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This week's Gospel reading John 5:1-9 recounts the story of an invalid Jesus encounters at the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem. In this encounter Jesus asks, 'Do you want to get well?" Jesus does not presume to know what is wanted, but reflects God's goodness in giving us our own 'free will'. God does not pressure creation to come to Him, but instead asks gently and extends His invitations into our lives- invitations towards wholeness, community and care. The invalid responds by listing a range of reasons why he is not already well! Through His compassionate listening Jesus discerns the man's desire for healing and so tells him to 'Get up!". Immediately the man is healed. Here is something we learn- that Jesus invites, and that God gives. We have faith through the Holy Spirit drawing us into trust in a God who truly cares for us, is generous, and does not seek God's own way. God gives each of us the final say in how we choose to live. How can you choose, this week, to reflect your trust in God's generosity? Could you invite someone you know into a deeper conversation, or share generously of your time and resources to improve someone else's wellbeing? Are you willing to follow their lead in how to do this? May Jesus guide you in showing others His face.This message was written and presented by Pr. Havard Osland of the Norwegian Lutheran Church Aust.Support the show
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The five-year-old squirrels away buttons, bows, shells and rocks in a box under his bed. It's his treasure. What's your treasure? We all treasure something, even if we can no longer fit it into a box under the bed. One of the most famous things Jesus said was, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." We're glad you're with us today. May Jesus open our eyes to our real treasure.
May Jesus' death on the cross remind us of how true and complete His death is so that we can live confidently in Him.
Daily Anglican Prayer - Tuesday Evening – 4th March 2025 Readings: Psalm 13. 14.. Jeremiah 22.20 - 23.8 Jude 17-25. Led by Felicity Scott, an Anglican lay minister in Queensland, Australia. The full prayer transcript is available by going to this episode on the Podcast website. https://dailyprayeranglicanprayerbookforaustralia.podbean.com Welcome to Tuesday evening prayer from the Anglican ‘A prayer book for Australia'. We proclaim the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ: GOD in his infinite mercy, forgives all sins, and through our baptism in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are given a rebirth into new life, free from the burden of all sin. ALLELUIA With faithfulness we respond to the good news: We acknowledge Christ as our saviour and accept with gratitude, that we are forgiven for all wrong doings, past and present. To honour the gift of forgiveness, we release our burden of guilt and rise up to live in the glory of God forever more. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Blessed be God forever. Let us Pray. 1 O sing to the Lord a new song: sing to the Lord all the earth. Psalm 96.1 Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit: as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen. 2 The Opening Canticle, The Song of the Three Blessed are you, the God of our forebears: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. Blessed is your holy and glorious name: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. Blessed are you, glorious in your holy temple: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. Blessed are you who behold the depths: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. Blessed are you in the heights of heaven: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. Song of the Three 29–34 3 The Opening Prayer The day is now past, and the night is at hand. Let us pray with one heart and mind. Silence may be kept. Father of lights, receive the prayer and praise we offer you as our evening sacrifice; make us a light for all the world, delivered by your goodness from all the works of darkness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen. 4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each. Psalm 5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow God of grace, we thank you for all your gifts to us: grant us to accept both pain and joy in faith and hope, and never to fail in love to you and to our sisters and brothers. through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen. 6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed. 1st Reading Hear the word of the lord. Thanks be to GOD. 2nd Reading Hear the message of Christ. Thanks be to God. 7 The Canticle, The Song of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis) Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace: your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation: which you have prepared in the sight of every people: A light to reveal you to the nations: and the glory of your people Israel. Luke 2.29–32 8 The belief and principle is said I believe in God, creator of heaven and earth, whose love and merciful forgiveness endures everlasting. I believe in Christ the saviour, whose example of love and compassion, taught us a restored way to live, in collaborative unity with all people. I believe in the Holy Spirit, whose divine guidance brings us together to be one with the Holy Trinity. 