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John 10:7-18,So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”I wonder what comes to your mind when you hear the phrase “abundant life.”David Livingstone (1813–1873) was a Scottish Christian and physician and pioneer missionary, who sailed for Africa in 1840. He spent 16 years in the African wild and returned to London as a hero in late 1856. He had spent the prime of his life encountering physical difficulties and spiritual darkness. And soon he would go back for more.While on furlough, Livingstone spoke to students at Cambridge and explained why he left the comforts of England to serve as a missionary. It had not been easy, and he acknowledged the costs: anxiety, sickness, suffering, frequent danger. He spoke of “foregoing the common conveniences and charities of this life.” But, very memorably, he insisted that this was no sacrifice, but a privilege: “I never made a sacrifice.”The gain of godly sacrifice so outweighed the pains that, in hindsight, it did not feel sacrificial. The sacrifices were real, but the privilege, and joys, far greater.Livingstone embraced the hard life in Africa not just because he found life in Jesus, but because he had found abundant life in Jesus. He wasn't just saved; he was satisfied. He found life to the full. Not minimal life but over-the-top life, more-than-enough life — life spilling over in such joy that he would risk great pains to bring others that great joy.For Livingstone, abundant life didn't mean a comfortable, easy life. It meant he had enough in Jesus, more than enough, to embrace difficulty and discomfort.More Than Just LifeWe come this morning to John 10, and this amazing declaration of Jesus to us in verse 10:“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”I want you to hear Jesus speaking that to you this morning:“I came that you may have life and have it abundantly.”Not just life. Jesus says “have life and have it abundantly.” What is he adding when he adds “abundance”? Why not stop at life. Why say abundant life? That's our focus this morning.As many of you know, I greatly appreciate Don Carson, and named a son after him, and want to give you this preliminary word from him about this abundant life offered to us in John 10. Talking about the image of the shepherd and the sheep, he says that “abundant life” means contented, flourishing sheep, not terrorized by [thieves]; outside the narrative world, it means that the life Jesus' true disciples enjoy is not to be construed as more time to fill (merely ‘everlasting' life), but life at its scarcely imagined best, life to be lived. (Gospel According to John, 385)That is the life Jesus is offering you this morning. Not just more time to fill. Not just getting out of hell. Not just being unstained from the world and watching clean videos or NFL or keeping up with the news. You are invited into “life at its scarcely imagined best.” You are offered “life to be lived,” life worth living.Let me be clear: the main point of this passage is the greatness of Jesus. He is the good shepherd. He enters by the God-appointed door (and doesn't climb in another way, like the Pharisees). He calls his sheep by name, and they hear his voice, and follow him. He leads them out into a life of abundance. And he is the one who genuinely cares for his sheep and willingly lays down his life for them.The main point is the greatness of Jesus.And, get this, the abundant life of the sheep demonstrates the greatness of the shepherd. When the sheep thrive, their shepherd looks great. The shepherd gets the glory in the flourishing, abundant life of his sheep. Jesus is glorified in the satisfaction of his people — and that not apart from him, but in him, conscious of him, recognizing him.Ultimately, we're talking about people here, not sheep. Happy sheep, full of green grass, beside still waters, don't look up and say, “Isn't my shepherd great?” But Christians aren't animals. We're not actually sheep. We're meant to consciously enjoy our shepherd, through his care for us, and say out loud, “Isn't he great?”So, we want to know and experience this “abundant life” that shows the greatness of Jesus. How might Jesus's very words in John 10 help us with what this abundant life is, and is not?I see at least five aspects of this abundant life that Jesus offers us.1. The Abundant Life Is a Rescued Life.The story of our quest for abundance began in a lavish, abundant garden, but quickly came the reality of sin. In a world of yes, our first parents sinned against God's one no and plunged us all into sin and its curse and its misery. We all are born into sin, and we all sin. Ecclesiastes 7:20,“Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.”Everyone in this room has sinned, and sins. And that's the gravest danger in every life in this room: your own sin, my own sin. The biggest threat is not what others have done or might do to us. And not even what Satan himself might do to us. The greatest threat is our own sin, which separates us from a holy God, and deserves his righteous wrath. We have to get this first to be able to move forward in the story of abundance.So, we begin with the Shepherd's rescue. Verse 11, Jesus says,“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”Why would he lay down his life? Because the sheep, his people, deserve to die. We have sinned against him. We deserve eternal separation from him, and eternal condemnation from him. Except that, again in verse 15, “I lay down my life for the sheep.”And that he “lays it down” means that he does it willingly. Intentionally. Purposefully. Jesus wasn't the victim of a first-century accident. Nor was Jesus's life merely “taken from him.” We often grieve the tragic “taking of life,” and we should. And there's a sense in which Jesus was killed unjustly. These same Pharisees he confronts in John 9 and 10 increasingly want to get rid of him and soon will conspire with the Jerusalem elite. In one sense Jesus's life would be taken by sinners.Yet in another, more fundamental sense, no one would take it from him. Look at verses 17–18:“I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.”Who can talk like this? Anyone can choose to lay down their life, but who — who but God himself in human flesh — has authority to take it up again? Oh the greatness of Jesus.The reason Jesus's perfect, sinless life can be effective for the rescuing of his sinful, hell-deserving people is that he lays down his life willingly, on purpose, and he takes it up again.And so, first, the abundant life is a rescued life. Jesus died to rescue us from our own sin. From our sin nature. From past sins. And he is continuing to rescue us from the misery of indwelling sin.That leads us to a second aspect.2. The Abundant Life Is a Relational Life.Forgiveness gets the penalty of sin out of the way that the rescue might lead to a real, personal, life-giving relationship with the Shepherd. To be related and relate to him as persons. To know him and be personally known by him. To love him, and be loved by him, who calls his own by name.Church, this is stunning. This is the heart of the real life, the abundant life. This is the single most important thing to say about “abundant life.” Number 1 was just life. We are sinners; we deserve death. Jesus lays down his own life that our sins might be covered, that we might be forgiven, that we might have life, eternal life, and not misery, forever.But then, to that life, Jesus adds these precious words: “and have it abundantly.” Now we get to the very heart and bottom of this passage: verses 14-15, which is the most important statement in the passage. Look at verses 14-15. Jesus says,“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father . . . .”Did you get that? Let's start with verse 15 and work backwards. Jesus says, The Father knows me, and I know the Father. Amazing. The eternal divine life of the Godhead (talk about abundant!) — Father knowing and loving his Son, and Son knowing and loving his Father.Then see that “just as” at the beginning of verse 15? Jesus makes a claim about an experience of “mutual knowledge” in verse 14 and then he compares it to the “mutual knowledge” between him and his divine Father. And he compares them by saying “just as.” He doesn't say “contrary to” or “unlike.” He doesn't contrast these relationships but says “just as.” He compares them positively. He says they are alike:“Just as my Father knows me and I know my Father, so I know my own [people] and my