Podcasts about ninevites

Before, God hurled a storm and appointed a fish to get Jonah's attention. Jonah eventually complied and walked the entire city preaching.After Jonah obeyed and then grew furious, the Almighty didn't cast him aside. God cared about Jonah as much as He cared about the Ninevites, so He appointed a plant, a worm, and a wind to, once again, get the prophet's attention. Sadly, Jonah simply didn't get God's message.Join Chuck Swindoll as he examines the remaining verses of this literary masterpiece, the book of Jonah. Learn about the character of God, who is not willing that any perish but that they turn to Him for renewal and grace. Do you know someone in need of that grace? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29

The Story of Jonah reveals God's great mercy to at least three people or groups of people: Jonah, the sailors, and the Ninevites. God's mercy is related to his grace and patience and all three flow out of God's goodness and love. Mercy is not just what God possesses; it is who God is. God has mercy on all in a general way by providing food to eat and air to breathe.  But God provides special mercy in Jesus!  

Have you ever felt like you were running away from something, only to discover you were actually being pursued? This weeks message explored the relentless nature of God's pursuit through the story of Jonah—a prophet called to deliver a message of repentance to the ruthless Ninevites, a task he initially refused. The message highlighted how God's mercy extends even to those we might consider undeserving, reminding listeners that no one is beyond His reach. It also challenged us to examine areas of delayed obedience, noting that disobedience can have ripple effects far beyond ourselves. The message called listeners to surrender to God's grace, embrace His call, and recognize that no matter how far we've strayed, we can never outrun the grace of God.

Before, God hurled a storm and appointed a fish to get Jonah's attention. Jonah eventually complied and walked the entire city preaching.After Jonah obeyed and then grew furious, the Almighty didn't cast him aside. God cared about Jonah as much as He cared about the Ninevites, so He appointed a plant, a worm, and a wind to, once again, get the prophet's attention. Sadly, Jonah simply didn't get God's message.Join Chuck Swindoll as he examines the remaining verses of this literary masterpiece, the book of Jonah. Learn about the character of God, who is not willing that any perish but that they turn to Him for renewal and grace. Do you know someone in need of that grace? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29

Jonah's anger over God showing mercy to Nineveh reveals a profound disconnect between his theological knowledge and his heart's response to God's character.• Jonah becomes furious when God spares Nineveh after their repentance• Despite correctly understanding God's character as merciful and gracious, Jonah refuses to embrace God's compassion for others• Head knowledge without heart transformation makes us "noisy gongs or clanging cymbals" (1 Corinthians 13)• God provides an object lesson through a plant, worm, and scorching wind to expose Jonah's hypocrisy• Loving God authentically means loving what God loves—including people we might consider unworthy• We are all "Ninevites" who have received God's mercy despite our sin• The history of missions shows countless believers who loved the lost enough to sacrifice everything• Every believer is called to share the gospel with those in their sphere of influence• We must ask ourselves: "Who will know Jesus because of my witness?"If you've been touched by God's grace, don't keep it to yourself. Let your experience of God's mercy overflow into sharing the good news with those around you, both near and far.

While the marvelous repentance of the Ninevites unfolded before the eyes of the prophet Jonah, how did Jonah respond? With complaining and grumbling!The rebellious prophet still held a tinge, probably more, of racism leaving him crestfallen over the Ninevites' positive response to God's message.While it's natural to live resentful and selfish because we're sinful, fallen beings, Chuck Swindoll teaches us a better way so we can avoid the way of Jonah and, instead, walk in the way of Jesus. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29

While the marvelous repentance of the Ninevites unfolded before the eyes of the prophet Jonah, how did Jonah respond? With complaining and grumbling!The rebellious prophet still held a tinge, probably more, of racism leaving him crestfallen over the Ninevites' positive response to God's message.While it's natural to live resentful and selfish because we're sinful, fallen beings, Chuck Swindoll teaches us a better way so we can avoid the way of Jonah and, instead, walk in the way of Jesus. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29

Send us a textHave you ever found yourself running in the opposite direction of where God is clearly telling you to go? Jonah, that reluctant prophet from the Old Testament, took an over 2,000-mile detour away from his divine assignment to Nineveh.The fascinating thing about Jonah isn't just the dramatic "big fish" moment we all remember from Sunday School—it's why he ran in the first place. Unlike many biblical heroes who hesitated out of insecurity or fear, Jonah fled because he knew exactly what would happen if he succeeded. He understood God's compassionate nature so well that he was certain the Ninevites (people he despised) would repent and receive mercy. His prejudice was so strong that he literally preferred death over seeing his enemies forgiven.God's response wasn't abandonment but a divine "timeout"—three uncomfortable days in the belly of a great fish with heat, humidity, and darkness forcing Jonah to reconsider his choices. This wasn't punishment; it was redirection. And when Jonah finally delivered his reluctant five word sermon, an entire city turned to God, from the king down to the livestock.The story takes a surprising turn when, instead of celebrating this spiritual awakening, Jonah throws a temper tantrum. He's more concerned about losing the shade of a plant than the potential destruction of an entire population. Through this, God reveals the real issue: Jonah's heart didn't reflect divine compassion.What's your Nineveh? Who is God calling you to reach that you'd rather avoid? The beautiful promise throughout Jonah's story is that even when we run, God pursues—not to punish but to redirect us toward our true calling. And unlike Jonah's dramatic commission, our calling is simpler: just be more like Jesus to those around us. No prophetic warnings required, just authentic love and presence.Ready to explore what God might be calling you to? Connect with us through Life Groups where you can grow alongside others who are also learning to follow God's direction without needing a whale-sized wake-up call.Cornerstonehttps://www.cornerstoneaz.org/Follow Jesushttps://www.cornerstoneaz.org/follow-jesusLife Groups https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/life-groupsGiving https://cornerstoneaz.churchcenter.com/givingChurch Center App - Download then add Cornerstone Christian Center in Avondale, AZiOShttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-church-center/id1357742931?mt=8&ls=1&ign-mpt=uo%3D4Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ministrycentered.churchcenter----Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cornerstoneazFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cornerstoneaz.orgTwitterhttps://twitter.com/cornerstoneaz.org

