Podcasts about in romans

In Romans 5, we learn how to enjoy our salvation.

The Magi were drawn by the light of the star to experience the Light of the World. Epiphany means the manifestation or showing forth of God in the person of Jesus Christ so that we may experience and know our God. How do we live a life for the ongoing Epiphany experience of God for the healing and transformation of our souls? In Romans 12, the St. Paul gives us the words we say in every Mass: "And here we offer ourselves." Today it is suggested that we start by offering our need and our brokenness to God for His help and mending. To those who do so, His Epiphany will be made manifest out of God's love for them.

Did God fail Israel—or are we missing the point? In Romans 9, Paul tackles one of Scripture's most challenging chapters, defending God's faithfulness, righteousness, justice, and grace. This episode calls us to humility, trust, and a renewed confidence that salvation has always been—and will always be—by faith.

Why does the idea of God's wrath feel so offensive, and why does the Bible insist we can't understand grace without it? In Romans 1:18-25, Paul confronts one of the most avoided truths of the Christian faith: the wrath of God. Rather than contradicting God's love, His wrath reveals His righteous and jealous commitment to what is good, true, and life-giving. As Paul moves from the righteousness of God to humanity's need for salvation, he shows that God's wrath is not merely future—it is already being revealed. When people suppress the truth, exchange God's glory for idols, and refuse to honor Him, God's judgment is seen most clearly in what He allows: being given over to our desires and the slow unraveling that follows. This passage exposes the root beneath our cultural confusion and personal brokenness. The problem is not ignorance, but rebellion. We know God, yet refuse to worship Him. We exchange the Creator for created things—and that exchange never leads to freedom, only futility, darkness, and dehumanization. In this sermon from Romans 1:18–25, we see four sobering realities: - God's wrath is revealed and deserved—not arbitrary or unjust - Humanity's problem is moral, not intellectual—we suppress truth we already know - Idolatry is the root of all sin, replacing the Creator with lesser loves - Sin always dishonors God and destroys the sinner, even at the level of our bodies Romans 1 presses us to stop making excuses, tell the truth about ourselves, and see why grace becomes glorious only when we understand the depth of our need.

This week, we continue our series New City DNA. In Romans 10, we are reminded of the truth of the gospel for all who confess and believe in Christ. Pastor Eric shares three points from the text that highlight why New City values missional urgency: 1) The gospel is the only way of salvation (10:1-13). 2) The gospel is a message of good news to hear, believe, and proclaim (10:14-15). 3) The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time. - Carl Henry

You don't have a behavior problem, you have a truth problem.In Romans 1:16–20, Paul reminds us that truth isn't something we create or feel into existence; it's something God reveals. This message confronts the lies of relativism, self-created identity, and pluralism, and calls us back to living by faith, not feelings.The gospel reveals the righteousness of God, the power of salvation, and the truth that sets us free. The question is simple: Will you live by feelings, or will you live by faith?Tune in to The Good Life Podcast weekly to explore this week's message and other topics that will help you live The Good Life God designed for you.https://youtube.com/@thegoodlifewithcarlnichols?si=OhfsNYn9VCKliXlU

Why do we spend so much time judging other Christians over things God never commanded?In Romans 14, the Apostle Paul speaks directly to a problem that still exists in the church today — believers acting like they're the master instead of Jesus. We argue over opinions, preferences, traditions, and personal freedoms, while missing what it actually means to live as slaves of righteousness.In this message, Pastor Dean challenges us to stop playing God in other people's lives and start focusing on obedience, humility, and love. This isn't about ignoring sin — it's about recognizing the difference between God's commands and our opinions.If Jesus is truly your Master, then judgment isn't your job.

Ephesians 5:1-21Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, asChrist also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrificeto God for a sweet-smelling aroma.Today we are looking at Ephesians 5:1-2, where the Apostle Paul gives us theclear admonition to walk in love. Also in in these two verses, Paul also givesus several reasons why we should walk in love. First, he tells us in verse 1 to“be imitators of God as dear children.” As the children of God, we areto be reflectors of who He is. God is love, and therefore we should reflectthat love—the love God has for us and for the world around us. Themost quoted verse in the Bible, one we all know so well, tells us: “For Godso loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” God is a lovingGod, and because He is love, He is also a God who gives. As His children, weare called to love and to give of ourselves sacrificially for His glory. Ilove the phrase Paul uses here, “as dear children.” Sometranslations say, “as beloved children.” Remember, at least twicein the Gospel of Matthew, the Father speaks from heaven and declares His lovefor His Son. At the baptism of Jesus in Matthew chapter 3, and again on theMount of Transfiguration in Matthew chapter 17, God says, “This is Mybeloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Nowthink about this—we too are His beloved children. 1 John 3:1–3, tells us, “Beholdwhat manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be calledchildren of God.” In Romans chapter 8, we are told that we cry out, “Abba,Father.” We have an intimate, personal relationship with our Father inheaven. Because of that relationship, and as proof of it, we should desire toshow forth His love to the world around us as imitators of God and as Hisbeloved children. Ialso think about what Jesus prayed in John 17:23. He said, “I in them, andYou in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may knowthat You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”Jesus prayed and said, “Father, just as You have loved Me, You love them.”Can you imagine that? Jesus is the beloved Son of God, and He tells us that theFather loves us in the same way He loves Him. How much does God love you? Heloves you with the same love He has for His beloved Son—whom He gave as asacrifice for the sins of the world. So,we see several reasons here for walking in love. We are children of God. Weshare in His nature, and His nature is love. We are beloved children who desireto please our Father in heaven. We cry out, “Abba, Father.” And then we see athird reason in verse 2: “Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us,an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Thisphrase, “a sweet-smelling aroma,” is very meaningful. Our reflection ofChrist's love is pleasing to God—it rises as a sweet fragrance before Him. Inthe book of Leviticus, chapters 1 through 3 describe the three sweet savorofferings: the burnt offering, the meal offering, and the peace offering. Theburnt offering pictures Christ's complete devotion to God. The meal offeringreflects His perfect character. The peace offering shows Christ making peacebetween sinful man and a holy God. Thesin offering and the trespass offering, found in Leviticus chapters 4 and 5,are not sweet savor offerings. Why? Because sin is not sweet or beautiful. Sinis what put Christ on the cross. Sin is what condemned us and would send us toa devil's hell apart from Christ.  Oh,my friend, today let us remember who we are. We are dear children ofGod—beloved children—loved with an unimaginable, unconditional, selfless love.Therefore, let us walk in love as “His beloved children” Godbless you and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.