own know me.”Church, this is the heart of the abundant life. The abundant life is not food and drink and splendid clothes and fancy cars and mansions of glory, and endless hours on devices. What makes this life abundant is knowing and enjoying the Shepherd, and being known and enjoyed by him.Which is why the voice of Jesus is so prominent in John 10. Voice is the medium of relationship. Did you notice how many times his voice in mentioned? Verse 3: the sheep hear his voiceVerse 3: he calls his own sheep by name (how personal!)Verse 4: the sheep follow him, for they know his voiceVerse 16: other sheep too will listen to his voiceHave you ever reflected on how important voices are to relationships? How well could you get to know someone without words? You can see what's on the outside. They can gesture and use facial expressions to try to communicate. But words reveal with clarity what's on the inside. The voice and its words are the primary medium of relationship.And this morning Jesus himself, risen, reigning, glorified, alive, is speaking to us through his words in John 10, saying, in essence, Where are you trying to find life? Your human soul was not only made to live but to live abundantly — lavishly, richly, contentedly, fully. Where are you going for life? Come to me.So, the full-to-overflowing life, the life worth living, life at its scarcely best imagined, abundant life at its height and at its bottom is: Jesus knows his own and his own know him — just as the Father knows him and he knows the Father.The point is this: Come to the Good Shepherd and keep coming. Hear his voice in his word. Enjoy the privilege of prayer. Follow him. The abundant life is life in and with the Good Shepherd. But it is not life with him only. There's a third aspect here.3. The Abundant Life Is an Expansive Life.Life in Jesus expands to include others. It is full to overflowing, and spills over to draw others in. First, other sheep who are fellow believers. The abundant life is not a solitary life. It is a life in relationship with others who have found abundant life in Jesus.And it expands to include “other sheep” not yet in the fold. Verse 16 starts with such an important “and”:“And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”Now we need to clarify a few things about this image of the sheepfold and the gate and the shepherd coming and calling to his sheep. Picture a large, fenced-in, fold, shared by multiple families. The sheep are kept safe in the fold; a gatekeeper guards the one gate, so no one can access the sheep except the owners. When a rightful shepherd comes, he opens the gate, and the shepherd comes in and lifts up his voice. His own sheep know his voice and come to him, and he leads them out to green grass and live the abundant life of sheep, and come back in for safety.But remember, Jesus is here confronting the Pharisees. The sheepfold is the Jewish people. Jesus comes, and lifts up his voice, and his sheep, not the whole pen, but just his sheep follow his voice, and the rest remain.Then in verse 16, Jesus introduces “other sheep that are not of this fold.” That is, not Jews. The Son of God has come; he has entered the fold through the gate as a rightful owner and shepherd. He has lifted up his voice and his sheep are coming to him, not all the Jews, but those who are his. And Jesus says he has “other sheep” not of this Jewish fold: Gentiles.So, there is not only a narrowing when the good shepherd comes, but also an expanding. He keeps calling to Jews, and he calls to Gentiles. And as many “other sheep” as are his, he brings. And the one shepherd makes “one flock” of his Jewish and Gentile sheep.So, the abundant life is not just me and the shepherd, but it is expansive.If anything in us balks at that, we need to know this: Jesus is the kind of shepherd in whom joy increases as other sheep join. Resist the scarcity mindset that would say, If more come, that means I get less of Jesus. It's the opposite. The more that truly come, the more who are truly changed and made holy, the more we see of Jesus, the more we enjoy him, the more he's glorified, the more we're amazed at him, the more we praise him.The reason I began this sermon with David Livingstone is verse 16 brought him to mind. It appears on his gravestone, in the voice of the Shepherd: “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring.”So, the abundant life is a rescued life, a relational life, an expansive life, and fourth, it's embattled.4. The Abundant Life Is an Embattled Life.Embattle means opposed. Challenged. As Jesus calls out his “one flock” from among Jews and Gentiles, his people are drawn out from others, and various tensions and divisions are inevitable. We see it right here in the very context where Jesus is teaching:9:40: “Some of the Pharisees near him . . .”10:19: “There was again a division among the Jews because of these words . . .” So, tension up front with the Pharisees; division among Jews at the end, right on cue. And Jesus mentions robbers and thieves and wolves — that is, opponents and threats. For now, abundant life does not mean an unopposed life. Abundant life is not an easy life, comfortable life. Yes, it is truly abundant life already, in knowing Jesus, but also it is not yet in its fullness, with every enemy defeated and every tear wiped away.There are costs to be counted in this abundant life. Divisions and tensions come. Don't be surprised by them. They will come. We don't need to provoke them unnecessarily. Make Jesus the issue, not your own immaturity. And when divisions come because of him, be careful about how quickly you rush to smooth over tensions. Often unbelievers need the relational tension and felt sense of division to ponder the real issues in life. Don't give in too quick just to keep the artificial peace. Let it sit, and pray. And be ready for them to come around and receive them humbly; be the kind of person in humility that people can expect will receive them back humbly.Life now in Jesus is already abundant, but not yet fully so. Greater abundance is coming. Ephesians 2:7: “in the coming ages [God will] show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” But this life in him even now is abundant enough to be enough in sorrows and pain and suffering.So, abundant life is rescued, relational, expansive, embattled, and finally secure.5. The Abundant Life Is a Kept Life.Abundant life is kept by the good shepherd. He guards his sheep. He keeps us. He keeps us secure, even in the tensions and divisions and many sufferings and sorrows. His ultimate protection is a vital part of what it means to have a good shepherd. Verses 12-13:“He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”But not Jesus. He cares. He says, “I am the good shepherd.” When he laid down his life, he didn't stay dead. If the shepherd's dead, the sheep are goners. But Jesus took up his life again. And he always lives to intercede for us and keep us. His resurrection life is invincible, and he sits in victory on heaven's throne, knowing and protecting (from ultimate harm) every sheep who is his own.Which brings us once more to his Father. What does Jesus mean in verse 17 when he says, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again”? Is Jesus saying that he earns the love of his Father by laying down his life for us? The point is more subtle.What does a loving father do when his son accomplishes something great? He is overjoyed. He rejoices abundantly. He delights in his son. He loves his son. He's always loved his son, and he feels a special surge of love for his son when he achieves something great.Do you know what is the greatest single achievement in the history of the world? It's this good shepherd laying down his life for his sheep, and taking up his life again in victory, in conquest, in triumph over sin and death and Satan.Which brings us to the Table.Great in the Blood of the CovenantWe worked through Hebrews in 2023, and we finished with that great shepherd doxology in Hebrews 13:20-21. Listen for the connection to John 10:Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.Here the shepherd is great — did you catch that? And the reason he is great, says Hebrews, is “the blood of the eternal covenant.” Jesus shed the redeeming blood. Remember this is about the greatness of Jesus. He did not die by accident. He was no mere victim. No one took his life from him. He laid it down of his own accord. And he took it up again. And so at this Table we remember his greatness.
