Podcasts about Jordan River

Detailed Sermon Summary “Standing Where God Made a Way” Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min. Part 5 of the “Rooted & Grounded”  Watch the 14 minute video: "The Road to Juneteenth" Pastor Bryan Hudson's sermon, “Standing Where God Made a Way,” connects the biblical account of Israel crossing the Jordan River in Joshua 4 with the historical meaning of Juneteenth. The central message is that believers, families, communities, and nations must remember the places where God brought deliverance, because remembrance preserves gratitude, identity, wisdom, and responsibility. The sermon begins by framing Juneteenth as more than a national holiday. It is presented as a memorial of deliverance and a reminder that God makes a way where there is no way. Dr. Hudson connects Juneteenth to the broader biblical theme of God delivering people from bondage, especially Israel's deliverance from Egypt and later their crossing into the Promised Land. He also references his video, “The Road to Juneteenth,” which traces the journey from emancipation declared to freedom enforced. Joshua 4: Remembering the Crossing The primary Scripture is Joshua 4:1–11, where God commands Joshua to have twelve men, one from each tribe of Israel, take twelve stones from the Jordan River after the people crossed on dry ground. These stones were to be set up as a memorial so that future generations would ask, “What do these stones mean?” The answer would preserve the story of how God cut off the waters of the Jordan and brought His people through. Dr. Hudson explains that this crossing parallels the Red Sea crossing under Moses forty years earlier. In both cases, God removed a barrier that His people could not remove on their own. The Jordan River was not always deep, but it did flood seasonally. God stopped the waters so Israel could cross, then instructed them to take stones from the riverbed—stones that were normally hidden—and make them visible as a testimony. A key insight is that the stones were not objects of worship. They were reminders of the God who acted. The stones pointed beyond themselves to God's power, faithfulness, and deliverance. Juneteenth as a Stone of Remembrance Dr. Hudson then connects Joshua's stones to Juneteenth. Just as Israel needed memorial stones to remember deliverance, African Americans and the nation need Juneteenth as a memorial of freedom delayed, freedom enforced, and freedom remembered. He explains that the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1862 and took effect on January 1, 1863, but freedom was not fully enforced in Texas until June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston and announced General Order No. 3. This shows one of the sermon's major historical lessons: freedom declared is not always freedom practiced. Justice often requires enforcement. Juneteenth, therefore, is not merely a celebration. It is a memorial, an educational moment, and a call to remember both God's deliverance and the human struggle required for justice. Theological Foundation: Human Dignity and the Image of God A major theological point in the sermon is that all people are made in the image and likeness of God. Because of this, no person or group has the right to dominate, dehumanize, enslave, or exploit another. Dr. Hudson emphasizes the importance of saying “enslaved people” rather than simply “slaves.” To call someone a slave can make bondage sound like their identity. But their true identity is that they were human beings made in God's image who were enslaved by others. This point becomes the moral foundation for the sermon's critique of slavery, racism, domination, and exploitation. Slavery was especially evil because it involved humans made in God's image enslaving other humans made in God's image. A Sober View of American History The sermon also calls for honesty about American history. Dr. Hudson says Juneteenth should never have been necessary. If the nation had truly lived up to biblical principles from the beginning, enslaving Africans would never have been tolerated. He notes that the founders debated slavery and compromised in order to form the nation. Some opposed slavery, while others wanted to preserve it because of the economic benefits of free labor. That compromise, he explains, carried a terrible cost and eventually helped lead to the Civil War. Dr. Hudson does not reject love for the nation, but he urges listeners to avoid “rosy narratives” that ignore the blood, suffering, and injustice woven into the nation's history. The proper response is gratitude mixed with sobriety, remembrance, and responsibility. God Still Makes a Way The sermon repeatedly returns to the message that there are always barriers to cross. God parted the Red Sea under Moses. God stopped the Jordan River under Joshua. God made a way for enslaved people through emancipation and enforcement. And God still makes a way for His people today. Dr. Hudson says that today's breakthroughs may not always look as dramatic as the Red Sea or Jordan crossings, but the principle remains the same: when God brings people through obstacles, they should remember, testify, and move forward in faith. Memorials Are Educational Another key theme is that memorials are meant to teach. In Joshua 4, the stones were designed to provoke questions from children. When the children asked what the stones meant, the older generation was responsible to explain God's deliverance. Dr. Hudson applies this to holidays such as Juneteenth, Thanksgiving, Easter, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and others. These are not merely days off or occasions for celebration. They are opportunities to educate, remember sacrifice, and pass meaning to the next generation. He warns that routines, celebrations, and comfort can obscure legacy. People can enjoy the benefits of history without remembering the sacrifice that made those benefits possible. Therefore, remembrance must be intentional. Standing Where God Made a Way The title phrase, “Standing Where God Made a Way,” captures the sermon's central conviction. Dr. Hudson teaches that many of us are living in places of blessing that exist because God worked through previous generations. We are standing on ground made possible by God's intervention, people's prayers, sacrifices, faith, courage, and perseverance. This applies personally, spiritually, historically, and nationally. We stand where parents, grandparents, ancestors, saints, activists, soldiers, and faithful servants endured hardship so future generations could live differently. Twelve Contemporary Stones of Remembrance Near the end, Dr. Hudson gives twelve “stones” that people and families can set up as memorials today. These are practices and places that help preserve memory, identity, and gratitude: Education — learning the truth and teaching it to others. Vicarious living — learning through the lives and experiences of others rather than repeating their mistakes. Identification — seeing oneself connected to faithful and courageous people from the past. Honoring — highly valuing parents, elders, ancestors, and those who made sacrifices. Testimony — telling what God has done personally and collectively. Studying history — learning the real story, not only simplified or sanitized versions. Serving others — turning remembrance into action. Shared experience — building memories and meaning together as families and communities. Museums — places such as Freetown Village that preserve and teach history. Family gatherings — moments that connect generations. Anniversaries — recurring opportunities to remember God's faithfulness. Juneteenth — a national and spiritual stone of remembrance that points to deliverance, justice, and responsibility. These “stones” help people stay rooted. They prevent forgetfulness. They help connect the present generation to legacy and history. Final Exhortation The sermon closes with a call to preserve memories that are worth preserving. Dr. Hudson urges listeners to be intentional with their children, grandchildren, families, and communities. If people do not connect present blessings with past deliverance, they may lose their way in the future. The final prayer thanks God for His goodness, for ancestors and heroes known and unknown, and for the fact that we are standing where God made a way. The prayer also asks God to help His people remember, honor, educate, and never take His blessings—or the people He used—for granted. Core Message The sermon's core message is: God makes a way through impossible barriers, and His people must remember where He brought them from. Memorials—whether stones, holidays, testimonies, museums, family stories, or historical observances like Juneteenth—help us honor God, educate future generations, and move forward without forgetting the sacrifices that made our present blessings possible.

What Actually Happens When You Get Baptized?Most of us have watched a baptism. The water, the moment, the applause. But what if there's something happening beneath the surface that most people never stop to think about?Here's something worth sitting with: repentance is the first word of the gospel. The first word out of John the Baptist's mouth. The first word of Jesus' public ministry. The first instruction after the resurrection. The first word of the first Christian sermon. Baptism is where that repentance goes public — where an inward decision becomes an outward declaration.In this message, Pastor Aaron McRae unpacks the scene in Matthew 3 where Jesus steps into the Jordan River — and what that moment reveals about three things baptism marks fresh in every believer's life: a new identity in Christ, an inauguration into life and ministry, and a living illustration of the gospel itself.Whether you were baptized decades ago or are still figuring out what you believe, this is an invitation to remember what that moment meant — and to keep living like it actually does.

We're in a season of transition at River City Church, and honestly, it can feel a little unsettling. We know where we've been, we know where God is leading us, but the in-between? That's where faith gets real.Just like the Israelites standing at the Jordan River, staring at the Promised Land, we're learning that God is more concerned with our obedience than our understanding. He doesn't always show us the whole staircase—just the next step. And that's okay, because He's right there in the middle of it all with us.Here's what we need: preparation, courage, vision, and movement. We need to remember His faithfulness in our past so we can trust Him with our future. Our failures don't cancel out His promises. Where is God asking you to dip your feet in the water today? What step of faith is He calling you to take, even when you can't see the whole path?The word is near you—it's in your heart. You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to follow Him.

What do you do when God gives you a promise, but all you can see is an impossible situation? In this message, we explore Joshua 3 and discover that breakthrough often begins where comfort ends. Israel stood before a flooded Jordan River, and instead of removing the obstacle first, God called them to follow His presence and step into the water before seeing the miracle. We discuss why faith is not driven by pressure, fear, or human urgency, but by God's presence and His Word. You'll learn how inherited testimony must become personal faith, why breakthrough often requires stepping into the deep, and how God may already be working on your behalf in places you cannot yet see. If you're waiting on God, facing uncertainty, or standing at the edge of what feels impossible, this message will encourage you to trust that God is moving upstream even when you can't see the evidence yet.

Is there something you know God is calling you to do — but you just haven't done it yet? A conversation you've been avoiding. A step you've been putting off. A river you can see but won't cross.In this message from our Uncharted: A Study in Joshua series, we look at two people in Joshua 2 and 3 who faced that exact moment — and what happened when they finally stepped in.Rahab had no safety net. The priests had no guarantee. But both of them stepped out in faith — and neither of them regretted it.The miracle doesn't come before the step. It comes after.Whatever your Jordan River is — this message is for you.

Welcome to a powerful message that delves into the ancient story of Joshua and the Israelites as they cross the Jordan River! Have you ever wondered why we commemorate significant events, or how history shapes our present? Today, we're exploring Joshua chapter four, where God commands the Israelites to set up twelve memorial stones. These aren't just rocks; they're tangible reminders of God's miraculous power, His unwavering faithfulness, and the life-giving importance of obedience. Join us as we uncover how these stones served as a perpetual teaching tool for generations, emphasizing God's progressive revelation and the critical role of Word-centered leadership. Discover why God's commands are always for our good, and how the church today is called to live under His theocratic rule, guided by Scripture alone. This sermon will challenge you to reflect on your own "memorials" – the ways you remember God's grace through His Word, baptism, and the Lord's Supper. Get ready to be encouraged and equipped to instruct your children in the truth of the Gospel!

