Podcasts about in matthew

Presented by Lauren Stibgen We know we are to renew our minds daily! How can we focus on being ambassadors of Jesus? What happens when we are overcome and fail to be the best representatives of Jesus? Let's look at two examples of this. One ends in despair, and the other ends with beautiful redemption and an even deeper commitment to being an ambassador for Jesus. Temptation is around every corner in this world. It was back in the time of Jesus, and it is today. We got a sneak peek into the heart of Judas yesterday with his rebuke of Mary in the anointing of Jesus feet. We also know Judas betrayed Jesus. In Matthew 26:14-16 we see Judas's greed take over. Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over (Matthew 26:14-16). In the end, after Jesus' death, we know Judas is grieved and tries to return the money! When he cannot, he ends up taking his own life. He had betrayed Jesus! But we also see the other side of this in the story of Peter's denial in Luke 22:54-62. Not only did Jesus predict Peter would deny knowing him, we see how grieved Peter is when he realizes this! The rooster crows three times, Peter sees the Lord, remembers the Lord's words, and weeps bitterly. Peter's heart was grieved. One can consider he had a repentant heart. When Peter meets the resurrected Jesus on the shores, we see Jesus question him in John 21:17. Do you love me? He does this three times. And then Jesus commands him to feed my sheep. Your role as an ambassador will not be easy. Temptations will come and sometimes it will be easier to deny Jesus than it will be to boldly speak of your faith. If you do end up like Judas (hopefully not) or Peter, your repentance and return to Jesus are critical to your future kingdom work as an ambassador for Jesus! Jesus sees your heart; he knows and feels your repentance.

Divorce is a painful reality that touches many lives—sometimes publicly, sometimes quietly. Scripture acknowledges this pain, and Jesus meets it not with legalism, but with compassion and clarity. In Matthew 19, He points us back to God's heart, offering grace to those carrying the weight of broken relationships. Too often, shame and guilt are added by misread or rigid interpretations of Scripture, but the gospel offers something far deeper: forgiveness, healing, and the transformation of our hearts. Jesus doesn't dismiss sin, but calls us to confront it with mercy. Whether you're navigating divorce or the wounds it leaves behind, there is hope, healing, and a place for you in God's redemptive story.

In Matthew 22:15-33 we see that surrendering your life to God leads to a meaningful life here and now, and eternal life in the age to come.

Introduction: The Trustworthiness Test (Matthew 5:33-37): Do I Need to CONVINCE OTHERS of the TRUTHFULNESS of what I say? (Matt 5:33–34a) Do I Look for LOOPHOLES to GET OUT of what I say? (Matt 5:34b–36) Matthew 23:22 – And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. 1 Peter 2:22 – He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. Do I Always FOLLOW THROUGH on what I say? (Matt 5:37) James 5:12 – But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. John 8:44 – You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 5:33-37What was your big take-away from this passage / message?How can you strengthen your reputation when it comes to honesty and trustworthiness? How can you weaken it?Do you ever make excuses or look for loopholes to get out of what you say?Do you struggle with being a “yes or no” person? How do you fail to be reliable and follow through on what you say?What does it look like to truly repent of deception and make things right with those you have lied to?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Return your Bibles to Matthew chapter 5 verses 33 through 37.Matthew chapter 5 verses 33 through 37.Is it safe to say that trust is in short supply in 2025?We are constantly bombarded with lies, conspiracies, fraud,lame excuses, propaganda, cover-ups.With each passing year, we become less and less trustingas others seem less and less trustworthy.I was going to use an object lesson to prove this point,but for the sake of unity, which you'll see in a minutewhy I'm not doing this, I'm going to have you use your imaginations instead.Imagine with me that a bunch of images are from the screens behind meof famous individuals, politicians, billionaires, tech gurus, celebrities,social media influencers, world-renowned doctors,and popular preachers who you see pop up on Spotify, YouTube, and television.And with each image, with each person, I ask this very simple question,is this person trustworthy?And with some of these famous people, the answer would be a decisive yes,while others would be a resounding no.But some examples may prove to be a bit controversial and divisive.It may be a bit of a mixed reaction, which could lead to some frustration,heated debates, and strained relationships.Hence my unwillingness to show these images in service today.What if I were to close out this slideshow with a picture of you?And for the final time, I ask this very simple question, is this person trustworthy?What would be the response?What would your family members, friends, and fellow church members say about you?Maybe you don't want to play along with my made-up scenario,because you're afraid of what other people would say about you.But you cannot be oblivious in this area of life, because your reputation,when it comes to honesty and trustworthiness, is not a throwaway issue.Your credibility with others on the outside speaks to your integrity before the Lord on the inside.We've been studying the Sermon on the Mount for the past few months,and now this is the fourth week of our latest section, "The Heart of the Law."And throughout Matthew chapter 5, Jesus doesn't lessen the Old Testament law.He elevates it. He doesn't abolish it and throw it away.He digs down deep into our hearts to show how it applies at the deepest levels of who we are.Jesus proves that obeying God's commands and displaying true righteousness are matters of the heart.Jesus cares way more about the internal than the external,because who you are internally shapes all that you say and do externally.So far, we have covered what Christ commands and expects when it comes to anger,sexuality, and marriage.In Matthew chapter 5, verses 33 through 37,the Lord turns your attention to what he has to say about making promises and keeping your word.To help you gauge your own personal credibility, Jesus assigns an important testthat you cannot afford to skip or to fail.And this test is the trustworthiness test.Before we dig into the first question, let's go to the Lord in prayer.Please pray that I will faithfully proclaim God's word.While I pray that you will faithfully and joyfully receive God's word.Father, we thank you for the gift of your word.It is a mirror that you hold up to our hearts to show us what means to change.Lord, this morning you're going to show us some very challenging and difficult things about ourselvesthat we do not want to see,but we must recognize them and we must make changes by the power of your Holy Spirit.So may you do the work that only you can.We ask all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.All right, who is ready for the trustworthiness test?Well, we're going to take it anyway. So the trustworthiness test, question one.Do I need to convince others of the truthfulness of what I say?Do I need to convince others of the truthfulness of what I say?Let's read verses 33 through 34.Jesus says, "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old,'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'But I say to you, do not take an oath at all."This is the fourth time in Matthew chapter 5 that Jesus repeats the same verbal pattern."You have heard that it was said, but I say to you."So let's cover what was said in the past."You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn."You will not find this exact sentence word for word in the Old Testamentbecause it is a mashup of three different passages about keeping oaths.With the Nicos 19-2, Numbers chapter 30 verse 2 and Deuteronomy 23-21.In the Old Testament, oath taking was serious business.It wasn't something to be entered into lightly or carelessly.Vows were reserved for important matters.And God put them in place as a first line of defense against dishonesty.I find it helpful to view Old Testament oaths like spiritual speed bumps.Why do speed bumps exist?To cause you to slow down and keep pedestrian safe.Let me ask you, do speed bumps always do that?No, we've all seen maniacs treat speed bumps like challenges and jumps instead of warnings.And maybe you've been that maniac from time to time.Oaths were set up by God to curb the natural tendency to be deceitful and unreliable.They were like speed bumps.By taking an oath, you were saying,"God, you can bring judgment and cursing upon me if I do not keep my side of the bargain."But these spiritual speed bumps could not stop all dishonesty.It couldn't do away with people being deceitful.So vows help provide accountability, but they could not change the human heart,which is seen most clearly in the lives of the religious leaders of Jesus' day.The rabbis, the scribes, the Pharisees misinterpreted the Old Testament commands about vowsand twisted God's word to advance their own dishonest agenda.They believe that you shall not swear falsely, only spoke to perjuring yourself in a court of law.We'll talk about this in even greater detail in a few minutes,but they also believe that the instruction you shall perform to the Lord what you have swornleft some room for coloring outside the lines when it came to keeping your word.If you weren't in a court setting or you didn't make vows directly to Godand in His name there was some wiggle room to tell some lies.It wasn't ideal, but hey, not a big deal.As long as you said the right things and as long as you kept their man-made rules.Once again, the religious leaders are taking God's word, taking His commandsand putting it into their own man-made box.Their standards were shallow and their righteousness was phony.But Jesus calls His followers to a greater righteousness, to a higher standardwhen He says, "But I say to you, do not take an oath at all."This command brings up an important question that we have to answer.Is Jesus saying that it's always sinful to make a promise or a vow of any kind at any time?Well, some Christians, some scholars and pastors certainly think so,but that's a really hard stance to defend from the rest of Scripture.The Apostle Paul kept and he made and kept a vow in Acts 18-18.In Revelation chapter 10 verses 5 through 6, the Apostle John records an angel swearing enough.In the Old Testament, God made oaths to show the seriousness of His covenant promises.God didn't do that because he had a shaky reputation.He lovingly did that to give His people a rock-solid confidence in His trustworthinessand the certainty of His purposes and His plans.God's vows were like exclamation points that highlighted His credibilitybecause we so often do not trust Him even though His track record is flawless.The Lord established the Old Covenant with Israel and He has established a new covenant with all who believein the life, death, and resurrection of His Son.And at its core, a covenant is an oath-bound relationship that is built upon promises being keptand the Bible is crystal clear that God always keeps His promises.And speaking of covenants, the Bible describes marriage as a covenant relationshipwhich means that as a good and godly thing, you swear your devotion to your spouse.You know, 11 years ago, Pastor Jeff married my wife and Iand when he asked me to repeat my vows to Kate after him, I didn't say, "Whoa, wait preacher boy,I don't make promises or take vows. Don't you study the Bible for a living?Shouldn't you know that? Pass." Did I do that? Jeff, do you remember that? I don't think I did that.Let's move from the marriage ceremony to the courtroom.I'm called to testify in a very important case and the judge tells me to raise my right handand he asked me, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?"What should I say?Sorry, judge. I'm a Christian. I can't do that. You may as well call the next witness. I'm out of here. Deuces.Is that going to go very well with the judge?Listen, Jesus is not condemning vows in the context of a courtroom or a wedding ceremony.Jesus is forbidding the practice of taking frivolous oaths and making pointless promises in everyday life situations.He's saying, "Do not be the kind of person who needs to swear on something or someone to be believed.Do not be the kind of person who needs to clarify that you're not lying.Who needs to clarify that you're telling the truth.Be so trustworthy that your word can be taken at face value without jumping through hoops.As a follower of Christ, you shouldn't need the spiritual speed bumps of promises, oaths, and vows to be taken seriously.You should be a person of such great integrity that promises are unnecessary because your past performance speaks for itself.Others should trust you implicitly because you have proven yourself explicitly.Your heart should be so full of the truth that lying doesn't even register as a valid option to choose or path to take.For the Christian, honesty is like breathing.You inhale the truth of God's word and then you exhale the truth in every situation.You don't tell white lies because you understand that there are no such thing as white lies.Every lie, no matter how small, is a huge deal to the Lord.You don't embellish your stories or add on extra details to impress people because who cares what other people think about you.What matters most is what God thinks about you.And He knows what you're saying is not true.You don't cut corners at work because you ultimately serve the Lord of all creation who sees everything,not the human boss across the hall who cannot see into your heart.You cannot control much in this life, but you do have the ability to deepen your credibility or destroy it,to strengthen it day by day or to willingly weaken it.You have no right to be offended when someone doesn't believe you if you have a shady history of saying things that are not trueand making promises that you didn't keep.You are simply reaping the consequences of what you have sown.You are receiving the label of untrustworthy, which is a title that you have repeatedly earned.The trustworthiness test.Move on to the second question.And it will not be easier than the first.Do I look for loopholes to get out of what I say?Do I look for loopholes to get out of what I say?So Jesus pulls the rug out from underneath the religious leaders and exposes their ridiculous schemes in verses 34 through 36.But I say to you, do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,or by the earth, for it is His footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king.And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.As I said earlier, the scribes and Pharisees were experts at looking for loopholes and creating escape patches to get out of what they said,especially if what they said wasn't made in a court setting.So instead of swearing in God's name, they would swear by heaven, they would swear by the earth, the city of Jerusalem, or even their own heads.In their minds, swearing on these things was not binding like swearing in God's name.This is the verbal equivalent of crossing your fingers behind your back whenever you make a promise.They thought they were so clever. They found their own get out of oaths free card.But Jesus shows them that this line of thinking is childish and dumb.He destroys their loopholes and he closes their escape patches.Let's follow his logic.Jesus says, "Do not swear by heaven because who does heaven belong to?"All right. I know it's early. I'm going to ask that question again.Who does heaven belong to?It is His throne.And Matthew actually reinforces this later on when Jesus says,"And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits on it."He also says, "Don't swear by the earth because who does it belong to?"Once again, I'm going to try it again. Who does the earth belong to, everyone?It is His footstool. God is so awesome. He is so big.The earth is like a teeny tiny ottoman where He puts His feet up.The earth belongs to God, so don't swear by it.It's also not a great idea to swear by Jerusalem because who does it belong to?Great job, everyone.The king of Jerusalem, the king of the earth, and that is God.You swear by Jerusalem. You swear by the one who created and rules over Israel.And He also says, "Don't swear by your own head."It seems kind of weird, right? What does that even mean?Well, it means this. "If I don't keep my word, let me be decapitated."A modern day equivalent of this would be, "Cross my heart and hope to die. Stick a needle in my..."These words mean nothing and they control nothing.Jesus says, "You cannot make one hair white or black."Back in those days, people could not control their hair color with hair dye like we can today.Once your hair started going gray, there was no going back.But even today in 2025, you can't speak a change of hair color into existence, right?You can't say, "Let my hair be black. Let my hair be blonde again."You cannot do that.So Jesus is saying, "If you cannot even control the color of your hair with your words,your words definitely cannot control if you're decapitated or not."God is saying, "My words certainly control that."Which means, "I own you. I own your head. I am the one who controls all things.So do not swear by heaven, by earth, by Jerusalem, or your own head."Jesus even exposes the other things the religious leaders swore by in Matthew chapter 23 verses 16 through 22.They would swear by the gold of the temple instead of the temple itself.They would swear by the gift on the altar instead of the altar itself.Jesus doesn't actually commend them for their shrewd thinking and their creative brainstorming.He calls them blind fools who cannot see the stupidity of their own actions.He labels them as blind guides who have fallen into a sinful pitand are calling the rest of Jerusalem to join them in the darkness.I know what you may be thinking at this point.Taylor, this is an interesting history lesson at all.I just don't see how this relates to me.I haven't sworn by anything or anyone for a long time.I haven't said, "I swear on my mother's life. I swear on my grandma's grave.I swear by my life that I'm not lying."So how does this relate to me? I haven't done that for many years.Well, here's how the text relates to you."Don't be a sneaky word ninja like the scribes and Pharisees.Do not be a sneaky person.Do not look for escape hatches and loopholes to get out of what you say,because that does not honor the Lord."Let me give you some examples that may hit close to home.Husbands, you're supposed to carry out a task for your wife, but then you forget.Yeah, stretch your imagination because that never happens, right?Then your wife calls you on it and to save face you say, "Oh, I was just about to do it.You didn't give me enough time. That's sneaky. So don't do it."You commit to a small group, but on one particular night, you don't really feel like going.So you call your small group leader, "Oh, man, I'm really under the weather.I don't want anybody else to get what I have. So I'm not going to make it tonight."That's sneaky. So don't do it.Someone texts or calls, someone texts or emails youand really annoying message that you do not want to respond to.So the next time you see that person, you pretend like you accidentally missed it.That's sneaky. So don't do it.You get invited to an event that you desperately do not want to go to.So what do you say? "Yeah, maybe that might work. Let me get back to my calendar and get back to you."You ain't getting back to them about nothing. You are going to ghost this person.That's sneaky. So don't do it.Unfortunately, you do get sucked into that event that you do not want to go to.Instead of biting the bullet and attending, you call that person the day of,"I really wanted to come, but something came up."But nothing came up.That's sneaky. So don't do it.And I know what some of you are saying to yourselves right now."Taylor, this seems like really small potatoes in the grand scheme of things."Shouldn't we move on to something a bit bigger?I mean, come on. These kinds of excuses are harmless and they hurt no one.Actually, these kinds of excuses are harmful and they hurt everyone, including you.You are numbing yourself to the deceitfulness of sin.And you are paving the way to lie in bigger and bolder ways moving forward.Listen, no one starts out as a pathological liar.It starts with one compromise that you get away with.And then it's way easier to make another compromise.You cross the line, you get away with it,and then you make a habit out of pushing boundaries and testing the limits.If you keep this up, you will end up saying and doing things that you never thought you were capable of.Sneakiness is a way of slipping into your heart and taking over if you're not on guard against it.But most importantly, these kind of devious excuses are sinful and sinning against the Lord.And that alone should give you pause and cause you to cut this behavior out of your life.It is not wise, it is not right to walk in the sneaky footsteps of the scribes and Phariseeswho rejected and murdered the Son of God.Instead, walk in the footsteps of the one who committed no sin.Neither was deceit found in his mouth.Jesus always told the truth even when it cost his own life.Jesus never made excuses to get out of his mission of dying on the cross.You must always tell the truth even when it gets you into trouble.Never make excuses even when it seems like everyone else around you is.The final question of the trustworthiness test.Do I always follow through on what I say?Do I always follow through on what I say?Jesus wraps up by showing the alternative to being an undependable and sneaky person in verse 37.Let what you say be simply yes or no.Anything more than this comes from evil.Well, according to our Lord, being an honest person is not a complex concept.Say yes if you'll do something. Say no if you will not do something.That's super easy, right?Not really.It is so simple, but it is also so hard to live out.It isn't convenient to be a yes or no person, but it is the freest way to live.It is so stressful to not keep your word.It is so stressful to have all those deceitful plates spinning in your mindbecause at some point one will come crashing down and you will have to deal with the consequences.It is exhausting to put on a mask and pretend to be someone who you are not.It is painful to not be the person who you project yourself to be.It is embarrassing to be unreliableand to have the reputation of being a constant flake and not an unshakable rock.When I am closing things down in my office for the day and packing things up,I often text my wife to let her know that I am on the way home.But sometimes I get distracted with other things after I send that text.Writing down a sermon thought that I don't want to lose,wrapping up a task that I forgot to complete, or talking to Pastor Jeff.That never happens, right Jeff?Several months ago I arrived home way later than I told Kate that I would.And I profusely apologized and I will never forget her blunt response with a loving smile on her face."Oh, that's okay. I always add an extra 15 minutes to your arrival time when you text me."Ouch!That loving burn really stung my conscience.My wife gave me some extra wiggle roombecause she was aware that I often missed the target of my stated arrival time.Do people need to give you wiggle room because they know that you often missed the target of keeping your word?They know you'll be somewhere off on the board but way off-center,or maybe you'll miss the board completely.You mean well, you have good intentions but your follow-through fall short.Maybe you feel very discouraged by your unreliable reputation.You're thinking to yourself, "I don't want to be this way. I want to help everyone.I want to be there for everyone but I can't seem to keep all of my commitments."Well, it sounds like you have a no problem.You say yes to everything because you don't want to let anyone down.But in the process, you let everyone down because you cannot equally serve everyone.If you say yes to everyone, your word will not carry weight with anyone.And to be clear, saying no can be wrong and sinful.Some of you in this room say no way more than you should at home, at work, and even in this church.God may be calling you to step up more, not step back less.But at the same time, saying no can also be right and productive.Because you have to recognize that you are not God.You cannot be everywhere all the time and you cannot do everything at the same exact time.You are a limited person.You need to count the cost of what you are committing yourself to before you say yes or no.It takes great wisdom and discernment to say no to good things.So that you can say yes to the best things.And Jesus is so direct at the end of verse 37 and says that anything beyond being a yes or no person is evil.It is wicked.And this is recapt in James 512.Some translations of Matthew 537 say that this kind of behavior beyond being a yes or no person is from the evil one.Meaning if you live this kind of deceitful lifestyle, you are way worse off than just being like the scribes and Pharisees.You are also like their spiritual father, Satan.Listen to what Jesus says to religious leaders in John 844.You are of your father the devil and your will is to do your father's desires.He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him.When he lies, he speaks out of his own character for he is a liar and the father of lies.My kids bear a family resemblance to Kate and me.They have my eye color and thankfully they have her good looks.After service, you see them running around.It shouldn't come as a surprise that they belong to Kate and me because they look just like us.There are two spiritual families and it's obvious which one you belong to based on which father you resemble the most.Do you resemble Satan who lies, cheats and steals or do you resemble God who tells the truth, does the right thing in the right way and selflessly serves?Which father do you resemble the most?We've reached the end of the trustworthiness test.How did you do?Did you pass or did you fail?Did you stick the landing or did you crash into the runway?Maybe the Lord has encouraged your heart and revealed to you that you have a strong and solid reputation that is well deserved.If that's you, keep up the good work, keep your foot on the gas pedal and keep moving forward by the grace of God.Maybe you're convicted that yes, you are in the family of God, but you sure aren't acting like it right now.Instead of hiding away and keeping your lies a secret, be honest about your dishonesty to God and to those you have betrayed.It is not enough to just stop lying from now on. You also have to uncover the lies that you've already told.I know that's hard. I know that feels shameful.But remember, if you are a true believer in Christ, there is no condemnation for you.You can be honest about your sin and ask for forgiveness from others because the penalty has already been paid by Jesus Christ.We can share openly about our failures because they're no longer held against us.Maybe you've come to the realization that you resemble the evil one and belong to the wrong family.For years, you've unapologetically told bold-faced lies. You've shared half truths.You've led people on. You've been underhanded and you've covered your tracks so you can avoid getting in trouble.You may feel crushed under the weight of your own dishonesty right now.If that's you, please do not try to do better or be better on your own.Do not try to clean up your act because that will not solve the problem.Self-improvement and self-help are fools errands that lead straight to hell.Those worldly methods will not solve the problem that is truly within you, which is the problem of your heart.Please come clean and confess your sins to the Lord.Turn from your deceptive ways and throw yourself at the mercy of Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose again to save liars like you and me.If you do that, the Lord will give you a brand new heart that loves the truth, that desires the truth.A heart that is overflowing with a desire to share the truth with everyone.Only the most trustworthy one in all of existence can truly turn you into a trustworthy person.Let's pray.Father, I am a man of unclean lips who dwells among the people of unclean lips.Lord, we have sinned against you with our deception and our lies and our half truths.Lord, on our own, we are so helpless. We are so hopeless.But we thank you for your redeeming work.We thank you that you have cleansed us.You've cast our lies away from us as far as the east is from the west.Lord, help us not to be sneaky anymore.To not be deceptive anymore. To not make untrue excuses.Lord, help us to be people of our word who don't need to make promises.Help us to be people who have a solid reputation because our reputation impacts your reputation in this world.Lord, there's someone in this room who does not know and love you.May today be the day where they finally make the most important decision of their livesand are transformed and changed forever.We thank you for your goodness. We thank you that you are unchanging even though we're constantly changing.We ask all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