We're reminded of our calling to be 'salt and light' in the world. Drawing from Matthew 5:13-16, we explore how Christians are meant to preserve goodness and illuminate truth in our communities. Just as salt preserves and enhances, we're called to fight moral corruption and share the wisdom of Christ. As light, we're meant to reveal what is good and point others to Jesus. This isn't about shining for our own glory, but about serving for souls, not for show. We're challenged to examine our motives - are we living to be seen by others, or to glorify God? The message encourages us to share our faith journey through both action and words, reminding us that even small acts of integrity can open doors to share the gospel. As we go forth, let's consider: How can we be salt and light in our daily lives, preserving what is good and illuminating the path to Christ for others?
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Do you have enough of Jesus to make you feel better, but not so much of Jesus that it changes anything in your life? In this sermon, we're challenged to step outside our comfort zone and walk into the fullness of life that Jesus has waiting for us. Dr. Aaron Cole
In this powerful conversation, Eric sits down with Cory BiNks—a former seven-time World Series of Poker champion turned Christian rapper, missionary, and servant of God.Cory shares his incredible testimony: from a basketball dream that never panned out, to a life steeped in partying and poker success, to bottoming out—and ultimately surrendering his life to Christ in the midst of the pandemic. He opens up about how Matthew 16:24 changed everything, why chasing worldly success can't satisfy, and how obedience led him into music, ministry, and mentorship.This episode dives deep into:Cory's journey from brokenness to redemptionThe emptiness of chasing success without ChristWhat it truly looks like to take up your cross dailyHow serving others defines a legacyIf you're chasing dreams, feeling stuck, or simply in need of encouragement, Cory's story reminds us that God redeems time—and that any testimony can become a message of hope.Connect with Cory BiNksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/corybinks Apple Music: Cory BiNks on Apple MusicMusic on Spotify: Cory BiNks on SpotifyYouTube: Cory BiNks Music Channel
We talk about What Spiritual Gifts Are
Years ago, it was common to hear the phrase, "Make Jesus your personal Savior." While some unbiblical ideas were sometimes attached to it, that phrase is a good, biblical one. In this study, Evangelist Jacob Holman considers three truths the Scriptures tell us about a "personal" Jesus.
To Make Jesus Known — Sermon by Trevor Hoffman
Your greatest need in life is to know who Jesus is. Understanding who Jesus is can deeply impact your life on Earth and for an eternity. He will impact your life both spiritually and practically. You were created for a relationship with Him. Make Jesus your personal Savior today. Join our Evangelism On Fire Community: https://evangelismonfire.com/Get Your EOF Merch at our Store - https://thechurch.shop/shop/eof-merch-shopGive financially to our mission of spreading the Gospel message: https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/5727676Subscribe to our podcast today! You can find it on Apple podcast or wherever you get yours.Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@EvangelismOnFireClick the link to join our Evangelism On Fire Facebook community today: www.facebook.com/groups/evangelismonfire
Psalm 90,Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.3 You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!”4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning:6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.7 For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed.8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.10 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty;yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.11 Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.13 Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants!14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.16 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! Admiral Jim Stockdale was one of the most highly decorated officers in the history of the Navy — some of you have heard of him before. He was a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War and he's most famous for an ordeal that began on September 9, 1965. He took off in his A-4 Skyhawk for a normal mission, but this time, on his way back, he got shot down, ejected from his plane, and landed in a village where he was captured by the enemy. They held him as a prisoner of war from 1965 to 1973 — he was kept in solitary confinement for four years, in leg irons for two years, and he was physically tortured at least 15 times.And he survived. He was later released and obviously everybody was fascinated by his story. Stockdale wrote a couple of books about his experience, but he was made most popular by a business book that includes an interview with him. In that book, the author asked him, How'd you do it? How'd you make it through that time?And Stockdale said here's the key:“You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end […] with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality […].”In other words, you must hold together brutal facts and prevailing hope. This has become known as the “Stockdale Paradox” — or we could just call it the message of Psalm 90.Stockdale's answer is what we find in this psalm, which is relevant to all of us, because Psalm 90 is about life in a fallen world. The question behind this psalm is: How do you make it here? How do you do really live in this world? — that's the question. Anybody interested in that?! And this psalm shows us how in two parts: Verses 1–11 is You face the brutal facts.Verses 12–17 is You remember our prevailing hope.That's what we're gonna look at this morning. Father in heaven, thank you for your ancient words! And thank you for your Holy Spirit who is with us now. Speak to us, this morning, we pray, in Jesus's name, amen. Facing the Brutal Facts (verses 1–11)There are at least three ‘brutal' facts here, and as we look at them, I want us to think of these as facts that we would tell ourselves. So I'm gonna say them as things that you would say to yourself — #1 is this … if you want to make it in this world, face the fact that…1. God is God.Psalm 90 starts here:“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.”Verse 1 shows us right away that Moses is looking up! He starts with “Lord, you” — which means he's reading his situation in light of the Lord. This is a prayer of faith. And so whatever else he might say in this psalm, we know first that he's saying it to God — he's bringing it to God. And he knows God. Verse 2:“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”God is God. And God didn't just start to be God yesterday, but he has always been God. He was God before there was anything else. Before the mountains of the earth — before even the earth itself — God was who he is. He's bigger than us; he's older than us, and he's in control. We don't need to say anything about ourselves until we first understand this: It's not our world that God is part of, but it's his world that we're part of it. It's not that we fit him into our plans, but we exist for his purposes. It's not our story that he serves, but it's his story that we find ourselves in.So before you get stuck in your own head — or if you need to get unstuck — remind yourself that God is God. I think Psalm 90:2 is a great verse to memorize. It's the foundational, barest fact of all facts. God is God!We start there. We say that to ourselves. And then, soon enough, we get to ourselves and we realize that if God is God, we are not God. We are creatures. We are created. We're made. We are not from everlasting to everlasting, but instead we're time-bound.One of the interesting things of this psalm is the prevalence of time language. Just listen to all these words used: Generations, years, morning, evening, days. These words show up 15 different times in 17 verses. And what they're doing is they're forming the confines in which we live. When it comes to us, there's a beginning and an end to our lives here …And that brings us to the second brutal fact. Face the fact that…2. You will die. This is where Moses goes next, in verse 3. He's says to God, You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!”And this sounds like Genesis 3:19. The mention of dust alongside the allusion to death takes us back to the Garden of Eden and the curse of sin, and that helps make sense of Moses as the author of this psalm. Moses, perhaps more than anybody, was well acquainted with the brutal facts of the human condition. He wrote the first five books of the Old