Podcasts about light of christ

The promise reveals the end. Once you know the promise of God, you have been given the end. The understanding of the end is meant to increase your faith level so you focus on it, instead of circumstances. Let your faith in Christ bind you to His covenant that holds true to His promises. Joshua 25:15 Psalm 112 & Genesis 12 www.cathycoppola.org www.houseofglorychurch.org

The promise reveals the end. Once you know the promise of God, you have been given the end. The understanding of the end is meant to increase your faith level so you focus on it, instead of circumstances. Let your faith in Christ bind you to His covenant that holds true to His promises. Joshua 25:15 Psalm 112 & Genesis 12 www.cathycoppola.org www.houseofglorychurch.org

What does it mean to truly live a faith-filled life in light of Christ's once-for-all sacrifice? It means living every day with the deep awareness that the work of salvation is finished, complete, and entirely sufficient. It's understanding that Jesus didn't just make a temporary fix. He permanently removed sin, guilt, and the need for continual religious rituals. His one act on the cross was enough to cleanse you, claim you, and call you into a new way of living. How does that look? Confidence in God's Presence – You can approach God boldly, not timidly, because of Jesus' blood (Hebrews 10:19–22). Freedom from Guilt and Ritual – No more cycles of shame. You're free from religious performance (10:1–4, 11–18). A New Identity – You've been made perfect and are being made holy. You don't have to earn what Jesus already gave (10:14). Endurance in Trials – Your faith holds fast through suffering because your eyes are fixed on eternity (10:32–36). Obedience from the Heart – God's Word is written on your heart and mind through the Spirit, not just rules (10:15–16). Encouragement in Community – A faith-filled life shows up in church, builds others up, and motivates love and action (10:24–25). Jesus' perfect offering replaces the old sacrificial system, transforms our identity, and calls us into perseverance. It doesn't just save you—it changes the way you live. You're not striving to be accepted. You are accepted. Now live like it.

Daryl speaks on how we need to see ourselves as Jesus sees us; irresistibly lovable. Our perspective affects our vision; how we know ourselves and how we know others.

An unhurried daily meditation using the Bible, prayer, and reflection led by Pastor Jon Ciccarelli, Discipleship Pastor of Crosswalk Church in Redlands, CA, and Director of Discipleship for Crosswalk Global.If you are enjoying the podcast please go to Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify and share your rating and a review as your input will help bring awareness of this discipleship resource to more listeners around the world.To learn more about Abide and discipleship go to www.crosswalkvillage.com/discipleshipPlease feel free to reach out to us at jon@crosswalkvillage.com any time with your comments and questions. Thanks and blessings!

This message on Luke 8:16-18 was delivered at our Lord's Day Evening Worship. It looks at the parable of the lamp. This is sermon 71 in our expository series in Luke. If you have any comments or questions we would love to hear from you. Please email us on: pastor@gbcb.org.uk

We spend most of our time walking in the light (understanding) of the old man even after we have been born from above.  The Light we should see is Christ.  We should be walking in the understanding of Him and our relationship to him.  As Paul writes to the believers in Ephesians 2, "we are made alive with Him."  "We are raised with Him."  We are seated with Him in heavenly places."  This should be the understanding that begins to effect our living in the earth.  This is what Paul is talking about in Galatians 2.   Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Life can seem pretty dark at times; yet the darker things get, the more Christ's light will shine! Join us for today's study in Isaiah 9 where we'll look into prophecies of light in the midst of darkness and judgment.  DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1.    Isaiah 9 continues God's message that began back in Chapter 8 of both judgment and restoration. Verse 1 introduces us to the person who will bring about their restoration. How will the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali be made glorious? According to the podcast, why do they play such an important role in that region? How does referring to them as “Galilee” give us a time stamp of when these events are to take place? 2.    In verse 2, what is the great light that they will see? 3.    In verse 3, what will be the people's response to the work of God spoken about in this passage? 4.    In verses 4 & 5, what will God be accomplishing among them? What does He do to their oppressors? What is the extent of this victory? 5.    Who is the “child” being spoken of in verse 6? What will be His domain? What will He be called? What do these names signify about His character and His work? 6.    The podcast explained that the wording of verse 6 teaches us an important aspect of the nature of Christ. How does the phrases a “Child who is born” and “a Son who is given” give us a window into Christ's preexistent nature and His incarnation? 7.    In verse 7, why is it a joyful blessing to see that the Lord's “zeal” accomplishes all of this? 8.    Despite these wonderful promises of this Messiah, Isaiah 9 continues on to proclaim judgment. What is the Lord's message for Jacob and Israel in verse 8? How do they respond to this message in verses 9 & 10? What does their insistence on rebuilding what God has judged, reveal about their heart to obey (or lack there of)? 9.    What does the Lord's judgment look like in verses 11 to 15? 10.    In verse 16, what role do the false teachers have in this judgment? In verse 17, what is the Lord's view of them? 11.    What picture of judgment does Isaiah give in verses 18-20? How do the people respond to the Lord in verse 21? Why do you think they would respond this way? Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