Welcome to Day 2882 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2882 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 135:8-14 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2882 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2882 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for Today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Sovereign of History – Dismantling the Rebel Giant Kings In our previous stop along this grand, poetic landscape, we explored the opening movement of Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Five, where we witnessed a magnificent temple liturgy that unmasked the false gods of the nations. We watched as Yahweh effortlessly demonstrated His total, seamless mastery over nature—commanding the clouds, directing the lightning, and releasing the wind from His royal celestial storehouses. We saw how the psalmist executed a brilliant, razor-sharp polemical attack against Baal, stripping the Canaanite storm god of his fraudulent resume. We discovered the comforting truth that Israel is Yahweh's segullah—His private, prized, and treasured possession, chosen out of the chaotic landscape of a disinherited world. Today, the temple liturgy takes a powerful, dramatic turn. The psalmist shifts his focus away from Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over nature, and directs our eyes to His absolute, undeniable sovereignty over human history and spiritual geography. He takes the traveling assembly on a historical tour, demonstrating that the True King doesn't just manage the weather; He systematically dismantles the greatest earthly emp'res, and violently crushes the giant rebel kings who attempt to block the expansion of His kingdom. We are exploring Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Five, verses eight through fourteen, in the New Living Translation. Let us step onto the trail, adjust our cosmic lenses, and watch the Righteous Judge execute justice against the principalities of darkness. The First Segment is: The Judgment of Egypt's Incarnate Gods Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Five: verses eight and nine. He destroyed the firstborn in each Egyptian home, both people and animals. He performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt against Pharaoh and all his people. The historical narrative begins in the dark, oppressive brick-kilns of Egypt, tracing the opening lines of Israel's great cosmic liberation. “He destroyed the firstborn in each Egyptian home, both people and animals. He performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt against Pharaoh and all his people.” To fully comprehend the sheer scale of the spiritual warfare embedded in these familiar words, we must look past our modern, secular history books, and view the Exodus through the profound lens of the Ancient Israelite divine council worldview, as masterfully taught by Doctor Michael S. Heiser. In the book of Exodus, chapter twelve, verse twelve, Yahweh explicitly declares the ultimate, underlying purpose of the plagues. He states, “Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment; I am Yahweh.” The Exodus was not merely a political dispute over human labor; it was an open, aggressive courtroom trial, and a declaration of war against the corrupt, territorial elohim of the Nile. Egypt was the premier superpower of the ancient world, operating under the direct spiritual inspiration of powerful, rebellious members of the heavenly host. Pharaoh himself was not viewed merely as a human politician; he was worshiped as an incarnate god—the living proxy, and the supreme avatar, of the rebel spiritual principalities. When Pharaoh oppressed the chosen family of God, he was acting as the mouthpiece for the cosmic rebellion. Therefore, when Yahweh unleashed His miraculous signs and wonders, He was systematically target-shooting the Egyptian pantheon. He turned the Nile into blood to humiliate the river gods; He blocked out the sun to blind the sun god, Ra; and He paralyzed the land with darkness. The terrifying, ultimate climax of this cosmic execution occurred when the Lord destroyed the firstborn of both people and animals. In the ancient Near East, the firstborn son represented the strength, the legal inheritance, and the future legacy of the household. By striking down the firstborn—including the firstborn son of Pharaoh himself—Yahweh permanently broke the spiritual back of the empire. He demonstrated that the gods of Egypt were utterly helpless, completely unable to protect their own biological and spiritual lineages from the superior authority of the Creator. The proud, arrogant principalities of the Nile were weighed in the celestial balances, found wanting, and publicly stripped of their power. The Second Segment is: Dismantling the Gatekeepers of the Underworld Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Five: verses ten through twelve. He struck down great nations and slaughtered mighty kings— Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the rulers of Canaan. He gave their land as an inheritance, a special possession to his people Israel. The historical tour moves from the waters of the Red Sea, to the rugged, bloody battlefields on the eastern side of the Jordan River. “He struck down great nations and slaughtered mighty kings—Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the rulers of Canaan. He gave their land as an inheritance, a special possession to his people Israel.” To the casual reader, the names Sihon and Og might seem like obscure, boring footnotes from ancient military history. But to the ancient Israelite pilgrim singing this song, these two names triggered a profound sense of awe, and holy terror. These were not ordinary human kings; they were the terrifying, giant gatekeepers of the cosmic rebellion. Let us unpack the spiritual geography of these territories through Doctor Heiser's research. In the book of Deuteronomy, we discover that Og, the king of Bashan, was a literal remnant of the giant Rephaim. His massive iron bedstead was over thirteen feet long! In the ancient Near Eastern mindset, the Rephaim were not just tall people; their lineage was directly connected to the Nephilim—the hybrid offspring resulting from the spiritual corruption of the Watchers recorded in Genesis chapter six. They were the physical, and spiritual, anomalies produced by the rebel gods to contaminate the human race, and block the redemptive plans of Yahweh. Furthermore, the region of Bashan was universally recognized as the geographic and spiritual epicenter of darkness. Located at the foot of Mount Hermon—the exact site where the rebel angels originally staged their mutiny—Bashan was poetically referred to as the "place of the serpent," and the literal "gate of the underworld." Sihon and Og ruled over this demonic stronghold, acting as a massive, supernatural wall designed to intimidate Israel, and prevent them from ever entering the Promised Land. When Yahweh struck down great nations, and slaughtered these mighty giant kings, He was not just clearing a physical highway for Israel. He was executing a spectacular, cosmic cleansing of the geography. The Divine Warrior marched into the very territory of the dead, confronted the most terrifying, monstrous proxies of the rebel council, and completely obliterated them from the face of the earth. He proved that giant stature, demonic lineages, and ancient spiritual fortresses are absolutely nothing but dust in the presence of the Almighty. And look at the ultimate, glorious result of this victory in verse twelve: “He gave their land as an inheritance, a special possession to his people Israel.” This is the beautiful, geographic reversal of the Tower of Babel. At Babel, humanity was disinherited, and handed over to the rule of the lesser elohim. But here, Yahweh violently reclaims the land from the rebels, completely evicts the demonic tenants, and hands the territory over to His segullah—His special possession. The Promised Land becomes a restored beachhead of Eden, a sacred space where the cosmic order, truth, and righteousness of the true King can finally flourish. The Third Segment is: The Eternal Courtroom Verdict Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Five: verses thirteen and fourteen. Your name, O Lord, endures forever; your fame, O Lord, is known to every generation. For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. Having demonstrated Yahweh's absolute mastery over history, the psalmist transitions into a magnificent, courtroom declaration of praise, drawing a sharp contrast between the mortality

Here's a long-form SEO-friendly podcast episode description you can use:Have you ever felt like your problems were too small for God to care about? In this episode, we explore one of the Bible's most overlooked miracles—the story of the Floating Axe Head found in 2 Kings 6:1-7. Though it is a brief and often forgotten account tucked away in the Old Testament, this remarkable miracle reveals profound truths about God's character, His care for His people, and His involvement in the everyday struggles of life.As the company of prophets expands, they decide to build a larger place to live and learn. While working together on this mission, disaster strikes when a borrowed axe head flies off the handle and sinks into the Jordan River. To many, this might seem like a minor inconvenience. Yet the prophet Elisha responds, and God performs an extraordinary miracle by causing the iron axe head to float.What can this unusual story teach us today?In this episode, we discover how God is deeply concerned with the practical challenges we face. The floating axe head reminds us that no problem is too insignificant to bring before the Lord. Whether we are facing financial pressures, workplace challenges, ministry difficulties, family concerns, or personal disappointments, God invites us to cry out to Him and trust in His care.We also examine the importance of community and mutual support. The young prophet did not hide his problem or attempt to solve it alone. Instead, he shared his struggle and sought help. His honesty opened the door for God's intervention. This powerful lesson encourages believers to be transparent about their burdens and to support one another through life's challenges. We are not meant to carry our struggles in isolation.The story further teaches us about serving together in God's mission. The prophets were engaged in a task that honored God, and the Lord demonstrated His concern for their work. This reminds us that God values faithfulness in both large and small assignments. Whether our calling seems prominent or hidden, God sees it, cares about it, and equips us for it. No act of service is insignificant in His kingdom.We discuss how God often chooses to work through people to meet the needs of others. Just as Elisha became an instrument of God's miraculous provision, believers today are called to be available for God to use in helping, encouraging, and supporting those around them. We may never know how God can use a simple act of kindness to answer someone's prayer.This fascinating miracle also reveals God's concern for relationships. The axe head was borrowed, and the prophet was distressed because of his responsibility to another person. God's intervention demonstrates that He cares about integrity, stewardship, and our relationships with others. When we cry out to Him, He listens because He cares.Join us as we unpack this lesser-known Bible story and discover timeless lessons about faith, community, obedience, God's compassion, and His miraculous power. If you've ever wondered whether God cares about the details of your life, this episode offers a powerful reminder that He does. The God who caused iron to float is the same God who hears our prayers, walks with us in our struggles, and works all things according to His purposes.Topics covered in this episode include:• The Floating Axe Head (2 Kings 6:1-7)• Elisha and the Company of the Prophets• God's Care for Everyday Problems• Trusting God in Difficult Circumstances• The Importance of Christian Community• Sharing Our Struggles with Others• Being Available for God to Use• Stewardship and Responsibility• God's Concern for Relationships• Faith and Divine Intervention• Old Testament Miracles• Biblical Typology and Baptism• Resurrection Themes in Scripture• Lessons from the Life of Elisha• Encouragement for Christian Living• Understanding God's Compassion and Power

What does it mean to lead with unwavering faith in the face of overwhelming challenges? In this inspiring episode of Who's Who in the Bible, Fr. Joseph Royan, C.Ss.R., takes viewers on a journey through the remarkable life of Joshua, one of Scripture's most influential leaders. From stepping into the immense responsibility of succeeding Moses to guiding the Israelites into the land promised by God, Joshua's story is a powerful witness to courage, obedience, and trust. Explore key moments from his leadership, including the crossing of the Jordan River, the victory at Jericho, and the decisive events at Gibeon—each revealing how faith in God can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.More than a story of conquest, this reflection uncovers Joshua's enduring message of commitment to God. His challenge to the people of Israel to remain faithful continues to resonate with believers today, offering valuable lessons for anyone seeking direction, purpose, and spiritual strength. Join this enriching exploration of Joshua's legacy and discover how his steadfast confidence in God's promises can inspire your own walk of faith.

What do you do when you find yourself standing at the edge of uncertainty, unsure how to move forward? In this Annual Celebration 2026 message, Pastor Tim Ghali teaches from 2 Kings 2:1–15, where Elijah and Elisha stand at the Jordan River and witness the power of God at work. Through this powerful story of transition, calling, and spiritual empowerment, we are reminded that the same God who parted waters for Moses, Joshua, Elijah, and Elisha is still on the move today. Pastor Tim reflects on a significant year in the life of Grace Chapel — a year marked by transition, challenge, faith, generosity, and God's provision. Through it all, we are invited to trust that God sees us at the riverbank, empowers us for what is ahead, and calls us to join His ongoing work in the world. This message also includes the story of Colin, a reminder that God is still changing lives in unexpected ways through ordinary people who are centered on Jesus.

