Podcasts about kingdom of god luke

Jesus invites us to be with Him in heaven. “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God” (Luke 14:15).

Jesus invites us to be with Him in heaven. “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God” (Luke 14:15).

According to Jesus, what kind of experience, skill, and character qualify a person for leadership in the Kingdom of God? This sermon was preached on Saturday, September 21, 2024.

How can we ever expect to understand the Kingdom of God when we won't listen to the one revealing it?

Parables contain symbolism to convey spiritual truth to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. Jesus gave the parable of the great banquet in response to an invited guest who understood Jesus' words and exclaimed, -Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God-- -Luke 14-15-. The parable Jesus gave defines who the -everyone- is, and how they are brought into the banquet. Sadly, those originally invited, the Jews, refused -save the elect remnant-. Nevertheless, the Father intends that His banquet will be filled. This is the work of the gospel in this age until Jesus comes again.

Parables contain symbolism to convey spiritual truth to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. Jesus gave the parable of the great banquet in response to an invited guest who understood Jesus' words and exclaimed, -Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God-- -Luke 14-15-. The parable Jesus gave defines who the -everyone- is, and how they are brought into the banquet. Sadly, those originally invited, the Jews, refused -save the elect remnant-. Nevertheless, the Father intends that His banquet will be filled. This is the work of the gospel in this age until Jesus comes again.

1 Timothy: Godly Leadership Facing Opposition - A Survey of the BibleFor bulletin in PDF form, click here. Message SlidesTimothy - F.F. BruceTimothy - John StottEphesus - Robert YarbroughSnapshots of the Pastoral Epistles - Robert W. WallIntroduction to 1 Timothy - Dan WallaceContext: Who, Where, When, and Why?• Who composed 1 Timothy?• Who was the original audience of 1 Timothy?• When and where was 1 Timothy written? • Why was Paul writing? Content: How and What?• How is 1 Timothy organized? Introduction: Salutation and Greeting (1:1-2)Negatively: Take a Stand Against False Teachers (1:3-1:20) - False Teachers' Perversion of the Law (1:3-7) - The Proper Use of the Law (1:8-11) - The Priority of Grace for Paul (1:12-17)Positively: Prepare the Church to Stand Against False Teaching (2:1-6:10) - Instructions on Church Order (2:1-3:16) - Instruction on Dealing with False Teaching (4:1-16) - Instructions to Various Groups (5:1-6:10)Conclusion: Pastoral Charge to Pursue Godliness (6:11-21)• What is the message of 1 Timothy? Conviction: So What?• Where does 1 Timothy fit?1 Timothy is a personal letter written to a young pastor working in a hostile - environment (Acts 20:30), encouraging him and guiding him to take a stand against false teaching. - While the letter is written to Timothy, it is clear that the intended public reading of the letter would assist Timothy in setting things in order. - The letter is full of clear doctrinal summaries and practical implications for everyone.• What should we believe? - Sound doctrine matters. Our salvation and hope is found only in Christ Jesus (1:1) - Orderly worship and church structures are crucial for a church to be healthy. - Qualified leaders are needed for a church to thrive. - The life, death, resurrection and ministry of Christ is central to our faith.• How should we behave? • Prayer for those in leadership. • Anchor yourself in Biblical Truth. • Take care of your family. Assist those without a family. • Make a contribution to the health of the church—everyone.Next Steps • Doctrinally: Fight the good fight of faith by finding and defending the truth. • Practically: Fight the good fight of faith by living it out in a godly lifestyle. This Week's Growth GuideGod's Word is both central and critical to your spiritual growth. We invite you to utilize the Growth Guide during the week to further your application of the Truth from the message.•. Monday - 1 Timothy 1•. Tuesday - 1 Timothy 2•. Wednesday - 1 Timothy 3•. Thursday - 1 Timothy 4•. Friday - 1 Timothy 5•. Saturday - 1 Timothy 6FinancesWeekly Budget 32,692Giving For 06/02 35,478Giving For 06/09 47,450YTD Budget 1,634,615Giving 1,719,304 OVER/(UNDER) 84,689 Fellowship Women's Recipe SwapJoin the ladies of Fellowship Women's ministry for a recipe swap on Sunday July 21, 6:00 p.m. at 63 Moseley Lane (home of Gale Allen). Bring your favorite comfort food to share. Please email your recipe by July 17 to SpicerL@conwayschools.infoNew to Fellowship?We are so glad that you chose to worship with our Fellowship Family this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift. Downline - 9 Months That Will Change Your LifeApply now for next year's Downline class that starts on August 27th. The program equips individuals to know God's Word and make disciples where God has strategically placed you around the city. Space and time are limited, so visit DownlineConway.com for more information and to submit your application. Automate the ImportantWe understand that the summer months can be a whirlwind of new schedules and travel. To ensure the continuous growth of Fellowship's ministry, we encourage you to simplify your giving process by automating it. It's a straightforward and hassle-free process. Just visit fellowshipconway.org/give, click “Ready to Give?” then “Recurring,” and fill out the necessary information. If you need any assistance, feel free to reach out to Emily in our office at 501-327-3444 between 8:30 and 4:30, Monday through Thursday.Mission Arlington 2024Our student ministry left this morning for Arlington, TX, to serve through outreach, VBS, and sharing the gospel with children. The team of around 65 students and adults asks for your prayers this week. Please pray that the Lord will be glorified, that kids will come to faith, and that our team will grow closer to God and one another. A Christian Political Identity - Sunday, August 25 & September 1, 9:00 a.m.Jesus announced the coming of the Kingdom of God (Luke 4:43). We are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20) but residents of earth. Paul used his Roman citizenship (Acts 16) but did not attempt to overthrow political rulers. How do we navigate a political world of totalitarian political powers and concerns of “the end of democracy” while living in the midst of highly dysfunctional governments? Should we retreat to an echo chamber or just give up and pray? What do we learn from Jesus, Daniel, and Paul that might help us? Join us on Sunday, August 25 & September 1, at 9:00 AM as we explore a biblical worldview about a Christian political identity. Go to fellowshipconway.org/register to sign-up. Space is limited.

