Podcasts about Lazarus

What do you do when you've been praying about something for years and nothing has changed? In this episode, Pastor Roderick Webster takes you to John 11 where Jesus prays at Lazarus's tomb and reveals three essential elements of powerful prayer: faith, persistence, and authority. Discover why Jesus thanked God before the miracle happened, what it means to keep praying when you feel like giving up, and how to pray with the authority Jesus gave you. This message will reignite your prayer life and remind you that God hears every prayer, sees every tear, and is working even when you can't see it. If you've stopped praying about that dead situation—that broken relationship, that financial need, that wayward child, that health crisis—this is the encouragement you need to start again.- Learn why Jesus prayed with thanksgiving before seeing the miracle- Understand the three elements of powerful prayer: faith, persistence, and authority- Discover how to position yourself to see God's glory in impossible situationsFather, I thank You that You hear me. What looks dead to me is not dead to You. I'm not giving up on this prayer. I'm expecting to see Your glory. In Jesus' name, amen.

This week we're reading the story of the raising of Lazarus as told in John 11:1-53. We think about the disciples, so keenly aware of the threat to Jesus's life but willing to follow him anyway, living in the light for as long as there is light to live in. And we ponder Mary's words that bring Jesus to tears, as she invites him to experience the realities of human death and sorrow, saying to him what he has said to so many—“Come and see.” And we notice the threat that life brings to the Empire, as immediately after Lazarus walks out of the tomb the elites begin plotting to kill Jesus for the sake of the nation. A rich text in troubled times.

OUTLINE:Identification16:19-23Disintegration16:24Separation16:25-26Deception16:27-31QUESTIONS:16:19-23  Lazarus is named; the rich man is not.  Lazarus' name means “God is my help.”  What do the things you instinctively turn to for help reveal about what you're bonded to?  In chemistry, what we bond to names us, we become what we are bonded to.  What things are you bonded to and building your life on that most shape what you are becoming and will ultimately become?16:24  Even in torment, the rich man still gives orders.  Where do you notice sin shrinking your empathy and compassion toward others?  When you are at your worst- impatient, defensive, controlling- what bonds are being exposed or threatened?16:25-26  Small separations become fixed chasms over time.  What subtle distancing patterns-avoidance, numbing, self-protection- might God be inviting you to address before they harden?16:27-31  The rich man never repents- he redirects.  He shifts responsibility and manipulates to maintain control.  Where do you see manipulation, deflection or externalization show up in your own thinking?  Where are you tempted to demand more clarity when God may be asking for more obedience?Jesus took hell onto Himself.  He experienced separation, darkness and judgement so that we wouldn't have to.  How does this deepen your understanding of the seriousness of sin and the magnitude of your Savior's love?SCRIPTURE REFERENCE:Luke 16:19-31https://www.bible.com/bible/100/LUK.16.NASB1995NEXT WEEK:Luke 17:1-10https://www.bible.com/bible/100/LUK.17.NASB1995

PETE KELLEY, Lead Pastor / Sixth Sunday after Epiphany / John 11.32-45

"Rich Man Poor Man" is a series of three messages from Luke 16:19-31.Join us as we look at three important lessons from this passage when Jesus tells the account of a rich man who lived a luxurious life but then spent eternity in the torment of Hades compared to Lazarus, who was a poor man and suffered through life but spent eternity in heaven. Jesus uses this powerful passage to:* warn us about the deceitfulness of wealth (A Rich Man),* inspire us to show mercy to others (Have Mercy On Me), and* compel us to act before it is too late (A Great Chasm)! Join us at cefc.church.

This 7th week of our ENcountering Jesus series, we meditate on John 11, where we encounter one of the most powerful narratives in Scripture: the raising of Lazarus. But this isn't just a story about a miracle—it's an invitation to bring our honest grief directly to Jesus. Mary and Martha both cry out the same words: 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.' Their lament isn't doubt; it's the cry of faith wrestling with reality. We learn that our tears are actually the first signs that our faith has a pulse, that we still believe God is good enough to hear us and powerful enough to respond. The passage challenges our American tendency to spiritualize away pain with detached phrases like 'everything happens for a reason.' Instead, we're called to lament—to bring all our anguish before God. This is crucial because the only feelings that cannot be healed are the ones we hide. When we look at Jesus' response, we see something extraordinary: He meets Mary and Martha exactly where they need to be met. With Mary, He weeps. With Martha, He speaks truth about resurrection. Because Jesus is fully God and fully human, He is the perfect counselor who never wounds when we need healing and never withholds truth when we need to hear it. This divine-human nature makes Christianity utterly unique—no other religion offers a God who is both powerful enough to command death and tender enough to weep with us in our pain. The message calls us to channel our grief toward Jesus rather than away from Him, and to let our tears send us to weep with others who are suffering.

Send a textPain doesn't wait for tidy answers, and neither does Job. We walk through Job 16 where a faithful man speaks honestly about being set as God's target, torn by affliction, and stripped of dignity—yet he will not curse the One who holds him. The language is unfiltered and the theology is fierce: God is sovereign over every loss. That confession doesn't shrink the sorrow; it sanctifies it.Together we unpack the symbols that carry his story. Sackcloth is more than a costume of grief; it is a chosen posture that stitches sorrow to the skin. The horn in the dust signals surrendered status and the end of self-assertion. From there we confront a damaging reflex in religious circles: assuming every affliction is payback for a secret sin. We draw a bright line between fatherly chastening and punitive wrath, anchoring hope in the finished work of Christ for those who belong to Him.We also step into the home, where faith is formed long before storms arrive. If we claim to love our children while dishonoring their mother or father, our love is thin. Teaching kids to pray, to hear Scripture, and to answer God with obedience is not optional; it is the daily liturgy that prepares them for days like Job's. Then we trace a powerful thread to the tomb of Lazarus. Jesus doesn't negotiate with the dead; He calls them. That moment becomes a living parable of conversion: grace initiates, awakens, and keeps. It is the same grace that preserved Job from cursing God and will preserve us through nights that feel endless.Expect hard words, gentle corrections, and a hopeful center. If you've wondered whether your suffering means God is against you, or if you've wrestled with how to parent through pain, this conversation offers clarity and courage. Listen, share it with a friend who needs ballast, and leave a review so more people can find steady ground. Subscribe to stay with us as we keep threading Scripture through real life.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

Send a textA single voice raises Lazarus, and a single promise steadies a trembling heart. We open with the tomb, the wrappings, and a man walking out because Jesus spoke—and we ask what that scene means for anyone afraid they'll stumble out of grace. From there, we look at Job's sore-covered faith and hear his claim of integrity, not as pride but as a protest against bad theology. The thread pulls tight: if God calls the dead to life and the righteous suffer without secret guilt, what does that say about how salvation is given, kept, and finished?We talk through the surprising weight of burial spices in Jesus' tomb, a small historical note that paints a larger portrait of a strong and real Savior. That detail becomes a hinge to bigger truths: Christ alone is mediator, advocate, and intercessor; the Holy Spirit seals believers until the day of redemption; and the work that began by grace is carried by grace to the end. Along the way, we confront a common fear—“I might lose my salvation”—and test it against scripture and the character of God. If the Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine for the one, and if none given to the Son are lost, then assurance isn't arrogance; it's agreement with God's promise.You'll also hear a candid moment about pastoral responsibility: choosing not to go live unprepared rather than shortchange souls. That honesty shapes how we approach teaching, suffering, and change within community. We name what we bring to salvation—sin and death—and what Christ brings—righteousness and life. We refuse a probation mindset and rest in a finished work where not one drop of blood is wasted. If God does not change, the gospel does not evolve, and the people he loves are truly kept. Listen for hope, for clarity, and for the courage to anchor your life to a Savior who starts, sustains, and completes.If this conversation strengthens your assurance, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a quick review to help others find these truths.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

Send a textWhat if hardship isn't a verdict against you but a stage where God's faithfulness stands out? We dive into Job's protest against shallow counsel and trace a line from his tear-soaked prayers to a living hope that refuses to confuse suffering with secret sin. Along the way, we invite you to test every voice—ours included—and weigh every claim against Scripture rather than charisma, degrees, or stories that sound good in the moment.The conversation turns tender when a listener shares how the Lazarus story mirrors a return from unbelief, naming the holiness of being considered by God after deep trauma. We explore agape love that does not wobble with mood, the freedom of forgiveness that will not be rescinded, and the courage it takes to resist the enemy's accusations. From there we challenge easy slogans about divine love by revisiting John 3:16 as a radical widening of God's people beyond Israel to every nation, without erasing the narrow door of salvation through Christ. It's a vision big enough to include the nations and specific enough to require a Redeemer.Job 16 becomes a courtroom: “O earth, do not cover my blood.” Surrounded by miserable comforters, Job asks that his suffering not be buried, his case not closed, and his vindication be heard in the court of the Most High. That plea echoes Abel and points forward to Job 19: “I know that my Redeemer lives.” We hold space for hard questions about election, mercy, and why some believe while others don't, and we let the tension drive us back to trust. Peter's reminder to mocked believers frames the close: the Lord is not slow, and patience is not absence. Keep the case open. Keep praying. Keep believing.If this conversation challenged or comforted you, follow the show, share it with a friend who's walking through fire, and leave a review with the one question you still want answered. Your words help others find solid ground.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

A final album isn't supposed to feel this alive. Blackstar greets us with ominous symbols and then, almost mischievously, turns the lens toward warmth, groove, and human detail. We trace Bowie's late-era reinvention through a razor-sharp Manhattan jazz band, hip‑hop inflections, and lyrics that carry the weight of myth—eyes as portals, solitary candles, bluebirds hovering between a wink and a benediction. The journey moves from the ritual gravity of the title track to the aching candor of Lazarus, where heaven's distance meets the drop of a phone and the thrum of a bass that sounds like memory learning to breathe.We talk about why Bowie's personas were tools, not disguises: ways to make new space without asking permission. That same spirit shapes Blackstar's sonic palette—horns that cut, drums that keep time like clocks, and harmonies that hint at older Bowies without getting stuck in nostalgia. Sue (Or in a Season of Crime) sharpens the debate with lyrics that disturb and arrangements that stun, proof that beauty can interrogate darkness instead of decorating it. Girl Loves Me plays with slang and glossolalia, bending time until “Where the f— did Monday go?” feels less like a question and more like a diagnosis of our attention economy.Then there's Dollar Days, a soft reckoning with exile, roots, and the stories fame can't finish. It leads to I Can't Give Everything Away, a line that reads as boundary and blessing. After decades of giving more than we had a right to expect, Bowie keeps a private room intact—and the band carries that choice with understated grace. Across the episode, we unpack the music, the symbols, and the choices that turned a goodbye into a practice: collaborate deeply, compress what matters, and let the unsayable remain luminous.If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves Bowie, and drop your top three Blackstar tracks in a review—we'll read our favorites on a future episode.Send a textSupport the show

Es brauchte nur einen einzigen Klick. Ein manipuliertes Update. Und über 2.000 Bitcoin waren für immer verschwunden.

