Podcast appearances and mentions of king nebuchadnezzar

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Daniel 3-4; Psalm 81; Revelation 17 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, host Hunter guides us on our continuing journey through Scripture, marking the 256th day of the year. We delve into powerful stories and reflections from Daniel chapters 3 and 4, Psalm 81, and Revelation 17. Hunter begins by highlighting the dramatic tale of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, their unwavering faith in the face of Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue, and the lessons we can draw about resisting the “cult of self” in our own lives. As we listen to God's Word together, Hunter offers thoughtful insights on humility, hope, and the servant-hearted way of Jesus, reminding us that even amidst the fiery trials of life, God walks with us. The episode closes with heartfelt prayers and encouragement to cultivate hope and gratitude within community, looking forward to another day of walking together in faith. Whether you're new to Daily Radio Bible or a long-time listener, today's episode promises inspiration, comfort, and the reminder that, no matter what you're facing, you are loved and there is always hope. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Recognize the destructive life of the cult of self. King Nebuchadnezzar was the poster child for a life centered on the self—a man who built a 90-foot tall statue of gold as a monument to his own greatness and demanded all people bow down and worship an image of himself. That, friends, is the path of the self: it wants life to revolve around our own projects, desires, ambitions, and reputation. If it's not about us, it'll find another narcissist to orbit. So often, even religion gets caught up in the frenzy, enforcing the lie that life is found in worshiping anything but God—the living God who serves. But there is another way—Jesus, the servant King, shows us a life radically different from Nebuchadnezzar's. Jesus is self-giving, radically forgiving, and co-suffering in His love for all, even for those who set themselves against Him. When we awaken to Jesus, the living word, we do not escape the fiery trials and pressures of this world. But we are promised that we will never be alone in those flames. Just as God stood with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fire, so He stands with us. In the end, we emerge from those flames into life—His life. The call today is to refuse to shape your life as a monument to self. Don't bow down to the cult of self or any idols that demand your allegiance. Instead, open your heart to the way of Jesus: the way of humility, service, and forgiveness. Participate in His self-giving, radically forgiving, co-suffering love. That is the way that brings true freedom and hope—hope that can't be destroyed by the fires of this world. That's a prayer I have for my own soul. That's a prayer I have for my family, for my wife, for my daughters, for my son. And that is a prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord of heaven and earth, you have awakened us in your mercy once more. Still our anxious minds, quiet our striving hearts and help us to rest in the knowledge that we are held by you. May we walk in step with your Spirit today, not ahead, not behind, but beside you in trust and love through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God of all peoples, you formed every soul in your image and breathed life into every heart. Open the eyes of the nations, soften hearts grown cold and teach us to live as neighbors and friends. Let your Spirit move in power. Renew the face of the earth and usher in your reign of peace. Amen. And now, Lord, let me be a bearer of your peace. Where voices divide, let me speak grace. Where fear takes root, let me plant trust. Where the world rushes on, let me walk with you. May I seek not to climb, but to kneel, not to win, but to love, not to grasp, but to give. For it is in emptying that we are filled, in surrender that we are strengthened, and in union with you that we find our truest joy. Amen. And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our 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.   OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

What advice will Daniel have for King Nebuchadnezzar?

Hey kiddos! This week on the Kaleidoscope Kids Podcast, the studio is swarming with animals! And to top it all off, the assistant is nowhere to be found!  While I try to wrangle the chaos, we dive into Daniel chapter 4.King Nebuchadnezzar has another dream — this time about a towering tree that gets chopped down, and Daniel explains it's a warning from God. And you won't believe what happens to the king! Soon the proud king is living like…well you'll see. This story helps King Nebuchadnezzar (and us) remember that God is the true King over everything.Podcast Questions:   Which wise man was able to tell the king what his dream meant?  What was the tree stomp wrapped in? How much time passed between the dream and when the king became like an ox?Remember, you can submit your answers here, for a chance to win a prize!Recommended Resources⁠Kaleidoscope + Yoto⁠Far From Home - The Book of DanielFollow us: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠Leave Us a Review!One of the best ways that you can support this podcast is by rating and reviewing us! If you enjoy this podcast and want others to hear it, please take a moment to review us. It really does help!— —Editing and support by ⁠The Good Podcast Co.

Send us a textDrawing from Daniel chapter 3, this powerful message examines the courageous example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar's golden image despite facing the fiery furnace. Their faith and conviction speak directly into the challenges Christians face today, where cultural expectations and political pressures often demand our allegiance in ways that contradict the Word of God.The tension between Romans 13—teaching that “God establishes authorities”—and the believer's responsibility to follow Christ first creates a challenging but important dilemma. As Reverend Ben Cooper boldly puts it, “God puts government in place, but then He gives us free will.” This is not a call to lawlessness, but a reminder that when human authority collides with divine command, our obedience must belong to Jesus above all.This message speaks into our divided world. Across nations and communities we see division by color, by finances, by postcodes, by schools, and even within churches. Yet the call of Christ cuts through the noise: “Am I going to follow Muppets on that side, or am I going to follow the ones that throw axes on that side? Who am I going to follow? I'm going to follow Jesus.”Through biblical exposition and practical application, the sermon challenges us to examine where we may have compromised with modern idols. These idols may not take the shape of golden statues, but they appear in ideologies, institutions, and systems that marginalize God's truth. From education systems that push Christian perspectives aside to churches that drift from biblical foundations, each believer is called to make a choice about where their loyalty truly lies.The message culminates with communion, reminding us that in Christ we discover unity that transcends political divides, denominational labels, or social barriers. At the Lord's table, we are one body, united by the cross. This unity is not found in cultural identity or human authority but in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.Wherever you stand politically or denominationally, this prophetic word will encourage you not to “conform to the pattern of this world” but to stand firm in biblical truth. It will strengthen your resolve to endure fiery trials with faith and to declare, like the three Hebrews, “Even if God does not rescue us, we will not serve your gods.”This timely message is a call to courage, conviction, and uncompromising devotion. Above all else, it is a call to follow Jesus.Support the showThank you for listening! For more inspiring content, visit our main site at RBChristianRadio.net. Explore our ministry services and celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net. If you'd like to support our work, you can now Buy Me a Coffee and help us keep spreading the word. Every bit makes a difference! God bless and see you in the next episode.

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 NLT) When I was a kid, I attended Southern California Military Academy in Long Beach. We would have mandatory chapel every Sunday. Not being raised in a Christian home, I can recall it was the only time, for the most part, that I was ever in a church service. I remember one of the songs we sang in chapel was “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” At the time, I was experiencing a storm of my own because of the way my mom lived as an alcoholic. I remember singing, “When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, and don’t be afraid of the dark. At the end of the storm there’s a golden sky and the sweet silver song of the lark. Walk on through the wind. Walk on through the rain.” The problem was that there was no mention of God in those lyrics. As we sang, “Walk on with hope in your heart, and you’ll never walk alone,” I thought, “Who is with me? The lark that we’re singing about? Who is here?” As Christians, we do walk through storms in life. But we can hold our heads high—not because of some bird singing but because the Lord is with us. He was with me as a little boy, though I hadn’t yet put my faith in Him completely. God was there as I cried out to Him. God was there when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a fiery furnace because they refused to bow down to an idol. King Nebuchadnezzar, who ordered that the sentence be carried out, expected to see their incineration. Instead, he saw something amazing. “‘Look!’ Nebuchadnezzar shouted. ‘I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!’” (Daniel 3:25 NLT). God was there when Daniel was thrown into a lions’ den for faithfully praying to Him. When King Darius (Nebuchadnezzar’s successor) came to check on him, Daniel said, “My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me” (Daniel 6:22 NLT). God was there when Jonah—who tried to get away from Him by boarding a boat—was thrown overboard in the middle of a terrible storm and swallowed by a great fish. Jonah 1:17 says, “Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah” (NLT). These stories and countless others in Scripture reinforce an important lesson. We’re safer with God in a storm than anywhere else without Him. I would rather be with Jesus in a storm than in the plushest, most luxurious place on earth without Him. The Bible tells us that “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1 NLT). Sometimes God will calm or even stop the storms, but He is always with us through them. Reflection question: When have you gotten the sense that you were not walking alone through a storm in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us for an in-depth exploration of one of the Bible's most remarkable prophecies. In this episode, we examine Daniel chapters 2 and 7, where an 18-year-old Hebrew captive interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream and later received his own vision that would accurately predict the rise and fall of four world empires over the next thousand years.We'll uncover the chiasm structure connecting these chapters, explore the historical fulfillment of these prophecies, and discuss their implications for our modern world. From the golden head of Babylon to the iron legs of Rome, and from the lion with eagle's wings to the terrifying fourth beast with ten horns, this prophecy reveals God's sovereign plan for the nations and points toward the ultimate establishment of His eternal kingdom.