Part 72 of "Luke: Mission to the World"

In last week's episode, Ezekiel offered encouragement and comfort to the exiles, who worried that they were excluded from God's plans for the nation of Israel. Surprisingly, Ezekiel identified them as the prophesied remnant. To help them chart a fresh course, God promised to gift them a new heart made of flesh (11:19). Instead of rejoicing over the good news, Chapter 12 reveals that a contingent of exiles rejected Ezekiel as a divine messenger. His oracles and sign-acts, no matter how forceful and dramatic, were unsuccessful in getting through. Despite Ezekiel's best efforts, they remained stonyhearted. God warned Ezekiel, “Mortal, you are living in the midst of a rebellious house who have eyes to see but do not see, who have ears to hear but do not hear” (12:2). Other prophets, like Isaiah and Jeremiah, used this same terminology to describe the epidemic of spiritual indifference in their time (Isa. 26:11; Jer. 5:21). Jesus, six hundred years later, also described how his teaching failed to affect those with deadened senses. Jesus used parables to reveal the purpose of his mission, recognizing that only those with perceptive eyes and attentive ears would understand his teachings (Matt. 13:13-15). For those listeners who were spiritually awake, the parables revealed “the secrets of the kingdom of God” (Luke 8:10). Like Jesus, Ezekiel hoped his message broke through to the seeing and hearing remnant, even if the spiritually blind and deaf rejected it.

A sermon preached on Luke 17:20-37 in April 2024.

