Podcasts about in luke

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Genesis 44–46 and Luke 18 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In this episode, Hunter invites us into the story of Joseph and his family's dramatic reunion, exploring Genesis 44–46 and Luke 18. Together, we'll journey through the emotional moments when Joseph reveals himself to his brothers in Egypt, Jacob uproots his family in faith, and God's promises unfold in unexpected ways. Hunter reflects on the power of perseverance in prayer and encourages us to "never give up," drawing inspiration from Jesus' teachings about persistence, humility, and trust in God's faithfulness. Get ready for heartfelt scripture readings, practical spiritual encouragement, and prayers to start your day with hope. Whether you're seeking guidance, comfort, or simply a daily rhythm in God's word, you're in the right place—so let's dive in together. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Never give up. That's a popular sentiment these days. It's used in sports, in business; it's found on t-shirts and bumper stickers. Giving up is easy. I've done it way too much in my life. I've given up on goals, I've given up on hopes, I've given up on relationships. I'm sad to say that I've given up on way too much that I needed to hold on to in this life. And I've also held on to things I should have given up long ago—resentments, anger, my need to be right, my need for approval. I've held on to these things way too long. Maybe you can relate. It seems like the trick is to give up on the wrong things and never give up on the right things. In Luke 18, Jesus says that we should keep praying and never give up. Prayer seems to be connected to our ability to hold on to the right things. Prayer is a two-way conversation; it's relational. We share our hearts, our fears, our failures, our life with Him. And He shares His life, His word, His heart, His hopes for us. It's a two-way thing. God is speaking to us in prayer, and we are listening to His voice and His leading. We hear from Him, we respond, and we worship Him. Without this relationship, giving up is inevitable. It's just way too easy. But when we pray, we are given the strength to hold on, to endure, to never give up. In today's reading, we hear Jacob listening to God speak to him, late at night, in a place called Beersheba. The last time God spoke to Jacob in Beersheba was many years ago, when he was preparing to leave home, fleeing from his brother. He laid his head on a rock and saw a stairway to heaven with the Lord at the top, and God promised him the land and descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth. Now, years later, God comes to him once again, and again Jacob is having to leave the land God had promised to him. It didn't look like the promise would be fulfilled anytime soon—Jacob was headed in the opposite direction, would even die in a different land without seeing the promise fulfilled. But out in the distance, too far for Jacob to see, God was bringing about the fulfillment of all He had promised. Jacob needed to keep on praying and never give up. God told him that Joseph, his son, would be with him to the end. For us, someone even greater than Joseph is with us—not Jacob's son but God's Son, who will be with us to the very end. Hebrews 11:13 reminds us that all these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. So keep praying. Never give up. God is faithful. If we live a life of faith, a life of prayer, a life in relationship with Him, then we will have the strength we need to never give up. He who promised is faithful; He will fulfill all His promises. We are the recipients of the promise made to Jacob. That promise that Jacob never got to see with his earthly eyes—God has fulfilled. Most of you aren't from the nation of Israel, yet you are the fulfillment of that promise. You have been included in the blessing. So let's keep praying. Let's never give up. God's Son is with us, and He will be with us to the very end. He will close our eyes, and He will wake us up. Hallelujah. That's a prayer I have for my own soul. That's a prayer I have for my family, for you, and for our world. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Humility creates space for God to work powerfully in and through our lives. In Luke 1:46–52, Mary’s response to God’s calling shows how choosing worship over worry allows fear to shrink and faith to grow, making room for God’s strength to shine through human weakness. Highlights God notices and honors a humble heart. Mary’s worship shifted her focus from fear to God’s greatness. Humility helps us trust God with outcomes we can’t control. Fear keeps us focused on limitations; humility lifts our eyes to God’s power. God often calls people forward through blessings that feel both exciting and scary. Choosing worship over worry positions us to receive God’s plans with faith. God looks for humility when He wants to accomplish great things through someone. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: God Looks for HumilityBy: Whitney Hopler Bible Reading:“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.” – Luke 1:46-52, NIV Mary had just received news that would completely turn her life upside down: an angel announced she would give birth to the Son of God. The news was wonderful, but also terrifying. Mary was a young, unmarried woman in a society where a pregnancy outside of marriage led to shame and even danger. The angel’s message was the best news possible for the world, but for Mary herself, it must have brought up feelings of fear about what her future would be like. Still, Mary responds with faith, despite her fear. She focuses on God’s greatness and she celebrates that God has blessed her because God has been mindful of her humility. Mary overcomes her very real fears by changing her perspective. She moves her focus off her humble state and onto God, the Mighty One who is greater than her problems, and who can work through her in powerful ways. Mary’s song of praise is about God, rather than herself. She realizes that if God is powerful enough to save the world through the Messiah, he is certainly powerful enough to take care of her reputation and her safety. God sees humble people like Mary and acts through their lives with great power. When have you heard some good news from God that’s a blessing, but also scary? Maybe God is calling you to start working toward making a dream a reality, but you’re afraid that you won’t be able to accomplish that goal, so you’re considering letting that dream go to stay in your comfort zone. Or, maybe God is encouraging you to forgive someone and restore a relationship, but you fear getting hurt again, so you’re neglecting God’s guidance because you want to protect yourself. Fear can cause you to miss out on making the decisions God wants you to make, because it directs your attention to only your own circumstances and limitations. When fear is in control, you only perceive the threat and miss the miracle. God’s good news is right there, but you can’t fully receive it because you’re so busy listening to worries in your mind. In order to fully hear and embrace the good news God sends you, you must make the same choice Mary did: Choose worship over worry. You can do that when you’re humble, because humility helps you see beyond yourself to God, which inspires you with reverence and awe for God. When you can see how big God really is, your fear shrinks, and you can step into the great plans God has for you because you can trust that God will empower you. God looks for humility when he looks for people to serve in great ways. Don't let the fear of what might happen in the future stop you from embracing the blessings God wants to send you. Like Mary, be in a humble state that’s ready to serve God. Then look forward to what God will do through your life! Intersecting Faith & Life: As you consider why it’s important to be humble for God to work in great ways through your life, reflect on these questions: What “good news” has God given you recently that’s both exciting and scary for you? What worries you about moving forward with how God is leading you, and what specific truth about God’s character (like his power or his love) can you remind yourself of to move past your fear? Like Mary, how can you focus on God’s unlimited strength rather than on your own limitations? In what areas of your life do you struggle to be humble, and how can you choose humility more so you can better hear and obey God’s messages? How does Mary’s celebration of God’s strength inspire you to choose worship over worry? Further Reading:Isaiah 41:102 Timothy 1:71 John 4:18Psalm 56:3Philippians 4:6-7 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In Luke chapters 1 and 2, Pastor Jared Proctor traces the repeated phrase, “and it came to pass,” to reveal how God faithfully moves His redemptive plan forward. From God speaking His promise, to a baby leaping in the womb, to the sovereign movement of Joseph and Mary, and finally to the shepherds' obedient response, we see that God is always at work, often quietly, yet always purposefully. This sermon invites us to reflect on the “and it came to pass” moments in our own lives, those divine intersections where God spoke, led, and called us to respond in faith. As we consider how the Lord has spoken to us, brought us here, and continues to move, we are challenged to respond with trust and obedience to what God is doing today.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Genesis 31–33; Luke 13 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the January 13th episode of the Daily Radio Bible. Today, Hunter and Heather continue guiding us through our year-long journey in the Scriptures, marking day 13 of our reading plan. In this episode, we step into the stories of Genesis chapters 31–33, witnessing Jacob's struggles and transformation, before turning to the teachings of Jesus in Luke 13. We reflect on how seasons of uncertainty, hardship, and joy invite moments of divine revelation—epiphanies that open our eyes to God's presence and purpose in our lives. Through Jacob's journey, we see what it means to walk by faith, empty ourselves, and wrestle with God, ultimately finding ourselves changed and ready to embrace a new future. In Luke, Jesus' parables and healings remind us that even the smallest act of faith—like a mustard seed—can reveal God's grandeur. Join Hunter and Heather as they lead us in scripture, prayer, and reflection, reminding us that togetherness and God's love are at the heart of our walk of faith. Whether this is your first day or you've been with us from the beginning, you're invited to journey deeper into the story and discover that you are truly loved. TODAY'S DEVOTION: A walking stick and a mustard seed. Have you ever thought about what God can do with something small, something seemingly insignificant? In today's reading, Hunter points us to Jacob, a man who left home with nothing but a walking stick. Yet by God's faithfulness, he returned with more than he could have imagined. In the same breath, Jesus describes the kingdom of God as a mustard seed—so tiny at first that you can easily overlook it, but once planted, it grows into the largest of all the garden plants. A walking stick and a mustard seed—both are symbols of faith, reminders that God delights in showing his greatness through what is humble and small, revealing his strength through what is weak. The journey of faith is not always triumphant in the ways we expect. It can often feel more like a wrestling match than a victory march. You'll wrestle—with your flesh, with your past, with the uncertainty ahead. There are hidden idols, hidden fears, secret shames—things that our earthly fathers can't see but our heavenly Father does. In the end, we must let them go. This life with God is a wrestling match above all with God himself. When we truly wrestle with him, we are changed—marked by the encounter. There may be a limp, a hitch in our step, a reminder that walking with God is not about our own strength, but about being emptied—so that Christ may live within us. Just as Jacob emptied himself, sending everything he had across the river, facing the night all alone—so, too, are we called, at times, to empty ourselves, to surrender, to cling desperately to God's blessing. It's in that emptiness, in surrender, where we receive a new name. Jacob became Israel. We, too, are promised a new identity, a new future, a new hope. Let him lead you across that river into what he has promised. Don't despise small beginnings or fear your frailty. When we are weak, he is strong. When our hands are empty, he fills them. And in wrestling, surrender, and faith, he makes us new. That's a prayer that I have for my own soul. That's a prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's a prayer that I have for you. May it be so. Let us walk by faith, embracing the weakness and the smallness, knowing that God is in them and will show his strength through us. May we, too, be changed by meeting him face to face. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Imagine losing something so valuable, you'd search high and low until it's found. That's exactly what God does with each person who's lost. In Luke 15, Jesus tells the parable of the lost coin, and it reveals a God who celebrates wildly when even one is found. This message explores what it means to care about the lost the way Jesus does, and why it should change how we live, love, and pray.