Just like our government scans for threats to national security, we need to be on high alert for threats in our own lives. Spiritually, what we're up against isn't always visible. The enemy's tactics are subtle, strategic, and deadly. This month, Mike Breaux, a teaching minister with Eastside Christian Church in Anaheim, California is digging into the lives of several Biblical kings who were “taken out”—not by an external force, but from the inside out. Pride, Envy, Disobedience, are threats that were at the root of the undoing of powerful men and they lurk in our lives as well. Listen in as we expose these threats and learn how to win the battle against these “Kingslayers.”He was a powerful ruler over Babylon and creator of some of the ancient wonders of the world, yet became a madman when he tangled with God. So, with a lesson on the dangers of “Pride”, here's Mike… To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/326/29

When life throws us into the fire, it's not to destroy us — it's to reveal who is standing with us. In Daniel 3:16–30, we see one of the most powerful displays of faith in all of Scripture. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar's golden image, even when faced with the threat of a fiery furnace. Their courage, conviction, and trust in God show us how to live with unshakable faith in a world full of pressure and compromise.

Hey kiddos!

Rawrr! Prayer is good, right? But what happens when someone makes it against the law to pray?!?! Find out in this great episode!Prayer is talking to GodDaniel would continuously talk to God through prayer. Even when he was threatened to be thrown into the lion's den, Daniel would continue to pray to God.Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.– Colossians 4:2Daniel 2, Daniel 6Daniel and the Lion's DenDaniel was a very good, faithful man, who always obeyed God. He would pray to God consistently, three times a day. Daniel had a very close relationship to God due to how often he would talk to God through prayer and because of his unshakable faith. God also gave Daniel an incredible gift—Daniel was able to interpret dreams. This gift led Daniel to successfully interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The king then gave Daniel a high up position in the kingdom and gave him many gifts. Because Daniel was so smart, other wise men in the kingdom were very jealous. Their jealousy led them to convince King Darius to make a new law—that the people were only allowed to pray to the king. If people chose not to obey this law, they would be thrown in the lion's den. These jealous men knew that Daniel would never obey this law since he would pray to God several times a day.Daniel continued to pray in his room, even when he had heard about this new law. After the jealous men saw him do this, they told King Darius. This made King very upset because he cared for Daniel and tried to get him out of trouble, but knew there was no way around it. Before throwing him in the den, King Darius told Daniel “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” The next morning, King Darius went to check on Daniel and heard Daniel say “My God sent his angel to shut the lion's mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have wronged you, Your majesty.” Daniel had not been harmed! They both knew that Daniel was protected because he had completely trusted God and had faith in Him. Daniel had a great amount of love for the Lord. Daniel also had a deep and personal connection to God because he would intentionally talk to God all the time through prayer. Regardless of the situation he was facing, he would make time to pray. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our daily routine, that we neglect to prioritize our quiet time with God. But the truth is, God wants to hear from us—He wants us to talk to Him because of His love for each and every one of us.I can talk to God. Questions to think about:1. Why did Daniel continue to pray, even when he knew his life would be threatened?2. Why did Daniel have such a close relationship with God?3. How can I remember to talk to God on a daily basis?

The further back you stay from the lines of temptation, the easier it is to resist them.Some of us need new guardrails. Some of us need to move the ones we already have closer. Some of us need to reinforce them higher. Guardrails aren't weakness—they're wisdom. And make no mistake: we have a role to play in protecting ourselves. That's why God says, “Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened.” Those are action words. First we act, then God steps in with His strength.Let's look at Daniel. In 605 B.C., King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem. He was brilliant, strategic, and subtle. When he took captives, he didn't just lock them away. He hand-picked the best and brightest—young men like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—and put them in Babylon's reprogramming system. He gave them luxury food, world-class education, and high status. To most, it probably felt like an upgrade. But Nebuchadnezzar wasn't being generous. He was slowly stripping away their identity and their faith until they looked more like Babylonians than followers of God.Most celebrated the perks. Daniel saw the trap. He realized compromise doesn't remove temptation—it just weakens your willpower. Compromise doesn't solve conflict—it postpones it. And compromise reveals whether you're living for God or for your own comfort.Daniel drew a hard line. He decided he would not eat the king's food. That was a bold refusal to let Babylon redefine his values. It was offensive to their system, but Daniel had already made up his mind. Think about that—he didn't wait until the pressure was on. He decided ahead of time. He was young, far from home, surrounded by power, and under threat of death. But he chose not to defile himself before a holy God.Every time we compromise, it gets easier the next time. Every time we give in, our spiritual strength fades. But every time we stand firm, we strengthen our resolve. Your God-honoring beliefs will offend worldly standards. The question is—are you ready for that fight?Daniel made his choice before he knew the end of the story. We already know how sin's story ends. That's why we must decide now—before the pressure comes—to draw our lines and not defile ourselves in the presence of a holy God.

Fr. Mike explains why God asks his people to surrender to King Nebuchadnezzar even though it seems contradicting. We learn that God can use evil circumstances to win the hearts of his people back. In Daniel, as we read about the vision of the ram and the goat, Fr. Mike reminds us that prophecy is always shrouded in mystery. Today we read Jeremiah 26-27, Daniel 8-9, and Proverbs 16:9-12. 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.

Life is full of “what ifs”, and often they are negative, right? They are usually full of fear and worrisome imaginations. And when you focus on all those “what ifs,” when you allow your mind to go to those negative possibilities, you become discouraged and frankly, miserable. So, let me ask you: How much time do you spend in the “what ifs” of life? In fear and worry, thinking about what could or might happen? Here's another “what if”: What if you changed “what if” to “even if”? Even if I lose my job, even if I get a bad health report, even if I'm robbed, even if someone I love dies. If you're born from above through faith in Jesus Christ, what if you faced your “what ifs” with truth from God's Word—truth that would set you free from the fear and worry and despair that your “what ifs” have caused? We have promises from God's Word we should throw in the face of our “what ifs.” Promises like: Isaiah 43:2: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Hebrews 13:5: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So, when you're facing a “what if,” stop and talk to yourself. Seriously, you need to talk to yourself—out loud if possible—and remind yourself of God's promises. Remind yourself of these truths. Bring those “what if” thoughts into captivity and make them obey the Lord. You remember the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, three Jewish young men who were forcibly taken from Jerusalem to Babylon to serve in King Nebuchadnezzar's court (Daniel 3). Shortly after they were forced into the service of this pagan king, they were faced with a direct affront to their faith in Jehovah God, as the king set up a golden image and ordered everyone to worship this pagan image or else be thrown into a fiery furnace. Talk about a “what if”! What if they continued to serve the true God, Jehovah, and refused to bow down and worship that golden idol? They would perish as young men in the prime of their lives. This was a serious what if; there was no question that refusing to obey the king's order would result in death. So, what was their decision? Here it is from Daniel 3:16-18: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” They went from “what if” to “even if” and declared their trust in their God to deliver them. Even if they were burned to death in the furnace, they would not bow to any other god. Maybe you're facing a fiery furnace of your own—something that could destroy you or so it seems. Maybe it's a financial furnace, or a health furnace, or a relationship furnace. You're in the “what if” stage as you face the furnace. Can you replace your “what if” with an “even if,” declaring that even if your fears are realized, even if the worst happens, you will trust in God to deliver you, to go through it with you, and to rescue you? Can you say with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, “Even if he does not, I will trust him”? That is walking by faith and not by sight, and even if your faith seems small or weak, God will be pleased with your “even if,” and you can be sure he will get you through. I pray you will place your trust in the same God who delivered these young men and who will deliver you. Then there's the story of when God confronted Moses and told him he had a job for him to do—to face Pharaoh and deliver his people from bondage. Moses had a bunch of “what ifs.”

Fr. Mike touches on Proverbs 16:3, which is about giving everything in our lives to the service of the Lord. He also emphasizes how important it is to humble ourselves before the Lord, so to avoid becoming like the false prophets Jeremiah talks about today. Today's readings are Jeremiah 23, Daniel 4-5, and Proverbs 16:1-4. 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.