A final album isn't supposed to feel this alive. Blackstar greets us with ominous symbols and then, almost mischievously, turns the lens toward warmth, groove, and human detail. We trace Bowie's late-era reinvention through a razor-sharp Manhattan jazz band, hip‑hop inflections, and lyrics that carry the weight of myth—eyes as portals, solitary candles, bluebirds hovering between a wink and a benediction. The journey moves from the ritual gravity of the title track to the aching candor of Lazarus, where heaven's distance meets the drop of a phone and the thrum of a bass that sounds like memory learning to breathe.We talk about why Bowie's personas were tools, not disguises: ways to make new space without asking permission. That same spirit shapes Blackstar's sonic palette—horns that cut, drums that keep time like clocks, and harmonies that hint at older Bowies without getting stuck in nostalgia. Sue (Or in a Season of Crime) sharpens the debate with lyrics that disturb and arrangements that stun, proof that beauty can interrogate darkness instead of decorating it. Girl Loves Me plays with slang and glossolalia, bending time until “Where the f— did Monday go?” feels less like a question and more like a diagnosis of our attention economy.Then there's Dollar Days, a soft reckoning with exile, roots, and the stories fame can't finish. It leads to I Can't Give Everything Away, a line that reads as boundary and blessing. After decades of giving more than we had a right to expect, Bowie keeps a private room intact—and the band carries that choice with understated grace. Across the episode, we unpack the music, the symbols, and the choices that turned a goodbye into a practice: collaborate deeply, compress what matters, and let the unsayable remain luminous.If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves Bowie, and drop your top three Blackstar tracks in a review—we'll read our favorites on a future episode.Send a textSupport the show

A spiritual force is present in each of our homes, and we want to ensure that God's Holy Spirit has the authority over our kitchen tables and gathering spaces. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses the importance of prioritizing hospitality and family meals during our busy weeks. He shares lessons we can learn from intentionally meeting together, like character formation, kindness, and integrity, and he teaches from three passages in the Gospels where we see Jesus share meals with His friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. In any season of life, we can find time and space to practice hospitality and pour into each other's lives—and let's determine to do so, because when we do, we honor our Lord Jesus.

Andrea Sawatzki erzählt die Geschichte der Lepra – eine Krankheit, um die sich unzählige Mythen ranken und deren soziale Auswirkungen fast so schwer wiegen wie die körperlichen.

“Death is final… It is powerful… It is unavoidable…. Or is it? What if physical death for the believer isn't actually what we've been taught? When Jesus spoke of Lazarus after he was gone and buried, he spoke of him saying, ‘Our friend Lazarus sleepeth.' Often times you'll find that scripture does not present death for the child of God in finality — but as rest… waiting… and awakening. We discover why the Bible calls death, “sleep,” and why resurrection — not death — is the Christian's true hope. Email Us: info@heartofworshipchurch.com Visit Our Website: www.heartofworshipchurch.com For Prayer Requests: pray@heartofworshipcurch.com

Just as Jesus raised Lazarus in John 11, He has also raised you to new life through salvation. We are all encouraged to trust God through suffering and delay, walk in His light, and live as a visible witness of His resurrection power. In this episode of the Woman at the Well Ministries podcast, Kim challenges each of us to deepen our faith, obey His call, and truly live the resurrected life we've been given. John 11:1–44 – Full Lazarus narrative www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11%3A1-44&version=KJV John 11:25 – "I am the resurrection and the life..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11%3A25&version=KJV John 11:26 – "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11%3A26&version=KJV John 11:35 – "Jesus wept." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11%3A35&version=KJV Hebrews 4:14–16 – Jesus understands our weaknesses www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4%3A14-16&version=KJV John 14:6 – "I am the way, the truth, and the life..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A6&version=KJV Titus 2:14 – A peculiar people, zealous of good works www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus+2%3A14&version=KJV Hebrews 11:10 – "...whose builder and maker is God." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A10&version=KJV Matthew 6:33 – "Seek ye first the kingdom of God..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A33&version=KJV Genesis 19:26 – Lot's wife looked back www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+19%3A26&version=KJV Exodus 20:3 – "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A3&version=KJV Jeremiah 29:11 – "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+29%3A11&version=KJV Romans 8:28 – "All things work together for good..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A28&version=KJV 1 Peter 1:7 – (Implied) Testing like gold tried by fire www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1%3A7&version=KJV Titus 2:14 – "A peculiar people, zealous of good works." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus+2%3A14&version=KJV Genesis 16:1–4 – Sarah gives Hagar to Abraham www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+16%3A1-4&version=KJV Genesis 16:11 – "The Lord hath heard thy affliction." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+16%3A11&version=KJV Genesis 16:13 – "Thou God seest me." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+16%3A13&version=KJV Proverbs 3:5–7 – Trust in the Lord with all thine heart www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+3%3A5-7&version=KJV Psalm 46:10 – "Be still and know that I am God." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+46%3A10&version=KJV Psalm 23:1 – "The Lord is my shepherd..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23%3A1&version=KJV John 10:27 – "My sheep hear my voice..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A27&version=KJV 2 Corinthians 12:7–9 – Paul's thorn in the flesh www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+12%3A7-9&version=KJV 1 Samuel 15:22 – "To obey is better than sacrifice..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+15%3A22&version=KJV James 4:4 – "Friendship with the world is enmity with God." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A4&version=KJV 1 John 1:7 – Walk in the light as He is in the light www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1%3A7&version=KJV 1 John 1:9 – "If we confess our sins..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1%3A9&version=KJV Luke 1:37 – "With God nothing shall be impossible." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1%3A37&version=KJV 2 Timothy 2:15 – Study to show thyself approved www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+2%3A15&version=KJV 1 John 4:4 – "Greater is he that is in you..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A4&version=KJV Philippians 4:19 – "God shall supply all your need..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A19&version=KJV Isaiah 43:2 – "When thou passest through the waters..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+43%3A2&version=KJV Hebrews 11:6 – Without faith, it is impossible to please God www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A6&version=KJV Matthew 5:14–16 – Light of the world / Let your light so shine www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A14-16&version=KJV 2 Corinthians 5:17 – "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A17&version=KJV Did you enjoy this podcast? Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can listen to us on all major podcasting platforms like Apple Podcasts,  Spotify,  Google Podcasts,  YouTube, and Podbean.

