or single man ✅ The biggest roadblocks that keep men from loving with agape and how to destroy themWant to be a better husband? A stronger father? A leader in your community? Master agape, and everything else falls into place.Lent is coming—how will you love differently?3 Powerful Quotes from the Episode:“The ultimate act of agape is found in Christ's Passion and death. He didn't do it because we deserved it—He did it because love demands sacrifice.”“Husbands, fathers, act like it. Your primary job is to love your family with agape—not when it's convenient, not when you feel like it, but always.”“You can't do agape on your own. You need the Eucharist. You need Confession. You need grace. Stop trying to white-knuckle holiness—go to the sacraments.”Love with action, not just words. Agape isn't about feeling good—it's about doing good. Whether it's leading your family in prayer, sacrificing your comfort for the sake of your wife and kids, or speaking truth to a brother in need, real love is lived out.Lent is around the corner. Are you ready to love the way God calls you to? Hit play now.Please prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support. Be sure to follow us on X for more great content. As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost! Subscribe to our YouTube page to see our manly and holy facesCheck out our websiteContact us at themanlycatholic@gmail.coSend us a text Support the showSupport the show at Buy Me A CoffeeSubscribe to our YouTube pageCheck out our websiteMystic Monk Coffee → For the best coffee for a great cause, we recommend Mystic Monk Coffee. Roasted with prayer by the Carmelite Monks in Wyoming, Mystic Monk Coffee has the ultimate cup waiting for you. See more at mysticmonkcoffee.com Contact us directly at themanlycatholic@gmail.com.

Touring Life + Willow Creek Production + Christ's Church of the Valley = A Production Pro. Ivan Talamantes (Christ's Church of the Valley, Willow Creek) shares his journey from touring pro to church tech leader. He gives us insights on volunteers, gear, and the best (and worst) audio consoles in church production!In this episode you'll hear: 1:00

Podcast Episode Description: In this episode, we dive into Psalm 46:10 and explore the profound call to “be still and know” that God is near. Learn how to live a life grounded in Christ's love by practicing stillness, gratitude, and trust. We discuss:The dangers of living in the past or future (Matthew 6:34).How Christ's presence transforms the way we experience life (Matthew 28:20).Seeing God's hand in the everyday miracles around us (Matthew 6:26-28).Practical ways to stay anchored in faith and reflect His glory.Take a moment to be still, reflect, and embrace the peace of God's presence in your daily life.

Lord's Day 21-1. How Christ gathers them-2. How they are distinguished

How Christ's work on the cross changes our lives

How Christ's work on the cross changes our lives

Lord's Day 211. How Christ gathers them2. How they are distinguished

How Christ redeemed Anne after horrific trauma and abuse, how her trauma gave her purpose and ambition for Auntie Anne's, and how to stop overcomplicating the presence of God.This episode originally aired on August 23, 2023. Because you all loved it so much, we are re-releasing it as a part of our Fan Fave Flashbacks series this summer! Would you like to be a guest on the Mere Christians podcast when we begin new episodes this fall? Share your story with our producers at jordanraynor.com/mcLinks Mentioned:Auntie Anne Beiler on InstagramAuntie Anne BeilerAuntie Anne'sTwist of FaithHe Will Hold Me Fast on YouTubeEmerge Counseling MinistriesCome to the TableDisciplines for the Inner LifeOvercome and LeadJordan Raynor

A new MP3 sermon from Heritage Reformed Congregation is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: How Christ's Extraordinary, Glorious Transfiguration Helps Us Subtitle: Series on Mark Speaker: Dr. Joel Beeke Broadcaster: Heritage Reformed Congregation Event: Sunday - AM Date: 7/28/2024 Bible: Mark 9:2-13 Length: 61 min.

In the betrayal of Christ, we see the glory of Christ's person and work. How Christ is the Long-Promised Messiah, One True God, and Victorious Triumphant King who alone can save us from all our sins.

--- This expository sermon was delivered at Pilgrim Baptist Church on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at 6-15 pm. -----This expository kjv sermon is based on 2 Timothy 1-10-12. You'll learn the following...----- How Christ abolished death.---- Why eternal life can only come from a risen Saviour.---- Why the light of the gospel is the most important issue.---- Why Christians need preachers, not teachers that will itch their ear.--2 Timothy 1-10-12 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel- Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things- nevertheless I am not ashamed- for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.---- -- -- -- ----Jimmy Fortunato is the Pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church, a bible-believing Baptist church that takes a strong stance on the authority of the King James Bible and the absolute necessity of public evangelism for true New Testament churches.--For more information about Pilgrim Baptist Church, visit--- https---pilgrimbaptist.church---Pastor Fortunato's Blog---- https---fortunato.blog---Stay Connected with Pilgrim Baptist Church on Social Media---- Facebook- https---www.facebook.com-PilgrimBaptistCookeville--- Instagram- https---www.instagram.com-pilgrimbaptistcookeville---- Twitter- https---twitter.com-pbc-cookeville--- Sermon Audio- https---www.sermonaudio.com-solo-pilgrimbaptist--Donate To Pilgrim Baptist Church---- https---pilgrimbaptist.church-giving--- https---www.pay

--- This expository sermon was delivered at Pilgrim Baptist Church on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at 6-15 pm. -----This expository kjv sermon is based on 2 Timothy 1-10-12. You'll learn the following...----- How Christ abolished death.---- Why eternal life can only come from a risen Saviour.---- Why the light of the gospel is the most important issue.---- Why Christians need preachers, not teachers that will itch their ear.--2 Timothy 1-10-12 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel- Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things- nevertheless I am not ashamed- for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.---- -- -- -- ----Jimmy Fortunato is the Pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church, a bible-believing Baptist church that takes a strong stance on the authority of the King James Bible and the absolute necessity of public evangelism for true New Testament churches.--For more information about Pilgrim Baptist Church, visit--- https---pilgrimbaptist.church---Pastor Fortunato's Blog---- https---fortunato.blog---Stay Connected with Pilgrim Baptist Church on Social Media---- Facebook- https---www.facebook.com-PilgrimBaptistCookeville--- Instagram- https---www.instagram.com-pilgrimbaptistcookeville---- Twitter- https---twitter.com-pbc-cookeville--- Sermon Audio- https---www.sermonaudio.com-solo-pilgrimbaptist--Donate To Pilgrim Baptist Church---- https---pilgrimbaptist.church-giving--- https---www.pay

In our last session, we discussed the reality that WHEN Christ returns, as well as HOW Christ returns is not nearly as impactful in our lives as the reality THAT Christ is returning. Chapter 5 does begin to give us a picture of what that day will look like…. And it will be unexpected! The reality of Christ's return informs everything in our lives…including how we encourage one another. Join us for our final session in 1 Thess.