To You is Given the Kingdom of God​Luke 12:32​

Enjoy hours of exclusive content every month and help keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free  for listeners everywhere at;patreon.com/JeremyMcCandlessSubscribe here to receive my new church history podcast every few weeks at.https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.comEpisode Notes: The Danger of Wrong  Attitudes.Segment 1: Attitude in the Kingdom of God (Luke 22:24-30)The dispute among the disciples over greatness in the Kingdom of God, emphasizing Jesus' teaching on humility and servanthood.The contrast between secular notions of greatness and the Kingdom's values of selflessness and service.The dangers of pride and competition among believers, leading to division and loss of reward.Segment 2: Overconfidence and Spiritual Warfare (Luke 22:31-34)Jesus' prediction of Peter's denial and the dangers of overconfidence and self-reliance.The spiritual implications of Peter's failure and Jesus' offer of forgiveness and restoration.The importance of humility and dependence on God's strength in facing trials and temptations.Segment 3: Misguided Preparedness (Luke 22:35-38)Jesus' instruction to take provisions and a sword metaphorically, emphasizing the need for spiritual readiness.The dangers of false self-sufficiency and being blindsided by unexpected difficulties.The importance of relying on the Word of God and the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength.Thank for tuning in  I encourage us all to reflect on our own attitudes in light of this passage.Support the showJeremy McCandless is creating podcasts and devotional resources | PatreonHelp us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Jesus corrects the Pharisees' interpretation of the Law and uses this opportunity to rectify their understanding of divorce. We can learn from this interaction that there is a difference between being unwilling to change and trusting submission to Jesus's teaching. Listen in to hear more.

Mary's song of praise at the news of bearing the Christ child teaches us that mercy is central to God's kingdom.

Continuing in the parable of the great banquet, we see that not everyone who receives an invitation into the Kingdom of Heaven accepts it. As God's people, we are called to accept and extend the invitation to anyone who will hear. Listen in to hear more.

Do you meet the requirement for entering the Kingdom of God?   And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:24-25 NASB95   In the previous episode, I talked about how the Kingdom of God belongs to children. Today, we find that it is humanly impossible for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Right after the scene in yesterday's episode, we find Jesus talking with the rich, young ruler.

How can you take possession of the kingdom of God?   And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Luke 18:15-16   The Jews are coming to Jesus to be near him and to be blessed by him. The disciples told them not to bother the Teacher. But Jesus responded that the children should be allowed to come to him for the kingdom of God belongs to them.   What does this mean? Most every modern translation uses the term "belongs."   We have access to the Kingdom of God based on innocent trust. At least that's my understanding.   In this passage, Jesus says the children have the kingdom of God in verse 16 and that others receive the kingdom like a child in order to enter it. Think about the Kingdom of God as being something a child can possess. Why do they "have it?" They "received [it] like a child [in order to] enter it."

In this sermon we see that “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 1. There are many excuses for not coming 2. Go out and bring them in 3. Go out further and bring them in harder

Luke 18:15–30 (ESV) 15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to […] The post Receiving and Earning the Kingdom of God (Luke 18:15-30) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.

Luke 17:20-37 (ESV) 20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!' or ‘There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” 22 And he […] The post Stargazers, Naval-Gazers, and the Kingdom of God (Luke 17:20-37) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.

1. Three ways the Kingdom of God comes A. Reign personally in your life B. Proclamation to reign in others C. Jesus' return to earth to reign 2. Misunderstandings about His coming A. He has already came B. He coming at a predicted date C. He will never come 3. Facts of His coming A. Unexpected B. Quickly C. Unmistaken 4. Life changing truths A. There will be a Day of Judgement B. No need to wait, choose Jesus now C. It is worth doing right, being good, sacrifice D. Important to tell others about Jesus E. There will be separation

What's the Difference:The Gospel of GodVsThe Gospel of Christ?Mark 1:1   vs. Mark 1:14-15The Good News of the Kingdom of God – Luke 4:40-44; 9:1-27 Conditions or Traits to Enter the Kingdom of GodA______________________________B______________________________C______________________________D______________________________E______________________________F______________________________G______________________________What the Kingdom of God is NOT!The Gospel of Christ – Matthew 16:21-23From then on, Jesus began to point out to his disciples that he needed to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised on the third day. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “Oh no, Lord! This will never happen to you!” Jesus turned and told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me because you're not thinking about God's concerns but human concerns.”From What Time = "From then on" [[Ἀπὸ τότε]]Proof – Peter's Response:Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “Oh no, Lord! This will never happen to you!”