John 14:6-14,Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.The goal of this sermon is that we would love to pray and not lose heart. And we're gonna get there, God willing, in three steps — these are three things I want to show you as we work through the passage: What Philip OverlooksWhat Jesus EmphasizesWhat Jesus IntroducesLet's start with Philip. Step #1 …1. What Philip OverlooksWe see Philip speak up in verse 8, and before we talk about what he says, there's something bigger going on here I need to mention: it's that Philip is the fourth disciple who's been named in the last two chapters. And that might not seem like a big deal — because we know Jesus had twelve disciples (and then eleven) — but you may have noticed that for a long stretch in this Gospel, we've not heard much about them.John first tells us about the disciples way back in Chapter 1 — he mentions Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathaniel by name — and they start to follow Jesus. But for several chapters, we don't hear anything about them. Apart from a brief mention in Chapter 6, the focus in this Gospel so far has been Jesus's ministry to the crowds and how he confronts the Jewish leaders. Now the disciples have been present for all that Jesus is doing, but not prominent — they're present, not prominent — until we get to Chapter 12. That's when we see these names reemerge: We hear first about Judas. Then Andrew and Philip say a few things. Then Peter speaks up in Chapter 13. Then Judas again. Then at the end of 13, we see Peter again. At the beginning of 14, we see Thomas. And now, today, we see Philip.So my question is: Why has John gone so many chapters without mentioning these guys by name, and now, all of a sudden, they come into focus?And we don't just hear their names, but we see their foibles. The weaknesses of the disciples are on display.Why does John tell the story this way?The true answer is that we're not exactly sure, but here's my hunch …One thing we learn from how John features the disciples in this section is that the only kind of disciple there can be is an imperfect disciple. Now Judas doesn't count — because Judas wasn't a real disciple — but we see that even among the closest friends of Jesus, his truest disciples, they all have flaws. They all have feet of clay. They all have imperfections. I think that's meant to be a comfort to us. Because at least for now, until we're finally glorified, we're not yet glorified. We are not yet perfect. And so we need to beware the mistake of thinking that faithfulness means ‘getting every single thing right every single time.'Now, of course, we'd like to do that, and there's no excuse for sin. But I'm talking about daily discernment and navigating complexities, especially in troubled-heart situations. I want you to know that impossible standards will crush us. Let me just remind you, church, that: we are saved by the blood of Christ, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, heaven is our home, and, we're just people — each of us is as human as any disciple there has ever been, and Jesus loves us because he loves us. So take a deep breath. We are not going to get every single thing exactly right — and that is okay … as long as we don't do what Philip does here.Devastating MiscalculationNotice what Philip says in verse 8. Jesus says, first, verse 6:I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him. 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”And if we only had what Philip says in verse 8, it's easy to see that he's off.In light of what we've already seen Jesus say in this Gospel, in light of what Jesus has just said in verse 7, Philip is overlooking who Jesus is. That's clear if we only had verse 8, but now notice how Jesus responds, in verse 9:Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'?I think that's the tone Jesus has here. This is a rebuke from Jesus. And it's a stronger rebuke than Jesus had for Peter and Thomas. We saw those guys last week. They were off too, but Jesus did not respond to them with the same intensity he does to Philip. Now why?Well, it's because Peter and Thomas — in their stubborn resolve and paralyzing uncertainty — they miscalculated themselves, but Philip has miscalculated Jesus. Peter and Thomas got themselves wrong, but Philip gets Jesus wrong. And look: if you get Jesus wrong, you end up getting everything wrong (including yourself).So church, listen up. Do not make Philip's mistake. Do not overlook Jesus. That's step #1.Step #2 …2. What Jesus EmphasizesWe see this in what Jesus says back to Philip. The questions that Jesus asks are more like statements. He asserts two truths about himself in relation to the Father: we can call them revelation and unity. (Revelation is in verse 9; unity is in verses 10–11.)Revelation of the FatherFirst, for revelation, Jesus says (as plainly as you can) that Philip doesn't need to see God the Father because Philip has seen him. “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” God the Son has revealed God the Father.And John has been telling us this from the very start. He says in Chapter 1, verse 18 that “No one has ever seen God” — and you can't see God the Father because he's immortal and invisible; he dwells in unapproachable light whom no one has ever seen or can see (1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16). “No one has ever seen God” but Jesus “has made him known.” We saw last week that Jesus is our way to God, that's because first Jesus is God's way to us. Jesus is God's word to us about who he is. In these last days, Hebrews 1:2, God has spoken to us through his Son. And his Son is such a perfect word — Jesus is such the perfect, definitive revelation of God — that literally to see the visible Jesus is to see the invisible Father. That's verse 9, and there's no good illustration for this. It's just facts, Philip! If you see Jesus, you see God. And of course we're getting into the depths of the Trinity here, which is exactly where Jesus takes us in verse 10.Unity with the FatherThe reason Jesus truly reveals the Father is because Jesus truly shares in the Father's own life. The Father and Son have this wonderful unity.Verse 10:“Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?” [In other words, you should believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.] The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.Okay, we gotta bend our brains here. Hold on tight! We're talking Trinity — that we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity, neither blending their persons nor dividing their essence. The Father is not the Son; and the Son is not the Father — but their divinity is one; their uncreated glory is equal; their majesty is coeternal. We can say it this way: although the Father and Son are distinct persons, the Father and Son have never not been on the same page. One commentator nails it. He writes, Everything Jesus is, has said, and has done is itself also an expression not only of or about the Father but even by the Father. (Klink, 621).And Jesus has shown us this! Jesus has not only said this, but he's lived this way. Every miracle that Jesus performed — turning the water into wine, healing the official's son, healing the paralytic, feeding the five thousand, healing the man born blind, raising Lazarus from the dead — every single time that Jesus did something, it was the Father doing it too.The acts of Jesus are also the acts of the Father.This is unity! To see Jesus is to see the Father, and to have Jesus is to have the Father!So there's no belief in Jesus without also belief in the Father. That's why Jesus says 14:1 — “Believe in God, believe also in me.” There's no other way.If you have Jesus, you have the Father. The only way you can have the Father is if you have Jesus.Hey, I love the song “All I Have Is Christ.” Great song, and, every time we sing it, there's a little theologian's voice in my head that says, “All I have is Christ! And I have the Father! And I have the Spirit!” Because when you have Christ you have the whole Trinity!That's what Jesus emphasizes here! He wants us to know the wonder of his relationship with the Father. That's Step #2. Step #3…3. What Jesus IntroducesThere's a change that comes in verse 12. Jesus goes from talking about his relationship with the Father to talking about our relationship with him. And we did not see this coming. Look at verse 12. Jesus says: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”This is the hinge verse in the passage. Verses 13 and 14 will make no sense to us unless we understand verse 12. Notice two things…1. Believers in Jesus will do the same kind of works that Jesus did. We should not think of this in narrow terms — Jesus is not saying we are gonna turn water into wine. He's talking about the broader work of making God known.Jesus did what he did to reveal God, and we're gonna do the same. Jesus already said this in Chapter 13 about our love. He said:“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” As disciples of Jesus, we have a revelatory function. We're witnesses. We make God known. That's one. But also…2. Believers in Jesus will do greater works than what Jesus did in his earthly ministry because Jesus is going to the Father. This is the introduction part. What Jesus says here is new. What's he talking about? How do we do greater works than Jesus?Let me first tell you what Jesus is not saying. The comparison here is not between the works of Jesus and the works of his disciples. Jesus has just said that we are gonna do his same works. The works is the common denominator. So the comparison here is timing! The comparison is between the work of Jesus in his earthly ministry and the work of Jesus from his heavenly throne. This is really important — track with me …There's the work of Jesus before he was lifted up, and there's the work of Jesus after he was lifted up.There's the work of Jesus leading up to his cross, resurrection, and ascension — and then there's the work after his cross, resurrection and ascension, and that's what he's talking about here. It's the work after he has gone to his Father. And that work of Jesus from his heavenly throne will be greater work than when Jesus walked this earth. And that throne-work is the work that Jesus does through us. The “greater works” that believers-in-Jesus do is the work that Jesus does through us from his throne. We could call it works, or we could call it Acts. Like the Book of Acts.The Book of Acts is titled the “Acts of the Apostles” — but a more accurate title would be the Acts of the Ascended Jesus by His Spirit Through His People.And historically, these acts, or this work that Jesus is talking about in verse 12, has rightly been understood as the advance of the gospel in this world. The greater work that Jesus is doing now, through us, is saving sinners. It's when men and women and boys and girls are raised from spiritual death to eternal life. It's when people stop trying to save themselves and start trusting in Jesus. It's when the despairing find hope, it's when the dirty are made clean, it's when the lost sons come home. That is happening now, and Jesus does that work through us — through us … just people …beggars telling other beggars where to find bread. Don't you want to get in on that work! Don't you want Jesus to work through you like that!In this passage, Jesus introduces us to a new day of redemptive history, and we're ready to go. Jesus, give me my assignment! Where do I start?Praying in Jesus's NameWell he tells us in verse 13. And the first assignment is not Go! … it's Ask! And everybody's gotta see this. Chapter 14, verse 13:“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”Is this a dream? Did Jesus really say this?The keyword in these verses is when Jesus says “in my name.” That's the big question here: What does it mean to pray in Jesus's name?This does not mean merely saying, when you pray, “in Jesus's name.” This is not an incantation. It's not hocus-pocus. We don't pray for our team to win the Super Bowl and add “in Jesus's name.” Jesus is talking about something much deeper and glorious than three words. To pray in Jesus's name means to pray from the inside of Jesus's relationship with the Father. To pray in Jesus's name means we join Jesus in the prayers he's already praying — because he is praying and working right now. See, within the Trinity, for all eternity there has been a conversation going on between the Father and the Son, by the Spirit. Every work of God that has ever touched this world has come from the Son's asking and the Father's giving and the Spirit's accomplishing. And when we pray in Jesus's name, we join that conversation! We participate in that asking!This is why we have such assurance that Jesus will do what we ask — because we are praying his prayers, with his same goal on his same grounds. The goal is the glory of the Father in the Son, and the ground is the righteousness of the Son before the Father. The Son delights to glorify his Father, and the Father delights to give to his Son, and when we pray in Jesus's name, we are right in the middle of that delight. That is why we should love to pray and not lose heart — because we get to pray in Jesus's name.The wonder of prayer is not that it “works” — it's that prayer is fellowship.Praying in Jesus's name is entering into the life and joy of our triune God, and we become part of his greater works. Wouldn't you love to do that? He Saves NowYou know, one day we are going to live in a world where all of Jesus's prayers have been answered. That place is called heaven. It's the Father's house. And Jesus is preparing that place for us now (verse 3). And that throne-work Jesus is doing now, those greater works he's doing until that last day, is bringing more and more people to himself. Jesus is still saving sinners like us. And so if you're here this morning, and Jesus has not saved you yet, he will save you now — if you just turn from your sin and put your faith him. Just tell him: Jesus,I cannot save myself and I'm done trying;you came to save me and I trust you. Believe in Jesus this morning.For those of us who have believed — for those who trust in Jesus, let us love to pray and not lose heart. We get to pray in Jesus's name. And that's what brings us to the Table. The TableThis Table is a table of fellowship. It's where the real and living Jesus meets us together, and he reminds us that we have him — and the Father and the Spirit.We remember that it is only through the death and resurrection of Jesus that we're saved to share in the life and joy of the triune God. If you trust Jesus, if you have entered that fellowship, we invite you to eat and drink with us.

"Rich Man Poor Man" is a series of three messages from Luke 16:19-31.Join us as we look at three important lessons from this passage when Jesus tells the account of a rich man who lived a luxurious life but then spent eternity in the torment of Hades compared to Lazarus, who was a poor man and suffered through life but spent eternity in heaven. Jesus uses this powerful passage to:* warn us about the deceitfulness of wealth (A Rich Man),* inspire us to show mercy to others (Have Mercy On Me), and* compel us to act before it is too late (A Great Chasm)! Join us at cefc.church.

