Podcasts about ephesians

What happens when a culture no longer fears God or recognizes the destructive power of evil? In Episode 10 of "The Fear of the Lord," Duane Sheriff teaches that one of the clearest biblical definitions of the fear of the Lord is “to depart from evil.” True godly fear is not hatred toward people, but a holy reverence for God that causes us to hate what destroys lives and turn away from sin.Drawing from Proverbs, Psalms, Job, Ephesians, and other Scriptures, Duane reveals how the fear of the Lord produces wisdom, understanding, righteous discernment, and a growing awareness of sin's destructive consequences. Pride, compromise, and the celebration of evil are evidence of a culture losing its fear of God, while those who fear the Lord are drawn away from evil and toward God Himself.We may not be able to simply walk away from evil in our own strength, but we can depart from evil by walking toward God. As we draw near to Him, His light pulls us out of darkness and transforms our hearts. This message also addresses righteous anger, spiritual compromise, and how sin hardens the heart and gives the enemy a foothold.Click for FREE offer ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-fear-of-the-lord

Part of your armor against the ploys of the enemy is a bulletproof vest for your heart. If Satan can twist your heart, if he can harden your heart, if he can damage your heart, then he renders you ineffective. Nobody looks at a cynical, irritable, negative, grouchy Christian and says, ‘wow, I gotta have what she has.' Yip – ineffective! Zero impact for Jesus. Saved but not set apart for good works. For these reasons you are given the breastplate of righteousness, the bulletproof vest for your heart. If you feel righteous, there's a problem. You're not. There's nothing you could ever do to make yourself clean enough, good enough, or holy enough to be considered righteous in our perfect God's sight. And this is exactly why Jesus was required. Only he could make you righteous. His righteousness is imparted to you. His name is stamped on your account of debts and you're forever marked as “GOOD ENOUGH”. Not because of what you've done, but because of what Jesus did for you. Righteous – this means to be free from guilt or sin. Not without guilt or sin, but free from it. No longer bound by it. No longer in debt to it. No longer victim to it, but FREE from it. And the righteousness of Jesus has now empowered you to live better. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:14, “Put on the breastplate of righteousness.” Other translations call it the “body armor of God's righteousness” or “God's approval as your breastplate.” TPT says, “Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart.” Here's what we know – without this right standing, without God's approval, our most vital organs are completely vulnerable. The chest shot is the easiest shot and without God's covering, we will go down in the battle against our enemy. God did for us what we could never do for ourselves. No amount of good works, no amount of changed habits, no amount of perfectly met goals, nothing we could possibly do would make us righteous. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”, Romans 3:23. That includes you on your worst days and you on your best days. So here's what God did – he stepped in and bridged the gap where we fell short of his glory. He bridged that gap with a cross. A literal cross where Jesus hung – and that cross allows us to cross over from forever not good enough no matter what we do, to forever good enough because of what was done for us. When you wear that as your bulletproof vest, the flaming arrows of the enemy just bounce right off. Oh, he'll still shoot them out you, but ping ping ping, they just bounce. Your heart is untouched when you fully know the stamp of Christ's full approval on you. But … there's one little problem. The devil and his demons know full well how unworthy of this bulletproof vest of righteousness you feel when you aren't living right. It's hard to put on our divinely given righteousness when deep down we know darn good and well we're not living right. When we engage in sin, we open the door for the devil to have influence in our lives. You don't even have to open the door fully to him, but a little crack will do. A little dabble in that sin. A borderline gray area that no one knows about. Even that crack in the door will give him an opportunity. Ephesians 4:27 says, “give NO opportunity to the devil.” About 2 years ago, I began praying that God would reveal to me any part of my life that was not pleasing to him. Well that was dangerous and I didn't even know it. Suddenly the Holy Spirit started revealing all my little cracked doors to the enemy. But these were really fun things. Things I enjoyed. Things that made me happy. Things I wrestled to understand how they could be wrong. After wrestling and reasoning for months, I finally began to release these things and make changes. And let me tell you what happened – it's like the lid was taken off! I was free like never before. Blessings upon blessings. Now I wonder why I waited so long to trust God with those doors that needed to be closed. The devil had access to my heart through the little cracks I had left open, doing things God had asked me not to do. When I finally partnered with God and slammed those doors, my heart was once again fully protected with the righteousness Jesus offers. Here's the truth – the devil can't take your righteousness from you, but he sure will offer you temptations to enter into a life that is so far from God's way of living that you just dismiss yourself. When you know you're living in wrong ways, it's almost impossible to keep putting on that breastplate of righteousness. What God has given you as protection becomes a heavy reminder of your unworthiness today because of what you did yesterday. So, guess what … guilt and shame eventually make you leave the breastplate in the corner. It's too painful to put on righteousness when you know you're not living right. And boom – you're vulnerable. Now with your hidden guilt and quiet shame, your heart is left unprotected. The offered righteousness of Jesus lays on the floor as the enemy's fiery darts come flying. No, your righteousness cannot be taken from you. What Jesus did is forever done. But what can happen here is you can feel so terrible about your life that you no longer put on that righteousness. PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. THIS IS PART OF GOD'S DIVINE ARMOR FOR YOU IN THE UNSEEN SPIRITUAL BATTLE. GOD. LOVES. YOU. With full awareness of every single thing you would ever do wrong, every bad choice you would ever make, every failure, every wandering step, he knowingly and willing CHOSE to give his son Jesus for you. He knew it was the only way you could be made right, and he deemed you worthy of that sacrifice. SATAN. HATES. YOU. With full awareness of God's covering of undeserved righteousness over you, Satan continually tries to remove that covering. Let me tell you something, Satan has no power to take the breastplate of righteousness from you but he certainly can convince you into living a life that makes that breastplate feel entirely too heavy to wear. Tricky little sucker will deceive you into picking up guilt and shame instead of righteousness, and wear that over your heart. My human mind cannot understand why God would do this for me. I'm messed up, and wow, I have a really special way of getting things wrong sometimes. But I choose to believe His word concerning me – I choose to believe that I am made righteous through Jesus. That his cross allows me to cross over to the righteousness I fall short of. Over and over again, God helps me when I cannot help myself. On the days when I get it right, I must remember that breastplate of righteousness has absolutely nothing to do with my good works. It was given to me to wear. It protects me from pride. On the days when I get it wrong, I must remember the breastplate of righteousness is still mine. It was given to me to wear. It protects me from guilt and shame. For his girls wearing this breastplate of righteousness, we are called to then live RIGHT. Clean up our lives. We're not given permission to continue living in the ways his Spirit tells us are wrong. That's the beauty of this walk with Jesus – we learn more and more how to live right. And as he lovingly invites us into better living, it's for our greatest benefit to trust him and leave behind our old ways. Continuing in our old ways makes it harder to put on the armor over our hearts, and without that armor, our hearts are left vulnerable. Jesus, I'm not a good guard of my own heart – I need your righteousness to guard this heart of mine. So today, for the one who feels so totally unrighteousness because of your past or present choices, please know the breastplate of Jesus' righteousness is still here for your heart. Bring him your guilt, bring him your shame, bring him your regrets and receive his holy exchange. You, the real you, all of you, forever made righteous. That's everything Satan doesn't want you to know. But when you know, your heart is protected! Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

