Podcasts about if jesus

This is part 5 of our response series on The Incarnate Christ and His Critics. Today in our fifth episode in this series critiquing the book, The Incarnate Christ and His Critics, we broach the topic of thrones. If Jesus sits on God’s throne, does that make him God too? If so, isn’t that two Gods? We’ll deal with these kinds of questions while examining throne texts, including Daniel 7.13-14; Psalm 110.1; Revelation 3.21; and Hebrews 1.3. In each case we’ll see how incredibly subordinationist the throne texts are.   Listen on Spotify   Listen on Apple Podcasts —— Links —— Support Restitutio by donating here Check out Will Barlow’s presentation: The Throne Room Problem Check out Susanne Lakin’s presentation: Biblical Anthropomorphism: Evidence of a Unipersonal God Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on X @RestitutioSF Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price. Get the transcript of this episode Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.

How effective are your prayers? Jesus said that if we don't forgive those who have hurt us, our prayers will be hindered. God forgives our sins—and He also forgets them. If Jesus can completely wipe away our sins, can't we forgive others? Today let's bring that person or situation to God and see how it will clear the way to effective, powerful prayer.

John 4:31-32 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat.” But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." In verses 31-38, John let us in on the conversation he and the rest of the disciples had with Jesus while those from the city were on their way to the well. The disciples had returned from the city with the food they went to purchase (vs. 8). Apparently, they were just ahead of the men whom the woman had told about Jesus. They were concerned that Jesus get sustenance for the rest of the journey. Although it isn't mentioned in the text that Jesus either drank or ate, more than likely, He did. But physical water and food wasn't foremost in Jesus' mind; His relationship with His Father was, and John picked up on that for sure. It's always interesting to me to look at Jesus' words and actions through the lens of His relationship with His Father. We know from John 14:9-10 that Jesus is the revelation of the Father. We know that His worldview is that everything that happens comes from His Father with the purpose of making the Father known. So when the disciples say, “Rabbi, eat.” We are to view Jesus' response with what the Father gave Him. Just like with the woman, Jesus redirected their worldly focus, in this case food, to the spiritual focus of being satisfied in doing the Father's will. We are watching what worshiping the Father in spirit and truth looks like. We are seeing Jesus abide in the Father as He lives to love with His Father. We can be encouraged in our living to love with Jesus by following His example. First, receive everything that happens as from the Father. Second, seek your deepest satisfaction in Jesus' love and doing His will. Third, realize that God's purpose in everything that happens in your life is to reveal the living, Lord Jesus Christ, for the glory of God through the Son. The disciples didn't know of this food at the time of this encounter at the well, but we do know that Jesus' food was to do the Father's will, which we will see in the next two verses. I hope you'll be encouraged in your living to love with Jesus by remembering these three foundational worldview truths that guided His life. He lives in you. He still has the same purpose of revealing the Father, for His glory, in and through your life. If Jesus is your life, and His food is to do the will of the Father, then you also will be sustained and strengthened as you do the will of the Father, which is to make Jesus first place in your life (Col. 1:18). Your purpose is to reveal Jesus as you live to love with Him. No one can take that food away from you. You can live in the fullness of Christ as you think like He thinks and abide in Him for the glory of God. Living to love with Jesus is our true food. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

If Jesus needed to be empowered by the Holy Spirit in order to do His Father's business, how much more do we need this anointing today? Check out the video version of today's podcast.  You can check out the full sermon from which I took this clip: The Father's Business. Check out my blog, my other podcasts, my books, and so much more at http://linktr.ee/craigtowens  ►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. ◀︎◀︎

When Jesus said, “She is sleeping,” He wasn't confused—He was showing us Heaven's perspective. In this sermon by Pastor Alex, we explore the story of Jairus' daughter and his unstoppable faith.  If Jesus has power over death, surely He has power over everything you're facing today. Mark 5:35-43, Acts 6, James 5:14-16, Matthew 9:23-26, Luke 8:41, John 14:6, James 2:26   Please follow our websites for more!

"Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy." — 1 Corinthians 14:1 God never meant for spiritual gifts to be optional or forgotten. In this message, we explore why prophecy matters, how it builds the Church, and why desire is the starting point for spiritual maturity. If Jesus paid for more than salvation — why settle for less?