On the occasion of the dedication of Dayspring Bible College & Seminary's new campus on Salem Lake in Long Grove, Illinois, Pastor Jim Scudder delivers a message of celebration and faith rooted in Joshua 4. Just as God commanded Israel to set up twelve stones as a memorial of His miraculous provision at the Jordan River, this message calls believers to recognize and remember the miracles God works — both the extraordinary and the less noticed. Drawing on the remarkable story of Dayspring's two campus acquisitions, Pastor Scudder challenges the congregation to cultivate eyes of faith that see God's hand in all things. The message concludes with a call to the greatest miracle of all — the redemption of a sinner through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

WHEN SEASONS CHANGE |  MAY 31, 2026Pastor Wes Morris Joshua 1:1-9 (NLT) After the death of Moses the Lord's servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you...no one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”√  EVERY NEW SEASON REQUIRES A NEW SURRENDER.Joshua 1:1-9 (NLT) After the death of Moses the Lord's servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead...”√  THE SEASON MAY CHANGE, BUT THE SOURCE STAYS THE SAME.Joshua 1:5 (NLT) As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. √  GOD DOESN‘T GIVE US EVERY DETAIL, BUT HE ALWAYS GIVES US HIMSELF. Joshua 1:9 (NIV) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.WHEN SEASONS CHANGEI. GRIEVE WHAT ENDED, BUT DON'T GET STUCK THERE.Joshua 1:1 (MSG) God spoke to Joshua, Moses' assistant: “Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people."Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 (NIV) There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die...a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.II. LET GOD‘S FAITHFULNESS BE YOUR FOUNDATION.Joshua 1:5 (NLT) As I was with Moses, so I will be with you...Lamentations 3:18-23 (TLB) All hope is gone; my strength has turned to water, for the Lord has left me. Oh, remember the bitterness and suffering you have dealt to me! For I can never forget these awful years; always my soul will live in utter shame.Yet there is one ray of hope: his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord's mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day. III. LEAVE TOMORROW IN GOD'S HANDS. Matthew 6:27 (TLB) Will all your worries add a single moment to your life?34 So don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.

by Aubrey Botha https://cpcchurchimages.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/03152102/May-31-Sermon.mp3 Genesis 37:12-13 12 Soon after this, Joseph's brothers went to pasture their father's flocks at Shechem. 13 When they had been gone for some time, Jacob said to Joseph, “Your brothers are pasturing the sheep at Shechem. Get ready, and I will send you to them.” “I'm ready to go,” Joseph replied. Genesis 37:18-24 Joseph Sold into Slavery 18 When Joseph's brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. 19 “Here comes the dreamer!” they said. 20 “Come on, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.' Then we'll see what becomes of his dreams!” 21 But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph's rescue. “Let's not kill him,” he said. 22 “Why should we shed any blood? Let's just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he'll die without our laying a hand on him.” Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father. 23 So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing. 24 Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.  Genesis 50:20 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.   Transcript (Transcribed by TurboScribe) I think this simple little song is one of my all-time favourites. Laura, you outdid yourself this morning. I don’t know what happened to you, but it happened to me. As you were playing, I was just overwhelmed. I still am. My emotions were just all over the place, and I just see that as the spirit that was doing that. So, thank you for your gift that became God’s gift to us. Thank you. Sorry, old man’s emotions get to him a little bit. We’re starting a new series. By the way, it’s written by Darlene Czech. She didn’t write too many, and the last song we’re singing was also written by Darlene, so it’s a Darlene morning, this morning. Starting a new series today called At the Right Time. Sorry about Joseph, but we’ll get to Joseph in a moment. Father, help me to breathe in this moment. Thank you that you breathe your breath into each one of us, that living breath of your Holy Spirit. May your breath just cover this place today as you blow the wind of your Holy Spirit. And as always, we pray, Lord Jesus, that we may see you and only you. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. This painting that I have here this morning is an original oil painting. I got this as a gift in my first congregation in 1988, so that made me 30 years old. When I received this from the artist that made this, a young woman by the name, sorry, my bladder is leaking. I got this from a young woman called Tia Barnard in 1988 because of something that we shared in 1987. So, I’m saying the age because I want you to understand a little bit of the impact, because I still carry the impact of that to this day. I was 29 years old. It was about 9, 9.30 in the evening. Elsie and I were sitting. We still had a manse in those days. We were sitting in the manse. The kids, two of the three were born. They were in bed, and we were having a cup of tea. And the phone rang in my office. Now, remember those days we did not have cell phones. We still had phones that had tails on them. Phone rang in the office. I went to the office. I picked up the phone, and the voice on the other side, it was just this deadly, shocked, couldn’t really speak voice, was Tia. She just said, Aubrey, you need to come to my house immediately. Something terrible has happened. You need to come to my house. Tia’s kids were about the same age as ours. Her little girl was five. Her little boy was three. I said to Elsie, something’s really wrong at Tia’s house. I need to get there. So, I jump in the car, and I drive as fast as I can, and I get there. She’s waiting at the door, and this woman is shaking. Got two little kids clinging to her legs. I come in there. I said, Tia, what’s going on? She said, just come in, and we walk into the living room, and I’m stunned, because there on the floor lies her husband, dead with a gunshot wound in his head. He committed suicide in front of her and those two little kids. That leaves a mark in your life forever. The cops came, sorry, the police came a few minutes later. The ambulance folks came a few minutes later, and it was chaos. So, they wanted to talk to Tia. So, I took the two little ones. Good thing we knew each other. So, I took the two little ones, and we went to their bedroom, and I tried to settle them down, and when all the stuff was done, I helped Tia put the little ones to bed, and we just sat there, and I cried with her, and I was stunned with her, because you do not have too many words in moments like those. It was early morning when I left. I did call Elsie from her house just to say, I’m okay, don’t worry, I’m going to be there late. Go to bed. I left in the early hours of the morning to go back home. As we stood at the door, Tia just held on to me. She didn’t want to let go, and I said to her, Tia, I know you don’t want to hear this right now, and I know it’s going to sound really crazy, but you will get through this. It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be really hard and really tough. It’s not going to be quick. It’s going to take an awful long time. There’s going to be a lot of frustration, a lot of questions, a lot of hurt, but don’t despair. You will get through this. A little audacious of me, right? Where do I get the right to speak such a promise into such tragedy? Well, actually, I got it in a pit, a really deep, dark pit, and the young boy who was in the bottom of that pit could not get out of that pit even if he wanted to, and if he tried, his brothers would kick him right down back into the pit. But don’t let me tell you the story. Let’s read the story. Genesis chapter 37, verse 12. Soon after this, Joseph’s brothers went to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem. When they’d been gone for some time, Jacob said to Joseph, brothers are pasturing the sheep at Shechem. Get ready, and I will send you to them. I’m ready to go, Joseph replied. When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognised him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. Here comes the dreamer, they said. Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father a wild animal has eaten him, and then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams. But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph’s rescue. Let’s not kill him, he said. Why should we shed any blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness, and then you’ll die without our laying a hand on him. Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father. Now note this verse. So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing. Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty. There was no water in it. He didn’t land with a splash. Then, just as they were sitting down to eat, they looked up and saw a caravan of camels in the distance coming toward them. It was a group of Ishmaelite traders taking a load of gum, balm, and aromatic resin from Gilead down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers, what will we gain by killing our brother? We’d have to cover up the crime. Instead of hurting him, let’s sell him to those Ishmaelite traders. After all, he’s our brother, our own flesh and blood. His brothers agreed. So when the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for 20 pieces of silver. And the traders took him to Egypt. Can you imagine being Joseph? He’s crying out for help and his brothers care more about their lunch than they do about their little brother or helping him. They despised the boy. Why? A little family background in this. Jacob, Joseph’s father and the brother’s father, treated Joseph differently from all of the other kids. Why? Well, there’s a reason. Remember, Jacob had two wives, Leah and Rachel, but only one love. Rachel. And when Rachel died, giving birth to her second son, Ben-Oni, or as we know him, Benjamin, Jacob just poured out all of his love on his son, Joseph. The other boys would work outside. Joseph played inside. They got their clothes from Value Village. Joseph had a coat that was handmade, hand-stitched with long sleeves, specifically for him. No, it wasn’t a coat of multi-colours. Never says that ever in the Bible. I don’t know where they got that. The Hebrew is actually a kind of difficult word. It actually, that word is the same word that is used for the robe that a young prince would wear, but never said anything about amazing technicolour twinkle. I was dreamed out by a man called Andrew. Sorry about that. The brothers would work. Joseph would play. The brothers would be out in the field, we read. Joseph would hang out at home. Jacob treated his 11th-born son like he was the firstborn. So to say that his brothers didn’t like him was a little bit of a understatement. If I take you back in this chapter to verse 4, 5, and 8, verse 4 says, they hated him. Verse 5 says, they hated him even more. Verse 8 says, they hated him more and more. So do you get it? They hated him. They really hated him. So when Joseph shows up where they’re working in the field, they go ballistic on this boy. They ripped the robe off him. They grabbed him and they threw him in the cistern. Angry words. Rip, grab, throw. And Joseph, Joseph never saw it coming. He had no idea this was going to happen. Neither did Tia. Neither do we. Before you know it, the pit is there. Joseph’s pit was a cistern. Tia’s pit was a gunshot in her living room. Yours? Mine? I don’t know. But you do. You know those pits. Loss of someone. Relationship that breaks up. A really bad diagnosis. No diagnosis. Losses? Struggles? I don’t know. But what I do know about the pit is that it’s really deep and it’s really dark. And when you’re in that pit, your focus is to get out of the hurt, get out of the pit as fast as you can. But that’s easier said than done, right? Think about Joseph. Before Joseph’s life would get any better, it got really worse. Went from abandonment to enslavement, to being entrapped, to imprisonment. That pit just got deeper and deeper. And despite that, this is where I want you to get. Despite that, Joseph’s anger never became hatred. Joseph’s heart never became hard. But through all of this adversity, Joseph didn’t just survive. Joseph thrived. Took 20 years. 20 years later, Joseph was the second most powerful man of his generation. So how did Joseph flourish through the tragedy? Can I take you back to our story? And I’m doing a little bit of the story that I will finish in the last sermon in the series. So we’re doing four and the last one that’s coming just before the summer comes. I’ll do the rest of this. But I need to go to that to explain how he could flourish despite all of this difficulty that he was going through. So 20 years later, the tables are turned. Joseph is the powerful one. The brothers come to Egypt, and they’re the weak ones. They have nothing. Joseph reveals himself to them, and they stand, look at Joseph, and they’re thinking, okay, he’s gonna pay us back. We put him in the pit, he’s gonna put us in the pit, and he’s gonna leave us there, and we will die in prison forever. But he doesn’t, does he? Why? Why doesn’t he pay them back? Why doesn’t he put them in that pit? The answer is in Scripture. Last chapter of Joseph’s story, last chapter of the book of Genesis, chapter 50, verse 20, says this, speaks to his brothers, and he says, you intended to harm me. And here comes the but, but this is about God, which is even bigger. You intended to harm me, but God, God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many. See, here’s the thing. In God’s hands, the intended evil became eventual good. I’m not saying it’s easy. I’m not saying it’s gonna happen right now. I’m not saying there’s not frustration, but I’m saying you’ll get through this, says the story of Joseph. That’s why I could say that to Tia. You’ll get through this. Joseph never gave up. Can you remember the story, how it ended? That torn robe became a royal robe. That pit became a palace. That broken family grew old in Egypt together. Why? Because of verse 20. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good. But I want to give you a little Hebrew lesson for today. And this is a good word to remember, but you’re going to struggle to say it because it starts with a ch. The Hebrew word that we translate for intended or meant to is the word chabash, a chashav. Chashav is an old primitive root and literally means to weave. So take that away. Put that text back, Ted. Now let’s take that word intended and let’s use the word weave. You weaved wicked and bad things against me to harm me, but God took that and God rewove that into something good. See, God is the master weaver. Satan will weave his Satan webs around our lives. Life will weave their webs sometimes, and life will weave sometimes really painful moments like 1987. But the master weaver takes those old weaves that were so wrong and he weaves them all back and they will be beautiful. Don’t give up. Don’t give up. If God could redeem Joseph’s life, don’t you think God will redeem yours? In the moment, it can sometimes feel hard and difficult and feel like it’s never going to end. But that weaver has never changed. And God is good even when life isn’t. Will you hold on to that, please? In the good, in the bad, in the ugly. You’ll get through it. As you see, that’s one of God’s favourite words, through. God gets us through stuff. Through the Reed Sea, dry to leave the enemies behind. Through the wilderness with manna and quail and water from the rock. Through the Jordan River into the land of milk and honey. Through the valley of the shadow of death to a table and green pastures and quiet waters. He is the God of getting us through. Yeah. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not going to be painful because the weaving and the re-weaving might sometimes be hard and difficult. It’s not always quick. 20 years from the age of 17 to the age of 37 for Joseph. Sometimes we see a perfect mess where God sees a perfect opportunity. We call it Egypt. God calls it protective custody. We see Satan and Satan’s tricks and God sees Satan being tripped up in his own tricks. Joseph will be the first one to tell each one of us that what we’re talking about this morning is not easy. But Joseph will remind us that when you’re in the pit, you have only one place to look at. You can only look up. And when you look up, you look until someone comes down to give you a hand. God did for Joseph. And at the right time, in the right way, he will for you. Amen. Take a few moments of silent prayer. Thank you, Lord, that we may look up even from the pit. Actually, especially from the pit. And that we may see you and know that you come down and you lift us up. Thank you for walking with us. Thank you that at the right time, in the right way, you, Lord, will get us through whatever we need to get through. We’re in a hurry, Lord, always, because everything is fast. We have to have the internet and it must be faster, and the cars must be faster, and the food must be faster. Thank you that you have your time and you’re always on time at the right time. Help us to walk with you through the Red Sea, through the desert, through the dark valleys, knowing there is a table and a feast, and we are the guest of honour. Thank you for what you do for us. Thank you for who you are in our lives. So, Lord, can we pray together? And please pray with me. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