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Verse by Verse teaching through the book of Luke. www.calvaryclayton.com/youth

The secrets of the Kingdom of God are not actually riddles we may never understand. God wants us to know these things. He desires us to seek them out and He is glad to help us. True growth through the revelation of God takes time. We need to consider the whole context of scripture, hold loosely to what we've heard in the past, and put in the time to experience growth.

Join us in person next Sunday! Service begins at 10:30amor on Wednesday at 7pm.5611 Colerain AveCincinnati OH. 45212If you are unable to be with us in person, join us on Facebook LIVE! Facebook.com/PraiseChapelCOGIf you need prayer or have any special requests, please contact us!Phone: 513.741.4738Email: PraiseChapelCOG@Gmail.com

Acts 1 Sermon Notes:1) Apostolic Empowerment | 1-112) Apostolic Oblivion | 3-8 3) Apostolic Apostasy | 12-20 4) Apostolic Succession | 15-26 Reflection Questions: 1) Acts 1:3 says that Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God during the 40 days before He ascended into heaven. What is the Kingdom of God? And what is the “good news of the Kingdom of God” (Luke 4:43)? 2) What does Jesus say will happen after His people receive the power of the Holy Spirit? What are all the ways you are currently witnessing (in small or large ways) about the good news of Jesus and its (current and future) impact upon your life?3) Does Acts record the casting of lots in chapter 1 to encourage us to use similar methods in our decision making? What about the presence of prayer? How can we know which parts of Acts are prescriptive (prescribing what we should do) and which ones are descriptive (merely describing what happened)? How can the rest of Scripture help us decide?

1. Like a mustard seed A. Starts small becomes impactful B. One soul becomes a transformed life C. One church becomes a difference maker 2. Like leaven A. Works being unseen B. Works on the inside C. Works by impacting all it contacts 3. How many ? And who ? A. The right question is: Are you ? B. There is one way not many C. It is not popular with the world D. A personal choice made on earth E. A diversity of people F. There will be surprises --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/frank-england/support

Luke 7:1-50 - Speaker: Lukus Counterman - Luke 7 is a bit of a long, complex chapter. There is an account of a healing, another regarding the raising of a dead man, and a final one about a prostitute who is forgiven by Jesus. Woven into these three stories we learn about John the Baptist who is questioning whether Jesus really is the Messiah, and we're introduced to a distasteful Pharisee who sees no need for a Savior. So how do these different puzzle pieces fit together? Well, Luke is setting the stage for his readers to understand Jesus' preaching ministry. Our Lord is about to go from village to village “bringing the good news of the Kingdom of God” (Luke 8:3), but what is this good news all about? And who is it for? That's what we'll learn about through these various accounts in Luke 7. Through our study, may the Lord help us receive this good news afresh.

People in Jesus' day were looking for God to come down and set up an earthly kingdom. Some were disappointed when this did not happen. How about today?Copyright, Dave Andrus 2023 

Part 15 of "Luke: Mission to the World"

Where is the kingdom of God? Is it only seen after your physical death? Is it in the halls and pews of your local church building? Or is it in the people of the body of Christ? We are ambassadors of Heaven. So where we are we should treat those with the customs of love we learn from the King of our homeland. This week's discussion features Judah Thomas, David LaManna, Ben Cossette, Lenny Salgado, and Johnny V For more information visit: www.thrive.church If you would like to give financially you can do so here: www.thrive.church/give/ If you need prayer email us at prayer@thrive.church This is a presentation of Thrive.Church ©All Rights Reserved

January 8, 2023 Sermon by Pastor Greg Cook - Calvary Baptist Church - Horn Lake, MS

