Podcasts about in genesis

We all experience “dark nights,” seasons in our lives when circumstances leave us feeling vulnerable and unsure about the future. Can you look back and remember an encounter with God in a difficult season that changed you - a moment so monumental it shook you to the core of your being and left you a different person? Or maybe that's what you need today. In Genesis 28:10-22, after all the manipulation and deceit to get his father's blessing, Jacob is running for his life and uncertain about his future. How is an unexpected encounter with God in the dark night of his life the beginning of something new? And what does it mean for the dark night of our lives today?

Last week, we celebrated THE LAST MEAL WE'LL EVER NEED -- Jesus, the Bread of Life. This week we go back to the beginning, to THE FIRST BITE that changed everything. In Genesis 3, a simple act of eating becomes a doorway to sin, shame, and separation from God. But even in humanity's fall, God's grace was already at work. Join us as we explore the story of the first meal -- and the Savior who came to make things right.Recorded live at Word of Life Church in Le Sueur, Minnesota, on Sunday, August 10, 2025, Pastor Nick Olson preaching.

In Genesis 11 & 12 we find the world in the throws of sin and chaos. And at this point, God does something different than He had done before. He calls a family into discipleship. God decides to fix the world through the holiness of a family. God is calling you into a new life! Will you answer that call? To support the work and worship of Redeemer, subscribe to our channel and consider supporting us by giving a tax deductible gift at the link below. https://pushpay.com/g/redeemerchurchrockwall

Life often feels like a scene from The Bear—loud, messy, and chaotic. In Genesis 1,…

The function ש־ו־ב (shin–waw–bet) is not the sigh of remorse in a cloistered heart, but the pivot of a sword's edge; the turn God commands into the place where his name has been denied. Abraham returns from the valley of kings; Moses returns to the mountain, still breathing the smoke of the calf's golden stench; Gideon returns to the camp with the dream of victory burning in his ears. None turns to hide—all turn to face him.And ח־נ־ן (ḥet–nun–nun), to plead, is no bowing before the courts of men. The human reference vanishes. Job's feeble plea to his servant falls into the void. Malachi mocks the lips that beg for favor while the hands bring defilement. Proper pleading is stripped of flattery and calculation, bare as incense in the wind, carrying no name but his.In Luke's Gerasene plain, the return is marked by absence. The swine are gone, the crowd is gone, the man's former companions erased. He stands alone, clothed and found, with no community left to shield him, no filth left to hide him, no power left to reference but the one who sent him. This is the Day when the disbeliever is given back his own deed, when tribe and city and oath are dust, and a man stands naked before the Face that made him. This is the Day that the Lord has made. To return is to step into that bareness now, ahead of the Hour, with only obedience in your hands.“Return to your house, habibi, and describe what great things God has done for you.”This week, I discuss Luke 8:39.Show Notesδέομαι (deomai) / ח־נ־ן (ḥet–nun–nun) / ح–ن–ن (ḥāʾ–nūn–nūn)BEGGING IN VAINThe itinerary of ח־נ־ן (ḥet–nun–nun) / ح–ن–ن (ḥāʾ–nūn–nūn) opens with righteous entreaty to God in Deuteronomy 3:23 — “I pleaded [וָאֶתְחַנַּ֖ן (waʾetḥannan)] with the Lord at that time” — and proceeds to submission before his prophet in 2 Kings 1:13 — “he bowed down on his knees before Elijah and begged [וַיִּתְחַנֵּ֗ן (wayyiṭḥannēn)] him.” It is upheld as the correct course in Job 8:5 — “if you will search for God and implore [תִּתְחַנָּֽן (titḥannan)] the compassion of the Almighty” — but falters in Job 19:16, when Job seeks compassion from a human servant: “I called to my servant, but he gave me no answer; I pleaded [חִנַּ֖נְתִּי (ḥinnantī)] with him with my mouth.”Here, the root meets the same fork in the road as מ־צ־א (mem–ṣade–aleph) / و–ج–د (wāw–jīm–dāl) “to find.” To plead in the wrong direction is the verbal equivalent of being found in the wrong place—misoriented, exposed, and powerless. Job is “found out” in his misdirected appeal.The itinerary returns to proper alignment in Psalm 141:2 — “may my prayer be counted as incense before you” — where the supplication is again oriented toward God, the one who truly “finds” his slave. But the arc terminates with Malachi 1:9 — “will you not plead [חִנַּנְאֵל (ḥinnū-ʾēl)] for God's favor…with such an offering…will he receive any of you kindly?” Here, the prophet exposes the futility of petition without obedience. Even the correct address is worthless if the one who pleads is “found” corrupt.In Luke, δέομαι (deomai) follows the same itinerary. As with מ־צ־א, the point is not the act itself — searching, pleading, finding — but the reference. Mercy is not secured by human initiative, whether in seeking or in supplication, but by being found by God in faithful submission. To plead wrongly is to be found wrongly; to plead rightly is to be found rightly. Luke's use aligns with Malachi's charge: misplaced faith or hypocritical worship is no more effective than Job's appeal to his unresponsive servant.Deuteronomy 3:23 – וָאֶתְחַנַּ֖ן (waʾetḥannan) – I also pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, – Moses petitions the Lord to let him cross the Jordan and view the promised land.2 Kings 1:13 – וַיִּתְחַנֵּ֗ן (wayyiṭḥannēn) – So the king again sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. When the third captain of fifty went up, he came and bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and begged him and said to him, “O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight.” – A third captain approaches Elijah after the first two captains were destroyed. He kneels and requests preservation for himself and his men.Job 8:5 – וְאֶל־שַׁדַּ֥י תִּתְחַנָּֽן (weʾel-shadday titḥannan) – If you will search for God And implore the compassion of the Almighty, – Bildad advises Job to seek God and appeal for compassion.Job 19:16 – חִנַּ֖נְתִּי (ḥinnantī) – I called to my servant, but he did not answer; I implored him with my mouth. – Job recounts calling his servant and receiving no reply, even after pleading directly.Psalm 141:2 – תִּתְחַנָּֽה (titḥannah) – May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The raising of my hands as the evening offering. – The psalmist compares his prayer to incense and the lifting of hands to the evening offering.Malachi 1:9 – חִנַּנְאֵל (ḥinnū-ʾēl) – But now will you not plead for God's favor, so that He will be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?” says the Lord of armies. – The prophet challenges the priests to request God's favor despite their unacceptable offerings.ὑποστρέφω (hypostrephō) / ש־ו־ב (shin–waw–bet) / ث-و-ب (thāʾ–wāw–bāʾ)Finding, Pleading, Returning: Three Arcs Toward ConfrontationIn Luke 8, the healed man's commission to return [שׁוּב (shub)] to his city cannot be read in isolation. It is the culmination of three interwoven prophetic itineraries — מ־צ־א (mem–ṣade–aleph) “to find,” ח־נ־ן (ḥet–nun–nun) “to plead,” and ש־ו־ב (shin–waw–bet) “to return” — each carrying its own history of confrontation, exposure, and the tearing down of human constructs.The root מ־צ־א moves through Scripture as a pivot between encounter and judgment. To “find” is not neutral; it is to be located, exposed, or confronted by what is found. In Luke 8:35, the townspeople find the formerly demon-possessed man “clothed and in his right mind” — an exposure that drives them to fear. Their response aligns them not with Abraham's trust (Genesis 14:17), but with those who resist God's presence. “Then after his return [בְּשׁוּבוֹ (bə·shū·bō)] from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). (Genesis 14:17)The root ש־ו־ב is typically mistranslated as repentance in a theological sense. Still, in the prophetic arc, it signals a strategic pivot, a “turn” toward confrontation, often in the face of danger. In Genesis 14:17, Abraham's ש־ו־ב [בְּשׁוּבוֹ (bə·shū·bō)] from victory leads directly into confrontation with the king of Sodom. In Judges 3:19, Ehud turns back [שָׁב (shab)] to assassinate Eglon. But he himself turned back [שָׁב (shab)] from the idols which were at Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” And he said, “Silence!” And all who were attending him left him.” (Judges 3:19)In Exodus 32:31, Moses' return [וַיָּשָׁב (way·yā·shab)] to God comes after shattering the tablets, standing be...

