Podcast appearances and mentions of John the Baptist

Part 2/2. Of unknown authorship, the Dead Sea Scrolls - also known as the Qumran Scrolls - are some of the most important ancient documents ever discovered. Found by a young boy in a cave by the Dead Sea, the scrolls offer invaluable insight into what life was like in Qumran and the surrounding areas 2 millennia ago. But who, if anyone, actually lived there, and what does John the Baptist have to do with it?In our second episode on the Dead Sea Scrolls, Tristan is once again joined by Dr Jodi Magness from the University of North Carolina, to help us understand the invaluable nature of these artefacts. Looking at how Jewish religion was organised at this time, early examples of etymology, and even some millennia old puns - what can we learn about the Dead Sea Scrolls, and why are they so valuable in our understanding of the ancient past?The Ancients has been nominated in the History category at the Signal Awards! Help us win Gold by casting your vote here!Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Matt Lewis, Tristan Hughes and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code ANCIENTS. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up here.You can take part in our listener survey here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke 3 - The Next Step For Me - Pastor Dan Plourde

Mark's Gospel reveals Jesus as both the Son of God and the Servant prophesied in Scripture--the Servant-Son who came to powerfully advance God's Kingdom on earth.  Throughout Mark we see Jesus as a man of action and authority and he calls us to be the same! Today's message shows how John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus' ministry and gives us many good examples to imitate!  Welcome to this face-paced adventure of seeing how Jesus works and following His example!

Today we get back into our study of Matthew. In chapter three John the Baptist is preparing the people for the coming King! And that's our calling in Christ today. We're to be preparing the people for the Kings return. And we're to declare the same message of repentance. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29

Readings: Ezekiel 18:25-28 Psalm 25:4-9 Philippians 2:1-11 Matthew 21:28-32 Echoing the complaint heard in last week's readings, today's First Reading again presents protests that God isn't fair. Why does He punish with death one who begins in virtue but falls into iniquity, while granting life to the wicked one who turns from sin? This is the question that Jesus takes up in the parable in today's Gospel. The first son represents the most heinous sinners of Jesus' day—tax collectors and prostitutes—who by their sin at first refused to serve in the Lord's vineyard, the kingdom. At the preaching of John the Baptist, they repented and did what was right and just. The second son represents Israel's leaders—who said they would serve God in the vineyard, but refused to believe John when he told them they must produce good fruits as evidence of their repentance (see Matthew 3:8). Once again, this week's readings invite us to ponder the unfathomable ways of God's justice and mercy. He teaches His ways only to the humble, as we sing in today's Psalm. And in the Epistle today, Paul presents Jesus as the model of that humility by which we come to know life's true path. Paul sings a beautiful hymn to the Incarnation. Unlike Adam, the first man, who in his pride grasped at being God, the New Adam, Jesus, humbled himself to become a slave, obedient even unto death on the cross (see Romans 5:14). In this He has shown sinners—each one of us—the way back to the Father. We can only come to God to serve in His vineyard, the Church, by having that same attitude as Christ. This is what Israel's leaders lacked. In their vainglory, they presumed their superiority—that they had no further need to hear God's Word or listen to God's servants. But this is the way to death, as God tells Ezekiel today. We are always to be emptying ourselves, seeking forgiveness for our sins and frailties, confessing on bended knee that He is Lord, to the glory of the Father.

Brian learns details of the death of John the Baptist. Not long after, sitting with Pastor Roger Spitler of Eaton Church of God, Brian has questions. Listen in. Today's show is supported by: Indiana Donor Network: https://indianadonornetwork.org/ ASD Answering Service for Directors: https://www.myasd.com/

Friends of the Rosary: Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Archangels Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Believing in the existence of the spiritual, that Sacred Scripture calls “angels” is a truth of faith. Angels are pure, non-corporeal heavenly spirits, on a higher order than human beings. They do not depend on matter for their existence or activity. The name angel means servant or messenger of God. They are distinct from saints, which men can become. Angels have intellect and will, and are immortal. St. Michael (Who is like God?, in Hebrew) is the prince of the heavenly host. He was the archangel who fought against Satan and all his evil angels. He is the protector of all humanity from the snares of the devil. His name appears in Scripture four times, twice in the Book of Daniel, and once each in the Epistle of St. Jude and the Book of Revelation. From Revelation, we learn of the battle in heaven, with St. Michael and his angels combatting Lucifer and the other fallen angels (or devils). We invoke St. Michael to help us in our fight against Satan; to rescue souls from Satan, especially at the hour of death. He is usually pictured as a strong warrior, dressed in armor and wearing sandals. St. Gabriel (God is my strength) announced to Zachariah the forthcoming birth of John the Baptist, and to Mary, the birth of Jesus. He was the angel chosen by God to be the messenger to announce the mystery of the Incarnation. His greeting to the Virgin, “Hail, full of grace,” has become the constant prayer of all Christian people. St. Raphael (God has healed) is the archangel who took care of Tobias' blindness on his journey in the Book of Tobit. His mission was as a healer and fellow traveler with the youthful Tobias. He is also identified with the angel in John 5:1-4 who descended upon the pond and bestowed healing powers. Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael Pray for Us! To Jesus through Mary! + Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York • September 29, 2023, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts football team, announced this week that he is donating $5 million to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago in honor of his late cousin, Sister Joyce Dura. Irsay, a billionaire businessman who grew up in the Chicago area, praised his cousin's service to others during her time as a religious sister. “Sister Joyce spent a half-century giving back to others, so with this gift I only hope to emulate my dear cousin's spirit, grace, and her commitment to our communities,” Irsay said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255506/indianapolis-colts-owner-donates-5-dollars-million-to-catholic-charities-chicago-to-honor-his-cousin-a-nun The Archdiocese of Saint Louis may close more than 25 Catholic elementary schools amid a major restructuring plan that has already closed and merged many parishes. Roughly one-third of the 80 Catholic parish elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis will meet with representatives from the Office of Catholic Education and Formation and their Episcopal Vicar to consult on their current and future status, the archdiocese announced September 27. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255513/one-third-of-st-louis-catholic-schools-face-possible-closure Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City on Thursday called the execution of convicted murderer Anthony Sanchez, which took place a week ago, “fundamentally at odds with the culture of life the state of Oklahoma proclaims to be building.” Sanchez was convicted of the 1996 rape and murder of 21-year-old University of Oklahoma student Juli Busken, KOCO5 reported. He died September 21 at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, about a 130-mile drive from Oklahoma City. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255516/oklahoma-archbishop-decries-execution-of-anthony-sanchez-as-archaic The Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT) on Mount Graham in southern Arizona celebrated its 30th anniversary this month, and the observatory has several days worth of celebrations planned for this weekend. The VATT is a relatively recent extension of the Vatican Observatory, which has roots dating to 1582, making it one of the oldest active astronomical observatories in the world. The observatory was re-founded in 1891 by Pope Leo XIII, who intended to reinforce the Catholic Church's support of science. Originally located near Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, the Vatican Observatory moved to Castel Gandolfo under Pope Pius XI due to light pollution from the city. In 1981, again due to growing light pollution, the observatory launched another research center under the famously dark Arizona skies. The VATT, which is paid for by private donations, is today located on a mountaintop in rural Arizona about 200 miles southeast of Phoenix. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255512/celebrations-planned-for-30th-anniversary-of-vatican-observatory-s-arizona-telescope Today, the Church celebrates the three Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, the only angels named in Sacred Scripture. All three have important roles in the history of salvation. Saint Michael is the "Prince of the Heavenly Host," the leader of all the angels. Saint Gabriel, whose name means "God's strength," is mentioned four times in the Bible. Most significant are Gabriel's two mentions in the New Testament: to announce the birth of John the Baptist to his father Zacharias, and the at Incarnation of the Word in the womb of Mary. Saint Raphael's name means "God has healed,” and Tobit is the only book in which he is mentioned. His office is generally accepted by tradition to be that of healing and acts of mercy. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-michael-gabriel-raphael-archangels-609