When you really know about the unseen spiritual battle happening, you then have a choice … stand with God in the battle, or sit down and dismiss yourself from it. Sadly, most of us either refuse to acknowledge the battle happening at all – or – we refuse to allow our self-centered little lives to be bothered with it. But the truth is, we are bothered by it, continually. Every single family has wounds from a spiritual battle. God's word calls us to know about it and then do something about it. Ephesians 6:13, “Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.” What is this time of evil? You can assume it's a future time that may not even impact your life, but I encourage you to consider the time of evil is anytime the enemy zeroes in on you. Remember, the devil is like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. His plan is sure: Kill, steal and destroy. If you are without the supernatural infusion of God's strength that comes through a connection with Jesus, and if you are without the full armor of God, you won't be able to stand up against the enemy's attack. There is a battle. It's real. And my friends, it's personal. Have you ever felt like the devil just had your number? Like his attacks were so personal and so direct? Yeah – well they are! As real as God's good plans are for you, the devil's bad plans for you are real too. Yes, God sends his angels to protect you, but Satan sends his demons to attack you. No, I don't like it, but that doesn't change the battle. What changes the battle is believing what God's word tells me and receiving everything he offers me. He offers me supernatural strength for his power to flow in me and through me. How? Through connection and relationship with Jesus. Then, he offers me detailed pieces of armor for the battle against evil. But it's always up to me whether or not I put on the armor. It's up to you to either put on the armor, or not. And if you don't, you are vulnerable. When the time of evil comes and the enemy zeros in on you, he'll know you're like a sitting duck. If your family is unprotected, it's time you realize it and change that! God has armor for you, and the armor is guaranteed to protect you from the spiritual battle happening in the unseen … but it's up to you to put it on! Some of us have all our armor piled up in a corner collecting dust, while we wonder why life is so darn hard. Why does this stuff just keep happening? Maybe, you've been sitting when you should have been standing with God. Maybe you've been fighting with your own power and you're 100% outmatched by powers greater than you. Maybe you've picked up a couple pieces or armor here and there, but you don't know how to use it so you're a dangerous disaster with weapons you're throwing around. The enemy is after you and you have to be able to resist him. If you can't resist him, you will fall prey to him. You will be fooled, you will be subdued, you will be overcome, and then you'll be held as his prisoner, stuck in a life that is far short of all God created you for. Look around – are you living a life that is less than the great big Almighty God really has for you? Did you get stuck somewhere along the way, discouraged and depressed, so you gave up and let that little flame within you just go out. And here you are settled in, just trying to get through life when that is such a distant cry from God's great big plan for you. But how do you resist the devil? WITH THE TRUTH! Now we begin looking at each piece of the Armor of God as written by Paul. First, understand that Paul was never a Roman soldier. He was never in the military. He didn't have armor, he didn't wear armor. He was a scholar, not a soldier. But what Paul did have was a personal and up close encounter with a real Roman soldier. As Paul wrote the book of Ephesians, he was in prison. When I was in Rome, I listened to the audio of a guided tour to orient precisely what I was looking at. Sometimes the very things that looked like nothing were totally something. In very broken English, my audio guide pointed out locations of important events and buildings to examine. As a total side note, he said, “Look to the left of this stately building – there you will see a small, unassuming, stone building – this is where Paul was impriosoned.” The guide quickly moved on to other facts and ruins. But here I was, standing in front of the very building where Paul sat imprisioned. Radically important events happened right here! Here was where the Holy Spirit guided him to tell us about the spiritual battles happening in the unseen and how to stand with God in the battle. And while Paul had never worn a soldier's armor before, he was likely sitting on a prison floor literally chained to a Roman soldier in that moment. Envision that – Paul is looking at the soldier he's chained to, the one guarding him and holding him captive, the one to ensure he was there to face his future death sentence. And piece by piece, Paul notices the literal armor of the solider and the Holy Spirit reveals to him the armor God has for us. Paul begins the listing of the armor in verse 14, “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth.” Maybe you're familiar with this list of armor – but have you ever questioned why it would begin with the BELT? Isn't the belt the accessory? Isn't the belt the last thing you put on when getting dressed? Why would we begin with the BELT OF TRUTH. Well to understand, you have to first remember the dress of the day … literally, the dress. Even men, and yes even soldiers, wore dress like long garments. Running and fighting in this long garment was very troublesome. You would easily get tripped up and lose the battle before your enemy even hit you. So the belt was perhaps one of the most important pieces in the soldier's armor. The belt tied up the long garment so their legs were free to run. The belt held their weapons in place. The belt literally tied the other armor together and without it, they would be defeated. So Paul says, to stand your ground against the devil and his demons, you begin with the belt of truth. My friend, if you don't know the truth, you will get tripped up before you even get to the real battle. The devil is called the deceiver. His number 1 tactic is to twist the truth and sell you a lie. It was how he made his very first move against humanity. In the garden, he shows up to Eve as a snake and he introduces a lie. “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” Eve engages. HUGE MISTAKE. When you know you're being questioned by the devil, don't engage. Don't talk to him, and for heaven's sake, don't dance with him. There's a whole lot of God's girls getting throughly confused and lost in life because we're just dancing with the devil, assuming it's harmless. He's not harmless. He's vicious. He's on attack. He's a liar, an absolute deceiver. Now Eve is engaged in conversation with the enemy, and he confuses her. He tricks her into thinking God won't let them eat from that one special tree in the garden because God is hiding something good from them. The devil convinces her God is holding out on her. So, she eats the apple, gets Adam to eat the apple with her, and now sin has an entry into humanity. God wasn't holding out on Adam and Eve by telling them they couldn't eat the apple – God was PROTECTING them. But, they didn't know the TRUTH – and because they didn't know the truth, they fell for the enemy's lie. They were deceived. The TRUTH is ground zero for the unseen spiritual battle. If you don't know the truth, you will battle the wrong things, hide when you should be standing, play little when you have a BIG spirit within, and settle for a defeated life when the victory has already been won through Jesus. My friend, do you KNOW the TRUTH? I mean for real – the truth. The truth about God. The truth about God's plan. The truth about who you are. The truth about who you're battling. The truth about God's ways and the tactics of the enemy. Without the truth, everything else is twisted and useless. Faith without truth becomes wishing thinking. Salvation without truth becomes cultish and self-created religion. Righteousness without truth becomes pride and self-will. Peace without truth becomes a naive la-la land. The word without truth becomes nonsense stories we believe and then fight over. And that is why the enemy is the deceiver. He's most afraid of the truth and he works his hardest to keep you confused and without God's truth. So yes, Paul begins teaching us about the Armor of God for our spiritual battle, first with the belt of truth. This is what holds everything together. You begin with truth, otherwise everything else is wrong. You may be climbing a ladder, but what good is it if the ladder is against the wrong wall. You may be fighting for what you think is right, but if what you think is right is actually wrong, it doesn't matter how much you believe in what you're fighting for, it's still wrong. What is the TRUTH about this God who created you, chose you, loves you and saves you? What is the truth about this one life you have been given to live? What is the truth about mercy and grace that covers you and makes you whole? What is the truth about a deeper calling on your life and a heavenly purpose for your days? The devil's first tactic is always to confuse you and deceive you. Do you know what you believe? Do you know why you believe it? You will get tripped up on your way to the battle if you don't. God has a whole lot of his daughters running around without their belts on! We're confused, we're naive and we have been deceived. Now he says, “MY GIRL, PUT YOUR BELT ON!” Have you ever asked God to help you know the truth? Have you sought him for a heart that really understands his will? GOD ANSWERS THAT PRAYER. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when Solomon is a young man and he's made King, but he's afraid because he doesn't know how to lead his kingdom. In 1 Kings 3, Solomon asks God to give him an understanding heart to know the truth, to know right and wrong. And here is God's reply – verses 12-13, “I will give you what you have asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has ever had or ever will have. AND I will also give you what you did not ask for – riches and fame” You want the truth – ask God for it! He will give you a heart that understands. And with the truth comes even more things you didn't even ask for. Start there. The belt of truth. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

