Podcasts about like jesus

Have you ever met someone who just oozed peace? The kind of person who you felt instantly safe with, even though you didn't know them? What would it be like if that's how people described you? Candace and Annie talk through what it means to be the aroma of Christ everywhere you go, including a moment at a Dairy Queen, and what courage looks like when it shows up in your everyday life rather than one dramatic moment. They open with a listener question about emotional eating, and Candace shares what her counselor taught her about naming why she reaches for food and refusing to keep secrets around it, and this episode closes with a listener question from Janice about holding onto faith through repeated hard seasons. You can find a free quiz from Annie's book at candace.com, and while you're there, sign up for email and text updates. Join the Together community at candace.com/together to ask questions and a prayer group with other listeners. Life is like a rollercoaster, but it's better when we go through it together! Connect with Candace Bure and Annie F. Downs. Candace on Instagram @candacecbure  Follow the Podcast on Instagram @candacecameronburepodcast  Follow the Podcast on TikTok @ccbpodcast Annie on IG/ TIKTOK: https://www.instagram.com/annieFDowns/ Annie on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa-tPvY6HODihpmzjDV_KxA Sponsors For This Episode 316 Financial https://bank316.com/candace-cameron-bure CrowdHealth joincrowdhealth.com Code CANDACE IFCJ ifcj.com  GCU gcu.edu Nello drinknello.com Code CANDACE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott explains that, rather than Jesus using his divinity, something else empowered Jesus to perform miracles and think perfectly according to God's Word. And, Scott reveals that what enabled Jesus' mind to think can enable your mind too.This is the third of 5 episodes in our “Learning to Think Like Jesus” series, designed to help Christians start learning to think like Jesus.

Matthew 22:23-33 | Josh de Koning

This video is about Sundays

How do you know that you really know Jesus? Knowing Him doesn't just change what you believe—it changes the way you walk.

In this message called “Living Like Jesus” taken from a study of 1 Peter 3:8-22, we learn how to suffer from the example of Jesus. We will see the importance of living with a clear conscience especially in the face of opposition. Also how our life can cause others to see Jesus in us.

Title: Love Her Like Jesus, Part 2 Speaker: Matthew Fletcher, Senior Pastor Scripture: Ephesians 5:28-33 Transformative Truth: Loving your wife as yourself reflects Christ's union with the church. A Pointed Mandate Ephesians 5:28-31: "Husbands should love their wives...." * the care we initiate * the Christ we imitate * the covenant we celebrate A Profound Mystery Ephesians 5:32 A Practical Mindset Ephesians 5:33

Generosity may be seen in our giving, but true generosity is found in our hearts. Coach Kate Dreesen shows us how to be generous like Jesus! As our thank-you for your partnership, when you give this month, we'll send you Discovering a Living Faith, an insightful and practical study of the book of James.Explore James with Pastor Bryan Clark—insightful and practical guidance.Thank you for supporting the mission of Christ.*Available only to residents of the US.

In this episode of Pray the Word on 1 Chronicles 1:1–4, David Platt points us to Christ's unique role in God's redemptive story.Explore more content from Radical.

When Jesus and the apostles quoted the Old Testament, did they preserve its original meaning or give it a new one? Furthermore, can we as Christians use the examples of Jesus and the Apostles to model our own reading of the Bible? In this episode, Peter Goeman examines what Jesus and Paul expected people to understand from Scripture. He surveys seven approaches to the New Testament's use of the Old Testament and seven common ways New Testament writers use earlier texts. Time Stamps0:00 How did Jesus and the apostles read the Old Testament?5:27 Does new revelation change an earlier text's meaning?7:33 Jesus expects people to understand Scripture14:23 Paul and the Bereans examine the Scriptures20:24 Seven approaches to the New Testament's use of the Old Testament39:09 Three observations to keep in mind45:49 Seven common ways the New Testament uses the Old Testament1:08:03 Why the interpretive method mattersIf you have found the podcast helpful, consider ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leaving a review on Itunes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rating it on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Bible Sojourner on Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Consider passing any episodes you have found helpful to a friend.Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠petergoeman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on the podcast or blog.Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ shepherds.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more on Shepherds Theological Seminary where Dr. Goeman teaches.