New Years Day 2023Zacchaeus: A New Start Dan Bidwell, Senior PastorLuke 19:1-10 1 January 2023 Well good morning and Happy New Year! I always like to start my New Years sermon with a list of the top New Years Resolutions. According to one survey , the top New Years resolutions for Americans are: #1 exercise more#2 eat healthier#3 lose weight#4 save more money#5 spend more time with family and friends Highly ranked spend less time on social media (Speak more about that during January as we take the month to re-focus on God at the beginning of a new year) I was at an exercise class a few days before Christmas and the instructor said: Remember, come January 1, this place will be packed. Dont be put off, most people will be gone again by the start of February We love to make resolutions, but its hard to stick to them. So I found a different list of resolutions. On a website for a company that sells mattresses. (puffy.com). Here is Puffys list of 7 New Year Resolutions You Can Actually Accomplish In 2023 7. Do One New Thing A MonthNew Year resolutions often crash and burn because they try to tackle too much too fast. Set a goal once a month to do something youve never done before. That could mean eating at a new restaurant, gardening, or learning to salsa. However small or big, its still something to look back on at the end of the year. 6. Save A Small Percentage Of Your Paycheck 5. Do Your Bit For The EnvironmentTake baby steps. Carry a reusable tote bag to the supermarket (Im still trying!) 4. Be Kind To Yourself And OthersA small act of kindness will suffice. Text a friend you havent heard from in a while. Call your parents. Cook a meal for your partner. Treat yourself to a cupcake from your favorite bakery. Allow yourself to take a whole day off and do what you want to do. 3. Change Up Your LookTake a few inches off your hair, try a new hair color, get a tattoo, or simply switch up your personal style. Make 2023 the year you decide to embrace bold colors, mix patterns, and find the courage to wear outfits youve always wanted to but never thought you could pull off. 2. Try A New Recipe Each Week(This one actually sounds exhausting to me!) 1. Get More SleepWhile it sounds easy enough to get the recommended 8 hours of sleep every night, not a lot of people do. God has made us for Work and Rest, and were going to talk about this more as the month goes on But there you go. 7 resolutions you can actually accomplish in 2023. (Some I really like!) What about your spiritual goals for 2023? My question to you as your pastor is: What do you hope God will do in you in 2023? Where do you want this journey to take you? What are your spiritual New Years resolutions? Because were not just here for our weekly shot of religion. Were here for transformation. The kind of transformation that happens when people meet Jesus. So thats what were going to see in our Bible passage today a transformation story, with three take away lessons that we can build into our own faith story for 2023. So lets pray that God would start that transformation work in us (even now!) as we open his word. Our heavenly Father, will you speak to us through the Bible as we open it now. Will you use it to sharpen us, and focus us, so that we become more and more like Jesus every day. In his mighty name we pray. Amen 1. Seeking Jesus If you grew up in Sunday School, then you might know the story of Zaccheaus already. What does the song tell us? Zacchaeus was a wee little manAnd a wee little man was heHe climbed up in a sycamore treeFor the Lord he wanted to see If Zacchaeus was remembered for anything, it was that he was short! But possibly not the shortest man in the Bible. In the running for the shortest man you have Nehemiah (knee-high-mia). Jobs friend Bildad the Shuhite (shoe-height). But the winner is Simon Peter who fell asleep on his watch. Now if we ever have Church Camp, youll know the answer to at least one of the Saturday night trivia questions ;-) But lets get back to Zacchaeus. There was more to Zacchaeus than his height. Look at Luke 19 starting at v1: Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. (Luke 19:1-3) Zacchaeus was a tax collector. In fact, a chief tax collector for the Roman Empire. At the time of our Bible passage, the Romans had conquered most of the Mediterranean, North Africa, Egypt, modern day Turkey and Syria, and of course Israel where Jesus lived. Rome had army garrisons throughout their territories, but they also used local governments to keep the people in check. One way of doing that is through taxation. In New Testament times, tax collectors were seen as collaborators because they worked for the Romans to collect taxes from their own people. They were also known for adding a little bit on for themselves quite liberally. And so not only were they collaborators but crooks. And Zacchaeus was a chief collaborator, I mean, tax collector. It tells us in v2 he was very wealthy. Im sure the townsfolk knew who Zacchaeus was. In fact in v5, they call him a sinner. But Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. Or more accurately (v3) he wanted to see who Jesus was. By the time this encounter happened, Jesus had been traveling and teaching for almost 3 years. Doing miracles, healing the sick, preaching wisdom that no-one had ever heard before. He had been transforming lives and communities and Zacchaeus wanted to see it for himself. Perhaps Zacchaeus was looking for his own transformation story. Are you looking for a transformation story? Perhaps, like Zacchaeus, youve heard these stories about Jesus, but you just dont know what to make of them. Youre not sure if they could be true in your life. Does Jesus really heal the sick? Does he really cure addiction? Does he really bring forgiveness where there is only pain? Could it really be true? Zaccheaus decides to find out for himself (v4) 4 [Zacchaeus] ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. (Luke 19:4) I am guessing it was highly undignified for Zacchaeus to climb that tree. Probably he didnt think anybody would see him, because they would all be focused on Jesus. But how else was he to see Jesus? He couldnt be lifted on somebodys shoulders like a child. That would be even more humiliating. So he climbs the tree. He does what it takes to see Jesus for himself. And thats our first big idea for today Seeking Jesus. If you want to know who Jesus is, you cant just stand back and wait. You need to go after him. You need to climb the metaphorical tree. You need to do whatever it takes so that you can be sure, one way or the other. And it might raise some eyebrows. When you decide to start coming to church regularly. Or you decide to join a course to learn more about Jesus. Your family or your friends might look at you a bit funny if you start reading the Bible. Why would you do that? they might say. But take a lesson from Zacchaeus. Transformation starts by seeking Jesus, making a deliberate decision to seek after Jesus. What steps will you take in 2023? 2. Welcoming Jesus Ive told you before about one of our favorite ever television series at our house the Long Way Round. Two celebrities Ewan MacGregor and Charley Boorman ride motorcycles 19,000 miles from London to New York. Route: London through Europe, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia, across the Pacific to Alaska, then down through Canada and America. 106 days. One of the parts I remember the most is when they were invited to stay with locals. Not set up, just people who invited them to stay in their homes, gave them beds when they were tired, shared their food with them. And made them feel welcome. Complete strangers, invited into their private world for just a moment Have you ever had an experience like that? It happened to Zacchaeus. Remember Zacchaeus is up in the tree, (v5): 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today. 