Acts 9:1-20What does it feel like to realize that we are wrong? Today we consider the power of a Paul's conversion, and we're invited into a conversion of our own.

An unhurried daily meditation using the Bible, prayer, and reflection led by Pastor Jon Ciccarelli, Discipleship Pastor of Crosswalk Church in Redlands, CA, and Director of Discipleship for Crosswalk Global.If you are enjoying the podcast please go to Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify and share your rating and a review as your input will help bring awareness of this discipleship resource to more listeners around the world.To learn more about Abide and discipleship go to www.crosswalkvillage.com/discipleshipPlease feel free to reach out to us at jon@crosswalkvillage.com any time with your comments and questions. Thanks and blessings!

May 25, 2025 Steve Barbee

Send us a textSupport | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | Because You Care Page | H.O.T. Bible Study [podcast] | Divine Blessings | Exhort One Another Daily | The Return of Christ | The Joy of Fulfilling the Great Commission | The Love of Many Shall Wax Cold | Lie of the Ages (book) | Soul Damning Sins (small book) | Why We Need not Fear Death | Revelation Bombshell!HOMEPAGE:   https://safeguardyoursoul.com/MAKE PEACE WITH GOD NOW: https://safeguardyoursoul.com/peace-with-god/SUPPORT:  https://safeguardyoursoul.com/support/STORE:   https://safeguardyoursoul.com/store/ABOUT:  https://safeguardyoursoul.com/about/email Todd:  info@safeguardyoursoul.comBackground Music by: Thad Fiscella https://www.thadfiscella.com/ Support the show

CrossRoads Church Making and maturing disciples together as a family

Jesus taught that His return will come without warning, just like a pop quiz. In Luke 21, He challenges us to read the signs, remain spiritually awake, and not let the distractions of life dull our awareness. Whether Christ returns today or we stand before Him at life's end, the call is the same: stay ready. This message explores the urgency of living with a watchful heart and a grounded trust in the unchanging Word of God.

An unhurried daily meditation using the Bible, prayer, and reflection led by Pastor Jon Ciccarelli, Discipleship Pastor of Crosswalk Church in Redlands, CA, and Director of Discipleship for Crosswalk Global.If you are enjoying the podcast please go to Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify and share your rating and a review as your input will help bring awareness of this discipleship resource to more listeners around the world.To learn more about Abide and discipleship go to www.crosswalkvillage.com/discipleshipPlease feel free to reach out to us at abide@crosswalkvillage.com any time with your comments and questions. Thanks and blessings!

As the Paschal Candle is first lit from the first fire struck of the Resurrection, we pray "May the light of Christ gloriously rising scatter the darkness of heart and mind." When Christ our God willingly gave up His ghost on the Cross, He immediately descended into the dark prison of Hades where every soul from Adam and Eve to that moment were held captive. He broke the gates of Hades open and bound Satan, crushing the serpent's head as prophesied in Genesis. There He revealed Himself in all of His glory and preached to all of those souls. The light dispelled the darkness. When light meets darkness, light always wins. If the light of Christ our God did this in Hades, do we not see what He can do in each and every soul He created? His light has descended into our Hades so that we may see Him and ascend with Him as well.