In this series, we'll discover what it means for us to be disciples of Jesus. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gives the Great Commission, which all believers are a part of. This command shouldn't come with a lot of pressure, because discipleship happens one step at a time. As we mature in our relationship with Jesus, we will begin to experience all God has for us because every time we take a next step on our discipleship journey, we, by design, experience more of God!

In Matthew 25:31-32, Jesus emphasizes the importance of how we live, as He will judge people based on their actions and compassion towards others upon His return. This teaching calls believers to reflect Christ's love through practical acts of kindness, reminding us to maintain an eternal perspective in our daily interactions.

“You are the light of the world. . . . Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:14-16 When Jesus, by his Spirit, comes into our lives through faith, we undergo a transformation. Our spiritual life is changed as we become new creatures in Christ. As new creations, we transition from being self-serving to being self-giving. We radiate the light and life of Jesus wherever we go. In Matthew 5, Jesus uses two simple yet profound metaphors—light and salt—to illustrate this personal transformation and the new role we take on in our daily living. Light is life-giving. It brings warmth, energy, and clarity to any situation. When Jesus' power flows through us, we become a catalyst for positive change in our surroundings. This doesn't mean we are like the sun—generating light on our own. We are more like the moon, reflecting the light of Jesus so that others don't have to stumble in the darkness of this world. However, if we hide our light under a bowl, if we try to keep Jesus to ourselves, we make ourselves ineffective. And, worse, people will remain stuck in darkness, blinded by sin. For the sake of the world that Jesus came to save, we need to break out of our holy huddles and shine brightly for Jesus. Lord and Savior, thank you for shining your radiant light into our hearts and warming us with your love. Help us never to underestimate the impact we can have when we allow you to shine through us. Amen.

Everything about our reality should shift when we're met by the King. In Matthew 21, we see Jesus clarify who He is and why that changes everything for us — if you let it.