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. (Luke 19:5-6) Jesus invites himself over to Zacchaeus house. In my mind, Id be wondering if the house was neat enough to invite a celebrity in. Zacchaeus was wealthy he probably had a lovely home. But Jesus didnt go to peoples houses to admire their dcor. Jesus went to do business with peoples souls. Think about the other examples when you get home later on. Whenever we find out that Jesus is in a certain persons home, there is always a lesson to be learned. Something of significance always happens And this time the business is transformation. Zacchaeus is ready, I think, for whatever Jesus has for him. Look at the urgency in v5-6. Come down immediately. I must stay at your house today. So he came down at once. This was Zacchaeus one chance to meet with Jesus. His one chance for a face-to-face with the greatest teacher of all time. This was his moment. And he took it. It may be that today is your moment. Jesus is rounding the corner and looking right at you and saying, You and I need to sit down. Today. We need to talk. You might be like Zacchaeus. You might have done things that Jesus wouldnt approve of. But that doesnt stop Jesus. (He will get to those things, BTW, but they are never an obstacle to starting the conversation.) He just wants the chance to talk to you, face to face, heart to heart. Your job is to let him in. To welcome him. To welcome him into your private world and to let him speak truth into your life. That can be terrifying, especially if youre the sort of person who never lets anyone get close. Nobody ever said transformation is easy. But its life-changing PAUSE/FOOT OFF Zoom out again to the people around Zacchaeus. Did you notice the reaction of the townsfolk when they heard Jesus say he would go to Zacchaeus house? (v7) 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, He has gone to be the guest of a sinner. (Luke 19:7) Culturally, it was totally against the Jewish religious teachings for a Rabbi or a teacher to associate with a known sinner. Religion was for the righteous, and the righteous were to keep themselves separate from anything that might bring them into unrighteousness. Makes sense right? But Jesus wasnt like other religious teachers. Jesus didnt seek out the self-righteous. He was looking for people ready for a heart change But the watching world can be pretty judgmental. You picked that guy, Jesus? You picked the sinner? You think you can make a change in his life? Look at him. Look at her. Theyre hopeless. Worse is when the attack comes as muttering. When a person starts to change their life to include Jesus, other people often start muttering. She is going to church now? After what she did? He is going to church? You know what hes done, dont you? Sometimes it will be work colleagues who start muttering. Or family members. Or friends. Sadly even sometimes the people sitting in the pews who sow the seeds of doubt Dont listen to them. (Dont be those people either BTW! IT was probably the religious who were the ones muttering in the story) When a person first starts to welcome Jesus into their life, it can be a fragile moment. They might be inviting Jesus into a marriage. Into an engagement. Into a family system. Into a lifestyle and worldview that theyve spent their whole life living in. Accepting Jesus will take adjustment. And sometimes big adjustments. But nobody ever said transformation is easy. But if Jesus is who he says he is, then there is no better pathway to go down in life. So welcome Jesus. Invite him into your personal world, ask him to speak to your values and your beliefs and your hopes and your dreams. He cant do that if you shut him out. And church, we need to help people to welcome Jesus into their lives. We need to be advocates of Jesus and supporters when people take little steps in faith. We also need to keep letting Jesus into our lives! Sometimes those of us who have been Christians the longest are the most complacent. Dont settle for mediocrity. Let Jesus in this year, and welcome him into your secret places in 2023. 3. Changing because of Jesus Do you really believe people can change? When I was a High School Senior, I was part of the ROTC and we were out on a 24hr exercise one of those exercises where teams had to move around checkpoints without getting captured. Escape and Evasion they call it. Anyway I had a support role and so I was on a checkpoint overnight from 8pm 8am. The guy they paired me up with was also in my grade. Scott. Not somebody I had ever talked to much, even though we caught the same train for 6 years together, we had been in lots of the same classes, we had taken gym together. The difference was, he was on the rowing squad and he played football, whereas I was in the choir and spent my weekends rockclimbing. He was popular and I was a little alternative. The only interactions I remember having with him, he perpetuated the stereotype of the jock. So when I found out it was Scott, I wasnt looking forward to spending 12 hours with him. Our conversation started nervously. He was much more quiet than I imagined. He told me the reason he was on the checkpoint is that hed had a life-changing illness chronic fatigue syndrome which had robbed him of his athletic dreams. He now struggled with daily activities, concentrating, school work which he wasnt great at to begin with. But hed also had another life-changing event. Hed become a Christian. So had I, I told him. You? he said. I thought youd be way too cool to become a Christian. I had thought the same of him. Turns out you never know who will welcome Jesus into their life. We cant make presumptions that this person or that person is too cool for Jesus. Or too rich for Jesus. Or too [fill in the blank] for Jesus. You see, when people meet Jesus, they can really change. I spoke to Scott again at our 20 or 25 year anniversary and he was still struggling with health but living life to the full with Jesus. Jesus rewrote his story, just like he rewrote mine. And he can rewrite your story too, if you let him. Do you know that expression, a leopard can never change its spots. It actually comes from the Bible (Jeremiah 13). And we use that expression to say that people never change. We cant really expect change, or growth, or transformation. We get stuck in our old ways. You cant teach an old dog new tricks. Change is just not realistic after a certain point. To some extent thats true. When God speaks those words in Jeremiah, hes talking about his people when they were stuck in sin. They had rebelled against him and they had become accustomed to doing evil (Jeremiah 13:23). That was Zacchaeus story, wasnt it? He had been stuck in the sin of stealing from his own people. But look at what changes when Zacchaeus meets Jesus. (v8) 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount. (Luke 19:8) Zacchaeus turns his life around. He finds mercy and forgiveness from Jesus. Gods grace to cover his sins. And thats the catalyst for change. Zacchaeus decides to make amends. He determines to stop sinning. Because Jesus brings transformation to his life. The leopard can change his spots. And thats part of the hope of Jesus that we share here every week. Jesus can make a real difference in your life, and in the life of the community around us. Im guessing it wasnt easy for Zacchaeus to turn his life around in an instant. In the chapter before this, Jesus had said how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God (Luke 18:24). But here we see Zacchaeus do that very thing. Jesus declares in v9: Today salvation has come to this house, [] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Jesus doesnt come to save those who are already saved. He comes to save those who have lost their way. Those who are stuck in sin. Those who are slaves to whatever it is that drives them. Jesus comes into the lives of the lost to help them find the way again. Jesus transforms lives. In a process that begins when we seek him, and welcome him in, and say yes to his new pattern for our lives. And that process isnt completed in a day, same as going to the gym once doesnt give you a perfect physique. But as we live with Jesus, as we let his word shape us, as we let his Holy Spirit teach and correct and train us in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16) we will see transformation in our own lives. We are conformed, or molded, into the image of Jesus, it says in Romans 8:29. (The Bible calls this sanctification a sermon for another day!) And so thats the third big idea from the passage today. Changing because of Jesus. This year, we can each expect to change because of Jesus. We can expect transformation in our own lives, as we follow Jesus faithfully. And we can expect to see transformation in the lives of those around us, as we bring that new Christlikeness into every relationship. The New Year is always an opportunity to make a change. To make a new start. What will your new start be in 2023?