Yesterday we studied the importance of becoming strong in the Lord before we try to armor up for battle against our enemy, the devil. Again, what good is the best armor in the world if the soldier has no strength to stand? God is strong and he wants his girl strong. God is strong and he's not raising weak daughters. Remember, how do you gain this strength? By supernatural infusion! It's our CONNECTION with Jesus that allows God's strength and power to flow in and through us. Now, the next 2 verses in Ephesians 6. Verses 11 & 12, “Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Spending time with Jesus and growing in your relationship with him through connection then makes us ready for God's armor. Piece by piece, we will put it all on. But don't miss this – you are in a battle you cannot see, but you absolutely feel. Some of the pain you're carrying didn't start with a person – it started with a battle you couldn't see. All those wounds you carry in this life of struggles, hardships, broken relationships … that's proof of the unseen battle. Hurt people hurt people – but behind a lot of hurt people is a deeper enemy who has been wounding them for a long time. The devil and his demons have created a whole lot of hurt people who are now making real messes in real life. You see that mess, but you haven't see the real battle happening creating those messes. Colossians 1:16 tells us, “God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see.” It's foolish for us to deny the reality of all things just because we can't see them. I'm a strong 7 on the enneagram. I avoid all things negative, all darkness and all threats. I have a tendency to stick my head in the sand and pretend everything is okay. That makes me an incredibly fun person to be around … and potentially oblivious to the true threats happening on the daily. But God has made me aware of these things through personal encounters with the miraculous as well as the darkness. I've witnessed the hand of God and I've experienced the presence of evil. I've spent over 2000 episodes of this podcast generally avoiding the topic of evil, but what good does that do you when you're in a real spiritual battle with the unseen? I've avoided talking about evil for a long time – but avoidance doesn't make it less real. Scripture doesn't just acknowledge a spiritual world – it shows us active engagement on all sides. With God and with the devil. With angels and with demons. The Bible makes it clear that there is a real interaction between us and God. God promises when we draw near to him, he will draw near to us. (James 4:8). God says, “Call to me and I will tell you great and unknown things.” (Jeremiah 33:3). God is literally working within you. (Philippians 2:13). On the contrast, the bible also makes it clear there is real interaction between us and Satan. One of Jesus disciples warns us that the “devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus tells Peter how “Satan has demanded to have you that he might sift you like wheat.” (Luke 22:31). That's real. He's here and he's roaming this earth actively. There are also real interactions between us and angels, God's agents sent on his behalf. In Psalm we read, “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11). Lot is visited by 2 angels. Abraham is visited by 3 angels. The angel Gabriel speaks to Mary. The angel Michael fights for Daniel. An angel rescues Peter from prison. Girl, you have no idea how many times God has sent help you never saw. But even so, there are interactions between us and demons. Demons are the fallen angels that chose to follow Satan in his rebellion. Many believe scriptures are describing 1/3 of the angels in Heaven became Satan's demonic warriors. Yes, fallen spiritual beings opposed to God – and therefore opposed to us, his girls. Nope, I don't like it, but it's foolish of me to pretend it's not real. How will you battle what you won't even acknowledge as real? Here's the thing about these spirit forces – God, the devil, angels and demons – they are invisible to human eyes, but look around – their fingerprints are all over our world. We see the beauty and we see the distraction. We see the miracles and we see the evil. The wounds from the spiritual battle are felt in our lives and in our families. What if it's time to stop just surviving your spiritual life – and start walking in the strength God is actually offering you? Don't you think it's time you learn how to be the warrior God created you to be, stand on his side, and join the forces of good against this evil? There's an old saying, “All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” If we do nothing, darkness grows and consumes. Darkness grows not because it is stronger – but because light stays silent. We have a light within us that must be unveiled. DON'T HOLD BACK WHAT GOD HAS PUT WIHTIN YOU! Don't just walk by – shine your light. Don't settle for doing nothing – shine your light. Evil triumphs when God's girls do nothing about the darkness, the hurting, the suffering, and the evil around us. There was a time in my life where I did nothing about the darkness growing in my own family. I just made it look pretty on the outside and ignored the reality within. That darkness was given power because my light was silent. I played little. I don't do that anymore – how about you? Oh that God would open your eyes to see the real battle happening in the unseen places. May he make you SPIRITUALLY AWAKE AND AWARE. We've been sleeping, girls. Many of us have been spiritually dulled – distracted, overwhelmed, and constantly stimulated – while unaware of the deeper battles affecting our minds, our peace and our relationships. We've been hypnotized by our screens and lulled by TikTok. And you know what is happening … the enemy has been attacking our minds, making us depressed and anxious, making our families distant, twisting our desires to be all about our image and our imagined influence. Lord, WAKE US UP!!!!!!! In 2 Kings 6 there's a story of Elisha facing a battle where he and his soldiers are outmatched. Elisha's young servant boy was terrified at the sight of the enemy's great army with chariots and horses surrounding their city. But Elisha had such a connection with God, such an infusion of supernatural strength and power, that he knew about the UNSEEN. And this is what Elisha prays for his young servant who was afraid, “O Lord, open his eyes so that he may see.”. Then verse 17, “The LORD opened the young man's eyes, and then he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.” The army of God was already there – Elisha just had the spiritual awareness to know it. Heaven's army was there, fighting for them. Battles in the unseen heavenly realms. What do we have to be afraid of when we understand Heaven is literally on our side when we stand with God? Oh that our eyes of faith may be opened. Dare to believe there's MORE happening all around you! Here's what you have to know, while the devil and his demons are real, they are already defeated. Jesus defeated them at the cross. But the defeated Satan and his demons are still present trying to do their damage. It's a whole lot like this story: A little girl was riding in the car with her father. She cries out, “There's a bumble bee in the car!” The father grabbed the bee, got stun in the hand, and released the bee. The little girl cries again, “There's a bumble bee in the car!” But the father answered, “No problem, I've got his stinger in my hand.” Yes, Satan roams around like a roaring lion looking to kill, steal and destroy, BUT HE HAS NO TEETH. A lion with no teeth. Your Heavenly Father took away his bite. Satan is defeated – but he is not silent. He still roars, still pressures, still intimidates. But he is a lion without authority over those who stand in Christ. But here's the problem … when we don't connect with Jesus for our infusion of supernatural strength, then put on the full armor of God for the battle, we end up being gummed to death by Satan. He just chews away at us. He can't bite, but he sure can chew. That's what he does – he just chews away at you. He discourages you and wears you out. He roars and scares you into settling for a little life. He keeps you cornered and makes you play little. Even a toothless Satan is stronger than us when we don't use our divine resources to defeat him. Every single believer and follower of Jesus is involved in spiritual warfare to some degree. Every believer is powerless in this battle unless they rely on the resources God has given them. But every believer can achieve victory over Satan if we receive strength in our connection with Jesus and then put on the full armor of God. Every piece of armor is important and every piece is effective. You may not even realize how spiritually tired you've become. May God awaken your spirit – not to fear the battle, but to finally see it clearly. Up next in our series, we will study each piece of the armor. Gear up, Sis. The battle is real … but remember, he's a toothless lion! Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

In Singapore, the government encourages people to support good causes by donation-matching. It “tops up” donations to specific charities by contributing an equal amount or more. By effectively multiplying people’s contributions, it hopes to encourage them to become more involved in charitable giving. This two-pronged approach reminds me of how believers in Jesus are called to God’s standards of holiness in our discipleship journey. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul urges them “to work out [their] salvation” (2:12) and “press on” (3:12, 14). At the same time, he stresses that “it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (2:13). Believers in Jesus aren’t made right with God by good works or performance. But there is an idea of partnership in our spiritual growth. It requires heart and effort on our part; yet we do not do it by human strength. Having saved us by grace, God calls us to be holy—set apart for Him—and we respond in sincerity and gratitude. As we seek to obey and please Him, He enables and helps us to do so. He shows us when we go wrong (Philippians 3:15), gives us strength to resist temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13), and empowers us to do what’s right in His eyes (Ephesians 2:10).

The number one question I get asked is: "How do I hear from God?" And honestly, today's conversation with Brandie Barclay is exactly that. No script. No outline. No perfectly planned interview. We prayed, hit record, and had one of the most honest conversations about hearing God, overwhelm, identity, distraction, spiritual warfare, and walking with the Holy Spirit that I've had in a long time. And honestly? This episode feels less like a podcast and more like sitting down with two sisters in Christ trying to walk closely with God in a noisy, overwhelming world. In this episode, Brandie and I talk about: hearing God and learning to recognize His voice spiritual overwhelm and emotional exhaustion identity in Christ perfectionism and people pleasing religion versus real relationship with God why so many women feel spiritually drained right now the power of the Holy Spirit in everyday life learning to slow down and walk with God daily spiritual warfare and distraction obedience, faith, and trusting God in hard seasons One of my favorite parts of this conversation was when we talked about how so many women are striving for some huge spiritual experience while completely overlooking the simple daily relationship God is inviting them into. Open your Bible. Spend time with Him. Walk with Him daily. That is where peace starts. Brandie also shares powerful parts of her own story, including leaving her longtime career, learning how to fully trust God, writing her book through intense spiritual warfare, and discovering what it really means to live empowered by the Holy Spirit. And honestly, one of the biggest reminders throughout this episode is this: God never asked us to carry life without Him. About Brandie Barclay Brandie Barclay is a Christian author, speaker, and founder of PowerSoul Clubhouse. Her passion is helping women grow deeper in their relationship with God and live fully led by the Holy Spirit. Her bestselling book PowerSoul: Lit From Within — Life Powered by the Holy Spirit encourages women to stop striving in their own strength and start walking closely with God through faith, obedience, and intimacy with the Holy Spirit. Connect with Brandie: Brandie Barclay Official Website PowerSoul on Amazon Instagram: @brandiebarclay SCRIPTURES SHARED: Psalm 46:10 Nehemiah 8:10 Ephesians 2:10 Psalm 32:8 John 16:7 Philippians 4:8 Hebrews 11:1   If this episode spoke to your heart today, please share it with a friend who needs that same Christian lifestyle encouragement. You can also help me reach more women by leaving a five-star review on Apple or Spotify. Every review helps someone else find hope, healing, and strength in Jesus. Remember You are called, chosen, and set apart — and you were made to live God's way. With so much love,  Kim Dolan Leto Learn How to Walk With God Daily Friend, Put It Down. The striving. The hustle. The trying to figure it all out yourself. There is a better way. Join me for a free 5-minute workshop and learn how to walk with God — not just on Sunday, but every single day. http://kimdolanleto.com/dailywalk Listen or Watch Living God's Way Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/living-gods-way-with-kim-dolan-leto-christian-habits/id1504962677 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ymer79UOqIbItrwPJErxC YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/kimdolanletofit All Episodes: https://kimdolanleto.com/podcast  Connect with Me Newsletter: https://kimdolanleto.com/get-on-the-list Website: https://kimdolanleto.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/kimdolanleto Facebook: https://facebook.com/kimdolanleto YouTube: https://youtube.com/kimdolanletofit  

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body and refocus your mind to experience the reality of God's presence. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Notice: During the summer months, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, a new episode of this podcast will appear once a week each Tuesday morning. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” Philippians 2:13 CSB “For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.” Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located.