Testament, including this quote from Genesis — so he knew the story well! He knew everything from the creation of man to the fall of man to how the reality of sin played itself out in the idolatry and rebellion of the people of Israel. Moses wrote the origin story, and he had a front row seat to its implications.And Moses knew that death was the consequence of sin.That's something we don't tend to think about. We know death is certain, but we don't usually connect it to the curse. We don't think when someone dies: This person died because of God's judgment on sin. But that's where Moses goes! Look at verse 7:“For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.”Verse 11:“Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?”Moses connects the dots between God's judgment and death, and he leads us to do the same. That's the point of this rhetorical question in verse 11. He says Consider this! Think about this — because you probably haven't!Do you realize how effective God's curse on sin has been? God meant what he said when he told Adam in Genesis 2:17,“You shall surely die.”And for thousands of years, for billions and billions of people — for 110 people around the world every minute of every day — God has proven what he said. Every funeral you ever been to. Every loss in your life. Every graveyard you see with rows and rows of tombstones. They all testify to at least one fact: death is the curse of sin that God said it would be — Genesis 3:19, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” That is the only reason people die! Because God said that's what sin would bring. Because that's the judgment of God that sin would cost — God has never stopped paying that out. There is no escape.And for most of history, humans have been more in touch with their mortality than we are today.Today, as a society at large, we prefer to distract ourselves from it or numb ourselves to it. But that wasn't the case even 100 years ago.This Spring, Melissa and I were looking around at an antique shop, and I found this old framed print called “The Ages of Man.” It's an illustration of a man in eleven stages of life. At the center of it, there's the Garden of Eden and Adam eating the fruit — the fall of man which brought the curse — and then over to the left there's a stair climb up to a peak, and then a decline — it's goes up and then down, from cradle to grave. It's a visual reminder that you're gonna die.So I bought it … and brought it home, and put it in my study. And as I researched it, come to find out, there were countless prints like this, or iterations of it, that started circulating in the 16th century in the Western world. This particular one was published in 1906, but there are thousands and thousands of them in several different languages, and people used to have these prints hanging up in their homes and they'd see it everyday. We can hardly even think about our mortality. But brothers and sisters, friends, Psalm 90 is clear. You're going to die. Face it. Now to #3 … if you want to make it in this world, face the fact that…3. Life is hard. In case you thought death was the worst part, think again. The worst part, the brutalist fact, is that life is hard. And it's hard in part because it's so brief. That's the real contrast between God and us in Psalm 90. He is from everlasting to everlasting, and us … well … we get swept away with the rain. We're like a dream. We're like grass that's renewed in the morning, but then by evening, it's gone. Verse 9: our years come to an end like a sigh. Sigh — and we're gone.To really bring this point down for us, Moses gives a number in verse 10: Seventy years. That's the average. And this is fascinating. Think about this. Moses wrote this thousands of years ago — and there are different life expectancies in different parts of the world and there's been a little variance the past 200 years, but, altogether, 70 is about the average! Moses is right, and he's been right for a long time. Now, for some, Moses says, you might get to eighty. But you're talking that's an elite league.But 70–80 has been the standard life expectancy for most of human history — that's fascinating. Back before the flood, people lived a lot longer (I think that's the reference in verse 4). Kenan lived 910 years; Methuselah lived 969 years — that's a good run, but even that is like nothing before God. Methuselah's life to God is like yesterday afternoon. Yesterday afternoon! — that's a thousand years to God, so what about for 80 years? 70? Your life?It's a passing shadow. A vapor. And of that little vapor, that teeny little span, verse 10 says, is “but toil and trouble.”Wait, are we in Ecclesiastes? This sounds like Job on the worst day of his life (see Job 14:1–2)!No, we're in the psalms, and Psalm 90 is true. In that illustration of the stages of life — that picture now in my study — there's a caption beneath each decade that describes the decade, and the older the man gets, the bleaker the caption is (I had to use Google translate because it's in Swedish). But the caption under age 90 says, “At 90 years old, lame and bent, he has lost all memory of the joys of life.”It's kinda sad, but it's true to life under the curse. It's Psalm 90. And we need it. Now, of course, we can push back on all of this with some legitimate “whattabouts” — Whattabout this? Whattabout that? There are many blessings in this life! God's mercy is more! Amen! … but through verse 11, we need to hear Psalm 90 as it is. We find here the brutal facts about life in this world:God is God (not you).You're going to die.The brief time you have here is hard. Stockdale would say you gotta face the facts. Hold it here.But that's not the ending. Brutal facts are met with prevailing hope, and we find that in verse 12–17. Remember Our Prevailing Hope (verses 12–17)Verses 12–17 are six verses of petitions. Each verse is Moses asking God to do something surrounded by the background of these brutal facts. And we see two things here about hope.First, we see what hope does. How it drives Moses to pray a certain way.But secondly, and I think most important, we need to know what the hope actually is.We'll start with the is.What Hope IsIt's verses 13–14, and these are two verses I want to make sure you see. So everybody, do what you can to look at verse 13. Find verse 13.Moses prays: “13 Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”And the keyword here is “morning” in verse 14. It's the third time it's used in the psalm. Before I explain it, let me tell you first how I've always read this verse: I've understood it to mean that the way to rejoice and be glad all your days is to start each day, to spend each morning, getting your heart happy in Jesus.Meditate on the word of God, remember the love of God — private worship every morning. If you do that every morning, your days will be glad.That's how I've read Psalm 90:14, and that's been my practice, and guess what? I think it's true!I encourage all of you to start each morning in the word of God — be satisfied with the steadfast love of God! And, at the same time, I don't think that's what this verse is saying … because the word “morning” here is not referring to the literal morning.When “morning” is used in verses 5–6, it's symbolic of the earlier years of a person's life — it's the ascending stairs. When “morning” is used here in verse 14, it's symbolic of the new day of resurrected life. It's the reality of God doing what Moses prays in verse 13. Return, God! Come back! Fulfill your promises! Restore your people! Make all things new!In other words, “morning” in verse 14 is talking about heaven — the eternal morning.Moses is saying: if we can be satisfied with God's steadfast love in heaven — if that's our future, if God does that — then all our days here, on the way to that future, can have joy and gladness. Because we know that whatever happens here, the best yet to come! Whatever happens here, the worst thing is never the last thing. We have a future! We have a future with God! That's our hope. That's what the “morning” is referring to, and this starts to make sense. The petitions here demand this.In verse 15, Moses prays,“Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us …”He's saying, For as much time as it's been hard here, give us that same amount of joy! But look, if life itself is hard, if all of life is “toil and trouble” (which is what verses 1–11 tell us) then verse 15 requires another life.Moses is asking for a new life — that's the hope of heaven. The prevailing hope of Psalm 90 is a new heavens and new earth where we will be with God, in his fullness of joy, where at his right hand are pleasures forevermore.That's what the hope is, and now what does the hope do?What Hope DoesTwo things: work and wisdom.First, the hope of heaven means our work matters.Verse 17, Moses says:“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!”Now