Something is happening within you as you surrender your life to God and grow more in Jesus – You are becoming so incredibly attractive. You have a certain glow about you. You stand out. There’s something magnetizing about you. There’s a deep joy within you and it just seeps out of your pours. Others are seeing it! Something supernatural happens when your life is lived in close relationship with God. You can’t explain it and you can’t duplicate it in any other way. Let me tell you a story … At our Redwood Forest Retreat this past weekend, there was a lady named Kayla. Kayla is a sold-out, bold and courageous follower of Jesus. She knows exactly what Jesus saved her from and she lives every moment of her life in loud praise of him for that rescue and redemption. Life hasn’t been easy for her, but God has done a radical work of redemption in her. Let me tell you, you don’t spend time with Kayla and walk away the same. The Holy Spirit she carries in her truly does shift the atmosphere. On the final morning of our retreat, everyone except for Kayla went down to the shore for a time or worship, cold plunge and baptisms. Kayla said the Holy Spirit had prompted her to stay behind in the retreat house to spend alone time with him. That’s rare for her because Kayla has 10 kids and is actively involved in a street ministry in Sacramento. Sitting with God in this glorious cottage in the redwoods was perfection for her. While we were all floating around in freezing cold water allowing God to breath into us, Kayla was singing and praising back at the retreat house. Without any of us knowing, she was specifically praying to be a Christ-like-fragrance. Hmmmm, have you ever prayed that? Well, me neither! 2 Corinthians 2:15, “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.” We returned to the retreat house within an hour to find the praise music blasting. And one of our retreat girls, Janiel, caught a whiff of the most beautiful perfume. It was coming from Kayla. In fact, the fragrance was so unique and beautiful, Janiel turned to Kayla’s sister and asked if she knew what perfume Kayla was wearing. Later we found out about her prayer that morning to be a Christ-like-fragrance. How wild is that? The Holy Spirit’s work in you makes you a beautiful fragrance!!!!!! Now, understand why. Why does a life surrendered to Jesus and lived in close relationship with him make you stand out with a glow? Why does it change your very fragrance? Well, this isn’t about you. This isn’t about you being noticed. This isn’t about you looking better. This isn’t about anyone admiring you. Trust me, this isn’t about you smelling good. This is about JESUS! Philippians 1:11 MSG, “Live a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.” There it is – the Holy Spirit’s work in us with the results of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control all growing in us – this makes Jesus Christ ATTRACTIVE! Our surrendered lives make Jesus look good to others! And yes, that makes us stand out, that makes people see us different, that can even make us smell different – to the point that they ask, “What’s up with her, what does she have, and how do I get some?” But we have a unique way of making everything about us. We forget this isn’t about YOU being attractive – this is about JESUS BEING ATTRACTIVE IN YOU! Come back to that, Sis. You don’t need anyone to give you glory or praise. If that’s what you’re seeking, this has gotten twisted. And really, that happens so easily – I know it got really twisted for me for a really long time. God has been so patient with me. His grace over me has been undeserved. He humbled me and continues to humble me so I untwist this – it was never about me – it was always about Jesus. MAKE JESUS ATTRACTIVE! Then what happens as we make Jesus attractive with the way we live our lives? Go back to the rest of that scripture – We get “everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.” I sat back and noticed exactly how this happens while at retreat. We sat around a firepit on opening night and each shared what God is doing in our lives right now. Many had praises of how God has worked things out for them. Some had stories of how God was still carrying them through a reality they would have never chosen, yet they could see his fingerprints in the details. With each shared story we could see God’s glory and participate in his praise. While our stories were different, we could relate to God’s faithfulness on our own journey and apply his promises to our own lives. Every time someone shared a piece of their story, we all got involved in the glory and praise of God! On a very practical level, that’s how it happens! And let me tell you, Jesus was so attractive in our circle around that firepit! The fragrance rising up was glorious! So, Sis, this is what I want you to remember: You don’t have to try to be attractive. You just have to stay close to Jesus. Stay surrendered. Stay in His Word. Stay in His presence. Let the Holy Spirit keep doing His beautiful, sometimes uncomfortable, always transformational work inside of you. Because when you spend enough time with Jesus, He starts showing up on you. His love starts coming out of your mouth. His joy starts showing up in your face. His peace starts changing the way you respond. His kindness starts changing the way you treat people. His goodness starts changing the way you live. His self-control starts changing what you say yes and no to. And suddenly, without trying to be impressive, you become a living invitation to Jesus. People see something different. They feel something different. They may not even know what it is at first, but they notice. They wonder. They ask. “What’s different about you?” “How are you so peaceful?” “How did you get through that?” “Why aren’t you bitter?” “What do you have that I don’t have?” And that’s your moment. It’s not me. It’s Jesus. That’s the fragrance. That’s the glow. That’s the attraction. Not so people will notice you, but so they will notice Him. Your life becomes a little window through which someone else gets a glimpse of Jesus. Your story gives someone else courage. Your peace gives someone else hope. Your praise reminds someone else that God is still faithful. Your surrendered heart becomes an invitation for someone else to know the One who changed you. All around you, Jesus is calling people to him, and he’s using you as the reflection of his love and life-changing power. Those whom he is calling to him will be attracted. Those who are not being called, well – they won’t like you at all. You need to know that so you’re not discouraged. After Paul tells us about being a sweet perfume and Christ-like-fragrance rising up to God, he prepares us for the 2 very different ways that is received in this world. 2 Corinthians 2: 15-16, “BUT this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.” Remember this – it’s not up to you who is invited into that life-saving relationship with Jesus. This isn’t about you. To those Jesus is inviting, you will help attract them to him. To those who are not, you will be repulsive. You won’t be liked. They will not be receptive to you. Can you be okay with that? Can you continue to show up has God’s sweet perfume in this world, even when some reject you, even while some ridicule you, even while some are hateful towards you? Or will you decide you’re too fragile for the criticism of a few so you stop showing up for the ones who are ready to respond to Jesus? I’m so grateful Jesus didn’t sit out his mission because of the ones who would ridicule him. I’m so grateful he didn’t cancel his coming because some would be ugly. He came anyway. He taught anyway. He loved anyway. And he gave his life anyway. Now he asks us to do the same. Stop being detoured by those who don’t like this Jesus in you. Stop playing little and hiding your fragrance and your glow because they don’t receive it well. It’s not about you – this is about Jesus! And there are people around you who desperately need it! Make Jesus attractive. Not with your perfection. Not with your performance. Not by pretending you’ve got it all together. Just live so close to Jesus that He can’t help but rub off on you. And then walk into the room. Carry His fragrance. Shift the atmosphere. And let everybody around you get involved in the glory and praise of God. Because the most beautiful thing about you should never be you. It should be Jesus. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

This teaching was taken from John 17:23 and teaches you about God loving you the same way He loves Jesus. If you have any questions, or you would like to share how our teachings have affected your life, please visit us at rejoicingheart.net God bless you! Rob and Donna Rejoice In You From the Integrity Music Release One, featuring Planetshakers Ministries Int'l ©2009 Planetshakers Publishing (APRA) (admin. By Music Services, www.musicservices.org) All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. John 17:23 (KJV) 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 3:16 (KJV) 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 1 John 4:10 (KJV) 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:16 (KJV) 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Ephesians 2:4 (KJV) 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Ephesians 3:17-19 (KJV) 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Romans 8:32 (KJV) 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:38-39 (KJV) 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Galatians 2:20 (KJV) 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. John 16:27 (KJV) 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

What happens if we don't?w/ George Barna

What happens if we don't?w/ George Barna To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/549/29?v=20251111