Salvation only started when Jesus died on the cross, and it doesn't end there. Join Jesus in his ongoing mission to spread this incredible news of eternal life! -Sermon Transcript - As we come to the end of the Gospel of Mark this sermon... next sermon, there'll be one more summary at the end, God willing, we really come to the point of everything. We come to the point of it all. There is a purpose and a reason why God created the universe. We believe in eternity past, that the triune God, Father, Son, and Spirit before anything was created at all, existed in perfect fellowship, in a loving fellowship, one with another. It was not out of need at all that He created the universe but out of a sense of generosity that He might create a context whereby He could reveal Himself to sentient beings, angels and humans who would be able to know and appreciate His glory and be delighted in it and be happy in it and have fellowship with Him. That is why God created the universe. But sin intervened, stepped in. Adam sinned on our behalf. And we all fell in Adam, we all sinned in Adam. We became what Isaiah 9 calls “the people walking in darkness”, the people who do not see the glory of God, do not understand it. But God sent His son to be the light of the world, and He has rescued us out of the dominion of darkness. He's given us spiritual eyes. The eyes of our hearts have been enlightened, if we're Christians. We have seen the glory of God in Christ. We have been saved, we have been redeemed, and though we see only a little of that glory... as it says in one Corinthians 13, "We see through a glass darkly," someday we're going to see it clearly face to face, and that brings us great joy. But why are we still here? Having come to salvation, having received the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith, having received the forgiveness of sins and adoption, why are we still here in this sin-cursed world? I believe that part of the answer to that is we are here for the glory of God in the salvation of others who have not yet crossed over from death to life. We're here to be witnesses. We're here to become fishers of men, that we will be instrumental in the hands of God to draw people out of Satan's dark kingdom. That is part of the reason why we're still here. "We are here for the glory of God in the salvation of others who have not yet crossed over from death to life. We're here to be witnesses. We're here to become fishers of men, that we will be instrumental in the hands of God to draw people out of Satan's dark kingdom." I also believe we're here to grow in grace in the knowledge of Christ to become more and more conformed to Christ, to be like Jesus more and more in our minds, in our hearts and our lives to grow in holiness. Those things are not different from each other. They are conformed together, that we begin to see other people the way Jesus did. When He looked out at the crowds, He saw that they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd, and His heart went out to them, and He said, "The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out labors into his harvest here." That was His heart when He saw them and He saw their true spiritual condition. The text you just heard read is one of five different versions of the Great Commission given to disciples at the end of the life of Jesus on earth. He commands us, His church, His people to go into all the world and preach the good news, the Gospel to all creation and to put people who hear that message at the fork in the road. If they believe and are baptized, they'll be saved. If they do not believe, they'll be condemned. That's the text we're looking at today, that’s the calling. I. Christ’s Mission Continues We come to the point of Jesus' mission, why He came from heaven to earth. Jesus came into the world to save sinners, period. That saving work of Jesus Christ was only begun during His time on earth. When He died and rose again, it only began. The blood of the Passover lamb that dreadful night, the night of the 10th plague in Egypt had to be shed, but then it had to be painted on the doorposts and the lintels of the house for the angel of death to pass over. The redemption by the Passover lamb had to be accomplished and applied. Also, Jesus' blood, having been shed, then has to be spiritually applied to sinners all around the world. That is the purpose of Jesus' continuing mission in the world, the application through the Holy Spirit of God, the application of His shed blood to individual sinners for their forgiveness. That is the work that we are about here at First Baptist Church. The unifying message of Mark’s Gospel, it starts Mark 1:1, “The beginning of the Gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God,” essential to the Gospel message, is the identity of this person, Jesus Christ, declared to be the Son of God. The whole Gospel of Mark unfolds details and dimensions of that truth, that Jesus is the Son of God. The NIV has the phrase, "The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Other translation simply say, "The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."The word “gospel” means “good news”. The word in English accurately translates the Greek grammar in the simplest sense of, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What does that “of” mean? It's either the good news from Jesus or it could be the good news that Jesus proclaimed, “of" meaning “origin” there; the message that came from Jesus or, as the translation says, it could be “about”. It's the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In the end both are true. This is the Gospel that Jesus proclaimed, but it is also the about Jesus Himself. It is marvelous then to think of Jesus not as merely the messenger of a message we now take on and proclaim, the good news that Jesus proclaim, but that He actually is the good news itself. He is the good news. He is the Gospel. In another place in Matthew 13:44, He said this, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hit it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." A treasure box hidden in the fields. I believe Jesus is that treasure, and I believe He is worth selling everything you have in your life so that you can buy that field and own the treasure. Paul said in Colossians 2:3, "In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." When you open up that treasure box, that box hidden in the field, you're going to find all wisdom and all knowledge. But wisdom and knowledge are not the only treasures you're going to find hidden in Christ. We also find perfect love. We find total forgiveness of sins. We find reconciliation with Almighty God. We find access to the throne of God. We find a promised eternal inheritance in heaven for each one of us who have believed. We find, in that treasure box, resurrection from the dead and life forevermore, and infinite other treasures besides. Christ is infinite and immeasurable treasure, most of it hidden from our minds in this world. We'll never get to the 1,000,000th of a percent of the treasure that Jesus is in this life, and therefore I believe in a eternal education, in the glory of Christ, in heaven. Forever and ever and ever we'll be learning how glorious He is. We'll never stop. Jesus is the treasure hidden in the field. The Gospel, the good news, is not merely a message that He proclaimed, He is the good news. His incarnation is good news. His perfect, sinless life, perfectly fulfilling the two great commandments, the only man that's ever done it in history, is good news. His astonishing miracles are good news. His astounding teachings, unlike any teacher had ever lived, is good news. His fulfillment of all of those Old Testament prophecy, fulfillment of prophecy is good news. His substitutionary death on the cross, giving His life as a ransom in your place is good news. His bodily resurrection from the dead, defeating death forever for us is good news. His promise to return to earth someday and establish an eternal kingdom, the kingdom of God is good news. Christ's mission to earth began in His life on earth almost 2,000 years ago, but it continues. Mark starts with a statement, “the beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” The Holy Spirit's not just saying through Mark that Mark 1:1 is the first of 679 verses that will come in the Gospel of Mark. This is the beginning. I think it's more than that. Rather, it's that Jesus' mission to earth was just beginning with His short, His brief life on earth. It was just starting. Jesus Himself had more work to do even at the end. Luke makes the continuation clear in Acts 1:1-2. There, he says, "In my former book, Theophilus," [Gospel of Luke], "I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach." I love that word, “began”. That was just the start, [Gospel of Luke] of all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day He was taken up to heaven after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. In our text today, if you look at it, Mark makes it just as clear. Look at verses 19-20 of Mark 16, "After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven. And He sat at the right hand of God. Then, the disciples went out and preached everywhere," listen, "the Lord working with them or worked with them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it." There's Jesus up in heaven continuing His work at the right hand of God. This is just the beginning, the beginning of the Gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus is continuing His saving mission to sinners in this cursed world. II. What Christ Commands of the World What does Christ command of the world? There is a command given to the world shortly after that initial statement in Mark 1:1. He gives this command, Mark 1:15, "The time has come. The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news." That is a command given to the world worldwide. "The time has come. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel." That's the command He gives. It's the command of the Gospel. From Almighty God through His only begotten son, Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, through the church messengers to the world, this command is given, “repent and believe.” The Gospel is good news to be believed, but it's also a command to be obeyed. It is a command from God to sinners that they must obey. Paul picks up on this in Romans 1:5, "Through Him, and for his namesake, we," Paul and the other apostles, "we receive grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience of faith." Or one translation has “the obedience that comes from faith." Faith produces obedience to the king, to God, the king. Again in Acts 17:30, Paul preaching there says, "In the past, God overlooks such ignorance," idolatrous pagan religions, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent." This is a command from God to repent. When I meditate on this and consider myself and my role as an evangelist, I realize I'm an ambassador from almighty God and I'm going to a rebel, I'm not going there begging and pleading and sniveling, I'm going there as a messenger from God, the king who's commanding that sinner to repent. That doesn't mean you have to be mean or harsh or have an angry look on your face, none of that. But the fact is we are messengers of a God who is telling sinners to throw down their weapons of rebellion against His kingly rule. He's commanding them to repent. It's a command. These two commands of the Gospel, “repent and believe.” Those are the two basic commands of the Gospel, repent and believe. What does that mean? Repent literally means to “think differently.” That's the meaning in the Greek. It's the meaning also in the Latin that is the basis of our English word, “repent”. It means to think differently, have a different mind, a change of mind resulting in a change of life, a radical transformation of how you think, resulting in a transformation of how you live. That's what repent means, “to turn away from sin to God." “Believe” means, I think, “to see with the eyes of the heart”. I believe that faith is the eyesight of the soul by which we see invisible spiritual realities. It is the ability to see invisible things and to know that they're true. The invisible truths of the good news, of the Gospel, believe that Jesus is the Son of God, though you have never seen Him and you don't see Him now. Believe that He died on the cross in your place for your sins, though you didn't see any of that. Believe that He rose from the dead on the third day, though the only evidence you have for that is written in the pages of this book. You've never seen it, but you believe that it's true and that He offers full forgiveness of sins to any who will repent and believe. That's what it means to believe the Gospel. The reason for this is there's a sense of urgency. The time has come and the Kingdom of God is at hand, meaning it's right here. There is no time to waste. Time is of the essence. There's an urgency here. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, "Today is the day of salvation." We don't know if we'll be alive tomorrow. As James says, "You don't know what tomorrow will bring." You don't even know if you'll be alive tomorrow. The Kingdom of God is at hand, coming. It's right here. It's not distant, it's right here. God, the king here, and He's calling on people to repent. Time is essential. Salvation is eternal, eternity in heaven, a place where there is no more death, mourning, crying, or pain; free forever from those things, an eternity in a world like that, a glorious world. But on the other hand, an eternity of condemnation for those who do not believe, who do not repent and believe. Whoever does not believe will be condemned. Condemnation, Jesus taught, is terrifying. No one in the Old Testament ever taught so clearly about hell as Jesus did in His teaching ministry. He was very, very clear about hell as a place of eternal conscious torment. Mark 9, "If your hand caused you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell where the fire never goes out." Five verses later, "Where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched, where existence is upheld by the sovereign God, and so also is the fire that brings about torment." If people say it's just a metaphor, it's like the reality is worse than the metaphor. It's terrifying. Jesus came from heaven to earth and suffered and bled and died on the cross so that people who believed in Him would not have to experience that eternal conscious torment. There is an urgency in this Gospel work. We're surrounded by people who are on their way to hell, surrounded by people who are on their way to being condemned justly for their sins. That's what Christ commands of the world. III. What Commands of His Church What does He command of us, His church? As I said, there are five great commissions, so-called, that have essentially the same message, but they're all different from each other. It's beautiful how Matthew's version is different than Mark's version, which is different than Luke's version, which is different than John's version. And it's different than the version given in Acts 1:8. They're all different, and they all contribute something, but they tell the same basic message. Our version here, Mark 15: 16, Jesus said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." He commands us to go and preach. Those are the commands given to the church, to go and proclaim the message. The proclamation of that Word, the proclamation of the words about Jesus, His life, His death, His resurrection, and the theology of salvation wrapped up in Jesus' mission, those words are the power of God for salvation to sinners who believe. Our job is a words task. It's not the only thing we do, but fundamentally, the call here is to proclaim words. Paul says in Romans 10 very plainly, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." The universal statement to every human being in every context. "Everyone who calls in the name of the Lord will be saved." How then can they call on the one they've not believed in? Before they call, like the verse tells them to do, they have to first believe in the Lord Jesus. And how can they believe in one of whom they have never heard? You need the facts about Jesus before you can believe. And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? That's the work of the church, to give them the facts they need to be saved. And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” According to Scripture, we have been sent. Jesus said in John's Gospel, "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." We are sent. Then a few verses later in Romans 10:17, it says, "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Our task is to proclaim the words of the Gospel to lost people in the hope that they will repent and believe those words and be saved. The extent of the Great Commission is to go into all the worlds and preach the Gospel to all creation. That's Mark's version, all the world, all creation. Matthew's is probably the most famous of the five great commissions. Matthew 28, 18-20, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I'm with you always, even to the end of the age." In Matthew's version, it's “all nations,” go and make disciples of all nations, with the end that having become a disciple, they obey all the commands. It's a comprehensive life obedience, teaching them to obey everything I've commanded you. This is going to happen in all areas of human history. "And surely I'm with you always, even to the end of the age," all nations, all commands all time. In both Matthew and Mark, baptism is an essential sign of discipleship. Mark says it in verse 16, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved." Matthew 28 says, "Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, of the Holy Spirit.” A disciple is a learner, a follower of the master of Jesus, the great teacher. We're disciples. We follow him and not just cognitively agreeing or assenting to his teachings, but with our lives obeying and following his pattern. That's what a disciple is. But in order for that, we have to be obedient to the master, we have to be obedient to the king, and so an initial test of obedience is water baptism. We don't believe that water baptism is essential for salvation because a thief in the cross was not water baptized. Paul says, "God did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel." If water baptism were required for salvation, he would never have made such a careless statement. It's not water baptism that saves. However, having been genuinely saved, justified, forgiven, it is a first step of outward visible obedience to the commands of God, a willingness to do this simple thing. The word “baptism” means “to immerse or plunge in liquid.” To all my friends that think that sprinkling is baptism, it isn't. The word means “immerse”, and so it's a plunging into a vat of liquid, like a garment being dyed or a ship being launched or something like that, it's a plunging in liquid. For us, water baptism is an immersion in water as an outward and visible symbol of an immersion in the Holy Spirit that Jesus has done first. We are baptized by Jesus through the Spirit into one body through our faith in Christ. That baptism, real baptism having already happened, we then do the symbolic water baptism as an outward and visible sign. You don't have to be water baptized to be saved, but no, you can't refuse to be water baptized and think that you are saved. That is a clear essential first step of obedience. That's what we're called to do. The church, we, the members of this local church, and Christians worldwide are called to this great and glorious work. Go and proclaim. Make disciples. Baptize them, teach them, do the work of the great commission. That's what we're called to do. IV. How Christ’s Church Has Obeyed How has Christ's church obeyed? The church has been overwhelmingly and stunningly and gloriously obedient for 20 centuries. That's how we've gotten to this point in which there are hundreds of millions of Christians around the world. It says it right in our text. Look at verse 20, "Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere." It is very easy for us to be discouraged about our failures. I was saying to the staff this week, we were talking about it, it's like massive step down when Jesus said, "As the Father sent me, I'm sending you." The “me" is the only begotten Son of God who the Father chose and sent. He's sending people like you and me. It's part of God's plan to use weak, fragile, sinful, even vessels like us to do this Great Commission. Weak, fragile, sinful, broken people have done incredible things for 20 centuries to spread the Gospel as far as it's gone. In the first three centuries of church history, many unnamed, unknown Christians were willing to risk their lives under the oppressive Roman Empire to spread the Gospel and permeate that part of the world until the Emperor Constantine thought it, at least politically expedient, to declare himself a Christian. Whether he was genuinely converted or not, I don't know. Find out. If you get up there to heaven, you see Constantine, you'll know. But the point is that the Gospel had made such progress at that point that he thought it was at least beneficial. Many of his centurions, many of his soldiers were Christians. It's an incredible, spiritual conquest of the Roman Empire in three short centuries. And since that time, the missionary drive has only continued and expanded. Over the last two centuries in particular, it's been stunning how much progress missions has made. The Gospel spread through the Indian subcontinent, led by William Carey and others, spread through Burma led by Adoniram and Ann Judson and others, spread through China, led by Hudson Taylor and Lottie Moon and others, through Africa, led by David Livingstone and Mary Slessor and many others, through the steamy jungles of the Amazon, led by Cameron Townsend and Jim and Elizabeth Elliot and others, even to Erie and Jaya, led by Don Richardson and Mark and Gloria Zook and others. What an incredible story, the spread of the Gospel. The Holy Spirit has indeed come on the church and empowered the church and enabled us to be His witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Yet for all of that, we must admit tons of failure as well. Church history is a mess. I'm being honest with you. Battles with cults, battles with false doctrine, battles with decades of indolence and laziness. The Crusades, Ralph Winter calls, the most misguided conception of the Christian mission in history. That's big picture. What about individually? Do you not often feel like a failure in this topic? Isn't it easy to feel like a failure when it comes to witnessing? I do. When I look at the tens of thousands that live in the immediate proximity here, and I realize the level of unchurchedness and lostness coupled with high education rates and wealth, prosperity, and then others that don't have those educations or wealth; we're surrounded. They've lived near our church; now they live maybe a little further away from our church, but they're lost. There's darkness there. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and discouraged. But this is exactly what Acts 1:8 is all about. You'll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you need that power. This is the call. Mark 15:16 is the call to our church now. This is what we're called to do with the rest of our lives in part. V. How Christ Confirms his Word Christ confirmed His word. Look at verse 19 and 20. Marvelous. We see Christ's sovereign power, which is essential to the spread of the Gospel. “After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and He sat at the right hand of God. And then the disciples went out and preached everywhere.” The Lord worked with them and confirmed His word by the signs that accompanied it. What a beautiful picture this is. Jesus ascends, goes through the clouds, the cloud hides Him from their sight. He goes into the heavenly realms, He passes through the heavens, He goes above the heavens. He sits down at the right hand of Almighty God far above the heavenly realms. And Jesus said, "Therefore," in Matthew 28:18, "all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me by God." Or again in Ephesians 1:20-23, "God raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age, but also in the one that come." It's hard to believe that Ephesians 1:21 is actually an understatement when it says, "Far above all rule and authority." Infinitely far above them. That's the great power of Jesus at the right hand of God. God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way. This authority, Jesus' authority, to rule all things is essential to the spread of the Gospel over 20 centuries because every step of the way, the advance of the Gospel has been opposed by Satan and his demons and by human enemies of the Gospel. It's been a bloody advance, it’s been hard. The church is portrayed as taking enemy territory. He said at Caesarea Philippi, "On this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prove stronger than it." The idea of gates is “we're storming the gates.” We're taking enemy territory. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe, but when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and he divides up the spoils. That's Jesus plundering Satan's kingdom. We're part of that. But it's a dangerous, dangerous journey. And Jesus' sovereignty is essential to it. He's able to control the minds and hearts of the movers and shakers in every era of history. Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is like a water course in the hands of the Lord." He directs it whichever way He pleases. He's sovereign over even tyrants who hate the Gospel. He's able to direct their decisions. He says to the church at Philadelphia in Revelation 3: 7-8, "What I open, no one can shut. And what I shut, no one can open." Isn't that a great statement? “I know your deeds.” He said to the church of Philadelphia, "Behold, I have placed before you an open door which no one can shut." That's an opportunity for that church of Philadelphia to go through that door into Gospel fruitfulness. That's the sovereignty of Christ. The nations, there is nothing before Christ's power. Isaiah 40: 15, "Surely, the nations are like a drop in the bucket. They're regarded as dust on the scales. He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. He sits in throne above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of the world to nothing." Jesus, therefore, is at the right hand of God. He is exerting his authority to spread the Gospel of salvation in every generation. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, delivers that power. The Holy Spirit is the delivery agent of the power of Jesus from the right hand of God down to earth. It is the Spirit. It is by the Spirit that Christ actively works in this present evil age to win sinners and spread the Gospel. He said in John 16:7, "I tell you the truth. It is for your good that I'm going away. Unless I go away, the counselor will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And the spirit works that power in us. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes in you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria to the ends of the earth." Let's be honest, we are weak, we are frail, we are fearful, we are selfish, we are lazy. Peter's failure, the night that Jesus was arrested, is proof that we are all essentially frail and weak. In just a matter of a few hours, he went from that confident assertion, “even if all fall away on account of you,” to denying he even knew who Jesus was. Furthermore, the parable of the Good Samaritan depicts the priest going by and seeing the bleeding man by the side of the road, and he just keeps on going. The Levite does the same thing; sees the bleeding man by the side of the road, and he just keeps on going. How can we not, when reading the parable of the Good Samaritan with tears and brokenness, see ourselves in those two? Oh, Heaven forbid that you would ever say, "I thank you, God, that I'm not like the priest or Levite in the parable of the good Samaritan." Don't say that. Say, "Oh, God, show me how I'm like that." Especially spiritually, people are broken and beaten down and bleeding by the side of the road spiritually because of their lostness, and we know them. We work with them, we live around them, we shop with them. We are surrounded by that brokenness and that lostness. How can we just walk by on the other side? But that's our nature, isn't it? It's our nature. We need to be honest. It is our nature to be priest or Levite. Only the Spirit enables us to be different. He will enable us to be different. Again and again, He'll enable us to care, to cross over that road, to bend down, to say something to somebody, to ask what's going on in their lives, to get involved in the mess, to get involved in the brokenness, and to win people to Christ. And we will. And we're going to tell the story for all eternity in heaven. It's going to be an awesome story. It's going to be an awesome story. But in the meantime, there's so much sorrow. Jesus wept over Jerusalem's lostness. Paul wept over the lostness of his own Jewish nation. "I speak the truth in Christ. I am not lying. My conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit." Paul said, "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish, for I could wish that I, myself, were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people. I would do it. I would lose my own salvation if they could be saved." There's that yearning and that brokenness. Jesus works and works and works and is by His Spirit to make us care about lostness, to care about people on their way to hell, and He moves us. He exerts power, conquering our fears. But He didn't just work in us, He works in them. He powerfully works in lost people, convicting them of their sins so that they can be saved. It says in John 16:8, "When the spirit comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment. And He will give them the gift of repentance in faith." The Spirit has the power to do that. It's nothing the person can do for him or herself. The change is so radical, it's like a heart of stone being removed and a heart of flesh being put in. You can't do that to yourself, but the Spirit can. As Ezekiel says, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I'll put my spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." As we're doing this witnessing, we're hoping that the Spirit will do that miraculous regenerating work that only He can do. It's not something we can do. The Spirit works repentance, the Spirit works, faith, and the Spirit calls to His sheep, unconverted elect. But the day has come, the day of salvation has come for them. And it says beautifully in John 10, "My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me, and I give them eternal life. I call them by name, and they follow me." That's a beautiful work, isn't it? Don't you want to be there when that happens? Don't you want to watch it happen as somebody who is walking in darkness crosses over into the light and with tears coming down his or her face that Jesus is my Savior, He's my shepherd? How beautiful is that? The text says that Jesus confirmed His word by signs of the Spirit. Verse 20, "The Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it." The Lord worked with them. What a majestic picture of cooperation. As 2 Corinthians 5 says, "We are, therefore, Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." We're, again, working together with Him, then “… implore you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” This sovereign power of Christ is working in us. By the grace of God, we are what we are. And His grace to us will not be without effect. "We're going to work for the Gospel," as Paul said, 1 Corinthians 15. Concerning signs and wonders, it's very clear that that happened in the apostolic age. Look at verse 17 and 18, "These signs will accompany those who believe. In my name, they will drive out demons, they will speak new tongues, they will pick up snakes with their hands. When they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all. They will place their hands on sick people and they will get well." Those things all happened. That's not fiction, it's not myth; those things happened. We have a record of it in the book of Acts, many of them, except the poison part. But I'm sure that happened too, it's just not recorded. Paul testified to it as well in Romans 15: 18-19, “I will not venture to speak about anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done by the power of signs and miracles through the power of the Spirit. From Jerusalem all the way around to the Balkans, to Illyricum, I fully proclaimed the Gospel of Christ.” Miracles following everywhere, healings, speaking in tongues, all of those things, even the serpent thing. Amazing. The miraculous signs confirm the truthfulness of the Gospel. In Acts 8: 6-8, “Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. And when the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. There's great joy in that city.” The signs also showed that Satan was being driven out of his throne in people's hearts. Jesus sent out 72 evangelists during His mission, and they returned full of joy. Luke 10: 17 -19, "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.' He replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.’" I've been thinking about that verse. This morning, we sang about martyrs who died. What's that whole, “nothing will harm you” thing? The martyrs weren't harmed by their death, they were ushered from this sin-cursed world by great sacrificial service, both to God and to sinners, into eternal glory and a martyr's crown. Do you think up in heaven they're thinking they were harmed by their martyrdom? They were not harmed. People were benefited because Tertullian said, "The blood of those martyrs was seed for the church,” and by their willingness to die to themselves, and even physically die, new Christians came. "The martyrs weren't harmed by their death, they were ushered from this sin-cursed world by great sacrificial service, both to God and to sinners, into eternal glory and a martyr's crown." VI. Our Part in This Work What is our part in this work? Obviously the most important thing anyone listening to me right now can do is make certain that you, yourself, have been saved, that you, yourself, have repented and believe the gospel for the forgiveness of your sins. Nothing's more important than that. The time has come. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the good news. But let's say you've already done that. What now? What is our work? Our work is to share the gospel with near neighbors and distant nations. This sermon and next week's as well, we're going to lay out specifics for FBC's members. The elders of this church are all unanimous that the single greatest area of growth for our church is faithfulness and fruitfulness in evangelism. We want to see far more baptisms happening in a year than we do. We want to see those kind of baptisms that happen in this pattern saying, "I was lost, I met so-and-so from this church, and now I'm here today to testify to my faith in Jesus." I want to hear that. Don't you? I want to be part of that. That's our calling. That's what we're called to do, to be fishers of men. We cannot sit comfortably in this beautiful sanctuary, hearing the Word of God week after week and not pay the price to share it with the thousands of lost people that are around us throughout the week. This area is going to grow. Estimates say we're going to add about half a million people in this region over the next 25 years. Most of those will be lost, unchurched. That's our field to work. This is our area to work. This is what we're going to be held accountable for on Judgment Day. We're called on to do evangelism. What is evangelism? Max Stiles says, "Evangelism is teaching the Gospel with the aim to persuade.” Teaching. We're going to teach concepts about people. We're going to explain theological truths to people who don't understand them. We're going to teach. What are we going to teach? The Gospel. God, man, Christ's response. We're going to say things about God, that He created the ends of the earth and that He's a king and a ruler, and He makes laws. We need to follow them. That man, that we are created the image of God for a relationship with Him, but we have broken His laws and we're rebellious against Him, and we stand in danger of eternal condemnation. Christ, that Christ is the Son of God. He came and lived a sinless life, He died on the cross and rose again. And response, repent and believe, as in Mark 1:15. We're going to teach the Gospel to people with the aim... We're going to have an aim. We're going to focus on winning, lost people to faith in Christ. It's intentional. The Son of Man came to seek and to save the loss. We have to have an aim, a purpose, and we're going to persuade. We're going to win people. We're going to persuade them to repent, to turn to Christ. We're going to use argumentation, we're going to use proofs, we're going to use passion, we're going to use persuasion. We're going to plead. I've never really pled with a lost person before. It's in Acts 2. I do a lot of airplane evangelism. I have yet to be broken down and, with tears, beg a lost person to cross over. Now, I think I probably would get arrested. But there is that passion in our hearts of pleading with people to be saved. Our goal is a culture of evangelism. What does that mean? A culture of evangelism. Max Stiles speaks of communal evangelism where it's a church-wide focus. We're going to hold one another accountable. We're going to strengthen our mutual resolve in evangelism. We're going to learn from each other. How do you do it? How do you do it in the workplace? How do you do in the community? How do you do hospitality? We're going to learn from each other. We're going to rejoice together in successes, and we're going to cry over failures and setbacks. We're going to bond through shared experiences in intense situations. What is a church culture? Isn't culture like shared ideas, shared language, shared behavior patterns, shared experiences, shared expectations? That's what a culture is. A culture of evangelism is motivated by love for Jesus and His Gospel. It's a culture that's confident in the Gospel as the power of God for salvation. We don't need gimmicks, we don't need entertainment, we don't need smoke machines. We don't need any of that stuff, we need the Gospel. We trust in it. It's a culture that understands the danger of this present evil age. A culture that sees people clearly, a culture that pulls together as one, especially in prayer, a culture in which people teach one another what the Gospel is. What is evangelism? What is conversion? How can we best share this Gospel message? That new converts are taught these things, and then they're sent out as messengers themselves. It multiplies. A culture that models evangelism. A culture in which people who share their faith are celebrated and learned from in this church. A culture that knows how to affirm and celebrate new life. A culture that does ministry that feels risky and is dangerous. A culture that understands that the church is the chosen and best method of evangelism in the world. Close with me in prayer. Father, we thank you for the chance that we've had this week, and God willing that we'll have again next week to look at our responsibility in the Great Commission. Help us, Lord, to be faithful. Help us, oh Lord, to be courageous. Help us to be humble and admit our weakness and our failure. Help us to help each other. Help us to ask each other how you're doing in evangelism. Help us to be involved in the summer's “Let's Go program” of going out on Wednesdays and sharing and being trained and doing prayer walking and doing prayer meetings and just being involved. Help us, oh Lord, to be more fruitful and faithful than we've ever been before. And we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