this is saying a lot! It means that the brutal facts of verses 1–11 are not meant to make us despair, but to make us sober. The reality of our creatureliness, the certainty of death, the brevity and hardships of life — none of those things mean that life here has no meaning if heaven is real.If this world is all we have, then sure, “Let us eat, drink, and be merry — Blah to everything!” But if heaven is real, if we have a future with God, and our lives here are consequential to that future, then our work here matters. We have things to do, and we should do them. We plant and grow and harvest and share. We design and build and steward and multiply. We are blessed to bless, saved to serve, given to that we might give. And we should be steadfast in these things, immovable, always abounding in this work because we know that because heaven is real, our work here is not in vain (see 1 Corinthians 15:58).Our work matters.Second, the hope of heaven means we need wisdom.This is verse 12: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”Now, what I'm about to say is going to be so plain and simple you're gonna be like “Duh!” Here it is: If heaven is real, and your life here matters, then it's wise to know your life here is brief.This is starting with the end in mind. Start with heaven. That's our future, church. Jesus is real and he has gone to prepare a place for us, and he's going to come again and take us to himself that where he is we may be also. Jesus said that! Heaven is as real as Jesus is!And then, you mean to tell me that my life in this world has meaning for that?! My life has consequence for that? God can use my life here to impact heaven?Sign me up! — How much time do I have?!Not a lot of time. Limited time. Your days are numbered. Now what effect does that have? It gives us wisdom. It gives us wisdom to make the most of the time we have.I have another little framed picture in my study. Melissa's late grandmother gave it to me (and I think it also came from an antique shop). But it says, Just one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.Josiah Bennett exhorted us with these words a few weeks ago. This is how we want to live. It's how I'm trying to live!We recognize the brevity of life here, and we do it full of the hope of heaven, the realness of Jesus, at the center of our minds and hearts — hold those two things together … heaven is real and life here is short … wisdom!This is our prevailing hope: Heaven is real. So our work matters and we need wisdom. So says Moses in Psalm 90 … face the brutal facts; remember our prevailing hope — which is not just a strategy for survival, this is how we thrive. This is not merely about how to make it in this world, but it's how to have joy and gladness all our days even amid the sorrows.Father, would you do that?This now brings us to the Table.The TableOne thing I want to make clear this morning is that the hope that Moses talks about here, and our hope, is not abstract, but it's personal. There's no doubt in the Psalm, anytime there's language about God returning, or the restoration of God's people, it's always pointing to the Messiah. Jesus is the person of our hope. Jesus himself says, in Revelation 22,“I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16).He is the one we hope in. He is what makes heaven heaven. We look to him this morning, and I want to invite you to do that. If you've never put your faith in Jesus, you're stuck in verses 1–11. Without Jesus, there is no hope. But you can have hope this morning. Come to Jesus. Ask him to save you. Make Jesus your hope. And for those of us who have done that — if you've trusted in Jesus — at this table we remember him and give him thanks! We want his glory to be magnified.
Ignore The Storm, WALK ON THE WATER ! Focusing on troubles & worrying weakens faith. Make Jesus your shield & exceeding great reward!
Join Discipleship.org at one of our fall events: https://discipleship.org/one-day-events/ The Deeper Walk Experience | Franklin, TN | Aug. 15-16, 2025: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/dw-experience-franklin/ Discipling Men | Dallas, TX | Sept. 11, 2025: https://discipleship.org/one-day-events/dallas-2025-regional/ The Discipleship Gospel | Oceanside, CA | Oct. 9, 2025: https://discipleship.org/one-day-events/2025-west-coast-conference/ Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ Today's episode will help us recognize the subtle dangers of pride in ministry, embrace humility, and refocus our efforts on pointing people to Jesus, not ourselves. Stay Informed - Get our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hPViAr Overcoming Pride in Ministry | Disciple Makers Podcast In this episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast, join hosts Jason and Josh as they tackle the insidious pitfalls of pride and ego in ministry. Sharing personal stories of struggles and revelations, they explore the dangers of becoming self-reliant and the importance of maintaining a humble spirit. With insights from scripture and their own experiences, they emphasize the necessity of lifting up Jesus rather than ourselves, making Him the focal point of our mission. This episode is a must-listen for anyone dedicated to being a true disciple of Christ, striving to avoid the traps of pride while faithfully serving God's kingdom. Get Discipleship.org's premium Podcast Feed: https://disciplemakerspodcast.supercast.com/ Key Takeaways 00:00 Introduction and Clickbait Confession 00:19 Discussing Pitfalls in Ministry 01:31 The Dangers of Pride and Ego 04:02 Personal Stories of Humility 06:29 Lessons from Early Ministry Experiences 09:55 The Importance of Humility in Ministry 13:52 Balancing Ambition and Calling 19:45 Preaching Christ Despite Challenges 20:08 Economic Hardships and Church Reflections 21:10 Serving the Bride of Christ 23:01 The Importance of Humility in Ministry 25:13 Personal Struggles and Divine Realizations 30:28 The Call to Make Jesus the Big Deal 36:45 Final Thoughts and Encouragement Check out our Blogs: https://discipleship.org/blog/ Join us for our 2026 National Disciple Making Forum: https://discipleship.org/2026-national-disciple-making-forum/ See Below for a longer description: In this episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast, Josh and Jason dive into one of the most dangerous traps in ministry—pride—and why humility is essential for every disciple of Jesus. It kicks off with a lighthearted bit about clickbait but quickly shifts into a deep, honest conversation about how pride creeps in and distorts our calling. Starting Real Josh jokingly suggests they confess their worst sins, which opens the door for a vulnerable talk about their personal struggles with pride. They both share how easy it is to be deceived by pride—especially in ministry—because it often shows up looking like confidence or competence, but slowly shifts us away from dependence on God. The Deceptive Power of Pride They reflect on how pride convinces us we don't need God. Josh quotes James 4:6: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble,” and they agree that pride distorts reality, making us think we're doing God's work when we're really just building our own platforms. Josh points to John the Baptist's words—“He must increase, I must decrease”—as a powerful reminder of the posture God desires. Learning the Hard Way Josh shares a story from his early ministry days when success went to his head—until a disastrous sermon reminded him he needed God's presence, not just his own talent. Since then, he's adopted a practice of taking off his shoes before preaching as a symbolic reminder of holy ground and humility. Jason shares his own wake-up call—realizing that ambition disguised as vision had become about personal achievement. Pastoring a small church taught him that impact isn't measured in numbers but in faithfulness. Humility in Action Later in the episode, they talk about what true humility looks like in ministry. Josh says the goal isn't to make followers of ourselves—it's to point people to Jesus. Jason emphasizes that when Jesus is the center, the Gospel stays front and center too. They also reflect on grace—not just as an idea, but as the active presence of God that flows through the humble. Jason notes that God works through those who get low, not those who chase applause. Practical Wisdom To wrap things up, they offer practical ways to fight pride: stay rooted in Scripture, don't chase originality for the sake of ego, and constantly boast in Christ, not self. It's not about being clever—it's about being faithful. Final Thoughts Josh closes by reminding listeners that pride makes ministry about you, but real discipleship is about making much of Jesus. They encourage everyone to stay humble, stay centered on Christ, and check out more resources at discipleship.org.