Saturday, 17 January 2026   And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala. Matthew 15:39   Note: You can listen to today's commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)   You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).   “And having dismissed the crowds, He in-stepped into the boat, and He came to the borders of Magdala” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that there were four thousand men, besides women and children, who comprised the multitudes Jesus fed. With that portion of the narrative complete, and to close out the chapter, Matthew next notes, “And having dismissed the crowds, He in-stepped into the boat.”   They have been on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. With this cycle of attending to a Gentile woman in the allotments of Tyre and Sidon noted, followed by a time in the Gentile-led eastern regions near the Decapolis completed, He got into a boat, “and He came to the borders of Magdala.”   This is a location not named this way anywhere else in Scripture. Some manuscripts note the location as Magadan, meaning Megiddo, but that is incorrect based on Matthew 16:5, which notes they are still in the region of the lake. Rather, the town Magdala in Hebrew is Migdal-el, Tower of God, a city of Naphtali recorded in Joshua 19:38.   This is also known as Al-Majdal (Mejdel) on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, north of Tiberias. Mark 8:10 notes that when they got in the boat, they came to the allotments of Dalmanutha. Saying it this way, there is no contradiction to be found. Just as Jesus went to the “allotments” of Tyre and Sidon, meaning the surrounding areas, in Matthew 15:21, so they went to Magdala in the allotments, meaning the surrounding areas, of Dalmanutha.   Life application: Chapter 15 of Matthew gives a picture of what is going on in the world from the time Jesus fulfilled the law until the rapture. The verses, though literally occurring at the time of Jesus, point to truths after the completion of Jesus' ministry. The New Covenant is now what God is doing in the world. Israel as a whole, however, rejected that.   Though they no longer observe the Law of Moses, they remain bound to it. During this dispensation, they are spiritually led by rabbis, both in their writings in the Talmud as well as in their cultural and religious life.   These are reflected by the scribes and Pharisees who came from Jerusalem (verse 1) to challenge Jesus. Paul explains in Galatians 4:21-31 that the earthly Jerusalem reflects them and their teaching. The main point for now says –   “But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Galatians 4:23-26   In verses 2-9, Jesus explains the state of Israel at this time, living by the laws of men rather than by the law of God. After the introduction of the New Covenant, the law of God is not the Law of Moses. Rather, that is fulfilled.   At this time, religious Israel draws near to the Lord with their lips, but their hearts, because of their rejection of Jesus, are far away from Him.   In verse 11, Jesus stated that what goes into the mouth does not defile. Rather, what comes out of it does. Though that was a truth concerning the traditions of these elders, it is a truth that is spiritually seen in Israel to this day. They refuse to proclaim Jesus.   This is their defilement. But what does Paul say concerning this? In Romans 10, he says –   “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:8-13   The only thing that can cleanse a person from sin is Jesus. Anything else, meaning any other proclamation, defiles that person. As such, Jesus says in verse 14 to let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind, and both will fall into a pit.   In verse 15, Jesus reexplained to dull Peter (later, the Apostle to the Jews) the matter of the heart and what it is that causes defilement. While Israel remains in their state of defilement because of their oral proclamations, something else takes place. This is seen in verse 21, where Jesus “went out from there,” meaning from the Jewish people to the allotments of Tyre and Sidon, a Gentile area.   Tyre (Hebrew: Tsor) signifies Rock. While Israel abandoned their Rock, the Gentiles received Him. That this is speaking of Christ is seen, for example, in Deuteronomy 32:32, where it says, “For their rock is not like our Rock.” There are those who are confident in their rock (tsur), and yet their rock is not the Lord who is the Rock (tsur).   Sidon (Hebrew: Tsidon) signifies Fishery. It is a place for catching fish. Everyone is like a fish. When Jesus said to Simon and Andrew that they would be fishers of men, He meant that men are like fish to be caught.   While in this area (verse 22), a Canaanite woman came to Jesus and begged for compassion for her demon-possessed daughter. Canaan signifies Humbled, Humiliated, or even Subdued. She pictures those of faith who have humbled themselves before the word of Christ.   The issue is the daughter. In Scripture, a son or a daughter is representative of the state of something. A “son of death,” for example, is a person deserving of death. That is his state. A daughter, in this case, is the state of a group of people, such as “daughter of Jerusalem,” “daughter of Tarshish,” etc. What is the state of the Daughter of the Humbled who are also Gentiles?   Jesus said in verse 24 that He had come “if not to the sheep, the ‘having been lost' – House Israel.” Despite there being a New Covenant, with whom was that covenant made? The answer is found in both Jeremiah and Hebrews –   “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” Jeremiah 31:31   The early church did not understand that the word was to go to the Gentiles. That is a major subject found in Acts. It is representative of the disciples' comments found previously in verse 23 when they told Jesus to dismiss her.   It literally took an act of God to get them to see that the New Covenant included Gentiles, first with the Ethiopian eunuch and then the house of Cornelius. Jesus' calling, though, to redeem the House of Judah and Israel, is inclusive of the Gentiles of faith, as seen in this account. It is something prophesied in Isaiah 49:6, but which is revealed in typology here.   The woman was told that it wasn't “good to take the children's bread and cast to the puppies.” In the Bible, dogs represent Gentiles. That is seen in the Caleb series of sermons. Caleb, kalev, is from kelev, dog. It is also seen in the account of Gideon and his men, who lapped like dogs, a typological picture dealing with the Gentiles.   The woman didn't argue Jesus' point. Instead, she noted that “even the puppies – he eats from the crumbs, the ‘falling from their master's table.” Jesus thus remarked concerning her great faith, something evidenced in the Gentile world. At that time, it noted the child was cured. Salvation, in fact, is also directed to the Gentiles. They are brought into the commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:12).   From there, verse 29 said of Jesus that “He went near the Sea of the Galilee, and having ascended to the mountain, He sat there.” The Galilee has previously been explained as “the Liberty.” It is a picture of freedom from sin. As sin stems from a violation of law, it ultimately signifies freedom from law.   A mountain in the Bible represents a lot of something gathered. In typology, it is synonymous with a large but centralized group of people. Though it is only stated in Mark, the last area noted was the Decapolis, a Gentile controlled area.   Thus, this is typologically referring to a large but centralized group (meaning under Jesus) of Gentile people. The Canaanite woman already established that, but this is an extension of the thought, explaining the result of the dispensation of the Gentiles. In other words, “What will happen in the world once it is established that Gentiles are to be included in the New Covenant?”   In verses 30 and 31, multitudes came to Jesus for healing, so many that they were strewn about Him. It is reflective of the broken Gentile world coming to Christ for healing and salvation. As many came, He healed them so that “they glorified the God of Israel.”   As noted at that time, the term is unique in the New Testament. It suggested the presence of Gentiles on the mountain, but it typologically asserts this fact. Paul's ministry literally shouts out the parallel to this thought in Matthew –   “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.” Acts 19:11, 12   Was the God of Israel glorified through this? The answer is found in Romans –   “Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: ‘For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.'” Romans 15:8, 9   And...   “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— 19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” Romans 15:18, 19   In verses 32-38, the feeding of the four thousand is recorded. Jesus said they had been with Him three days. In Scripture, three “stands for that which is solid, real, substantial, complete, and entire. ... Hence the number three points us to what is real, essential, perfect, substantial, complete, and Divine.” Bullinger   The time these people have been with Jesus speaks of a divine fullness, something reflected in Romans 11:25, “that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” It goes right back to the state of Israel, noted in Matthew 15:14, where the blind are leading the blind.   While Israel is blinded, the blind of the Gentiles (Matthew 15:31) are brought to sight. The miracle of the bread (think of Jesus, the Bread of Life) and fish (a word which signifies “increase” in Hebrew) speaks of the immense harvest. There were seven loaves, the number of spiritual perfection, and a few tiddlers. However, they were enough to feed the multitude of four thousand. The number is a product of four and tens.   Four is the number of material creation, the world number. It speaks of the entirety of the world hearing the gospel, just as Jesus said it would. Ten is the number where nothing is wanting, and the whole cycle is complete. The entire world of the Gentiles will be evangelized before the end comes.   To demonstrate the immense harvest that will be realized in the church age, the baskets of fragments were collected, totaling seven large baskets. Notice the difference from the feeding of the five thousand –   “And they ate all, and they gorged, and they lifted the superabounding pieces – twelve handbaskets full. 21And those eating, they were about five thousand men, besides women and children.”   “And they ate all, and they gorged, and the superabounding of the fragments they lifted – seven hampers full. 38And those eating, they were four thousand men, besides women and children.”   Whereas a remnant of the twelve tribes of Israel represented by the twelve small handbaskets (Greek: kophinos) was collected, there will be an immense harvest of the seven churches (as defined in Revelation 2 & 3), represented by the seven large hampers (Greek: spuris).   The chapter ended with a location only mentioned here in Scripture, saying of Jesus, “And having dismissed the crowds, He in-stepped into the boat, and He came to the borders of Magdala.”   The town Magdala in Hebrew is Migdal-el, Tower of God, a city of Naphtali recorded in Joshua 19:38. Migdal El is contrasted to the tower of man, meaning Babel and all that accompanies her. Thus, this is implicitly a picture of the ending of the church age, where believers are delivered from the Babylon of the end times recorded in Revelation.   To understand why these conclusions have been made, one should refer to the descriptions of these locations found in the Old Testament sermons given by the Superior Word. Each location, number, or other reference has been drawn from the information already recorded there. Thus, the typology is not new. It has already been seen and has been reused without change, confirming that this analysis of Matthew 15 is sound.   Lord God, Your word is beyond amazing. It is a lifeline for the soul caught in despair. It is a treasure for the seeker of riches. It is a guide for the path of our lives. And Lord, it is so much more. It is so glorious to enter into its pages and find rest for our souls in the Person of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Thank You for this precious word. Amen. Matthew 15   15 Then they came to Jesus from Jerusalem, scribes and Pharisees, saying, 2“Through what – Your disciples, they sidestep the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they may eat bread.”   3And answering, He said, to them, “Through what – also you, you sidestep the ‘God's commandment' through your tradition? 4For God, He enjoined, saying, ‘You honor your father and your mother,' and the ‘disparaging father or mother,' death – he expires!' 5And you, you say, ‘Whoever, he should say to father or mother, “Gift – whatever if from me you should benefit.”' 6And no, not he should honor his father or his mother. And you invalidated God's commandment through your tradition. 7Hypocrites! Well, Isaiah, he prophesied concerning you, saying,   8‘He neared Me, this people – the mouth, And the lips – he honors Me, And their heart, it distances far from Me. 9And vainly they revere Me,  Teaching instructions – men's injunctions.'”   10And having summoned the crowd, He said to them, “You hear and comprehend! 11Not the ‘entering into the mouth' it profanes the man, but the ‘proceeding from the mouth,' this, it profanes the man.”   12Then His disciples, having come near, they said to Him, “You have known that the Pharisees, having heard the saying, they stumbled!” 13And having answered, He said, “Every planting that not He planted, My heavenly Father, it will be uprooted. 14You leave them! They are blind, blind-conductors. And blind, if they should conduct, both – they will fall into a pit.”   15And Peter, having answered, he said to Him, “You expound to us this parable.”   16And Jesus, He said, “And yet, you, you are unintelligent! 17Not yet you grasp that all, the ‘entering into the mouth,' into the stomach it contains, and into the john it ejects? 18And those proceeding from the mouth, it comes from the heart, and those, it commonizes the man. 19For from the heart, they come: evil meanderings, murders, adulteries, harlotries, thefts, false-witnessings, blasphemies. 20These, they are, the ‘defiling the man,' but to eat with unwashed hands, not it defiles the man.”   21And having departed thence, Jesus, He withdrew to the allotments – Tyre and Sidon. 22And you behold! A Canaanite woman from those same borders, having come, she cried to Him, saying, “You compassionate me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter, she is demon possessed-badly.”   23And He answered not a word.   And having approached, His disciples, they entreated Him, saying, “You dismiss her! For she cries after us.”   24And answering, He said, “Not, I was sent, if not to the sheep, the ‘having been lost' – House Israel.”   25And having come, she worshipped Him, saying, “Lord, You rush-relieve me!”   26And answering, He said, “It is not good to take the children's bread and cast to the puppies.”   27And she said, “Yes, Lord. And even the puppies – he eats from the crumbs, the ‘falling from their master's table.'”   28Then, Jesus answering, He said to her, “O! Woman, your faith is great! It become to you as you determine.” And she's cured, her daughter, from that hour.   29And having departed thence, Jesus, He went near the Sea of the Galilee, and having ascended to the mountain, He sat there. 30And they came to Him, great crowds, having with them lame, cripples, blind, mutes, and others – many, and they strewed them near Jesus' feet, and He healed them. 31So too, the crowds marveled, seeing mutes speaking, cripples healthy, lame walking, and blind seeing, and they glorified the God of Israel.   32And Jesus, having summoned His disciples, He said, “I gut-wrench upon the crowd because already three days they bivouac with Me, and naught they have that they may eat. And I wish not to dismiss them unfed, not lest they should collapse in the way.”   33And the disciples, they say to Him, “Whence to us in solitude – loaves so many as to gorge a crowd so vast?”   34And He says to them, Jesus, “How many loaves do you have?”   And they said, “Seven, and a few tiddlers.”   35And He ordered the crowds to sit upon the ground. 36And having taken the seven loaves and the fish, and having thanked, He broke, and He gave to His disciples, and the disciples to the crowd. 37And they ate, all, and they gorged, and the superabounding of the fragments they lifted – seven hampers full. 38And those eating, they were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39And having dismissed the crowds, He in-stepped into the boat, and He came to the borders of Magdala.