Daily Dose of Hope May 20, 2025 Day 2 of Week 8   Scripture – Matthew 2   Prayer:  Dear God, You are amazing!  How awesome it is that you who created all things are also so intimately involved in our lives.  We give you glory and praise for who you are.  We are so thankful for your love.  We want to know you more.  We want and need to hear your voice.  Help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...  In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back, friends, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a devotional and podcast connected to the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, FL.  Today, we are digging into Matthew 2.  This is pretty familiar Scripture to many of us.  Let's try to see it with fresh eyes. The text begins with foreign Magi visiting King Herod.  These men are an interesting and mysterious group. We don't really know much about the magi who come seeking Jesus from eastern lands.  Some translations call them wise men or kings.  Matthew doesn't include a lot of details.  We have no idea how many there actually were (despite the popular carol, Scripture does not say there were just three of them).  Like the shepherds, the magi seem an unlikely group to seek out and worship Jesus. They were pagans, gentiles, involved in the occult, and yet they knew there was something more.  They were searching for something more.  So these magi embark on a long journey, carrying expensive gifts worthy of a king, eager to pay homage. Their efforts lead them to an encounter far beyond their expectations. Unlike an earthly king who would have been found in a palace, the magi are led to what we can probably assume is a modest home of a Jewish family and it's there that they find Jesus with his mother and Scripture says they bow down and worship him.  Maybe it wasn't what they expected but they see God's hand in it nonetheless and worship the one they know to be the Messiah, the savior of the world.  They were outsiders but they recognized the Messiah when so many insiders failed to do so. Up until now, it all sounds great, right?  But there is another character in this story.  His name is Herod the Great. The Herod family ruled over the holy land both before and after the time of Christ, they were somewhat like puppet kings, put in place by the Romans to keep order.  And they don't have a great reputation at all.  They were, for the most part, insecure and power-hungry. One reason I don't think it's accurate to refer to the magi as wise men is because they did one thing that was really unwise.  They go straight to King Herod, “So where is the NEW king? Where is the one who has been named king of the Jews?”  Keep in mind, Herod the Great considered himself to be king of the Jews.  The man is insecure and vicious so he tries to trick the magi into divulging Jesus' location.  But no amount of earthly power can get Herod what he wants.  The magi are warned in a dream to not return to Herod.  And this angers him more.  Herod was both feared and hated. The Jewish historian Josephus painted a picture of Herod as a suspicious and cruel client king, with a history of killing anyone whom he saw as a threat, including three sons and his wife. So even though the magi remind Herod of Micah's prophecy that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), his response was not to pay homage but to destroy the newborn king.  In Matthew 2:16, we read that Herod decides to take matters into his own hands and kill all the baby boys who might be in the age range of Jesus, When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.  Truly dark and horrific.  The extent to which human beings will go to gain power surely demonstrates the brokenness of our world.  Then and now.  But through all of this, Jesus is saved.  The baby's family is warned in a dream and they head down to Egypt for a period of time to keep the boy safe from Herod before they come back to Israel and settle in Nazareth.  Because God's purposes will prevail.  God had promised long, long ago to send a Savior for his people and there is nothing that could get in the way.  Listen to this prophecy from in Isaiah 9:6-7, spoken 700 years before the birth of Jesus, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.  It's like God was saying “I'm going to send someone who will restore the people of Israel to me.  This person will be a light to the Gentiles, and will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth AND it will be obvious once more that your God reigns.”  No power-hungry king could mess that up as hard as he tried.  No earthly power could thwart God's plan of redemption for his people.  It's true that bad things to happen.  God allows human beings free will and that is too often used for evil.  But that doesn't mean God isn't involved, it doesn't mean he isn't invested, God can and has orchestrated, changed, and/or stopped the plans of all kinds of people to get done what needs to get done.  God has been working, in his time, over the course of thousands of years, to achieve his bigger purpose. And what was the bigger purpose?  God's mission from the beginning was to redeem his world.  He did this through Jesus.  That little baby that the wise men knelt down and worshiped, that child that Herod felt so threatened by --- that child would grow to become the Savior of the world.  He would bring sight to the blind, freedom for the oppressed, he would proclaim good news to the poor.  He would preach the Kingdom of God and show the world a different way of living, ultimately giving up his own life voluntarily on a Roman cross.  In doing so, he became the final sacrifice for sin, providing a way for you and me and all people to be redeemed.  Because of Jesus' sacrifice, our sins can be forgiven and we can walk hand in hand with a holy God.  Because of Jesus, nothing separates us from God.  And then, three days after he died, he was resurrected, defeating evil and death and demonstrating to the world who HE is.  He is, after all, God.  Jesus is the Lord. Jesus is LORD of all.  Paul writes this in Colossians 1:15-20, The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  Jesus is above all things.  Jesus is Lord. And over the course of 2000 years, rulers and kings and dictators and autocrats have tried to wipe out his influence.  They have misused his teachings, they have twisted the Gospel.  Like Herod, they have done all kinds of things to either try to eliminate the influence of Jesus or to use the Gospel for their own deceitful purposes.  And at times, it's been ugly and violent and really sad.  But this is TRUTH:  God will ensure that his purposes prevail.  Yes, in our sinful and broken world, all kinds of horrors will occur.  Vladimir Putin will think he's invincible.  Kim Jong Un will declare himself supreme ruler.  American politicians will think themselves unshakable.  You and I will experience heartbreak, loss, and illness.  And yet, Jesus is still Lord of all.  God is still working in our lives, God is still present with us in the middle of the mess, and Jesus is still in the business of transforming lives.  Friends, Jesus is on the throne, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  The rulers of the world may oppose him but they are ultimately answerable to him.  Because he will come again. I'll stop there for now.  But I do have to ask this question:  Is Jesus Lord of your life?  More tomorrow. Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Inthe first 10 verses of Luke 19, we meet Jesus as the Savior who seeks the lostand we have the story of Zacchaeus, the rich tax collector who comes to faithand salvation through Jesus Christ. Then, in verse 11, we meet the master whorewards faithful servants. My friend, that's who Jesus is. He is the Savior,but he's also the master who expects us to be faithful servants. Itsays in verse 11, "Now as they heard these things, he spoke anotherparable because he was near Jerusalem and because they thought that the kingdomof God would appear immediately." Jesus is at the end of His three anda half years of earthly ministry. He's on his way to Jerusalem with hisdisciples, preaching, sharing, doing miracles, and healing people. He knowsthat He's going to be crucified, but the disciples and many others believe He isgoing to Jerusalem to set up his kingdom. Atthat time in the Jewish world, there were subversive groups like the Zealotswho used commando tactics against Rome. There were also the Herodians, Jewishpoliticians who compromised their faith to rule with the Romans over the Jewishpeople in the land of Israel. Then, you had the common people, the majority,who were looking for the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies for theMessiah, the King to come and set up His kingdom. That'swhy this verse says that as Jesus neared Jerusalem, He told this parablebecause they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. They werethinking Jesus is this possible king, the Prophet prophesied in the OldTestament, the Messiah who's come to give us a deliverer. This was at the timeof Passover, and people were flooding into Jerusalem by the thousands. Theywere looking for a deliverer, just like the Passover represented beingdelivered out of Egypt when God gave them a deliverer, Moses. Now they believedthat one like Moses would come and deliver them from the Roman rule. Theythought Jesus was that deliverer. Jesusthen tells them this story, beginning in verse 12, about “a certain noblemanwho went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. Hecalled 10 of his servants, delivered to them 10 minas, and said to them,"Do business till I come." But his citizens hated him and sent adelegation after him, saying, "We will not have this man to reign overus." When he returned, having received the kingdom, he commanded theseservants to whom he had given the money to be called to him that he might knowhow much every man had gained by trading.” Jesusis presenting a picture here. It's interesting that there were 10 servants towhom he gave 10 minas, money. In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells the parable ofthe talents, and the master giving different amounts,5 to one, two to another,and one to one, to three servants. That was a picture of the gifts God giveseach of us to serve Him, and how we use those gifts will be held accountable.But here, he gave the same amount of money to ten servants and then tells howat least three of them were held accountable. We believe the application isthat Jesus gave the Word of God to all His followers today to share witheveryone we can, and we're going to be held accountable for it. Thelesson here is that God expects us to be faithful with whatever He gives us,and He will hold us accountable for our faithfulness and obedience with thegifts and the Word of God that we're to share with those around us. May theLord help us to learn this lesson well.  Itrust you will use the Spiritual gifts that God's blessed you with and also sharethe Word of God with whoever crosses your path today.

This Sunday Pastor Jake continued our series "Heart Over Hype." In this series we're diving deep into the powerful teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5, Jesus challenges us to look beyond the surface and see the world through His eyes—a perspective far richer and more transformative than our natural understanding. Join us next Sunday for week 5 of the series!Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. Matthew 5:1-2Our mission is to glorify God by equipping His people to change their world and by planting churches with the same world-changing vision.Website: https://mannastafford.church/Find us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MannaStaffordInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/manna.stafford/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manna.stafford

In this series, we'll discover what it means for us to be disciples of Jesus. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gives the Great Commission, which all believers are a part of. This command shouldn't come with a lot of pressure, because discipleship happens one step at a time. As we mature in our relationship with Jesus, we will begin to experience all God has for us because every time we take a next step on our discipleship journey, we, by design, experience more of God!

By Patrick McKee - In this sermon Patrick McKee looks at two temptations by Satan recorded in the Bible. In Genesis 3 we see his tempting Eve where he was successful. In Matthew 4 we see his attempt to temp Jesus where he failed. Patrick shows us that Eve failed because she followed the pattern in James 1:13-15 that

Saturday, 17 May 2025   nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. Matthew 10:10   “nor wallet in the way, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staff. For the toiler, he is worthy of his food” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus began a list of things that the twelve were not to take when they went out to evangelize the cities of Israel. That list now continues, saying, “nor wallet in the way.”   Here, the péra, pouch, is introduced. It will be seen six times in total between Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It signifies a leather pouch for food. Strong's defines it as a wallet, but today we think of a wallet as something folded and carried in a pocket.   This would rather be a pouch that would carry food or money as a traveling bag. It is probably something similar to what David carried in his battle with Goliath –   “Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:40   Continuing, Jesus next says, “nor two tunics.” The meaning is the same intent as that of Mark 6:8, where it says, “and not to put on two tunics.” Having a second tunic would mean they put both on. Instead, they were to wear the simplest attire without any extra for comfort, replacement, or fashion. Next, He says, “nor sandals.”   Seemingly contradictorily, Mark says that they were to wear sandals. The reconciliation between the two is to consider first the nature of the land. It would be close to impossible to walk in Israel without footwear. The land is hot, and the feet would burn. The stones on paths range from every type imaginable. Some would bruise the feet, some would slice them like razors, etc. And there are thorns of various types that are everywhere. They pierce, slice, and scratch.   Therefore, these words probably default to what was just said about “nor two tunics.” In other words, this is a second category where only one pair is to be taken. If they were to get ruined, they would be at the mercy of others to provide repair or replacement. Likewise, it next says, “nor staff.”   Again, Mark says, “He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff” (Mark 6:8). As such, this is a third category limiting them to a single staff. Having a second staff would be a help at times in various ways, but they had to make do with just one. Should they break or lose it, they would have to be provided by those whom they tended to.   Each of these points becomes obvious based on the next words, “For the toiler, he is worthy of his food.”   In this thought, Jesus is lumping each of these traveling necessities into one thought, that of food. It is the overarching need to be provided for from day to day. The others were needs that arose from time to time and would be considered a part of the “food” necessity that these men would have.   The same thought is seen in the words “Bread is the staff of life.” It is the principal need, as if a staff of support. The staff, however, is included in the phrase. It thus means, “Bread is the principal support.” In Matthew, the word “food” speaks of the whole of that which is necessary, which includes a tunic, sandals, and a staff. Anything extra of each goes beyond the basic needs.   Life application: As with other seeming “contradictions” found in Scripture, there is a reasonable explanation for Jesus' words. What seems at first contradictory is merely one person's way of explaining what was said as opposed to someone else truthfully telling the same account using different words to convey the substance of what is said.   Matthew focuses on the negative of the subcategories, “you shall not.” This is dependent on a main thought. In this case, two of something. Mark places that thought at the end. Therefore, his positive command becomes necessary –   Matthew: Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.   Mark: He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— 9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. Matthew's final words about the wages form an explanation to sum up the overall thought.   When you come to difficult passages, be sure to stop and consider the structure of them, the surrounding words that are provided, etc. In doing this, what seems at first contradictory is not. Rather, it is the natural way that different people will present the same thought, and it is as common as windows on a skyscraper.   Lord God, lots of people have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to tear apart Your word in order to confuse those who read it. Help us to think clearly and soberly about the difficulties presented in it. From there, give us wisdom in what is presented. Help us, though, not to rationalize away such things, but to logically explain why things are presented as they are! Help us in this, O God. Amen.  

What would you do if you found something so valuable, so life-altering, that you gladly gave up everything else just to have it? That's the image Jesus gives us in Matthew 13—two brief parables, one powerful message. They remind us of a truth that can reframe not just our faith, but our finances, especially in uncertain times.In Matthew 13:44–46, Jesus says:“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”In both parables, something of immense value is found, and the response is total surrender. But not begrudgingly. Not in fear. In joy. That joy is everything. It's the natural overflow of discovering something so worthy, so beautiful, so eternally good that it reorders your entire life. All other pursuits fade in comparison.But What About When Life Feels Like a Storm?Let's be honest—most days don't feel like we've just struck eternal treasure. In today's economy, with interest rates up, inflation lingering, and layoffs still in the news, you might feel like you're just trying to stay afloat. You're not alone if you're grasping for security, calculating risks, or losing sleep over your monthly expenses.But here's the good news: even in uncertain times, Jesus extends the same invitation. He's saying there is something more valuable than everything you own. And that something is someone—Him.When Christ Is Your Treasure, Money Loses Its GripWhen Jesus becomes your treasure, money loses its power to control you. You're no longer tethered to the markets, to your salary, or to your fears. Your peace isn't tied to your portfolio—it's anchored in God's unshakable Kingdom.That's what Paul discovered in Philippians 3:7–8:“Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”Paul had status and influence, but he gave it all up when he found the true treasure in Christ.We see this again in the Macedonian believers in 2 Corinthians 8. Even in deep poverty, they gave with joy—not because they had extra, but because they understood Christ's surpassing worth. They didn't view giving as a loss but as a gain.The Paradox of the Kingdom: Loss Becomes GainHere's the paradox: when you release your grip on material things, you make room to take hold of eternal things. Stewardship becomes joyful. Giving becomes worship. And peace begins to replace pressure.But let's not pretend it's always easy. Sometimes, the treasure feels far away. The joy is buried beneath fear. The anxiety drowns out trust. Jesus anticipated this, too. In Matthew 10:29–31, He says:“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father... Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”God sees you. He knows your needs. And His care for you isn't based on your net worth, but your infinite worth to Him.A Resource for Your Journey: Look at the SparrowsThat's the heartbeat behind our 21-day devotional, Look at the Sparrows. Created by our team at FaithFi, this devotional helps center your heart on God's promises, His presence, and His provision.Because when you're standing in a storm, you need more than a budget—you need a Savior. And He's not far off. As Jeremiah 29:13 promises:“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”When Jesus is your treasure, everything changes. You steward your money with open hands, not clenched fists. You invest in what truly matters. You trade the stress of accumulation for the peace of contentment. And yes, joy returns.So if your heart is anxious today, remember the man who bought the field. Remember the merchant who found the pearl. And remember the Savior who invites you to find lasting treasure in Him.Order your copy of Look at the Sparrows at FaithFi.com. Click “Shop” to get a copy for yourself—or buy in bulk for your church or small group.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I'm retired and living on Social Security with no debt. I have key expenses paid off, and I'm pulling about $1,900 a month from Social Security. Whenever I have a significant project for the house, I pull money out of an IRA that my broker has set up. Is this the best way to finance these projects so that I can remain debt-free and avoid incurring any interest?I have a 401(k), and I'm wondering how I can invest according to my values with the available options. It seems like the only options are big companies that I'd rather not invest in. Do you have any suggestions?We recently sold our house for a good profit, and I'd like to know how we should tithe on it. Do we tithe on the full amount we received, or only what goes above the initial price and the interest we paid on it?My wife and I are purchasing a home this year. The credit union offers us a standard 30-year mortgage with one monthly payment and a bi-weekly payment plan. I want to know which option would be better and the pros and cons.I used to be poor about 25 years ago and filed bankruptcy for $3,500. Now I receive my ex-husband's Social Security, and I would like to see about possibly paying back the bankruptcy debt.Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)List of Faith-Based Investment FundsWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Not Righteous Professing Christians Are "Whitewashed Tombstones" - Pretty on the Outside but Dead on the Inside MESSAGE SUMMARY: A righteousness, that comes from your being in communion with the Holy Spirit, is not like a professing Christian who is really just a "whitewashed tombstone" -- pretty on the outside but dead on the inside. Rather, followers of Jesus are called to live righteous lives, as we are instructed by the Psalmist in Psalms 37:39: “The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.". Also, Paul tells us in Romans 1:17: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.'”. In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells us, as His followers, that: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.". In Matthew 5, Jesus tells us, as His followers, that we are different and blessed; and these blessings flow from your living a righteous life in Him. Allow the Holy Spirit to create in you a clean and pure heart.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I acknowledge that I prefer to ignore and deny my pain and loss. I struggle with seeing how resurrection life can come out of death. Grant me the courage to pay attention to what you are doing, and to wait on you — even when everything in me wants to run away. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 114). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Inconsistencies. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Faithfulness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 5:1-48; Romans 1:17; Romans 2:13; Psalms 70a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Being in Christ, Part 3” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