Pastor Mich Michener - Recorded Sunday 06/01/2025
Business In His Image - Learn Business From The Bible | Christian Entrepreneurship Podcast
Send me a text! (I might answer you in an episode)How do we align our finances with God's Word? On this episode we'll explore what it truly means to make Jesus the Lord of our finances. You'll learn four key principles and how they unlock God's blessings. Plus, grab my free budgeting template to help you get started on your journey to financial stewardship! Learn how to trade money anxiety for peace and Godly wisdom.Get my free budgeting template for Christians
Today's episode of the sunshine would like to encourage you to make Jesus Christ your focus. He has laid out the groundwork and threw God‘s holy word. The Bible has given you all the instructions. You need to tell the world that Jesus lives. May God bless you and keep you, and I pray that you will choose Jesus and share your sunshine
Massimo Giannini, editorialista e opinionista di Repubblica, racconta dal lunedì al venerdì il suo punto di vista sullo scenario politico e sulle notizie di attualità, italiane e internazionali. “Circo Massimo - Lo spettacolo della politica“ lo puoi ascoltare sull’app di One Podcast, sull’app di Repubblica, e su tutte le principali piattaforme.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Born with a cleft palate, Dr. Kandee Mamula endured thirteen surgeries in her early childhood, giving her the ability to speak. Even with her difficult beginnings and having the fear of being around people, Kandee's Christian parents were able to show her that God's great love is for all of us. Kanee now expresses that truth in so many ways! Carole and Dr. Mamula discuss their understanding of true identity in Christ and the importance of resting in His presence. Throughout her thriving ministry, Kandee has written three books, and has been a teacher at numerous conferences, churches, and at Folsom Prison Women's Facility. During the podcast, Carole sings her scripture song, ‘Love the Lord Your God' (Deuteronomy 6:5) and a beautiful ballad titled 'Surrender'. Be blessed and encouraged today!
Have you ever wondered how to rekindle your love for Jesus or why life's distractions seem to keep pulling you away? In this heartwarming and insightful episode of Disciples Journal, Bethany Moore shares her journey of returning to Jesus as her first love and finding deep, wholehearted devotion. In this episode, you'll learn: • How to stay rooted in your faith amidst life's storms. • The power of community in fostering spiritual growth. • Why genuine worship goes beyond routines and touches all aspects of life. • Practical steps to integrate God into every detail of your daily activities. Bethany's candid stories and thoughtful insights will inspire you to seek a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. Whether you're feeling distant from your faith or simply wish to go deeper, this episode offers a roadmap to rekindling your spiritual passion. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - The Power of Wholehearted Devotion 00:13:00 - When Bethany Truly Fell in Love with God 00:17:00 - The Lesson From a Homeless Woman That Changed Everything 00:27:00 - How to Make Jesus the Love of Your Life 00:32:00 - Are You Seeking God or Just a Spiritual Routine? 00:50:00 - Stop Doing It Your Way—Why Obedience to God Matters 00:55:00 - Trusting God Beyond Your Preferences 01:02:00 - The Question That Will Change Your Faith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Pastor Sean Pillay delivers a message at Olive Baptist Church on March 23, 2025, utilizing Acts 4:1-13 as his text reference.
Today we're studying D&C 19:40-41 in just one minute! Grab your scriptures and let's dive into them together! And grab study guides for the whole family here: - To get Cali's scripture study guide for adults click here: https://comefollowmestudy.com/shop/ Discount code: OMSS Or purchase on Amazon: https://amzn.to/49xBWNv - Kristen's scripture study guides are available with the Start Here Come Follow Me membership. Get 25% off here: https://kristenwalkersmith.memberful.com/checkout?plan=120875&coupon=PODCAST25 Get our 365-day Doctrine and Covenants daily devotional book: https://a.co/d/aE3Wp4D
Big Idea: Is faith merely a crutch for weak people?1 Corinthians 1:26-31I. Embrace the demotion1 Corinthians 1:26-27Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. II. Kill your pride 1 Corinthians 1:28-29God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one may boast in his presence.III. Make Jesus famous1 Corinthians 1:30-31It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption —in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.Next Steps: Believe: I need Jesus to give me new life today. Become: I need the Holy Spirit to help kill my pride this week. Be Sent: I will put Christ's strength on display this weekDiscussion Questions: How would you respond to someone who claims that faith is a crutch for weak people? How often did you reflect on yourself compared to thinking about God yesterday? Provide a ratio. In which areas of your life are you most likely to take pride? How can you surrender that area of your life to Christ? Does boasting in Christ mean you cannot feel good about your successes? When did you have the opportunity to make Christ famous last week? How did it go? Pray for the Holy Spirit to teach us humility this week.
Trumpets of Tirzah is the only educational institution in the world that focuses on the Apostolic role of women in the body of Christ while educating, equipping and empowering women to walk confidently in their God-given role. Earn your degree with us at a fraction of the cost: www.TirzahAcademy.com Your support plants seeds and grows the Kingdom of God! We are a 501c3 - www.trumpetsoftirzah.com/donate Luxury anointing oils and anointing lotions: https://www.trumpetsoftirzah.com/category/anointing Please consider our shop for your gift-giving needs. Each purchase helps us continue to spread the gospel all around the world: https://www.trumpetsoftirzah.com/category/all-products And take a look at how we are sharing the gospel through film: https://www.trumpetsoftirzah.com/mastersmedia *********************************************************** Sow a seed for the Kingdom of God today! https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/3682661 Join Us. Awaken Your Purpose. Be Transformed. https://www.trumpetsoftirzah.com/courseinfo Join the Heavenly Harvest Alliance today! www.trumpetsoftirzah.com/heavenly-harvest-alliance Join us for church every Wednesday evening via YouTube Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0och7fotNo-rwK__QCdacXOnVtsg-JOv The chat is open during service so you can chat with the Tirzah Tribe and other regular attendees. Trumpets of Tirzah is a Christian lifestyle and leadership academy for women that desire to pursue an authentic connection with the Lord and pursue the purpose He created them for. We also offer co-ed events and workshops.
