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Send us a textOverview:The book of Ruth is more than a love story set in the days of the Judges. At one level, the story is about Ruth, a Moabite widow who chose to follow her mother-in-law Naomi back to Bethlehem. She was a stranger, an outsider, under the condemnation of the Law — for Deuteronomy tells us that no Moabite could enter the assembly of the Lord. And yet Ruth was redeemed by a near-kinsman.This is the heart of the book: redemption through a kinsman. In Exodus, Israel was redeemed by the blood of a lamb. In Ruth, redemption comes through a near-kinsman. The New Testament brings these together in Jesus Christ, who alone qualifies for both. He is our near-kinsman — fully human, the Son of Man — and He is also the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).Ruth also serves a greater purpose: it introduces us to the line of David, which ultimately identifies the line of the Messiah. Ruth's story is the missing link that ties the promises of Judah to the kingdom of David, and from David to the true King, great David's greater Son, Jesus Christ.But the message is not just about genealogy or law. It is also about what it means to live faithfully. Ruth's quiet trust in God, her kindness to Naomi, and her courage to step into the unknown all show us that simple faith and steadfast love still go a long way in living a life pleasing to God.So, when we read Ruth, we see the gospel in miniature: the outsider brought near, the hopeless given hope, and the Redeemer stepping in to claim what was lost. The Balance of GrayFaith That Challenges. Conversations that Matter. Laughs included. Subscribe Now!Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com
Come As You Are Series: Jacob-Don't Count Yourself OutGenesis 28:10-15 "Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”The theme of this episode is don't count yourself out. Do you ever do this? Do you ever hear about someone doing something and count yourself out because you don't think you are strong enough, or you don't believe you are good enough, or you are not sufficient in some other way? Do you ever hear about someone receiving a blessing and count yourself out of receiving a blessing because you are not good enough or you are not holy enough? I think we all count ourselves sometimes. We hear about people receiving blessings and good things from God, and we tell ourselves they are holier than we are. They are better Christians than we are. They are closer to God, so of course He is blessing them. We then proceed to think of all the ways in which we are falling short. We think of all the things we are doing wrong and how God couldn't possibly bless us. In my Encounter class, we talked about the verse above, and when I heard her talking about it, I knew some of you needed to listen to it as badly as I did. In the verse above, God is bestowing upon Jacob an amazing blessing. He is promising to give him and his descendants the land on which Jacob lay. God is also promising Jacob that his descendants will be like the dust of the earth and will be spread out to the east, west, north, and south. Then he says all people on earth will be blessed through Jacob and his offspring. God promises to be with Jacob, to watch over him, and to bring him back to that land. I am not sure if you're familiar with the story of Jacob. If you aren't, you probably assume Jacob is a great guy. It is easy to think he is a very holy man who was doing everything right. However, this is not the case.In Genesis 27, the chapter right before this, Isaac, Jacob's dad, asked Esau, Jacob's brother, to prepare him some food, and then he would give him the blessing he deserved because he was the oldest. However, Jacob's mom persuades Jacob to get the blessing instead. Jacob dressed up like his brother; they even put goat skin on his hands so he would be hairy like his brother's hands. Then he brought food to his father and pretended to be his brother. His father doubted, but Jacob convinced him and stole his brother's blessing. When Esau came home, he was really angry. He begged his father for a blessing, but there wasn't really one to be had. He had already given it to Jacob. Esau was so angry that he decided he would kill Jacob once his father passed away. Their mother heard about Esau's plan and told Jacob to run away. She told him to go and stay with her brother until Esau's anger calmed down. It was on his way to her brother's house that Jacob had this dream. Jacob was not doing everything right. He was not the ideal person we would think God would choose to bless, and yet God blessed him tremendously. Do you know what that means? That means He can bless you tremendously, too. It means you don't have to count yourself out from whatever it is you think you want to do or whatever it is God wants to do for you.If we look back through scripture, we will see plenty of examples of where God used people we would have never chosen to do the things he wanted to get done. God chose Tamar, a woman whose husband died. Because her father-in-law refused to give his other younger son to her so she could conceive a child, as was the custom back then, she pretended to be a harlot and tricked her father-in-law into sleeping with her so she could conceive a son. Tamar was definitely not doing everything right, and yet God used Tamar as part of the lineage that brought about David, the king, and therefore our savior Jesus as well. There is also Ruth, who was not even a Christian; she was a Moabite woman, a foreigner. Even though she was not a Christian, she was the great-grandmother of David. I know it feels like we are getting it all wrong sometimes. I know it feels like we can't possibly be doing enough to earn God's blessings. I know it feels like we are never good enough. I know. And yet, God isn't asking us to be good enough. God isn't asking us to do enough. God isn't asking much from us at all. He isn't expecting us to get it all right. He isn't expecting us to be perfect. He is just expecting us to show up each day as we are and to spend some time with Him. He does the blessings, not us. There isn't a way to earn blessings. God gives them freely to all who ask and to all who seek them. The next time you are counting yourself out because you think you are not enough or because you think you have done too much wrong, think of Jacob. Think of how he first stole his brother's birthright by telling Esau he could only have a bowl of soup if he gave up his birthright. Esau was starving, so he agreed. Then Jacob went in and pretended to be Esau to steal his blessing, too. Whatever it is you did, God can still bless you. He is not counting you out, so don't count yourself out. I heard a phrase in class, and it really stuck with me.The teacher said, “When we believe the lie, we empower the liar.” I love this. The enemy is the father of lies. When we believe these lies, we are empowering him and giving him authority in our lives. God loves you, he loves you just as you are. He made you, and He is our good, good Father. Don't count yourself out. God will use you if that is what you want. God will bless you. God isn't looking for perfection. If you don't believe me, go back and look at almost every bible story written. David was blessed beyond belief, and yet he had an affair and then had the girl's husband killed in battle. I could go on, but I will leave the rest of the stories up to you. Hopefully, you can already see that whatever you did is not enough to count you out of God's blessing. There is nothing you can do that would exclude you from God's blessings. God is always waiting with open arms for us to turn back and repent. Don't count yourself out!Dear heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode today. Lord, help us to realize you love us right where we are. Help us to see that you don't need us to be perfect, you just need us to be us. Help us not count ourselves out. Lord, please bless us as abundantly as you blessed Jacob. Please bless our perfectly imperfect lives, Lord. We love you, Lord, you are truly amazing. We ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus' holy name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. Just a reminder that there are only three more weeks to sign up for the retreat in October. I hope you will CLICK HERE and check out the details. It will be a great opportunity to meet some amazing people. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day! Today's Word from the Lord was received in May 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “My children, I long to heal you, to heal you in every way. When you think I delay, don't. I am using every moment to bring a greater, deeper health to your mind, your soul, your body, your spirit, your relationships, everything that might be in need of my healing touch, because I am the healer.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace
Naomi's Return to Bethlehem Naomi returns to Bethlehem after hearing that the famine is over. She had left Bethlehem during the famine, thinking they would fare better elsewhere. She realizes that leaving God was a mistake that cost her dearly. The townspeople recognize her and ask, "Is this Naomi?" Naomi asks them to call her Mara, meaning bitter, instead of Naomi, meaning pleasant and delightful. She feels that the Lord has dealt very bitterly with her. Grace on the Road Back Home Even when one thinks they have lost everything, God sees the choice to return home and helps on the journey. Naomi says she "went out full, but he hath brought me back again empty." There is grace on the road back to full. Many people feel they have gone too far from God to ever feel His presence again. When one chooses to head back toward God, He helps along the way. God was helping Naomi even before she left Moab. The very day she decided to return home, God began blessing her again. Help on the Journey Naomi decides to return home and tells her daughters-in-law to go back to their families. Orpah returns, but Ruth refuses to leave Naomi. God gave Naomi a helper in Ruth, who loved her more than seven sons. Naomi didn't realize that Ruth would be instrumental in bringing her back to fullness. Everyone needs help, and God provides it. God put "stick to it" in Ruth, who was determined to stay with Naomi. God's Orchestration Naomi is an elderly woman, beaten down by the loss of her husband and sons. She only has Ruth, a Moabite widow, with her. No upstanding Jewish man would consider marrying a Moabite. God moves for those who decide to return to fullness. Even if one feels half full, God wants them completely full of Him. While the choice to return is personal, it is God who ultimately brings one home. There is a drawing in the heart to return to God. The Holy Ghost never stops prompting one to return home. God doesn't forsake His own and brings them back. Even if one arrives empty, God is already helping and working in their path. Naomi acknowledges that God brought her back. Emptiness and Filling Sometimes God has to empty things in order to fill them again. Like emptying water from a fuel tank before adding good octane. God removes what isn't supposed to be there to prepare for filling. Naomi couldn't see that Ruth was the best helper she could have. The journey from Moab to Bethlehem is treacherous, about 50-60 miles, taking 7-10 days. Ruth and Naomi had to choose every day to continue the journey. God helps when one heads back home. God had to empty Naomi to fill her up for His glory. The Road to Fullness The journey back to fullness is orchestrated by God. Naomi was still a landowner but had no husband or sons, so she had to sell. As a backslider, one never forgets the day they gained ownership of something from God. Ruth goes to glean in the fields and happens to end up in Boaz's field. There are no coincidences when trying to get back to fullness. God orchestrates the needs for one to be full. Boaz arrives and notices Ruth. He has heard of her kindness to Naomi and her commitment to the Jehovah God. He tells her to stay in his field and eat and drink with his maids. Ruth asks why Boaz has shown her such grace. When one is on the way back to fullness, they have someone helping them. Boaz instructs his workers to let Ruth glean as much as she wants and to drop extra for her. God wants one to be full again. Heavenly Help Ruth returns with a sack full of grain. She also brings Naomi food from Boaz's table. Naomi asks about the man whose field she was in. When she hears the name Boaz, hope is rekindled in her soul. Hearing the name of Jesus restores hope.