What If I Don't Want To Forgive?Matthew 19:26 “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'”Jesus is our guide.  He came down to earth to show us how we should be acting.  He came down to teach us that the Lord our God is love.  He is trying to guide us to springs of the water of life, but we keep wanting to do our own thing.  We don't want to follow in his foot steps.  Why don't we?  Because  it is hard.  Jesus said to love everyone, even our enemies.  Is this even possible?  Jesus wants us to forgive, but aren't there some people that just can't be forgiven?  Shouldn't be forgiven?  I wonder if we all realize what forgiveness is? Forgiveness is not telling the other person that what they did was right, or ok.  It was not ok what they did.  It is not forgetting what happened or excusing it in anyway.  Forgiveness is admitting to yourself that this terrible thing did happen, that you can't change it, so you are releasing any hold that it has over you.  I know forgiveness is hard.  In some cases it seems impossible.  However, it is so necessary.  God tells us right in the Our Father Prayer, Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  God is going to forgive us to the same extent that we forgave others.  Think about the things or the people that you are unable to forgive.  Do you really want the inability to forgive them to get in the way of God forgiving you?  There are some things that no matter how hard we try, we can not forgive.  This is ok, we don't have to do this on our own.  God can step in and help us forgive.  The only thing we must do is to ask him.  To give Him permission to work in your heart to forgive.  We had a word or prophecy given at our prayer group that I feel is so important to share.“I ask you to forgive my children.  I know that is a difficult command and at times may seem very impossible for you to do.  But I remind you that I am with you always, and with me nothing is impossible.  Bring your inability to me.  Allow me to work with my grace through you, so that you can be my forgiving heart for all the world.”In this word, the Lord is asking us to forgive.  He is reminding us that even though we feel it is impossible, nothing is impossible in Him.  In Matthew 19:26 Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  It also says in Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  We are not in this alone.  We have God on our side and with that we can do anything.  I love how God always shows up to remind us of things when we forget.  I like how God is reminding us that He is always with us and then asking us to bring our inability to him.  He is asking us to allow Him to work with His grace through us, so that we can bring His forgiving heart to all the world.  How beautiful is that?  How great is it that God not only wants to use his grace to heal our heart, but he wants us to be His forgiving heart for all the world.  God gave us free will.  Can you imagine how frustrating it must be for Him to sit by and watch us squander all that he has provided for us?  He would love nothing more than to rain down graces on us and yet we can't be bothered to let him.  God is not going to step in if we do not ask Him.  He does not want to force us to love Him.  The only way to ensure it is true love is to give us the choice to love him or not.  Every day we have a choice to make.  Are we going to choose God or are we going to choose something else?  God has so much grace and so much mercy to give.  He does not leave us alone to make these decisions.  He is there for us every step of the way.But we do need to make that choice.  Once we do make that choice, He will be there to help us overcome all of the obstacles.  And there will be obstacles.  The life that God is asking us to live is not an easy life.   Especially in this world right now.  Forgiveness and love are two things that we are being called to do that are not the norm in society today.  We live in a culture that does not want to forgive.  We want to stay angry, blame other, and not even talk to someone that doesn't think as we think.   This is not what Jesus wants for us.  Jesus did not come to earth to be with people just like Him.  He did not just hang around with those that believed like he believed.  He didn't find all the people that were getting it right in life.  He came for those that were struggling.  He came for those that needed Him.  When he met these people, he did not meet them with judgement and unforgiveness.  He met them with love and forgiveness.  He accepted them as they were and encouraged them and helped them to become better.  How great would it be if we could do the same.  If we could greet everyone we meet with the same love and acceptance that Jesus had.  You may be thinking that you are different.  Jesus could do that because he was man and God, so he had the Holy Spirit inside him to help him make the right choice.  Guess what?  So do you.  You have the Holy Spirit inside of you and if you let Him, He will guide you to make the right choices as well.  Just remember what Jesus said in Matthew 19:26, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  You can do this!  It is possible!  Just take a moment and ask God for help.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode today.  Lord, we really want to forgive and yet we also don't really want to forgive.  Please help us.  We give you permission right now to come into our lives, into our hearts and help us to forgive anyone we are struggling to forgive.  Lord we want to be free to be forgiven by you.  We want nothing in the way of that forgiveness.  Dad, Abba, Father, please come to our aide and help us.  Show us how to forgive.  Prepare our hearts to forgive.  Give us the strength and the grace to forgive.  We trust you Lord.  We love you!  We ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus' holy name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk Boldly with Jesus.  I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow.  Remember Jesus loves you, and so do I!  Have a blessed day! www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

In a world where the enemy is doing all it can to take our next generation away from the Lord, we must take a stand and fight to keep our families! In Matthew 17, we can learn from the actions of a desperate father to help his troubled son, by bringing him to Jesus.

It's Wednesday, May 14th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark 80% of Cuban churches are not legal Evangelical Focus reports the Alliance of Christians in Cuba met recently to highlight religious freedom violations in the country.  The alliance noted that over 80% of churches in Cuba are unable to have legal status. Churches face confiscation of property and pastors face obstacles just to visit people in hospitals or nursing homes. Religious leaders in the country suffered nearly 1,000 repressive acts last year.  Cuba is ranked 26th on the Open Doors' World Watch List of nations where it is most difficult to be a Christian.  British Evangelical church attendance up The United Kingdom Evangelical Alliance released its Changing Church 2025 survey. The study found Evangelical churches experienced an average of 13% increase in attendance between 2020 and 2025. Also, churches have documented twice as many people expressing interest in the Christian faith as well as making first time commitments to Jesus compared to 2021. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” United Kingdom closes its borders Speaking of the United Kingdom, the nation's prime minister, Keir Starmer, announced Monday that Britain would be ending its open borders experiment. Listen to comments he made at a press conference. STARMER: “Nations depend on rules. … Now in a diverse nation like ours, and I celebrate that, these rules become even more important. Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together. … So yes, I believe in this. I believe we need to reduce immigration significantly.” Starmer said he would raise English language requirements and the skills threshold for people entering the U.K. Saudi Arabia invests $600 billion in America President Donald Trump, who visited Saudi Arabia in person yesterday, announced that our ally will be investing $600 billion in the United States. This includes a $142 billion deal for the U.S. to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia. Trump made the announcement during a visit to the Middle East. TRUMP: “We've seen wealth that just poured and is pouring back into America. Apple is investing $500 billion, Nvidia is investing $500 billion, [Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company] is investing $200 billion and, with this trip, we're adding over $1 trillion more, in terms of investment into our country, and buying our products.” During his trip, Trump also announced he would be lifting sanctions on Syria to “give them a chance at greatness.”  Planned Parenthood gives transgender drugs available to minors Live Action released an undercover investigation recently, showing how easy it is for minors to get transgender drugs through Planned Parenthood. An undercover operative, posing as a 16-year-old, was offered such drugs by 30 facilities. Lila Rose, the founder and president of Live Action, wrote on X, “Planned Parenthood is prescribing cross sex hormones for minors — same-day prescriptions via virtual appointments. … Defund Planned Parenthood now!” Proverbs 12:10 says, “The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” Tennessee ensures teachers & students can use accurate pronouns Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee  signed House Bill 1270 into law last Friday. The measure takes on gender ideology in public schools.  Teachers and students cannot be forced to use biologically inaccurate pronouns that violate their beliefs. Matt Sharp, Senior Counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, said, “In no world is it acceptable for the government to discipline students or force good educators or other public servants out of a job all for the sake of promoting gender ideology. With this legislation, Tennessee is rightfully stepping into the gap to protect freedom of speech and conscience.” Tariffs brought in $16 billion to U.S. Treasury U.S. tariff revenues reached all-time highs last month. Customs duties brought in $16.3 billion in April, up from $8.75 billion in March. Overall, tariff receipts are up 18% this year compared to last year. This comes after Trump instituted a 10% tariff on all U.S. imports last month. 115-year-old woman is oldest person alive And finally, Guinness World Records reports a woman from the U.K. is now the oldest woman alive as well as the oldest person alive. Ethel Caterham lives in Surrey, England. She is 115 years old. She became the world's oldest living person after Inah Canabarro Lucas from Brazil died at the age of 116 last month.  Ethel lived an adventurous life while looking out for others, especially children. She outlived her husband and two daughters. She now has three granddaughters and five great-grandchildren. Commenting on her longevity, she once told the Salisbury Journal, “Say yes to every opportunity because you never know what it will lead to. Have a positive mental attitude and have everything in moderation.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, May 14th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, 14 May 2025   And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Matthew 10:7   “And going, you proclaim, saying that ‘It has neared – the kingdom of the heavens'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told His twelve to specifically go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Next, He instructs them, “And going, you proclaim, saying.”   Jesus uses the same word that has been used several times already, kérussó. It signifies to proclaim or herald an announcement. HELPS Word Studies says of it, “bringing eternal accountability to all who hear it.”   Consider it! Jesus is sending His chosen twelve out among the people of Israel. He has already been conducting His ministry for some amount of time, but the harvest field is so ready for reaping that He has decided to send forth those who have followed Him and learned from Him to expand the process. What words will He ask them to proclaim? The answer is “that ‘It has neared – the kingdom of the heavens.'”   In Matthew 3:2, the first recorded words of John the Baptist were, “Reconsider! For it has neared – the kingdom of the heavens!” Likewise, in Matthew's gospel, after His baptism and temptation, the first words of Jesus' ministry to the people were, “Reconsider! For it has neared – the kingdom of the heavens!”   Now Jesus instructs these disciples to likewise tell the people that the kingdom of the heavens has neared. In each instance, there is the anticipation that a great change in the economy and focus of God's redemptive plans is set to take place.   This is just the beginning of the instruction to these men. In Luke 9, there is a complementary account of Jesus' instructions to the twelve. That is followed in Luke 10 with Jesus sending out seventy more to continue the proclamation throughout Israel.   Life application: A common question that arises concerns the terms “kingdom of the heaven(s),” and “kingdom of God.” The words are certainly used interchangeably at times. For example, Jesus says that the kingdom of God is the kingdom of the heavens in Matthew 19 –   “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'”  Matthew 19:23, 24   In those two verses, which are given in parallelism, He is clearly indicating that they are the same thing. The term kingdom of the heaven(s) is not used in the epistles. Rather, they refer to the kingdom of God. However, Paul does say that the Lord would deliver him and preserve him for His heavenly kingdom.   As such, there is certainly overlap in the thought. At times, however, it is clear that the promised kingdom to Israel is a literal earthly kingdom. This is how the disciples understood it when asking Him about the restoration of the kingdom in Acts 1:6.   The best approach to understanding the idea of a kingdom, then, is to check the surrounding context to see what is spoken of. God is working through time and dispensations in various ways to bring man to a state of restoration.   As He does this, a kingdom is either set up or being set up that is being expressed in various ways, actual or anticipated. In Romans 14, Paul speaks of the kingdom as a reality for believers now, and yet it is something that is only so positionally, as indicated elsewhere. The actual kingdom is something anticipated for believers at this time.   As such, it is good not to get overly dogmatic about things but rather to consider that there is a positional belonging and an actual belonging that may apply in one way or another.   For us, because of faith in Christ, we can be reassured that we are accepted into the kingdom now, even if we have to await the rapture to be actually received into the marvelous blessing of the kingdom that lies ahead for us. Be assured that Christ has accepted you if you have believed. Every good promise He has made will, therefore, be realized on that day.   Lord God, despite not yet being with You in heaven, we know we are with You through faith in what You have done. Help us to remember this in our times of trial and difficulty. We have a better and surer hope ahead than anything this fallen world can provide. May You come soon for Your people so that we can forever rejoice in Your presence. Amen.  