Introduction Pastor Tommy reflects on Jonah's story, particularly the contrast between his initial disobedience and the second chance he received. Pastor Tommy expresses concern over Jonah's attitude in chapter 4, even after experiencing God's grace and witnessing the revival in Nineveh. Pastor Tommy warns against letting the devil take one back to a despondent, backslidden condition. Chastening is meant to grow and help individuals become better servants of God. The Second Chance The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time (Jonah 3:1-3). God's intent was for Jonah to preach to Nineveh, demonstrated by the miracles to ensure Jonah reached the city. While humans have free will, God ultimately controls their destiny. Many figures in the Bible received second chances after messing up, but some, like Ananias and Sapphira, did not. Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Ghost and died the same day. The God of Second Chances If one receives a second chance, it is by God's grace. David's sin with Bathsheba was forgiven after repentance, but consequences remained. The child born of Bathsheba died. The sword never departed from David's house. Grace makes second chances possible, as seen when God prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah and bring him back to Nineveh. Grace and Reconciliation Jonah likely reconciled with God in the belly of the fish. Jonah realized he would not die in the fish and chose to align with God's will. It is better to willingly follow God's will than to resist and face chastening. The Goal of a Second Chance When God gives a second chance, one should seize it and fulfill God's purpose. There is a goal in second chances. Some individuals hold back from God, attempting to negotiate their obedience. God is interested in His will being done, not in negotiations. Jonah arose and went to Nineveh without delay, demonstrating obedience. He didn't wait to clean himself up after being spit out by the whale. Disqualifying oneself through continued resistance can lead to being taken home early. Jeremiah could not resist God's call, experiencing it as a fire shut up in his bones. Paul's conversion demonstrated the futility of resisting God's will. The Gift of a Second Chance Jonah preached an eight-word message: "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown" (Jonah 3:4). The people of Nineveh believed God, despite the message lacking hope or promise. The Ninevites proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. The king urged everyone to cry mightily unto God, in the hope that He might turn from His fierce anger. God heard them from heaven and saved the whole city. Jonah, however, did not care that they received the gift of salvation. Jonah camped on a hill to watch and see if God would actually save the people. The revival in Nineveh was extraordinary, achieved through a simple message and a reluctant preacher. One should learn from past mistakes and recognize the gift God offers in a second chance. Jonah's Unresolved Ending Jonah's heart reverted to its original state, as seen in chapter 4. Twice in chapter 4, Jonah expresses a desire to die. The book ends with God questioning Jonah's compassion for a gourd versus His compassion for Nineveh (Jonah 4:10-11). Jonah never answered God's question, leaving the story unresolved. Pastor Tommy emphasizes the importance of minding God and recognizing His sovereignty. Conclusion The story of Jonah serves as a warning. Second chances come with grace, a required response of obedience, and the potential for reward. There is a blessing from obeying God, even on the second attempt. Jonah missed the opportunity to witness and rejoice in the salvation of thousands. Pastor Tommy urges listeners to heed the warning in the book of Jonah and ensure their lives do not end with a question mark.

While the marvelous repentance of the Ninevites unfolded before the eyes of the prophet Jonah, how did Jonah respond? With complaining and grumbling!The rebellious prophet still held a tinge, probably more, of racism leaving him crestfallen over the Ninevites' positive response to God's message.While it's natural to live resentful and selfish because we're sinful, fallen beings, Chuck Swindoll teaches us a better way so we can avoid the way of Jonah and, instead, walk in the way of Jesus. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29

What does the sign of Jonah and the testimony of the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba have to do with Jesus? In this passage we see that unbelief isn't really due to a lack of knowledge, it's a kind of intentional blindness which is only overcome as the Spirit reveals the greatness of Jesus. This message was preached by Pastor Erick Cobb on July 27, 2025.

Jonah chapter 3 reveals the perfect picture of what repentance looks like as we witness the people of Nineveh respond to God's prophetic warning through Jonah. This sermon unpacks four essential characteristics of genuine repentance demonstrated in this remarkable biblical account.• Repentance looks like belief in the truth of God's word - the Ninevites heard and believed Jonah's five-word warning• Repentance involves godly sorrow over sin - even the king removed his royal robes, put on sackcloth, and sat in ashes• Repentance requires intentionally turning from sin - the people changed their behavior and walked in a new direction• Repentance includes hope in the mercy of God - they threw themselves on God's mercy without any guarantee• The empty tomb of Jesus stands as our ultimate assurance that there is no sin too great for God's forgiveness• When we come to God in true repentance, we find a Father who delights to forgiveIf you're in our area and don't have a church home, we would love to see you any Sunday morning at First Baptist, Eldorado.

When challenged to produce miracles, Jesus rebukes his generation for their unbelief while calling on the crowd to examine their spiritual vision. Christ rebukes the crowd for their unbelief ○ A wicked generation seeks a sign (v. 29a) ○ The sign of Jonah (v. 29b-30) ○ Two Gentile witnesses - The Queen of the South (v. 31) - The Ninevites (v. 32) Christ calls on the crowd to examine their spiritual vision ○ No one hides a lamp (v. 33) ○ The eye is the lamp of the body (v. 34) ○ Examine your spiritual eyes (v. 35) ○ Be wholly illuminated (v. 36)

The story of Jonah is the story of God's mercy to wicked sinners; Jonah, the Ninevites, and everyone who calls upon the name of Jesus for forgiveness and mercy.

Why do we keep saying ancient creeds and prayers? In this message, we explore how set words teach us to pray, anchor our belief, unite our community, and help us witness to Jesuslike a melody line we improvise ondrawing from Exodus 34, 1 Corinthians 15 and Revelation 12:11. To catch up on the latest sermons from Deep Creek, go to iTunes, Spotify ordeepcreekanglican.comand check out the website for more info about whats happening. We are a welcoming and growing multigenerational church in Doncaster East in Melbourne with refreshing faith in Jesus Christ. We think that looks like being life-giving to the believer, surprising to the world, and strengthening to the weary and doubting. Read the transcript below Bible Readings Old Testament Exodus 34:18 Good morning church. This morning we are privileged to be having two or rather three readings, one from the Old Testament and two from the new. And I'm going to read from you from the Old Testament, Exodus 34, verses 1 to 8. The Lord said to Moses, chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets which you broke. Be ready in the morning and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain. Not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain. So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones, and went up mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him, and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him, and proclaimed his name the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming the Lord the Lord. The compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished. He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation. Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. May we too, I think, be like Moses, worshiping this God who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness. Amen. New Testament Readings 1 Corinthians 15; Revelation 12 And now Sam will bring us the two New Testament readings. Our New Testament readings for today are from one Corinthians chapter 15 and revelation chapter 12. Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preach to you which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved. If you hold firmly to the word I preach to you. Otherwise you have believed in vain. For what I received, I passed on to you as of first importance, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the 12. After that he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. And last of all, he appeared to me also as to one abnormally born are now for revelation. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, now I have come to the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of this Messiah of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters who accuses them before our God. Day and night has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony. They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them. But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you. He is filled. He is filled with fury because he knows that his time is sure. This is the word of the Lord. Sermon Well. Good morning again. Thank you so much for the privilege of being with you. to be part of the Staying Weird series, finding the weirdest people around to come and talk about a weird and wonderful thing, which is Christian faith and and to listen to a sermon. A 'Creed' for Listening So I've prepared, just a brief, creed for listening to a sermon. And so I wonder whether we just might encourage each other as we begin with this, this morning, so you can respond in the, in the bold type. All Scripture is God breathed. Congregation replies: And is useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness. We listen to sermons so that we might hear from God. I am really, really, looking forward to the sermon today! And even if it goes a bit too long, I wont mind at all. However, I do wonder, whats the point of reciting things that have been written for us by someone else? Wheres the authenticity in that? Which is a really great question. The 'Age of Authenticity' I'm glad you asked. We live in what sociologists call the age of authenticity, and that's what it means to be truly human, to make sure that you, you do you and you live your life in a way that aligns with with your heart, you, you, you don't just submit to what other people tell you to do, what other people say that you ought to be. You need to be authentic. Be true to yourself. Except, of course, when you come to the Anglican Church and what you do is what is in bold type on the screen. So what do you believe? Don't bother thinking. Just read these words off the screen. Would you like to confess your sins to Almighty God? No need to search your heart. Just repeat after me. would you like to, know what to say when you wake up in the morning? Well, open your prayer book and read Morning Prayer. As an advanced Anglican, there are prayers for the morning. The evening for the middle of the day, for before you go to bed, there is a special prayer to say every week of the year we've got you covered. No need to think. And is that perhaps the point of this? Adolf Hitler said, what luck for leaders that men do not think. But that's not the point, is it? Let me say very clearly that's not the point. All right, we come. We come to church so that we might think deeply about our faith. We come so that we might bring ourselves to this, that we might grow in an authentic, real Christian faith so that who we are would be what we confess to one another and to the world. And we do that joining with centuries of Christian people, theologians, philosophers, artists who have thought reflected deeply on what it means to be Christian, and many of them who also have said these prepared words of creeds and prayers. So how does this go together? How do we understand the significance, the value, the point of coming to church and saying things that someone else has written for us? Point 1 Saying what we dont know how to say I for four points as I as we go through today. The first is this why do we say prepared creeds and confessions and prayers, so that we are enabled to say what we don't know how to say? The Apostle's Creed that we said earlier that that was originally sort of from the earliest references around the fourth century, in wide use by the eighth century. These were a set of words that people would use when they are being baptised. So brand new Christians, what is the faith that you are confessing? And his. Here are the words to say it. It was a way of teaching new believers. How do we speak about God and so many of the creeds? They came out of controversy in the early years of the church. As Christians try to work out, how do we talk about God? What is God like? Where does Jesus fit? Who is the Holy Spirit? How do we answer those questions? Should we say that Jesus is created by the father? Or should we say that Jesus is sort of similar to the father? Is Jesus like a second God? That there's the father who's God? And then there's another God who's Jesus, and the Holy Spirit fits in somewhere. Like how? How should we answer? And they're deep questions, right? And so that the church elders, they got together and they thrashed this out over centuries, they worked this out. One of the great creeds of the church is having its birthday this year. The Nicene Creed was written in 425. 1700. I'm not good at maths, right? I'm employed to do different things. 1700 years ago. That's how long Christian believers have been answering the question, What is God's? What is God like? We say that God is the father, the Almighty creator of heaven and earth. God is the one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made of one, being with the father. There is a weight of theology and understanding in those tight words. And if only there was a college that you could go to. You could learn about what it all means. Talk to me afterwards. This sermon is not an advertorial, but there is so much to, to, to reflect on, to grasp. And that's been captured in these words for us so that we can say what we don't know how to say. And it's the same when we pray. The disciples came to Jesus and they said, Jesus, teach us to pray. And so he gave them words. In Luke's version, it's it's explicit. It says, when you pray, say this, here are the words to say when you pray. And as Anglicans, there are prayers that we have been given. Prayers that enable us to say what we don't know how to say. One of my favorites is the is the Thanksgiving. The general Thanksgiving. Megan has very helpfully printed out a number of the sort of the set prayers of the Anglican tradition. I think they'll be out in the foyer somewhere afterwards, or here at the corners of the stage. How do you say thank you to God? Well, the Anglican reformers, they knew that that English Christians weren't very good at being thankful. All right. So here are some words. Glorious, gracious God, we humbly thank you for life, for health, for safety, for freedom to work leisure, to rest, and for all that is beautiful in creation and in human life. They give me categories that I can feel goes on. But above all, we praise you for our Savior, Jesus Christ, for his death and resurrection, and for the gift of your spirit and for the hope of sharing in your glory. And I wonder of those theological phrases which ones are familiar and which ones do you tend to forget? Fill our hearts with all joy and peace in believing. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. What a gift that is. When I don't have the words, then these words written by others, written by our members of our family. They're a gift to us. Formwork, Scales Jazz Now I've lost where I'm up to in my notes. So we're unable to say what we don't know how to say. These words sort of become like formwork for faith. You know, formwork when you're. When you're laying cement. Pouring cement. You create the form that you can then pour the cement into. So it's like the framework that enables faith to sort of find its place. Right. But to shift metaphor, you could say maybe rather than just formwork, it's more like learning scales. And because we're actually doing something the, the, the creeds, the confessions, they're they actually are the expressions of faith. And but of course, nobody performs scales. You practice scales so that you can then perform faith. And really, there's something about saying these prayers, saying the creed which actually is our faith. So when we stood before and said, this is what we believe, we affirm the faith of the church. We weren't just practicing. We were confessing. We were doing what Christians do. And so, in a sense, the creed. It's like it's like the melody line in a jazz standard, right? My son is a jazz musician. And every time I go to see a jazz concert, it's like, I feel like there's an in-joke that I'm just not getting right. Have you ever been to that? So. And jazz musicians, they tell me that's exactly right. We know what we're doing. And the rest of you, you don't. And so I'm gradually learning. And I'm learning that jazz standards, they have a melody line. And then once once the band plays that melody line, then they sort of take turns at improvising, riffing on that melody line. And that's sort of what makes jazz interesting. It's the combination of head and improvisation. If it's just melody line, then it's all a bit same, same. And if it's just improvisation, then it's all a bit chaotic and but it's the improvisation on the melody line that's that's jazz. And what I've noticed when I go to see, John, I play, he goes to a, to an improv bar in, in Northcote. And it's really, it's fun. And they just get up and they'll, they'll call different people from the audience. It's like, Johnny, come play some drums with us, you know, Megan, come, come play some, some keys with us because that's what jazz people say, you know, and and then somebody says, what? What are we going to play? And somebody says, oh, you know, Watermelon Man and G. Okay. And so they just make it up and mind boggles and off they go. I've noticed that sometimes the band just gets a little bit out of hand. And they've, they've sort of lost it because I mean these are people who don't know each other. They've just sort of turned up. They haven't practiced this. And I see the bandleader tapping, tapping his head. And and I've learned that that means come back to the head, come back and play the melody line again. Again. We've all gone a little bit haywire. Let's come back to the head and just play that same thing that we know. Right? It's sort of like in the life of the church. Every now and then you'll see the vicar tapping ahead. Let's come on. Let's let's come back to the come back to the Creed. This is what we believe. Here is the anchor. These are the words that we say. This is the thing that holds us together. These are the words that we say that we don't know how to say. That's point one. Point 2 We say what we can all say Second point. We say what we can all say. I'm going to come back to those slides in a moment. Keep going. We get to the. There you go. We say what we can all say. Oh, no. No. That was the point. That was the end of the argument. Yeah yeah yeah yeah, yeah. Because I need to refer to the Bible reading the Bible reading Exodus 34. This is great, isn't it? It's jazz. It's jazz. Yeah. Yes. Moses asks God, what's your name? Okay. Because Moses doesn't know. How will we know what God is like unless God tells us? Moses asked God, what is your name? And God says, the Lord, the the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. There is God's name. That is what God is like. There's the. There's the head, there's the melody line. There's the creed. Now listen to the words of the people of Israel. When the psalmist prays in Psalm 86, you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. They've learned how to address God in prayer. When Joel calls God's people to repent, he says, return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love. And he relents from sending calamity, even when Jonah complains to God after