Bestselling researcher and cultural analyst George Barna will join us to take us on a transformational journey to build a truly biblical worldview; one grounded not in culture, emotions, or popular opinion, but in the unchanging truth of God. Through biblical insight, cultural analysis, and practical application, Dr. Barna will challenge us to move beyond cultural Christianity and develop the mindset of a true disciple.Become a Parshall Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/inthemarket/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part 2 of our series, The Inner Life. Thanks for listening to this message from New Life Church. In this message, Pastor Joel Solomon continues our journey into spiritual formation by exploring what it actually means to become like Jesus. Following Jesus isn't simply about knowing what He taught, but allowing the Holy Spirit to transform who we are from the inside out. As we look at the practices and rhythms of Jesus, we discover how intentionally creating space for God can shape our character, our desires, and ultimately the way we live. This message was recorded at New Life Church | Kempsville in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Send us Fan MailWhat does it actually mean to be gentle? In Matthew 11:29, Jesus describes Himself as “gentle and lowly in heart” and invites us to learn from Him. But biblical gentleness is about so much more than being quiet, agreeable, or nice. In this episode, we look at the gentleness of Jesus, gentleness as a fruit of the Spirit and how prayer helps cultivate a spirit that reflects Christ.If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church.Connect with Narcely:Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.comInstagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit If you're a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I'd love to connect with you.

To be like Jesus is more than a song we sing. It is a life we must be willing to live. His mind was a mind of humility, obedience, sacrifice, and complete submission to the will of His Father. If that is truly our plea, then the question is not merely whether we can sing, "To Be Like Jesus." The question is whether we are willing to let God change our minds, our priorities, and our lives until those words become true of us.

Our series "Day One" continues as Pastor David Hughes looks at the beginnings of Amazon and what its story can teach us about following Jesus, responding to His Word, and obeying without delay.

God's Word isn't just information—it's meant to transform us. Pastor Jimmy Nimon teaches how consistently meeting Jesus in Scripture strengthens our faith and changes the way we live.

When you were a kid, maybe you wanted to be like Luke Skywalker, or your favorite athlete, or ... Who do you want to be like now? Today, Ricky Kennedy coaches us to be like Jesus! As our thank-you for your partnership, when you give this month, we'll send you Discovering a Living Faith, an insightful and practical study of the book of James.Explore James with Pastor Bryan Clark—insightful and practical guidance.Thank you for supporting the mission of Christ.*Available only to residents of the US.

09-13-2026 Bro. Christopher Franklin "Just Like Jesus" SUN 6PM

Title: Love Her Like Jesus, Part 1 Speaker: Matthew Fletcher, Senior Pastor Scripture: Ephesians 5:25-27 Transformative Truth: Christlike husbands give themselves for their wives' highest good. The Mandate of Self-Sacrificing Love The Model of Self-Sacrificing Love • What Jesus did • Why He did it • How He did it

Living and Loving Like Jesus 9.20.2026 https://vccgn.org/s/2609Loving.pdf Continue reading →

God blesses those people who are merciful.

Where do we find the strength to forgive those who have sinned against us? Is it possible to forgive someone who isn't sorry? In this episode, John sits down with Pastor Chris to talk about what it means to forgive as Christ has forgiven you.

(Ephesians 5:22-6:1) Each member of the family is called on to follow Christ's example in some way. We all are to represent the Lord's obedience in some way in our home. Our greatest desire should be to be like Jesus. (10222260916) Join Scott Pauley's study through Scripture this year. Find resources for every book of the Bible by Dr. Pauley and Enjoying the Journey at enjoyingthejourney.org/journey-through-scripture/. Whether you're a new believer or have walked with the Lord for years, you'll find thousands of free devotionals, Bible studies, audio series, and Scripture tools designed to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding of the Bible, and help you stay rooted in the Word of God. Explore now at EnjoyingTheJourney.org. Extend the Work Enjoying the Journey provides every resource for free worldwide. If you would like to help extend this Bible teaching, you may give at enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/

What if the prayer Jesus taught His disciples isn't just something we're supposed to recite—but a pattern that can actually reshape the way we live? Pastor and author Matt Smallbone admits that for much of his life, prayer felt haphazard. After walking through the pain of unanswered prayer and realizing he hadn't really taken Jesus' instructions about prayer seriously, Matt decided to try something simple: pray the way Jesus said to pray. The result? He says it “changed everything.”In this conversation, Matt takes us through what happened when he began praying through the Lord's Prayer—learning to surrender his own little kingdom, trust God as a loving Father, forgive others, recognize spiritual battles, and bring his daily needs to God. It's an honest and practical conversation for anyone who has ever struggled to pray consistently, wondered what to do with unanswered prayer, or simply wants a deeper relationship with Jesus. You may come away with a completely different perspective on prayer—and a simple way to start putting it into practice today.For more information on Matt's book: https://faithgateway.com/products/the-prayer-experiment-how-praying-like-jesus-realigns-everything-our-thoughts-our-hearts-and-our-posture-toward-god-and-the-world?variant=44676818305160

Our current cultural climate is one that is marked by hatred and divisions. If our kids follow the lead of what they are seeing and learning on social media, they will be nurtured into something other than what Jesus commands in John fifteen twelve. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” In his book “Mere Morality”, the late theologian Lewis Smedes tells us that the way Jesus loves us is the norm for how we are to love others. His life is our authoritative model. Smedes goes on to share four truths about how Jesus loves. First, love moved Jesus to help people. Second, love moved Jesus to help all people. Third, love moved Jesus to help all people for their sakes. Specifically, he humbled himself and suffered the agony of human life and the cross for our sakes. And finally, love moved Jesus to help all people for their sakes without regard for cost. This is what we must model and teach if we want our kids to love others as Jesus has loved them.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.Resources: https://vintagechurchnola.com/series/the-main-thing/#vintage #mainthing #likejesus

In this episode, Scott shares why it's essential to learn to think like Jesus, explains how it's possible, and reveals the first step you must take to start thinking like Jesus today.This is the second of 5 episodes in our “Learning to Think Like Jesus” series, designed to help Christians start learning to think like Jesus.Intro and outro music: Butterfly Effect by Cody Martin