A Sermon for the Second Sunday after Trinity 1 John 3:13-24 & St. Luke 14:16-24 by William Klock Another town.  Another Sabbath.  And Jesus found himself in the synagogue reading the scriptures.  He'd spent the last few days doing the usual Messiah things: healing the sick, casting out demons, proclaiming good news to the poor, calling the people to repentance because God's kingdom was coming.  Some people loved it.  Others hated it.  If Jesus was the Messiah, he sure was doing it all wrong.  St. Luke says some of the Pharisees were determined to trap him.  They lurked everywhere he went, waiting for him to do or to say just the wrong thing that would get him into trouble.  “See!  See!” they want to shout to the crowds.  “He's a fake!”  If they were really lucky, maybe Jesus would do something downright arrestable and he'd end up in jail.  So far, no such luck. One of the leading Pharisees in this town invited him to lunch after the synagogue service.  If nothing else, it would look good to have this popular rabbi in his house, but maybe he'd get lucky.  Maybe he'd catch Jesus breaking the law red-handed.  And lo and behold as Jesus arrived at this Pharisees' house, he met a man whose limbs were swollen with dropsy.  I doubt he was invited.  The rabbis taught that dropsy was the Lord's punishment for secret sexual sins.  But in those days, doors were open, people came and went from banquets.  The poor and needy would show up looking for handouts.  On any other day, this Pharisee might have shooed away the man with dropsy, but not today.  It was a perfect opportunity to see what Jesus would do.  It was a given that Jesus healed the sick—but would he do his messianic doctoring on the Sabbath? But instead of letting himself be put on the spot, Jesus—as he so often did—flips the tables.  He takes one look at the afflicted man, then turns to the Pharisee and his torah-expert friends and puts them on the spot.  “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath or not?” he asked.  They really should have seen that coming.  Now, no matter what they said, they'd condemn themselves.  And so while they stood there looking awkward, Jesus healed the man with dropsy and sent him away.  And then he turned back to the Pharisees and to the lawyers and said, “Suppose one of you has a son—or an ox—that falls in a well.  Are you going to tell me you won't pull him out straightaway even on the sabbath day?”  And, of course, they just looked at him.  They had nothing to say that wouldn't condemn them.  Because if their son or their ox fell in a well, even on the sabbath, of course they'd pull him out. It was hard to hear.  The Pharisees were right about a lot of things. They knew that Israel was supposed to be a bubble of God's light in the middle of a dark world.  They were the people who lived with the living God in their midst.  They were his people, graciously chosen, delivered from bondage, and made holy for just this task: to be light in the darkness.  The Pharisees were zealous for the law because they were grateful for God's grace.  Not all of the people in Israel were as faithful as the Pharisees.  The Pharisees tried to live their lives—even the little things—as if they were in the temple, in the presence of God.  They saw themselves as walking manifestations of God's light and of his kingdom—walking bubbles of what the world is supposed to be like.  And Jesus just exposed them, because as much as they were right on a lot of things, they'd forgotten the most important thing.  The law was about more than do this and don't to that.  It was about loving God and loving neighbour.  It was about showing others the same grace, the same lovingkindness that God had shown to them.  They knew this deep down, but somehow, through the generations, they'd forgotten.  Instead of being a light to lighten those lost in the dark, they were being light to shame and condemn those lost in the dark—and that's not light at all. At this point Jesus had already spoiled the party, so he just kept going.  Luke tells us in 14:7 that Jesus noticed how each guest claimed the best seat he could, so he told them that God's people should, instead, be humble.  “If you go to a wedding and just assume you can sit in the seat of honour, the host is going to tell you to move so the real guest of honour can sit there and you'll look like a fool in front of everyone.  No.  Instead, be humble.  Take the lowliest seat and let your host offer you a better place.” They were starting to figure out what Jesus was getting at.  He said, “Everyone who pushes himself forward will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be honoured.”  They knew this wasn't just about banquets.  Jesus was saying that the way these leaders of Israel were behaving at banquets had become representative of how they thought of themselves in relation to God and to each other.  They acted like God had chosen them because they were special when it was really the other way around: They were special because God had chosen them.  They knew better—just like we do.  They knew God chose Israel because he is gracious.  But they didn't act like it. So Jesus says: If you truly want to represent God and his kingdom, stop thinking so loftily of yourselves, stop avoiding the people who aren't like you and who don't share your status, and start throwing banquets for the crippled, the lame, and the blind.  Rejoice when sinners repent.  Rejoice when God saves the lost.  That's what God has done for you, after all—you've just forgotten. Everyone could feel the tension in the room growing and that's when some poor, clueless soul shouted out, “A blessing on everyone who eats bread in the kingdom of God.”  Maybe he'd totally missed point.  Maybe he was just trying to defuse the situation.  Blessed, indeed, is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God, but who will be there.  That was Jesus' point.  These people were sure they'd be there, but in so many ways the way they acted and the way they saw themselves said otherwise.  They weren't the walking bubbles of the kingdom they thought they were.  For all their holiness, they were really more like walking bubbles of darkness. So in response, Jesus told them another parable.  This is our Gospel today beginning at Luke 14:16. Jesus said, “Once a man made a great dinner, and invited lots of guests.  When the time for the meal arrived, he sent his servants to say to the guests, ‘Come now.  Everything is ready!'  But the whole lot of them began to make excuses.  The first said, ‘I've just bought a field, and I really have to go and see it. Please accept my apologies.'  Another one said, ‘I've just bought five yoke of oxen, and I've got to go and test them out.  Please accept my apologies.'  And another said, ‘I've just got married, so naturally I can't come.'  So the servant went back and told his master all this. As they sat eating what was probably a simple sabbath lunch prepared the day before, Jesus brings to mind an elaborate and expensive feast—the sort of thing that took days to prepare and that cost so much that the man throwing the part would send out invitation months in advance.  And the guests responded, “Yes, we'll be there!” and he made preparations.  So much wine and so much fruit.  So much meat and so much bread.  He arranged for musicians and dancers and other entertainers.  He got his house ready.  He sent his servants around to remind everyone.  And then the day of, he put on his finest clothes, threw open his doors—and no one came.  So he sent his servant out to find out what was up with his guests.  And they all had excuses.  This one bought a field sight unseen and had to go have a look at it.  This one bought a bunch of oxen and just had to try them out.  Another just got married.  Obviously his honeymoon was more important than this man's great feast. Imagine all the effort and expense that this man invested.  It was a huge deal for him.  But no one else cared.  No one else valued all that he had done for them.  Imagine how you'd feel if no one came to your wedding banquet after they all returned their RSVP cards saying they'd be there.  Jesus says the man was understandably angry, but he wasn't going to let all his expense and preparations go to waste. ‘Go out quickly,' he said to his servant.  ‘Go into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.'  ‘Alright, Master,' the servant said, ‘I've done that—but there's still room.'  ‘Well then,' said the master to the servant, ‘go out to the highways and the hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be full!  Let me tell you this: none of those people who were invited will get to taste my dinner.' If his rich friends won't come, he'll invite the poor.  Notice that his servant literally has to bring, to compel them to come to the banquet.  Imagine what the poor people in the town thought at the invitation.  Imagine what the blind beggar sleeping in a ditch thought when this rich man's servant pulled him up and dragged him into a fancy house full of fancy food.  They would have thought it was a joke, at least until they actually got there.  That's why the servant had to compel them to come, because they knew how these things worked.  They didn't belong.  But the rich man brought them in.  He brought them all in.  And they had the time of their lives—and, I think, so did he. Now, Luke doesn't tell us how the Pharisees responded.  In the next verse he jumps to a completely different time and place.  But we know.  We know that this just made them angrier and more hostile to Jesus—not every last one of them, but most of them.  Eventually they'd be angry enough that they'd conspire to have Jesus arrested.  But why did the things that Jesus did and said at that sabbath lunch make them so angry? So remember that the Jews, and especially the Pharisees, were waiting for the Lord's return.  The prophets had talked about that day in terms of a great banquet and this banquet idea then became a common image of the coming Day of the Lord.  Israel's God would return to judge and to cast down the nations (and the unfaithful within Israel—like the tax collectors and the sinner with dropsy) and then he'd throw a great feast for his beloved people.  The closest things they had to describe it was their entry into the promised land, the land of milk and honey, and the prosperous days of King David.  It would be like that, only a thousand times more so.  When Jesus told a story of a man preparing a great feast, everyone listening knew he was talking about the Lord and how he would come to deliver his people and set everything to rights and usher in the age to come—the age when they would feast in his presence.  And now Jesus explains that he's come to throw open the doors to God's great banquet.  This is what Israel has been waiting for all these years.  And yet Jesus rebukes them.  This isn't the first time the Lord has extended his invitation.  For centuries he had called to his people through the prophets, but they had refused to hear the prophets and had even killed some of them.  The Pharisees knew that and they were committed to making sure they didn't do the same thing.  Except that's exactly what they were doing.  This time God has spared no expense.  His people had rejected and killed the prophets.  This time he's sent his own son, who humbled himself to be born in their flesh.  He's travelled through Galilee and Judea, calling everyone to the banquet, but like the people in the parable, they all have excuses. And those excuses.  One man says that he's bought five yoke of oxen sight-unseen and has to check them over.  Another has bought a field sight-unseen and needs to go have a look at it.  The third just got married and has obligations to his new bride.  All three of these excuses have echoes that go back to the law in Deuteronomy.  A man who had built a new house, but hadn't dedicated it yet; a man who had bought a field, but hadn't enjoyed its produce; and a newly married man were all legitimately excused from going off to war.  And now these guests twist those laws as excuses to reject their host's banquet.  But this is what Israel had done with the law: twisting it into something it was never meant to be.  And it's that twisting of the law that was particularly exemplified by the Pharisees.  Jesus didn't meet their expectations of the Messiah.  His banquets included too many sinners, unclean people, and outsiders.  Those were the people that the Pharisees, with their hyper-holiness, left exposed.  The Messiah was supposed to come and feast with people like them, while raining down fire and brimstone on all those unholy people.  And so they scowled as Jesus forgave sins and welcomed home the prodigals.  The Pharisees had gutted the torah of its loving heart and that was profoundly exemplified by their angry glares as Jesus healed a sick man on the sabbath.  There could be no better way to celebrate the sabbath than to dance and sing and glorify God for his lovingkindness, but instead they tisked-tisked and frowned and gave Jesus disapproving how-dare-you scowls.  The angels rejoiced in heaven to see God's mighty works—but here on earth the people most expecting it, the people most longing for it, frowned and disapproved because God didn't do his mighty works according to what they thought the rules were.  That was their attitude towards Jesus' entire messianic ministry.  The banquet had come, but now they wanted nothing to do with it.  And so Jesus warns them: I'm going to take my invitation to the unclean and to the sick and to the poor—and even to the gentiles—and having rejected me, you will have no share in God's new creation.  If I were to let you in, you'd only mess it up—because you don't know what love is. The parable was a warning.  Matthew records it too, and I expect he was thinking of his people, most of whom continued to rejected Jesus even as their judgement day was so close.  But think of Luke.  He was one of those gentiles.  He was one of those poor men, sleeping in a ditch while the rich man prepared his banquet.  Maybe he didn't even know the banquet was going to happen.  He saw the caterers coming and going, wondered what it was all about, but he never expected to be there.  He'd never received an invitation, but more importantly, he wasn't even the right sort of person.  He was a gentile—uncircumcised and unclean.  Jews didn't associate with his sort.  And then the rich man's servant came, woke him up with a kick, and said, “Hey!  My master's thrown a banquet and no one came, so now he's inviting you to know his goodness.”  For Luke, that servant seems likely to have been the Apostle Paul.  And Paul gave Luke a firm gospel shove into the banquet.  And before he knew it Luke was dancing and singing and praising and glorify the God of Israel—the God of those weird, annoying Jews—and this God was like none of the gods he'd ever known.  This God was good and loving and most of all faithful.  And even though Luke, as a gentile, had no right to be at the banquet, he was welcomed in because when he heard about this Jesus, this Messiah who had died and risen from the dead, and he believed and he was caught up in God's great redemptive act of new creation. In fact, this unexpected and undeserved invitation to the banquet so transformed Luke that before too long he joined Paul as they set sail for Europe as gospel heralds—to proclaim to the lordship of Jesus.  A few years later he would join Paul on another missionary journey.  And about ten years after they'd left Troas that first time, Luke would journey with Paul on his final voyage, the one that took him to Rome to appeal his case before Caesar.  And not only was Luke, with Paul, singing the glories of Jesus and the God of Israel through Greece and on to Rome, he also talked to those who had met Jesus and he recorded their stories and wrote his gospel and then followed it up with the book of Acts.  Luke learned profoundly what grace is.  He knew profoundly the love of God.  Because even though he was a foreigner, through Jesus, the God of Israel had made him a son and even poured his own Spirit into him—including Luke in promises he had no natural right to be part of. Brothers and Sisters, Luke is us.  Like Paul hauling him out of the ditch and sending him into the banquet, the Lord's servants have come to us, proclaiming the good news about Jesus, hauling each of us out of our own ditch, giving us a gospel kick in the pants, and (with the Spirit's help) propelling us into God's great banquet.  We need a reminder of this, because we're prone to taking our place before the Lord for granted.  The Pharisees had their way of taking their family status for granted and we have our ways, but however we do it, it always seems to stem from forgetting that whether Jew or gentile, whether we were born into the family or whether we came later, we forget that it is by the gracious lovingkindness of God—who gave his son to die so that we who were his enemies can be here as his sons and daughters.  And when we forget the lovingkindness of God, we tend to become unloving ourselves—just like the Pharisees. Remember how Paul rebuked the Corinthians saying that they could have all sorts of spiritual gifts, but without love, they were might as well just be clanging cymbals?  Well, here's how John puts that same sentiment in today's Epistle—form the third chapter of his first letter: We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the family.  Anyone who does not love abides in death.  Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has the life of the coming age abiding in him.  This is how we know love: [Jesus] laid down his life for us.  And we too ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  Anyone who has the means of life in this world, and sees a brother or sister in need, and closes his heart against them—how can God's love be abiding in him?  Children, let us not love in word or in speech, but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:14-18) Does God's love abide in us?  I think that all too often, we come to the banquet, to the Lord's Table.  We eat the bread and we drink the wine, but we've forgotten the amazing sacrifice of love in which we participate here.  We take the Lord's feast for granted.  Or maybe we eat it for the wrong reasons.  But we find some kind of assurance here, the Table reminds us that we belong to God and to his family, but then we go out into the world—or maybe we even interact with our brothers and sisters here—and instead of being bubbles of gospel light in the darkness, instead of being bubbles of God's future here in the present, we're darkness.  We call ourselves God's sons and daughters, we follow the rules, but there's no love.  We eat the Lord's bread and we drink the Lord's wine and we should be reminded of God's great provision for us, of his great blessings, but we ignore the needy.  Here we're reminded that in Jesus and because of his death on our behalf, we've been given life and have a share in God's new creation, but too often we keep it to ourselves instead of taking it to the highways and hedges.  Here we have the means of life, the gospel, the good news about Jesus, crucified and risen.  We know the gracious lovingkindness of God.  We don't belong here, but he's invited us anyway.  He's forgiven our sins and filled us with his Spirit and given us a promise of new creation.  And we go out to a world in need, people suffering physically and people dying spiritually, and we close our hearts against them. So, Brothers and Sisters, come the Lord's Table this morning and be reminded that in Jesus, God has humbled himself and given his life for our sake.  This is the defining act of love.  But don't just remember.  The Lord's Supper is more than an intellectual exercise.  As we eat the Lord's bread and drink his wine, we participate in that great act of love ourselves.  So be shaped, be transformed by the love of God made manifest at the cross.  Every time you come to the Table and participate in God's perfect love, let it define you more and more.  Abide in God's love and, more and more, let God's love abide in you, that you might truly be a gospel light in the darkness. Let us pray: Father, you delight to show mercy to sinners and you graciously sent your Son to suffer the punishment we deserve.  We have received your grace and have been given new life.  Remind us to set aside all thoughts of self-righteousness.  Give us opportunities now to share your gracious love with others—with each other and with the world, that everyone we encounter may be transformed by your gospel.  We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

John 5:37-38 And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. Today, we are encouraged by the testimony of the Father regarding Jesus. All the miraculous works of Jesus were the Father's validation that He sent Jesus and that He was the Son of God. When Jesus spoke, they were hearing the word of God, but they didn't recognize it. Since they didn't believe Jesus' words, they could not hear God's voice. The voice of Jesus was the voice of God. Amazing! Jesus testified that they had never heard His voice or seen His form. That was Jesus' witness regarding them. He was telling them that they were dead. Let me remind you of what Jesus had said only a few minutes earlier to them recorded in John 5:25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” Even though the time now is that the dead will hear the voice of God and live, they haven't heard and therefore were in a helpless and hopeless condition—dead to God. For everyone who has received life in Christ, there is great encouragement. We believe God sent Jesus. We believe His words are the words of God, and therefore His words abide in us. We who were dead have heard His voice and now live. Hallelujah! Will you rejoice with me today in the amazing grace of God that gave us ears to hear His voice? Jesus told His disciples just before leaving them to go to the Father, John 15:7-8, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” If Jesus' words abide in us, we will ask Him to do what He commands us to do, believe in Jesus (John 14:1) and love with His love (John 13:34). The promise here is that the believing and the love will be done for us so that the Father is glorified in the Son as He does it in us. Remember, He had just said that apart from Him, we can do nothing to produce fruit and glorify God. So our encouragement today is that we have heard His voice, have life in Christ, and may ask for Jesus to live His life in and through us for the glory of God, and we know we will be heard and answered. What hope we have today as we live to love with Jesus! We have the witness of the Father—eternal life in His Son, who loves through us. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

“If Jesus rose from the dead, we accept all that He said; if He did not [rise from the dead], who cares about anything He said?” -  Keller, The Reason for GodOn what basis does Jesus call His disciples?To understand Jesus' teachings, we must realize that deep in our orientations of our spirit we cannot have one posture toward God and a different one toward other people. We are a whole being, and our true character pervades everything we do. We cannot, for example, love God and hate human beings. As the apostle John wrote, "Those who do not love their brother who is visible cannot love God who is invisible" (1 John 4:20). And: "The one who does not love does not know God, who is love" (1 John 4:8). - Willard, The Divine ConspiracyWhat is Jesus talking about?-The Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36) ?-The Second Coming (Revelation 19) ?-The Early Church (Acts)Accomplishments Owed to Christianity-Universal human rights-Body Autonomy-Modern Science-AbolitionHow can you join in the Kingdom of God?

