Podcasts about in paul

Thia was puzzled. Why was his eighteen-year-old son spending so much time in the library these days? His son, who was autistic and rarely spoke to anyone, would usually return straight home after class. What changed? When pressed, his son finally replied: “Studying with Navin.” Navin, it turned out, was a classmate who noticed that Thia’s son was struggling in class and invited him to study together. This budding friendship—the first in eighteen years—greatly encouraged the disheartened father who’d given up hope of his son ever having a friend. Hope was renewed because one person cared enough to come alongside another who needed help. In Paul’s ministry to the early church, he knew this also applied to our hope of salvation. For believers in Jesus to “be awake and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6), living in the hope of His return, they had to help one another (v. 11), especially those who were struggling. That’s why, even though the Thessalonian believers loved one another (4:10) and led lives that pleased God (v. 1), Paul reminded them to “encourage the disheartened, help the weak” (5:14). When we notice believers in Christ who are fearful, anxious, or despondent, and we come alongside them—whether to listen, offer a kind word, or sit quietly together—God can use us to give them the strength and courage to hold on to their hope in Jesus.

Colossians: The People of God in the Age of Empire – Culture-Making (Colossians 3:18–4:1) - Rev. Donnell T. Wyche - a2vc.org. Like us on fb.com/vineyardannarboror watch our livestream Sundays @ 10:45am - vimeo.com/annarborvineyard  Summary: In this sermon, Pastor Donnell Wyche examines one of the most difficult sections of Paul's letter to the Colossians, where household codes outline relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and slaves and masters. Far from affirming hierarchical or oppressive structures, Pastor Donnell argues that Paul is subverting the dominant culture of the Greco-Roman world. By addressing the powerless—wives, children, and enslaved persons—directly, Paul grants them dignity and moral agency. Paul's command that husbands love their wives and that fathers avoid embittering their children is revolutionary in a culture where power was rarely checked by compassion. In Paul's view, culture-making begins at home, and households become outposts of the Kingdom when marked by mutuality and cruciform love.   Pastor Donnell devotes significant attention to Paul's instruction to enslaved persons, acknowledging that these verses have been weaponized throughout church history to justify horrific systems of oppression. Pastor Donnell makes it unequivocally clear: God has always been anti-slavery. From Genesis to Revelation, God's vision is one of abundance, liberation, and human flourishing. Slavery always is anti-human (Genesis 1:26–28), anti-God (Isaiah 58), and anti-Gospel (Luke 4). While Paul does not outright condemn the institution of slavery—which scholars note was foundational to the Greco-Roman economy—Paul plants subversive seeds by calling for equality between slaves and masters, as he later does more explicitly in Philemon. Pastor Donnell laments Paul's limited prophetic imagination but sees Paul's writings as part of a kingdom trajectory that invites us to go further in working for liberation and justice in our own context.   Finally, Pastor Donnell challenges listeners to resist empire not just in theory, but in practice—beginning at home. The family is often where empire's patterns of control, fear, and domination take root. But in the Kingdom of God, the home is to be a place of tenderness, security, and love. We resist empire by embodying cruciform love in our relationships—with our spouses, our children, our coworkers, and our neighbors. Through daily acts of compassion and humility, we bear witness to a different way of being—one shaped not by power but by the cross, not by empire but by resurrection.

Many parts of the world indulge in what is called ‘the blame game.' Very few admit anything is their fault – and lawyers become very wealthy! There is less and less genuine honesty in our world: men and women may deceive one another – but God is never deceived!In Paul's 1st letter to the Thessalonians he is exceedingly anxious for news of them. He worries as to whether they are standing firm in the faith. His letter to them, we read today, shows he is relieved “that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love …” [3 v.6], adding, “we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.” [v.7,8]What causes us to “live”? Is it the same as what causes Paul? He is keen to visit them and see them “face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?” [v.10] Is anything lacking in our faith? Those striving to be true believers today have greater and greater challenges that threaten to undermine their faith.We particularly noted Paul's next words, ”may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness” [v.12,13] That word “establish” indicates a strengthening so your heart, your outlook on life becomes ‘fixed' How fixed is your mind?It is very interesting that it is the same Greek word as Jesus used in warning Peter of the ordeal he would face in and after the Garden of Gethsemane. He told Peter, “but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” [Luke 22 v,32] We all need to strengthen our hearts so that they are established and become “blameless.” The Greek word here is first used in Luke 1 v.6 about the parents of John the Baptist that they were “walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord”Our reading, meditation and prayers on God's word are the source of the ‘glue' to fix our minds – that will “establish” our “hearts blameless” – so that when “the Lord himself (will) descend from heaven with a cry of command with the voice of an archangel… then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up … to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” [4 v.16,17] And where will the Lord be? He will establish a world-wide kingdom as we read on Monday in Isaiah ch, 2 v.2-5.Paul ends his letter with another pressing appeal and prayer, “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord … He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” [5 v.23,24] He will surely do it, – so let us “establish” our “hearts.”

Describe a city adventure, tell a story & two-way prepositions: zwischen. In Paul's latest blog article, he had an adventure with a subway ticket inspector on his way back from Grandpa's apartment. At home, he realized that the page he found fits the book. It is the lost page with the missing part of the old address! That's the place where Grandpa's friend and the painting used to be! The page probably fell out again at some point after Grandpa glued it in. In the blog comments, Paul's readers say they want to buy his story as a book, but he's not interested in writing one. He gets a message from Laura: She doesn't like Fritz at all, and Paul should know that. He aks, if that's so, why does she take Fritz's side? And then he thinks about the painting again: He has the old address of the hiding place now. But how can he find the new address? Grandpa said Paul's father had helped him with his smartphone despite being banned from using one. So Dad probably knows which app Grandpa wanted to use to find out the new address - but will he admit that? Perhaps not, given that Paul isn't even supposed to know that he helped him. But he thinks he should at least try and dials his number. Will Paul's dad help him and thus admit having used a smartphone despite being banned from using one? Why does Laura take Fritz's side even though she doesn't like him at all? Transcript, lesson and extras: german-stories.com/87-die-seite-die-fehlt-two-way-prepositions-zwischen Learn German online with us! We have easy German speaking, reading, listening, and writing exercises for you - and also more difficult ones. And a lesson plan with progress tracker. It's all right here at german-stories.com