What does it actually mean to think like Jesus?On this edition of Priority Talk, Greg Davis and Jennifer Rash sit down with researcher George Barna to discuss his new book, How to Think Like Jesus: 7 Cornerstones to Build a Biblical Worldview.Barna explains the seven foundational beliefs that research shows are critical to developing a biblical worldview—including belief in God, the reality and consequences of sin, salvation through Jesus Christ, absolute moral truth, the authority of Scripture, God's purpose for our lives, and consistent obedience to Him.The numbers are sobering: Barna says only 4% of American adults currently have a biblical worldview, with the percentage falling to just 1–2% among some younger generations. He also explains why simply attending church, reading the Bible occasionally, or identifying as a Christian doesn't necessarily mean someone is living as a disciple of Jesus.The conversation also explores syncretism—the increasingly common practice of picking and choosing beliefs from different philosophies and constructing a worldview that feels comfortable rather than one grounded in God's truth.If Christians want to disciple their children, grandchildren, churches and communities, Barna says we need to return to the biblical standard Jesus Himself gave us.Can we truly say we are following Jesus if we aren't learning to think like Him?

What does it actually look like to live like Jesus in everyday life?In this powerful message from Philippians 2, Pastor Steven unpacks the mindset of Christ and shows us how to walk it out. Jesus didn't cling to His rights — He emptied Himself, took on the form of a servant, and chose humility for our sake.This teaching challenges us to:• Have the same mindset as Jesus• Put others above ourselves• Choose humility over pride• Live with the same selfless love that Jesus modeledWhether you're struggling with pride, relationships, or simply wanting to reflect Jesus more clearly, this message will give you practical and biblical keys to live like Him.

What does it actually look like to live like Jesus in everyday life?In this powerful message from Philippians 2, Pastor Steven unpacks the mindset of Christ and shows us how to walk it out. Jesus didn't cling to His rights — He emptied Himself, took on the form of a servant, and chose humility for our sake.This teaching challenges us to:• Have the same mindset as Jesus• Put others above ourselves• Choose humility over pride• Live with the same selfless love that Jesus modeledWhether you're struggling with pride, relationships, or simply wanting to reflect Jesus more clearly, this message will give you practical and biblical keys to live like Him.

Matt Pearson, Senior Pastor of ClearView Baptist Church in Franklin, Tennessee continues the sermon series "ClearView: Who We Are, What We're About" with "Our Values: Becoming More Like Jesus."

Two of the biggest questions people are asking today are: Who am I, and what am I supposed to do? In this message, Pastor DaVon answers these questions and shows you how discovering who you are in Christ gives you identity, purpose, and direction for your life.

Christians are called living stones, connected to Jesus Christ, the cornerstone, and built together into something far greater than any individual believer. The church is not a building but a community of people whose lives together make the power and reality of Christ visible to the world. Rejection and opposition are not signs of failure. They are actually confirmation that the gospel is doing its work. Like Jesus, who was rejected and yet became the cornerstone of salvation, believers are called to show up in hard places and proclaim the goodness of God. The impact of your life reflects the quality of your foundation.

The post You smell like Jesus…and you can’t help it. appeared first on Key Life.

Pastor Matt Sturdevant opened the sermon with a striking passage from C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, in which the demon Screwtape reassures his apprentice Wormwood not to panic just because their "patient" has become a Christian — because the habits of the patient, both mental and bodily, are still in their favor. That sobering image set the tone for the entire message: becoming a follower of Jesus is only the beginning. Every disciple must be intentional about renewing their mind, transforming their heart, and deploying their hands — because if we do nothing, we drift, and we drift in the wrong direction. The heart of the sermon centered on the big idea that every follower of Jesus has been intentionally placed where they are to represent Christ and help others discover His ways. Pastor Matt walked through three key points: every disciple is sent, ordinary life carries extraordinary purpose, and ordinary faithfulness creates eternal impact. To make that real and practical, he outlined a simple, non-weird framework for living as a sent person: notice the people God has already placed around you, pray for them specifically, care for them genuinely, share naturally about Jesus, invite them to take a next step, and simply walk with them — whether they respond to the gospel or not. The podcast discussion that followed dug deeper into what this actually looks like in everyday life. The team unpacked the danger of two opposite errors — words without a matching life, and a life without words — pushing back on the popular but historically questionable quote often attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi: "Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words." The truth, Pastor Matt argued, is that good works make the gospel believable, but they cannot make it understandable. Words are necessary. And when it comes to not knowing enough to share your faith, the answer is probably less than you think — because a personal testimony of "I was one way, Jesus entered my life, and now I'm different" is a powerful and accessible starting point for anyone.

Jesus calls us friends! To demonstrate his love for us he laid down his life so that we will live. Jesus teaches us what it means to be a friend.

The world will try to define you by your past, failures, accomplishments, or the opinions of others—but God says something different. Pastor Steve Sabol shows us how Jesus lived from His identity and how we can find the same security in Christ.

Thank you for joining with us in worship!