Today,we're continuing to meditate and look atthe scene of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane with His disciples. Remember, Heleft eight of them somewhere—we're not sure where—but took three of them,Peter, James, and John, a little further. Then immediately He told them inverse 40, “Pray that you enter not into temptation.” Now Matthew'sGospel tells us that He also said to them at that time, “Stay here and watchwith Me.” And then He went a little further and fell on His face andprayed.  Weknow that Jesus, when He prayed the first time, said, “Not My will, but Thywill be done,” to the Father, He came back and found the disciples sleeping.Jesus is praying and He asked them to pray. He needs the comfort and assurancethat the disciples are there with Him during His time of trial—His time oflaying down His life, of accepting the cup of sins of the entire humanity. Heneeds that support in prayer. If Jesus needed support in prayer, how much moredo we need support in prayer? Now,these three disciples, instead of praying, all fall asleep. Luke also tells us inverse 45, that He came after He prayed the last time and found them sleepingfrom sorrow. They're overwhelmed with sorrow. Jesus, as He shared the cup ofthe Lord's Supper with them had been telling them, “I'm going to die. This isMy flesh, this is My blood,” and reminded them that the Lamb had to die, and thatHe was the Lamb who was going to die. They're overwhelmed with sorrow. Theyexpected Him to set up His Kingdom, and He's talking about dying. That's why Jesustold them in John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God,believe also in Me.” Jesus saw the trouble in their hearts, the sorrowthat's overwhelming them. But now, instead of praying, they're sleeping becauseof sorrow.  Twoof the Gospels tells us that their eyes were heavy with sleep (Matthew 26:43;Mark 14:40). They were also overwhelmed with just physical tiredness. Andthat's a bad place for us to get into—where we're emotionally, physically,mentally, and spiritually worn out to the point that we cannot pray. The secondtime when He came and found them sleeping, He said to them, “Watch andpray.” In Matthew 26:41, we read that Jesus also said, “that you enternot into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” RememberPeter's declaration just minutes earlier? “If I have to die with You, I willnot deny You.” (Matthew 26:35). Okay—the spirit is willing. Especially whenwe go to church on Sunday morning and hear the message or the Sunday schoollesson, and we get around God's people, we feel strengthened. We feel strong.And we leave saying, “Man, I'm going to serve Jesus this week. I'm going tolive for Him. I'm not going to go back to those old habits and sins that takeme away from Him, keep me from praying, and keep me from getting up andspending time in the Word with the Lord in the morning.” Andyet, as willing as the spirit is on Sunday, Monday morning comes, and the fleshis weak. Or when the trial and the time of temptation comes—my friend, theflesh is weak. It's weaker than we ever imagined. Peter didn't know himself aswell as he thought he did. And neither do we.  Fromthis experience, Peter later writes in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant;your adversary the devil goes about like a roaring lion.” I'm convinced thedevil was out to kill Jesus there in the Garden of Gethsemane—to keep Him fromthe cross. I mean, the bastions of hell surrounded Jesus as He goes to thecross (Psalm 22:12-13). But Jesus is prepared, He prays three times. He praysand yields in obedience to the will of the Father. The disciples? What are theydoing? Sleeping.So,when the moment of temptation comes, what happens with Peter and the disciples?They all forsake Him and flee. Jesus stands strong, yields Himself as a Lambgoing to the slaughter, and goes with the soldiers to be crucified.

The empty tomb changes everything. When Jesus conquered death through resurrection, He didn't just complete His earthly mission - He transformed human existence itself by proving that death has lost its ultimate power.In this deeply meaningful exploration of Mark 16, we confront the varied reactions to Jesus' resurrection. The women fled in fear. The disciples refused to believe. Even after multiple eyewitness accounts, many remained skeptical until personally encountering the risen Christ. This pattern of initial disbelief followed by life-altering conviction mirrors how many people respond to resurrection claims today.But what made the disciples willing to later face torture and execution without recanting? What transformed these frightened followers into bold witnesses ready to die for their testimony? Only the undeniable reality of having seen, touched, and spoken with the resurrected Jesus can explain such extraordinary commitment.The theological implications stretch far beyond mere historical curiosity. As Paul writes, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile." The resurrection validates Jesus' claims about His identity, demonstrates His power over death, and guarantees the future resurrection of all believers with glorified, imperishable bodies. It's the firstfruits promise that transforms our understanding of both life and death.This resurrection hope provides profound perspective when facing life's greatest challenges. If Jesus conquered humanity's ultimate enemy - death itself - then what problem in your life could possibly be too great for Him to overcome? The empty tomb reminds us that God's power extends beyond any limitation we might imagine.Jesus' final commission calls believers to share this good news throughout the world, a mission that continues today. His ascension to sit at God's right hand confirms His royal authority, the completion of His redemptive work, and His promise to return as King.Have you encountered the risen Christ? Has the reality of resurrection transformed how you view your problems, your future, and your purpose? Join us in discovering the power and hope found only in the One who conquered death.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

In this episode of Tiny Pulpit Talks, Rev. T.J. FitzGerald and Rev. Beth Dana dive into the theological roots and modern-day relevance of Universalism within Unitarian Universalism.

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”John 18:37The goodness of God is so boundless that no mind can grasp it, no tongue declare it. To know Him is to worship, for His attributes are not just mighty—they are lovely.Ulrich ZwingliThe divine attributes are not separate parts of God; they are how He is. And this God—eternal, infinite, unchanging—is the most beautiful being that ever was or could be.A.W. TozerGod's attributes are the beams of the sun of His nature. Is He wise? His wisdom draws admiration. Is He powerful? His power begets awe. Is He holy? His holiness evokes reverence. The perfection of all His attributes makes Him infinitely beautiful.Thomas WatsonKingAuthority: the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”John 18:33-38Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews[a] answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. John 19:1-11‘Any one might make himself king by putting himself at the head of a band of rebels whom he fell in with.'Josephus, 4 B.C.These [rebels] were the only types who would be foolish enough to claim to be the King of the Jews in the face of Roman domination. Pilate had seen these kinds of men before, and knew Jesus was not like them.David GuzikWhen the kingship of Jesus is misunderstood: Worldly power is OVERestimatedGod's power is UNDERestimated Worldly Power is OVERestimatedPilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews[a] answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?”John 19:6-10The same man who claimed to have all power tried to wash his hands of the decision (Matthew 27:24) claiming, “I didn't really want to do this.”GuzikGod's Power is UNDERestimated11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. John 19:11What happens when we understand Jesus is truly king? We find true power in: HIS VOICE37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”John 18:33-38HIS AUTHORITY36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”John 18:36SUMBISSION33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”John 18:33Whose authority are you under?"If Jesus is King, then there is no part of our lives—no politics, no finances, no relationships—that He does not claim with authority and grace."Tim Keller

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Mark Maple from Kokomo, IN. Your partnership with us through Project 23 is helping people find the answer to the most important question that still demands an answer. This study is for you. Our text today is Mark 8:27-30: And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. — Mark 8:27-30 Jesus comes with his disciples to Caesarea Philippi—a place known for temples, idols, and false gods. And in the shadow of this spiritual confusion, he asks the most defining question of all time: "Who do people say that I am?" They answer with the popular responses. It's what all the headlines proclaim: "John the Baptist. Elijah. A prophet." Opinions swirled then, just like now. But then Jesus turns to the more personal question: "But who do you say that I am?" This isn't a theology test. It's a heart check. It's not about reciting what others believe. It's about declaring their beliefs. And Peter, with clarity and courage, answers: "You are the Christ." The Anointed One. The Messiah. The fulfillment of every promise. Peter was right to answer this way because this is the most important question he would ever answer. But it's also the most important question we could ever be asked and respond to: "Who do you say Jesus is?" And when asked, you can't hide behind a parent's faith. Or echo your pastor's voice. Or repeat what Christian culture says. Eventually, you must give your answer. Not just with words—but with your life. If Jesus is truly the Messiah, then he must be the Lord of all. Not just a one-time Savior. Not just a once-in-a-while helper. Not just there to rescue you from your mistakes. But Lord of all you life. Lord of your time. Lord of your thoughts. Lord of your decisions. And you must serve him. This confession would alter the rest of Peter's life. And it will change yours, too. But Jesus cannot just be a one-time Savior. He must be a Lord who has complete leadership of your life. If you question the answer to the question—surrender it all to him today. #JesusIsLord, #Mark8Devotional, #ChristConfession ASK THIS: How would you answer Jesus' question today? Why do people hesitate to call Jesus the Christ? In what areas of your life is Jesus not yet King? What does it look like to confess Christ with action, not just words? DO THIS: Write your answer to Jesus' question: “Who do you say that I am?” Then, pray it out loud. PRAY THIS: Jesus, You are the Christ—my Savior and King. Help me live today in a way that reflects that confession with boldness and faith. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Christ Is Enough.”

What if I find the flood kind of offensive? What if it makes me uncomfortable? If Jesus is kind and forgiving, how can God just end everybody? Lindsay Schott joins me to explore the flood narrative, where God grieves over human wickedness but also offers mercy through rescue. Lindsay shares how God transformed her judgy heart and gave her more compassion, and we talked about how trust is admitting God knows more than we do. Guest: Lindsay SchottBible Passage: Noah and the Flood - Genesis 6-9Get your Free Resource: 20 Page WorkbookRecommended Resources: Check out TeachEquip.com. Check out Shannon's Amazon Storefront HEREResound Media Network: www.ResoundMedia.ccMusic: Cade PopkinLindsay SchottLindsay Schott is a watercolorist, Women's Ministry Teacher at Stonegate Church and co-founder of Teach Equip. She has a passion for women to know the scripture and to experience deep transformation in relationship with Jesus and others. Lindsay is also the co-author of Trying: Reflections on Faith Through Infertility, Miscarriage, and Loss. She and her husband, Landon, live in the Dallas area with their four children, Hannah, Ruby, Piper and Ben. You can see Lindsay's watercolor work at lindsayschott.com and see her creative journey on Instagram @lindsayschottwatercolor.  Connect with Lindsay:WebsiteFacebookInstagram Visit www.shannonpopkin.com/promises/ to learn more about my six-week Bible study with Our Daily Bread, titled, "Shaped by God's Promises: Lessons from Sarah on Fear and Faith." Learn how you too can be shaped by the promises of our faithful God. Visit ComparisonGirl.com and get the answers both she and you need in my new book, Comparison Girl for Teens: Thriving Beyond Measure in a World That Compares. Conversation starters, quizzes and more. Learn more at ShannonPopkin.com.