www.patreon.com/theconspiracypodcastThe Ark of the Covenant (Part 1)It's a box. Not a particularly big box — roughly four feet long, covered in gold, carried on poles, and missing for over 2,600 years. But according to three major world religions, it's the single most dangerous object that has ever existed on planet Earth. This week, Sean, Eric, and Jorge crack open one of the greatest mysteries in human history: the Ark of the Covenant.Before anyone can chase it, hide it, or die trying to touch it, you need to understand what this thing actually was. The boys walk through the full origin story — Moses on Mount Sinai, 40 days and 40 nights, a very specific divine blueprint, and a construction contract that made IKEA instructions look casual. God wanted acacia wood, exact cubit measurements, a solid gold lid hammered by hand, and two golden cherubim with wings arching inward. No substitutions. No pine. Acacia only, sir.Then the Ark starts doing things. Rivers stop flowing. City walls collapse. Seventy people drop dead just for looking inside it. A man named Uzzah reaches out to keep it from falling off a cart — trying to save it — and God strikes him down on the spot. The Philistines steal it, regret it immediately, and send it back with gold offerings and a full apology. It parts the Jordan River. It flattens the walls of Jericho without a single sword swung.And then, somewhere around 586 BC, it simply vanishes — so completely that even the Babylonian king who looted Jerusalem didn't bother writing it down.Where did it go? Is it buried under a church in Ethiopia? Was it hidden by priests who saw the invasion coming? Was it ever even a physical object at all? The boys lay the foundation this week so Part 2 can go full conspiracy. The mystery is just getting started.

Have you ever felt like God was calling you into something bigger, but you didn't feel prepared enough to take the next step? In this message, we explore the story of Joshua and discover a powerful truth: God rarely calls people who feel ready. Instead, He forms them through obedience. From Joshua standing at the edge of the Jordan River to Jeremiah doubting his own ability, Scripture reminds us that readiness is not a prerequisite for God's calling, it's something He develops as we move forward in faith. If you've been battling fear, insecurity, doubt, or hesitation, this message will encourage you to stop focusing on what you lack and start trusting what God is forming within you. Your next step may be the very place where God reveals the strength, courage, and purpose He placed inside you all along.

There are moments in life when we've prayed, weighed the options, and sought wisdom — and still have to make a decision without knowing how it all turns out. In Joshua 3, the Israelites find themselves at the Jordan River at flood stage. God doesn't part the water first. He asks them to step in. In this message, we look at what it means to follow a God who goes before us into unknown territory, how preparation and consecration shape

In this powerful closing message of our Prepare for Rain Campaign, Pastor Chris reminds us of the spiritual importance of remembering what God has already done. Preaching from Joshua 4, he calls us to pause, look back, and recognize the faithfulness of God in our lives, our church, and our future.Just as Israel gathered twelve stones after crossing the Jordan River, we are invited to “pick up our stone” and mark the miracles, provision, answered prayers, and moments of breakthrough God has given us. Forgetting what God has done yesterday can weaken our faith for what He wants to do tomorrow—but remembering builds faith, strengthens obedience, and creates a testimony for generations to come.As Grace City Church reflects on a year of God's provision through the Prepare for Rain Campaign, Pastor Chris celebrates the launch of high school ministry, growth in community, lives being changed, and God's miraculous provision for a future home. This message is a call to gratitude, faith, generosity, and legacy.The rain came. Now let's finish what was started.Scripture: Joshua 4Sermon Title: Don't ForgetSpeaker: Pastor ChrisSeries/Campaign: Prepare for RainSubscribe for more sermons and content from Grace City Church.#DontForget #PrepareForRain #PastorChris #GraceCityChurch #Joshua4 #ChristianSermon #Faith #RememberGodsFaithfulness #ChurchGrowth #Generosity #GodProvides #Sermon #Jesus #ChristianMessage

Opener 1. When you wanted to do something as a kid, did you have a specific parent you went to first to ask for permission? What made you choose one over the other? 2. What are the different names, titles, or nicknames people call you depending on the setting (e.g., at work, at home, by old childhood friends)? What does the various names say about your relationship or role in that environment? Discussion 1. Read Matthew 3:13-17. If you were standing on the banks of the Jordan River witnessing this moment firsthand, what would your impression be? What does this scene show us about the distinct presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working all at once? Look at the roles highlighted in the sermon: God the Father: Creator, Protector, Provider. God the Son: Redeemer, closer than a brother, shows us the Father’s heart. God the Holy Spirit: Comforter, Guide, the one who empowers us to follow Jesus. 2. Which person of the Trinity do you naturally find it easiest to relate to right now? Which role do you feel you need to experience more deeply this week? The Trinity is three distinct persons but ONE God. When we ask the practical question, “Who do I pray to? Father? Son? Holy Spirit?”, the sermon’s ultimate answer is a resounding “YES!” because prayer is fundamentally about relationship. 3. How does shifting your focus from a theological puzzle to an invitation into a relationship change the way you talk to God this week? How has this week's sermon about the Trinity and the Holy Spirit grown you? What questions does it raise? Application 1. What does it look like for you to invite the Holy Spirit to be your Guide and Helper, and the one who empowers you to walk with Jesus this week? Close in Prayer Spend time in prayer freeing ourselves from the anxiety of “getting prayer right”. Thank God for drawing us into relationship with Him , and ask the Holy Spirit to comfortably guide, help, and empower everyone to walk closely with Jesus this week.  

In this episode of Open Our Bible Together, we pick up right after Israel crosses the Jordan River on dry ground into the Promised Land—and things move forward, but not in the way you might expect. Instead of rushing straight into battle, God first tells His people to remember. Twelve stones are taken from the Jordan and set up in Gilgal as a memorial, so every generation would know—it was the Lord who made a way through the water. Then, before anything else happens, God brings Israel back to who they are. Through circumcision and the Passover, He reminds them that they are His chosen people. The manna stops after 40 years, and for the first time, they're eating from the land He promised them. It's a clear turning point—wilderness to promise… right in front of their eyes. And then they're standing in front of Jericho. No battle plan that makes sense on paper. Just instructions that require trust. Walk. Be silent. Wait. Repeat. For six days, nothing seems to happen. But on the seventh day, everything changes. The trumpets sound, the people shout, and the walls of Jericho come down—not because of military strength, but because God kept His word. And right in the middle of it all, we see Rahab and a scarlet cord—a quiet but powerful picture of rescue and redemption that points us forward to something even greater. From stones in the river to silence around a city, Joshua 4–6 reminds us that God is faithful in every step of the journey. He calls His people to trust Him, follow Him, and watch Him do what only He can do. Because when the walls come down… it's always Him. ❤ For the full episode show notes, please go to https://mfahring.com/joshua-4-6/

How does the crossing of the Jordan River compare to the Red Sea? What is the significance of the Ark of the Covenant and the Memorial Stones?

Daily Devotion with Pastor Balla reflects on Psalm 66:5–7 and the invitation to “Come and see what God has done.” In this LCMS Lutheran devotional, the mighty acts of God in Scripture—such as the crossing of the Red Sea and the Jordan River—point forward to the greater salvation accomplished through Jesus Christ. This ESV Bible-based devotion proclaims that the Lord delivers His people from sin, death, and eternal judgment through the cross and resurrection of Christ. As nations rise and fall and the world grows increasingly uncertain, believers find peace in knowing that God rules forever in wisdom and power. His eyes watch over the nations, and His promises remain steadfast. Through repentance and faith, Christians are called to trust not in themselves but in the mercy of Christ crucified. Subscribe for daily Lutheran devotions, Gospel-centered teaching, and biblical encouragement rooted in Scripture and the Lutheran confession of faith for Christians everywhere today.Buy Me a Coffeehttps://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalph⸻Hashtags:#DailyDevotion #Psalm66 #LCMS #Lutheran #ChristCrucified

On many occasions, individuals will do something so that they remember a significant life event. The Israelites gathered stones as they crossed the Jordan River. With the stones, they built a monument so that when future generations asked what the stones meant, they would hear of how God led them through and provided for them. We also put up monuments, not to worship, but to remember individuals or events that have impacted our nation in a significant way. Unfortunately, it's these statues and monuments that are under attack. Why is this happening? To address this issue, Crosstalk welcomed Dr. Tim Schmig. Dr. Schmig is executive director of the Michigan Association of Christian Schools, director of Stories in Stone and author of Stories in Stones: Our Heritage of Evidence. So why is there such a concerted effort to remove statues and monuments today? Dr. Schmig believes part of it is because people today are looking back through the lens of their own personal experiences, therefore they view our nation's founders based upon what's known as "presentism." In other words, they weigh the actions and productivity of the founders (and others who've gone on before us) based on what they believe is right today. As he noted, none of us are perfect, including America's founders. The present day protesters that tear down monuments aren't perfect either. So if you look at our nation through the lens of idealism, we'll be weighed in the balances and found wanting. Yet if you look at America's history based upon the times that they lived in, you'll see that those individuals did some amazing things.