Jesus is the gate. Once you walk into a relationship with Jesus the gate, there's a transition that takes place. You go from one place to another - you walk across the threshold. This is like the story of when Saul turned into Paul. In Paul's words, "If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come!" Walking into a relationship with Jesus the gate - there's new life ahead - a life that is abundant. This is where we can talk about what abundance means - it comes from living the Jesus way - love God, love people. We experience that through this community of Jesus people. It is a life that is full - abundant, as we give ourselves away to one another and together to the world. Speaker: Aaron Vis Scripture: John 10:1-10 http://bible.com/events/49434224

In Paul's appeal to the Colossian church, he reiterates the creative and sovereign power of Jesus in a what seems to be a known song or prayer. For Paul, everything is about Jesus. It is Christ who is the agent in creation, it is Christ who reigns over all things, and it Christ who redeems and reconciles creation back to God. In Christ, our relationship with God can be restored. That is what gives us hope. That is what gives us meaning and purpose. That is what gives us life. That is true power. The invitation for everyone is to make Jesus King. Make Jesus King over all things. If you need prayer, we're here for you. Reach out at ⁠www.gatewaybaptist.com.au/prayer________________________Gateway Baptist Church meets across six locations in South-East Queensland and online.For over 90 years, we've been committed to guiding people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus.Learn more about us at ⁠https://gatewaybaptist.com.au⁠ or join us on Sundays at ⁠gtwy.au/live

Shakespeare wrote that “parting is such sweet sorrow.” In Paul's final farewell to the Ephesians, we witness this sentiment in action. Explore Paul's departing speech, and learn what weighed foremost on his heart. Listen to Truth For Life with Alistair Begg. ----------------------------------------- • Click here and look for "FROM THE SERMON" to stream or read the full message. • This program is part of the series ‘For the Sake of the Gospel, Volume 1' • Learn more about our current resource, request your copy with a donation of any amount. Helpful Resources - Learn about God's salvation plan - Read our most recent articles - Subscribe to our daily devotional Follow Us YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter This listener-funded program features the clear, relevant Bible teaching of Alistair Begg. Today's program and nearly 3,000 messages can be streamed and shared for free at tfl.org thanks to the generous giving from monthly donors called Truthpartners. Learn more about this Gospel-sharing team or become one today. Thanks for listening to Truth For Life!

Shakespeare wrote that parting is such sweet sorrow. In Paul's final farewell to the Ephesians, we witness this sentiment in action. Explore Paul's departing speech, and learn what weighed foremost on his heart. Listen to Truth For Life with Alistair Begg. Acts 20:2538 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/163/29

Shakespeare wrote that parting is such sweet sorrow. In Paul's final farewell to the Ephesians, we witness this sentiment in action. Explore Paul's departing speech, and learn what weighed foremost on his heart. Listen to Truth For Life with Alistair Begg. Acts 20:2538 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/163/29

2 Cor. 5:17-18: In Paul's powerful declaration we discover that anyone who is in Christ has become the guarantee of something new.

In the trades, it's not the perks that define culture—it's how your people show up when things get hard. On job sites, in tight deadlines, across five generations—real culture is built through clarity, trust, and showing up every day. And that doesn't happen by accident. Too often, trade businesses measure success in activity: 500 calls made, back-to-back shifts worked, 100 tasks checked off. But when output becomes the goal, people burn out, trust breaks down, and culture becomes just another line in the handbook. In this episode of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin talks with Paul McCarthy, business development leader at Hero Facility Services, about how to build a strong culture that actually supports your people, especially in field-based, fast-moving environments. Real culture gets built one deposit of trust at a time. Paul shares insights from decades of experience across operations, hospitality, and business development—plus a clear-eyed philosophy on what he calls the “psychology of the heart.” They dig into how to know whether someone is truly aligned with the team, what to do when your gut says no but the resume says yes, and how to structure tough conversations that build—not break—relationships. This is an episode about seeing your people, naming your values, and leading with presence. In Paul's words, it's not just about the sale—it's about changing one person's life every day. If you're serious about growing your business and keeping good people, you'll want to hear this.

In Paul's letter to the churches of Galatia, he used an incident which occurred in Antioch involving Peter to make a strong point for justification by faith, and not by works of the law - "Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed" (Galatians 2:11). The incident serves us by helping us understand the nature of the problems Paul was addressing, as well as the ways we should interact with one another as brethren.

by MaryAnn Diorio, PhDApril 16, 2025Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, Novelist and Story Coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Wednesday, April 16, 2025, and this is episode #3 in Series 2025. This episode is titled, "Can History Prove the Resurrection?"To my knowledge, nothing has caused more controversy throughout human history than the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Satan has made every attempt to discredit this historical fact and continues to do so today. In this podcast, I would like to share seven historical facts that support and prove the Resurrection:1) All four Gospels recount the events of Christ's death and resurrection. The Gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—all followers of Christ. Three of them—Matthew, Mark, and John—were eyewitnesses to these major historic events and testify to them. The fourth, Luke, learned about the resurrection from earlier eyewitnesses of the events.2) Many of the eyewitnesses to Christ's death and resurrection gave their lives rather than denounce what they had seen with their own eyes. They died for more than just a cause they believed in. They died for the very facts they saw with their own eyes. They refused to deny the facts, although doing so would have likely spared them from death. But they chose to side with the truth of what they had seen, not to lie in order to save their own skin.3) History shows that Christ's grave was in fact empty. The stone had been rolled away. His body was never found. Although Roman soldiers guarded his tomb, he still disappeared from it. Here is how the Holy Scriptures describe the event in Matthew chapter 28:"And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men."So the guards themselves saw this angel who made them tremble. They knew that something supernatural had happened. Yet, they allowed themselves to be bribed for fear of their own death. You see, in those days, if a Roman soldier failed in his assignment to guard a prisoner and the prisoner escaped, the soldier himself was killed. In Matthew 28: 11-15 ESV, we read what really happened after the guards saw the angel and discovered that Jesus was missing:"While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day."Did you catch that last sentence? "And they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day." Rather than tell the truth about what they saw, the guards accepted the bribe to save their lives and told the Jews that Christ's body had been stolen. And TO THIS DAY, the lie continues to be spread! 4) After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to numerous people. About 500 in fact! He talked with them, ate with them, touched them. In Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, he writes this:"I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.