the Ninevites repent, I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. In all these times. They're all improvisations. They're riffing on Exodus 34, on the Creed. That's that's the Christian life. We take these words that we've been given. And then we apply them in all the different aspects of our lives here in the creeds, in the confessions drawn from the words of Scripture. They give us a set of words that enables us to live this faith. Now we're on to my second point, which is that we say in the creeds what we can all say. I wonder if you're familiar with this song from Matt Redman. It's a beautiful song called The Heart of Worship. Matt Redman is essentially singing a confession. He is coming back to the heart of worship, to living all of life for Jesus, rather than just thinking that worship is all about singing a song. And this is a song that I find really difficult to sing. No, it's not because it's got a difficult melody or anything. It's hard to sing. It's easy to sing. It's a lovely song and it's just. It's just not my song. I'm really glad that Matt Redman has the opportunity to confess this change of understanding that he's moved from a position where he thought that where he had made worship all about a song, and now he's back to the point of recognizing no, actually, worship is all about Jesus. That's just not my story. There's lots of other things I have to confess. All right. So I could write lots of other songs about how Graham needs to confess sin. Okay, don't get me wrong, but this is just not one of them. So I find it hard to sing. I'm glad Matt can sing it. Contrast that with the words of the confession. Prayers. We have done what we ought not to have done. We have left undone what we ought to have done. Well, that's true of all of us. We have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, and in what we have failed to do. That's true of all of us. We have not loved you with our whole heart, and we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. That is true of all of us. These these are words that we can all say. We can say this together. In the second reading from one Corinthians 15, Paul uses the language of handing on a tradition is it there? Yeah. I passed on to you what I first received. He's using the language of a relay race. You get the baton from somebody else and you hand the baton onto the next person. That's the gospel. That's the message that he preaches. His point is, this isn't new. What I am bringing to you, Corinthians, this message of Jesus who died in accordance with the scriptures and then who was raised in accordance with the scriptures and then appeared. This isn't new. This is not Paul's gospel that he has just made up. This is the church's gospel. This is God's gospel. And so when you come to Deep Creek and you say the words of the the Creed, this is not what Deep Creek believes, not just what Deep Creek believes or not what only deep, Deep Creek believes. This is what churches across Melbourne believe. But not just Anglicans believe this. Not just Australians, but people across the world. People of all denominations. This is what Christians believe. We say these things together. Point 3 We say what our community says In the scriptures and through the creeds and confessions of the church. We're given to say what we can all say together, and therefore we say what our community says. Hey, can we, skip onto the next slide for me, please? Fabulous. We say what our community says. I think at the moment we might just have a musical interlude. and I wonder whether anybody would like to join me in the next song. We're going to have to click through. Here's the song. Who would like to sing this with me? Please stand boldly. I'm not getting any takers. Now, partly that might be because we're all blues fans, and we're also thoroughly disappointed and disgusted and let down. This is the Carlton team song. Blue baggers sing this with pride when we get the opportunity to. And. You know, like the football song. This is, this is a song which it binds a community together. I'm glad that not everybody chose to sing this song, because if you're not a blue bagger, you don't get to sing this song. All right. Because this is our song. It's not yours. And there are other songs that I will not sing. I'm not the proud that I'm not the the pride of Brisbane town. I am certainly not with the mighty Fighting Hawks. So let's move on. The Creed is like our team song. That's what we get from revelation chapter 12. Revelation 12 A loud voice from heaven comes in and interprets our world. It announces salvation in the death and resurrection of Jesus. It says, now have come the salvation and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Messiah, Jesus has conquered. The voice reminds us that though the devil has been defeated, he has been cast down. He is not yet destroyed. Verse ten, he has been hurled down, no longer able to accuse us before God in heaven, but able to wreak havoc on the earth. He is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short. And so how will God's people live? How do Christians function in this kind of world? Knowing the victory of Jesus. And yet so often looking around the world and it does not look like Jesus is ruling. Sometimes it looks like the exact opposite. How do we live in that, in that space? Well, the answer comes in verse 11, there in bold, in the middle, and in two parts they triumph. First by the blood of the lamb. That's the answer by Jesus death on our behalf. Satan's hold over us is broken and we are free. But there's a second part. They triumph over him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony. It's true. The defeat of Satan is only established. It's only secured by the work of Jesus. But we take hold of that victory for ourselves by the word of our testimony. Whether this is sharing our faith with one another here in church, or as we proclaim our faith to the world around us, the word of our testimony takes hold of the victory of Christ. Whether we make our testimony under the threat of death, or as an ongoing work of perseverance all the way until death. We hold on to the victory of Christ by the word of our testimony. Revelation 12 verse 11 says that there is a power in the act of testifying. It's not that the power to defeat Satan comes from the strength of your conviction. In the same way that just singing where the team that never lets you down means that you're never going to be disappointed when you go to watch Carlton play football, right? I know that that's true. I can tell you about that more later, but I'll need to go into therapy. Just saying something doesn't make it make it true. But we take hold of Jesus victory. We take our place in the fellowship of the church. And we triumph, therefore, over the devil's schemes. In reciting creeds and confessions, we say what our community says. We find our place in this community, this community of triumph. In the Lord Jesus. The church historian Jaroslav Pelikan. It's got an excellent name, but he was asked once, why do you say the Creed? This was his answer. My faith life, like that of everyone else, fluctuates. There are ups and downs and hot spots and cold spots and boredom and ennui and all the rest can be their own way. If you've seen Inside Out too. You'll know what that means. A feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement. Yeah, that describes Christian life for me often. UPS and downs. And so I'm not asked on a Sunday morning as of 920. What do you believe? And then you sit down with a three by five index card saying, now let's see, what do I believe today? No, that's not what they're asking me. They are asking me, are you a member of a community which now and for a millennium and a half has said, we believe in one God. And that for me, is the great power in the Creed to share in this shared confession. This privilege of testimony. You know, when you think about it, there's an added privilege of being able to confess this creed on Sunday mornings in Australia because it's like there is this Mexican wave of praise and confession that is going around the globe in these next 24 hours. We didn't kick it off, but there's not many people in the Pacific or in New Zealand. So where, you know, this is this is the when the Mexican wave really takes off, right. And we stand and we say the creed. And then across the day, across the planet, our brothers and sisters will say the same words, confess the same truth. We are part of this community. What a privilege that is. We don't overcome Satan on our own. We don't have to do this on our own. We participate in this community of faith. And you know, the same is true when we pray. When we confess together, we are confessing that we are part of this community. Confession Community You know, often when it comes to the confession, prayer in the service. This is how I hear it introduced. We're going to make this prayer of confession. And so we're going to have a time of silence for you to think about all the ways that you've failed Jesus over the last week. And then we'll pray the prayer together. And then I've got 15 seconds to think, which either completely underestimates how much I'm able to disappoint and fail Jesus over the last seven days, right? Or overestimates my the speed at which I can process all of that sin? And then what happens if after that 15 seconds I can't think of anything? I actually, I'm good today. You guys go for it. But but, I'll I'll join you in a moment. That's not the point, is it? There are some times that you will come to the confession prayer, and your mind will be filled with all the different ways that your life has not measured up to what it is that Jesus has invited us into. And you can be so overwhelmed with failure. But then here are words that just find a way through that mess. And there'll be other days when you'll come thinking that you're sort of okay. And here are words that remind you. Thought, word, deed. What we have failed to do. Really? When we come to confession, the invitation is are you ready and willing to join this community? This is a community that says this to God, that we confess that we have wandered from his way. We confess that we have failed to do what is right. We confess that God alone can save us. We have not loved one another with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. This is what defines this community. Are you ready and willing to be part of that? To recognize that this is you? And that there is grace and salvation to be found in this community that holds on to the Lord Jesus. Increases in confessions. We say what we ought to say. We say what we can all say. We can say what our community says. And finally, finally take us to the next slide. We say what we want to be able to say with our last breath. Point 4 What we want to be able to say with our last breath In my early ministry, one of the very hardest things that I ever had to do was also one of the most privileged things that I ever got to do, and that was to go to minister at the bedside of people who were dying. And I had to go one day to visit Joan in palliative care. She was a member of our congregation not far from the kingdom. I was terrified. And I was I was given instructions. I said, go read the 23rd Psalm. And then take your prayer book and pray. Pray the confession. Pray the Lord's Prayer. Pray the general thanksgiving. pray the collect. And I read Psalm 23, and Joan was she. She was sort of unresponsive and labored breathing and thought, what the what am I doing here? And then as I opened the prayer book and began the prayer of confession. Her lips began to move, and and she prayed with me. And through the fog and all these years of praying just came out. It it was it was like muscle memory, but also it was it was soul memory. And her body had now remembered how to bring these words to God. And if I'm given the grace of knowing that I'm about to die. Then I want to build a habit of saying these creeds and confessions and liturgical prayers, so that I can declare my faith in the Lord Jesus when I'm dying, that I believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting so I can confess my sins. As I wait to meet my Savior, I want to be able to thank God for life and health and safety. I want to be able to greet the morning, praying for my family and thanking God for bringing us safely to this new day. Asking that he would keep us by his mighty power. And grant that today we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger, but that he would lead in govern us in all things that we might always do. What is righteous in his sight? By reciting creeds and confessions, we are offered an invitation to build soul memory. And to say what we want to be able to say with our final breath. Conclusion So what's the point? What's the point of reciting things that have been written for us by someone else, or memorized words, remembered words, known words, familiar words. They can become rich practices of faith. Not just things that we do, but things we do that form us. We enlist our bodies as we. We stand or bow our heads. We use our voices. We declare, we pray, and we do it together. Not just me, but us. Together. And not just us, but together with believers across the globe and throughout the centuries. And so we see that these creeds and confessions, they they become for us like the good news of Jesus itself. Right? They're not my own invention. They're not the result of my creativity, my insight, or my spiritual fervor. These aren't originally my words, but they become my words when I receive them as a gift. And so, in the same way, the good news of Jesus, we didn't come up with this. We didn't create it ourselves. We don't need to construct this. We receive the good news. Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures and has risen that we might be saved. And that can be the gift to our hearts. We don't have to say these things in order to be Christian, but we get to say these things because we are Christian. What an amazing grace that is. Amen.

Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you'd like us to reply)In which John and David explore Jesus' own references to Jonah in Matthew 12 and Luke 11. We reflect on Jonah's ironic preaching, his begrudging obedience, and the surprising repentance of Nineveh. Jesus knew Jonah's story intimately—and expected us to know it too. So we ask: What if Jonah isn't just about the Ninevites, but about us?Episode 205 of the Two Texts Podcast | Jonah Beyond the Whale 2If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you left a review or comment where you're listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021________Help us keep Two Texts free for everyone by becoming a supporter of the show John and David want to ensure that Two Texts always remains free content for everyone. We don't want to create a paywall or have premium content that would exclude others. However, Two Texts costs us around £60 per month (US$75; CAD$100) to make. If you'd like to support the show with even just a small monthly donation it would help ensure we can continue to produce the content that you love. Thank you so much.Support the show

Title: God's Not DoneText: Jonah 3:1–10Big Idea: You can't out-sin the mercy of God—and you're never too far gone for a second chance.I. A God of Second ChancesAfter rebellion, a storm, and three days in the belly of a fish, Jonah gets another shot:“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.” (Jonah 3:1)Jonah's rescue wasn't random—it was redemption.God didn't discard Jonah—He restored him.Titus 3:5 – God saves not because of our goodness, but because of His mercy.Examples of God's Second Chances:Adam & Eve, Moses, David, Rahab, Zacchaeus, Peter, Thomas.Each one messed up—but God still had a purpose for them.If He did it for them, He'll do it for you.II. Jonah's Second Chance“Get up and go…” (Jonah 3:2) – yalak qum (ל ְֵ֥ך ק֛ ּום) = Go now. Immediately. Today.This is not just instruction—it's urgency.God's mercy doesn't just forgive—it re-commissions.Jonah 3:3-4Jonah obeys. He enters Nineveh, declares God's message.He doesn't sugarcoat the warning—“40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown!”III. The Power of RepentanceShockingly, the people listen. “The Ninevites believed God.” (Jonah 3:5)From the greatest to the least—even the king—there's deep, public repentance.Sackcloth and dust were cultural signs of humility and brokenness.To repent is to change your mind so deeply, it changes your life.IV. God's Compassion Responds to Repentance“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented…” (Jonah 3:10)This wasn't about performance—it was about surrender.Isaiah 30:18 – “The Lord longs to be gracious to you…”God didn't have to forgive Nineveh—but that's who He is.

“On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: ‘Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!’ The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.” (Jonah 3:4–5 NLT) The Old Testament prophet Jonah very reluctantly went to the city of Nineveh to warn that God was going to judge its people in forty days. Jonah was reluctant because he understood God’s nature. He knew that if the Ninevites repented, God would forgive them and spare them His judgment. That’s not the outcome Jonah was rooting for. He hated the Ninevites and wanted to see them face God’s judgment. Jonah understood that he served a merciful and loving God. The fact that God was sending him to warn the Ninevites to repent instead of just judging them was evidence of His compassion and concern. Sure enough, Jonah’s worst-case scenario became a reality. The people of Nineveh repented from their sins and the king commanded his subjects to “pray earnestly to God” (Jonah 3:8 NLT). As a result, God lifted His judgment from the people of Nineveh. People in our culture today would have you believe that the God of the Bible is a vengeful deity who revels in His power to bring death and destruction on anyone who dares to disobey Him. Scripture itself paints a different picture. The God of the Bible is holy and just. Sin cannot exist in His presence. And He demands that all sin be punished. In Romans 6:23, the apostle Paul tells us that the punishment for sin is death. But the God of the Bible is also loving in a way that we cannot fully comprehend. He sent His Son to take the punishment we deserve for our sin and to die in our place. God sacrificed His Son so that anyone who believes in Him can escape judgment and have eternal life. In Ezekiel 33:11, God said, “I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live” (NLT). The apostle Peter, in talking about why Jesus hasn’t returned yet, said, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT). Everyone has sinned, so everyone deserves God’s punishment. If you receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you receive eternal life in Heaven with Him because your punishment has already been taken by Him. If you reject Him, you will face God’s punishment yourself—that is, eternal separation from Him. God has gone to unimaginable lengths to save you from His punishment. The next step is yours. If you confess your sins, turn away from them, and trust in Jesus, you will never have to worry about God’s judgment. Instead, you’ll discover the depths of His mercy, grace, and love. Reflection question: How would you explain God’s holiness, justice, and love to someone who knows little about Him? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we continue our sermon series, Summer in the Sand: learning from wilderness journeys in the Bible. For this sermon we will move to the sandy wilderness near the city of Nineveh where the Old Testament prophet Jonah, still recovering from his traumatic fishing story, contemplates his next move.  God had called the prophet Jonah to preach a message of repentance to the city of Nineveh, a place filled with people he deeply despised. Jonah resisted, not because he feared failure, but because he feared success—he knew that if the Ninevites repented, God would show them mercy, and that thought was unbearable to him. Yet God's lesson to Jonah was clear: His love and compassion extend to all people, even those we consider enemies. Jonah's story confronts us with a tough question—do we struggle with the same problem? Is it difficult for us to love those who have wronged us, even when God's heart is for their redemption? If God loves our enemies enough to pursue them with grace, shouldn't we at least be willing to do the same? This is a difficult teaching, but one that could radically transform your faith. Take a few minutes and check out Jonah chapter four and see what God wants you to do.

Jonah got a second chance—and so did the people of Nineveh. Even though Jonah ran from God, God still used him to deliver a powerful message. The Ninevites listened, changed their ways, and experienced God's mercy. It's a reminder that God isn't done with us—even when we've messed up. Teacher - Tom Harrigan

The sermon examines the opposition faced by Jesus during his ministry, highlighting that the most significant challenge came not from external forces but from religious leaders who clung to tradition and self-righteousness. Drawing parallels with the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba, the message emphasizes that true faith and repentance, rather than mere outward conformity, are essential for a meaningful relationship with God. Ultimately, the sermon warns against the danger of an empty life, susceptible to spiritual emptiness and the intrusion of destructive influences, and calls for a complete surrender to Christ to experience true life and overcome spiritual opposition.

Unveiled | Jonah and the Burning Hatred for the Ninevites | Ethan Magness by First Christian Church

Recorded at the 10:15am Contemporary Service

The profound truth found in Jonah 3:1—"the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time"—serves as the foundation for a transformative message about God's relentless grace. When Jonah ran from God's call, was thrown overboard, and spent three days in a fish's belly, most would assume his opportunity was lost forever. Yet God's word returned, demonstrating a powerful reality: our God doesn't just call us; He calls us back.This message explores the beautiful paradox of divine second chances through biblical examples from Genesis to Revelation. Adam and Eve, Moses, David, Rahab, Zacchaeus, Peter, Thomas—all ordinary people who failed spectacularly yet experienced God's extraordinary restoration. Their stories mirror our own journeys of failure and redemption, reminding us that God's grace continues long after our initial salvation.The Ninevites' response reveals another crucial spiritual distinction—they didn't merely believe in God's existence; they believed God Himself. Their king stepped down from his throne, modeling the surrender required when we remove ourselves from the control center of our lives. True repentance isn't simply feeling remorse; it's a deliberate two-step process of turning from sin and turning toward God. When they repented, God immediately relented, showing compassion without demanding proof or perfection.What is God trying to show you again? Perhaps it's a sin He's saving you from or an opportunity He's calling you to. Whatever it is, remember that His word comes back repeatedly. His grace isn't conditional on your performance but flows from His unchanging character. No matter how far you've run or how badly you've failed, God's love never runs out.Ready to experience the freedom of second chances? Remember: don't doubt in the dark what God spoke to you in the light. His grace is greater than your greatest sin, and He actively longs to show you compassion. The question isn't whether God will give you another chance—it's whether you'll embrace it when His word comes to you again.Support the showMade a decision to follow Jesus? We want to know about it! Fill out our connect card here: https://local.churchcenter.com/people/forms/115766Thank you for your generosity. For information on how to give, visit https://localvineyard.church/give.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jonah 1-4; 2 Timothy 2 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this June 26th episode, Hunter guides us through a powerful journey in the Scriptures, reading the entire book of Jonah and diving into 2 Timothy 2. Today's reflection centers on Jonah's honest struggle with God's mercy and compassion, both for himself and for the people of Nineveh. Hunter draws out the profound truth that God is actively arranging our stories, extending grace and love not just to Jonah and the Ninevites, but to all of us—right where we are. Together, we'll explore how God's mercy sometimes confounds our expectations, yet invites us into transformation and mission. The episode wraps with heartfelt prayers for peace and gratitude, honest encouragement through life's challenges, and a reminder that no matter what you're facing, you are deeply loved. Grab your Bible and join us for another day of faithful reading, reflection, and community! TODAY'S DEVOTION: Jonah knew something truly important about God. And what Jonah knew—it caused him to run. We might expect that Jonah's knowledge would have made him eager to follow, but instead, it pushed him the other way. Jonah knew that God was merciful, compassionate, slow to anger, and filled with unfailing love. He knew that God was ready—eager, even—to forgive, to show mercy, to extend compassion. Ironically, it was the goodness of God that made Jonah run. He confesses it himself: “I knew you would do this, Lord! That's why I ran.” Jonah didn't want God's mercy to fall on Nineveh. He would rather run than see God share mercy with those he disliked. But God was not done with Jonah. God was arranging his story—just as he arranges ours. He arranged for storms, for a great fish, for a plant and for a worm; he arranged all things so that Jonah, and the city of Nineveh, might come to know his love. God is the arranger. He is weaving mercy into our stories, into the lives of people and nations. He is making all things new. Jonah knew God's character, but he struggled to embrace it for others. The Ninevites, on the other hand, learned that even the worst of us are not beyond the reach of God's compassion and grace. God invites us, like Jonah, to join him in his arrangement—to see, to know, to trust that he loves all people, everywhere, and is at work, often in unexpected ways, to make all things new. Do you know this? Do you know that God is merciful and compassionate toward you? That when your heart feels far, he's already working to draw you near? That, even now, he is arranging your story, weaving his love and grace into your days? Let's discover, and actively participate, with this God— the God revealed in Jesus—whose love sets us free, whose presence remakes our lives. May this be the prayer of our hearts, the prayer for our families, and for all who listen: may we come to know and trust the God who is arranging all things in love. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Loving God, you have knit us together in the body of Christ from every nation and tongue. Make us a vessel of your peace today. Make us a vessel of your peace today. Where hatred stirs, let us bear your love. Where wounds run deep, let us be agents of pardon. Where fear grips hearts, may we speak faith. Where sorrow hangs heavy, may we carry joy. Teach us to listen more than we speak. To understand before we are understood. To love. For in surrender we find abundance. In mercy, we discover grace. And in dying, we rise into your life. In the name of Jesus. Amen. And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. If you would like a compilation of daily prayers for other dates or want this formatted as a recurring segment, let me know! OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