There's something beautifully fierce about a mother's love. It doesn't wear out, give up, or walk away. In *Matthew 15*, we meet a Gentile woman who embodies this kind of love—unshakable, persistent, and full of hope. Her daughter was suffering, and though she was ignored, dismissed, and even insulted, this mother refused to stop believing. She kept pressing in, because she knew the One who could make a difference.We are reminded that love like that is never wasted. Whether you're a mom, a dad, or someone standing in the gap for someone you love—don't give up. Sometimes the answers come slower than we'd like. Sometimes the silence is deafening. But faith that refuses to quit always gets heaven's attention.When the world says, “There's nothing more you can do,” Jesus says, “Bring it to Me.” So whatever you're facing, let this story remind you: love deeply, pray boldly, and worship through the waiting. Breakthrough is coming.Subscribe to Our Channel! New to LifeRock? Click here: liferockchurch.org/get-connectedTo support this ministry and help us reach people in our community. Click here: liferockchurch.org/giveDo you need someone to pray for you? We will pray for you. Click here: liferockchurch.org/online-prayerFollow: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeRockColumbiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/LifeRockChurchTwitter: https://twitter.com/LifeRockChurch

Click hear to read the episode highlights.   The "Living with Heart" Podcast is brought to you by Chip Dodd Resources (www.chipdodd.com) and The Voice of the Heart Center (vothcenter.com). Contact Bryan Barley for coaching at bryan@vothcenter.com.    In Pensées, Blaise Pascal said, “the heart has its reasons which reason knows not.” Healthy love relationships work in ways that we must yield to, rather than attempt to change. After we yield to the ways of love, we still need to learn them.   So much that we miss in life has to do with our hearts not being available to be “touched”: We are often not present enough in heart to be receptive to change or admit need for change.  The vulnerability that moves us to yield to help is mostly associated with negative rather than positive outcomes.  Jesus, however, clearly supports us yielding our hearts so that we can be a part of a yield or bountiful harvest.  Having the vulnerability to change and grow can create an opportunity for great benefits.    In Matthew 13, Jesus shared the story of the “Parable of the Sower” that speaks to us about the power of yielding or being vulnerable, which produces benefits. All relationships of consequence can benefit greatly from our willingness to face, feel, and deal with our hearts so that we can give and receive the love we need and others need.    Jesus also shared the “Parable of the Sower.” “Then he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.'” “The disciples came to him and asked, ‘Why do you speak to the people in parables?'”  “He replied, ‘Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables:'” Click here to continue reading the episode highlights.

In Matthew 22:41–46, Jesus asks the Pharisees a profound question: “Whose son is the Christ?” They reply, as expected, “The son of David.” But Jesus takes them deeper, revealing that the Messiah is not merely David's descendant—He is David's Lord.This sermon was preached at Legacy Reformed Baptist Church in East Grand Forks, MN. For more information, visit www.LegacyRBC.org.

This Sunday Pastor Jake continued our series "Heart Over Hype." In this series we're diving deep into the powerful teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5, Jesus challenges us to look beyond the surface and see the world through His eyes—a perspective far richer and more transformative than our natural understanding. Join us next Sunday for week 4 of the series!Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. Matthew 5:1-2Our mission is to glorify God by equipping His people to change their world and by planting churches with the same world-changing vision.Website: https://mannastafford.church/Find us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MannaStaffordInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/manna.stafford/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manna.stafford

Lead Pastor Josh Carstensen continues our Sermon on the Mount series.There are moments in life when thinking about decisions isn't enough—when you have to choose. In Matthew 7, Jesus brings us to exactly that crossroads.He presents us with two clear paths: a narrow gate opening to a hard road, leading to real life, or a wide gate leading down an easy road, ultimately ending in ruin. Faith in Jesus isn't just a one-time moment—it's also a continuous journey of choosing to follow Him, even when it's difficult. Today, Jesus asks us directly: "Are you in?"Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on May 11, 2025, at 9:30am. You can find us online at nwhills.com.Key Moments00:00 Welcome01:07 Message: Choosing the Path of Faith07:00 The Narrow Gate and the Hard Road13:06 Striving for the Narrow Door17:07 The Narrow Gate: An Invitation for All22:33 The Hard Path: Living Out Jesus' Teachings26:10 Final Reflections: Making the Decision

In Matthew 25, Jesus made it clear that His return would be obvious. However, he also made it clear that it will be unexpected. We are to be watching and waiting in eager anticipation. Are you ready?

In this series, we'll discover what it means for us to be disciples of Jesus. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gives the Great Commission, which all believers are a part of. This command shouldn't come with a lot of pressure, because discipleship happens one step at a time. As we mature in our relationship with Jesus, we will begin to experience all God has for us because every time we take a next step on our discipleship journey, we, by design, experience more of God!

In Matthew 26:69-75 we learned that failure doesn't undo the gospel.

In Matthew 7, His words ask, seek, knock aren't just commands to be spiritual go-getters; they're invitations to dependence, persistence, and vulnerability with a good Father who knows what we need. Whether we're standing in wide-open spaces of clarity or squeezed in the tight canyons of disappointment, Jesus teaches us a way of prayer that forms resilience. Together, we'll explore how persistent prayer doesn't just change outcomes, it transforms us.

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (05/09/25), Hank answers the following questions:In Matthew 24:31 and Matthew 13:31, what is meant by the angels gathering the elect? Cody - Moses Lake, WA (1:22)Is To Heaven and Back by Mary C. Neal correct about the afterlife? Brian - Atlanta, GA (7:49)Is it acceptable for churches to use debit or credit card kiosks for tithes and offerings? Karen - Ormond Beach, FL (15:11)Will there be procreation in heaven? Shawn - Nashville, TN (18:58)Has the great tribulation in Matthew 24 happened in the early church? JD - Richmond, VA (21:19)Do you know anything about the Book of Enoch? Are the angels that came down to lay with women the same angels that fell with Satan? Bob - Gastonia, NC (24:45)

Not Righteous Professing Christians Are "Whitewashed Tombstones" - Pretty on the Outside but Dead on the Inside MESSAGE SUMMARY: A righteousness, that comes from your being in communion with the Holy Spirit, is not like a professing Christian who is really just a "whitewashed tombstone" -- pretty on the outside but dead on the inside. Rather, followers of Jesus are called to live righteous lives, as we are instructed by the Psalmist in Psalms 37:39: “The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.". Also, Paul tells us in Romans 1:17: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.'”. In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells us, as His followers, that: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.". In Matthew 5, Jesus tells us, as His followers, that we are different and blessed; and these blessings flow from your living a righteous life in Him. Allow the Holy Spirit to create in you a clean and pure heart.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I acknowledge that I prefer to ignore and deny my pain and loss. I struggle with seeing how resurrection life can come out of death. Grant me the courage to pay attention to what you are doing, and to wait on you — even when everything in me wants to run away. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 114). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Evil Ways. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Goodness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 5:1-48; Romans 1:17; Romans 2:13; Psalms 70a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Being in Christ, Part 2” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

In this episode, I'm continuing a conversation that began last week, where I challenged the mainstream Christian view of spiritual concepts like energy, frequency, and Christ consciousness. As someone called to be salt and light, I believe it's essential to speak up when truth is being distorted. Jesus didn't call us to worship him passively but to follow him actively—something many modern believers seem to forget.To be like Christ is to vibrationally align yourself with divine love and coherence. Jesus's teachings in Aramaic reveal that loving God and neighbor isn't just moral advice—it's a call to fully merge your breath, soul, will, and energy with the Source. Christianity was never meant to be a religion of fear and control; it was a path of awakening, of becoming little Christs who live and love in divine resonance.Part of that alignment comes through remembering how different the male and female bodies are designed spiritually. We don't walk the same path to the divine as men do, and we shouldn't try. Where men find coherence through action and sacrifice, we find it through stillness, through feeling, through being. We must allow ourselves to return to the essence of our design. Jesus modeled this when he encountered women—he called forth their essence, healed them through recognition, not reprimand. Everything I teach pours from this deep remembering—that Christ is a frequency, and we are meant to carry it, not just believe in it. We are meant to become it. Tune in today to hear more! In this episode:[00:37] Welcome back to The Fully Nourished Podcast![01:38] A little review of what we talked about last week. [05:01] What is the Christ frequency?[09:16] What is the true meaning behind Matthew 22:37-39?[15:49] In Matthew 7:7, what does it truly mean to ask and receive?[19:38] When we are aligned, we are co-creators with the cosmos.[21:00] What does life look like when you are a member of the body of light? [24:10] Being a true Christian requires you to do the work. [25:38] What is the difference between the spiritual paths for men and women?[33:17] Jesus did not treat men and women equally. [40:37] Thanks for joining me on The Fully Nourished Podcast today!Links and Resources:Want to learn more about the Logos/Christ Frequency?Prayers of the Cosmos by Neil Douglas Klotz: https://amzn.to/3GvUJONFragments of Herclitus: https://amzn.to/4jtTH4dThe Jesus Way Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKVRMm6i0kgiHUmAqKSDYbperFKgOX0ug&si=bZsUV_lp8cSWS1hqGet more info on Philosophia Society Here:https://www.jessicaashwellness.com/philosophia-societySubmit a Question for our Next Q&A:https://airtable.com/appoicByQy3UFoSXs/shrXwD7wQFJQr68NnSign Up for Sunday Tea Here: https://jessica-ash-wellness.ck.page/04f86a550fConnect with Jessica:Have Sunday tea with me! Sign-up for my Sunday newsletter where I share what's on my brain from the nutritional to spiritual: https://www.jessicaashwellness.com/email-subscribe. Join the Fully Nourished community! Follow me @jessicaashwellness on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaashwellness/

In this episode of Love Never Fails, we continue our “Be a Bucket Filler” series by exploring the second fruit of the Spirit—joy. In Matthew 12:20, we see the gentleness of Jesus, who does not break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoldering wick. His tenderness is a powerful reminder that joy isn't loud or forceful but deeply rooted in God's presence and peace. Galatians 5:22 -25 teaches us that joy is a fruit that flourishes when we walk in step with the Spirit, spreading hope and encouragement to those around us.Join us as we discover how to cultivate joy, even in difficult circumstances, and how sharing that joy can lift others' spirits, filling their buckets and ours with the love of Christ.

It's Wednesday, May 7th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Ugandan Muslims stabbed evangelist after winning Muslims to Christ Islamists killed a Christian evangelist in Uganda last month after he led several Muslims to Christ.  Thirty-eight-year-old David Washume spent three days preaching in eastern Uganda. Many people responded, including some Muslims. Shortly afterward on April 3, masked men stabbed David to death.  One person who heard his preaching before he died told Morning Star News, “On the third day the attendance increased in number, and he demanded a response of putting sin to death in their lives, to kill sin and identify themselves with Christ and against Satan, and their voices lifted to Heaven in song.” In Matthew 16:25, Jesus said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Thousands joined Ireland's March for Life Thousands of people joined the March for Life in Dublin, Ireland on Monday. (You can watch the 44-minute rally here). The number of recorded abortions in Ireland rose from over 2,800 in 2018 to over 10,000 in 2023. Newly elected Irish Senator Sarah O'Reilly spoke up for the little ones and for the women who are being sold abortion. O'REILLY: “Every life matters. Women deserve better than abortion. We are here because we know Ireland can be a place where compassion and courage walk hand in hand. Our soaring abortion numbers reveal a tragedy that cannot and must not be ignored any longer.” Senator O'Reilly also addressed the need for conscience protections for pro-life doctors and nurses in Ireland, so that they will not be coerced into participating in surgical and chemical abortions. O'REILLY: “In addition to the terrible loss of life from the abortions that will take place, there are not sufficient freedom of conscience protections in place for doctors and other healthcare workers who don't want to facilitate abortions. The lack of transparency surrounding what is happening under the abortion law is allowing coercive abortion practices to operate freely. “Some of you will be aware of the horrific story involving a minor in care who was locked in a room and forced to take an abortion pill. Something is clearly not right in our country when a story like this is relegated to the ‘news in brief' section of a daily newspaper and completely ignored by all the other media outlets.” And Senator O'Reilly referenced the deadly demise of Irish babies with Down Syndrome. O'REILLY: “Up to 95% of unborn babies diagnosed with Down Syndrome at the hospital now end up being aborted. When that announcement was made, there was no outrage, no expressions of remorse by the architects of Ireland's new abortion regime.” Trump's new religious liberty commission In the United States, President Donald Trump established a religious liberty commission by Executive Order last Thursday. The commission consists of 14 members, including evangelist Franklin Graham, Dr. Ben Carson, Christian writer and talk show host Eric Metaxas, and First Liberty Institute President Kelly Shackelford.  Trump directed the commission to evaluate threats to religious liberty. Specifically, he wants the commission to address the challenges to the First Amendment rights of pastors, attacks across America on houses of worship, the debanking of religious entities, and challenges to parental authority to direct the education of their children, including the right to choose a religious education. Listen to comments made by Texas Republican Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick. PATRICK: “We were a nation birthed by prayer, founded on the Judeo-Christian ethic to ensure that people could worship as they wished without interference from government. But that is no longer the case. “The last administration attacked people of faith for four years. There's a saying that ‘No one should get between a doctor and a patient.' I think we would say, ‘No one should get between God and a believer. (applause) No one should get between God and those seeking Him.” Supreme Court allows Trump ban on transgender soldiers In a 6-3 vote on Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme allowed the Trump administration to implement a ban on transgender troops.  At issue is an Executive Order from Trump which stated, “A man's assertion that he is a woman, and his requirement that others honor this falsehood, is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.” The Supreme Court's decision could lead to the discharge of thousands of military personnel.  177,000 jobs added in April; Unemployment at 4.2% American job growth was stronger than expected last month. The U.S economy added 177,000 jobs in April. The unemployment rate remained low at 4.2%. Seema Shah, chief global strategist at Principal Asset Management, noted, “We can push recession concerns to another month. Job numbers remain very strong, suggesting there was an impressive degree of resilience in the economy in play before the tariff shock.”  Trump considers 100% tariff on foreign movies Speaking of tariffs, President Trump announced a potential 100% tariff on foreign movies on Sunday.  The tax could apply to films produced abroad and sent into the U.S. Trump said, “We want movies made in America, again!” Only 66% of Americans identify as Christian today And finally, Christian pollster George Barna released his latest report on the American worldview. The study found 66% of U.S. adults describe Christianity as their faith, down from 72% in 2020. Meanwhile, non-Christian faiths have grown significantly. Buddhism has grown 56%; Judaism by 21%; and Islam by 12%. And people who identify as having no faith grew 10%, outnumbering Catholics now.   Furthermore, only 18% of adults consistently rely upon the Bible to discern moral and spiritual truth. Isaiah 55:6-7 says, “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, May 7th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