In Today's Secular Uncertainties, God is Sovereign; and God “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he {God} will” MESSAGE SUMMARY: Political discord and health care uncertainties surround us in all directions today. Without Jesus in our lives, we have reasons to be anxious and fearful. However, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:31: “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.”. The future years may hurt our pride, wallets, and/or our freedom. On the other hand, we should not let the current secular political environment and culture hinder our resolve to continue in our fearless faith in the truth; our constant hope in the future; and our radical love for our neighbors. God has a plan; and, regardless of how things look from our eyes, we must remain faithful to His purpose. Now is the time to draw near to Jesus and to advance His Kingdom. Our gaze must remain on Jesus if we want to walk on the water during the storm. God is the King of Kings and the Sovereign God of the Universe. As Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 4:17 when God told Nebuchadnezzar: “to the end that the living may know that the Most High {God} rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he {God} will and sets over it the lowliest of men.”. God is always involved in our lives, and He gives the government offices “to whom he will”, even if the political processes produce “the lowliest of men {or women}”. Sometimes, we receive the elected officials we need, and sometimes we receive the elected officials that we deserve; but God is always Sovereign and faithful.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be a complainer (Philippians 2:14). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 6:31; Philippians 4:5-7; Daniel 4:17; Psalms 106c:25-36. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Go! Make Disciples!”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

The Secret History of Gold comes out this week. Here for your viewing pleasure is a fim about gold based on the first chapter.“Gold will be slave or master”HoraceIn 2021, a metal detectorist with the eyebrow-raising name of Ole Ginnerup Schytz dug up a hoard of Viking gold in a field in Denmark. The gold was just as it was when it was buried 1,500 years before, if a little dirtier. The same goes for the jewellery unearthed at the Varna Necropolis in Bulgaria in 1972. The beads, bracelets, rings and necklaces are as good as when they were buried 6,700 years ago.In the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, there is a golden tooth bridge — a gold wire used to bind teeth and dental implants — made over 4,000 years ago. It could go in your mouth today.No other substance is as long-lasting as gold — not diamonds, not tungsten carbide, not boron nitride. Gold does not corrode; it does not tarnish or decay; it does not break down over time. This sets it apart from every other substance. Iron rusts, wood rots, silver tarnishes. Gold never changes. Left alone, it stays itself. And it never loses its shine — how about that?Despite its permanence, you can shape this enormously ductile metal into pretty much anything. An ounce of gold can be stretched into a wire 50 miles long or plate a copper wire 1,000 miles long. It can be beaten into a leaf just one atom thick. Yet there is one thing you cannot do and that is destroy it. Life may be temporary, but gold is permanent. It really is forever.This means that all the gold that has ever been mined, estimated to be 216,000 tonnes, still exists somewhere. Put together it would fit into a cube with 22-metre sides. Visualise a square building seven storeys high — and that would be all the gold ever.With some effort, you can dissolve gold in certain chemical solutions, alloy it with other metals, or even vaporise it. But the gold will always be there. It is theoretically possible to destroy gold through nuclear reactions and other such extreme methods, but in practical terms, gold is indestructible. It is the closest thing we have on earth to immortality.Perhaps that is why almost every ancient culture we know of associated gold with the eternal. The Egyptians believed the flesh of gods was made of gold, and that it gave you safe passage into the afterlife. In Greek myth, the Golden Apples of the Hesperides, which Hercules was sent to retrieve, conferred immortality on whoever ate them. The South Americans saw gold as the link between humanity and the cosmos. They were not far wrong.Gold was present in the dust that formed the solar system. It sits in the earth's crust today, just as it did when our planet was formed some 4.6 billion years ago. That little bit of gold you may be wearing on your finger or around your neck is actually older than the earth itself. In fact, it is older than the solar system. To touch gold is as close as you will ever come to touching eternity.And yet the world's most famous investor is not impressed.‘It gets dug out of the ground in Africa, or some place,' said Warren Buffett. ‘Then we melt it down, dig another hole, bury it again and pay people to stand around guarding it. It has no utility. Anyone watching from Mars would be scratching their head.'He's right. Gold does nothing. It does not even pay a yield. It just sits there inert. We use other metals to construct things, cut things or conduct things, but gold's industrial uses are minimal. It is a good conductor of electricity, but copper and silver are better and cheaper. It has some use in dentistry, medical applications and nanotechnology. It is finding more and more use in outer space — back whence it came — where it is used to coat spacecraft, astronauts' visors and heat shields. But, in the grand scheme of things, these uses are paltry.Gold's only purpose is to store and display prosperity. It is dense and tangible wealth: pure money.Though you may not realise it, we still use gold as money today. Not so much as a medium to exchange value but store it.In 1970, about 27 per cent of all the gold in the world was in the form of gold coinage and central bank or government reserves. Today, even with the gold standard long since dead, the percentage is about the same.The most powerful nation on earth, the United States, keeps 70 per cent of its foreign exchange holdings in gold. Its great rival, China, is both the world's largest producer and the world's largest importer. It has built up reserves that, as we shall discover, are likely as great as the USA's. If you buying gold or silver coins to protect yourself in these “interesting times” - and I urge you to - as always I recommend The Pure Gold Company. Pricing is competitive, quality of service is high. They deliver to the UK, the US, Canada and Europe or you can store your gold with them. More here.Ordinary people and institutions the world over use gold to store wealth. Across myriad cultures gold is gifted at landmark life events — births and weddings — because of its intrinsic value.In fact, gold's purchasing power has increased over the millennia, as human beings have grown more productive. The same ounce of gold said by economic historians to have bought King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon 350 loaves of bread could buy you more than 1,000 loaves today. The same gold dinar (roughly 1/7 oz) that, in the time of the Koran in the seventh century, bought you a lamb would buy you three lambs today. Those same four or five aurei (1 oz) which bought you a fine linen tunic in ancient Rome would buy you considerably more clothing today.In 1972, 0.07 ounces of gold would buy you a barrel of oil. Here we are in 2024 and a barrel of oil costs 0.02 ounces of gold — it's significantly cheaper than it was fifty years ago.House prices, too, if you measure them in gold, have stayed constant. It is only when they are measured in fiat currency that they have appreciated so relentlessly (and destructively).In other words, an ounce of gold buys you as much, and sometimes more, food, clothing, energy and shelter as it did ten years ago, a hundred years ago or even thousands of years ago. As gold lasts, so does its purchasing power. You cannot say the same about modern national currencies.Rare and expensive to mine, the supply of gold is constrained. This is in stark contrast to modern money — electronic, debt-based fiat money to give it its full name — the supply of which multiplies every year as governments spend and borrowing