MAY. 15, 2026Rest in your redemption."By this you shall know that the living God is among you." Jos 3:10 NKJVAs the Jordan River swelled to a mile in width, crossing it was no small task.Especially with millions of people! God said, "Go over this Jordan, you and all this people" (Jos 1:2 NKVJ). Do you think they were scared? Would you have been? "The feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water" (Jos 3:15 NKJV). It was the smallest of steps, but with God, the smallest step of faith can activate the mightiest of miracles. As they touched the water, the flow stopped as if someone had shut off the water main. Next, we read: "All Israel crossed over on dry ground" (v. 17 NKJV). By performing this miracle, God wanted them to know: "By this you shall know that the living God is among you." For Joshua's people, assurance came as they stood on dry land looking back at the Jordan. For us, assurance comes as we stand on the finished work of Christ and look back at the cross. Let the cross convince you. Be settled about God's faithfulness. The psalmist describes a person of faith this psalmist describes a person of faith this way: "He is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him" (Ps 112:7 TLB). Life has many unanswered questions, but God's promise to save you needn't be one of them. "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Ro 8:32 NKJV). Rest in your redemption. The past is past. Your future is bright.Rest in your redemption Let the cross convince you.Share This DevotionalSend us Fan MailSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

This is another awesome example of scripture that testifies of Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Christ.  We will study the event of the Golden Calf and God will teach us in His TORAH, His instructions, that He had a plan for Israel.  He had an awesome purpose for His treasured possession (Exod. 19:5)  It all relates to John 3:16 and the love the Lord has for all, the whole world.  But, the Hebrews failed and chose another god, a god of gold, a bull calf.  They didn't give up on the one true God, they just disobeyed Him in making an animal to represent the one God, the only God, יהוה Yahvay (I pronounce His name Yahvay and not Yahway since  Hebrew has no W sound so it is an error to say Yahway for His name).  Yahvay put this in His Ten Statements, His Ten Commandments, that we are not to make an image to represent the Lord.  The Hebrews  did.  And they did not follow His commands and went their own way. Once again, I brought up the likelihood that the Hebrews had assimilated into the Egyptian culture.  The Hebrews cried out in Exod. 2:23.  But, it is more than cried out.  The Hebrew word is za'aka זעק H2199 which is shriek or scream in deep anguish or terror.  On top of that the Hebrews cried out to no one!  In Exod. 2:23 they cried out - to who?  God heard them but they did not cry out, shriek in deep pain, to the Lord.  Later, at the sea before they crossed over, one they were reintroduced to the God of Abraham, we read in Exod. 14:10 that Israel cried out TO THE LORD.  We miss that.  We think they cried out to the Lord in Exod. 2:23.  That is putting words in the Bible that aren't there.  They didn't know the God of their fathers anymore.  What happened?  What's going on?  The answer - they had assimilated into the Egyptian culture.  The Bible proves it yet we missed it.  All they knew were the gods of Egypt.  It is easy to get Israel out of Egypt but it is nigh impossible to get Egypt out of Israel.   The Hebrews after hundreds of years were deeply imbedded into the Egyptian culture and ways.  Here's the link to study that the Hebrews assimilated into Egypt – https://halakhaoftheday.org/2023/03/29/from-propsperty-to-assimilationn/ Here' a link to lesson 4 part 2 in this series where we study this idea.  It is seemingly proven from the very word of God.  Here's the link - https://youtu.be/9tY5N0mAJ2I?si=BQ2ID2W8eVXZT1xb I did an “AI” search (artificial intelligence) of the Apis Bull in ancient Egypt.  I came up with the following.  I know a lot about the Apis Bull from my days traveling and doing research in Egypt plus my own personal study.  The “AI” material is right on.  So here it is in its entirety.  I do this just in case you want to expand your study to learn more about the Apis Bull and ancient Egypt. AI SEARCH ON THE APIS BULL – MAY 2026 The Apis bull was a sacred animal in ancient Egypt, serving as a living manifestation of the god Ptah and, during its life, a powerful symbol of the pharaoh's vitality, strength, and divine right to rule. As a direct connection between the gods and the kingdom, the Apis bull reinforced the legitimacy of the monarch and was frequently referred to as the "strong bull" in royal inscriptions. [1, 2, 3, 4] Connection to the Pharaoh Symbol of Power: The Apis bull directly symbolized the fertility, power, and vitality of the pharaoh. "Strong Bull" Titles: Pharaohs often used titles such as "Strong Bull of His Mother" to equate themselves with the sacred animal. Ritual Union: During the Sed festival (rejuvenation ceremony), the pharaoh participated in rituals with the bull to absorb its divine power, often described as running or walking with the Apis. Divine Manifestation: The bull was considered an earthly avatar of Ptah (creator god) and, upon death, united with Osiris to become Osiris-Apis. [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7] Worship and Life Selection: Priests selected the bull based on strict, specific markings, including a black coat, a white triangle on the forehead, an eagle-shaped mark on the back, and a beetle-shaped mark under the tongue. Royal Treatment: Once selected, the Apis lived in a specialized "House of Apis" in Memphis, treating the bull with the same reverence and luxury as a pharaoh. Afterlife: When the Apis died, it was mummified and buried with immense fanfare in a dedicated cemetery known as the Serapeum at Saqqara. [2, 8, 9, 10] [1] https://www.ancientegyptblog.com/?p=3313 [2] https://www.facebook.com/Egypt.Culture/posts/the-sacred-bull-apis-was-one-of-the-greatest-religious-symbols-in-ancient-egypt-/930050865826543/ [3] https://www.magellantv.com/articles/by-the-horns-of-apis-ancient-egypts-noble-bullgod [4] https://egyptatours.com/what-is-apis-bull/ [5] https://australian.museum/learn/cultures/international-collection/ancient-egyptian/bull-apis-e39829/ [6] https://templeofathena.blog/2016/08/18/god-of-the-month-club-apis-the-living-bull-god-of-egypt/ [7] https://www.livius.org/articles/religion/apis/ [8] https://www.facebook.com/Tresuresofancientegypt/posts/a-sacred-bull-apis-egypt-with-ahmed-graeco-roman-museum-of-alexandria/833234285657958/ [9] https://egypt-museum.com/cows-bulls-in-ancient-egypt/ [10] https://x.com/archeohistories/status/1939677557500293212 In this lesson the Bible supports the idea that Aaron was complicit in the event of the Golden Bull Calf.  Orthodix Jewish Rabbis, however, stick up for Aaron and try to argue he is totally innocent with regards to the Golden Bull Calf incident.  Their views are merely opinion not based upon God's word and in fact are dismissive of the word when it says that Aaron is guilty and the Lord will destroy him along with all Israel.  Their views are totally unacceptable and in great error. Aaron may not have participated in the worship of the Golden Bull Calf, but he made the molten image and thus got all Israel to sin grievously against the Lord.  That Aaron was found guilty is clear in the very words of God Himself and God wanted to destroy all Israel and AARON!!  "The LORD spoke further to me, saying, 'I have seen this people, and indeed, it is a stubborn people. 'Let Me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.' "(Deu 9:13-14) "The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him; so I also prayed for Aaron at the same time."  (Deu 9:20) Here's some links that will add to your study with regards to Aaron's guilt in this terrible event of the Golden Bull Calf. ARTICLE ON AARON'S GUILT FROM CHABAD – AN ORTHODIX JEWISH SITE - https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/860977/jewish/Why-Did-Aaron-Make-the-Golden-Calf.htm ARTICLE ON AARON'S GUILT FROM www.GotQuestions.org - https://www.gotquestions.org/Aaron-golden-calf.html In this lesson we hear God say, "They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them ..." (Exo 32:8) What is God's WAY that He wanted the Hebrews to follow?  The Hebrew word for the word WAY is derekh (דֶּרֶךְ).  It is the word used in Genesis 3 when the Lord shows the WAY back to the Garden was closed and guarded by two mighty Khrooveem (not cherubs).  The WAY to the Father was blocked.  Now in Exodus 32 God talks about His WAY, His derekh (דֶּרֶךְ) He wants the Hebrews to follow.  Later, the Lord comes to us and He says in John 14 that, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (Joh 14:6)  So, what might he Lord be getting at?  What is the lesson?   I suggest it seems to be summed up in the first verses of Psalm 119. How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the LORD. How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart. They also do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways. You have ordained Your precepts, That we should keep them diligently. Oh that my ways may be established To keep Your statutes!   (Psa 119:1-6) In TORAH the Lord gives us His intruction to live as His people, His chosen ones.  We are to liv in such a way that our lives show we are lovng the Lord God and serving Him by living as per His word, the Written Word.  But then He came to us.  Yeshua.  He is the Living Word.  In John 14 we read that Yeshua says if we are His true disciples He is in us and we in Him.  We abide together.  And as true branches of the "true vine" that is Yeshua we are to be fruitful so that our work in Yeshua keeps until the final harvest of the Vinedresser, the Father, and show ourselves to be His disciples.  We live to be His People of THE WAY,  derekh (דֶּרֶךְ). Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  (Ferret - somewhere on the Jordan River in northern Galilee) What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0  

What did the 12 memorial stones Joshua placed by the Jordan River signify? Find out with Tim Moore and Nathan Jones on Christ in Prophecy Radio!