Condemnation can quietly weigh down even the most faithful believers, especially when perfectionism and performance replace grace. Romans 8:1 offers freeing truth: for those in Christ Jesus, condemnation no longer exists because Jesus already carried the full weight of sin and shame on the cross. Highlights Perfectionism often disguises itself as faith but leads to exhaustion and emptiness. Guilt and shame push us away from God, while grace draws us closer. Self-condemnation is a burden Jesus never intended believers to carry. Romans 8:1 declares complete freedom from condemnation for those in Christ. Jesus paid the full debt for sin—nothing more is required from us. Our identity is found in Christ’s finished work, not our performance. Grace is a gift to rest in, not something to strive to maintain. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Carrying the Unnecessary Weight of Condemnation By: Emily Rose Massey Bible Reading: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, ESV). For many years, I was driven by perfectionism and the feeling that I had to work successfully or perform well in life to be loved by other people… and to be loved by God. On the outside, I looked like I had it all together- high honors throughout school, hyper-involvement in extracurricular activities, serving in any ministry I was asked to be involved in, star of the high school plays and musicals, head cheerleader, first chair clarinet player in the band, and the list goes on and on. But on the inside, I was so empty and constantly searching for true fulfillment. I knew God was there for me, but somehow, I thought I could be perfect in my own strength on my walk with Him. Because we are human, we fail time and time again. We make a mess of things more often than not. Guilt and shame can often push us further away from God, instead of closer. For so long as a Christian, I was allowing self-condemnation to take root in my heart, and it weighed me down as I walked around carrying all of the baggage of my past sins and failures, thinking that I had to continue to strive to keep God’s forgiveness. Thankfully, today, I no longer live burdened by a work-based mentality. I find my identity in the finished work of Christ, and I want to encourage you, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, you should too. Grace is a gift that cannot be earned, and you do not have to strive to keep it either. In Romans 8:1, the Bible tells us that we do not have to carry condemnation in our lives when we’re truly in Christ. If you are a born-again believer, condemnation does not exist because the punishment for our failures and sins does not exist. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, ESV). This means that when we embrace and believe what Jesus did for us on the cross, as He took the punishment for our sin that we deserved, our lives are now hidden in Christ. When we come to God with a heart full of repentance, resting in this glorious, finished work of the cross, we can stand before the throne of God without any shame because Jesus bore all of it for us. The debt we owed has been paid in full- we are free from all bondage. Intersecting Life & Faith: Jesus took all of your sin and your shame upon Himself and cast it as far as the east is from the west, friend. Do you struggle with thoughts of shame from your past? Fix your eyes on the finished work of the cross. Christ bore the weight of your sin; you no longer have to live with the weight of your failures. You can come boldly to the throne of grace, beloved, because it is grace that did the work for you. You can rest assured that God sees you as blameless and perfect because you are in Christ. There is no reason to carry that heavy burden of condemnation upon your shoulders… surrender it to Christ today. Let’s pray that you learn to no longer walk around carrying the weight of your past and stop striving for perfection. Remember, Jesus is blameless and perfect for you… lean upon Him. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Your thoughts are not neutral—they are forming you. In Romans 12, Paul tells us that transformation happens through the renewing of the mind. In this message, we look at what it means to live with the mind of Christ and why the direction of our thoughts ultimately becomes the direction of our life. What we believe, dwell on, and rehearse shapes the way we love, lead, decide, and respond.

In Romans 1:7-16, Paul reveals God's vision for a church centered in Christ and strengthened by a gospel-shaped faith. This message calls us to move beyond surface-level Christianity by grounding our identity in grace, cultivating meaningful Christian community, and recovering bold confidence in the power of the gospel. As that faith takes root, it fuels spiritual maturity, love for the church, and a clear commitment to reaching our city and the lost with unashamed faith. In this sermon, we learn four ways to go deeper and be deeper: - A deeper understanding of God's love (grace that leads to peace) - A deeper love for Christians and the church (gratitude, prayer, and community) - A deeper love for the lost (living like gospel debtors with spiritual urgency) - A deeper conviction in the power of the gospel (unashamed, because it's God's power to save) As we begin Romans together, this message invites you to respond through prayer, worship, and renewed faith, asking God to make you the kind of person whose life is shaped by the gospel from faith for faith.