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 NLT1 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. 2 A time to be born and a time to die.A time to plant and a time to harvest. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal.A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. 5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. 6 A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. 8 A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace. 9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. 14 And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God's purpose is that people should fear him. 15 What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again. • • •God Appoints Every Season of Life • • •Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT1 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. • • •Genesis 45:4-8 NLT4 “Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. 5 But don't be upset, and don't be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. 6 This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. 8 So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt. • • •Every Season Brings New Opportunities to Serve • • •2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. • • •1 Samuel 17:32-37 NLT32 “Don't worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I'll go fight him!” 33 “Don't be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There's no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You're only a boy, and he's been a man of war since his youth.” 34 But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father's sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. 36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!” • • •Serve God in Every Season • • •Isaiah 46:3-4 NLT3 “Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. 4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. • • •Ruth 1:1-5 NLT1 In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. 2 The man's name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there. 3 Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. 4 The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband. • • •Ruth 1:16-18 NLT16 But Ruth replied, “Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” 18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more. • • •Ecclesiastes 8:1-8 NLT1 How wonderful to be wise, to analyze and interpret things.Wisdom lights up a person's face, softening its harshness. 2 Obey the king since you vowed to God that you would. 3 Don't try to avoid doing your duty, and don't stand with those who plot evil, for the king can do whatever he wants. 4 His command is backed by great power. No one can resist or question it. 5 Those who obey him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right, 6 for there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble. 7 Indeed, how can people avoid what they don't know is going to happen? 8 None of us can hold back our spirit from departing. None of us has the power to prevent the day of our death. There is no escaping that obligation, that dark battle. And in the face of death, wickedness will certainly not rescue the wicked. • • •Application:Every season in life brings fresh opportunities to serve God. Make the most of each and every opportunity you are given to faithfully serve God.
The story told in 2 Kings 3 is most curious indeed. Verses 1-8 tell us of the time that the two kings of Israel and Judah - Jehoram and Jehoshaphat - set out to wage war against Moab who had rebelled and failed to pay the massive tribute that had been imposed on them by Jehoram. Jehoram and Jehoshaphat were not expecting to be defeated by the weather. Surely Yahweh would not have it so. A minstrel was called to induce a mood conducive to the prophet Elisha and this is perhaps puzzling to us. God sent the rain only where the allies - Israel and Judah were encamped. The Almighty also sent a wind which deluded Moab into believing the two kings had turned on each other. The foes of Israel and Judah rushed unknowingly to their destruction. What a gross incident concludes the sorry tale with the Moabite king sacrificing his son to placate his idol that demands human blood - Chemosh.In Jeremiah 51 we have the story in apocalyptic language of Babylon's overthrow. The chapter encapsulates the entire latter portion of the book of Revelation. For yourself it is a worthwhile exercise to open one Bible at Jeremiah 51 and alongside it another opened to Revelation chapters 17-19. Next find how many direct quotes and allusions you can find in the Revelation chapters from Jeremiah 51. The conclusion that this leads you to is that "Babylon the Great" in in the book of Revelation and the mysterious Babylon of Jeremiah 51 are one and the same. An idolatrous and mysterious religious system which today speaks of the mysterious Babylon of the Roman Catholic Church: Revelation 17 verses4-6, 18,18 verses 1-8, 10-17, 19-24; 19 verses 1-3. These overlords who subjected Jerusalem to their cruelties and idolatrous worship were judged by the LORD God Almighty and His saints. Isaiah contrasts those rulers with Judah's Sovereign: Isaiah 26 verses 13-14 compare with Jeremiah 51 verses 39, 57. Those Babylonian rulers were to die and never rise again - "they shall not rise" (Isaiah 26); they shall "sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake (Jeremiah 51). In contrast those trusting in God will experience peace and rise to eternal life - Isaiah 26 verses 1-3, 19-21. In 1 Corinthians 11 Paul proves that our Almighty Sovereign's purpose is evident in the creative work of His angels and the hierarchy that this established. God is supreme, a theme that will be expanded in chapter 15, under Him is His Divine Son - who stands as the head and archetype of the entire creation. Next, in the creative order comes the man, then the woman. Paul points out that there is a mutually dependent relationship in Christ between husband and wife. However, as an acknowledgment of the creative order in the work of the angels, it's important for the women to worship acknowledging the principle that women should worship with their heads covered. The Apostle then speaks of practices that were incongruous in the context of the celebration of the Lord's memorial supper of bread and wine. He urges that self examination is imperative to the receiving of the emblems of our Lord Jesus Christ's sacrifice. And so the great Apostle declares that before we take the bread we need to scrutinise ourselves. None of us take the emblems with a sense of worthiness - we acknowledge that we are weak, erring and struggling with our mortality and the ravages that sin has brought on our fallen condition and our proneness to sin with which we wrestle on a daily basis. But the important thing is that we continue to strive against sin relentlessly. This we do in remembering our Lord's offering: Hebrews 12 verses 1-11. Surely those who have given up fighting against sin will be condemned with the world. Brother Thomas exquisitely says of the breaking of the bread on page 296 of Elpis Israel: "for to eat his flesh is to digest, and make a part of our mental selves, the truth concerning the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ."
What does it mean to sleepwalk in your faith? How do you handle other Christians judging your worship? What is the significance of Ruth the Moabite being in Christ lineage? What generational curse have you experienced? When has God taken you through a transition and asked you to be strong?
The story told in 2 Kings 3 is most curious indeed. Verses 1-8 tell us of the time that the two kings of Israel and Judah - Jehoram and Jehoshaphat - set out to wage war against Moab who had rebelled and failed to pay the massive tribute that had been imposed on them by Jehoram. Jehoram and Jehoshaphat were not expecting to be defeated by the weather. Surely Yahweh would not have it so. A minstrel was called to induce a mood conducive to the prophet Elisha and this is perhaps puzzling to us. God sent the rain only where the allies - Israel and Judah were encamped. The Almighty also sent a wind which deluded Moab into believing the two kings had turned on each other. The foes of Israel and Judah rushed unknowingly to their destruction. What a gross incident concludes the sorry tale with the Moabite king sacrificing his son to placate his idol that demands human blood - Chemosh. In Jeremiah 51 we have the story in apocalyptic language of Babylon's overthrow. The chapter encapsulates the entire latter portion of the book of Revelation. For yourself it is a worthwhile exercise to open one Bible at Jeremiah 51 and alongside it another opened to Revelation chapters 17-19. Next find how many direct quotes and allusions you can find in the Revelation chapters from Jeremiah 51. The conclusion that this leads you to is that "Babylon the Great" in in the book of Revelation and the mysterious Babylon of Jeremiah 51 are one and the same. An idolatrous and mysterious religious system which today speaks of the mysterious Babylon of the Roman Catholic Church: Revelation 17 verses4-6, 18,18 verses 1-8, 10-17, 19-24; 19 verses 1-3. These overlords who subjected Jerusalem to their cruelties and idolatrous worship were judged by the LORD God Almighty and His saints. Isaiah contrasts those rulers with Judah's Sovereign: Isaiah 26 verses 13-14 compare with Jeremiah 51 verses 39, 57. Those Babylonian rulers were to die and never rise again - "they shall not rise" (Isaiah 26); they shall "sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake (Jeremiah 51). In contrast those trusting in God will experience peace and rise to eternal life - Isaiah 26 verses 1-3, 19-21. In 1 Corinthians 11 Paul proves that our Almighty Sovereign's purpose is evident in the creative work of His angels and the hierarchy that this established. God is supreme, a theme that will be expanded in chapter 15, under Him is His Divine Son - who stands as the head and archetype of the entire creation. Next, in the creative order comes the man, then the woman. Paul points out that there is a mutually dependent relationship in Christ between husband and wife. However, as an acknowledgment of the creative order in the work of the angels, it's important for the women to worship acknowledging the principle that women should worship with their heads covered. The Apostle then speaks of practices that were incongruous in the context of the celebration of the Lord's memorial supper of bread and wine. He urges that self examination is imperative to the receiving of the emblems of our Lord Jesus Christ's sacrifice. And so the great Apostle declares that before we take the bread we need to scrutinise ourselves. None of us take the emblems with a sense of worthiness - we acknowledge that we are weak, erring and struggling with our mortality and the ravages that sin has brought on our fallen condition and our proneness to sin with which we wrestle on a daily basis. But the important thing is that we continue to strive against sin relentlessly. This we do in remembering our Lord's offering: Hebrews 12 verses 1-11. Surely those who have given up fighting against sin will be condemned with the world. Brother Thomas exquisitely says of the breaking of the bread on page 296 of Elpis Israel: "for to eat his flesh is to digest, and make a part of our mental selves, the truth concerning the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ."
27.08.25 This is a disturbing story of incest. However, life goes on... and it seems the there is an element of Grace in the situation. - An extra theological note that is not in the podcast, Jesus has Moabite ancestry in his human bloodline, which is certainly a sign of God working all things for good, for his glory and his purposes. The Lord bless you and keep you!
Ruth 1:1, 3-8, 14-16, 22 (Naomi returned with Ruth the Moabite and came to Bethlehem) Isaiah 9:2-7 ('A son is given to us.")
OOBT is back from a summer break, and what better way to return than with the 80th episode! Cue the confetti!
In this second episode of our four-week series on the Book of Ruth, Pastor Karl explores the theme of God's providence as seen in Ruth Chapter 2. He delves into the distinction between God's miracles and His providence, emphasizing how God supernaturally orchestrates the natural events of our lives for the good of those who love Him. Through the story of Ruth, a Moabite widow, and her mother-in-law Naomi, Pastor Karl illustrates how God's providence brings blessing to those who trust and obey Him, even in the face of hardship. The episode introduces Boaz, a wealthy and godly man who foreshadows Jesus as a kinsman-redeemer, and highlights Ruth's faith, humility, and diligence as she gleans in Boaz's fields. Pastor Karl unpacks the biblical principles of generosity, trust, and staying faithful to God's promises, showing how God's unseen hand works to redeem and restore broken lives. Join us as we see how Ruth's story of providence and redemption unfolds, offering timeless lessons for living with confidence and momentum in God's plan.Watch all our sermons on our YouTube channel "Flipside Christian Church"Join us in person 9:00am & 10:30am every Sunday morning.37193 Ave 12 #3h, Madera, CA 93636For more visit us at flipside.churchFor more podcasts visit flipsidepodcasts.transistor.fm
An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the Lord for ever, because they met you not with bread and with water in the way when ye came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor, of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee. Nevertheless the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam, but the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee.Deuteronomy 23:3–5Hello everyone and welcome to the Christian Educational Ministries Weekend Bible Study. It is good to be with you and we thank you for being there and allowing us to make this weekly service possible.Tonight we are pleased to continue our study on the book of Deuteronomy, which teaches us to know God, love God and obey God. Filling in for Ronald L. Dart, with part twelve of this fascinating series, is our good friend, Richard Crow.
Send us a textAs I think about the life of Naomi and how she lived her later years, I cannot help but think of a principle that we learn in the Advent story 3 you cannot tell the end from the beginning. Apart from the Old Testament promises of the Messiah ad the angelic announcements of Messiah's birth, the majestic destiny of Jesus might never be guessed from His humble beginnings and surroundings.As we read the opening lines of Naomi's story one might never guess how the story will end. How anyone lives out the final years of life, like Naomi, is learned as we intentionally trust our lives to a sovereign God and live obediently following His hand.Naomi's story begins with incredible hardship.Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there. Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband (Ruth 1.1-5).Support the show"Finishing Well Ministries aims to encourage and inspire aging Christians to understand and embrace God's calling in their later years, equipping them to actively pursue and fulfill His calling. FWM provides free materials, events, and other on-line resources that provide shared insights focused on finishing our lives well. We also recruit and train volunteers who lead and encourage small groups around the world to fulfill God's mission for them in these critically important years." - Hal Habecker Website: www.finishingwellministries.org Email us: Hal@finishingwellministries.orgFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/finishingwellministriesSupport Our Ministry: https://www.finishingwellministries.org/donateAre there biblical principles to help us understand how to finish well?Explore the Seven Essentials for Finishing Well. Learn more.Thanks for listening as we all strive to live and finish life well!
Guest pastor Sherri Harder shares the beautiful story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz we find in the Old Testament. Ruth, a Moabite widow, demonstrates loyalty, bravery, and faith in God alongside her mother-in-law, Naomi, in a journey full of trials, hope, and ultimately redemption. This message, a favorite of Pastor Sherri's, kicks off our new series full of favorite sermons from our team!
We delve into the story of Ruth, an inspiring tale of loyalty, faith, and divine providence set in the time of the judges. We explore Naomi's tragic journey to Moab due to famine, the loss of her husband and sons, and the unwavering commitment of her Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth, who chooses to stay with Naomi and embrace her faith. As they return to Bethlehem, Ruth's dedication leads her to glean in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Naomi's deceased husband. Boaz's extraordinary kindness and generosity towards Ruth highlight his faithfulness to God. Naomi, recognizing an opportunity in Boaz's actions, begins to devise a plan for a brighter future for Ruth.Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...
A Sermon for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity St. Matthew 5:20-26 by William Klock In last Sunday's Gospel we were with Jesus and Peter in that fishing boat as Jesus preached to the crowd on the shore. I said that I had a pretty good ides the sorts of things Jesus was preaching, because both Matthew and Luke preserve versions of his favourite sermon about the kingdom. Today's Gospel gives us a snippet of Matthew's version of that sermon. In Matthew 5:20 Jesus says to the gathered crowd, “I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” In the words leading up to this, Jesus was preparing the people to hear this. He talks about being the salt of the earth and the light of the world and a city set on hill and a light held high on a lampstand for everyone to see. “That's how you must shine your light in front of people!” he says, “Then they'll see what wonderful things you do, and they'll give glory to your father in heaven.” Do your works, does you the way you live make people take notice and give glory to God? That's a tough one, isn't it? And then, just in case people might be thinking that Jesus came to do away with the law and the prophets: “Don't suppose that I came to destroy the law or the prophets,” Jesus said, “I didn't come to destroy them. I came to fulfil them! I'm telling you the truth: until heaven and earth disappear—and since that won't happen this just means never—not one stroke, not one dot, is going to disappear from the law until it's all come true. So anyone who relaxes a single one of these commandments, even the little ones, and teaches that to people, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. And anyone who does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” And this is where Jesus says those words, “Yes, let me tell you: unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.” Because Jesus was doing and saying so many things that a lot of people thought weren't right, I suspect some people thought that Jesus was teaching an easier way to the kingdom. The Pharisees were mad because he didn't seem to keep the law with the same zeal that they thought everyone should, but I suspect there were others who thought Jesus was offering them a way to God without all the spiritual rigor and rules. Just this week I found myself talking to someone who had left an orthodox, biblical church a few years ago and is now worshipping at a United Church. The reason: “They aren't so strict. They let people be themselves. They aren't so bound to the Bible.” In other words: The United Church offers a way to God that you can follow on your own terms. I suspect some people thought Jesus was doing a sort of First Century Jewish version of that. And so Jesus makes it clear that this is not the case. No, just the opposite in fact. Not even the Pharisees with all their zeal for torah, not even they meet the standard. Later in the sermon he'll go on to talk about the wide and narrow way that will lead Israel to destruction and the narrow gate that few can find and the narrow and difficult way beyond that leads to the kingdom. No, Jesus hasn't come to relax the standard. Not at all. But before we can go on we need to ask a couple of questions. When Jesus talks about “righteousness”, what does he mean? Well, for the Jews “righteousness” was bound up with torah, with the law and with God's covenant. A righteous person was someone who was faithful to God and to the covenant and that meant, fundamentally, that he was faithful in living the law that God had given his people. The name “Pharisee” means “separated one”. That's what Israel was supposed to be. The Lord had delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt to be his people and he gave them a law, he gave them torah, as a way of life that would separate them and that would make them distinct from every other people on earth. When the nations looked at Israel they were supposed to be moved to give glory to God. But for most of their history, the Israelites didn't do a very good job of being that separate and distinct people. They were selective in their obedience. They worshipped idols. And so just as he cast Adam and Eve out of the garden and out of his holy presence, the Lord cast out Israel and sent her in exile to Babylon. Righteousness means “covenant faithfulness” and if Israel wasn't going to be faithful to the covenant, then in order to be faithful himself to the covenant, the Lord would have enact the covenant curses that he promised would befall his people if they didn't keep their end of the covenant—if they were unrighteous. As I've said before fairly recently, the Pharisees knew all of this. More than that, they believed that the exile was, after a fashion, still ongoing. Because Israel was still ruled by pagans and because the Lord's presence had never returned to the temple. They desperately wanted an end to Roman rule and even more than that, they prayed for the Lord's return. But that wasn't going to happen as long as Israel was still unfaithful—still lacking in righteousness. So the Pharisees decided to set an example. They weren't just going to obey the law as best they could; they were going to live their whole lives as if they were priests in the temple. They wouldn't just keep themselves from sin. They'd keep themselves ritually pure at all times. They were ready for the Lord to return. If only they could get everyone in Israel just as ready! But not everyone in Israel was as interested in righteousness as they were. There were a lot of people who just weren't as serious about God's law as they were. But worse were the compromisers—the Jews who gradually assimilated to the pagan ways of the Greeks and Romans and the people who willingly and knowingly became traitors to the covenant: tax collectors and sinners. Think of it this way: The Pharisees saw themselves in the midst of a culture war. And they knew it wasn't the first time Israel had faced a culture war. And so their heroes were the righteous men of Israel's past culture wars. One of those heroes was Phinehas, one of Aaron's grandsons. In the book of Numbers we read how Balak, the King of Moab, had hired a prophet to curse the Israelites. But the prophet, Balaam couldn't do it. Every time he opened his mouth to curse the Israelites, the Lord caused blessings to spill out. So Balak, instead, sent a bunch of beautiful Moabite women to infiltrate the Israelite camp and to entice the men of Israel to worship the Canaanite god Baal with them. Isreal's first culture war. The men were enticed into sexual immorality and then into idolatry—those two always go hand-in-hand. But Phinehas, came upon one of the Israelite men in flagrante delicto with one of these women. Filled with holy zeal, Phinehas grabbed a spear and ran them both through together. That was the end of Israel's first culture war and Phinehas became a hero for his righteous zeal. But much more recently, the Pharisees looked back on the heroes of the Maccabean Revolt—about 160 years before. In those days Judah was ruled by Greeks. And the Greeks just sort of thought that because their culture was so superior to everyone else's, everyone would just assimilate given the chance. Think of Gus in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. “There are two kinds of people: Greeks and everyone who wish they was Greek.” But no matter how many temples or gymnasiums the Greeks built, the Jews wouldn't assimilate. Antiochus IV Epiphanes had enough of it and finally outlawed the law. If you circumcised your son, you and he would be executed. He defiled the Lord's altar by sacrificing a pig on it. In Second Maccabees we read a horrific story of seven brothers and their mother who were tortured and gruesomely martyred when they refused to eat pork. Jews were forced to offer sacrifices to Zeus. Mattathias Maccabeus was watching as one Jewish man caved into that pressure. The writer of First Maccabees tells us how Mattathias burned with zeal for the law, just like Phinehas had. He ran forward and killed the man at the altar, then turned and killed the King's soldier. That would kick off a revolt against the pagan Greeks. But the Maccabean revolutionaries didn't just go after their foreign rulers; like Mattathias they went after compromising Jews as well. They were the inspiration for the Pharisees. The Pharisees didn't have that kind of power. They couldn't force anyone to keep the law or to keep it better. But they had the same kind of zeal. They desperately wanted, they prayed for the Lord to return to Zion to destroy the Romans and all the other unrighteous pagans—and all the compromisers like the tax collectors and sinners in Israel, too. And—getting back to Jesus peaching on the hillside—and Jesus now says that even that kind of zeal, that kind of righteousness isn't enough to get folks into the kingdom. In other words, to the people who were coming to Jesus thinking he was making it easier—kind of like some modern liberal spirituality that you can shape to your own liking—Jesus says, “No. I didn't come to make it easier.” But then he condemns even the Pharisees. They were the most righteous people around and even they weren't going to make the cut. So what now? Imagine all the people holding their breath to hear what Jesus is going to say next. They really, really want to know. Before he ever started preaching, they'd seen him doing all the Messiah things: casting out demons, healing the sick and the blind and the deaf. They knew without a doubt that the God of Israel was somehow acting in and through Jesus, so they had to think that when he preached, he preached with authority and he spoke for God. He's got their attention now. Now they want to know what it means to be more righteous than even the Pharisees. So Jesus goes on and says, “You have heard it said to the people of old, ‘You shall not murder'; and anyone who commits murder shall be liable to judgement. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgement; anyone who insults his brother with foul and abusive language will be liable to the lawcourt; and anyone who says, ‘You fool,' will be liable to the fires of Gehenna.” And Jesus keeps going on like this. If we skip down to 5:27—picking up just were today's Gospel ends—Jesus says something similar about adultery. “You have heard it said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you: everyone who gazes at a woman in order to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” On and on. Divorce falls in Jesus sites too: Divorce is wrong. Marriage is a life-long covenant. Tell the truth, he says, and you won't need to make oaths for people to believe you. The law commanded justice and put limits on retaliation, but Jesus says, “Don't resist evil with violence”, “turn the other cheek”. “When someone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat, too. When someone forces you to go one mile, go a second one with him.” And in verse 43 Jesus puts a cherry on top of all this. They knew that the law was about loving your neighbour, but then they got the idea that the only people who were their neighbours were their fellow Jews. Love your neighbours, yes, but hate your enemies—people like the Romans, the tax collectors, and the sinners who openly rejected God's law and covenant. Love your neighbours. Pray for God to smite your enemies. And Jesus says, “No! I tell you: love your enemies! Pray for people who persecute you!” Why? “So that you may be sons [and daughters] of your Father in heaven.” Do you want to have a share in the kingdom? Do you want to be a child of the Father? Do you want to know how to have a righteousness—a covenant faithfulness—greater than even the Pharisees? Do want people to glorify God when they see how you live? Then love the way that God loves. That's what righteousness has always been about: it's been about a people that conforms to the heart of God. Righteousness is about sinlessness, but it goes deeper than that and that's what the Pharisees and so many others in Israel had forgotten even though it was there all along: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbour as yourself.” Brothers and Sisters, this is what kingdom people look like in a culture war. They love the way God loves. This is the narrow gate, this is the difficult path that leads to the kingdom and life with God. It's hard. All we have to do is look around us. Things haven't changed much since Jesus preached this two thousand years ago. We're in the middle of a war ourselves and it seems like Christians are prone to the same two failures. There's a ditch on either side of the road. You fall into the ditch on this side when you give in and compromise. Whether it's the Judeans who went along with the Greeks, leaving their sons uncircumcised, eating pork, and making offerings to Zeus or the Christians today who give up and buy into the pagan world's notion that love is whatever you make it, anything goes, and we can all live and fellowship with God on our own terms. Brothers and Sisters, compromise with a godless and anti-gospel culture isn't the way. Jesus didn't come to make it easier to get into the kingdom, but there are a lot of people and churches today who think that the answer to the culture and to dwindling interest in the gospel is to lower the bar and to make it easier to think of yourself as a Christian. Appealing to the cultural moment might get you a few followers in the short term, but it will land you in the outer darkness, weeping and gnashing your teeth just as surely as the opposite error will. The opposite error—the ditch on the other side of the road—is Phariseeism. And that happens when we forget that the gospel wins not through violence and force but when Christians love the way that God loves. Brothers and Sisters, no amount of compelling, force, violence, or political power will ever move the heart of an unbeliever to give glory to God because of what they see in us. But in the midst of a culture war it's very easy for God's people to think that seizing the reigns of power is the answer. We'll do anything, compromise just about anything, team up with just about anyone no matter how ungodly they are, to get our hands on that power. And we can do it all with a zealousness like that of Phinehas or Mattathias that feels so right. We try to meld Caesar and Jesus together, forgetting that Caesars bloody and violent way is the opposite of the gospel, which conquers through love. You can't trust in Jesus and at the same trust in horses and chariots. You can't trust in Jesus and at the same time trust in political power. Jesus demands our allegiance and our trust—all of it and without compromise. And it's when we give him that full allegiance that we have the loving heart of God. It's when we're willing to follow Jesus as we turn the other cheek, as we give both our shirt and our coat, as we go the extra mile, even as we go to our own deaths, it's then that world takes notice and give glory to God. That's how the gospel captivates hearts and transforms the world. Brothers and Sisters, that's the narrow gate and the difficult path. Don't give up on righteousness when the going gets tough. And never forget that law is ultimately about loving God and loving our neighbours—everyone—the way God loves them—enough to give his own son. Love them as God does—even your worst enemy—even to point of sacrifice. That's how God once captivated your heart and it's how he will captivate theirs. Jesus stresses just how important this is. Going back to the end of our Gospel in Matthew 5:23 he says, “So, if you are coming to the altar with your gift and there you remember that your brother has a grievance against you, leave your gift right there in front of the altar, and go first and be reconciled to your brother. Then come back and offer your gift.” We probably miss the significance of this. To go to the temple in Jerusalem to make an offering to God was the peak of righteousness, of covenant