In this solo episode, Jesse sets the stage for an upcoming conversation with Tony by diving into one of Jesus' most theologically rich parables — the Parable of the Midnight Friend in Luke 11. Rather than treating this as a simple lesson on prayer technique, Jesse unpacks the passage as a carefully constructed theological argument: a qal wahomer (lesser-to-greater) reasoning that ultimately reveals the character of God the Father. Set within Luke's central travel narrative, the parable is not free-floating wisdom — it is discipleship instruction delivered by the Messiah en route to Jerusalem and the cross. The episode challenges common misreadings that pit persistence against divine sovereignty and instead grounds persevering prayer in confidence in God's willing, lavish character. The culmination — the gift of the Holy Spirit — awaits next week. Key Takeaways The parable's literary structure is intentional and theological — the Lord's Prayer leads to the parable, which leads to a promise (ask, seek, knock), which is grounded in the Father's character and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The sleeping friend is not a type of God — he functions as the lesser pole in a lesser-to-greater argument; identifying him with God is a category error that compromises divine immutability and aseity. Persistence in prayer is grounded in confidence, not desperation — the point is not to wear God down, but to recognize that a God who is not reluctant, not asleep, and not inconvenienced will give all the more freely. The a fortiori (lesser-to-greater) structure is the interpretive key — Jesus deliberately invokes cognitive dissonance through an imperfect analogy so that the contrast reveals something about God's character that a direct statement could not. Ask, seek, knock are present-tense imperatives in Greek — they denote continuous action, matched by divine passives in the promises, meaning God himself is the subject acting behind every answer. The promise is absolute within its covenantal frame — "everyone who asks receives" is not a blank check, but a promise spoken to disciples praying according to God's revealed will, in the name of the Son, by the help of the Spirit. The passage has a redemptive-historical dimension — it sits within Luke's travel narrative where Jesus is forming the disciples' inner life as He moves toward the very cross that makes the Spirit gift of verse 13 possible. Key Concepts The Sleeping Friend Is Not God One of the most persistent misreadings of this parable is the identification of the reluctant, sleeping friend with God — as though Jesus were teaching that dogged repetition in prayer will eventually wear down a half-willing deity. Jesse is careful to reject this firmly on both exegetical and theological grounds. The sleeping friend functions as the lesser pole of a rabbinic a fortiori argument: a flawed, inconvenienced human who still yields to legitimate need. James 1:17 seals the case — the Father is one "with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." An immutable God cannot be represented by a changeable, reluctant figure. The friend's reluctance is not a window into God's character; it is a foil designed to make God's willing generosity shine all the brighter by contrast. Persevering Prayer Is Grounded in Confidence, Not Doubt A common application drawn from this parable is essentially motivational: don't give up, pray harder, keep going. While there is something right about that call to perseverance, Jesse argues it is being drawn from the wrong well. Biblical perseverance in prayer is not rooted in uncertainty about whether God might eventually come around. It is rooted in the certainty that He already has — that He is a Father who delights to give, who is not asleep, not inconvenienced, and not reluctant. This re-centers the entire posture of prayer. We are not beggars hoping against hope that a distant God notices us. We are covenant children running with confidence into the throne room of a Father who has already given us His Son and, supremely, His Spirit. The Covenantal Frame of the Promise The sweeping promise — "everyone who asks receives" — has tripped up many readers who take it as an unconditional divine guarantee for anything sincerely prayed. Jesse is careful to locate the promise within its literary and canonical context. It is spoken to disciples who have just been taught to pray "Your kingdom come... give us... forgive us... lead us not" — prayers shaped by God's revealed will and kingdom priorities. James 4 and John's Gospel reinforce the point: prayer that does not receive has asked wrongly or outside God's will. The Westminster Confession of Faith (Chapter 21) frames acceptable prayer as offered in the name of the Son, by the help of the Spirit, according to His will — a tripod of covenantal orientation that, far from weakening the promise, gives it its full and glorious force. Memorable Quotes We draw that persistence not out of our own willingness, not even because God might encourage us, but we should be drawn to it as a representation of His character — of in fact who He is. Jesus is not commending 'wear God down with nagging' as a technique. He's having established that even flawed human reluctance eventually yields to a legitimate need pressed persistently — and he pivots to make the positive direct application: how much more freely and immediately will the Father, who is not reluctant, not asleep, not inconvenienced, give? Even the seeking, even the knocking, even the opening that will be done for you and unto you and on your behalf is from God the Father himself. Full Transcript [00:01:03] Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 504 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse, and this is the podcast for the persistent prayers Hey, brothers and sisters. We have got something a little bit different for you on this episode. Tony will be back with me next week, and we will be continuing our journey through the parables. [00:01:27] And I thought while we anxiously await for his return, that we would set up the next parable that we're gonna talk about so we can hit all the major points together. So we're gonna be hanging out in Luke chapter 11, and we're talking about the parable of persistent prayer, or as I think Tony described it, the parable of the midnight friend. [00:01:47] You can choose whichever one you like. But before you do that, if in fact you miss Tony, here's a good way to fill that need, and that is you should go to the Reformed Brotherhood website. That's reformedbrotherhood.com. And you will [00:02:00] find all of the other podcast episodes living out there. They're all searchable by topic. [00:02:05] Everything we've recorded is right there for you. These some 10 years of lovely conversations with my brother Tony are all available for you. And while you're there, you might be thinking, "How is it that all this is so freely given?" Well, as you've heard us say before, that's because so many lovely brothers and sisters come alongside with a little bit of financial support to make sure all of the hosting and editing and distribution fees are all covered so that this can all be made available to whoever, whoever is searching for it, whoever finds it, whoever wants to join in the conversation and follow closely along with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. [00:02:41] So I encourage you to go check that out and also listen along. This will be a quick episode just to help us get our bearings on this really amazing teaching that Jesus gives us about the character of God that comes about in really a kind of unexpected story. And in fact, even the message itself, [00:03:00] the context, I think, is going to sound at first like one thing, but Jesus uses it to describe something entirely different. [00:03:07] Even the literary device He's about to use for us invokes some kind of cognitive dissonance that actually draws us deeper into the character of God than I think if He had explained it more directly. I mean, this is what parables do, loved ones. So come hang out with me in Luke chapter 11 for just a couple minutes. [00:03:24] Wherever you are, join me in this. I'm gonna read from the beginning part of that chapter all the way through the parable, though we will get nowhere near the end, because I told you, I'm saving that for Tony. We're gonna get there next week. So join me in Luke chapter 11, beginning in verse one.  [00:03:39] Luke 11 Reading and Structure [00:03:39] Jesse Schwamb: "And it happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.' [00:03:51] And He said to them, 'When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread [00:04:00] and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.'" Then he said to them, "Which of you has a friend and will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.' [00:04:21] And from inside he answers and says, 'Do not bother me. The door has already been shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot rise up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not arise and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs. [00:04:40] So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened. But what father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of [00:05:00] a fish? [00:05:00] Or if his son asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" This amazing little pericope, you'll notice it follows upon the disciples' request, which is, "Lord, teach us to pray." [00:05:24] And the giving of this model prayer is the whole instruction, the whole, like outcropping of this entire little parable. And I think what we should look at first, that I wanna really hit on to set us up, is that Luke has this... It seems to me like a structure that's very deliberate. There's a pattern. The Lord's Prayer, which leads to this parable of encouragement. [00:05:45] Here's the friend at midnight. It leads then to a promise, ask, seek, knock, which then of course leads to this ground of confidence. Why? Because the Father's character, sealed in the gift of the Holy Spirit, has been given to His children. This whole thing [00:06:00] occurs within Luke's central, like quote-unquote, "travel narrative." [00:06:04] It's where Jesus is forming the disciples' inner life. He's teaching them in these really final moments of His life. It's prayer, dependence, kingdom priorities, as He literally moves toward Jerusalem and to the cross. And so I think the biblical exegesis here takes this placement really seriously, because this is not like free-floating wisdom teaching, but it's real discipleship. [00:06:28] It's real firm instruction given by the Messiah en route to accomplish the very redemption that makes the Spirit gift of verse 13 possible. All of this is wrapped up in this story. It is not just about what's being said, but I think literally where it's being said, the context in which it's being said, the very interactions that are taking place around the story itself. [00:06:50] And I cannot help but believe that, of course, God in His foreordaining wisdom is placing this all together. It's as if the experience of the disciples, their time with [00:07:00] Jesus, them literally walking en route to the place where He'll be crucified, all this gets distilled down into a single point in history, and the instruction that is on Jesus' lips is this story about the midnight friend I think we've talked about this before, but there's some principles here that I always go back to, and I think they're especially relevant for looking at this particular parable. [00:07:22] First, there's this understanding that this, there's an analogy of scripture. Like, this text should be read alongside its Matthean para- parallel, which we've talked about briefly, and the whole canon's teaching on prayer, on providence, on the Spirit. We can't look at this instance in complete isolation. We shouldn't. [00:07:39] It-- That wouldn't be proper understanding of the whole passage here, including its redemptive historical reading, which I think is important. It's the second piece here. The passage is suited and situated within this unfolding covenant of grace. This Father language is not like generic theism, but it is like the covenantal Trinitarian Christ-mediated, like all the [00:08:00] rich fullness of what God has done in the redemptive arc of salvation. [00:08:04] It's prayer offered in the name of the Son as we are sons or daughters in the Son. And so there's this light then to heavy inference. Like Jesus' argument, which I think we'll talk about with Tony, in verse eight is this kind of like rab- rabbinic like fortiori reasoning. It's, it's from like the lesser to the greater, or the, the lesser reluctant or flawed party that acts in one way, and how much more the greater than will the willing perfect party act. [00:08:36] And so, so many commentators have really flagged this as like the interpretive key to the unit. This is the thing that draws us in. It's actually this juxtaposition, this cognitive dissonance, this seeing one thing and recognizing that God is so much better than that one thing and so much far beyond it, that really draws us into understanding something about His character that would not be made manifest to us without that kind of comparison or [00:09:00] that setup. [00:09:01] And then, of course, we're Reformed, so we have to talk about the element of sola Scriptura here, that we really, we have to read this passage not as teaching either that God is manipulable by human persistence. I mean, that would com- compromise entirely the, the principles of divine aseity and His immutability. [00:09:20] Or B, that there's some kind of like bare Arminian conditionality here, as though prayer creates possibilities God otherwise lacks. Really, the Bible holds, biblical theology holds that prayer is to be a means that God has sovereignly ordained to accomplish His decreed ends. It's never a lever upon which, you know, otherwise an undecided God acts because we pull. [00:09:46] It's not that at all. So let's talk about just a couple of verses that I think will get us in the vibe here, in the jam, in the middle of this whole parable, and this will set us up for a conversation that we're gonna have next week, which is the culmination, the giving of the [00:10:00] Holy Spirit. That's really the end. [00:10:01] So it's interesting that we start with this whole idea of persistence, of a friend coming with, and it's gonna end with God giving to His children this incredible, unparalleled gift of the Holy Spirit. So let's start in verse five. We get this whole setup. "Which of you has a friend and will go to him at midnight?" [00:10:20] So of course, like, you-- we hear this, hear this in English, it's even more profound in the Greek. The construction here is like this rhetorical question. It's expecting, of course, the hearer, which is you and I, to place ourselves imaginatively in the position of the petitioner. And the scenario is, of course, like pregnant with cultural meaning. [00:10:38] Like, it's just loaded down because in Middle Eastern cultures, of course, like hospita- hospitality was a matter of covenantal honor. I say it that way because I think that's what's at play for us in the text. We're gonna get these, like, themes, this, like, little bit of shading or, like, this, this little taste on the back end of your tongue of the covenant, and it's represented [00:11:00] here even in, like, the situation here. [00:11:01] Because failing to feed an arrived guest was a social and religious disgrace, not merely to the host, but, like, to their entire community, to, like, their entire village And the petitioner has no bread, and he's looking for three loaves because that's what he needs to help feed these guests that have arrived at his house. [00:11:19] And so he comes to a friend. Notice it's not a stranger, so the relationship itself is somewhat covenantal. It's emphasized three times in the verses five through eight. And so we're establishing the premise upon which the argument from the lesser, this friendship, which is reluctantly acted upon, to the greater, which is fatherhood, gladly acted upon, will be built up