[00:30] Tony ‘Apolitical' Fauci (20 minutes) Tony Fauci is finally getting called on the carpet for his many lies during the COVID scam-demic. On Wednesday last week, Fauci faced a seven-hour deposition by the Missouri and Louisiana attorneys general, who had a copy of The Real Anthony Fauci on the table during the session. Meanwhile, Fauci says Republicans have politicized the coronavirus, but that he, personally, is “not political at all.” [20:40] China's Zero COVID Policy (9 minutes) China is trying to hush up the ongoing protests in its major cities against President Xi Jinping's “zero-COVID” policy. In response to these protests, CNN abruptly changed its tune—celebrating Chinese protesters for opposing the same aggressive lockdown measures that it praised the Chinese government for throughout 2020. [30:00] Bourla's Fake Science (7 minutes) Pfizer CEO Dr. Albert Bourla is facing criticism from the UK's pharmaceutical regulator for promoting COVID vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 before the vaccine was approved for children. [37:30] Offensive Warfare (18 minutes) The Bible uses strong language when describing our spiritual warfare. As God's army, our responsibility is to press our way into the Kingdom of God (Luke 16:16) and “take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). We must “endure hardness” and “strive for masteries” (2 Timothy 2:3-5) as good soldiers, battling for God.

by Elder Matt Sonstegard (preached on 3-17-2018) Today, we begin posting a series of three sermons by Elder Matt Sonstegard, pastor of Bethel Primitive Baptist Church of Lindsay, California, which were preached at our Annual Meeting in 2018. In this … Read More