Church - Jesus said, "I will build my Church." And we, as the ekklesia, are on assignment. ENGAGE the CULTURE of the world & STAND OUT, changing the culture to match the culture of JESUS, the Kingdom of Heaven. 13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:13 - 19 https://theroads.church

John 3:22-36 (NKJV)Andrew and Edwin consider John the Baptist as an example for our own lives. We must decrease. Jesus must increase.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=14094The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

Prepare yourself for a profound journey as we dissect the Gospel of the Kingdom, as recorded by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 and probe the significance of obeying it. We challenge you not just to know the Gospel but to understand and obey its message.Following the thread of the Spirit, the water, and the blood, referenced in 1 John 5:8, we travel from Genesis to the accounts of biblical figures such as Adam, Noah, Moses, and the Mosaic Tabernacle. You will see how these elements are vital to the Gospel message. In the footsteps of John the Baptist, we'll examine the importance of repentance, baptism, and preparing for the coming of the Lamb of God.Finally, we grapple with the challenge of obeying the Gospel. By analyzing scriptures such as Romans 10:16 and Acts 9, we unravel the concept of calling upon the Lord as an act of obedience.  No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, this episode will enrich your understanding and deepen your faith.Support the showThank you so much for listening and sharing with others! We would very much appreciate you continuing to FOLLOW and LIKE us through any of the following platforms:Website: ourfathersheart.orgPodcast: https://ourfathersheart.buzzsprout.com/shareTwitter: https://twitter.com/@ofathersheart Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ofathersheartYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ourfathersheartRumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/c-877845May God bless you and make you prosperous in Him as you listen and obey His voice!

In this enlightening episode of Healing the City Podcast, we offer you a streamlined way to remember the subject titles of Matthew chapters 1 through 10. Support the show"Healing the City" is a profound and dynamic weekly podcast that dives into the complexities of creating healthier communities. Featuring the voices and perspectives of the esteemed members of the Village Church, each episode is thoughtfully crafted to address the challenges and opportunities for meaningful change in our cities. With a holistic approach to healing, the podcast explores a wide range of topics, from soul care and spiritual direction to mental health and community involvement. It provides listeners with insightful and thought-provoking perspectives on the issues facing our cities, as well as practical steps they can take to make a difference. Join hosts Adrienne Crawford, Eric Cepin, Ashley Cousineau, Jessica Dennes, Michael Cousineau, Mark Crawford, and Susan Cepin as they navigate the complexities of our communities with wisdom, grace, and a deep commitment to positive change. Through their engaging discussions, listeners will be inspired to become active participants in healing the city and creating a brighter, healthier future for all. The Village Churchvillagersonline@gmail.comThe Village Church meets at 10a and 5p on Sundays1926 N Cloverland Ave, Tucson AZ 85712Mail: PO Box 30790, Tucson AZ 85751

In the first two chapters of Matthew, the gospel-writer covered the advent of Jesus and the many ways in which he fulfilled the Scriptures simply by being born. Today, as we cover chapters 3-4, Matthew jumps ahead to Christ's adulthood and the beginning of his ministry. We meet John the Baptist who fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah of “one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord.'” When John baptizes Jesus, a sign from heaven appears and resounds, testifying to Christ's divine origin. Before beginning his public ministry of teaching, Jesus spends 40 days fasting in the wilderness at which point he is tempted by the devil. Though Israel failed to resist temptation during the 40 years in the wilderness, Christ shows that he is the true son of God by rejecting sin perfectly.:::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

In the Gospels, we see Jesus enter his public phase by receiving a baptism of water by John the Baptist, and at the end of his life he asks his disciples to baptize all the nations. We might say, then, that baptism forms the bookends of Jesus' earthly ministry. In this episode, Dr. Luke Arredondo explores the significance of baptism for Jesus and its connection to discipleship.    Show Notes: In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, see paragraphs 1217-1222.  In the Bible:   The Ministry of John the Baptist (Matthew 3: 1-12; Mark 1: 1-4; Luke 3: 1-20)  The Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3: 13-17; Mark 1: 9-11; Luke 3: 21-22)  The Necessity of Baptism (John 3: 3-5)  Baptism of “Households” seen in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 16: 27-34)  Baptism as Death and Life (Romans 6: 1-14)  From St. Basil:  “The image of death is fulfilled in the water, and the Spirit gives us the pledge of life. Therefore it is clear why water is associated with the Spirit: because of baptism's dual purpose. On the one hand, the body of sin is destroyed, that it may never bear fruit for death. On the other hand, we are made to live by the Spirit, and bear fruit in holiness. The water receives our body as a tomb, and so becomes the image of death, while the Spirit pours in life-giving power, renewing in souls which were dead in sin the life they first possessed. This is what it means to be born again of water and Spirit: the water accomplishes our death, while the Spirit raises us to life.” 

