Podcasts about New Covenant

Gary answers a question that we get often: "If so much of the New Testament is fulfilled, now what do we do?" It's a bit of a confounding question because people are essentially saying Jesus accomplishing all that He said He would isn't good enough. We live in a whole new world, one that isn't bound to the death and futility of the sacrificial system and the types and shadows of the Old Covenant.

Chata' (sin in Hebrew) primarily means “to miss the mark,” but in contexts like Proverbs 19:2, Hosea 4:7, and Proverbs 8:36, it carries undertones of losing one's way, glory, or soul, which can be interpreted as losing identity or forgetting who we are as God's image-bearers. In a New Covenant perspective, chata' reflects a failure to live in the truth of our union with Christ, but His redemptive work restores our identity, ensuring we are no longer defined by our sin but by the grace of Jesus Christ.

Daily Dose of Hope July 22, 2025   Scripture - Matthew 27:32-56   Prayer:  Holy and Perfect God, Thank you for your divine plan.  Thank you for not giving up on your people and sending Jesus.  Your love and care for us is hard to comprehend.  Help us be a better reflection of your love in all we do.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are diving into part two of Matthew 27, which includes the crucifixion and the death of Jesus.   Let's start with the crucifixion.  Matthew has a lot of detail.  We meet Simon of Cyrene who was forced to carry Jesus' cross.  While Simon certainly had no choice in the matter, I'm guessing his life was never the same after that.  He had carried the cross for the Savior of the world.  Jesus is offered wine with gall (which was very bitter and possibly offered to dull pain) but he tastes it and then refuses it.  His clothes are divided among the soldiers.  A sign is placed above him that says, “King of the Jews.”  And then there are all the insults hurled at him, from passers-by but also from those crucified next to him.  So much humiliation.   However, for those who witness Jesus' actual death, it is life-changing.  The sky gets dark and Jesus cries out the first line of Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” At the time, people would reference a psalm by stating the first line and the rest of the psalm would be assumed.  Psalm 22 was written by David, and it's a psalm that expresses abandonment and despair in the face of sorrow.    But this leads to some questions.  Did Jesus really feel abandoned by God at that moment on the cross?  I mentioned this in when we discussed Mark 15 and I think it's important to emphasize again. By quoting Psalm 22, Jesus is actually expressing confidence in the face of suffering.  He is trusting that God will ultimately deliver him. We gain confidence in this interpretation because it is faithful to our understanding of the Trinity as inseparable - one part of the Godhead can't abandon another part of the Godhead.  There is also a distinct union of Jesus' divine and human natures.  All of this comes together on the cross.  Let's read Psalm 22, verses 1-8...   My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?    Why are you so far from saving me,    so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,    by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;    you are the one Israel praises. 4 In you our ancestors put their trust;    they trusted and you delivered them.5 To you they cried out and were saved;    in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man,    scorned by everyone, despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me;    they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,    “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him,    since he delights in him.” And as the psalm continues (it is a bit long to real in full here), we see how the psalmist begins to express trust in the Lord and praise his name.  He knows that God will deliver him.  The bottom line seems to be that on the cross, Jesus bore the weight of our sin as the Son of God, but the Father did not literally abandon him, as that would divide the Trinity and undermine Christ's saving work.  Jesus knew that God would deliver him but also provide a way to deliver the whole world.  Right before Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross, the curtain in the Temple was torn down the middle. This is the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holiest of Holies) where the ark of the covenant was kept and the presence of God remained. When the curtain tore, it was a sign that the New Covenant was instituted. Because of Jesus' sacrifice (the final sacrifice for sin), those who believe in him can now go directly to the throne of God's grace. When holy God looks at us, he doesn't see our sinfulness but the blood of Christ. Thus, there are no more barriers that can separate us from God.  Hebrews 10 refers to this incredible phenomena...   Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22   Matthew also adds that when Jesus died, the earth also shook and that some who were already dead were brought back to life. The centurion who was guarding the tomb declared that this man, Jesus, must have been the Son of God.   There are two questions that are important to answer when discussing today's topic: Why was Jesus killed? and then, Why did Jesus die? They are both critical questions and the answers are different. I'm going to keep this brief but I want to at least address this.    Why was Jesus killed?  Well, a number of groups colluded to kill him.  First, Jesus was killed because the Jewish leaders felt threatened by him.  They feared him.  He threatened all they thought was right and they were unwilling to open their minds to God doing something differently.  They refused to believe that he was the Messiah, or we could say he wasn't the kind of Messiah that they were expecting.  And they didn't like the way he had the support of the common people.  But let's be clear, Jesus was also killed because his crucifixion was a political act by the Romans.  They didn't want anyone out there claiming to be king of the Jews.  They wanted to ensure that the only one with authority was the Roman government.   Now, why did Jesus die?  That's a whole different question.  Jesus died so that we could be cleansed of sin and walk intimately with a holy God.  Jesus, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy, became the final sacrifice for all sin for all time.  Ever since the fall, God had been on a mission to redeem the world.  The Law was part of that but the people could not keep the Law.  What the Law did was demonstrate how broken, flawed, and sinful us humans really are.  Something much more drastic was needed.  So, God sent Jesus.    Jesus was God with flesh on.  When we say that Jesus is the Son of God, that means that he was the second person of the Trinity, God himself.  He came to earth to live among us and demonstrate to us a new way of doing life, one in which God reigns as King.  Everything Jesus did – his whole life as well as his death and resurrection, was intended to demonstrate the fundamental values of God's Kingdom.  Of course, one of those values was love.  Jesus was and is love.  We see this on the cross.  We've read about all the human actions that led to the cross but this was God's divine plan.  Jesus knew it had to happen.  Jesus knew this was the only way.  So he went voluntarily to the cross.  He was God and he could have called a legion of angels down to save him.  But he didn't.  He went through with all the humiliation and torture.  For us.  For all of us.  He died for us.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

In this expository teaching, Dr. Baruch explores Colossians 2 to reveal how the cross of the Messiah brings total transformation—from the death of the flesh to spiritual rebirth. He explains the connection between spiritual circumcision, redemption through Passover, and resurrection power as the foundation of the New Covenant. A clear, Bible-based message on grace, righteousness, and eternal victory through the work of the cross. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1256/29

Jesus Set Us FreeIsaiah 61:1-3 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,  to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”While searching for verses on joy, I came across Isaiah 61:3. However, upon reading it, I could tell it was missing context. When I started with verse 1, I knew we all needed to hear all three of these verses. Let's start at the beginning. The prophet Isaiah is prophetically speaking for the Messiah, and the Messiah is letting the people know that he is blessed and empowered by the Spirit of the Lord God. I looked up these verses on enduringword.com's commentary page. I am so glad I did because it gives such a deeper understanding of this verse. I didn't know this was talking about Jesus.Reading this verse on its own, I did not remember that this was the verse Jesus read in Luke 4. In Luke 4:16-22, Jesus spoke in the synagogue of Nazareth, His hometown. He opened up the scroll to Isaiah 61 – perhaps an assigned reading, perhaps chosen by Him – and read from the beginning of the chapter through the first line of verse 2. When He sat down, He simply said Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Jesus is the person described in Isaiah 61:1-3, and He is the one the Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon.The commentary goes on to say that “as Christians under the New Covenant, we also have an anointing: But you have an anointing from the Holy One (1 John 2:20). In the New Testament sense, anointing has the idea of being filled with, and blessed by, the Holy Spirit. This is something that is the common property of all Christians, but something we can and should become more submitted and responsive to.” This is reminding us that we all have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. This means we are all anointed and we have an anointing on our lives. How many of us know this? How many of us are attentive to the Holy Spirit living inside of us? Are you listening to it? Are we responding to it? Are we letting it lead us in our everyday lives?We do not all have the same anointing on our lives. We are all called to do different things. We are all blessed with different talents and different personalities, and God uses us accordingly. However, He sometimes also uses us for things that don't align with our talents or personalities. Like when He asked Moses to lead his people out of Egypt, even though Moses wasn't good at public speaking. If God is calling you to do something, he will equip you with all you need to do it.The next part of these verse is showing us the ministry or mission of the Messiah. Jesus came to:To preach good tidings to the poor. Jesus came to announce that he is hear to heal the damage that sin brings. Sin has done a lot of damage over the many years since Adam and Eve, and so there needs to be a great work of redemption.He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted because sin breaks hearts, when he redeems us he will heal the brokenhearted.To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound. Jesus sets us free from the captivity that we find ourselves in when we sin. Jesus takes that sin to the cross with Him. Freeing us from the chains of the evil one. I had at first written forever freeing us, but then I thought about it. Jesus definitely defeated evil once and for all; however, it may still be a daily battle for us. We still need to choose to live in that freedom. The devil is really good at convincing us not to live in that freedom. He convinces us that we don't deserve that freedom, and when we let the enemy convince us that we don't deserve this freedom, then we live in captivity. We live in the prison that Jesus died on the cross to save us from.To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God. This part I will read right from the commentary as I am learning right along side you. It says, “Significantly, Jesus stopped reading before this sentence. He stopped in the middle of the prophecy, because to proclaim…the day of vengeance of our God is relevant to His Second Coming, not to His first coming. The comma in year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance has stood for almost 2,000 years. This shows us something of the nature of Biblical prophecy: it may “shift gears” and time frames quickly and without warning.ii. We can compare a whole year of grace to a single day of vengeance.”One thing I do want to point out is that this is a Jubilee Year. It talks about how Jesus came to proclaim it an acceptable year to the Lord, or a year of the Lord's favor. Well, the year I am writing this episode has also been declared a Jubilee year. A Jubilee year is a holy year of the forgiveness of sin, conversion, and joyful celebration. Jubilee years typically come around every 25 or 50 years. This is a special year and we are called to participate in it.Here is what the commentary says about this last part. “The extent of the comfort and restoration is beautifully described. Instead of the ashes of mourning, He gives His people beauty. Instead of the mourning itself, He gives His people the oil of joy. Instead of the spirit of heaviness, He gives His people the garment of praise. Why do we sit in the ashes? Why do we mourn? Why do we indulge the spirit of heaviness when Jesus gave us something so much better?The word "beauty" evokes a beautiful crown or head ornament. It is translated exquisite hats in Exodus 39:28 and headdresses in Isaiah 3:20. In mourning, ashes would be cast upon the head (2 Samuel 13:19). Here, the ashes are replaced with a beautiful crown.That they may be called trees of righteousness: The restored place of God's people is glorious. They are as strong, beautiful, and useful as trees – and trees of righteousness at that. Most wonderfully, when people look at the trees, they see they are the planting of the LORD.Well, that certainly wasn't what I thought I would be talking about today. However, I think we all needed this reminder as to why Jesus came to us. It is good to be reminded of what His mission was because we are all tasked with that same mission. What can we do to help carry out His mission? Is there a way we can set someone free today? Is there some way we can remind them that Jesus has already set them free and all they need to do is accept his gift? Can we remind people they are loved and they have already been set free from their sin? They no longer have to be held captive by what they did or didn't do. All they need to do is remind themselves that Jesus's sacrifice was enough to cover all they have done.I love when the commentary asks, “Why do we sit in ashes? Why do we mourn? Why do we sit in the spirit of heaviness when Jesus gave us so much more? I will leave you with these questions to reflect on and pray about today.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode. Lord, we love you and we ask that you bless us and remind us that you have already saved us. Lord, help us to understand that this is a jubilee year and that we can make the most of it. Lord, help us to accept your forgiveness and to live in the freedom that you won for us. We love you Lord and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus's holy name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. I think I forgot to add the link to register for my retreat in the show notes yesterday. I will make sure it is there today so you can check out all the details. I hope you can join me. This may be the last year at this location, and it is a great location. I hope you don't miss out. I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you, just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day!Today's Word from the Lord was received in January 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “My word is powerful, life-giving, eternal, changing hearts. It will not return to me void. Spread my word.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Does the New Covenant apply to Israel, to the Church, or to both? Gary answers this question and more in his discussion of Jeremiah 31. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1094/29

Join us for this week's sermon!Whether you're seeking hope, direction, or a deeper connection with God, this message is for you. Each week, we open God's Word together to find truth, encouragement, and strength for the journey.