From the archives - it's the best of “Understanding the Bible in 5 Days” podcast - summer edition:In Genesis 12, God makes three promises to Abraham that set His plan in motion to restore the relationship with people like us. And when you understand these three promises, it's like a KEY that unlocks the rest of the Bible.

HE created them:MAN AND WOMAN.MALE AND FEMALE.Those two, and those two only. If the Lord God Almighty intended only two sexes, only two genders, then no man or woman has any right to change sex or to TRANSGENDER FROM ONE TO ANOTHER. To do so is wrong, morally wrong, scripturally wrong, and biologically so, as well.Our world, said one Denise George, “is at war with God.” It is bent on defying His Holiness, and HIS natural selection. This world of ours has absolutely no respect for Gods created order. The concept of gender is re-defined and distorted. And, so often, women are the ones who bear the brunt of the consequences.In many ways, our culture demeans women. It devalues the natural female ability to give birth and to nourish life. It seems to have little respect for a woman's decision to choose marriage, family, and child-raising rather than career. There is little doubt that the Creator of male and female, man and woman, is not happy.The so-called new gender-identity is everywhere. This nefarious and evil indoctrination infects our students, our businesses, our cultural and entertainment lives, and advocates gender-altering procedures, even surgical mutilation, puberty blockers, and damaging hormone-therapies. All such and more produce terrible biological changes which are, more often than not, irreversible.And now comes to our society the biological male who has, through one of these horrendous procedures, become a so-called transgender woman. This new creation, man-made and not God-made, is now given unsupervised entrance into girls' bathrooms, locker rooms, and so many other areas which were once biological-female-only. That is just plain wrong, morally wrong, so says the scripture, wrong and with dire consequences to come. Any who dare protest and take public stands against this transgender movement are so often told to be more inclusive, to compromise, to broaden their mindset, and get re-educated, RE-EDUCATED! Christians, real Christians, God-believing Christians, will never do so, I do hope and pray.Now, males identifying as transgender women are allowed to participate in girls' sports, creating unfair advantage and thankfully, the Trump administration is doing its best to reverse this trend and re-establish once again the real definition of man and woman, male and female.A common definition of WOMAN today is an adult who LIVES AND IDENTIFIES as female, though they may have been a different sex at birth. In other words, no matter biology or birthing, by that definition, anyone can decide their sex and fully identify as such. But, one individual who underwent sex-change, including genital surgery (a biological male) said, after that surgery, that he had learned the truth and that hormones and surgery may alter appearances but nothing changes the immutable fact of your biological sex. If you are born male, if you are born female, no matter what you do, you can never change that gender, never.And more from the Creator Himself. In Genesis 1:27, hear these divine words:IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, HE CREATED THEM, MALE AND FEMALE. HE CREATED THEM.Those words were confirmed by Jesus Christ, who said in Matthew 19:4:HAVE YOU NOT READ THAT HE WHO MADE THEM AT THE BEGINNING MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE?No one or no procedure can change that!What a marvelous thing it is to be a woman. Any God-created woman is very special, unique, and a blessing to this world as wife, mother, family-matriarch, teacher, or for that matter, any woman who is called to career, work and productivity in her own special way. The story of Eve, created by God as a help-need to Adam, is a blessing indeed, and that female creation is so much more than a mere help-need, so much more.The Biden administration, to its shame, referred to expectant mothers as:BIRTHING PEOPLE.One Governor referred to pregnant woman as:INSEMINATED PERSONS.Unbelievable, disrespectful, and wrong, dead wrong. Scripture honors mothers, mothers like Sarah, Hannah, and Mary, among others. There was none greater born of women than Jesus of Nazareth, none. WOMEN ARE SPECIAL!In the 52 years since ROE V. WADE, there have been more than 63 million abortions, known and quantified in the United States. There have been more since the Supreme Court ruling in the case DOBBS V. JACKSON. If not now, than later, these murders of innocent babies will be accounted for.President Donald Trump issued a declaration as follows:“DEFENDING WOMEN FROM GENDER IDEOLOGY EXTREMEISM AND RESTORING BIOLOGICAL TRUTH TO THE FEDERAL GOVENRMENT.”The President stated that the policy of the United States is the recognize TWO SEXES, male and female, and the President went on to define and clarify the definition of female:A PERSON BELONGING AT CONCEPTION TO THE SEX THAT PRODUCES THE LARGE REPRODUCTIVE CELL.That, of course, is a biological definition, but one necessary in this tragic culture of ours.Said Denise George, writing for the wonderful magazine DECISION:“GOD HAS INSTILLED WITHIN HIS FEMALE CREATION THE STRENGTH AND WISDOM OF DEBORAH, THE COURAGE AND DETERMEINATION OF ESTHER, THE FAITHFULLYNESS AND PERSERVERENCE OF RUTH, AND THE ENTRUEPREUSNIEUAL AND SUPPORTIVE-PROWESS OF LYDIA.”God indeed has done that and more.We who are Christian and male solute women, real women, honor and respect them, and rejoice that the Great God Almighty, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has seen fit to create male and female, and we honor our God for so-doing.

Big news—The Sin of Retirement is now live! You can now purchase the softcover or ebook through our website: www.sinofretirement.com. This book has been a long time in the making, and it's rooted in a simple truth: there is a greater purpose than leisure in retirement. Retirement shouldn't be about slowing down to do nothing. In Genesis 2, we're reminded that work is a gift from God—and that truth doesn't end when your career does. Whether it's mentoring, serving, or using your time for eternal purpose, The Sin of Retirement is a call to action. On Mission Our next mission trip to Brazil is set for March 2026. If you're interested in joining, please let us know. You don't have to travel with us, but we encourage you to find a way to live with greater purpose—right where you are. Fed Meeting Recap Last week's Fed meeting held no surprises—Chairman Powell kept rates unchanged. That said, I still believe we'll see three rate cuts before the end of the year. To Powell's credit, the data he had was questionable. The Bureau of Labor Statistics revised previous jobless claims and economic data, which changed the outlook considerably. The updated numbers show a weakening economy, declining inflation, and falling energy costs. And as I always say—everything starts with energy prices. The Fed, as usual, is late to the game.

What would you do if God asked you to give up what is most precious to you? In Genesis 22, Abraham is tested in an unimaginable way—asked to offer up his beloved son Isaac. This sermon explores the tension between loving the gift and loving the Giver, and how God's testing reveals our hearts. Through Abraham's obedience, we see a foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate sacrifice and a call to examine what we place before God in our own lives. Are we willing to trust God's provision, even when it seems to cost us everything? Join us on Sunday as we reflect on faith, testing, and God's gracious substitution. Please pray for Pastor Dayle and the team as they prepare for our service.

In Genesis 16, Sarai's impatience leads her to give Hagar to Abram, but it is Hagar's encounter with God in the wilderness that reveals a profound truth: God sees us—even in our pain, confusion, and uncertainty. Alone and fleeing, Hagar hears God call her by name, offering comfort and a promise that her story matters and that she will be cared for.Following this, in Genesis 17, God renews His covenant with Abram, changing his name to Abraham and calling him into a new identity marked by promise and faithfulness.This message explores the deep human need to be seen and known by God—not just as a distant promise but as a personal, intimate reality. It invites us to recognize that no matter where we find ourselves—waiting, doubting, or struggling—God's gaze meets us with love and purpose.For anyone feeling overlooked or forgotten, this sermon offers the hope that God sees every part of our journey and calls us into an unshakable covenant of grace and identity.Key Verses:Genesis 16:13 Genesis 17:1 Genesis 17:5

In Genesis 43, Joseph puts his brothers through a series of challenging tests that are designed to reveal their character. Will these brothers get back on track with godliness? If you've been distant or in a season of disobedience, how can you get your life back into alignment with God? (The Life of Joseph: Pain and Purpose, part 9)

In Genesis 48, we witness Jacob's final blessing. Not just to his own sons, but also his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh. In a surprising reversal, the younger is blessed over the older, highlighting God's pattern of grace that doesn't follow human rules. Jacob reminds us to bless the next generation not just materially, but spiritually. Most powerfully, this chapter points us to Jesus… the Good Shepherd who redeems, blesses, and includes the undeserving. Whether you're far from God or a The post Genesis 48 – The Final Words of Jacob (part 1) appeared first on Island Pond Baptist Church.