Year A – Pentecost – May 24, 2026 Pastor Megan Floyd Acts 2:1-21 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 John 20:19-23 Grace and peace to you from God, our Creator, and from Jesus Christ, our redeemer, who poured out their Spirit upon all flesh, blessing us to the end of days. Amen. *** Yes, Pentecost …is the birthday of the Church! Happy Birthday, Church! For our Jewish ancestors and siblings, Pentecost was part of the Festival of Weeks, or Shavuot… it was celebrated 50 days after Passover. This is why there were so many pilgrims in Jerusalem on that day… the day the Spirit blew through town. These pilgrims were there for this harvest festival, and it was during this time that they celebrated God's gift of the Torah to Moses at Mount Sinai. It's not the whole Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament… It's just the first five books, also called the Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Torah contains the historical narrative of what God had done for God's people… it holds the stories of creation… and the stories of the matriarchs and patriarchs, and of the Exodus from Egypt. The Torah also contains the law… the holy teaching… 613 commandments given by God at Mount Sinai… the divine instructions for how to live according to God's will for humanity. And so then… on this festival day celebrating God's gift of the law to God's people, God gave another gift of blessing… God poured out God's Spirit upon them, inaugurating a new era! On this day, the same Spirit that rested on Jesus at the Jordan River was poured out on them… and that same Spirit… has been poured out upon you. Yes, this is the Church's birthday! It is OUR birthday! And in thinking about this celebration today, it is worth considering what it means to be the Church… and what it means to be the Church together. In what ways are we still shaped by that first community of believers… and how have we grown in the Spirit since then? Because Pentecost was only the beginning… a great reversal of the ancient story of the Tower of Babel… when humanity, in their arrogance, wanted to reach God, and so they began building a tower so great that they might ascend to heaven from earth. And God scattered them by diversifying their language. …but on this day, God's Spirit graciously descended to the earth, to us… to swirl through and around God's people… bringing them together… not by reintegrating the language, but by preserving that diversity and instead giving each the ability to share the good news of Jesus in as many different languages and cultures as there are. The Holy Spirit blew through and moved those frightened disciples out of the locked, upper room… moved them outside and into the crowd… into their community. The Spirit gathers people… gathers us… across difference and across fear… it does not gather us into sameness, but rather… into beloved community… into the living body of Christ. The Spirit gathers us in… and… the Spirit also sends us out… out to continue Jesus' mission and ministry… out into the world… to be church together… to be the whole body of Christ. And this is where we are today… a diverse and beautiful tapestry of humanity. We don't all worship the same… or sing and pray the same… and we may disagree on theological points, but… if we are following Jesus's mission and ministry, and loving the way Christ taught us to love, then… we are still… one body. I was blessed this week with the perfect example of this diversity in the body of Christ… Mike Nussdofer introduced me to Shari Montgomery, the founder of The House of Promise in Lansing, which helps women escape trafficking and rebuild their lives. I had a lovely morning with her as she showed me around the campus… it was beautiful and peaceful… and I couldn't imagine a more loving way to care for these women who have been so brutally harmed. And yet, throughout the morning, I gathered from our conversation that she and I likely have some pronounced theological differences. And yet, as I took in the larger context of her work… the fruits of her labor… I saw that it was good… and full of love… and there was no doubt in my mind that the fire of this woman's passion to serve others came from the Holy Spirit. And so, I give thanks for her… for her passion and her ministry to care for the most broken and abused among us … and for being part of this body that is… the Church. And I give thanks for the Holy Spirit for giving us each different passions… different gifts and abilities, so that together, we can address the needs of all. And I give thanks that God continues to guide us… continues to show up for us, sometimes as a rushing wind, or a fire that burns and does not consume… or sometimes… as still, small voice… God's Holy Spirit is still with us. And because we still have God's Holy Spirit… we still have the Church… a community of believers who come together to discern what this voice of God is calling us to do… …and how this Spirit is calling us to move and act in the world… guiding us to those who need us and our particular gifts, the most. I give thanks that the Holy Spirit still strengthens weary hearts… still illuminates difficult decisions… and still gives courage when faith feels costly. I give thanks… thanks for God's Holy Spirit… and how it called me into pastoral ministry… and brought me to you! Pentecost is not merely the story of what happened long ago in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit is still blowing through this place… still gathering us in… still creating faith… and still ushering in new life out of death. The Holy Spirit is still breathing peace into troubled hearts... and I for that I give thanks. And so, on this day of Pentecost… we celebrate with our Jewish ancestors that God's law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai…  But God does not discard the first gift in order to give the second. God who gave the Torah at Sinai is the same God who pours out the Spirit at Pentecost. Just as Jesus did not abolish God's law, neither does the Holy Spirit… but instead… the Spirit writes God's love upon human hearts and empowers us to live it. So, we now also celebrate our Advocate in the Holy Spirit, who guides us always in the way of love and grace and gives us the power and strength to share the good news of God's forgiveness and salvation through Jesus… This is a celebration, indeed! Therefore, on this day, I pray… may the Spirit transform the way we love across difference… transform the way we forgive those who have hurt us… and guide us to seek reconciliation when we have caused the hurt. May the Spirit light a fire in us that sends us to serve and live according to the will of Christ. …and may we carry this fire of Pentecost into our homes… into our workplaces, our families, and into our communities… so that the world may encounter, through us, the living and enduring presence of God. This day, and always. Amen.

Have you ever felt like God was not answering? Like you had done everything right — shown up, presented your need, believed — and nothing happened the way you expected? I want you to stop right now and receive this truth — because Naaman's story is YOUR story. And the thing that almost stopped his healing may be the same thing standing between you and yours.Naaman was the greatest military commander in Aram. Powerful, decorated, respected — and covered with leprosy. He traveled to Israel with horses, chariots, silver, gold, and a letter from the king. He arrived at the door of Elisha expecting a personal audience with the prophet. And Elisha did not even come out."But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: 'Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.'" — 2 Kings 5:10 (NLT)Let these words resonate within your heart today. God's instruction was simple. Not complicated. Not dramatic. Not matching Naaman's expectations of what healing should look like. Just — go wash seven times. Take comfort in this — God does not always meet your need the way you planned. He meets it the way He planned. And the instruction that sounds too simple to work is often the exact instruction your miracle is hiding behind."But Naaman became angry and stalked away. 'I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!' he said." — 2 Kings 5:11 (NLT)Understand this — Naaman's leprosy did not block his miracle. His expectation of how God would heal him almost did. He had a picture in his mind of what the miracle should look like — and when God's method did not match his picture, he walked away in rage. How many miracles have we walked away from because the method God chose did not match our expectations?The wisest voice in the story was the lowest-ranking person in it. And when Naaman finally laid down his pride and dipped himself seven times in the muddy Jordan River — his skin became as healthy as a young child's. The miracle was not in a dramatic ceremony. It was in simple obedience to an instruction his pride had rejected.May this powerful teaching from 2 Kings 5 fill your heart with humility and remind you that God's ways are not our ways — and His method of delivering your miracle is always greater than the one you had planned.

Moses could get Israel to the Promised Land, but he couldn't get them in. To cross the Jordan, Israel needed a new leader with a familiar name: Joshua. Discover why the transition from the Law to Grace is the only way to claim your divine inheritance. Summary: In this episode, we study the Book of Joshua. We move beyond the battles and the trumpets to find the deep spiritual transformation required to stop wandering and start inheriting. Filling the Shoes of a Giant: We analyze the transition from Moses to Joshua—and from Peter to Jesus—exploring how God stays with the successor just as He was with the predecessor. Crossing the Jordan: We look at the "dry ground" miracle at the Jordan River and how the priests had to step into the water before it parted. Strange Strategies: We discuss the "foolish" tactics used at Jericho. Why does God ask us to do small and simple things—like family prayer or scripture study—that seem unrelated to the "walls" we are trying to bring down? The Valley of Achor: We look at the cautionary tale of Achan and how "one man's sin" can affect an entire community, and how God turns our "valleys of trouble" into "doors of hope." Choose You This Day: We conclude with Joshua's final plea at Shechem. We learn that our obedience lasts only as long as our memory, and why we must choose—every single day—whom we will serve. Call-to-Action: Joshua told the people that the stones of the altar had "heard" their promises. What "witnesses" have you set up in your life to remind you of your covenants? Share your thoughts in the comments! To keep your faith "Unshaken" as we enter the era of the Judges, please like, subscribe, and share this video. Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 5:31 Joshua, filling shoes 16:37 Preparing for the Promised Land 34:05 Rahab in Jericho 53:34 Crossing the Jordan River 1:08:02 Magnifying, Memorializing, and Renewing Covenants 1:30:19 The Battle of Jericho 1:46:45 Achan the Accursed 2:19:53 The Battle of Ai 2:25:42 The Gibeonites' Trick 2:37:11 God Fighting Battles & Lengthening Days 2:53:11 The Conquest Continues & Caleb Stakes a Claim 3:10:28 Inheritances in Israel 3:30:15 Mainstream & Margin, Exceptions & Rules 4:12:59 Conclusion

Welcome back to the Menlo Midweek Podcast! This week, host Matt Summers and Phil EuBank sit down to reflect on a truly special standalone weekend across our campuses: Baptism Weekend. Whether faith feels deeply familiar to you, totally unfamiliar, or honestly a little complicated right now, we hope this conversation meets you right where you are. We're diving deeper into the weekend message, looking at baptism not just as a church tradition or a religious box to check, but through the epic biblical story of Joshua 3 and 4. Israel is standing on the edge of a promise, facing a flood-stage river, and stuck in the heavy tension of "almost."

You can see the Promised Land from where you're standing. So why aren't you moving?In this episode of Account for Your Life, Jay Moore gets real about the one thing holding most business owners back — and it's not the economy, the market, or the timing. It's them. Using the moment in Joshua 3 where the Israelites stood paralyzed at the Jordan River, Jay breaks down five reasons entrepreneurs stay stuck at the edge of their next level, and what it's actually costing them to stay there.In this episode you'll hear:Why comfort feels like peace — but isn't, and how to tell the difference between Sabbath and stagnationHow past failure calcifies in your body and leads you away from what God said about youThe dangerous difference between Spirit-led patience and unbelief wearing a suitThe water didn't part first for the Israelites — and it won't part first for you either. Your Jordan step is never just about you. There are people waiting on the other side of your obedience right now.Don't stay on the wrong side any longer. Hit play.

The King Has Come "Jesus Feeds the 5000" (Matthew 14:13-21) In Matthew 14, Jesus has just received word that his cousin and fellow minister John the Baptist has been killed. He withdraws to grieve. A crowd of more than 10,000 follows. And rather than sending them away, Jesus extends compassion. Then he turns to his disciples and says something that stops them cold: "You give them something to eat." Pastor Russell Howard walks through this miracle, the only one recorded in all four Gospels before the resurrection, and draws out its central test. The disciples analyzed the situation correctly. Five loaves, two fish, no money, no plan. They passed the math test. What they failed was the faith test. The Jordan River did not part until Israel's feet touched the water. Provision follows obedience. Measuring the gap is good, because it lets you see when God acts. But the gap is not the final answer. The listener walks away with a clearer picture of what Jesus is actually asking when he calls his people to do what seems impossible: bring what you have, open-handed, and let him work. Sermon Notes May 17, 2026 Pastor Russell Howard • Lead Pastor Presented by McGregor Podcast 2025 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

What does water baptism really mean? Is it just a public declaration of faith, or is there something deeper happening spiritually? In this powerful sermon from Dwelling House Church, Pastor Jeremiah Genin teaches on the biblical meaning of water baptism, surrender, sanctification, and obedience to Jesus. Through Scripture, powerful illustrations, and the story of Israel crossing the Jordan River, Pastor Jeremiah explains how baptism is not a “graduation” in Christianity, but an encounter with God and a declaration that your old life is gone and your new life belongs to Jesus. This message explores what it means for God to be “The Lord Who Sanctifies” and how believers are called to step into obedience, trust, and complete surrender to Christ. This sermon also highlights the importance of worship, gathering together as the church, walking by faith instead of feelings, and trusting God even before the waters part. Whether you're considering baptism, returning to faith, searching for a Spirit-filled church, or wanting a deeper understanding of biblical Christianity, this message will encourage and challenge you. Dwelling House Church is a Spirit-filled, Christ-centered church passionate about the presence of God, biblical truth, worship, discipleship, and helping people encounter Jesus in a real and transformative way. If you're searching for sermons about water baptism, surrender to God, sanctification, Christian obedience, Spirit-filled Christianity, or growing deeper in your relationship with Jesus, this message is for you. This sermon answers: 1.What is the true biblical meaning of water baptism? 2. What does it mean that God is “The Lord Who Sanctifies”? 3. Why does obedience to God often require stepping out in faith before we see the miracle?