The hardest part of recognizing a people-pleasing pattern isn't the recognition itself. It's the quiet, unsettling question that surfaces right after: But if I stop... who am I? In Part 2 of The Dying to Please Series, Tanya Engesether goes beneath the surface of the people-pleasing pattern to the identity question at its core — because for many high-capacity women, people-pleasing isn't just something they do. It is who they are. The strong one. The reliable one. The capable one. The selfless one. And the prospect of changing that pattern doesn't feel like healing. It feels like losing themselves. In this episode, Tanya explores how people-pleasing becomes identity over time, names the specific roles many women have built their lives around, and addresses the grief that comes with letting go of a familiar story — even a painful one. She then goes to the theological root of the issue: the difference between a worth that is performed and a worth that is established by God before you ever did a single thing. This is not a ten-step plan. This is an honest, grace-filled conversation about what it means to begin rebuilding your identity on a foundation that does not shift — and what becomes possible when you do. In This Episode You'll Learn: How people-pleasing transitions from survival strategy to identity over time The specific roles high-capacity women build their lives around — and what each one is costing them Why letting go of a people-pleasing identity involves real grief — and why that grief is valid The theological foundation of worth — what God says about your value before your performance begins The difference between performing an identity and living from one What Psalm 139, Ephesians 2:10, and Galatians 5:1 say about identity and freedom What it practically looks like to begin untangling worth from usefulness Why receiving is a spiritual practice — and why people-pleasers struggle with it How identity-level work is the foundation of sustainable physical healing Scripture Referenced Psalm 139:14 — "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Ephesians 2:10 — "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works." Galatians 5:1 — "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." Galatians 1:10 — "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?" Key Takeaway Your worth was established before your performance began. Rebuilding your identity outside of people-pleasing doesn't happen all at once — it happens in small, repeated, often uncomfortable moments of choosing differently. And the woman you find on the other side of that work is worth knowing. I hope this episode blesses you! Xoxo, Tanya   Book a FREE functional health discovery call HERE.   Episode Resources: Episode Catalog   My trusted Supplement Dispensary: Aligned Vitality Fullscript Dispensary My trusted Telehealth Peptide Provider:  EllieMD_Tanya Engesether *I do get a small commission when you use one of the above affiliate links. 3 Ways To Connect With Me: 1️⃣COACHING: Are you READY to Lead Well, Live Well and BE Well? Book a FREE discovery call with me to find out more about functional health coaching. It's the accountability and guidance you need to reclaim your health and happiness! ➡︎ https://alignedvitalityhealth.com/coaching   2️⃣ FACEBOOK: Become part of our Supportive Facebook Group. Connect, share, and learn with others navigating life and leadership ➡︎ https://alignedvitalityhealth.com/community   3️⃣ CONTACT: Leave me a question or comment ➡︎ https://alignedvitalityhealth.com/contact   "Yes! Finally, a podcast helping others become the thriving leaders they're meant to be outside of hustle-culture! This is an amazing resource! Thank you so much for sharing and helping us become Spirit-driven, peaceful leaders!"    If you can relate, please consider rating and reviewing my show! It helps me reach more people – just like you – to help them change their future. Don't forget to follow the show so you don't miss any episodes! And, if you're feeling really generous, I'd be SO honored if you would share this podcast with someone.   Click here to view our privacy policy.   Reminder:  The information you hear on this show is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.  It is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your own health practitioner before you make any changes to your health.

Send us Fan MailWhy do Christians renounce sin, lies, occult involvement, vows, or demonic agreements during deliverance ministry?In this episode, Karl Gessler explains that the reason we renounce things is because deliverance is a legal battle in the Courtroom of Heaven. Agreements matter. Words matter. And writing or speaking your renunciations out loud is vital to breaking agreement with darkness.Topics include: What it means to renounce something  Why we renounce things in deliverance  Deliverance as a legal battle in the Courtroom of Heaven  Why speaking or writing words out loud matters  The difference between renouncing and deliverance Jesus still sets captives free.

The Bible says the tongue has the power of life and death. When we speak before we think, we often use our tongue as a death weapon. I'm encouraging you to think before you speak, and we've even made some bracelets for you to wear which say think. It's a good reminder to carry with you all day, so before you speak you make certain what you say needs to be said and is said in the best possible way. This acrostic for think will help you think before you speak. We already saw T stands for true. Speak only what you know to be true. H stands for helpful: Are the words you're just getting ready to say going to help anyone? If not, don't say them. Ephesians 4:29 is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible, in my opinion, and if we practiced it, we would think before we speak. It says, Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29). Some time ago I began praying this verse into my life, and I encourage you to do the same. Then I noticed when I would start to say something, I would often hear that inaudible voice of God's Spirit saying, “Is this going to help anyone else; will it benefit those who listen?” That has caused me to stop in the middle of lots of sentences, as I realized I didn't need to say what I was planning to say because it wasn't helpful to anyone else. Can you even imagine the wonderful changes that would take place on our jobs, in our churches, and in our homes if we determined not to speak any words that were unwholesome, that did not benefit others? That would eliminate griping and complaining; it would keep us from nagging people; it would cause us to stop passing on gossip. My goodness, it would make a difference in the way we live. Think about what you're going to say before you say it. It's so much easier to swallow those unhelpful words than it is to try to recover from them once they are said. If it's not helpful, just don't say it.

In this episode, Pastor Shannon Patterson continues our Soundtracks & Stories series by looking at the classic song Cat's in the Cradle by Harry Chapin. Through a personal story of grief and reflection, Shannon explores one of life's most sobering realities: time is a gift we can never get back. Drawing from Psalm 90, Ephesians 5, and 1 John 3, this message challenges us to examine our priorities, embrace the people God has placed in our lives, and choose presence over distraction. Porch Points: Time is your most valuable asset. Delayed priorities can become permanent regrets. Presence is the true currency of love. If you've ever found yourself saying "later" to the things that matter most, this conversation is a powerful reminder that Jesus invites us to live fully present—right now. The Porch Community Church Following Jesus For Our Community.

Are you searching for power to overcome what life keeps throwing at you? In this powerful Sunday message, Pastor James Wilson cuts straight to the heart of where true power is found. Rooted in Philippians 3:7-11, the sermon reminds believers that no connection, credential, or earthly influence can stand against the attacks of the enemy. The only power that truly changes everything comes from knowing Jesus Christ personally and intimately. Pastor Wilson challenges the church to stop chasing shortcuts and start surrendering to the One who holds all power. Whether facing pressure at work, chaos at home, or battles in the mind, believers are called to seek Christ above every worldly resource or relationship. Drawing from Paul's radical declaration that all things are counted as loss for the excellence of knowing Christ, he powerfully illustrates what it means to marinate in God's Word, yield to His Spirit, and walk in resurrection power daily. This message is a timely call to trade earthly striving for heavenly focus and discover that the power you have been searching for has been in Christ all along. True power is not found in who you know in the world. It is released through who you know in Christ. Sermon Scripture: Philippians 3:7-11; Ephesians 1:15-23   We stream live every Sunday at 11 am and every Wednesday at 8 pm.   Visit our website: https://perfectingfaithchurch.com  Connect with us on social media!  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PerfectingFaithChurch/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectingfaithchurch/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@perfectingfaithchurch  X: https://x.com/PFCNY   Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@perfectingfaithchurch

What is the church? Does the church have any power? How does the church relate to Israel? Pastor Micah Hayes continues our series, “Ephesians: One in Christ,” preaching from Ephesians 2:11-22. Notes in this sermon: The church is more unified than we act The church is more fundamental than we think The church is more powerful that we realize Visit www.bluevalleychurch.org for more information about Blue Valley Church in Overland Park and Olathe, Kansas.

Many Christians spend years accumulating knowledge while remaining spiritually stuck. Why? Because information alone doesn't transform lives. In this powerful episode, Pastor Ken Senchal examines Paul's prayer in Ephesians and reveals how spiritual wisdom and insight help believers move beyond knowledge into true transformation. You'll discover: • The difference between knowing about God and walking with God • The five stages of spiritual growth • Why spiritual maturity requires intentionality • How to overcome offense, pride, selfishness, and inconsistency • Why God's plan has always been multiplication, not accumulation If you've ever wondered where you are in your spiritual journey—or how to move forward—this message provides a practical roadmap for becoming the disciple Jesus has called you to be. Remember: "The measure of spiritual maturity isn't just what you know—it's who you're investing in." Subscribe, share, and join us as we pursue life-changing faith together.

A sermon from Geoff Zeigler on Ephesians 6:5-9

The Biblical perspective on alcohol is found in Ephesians 5:18: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Believers are free to drink alcohol, always being wise and avoiding drunkenness.