Connect with God — on Abide, a Christian meditation app that provides a biblically grounded place to experience peace and progress in your relationship with Christ. Use this biblical meditation, narrated by Bonnie Curry, to center yourself on the truth in God's word. Make Jesus your strength and shield. Meditate on 2 Timothy 1:12. Allow the music & nature sounds, deep breathing, prayer, and scripture help you connect with God in a new way. For a 30 day free trial of our premium ad-free content, your trusted friend for meditation is right here: https://abide.com/peace Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Check out Discipleship.org National Disciple Making Forum: https://discipleship.org/national-disciple-making-forum/ "Today's episode will help us uncover the profound lessons of the Parable of the Talents, reflect on our God-given gifts, and learn how to use them faithfully and intentionally for His glory." Maximizing Your Talents for God's Kingdom | Disciple Makers Podcast In this enriching episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast, hosts Jason and Josh take a deep dive into the Parable of the Talents and how it relates to our daily lives. They explore the concepts of using our gifts, time, and resources for God's glory and discuss the motivations behind our actions. The episode emphasizes not wasting the opportunities and blessings given by God, but rather actively using them to further His Kingdom. Through personal anecdotes and scriptural insights, they touch on themes of joy, guilt, motivation, and the ultimate goal of sharing in the Master's happiness. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that challenges listeners to evaluate their own lives and take actionable steps toward being true disciples. Stay Informed - Get our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hPViAr Get Discipleship.org's premium Podcast Feed: https://disciplemakerspodcast.supercast.com/ Key Takeaways 00:00 Welcome Back to the Disciple Makers Podcast 01:01 Discussing the Parable of the Talents 02:36 Understanding the Five Bagger 04:10 The Two Bagger's Hard Work 04:46 The One Bagger's Mistake 05:18 Reflecting on Time and Talents 09:40 The Danger of Wasting Time 17:44 Applying the Parable to Our Lives 19:42 The Motivation Behind Faithfulness 20:46 Craving Approval and Growth 22:35 Sharing in the Master's Happiness 23:51 Experiencing Joy Through Worship and Transformation 27:59 Joining in Jesus' Mission 34:23 Reflecting on Personal Motivations 38:17 Practical Steps for Discipleship 40:19 Final Thoughts and Encouragement Check out our Blogs: https://discipleship.org/blog/ See Below for a longer description: In this episode of the Disciple Makers podcast, co-hosts Josh Howard and Jason Ishmael take a deep dive into the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25. They kick things off with lighthearted banter—Jason recalls their past conversations, and Josh humorously brings up the Tyson fight. This playful start eases into a thoughtful and relatable discussion on the parable's significance. Josh introduces the Parable of the Talents, also known as “Bags of Gold,” and invites Jason to unpack its meaning. Jason explains how the master entrusted three servants with varying amounts of gold based on their abilities—five, two, and one—and draws parallels to modern life, even coining the term “five bagger,” likening it to bowling. Their playful humor adds accessibility to a serious topic. The conversation transitions into a deeper reflection on the parable's lessons about accountability and faithfulness. Jason highlights how the first two servants doubled their gold and were praised for their diligence, while the third buried his out of fear, earning the master's rebuke. He shares how fear or laziness can lead us to "bury our talents," offering examples from his own life. Josh chimes in with personal anecdotes, including how distractions like video games once consumed his time until his wife's observation convicted him to refocus on his family. Jason ties this to a Charles Spurgeon sermon titled “Gone, Utterly Gone,” which underscores the irretrievable loss of wasted time. He shares how the message moved him deeply, urging listeners to recognize the value of time and seize opportunities to serve God. The hosts then explore practical takeaways, encouraging listeners to assess their motivations and align them with God's purposes. Josh emphasizes the joy that comes from pleasing God, contrasting it with the fleeting satisfaction of human approval. He highlights the example of Jesus sending out the 72 disciples and rejoicing in their success, pointing to the joy God feels when His people faithfully engage in His mission. Josh and Jason strike a balance between worship and active ministry, challenging listeners to wisely use their time, talents, and resources for God's glory. The episode wraps up with a call to action: evaluate your God-given gifts, take intentional steps to use them, and seek accountability from trusted friends. The hosts also mention an upcoming discipleship forum in Houston, Texas, and direct listeners to resources at discipleship.org. Josh signs off with a heartfelt message of encouragement, reminding listeners that they are supported on their journey to becoming faithful disciple-makers. This episode blends humor, personal stories, and profound biblical insights with practical applications for living a productive and faithful Christian life.
Send us a textWelcome back to you all back to the Tat2dPreacher Podcast for its first episode of 2025. After taking a much-needed holiday break, I'm excited to share what I believe God has put on my heart for the year: 'Make Jesus Proud.' I'll be discussing how this theme can guide our actions and attitudes throughout the year, and I'll draw parallels between our mission today and that of John the Baptist, positioning us as modern-day forerunners for Christ's second coming. We'll also dive into Bible reading plans and the powerful role social media plays in spreading the gospel. My goal is to inspire you to take up your mission with renewed passion and purpose, bringing Christ's love into your everyday life. I am so excited for all God is going to do in and through you this year!Let's Get Connected!https://www.thetat2dpreacher.com/bio.site/thetat2dpreacherhttps://www.instagram.com/thetat2dpre...https://www.tiktok.com/@tat2dpreacherpatreon.com/Tat2dPreacherjoel@thetat2dpreacher.com
Your Race - Make Jesus Lord | #AllOfJesusIsTheAnswer (Pastor Benjamin Smith) by Revealing Truth Ministries-Wesley Chapel
ScriptureTranscriptMusic:Four Hundred Years - Christ Church LondonConsider the Stars - Keith & Kristyn GettyHallelujah Chorus - Dan Vasc (singing all 24 voices!)
Listen as Pastor Benson teaches there is only one Star! (Matthew 2:9-12). Make Jesus the Star of your life!
