Podcasts about kingdom of god

Welcome to our Back to School series, where we're highlighting young ladies who are making a powerful impact for the Kingdom of God right where they are. We believe God isn't waiting until you're older to use you—He is calling and using this generation right now.In this episode, Magdalena Presson joins us to share her powerful testimony of coming back to God and learning what it truly means to live boldly as a daughter of the King.Watch this episode on YouTube:https://youtube.com/@unashamedlyyou?si=iSmugREIkD3LhI7IFind us on:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/3PsvMJDiw0TlUzSv3yLCJw?si=ibijuFF_SiuHgya6fTzNvA&utm_source=copy-linkApple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unashamedly-you-with-jamie-herndon/id1654108373Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/unashamedly.you?utm_source=qrSubscribe: unashamedlyyou.comContact us: unashamedlyyou.com/contact-4Go be Unashamedly You!

What does God say about how we see our bodies? Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar begin by discussing the rising prevalence of eating disorders and the cultural pressures that shape self-perception. They explore how social media, comparison, and the desire for acceptance have fueled unhealthy relationships with food and body image, reminding listeners that true identity is not found in appearance but in being created in the image of God. Rather than allowing the world's standards to define beauty and worth, believers are called to see themselves through the lens of God's truth.The conversation then moves beyond physical appearance to the deeper issues of the heart. The guys explain that while eating disorders can have many contributing factors, the underlying struggle often centers on worship, identity, and misplaced affection. They remind listeners that God alone is the source of beauty and that every person possesses intrinsic value because they bear His image. Whether someone feels inadequate, forgotten, or consumed by comparison, Scripture declares that the Lord intentionally created them and that they never exist by accident. The gospel offers a foundation for identity that no shifting standard of beauty can ever provide.From there, the discussion turns to practical wisdom for cultivating a healthy relationship with food and the body. The guys encourage parents to speak carefully about health and self-control rather than appearance, helping children develop habits that honor the Lord rather than chase unrealistic ideals. They also emphasize that food is a good gift from God to be enjoyed with gratitude rather than abused through excess or deprivation. As believers seek first the kingdom of God, they are freed to pursue contentment rather than comparison, recognizing that their bodies ultimately belong to Christ and were created to be stewarded faithfully for His glory rather than used to seek the approval of others.Finally, the guys point listeners back to the hope of the gospel for those who are struggling. They remind anyone battling an eating disorder that they are not beyond God's love, that help is available, and that lasting freedom is found in Christ rather than in changing their appearance. True acceptance is not earned by a number on a scale but received through the finished work of Jesus. Ultimately, this conversation encourages believers to find their worth in the One who created them, redeemed them, and calls them His own.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! If you've been helped by this podcast, we'd be grateful if you'd consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

CheckoutThe God Centered Concept Academy Training Community to learn what growth in Christ isTUVU CommunitiesCheck out this link to view Kingdom Cross Roads on TV.https://jesussaid.tv/?affiliate=tswright_gccTo get a copy of our new book "Embracing the Truth" or to have TS Wright speak at your event or conference or if you simply want spiritual or life coaching or just a consultation visit:www.tswrightspeaks.comVisit our website to learn more about The God Centered Concept. The God Centered Concept is designed to bring real discipleship and spreading the Gospel to help spark the Great Harvest, a revival in this generation.www.godcenteredconcept.comKingdom Cross Roads Podcast is a part of The God Centered Concept.What happens when the world tells you that you will never succeed—but God calls you toward something greater?In this inspiring episode of the Kingdom Cross Roads Podcast, TS Wright welcomes author, musician, and lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ Donald Williams. Donald recounts growing up in a Carolina cotton-mill family where poverty, limited opportunities, and generational expectations could have determined the course of his life.Although Donald was discouraged from attending college and told that he did not have the money, family background, or ability to succeed, he refused to let other people define his future. Instead, he sought God's direction, pursued his education, and broke a longstanding generational cycle.Donald also reflects on the powerful Christian influence of his parents and grandfathers. Their prayers, worship, and faithful example showed him that following Christ involves more than what we say in church—it must be demonstrated through the way we live.Donald and TS discuss:• Receiving Jesus Christ at an early age• Developing a personal faith instead of relying on a family tradition• Growing up in a Carolina cotton-mill community• Breaking generational cycles of poverty and limitation• Overcoming discouraging words and expectations• The influence of praying parents and grandparents• Why children need to see an authentic Christian example• Discovering and following God's plan for your life• The importance of Christian discipleship• Donald's book, Born of Nothing• The stories behind his original gospel songs• Finding hope in the promise of seeing Christian loved ones againDonald's message is simple but powerful: Do not allow other people to dictate where you will end up. Pray for God's direction, surround yourself with people who strengthen your faith, work diligently at knowing Christ, and allow God—not your circumstances—to define your life.Visit Donald Williams online to learn about Born of Nothing and listen to his original gospel songs, including “Pictures of Jesus,” “I'll See Him Again,” and “My Paw Paws”:https://imdonaldwilliams.comKeywordsDonald Williams, Kingdom Cross Roads Podcast, TS Wright, Christian testimony, breaking generational cycles, overcoming poverty, God's plan for your life, Christian discipleship, faith in Jesus Christ, Christian encouragement, Born of Nothing book, Christian author, gospel songwriter, generational faith, spiritual growth, authentic Christianity, overcoming discouragement, Christian family legacy, answered prayer, Kingdom of God

Hello and welcome to Lionheart Church in Austell, GA. Thank you for joining our Wednesday evening service. In today's session, we are continuing our School of Eternity Bible Study with the message entitled “50. Home”. Tonight, we go deeper into understanding the Kingdom of Heaven—God's dwelling place and the eternal home prepared for His people.Join us each week as we learn how to walk in our total authority as members of the Kingdom of God and how to prepare ourselves now to spend eternity with our Father in Heaven!

In this episode David, Mike, and Jeff talk about the Kingdom of God. The discussion centers on the parable of the wicked servant.

A @Christadelphians Video: **[Actual, provable Bible Truth]** We are living in the most prophetic generation since the first century. The Times of the Gentiles—that period when Jerusalem would be trampled underfoot by foreign powers—has concluded. In 1967, a miraculous event unfolded that fulfilled the 2,300-day prophecy of Daniel 8:14, marking the end of this era and ushering in the final countdown to the Kingdom of God.We explore the remarkable fulfilment of Bible prophecy unfolding before our eyes. From the Jewish return to the land and the revival of Hebrew, to the extraordinary events of the Six-Day War and the recapture of Jerusalem, we witness God's hand moving in history. Even more remarkably, we examine the awakening spiritual revival taking place in Israel today—a fulfilment of Ezekiel's prophecy that God would first bring His people back to the land, then sprinkle clean water upon them through the Word.## Chapters00:00 - Introduction: The Prophetic Unravelling05:44 - The Olivet Prophecy and Jerusalem's Destruction08:15 - Daniel's Vision: The 2,300 Days Explained13:56 - The 1967 Miracle: End of the Times of the Gentiles17:28 - The Danger of Complacency in Miraculous Times20:20 - The Mountains of Israel and God's Promise25:34 - The Revival of Torah Study in Israel Today30:04 - Spiritual Transformation Since October 7th36:27 - Ezekiel 36: God's Cleansing of the Nation43:50 - Romans 10: Faith Comes by Hearing47:56 - Peace and Prosperity: The Abraham Accords52:39 - Walls, Bars, and Gates: Prophetic Removal55:47 - The Russian Restraint and Current Events1:07:46 - Our Response: Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem1:11:41 - The Lord Stands at the Door## Bible Verse Category

28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,' but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?”They said to Him, “The first.”Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

In this sermon we will look at Jesus choosing His 12 apostles in Luke 6:12-19. After that, we then get to watch this new ministry team in action. Jesus didn't choose the best and brightest, but those He wanted and needed for His mission. His team is full of many different, diverse people working for the same kingdom: the Kingdom of God. Have we joined this new team?