This Sunday our Next Gen Leader, Jeremy Ruiz continued our series "Heart Over Hype." In this series we're diving deep into the powerful teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5, Jesus challenges us to look beyond the surface and see the world through His eyes—a perspective far richer and more transformative than our natural understanding. Join us next Sunday for week 3 of the series!Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. Matthew 5:1-2Our mission is to glorify God by equipping His people to change their world and by planting churches with the same world-changing vision.Website: https://mannastafford.church/Find us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MannaStaffordInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/manna.stafford/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manna.stafford

Prayer is simply an ongoing conversation with God, and yet, we often make it a lot more complicated. In Matthew 6, Jesus provides simple yet powerful words that fix our eyes on the Holiness of God and remind us to depend on Him. May 4, 2025

Today,It is my prayer today that our Heavenly Father will open our hearts to His Wordand help us understand the true nature of His kingdom and how it transforms usfrom within. And that He would guide us by His Spirit to live as citizens of Hiskingdom. ThePharisees were looking for a kingdom they could see. Along with most of theJewish people thew were looking for a grand, political empire that wouldelevate their nation and crush their enemies. They wanted a Messiah who wouldarrive with pomp, power, and a clear timeline. When John the Baptist showed upwith his message, some thought he might be the Messiah (John 1:19-27). But thenthe attention of the nation turned to Jesus, especially after John wasbeheaded. Jesus'response to their question about the kingdom turned their expectations upsidedown. The kingdom of God, He said, doesn't come with “observation”, which meantit wasn't going to come with fanfare or visible signs you can point to and say,“There it is!” God's plan for a visible, millennial kingdom was dependent uponthe Jews' accepting the spiritual truths of the kingdom as preached by John andJesus (John 3:1-12). The mystery parables of Matthew 13 reveal that the plan toestablish an earthly kingdom was postponed because of the Jews' attitude towardthe King. Instead, Jesus answer is that His kingdom is already present, workingin a way they couldn't imagine: within people's hearts. Jesus'words should challenge us to rethink what God's kingdom is. It's not aboutexternal power, wealth, or status. It's not confined to a specific place or adramatic event. The kingdom of God is spiritual, transforming us from theinside out. It begins when we surrender to Jesus as King, allowing Hislove, grace, and truth to reign in our hearts. This kingdom changes how wethink, act, and love others. It makes us humble where we were proud, generouswhere we were selfish, and hopeful where we were discouraged. WhenJesus told the Pharisees, “The kingdom of God is within you,” He wasn't sayingthey already had it—they rejected Him! Instead, He was pointing to Himself, theKing standing in their midst, and urging them to recognize the kingdom'spresence through a changed heart. For us, this means the kingdom is alreadyhere, accessible through faith in Christ. It's in the quiet moments when wechoose forgiveness over bitterness, service over selfishness, or trust in Godover worry. It's in the way we reflect Jesus to the world. Jesustaught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come….”. In Matthew chapters 5-7, Jesus gave usthe “principles of the kingdom”. Only by the new spiritual birth (John 3:3-7),can we see or enter this kingdom. And then only by His Holy Spirit living withinus can we experience the reality of living by the principles of His kingdom. Today,this truth should challenges us. Like the Pharisees, we can get caught uplooking for God's kingdom in the wrong places, expecting it in materialsuccess, public recognition, or a perfect life. Jesus calls us to look inward.Is His kingdom ruling in our hearts? Are we living as His ambassadors, showingHis love and truth in our everyday actions? Maythe Lord help us to focus on cultivating God's kingdom within. Before I get outof bed each day, I pray the Lord's Prayer to remind myself that I want to experienceHis Lordship in every aspect of my life. Today, would you take five minutes topray and ask God to reveal one area of your heart where He wants to reign morefully, maybe it's an attitude, a habit, or a relationship. Then, take onepractical step to align that area with His kingdom values.   Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank Youfor being our King and bringing Your kingdom near. Help us to seek Your kingdomwithin our hearts, not in the things of this world (Matthew 6:33). Transform usby Your Spirit to live as Your people, reflecting Your love and truth. Guide usin this week's challenge to let You reign in every part of our lives. Amen.

In Matthew 6:25, Jesus urges listeners not to worry about material needs, emphasizing that life transcends food and clothing. He illustrates God's provision through nature, inviting trust over anxiety. This teaching encourages believers to focus on God's kingdom, assuring them of His faithfulness and care as they navigate life's uncertainties.

Lead Pastor Josh Carstensen continues our Sermon on the Mount series.When people are difficult, Jesus doesn't tell us to avoid them. He calls us to engage with wisdom, grace, and courage. In Matthew 7, we're called to judge without a judgmental heart, pray when we feel stuck, and then act, even when no clear answer comes.And we're not just called to treat others fairly, but to treat them as we would want to be treated when we fall short. Thisisn't passive kindness; it's relentless love. The kind that pursues, initiates, and reflects the heart of God Himself. Who's God calling you to love like that this week?Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on May 4, 2025, at 9:30am. You can find us online at nwhills.com.Key Moments00:00 Welcome01:04 Navigating Complex Relationships05:43 Practical Guidance from Jesus11:17 The Golden Rule in Action16:32 Jesus' Radical Call to Action20:27 God's Pursuit Throughout Biblical History24:19 Reflecting God's Love in Our Lives

In Matthew 28, Jesus gives every believer a clear mission—we often refer to it as the “Great Commission.” At Captivate, we have the privilege of living this out each week as we see lives transformed and disciples made for the glory of God. But what about beyond San Diego? How are we reaching people, serving communities, and making disciples across “every nation?”This Sunday, we turned our focus outward as we celebrated and explored how God is moving through our missions ministry—locally, regionally, and around the world. Over the past year, we've been part of incredible ministry and humanitarian efforts both here in our city and across the globe. Tune into this week's message filled with powerful stories and highlights titled, “Crossroads & Corners”.Join us for service online or in person every Sunday at 8am, 9:30am, 11am, & 12:30pm (PST).If you want to share how God is moving in your life through this ministry, please let us know at info@captivatesd.com!Decided To Follow Jesus? Sign up to receive a copy of our “I Have Decided” booklets - https://shorturl.at/GymIkGet plugged in!Next Steps - captivatesd.com/next-stepsVisit - captivatesd.com/visitCommunities - captivatesd.com/communitiesIf you would like to support Captivate financially you can give online through our website by clicking here captivatesd.com/giving Need prayer? Please let us know! - https://captivatesd.churchcenter.com/people/forms/597023For more information about Captivate Church, visit captivatesd.com or follow us on our social media platforms below.Instagram - Instagram.com/captivatechurchsdFacebook - facebook.com/captivatesdWatch More Messages: youtube.com/@CaptivateChurch/videos

