POPULARITY
64 episodes with Moravian
8 episodes with Moravian
13 episodes with Moravian
6 episodes with Moravian
4 episodes with Moravian
2 episodes with Moravian
3 episodes with Moravian
7 episodes with Moravian
3 episodes with Moravian
On this episode, Tony Brueski digs into the enigmatic tales surrounding Old Salem Cemetery, affectionately known as God's Acre, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Established in 1771 by the Moravian community, this burial ground is steeped in rich history and unique traditions. But beyond its serene facade lie stories that have both intrigued and unsettled visitors for centuries. From the mischievous antics of the "Little Red Man" to shadowy apparitions reported near ancient graves, we delve deep into the accounts that have made God's Acre a focal point for paranormal enthusiasts. Join us as we explore these spectral legends, the cultural impact they've had, and the ongoing mysteries that continue to shroud this historic cemetery.
On this episode, Tony Brueski digs into the enigmatic tales surrounding Old Salem Cemetery, affectionately known as God's Acre, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Established in 1771 by the Moravian community, this burial ground is steeped in rich history and unique traditions. But beyond its serene facade lie stories that have both intrigued and unsettled visitors for centuries. From the mischievous antics of the "Little Red Man" to shadowy apparitions reported near ancient graves, we delve deep into the accounts that have made God's Acre a focal point for paranormal enthusiasts. Join us as we explore these spectral legends, the cultural impact they've had, and the ongoing mysteries that continue to shroud this historic cemetery.
Peter Greer is the President and CEO of HOPE International, a global Christ-centered economic development organization that operates in 27 countries. Under Peter's leadership, HOPE has grown significantly in scope and influence, investing in the dreams of underserved entrepreneurs around the world. He's also a prolific author with more than 15 books to his name, including Mission Drift, Rooting for Rivals, and his latest, Lead with Prayer. A Harvard Kennedy School grad and a sought-after speaker, Peter combines nonprofit leadership with business insights to fuel a global movement of Christ-centered empowerment and economic justice. Peter joins us to discuss the importance of prayer in leadership and life—especially in light of the wisdom he's gathered in co-authoring Lead with Prayer alongside Cameron Doolittle and Ryan Skoog. In this transparent conversation, Peter reflects on how his own spiritual practices have changed over the years, the challenges of truly collaborative leadership, and why prayer isn't something to squeeze into our schedules—it should be the foundation. “Most leaders today must think they're busier than Jesus—because most are spending less time in prayer, not more.” - Peter Greer “Not organization building, but movement making—that's where the exciting work is happening right now.” - Peter Greer “I've written everything not as an expert, but as a practitioner still learning what it means to live open-handed.” - Peter Greer This Week on The Wow Factor: How Peter's journey from studying international business in Moscow led him to microenterprise and missional work The mission and growth of HOPE International, and how it supports entrepreneurs in over two dozen countries The story behind Lead with Prayer and what inspired Peter and his co-authors to dig deep into leaders' prayer lives Why prayer often decreases as leadership responsibilities increase—and how to flip that script What we can learn from Johnny Erickson Tada about suffering, gratitude, and deeper intimacy with God Terry Looper's sacred pace and how “getting to neutral” helps him make decisions grounded in spiritual discernment The ripple effect of prayer and why we should pray bigger, bolder, multi-generational prayers Practical ways to integrate prayer into your everyday life—like prayer by association and “wasting time with God” How fasting, digital detoxing, and physical posture can deepen your spiritual walk Lessons from the Moravian prayer movement and how a small community's prayers changed the world Peter Greer's Word of Wisdom: Try new things. Let go of what doesn't serve you and hold tight to the prayer rhythms that draw you closer to God. The goal isn't perfection—it's presence. Connect with Peter Greer: HOPE International Website Peters Website Peter's Book - Lead With Prayer Peter's Instagram Peter's LinkedIn Peter's Facebook Peter's X Connect with The Wow Factor: WOW Factor Website Brad Formsma on LinkedIn Brad Formsma on Instagram Brad Formsma on Facebook X (formerly Twitter)
This week, Pastor Magrey deVega and Bishop Patrick Streiff explore the power of spiritual practices, from the Moravian texts that shaped John Wesley to the wisdom passed down through centuries of faith. They discuss how scripture, tradition, and relationships shape our journey, just as Jesus walked with His disciples toward transformation. Join the conversation on how faith is lived and shared in community.Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps
The U.S. gained its 26th UNESCO World Heritage Site this summer. The Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Moravian settlement joined three other Moravian settlements in Germany, Denmark and Northern Ireland in becoming a World Heritage Site this year, tracing ideals and consistency found in Moravian city planning. Digital video producer Tim McPhillips went to Bethlehem to see what made Moravians so unique. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
A Christmas selection: songs old and newer, performed by Leontyne Price, Luciano Pavarotti, Heidi Grant Murphy, Odetta, Mel Tormé, et glorious al. Trad., “Angels We Have Heard on High” Bach, “Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben,” from the Christmas Oratorio Trad., “Ríu ríu chíu” Trad., “Il est né, le divin Enfant” Schultz, “Ihr Kinderlein, kommet” Schubert-Melichar, “Mille cherubini in coro” Trad. (Moravian), “Long Ago in Bethlehem” Trad., “What Month Was Jesus Born In?” Martin & Blane, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Tormé & Wells, “The Christmas Song”
Spiritual autobiographies were essential to the spread of Methodism. In this Bonus episode, we hear about Christian David, a Moravian who preached to John Wesley at Herrnhut and whose life impacted John tremendously.Please give us a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.You can find us online at www.historyofmethodism.com.You can support us online at patreon.com/historyofmethodism.
Akademie: Konference Moravian II. Hovoří: Lorraine Parsons, Václav Šindler, David Rafael.
Shenandoah Football finished out the regular season with a victory over ODAC rival, Washington & Lee and have earned their spot in the Cape Charles Bowl part of the Chesapeake Challenge. Josh is joined by Hornets Head Coach, Scott Yoder to discuss the victory last week against W&L, his thoughts on the Chesapeake Challenge and preparing for the Cape Charles Bowl. Make sure you Like, Subscribe and Follow The Kirby on Sports Podcast for more coverage of Shenandoah University Athletics. A huge thanks to our sponsors! PM+ Reserves Shenandoah Primitives Transformative Alignment Group Mark Francis with ICON Real Estate Barrett Pest and Termite Services Mark Lynch with Guild Mortgage Shenandoah Music The Cider House Don't Sleep Energy is the Official Energy Drink of The Kirby on Sports Podcast! www.dontsleepenergy.com or amazon.com/shops/dontsleep use promo code “KOSPodcast” for 12% off your order every single time. www.kirbyonsports.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thekirbyonsportspodcast/support
News; Velvet 89: educational new game presents events of 1989 to new generation; New exhibition showcasing photographer Helena Wilson opens in Prague; The life and lessons of the Moravian thinker John Amos Comenius
News; Velvet 89: educational new game presents events of 1989 to new generation; New exhibition showcasing photographer Helena Wilson opens in Prague; The life and lessons of the Moravian thinker John Amos Comenius
Akademie: Konference Moravian I. Hovoří: Jan Bistranin, Lukáš Králik, Eva Hrdinová.
This talk is a sundry talk from 2024. More materials here: https://first164.blogspot.com/
In this episode of Unknown Nations Podcast, Greg Kelley recaps the annual Celebration Dinner, focusing on Paul's mission statement to reach nations where Christ is not yet known. Greg draws inspiration from historical movements like the Moravian 24-hour prayer and modern-day martyrs like Jim Elliot, while emphasizing the power of leader multiplication as seen in 2 Timothy 2:2. Hear an inspiring story from underground church leaders, and join the mission to make Jesus known! Learn more about Unknown Nations by visiting www.UnknownNations.com.
On this week's episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we sit down with Moravian Head Coach, Jeff Long. In this conversation, Coach Long discusses how his background as a teacher helped him in coaching, how he grew as a young coordinator, and being handed the keys to the Moravian program. Coach Long is in his second season leading the Moravian program and was a member of the 2024 AFCA 35 Under 35 class. Follow Coach Long and Moravian football on social media here: @CoachLongMUFB & @MoravianFB Show Notes: 1:05 Similarities between Teaching and Coaching, breaking into the profession, and transitioning from coaching high school to college. 24:05 Internship with Philadelphia Eagles, developing as a young coach, and transitioning to John Carroll. 46:41 Becoming a coordinator for the first time, the opportunity to be a Head Coach, and AFCA 35 Under 35 Experience.
Johnny Bapack on Morovian revival. CMFI Annual Prayer and Fasting Crusade in Koume. From 14th September to 22nd of September 2024
On the show today: news; scientist develop probe to save infected trees; Prague Cemeteries and Funeral Services host open days; Moravian cimbalom player Matěj Číp on his journey to Berklee College of Music
This talk is a sundry talk from 2024. More materials here: https://first164.blogspot.com/
With a 27-17 win over Moravian under his belt, Head Coach Kevin DeWall '00 discusses how the Statesmen tripped up the Greyhounds and previews the team's final non-conference game of the season, a road contest at Keystone. The Hobart Football Podcast is recorded weekly during the season. The podcast is available on HWSAthletics.com, Amazon Music, and Spotify. To help support Hobart Football, please join the Statesmen Athletic Association. Find Hobart Football on X: @HobartFootball; Facebook: facebook.com/HobartStatesmen; and Instagram: @HobartFootball.
Jesus is the bread of life. But what about the bread at our table? Is there any connection? Kendall Vanderslice, baker and theologian, sees a direct connection between the making and consuming of bread with the good news that God is present and working. A conversation like no other - Kendall walks us through the value of eating together, the bread making process, and how we can love our neighbors through simple acts like offering some homemade bread. You may be surprised how much this conversation brings you to some deeper spiritual longings and reminds you that the tangible of today can be a great metaphor for the intangible hope of heaven. FIND MORE ABOUT KENDALL VANDERSLICE Kendall's -Website and Instagram Kendall's Book- Bake & Pray A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Alex's book- Loving My Actual Neighbor Types of bread mentioned: Moravian sugar cake Stollen Bread QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE What rhythm of food prep can you incorporate into your routine that will help you slow down? How can prayer be part of this rhythm? How has food helped you feel more connected to others in the past? What cultural bread would you like to learn to make this year? How can you love your neighbors through baking this fall and holiday season? LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthie
In this week's episode of the podcast, Head Coach Kevin DeWall '00 breaks down the heartbreaking overtime loss at nationally-ranked Randolph-Macon and looks ahead to the program's first ever meeting with Moravian. The Hobart Football Podcast is recorded weekly during the season. The podcast is available on HWSAthletics.com, Amazon Music, and Spotify. To help support Hobart Football, please join the Statesmen Athletic Association. Find Hobart Football on Twitter: @HobartFootball; Facebook: facebook.com/HobartStatesmen; and Instagram: @HobartFootball.