faithfulness. This took precedence over everything else. No one. No. one. Would go to Jerusalem. And remember, Jesus is preaching in Galilee, a three day's journey from Jerusalem. No one would trek all that way, carrying their animal for sacrifice or buying one at an exorbitant price at the temple, wait their turn, and then standing there with the priest ready to make the sacrifice, suddenly realise they needed to go all the way back home to make something right with a brother or a sister. Yes, I think Jesus is using a bit of hyperbole here, but he wants to drive his point home, because this is how people—especially the Pharisees thought. If you were doing it for God, nothing else mattered. Think of the priest and the Levite in Jesus' parable, leaving a man for dead on the side of the road lest they become ritually impure. For all their talk of loving God, they'd forgotten just how much God loves us and they'd failed to live it out. That's why they grumbled when Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners. They'd forgotten that all of heaven rejoices over a sinner who repents. No, says Jesus. Never think that you're honouring God if, at the same time, you're failing to love your neighbour the way God loves him. Never think you're doing God's work if, at the same time, you've compromised his call to faith and to faithfulness. Never think you're building the kingdom if, at the same time, you're compromising its principles. Instead, stop what you're doing and make things right. Go back and love your neighbour. Reconcile and make things right with him. Remember that you serve the God who gave his son out of love in order to reconcile sinful you to himself. Have that kind of love in your heart and let it shape every thing you do. Brothers and Sisters, every Sunday we recite those words of Jesus: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Don't just mindlessly say those words. Be shaped by them. Love God and love your neighbour with everything you've got and then you will have that righteousness greater even than that of the scribes and the Pharisees. Let's pray: O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Ruth's story reveals how God works through the unexpected, weaving redemption from places of loss and uncertainty. As a Moabite widow, Ruth faced a bleak future, yet she courageously chose loyalty to Naomi and faith in the God of Israel. Her quiet but fierce obedience led her to glean in fields, meet her kinsman redeemer Boaz, and become part of the lineage of Jesus. Ruth's life demonstrates that faithfulness in waiting is never wasted; it's an active trust that God is writing something greater than we can see. Just as Ruth leaned into God's plan, we too are called to serve, pray, and step forward in obedience during our own “space between” seasons, trusting that His timing is perfect and His redemption is sure.
In this episode of the Parsha Review Podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe discusses Parshas Pinchas, focusing on the story of Pinchas's zealous act against Zimri and Cosbi, who publicly defied God's will by engaging in illicit relations, as described in Numbers 25. Rabbi Wolbe highlights the danger of blurring moral lines, as Zimri attempted by bringing a Moabite woman into the Jewish community, comparing it to Rebecca's relief upon learning her conflicting womb movements were due to twins with distinct destinies, not a single confused child. He emphasizes that clarity in commitment to Torah and mitzvahs is crucial, drawing parallels to Haman's and Amalek's attempts to assimilate and confuse the Jewish people, urging listeners to avoid compromise in spiritual matters and to define their stance firmly on the side of holiness and light.Rabbi Wolbe encourages small, intentional steps toward observance without compromising core commitments, using examples like health goals to illustrate the importance of mental resolve even if actions lag. He stresses the need for wisdom to distinguish between holy and unholy, as recited in Havdalah and Talmudic prayers, to avoid confusion. A story of a newly observant Jew publicly affirming their identity as a religious Jew underscores how verbalizing commitment clarifies one's path. Rabbi Wolbe concludes by urging listeners to manifest their spiritual goals through clear identification with Torah values, fostering a deeper connection to God and a purposeful Shabbos._____________This episode (Ep 7.38) of the Parsha Review Podcast by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe on Parshas Pinchas is dedicated in honor of our Holy Soldiers in the Battlefield and our Torah Scholars in the Study Halls who are fighting for the safety of our nation!Download & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Studios (C) to an online TORCHzoom.com audience on July 16, 2025, in Passaic, New Jersey.Released as Podcast on July 18, 2025_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content. _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life. To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Numbers, #Pinchas, #SpiritualGrowth, #Commitment, #Torah, #Mitzvot ★ Support this podcast ★
In this episode of the Parsha Review Podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe discusses Parshas Pinchas, focusing on the story of Pinchas's zealous act against Zimri and Cosbi, who publicly defied God's will by engaging in illicit relations, as described in Numbers 25. Rabbi Wolbe highlights the danger of blurring moral lines, as Zimri attempted by bringing a Moabite woman into the Jewish community, comparing it to Rebecca's relief upon learning her conflicting womb movements were due to twins with distinct destinies, not a single confused child. He emphasizes that clarity in commitment to Torah and mitzvahs is crucial, drawing parallels to Haman's and Amalek's attempts to assimilate and confuse the Jewish people, urging listeners to avoid compromise in spiritual matters and to define their stance firmly on the side of holiness and light.Rabbi Wolbe encourages small, intentional steps toward observance without compromising core commitments, using examples like health goals to illustrate the importance of mental resolve even if actions lag. He stresses the need for wisdom to distinguish between holy and unholy, as recited in Havdalah and Talmudic prayers, to avoid confusion. A story of a newly observant Jew publicly affirming their identity as a religious Jew underscores how verbalizing commitment clarifies one's path. Rabbi Wolbe concludes by urging listeners to manifest their spiritual goals through clear identification with Torah values, fostering a deeper connection to God and a purposeful Shabbos._____________This episode (Ep 7.38) of the Parsha Review Podcast by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe on Parshas Pinchas is dedicated in honor of our Holy Soldiers in the Battlefield and our Torah Scholars in the Study Halls who are fighting for the safety of our nation!Download & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Studios (C) to an online TORCHzoom.com audience on July 16, 2025, in Passaic, New Jersey.Released as Podcast on July 18, 2025_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content. _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life. To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Numbers, #Pinchas, #SpiritualGrowth, #Commitment, #Torah, #Mitzvot ★ Support this podcast ★
The whole Bible is about Jesus. So what does the Old Testament story of a Moabite girl gleaning in a barley field have to do with Christ? Discover God's hand in the ordinary events of ordinary men and women. Listen to Truth For Life with Alistair Begg. ----------------------------------------- • Click here and look for "FROM THE SERMON" to stream or read the full message. • This program is part of the series ‘A Study in Ruth' • Learn more about our current resource, request your copy with a donation of any amount. Helpful Resources - Learn about God's salvation plan - Read our most recent articles - Subscribe to our daily devotional Follow Us YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter This listener-funded program features the clear, relevant Bible teaching of Alistair Begg. Today's program and nearly 3,000 messages can be streamed and shared for free at tfl.org thanks to the generous giving from monthly donors called Truthpartners. Learn more about this Gospel-sharing team or become one today. Thanks for listening to Truth For Life!
The whole Bible is about Jesus. So what does the Old Testament story of a Moabite girl gleaning in a barley field have to do with Christ? Discover God's hand in the ordinary events of ordinary men and women. Listen to Truth For Life with Alistair Begg. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/163/29
The whole Bible is about Jesus. So what does the Old Testament story of a Moabite girl gleaning in a barley field have to do with Christ? Discover God's hand in the ordinary events of ordinary men and women. Listen to Truth For Life with Alistair Begg. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/163/29
Parashat Balak [Numbers 22:2-25:9] primarily tells the tale of Balaam the seer, who is commissioned to curse the Israelites, of whom Balak is deathly afraid. Balak's plan does not go as planned, as God has other plans for Balaam, one of which involves the famous talking donkey, a precursor to the perhaps more famous Mr. Ed. According to the rabbis, the mouth of the donkey was created on the eve of the first Shabbat, late in the 6th day of Creation, suggesting that already imbedded in Creation was this talking donkey in order to remove the donkey from the realm of the supernatural. Most of the parashah is taken up with Balaam's four oracles about Israel, concluding with three oracles against the nations. Of particular interest to synagogue goers is Numbers 24:5, which has been incorprorated into the liturgy as the Mah Tovu, the first verse of a paragraph recited upon entering the synagogue for prayer. It is quite striking that this line is uttered for the first time by a non-Jew. The Parashah concludes with the first half of the story about the apostasy at Baal Pe'or. The Israelite men are seduced by Moabite women, which occasions a plague on the Israelite population, which is only stayed when Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron the High Priest, kills one such couple [the man is identified as a member of the tribe of Simeon and the woman as a Midianite] in flagrante delicto. This story will be concluded at the beginning of next week's Parashah, which is Parashat Pinchas. We continue to be mindful of all the hostages who remain in Gaza, the dead and the living, may they be restored to their families immediately. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm's way. Shabbat Shalom.