Joshua 5 happens right after a miracle. God parts the Jordan River, and the nation of Israel crosses into the Promised Land. After 40 years of wandering, they're finally where God promised they would be. This should be the moment they rush forward in victory. But, instead, God tells them to stop. Today, we will […]

https://youtu.be/JbwZn68o6tA?si=KaUJV7lc4chmBWDN Follow along with us! 30 Days of Purpose – Make Every Day MatterThere's a quote often attributed to Mark Twain that says: The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you discover why.I've thought about that a lot as a pastor. Some of the hardest phone calls I take are from people who need something. They need rent money.They need a bill paid.They need help with a crisis.They need a relationship fixed.They need a door to open. And I want to help. I have helped. But one painful thing I've seen over and over is this: Often they get the thing they asked for… but they are still empty. We don't just need something to get through the week. We need a reason to live. The money helped, but it did not heal them.The object solved a problem, but it did not give them purpose.The relationship brought comfort for a moment, but it did not become a reason to live. Are You Running on Empty or Filled for a Purpose?Welcome-3rd week of our series 30 Days of Purpose. I have a counterintuitive thought for us today. Meaning grows when your life flows outward.We assume more money, more comfort, more entertainment, more attention, and more convenience would make us more alive. But we are one of the most comfortable, entertained, wealthy cultures in human history… and we are still falling apart. Anxiety is rising.Depression is rising.Loneliness is rising.Meaninglessness is rising. More comfort does not always mean more peace.More entertainment does not always mean more joy.More connection online does not always mean more belonging in real life. Maybe the problem is not that we lack more. Maybe the problem is that too much of life only flows inward. Instead of giving you more statistics and studies for a minute… let me show you one of the most fascinating geographical places on earth. It's a place where almost nothing lives. No fish. No plant life. Almost nothing survives there. And what's strange is… it's not small. It's not dry. Water constantly flows into it. It is called the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea only flows in. Nothing flows out.The Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea… but nothing flows out. The Dead Sea sits over 1,400 feet below sea level, making it one of the lowest land formations on earth. Water flows in continually… but because it has no outlet, the water evaporates and leaves massive amounts of salt behind. The salt concentration becomes so extreme that almost nothing can survive there. That is why it is called the Dead Sea. It receives… but it never releases. There is a lesson here: What only flows inward eventually becomes lifeless. If life becomes consume, comfort me, entertain me, protect me, serve me, and bless me, eventually something starts dying inside of us.And honestly, church can become that too. If church becomes consume, comfort me, entertain me, protect me, serve me, and bless me, eventually something starts dying inside of us.Nothing that God created to live and flourish can survive  We were created to let life flow outward. This is exactly what Jesus taught us. John 7:37-3837 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” Jesus does not give us a pond, pool, or puddle.He gives rivers. Jesus fills you with life, so life can flow through you.He does not fill us so we can become spiritual Dead Seas.Mark 10:45:“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” Jesus did not come to be served… We see Jesus serve others constantly. Followers of Jesus hear me… we are not here to be served, but to serve. The fullest life ever lived was a poured-out life.Jesus healed.Jesus served.Jesus fed the hungry.Jesus protected the abused.Jesus washed feet.Jesus carried the cross. Jesus poured Himself out for us.Every day of his life his life was poured out for others.On the cross water & blood poured from his side. The life of Jesus is known today because he poured himself out for others.Not known for looks, riches, family name… Meaning grows when your life flows outward.What does this mean for you?Even if you are not known for your looks…Even if you are not known for trophies…Even if you are not known for fancy riches…You can be known and meaningful because you are refusing to just receive but to release. Let the life of Jesus flow! Where does your life need to flow outward? Start small. Serve someone. Everybody can do this. Encourage someone.Pray for someone.Help someone.Show up for someone. Start bigger. Start something. Maybe God is calling you to do more than one moment of kindness. Maybe there is something in your heart that needs to begin. A small study.A prayer group.A ministry idea.A community outreach.A way to help people.A place where lonely people belong. Don't wait until you feel fully ready. Purpose often starts small, but it has a habit of growing when you start flowing. Start huge. Lead something that outlives you. This is where purpose gets powerful. Not just:“What can I accomplish?” But:“What can continue blessing people after me?” Lead a ministry. Disciple people. Build something meaningful. Raise up others. Invest in kids. Develop leaders. Create something that keeps flowing long after you are gone. That's living water. That's purpose.Jesus has FILLED you for a purpose, but you must let that purpose FLOW. And let's be honest about what Jesus is talking about here. When Jesus said: “Rivers of living water will flow from within them…” He was talking about the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God living in people.The Spirit of God flowing through people. Some people have had an experience with God… but nothing has flowed in years. Some people believe in Jesus… but they are spiritually stagnant. Jesus did not say: “Barely survive spiritually.” He said rivers.Flow.Movement.Life.Power. We do not just need the Spirit around us.We need the Spirit flowing through us. Spirit Flow…  into our homes.…into our prayers.…into our serving.…into our conversations.…into our leadership.…through our church. We want to be a church full of the Spirit of God and flowing with the Spirit of God. So let's be that kind of Church.Let's be those kind of Christians. Come Grow, Come Flow Step 1 – Repent & refuse the world's pattern Repent of the Dead Sea way of  life.Repent of living only to consume. More for me.More comfort.More entertainment.More attention.More control. Repent of that and ask Jesus to help you flow. Step 2 – Make a commitment Start small. Serve someone.Start bigger. Start something.Start huge. Lead something that outlives you. Make a commitment to starting something. Step 3 – Take a faith-filled step Maybe you really need prayer?Maybe you need to come and receive Maybe you need to fill out a connection card with your prayer need and next steps. Maybe you need to ask God to fill you with His Spirit and surrender yourself to worship. And maybe for some of you… this may be your first real step toward Jesus. Your first faith-filled moment. Jesus is still inviting thirsty people to come and drink. So don't stay stagnant. Come.

In this special 100th episode of Open Our Bibles Together, we step into the book of Joshua and begin a powerful new chapter in God's story. Picking up where Deuteronomy left off, the Israelites stand at the edge of the Promised Land. Moses is gone. Joshua is now leading. And in this moment of transition, God repeatedly calls Joshua to be strong and courageous—not because of who he is, but because God will be with him. In these first 3 chapters of Joshua, we have a front row seat to see everything begin to unfold just as God says it will. From Rahab's unexpected faith in Jericho to the Israelites standing before the flood-stage Jordan River, God is already at work—going before His people and preparing the way. And when the time comes to move forward, the priests step into the water carrying the Ark of the Covenant—the very symbol of God's presence—and the river parts, allowing the people to cross on dry ground. Through it all, one truth remains: God is with His people. He goes before them, meets them in the middle, and faithfully leads them into what He promised all the way back in Genesis. Gosh, that's good! As we celebrate 100 episodes—and cue that confetti—please know that we're just getting started, my OOBTers! There are many more of the 66 books in our Bible to go, and I'm so glad you're here for the journey. For the full episode show notes, please go to https://mfahring.com/joshua-1-3/

In this episode of Handmaidens, Harems, and Heroines, Dr. Lynne Hilton Wilson explores the powerful women and pivotal covenant moments found in the book of Joshua. As the children of Israel finally cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land under Joshua's leadership, we witness the fulfillment of promises made generations earlier. From the miraculous crossing of the Jordan to the dramatic fall of Jericho's walls, this episode highlights how faith, obedience, and covenant loyalty shaped Israel's destiny. A special focus is placed on Rahab, one of the most surprising and courageous women in the Old Testament. Though known as Rahab the harlot, her story becomes one of redemption, faith, and divine protection as she risks everything to shelter Israelite spies and align herself with the God of Israel. Dr. Wilson examines Rahab's remarkable transformation from outsider to covenant participant and discusses her lasting legacy in scripture. Join us as we uncover how women like Rahab played essential roles in God's unfolding covenant story and what their examples teach us today.

In this episode of Don't Miss This, Dave Butler and Grace Freeman study Joshua 1–8; 23–24 and step into the long awaited moment when the children of Israel finally enter the promised land after years of wandering in the wilderness. As Joshua takes Moses' place, the Lord repeats the same invitation again and again: “Be strong and of a good courage.” These chapters become a reminder that faith often means stepping forward before the miracle happens. From crossing the Jordan River on dry ground, to carrying stones of remembrance, to walking around the walls of Jericho day after day, the people are invited to trust a God who keeps His promises even when the outcome cannot yet be seen. This episode highlights what it looks like to live in the realm of miracles. Dave and Grace explore the courage to follow God into unfamiliar places, the importance of remembering His goodness, and the power of believing before the walls fall. The story of Rahab becomes a beautiful witness that faith can change everything, and that God delights in rescuing, welcoming, and redeeming every person who chooses to believe. This episode invites us to look at our own life and ask where God may already be moving. Because sometimes faith looks like stepping into the water before it parts, walking around the walls one more time, or building reminders of the miracles we never want to forget. And through every chapter, Joshua reminds us that the God who led His people before is still the God who leads us now. Chapters: 00:00 INTRO 06:22 Being an encourager in tough times 10:27 Reflecting on meaningful scripture 17:19 Living a Meaningful Life 26:04 Missionary work and sacrifice 28:31 Power of a believing woman 35:02 Crossing the Jordan River 41:12 Joshua's moment of encouragement 45:19 Believing in miracles and taking risks 49:12 Building a memorial with stones 57:05 Feeling stuck and going in circles 01:02:45 Personal faith testimony 01:03:58 Signing off and social media plugs Sign up for the Don't Miss This newsletter at www.dontmissthisstudy.com #dontmissthis #comefollowme NEWSLETTER LINK: The Don't Miss This video, the prayer poster, and tip-ins for kids, teens, couples and individuals can all be found in this week's newsletter. Sign-up link in bio if you haven't had a chance yet!! www.dontmissthisstudy.com Instagram: @dontmissthisstudy Podcast: Don't Miss This Study Facebook: Don't Miss This Study Follow Grace Instagram @thisweeksgrace Follow David Instagram: @mrdavebutler Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrdavebutler/ Subscribe to the Don't Miss This App https://www.dontmissthisstudy.com/app

Continuing our series "The Way," Pastor Morgan Ervin preaches a message called And I'll Be With You — a direct challenge to the popular saying, "God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called." Walking through Joseph, Moses, Gideon, and Mary, Ps. Morgan makes the case that God isn't in the business of qualifying us at all. He's in the business of being with us. From the burning bush to the Jordan River to the angel's announcement to a teenage girl in Nazareth, the pattern of Scripture is the same: presence over performance, intimacy over qualification. A word for everyone carrying invisible weight, and every believer still trying to feel ready before they say yes.

