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January 18th, 2026At River Oak Church, we are a welcoming family of imperfect people who share a passion for God, a passion for others, and a passion for graciously sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. We enjoy an informal environment and Christ-exalting modern worship, and we are committed to following the truth of God's Word. We welcome you to come as you are, from wherever you've been, and join us!Support the show
“‘Abba, Father,’ he cried out, ‘everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’” (Mark 14:36 NLT) Mark 14 describes what may be the darkest night of the soul in human history. Jesus was “deeply troubled and distressed” (verse 33 NLT) because He knew the “awful hour” (verse 35 NLT) of His suffering was approaching. Jesus knew that in a very short time He would be denied by one of His closest friends. He knew that He would be the object of Peter’s shame and the cause of his cursing. He knew that He would be rejected by the people of Israel whom He came to save. He knew that His disciple Judas would betray Him with a kiss. He knew that the rest of His disciples would scatter in fear. He knew that He would be tried in a kangaroo court, falsely accused, and convicted. He understood the sheer torture of what He was about to do—that is, to take all the impurity, sin, and wickedness of humanity upon Himself. He who was righteous, holy, and pure was about to take upon Himself all that was unrighteous, unholy, and impure. For eternity Jesus had enjoyed unbroken communion with His Father. But He knew that in a short time, when the sin of the world was poured upon Him, God would momentarily turn His face from Him. He would be forsaken. That’s what He was recoiling from in the Garden of Gethsemane. That’s what He was dreading: the horrible moment when He would take all the sin of the world upon Himself. The only one who could understand what He was about to experience was His Father. “‘Abba, Father,’ he cried out, ‘everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine’” (Mark 4:36 NLT). Abba is a term of intimate affection used by children for their father. It’s similar to the terms “Daddy” or “Papa.” Jesus the Son was crying out to God the Father in His moment of difficulty. As He struggled with what lay ahead, Jesus asked His Father for one final reassurance that this was the only way to satisfy God’s justice and holiness—that this was the only way to make salvation and eternal life possible. Through it all, Jesus had one overarching goal, and it wasn’t to spare Himself pain and suffering. Look at His resolute words again: “I want your will to be done, not mine” (NLT). In offering this prayer, Jesus gave us an example to follow. None of us will ever be able to fathom the agony Jesus experienced that night. But we will experience our own consequences for pursuing God’s will. We may not always know what the will of God is in every situation. And when we do know it, we may not always like it. But we follow One who prioritized God’s will above everything else. And we must never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. Reflection question: What would embracing God’s will look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
January 11th, 2026At River Oak Church, we are a welcoming family of imperfect people who share a passion for God, a passion for others, and a passion for graciously sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. We enjoy an informal environment and Christ-exalting modern worship, and we are committed to following the truth of God's Word. We welcome you to come as you are, from wherever you've been, and join us!Support the show
Sunday morning message from Pastor Jonathan Barber. January 11, 2026
“Some of those at the table were indignant. ‘Why waste such expensive perfume?’ they asked. ‘It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!’ So they scolded her harshly.” (Mark 14:4–5 NLT) As you read the New Testament, you can’t help but notice how little it says about the major events of world history. You might think Scripture would mention Rome and all its mighty conquests. But it doesn’t. Instead, the events of the Roman Empire are mere backdrops for more personal events in history, ones that God chose to spotlight. Ones that still resonate two thousand years later. God focuses on teachings and personal stories that transcend mere dates and accomplishments. In Mark 12:41–44, Jesus tells the story of a woman who gave everything she had, just two small coins, to the Temple collection box. In contrast to her, the Roman emperor and certain citizens possessed wealth beyond measure. But that didn’t matter to the Lord. Theirs was meaningless wealth—the use of riches that God saw no reason to celebrate in His Word. And in Mark 14:3–9, we find the story of a woman who made an incredible sacrifice for Jesus. While Jesus was visiting the home of a man named Simon, an unnamed woman poured out a jar of expensive perfume to anoint Jesus. Her actions are memorable because she seemed to recognize that Jesus needed to be anointed for His upcoming burial (see verse 8). So, with complete abandon, she gave Him everything she had. The perfume cost over three hundred denarii. In those days, three hundred denarii equaled a year’s wages. But it wasn’t the cost of the gift that mattered. It was the heart that made her want to give. It was her motives that touched Jesus, because He knew she had sacrificed nearly everything for Him. Mark 10:17–31 tells the story of a man who asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (NLT). The man was confident in his spiritual standing because he had obeyed all the commandments since he was young. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor,” Jesus said (verse 21 NLT). That was something the man couldn’t do because he had many possessions. So, he went away sad. Those who follow Jesus must keep a light grasp on their riches and possessions. We must be willing to sacrifice anything and everything for Him. Are you willing to sacrifice anything and everything? Are you doing all that you can for the Lord? Some people, like many of the dutiful Pharisees, will give only what is required. They will try to get by with the bare minimum. It’s a tempting approach, but one that you will always regret. Today, won’t you commit to serving the Lord above and beyond what is required—like the women in Jesus’s stories did? Reflection question: What would an act of service above and beyond the bare minimum look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The average person who reads through this passage will likely not think much of it. On the surface, everything appears simple and familiar, with nothing that seems unusual or out of the ordinary. Yet this may be one of the most unique and consequential passages in the Gospel, and if we read past it too quickly, we risk missing something profoundly important. Slowing down and paying close attention here is critical, because what is happening beneath the surface carries eternal significance.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Tuesday, January 6, 2025
This episode features a full length Bible study taught by Pastor Jack Abeelen of Morningstar Christian Chapel in Whittier, California.If today you prayed with Pastor Jack to receive the Lord, we'd love to hear about it and get you started on the right foot. Visit us online at: https://morningstarcc.org/born-again/To see more of Pastor Jack's Bible studies, visit our Morningstar Christian Chapel channel at https://www.youtube.com/@morningstarcc.To subscribe to our Podcast newsletter go to http://eepurl.com/iGzsP6.If you would like to support our electronic ministry, you may do so by going to our donations page at https://morningstarcc.churchcenter.com/giving/to/podcast.Visit our church website at https://morningstarcc.org.
Monday, January 5, 2026
Sunday morning message from Pastor Jonathan Barber. January 4, 2026
Friday, January 2, 2026
Thursday, January 1, 2026
What, exactly, is "the Gospel"? Zack argues that it depends on who you are talking to. And this story -- of the woman who gives everything to anoint Jesus -- is a great way to understand the Gospel for many today.
This episode features a full length Bible study taught by Pastor Jack Abeelen of Morningstar Christian Chapel in Whittier, California.If today you prayed with Pastor Jack to receive the Lord, we'd love to hear about it and get you started on the right foot. Visit us online at: https://morningstarcc.org/born-again/To see more of Pastor Jack's Bible studies, visit our Morningstar Christian Chapel channel at https://www.youtube.com/@morningstarcc.To subscribe to our Podcast newsletter go to http://eepurl.com/iGzsP6.If you would like to support our electronic ministry, you may do so by going to our donations page at https://morningstarcc.churchcenter.com/giving/to/podcast.Visit our church website at https://morningstarcc.org.
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Sunday morning message from Pastor Jonathan Barber. December 28, 2025
This episode features a full length Bible study taught by Pastor Jack Abeelen of Morningstar Christian Chapel in Whittier, California.If today you prayed with Pastor Jack to receive the Lord, we'd love to hear about it and get you started on the right foot. Visit us online at: https://morningstarcc.org/born-again/To see more of Pastor Jack's Bible studies, visit our Morningstar Christian Chapel channel at https://www.youtube.com/@morningstarcc.To subscribe to our Podcast newsletter go to http://eepurl.com/iGzsP6.If you would like to support our electronic ministry, you may do so by going to our donations page at https://morningstarcc.churchcenter.com/giving/to/podcast.Visit our church website at https://morningstarcc.org.
Sunday morning message from Pastor Jonathan Barber. December 21, 2025
mark 14
This episode features a full length Bible study taught by Pastor Jack Abeelen of Morningstar Christian Chapel in Whittier, California.If today you prayed with Pastor Jack to receive the Lord, we'd love to hear about it and get you started on the right foot. Visit us online at: https://morningstarcc.org/born-again/To see more of Pastor Jack's Bible studies, visit our Morningstar Christian Chapel channel at https://www.youtube.com/@morningstarcc.To subscribe to our Podcast newsletter go to http://eepurl.com/iGzsP6.If you would like to support our electronic ministry, you may do so by going to our donations page at https://morningstarcc.churchcenter.com/giving/to/podcast.Visit our church website at https://morningstarcc.org.