Wednesday, 25 June 2025   As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Matthew 11:7   “And these going, Jesus, He began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What you went out into the wilderness to view? A reed wavering by wind?'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus finished His words to the disciples of John, saying, “And blessed, he is, who if not he should stumble in Me.” Matthew next notes, “And these going.”   It is referring to the departure of John's disciples, carrying Jesus' words back to him. As they are departing, “Jesus, He began to speak to the crowds about John.”   This is specifically noted by Matthew to ensure that we can see what transpired. The words of Jesus about stumbling would have left John with a negative feeling about his ministry and his efforts. He would feel that he had failed the Lord, and prison was his just due because of it.   Likewise, any in the crowd who heard it, including the disciples, might come to an erroneous conclusion about John. They may laugh off his ministry as a failure, shun his message, look down on him for having been so weak, etc.   Any such thing may come to the minds of the people. Jesus, not wanting anyone to assume they were somehow better than John, or that his ministry was a failure, will speak about him to correct such thoughts.   And He is doing it while the disciples are departing. Thus, these would be the last words they would hear and carry to John. As such, Jesus begins with, “What you went out into the wilderness to view?”   It is a probing question. The people went out in the wilderness to see John, but what was the impetus behind it? Curiosity? Looking for enlightenment? Freedom from a day of boredom? Each person went out for his own reasons. Jesus wants them to consider their reasoning.   The word Jesus uses, theaomai, indicates to look closely at, notice, view, etc. It is the root of théatron, a spectacle in a theater, something one carefully sees and contemplates.   The fact that they had gone out into the wilderness to see John and that they were now there with Jesus meant that the connection between the two was likely the reason why they were now with Jesus. As such, Jesus next asks, “A reed wavering by wind?”   Here are two new words. The first is kalamos, a reed. This is a general word for reed which includes a reed such as the one mentioned now, and which would have grown in regularly flooded areas. This would probably include types of reeds from tall grass to stronger reeds like cane.   This can be deduced from other uses of the word where this same word describes a reed used to beat Jesus (Matthew 27:30), to put a sponge doused with vinegar on it to give Jesus a drink (Matthew 27:48), as a pen (3 John 1:13), and as a measuring rod (Revelation 21:15).   The word corresponds to the Hebrew word qaneh, a reed or a cane, which is translated at times as calamus, a sweet-smelling fragrance derived from cane.   The second new word is saleuó, to waver. It is used to describe agitation, something shaken, etc. Figuratively, it can signify being disturbed (shaken) in the mind, such as in 2 Thessalonians 2:2. In this verse, it signifies the wavering of reeds as the wind blows across them.   The intent of Jesus' question is to alleviate any perceptions by the people that maybe Jesus felt John may have been a vacillator or unsure of his teachings. He did not want such a thought to arise in their minds. This is all the more likely because people in general, including Israel as seen in the Bible, are just like this.   It is a common trait among people to waver and vacillate. Single reeds do not normally pop up. Rather, they come up in clumps or even thick lines. The wind will blow over them and they will all waver. Thus, it would be a common trait possessed by the people that they may have now thought John possessed as well. Jesus will correct this thinking.   Life application: Of this verse, Bengel states, “The world praises to the face, reviles behind the back.” The people went out to see John. They probably felt his words were sound and reasonable. In fact, that idea is seen in the comparable passage to this one in Luke 7:29. After hearing Jesus' words about John, they “justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.”   But would they have done so if Jesus hadn't corrected their thinking first? People tend to hear things and then respond according to what the speaker is saying without really thinking things through, especially when gathered in crowds. If Jesus had said, “John was a great guy, but he really let the ball drop,” the people would have agreed and reviled John from that point forward.   Instead of justifying God, they would justify themselves. “Yeah, we left John for Jesus because John was a failure!” This is how fickle humans can be. A great example of this is when Paul and Barnabas spoke to the people in Lystra. In one breath, they were calling them gods. In the next, they were preparing to stone them.    It happened again to Paul on Malta, where the people called him a murderer and a few minutes later a god. Jesus is setting the stage to explain the importance of John's ministry while at the same time getting the people to see that they need to be careful in quick, rash judgments about things.   As we read the Bible, we should allow it to mold us to be people who are steady, clear-thinking, and willing to justify God rather than ourselves. We are the ones who are easily swayed. God's purposes and plans are unchanging and unwavering. How He presents them (such as in various dispensations) is what we need to learn so that we don't come to faulty conclusions about what He is doing.   Glorious God, help our minds to be clear and unvacillating as we consider Your word. When we see things that seem contradictory, we can know it is not so because You are God, unchanging and reliable. Therefore, the perception is faulty on our part. As this is so, help us to contemplate and understand what we are unclear about. Help us in this, O God. Amen.  

Is the Eucharist cannibalism? Why is the Precious Blood sometimes withheld from the laity? In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, we respond to common misunderstandings and explore the deep theology behind Catholic beliefs. Learn how to explain the Eucharist to skeptics, understand the Church's teaching on the Sacrifice of the Mass despite Christ's once-for-all death, and explore the scriptural, theological, and historical support for the Assumption of Mary. We also tackle the question of whether God calls all Christians to become Catholic. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 20:50 – How can the Catholic teaching on the Eucharist be explained to clarify that it is not cannibalism? 29:33 – What are the theological and historical arguments for the bodily Assumption of Mary? 36:17 – If Jesus died once for all sin, why does the Church continue to offer the Sacrifice of the Mass? 45:03 – Is God calling all Christians to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church? 49:05 – Why is the Precious Blood of Christ sometimes withheld from the laity during Communion?

Audio Download Questions Covered: 20:50 – How can the Catholic teaching on the Eucharist be explained to clarify that it is not cannibalism? 29:33 – What are the theological and historical arguments for the bodily Assumption of Mary? 36:17 – If Jesus died once for all sin, why does the Church continue to offer the […]

Tuesday, 24 June 2025   And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” Matthew 11:6   “And blessed, he is, who if not he should stumble in Me” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus provided John's disciples with a list of things the Messiah was prophesied or anticipated to do, expecting them to hear and see if what He was doing matched what was anticipated. Next, he says, “And blessed, he is.”   It is the same word, makarios, that Jesus used nine times between Matthew 5:3 and Matthew 5:11 while proclaiming the beatitudes. As such, it doesn't appear this is a direct appeal to John's heart nor a subtle but tender rebuke to him. Rather, it appears to be a general statement intended for anyone who heard the words that discernment concerning Him and His role was needed.   Those things stated in the Beatitudes stand as much as a warning as they do a promise of hope. To say, for example, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy,” implies that those who are not merciful will not obtain mercy. If Jesus' words here follow that tone, the next words stand as an opportunity for blessing or judgment. Those words are, “who if not he should stumble in Me.”   Again, He returns to a word used twice during the Sermon on the Mount, skandalizó. It signifies to entrap, and thus to trip up. Jesus is saying that a person who is not tripped up because of Him and how He conducts His ministry will be blessed. The one who is tripped up will then, by default, not be blessed.   John was in the process of getting tripped up because he heard of what Jesus was doing for the people while he languished in prison. He assumed that the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the Messiah meant all of the prophecies for all of the people.   However, it is apparent after the fact that this was not the case. For example, Acts 3 refers to a man who was lame and who was left at the gate of the temple called Beautiful. It says he was carried there daily, implying this was an ongoing thing for an extended period. Jesus surely would have walked by him, and yet, he wasn't healed.   That man's healing after Jesus' ascension served its own purpose, though. John was myopically looking at the events around him and comparing them to his own situation, and his mind was not rightly processing how Jesus was conducting His messiahship.   Life application: A similar statement could be made today concerning those in the church in relation to Jesus' words in this verse. The Bible is written. It has various truths in it which we are to consider immutable. It holds the instruction for numerous doctrines we are to consider inviolate. It presents various theologies we are to understand and consider as infrangible.   For example, the Bible presents the understood theology that Jesus is God incarnate. To accept that would be worthy of blessing. To reject it, then, would not be acceptable. The Bible instructs us concerning the doctrine of end-time events.   If Israel of the tribulation period is the Israel who has returned to the land today, to reject that would mean there is no blessing for holding to such a doctrine.   Likewise, the Bible presents the truth that man is created in God's image and that all men stem from one man, Adam. This reveals a further truth that Adam was... anyone? Yes, Adam was created. As such, to believe that one race is superior to others or that evolution is true will carry with it no blessing. These things are incompatible with what the Bible presents.   Despite there being a mentally exhausting number of truths, doctrines, and theologies in Scripture, do we want to ignore them and remain uneducated in our Christian lives? Do we want to be inaccurate in what we believe because we trusted a pastor or preacher, or a denomination's teachings, without checking?   How important is it to you to want to know God more intimately and fellowship with Him more closely? Are you happy to stand in a church spewing out gibberish and claiming it is speaking in tongues? Does that satisfy your deepest desires to impress God and others?   Think! We have the word of God written and ready to be studied. Is it more important to watch a second movie in the evening, or will one suffice so that you make time for the word? Where are your priorities? Put God first by learning about Him and His wonderful message of love and life guidance for you.   Lord God Almighty, surely Your word is big, complicated, and will require a lot of our time and mental exertion to grasp. But China built a great wall, the Egyptians built humongous pyramids, and we have sent men to the moon. Can't we expend our efforts on searching out Your word? What value is human endeavor if You are not included in it? Help us in our pursuit of You through the study of Your word. Amen.

If Jesus is who he says he is, it changes history. And that's something worth sharing. Because not only did he say he was the Son of God, but he lived it out, too. This week, Charles Tapp continues with the third part in his series Why I Believe In...as he examines and shares why he believes in Jesus.

Ever wonder what true faith really looks like?Kyle Norman explores how faith isn’t just something we hold—it’s something we do. Meeting the risen Jesus transforms lives radically, like it did for Saul, Ananias, and Peter. Through their stories, we see Jesus calling each of us to a new way of living marked by grace, change, and bold love.

A showdown between the Son of God and the grave—and spoiler alert: Jesus doesn't lose. In this electric sermon, guest pastor Nolan Tjaden unleashes 7 hard-hitting lessons from John 11 that will shake you out of apathy, fire up your faith, and show you what happens when Jesus walks into death's domain. You'll realize your darkest moments are not the end—they're the setup for God's glory.This message is for:Anyone drowning in grief, depression, or fearAnyone tired of playing it safeAnyone who's ready to live (and die) with spiritual authority ⚡

Send us a textA celebration of the 70th anniversary of Christ Church Memphis. In Pastor Paul's sermon, he asks: If Jesus walked through your church today, would He find faith on fire—or fading embers? One letter in Revelation may hold the answer.HOME | PLAN YOUR VISIT | BLOG | DIGITAL BULLETIN

The Gospel of Luke is the most detailed and comprehensive account of Jesus' life, revealing how He reached people from all backgrounds with His message of hope and salvation. Throughout this series, we explore how Jesus interacted with the outcasts, the religious, the rich, and the poor—demonstrating that He came to seek and save the lost. No matter who you are or where you come from, Jesus is for everyone.Join us as we walk through Luke's Gospel, uncovering its powerful themes and life-changing truths. Whether you're new to faith or a longtime believer, this series will deepen your understanding of who Jesus is and what His message means for you today.Subscribe for more! Don't miss an episode—follow along on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform as we explore Jesus for Everyone.Reflection Questions:Where have you been tempted to give up on prayer, and what would it look like to persist in faith instead?Are you approaching God with honest confession, or are you still trying to prove yourself with spiritual performance?In what areas of your life are you still trying to rely on your own strength instead of depending on your Father like a child?If Jesus returned today, would He find you praying with persistence, penitence, and dependence?