“But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” (1 Corinthians 8:3 ESV) Did you know that God is vitally aware of what’s happening in the life of every individual? He is interested in every detail of our lives. Proverbs 15:3 says, “The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good” (NLT). It makes sense when you stop to think about it. How could He reward and punish otherwise? God is omniscient. He is always aware of everything that is happening. There is not one single thing that happens on this earth that escapes the attention of God. Proverbs 5:21 says, “For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes” (NLT). Coming to grips with the realization that God knows everything about everyone—including you—can be either frightening or encouraging. It all depends on your relationship with Him. If your life is not right with Him, if you’re living in sin, then God’s complete knowledge could be rather terrifying. It might be unsettling to think that nothing about your life escapes His attention. But if your life is right with God, then knowing that He’s aware of what’s going on in it, every minute of every day, is a comforting thought. It’s comforting because we know God won’t forget us. We know that we’re not just another face in this massive human sea of some eight billion people. If you’re a Christian who’s walking with God, His complete knowledge guarantees that He’s watching over and taking care of you. His awareness of us is much more personal and meaningful than a 24/7 tracking device. He created us. He wired us. He knows what will give us soul-deep joy and fulfillment. And He directs us to the choices and opportunities that will bring us genuine satisfaction. That’s what the apostle Paul was talking about when he wrote, “But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” (1 Corinthians 8:3 ESV). The Old Testament prophet Jonah proved that there’s no hiding from God. Remember him? God instructed him to warn Nineveh that judgment was coming. But Jonah hated the Ninevites and was afraid that they would repent and escape judgment. So he hopped on a ship that was sailing away from Nineveh. He tried to escape God. It didn’t work, of course. A storm battered the ship, so Jonah had himself tossed overboard. But even the depths of the sea couldn’t hide him. A fish swallowed him and then vomited him back onshore three days later. Jonah may have turned his back on God, but at no point was Jonah ever out of God’s sight. The better option for anyone who loves God is to embrace His constant vigilance and awareness. We do that by making decisions and conducting ourselves in ways that please Him. That is, to make sure that, when He watches us, He’s pleased with what He sees. When we make the decision to honor and obey Him in the way we live, we can pray, with all sincerity, “Lord, I know You see me always. Please direct me in the paths You would have me go. Thank You for never letting me out of Your sight and for always wanting what’s best for me.” Reflection Question: What does God know about you that no one else does? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The familiar Sunday school story of Jonah takes on profound new dimensions as we begin our summer Bible study series. While many know the tale of a prophet swallowed by a fish, few recognize that God—not Jonah—stands as the true protagonist of this ancient text. The opening words, "The word of the Lord came to Jonah," reveal a truth that resonates through generations: God still speaks today.When God speaks, He often challenges us to move beyond our comfort zones. For Jonah, that meant preaching to the Ninevites—brutal enemies of Israel whom he despised. Rather than obey, Jonah fled in the opposite direction, boarding a ship to distant Tarshish. His motivation wasn't merely fear but something darker: he knew if he preached God's message, the Ninevites might repent and receive divine mercy—a grace he believed they didn't deserve.This journey into Jonah's downward spiral reveals powerful truths about our own relationship with God's will. "If you want to run from God," Pastor explains, "the devil will always offer you a ride." We see how Jonah's disobedience affected innocent sailors, how God sent a storm not as punishment but as a loving wake-up call, and how true spiritual maturity manifests as "a short time between God's command and our obedience."The most heartbreaking moment comes when Jonah, assuming he's beyond redemption, asks to be thrown overboard. Yet even as he sinks into the depths, God's grace prepares to meet him in the most unexpected way. This transformative story challenges us to examine where we've grown comfortable in compromise, where we've rationalized sin, and where we've convinced ourselves that certain people don't deserve God's grace.Join us throughout this series as we discover how a seemingly simple children's story reveals profound truths about God's relentless love, our stubborn resistance, and the unexpected ways grace finds us—even when we're running in the opposite direction.Support the showMade a decision to follow Jesus? We want to know about it! Fill out our connect card here: https://local.churchcenter.com/people/forms/115766Thank you for your generosity. For information on how to give, visit https://localvineyard.church/give.