Episode 31: Right Question, Wrong Answer (Mark 11:27-12:12)Welcome back, friends,  I'm your host, Jeremy McCandless and I'm thrilled to continue on this biblical journey through the Gospel of Mark with you. In today's episode, we're diving into Mark 11:27-12:12, where we'll explore the art of asking questions and the consequences of our choices. So, grab your Bible, find a comfortable spot, and let's dive into the Word together.Episode NotesAsking the Right QuestionsThe Setting (Mark 11:27)Our episode begins with Jesus back in Jerusalem, specifically in the temple courts. This comes after He had dramatically cleared out the temple the previous day, a significant event that set the stage for the confrontation with the religious leaders.The Question of Authority (Mark 11:28)The religious leaders, including the Chief Priests, the Scribes, and the Elders, confront Jesus with a question about His authority. They seek to trap Him with this question, as they have already decided to oppose Him. Jesus, in a masterful response, answers their question with a question about John the Baptist's authority. He challenges them to consider what they believe about John and, by extension, Himself.Their Internal Debate (Mark 11:31-32)The religious leaders find themselves in a dilemma. If they acknowledge John's authority, they will be questioned about why they didn't believe him. If they deny it, they risk alienating the people who hold John in high regard. In the end, they respond with, "We don't know," avoiding the trap they set for Jesus.Jesus' Silence (Mark 11:34)In response to their evasion, Jesus refuses to disclose the source of His authority because He knows their hearts are hardened against Him.The Parable of the Vineyard (Mark 12:1-9)Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard owner who entrusted his vineyard to tenants. He sent servants to collect the fruit, but the tenants mistreated and killed them.The Owner's SonFinally, the owner sends his beloved son, hoping the tenants will respect him. However, they plot to kill the son, thinking they can inherit the vineyard.The Owner's JudgmentIn response to this wickedness, the owner will come and punish the tenants, giving the vineyard to others.Jesus as the Cornerstone (Mark 12:10-11)Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22-23, referring to Himself as the stone the builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. He is both the stumbling stone and thCast Yourself InCast Yourself In tells the amazing stories of Jesus' extraordinary work in the Muslim...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showFurther Discipleship Training Courses Free at;linkedin.com/in/jeremy-mccandless-68353b16Podcast Archive also athttps://www.youtube.com/c/JeremyRMcCandlessThe LIFE Podcast - The Bible Project | FacebookMy Amazon Author Pageamazon.com/author/jeremymccandlessJeremy McCandless is creating podcasts and devotional resources | PatreonHelp us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

I greet you in Jesus precious name. It is Monday morning, it's the 25th of September, 2023, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan with a thought for today. We start in the book of John 12:24, a scripture verse that you and I are very familiar with,”Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”We must die in order to live. What a great paradox that is. If you take that seed, and by the way, I'm a farmer, I know what I'm talking about. I have been planting seeds for over 40 years. You put that seed in a safe place, keep it dry, free from any insect damage and at a constant temperature, you will preserve that seed for many, many years, but unfortunately it will produce nothing for you. Take that same seed and put it into lovely moist, fertile soil, and that seed will die but within a couple of weeks, the good news is it will produce new life, a new plant and a new crop. I've just returned from Israel. I had one of the greatest privileges of my life to be able to baptise many, many people in the Jordan river at the exact same spot that John the baptist, baptised our beloved Lord Jesus Christ. It was one of the highlights of my life. The old man goes down under the water and all those sins, habits, fears and anxieties go down as well and the new man comes up out of the water. It is a beautiful sight to behold. I saw people who were guilty, who had lost hope, people who had made mistakes, people who had no hope in the future, go down into that beautiful river and come out with joy. Some were weeping with joy, some had such beautiful smiles on their face. New life and a new beginning. Listen to this - do we call it dying when a seed germinates into a plant? Of course not. Today remember, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation.Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day. Goodbye.

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

How do we know what we're told about Jesus is true? Wasn't the New Testament written hundreds of years after He lived? How do we know it isn't just legends about a good teacher? And why did some books get included and others didn't? In addition to that, from the start, John the Baptist and Jesus both talked about the importance of the Kingdom of God—that with Jesus the Kingdom was now present. The whole idea of the Kingdom can be challenging to understand and though we won't attempt to explain it totally, we will discuss it, what it meant then and what it means now to us in this lesson. The questions we started with and more we'll answer in our podcast. To download notes from the lesson: https://wp.me/pazrJD-Vi --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yvon-prehn8/support

Sermon Questions: John Week 2 – (September 24, 2023) Main Point: Those who know Jesus joyfully point others to know Him. Questions: 1. What impacted you most from this week's message? What challenged you or encouraged you? 2. What do you know about John the Baptist? What do these verses reveal about his character and the focus of his life and ministry? What can Christians learn from his example? 3. Read John 1:19-28. What questions did the religious leaders ask John the Baptist? What did their questions reveal about who they thought John might be? How did John's answers reflect what he understood about his purpose? 4. What was John the Baptist called to do? How did his work prepare people for Jesus? 5. Read John 1:29-34. What is the significance of John the Baptist's statement, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” How did this statement this connect to Passover and the sacrificial system? What does it tell us about Jesus? 6. What did John say about Jesus' baptism? Why was this significant for him? (Read Matthew 3:13-17 for more on Jesus' baptism) 7. Read John 1:35-51. Why did John point his disciples to Jesus? After spending time with Jesus, what did Andrew do? What did Jesus say to Peter? 8. How does the account of Philip and Nathanael differ from the account of Andrew and Peter? What was Nathanael's response to Philip's claims? How did Nathanael's interaction with Jesus change his opinion of Jesus? 9. In these accounts, followers of Jesus pointed others to follow Him. All followers of Jesus are called to do the same thing. How can you point other people to Jesus this week? 10. What is one specific thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

John the Baptist, imprisoned and doubting, sends his followers to Jesus who answers by rooting his ministry in Old Testament prophesy.