Here we have Jesus' answer to the Jews who were persecuting Him for healing on the Sabbath. John 5:17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” Later in John 14:10-11, John recorded very similar words from Jesus explaining His union with His Father and His Father's working. “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.” Jesus lived to work with the Father. If His Father was healing on the Sabbath, then Jesus spoke the words. Did you notice in John 14:10 that when Jesus spoke, the Father worked? That's how the lame man was healed. Jesus spoke, not from His own initiative, but from His Father's, “Get up. Take up your pallet and walk.” Then God did His work and healed the man. Jesus constantly abided in the Father, meaning, He lived for the same purpose the Father did, which was to love for the glory of the Father, and He thought and spoke as the Father thought and spoke. This is the live to love with Jesus encouragement from this verse. We should be able to say the very same thing. We have Jesus abiding in us, and as we abide in Him, meaning, as we live with His purpose and think and say what He says, then Jesus does His works. If Jesus is speaking or working in any given moment, then we receive what He gives us and express His presence and power through our words and actions. We trust He will do the work as we receive and give. That's what it means to live to love with Jesus. Just as Jesus received from the Father and then gave what He received, we receive what the Father gives us through Christ in us and then give what we receive. Another important encouragement from this verse is implied. Jesus lived for the glory of God and not man. Even though Jesus knew He would not receive the glory from men if He healed the man on the Sabbath, He was most satisfied in glorifying His Father by doing His will. This encourages us to not seek the glory of men as we live each day, rather we seek the glory of God, and the way to glorify God is to live to love with Jesus. When Jesus is loving, we are loving. When we are loving, Jesus is loving. We are one with Him for the glory of God. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

Lazarus has died, and his family went through the entire process of burying him. In the midst of their grief, Jesus tells the disciples that He is glad that He wasn't there to stop Lazarus from getting sick and dying. NOW was the time for Jesus to strengthen their faith! When facing a Lazarus situation, the enemy will try to cloud your mind with emotions and thoughts that God could have stopped it. But what if we peel back those emotions and thoughts, and receive Jesus's red letters for the truth that they are? What if God needs our faith strengthened for what is to come? If Jesus hadn't resurrected Lazarus, would the disciples and Mary and Martha believed that Jesus would resurrect after His crucifixion?   Monologue: Autumn shares advice she was asked for by a young man about raising children.    Message: Autumn visits the red letters of Jesus when Lazarus died in John 11.     Testimony: A listener shares how God clearly orchestrated their last baby for them.   Bible References John 11:1-12; 2   Links from the show BOOKS: www.autumnmiles.com/resources SPEAKING: www.autumnmiles.com/speaking MERCH: autumnmiles.square.site   Sponsors: NuWell Online Christian Counseling https://nuwellonline.com/ Purpose Jewelry https://purposejewelry.org code AUTUMN2024   If you have a suggestion for the ministry, a question for Autumn, a testimony to share, or other inquiry for the Autumn Miles Ministries, click here and fill out the form, or send us an email at hello@autumnmiles.com    Join us on social media! Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheAutumnMiles/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/autumnmiles/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AutumnMiles   Click here to join our weekly and monthly newsletters and get updates on our podcast and exclusive content! If you feel led to give to the Autumn Miles Ministries, click here to donate. Thank you for supporting Autumn Miles Ministries!

Michael, Debi & Nathan Pearl answer these questions from viewers:(00:00) Start(00:58) Generational curses(06:45) Is the AIDS virus judgment from God?(17:58) Is my teenage daughter being influenced at her job?(32:24) Should my children have unchristian friend?(37:46) What is the appropriate age to wean a child?(51:18) Could the antichrist be saved?(54:51) If Jesus washed my sins away, what will we be judged for?(59:38) Can women be delivered if they do not have children?(1:10:23) How can I teach other kids at my church to stop making messes at home?

Hosts Pastor Robert Baltodano and Pastor Lloyd Pulley Question Timestamps: Diane, ID (3:38) - What should I think about Derek Prince's teachings? Can demons possess Christians? Can you recommend any resources for spiritual warfare? DM316, YouTube (9:17) - Is open air preaching a specific calling that some people have? What advice would you give to those who feel called or drawn to that kind of ministry? John, PA (12:08) - Why does God cast the demons into the pigs? John, NY (14:17) - Can you help me find a Bible believing church in Saint George, New York? Mike, NJ (16:18) - Is it true that if you get divorced and remarry, you are committing adultery for life? What about leaders in situations like Michael Tait? Calvary Young Adults Q&A (25:45) - How do I stop watching pornography? Carl, NH (33:50) - Recommending an audio Bible for people who have poor vision. Nelsun, Facebook (35:36) - Is it okay to consume media from former Christian authors and artists? Specifically someone like Josh Harris? Jason, SC (37:45) - When did the world switch over to the BC and AD calendar? Carlos, NJ (40:58) - I need to repent of a sin that my wife convicted me of. How do I do it? Demetrious, KY (44:13) - If Jesus forgives us, then why are all of our actions written down and recorded in the Book of Life? Tara, NJ (50:05) - What happens to people that are born far away from Christians and don't ever hear the Gospel? Ask Your Question: 888-712-7434 Answers@bbtlive.org

Saturday, 14 June 2025   And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. Matthew 10:38   “And who not, he receives his cross and he follows after Me, not he is worthy of Me” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that those who love son or daughter more than Him are not worthy of Him. He now elevates the thought further, saying, “And who not, he receives his cross.”   In His words, the stauros, cross, is introduced. The word is derived from the base of the verb histémi, to stand, set, establish, place, etc. Of the word, Strongs says, “a stake or post (as set upright), i.e. (specially), a pole or cross (as an instrument of capital punishment); figuratively, exposure to death, i.e. Self-denial.” A lengthier explanation is provided by HELPS Word Studies –   ...the crosspiece of a Roman cross; the cross-beam (Latin, patibulum) placed at the top of the vertical member to form a capital "T." "This transverse beam was the one carried by the criminal" (Souter). Christ was crucified on a literal Roman cross ... ("cross") is also used figuratively for the cross (sacrifice) each believer bears to be a true follower-of-Christ (Mt 10:38, 16:24, etc.). The cross represents unspeakable pain, humiliation and suffering – and ironically is also the symbol of infinite love! At the cross, Jesus won our salvation – which is free but certainly not cheap! For more discussion on the untold suffering of Christ on the cross see ... /stauróō ("to crucify on a cross"). [The "cross" (Mk 8:34) is not a symbol for suffering in general. Rather it refers to withstanding persecution (difficult times), by the Lord's power, as He directs the circumstances of life. As Christ's disciples, believers are to hold true – even when attacked by the ungodly.]   As this is the first mention of the cross, something Jesus knew He would eventually have to suffer the torture of, His thoughts probably went forward to that moment and contemplated what He would endure for those gathered around Him. Of this, however, Vincent's Word Studies probably takes that point too far, saying –   “This was no Jewish proverb, crucifixion not being a Jewish punishment; so that Jesus uses the phrase anticipatively, in view of the death which he himself was to die.”   Though not a traditional Jewish punishment, it was a common one within the empire. As Israel was ruled by the Romans, everyone would know full well the meaning of the saying. In essence, it had by default become a Jewish saying as much as a Roman saying.   As noted in the explanation by HELPS Word Studies, those with Him would have understood this as a metaphor for withstanding persecution. Saying “his cross” makes the situation personal. Each person hearing the gospel could expect to face his own personal cross when accepting the message. Understanding this, He continues with, “and he follows after Me, not he is worthy of Me.”   Jesus was essentially bearing a cross, a state of persecution. The apostles would have seen this with each city they visited as He received blowback from the Pharisees, Sadducees, and others who constantly came against Him and His teaching. His words are telling them that they, too, would face this type of persecution as they went out.   This is the point of the instruction He is giving to them. They are being commissioned to go to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. When they speak, they will be persecuted for it. And more, those who hear and accept should expect this as well. There will be a cost to accepting the message that Jesus is the Messiah. He is telling them this in advance.   Life application: There are various views on what Jesus' cross was like. Some say it was an upright pole with a beam on top like a capital T. Some have it as an upright pole with a cross beam somewhere in the midst of the pole, like a small t.   The Jehovah's Witnesses call it a “torture stake” and say that it was a single upright pole with one's arms affixed above the head and the body hanging down below that. The Hallelujah Scriptures say Jesus was impaled on a stake. There are other forms of crucifixion, but these are the ones generally provided. Is there a way to tell which is correct? The answer is, “Yes. There is a way to tell. Check Scripture.”   Jesus was not impaled. Twice, the notion of Him being nailed to the cross is stated –   “Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.' So he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.'” John 20:24, 25   “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:13-15   Did Jesus die on a “torture stake?” No. He did not. It says in Matthew –   “And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Matthew 27:37   If Jesus was crucified on a stake, Matthew would have said “over His hands,” not “over His head.” That leaves the big T and the little t. Which is it? The answer is a little t. If Jesus were crucified on a big T, the sign could not be over His head. Therefore, the standard little t is what Jesus died on after being nailed to it.   In Israel, there are Christian baptismal fonts (Jewish mikvehs) that have been found in the shape of this cross. The standard cross has been accepted since the earliest days as the one on which Jesus died. The main question is whether He carried only the lintel or the entire cross to His death. That can be argued over, but the shape of the cross, once erected, is clearly identifiable from Scripture.   But this should be no surprise. The shape of the cross is actually seen in Old Testament types and pictures as well. Though too long to include such a study here, it was clearly identified long before.   The question that should arise in our minds is, “Why do people try to change what has always been accepted as Jesus' type of crucifixion into something else?” The reason seems obvious when considering the source. People like the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Hebrew Root Movement adherents are heretics.   In order to draw people away from traditional Christianity and set orthodoxy, they introduce destructive heresies to confuse those who do not check things out, pulling them away from sound doctrine while drawing them to their own perverse instruction.   “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14   Lord God, thank You for the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

Friday, 13 June 2025   He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Matthew 10:37   “The ‘affectionating father or mother' above Me, not he is worthy of Me. And the ‘loving son or daughter' above Me, not he is worthy of Me” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus said that a man's enemies will be the members of his own household. Having said that, He next builds upon that thought, saying, “The ‘affectionating father or mother' above Me, not he is worthy of Me.”   The words are based on what He said in verse 35. He noted that He had come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, etc. He would become the main Subject of the individual's life. The allegiance to Him would be greater than to even such a close relationship.   If it were not so, it would mean that the person had set a member of the family over Him. But, as will be seen in verse 40, receiving Him means something else is involved that disallows such a notion. To further enforce this thought, He continues with, “And the ‘loving son or daughter' above Me, not he is worthy of Me.”   The natural affections for one's child are normally exceedingly strong. They are an extension of who we are, and our children are a product of all the time and effort we have put into them. Parents generally would put their children above their own lives. And yet, Jesus tells them that someone who would do this is not worthy of Him.   Again, the reason for this is based on who He is in reality. There are people who might make such statements but who are just cult leaders leading the blind to destruction.  However, if Jesus is who He claims to be, and if He is coming on behalf of God, then such an allegiance to Him must be the highest priority in one's life.   Life application: The thought presented in this verse can be summed up in the question, “Who do you say Jesus is?” If Jesus were like the leader of North Korea, He would have demanded submission from those under Him and ruled them with an authoritarian hand, caring little about their lives.   If He is like Jim Jones or David Koresh, leaders of religious cults, He would have looked to benefit from their allegiance, taking their possessions and money and even their wives as His own. In the end, He would have led them to destruction and separation from God.   However, despite noting that those who follow Him must make Him the highest priority in their lives, He doesn't threaten them, benefit personally from their labors, or order them into submissive lives. Jesus gave (and gives) free will to those who come to Him. Peter was allowed to stray, but Jesus did not permanently reject him.   And for those who have died in the cause of Jesus Christ and His gospel, there is still the sure hope of the resurrection and glory to come. None of those who come to Him will be lost. These are guarantees that other leaders cannot give.   Think of all of the waste of human life of those who have followed false religions and false teachers. They have exerted their efforts in life, been led down a false path, and will die apart from God, eternally separated from Him because of the sin in their lives.   Only Jesus can restore man to God because only Jesus has dealt with the issue of sin. Without that, the existence of humanity is ultimately pointless. We strive for the wind during our lives, we die, and we will be forever removed from God's glory. Only in Jesus is this corrected because only Jesus is God incarnate.   Be sure to get Jesus right. In doing so, your allegiances will be rightly directed.   “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6   Lord God, help us never to waver in our convictions. May our devotion to You through Jesus be steady and uncompromising. May we never presume to put anyone or anything above You in our lives. You are the Creator. We owe all of who we are to You. Through Jesus, this becomes a joy that will restore us to You forever. Thank You for Jesus. Amen.  