Series - The Parables of Jesus: Stories That Shape the Kingdom Heart - Pastor Russ Atter

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. TranscriptGood morning. Through snow and ice and disconnected H VAC units, we have finally gathered together, and we are getting ready to finally start Second Samuel. So if you're with us in the fall, we finished up First Samuel. We. We took a break with the Remember series and Give series, and now we get to start Second Samuel. We kind of jump into the middle of the story. First and Second Samuel actually were written as one book together. If you remember this when we first started, it's written as one book together because of how scrolls worked back in the day, they had to divide it in two separate scrolls. So it's one story. And we're jumping in the middle of a story at the beginning of 2 Samuel chapter 1. And we jump in the middle of a sad moment. And what we're going to see today is a lament that David has wrote for the people of God. And there are times where it's good to be sad. And when tragedy hits, when loss hits, there's something in us that aches for a response. I remember in 2001 when 911 happened, that as a nation, we were just collectively at a loss of words, and there was just a deep sadness for what many of us witnessed on TV and all the horror and the pain that came with that. And in November, two months after. I remember at the cmas, which is the Country Music Awards, Alan Jackson, he performed a song that he had written just a few weeks before. It's called Where Were youe In the World? Stop Turning. And the whole song is. It's a lament. It's country music, but it's a lament that captures how everyone felt in that moment as we witnessed all the pain and suffering at 9 11. And I just remember watching that with my parents and just being. Just felt it. You felt it in the room. And, you know, people outside of country music that don't even like country music, which is quite a few people, they actually, some of them very much appreciated the moment because what he was doing was capturing what we just felt. And that's what lament does. It captures this. This suffering, this. This loss, this pain that we feel. And it's good for. For us to sit in that. And poetic songs and poetic laments capture that. And that's what we get to see today as we jump into the middle of a story where we finish up in Second Samuel. We see the death of Saul and Jonathan and the defeat of Israel. We're going to walk through how David finds out about this. Then we're going to see how he laments and then as Christians, we're going to be able to sit in this and understand the importance of. Of what it means to be a people who lament. Well, so I'm going to pray for us, and then we'll walk through this together. Heavenly Father, I thank you for your word. It is precious, it is a gift, and it communicates wonderful, eternal truths that mold and shape us and conform us into your image in new and better ways. And I pray that you would do that to us this morning as we read and study and sit under the authority of your precious word. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.Okay, so if you weren't here for First Samuel, let me just give a quick summary. If you were here and it's been months, let me just help us remember. In 1st Samuel, God calls the final judge and the period of the judges and prophet Samuel. Because first and Second Samuel in the Old Testament is the beginning of the age of the kings. So the people are longing for a king. They want a ruler. They had God as their ruler. They had God as their king. And God used judges to reign them in at times. But this moment, they want a king. They go to Samuel. Samuel listens to the Lord, gives them their first king, which is Saul. And at first it goes well. Saul fits the bill. He looks like a king. He's tall, he's handsome. He leads the people, and they beat, they defeat the Ammonites. They do all kinds of things like this. And it's wonderful. And then as you keep reading, you see that his heart actually isn't fully for the Lord, that he has moments of deep faithlessness. And in his faithlessness, God rejects him as king. He anoints David, who is the next king of Israel. If you're familiar with anything in first and Second Samuel, you're probably familiar with the story of David and Goliath. That is when David steps onto the national scene after he's anointed by Samuel and he becomes a hero. He defeats Goliath, and then Saul appreciates David for, like, 10 minutes. It seems it's not very long. He, like, invites him to marry his daughter. He marries into the family. Things are good for a moment. And then quickly, I think Saul realizes, oh, David is the next king, and he becomes a threat. And the whole rest of 1st Samuel is Saul trying to kill David over and over and over again until finally we get to chapter 31 of 1st Samuel, when finally God brings judgment upon Saul and his house, and they're defeated by the Philistines.In 1st Samuel 31 it says,> Then the battle went hard against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.> Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and mistreat me." But his armor-bearer would not, for he was very afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.> And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword and died with him.> So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.So that is the end of Saul and 1st Samuel, or 2 Samuel chapter 1 picks up right where that leaves off a few days later. Verse 1.> After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.> And on the third day behold, a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage.So while Saul was fighting the Philistines, David was facing off with a band of Amalekites who had kidnapped him and his men's families. So he goes, he defeats them, and this is them kind of resting after the battle. And then all of a sudden, verse two, it says, and on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. So clothes torn and dirt on your head. That was an immediate sign to David and his men that something bad has happened. That's a sign of lament. You're in your garments, you put dirt on your head. Something major has happened. Which David said to him, verse three, where do you come from? And he said to him, I have escaped from the camp of Israel. And David said to him, how did it go? Tell me. And he answered, the people fled from the battle. And also many of the people have fallen and are dead. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead. So this is the first that David hears of this, that Saul, Jonathan, his friend, they're gone.Now, put yourself back in when we finish this up in the fall, and remember all that David went through to get to this moment and understand the complexities of how he must have been feeling. Saul tried to kill him over and over and over and over again, hurling spears, chasing him in the wilderness, chasing him in and out of towns, and finally it's over. And David had opportunities. He had opportunities to kill him himself. He had two opportunities with his hand in his life, and he spared him because he would not raise his hand against the Lord's anointed. He said, God will bring judgment on Saul. I will not. And it's finally happened. So that's in the background. And then also, Jonathan was one of his closest friends. Jonathan was a dear friend to him. If you remember when we walked the story of David and Jonathan, we got to see Jonathan, who was the next in line to be the king. Saul's son was. He was beloved by the people. He was a mighty warrior. And when David steps on the scene, he yields. It's very clear that he trusts that God has anointed him to be the next king. And that doesn't happen in the Old Testament, that doesn't happen in history. People don't give up their right to the throne like that. But he's a faith filled man and he trusts the anointing that David has. And you see, even when they talk, he longs to be serving in David's court one day. And he also. We saw how much Jonathan honored his father. He called him out at times for how he was pursuing David, but he honored him and stood by him in this battle. And his friend Jonathan is dead. So there is a lot happening in the soul of David as he receives this.And then in verse five, it says,> And the young man who told him said, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were closing in on him.> And when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, 'Here I am.'> And he said to me, 'Who are you?' And I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'> Then he said to me, 'Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.'> So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen.> And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm and brought them here to my lord."Okay, if you're reading first into second Samuel, just chapter 31, straight into this right here. That's quite jarring because those aren't the same stories. That is two different tellings of what happened. And I just want to show you the differences in this. I've got a chart up here. And first Samuel, chapter 31, the narrator tells us that archers surrounded Saul and badly wounded him. But when the Amalekite retells, he says, no chariots and horsemen were close upon him. And in 1st Samuel 31, the narrator tells us that Saul turns to his armor bearer and asks to kill him because he doesn't want to be mistreated. But Amalekite says no. He called out to me. He said, I'm. He said, ask me to kill him. In 1st Samuel 31, we see that the armor bearer refuses. So Saul kills himself, but the Amalekite says, no, I killed him. The only part where. Where it is similar and you can line them up in compatibility is when it says in 1st Samuel 31 that the Philistines recovered just the armor. And then we get in the Amalekite retelling that the crown and the armlet he had so that you can line up, but everything else is different. So when we come upon situations like this in the Bible where there's. There's two differences there, that's an opportunity to lean in and to ask why? Why are these accounts different? And if you are undiscerning and you hop on the Internet and you get into the deep pages of Reddit or Google or wherever you go, you might find the lazy approach that's like, aha. Contradictions. See, your Bible is not trustworthy. And that's an opportunity to just sit in it longer, to ask deeper questions, to be more thoughtful and discerning. And once you do that, it's very clear what's happening. The Amalekite is lying. He's a liar. He's an opportunistic liar. He stumbles upon the battle. He sees Saul. Everyone knows that if Saul's dead, David is the next king. This is an opportunity for him to be rewarded in his mind. Grabs the crown, he grabs the armlet, he makes up a story, he leaves. And then he comes and he tells David the story. So he tells him this. Now David begins to really lament.Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.> Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and likewise all the men who were with him.> And they mourned and wept and fasted until the evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.For Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword, which is just a picture. When, when the leader mourns and laments, everyone does. They follow suit. They tear their clothes, they weep, they fast. Which just as a thing to think about, that's one of the reasons for fasting. Like we're in the south and when someone dies, we eat. Which I think can be fun, but also have a category for fasting is good for the people of God to actually to. To fast and to pray and depend upon the Lord. And that's what they do until evening.And David said to the young man who told him, where do you come from? And he answered, I am the son of a sojourner and Amalekite.> And David said to the young man who told him, "Where are you from?" And he answered, "I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite."David said to him, how is it you who. How is it you who were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed? So this is about the moment the Amalekite begins to realize that he has made a massive mistake. Because David had multiple opportunities to do just this. David could have ended Saul's reign, could have taken the throne, could have seized power. But he feared the Lord and he trusted the Lord. And he was not going to do and raise his hand against the Lord's anointing. He was going to trust the Lord when the Lord decided to bring judgment. So how in the world could this Amalekite, this person who belonged to a people who were enemies of God, think that he could raise his hand against the Lord's anointed and this would somehow be rewarded? This is not the case. And he realizes he has made a mistake, that condemnation is coming.Then David called out, called one of the young men and said, go execute him. And he struck him down so that he died. And David said to him, your blood be on your head for you, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, I have killed the Lord's anointed.> And David said to him, "How is it you were not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"> Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go near and execute him." So the young man struck him down, and he died.> And David said to him, "Your blood is on your head; your own mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed the LORD's anointed.'"So the Amalekite, his reward for opportunistic lying is execution. And that's is another example from the scriptures of the dangers of lying. You can do a whole sermon on that right there. But that's actually not the main point of this story. And we're going to move on to what is the main point, which is this moment of loss for David and the people. And David is going to enter into a lament that he has written. We get the setup for that in verse 17 when it says,> And David took up his lament over Saul and his son Jonathan, and he ordered that The Song of the Bow be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.So what we're about to read is a lamentation, a poetic sadness that the people of God are meant to read for centuries to come. And we also see that it's recorded in the book of Joshar, which. That is a Jewish history book that's referenced a few times in the Old Testament. It's lost to history. We don't have any more copies of it, but it was written in the Book of Joshar for the people, and it was recorded here in these scriptures for the people to remember and to lament together. So we're going to read this lament. But as we read this, I want us, as we catch this poetic capturing of the sadness of the people of God and David, we should remember the complexities of how David is feeling in this, of everything that's happened to him and everything that even Saul and his relationship and how complicated that was, that Saul was his enemy, that Saul wanted him dead, but Saul was also his father in law. Saul was also his king. Saul was also his commander. And now he's gone and so is his friend Jonathan. So there's a lot happening here. And we'll read this lament together. He said.> Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!> Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.> O mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, nor fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.> From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.> Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions.> O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with crimson in luxury, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.> How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places.> I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.> How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!If you have a title for this lament, it's how the mighty have Fallen, which I got curious and I was wondering, and as best I can tell, that is where we get the sarcastic play on Lament, oh, how the mighty have Fallen. So this is. It comes back to this. It's how the mighty have fallen. One of the things he laments in the loss of Saul and Jonathan and this army is that the daughters of the Philistines rejoice. And this is. This is a picture of the people in Gath and Ashkelon. These are cities in Philistia. They're all celebrating. So not only have they lost their leader, but also their enemies are rejoicing and they're sad.You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul not anointed. With oil. Mount Gilboa is where this battle happened. It's where Saul died. And David curses it. He curses it. He wishes this place to be as desolate and devoid of the life that was taken there. Cursed be Mount Gilboa. Says, from the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back. And the sword of Saul returned not empty. Which, every now and then the ESV translations get a little clunky. I think it's helpful if you reverse this. The bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty from the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty. What that is saying is that they once were mighty warriors. They. They once fought for Israel, they slayed their enemies, and now they're gone and they're lamenting the loss of their mighty warriors. So Saul and Jonathan, beloved, beloved and lovely in life and death. They were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions. And we've seen this, we talked about this, that they, that. And through everything that was going on with Saul and David, Saul or Jonathan, honored both his friend and also his father. And they fought together, and they were mighty in battle. You read that in First Samuel. Together they were mighty warriors who defeated their enemies. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.You, daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. Remember how when he reigned, how prosperous we were. How, how the daughters of Israel had scarlet and gold. He says, oh, how, he said, how, how the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle. And this refrain leads into David reflecting on his friendship with Jonathan. Jonathan lies slain on your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. Very pleasant have you been to me. Your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. So we catch this final glimpse of David's great love for his friend. And he describes this brotherly love that he had with Jonathan as surpassing the love of women, which we talked about this in the David and Jonathan sermon in First Samuel. If you weren't here, I'd encourage you to go back and listen to it. But just a moment to sit in that idea. It is good to have deep friendships like this. And more specifically, it is good for men to have deep friendships with other men. And a time where it is regularly written about that, that male. That male loneliness is a crisis. It's talked about as an epidemic, that men, especially young men, suicide rates are through the roof, substance abuse is through the roof. Drug overdoses has been through the roof. Sports gambling is an absolute disaster right now for young men. And on and on and on. It's just, it's regularly observed there's something wrong and that they're. There's a need for men to have deep friendships. And we aren't culturally set up well to do this. The men aren't culturally set up well to do this. In fact, it's very apparent that culturally we don't understand a depth of friendship like this. Because people read this and they, they, they jump to, oh, something, something sexual in nature must have been going on between those two. I mean, that is, that is, that is what some people will argue that this is evidence that something was happening between those two men. And it's like we've so misunderstood and are so underprepared to understand how important is to have deep relationships with other men that you can walk side by side and that you can see as brothers. So we, we need to, to grow in this. And especially if you're, if you're married. Let me just say this very clearly. If you're married and your wife is your only friend, nowhere in the Scriptures do I see that as wise. You should absolutely have friendship with your wife. Also, you should have depth of relationship with other men. She should not be your sole confidant. We have care nights where we separate the men and women. And one of the reasons we do that is so that men can grow in friendship and brotherhood and accountability and depth. And that matters. So you can go back, listen to that sermon. More was said there, but I'll move on. And he is just lamenting the loss of this great friend that he had. Verse 27. He ends, how the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war perished. So he ends that refrain, the reminder of what they lost in Jonathan, what they lost. And when you think about what David's doing on behalf of the people of God and personally, and thinking about this, it's very peculiar because you have to recognize that ultimately for David, this is a good thing for him. He's not going to have to look over his shoulder. He's not going to have to be on the run. He's not going to have the threat of death hanging over him over and over and over again. Saul for years has made his life miserable. And you can see this very clearly not just in First Samuel, but when you read the Psalms, particularly the Psalms that David wrote while he was on the run from Saul. You see this in Psalm 57. 4. It says, My soul is in the midst of lions. I lie down amid fiery beasts, the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp, sharp swords. I mean, you see the distress as. As Saul and his men, and all the lies and all the. All the slandering, all the. The threats. In Psalm142.3, another Psalm he wrote on the run from Saul, it says, when my spirit faints within me, you know my way in the path where I walk, they have hidden a trap for me under the threat of being captured continuously. Psalm 54, another Psalm that he wrote while on the wrong from Saul, he says, for strangers have risen against me. Ruthless men seek my life. They do not set God, God before themselves. They seek Saul and his ambition, but they don't consider the Lord. And you see the turmoil that David was in for years. So it's reasonable to assume this moment that he hears of Saul's death, that he's relieved. But that's found nowhere in this lament, not for a moment as you celebrate this, even though ultimately this is for David's good and he knows now I'm able to step into the throne that God has prepared for me, he still appropriately laments. He laments the loss of this nation's leader. He laments the loss of his king, he laments the loss of his friend. And he does this for himself and the people of God to remember. And I think David's response is exemplary. I think it's a very helpful example for us to have this category of lament, even though good things may await us, because I think as Christians, we are just in America. I think we're weaker here. And I see this in a few different ways. I see this in the way that some Christians approach funerals. And I'm not here to attack you. If you've said this or if you believe this, I do want to correct you. I've heard Christians say, well, this brother or sister died, and we're not having a funeral, we're having a party. We're having a celebration because we know where they are, and where they are is far better. So there will be no tears. We will celebrate. And I just go, where do you get that from the Scriptures? Where do we get that idea that we smile in the face of death? Where do you get the idea that we should just be happy? We know that good things just. David knew that good things awaited him. But in the moment of death, the appropriate response is lament. I see people when they lose a job, some Christians come alongside them and they're quick to just want to point out things and they'll say things like, yeah, you know, but it's an opportunity for you to trust the Lord. And it seems like you're really upset about losing this job. You might want to check your heart. It's possible that you have some idolatry for this job. It's possible that you have some control idolatry, that you're trying to control everything. And this is an exposure. God is working in this trial to teach you you should be joy filled. And it's like, whoa, he just lost his job. She just lost her job. There's a moment that it's appropriate to be sad. And certainly we can work through the other things later and count it joy for sufferings. But must we jump straight into the good things that might away? This happens with health trials, various members of our church going through all types of health trials and battles. And I appreciate some of the optimistic culture that surrounds all of that. You hear people say, you know, God's got this and, and, and we're, you know, just. And I appreciate aspects of that that rally in a way that's appropriate and good. But there also, there's a moment and there are days that it's just okay to be sad. It's just okay to lament the reality of suffering. And we should hold these together because human emotion is far more complex than this. We as Christians should be the best at this, y', all to have moments where we are just sad for the reality of death and loss and suffering, while also having our hope secured and tethered to the reality of the future promises that await God's people. We should be able to hold both intention together. And no one exemplifies this better than Jesus Christ.When you get to the Gospel of John in chapter 11 with the recounting of the story of the death of Lazarus and his resurrection, when you read that in verse 11, it says, after saying these things, he said to them, our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him. And that's important because Jesus absorbs the reality that his friend is dead, that Lazarus is dead, while also saying, I'm going to raise him. Jesus knows exactly what he's about to do. He's about to raise Lazarus from the dead because that resurrection is going to point forward to later, not far actually down the road where Jesus Christ will be resurrected, which again points to the future resurrection. So he's doing something bigger here. He knows what he's about to do. He knows the good things that are about to happen. And yet when he meets his friends Mary And Martha, verse 32, it says now, when Mary came to see to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews would come with her, also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, where have you laid him? They said to him, lord, come and see. Verse 35. Jesus wept. And I think that's important because I think if some American Christians would have written this story, they would have said, Jesus comes on the scene and he sees them weeping and he says, dry your tears because I'm about to do something big, I'm about to do something good. I'm going to do something glorious. But he doesn't. He sees his friends who are broken and in tears, and he's deeply moved in his spirit and he weeps. It doesn't say he cried a few tears, it says he weeps. What a wonderful example we have in our Savior. And seeing the need to lament, knowing that good things may await. But the reality is, is that death stings. Yes. Oh, death, where's your sting? That's future looking. But the sting is now. And there are moments where that recognizing that and living in that reality is beautiful and good for our souls. We should be a people who do this well. We should be a people who both hold the reality of death in front of us and cry. And also hold the reality of the future resurrection and new heavens and new earth, where there is no more death, where there is no more sting, where there is no more tears. And hold those both together. I mean, that's when Paul is writing to the Thessalonians. In 1st Thessalonians 4, he says, but we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others who do not have hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. And I think some people just jump to the we have hope. We have hope. And it's like. But it presupposes what he just told them. He says, may not grieve as others who do not have hope. But he doesn't say, don't grieve. He says, no, we're going to grieve, but we're going to do it as those who have hope. Those who are grounded in the hope of the future resurrection. And that's what we're called to do. That when someone dies, the appropriate response is, if they're a Christian, is not, let's have a party. It's like, no, no, Death is awful. Now, we had a funeral here three weeks ago for one of our members, Ms. Valerie. And she was 93 years old. And y', all, she suffered greatly in the last few years of her life. And I could hold the thought in my head that says, I'm so thankful for where she is now. But when I sat with her family, I said, y' all should feel this death stings and it's okay to be sad. And we could hold both of those thoughts together. That when you experience loss, when you lose something, that you can be sad while also having your faith anchored in the reality that one day there will be no more losing, there will only be gain. That we as Christians can have sufferings. And know what James 1 says, when it says, count it all joy. My brothers know what Romans 5 says, that suffering produces character, care produces endurance. Like we can have all these together while also being faith filled and sad and also putting our hope in what is to come and growing and maturing along the way that we should be able to hold these both together. Because we as Christians live between the already and the not yet. We live between the reality of present suffering and the future promises that await. And we should be a people who lament well personally, but also we should help others lament, brothers and sisters. Do not rob others of the opportunity to both grieve and be sad and let God meet them in their grief. Because I think sometimes because we're uncomfortable, because we don't like the silence, or because we lack the theological depth to understand how we should respond. And we'll just offer shallow truisms or Christian niceties. We need to grow in helping other brothers and sisters who are lamenting suffer well and lament well so that God can meet them in their grief and grow their faith in wonderful ways.I was on the Internet the other day and I saw one of my friends from college post this, one of the most moving things I've ever read on grief. And him and his wife had struggled with infertility for years. They six months ago had twin boys and were excited and did the gender reveal and all the things. And we're all very excited. And at 22 weeks, everything fell apart. They had emergency delivery and their boys lived for only a day. And then this past week, after six months of reflecting, he wrote this. And I Want to ask permission for me to read this because I found it to be very moving, very helpful. How God can meet us in our grief and our lament. And here's what he wrote. He said, grief is about allowing loss to enlarge my heart and increase my capacity to hold both joy and sorrow. Grief is teaching me that my boys live on in me and will always be a part of me. Grief is instructing me to cry out to God and complaint and lament long enough to hear him whisper, I know what it's like to lose a son. Grief is increasing my longing for heaven and the renewal of all things. Grief is daring me to believe that despite our loss, God is still writing a good story. Grief is consistently inviting me to choose life in the face of death. I'm a different person than I was six months ago. But as a friend who knows what it's like to lose a child, has told me I want my child back, but I don't want the old me back. I think I'm just starting to believe him. So it is through grief that I echo the words of Nicholas Wolterstaff in his book of Lament of a Son. I shall look at the world through tears. Perhaps I shall see things that dried eyed I could not see. I read that and I just was like, you don't arrive at that conclusion without having your faith so deeply anchored. The reality that one day he will make all things new, but he's sufficient to meet us in the moment of lament that comes through faith filled lament. You don't see God like this without him meeting us in our grief like this, knowing that God in our suffering gives us eyes to see, even if those eyes are stained with tears. You don't embrace this without faith filled lament. You don't refuse it. You lean into it. And that is something that we need to grow in as Christians. We need to grow in learning to lament well. We need to grow and having this trusting the Lord in the middle of the suffering and the loss.And one of the ways we get to do that is through taking the Lord's Supper and through singing, which we're going to do in a moment. We're going to take the Lord's Supper and we're going to sing a song of lament. As we come to the table as Christians, we're reminded of what Jesus instituted for us on the night that he was betrayed. He took bread and he broke it. He said, this is my body that was broken for you. And he took the cup of the new covenant. He said, this is my blood that was shed for you, that as often as you eat and drink this, you proclaim my death until I return. Jesus instructs his church to practice this practice, to remember that he secured salvation for us on the cross while also pointing forward to one day when the final feast happens. And that we as Christians live in the middle between both. So we don't come to the table all the time with just joy filled hearts. Sometimes we come with heavy hearts, and that's good. If you're a Christian, you get to consider your sin, you get to consider our sufferings, and we also get to consider our Savior who meets us in our sufferings. And in a moment you'll come to the table and I invite you to. If you're not a Christian, we don't want you to come to the table. We want you to come to our Savior. That walking through this life will be filled with suffering, it will be filled with trials, it will be filled with death. And I hope that reality is impressed upon your heart to see that there is someone who can meet you in that and can point you to the hope that we have that is secure. So don't come to the table, come to Jesus Christ in faith. But the band's going to come up now. They're going to take the Lord's Supper, and then we're going to sing a song of lament that is meant to help us learn how to grieve well, how to lament well. And we will sing this out together.