Paul Blustein is a former Washington Post and Wall Street Journal journalist who has authored several acclaimed books on global economic institutions. In Paul's first appearance on the show, he discusses the historical rise of the dollar, it's present-day power, how it compares to other global currencies, current challenges to its power, the rise of crypto, and much more. Check out the transcript for this week's episode, now with links. Recorded on March 26th, 2025 Subscribe to David's Substack: Macroeconomic Policy Nexus Follow David Beckworth on X: @DavidBeckworth Follow Paul Blustein on X: @PaulBlustein Follow the show on X: @Macro_Musings Check out our new AI chatbot: the Macro Musebot! Join the new Macro Musings Discord server! Join the Macro Musings mailing list! Check out our Macro Musings merch! Subscribe to David's new BTS YouTube Channel  Timestamps: (00:00:00) – Intro (00:00:52) – Paul's Books (00:05:08) – Motivations for King Dollar (00:09:02) – History of the Dollar (00:12:57) – Nixon Shock of 1971 (00:23:36) – Paul Volcker (00:33:14) – Dollar Dominance and Statecraft (00:40:46) – What About the Euro? (00:44:42) – Cryptocurrency as a Rival to the Dollar (00:47:54) – Drawbacks of Dollar Dominance (00:57:03) – Outro  

In Paul's absence, Producer Tom joins Lee to talk about their five-a-side football match on the German-Swiss border and their Alpine groundhopping challenge to watch live games in three countries in the space of seven hours – using only public transport! Join Lee and Tom to find out how they almost lost a football in international waters, why they might face repercussions from the ‘Groundhop Police', whether they were mugged by young children in a micro-state and what happened when they dared to ask a sausage seller for a plate. That is followed by a round-up of the best headlines from the first international window of the year. New Caledonia, Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Sudan and Venezuela are all chasing their World Cup debuts – but who stands the best chance of making it and could a Trump travel ban stop them entering the USA? Do Australia regret joining AFC now that OFC gets an automatic World Cup qualifying berth? And what is with South American nations calling up players to make their international debuts before appearing professionally at club level? Join us on Patreon for:- Bonus episodes, including an interview with James Montague about his time spent with ultra groups around the world- Blog posts about football in the likes of Africa, the Faroe Islands, Japan and Mongolia- Access to our Discord chat community containing hundreds of Sweeper listeners- Weekly newsletters with a FIFA+ match recommendation of the week- And much more besides!The Blizzard: Get 10% off subscriptions to The Blizzard by entering the code 'sweeper10' at checkout. Editor: Ralph Foster Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Paul's second letter to Timothy, he likens Christians to vessels, “…set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” Before that, however, he warns us to cleanse ourselves from “dishonorable use.” Essentially, our purification allows us to serve God's Kingdom well—but what happens when our church leaders don't? How does God respond when the people we look up to fall into sin? Listen in as we explore the tragic story of Eli's sons, and how they set a poor example for God's people.

In Paul's letter to the Philippian church, he challenged the believers to have the same attitude that Jesus had. When individuals in a church follow Jesus' example of humility, the body experiences unity and we all work together to glorify God.

Pastor Stephen brings the message “Talking Like Christians” from 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5. In Paul's letters, we often find him encouraging believers with simple truths, praying for them, and asking for prayer. In short, Paul writes like a Christian talking to Christians. But for us, it can often feel awkward or hard to talk casually about faith, grace, or what God's doing in our lives with our Christian friends. Our passage for Sunday will model what uplifting, casual, Christian conversation can look like in our relationships with other believers.  

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Joshua 3-6; 1 Cor 4 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, dear friends! I'm so glad to have you join me on day 78 of our journey through the scriptures. Today, we're diving into the vibrant stories found in the book of Joshua, chapters 3 to 6, and ending with rich reflections from First Corinthians chapter 4. In our reading, we witness the Israelites led by Joshua, crossing into the Promised Land and experiencing incredible acts of God, like the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River and the fall of Jericho. As we explore First Corinthians, we reflect on Paul's insights about the kingdom of God and the humility and love that define it. Through prayer and scripture, we'll delve into the profound message that it's not about pretentious power but about the selfless love embodied by Christ. So, get ready to be inspired and encouraged in your faith journey today. Let's embark on this spiritual adventure together! TODAY'S DEVOTION: The kingdom of God is marked not by the grandeur and power of earthly empires but by the humble, self-giving love of Christ. In Paul's writing to the Corinthians, he emphasizes that God's kingdom is not about pretentious speech or human power. Instead, it is expressed through God's self-giving, radically forgiving, co suffering love. This is so contrary to the way we often view power and success, yet it's precisely where the true strength of the kingdom lies. Think for a moment about Jesus, the King of this kingdom, who comes riding on a donkey's colt, crowned with thorns, appearing defeated on the cross. But it is in this very act of humility and sacrifice that Christ conquers death and reconciles us to God. There is no pretense, no arrogance—only love, pure and sacrificial. As we follow Jesus, let's allow the Lamb of God to lead us deeper into this kingdom life. Let's rid ourselves of all pretense and ambition to build our own empires. Instead, embrace the self giving love that defines God's kingdom. It's a love that is radically forgiving and always willing to suffer alongside others. This kingdom life calls us away from the lures of earthly power and invites us into a life characterized by forgiveness, humility, and love. It's a transformation that affects our soul deeply, extending out to our families and communities. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's a prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, and my daughters, and my son. And that's a prayer that I have for you. May it be so. 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  

Pastor Bryan shares the second half of a lesson from Ephesians 3. As followers of Christ, we may face persecution. In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he reveals the motivation to follow Christ, even when life is difficult. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1286/29

In a world marked by division, the call for unity is more urgent than ever. The gospel of reconciliation reveals a profound truth. In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, Christ's sacrifice breaks down walls of hostility, bringing connection to God and to one another. In a divided world, unity reflects faith and embodies Christ's transformative love.

