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5/24/2026 Mark 2:16-17 Jesus Christ God's Gift To People Intro: Jesus Christ came to the earth as a man. Both man and God incarnate. He literally walked this earth from His birth to His ascension into heaven. He is coming again to this earth. Why is He going to return? Why was He born here and lived and died and rose again to just do it all over again? No the first time He had a purpose. When He returns it will be totally different. No one is going to put Jesus on a cross again. He was judged by the world, and Now He will judge the world for rejecting Him.
Morning Worship Sermon with Rev. Bud Hance Scripture reference Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:1-11 Luke 24:50-53 PP The Ascension 50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen. Acts 1:1-11 PP 1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit Promised 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Jesus Ascends To Heaven 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Send us a one-way message! (or visit outloudbible.com/contact to start a conversation)We read 1 John 4–5 and lay out why Christian faith can hold real certainty about God's love, Jesus' identity, and eternal life. We talk about testing spiritual claims, defining love the way Scripture defines it, and holding truth and obedience together without losing compassion. • John's purpose of assurance for believers • testing the spirits by what they confess about Jesus Christ • God's love shown through Jesus as atoning sacrifice • love for fellow Christians as a real-life test • perfect love driving out fear and punishment • faith that conquers the world • God's testimony about the Son and the promise of eternal life • confidence in prayer according to God's will • love and obedience as inseparable • guarding ourselves from idols Go back and read it again anytime you need reassurance. Hear it, love it, live it. At outloudbible.com, you can find free resources to help you study the Bible. And while you're there, send us a message to say hi, or start a conversation about having us at your church or event. If Outloud Bible has been a valuable part of your understanding of the Bible, please consider supporting the ministry by visiting outloudbible.com.Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.
Morning Worship Sermon with Rev. Bud Hance Scripture reference Matthew 26:36-46 The Prayer In the Garden 36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
Morning Worship Sermon with Rev. Bud Hance Scripture reference John 20:1-18 The Empty Tomb 1 Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord 11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 6 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'” 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
Morning Worship with Rev. Bud Hance Scripture reference Mark 15:33-39 PP Jesus Dies On the Cross 33 Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!” 36 Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.” 37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. 38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
Today on the Daily Nugget, Mike here. Today I focus on the journey of the Apostle Paul, who went from persecuting the church as a Pharisee to being dramatically converted by God on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3–6). Paul later taught that apart from Christ people are spiritually dead and under the influence of the evil one—“following the ruler of the power of the air” and “by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:1–3)—but through Jesus Christ God rescues us and brings us into new life.
* You can get the sermon note sheet at: https://family-bible-church.org/2026Messages/26Mar08.pdf * Approximately one month ago, we began considering the Pursuit and Practice of our Lives as a result of the Perfect Propitiatory Sacrifice of Christ on our behalf. We should be committed to running the race which has been set before us and to pursue our conformance to the image of Christ - both in thought and deed. In doing so, we must keep Christ as the focus of our faith. * During the last two weeks, we saw that we have been freed from a bondage to works in order to merit salvation; through Christ, the just shall live by faith. That faith is grounded in the grace of God. God, by His grace, has afforded us this privilege of knowing Him and serving Him through faith. As a result we ought to desire to reflect the holiness and love of God in our lives in our actions. However, we were reminded that though God extends His grace, He is still a "consuming fire." Jesus Christ - God incarnate - is the same yesterday, today and forever! * Today, we come to the final portion of the letter to the Hebrews. In this portion, which we will take two weeks to cover, we see a listing of final exhortations. These are important "final" thoughts, providing us commands and exhortations regarding our relationship with God and with others. * This message was presented by Bob Corbin on March 8, 2026 at Family Bible Church in Martinez, Georgia.
Morning Worship Sermon with Rev. Bud Hance Scripture reference Luke 4:1-15 Satan Tempts Jesus 1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. 3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'” 5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'” 9 Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,' 11 and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' ” 12 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'” 13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. Jesus Begins His Ministry In Galilee 14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. 15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
Why does the message of Jesus feel “unreasonable” to so many people—even in highly educated, modern cultures? In today's episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef unpacks a core reality from 1 Corinthians 1: the cross confronts human pride. To the natural mind, the Gospel seems impossible—God becoming man, living in humility, dying on a cross, rising again, and offering forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe. Yet when the Holy Spirit opens our ears of faith, what once sounded like nonsense becomes the clearest Truth we've ever known. Dr. Youssef also exposes the limits of today's information-saturated world: more wealth, more leisure, and more knowledge have not made us wise or moral—because human wisdom can't redeem, change, or give peace. At best, it covers symptoms. Only God's wisdom—revealed through Christ and His cross—has the power to save, transform, and one day make all things new (Revelation 21:5). If you've been tempted to trust cultural “wisdom,” discouraged by spiritual apathy, or hesitant to share the Gospel because others call it foolish, this devotional will re-center your heart on the only wisdom that lasts: Jesus Christ—God's power and God's wisdom. Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 1:18Go deeper: Dr. Youssef's sermon Healthy Living in a Sick World: The Folly of Human Wisdom (Watch Now | Listen Now) The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.
So as we conclude and look at God incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ. We have to make a decision, resolve in our heart; regardless to what people and tradition is passed down to us somewhere along the way in this life, we have to get off the fence and decide that this Jesus Christ is now our incarnate God in heaven and earth, we need to make the decision to either follow Him and be saved or not follow Him & be lost.As He did not come to force any man to be saved or to follow Him, He came us to God that we may exercise I free will and free choice to accept Him to love Him and to worship Him as God and if you refuse that's our choice but he is our only way to heaven regardless of what tradition says you have to make that decision to follow Him in this life there's no afterlife that you'll get to make this decision, as "today is the day of salvation." (2Corinthian 6:2), paraphrase read it.Contact: heavensprayerlink.com, we love to pray with you, God bless you.
"The incarnation is the belief that the pre-existent divine person of Jesus Christ, God the Son, The second person of the Trinity, who is also the Logos (common Greek for 'word'), was "made flesh" by being conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of a woman, the Virgin Mary. We read: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulders: and His name shall He be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6). One definition I got of God incarnate, I really like was: Jesus Christ is "someone embodying pure goodness." Yes, according to the New Testament, Jesus made numerous claims to divinity, though not always using the exact phrase: "I am God"; he used divine titles like "I AM," claimed oneness with the Father. Now from the Bible, "incarnate" means God's Son, the Logos, took on human flesh and a human body, Being fully God and becoming fully man, in the person of Jesus Christ, as stated in John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.". God Incarnate." The Word, Son of God, Jesus Christ, Lord & Savior, King of Kings, Lord of Lords! Colossians 1:15-20: Verse 16. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth". This verse, along with others like Philippians 2:6-8 and Colossians 2:9, is central to the Christian belief that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. "God incarnate" means that God has taken on a human form, a core doctrine in Christianity stating that God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. It literally means "God in the flesh," from the Latin "in carne," and signifies that Jesus was both fully God and fully human. The concept is also seen in other religions, such as the idea of an "avatar" in Hinduism, where a deity descends to Earth in a tangible form." Reference Google searches and help here from online Christian Theology.Contact: heavensprayerlink.com, we love to pray with you, God bless you.