9 The Prayers Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. God have mercy. 9 The Lord's Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen. The Prayers of the Week Last Sunday after epiphany - Transfiguration Almighty God You have given your only son To be for us both a sacrifice for sin, And also an example of godly life: Give us grace that we may always thankfully receive the benefits of his sacrifice, And also daily endeavour to follow The blessed steps of his most holy life; Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord Who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God now and forever Amen The Prayer of the Week following the Eighth Sunday after Εpiphany Grant o Lord That the course of this world May be so peaceably ordered by your governance, That your Church may joyfully serve you, in all godly quietness; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 10 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need. Living God, we pray thanks for our mothers; for those who loved and cared for us and who taught us our faith and how to live a faithful life. Today we pray special thanks for our mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers, may they rest in peace. We thank you God for bringing us examples of faithful people to learn from. In faith we Pray – LORD hear our prayer Graceful God, Thank you for your presence in our lives and your attention to our prayers. How great our lives due to your presence and your wisdom. We ask that we are endowed with Gods great wisdom, to share with all people. In faith we Pray – LORD hear our prayer Merciful God of all nations, thank you for your mercy on our broken and divided world. Share your peace in the hearts of all and banish the spirit that makes for war, that all races and peoples may learn to live as members of one family united in peace. In faith we Pray – LORD hear our prayer Blessed God, we ask your blessing for those listed on the Anglican cycle of prayer: 04/03/2025 The Diocese of Makamba – The Anglican Church of Burundi The Diocese of Bathurst: The Parish of Barambah Maryborough Correctional Centre: Canterbury College, Waterford: All Prison ministry chaplaincy teams All people joining in this prayer offering. In faith we Pray – LORD hear our prayer 11 The Evening Collect Be present, merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night: that we, who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world, may rest on your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 12 The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us praise the Lord. Thanks be to God. May Jesus, the Lord of peace, give us peace at all times and in all ways. Amen. 2 Thessalonians 3.16 Music by John Keys – Anglican Chant Canticle organ accompaniments. A reminder disclaimer to the listener. The readings in the podcast may include ancient and old-fashioned sayings and instructions that we do not in any way condone as in use or to be used in today's modern world. The readings have not been modernised to reflect todays thinking, instead the readings remain from the old version of the NRSV bible. The podcast owners explicitly declare that each listener is responsible for their own actions in response to the bible readings and the podcast owners bare no responsibility in this sense.
In Acts two, we find three more opportunities to rest and grow. May Jesus guide you into his rest, into his authority, and into community.
What happens when you come alongside the hurting? You are, in Paul's words, "participating in Christ's sufferings." Oh, you're not suffering as the substitute for sinners. You're doing it to show the love of Christ, our substitute, to the person who is hurting. That's better than any physical healing. All of Jesus' miracles teach us something about Jesus, but his healing miracles prove who he is, point to where he will take us, and give us a pattern of how he has saved us. May Jesus' healing for you, for others, or for people who walked the earth with him give you evidence that strengthens your trust in his promises.
What if you got to hold God as a baby? Scripture mentions only one person in history, besides Jesus' parents, who ever had that chance. His name was Simeon, and his powerful reaction to holding baby Jesus will change how you see Christmas forever. Today we explores the three extraordinary declarations Simeon made about Jesus that still light up our world today. May Jesus bless you this Christmas! Thank you for your generosity and for advancing the Kingdom of God! For more information on giving: sm4.org/giving Follow us on social media to stay informed and updated: Instagram - @santamariafoursquare Facebook - Santa Maria Foursquare Church Website: sm4.org
Wayfarers, this brief episode is our prayer for you. May Jesus come close to you as you celebrate His first advent at Christmas and may His hope flood your heart as you look forward to the glorious day that He comes again! Oh, come Lord Jesus!
Preaching from Psalm 67, Pastor Greg Barkman explains God's purpose to bring all nations to submission in order to praise and worship Him.