balloons.As if by Natural Law, gold supply has increased at the same rate as the global population — roughly 2 per cent per annum. The population of the world has slightly more than doubled since 1850. So has gold supply. The correlation has held for centuries, except for one fifty-year period during the gold rushes of the late nineteenth century, when gold supply per capita increased.Gold has the added attraction of being beautiful. It shines and glistens and sparkles. It captivates and allures. The word ‘gold' derives from the Sanskrit ‘jval', meaning ‘to shine'. That's why we use it as jewellery — to show off our wealth and success, as well as to store it. Indeed, in nomadic prehistory, and still in parts of the world today, carrying your wealth on your person as jewellery was the safest way to keep it.The universe has given us this captivatingly beautiful, dense, inert, malleable, scarce, useless and permanent substance whose only use is to be money. To quote historian Peter Bernstein, ‘nothing is as useless and useful all at the same time'.But after thousands of years of gold being official money, in the early twentieth century there was a seismic shift. Neither the British, German nor French government had enough gold to pay for the First World War. They abandoned gold backing to print the money they needed. In the inter-war years, nations briefly attempted a return to gold standards, but they failed. The two prevailing monetary theories clashed: gold-backed versus state-issued currency. Gold standard advocates, such as Montagu Norman, Governor of the Bank of England, considered gold to be one of the key pillars of a free society along with property rights and habeas corpus. ‘We have gold because we cannot trust governments,' said President Herbert Hoover in 1933. This was a sentiment echoed by one of the founders of the London School of Economics, George Bernard Shaw — to whom I am grateful for demonstrating that it is possible to have a career as both a comedian and a financial writer. ‘You have to choose (as a voter),' he said, ‘between trusting to the natural stability of gold and the natural stability of the honesty and intelligence of the members of the Government… I advise you, as long as the Capitalist system lasts, to vote for gold.'On the other hand, many, such as economist John Maynard Keynes, advocated the idea of fiat currency to give government greater control over the economy and the ability to manipulate the money supply. Keynes put fixation with gold in the Freudian realms of sex and religion. The gold standard, he famously said after the First World War — and rightly, as it turned out — was ‘already a barbarous relic'. Freud himself related fascination with gold to the erotic fantasies and interests of early childhood.Needless to say, Keynes and fiat money prevailed. By the end of the 1930s, most of Europe had left the gold standard. The US followed, but not completely until 1971, in order to meet the ballooning costs of its welfare system and its war in Vietnam.But compare both gold's universality (everyone everywhere knows gold has value) and its purchasing power to national currencies and you have to wonder why we don't use it officially today. There is a very good reason: power.Sticking to the discipline of the gold standard means governments can't just create money or run deficits to the same extent. Instead, they have to rein in their spending, which they are not prepared to do, especially in the twenty-first century, when they make so many promises to win elections. Balanced books, let alone independent money, have become an impossibility. If you seek an answer as to why the state has grown so large in the West, look no further than our system of money. When one body in a society has the power to create money at no cost to itself, it is inevitable that that body will grow disproportionately large. So it is in the twenty-first century, where state spending in many social democracies is now not far off 50 per cent of GDP, sometimes higher.Many arguments about gold will quickly slide into a political argument about the role of government. It is a deeply political metal. Those who favour gold tend to favour small government, free markets and individual responsibility. I count myself in that camp. Those who dismiss it tend to favour large government and state planning.I have argued many times that money is the blood of a society. It must be healthy. So much starts with money: values, morals, behaviour, ambitions, manners, even family size. Money must be sound and true. At the moment it is neither. Gold, however, is both. ‘Because gold is honest money it is disliked by dishonest men,' said former Republican Congressman Ron Paul. As Dorothy is advised in The Wizard of Oz (which was, as we shall discover, part allegory), maybe the time has come to once again ‘follow the yellow brick road'.On the other hand, maybe the twilight of gold has arrived, as Niall Ferguson argued in his history of debt and money, The Cash Nexus. Gold's future, he said, is ‘mainly as jewellery' or ‘in parts of the world with primitive or unstable monetary and financial systems'. Gold may have been money for 5,000 years, or even 10,000 years, but so was the horse a means of transport, and then along came the motor car.A history of gold is inevitably a history of money, but it is also a history of greed, obsession and ambition. Gold is beautiful. Gold is compelling. It is wealth in its purest, most distilled form. ‘Gold is a child of Zeus,' runs the ancient Greek lyric. ‘Neither moth nor rust devoureth it; but the mind of man is devoured by this supreme possession.' Perhaps that's why Thomas Edison said gold was ‘an invention of Satan'. Wealth, and all the emotions that come with it, can do strange things to people.Gold has led people to do the most brilliant, the most brave, the most inventive, the most innovative and the most terrible things. ‘More men have been knocked off balance by gold than by love,' runs the saying, usually attributed to Benjamin Disraeli. Where gold is concerned, emotion, not logic, prevails. Even in today's markets it is a speculative asset whose price is driven by greed and fear, not by fundamental production numbers.Its gleam has drawn man across oceans, across continents and into the unknown. It lured Jason and the Argonauts, Alexander the Great, numerous Caesars, da Gama, Cortés, Pizarro and Raleigh. Brilliant new civilisations have emerged as a result of the quest for gold, yet so have slavery, war, deceit, death and devastation. Describing the gold mines of ancient Egypt, the historian Diodorus Siculus wrote, ‘there is absolutely no consideration nor relaxation for sick or maimed, for aged man or weak woman. All are forced to labour at their tasks until they die, worn out by misery amid their toil.' His description could apply to many an illegal mine in Africa today.The English critic John Ruskin told a story of a man who boarded a ship with all his money: a bag of gold coins. Several days into the voyage a terrible storm blew up. ‘Abandon ship!' came the cry. The man strapped his bag around his waist and jumped overboard, only to sink to the bottom of the sea. ‘Now,' asked Ruskin, ‘as he was sinking — had he the gold? Or had the gold him?'As the Chinese proverb goes, ‘The miser does not own the gold; the gold owns the miser.'Gold may be a dead metal. Inert, unchanging and lifeless. But its hold over humanity never relents. It has adorned us since before the dawn of civilisation and, as money, underpinned economies ever since. Desire for it has driven mankind forwards, the prime impulse for quest and conquest, for exploration and discovery. From its origins in the hearts of dying stars to its quiet presence today beneath the machinery of modern finance, gold has seen it all. How many secrets does this silent witness keep? This book tells the story of gold. It unveils the schemes, intrigues and forces that have shaped our world in the relentless pursuit of this ancient asset, which, even in this digital age, still wields immense power.That was Chapter One of The Secret History of Gold The Secret History of Gold is available to pre-order at Amazon, Waterstones and all good bookshops. I hear the audiobook, read by me, is excellent. The book comes out on August 28.Hurry! Amazon is currently offering 20% off.Until next time,Dominic This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theflyingfrisby.com/subscribe