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Jesus recognizes how sin has enslaved Judas in the darkness, reminding us that God knows our sins and desires to cast them out by light of grace. (Lectionary #258) April 15, 2025 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

A sermon on Luke 21 about the return of Christ. 

An unhurried daily meditation using the Bible, prayer, and reflection led by Pastor Jon Ciccarelli, Discipleship Pastor of Crosswalk Church in Redlands, CA, and Director of Discipleship for Crosswalk Global.If you are enjoying the podcast please go to Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify and share your rating and a review as your input will help bring awareness of this discipleship resource to more listeners around the world.To learn more about Abide and discipleship go to www.crosswalkvillage.com/discipleshipPlease feel free to reach out to us at abide@crosswalkvillage.com any time with your comments and questions. Thanks and blessings!

Pastor Brandon Saucier preaching. Thank you for listening. To learn more about our church, visit us online at www.southsidesbc.org. To make yourself known, fill out a connect card by texting the word "CONNECT" to our church's phone number, 574-475-7291. Support the show

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 Please remain standing for the reading of God's Word. By the way, a couple of you have recently asked why we stand for the sermon text and not the Old and New Testament readings. I would definitely like us to stand for all of them, just like the people did in Nehemiah 8 when the Word was read. However, we already stand and sit a lot in our service, as you know. So, consider our standing for the sermon text as a representative standing for all our readings. We stand in reverence to God's Word. Hear now God's Word, 2 Corinthians 4:1-6. Reading Prayer “Dr. Livingstone, I presume.” Maybe you've heard that phrase before. It dates back to 1871. David Livingstone had left Scotland 30 years earlier to travel to Africa. He went there with the London Mission Society and he travelled all over central and southern Africa. But in the late-1860s Livingstone had gone missing. Many presumed he had died. So, a man named Henry Morgan Stanly was sent out to find him. Stanley searched for months. And on November 10, 1871, in modern-day Tanzania, he finally found the missionary. Stanly simply said, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume.” It's hard to overestimate the impact that Livingstone had on Africa. Not only was he a Christian missionary but also a doctor and an explorer. He desired to put an end to slavery. He opened doors of trade in many places and emphasized education. As a doctor, he helped promote helpful practices to treat and prevent diseases.  But most importantly, Livingstone brought the Gospel to central and southern Africa. As he travelled, he would learn the different languages of the people he met. He would translate portions of the Bible for them. He would teach the 10 commandments and the love of God in Christ. However, despite all his work and ministry, Livingstone did not experience fruit from his labors. No, in fact, by some accounts, he only witnessed one convert to Christ. One. In 1871, when Stanly urged Livingstone to return to England, he responded, "Oh, when will Christ's holy Gospel enter into this dark region?” Livingstone yearned to see the light of Christ in Africa. Now, if you were in Livingstone's situation, how would you feel and what would you do? If you had dedicated 30 years of your life testifying to Jesus' life and the cross and his resurrection but God had not seen fit to turn hearts to him, how would it affect you? I'm sure, like Livingstone, it would weigh on you. And of course, it is not a theoretical question. Every one of us has family and friends who don't believe. Who maybe are even cynical or hostile to the message. Maybe that is you? Maybe you're here today because of family or friends, but your heart is very skeptical. If that is you, as you listen today, be thinking about two things. ·      First, yes, your family or friends who believe in Jesus do want you to know and believe in him. But think about this. If you believed in something that you thought truly answered life's deepest questions, would you not want your friends and family to know and believe? Questions of existence, meaning, morality, life, and death. Yes, I think you would. If you truly believed something that important, you would want to share it out of love. It's something to think about. ·      Second, be thinking about what is preventing you from believing. Is there a deep-down reason that you are skeptical? If so, try to listen anew to the message of Christ. Maybe there something new to hear. I mention that to be sensitive. These