Daily Anglican Prayer - Tuesday Evening – 29th October 2024 Readings: Psalm 147. Daniel 7. 1-14. Matthew 18. 15-35. Led by Felicity Scott, a Liturgical Assistant in the Anglican Church QLD, Australia. The full prayer transcript is available by going to this episode on the Podcast website. https://dailyprayeranglicanprayerbookforaustralia.podbean.com Welcome to Tuesday evening prayer from the Anglican ‘A prayer book for Australia'. We proclaim the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ: GOD in his infinite mercy, forgives all sins, and through our baptism in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are given a rebirth into new life, free from the burden of all sin. ALLELUIA With faithfulness we respond to the good news: We acknowledge Christ as our saviour and accept with gratitude, that we are forgiven for all wrong doings, past and present. To honour the gift of forgiveness, we release our burden of guilt and rise up to live in the glory of God forever more. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Blessed be God forever. Let us Pray. 1 O sing to the Lord a new song: sing to the Lord all the earth. Psalm 96.1 Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit: as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen. 2 The Opening Canticle, The Song of the Three Blessed are you, the God of our forebears: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. Blessed is your holy and glorious name: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. Blessed are you, glorious in your holy temple: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. Blessed are you who behold the depths: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. Blessed are you in the heights of heaven: worthy to be praised and exalted for ever. Song of the Three 29–34 3 The Opening Prayer The day is now past, and the night is at hand. Let us pray with one heart and mind. Silence may be kept. Father of lights, receive the prayer and praise we offer you as our evening sacrifice; make us a light for all the world, delivered by your goodness from all the works of darkness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen. 4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each. Psalm 5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow God of grace, we thank you for all your gifts to us: grant us to accept both pain and joy in faith and hope, and never to fail in love to you and to our sisters and brothers. through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen. 6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed. 1st Reading Hear the word of the lord. Thanks be to GOD. 2nd Reading The readings may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or Hear the message of Christ. Thanks be to God. 7 The Canticle, The Song of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis) Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace: your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation: which you have prepared in the sight of every people: A light to reveal you to the nations: and the glory of your people Israel. Luke 2.29–32 8 The belief and principle is said I believe in God, creator of heaven and earth, whose love and merciful forgiveness endures everlasting. I believe in Christ the saviour, whose example of love and compassion, taught us a restored way to live, in collaborative unity with all people. I believe in the Holy Spirit, whose divine guidance brings us together to be one with the Holy Trinity. 9 The Prayers Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. God have mercy. 9 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen. Prayer of the Week Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost Almighty and everlasting GOD, Give us the increase of faith, hope and love; And, that we may obtain what you promise, Make us to love what you command, Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 10 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need. Living God, we pray thanks for our mothers; for those who loved and cared for us and who taught us our faith and how to live a faithful life. Today we pray special thanks for Monica, the mother of Saint Augustine of Hippo, may she rest in peace. We thank you God for bringing us examples of faithful people to learn from. Merciful God; Hear our prayer. Graceful God, Thank you for your presence in our lives and your attention to our prayers. How great our lives due to your presence and your wisdom. We ask that we are endowed with Gods great wisdom, to share with all people. Merciful God; Hear our prayer. Merciful God of all nations, thank you for your mercy on our broken and divided world. Share your peace in the hearts of all and banish the spirit that makes for war, that all races and peoples may learn to live as members of one family united in peace. Merciful God; hear our prayer. Blessed God, we ask your blessing for those listed on the Anglican cycle of prayer: The Diocese of Karimnagar – The Church of South India (United) The Parish of Bribie Island: Gary Tognola, †Bruce Clark, Marilyn Cullen, Carolyn Payne, Jim Tait Anglicare SQ Out of Home Care, Moreton Region – Caboolture Foster & Kinship Care All Parishes seeking clergy. All Anglican schools seeking chaplains. All Prison ministry chaplaincy teams All people joining in this prayer offering. Merciful God; Hear our prayer 11 The Evening Collect Be present, merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night: that we, who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world, may rest on your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 12 The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us praise the Lord. Thanks be to God. May Jesus, the Lord of peace, give us peace at all times and in all ways. Amen. 2 Thessalonians 3.16 Music by John Keys – Anglican Chant Canticle organ accompaniments. A reminder disclaimer to the listener. The readings in the podcast may include ancient and old-fashioned sayings and instructions that we do not in any way condone as in use or to be used in today's modern world. The readings have not been modernised to reflect todays thinking, instead the readings remain from the old version of the NRSV bible. The podcast owners explicitly declare that each listener is responsible for their own actions in response to the bible readings and the podcast owners bare no responsibility in this sense.
Finally! We've reached the end of our Book of Revelation study. In this final episode, Dr. Jay and Amazing Larry explore Revelation Chapter 22. With evil, sin, and death destroyed, life flows like the River of Life described by John. We will live in God's presence forever! John's final words serve as an encouragement to Christians in every age. May Jesus come soon!Frothy Thoughts with the Truth BaristaVisit HighBeam Ministry, The Truth BaristaCheck out the Frothy Thoughts Blog!Check out The Truth Barista Books!Check out The Truth Barista YouTube Channel!
Friends, thanks for listening today! May Jesus plead on your behalf and teach you this week. “Question 20 of our Global Methodist Catechism states that one of our core beliefs as Methodists is “we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the giver of life.” This strong, optimistic teaching of Jesus advocating for sinners brings up an important point: the greatest chance Christians have for a better life is Christ's presence. When Paul wrote the Philippians church to “Rejoice always” He was not ignoring their problems, far from it. Paul rejoices because what He now has in the presence of Jesus, is life-changing! “But whatever I gained, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ”-Philippians 3:7-8. Church, it is important you understand this. Christ as our greatest gift, as our advocate, changes lives. Has He changed yours?”