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From The Well, To The World by Eben Eddy. Sept. 24, 2023. BIG IDEA: When the religious leaders discovered that Jesus' followers were baptizing more people than John the Baptist, Jesus decided to leave Judea and travel to Galilee (John 4:3). Samaria, the region wedged between Judea and Galilee, was frequently avoided by Jewish travelers due to prejudice. Samaritans were often viewed as “lesser citizens” because of their mixed heritage. Jesus' disciples would have expected Him to take the longer route and avoid the region, but Jesus knew He had a predestined conversation waiting for Him with a Samaritan woman. This conversation transformed the way she viewed God, herself and those around her! EDGE Student Ministries.

We're going through Matthew right now with pastor John Randall, and in chapter three John the Baptist arrives on the scene. He was the important four-runner of Christ who in essence said it's time to get right because the King is coming. You know, that's the same message people need to hear today. The King is coming again, and it's time to get right with God. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29

WESTERN WISDOM   "A Desert Needs Saguaro?" audio podcast by award-winning western author Stephen Bly. Sponsored by BlyBooks.com Legacy Series.  "It Ain't Desert Without Saguaro Cactus" blog post article found here:  https://www.blybooks.com/2023/09/saguaro-cactus/Sign Up on BlyBooks.com on blog page to receive RSS feed by email for podcast blog notices. Related blog article with podcast embed will arrive every Tuesday and Thursday. Look to the right of the LINK PAGE for “Subscribe to the Blog via Email” and “Enter your email address”. Would greatly appreciate if you a) SUBSCRIBE, b) RATE, c) REVIEW the podcast. FULL PODCAST INFO: https://bit.ly/3xCxckS Music by WinkingFoxMusic from Pixabay

A religious challenge from a listener & Sen. Mike Lee names the D.C. cabal “The Firm” and confirms for America who is selling us out I recently received a friendly and challenging letter from a Podcast Family member which contained a provocative question, “Have you ever thought about being Catholic?” There is a lot to this question; I was brought to the Lord by a Catholic family and one of my dearest friends is a Catholic. We take some time to answer this listener's question as well as dive into the revelations from Senator Mike Lee. He reveals the truth of who is behind the D.C. cabal. Additionally, we examine a recent decision made by the Figurehead to deny JFK Jr. Secret Service protection." What does God's Word say? Matthew 16:13-20Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[b] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.Episode Links:Mike Lee on “The Firm” and the sham process of Omnibus legislation. Who is in charge of rebuilding Ukraine? Penny Pritzker is in charge. Sound familiar? She is related to “Jennifer” Pritzker, a man who pretends to be a woman and who helped start the Satanic Human Right Campaign; they are both related to the Dictator of Illinois. As Biden Administration reportedly helps fund city-run stores in Chicago, history and economics are hardly on their side. As Milton Friedman noted, “If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there'd be a shortage of sand.”Chicago mayor proposes city-owned grocery stores to address food 'inequities'Trudeau says the heads of large grocery stores need to come up with a plan to stabilize food prices:"Let me be very clear: If their plan doesn't provide real relief ... then we will take further action and we are not ruling anything out, including tax measures."I'm very grateful that alert and fast-acting protectors from Gavin de Becker and Associates (GDBA) spotted and detained an armed man who attempted to approach me at my Hispanic Heritage speech at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles tonight. 4Patriots https://4patriots.com Protect your family with Food kits, solar generators and more at 4Patriots. Use code TODD for 10% off your first purchase. Alan's Soaps https://alanssoaps.com/TODD Use coupon code ‘TODD' to save an additional 10% off the bundle price. BiOptimizers https://bioptimizers.com/todd Use promo code TODD for 10% off your order. Bonefrog https://bonefrog.us Enter promo code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your subscription. Bulwark Capital http://KnowYourRiskRadio.com Find out how Bulwark Capital Actively Manages risk. Call 866-779-RISK or visit KnowYourRiskRadio.com Patriot Mobile https://patriotmobile.com/herman Get free activation today with offer code HERMAN. Visit or call 878-PATRIOT. RuffGreens https://ruffgreens.com/todd Get your FREE Jumpstart Trial Bag of Ruff Greens, simply cover shipping. Visit or call 877-MYDOG-64. SOTA Weight Loss https://sotaweightloss.com SOTA Weight Loss is, say it with me now, STATE OF THE ART! Sound of Freedom https://angel.com/freedom Join the two million and see Sound of Freedom in theaters July 4th. GreenHaven Interactive https://greenhaveninteractive.com Digital Marketing including search engine optimization and website design.