verses are written to believers in Christ. And in part, they speak about people who do not believe. I don't want you to feel ignored or dismissed. Going back to Livingstone. I have no idea if he ever compared his situation to 2 Corinthians chapter 4. Maybe he did. Maybe he didn't. But if you were to pick a chapter in the Bible that describes Livingstone's situation best, it would be 2 Corinthians chapter 4. Really, the whole chapter. But in particular verses 1-6. What I mean is that 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 is about faithfulness to ministry and mission. It's about remaining true to Christ even when the message is rejected. Livingstone faithfully continued in his ministry even though the hearts of those to whom he was ministering to were closed. In fact, Livingstone was a Scottish Presbyterian… that means he believed in God's sovereignty in salvation. And with that confidence, he persevered. Livingstone knew that God is the one who changes hearts and minds. It is God who shines his light of knowledge and glory. Despite the burden of seeing little response, yet he pressed on in faithfulness. As we work through these verses, I think you will see the parallels to Livingstone's ministry. We have three main points this morning. You'll see those on the sermon notes page. Point 1. Do not lose heart - that is verses 1-2 and 5. Point 2. Because of veiled and deceived hearts (verses 3-4) Point 3. For it is God who shines his Gospel light on hearts (verse 6) Let me put that together. (1) Do not lose heart (2) because of veiled and deceived hearts (3) for it is God who shines his Gospel light on hearts 1. Do not lose heart (4:1-2, 5) As we get into this, let me first remind you of a couple of related things that the apostle Paul has already written. Back in chapter 2 he wrote that we are the aroma of Christ. That aroma is one that will lead to life for those being saved. But it is also the aroma of death to those who do not believe. Some will believe and some will reject. That same theme is continued in chapter 3. Remember from last week, the old covenant has been fulfilled in the new. The glory of the old is gone, because the new covenant in Christ has come. However, many hearts are still veiled. And that veil, as Paul says, is only lifted by Christ through his Spirit. When Paul begins chapter 4 with the word “therefore” he is referring to the fact that many will hear but not hear. Many hearts will be veiled. The aroma will not be pleasing but the opposite. He says in verse 1, “Therefore having this ministry by the mercy of God.” That ministry, as a reminder, is the ministry of the new covenant. It's proclaiming Christ. And in that ministry, Paul continues, “we do not lose heart.” As I mentioned, when you believe something deeply, you, of course, desire others, especially those you love, to also believe.  You want them to know the love of God in Christ. You want them to see the hope and forgiveness and mercy of God. But often, they do not. Paul is not saying we shouldn't continue to long and desire others to believe. Rather Paul is saying that we should not lose our motivation and our focus in our ministry. “Do not lose heart.” And essentially the next 5 verses explain why and give a word of warning. L me ask. What temptations do you experience when your words seem to have no impact? A couple come to my mind. Sometimes I feel like a failure. Sometimes I'm tempted to want to stop. But what about this temptation: are you tempted to change the message? If the message doesn't appear to have any effect, are you tempted to want to change it so that it will? That is what was happening in Corinth. We get a clear sense of that in verse 2. Paul says, “we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word.” Paul's opponents were changing the message. They were tampering with God's word. The message was no longer the message. They reverted to whatever methods and messages would work. Do you remember that phrase “peddler” at the end of chapter 2? That is what was happening. They were saying whatever they thought the people wanted to hear so that people would respond. They wanted to get a sale, so to speak, and they were using disgraceful ways. Now, we're not told exactly what their distorted message was, but based on what Paul says elsewhere in 2 Corinthians, it undermined truth faith. For example, in chapter 11 verse 4, Paul warned, “For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.” To some extent the church was putting up with a different Jesus, a different Spirit, or a different gospel. It's a great temptation. There are difficult things in the message of Christ. Because of that, we are tempted to change part of the message, or even more common, leave things out. Like leaving out God's wrath or the need for