Are you caught in one of life's all-too-common storms? Do you feel like your life's boat is about to swamp and you'll drown? If Jesus is with you, be encouraged! Dr. Jay and Amazing Larry take a deep dive (pun intended) into Matthew's account of Jesus stilling the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 8:23-27).Frothy Thoughts with the Truth BaristaVisit HighBeam Ministry, The Truth BaristaCheck out the Frothy Thoughts Blog!Check out The Truth Barista Books!Check out The Truth Barista YouTube Channel!

Questions about why Jesus didn't know the day of his return if he truly is God, and why it's important for Jesus to be both fully God and fully man.   If Jesus is God, then why didn't he know the day of his return, and if the answer is that he limited himself, wasn't it a lie to say that he didn't know? Why is it important for Jesus Christ to be both fully God and fully man?

Daily Dose of Hope June 11, 2025   Scripture - Matthew 11:1-19   Today, we will start with the Holy Spirit prayer by Saint Augustine, who lived in the fourth century.  I find it incredibly powerful and I hope you do as well:   Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today is Recharge day. I hope we see you tonight in the Garage at New Hope, 6:30pm.  Recharge is a wonderful time of worship, prayer, fellowship, and small community.    For our Scripture today, we are starting Matthew 11.  The question that John the Baptist asks Jesus (from prison) at the beginning of this chapter is probably the most important question to be asked:  Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else? According to Matthew, Jesus is the one and he gives all kinds of reasons why – the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the dead rise, and so forth.  Jesus is already doing the things that the Messiah will do and they are beginning to see signs of heaven on earth.    By saying that Jesus is the one, that means that John the Baptist is not the one.  Jesus points out that John is truly a great man and a great prophet.  He preached repentance of sin and is the one prophesied to pave the way for the Messiah.  Why did so many people go into the wilderness to be baptized by him?  They were yearning for something he had.  John was offering them something they desperately needed – forgiveness, cleansing. It seems that Matthew may be saying that John is the final Biblical prophet, the one who is the symbol of the transition from one age to the next.    What is the new age that has been ushered in?  Well, it's the Kingdom of God.  John preached gloom but Jesus preached that a new age was dawning, one in which we live under the reign of God.  With Jesus, the Kingdom is here. But some people might ask, “If Jesus is the one, where is evidence that a great transformation is truly underway? The world appears to be pretty much the same as it was before Jesus with respect to idolatry, injustice, powerlessness, exploitation, scarcity, and violence. Why should we think things will get better?”    I think those are fair but hard questions.  First, the Kingdom is here and we get glimpses of it all the time.  Jesus embodied the Kingdom in all he did.  We get glimpses of the Kingdom too - in the church, in how Jesus' people care for others, in the beauty of creation.  And part of our jobs as Christ-followers is to keep expanding the boundaries of the Kingdom.  But while the Kingdom is here, it isn't fully here and I think we need to be aware of that.  There will come a time when Jesus returns and the Kingdom will be here in all it's fullness.  And that is when all things will be made new.  All the brokenness will be mended.  There will be no more hunger, violence, or injustice.  All will be made right.  I can't wait.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

If Jesus did not rise from the dead, as skeptics claim, then our faith in Christ is worthless and we are still in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). So do arguments rooted in naturalism, aimed at criticizing and casting doubt upon the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, pose any significant challenge to the Christian faith? According to our guest this week, the world's leading scholar on the resurrection of Jesus, Dr. Gary Habermas, the answer is "Absolutely not!" Dr. Gary Habermas has dedicated his professional life to the examination of the relevant historical, philosophical, and theological issues surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. His extensive list of publications and debates provides a thorough account of the current state of the issue. He has also contributed more than 60 chapters or articles to additional books, and over 100 articles and reviews in journals and other publications. In recent years, he has been a visiting or adjunct professor at about 15 different graduate schools and seminaries in the United States and abroad. Dr. Habermas is a Distinguished Research Professor of Apologetics and Philosophy. He is married to Eileen and they have seven children and 11 grandchildren. https://www.liberty.edu/divinity/seminary/faculty/gary-habermas/Gary's Books  (2024), On the Resurrection: Refutations, Vol 2 of 4, Broadman & Holman, Academic, ISBN: 978-1-0877-7862-4, https://www.amazon.com/on-the-resurrection-volume-2/dp/108777862X Free Profiles from Watchman Fellowship!  Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Bart Ehrman by Dr. Rhyne Putman: watchman.org/Ehrman Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman: watchman.org/Atheism Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: watchman.org/Agnostic Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Mythicism by Dr. Robert Stewart and Marilyn Stewart: watchman.org/Mythicism Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (660 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: watchman.org/notebook. SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2025 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

We've seen ways the Spirit bears fruit in our lives--but what about in Jesus' life? The Son of God was entirely dependent upon the Spirit of God, and it showed time and again. If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in his life, then all the more do we!

David shares the deeply personal story of losing his two brothers, Dave and Matt — one in military service and the other to suicide — and how God met him in the darkest valleys of grief, guilt, and unanswered questions.David walks us through a journey that doesn't tie up with neat bows or easy answers — but instead points us to a faithful God who never left.This is a story about real suffering, real questions, and real hope — anchored in Scripture and in the unshakable love of Jesus. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by loss, mental health struggles, or regret, you're not alone. This message is for you. “If Jesus has not conquered death, could we really be born only to die? Are there really no happily ever afters for any of us?” “God was there all along.” If you're hurting, struggling, or need prayer — please reach out. You are not beyond hope. You are not alone. We are here to help each other walk through the valley — together.#Testimony #MentalHealth #Grief #SuicideAwareness #FaithInHardTimes #CelebrateRecovery #JesusIsHope #ChurchTestimony #GodIsWithUs #RealLifeRealFaith