Made For This – Getting in the Game Have you ever felt like you were on the team—but stuck on the bench?  In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul reminds us that every follower of Jesus has been gifted by the Holy Spirit for a purpose. In this message, Lead Pastor Steve Garcia unpacks what spiritual gifts are, why they matter, and how God designed every believer to actively build up the church—not sit on the sidelines. If you've ever wondered whether God could really use you, this message is for you. Take your next step: • Reflect on how God has gifted you • Step into serving • Join a small group and get in the game #MadeForThis #SpiritualGifts #Romans12 #GetInTheGame #ChurchLife - NEXT STEPS  Looking to take your next step?  We want to help! Text the word NEXT to 909-281-7797 or visit sunrisechurch.org/nextsteps. - GIVE TO SUNRISE CHURCH Imagine what God can do through our giving. You can give today at sunrisechurch.org/give  - FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunriseChurchCA  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunrisechurchca  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/SunriseChurch

Today,as we continue in Ephesians chapter 4, the Apostle Paul is dealing with sinsthat can destroy our testimony. The fourth one is: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, butwhat is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to thehearers.” Here,Paul warns us against corrupt speech. We must understand that the mouth and theheart are directly connected. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heartthe mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34). Jesus also said in Mark 7:21: “Forfrom within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, anevil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.” Jesus concluded by saying thatall these things come from within and defile a person. They destroy thetestimony of an individual believer and can also destroy the testimony andwitness of a church when these things are allowed to take root. Jesusfurther warned us in Matthew 12:36–37: “But I say to you that for every idleword men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For byyour words you will be justified, and by your words you will becondemned." The apostle Paul certainly understood the power of words.In Romans 3:14, he connects the mouth with cursing and bitterness. But when wetrust Christ, something changes. In Romans 10:9-10, we confess Him with ourmouths and we openly profess that Jesus Christ is Lord. As condemned sinners,our mouths were once stopped before the throne of God (Romans 3:19). But asbelievers, our mouths are opened to praise Him (Romans 15:6). When God changesthe heart, He changes the speech. Thattruth became very real to me personally. I hate to admit it, but before I cameto Christ, I was a cursing, foul-mouthed sinner. I couldn't stop the words thatcame out of my mouth, even when I didn't want to use them. They flowednaturally because I had a dirty, sinful heart. But on February 21, 1971, around4:00 in the afternoon, when Jesus Christ came into my heart and gave me a newheart, the cursing stopped immediately. It stopped. Why? Because I now had aheart that belonged to God, and out of that heart He began to produce goodthings and good words. Paul'sadmonition is clear: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth.”The word corrupt means something that is worthless, rotten, or decaying. Thatkind of speech often shows up as gossip, idle talk, words that tear othersdown, or speech designed to make ourselves look better at someone else'sexpense. Remember what Proverbs 6:16-19 tells us: “These six things the Lordhates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him.” After listing six sins, theseventh is “one who sows discord among brethren.” That is often donewith words. Sowhat is the remedy for corrupt speech? The remedy is a heart that has beencleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ—a heart filled with the love of Christ,the truth of Christ, and the grace of God. When God's Holy Spirit controls theheart, He controls the mouth. This is how God wants us to minister to others.Our words should not tear down or destroy the unity of the church, nor damageour testimony before a watching world. Instead, our words should be a testimonyof God's grace, His love, His forgiveness, His kindness, and His goodness. Jesussaid of false teachers, “By their fruit you shall know them.” (Matthew7:16-20). But the same can be said of true believers. And one of the biggestfruits of the Christian life is the fruit of our speech—the words that come outof our mouths. So today, we should take heed to this admonition: “Let nocorrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessaryedification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”  Today,may the words out of our mouths always build up others and reflect the grace ofGod. Godbless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.

If one of your goals for the year is to stop overreacting, it is time to adopt the Holy Pause. Have you found yourself overreacting when all that was necessary was a simple, rational response? It happens to all of us because of automatic negative thoughts, also known as negativity bias. Something happens, or someone says something, and our brain determines it to be a threat; our nervous system is activated, and we overreact. This is why a pause is crucial if you want to stop overreacting. Why are you overreacting? The first step to stop overreacting is recognizing when it happens. Answer these questions: Negativity Bias (automatic negative thoughts) If any of the above are true, your brain is going to automatically think and feel something negative. We call this negativity bias. Your brain is more likely to think something negative than to think everything is fine and you are safe. In fact, 80% of your thoughts are negative. So, if you are someone who tends to overreact, realize you are not alone and there is a reason for it. However, it is not okay to accept it and not attempt to change and be better. Generational Patterns of Overreacting Perhaps you've experienced generational patterns of overreacting. Do you have family members whom you witnessed overreacting and from whom you learned this behavior? If anxiety is part of your genetic makeup or the genetic makeup of your parents or grandparents, chances are you experienced negative reactions much of your life. But as I've said before, anxiety is not an excuse for poor choices and overreacting. There is damage from overreacting. The power of a Holy Pause. If you want to change, the first step is to become aware of what is happening before overreacting. Awareness is crucial to using the Holy Pause. How is change possible? You can stop overreacting. Change is possible when you start renewing your mind. To understand where to begin to renew your mind, you must recognize that the mind is separate from your brain. Your brain is miraculously capable of changing, growing, and being retrained; we call this neuroplasticity. It is not stagnant or stuck. It is dynamic, and when you renew your mind, you gain power over your neuropathways. Scripture and renewal of the mind. In Romans 12:2, Paul tells us not to conform to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. When we renew our mind and release the negative, we can rebuild our emotional state by training the prefrontal cortex (the executive function center) to take charge rather than succumbing to the fight-or-flight response triggered by the amygdala (the fear center). Read the full shownotes and access all links. SSFI conference link Schedule a consultation discovery call today. Friend, if you are ready to take intentional action, get the root of what is causing you to overreact, discover wholeness and flourishing in your life and relationships, and heal from anxiety and past experiences, schedule a free consultation discovery call with me. Additional Free Resources Download additional resources to navigate anxiety and renew your mind through journaling and Scripture.

by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on November 30, 2025) In Romans 11, we read about the “judicial blinding” of Israel. This “judicial blindness” is a chastening judgment upon His people – in this case the Jews – who continually reject the clear preaching of the gospel message. These are NOT reprobate, non-elect persons; rather,...

God’s new mercies for a new year remind us that lasting hope isn’t found in resolutions, productivity, or perfectly planned goals, but in the daily faithfulness of the Lord. Rooted in Lamentations 3:21–27, this devotional points us to the steady truth that God’s compassion never fails, His mercy is renewed every morning, and His presence is sufficient for each ordinary day ahead. Highlights Ordinary, quiet days can feel harder than busy ones, yet they are sacred gifts from God. Our relationship with God is not a goal to achieve but a journey to continue. New Year’s resolutions cannot sustain spiritual growth the way daily dependence on God can. God’s mercy, love, and compassion are renewed every single morning without fail. Hope is not found in knowing the future but in trusting the God who reigns over it. There is always enough mercy for each day—never more, never less. Living one day at a time frees us from fear and anchors us in God’s faithfulness. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: New Mercies for a New Year By: Sarah Frazer Bible Reading:I reach up for my coffee cup in the cabinet. Silently, while my house is still quiet, I pour the steaming liquid. The morning hours are sacred, peaceful, and go by too fast. My children, all five of them, will wake up early. The rooms will be filled with voices, doors opening, and then the noises of food being fixed in the kitchen. Although they are older now and can make their own breakfast, I walk in with my empty coffee cup. I’m ready to help them pack their lunches and pour the orange juice. The morning hours will once again be quiet after getting them off to school, but facing my day means I face the truth that ordinary, mundane days are often harder than the busy ones. How do I spend my day? What is truly important? If I made a list, it would be a mile long. New days bring new to-do lists. Jobs, careers, family, and ministry weave together as the years go by, but how do we decide what to do with our days? Each day is a gift from God, and we don’t want to waste our time, so how do we live better? As the new year approaches, you and I want to make our lives better. We want our health to be better, our relationships to be better, and we want our faith to be better. Although New Year’s resolutions are great, maybe even beneficial, what we cannot resolve to do better is our relationship with God. Our connection to God is something to grow, not a goal to reach. I admit that many times over the years, I’ve spent time writing out my goals and aspirations for my life in December and January, including “spiritual things.” I would write down things like praying more, reading my Bible more, and doing more for God. Although we can make tangible goals like that, God is not asking us to reach a certain point, but to continue on in the journey with Him. What if instead of looking for more, we looked for new? In the new year, maybe we can find hope, mercy, and peace not in our goals or resolutions, but in the daily mercies God is already giving us. What do we have that is something we’ve forgotten about God? What if we stopped looking for more and looked to God for the daily? In the book of Lamentations, we see a powerful passage of hope. The author has spent two and a half chapters lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem. Sorrow, death, and fear surrounded the city. The author’s heart was completely overwhelmed. If you are entering this new year with trepidation, fear, or sorrow, listen closely to the turning point that happens here in the following verses. Yet this I call to mindand therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietlyfor the salvation of the Lord. -Lamentations 3:21-27 (ESV) God’s love, compassion, and mercy are new every morning. Our lives are not built because we make New Year's resolutions or meet all our goals. In the daily choices we make, that’s what really counts. How can we daily look to God for our hope? We don’t know what will happen in the coming year, but we can know for sure God will be on his throne (Psalm 47:2), there is hope (Psalm 9:18), and Christ is with us. (Matthew 28:20) As we enter the new year, don’t forget that God’s mercies are new today. Every year, every morning, and each moment we walk through life, God is with us and His mercy has no end! This gives us a place to start connecting with God right now. Each day, there is enough mercy for that day. There will always be enough. God’s mercy and love are faithful to show up every day without fail. It never runs out. You won’t disappoint, sin, or make mistakes that keep you from God’s love and compassion. We can’t outrun God’s love for us. Don’t get wrapped up in trying to prepare for the whole year in January. Just trust God, there will be enough for each day as it comes. He invites us to live this life one day at a time. Make one resolution or goal: to connect with God daily. Psalm 68:19 says that God “daily bears us up” (ESV). Each day God lifts us, provides for us the hope and mercy we need. God will never fail us. In Romans 8:31-39, Paul tells us what can separate us from God’s love. Spoiler: Nothing can! Intersecting Faith & Life: A New Year can invite us to celebrate God’s new mercies, which show up every day. We access this through His Word. Do you have a regular Bible reading habit or study plan? If life feels overwhelming, I invite you to begin with the Psalms. Check out the podcast Psalms to Help You Sleep to jump-start a daily Bible routine. You can start experiencing God’s new mercies in this new year. Further Reading: Psalm 40:1-3 Isaiah 43:18-19 Romans 8:28-39 1 John 5:14-15 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We don't move past the gospel — we grow deeper in it.In Romans 1:1–17, Paul reminds us that the gospel isn't about our effort, performance, or religious activity — it's the power of God for salvation. This week, we kick off our new series Gospel Blueprint by returning to the foundation that shapes everything we believe, who we are, and how we live.If we misunderstand the gospel, we misunderstand God, ourselves, and what it truly means to follow JesusSubscribe to stay up to date with what God is doing at Creekside Church!Website: https://creekside.churchInstagram: @creeksidechurchnp

Romans 9:25-29 — In order to help the Jews truly understand the peril they were in, Paul uses the Jewish people's own Scripture to argue against their pride. The Jews were very prideful about the fact that they had the Scriptures, but they were also blinded to the message that was in the Scripture. In Romans 9:25–29, Paul is speaking directly to the Jews about their standing as God's chosen people. In this sermon on Romans 9:25–29 titled “Rejection of the Jews,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones notes that the Jews received promises, but they also received threats. They did not realize that the promises they received from God were conditional and His warnings against them were true, because God's words are always true. The words of the prophets that Paul quotes have both an immediate implication and a remote application. God would indeed carry out destruction on the Jewish people and Paul cries out for them on their behalf. Some Jews thought God would not seek destruction on them because it had been so long, but God does not always act immediately on his warnings. Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds that salvation, to the Jew and the Gentile, is purely the work of God and we are saved by his loving mercy. The Jews should be thankful that even a remnant of them were saved. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29?v=20251111

Solomon wrote, "Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil." A blessed New Year and welcome to Right Start with Jim Custer, Pastor Emeritus of Grace Polaris Church in Columbus, Ohio. Our God is so kind that He gives people time to change their minds, and change their ways. But we mistake His kindness for indifference, and we use that time to descend deeper into evil. In Romans 1 and 2 we see what happens when divine patience meets human hardness. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS01012026_0.mp3Scripture References: Romans 1:32-2:11

God Is Focused a Jesus Follower's Heart, and He Changes Their Thinking and Attitude Through a Change in Their Heart MESSAGE SUMMARY: God makes you a new creation through your new heart created by an indwelling of the Holy Spirit in your life. God is interested in your heart, and He wants you to have a righteous heart– God changes your thinking and your attitude through a change in your heart. In Romans 8:26-27, Paul describes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Followers resulting in a new person, with a new heart, in Jesus: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.". As a Jesus Follower, you are salt and light, comes from your righteousness – not just in deed and appearance but, also, in your inner person -- your heart.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Unclutter my heart, O God, until I am quiet enough to hear you speak out of the silence. Help me in these few moments to stop, to listen, to wait, to be still, and to allow your presence to envelop me. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 23). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Past Failures. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Grace. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Proverbs 3:1-7; Romans 2:29; Romans 8:26-28; Psalms 18a:1-10. WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “A Christmas Message” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

In Romans 15 & 16, Paul points us toward unity, encouragement, and faithful obedience as the gospel continues to move forward through the church. As we close our Romans series, we're reminded that God's work continues through ordinary people living out an extraordinary faith.

In Romans 8:33-39, we encounter one of the most powerful declarations in all of Scripture: nothing can separate us from God's love. This message takes us into the spiritual courtroom where we stand accused, yet remarkably justified. Through the vivid account of Joshua the high priest in Zechariah 3, we witness a profound picture of redemption—standing before God in filthy garments, with Satan as our accuser hurling true accusations, yet God Himself rebukes the enemy and clothes us in pure vestments. We learn that we have four key figures in our spiritual reality: a Judge who justifies rather than condemns, an Accuser who speaks truth about our failures, an Intercessor in the Holy Spirit who prays what we cannot articulate, and a Redeemer who exchanges His righteousness for our filth. The message challenges us to recognize that God's love isn't dependent on our circumstances—whether we face tribulation, distress, persecution, or any other trial. Paul's declaration that we are 'more than conquerors' isn't empty optimism but a theological reality grounded in Christ's finished work. The story of Darlene Dibler Rose in a Japanese concentration camp illustrates how God's presence remains tangible even in our darkest moments. As we move into a new year, we're reminded that our hope transcends temporary suffering because this world isn't our final destination—we have an eternal reunion awaiting us with both our Savior and our loved ones.**Sermon Notes:**1. **Introduction:**  - Overview of Romans 1-8, focusing on living in Christ.  - Today's focus: Romans 8:33-39, a pinnacle passage.2. **Key Scriptural Insights:**  - **Romans 8:33-39:**   - Assurance that no charges can stand against God's elect as God justifies.   - Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.  - **Zechariah 3:1-10 Vision:**   - Joshua the high priest accused by Satan.   - God's intervention to cleanse and justify.3. **Spiritual Warfare Context:**  - The presence of a judge, an accuser, an intercessor, and a redeemer.  - Satan's accusations are true but overshadowed by God's justification.4. **God's Justification and Love:**  - Our righteousness in Christ replaces our polluted garments.  - In Christ, we are clothed with salvation and righteousness.5. **Role of the Redeemer:**  - Redemption detailed through the story of the prodigal son.  - We are brought back as sons and daughters, not slaves.6. **Inseparable Love in Trials:**  - Paul's resilience through tribulations as evidence of God's steadfast love.  - Testimony of Darlene Dibler Rose's faith in adversity.7. **Living as Conquerors:**  - We are more than conquerors through Christ—empowered to overcome worldly challenges.**Practical Applications:**1. **Strengthen Faith in Trials:**  - Regularly remind yourself of God's inseparable love during hardships.  2. **Embrace Your Identity in Christ:**  - Reflect on being justified and clothed in righteousness; live out this new identity.3. **Exhibit Christ's Love Daily:**  - Let the love of God shine in your interactions, especially in trying situations.4. **Practice Solitude and Prayer:**  - Set aside noise to deepen your relationship with God and hear His voice.**Discussion Questions:**1. What does it mean to you that God justifies rather than condemns?2. How can we better remember our identity in Christ when faced with accusations or self-doubt?3. In what ways have you experienced the inseparable love of God in your life?4. Reflecting on Darlene Dibler Rose's story, how do you sustain faith in times of adversity?5. How can you express being "more than a conqueror" in your daily life?These condensed notes and applications, along with the questions, are designed to encourage deeper reflection, discussion, and application of the message shared in the sermon.

John 11:23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." This is stunning! Wonderful! Amazing! It seems reasonable that Jesus is telling her what He asked of God. He asked that Lazarus would be raised from the dead, and He is confident that His Father has heard and will give it. In Romans 8:26-28, Paul gives us the same confidence in Jesus' intercession. We may not know how to pray, but that's not our confidence. Our confidence is in God always doing His will with regard to us, and that is to work everything that happens for our greatest good and His greatest glory through the intercession of the Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus Christ. We also know what our highest good is and what brings Him the greatest glory, namely, that everything is being used to conform us to the image of Christ. Another way of saying this is that God is working everything so that we become vessels of Jesus' love for His glory. Lazarus' death was so that God's love and glory could be revealed as Jesus took authority over death. Whatever assails us is just the setting for God to reveal His love and glory in Jesus as He takes authority over it. Settle for nothing less than resurrection power revealed in love.