Join Pastor Morris as he takes us to Matthew Chapter 26 where we read of a beautiful act of worship and how Jesus dealt with the worldly response of the Disciples. Matthew 26:6-11 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. Why this waste? they asked. This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor. Aware of this, Jesus said to them, Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1528/29
“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.'” — Luke 10:5 A few years ago there was a social media trend in which people posted good things about themselves and tagged them with “#blessed.” I did a search of “#blessed” and got 140 million results. Everything from pictures of people holding babies, to nice cars and beaches. And about 100 million selfies. We tend to think of being blessed in terms of material blessings. But that's not what Jesus teaches. In fact, part of being a witness to Jesus is to bring his blessing of God's love and good news wherever we go. This is our mission. We see this clearly in Luke 10. Jesus sent 72 of his followers to bring the good news of God's kingdom to the people in nearby towns and villages. And when they entered people's homes and communities, they were to declare peace on them and say, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” The Savior has come! Salvation and hope are here! These blessings are still what God offers us and the world today. And like those 72 followers, we are called to bring peace and to announce the good news wherever we go. May Jesus equip us with his Spirit to be his faithful witnesses, sharing his blessings with the people we meet today. Jesus, it can be daunting to live into the words of this passage. Thank you that we are not alone. Pour your blessings on us so that we can share them with others wherever we go today. Amen.
May Jesus, the Light of the World, brighten your day. And may he reach deep into that mental darkness of your elderly friend to bring comfort. -------- Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
Luke 24:13-32; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 In today's chapter of 2 Corinthians, we read about how "the god of this world," referring to Satan, has blinded the eyes of those who are perishing. In Luke, we see that only Jesus allows us to recognize Him by opening our eyes. As Christians, we are called to live with high standards and represent Christ wholeheartedly, especially because unbelievers are watching us. Psalm 101:2b reminds us to walk with integrity even in our own homes, as often our greatest tests in life come from those closest to us. Today, I encourage you to represent Christ with purpose and clarity so that others can see Christ in you and have their eyes opened to the truth of the gospel. It's not always easy, but we must strive to walk upright for the sake of others' salvation and the realization of the gospel's truth.
It's not what it looks like. There's more happening than what meets the eye. What looks like defeat is actually God's hand at work in those unseen places. God's word cannot and will not return void so don't stop believing! May Jesus go before us, and may we just preach Christ!
Preaching for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Yolanda Chavez offers a reflection on making space for rest and spiritual renewal: "Reflecting on the message of Psalm 23 with the example of Jesus in the Gospel, we find a refreshing and luminous call to be compassionate shepherds and caregivers, always seeking the balance between serving others and taking care of ourselves. May Jesus, the source of quiet waters, guide us, renew us, and encourage us in our daily ministry." Yolanda Chavez, M.Div., is a member of the Ecumenical Association of Theologians of the Third World (ASETT) and an essential collaborator in the evangelizing and catechetical mission of the Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education of Los Angeles as a certified Catechist Master Teacher. Yolanda holds a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, where she is currently a candidate for a doctorate in ministry focused on Women's Spirituality. She is a promoter of Women's Spirituality ministry in Spanish at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, California. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/07212024 to read Yolanda's preaching text and for more preaching from Catholic women.
What does it mean to behold Christ? Together, we are studying the New Testament, one chapter at a time, and answering this very question. Join us as we dive deep into details of the New Testament and behold Jesus as the centerpiece of God's sovereign plan of redemption. Today, we are journeying through John 3. You can follow along with us in Behold | A Study of the New Testament vol. 2 Visit The Daily Grace Co. for the Behold bundle and for beautiful products that will equip you on your journey to knowing and loving God more. Find a free digital copy of the Behold reading plan here. Follow @dailygracepodcast on Instagram for exclusive podcast content and @thedailygraceco for all things The Daily Grace Co. Subscribe to the Daily Grace Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and Read the Bible in a year with us in the Bible App. Click here for a transcript of this episode
Your first love is who or what you value the most . May Jesus be your first love, May you cherish your relationship with your father in heaven !
May Jesus be exalted in every good thing we will do today.