How essential it is that we are renewed day by day. Just as our body needs physical food – so does our mind. This is one of the points in Paul's 2nd letter to the Corinthians. His life is under a lot of stress, far more than others. He says, “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair, persecuted but not forsaken …” [4 v.8,9] Believers in some countries today are finding a lot of this applies to them.These stresses are certain to become more widespread in our world – although probably of a different order. It will be our personal heart felt conviction of faith and belief that will enable us to endure – as it did with Paul. He was inspired by those who had gone before, such as the stirring convictions expressed in the Psalms we are currently reading. “Since we have the same spirit of faith”, writes Paul, “according to what has been written, ‘ I believed and so I spoke' we also believe, and so we also speak …”[v.13,14] Let us make sure we say the same! How positive Paul is! Let us also be positive. He states, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.” [v.16]The foundation of our daily renewal is our meditative reading of God's word – leading to prayer. In Paul's day, as in ours, not all were ‘honest' with what they read, they were not sufficiently conscious of the all seeing eye of God. In v. 2 we see how Paul makes the point, “ … we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God”It is regular reading which brings God's word into a balanced focus for our understanding, any uncertainties as to its meaning steadily disappear. God has revealed all things which it is needful for us to know in our mortal lives. We would long to know more detail of what lies ahead, but our chapter ends with soul stirring words, “… we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” Make sure you are “renewed” today. .

In Paul's final stretches of ministry free from imprisonment and impending martyrdom, we find him taking long voyages and long stretches of time to speak with and encourage the believers. The ways in which Paul sets his priorities in these final days reminds and challenges us to proactively set our priorities so that distractions and disorientation cannot disrupt the greater plans of God in us and through us.

Inside our theme of love this month, this week we have been talking about intimacy and how important it is to experience this dynamic with God, in relationships, and inside a community. Today, we will look at a different type of intimacy, in fact, the deepest intimacy possible.In Paul's teaching to the church at Corinth, he tied an Old Testament reality to the new reality Jesus provided. The temple was once a physical structure where only designated priests could enter. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, along with the presence of the Holy Spirit, allows His to be brought into our own hearts through faith in Christ.Listen to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 …Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20 NLT)Do you see it? As followers of Christ, we literally become His temple. This brings an incredible new type of intimacy and closeness … God with us and God in us. We, of course, do not become God, but He now lives inside our lives.Let's read this passage again in The Message Bible.Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.As I have asked you a number of times on other days in Sound Mind Set, was there any line or phrase that stood you to you? What was it? … Why do you think it stood out to you? What might God be saying by highlighting that for you?For the believer, the crucial focus here is that our bodies no longer belong to us. The temple of God is no longer a building or a place only priests can visit. Christ's death and resurrection, along with the introduction of the Holy Spirit, makes us His temple. Shouldn't that bring an entirely new focus and meaning to our lives? What we choose to do and not do with His temple? Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, seeing myself as Your temple is a tough concept to grasp. But I didn't say that about me, You did. So help me to believe it, accept it as truth, and live it out. I need to simply believe what You tell me, about me. As above, so below.”

In Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians we have come to where he refers to the memorial emblems, he stresses that their participation in these should be in a way that illustrates their unity. Paul has made several points very strongly in earlier chapters addressing issues that were seriously undermining their unity in Christ: their lack of harmony worried him very much.Their coming together to remember that Christ died for them needed to take place in an atmosphere of genuine unity – but it wasn't. To start with some were influenced by the surrounding spirit of idol-worshipping, but “…. beloved flee from idolatry” [10 v.14] wrote Paul..He appeals to them, “I speak to sensible people, judge for yourselves what I say.”[v.5] Do we ourselves make sensible judgements? The situation for us is not completely different. Paul says, “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not the participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body …” [v.15-7]The verses which follow indicate some had a problem leaving behind the pagan practices they had previously enjoyed, Paul says to them, “You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy?” [v.21,22] In ch. 5 he made the point, “Christ is our Passover … let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven … of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” [7,8]In Ch. 11 we will read that “anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself” [v.29] He does not mean – discerning his own body – but the body of Christ and their responsibility to his or her fellow believers. Paul told the Philippians he wanted to “hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit and one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” [1 v.27]This precious oneness is demonstrated each time we meet for fellowship. There have been the rare occasions when a member of another church has been present who has taken offence at not being offered the emblems! But this is an opportunity to lovingly point out that when the church was first established on the Day of Pentecost, those baptised “devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching and fellowship and the breaking of bread …” [Acts 2 v.42] What is the Apostles teaching? Do they (do we) properly “discern the Lord's body” when we participate? If we are of one mind as to that teaching and are baptised – our participation in the body of Christ will a great spiritual joy.. Let us make sure we ourselves are fully devoted to this teaching and the way of life it leads to..

In Paul's New Creation: Vision for a New World and Community (Lexington Book, 2023), Sejong Chun presents inter(con)textual readings of Paul's new creation passages from the perspective of the Korean immigrant church in America. Chun focuses on Paul's new creation's cosmic dimension and ecclesiastical character and proposes the ekklēsia as a tangible embodiment. The author suggests that Paul, as a middleman, accomplishes the collective project of the Jerusalem collection with his Gentile churches to declare independence from the Jerusalem church authority and to demonstrate God's alternative economy against the exploitative system of the Roman Empire. Sejong Chun completed his PhD at Vanderbilt University. He currently serves as a visiting professor of the New Testament at Yonsei University as well as founder and senior pastor of New Creation Church in Daegu, South Korea. Jonathon Lookadoo is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. While his interests range widely over the world of early Christianity, he is the author of books on the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas, including The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In Paul's New Creation: Vision for a New World and Community (Lexington Book, 2023), Sejong Chun presents inter(con)textual readings of Paul's new creation passages from the perspective of the Korean immigrant church in America. Chun focuses on Paul's new creation's cosmic dimension and ecclesiastical character and proposes the ekklēsia as a tangible embodiment. The author suggests that Paul, as a middleman, accomplishes the collective project of the Jerusalem collection with his Gentile churches to declare independence from the Jerusalem church authority and to demonstrate God's alternative economy against the exploitative system of the Roman Empire. Sejong Chun completed his PhD at Vanderbilt University. He currently serves as a visiting professor of the New Testament at Yonsei University as well as founder and senior pastor of New Creation Church in Daegu, South Korea. Jonathon Lookadoo is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. While his interests range widely over the world of early Christianity, he is the author of books on the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas, including The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you like when your skills, knowledge, or abilities are being tested? Whether we like it or not, testing can be beneficial to gauge whether we really are as good at something or have as much understanding about something as we thought. When it comes to our faith, the apostle Paul encourages us to regularly “test and examine our faith.” In Paul's final words to the Corinthian church, we are going to discover what having a genuine faith is, and why it is so important for the life of every follower of Jesus. The heartbeat of Church on the Rock is to help people discover how they can LOVE God and LOVE one another, LIVE with passion, purpose and freedom, and LEAD others to this same experience in Jesus. We simply say, “helping others Love, Live, and Lead in Jesus". Let's Connect here: https://churchak.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/84/responses/new Learn more about us at https://churchak.org If you enjoyed our teaching and would like to donate to our ministries go here: https://pushpay.com/g/churchak?src=hpp

“… everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:12-17)This is Paul writing to his younger friend and fellow minister of the Gospel, Timothy. A few verses later he adds, “Preach the word!” In other words … You have learned the truth, Timothy. You are convinced of it. You have known the Holy Scriptures since you were young. They led you to salvation, they birthed faith in your heart, they drew you to Jesus. The Scriptures come from the very mouth of God, they are literally God-breathed and are powerful for teaching, refuting error, training, forming righteousness in you and in every hungry soul. They are more than enough to prepare you for service. The Scriptures will equip you. No! More than that, you will be thoroughly equipped for every good work. The Scriptures are God's Word. Preach the Word, Timothy! Memorise it, soak it up, then speak it out. Give it away! Be generous with God's Word. The are many ways to preach God's Word and you don't need to be a trained professional to do it. The Greek word translated as “preach” simply means to “to proclaim, to tell”, but with an urgency wanting others to accept the message. Proclaiming the Gospel is not the same as suggesting a good idea, rather it challenges the mind, convicts the heart and demands a response.And it doesn't need a platform or a gifted orator to do its work. God's Word can unleash its power one friend to another. It can enter the heart of a stranger on the train, and it can slowly grow and create brand new baby-like faith in that relative you have been praying for since you don't know when. Because the Scriptures are God-breathed, they don't depend on our skills or lack of them to accomplish their purpose. They simply journey and bear their fruit on the back of faith and obedience. Preach the Word, child of God. First read it, soak it up. Make it part of you; allow it into you, invite it to be part of you. To form you, shape you, equip you. Then give it away. Share His Word like it's the cure for every disease known to man. Proclaim it with conviction. Urgency. Preach it. In Paul's letter to Timothy, he goes on to warn that, “the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Tim 4:3-4).The opportunities to share God's Word with this or that person may not always be there. So let's take them as God provides them before they disappear. Preach the Word!

In this episode, Paul Tripi shares his journey from starting in the advertising industry to eventually joining Beck Flavors, highlighting the challenges and successes in growing the family-owned business. Deb and Paul discuss the strong working relationship between Paul and his brother-in-law Matt Carr, their shared leadership dynamics, and how their different strengths complement each other. Paul emphasizes the importance of a customer-centric approach and nurturing a positive company culture. He also shares success stories of bringing client ideas to life and the rewarding experience of seeing their products on store shelves. The episode underscores the significance of family, both in personal life and in business, and how this philosophy drives Beck Flavors' operations and growth. Episode Highlights: 05:23 Joining Beck Flavors and Family Dynamics 08:44 Building a Strong Company Culture 17:20 Customer Success Stories and Impact 21:53 Overcoming Business Challenges Paul Tripi, Vice President and Co-Owner of Beck Flavors. Paul, a University of Missouri graduate, started his professional career in advertising and promotions before starting a title insurance company in the early 2000’s. After the real estate market bubble popped he moved onto sales and sales management for a tech company specializing in IT and multi-function equipment before joining Beck Flavors as a Business Development Manager and eventually Vice President and Co Owner in 2021. Paul’s passion in business is connecting with customers, solving problems and partnering with clients to grow together and sharing success. In Paul’s free time, he likes spending time with his wife and 2 children, and spending "Zen Time” on a fishing boat or hiking a trail. Connect with Paul: Company Website: www.beckflavors.com For more insights: Book a call: https://bit.ly/4cToGDs Follow me on my YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/47GgMdn Sign up for my Weekly Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3T09kVcSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Paul, Women & Wives, Dr. Craig S. Keener presents a substantive, Scripture-based defense for egalitarian theology, principles and practices. Join me as we explore the writings of Paul in a way that liberates women, not subjugates them. We're finally starting with the crux of the book: exegeting Paul's letters and diving into Scripture. Keener has divided his book into two parts. Part 1 is about the Roles of Women in the Church (Chapters 1-3). Part 2 is about Women's Role in the Family (Chapters 4-6). Chapter 1: Head Coverings in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 Keener presents several potential interpretations of the passage that are quite provocative, frankly. However, my takeaway was pretty simple: Paul's argument about head coverings isn't about “IF” women can pray or prophecy in the church (prophecy likely isn't too different from preaching in the modern context), but “HOW” they should do so. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Soul Care in the Digital Age 00:52 Exploring Gender Roles in the Church 09:22 Head Coverings and Cultural Context 18:49 Modesty, Class, and Community Dynamics 35:37 Understanding Paul's Perspective on Women

In Paul, Women & Wives, Dr. Craig S. Keener presents a substantive, Scripture-based defense for egalitarian theology, principles and practices. Join me as we explore the writings of Paul in a way that liberates women, not subjugates them. Check this out on Substack! Introduction “All biblical passages may be for all time, but all biblical passages are not for all circumstances.” - pg 59 This quote is tattoo-worthy. If you engage with the Christian Scripture for any of length of time, with any seriousness, this phrase should be a mantra you should repeat. This is especially true for pastors, elders, group leaders or anyone else who may be preaching and teaching the Jewish or Christian Scriptures. And it's extremely pertinent to our discussion. The most common accusation levied at egalitarians is that we have a “low view of Scripture” or are throwing out whole chunks of God's Word to arrive at our conclusion that women can serve in the church in the same capacities as men and aren't the only party called to submit in the home. For some, that is true. Part of their faith journey (especially those that are deconstructing or recovering from painful church experiences) is how they relate to the Bible. Especially if it was wielded like a weapon in their communities to harm them or control them. Sometimes, that experience leads folks to view Scripture with skepticism or completely disregard its authority in their life and belief system, while still clinging to faith in Jesus. I have nothing but grace and compassion for my brothers and sisters who feel that way. However, that's not my experience. In fact, it is in my authoritative view of Scripture that led to my egalitarian theology. And understanding this quote is big reason why, as Keener will lay out in further chapters. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Soul Care and Formation 00:29 Egalitarian Theology and Gender Roles 02:49 Understanding Hermeneutics and Biblical Interpretation 04:54 The Role of Paul in Gender Discussions 08:11 Questioning Women's Calling in Ministry 14:06 Cultural Context and Biblical Interpretation 19:03 The Complexity of Biblical Terms 27:14 Scripture's Misuse and the Call for Equality 29:47 God's Design for Gender Equality 34:00 Looking Ahead: Next Steps in the Discussion