A Sermon for Whitsunday Acts 2:1-11 by William Klock In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  And so the great story began.  Six day.  God speaks.  And creation takes shape.  On the first day…on the second day…on the third day…and so on…like a liturgy.  In fact, there's a theory that Genesis 1 was written to be used at the dedication of the second temple.  Because it describes God creating the heavens and the earth as his own temple.  In Genesis 2 we even see that this temple has a holy of holies: a garden called Eden.  There he carefully crafts a man from the dust of the earth, breathes his own life into him, and places him in the garden, in that holy of holies, to act as his priest, to care for his temple, and to live in his presence. And then we humans sinned and it all went wrong.  But Genesis stands as a reminder of what the Lord intended and how it's supposed to be.  The pagans tried to get it back.  They built temples for their gods and in them, to represent the gods' rule, they placed idols carved of wood or stone.  And attempt to recover Eden, to re-enter that fellowship with God, but on our terms, not his.  But Genesis reminds us that God has built his own temple by the power of his creative word and that he created us to be his image, to tend and to keep his temple, and to steward his rule on earth. And Genesis…and the whole story that follows…reminds us that the Lord will not leave us forever cast out.  Into the midst of the darkness God spoke again and called forth Abraham and with Abraham and his family, God launched a new heaven-and-earth project.  Over and over he showed his faithfulness to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, and to the whole people of Israel.  When they were slaves in Egypt he heard their cry and he rescued them.  He defeated Pharaoh and the Egyptians and led his beloved people through the Red Sea and into the wilderness.  At Mount Sinai the Lord gave the gift of the torah, the law, to Moses and the people.  And with the torah he gave them instructions, think of them as blueprints, for the tabernacle.  The Lord promised: I will be your God and you will be my people.  Once again, the Lord would take up his dwelling in their midst.  The tabernacle was a portable temple full of the symbols of the garden of Eden.  Wherever the people stopped to camp, they set up the tabernacle, and the glory cloud, the shekinah representing the Lord's presence, would descend to fill the holy of holies.  And the torah set the people apart from the nations and taught them how to be holy so that they might be the people who lived with the Lord in their midst.  Israel, camped around the tabernacle and the Lord's glory cloud, were a sort of new creation in miniature—heaven and earth, God and human beings back together, even if imperfectly.  It gave the people hope.  A hope that one day the Lord would truly and fully set this broken world to rights—to make things the way they're supposed to be.  And it wasn't just hope for Israel.  The Lord intended the watching nations to see his people and take note. That's the climax of the Exodus.  Not the Passover or the Red Sea.  Those are important—vitally important—parts of the story.  But it's Exodus 40, the last chapter of the book, where the Lord's glory clouds descends to dwell in the tabernacle—that's the climax.  The Lord once again dwelling with his people. We see it happen again when the Israelites are settled in the land of Canaan.  King Solomon builds a permanent temple for the Lord and, once again, at its dedication the glory cloud descends to fill the holy of holies. It was all there as part of the story to point the people in hope to God's restoration of heaven and earth—to the day when the Lord's promises would be fulfilled.  Because the Lord didn't just come to Israel and manifest himself in a cloud of glory; he spoke.  Israel's prophetic tradition was full of promises looking forward to that day. King David knew the Lord's promises and sang out in prophetic hope of that future day in Psalm 72: May he have dominion from sea to sea…May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him…Blessed by the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.  Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory!  Isaiah sang of the coming Messiah who would set creation to rights: There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.  And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him.  And when God has done his work through the Messiah, Isaiah sings, the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.  Habakkuk similarly would sing out in hope: For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.   When the Lord's cloud of glory descended to fill the temple, it pointed forward to that day when he would—when he will—fill all of creation with his glorious presence. Think about this hope that Israel had and how great it was and I think it helps give a sense of just how tragic it then was when Israel failed to keep her end of the covenant and the Lord allowed the Babylonian army to capture Jerusalem and to destroy the temple—his temple.  Israel sinned, Israel showed disregard for the law the Lord had given to keep her holy.  And worst of all—over and over and over—Israel prostituted herself to the gods of the pagans.  It was a deep, deep tragedy.  As the Psalmist laments in Psalm 137: By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept.  Not just for what was lost, but like Adam and Eve, cast out and weeping over their own disobedience.  But even then, in those dark, dark days of exile the Lord still spoke.  Through Isaiah and Ezekiel, through Zechariah and Malachi the Lord promised that he would come back to dwell with his people. And yet, as the Gospels begin, hundreds of years had passed and the Lord had yet to return.  Israel had returned from her exile.  The temple had been rebuilt.  The people and the priests went through all the motions.  The smoke went up from the great altar.  But the cloud of glory had never come down and returned to the temple.  And pagan kings still ruled with Israel under their heels. Again, this is where the Gospels begin.  St. John describes the darkness, the hopelessness, the absence and then he says that the word became flesh and lived among us…The light shone in the darkness.  Brothers and Sisters, the Gospels are about the return of God to his people in fulfilment of his promises.  The word—the embodiment of God's creative power—the word took on our flesh and was born of Mary.  In Jesus God not only returned to his people, he brought heaven and earth, God and humanity back together in his person.  Jesus is the manifestation of the hope of creation set to rights, of the breach between us and God healed.  Matthew puts it in terms of Isaiah's prophecy: Jesus is the promised Immanuel: God with us. And as the church has led us through the story of Jesus these last months, we've followed him to the cross where he took on himself the role of the Passover lamb.  He died for the sins of his people.  And just when sin and death thought they'd done their worst and defeated God once and for all, God raised Jesus from death.  It was like the Passover and the Red Sea all over again, only this time it wasn't an Egyptian king and his army that were defeated, it was evil itself. And then, last week, we stood with the disciples and watched as Jesus ascended to take his throne in heaven.  And if you know the story of Israel, if you know the Old Testament like Luke's readers did, you can't help but draw the connection.  If Jesus' death was a new Passover, then his ascension isn't just his going to heaven to take his throne as king.  It's definitely very much that and that's significant, but it also parallels Moses going up Mount Sinai to meet with the Lord.  And when Moses came down, he had the gift of the torah, the law, with him. And so now, in today's Gospel, from Acts 2 Luke writes: When the day of Pentecost had finally arrived, they were all together in the same place.   I'm sure Jesus' disciples were expecting something.  I don't think they knew exactly what.  As we heard in last week's Gospel, Jesus said that he had to leave, to take his throne—and the disciples would be sorry to see him go—but that it had to be that way, because Jesus would send the Holy Spirit to empower them.  At the last supper he'd said that with his blood he was making a new covenant.  They knew that a new covenant would need a new law—a new torah—because the law was what taught the people how to live out their end of the covenant, how to live as the people in whose midst the Lord dwelled. But what that would like was anyone's guess.  But when Jesus told them to go and wait in Jerusalem and that he would send the Spirit in a few days, I fully expect they made the connection with Pentecost, because Pentecost—which is just Greek for “fiftieth” because it's fifty days after Passover—because Pentecost was the great feast when Israel remembered and celebrate the giving of the law at Mount Sinai.  I think that by this time, the disciples were finally putting things together.  They were waiting those ten days with baited breath.  Jesus was alive.  Jesus was king.  Everything was happening just as he promised.  So they knew the Spirit would come.  But how?  And what would happen when he did?  And how would the Spirit be a new torah for this new covenant.  And so they obeyed Jesus.  They waited all together in Jerusalem—probably in that same “upper room” where they'd eaten the Passover.  And Luke goes on: Suddenly there came from heaven a noise like the sound of a mighty, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.   So many parts of the story come together here.  It helps to understand that wind and breath are the same word in both Hebrew and Greek.  And so this divine wind sweeps in to the room to breathe the breath of God into the disciples, reminding them of the way God gave life to Adam in the beginning—taking that lifeless lump of moulded clay and animating it, making it as we say, a soul—a living being.  But this time it's God breathing life into his new Israel.  There's a reason that the one thing the disciples made sure they did during those days of waiting was to appoint Matthias as a successor to Judas.  If they were to be the new Israel, they had to be twelve.  And now the Spirit comes and breathes the life of God into this new people. But, too, the imagery of the wind filling the house.  It doesn't just recall God breathing life into Adam.  It also recalls God's presence filling the tabernacle in Exodus 40 and the temple in 1 Kings 8.  The way God gives his Spirit is a reminder that Jesus people aren't just a people full of the Spirit.  Brothers and Sisters, being full of the Spirit makes us God's temple.  Jesus and us—together we're the beginning of God's new creation, the beginning of his restoration of heaven and earth.  Jesus has ascended to heaven bearing our human flesh.  And in the Spirit, God has come to earth to dwell with us.  In us, in Jesus' people, the restoration of Eden has begun.  That's why at the head of Jesus' prayer are is that powerful petition: Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. I think this is why all through the rest of Acts, stuff keeps happening at temples, whether it's the next couple of chapters as we follow the events of Pentecost and Peter preaching and thousands being baptised or later as Paul confronts the pagans in their temples in Athens and Ephesus.  All because in Jesus and his people God's real temple is being built—brick by brick, stone by stone, with each baptism…all laid on the foundation of the death and resurrection of Jesus. So the disciples already knew when Jesus rose from death that new creation had begun.  Jesus was the first part of it.  And they were so excited to go out and tell everyone that Jesus had to calm them down and tell them to wait.  Enthusiasm is never enough.  They needed to be made part of that new creation too.  And that's what the Spirit does here.  One day, when the church's work is done and Jesus returns to finally cast death itself into the lake of fire, God will raise us as he raised Jesus and we will know fully the life he intends for us.  But the time for that hasn't yet come.  The gift of the Spirit is the downpayment on that life—or to use an Old Testament term for it: the Spirit is the firstfruits of God's new creation. And that's the other part of the feast of Pentecost that comes into this.  Pentecost wasn't just the celebration of God's giving of the law to Israel.  It was also the festival where the people brought their firstfruits to God.  They brought the first of their crops—like a sheaf of wheat—not just to give thanks for the harvest, but in expectant hope of his provision—trusting him for a plentiful harvest.  From now on, for Jesus' people, Pentecost is just that: a reminder that the harvest has begun and that the Spirit is sure to make it a plentiful one. But it wasn't just the wind.  Luke goes on in verse 3: Then tongues, seemingly of fire, appeared to them, moving apart and coming to rest on each one of them.  They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them the words to say.   The wind from heaven fills them and the Spirit manifests himself as flame and then they start to speak in other languages.  Again, the big story tells us why the Spirit came this way.  Genesis explains the origin of different languages and people groups with the story of Babel.  It's the low point in human history.  Adam and Eve sin in Chapter 3, Cain murders his brother in Chapter 4, and humanity goes downhill from there until, in Chapter11, we've lost all knowledge of God.  In their hubris, the men of Babel built a tower to reach heaven and in response, the Lord confused their languages and scattered them.  It's a bit like Psalm 2 and Daniel 7 that I mentioned last week.  The nations rage, but God laughs.  But all the while he has a plan to set us to rights.  In Psalm 2 it's the son of David who will reign as king.  In Daniel 7 it's the son of man who will be enthroned by the Ancient of Days.  And here at Pentecost, the son of David who is also the son of man takes his throne and sends the Spirit who creates a people ready to undo Babel. Luke goes on in verse 5: There were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem at that time.  [Remember, because it was Pentecost.]  When they heard this noise they came together in a crowd.  They were deeply puzzled, because every single one of them could hear them speaking in his or her own native language.  They were astonished and amazed.  “These men who are doing the speaking are all Galileans, aren't they?” they said.  “So how is it that each of us can hear them in our own mother tongues?   Luke goes on to list people from countries across the whole Roman empire and some from even beyond that.  And the men hearing this go on with the most important detail, “We can hear them telling us about the mighty things God has done—in our own languages.”   What does it mean?  Brothers and Sisters, this gift of tongues to the disciples was a sign.  It was a sign that Jesus truly had ascended to his throne and he now rules over a global dominion.  And it means that through his people, through his church, Jesus has inaugurated God's new creation and has begun the work of setting everything to rights—starting with the confusion of Babel. And that's where today's Epistle ends, which is a bit disappointing.  I wish we had a Pentecost season where we could at least work through the next couple of chapters.  “What does all this mean?” they ask, and in response Peter begins to preach and he explains to the gathered men how this was all in fulfilment of God's promises.  These first eleven verses will have to be enough for today. Brothers and Sisters, Pentecost reminds us who we are.  Again, think of Israel, rescued from Egypt and then formed as a people in the wilderness—a people defined by the law and by God dwelling in their midst.  Pentecost is a reminder to us that in Jesus, God has delivered us from our bondage to sin and death and that he has made us a people defined by his new law: the life of the Spirit.  And we don't just have God in our midst; we are indwelt by God himself in the Spirit.  Pentecost is a reminder that in making us this Spirit-filled people, God has made us his temple.  We are the place where the world meets God.  But our calling isn't simply to sit here like the temple on Mount Zion and wait for people to come.  Our calling is to be a temple on the move and a temple dispersed—a temple that goes out and meets the world with God and with the gospel—with the good news that Jesus, crucified and risen, is the world's true Lord.  You and I have been entrusted with the story.  Go out and proclaim the mighty deeds of God and the Spirit will use that proclamation to change hearts and to grow the kingdom.  And, finally, Pentecost is a reminder that as God's temple, we are also the firstfruits of God's new creation.  We as a people are called to live out the life of God—not just to steward his word and to proclaim his gospel, but to truly be light in the darkness: living out and working for mercy and love and justice, showing the world the value of goodness, truth, and beauty, teaching reconciliation, bringing healing.  In other words, Brothers and Sisters, pulling God's future into the present.  Not just praying “on earth as in heaven”, but living out that prayer so that all the world will see and doing so in trusting hope that God's promise is true.  One day, when the church has done her job declaring the mighty deeds of God, the earth will be filled with the knowledge of his glory as the waters cover the sea.  That is what it means to be a “Pentecostal” people. Let's pray: O GOD, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

This series, called "Third Person" is a deep dive into the person and work of the Holy Spirit. If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to accomplish his mission on earth, then how much more do we?

Send us a textEver wondered why so many people today claim apostolic titles and prophetic authority? This eye-opening conversation cuts through confusion to establish biblical truth about Christ's kingship and authentic apostolic authority.The discussion begins with a powerful reminder: before Israel demanded human kings, God Himself was their direct ruler, communicating through figures like Moses and Abraham. Christ's arrival marks a restoration of God's intended relationship with His people – direct divine rule through the King of Kings.We tackle a fundamental question: If Jesus was born King (as the wise men clearly recognized), then He must have a kingdom. But is this kingdom present now or coming in some future millennial reign? The answer reshapes how we understand both Christ's authority and the role of apostles.The biblical requirements for apostleship emerge with striking clarity. True apostles were personally called by Christ during His earthly ministry AND witnessed His resurrection. This dual qualification – direct appointment by Christ plus witnessing His resurrection – means the apostolic office was necessarily limited to the first century.What about today's self-proclaimed "apostles"? The conversation pulls no punches: they're claiming titles that don't belong to them. When the last apostle died, the signs, wonders and miraculous confirmations of their authority died with them – not because God's power diminished, but because their purpose was fulfilled through the completion of Scripture.Most provocatively, we confront the question: What could any modern "prophet" tell us that isn't already revealed in God's Word? The answer is simple: Nothing. Christ has spoken definitively through His apostles, and their testimony is perfectly preserved in Scripture.Ready to understand why God's kingdom structure matters so much today? Listen as we explore how recognizing Christ's uninterrupted kingship transforms our understanding of church authority and protects us from those who would claim power never meant for them.Support the show

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. And today's shout-out goes to John & Cindy Brannum from Sioux Falls, SD. John & Cindy, thank you for standing with us through Project23. Your support helps deliver the Word where it's needed most. This one's for you. Our text today is Mark 5:6-13: And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. — Mark 5:6-13 Jesus steps onto the shore, and the man possessed by demons does something shocking—he runs toward Jesus. But as soon as he gets close, the demons take over. They fall. They scream. They beg for mercy. This is how evil responds to the holy—it bows in the presence of God. There's no battle. No contest. This isn't two equal forces clashing—it's total authority confronting total darkness. Jesus commands the spirit to come out. Then he asks for the demon's identity: “What is your name?” The answer is chilling: “My name is Legion, for we are many.” Literally—thousands of demons. And still, Jesus doesn't flinch, falter, or fear. It's as if he's handled situations like this a hundred times before. Then Legion pleads with Jesus. He begs for mercy—because they know they've encountered the all-powerful God, something even the disciples have yet to fully understand. They plead for dispersion rather than destruction. They beg Jesus to send them into a field of swine. There are all kinds of theories about why the pigs—but the simplest answer is this: The time for complete demonic defeat had not yet come. Jesus's mission was first to redeem mankind from the bondage of sin—before destroying evil entirely. So, Legion is cast into the pigs. And the entire herd rushes down the hillside and drowns in the sea. I believe many people today feel overwhelmed by darkness—whether internal or external. And too often, we try to manage it, medicate it, or manipulate it. But Jesus doesn't ask us to control the darkness. He asks us to surrender it—so He can confront it. If Jesus can cast out thousands of demons with a single word, he can confront the darkness you face today. So stop trying to manage the situation. Let Jesus confront it. Let him remove it. And let him cast it far from you—deep into the sea. #JesusOverDarkness, #Mark5, #SpiritualWarfare ASK THIS: Where do you feel darkness creeping into your life? Are you trying to manage what Jesus wants to remove? What does Legion's response reveal about Jesus' authority? How can you invite Jesus to confront your hidden struggles? DO THIS: Identify one area of darkness you've tried to manage and surrender it to Jesus in prayer today. PRAY THIS: Jesus, I confess the darkness I've tried to manage alone. I surrender it to You—cast it out and replace it with Your peace. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Break Every Chain” by Jesus Culture.