Micah 6:6-8 - "How should someone approach God?" is one of the most important questions a person can ask. The Christian gospel contends that God has graciously first approached His people in the person and work of Jesus Christ--God with us. But to walk in intimacy with God, we are called to be conduits of the heart of God to others around us through what the prophet Micah calls "doing justice." In this sermon, we consider some basic principles for doing justice with a sacrificial heart, both responsively and proactively. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of our series "Images and Neighbors, Every One"] Questions for reflection: 1) This passage from Micah first outlines some wrong answers to the question "With what shall I come before the Lord?" What does this make clear about how not to approach God? 2) How would you define "doing justice"? What are some of the most important aspects? 3) Doing justice can involve time, treasure, and talents or serving, financially giving, and advocacy. Why is "doing justice' not reducible to just one of these activities? 4) Discuss the idea of planning for both responsive/reactive justice work and proactive/strategic justice work. 5) Why is a loving heart an indispensable part of this? 6) What is the connection between the grace of Christ toward us and our doing justice toward others?
God sent his son to redeem us from our sins. Join us for our special Christmas Eve service at Sunnyvale FBC and the final message in Pastor Biles' series entitled, IMMANUEL, God with Us.
Wehave been studying Ephesians chapter 4, where the Apostle Paul teaches that weare to live differently than we once did. Why? Because a new man has enteredour lives. That new man is none other than Jesus Christ Himself, living in usthrough the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit now dwellswithin us, giving us a new life—a life that can walk in righteousness and dothe things that please God. Paulbecomes very practical in this section, telling us what it means to put off theold man. In Ephesians 4:25, he begins by saying: “Therefore, putting awaylying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for weare members of one another.” Here,Paul emphasizes the importance of truth. Youmay remember the moment when Pilate stood before Jesus and asked, “What istruth?” Just before that question, Jesus had declared in John 18:37: “Pilatetherefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered,"You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for thiscause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." That brings to mind Johnchapter 10, where Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, andthey follow me.” To follow Jesus is to follow truth. To know the truth, wemust have a personal relationship with the truth—because Jesus is the truth. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Wordwas with God, and the Word was God… All things were made by him.” “And the Word was made flesh,and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begottenof the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Hereis John—a simple fisherman from the region of the Sea of Galilee—testifying, “Wehave met the truth. We have seen His glory.” He echoes this again in 1 Johnchapter 1, declaring that they had heard, seen, and touched the Word of life. Thistruth is none other than Jesus Christ—God in the flesh. John tells us that Hisglory was full of grace and truth. God reveals Himself as the source of alltruth. Jesus later said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and thelife.” When Pilate asked, “What is truth?” the answer, Jesus Christ,Truth Himself was standing right in front of him. TheBible teaches that we are born speaking lies. Psalm 58:3 says, “The wickedare estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speakinglies.” Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that the heart is deceitful above all thingsand desperately wicked. Our natural hearts are part of the old man, the oldnature, and “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew12:34). So how can you tell the difference between someone who follows Jesusand someone who does not? A follower of Jesus speaks the truth, believes thetruth, and loves the truth. Where is truth found? Truth is found in JesusChrist. Where is Christ found? In the Word of God. Thegreatest lie ever told was spoken by Satan in the Garden of Eden, when he toldEve, “You shall not surely die… you shall be like God, knowing good andevil.” In other words, “Follow your heart.” You hear that message everywhere today, but itis not biblical. The Bible does not say, “Follow your heart.” Jesus said,“Follow me.” And when you follow Jesus, you follow the truth. Satan is still whisperingthis lie in our ears today. “You can decide what is right or wrong. Do what makesyou feel good. You don't need God”. Thatis why Jesus said He was born, “to bear witness to the truth”. When you knowthe truth—when you know Jesus—you can speak the truth to your neighbor. Truthbuilds up; lies tear down. Truth strengthens fellowship; lies destroy it. MayGod help us understand this: Jesus is the Truth. Let us love Him, live for Him,and speak His Truth. When you speak the truth, you bear witness to JesusChrist! And if you have never received Him into your life, I encourage you todo so this Christmas Eve.