Topics: Understanding Old and New Covenants, Jesus' Accomplishments, Old Covenant for Jews Only, New Covenant for Believers Only, Jews Followed 613 Commandments, Christians Follow 2 New Commandments, Law Not for Morality, Holy Spirit for Morality, Old Covenant Between God and Israel, New Covenant Between Father and Son, Old Covenant Began by Animal Blood, New Covenant Began by Jesus' Blood, Ministry of Death and Condemnation, Ministry of Reconciliation, Old Covenant Ongoing Sanctification, New Covenant Final Sanctification, Old Covenant Annual Atonement, New Covenant Permanent Propitiation, Old Covenant Tithing, New Covenant Free Giving, God Far Off and Angry, God Permanently Inside Us, Covenants Cannot Be Mixed, Law is Obsolete Hebrews 8:13, New Covenant Better Promises Hebrews 8:6, Jesus Fulfilled the Law, Law Abolished After Cross, Jesus' Single Death Romans 6:23, Old Covenant Vs. New Covenant Support the showSign up for Matt's free daily devotional! https://mattmcmillen.com/newsletter

Title: A New Covenant Shadow in the Shining Face of MosesPreacher: Tom SculthorpePassage: Exodus 34:27–35

Dan unpacks this thorny topic in our latest episode.

In this edition of the Forest City Church podcast, Jackie Glass teaches from Mark 14 on how communion allows us to connect with Jesus in her message titled Dust, Bread, And A New Covenant.

Does the New Covenant apply to Israel, to the Church, or to both? Gary answers this question and more in his discussion of Jeremiah 31. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1094/29