Matthew 13: 47-51, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. that is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Do you understand all these things?” So, Jesus is saying in the end there will only be 2 categories of people and they will be separated out by the angels. There will be the wicked and the righteous. The wicked’s fate is the fiery furnace of misery. The righteous will be kept and carried off. We know from earlier parables in this chapter that the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. So, it’s clear who we don’t want to be – we don’t want to be the wicked. And it’s clear who we do want to be – we want to be the righteous. Now, how can we be sure because this is eternity we’re talking about. There will be no undoing this. After sharing this story, Jesus says, “Do you understand all these things?” No – I honestly don’t at this point, Jesus, help me understand. Explain this to us. He wants us to understand this, so let’s dig deeper here for understanding. When I’m trying to understand scripture, I do a few things: 1. I look at different translations for clearer wording. 2. I look up the original Greek or Hebrew words and their definitions. 3. I read commentary to get additional understanding. Looking at other translations of this parable, they all say it in the same words – there are the good and the bad – the righteous and the wicked, and in the end they are getting separated. Until then, they will be in the same waters living together. God doesn’t separate us now, but the day will come when he does. Now, let’s look at the original text. These spoken words of Jesus were recorded by the disciple Matthew after he personally heard them. The language was Greek. In Greek, the two groups people will be separated into are the ponēros and the dikaious. The ponēros are the wicked ones. The word means evil, bad, harmful, morally corrupt. It describes one who is not only bad in character, but produces bad effects. This isn’t the person who messes up in their life and fails – this is the person who is truly bad. This isn’t about just doing bad things – this is about BEING bad. It’s a moral corruption from within. It’s a genuinely rotten, poisonous fruit. Religion has warped this word to make us think we’re going to Hell if we sin. Well, here’s the really bad news about that teaching – WE ALL SIN. Every single one of us. There has only been one without sin and that was Jesus. The rest of us aren’t good enough – but that doesn’t mean we are wicked. This word ponēros is used when Jesus teaches us how to pray in Matthew 6. Verse 13, “deliver us from the evil one.” That’s the ponēros one. Satan. So his people, his followers, his devoted workers are the ones who Jesus tells us are wicked. They are the ones who will meet the fate of the fiery furnace. These are NOT the ones who have made wrong choices and wandered off the path occasionally. These are the ones who are inherently evil. —— Then there are the dikaious. Here’s what that word means – those who are in right standing with God. Here’s what that word doesn’t necessarily mean – a good person. We try to make this all about us, about our acts, our deeds, and our track record. And if we do, we always fall short. We simply are not righteous. No matter how good you are, it hasn’t made you right with God. There is one thing and one thing only that has made you right with God – that’s the man on the middle cross. Jesus gives us right standing with a Holy and perfect God. JUST JESUS. 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be MADE RIGHT WITH GOD through Christ.” This is how we are the diakious – the righteous – the ones who will get to shine bright in the Kingdom of God forever! Jesus did that for us. Romans 5:17, “God’s wonderful grace and his GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.” Righteousness is a gift of God’s grace. No, we don’t deserve it, but he gives it to us anyway. You can stop thinking you have to make yourself good enough and receive the grace that completely covers you. Romans 3:22, “We are made RIGHT WITH GOD by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. yet God, in his grace, freely makes US RIGHT in his sight. People are made RIGHT WITH GOD when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.” It just couldn’t be any clearer than that. We are made right with God through one thing and one thing alone – BELIEVING IN JESUS! And no matter who you are, no matter what you’ve done, no matter where you’ve come from or how wrong you’ve been, this is true for YOU. YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS THROUGH JESUS. So my friend, your destiny is sealed. If you believe in Jesus, you are in the diakious, the righteous, the ones in right standing with God. And your future is secure in Jesus – you get to shine in God’s Kingdom forever! So let’s go back to Jesus’ question: “Do you understand all these things?” I think I finally understand what He’s trying to show us. One day, the net is going to come ashore. One day, there will be a separation. One day, this life will be over, and eternity will begin. And on that day, the question won’t be, “Were you perfect?” Because none of us were. It won’t be, “Did you make good choices every day?” Because none of us did. It won’t even be, “Were you good enough?” Because none of us are. The question is: What did you do with Jesus? Because there are only two categories in the end: the wicked and the righteous. And here’s the incredible news for every person who has put their faith in Jesus: Jesus makes you righteous. Not your performance. Not your religious résumé. Not how many Bible verses you know. Not how many times you’ve gotten it right. Jesus. The man on the middle cross took what belonged to you so that you could receive what belonged to Him. He took your sin. He gave you His righteousness. He took your shame. He gave you His grace. He took your condemnation. He gave you right standing with God. So stop trying to earn what Jesus already died to give you. You don’t have to spend the rest of your life wondering, “Am I good enough?” You aren’t. Jesus is. And that’s the whole point. The Gospel isn’t that you finally became good enough for God. The Gospel is that Jesus was good enough for you. So when the net comes ashore, I don’t want to be standing there hoping my good outweighs my bad. I want to be standing there covered by Jesus. I want to be found in Christ. I want His righteousness to be my righteousness. And then—because I have received His life—I want that life to change the way I live here and now. Because this isn’t just about where we go when we die. It’s about who we become while we’re alive. If Jesus has truly gotten into your life, He should eventually begin getting into everything. Your thoughts. Your words. Your relationships. Your decisions. Your money. Your marriage. Your work. Your habits. Your reactions. Your dreams. Your disappointments. Everything. He becomes the center. And when Jesus becomes the center, He begins changing what your life produces. So don’t spend your life trying to prove you’re good enough. Receive the righteousness Jesus freely gives you. And then spend the rest of your life letting Him transform you from the inside out. Because someday the net will come ashore. And when that day comes, I want to hear Jesus say: “You are Mine.” And I want to shine like the sun in my Father’s Kingdom. Not because I was good enough. Because Jesus was. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

This Week at Genesis | Prayer This week in our Strengthening the Stakes series, we turned our attention to Prayer—exploring what it looks like to become a people who keep showing up before God and refuse to lose heart. Through Jesus' parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18, we were reminded that persistence in prayer is an expression of enduring trust in the character of God, especially when we face delay, opposition, or disappointment. Chris was joined by Mattie for an honest conversation about prayer, personal dissatisfaction, and the ways God has shaped her through seasons of contemplative prayer, fasting, and breakthrough. We were challenged to embrace a deeper, even costly kind of prayer—travailing prayer that longs to see renewal in the church, revival among the lost, and ultimately the restoration of all things. Because when the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth? Scripture & Themes

What does it actually look like when the kingdom of God arrives?In Mark 1:21-45, Jesus speaks with an authority no voice can match, exercises a power no affliction can withstand, pursues a mission no crowd can control, and gives a cleansing no priest can produce.The kingdom of God does not always advance in the ways we expect. It often looks weak, ordinary, and unimpressive. But Jesus is the Holy One of God, and everywhere He goes, the enemies of His kingdom begin to retreat.Christ is King. His kingdom is advancing. So listen to His voice, bring your affliction to Him, come to Him for cleansing, and faithfully follow His mission.