When we don't believe in the miracles of God, we don't do anything to posture ourselves to receive them. If Jesus could conquer sin and death, then there is nothing he cannot do. It is time for us to exercise genuine faith, right here and right now, and posture ourselves to receive what only he can give.

In this week's message Pastor Noah Herrin unpacks the statement: “All Roads Lead To God”. In a world that claims there are multiple paths to God - what does the Bible say? If Jesus is the only road to God - why should I believe it? What is the best case for Christ? Check out the full message. We pray it encourages you! If you'd like to partner with us in reaching more people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you can do so here: partner :)

In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, Karlo Broussard tackles one of the most common objections to Catholic teaching: If Jesus is the “one mediator” between God and man, why ask Mary and the saints to intercede for us? Drawing from 1 Timothy 2:5, Ecclesiastes 9:5, and Revelation 5:8, Karlo addresses Protestant concerns about the awareness and intercessory role of the saints in heaven. He explains what the Bible really says about heavenly mediation, the beatific vision, and whether the saints are aware of and respond to our prayers. Along the way, he refutes key counterarguments and clarifies Catholic teaching with clarity and Scripture. Please support our mission by donating! Catholicanswersradio.com Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 13:50 – You ask Mary and the saints to intercede for you. But doesn't Paul say in 1 Timothy 2:5 that Jesus is our one mediator?   19:20 – If Paul isn't denying mutual Christian intercession (whether that's between us here on earth or the saints in heaven and us), then what does he mean by “one mediator”?   21:57 – It's true that the Bible says we can pray for each other. But the Christians in heaven have died. They aren't aware of what's going on here on earth. Ecclesiastes 9:5 says, ‘the dead know nothing.' So, your requests are futile.   33:23 – Okay, you say that it's at least possible the saints in heaven could know what's going on here on earth in virtue of the beatific vision, which the saints in the afterlife before Christ's ascension didn't have. But is there any biblical evidence that the saints in heaven in fact are aware of what's going on here on earth?   36:00 – Okay, so you've shown that the saints in heaven can at least be aware of the affairs of men here one earth. But what about their intercessory prayer? Is there any biblical evidence that the saints in heaven in fact pray for us?   “But Karlo, you're assuming that the 24 elders are human souls. You're also assuming that the “prayers of the saints” refers to petitions made by Christians on earth. How do you know these assumptions are true?   46:07 – I'll concede that Revelation 5:8 shows the 24 elders interceding for Christians on earth in a general way. But I don't think this text gives the Catholic what he's after—namely, intercessory prayers for specific requests. 

https://newsongpeople.com/messages/risen-ascended-the-ongoing-ministry-of-jesusRisen & Ascended: The Ongoing Ministry of Jesus | Sarah BlountWhy does the resurrection still matter today? What benefits are ours because Jesus is alive? And what does His ascension mean for our daily lives?From the empty tomb to the throne of heaven, this message unpacks why Jesus' victory over death is not just a past event—but our present hope and eternal future.Discover why Jesus is not only the risen Savior but also our ever-present Advocate and the only High Priest we'll ever need.Message Notes:Luke 24:1-9 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Why does the resurrection matter to us? What benefits are ours through a once-dead-but-now-alive Lord?Christ's resurrection means the death of Jesus was enough.1 Corinthians 15:17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then death has power over Him and defeated Him.If death has power over Jesus, He is not God.If Jesus is not God, He cannot offer a complete sacrifice for sins.If Jesus cannot offer a complete sacrifice for sins, our sins are not completely paid for before God.If my sins are not completely paid for before God, then I am still in my sins.Therefore, if Jesus is not risen, He is unable to save.2. Christ's resurrection gives us power for new life—right now.Romans 6:5-11 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.We are not just practicing the way of Jesus, but we are also participating in His death and resurrection.Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. 3. Christ's resurrection guarantees our future resurrection.He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.Luke 24:50-51 … and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.Luke 24:52 And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.The GREAT JOY of the Ascension: 1. Jesus is not absent from us for even a moment.John 16:7 It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. 2. The ascension guarantees that our bodies will be in heaven.Christ's flesh in heaven is the pledge that ours will be there too.Colossians 3:1–3 says So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 3. We have an advocate & intercessor in heavenThe cross was His sacrifice. The resurrection was His victory.The ascension is His ongoing ministry.Jesus, Our Only High Priest. (Heb. 7:27; 9:12, 25–26; 10:10–18).Jesus died in our place, and He lives to pray for us.1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;#HeIsRisen #ResurrectionSunday #Luke24 #EmptyTomb #JesusIsAlive #GospelHope #NewLifeInChrist #RisenSavior #VictoryOverSin #PowerOfTheResurrection #Romans6 #Romans8 #EasterMessage #Ascension #JesusOurAdvocate #HighPriest #ChristIsRisen #LivingHope #JesusLives #Colossians3 #1Corinthians15 #FaithInJesus #HolySpiritPower #TheCrossAndResurrection #KingJesus #EternalLife #ChristianTeaching #BiblePreaching #ChristOurIntercessor #HeavenlyHope #SeekTheThingsAbove

Romans 6:5-8 — What fear should the Christian have? In what ways ought the believer be gripped with worry or anxiety? Unruly fears, anxieties, and worries lead the believer to spiritual depression. This need not be. In this sermon on Romans 6:5–8 titled “Alive Unto God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones declares the believer's sure hope: they are raised with Christ. What one believes must be driven by facts. The fact is that Jesus was raised from the dead, and all who have died with Him have the confidence that they are raised with Him. In the face of temptations, these facts lead the Christian to an unshakable certainty: death has no power over them. As the believer is dead to sin and alive to Christ, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that their future is absolutely certain. They cannot continue in sin, and will never again submit to the slavery of sin and death. Worry, fear, and anxiety are wrapped up in death. Death is rooted in sin. If Jesus has dealt with sin, He's dealt with death. If death is no more, everything changes. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones leads to the truth that calms all fear: Christ has been raised from the dead, and the Christian life is hid in Christ with God.

Romans 6:5-8 — What fear should the Christian have? In what ways ought the believer be gripped with worry or anxiety? Unruly fears, anxieties, and worries lead the believer to spiritual depression. This need not be. In this sermon on Romans 6:5–8 titled “Alive Unto God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones declares the believer's sure hope: they are raised with Christ. What one believes must be driven by facts. The fact is that Jesus was raised from the dead, and all who have died with Him have the confidence that they are raised with Him. In the face of temptations, these facts lead the Christian to an unshakable certainty: death has no power over them. As the believer is dead to sin and alive to Christ, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that their future is absolutely certain. They cannot continue in sin, and will never again submit to the slavery of sin and death. Worry, fear, and anxiety are wrapped up in death. Death is rooted in sin. If Jesus has dealt with sin, He's dealt with death. If death is no more, everything changes. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones leads to the truth that calms all fear: Christ has been raised from the dead, and the Christian life is hid in Christ with God.

Romans 6:5-8 — What fear should the Christian have? In what ways ought the believer be gripped with worry or anxiety? Unruly fears, anxieties, and worries lead the believer to spiritual depression. This need not be. In this sermon on Romans 6:5–8 titled “Alive Unto God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones declares the believer's sure hope: they are raised with Christ. What one believes must be driven by facts. The fact is that Jesus was raised from the dead, and all who have died with Him have the confidence that they are raised with Him. In the face of temptations, these facts lead the Christian to an unshakable certainty: death has no power over them. As the believer is dead to sin and alive to Christ, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that their future is absolutely certain. They cannot continue in sin, and will never again submit to the slavery of sin and death. Worry, fear, and anxiety are wrapped up in death. Death is rooted in sin. If Jesus has dealt with sin, He's dealt with death. If death is no more, everything changes. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones leads to the truth that calms all fear: Christ has been raised from the dead, and the Christian life is hid in Christ with God.

Discipleship curriculum for your teens | School requirement for illegal immigrants | “Every Student Belongs” resolution | How should Christians handle the difficult topic of taking one's own life? | Ionic foot baths | If Jesus is God then who is he praying to in the Garden? | How do I stop comparing myself to others? -----------------------Prime Sponsor: No matter where you live, visit the Functional Medical Institute online today to connect with Drs Mark and Michele Sherwood. Go to homeschoolhealth.com to get connected and see some of my favorites items. Use coupon code HEIDI for 20% off!Sponsors: RVL Discipleship Curriculum | RVLCurriculum.com/heidi HEIDI10Give Send Go | givesendgo.comLifestone | www.lifestone.com/illuminateBrave Books | heidibrave.comShow mentions: heidistjohn.com/mentionsWebsite | heidistjohn.comSupport the show! | donorbox.org/donation-827Rumble | rumble.com/user/HeidiStJohnYoutube | youtube.com/@HeidiStJohnPodcastInstagram | @heidistjohnFacebook | Heidi St. JohnX | @heidistjohnFaith That Speaks Online CommunitySubmit your questions for Mailbox Mondayheidistjohn.net/mailboxmonday

Many Protestants argue the pope was never meant to lead the Church long-term. We examine biblical and historical evidence for the papacy, Peter's unique role, and how the Church has understood this office from the beginning. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 0:03:00 – Is the papacy unbiblical or a temporary office?0:07:30 – Does the Bible ever say Peter went to Rome?0:11:30 – How does 1 Peter 5:13 support Peter's presence in Rome?0:14:30 – Did Peter and Paul really found the church in Rome together?0:16:30 – Does Paul rebuking Peter disprove papal authority?0:19:30 – Can a pope be fallible or rebuked for his actions?0:23:00 – Is the real Protestant objection that we don’t need structure, sacraments, or hierarchy?0:25:30 – What does the temple veil really mean for Christian worship?0:29:00 – If Jesus is the only mediator, why do we have priests or popes?0:32:30 – Does the Eucharist show that Christian priesthood is still valid?0:36:00 – What's the real difference between Catholicism and Orthodoxy on the papacy?0:39:30 – Is the Pope really just “first among equals”?0:42:00 – What does Irenaeus say about Rome's authority and apostolic succession?0:45:00 – Did Pope John Paul II suggest the papacy could look different in the future?0:47:30 – Is the complexity of the modern papacy a sign of corruption or growth?0:50:00 – Does celibacy contradict Peter's example?0:53:00 – Was Peter actually married during his apostleship?0:55:00 – Is the Pope the Antichrist and the Church the Whore of Babylon?