Almost every Christian denomination accepts that God is sovereign--which is interpreted to mean that He always does precisely what He pleases, and everything that happens on earth has either His explicit or implicit stamp of approval. So when we find ourselves in a crisis--we or someone we love gets a terminal diagnosis, or we don't have enough money to make the mortgage and may lose the house, or we're in the direct path of a natural disaster, etc--we pray for a miracle, because we all know that God can do anything He wants. And who knows? Maybe He'll say yes. But if He says no, the common theology goes, it's because He sees the bigger picture. He knows more than we do, and we have to just trust that He knows best. That sounds so spiritual, doesn't it? Some believers manage to weather these trials of faith, pointing to Job as their example, when he said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21) and "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job 13:15). (One side note. When you hear of a great saint who loses everything and yet clings to their trust in God anyway, certain that He has a greater purpose for their loss, does that inspire you to praise God--or to praise that great saint? Who actually receives the glory for that?) This theology has its roots in Calvinism, which espouses an extreme form of predestination (meaning that God chooses whether each of us will ultimately be saved, or damned, before we're ever born. He has to do this, they argue, because it is God who gives us the faith even to be saved, Eph 2:8-9, and if He withholds that faith, salvation for that individual is impossible.) So God, in this theological persuasion, decides a priori who will be saved and who will not, and then punishes those to whom He has not given the faith to be saved for their sins. They do have scriptures to back up their argument--if you take them out of context. One of the big ones is Romans 9:18-21, which says: "Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, 'Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?' But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, 'Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?'" In this passage, Paul was comparing Israel's hardness of heart in rejecting the Messiah to Pharaoh from the time of the Exodus (Romans 9:15-17). The reason it took ten plagues and the decimation of Egypt for Pharaoh to finally release the Israelites was because Pharaoh's heart was hardened, far beyond reason. Paul's point in this passage was that God did this so that He could display His power to the Israelites, delivering them with great signs and wonders (Romans 9:17). If Pharaoh hadn't resisted, it would not have taken great miracles to do it. (In the same way, Paul argues, the fact that Israel had rejected Jesus gave the Lord the opportunity to bring the Gentiles in to the New Covenant, too.) But if God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, is Pharaoh still responsible for his own actions? If we go back to the original source text, we can see that this isn't quite the whole story. God did tell Moses in advance that He would harden Pharaoh's heart before the plagues ever began (Ex 4:21, 7:3). But for the first five plagues, Pharaoh hardened his own heart (Ex 7:22, 8:15, 8:19, 8:32, 9:7). It was only by the sixth plague that the scripture says God hardened Pharaoh's heart (Ex 9:12). Pharaoh still made his own choice first; God just enforced it and used it for His own purposes. I love the analogy Charles Capps uses to explain this. If one sets clay and wax out in the hot sun, the sun will harden the clay, but melt the wax. The sun adds the same heat to both, but the substance (wax or clay) determines its effect. A potter chooses whether to make “noble or ignoble” vessels from clay not arbitrarily, but on the basis of the quality of the clay. If the clay is supple and pliable, it can be made into something beautiful; if it is brittle, it might not be fit to shape into something worthy of display. God works with what we give him. In the same way, in Jesus’ Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23), the sower sows the Word indiscriminately, but it is the condition of the soil that determines the harvest. Luke later writes that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), and Peter writes that He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9, more on this later). Likewise, any reasonable person would have been terrified into obedience by the plagues, long before they progressed to the death of the firstborn. And some of the Egyptians did believe and take refuge in Goshen, and the final exodus included “a mixed multitude” (Exodus 12:38), meaning some of the Egyptians were convinced, converted, and left with them. God gave the Egyptians the opportunity to escape the plagues that might otherwise have caused death, telling them to pull their livestock and their servants inside before the hail (Exodus 9:19), and to paint their doorposts with the blood of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:22-23), which was symbolic of and foreshadowing the blood of Christ. Again, the Lord is “not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). He didn't want to harm the Egyptians, but neither did he want them to keep His people in bondage. So, did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? Yes, but perhaps only in the sense that God performed the miracles, and Pharaoh’s heart was such that those miracles caused him to dig in his heels. We’ve all met stubborn people like this, with whom any direct attempt at persuasion will cause them to double down on their original position. God does not override our free will, so in this case, He worked with it, using it to His advantage. Our choices do matter. But He's so amazing that He takes those choices and still manages to work “all things together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). As a result of Pharaoh’s stubbornness, God’s people had a legacy of spectacular stories to remind their children and their children’s children of His might on their behalf. My point in saying all that is just that the argument that God sovereignly controls everything that happens is inconsistent with the overall teachings of scripture; even the individual verses that seem to suggest that don't stand up to scrutiny. But a larger problem is that, taken to its logical conclusion, the theological position that God's will is absolute, and will come to pass no matter what we do, leads to a sense of futility. Why pray--why even evangelize--if God is going to do what He's going to do, regardless? To their credit (though against logic), most Calvinist denominations recognize that the scriptures are very clear that we should still both evangelize and pray, and they therefore preach that we should do both, just because God said we should. (Sort of the equivalent of a parent saying, "Because I said so, that's why!") But historically, many Protestant denominations stemmed from or were heavily influenced by Calvinist doctrine. As a result, until about the late 18th and early 19th century, almost all missionary activity around the world came from the Catholic church, which I suspect was precisely because it held no doctrine of predestination, so they thought their efforts could make an eternal difference. Motivation matters. (Protestant missions largely date back to William Carey's work in India in 1793. The London Missionary Society was founded two years later, in 1795, and in 1810, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was founded.) Even if we're not ultimately each predestined for heaven or hell, God is still sovereign, though, right? He knows way more than we do. So doesn't that mean sometimes He'll say no to our prayer requests, and when we all get to heaven, we'll understand why? Yes, God is sovereign in the sense that He is all-powerful, all-loving, and all-knowing, but He is not all-controlling (and I covered this extensively in this podcast https://www.drlaurendeville.com/podcasts/why-bad-things-happen-from-a-biblical-perspective on why bad things happen, from a biblical perspective). God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil; they did anyway. Was that God's will? Certainly not! He did everything He could to keep them from doing it, short of making them automatons, when He told them, don't do it. Likewise, any sovereign can set laws that his citizens may not necessarily obey. The US is a sovereign nation and in 1974 the administration set the "National Maximum Speed Law" of 55mph. But many drivers exceeded that speed limit daily. The New English Translation has the word “sovereign” appear more than any other biblical translation (368 times). Not one of the original Hebrew or Greek words connotes the idea that He controls everything that happens. Most of the time, "sovereign" is just the way they render God’s names. The word sovereign is often translated from Shaddai (meaning Almighty) when it’s part of God’s name (48 times in the OT). Other times it’s translated from ‘elohiym: supreme God, as a superlative, or ‘elyown, meaning High or Most High. Sometimes it's thrown in as part of the transition of ‘Adonay: an emphatic form of the Lord. Sometimes it's translated from tsaba’, also translated the Lord of Hosts, meaning one who commands an army. In some cases the word sovereign is used to describe God's characteristics, but in context, it doesn't mean what we typically mean by the word (that His will always happens). The NET version of 1 Chronicles 29:11 says, "O LORD, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all." Only this translation uses the word sovereign; the others , translate it Head. This word connotes the idea of a supreme ruler, but not of one who always gets His way. Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield (magen: shield, buckler, protector).” The same verse is translated in NET: "For the LORD God is our sovereign protector." Clearly the word magen does not indicate that He always gets His way, either. Sovereign power is also translated as holiness from qadash: "to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate." This word is used in Ezekiel 28:25: "'This is what the sovereign LORD says: When I regather the house of Israel from the peoples where they are dispersed, I will reveal my sovereign power (or holiness) over them in the sight of the nations, and they will live in their land that I gave to my servant Jacob." It doesn't mean supreme dictator there either. Micah 5:4 says, "He will assume his post and shepherd the people by the LORD's strength, by the sovereign authority of the LORD his God. They will live securely, for at that time he will be honored even in the distant regions of the earth.” Sovereign authority here is the words ga'own (exaltation, majesty, pride) shem (name, reputation, fame, glory): thus, it's better translated “in the majesty of the name” of the Lord. Not a supreme dictator there either. Habakkuk 2:14 says, "For recognition of the LORD's sovereign majesty will fill the earth just as the waters fill up the sea." Sovereign majesty here is yada (to know, to perceive, to make known) kabowd (glory, honour, glorious, abundance), also translated “for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” Still not indicating ultimate control over everything that happens. Of course God's will does not always come to pass. As I mentioned earlier, the classic example of this is 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance,” and 1 Timothy 2:4: “[He] desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Matthew 18:14 also says, “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” Jesus paid for the sins of the whole world, not just those who are saved. 1 John 2:2 says, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world”, and 1 Tim 4:10 says, "That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.” This doesn't sound like a God who created anyone for the expressed purpose of eternal damnation to me. On the contrary, He did everything He could possibly do to save us all, short of making us automatons. But not everybody will be saved, because He doesn't force us to choose Him--nor does He make any of our other decisions for us, either. Jesus said in Matthew 7:13: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." God wills it; He paid an enormous price for it; but He won't get all of us, because we get a choice. There are other verses that imply the concept of sovereignty as we typically define it (in the sense that when God decides to do something, He does it, and no one can stop Him). Here are a few of those verses: Job 42:2: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Isaiah 46:10: “I declare the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” Romans 8:28: “All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” (i.e. He can use bad and work it for good.) But these verses refers to God’s right and His power -- they say nothing about voluntary restrictions that God has placed upon His own power. Those limitations are defined by the covenants God had in place with mankind at various points in history. Once He gives His word that He will do this and not that, He cannot violate it--He exalts His word even above His name (Psalm 138:2). It's the integrity of His word that literally holds the universe together (Hebrews 1:3). Again, more on this in this podcast: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/podcasts/why-bad-things-happen-from-a-biblical-perspective and extensively more in "Blood Covenant Origins" and "Blood Covenant Fulfilled" from this book series: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/books/biblical-retellings). A quick overview, though: since God gave the earth to man in the garden, and man decided to obey Satan, God had to find a legal entry to get back in. That was the purpose of the covenants—first the Adamic, then the Noahic, then the Abrahamic, then the Mosaic, and now finally, the New Covenant. In the middle three there were stipulations of what we had to do, and therefore what God would do for us, if we kept up our end. But there were provisions for blessings even in those. For instance, a common Old Testament example I've heard preached to back up the idea that we never know what God's going to do, but we should have faith in Him anyway, is Daniel 3:18. Here's how that verse is preached: "If you throw us into the fiery furnace, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not save us, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." Except that's not what that verse actually says. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego, the Hebrew kids in Babylonian exile in that story, were under the Mosaic covenant, and they were on the right side of it--so they had a right to the blessings (Deut 28:7), and they knew it. They knew God’s promises. That’s why they were able to stand up to the king—just like David could call Goliath that “uncircumcised Philistine,” absolutely convinced of the outcome, because he had a covenant, and Goliath didn’t. In the story in Daniel, what the verse actually says is, “If you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” The Jewish captives respond saying, “If that is the case” (implying, if you will throw us in to the furnace, the subject of the previous verse). Then they say, “But if not”—and the Hebrew never qualifies if not what. People tend to assume they are saying “but if God doesn’t deliver us” (the end of the previous thought). But it could just as easily have meant, “If it is not the case that you will throw us into the fiery furnace,” just like it did in previous verse. This would change the entire meaning of the verse, and would be far more consistent with the rest of scripture. I can think of no instances anywhere in scripture where someone put faith in God’s covenant promises, and God did not come through. He can’t not come through—because again, He exalts His word above His very name (Ps 138:2)! In the New Covenant, Jesus paid to make sure we are always on the blessing side, having fulfilled the law perfectly on our behalf, and become the curse for us (Gal 3:13). Because of that, every single promise is now Yes and Amen in Him (2 Cor 1:20). When Christ saved us, the word in Greek is sozo—that word appears 110 times in the New Testament. It includes spiritual salvation, but it also means physical healing, to rescue from physical danger, and to deliver from the penalties of judgment. All of these things are accessed by faith. Scripture doesn’t say that sometimes God says no to physical healing; on the contrary, every time someone came to Jesus for healing, they got it—and He was the exact image of the Father (Col 1:15), doing nothing but what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). He turned no one away, saying, “Nope, this one is God’s will for you, to bring glory to Himself.” What brings God glory is healing, not sickness (John 9:1-4), and the “fruit” of answered prayers (John 15:7-8). It’s the blessings of God on our lives that are supposed to get the attention of the world around us. So back to the issue of praying for miracles. The theological position of most Christian denominations is that God can do anything, but there’s no guarantees that He will. Because of course, we can look around and see so many good Christians (some of the best!) who pray, and don’t seem to receive. What are we to do with that? Shouldn’t we adjust our theology to account for all of these practical examples… no matter what the Bible actually says? My dad died of cancer when he was 48 years old. We had lots of people praying. I had several well-meaning believers after the fact try to console me with the idea that God “allowed” this to happen for some inscrutable reason of His own… maybe someone might come to the Lord as a result of our loss, someone suggested. (What actually happened was that I became a religious Pharisee for about 10 years, going through the motions, but I didn’t trust God at all. I figured, based on that theology, that God was like an army general who made sacrifices for the greater good, and sometimes—sorry!—it’s you. The effect on the rest of my family's faith and outlook on the world was similar to mine, or worse.) All of that is predictable in hindsight, because cancer and death are the fingerprints of the Enemy, not of God. The Enemy comes to “steal, kill, and destroy”—Jesus came that we might “have life, and have it more abundantly.” It’s very clear who does what. But the vast majority of the body of Christ today preaches this confused theology, attributing horrific things to God under the strange explanation that because God’s ways are higher than our ways, somehow from His perspective, bad is good, and wrong is right, and once we all get to heaven, we’ll understand. (No wonder I didn’t trust God anymore when I believed this. How could I trust a God like that?) I get why the Church at large preaches this—they’re trying to make the Bible fit our experience. God's supreme sovereignty is a nice, spiritual-sounding explanation which borrows from the long Calvinistic tradition, even if we don't take it quite to that extreme (though some denominations still do even that). But what finally set me free was when I realized that God’s definition of good and mine are actually the same. That my dad’s death at such a young age was never His will. That how God dealt with mankind at various times in history was dependent upon the covenants in place at the time--and today, we're under the best covenant of all, the one where all the curses for disobedience are paid for in full, and all that's left is the blessing, which we can receive by faith. Here's what that doesn't mean: it doesn't mean that faith is a new form of works, that God now watches to see if we reach the critical threshold of faith before He doles out our miracle... and if we don't quite get there, ah, too bad, try harder next time. No! He's not responding in real time to our faith at all, deciding which requests to grant and which to refuse. God already provided every blessing in spiritual form in Christ’s atonement, 2000 years ago (Gal 1:3, Isaiah 53:4-5, 1 Peter 2:24). We receive all of those blessings now the same way we receive salvation: by faith. It's "in your account" already, as it were, just waiting for you to make a withdrawal--just like salvation is freely available, waiting for you to accept it. But God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). He doesn’t sovereignly say yes to one person and no to another for things that we know are in His will—if we know that we’re asking for something already in His explicit will, He hears us, and if we know that He hears us, we know we already have the requests made of Him (1 John 5:14-15). (That is the key, though--we can only have faith that we'll receive things that were already paid for in the atonement of Jesus. We can ask God for other things outside of that, but in those cases, God might say yes, or He might say no, for our own good--James 4:3. So it's quite useful to know scripture, so you can know for sure what you can stand on!) Back to my dad, and so many others besides. At that time, my family didn’t know any of this. We thought, we should pray, we should ask, and maybe God will say yes and maybe He will say no. But that’s not faith—that’s hope. And God didn’t say no—He said yes, 2000 years ago! Jesus paid an incredibly high price for God to say yes. Jesus also gave us the formula of how to receive in Mark 11:23-24: believe, and don’t doubt. If you do that, it’s as good as done. Unopposed faith (without doubt, James 1:6-8) is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen (Heb 11:1). It’s cruel to tell people that they didn’t receive their miracle because they didn’t believe hard enough, or pray long enough, though. But the solution to that isn’t to blame God’s “sovereignty” instead! (That’s how people lose their faith—who wants to serve a God whom they believe “allowed” the Holocaust, or 9-11, or child trafficking, or etc to happen?) Rather, the solution is to understand that we’re in a war, and that Satan is seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). While he’s a defeated foe ever since the cross (Col 2:15), and we now have authority over him through Jesus (Matt 28:18, Eph 1:17-19), most of us don’t know it. We don’t know that, with the authority we now have, Satan’s only weapon against believers now is deception and fear (2 Cor 10:3-5)—and of course anything he can indirectly control against us that is part of the fallen world. But Jesus has already overcome the world on our behalf (John 16:33). And understanding God’s perfect love for us casts out fear (James 4:18). Because if He loves us enough to send Jesus, how will He not also freely give us all things (Romans 8:32)? But most of us are so focused on what we see, on the things this world says, that a cancer diagnosis, for example (or any other terminal doctor’s report, or insurmountable financial problem, etc), strikes fear into our hearts. Whatever we focus on, we magnify—and if we’re in a church that tells us maybe God will come through and maybe He won’t (for things that He’s explicitly promised in His word), then we’re standing on shifting sand. It’s hard enough to deal with our own doubt and unbelief, without being surrounded by the doubt and unbelief of others. But absolute trust God’s word—even if it means isolating ourselves from well-meaning believers who might cause us to doubt—is the only way. Jesus on numerous occasions got away from the crowds or put everyone out of the house except for his few top disciples before he performed a miracle. Abraham received because he did not consider anything except God’s promises (Romans 4:19). He didn’t have a contingency plan (or at least he didn’t anymore after the whole Ishmael thing was out of the way). Because he didn’t consider any of the natural circumstances, he didn’t waver in his faith. In the same way, today, our lack of fear of Satan’s schemes is proof to him that we’re going to win (Phil 1:28)—and if we stand firm (Eph 6:13-14) and resist the devil, sooner or later, he has to flee (James 4:7). We’ll win, if we don’t quit. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A New Covenant