Welcome to Day 1 of our June series, Mature Christianity.In today's lesson, Pastor Azizah Morrison explores what spiritual maturity truly looks like according to Scripture. Spiritual maturity is not measured by how long we have been saved, how much we know, or how active we are in church. It is measured by Christ being formed in us.Drawing from Revelation 3, Hebrews 5, and Ephesians 4, this teaching challenges believers to move beyond spiritual complacency and embrace the process of growth, transformation, and discipleship. Join us as we pray for greater wisdom, deeper character, stronger faith, and a more mature walk with Christ.Scriptures: Revelation 3:15-16, Hebrews 5:12-14, Ephesians 4:13For more teachings and resources, connect with Pastor Azizah Morrison and HOPE Center Ministries. www.HOPECenterDC.com

When you hyper-focus on what you think you lack, you aren't practicing gratitude, and you can become discontent. When you covet what someone else has, you will start to believe that God is withholding something good from you. That means our discontentment is not about our life circumstances but about the state of our hearts.  Melissa Kruger joins the Perrys to talk about a book Jackie stumbled upon when looking for resources on the topic of covetousness – one that Melissa wrote back in 2012 called “The Envy of Eve: Finding Contentment in a Covetous World.” Whatever you're wanting, it will not ultimately be soul-satisfying. We spend our time chasing the contentment we want when it's available to us simply by abiding with Jesus.  Connect with Melissa: https://www.instagram.com/melissabryankruger  https://melissabkruger.com/ Check out Melissa's book, "The Envy of Eve: Finding Contentment in a Covetous World" – https://www.amazon.com/Envy-Eve-Finding-Contentment-Covetous/dp/1845507754 Jackie and Melissa's Ephesians study with Jasmine Holmes: https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/ephesians-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005843174? Scripture References Genesis 3 Philippians 4:11-13 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 This Episode is Sponsored By: https://weekendtoremember.com — Register now with code PERRY to save $100 on any getaway! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ephesians 6:10, “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” This comes BEFORE you put on the armor in verses 11-17. Putting even the best armor on a weak soldier does no good in the battle. The soldier must be strong to use the armor. Maybe you're weak right now – girl you don't need heavy armor – first you need to be strengthened. How do we gain this strength? “Be strong IN the Lord and in his mighty power.” IN THE LORD. Strength comes IN union with God. The original greek used a passive verb literally meaning “be strengthen by someone else”. We are strengthened by God, not by ourselves. If we run into battle without HIS strength, we will lose. If we are strong but without God's armor, we will be defeated. We must have his strength AND his armor. But his strength comes FIRST. Before we are given weapons to fight, we must gain strength and learn how to use our weapons. (Soldiers in basic training). We are called on to actively stand against the enemy, but we are never expected to do so in our own strength—that would be suicidal. “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” This is a divine-human partnership. Not for a moment are we to fight the devil with our own ideas, our money, our strong will, or our own talents. Let's look at this scripture in different translations (Ephesians 6:10) • MSG – God is strong and he wants YOU strong. • TPT – Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you. Think about an infusion. An infusion is the delivery of fluids, medications or blood from an OUTSIDE source, flowing directly into a person's bloodstream through an IV. The IV is the connection allowing the flow. Without the IV, there is no connection and there is no flow. No flow, no infusion of what is needed. God's word is telling us WE MUST HAVE A CONNECTION TO BE INFUSED BY HIS STRENGTH. That connection is our relationship with Jesus Christ. As we connect with Jesus, we are infused with God's supernatural strength flowing in us and through us. We don't generate that strength, it is divinely infused strength. Spiritual power through connection. Now, with that image, read Ephesian 6:10 TPT again, “Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.” (See yourself hooked up to an IV receiving everything you need just flowing into you from an outside source. Strength, healing, power. Receive that!) Jeusus assures us in John 16:33 that, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. BUT TAKE HEART, BECUASE I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.” That's the power of Jesus and that's the power that flows through you when you are connected to him and infused by God's strength! Will there still be problems? Yes – and here's why – because there's still a spiritual battle happening. Our problems are like visible wounds from the unseen spiritual battle. Behind most every problem is a spiritual battle to distract us, discourage us, dismiss us or distance us. Our problems are the visible wounds of the battle. Addictions, problems in your marriage, problems with your children, financial struggles, health battles – yes, those are the visible wounds of spiritual battles. But always remember this – 1 John 4:4, “Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.” MSG, “The Spirit that is in you is far greater than anything in the world.” If you're feeling weak from the battle, my sister, it's time for your infusion. Before you step into the next battle, before you make another decision, before you quit or before you move forward, be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you. Isn't that the answer for what you're facing? Yes. Isn't that the answer for how you've been feeling? Yes. You're in a battle and before anything else, you need to be supernaturally strengthened. You only receive that through connection with Jesus. Seek him, lean into him, spend time with him, talk to him, rest in him, connect with him. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

-Ephesians 10:1-10- A deeper understanding of the Grace we have received in Christ enables us to be more gracious and patient. It cultivates faithfulness, humility and a deep reliance upon Christ who is the only fount from which this blessing flows. May the Lord bless His people this evening through His word and give us a more robust understanding, and appreciation of this glorious gift. This week at Apologia Church the sermon was preached by Wes Fuller from County Line Church and our partner in End Abortion Now! Soli Deo Gloria!

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:1 Excluding gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Paul the Apostle was one of the foremost writers of the New Testament; accredited at least 13 of the books included. However, one detail many believers may gloss over is that, Paul was a Pharisee and astutely educated in the Tanakh, thus held a strong Jewish theology. Join Rabbi Schneider today in this classic series, as highlights importance of understanding the person of Paul and how it must influence our understanding of the New Testament. **** BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER - https://djj.show/YTAPartner  **** DONATE - https://djj.show/YTADonate  **** TEACHING NOTES -  https://djj.show/32g 

God Called Him a Warrior While He Was Hiding | The Story of Gideon Have you ever looked at your past mistakes, your failures, your insecurities — and wondered how God could ever use someone like you? Girl, you are not alone. And you're not the first. In this episode, Coach Jamie walks through the story of Gideon — a scared, insecure nobody that God called a mighty warrior — and what that means for YOU today. In this episode: Welcome to the UncommonTEEN Podcast Gideon's story — and why it's yours too What happens when we try to do life our own way Why God chose the least likely person for the biggest mission How Gideon grew his faith one small step at a time (and how you can too) 300 men vs. 135,000 — what God can do with what little you have 4 truths to come back to when the enemy says you're not enough

Top Ten from 2025: #10 Domestic Violence and Abuse: Identifying and Healing from Abusive Relationships with Stacey Womack (Episode 263)   Mark 10:27 NKJV "But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”   **Transcription of original episode** Domestic Violence and Abuse: Identifying and Healing from Abusive Relationships with Stacey Womack (Episode 263)   Questions and Topics We Discuss: Will you teach us about the various types of abuse? How do we respond appropriately and in a Christ-like manner when someone does report abuse? What are your views for having biblical reasons for divorce, specifically as it relates to each type of abuse?   Stacey Womack is an award-winning expert in domestic violence from a faith-based perspective. She founded Abuse Recovery Ministry & Services (ARMS) in 1997 and she is a published author and sought after national speaker. Stacey developed and wrote the curriculum used for ARMS programs, including Her Journey for survivors of abuse and Mankind and Virtue for men and women who have used abusive behaviors. She has assisted tens of thousands of people in recovering from both the receiving and giving of abuse. Her passion has grown ARMS, a small grassroots organization, to now having an international reach.   Abuse Recovery Ministry & Services Website   Stacey's Books   Thank You to Our Sponsor: Grace Catering   Other Related Episodes on The Savvy Sauce: 146 Biblical Response to Emotionally Destructive Relationships with Leslie Vernick 148 Overcoming Evil with Good: Recognizing Spiritual Abuse with Dr. Diane Langberg   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

Ephesians 5:9-19 Matthew 18:10-20

"Tradition" (Matthew 14:34-15:20) In this sermon from our ongoing study of the Gospel of Matthew, Pastor Russell Howard draws a line between spiritual discipline and spiritual deception. Habits and behaviors can be genuinely helpful to a believer's walk with God. But when external conformity becomes a substitute for biblical obedience, or when rule-keeping becomes the currency we use to earn God's love, those traditions become dangerous. They inoculate us against the very thing Scripture calls true holiness. Jesus encounters the Pharisees at the height of this tension. They have traveled over 100 miles from Jerusalem to challenge his disciples over a handwashing tradition rooted not in God's law but in the oral traditions of the rabbis. Jesus turns the accusation around: they are enforcing human rules while violating the actual commandments of God. He quotes Isaiah, "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." Then in verses 10 through 20, he makes an assertion that upends their entire framework. It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person. It is what comes out of the heart. The real problem has never been unwashed hands. It has always been an unwashed heart. Pastor Russell closes with this anchor from Ephesians 2: "By grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Obedience matters, but obedience proceeds from a transformed heart, not from an attempt to earn favor with God. If you have been trying to make God love you more, this message is the grace-shaped correction you didn't know you needed. Sermon Notes May 31, 2026 Russell Howard - Lead Pastor Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