Introduction: How Do You Stop Hatred from Growing in Your Heart? (Matthew 5:21–26) By putting it to Death when it First Appears. (Matthew 5:21–22a) 1 John 3:15 – Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By refusing to Kill others with Destructive words. (Matthew 5:22b) Ephesians 4:29 – Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. By seeking after Immediate Reconciliation. (Matthew 5:23–24) By remembering what's At Stake. (Matthew 5:25–26) 1 Corinthians 6:10 – ...nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 5:21-26What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Are you struggling with anger/hatred? How can you deal with it right now before it gets out of control?Read Ephesians 4:29 - What are some practical ways to control your mouth and keep corruption from spreading to others?Why is it so hard to admit your faults and ask for forgiveness?What are the consequences of giving yourself over to hatred and unforgiveness? BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Turn your Bibles to Matthew chapter 5 verses 21 through 26.Matthew chapter 5 verses 21 through 26.We live in a culture that is absolutely obsessed with murder.There are dozens and dozens of true crime podcasts that delve into the nitty-gritty detailsof the worst crimes imaginable.Who has ever listened to a true crime podcast?No shame.Just asking.There are seemingly thousands and thousands of TV shows that are centered around murderinvestigations.Let me just list a few.Blue Bloods, Only Murders in the Building, Criminal Minds, Chicago PD, Sherlock, Bones,Castle, The Rookie, Longmire, Colombo, Psych, Monk, Murder She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder.Then there are the franchises that have spun out an endless amount of added-on shows, right?Law and Order, Law and Order Special Victims Unit, Law and Order Criminal Intent, Law andOrder LA, Law and Order Trial by Jerry, Law and Order True Crime, Law and Order OrganizedCrime, NCIS, NCIS Origins, NCIS Los Angeles, NCIS Hawaii, NCIS New Orleans, NCIS Sydney,CSI, CSI Miami, CSI New York, CSI Los Angeles, CSI Vegas, CSI Cyber, CSI Sheboygan, CSI Wexford.Okay, wait.Those last two don't actually exist, but at the rate they're pumping out these spin-offs,you never really know.But millions of people tune into these kind of shows every single week to watch fictionalmurderers face justice.On top of these podcasts and TV shows, we even play a board game with children thatis all about murder.That board game is?Who has ever played Clue at some point in their lives?I don't want to explain the basic premise, right?Okay, three to six players, you're all trapped in a mansion and one of you murdered Mr. Bodie,who owned the mansion.Was it Ms. Scarlett, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock, or ProfessorPlum?The whole purpose of the game is to figure out who is the murderer, what is the murderweapon, and what is the location of the killing?Again, this is a game for children.If the game can end with an accusation like this, Colonel Mustard in the conservatorywith a candlestick.Maybe you love playing this game growing up because you like to solve the mystery, assignthe blame for murder, and point the finger at made-up characters.But what if I were to tell you that every single person in this room is guilty of murder?This is in my opinion, it's not a suspicion, a hunt or an unfounded accusation.This is a clear and simple fact from the mouth of our Lord.According to Jesus Christ, we are all Colonel Mustard in the conservatory with a candlestick.And you may be thinking, "Taylor, I don't know about the person next to me, but I havecertainly never murdered anyone in cold blood."Well, you may be innocent of physically murdering, but there is no wiggling out of the realitythat you are guilty of spiritually murdering in your heart by hating others.And again, I know that some of you may be resisting what I'm saying already.You think to yourself, "I don't hate anyone.I am pleasant with everyone."I mean, sure, there are some people I intensely dislike.There are some people I vent about constantly.There are some people I avoid at all costs, and if I saw them in the grocery store, Iwould run in the opposite direction.But hey, that's different.Is it different?Maybe you are dressing up your hatred to make it look nice and acceptable when it is actuallycruel and dishonoring to the Lord.No matter who you are, how nice you may appear, you are not exempt from hatred.Because you have to understand that murder is not just an action.It is a state of heart in mind.We have been studying the Sermon on the Mount since February, and we are in the second sectionof our study, "The Heart of the Law."Last week, Pastor Jeff taught that Jesus Christ didn't come to abolish the law, but to perfectlyfulfill it through His life, death, and resurrection.And throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus demonstrates that the law is not skin deep.It actually drills down deep within you to your heart.Jesus cares about who you are on the inside.He is far more interested in the internal than the external.In Matthew 5, verses 21-26, Jesus exposes your greatest desires, fears, and innermostfeelings which you try to keep hidden away from others.Jesus pulls your anger into the light to show you how truly ugly, subtle, and destructiveit actually is.Jesus doesn't do this to humiliate you.He does this to help you.Jesus doesn't do this to condemn you, but to change you from the inside out.Because hatred cannot be allowed to fester.It will hollow you out on the inside, and it will hurt everyone around you.So how do you stop hatred from growing in your heart?Well, our passage for this morning offers four methods of extermination that will keepthe infection from spreading.Before we cover those, let's go to the Lord and ask for His help.Please pray for me that I will faithfully proclaim God's Word, and I will pray for youthat you will joyfully receive God's Word.Father, we thank you for this most important appointment of the week.We gather together as your people to worship you, to encourage one another, and to situnder the proclamation of your Word.Lord, I thank you that you watch over your Word to perform it, and that your Word accomplishesevery purpose for which you send it out.I pray this morning that you would do your work in our hearts and lives.We ask all this in Jesus' name.Amen.So how do you stop hatred from growing in your heart?The first method of extermination by putting it to death when it first appears.By putting it to death when it first appears.Let's read verses 21 through 22.Jesus says, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not murder, andwhoever murders will be liable to judgment.But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment."So Jesus kicks off a pattern that we see six times in Matthew chapter five.You have heard that it was said, but I say to you.And at first glance, it may look like Jesus is changing one of the six commandments.It may look like he is erasing the original meaning and coming up with something brandnew.But as Pastor Jeff said last week, Jesus came not to lessen the law, but to elevate it.Jesus is not changing the sixth commandment.He is simply revealing something that has always been within it, but has been ignored.He is not contradicting God's word.He is contradicting the Pharisee and scribes incomplete interpretation of God's word.The religious leaders of Jesus' day thought and taught that the sixth commandment of,"You shall not murder," only applied to the physical acts of homicide in manslaughter.They put this commandment into a box and ignored its deeper meaning.And here is the heart of the sixth commandment.Do not give yourself over to unrighteous anger, which leads to the act of unjustly endingsomeone's life.Anger is the first domino in that chain reaction.The religious leaders limited the scope of God's command and the process they limitedits impact.By viewing the sixth commandment in this way, a religious leader could look at himself andsay, "Hey, I am perfectly keeping this commandment.I have never clubbed someone over the head.I've never pushed my neighbor off a tall building in a fit of rage.God must be so proud of me, but internally they are killing people by despising them,despising tax collectors, sinners, and Gentiles."In this passage, Jesus corrects the massive oversight of the men who should know the lawbetter than anyone else, but have missed the entire point.They have missed the heart.Jesus is saying, "Don't think you're safe and sound because you have no bodies buriedin your backyard.You were on the hook for a serious crime and heading for serious consequences if you havehatred and anger and bitterness buried in your heart."It's especially egregious to be angry with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.Why is that?You know, as a dad, it pains me to watch or read news stories about kids being bullied.But do you know what would be worse than watching strangers be mistreated, finding out thatone of my own kids is being bullied?Do you know what would be the worst of all?Discovering that one of my kids hates and actively tries to hurt his or her sibling.It grieves the heart of God to watch his children despise and attack one another.And John talks about this in his first epistle.He says, "Everyone who hates his brother is a what?A murderer.And you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."At this point, you may be frustrated thinking, "Wait, so you're saying I can never be angrywith anybody, especially if he or she is a Christian.How is that possible?"To be clear, Jesus isn't saying that anger is always sinful.God gets angry.God hates sin and what it causes.Jesus got angry throughout the Gospels.As a human, it is impossible for you to not feel feelings of betrayal, of annoyance, andfrustration.Jesus isn't condemning anger in general.He is condemning a very specific kind of anger.In this passage, the word for anger in the Greek is orgizō.And this is a fuming, a boiling anger that is nurtured and intensified like a pot of wateron a stove.You keep dialing up the temperature, keep dialing up the intensity until it overflowsand scalds people.This kind of anger twists your heart.It distorts how you view other people.You may even danger about bad things happening to this person.You may want this person to get what's coming, to get what they deserve, to be publicly humiliatedand to feel the same exact pain that you feel.When you hate someone, you are communicating this message to the Lord.Lord, I don't care if that person dies and I want them out of my life for good.Now, you would never say that out loud, but that's what you're feeling in your heart whenyou harbor bitterness.Because that person is dead to you when you never ever want to see him or her ever again.In your book, it's like they've been wiped out of existence.It's like they've fallen off the face of this earth.That kind of anger is a spark that can be snuffed out or fanned into flame.It's challenging to put to death in its infancy, but it's way harder to kill once it's fullygrown and is out of control.And this principle holds true in every other area of life.If you had gone to the dentist, when you first noticed that tooth pain, you could have avoidedthe unpleasant and very expensive root canal.That small leak in your attic would have been much more manageable whenever it was a smalldrip, but now every single time that it rained, it's like a waterfall in your attic.Even care of your yard would have been much easier when you pulled weeds as they poppedup, but after months and months and years of neglect, there are weeds everywhere.In those moments, you noticed a problem, but you did nothing about it.You stuffed it down instead of honestly addressing the issue.Never turn a blind eye to your sin.Only when it comes to unrighteous anger and hatred, when you see that root of bitternesspop up, be relentless and pulling it out and throwing it away instead of giving it roomto breathe and to grow.When that urge to mentally curse someone out in your mind pops up, don't entertain it.Don't go down that ungodly route.Instead, choke out those thoughts with the word of God.If that person is a believer, pray for their sanctification.If that person is not a Christian, pray for their salvation.When a family member or friend fails you, trust me, they will fail you.Don't stew on the offense and tally up all the ways that person has let you down in thepast.Instead, run to the only one who has never and will never let you down.Go to God the Father so that you can choose patience and gentleness instead of pettinessand retaliation.When the desire to believe the worst about someone in this church enters your mind, willinglydecide to believe the best until proven wrong.Run down the stove of your anger before it hurts you and everyone around you.How do you stop hatred from growing in your heart?Second method of extermination by refusing to kill others with destructive words.By refusing to kill others with destructive words.So Jesus moves on from what's in your heart to what comes out of your mouth at the endof verse 22.He says this, "Whoever insults his brother will be liable to the counsel and whoeversays you fool will be liable to the hell of fire."Maybe this seems over the top to you.You may be thinking, "Really Jesus going before the Supreme Court and being thrown into hellfor insulting and slander?"Isn't that a bit severe?Well, maybe you won't think that if you understand what these insults actually mean.That word for insult in the Greek is "rokka" which means empty-headed or worthless.And that word for fool is "moros" from which we get which English word do you think?Moron.That's not just a cute, funny word.The New Testament uses that word to describe those who were outside the kingdom of God.So by labeling someone as "rokka" and "moros" you are saying you are a worthless and stupidwaste of space with nothing of value to offer anyone so you can go straight to hell forall I care.True Christians cannot lose their salvation by using their mouths for evil.But a person whose life is marked by this kind of vile speech should question the genuinenessof his or her faith and status in the family of God.How can you flip people off in traffic throughout the week and then passionately raise your armsand worship on Sunday?How can you unapologetically scream at your wife and your kids and then use that samemouth to pray to a heavenly Father who you were nothing like?How can you day after day at work belittle your colleagues, your coworkers, your employees,and then go to a small group and claim that you are a bold witness for Christ?How can you ruin the reputation of others with slander and then describe your reputationas above reproach in God-honoring?You cannot habitually kill others with your words and claim to love Jesus with your wholeheart.Your words say way more about you than the person you are speaking against.Please do not underestimate the impact and influence of your words.You can use your mouth to point someone to Christ or away from Christ.To smash them into a million pieces or to help put them back together again.You can use your mouth to give someone hope or to take away the little hope that someonehas.Listen to what the apostle Paul has to say about how you should and shouldn't speak inEphesians 4-29.Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but only such is good for building up as fitsthe occasion that it may give grace to those who hear.No corrupting talk.Corrupting brings the mental picture of something that is rotten and moldy.Imagine every single time you use your words in a negative way that this gross odor eaksout of your mouth and grosses out everyone around you.My wife and I were first married.We lived in a garage apartment above the house with a very nice Christian couple and theirson.We have almost no complaints about them.Great family, very kind to us.We had one small complaint.Once or twice a week they would make a meal that smelled horrible.The smell would go from the kitchen into the vents and finally into our apartment.I can't tell you how many candles we lit, how many balls of Febreze we sprayed to tryto fight off this odor.Somehow those defenses make it worse, doesn't it?The smell is kind of mixed together to create a horrible uber smell.It's been 11 years.I swear to you, I can still smell this meal in my house sometimes.I know that's not possible.My wife tells me I'm imagining it, but that smells so offended in my nose that it hauntsme in every season of life.You may be thinking, "Okay, what's the point of this random gross story?"Your corrupting words have the power to linger and haunt people for the rest of their lives.If I passed around a mic this morning and asked everyone to share the most hurtful thingsthat have been said to or about you, there wouldn't be a dry eye in this room.Now I want you to think about some of the most hurtful things you've ever said to orabout someone.Was it worth it?Do you stand by what you said or do you regret it?Just given a do over, would you say it all again or would you keep your mouth shut?Remember your answers to those questions when you were tempted to lash out at others withyour words.Recognize that you can never take your words back no matter how much you wish that you could.How do you stop hatred from growing in your heart?Third method of extermination by seeking after immediate reconciliation.By seeking after immediate reconciliation.So verses 23 through 24, Jesus switches gears to focus on how you should address the angerof others when you are at fault.Let's see what he has to say about next steps.Verse 23, "So if you were offering your gift at the altar and there, remember that yourbrother has something against you.Leave your gift there before the altar and go.First be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift."Jesus places a high premium on resolving relational issues quickly and pursuing after reconciliationas soon as possible.He even puts it above sacrifice, which to Jews in the first century would have beenunthinkable.Being sacrificed is expected and commanded by God, but Jesus says it's more importantto be at peace with others around you.He's saying if you're making your sacrifice, leave it there, leave, go put this issue tobed and then come back to finish your sacrifice.This would be similar to us hearing, "Listen, if you're shopping at giant eagle, leave yourcart at the register and get out of there.If you're pumping gas, jump into your car and speed away and don't worry if the gasnozzle is dragging on the road behind you.If you're worshiping a church on Sunday, stop singing and track that person down.Resolve that unfinished business."Do you have unfinished business right now?Do you need to ask for forgiveness?Maybe you need to step out, make that call, send that text or even speed out of the parkinglot.If that's you, do it right now.Maybe you don't want to.Sadly so many of us demand apologies from others, but we're so bad at apologizing whenwe're wrong.Why is that?Because apologizing requires humility.You have to make yourself small and put yourself at the mercy of someone else.Do we naturally want to do that?None of us do, but it's commanded by our God and it is expected.It's way easier to cut ties and run than it is to admit your faults.That's why there are so many marriages that end in divorce.That's why there are so many friendships that are broken.That's why so many professing Christians leave their current church to go to anotherchurch down the street.Well, time for a fresh start.No one at this new church knows my dirty laundry or my history yet not yet.Give it a few weeks or months and you'll be looking for a new church yet again.It is far more appealing to the flesh to be totally unknown and completely unconfirmedthan it is to be fully known and lovingly confronted.Please stop pretending because Jesus is not fooled.Stop running away from those you've hurt because your problems will just follow you whereveryou end up.Do not be lazy and passive about reconciliation.Just like, yeah, yeah, I'll put that on my to-do list and get to it at some point.No, Jesus is saying, rip up your to-do list because nothing else matters.Do whatever is necessary to attempt to stifle that anger that is between you and the otherperson.How do you stop hatred from growing in your heart?Final method of extermination by remembering what's at stake.By remembering what's at stake.Maybe you're still unmoved by Jesus called a crush hatred and pursue after restoration.You know what God is calling you to do, but you just don't want to do it.You don't have any plans to make any changes or say sorry anytime soon.Well, thankfully, Jesus knows how stubborn you are.And he knows how stubborn I am.So he follows up his command with a very stern warning in verses 25 to 26.He says this, "Come the terms quickly with your accuser while you were going with himto court lest your accuser hands you over to the judge and the judge to the guard andyou be put in prison.Truly I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny."Let me bring this first century illustration into the 21st century.Imagine that you and your neighbor are fighting over a property line dispute.And during one argument, you get so angry that you viciously attack him.You were 100% guilty and there are witnesses to back up your neighbor's testimony.Your neighbor threatens to call the cops, to press charges and sue you if you do not apologize.But in that moment, you don't want to apologize.You want to defend yourself.You want to fight against your neighbor.You don't want him or her to have the satisfaction of beating you.But let's follow that to its logical conclusion.The cops come, you're arrested, you're put on trial and you have to go to prison andstay there until you are let out.And even then, you still have a lot of legal fees and you still have to pay out the lostsuit.Let me ask you, is there any upside to that option, option A?What do we think?No, it's all horrible.But thankfully, there's an option B. Throw yourself at the mercy of your neighbor.Ask for their forgiveness and seek after an agreeable solution.If you do that, your future is no longer filled with orange jumpsuits and public showers.Maybe thinking, well, thanks for the random legal advice, I guess.But what does this have to do with me?Well, here's the point.Hatred is a prison that you willingly lock yourself into.Hatred is a prison that you willingly lock yourself into.If you give yourself over to it, if you refuse to repent, there will be consequences in thislife.You will become very lonely and unpleasant to be around.You'll be known as the cranky guy or lady at church that everyone wants to love butdoesn't know how to.You'll be viewed as the human cactus.Everyone tries to hug you and bring you closer, but you just push them away and hurt themwith jabs.You will be trapped in a loveless marriage.Your children will wither away under your harshness and constant criticism.And you'll wonder one day why they don't visit anymore or call you to check in.Your friends will drop away like flies one by one by one because they're tired of youpicking fights and refusing to apologize.Let me ask you, is that the direction you want your life to take?Is that where you want to end up?And these final two verses, Jesus is focusing on the penalties you will face right now ifyou wrong others and never seek forgiveness.But over this past week, I couldn't help but consider the eternal penalty for unrepentanthatred and a continual refusal to seek after the forgiveness of Christ.Paul is crystal clear in 1 Corinthians 6 10 that revilers slanderers will not inheritthe kingdom of God.As I said earlier, some of you need to do some serious self examination.If you relentlessly feed this anger in your heart and it pours out from your mouth andthrough your actions, you may need to answer this really difficult question.Am I truly saved?Because true Christians choose to love instead of hate.A true follower of Christ wants to repent of sin, not wallow in sin.Someone who has experienced the forgiveness of Christ wants to extend that to others insteadof withhold it.Those who have been changed from the inside out say, "I'm sorry, will you forgive me?"Not "I'm sorry, but" or "I didn't do anything wrong."Because none of us are perfect in any of these areas.But you should be making progress day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year.Are you kinder, more loving, more forgiving now than when you first came to Christ?And if the answer is no, maybe you never truly came to Christ in the first place.If your honest answer to the question of "Am I truly saved?" is no, then your future isfar more terrifying than any earthly jail or prison.You are looking down the barrel of an eternity of being sentenced to a prison that is inescapableonce you are there.In hell, no one is released early or given visitation rights.But I have great news this morning.You don't have to be sentenced to that kind of eternity.There is still time to trust in Christ today.You don't need to carry that hatred or bitterness any longer.Those burdens will sink you both now and forever if you let them.Give those burdens over to Christ who was hated by the crowds that you could be lovedby His Father, who was rejected on the cross that you could be accepted, who bore the angrywrath that you deserve so you could be declared innocent.Jesus Christ has open arms this morning.He is calling you to run to Him.He is ready and willing.Are you ready and willing to run to Him and accept all that He has to offer?Let nothing hold you back from Christ because He will withhold nothing from you once youcome to Him with a sincere faith in genuine repentance.If your honest answer to the question of "Am I saved?" is yes, but you still wrestle withholding on to resentment and burning with anger, I have a few final words of encouragementfor you.You may have dug yourself into a pit of your own making.You keep digging and digging and digging with obsessive thoughts, unkind words, and stubbornness.But please listen to me.You only need to stay in that hole as long as you want to.Nothing and no one is keeping you there besides yourself.If you want to get to a better place, get over yourself and admit your neediness.Admit that you need God's help.Find yourself the truth instead of buying into your own lies.You should hold no grudges because God holds no grudges against you.You have nothing to prove to anyone because Jesus Christ already approves of you.You have no reason to repay evil for evil because the Bible says that vengeance belongsto the Lord.You have no defense for your hatred because you have received the greatest love imaginable.Let's spend some time with the Lord in prayer.Please close your eyes and bow your heads.Use this time to confess your sin to the Lord.To acknowledge how much you need Him to change.Stop putting on a show and be honest with your Father because He already knows whatyou're struggling with.The first step in finding a solution to your problem is admitting that you even have aproblem.Don't worry about what's for lunch.Don't worry about your busy day tomorrow, how your kids are doing in the back.Do business with God.Father, we come before you to confess our sin.Lord, all of us struggle with this in some way at some level, whether we want to admitit or not.And Lord, if there is someone in this room who doesn't know you, Lord, I pray that todaywould be the day of salvation.Today would be the day where they run to you and ask for forgiveness for the very firsttime.For the rest of us, Lord, would help us to recognize that we are already forgiven ofour hatred, that the eternal penalty for our sin has been taken away.But Lord, we are called to love you so much that we must hate our sin.Lord, help us to hate how we sin against you rather than hate others.Where we ask for your power, we ask for your strength to grow, to mature.I pray that we'd walk out of this room as lighter people after giving you the burdenof our hatred and anger.I ask all this in Jesus' name.Amen.