Pastoral intern Ben Phelps concludes his series in Ruth by focusing on Boaz, who in his role as redeemer gives us a beautiful picture of Christ the Redeemer. In this message we learn about the Redeemer's work that leads to the redeemed's welcome, and paving the way for a royal dynasty, all coming from the most unlikely of courses—a Moabite woman named Ruth.
Redemption E4 — During a dark time in ancient Israel, idolatry, injustice, and death ruled the land and its people. In the midst of a famine, a destitute widow tragically loses her husband and adult sons and is left alone with her immigrant daughter-in-law. It's a horrible situation, but God uses the faithful, loving, and generous acts of ordinary community members to redeem the widow's story. In this episode, Jon and Tim explore the cosmic redemption playing out in the short but profound story of Ruth.CHAPTERSRecap and Setup for Ruth (0:00-13:37)A Story Opening in Tragedy (13:37-27:26)In Comes the Redeemer (27:26-38:18)The Redeemer Redeems (38:18-53:43)Ordinary Acts of Love as Cosmic Redemption (53:43-1:04:40)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode's official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESYou can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Check out Tim's extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSICFour songs by Jackie Hill Perry“The Art of Joy”“Suffering Servant”“Ode To Lauryn”“Better”BibleProject theme song by TENTSSHOW CREDITSProduction of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, who also edited today's episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.Powered and distributed by Simplecast.
In this Bible Story, we learn about the three kings battling against the Moabite rebellion. God honors Israel solely because they aligned themselves with Judah who remained faithful. This story is inspired by 2 King 3. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Kings 3:16 from the King James Version.Episode 130: As the prophet Elisha was teaching in the towns of Israel, and caring for the people, he experienced miracle after miracle. God used him to help oversee the freeing of a widow and her sons, and the healing of a poisoned stew. And the miracles continued with the feeding of 100 men with only 20 loaves of bread, and the miraculous recovery of a sunken axe head. Each of these events showed how God cares about the everyday life and struggles of his people. Something you and I can take comfort in even today.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this sermon, we looked at how the story of Ruth is a profound portrait of redemption, belonging, and grace. As a Moabite woman, Ruth was an outsider to the covenant promises of Israel. After the loss of her husband, she was destined for a forgotten life without hope. Yet through her bold declaration of faith—"Your God will be my God"—she was adopted into God’s family. Then, through the kindness of Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer, God restored what had been lost in Ruth's life, weaving her story into the very lineage of Jesus. As believers, this is our story as well. We were once far off, strangers to God's promises, but by faith in Christ, our true Redeemer, we have been brought near. Jesus takes those who are broken, wounded, or forgotten and invites us into His eternal plan of redemption.
We delve into the story of Balaam's wicked advice and the severe consequences of Israel's disobedience. We discuss how Balaam, a pagan prophet, devised a plan to seduce the Israelites into idolatry through Moabite and Midianite women, leading to God's wrath. The episode highlights the zealous actions of Phinehas, Aaron's grandson, who intervened to stop the plague that God had sent as punishment. God responded to Phinehas's decisive actions by granting him a covenant of perpetual priesthood.Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...
Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.' If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you[a] will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth[b] the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”
In this first episode of Rus the Moavite: Loyalty and Royalty, we begin the remarkable journey of Ruth, a Moabite woman whose unwavering devotion reshaped the future of the Jewish people. The podcast opens with an overview of the Book of Ruth, placing the story during the chaotic era of the Judges. We then explore Elimelech's controversial decision to flee Israel during a famine and settle in Moav—a choice that brings dire consequences. His premature death is followed by the marriages of his sons, Machlon and Kilyon, to Moabite women, which eventually ends in further tragedy.The narrative shifts to Noami's return to Israel after losing her husband and sons. In a deeply emotional moment, she urges her daughters-in-law to stay in Moav. Orpah ultimately turns back, and her path leads to an unexpected and dark legacy. Rus, on the other hand, clings to Noami with unparalleled loyalty, uttering the now-famous words of commitment. The episode concludes with Rus and Noami arriving in Israel, setting the stage for a story of redemption, faith, and the hidden roots of royalty.00:00 – Introduction to the Story of Ruth02:51 – When Did the Story Happen?04:49 – Elimelech Leaves Israel During Famine11:24 – Elimelech's Punishment12:07 – Machlon and Kilyon Marry Moabite Women15:16 – Machlon and Kilyon Die18:01 – Noami Prepares to Return to Israel24:29 – Noami Urges Daughters-in-Law to Leave Her29:53 – Orpah Turns Back. Her Story Explained37:53 – Rus Clings to Noami41:39 – Rus and Noami Arrive in Israel
The Book of Judges follows a repetitive cycle: Israelites worship idols, God allows enemies to oppress them, they cry out, and God raises a judge like Ehud to deliver them. Ehud, a left-handed man with a disabled right hand, kills the Moabite king Eglon, showing God uses unlikely heroes. God triumphs through our weakness, gives us salvation comes faith, overcomes opposition, and values availability over ability.
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On the evening of June 1, a synagogue in Mississauga, Ont., will officially welcome nine new members of the Jewish faith, during Shavuot services. The conversion candidates have been studying for months, having undergone ritual baths and—in some cases—symbolic circumcisions, all to join the Tribe. The timing of the ceremony for these “Jews by choice” harkens back to the Biblical story we read on Shavuot about Ruth, a Moabite woman who joined the Israelites through marriage, and whose descendants included King David and Jesus Christ. For months, Canadian rabbis of all denominations have been reporting heightened levels of interest in conversions. Some candidates are looking to commit for their Jewish spouse; others proceeded solo on their own spiritual journeys. However, one thing many had in common: Oct. 7 has a lot to do with it. Why would anyone want to become Jewish, you ask, when antisemitism and anti-Zionism are becoming increasingly mainstream? We get answers on today's episode of The CJN Daily. Rabbis Taylor Baruchel of Holy Blossom Temple, the largest Reform congregation in Canada, and Stephen Wise, the spiritual leader of Shaarei-Beth El Congregation, in Oakville, join to explain the phenomenon. Related links Meet three Canadians who converted to Judaism after Oct. 7, despite everything, on The CJN Daily. Why Alexandria Fanjoy Silver converted twice, on The CJN Daily. Read more from Emily Caruso Parnell about the conversion process she underwent from both Orthodox and Reform pathways, in The CJN archives. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (senior producer), Andrea Varsany (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)
Ruth the Moabite said she'd follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, anywhere. That blind devotion has since made her an enduring symbol of loyalty, faith and determination. And, just in time for Shavuot, we're playing a favourite episode of ours from the vault.Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Daily Dose of Hope May 19, 2025 Day 1 of Week 8 Scripture – Matthew 1 Prayer: Almighty God, We come before you on this Monday, as we start a new week, with both humility and gratefulness. You are so powerful, so holy, and so wise. We need you. We seek you. We are desperate to hear a word from you today, Lord. We also know that we have failed over and over again. Lord, forgive us for our sins, for the ways we fall short. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...Jesus, help us stay focused on you and your Word today. In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we start the book of Matthew. While the author does not identify himself, most scholars agree it was written by Matthew the tax collector. He actually mentions himself a couple times in the Gospel. The events in the book take place in the first 40 or so years of the first century. It was actually written somewhere between 50 and 90AD. Let's keep in mind that all the Gospel accounts were passed down and taught orally for about 30-40 years before they were written down. Each Gospel author collected and arranged these accounts to highlight certain themes about Jesus. Mark, who we just finished, emphasized Jesus' authority. Matthew, on the other hand, very intentionally uses his Gospel to demonstrate the continuation and fulfillment of the whole Biblical story of God and the people of Israel. Thus, he emphasizes how Jesus is the Messiah in the line of David, and he focuses on how Jesus is Immanuel (which means in Hebrew, God with us.) Matthew 1 starts with a genealogy. Sometimes, our inclination is the brush over the genealogies, but this one is pretty unique. First, we can see the connection between the Old Testament and the birth of Jesus. As we read through the names on the list, we get a picture of God's history of redemption for his people. Abraham and David are highlights, as both were recipients of God's promises for the people of Israel, significant parts of redemptive history. Another reason I love this genealogy is that five women are specifically mentioned. This was at a time when women were basically never mentioned in the history of patriarchal societies. And here we are, five very unique and interesting women–Tamar (who was quite tricky to achieve her purpose), Rahab (at one point a prostitute), Ruth (a Moabite), Uriah's wife (Bathsheba), and Mary. The first four women were Gentiles or married to Gentiles, they were outsiders to a certain extent, and yet they had tenacious faith, the kind that would be critical for faith in Jesus. This focus on Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba leads to the introduction of Mary. It's like the author is saying, “Don't discount Mary!” She may not be who you would expect to be the mother of the Savior of the world but God uses all kinds of people! God lifts up all kinds of women, those who are proper and those who aren't. What a beautiful reminder that the Gospel is for ALL. Then, we have Joseph's story. Joseph is probably the most underrated person in the Christmas story. He is like the father of the bride at the wedding. No one notices him yet he gets to help pay for the whole shin-dig. But Joseph is an example of faithful, unquestioning obedience in the middle