The Power of the Tabernacle: Hebrews 9 Part 1In this episode of Divine Table Talk, Jamie and Jane begin their journey through Hebrews 9 by exploring the rich symbolism of the earthly tabernacle. Why does the author of Hebrews take us back to its details? What does it teach us about access to God and the limitations of the old system? Join them as they unpack how every part points to Jesus, our true High Priest, who offers us a better way into God's presence.____________________________________Connect with Jamie:Website: www.jamieklusacek.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamieklusacekConnect with Jane:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janewwilliams____________________________________ Get Jamie's Newest Book:Living Loved: An 8-week Journey to Living Fully Loved

Does the New Covenant apply to Israel, to the Church, or to both? Gary answers this question and more in his discussion of Jeremiah 31. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1094/29

A key truth all believers need to know is that God will not break His covenant with us. It's permanent and eternal. Today we'll look at Jeremiah 33 and unpack how this eternal covenant relates to Christ as King and us as His servants. Join us in another challenging but vital study in God's Word! Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. In 2025, we were added to the "Best 100 Bible Podcasts" list from www.millionpodcasts.com. We are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

Daily Dose of Hope July 17, 2025   Scripture – Matthew 26:17-46   Prayer:  Almighty Father, You always know what is best for us.  Thank you for that.  We are sorry for the ways that we resist.  Help us to want what you want for us.  Help us to want to be patient, to want to be kind, to want to be obedient.  Conform our will, Lord,  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are looking at part two of three parts in Matthew 26.  This is a chapter with lots of substance!   Today's passage includes what we would describe as “The Lord's Supper.”  These are many of the words we say when we share Holy Communion together as a church.   Let's dig into this text.  Jesus has prepared for the disciples to celebrate Passover together.  All the necessary arrangements have been made.  The fact that Jesus is celebrating with his disciples and not his biological family is significant.  It shows his solidarity with these men.    But Jesus knows the solidarity won't last forever.  He prepares this group for one of them to betray him.  None of them believe that they would actually do it.  “You don't mean me, do you?” they all ask, even Judas.  I wonder what Judas is thinking at that moment.  We know he has already betrayed Jesus.  He is a liar and a backstabber and he must have convinced himself that it was the right thing to do.  How often do we convince ourselves that sin is okay, that it is justified?    Passover, or the Festival of Unleavened Bread, is one of the most important Jewish celebrations.  It celebrates the Hebrew victory over Egyptian tyranny.  The Jews were freed from slavery under Pharoah.  At the time, there would have been the additional sub-text of deliverance from Roman oppression as well.    Jesus takes the Passover meal and redefines it for his followers.  Jesus takes the bread and identifies it as his body.  Obviously, it wasn't his literal body, as Jesus was speaker of the statement.  But it represents something very substantial.  Jesus is about to be crucified by the Romans, at the hands of the Jewish leaders.  In doing so, he will be the final sacrifice for sin for all time.    He then takes the cup and declares that the wine is His blood of the new covenant, poured out for the forgiveness sins of the world.  Jesus is ushering in the New Covenant.  He is the New Covenant.  The Old Covenant is being fulfilled by Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.  Can you imagine how confused the disciples are when he says this?  This isn't the typical liturgy of the Passover.  What is Jesus saying about his body and blood?  Remember, while Jesus has warned them of his upcoming death, they still don't quite believe it or understand it.    Let's talk about Holy Communion for just a moment.  In the Lord's Supper, the faith community, current day followers, come together to experience the grace of Jesus Christ on a regular basis.  There are some traditions that read the words in Matthew 26 and believe in transubstantiation, meaning that the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus.  We don't believe that in Methodism.  However, we do believe that the Holy Spirit is present and at work as we receive communion. It is not just an act of remembrance, but truly a means of grace in which we are able to experience Jesus in a way that is real but also somewhat mysterious. It is a tangible way to experience an inward grace.   Methodists (of all streams) believe that in Communion, the Holy Spirit brings Christ to us, expressing the grace and love of God toward us through the means of bread and wine. In fact, John Wesley described communion as “the grand channel whereby the grace of his Spirit was conveyed to the souls of the children of God.” Through the Lord's Supper, we can expect to experience Jesus' love, forgiveness, healing, holiness, presence, and even a foretaste of heaven. Because of this, Wesley encouraged Methodists to experience Holy Communion weekly if not more, as it provides “nourishment for the soul.”   One of the beautiful things about our theology is that we have an open table. Wesley viewed Holy Communion as “a converting ordinance,” through which the Spirit can lead an individual to faith in Jesus Christ. Because of our emphasis on prevenient grace, we trust that God has already been at work in the life of each person, continuously wooing them closer to Christ. Thus, in the Lord's Supper, you don't have to be a member of any church but simply respond to Christ's invitation-he invites those who love him, who seek him, and who repent of their sins.    For those who have not yet received salvation, we believe that the Holy Spirit can work through the act of communion to transform their heart in such a way they are ready to say yes to Jesus. In this sense, Holy Communion can be an act of justifying grace. For those who are already in the community of faith, Holy Communion tends to be an act of sanctifying grace, as it nurtures believers, points them back toward grace, and helps them grow and move forward in their faith journey.   Our reading for today also has Jesus predicting Peter's denial.  I have always found this so fascinating.  Peter was convinced that he would never turn his back on Jesus.  He says that he will die before renouncing Jesus.  And it is only a few short hours later that Peter denies Jesus not once, not twice, but three times.  How quickly can sin and temptation enter our hearts and minds!  When push came to shove, Peter let fear take over.    As we discussed in Mark, it's wonderful to see how fearful, self-protecting Peter becomes bold, confident Peter after the coming of the Holy Spirit. On our own, we will falter.  With the power of God in us, we can change and do hard things.   Lastly, the poor disciples cannot stay awake.  They've had a lot of wine and food at the Passover meal.  Jesus has them praying and they just can't keep their eyes open.  The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.   It's also here that Jesus submits himself to the Father.  The human part of him would like the whole ordeal to not happen.  But he knows that it must.  It will be the most important event in the history of the world.  Nothing will ever be as significant.  The course of human history is about to change.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

I AM 3 We are now on day 17 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Jesus' teaching continues to be met with amazement yet also fury, hatred and ridicule! Today we continue looking at one particularly aspect of his teaching - himself - and 1 more I AM statement. We have already seen that Jesus is the bread of life, the light of the world, the gate and the shepherd - all the things the nation of Israel was to be but failed to do so. John 11:17-40 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask." Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again." "Yes," Martha said, "he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day." Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?" "Yes, Lord," she told him. "I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God." Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, "The Teacher is here and wants to see you." So Mary immediately went to him. Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus's grave to weep. So they followed her there. When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him and he was deeply troubled. "Where have you put him?" he asked them. They told him, "Lord, come and see." Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, "See how much he loved him!" But some said, "This man healed a blind man. Couldn't he have kept Lazarus from dying?" Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. "Roll the stone aside," Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man's sister, protested, "Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible." Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?" So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me." Then Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him go!" Resurrection and the Life Jesus has claimed to be the Son of God in John 10v22-41 and John 11v4. Strong words indeed, but will Jesus' actions back up those words? His friend Lazarus was sick, so his sisters sent word to Jesus about this, hoping that Jesus could heal him. Jesus replies to this family he loves, that the illness will not result in death! How could he be so sure, particularly from a distance? Though Jesus knew that Lazarus was dead, he still waited a further days before going there. He knew it didn't matter whether Lazarus was dead 2 days or 4 days - dead is dead! Exclamation Jesus is the Messiah! Such was the eagerness of Martha to see Jesus when he eventually came, she left the house of mourners and expressed some faith that God would hear Jesus' prayers. She uttered that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, the saviour spoken about in the Old Testament. But was that just wishful thinking as later she doubted he could do it? Exclamation Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life! The exclamation by Jesus in John 11v25 "I am the resurrection and the life" from verse is the highlight of this passage of Scripture. Lazarus has died (John 11v17) and will be raised back to life again (John 11v44). Being raised back to life is not resurrection! It means more than. Why does Jesus say that he is the resurrection and the life? Resurrection, on one level, certainly does mean bring back to life. But it means much more as we shall see later on in this series. As can be seen from this passage, he is the giver of life itself. Not only physically but also in a spiritual sense. He gives eternal life to all who will believe in him. Jesus' humanity! Note Jesus' emotions in this passage: love, feelings moved, weeping and sorrow. Showing his true humanity and his heart of compassion for people. Emotions, such as Jesus being deeply angry? But with who or with what? Most people are surprised that Jesus gets angry and some people even deny it! The gospel writers weren't afraid to say Jesus got angry though! I would suggest that as Jesus is the life, Jesus is angry with death, decay as they are the end result of sin. Jesus is angry because death hurts people, even people close to him, as Lazarus and his family were to him. This stirs Jesus deeply. Jesus is full of compassion, pity, sympathy, grief and care for this family. He shares their pain and shows it in his tears. He loves them and is determined to show this love in practise. Jesus' Divinity! Then the moment of truth arrives! Will Jesus be true to his word and raise Lazarus back to life again? Some doubted but Jesus knew that God would answer his prayers. First he thanks God that for hearing him and then issues the command for Lazarus to come out! And come out he did! One of the WOW moments of the Gospels! Jesus was true to his word, God heard his prayers and Lazarus was raised from the dead! He was dead but now back to physical life! One day Lazarus would die physically again but for now he had new life! This Jesus even had authority over death and life! Amazing! Yet, just after this event, the Jewish authorities, who were watching carefully, came up with a plot to kill Jesus. What do you think the covenants we looked at had to say about this, particularly the New Covenant? Life and death physically but also life and death spiritually? Jesus the giver of life! Why can Jesus exclaim with authority "I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live"? Right mouse click or tap here to download as a MP3 audio file

Episode Overview:In this episode of The Catholic Man Show, hosts Adam Minihan and David Niles dive into a lighthearted yet profound discussion about the phrase "killing two birds with one stone," the joys and challenges of high school reunions, and a deep exploration of friendship—both human and divine. The episode centers on John 15:14-15, where Jesus calls His disciples friends, not servants, offering a transformative perspective on what it means to live in communion with Christ. A powerful confession experience ties the conversation together, emphasizing the shift from doing things for God to doing them with Him.Key Discussion Points:Opening Banter (00:00:16 - 00:04:55): Adam and David humorously debate the origins and modern misuse of the phrase "killing two birds with one stone," referencing historical and biblical imagery like David and Goliath, and even a viral video of Nolan Ryan hitting a bird with a baseball.Life Updates (00:05:00 - 00:11:39): David shares his excitement for an upcoming family reunion in Wyoming, while Adam talks about his son Leo's second-place finish in mutton busting at a local rodeo and his anticipation for a 20-year high school reunion, sparking a funny reflection on aging and pride.Sponsorship Spotlight (00:12:00 - 00:13:15): The hosts highlight their long-time sponsor, Select International Tours, encouraging listeners to explore pilgrimage opportunities at selectinternationaltours.com and join their upcoming trip to Italy in October.What We're Drinking (00:13:29 - 00:15:47): Adam and David enjoy The Sassenach, a blended Scotch whiskey with a Gaelic name meaning "outsider" or "stranger." They praise its Highland-like flavor and art deco bottle, likening it to a Mad Men-style decanter.Literature and Reading (00:16:46 - 00:20:43): David discusses reading G.K. Chesterton's Man Alive, recommended by Monsignor Gallus, a Chesterton scholar, and touches on Plato's The Republic. The hosts reflect on Chesterton's whimsical style and the influence of classical works on Christian thought.Main Topic: Friendship with Christ (00:22:08 - 00:58:51):Biblical Foundation: Adam introduces John 15:14-15, where Jesus says, “You are my friends if you keep what I command you. No longer do I call you servants… but I have called you friends.” This passage sets the stage for a discussion on authentic friendship.Philosophical Insights: Drawing from Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics (Books 8-10), the hosts explore his three types of friendship—pleasure, utility, and authentic (virtuous) friendship. Aristotle views authentic friendship as the highest moral achievement, impossible without virtue, as vice renders true friendship unattainable.Christian Perspective: The discussion connects Aristotle's ideas to Christian theology, with references to Augustine, Aquinas, and Cicero. Aquinas describes charity as the highest form of friendship, requiring mutual love, willing the good of the other, and a shared life—mirrored in Christ's relationship with His disciples.Old vs. New Covenant: The hosts contrast the Old Covenant's servanthood (e.g., Abraham obeying without full understanding) with the New Covenant's friendship, where Christ shares divine knowledge, inviting us into intimacy and communion.Confession Insight: Adam shares a transformative moment from confession, where a priest challenged his mentality of doing things for God, urging him to focus on doing things with God. This shift reframes Christian life as a...

Does the New Covenant apply to Israel, to the Church, or to both? Gary answers this question and more in his discussion of Jeremiah 31. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1094/29

I AM 2 G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 16 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Jesus' teaching has been met with amazement yet also fury and ridicule! Today we continue looking at one particularly aspect of his teaching - himself - and 3 more I AM statements. Light of the World Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." The Pharisees replied, "You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid." Jesus told them, "These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going. But you don't know this about me. You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other." (John 8v12-18) ) Jesus is at the Feast of Tabernacles! One of the great symbols of that feast was Light! At the end of the feast, when all the lights are extinguished, Jesus said something quite remarkable - that he was the light of the world! Throughout the Old Testament, light is an important symbol. There is the pillar of fire and cloud leading the nation of Israel on their journey (Exodus 13). In Psalm 27v1, the psalmist describes God as "my light". The nation of Israel was to be God's light to all the world (Isaiah 49v6), so that God would be the world's light (Isaiah 60v19-22). So, by referring to himself as the light of the world, Jesus is saying it is he who shines light into people's spiritual eyes and gives them understanding, which in turn leads to them seeing their need of God and his ability to satisfy their spiritual needs. This was opposite to the burdens the Jewish religious leaders, the Pharisees, put upon people. Hence their vehement opposition to Jesus. I am the Gate and Good Shepherd "I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't know his voice." Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn't understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don't belong to him and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he's working only for the money and doesn't really care about the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. "The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded." (John 10v1-18) Throughout the Old Testament, God is seen as a shepherd and his people are the sheep of his keeping. The sheep are always God's, even though He temporarily entrusted them to people such as Moses to care and tend them. Therefore Moses and others like him, such as the true prophets, were forerunners to Jesus. David, you may remember, was the Shepherd King! Here Jesus proclaims that he is the door or gate to salvation! It is through Jesus that salvation is found and through him alone as the door or gate that people are led safe and sound into spiritual freedom, spiritual light and spiritual sustenance. Unlike others who come only to steal, kill and destroy, Jesus offers spiritual safety and nourishment. Jesus does not just offer a way out, but also a way in! The security offered by Jesus is because he is always in close proximity to those who follow him. Jesus calls all those who follow him by name (John 10v3) and they know each other. Jesus is also the great shepherd through the sacrifice he must make for his sheep. It is in this role of shepherd, that Jesus exhibits true leadership, which is self-less and sacrificial. Ezekiel 34v11 tells of God searching out for his sheep among all nations, and this is fulfilled through Jesus. Here Jesus is looking ahead to the sacrifice he will make. His love for all of humanity compels him to make the ultimate sacrifice. Just as all shepherds will endanger themselves for the safety of their sheep, so too will Jesus endure the pain and suffering, so that all people can be led into the safety of God's kingdom if they choose to avail themselves of that opportunity. Through his perfect, obedient and voluntary sacrifice, not only will salvation be available to the Jews (the sheep of Israel) but also to those of other nations, the Gentiles (the other sheep mentioned by Jesus). Remember that often in Israel, certainly under 1st century Gentile Roman rule, Gentiles (non-Jews) were hated and many Jews declared thanks to God that they were neither dogs nor Gentiles! Truly amazing words by Jesus in the light of such sentiments! Jesus already has the end in view. Can you glimpse at what he means when he speaks about laying down his life and taking it back up again? Can you see where we glimpsed at the Covenants and how they apply to this Jesus - particularly the Davidic Covenant (Father and Son) and the New Covenant? Can you see how this Jesus is divisive and what sets him apart from all other religious teachers of any time? This Jesus, at the moment is only speaking words, but will his words be backed up with action? Tomorrow, more I AM statements as we reflect on Jesus' teaching about himself. Thank you. Right mouse click or tap here to download as a MP3 audio file

Does the New Covenant apply to Israel, to the Church, or to both? Gary answers this question and more in his discussion of Jeremiah 31. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1094/29

Jeremiah 31 needs to be on everyone's short list of "Most Important Chapters of the Bible". In fact, if we don't understand the teaching in this chapter, we'll likely struggle to understand many passages in the the New Testament. So, please join us in this study of this super-important chapter of God's Word to us! Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. In 2025, we were added to the "Best 100 Bible Podcasts" list from www.millionpodcasts.com. We are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

Does the New Covenant apply to Israel, to the Church, or to both? Gary answers this question and more in his discussion of Jeremiah 31. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1094/29

Topics: When Did the New Covenant Begin, Reading Old Testament Contextually, Tithing Context, Malachi 3:10 Tithing for Levitical Priests, 2 Corinthians 9:7 Giving Freely, Levitical Priests and Sin Debt, Old Covenant Not for Christians, Romans 7:12 Law is Perfect, Hebrews 8:8 God Found Fault with People, New Covenant from Judah, Hebrews 7:22 Jesus a Better Covenant, Jesus from Tribe of Judah, Matthew 26:28 My Blood of the New Covenant, Hebrews 9:19 Blood for First Covenant, God Requires Blood, 1 Timothy 2:5 One Mediator Jesus, Hebrews 4:15 High Priest Who Empathizes, Hebrews 5:3 Even the Priests Sinned, 1 Peter 2:9 Royal Priesthood, Lord's Supper Remembrance, Hebrews 9:22 Blood Cleanses, Law Required Blood, Hebrews 10:1-4 Animal Blood Covered Sins, Poor Interpretation of Scripture, Ephesians 2:8-9 Grace Through Faith, John 3:16 and Jesus' Final Sacrifice, Matthew 27:51 Veil Torn, Hebrews 10:18-22 Access Through Blood, Psalm 103:12 Sins Banished, Hebrews 7:3 Jesus Not Bound by Time, John 8:58 Jesus Before Abraham, Hebrews 10:4-5 Impossible for Blood of Animals, Hebrews 10:9 Sets Aside First Covenant, John 1:29 Lamb of God, Hebrews 8:12 Sins Remembered No More, Religious Sins, Romans 3:11 Unbelief and Law, Hebrews 10:26-29 Unforgivable Sin Unbelief, John 13:34-35 New Commandment Love, 1 John 3:23 Believe and Love, 1 John 5:3 Jesus' Commandments Not Burdensome, Isaiah 53 Messiah Freedom, John 8:36 Son Sets You Free, Matthew 22:36 Greatest Commandment in Law, Deuteronomy 4:2 Every Commandment Important, Galatians 3:10 Cursed by Law, God's Love Poured Out, 2 Corinthians 5:17 New Creation, Romans 5:5 Holy Spirit Poured Out, Hebrews 12:2 Joy Set Before Jesus, Receive Benefits of PerfectionSupport the showSign up for Matt's free daily devotional! https://mattmcmillen.com/newsletter

To find out more about River Rock Church or to visit our online store, go to https://www.riverrockchurch.net.

Peter addresses unbelieving Jews to proclaim more than an explanation of Pentecost. He stands before thousands to herald the glory of Pentecost. He moves from clarifying to convicting. In the power of a prophet, Peter reopens Jesus' case and asserts the verdict of heaven's court. He extols in astounding harmony both the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man as he directs culpability to his audience. Then, with astounding precision, he opens the Scriptures to them, proving with an undefeatable logic that Jesus is the Christ—and more than Messiah, He is the covenant keeping Redeemer. Here the great mystery of the New Covenant is revealed in the glory of Pentecost. This exposition covers the remainder of Peter's sermon and the people's response.

Why would anyone in 2025 spend any time reading Deuteronomy, Israel's covenant renewal book?  Maybe the only answer is because Jesus did.  Yet did not Jesus in Matthew 19: 1-9 declare Deuteronomy 24 : 1-4, a teaching on divorce, to be an accommodation to human hard heartedness?  It sounds like that for Jesus Deuteronomy is “out” and Genesis 2:4-6 is “in.”  But, wait a minute!  Also in Matthew, chapter four, Jesus at one of the great crisis moments of his life, in answer to Satan's temptations in the wilderness quotes Deuteronomy authoritatively three times as the word of God for Jesus.  Jesus was immersed in the Old Testament scriptures and quotes Deuteronomy as a well taught child would quote Deuteronomy as the word of God for his life. So maybe Deuteronomy is not a waste of time!  2 Timothy 3:15-17, written to a Christian believer by an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, says of the Old Covenant Scriptures, “You have been taught the holy scriptures since childhood, and they have given you wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” (New Living Translation)  So we are called to read Deuteronomy and all Scripture, Old and New Covenant, through the lens of Jesus the Lord, and in the power of the Spirit.  Come join us as we submit ourselves to Jesus who promises us that Deuteronomy will “prepare and equip us for every good work.”

I talk about Epstein, New Covenant, Victory, Warriors, Salvation, and Jefferson's Letters leading up the Revolution.

Does the New Covenant apply to Israel, to the Church, or to both? Gary answers this question and more in his discussion of Jeremiah 31. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1094/29

The Old and New Covenant: A Conversation with Dr. David MathewsonIn this insightful episode of Divine Table Talk, Jamie and Jane sit down with Dr. David Mathewson to unpack the profound differences—and connections—between the Old and New Covenants. Dr. Mathewson, a respected biblical scholar, brings clarity and depth to understanding why the new covenant, promised in Scripture and fulfilled in Christ, changes everything about how we relate to God. Join us for a rich conversation full of biblical wisdom, practical insight, and encouragement to embrace the better promises found in Jesus.____________________________________Connect with Dr. David Mathewson:Website: https://denverseminary.edu/directory/mathewson-phd-david-lEmail David: EMAILConnect with Jamie:Website: www.jamieklusacek.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamieklusacekConnect with Jane:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janewwilliams____________________________________ Get Jamie's Newest Book:Living Loved: An 8-week Journey to Living Fully Loved

Does the New Covenant apply to Israel, to the Church, or to both? Gary answers this question and more in his discussion of Jeremiah 31. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1094/29

Thursday, 10 July 2025   But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. Matthew 11:22   “Moreover, I say to you, it will be sufferable – Tyre and Sidon – in Judgment Day than you” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus rebuked the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, noting that if the miracles done in them had been done in the wicked cities of Tyre and Sidon, they would have reconsidered their ways. He continues this thought, beginning with, “Moreover.”   It is a new adverb, plén. It is derived from pleión, greater than, more excellent, etc. There is a sense of addition to something, furthering, or going beyond. One can see the etymological root of the modern word plenty, signifying a fullness. The word moreover gives the sense in this verse.   He has noted that Tyre and Sidon would have reconsidered their ways. Now, He adds to that with “Moreover.” The added words are not happy ones for His audience as He proclaims, “I say to you, it will be sufferable Tyre and Sidon – in Judgment Day than you.”   Tyre and Sidon were judged by God and destroyed. Chorazin and Bethsaida could expect nothing less. But more, when the day of judgment that lies ahead comes, it will be more sufferable for those wicked cities than for the inhabitants of Israel. It is axiomatic to say that with more revealed light comes greater responsibility and greater consequences for disobedience.   These words should have terrified the people, bringing them to a state of reconsideration and turning to Him. Two thousand years later, the ruins of those cities stand as a witness that they were destroyed. When the day of judgment comes, those who did not accept Jesus as their Messiah will regret their rejection of Him.   Life application: In Jewish society, there is the sense that they are God's people, His chosen and elect, and that this means they are in a good position with Him. Is it true that they are God's people? The answer depends on the context of the words.   They are Israel, chosen of God for His purposes. This is based on the covenant they made with Him at Sinai. However, they are not God's people, saved and going to heaven, through the New Covenant in Jesus' blood.   Jesus' words here should tell any reasonable reader of the Bible that the rejection of Jesus means condemnation. The false teaching in the church that Israel is currently God's people, as if they are in a right standing with Him, must be rejected.   Paul's carefully chosen words concerning Israel in Romans 9-11 show that this is not the case. He cites Scripture showing that the church is “My people,” and that Israel has a remnant that is spared at this time. Jesus calls them a “synagogue of Satan” in Revelation 2:9 & 3:9.   When you hear a Jew say, “We are the chosen people,” a common claim, the obvious question should be, “Chosen for what?” It is not for licentiousness, arrogance, and idolatry. They were chosen to reveal the righteous judgment of God. In failing to adhere to the Mosaic Covenant and in failing to enter the New Covenant, they have been under the punishments of the law noted in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28.   This is what the law does, it brings judgment. People who are in churches, supposedly returning to the “Hebrew Roots” of the faith, are only bringing condemnation upon themselves. We don't need more law. We need Jesus, the Fulfiller of the law, to save us from God's righteous judgment.   Thank God that He sent Jesus, born of a woman (the condemned line of humanity), born under the law (the standard set for the righteous judgment of God), to free us from condemnation and its associated punishments.   Let us receive what He has done, be freed from “self” in our attempt to be right with God, and continue to trust Jesus until the Day He comes for His people. In the meantime, we should pray for Israel to have their eyes opened to the terrible plight it remains in.   Without Jesus, their judgment will be greater than that of Tyre and Sidon on judgment day. They have God's word, Tyre and Sidon didn't. His word speaks of Jesus. In rejecting Jesus, they, by default, call judgment down upon themselves.   Lord God, the people of Israel are Your people, chosen for a particular purpose. However, they are not right with You because they have rejected Jesus. Being chosen at this time means being chosen for judgment and condemnation as a demonstration of Your righteousness. May they come quickly to Jesus and find Your righteousness in Him for salvation. Amen.

Rev. Kenneth Bomberger gives today's prayerful thought based on the day's Scripture readings. Begin your morning in word and prayer with Rev. Kenneth Bomberger, who shares scripture, hymns, prayers, and texts for the day, and also gives a short meditation on the day's scripture lessons. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Wednesday, 9 July 2025   “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Matthew 11:21   “Woe, you, Chorazin! Woe, you, Bethsaida! For if in Tyre and Sidon, they occurred – the miracles, those done in you – if in sackcloth and ashes formerly they reconsidered” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus began to rebuke the cities where He did His mighty works because they did not reconsider their ways. Now, to state His displeasure at them, and to reveal to them their fate, He begins with, “Woe, you, Chorazin!”   The word ouai, woe, is introduced. It is a primary exclamation of grief. Also, the name Chorazin is first seen here. It is a city in Galilee. The origin of the name is uncertain. Studying Hebrew root words that may be connected to the Greek transliteration, Abarim defines it as possibly Smoking Furnace.   The city is about two- and one-half miles north of a location known as Tel Hum. It remains a ruin to this day. Parts of the city are identifiable, such as the synagogue. This and its houses and buildings are built from locally obtained hard black basalt. Some of the walls that remain are up to six feet high. Next, Jesus says, “Woe, you Bethsaida!”   The name is from Beith, house, and tsayad, a huntsman. Thus, it means Hunter's House. However, being by the Sea of Galilee, some think the hunting is referring to fish and call it Fisher's House. It is where Phillip, Andrew, and Peter came from as seen in John 1:44. The location is still known and visited today. Of these cities, Jesus says, “For if in Tyre and Sidon, they occurred – the miracles.”   Turos, Tyre, and Sidón, Sidon, are both first mentioned here. The Hebrew name of Tyre is Tsor. This comes from tsor, flint, or tsur, rock. Thus, it is the fortified city, Rock. Sidon is from the Hebrew tsud, to lie alongside. Therefore, it signifies to hunt, chase, etc., due to the thought of lying in wait. As such, it is a place of fishing, and it is named after those who lie alongside as they fish. Thus, Fishery is its name.   These are cities that were destroyed by the Lord's judgment. Ezekiel was told to prophesy against Tyre in Ezekiel 26. Ezekiel 27 records a lamentation over Tyre. Ezekiel 28 begins with a proclamation against the king of Tyre and then continues in lamentation over the city. That is followed by a proclamation against Sidon in Ezekiel 28:20-24.   The Lord spent a great deal of time laying out His words against them. His descriptions and judgments put them on par with Sodom and Gomorrah as far as examples of wickedness resulting in punishment. Despite that, Jesus tells Chorazin and Bethsaida that if those terrible, wicked cities saw the miracles that Jesus did, “those done in you – if in sackcloth and ashes formerly they reconsidered.”   The adverb palai, formerly, is introduced. It is believed to come from palin, again. As such, it gives the sense of retrocession. It can mean all this time, a long time ago, already, formerly, etc. Jesus is saying that in the past, when they were wickedly going about life, there would have been a change in them.   The implication here is obvious. God used three chapters of Ezekiel, plus other references to Tyre and Sidon in His word (such as Isaiah 23), to reveal their wickedness. And yet, Jesus says that the hearts of these cities were humbler than those of Chorazin and Bethsaida.   If Jesus had gone to them and done His miracles at their time of judgment, they would have done what Nineveh did, reconsidering their ways and demonstrating that change in heart by adorning themselves with sackcloth and ashes.   Both of these words are also new. The first is sakkos, coming from the Hebrew saq, a mesh. It is the course material that would be only fitting in a time of mourning. This would be contrasted to the normal garments where life was going well. The other word, spodos, is a primary word signifying ashes.   The point Jesus is making, and which He will continue to make, is that if God destroyed these cities for their wickedness, how much more do Chorazin and Bethsaida deserve to be destroyed? They have not reconsidered their ways, but God knew that the hearts of Tyre and Sidon would have.   Life application: The meaning of the story of Jonah is a story that mirrors what Jesus is saying here. This is not the usual interpretation that is provided due to translational difficulties in Jonah 4, but when it is properly understood, it is clearly seen that God is contrasting the wickedness of Israel with the wickedness of Nineveh.   Nineveh reconsidered its ways, and God relented from His judgment upon it. Israel, with much greater revelation than Nineveh, refused to reconsider and receive their Messiah. Jesus will use exactly this symbolism in Matthew 12 and Luke 11. Israel didn't pay heed, and they were destroyed and exiled.   But the great covenant-keeping nature of God has spared them for another day. He has faithfully saved them, even through judgment, to bring them into the New Covenant. If He is this faithful to Israel through a covenant cut through the blood of bulls and goats, how much more do you think He will save you through the shed blood of Jesus Christ?   We are often just as unfaithful as Israel in our hearts and actions, but if we are in Christ, He will carry us through to a good end. Be assured and reassured in this.   Lord God, thank You for Your infinite love and grace as is revealed in our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen.  

On the night he was betrayed, Jesus gave new meaning to the Passover in a meal that he gave to participants in the New Covenant.

Start your week with a Monday morning Bible devotional on The Kirk Cameron Show! In this episode, Kirk and James dive into the root of our daily struggles—not frustrating people or circumstances, but the condition of our own hearts. Discover why the greatest enemy we face is often within, and how the grace of God offers true transformation. Kirk also answers your thoughtful mailbag questions about worship days, why Revelation closes the Bible, tithing in the New Covenant, and more. Plus, find out how to support Christian causes through your banking and healthcare choices. To learn more about the sponsor of today's show and what our family currently uses for our healthcare check out Christian Healthcare Ministries by visiting https://hubs.ly/Q02vWQGy0 Editing and production services provided by thepodcastupload.com #KirkCameron #TheKirkCameronShow #MondayDevotional #SinStartsintheHeart Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we step into 2 Chronicles 6–7 where Solomon responds to God's faithfulness with worship, humility, and a heartfelt prayer for the people of Israel. As the Temple is dedicated and filled with God's glory, we see how the Temple itself points forward to something greater: God's eternal presence with His people.Themes of this podcast: God's faithfulness invites our worship and dependence. God has fulfilled His promises—from dwelling among His people to establishing the Temple and Solomon's reign. In response, Solomon bows in worship, recognizing that God alone is the source of every good thing. Remembering God's faithfulness will naturally lead us to humility, gratitude, and trust.Prayer and repentance sustain the covenant relationship. Whether facing personal injustice, national defeat, or exile, the Israelites are invited to return to God through repentance. This foreshadows the New Covenant truth that God always hears the cries of a repentant heart.This earthly Temple foreshadow God's eternal presence. The Temple dedication was glorious, but even Solomon acknowledged God cannot be contained in buildings. From the Tabernacle to the Temple to the Church, every dwelling place of God points forward to His ultimate plan: our eternal home with Him.Show Notes:BlogFeasts and Festivals in the BibleWe love feedback, but can't reply without your email address. Message us your thoughts and contact info! Contact Bible Book ClubDonate or pick up merch here Like, comment, or message us through Bible Book Club's InstagramLike or comment on Susan's Facebook or InstagramLeave us an Apple reviewContact us through our website formThanks for listening and happy podcasting!

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Psalm 91,He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place — the Most High, who is my refuge —10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Why does Psalm 91 exist?One reason is because threats to human life exist. Whether wars or wildfires; earthquakes or illnesses; hurricanes or heart attacks — threats to human life, hazards to human flourishing — they exist. And they're plenty in number, many in form, and perennially active. And have been since Genesis three, and humanity's exit from Eden.And so the question then becomes, how do you live, as a human, in a world, that's loaded with threats to human life? How do you live as a human who's: Not covered in steel-plating, but flesh. Not taller than the mountains, but shorter than the ceilings. Not immune to disease, but prone to it. Not beyond disaster, but within range of it. Not personally immortal, nor having loved ones who are immortal, but living as a mom, or dad, or sister, or brother, or friend, who's not even been promised tomorrow, let alone this afternoon?How do you live, as a human, in a world, that's loaded with threats to human life? You could lock your doors, and try to avoid reality. You could close your eyes and try to ignore reality. Or, you could face reality from a place of refuge. Why does Psalm 91 exist? Yes, because threats to life are real, and because refuge is available. And as we're going to see in Psalm 91, this refuge is in a God who is powerful, personal, faithful, and just.Let's pray and ask God for his help before going further.So, Psalm 91, a Psalm for finding refuge in God who is powerful, personal, faithful, and just. Let's begin with that first one — powerful. God, your refuge, is powerful.PowerfulLook with me at verse one. Psalm 91:1, where God is referred to twice, and by to two different titles:“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”Most High and Almighty — two terms communicating complete superiority over all things.He is not just high, but Most High. Meaning that no human ruler nor so-called god ever rises above him. When God looks up, he sees no thing and acknowledges no one. He is Most High.And he is the Almighty. Having all power and all authority throughout all the universe. Reality is entirely contingent upon him, and never the other way around.God, your refuge, is powerful, brothers and sisters. His titles in Psalm 91 assert this, as does his activity. See with me down in verse 11. Psalm 91, verse 11, where it says of God:“For he will command his angels…” Now, admittedly, that may not strike you right away as a verse that communicates God's power. And the reason for that is because in our modern minds, we tend to think of angels as being small, harmless, and kinda like children in form. And so for God to command them in verse 11, well, it doesn't strike us as being all that impressive.But when it comes to how the Bible actually talks about angels, almost nothing could be further from the truth. Friends, angels in the Bible are fearful beings. Just ask Zechariah in the Temple (Luke 1:12), or the shepherds in the field (Luke 2:9), or Daniel in Babylon (Daniel 8:17), or Cornelius in Caesarea (Acts 10:4) — when angels show up, people run for cover. When angels show up, people collapse in fright — cowering before the colossal power of these magnificent ones.But not God. No, as God sits on his throne in heaven ever surrounded by a vast army of these mighty ones — God unhesitatingly commands each and every one of them, and they obey him. They bow down to him. They recognize the immeasurable gap between their relative greatness and his, and act accordingly. God command his angels.Do you believe God is powerful? Do you believe he has total authority? You may fear political tension. You may fear economic turmoil. You may fear disease and disorders. You may fear vandalism and robbery. And as you fear those things, the size of each one might only ever seem to grow larger and larger in your mind. Consider God. Consider the almighty. Consider the commander of angels. Consider the one in whose hands the hearts of kings are like streams of water.Cities Church, looking out upon a world that's loaded with threats: find your refuge in one who is powerful — the Most High, Almighty, and commander-of-angels powerful. God, your refuge, is powerful. And, he is personal as well.PersonalLook again with me at verse one, and consider for a moment just how fantastic of a thing it is that God being the supreme authority that he is nevertheless calls his people near to him. The Maker of the universe beckons his 5-foot-tall, highly vulnerable, injury-prone people, “Come close to me.”See it with me, verse one:“He who dwells, in the shelter, of the Most High…”He who dwells in — not he who lingers nearby, or remains just outside, but dwells in — the shelter of the Most High.Now, make no mistake, this is personal proximity to God. Personal proximity to the one who speaks worlds into being. Yes, there is language here in this psalm of shelter and refuge and fortress, but don't for a moment think that connotes anything like a building. For the shelter of the Most High, at least in Psalm 91, is not a building; it's God himself.See it with me in the second part of verse one. For it is not within a bunch of high walls that we are to dwell. Nor behind a set of heavy gates that we are to abide. No, but it's “…in the shadow of the Almighty.” See, he is the covering. His shadow is the shelter.And that's why, in verse two, the psalmist says not that God has a refuge, but that God is “My refuge and my fortress.” And even further, down in verse 9:“Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place...”Not the Lord's house, but “the Lord” himself. Psalm 91 is saying God's proximity is our security. So, God is personal. We see an even more intimate picture of this in verses 3-4 where, amazingly, the psalmist has us looking upon our situation from the perspective of a helpless baby bird. Look at it with me, verses 3-4:“For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler [a fowler is a person who hunts or traps birds] and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions [feathers], and under his wings you will find refuge;”So, baby-bird-in-a-nest-type imagery is what we've got here.Now, it just so happens that a few weeks back, I actually got a real life look at this. The kids and I had, yet again, gone over to the neighbor's yard to get a look at his pet frogs. We we're standing over in his yard when all of a sudden, I began to hear this kind of high-pitched chirping coming from the bush behind me.So I turned and looked into the bush, and sure enough saw deep within the branches, one single thinly framed, lightly feathered, baby cardinal, sitting in its nest. I was not intimidated by this bird. It appeared to me as neither strong nor ferocious. In fact, just one look at this tiny bird, and I think you'd agree with me that this thing stood no chance against the many other predators lurking all around it. No chance.This is where the psalmist brings us in verses 3-4. This is where he frames up our situation, saying, you are the baby bird in this picture. You, in and of yourself, are totally vulnerable to all that is around you. You're totally vulnerable to:Verse 3, the snare of the fowler and deadly pestilence.Verse 5, the terrors of the night, and arrows by day.Verse 6, pestilence that stalks in darkness and destruction that wastes at noonday.In and of yourself, you are totally vulnerable to it all, and yet, you need not fear. In fact, verse 5, you will not fear. And we think, why wouldn't I fear? Why would I not be afraid? Why should I not go running for cover?Answer: Because of the wings.Verse 4:“He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge…”In other words, look up — Christian, you've got wings over you. You've got your protector watching over you. You're under the shelter of the wings that rule the world. You live under those wings. You can face every trial underneath those wings. You never need leave the wings.What do you most fear in life? Illness. A car accident. Natural disaster. Death of a loved one. Go ahead, don't ignore it, put it right out there in front of you. And now, see Him, God himself, your refuge all about you. How does your fear change when facing it from the shelter of God? When facing it with God, and in God, and near God? Threats exist, but so do the wings. Cities Church, in a world loaded with threats to human life: find your refuge in God who is personal (covers you with wings).And, third, faithful. God is faithful.FaithfulNow, here is where I want us to recognize a tension. A tension some of you may be feeling in this moment. A tension that some of you began feeling the moment this psalm was read. And it is a tension between what it seems this psalm could be saying and what we know throughout history has in fact occurred.I mean, we've got world history — which tells of innumerable Christians, innumerable people who found their refuge in God, who ended up being persecuted, tortured, and even martyred for their faith. You've got that in world history, and you've got your own personal history: That day you did get the diagnosis, that evening you did get in the car accident, that morning you did get the phone call, that night the terror did show up, that day the arrow did sink deep, that noontime the destruction did come about.And so when you read verse 4…“His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.”…You might think, is it? It seems some things have gotten past his shield. Some enemies have pierced through his shield.Or, when you read over all these “will” promises from Psalm 91:“For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler” (v. 3).“He will cover you with his pinions” (v. 4).“I will deliver him; I will protect him” (v. 14).You might think, did he cover me? Did he protect me? Or when you read the even more sweeping statements like:“A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you (v. 7).“No evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent” (v. 10).You might think, Christians have fallen. Evil has come near.It makes us wonder: How do you understand God's Psalm 91 faithfulness in light of life experience?Another way to ask it: How do you read Psalm 91 as a Christian?As a ChristianFirst, you recognize that even within this very psalm there's a hint of the fact that not every trouble in life will be avoided. Note verse 15:“When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble;”Not, “I will keep him from trouble,” but “In the trouble, there I will be with him.” So, the shadow doesn't leave. The wings don't fly away. God stays, but, at least here, the trouble stays as well. So, that's the first thing. Here's the second: Recognize Psalm 91 was first written to Israel under the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant which did contain literal promises for physical safety that were contingent upon the peoples' faithfulness.And so when those members of the Old Covenant read Psalm 91, they likely took every one of these promises to be literally true, and were basically right to do so, assuming they were following the Laws of Moses.But, as the church, we're not Old Covenant Israel. We're members of the New Covenant which, while being so much better than the old, contains no promise of worldly safety. Safety, to be sure, but of a far greater order and greater scope than mere safety in this life.As an example, Jesus says in Luke 21:16-19,“You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But [and catch this] not a hair of your head will perish.”You're going to die, but not a hair of your head will perish. Safety, yes, but a safety stretching well past the vapor that is this life.Or, from Romans 8:“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”In other words, these things may happen to you, and Paul even adds…“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” But can any of it separate you from Christ? Verse 37:“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”You see, there's a safety of a different order that's been promised us as Christians. A safety that's far more long lasting, far more secure, and far more satisfying. Knowing that can help us get perspective here as we read these very specific promises in Psalm 91. The promise of safety that God gives us as Christians is not less than Psalm 91, but greater. Last one: How do you read Psalm 91 as a Christian? First, note the hint of trouble even in Psalm 91: “Be with you in trouble.” Second, note the difference between safety in the Old Covenant verses safety in the New.Third, note how Jesus responded when Satan quoted it.Jesus and Psalm 91Now, turn with me to Luke 4. It's in the New Testament. I really want you to see this with me so grab your Bible and find the Gospel of Luke, chapter 4. The setting is just after Jesus officially began his ministry. Baptized by John, filled with the Spirit, Jesus has walked out into the wilderness for a forty-day solo journey without food. He's starving — literally starving — by the time we see him in Luke 4. And there we find Satan whispering in his ear. He first tempts Jesus to turn the stones into bread. Jesus refuses. He'll keep starving.He then tempts Jesus toward riches and idolatry — “worship me and I'll give you worldly splendor.” Jesus refuses. He'll keep serving God only. Then, Satan quotes Psalm 91. Why? Why would Satan quote Scripture? Wouldn't that run entirely counter to his schemes? Wouldn't Scripture just spur Jesus onward?See it with me in Luke 4:9,And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written [Psalm 91:11-12],“‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,'11 and“‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'”And so it is Psalm 91, but set up as a question… “If you are the Son of God,” and a challenge… “throw yourself down from here.”The intended effect is clear: to take what is a testimony to God's faithfulness and turn it into a set of criteria for testing God's faithfulness.Satan is saying, “If you really believe Psalm 91, Jesus, then make God prove it in this particular way and at this particular time.”Now, let's ask: What does Psalm 91, no-evil-shall-befall-you, trust in God's faithfulness look like in such a moment? What does Psalm 91, trust in God's faithfulness look like when trouble comes and you are, like Jesus, staring it right in the face?When you get home from travel and realize that while you were away, the house was broken into; or when you pull up your bank statement, recognize your credit card got stolen, you've been robbed; or when the boss calls you in, fires you without reason or explanation; or the car gets backed into; the cough gets worse; the teenage rebellion continues; the doctor calls you and gives you the diagnosis you've always feared. Does it look like:“God, you must now prove to me your faithfulness by protecting me in this exact way?”“God, if you are who you say you are, then you must rescue me at this exact time.”“God, here are my Psalm 91 criteria, you better toe-the-line or I won't believe you.” Or does it look like Luke 4:12?…And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'”You see it? Psalm 91 trust says: Father, because I know that you are who you are, I trust you to guard me in your way and your time. I don't need you to prove yourself to me; all I need you to do is keep me under your wings.God is faithful, brothers and sisters. His wings won't lift. He'll be with you in the trouble. Your safety, in him, is sure and lasting. What can separate you from Christ? Nothing. You are more than a conqueror through him.Cities Church, in a world loaded with threats to human life, find your refuge in God who is faithful — in his time, in his way, for your eternal security.Now, last point, and this will be very quick. God is powerful, personal, faithful and, lastly, just. JustPsalm 91:8,“You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.”Another way to render that word recompense is judgement. In other words, Christian, there may be a gap between the moment trouble comes and the moment trouble leaves. There may be a time between the hurt and the healing. There may be a difference between what you are expecting in heaven, and what you're experiencing on earth. There may be a prolonged season in which you need to fight to keep believing that God is who he says he is. There may be decades in which it seems you're not more than a conqueror, but a conquered one, whose enemy is just having a field day. Nevertheless, your eyes will see your enemy bite the dust. Your eyes will see your enemy fleeing in terror. Your eyes will see Jesus, your King, come again, and condemn all who ever wronged you and remained unrepentant.No one gets away with anything with God. No injustice will ultimately stand. It may linger for a time, the gap may remain. It will end. God will make it end. God is just. You will, one day, “look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.”And so, Cities Church… In a world loaded with threats to human life, find your refuge in God who is powerful enough to command the angels, and personal enough to cover you with his wings, and faithful enough to keep you in him through all of life, and just enough to punish any evil ever committed against you. The TableNow, what brings us to the table this morning is the fact that not only did Jesus trust his Father while suffering in a desert, but also while hanging on a cross… On that day when the terror of the night in Gethsemane gave way to the arrows of the day through his hands and feet. On that day when the people challenged: “He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him.” On that day when Jesus took his final breath and kept trusting:“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”This table reminds us of our savior who died trusting, and then rose again three days later. Our savior who now invites all who believe in him to eat with anticipation for the day when we'll eat with him in heaven with all life's threats finally and forever behind us. That's what this table represents.I gladly invite those who are trusting in Jesus to take and eat this meal with us. If you've not put your trust in Jesus, we ask that you'd let the elements pass for now, but encourage you in this moment — turn to Jesus. Ask him to become your refuge. You need one. The threats are real. You're human. And God is inviting you, right now, find your refuge in him by faith.