Todaywe're continuing our study in Ephesians 4:20–24. These powerful verses remindus that we are no longer to walk as the Gentiles walk, or as the lost worldwalks. Paulsays in verse 20, “But ye have not so learned Christ.” Then he goes onto say, “If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, asthe truth is in Jesus” (Ephesians 4:21). My friend, everything changes whentruth is being absorbed into your mind and into your heart. For many years—overfifty years of counseling and talking with people as a pastor—I have observedthat the core problem in most lives is this: people have listened to the liesof the devil. They have listened to the lies and philosophies of the worldwhile trying to figure out what to do about life, about problems, and aboutdifficult decisions. As a result, they make choices based on deception,thinking they are making good decisions when in reality they are being ledastray by a lie. My role as a pastor is to bring people back to the truth ofGod's Word so they can make decisions based on truth. Whatis the truth? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John14:6). The truth is found in God's Word. Jesus also prayed, “Sanctify themthrough thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). The Word of God is thetruth of God revealed to us—in the person of Jesus Christ and in the Scripturesof the Bible. That is why Paul says, “If indeed ye have heard him, and havebeen taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus.” Have you heard Him? WhenJesus speaks, He calls us by name. In John 10, we are told that the Shepherdknows His sheep and calls them by name. And what is the evidence of thatrelationship? We hear His voice. When He calls us, we follow Him. We are notforced to follow Him—we desire to follow Him. Why? Because we are His sheep,and we belong to His fold. Jesus cares for His sheep. That's why we can trulysay, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). He leadsus in paths of righteousness—that is, paths that are right, paths that pleaseGod, paths that align with the principles and truths of God's Word. Those pathslead to life, and to life more abundantly (John 10:10), a life that isdistinctly different from the world around us. Iget excited when I think about this truth—that we have been taught by Him. Notonly does He speak to us and call us, but He also teaches us. And the truth Heteaches is found in Himself. Then in Ephesians 4:22–24, Paul tells us what thattruth looks like in daily living: “That ye put off concerning the formerconversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; Andbe renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, whichafter God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”  Throughoutthe New Testament, Paul explains this process in his letters to the churches atEphesus, Colosse, and Rome. In Romans 5 through 8, he teaches us that, becauseof our salvation in Jesus Christ, we now have a new identity. We can livedifferently—because we are different. We have been made new creatures.We have put off the old man. Like Lazarus, we have been raised from the dead.The spiritual death that once consumed us, condemned us, and weighed us downwith guilt no longer has power over us. We were once condemned to eternity in aplace called hell, but now we have been set free. Weare alive in Christ. Because He lives, we live. And because of that, we canlive a different life. Oh, I encourage you today—study these verses carefully.We will come back to this truth of putting off the old man and putting on thenew man in the days ahead. But I trust you will be encouraged today to knowthat you have life in Christ. You learn the truth in Him and from Him. Hespeaks to you. He walks with you. He is your friend, and He desires to walkwith you every day. Today,will you let Him walk with you? That choice is up to you. Godbless!

What if your battle isn't to win... but to wake up to a victory that's already yours?In Romans 8:37, Paul uses a word that appears nowhere else in Scripture. He doesn't just call us "conquerors." He calls us HYPER-conquerors. Overwhelming victors. But most of us are still white-knuckling our way through life trying to earn what's already ours.Religion taught us that victory comes through performance. Pray enough, serve enough, declare enough... THEN you'll overcome. But Paul points to something different. He says we are more than conquerors THROUGH HIM who loved us. Not through our striving. Through His love.You don't become an overcomer by overcoming. You overcome because you already are one.In this episode, we're unpacking what it actually means to be "more than a conqueror" and why this truth changes everything about how you face hardship, anxiety, and uncertainty.You're not a soldier fighting to secure the kingdom. You're royalty learning to rule in it.

Send us a text      In Romans 3:31 Pauls says, "Should we overthrow the law by this faith? And his answer is,"By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law". We can't disregard the nexus between Old Testament and New Testament passages. May you be blessed by this reflection of God's Word. Support the show

Better to give than receive? What does that mean in the context of Acts 20? In Romans 7, why does Paul say, "I was once alive apart from the Law"? How exactly did God reveal Himself to Isaiah? What does it mean for Jesus to share His glory with us?

Romans 8:34 — Can someone who has been justified be once again condemned because of sin? In Romans 8:34 Paul says that this question is unthinkable for those who are in Christ Jesus. Christ took all of the Christian's condemnation with Him on the cross and the Son will no more bring any charge against them or be the means of their condemnation any more than the Father Himself. In this sermon on Romans 8:34 titled “Christ, Our Security,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones divides Paul's proofs into four main arguments: Christ has died, He has risen again, He is at the right hand of God, and He is making intercession for His people. Because of these four things, the Christian can rest assured that it is impossible for God to punish them once again because Christ died for their sin and bore their punishment so that they can now be alive in God. This means that a believer has been justified and justification is a declaration that they are no longer under condemnation. God's justice was fully satisfied on the cross and, therefore, God's justice should be viewed as their greatest security and comfort. Christ was raised from the dead shows that God the Father was satisfied with this sacrifice and all condemnation has been dealt with fully. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29?v=20251111

There are just too many opinions these days... that's my opinion. Everyone has a point of view. In the church we even have opinions about other people's opinions - but we don't call them that. No, we have "convictions." And when other people's convictions about how to honor God conflict with our convictions, they're just wrong. Obviously. In Romans, Paul is very concerned about that attitude, because it leads to dysfunction in the Body of Christ. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS12102025_0.mp3Scripture References: Romans 14:9

When life feels bigger than your strength, God’s provision becomes your power. Ezra 5:5 reminds us that when God gives an assignment—whether rebuilding a life, leading a family, launching a ministry, or facing opposition—His hand stays on His people until the work is complete. The returning exiles discovered that divine calling comes with divine supply, even when challenges rise and fear tries to stall our obedience. Highlights God equips us fully for every assignment He places in our hands—strength, resources, and support. The exiles returned to devastation, yet God’s favor and miraculous provision met them on arrival. Opposition, intimidation, and discouragement threatened to halt their progress, but God’s presence stayed constant. His faithfulness guaranteed the completion of the rebuilding—He finishes what He begins. Following Jesus includes hardship, but we “take heart” because He has already overcome the world. Romans 8 reminds believers that nothing can separate us from Christ or stop His purposes. Through Him, we live not as survivors but as “more than conquerors,” empowered to persevere. Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas! Full Transcript Below: Divinely Empowered for Our Greatest ChallengesJennifer Slattery (host of Faith Over Fear) Bible Reading:But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease till the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it. (Ezra 5:5, ESV) Today’s verse and the historical context surrounding it assure us that when God assigns us a task, be that to raise children, complete a work project, lead a team, launch a ministry, or pursue a dream, He gives us everything we need to do all that He asks. And while we will likely always experience opposition, whenever we seek to live for Jesus, the events recorded in Ezra and Nehemiah also assure us that He is greater than any opposition we’ll face. In short, He finishes what He begins. The question is, how will we respond when difficulties come? Will we cower in fear, falter in fatigue, or trust in His provision, protection, and care? Presumably, this was a question with which Ezra, the religious leader introduced in the Bible book bearing his name, and the returning exiles wrestled as they labored, for decades, to rebuild what the Assyrians destroyed seventy years prior. Here’s the backstory. Despite centuries of prophetic warnings in which the Lord pleaded with His people to return to Him, they remained set in their rebellion and violent and oppressive ways. Therefore, God gave them the autonomy they wanted, removed His protective hand, and allowed their enemies to conquer them and cart them off to a pagan nation to live as exiles. Yet, faithful to His promise, 70 years later, the Lord mercifully and miraculously returned them to their beloved homeland. Their arrival was bittersweet, filled with celebration for their liberation and return and sorrow for the destruction they saw once back in their beloved capital city. They found Jerusalem’s wall broken down, the gates burned, and the temple destroyed. But they also arrived with an abundance of the Lord’s miraculous provision, given to them by Cyrus, a pagan king. Perhaps buoyed by this obvious display of God’s favor and hope in the restoration He’d previously promised through the prophet Isaiah, they immediately set to work, built an altar, and re-established worship. Not long after, however, their progress stalled due to opposition and their desire to build homes in which to live. The intimidation they experienced from the locals steadily increased and could’ve halted the restoration project indefinitely, leaving Jerusalem like the many other ancient cities that once thrived but are no more. That’s not what happened, however, because the eye of God, meaning His favor and hand, remained on His people until they completed everything He’d assigned and promised. Because again, when God assigns something, He gives us everything we need, be that resources, strength, and people to help, to do all that He’s asked. Intersecting Life & Faith: This story reveals two co-existing realities we all encounter in this life. As you probably know from experience, living for Jesus isn’t, and never will be, easy. Jesus told us to expect trouble: local, national, and global conflict, relational ruptures and betrayal, sickness and poverty, and pain. But He also told us to “take heart”; to sink our faith roots deep into Him, the One who overcame the world and conquered death and the grave that we, His beloved and empowered children, might also overcome. In Romans 8:31-37, Paul, a first-century evangelist who wrote much of the New Testament, phrased it this way: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things? … Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or anguish or persecution or famine …” (ESV). And here’s one of my favorite parts—the last line: “in all these things” –and a thousand more besides— “we are more than conquerors” –as in, we’ve secured, in Christ, overwhelming victory— “through him that loved us” (ESV). Lord, remind us of this truth, your promises, and unchanging character the next time we feel timid, overwhelmed, and defeated that we may pursue Your will with perseverance and Spirit-ignited determination. Further Reading:Proverbs 19:21Proverbs 3:5-6Job 42:2 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When I first embraced the Christian faith, there were a number of things in my life that profoundly needed changing. But nothing seemed to work until some Christian writers took me to Romans 6, 7 and 8.  When I began to understand the teaching of these chapters, my life began to change. In this brief series, I'm sharing these teachings with you as we ask this question: how does faith in Christ actually lead to real change in one's life? In Romans 8, we see that in Jesus, you get three things: 1) you get the freedom to know yourself, 2) you get a new method to change yourself, and 3) you get a new power to be yourself. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on December 3, 2006. Series: In Christ Jesus: How the Spirit Transforms Us. Scripture: Romans 8:1-13. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Where is your hope anchored?In Romans 8, Paul reminds us that all creation is groaning — longing for redemption. The truth is, misplaced hope makes us restless, but anchored hope makes us resilient. Advent invites us to anchor our souls in Christ, not in temporary things that can't hold the weight of our lives.This week, Pastor Gregg reminds us that real hope isn't a thing to hold; it's a Person who holds you. Jesus is our living hope — the anchor that keeps us steady even when the world around us shakes.Subscribe to stay up to date with what God is doing at Creekside Church!Website: https://creekside.churchInstagram: @creeksidechurchnp