“The Christmas Story” celebrates the miraculous coming of Jesus Christ—God with us—into a humble world as foretold by the prophets and revealed in the Gospels. In the quiet town of Bethlehem, a virgin named Mary gave birth to the Savior, wrapped Him in simple cloths, and placed Him in a manger, heralded by angels and adored by shepherds (Luke 2). This singular event marks the fulfillment of God's promise to redeem humanity, bringing light into darkness and hope to the weary. The Christmas narrative reminds us that God did not send a conquering hero as the world expected, but rather a humble King who would ultimately conquer sin and death through love and sacrifice. In celebrating Christ's birth, we are invited to reflect on the wonder of God's grace made visible among us—Emmanuel, the promise of peace and salvation for all who believe.
Dave Merrill | Credo: Fath Foundations for Life (Apostle's Creed) | October 5th, 2025
Every person in the world has a representative before God. It is either Adam (the first man), or Jesus Christ (God's Son). Your eternal destiny hangs upon which of these two men represents you. You were born with Adam as your representative. You must be born again to procure Jesus Christ as your new representative. Only one of them will lead you to eternal life.
Scripture: Acts 2;1-21, Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:1-4, 2 Peter 3. Pentecost is the birthday of the Christian church, but it's even more than that. Join us as we explore the story of the first Pentecost and specifically focus in on Acts 2;17 “‘In the LAST DAYS,' God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people.'” The New Testament makes it clear that these are the last days - with the coming of Jesus in the flesh, His ministry, His death and resurrection, His ascension and Pentecost a new era has begun. Beginning then we have entered into the Last Days of what we know of planet earth. Hebrews 1:1-2 tells us “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” 2 Timothy 3:1 says, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God“ 2 Peter 3:3 “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.” The “last days” are also in the Old Testament and they were: Israel's Hope (The day they were longing for) Numbers 11:23 Ezekiel 36:26 Hosea 3;5 Micah 4:1 Jeremiah 31:31-34 What the Old Testament pointed to is now being fulfilled in the New Testament. God's intent and plan has been there all along! Applications ⁃ These are the Last Days! God is fulfilling his plan - not a cause of panic - God is faithful - we are to take Him seriously - these are exciting times - dangerous many times - difficult, yes - these last days are days that change our world view. ⁃ Holy Spirit is outpoured and that outpouring continues. Holy Spirit yearns to fill us to overflowing so that we walk and pray in the Spirit - Holy Spirit points us to Jesus, the Spirit convicts, guides, leads and directs our lives. ⁃ The New Covenant is here. The law shows us God's will but it doesn't save because we are all sinners. The New Covenant is about the grace of God in Jesus Christ - God paid the price of the penalty for our sin at the cross. ⁃ Heed God's Holy Spirit. Seek the Holy Spirit - do what He says - Keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit - we need the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life and to grow in faith. ⁃ Be Prepared - Be Awake! We are to be ready, on guard and awake! ⁃ Awake to: ⁃ What God has done ⁃ What God's word has declared ⁃ The truth that the Last Days are here ⁃ The reality of the Holy Spirit's indwelling ⁃ Awake and prepared for what is ahead. We need what only God can provide: ⁃ Divine Wisdom ⁃ Divine understanding ⁃ His truth ⁃ Strength for today ⁃ Power for tomorrow ⁃ Assurance of life forever through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Everything we do is to revolve around the goodness, grace, mercy, presence, love and forgiveness of God because He changes everything! Pentecost is not just the birth day of the Christian church it is the culmination of all God had promised His Old Covenant people for centuries and that is fulfilled in Christ Jesus and His return. We are in the Last Days - but THE Last Day is coming - as is the age to come that is forever with Him! Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/40-10 Join us Sundays https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.
Daily Devotion with Pastor Balla – May 13, 2025“The Leveling Power of Death” – Ecclesiastes 2:12–17 (ESV)Solomon confronts the ultimate futility of life “under the sun”: wisdom may guide us better than folly, but in the end, death claims both the wise and the fool alike. In this devotion, Pastor Balla reflects on the sobering truth that death levels all human striving and silences every earthly boast.But the Good News breaks through the sorrow. Jesus Christ—God's Wisdom in the flesh—has overcome death for us. What Solomon saw dimly, we see clearly: death is no longer the end, but the beginning of life eternal for those in Christ.Join us as we find comfort in Christ's victory and rest in the hope that even death cannot take away.Please like, share, and subscribe for more Christ-centered encouragement from Ecclesiastes.#Ecclesiastes #PastorBalla #WisdomAndDeath #VictoryInChrist #LutheranDevotion
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: THE DEITY AND TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST“God's Glory In Our Pain”John 9:1-5 NKJVChrist's Bible Fellowship - Barrigada, Guam USASpeaker: Pastor Avery FerrerasSunday, March 30, 2025
This is a turbulent time for American democracy. Years, perhaps decades, of social change is manifesting in the form of distrust, violence, chaos, fear, loneliness, and despair. But Conversing, along with Comment magazine, is about hope, healing, and hospitality. For this special 200th episode of Conversing, Mark Labberton invites Anne Snyder (Editor-in-Chief, Comment magazine) for a close reading and discussion of the 2025 Comment Manifesto, a hopeful new document offering a vision of Christian Humanism for this era. Together they discuss: The meaning and intent behind a new Comment magazine Manifesto for Christian humanism The Incarnation of Christ for what it means to be human Hospitality in an era of exclusion Healthy institutions and the importance of communal agency Individualism vs communitarianism Learning to perceive the world in fresh, surprising ways About the Comment Manifesto To read the Manifesto in its entirety, visit comment.org/manifesto/, or scroll below. To watch a reading of selections from the Comment Manifesto, click here. About Anne Snyder Anne Snyder is the Editor-in-Chief of Comment magazine, which is a core publication of Cardus, a think tank devoted to renewing North American social architecture, rooted in two thousand years of Christian social thought. Visit https://comment.org/ for more information. For years, Anne has been engaged in concerns for the social architecture of the world. That is, the way that our practices of social engagement, life, conversation, discussion, debate, and difference can all be held in the right kind of ways for the sake of the thriving of people, individuals, communities, and our nation at large. Anne also oversees our Comment's partner project, Breaking Ground, and is the host of The Whole Person Revolution podcast and co-editor of Breaking Ground: Charting Our Future in a Pandemic Year (2022). Show Notes Giving thanks for 200 episodes of Conversing! 2000 years of Christian thought to the public square James K.A. Smith, the former editor of Comment Magazine Seeking a positive moral vision A turbulent moment for democracy MANIFESTO SECTION 1 “We are Christian humanists…” What it means to be human in our age—our infinite dignity, relationship to the earth, and woundedness The significance of Jesus Christ for what it means to be human What the Incarnation of Christ means for our world “So many people we know and love and respect feel ecclesially homeless, obviously politically homeless.” MANIFESTO SECTION 2 “We believe it's time to build…” Agency Called to a co-creative project Productive and constructive “Contributing the true and good and beautiful in a messy world.” MANIFESTO SECTION 3 “We believe in institutions…” Collective, common, and communal Institutions, as part of the social architecture of our world, can be extraordinarily positive. “I always get asked, ‘Why do you believe in institutions? Why? You don't need to! They're gone! They're dead!'” “Healthy institutions are channels within which you can actually realize your sense of agency in a way that might be more moving than you ever would have imagined just by yourself.” Yuval Levin's take on community (paraphrased): “All the tumult we're experiencing, we're just having a big fight about what kinds of what community means.” Polarization MAGA as a kind of community “I consider myself a bit of a communitarian.” Christian humanism throughout history always has four projects connected to it: Theology, character formation, political economy, and aesthetic. MANIFESTO SECTION 4 “We believe in the transformative power of encounter—encountering reality, encountering those unlike us.” Addressing the fractured social fabric and isolation of this age Encounter and trust Hospitality— ”taking one another's being and doing in the world seriously enough” Enter the room listening MANIFESTO SECTION 5 “We believe Christianity is perpetually on the move. There is no sacred capital.” “This is our most aggressive claim.” Distinguishing Comment from peer publications such as First Things “All cultures are fallen, and we're part of another kingdom.” Galatians 5 and the Fruit of the Spirit Civilizational Christianity The smallness