May Jesus bless you always
May Jesus bless you all, Follow and share if you have blessed
Our good friend and church member Justin Bailey preaches on Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus asks his audience to move the stone of the tomb, even though it's going to cause an unpleasant odor. A question Justin asks us is, will we move stones for people even if it's less than pleasant? May Jesus use us to give dead people new life! ------------ Renovating The Storefront Property In 2020, we were able to buy the land right next to our church, which came with this awesome old storefront building. The only problem is it needs to be renovated from top to bottom. We need to raise $100,000 to get up and running for weekly ministry use. If you don't know, our church exists to transform our neighborhood with the gospel of Jesus. Our neighborhood is called Poe Mill in Greenville, SC. The residents are facing a lot of challenging times as, according to neighborhoodscout.com, it ranks in the top 5% for poverty out of all (ALL!) US neighborhoods. This Christmas season, or with your end-of-year giving, would you consider giving to us here at Griggs for this project? You can do this online at griggschurch.com, clicking give and selecting "building fund." We can't thank you enough.
The parable of the Good Samaritan will come alive as you listen to this broadcast. May Jesus meet and transform your heart as you listen.
The parable of the Good Samaritan will come alive as you listen to this broadcast. May Jesus meet and transform your heart as you listen. Source
"May Jesus make us a church of celebration in a culture of cynicism.“ Join us as Pastor David Perkins brings an encouraging and timely message just for you! If you have never connected with us via our connection card, be sure to fill one out now! Connect with us at | bit.ly/RadiantConnectionCard Do you need prayer? Let us pray for you through this link | bit.ly/RadiantConnectionCard MusicBed SyncID: MB01SMWFTC7HQ4K
In this podcast, Mark White brings our lesson; 2 Cor. 3:5, 4:1, 4:16 "Therefore we do not lose heart" Our competence is not of ourselves, but our competence comes from God. We have the blessing to contemplate the Lord's glory. Our ministry in the Lord comes from His mercy to us. May Jesus be revealed in us to a dark world. We are being renewed day by day, looking not to what is seen but unseen, our hope and promise.
As we learn this week of the light of God, today we'll look to Jesus who is the Light. What does this mean about the Lord? And what does this mean for us personally? May our eyes behold him today, as we search out the source of goodness, beauty and holiness. May our hearts grow in wonder, worship and awe. And may our lives be forever transformed at the sight of him. Our Scripture for today comes from Isaiah 60:20, and today's worship is Steady Light by LO Worship. - Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast. I recently heard someone describe sin as the interruption of Shalom, which means peace, or wholeness. God doesn't want to lead you out of sin just for the sake of doing it, he wants to lead you into the fullness of life, the fullness of peace and wholeness. May Jesus guide you into Shalom today as you seek to live in the light of his presence. Have a wonderful day, and may God bless you as you seek him.
Audio Recording Sermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. Scott StrickmanSermon Series: The 4 RelationshipsPsalm 115 (ESV)1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.8 Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.9 O Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.12 The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron;13 he will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great.14 May the Lord give you increase, you and your children!15 May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth!16 The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.17 The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence.18 But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.Praise the Lord!Sermon OutlineGod is personal, so when we come to know God (not just have knowledge about God) we experience renewal in our lives.1. A Personal Godv1 “steadfast love… faithfulness”v3 “he does all that he pleases”2. Lifeless godsv4 “Their idols… the work of human hands”v8 “Those who make them become like them”3. The living Godv12 “the Lord has remembered us”vv9-11 “trust in the Lord!”vv17-18 “the dead do not… but we will bless the Lord…”Prayer of ConfessionNot to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness. We admit our lack of love and faithlessness. We have not trusted you. Instead, we have trusted in ourselves, the things of this world, and the work of our own hands. Our thoughts, feelings, words and actions evidence our sin. Forgive us. We remember your steadfast love and faithfulness, and pray that you will remember us with mercy. May Jesus, who reconciled us to you by taking on flesh and suffering death, receive glory even as we ask to receive forgiveness. Amen.Questions for ReflectionIs relating to God easier or harder than relating to people? Why?Does it trouble you that God does whatever he pleases? Does it encourage you? Why?What do you think are the top 5 things people look to in place of God (for help, significance, status, comfort, etc.)? What are the idols of our place/time? Which of these are you most drawn to?In what ways do we become like the things we devote ourselves to? Do you see any symptoms in your life of having become like something you have trusted and devoted yourself to?Do you want God to remember you? Why is God's steadfast love and faithfulness so crucial to our drawing near to God?How can the work of Christ, who laid down his life so that we are reconciled to God, bring life to our souls? What things should we continually remember to thrive?If you had a firm conviction that God will bless you, would that motivate you to live more sacrificially for his glory? What motivates you (or would motivate you) to seek God's honor above your own? What are the marks of a healthy relationship with God?