How Christ's Incarnation, Death, and Resurrection make sense of all of history and nature.

A verse-by-verse Bible study class. This study covers Philippians 2:9-11. These studies focus on what the Bible says, and what it means. Topics covered: How Christ's humility leads to the exaltation of Christ -- It is God the Father who exalts Christ, just as it is God the Father who will raise us up -- Jesus exalted to the highest place -- Jesus' name above every name -- The uniqueness of the name of Jesus in the world -- The two aspects of worship: “bowing the knee” (actions), and “confessing with the tongue” (words) -- The importance of verbal acknowledgement of Christ as Lord -- In the end, acknowledgement of Christ as Lord will be universal. For more Bible studies, visit ScriptureStudies.com

Lee Benson discusses and provides scripture commentary for the readings for the 2nd Sunday Ordinary Time, 2024. This episode discusses, explores and examines: - Symbolism and meaning of sleep - Divine calls - How Christ calls us and how we listen to the call of God - Suffering as a call - The Hero's Journey and call to Adventure  - The body and soul as a temple of God - The "eternal question" asked by Jesus Christ to everyone  -- Submit questions to BasicallyRelatedPodcast@gmail.com, and we'll answer them on the podcast! -- You can find the readings here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011424.cfm -- Follow Us: https://linktr.ee/basicallyrelated

How Christ's advocacy should affect the actions of every believer

How Christ in the Lord's Supper Comforts His People1. By divine wisdom2. By divine love3. By divine authority

How Christ in the Lord's Supper Comforts His People1. By divine wisdom2. By divine love3. By divine authority

What do I really believe? Where do I put my faith? These was the question that really got my mind turning in my early twenties... I had no clue what I believed or had faith in... I was so hurt by the church, my family and women, I didnt want to explore the idea of their being a God... it all seemed to painful In this episode, you will hear my testimony about before Christ, the ways God revealed Himself to me and how my life has changed since knowing Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. This talk was done on Nov 11th in Vsetin, Czechia and was hosted by Majak Church. The room was a mixture of Christians and Atheists with a common interest in the english language Here are some of the stories I touch on in my talk: Before Christ Good things about my childhood Hard times with trauma/church What I learned and it's consequences  Addiction, idols and sin (knowing some thing was wrong but not knowing what to do other than work harder) Hostility toward Jesus How God revealed Himself to me Hope in seeing new Christians  Exploring faith and church hopping  Jesus met me - Thyatira story Apologetics, heart conviction, mind shifting Deciding to trust in Jesus — The gospel, the evidence, the experience, the conviction  How Christ has Transformed me Meeting and marrying Helena Revealing and healing my addiction to porn Secret Habit/Ministry Moving to Nova Scotia Becoming a father Convicted to move to Czech  Being in Czech and seeing God moving PS: SO SORRY, the sound quality is not great... but its definitely not bad :)

A new MP3 sermon from Redeemer Free Reformed Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: How Christ meets all our needs as Office-Bearer Speaker: Dr. Joel Beeke Broadcaster: Redeemer Free Reformed Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 11/5/2023 Bible: Luke 22:31-32 Length: 65 min.