In this episode of the Business God's Way podcast, Jeff explores the story of John the Baptist from the book of John, chapter 3. He delves into how John the Baptist's humility and understanding of his role in God's plan can serve as a lesson for entrepreneurs. Jeff challenges listeners to shift their focus from competition and jealousy to paving the way for Jesus in their businesses.Key Takeaways:Humility Over Competition: John the Baptist teaches us the importance of humility in acknowledging that all we have is a gift from God. This principle is crucial in business, where competition and jealousy can easily cloud our judgment.Understanding Your Role: John knew his role was to prepare the way for Jesus, not to be the main event. Similarly, entrepreneurs should understand their role in God's bigger plan and focus on fulfilling that purpose.The Joy of Decreasing: John found joy in seeing Jesus' ministry take the forefront, understanding that he must decrease for Jesus to increase. This perspective can bring peace and joy to business owners as they see others succeed in their respective callings.Focus on Kingdom Impact: The ultimate goal should be to make a Kingdom impact through your business. This means laying aside distractions and comparisons to focus on what God has called you to do.This episode serves as a reminder that our businesses are not about us but about paving the way for Jesus. As you navigate the challenges and opportunities in your entrepreneurial journey, may you find joy in decreasing so that He may increase. Stay focused on the mission God has given you, and remember, it's all for His glory. If you have any questions or prayer requests, feel free to reach out to Jeff on Instagram at Jeff Elder BGW. Thank you for tuning in, and continue to do business God's way.Make sure you tune into the next episode. And please leave a rating and review over on Apple Podcast.__________Grab a copy of Jeff's new devotional on AmazonPaperback Version: https://amzn.to/3McT7K6Kindle Version: https://amzn.to/3pnqnFG__________Get connected to the communityTake the Business God's Way Pledge - https://bit.ly/bizgodswaypledge__________Links to podcastApple - https://apple.co/3vBaGu0Google - http://bit.ly/3Z63UdgStitcher - http://bit.ly/3Q7L01KSpotify - https://spoti.fi/3X0Ksx4YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jeffelderbgw__________Learn more about how to work with JeffWebsite - https://www.jeffreyelder.com__________MissionTo participate in what God is already doing in the marketplace of raising up a movement of Kingdompreneurs committed to doing business God's way and transforming lives for the gospel. We accomplish this through our content, resources, training, coaching, and community.__________SocialsInstagram:

This week's episode begins looking through all the occurrences of "ego eimi" ("I am He") within the Fourth Gospel, the Gospel according to John. After noting how the narrative regularly distinguishes God and Jesus as two separate beings, we examine the first four instances of "ego eimi," two of which are uttered by John the Baptist and two by Jesus himself. The results indicate that Jesus was not claiming to identify as Yahweh, the only true God. Instead, Jesus' use of "I am He" indicated that he was the Messiah and that the phrase was also a casual, self-designation. Please consider supporting this Podcast and future projects by donating at: https://www.paypal.me/10mintruthtalks     To view the notes from this episode please click the link below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G3QLZ7N1hWKrl11Sdluz46UipjSliJTf8ShxdYIwyTo/edit?usp=sharing     Check out some of my videos on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@BiblicalUnitarianPodcast     Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/OneGodPodcast  

The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 14: The Death of John the Baptist by Shawn Ozbun

Message for 09/17/2023 "Jesus is the Word" by Justin McTeer. *All verses are NLT unless otherwise noted* Matthew 16:13-15 - When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Jesus is the One Jesus is the Word Jesus is the Way Jesus is the Truth Jesus is the Life John 6:1-2 - After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. John 1:1-5 - In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. Genesis 1:1-4a - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. John 1:14a - So the Word became human and made his home among us Genesis 27:34-35 - When Esau heard his father's words, he let out a loud and bitter cry. “Oh my father, what about me? Bless me, too!” he begged. 35 But Isaac said, “Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has taken away your blessing.” Isaiah 55:11 - It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. Deuteronomy 9:3 - But recognize today that the Lord your God is the one who will cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire to destroy them Deuteronomy 9:3 (TARGUM) - Know, therefore, today that the Lord your God, whose glorious Shekinah goeth before you, whose Word is a consuming fire, will destroy them and drive them out before you Exodus 31:13 - “Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. Exodus 31:13 (TARGUM) - Also, speak thou with the sons of Israel, saying, Ye shall keep the day of My Sabbaths indeed; for it is a sign between My Word and you, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctify you. Colossians 1:15-20 - Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. 18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross.

Three solo episodes in a row, and the boys are rollin. John provides some training on a "quick yes and quick no", and then he enlightens us on car horn etiquette. Also, we have a strong candidate to overtake John The Baptist, in WWEvangelism.------WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3j3mFrENaUJohn's NEW Comedy Special, "John Crist Would Like To Release A Statement"------THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TOUR: https://johncristcomedy.com/tour/9/14 Oklahoma City, OK9/15 Tulsa, OK9/16 Wichita KS9/17 Springfield, MO9/21 Ottawa, ON9/22 Peterborough, ON9/23 London, ON9/29 Myrtle Beach, SC9/30 Roanoke, VA10/1 Greensboro, NC10/14 Atlanta, GA10/15 Birmingham, AL10/20 Cedar Rapids, IA10/21 Springfield, IL10/22 Evansville, IN11/2 Columbus, OH11/3 Joliet, IL11/4 Rockford, IL11/5 Milwaukee, WI11/10 Winnipeg, MB11/11 Edmonton, AB11/12 Calgary, AB11/16 Reading, PA11/17 York, PA11/18 Norfolk, VA11/19 Richmond, VA11/30 Abilene, TX12/1-2 Phoenix, AZ12/7 San Antonio, TX12/8 Austin, TX12/9 Beaumont, TX12/10 Baton Rouge, LA-----Catch the full video podcast on YouTube, and follow us on social media (@netpositivepodcast) for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week.Email us at netpositive@johncristcomedy.comFOLLOW JOHN ON:InstagramTwitterTikTokFacebookYouTubeSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:ROCKET MONEY: Stop wasting money on things you don't use. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions – and manage your money the easy way – by going to RocketMoney.com/netpositiveJUVLABS: Don't miss out on this opportunity to start your journey towards enhanced mental performance. Unlock your brain's potential and experience the power of Cognitive Switch. Visit juvlabs.com/NETPOSITIVE  to get 20% OFFBABBEL: Get 55% OFF your Babbel subscription at Babbel.com/NET(Rules and restrictions may apply)MAGNESIUM BREAKTHROUGH: Don't miss out on the most relaxing sleep ever with Magnesium Breakthrough. Go to magbreakthrough.com/netpositive and use promo code [NETPOSITIVE10] during checkout to SAVE 10%PRODUCED BY:Alex Lagos / Lagos Creative

Reading Matthew 11:12-19 where Jesus presents three metaphors concerning Himself and John the Baptist, pointing us to the need to know and celebrate all of Scripture. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!

Let our worship declare who Jesus is, not because we heard about Him, but because we have also seen and experienced Him.

Reading Matthew 11:7-11 where Jesus says that there is no man born of woman greater than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the kingdom is even greater than John. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!

Welcome to Faith Church Online! Today we are finishing the setup as we discuss Jesus beginning to preach, calling his first disciples and moving to Galilee.  As we read, John the Baptist is in prison for preaching Godly truth and it begs the question what am I willing to give up for Jesus? John was willing to lose his freedoms, are we willing to be uncomfortable in hopes that someone might come to know Jesus as their savior?We hope this serves you well!

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" Brace yourselves for a spiritual journey as we unearth the profound implications behind John the Baptist's exclamation. This episode is a deep dive into a religious paradox: a divine Lamb unlike any other, untouched by human inspection, and not from any earthly flock. The opportunity to grasp the true essence of this Lamb, a unique sacrifice that alters the traditional understanding of redemption, awaits you.We're peeling back layers of biblical teachings and Jewish sacrificial practices, to illuminate the transformative nature of this divine Lamb. Challenging familiar practices, this exploration shatters preexisting notions and prompts a reevaluation of sacrificial customs. By interpreting the reaction of the Jewish people to John's declaration, we expose the figurative and symbolic implications of this Lamb, pointing towards something far beyond the audience's comprehension at the time. Settle in, as we recount the unparalleled role of this single Lamb and its immense significance in reconciling mankind with God. You're about to witness religious doctrine in a light you've never seen before.Support the show

Pastors Robert Baltodano and Lloyd Pulley Question Timestamps: Don, TN (1:51) - Is it possible to pray to be saved and God tell you “no?” Frank, NY (8:35) - My church's pastor passed away, and now his wife is the pastor, is that alright? Should she be called “pastor?” Steve, NY (13:39) - How does the Bible address people that only act like Christians while at church and are fully in the world outside of church? Tony, NC (18:57) - How does the Holy Spirit translate old Bible texts into usable material in the modern day? Emma, SC (25:04) - Are there any audio Bible resources that tell the verses that are being read in addition to the chapter and book? Josue, YouTube (27:18) - Where do we draw the line with nature and the word of God? Timmy, NJ (33:44) - What encouragement can you give me for waiting and finding the right woman to marry? Chris, FL (37:23) - Was it the spirit of God the Father or was it Jesus that walked in the garden with Adam and Eve? Dylan, AK (40:03) - Is the prophecy that Elijah must return before the Messiah can be revealed fulfilled by John the Baptist or Elijah appearing during the transfiguration? Jeremy, NJ (44:23) - How do I “rightly divide the word of truth,” as described in 2 Timothy 2:15? Deborah, NY (47:54) - Why do people say “the Jewish people's eyes are closed, but will be opened when Jesus returns?” Katherine, NJ (50:36) - Is separation the same as divorce? Questions? 888-712-7434 Questions@bbtlive.org  

“‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.' John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.” Luke 7:32–35Ecclesiastes 3 is a very popular reading for funerals. It says, “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to give birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant…A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” This reading is consoling to those who are mourning at a funeral because life is filled with many different emotions and experiences. When those at a funeral think about their loved one, they will recall both the good times and the bad, the sorrows and the joys. Doing so helps remind them that even though the funeral is a time of sorrow, joys will follow in the future. This is the natural rhythm of life.In our Gospel today, Jesus challenged those who failed to have the proper human response at the right time. “We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.” The image of playing a flute and singing a dirge and the subsequent failure to dance and weep reveals a certain disconnect that many people had to John the Baptist and to Jesus Himself during their ministries. In commenting upon this passage, Saint Augustine says that John the Baptist's preaching was like a dirge that called people to the “weeping” of repentance. However, when he preached, there were many who failed to respond with the appropriate repentance. When Jesus came, He preached and gave witness to the new life of grace that He came to bestow. Though some listened and responded to Him, there were many who did not. Jesus' message was like the music of the flute that was to inspire people to “dance.” But many failed to respond with the joy that they were invited to experience and live through His transforming message and grace.There is, indeed, an appointed time for everything and for every affair under Heaven. The mission we have been given is to be attentive to that which God is speaking to us at each and every moment of our lives. At times we must “weep” by looking at our sins honestly, experience the horror of those sins, and passionately reject them. At other times we will “dance” when God invites us into His consoling grace and asks us to see clearly His merciful love. At those moments we are invited to be deeply grateful and to express that gratitude with our whole souls.Reflect, today, upon the calling you have been given to live in a well-ordered way. Do so by considering how attentive you are to the people around you. Does the attentiveness of your charity help you to see the hurt within the hearts of those who are suffering? Are you compelled to offer them a compassionate ear and merciful heart? When others are experiencing the joys of life, are you able to share that joy with them? Can you do so fully, without jealousy or envy of any kind? When God inspires you to some act of conversion and bestows some grace, do you listen and promptly obey, responding in the most appropriate way? Our souls must become sensitive to the promptings of grace and must respond accordingly. Seek to have a well-ordered soul so that you will live and experience the life that God places before you each day in accord with His perfect will.Lord, Your soul was perfectly ordered, always responding to the will of the Father with perfection. You were firm when love demanded it, courageous in the face of hardship, merciful to the repentant sinner, and joyful at the conversion of all. Please help me to always be attentive to the promptings of Your grace and to always respond to You in the way I am called. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2023 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Fr. Mike explains the many parables we hear today in Matthew, including the return of the unclean spirit, and the danger of ornate souls. He emphasizes that when God sweeps the sin out of our souls, we must replace it with virtue, otherwise our souls remain empty without a relationship with God. Today's readings are Matthew 11-13 and Proverbs 19:5-8. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Reading Matthew 11:1-6 where John the Baptist had been thrown in prison and sent his disciples to Jesus to ask Him if He was the One, or if they should expect another. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!