repentance. But when you leave out the reality of our sin and God's hatred of it because of his holiness and justice, you are undermining the Gospel message. You are removing the cross from Christianity. Let me also add, when you remove the wrath of God against sin and the sinner, you also remove the love of God. The amazing depth of God's love offered in Jesus comes because of the real gravity of God's condemnation. If you remove God's wrath, you remove God's love. I was reminded of a well-known quote from Richard Niebuhr, which I think I've quoted before. “A God without wrath brings men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through a ministry of a Christ without a cross.” It's no longer the message of Christ. Now, we do other things today to pervert the message of the Gospel. We turn Christianity into social reform and not salvation. Or Christianity becomes an agenda-based message of liberation or justice. To be sure, justice is critically important. God loves justice and hates oppression. But, as we learned last year in our Proverbs study those things need to be understood through the lens of what God has defined as good and right and true. So then, what is the central message of Jesus Christ? It is this: the need for all humanity to be reconciled to God. All have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. All are condemned. But God, because of the great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in our sin, God made us alive together with Christ. And he accomplished that through the perfect and ultimate sacrifice for sin on the cross and through the hope of the resurrection. The only way to receive that reconciliation is by faith when we see our sin, when we grieve because of it, and give our life to him. The word “gospel” there in verse 3 means good news. That is the Gospel message. In verse 2, Paul says that instead of tampering with God's word, they proclaim it, as he puts it, “the open statement of the truth.” Paul and those with him were not not hiding or manipulating anything in the message. And look at verse 5, Paul affirms that they are proclaiming the central message. He says, “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord.” Unlike his opponents who were exalting themselves, Paul and Timothy and the others were humbly exalting Jesus. The word “Lord” implies that Jesus Christ is the sovereign one. He's the risen king. He is to be the Lord of our lives. So do not lose heart. And do not practice underhanded ways or distort the message. Rather, be faithful to God's Word. 2. Because of veiled and deceived hearts (4:3-4) That brings us to Point #2. Do not lose heart… because of veiled and deceived hearts. Listen again to verse 3 and the first part of 4. Paul writes, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world [in other words, the devil] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers.” We get the sense from verses 3 and 4 that Paul's detractors questioned his legitimacy because of a lack of effectiveness. In other words, they were saying “Paul's message was not working and the proof is that people weren't responding.” To be sure, there were many who did respond. But there were also many who didn't. To go back to David Livingstone for a moment. He also was critiqued because of a perceived ineffectiveness. In fact, there was a group in Britan who critiqued him because his message was outdated. He needed, as they said, a “new” message and he needed an expanded message. His problem was his approach. That's similar to the critiques against Paul. Paul's response here is very important. The message is not being responded to… not because there's a problem with the message. No, rather, the message is not being responded to because of veiled hearts. And that veiling is because the god of this world (lowercase “g” god) has deceived. It's very tempting to think that we are responsible to remove the veil… That we are the responsible ones when the veil is not removed. But to say it again, our responsibility is to be faithful to the message. And, just to be sure, we need to listen well. We need to be thoughtful and loving in our response. But we should not compromise the truth of Christ. Again, I want to be sensitive if you are here and you put yourself in the category of unbelief. Let me ask, why is your heart hard to this message? What is the reason, the veil that lies over it? Would you be willing to ask the Lord to remove that veil? Would you be willing to reexamine your heart and reconsider the message? Every single one of us was blind at one point – I'm using that word blind from verse 4. We were blind for many reasons. It all goes back to our unbelief and selfishness. Back when God created man, it was Satan who deceived. The devil questioned God's authority. He questioned God's moral