of “faith, family, flag” “So much of my Christian identity has been rewritten by experiences of Christian faith that are completely outside the, the social reality that is my fundamental location.” ”When Christianity seems to be running the dangerous risk of being captured, captured by a certain kind of ideological political social frame that feels as though it's really making itself primary simply by its Napoleonic capacity for self-crowning, that is a very, very dangerous thing.” MANIFESTO SECTION 6 “We believe there are different ways of knowing—that the thinker and the practitioner have equally valuable wisdoms worth airing, that relationship and context matter for the ways in which we perceive reality, that the child with Down syndrome perceives truths that a Nobel Prize winner cannot, and that there is a need for those who inhabit these myriad ways to share space and learn how to pursue understanding—perhaps even revelation—together.” Perceiving the world differently Down syndrome and the expression of a different kind of knowing or wisdom Full circle with the first principle of the imago Dei Functioning out of either confidence, uncertainty, or anxiety Mark Labberton's friend Dustin (R.I.P), who had cerebral palsy Fatigue, trying to get our bearings Looking for moral and eschatological coherence Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment Magazine and Fuller Seminary. The 6 Primary Sections of the 2025 Comment Manifesto To read the Manifesto in its entirety, visit comment.org/manifesto/. We are Christian humanists, those who believe that Jesus Christ—God become man—is the ultimate measure of what it means to be human. We believe that every human being is created in the image of God, whole persons who are at once fallen yet gloriously endowed, finite and dependent, yet deserving of infinite dignity. We seek to stay true both to the wonder and to the woundedness of life this side of the veil, even as our eschatology floods us with hope: Jesus has walked with us, died, risen, and ascended, and he will come again to make all things new. We believe it's a time to build, that the creative imagination and the Christian imagination are mysteriously linked. We want to begin with the Yes in Christ, not our own noes. While there is an important role for criticism baptized in a study of what is true, good, and beautiful, it is a means to an end—the basis for wise repair and imagination, not the justification for destruction or erasure. We are committed to keeping orthodoxy and orthopraxy married, taking seriously our job to translate between them. We believe in institutions: government, guilds, families, schools, universities, the church. We recognize that in our age of individualism, institutions are often painted as the enemy. We try to change that, seeking to shape the character of today's most formative institutions while exploring what kind of reimagined social architecture might compel the next generation's trust. We believe in the transformative power of encounter—encountering reality, encountering those unlike us. Loving enemies is bedrock for Comment, hospitality core. We are champions of the difficult room. We believe in the deeper truths that can be discovered when different life experiences and distinct sources of wisdom are gathered around one table. We intentionally publish arguments with which we disagree, including those who don't hail Christ as Lord, not for the sake of pluralism without conviction, but because Christians have always better understood the contours and depths of their faith when crystallized through exchanges with strangers turned friends. We believe Christianity is perpetually on the move. There is no sacred capital. While the audience we serve is navigating a North American context, we serve this audience from an understanding that Christianity is an intercultural, polyglot religion. At a time of rising religious ethno-nationalism, we insist that no culture can claim to represent the true form of Christianity, and we actively seek for our authors and partners to reflect the global reality of the church. We believe there are different ways of knowing—that the thinker and the practitioner have equally valuable wisdoms worth airing, that relationship and context matter for the ways in which we perceive reality, that the child with Down syndrome perceives truths that a Nobel Prize winner cannot, and that there is a need for those who inhabit these myriad ways to share space and learn how to pursue understanding—perhaps even revelation—together. ... Our theory of change takes its cues from the garden, less the machine. We are personalists, not ideologues. We follow the logic of Jesus's mustard seed, of yeast transforming a whole pile of dough, of the principle of contagiousness and change happening over generations. We believe in the value of slow thought. We are skeptical of the language of scale in growing spiritual goods. While we wish to be savvy in unmasking the either/or reactivity of our age and will always call out dehumanizing trendlines, we are fundamentally animated by the creative impulse, by a philosophy of natality expressed through hospitality. This feels especially important in this time between eras when no one knows what's next, and we need one another to recalibrate, to reflect, and to shape a hopeful future.