In our theological survey of Genesis, we are examining the doctrine of man. In Genesis one, we learn that we exist by the will of God, and for the will of God. We live because God willed us to live. This is where we find purpose and meaning in life. Existing by the will of God, and for the will of God, has application to our lives. It helps make sense of the suffering and despair we experience. It teaches us that our days are in his hands. It helps us think properly about ourselves, our natural strengths and weaknesses, and God's creation of us as male or female.

If you had the power to confront those who hurt you, what would you do? In Genesis 44 and 45, Joseph finally reveals himself to the brothers who betrayed him. After testing their character, Joseph sees genuine change—and responds with overwhelming grace. In this episode, Stephen Davey unpacks one of the Bible's most dramatic and emotional moments. Joseph weeps. He embraces. And he forgives. His brothers expect judgment, but receive mercy instead. Stephen explores why Joseph's attitude matters so deeply. You'll discover how forgiveness flows from a heart that sees God at work in every detail of life. Joseph understood that what others meant for evil, God meant for good. That perspective gave him both humility and security—and it empowered him to show compassion to those who once betrayed him. You'll also learn how to recognize genuine repentance, why bitterness holds us back, and how trusting God's sovereignty allows you to love others even through pain. Whether you're facing conflict, unresolved hurt, or simply struggling to move on, this episode will give you biblical hope and practical wisdom. It's a powerful reminder that the pathway to peace doesn't begin with payback—it begins with perspective. https://www.wisdomonline.org

If you had the power to confront those who hurt you, what would you do? In Genesis 44 and 45, Joseph finally reveals himself to the brothers who betrayed him. After testing their character, Joseph sees genuine change—and responds with overwhelming grace. In this episode, Stephen Davey unpacks one of the Bible's most dramatic and emotional moments. Joseph weeps. He embraces. And he forgives. His brothers expect judgment, but receive mercy instead. Stephen explores why Joseph's attitude matters so deeply. You'll discover how forgiveness flows from a heart that sees God at work in every detail of life. Joseph understood that what others meant for evil, God meant for good. That perspective gave him both humility and security—and it empowered him to show compassion to those who once betrayed him. You'll also learn how to recognize genuine repentance, why bitterness holds us back, and how trusting God's sovereignty allows you to love others even through pain. Whether you're facing conflict, unresolved hurt, or simply struggling to move on, this episode will give you biblical hope and practical wisdom. It's a powerful reminder that the pathway to peace doesn't begin with payback—it begins with perspective. https://www.wisdomonline.org

What do you do when your conscience won't stay quiet? In Genesis 42, Joseph's brothers finally face the guilt they buried years ago. They had sold Joseph into slavery and lied to their father—and for 25 years, they said nothing. But now, God begins to wake up their sleeping consciences. In this episode, Stephen Davey unpacks the story and reveals how God uses association, similar circumstances, and isolation to stir a guilty heart. Joseph—now prime minister of Egypt—confronts his brothers without revealing his identity. He mirrors their past actions, giving them a taste of their own betrayal. And for the first time, they confess their guilt out loud. Stephen explains how conscience works—how it can be conditioned, suppressed, or renewed. You'll learn that guilt is not your enemy. It's a gift from God that points you to repentance and healing. You'll also see how easily we defend ourselves, make excuses, or blame others—just like Joseph's brothers. If you've ever carried guilt, or if someone you love seems hardened by sin, this episode will give you hope. God's grace is patient. He awakens your heart not to shame you—but to restore you.

What do you do when your conscience won't stay quiet? In Genesis 42, Joseph's brothers finally face the guilt they buried years ago. They had sold Joseph into slavery and lied to their father—and for 25 years, they said nothing. But now, God begins to wake up their sleeping consciences. In this episode, Stephen Davey unpacks the story and reveals how God uses association, similar circumstances, and isolation to stir a guilty heart. Joseph—now prime minister of Egypt—confronts his brothers without revealing his identity. He mirrors their past actions, giving them a taste of their own betrayal. And for the first time, they confess their guilt out loud. Stephen explains how conscience works—how it can be conditioned, suppressed, or renewed. You'll learn that guilt is not your enemy. It's a gift from God that points you to repentance and healing. You'll also see how easily we defend ourselves, make excuses, or blame others—just like Joseph's brothers. If you've ever carried guilt, or if someone you love seems hardened by sin, this episode will give you hope. God's grace is patient. He awakens your heart not to shame you—but to restore you.

This episode is powered by Dinner with Darnyelle “Your business and your income will never exceed your identity.” – Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon Let's be real: if you're still waiting for confirmation to walk into the next level of your calling, you've already delayed your destiny. Embodiment isn't optional—it's the command. In Genesis 1:28, God didn't say do fruitful things; He said, be fruitful and multiply. That's where overflow starts—not in a funnel, not in another hack, but in your ability to be the version of you that already holds the millions you're praying for. In this episode, Dr. Darnyelle unpacks the embodiment shift every Legacy-Led CEO must master to sustain and scale without grinding themselves into spiritual bankruptcy. If you've been hustling from an old identity while declaring a new reality, this episode will confront every excuse that's been keeping you from the life and business God designed for you. Your next level isn't activated by effort. It's unlocked by embodiment. You'll walk away with the clarity to identify where you've been leaking power, practical embodiment practices to elevate your identity, and the courage to make decisions as the CEO you were born to be—not the one you've outgrown.. Here's the truth: You don't get what you want—you get who you are. And if you're still operating from the self-concept that built your last level, you'll never hold your next one. Embodiment is how you collapse time. Until you fully BE, your millions will stay in theory. Grab your Move to Millions Podcast Notebook, a pen and your favorite beverage and listen in to discover: ✔ How to practice identity-based decision-making to align with your next level ✔ How to embody your seven-figure self now—even before the money shows up ✔ How to integrate spiritual and somatic practices to hold overflow without overwhelm ✔And so much more This episode is a call to stop performing and start becoming. To let go of last season's confidence and embody the woman or man God already sees. It's time to stop whispering your value, undercharging your worth, and waiting for permission. Walk like it's already yours—because it is. This is your invitation to press pause on the endless doing and drop into being. To anchor into your anointing and move from that posture so that your strategy finally has the spiritual scaffolding it needs. This is about building a business that flows from identity, not insecurity. Resources Mentioned: Apply for a Soul + Strategy Conversation Move to Millions: The Proven Framework To Become a Million Dollar CEO With Grace & Ease Instead of Hustle & Grind by Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon – Get Your Copy Companion Guide for Move to Millions – Download for a detailed overview of the seven systems to seven figures. Join the Move to Millions Facebook Group for ongoing support and community engagement – Join Now Move to Millions 90-Day Business Growth Planner – Get Your Planner Scaling Secrets Five Powerful Quotes from the Episode: “You cannot attract next-level clients while embodying last season's confidence.” — Dr. Darnyelle “Embodiment was God's first instruction before strategy ever entered the chat.” — Dr. Darnyelle “Your embodiment will show up in your decisions, boundaries, pricing, and visibility.” — Dr. Darnyelle “Effort makes you tired; embodiment makes you millions.” — Dr. Darnyelle “You have to be it before you see it—so you can finally experience it.” — Dr. Darnyelle Questions to Ask Yourself While Listening: Where am I making safe decisions from a small self-concept? What does the seven-figure version of me know that I keep doubting? Where in my life am I still performing instead of embodying? How would my pricing, posture, and presence shift if I fully believed it was already mine? What boundaries would my next-level self hold that I'm still negotiating? Want more of Darnyelle? Personal Brand Website: https://www.drdarnyelle.com Company Website: https://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com All Things Move to Millions Website: https://www.movetomillions.com Social Media Links: Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/darnyellejerveyharmon Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darnyellejerveyharmon Twitter/X: https://www.x.com/darnyellejervey LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/darnyellejerveyharmon  Links Mentioned in the Episode: Movetomillions.com MovetoMillionsGroup.com HausofMillions.com Move to Millions Continuum Episode Move to Millions Live 2026 Subscribe to the Move to Millions Podcast: Listen on iTunes Listen on Google Play Listen on Stitcher Listen on iHeartRadio Listen on Pandora Leave us a review Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you're not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don't want you to miss an episode. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you're not subscribed there's a good chance you'll miss out on those. Now if you're feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they're also fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

In Genesis 1:26-27, God declares, "Let us make mankind in our image, according to our likeness." In part eight of "Your True Identity," Brother Duane explains that humanity's creation in God's image and likeness defines our true identity. This divine distinction separates humans from angels, animals, and all other forms of creation. Key features of God's image include dominion and authority, the distinction between male and female, sovereignty, creativity, and the concept of work. Two aspects that spark debate are judgment and justice. The ability to judge is a fundamental aspect of God's image in humanity. Jesus instructed in John 7:24 to "judge with righteous judgment" instead of judging based on outward appearance.Sin can damage and distort God's image in humans but it cannot eliminate it. We can either celebrate this image through righteousness in Christ or pervert it through sin. Today, many social movements that seek justice often commit injustices themselves, which distorts the image of God. Embrace "Your True Identity" and reflect God's restored image through Christ's righteousness.