command. And Adam and Eve in their sin, they replaced God who had been the center of their lives, with themselves. And from that point on, all of mankind was blinded. And what are we blinded from in our unbelief? We are blinded from seeing God's remedy to restoring our relationship with him. We are blinded from seeing Christ. That is exactly how Paul describes the blindness brought on by Satan. Second half of verse 4. Satan has, it says, “keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Satan is called the great deceiver. But there is one who is greater than him. 3. For it is God who shines his Gospel light on hearts (4:6) And that brings us to point #3. So, do not lose heart because of veiled and deceived hearts. Why? For it is God who shines his Gospel light on hearts. Verse 6 is the climax in these verses. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Did you notice the shift in the object of the sentence? It shifts from third person plural to first person plural. Paul had been talking about the veiled hearts of others. He now talks about his own heart and Timothy's heart. God “has shown in our hearts.” He has shown his light. The reference to shining light in darkness refers all the way back to the creation account. We read it earlier from Genesis 1. The very God who created all things, who created all things ex nihilo - out of nothing – created light. In fact, his very first act of creation was to create light in darkness… because he is the God of light. He illuminates all things. He sees all and nothing is hidden from his sight. He is the one who has shone his light in our hearts. Do you see what this is saying? Because God is the all-powerful creator God, there is no heart whom he cannot penetrate with his light. And the testimony of that truth is his work in us. The one true God who in creation shone the light of his truth in the whole of the universe is the same one doing a work of re-creation in our hearts. He is illuminating the light of the knowledge of his glory in us. And that light which illuminates hearts is the light of Christ. By the way, the idea of light is found all throughout the Scriptures. Light symbolizes God's glory (which is referenced here). Light refers to God's truth like the reference here to the knowledge of God. Light also refers to God's presence and his holiness and his guidance. All those references are fulfilled in the light of Christ. That's how verse 6 ends… “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” …the presence and fullness of the revealed son of God. For Paul, this is not something theoretical. No, for him, it was deeply personal. His heart had been veiled. So much so that not only did he reject Jesus, but Paul hated him and hated those who loved Jesus. But Paul was confronted by the light of Christ. For him, it was a literal light. Paul was physically blinded, but the veil over his heart was removed… and Paul could truly see. He fell to his knees. Jesus asked, why Paul are you persecuting me? And Paul then acknowledged him as Lord. God is the one who did it. Paul's spiritual blindness was removed by God. He is the one who shines his light on hearts. Perhaps the transformation in your heart didn't seem as radical. Perhaps over time the Lord lifted it. Perhaps you remember the very day and hour that the veil was removed. Or perhaps God is removing it even now. God is the only one who can shine the light of his knowledge and his glory on our hearts. We don't lose heart because we know that God is at work in hearts. We just don't know how and when and on whom he will shine his Gospel light. Conclusion David Livingstone died on May 1, 1873 while still in Africa – it was only two years after meeting Stanley. His body was found next to his bed in a position of prayer. And do you know what they did? They buried Livingstone's heart in Africa. He loved the people there. And they brought his body back to England where he was buried in Westminster Abby. In his lifetime, Livingstone saw very little response to his efforts. Despite the veil over so many hearts, yet he was faithful to shine the light of Christ. Little did he know at the time, but God was at work in Africa. After Livingstone died, God saw fit to use Livingstone's labors in a tremendous ways. Even in the decade after his death, the veil was lifted on thousands and thousands who turned to Christ. Even more, through Livingstone's work and expeditions, the door was opened to more missions work. Today, hundreds of millions of Christians can trace their spiritual legacy back to Livingstone. In our lifetime, we may or may not see what God is doing, but we can have hope because he is the God of light. May we not lose heart. May we not tamper with the message. Instead, may we trust in the God of light, to shine the light of Christ.