We explore the deep biblical meaning of baptism, tracing its roots from the Jordan River crossing in Joshua to the baptism of Jesus and the early church. We see that baptism not as a ritual that saves, but a powerful public declaration of faith, forgiveness, new life, and allegiance to Jesus Christ. We unpack how baptism serves as a memorial, a witness, and a step of obedience for those who have already trusted Jesus. Faith often requires stepping into the water before seeing the miracle. Speaker: Greg Holder

Today’s Bible Verse: “And tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.” — Joshua 4:3 Joshua 4:3 takes place after God brought Israel safely across the Jordan River. Before moving on, God instructed the people to gather stones as a memorial—a visible reminder of His faithfulness and provision. Have an idea for our newsletter? We want to hear from you! Take our survey below: Take Our Survey! “Want to listen without ads? Become a BibleStudyTools.com PLUS Member today: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/ Meet Today’s Host: Jennifer Slattery Discover more devotions with Jennifer at Your Daily Bible Verse on LifeAudio Jennifer Slattery is a national speaker and multi-published author, She’s passionate about helping believers live with bold faith, rooted in surrender to Christ’s purpose. Jennifer co-hosts both Your Daily Bible Verse and Faith Over Fear, encouraging listeners to step into their God-given identity. Her teachings blend Scripture with personal insight to help others embrace God’s power over fear and move forward with confidence.

May 7, 2026Today's Reading: Catechism: The Lord's PrayerDaily Lectionary: Leviticus 24:1-23; Leviticus 25:1-55; Luke 12:54-13:17The Second Petition. Thy Kingdom come. What does this mean? The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also. How does God's kingdom come? God's kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Amen. As Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, they are reminded that the kingdom of God is not merely a location here on earth or some existential place that is beyond our understanding. The kingdom of God is present in Christ. John the Baptist proclaimed, “The kingdom of God is at hand,” when Christ was at the Jordan River. In Christ is also the reign of God. We say that in Christ is the “kingdoming” of God. He is the rule and reign of all things. As we pray in the Lord's Prayer, “Thy kingdom come,” we are reminded that the rule and reign of Christ is taking place right now. His reign is not something we are waiting to take place. Luther defines that the Kingdom of God comes through the Holy Spirit, when, by His grace, we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here and in eternity. In the life of the church and her people, there is the kingdom of God. When we receive the true Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ in the Holy Sacrament, His kingdom is at hand. Christ comes to us for the strengthening of faith and the forgiveness of sins. As the Holy Spirit lives and dwells within us, we are sent out into the world to lead holy lives reflective of our Baptism. The world would like us to believe that the only kingdom is the kingdom here on earth. Our culture insists that there is nothing beyond this world and that there is nothing other than this world. We are encouraged to live lives that feed our flesh and our desires. The world, sin, and satan say that we are in charge of our own destiny. Scriptures teach otherwise. Scriptures point us through the lies of the world and point us to Christ and His kingdom. Scriptures point us to the work of Christ, and in those works is His “kingdoming.” He has fulfilled the law on our behalf. He has paid the price for our sins. He has conquered death. He reigns now and for all eternity. In His reigning we pray, “Thy Kingdom Come.”In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.May Christ our intercessor be And through His blood and merit Read from His book that we are free With all who life inherit. Then we shall see Him face to face, With all His saints in that blest place Which He has purchased for us. (LSB 508:6)Rev. Timothy Davis, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Athens, GA.

In this powerful message from the Take the Hill series through the Book of Joshua, Pastor Jay Austin invites us to step into one of the most pivotal moments in Israel's journey—crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. But before victory ever comes, God calls His people to something deeper: surrender.As the Israelites stand in enemy territory, God is already at work ahead of them—removing fear from their enemies, restoring their identity, healing their shame, and reminding them of His faithfulness. Through vivid storytelling and practical application, this sermon walks through six key areas of surrender that prepare us for the battles ahead.We're challenged to release our need for control, embrace our identity as God's people, let go of past shame, remember God's provision, step into responsibility, and ultimately recognize God as the true commander of our lives.Whether you're facing uncertainty, fear, or a season of transition, this message is a reminder that God is already ahead of you. Victory isn't something we strive for, it's something we step into through surrender.

In part three of our series, Joshua is leading God’s people as they crossover the Jordan River and into the land God promised them. In Sunday’s message, we’ll discover what God did for Israel physically, He does now for us, spiritually, through Jesus.

Have you ever felt like you're right on the edge of something new, but one obstacle keeps standing in the way? Israel faced that exact moment at the Jordan River—caught between where they'd been and where God was leading them. In this message, you'll learn how your natural responses can keep you stuck where you are. But God calls you to the kind of faith that follows His presence and steps forward in obedience. Discover how God turns obstacles into opportunities and problems into pathways—when you trust Him enough to move, even before the way is clear.

The story of the high ranking officer Naaman, unwilling to enter the Jordan River at the request of the prophet Elijah, can serve as an example to us, of how our pride can keep us from receiving what only God can do for us. When we like Naaman, humble ourselves and surrender to God's directives we will receive God's gift of salvation and freedom.  By Ray Ferrell

What if the life you're longing for is on the other side of one bold step of faith?We all want to do something meaningful—something that matters. But too often, we get stuck waiting for the “right moment,” the perfect conditions, or clear direction before we move. The truth? Faith doesn't work that way.Just like Joshua and the Israelites standing at the edge of the Jordan River, sometimes God is calling us to step in before He makes a way. You don't have to be perfect, you just have to be willing.The same God who made a way then is still moving now. The question is: will you trust Him enough to take the step?

There are moments when you already know what the next step is—you've thought about it, prayed about it, and come back to it more than once. And yet, you still feel stuck. Not because you need more information, but because you don't know what will happen if you actually follow through. In this episode, we're talking about what it looks like to be obedient—even when the outcome is unclear—and how that connects to your health, your habits, and your daily decisions. This is for the Christian woman who wants to live with more clarity and peace, but feels caught in that cycle of overthinking, second-guessing, and waiting for things to make sense before taking action. If that's where you are, this will help you step back, think clearly, and move forward in a way that aligns with your faith and how God designed your body to function. When You Already Know What to Do Many times, the issue isn't a lack of information. It's not that you don't know what to do—it's that you're unsure what will happen if you do it. You might already feel a nudge to: Improve your sleep or nutrition Cut back on sugar or processed foods Address emotional or past wounds Step away from something that's draining your health Take a step that feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar The challenge isn't clarity. The challenge is trusting God with the outcome. As shared in the episode, “You already know what God is asking you to do. The question is, do you trust Him enough to do it without knowing how it's going to turn out?” Obedience Isn't Always Comfortable Obedience can feel small… or it can feel life-altering. Sometimes it's: Cooking a meal for someone when you don't feel like it Saying something kind when it's hard Changing a daily habit that's become comfortable Other times, it's: Making a major life or health decision Letting go of something familiar Taking a step that disrupts your routine Obedience often requires: Discomfort Sacrifice A willingness to step outside your normal patterns And yet, this is where growth happens—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The Cost of Disobedience (and Why It Matters) In today's culture, we often focus on God's grace—and rightly so. But it's also important to remember: God calls us to obedience Our choices have consequences Avoiding what we know we should do keeps us stuck Whether it's your health, your habits, or your calling… Staying in the same cycle of: Overthinking Delaying Avoiding …can quietly impact your energy, your peace, and your overall well-being. A Biblical Example of Obedience: Naaman In 2 Kings 5, Naaman was instructed to wash in the Jordan River seven times to be healed. At first, he resisted. It didn't make sense It wasn't what he expected It felt inconvenient But when he finally obeyed, he was restored. This story is a powerful reminder: Obedience doesn't always align with what feels logical or comfortable—but it still matters. Trusting God Without Knowing the Outcome One of the hardest parts of obedience is this:

Read OnlineThe Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.” John 10:31–33The reason these Jews were so angry that they “picked up rocks to stone Jesus” was because He had just declared, “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30), a statement they understood as blasphemy. Through His words and works, Jesus identified Himself as the Messiah and Son of God. However, the religious leaders refused to believe.This controversy took place during the Feast of the Dedication—Hanukkah, a celebration that commemorates the rededication of the Temple in 164 B.C. The Temple had been defiled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 167 B.C., who tried to eradicate Jewish worship by introducing Greek customs and pagan sacrifices. He desecrated the altar by offering unclean animals and setting up a statue of Zeus within the Temple.In response, Judas Maccabeus led a Jewish rebellion that reclaimed the Temple, purified the altar, and rededicated it to the worship of the one true God. According to tradition, only one day's worth of pure oil was available to light the menorah, but it miraculously burned for eight days—the foundation of Hanukkah. Although this feast was not originally prescribed in the Law of Moses, it became an important celebration of God's faithfulness and the triumph of light over darkness.Why is this important to understand? Just as Jesus was not only the Son of God, one with the Father, but also the Messiah and Savior, He came to establish Himself as the New Temple, Altar, High Priest, and Lamb of Sacrifice. Just as Hanukkah celebrated the light of the menorah, Jesus symbolically revealed Himself as the Light of the World, who draws His sheep out of the darkness of sin and ignorance.Although the religious authorities tried to arrest Jesus in the Temple, He escaped their grasp and retreated across the Jordan River to the place where John the Baptist had baptized. He remained there for some time, nurturing His followers' faith in preparation for the events of Passover. Many who came to Him during this period testified, “‘John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.' And many there began to believe in Him” (John 10:42).During these final months, Jesus stayed with His disciples in the wilderness, preparing them for what was to come. It was in this period, just before Passover, that He raised Lazarus from the dead—an event that further agitated the religious leaders, who began plotting more seriously to kill Him.Just as Jesus' mission was filled with challenges, hope, and tension, so too are our lives. His journey sheds light on our own spiritual path. The three to four months between Hanukkah and Passover were a time of spiritual preparation as Jesus prepared His followers for what was to come. Reflect today upon being with Jesus during this time. As you do, consider our Lord's serenity as He encountered hostility in the Temple and retreated to the wilderness.Reflect on His patience and the care He showed in preparing His disciples for His final Hour of glory. Ponder the emotions and teachings that filled this period—hope, tension, and expectation—and resolve to follow our Lord faithfully as He prepares to enter Jerusalem for His Passion. Unite your own hope, tension, expectations, and uncertainties with our Lord, praying for the grace you need to fulfill your life's mission in union with Him.My determined Lord, You were fully committed to fulfill Your divine mission. As the Messiah, You were the New Temple, High Priest, Altar, and Lamb of Sacrifice. You are also the Good Shepherd, leading all of Your sheep to imitate You and to lay their lives down for others. Please give me Your wisdom and courage so that I am prepared to follow You into Holy Week and lay my life down in union with You. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: The Jews Took Up Rocks to Stone Jesus by James TissotSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

As we begin our reading of the book Joshua, Fr. Mike draws our attention to God's power as he parts the waters of the Jordan river, allowing the Israelites to walk across on dry land. We learn that following God often requires great courage and trust. Today's readings are Joshua 1-4, and Psalm 123. 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.