A meditation preached at Lyncroft Centre, Toronto, on July 20, 2025.In Genesis 18 we have the account of the appearance of the Lord to Abraham at the Oak of Mamre.  It is a wonderful account, in the heat of the day, with the cicada and the grasshoppers buzzing and the heat haze. Then we get a mirror image of this with the account of Bethany, and Jesus being treated, with his apostles by Martha and Mary. (Luke 10:38-42)It's all about where we can contemplate God and serve him in our life. Framing our stresses, anxiety, our multiple tasks in the light of God's love.Music: Michael Lee of Toronto.Thumbnail: Andrei Rublev Icon of Three Angels at Oaks of Mambre, 1410 in Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Even though Joseph is the main character, God also addresses the sin of Joseph's brothers and their dysfunctional family. In Genesis 42, how does God awaken the sleepy consciences of Joseph's brothers? If you are stuck in your sins, or you're slow to respond to God's promptings, what might He do to get your attention?  (The Life of Joseph: Pain and Purpose, part 8)

In Genesis 28:10-22 Jacob has a vision of a ladder whose top reaches to heaven. It is a vision of heaven itself and shows that God is gracious to Jacob despite his sins. The question that hangs over entire narrative is whether or not God will be the God of Jacob. Here we get the beginning of the answer: yes, by His grace.

What does real love look like? In Genesis 14, Abraham shows us a love that acts, despite past conflicts and personal cost. This episode explores how the love of God, seen in Christ and modeled by Abraham, calls us to show mercy and loyalty to those who may not deserve it.#citamchurchonline #ChurchEverydayGet in touch with us:http://www.citam.org/churchonline@citam.org(+254) 784 277 277(+254) 728 221 221

In Genesis chapter 20 Abraham had quite an encounter with Abimelech. ******* By the way, if you haven't bought a copy of my new book yet, check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Visions-Stories-Faith-Pastor/dp/161493536X

In Genesis 42, Joseph encounters his brothers for the first time in 20 years! But, with all the relational baggage, reconciliation will not come easily. What can we learn about the barriers between us and reconciliation?

In Genesis 26:34-35; 27:46-28:9 we see the contrast between Esau's marriages and Jacob's pursuit of a wife. We learn that Christians are only to marry "in the Lord."