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when we truly pursue Jesus, allow Him to break down the barriers that keep us from Him, and intentionally bring others along on the journey?In Luke 8:1–3, we see Jesus traveling from town to town proclaiming the Kingdom of God—and He didn't do it alone. The Twelve were with Him, along with women from remarkably different backgrounds and stories. Their lives remind us that Jesus breaks barriers of gender, brokenness, social status, and our past. He doesn't define us by where we've been; He invites us into the freedom of who we can become through Him.This message challenges us to pursue the truth of the Gospel with the same passion Luke had for knowing Jesus, to stop allowing fear, doubt, or our past to keep us from Him, and to recognize that following Jesus was never meant to be a private journey.Are you pursuing Jesus? What barrier is keeping you from a life of freedom and surrender? And who are you bringing with you?Our goal isn't simply to get ourselves to Heaven—it's to take as many people with us as we can. Let's empty hell and make Heaven crowded.Listen now and discover what it means to pursue Jesus, break through barriers, and bring others along.Support the show

We are exploring Acts 16:16-19 and Acts 8:9-23. In these passages, we are going to discover the danger of mixing worldly business principles with the Kingdom of God. The revelation I want you to process is, "Am I bringing my old ways of doing business into this new Kingdom Business journey God has me on?"  __________ Partner with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com/partner Connect with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com __________    

Original Post Date: August 13, 2024 === Gospel  Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14 The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.” Reflection Jesus continues his work with his disciples. He's reminding them of something really important. What does it take to be a member of the Kingdom of God? What's the model? The model is a child. And so he's saying that for every adult that was willing to become like a child, and that would mean open, receptive, curious. That's what God wants each of us to become. And he wants us to nurture those that are like children around us, those that are vulnerable and easily misled. So what he's really saying is the kingdom of God is made up of adults that live and act as loving and as open and as receptive as a child. It's a great, great image that frees us from so much that is negative in our adulthood. Closing Prayer Father, we work hard. We discipline ourselves. We get angry. We get upset. We do everything to try to make life better. Free us from some of that intensity of work. As we surrender the beauty of a child who simply is there to receive and take in and accept what is given. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wow! We're now just three weeks away from Evangelism On Fire Podcast transitioning into Mark Thomas Podcast. This isn't simply a new name or a new logo. It's a bigger vision, a broader mission, and an invitation for all of us to make an even greater impact for the Kingdom of God. The Best It Yet To Come!Stay subscribed to this same podcast feed—your weekly episodes will continue automatically! Listen on the same podcast channel! Give financially to our mission of spreading the Gospel message: https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/5727676Join our Evangelism On Fire Community: https://evangelismonfire.com/Subscribe to our podcast today! You can find it on Apple podcast or wherever you get yours.Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@EvangelismOnFireClick the link to join our Evangelism On Fire Facebook community today: www.facebook.com/groups/evangelismonfire

Send me a Text Message!So we are doing a macro series on four spiritual practices that put us in a life that is characterized by God's gracious hand being upon us. We've looked at the spiritual practice of scripture, the practice of sabbath keeping and this mini-series is on generosity. I'm calling it Overflow. Because in the Kingdom of God, that's really what generosity is all about. Of course it involves sacrifice, but at it's heart it's about letting the love and life of Jesus overflow into the lives of those around us. In this episode and the next few, we will set the stage with some descriptions of the overflowing life. And it starts in John 7 with a moment in the life of Jesus where he promised that our lives can become so full that we can't help but be generous with the life inside of us. It's what we call "living in the overflow!"

Apostolic Mentoring Podcast with Charles G. RobinetteWhat is the greatest threat to end-time revival?It may not be persecution.It may not be compromise.It may not even be false doctrine.It may be the subtle elevation of our own kingdom above the Kingdom of God.In this challenging and prophetic episode of the Apostolic Mentoring Podcast, International Evangelist Charles G. Robinette exposes one of the greatest obstacles to apostolic revival and global harvest: self-centered ministry, organizational pride, territorial thinking, and personal agendas that compete with God's eternal purpose.Throughout Scripture, God has always called His people to seek His Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). Yet too often believers become consumed with building personal platforms instead of advancing the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.This message will challenge pastors, leaders, ministers, and believers to embrace humility, unity, biblical partnership, and Kingdom-minded living in preparation for the greatest harvest the world has ever seen.Discover why:• God's Kingdom is bigger than our organization.• Revival accelerates when the Body of Christ works together.• Competition hinders harvest but cooperation multiplies souls.• Spectators never change the world, participants do.• Partnership of Faith is essential for end-time revival.• The greatest victories come when we lay down our agenda for God's agenda.If you have ever wrestled with church politics, division, comparison, competition, or the tension between personal vision and God's global mission, this episode will encourage, convict, and inspire you to pursue what matters most.The world does not need larger personal kingdoms.The world needs the Kingdom of God.This is a prophetic call to unity, humility, sacrifice, and complete surrender to God's eternal purpose.If this episode blesses you, please subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share it with pastors, leaders, ministry teams, and friends around the world as together we work toward the greatest end-time harvest in history.Equipping Millions 2 Reach Billions.We love to hear from our listeners! Thank you! https://www.amazon.com/dp/1639030158?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_VZBSV9T4GT4AMRWEWXJE&skipTwisterOG=1 Support the showhttps://www.youtube.com/@charlesgrobinettehttps://www.instagram.com/charles.g.robinette/https://author.amazon.com/bookshttps://charlesgrobinette.com/

Check us out: https://www.determinetruth.com What does James mean when he says that “faith without works is dead”? Christians—particularly Protestants—have wrestled with James 2 for centuries. Paul says that a person is justified by faith apart from works, while James says that a person is “justified by works and not by faith alone.” Are Paul and James contradicting each other? In this final episode of our study of James, we examine faith, works, justice, and what it actually means to live as the people of God. We argue that James isn't giving Christians a checklist of good behavior. His vision is much larger. Humanity was created to bear God's image, and God's people are called to reflect his character by embodying the values of his kingdom—love, mercy, justice, and sacrificial concern for others. That leads us into some much harder questions. What happens when Christians affirm the correct doctrines but fail to pursue justice? Have some Protestant traditions so emphasized salvation “by faith alone” that good works have become practically optional? And what happens when Christians use labels like liberal, progressive, woke, or communist to dismiss an argument without actually engaging it? The conversation becomes particularly personal as Rob reflects on his recent trip to Israel and Palestine and describes wrestling with the evangelical tradition in which he was raised. We discuss political tribalism, “othering,” Christian support for violence, the danger of allowing political movements to disciple the church, and why shutting down disagreement can become cult-like thinking. Throughout the episode, we return to James's central challenge: Faith that never produces action is dead. We explore: Humanity as God's image bearers The kingdom of God and biblical justice Why caring for the poor is central to James The Sermon on the Mount and the theology of James Faith and works in James 2 Paul vs. James on justification What Paul means by “works of the law” Martin Luther's struggle with James Ephesians 2:8–10 and good works Antinomianism and “free grace” theology Jesus' teaching about knowing people by their fruit Justice, mercy, and faithfulness in Matthew 23 Christianity and political identity The danger of labeling people instead of engaging arguments Cult-like thinking within Christian communities Israel, Palestine, and Rob's recent experience in the region Why Christians must be willing to examine their own traditions James's definition of “pure and undefiled religion” James refuses to separate what Christians believe from how Christians live. The question isn't merely whether we claim faith. What kind of people is that faith producing? Vinnie Angelo & Rob Dalrymple     FOLLOW THE PODCAST Subscribe to be notified of our new episodes (each Monday).  Want to help us expand the Gospel of the Kingdom? Leave a review, “like” the podcast, or share it with others.   CONNECT WITH DETERMINETRUTH MINISTRIES The Determinetruth Podcast is a ministry of Determinetruth Ministries. We offer free resources to equip pastors, leaders, and the body of Christ in the US and worldwide for service in the kingdom of God. You can visit us online at https://www.determinetruth.com   SUPPORT DETERMINETRUTH MINISTRIES Determinetruth is a non-profit 501(c)(3), and relies completely on the financial support of our partners around the world.  Please consider partnering with us and making a tax-deductible donation https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/3648601   Want a FREE CHAPTER from Rob's latest book? Sign up for email updates from Determinetruth.   https://mailchi.mp/5672d33f2b95/dt-podcast Music: “Love is Against the Grain” (Dime Store Prophets)