Are you gifted? Yes, absolutely! The Holy Spirit has given an amazing, and abundant, array of gifts to His Church - to you, me and to all Christians. In Paul's day, the Christians at Corinth found themselves debating which gift was the most important. God's Word answers that question but perhaps not in the way that you imagine. In fact, it's this important answer which leads us to use the gift we've been given humbly, thankfully, and in keeping with the exciting purpose for which He gave it.

If you are genuinely going to pursue the Lord and experience a closeness with Him, it is imperative that you do it by being in the Word of God. In addition to fasting and praying, we must focus on God's Word. In Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, we see how God's Word came to them, worked in them, and worked through them. Upon salvation, we have to continue to examine God's Word, continue to be in God's Word, and continue to read God's Word. Salvation is the starting line of where to become a mature disciple begins. We can't pursue God the way He desires without being in The Word of God and without submitting to Scripture. When we do this, we see the Word of God work through us. Just as the Word of God was ringing out those around the Thessalonians, the impact of the Word should be ringing out in our workplace, in our school hallways, grocery stores, and should definitely begin in your home. When we hear, read, and do the Word of God, it influences everyone around us. Listen to this sermon about seeing the Word of God work in and through you in the second part of our SEEK series. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/e-nrHFDPwgoSubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zkLearn more about us at chestnutmountain.orgFollow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

We'll be returning to our study of 1 Corinthians after taking two weeks away from it for the holidays. We'll be reading 1 Cor 15:35-58 – Paul's concluding thoughts concerning the doctrine of the resurrection.In the first part of chapter 15, Paul was corrective in his discussion about the resurrection – pointing out how intimately Jesus' resurrection was tied to our own stories. In Paul's thinking, Jesus' experience was a model for what God intended to do for all of his people, hence, the general resurrection was a mandatory belief.I do find it fascinating how very little time or thought our modern, Western church gives to this idea. N.T. Wright wrote a very insightful book on this topic, called “Surprised by Hope”, which I highly recommend reading.For the last half of the chapter, Paul points both to nature and the Biblical narrative to make his case for the holistic nature of the resurrection. I really like his argument as it touches nature. What are we witnessing every spring as winter recedes? If God is the author of reality as we perceive it, what might he be trying to tell us in this cycle of seasons?Going to the biblical narrative, Paul asserts a new Adamic role for Jesus. His logic seems to be, if we all face the certainty of death through Adam's sin, doesn't it stand to reason that we all get in on Christ's resurrection life through Him?As Paul has elaborated on this subject, has it influenced how you perceive an afterlife with God? Paul finishes on a high note, in v55 he rewords a prophetic poem from Hosea 13, flipping the meaning of that oracle into a forecast of triumph for God's people. How can we start incorporating a more robust hope for resurrection into our faith worldview?I'm really stoked about getting into this section of 1 Corinthians – I hope you're able to join us this Sunday at 10 AM!Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

In Paul's letter to the church in Rome, he writes some really powerful instructions that are full of wisdom and truth. It just so happens that chapter 8 in this letter is packed with just about everything you need to live a full life in Christ. Let's check it out!

Spring 1999. I was walking down the hall of my parents ranch home, past the collage of pictures on the wall and a feeling of dread fell over me. My plans for the coming year had fallen through. I would graduate high school in a couple of months, with no real plan for the next chapter of my life. Everyone I knew seemed to have it together, plans for college, a career, a life beyond their childhood home. At a critical time in life I was supposed to take a step forward, but I felt stuck and needed a push, a jumpstart, a new way of seeing my future.    As we've studied Ephesians, Paul is writing to a church that he greatly loves and hopes will not remain frozen in time. Their faith must continue to blossom because of the grandeur of the one they worship. His desire is that they would know the majesty of God and in very practical ways, this knowledge would change their lives. In Paul's final remarks, he urges the reader not to be a bystander, but to actively engage in the will of God through spiritual warfare. Our goal this weekend will be to address where our power comes from to engage in this warfare. If you want, read ahead in Ephesians Ch. 6.    Pastor Matt McCarter