A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity Romans 8:17-23 by William Klock Sometimes you have to stand back and look at the big picture when you want to find your way.  Think of going to a strange town and getting lost going from street to street and intersection to intersection.  When I first started working in Bellingham I kept getting lost when I was out making service calls.  I have a good sense of direction.  I don't usually need a map—which is what had back then before Siri.  But what's now Bellingham was originally five separate towns, each with its own street grid that didn't match up.  Then, to make matters worse, when they ran Interstate 5 through the city, they cut it in half and left only a handful of thorougfares connecting everything.  Our service manager handed me a nifty spiral-bound “Guide of Whatcom County” and said: “New guy takes the map.”  A map lets you get above everything.  It gives you a bird's eye view,  so that you can see the lay of the land.  The big picture helps you get your bearings. We need something like that for the Bible.  As kids we read books full of disconnected “Bible stories”.  We know Adam and Abraham and Moses and Jesus, but we struggle to know how their stories are related and part of the bigger story.  As adults the most common approach to reading the Bible—when we read it!—is the cover-to-cover, Genesis-to-Revelation approach.  Don't misunderstand; any type of Bible reading is good Bible reading, but the order the books of the Bible are arranged in isn't chronological and doesn't do much to help us see the “big picture”.  Even Bible scholars and theologians aren't immune from missing the big picture.  They're often so focused on the individual trees that it becomes easy to inadvertently forget the shape of the forest. I say this because our Epistle from Romans 8 this morning is one those wonderful, short passages that bring us back to the big picture of the Good News, of God's redemption and renewal of humanity and of his entire Creation.  But even here we might miss it.  Many Christians reading through Romans miss the big picture here because they are not expecting Paul's language of God subjecting his Creation to futility and bondage and of that Creation waiting in with eager longing.  And yet our Epistle this morning is St. Paul leading us right to the climax of his letter to the Romans.  Paul walks us up a mountain so we can see the lay of the land, where we've come from, where we're going, and how it all fits together. We don't have time this morning to get into the details of Paul's line of reasoning in the first half of Romans, but what he does in those chapters is to work his way through the story of Israel and all her ups and downs—and for Israel things were mostly “down”.  And now in Chapter 8 he begins talking about the life in the flesh versus life in the Spirit and the law of sin and death versus the law of the Spirit.  This is where, in verse 11, he famously writes that if the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, the One who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies—if we are in Jesus the Messiah we live in hope of the same resurrection he has experienced.  But even more than that, Paul goes on to write, through our union with Jesus we are children and heirs of God, fellow heirs with Christ—that means sharing in Jesus' inheritance.  But what is that?  Paul writes in verse 17 that it means to suffer with him so that we can be glorified with him.  The Christian life—life with Jesus—for Paul means two things: suffering and glory.  Suffering is a given as we long for glory. And so we should what Paul mean by “glory”?  And what about suffering?  Most Christians living through the last two thousand years have understood that suffering is part of our calling as we follow Jesus.  Jesus promised it.  The New Testament writers talk about it often—and most of them faced it themselves and were martyred for proclaiming the lordship of Jesus.  Many of our brothers and sisters today are persecuted for their faith in various parts of the world.  And yet in the West—probably in part because we haven't faced persecution for such a long time—many Christians have no place for suffering in their theology.  Many even go so far as to say that if you're experiencing suffering—sickness, poverty, rejection or anything else negative—it's due to a lack of faith.  But that's just the opposite of what Jesus taught and it's just the opposite of what Paul teaches here.  The inheritance we share with Jesus is one of suffering that leads to glory.  What this means is at the centre of our Epistle and Paul goes on in verse 18: This is how I work it out.  The sufferings we go through in the present time are not worth putting in the scale alongside the glory that is going to be unveiled for us.   This is how I work it out.  Knowing the Scriptures, knowing Jesus, working under the Spirit's inspiration, this is the only conclusion Paul can reach.  He's been building this argument for eight chapters in Romans and here he reaches the inevitable conclusion: those who will be glorified will first face suffering, but he's also worked out that this suffering can't begin to compare with the glory to be unveiled in us. Think about what a powerful statement that was when Paul wrote this.  When he writes that word “suffering” most of us probably read into that whatever our own trials and tribulations are.  That's fine.  But what did Paul have in mind?  Later in the chapter, in verses 35-36 he writes that nothing will separate us from the love of Christ—nothing—and then he goes on to detail the sorts of suffering that he and other Christians were facing—things people might think mean that God doesn't love them, things they might think show a lack of faith, things that might separate them from Jesus.  Here's his list: hardship or distress, persecution or famine, nakedness or peril or sword.  And he quotes from Psalm 44: “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted sheep to be slaughtered.”  These things are far worse than the sorts of suffering any of us are likely to face.  And as horrible as this suffering was, none of it could compare with the glory to be unveiled in us—no amount of suffering could make the glory not worth it. But what is the glory Paul's writing about?  Paul says this glory will be revealed in us.  It's a sense of this glory being bestowed on us as a gift—and this makes perfect sense when we remember what Paul said before: that if we are in Christ, then we will share in and we will participate in his inheritance. And then what's the inheritance?  Well, consider: Who is Jesus?  He is Lord.  His glory is revealed or it's unveiled in his glorious and sovereign rule of Creation and Paul is saying here that the glory we wait for with eager longing, the glory that is the basis for our hope as Christians is not glory in the sense many people often think.  We often think of “glory” as a place or a state of being.  When a Christian dies we often hear people say that he or she has gone on or been promoted to “glory”.  Brothers and Sisters, “glory” isn't going to heaven when you die.  As Jesus' glory is his sovereign rule over Creation, so the glory to be revealed in us is our participation, our sharing in the sovereign and saving rule of Jesus.  And this is why he says what he does in verse 19: Yes, creation itself is waiting with eager longing for the moment when God's sons [and daughters] will be revealed.   If our hope, if our glory—as it is so often wrongly portrayed—was for the destruction of this world and an eternity of disembodied existence in heaven with God, then the Creation would have no reason to eagerly long for that glory to be revealed.  What Paul describes here is the opposite: God's Creation is waiting for the great day when its true rulers are revealed, the sons and daughters of God, and when it will be delivered from corruption.  Look at verses 20-22: Creation, you see, was subjected to pointless futility, not of its own volition, but because of the once who placed it in this subjection, in the hope that creation itself would be freed from its slavery to decay, to enjoy the freedom that comes when God's children are glorified.  Let me explain.  We know that the entire creation is groaning together, and going through labour pains together, up until the present time.   This is where we need to stand back and look at the big picture.  Everything Paul's saying here is dependent on that.  It's the big picture the Bible gives of us of God's Creation, from beginning to end.  We read in Genesis that God created and that everything was good.  We even read there that when he created human beings he looked at his handiwork and declared us not just “good”, but “very good”.  But we look around us now and have to wonder what happened.  War is always ranging somewhere, there's violence everywhere, there's greed and corruption everywhere.  Justice is in short supply and so are the basic things that people need to survive—maybe not in our part of the world, but for billions of others.  And yet even if we don't pay attention to the big evils that play out on the international scene—or even on the local scene, for that matter—we only have to look at the struggles that we have ourselves and that we share with our family and friends to keep away from sin and to do good.  Hate is easy; love is hard.  Paul knew it.  The Roman Christians knew it.  We know it. So Paul tells the story of Creation in the book of Romans, but he tells it as Israel's story.  We don't have time to run through the whole book this morning obviously, but Paul's point is that the whole Creation is enslaved in the same sort of way that Israel was in Egypt.  And right there we get a glimmer of hope.  Remember, when Israel went down to Egypt—we read about that in the story of Jacob and Joseph—it was all according to the Lord's plan.  The Lord arranged for Joseph to become a slave in Egypt so that through him he could rescue his people.  Egypt started out good for Israel.  When things turned around under a new king who enslaved Israel, it wasn't because the Lord had ceased to be good and it wasn't because the Lord was no longer in control.  No.  We learn later that the Lord allowed the Israelites to become slaves in Egypt so that he could then manifest his glorious sovereignty to everyone—to Israel in rescuing her and to the Egyptians by showing his power over her false gods and over her mighty horses and chariots.  In the Exodus, the Lord marked Israel forever as the people he had freed from slavery, people to whom he had given a new life.  That became their national identity, celebrated every year in the Passover. In all of that Paul is working up to his point here.  As the Lord allowed Israel to fall into bondage to Egypt, so he has allowed his good Creation to be subjected to death and decay.  We may look around and wonder if things are hopeless.  Every time one war ends and we see peace break out another war begins somewhere else.  We work hard to lift this group out of poverty, but then that group over there falls into it.  We cure one disease only to have two new ones crop up.  Isaiah wrote about a day when the lion would lie down with the lamb and we look around us and wonder if that's ever going to happen. And Paul assures us: Yes, it's for real.  This is God's promise.  No matter how bad things are, this is still his good Creation and he has promised to put everything to rights.  Even as he cast Adam and Eve from the garden he was promising them that he would one day overcome sin and restore everything to the way it should be.  Genesis shows things going from bad to worse.  It shows us humanity losing even the very knowledge of God and sinking into paganism and idolatry.  But then it tells us how God came to Abraham and established a covenant with him.  The Lord promised that through Abraham and his family he would restore not only humanity, but all of Creation and here Paul reminds us what that means, what it looks like and why the Creation itself would long for it to happen. Again, we need the big picture—we need to remember where things started.  In Genesis we read that the Lord created human beings to be his image bearers.  The Lord built a temple for himself.  When the pagans built their temples, they placed images of their gods in them made of wood or stone, but in his own temple God placed human beings to represent his sovereignty and to rule his creation with wisdom and justice—to have dominion and to subdue Creation in the Lord's name.  That's what it meant for humanity to bear God's image: to be his stewards, the priests of his temple.  But then we chose to rebel.  As Paul writes in Romans 1, we chose to worship the Creation instead of the Creator.  We subjected the Lord's good creation to corruption. Now, in light of that, it should make sense that Creation is longing for the day when our inheritance is revealed.  That's the day when Creation will be set free from the corruption we brought on it.  That's the day when we, Creation's stewards will be restored and renewed and put back in charge, reigning with Jesus.  Again, think back to Israel.  God chose and called her, he rescued her, he made her his people, he sent her to the nations to bring healing and restoration.  But she rebelled and she rejected her mission.  And yet the Lord didn't give up and he didn't change his plan to redeem his Creation through Israel.  He simply sent a faithful Israelite—he sent Jesus.  And Jesus not only redeemed Israel by dying in her place, he established a new Israel in his own person, a new people to be a light to the nations—this time equipped by the Holy Spirit. This is what Paul is getting at in verse 23.  It's not just the Creation that groans in eager longing: And not only the creation, but we too, we who have the firstfruits of the Spirit's life within us, are groaning within ourselves as we eagerly await our adoption as sons [and daugthers], the redemption of our bodies. The Lord hasn't given up on his Creation any more than he gave up on Israel.  Creation is eagerly waiting for its rightful stewards to be set right.  On that great day the Lord will make all things new and restore his redeemed people to their rightful place as good, wise, and just rulers of Creation—as the faithful priests of his temple.  This is what it means for our glory to be revealed.  The big picture, the story of redemption, reminds us that this was how it was supposed to be from the beginning.  And so we groan and we wait eagerly too.  We live in the mess we've made here in the world.  We live with sin and with sickness and with death, and yet we live in hope, knowing that what God has begun in Jesus he will one day complete. And we can hope because our God has given us the firstfruits of his new creation.  He's given a down payment on what he has promised.  The present age and its rulers have been decisively defeated by Jesus at the cross and the empty tomb and God's new age has been inaugurated.  Jesus is Lord.  He truly is God's King.  He's given us his Spirit—Paul describes the Spirit here as the firstfruits—and that's because we live in the overlap between these two ages, these two kingdoms.  The Jews brought the firstfruits of the harvest—usually sheaves of grain harvested at the very beginning of the season—as offerings to God.  They offered them in good years and even in bad years in faith that God would provide the rest of the harvest.  And so the Spirit is the sign of hope for us.  The life he gives to us here and now is a reminder that encourages our faith and hope in the resurrection and the new creation to come.  We groan and we sigh, we wait longingly in eager expectation, but our hope is certain because God is faithful and keeps his promises.  The prophet Habakkuk wrote that one day the glory of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.  Brothers and Sisters, when that seems impossible, we only need remember the cross of Jesus, his empty tomb, and his gift of the Holy Spirit. But our faith is not a complacent faith.  We haven't been redeemed by Jesus and given the gift of the Spirit so that we can retreat into a sort of personal holiness or private piety while we wait for Jesus to return.  Not at all.  Jesus has inaugurated this new age in his resurrection and somehow someday the making new that began in his resurrection will encompass all of Creation and you and I are called, in the power of the Spirit, to embody that renewing work here and now.  How is Habakkuk's prophecy going to be fulfilled?  How does the knowledge of the glory of the Lord spread to cover the earth?  Brothers and Sisters, that's our mission.  We're called to proclaim to the world the Good News that Jesus is Lord and that his kingdom is here and now.  Our mission is to call the world to repentance and faith.  But don't forget: We are also called to live out repentance and faith in our lives in such a way that we lift the veil on the kingdom and that we give a glimpse to the world of what heaven on earth looks like.  So far as we are able to do so today, we are called to exercise the good dominion that was given to Adam—we are called to be stewards of God's temple, of his Creation.  Jesus has led the way for us here as the second Adam.  In his earthly ministry he made his Father's new creation known in practical ways to the people around him and so should we.  In a word full of sin we should be visible in seeking after holiness.  In a world full of war and injustice, we should visible and at the forefront working for peace and justice.  In a world full of hurting and sickness, we should be seeking to make the healing ministry of Jesus known.  In a world full of anger and hate, we should be working for forgiveness and reconciliation. If you're like me you might get discouraged thinking about that mission.  When I think of these things I think of things that we as Christians can do to bring Jesus and his glory to the world in “big” ways.  I think of Christians—and there are so often so few of us—working on the big international scene or I think of missionaries going to far off countries.  And then I get discouraged.  That's far away.  It's bigger than me.  But Friends, never forget that for every St. Paul or St. Peter, there were thousands of ordinary saints manifesting Jesus in their ordinary lives, proclaiming the Good News, and building the kingdom right where they were.  We fulfil Jesus' calling to us as we raise covenant children to walk with him in faith and to live the values of his kingdom.  We fulfil Jesus' calling when we work for peace and reconciliation with our neighbours, in our workplaces, and in our schools.  We fulfil Jesus' calling when we forgive as we have been forgiven.  We fulfil Jesus' calling when we love the hard-to-love people around us, knowing that we ourselves are hard-to-love too, but that Jesus loved us enough to die for us.  We fulfil Jesus' calling when we sacrifice ourselves, our rights, our prerogatives, our time, and our treasure in order to make Jesus and his love known.  In everything we do, we should be seeking to give the world signs and foretastes of God's new creation. Let us pray: Heavenly Father, as we asked earlier in the collect we ask again for grace to pass through the trials of this life without losing the things of eternal importance.  Remind us that the suffering we experience cannot begin to compare with the glory to be revealed in us.  Remind us always of the suffering that Jesus endured for our sake, that in love and gratitude we might suffer too for the sake of making him known.  And as we think of Jesus' death and resurrection and as we live the life given by your Spirit, fill us with hope and faith, knowing that the glory inaugurated in us today will one day be fully accomplished in our own resurrection and the restoration of all your Creation.  Amen.