The Secret History of Gold comes out this week. Here for your viewing pleasure is a fim about gold based on the first chapter.“Gold will be slave or master”HoraceIn 2021, a metal detectorist with the eyebrow-raising name of Ole Ginnerup Schytz dug up a hoard of Viking gold in a field in Denmark. The gold was just as it was when it was buried 1,500 years before, if a little dirtier. The same goes for the jewellery unearthed at the Varna Necropolis in Bulgaria in 1972. The beads, bracelets, rings and necklaces are as good as when they were buried 6,700 years ago.In the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, there is a golden tooth bridge — a gold wire used to bind teeth and dental implants — made over 4,000 years ago. It could go in your mouth today.No other substance is as long-lasting as gold — not diamonds, not tungsten carbide, not boron nitride. Gold does not corrode; it does not tarnish or decay; it does not break down over time. This sets it apart from every other substance. Iron rusts, wood rots, silver tarnishes. Gold never changes. Left alone, it stays itself. And it never loses its shine — how about that?Despite its permanence, you can shape this enormously ductile metal into pretty much anything. An ounce of gold can be stretched into a wire 50 miles long or plate a copper wire 1,000 miles long. It can be beaten into a leaf just one atom thick. Yet there is one thing you cannot do and that is destroy it. Life may be temporary, but gold is permanent. It really is forever.This means that all the gold that has ever been mined, estimated to be 216,000 tonnes, still exists somewhere. Put together it would fit into a cube with 22-metre sides. Visualise a square building seven storeys high — and that would be all the gold ever.With some effort, you can dissolve gold in certain chemical solutions, alloy it with other metals, or even vaporise it. But the gold will always be there. It is theoretically possible to destroy gold through nuclear reactions and other such extreme methods, but in practical terms, gold is indestructible. It is the closest thing we have on earth to immortality.Perhaps that is why almost every ancient culture we know of associated gold with the eternal. The Egyptians believed the flesh of gods was made of gold, and that it gave you safe passage into the afterlife. In Greek myth, the Golden Apples of the Hesperides, which Hercules was sent to retrieve, conferred immortality on whoever ate them. The South Americans saw gold as the link between humanity and the cosmos. They were not far wrong.Gold was present in the dust that formed the solar system. It sits in the earth's crust today, just as it did when our planet was formed some 4.6 billion years ago. That little bit of gold you may be wearing on your finger or around your neck is actually older than the earth itself. In fact, it is older than the solar system. To touch gold is as close as you will ever come to touching eternity.And yet the world's most famous investor is not impressed.‘It gets dug out of the ground in Africa, or some place,' said Warren Buffett. ‘Then we melt it down, dig another hole, bury it again and pay people to stand around guarding it. It has no utility. Anyone watching from Mars would be scratching their head.'He's right. Gold does nothing. It does not even pay a yield. It just sits there inert. We use other metals to construct things, cut things or conduct things, but gold's industrial uses are minimal. It is a good conductor of electricity, but copper and silver are better and cheaper. It has some use in dentistry, medical applications and nanotechnology. It is finding more and more use in outer space — back whence it came — where it is used to coat spacecraft, astronauts' visors and heat shields. But, in the grand scheme of things, these uses are paltry.Gold's only purpose is to store and display prosperity. It is dense and tangible wealth: pure money.Though you may not realise it, we still use gold as money today. Not so much as a medium to exchange value but store it.In 1970, about 27 per cent of all the gold in the world was in the form of gold coinage and central bank or government reserves. Today, even with the gold standard long since dead, the percentage is about the same.The most powerful nation on earth, the United States, keeps 70 per cent of its foreign exchange holdings in gold. Its great rival, China, is both the world's largest producer and the world's largest importer. It has built up reserves that, as we shall discover, are likely as great as the USA's. If you buying gold or silver coins to protect yourself in these “interesting times” - and I urge you to - as always I recommend The Pure Gold Company. Pricing is competitive, quality of service is high. They deliver to the UK, the US, Canada and Europe or you can store your gold with them. More here.Ordinary people and institutions the world over use gold to store wealth. Across myriad cultures gold is gifted at landmark life events — births and weddings — because of its intrinsic value.In fact, gold's purchasing power has increased over the millennia, as human beings have grown more productive. The same ounce of gold said by economic historians to have bought King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon 350 loaves of bread could buy you more than 1,000 loaves today. The same gold dinar (roughly 1/7 oz) that, in the time of the Koran in the seventh century, bought you a lamb would buy you three lambs today. Those same four or five aurei (1 oz) which bought you a fine linen tunic in ancient Rome would buy you considerably more clothing today.In 1972, 0.07 ounces of gold would buy you a barrel of oil. Here we are in 2024 and a barrel of oil costs 0.02 ounces of gold — it's significantly cheaper than it was fifty years ago.House prices, too, if you measure them in gold, have stayed constant. It is only when they are measured in fiat currency that they have appreciated so relentlessly (and destructively).In other words, an ounce of gold buys you as much, and sometimes more, food, clothing, energy and shelter as it did ten years ago, a hundred years ago or even thousands of years ago. As gold lasts, so does its purchasing power. You cannot say the same about modern national currencies.Rare and expensive to mine, the supply of gold is constrained. This is in stark contrast to modern money — electronic, debt-based fiat money to give it its full name — the supply of which multiplies every year as governments spend and borrowing balloons.As if by Natural Law, gold supply has increased at the same rate as the global population — roughly 2 per cent per annum. The population of the world has slightly more than doubled since 1850. So has gold supply. The correlation has held for centuries, except for one fifty-year period during the gold rushes of the late nineteenth century, when gold supply per capita increased.Gold has the added attraction of being beautiful. It shines and glistens and sparkles. It captivates and allures. The word ‘gold' derives from the Sanskrit ‘jval', meaning ‘to shine'. That's why we use it as jewellery — to show off our wealth and success, as well as to store it. Indeed, in nomadic prehistory, and still in parts of the world today, carrying your wealth on your person as jewellery was the safest way to keep it.The universe has given us this captivatingly beautiful, dense, inert, malleable, scarce, useless and permanent substance whose only use is to be money. To quote historian Peter Bernstein, ‘nothing is as useless and useful all at the same time'.But after thousands of years of gold being official money, in the early twentieth century there was a seismic shift. Neither the British, German nor French government had enough gold to pay for the First World War. They abandoned gold backing to print the money they needed. In the inter-war years, nations briefly attempted a return to gold standards, but they failed. The two prevailing monetary theories clashed: gold-backed versus state-issued currency. Gold standard advocates, such as Montagu Norman, Governor of the Bank of England, considered gold to be one of the key pillars of a free society along with property rights and habeas corpus. ‘We have gold because we cannot trust governments,' said President Herbert Hoover in 1933. This was a sentiment echoed by one of the founders of the London School of Economics, George Bernard Shaw — to whom I am grateful for demonstrating that it is possible to have a career as both a comedian and a financial writer. ‘You have to choose (as a voter),' he said, ‘between trusting to the natural stability of gold and the natural stability of the honesty and intelligence of the members of the Government… I advise you, as long as the Capitalist system lasts, to vote for gold.'On the other hand, many, such as economist John Maynard Keynes, advocated the idea of fiat currency to give government greater control over the economy and the ability to manipulate the money supply. Keynes put fixation with gold in the Freudian realms of sex and religion. The gold standard, he famously said after the First World War — and rightly, as it turned out — was ‘already a barbarous relic'. Freud himself related fascination with gold to the erotic fantasies and interests of early childhood.Needless to say, Keynes and fiat money prevailed. By the end of the 1930s, most of Europe had left the gold standard. The US followed, but not completely until 1971, in order to meet the ballooning costs of its welfare system and its war in Vietnam.But compare both gold's universality (everyone everywhere knows gold has value) and its purchasing power to national currencies and you have to wonder why we don't use it officially today. There is a very good reason: power.Sticking to the discipline of the gold standard means governments can't just create money or run deficits to the same extent. Instead, they have to rein in their spending, which they are not prepared to do, especially in the twenty-first century, when they make so many promises to win elections. Balanced books, let alone independent money, have become an impossibility. If you seek an answer as to why the state has grown so large in the West, look no further than our system of money. When one body in a society has the power to create money at no cost to itself, it is inevitable that that body will grow disproportionately large. So it is in the twenty-first century, where state spending in many social democracies is now not far off 50 per cent of GDP, sometimes higher.Many arguments about gold will quickly slide into a political argument about the role of government. It is a deeply political metal. Those who favour gold tend to favour small government, free markets and individual responsibility. I count myself in that camp. Those who dismiss it tend to favour large government and state planning.I have argued many times that money is the blood of a society. It must be healthy. So much starts with money: values, morals, behaviour, ambitions, manners, even family size. Money must be sound and true. At the moment it is neither. Gold, however, is both. ‘Because gold is honest money it is disliked by dishonest men,' said former Republican Congressman Ron Paul. As Dorothy is advised in The Wizard of Oz (which was, as we shall discover, part allegory), maybe the time has come to once again ‘follow the yellow brick road'.On the other hand, maybe the twilight of gold has arrived, as Niall Ferguson argued in his history of debt and money, The Cash Nexus. Gold's future, he said, is ‘mainly as jewellery' or ‘in parts of the world with primitive or unstable monetary and financial systems'. Gold may have been money for 5,000 years, or even 10,000 years, but so was the horse a means of transport, and then along came the motor car.A history of gold is inevitably a history of money, but it is also a history of greed, obsession and ambition. Gold is beautiful. Gold is compelling. It is wealth in its purest, most distilled form. ‘Gold is a child of Zeus,' runs the ancient Greek lyric. ‘Neither moth nor rust devoureth it; but the mind of man is devoured by this supreme possession.' Perhaps that's why Thomas Edison said gold was ‘an invention of Satan'. Wealth, and all the emotions that come with it, can do strange things to people.Gold has led people to do the most brilliant, the most brave, the most inventive, the most innovative and the most terrible things. ‘More men have been knocked off balance by gold than by love,' runs the saying, usually attributed to Benjamin Disraeli. Where gold is concerned, emotion, not logic, prevails. Even in today's markets it is a speculative asset whose price is driven by greed and fear, not by fundamental production numbers.Its gleam has drawn man across oceans, across continents and into the unknown. It lured Jason and the Argonauts, Alexander the Great, numerous Caesars, da Gama, Cortés, Pizarro and Raleigh. Brilliant new civilisations have emerged as a result of the quest for gold, yet so have slavery, war, deceit, death and devastation. Describing the gold mines of ancient Egypt, the historian Diodorus Siculus wrote, ‘there is absolutely no consideration nor relaxation for sick or maimed, for aged man or weak woman. All are forced to labour at their tasks until they die, worn out by misery amid their toil.' His description could apply to many an illegal mine in Africa today.The English critic John Ruskin told a story of a man who boarded a ship with all his money: a bag of gold coins. Several days into the voyage a terrible storm blew up. ‘Abandon ship!' came the cry. The man strapped his bag around his waist and jumped overboard, only to sink to the bottom of the sea. ‘Now,' asked Ruskin, ‘as he was sinking — had he the gold? Or had the gold him?'As the Chinese proverb goes, ‘The miser does not own the gold; the gold owns the miser.'Gold may be a dead metal. Inert, unchanging and lifeless. But its hold over humanity never relents. It has adorned us since before the dawn of civilisation and, as money, underpinned economies ever since. Desire for it has driven mankind forwards, the prime impulse for quest and conquest, for exploration and discovery. From its origins in the hearts of dying stars to its quiet presence today beneath the machinery of modern finance, gold has seen it all. How many secrets does this silent witness keep? This book tells the story of gold. It unveils the schemes, intrigues and forces that have shaped our world in the relentless pursuit of this ancient asset, which, even in this digital age, still wields immense power.That was Chapter One of The Secret History of Gold The Secret History of Gold is available to pre-order at Amazon, Waterstones and all good bookshops. I hear the audiobook, read by me, is excellent. The book comes out on August 28.Hurry! Amazon is currently offering 20% off.Until next time,Dominic This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theflyingfrisby.com/subscribe