Audio Recording Sermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. Scott StrickmanSermon Series: The 4 RelationshipsPsalm 115 (ESV)1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.8 Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.9 O Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield.12 The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron;13 he will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great.14 May the Lord give you increase, you and your children!15 May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth!16 The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.17 The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence.18 But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.Praise the Lord!Sermon OutlineGod is personal, so when we come to know God (not just have knowledge about God) we experience renewal in our lives.1. A Personal Godv1 “steadfast love… faithfulness”v3 “he does all that he pleases”2. Lifeless godsv4 “Their idols… the work of human hands”v8 “Those who make them become like them”3. The living Godv12 “the Lord has remembered us”vv9-11 “trust in the Lord!”vv17-18 “the dead do not… but we will bless the Lord…”Prayer of ConfessionNot to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness. We admit our lack of love and faithlessness. We have not trusted you. Instead, we have trusted in ourselves, the things of this world, and the work of our own hands. Our thoughts, feelings, words and actions evidence our sin. Forgive us. We remember your steadfast love and faithfulness, and pray that you will remember us with mercy. May Jesus, who reconciled us to you by taking on flesh and suffering death, receive glory even as we ask to receive forgiveness. Amen.Questions for ReflectionIs relating to God easier or harder than relating to people? Why?Does it trouble you that God does whatever he pleases? Does it encourage you? Why?What do you think are the top 5 things people look to in place of God (for help, significance, status, comfort, etc.)? What are the idols of our place/time? Which of these are you most drawn to?In what ways do we become like the things we devote ourselves to? Do you see any symptoms in your life of having become like something you have trusted and devoted yourself to?Do you want God to remember you? Why is God's steadfast love and faithfulness so crucial to our drawing near to God?How can the work of Christ, who laid down his life so that we are reconciled to God, bring life to our souls? What things should we continually remember to thrive?If you had a firm conviction that God will bless you, would that motivate you to live more sacrificially for his glory? What motivates you (or would motivate you) to seek God's honor above your own? What are the marks of a healthy relationship with God?
Jesus commands his followers not to be anxious for anything. Of course, we are so weak and fall into anxiety. So, Jesus tenderly exhorts and instructs so that we would grow in faith and trust, overcoming anxiety. May Jesus' words here aid you as you grow in dependence upon our heavenly Father.
I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is the 5th of April, Wednesday morning, 2023, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.”For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,…”2 Corinthians 10:4-5You and I need to be very careful about what we read and what we watch on television and social media. If we watch negative, violent, immoral programmes, we shall become fearful, disillusioned and even depressed. We shall lose confidence in the future and even in ourselves. Many years ago I had the privilege of preaching the Gospel in New Zealand. I was invited to a maximum security jail. I remember walking through no less than twelve doors and gates to enter right into the heart of the prison. I had the privilege of speaking to men, prisoners who were sentenced to life in jail. We sat in a circle, the place was spotlessly clean, and bright lights were shining. There was no place to hide. It actually reminded me of an operating theatre. The inmates were huge men who spent most of their time during the day in the gym training because there was nothing else to do, but their eyes were blank, and their eyes were empty. There was nothing, no hope, no future and nothing in them. I started to tell them about Jesus Christ and what He had done for me. I used that scripture in Isaiah 40:31 which says those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. I told them about the majestic eagle, and how he soars high up in the craggy mountain tops. He doesn't associate with the crows down at the bottom. Slowly but surely I saw flickers of light in their eyes. Hope started returning, a smile here and there. “Tell us more,“ they said, “Tell us more!” Then I prayed with them and told them to concentrate on the promises of God over their lives. We started singing hymns together and Christian songs, and then hope started to flood into their lives. I left them with a promise of hope for the future and said to them, “Keep your eyes on the Lord and He will see you through!” We need to do the exact same thing today. Let us go out today and concentrate on the things of God and not the things of this dying world. May Jesus bless you, have a wonderful day and goodbye.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Rc9KNh-fo Thank you for those who called in to prayer. May Jesus continue the melting of your heart as you seek after Him!