#201 // You feel it. That pull that says you were made to carry something significant. Something that matters. Something for God.Then you look at your actual Tuesday. The laundry, the inbox, the school pickup, the thing that didn't go the way you planned. And that feeling of significance gets real quiet. You start to wonder if you're doing enough, if any of it's even working, if the big thing God put in you is ever going to look like anything from the outside.If that's you, there's something in this week's episode of Positioned to Prosper that's going to take the pressure off completely. Because Jesus said the Kingdom of God isn't out there and it isn't someday. It's inside you, right now. And what's growing in there is bigger than you think.Here's what we're getting into:→ WHY YOU CAN'T SEE IT. What Jesus meant in Luke 17 when He said the Kingdom doesn't come with observation, and why you've been searching the outside for something that lives on the inside→ THE PRESSURE-RELIEF OF THE MUSTARD SEED. Why the smallest, most hidden, most ordinary-looking thing in you is the exact thing God grows into the biggest, and why you can stop trying to make yourself big enough to matter→ YOU'RE THE SOIL. The reason your ordinary, everyday life isn't a disqualification, it's the whole design, and why the seed of the Kingdom needs a real woman living a real life to grow→ YOU DON'T GET DISQUALIFIED FOR A BAD DAY. Why you don't lose your capacity to carry the Kingdom because you had a rough one, got it wrong, or were short with somebody, and the protection God built right inThere's a whole ecosystem of life God wants to grow through the seed He planted in you. So the real question is, how are you going to steward the Kingdom that's already inside you?

Many Christians have inherited a very specific picture of the end times, one built around a secret rapture, a seven-year tribulation, and a literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. But this framework, known as dispensationalism, was not developed until 1835 and has no roots in the early church or the Reformation. The historic position of the church, held by theologians from Augustine to Calvin, is that Christ is reigning now and will return once to consummate all things. Revelation is not a predictive news calendar but apocalyptic literature written to encourage persecuted first-century believers. The destination of the redeemed is not escape from earth but life with God on a renewed earth. Our view of the end times shapes how we live today, and the church is called not to passively wait but to actively participate in the kingdom of God right now.Support the show

This week, Katia Adams shares a message from Genesis 26 titled "Faith on Repeat." Walking through the life of Isaac, Katia unpacks why his story so closely echoes his father Abraham's, and what that repetition has to teach us about the shape faith takes over a lifetime.Katia traces Isaac's story through four recurring movements: famine, fear, favor, and frustration. In famine, Isaac is instructed not to flee to Egypt as Abraham once did, but to stay and plant seed, reaping a hundredfold in the very land of scarcity. In fear, Isaac is caught off guard and echoes his father's lie about Rebecca being his sister, revealing how pressure exposes what's already inside us rather than creating something new. In favor, Isaac grows wealthy and is envied by the Philistines, illustrating Katia's central point that favor increases complexity rather than removing it. In frustration, Isaac digs well after well, some blocked and some contested, and keeps digging anyway, because the promise is worth the repetition. Katia weaves in her own stories, from planting a church during COVID to a moment of being caught off guard by anger with her husband, to show these patterns aren't ancient history but present reality.The sermon's theological anchor is that faith is not a single event but a muscle built through repetition, and Jesus himself walked this same cycle of famine, fear, favor, and frustration with perfect faith. Katia points to Galatians 2:20, clarifying that it is not merely our own faith in Jesus but Jesus' own faith now living in and empowering us. In other words, the pattern we see in Isaac and ultimately fulfilled in Christ is not proof that God is distant or repetitive for its own sake, but that he is training a people who can walk in famine without panic, in fear without shame, in favor without ease, and in frustration without giving up.Ultimately, this sermon is an invitation to stop waiting for a future "one day" when life will finally be easy, and to recognize this famine, this fear, this ordinary Monday as the main event. Katia calls the church to grow the muscle of faith on repeat, not by white-knuckling through in our own strength, but by inviting the same Spirit that empowered Jesus to empower how we live and believe, so that the Kingdom of God would come near in this city, one contended-for well at a time.

This homily examines the difficult Parable of the Unjust Steward through St. Augustine's insight that Christ commends the steward not for his dishonesty, but for the urgency and foresight with which he prepares for his future. If the children of this world devote such energy, attention, and ingenuity to securing temporary prosperity, Christians should examine how seriously they pursue the eternal Kingdom of God. The great danger is not necessarily that we reject repentance, prayer, generosity, forgiveness, or spiritual growth, but that we continually postpone them, believing the subtle lie that “repentance is for tomorrow.” Yet the past cannot be changed, the future is not promised, and the present is the only time actually given to us. Christian urgency, however, is not motivated by terror but by love for a merciful Father and gratitude that the door of repentance remains open. Therefore, Christ calls us to be shrewd for the Kingdom: to recognize every ordinary opportunity to become more like Him and to begin again today—to pray, give, forgive, read, repent, and give thanks while there is still time.

Make you calling and election sure are the exhortations in the two Kingdom parables  we are looking at.  We not only accept the invitation to labor in the Lord's vineyard and attend His Son's wedding we are activily engaged in the harvest and in appearing before Him clothed in His righteousness.

Send us Fan MailAn earthquake-prone city. A small, pressured church. A Savior who introduces himself with absolute clarity: holy, true, and holding the key that decides access. We spend our time in Revelation 3:7–13, looking at the Church of Philadelphia and why Jesus has nothing negative to say about them, even while calling them a people of “little strength.” That detail changes everything, because it reframes faithfulness as endurance, not visibility.We also dig into the “key of David” by tracing it back to Isaiah 22 and the royal authority to open and shut. That thread pulls the whole passage together: Christ governs entry into the kingdom of God, the progress of the gospel, and the finality of judgment. No empire, synagogue, persecution, or human will gets the last word over a door Christ opens, and no amount of human effort can pry open a door he has shut. If you've ever needed steadiness when the world feels loud, this is that kind of text.Then we land on one of the most comforting lines for discouraged believers: “I know your works.” We talk honestly about how easy it is to measure ministry by results or recognition, and why Jesus redirects our hearts back to serving him, not people. If you want a Bible study that blends historical context, Christ-centered interpretation, and practical encouragement, press play, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find it.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

What does true fruitfulness look like in the Kingdom of God? Is it simply success, wealth and achievement, or is there a deeper call? In this message, we are reminded that God delights in the fruitfulness of His children, but the path to lasting fruitfulness is the way of the Cross. We are challenged to examine our hearts, live with eternity in view, and pursue a life that reflects Christ in character, ministry and daily living.  