This week's episode is a wild ride through Daniel chapter 2—and boy, does it get exciting! King Nebuchadnezzar has a nightmare so scary it makes him furious. He demands that his wisest helpers tell him not only what his dream means, but also what the dream was! Yikes. Nobody could do that—except for one person God had prepared… Daniel!

“God's Grace in a Lowly King” Daniel 4:28-37 August 24, 2025 Pastor John Choi    ----more---- Daniel 4:28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws. 34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; 35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.   God shows grace to prideful people by opening their eyes and humbling their hearts so they can be restored in Jesus Christ.          I.  Pride that blinds (28-32)         II.  Humility that reveals (33-35)        III.  Grace that restores (36-37)

Today on Summit Life, we come to another story of God taking down a prideful, rebellious, selfish king. You're like, wait, didn't we JUST hear this story on the program? Hang on, today we come to Belshazzar, the grandson of King Nebuchadnezzar. We're going to see that this problem is much bigger than just one king.

In this Bible Story, we are introduced to King Belshazzar, the son of King Nebuchadnezzar. He trifles with the maker of heaven and earth, and is not left unpunished. As Daniel foretold, his kingdom is stripped from him, and the Persians seized Babylon for themselves. This story is inspired by Daniel 5 & 9. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Daniel 5:17 from the King James Version.Episode 166: Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon is dead and his son King Belshazzar has taken his place. But Belshazzar had not recognized God the same way his father had and he was about to get a startling wake-up call. At one of the many feasts he threw a mysterious sign took place as a phantom hand wrote strange words on the wall. None of the King's men could interpret what it meant. None except Daniel. These words would reveal to the King that his kingdom was no longer his own, God had given it to the Persians.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey friends, I'm Jon Rhoades, Children and Family Minister at First Christian Church, and welcome to Episode 2 of Biblically Literate! In this episode, we dive deep into Jeremiah 29:11 – that famous verse often quoted at graduations: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" But is it really about personal prosperity, excitement, and quick wins? Spoiler: No! I share how this misused verse was written to Israelites in Babylonian exile, facing 70 years of hardship, judgment for idolatry and injustice, and a call to build houses, plant gardens, seek shalom (true peace and wholeness), and pray for their enemies.We'll explore the historical context of Prophet Jeremiah, the covenant-breaking sins like adultery with false gods, corrupt leaders exploiting widows and orphans, and God's dual message of judgment through King Nebuchadnezzar and hope for renewal – echoing Deuteronomy 30 and pointing to a Messiah from David's line. Discover why false prophets like Hananiah promised fake peace without repentance, and how this contrasts with real transformative good, endurance in suffering, and participating in God's redemptive work. It's not a feel-good promise for success or job promotions; it's a profound lesson in reading the Bible in its original context, avoiding prosperity gospel twists, and knowing God's faithful nature – holy, just, and loving – to draw closer to Him.Whether you're dealing with loss, uncertainty, or cultural chaos, this episode shows how Jeremiah 29:11 points to ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, who brings true shalom. Let's get biblically literate together – head and heart aligned, as in Colossians 3:16!If you're watching on YouTube, hit that like button, subscribe for more episodes on verses like John 3:16, and drop a comment: How has misunderstanding Jeremiah 29:11 affected you? On your podcast platform, leave a 5-star review to help spread the word. Thanks for joining – bye, friends!

Today on Summit Life, we come to another story of God taking down a prideful, rebellious, selfish king. You're like, wait, didn't we JUST hear this story on the program? Hang on, today we come to Belshazzar, the grandson of King Nebuchadnezzar. We're going to see that this problem is much bigger than just one king. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1518/29

In this Bible Story, we witness the madness of King Nebuchadnezzar. He flees like a beast to the wilderness and lives on the land for seven years. It was a humbling experience he needed to truly see God with a clear and sober mind. Nebuchadnezzar then rules with righteousness till the end of his days, leaning on Daniel for guidance. This story is inspired by Daniel 4. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Daniel 4:34 from the King James Version.Episode 165: King Nebuchadnezzar who had seen God at work in the lives of Daniel and his friends, had not yet encountered the change of heart that comes from God. However, that would soon change as the King had a dream showing him God’s plan to humble him. It came to pass a year later that as the King was musing about his own majesty, he was driven to madness and went to live with the wild animals for seven years. At the end of which he worshiped God with a heart and mind of true humility.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Bible Story, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to worship the statue Nebuchadnezzar set up, and are thrown into the fire as punishment. The flames rage but they are unharmed. The Lord protects them, and Nebuchadnezzar awes at the power of their God. This story is inspired by Daniel 3. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Daniel 3:25 from the King James Version.Episode 164: Nebuchadnezzar, filled with ego, built a statue like the one in his dream. But this one was made entirely of gold, a representation of his kingdom being eternal and rejection of what God said would happen. He ordered all the men of Babylon to gather and bow down to the statue. However, there were three men in the crowd who would not. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These three were thrown into the fire for their testimony and refusal to bow. But God did not abandon them. Instead, He used this as a prime opportunity to show Nebuchadnezzar and the whole kingdom of Babylon His power. In response it was they who bowed to Him.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your Daily Prayer

In this Bible Story, King Nebuchadnezzar is tormented by dreams. In search of an interpretation, the king seeks out the wise men and magicians of the time. Daniel gives him an interpretation and the Lord is faithful to show Daniel and the King what was going to take place among the nations. Daniel, just like Joseph before Pharaoh, is given governance over the kingdom as a result. This story is inspired by Daniel 2. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Daniel 2:27-28 from the King James Version.Episode 163: One night in Babylon King Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream. He called his wise men and magicians together to ease his troubled mind, but they did not have the power of God and told Nebuchadnezzar that his request was impossible. Furious he ordered that they be put to death. But when Daniel heard of the order, he came to the king to intercede for the men and God gave him a message that would bring the King of Babylon to his knees.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Bible Story, we were introduced to Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The three young men are specially chosen out of the Judaen captives to sit under the king as wise men. King Nebuchadnezzar attempts to indoctrinate them into Babylonian ways, however they prove that following the Lord proves to be more useful for human flourishing. This story is inspired by Daniel 1:1-16. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Daniel 1:8 from the King James Version.Episode 162: The kingdoms of Israel and Judah had fallen and the men of nobility were taken captive. Among these handsome and well educated men were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. These four feared God and though they were brought into the King's court to be influenced, God used them to skillfully influence the King and his men instead.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Submit to the Yoke of Jesus Christ Is it possible that what we perceive as bondage is actually obedience in the eyes of God? Servant Marcia Carty delves into this powerful question, urging listeners to consider where their faith truly lies. Using the prophetic words of Jeremiah, she examines the story of the Israelites who, due to their idolatry and disobedience, were forced into submission under King Nebuchadnezzar. While this seemed like a curse, God called Nebuchadnezzar His "servant," revealing that in the midst of this trial lay the path to salvation and blessing. In this message, you'll learn: -- The importance of discerning between God's prophets and those who speak only what people want to hear. -- How the hardness of heart and violence in our world today are a sign that we are living in a time similar to the days of Noah. -- Why the blessings of God are often found in the places of submission and obedience that we naturally want to avoid. -- The divine purpose behind being subject to governing authorities, even when we don't agree with them. -- That putting on the "armor of light" is an act of submission to the will of God, and it is our best defense against the darkness in the world. Scriptures for Further Study -- Jeremiah 26 -- Jeremiah 27 -- John 13 -- John 16 -- Romans 13 +++++++ We have begun building a new website which you can see here: https://www.noahdays.org/