In Genesis 46–47, Jacob faces a foreign land when God tells him to leave everything familiar and go to Egypt. Through Jacob's journey, we learn how to follow God when life feels uncertain: by sticking close to Him in prayer and obedience, trusting Him to provide, and choosing to be a blessing wherever we are. As believers, we are all sojourners in this world, and citizens of heaven who are called to walk with our Savior who is always with The post Genesis 46-47 – Following God In A Foreign Land appeared first on Island Pond Baptist Church.

The Gospel of John Week 2 Scripture: John 1:1-18, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Psalm 33;6, Psalm 107:20, Isaiah 55:11, Exodus 40:34, Exodus 33:18. An Overview of the Gospel of John     ⁃    Prologue 1:1-18     ⁃    Jesus' ministry 1:19 - 11:57     ⁃    Passion of Christ and resurrection 12:1 - 21:25 Important terms in the Gospel of John (# = number of times it is used in the Gospel of John:     ⁃    Life: 36     ⁃    Light: 23     ⁃    Witness: 47     ⁃    Believe: 98     ⁃    World: 78     ⁃    Truth: 56     ⁃    Glory: 42     ⁃    Father: 136 Several of these key words above appear in the prologue. Prologue (1:1-18) The prologue begins John 1:1 “In the beginning” which is just how Genesis 1:1 starts “In the beginning.” In Genesis those words introduce creation.  In John those words introduce the new creation - God is doing a new things. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Everything that the Father said through the prophets from the beginning, and what was spoken since the beginning is coming to its fullness and fulfillment in Jesus the Messiah. John 1:1 - “In the beginning was the word.” The following verses help us understand more about The Word. We read in Psalm 33:6 that “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” God's WORD is living and active! Psalm 107:20 tells us that the Word rescues from the grave, just as Jesus rescues us from the grave. - “He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” And then in Isaiah 55:11 we read “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” God's word accomplishes His plans and purposes. Just as Jesus accomplishes the fulfillment of God's promises and plans and purposes.   Everything was created by the Word of Jesus Christ. The Word holds everything together. And Jesus - The Word - was there at the beginning! John 1:1-3 tells us that the Living God loved us so much that he was willing in a way beyond our ability to understand, willing to become one of us, a real human being but also truly and fully God. He gave Himself up for us all and that's the way this gospel begins and that's powerful! John 1:4-5 reminds us of Genesis 1 where we read that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…. And He said let there be light. And in John we read, “In Him was life and that life was the Light of the World!” Those who receive Jesus as Messiah become the children of God - adopted by the Creator of the Universe! Right from the opening of this powerful and amazing book we see who Jesus is - He is the Living God. - He is the Messiah - He is The Word - He is the fulfillment of every promise of God. John 1:6-14  - Pastor talks about John the Baptist who bares witness to Jesus the Messiah as the Light and shares pictures of the Jordan River at the town of Bethany - the traditional site of Jesus' baptism. The Gospel of John is uniquely crafted by the Spirit of God to bear witness to Jesus and to lead people to faith.  It's an easy read but filled with depth! John shares that Jesus wasn't who was expected and that the people didn't recognize Him as the Messiah. Jesus came in flesh to dwell (tabernacle) among us as God did with Moses - Exodus 40:34. Side note Jesus is referred to as Emmanuel in the Old Testament and that means God with us! And He is! John 1:15-18 Law came through Moses - Grace and truth come through Jesus Christ and Jesus is the fulfillment of everything God promised in the Torah. Jesus is not simply a great teacher or merely a worker of miracles, He is the One who is the Only begotten God. In the prologue we see who Jesus is and starting next week we will see what this means and how this works!  Join us! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

In Genesis 27:27-29 we see the blessing given to Jacob. Though this blessing was attained through sinful means, ultimately it will be used to advance the holy purposes of God. In these verses it is prophesied that Christ will have a universal reign over all people, that this will be the means by which the blessing of the nations comes, that He will be exalted above all the people of God, and that the entire world will be divided on the question of whether or not one blesses Christ.

One of the most shocking stories in scripture is that of Abraham and Isaac. You know the story: In Genesis, Abraham is visited by an angel of God, who instructs Abraham to sacrifice his son. Strangely, Abraham immediately obeys and begins a journey up a mountain with Isaac to do just that.What do we do with this story today? In this episode, our hosts unpack the context of this wild tale, share its absurdities, and invite listeners to interpret it differently.Thank you for listening! Don't forget to subscribe or follow the podcast so you don't miss a single episode.Enjoyed the episode? Share it with a friend, and leave a rating and review to help us reach more people!We need your questions! Email commonspace@ahumc.org or visit https://ahumc.org/questions to submit your faith-related questions.Email us at podcasts@ahumc.org or visit ahumc.org to learn more about Alamo Heights UMC.Recommended Resources:‘Not in God's Name' by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks‘Breathing Under Water' Chapter 3 by Richard Rohr“All Directions” Music Video by Son LuxHosts: Chris Estus, Ryan Jacobson, and Darrell Smith

In Genesis 40, as Joseph waits in prison, he is given the opportunity to interpret some very interesting dreams. But what about his own prophetic dreams? 