It's Thursday, August 29th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Ukraine bans religious groups with ties to Russia Last Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bill into law that bans religious groups with ties to Russia. The legislation targets the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which has historical ties to Russia. Ukraine has prosecuted over 100 of its leaders. Religion News notes, “Anyone concerned with freedom of conscience and belief can find legitimate reasons to condemn criminal charges over opinions expressed on social media or from the pulpit, which has been the case of many Ukrainian Orthodox Church clerics jailed since the invasion.” Australia becomes hostile to religious freedom Faith groups in Australia have been calling for more protections for religious freedom. They warn that people are facing increased discrimination for their religious beliefs. A proposed Religious Discrimination Act would have protected religious freedom. However, the government announced it is scrapping the measure. It is even considering removing religious freedom protections in the current Sex Discrimination Act. Monica Doumit with the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney said, “It is disappointing that there remains very little protection against discrimination on the basis of religious belief or activity.” New York censors abortion pill reversal information In the United States, New York has been trying to silence pro-life groups, like Heartbeat International, from sharing information about abortion pill reversals. In response, Alliance Defending Freedom is supporting pro-life groups against the state. A federal court ruled the pro-life groups can keep sharing life-saving information as the case proceeds. The ruling noted, “The First Amendment protects Plaintiffs' right to speak freely about [abortion pill reversal] protocol and, more specifically, to say that it is safe and effective for a pregnant woman to use in consultation with her doctor.” Proverbs 24:11 says, “Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.” U.S. fertility rate drops again The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the U.S. fertility rate continues to drop. The fertility rate fell 3% last year to 55 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44. That amounted to 3.6 million babies who were birthed last year, down 68,000 compared to 2022. The fertility rate has been falling for decades, especially since the 2008 Great Recession. The rate increased slightly in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has continued to fall since then. Male voters prefer Trump; Female voters prefer Harris The New York Times released polling data from battleground states this month. The poll noted a gender gap in political preference, especially among young people. Men tended to support former President Donald Trump, while women tended to support Vice President Kamala Harris. Among people aged 18 to 29, women favored Kamala by 38 percentage points, and men favored Trump by 13 points. That's a 51-point gender gap, up from a 39-point gap when President Joe Biden was still in the race for the White House. Tulsi Gabbard: Kamala Harris is “afraid to debate Donald Trump” Former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard, who just endorsed Trump for president on Monday night, talked to David Webb on the Sirius XM Patriot channel Tuesday to explain why she thinks Vice President Kamala Harris is “afraid” to debate Trump. Listen. GABBARD: “Donald Trump's campaign and Kamala Harris's campaign agreed to this debate on September 10 to the same rules that applied during the Trump-Biden debate on CNN that we already saw. “Now all of a sudden, we're just two weeks out this debate that they already agreed to, and Kamala Harris is trying to change the rules. She wants it to be a debate where they allow the mics to be live the entire time, where she can bring her notes in to the debate with her, and where they will be seated for the entire debate. “President Trump's position has been pretty clear. Where he says, hey, look, we already agreed to the terms of this debate. We should stick with those terms, which is the same rules that he debated Joe Biden under. The fact that Kamala Harris is trying to change the rules here now, just days out from when this debate is supposed to occur, I think it, to me, it says that she's afraid. She's afraid to debate Donald Trump. Her wanting to bring notes into this debate reinforces what we already know to be true, which is she absolutely struggles if she is not using a script, if she is not using a teleprompter. “If she can't debate Donald Trump on the issues, on her record and his record, frankly, without notes in front of her and without sitting down, she's got much bigger problems!” Florida's law banning transgender procedures for minors given green light The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a Florida law can go into effect that bans transgender procedures. The law prohibits doctors from offering puberty blockers and body-mutilating surgeries to minors. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis commented previously on the case, He said, “These procedures do permanent, life-altering damage to children, and history will look back on this fad in horror.” At least 26 states have passed laws to protect children from transgender procedures. Chick-fil-A adds entertainment to menu Chick-fil-A has been America's favorite fast food restaurant for nearly a decade. Now, the company is adding entertainment to the menu as it prepares to launch its own streaming service. The entertainment platform would focus on family-friendly content. Chick-fil-A's CEO Dan Cathy has previously spent millions of dollars transforming over 700 acres of farmland in Georgia. It's now home to the largest movie studio outside of Burbank, California. 100-year-long prayer chain launched hundreds of missionaries And finally, this week is the anniversary of when a Christian community in Herrnhut, Germany began a round-the-clock “prayer chain.” The community started after Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf opened his estate to Protestant refugees. On August 27, 1727, dozens in the community committed to pray in turns every hour of every day. The prayer chain reportedly lasted over one hundred years. The Moravian community went on to send hundreds of missionaries around the world, becoming the spearhead of Protestant missions. Colossians 4:2 says, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, August 29th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
In this week's episode, Evangelist Chance Walters gives us the significance of August 13, 1727 in which many scholars call, The Moravian Miracle. We hope you enjoy the program and please share with a friend!
In this episode, we explore the profound impact of prayer as the driving force behind transformative movements. Discover the story of the 1700s Moravian prayer movement, where 24 men and 24 women committed to round-the-clock prayer, leading to a century of relentless missionary work. We'll discuss the essential elements of the Lord's Prayer and its role in aligning our hearts with God's mission. Through prayer, we can embrace God's priorities, from the holiness of His name to the coming of His Kingdom and the provision for our daily needs. Learn how Jesus' own prayer life and the practical application of the Lord's Prayer can revolutionize our approach to spirituality and community. Join us as we challenge ourselves to integrate prayer into our daily lives and see God's power transform our world. Let's make prayer the lifeblood of our faith journey and witness the extraordinary results it can bring.
Dr. Riddick Weber, Moravian professor extraordinaire, stops by to discuss an observation he's made about deconstruction journeys, and how they are less about theology and more about soteriology(doctrine of salvation).
I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Saturday morning, the 25th of May, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Gospel of John 15:7: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” Wow! That is a beautiful promise from the Lord, but the key there is abiding in Him. Philippians 4:13 - we know that scripture so well: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Its Christ Jesus, folks, it is not our own efforts. Jesus spent thirty years with His Father, His Heavenly Father, in the carpenter shop for a mere three years of ministry, thirty years of preparation for three years of ministry. The devil wants you and I to rush, rush, rush. He keeps us off balance all the time, running, running, running, so that we cannot spend time with the Lord. But Jesus is the opposite. He is never in a rush and He is never late. Remember, He came to the tomb of Lazarus, His friend, 4 days after He had been summoned by Mary and Martha, Jesus' friends. But what happened? A miracle took place. Lazarus was raised from the dead. The main objective of the believer is to spend time with Christ and to allow His strength to flow through us. Then, there shall be nothing too hard for us. Nothing is too hard for us when the Lord Jesus Christ is flowing through us, absolutely nothing. Remember the story I told you before about one of the greatest presidents of the United States of America? Abraham Lincoln was asked, “If you were given six hours to cut down that large tree, what would you do?” “Well,” he said, “I would spend four hours sharpening the axe.” Now, I cut trees and I split wood, I want to tell you, that is profound. There is nothing more sad for me to see than a man trying to cut a tree down with a blunt axe. It doesn't work.John Wesley went across to Europe to meet with a very special man of God, Count von Zinzendorf, the founder of the Moravian church. Do you know what happened? This man, John Wesley, had an MA in theology, and von Zinzendorf made him work in the garden for months. He was so offended. What was he doing? He was trying to get Jesus into the man of God, and out of that, started one of the greatest revivals that the world has ever known. Today, spend time in His presence. Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day,Goodbye.
In March 1782, American militia destroy a Moravian Christian community of white settlers and Indians living in Ohio. Blog https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as pictures, and links related to this week's episode. Book Recommendation of the Week: David Zeisberger: A Life Among the Indians, by Earl Olmstead (borrow on Archive.org). Online Recommendation of the Week: Zeisberger, David Diary of David Zeisberger, a Moravian missionary among the Indians of Ohio, Vol. 1: https://archive.org/details/diaryofdavidzeis01zeis_0 and Vol 2: https://archive.org/details/diaryofdavidzeis02zeis_0 Join American Revolution Podcast on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/AmRevPodcast Ask your American Revolution Podcast questions on Quora: https://amrevpod.quora.com Join the Facebook group, American Revolution Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/132651894048271 Follow the podcast on Twitter @AmRevPodcast Join the podcast mail list: https://mailchi.mp/d3445a9cd244/american-revolution-podcast-by-michael-troy ARP T-shirts and other merch: http://tee.pub/lic/AmRevPodcast Support this podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AmRevPodcast or via PayPal http://paypal.me/AmRevPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I recently returned to my old hometown, Winston-Salem, NC, for a live podcast at Lot63 in Old Salem. There, I was joined by two of my old Profs at Wake Forest University Divinity School, Dr. Bill Leonard and Dr. Craig Atwood, the brand new Dean of the Divinity School, Dr. Corey Walker, and music from a fellow alum Kyle Caudle. In this half of the live show, I talk with my former historical theology Professor, Craig Atwood. Not only did I take historical theology with him, but he facilitated one of the most fun and intense independent studies on the thought of Friedrich Schleiermacher. Dr. Craig Atwood is the premier Moravian historical theologian. He is best known for his books Community of the Cross: Moravian Piety in Colonial Bethlehem, which won two major awards, and Theology of the Czech Brethren from Hus to Comenius. He is also the author of over 50 academic articles, chapters in books, encyclopedia articles, book reviews, and church publications. If you're considering a future in theological education, Wake Forest University's Divinity School is a top choice. My family and I are proud alumni, and we all cherish the education and experiences we gained there. With the dynamic leadership of Corey Walker as the new Dean, the future of the school is bright! If you live in Winston-Salem, you can join us LIVE at Lot 63 for a zesty podcast recording. Info here. JOIN our current class, GOD AFTER DECONSTRUCTION with Thomas Jay Oord Come to THEOLOGY BEER CAMP. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome back to our 22nd episode of Life Between The Notes, the podcast that delves into the lives and experiences of talented musicians from south central Pennsylvania. In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome the immensely talented horn player, Shari Gleason-Mayrhofer! As a busy freelance musician and dedicated teacher in the Lehigh Valley-Berks County area, Shari brings a wealth of insight and stories to us, including anecdotes about legendary horn players such as Bill Vermeulen and Barry Tuckwell, offering a unique perspective shaped by her own experiences in the collegiate world. Throughout our conversation, Shari opens up about the challenges and rewards of a musician's career, shedding light on the highs and lows of navigating the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry. From her esteemed role as the Executive Director of the Friends of Chamber Music of Reading to her positions on the faculties of Kutztown, Moravian, and Lehigh Universities, as well as Muhlenberg College, Shari's dedication to music education and performance shines through. We also explore the invaluable role of private lesson teaching, touching on its profound impact not only on individual students but also on the broader musical community. Whether you're a fellow musician seeking inspiration, a music enthusiast eager to learn more about the lives of performers, or simply someone who appreciates engaging conversations, this episode is sure to resonate with you. So sit back, relax, and join us as we navigate the fascinating world of music with the remarkable Shari Gleason-Mayrhofer on Life Between The Notes. Don't forget to subscribe for more enriching discussions with talented musicians. #SouthCentralPA #LocalMusicians #PAartists #MusicScene #PennsylvaniaMusicians #PodcastLife #MusicalJourney #MusicianStories #PApodcast #LocalTalent #MusicCommunity #BehindTheMusic #MusicCulture #PodcastLife #LifeBetweenTheNotes #LBTN #horn
This episode of Nonviolence Radio welcomes Dr. Craig Atwood, professor of theology at Moravian Theological Seminary and director of the Center for Moravian Studies. Together with Stephanie and Michael, Craig discusses his research and teaching on the history of Moravian thought and faith with special attention to medieval thinker, Peter Chelčický. Identifying the central role of nonviolence in Moravian theology at that time illuminates its long historical roots, extending the community of those committed to nonviolence far into the past and in this, strengthening and legitimizing a tradition which – as seen in the Nonviolence Report at the end of the show – continues to grow today.
News; State-owned forest company opens first plant for wild game; Thousand-year-old bone skate discovered in Moravian city of Přerov; From Czechia, to Toronto and Japan, the Brady family leaves a legacy
In this episode Ryan introduces six core principles directly related to seeing mission mobilization movements happen within our individual local ministries and even across entire denominational structures. To do this we look at the example of the Moravian community at Herrnhut in the 1700's as a representation of these six principles of mobilization movements.
John and Cindi live to see God's kingdom come and true worship arise from the “uttermost parts of the earth.” They had the privilege of serving for 15 years among an unreached people group in the Himalayas where they brought God's kingdom in love, truth, and power. Passionate about missions, the Taylors continue to raise up national leaders in emerging indigenous churches—equipping, empowering, and sending them out as burning ones into the darkness. Out of a deep heart for the oppressed and the poor, they birth and provide mentorship for transformational businesses, which carry the kingdom into all facets of society. As arsons of the heart, the Taylors are mobilizing a fresh, Moravian-like movement of flaming arrows to go to the least-reached peoples and the most Gospel-neglected places on the planet. They long to see the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His sufferings amongst all peoples.
In the second of this two-part podcast, Phil Anderson, author of Lord of the Ring, considers how we can take the vibrant spiritual and practical lives of the Moravian missional communities as a model for OMS communities in the 21st century.
Are you one of the many thousands tuning into the Netflix series The Chosen? The multi-season series tells the life and ministry of Jesus and the people he encountered throughout his life. Set in the times of Roman oppression in Palestine, we learn about Mary Magdalene, Thaddeus, Little James, the fishermen, Simon, Andrew, Big James and John; who they were and who they became when they followed the Messiah. Season 4 is out now to widespread acclaim and that led us to think, what impact, if any, do great Biblical dramas have beyond their entertainment value or are they a priceless way to propagate the Gospels in a modern age? From the 10 Commandments, Jesus of Nazareth to the Greatest Story Ever Told, there's a plethora of great and not so great cinema and tv dramas - so do they make a difference? Presenter Claire Graham in conversation with academic Dr Leon Litvack from Queen's University, avid filmgoer Liz Kennedy, Moravian minister Reverend Dr Livingstone Thompson, and situation comedy writer and lay preacher James Cary.