In this Bible Story, Jeremiah witnesses the downfall of Judah. King Nebuchadnezzar uses the Chaldean army to lay waste to all of Jerusalem. Hundreds of thousands of people are taken captive, and the remaining rulers of Judah are beheaded and trampled. Jeremiah, however, is spared from the Babylonians, and is given a choice to go to Babylon and live comfortably, or remain with his people. This story is inspired by 2 Chronicles 36:15-21 & 2 Kings 25:3-21 & Jeremiah 32, 33, 38, 39, 40:1-6, 52. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Jeremiah 38:20 from the King James Version.Episode 159: Jeremiah, still captive in the courthouse of Judah, was praying to God when he received a Word from Him that Hanamel would soon be coming to sell him his land in Anathoth. But this was about more than relieving his uncle of a burden, it was God's way of showing the people what He would do for them. So Jeremiah continued to preach the Word of God to the people and he continued to receive beatings from them. One day, he was summoned by King Zedekiah to give him the truth of the situation and though he spoke honestly to the King, he did not follow Jeremiah's advice. Yet even as the gates of the courthouse were being broken down, God protected Jeremiah and gave him mercy.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, over 75 prophetic signs—many already fulfilled—point to the end of the age of grace and the soon return of Christ. Daniel 7 reveals a vision that mirrors King Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2, foretelling the rise and fall of world empires with stunning accuracy.  From the Babylonian lion with wings to the Medo-Persian bear with three ribs and the Grecian leopard with four wings and four heads, every detail shows God's precise plan unfolding through history. Revelation 13 warns of a global system where no one can buy or sell without the mark of the beast, and miraculous signs will deceive many. These prophecies aren't distant—they're unfolding before our eyes. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In this Bible Story, we witness the brutal downfall of Judah. King Nebuchadnezzar, arms himself with the entire Chaldean army, and obliterates Judah and its defenses. God promises that when the time comes, he would rescue them. This story is inspired by 2 Chronicles 36 & 2 Kings 23:31-25:30. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Chronicles 36:23 from the King James Version.Episode 157: Before the burning of the temple, King Nebuchadnezzar appointed Zedekiah, son of Josiah, as King in Judah. Zedekiah hated Nebuchadnezzar and sent for Jeremiah to pray for the deliverance of Judah. However, the word of God that came was not one of hope but of determination. The Chaldeans were coming to destroy Judah and this was from God. After giving this message, Jeremiah was taken by the guards, beaten, and thrown into prison.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Bible Story, we learn of God speaking through the prophet Jeremiah. His words of comfort, justice, and repentance begin to truly affect the hearts of Judah. However, the king plants seeds of doubt and burns his words in the fire. This story is inspired by Jeremiah 26, 36, 2 Chronicles 36 & 2 Kings 23:31-25:30. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Jeremiah 36:28 from the King James Version.Episode 156: The kingdom of Judah was now under the power of Egypt. Neco placed Jehoiakim (Josiah's other son and Jehoahaz's brother) on the throne as his vassal. One night, however, the boiling pot of Babylon showed up in full force. King Nebuchadnezzar raided the city, the people, and the temple, and he took Jehoiakim captive and made his son Jehoiachin in his place. In all of this, Judah did not turn in repentance. And so God sent the Chaldeans to come and burn the city; destroying the temple. Yet even here, God sent a message of hope to His people.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When success comes, what is happening in your heart? In this sermon, Pastor Jeff Davis unpacks the story of King Nebuchadnezzar and the danger of pride. This episode is a wake-up call to see life through God's eyes, not our own. Rooted in Daniel 4, Pastor Davis reminds us that every good gift comes from God, and pride can blind us to that truth. Listen to the episode to learn what it means to depend on God, look through HIs eyes, see His work, and give Him praise. Tune in and be encouraged to lift your eyes to heaven - and find your strength, success, and story in the One who gave it all. 

Series: "For the City" (Vision), Jeremiah 29:4-7 #FTCTitle: “Why pray for the peace and prosperity of the city?"Subtitle: "Our plan for loving God and loving people in our city and beyond."Scripture: Jeremiah 29:4-7; Mark 4:26-29; 1 Corinthians 3:6-9Go: John 17:20; Luke 10:1-11Gospel: Acts 17:32-34 (4 responses/traffic light)Grow: Matthew 22:37-39; 28:18-20 + 411 + Commands of ChristGather: Acts 2:36-47 + Commands of Christ 3/3rds groups; DBS; Hi/Lo; Follow & Fish; etc.Guide: (MAWL)Bottom line: We pray for and seek the peace and prosperity for our city because it's God's missionary plan for loving God and loving people.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDOpening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. INTRODUCTIONI love coffee cups. I don't drink coffee. I know, I know, that's weird on multiple levels. Let me tell you how hopeless I am. I don't drink coffee (and hot chocolate on a little), but I love to shop for coffee cups. Now, I do have a pet peeve about coffee cups. When we get our theology from coffee cups.Coffee cup theology can be misleading. I mean, there's just no room for context on that shiny cup of ceramic goodness. It's not like the coffee cup with Jeremiah 29:11 on it (“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” NIV‬‬) has room to say that Israel was told this by God while living in exile in the capital city of their arch enemy the Babylonians because they were spiritually unfaithful to him. Not sure that would sell well either.Transition:“Have you ever found yourself somewhere you didn't want to be, facing a situation you didn't choose? That's where the Israelites found themselves—exiled in Babylon. And yet, God speaks into their situation, not with an escape plan, but with a call to pray for and to seek the peace and prosperity of the place in which they're stuck.”Understanding ExileDefinition (Jeremiah 29 context):In this passage, exile refers to the forced relocation of the people of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon after its conquest by King Nebuchadnezzar in 597–586 BC. It wasn't just geographic—it was spiritual, cultural, and emotional dislocation.They were living among people who didn't share their faith, customs, or values—a godless empire with strange idols and foreign tongues. Yet God didn't say, “Escape.” He said, “Engage.”Key insight:Exile is not just displacement; it's God's discipline with a redemptive purpose.It reminds us that home isn't always where we are, but where God is.OUTLINEWHY we should pray for the peace and prosperity of our city:Because the Lord told us to. (29:4) Our faith is that simple. A. Either we trust and obey the Lord, orB. We don't. To not trust and obey is sin.Because it's part of God's way of rescuing his people from the kingdom of darkness. He tells Israel to settle down and live their lives in the midst of their (and his) enemies. But to do it with an eye to the crowds (the harvest) and the clouds (his return) for their transformation. This requires prayer. Abiding in Christ.The crowds, in this case, happen to be his enemies--the Babylonians.The clouds, in this case, refer to the end of their exile in 70 years.WHAT does this look like? We "bloom where we're planted." We settle in to our circles of influence and accountability.Influence--those circles of people we interact with where we live, work, learn and play.Accountability--we will stand before God one day and answer for how we did or didn't do this; for how we led or didn't lead our family to do this. God planted you at your address for a reason. For this season, you're to be Jesus to those around you there.We multiply. We build our career and homestead as if we're going to be here a while. For Israel, it was in the midst of their enemy, Babylon. For us, it is in America and in the midst of enemies of God. (29:5)We build our family. (29:6)This includes our biological family. (Kids, grandkids)Can include extended family. Can include adopted family. (Formally and not)Certainly includes your spiritual/church family.We do this until our "70 years" are over. Then we go home; back to Jerusalem/Zion. Cf. Revelation 21:1-8We pray for the peace and prosperity of our city where we live, work, learn and play. (7)We do this as we go about our lives.Why? Because it benefits us and our family tangibly.Because it benefits us, and family and our world spiritually/eternally.We do not believe those who live for other gods. (29:8-9)We do this until he takes us home. This is his plan for us.HOW we pray for the peace and prosperity of our city: "A Vision For the City: Jesus & Paul's Strategy Illustrated by 4 Fields of Kingdom Growth" (Optional)oGo together: John 17:20 - that we may be one as we pray and go into the cityLuke 10:1-11 - How Jesus trained his disciples to go:Pray for workers for the harvestBe a worker in the harvestBe prepared to suffer in the harvestGo empty-handed so you'll depend on the LordLook for people of peace; they unlock many moreBless them and then receive what they offerHeal the sick; proclaim the good news that the kingdom of God is nearLeave when not welcomed; tell them why you're moving onGospel: Acts 17:32-34 (4 responses)Share the gospel wherever you goSome will mock you--move onSome will want to know more (or pretend to want to know more) - give them more Some will trust Christ--give them more & train them upSome will already know Christ--offer to train them upGrow: Matthew 28:18-20 + 411 + Commands of ChristLearn the words, ways and works of Jesus ChristLead others in the words...Gather: Acts 2:36-47 + Commands of Christ - Shows us how to live as the church3/3rds groups; DBS; Hi/Lo; Follow & Fish; etc.A church does not have to look like what we see most visibly in AmericaIt doesn't require a seminary degreeIt doesn't require bricks and mortarTo say you follow Jesus but don't actively engage as a member of a church is not the NT wayGuide: (MAWL) We lead others to follow us as we follow Jesus byModeling for themAssisting themWatching them Leaving them to do it and lead others to do itCONCLUSIONConsider sharing the story of why Neal McGlohon started the Cypress Project here (see notes).So the Lord Jesus calls his disciples to keep their eyes on the clouds and the crowds. Keep your eyes on the people you see where you live, work, learn and play each day. For he has you there on purpose for a purpose.Also, keep your eyes on the clouds. For this is not all there is. This is not our home. Our home awaits us. Our exile in this world is temporary. We will go and stand before our Creator one day. And as his kids we'll be welcomed home with great zeal from our Lord and Savior. However, if we do known him as Lord and Savior, we'll simply meet him as Lord. And that means we'll be forever separated from him. And that will be eternal misery.But if you're here today, know that God has surrounded you with people who have their eyes on the crowds and the clouds. As we await his return to take us home, we are looking for opportunities to show and tell the good news about a great kingdom and exalted king. A king who forgives and blesses beyond anything we could ever deserve.He calls you to himself right now. Will you believe and receive his mercy and grace today?Bottom line: We pray for and seek the peace and prosperity for our city because it's God's missionary plan for loving God and loving people.Will you believe apart of that plan?INVITATIONWhat about you?Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions: What is God saying to me right now?What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper. What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don't have to get too specific to give him praise.Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)PrayNOTES

Today in History: The Babylonians laid siege to the First Temple (see 2 Kings 25:8). “Now on the seventh day of the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.”This week's portion is called Dvarim (Words)TORAH PORTION: Deuteronomy 2:31–3:14GOSPEL PORTION: Acts 4:1–22Think about: What Scripture spoke to you most today and why? Did you learn something about God, or something you need to do in your life?Daily Bread for Kids is a daily Bible reading podcast where we read through the Torah and the Gospels in one year! Helping young Bible-readers to study God's Word, while also discovering its Jewish context!THE KIDS' JOURNAL is available from ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://arielmedia.shop⁠⁠⁠⁠BUSY MOMS who want to follow the Daily Bread readings on podcast for adults, can go to ⁠⁠https://dailybreadmoms.com⁠⁠The Bible translation we are reading from is the Tree of Life Version (TLV) available from the Tree of Life Bible Society.INSTAGRAM: @dailybreadkids @arielmediabooks @dailybreadmomsTags: #DailyBreadMoms #DailyBreadJournal #BibleJournaling #Messianic #BiblePodcast #BiblicalFeasts #Journal #biblereadingplan #Messiah #JewishRoots #Yeshua #GodIsInControl #OneYearBible #MomLife #MotherCulture #FaithFilledMama #BiblicalWomanhood #Proverbs31woman

Do you ever find yourself repeating the same mistakes over and over again? Listen to Truth For Life as Alistair Begg examines King Nebuchadnezzar's fickle attempts at faith in the one true God. Learn what it took for him—and what it takes for us—to break the cycle. ----------------------------------------- • Click here and look for "FROM THE SERMON" to stream or read the full message. • This program is part of the series ‘A Study in Daniel, Volume 1' • Learn more about our current resource, request your copy with a donation of any amount. Helpful Resources - Learn about God's salvation plan - Read our most recent articles - Subscribe to our daily devotional Follow Us YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter This listener-funded program features the clear, relevant Bible teaching of Alistair Begg. Today's program and nearly 3,000 messages can be streamed and shared for free at tfl.org thanks to the generous giving from monthly donors called Truthpartners. Learn more about this Gospel-sharing team or become one today. Thanks for listening to Truth For Life!

Do you ever find yourself repeating the same mistakes over and over again? Listen to Truth For Life as Alistair Begg examines King Nebuchadnezzar's fickle attempts at faith in the one true God. Learn what it took for him—and what it takes for us—to break the cycle. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/163/29

Do you ever find yourself repeating the same mistakes over and over again? Listen to Truth For Life as Alistair Begg examines King Nebuchadnezzar's fickle attempts at faith in the one true God. Learn what it took for him—and what it takes for us—to break the cycle. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/163/29

Back To Basics // Week 13 // SanctificationPastors JF and Ashley Wilkerson1 Thessalonians 4:1-3a NIV1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified…but youSanctification Involves…1. Being Saved And Then ShapedIsaiah 64:8 NIV8 Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your handJeremiah 18:1–4 NIV1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.Sanctification Involves…1. Being Saved And Then Shaped2. Being Refined So You Can Reveal1 Peter 1:6–7 NIV6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.Daniel 3:16-18 NIV16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”Daniel 3:23-25 NIV23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” 25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”Daniel 3:26-28 NIVSanctification Involves…1. Being Saved And Then Shaped2. Being Refined So You Can Reveal3. Being Rooted So Not To Be RestlessJohn 15:1-4 NIV1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.John 15:5-9 NIV5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.Sanctification is not achieving, it is abiding.It's about trusting deeper, not trying harder.Philippians 2:12-13 NIV12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.Galatians 3:1-3 NIV1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?1 Thessalonians 5:15-24 NIVPhilippians 1:6 NIV6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…Sanctification Involves…1. Being Saved And Then Shaped2. Being Refined So You Can Reveal3. Being Rooted So Not To Be Restless

What do you wish God would do to your worst enemy? Through the story of Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar, Pastor Jeff explores what God wants for our enemies.

What do you wish God would do to your worst enemy? Through the story of Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar, Pastor Jeff explores what God wants for our enemies.

In this episode, we dive into the dramatic story found in Daniel chapter 4, where King Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful ruler of his day, finally faces the God of Israel is and the consequences of man's pride. To learn more go to www.thewarriorsrising.com

Send us a textDaniel interprets the king's dream and it sounds like King Nebuchadnezzar  praising the one True God.  But is he sincere in that praise?  What lessons can we learn from the dream?  Bryan also gives us an outline for the rest of the book that shows how chapters 1 and 2 set the stage for chapters 3-12.Bryan is the digital media director for Revive Our Hearts.  He studied at Hope College in Michigan and Jerusalem University College in Israel.  He has a passion for digging into scriptures that we often find perplexing, helping us understand why that story might be included, and what we are supposed to do in light of that story.We are on Facebook - The Context and Color of the Bible | FacebookWe are on Instagram - @contextandcolorofthebibleWe are on YouTube - The Context and Color of the Bible - YouTubeErika's  website - www.erikavanhaitsma.comVeronica's website: www.veronicacopenhaver.comMusic: Tabuk by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4453-tabukLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As we jump into Daniel 4, it's important to note something unique: this is the only chapter in the Bible written by a pagan king.  It's King Nebuchadnezzar's personal account of how Yahweh intervened in his life, humbling Nebuchadnezzar before God brought about transformation and restoration. 

Learning the importance of humility and worship from an unlikely source, King Nebuchadnezzar; based on Daniel chapter 4. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1213/29

On this Faith Friday edition of Morning Manna, we step into the heart of the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. As the rage of King Nebuchadnezzar boils over and the flames are stoked seven times hotter, we witness the cost of unwavering faith in the face of tyranny. Why did God allow His faithful servants to be cast into such a deadly trial? And what does their bold stand teach us about trusting God when the heat gets turned up in our own lives? Join us as we explore Daniel 3:19–23 and discover the power, purpose, and peace of standing firm when the fire is at its fiercest.Join the leading community for Conservative Christians! https://www.FaithandValues.comYou can partner with us by visiting https://www.FaithandValues.com/donate, calling 1-800-576-2116, or by mail at PO Box 399 Vero Beach, FL 32961.Get high-quality emergency preparedness food today from American Reserves!https://www.AmericanReserves.comIt's the Final Day! The day Jesus Christ bursts into our dimension of time, space, and matter. Now available in eBook and audio formats! Order Final Day from Amazon today!https://www.amazon.com/Final-Day-Characteristics-Second-Coming/dp/0578260816/Apple users, you can download the audio version on Apple Books! https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/final-day-10-characteristics-of-the-second-coming/id1687129858Purchase the 4-part DVD set or start streaming Sacrificing Liberty today. https://www.sacrificingliberty.com/watchThe Fauci Elf is a hilarious gift guaranteed to make your friends laugh! Order yours today! https://tru.news/faucielf

Learning the importance of humility and worship from an unlikely source, King Nebuchadnezzar; based on Daniel chapter 4. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1213/29

As we near the end of 2 Kings, Fr. Mike takes us through Babylon's conquest of Judah, under the leadership of King Nebuchadnezzar. He touches on the importance of wisdom in the Book of Proverbs and revisits the sons of Josiah to explain why the people of Israel are so lost. Today's readings are 2 Kings 24, 2 Chronicles 35, and Proverbs 8:22-36. 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.

 Gospel Daily with Josh Weidmann Finding Greatness in God's Eyes, Part 2 Series: Daniel: Devoted Scripture: Daniel 4:4-37 Episode: 1293 In Daniel 4:4–37, King Nebuchadnezzar recounts a terrifying dream about a great tree that is cut down, leaving only a stump bound with iron and bronze. None of his wise men can interpret it, so he turns to Daniel, who explains that the dream is a warning from God. The tree represents Nebuchadnezzar himself, and unless he repents from pride and injustice, he will be humbled and driven to live like a beast until he acknowledges that God is sovereign over all kingdoms. The prophecy is fulfilled, and the king loses his sanity for a time. After this period, Nebuchadnezzar lifts his eyes to heaven, his sanity is restored, and he praises the King of Heaven for His justice and authority. Key themes include God's sovereignty, the danger of pride, and restoration through humility and repentance.