Dream big dreams to the glory of God! Make Jesus your sole focus & first love :)
Becoming a faithful follower of Jesus looks like going where He goes, thinking how He thinks, doing what He does, and trusting what He says—but that's hard to do if you don't know who He is. So, get to know Jesus by spending time with Him every day. | SWITCH IRL | Find a location near you here: https://www.life.church/locations/ | SOCIAL | Switch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SwitchYouthSwitch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lcswitch Switch Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWITCHonline Switch TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@switchyth Switch Music Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/switchmsc Switch Music YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/SwitchMSC Switch Music Website: https://www.life.church/switch-music Switch Music Spotify: https://go2.lc/SwitchMusicSpotifySwitch is a place where students get to have fun with friends while focusing on growing their relationship with God. Every Wednesday 6th-12th graders meet at Life.Church for a night of worship, small groups, fun activities, and student-centered teaching that addresses the issues students face every day. https://www.life.church/switch/
We all hear... Jesus is the reason for the season... Put Jesus at the center... but how do we actually live this out? How do we turn the hustle and bustle into an act of worship and focus on the goodness of God instead of on our to-do lists? Today I talk about how we can take anything we are doing and turn it into worship. Get your focus straight and you will set the course for your new year! Love, Brittany Guilt Free Mama Method Course NOW Available for Purchase HERE! NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATION for 2025! Pain to Peace Academy is launching February 4th! Spots are limited. Get all the details and apply HERE. Come say hi and join the Morning Mama Facebook Group! I would love to hear your story and know your name. ALL THE LINKS FOR ALL THE THINGS! Morning Mama Website Pain to Peace Academy Morning Mama Facebook Group Follow Us on Instagram Find a Restoration Therapist Come say hi by emailing hello@morningmamapodcast.com
Welcome!Bruce Downes Catholic Ministries is for people who are seeking to know more about God and Church and where believers from around the world can strengthen their walk with Christ.Like, comment & subscribe to stay updated with the latest content! Connect With Bruce At:► Website: https://BruceDownes.org ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCatholicGuyBruceDownes ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatholicguy ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecatholicguy ► Online Store: https://brucedownes.org/store Consider Becoming a Faith Builders Partner:Everyone who donates to Bruce Downes Catholic Ministries is what we call a Faith Builder Partner. The team are working to build the faith of every person we connect with whether they are powerful or weak, rich or poor, young or old, in whatever city, town, village and country they are in. ►https://brucedownes.org/giving/#brucedownes #catholicministries #praytherosarv #devotional #dailydevotional
Pastor Mike Ascher
Gee whiz, folks! Grab your favorite milkshake and settle in as we take a trip down memory lane in this wholesome episode of Mormonism Live! Just like a scene out of Leave it to Beaver, Bill Reel and RFM team up with their ol’ pal Paul Toscano to chat about something that’s got everyone at… Read More »How Did Mormons Make Jesus Our Elder Brother? [Mormonism Live 206]
Gee whiz, folks! Grab your favorite milkshake and settle in as we take a trip down memory lane in this wholesome episode of Mormonism Live! Just like a scene out of Leave it to Beaver, Bill Reel and RFM team up with their ol’ pal Paul Toscano to chat about something that’s got everyone at… Read More »How Did Mormons Make Jesus Our Elder Brother? [Mormonism Live 206] The post How Did Mormons Make Jesus Our Elder Brother? [Mormonism Live 206] appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.
Gee whiz, folks! Grab your favorite milkshake and settle in as we take a trip down memory lane in this wholesome episode of Mormonism Live! Just like a scene out of Leave it to Beaver, Bill Reel and RFM team up with their ol' pal Paul Toscano to chat about something that's got everyone at… Read More »How Did Mormons Make Jesus Our Elder Brother? [Mormonism Live 206]
Pastor Mike Ascher
The Tabernacle Podcast | Presented By The Tabernacle Baptist Church
This message was delivered during our Sunday morning service on November 3, 2024. The text being expounded is Luke 19:28-40.
What is actually important? Is it our hobbies, what we do with our free time, what we enjoy, or how much time we spend with God. Hobbies, interests, and other activities are good, but they are NOT living water. Jesus is the only one we can turn to for that. Alex and Jeremy are here to share about the mindset we need to consider when looking at our activities and hobbies. We need to take time to evaluate what in our life we may be putting more importance on that our relationship with God.
In this new message series, Pastor Jason Huffman dives into the theme of "Make Jesus Known." Drawing from Ephesians 4:11-16, he explores how Christ equips us for works of service and calls us to grow into spiritual maturity. Pastor Jason emphasizes that before we can effectively make Jesus known to others, we must first know Him ourselves!Pneuma Life Church with Pastors Jason & Jessica Huffman in Saint Johns, Florida. Join us live for services each Sunday at 10AM4100 Race Track Rd. (Durbin Creek Elementary) Saint Johns, FL 32259 Visit us online at: https://pneumalife.church Email: hello@pneuma.life
As we continue through this current series called “Send,” we look at what it means to make Jesus visible in our communities. When we, as believers, step outside of the church walls and take the gospel to the streets, we have an opportunity to point people to the One who does great things!Join us as Pastor Thomas New brings us through the end of Acts chapter 13, as we learn how we, like Paul and Barnabas, can make Jesus visible in the face of opposition. If we will remain faithful to God, He will remain faithful to us.Support the show
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Recorded live on 9/1/24. Ken Malone | https://www.forerunner-ministries.org The Oasis Church, Middletown Ohio. Learn more: https://oasiswired.org --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oasiswired/support
The vision and values of Grace Church are constants—always the foundation of everything we do in our community and world. During the WE series, we'll sharpen the focus on our vision and values in an effort to forge new pathways for reaching our surrounding community. Together, let's encourage each other to make Jesus make sense […]
The kingdom of God is at war with the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of this world.Our primary battle is against falseideas. Satan's weapon is deception, and there's nothing more destructive than a believed lie. We fight these lies with the truth, holding fast to God's word and taking every thought captive.Submission is warfare. Submitting our will to God's and living a disciplined life is crucial in resisting the forces of darkness.Make Jesus your focus, and don't leave your house empty. Fill yourself with the things of God, not leaving room for the enemy.Every choice is an opportunity to engage in spiritual warfare. Whether through prayer, gentleness, forgiveness, or generosity, we push back the forces of darkness, advance God's kingdom, and bring glory to Jesus Christ.Thanks so much for listening to the Believers Center podcast! Service Times: Sundays at 10AM (online + in-person)Tuesdays at 7PM (in-person only)Follow us on Instagram @believerscenterTo learn more about Believers Center, visit https://www.believerscenter.comTo submit a prayer request, or to get connected with a pastor, visit https://www.believerscenter.com/prayforme
Sermon Notes:Admit that you're a sinner.Look to Jesus.Make Jesus your Savior and LORD.Scripture References:Numbers 21:4-9James 5:16John 3:14-17Romans 6:23Hebrews 12:1-2Proverbs 3:5-7
What is Pentecost? Why is it important to us today? Rabbi Schneider shares that the Jewish people had already been celebrating Shavuot for 1500 years. But when the Spirit of God came, it fulfilled Shavuot as it had been prophesied 1500 years prior. Jesus didn't come to create a separate religion, but to fulfill through the Jews as had been promised. Christianity is not a different belief. Jesus fulfills the Jewish expectation of the Messiah. Pentecost is the birthday of the living church with access to God through the Holy Spirit. When we celebrate Shavuot and Pentecost, we joyfully acknowledge that God gave us His Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help you through any trial and tribulation. The Holy Spirit is a gift that lives within us for our enjoyment, to experience God, and to be the power to obey Him and be His witnesses. Make Jesus relevant to the people around you. Visit our website at DiscoveringTheJewishJesus.com