You know that feeling when you get to hang out with a friend that fills your cup? And y'all could be just chillin' yet you're still having a major blast? Well today we get to hear from one of those people. Trent Howard is a friend, a business owner, and he stood next to me in my wedding. Just like the X-Men, Trent has a super power of his own - community. With a background in petroleum engineering, he decided to take his talents away from the sure-fire financial security of sitting on some oil rig in Oklahoma and move with six friends to the busy metropolis of DFW. Together, he, Carson Kidd, and Joel Agimudie began building a business, now known as Moravian Coffee. Moravian is a coffee roastery that connects people around the world with specialty coffee. If you're familiar with the podcast, you know that I love CONNECTION. Connection is the beginning of opportunity, and opportunity creates connection. In this episode, expect to hear: why young adults often move away from friendshow a lucrative job can sometimes derail our life goalsabout a helpful framework to navigate conflictwhen Trent decided to drop the cheddar and build a businesswhat it's like to be an entrepreneur with your best friendsthe main reasons why people choose to live away from communitywhether being a good friend helps you with being a husband/wifethe story of how we first met and the oddball nature of itwhen prioritizing community can elevate your entrepreneurial pursuitThis is the first IN-PERSON conversation of 2024! It was an orchestra of fun. I'm counting each minute as a blessing and I'm excited to see what other conversations are in store for this year. Thanks for following along!MORAVIAN COFFEE - this is some of the best coffee in the world!https://www.moraviancoffee.com/Connect with Trent: https://www.instagram.com/trenthoward15An easy way to send me a message? Click the link here.Have you enjoyed the podcast? If so, follow it, rate it, and share it with three people: Follow on Apple Podcasts Follow on Spotify Follow on Instagram Subscribe on YouTube If you want to share feedback, have a great idea, or have a question then email me: talktopeoplepodcast@gmail.comProduced by Capture Connection Studios: captureconnectionstudios.com
We're back on the Unknown Nations podcast, and Greg Kelley is taking the lead in a Bible Teaching episode. Diving into Acts 1:8, Greg unpacks the significance of Jesus' last words before ascending into heaven. Join him as he shares the historical account of Moravian missionaries in the 1700s and provides valuable insights into the simultaneous journey of following Jesus. Then stay tuned for stories from the unknown as Greg shares about the Koma Nation being reached with the gospel for the first time. Learn more at unknownnation.com.
Want to change your look completely in 2024? Feeling the need to makeover your outer and inner world? In this podcast episode, Kimberly Spencer chats with Magnetic Stlisy and Energy Master, Jenn Koch, founder of Stylegasm, to discuss the profound influence of personal style on self-confidence and growth. They explore the journey of self-acceptance, particularly post-pandemic and post-parenthood, emphasizing the need to embrace one's current self. Jennifer shares insights on individualized styling, closet purging for identity alignment, and the emotional aspects of wardrobe choices. They address style as self-care and self-expression, and the role of energy mastery in embracing style changes. The conversation underscores style's role in personal development and navigating insecurities with professional guidance. About Jenn Koch, Founder of Stylegasm: Jenn Koch worked in the fashion industry for over 15 years including working in Paris, France, and starting a bespoke women's clothing brand in Bali, Indonesia. She evolved into styling after realizing she didn't enjoy making products but instead loved the deeper interactions with her clients around style. She is the creator of the world's first Style Oracle deck and is also an Energy Mastery teacher. Using these tools combined with her background in fashion, Jenn helps women get in touch with their unique style expression, from the inside out. Connect with Jenn in all the places: Email: yes@haveastylegasm.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haveastylegasm/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haveastylegasm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermariekoch/ What You'll Learn: The transformative power of style What impact of style provide in an ROI of personal growth and confidence How to embrace a unique style How to overcome shame and insecurities When you can use style for self-expression and empowerment What to do when you don't currently love your body (or how clothes fit) Closet cleaning and letting go of clothes tips How to style as a form of self-care and self-expression When Jealousy as a tool for identifying the desired style The Role of energy mastery in style transformation Links + Mentions: "Hello My Name is Awesome" by Alexandra Watkins: 00:07:20 "Style Oracle Decks": 00:03:49 "Energy Mastery Workshops": 00:09:27 "Energy Mastery": 00:43:53 "Professional Organizers": 00:41:51 "Personal Stylist or Style Coach": 00:38:52 "Purging in the closet": 00:40:53 "Awareness": 00:39:48 "Energy Mastery": 00:44:07, 00:46:02, 00:47:58 "Timeline Therapy": 00:46:02 "Jeannie Mai": 00:52:05 "Hot Water with Lemon": 00:51:04 "Meditation": 00:52:05 "Salt Bath": 00:52:54 "Stylegasm Instagram": 00:54:55 "Workshops and Closet Tours": 00:54:55 Moments of Note: Barbie Dressing Days (00:00:00)Kimberly recalls her childhood fascination with dressing up Barbies and the enduring impact of style on her life. Awakening to Authentic Style (00:01:19)Kimberly discusses her journey to embracing her authentic style and the role of style in her business transformation. Leveraging Style for Transformation (00:02:31)The significance of style in external and internal transformation, according to the Moravian communication model, is highlighted. Jennifer Marie Koch: The Stylegasm Queen (00:03:49)Introduction to Jennifer Marie Koch, her background in the fashion industry, and her unique approach to personal styling. The Power of Style Oracle Decks (00:05:00)Jennifer explains the deeper aspects of style, including energy mastery and inner transformation, and the use of style oracle cards in her work. Bold Branding: Stylegasm (00:06:10)Jennifer shares the inspiration behind naming her brand "Stylegasm" and the importance of a bold, impactful business name. The Essence of Style (00:07:20)Jennifer delves into the deeper meaning of style, emphasizing its role in reflecting the true soul expression of an individual. Forgiveness and Transformation (00:14:29)The discussion centers around the profound card "forgiveness" from the style oracle deck and Jennifer's personal journey of forgiveness and transformation. Overcoming Shame and Insecurities (00:18:53)Both speakers share their experiences of facing shame and insecurities related to their personal style and body image, highlighting the unlearning of societal programming. Step by step journey (00:22:12)Kimberly discusses guiding clients through a personalized style journey, addressing sensitivities and individualized steps. Embracing one's unique style (00:23:04)The importance of embodying one's true self through style, leading to confidence and self-acceptance. Closet cleaning and attachment to clothes (00:25:03)Discussion on the symbolic and energetic aspects of closet organization, including letting go of old identities and memories attached to clothes. Investment with own energy and style (00:37:42)Exploring the concept of personal style and the impact it has on self-perception and confidence. Jealousy as a starting point (00:40:53)Using jealousy as a tool for identifying style aspirations and desires, and the importance of seeking professional guidance in the style journey. Addressing physical limitations (00:42:53)Incorporating energy mastery to help clients embrace and work around perceived physical limitations in their style journey. Energy Mastery (00:44:07)Discussion on the transformative power of energy mastery in styling, including the process of cleaning up energy and its impact on clients' lives. Results of Energy Mastery (00:46:02)Exploring the positive impact of energy mastery on clients, such as overcoming grief and starting new relationships and businesses. Style and Energy Cleansing (00:47:58)Connecting style with energy cleansing and the emergence of one's true self, leading to a deeper connection with personal style. Favorite Female Character (00:49:08)Jennifer shares her admiration for the character Emily in Paris and the influence of cheerful and optimistic fashion on her. Morning Routine and Energy Maintenance (00:51:04)Jennifer's morning routine, including energy grounding exercises and meditation, and the importance of energy maintenance throughout the day. Building Her Kingdom (00:53:57)Jennifer discusses her ongoing rebranding and the concept of her kingdom as represented by her new website and online presence. Crowning Yourself (00:53:57)The significance of wearing something fabulous to feel empowered and confident, creating a ripple effect throughout the day.
Pastor Andy Davis traces the angelic worship of Christ throughout the whole of scripture. - SERMON TRANSCRIPT- On May 21st, 1738, Charles Wesley lay seriously ill in bed fearing for his life. But as he lay there fearing for his life, he feared more for his eternal soul because at that point he had no assurance of salvation. He and his brother John, had been pursuing a religion of Christianized good works and morality. They were part of a group called the Oxford Holy Club, and they sought to earn their salvation by good works, by mission trips, by other things, but they had no assurance of salvation. They only had ever-increasing anxiety about eternal hell and destruction. For almost two years they sought this assurance. John and Charles Wesley had been on a mission trip to the New World and on the way back, they were in a serious storm with a group of Moravian believers. They saw the supernatural joy and peace and confidence even in the midst of that storm that those Moravians had. They had absolutely no fear of death, but that could not characterize the Wesleys at that point, so they began to study the religion of the Moravians who often spoke of the testimony of the Holy Spirit to the soul of a genuinely converted person. The Wesleys had seen that supernatural peace during that storm, and they longed to know it, a total freedom from death. The Moravians linked that sense of assurance to the promise in Romans 8:16, the Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children, but they had not experienced that testimony, that assurance at all. If anything, things just seemed to get worse and worse for them until that day, May 21st, 1738 for Charles Wesley, ironically, Pentecost Sunday, Pentecost Sunday commemorating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church. Charles Wesley had been fighting for his life against his illness, but also pleading with God for assurance of salvation. As he lay alone in his bed between visits by his brother John and doctors and well-meaning friends, Charles had a personal encounter with God through the out-poured Holy Spirit that changed his life forever. Assurance flooded into his soul. He felt strange palpitations in his heart, and he cried aloud, "I believe, I believe." He wrote in his journal that day, "I have now found myself at peace with God and rejoiced in the hope of loving Christ." Now his more famous brother John Wesley would soon have his own conversion experience at a prayer meeting on Aldersgate Street there in London. Though John Wesley would become the leader and driving force of the movement known as Methodism, Charles Wesley would become the movement's poet and hymn writer. He wrote over 6,000 hymns seeking to put the theology of Christianity in lyrics that illiterate people could understand easily. Seven months after his conversion, Charles Wesley was walking through the streets of London on Christmas day. The bells were ringing, celebrating the birth of Christ. He hurried home and wrote the poem that would become arguably the most celebrated Christmas song of all time, now known as Hark, the Herald Angels Sing. The original poem that Charles wrote was, "Hark! How all the welkin rings. Glory to the King of Kings." Welkin means “heavens.” A number of years later in 1753, the greatest Methodist preacher of them all, George Whitfield changed the lyrics to what we know today, "Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king. Peace on earth and mercy mile God and sinners reconciled.” That improvement is well appreciated. It's already a challenge to have one obscure word, hark meaning “listen,” and even more obscure archaic word, “welkin,” would probably have sunk him for good. The heavens were indeed ringing with the praise of angelic army the night that Jesus was born. We can obey the word “hark" to listen to their celebration only by faith. Faith in the word of God. There is a listening of the soul with the ears of faith that we must do to be able to listen to them celebrating. There's a seeing to see the incarnate Christ laying there. There's a seeing we can only do by faith, faith in the word of God. I. Angelic Worship of Christ The call to listen to the angelic praise is a doorway into my Christmas meditation with you today. I want to trace out over all of redemptive history, even before history began, angelic worship of Christ. Angelic worship of Christ. My purpose is not that we will merely hark to angelic worship of Christ, but join with them in understanding the greatness in the majesty of Jesus Christ and that God's will may be done on earth as it is in heaven through that worship. Hebrews 1 makes it plain. When God brought his son into the world, He wanted the angels to worship him. Hebrews 1:6 says, "When God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God's angels worship him.’" This is an amazing statement if you think about it. It's an open claim to God of God concerning the deity of his son. The scripture makes it plain that God commands all worshiping beings, angels and humans to worship him and serve him only. Worship is reserved for God, and yet here's God calling on the angels to worship his son when He brings him into the world. That is proof that the Son of God, the birth of Jesus is a matter for worship. This is deity coming into the world, and the angels complied. "The scripture makes it plain that God commands all worshiping beings, angels and humans to worship him and serve him only. Worship is reserved for God, and yet here's God calling on the angels to worship his son when He brings him into the world. " I want to trace out more fully the history of angelic worship of