Thank you for those who called in to prayer. May Jesus continue the melting of your heart as you seek after Him! Source
The religious leaders tried hard to discredit Jesus but the harder they tried, the more he confronted them and showed them how foolish their thinking and attitudes were. The Sadducees who were the most ‘worldly' of them, refusing to believe there would be a resurrection were told, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?” [Mark 12 v.24] The same can be said today of nearly everyone – but we ourselves must not be ‘puffed up' because of the way our careful reading of God's word has led us to increasingly comprehend the ‘big picture' of the meaning of life and the spirit of genuine love for God that must be part of this. Let us be like the scribe who, with genuine heart, agreed with Jesus saying, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbour as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” [v.32,33] Let us not only understand this – but believe and practice this with all our heart. May Jesus ‘say' to uswhen we are in ‘deep' prayer, as he said to the scribe, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” [v.34] And how did the scribe come to give such a good answer? Surely he had God's word is his heart! Let us recall what we read in the Psalms recently, words which he would have known and probably memorised, “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. …. The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” [50 v.14,15,23] Do we feel as thankful as we should for the wondrous blessing of being spiritual children of God – in this godless world? Let us make sure that we do – and then – how soon will we see and experience – for ever – “the salvation of God.” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/christadelphians-talk/message
In this episode we talk about Jesus Christ being compared to the order of Melchizedek and how we do away with the first covenant for a better second covenant founded on Jesus. Jesus is seated at the right hand of God offering up prayers for the saints in Jesus name!!! May Jesus offer up prayers for you!
Chazz May is truly the definition of radiant joy! He radiates enthusiasm and has a true zeal for life. His big heart, natural leadership and sense of humor are just some of the reasons people adore him! An active three sport athlete who has his hand in a multitude ministries - this dude is crushing his junior year of high school. Chazz takes a moment to share his story and experiences of being a believer not only in athletics, but also high school. He speaks about how he knew of Jesus, but didn't really know him. It was in this realization, that he had to make an intentional decision to pursue Christ. Chazz speaks to the struggles of being in high school, fleeing temptation, pursuing growth, and truly knowing that you are found worthy in the eyes of God. His maturity and insightfulness are well beyond his years and lead to an incredibly vulnerable and open conversation. Don't miss this episode!
A Sunday morning sermon by Pastor David Singh. My prayer for the children in our church is that they will always know Jesus, grow in their faith and never wander away from God. Children belong to God and God entrusts them to parents, to family, and to the church. We are created to be God's children from before birth. Even though the primary responsibility to transmit faith rests with parents, we all share in this calling. Our children need to be able to see Jesus in us and learn from us. Discipleship is learned by being with Jesus. We spend a lot of money and effort in preparing children for life; Do we put equal or more effort in preparing them for eternal life? Children will follow our example, our priority and the values that guide our life. Deuteronomy 6:6–7 says: “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” It is in the common things of daily life that Jesus comes alive for children. May Jesus be the center of all our lives!
Day 189 Today's Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2 If you are a parent, you have most definitely heard these words from your children at one time or another, “But you said...” What that means is they are holding you to your word. Nothing is more incriminating than being quoted and held accountable. It seems that the only time they do listen is when it's a promise or commitment. God is a Father and He who keeps His word loves to hear His children tell Him, “but You said.” I think that thrills the heart of God. In Hebrews 4:12, we are told that the Word of God is powerful. If you take God's powerful Word and pray it back to Him, that is exponential in power. Adding a “You said” to your prayer language gets God's attention just as a “you said” does for any parent. I don't think anything is more powerful than when you pray the Scriptures. You are just reminding God of what He told you. I want to give you a great prayer to start your day. It's using God's words in prayer. It is basically saying, “If You said, then why wouldn't You hear and respond”: “May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, MSG). Consider the trilogy of requests: put a fresh heart in me, invigorate my work, enliven my speech. Let's briefly unpack each of these so we can spot it when God answers it in our day. That's called “watch and pray.” If we ask for something, we have a responsibility to watch with expectancy. First, ask God to put a fresh heart in you. Fresh is the word you would use when describing how you look when you've just returned from a two-week vacation. How do you freshen up your heart? How do you make your heart look as though it just got off vacation? Let your heart take a trip . . . a trip to heaven. Each morning let your heart take a trip into the presence of God. You cannot make that trip without coming out with a fresh heart. Second, ask God to invigorate your work. The word invigorate means to give strength and energy to what you do. How does God invigorate your work? He has to refocus your attention on who you are doing it for. Listen to what the apostle says in Colossians: “Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others” (Colossians 3:23, TPT). Your work is invigorated when you do it for Jesus. Every activity counts, not just church activities. Martin Luther King Jr. said it like this: If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music. . . . Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well. Whatever your occupation—CVS cashier, TSA agent at the airport, police officer, first responder, teacher, or ambassador. Whether you work for the government or the church, may God invigorate your work. You work for the Boss, so you're doing it for Him. Third, ask God to enliven your speech. The word enliven means to make your speech more entertaining, interesting, and appealing. When you open your mouth, you want life to come out. Not complaints, not ingratitude, just joy and encouragement. As Proverbs 18:21 reminds us: Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose” (MSG). Let's choose words of life today. My prayer for you and me today is this: “God, put a fresh heart in us. Invigorate our work. And enliven our speech. In Jesus' name, amen.” Now go and have an amazing day!