Can someone with a water allergy be baptized? Why do priests receive both species of the Eucharist while the laity often don't? In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, we take on some of the most thought-provoking questions about Catholic doctrine and tradition. Topics include evangelizing Jewish people, the theological necessity of Marian dogmas, recognizing divine inspiration in Scripture, and reconciling the joy of heaven with the loss of loved ones. We also address questions about God's providence versus coincidence, and near-death experiences involving deceased relatives. Whether you’re exploring Catholic teachings or deepening your faith, this Q&A offers clear, faithful answers rooted in Church teaching. Ideal for those curious about baptism, Eucharistic theology, salvation, and how Catholics understand prophecy and the afterlife. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 02:10 – How would the Church baptize someone with a topical allergy to water, where contact with water causes hives but drinking it is fine? 08:15 – Did the Old Testament prophets know they were prophets? Did the New Testament writers know they were divinely inspired when writing? 18:22 – How can heaven be a place of perfect joy if a loved one, such as a child, does not attain eternal life? Wouldn't we notice their absence and grieve? 22:15 – What is the Church's current teaching on evangelizing Jewish people? Does God's promise of the land to the Jewish people still apply under the New Covenant? 29:45 – Why is the Eucharistic cup often withheld from the laity? Jesus instructed us to eat His body and drink His blood. If the host contains both, why does the priest still consume both species separately? 34:58 – Why are the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception, Bodily Assumption, and Perpetual Virginity necessary for salvation from a theological standpoint? What core gospel truths are denied if these are rejected? 43:43 – If someone nearing death sees and speaks to deceased family members, does that mean those individuals are in Heaven or could they still be in Purgatory? What if certain people don't appear—does that imply anything about their final destination? 50:01 – Is everything part of God's plan, or do coincidences exist?

A careful study of God's covenants shows us that God's chosen people are not limited to one singular group of people called “Jews.”  The history of God's chosen people shows us that no one has ever kept His covenant.  The only way to keep His covenant is to be covered by the blood of the New Covenant in Christ. VF-2491 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2025 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved

In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, listeners ask insightful questions on a variety of Catholic topics. Discussion includes the history and value of the Liturgy of the Hours for laypeople, Church teaching on keeping cremated ashes at home, and how miracles are evaluated in the canonization process when multiple saints are invoked. Other questions address the origin of John the Baptist's baptism, the theological distinction between infant baptism and Old Covenant circumcision, and whether someone who doesn't attend Mass may receive Communion during a hospice visit. Also covered are explanations of patron saints for Protestant audiences and concerns about receiving a Shinto omamori charm. A wide-ranging episode filled with clarity on Catholic doctrine, sacramental theology, and respectful interfaith dialogue. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 06:17 – What is the history of the Liturgy of the Hours and how can it benefit a layperson? 14:24 – What is the significance of receiving an omamori charm (Japanese Shinto) for marriage, and why is it advised not to hang it in a car? 19:09 – What is the origin of the baptism practiced and preached by John the Baptist? 22:51 – What is the Church's teaching regarding keeping ashes at home? Additionally, is it permissible for a non-practicing Catholic to receive communion during a hospice visit? 34:10 – In the canonization process, how is a miracle attributed specifically to one saint when people praying may also ask for the intercession of other saints? 44:04 – How can patron saints be explained to Protestants? How is the practice of having a Mass said for someone communicated to those unfamiliar with Catholic traditions? 52:22 – If infant circumcision was used to bring people into the Old Covenant and infant baptism brings people into the New Covenant, why is infant baptism not condemned as a “work of the law” while circumcision is?

A Better Covenant: Hebrews 8:1–13In this episode of Divine Table Talk, Jamie and Jane dive into Hebrews 8:1–13 to unpack the promise of a better covenant. They explore how Jesus, our perfect High Priest, mediates a new and better agreement built on better promises. What does it mean that God writes His law on our hearts? How does this change our relationship with Him? Join them for a rich discussion about grace, intimacy with God, and the hope we have in this new covenant.____________________________________Connect with Jamie:Website: www.jamieklusacek.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamieklusacekConnect with Jane:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janewwilliams____________________________________ Get Jamie's Newest Book:Living Loved: An 8-week Journey to Living Fully Loved

Have you ever wondered what the Baptism of the Holy Spirit truly means? Join us as we journey through the Bible to bring clarity to this powerful Christian doctrine, exploring its Old Testament roots and New Testament fulfillment.In this episode, we unravel the biblical texts that define the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, from Acts of the Apostles to Paul's epistles. We'll tackle the nuances of indwelling vs. empowerment, the significance of Pentecost, and the Old Testament prophecies that foretold the New Covenant outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We'll examine:✅ The core debate: Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit a subsequent or simultaneous experience with conversion? ✅ The classical Pentecostal position and their key proof texts from Acts, including the role of tongues and spiritual gifts. ✅ The prophetic connection between baptism with fire and God's judgment or purification. ✅ A crucial dive into 1 Corinthians 12:13, clarifying the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as a salvific event that unites all believers into Christ's body. ✅ The historical context of Acts 2 and Acts 8 (Jews & Samaritans) versus Acts 10 (Gentiles) and why it matters for our understanding today. ✅ The significance of the Day of Pentecost and its powerful parallels with Old Testament events, inaugurating the New Covenant. ✅The crucial question: Is this just a semantic debate, or does it profoundly impact church unity, the gifts of the Spirit, and how we view fellow believers? (No “two-tiered Christians” here!) ✅ Our concise definition of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit from a “Radical Middle” perspective.This discussion will equip you to understand this vital theological topic with clarity, charity, and a deeper appreciation for the power of the Holy Spirit in every believer's life.0:00 Intro: Baptism of the Holy Spirit4:42 The Core Debate: Subsequent or Simultaneous?6:52 Classical Pentecostal View & Proof Texts19:39 Baptism with Fire: Judgment or Purification?32:38 Acts 2, 8 vs. Acts 10: Historical Context44:16 Pentecost & the New Covenant50:53 Semantics or Real Division?59:28 A “Radical Middle” Definition Subscribe to The Remnant Radio newsletter and receive our FREE introduction to spiritual gifts eBook. Plus, get access to: discounts, news about upcoming shows, courses and conferences - and more. Subscribe now at TheRemnantRadio.com.Support the showABOUT THE REMNANT RADIO:

The Catechism shows us how Baptism unites the Church as a “People of God of the New Covenant” and goes so far as to say that “Baptism constitutes the foundation of communion among all Christians.” We all belong to Jesus, together. Fr. Mike highlights the fact that with the gift of unity in Baptism comes real responsibility. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 1267-1274. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.