Drop us a note about the podcast. Forget the hot takes for a minute. What if the real crisis is that we've stopped remembering and started excusing? We open with Psalm 9 and the discipline of praise, not as a mood, but as a choice to recall God's “marvelous things” and to trust His justice when the world feels upside down.From there, we confront a modern horror story that exposes what happens when institutions lose moral nerve: the Rotherham child sexual exploitation grooming gangs and survivor Sammy Woodhouse's fight to protect victims and change laws. We talk about leadership failures, the cost of silence, and why protecting the vulnerable requires truth, courage, and a willingness to name evil instead of hiding behind polite language.We also ground it in daily obedience. We read 1 Corinthians 7 on marriage, mutual duty, consent, prayer, and self-control, then follow Paul through Acts 28 as he endures danger, serves people, and keeps proclaiming the kingdom of God. Finally, we turn to Jonathan Edwards and the Great Awakening, making the case that spiritual revival once helped unite a fractured people and that we need that same return to Christ today to rebuild a lasting foundation for American unity.If you got value from this, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review where you listen. What part hit you hardest: the warning, the Scriptures, or the call for awakening?#AmericanPatriot#GreatAwakening#ChristianNationSupport the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribeCountryside Book Serieshttps://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2 America's Christian Heritage Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2622483

What do you do when God asks you to move—but you don't feel ready?In Acts 10, Peter receives a vision he doesn't understand and is told by the Holy Spirit to follow three strangers without hesitation. Peter didn't have all the answers. He didn't know what was coming next. He simply had to trust God and move by faith.In this message, Pastor Bobby Chandler reminds us that you don't have to feel ready for God to use you.God may tell you to move before He tells you how.He may ask you to step outside your comfort zone, change the way you see something, or trust Him with something completely outside your control.You may not feel ready—but God is already preparing what's next.Key Scriptures:Acts 9–10John 14:12Romans 12:2Matthew 7:16–20Isaiah 49:6Authentic Church 2010 Clement Blvd NW Hickory, NC 28601 GIVING To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: https://authenticchurch.com/give GET CONNECTED Ready to check out Authentic Church in person? We can't wait to meet you in person. Simply fill out the form below and we'll make sure to give you the VIP treatment upon your first visit. https://authenticchurch.com/plan-a-visit ABOUT AUTHENTIC CHURCH Authentic Church exists so that people will have an authentic encounter with God, be set free, and grow in Christ. Our mission is to help each person at Authentic believe in Jesus, belong to family, inspire true worship, walk in God's Spirit, and build the kingdom of God.

Original Post Date: August 10, 2024 === Gospel John 12:24-26 Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.” Reflection Jesus is trying to teach his disciples that there is a process that he wants them to understand, is the Kingdom of God. We die to old ways. We die to illusions. We die to half truths. Whenever we die to something, something new is born. Something becomes clearer or something becomes more, more in touch with the truth. Closing Prayer Let us pray. Father, It's a mistake for us to feel that when we are exposed as being someone who doesn't understand or doesn't see the truth, we feel that we've failed. It is a process that we have to embrace. Help us never to lose enthusiasm for our growth as God exposes to us the errors that we get caught up in. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send Us Your Questions/CommentsA tiny mustard seed turning into a sheltering tree. A pinch of leaven working through enough dough to feed a crowd. We love how Jesus uses ordinary, earthy pictures to describe the kingdom of God, because they confront our craving for spectacle and remind us that real spiritual growth often starts quietly. We talk through Luke 13:18-35 and trace how the gospel begins small, then spreads through a life until it reshapes priorities, character, and fruit.Then the tone sharpens with a question that still hits hard: will the saved be few? Jesus doesn't give a headcount. He gives a warning and an invitation: strive to enter through the narrow door. We dig into what that “striving” means, why the narrow gate is personal, and why being near Christian things doesn't automatically mean knowing Christ. One line that sticks with us is simple and unsettling: proximity does not equal relationship.We also wrestle with the tension people feel today, especially in American culture, when Jesus claims to be the only way. That exclusivity is exactly what offends, yet the invitation is radically open to all nations and people. Along the way, we connect the closing door image to Noah's ark, talk about the urgency of repentance and faith, and end with Luke's theme of reversal where the last become first. If you want a clear, Bible-centered conversation on salvation, the narrow gate, discipleship, and the kingdom of God, this one is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.New episodes every Mondaywww.lifehousemot.cominfo@lifehousede.comJoin us Sundays at 9 & 11 AMIntro music by Joey Blair

Exchanging the Familiar for the Faithful | Mark 1:16–20; Mark 2:13–17 | Pastor Charlie GrimesWe love what is familiar. We love predictability. In fact, our culture trains us to anchor our entire identity and security in the daily grind—especially our careers. But when we pour our whole lives into our jobs and routines, trying to find ultimate meaning there, we end up exhausted, stressed, and stuck in a rut.Is there a higher calling that supersedes the cultural default of finding our worth in our work, status, or comfort zone?In Part 2 of our series through the Gospel of Mark, "Follow the Leader," Pastor Charlie Grimes walks through Mark 1:16–20 and Mark 2:13–17 to unpack Jesus' invitation to ordinary fishermen and a scandalous tax collector. Jesus doesn't call people who have it all figured out, nor does He ask us to stay where it's safe. Following the Leader requires us to exchange what is familiar for what is faithful.In this episode, you'll discover:Why Jesus doesn't erase your background, but redirects your skills for Kingdom impact.How to step off the safety net of self-made security and trust God's divine provision.The difference between self-righteous, clean-cut religion and the radical, open-armed grace of Jesus.What it means to live as citizens of the Kingdom of God right in the middle of everyday life.

We're not just a church. We're a Family.Our Vision is clear, simple, and unique. Our vision is Jesus in you. Our vision is for the people of God to have a faith that holds them. The kind of faith that vanquishes doubt, verifies identity, and voraciously contends for inner peace. A faith that removes the past, clarifies the present, and breathes life into the future. Our vision is the Kingdom of God built within the people of this obscure, yet mighty generation. A kingdom so great that its purpose destroys the common lack of self worth. A kingdom that sharpens the eyes, tenses the muscles, and readies itself for the battle against darkness. A Kingdom that brings purpose and healing to those who have failed more than succeeded, who are sinners more than saints, and who have known more pain than pleasure. Our vision is to challenge the weak and unproductive church of our day. To step beyond those who are religiously immature and search out those who for their love for Christ cannot be offended. Our hope is to raise warriors instead of those who think God only exists to keep bad things from happening. To raise those who know that following Christ means suffering loss yet gaining all things. Our vision is clear, simple, and unique…. It is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Mark 10:25-31 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

What if the people walking away from church are not walking away from God? Jesus spent most of His ministry going to the people who thought the kingdom of God was not available to them. We see evidence of that in the book of Matthew. Today, many people who have been hurt by religion are still looking for something real, and they are looking for a place that is safe to try again. God is already at work; we just need to show up and meet people where they are!

In this message Pastor Antonette shares the good news that Jesus invites every believer into a prayer life that actually changes things. Prayer is not meant to stay locked in the secret place; it is the gate through which the kingdom of God is released on earth. Through the opening lines of the Lord's Prayer we receive three essential powers: the power to obey, the power to live holy, and the power to release the kingdom. Obedience, holiness, and kingdom strategy do not come from willpower or self-effort; they are the overflow of consistent communion with the Father. When we saturate our asking with delight in Jesus, the Holy Spirit illuminates wisdom and releases the blueprints of heaven.

Learn how to step into the peace of Jesus with Pastor Carol Dickey.This week, I introduce my newest monthly co-host, Pastor Carol Dickey. Pastor Carol was born and raised in Hollywood and was active within the entertainment community as an actress and singer. Her plans changed course when she accepted Jesus in college at 19. Years of age. After a series of miraculous healings, including Cancer, she was called into the ministry. Over the last forty years, she has served in almost every capacity of ministry within the local church and has recorded 3 Gospel cds, appeared on numerous television and radio broadcasts, including her own show “Joyful Journey” which can be seen around world.Join us for this conversation about the peace of Jesus.Join Pastor Carina for digital disciple each week and mature your spiritual authority by going deeper into the things of God. Every Wednesday we grow our faith together - fellowship begins at 3:30pm Pacific Time.Pastor Carina is a Christian life coach, Keynote Speaker, and Mentor who God has uniquely gifted to activate others in the body of Christ. She carries an anointing to stir dormant callings, awaken spiritual gifts, and ignite Kingdom assignments,  empowering believers to step boldly into their God-given identity, walk in divine purpose, and bear lasting fruit for His glory. She's the Founder of Trumpets of Tirzah, an international apostolic center for women that facilitates purpose discovery, Kingdom lifestyle practices, and biblical leadership disciplines so that women can live, and lead, a "new creation" life that reflects Jesus. Her personal coaching, group mentoring, and Tirzah University courses provide keys of radical transformation that launch women into spheres of influence around the world.Hungry for more…Tirzah University, the religious education department of Trumpets of Tirzah, is the only educational institution in the world that focuses on the Apostolic role of women in the body of Christ while educating, equipping and empowering women to walk confidently in their God-given role. Come study with us: www.TirzahUniversity.com DONATE TODAYYour support plants seeds and grows the Kingdom of God! We are a 501c3 - www.trumpetsoftirzah.com/donateDo you live the ANOINTED LIFE?We have many testimonies on the miracles that God does as people use our blessed products.Luxury anointing oils and anointing lotions: https://www.trumpetsoftirzah.com/category/anointingCreative ways of sharing the gospel…And take a look at how we are sharing the gospel through film: https://www.trumpetsoftirzah.com/mastersmedia******************************************************** Awaken. Arise. Advance.https://www.trumpetsoftirzah.comDo you want your Christian product advertised on our podcast? Book your ad on Fiver.https://www.fiverr.com/s/NNLl8pN Get your Amplified Bible: https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1223731&item_no=0446538Engage daily with us! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/trumpetsoftirzah/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@trumpetsoftirzahLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/trumpetsoftirzah iHeart Radio  ⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-trumpets-of-tirzah-120477377/⁠ Amazon Music. ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c0203ed1-9b85-426a-85f5-5350e82ab730/trumpets-of-tirzah⁠ Apple Podcasts. ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trumpets-of-tirzah/id1551900025⁠ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4DCT4KBVsmzfnqyobR4ZwF Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trumpets-of-tirzah/id1551900025YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TrumpetsofTirzahRumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-5936184#peacepodcast #peaceofjesus #stepintopeace #conversationaboutpeace #stepintopeace #womenpastors #girlsgonebible #jesusgirls #peacethatsurpassesunderstanding #apostolicpodcast #kingdompodcast #christianpodcast

Summer on the Mount — Week 6: Free from False Masters | Matthew 6:19–34 Texts: Matthew 6:19–34What actually has authority over your life?In Week 6 of Summer on the Mount: A Better Way to Be Human, Pastor Deborah Taylor teaches from Matthew 6:19–34, where Jesus talks about treasure, the eye, two masters, anxiety, and seeking first the Kingdom of God.This message shows that money and worry often make promises they cannot keep. Money says, “I can keep you safe.” Worry says, “I can keep you in control.” But Jesus exposes both as false masters and invites us to return our trust to the Father who knows what we need and loves to provide.This is not ultimately a message about budgets. It is a message about the heart. What we treasure shapes what we see. What we see shapes what we serve. And what we serve shapes whether we live in peace or in anxiety.If money, worry, comparison, control, or fear about tomorrow has been sitting on the throne of your heart, this message is an invitation to seek first the Kingdom, surrender every false master, and trust the Father who already knows what you need.Broad River Church | Norwalk, CT Join us Sundays: 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM (English) | 1:00 PM (Español) Learn more or take your next step: https://broadriver.church/nextstepsFollow us on Instagram: @iambroadriverchurch

This Week's EpisodeThe easy path is popular, but only one road leads to life. Real discipleship isn't trendy, it's about transformation through faithfulness and grit.

What happens when our confidence in being “right” becomes the very thing keeping us from recognizing our need for grace?In Week 7 of our True Fiction series, Pastor Rob unpacks Jesus' parable of The Pharisee and the Tax Collector found in Luke 18:9-14.Two men enter the Temple to pray. One stands confidently before God, convinced of his own righteousness and comparing himself to everyone around him. The other stands at a distance with nothing to offer but honesty, humility, and a desperate prayer for mercy.Yet Jesus says it was the tax collector who went home right with God.Through this powerful parable, we discover what Kingdom Humility really looks like. It isn't thinking less of ourselves. It's recognizing our need for grace and refusing to use someone else's failures to make ourselves feel righteous.Because in the Kingdom of God, we don't come to Jesus proving how good we are. We come knowing how good He is.Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Highland Christian Church - Asheville, NCCommunicator - Jason GarrisLuke 6:24-36 - What sorrow awaits you, but not if you do good to those who hate you - as you are compassionate like the Father is compassionate. The Kingdom reverses everything – even how we treat those who hurt us. The Kingdom of God changes what we value so that we begin reflecting who our Father is. 

The Cost of Unity | Psalms for a Fractured World We live in an age of fragmentation. Politics, culture, preferences, and opinions constantly sort us into opposing camps. But the church is called to be different—a place where people who might never have chosen one another learn to love one another because of Jesus. In Psalm 133, David describes unity with two surprising images: holy oil and refreshing dew. Unity is sacred. Unity gives life. And unity offers a divided and exhausted world a glimpse of something better—the Kingdom of God. But unity comes with a price. It requires forgiveness, patience, listening, humility, difficult conversations, and sometimes giving up the deeply satisfying pleasure of saying exactly what we're thinking! Jesus didn't give us ten easy steps to unity. He gave us a Cross. When a divided world sees a united church, it catches a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. Scripture: Psalm 133:1–3 Series: Psalms for a Fractured World Message: The Cost of Unity Speaker: Gordon Dabbs, Ph.D., Preaching MinisterSubscribe to PRESTONCREST - with Gordon Dabbs on Soundwise

The Cost of Unity | Psalms for a Fractured World We live in an age of fragmentation. Politics, culture, preferences, and opinions constantly sort us into opposing camps. But the church is called to be different—a place where people who might never have chosen one another learn to love one another because of Jesus. In Psalm 133, David describes unity with two surprising images: holy oil and refreshing dew. Unity is sacred. Unity gives life. And unity offers a divided and exhausted world a glimpse of something better—the Kingdom of God. But unity comes with a price. It requires forgiveness, patience, listening, humility, difficult conversations, and sometimes giving up the deeply satisfying pleasure of saying exactly what we're thinking! Jesus didn't give us ten easy steps to unity. He gave us a Cross. When a divided world sees a united church, it catches a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. Scripture: Psalm 133:1–3 Series: Psalms for a Fractured World Message: The Cost of Unity Speaker: Gordon Dabbs, Ph.D., Preaching MinisterSubscribe to PRESTONCREST - with Gordon Dabbs on Soundwise

What does it actually take to stand firm when life gets hard? Not just to survive difficulty, but to move through it with genuine strength, purpose, and joy? We continue our adventure into one of the most beloved passages in all of Scripture, Psalm 23, and in verse 5 we encounter an unexpected shift from the image of a shepherd leading sheep to the image of a generous host welcoming a guest to a lavishly prepared table. That shift is intentional and profound. The table God prepares is not a quick, forgettable meal. It is a feast of belonging, set before us even in the presence of our enemies, even when the world around us is hostile or indifferent. In the ancient Near East, sharing a meal carried enormous social and spiritual weight. To be welcomed to someone's table was to be affirmed, dignified, and claimed. And this is precisely what God does for us. He looks us in the eyes and says we belong, that we are deeply loved, that we can draw real and lasting strength from his presence. Jesus embodied this truth throughout his ministry, consistently choosing the table as the place where the kingdom of God broke through most visibly. For us today, the invitation stands. There is a source of inner strength available to us that no circumstance can permanently extinguish, and it is found in returning again and again to the presence of the One who has prepared a place for us.

The Cost of Unity | Psalms for a Fractured World We live in an age of fragmentation. Politics, culture, preferences, and opinions constantly sort us into opposing camps. But the church is called to be different—a place where people who might never have chosen one another learn to love one another because of Jesus. In Psalm 133, David describes unity with two surprising images: holy oil and refreshing dew. Unity is sacred. Unity gives life. And unity offers a divided and exhausted world a glimpse of something better—the Kingdom of God. But unity comes with a price. It requires forgiveness, patience, listening, humility, difficult conversations, and sometimes giving up the deeply satisfying pleasure of saying exactly what we're thinking! Jesus didn't give us ten easy steps to unity. He gave us a Cross. When a divided world sees a united church, it catches a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. Scripture: Psalm 133:1–3 Series: Psalms for a Fractured World Message: The Cost of Unity Speaker: Gordon Dabbs, Ph.D., Preaching MinisterSubscribe to PRESTONCREST - with Gordon Dabbs on Soundwise

Send us Fan MailAs we continue our series on the Calling and Sending of Jesus, Pastor Eric invites to listen as Jesus listened. Be present, be curious, and listen to the Holy Spirit while you listen to people.Support the showPastors Eric, Mark, Susan, Daniel, and other Village leaders open the Scriptures as the witness to God's kingdom breaking into our lives. Scripture gives us more than abstract ideas. It is the Word of God, given to form us, confront us, comfort us, and teach us how to follow Jesus.Each episode invites us to listen and respond. We are learning to understand the Bible more faithfully; we are also learning how to live as God's renewed people.Week by week, our pastors and leaders talk about the practices of Christian discipleship, including prayer, fasting, generosity, Scripture memory, worship, and life together. These practices belong to a whole life formed around Jesus.The podcast also speaks to ordinary places where faith is lived; our relationships, finances, habits, struggles, joys, and decisions. The gospel speaks to what we believe. It also teaches us how to live in the present age as people who belong to the kingdom of God.The Village Churchvillagersonline@gmail.comMore information at www.villagersonline.com

Send us Fan MailWhen Jesus calls people to himself, he invites them to be his disciples and pattern their lives after him. In this sermon Pastor Mark explores how Jesus sees and knows the people around him and how we can begin practicing seeing and knowing those around us.Support the showPastors Eric, Mark, Susan, Daniel, and other Village leaders open the Scriptures as the witness to God's kingdom breaking into our lives. Scripture gives us more than abstract ideas. It is the Word of God, given to form us, confront us, comfort us, and teach us how to follow Jesus.Each episode invites us to listen and respond. We are learning to understand the Bible more faithfully; we are also learning how to live as God's renewed people.Week by week, our pastors and leaders talk about the practices of Christian discipleship, including prayer, fasting, generosity, Scripture memory, worship, and life together. These practices belong to a whole life formed around Jesus.The podcast also speaks to ordinary places where faith is lived; our relationships, finances, habits, struggles, joys, and decisions. The gospel speaks to what we believe. It also teaches us how to live in the present age as people who belong to the kingdom of God.The Village Churchvillagersonline@gmail.comMore information at www.villagersonline.com

What does it really mean to be great in the Kingdom of God? In Matthew 20, Jesus completely redefines greatness. While the world measures success by position, possessions and power, Jesus shows us a different way. True greatness begins by bending our knee to Him, enduring pain with perseverance, living under godly authority and humbling ourselves to serve others. This message challenges us to examine what is truly first in our lives and reminds us that proximity to Jesus, not what we produce, determines Kingdom success. Following Jesus does not promise a life of comfort, but He faithfully walks with us through the pain and uses it to shape us. Jesus Himself is our ultimate example. He did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. In His Kingdom, greatness is not found by climbing over others to reach the top. It is found by lowering ourselves so we can lift others up.

Read OnlineProducing Much FruitJesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.” John 12:24–26Saint Lawrence, whom we honor today, has been highly revered by the Church since the time of his martyrdom in the mid-third century, at around the age of thirty-three—the same age at which our Lord laid down His life. Lawrence is believed to have been one of the seven deacons of Rome, likely serving as archdeacon. He was entrusted with the distribution of the Church's goods to the poor and is said to have shared a close friendship with Pope Sixtus II.When Emperor Valerian began persecuting the Church in 257, he issued an edict ordering the execution of bishops, priests, and deacons. On August 6, 258, Pope Sixtus and several deacons were martyred. According to Saint Ambrose, Lawrence rejoiced over their heroic deaths and grieved because he had not died alongside his spiritual father.Soon afterward, Lawrence was arrested and commanded to surrender the Church's treasures. Instead, he distributed the goods to the poor and, when brought before the prefect, presented the poor themselves as the true treasures of the Church. Enraged by this bold act, the prefect sentenced Lawrence to death by roasting on a gridiron. Tradition holds that Lawrence, with holy defiance, declared as he burned, “The flesh is roasted, turn it and eat.”Saint Lawrence, like all martyrs, accomplished more for the Church in death than he could have in life. He embodies Jesus' solemn words in today's Gospel: “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” It may be said that every martyr dies twice: first, through the total surrender of self in loving service and detachment from the world; and second, through physical martyrdom. To “hate” one's life in this world means to live with total abandonment to God's will, free from self-centered pursuits. Living in this way prepared Lawrence for his final sacrifice.The Church honors those who embraced physical martyrdom because they become living icons of Christ's sacrificial love. They are visible expressions of the Gospel, and their witness bears tremendous spiritual fruit.Consider, for example, what might have happened had Lawrence fled persecution to preserve his life. Those who loved him may have understood and even encouraged such a choice. He could have continued serving the poor and died in obscurity. But he did not. Today, we remember him not simply because of his courage, but because God chose to make him an enduring icon of the Gospel for generations. Just as Christ's brutal death became the greatest act of love in history, so too does Lawrence's participation in that love perpetuate Christ's sacrifice—one in which we, too, are called to share.Reflect today on the example of Saint Lawrence and the deep meaning of Jesus' words. Are you also willing to become that grain of wheat, falling to the ground, dying to self, and bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God? What attachments, fears, or self-centered desires do you still cling to that deter you from the spiritual witness of martyrdom? God is calling us to a deeper detachment from this world so that we may live more fully for Him. Though physical martyrdom may not be asked of you, the spiritual martyrdom of daily self-giving is a path all are called to walk. Imitate Saint Lawrence by embracing that path with courage, joy, and total trust in God's providence, so that your life, too, may produce much fruit for eternity.My sacrificial Lord, You filled Saint Lawrence with such fervent love that he counted death as gain, trusting in the abundant fruit his martyrdom would yield. Grant me that same courage and willing spirit, that I may die to self each day and live only for You. May my life bear rich and lasting fruit for the coming of Your Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Saint Lawrence of Rome, by Alessandro AgolantiSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Be inspired to live a life that pleases God. Hear what's at the beginning of the Kingdom of God that the Lord Jesus Christ began to preach. Learn some powerful and profound lessons from those that have gone before us and have made great mistakes, so we don't have to.