This sermon explores the profound message of John 11 and emphasizes the importance of preparing for the eventual loss of loved ones. By reflecting on Jesus' conversation with Martha and the resurrection of Lazarus, Rev. Dr. Altman highlights that Jesus brings life out of death, comforts us with His promises, and calls us to trust in His divine plan even amidst grief.

Jesus tells a sobering parable from Luke 16:19–31 about a rich man and Lazarus. A man who had everything overlooks a man who had nothing. After death, their situations are completely reversed: the unseen are honored, the comfortable are confronted, and eternity reveals what truly mattered all along.This message invites us to wrestle with hard questions about wealth, compassion, pride, and what it means to really see our neighbors. Even in torment, the rich man's heart remains unchanged. Jesus reveals that hell is not simply punishment imposed from the outside, but a condition shaped by a life turned inward. As C. S. Lewis famously wrote, “The gates of Hell are locked from the inside.” This sermon challenges us to examine where we place our trust, how we respond to those in need, and whether our lives reflect the upside-down values of God's Kingdom, where the last become first and the forgotten are remembered. Scripture: Luke 16:19–31 Date: February 8, 2026 Series Message: The Great Reversal If this message encourages or challenges you, consider liking, subscribing, or sharing it with someone who might need it today.

John 12:18 For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. The raising of Lazarus from the dead would certainly catch my attention. How about yours? John explained why the crowd met Jesus before His entry into Jerusalem. Remember when Jesus told Martha that she would see the glory of God as a result of Lazarus' death? Surely all of this was in view. The Father's testimony regarding His Son spread throughout Jerusalem and was the cause of the fulfillment of Scripture regarding His triumphal entry to the city of Zion. I am amazed at how God works. Aren't you? Today, as we live to love with Jesus and testify about His resurrection power and new life, let's hope and pray that people will want to go meet Jesus. Every believer is a sign, a miracle of resurrection power and life.

Jesus reassured Martha that He was the resurrection and the life. This was during her grief over Lazarus's death. Seven coordinating blogs begin here: https://lightofchristjourney.com/2026/02/08/jesus-has-a-divine-timetable/ A video of the story: https://youtu.be/hk_Oz1d-wNY

Send us a textWhat if your strongest defenses are the very things that make you most vulnerable? We dive into Job 15's searing picture of a rebel charging God with an exposed neck and a shield made of pride, and we trace how intellect, influence, and prosperity can harden a heart while giving the illusion of safety. This isn't about winning debates; it's about lordship. The real issue beneath disbelief is control, and that craving shows up in parenting, culture, and our inner lives far more than we admit.We tackle hard truths about judgment and the nature of a hardened heart through the lens of the rich man and Lazarus. Suffering alone doesn't sanctify; without grace, a proud soul stays proud. That sobers us, but it also drives us to the right place—humility, worship, and deeper dependence on Christ, who saves to the uttermost. Along the way, we push back on the modern habit of treating the gospel as entertainment. Skits and viral clips can't do the work that clear, loving proclamation does: turn from sin and trust the Savior whose righteousness covers every repentant sinner.You'll also hear honest stories about bringing hidden struggles into the light and choosing small acts of obedience that ripple farther than expected. We explore how abundance can numb discernment, why “fatness” in Scripture often signals excess and danger, and how practicing reverence in the home prepares souls to meet a holy God. If you've felt the pull of self-reliance—or the ache of seeing it in others—this conversation offers clarity, courage, and a path back to the simple, life-giving rhythm of repentance and faith.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help others find these conversations. What's one small step of obedience you'll take today?Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

John 12:17 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. Even if they killed Jesus and Lazarus, how could they silence all the witnesses? They couldn't. And so it is today. We are witnesses of the truth that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He lives in us. He loves through us. We once were dead, but now we live to love with Him. What were they testifying about Him? Here are my thoughts. Jesus told Martha that He was the resurrection and the life and that she would see the glory of God. After Lazarus was raised and the crowd saw the miracle, you know Martha had to remember what Jesus had said to her. Surely she was proclaiming something to this effect, “He said He was life. He has authority over death. This has to be the Messiah.” On top of that, the news of Mary's anointing of Jesus' feet at the dinner circulated. The testimony about Jesus continues today through us. As we live to love with Him, we echo the same truths testified to by Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and those who witnessed the miracle. Jesus is life everlasting.

In this episode, we dive into Jesus' parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, unpacking its sobering message about eternity, compassion, and the danger of hardened hearts. Through Scripture and thoughtful conversation, we explore what this story reveals about God's justice and our responsibility to love others now. Join us as we reflect on how this timeless parable challenges the way we live, give, and see those around us.

In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the harmony of the Gospels by examining the parables of the Unjust Steward and the Rich Man and Lazarus, as well as teachings on divorce. Fr. Matthias explains the steward's role and the spiritual lessons about stewardship, urging believers to plan for their eternal future rather than focusing only on worldly possessions. He discusses the consequences of selfishness and neglect of others through the story of the rich man and Lazarus, highlighting the reality of judgment and the importance of genuine repentance. Fr. Matthias also addresses Jesus' teachings on marriage and divorce, emphasizing the sacredness of the marital union as ordained by God. Throughout the talk, he reflects on faithfulness, the challenges of sin, pride, and the need to follow Christ's example in fulfilling the law. He encourages careful consideration of how our actions influence others, especially the vulnerable, and calls for sincere commitment to living a life pleasing to God. Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the story of Christ raising Lazarus, focusing on the phrase "He whom you love is sick" to reveal how Christ's love is manifested in our lives. He explains the true meaning of love through four key aspects: sacrifice, unworthiness, magnitude, and freedom. Fr. Matthias discusses how Christ's love is shown in His willing sacrifice despite our unworthiness, the great gift of salvation, and His choice to love us freely, not by compulsion. He emphasizes the need to imitate this divine love in our relationships, explaining that real love involves sacrifice, loving the unworthy, giving beyond convenience, and choosing freely to love. Fr. Matthias also contrasts genuine love with mere liking and highlights love's role in sustaining marriages and friendships. This sermon offers a biblical foundation for understanding and practicing sacrificial love as Christ demonstrated. Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

1. Csókolom – “Mystereuse”May I Kiss Your Hand (1998). Este álbum fue la pieza clave para la proyección global del grupo. Este tema suena para la introducción del caso como algo elegante que quizá remite los años 60. Es el ambiente engañoso, pero con clase, que encubre a Lidia S., una mujer que se presenta como una dama refinada de Paseo de la Reforma, pero que esconde un cálculo frío. La canción “misteriosa” es todo lo que el caso desarrolla: por un lado, el caos y, por otro, la desesperación y sordidez del crimen.2. Radiohead - “House of Cards”In Raibows (2007) es considerado por muchos críticos y fans como su obra más equilibrada y perfecta desde el OK Computer. Este disco mostró a un Radiohead más centrado en las texturas rítmicas.Para el caso, “House of Cards” no captura un momento, sino la esencia misma del sistema Trilnik, pues la vida de Max era un “castillo de naipes”, una fábrica construida sobre estafas, un matrimonio sobre mentiras, un plan de escape sobre un seguro fraudulento y, al final, todo se le vino abajo.3. David Bowie - “No Plan”No Plan (EP) (2017). Este EP fue publicado el 8 de enero de 2017, el día en que Bowie habría cumplido 70 años y casi un año después de su fallecimiento. Los temas contenidos en esta obra, originalmente fueron escritos para el musical Lazarus, y, en particular, es una de las últimas piezas que Bowie grabó, sabiendo que se moría de cáncer.Esta elección encapsula el núcleo trágico de Max Trilnik, ya que él creía tener un plan maquiavélico (el suicidio encubierto), pero como Bowie canta (desde la muerte real) “no hay plan”, por lo tanto, la ilusión de control de Max fue su última y más cara estafa a sí mismo.4. Paté de Fuá - “El Supermercado”Música Moderna (2007). La música de Paté de Fuá es una propuesta que construye una memoria de los sonidos de los años 50 y 60. Con un tono melancólico y una sutil ironía, el disco imagina una identidad musical mexicana que, aunque inexistente, se siente real.En este caso, “El Supermercado” trataría de dejar al lector con una melancolía profunda y una sensación de vacío. Max, en su desesperación, quizá añoraba una época anterior a sus estafas, cuando su amor por Lidia o su sueño empresarial eran puros. Su crimen, en este sentido, habría sido un intento torpe de recuperar, mediante el dinero del seguro, un pasado perdido hacía mucho.5. Les Yeux Noirs - “Drogoi Dalneyou”A Band of Gypsies (1992). Este fue el disco con el que Les Yeux Noirs irrumpió en la escena musical europea, mostrando al mundo la propuesta de los hermanos Slabiak, que consistía en una fusión virtuosa de la tradición Yiddish (Klezmer) y la música gitana de la Europa del Este.Este track representa el cierre del caso; es el sonido de Topetson subiendo al barco rumbo Buenos Aires; de Lidia viendo pasar los años en su casa de Reforma; de la historia misma escapándose entre nuestros dedos al pasar las páginas del periódico o al acabar de escuchar el podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fr. Matthias Shehad continues his study on the harmony of the Gospels by exploring the events around Lazarus Saturday and the anointing of Jesus by Mary of Bethany. He explains the significance of Lazarus's resurrection as a foreshadowing of Christ's own resurrection and discusses the division among the Jewish people and religious leaders in response to Jesus's miracles. Fr. Matthias examines the motives behind the Sanhedrin's plot to kill Jesus, highlighting the political concerns of the Pharisees and the fulfillment of prophecy through Caiaphas's words. He also unpacks the symbolism of Mary's costly anointing of Jesus, contrasting it with Judas Iscariot's criticism, and reflects on the importance of faith and genuine sacrifice. The talk connects Old Testament traditions like the Passover and tithing with their New Testament fulfillment in Christ's sacrifice, emphasizing God's sovereignty over human plans and the extension of salvation beyond Israel to all nations. Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

Send us a textA single verse in Genesis launches a century-spanning adventure: did Noah's Ark truly rest on the mountains of Ararat, and can it be found today? We trace the trail from ancient testimony to modern expeditions, weighing bold claims, failed climbs, and famous controversies along the way. From Josephus and Chrysostom to Frederick Parrot, James Bryce, and astronaut James Irwin, the mountain draws explorers with the promise of proof and the hope of closure. The Russian aviator tale unravels under scrutiny, and the Durupinar “boat” shape bends back to geology, reminding us how easily longing can outrun evidence.As we sort through competing locations, shifting timelines, and personal testimonies—Georgie Hagopian's cliffside Ark, Ed Davis's wartime sighting—we step back to ask the deeper question: what do we really want to find? The Torah moves past the Ark without assigning it ongoing sacred power, and that narrative choice matters. Isaiah's call to seek the Lord, not relics, reframes the search. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus presses the point: those who ignore Moses and the prophets won't be convinced by spectacle. If the Resurrection does not soften a heart, no weathered beam will.We don't dismiss history, science, or the thrill of discovery. We honor them, and then place them in their right order. Faith stands on the living Word, not the hope of a perfect artifact; transformation comes through the gospel preached in the power of the Spirit. That's the pivot of our conversation: from icy slopes and debated photos to the clear call to seek, trust, and speak. If you're stirred by the mystery of Ararat, lean into the greater wonder—grace that changes lives. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help others find these conversations.Support the showhttps://www.jacksonfamilyministry.comhttps://bobslone.com/home/podcast-production/

The latest DC Spotlight episode for the week of February 4, 2026 features Jace and Rocky breaking down a strong slate of eleven new DC releases while reflecting on a rare week free of industry-wide bad news. The discussion is led by the return of The Nice House by the Sea #7, with James Tynion IV and Álvaro Martínez Bueno resuming the series after a long hiatus and using character guides and carefully integrated recap to maintain narrative momentum, followed by Batman: Static Beyond #3, which gains traction as Miguel Mendonça's art and a more action-driven focus push the Elseworlds concept forward. Batgirl #16 marks a turning point in Cassandra Cain's arc, delivering resolution to the Unburied storyline, expanding the Lazarus mythology, and setting up a return to Gotham, while DC KO: Night Fight #4 closes its mini-series by exploring Batman's exile from the tournament, alternate futures, and the consequences of loss before re-inserting him into the larger DC KO event. The episode also covers Batman #6, emphasizing character fallout and the status shift for Tim Drake, Poison Ivy #41, which advances Pamela Isley's path toward running for mayor through a jail-cell-centered narrative that keeps her agency intact, and DC KO: Boss Battle #1, a crossover-heavy one-shot pairing DC characters with external properties in a high-concept escalation of the tournament. Additional discussion includes JSA #16 continuing its Year One focus on early team dynamics, Absolute Green Lantern #11 deepening Al Ewing's dense mythology with escalating threats and spectrum lore, Absolute Superman #16 introducing an Absolute Hawkman origin while advancing Lex Luthor and Brainiac plot threads, and Superman: Chains of Love Special #1, a Creeper- and Livewire-focused story that rounds out the week, before the hosts rank their favorites and preview the looming impact of DC KO #4.

In this session, Erin Warren teaches through John 12. The Passover feast is approaching. Many seek Jesus and believe in Him because of the testimony of Lazarus and those who witnessed his resurrection, while the religious leaders seek even more to kill Jesus. This chapter is culmination of all John has written, leading to Jesus' final plea: Believe in me and find life. Those who believe and follow Jesus, the Light of the World, are children of light. Those who refuse to believe walk in darkness. The divide between the two groups widens, but John reminds us (through many, many Old Testament references) that all of Scripture tells ONE story: the story of Jesus, our Redeemer and King.For more information on this study, go to FeastingOnTruth.com/JohnFor recommended resources, go to FeastingOnTruth.com/ResourcesFor booking inquiries, go to FeastingOnTruth.com/Speaking 

In this episode we examine Jesus' teaching in Luke 16:19–31, contrasting a rich man's luxury with Lazarus' suffering to show how love of money can harden the heart to distract one from their need for a Savior. This emphasizes that scripture, which brings about genuine repentance is shown by changed priorities and unselfish living — is the means God uses to prepare hearts to receive Christ, and that works cannot replace true faith.

Prepare to be offended! The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is one that will offend everyone. Care and concern for the poor, heaven and hell, the sufficiency of the Word of God and more come up in this one. Join us as we try to sort through it all.

I'm always asking questions.  The fun begins when you start researching for answers. Such as…   So many preacher people speak positive words of wisdom inside the walking steps of Lazarus… why wasn't he seen as a savior?  Plus…who were the people that came with so many rules of why Lazarus kept to himself in silence?   I'm Arroe…  I am a daily writer.  A silent wolf.  I stand on the sidelines and do nothing but watch, listen study then activate.  I call it The Daily Mess.  A chronological walk through an everyday world.  Yes, it's my morning writing.  As a receiver of thoughts and ideas, we as people tend to throw it to the side and deal with it later.  When a subject arrives, I dig in.  It's still keeping a journal!  By doing the research the picture becomes clearer.  This is the Daily Mess…Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

Pastor Mike draws from the stories of Lazarus and Jesus in Gethsemane to teach how we can trust God when His answers are "not yet" or "not this". New to Echo Grace? We'd love to get to know you! Fill out a quick connect form at https://echograce.com/connect. Want to support our ministries & mission? Your generosity makes a difference. Give at https://echograce.com/give.