I greet you in Jesus' precious name. It is Monday morning, 12th of September and it is the year 2022. This is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. If we turn straight in the word of God to the Book of Psalms... Now, this is an interesting Psalm because it is a Psalm that was written by Solomon, not by David. Psalm 72, I am reading from verse 1:“Give the king Your judgments, O God,And Your righteousness to the king's Son.He will judge Your people with righteousness,And Your poor with justice.”And then we go to Matthew, the Lord says:“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”Matthew 7:7The wisest man who ever lived, Solomon, why was he so wise we may ask? Quite simply because he sought counsel from God and not from man. You and I are living in perilous times and we need to start seeking the counsel of God, if we are to succeed - especially in our working environment. We carry cellphones around with us and can google anything at any time we want but there are a hundred different answers for every question. The same thing applies in our home situation... There are so many theories on how to bring up your children, how to manage your home, the role of the mother in the home and position of the father in the home. A lot of it is good stuff but remember, a good idea is not always a God idea. You know, when people invite me to speak with preaching appointments and I get a lot, I do not just receive them and acknowledge them because it seems to be a good opportunity, no. The only invites I accept are the ones that I believe the Lord Jesus Christ would have me accept. I always go into prayer and ask the Lord. I have also got some very trusted people around me and I ask them about each invitation. We really need to seek God's counsel in every decision we make, then we will find that things will go well in the workplace, in the home and in the ministry.May Jesus bless you today as you start to put Him first, just like Solomon did, and then you will be surprised with the good decisions that you make.Jesus bless you and goodbye.
Pastor Bobby gives the message "Temple Sermon" at Shepherd's Grove Presbyterian Church on Sunday July 3, 2022. God's temple is a symbol of His love and grace for us. The good news is that we don't need a temple anymore to be with God because Christ has made a way and the Holy Spirit dwells in us. May Jesus be on the throne of our lives as we spend time with Him.
Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter (Baccalaureate Mass) "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God." - Isaiah 41:10 Seniors, as you face life beyond this campus community, the biggest challenge you now face amazingly is not what you are going to do next, as important as that is, but more deeply, how you are going to live your life. How will your discipleship affect the way you live, and listen, and actively support others? How will you serve others honestly and selflessly? How will you stand up for justice, human rights, and care for our common home, the earth? How will you reflect peace and reconciliation in society and become a blessing for others through your presence and compassion? As you leave the campus, remember that it is not what you've done here, but who you become out in the world and how you exercise your Christian responsibilities in the future towards your neighbor and the world. United with Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit, may your future actions serve our world. May Jesus walk with you in all that is to come, and may the Holy Spirit bless you with wisdom and generosity.
Victor slowly became addicted to pornography. Many of his friends looked at porn, and he fell into it because he was bored. But now he understands how it crushed his wife, and he’s vowed to put safeguards in his life so he will never look at it again. Yet he fears it’s too late. Can his marriage be saved? Will he ever be free and fully forgiven? Our enemy the devil presents temptation as if it’s no big deal. Everyone’s doing it. What’s the harm? But the moment we catch on to his scheme, he switches gears. It’s too late! You’ve gone too far! You’re hopeless now! The enemy will say whatever it takes to destroy us as we engage in spiritual warfare. Jesus said, “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). If the devil is a liar, then we should never listen to him. Not when he says our sin is no big deal, and not when he says we’re beyond hope. May Jesus help us dismiss the evil one’s words and listen to Him instead. We rest our hearts on His promise: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (vv. 31–32).