In this sermon, we explore why the Trinity isn't a theological side note but the very center of Christian faith, shaping how we understand God, creation, the cross, and life in the Spirit.Beginning with God's self-revelation as “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14) and the doctrine of divine aseity, we look at what it means that God is utterly self-sufficient—and why our cultural obsession with radical independence is a distortion of our created design (Genesis 1:26–27; Psalm 100:3).From there, we unpack the profound claim that “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). If love necessarily involves a lover and a beloved, then only a triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—can be love in Himself from all eternity (John 17:24). We consider creation as both creatio ex nihilo and creatio ex amore—God making all things out of nothing and out of His overflowing love (Psalm 33:6; Psalm 136; Colossians 1:15–17; John 1:1–3).We then trace how the same self-giving love revealed in creation is unveiled at the cross. Jesus' crucifixion is not God acting “out of character,” but the clearest revelation of who God has always been (John 8:28; Romans 5:6–8; Revelation 13:8). The Father, Son, and Spirit act inseparably in salvation just as in creation: the Father sends, the Son is sent, and the Spirit conceives, empowers, and applies Christ's finished work (Luke 1:35; John 1:29–34; Hebrews 9:14).Next, we look at Pentecost and the gift of the Holy Spirit as God's way of bringing us into His own triune life of love (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1–4; Romans 5:5). By the Spirit, the Father and Son “make their home” with us (John 14:16–23), so that we now remain in Him and He in us (1 John 3:24; John 15:1–11). God's love doesn't sit still; it “compels” us outward in mission (2 Corinthians 5:14–15; Matthew 28:18–20).Finally, we connect this to the movement from pilgrims to pioneers:Like the crowds in Acts 2, we ascend as pilgrims to encounter God in worship and community (Psalm 24:3–6; Hebrews 10:24–25).Filled with the Spirit, we are sent out as pioneers of the gospel to the nations, carrying the same self-giving love we see in Father, Son, and Spirit (Acts 2:5–11; Acts 8:4; Romans 10:13–15).The message concludes with a clear invitation to repentance, faith, and full surrender to Jesus (Mark 1:14–15; Romans 10:9–10; Ephesians 2:8–9), and a prayer to be filled with the Holy Spirit to live in and live out the eternal love of God (Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:22–25; Jude 20–21).

Heaven Changes Everything Part #1 of Series: Heaven Changes Everything Pastor Kerry Shook Heaven Is A Place Of SO MUCH MORE Heaven Is A Place Of NO MORE Heaven Is A Place Of ONE WAY Scriptures: First Corinthians 2:9, Matthew 6:9-13, First Corinthians 2:7-10, Colossians 3:1, Second Corinthians 5:1, First Corinthians 13:12, Revelation 21:4, Revelation 21:5a, John 14:6, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 1:12, First Thessalonians 1:8-9, Second Peter 3:9, Matthew 28:19, Luke 9:26 Topics: Heaven, Love, Hope

Welcome back to another episode of Man vs Marriage.In this second deep dive from The Big Picture series, we explore Jesus as the greatest legacy. Huddle up as Quincy asks the hard questions: Who do you emulate? What example are you setting for the young men in your life? What values are you living that are worthy of being followed?From servant leadership and sacrifice to Ephesians 5:25 and Mark 10:45, this episode connects Christ's example to how we love and lead our wives and families. Legacy isn't just what we say — it's how we live when no one is watching.Key TopicsJesus as the ultimate model of service and sacrificeHuddle-up reflection questions for menEphesians 5:25 – Husbands, love your wivesBuilding a legacy worthy of being followedTimeline / Chapters00:00 – 00:08: Pre-show setup00:08 – 00:02:30: Huddle up – Reflective questions for men00:02:30 – 00:08:00: Jesus as the greatest legacy00:08:00 – 00:20:00: Mark 10:45 & servant leadership00:20:00 – 00:27:00: Ephesians 5:25 – How husbands should love00:27:00 – 00:33:00: Closing encouragement & call to actionCall to Action This week, reflect on one way you can follow Jesus' example of service and sacrifice in your home. Share this episode with 5 men who need to see what real legacy looks like.Contact / Links Email: quincy@mvsmpodcast.com Website: MVSMpodcast.comHashtags #ManVsMarriage #TheGreatestLegacy #JesusIsTheGreatestLegacy #ServantLeadership #TheBigPicture #MenHelpingMen #FaithAndFamily

Trading Card Games x Ephesians 2:10 x Exodus 31Your daily crossover of faith and fandom! Experience daily Biblical encouragement from nerdy Christian podcasters, bloggers, and content creators. Join the Nerd of Godcast community at www.NOGSquad.com

Most of us have some version of church we've settled for. Show up. Sit down. Go home. But what if that's nowhere near what the church was actually designed to be?In Acts 2, the earliest followers of Jesus didn't just attend something — they were devoted to something. Devoted to each other. Devoted to prayer, Scripture, meals, and radical generosity. And the result? People noticed. Lives changed. The community grew — not because of a marketing strategy, but because they were genuinely becoming something different together.In this message, we explore what it looks like for a church to live into its full potential — and what's at stake when we settle for less.You'll walk away thinking about:Commitment — Some commitments require a "yes" even when you don't feel like it. What does it look like to be truly devoted to a community, not just a Sunday service?Maturity — Spiritual growth isn't a solo project. You don't become more like Jesus in isolation. Your development is connected to the people around you — and the community you're willing to stay committed to.Calling — Every person in the church is a minister. Every home is a center of ministry. The question isn't whether you have a role to play — it's whether you're playing it.This isn't a guilt trip about church attendance. It's an invitation to something far more meaningful than a weekly hour on Sunday.

The cancer of the soul is often something we never planned for, covetousness. It quietly whispers, "If only you had this, then you'd be happy." In this message by Pastor Alex Klimchuk, we find that true freedom comes from knowing the truth, practicing the truth, and allowing the truth to set you free. Ephesians 5:5-7, Proverbs 27:17, Psalm 19:14, Luke 12:15, Psalm 50:14, Psalm 119:36 #greed #Covet   ✨ Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, & SUBSCRIBE!   Please follow our websites for more! Website: http://www.newlifechurchsf.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewLifeSF/ Youtube: https://youtu.be/7Ig-qXgVAmE/ Pastor Alex Klimchuk New Life Church 500 S 1st Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57104  

Sunday Sermon from the book of Ephesians from Stewart Swain on May 31, 2026. Our hope for you is that you will know, love, and follow Jesus Christ -- leading to personal transformation, intimate community, and a life of radical mission. You are always welcome to join us for worship at West End Community Church.For more info, please visit the WECC website at westendcc.org

Learn more: https://determinetruth.com Can Bible verses be used to justify abuse? In this episode of the Determine Truth Podcast, we continue our series on toxic church culture, spiritual abuse, and unhealthy leadership by examining how churches sometimes protect institutions, reputations, and leaders instead of victims. We discuss the Southern Baptist Convention abuse scandals, church accountability structures, Christian nationalism, complementarianism, and several high-profile examples involving church leaders and abuse allegations. We also examine several frequently cited Bible passages that are often used in discussions about abuse, including: • Malachi 2 ("God hates divorce") • Ephesians 5 ("wives submit to your husbands") • Matthew 5 ("turn the other cheek") Along the way, we ask important questions: What happens when churches prioritize reputation over victims? How should churches respond to allegations of abuse? Can Scripture be weaponized? What does biblical justice actually look like? How can churches create healthier and safer cultures? This episode includes discussion of domestic violence, church abuse, spiritual abuse, and sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised. Resources Mentioned To Heal or To Harm by Steve Tracy For Our Daughters documentary Julie Roys Wade Mullen Scot McKnight Diane Langberg Chuck DeGroat Determine Truth Ministries exists to equip the church to be the church through biblical teaching, theological education, and pastoral training around the world. Learn more: https://determinetruth.com #SpiritualAbuse #ChurchAbuse #SouthernBaptist #ChristianNationalism #JohnMacArthur #JohnPiper #ChurchLeadership #BiblicalJustice #ToxicChurch #DetermineTruthPodcast  