the second person of the Trinity and follow it in historical order in nine steps. First, angels worship the pre-incarnate Christ. Second, angels announced the coming Christ. Third, angels celebrated the birth of Christ. Fourth, angels protected the newborn Christ. Fifth, angels strengthened Christ in his weakness. Sixth, angels announced the resurrected Christ. Seventh, angels celebrated the heavenly ascension of Christ. Eighth, angels assisted in the spread of the gospel of Christ's kingdom. And then ninth, angels will celebrate Christ's glory for all eternity. II. Angels Worship the Pre-Incarnate Christ First, angels worship the pre-incarnate Christ. Christ alone of all human beings that's ever lived, made a voluntary choice, a willing choice to enter the world as a human being. He's the only one that that is true of. He made this assertion to Pontius Pilate when He was on trial before Pilate in John 18, “Jesus said to Pilate, ‘You are right in saying that I'm a king. In fact, for this reason I was born and for this, I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’" In other words, "I chose to enter the world and I chose to enter the world to build a kingdom based on truth and to invite people into that kingdom of truth." That was a choice that Jesus made. He's the only human being that ever was pre-existent before He took on a human body and chose to enter the world, and that is to build a kingdom of truth. So also this statement in John 6, Jesus said, "I have come down from heaven not to do my own will, but to do the will of Him who sent me. And this is the will of Him who sent me that I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life and I will raise Him up at the last day." It is the same thing. "I chose to enter the world not to do my will, but to do the will of the Father. And this is the Father's will that I save all the elect that He has given me." Philippians 2 makes it plain that Jesus shared eternal glory with God on a heavenly throne of glory before He entered the world. He had equality with God, a radiant glory with Him. That's what Charles Wesley meant when he said, "Mild he lays his glory down, born that man no more may die." Before Jesus was born, the angels saw that glory and they worshiped him in his glory. Two key passages show this in the Old Testament, Isaiah 6 and Ezekiel 1. First, Isaiah 6:1-3 says, "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs. Seraphs each with six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another. 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty. The whole earth is full of his glory.'" The Lord the seraphim worshiped was Jesus. John 12:41 makes it plain that Isaiah saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him. The seraphs are angels, an order of angels, the spirit beings of the word. The Hebrew word literally means “burning ones.” They're like on fire. They're brilliant, they're bright. This lines up with the statement made of them in Hebrews 1:7 in speaking of his angels, he says, "He makes his angels winds as servants, flames of fire." The seraphim are burning ones, they're on fire, a holy fire. This fiery terminology also lines up with the vision in Ezekiel 1 of cherubim, fiery beings that could almost defy description and who move mysteriously below a throne of glory. Ezekiel 1 says this, "I looked and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north, an immense cloud with flashing lightning surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in that fire was what looked like four living creatures." Picture a cloud that is radiant and bright and in the center of it, it's on fire, a fiery cloud. In the center of that are these four living creatures called cherubim. These cherubim have four faces and two sets of wings, and there are these high mighty, awesome glorious wheels under them. Wheels sparkling like diamonds and the cherubim move like lightning with fire flashing back and forth among them. Ezekiel 1:13-14, “The appearance of the living creatures were like burning coals of"fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures. It was bright and lightning flashed out of it." The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning. It's energetic, crackling with energy, crackling with light and fire, and that the cherub had moved north, south, east, and west with lightning speed and whatever direction the spirit moves them. High above those cherubim sat the enthroned pre-incarnate Christ. Ezekiel 1:22 and following, "Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked like an expanse, sparkling like ice and awesome like a barrier, like a ceiling. And under the expanse, their wings were stretched out, one toward the other and each had two wings covering its body. And when the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings. Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings." This is awesome. They stood quiet under the voice of the one seated on the throne. There's a reverence that they have and a quietness. They lower their wings and they wait to hear him speak. They're ready to do His will. They're motionless, they're reverent. They're waiting on the voice of the pre-incarnate Christ. This is the description of that glorious throne, Ezekiel 1:26-28, "Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like glowing metal as if full of fire. And that from there down he looked like fire. And brilliant lights surrounded him like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day so was the radiance around him." This was the appearance of the likeness, of the glory of the Lord. ‘And when I saw it,’ says Ezekiel, ‘I fell face down.'" You have this angelic activity moving wheels within wheels that just defies description, and brightness and loud noise and power and then a barrier and then high above that a throne and one seated on it. That barrier represents the infinite gap between creator and creature. It's an infinite gap between God and the highest archangel and all creatures below. That gap represents that difference, the holiness of God, God, the creator over all creation. They recognize it, and they're quiet under it. Ezekiel the prophet was granted this vision of the pre-incarnate Christ on the throne of heavenly glory. This is the glory that Jesus laid aside when He entered the world and was born of the virgin and was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. This is the glory laid by, this is the glory you wanted back at the end of his ministry. When He said in John 17:5, "And now Father glorify me with the glory I had with you before the creation of the world,” it's a glory He deserves. A radiant display of his greatness, which He laid by. Before Christ was even born, the angels in various orders of various types worshiped and served him. III. Angels Announced the Coming Christ Secondly, the angels announced the coming Christ. The word “angel “is just a transliteration of a Greek word, which means “messenger.” Those that are dispatched with a message from God to earth. God regularly in the Old Testament dispatched angels to bring messages from God. At the time of Christ being conceived, the angel Gabriel was dispatched. The angel Gabriel told in his encounter with John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, he said "I'm Gabriel and I stand in the presence of God." He has the honor of proximity, of closeness to the throne of God. That's Gabriel. He was sent also to the Virgin Mary with the most amazing message that any angel has ever carried to any human being. In Luke 1, he said to Mary, “'Do not be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God. You'll be with child and give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end.’ ‘How will this be’, Mary asked the angel, ‘since I'm a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high wall overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.’" This is a message that Gabriel spoke to Mary, the deepest theology ever communicated in the pages of scripture. “Mary, you'll have a baby and the baby will have no human Father. He'll be conceived miraculously by the power of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit will overshadow your body and that's where this baby is going to come from. This baby will be the Son of David. He'll have a genealogy through you and also through Joseph, and he will be rightly called the Son of David. He'll be human because he is your baby and also descendant of David of the house and lineage of David. But he will also be divine because he's called the Son of God.” This is the mystery of the incarnation, the mystery of the virgin birth. It's central to our faith. Jesus Christ was born in the normal way, looked like any other human baby that was born, but He was conceived by the supernatural power of God on a virgin's body. And so this doctrine of the incarnation of Jesus as being fully God, fully man is central to the Christian faith, was initially announced by an angel, announced by an angel to Mary. The angel was also dispatched in a dream to Joseph, the guardian of that Holy Family to give him a different version of the same message. Matthew 1, “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'll give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet. The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us.” The angelic message to Joseph concerning this baby's mission is a little bit different, but easily harmonizeable to Mary.’s The child born is going to reign on a throne forever. To Joseph, He's going to save His people from their sins and we know that that's by His death, His bloody death on the cross, but the theology of the essential nature of who this baby is is the same. I mean fully God, fully man is wrapped up in the word Emmanuel, “God with us”, conceived in a human mother by the power of the Holy Spirit. The angels were dispatched to carry this message and the theology of Jesus Christ to Mary into Joseph. IV. Angels Celebrate the Birth of Christ Third, angels celebrated when this baby was born, they were there to celebrate the birth of Christ. This is the most famous angelic involvement. Angels were sent to Bethlehem the night that Jesus was born, and they were sent to worship Him. This is the direct and obvious fulfillment of God's command in Hebrews 1:6, when God brings his firstborn into the world, He says, "Let all God's angels worship Him." They came to do that in direct obedience to the command of God. First an angel, a single angel, is dispatched to the shepherds on the hills outside Bethlehem, as we’ve already heard. “There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks. At night, an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David, a savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. And this will be as sign to you. You'll find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Again, angels are given a role of dispensing theology to human beings. But this time it's simple working-class shepherds who are just out there at night watching over their flocks in the hills surrounding Bethlehem. Suddenly an angel comes with heavenly glory, a radiant display. This is one of the key texts for me. Understand that glory involves sometimes physical light, a radiant display. And so it is. This angel came with the glory of the Lord that shone around there at night, and it caused instant terror. The angel gives the message that Christ the Lord is born in Bethlehem. He is Christ, He is Lord, He's Savior. These terms are initially understandable. They immediately take root in the heart of any believer, but they will take all eternity to unpack in their fullness. The shepherds understood these words. The simple proof of the angel's words was the oddity of seeing a baby wrapped and laid in a feeding trough for animals. That's highly unusual. So when you go down and you see this baby wrapped up in swaddling clothes, that will be a sign that our words are true. “Then suddenly a huge multitude of the heavenly host appears. A great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace to men on whom his favor rests." This must have been what Charles Wesley and George Whitfield had in mind when they wrote, “Hark, the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King." God told them to do it. It says, "Let all God's angels worship Him,” and they did it with gladness and with powerful voices. I want you to understand a word that is easy to misunderstand and that is the word “host.” I asked some people earlier this week, "What is a heavenly host?" And they said, "Well, when you host somebody, you're opening up your home, you're welcoming them." Friends, that is not what host means here. It's not like the angels are saying, "Hey, you all come." I know I'll never say it like you guys do, "Y'all come," saying, "I want you to come and enjoy." That's not what's going on. It's not what the Greek word means. The Greek word is “stratia”, which is a military term. This is an army, a huge army. Imagine how that would've looked to us rebels against heaven to have a heavenly army arrayed in military weaponry surrounding us. It really would be terrifying. It's not a choir of angels, it's an army of angels. If you want to see the kind of damage they can wreak on planet Earth, read the Book of Revelation. The kind of damage that they wreak gladly when God tells them to do it, pouring out wrath on the ecology and on the people of Earth before the Second Coming of Christ. It's an heavenly invasion. But not that night, though they could have done that kind of damage because we all deserved it. We're all rebels against the throne of God. They were there to celebrate the birth, effectively, of our and God's champion who came to fight on our behalf. They're there to celebrate as He went forth, as David did in the day when he defeated Goliath. He is the representative of heaven and of us, the people of God to fight our battle for us. They're there to celebrate, and there's lots of them. It's not a little, it's a huge army. They're not there to invade rebellious Earth and destroy it like we all deserve, but they're there to proclaim, "Glory to God and peace from God to those on whom his grace or his favor rests." That's the message. This is the same army of angels that will be dispatched in waves in Revelation to destroy all sinners at the end of the world. But at this point they're there to celebrate the birth of the Savior forth. V. Angels Protected the Newborn Christ God also dispatched an angel to warn Joseph in a dream to flee the murderous King Herod and his killing soldiers. Matthew 2, “After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the Land of Israel for those who are trying to take the child's life are dead.’ So he got up and took the child's mother and went to the Land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judean places, his father Herod, he was afraid to go there having been warned in a dream. He withdrew to the district of Galilee and went and lived in a town called Nazareth.” An angel was dispatched to Joseph in a dream to say, "Get up and take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you." They escaped just in time before the soldiers came and killed all the boy babies two years old and under. Then later, once Herod was dead and the danger had passed, the angel came and told Joseph to bring the child back. Certainly angels protected Joseph and Mary and baby Jesus at that point, but I'm certain that angels protected Jesus throughout the 30 years that He was growing up. The demons knew who He was. Satan knew who He was, and yet He lived a normal upbringing. He grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God. When He grew up, He was a carpenter. When the time came, He was revealed out of obscurity by John the Baptist. But in all of that, there must have been a wall, an angelic wall of protection, around Jesus as He was growing up. Revelation 12 depicts the devil as a dragon ready to devour the male child who will rule over all the world the moment it was born, but he couldn't do it. VI. Angels Strengthened Christ in his Weakness Fifthly, during Jesus' life on earth, He was subjected to all the same weakness that we are— pain, weariness, hunger, thirst. At two key moments in Jesus' weakness, his physical bodily weakness, angels were dispatched to strengthen the King of angels. First, after his temptation by the devil in the desert. In Mark 1:13 it says, "He was in the desert forty days being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals and angels attended him." It's an amazing thing how Jesus, the infinite King of glory, was so weakened by his fasting that God had to send angels to keep him alive and to feed him out in the desert. Second, in his agony in Gethsemane, in Luke 22 it says, "An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him and being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." We cannot fully understand what was happening in Gethsemane as Jesus was fully aware that He was about to drink the cup of God's wrath in our place on the cross and to shed His blood in our place. God, I believe, mysteriously revealed to Jesus' human mind what it would be like to be under the wrath of God and it just about killed Him, dropping Him to the ground, and He was growing faint. An angel was dispatched in some mysterious way to strengthen Him to survive that moment in Gethsemane as great drops of blood were pouring from His face. It is a marvelous and an amazing thing that this infinite King of glory needed help, physical help from angels at those two times. VII. Angels Announced the resurrected Christ After Jesus' death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead, angels were sent from heaven to tell his followers that Christ had risen just as He had predicted. In Matthew, an angel came down and rolled back the stone and sat on it. I've always loved that picture. He's very comfortable in the presence of Roman soldiers. He's not afraid of them at all. They're terrified of him and he just easily rolls a massive boulder and sits on it. It's just a beautiful picture. But he's there announcing the resurrection. The same thing in John's Gospel. You have two men dressed in white sitting in the empty tomb where Jesus' body had been. One at the head, the other at the feet. In Luke's gospel, the same thing as women went to finish the burial rituals that had been hurried because the Passover was coming. It says in Luke 24, "Suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright, the women bowed down with their faces to the ground. But the men said to them, 'Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here. He has risen just as he said.'" Angels are not usually dispatched to proclaim the facts of the gospel of Christ's death and his burial and his resurrection, though they would do an amazing job, ordinarily not. But here at the very beginning of the spread of the Gospel, after the resurrection of Christ from the dead, angels are dispatched to tell his immediate inner circle of followers what had happened. VIII. Angels Celebrated the Heavenly Ascension of Christ Seventhly, angels celebrated the heavenly ascension of Christ. After Christ rose from the dead, He spent forty days with His disciples, giving them many convincing proofs that He was alive.He was training them and teaching them and getting them ready for the spread of the Gospel worldwide to the ends of the Earth. After that, after He had given all of that proof, at the end of that time, forth days, He ascended from the surface of the Earth up through the sky, through the clouds, and ultimately into the heavenly realms. The Book of Hebrews tells us that He passed through the heavens, plural, through circles of heavens, so higher and higher. First, the atmosphere, and then beyond all the physical realms of heaven, what we call sky and outer space and beyond that into the circles of heaven, the heavenly spheres of existence in the spiritual realm. He passed through all that. The author of Hebrews gives us the language of passing through, and the scripture reveals that as He did, the angels celebrated his passing as a triumphant conqueror. In Psalm 47, it says, "God has ascended amid shouts of joy and the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets, sing praises to God, sing praises, sing praises to our King, sing praises." It's a marvelous picture we get of the angels celebrating the accomplishment of the life, the death, and the resurrection of Christ. I also think it's interesting the angels were dispatched to tell the disciples to move along now and get on with their lives as they're standing there outside Jerusalem with their heads craning up, looking and waiting for the Second Coming of Christ 2000 years ago. God sent two angels to say, "Time to move along." “They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going when suddenly, two men dressed in white stood beside them. Men of Galilee, they said, ‘Why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven will come back in the same way you've seen Him go into heaven.’” IX. Angels Assisted the Spread of Christ's Kingdom Eighth, as I just said, Scripture does not assign to angels the work of evangelism and missions. The ministry of reconciliation has been entrusted to us, the followers of Christ. That's our job. It is our work to go to the ends of the earth and to proclaim the gospel. As the scripture says, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news?" But it's not angels that do it. However, angels have consistently assisted that spread as they were dispatched from heaven to do. For example, in Acts 8, an angel working along with the Holy Spirit told Philip the Evangelist where to go so he could proclaim the Gospel to an Ethiopian eunuch. We can see angels dispatched to guide evangelism and missions in Acts 8. So also God dispatched an angel to rescue Peter and the Apostles from prison in Acts 5, and also Peter from prison in Acts 12, causing chains to fall off and making the twelve soldiers guarding him to fall into a deep sleep. Also an angel is dispatched to Cornelius the centurion, to tell him to send men to Joppa to find a man named Peter who would bring a message by which he and all his household would be saved. The angel was not dispatched to give the message. He could easily have done it, but instead to send messengers to get Peter to come and do it. So it was angels that did that. "The ministry of reconciliation has been entrusted to us, the followers of Christ. That's our job. It is our work to go to the ends of the earth and to proclaim the gospel." In heaven, we're going to find out throughout thousands of years of redemptive history, how active the angels have been in the spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem through Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth. As the author of Hebrews says in Hebrews 1:14, "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" They have helped the spread of the gospel for 2000 years. X. Angels Will Celebrate Chris’s Glory for All Eternity Ninth and finally, angels will celebrate Christ's glory for all eternity. As I said before Christ was born, angels worshiped and celebrated all along. As redemptive history has unfolded, we are told that angels were learning. "They long to look into these things," Peter tells us. 1 Peter 1:12, “Even angels long to look into these things.” They weren't omniscient. They didn't know where all this was heading. They were learning as events were unfolding. As we see for example in Daniel 12, one angel asks another angel about timing and timetable. They don't know when the timing is going to be for all of these things. They're eager to learn, and they are learning as events unfold on planet Earth. As those events unfold, they celebrate them, like the birth of Christ. They're celebrating. It's not like they didn't know it was coming, but now it's broken into history and they are celebrating. They're tracking events unfolding, and they're learning and they're celebrating with pure hearts. I believe that they're going to celebrate when all is said and done for all eternity. They're going to celebrate what was done to rescue a multitude of sinners from every tribe and language and people and nation. They're going to celebrate what God has done through the second and the third person of the Trinity. By the working of Jesus' bloodshed on the cross, by His resurrection and by the outpouring Holy Spirit on the people of God, the spread of the Gospel, the angels are going to celebrate every detail of what happened for all eternity. In Revelation 5:11-12, it says, "Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels numbering thousands upon thousands and 10,000 times 10,000, 100 million angels. They encircle the throne and the living creatures and the elders. And in a loud voice they sang, ‘Worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise.’" So there's 100 million angels celebrating the Slain Lamb, who by his blood rescued people for God. Just as it said earlier, "You are worthy because you were slain and with your blood, you purchase people for God from every tribe, language, people and nation." You're going to celebrate that, that radiant glory for all eternity they're going to celebrate. We wouldn't even know about it except that God had dispatched an angel to John to write the Book of Revelation. As it says in Revelation 1, "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John." An angel was entrusted with the Book of Revelation to bring down to John and the island of Patmos. Then He says, at the end of Revelation 22:16, “I, Jesus have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and I'm the bright and morning star." Angels will be worshiping and celebrating Christ's victory at the cross for all eternity. Revelation 7 says, "After this, I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne and in front of the lamb. They're wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands and they cried out in a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne to the lamb.'" The next verse, "All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, they fell down on their faces before the throne. And they worship God saying, 'Amen. Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen.'" The angels are celebrating a redemption they didn't need. It wasn't for them that Christ became incarnate. Surely it is not angel He helped but the sons of Abraham, us, flesh and blood, and yet the angels are celebrating with every bit as much joy as if it had been them. They're going to celebrate it for all eternity. So what about you friends? What about you? We here at First Baptist Church do not believe in a secular Christmas. We believe in Christ at the center of it. We want to join in that angelic worship and celebration. We want to see who this child is, this incarnate son of God, and we want to join the angels in celebrating. What about you? What about you? I understand at Christmas time it's a time for people to go to church maybe with family and friends. My desire is that there'd be no person listening to my words today, who would be in a lost, dying state. All you have to do is hear all of this truth that you've been listening to of who Jesus is, of why He came. Of what He did at the cross and of how God raised him from the dead, and understand it is by simple faith in that story that you will be forgiven of your sins. There is no reason for anyone in this room to end up perishing eternally. To be terrified when that army does invade and punishes the rebels who never would yield to God and to Christ. There's no reason for that. All you need to do is cross over from death to life is simply listen and hear like, "Hark, the herald angels sing." What are they singing? "Glory to the newborn King." See this incarnate deity laying there. See in that, your own salvation. If you are already a Christian, I want to wish you all a wonderful merry Christmas. You're going to enjoy time with your family tomorrow, but as you do so, let's bring Christ right into the center of that time. I don't know what your traditions are, what your habits are, but in our family, we love to read scripture as part of our celebration, to talk about the actual facts of the birth of Christ, of the gospel. Choose some Scripture and read it together with the people that you're with. Make Christ the center of your celebration. Close with me now in prayer. Father, we thank you for this time of year in which we get to focus on a vital detail of our Christian faith, and that is the incarnation of Christ, the giving of the God man, the birth of Jesus as the savior of the world. We needed Christ. It was a rescue mission. As the angel said to Joseph, "You'll give him the name Jesus, because he will save His people from their sins." Lord, we need that. We thank you. I pray, oh Lord, that you would be working deeply in the hearts of people who hear this message that they would believe and trust and follow you. And for all of us who years ago did, Lord pray that you'd renew our faith and help us to celebrate as the angels did In Jesus' name, Amen.
T. C. Moore is a graffiti artist and theology nerd. He's the lead pastor of Roots, a Moravian community, and serves court-involved youth and young adults with restorative justice practices. Since Jesus liberated him from gang-life as a teenager, T. C. has developed mentoring programs, planted churches, and worked in community-based nonprofits all across the country for over two decades. He's a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary's Center for Urban Ministerial Education in Boston and he lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota with his wife, Osheta, and their three children.