In Luke 15, Jesus reveals the heart of a Shepherd who joyfully seeks the lost and rejoices when even one sinner is found. This sermon launches our new series For the One More, calling us to rediscover God's joy, resist subtle spiritual drift, and align our hearts with what heaven celebrates. As we look at the parable of the lost sheep, we're reminded that salvation begins with God's pursuit—and that those who've been carried home are invited to rejoice and make room for the one more.Mission Church — www.missionlasvegas.com

In Luke 2, Jesus is both a unifying and a dividing figure. In this sermon we'll explore the division which brings about ever greater unity, ever greater wholeness, in a division which is the separation of the true and the false, faith and religion, the values of God and the values of humanity, and so on, through the examples of Simeon, Anna, and the young Jesus, a Jesus, a savior, who disturbs and transforms worship and values.

Prayer is not just something we do, but it's a way we encounter God! In Luke 11, Jesus teaches us how to pray bold, specific, faith-filled prayers that transform our lives.

In Luke 24:25, Jesus gently corrects His disciples, saying they were “slow of heart to believe all that the prophets had spoken.” Their struggle wasn't a lack of information—it was a lack of devotion to God's Word. This moment reveals a powerful truth: what we believe is shaped by what we consistently listen to and trust.This message, “Devoted to God's Word,” calls us back to the foundation of our faith. In a world filled with opinions, noise, and distractions, God's Word remains our source of truth, clarity, and direction. When we devote ourselves to Scripture, our hearts are strengthened, our faith deepens, and our lives are transformed.

What Do You Do When You Don't Understand The Bible? | Christ For YouText: Luke 2:41–52 | Epiphany 1Some parts of the Bible make immediate sense. Others won't leave you alone because you can't make sense of them. And life does the same thing: you pray, you try to do what's right, and you still end up asking, “What is God doing?”In Luke 2, even Mary and Joseph don't understand Jesus. But Mary doesn't quit. She treasures His words. This sermon draws the line between honest confusion that wants to be taught and stubborn rejection that refuses to listen. It also exposes the popular lie: “Jesus loves me, so it doesn't matter what the Bible says.” Jesus' love is not permission to ignore Jesus' Word. It's the reason you keep listening.If you feel stuck, if Scripture confuses you, if you don't understand why your life is going the way it is, this sermon is for you. You may not understand all things, but Jesus does. He knows your weakness and your sin better than you do. He kept the Law for you, shed His blood for you, and He treasures you in His heart. So you treasure His Word and cling to His promise that even what you can't explain, He will still work for your good.Subscribe & Share:Apple Podcasts: Christ For YouSpotify: Christ For YouPortuguês: Cristo Para VocêWebsite: ZionWG.org

To Be a Jesus Follower, You Must First Enter the Only Door to God's Kingdom and that Door is Jesus – the Door to Eternal Life MESSAGE SUMMARY: In John 14:6, Jesus says: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one come to the Father but through me.”. In Luke 13:23-25, Jesus is asked a pivotal question; and Jesus responded: “And someone said to him, ‘Lord, will those who are saved be few?' And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.'”. It is not that Jesus does not want all to be saved, it is just that the “gate”, to our Salvation and Eternal Life, is “narrow” and difficult to enter. We enter Eternal Life through Jesus and Jesus alone, and so many miss this fundamental tenant of our Christian faith; and they miss knowing Jesus – Jesus is the door, the narrow door. Neither Islam, nor Hinduism, nor just “my personal religion” is the door – Jesus is the only door.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12f SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 14:6; Mathew 3:1-3; John 4:1-5; Psalms 33a:1-11. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “It's About Time: Part 1 – Rebuilding Emotional Reserves” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Many people identify as Christians, yet struggle to explain what saving faith truly looks like. In Luke 7, Jesus gives us a vivid picture of saving faith through a forgiven sinner, a self-assured Pharisee, and an unpayable debt. Join us as we explore the burden of sin, the relief of forgiveness, and the love that inevitably follows when grace is real.Three aspects to saving faith...1) The burden of sin2) The relief of forgiveness3) The outpouring of loveText: Luke 7:36-50

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Genesis 25-26; Psalm 6; Luke 10 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, join your host and Bible reading coach, Hunter, as we journey together through Genesis 25–26, Psalm 6, and Luke 10. Whether you're brand new or a longtime listener, today's readings invite us to discover the transformative power of scripture—reminding us that more than anything, our greatest hope is to truly know that God is with us, and that God is love. As we encounter the stories of Abraham's descendants, listen to David's honest cries in Psalm 6, and hear Jesus send out the 72 disciples in Luke, Hunter unpacks the "secret" that fills Christ and the Father with joy: the invitation to live a "with God" life anchored in Jesus' name—not in our own strength or resources, but in the blessing of His presence. Through personal reflection and heartfelt prayer, Hunter encourages us to rest in this joyful, transforming truth and to let it shape our everyday lives. So, settle in for a thoughtful time of Bible reading, prayer, and encouragement—a time to invest in your soul and be reminded that, above all else, you are loved. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Jesus is telling a secret, and he is thrilled at the thought of it. In Luke 10, verse 21, we find Jesus filled with joy through the Holy Spirit, saying, "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way." This secret fills both the Father and the Son with great joy. So what is this secret? The secret is Jesus himself. He is the way to God, the way to life. He is what every heart is looking for. Jesus is the King, and he is proclaiming the kingdom. Jesus is the secret to it all. It's not the law, not traditions or piety, but living in the name, the power, and the presence of God. The God who is with us and for us. When Jesus sends out the 72, notice he tells them not to take anything with them—no bag, no money, no staff, nothing but his name. The only thing they are equipped with is the name of Jesus. The "with God life" isn't about our resources, our money, our provisions, but only about him. They are to go with his name, his message, his blessing, and his presence to the world. This is the "with God life"—a life of utter reliance on God, of being available to his presence and his agenda. When we allow him to lead, we end up fulfilling the law, becoming people of mercy, like the Good Samaritan. We participate with Christ; his power works in and through us. We're not the hero—Christ in us is. That's the secret: his presence in you, which Paul says is your hope of glory. Let's live in the reality of Christ in us. Let's awaken to the wonder of stepping out into the day simply in his name—not striving, not pushing or fretting, but knowing our real life is hidden with God in Christ. Our truest self is found in learning more and more to love God, our neighbor, and ourselves. Today, walk with him, eyes and ears wide open to his presence in you. Let him lead, and let him fill you with his joy. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, for my daughters, for my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

What if you succeeded at every goal this year—and still missed what mattered most? In Luke 18, Jesus shows us a better way forward. A way marked by dependence, persistence, and trust in a faithful Father. In this message, we talk about: • Why posture before God matters • How consistent practices shape real faith • Why God's faithfulness is the foundation for everything If you're stepping into a new year with hope, questions, or weariness—this message is for you.

In Luke 2:22-39 Simeon and Anna speak to Mary and Joseph about the child Jesus. Why did the travel to the temple and what can learn about our faithfully looking for Christ from Simeon and Anna. If you prefer to listen, stream, and/or watch, join us and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingwoodmethodist

When Jesus appears, he reveals our hearts. In Luke 2:22-38, people respond to Jesus's appearance with faith, hope, and love. When Jesus appears to you, what does he reveal of your heart?

Simon Says: Lessons from Simon Peter As we step into the New Year, we embark on an exciting journey through a new sermon series titled Simon Says, focusing on the life and lessons of Simon Peter, one of Jesus' most prominent disciples. This series explores how Simon Peter's experiences and responses can guide us toward spiritual transformation. Introduction to Simon Peter Simon Peter, a fisherman by trade, was introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew. This pivotal moment is captured in John 1:40–42, where Andrew, convinced that Jesus is the Messiah, brings Simon to Him. Jesus immediately sees Simon's potential and declares that he will be called Peter, meaning “rock,” pointing to a future transformation. The Call to Obedience One of the key themes in Simon Peter's life is obedience. In Luke 5:1–11, we witness a miraculous event that underscores the importance of obeying Jesus, even when it feels inconvenient or illogical. After a fruitless night of fishing, Simon follows Jesus' instruction to cast the nets again. The result is an overwhelming catch. This act of obedience, despite doubt, leads to a deeper revelation of Jesus' authority and becomes a defining moment in Simon's life. Lessons in Obedience Obey in the Little Things Simon's willingness to let Jesus use his boat, though inconvenient, set the stage for a greater miracle. Small acts of obedience often open the door to significant spiritual growth. Obey When It Doesn't Make Sense Simon's decision to fish again, despite his professional experience telling him otherwise, highlights the need to trust Jesus even when His instructions defy logic. Obedience, even when mixed with uncertainty, can lead to clearer vision and deeper faith. Spiritual Transformation The result of Simon's obedience was not just a miraculous catch of fish, but a shift in how he understood Jesus and himself. He moves from calling Jesus “Master” to recognizing Him as “Lord,” signaling a deeper awareness of Jesus' true identity and authority. Application for Today Embrace Obedience Whether the task is small and inconvenient or large and challenging, obedience matters. Consistent obedience aligns us with God's purpose. Seek Transformation Like Simon, our journey with Jesus is ongoing. It begins with relationship, grows through obedience, and leads to a life shaped by God's calling. Conclusion The story of Simon Peter reminds us that transformation is a process that requires active participation through obedience. As we walk through this series, let us remain open to the lessons from Simon Peter's life and apply them personally. Whether you are new to faith or have followed Jesus for years, every step of obedience moves you closer to the life God intends for you. If you are interested in beginning or deepening your relationship with Jesus, consider joining our upcoming baptism service or participating in our Bible reading plan for the year. Let's commit to a year of growth and transformation, inspired by the life of Simon Peter.

Love and Torah – what's love got to do with it? This study series is based on the “Two Great Commands” – love Yahweh and love your neighbor. Continuing our journey through the second of the Two Great Commands, ‘love your neighbor', Rabbi Steve Berkson takes us to Luke 6:38, where we see Messiah Yeshua continuing to show the contrast between what Rabbi Berkson calls “the Below” and “the Above”. He points out that in order to please the Father, you must be aligned with “the Above”. A component of loving Yahweh and your neighbor is giving. What does that mean, though? Rabbi Berkson clarifies how, when, and why to give. He also points out an incentive to give, noting that whatever we give will be returned, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. Rabbi Berkson uses his trip to a Baskin-Robbins™ ice cream store to make the point. In Luke 6:39-40, Messiah Yeshua tells a parable about the blind leading the blind. Rabbi Berkson cautions about where and from whom you get your information as you walk in Torah observance. There's a lot of misinformation out there that presents itself with authority. In verse 41, Yeshua teaches about the plank in your eye and the splinter in your brother's eye. Rabbi Berkson explains how some people take Torah knowledge and use it as a weapon to try to “help” others with their walk. “Correction can only happen correctly in the right relationship.” Then in Luke 6:47-49, Rabbi Berkson tells us that our lives are like building a house. Are we building on the correct foundation, or without one? The key is whether or not we are listening to and doing the words of Messiah. Rabbi Berkson once again dissects the words in these passages so that you will have a deeper understanding of what Yah expects of you, so that you can do it and receive the blessings.

In Luke's account of the temptation of Jesus, we see a clear pattern in how the enemy operates—attempting to push Jesus to prove his identity in the flesh when God had already established his identity in the Spirit. This message explores the connection between identity, temptation, and the discipline of fasting, and why fasting positions us for clarity, dependence on God, and spiritual breakthrough.

 In Luke 14:12–24, Jesus turns hospitality upside down. This sermon explores how Christian hospitality is not about entertaining friends or social exchange, but participating in God's radical welcome of those who cannot repay us. Part of the Making Room series, this message invites us to examine who truly feels at home in our lives and churches—and how everyday acts of welcome shape us into the likeness of Christ. 

God, from the very beginning, has arranged for our adoption as His children. Long before we were aware of it, before we could understand our own story, His purpose was already at work. In spite of the failings of our parents, the disasters that have struck our lives, the swirling events of history, and even our own broken past and wandering paths, God has not been absent. He has been active, patient, and faithful. Every moment has been held within His care and directed toward His gracious will. In Luke 2, we see the boy Jesus in the temple, growing in wisdom and stature, obedient to His earthly parents, and yet fully devoted to His Father's house. This same Lord, who submitted Himself to the Law and fulfilled it perfectly, has done so for you. Through His life, death, and resurrection, you are chosen and redeemed, a child of God through faith in Jesus, an heir of eternal life. This is not by accident. This is not by merit. It is by grace alone. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

God, from the very beginning, has arranged for our adoption as His children. Long before we were aware of it, before we could understand our own story, His purpose was already at work. In spite of the failings of our parents, the disasters that have struck our lives, the swirling events of history, and even our own broken past and wandering paths, God has not been absent. He has been active, patient, and faithful. Every moment has been held within His care and directed toward His gracious will. In Luke 2, we see the boy Jesus in the temple, growing in wisdom and stature, obedient to His earthly parents, and yet fully devoted to His Father's house. This same Lord, who submitted Himself to the Law and fulfilled it perfectly, has done so for you. Through His life, death, and resurrection, you are chosen and redeemed, a child of God through faith in Jesus, an heir of eternal life. This is not by accident. This is not by merit. It is by grace alone. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

In Luke 24:13–24, two discouraged disciples walk the road to Emmaus, talking through their confusion, disappointment, and unanswered questions—unaware that Jesus Himself is walking beside them. Though He is present, they don't recognize His voice at first. Their story reminds us how easy it is to miss what God is saying when our hearts are weighed down by pain or unmet expectations.This message, “Devoted to His Voice,” calls us to slow down, tune out the noise, and become attentive to what Jesus is speaking in every season of life. Even when we don't recognize Him right away, His voice is still guiding, comforting, and revealing truth.

People respond to Jesus in very different ways—some with honest questions, some with deep gratitude, and others with stubborn resistance. In Luke 7:18–35, we see how John the Baptist, everyday believers, and hardened skeptics each react to the same Christ. Join us as we explore these responses and ask the personal question: How am I responding to Jesus today?Three distinct postures before Jesus...1) Perplexity2) Greatness3) UnbeliefText: Luke 7:18-35

In Luke 3, a crowd gathers around a radical man named John the Baptist to ask a simple but searching question: “What should we do?” They're hoping for a radical answer—one that will spark real change in their lives. As a new year begins, maybe you're asking a similar question, praying, “Lord, what should I be doing?” John's response is surprising, because instead of calling for dramatic gestures, he points them toward faithful obedience right where they already are.Welcome to Antioch Georgetown! We are a church in Georgetown, TX, and our mission is simple--We lead people to follow Christ in a life-changing way.Get Connected:

From the opening chapters of Scripture, the narrative of humanity is marked by the presence of a tree. At the heart of Eden stood two trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The tree of life offered the promise of ongoing life, while the other was strictly off limits, carrying the warning that eating its fruit would bring death. When the first humans chose to take what God had forbidden, they inherited not blessing but a cursebanishment from paradise and the inheritance of death. Since that fateful day in Eden, we have lived beneath the shadow of that curse outside of Eden, our lives marked by its consequences. Throughout this series,The Tree, we have traced Gods answer to the problem introduced in Eden. We have seen a promised Seed spoken of in the garden (Gen. 3:15), a promise preserved through judgment in the days of Noah (Gen. 69), narrowed through Abrahams only son (Gen. 22), carried forward through broken families and deeply flawed people, guarded through exile and deliverance, and entrusted to kings who both reflected Gods purposes and failed to live up to them. Again and again, the message has been unmistakable: Gods promise advances not because His people are faithful, but because He is. And then, in the fullness of time, the promise took on flesh (Gal. 4:4-7). The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). God did not merely speak againHe stepped into the story Himself (Heb. 1:1-2).Yet Luke 4 marks a decisive moment. Jesus is no longer simply the child of promise or the quiet presence of Immanuel. In Luke 4, Jesus stands up, opens the Scriptures, and for the first time publicly declares who He is and why He has come. It is no mystery that we humans are a mess. Scripture does not flatter us, and history confirms the diagnosis. We are fallen creatures living under the curse of sin. We are born spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1), enslaved to desires we cannot master (Rom. 6:16), inclined to distort what God has called good (Rom. 1:2125), and we live beneath the shadow of deathboth physical and spiritual (Rom. 5:12). Though humanity still bears the image of God (Gen. 1:2627), that image is no longer reflected as it once was. Our thinking is darkened, our lives disordered, and our relationships fractured. We were made for communion with God, yet we live far from Him. This brokenness did not occur in a vacuum. Scripture is equally clear that there is an enemy in the storyreal, personal, and malicious. Satan is the great antagonist of redemptive history, a murderer from the beginning who traffics in lies and delights in death. Jesus said of him,He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him for he is a liar and the father of lies(John 8:44). Yet even in judgment, God spoke hope. To the serpent and the woman He declared that a descendant would comeOne who would be wounded, yet in being wounded would crush the serpents head (Gen. 3:15). Death would strike, but it would not have the final word. From that moment forward, the Scriptures move with expectation. God promised His people a Deliverersomeone greater than Moses (Deut. 18:15; Heb. 3:16), someone greater than David who would reign with justice and peace forever (2 Sam. 7:1216; Ezek. 37:2428), someone who would not merely rule but redeem. Through the prophets, God revealed that peace would come through suffering, that the One who would heal the world would first bear the curse Himself. Isaiah saw it clearly:But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings and by His wounds we are healed(Isa. 53:5). This is why the announcement of Jesus birth was not sentimental but staggering. When angels appeared to shepherds living in darkness, they did not proclaim a teacher or a moral example, but a Savior:For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord(Luke 2:11). As the apostle Paul later wrote,For all the promises of God are Yes in Christ(2 Cor. 1:20; BSB). Jesus is not one promise among manyHe is the fulfillment of them all. It is against this backdrop that Luke 4 unfolds. Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth, enters the synagogue, and is handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He reads words every faithful Jew knew well: The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord (Luke 4:1819; Isa. 61:12). After reading, Jesus sat down and declared,Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing(Luke 4:21). We are then told that the immediate response of those in the synagogue that day was that of admiration: And all the people were speaking well of Him, and admiring the gracious words which were coming from His lips; and yet they were saying, Is this not Josephs son? (v. 22). Now listen (or read) what Jesus said next: And He said to them, No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me: Physician, heal yourself! All the miracles that we heard were done in Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well. But He said, Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a severe famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many with leprosy in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian. (vv. 23-27) Jesus mentioned two different people who had no biological connection to Abraham nor were they Jewish. A prophet called to speak on behalf of God by the name of Elijah went to Zarephath under the direction of Yahweh, to a town full of Gentiles during a time that a famine also affected Israel, and yet Elijah went to a Gentile widow who God miraculously fed and protected during that famine (see 1 Kings 17:824). Listen, the point Jesus was making is this: The widow of Zarephath was a Gentile outsiderpoor, desperate, and forgottenyet she received the mercy Israel assumed belonged to them alone. A second example Jesus gave was that of Naaman the Syrian who served as a commander of the enemies of Israel. Jesus said, And there were many with leprosy in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian (v. 27). Listen to what we are told concerning Naaman in 2 Kings 5, Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in the view of his master, and eminent, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but afflicted with leprosy (v. 1). And yet, God healed him! How was Naaman healed? He was only healed after he humbled himself in obedience to the word of God delivered by Elisha the prophet (see 2 Kings 5:1-14). What was Jesus main point? He was showing that the promise of a Deliverer and redemption was never exclusive to Israel, but it was intended for all nations. When Jesus read from Isaiah and proclaimed, Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing (Luke 4:21), He wasnt simply interpreting the passageHe was revealing Himself as its fulfillment. In that moment, Jesus was announcing His mission, His authority, and the inclusive nature of His kingdom. He declared Himself as the promised Delivererthe greater Adam, the greater Abraham, the true Israeland made clear that through Him, blessing would extend to every nation, not just one people. In Luke 4:2527, Jesus reminds His hometown that God sent Elijah to a Gentile widow in Zarephath and healed Naaman the Syrianan enemy commandermaking clear that Gods mercy is received through Jesus by faith to all who will receive it, not where privilege assumes it. There are four facets of Jesus ministry that is described in these verses: Jesus Came as Good News to the Poor for All People Jesus clarifies the kind of poverty He has in view when He says,Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven(Matt. 5:3). This poverty is not merely economic. Scripture and experience alike tell us that not all who are materially poor long for God. The poor in spirit are those who recognize their spiritual bankruptcy before Himthose who know they have nothing to offer God but their need. Jesus is good news to such people precisely because it is only through Jesus that one can have God. Those who believe themselves rich in righteousness will feel no need for a Savior, but those who know they are empty will discover that Christ is everything. Jesus Came to Set Captives Free Out from the Nations Scripture declares,For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God(Rom. 3:23). Every human being is born enslaved to sinany violation of Gods holy standard. Human experience confirms what Scripture teaches:The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?(Jer. 17:9). Apart from Christ, every one of us stands under judgment (Rev. 20:1115). This is why Jesus came. As John the Baptist proclaimed,Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!(John 1:29). When Jesus read Isaiah 61 in the synagogue, His hearers assumed He was announcing political liberation and national restoration. What they did not understand was that their deepest captivity was not Roman oppression but spiritual bondage. Jesus came to proclaim liberty to captives whose chains were forged by sin. Jesus Came to Give Sight to the Blind Who Make Up All Humanity While Jesus healed physical blindness throughout His ministry, His greater work was opening spiritually blind eyes. This blindness is not learnedit is native to us. Scripture teaches,The hearts of the sons of mankind are full of evil, and insanity is in their hearts while they live, and afterward they go to the dead(Eccl. 9:3). Like a blind man standing in bright sunlight, the human heart may sense that something is there yet remain unable to see it. The apostle Paul explains this condition plainly:But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned(1 Cor. 2:14). Only Jesus can open blind hearts to see the truth and beauty of God. Jesus Came to Bring Salvation and Redemption as Far as the Curse is Found Isaiah 61 was understood as a promise of a new agean age in which broken people and a broken creation would be restored, an age without tyranny, injustice, suffering, or death (Isa. 11:69; 65:1725). When Jesus read that passage, He claimed to be the One who would inaugurate that renewal. His miracleshealing the sick, restoring the lame, opening blind eyes, and raising the deadwere not merely acts of compassion; they were signs pointing to a greater restoration still to come (Matt. 11:45). Jesus redemption is both spiritual and physical. Though believers continue to struggle with sin and weakness in this life, there is coming a day when resurrection will make us whole:For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality(1 Cor. 15:53), whenwhat is mortal will be swallowed up by life(2 Cor. 5:4). How far reaching is the salvation and redemption Jesus was born to bring? Oh, let the anthem of Isaac Watts great hymn ring true in your heart: No more let sins and sorrows grow Nor thorns infest the ground He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found How far Christian? As far as the curse is found! Far as, far as the curse is found This is the gospel Jesus declared in Nazareth. It is comprehensive, gracious, and costly. It confronts sin, heals blindness, breaks chains, and promises restoration. And yet Luke tells us that this announcement did not lead to repentanceit led to rejection (Luke 4:2830). What Jesus proclaimed as good news, His hometown soon heard as an offense. They wanted a Messiah of their own making, not one who exposed their sin and need of a redeemer! They wanted deliverance on their terms, not salvation on Gods terms. And when Jesus made clear that Gods grace could not be claimed or secured by their religious deeds alone, admiration turned to rejection. Luke 4 reminds us that the greatest danger is not rejecting Jesus outright but rejecting Him after we think we know Him. The Promised One stood before them, opened the Scriptures, and declared fulfillmentand they refused Him. And that leaves us with the same question this passage presses upon every hearer: Will we receive Jesus as He truly is, or will we reject Him because He refuses to be the Savior we want Him to be? He is still good news to the poor, freedom for the captive, sight for the blind, and restoration for the brokenbut only for those willing to receive Him on His terms. The people rejected Jesus because He did not fit their mold of what the Messiah should be. He was not the Savior they wanted, even though He was exactly the Savior they needed. Jesus fulfilled Gods promises, but He refused to conform to human expectations. And Luke 4 presses the same question upon us today: will we receive Jesus as He truly is, or will we reject Him because He will not become the Messiah we want Him to be?

From the opening chapters of Scripture, the narrative of humanity is marked by the presence of a tree. At the heart of Eden stood two trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The tree of life offered the promise of ongoing life, while the other was strictly off limits, carrying the warning that eating its fruit would bring death. When the first humans chose to take what God had forbidden, they inherited not blessing but a cursebanishment from paradise and the inheritance of death. Since that fateful day in Eden, we have lived beneath the shadow of that curse outside of Eden, our lives marked by its consequences. Throughout this series,The Tree, we have traced Gods answer to the problem introduced in Eden. We have seen a promised Seed spoken of in the garden (Gen. 3:15), a promise preserved through judgment in the days of Noah (Gen. 69), narrowed through Abrahams only son (Gen. 22), carried forward through broken families and deeply flawed people, guarded through exile and deliverance, and entrusted to kings who both reflected Gods purposes and failed to live up to them. Again and again, the message has been unmistakable: Gods promise advances not because His people are faithful, but because He is. And then, in the fullness of time, the promise took on flesh (Gal. 4:4-7). The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). God did not merely speak againHe stepped into the story Himself (Heb. 1:1-2).Yet Luke 4 marks a decisive moment. Jesus is no longer simply the child of promise or the quiet presence of Immanuel. In Luke 4, Jesus stands up, opens the Scriptures, and for the first time publicly declares who He is and why He has come. It is no mystery that we humans are a mess. Scripture does not flatter us, and history confirms the diagnosis. We are fallen creatures living under the curse of sin. We are born spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1), enslaved to desires we cannot master (Rom. 6:16), inclined to distort what God has called good (Rom. 1:2125), and we live beneath the shadow of deathboth physical and spiritual (Rom. 5:12). Though humanity still bears the image of God (Gen. 1:2627), that image is no longer reflected as it once was. Our thinking is darkened, our lives disordered, and our relationships fractured. We were made for communion with God, yet we live far from Him. This brokenness did not occur in a vacuum. Scripture is equally clear that there is an enemy in the storyreal, personal, and malicious. Satan is the great antagonist of redemptive history, a murderer from the beginning who traffics in lies and delights in death. Jesus said of him,He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him for he is a liar and the father of lies(John 8:44). Yet even in judgment, God spoke hope. To the serpent and the woman He declared that a descendant would comeOne who would be wounded, yet in being wounded would crush the serpents head (Gen. 3:15). Death would strike, but it would not have the final word. From that moment forward, the Scriptures move with expectation. God promised His people a Deliverersomeone greater than Moses (Deut. 18:15; Heb. 3:16), someone greater than David who would reign with justice and peace forever (2 Sam. 7:1216; Ezek. 37:2428), someone who would not merely rule but redeem. Through the prophets, God revealed that peace would come through suffering, that the One who would heal the world would first bear the curse Himself. Isaiah saw it clearly:But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings and by His wounds we are healed(Isa. 53:5). This is why the announcement of Jesus birth was not sentimental but staggering. When angels appeared to shepherds living in darkness, they did not proclaim a teacher or a moral example, but a Savior:For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord(Luke 2:11). As the apostle Paul later wrote,For all the promises of God are Yes in Christ(2 Cor. 1:20; BSB). Jesus is not one promise among manyHe is the fulfillment of them all. It is against this backdrop that Luke 4 unfolds. Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth, enters the synagogue, and is handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He reads words every faithful Jew knew well: The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord (Luke 4:1819; Isa. 61:12). After reading, Jesus sat down and declared,Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing(Luke 4:21). We are then told that the immediate response of those in the synagogue that day was that of admiration: And all the people were speaking well of Him, and admiring the gracious words which were coming from His lips; and yet they were saying, Is this not Josephs son? (v. 22). Now listen (or read) what Jesus said next: And He said to them, No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me: Physician, heal yourself! All the miracles that we heard were done in Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well. But He said, Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a severe famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many with leprosy in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian. (vv. 23-27) Jesus mentioned two different people who had no biological connection to Abraham nor were they Jewish. A prophet called to speak on behalf of God by the name of Elijah went to Zarephath under the direction of Yahweh, to a town full of Gentiles during a time that a famine also affected Israel, and yet Elijah went to a Gentile widow who God miraculously fed and protected during that famine (see 1 Kings 17:824). Listen, the point Jesus was making is this: The widow of Zarephath was a Gentile outsiderpoor, desperate, and forgottenyet she received the mercy Israel assumed belonged to them alone. A second example Jesus gave was that of Naaman the Syrian who served as a commander of the enemies of Israel. Jesus said, And there were many with leprosy in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian (v. 27). Listen to what we are told concerning Naaman in 2 Kings 5, Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in the view of his master, and eminent, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but afflicted with leprosy (v. 1). And yet, God healed him! How was Naaman healed? He was only healed after he humbled himself in obedience to the word of God delivered by Elisha the prophet (see 2 Kings 5:1-14). What was Jesus main point? He was showing that the promise of a Deliverer and redemption was never exclusive to Israel, but it was intended for all nations. When Jesus read from Isaiah and proclaimed, Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing (Luke 4:21), He wasnt simply interpreting the passageHe was revealing Himself as its fulfillment. In that moment, Jesus was announcing His mission, His authority, and the inclusive nature of His kingdom. He declared Himself as the promised Delivererthe greater Adam, the greater Abraham, the true Israeland made clear that through Him, blessing would extend to every nation, not just one people. In Luke 4:2527, Jesus reminds His hometown that God sent Elijah to a Gentile widow in Zarephath and healed Naaman the Syrianan enemy commandermaking clear that Gods mercy is received through Jesus by faith to all who will receive it, not where privilege assumes it. There are four facets of Jesus ministry that is described in these verses: Jesus Came as Good News to the Poor for All People Jesus clarifies the kind of poverty He has in view when He says,Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven(Matt. 5:3). This poverty is not merely economic. Scripture and experience alike tell us that not all who are materially poor long for God. The poor in spirit are those who recognize their spiritual bankruptcy before Himthose who know they have nothing to offer God but their need. Jesus is good news to such people precisely because it is only through Jesus that one can have God. Those who believe themselves rich in righteousness will feel no need for a Savior, but those who know they are empty will discover that Christ is everything. Jesus Came to Set Captives Free Out from the Nations Scripture declares,For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God(Rom. 3:23). Every human being is born enslaved to sinany violation of Gods holy standard. Human experience confirms what Scripture teaches:The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?(Jer. 17:9). Apart from Christ, every one of us stands under judgment (Rev. 20:1115). This is why Jesus came. As John the Baptist proclaimed,Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!(John 1:29). When Jesus read Isaiah 61 in the synagogue, His hearers assumed He was announcing political liberation and national restoration. What they did not understand was that their deepest captivity was not Roman oppression but spiritual bondage. Jesus came to proclaim liberty to captives whose chains were forged by sin. Jesus Came to Give Sight to the Blind Who Make Up All Humanity While Jesus healed physical blindness throughout His ministry, His greater work was opening spiritually blind eyes. This blindness is not learnedit is native to us. Scripture teaches,The hearts of the sons of mankind are full of evil, and insanity is in their hearts while they live, and afterward they go to the dead(Eccl. 9:3). Like a blind man standing in bright sunlight, the human heart may sense that something is there yet remain unable to see it. The apostle Paul explains this condition plainly:But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned(1 Cor. 2:14). Only Jesus can open blind hearts to see the truth and beauty of God. Jesus Came to Bring Salvation and Redemption as Far as the Curse is Found Isaiah 61 was understood as a promise of a new agean age in which broken people and a broken creation would be restored, an age without tyranny, injustice, suffering, or death (Isa. 11:69; 65:1725). When Jesus read that passage, He claimed to be the One who would inaugurate that renewal. His miracleshealing the sick, restoring the lame, opening blind eyes, and raising the deadwere not merely acts of compassion; they were signs pointing to a greater restoration still to come (Matt. 11:45). Jesus redemption is both spiritual and physical. Though believers continue to struggle with sin and weakness in this life, there is coming a day when resurrection will make us whole:For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality(1 Cor. 15:53), whenwhat is mortal will be swallowed up by life(2 Cor. 5:4). How far reaching is the salvation and redemption Jesus was born to bring? Oh, let the anthem of Isaac Watts great hymn ring true in your heart: No more let sins and sorrows grow Nor thorns infest the ground He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found How far Christian? As far as the curse is found! Far as, far as the curse is found This is the gospel Jesus declared in Nazareth. It is comprehensive, gracious, and costly. It confronts sin, heals blindness, breaks chains, and promises restoration. And yet Luke tells us that this announcement did not lead to repentanceit led to rejection (Luke 4:2830). What Jesus proclaimed as good news, His hometown soon heard as an offense. They wanted a Messiah of their own making, not one who exposed their sin and need of a redeemer! They wanted deliverance on their terms, not salvation on Gods terms. And when Jesus made clear that Gods grace could not be claimed or secured by their religious deeds alone, admiration turned to rejection. Luke 4 reminds us that the greatest danger is not rejecting Jesus outright but rejecting Him after we think we know Him. The Promised One stood before them, opened the Scriptures, and declared fulfillmentand they refused Him. And that leaves us with the same question this passage presses upon every hearer: Will we receive Jesus as He truly is, or will we reject Him because He refuses to be the Savior we want Him to be? He is still good news to the poor, freedom for the captive, sight for the blind, and restoration for the brokenbut only for those willing to receive Him on His terms. The people rejected Jesus because He did not fit their mold of what the Messiah should be. He was not the Savior they wanted, even though He was exactly the Savior they needed. Jesus fulfilled Gods promises, but He refused to conform to human expectations. And Luke 4 presses the same question upon us today: will we receive Jesus as He truly is, or will we reject Him because He will not become the Messiah we want Him to be?

God, from the very beginning, has arranged for our adoption as His children. Long before we were aware of it, before we could understand our own story, His purpose was already at work. In spite of the failings of our parents, the disasters that have struck our lives, the swirling events of history, and even our own broken past and wandering paths, God has not been absent. He has been active, patient, and faithful. Every moment has been held within His care and directed toward His gracious will. In Luke 2, we see the boy Jesus in the temple, growing in wisdom and stature, obedient to His earthly parents, and yet fully devoted to His Father's house. This same Lord, who submitted Himself to the Law and fulfilled it perfectly, has done so for you. Through His life, death, and resurrection, you are chosen and redeemed, a child of God through faith in Jesus, an heir of eternal life. This is not by accident. This is not by merit. It is by grace alone. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

What does it look like when Christmas moves from a holiday to a personal encounter with Christ? In Luke 2, Simeon and Anna show us what happens when faith becomes sight and hope becomes reality. Join Jim Scudder on InGrace as he explores how meeting Jesus changes everything—even after Christmas was over.