11am Series: In Christ (Ephesians) Ephesians 2:8–10

Guided Question How does returning to God's original design for men and women—through submission to Scripture and dependence on the Holy Spirit—challenge the way you currently understand leadership, responsibility, and relationship in your own life? Summary In this message, Dr. Robert Lewis continues his Genesis series by examining roles as part of God's original design for humanity. Building on the prior discussion of equality and difference between men and women, he explores how biblical roles are revealed in Genesis 1–3 and how New Testament writers interpret these passages. Dr. Lewis argues that while men and women are created equal in value and dignity as image-bearers of God, they are given distinct, complementary roles. He highlights several features from Genesis 2 that suggest male headship: Adam's creation first, his assignment to cultivate and guard the garden, his receiving God's command directly, and his role in naming both the animals and the woman. These elements, Lewis explains, are foundational to how the New Testament understands leadership in the home and the church. The sermon then turns to Genesis 3 and the Fall, showing how sin disrupts God's intended order. Satan approaches Eve first, roles are reversed, and Adam fails to lead—resulting in devastating consequences. God's curse affects men and women differently, distorting both leadership and submission into struggle, domination, and resistance. Dr. Lewis explains that this “battle of the sexes” flows directly from the Fall, not from God's original design. Finally, the message offers hope through redemption in Christ. While the curse still affects believers, it can be progressively reversed through radical submission to God's Word and dependence on the Holy Spirit. Drawing from Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3, Dr. Lewis emphasizes that Spirit-filled living restores God's design—calling husbands to loving, sacrificial leadership and wives to respectful submission—so that God's original intent for harmony, purpose, and witness can again be displayed to the world. Outline Introduction: From Differentness to Roles Review of Genesis 1: equality and distinction Cultural resistance to biblical roles Trusting God's conclusions rather than human reasoning Genesis 2: Roles Revealed Adam as primary focus of the chapter God as Father providing occupation and wife Man's role as leader; woman as helper Symbiotic design for subduing and multiplying Theological Indicators of Headship Man created first Adam receiving God's command directly Adam's responsibility to instruct Eve Naming as an act of authority New Testament Affirmation Paul's grounding of church roles in Genesis Key passages: 1 Timothy 2; 1 Corinthians 11 & 14 Roles rooted in creation, not culture Genesis 3: The Fall and Role Reversal Satan's strategy and temptation Doubting God's Word and motives Eve leads; Adam follows Adam held responsible for the Fall The Curse and Distorted Roles Pain in childbirth and toil in work “Desire” and “rule” explained through Genesis 4:7 Struggle, domination, and oppression introduced Roles Restored Through Christ The curse still affects believers Radical commitment required The Word and the Spirit working together Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3 as the pathway forward Conclusion God's design as a witness to the world Faithfulness to Scripture despite cultural opposition Key Takeaways Men and women are equal in worth but distinct in role, according to God's design. Biblical roles are rooted in creation, not culture or convenience. The Fall distorted both male leadership and female submission into struggle and oppression. Adam bears responsibility for the Fall because headship includes accountability. Every temptation involves doubting God's Word and His character. The conflict between men and women is a result of sin, not God's original plan. Restoration of roles requires radical submission to Scripture and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Spirit-filled, Word-centered lives enable loving leadership and willing submission. God's redeemed design in marriage and church serves as a testimony to the world. Scripture References Genesis 1:26–28 — Men and women are equally created in God's image and given shared purpose. Genesis 2:15–25 — Distinct, complementary roles are established in creation. Genesis 3:1–19 — Sin reverses God's design and introduces conflict and hardship. Genesis 4:6–7 — “Desire” describes a struggle for control. Luke 3:38 — Adam's representative responsibility is affirmed. 1 Corinthians 11:8–9 — Creation order informs male and female roles. 1 Timothy 2:12–13 — Church roles are grounded in creation, not culture. Ephesians 5:18–33 — Spirit-filled living restores God's design in marriage. Colossians 3:16–19 — God's Word directs healthy marital relationships. Recorded on 1.31.82

Pastor Scott Nagle shares a message on Student Takeover Day based on Ephesians 3:20-21 about God's power and what He can do in our lives.

May 24, 2026The 4-week series, Resolute Together, explores the four core commitments of TBC membership: protecting the unity of the church, joining the mission of the church, supporting the life of the church, and serving the ministry of the church. The challenge for TBC is not whether we should be resolute, but how we can ensure we stand resolute together as a church family. This week, we ask, “Will we join the mission of the church?”Ephesians 4:11-16

Dan Jarms + Reading of the full book of Ephesians by several Elders.Sermon notesScripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.Faith Bible Church is a loving community making disciples of Jesus Christ.View our full archive of sermons and resourcesLearn more about our church

This Week at Genesis | Children of the Light In Ephesians 5, Paul calls the church to remember who they are: children of the light. This message explores the contrast between darkness and light, and what it means to live lives shaped by the love, holiness, and presence of God. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to walk wisely, discern what pleases the Lord, and be continually filled with the Spirit. Together, we reflect on how gratitude, worship, and obedience form a life that shines with the light of Christ in a world longing for hope. Scripture & Themes

Paul has settled into ground zero when it comes to living out our new identity...the household. What we do behind our front doors says more about who we are than anything we do in public. Husbands, wives, children, parents, household slaves and masters. There is no stone unturned.

The One and the Many | Ephesians 4:1–7, 11–16 & John 17:1–11 In this Trinity Sunday sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on one of Jesus' final prayers for the church: that his followers "may be one." Drawing from Ephesians 4 and John 17, this message explores the mystery of Christian unity and the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing diverse people together as one body in Christ. Using images of Earth seen from space, stories from history, and reflections on contemporary culture, Rev. Galloway invites us to consider the difference between unity and uniformity. Christian unity does not require us to think alike, act alike, or share identical opinions. Rather, it is rooted in the presence of God among us and within us. From the mystery of the Trinity to the life of the church, this sermon reminds us that diversity is not a threat to unity—it is one of God's gifts. We each bring different experiences, perspectives, and talents, yet the Holy Spirit weaves them together into something larger than ourselves. In a culture that often prizes individuality over community, this message offers a compelling vision of belonging: a church where differences are not erased but embraced, where love is greater than division, and where unity becomes a witness to God's presence in the world. If the church is to offer hope to a fractured world, it must first learn to embody the unity for which Christ prayed. What would we see if we could step back and view the whole church as we see our blue planet from space? A fragmented body divided by conflict and fear? Or something beautiful—many people, many gifts, and many voices, united by the Holy Spirit in the love of Christ?