In Romans 11, Paul shows that God's faithfulness is greater than our failures , that no one is too far gone, and by His mercy we've been grafted into His family. Watch this week's message as we continue our journey through Romans.

In Romans 12, Paul instructs Christians to be completely dedicated to serving God, fellow Christians, and their neighbors in the world. In this sermon, Evangelist Gavin Williams examines how worship as a way of life extends beyond the songs of ascent and the Old Testament.

Some might say, "Since we are saved by grace, we are free from the Law to do as we please." That is the extreme of license or libertinism. Others might say, "We must live under the Law to please God." That is the extreme of legalism. In Romans 6, Paul answered the first. In Romans 7, he addresses the second.

The letter of Romans strengthened the ancient church, brought reformation to the dark ages, has brought hope for 2000 years, and can change your life! This is a special four part series that spans the year of 2025. In Romans, Paul has been teaching us about the unity of the Body of Christ—not as uniformity, but as a recognition of our God-given differences, which can span everything from political affiliation to personal preferences. In chapter 16, Paul takes an interesting turn and reminds us that unity is never completely free of conflict. We often assume that peace means the absence of conflict, or that unity means we never disagree. But true unity takes work—pressing through conflict and handling it in the right way.Let's listen in…LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:• Recommended reading for this series• Amanda Ripley's book “High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out”• Download the free study guide, complete transcript, and show notes here.• Scripture References: Romans 16, verses 17-23; Titus 3, verse 10; Matthew 10, verse 16• Find out more about Covenant Church at ⁠covenantexperience.com

How does change really happen in somebody's life? And how does faith in Christ concretely and practically lead to change?  In Romans 7 we see, in very starkly and shockingly realistic terms, a depiction of the human heart. And what we really see is the very heart that any principles about change have to be applied to. When we look at Romans 7, I think we learn three things: 1) what our biggest problem is, 2) what won't address that problem, and 3) what will. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on November 26, 2006. Series: In Christ Jesus: How the Spirit Transforms Us. Scripture: Romans 7:1-9, 18-25. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

It's Thursday, December 4th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark European country of Monaco expelled Swiss evangelist Evangelical Focus reports officials in Monaco recently detained and then expelled a Swiss evangelist without much explanation. Monaco is a sovereign city-state in Western Europe, bordered by France to the north, east, and west, with the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Stephan Maag has shared the gospel on streets across 28 European countries. He's known for carrying an 80-pound collapsible cross, generating conversations about Jesus. His evangelistic walks were well-received until he visited Monaco, a microstate in south-eastern France. Police detained Maag, telling him what he was doing was not allowed there. They even told him his cross was too big! The evangelist said, “Nothing like this has ever happened to us in Europe.” In Romans 1:16, the Apostle Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” Germany beefs up security for iconic Christmas markets German cities are tightening security in preparation for opening their iconic Christmas markets this year. Renardo Schlegelmilch with Germany's largest Catholic radio station said, “There are more than 3,000 Christmas markets every year in Germany, with around 170 million visitors — more than twice the population of the country. They set the tone of Advent, even for people who are not active in the Church.” The security cost for this centuries-old tradition has skyrocketed in recent years. Security concerns have risen since 2016 when an Islamic extremist drove a truck into a Berlin Christmas market, killing 12 people. Mississippi evangelist makes case before Supreme Court The U.S. Supreme Court heard a case involving a Mississippi evangelist yesterday. Gabriel Olivier is an evangelical Christian who desires to share his faith with others. However, the City of Brandon, Mississippi passed an ordinance to effectively silence his evangelism. Lower courts sided with the city. Now, First Liberty Institute is representing Gabriel before the U.S. Supreme Court. The group noted, “Gabe's case could overturn decades of bad precedent in the lower courts. A clarifying opinion from the Supreme Court will bolster the rights and religious freedom of millions.” More U.S. soldiers identify with Christ while U.S. more secular U.S. military members are becoming more religious even as America becomes more secular. That's according to a study by Ryan Burge, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis. The study compared 18- to 45-year-olds in the military and outside the military. Members of the military are more likely to identify as Christians than the rest of the population. Military members are also more likely than civilians to attend church. And church attendance in the military has actually increased over the past 12 years. U.S. military abortions are down The Dallas Express reports that military abortions are down to their lowest level in five years. The military's TRICARE health service program covered five abortions this year as of June, down from 49 abortions in 2021.  This follows efforts by President Donald Trump to cancel abortion-related policies.  Although taxpayer-funded abortions at military facilities are down, the general use of medication-induced abortions has skyrocketed in recent years. Republicans won Tennessee special House of Reps. election The Grand Old Party won the special election for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District on Tuesday.  Republican Matt Van Epps beat Democrat Aftyn Behn by nine percentage points with 53.9% of the vote, reports the Nashville Banner. The victory means Republicans will have a 220-213 majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Listen to comments from Epps, thanking God and his supporters for the victory. EPPS: “We did it. Thank you all. This is just an incredible win. Tonight, you've sent a message, loud and clear. The people of Middle Tennessee stand with President Donald J. Trump. First and foremost, I want to thank God for His guidance and grace every step of the way.” Martyred U.S. medical missionary in Congo featured on Time in 1964 And finally, medical missionary Paul Carlson appeared on the covers of Time Magazine and Life Magazine on December 4, 1964, sixty-one years ago today. The successful doctor left a comfortable life in California to be a missionary in Africa. Carlson arrived in the Congo with his wife and two children in 1963. He continued to care for people despite political unrest. However, communist-inspired rebels eventually arrested him and falsely accused him of being an American spy. On November 24, 1964, the rebels opened fire on a group of prisoners, including Carlson. He died helping other prisoners escape the onslaught. Carlson's wife, Lois, carried on her husband's work, supporting medical care and education in the area. His tombstone bears this inscription from John 15:13, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, December 4th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Have you laid your 67 percent on the altar? If God has my spirit and my soul, but not my body, isn't He missing about a third of me? Well, we can't split ourselves up into percentages that way. So the question is, if we've given Him less than all, are we really "His" at all? In Romans 12 Paul urges us to give a kind of offering that involves all 3 dimensions of our being. And it's all because of the mercies of God. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS12042025_0.mp3Scripture References: Romans 12:1-18

In Romans 11, Paul shows that God's faithfulness is greater than our failures , that no one is too far gone, and by His mercy we've been grafted into His family. Watch this week's message as we continue our journey through Romans.

God's mercy deserves a reasonable response. In Romans 12, Paul shows us what that response looks like: offering ourselves fully to God, refusing to be shaped by the world, and allowing Him to transform our minds. Mercy means we don't get what we do deserve; grace means we receive what we don't deserve. When we understand the weight of both, the only reasonable response is a life surrendered to Christ and committed to using our gifts for His glory.   Thank you for listening to the Truth for Today Podcast! For more content from Pastor Terry Fant, click the links below! www.youtube.com/@terryfant885 www.facebook.com/terry.fant.14 www.instagram.com/pastorterryfant https://www.truthfortodayministries.org  

As I opened the bookshelf assembly instructions with piles of boards and tools strewn on the floor before me, I viewed a set of instructional diagrams of what to do and what not to do. One diagram—with a large X on top—depicted a person staring at a pile of boards and tools with a bemused frown not unlike mine just a few minutes prior. On the right side was drawn the “correct” way to assemble. The only difference? A second person was there. Both figures now had smiles on their faces as they worked together. So I got my husband. “The instructions say I need your help,” I said, showing him the drawing. He laughed, and we assembled it together. I could have stubbornly tried to find a way to put it together on my own. But the manual was right; the process wasn’t meant to be done alone. In Romans 12, Paul urged new believers to not try to do life in Jesus alone. Instead of seeing themselves as self-sufficient and thinking of themselves “more highly than [they] ought” (v. 3), they needed to see themselves as part of an interdependent body, where every member needs each other’s help (vv. 4-8). As Jesus helps us learn how to “be devoted to one another in love” (v. 10), we can experience life “in harmony” with each other, where one another’s needs, griefs, and joys (vv. 13, 15) are never carried alone.

Can you steal a promise? God's promises to Israel - can the church just "appropriate" them? After all, they're not using them. It's hardly even theft. No, as we saw yesterday, God has not disowned the Jewish people. Despite their rejection of the Promised One, His promises stand. In Romans 9 through 11 Paul gives some illustrations of the faithfulness of God. These are historical events that every Hebrew - and every Christian - should know. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS11282025_0.mp3Scripture References: Romans 9-11

Maybe it was the dumb voices I did. But the kids used to love it when I read "Winnie the Pooh" to them. Tigger with his irrepressible "hoo-hoo!" bouncing everywhere. And Eeyore with his head down and his ever-present gloom. I'd rather be Tigger than Eeyore maybe without the bouncing. I mean, I want to be the one to leave sunshine in the room, not storm clouds. That's not so easy. There's plenty to make us Eeyores: overheated schedules, grumpy folks, medical battles, family tension, too little sleep, long delays, aggravating pain, and aggravating people who are a pain. And then there's the antidote - thanksgiving. Well, actually, giving thanks. That may be the difference between being the joy-bringer or the joy-killer. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Tigger, Eeyore, and Thanksgiving." The "inventors" of our Thanksgiving exemplify that difference. According to H. U. Westermayer, "The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than those who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." There's Thanksgiving, the holiday. Then there's thanks-living, the lifestyle. It's the difference between the dirty window and the blessing glasses. Yep! See, when I look out a dirty window, the whole world looks yucky. Even the really good stuff is dimmed by all the caked-on dirt that's coloring my view. If you've decided your role in life is "victim," it's going to be hard for you to see much that's positive through that window: abused, neglected, abandoned, misunderstood, passed over, or wounded - that's real hurt. But to let those who hurt you define you? That's a self-imposed sentence of despair; denying the many good things because they don't fit the victim narrative - living as a prisoner of your past. Unthankfulness, for whatever reason, breeds some ugly offspring. In Romans 1, God describes how humans end up doing unthinkably depraved things and where that downward slide starts. "They wouldn't worship Him as God or even give Him thanks...their minds became dark and confused" (Romans 1:21 NLT). Okay, here it is. Unthankful heart - dark mind, bitterness, resentment, depression, anger, rebellion against God. They come from an ungrateful heart. Yes, you can choose to go through life looking out your dirty window, seeing all that's wrong. Or, you can choose to put on your blessing glasses that enable you to live, not in denial of the bad stuff but celebrating the goodness of God all around you if you have eyes to see it. And those blessings are always there: the ever-changing masterpiece of the Ultimate Artist all over the sky, the yard, the smile of a friend, the laughter of that child, the roof over your head, the food in the fridge, the job you have, that person who cares. We call them "God-sightings." Actually, thanks-living isn't just an option for a follower of Jesus. It's a command. "Always be joyful." How am I going to do that, for heaven's sake? Well, in our word for today from the Word of God in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 and 18, where it says, "Always be joyful." It also says, "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Jesus." When you look at life through blessing glasses, all kinds of good things blossom: joy that's from what's happening in your spirit, not your situation, peace that banishes anxiety, faith that sees a God who's bigger than whatever is bigger than you are. Thanksgiving's a great time to become intentional about collecting blessings, not burdens. Living "with gratitude in your hearts to God." For me, that thanks begins, not at a turkey-filled table, but at an old rugged cross where I once again allow myself to be leveled by the love of my Jesus who took my hell so I can spend forever in His heaven. Thanksgiving and thanks-living begin with the love that will never let me go.

People Living Lives in which Sin Is Normal Are Missing the Peace and Fruits of the Holy Spirit MESSAGE SUMMARY: In our world, today, people say that it is OK to sin, but sinning is not OK because if you are sinning, the Holy Spirit is not in you. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the fruit of the Holy Spirit will be present in your life. You cannot exhibit the fruit of the flesh, sin, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul explains, simply, the link between being a Jesus Follower and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 6:17: “But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.". In Romans 12:2, Paul describes God's expectations for us to live in the Spirit and not in the flesh {sin}: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.". The fruit of the Holy Spirit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control.     TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, you know how difficult it is for me to be in silence before you. At times it feels almost impossible, given the demands, distractions, and noise all around me. I invite you to lead me to a quiet, silent place before you — to a place where I can hear you as Elijah did. In Jesus' name, amen.     Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 123). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Compulsions. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Patience. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  Ephesians 4:19-24; Romans 8:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:17-20; Psalms 145b:12-21. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Turkeys and Eagles, Part 5: Following Jesus Changes Everything in Our Families”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Tradition for Transformation: How many people assume they're good with God because they grew up in a Christian home or go to church each week? In Romans 2, Paul explains that it's not religious traditions that matter, but a true transformation of the heart. Tune in to Week Five of Lean In - Vol. 2 here as Elder Andy touches on Romans 2:17-3:8

In Romans 5, Paul reveals one prize after another for knowing Jesus Christ. Before Christ, we were enemies of God and at war with him, but through Jesus, the war with God is over, and we now live in a realm where grace reigns.

In Romans 5, Paul reveals one prize after another for knowing Jesus Christ. Before Christ, we were enemies of God and at war with him, but through Jesus, the war with God is over, and we now live in a realm where grace reigns.

"In Romans 7, Paul describes the inner conflict of wanting to do good but struggling with sin. Is Paul speaking autobiographically as a mature Christian, describing life under the law before Christ, or something else? How should chapter 8 shape a Christian's daily confidence and hope, especially in seasons of suffering? In today's episode, Katie Shemanske and Watermark member, Raegan Driskell talk about Romans 7-9 and discuss the tension of pursing good while being saved by grace through faith and how we can rest in the knowledge of Christ's work for us. You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SG7aaE1ZjjFkgB34G8zp3?si=c960a63736904665 Check out the Join The Journey Website for today's devotional and more resources! https://www.jointhejourney.com/ Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Watermark-Community-Church/author/B0BRYP5MQK?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1755623322&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=8aeeec3b-6c1c-416d-87ae-5dfbbb6981df Check out the Romans Study Sheet: https://assets.ctfassets.net/t8fa2ob1jrlx/5s8w4Q1S8mV7rYF9xDMTce/be2eb8581330ab60913b8af592a6a543/45-Romans-Study-Sheet.pdf"