This Sunday, Justin Rife continued our Names of God series by teaching on Yahweh Jireh—The Lord Will Provide. In Genesis 22, we follow Abraham and Isaac up the mountain where God tests Abraham's faith. This is not a moment of cruelty but a moment of revelation of God's character as a faithful provider. When our faith is tested, His faithfulness is revealed. Through this passage, we are invited to examine what we may be holding onto more tightly than we hold on to God and to trust that in Jesus, Yahweh Jireh provides us with everything we need.Thank you for watching this video from Catch The Fire Raleigh. To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world, click here: https://ctfraleigh.com/give

In Genesis 28, we see Jacob's departure from Canaan as he heads to Haran to find a wife. On his journey, he stops to rest and has a vision of the heavens. In this dream, there is a vision of angels ascending and descending on a ladder. When we read this with New Testament eyes, we know that Christ is the ladder. We hope this message blesses you in the Lord. Originally June 30th, 2025. Hank Atchison. Covenant Church. Tuscaloosa, AL.

In Genesis 21 we see how God has begun to fulfill his promises made to Abraham. In response, Abraham worships the Everlasting God. The Everlasting God has always been at work and has not forgotten Abraham, even in the dark seasons of his life, and has been working even before he called Abraham. As Christians, we worship the Everlasting God who has come to earth to redeem us.

No one is truly alone. Some people have many relatives and friends, others just a few. Occasionally, someone will have no real friends or family, but all of us interact with humans, and that over time has proven to be dicey. The health of our relationships is one of the biggest factors in how we function each day. Turmoil and chaos at home or work, or both, puts us in emotional quicksand. On the other hand, healthy relationships in our lives improve our overall health and make us more productive.In Genesis, God modeled right relationships for humans, and this model continues through the Bible right to the end in Revelation. From this, we see that our first priority in relationships is to be in fellowship with our Creator. Get that one right and everything else flows. Following close behind is finding harmony in our human relationships, and getting this right is crucial to finding peace. Ephesians 4:2–3 says, “Be completely humble and gentle. Be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”Most people are familiar with the well-known Bible verses that deal with relationships, such as Paul's wisdom from Ephesians, but Scripture is loaded with helpful and healing relationship commands. We hesitate to call it advice because God doesn't really give advice. He tells us what is good for us and what may be harmful. For example, a fairly obscure passage in Job speaks to mean in any era having healthy relationships with women. In Job 31:1 the suffering man says, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.” Wow. So simple, yet very important and profound.That chapter goes on to say that God sees all that we do. He's watching how we treat people. Job made it clear that a man can decide he's going to treat women with respect. It isn't complicated or beyond our reach. So often, simply deciding to be a decent human being leads to waves of healing and peace of mind for everyone. Lots of books have been written about relationships, from marriage to raising children, but the best book of all has the best wisdom, and if you check that out, your relationships will thank you. Let's pray.Father God, you've given us the gift of interacting with other people. Each is unique and created special. We ask that you send the Holy Spirit to guide our relationships so that they're pleasing to you and to others. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Presented by Julie Busteed We are looking at what it means to practice hospitality as the Apostle Paul encourages us to do in Romans 12. Certainly, part of this is entertaining guests—and usually that's a planned event. But what about the unexpected guests? In Genesis we read about the patriarch Abraham and the three “visitors.” You can read the entire story in Genesis 18, but let me give you the highlights: The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant (Genesis 18:1-5). The story goes on to describe how he and Sarah quickly prepare meat and bread—the finest things they had on hand—and serve their three unexpected guests. They used what they had on hand. This is a great reminder that according to the Bible, being hospitable isn't about being perfect and having everything in place. It's more about being open and welcoming and offering to share what I have and focus on the relationship more than the presentation. Abraham saw his visitors' needs and met them. Their feet needed washing from the journey. They needed to escape the heat of the day in a shady place. He was eager to show hospitality and acted on it. My guess is they were not planning to host any visitors that day. But Abraham saw these visitors and was quick to greet them and invite them to stay and be refreshed. It may not have been convenient for him. There was a sacrifice of time and resources. Yet, he was welcoming and generous. What an example this is to you and me. Hospitality is not about having the perfectly clean house or a meal that's been planned and prepared in advance. It's opening our homes to welcome those in need. It's setting aside our agendas, seeing others, and reaching out.

This past Sunday, Aaron Ninaber continued our Names of God series with a powerful message on El Shaddai—God Almighty, the All-Sufficient One. In Genesis 17, God introduces Himself as El Shaddai to Abraham in a moment of delay and human limitation, reminding us that He is both our powerful provider and our nurturing sustainer. This name reveals God's nature to meet us not only in ideal circumstances, but right in the middle of our mess, our doubts, and our hopelessness. Through stories from Abraham, Job, and a desperate widow in 2 Kings, we're invited to trust God—not with perfect faith, but with honest faith. El Shaddai is not waiting for us to perform; He simply asks us to bring our empty vessels and believe. Even in weakness, God is more than enough.Thank you for watching this video from Catch The Fire Raleigh. To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world, click here: https://ctfraleigh.com/give

Detours aren't just delays—they're part of God's design. In Genesis 37, we see that even when life gets messy (and it will), God is still working. Sometimes things get worse before they get better, but trust that He's preparing you for what's next.Our regular service is at 10am on Sundays. We are located at 304 E. Austin Ave in Hutto, TX. Can't make it in person? You are welcome to join us live on Facebook or YouTube. If you need prayer or you just need someone to talk to please reach out to us at prayer@huttocommunitychurch.org.HCC Website - HCC Facebook - HCC YouTube

Welcome to Day 2656 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “Once and Future Kings” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2656 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2656 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today, we begin a new focus on this 3rd of 16 segments of our Theology Thursday lessons. I will read through the book Supernatural, written by Hebrew Bible scholar, professor, and mentor, the late Dr. Michael S. Heiser. Supernatural is a condensed version of his comprehensive book ‘The Unseen Realm.' If these readings pique your interest, I would recommend that you read ‘The Unseen Realm.' Today, we will read through chapter two: ‘Once and Future Kings.' We've had a brief introduction to God's heavenly council—his unseen family and task force. There's a lot more to all that—we need to look, especially, at how major players like Jesus and Satan fit into the picture. But before we return to what goes on in the unseen world, we need to think in a fresh way about ourselves. God's rule in the unseen spiritual world through his council is a template for his rule on earth—what theologians call the kingdom of God. All of that began in Genesis, in the garden of Eden. Eden—God's Home Office What's the first thing you think of when you hear “garden of Eden”? Most people I've talked to think of Adam and Eve. Eden was their home. That's where God put them (Gen. 2:15–25). But Eden was also God's home. Ezekiel refers to Eden as “the garden of God” (Ezek. 28:13; 31:8–9). No surprise, really. What might be surprising is that, right after calling Eden “the garden of God,” Ezekiel calls it “the holy mountain of God” (v. 28:14). In many ancient religions, luxurious gardens and inaccessible mountains were considered the home of the gods. The Bible uses both descriptions for Eden. Eden was God's home and, therefore, where he conducted business. It was his headquarters, or home office. And where God is, his council is with him. God's Imagers One of the most important verses in the Bible tips us off that both God and his council were in Eden. In Genesis 1:26 God says, “Let us make humankind in our image” (leb, emphasis added). God announces his intention to a group. Who's he talking to? His heavenly host—his council. He's not talking to the other members of the Trinity, because God can't know something they don't! And here the group he's addressing learns what God has decided to do. The announcement is easy to understand. It would be like me saying to some friends, “Let's get pizza!” Let's do this! Clear enough. But there's something else we don't want to miss. God actually doesn't include the group in bringing about his decision. Unlike other divine council sessions we've seen, the members of God's council don't participate in this decision. When humankind is created in the next verse (Gen. 1:27), God is the only one creating. The creation of humanity is something God handled himself. Going back to my pizza analogy, if I followed my announcement by driving everyone to the pizza place and insisted on paying, I would be the one doing all the work. That's what we see going on here. It makes sense that God would be the only one creating humans. The divine beings of his council don't have that kind of...

"Take your son, your only son...and offer him." In Genesis 22, we walk with Abraham and Isaac and explore what it means to survive spiritual trauma, process silence, and believe again.