so that it reaches the peak in verse thirteen I think we need to notice here that this is not some kind of isolated moral vignette, but it's like the first rung of a ladder that's being built for us here. [00:11:55] And the first rung on this, I think, is that Christ accommodates himself [00:12:00] to human experience, which is like a mind-boggling statement. I mean, we could spend all of eternity just contemplating what that means. It's certainly a la Philippians 2, but here in, especially we're seeing that there's the use of this imperfect analogy precisely because it's, its imperfection. [00:12:19] Again, a friend who is reluctant will be highlighted against in contrast to the perfection of the true referent, which is God the Father, a father who is not reluctant. And so this doctrine of accommodation is a standard, uh, that you see a lot in Reformed exeg- as a exegetical principle because it's Scripture speaks of God in creaturely terms, not because God is like the creature, but so that the creature may grasp, however inaccurately, the character of God. [00:12:50] That's what's really lovely about this parable. That's what I think kind of sits underneath the, the surface here. And so many of us wanna run to the action of the petitioner [00:13:00] here and try to equate or invoke something about that persistence as if God is saying to us like, "Please don't give up. Please keep on praying. [00:13:07] Please bend my ear." And while there is something important about that, we draw that persistence not out of our own willingness, not even because God might encourage us, but we should be drawn to it as a representation of his character, of in fact who he is. And so the friend who is reluctant responds very forthrightly with a, "Don't bother me." [00:13:28] And I find when I read this, I kind of chuckle a little bit because, loved ones, is that refusal not completely realistic? Like, it's not caricatured malice. In, in like a one-room peasant house, the door being barred and the family being bedded down on a single sleeping mat meant that practically speaking, rising would wake the entire household. [00:13:49] I mean, the friend's refusal is totally understandable, but still a refusal of a friend to a friend for a legitimate n-need. And so this is the negative pole of the entire analogy. [00:14:00] I also find this, like, totally relatable. Like, even in my own life when I'm serving my own needs and purposes, if I am on like the-- If I've descended, let's say, to like the first floor of my house, and I remember that after getting ready for the day, I've totally forgotten something on the second floor, I'm annoyed with myself. [00:14:17] Sometimes I literally have that thought of like, "How badly do I need that thing? I just don't want to go back upstairs again." And so I think this is totally identifiable I mean, how often have we been in a situation where we- we've just sat down and the phone rings, or we've just finished our day and something else pops up that we have to do, or we just shut down our computer and we've-- as we do that, we remember the one thing that we needed to do, and so we have to go back in. [00:14:40] Or you leave your office and realize that you've forgotten your car keys, now you have to walk all the way back in. I mean, I-- this makes total sense to me that in this, the context of this story, even a loving friend would be like, "Are you kidding me? Uh, we're all in bed. Please, can you just figure out another way to do this?" [00:14:59] I know [00:15:00] there's been a lot of commentators, and I think like a lot of popular preaching, that in my estimation here have mistakenly identified the sleeping friend with God, teaching that persistent prayer, like, wears God down. And that, I think, is a category error that the Reformed tradition and biblical theology generally has consistently rejected. [00:15:21] You know, that's why we read in James 1:17 that every good gift comes from the Father with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. The immutable God cannot be the referent or the reluctant changeable human host here, not according to James. The friend in the parable functions as the lesser term, and again, this argument moving from the lesser to the greater, not as a type of God. [00:15:45] I think that's important for us to keep in mind because there is, again, a temptation for us to want to say, "Well, really the person in the story who is represented by God is this other friend, and he just needs to be awoken," so to speak. And even if we don't feel that strongly, th- that's pressing us a little bit too [00:16:00] far, we, we know theologically that that's not accurate. [00:16:02] We still are prone to believe, "I need to pray harder." The point of this is to pick yourself up, pull up your praying socks, and just pray more and pray more consistently and pray harder. Don't stop. Now, there is, again, something about calling on God that is like the special benefit and privilege of the Christian to run confidently into the throne room of God as we read in Hebrews. [00:16:25] And yet at the same time here, we don't want to get this twisted. We have to set this up right so that by the time we get to, again, the pinnacle of this parable in th-- in Jesus giving the crown teaching of the giving of the Holy Spirit, that we understand it's because God is a good Father who delights to give, who is not reluctant at all. [00:16:46] And that if you ask, if you ask for His Holy, Holy, Holy Spirit, that He will in fact give His Holy Spirit to you. So verse eight: "I tell you, though, he will not get up and give him anything because he is his [00:17:00] friend. Yet because of his imprudence, he will rise and give him whatever he needs." Now, the crux of this question is the referent here. [00:17:11] So traditionally rendered, you know, inopportune or inopportunity or persistence. The word literally denotes like shamelessness or refusal to be governed by some kind of social propriety. And I think either way here, the theological payload in verses nine through thirteen is all about the main point of this passage being but a foil. [00:17:31] You know, Jesus is not commending wear God down with nagging as a technique. He's, he's having established that even flawed human reluctance eventually yields to a legitimate need pressed persistently. And so he pivots in this to make the positive direct application, how much more freely and immediately will the Father, who is not reluctant, not asleep, not inconvenienced, give? [00:17:57] And so this verse does [00:18:00] teach persevering in prayer, but it grounds that perseverance not in doubt about God's willingness, but in confidence about it. This to me is very similar to how we would understand evangelism or missional or missionary type works. There is a type of Christianity that is very thin, that is maybe like a, a mile wide and an inch deep, that essentially considers that when we pray for God to work among peoples, in our families, in our communities, across the land, and across the world, that we do so almost with fingers crossed, hoping against hope that God will show up and make a way. [00:18:38] And yet what the scripture says is it emboldens us knowing that God has already done these things, that we might pray ourselves, as it were, into them in faithfulness to what God has already in-- is accomplishing through his great work. And in this way, we pray with a great empowerment. We pray with persevering prayers because we know that God will make it so because he's a God who gives promises, [00:19:00] and he always fulfills those promises. [00:19:03] And that's why we get three of them, which are beautiful in this passage.  [00:19:07] Ask Seek Knock Explained [00:19:07] Jesse Schwamb: Ask, seek, knock. Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you, for everyone who asks, receives. Loved ones, are there more beautiful words than these from God the Father? This is how much he loves us that he says, "Test me on these promises. [00:19:28] In persevering prayer, come before me, ask, seek, and knock." These three present tense imperatives in the Greek, Greek. In other words, keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. The present tense is conveying this continuous action. They're matched by the three future passives here, and the passives are almost certainly divine passives. [00:19:51] In other words, like it's a Jer- Jewish circumlocution, avoiding the direct naming of God as subject out of reverence, which of course, is common in Jesus' [00:20:00] teaching. But what's being unstated here is the subject acting within them. It will be given. It will be opened. Who is doing all these things? God himself. [00:20:10] And so behind these beautiful words, this promise to you and to me, is God in filling them all, so that again, God does all the words. It's as if like he's saying to us, "Seek, knock, and open." And yet even the seeking, even the knocking, even the opening that will be done for you and unto you and on your behalf is from God, the Father himself. [00:20:32] And the escalation from asking to seeking to knocking, in my view, it intensifies this effort and this urgency. Like a beggar asks, one who has lost something seeks, one who shuts, is shut out knocks on the door. And it's, I think, denoting not necessarily like three distinct kinds of prayer, though there are certainly lots of people who have talked about that. [00:20:56] The Patristics in particular, uh, Augustine was very fond [00:21:00] of kind of delineating between these as different types of prayer. I think there, there may be some usefulness in that. But I think the dominant grammatical point is this cumulative intensity. It's reinforced in verse 10 by this chiastic restatement in universal terms. [00:21:14] Everyone who asks, the one who seeks, to the one who knocks, all of these things will be given. This is the beautiful setup that's before us. It's an incredible word from God for us, practical for daily living, to give strength for today and a hope for tomorrow, that our God is one who gives us this promise. [00:21:34] And then he says, in perseverance, with the power that the Holy Spirit enables all of us, seek, ask, seek, knock. What lovely verbs for us to participate in by the power of the Holy Spirit Everyone who asks receives. I, I don't think that can be read as an unconditional blank check. And this is, I think, what trips many people up. [00:21:57] And, and certainly you've had conversations, [00:22:00] I'm sure, with others who've said, "Well, this sounds like some kind of just open-ended promise. There's no closed end to this. And so if I pray for something that I want, maybe if I pray for the thing that I feel like I desperately need, if I put all of my effort into it and pray with all the emotion, and I have, and every concentrated effort of my mental being, and God does not give that to me, it, this proves this passage to be wrong or to be ineffective." [00:22:27] And I think this would contradict directly, again, what James tells us in chapter 4, "You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly." Or John in his gospel, "If we ask anything according to His will." And so I think proper hermeneutics here resolves this not by weakening the promise, but by locating it properly within, again, its covenantal frame. [00:22:53] This promise is spoken to disciples who have just been taught to pray, "Your kingdom come, give [00:23:00]us, forgive us, lead us not." That is, it's a prayer conformed to God's revealed, revealed will and kingdom priorities. I think the Westminster Confession of Faith is particularly strong on this in chapter 21. It qualifies acceptable prayer as being offered in the name of the Son, by the help of the Spirit, according to His will. [00:23:22] What again, like lovely things to help shape us even as we go into times of daily worship, that we might seek to pray to God in the name of the Son, by the help of the Spirit, according to His will. I find in my own prayer life, in my own journey of speaking with God, and of trying to listen to Him as well, that I am much better aligned, that start in the better places, that there is more compatibility, so to speak, when I consider, even before I pray literally, that I might do that in the name of the Son, by the help of the Spirit, according to His will. [00:23:56] By the way, I love that in Ruth- Luther's writing on prayer, [00:24:00] he speaks so highly of what it means to pray in the name of the Son. That that isn't something that we just, of course, put as a suffix onto our prayers to signal that they are concluded. For some reason, when I was younger, I remember thinking that when you said at the end of the prayer, "In Jesus' name," it was like you were talking to somebody on the phone, and that's how you hung up. [00:24:20] Because if you forgot to say that, then God might think you were, like, as you went about your life and you were talking to other people, that you were also talking to Him, and that would be confusing. And so of course, like I, since grown out of that and realized that this is not something just out of custom. [00:24:33] It's not even saying like, "Amen, agree with me." This is a way about an, an explicit, standing in the explicit covenantal promise of God that is bound in the work of, the finished work of His Son, Jesus Christ. And that when we invoke His name, we shouldn't do so even flippantly as we end a prayer. But knowing that that's not just like the grand kind of crescendo of everything that we're saying, but we are sealing it as it were, so that we might again pray in the name of the Son, [00:25:00] by the help of the Holy Spirit, according to His will. [00:25:03] And that promise of verse 10 is absolute within that frame. It's not an absolute, like, simplifier. You know, this is not special pleading, but simply reading the verse in its literary context. It's a unit that begins with the Lord's Prayer and ends with the gift of the Spirit. And its canonical context is according with the rest of the New Testament in this idea that this is what prayer really is. [00:25:29] It is praying in such a way that we are invoking God, not so that He would come and condescend to our needs or meet us where we're at. He's already done this very thing, which is why He's a good Father who gives us gifts. Instead, it is that we might l- meet the Lord in His purposes, according to His power, with His perspective. [00:25:49] And so this is the, the ladder that's being built for us. It starts with this idea of saying, you know, there's this universality qualifier, the Reformed [00:26:00] doctrinal caution, as it were, that not-- "You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly." That itself is a challenge that we should all take very, very seriously. [00:26:09] So I'm gonna stop us there, because what I'm really looking forward to speaking to Tony with next week is basically the, the rest of it, really coming into the second rung of this ladder, this human fathers and their children, which sets up a now... We're really transitioning into the setup on this reluctant friend, the lesser, to this great, loving, not reluctant at all, but lovishly la- Man, I just got two words at the same time in one mouth. [00:26:37] This loving Father who lavishes this love upon us, and proof in the pudding in that is the promises which He gives us. And so I wanna save that for next time. So now you've been warned. You yourself can go back and take a look at Luke chapter 11. You can join us there for the culmination and the conclusion of [00:27:00] this little parable. [00:27:01] And again, I encourage you, go check out reformedbrotherhood.com. Go find us on Telegram, which is just a messaging app, and we have a small little corner of the internet where there's a community of listeners who hang out, support one another, are very kind and loving toward one another, and you can be a part of that group too just by going to t.me/reformedbrotherhood. [00:27:21] Slap that bad boy into your browser of choice, t.me/reformedbrotherhood. And until next time, honor everyone and love the brotherhood. [00:28:00]

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