Message from David Wojnicki on March 2, 2025

70-269 - https://www.truthcommunitychurch.orgClick the icon below to listen.            

An unhurried daily meditation using the Bible, prayer, and reflection led by Pastor Jon Ciccarelli, Discipleship Pastor of Crosswalk Church in Redlands, CA, and Director of Discipleship for Crosswalk Global.If you are enjoying the podcast please go to Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify and share your rating and a review as your input will help bring awareness of this discipleship resource to more listeners around the world.To learn more about Abide and discipleship go to www.crosswalkvillage.com/discipleshipPlease feel free to reach out to us at abide@crosswalkvillage.com any time with your comments and questions. Thanks and blessings!

Today for the feast of the Presentation of the Lord (traditionally known as "Candlemas"), the liturgy has us process into the church each holding a lit candle. The symbolism here is that Christ has now passed his light on to us, and we are to burn brightly in the world, attracting many living in darkness to Christ, the true Light. Christians throughout the centuries have done this, often effecting great changes for the good in civil society, and sometimes, even changing the world. May our light shine in the darkness!

Sun. February 2, 2025: "Keep the Light of Christ On" -Rev. John Kerns, Pastor

Jesus is the light in the midst of darkness. He is always with us. In a Catholic Church, you will always see a red sanctuary candle lit by the tabernacle (except on Good Friday and Holy Saturday), which indicates that Jesus is present in the tabernacle.

Homily of Fr. Michael P. O'Connor from Mass on February 2, 2025 at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Referenced Readings: Mal 3:1-4 Heb 2:14-18 Lk 2:22-40 If you would like to donate to OLG and her livestream ministry, please go to https://olgchurch.net/give

John, in a sense, continues his Gospel as he introduces central themes of fellowship, truth, and light. The apostle begins with a proclamation of the eternal Word of life—Jesus Christ—emphasizing the tangible reality of His Incarnation as witnessed by the apostles. This message invites believers into fellowship with God and with one another, rooted in the joy of the Gospel. John contrasts walking in the light with living in darkness, exposing the lie of thinking we are without sin while highlighting the promise that if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive and cleanse us through Christ's blood.  The Rev. Dr. Burnell Eckardt, pastor emeritus, and editor-in-chief of Gottesdienst, the Journal of Lutheran Liturgy, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 John 1.  In these epistles, John defends the truth of Jesus Christ against false teachings, calling believers to remain steadfast in their faith and grounded in the apostolic witness. He emphasizes the essential connection between truth, love, and fellowship, urging Christians to walk in the light, love one another, and reject anything that denies the person and work of Jesus.  Through 1 John, we explore the assurance of salvation, the battle between light and darkness, and the call to abide in Christ. In 2 John, we are reminded of the importance of holding fast to the truth while guarding against deceivers. Finally, in 3 John, we see a personal glimpse into the challenges of church leadership, hospitality, and Christian unity.  Together, these letters challenge us to live faithfully as God's children in a world that opposes His truth.   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.

On their journey to Bethlehem, the Magi encountered the newborn King and were forever changed through the process of receiving and revealing the light of Christ. (Lectionary #20) January 4, 2025 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

The prologue of John's Gospel reveals Jesus Christ is the Word and Light that fills all with grace who believe and follow him. (Lectionary #204) December 31, 2024 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

As a tiny flame can grow to a blazing bonfire, the tiny baby born in Bethlehem becomes the light of the world.  May our hearts be open to receive the light and love of Jesus Christ this Christmas so we can shine  as his witnesses in the world.  Merry Christmas, my friends! (Lectionary #13, 14, 15, 16) December 25, 2025 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

A sermon by the Very Rev. Sam Candler on Christmas Eve (December 24, 2024) at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta

My husband and I have always enjoyed attending the Christmas Eve service at our church. In the early years of our marriage, we had a special tradition of bundling up in warm clothing after the service to hike up a nearby hill where 350 glowing lights were strung from tall poles in the shape of a star. There—often in the snow—we’d whisper our reflections on Jesus’ miraculous birth while we gazed out over the city. Meanwhile, many people in the town were looking up at the bright, string-light star from the valley below. That star is a reminder of the birth of our Savior. The Bible tells of magi “from the east” who arrived in Jerusalem seeking “the one who [had] been born king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:1-2). They’d been watching the skies and had seen the star “when it rose” (v. 2). Their journey took them onward from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, the star going “ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was” (v. 9). There, they “bowed down and worshiped him” (v. 11). Christ is the source of light in our lives both figuratively (as the one who guides us) and literally as the one who created the sun, moon, and stars in the sky (Colossians 1:15-16). Like the magi who “were overjoyed” when they saw His star (Matthew 2:10), our greatest delight is in knowing Him as the Savior who came down from the heavens to dwell among us. “We have seen his glory” (John 1:14)!

Prayer for Being the Light of Christ for her Daily Spiritual Espresso published on December 24, 2024 which you can access here: https://powerofloveministry.net/2024/12/christmas-star-light-in-darkness/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The person of Christ is the real-life Jesus, and he is the only pathway to the Father, fellowship with others, and fullness of joy. Listen to the final sermon in our Advent 2024 series and learn more here.

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