Summary Lt Gen Clint Hinote, USAF (Ret.), and CH(COL) Light Shin, USA, join host Josh Jackson to examine influencer culture through a biblical lens. Hinote brings decades of military leadership experience and is now building a speaking ministry focused on integrating Christian faith and leadership into a single, unified message. Shin serves as an active-duty Army chaplain and father of three daughters, navigating influencer culture's effects on faith and family in real time. Both will be speaking on the theme of influence at OCF's White Sulphur Springs Conference Center this summer. The conversation begins by establishing a biblical framework for thinking about influence—one that applies to all Christians before it applies to military officers specifically. A few key distinctions anchor everything that follows. First, the platform versus the algorithm. Both guests agree that social media platforms are morally neutral—the tool itself is neither good nor evil. Hinote compares them to the Roman road system: the same infrastructure used to carry armies also carried the early gospel across the known world. What man built for one purpose, God can use for another. The YouVersion Bible App is offered as a contemporary example of Christians using technology with vision for gospel purposes. The algorithms driving those platforms, however, are a different matter. They are deliberately engineered not to inform or build up users, but to keep them scrolling—by targeting base impulses, feeding comparison, and manufacturing shame. Hinote frames these as the "flaming arrows" of Ephesians 6, and the first thing you see on social media that triggers envy, comparison, or temptation is an arrow. Recognize it. Raise your shield of faith. Second, influencer versus witness. Shin draws a sharp distinction from Acts 1:8, saying that an influencer seeks to build a following but a witness tells the truth about what they have seen and heard, regardless of the audience's reaction. Both guests agree that Christian influence should be a byproduct of a Christ-centered life—not a goal pursued in its own right. When influence becomes the goal, self replaces God at the center. The framework they offer is simple: know Christ above all things, do what Christ commanded, and become more like Jesus through that ongoing, lifelong process. Influence, rightly understood, flows from that. As Shin puts it, the question worth asking regularly is: "Whose kingdom did I build today—God's or mine?" Third, authenticity over curation. The lie of influencer culture, Hinote argues, is that you have to look like you have it all figured out. In reality, authenticity builds trust, and trust is what creates genuine influence. This is as true in the gospel as it is in personal branding, and the early church wrestled with the same pull toward following personalities over Christ, as Paul addresses directly in 1 Corinthians 1:12. The standard the guests return to throughout is 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you—yet do it with gentleness and respect." With that foundation in place, the conversation turns to what this means specifically for Christian officers serving in uniform. Referenced in this conversation: Summer R&R 2 at WSS (Hinote) Summer R&R 6 at WSS (Shin) YouVersion Bible App The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller   Questions answered and themes covered in this interview include:   How is social media affecting the younger generation entering military service? Young people entering the military are increasingly shaped by a worldview centered on self-promotion, curated personas, and metrics of online acceptance. This stands in direct tension with what military formation is designed to accomplish. The foundational goal of basic training is the breakdown of individual ego and the subordination of self to the unit. Shin references Timothy Keller's The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness as the counterpoint to what he observes: recruits arriving not in freedom, but in what he calls "bondage of self-obsession"—more concerned with how they're perceived on a platform than how they're showing up for the person next to them. Hinote adds that this tension isn't new, and that American individualism has always been something the military has had to address. However, the platforms intensify that individualism by continuously reinforcing exactly the self-focused impulses that military culture is trying to dismantle. Character development must be continuous and intentional, not treated as something institutions address only when there's time. Resource: The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller   How do I share my faith as a military officer without it being weird or forced? Start by living the message before communicating it, and know which role you're speaking from at any given moment. Hinote, drawing from his own experience rising through senior military ranks, offers a framework that proved practically useful. When you are on a platform, in uniform, with rank on your shoulders and a flag behind you, you are speaking from a position of institutional authority, and conflating that authority with the authority of Christ risks manipulation and coercion, which is not Christlike leadership. In settings where you have more personal freedom—as a church member, a neighbor, a citizen—you have more latitude to speak openly about your faith. The key is empathy: always consider what role your audience sees you occupying. In either context, when you fail—and you will—own it and apologize. Authenticity builds trust. Trust creates real influence. A practical starting point Hinote recommends for any developing leader is this: keep a journal, write down every role you hold, and identify the through line connecting them all. Then live that through line. The standard throughout is 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you—yet do it with gentleness and respect." Statistics and data shared this episode (plus a few extra not included): A working definition of influencer culture: Influencer culture is a social and economic phenomenon created when social media platforms reward people for curating a public identity, performing for engagement, and building an audience around themselves. Influencers use their platform to shape the opinions, lifestyles, and purchasing decisions of their audience. Every generation is influenced in some way by influencer marketing: 55% of Gen Z trust influencer recommendations, compared with 44% of Millennials, 35% of Gen X, and 28% of Baby Boomers (2025 Clutch survey). StoryBox says there are approximately 127 million active social media influencers worldwide—roughly 2.4% of the global social media user base of 5+ billion people. EMarketer breaks that down into 4 tiers of influencers: Nano: 1,000–10,000 followers; Micro: 10,000–100,000 followers; Macro: 100,000–1 million followers; and Mega/celebrity: 1 million+ followers. The vast majority of influencers on TikTok (nearly 88%) are nano-influencers and Instagram follows a similar pattern with nano-influencers representing about 76% of its influencers (eMarketer). According to some reports, military-related content on TikTok alone amassed over 15 billion views in 2023; look up #MilTok. Military.com calls it the rise of soldier influencers. Influencer culture is not just shaping what people buy (or which branch to join)—it's doing three things: It's shaping how an entire generation sees themselves, forms relationships, and decides who to trust. Consider the following: In terms of how they see themselves: Writer and Substack author Freya India, whose book GIRLS was published earlier this year, frames influencer culture this way—girls as young as 12 packaging themselves for Instagram, getting feedback on their appearance, measuring their worth in likes and followers. An adjacent stat is this: 47% of Gen Z often or always feel anxious (Gallup, 2023). That's the self-perception toll. In terms of forming relationships: A Harvard study says 61% of young adults ages 18–25 report profound loneliness—the highest rate of any age group. This is the one that tends to surprise people, because the assumption is that hyper-connected generations would be less lonely or that older generations would be the loneliest. In terms of deciding who to trust: Only 8% of Gen Z say there's a religious leader they can turn to (Springtide Research). And from Edelman—religious and faith leaders rank at 44% trust rate among Gen Z, well below doctors, scientists, and teachers. But here's the flip side: family members rank at 88% trust. The hunger for relational authority is still there and it's real. Instead, it's institutional authority that's taken a hit.

Send us Fan MailWhat does it mean to truly live in the light?This week, Pastor Andy walked through Ephesians 5 and challenged us to examine whether we're simply going through the motions or allowing God to transform us from the inside out. Following Jesus isn't about behavior modification—it's about surrender. It's about allowing God to shape us, renew our minds, and lead us into the life He created us to live.No matter where you've been or what season you're in, God is calling you into something greater. The question is: Are you willing to step into the light?Watch this week's message and be encouraged to live with purpose, walk in truth, and embrace the transforming work of Christ.

What is the church? Does the church have any power? How does the church relate to Israel? Pastor Derrick Lynch continues our series, “Ephesians: One in Christ,” preaching from Ephesians 2:11-22. Notes in this sermon: The church is more unified than we act The church is more fundamental than we think The church is more powerful that we realize Visit www.bluevalleychurch.org for more information about Blue Valley Church in Overland Park and Olathe, Kansas.

Show #2675 Show Notes: Romans 13: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2013&version=KJV Ephesians 6:10-20 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%206%3A10-20&version=KJV Psalm 2: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%202&version=KJV Watch Coach host WCNTV: https://wcntv.net/home Mark Driscoll on Demonic Forces: https://www.youtube.com/live/p8xVV0OOB8U The biggest lie: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2342189312976056 John MacArthur on altar calls: https://www.facebook.com/reel/4569185766727339

May 31, 2026 Most people think the Gospel is about becoming a better person, but Ephesians 2 tells a much deeper story. Paul reminds us that sin doesn't just wound us, it leaves us spiritually dead and unable to save ourselves. Yet in the middle of humanity's worst news come two of the most hope-filled words in Scripture: “But God.” This message is about the God who meets us with mercy, raises us to new life through Jesus, and transforms us into His masterpiece filled with purpose and grace. About this Sermon Series: God has always had a plan. The book of Ephesians reveals the incredible story of God's plan to bring salvation to all people through Jesus Christ and unite them into one family. In this 13-week series, we'll discover what it means to live with purpose as people who have been chosen, redeemed, and called by God. Along the way, we'll explore how the Holy Spirit transforms our everyday relationships—with family, friends, the Church, and the world around us. Ephesians is an invitation to step into God's greater story and live the kind of life we were created for.

If you think you're bad at prayer, what if you've simply believed God is less welcoming than He really is? Jesus opened the door. The Father invites you in. The Holy Spirit is your prayer partner! "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man... and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:16,19 NASB95 If you would like to partner in the work we are doing locally and globally, please visit https://myLOH.church/GIVE

What if you've been treating God like a boss when He's been trying to be your Father?In this message, The Heart of God, Pastor Alex Roman walks us through Ephesians 1 to show us what God's heart toward us is. Drawing from Ephesians 1:4–8, Genesis 2–3, and Isaiah 41:13, this sermon reframes our whole relationship with God around three truths that change everything.In this message, you'll discover:-What God's heart toward you has been since before you took your first breath-What the Garden of Eden teaches us about the relationship God has always wanted with us-How sin didn't just separate us from God, it broke our ability to see Him clearly-Why your spiritual DNA changes the moment you put your faith in Jesus-What it looks like to walk with God every day, not just on SundaysWhether you've been performing for God's approval, hiding from Him after a hard week, or wondering why your relationship with Him feels distant, this message will remind you that God is a Father who loves you, not somebody you have to impress.

DOWNLOAD KEYNOTES SLIDES “Living Through Love” Part Four of the Series: “Rooted& Grounded” Message by Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min. This sermon, part four of the “Rooted and Grounded” series, teaches that believers must be rooted and grounded in God's love as a primary responsibility. Drawing from Ephesians 3:17–20 and 1 John 4, the message emphasizes that true love does not originate from human effort, emotion, or personality, but from God Himself. The sermon contrasts phileo love, which is relational, emotional, and often expects reciprocity, with agape love, which is sacrificial, unconditional, and comes only from God. Because God is love, those who are born of God are empowered to love beyond natural limits. A key theme is that believers are called to “live through Him”—through Christ and through the love God has imparted. God's love is demonstrated through Jesus, who became the sacrifice for sin, not because humanity first loved God, but because God first loved us. This perfect love also casts out fear, giving believers confidence, peace, and freedom from torment. The sermon concludes by reminding listeners that God does not merely possess love—He is love. Therefore, abiding in love means abiding in God, and living through love is evidence of knowing Him.

What if the most unlikely person in the room is exactly who God had in mind?Nacho Libre is not just a comedy. It is based on the true story of Father Sergio Gutierrez Benitez, a Mexican priest who became a professional wrestler to fund his orphanage. His story raises three questions that every believer eventually has to wrestle with: Am I qualified enough for what God is asking of me? Is the conflict I am feeling a sign that I am on the wrong path? And am I performing for an identity I already have?In this message, we unpack what this unlikely story reveals about how God works, how He calls people, and how He defines who we are.Three things you will walk away with: First, God consistently chooses people the world overlooks, and Scripture backs this up from Abraham to Moses to Peter. Second, the tension you feel when pursuing God's purpose is often confirmation, not contradiction. Third, you were never meant to fight for your identity. You fight from it.Whether you are feeling unqualified, burned out, or unsure of your calling, this message is for you.Key Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Romans 7, Colossians 3:17, Ephesians 2:8-10