Daily Dose of Hope December 18, 2024 Day 4 of Week 38   Scripture:  2 Kings 22-23; Psalm 73; 2 Corinthians 5   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  Let's get right into our Scripture for today!   We begin in 2 Kings 22-23.  In chapter 22, we meet King Josiah. To say Josiah was the product of a dysfunctional family would be a gross understatement. His grandfather was evil and his father was evil. They worshiped other gods; they did everything wrong in the eyes of Yahweh. His father was so disliked that his own servants end up assassinating him. I can only imagine how terrible it was to live in the palace at the time. Josiah comes to the throne at age eight.   Today's Scripture says that he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. I can't help but wonder how Josiah knew to follow Yahweh. We really don't know many details about his life. But somehow, someway, Josiah knew right from wrong and chose to do right. At age eighteen, he starts to rebuild the temple (which had fallen into disrepair after so many sinful kings), and the Book of the Law is discovered. Josiah tears his clothing, a sign of grief and sorrow, when he hears the words of the law read aloud and realizes just how far the nation of Judah had drifted from God's standard.   A couple things jump out at me after reading today's text. First, just because someone's family is dysfunctional, abusive, evil, or lost, doesn't mean they are doomed to the same fate. Josiah's family history was atrocious but he didn't fall into the same pattern as his father and grandfather. We serve a God who redeems people, rescues, provides freedom and a path for true transformation. Maybe you grew up in a really messy family situation; that does not define you! Who you are in Jesus Christ is what truly defines you. Partnering with God, your legacy can be different from your past. There is always hope, always room for redemption.   One other reflection from this text is that the Word of God read aloud has power. When Josiah heard the Book of the Law read for the first time, he was forever changed. He was repentant. He was convicted. His heart was transformed and he had the desire to serve God and lead others to do the same. Never discount the power of God's Word.   In chapter 23, it becomes evident just how prevalent and extensive the worship of other gods had become in Judah. There were altars to other gods throughout the land, in people's homes, and even in the temple of the Lord! After generations of sinful kings, idolatry had become a regular part of their culture. Josiah cleans everything up. He destroys the high places, he gets rid of every form of pagan worship, including temple prostitutes, pagan priests, and all those horrible altars.   While Josiah was faithful and did all he could to renew the covenant with God, it simply wasn't enough. Despite repeated warnings, the kings and people of Judah had failed to uphold the covenant. They had disobeyed God over and over again. Josiah's best efforts couldn't make up for the hundreds of years of sin. God honored Josiah's faithfulness, however, and ensured that he would not see the destruction to come. We see Josiah killed in this chapter. I don't know about you but I immediately got a sense of foreboding, knowing that things are about to get really bad for Judah. The scene has been set and we are about the watch it play out.   Our New Testament reading is 2 Corinthians 5. The first ten verses of this chapter are worth reading and reflecting on if you didn't have the opportunity to do so. Paul is tackling the difficult topic of what happens to us when we die. In Paul's culture (as in ours), there was fascination but also fear regarding the end of physical life. This piece of Scripture discusses the future resurrection and transformation of believers and the certainty of being with Jesus after death. We can be assured of this based on God placing the Spirit within us (Paul calls it a deposit). The Holy Spirit offers us assurance of salvation and that this earthly life is not the end.   Now, let's take a moment and talk about verse 17, one of my favorite verses of Scripture. Paul starts with the statement, "Therefore..." because the previous statement pointed out that Christ is no longer viewed from a human perspective, as he is God. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and his life, death, and resurrection form this radical, fundamental breakthrough for all creation. Because of this, things are different. God's Kingdom has been inaugurated and a new way of doing life is here. So, if someone is in Christ, meaning they have accepted Jesus and are united with a life-giving Savior, then this new way of living and being has started. They are no longer the same person. They are being transformed from the inside out by the power of the Spirit of God. The old person, the "pre-Jesus" life, is in the past. They now do life differently - new attitudes, new behaviors, new ways of thinking-focused on the ways of Jesus rather than the ways of the world   I want to add that becoming a new person is a choice. Others call it a process. It's both really. Becoming the person that God created us to be in Jesus Christ is not going to simply happen by accident. We participate in the process. The Holy Spirit works in us and we cooperate with God in the transformation. What has your "becoming a new creation" process looked like? None of us have arrived either. What are the places in your life in which God may be still calling you to change to look more like Jesus?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

I know, I know….you're thinking: “Rob! It's almost Christmas, not Easter!” I realize that. But I would also argue that the themes of Easter should be something that resonates with followers of Jesus no matter what time of year it is. As we're going to be reading in our text this Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus is the very heart of our faith and hope. We'll be continuing our study in 1 Corinthians this Sunday, reading chapter 15, verses 1-34.I'll warn you right off, this is a fairly complex and dense bit of theology that Paul delves into as he comes to the close of his letter. It might behoove you to read the passage in a few different translations – but especially take a look at Eugene Peterson's “The Message” version – because while it may overly simplify some of the concepts Paul is advocating, it most certainly provides a readable overview of this thoughts.As you read it over, how important does the resurrection of God's people seem to be for Paul? Does it match your own passion for that subject? If not, why might that be? How much space does the resurrection of the saints take up in your spiritual worldview? Clearly, for Paul, everything hinged on that idea.Paul indelibly tethers Christ's experiences to the future plans for His followers. In Paul's thinking, our beliefs about what happened in the past have a profound effect on our present and our future when it comes to the resurrection. I'll be honest, the string of Paul's logic feels so foreign to me as someone who has grown up in the Evangelical church. Our matrix has always been: “Believe on Jesus and you will go to heaven when you die and avoid eternal punishment in hell.” It just feels like that reasoning couldn't be further from Paul's thinking about mortality and eschatology. In fact, how many times does Paul reference “going to heaven or hell” in his presentation of the central core of the Gospel?That's really something to ponder for a bit. The more I ponder it, the more I start to ask, “What have we been thinking?”If you're really interesting in tackling a big topic, I hope you'll join us this Sunday at 10 am as we dig deeply into Scripture.Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Bo Noonan teaches from 2 Timothy 1:6-12, where Paul encourages Timothy to "fan into flame" the Holy Spirit's presence and purposes in his life through diving into the gospel and being with God's people. In Paul's day, and in ours, there is a call to give our lives to SOMETHING. Paul's encouragement to Timothy is to spend his life, not on himself, but on the gospel of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. To fan God's purposes into an all-consuming fire that allowed him (and us) to burn in community with others, keeping each other set alight, so that many may come to know the grace of Jesus.

“I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.” (Job 42:2 NLT) Sovereignty is a tough concept to wrap our heads around, especially in today's highly influenceable culture. Everyone answers to someone. Public figures change their stances based on the feedback they get. Politicians are swayed by donors. Corporations react to boycotts. In contrast to the famous sign on Harry Truman's desk, the buck doesn't seem to stop anywhere. There is no ultimate authority, no sovereignty. Except with God. Job scratched the surface of God's sovereignty when he said to God, “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you” (Job 42:2 NLT). In fact, God will do what He pleases with whomever He chooses whenever He wishes. That's absolute power. God answers to no one. He is not swayed by public opinion or conventional wisdom. He doesn't have to ask anyone's permission or worry about anyone's reaction. He doesn't seek approval, likes, or popularity. God can't be second-guessed because everything He does is perfect. His ways are right—always and without fail. Psalm 115:3 says, “Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes” (nlt). Some people challenge His sovereignty by asking, “What about the bad things that happen in life? Are they part of what He wishes?” And the answer is yes. Evil, suffering, and tragedy aren't arguments against a sovereign God. They are all firmly under His control. Whatever happens in this life, good or bad, is either caused by God or allowed by God. I know that's hard for some of us to digest. But that's because we're limited in our present circumstances. Someday, we will better understand the wisdom and purpose of God's plan. In the meantime, we take the word of the psalmist who wrote this about God: “Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created. Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans” (Psalm 119:90–91 NLT). Everything serves God's plans. The apostle Paul wrote, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT). Everything is part of God's good plan. In Paul's words, we find the most amazing truth about God's sovereignty. The English historian Lord Acton wrote that absolute power corrupts absolutely. But he was referring to human authorities, none of whom ever possessed “absolute power.” The amazing truth is that God, who does possess absolute power, uses His power to accomplish genuinely good things in the lives of His people. God's sovereignty can't be separated from His love. That means we can trust Him to care for us. We may not always understand what that care looks like or why certain things happen, but we can be confident that God will work all things for our good. No one and nothing can thwart His will. We can rest assured in His sovereignty. — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Paul's final letter to his protege Timothy, he encourages the young pastor to stand strong in the grace of Christ Jesus. In this message, we look at how God's grace strengthens us, sustains us and is sufficient for us.