In this series, we'll discover what it means for us to be disciples of Jesus. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gives the Great Commission, which all believers are a part of. This command shouldn't come with a lot of pressure, because discipleship happens one step at a time. As we mature in our relationship with Jesus, we will begin to experience all God has for us because every time we take a next step on our discipleship journey, we, by design, experience more of God!

In a powerful and transformative message, Bishop Mark Brown from Dallas, TX challenges us with a divine truth: it's not your assignment that's broken—it's your alignment. We often wrestle with frustration, fatigue, and confusion, assuming we've missed our calling or that God has gone silent. But the issue isn't always direction—it's positioning. When your heart, mind, and spirit are not aligned with God, even the right assignment will feel heavy and off-course. Alignment determines clarity. When you're aligned with the will of God, your vision sharpens. Your priorities shift. Distractions lose their grip. What once felt burdensome begins to flow with grace, not because the task changed, but because you did. Alignment is about syncing your spirit with God's timing, God's way, and God's voice. That's why Jesus didn't offer us a life free of responsibility—He offered rest. In Matthew 11:28–30, He said:“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Jesus invites us into an aligned yoke—not one of striving, but of surrender. When we walk in step with Him, the weight we carry becomes light, not because it disappears, but because we are no longer carrying it in our own strength. God's alignment brings peace in pressure, clarity in chaos, and power in purpose. When you're aligned, obedience becomes joyful. Decisions become clearer. Grace meets you in every step. And your assignment, no matter how great, becomes possible—because you're not carrying it alone. So, ask yourself:  Where am I out of alignment? What voices have I allowed to override God's voice? Am I forcing movement when God is calling me to stillness and realignment? The calling on your life remains, but only alignment with God will give you the clarity, courage, and rest you need to fulfill it.

Saturday, 3 May 2025   But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.” Matthew 9:34   “And the Pharisees, they said, ‘In the ruler of the demons He ejects demons'” (CG).   In the previous verse, it said that the multitudes marveled over what Jesus had done, noting that nothing like it had ever been seen in Israel. Now, in an obvious jealous response to this, it records, “And the Pharisees, they said, ‘In the ruler of the demons He ejects demons.'”   The people, having seen Jesus' miracles, were overwhelmed with awe at the demonstrations of power and healing they had seen. But in complete contrast to that, the Pharisees, who were considered the spiritual elite, certainly felt that their authority was being challenged by the things Jesus was doing, of which they had no such ability.   Therefore, to diminish Jesus and His works in their eyes, they ascribe His power not to God but to Satan. In Matthew 12, the charge will be made again. Although getting ahead of the narrative as Matthew presents it, at that time, they will use the term Beelzebub to describe this ruler.   It is a reference to Satan, but the name itself is derived from the Hebrew words baal, lord or master, and z'vuv, a fly. As such, it would indicate Lord of the Flies. It is a title that speaks of corruption and malignancy as much as anything else. It speaks of Satan's power over the demons (as in demonic flies).   Further, they use the word en, in, to describe the matter, “in the ruler of the demons.” The sense is that it isn't just that Jesus is using the authority of the ruler of the demons, but that He is in a state of union with him. Because He is supposedly so aligned with Satan, He has the power and authority to eject the demons that work on behalf of Satan.   Life application: The New Testament uses the word en, in, when referring to a positional status, such as, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” 1 Corinthians 15:22. These are the two great distinctions for man. One is either in Adam and fallen or he has moved to Christ and has been redeemed by God.   As such, the positional status is what is being referred to. The change is not something that occurs and can be undone. Rather, it is a permanent move. This is why Jesus says this to the people in John 6 –   “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40   One can see the ridiculous nature of the argument for the loss of salvation. People who teach this view know it is. Therefore, as the evidence mounts against them with verses presented in their proper context, the arguments become more and more outlandish to continue to justify the unjustifiable. Eventually, the argument is, “Well, what if someone changes his mind and wants to go to hell?”   The answer is not that Jesus suddenly takes away their salvation and they are condemned to hell. The answer is that Jesus will raise them up at the last day, and He will deal with their lives at that time. The positional status of a person no longer changes when one comes to Christ. There is nothing in Scripture to even hint at that. Therefore, teaching the doctrine of “loss of salvation” is unbiblical.   Be sure not to get duped by such failing arguments. God's integrity is on the line. He has saved the person who believes. He has sealed that person with His Holy Spirit, the guarantee that the person possesses until the day of redemption. From there, that person will be raised. After that, Jesus will handle the rest. This is what the Bible teaches. Be sure to convey it properly to those who want to argue an alternative, nonsensical position.   Lord God, we know Your word is true. Because of this, we know that those who believe in You will be raised. At that time, You will sort out all of the baggage of our lives, revealing our strengths and forgiving our shortcomings. We stand in awe of You who would save such poor and wayward sinners as us. Thank You, O God, for Jesus who makes this possible. Amen.  

Presented by Lauren Stibgen The last several years of praying with women has opened my eyes to how physical and mental health can impact people at work. A physical disability (seen or unseen) or mental health challenges like anxiety or depression can lead to feelings of being no longer useful or dismissed—disposable. In Matthew, Mark and Luke, we find the story of the bleeding woman. Mark 5:25-34 tells us this woman has suffered from a discharge of blood for 12 years. She has suffered, seen many physicians, spent all she had, and was no better for it. Culturally, this woman would have been unclean. While this is not written, let's pause to think of her. First, she is in physical discomfort. Perhaps she is constantly tired because she is constantly bleeding. Because she was unclean, she was socially isolated and could not work—even if she wanted to. This isolation likely created even more loneliness and despair. The financial burden would have only compounded this. If we were to transport her to today perhaps, she would be unable to work due to this condition. Her mental and financial state likely would be similar. If she needed to work, imagine the stress of managing this bleeding every day. While this woman was disposable to society, she was not disposable to Jesus. Her desperation and faith in knowing that Jesus was healing people led her into the crowds to simply touch the hem of his garment. This woman was instantly healed. Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering (Mark 5:34). Throughout Scripture, we see Jesus healing people who were outcasts. He gladly touched and healed the lepers, the blind, the disabled. It was his mercy and their faith in his healing power that was on display. None of them were disposable to Jesus! Are you invertedly causing some employees to feel disposable? One of the women I am blessed to be in community with has lived with a hidden disability for many years. It can cause her severe physical pain, migraines, and gastrointestinal issues. One look at this executive leader and you would never know how much she endures to get through her days. Recently she has become an advocate for herself and for others at work who cannot participate in physical activities planned during a retreat. Golf, pickleball, and horseback riding are not possible for her. She advocated for an alternative and helped her CEO see how these activities made her feel “dispensed with” while others were having fun. As followers of Jesus Christ, how can we see others as Jesus saw the bleeding woman, the lepers, the blind, and disabled? We are called to love them like Jesus did. To him, they were perfect.

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus tells His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” But what does that mean for us today? Following Jesus' example transforms our hearts and grows our capacity to love others. This Resurrection Sunday, join Laurie Crouch, Sheila Walsh, Kirsten Watson, Jennie Lusko, and Kalley Heiligenthal for a powerful conversation on the transformation that comes when we surrender to Jesus! ---------  If you loved this conversation, we encourage you to listen to our previous conversation: Overcome Imposter Syndrome --------- Do you want more Better Together? We have1000+ conversations available! Start watching now for free on TBN+   --------  Join our community on Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // TikTok    ---------  Better Together is TBN's first daily original program made by women for women! We discuss faith, family, friends, and so much more—no topic is off-limits. Find out what happens when real friends get together for real conversations! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Matthew 28:16–19, Jesus meets His disciples on a mountain. They worship, yet some doubt. He claims all authority and sends them, imperfect as they are.Jesus doesn't wait for perfection — He sends us in our doubt and imperfection. Mission isn't out there, it's where you already are: home, work, school. You don't need to feel ready. Just go.Jesus is with you. And that's enough.Support the show

In Matthew's very Jewish-oriented account we have seen Jesus lauded as the coming King, we have seen the builders reject the cornerstone, and today we will see the Lamb of God who brings a greater Passover and a greater deliverance. Like Abraham's firstborn, the Son of God is offered to God as a sacrifice, but he also the substitute offered so that we might live. A Jewish audience would have heard and understood all the parallels to Psalm 22, and recalled from Isaiah that the wounds of the suffering servant bring healing. Thankfully, his crucifixion is not the end. Jesus rises from the grave, just as he had said.Matthew 26 – 1:06 . Matthew 27 – 13:43 . Matthew 28 – 23:58 . Psalm 70 – 27:24 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21 NLT) I heard a story of a man who was trying to start his own religion, without much success. He went to a wise friend and said, “I’m trying to start my own religion, but no one is joining. What do you think I ought to do?” His friend replied, “Why don’t you go get yourself crucified and rise again on the third day. I am sure you will have a lot of followers.” Jesus’ followers were certainly energized and emboldened after His crucifixion and resurrection. But they had been prepared for their mission long before then. For Jesus’ followers, His public ministry was a three-year training course. During their time together, Jesus gave them—and all who follow Him—a method for ministering to others. In Matthew 5 alone, He 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!” (verses 11–12 NLT). “If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also” (verse 39 NLT). “If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too” (verse 40 NLT). “If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles” (verse 41 NLT). “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” (verse 44 NLT). In other words, march to the beat of a different drummer. Boldly set yourself apart from the world, no matter what the cost. Let people see the difference the Lord has made in your life. Jesus gave His followers a mission for ministering to others. Before He ascended to Heaven, He gave His followers marching orders: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20 NLT). The news of Jesus’ life, teachings, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection—of the salvation and eternal life He made possible—is too good to keep to ourselves. He wants us to share it with others in ways that resonate with them. That’s our challenge—and our privilege. Jesus gave His followers a model for ministering to others. He asks nothing of us that He didn’t do Himself. The apostle Peter emphasized the importance of following Jesus’ example in the passage above. The apostle Paul wrote, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2:5–8 NLT). Humility is the key. One of the last things Jesus did before He was arrested was wash His disciples’ feet. In the culture of the first century AD, this was a job reserved for the lowliest of servants. Jesus wanted His followers to know that when it comes to God’s work, we are servants. Pride and arrogance are obstacles that keep us from fulfilling His plan for us. Jesus’ disciples learned these lessons well, although it doesn’t always appear that way in Scripture. Following Jesus’ example, they took His Good News to the ends of the earth. We may not cover nearly as much distance as they did, but we, too, are equipped to share the Good News of Jesus with others. Jesus set the example for lovingly ministering to the people around us. He showed us what servanthood looks like. Reflection question: What method for ministering to others will you focus on this week? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Sam 25-26; Ps 63; Matt Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, host Hunter invites us on day 113 of our yearlong journey through the Bible. Together, we'll explore the dramatic story of David, Nabal, and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25-26, reflect on David's heartfelt prayer in Psalm 63, and witness powerful moments of healing, compassion, and forgiveness in Matthew chapter 9. As we read, Hunter encourages us to open our hearts to God's mercy, reminding us that Jesus responds to both our physical and spiritual needs—not with demands for sacrifice, but with an invitation to show mercy and receive his love. Stay tuned as we pray together, find strength for the day ahead, and remember that love showed up for you—because you are loved, no doubt about it. TODAY'S DEVOTION: There are needs everywhere. Jesus acknowledges these physical needs without excluding our spiritual needs, the needs of our soul and heart. He sees our need for forgiveness, healing from shame, and regrets. There, he has compassion. There, he reaches out. There, he heals, and there, he forgives. He says to the paralytic, "Be encouraged, my child. Your sins are forgiven." The same is true in our lives. He sees our physical needs, and he sees and responds to our spiritual need—our need for forgiveness, our need for wholeness and healing. He has come to show mercy. In Matthew 9:13, he says, "Now go and learn the meaning of this scripture: I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices. For I have come not to call those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners." He wants us to think about it, to consider the meaning of this scripture. Because so often, our thoughts automatically turn toward what we must do to earn favor with God. We ask ourselves, What must I sacrifice? How might I perform in order to be made right with him? But when our thinking goes there, we miss the point. Jesus tells us to think again— to go and learn the meaning of the scripture: "I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices." Your demonstration of mercy, your heart for others, is evidence that you understand the heart of God— that he has come to sacrifice himself on our behalf, to heal us. He's not looking for our religious sacrifices; he did what we could not. He brought healing, forgiveness, and hope. He came for the unrighteous, not for those who think they are righteous by the things that they do. God wants me to raise my eyes and see what he sees: the blind, the sick, the bleeding— all people needing his compassion and his life. When we see the way God sees, when we look with his eyes in his spirit, the same response wells up within our own hearts. We have compassion, and we go out and work in the fields alongside him. We participate with him. We are empowered by him. That is what God is up to here. He wants us to see what he sees, and he invites us to join him in the fields, working alongside him with his power, his strength, his joy. And that's a prayer that I have for my own soul. That's a prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's a 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