What happens after Christmas fades and the decorations come down? In Luke 2, we see that God's plan didn't end at the manger—it was only beginning. Join Jim Scudder on InGrace as he explores the lasting impact of Christ's birth and how His coming still transforms lives today.

Relationships in HD — Part 15: For the Saint and the Sinner Description: In Part 15 of Relationships in HD, Pastor Eric goes to the very foundation of every Christian relationship: whether or not we are truly children of God. Launching from the line, “For the saint and for the sinner… there's enough grace for the whole wide world,” he confronts a common assumption—that everyone is automatically God's child—and shows from Scripture that only those who believe and receive Jesus are adopted into the Father's family. From John 1 and John 8, Pastor Eric contrasts empty religion with true salvation: serving, giving, being “churchy,” even being on the membership roll is not the same thing as being born again. He shares his own story of years of doubt, “hope-so hands,” and self-righteous striving, and how the Lord finally broke through at an altar in 1987 with one simple invitation: “Just ask Me, and I will.” From that moment, the Christian life moved from fear and uncertainty to the security of a Father who never lets go. From there, this message unfolds the generous heart of God the Father. In Luke 11 and 12, Jesus teaches that if flawed human parents know how to give good gifts, how much more does our Father in heaven delight to give the Holy Spirit, daily provision, and even the kingdom itself. Pastor Eric shows how a distorted view of earthly fathers can warp our view of God—and how Scripture corrects that picture with a Father who is approachable, generous, and stable, not stingy, distant, or constantly angry. Deeply personal and thoroughly gospel-centered, this sermon calls both the religious and the rebellious to real assurance in Christ, and invites believers to live like secure sons and daughters—resting in the Father's delight, resisting the lies of the enemy, and reflecting the generosity of heaven in their everyday relationships. Key Scriptures (NKJV): John 1:11–12; John 8:44; John 3:16–17; John 10:27–29; Luke 11:9–13; Luke 12:22–34; James 1:16–18; Hebrews 4:14–16; Hebrews 12:2; Titus 1:2; 1 Peter 1:3–5. Highlights: Child of God or just religious? Why serving, giving, and being in church isn't the same as being born again. Believe and receive: Not everyone is automatically God's child—but everyone who trusts Christ is adopted, forgiven, and welcomed. Pastor Eric's testimony: From years of doubting and praying “just in case” to finally trusting that Jesus wanted him and had truly saved him. Hope-so hand vs. know-so assurance: Moving from vague wishing to confidence in God's promises. Fighting doubt: “Grab the devil by the tail” and drag him back to the cross—if God lied, He wouldn't be worth following, but He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). The Father's generosity: Every good and perfect gift comes from Him; He delights to give the Holy Spirit, daily bread, and the kingdom. “How much more?” If flawed parents give good gifts, how much more does our Father value and care for His children. You are worth more than the birds: Correcting a culture that often values animals and environment over people—God says you are of greater value. Security in the Father's hand: No one can pluck Christ's sheep out of His hand or the Father's hand (John 10:27–29). New identity, new family, new future: Adoption, inheritance, reservation in heaven, and the peace that passes understanding. Relational impact: When we know we are loved, wanted, and secure, it reshapes how we parent, mentor, and disciple others. Next Steps: If you're unsure whether you're truly a child of God, start there: read John 1:11–12 and John 3:16–18, and honestly ask, Am I trusting my goodness—or Christ's finished work? If you haven't, call on Him in faith and receive Him as your Savior. If you belong to Christ but struggle with doubt, write down John 10:27–29, Romans 8:15–16, and James 1:17–18. Pray through them this week and, whenever accusation comes, “drag it back to the cross” and rest in what God has promised, not what you feel. Then, ask the Father to help you live like His child: choose one way to reflect His generosity, patience, and delight—whether toward your kids, your spouse, or someone younger in the faith. Thank Him that there is grace enough for the saint, grace enough for the sinner, and grace enough for you.

What does it mean to truly recognize Jesus?In this final message of our Advent series Come and Behold Him, we turn to the story of Simeon—a man whose entire life was shaped by waiting on a promise personally given by God. In Luke 2, Simeon is led by the Holy Spirit into the temple at just the right moment, where he takes the infant Jesus into his arms and declares, “My eyes have seen your salvation.”This message explores how:Only the Holy Spirit enables true recognition of ChristJesus is revealed as salvation for all people, Jew and Gentile alikeChrist both brings peace and exposes the human heart, dividing and revealing what we truly believeSimeon's encounter reminds us that the Christmas story is not just something to hear—it is something to behold. Christ comforts, confronts, reveals, and redeems. And when we truly see Him, everything changes.Scripture: Luke 2:22–35Waiting ends when salvation is revealed—when the Spirit opens our eyes to behold Christ.#ComeAndBeholdHim #AdventSeries #Simeon #Luke2 #SalvationHasCome #LightOfTheWorld #ChristmasSermon #JesusChrist #GospelTruth

God's promises are not only fulfilled at the end of waiting — they form us along the way. In Luke 2:21–40, we see how God continues His promise in us through faithful waiting, deeply rooted trust, and committed, peaceful praise. Through the lives of Simeon and Anna, we are reminded that God is shaping who we become while we wait on what He has promised.

Many of us long to be seen, known, and restored, yet feel trapped by our past. In Luke 19:1–10, Jesus seeks out Zacchaeus, offering grace that leads to repentance and transformation. In this message, Pastoral Resident Brad Robertson highlights the hope of the gospel, showing that Jesus came to seek and save the lost and to bring new life to those who receive Him.

Jesus often shows up where we least expect Him—in overlooked places, through ordinary people, during hidden seasons. In Luke 1, God begins the greatest rescue story not in a palace but in Nazareth, not with prestige but with humility. Mary isn't chosen because of her résumé but because of grace. Jesus enters the world quietly, but with eternal purpose, showing us that God often does His greatest work in the places we're tempted to overlook. Scripture reveals Jesus as the promised King, the Savior whose very name means “God saves,” and the One the Holy Spirit is always pointing us toward. We'll see how faith grows not through proximity or effort, but through revelation—and how hidden seasons often prepare us for holy moments. Stop searching elsewhere and recognize the One who has been searching for us all along. Don't miss Jesus—the Savior who came to rescue, reign, and restore.

Jesus' Lineage; Our Lineage by Autumn Dickson I opened up the New Testament this week to study the birth of Christ. I ended up down a bit of a rabbit hole, and I'm going to take you to part of it with me. My rabbit hole took me all over the place, but I'm going to try and simplify it into some basic ideas. It's going to be very technical at first and there are some nice enough implications, but then I want to more broadly apply it to the rest of us. The thing that really got me started down this rabbit hole is the fact that the very first verses we read in the New Testament are the lineage of Joseph. Funny enough, I had never noticed it consciously before because I usually just skip over that part. As I thought about it a bit further, I realized that it was odd. Why are we sharing Joseph's lineage when Jesus isn't of that lineage? Wouldn't it be more effective and helpful to share Mary's lineage (Yes, I know that wasn't the tradition then; it just seems like it would make more sense considering the fact that she's his biological mother). I then learned that many biblical scholars believe that we do have Christ's lineage through Mary. In Luke's account, we receive another account of lineage. This listed lineage lists Joseph, but scholars believe that it's Mary's line anyway. It just mentioned Joseph because of social norms. There are some other theories surrounding Luke's account of lineage, but the most widespread theory is that it really is Mary's line. We're going to go with that theory for all intents and purposes in this particular post. Why is lineage important? Well, it's important for a few reasons. We'll talk about its significance in the life of Christ, and then we'll talk about its significance in our own lives. It had been prophesied that Christ would come off of the Davidic line. Beyond that, He wasn't going to be just some random descendant but heir to the throne (if the Romans hadn't been in charge at the time). Christ's lineage through Mary and Joseph was really important for this particular prophecy. Christ comes off of the Davidic line biologically through Mary. This biological portion of being from the Davidic line is important for obvious reasons. However, Joseph's line is important too. Through Joseph, Christ is able to be known as an heir to the throne of David because that kind of thing always legally passed through males. I spent some time learning about Jewish customs and laws surrounding adoption, and I'll give you a couple of short facts. There wasn't much of a legal proceeding with official records and paperwork when it came to adoption. Rather, if a man stepped up to the role of father in a child's life, that child was legally adopted. If the father treated the child as his own, then the child held claim to everything that the other children held claim to. Inheritances, the family name, all of it. This was actually really important in a society where it mattered who your family was. Christ was of the Davidic line in all the ways that mattered. And this is absolutely amazing. It's cool to think about how God orchestrated every single detail to come together for Christ to fulfill prophecy. It's amazing. Even with His human side coming through His mother, He was still legally adopted and considered an heir through Joseph's line. But I actually want to take this further to allusions surrounding our own heritage, inheritances, and legality in terms of God's family. Like Christ, there are two parts that play into our inheritance. Biologically (not sure if that's the right word but we're going to run with it because I don't have a better word), we are spirit sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. Because of our divine parentage, we were always meant to inherit a throne. It's within our “blood,” so to speak. But there's another portion of this. Through divine authority known as the priesthood, we are “legally” adopted into the family of God. There are three parts to this next thing I was to talk about. Christ could have stepped into His kingship if the Jews had been RIGHTEOUS enough to hold on to their kingdom. Joseph SACRIFICED and LEGALLY ADOPTED Christ and because of that, Christ would have been able to step into His kingship. If Israel had been righteous, Christ would have been king. If we are RIGHTEOUS and lay claim upon Christ's power to LEGALLY ADOPT us into the House of Israel, the because of Christ's SACRIFICE, we are to be divine heirs. As another detail in inheritance that is rich in meaning, primogeniture (firstborn son's claim to the throne over other children) was overwhelmingly common but not the absolute rule. Through wickedness or directly through the decisions of God, the older could be deemed unfit to inherit such power. Heavenly Father truly is the Master. All of the details are laid out so beautifully. There are a million parallels in the gospel that add layer upon rich layer to our understanding. I testify that God is in the details. The more I learn about the gospel, the more I am filled with a sense of awe at all of His orchestration. I testify that we come from a divine family, and I testify that Christ made a sacrifice and gave us the power we needed to adopt us into His family as well. All of these combine to an astounding truth; we have been set up to be heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, to inherit a divine throne. There is so much we were born into. God has so much in store for us. Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR's 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award. The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Christmas – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson appeared first on FAIR.

“Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!” (Luke 12:51 NLT) This may come as a shock to you, but the real Christmas story is not about love, peace, harmony, and gathering with family around a crackling fire. The real Christmas story is about conflict. It always has been, and it always will be. In Luke 12:51, Jesus said, “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!” (NLT). One of the most surprising passages in Scripture that deals with the subject of Christmas is Revelation 12. There we find the apostle John’s account of a woman being pursued by a powerful dragon who seeks her death. As she is preparing to give birth to a child, the dragon hovers over her, wanting to destroy the baby. The woman is a picture of Israel, the child is a picture of Jesus Christ, and the dragon is a picture of the devil. That’s Christmas from a heavenly perspective. John’s imagery in Revelation 12 gives us the big picture of what was really happening when God sent His Son into the world. The devil opposed God’s plan and wanted to stop Jesus’ birth. It’s not hard to see how that story is still playing out today, especially at this time of year. The season of giving often turns into a season of giving those who celebrate Christmas a hard time. Hostility toward Christmas seems to escalate a little more every year. More nativity scenes are being removed from public places. Christmas carols are being prohibited in more places. Podcasters and influencers who attack the Christian faith are becoming more and more popular. Many people still object to the use of the word Christmas. All these things are individual battles in the great spiritual conflict of Christmas. We can rejoice in that. Jesus said, “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way” (Matthew 5:11–12 NLT). Jesus did not come to bring an empty, feel-good peace on earth devoid of truth. Look again at the angel’s message to the shepherds on the night Christ was born. “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:14 NLT). The peace that Jesus offers is conditional. It’s hard-earned. It requires sacrifice and purposeful choices on our part. It encourages us to live as He lived, to prioritize God’s will, and to spread His message to others. We will have peace on earth only when we’re pleasing to God. Reflection question: What do you think God is pleased with in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The baby ornament celebrates the moment we've been waiting for—Jesus is born! In Luke 2 and John 1, we see the Savior arrive just as God promised. Though He came in humility, lying in a manger, He is the King of Kings and the greatest gift of all. Today, the Jesse Tree reaches its joyful climax: Christ has come to dwell with us. Join us as we rejoice, worship, and celebrate our Savior on this beautiful Christmas Day!Follow Us:Instagram | Website | Newsletter Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Christmas isn't just a tradition we repeat; it's a moment that interrupts real life. In Luke 2, God sends angels to shepherds, not kings or religious leaders, to show us that this good news is for everyone. Jesus comes as Savior because we need rescue, and as King because we're not meant to run life on our own. When we receive him, Christmas changes us, bringing peace with God, joy that isn't based on circumstances, and a calling to share the good news with others. Subscribe for More: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdBjWoX3iFFfi7rhni6iUxQ?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More on Our Website: https://www.calvary-church.com Follow Us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvarychurchpennsylvania and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calvarychurchpennsylvania #calvary #church #christian #sermon #message #souderton #quakertown #pennsylvania

The birth of Jesus is the greatest announcement of hope the world has ever received. In Luke 2:10, the angel proclaims “good news of great joy for all the people,” reminding us that Christ’s coming was not only miraculous—it was personal. From the shepherds and wise men to Simeon and Anna, the arrival of Jesus stirred deep joy in those who recognized Him as Emmanuel, God with us. This joy is not dependent on circumstances or outward happiness; it is a steady, inward confidence rooted in the truth that love came down. No matter what this season holds, we can rejoice knowing our Savior has come and brought lasting joy to the world. Main Takeaways You’ll learn why Jesus’ birth is the ultimate source of lasting joy. Discover how biblical joy differs from temporary happiness. Reflect on how Christ’s coming fulfilled prophecy and brought hope to all people. Understand why joy can exist even in seasons of grief, pain, or uncertainty. Be encouraged to celebrate the Savior’s birth with gratitude in everyday moments. Bible Verse References Luke 2:10 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/2-10.html Your Daily Prayer Most gracious God and Father, I praise You for the gift of Your Son and the joy His birth brings to my heart. Thank You for sending Jesus in humility and love to bring salvation and hope to the world. Even when life feels heavy, help me hold onto the deep, lasting joy that comes from knowing my Savior has come. May my heart overflow with gratitude as I celebrate Jesus this Christmas and every day.In Jesus’ name, Amen. Want More? Subscribe to Your Daily Prayer for daily devotionals rooted in Scripture. Leave a rating or review to help others discover the podcast. Visit LifeAudio.com for more Christ-centered podcasts. Read more Christmas devotionals and biblical encouragement at Crosswalk.com and Christianity.com. Relevant Links & Resources Study today’s Scripture with helpful tools at:BibleStudyTools.com – https://www.biblestudytools.com Christmas devotionals and faith-based articles:Crosswalk.com – https://www.crosswalk.comChristianity.com – https://www.christianity.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In Luke 2, the birth of Jesus unfolds against the backdrop of empire, power, and divine promise. As Caesar Augustus issues a decree meant to display his authority, God sovereignly fulfills His own—bringing the true King into the world through humility, obedience, and grace.   This sermon traces the contrast between earthly power and heavenly kingship, showing how God orchestrates history to keep every promise He has made. From Joseph's righteousness and Mary's quiet faith, to a Savior laid in a manger and announced first to shepherds, we see that God's purposes are not hindered by obscurity or suffering.   Jesus is revealed as the true Son of God, the greater Savior, and the Prince of Peace—bringing peace not through dominance, but through the giving of His own life. The good news announced to the shepherds is still good news for us today: God is faithful, His promises are sure, and this Savior in the humble manger has been born for you.

Support Emet Ministries, so we can continue to provide content and resources to help disciples become disciplers: https://veritas-ministry-415223.churchcenter.com/givingWhat is Christmas really about? In Luke 2:1–20, the Shepherds leave their flocks and run to Bethlehem because they believed something extraordinary: God had come to save His people.In this Christmas sermon from Westwood Church in Evansville, IN, Christian Barrett explores:1. What the shepherds believed from the Old Testament2. Why the angels worshipped3. Why the Savior had to come in the flesh4. Why the Savior had to be God5. What it means that Jesus is “God with us”The angel's announcement—“For unto you is born this day…a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”—was not new information, but the fulfillment of everything God had promised in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. From Genesis 3:15 to Isaiah 9:6–7 and Micah 5:2, Scripture points to a Savior who would be both truly man and truly God.This message reminds us that Christmas is not about sentimentality or tradition, but about the gospel:Jesus Christ came in the flesh, lived the life we could not live, died the death we deserved, and rose again to conquer sin and death.If you are not a Christian, this message is an invitation to receive Christ by faith—the greatest gift of all. If you are a Christian, it is a call to stop striving and to rest in Jesus, pondering Him daily rather than only at Christmas.Main Passage: Luke 2:1–20Supporting Scriptures: Genesis 3:15; Hebrews 2:14–18; Isaiah 9:6–7; Micah 5:2Subscribe for biblical teaching centered on ChristShare to help others hear the true message of Christmas#ChristmasSermon #Luke2 #GodWithUs #Incarnation #JesusChrist #Gospel #Shepherds #ChristianTeaching #ChristmasTruth

Merry Christmas CityBridge! On Christmas Eve, we remember that God chose to meet us in humility. In Luke 2:8–16, the sign given to the shepherds was not power or spectacle, but a baby lying in a manger. This message walks through why that detail matters, what it reveals about God's heart, and how the manger points forward to the cross. Jesus did not wait for a clean world—He came near, on purpose, to bring hope to those in need. Sermon notes and discussion questions available at: https://www.citybridgechurch.org/messages Subscribe for weekly Sunday Messages on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Questions or feedback? DM us @citybridgecc or email info@citybridgechurch.org. Enjoyed the message? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

The Christmas story doesn't end at the manger. In Luke 2, an old man named Simeon finally sees the promise he's been waiting for his entire life when Mary and Joseph bring the baby Jesus into the temple. God had told Simeon he would not die until he saw the Messiah — and on that ordinary day, the promise walked into the room. This message reminds us that God always keeps His word, and that Christmas is about more than celebrating Jesus' first coming. We are living between two promises: Christ has come once, and He is coming again. As we explore the theology of Christmas and the hope of Jesus' return, we're challenged to live with faith, urgency, and expectation as we wait for the fulfillment of God's second promise.