In Paul's letters, he names 36 co-laborers, a family of friends on mission. All good friendships are an echo of Jesus's friendship to us and a taste of Christ, the greatest Friend. Let His love motivate us to develop deep relationships with God's people and invite unbelievers into the community of faith. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on November 10, 2024.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In Acts 22, the apostle Paul stands before his persecutors, almost in a 'full-circle' moment. At one point, he was persecuting the Christians in Jerusalem; now, he is being persecuted as one himself. In Paul's last words to the Jews in Jerusalem, we can see a blueprint for how to share our faith effectively with others.

In Paul's farewell to Timothy, he warns of a time when people ignore sound doctrine, favoring teachings that satisfy their desires. This message highlights the danger of conforming faith to personal preferences instead of embracing transformative truth. Believers are urged to discern and uphold biblical truth amid cultural noise, seeking genuine growth in Christ. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dailyrowe/support

In Paul's final instructions to the Church he calls them to 4 essential attributes of the church.  These instructions are essential to our ongoing vitality in our culture. A Note! This is Clint's last Sunday @ Kingwood Methodist. He has been called to serve as the new senior pastor of Central Houston Methodist, and we are so grateful for the time we've had with Clint leading our service. We are proud of you Wyllie's and we are so excited to see what God does in the kingdom through your leadership! If you prefer to listen, stream, and/or watch, join us and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingwoodmethodist

One of the needless things that Christian fight over is the concept of there being more than one gospel in the Bible, I say it's needless because it's an issue that is quickly cleared up with a generous application rightly dividing of scripture. But since a majority of Christians don't apply 2 Timothy 2:15 on a regular basis, or honestly don't even know what it is, you wind up with fights and arguments that are, as previously stated, needless. Tonight we look at the unique gospel of the Tribulation that will be in full effect, and word of warning, you can lose it. On this episode of Rightly Dividing, Paul's gospel has been in effect for just about two thousand years now, Paul calls it “my gospel” because it was given to him exclusively, and is not like Matthew, Mark or Luke's gospel. The gospel of John stands apart from the first three, and is very much in line with Paul's gospel that we call the gospel of the grace of God, and/or the gospel of the Kingdom of God. But no matter how you deal the cards, these are very different gospels we are talking about. In the 7-year time of Jacob's trouble that includes the 3.5 year great Tribulation period, people who find themselves there will absolutely have to have faith in Jesus Christ, and absolutely have to have works to back that faith up. In Paul's gospel, and in John's gospel, no works are required for salvation. The differences could not be more clear! Join us as we ‘rightly divide' away any and all confusion on the subject of dispensational salvation.

In Paul's day, and down to our own, so-called Christian teachers have effectively duped people into thinking that a life of self-indulgence is compatible with the Christian gospel. But in this passage Paul sets the record straight. Because Christians are God's children, we must walk in love, not in self-indulgence. Sermon Outline:I. Love is Consistent with Your New Identity.II. Self-Indulgence is Inconsistent with Your New Identity.III. Christ Came to Deliver Us from the Wrath Coming on Self-Indulgence.Sermon Discussion Questions:1. How does being “beloved children” of God influence the way we should live, according to Ephesians 5:1-2? In what specific ways can we imitate God's kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness in our daily interactions?2. Paul instructs us to “walk in love, as Christ loved us” (Eph. 5:2). What are some practical examples of self-sacrificial love that align with how Christ demonstrated His love for us? 3. Paul contrasts self-indulgence with a life of holiness. How does the message of Ephesians 5:3-4 challenge contemporary views on sexuality and materialism? How does it challenge your own views?4. Ephesians 5:6 warns against being deceived by “empty words.” How can we discern whether teachings or beliefs we encounter align with biblical truth, especially in areas like sexuality, greed, and personal behavior?5. Despite our failings, Christ offers forgiveness and grace. How does understanding this grace influence our approach to repentance and forgiveness, both for ourselves and when we extend it to others? How does understanding the gospel shape our pursuit of holiness?

In Paul's absence, the Corinthian church had begun to follow new teachers who had positioned themselves as superior in numerous ways, all of which were worldly and pompous. They wanted Paul to be like them, bold, arrogant, provocative, and brash. Paul defends the authority he has over the Corinthian church as a true apostle and sarcastically boasts to compare himself to the ones he calls “Super-apostles.” These men were well-spoken, came with letters, and requested payment for their teaching, whereas Paul was humble, loyal, and worked without burdening the church financially. As he concludes, Paul assures them that when he comes, he will not be lenient, but rather he will come with boldness in order to build up the body.2 Corinthians 10 - 1:13 . 2 Corinthians 11 - 4:29 . 2 Corinthians 12 - 11:06 . 2 Corinthians 13 - 15:49 . Isaiah 14 - 18:41 .  :::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

In Paul's closing comments to the Church in Rome, he warns about the sin of divisiveness that can destroy a church, a family, or an organization. God hates divisiveness for two reasons—(1) because it is inconsistent with His nature, and (2) because the source of divisiveness is Satan. God is about reconciliation; Satan is about division. God brings together things that are broken; Satan breaks things that are brought together. Someone who is divisive is not operating in the spirit of Jesus, but in the spirit of Satan. This is why Paul warns about people who cause division. In today's study, Pastor Gary explains how we can identity a divisive person from someone who is just different, with different ideas or opinions.