Sunday morning message from Pastor Jonathan Barber. December 14, 2025
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Mark 14:53-72 (ESV)Andrew and Edwin discuss Jesus's own use of prayer to gain strength to overcome the temptation to walk away from the cross in contrast to Peter's lack of prayer keeping him weak in the face of temptation to deny Jesus.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here. Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=23714The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/
Mark 14:43-52 (NKJV)Andrew and Edwin discuss how Jesus knew the answer to His garden prayer. He was going to let the Scriptures be fulfilled.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here. Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=23699The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/
The most effective tactic that the enemy of our soul utilizes is the one in which he defeats us squarely in battle by making us think there is no war. This is one such story, and it's time for our eyes to open.
Mark 14:26-42 (ESV)Andrew and Edwin discuss the theodicy of Jesus's prayer in the garden. P.S. A theodicy is a defense of God in the face of evil in the world.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here. Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=23677The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/
Mark 14:12-31 (NKJV)Andrew and Edwin gain great comfort and encouragement by learning Jesus uses the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here. Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=23656The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/
This episode features a full length Bible study taught by Pastor Jack Abeelen of Morningstar Christian Chapel in Whittier, California.If today you prayed with Pastor Jack to receive the Lord, we'd love to hear about it and get you started on the right foot. Visit us online at: https://morningstarcc.org/born-again/To see more of Pastor Jack's Bible studies, visit our Morningstar Christian Chapel channel at https://www.youtube.com/@morningstarcc.To subscribe to our Podcast newsletter go to http://eepurl.com/iGzsP6.If you would like to support our electronic ministry, you may do so by going to our donations page at https://morningstarcc.churchcenter.com/giving/to/podcast.Visit our church website at https://morningstarcc.org.
Mark 14:1-11 (ESV)Andrew, Isack, and Edwin consider the anointing of Jesus the week He was executed and what we can learn from the woman breaking the flask.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here. Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=23631The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/
Thank you for joining us here at Harvest Connexion for our weekly Tuesday men's ministry. For more information, get connected with us online at harvestconnexion.com.
For more information, please visit www.mycalvary.com
This episode features a full length Bible study taught by Pastor Jack Abeelen of Morningstar Christian Chapel in Whittier, California.If today you prayed with Pastor Jack to receive the Lord, we'd love to hear about it and get you started on the right foot. Visit us online at: https://morningstarcc.org/born-again/To see more of Pastor Jack's Bible studies, visit our Morningstar Christian Chapel channel at https://www.youtube.com/@morningstarcc.To subscribe to our Podcast newsletter go to http://eepurl.com/iGzsP6.If you would like to support our electronic ministry, you may do so by going to our donations page at https://morningstarcc.churchcenter.com/giving/to/podcast.Visit our church website at https://morningstarcc.org.
2023-05-22 - The Spirit is Willing, the Flesh is Weak: Mark 14_27-42 [0dqd8P1mqyQ] by Salvador Flores III
2023-05-08 - Worship is a Response⧸The Last Supper: Mark 14_1-26 [dwAsPuTuPSg] by Salvador Flores III
This episode features a full length Bible study taught by Pastor Jack Abeelen of Morningstar Christian Chapel in Whittier, California.If today you prayed with Pastor Jack to receive the Lord, we'd love to hear about it and get you started on the right foot. Visit us online at: https://morningstarcc.org/born-again/To see more of Pastor Jack's Bible studies, visit our Morningstar Christian Chapel channel at https://www.youtube.com/@morningstarcc.To subscribe to our Podcast newsletter go to http://eepurl.com/iGzsP6.If you would like to support our electronic ministry, you may do so by going to our donations page at https://morningstarcc.churchcenter.com/giving/to/podcast.Visit our church website at https://morningstarcc.org.