Jesus teaches that life in the Kingdom of God is different because He is our King, and we are called to live according to His Word, values, and mission. As followers of Christ, we are called to be the “salt of the earth” by creating a thirst for God, preserving what is good, and helping point others toward the gospel. We are also called to be the “light of the world” by boldly living out our faith, serving others, and allowing our good works to point people to Jesus rather than keeping our faith hidden.

Have you ever made homemade bread with yeast? How much yeast do you put in with the flour and water? Just a tiny amount. How much of a difference does the yeast make? ALL THE DIFFERENCE. As Jesus was teaching, he knew everyone listening understood this because bread wasn’t something they picked up at the grocery store. It was made every day in their homes. The women especially knew exactly what He meant. They had watched a tiny handful of yeast disappear into a massive bowl of flour, only to come back hours later and find every bit of dough changed. So Jesus said… Matthew 13:33, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” How much of the dough was affected by only a little yeast? EVERY PART OF IT. And how many of you have personally experienced the impact of little things over your entire life? Really, that’s all of us. Looking back, we see how little things changed the entire trajectory of our lives. Sometimes that can feel overwhelming because what if you mess up that one little thing that would make all the difference? Before you get all anxious about the enormity of this – please remember your life is under the divine direction of an all-knowing God, IF you surrender to his ability to guide you exactly where you need to be. Surrender is the key. Without surrender – you’re a bowl of flour sitting flat wondering why your life isn’t rising up. I wonder if you can see how in your own life some of your biggest blessings didn’t come from one big decision you made, but a combination of tiny turns left and right with split second perfect timing. Did you do that on your own? Oh no you didn’t girl. God was leaning over the rails of heaven, watching your life with great delight, aligning things you didn’t even know to ask for, and sprinkling in a little yeast to make his good plans for you grow. And as you grew, the angels cheered! Here’s our problem – when we don’t surrender. When we think we don’t need God because we can make our own plans, force our own way, and direct the timing of it all to fit our liking. We try to make our own yeast, but guess what – YOU CAN’T. Yeast has to come from a start. And you are not that start. GOD IS! Here’s what surrender really is. It’s opening your clenched fists and saying, “God, you have permission to work anywhere you want.” IT STARTS THERE!!!!! Most of us try to first hand God one part of our lives. “God, here’s my marriage, fix this. But, don’t touch my priorities. Don’t touch my habits. God, I just want you over here.” But Jesus says the yeast doesn’t stop at one corner of the dough. It permeates every part. God loves you too much to leave any part of your life untouched. If you invite him into your marriage, he will be there – but he will also go right for YOUR HEART. All while you just want him to work on your husband’s heart, he first starts with yours. You’ve been praying for your kids, and before he works on them, he works in YOU! Sometimes I wonder if my family’s 7 year journey to healing took so long because I was delaying the work in my heart first. Which part of your life have you been asking for God to take over? You know that one very well, don’t you? Now, let me ask – which part of your life have you been holding back from God? Yeah – that one. That one that you’ve been trying to hide or excuse or separate – God says, “I WANT TO GET ALL UP IN THAT TOO!!!!!” If you surrender your life to Him, He will begin working in places you didn’t even invite Him. But my sister, you can trust him. Remember, he is for you, not against you. His plans for you are to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) In this parable, notice what Jesus doesn’t say – He doesn’t say, “The Kingdom of God is like bread.” No, he said it’s “like yeast”. There’s a difference. Yeast gets INSIDE something before it changes anything on the outside. My mama taught me how to make homemade yeast rolls as a young girl. You get the water and milk temperature just right, then you sprinkle in the tiniest amount of yeast. And then you lean in real close and you watch. Guess what – Nothing happens. You ever so gently stir in the yeast. Still nothing happens. Then you let it sit for a bit. Still nothing. Next you add in the flour and create this messy sticky dough. Nothing looks radically different. But you come back an hour later and your little ball of dough has risen ten times in size to overflow the edges of your bowl. How did it happen? Gradually from the INSIDE. That is exactly opposite of how most of us try to change. We start with the outside. • I need to lose weight. • I need to stop yelling. • I need to stop cussing. • I need to be read my Bible more. • I need to get organized. • I need to stop shopping so much. So we try harder. Jesus says, “That’s not how My Kingdom works. I don’t start by changing your behavior. I start by changing your heart.” Everything else grows from there. He isn’t trying to improve your circumstances first. He’s trying to transform you. I really don’t think God cares about the size of your butt or the jiggle of your belly. He’s not impressed by that tiny little ab you’ve been working on. Your bank account isn’t his primary concern. HE IS GOING STRAIGHT FOR YOUR HEART. Why? Because the heart is the yeast. If he changes your heart, it will affect EVERYTHING!!!! But here’s the warning – YOUR ENEMY KNOWS THIS TOO! Your enemy knows if he can make you insecure, it will affect everything. If he can twist the way you feel about yourself, he can keep you in the corner. He knows if he infects the way you think about everyone else, he can render you bitter, cynical and ineffective. Bad yeast makes bad bread sis. Check what is growing in your life! Finally, notice there’s something specific Jesus mentions in this story. He says the woman mixed the yeast into 3 measures of flour. Anytime you see something this specific, take notice – it’s a deeper lesson. Here, 3 measures of flour means about 40 to 50 pounds of flour. This large amount of flour when mixed with a little bit of east would be enough to feed a hundred people. Why would Jesus mention that detail? Because the amount is intentionally extravagant. A tiny handful of yeast transforms an enormous amount of dough. That’s the Kingdom. One life surrendered to Jesus can influence far more people than you ever imagined. One praying Mama. One teacher. One girl in the office who shares a devotional. One friend who points a hurting soul to Jesus. That’s just one little bit of Kingdom yeast. AND IT GROWS and grows and grows. Bigger and bigger and bigger. Generations are changed as a result of one surrendered life. That’s yeast! And let me tell you something, I think God wants YOU to be that surrendered life. He wants to start with YOU. His Spirit at work within you, changing you from the inside out, starting with your heart then flowing onto every area of your life, every single relationship, in every way. Imagine one day arriving to Heaven and meeting a whole line of people waiting to tell you how YOU helped them get there too. How the Jesus in you was the light showing them the way. How what God grew in you flowed over onto them and grew in them. And because of your surrender, they learned surrender, their children learned surrender, their grandchildren surrendered – and now there’s an entire corner of Heaven crowded – and it started with ONE. And that my friends, is how the Kingdom of God is – It’s like yeast. Tiny, working in unseen ways from the inside, affecting EVERYTHING! Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com