Christmas is good news for anyone who's ever felt lost. In Luke 19, we meet Zacchaeus, a man pushed to the margins, and we see Jesus do something unexpected: He notices him, calls him by name, and moves toward him with mercy. This week, we listen to Jesus' own words about His mission: “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” Whether your lostness feels emotional, relational, or spiritual, Jesus doesn't wait for you to find your way back... He comes for you.⚫CONNECT WITH US:

Visiting people who are in the hospital - I'm guessing that's not your favorite thing to do. A lot of times it's hard to know what to say to the person; especially if their condition is serious. But there are some visits where it's easy to think of things to say - like when you're visiting a new mom or a new baby. All you have to say is, "Aww, she's beautiful!" "Oh, he looks so smart; so alert" or "That's the cutest baby I've ever seen!" See, you're supposed to say these things even if the baby still looks all red and bald and wrinkled. But that first Christmas...well, one of the first people to see Mary's baby did not follow the usual script. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Strange Words For a Christmas Mom." Following the Jewish custom, Mary and Joseph brought their baby boy to the temple to be circumcised, just eight days after that first Christmas. God had someone waiting for them there - an old man named Simeon who had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the One he called "the Lord's Christ." He actually held the baby in his arms and praised God for sending Him. But then came those strange words for a new mom. In Simeon's words we find the shadow of great pain for Mary but great hope for you and me. In Luke 2:34-35, our word for today from the Word of God, "Simeon...said to Mary, His mother: 'This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel...the thoughts of many will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul, too.'" That's not exactly what a new mom wants to hear. But eight days into Jesus' life on earth, Simeon is foreshadowing the end of Jesus' life. The Bible tells us that 33 years later "near the cross stood His mother" (John 19:25). And surely, as Mary saw her boy nailed to a cross and pierced by a soldier's spear, that sword Simeon spoke of must have pierced her soul. So as we sing our "sleep in heavenly peace" and "joy to the world" carols, let's not miss the shadow looming over the manger. It's the shadow of a cross. But that cross was not some tragic twist of fate. It was the plan of a God who loves you so very much. It was His plan to give you and me a chance to go to heaven instead of hell; to enjoy the relationship with God we were made for but we've missed because we're running our own lives. And if there had been any other way to erase your sin from God's book and pay for your sin, believe me, God would have done it. But all your goodness, and your religion, and your Christianity can't pay sin's death penalty. Someone had to die to pay for it, and Someone did - the Son of God. The writer of the classic carol, "What Child Is This" expressed it powerfully: "Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, the cross be borne for me, for you; hail, hail, the Word made flesh, the Babe, the son of Mary." So you've had your Christmases, you've celebrated Jesus' coming. Have you ever had your Good Friday where you stand at the foot of that cross and say the two words that are the difference between heaven and hell, "For me, Jesus. And I'm giving me to You." That's the only way you can receive the gift of eternal life that He died to give you. Have you known about Jesus all your life but maybe missed that step? If you've never done that, let this be your Jesus-day. You'll have a lot more to celebrate than just Jesus' coming to earth. This season you'll celebrate His coming into your life. If that's what you want, tell Him right now, "Jesus, I want to belong to You. I am taking for myself what You died for on the cross." What a new beginning this will be for you. A lot of people have found help in beginning that relationship at our website. And I want to invite you to check it out this very day. It's ANewStory.com. It wasn't just Mary's heart that was pierced on that awful day on Skull Hill. We can only imagine the anguish in God the Father's heart, watching His Son be broken for you. So you can be sure that God will never forget what you do with His Son.

Christmas is more than nostalgia or sentiment. It marks the moment God stepped into our world to begin the redemption of all things. In Luke 2, we're invited to let the birth of Jesus interrupt our assumptions about this season and encounter the God of the nativity as He truly is. The angel doesn't appear to the powerful or the polished, but to shepherds—men considered unclean, uneducated, poor, and socially insignificant. Yet these unlikely, unnamed outsiders are chosen to hear the good news first, reminding us that God's kingdom is wonderfully upside down. Joy erupts when the gospel is fully understood, and this good news really is for all people. The shepherds respond with immediate faith—going, seeing, proclaiming, and worshiping. This Christmas, we're invited to do the same: to not delay obedience, to proclaim what we've heard, and to worship our King with great joy, confident that the gospel has truly changed us.You can join our OneLife Sunday morning gatherings via livestream at 8:45am and 10;30am CST every Sunday morning. Or if you're local to the Bay Area of Houston, we'd love to have you join us in person Saturdays at 5pm and Sundays at 8:45am, 10:30am, or 12:30pm!Subscribe to our YouTube channel to join us live on Sunday mornings: https://www.youtube.com/@onelifechurch381Listen to more messages from OneLife Church at https://www.onelifehouston.com/messagesIf you would like to give to OneLife Church, you can do that here https://www.onelifehouston.com/giveAt OneLife, we want to be and make disciples of Jesus who love God, one another, and our world. We are God's people making much of Jesus in everyday life for the good of the neighborhoods in the Bay Area of Houston and beyond.For more information about us and our gatherings, visit https://www.onelifehouston.comConnect with us over social media!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onelifehouston​Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onelifechurch

What if the greatest announcement in human history wasn't given to kings, scholars, or warriors—but to ordinary men working the night shift? In Luke 2:8–20, the first people to hear about the birth of Jesus weren't the powerful or prestigious—they were shepherds keeping watch in the dark. In this message, we look at how God used these unnoticed, rugged men to teach us what real strength looks like: staying alert, recognizing our desperate need for a Savior, obeying quickly when God speaks, and returning changed because of an encounter with Jesus. The shepherds didn't just hear the good news—they moved with haste, shared what they had seen, and worshiped with transformed hearts. Their story reminds us that real men don't wait for perfect circumstances… they respond in obedience and lead with courage. How is God calling you to respond this Christmas?

Many Christians long to share their faith but struggle with fear, uncertainty, or a lack of confidence. Yet Scripture shows us that bold evangelism begins not with a strategy, but with a heart captivated by Jesus Himself. In Luke 2, the shepherds encountered the newborn Christ and immediately “spread the word,” becoming some of the first evangelists in the New Testament. Their example challenges us to consider what passionate witness could look like in our own lives. When we truly love Christ, we naturally want to talk about Him—and God uses ordinary people to make His extraordinary news known. Main Takeaways You’ll learn why the shepherds’ response to seeing Jesus models bold, joy-filled evangelism. Discover how passion for Christ fuels our desire to share the gospel with others. Understand why plans and formulas have value, but real witness begins with loving Jesus deeply. See how God consistently uses ordinary men and women—shepherds, fishermen, everyday believers—to spread His good news. Reflect on how your own enthusiasm for Christ can become an invitation for others to know Him. Bible Verses Referenced Luke 2:7 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/2-7.html Luke 2:8–15 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/passage/?q=luke+2:8-15 Luke 2:17–18 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/2-17.html Matthew 28:5–7 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/passage/?q=matthew+28:5-7 Acts 10:39–40 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/acts/passage/?q=acts+10:39-40 Your Daily Prayer Lord Jesus, thank You for the incomparable gift of knowing You. Fill my heart with a deeper love for You—one that naturally overflows into conversations and actions that point others to Your grace. Make me bold like the shepherds who joyfully shared the news of Your birth, and like the disciples who testified fearlessly through the power of Your Spirit. When I feel uncertain or afraid, strengthen me. When I struggle for words, guide me in truth and grace. Let my life reflect Your goodness so others may be drawn to You.Amen. Want More? Subscribe to Your Daily Prayer for daily encouragement and biblical truth. Leave a rating or review to help others discover the show. Visit LifeAudio.com to explore more faith-building podcasts. Read more devotionals, Bible studies, and spiritual growth articles at Crosswalk.com and Christianity.com. Relevant Links & Resources Here are helpful resources related to the themes of today’s devotion: Articles on sharing your faith or evangelism atCrosswalk.com – https://www.crosswalk.comChristianity.com – https://www.christianity.com Explore Bible passages referenced using BibleStudyTools.com – https://www.biblestudytools.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How should Christians view their money and their possessions? We're looking at the Gospel of Luke, because Luke has much to say on this subject. How does God want us to think about money in general? What should our attitude be toward it? How should we relate to giving and spending? In Luke 14, we see two things: 1) Jesus Christ lays out a standard for sacrificial giving that's so astonishing it will seem unreasonable, and 2) Jesus actually shows how reasonable this kind of giving is. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on June 20, 2010. Series: Money and Possessions – In the Teaching of St. Luke. Scripture: Luke 14:7-24. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.