of fearful, life-altering circumstances. Scripture says that Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph. Remember, Mary was a very young girl and was probably very poor. Joseph would have been older than her. We tend to think of Joseph as a carpenter but really it's more likely he was a general builder. He was from a kind of backwater, remote area of Palestine. He was probably illiterate (education was generally just for merchants and aristocrats at the time). Both Mary and Joseph were humble people from a very humble part of Israel. Scripture continues, "before they came together, it was found that Mary was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit." Joseph, being a righteous man, faithful to the law, didn't want her to be publicly disgraced so he had decided to divorce her quietly. At the time, when one became engaged, it was much more formal than it is today. Most likely, Joseph had made an agreement with Mary's father, perhaps years earlier, to take Mary as his wife. This would have been a binding agreement. In the eyes of the law, they were as good as married already, even though the relationship had not been consummated. Mary was found to be pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. Keep in mind that all Joseph knows at this time is that she is pregnant. His fiancé is pregnant and he knows the baby isn't his. We don't think much about Joseph's feelings. We focus a lot on Mary (and rightfully so) but Jospeh must have had all kinds of feelings too. The whole thing must have been crushing for him. He had hopes and dreams. My guess is that he was hurt and betrayed. Despite that, he doesn't fly into an angry rage or have a desire to hurt Mary even though this would have amounted to adultery in their culture. Joseph had compassion. He doesn't want to bring additional shame onto Mary if he can help it. Part of this could have been that Joseph was older than Mary. He might have known that a girl of that age didn't really have much control over her sexuality in that culture. Joseph is in a predicament. He wants to be faithful to the law, so he can no longer marry her, but yet he doesn't want to humiliate her either. So he decides to quietly divorce her, not make too much of a big deal about it. Regardless, Mary would face humiliation and be ostracized. That was the nature of the situation. But before Joseph breaks off the engagement, he goes home and goes to sleep. It's always good to sleep on big decisions. While he is sleeping, an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream and says, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” And here is the amazing thing. Scripture says that when he woke up, Joseph did what the angel told him and took Mary as his wife. If Joseph had doubts, they weren't recorded. If he made excuses, we certainly don't know about them. It appears he was simply obedient. It's worth mentioning that the angel tells Joseph not to be afraid to marry Mary because the baby she is carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit. We know that Mary was risking a lot, but Joseph was also taking big risks here. He also will make some pretty significant sacrifices. People are generally pretty good at counting and they would know that the baby was conceived before they got married. He also faces being ostracized and being an outcast in his community. It was scary! What would their lives look like? What would their families do? What would become of them? Joseph models for us that we can be obedient in spite of fear. He did what was commanded of him, even when it was hard. Being obedient to God doesn't always look like we want it to look. Let's be real. We want being obedient to God to be a good job with a comfortable salary, a nice home, good schools for our kids, plenty of leisure time and fun activities, a fairly decent social standing, and occasional church attendance. For most of us, if we are honest, that's what we want obedience to God to look like the typical American dream. But we learn from Joseph is that obedience to God might not always make sense, it might not be popular, and it might not be comfortable. Obedience to God may also require sacrifice. In the case of Joseph, obedience may have cost him his reputation and his place in the community. We know that later it means he has to drop everything to go to Bethlehem for a census. Then, he has to go to Egypt to keep the baby safe from an evil king. This probably wasn't what Joseph envisioned for his young family. When God calls us to something, there are often things we have to give up. Joseph gave up stability and safety. Think about what God has called you to. Maybe God has called you to minister to someone and give up your time. Maybe God has called you to share your faith with your neighbor, coworker, or that person at the gym and risk rejection. Maybe God has called you to volunteer in a specific area or give sacrificially to a mission partner. Maybe God has called you to go back to school, change jobs, reconcile with an estranged friend or family member. Maybe God has called you to full-time ministry. However God has called you (and I can guarantee he has called you in some way), it typically involves some kind of sacrifice, discomfort, and hard work. Being obedient to God doesn't always look like we want it to look. The last thing I'll mention is that God calls us to obey even when we are fearful of the future. This is so hard but God calls us to obey through the fear. We trust that if God has called us to it, God will see us through it. What I've come to learn is that obedience and trust go hand in hand. Have a wonderful Monday. We will chat again tomorrow. Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Ruth 2:15-23 English Standard Version 15 When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.” 17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah[a] of barley. 18 And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. 19 And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” 21 And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.'” 22 And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” 23 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
An undocumented alien from a nearby country changes the course of history for an Israelite woman.In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will examine the life and love of a Moabite widow who left her own family and her own faith practices to care for a woman named Naomi. In the process, she came to worship the Lord God, married her "redeemer," and became an ancestor of Jesus.If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you!
In this message, we will explore how God strategically places us to both care for others and be cared for, as seen in the book of Ruth. Ruth, a Moabite widow, finds herself in Bethlehem, where she receives provision through Boaz and becomes a blessing to Naomi. This story reminds us that we are never where we are by accident - God positions us with purpose. PRAYERText FATHOM to 97000 if you would like a member of our prayer team to pray with or for you.NEXT STEPSAre you ready to learn more about what it means to walk with Christ, get baptized, or get connected within the church body? Click here to complete our digital connect card: https://fathom.churchcenter.com/people/forms/31883GOT QUESTIONS?Learn more about Fathom Church at http://fathom.church/WE'RE HERE FOR YOU!If you are looking for more encouragement and biblical teaching throughout the week, we hope you'll follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or download the Churchcenter app: https://churchcenter.com/setupMORE WAYS TO LISTEN:Fathom Beyond Sunday Podcast - Takes the Sunday sermon a bit further in conversation and application - listen in on an engaging chat between leaders at Fathom discussing faith, life, and how we can carry the truth of the word taught on Sunday into our week Monday through Saturday.Fathom Family Podcast - Real talk on how to build a Godly marriage that is in it for the long haul while leading your kids toward their God-given potential and purpose in Christ.See all the ways to listen here: http://fathom.church/category/listen/
## Exploring the Legacy of Boaz: A Family Legend In the second episode of the "Family Legend" series, we delve into the story of Boaz from the Book of Ruth. This sermon explores the characteristics that define a family legend and how we can leave a God-honoring legacy for future generations. ### The Legend of Boaz and Ruth The story of Boaz, found in the Book of Ruth, is a tale of faith, providence, and legacy. During a time of famine, Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth return to Bethlehem after suffering great loss. Ruth, a Moabite, pledges her loyalty to Naomi, famously stating, "Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay" (**Ruth 1:16-17**). Upon their return, they encounter Boaz, a man of standing and integrity, who plays a pivotal role in their story. ### Characteristics of a Family Legend The sermon outlines four key characteristics that Boaz exemplified, which we can cultivate to become legends for our families: 1. **Prayerful**: Boaz's life was steeped in prayer, even in his greetings and interactions. His blessing upon his workers and his prayer for Ruth's well-being were sincere acts of faith. "May the Lord repay you for what you have done" (**Ruth 2:12**). 2. **Perceptive**: Boaz noticed Ruth, a foreigner, working in his fields. His awareness of her presence and situation highlights the importance of being perceptive and attentive to the needs around us. 3. **Protective**: Understanding the potential dangers Ruth faced, Boaz ensured her safety by instructing his men not to harm her and providing her with water. This reflects the protective nature legends must embody to safeguard their families. 4. **Provider**: Boaz empowered Ruth by allowing her to glean in his fields, respecting her dignity and encouraging her independence. He provided opportunities rather than handouts, fostering growth and faith in God. ### Lessons in Legacy The overarching message is that legends are those who fear God and prioritize the well-being of others over mere happiness. Boaz's actions were not just about meeting needs but about creating opportunities for Ruth to experience God's provision and grow in faith. His life serves as a template for how we can influence our families positively through: - **Prayer**: Inviting God into every aspect of life, trusting Him to work in the lives of those we love. - **Perception**: Being aware and attentive to the needs and situations of our family members. - **Protection**: Safeguarding our loved ones from harm and guiding them through life's challenges. - **Provision**: Empowering others to stand on their own, fostering independence and faith. ### Conclusion Boaz's story teaches us that a true family legend is someone who leaves a legacy of faith and integrity. By cultivating these characteristics, we can inspire our families to follow God and live lives of purpose and significance. As Boaz was to Ruth and Naomi, we too can be guiding lights, pointing our loved ones to the path of righteousness and God's enduring love. For more insights, you can explore the full story in the [Book of Ruth](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth+1-4&version=NIV).