The Kingdom of God Luke 17:20-37 Who is Jesus? According to Dr. Luke (Part 56) October 9, 2022 Gospel City Church Copyright 2022 Shawn Seiler Seoul, Korea

AS WE GATHER: With the cross of Christ, the time has come “to gather all nations and tongues” (Isaiah 66:18). The sign of the cross is set forth in the preaching of the Gospel, the declaration of the Lord's glory “among the nations” (Isaiah 66:19). Many “will come from east and west, and from north and south, and  recline at table in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:29), but only by the narrow way of the cross. Those who  refuse to follow Christ crucified will ultimately find only “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Luke 13:28), whereas Christ's disciples, called from all the nations, will eat and drink with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God. They will come into “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22).

With the cross of Christ, the time has come “to gather all nations and tongues” (Is. 66:18). The sign of the cross is set forth in the preaching of the Gospel, the declaration of the Lord's glory “among the nations” (Is. 66:19). Many “will come from east and west, and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:29), but only by the narrow way of the cross. Those who refuse to follow Christ crucified will ultimately find only “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Luke 13:28), whereas Christ's disciples, called from all the nations, will eat and drink with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of God. They will come into “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:22).-------------Visit our website: https://www.trinitysheboygan.org/​​​​Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person!Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-ASupport the show

August 1, 2022 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/stjohnrandomlake/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stjohnrandomlake/support