Tuesday, 17 June 2025   He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. Matthew 10:41   “The ‘receiving a prophet' in a prophet's name, a prophet's reward he will receive. And the ‘receiving a righteous' in a righteous' name, a righteous' reward he will receive” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus said, “The ‘receiving you,' Me receives. And the ‘Me receiving,' he receives the ‘having sent Me.'” In a similar manner, He now steps down the level of reception, saying, “The ‘receiving a prophet' in a prophet's name, a prophet's reward he will receive.”   This is obviously referring to a true prophet of the Lord. Although the reciprocal could still hold true. Someone receiving a false prophet, if taken in and accepting of his message, will eventually receive the false prophet's same fate. But that is not the intent here.   Of the prophet, in the Old Testament, he was the highest form of believer in God, having a word issued from God through Him. Although not necessarily an ambassador, he is one who speaks the word of the Lord. In Genesis 20:7, Abraham is specifically said to be a prophet of God. Moses notes he is a prophet in Deuteronomy 18:18.   In receiving such a person, there is an acknowledgment that what the prophet receives, the person will also receive. Although Jesus is probably referring to the reception of rewards in the next life, it is a truth that accompanied some in their earthly lives.   In 1 Kings 17, the widow of Zarephath received Elijah. In turn, she received a supply of food during the drought that consumed the land. In Jeremiah 39, Ebed-Melech tended to Jeremiah the prophet, and the Lord promised to deliver him during the terrible siege upon the city.   Likewise, in Jeremiah 45, Baruch the scribe was given words of assurance from the Lord for his faithfulness to the word of the Lord through Jeremiah. As for a later prophet's reward, meaning at the resurrection, one is recorded in Daniel 12 –   “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.” Daniel 12:13   Based on Jesus' words, it can be assumed that those who are saved and raised at the resurrection, and who received Daniel, would receive a similar inheritance. Next, Jesus says, “And the ‘receiving a righteous' in a righteous' name, a righteous' reward he will receive.”   This is another step down the ladder, going from the prophet to the righteous. The categories are set, just as they are in the list given by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:28. This demonstrates the wisdom of God in apportioning out His gifts and His grace in various ways.   As for the righteous, the Bible, even during the times of the law, identifies them as those who are of faith. This is made explicit in Hebrews 11, where those of faith are spoken of as righteous. Rahab the harlot received the spies and received her reward because of that. As in the prophet, it can be assumed that this truth goes beyond this life, though.   Those who receive the righteous, holding to their standard themselves, will receive the resurrection of the righteous and what it entails. Jesus is making a point about rewards. This thought will continue in the next verse.   Life application: In Matthew 11:11, Jesus says –   “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”   One reason for Jesus' word is certainly that a person who has entered the kingdom of heaven, meaning that which is promised through the Messiah, has received all of what has been spoken of since the beginning, as outlined in the received word.   In receiving the word that speaks of God's plan, we have received the prophet through whom that word came. In receiving the words of the writings of the gospels, we have received those who authored those books. And in receiving the words of the apostles as written in the epistles, we have received those apostles who penned them.   But people receive the words at various levels of faith. There are those who say they believe Paul was an apostle, but they don't accept everything he says. For example, they may attend a church with a female pastor, something Paul's writings forbid.   This will not affect their salvation (assuming they are truly saved), but it will affect their rewards. They have not truly received Paul in the fullest sense. The judgment seat of Christ is something that lies ahead for all believers. Our eternal rewards and losses will be based on our faith and our deeds done in faith.   This must be inclusive of how we receive and apply the word of God to our lives. What level of understanding are you willing to attain concerning God's word? The church you select, the Bible studies you attend, the manner in which you accept the doctrines contained within the word, etc., are certainly all a part of how God is evaluating you.   Many in the world have never had a copy of the Bible. They lived by faith but without a fuller understanding of the word. Many today hunger for a copy of the word in their own language, waiting years to receive a translation to hold and cherish.   In Western countries, we have innumerable translations available at our fingertips. And yet, who among those who believe has read even a single translation from beginning to end?   The more you are willing to receive, the greater will be the return on your investment of time, doctrine, and closer fellowship. Be sure to make the word an integral and intimate part of your life.   Heavenly Father, help us to think clearly about how we tend to Your word. It is our connection to understanding You and what You have done in the stream of human existence, culminating in the coming of Christ Jesus. How can we ignore such a gift? May it not be so in our lives. Amen.  

In Genesis 40, Joseph is joined in prison by two royal servants who were being punished by Pharaoh. As we watch Joseph interact with these men and the results that follow, what is the right way to persevere in a painful situation?  How should you respond when you're waiting and uncertain? (The Life of Joseph: Pain and Purpose, part 6)

In Genesis 27:1-45 Jacob deceives his father and steals Esau's blessing. Everyone in this narrative seems to be sinning constantly, except God, who overrules all sin to His own holy and gracious ends.

In Genesis 39, Joseph did the right thing by resisting the sexual advances of his boss' wife. But instead of being apologized to, Joseph is accused of rape and sent to prison. This section of Joseph's life reminds us that doing right isn't always rewarded in a broken world. If you decide to serve Jesus faithfully with your life, what are the real risks of righteousness? (The Life of Joseph: Pain and Purpose, part 5)

’Tis a fearful thing/to love what death can touch. That line begins a poem written over a thousand years ago by the Jewish poet Judah Halevi, translated in the twentieth century. The poet clarifies what’s behind the fear: to love . . . / And oh, to lose. In Genesis, an outpouring of emotion occurred when Abraham lost Sarah in death. “Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her” (23:2). The chapter unfolds the beautiful, grief-heavy story of the loss of one of Scripture’s most memorable characters: Sarah, the faithful wife of Abraham, that old woman who laughed at the news she’d be a mother (18:11-12) but cried in pain as Isaac made his way into this world. We make much of that crisp, humanity-rich verse in John’s gospel: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Jesus’ tears at the tomb of Lazarus emphasized His loss. To love is indeed a fearful thing. The poet Halevi calls it a thing for fools, yet he follows by also naming it a holy thing, which it is, especially for those whose faith is “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). We love and lose everything from spouses to children to parents to friends to pets, and weeping with painful joy is oh-so-human. Yet for the believer in Jesus, our weeping only lasts for the proverbial night. As David wrote, “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Our Father hasn’t left us bereft of hope.

In the third episode of "The Purpose of Marriage," Duane Sheriff explains that marriage is a sacred institution created by God for companionship and partnership, mirroring the relationship between Christ and the Church. In Genesis 2, the story of Adam and Eve, God states that it is "not good" for man to be alone. This story emphasizes our deep-rooted desire for companionship and partnership. The creation of Eve from Adam's rib symbolizes the unity and intimacy that God intended for marriage.Click for FREE offer ➡️https://pastorduane.com/the-purpose-of-marriage/

In this episode, we crack open something most believers have never even noticed: In Genesis 2:12, God says the gold of the land was “good.” Wait, what? Before money was minted, before greed and shame twisted its meaning, God placed gold in Eden... and He called it good. That same word—“good”—used for trees, land, animals, and all creation. Money wasn't cursed. It was created by God and called "good". We dive into: The 8 times gold is mentioned in Genesis—and why that number matters. Why gold is incorruptible (literally) and what that symbolizes. How Abraham's wealth wasn't just allowed—it was celebrated. The surprising truth about opulence and what God really designed money for. Why your discomfort with money might not be holy… it might be unhealed.   Resources Mentioned:

At the age of fifty-one, Ynes Mexia (1870-1938) decided to study botany, enrolling as a college freshman. Over her thirteen-year career, she traveled across Central and South America, discovering five hundred new species of plants. She’s not alone in her quest. Scientists discover nearly two thousand new plants each year. In Genesis 1, God took a formless, empty, and dark earth (v. 2) and created a place full of abundance. On the third day, God separated the waters to create dry land and began making it hospitable for humans by having “the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit” (v. 11). These were seed-bearing plants and fruit trees from which we could eat. God didn’t create just one type of fruit tree but an abundance. God isn’t only the Creator (v. 1); He’s also creative. He enjoys making different types of plants and animals and stars. If God cared only about giving us food, He could have made just one kind of seed-bearing plant. But God is extravagant and never does things in half measures. God’s abundance isn’t limited to His creation. He’s also generous with His grace. As Paul said, “The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 1:14). As with God’s creation, His grace is more than we need and offered with us in mind.