Share a commentA God who cries at a graveside and prays through sweat and sorrow isn't distant from our pain—and that truth frames one of the most breathtaking true stories of mission and redemption. We start where many believers secretly live: wondering whether tears are wasted and whether apparent failure means God has gone silent. From the compassion of Jesus at Lazarus's tomb to the anguish of Gethsemane, we ground the journey in a Savior who validates grief and transforms it into hope.Against that backdrop, we walk with David and Svea Flood into the Belgian Congo: malaria, shut gates, and a single boy allowed to sell eggs at their tent. Svea shares the gospel with him; soon after, she dies following childbirth. David, shattered, buries her on the hill and abandons faith, convinced the mission failed. Their newborn, Aina, is adopted, brought to the United States, and grows up with only fragments of her story. Years later, a Swedish magazine lands in her mailbox with a photo of a simple cross: “Svea Flood.” Translated lines tell of the boy who became a teacher, won his village, and helped plant a thriving church.What unfolds next is restoration. Aina finds her father in Sweden, bitter and broken. She tells him the truth: the seed did not die in vain. Hope returns; grace does its quiet work. Then, at a London conference, Aina meets the very man her mother led to Christ—now a national church leader representing more than a hundred thousand baptized believers. Together they journey back to the hill, to the grave beneath the palm, and to a village alive with faith.This is a story for anyone who has sown in tears and seen nothing bloom—yet. It's about unseen seeds, long timelines, and the God who weeps with us while turning loss into a harvest beyond our imagination. Listen, share with a friend who needs courage today, and if this moved you, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find hope.Support the showStephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now. https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback

Share a commentA God who cries at a graveside and prays through sweat and sorrow isn't distant from our pain—and that truth frames one of the most breathtaking true stories of mission and redemption. We start where many believers secretly live: wondering whether tears are wasted and whether apparent failure means God has gone silent. From the compassion of Jesus at Lazarus's tomb to the anguish of Gethsemane, we ground the journey in a Savior who validates grief and transforms it into hope.Against that backdrop, we walk with David and Svea Flood into the Belgian Congo: malaria, shut gates, and a single boy allowed to sell eggs at their tent. Svea shares the gospel with him; soon after, she dies following childbirth. David, shattered, buries her on the hill and abandons faith, convinced the mission failed. Their newborn, Aina, is adopted, brought to the United States, and grows up with only fragments of her story. Years later, a Swedish magazine lands in her mailbox with a photo of a simple cross: “Svea Flood.” Translated lines tell of the boy who became a teacher, won his village, and helped plant a thriving church.What unfolds next is restoration. Aina finds her father in Sweden, bitter and broken. She tells him the truth: the seed did not die in vain. Hope returns; grace does its quiet work. Then, at a London conference, Aina meets the very man her mother led to Christ—now a national church leader representing more than a hundred thousand baptized believers. Together they journey back to the hill, to the grave beneath the palm, and to a village alive with faith.This is a story for anyone who has sown in tears and seen nothing bloom—yet. It's about unseen seeds, long timelines, and the God who weeps with us while turning loss into a harvest beyond our imagination. Listen, share with a friend who needs courage today, and if this moved you, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find hope.Support the showStephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now. https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback

“I am the resurrection and the life.” Nowhere is this claim more vividly demonstrated than at the tomb of Lazarus. In this episode of The Magnificent 37, we stand with the weeping sisters of Bethany and the weeping Savior to witness the seventh and greatest sign in John's Gospel. While death seems final and the stench of the grave is real, Jesus proves that He is the Master over death itself. With a loud command, He calls the dead to life, foreshadowing His own victory over the grave and the future resurrection of all believers.   The Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in New Haven, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study John 11:1–44.   To learn more about Trinity in New Haven, visit trinitynewhaven.com. Thy Strong Word kicks off the new year by dedicating our time to study "The Magnificent 37: The Miracles of Jesus." Christ didn't just speak the Word; He demonstrated it with power. From the quiet intimacy of water turning to wine at Cana to the earth-shaking reality of the empty tomb, the Gospels record thirty-seven distinct moments where Jesus suspended the laws of nature to reveal the power of his grace. This isn't just a list of "neat tricks" from history. It is a systematic walkthrough of how God breaks into our broken world to fix it. Why did Jesus curse a fig tree? Why did He need mud to heal a blind man? What does the coin in the fish's mouth teach us about being citizens of heaven and earth?  Host, Pastor Phil Booe and a lineup of guest pastors will take you through each event, verse by verse. We'll move past the Sunday School summary and get into the meat of the text, including the Old Testament connections, the cultural context, and the immediate comfort these signs bring to your life today.   Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

In this episode we unpack the true story of how ten small lizards smuggled home by a ten year old on a family trip to Italy became a thriving reptile population in Cincinnati Ohio. From their journey in a sock to the remarkable adaptation and spread of Podarcis muralis in the Midwest, this is the strange and true tale of the Lazarus lizards. Then we chat with Comedian Tanya Vora! Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit http://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals

The first parable in today's reading is quite different from the majority of parables that Christ tells, because in it, Jesus points to a sinful man to highlight that which is good, which is confusing on the face of it, but let me explain. In the parable of the dishonest manager, Christ's goal is to show his disciples how to think about wealth and earthly possessions: namely, that we are to use them to win favor with others while we still have them. Later, we'll hear the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, where we catch a rare look at the post-mortem experience of one who ignored the law and the prophets during his lifetime. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

In this episode, Ronn and Mike discuss John 12 as a theological and narrative hinge in the Gospel, situating it within the chronology of Passion Week while exploring its deeper implications for atonement, messianic expectation, and Gentile inclusion. They noted that early church councils never defined a single atonement theory, arguing instead for a flexible, text-driven, and retrospective understanding of Jesus' death that emerges only after the resurrection. Walking through key scenes—the anointing at Bethany, the triumphal entry, the growing threat posed by Lazarus, and Jesus' interaction with Greeks seeking him—they emphasized how John frames Jesus' death as the means by which the Gentile world is drawn in to Abraham's family and the ruler of this world is judged. Along the way, they challenged overly simplistic prophecy-fulfillment models, cautioned against reading the Old Testament too quickly through a New Testament lens.

John 20:31John 1:1-141. WHO IS JESUS? John 1:1-5John calls Jesus "the Word." In Greek, that's Logos.Now, if you were a Greco/Roman listener hearing this, your ears would perk up. Logos was a big deal in Greek philosophy—it meant the rational principle that ordered the universe, the divine reason behind everything.If you were a Jewish listener, you'd think of how God SPOKE creation into existence. "And God SAID, 'Let there be light.'" The Word of God was God's creative, powerful self-expression.John takes both ideas and says, "That Logos? That Word? He's not an 'it.' He's a 'He.' And His name is Jesus."So who is Jesus according to these first five verses?Eternal ("In the beginning was")"In the beginning WAS the Word."Not "in the beginning, the Word came into being." Not "in the beginning, the Word was created."WAS. Already existing. Already there.You know how when you show up late to a party and everyone's already having a good time? Jesus showed up to creation and said, "Oh, this? I was here before the party started. Actually, I planned the party. I AM the party."Jesus is the eternal Word who has always existed, but He entered time so you could enter eternity.Divine ("was God")"The Word was WITH God, and the Word WAS God."This is one of the clearest statements of the deity of Christ in all of Scripture. John is saying two things simultaneously:The Word was WITH God (distinction—two persons)The Word WAS God (unity—one essence)This is the Trinity in seed form. One God, existing eternally in three persons. Father, Son, and Spirit.Now, I know the Trinity can feel like theological gymnastics. Three in one? How does that work? And honestly, if you fully understood it, it probably wouldn't be God. The finite can't fully John Lennox: Consciousness, Energy cant be defined but you believe in them?Creative ("all things were made through Him")"All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made."John is emphatic here. ALL things. Not some things. Not most things. EVERYTHING that exists was made through Jesus.The mountains? Jesus. The oceans? Jesus. Giraffes? Jesus. (And honestly, giraffes alone prove God has a sense of humor. "Let's make a horse... but give it a six-foot neck and a purple tongue." Divine creativity right there.)The Word who spoke creation into existence became part of creation to save it.The same voice that said "Let there be light" would one day say "Lazarus, come forth." The same hands that flung stars into space would be nailed to a Roman cross.Life-giving ("in Him was life")"In him was life, and the life was the light of men."This is important: Jesus doesn't just HAVE life. He IS life. Life isn't something He possesses; it's something He IS.And that life brings light. In a world full of darkness—moral darkness, spiritual darkness, the darkness of not knowing why you're here or where you're going—Jesus shows up as light."The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."I love that. The darkness TRIED. It's been trying since Genesis 3. And it's still trying today. But it hasn't won. It CAN'T win. Because light always defeats darkness. Always.You don't walk into a dark room and watch the darkness push the light out. You flip the switch, and darkness flees. That's what Jesus does.So who is Jesus? He's eternal, divine, creative, and life-giving. He's not a good teacher. He's not a moral example. He's GOD in the flesh.2. WHAT DID JESUS DO? (vv. 6-14)John 1:12-13Jesus doesn't just offer forgiveness (though He does). He doesn't just offer a ticket to heaven (though that's included). He offers FAMILY.Jesus didn't come to give you religion. He came to make you family.You cant earn your way in to God's family, you recive your way in.You don't become a child of God by birth, bloodline, or willpower. You become a child of God by believing.You receive. You believe. And God does the rest.

Lazarus walks out of a sealed tomb to prove that Life is not threatened by delay, decay, or death itself. That public display of resurrection forces a decision and sets the cross in motion, because what Jesus reveals in signs must now be secured through His own death. John 11 ends with one grave opening, and from here on Jesus moves deliberately toward another so that the life revealed in Lazarus can become life shared with us all.

By David Rains - The parable of Lazarus and the rich man. Who is this parable really about?

In this message, Pastor Chad Veach shares a deeply moving sermon titled “Everything's Better When You're Here,” wrapping up the “We Want You Here” series with a powerful word from John chapter 11. Through the story of Lazarus, we see how Jesus brings not only resurrection power but also compassionate presence. Before He raised Lazarus, Jesus wept. He showed us that His presence is everything even before the miracle. Pastor Chad challenges us to stop living numb and start leaning into healing. Whether you're walking through grief, loss, or uncertainty, this message reminds you: Jesus shows up first with presence, then with power. Don't pursue results pursue relationship. And when Jesus is in the room, everything gets better. At Zoe, our mission is simple: People Saved, Disciples Made, Leaders Raised, and The Church Released. Through every service, we seek to share the love and hope of Jesus, impact lives, and see transformation in communities in Los Angeles and around the world. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this stream with friends and family!