In this sermon, Pastor Chris talks about the significance of Jesus being called the bridegroom in the Bible. He begins by explaining the role of the friend of the bridegroom in ancient Jewish marriage customs. The friend of the bridegroom was a trusted friend who worked closely with the groom and his family to make all the wedding preparations. He also helped to protect the bride's purity during the engagement period. Pastor Chris then points out that John the Baptist refers to himself as the friend of the bridegroom. This is a significant statement because it shows that John understood his role was to point people to Jesus, the true bridegroom. Pastor Chris then goes on to explain how the image of the bridegroom is used throughout the Bible to describe God's relationship with His people. In the Old Testament, God is identified as the bridegroom of Israel. This relationship is meant to be a sacred, intimate, and exclusive covenant of love. However, the people of Israel often broke this covenant by turning to other gods. Despite their faithlessness, God promised to restore the covenant one day. Pastor Chris then explains how Jesus is the fulfillment of these Old Testament promises. Jesus is the bridegroom who has come to renew the covenant with His people. He is the one who loves us unconditionally and who will never leave us or forsake us. Pastor Chris concludes by talking about the implications of knowing that Jesus is our bridegroom. He says that this image uniquely conveys how much God desires to be in a committed, deeply personal relationship with us. He also says that Jesus has made vows to us, and that we can trust Him to keep these promises.

Isaiah 44v1-8John 1v1-18In the second week of our Gospel of John series, Adam draws attention to John the Baptist. Why is he mentioned, almost abruptly, in the middle of the apostle John's opening chapter about Jesus? What role did John the Baptist serve in Jesus's ministry? And how might God be nudging you to steward your opportunities to tell His story?

Main Point: Jesus came that we might be reconciled to God and adopted into the family of God. Verses: John 1:1-18 Main Point: Jesus came that we might be reconciled to God and adopted into the family of God. “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.”   -Blaise Pascal John writes so that people would know who Jesus really is! John answers 3 questions: What do we need to believe? What does it mean to believe? Why do we need to believe? Life and Light (John 1:1-5) Witness and Decision (John 1:6-13) Grace and Truth (John 1:14-18) Questions: What impacted you most from this week's message? What challenged you or encouraged you? Why did John write this account of Jesus' life and ministry? What is the “Thesis Statement” of the Gospel of John? (See John 20:30-31) Read John 1:1-6. What do we learn about “the Word” in these verses? Which of these truths about Jesus is most impactful to you? Why? Why did Jesus come to earth? What does John mean that Jesus was life and light? Read John 1:7-13. What was John the Baptist's role? As a witness, what was the desired outcome of John's testimony? How did “the world” receive the Light? What is the result for those who receive Jesus? How does this amazing truth affect your understanding of your relationship with God? Read John 1:14-18. What is the significance of Jesus becoming flesh and making His dwelling among us? What does the word “glory” mean? How does Jesus show the God's glory? What does it mean that Jesus came full of grace and truth? How is the superabundance of God's grace seen in Jesus? What did you learn about Jesus that changes or deepens your understanding of Him? How do these truths affect the way you relate to God? What is one specific thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Collect: Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament: Exodus 1:8-2:10 8Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we. 10Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor. They built supply cities, Pithom and Rameses, for Pharaoh. 12But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. 13The Egyptians became ruthless in imposing tasks on the Israelites, 14and made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and brick and in every kind of field labor. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them. 15The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16“When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.” 17But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live. 18So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and allowed the boys to live?” 19The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.”20So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and became very strong. 21And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live.” 1Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman.2The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. 3When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. 4His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him. 5The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. 6When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him, “This must be one of the Hebrews' children,” she said. 7Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, “Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”8Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Yes.” So the girl went and called the child's mother. 9Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed it. 10When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, “because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.” Psalm: Psalm 124 1 If the Lord had not been on our side, *        let Israel now say; 2 If the Lord had not been on our side, *        when enemies rose up against us; 3 Then would they have swallowed us up alive *        in their fierce anger toward us; 4 Then would the waters have overwhelmed us *        and the torrent gone over us; 5 Then would the raging waters *        have gone right over us. 6 Blessed be the Lord! *        he has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth. 7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; *        the snare is broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the Name of the Lord, *        the maker of heaven and earth. Old Testament: Isaiah 51:1-6 1Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the Lord. Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. 2Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and made him many. 3For the Lord will comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places, and will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. 4Listen to me, my people, and give heed to me, my nation; for a teaching will go out from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples. 5I will bring near my deliverance swiftly, my salvation has gone out and my arms will rule the peoples; the coastlands wait for me, and for my arm they hope.6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who live on it will die like gnats; but my salvation will be forever, and my deliverance will never be ended. Psalm: Psalm 138 1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; *        before the gods I will sing your praise. 2 I will bow down toward your holy temple   and praise your Name, *        because of your love and faithfulness; 3 For you have glorified your Name *        and your word above all things. 4 When I called, you answered me; *        you increased my strength within me. 5 All the kings of the earth will praise you, O Lord, *        when they have heard the words of your mouth. 6 They will sing of the ways of the Lord, *        that great is the glory of the Lord. 7 Though the Lord be high, he cares for the lowly; *        he perceives the haughty from afar. 8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; *        you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;        your right hand shall save me. 9 The Lord will make good his purpose for me; *        O Lord, your love endures for ever;        do not abandon the works of your hands. Epistle: Romans 12:1-8 1I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20 13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Proper 18 First Psalm: Psalm 40; Psalm 54 Psalm 40 (Listen) My Help and My Deliverer To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 40   I waited patiently for the LORD;    he inclined to me and heard my cry.2   He drew me up from the pit of destruction,    out of the miry bog,  and set my feet upon a rock,    making my steps secure.3   He put a new song in my mouth,    a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear,    and put their trust in the LORD. 4   Blessed is the man who makes    the LORD his trust,  who does not turn to the proud,    to those who go astray after a lie!5   You have multiplied, O LORD my God,    your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;    none can compare with you!  I will proclaim and tell of them,    yet they are more than can be told. 6   In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,    but you have given me an open ear.1  Burnt offering and sin offering    you have not required.7   Then I said, “Behold, I have come;    in the scroll of the book it is written of me:8   I delight to do your will, O my God;    your law is within my heart.” 9   I have told the glad news of deliverance2    in the great congregation;  behold, I have not restrained my lips,    as you know, O LORD.10   I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;    I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;  I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness    from the great congregation. 11   As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain    your mercy from me;  your steadfast love and your faithfulness will    ever preserve me!12   For evils have encompassed me    beyond number;  my iniquities have overtaken me,    and I cannot see;  they are more than the hairs of my head;    my heart fails me. 13   Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me!    O LORD, make haste to help me!14   Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether    who seek to snatch away my life;  let those be turned back and brought to dishonor    who delight in my hurt!15   Let those be appalled because of their shame    who say to me, “Aha, Aha!” 16   But may all who seek you    rejoice and be glad in you;  may those who love your salvation    say continually, “Great is the LORD!”17   As for me, I am poor and needy,    but the Lord takes thought for me.  You are my help and my deliverer;    do not delay, O my God! Footnotes [1] 40:6 Hebrew ears you have dug for me [2] 40:9 Hebrew righteousness; also verse 10 (ESV) Psalm 54 (Listen) The Lord Upholds My Life To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil1 of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?” 54   O God, save me by your name,    and vindicate me by your might.2   O God, hear my prayer;    give ear to the words of my mouth. 3   For strangers2 have risen against me;    ruthless men seek my life;    they do not set God before themselves. Selah 4   Behold, God is my helper;    the Lord is the upholder of my life.5   He will return the evil to my enemies;    in your faithfulness put an end to them. 6   With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;    I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.7   For he has delivered me from every trouble,    and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies. Footnotes [1] 54:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 54:3 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Targum insolent men (compare Psalm 86:14) (ESV) Second Psalm: Psalm 51 Psalm 51 (Listen) Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. 51   Have mercy on me,1 O God,    according to your steadfast love;  according to your abundant mercy    blot out my transgressions.2   Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,    and cleanse me from my sin! 3   For I know my transgressions,    and my sin is ever before me.4   Against you, you only, have I sinned    and done what is evil in your sight,  so that you may be justified in your words    and blameless in your judgment.5   Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,    and in sin did my mother conceive me.6   Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,    and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7   Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8   Let me hear joy and gladness;    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.9   Hide your face from my sins,    and blot out all my iniquities.10   Create in me a clean heart, O God,    and renew a right2 spirit within me.11   Cast me not away from your presence,    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.12   Restore to me the joy of your salvation,    and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13   Then I will teach transgressors your ways,    and sinners will return to you.14   Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,    O God of my salvation,    and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.15   O Lord, open my lips,    and my mouth will declare your praise.16   For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;    you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.17   The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18   Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;    build up the walls of Jerusalem;19   then will you delight in right sacrifices,    in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;    then bulls will be offered on your altar. Footnotes [1] 51:1 Or Be gracious to me [2] 51:10 Or steadfast (ESV) Old Testament: 1 Kings 18:20–40 1 Kings 18:20–40 (Listen) The Prophets of Baal Defeated 20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. 30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” 32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs1 of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34 And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. 35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. 36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.” 40 And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there. Footnotes [1] 18:32 A seah was about 7 quarts or 7.3 liters (ESV) New Testament: Philippians 3:1–16 Philippians 3:1–16 (Listen) Righteousness Through Faith in Christ 3 Finally, my brothers,1 rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God2 and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law,3 blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Straining Toward the Goal 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Footnotes [1] 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 13, 17 [2] 3:3 Some manuscripts God in spirit [3] 3:6 Greek in the law (ESV) Gospel: Matthew 3:1–12 Matthew 3:1–12 (Listen) John the Baptist Prepares the Way 3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”1 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,   “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:  ‘Prepare2 the way of the Lord;    make his paths straight.'” 4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Footnotes [1] 3:2 Or the kingdom of heaven has come near [2] 3:3 Or crying: Prepare in the wilderness (ESV)