The Gospel must be preached to all nations because God has elected some from every tribe, language, people, and nation to be in heaven. - SERMON TRANSCRIPT - Turn in your Bibles if you would, to Mark, chapter 13, and you can also turn as well to Matthew 24. We're going to be looking at both of those places. The Scripture reveals that despite all of its swirling complexity, human history has a purpose. We are moving to a destination. We're going somewhere with all of this. It's not just random chaos, but God has a plan and a purpose. The destination the Bible reveals, to which we're going, is a perfect universe, a perfect world free from all sin and a beautiful radiant city. The New Heavens and the New Earth are that perfect universe and that radiant city is called the New Jerusalem. The Bible reveals that the light source of that new universe and of the New Jerusalem, according to Revelation 21 and 22, is the glory of God, the glory of God. Revelation 21:23 says, "The city”[the New Jerusalem] "does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it for the glory of God gives it light and the lamb is its lamp." Again, in the next chapter, Revelation 22:5 it says, "They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light." But what is that? What is the glory of God? In my studies and my meditations, I've thought a lot, it's an important topic. I believe the glory of God is the radiant display of the attributes or the perfections of God. Sometimes it's just brilliant light, as 1 Timothy 6:16 says, "God dwells in unapproachable light." Well, think about that, unapproachable light. How amazing must that be? For this reason, the Seraphim in Isaiah's vision were constantly covering their faces, though they had no sin or guilt, but just in that unapproachable light, the presence of the glory, they were covering their faces. For this reason also, the theophanies, or the displays of God, where God shows up in human history are frequently attended by overpowering light, like in Ezekiel's vision of the likeness of the glory of God by the Kibar River east of Babylon. Ezekiel 1 says, "High above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. And I saw from what appeared to be his waist up, He looked like glowing metal as if full of fire. And that from there down He looked like fire and brilliant light surrounded Him, like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell face down." So radiant, light, brightness connected with the glory of God. Also at the time of the birth of our Lord in Bethlehem, an angel appeared to shepherds outside Bethlehem and it says in Luke 2:9-10, "There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over the flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified." This was a glory of the eye, not of the mind or heart. It was just bright light, and it stunned the shepherds that night. But the glory of God is seen not just in brilliant light, sometimes it's in the radiant display of the perfections of God, the attributes of God woven into the tapestry of historical events. That takes the eye of faith to see it, but it's there. The attributes of God woven into the tapestry of history. The perfections of God, attributes of God, include His wisdom, His power, His love, compassion, justice, patience, kindness, mercy. These are attributes. God has ordained history, the story of history, for this reason to put Himself on display in the sequence of events and unfolding history. He put Himself on display in a history, a story, that He predestined before Christ began, written in His own mind before time began. The sequence of events, this history, has all been written out by the author of history and it's intrinsically connected with the Christ event, the story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus himself said in Revelation 22:13, "I am the alpha and the omega. I am the first and the last, the beginning and the end." History is linear, and Jesus is history. Jesus is what the story is all about. The radiant display of the glory of God in heaven, I believe, will consist in part in a retelling of His mighty works in saving His people from their sins and in their individual context all over the world, across the centuries, a retelling of the mighty works of God and saving sinners. I believe it's the most glorious thing God has ever done. His glory is greatly on display in salvation. Revelation 7:9-10 says, "After this, I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes, and they were holding palm branches in their hands, and they cried out in a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.'" "The radiant display of the glory of God in heaven, I believe, will consist in part in a retelling of His mighty works in saving His people from their sins and in their individual context all over the world, across the centuries." Here's a multitude, a huge quantity of people, from all over the world, every imaginable context, standing around the throne of God in heaven praising God for salvation. The specific stories of these individual people that make up these millions from every nation on Earth, will bring infinite and eternal glory to God. A few verses later, Revelation 8:13, "Then one of the elders asked me, 'These in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?'" As I've said many times before, that story will take forever to tell fully. It is so complex, but it is woven through with light, it’s woven through with glory. "These redeemed," who are they and where do they come from? Well, how long do you have? We have all eternity. So, pull up a chair and let's hear the story of how God redeemed this one and that one and the other one from all over the world. Heaven will be filled with the stories of the greatness of God put on display in the amazing tapestry of history that He wove in every century. This is the story of missions. The spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ from Jerusalem to the ends of the Earth across every generation of history, that unspeakable glory as before us this morning. We're going to focus just on two verses of scripture. Mark 13:10, right in the middle of our Mark study, and then a parallel verse, Matthew 24:14. Mark 13:10, "And the gospel must first be preached to all nations." Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come." I want to tell you something about the science of Bible interpretation. The Gospels, there are four of them, three of them basically take the same approach to the life of Jesus. Matthew, Mark ,and Luke. They're called synoptic because they see things from about the same perspective. Then the fourth Gospel, John, comes at it from a different perspective, but they all tell the same thing. We believe that all scriptures God-breathed is perfect, so therefore these are four perfect accounts of the life of Christ, but they have some differences with one another. When we have those differences between, let's say, Matthew and Mark, we harmonize. We don't pit them against each other, we put them together. We try to harmonize, and that's not always easy to do. Generally, I look on it as a two-for-one sale. I'm going to take both statements here as true, and if one of them tells me one thing, He said that and that's true, and if one of them tells something else, He said that, and I just harmonize, I put it together. I. Context: Jesus’ Prediction of the Destruction of the Temple Let's talk about the context here. We're moving through the Gospel of Mark. Mark 13 is Jesus's description of the history of the end of the world and the events leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple and the end of the world. It came from a statement Jesus made in Mark 13:2: "Not one stone will be left on another. Everyone will be thrown down." This was a prediction of the destruction, at least of the Temple, but probably really of the whole city of Jerusalem and focused on the temple. It was the final week of Jesus's life. Things were hurdling to a conclusion, the dramatic turbulent events culminating in His arrest and His trial before the Jewish leaders. His condemnation by them is being handed over to Pontius Pilate for condemnation by the Romans and then His crucifixion by Pontius Pilate and the Romans. So that's where we're heading. Jesus has given a seven-fold denunciation of the Scribes and Pharisees, the spiritual leaders of the Jewish nation. It's fully depicted in Matthew 23. It's just quickly summarized in Mark. But it culminates in this statement in Matthew 23: 38-39, "Jesus says, 'Behold your house is left to you desolate.'" This is a very important statement—your house is left to you desolate. “Desolate” means “empty." The reason I'm saying that is, "For, I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say ‘Blessed is He comes in the name of the Lord.’" “Not seeing Me again” is the essence of your desolate house. That's what makes your house desolate. Then Jesus dramatically walked out of the Temple, never to return again. The disciples came up at that moment and chose that moment to talk about how beautiful the Temple was. We shouldn't be surprised at this. This is what the disciples, the apostles were like, frequently off message. This is who we are as well. “As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, teacher, what massive stones, what magnificent buildings.’ ‘Do you see all these great buildings?’ replied Jesus. ‘Not one stone here will be left on another, every one will be thrown down.’" That must've been incredibly distressing to them. They come to Him later, privately, when He's out of the city, He's up on the Mount of Olives, across the Kidron Valley, they're out of the city and they're there. As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, Matthew 24:3, “The disciples came to Him privately. 'Tell us,' they said, 'When will this happen and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?’" Matthew 24 and Mark 13 cover roughly the same ground, but Matthew 24, in much more detail. There's almost nothing found in Mark 13 that's not found in Matthew 24, and there are other things besides in Matthew 24, so I have my eye on both. Matthew 24 has the full question the disciples asked and the fuller answer that Jesus gives. The three parts of the question in Matthew 24 are, "Tell us, when will this happen?" And, "What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?" The complexity of Matthew 24 and of Mark 13 comes in discerning and kind of to some degree, unweaving the tapestry of Jesus's answer. What is He talking about right now in this part? Is He talking about the destruction of Jerusalem in 870 AD by the Romans? Is He talking about the end of the world? What is it? They weave it through. Jesus, I believe, is giving a history of the world between His First and Second Comings. It's bigger than just the destruction of the Temple. Just to tell you, if you look at Mark 13:10, a key word for me in that is the word “first.” First. "This gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations." First before what? Before the destruction of the temple? That didn't happen. So clearly, Jesus's scope is bigger than the destruction of the Temple. He's looking at, I believe, all history, from the First to the Second Comings of Christ, and He's traveling and traversing that history. Look at verses 5-13, Mark 13. Jesus has said to them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name claiming I am He and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There'll be earthquakes in various places and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. You must be on your guard. You'll be handed over to local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of Me, you'll stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them." Here's our focus verse, verse 10, "And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given to you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents, and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of Me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." Last week, we traced out those thirteen verses and looked at the whole answer. Just to summarize, it begins with a warning against false teaching. He goes from that to a prediction of the ordinary convulsion of events of history, wars and rumors of wars. That happens in every generation, almost every year of history, nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom. That's all the time. There'll be famines, earthquakes, various places. He calls all this the beginning of birth pains. The birth pains means a terrible convulsion or pain resulting in something beautiful and wonderful. We're heading to a good destination, but we have a lot of pain to go through first. That's what “beginning of birth pain” means. Then He mentions persecution. They will be handed over to the local councils. They'll be flogged in synagogues. These will be opportunities for them to be witnesses to Him. They will testify to Jesus. "On account of me, you'll stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them." The flow of human history is a canvas on which the masterpiece of redemptive history is being painted. These commonplace convulsions, wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, arrests, trials, all of that is being sovereignly controlled to accomplish the spread of the Gospel, to accomplish the salvation of God's people, to accomplish the glory of God. That's what's going on here. It's amazing how God controls history even down to the micro-level, to achieve His purposes. I found a number of years ago a great example of this in the life of John Calvin. John Calvin is a great reformer who spent most of his life in Geneva, a great theologian, tremendous leader. However, he was not originally Swiss. Geneva is a city in Switzerland. He was French and he was basically a refugee, a religious refugee running for his life because he believed in the Reformation. The Catholic King of France was persecuting what they called Lutherans, and he was running for his life. By this time, he had already written a significant theological work, and he was on his way to the French city of Strasbourg. He had in mind a quiet life as a scholar. He was going to be quiet in his room and eat little bowls of gruel and write theology books, and that was going to be his life. That would've made him happy. He was that kind of person. At any rate, he was a scholar but already well known. Amazingly, en route to Strasbourg, he couldn't go there because an obscure war had broken out between the King of France and Charles the Fifth, the Holy Roman Emperor. It's not at all one of the most famous wars ever. It's one of those wars and rumors of wars that Jesus talked about. But as a result, the straight road to Strasbourg was blocked with troop movements. So here, this fleeing man, this refugee has to divert through the city of Geneva. At any rate, there he is in Geneva, and William Farel, who started a Reformation work there hears that Calvin is there, and he thinks this is just the guy that we need for the Reformation here in Geneva. He was right, but Calvin had no such intention. When Farel came and said, "I want you to work here in Geneva," he said, "No, no, I'm going to go have a quiet life writing books in Strasbourg." He didn't say it just like that, but it probably went something like that. After Farel tried to persuade him and wasn't successful, Farel rose up in what Calvin called intemperate zeal and threatened him with the judgment of God if he chose a quiet life of academia rather than taking part in the Reformation in Geneva. Calvin was wired to fear that kind of thing and said, "Okay, I guess I'll stay in Geneva,” and he did. He was there most of the rest of his life. What's my point? Wars and rumors of wars for a purpose. "Are you saying that God orchestrated a war between Catholic King Francis of France and Catholic King Charles the Fifth, so that John Calvin would end up in Geneva and not Strasbourg?" Yes, that's what I'm saying, and other things too. Other things too, but at least that. That's what God does. Isn't it amazing that history has a purpose? Even as it seems to be churning and random and destructive, God is at work in the midst of all of it. The central work of all of this is, "You will be witnesses for me. You'll be my witnesses. You are going to proclaim this gospel." Look at verse 10, "And the gospel must first be preached to all nations." The power of the Holy Spirit is central to this mission. He said, "Do not worry ahead of time what to say, what to speak. It will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit." The Spirit is the driving orchestrator and force of the spread of the gospel, the third person of the Trinity, that is His role and He's extremely good at his job. As Acts 1:8 says, "You'll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes in you and you'll be My witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea, Samaria to the ends of the Earth." In the midst of all this, there'll be a tremendous amount of pain for the witnesses, painful betrayals, family relationships will be compromised. Your own closest relatives will turn their backs on you. "Everyone will hate you because of Me," Jesus says. Intense persecution, and that's what makes this journey so glorious. The courage, the boldness, the suffering, the willingness to pay the price. That's the story. That's big picture. II. A Command in Mark Let's zero in on the command, Mark 13:10, “And the gospel must first be preached to all nations." In Mark's version, Mark 13:10, it takes a command form, effectively. It's a command in Mark. It uses the Greek word “dei”, which means “it is necessary,” but that's frequently a command, a sense of a command. It is necessary for the Gospel first to be preached to all nations. What is the Gospel? The Gospel is the message of the kingdom of God with Jesus as the King of the kingdom of God. He's the centerpiece, he is the King, he's the Lord, he's the Savior. The Gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ and all that that means. That's what the Gospel of Mark has been unfolding all along. It's a message about the kingdom of God, that God is King. "What is the Gospel? The Gospel is the message of the kingdom of God with Jesus as the King of the kingdom of God. He's the centerpiece, he is the King, he's the Lord, he's the Savior. The Gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ and all that means." The kingdom is the spiritual realm where the subjects of the King are delighted to have God as their King, and they're pleased to obey Him and to follow Him. They're delighted about it. God's sovereignty over rebels is a different matter, but the advancing kingdom of God has to do with individuals who throw down their weapons of rebellion and come in gladly under the kingship of Christ. The Gospel is, as we've said before, God, man, Christ, response. That God created the universe, the heavens and the Earth, and as the Creator, He has the right to make laws and rules by which we live our lives. God, the Creator, God the King, God, the Lawgiver and God the Judge. That's God. Man, we are created in the image of God to have a relationship with Him, to have a love relationship with Him and to love each other, but we have sinned. We have broken the two Great Commandments. We have not loved God with all of our hearts, all mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have sinned. Therefore, we stand under God's judgment, physical death, eternal death in hell. Christ is God's answer to that problem. The Son of God, fully God, fully man, born, took on human flesh. We celebrate it this time of year. He lived a sinless life under the laws of God. He died in our place as our substitute, a transfer of guilt effected. When we believe in Jesus, our guilt put on Jesus, He dies in our place, His righteousness is given to us, and that's the white robes that we're going to stand in on Judgment Day and for all eternity. The imputed righteousness of Christ, that's what Christ came to do. Then the response, we need to repent of our sins, turn away from our rebellion against God the King. Believe in Jesus, trust in Him, and we'll receive forgiveness of sins. That's the Gospel: God, man, Christ, response. It is necessary for that message to be preached, to be proclaimed to all nations. That's what He's saying. That has to happen first, before the end of the world. That's what first, first is tied to the end of the world. Why? Why is it necessary? Why don't I give you four reasons, four reasons why it is necessary for the Gospel. Let's keep it simple, because Christ the King commanded it. We'll start there. Christ told us to do this. These were his last words before He ascended back to heaven. The Great Commission, so-called, which is a commandment to all of His followers, to make disciples of all nations, is in all four Gospels, a different version but in all four Gospels and in Acts. The most famous version is Matthew 28, "Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and Earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I'm with you always to the very end of the age.’" To all nations in all eras of history, that's the Great Commission. It is necessary, therefore, that this happened because it is the will of God and of Christ for us. Secondly, it is necessary because the Gospel is the only way for sinners to be forgiven and reconciled to God. There is no other way. There is no other plan. The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. Or as it says in Romans 10:12 -15, "There is no difference between Jew and Gentile. The same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then, can they call on one they have not believed in and how can they believe in one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they're sent?" As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News?’” That's the logic of missions. It's a logical work that Paul does in Romans 10, using a series of rhetorical questions, assuming negative answers. The statement is made worldwide, anyone in any nation on Earth who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus in faith will be saved. But how can someone call on someone they've not believed in? They can't do that, can they? No, of course, they can't. No one can believe in someone they've never heard of, can they? No, of course they can't. And no one can hear without someone preaching or proclaiming the message. No, they can't. Absolutely not. And no one can do that preaching unless they're sent out. Hence, the need for missions. That's the logic of missions, and it's the answer to why it is necessary for this Gospel to be proclaimed. Thirdly, it is necessary for the Gospel to be proclaimed to all nations because God has chosen people in every tribe and language and people and nation. They're called the Elect, chosen before the foundation of the world. God wants those people reached. Jesus said in John's Gospel, "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. They must be brought in, and there'll be one flock and one shepherd." Those are people, not just Jews, but all the ends of the Earth. God has people out there. There will be people from every tribe, language, people, and nation. It's been ordained. They were chosen in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless and they have to be brought in, and the only way they're going to be brought in is by the preaching of the Gospel. That's the third reason. The fourth, it is necessary for the Gospel to be preached for the maximum glory of God. That's the ultimate reason for everything. It is for the glory of God that this be done. Ephesians 1:11-12 says, "In Him we're also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him, works out everything in conformity to the purpose of His will, in order that we who are the first to hope in Christ might be for the praise of His glory, that we might be, exist, for the praise of His glory and that we might praise His glory, that we might ourselves notice His glory.” So we will be glory, and we will see glory, and we'll praise Him for it. That's the reason why. Or again, in Romans 15:9, "That the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy." So those are four reasons why it is necessary for the Gospel to be preached. To whom should the Gospel be preached? What we've already said, to all nations. To all nations, the Greek is “panta ta ethne”. The word “ethne” is from which we get the word “ethnic”, and that's the key. We as Protestants, as Evangelicals, we have had a progressive, growing understanding of missions over the last 500 years. Little by little by little, we've understood more and more clearly our obligation in this matter. For the first three centuries, the church just exploded all over the Roman Empire. People were going everywhere preaching the gospel. Apostles, non-apostles, everybody, and it was spreading everywhere. It went as far north as Scotland, it went as far south as Sub-Saharan Africa. There's clear evidence of this. It went as far east as India. It went as far west as Tarshish, which is like Gibraltar. It was all over the place, and the Gospel was spreading. However, once the Dark Ages fell and politics wove together with some form of Christianity, Christendom came about. We had the Crusades, which are the most abhorrent misconstrued incident of mission that's ever been in history; we still paying the price. But there was this mixture of church and state, and it was a mess. To make matters worse, the Gospel itself, for the most part, was lost in a false “gospel of works" religion. The Dark Ages fell, but praise God, the Reformation came and scraped away all that darkness and the Gospel was reclaimed. The Gospel of justification by faith alone, apart from works of law, was shining in those Protestant churches, Lutheran churches, Calvinist churches, the Anabaptist churches. But those folks weren't doing missions initially. They were really just trying to survive. Missions, at that point, was done mostly by Roman Catholics through the Jesuits, who were spreading the power of the Pope and of their Catholic kings, like the King of Spain and the King of Portugal to distant places like Japan and other places. But they didn't bring the true Gospel with them. Meanwhile, the Protestants continued to establish doctrine and to reach their own countries, but not doing missions. But God worked in Protestant churches, little by little, a clearer understanding of our obligation concerning missions in four key steps. The first step, or insight, comes from William Carey. He was a Baptist, a cobbler, a blue collar guy, and he wrote an incredible work called An Inquiry into the Obligation Christians Have to Use Means for the Evangelization of the Missions to the Heathen. Heathen will be pagans or lost people. He was a trailblazer in Protestant missions. The insight is that we Protestants should do missions. We should go to distant lands and share the Gospel. Not just the Jesuits should do that, we should do it. That was step one. Step two came from a leader named Hudson Taylor. Hudson Taylor was a missionary to China. He went on his first missionary trip and just like most missionaries did in the mid-nineteenth century, he stayed on the coastlands such as Shanghai, port cities. He had a vision for the inland regions of China, teeming hundreds of millions of Chinese that had no hope of hearing the Gospel. He founded something called the China Inland Mission. So step number two is, we need to get off the coast and go into the dark heart of Africa, the dark heart of India and of China, and find people there who have no physical access to the Gospel. Step two, inland missions. Step three came from a leader at the end of the 19th century into the beginning of the 20th century named Cameron Townsend. He was a missionary in Latin America and South America. He was working with some tribal people, and they were doing all of their work in Spanish, the trade language. At one point, one of these tribal men said, "If your God is so smart, how come he doesn't speak my language?" Good question, right? Good question. So Cameron Townsend started a ministry called Wycliffe Bible Translators to get the Bible into the heart language of people all over the world, and that work continues to this very day. Insight number four came in the middle of the 20th century from a missionary leader named Donald McGavran, and he began to see that the issue wasn't reaching political nations, like nations that are represented at the United Nations. It had to do with understanding the word ethne as a people group, a group of people characterized by a language and a culture and a heritage and a self-identifying focus. And so that started the people group conception of the work. “Panta ta ethne” means to all people groups. Now, how many people groups are there in the world? No one knows, only God knows. It's very difficult to see lines of border and demarcation between people groups. Donald McGovern did his work in India, and there are probably at least 5,000 people groups, if not more, in India, but there's a lot of overlap. Joshuaproject.net, which you can go and check that out, they say 17,446. As an MIT engineer, I'm like, "I don't think there's that many significant figures." I would say roughly 18,000. or roughly 16,000. I don't think we can get down to 17,446. However, there's a lot. There's a lot of people groups. IMB has a smaller number of people groups. Then you go to the next level, which is “unreached people groups.” What are unreached people groups? It's defined as less than two percent evangelical in that nation. When I was a missionary to Japan, the Japanese were the largest unreached people group in the world, less than two percent evangelical. Since then, they've been superseded by another group. But that's a people group. That's what “unreached” means. “Unengaged,” another U is added, meaning, as far as the IMB knows, there is no effort to try to reach that people group. There's no one working on that, as far as they know. So you've got the UUPG, which is unengaged, unreached people groups. That's the focus. That's where the work should go. It is necessary for us to do that, for the church to do that. It is necessary for us to reach them with the Gospel. And this stands as a permanent command from our Lord and King Jesus Christ. "If you love Me, you'll keep my commandment." That's Mark 13:10, the command. III. A Prophecy in Matthew Look over at Matthew, where it comes across as a prophecy, or perhaps a promise. I'm okay with either one. Look what it says in Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as the testimony in all nations and then the end will come.” So prophecy, promise. What is Jesus saying there? "And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as the testimony of all nations, and then the end will come." The preaching of the Gospel to every tribe, language, people, and the nation is as guaranteed as the end of the world is. They're equally guaranteed. It's going to happen. This is a remarkable assertion by Jesus, more remarkable than not one stone left on another. Picture Jesus on that tiny little rocky outcropping there in the Mount of Olives surrounded by a band of followers that were frequently off message. You know those guys. Surrounded by a very small number of people saying, "This thing that we're doing here is going worldwide, everyone on Earth will hear about this." All peoples on Earth, all peoples, all nations will hear. That's incredible. Effectively, then, “the Jewish conception of their own kingdom will end, the Messianic kingdom, and My kingdom will be established and will reign for all eternity." That's awesome. How does He know that? He knows it because He's God, but He also knows it because the Old Testament scripture predicted that this would happen. God willing, next week, we'll look at Isaiah 49, but in Luke 24, "This is what is written. The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. And repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." It's going to happen. Which scriptures? Many. There are many scriptures. But I'm going to look at Isaiah 49 next week. Isaiah 49, 1 and 6, "Listen to me, you islands, hear this, you distant nations." Islands and nations, distant nations. God says to Jesus, "It is too small a thing for You to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make You," [Jesus] "a light for the Gentiles that you may bring My salvation to the ends of the Earth.” Jesus is actually not saying anything different than Isaiah the prophet said or that many other prophecies gave. Friends, this is a great encouragement. How does a team play if it's guaranteed, if they think they're absolutely going to win? They're going to play better than if they think they're going to lose. How does an army fight if they think ultimate victory is guaranteed? They fight better. We are going to win because Christ is going to win. This gospel is going to win. The task seems difficult. 3,150 unreached, unengaged, unreached people groups. None of them are easy to reach, or they would've been reached. They're in very difficult situations or places. I went through and thought about some of our units. If you guys don't know what the word “units” means, it means either a married couple, like a family or single. That's why we use the word units because some of them are single men and women, but sometimes family. We call them a mailing address or a group, a family unit. That's what we mean by it. I was reading about units in Turkey, 1.29 million practice Shia Islam. They speak North Levantine Arabic, a significant minority in Turkey. Their goal is to keep their Arabic culture alive in the secular Muslim state of Turkey and pass that on to their children and grandchildren. They mix elements of Sufism, which is Islamic mysticism and Shia Islam. Then we've got Thailand, where we have some units, I won't say their names, but they're there working, and there are people there that are following a certain flavor of Theravada Buddhism. Then in Bangladesh, overwhelmed with poverty, where we have another family unit there. People there are practicing Sunni Islam. They're tragically poor, and they're in darkness, in the grip of darkness. When we think about how difficult it is, and how long it takes to learn a language well enough to share the Gospel in it, and how long it takes to learn a culture, and how long it takes to make friendships, and then that whole journey, and then how long it takes to see one person cross over from darkness to light, that's the challenge in front of us. We need to be encouraged. Remember the lesson of the fig tree that we preached on a number of months ago? Mark 11:23-24, "Truly, I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he has said will happen, will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mountain moving, faith-filled prayer is made for the Great Commission. That's the mountain that needs to be moved. Remember what I said about prayer at that time. Prayer is not you giving God an idea He didn't have before or persuading Him to do something He didn't want to do. That's not what prayer is. Prayer is you learning from Scripture what God is doing in the world and asking Him to do what He has decreed and ordained to do but hasn't done yet. That's what it is. God has decreed and ordained that people from every tribe and language and people and nation will be standing in those white robes around that throne. That's what He's decreed. It is encouraging to see the progress of the Gospel. Those other signs, wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, those don't mark anything. They're characteristics of every generation. But the progress of the Gospel, that's like a ticking clock to the end of the world. If you were to put dots on a map all over the world of what we would consider to be healthy Bible-believing, gospel-preaching churches in the year 1550, where would you put the dots? It would be almost all Central and North Europe, 1550. If you advance 50 years later, [1600] you would see more dots in those same areas, but still nowhere else. If you put dots where you had healthy Bible-believing, gospel-preaching churches in 1650, by then you would have to add some North American colonies, in Virginia, and New England, and other places, and more over Europe, but nowhere else [1650]. If you advance another 50 years, many more dots up and down the 13 colonies. Many more dots in Europe, and nowhere else. By 1750, by then you had the Great Awakening, lots of dots all over the 13 colonies that eventually became the United States of America. You have some dots in the Caribbean where some Moravian missionaries went and sold themselves into slavery to preach the Gospel to the slave population there. Then, of course, Central and North Europe, some in the Catholic areas in Europe as well, but nowhere else. By 1800, William Carey's in India. So you put a dot there. But all the rest, just more dots in those same areas. As the new country of the United States spreading westward, there's more dots there, et cetera. In 50 more years, unbelievable. The 19th century, called the great century of missions, and they started to explode. By this time you've got Hudson Taylor in the inland regions. You've got dots in China. You've got a lot more dots in India, definitely dots in Burma. Because by the time Adoniran Judson finished his work, there were 25,000 baptized Burmese Christians. Now in 1850 there are dots all over. And by this time you can start putting them in Sub-Saharan Africa and other places. Add another 50 years, 1900, the great century of missions has ended. You got churches all over Asia, Mongolia, India, Burma, South America, Sub-Saharan Africa. In 50 more years, post-World War II, you've got the Gospel spreading to the islands of South Pacific, Irian Jaya, and Papua New Guinea. Soldiers that had fought there then went back to some of those places with the Gospel. Remarkable. 50 years later, the year 2000, the map's covered with dots, the entire world map. There's not a political nation on earth that doesn't have a healthy church. Not one. All the nations, I don't know how many nations are in the United Nations,230 some odd, all of them have some healthy church planted. But still, you've got those unreached people groups. So big picture, I can't tell you this progression without smiling. We are winning, the Gospel's spreading. The Holy Spirit is good at His job. He puts a compulsion on people, and they go where He wants them to go, and they lay down their lives as He wants them to, and the Gospel spreads. But there's still work to be done. I'm not going to burden you with statistics, that would be hard to communicate. But there's been a kind of a flattening of mission endeavor over the last 10 or 15 years. It's a little discouraging as you look, and it's just a narrow window, but missionary thinker Ralph Winter said, "More of the same will not get it done.” The burden is laid on churches like us and many other churches around the world to recommit ourselves to missions, recommit ourselves to the work left to be done, and to give sacrificially as we are called to do. IV. Applications First and foremost, if you're here listening to this mission sermon, but you came in here not a Christian, your work is to believe in Jesus. No point in talking about missions if you're lost. First and foremost, you've heard the gospel: God, man, Christ, response. I'm calling on you while there's time, repent and believe in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. If you're already a Christian, understand both the command in Mark 13 and the promise or the prophecy in Matthew 24. Take it seriously. This is the command laid on us, but rejoice in the sovereignty of Christ to get it done. Be confident in the final outcome. The Lord is going to win. He will be glorified. I'm looking forward to all eternity of hearing those stories. It's going to be phenomenal. Pray confidently in the spirit of Matthew 9 for more laborers, laborers in the harvest field. Churches like ours send out two precious commodities to the mission field: people and money. That's what IMB does. We gather people, and we gather money from Southern Baptist churches and point them strategically in directions. The Lottie Moon Christmas offering that we take every Christmas, our goal is $150,000. The Southern Baptist Convention exists in part for that. It was originated for that, and it's why we do. It's the crown jewel, I think, of our cooperation with Baptist churches all over the country. We pool resources to do a job too big for any one church to do. We couldn't afford to send very many fully-supported missionaries, just one church, to these various places. So we pool resources with thousands of churches. Truly, 100% of the money you give to Lottie Moon goes to missions. I was a trustee for nine years. What that means is we take more money in than Lottie Moon. It takes more money than Lottie Moon to put those missionaries on the field. I don't know how they tag dollars that go... Whatever, it gets pooled. The point is, the budget is bigger than the Lottie Moon offering. Where does the rest of the money come from? It comes from something called the Cooperative Program, where throughout the year, 12 months a year, we pool resources and a chunk of that goes to missions as well. A hundred percent of your giving goes, and our goal is $150,000. What I always say to you as a member of this church is engage, pray about your financial giving. We also have the opportunity through our home fellowships and through just your own initiative to get to know our friends that are serving overseas. We live in an iPhone or a smartphone world. You can contact them and be with them real-time. I FaceTime with these folks. You can find out what they're going through, support them, pray for them. I'm going to end this time now in prayer, and then we can get ready for the Lord's Supper. Father, thank You for the message that we have heard, the Gospel message of the Gospel going to the ends of the Earth and to the end of time. Now as we turn our hearts to the Lord's Supper, we thank You for the Word that we've heard and for the ordinance we're about to partake in. In Jesus' name, Amen.
On Christmas Eve, 1741, a small group of Moravian settlers gathered together in a house at the confluence of the Monocacy & Lehigh rivers in what was then the colony of Pennsylvania. It was on that night that their leader, Count Nikolaus Zinzendorf decided to name their new home “Bethlehem”, after the birthplace of Jesus. Over the years, the Moravian settlement grew into a thriving religious and economic community that eventually became known as “Christmas City”. In this episode of Your History Your Story, our guest is Craig Larimer. Craig is a lifelong resident of Bethlehem and a member of the Central Moravian Church, where he serves on the church's communications committee. Craig will talk about Bethlehem's rich history and why his home town means so much to him. He will also tell of the many sites and events that make Bethlehem, Pennsylvania a wonderful place to visit, especially at Christmastime. Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man Photo(s) and songs: Courtesy of YHYS Support Your History Your Story: Please consider becoming a Patron or making a one time donation via PayPal. - THANK YOU!!! YHYS Patreon: CLICK HERE YHYS PayPal: CLICK HERE YHYS: Social Links: CLICK HERE YHYS: Join our mailing list: CLICK HERE #yhys #yourhistoryyourstory #history #storytelling #podcast #njpodcast #youhaveastorytoo #jamesgardner To learn more about this episode, check the links below: Central Moravian Church Historic Bethlehem Moravian University
The vast Moravian plains near the town of Austerlitz became the battleground for one of Napoleon's finest ...
News; books are the inspiration for a major new exhibition at Prague's Kunsthalle; a Chicago opera company takes on Janáček's Jenůfa; Discover Czechia's regions: the Moravian city of Olomouc
I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 8th of November, 2023, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.We start off in the Book of Isaiah 2:17: "The loftiness of man shall be bowed down,And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low;The Lord alone will be exalted in that day,…" Very, very powerful words. We need to be careful how we stand lest we fall. Then we go across to the Gospel of John 13:12-14 in the New Testament:"So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet." Wow! A band of feet-washers, that's what we are! And who gave us the example? None other than the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, Emmanuel - God made flesh. The best way to keep humble, and not to become proud and haughty, is to wash someone's feet. You see, you have to get down on your knees to wash someone's feet, you can't do it standing up. John Wesley, the great reformer, went all the way to Germany to learn from Count Zinzendorf, who was responsible for the Moravian church, which really shook the world, and do you know what happened? Count Zinzendorf put him in the garden. He had to look after all the vegetables and the flowers; this man who had a Master's Degree in Theology, was on his knees, tending the garden. That's how he taught him. I remember people telling me about the great evangelist Reinhard Bonke, who has been with Jesus now for a couple of years. He took Africa by storm, he preached to millions of people, live. They told me that after a meeting, when he would be exhausted, having prayed for the sick for hours and preaching the Gospel, they would be looking for him and he would be in a caravan with his team, his crew, and what would he be doing? Well, he had the apron on, didn't he? He was cooking supper for them at midnight! That is a mark of humility, a mark of a great man of God.I will never forget when I went to bonny Scotland, they told me that my dear old father had come over a few years before and had done very well in Africa, he had succeeded and became manager of an engineering company, that blacksmith, and he had his suit on. He was coming to visit some relatives on the small croft, a small farm. As he walked through the front gate, he saw that they had been cutting oats, and the oats were lying in the field. He took his suit jacket off, put it on a post - he was a very strong man, my dad - and started stooking the oats up for drying. They were amazed at his humility.Today, keep yourself humble and God will raise you up.Jesus bless you and goodbye.
Strap in for a blood-chilling journey back to the golden age of slasher movies with a deep dive into the classic horror film, Friday the 13th. Want to know if it still holds the same terror after all these years? Or perhaps you're curious to hear about the time Flea, Tim Robbins, Julia Roberts, and Angela Lansbury shared a birthday with the infamous Zap? Well, leave your lights on and keep your eyes peeled, because we're about to unmask the real horror behind Friday the 13th. Pull up a seat as we explore the film's budget, locations and influential cast. We'll be spilling some behind-the-scenes stories and sharing our hair-raising memories of watching this cult classic for the first time. We'll dissect the fashion choices of the 80s, the special effects that made us jump out of our seats, and the iconic ax to the face death scene. From the mystery of the Moravian cemetery and the puzzling identity of the Jeep driver, to the thrill of the final fight between Alice and the killer, you're in for an unforgettable fright night.Finally, we'll take a trip down memory lane, recalling a time when instant coffee ruled the roost and cigarettes could be bought from vending machines without a second glance. We'll compare notes on Alice's hair, the concept of Strip Monopoly, and of course, the film's haunting soundtrack. Get ready to see Friday the 13th in a whole new light as we reveal its connection to other timeless classics like Halloween. So grab your popcorn, extinguish all hopes of a quiet night, and join us as we brave the terror-filled world of Friday the 13th.Support the showSounds:https://freesound.org/people/frodeims/sounds/666222/ Door openinghttps://freesound.org/people/Sami_Hiltunen/sounds/527187/ Eerie intro music https://freesound.org/people/jack126guy/sounds/361346/ Slot machinehttps://freesound.org/people/Zott820/sounds/209578/ Cash registerhttps://freesound.org/people/Exchanger/sounds/415504/ Fun Facts Jingle Thanks to The Tsunami Experiment for the theme music!!Check them out hereSUPPORT US AT https://www.buzzsprout.com/1984311/supporters/newMERCH STORE https://ol-dirty-basement.creator-spring.comFind us at the following https://oldirtybasement.buzzsprout.com WEBSITE ...
On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (08/22/23), Hank answers the following questions:What is your view on the rapture? (1:13)Why do some Christians fail to follow all of the Ten Commandments by worshipping on Sunday rather than Saturday? (4:04)Luke 3:6 teaches that salvation is for both Jews and Gentiles. Was Luke a Gentile? (6:00)Can you tell me what the Moravian church teaches? Are they similar to Unitarians? (8:12)My manager is a Muslim. How can I show him that Jesus is more than just a prophet? (15:40)What does the Bible say about how we should punish pedophiles? (20:34)Why do you think Christians today don't believe in the tithe? (22:07)
In this episode, I chat with Paulina Porizkova about her book No Filter, The Good, The Bad, And The Beautiful, living in an all-male household, crazy weather, and receiving a call from Maria Shriver.Paulina Porizkova is a Czechoslovak-born writer. A former model, she was the first Central European woman to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1984. In 1988 she became one of the highest-paid models in the world as the face of Estee Lauder. She has starred in 16 movies and a slew of TV shows as an actress, and she has served as part of the judging panel on Cycle 10 of America's Next Top Model. Paulina Porizkova was born in Olomouc in 1965 and grew up in the Moravian town of Prostějov, a city dating back to 1141 in what was, at the time, Czechoslovakia. In 1968, during the wake of the Soviet-led invasion, Paulina's parents escaped Czechoslovakia and settled in Sweden, leaving her behind with her grandmother. Her mother went back to Czechoslovakia to get her daughter, only to be captured and taken to prison, where, because she was pregnant, was put under house arrest with Paulina and her grandmother and soon-to-be-born brother for three years. Amid media coverage, Paulina, her brother, and her mother were later allowed to enter Sweden. However, the rest of her family remained in Czechoslovakia. Her debut novel, A Model Summer, was published in 2007, and her memoir, No Filter, The Good, The Bad, And The Beautiful, was published by The Open Field in 2022. No Filter: The Good, The Bad, And The Beautiful, Paulina PorizkovaI've Been Thinking, Maria Shriver Support the showThe Bookshop PodcastMandy Jackson-BeverlySocial Media Links
In 1682, the first Assembly of Pennsylvania and the Delaware counties met in Chester, Pennsylvania, and adopted “the Great Law,” a humanitarian code that guaranteed the people of Pennsylvania liberty of conscience. “The Great Law” created an environment that not only welcomed William Penn's fellow Quakers to Pennsylvania but also created space for the migration of other unestablished religions, such as the Lutherans, Schwenkfelders, and Moravians. Paul Peucker, an archivist and the Director of the Moravian Archives in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, joins us to investigate the establishment of the Moravian Church in North America. Paul is the author of many articles, essays, and books about the Moravians and their history, including Herrnhut: The Formation of a Moravian Community, 1722-1732. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/356 Join Ben Franklin's World! Subscribe and help us bring history right to your ears! Sponsor Links Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Eddie Arning: Artist Exhibition at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg Complementary Episodes Episode 025: Jessica Parr, Inventing George Whitefield Episode 075: Peter Drummey, How Archives Work Episode 134: Spence McBride, Clergymen and the Politics of Revolutionary America Episode 135: Julie Holcomb, Moral Commerce Episode 173: Marisa Fuentes, Colonial Port Cities and Slavery Episode 214: Christopher Grasso, Skepticism & American Faith Episode 311: Kate Carte, Religion and the American Revolution Listen! Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Amazon Music Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App Helpful Links Join the Ben Franklin's World Facebook Group Ben Franklin's World Twitter: @BFWorldPodcast Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter
To this day, if you walk around the city of Bethlehem, PA, you will find churches and schools named after the Moravians. Today, Dr. Stephen Nichols tells us about the influence that Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf had on the Moravian church. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/zinzendorf/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