Ruth 2:15-23 English Standard Version 15 When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.” 17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah[a] of barley. 18 And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied.19 And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” 21 And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.'” 22 And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” 23 So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
Hosts Pastor Robert Baltodano and Pastor Lloyd Pulley Question Timestamps: Linda, NJ (3:34) - What is the Q source for the gospels? Jennifer, email (6:51) - Why did God get mad at Balaam for going with the Moabite officials, when God told him to go the night before? Dave, email (8:54) - What Bible verses explain our time on Earth? Karen, UT (12:07) - What does the real God say about the interfaith day of prayer? Is there a scripture that says if you aren't praying to Him, He doesn't hear it? Is it good to go to these events and proclaim that Jesus is the only true God? Ricky, VA (19:54) - Am I an actual Christian when I still struggle with alcohol? Anonymous, email (25:55) - How much of mental illness is demonic? Lloyd, HI (33:41) - Why did Noah curse Cain after the flood? Kelly, MA (36:33) - Where did people go when they died before Jesus came? Thomas, email (40:28) - What are your thoughts on implementing “informed trauma care” into church ministries and overall ministry approach? John, MA (43:35) - Can you explain 1 Peter 3:19-22? Kie-Noah, HI (46:30) - What significance does a Labubu Doll have? Should I stop my son from buying it? Email (49:20) - Was Elihu correct in Job 32-37? Email (51:36) - My church keeps emphasizing the importance of prayer, but doesn't tell us how to pray. Are we just supposed to quote the Lord's Prayer? It feels wrong to just list off my requests consistently. Ask Your Question: 888-712-7434 Answers@bbtlive.org
“So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along, Balaam's donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all. This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff. Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam. “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!” “But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?” “No,” Balaam admitted. Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him. “Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.” Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I didn't realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.” But the angel of the Lord told Balaam, “Go with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.” So Balaam went on with Balak's officials.” - Numbers 22:21-35 NLT
More on Balaam, and how was truly just so wicked, at least in the rabbinic literature. How bad was he in the Torah? Plus, he was a true prophet, regardless of the fact that he was wicked. The Gemara than describes just how wicked Balaam was, according to his ideas to entrap Jews and turn them from worship of God -- into the defecation worship of the Baal-Peor. Plus, how young Balaam was at his death, and why. Also, shifting focus to Do'eg Ha-Edomi, from the book of Samuel - a bit of an enemy of King David. Where God seems more willing to let Do'eg have a future and moments of not-wickedness than David himself. He seems to have known some Torah, in any case. But what he did that was so bad seems to be worked into the biblical narrative about him.
Pastor Jeff shares today through the story of Ruth that God is in control of all things and provides for our needs in many ways. Ruth 2:2-3 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.
Ruth 1:1-19a The LORD moves a Moabite woman named Ruth to care for her widowed mother-in-law, even though it meant leaving her people, her country, and her way of life behind. The Foundation Preacher Podcast is provided to you by WELS Congregational Services. The Foundation resources were created to help churches allow the gospel message […]
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1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. 4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.”5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.' So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”[a]
Daily Office - Wednesday in the Seventh Week After EpiphanyOpening Words:I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. Isaiah 49:6bConfession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips. And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia.Psalm 95:1–7The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. * Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 119:145-176 QophIcall with my whole heart; *answer me, O Lord, that I may keep your statutes.I call to you;oh, that you would save me! *I will keep your decrees.Early in the morning I cry out to you, *for in your word is my trust.My eyes are open in the night watches, *that I may meditate upon your promise.Hear my voice, O Lord, according to your loving-kindness; *according to your judgments, give me life.They draw near who in malice persecute me; *they are very far from your law.You, O Lord, are near at hand, *and all your commandments are true.Long have I known from your decrees *that you have established them for ever. Psalm 119: ReshBehold my affliction and deliver me, *for I do not forget your law.Plead my cause and redeem me; *according to your promise, give me life.Deliverance is far from the wicked, *for they do not study your statutes.Great is your compassion, O Lord; *preserve my life, according to your judgments.There are many who persecute and oppress me, *yet I have not swerved from your decrees.I look with loathing at the faithless, *for they have not kept your word.See how I love your commandments! *O Lord, in your mercy, preserve me.The heart of your word is truth; *all your righteous judgments endure for evermore. Psalm 119: ShinRulers have persecuted me without a cause, *but my heart stands in awe of your word.I am as glad because of your promise *as one who finds great spoils.As for lies, I hate and abhor them, *but your law is my love.Seven times a day do I praise you, *because of your righteous judgments.Great peace have they who love your law; *for them there is no stumbling block.I have hoped for your salvation, O Lord, *and have fulfilled your commandments.I have kept your decrees *and I have loved them deeply.I have kept your commandments and decrees, *for all my ways are before you. Psalm 119: TawLet my cry come before you, O Lord; *give me understanding, according to your word.Let my supplication come before you; *deliver me, according to your promise.My lips shall pour forth your praise, *when you teach me your statutes.My tongue shall sing of your promise, *for all your commandments are righteous.Let your hand be ready to help me, *for I have chosen your commandments.I long for your salvation, O Lord, *and your law is my delight.Let me live, and I will praise you, *and let your judgments help me.I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost; *search for your servant,for I do not forget your commandments. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.LessonsRuth 2:1-13Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband's side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain, behind someone in whose sight I may find favor." She said to her, "Go, my daughter." So she went. She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. As it happened, she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the reapers, "The Lord be with you." They answered, "The Lord bless you." Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "To whom does this young woman belong?" The servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, "She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, 'Please, let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.' So she came, and she has been on her feet from early this morning until now, without resting even for a moment." Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn." Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?" But Boaz answered her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!" Then she said, "May I continue to find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants."The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God.Te Deum laudamusYou are God: we praise you;You are the Lord; we acclaim you;You are the eternal Father:All creation worships you.To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.The glorious company of apostles praise you.The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin's womb.You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.You are seated at God's right hand in glory.We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.2 Cor. 1:23-2:17But I call on God as witness against me: it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth. I do not mean to imply that we lord it over your faith; rather, we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand firm in the faith. So I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice; for I am confident about all of you, that my joy would be the joy of all of you. For I wrote you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. But if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but to some extent-- not to exaggerate it-- to all of you. This punishment by the majority is enough for such a person; so now instead you should forgive and console him, so that he may not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. I wrote for this reason: to test you and to know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ. And we do this so that we may not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. When I came to Troas to proclaim the good news of Christ, a door was opened for me in the Lord; but my mind could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said farewell to them and went on to Macedonia. But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not peddlers of God's word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in his presence.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Matt. 5:21-26“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder' and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God. Benedictus Dominus Deus Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old,that he would save us from our enemies, *from the hands of all who hate us.He promised to show mercy to our fathers *and to remember his holy covenant.This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *to set us free from the hands of our enemies,Free to worship him without fear, *holy and righteous in his sightall the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,To give his people knowledge of salvation *by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God *the dawn from on high shall break upon us,To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersThe Lord be with you.And also with you. Let us pray.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Suffrages BV. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;R. Govern and uphold them, now and always.V. Day by day we bless you; R. We praise your name for ever.V. Lord, keep us from all sin today; R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.V. Lord, show us your love and mercy; R. For we put our trust in you.V. In you, Lord, is our hope; R. And we shall never hope in vain.The CollectsCollect of the DayO Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.Daily Collects: A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for Grace O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.Collect of Saint Basil O Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John Chrysostom Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen
In this Bible Story, Lot's daughters trick their father into sleeping with them in order to carry on the bloodline. These children would eventually become the Moabite and Ammonite nations. This story is inspired by Genesis 19:30-38. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year. Today's Bible verse is Genesis 19:30 from the King James Version. Episode 13: Lot and his daughters have escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by God's grace and kindness, but, as they hid in the cave at Zoar, wickedness was not far behind. Lot's daughter's longing for children, stuck in a cave, decided to get their father drunk enough that they could each take turns sleeping with him. Their plan worked, but the sons they bore became enemies of Abraham's descendants for generations to come. Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham. Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories. Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living. Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store. Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max Bard Producer: Ben Gammon Hosted by: Pastor Jack Graham Music by: Andrew Morgan Smith Bible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.