How Christ redeemed Anne after horrific trauma and abuse, how her trauma gave her purpose and ambition for Auntie Anne's, and how to stop overcomplicating the presence of God.Links Mentioned:Auntie Anne Beiler on InstagramAuntie Anne BeilerAuntie Anne'sTwist of FaithHe Will Hold Me Fast on YouTubeEmerge Counseling MinistriesCome to the TableDisciplines for the Inner LifeOvercome and LeadJordan Raynor

If I asked you if you've given God full control over your life, would you be able to say yes? On this episode of the Competing for Christ Podcast, we are talking with Mark Ridgley, former NFL and collegiate football coach. Mark has coached at a couple of different places, but most recently coached with the Los Angeles Chargers for a number of years. As we talk with Mark about his coaching career and his life as a Christian in sports, we focus today on giving God the reins of our lives. This is difficult for everyone in this world, as most of us like to keep control over what goes on in our world. Jesus says in the book of John that he is the vine and we are the branches, meaning that we must give Him control so that we can have life and abide in Him. Here are some topics for our conversation today:How Christ has affected Mark's life and his career in sportsHis love for coaching football and what he experienced in the NFLWhat he has learned about giving God the reinsThe struggle between contentment and wanting morePrioritizing Christ in a fast-paced worldhttps://www.competingforchristpodcast.com/Need encouragement or want to come on the show? Text me: (904) 463-5917 Email me: competingforchristpodcast@gmail.com

I. How we take life. II. How Christ brings lifeIII. How we become ambassadors for life

How to learn through your suffering is a concept brought to us all through our karma.    Two things that seem to universally evoke feelings of uneasiness are our inner worlds and the future. What lies beneath the depths of our personalities and our behavioral patterns- the unknowns of our lineage and the roots of our imprints- and our karma is not to be feared, but revered. We are all beings of light, divinity embodied, with the ability to transcend the now into a brighter, sustainable, and spiritually evolved future.    That is the message of our guest, Rita Hraiz, whose mission and purpose is to embody and evoke the essence of our spiritual evolution. Rita supports people through grief and trauma, helping other to shamanically call back the places they have abandoned themselves, to heal addictions, to glimpse and then anchor wholeness in order to experience the great liberation that comes from finally being able to find a way off the emotional treadmill that keeps us locked on the wheel of illusion.   Rita and Debra have a friendship that has spanned decades; they share their remembrances of times past together and in the name of vulnerability they share some deeply personal and human experiences that have brought them to points of their spiritual awakening. As Rita voices through her Mercury in Aquarius and Gemini Rising, pain and suffering is here to pray into it, to bring about the light within us and around us.    This is a deeply transformational conversation, weaving through notions of our karma, past life remembrance, death, and navigating the noise factory that is our psyche to find stillness and our path towards greater purpose. Tune in as Rita and Debra have a very 8th House conversation with the thorough and exquisite excellence that Capricorn Rita embodies- you'll walk away lighter and enlightened. Key Highlights From The Episode How to learn and pray through your suffering The transition of our humanity into “The Light Age” and the prophecies that support it  The importance of balance in our lives and the ways the Universe nudges us for greater balance How Christ energy and the teachings of Buddhism have influenced Rita  Rita's Astrology and transformational Saturn Return story Timestamps [01:52] Introduction of Rita Hraiz with background on her connection to Debra through the decades [04:20] Debra's thoughts on destiny friendships and the connection she and Rita share [05:24] The acknowledgment and invitation of spirit and the sacred [06:26] Debra's prayer for openness  [06:50] Sharing Rita's Astrological chart [08:04] Rita's entrance into life having function and purpose [09:45] Rita stepping into the aspect of dharma and the pull between her 4th and 10th Houses in Astrology [10:57] Rita's work and life mission [12:27] Rita's Capricorn excellence and how Debra has seen Rita's growth over the years [13:01] Debra and Rita's reflections on lineage and rituals [14:43] Cutting through the delusions of this world [16:49] Jumping into this lifetime as The Fool (Tarot card) [17:40] The history of Tibet and the Tibetan people [18:21] We are emanations in a dream spell [19:25] The colored chakra featured on Rita's wall and the message it transmits [20:40] The place beyond this place that exists in peace [20:57] Debra's conversation with her son about the reality of our doom and gloom [21:24] Rita speaks on embracing the suffering and its connection to telepathy [22:06] The most unhealthy thing we can do in this lifetime [22:51] Why Debra lives in Hawaii [23:13] Are you soulful? Here are some clues [23:34] The transition of our humanity and the prophecies that support it [24:34] The opportunity COVID presented to all of us [26:40] The importance of trust in this transition [28:23] What we are being prepared for [31:26] Debra's reflections on the ego and soul and Astrology as the evidence [31:26] Debra's reflections on the ego [32:47] The main takeaway from this podcast [33:33] Thinking back to spiritual experiences 2,000 years ago to now and the next 2,000 years [34:47] Can we invoke our greater light to be the guide? [37:05] Rita's Saturn Return story [44:26] Rita's prayer for people [46:40] A note on mastery and studying Astrology [47:39] Bodhisattva vow [50:09] Praying into the suffering [51:52] Debra shares about her recent dream of being a rebellious kid [53:23] The truth of our mission of being here right now [54:34] What Rita would not want to be without in this life [56:10] Someone in history that Rita would love to have a heart-to-heart with [57:58] “Who else am I madly in love with that I haven't met yet?” [58:56] What Rita sees for the future [1:00:14] Debra and Rita share thoughts on the climate crisis and our collective healing [1:02:29] Rita's closing prayer [1:03:53] Debra's closing remarks and sharing in gratitude with Rita  

Is it difficult for you to see God's grace in the middle of what appears to be a disaster? If you place yourself in the shoes of Christ's followers at His death, burial, and resurrection, they do not see grace. Micah Tyler's song “I See Grace” inspired me to consider what Christ's followers saw instead. Join me as we consider the curse they saw in God's most tremendous expression of grace. In this episode, I discuss the following: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Consult an outside resource Consider the opposite The free one-page PDF Episode Guide to guide your study - Episode 462 Download The empty tomb with the stone rolled away - Mark 16:1-8 The curse we're under without Christ and the curse Christ became - Galatians 3:10-14 The crushing curse for disobeying any of God's commandments - Deuteronomy 28 “We cannot begin to grasp the significance of the cross or the full measure of the love of God without first having some idea of the biblical concept of the curse.” - R. C. Sproul “God's Love: How the Infinite God Cares for His Children” - Amazon Paid Link Considering God's blessing as the opposite of God's curse - Numbers 6:22-26 Unpacking Numbers 6:22-26 in Episode #330 If the blessing is God's nearness, then the curse is measured in terms of God's distance A picture of the scapegoat in Leviticus 16:20-22 The camp symbolizes where the presence of God dwelt The wilderness symbolizes outer darkness Considering the details of Christ's death as it relates to the practice of the scapegoat How Christ had to endure the full measure of the curse Unpacking Isaiah 53 in Episode #370 God was pleased with the redemptive work of Christ God's forsaking of His Son, though necessary, was temporary Luke 23:46 Acts 2:29-33   We look at the cross and see grace. The people of Jesus' day would have seen a curse.     More Than a Song Playlist Additional Resources My new favorite Bible Study Software - Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link This Week's Challenge Take this opportunity to read the crucifixion and resurrection accounts in all four gospels. Then head over to Deuteronomy to consider the magnitude of our curse without Christ. As you look into the empty tomb and see the stone rolled away, meditate on the immeasurable grace on display and worship.

As entrepreneurs, we have to make several crucial decisions. So, in this week's episode, David and Jason Benham join us to tackle the importance of having values associated with a principle statement in your business to make decisions that will result in your company's success. Key takeaways to listen for 00:41 5 core principles your company should have 06:00 Differences and similarities between values and principles 09:25 Importance of having core values and principles in your business 13:25 How Christ-centeredness relates to psychological safety in work Resources mentioned in this episode Do you want to be intentional about giving and making a difference in the lives of others? Go to https://www.investingwithpurpose.org/ to learn more about partnering with Integrity Holdings Group to impact and empower small communities worldwide today! To learn more about real estate investing, visit Integrity Holdings Group to sign up for our 7 Day Passive Real Estate Investing Course (it's free)! Connect with Us Are you interested in joining a community of like-minded individuals who aspire to build true wealth through real estate passive investing? Go to IHG Investor Club to learn more!

Guest: Dr. Gavin Ortlund | Dr. Arnold interviews Dr. Ortlund about his latest book, Humility: The Joy of Self-Forgetfulness. Topics of conversation include, 1) Common misconceptions about humility, 2) How Christ models humility for us, 3) Practical tips for developing humility in the Christian life, 4) Three different contexts for humility, and 5) Resources for further reading on  humility. Dr. Gavin Ortlund holds a PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Ojai in Ojai, California, and is the author of several books, including Finding the Right Hills to Die On: The Case for Theological Triage (Crossway, 2020), Retrieving Augustine's Doctrine of Creation: Ancient Wisdom for Current Controversy (IVP Academic, 2020), and Humility: The Joy of Self-Forgetfulness (Crossway, 2023).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much do we truly know about hypnosis? Should hypnotherapy as an industry be getting more recognition as a proven method of healing? Joining us today for an intriguing conversation is the Founder of Journeys to Heal, Kristine Ovsepian. Kristine began her life's journey in Armenia before her parents immigrated to America with hopes of a better life for her and her brother. She tells us about how she stumbled upon hypnotherapy, why she chose to follow her heart and ignore the doubts of her loved ones, and why she probably wouldn't be working in this field if she was living in her home country. We are then left enthralled as our guest walks us through the misunderstood industry of hypnotherapy, the many different types of hypnosis, how her practice differs from stage hypnosis, and how all we need to do to heal is unlock the true power hidden within ourselves. The greatest war we fight is the one against our own minds, and Kristine explains how fear and a lack of self-love are the root causes of almost all our misgivings. We end the discussion by exploring the correlation between spirituality, religion, and hypnotherapy, and how past-life regression therapy ties into Christianity. We barely scratched the surface in this conversation, and there will definitely be a part two, so be sure to sign up for our newsletter to guarantee your early access!  Key Points From This Episode: Introducing today's guest, the Founder of Journeys to Heal, Kristine Ovsepian.Why Kristine doesn't collect anything anymore. Growing up as an immigrant in America and how she ended up where she is now. How she stumbled upon hypnotherapy as a vocation. Why she decided to follow her dreams even though everyone close to her had their doubts. Reasons that she would never have done hypnotherapy in Armenia. Why hypnotherapy is heavily misunderstood as an industry.What Kristine does, the clients she serves, and how her work differs from stage hypnosis.Exploring the many different forms of hypnosis.How Christ's greatest gift was helping us realize that the power lies within us. Why humanity's greatest war is the one we've waged against our own minds.How fear and lack of self-love are the root causes of most pain, negativity, and anxiety.Past-life regression therapy and how it ties into Christianity.How spirituality is interconnected with hypnotherapy.Sign up for our Small Business Origins newsletter for early access to part two of this conversation!  Tweetables: “I am one of those individuals that can truly say, ‘Follow your dreams; your dreams can make you money.'” — @journeystoheal [0:06:54]  “Once you recognize that there are certain beliefs and behaviors that are detrimental to your life or are hurting you or others in any way, you have the power and responsibility to change it.” — @journeystoheal [0:08:57] “I say we've got to go after the root. Because the root cause of weight gain, emotional eating, [and] smoking is a lack of self-love.” — @journeystoheal [0:19:08] Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: Kristine Ovsepian on Twitter Kristine Ovsepian on LinkedIn Kristine Ovsepian on Instagram Kristine Ovsepian on Facebook  Kristine Ovsepian Email Journeys to Heal  Living Through Choice Small Business Origins Beefy Marketing John Kelley Email Address

A new MP3 sermon from Hopewell Associate Reformed Presbyterian is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: How Christ's Spirit Grew the Churches Subtitle: Acts (2022–2023) Speaker: James Hakim Broadcaster: Hopewell Associate Reformed Presbyterian Event: Sunday - AM Date: 11/20/2022 Bible: Acts 15:36-41; Acts 16:1-5 Length: 66 min.

Reading Hebrews 2:14-18 and understanding How Christ was made like us so that we would be made like Him, knowing that He forgives our sin and brings us to the Father. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!

In this episode, Fr. James Brent joins Jessica to talk about the Sacrifice of the Mass. Jess and Fr. James discuss:How Christ has entered into the Eternal Sanctuary of Heaven and offers Himself to the Father by showing the Father His glorified woundsFr. James explains that the essence of sacrifice is to say, "I'm Yours." Fr. James encourages lay people "play their PART" in the Sacrifice of the Mass by offering God:PetitionAdorationReparationThanksgivingFr. James Brent, O.P., is a priest in the St. Joseph Province Dominican Friars. He is a professor at the Dominican House of Studies and a popular retreat master and preacher. You can listen to Fr. Brent's homilies at his soundcloud site: https://soundcloud.com/james-dominic-brent-o-p 

Many Christians still struggle with condemnation even after they have professed Christ. They battle feelings of unworthiness because of their sins and do not have the courage to speak their Christian testimony. However, the Scripture tells us that we are to live in the power of Christ's redemption. We are to live in the power of His blood; we will boldly testify of His power to transform lives.In this episode of the Revelations Podcast, Pastor Ebony Small joins us to speak about her ministry as an author, speaker and with the Christian youth as Vice President of Pulse Ministries. She tackles the shared struggle with condemnation and the victory that comes with the revelation of Christ's loving redemption.Tune in now to learn more about what the Scriptures say regarding the grace of Christ. Listen to this episode just for you!Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:Understand that we have been redeemed, not condemned.Be inspired to boldly speak our Christian testimony to others.Learn how to cast away the self in surrender to Jesus.ResourcesMore from the Revelations Podcast: Website | Instagram | Apple PodcastConnect with Pastor Ebony S. Small: Website | Instagram | TwitterPulse Ministries: Website | Instagram | FacebookThe American Bible Society - Barna GroupThe Leader In You: Discovering Your Unexpected Path To Influence - AmazonBible Verses:Matthew 15:8-9Romans 8, 12Revelations 12Ephesians 6:13-14Episode Highlights[03:26] How Christ's Mercy Met EbonyEbony was already a Christian, but she was not actively pursuing the Lord.She was 23 years old and was returning home after graduating from college. She was also in a dysfunctional relationship with an unbeliever.Her relationship placed her in a depressive state and created a lot of internal turmoil. She had to acknowledge the hopelessness and the lack of direction in her life.With a sudden desire to open her Bible, she chanced upon Matthew 15:8-9. The passage led to a supernatural experience.Ebony wrestled with her faith for two years, and at 25, she decided to dedicate her life to Christ fully.[08:24] Countering the Culture of CondemnationThe Christian struggles with Satan's daily accusations, making them feel unworthy of being a Christian or part of a church.Revelations 12 speaks about the defeat of Satan, the accuser, so we need to know as Christians we  are called not to condemnation but grace and mercy.The world today operates in the spirit of cancel culture, but Christians are called to counter that culture and speak about the redemption of Christ.Those who have professed Christ as their personal Lord and Savior have been engrafted into a biblical inheritance.Ebony [13:56]: “It is Satan's job to accuse us; that's what he's doing. But it is Jesus' mandate to redeem us.”[14:56] The Power of the Blood of the LambOur sins can only be forgiven through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus.The Old Testament method of atonement is to sacrifice animals on the altar to atone for their sins with the animals' blood.In the New Testament, Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for atonement. Because of this, we are in a constant place of redemption.The power of the blood of the Lamb is made known through the word of our Christian testimony.[16:11] Sharing Your Christian TestimonyPeople often think they are alone in their story, but when you speak of the Christian testimony of your struggle and how Christ liberated you from it, they begin to see the hope in front of them.If you keep your Christian testimony to yourself, you are missing the blessing of witnessing how powerful God can work in people's lives through it.Sharing your Christian testimony requires boldness. It is not easy, but it comes with liberty and encouragement.[19:31] What It Means to Be a Living SacrificeWe are invited to continually die in the flesh to be continually transformed into the image and likeness of God.As you yield more of yourself to Christ, the more difficult it becomes to sacrifice. But God uses our existing desires to be the crucible of our surrender to Him.The process of dying to ourselves can be one of the most challenging experiences, but it produces a greater harvest: a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the Lord.[26:19] Fastening the Belt of TruthEphesians 6 speaks about fastening the belt of truth to help us stand firm when the evil day comes.You cannot fasten the belt of truth without daily meditation upon God's Word.Ebony [27:24]: “Just being a Christian is not enough. But submitting your life to the authority of the Scriptures and causing them to be the standard bearer of who you are and the why of who you are is really what brings forth the change in your life.”The Scripture, reminded to us constantly by the spirit of truth, is our defense against the world's culture, ideologies, and accusations.[30:02] How to Keep Your Eyes on Jesus Every DayDo not dictate your life based on how you feel; what feels good is not always what is correct for you.Me-centered living turns your relationships into transactions where everything is about meeting your needs. God designed relationships to be partnerships where covenants are honored on both sides.Being self-absorbed robs us of the ability to experience the fullness of God's purpose. Instead of to ourselves, let us look unto Jesus and how He is enough to fill us.About EbonyPastor Ebony S. Small is the Vice President of Global Ministries at Pulse. She is a dynamic woman of faith, full of grace and truth, in Christ alone. She likes to minister to the youth and guide them in pursuing a deeper relationship with the Lord. In 2020, Ebony published The Leader in You: Discovering Your Unexpected Path to Influence. The book is about discovering your unique leadership gifts and skills to glorify God and how you can use them to influence the next generations to come. Connect and get to know Ebony through the following: Website | Instagram | TwitterEnjoyed this Episode?If you did, subscribe and share it with your friends!Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then leave us a review. You can also share this with your friends and family. This episode will inspire you to share Christ with the youth just like Ebony did! Boldly speak your Christian testimony, for you are no longer condemned but redeemed!Have any questions? You can connect with me on Instagram.Thank you for tuning in! For more updates, tune in on Apple Podcasts.  

How Christ's example of humility should guide us in the workplace. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1286/29

How Christ's example of humility should guide us in the workplace. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1286/29

Due to technical difficulties, the first part of the sermon was cut off. If possible, please read James 2:1-13 before listening as the sermon starts right at point #1! James - God-Centered Living Through Christ James 2:1-13 - Christ's Countercultural Nature v.1-4: How we view others vs. How Christ views others v.5-7: God's design vs. Culture's designs v.8-13: Our Justice vs. God's Justice

Today on the Follower of One podcast, Mike Henry sits down with Thomas McCoy, the Interim President of the International Christian Network. The International Christian Network is a network for Christians to mobilize and interact with each other and platform. In this episode, Mike and Tom talk about Tom's journey to Christianity, how Christ changed the way Tom works and interacts with coworkers, the International Christian Network, meeting other Christians in the Marketplace, what to expect when someone joins the ICN, how media has changed discipleship and finding other Christians in the marketplace.    Outline of the Episode 0:44 – About Thomas McCoy 2:03 – How Thomas became a Christian 3:23 – Tom's journey through different careers 4:59 – How Christ has changed how Tom works 7:27 – Tom's position at ICN 10:51 – Meeting other Christians in the Marketplace 12:00 – What to expect when you join the ICN 14:02 – How media has changed discipleship 15:28 – What ICN offers to its members 17:46 – Finding other Christians in the Marketplace 18:53 – How to join the ICN   How Christ changes the way you work When you become a Christian in the marketplace, you don't insert Christ into every conversation that you have with coworkers. As Christians, Christ needs to overflow. We need to live in such a way where we don't have to point Christ out in everything we do, to where people ask why we are different.    How Media has changed the marketplace and how we interact with other Marketplace Ministers Media and technology have changed the way that Marketplace Christians interact with each other. It has become easier to connect with communities with other Christians like Follower of One and the International Christian Network. Not only has media changed the way we connect with Christians, but it has also changed the way that we train to disciple and reach unbelievers.    Follow Tom McCoy International Christian Network LinkedIn   Connect With Follower Of One Join us over in our Online Community, get social with us; Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Listen to our podcast on your way to work and subscribe using your favorite podcast app!

Our Sacred Heart series is now available! We got to talk with your host, Fr. John Eckert, to hear about the program, and get some tips on how to better love Christ's Sacred Heart. ✅ Sign up at Good Catholic: https://bit.ly/3HuXhZU 

Thanks for listening!  Please support the Rob Skinner Podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/robskinner. It takes guts to step out on faith.  It takes guts to make a risky, late-career move for Christ.  Rusty and Kim Snell left a successful and comfortable career path in product design in their late fifties and stepped in as the leaders of the Toledo, Ohio church.  In this episode you'll find out: What inspired them to do it How Christ can multiply whatever talents or gifts you offer Him Why they find themselves happiest experiencing Christ's victories and suffering Their plans to build a “healthy spiritual garden” All this and more on the Rob Skinner Podcast

Christ is my firm foundation. He is the rock on which I stand. These are not just great lyrics from Maverick City Music in their song "Firm Foundation (He Won't)," but they're founded in Scripture. Come with me on a journey through God's Holy Word to learn more about our Rock. In this week's episode, I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Make a list Read in context Compare and contrast God does not change and is not impacted by our current chaos Moving beyond powerful lyrics to the deeper truths that inspired them How Christ is our firm foundation - 1 Corinthians 3:11 Christ as the cornerstone - Isaiah 28:16 a tested stone a precious stone a cornerstone a sure foundation How Christ was rejected - Psalm 118 and Mark 12:10-11 What it means that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone - GotQuestions.org Article How we fit it in the building of God as living stones - 1 Peter 2:4-8 Christ as our only foundation - Use Episode 414 as a companion to this week's study - Psalm 62 The use of "Rock" as a proper name for God rather than just figurative descriptions - Deuteronomy 32 Discovering a contrast between our Rock and the rock of pagan culture How we can only declare that our house is built on Christ if we hear His words and do them - Matthew 7:24-27 - use Episode 271 as a companion to this week's study We can only declare that our house is built on Christ if we hear His words and do them.   More Than a Song Playlist Additional Resources Lyrics - NewReleaseToday.com What does it mean that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone? - Got Questions Article Weekly Challenge Explore Christ as our foundation using the Scriptures I've listed in the show notes above. Read and meditate on Psalm 62, where we learn that God alone is our rock and salvation. Don't miss out on what you will learn in Deuteronomy 32 by contrasting the faithfulness of God and His unfaithful people. Finally, commit to building your life on the rock of Christ by doing what He teaches in Matthew 7 -- hear His words and do them.