Introduction A. Housekeeping I want to start with a matter of internal housekeeping. Sort of a family issue. If you are visiting this morning, I beg your pardon, as this is a family matter we need to take care of. On Sunday, August 4, 2024 (about 2 months ago), I preached a sermon on The Armor of God…
Series: Enduring the Dragon Title: Redemption Song Text: Revelation 14:1-5 Today's Takeaway – Sing with all your life and all your might the glorious song of redemption through Jesus Christ God has redeemed you and sealed you for salvation forever God has redeemed you and made you completely holy God has redeemed you and devoted…
What you believe about God will determine the course of your life. Join us today as we teach from the Word of God about whether or not God allows hardship in your life for His greater purpose, to teach you a lesson, or just allows things to happen to you at random. Find all of our podcasts, videos, and more by going to our website: Https://www.wordontheway.com To support our show click this link: Https://www.wordontheway.com/give Follow us on all platforms: Https://www.YouTube.com/@wordotw Https://www.instagram.com/wordotw Https://www.TikTok.com/wordotw #faith #hope #Bibletruth #wordotw #Jesus #Christ #God #podcast #christian --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wordontheway/message
Although God mysteriously reveals Himself in many ways in Scripture, His clearest revelation if through Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.
Although God mysteriously reveals Himself in many ways in Scripture, His clearest revelation if through Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.
Introductory: Jesus Christ, God and Man
John 11:27 | April 21, 2024 | Raymond Billy Raymond Billy is teaching on John 11:27 as part of a sermon series on The Apostles' Creed. We hope you are blessed and equipped by today's message. To find out more about Shorebreak Church or to partner financially, visit www.shorebreakchurch.com To share your story or ask questions, contact aloha@shorebreakchurch.com Mahalo for listening!
Video with subtitles 字幕付き動画 - https://www.youtube.com/live/PHHP7JsrpGw?feature=shared&t=2472
Join Mark Ordus in Week 2 of "What We Believe," delving into the Apostles' Creed's profound declaration of faith in Jesus Christ, God's only Son. This sermon explores the unique identity of Jesus as our Prophet, Priest, and King, revealing how each role enriches our understanding of His mission and our salvation. Mark challenges us to embrace the full scope of Jesus' ministry, not just as a historical figure, but as the living embodiment of God's love, authority, and truth. Discover how accepting Jesus in all these roles can transform our lives, guiding us toward a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with God.
In Touch TV Broadcast featuring Dr. Charles Stanley - In Touch Ministries
Discover how Jesus is the perfect image of God the Father.
Ever driven past the home you grew up in, and were a little heartsick? Maybe it's fallen into disrepair and looks so uninviting. It's not the way it used to be, you say to yourself. Well imagine what the Lord must think of the world He created. After the fall of Adam and Eve, the culture just kept on falling. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie shows us what's ahead for planet earth. We'll see the Lord has big plans, and believers will see the “big reveal.” Listen on harvest.org --- Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org . A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ever driven past the home you grew up in, and were a little heartsick? Maybe it's fallen into disrepair and looks so uninviting. It's not the way it used to be, you say to yourself. Well imagine what the Lord must think of the world He created. After the fall of Adam and Eve, the culture just kept on falling. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie shows us what's ahead for planet earth. We'll see the Lord has big plans, and believers will see the “big reveal.” Listen on harvest.org --- Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org . A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.