November 23rd, 2025At River Oak Church, we are a welcoming family of imperfect people who share a passion for God, a passion for others, and a passion for graciously sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. We enjoy an informal environment and Christ-exalting modern worship, and we are committed to following the truth of God's Word. We welcome you to come as you are, from wherever you've been, and join us!Support the show
Send us a text -Artwork by Vittore Carpaccio "Lion of St. Mark"Again, thanks to Robert Cunningham's thoughts on this text
This episode features a full length Bible study taught by Pastor Jack Abeelen of Morningstar Christian Chapel in Whittier, California.If today you prayed with Pastor Jack to receive the Lord, we'd love to hear about it and get you started on the right foot. Visit us online at: https://morningstarcc.org/born-again/To see more of Pastor Jack's Bible studies, visit our Morningstar Christian Chapel channel at https://www.youtube.com/@morningstarcc.To subscribe to our Podcast newsletter go to http://eepurl.com/iGzsP6.If you would like to support our electronic ministry, you may do so by going to our donations page at https://morningstarcc.churchcenter.com/giving/to/podcast.Visit our church website at https://morningstarcc.org.
❖ Follow along with today's reading: www.esv.org/Matthew26:57–75;Mark14:53–72;Luke22:54–65;John18:13–27 ❖ The English Standard Version (ESV) is an 'essentially literal' translation of the Bible in contemporary English. Created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors, the ESV Bible emphasizes 'word-for-word' accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. ❖ To learn more about the ESV and other audio resources, please visit www.ESV.org
❖ Follow along with today's reading: www.esv.org/John16:5–18:12;Matthew26:36–56;Mark14:32–52;Luke22:39–53 ❖ The English Standard Version (ESV) is an 'essentially literal' translation of the Bible in contemporary English. Created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors, the ESV Bible emphasizes 'word-for-word' accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. ❖ To learn more about the ESV and other audio resources, please visit www.ESV.org
❖ Follow along with today's reading: www.esv.org/Matthew26:26–35;Mark14:22–31;Luke22:17–20;31–38;John13:31–16:4 ❖ The English Standard Version (ESV) is an 'essentially literal' translation of the Bible in contemporary English. Created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors, the ESV Bible emphasizes 'word-for-word' accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. ❖ To learn more about the ESV and other audio resources, please visit www.ESV.org
❖ Follow along with today's reading: www.esv.org/Matthew26:17–25;Mark14:12–21;Luke22:7–16;21–30;John13:1–30 ❖ The English Standard Version (ESV) is an 'essentially literal' translation of the Bible in contemporary English. Created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors, the ESV Bible emphasizes 'word-for-word' accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. ❖ To learn more about the ESV and other audio resources, please visit www.ESV.org
❖ Follow along with today's reading: www.esv.org/Matthew26:1–5;Mark14:1–2;Luke22:1–6;Matthew26:6–16;Mark14:3–11;John12:2–8 ❖ The English Standard Version (ESV) is an 'essentially literal' translation of the Bible in contemporary English. Created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors, the ESV Bible emphasizes 'word-for-word' accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning. ❖ To learn more about the ESV and other audio resources, please visit www.ESV.org
Send us a textthanks to Robert Cunningham's thoughts on this text. -Artwork by Vittore Carpaccio "Lion of St. Mark"
FROM TODAY'S RECAP: - Graphic: Timeline of Jesus' Death - Image: Passover - Article: Was Jesus Crucified on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday? - Article: The Day Christ Died - Was it on a Thursday or Friday? - Article: Solving the Three Day Three Night Mystery - Article: On What Day Was Jesus Crucified? - Video: John Overview (Part 2) - TBR Store Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organization, etc. Their views may not represent our own. SHOW NOTES: - Follow The Bible Recap: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube - Follow Tara-Leigh Cobble: Instagram - Read/listen on the Bible App or Dwell App - Learn more at our Start Page - Become a RECAPtain - Shop the TBR Store - Credits PARTNER MINISTRIES: D-Group International Israelux The God Shot TLC Writing & Speaking DISCLAIMER: The Bible Recap, Tara-Leigh Cobble, and affiliates are not a church, pastor, spiritual authority, or counseling service. Listeners and viewers consume this content on a voluntary basis and assume all responsibility for the resulting consequences and impact.
Reading by Karen Griffin --- Matthew 26; Mark 14 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026%3B%20Mark%2014&version=ESV&interface=print
Jesus and the Agony of Unanswered Prayer (Mark 14:32-42) | Dr. Erwin Lutzer
Today's reading is Mark 14-16. . . . . This month, we will be reading from the Christian Standard Bible. . . . . Your ratings and reviews help us spread the Gospel to new friends! If you love this podcast, rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review! You can do the same on Spotify and on Google Podcasts as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices