Podcasts about New Revised Standard Version

The sermon from the Father's Sunday, June 21, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers, “Unexpected Family” in June Summer in the City series “The Gospel in Disney-Pixar's Up.” Scripture lessons: Genesis 21:8-21 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Download the worship guide at:https://www.atlantafirstumc.org/pdf/26/AFUMC-Worship-26-06-21.pdfSupport the show

The sermon from the Sunday, June 14, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers, “Laughing at the Promise” in June Summer in the City series “The Gospel in Disney-Pixar's Up.” Scripture lessons: Genesis 18:1-15;21:1-5 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Sunday, June 7, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers, “Higher Calling - A Spirit of Adventure” in June Summer in the City series “The Gospel in Disney-Pixar's Up.” Scripture lessons: Genesis 12:1-9 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Portions of audio from the "Up" movie clips have been removed to avoid copyright strikes.Support the show

THE CHATTEL HOUSE WINDOW Episode: 296 © 2026 ISBN 978-976-97942-7-6.mp3Podcast 296 THE CHATTEL HOUSE WINDOW: A Cultural and Etymological Analysis of the Vine Encroachment Phenomenon Heritage, Culture, and Meaning Podcast Episode: 296 © 2026 ISBN 978-976-97942-7-6 Dr. William Anderson Gittens, D.D., Devgro Media Arts Services Publishing®2015 In collaboration with iMovie present Podcast 295 THE CHATTEL HOUSE WINDOW: A Cultural and Etymological Analysis of the Vine Encroachment Phenomenon Heritage, Culture, and Meaning Podcast Episode: 296 © 2026 ISBN 978-976-97942-7-6 Dr. William Anderson Gittens, D.D.RECOGNITIONSAs I take a moment to reflect on my journey, I am filled with profound gratitude for the Creator's guiding hand that has led me every step of the way. Life has brought me countless blessings, and at the forefront of these blessings is the immeasurable debt of thanks I owe to my late parents, Charles and Ira Gittens. They bestowed upon me their wisdom and creative spirit, which have been a consistent source of inspiration throughout my life. Their counsel and encouragement continue to resonate within me, shaping my path and purpose. To my beloved wife, Magnola Gittens, your unwavering support has been my anchor in turbulent seas. Your love and understanding provide the strength necessary to navigate life's complexities. I am eternally grateful for your presence, which comforts and uplifts me. To my brothers—Shurland, Charles, Ricardo, and my late brothers Arnott and Stephen—as well as my sisters, Emerald, Marcella, and Cheryl, thank you for being my steadfast companions along this journey. Each of you has contributed uniquely to my narrative, reminding me of the importance of family ties in shaping who I am today. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to my cousins: Joy Mayers, Kevin and Ernest Mayers, Donna Archer, Avis Dyer, and Jackie Clarke. Your love and camaraderie have enriched my life beyond measure. To my uncles, Clifford, Leonard Mayers, David Bruce, and Collin Rock, your support has been invaluable, strengthening the bonds of our family. To my children, Laron and Lisa, grandson Elijah you are my pride and joy, the motivation behind my work, fuelling my desire to create and inspire.Moreover, I am equally grateful to all who have believed in me and wanted nothing but the best for my growth. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Platizky, Mr. Matthew Sutton, Mr. Juan Arroyo, Mr. and Mrs. David Lavine, and many others have played pivotal roles in my development, encouraging me to pursue my passions relentlessly. During my time at New Jersey City University (NJCU), I had the privilege of receiving guidance from exceptional mentors, including the late Dr. Joseph Drew, Merline Mayers, Mrs. Ellen Gordon, Dr. Nicholas Gordon, Rev. Dr. Scofield Eversley BSS, and many others. Conversations about enhancing my writing skills after graduating were integral to my growth, providing the foundation for my future endeavours. Over the past three decades, my experiences in the leisure activities industry have significantly shaped my journey. From 1995 to 2026, I have devoted myself to writing, resulting in 469 E-Publications and 296 podcasts that resonate within the community. In recognition of the profound impact Dr. Joseph Drew had on my academic and personal development, I dedicated my 66th publication, "A Tribute to Culture" Vol. 1, to him—a small token of gratitude for his enormous influence on my life.As I look forward to what lies ahead, I remain thankful to all who have contributed to my story and to the Creator for the endless possibilities this journey holds. Each person's presence has left an indelible mark on my life, guiding me toward a future filled with hope and potential.Dr. William Anderson Gittens, D.D.ReferencesArchitropics. (n.d.). The architecture of the chattel house. Retrieved from https://architropics.com/chattel-housesArchitropics. (n.d.). The chattel house: Barbados' unique architectural heritage. https://www.architropics.comBarbados.org. (n.d.). Chattel Houses of Barbados. Retrieved from https://www.barbados.org/chattel_houses.htmBarthes, Roland. Elements of Semiology. Hill and Wang, 1967. Bhabha, H. K. (1994). The location of culture. Routledge.Bhabha, Homi K. The Location of Culture. Routledge, 1994. Brathwaite, E. K. (1971). The Development of Creole Society in Jamaica, 1770-1820.Brathwaite, Edward Kamau. The Development of Creole Society in Jamaica, 1770-1820. Oxford University Press, 1971. Ferguson, J. (1992). The Anthropology of Houses and Homes. Annual Review of Anthropology, 21, 279-303.Gittens, W. A. (2026). The chattel window: An etymological and cultural study of the vine encroachment phenomenon. Heritage Cultural Studies Press.Gittens, W.A.(2026)Chattel House Window/ An Etymological and Cultural Study of the Vine Encroachment Phenomenon C.2026  ISB 978-976-97942-7-6Harris, C. D. (1964). The Concept of Property in the Caribbean. Journal of Caribbean History, 1(3), 12-29.Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version. (1989). National Council of Churches. John 15:1–8.Insandoutsbarbados.com. (n.d.). Historical layouts of chattel houses. Retrieved from https://insandoutsbarbados.com/historical-chattel-house-layoutsMbembe, Achille. On the Postcolony. University of California Press, 2001. Mintz, S. W. (1985). Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History.References:Ricoeur, Paul. Memory, History, Forgetting. University of Chicago Press, 2004. Robinson, M. (2007). Caribbean Architecture: History, Style and Sustainability.Scriptures: The Holy Bible, John 15:1–8. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.). Living heritage: Chattel houses of Barbados. Retrieved from https://whc.unesco.org/en/living-heritage-barbadosWilliams, E. (1944). Capitalism and Slavery.Woods, Clyde. Development Arrested: The Blues and Plantation Power in the Mississippi Delta. Verso, 1998.Support the showCultural Factors Influence Academic Achievements© 2024 ISBN978-976-97385-7-7 A_MEMOIR_OF_Dr_William_Anderson_Gittens_D_D_2024_ISBNISBN978_976_97385_0_8Academic.edu. Chief of Audio Visual Aids Officer Mr. Michael Owen Chief of Audio Visual Aids Officer Mr. Selwyn Belle Commissioner of Police Mr. Orville Durant Dr. William Anderson Gittens, D.D En.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifelong_learning Hackett Philip Media Resource Development Officer Holder, B,Anthony Episcopal Priest,https://brainly.com/question/36353773https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifelong_learning#cite_note-19https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifelong_learning#cite_note-:2-18https://independent.academia.edu/WilliamGittens/Bookshttps://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=william+anderson+gittens+barbados&oq=william+anderson+gittenshttps://www.academia.edu/123754463/https://www.buzzsprout.com/429292/episodes. https://www.youtube.com/@williamandersongittens1714. Mr.Greene, Rupert

The sermon from the Trinity and Peace with Justice Sunday, May 31, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Rose-Tucker, “The Dance of Love!” Scripture lessons: Genesis 1:1-2,26-28 and Matthew 28:16-20 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers, “When the Holy Spirit Comes” in the worship series “Holding It All.” Scripture lessons: Psalm 150 and John 20:19-23 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Mother's Day and Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 10, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers, “Wisdom and Worship” in the worship series “Holding It All.” Scripture lesson: Psalm 100 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Ascension Sunday, May 17, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers, “The Reign of God” in the worship series “Holding It All.” Scripture lesson: Psalm 24 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 3, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers, “God Our Refuge” in the worship series “Holding It All.” Scripture lesson: Psalm 46 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 26, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers, “Trust and Praise” in the worship series “Holding It All.” Scripture lesson: Psalm 23 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Third Sunday of Easter, April 19, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers, “Living the New Life” in the worship series “Holding It All.” Scripture lesson: Psalm 34:1-10 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Second Sunday of Easter, April 12, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers, “Resurrection Begins” in the worship series “Holding It All.” Scripture lesson: Psalm 16 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

God's Word is packed full of power … power unlimited … to transform your life. But one of the biggest problems people have with the Bible is understanding it. Making sense of it. Knowing where it comes from, and where what they're reading today fits into the big picture. Well, I think it's time we did something about that.   About the Bible – Old and New We've all heard of those word association tests that psychologists use. You know, they say 'black', you say 'white'; they say 'rabbit' and you say 'carrot'; day/night; God/mmm love; devil/mmm evil; Bible/hmm … Bible? How do you respond to that? Stuffy, old, irrelevant? Well, different people will have some different views but actually in Australia where I live, the Bible is one of the least trusted of all historical documents. Over the last week and a bit on the program we've been talking about the incredible power that we unlock, when we read the Bible. But this thing that we call "the Bible", it's a big book, it's massive and it can be daunting. So today I thought it might be useful just to have a look to see what this Bible is exactly. I want to share with you a secret, it's sad but true. I never read a book cover to cover until I was in my early twenties. I managed to get through school and university and did pretty well I might add, without ever reading a book from beginning to end. I remember at university, in first year English, we studied the book Wuthering Heights which absolutely bored me to tears, I'm sorry and I never opened the book once. There are companies that publish crib notes, you know the summary of the book and a summary of what's in it and a summary of what some of the critics say, so I just quickly read those, crib notes, wrote essays and did, by and large, reasonably well. And I never, ever liked libraries either. You know how libraries have this kind of dusty, dank smell; all of them are the same. Every library on the planet has the same smell. I thought about it for a while, I thought 'Berni, why don't you like libraries? Why did it take you so long to read books?' The answer I guess has two parts. Firstly, libraries for me always felt really big and inaccessible. They have tens of thousands of books and in the old days when I was at university, they had card systems for accessing, for finding things, I mean these days they have computers. The old card systems had what they call the Dewey Classification system and finding anything just took so incredibly long. And secondly, when you did find the stuff, there was always so much of it, there was so much time involved to, I don't know, look through all those books and research them. I mean, some people are natural book worms, well I'm not. I still frankly don't like libraries. I'm sorry if you're a librarian, I just don't like libraries. I haven't darkened the doorstep of one since I finished my last degree quite a few years ago now. You know something; I think for a lot of people the Bible is exactly like that. It feels big and inaccessible. There are many, many people who wouldn't mind having a read but, for goodness sakes, where do you start? Well today let's break it down a bit, let's make it a bit more accessible. I remember when I started Bible College only a few months after becoming a Christian, everyone took for granted that we knew about the Bible. The reality was, I didn't and my hunch is, I wasn't alone. Let's unpack it a bit, let's demystify it a bit. All of a sudden you know it becomes a whole bunch more accessible. The thing that we call the Bible is made up of 66 different books written by different people over somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 years. That's the kind of period over which the Bible was written. And it wasn't just written by different people but at different times and the last book was written, well almost 2,000 years ago. There are essentially two parts to the Bible, this was complete news to me when I first opened it, the Old Testament and the New Testament, and when I started at Bible College I didn't know which one was which. The Old Testament, well the Old Testament is God's story and the story of how He interacted with and engaged with His chosen people, the Israelites. The Old Testament is written completely B.C., before Christ, before Jesus came to be on earth with us here. What Christians call the Old Testament is in fact exactly the same as the Jewish Hebrew scriptures, Jews still use those same scriptures today, Christians call it the Old Testament. It's written mostly in the original language of Hebrew, the language of the Jews. Now there's small parts of books like Daniel which is written in a language called Aramaic which is the language that Jesus actually spoke but by and large, the Old Testament was originally written in the language of Hebrew. And what we have today, the thing that we call the Old Testament is an English translation of that. Now there are lots of funny name books, Deuteronomy and Judges and Chronicles and there's Ezekiel, there are 39 separate books and there are kind of 4 main parts of the Old Testament. The first 5 books, Genesis to Deuteronomy, are the Jewish or Hebrew Law, the Torah. And then you go Joshua through Ezra and Nehemiah and that's kind of the history of what God did and how His people responded. And then after that are the wisdom books, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and Lamentations. And the rest of the books in the Old Testament are written by men called Prophets. Men whom God called to call His people back to Him. That's the Old Testament, it's a story of God engaging with Gods people. And the New Testament is 27 books. Now, it was mostly written in the language of Greek. The first 4 books, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are gospel accounts, they're the historical account of Jesus' life and His ministry. And the next book, the book of Acts is the story of the first 20 or so years of the Church after Jesus rose again to be with His Father. Then there's a whole bunch of letters called Epistles from people like Peter and John and Paul, written to Churches that they were involved in or in some cases, to individuals. This may be old hat to some, but I know to many, just a simple understanding of the basic structure of the Bible is going to be a real help. I know that when I was a new Christian, no one ever bothered to explain it to me – I wish they had. Now some people might be saying to themselves, that's all well and good, but how accurate is the Bible. Because before the printing press was ever invented by Gutenberg in 1450, the Bible – there's this massive thing, the Old Testament and New Testament – was transcribed over and over by hand by people called Scribes who copied them by hand. It's hard to imagine. But these days, there's a science called Textual Criticism. It studies whether any errors crept into the Bible as it was copied through all these generations manuscripts. And what it tells us, is that having studied thousands of manuscripts, the levels of accuracy are remarkable. I mean it's a science, people have done it. There are very, very few words or sentences where there is any doubt what was originally written. And blessedly these days, this thing called the Bible has been translated into easy to read, contemporary versions. No more thee's and thou's – great, modern day, accurate, easy to understand translations. And did you know that in the Bible, over half of the 66 books, over half, you can read in half and hour or less. Now look, in a few minutes we can't hope to do anything but scrape the surface. Today we've just talked about some basic factual stuff. No-one really taught me this stuff. I remember becoming a Christian and going and sitting in a Church and people just teach from the Bible which is wonderful but no-one ever explained to me that it was 66 books written by a whole bunch of people over different periods of time. That some of it was stories and history and some of it was letters and some of it was poetry. But when you simplify and demystify all that stuff, it turns out that it's just a wonderful book. And with the many contemporary translations, it's much, much easier to read than I ever thought. As I started to read the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament, I was completely blown away by this amazing Jesus. Who would have thought … the Bible.   Getting Practical – Useful Resources I have to tell you, that thing they call the Bible was a real problem for me. I mean, first coming to grips with the fact that it is what it says that it is, the Word of God but then, just getting into it. It's made up of 66 separate books written over about 1,500 years in different times, in different places and different cultures. So there are words and names and places and concepts and ways of thinking … well, we're not always familiar with them. We're continuing in our series 'Power Unlimited' – because that's what Go's Word brings into our lives so today, we're going to get down and really practical on just how to get into the Bible because unless we do, we're going to miss out on much of the power that God wants to pour into our lives. Over the years I've discovered a few very simple helps or resources that have made such a difference in making sense of God's Word. You see, it turns out there's a whole bunch of people much smarter than me who have done some great research and put the information together in such easy usable ways and all their work makes getting into God's Word, the Bible, so much easier for the likes of you and me. Today I just want to share some of those resources with you. I remember twenty or so years ago, just after I became a Christian, I started attending a tiny little Baptist Church in the southern suburbs of Sydney. A little place called Oyster Bay. Our pastor, Phil, was a passionate and gifted Bible teacher and that man has had a huge impact on my life. Now as well as Sunday services, the Church used to have these little home Bible studies and we'd meet one night a week in someone's house. In our small group, five of us would gather together. And at the time, the particular little home fellowship that I'd joined, was studying the Old Testament book of Hosea. So we'd lob in there each Wednesday evening, we'd have a cup of tea and some fellowship and then we'd sit down and do a Bible study together. And right through that book, over and over and over again, Hosea talks about Ephraim – that word is mentioned 29 times by Hosea. So I remember asking these people, most of them had been Christians for a good many years, "Okay, who or what is this Ephraim thing?" I mean, Hosea kept talking about it and so it seemed to be quite central to what he was saying. But you know something, no-one could tell me who or what Ephraim was. Now it turns out the Ephraim was one of the tribes of Israel, Ephraim was one of Joseph's sons and there's a whole history around this tribe and how they rebelled against God, but we didn't know that in that Bible study so a lot of what God was saying to us, through this amazing, powerful book of Hosea, well it was frankly lost on us. And that sort of thing happens a lot more than you might think. Consider the story of the Good Samaritan. It loses its whole meaning if we don't understand the Samaritans and who they were and what the Jews thought of them. Now when Jesus told that story to the assembled masses they all knew the Samaritan story but we don't, it's not natural to us. And there are names and places and concepts and ways of thinking in the Bible that are foreign to us, because we're separated from them by time and culture. It might have made sense to the people back then but not to us now. And unless we understand those things, we miss out on the richness, on the gravity, on the power of what God is trying to say to us. I remember coming to grips with the Jewish system of blood sacrifice in the Old Testament. Now I kind of think about blood sacrifice and it's pretty ghastly to me here and now, but it's something I really had to understand to understand what Jesus did for me on the Cross. So I decided I was going to find out, not just skim the surface, not read through a story and have them talk about Ephraim or Samaria or all these other things I didn't know about and miss out on what God was trying to say to me through the story. Now these accounts were written such a long time ago and God has preserved them and kept them accurate for us here and now but there is indeed a gap of culture and time in history that we have to bridge to understand completely what's happening in what's been written. I mean after all if the Bible is God's Word and if God is speaking to us through it, I decided I needed to know what He was saying. And surprisingly, that's not as difficult as I thought it would be. Right now, I'm going to talk about a handful of really simple resources that made absolutely the world of difference. The first one was my Bible, a simple English translation, not the King James with the 'thees' and 'thou arts', there are so many good contemporary language translations available to you and me today. The New International Version or the NIV as it's called, is really popular. I happen to use the New Revised Standard Version (the NRSV). There's a translation called The Message which is really in here and now language. The Contemporary English Version (CEV). The New English Translation (NET). Which one is the best one? The one you're going to read. You can get a thing called A Study Bible, it's got not just the words of the Bible, but it's also got a huge amount of resources packed into it. It explains the meanings of different words, there are notes and maps and cross references. They're really good, they don't cost a whole bunch more than a Bible with just the Bible words. So if you want to do more than just skim across the surface, it's really good to have one of those – a Study Bible. Check them out. One of the most helpful features in a Study Bible is a summary of each book: who wrote it, when, to whom and why because context is so important isn't it? Before I read Ephesians I read four or five paragraphs in my Study Bible which explain the context and all of a sudden the book of Ephesians made a whole bunch more sense to me. A Study Bible is a really worthwhile investment and it's not much more than an ordinary Bible. You can get one from a Christian bookshop or you can buy one online. I happen to have an electronic one these days on my tablet device. The second resource is my Bible dictionary. Now I happen to purchase a Bible dictionary called the Holman Bible Dictionary, years ago – it's just one, single volume. You can get Bible dictionaries that are 25 volumes, mine is just one volume and it has pictures. So when I was reading and it talked about the Temple in the Bible, I could go to my Bible dictionary and look at it and see a picture and plans and explaining the different parts. So I'm able to read a few paragraphs in just a few minutes, and I'm there, I understand what the writers saying about the Temple, about the Holy of Holies, wow! When the Bible talks about Ephraim I look it up, half a column, three minutes, I know who or what Ephraim is. The story of the Good Samaritan; who were the Samaritans? What was their relationship to the Jews? Ah! That's what Jesus meant by the story of the Good Samaritan. And lastly, the third resource was a Bible timeline. It's one of these things you can fold out and it's about four pages wide that show the chronology of the Bible. You read about King David, when was he king? Who was King before him? Who was King after him? What else was going on? Which prophets were writing when David was alive? And all of a sudden you put the whole Bible thing in time sequence, that's huge. And just to top things off, let me tell you about two stunning websites. The first is biblegateway.com where you can compare different Bible translations. The second is studylight.org, it has Bible dictionaries online, the meanings of Greek and Hebrew words, and so many more great resources. All free. So let me ask you? Do you take Jesus seriously? If you do then we need to take the Bible seriously. And for just a small investment on your part in just a few simple resources, they pay such huge dividends in hearing and understanding what God is saying to us today through His Word.   Listen and Learn If you spend anytime with me here on the program one of the things you will know is that I'm really passionate about God and what He has to say. Not in a religious sort of a way but in a Jesus sort of way. The thing that really strikes me about Jesus when you read about Him, is how plain and matter of fact He was about sharing with people who God is and what His plans are. Over these last couple of weeks on the program we've been looking at what it means to lay hold of God's power unlimited, God's resurrection power that's available to you, as you open His Word the Bible and listen to what He has to say. The Bible is God speaking to us and He means to challenge us and stretch us and encourage us and bless us through His Word. One of the ways that many people get God's Word into them is by listening to people speak. Radio programs like this or on television and of course, if you attend a Church. But how can preaching and teaching be a part of really getting God's Word into us? Over these last twenty years or so, the time that I've been a Christian, I've seen two things. On the one hand I have been so blessed by some really good teaching and on the other hand I've seen some pretty bad stuff too. In my very first Church, a little Baptist Church, our pastor's name was Phil Littlejohn. Now Phil was a gifted teacher, he just had this ability to open God's Word and speak God stuff into my heart. I learned later this is a real gifting, different people have different gifts and abilities given to them by God and teaching is one of them. Jesus had that, I mean time and time again when He opened His mouth people were amazed because He spoke with a plainness and a power and an authority that they hadn't heard before. And you know something, He didn't always tell them things they wanted to hear. "Love your enemy." "Take up your cross and follow me." "Lose your life for my sake and you'll gain your life." It's not exactly good marketing, I mean the spin merchants would not have let Him get up and speak like that today. I've spent quite a bit of time looking at how Jesus preached. It's real, it's powerful. It's balanced on the one hand and radical on the other and it sort of, well, it cuts through all the selfish rubbish we go on with, right to the heart of what God wants to talk about. And my prayer is that when I discharge my gifting to teach in my own way, I'll always try to teach like He did. But you know I've also sat in Churches over the years and listened to preachers drone on with dry and theoretical, completely cerebral stuff, that's not relevant to my life. On more than one occasion I've walked out after church and two hours later I ask myself "Do I remember what he talked about?" And the answer is, "No, not really." Or you listen to other speakers and there are lots of words and they're very entertaining and they make people laugh and they tickle their ears with great stories and things they want to hear and they yell and people slap them on the back afterwards, 'praise the Lord' but I've been to some of those too and well, I felt like I'd been at the Lord's table to be fed but I left hungry and empty. The flip side of that is that with some other preachers, I can remember years later what they were talking about, years later in difficult circumstances God seems to bring into my heart the words they spoke to me. Preaching and teaching is one of the ways that God gets His Word into us. You see it right through the Bible; He uses men and women to speak to others, to teach them. I mean the Samaritan woman at the well; she went and told people about Jesus. Paul and Peter and all the other guys that went out preaching. The question is, how do you get the most out of that? How does preaching and teaching play a part in us reading our Bible and unlocking the power unlimited that God has for us? Well, here are just some of my observations. I see people come into a Church on a Sunday and listen to the preacher and they don't take any notes and they don't bring their Bible and they don't follow what the preacher's saying in their Bible. I take my Bible with me, I open my Bible and I read what the preacher is talking about. People can speak all the words that they like, everything that they say, they can crack jokes and have great stories – the most important thing is God's Word, the most important thing is what God is saying. And secondly I take some notes. I mean you can't even get through kindergarten on a half an hour a week without taking notes. You know, if we take God seriously, if we want to follow Jesus and really take that seriously, you know something, we've got to take learning seriously. Do you know what a disciple is? A disciple is literally "a learner", that's what the word disciple means, to be a learner. And thirdly, the thing I do when I've listened to some really good preaching, is I spend some time afterwards in God's Word reading it for myself. Sometimes it's not until you get home and you pray it through and you spend some time in that passage and maybe looking at some other related ones, that God really drops it into your spirit. I mean, years ago I heard a preacher teaching on a profound passage: 1 Peter 5:6,7: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God so that He may exalt you in due time. Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you. Now I've learnt so much from what God taught me through that preacher in this passage but I've learned just as much and maybe even more from pondering and praying over this scripture and looking at other related passages. Learning in my heart – that's when I humble myself, when I get off my little tin pot throne and just walk each day faithfully with God. He's the one who later opens the doors; He's the one that's got an eternity ready for me. I've looked at this whole thing of preaching, and listened to some incredibly sermons and some dreadful ones too, I've come to the conclusion that there are two types of preaching; dead and alive. Dead preaching is full of words, it's boring and dry or maybe it's hyped up and frothy and bubbly but at the end of the day, there's no eternal food there because God's Word is not being preached in the power of the Holy Spirit. It's only God's Word by the power of the Spirit that can change us. I can't change you, I can't say things in my own strength that will change your life, but if I'm speaking God's stuff, if the Holy Spirit somehow takes God's stuff and puts it into your heart, that's when change happens and only God can do that. This is how the Apostle Paul put it: 1 Cor 2:1-5: When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God Can I encourage you to be discerning as to what you listen to? Go and listen to the preachers who are proclaiming God's Word in the power of the Holy Spirit.. Go and have a read about how Jesus preached in the Gospels Matthew or Mark or Luke or John, the first four books of the New Testament. It's edgy and profound and real and dealing with the hard issues, and find yourself some preachers like that. Not ones that just entertain and tickle your ears with things you want to hear. The ones that open up God's Word and say, 'Well, what's God saying to us today?' and then take what they said home, open your Bible there where they left off and go and lay hold of God's power unlimited for you, for your life.

Post your thoughts here. If you want a reply email me at connectTFJ@yahoo.com. I look forward to hearing from you.The secret to material progress has been revealed! It is--Ignorance. Sound crazy? Listen to this edition of Field Notes as I quote the esteemed historian Yuval Harari make the case that we can only learn if we admit that we do not know the answers. Plus, explore the best study Bible I've used in a long time, the New Revised Standard Update Edition. I share why it is worth your small investment to fuel your spiritual development. Support the showSubscribe to this podcast for only $5 per month to get a monthly bonus episode, access to exclusive subscriber-only episodes, and the POSTINGS weekly newsletter on Substack with more resources for well-being!Subscribe at https://tracksforthejourney.buzzsprout.comEnjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77 

The sermon from the April 5, 2026, Easter Sunrise worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers, “Early Hallelujahs.” Scripture lessons: John 20:1-10 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Sunday, April 5, 2026, Easter Celebration worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers, “Just As He Said.” Scripture lesson: Matthew 28:1-10 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The homily from the Good Friday, April 3, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Forsaken” in the worship series “An Unlikely Lent.” Scripture lessons: Matthew 27:45-54 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Unlikely Allies” in the worship series “An Unlikely Lent.” Scripture lessons: John 3:1-2;19:31-42 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Fifth Sunday in Lent, March 22, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Unlikely Courage” in the worship series “An Unlikely Lent.” Scripture lessons: Matthew 27:55-56; Mark 15:40-41; Luke 23:48-49 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 15, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Unlikely Companionship” in the worship series “An Unlikely Lent.” Scripture lesson: Luke 23:26-31 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Third Sunday in Lent, March 8, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Unlikely Freedom” in the worship series “An Unlikely Lent.” Scripture lesson: Matthew 27:15-26 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Second Sunday in Lent, March 1, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Unlikely Opposition” in the worship series “An Unlikely Lent.” Scripture lesson: Mark 14:53-72 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Sunday, February 22, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Unlikely Offering” in the worship series “An Unlikely Lent.” Scripture lessons: John 12:1-8 and Luke 7:36-50 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The homily from the Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers, in the worship series “An Unlikely Lent.” Scripture lessons: Joel 2:1-2,12-17 and Isaiah 58 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Transfiguration Sunday, February 15, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Manifest! Justice” in the worship series “MANIFEST!” Scripture lessons: Exodus 24:9-18 and Matthew 17:1-9 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Fifth Sunday After Epiphany, February 8, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by guest preacher Rev. Dr. Candace M. Lewis. “Manifest! Healing” in the worship series “MANIFEST!” Scripture lessons: Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 112:1-10; Matthew 5:13-20 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Third Sunday After Epiphany, January 25, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Manifest! Justice” in the worship series “MANIFEST!” Scripture lessons: Matthew 5:1-12 and Micah 6:6-8 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Second Sunday After Epiphany, January 18, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Manifest! Calling” in the worship series “MANIFEST!” Scripture lesson: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 and John 1:35-42 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Baptism of the Lord Sunday, January 11, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Manifest! Belovedness” in the worship series “MANIFEST!” Scripture lesson: Isaiah 42:1-9 and Mark 1:1-11 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Epiphany Sunday, January 4, 2026, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Manifest! Light” in the worship series “MANIFEST!” Scripture lesson: Isaiah 60:1-7; Matthew 2:1-12 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the first Sunday After Christmas, December 28, 2025, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Pastor Deontez Wimbley. “Address All Our Distress” in the worship series “The Light Is Coming - And Nothing Will Be the Same.” Scripture lesson: Isaiah 9:2,6-7; Luke 1:26-38;2:1-20 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the fourth Sunday of Advent, December 21, 2025, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “When Light Moves Into the Neighborhood” in the worship series “The Light Is Coming - And Nothing Will Be the Same.” Scripture lesson: Luke 1:46b-56 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the third Sunday of Advent, December 14, 2025, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “When Light Turns Things Upside Down” in the worship series “The Light Is Coming - And Nothing Will Be the Same.” Scripture lesson: Luke 1:46b-56 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the second Sunday of Advent, December 7, 2025, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “When Light Disrupts the Noise” in the worship series “The Light Is Coming - And Nothing Will Be the Same.” Scripture lessons: 11:1-10 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Download the worship guide at:http://www.atlantafirstumc.org/pdf/25/AFUMC-Worship-25-12-07.pdfSupport the show

The sermon from the first Sunday of Advent, November 30, 2025, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “When Light Breaks Our Despair” in the worship series “The Light Is Coming - And Nothing Will Be the Same.” Scripture lessons: Isaiah 2:1-5 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Download the worship guide at:http://www.atlantafirstumc.org/pdf/25/AFUMC-Worship-25-11-30.pdfSupport the show

The sermon from the Christ the King Sunday, November 23, 2025, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Lead Courageously” in the worship series “Write the Vision.” Scripture lessons: Joshua 1:9; Ephesians 6:10; Ezekiel 12:21-28 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Sunday, November 16, 2025, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Serve Joyfully” in the worship series “Write the Vision.” Scripture lessons: Nehemiah 8:1-12; John 13:3-17 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

The sermon from the Sunday, November 9, 2025, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Love Boldly” in the worship series “Write the Vision.” Scripture lesson: Matthew 22:34-40 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

On November 9th Yadkinville UMC is centering our worship around Luke 20:27-38. Join us in the practice of lectio divinia as we prepare for worship together.If you would like to financially support this ministry of YUMC visit yadkinvilleumc.org/contribute and use the "other" option.The New Revised Standard Version, copyright ©1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by Permission. All rights are reserved.

The sermon from the All Saints Sunday, November 2, 2025, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Write the Vision” in the worship series “Write the Vision.” Scripture lesson: Habakkuk 2:1-3 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

Welcome to the Gospel in a Year on the Catholic Sprouts Podcast. This year we will walk together through all 4 Gospels. We will be reading the Gospels as they appear in the Bible, so that means we are starting with Mathew! Before we begin reading from the Gospel, we are going to spend this week understanding the author, audience, and themes in Matthew's Gospel.   In this episode we explore how the Kingdom of Heaven asks us to repent, build the Church, and long for heaven.   To get the most out of this journey through the Gospels, we suggest you do the following two things to prepare: 1 PRINT THE GOSPEL IN A YEAR NOTEBOOK. It's free and ready for you right here -->http://catholicsprouts.com/the-gospels-in-a-year-on-the-catholic-sprouts-podcast   2 LOCATE A BIBLE! We will be reading from the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), so that is the best translation to follow along with for young Catholics. However, if you have older Catholics, it's fun to follow along in another great Catholic translation (we recommend either the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) and the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE)).   Thank you for joining us! Come Lord Jesus!

Welcome to the Gospel in a Year on the Catholic Sprouts Podcast. This year we will walk together through all 4 Gospels. We will be reading the Gospels as they appear in the Bible, so that means we are starting with Mathew! Before we begin reading from the Gospel, we are going to spend this week understanding the author, audience, and themes in Matthew's Gospel.   n this episode you will learn how Matthew looks to the Old Testament to show his Jewish audience that Jesus is the Messiah who is ushering in the Kingdom of Heaven.   To get the most out of this journey through the Gospels, we suggest you do the following two things to prepare: 1 PRINT THE GOSPEL IN A YEAR NOTEBOOK. It's free and ready for you right here --> http://catholicsprouts.com/the-gospels-in-a-year-on-the-catholic-sprouts-podcast   2 LOCATE A BIBLE! We will be reading from the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), so that is the best translation to follow along with for young Catholics. However, if you have older Catholics, it's fun to follow along in another great Catholic translation (we recommend either the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) and the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE)).   Thank you for joining us! Come Lord Jesus!

Welcome to the Gospel in a Year on the Catholic Sprouts Podcast. This year we will walk together through all 4 Gospels. We will be reading the Gospels as they appear in the Bible, so that means we are starting with Mathew! Before we begin reading from the Gospel, we are going to spend this week understanding the author, audience, and themes in Matthew's Gospel.   In this episode we introduce the major theme of Matthew's Gospel: the Kingdom of Heaven.   To get the most out of this journey through the Gospels, we suggest you do the following two things to prepare: 1 PRINT THE GOSPEL IN A YEAR NOTEBOOK. It's free and ready for you right here --> http://catholicsprouts.com/the-gospels-in-a-year-on-the-catholic-sprouts-podcast   2 LOCATE A BIBLE! We will be reading from the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), so that is the best translation to follow along with for young Catholics. However, if you have older Catholics, it's fun to follow along in another great Catholic translation (we recommend either the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) and the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE)).   Thank you for joining us! Come Lord Jesus!

Welcome to the Gospel in a Year on the Catholic Sprouts Podcast. This year we will walk together through all 4 Gospels. We will be reading the Gospels as they appear in the Bible, so that means we are starting with Mathew! Before we begin reading from the Gospel, we are going to spend this week understanding the author, audience, and themes in Matthew's Gospel.   In this episode you will learn when Matthew wrote his Gospel and what group of people he wrote this Gospel for.   To get the most out of this journey through the Gospels, we suggest you do the following two things to prepare: 1 PRINT THE GOSPEL IN A YEAR NOTEBOOK. It's free and ready for you right here --> http://catholicsprouts.com/the-gospels-in-a-year-on-the-catholic-sprouts-podcast   2 LOCATE A BIBLE! We will be reading from the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), so that is the best translation to follow along with for young Catholics. However, if you have older Catholics, it's fun to follow along in another great Catholic translation (we recommend either the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) and the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE)).   Thank you for joining us! Come Lord Jesus!

Welcome to the Gospel in a Year on the Catholic Sprouts Podcast. This year we will walk together through all 4 Gospels. We will be reading the Gospels as they appear in the Bible, so that means we are starting with Mathew! Before we begin reading from the Gospel, we are going to spend this week understanding the author, audience, and themes in Matthew's Gospel.   In this episode we meet the author of the Gospel according to Matthew: Mathew the Apostle!   To get the most out of this journey through the Gospels, we suggest you do the following two things to prepare: 1 PRINT THE GOSPEL IN A YEAR NOTEBOOK. It's free and ready for you right here --> http://catholicsprouts.com/the-gospels-in-a-year-on-the-catholic-sprouts-podcast   2 LOCATE A BIBLE! We will be reading from the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), so that is the best translation to follow along with for young Catholics. However, if you have older Catholics, it's fun to follow along in another great Catholic translation (we recommend either the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) and the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE)).   Thank you for joining us! Come Lord Jesus!

Welcome to the Gospel in a Year on the Catholic Sprouts Podcast. This year we will walk together through all 4 Gospels. The fun officially starts next week. This week we are preparing by discussing what to expect from the Gospel in a Year.   On this episode we discuss the Synoptic Gospels and which of the three was (maybe) written first.   To get the most out of this journey through the Gospels, we suggest you do the following two things to prepare: 1 PRINT THE GOSPEL IN A YEAR NOTEBOOK. It's free and ready for you right here --> : http://catholicsprouts.com/the-gospels-in-a-year-on-the-catholic-sprouts-podcast   2 LOCATE A BIBLE! We will be reading from the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), so that is the best translation to follow along with for young Catholics. However, if you have older Catholics, it's fun to follow along in another great Catholic translation (we recommend either the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) and the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE)).   Thank you for joining us! Come Lord Jesus!  

Welcome to the Gospel in a Year on the Catholic Sprouts Podcast. This year we will walk together through all 4 Gospels. The fun officially starts next week. This week we are preparing by discussing what to expect from the Gospel in a Year.   On this episode we discuss how the Gospels were written. We also strive to understand that the Gospels were written to spread the Faith, not to be a history book.   To get the most out of this journey through the Gospels, we suggest you do the following two things to prepare: 1 PRINT THE GOSPEL IN A YEAR NOTEBOOK. It's free and ready for you right here ---> http://catholicsprouts.com/the-gospels-in-a-year-on-the-catholic-sprouts-podcast   2 LOCATE A BIBLE! We will be reading from the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), so that is the best translation to follow along with for young Catholics. However, if you have older Catholics, it's fun to follow along in another great Catholic translation (we recommend either the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) and the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE)).   Thank you for joining us! Come Lord Jesus!

Welcome to the Gospel in a Year on the Catholic Sprouts Podcast. This year we will walk together through all 4 Gospels. The fun officially starts next week. This week we are preparing by discussing what to expect from the Gospel in a Year.   On this episode we discuss the authors of the Bible, how these 4 books are the 4 pillars that support our Faith, and the role of the apostles.   To get the most out of this journey through the Gospels, we suggest you do the following two things to prepare: 1 PRINT THE GOSPEL IN A YEAR NOTEBOOK. It's free and ready for you right here --->  http://catholicsprouts.com/the-gospels-in-a-year-on-the-catholic-sprouts-podcast   2 LOCATE A BIBLE! We will be reading from the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), so that is the best translation to follow along with for young Catholics. However, if you have older Catholics, it's fun to follow along in another great Catholic translation (we recommend either the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) and the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE)).   Thank you for joining us! Come Lord Jesus!

Welcome to the Gospel in a Year on the Catholic Sprouts Podcast. This year we will walk together through all 4 Gospels. The fun officially starts next week. This week we are preparing by discussing what to expect from the Gospel in a Year.   On this episode we discuss why the Gospels hold such an important place in our Faith and in the Liturgy of the Mass.   We suggest you do two things to prepare. :one: PRINT THE GOSPEL IN A YEAR NOTEBOOK. It's free and ready for you right here :arrow_right:: http://catholicsprouts.com/the-gospels-in-a-year-on-the-catholic-sprouts-podcast   :two: LOCATE A BIBLE! We will be reading from the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), so that is the best translation to follow along with for young Catholics. However, if you have older Catholics, it's fun to follow along in another great Catholic translation (we recommend either the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) and the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE)).   Thank you for joining us! Come Lord Jesus!

Welcome to the Gospel in a Year on the Catholic Sprouts Podcast. This year we will walk together through all 4 Gospels. The fun officially starts next week. This week we are preparing by discussing what to expect from the Gospel in a Year. We suggest you do two things to prepare. :one: PRINT THE GOSPEL IN A YEAR NOTEBOOK. It's free and ready for you right here :arrow_right:: http://catholicsprouts.com/the-gospels-in-a-year-on-the-catholic-sprouts-podcast :two: LOCATE A BIBLE! We will be reading from the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), so that is the best translation to follow along with for young Catholics. However, if you have older Catholics, it's fun to follow along in another great Catholic translation (we recommend either the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) and the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE)).     Thank you for joining us!     Come Lord Jesus!