Today, we turn to pages 318–322 of Vos' Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to explore the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Our goal is to offer a nuanced understanding by identifying both the similarities and differences between John's baptism of Jesus and the baptisms John performed upon the people. Vos aims to […]

Today, we turn to pages 318–322 of Vos's Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to explore the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Our goal is to offer a nuanced understanding by identifying both the similarities and differences between John's baptism of Jesus and the baptisms John performed upon the people. Vos aims to steer clear of two misconceptions: the first being that Jesus's baptism and the people's baptisms were entirely distinct events, and the second that they were essentially the same. The baptism of Jesus holds dual significance. Firstly, it serves as a public and objective revelation of the Holy Spirit's glory, manifested as the Spirit descended from heaven onto Jesus. Secondly, it has a sacramental meaning for Jesus himself, as he received something from the Spirit that furthered his earthly mission, which was a journey of suffering leading to glory. In addition, we'll examine the connection between Jesus's baptism and his role as the Messiah, offering insights into both pneumatology—the study of the Holy Spirit—and eschatology—the study of end times.

John 1:29-42 (NKJV)Andrew and Edwin take a look at John the Baptist's testimony about Jesus. We've already heard questions about the Christ, about Elijah, about the Prophet. But John says, "Behold! The Lamb of God!"Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=13712The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

Psalms and Wisdom: Psalms 42–43 Psalms 42–43 (Listen) Book Two Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul? To the choirmaster. A Maskil1 of the Sons of Korah. 42   As a deer pants for flowing streams,    so pants my soul for you, O God.2   My soul thirsts for God,    for the living God.  When shall I come and appear before God?23   My tears have been my food    day and night,  while they say to me all the day long,    “Where is your God?”4   These things I remember,    as I pour out my soul:  how I would go with the throng    and lead them in procession to the house of God  with glad shouts and songs of praise,    a multitude keeping festival. 5   Why are you cast down, O my soul,    and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,    my salvation3 6 and my God.   My soul is cast down within me;    therefore I remember you  from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,    from Mount Mizar.7   Deep calls to deep    at the roar of your waterfalls;  all your breakers and your waves    have gone over me.8   By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,    and at night his song is with me,    a prayer to the God of my life.9   I say to God, my rock:    “Why have you forgotten me?  Why do I go mourning    because of the oppression of the enemy?”10   As with a deadly wound in m