Ezra called for the Jews to repent to prevent God's wrath, Jonah called the Ninevites to repent to prevent God's wrath, and the Holy Spirit called Americans to repent to prevent God's wrath.  Each time after the people repented, law and order was restored to the land and the people prospered once again.  The same is happening right now in America today! If you are blessed by today's Bible study, please support my channel by liking, subscribing, commenting, and sharing with your friends and family!  I am not a Pastor, and agree with God's word that women are not supposed to be Pastors.  However, all people are called to share the gospel. It is perfectly acceptable and Biblical for women to lead Bibles studies outside the church as an ancillary addition to the church, and especially if it is a viable avenue for study of the Word on a daily basis, like I'm doing on this show, and paving the way for all of us to be closer to the Lord and become more knowledgeable of the Bible.  If you care to contribute to my work with the Daily Bible study and sharing the Gospel, as part of your tithes and offerings, you can do so through PayPal by sending it to my PayPal address of: ReneHoladay@gmail.com  Thank you for watching and God Bless you all! ;() --------------------- The primary study bible that Rene' uses is the 'Spirit-filled Life Bible, by Jack Hayford, and is available in hard cover or faux leather on Amazon at:  https://amzn.to/434fBnQ You can watch this episode on Youtube at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v9ekffu7ds Please be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT, and SHARE!

Na'hum. (consolation). Nahum, called "the Elkoshite," is the seventh, in order, of the Minor Prophets. His personal history is quite unknown. The site of Elkosh, his native place, is disputed, some placing it in Galilee, others in AssyriaThe name refers back to Yahweh's compassion connected with Jonah's mission eighty-seven years before. The name Nahum is an abbreviated form of the name Nehemiah, which means “Comfort of Yahweh.”What is the purpose of this book? The book of Nahum is devoted exclusively to the announcement of the destruction of the city of Nineveh; the prophecy gave hope to the people of Judah who had long been terrorized by Assyria's constant and ominous threatBefore I get into this study, I continue with our study on what the Capital Building is all about. Was the Capital design to be a Temple set up by the founders of the New World Order?  In this study, I take a look at the man who is at the center of all this George Washington. We must ask ourselves, “Was Washington a Man of God? Or God-Man?”Beginning with this Chapter 2 and in this Chapter 3 we now read of Nineveh's destruction.As we continue is this Chapter 3 verse 10, we still see the;2:1 - 3:19. DESTRUCTION OF NINEVEH.   2:1-2. Yahweh's. = challenge to fight.   2:3-10. Judgment. = Invasion.   2:11-13; 3:1-7. Causes. = Hostility.  3:8-10. Examples. = Citation.   3:11-13. Examples. = Application.   3:14. Yahweh's. = challenge to fight.   3:15-17. Judgment. = Devastation.   3:18-19. Causes. = Hostility With everything going on, Yahweh reminds Nineveh that Thebes was destroyed (10)Yet was she, &c = The cuneiform monuments tell us that Thebes, the old capital of Egypt, was destroyed by Assyria about 663 B.C. She = i.e. Thebes. Therefore, Nineveh too will fall (11)Yahweh's judgment has an eternal aspect, it never ends. Yahweh can be comforted by His judgment.Thou = i.e. Nineveh. We as a nation are like the Ninevites. We see empires and nations judged in our own day and in history, just like the Assyrians saw Thebes destroyed. Yet we, like the Ninevites, somehow think that we will be spared, despite our sinful arrogance and rebellion.be drunken = i.e. drink of the cup [of judgment]; or, be stupefied by thy calamity. be hid = hide thyself. strength = strength [for defense]; hence = "thou shalt seek a stronghold, or refuge [in vain]". Have you know guys in the military that like to brag? Well listen to what the Yahweh has to say!12  Your strongholds are fig trees with ripened figs = As easily as ripe fruit falls from a shaken tree, so would the strongholds of Nineveh fall before the judgment of Yahweh. We often have our strongholds of sin and pride that we put great confidence in, but they are ready to be shaken and fall to the ground.13  thy people = thy soldiers.women = unable to fight for thee (Isa. 19:16; Jerm. 50:37; 51:30).gates on thy land = the fortified passes or entrances to the region of Nineveh (compare Jerm. 15:7). Northeast of Nineveh there were hills affording a natural barrier against an invader; the guarded passes through these are probably “the gates of the land” meant.fire shall devour thy bars = the “bars” of the fortresses at the passes into Assyria. So in Assyrian remains the Assyrians themselves are represented as setting fire to the gates of a cityJoin me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!Have any questions? Feel free to email me; keitner2024@outlook.com 

Daily Dose of Hope June 16, 2025   Scripture - Matthew 12:38-50   Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Mighty God, Holy One...We come to you this morning with humility and gratefulness.  Thank you that your mercies are new every morning.  Thank you that you continue to love and guide us, even though we mess up again and again.  Thank you for your patience and your never-ending care.  Lord, we are so very grateful.  Help us, on this Monday, to start our week with the right attitude.  We belong to you and we are under your authority.  Help us see others the way you see them.  Help us produce fruit in our lives.  Oh, Lord, how we need your help.  Please, Jesus, may we hear your voice today.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and the book of Acts.  Happy Monday!   Our Scripture reading for today is the last half of Matthew 12.  We start with the discussion about the sign of Jonah.  The Pharisees have asked Jesus for a sign to demonstrate that he is the Messiah.  Apparently, all the miracles he has done thus far aren't enough for these guys.  Remember, the Pharisees were even attributing some of his miracles to Satan.  Understandably, this request doesn't go over too well with Jesus.    On the surface, there isn't anything wrong with their request.  There are times in the Old Testament in which people asked God for a sign.  But Jesus can see right through their request.  Nothing he does will make these guys believe in him.  In fact, they are looking for more ammunition to use against Jesus.  There is nothing sincere about the request.  Matthew Henry writes in his commentary, "Christ is always ready to hear and answer holy desires and prayers, yet he will not gratify corrupt lusts and humors."   Jesus does promise the sign of Jonah.  The Jews believed that the Ninevites repented when Jonah preached because they knew it was the God of all who spoke through him.  And they knew this because God kept him from dying in the belly of the big fish.  In the same way, Jesus' resurrection will signify God's vindication of him and affirm the truth of what he says and his divinity.  But Jesus knows that even the resurrection won't be enough to make most of these Jewish leaders believe.  Their hearts are hard.    Now, let's take a look at the text about Jesus' mother and brothers.  I'll be honest, growing up I used to really struggle with this passage. It seemed so harsh! But deeper reflection yields a different perspective.   Can you imagine what it must have been like for Jesus' immediate family? We know that Mary knew that Jesus was special but did she really understand the significance of his life at this point? What must his siblings have thought?   We see in this text that his mother and brothers are wanting to talk to him, interrupting a teaching session. Are they chatting about Sunday dinner or do they want him to stop making such a ruckus around town? Again, we don't have details but it's clear they don't really know him as the Son of God (yet).   Jesus' reaction is a bit off-putting. As a mom, I might have gotten my feelings hurt more than a little bit. But he is making a point. Jesus' family has become much wider than Mary, Joseph, and the boys. There are no bounds to who may be part of it. Anyone who does the will of my Father is my brother and sister and mother.  Jesus is redefining family for those who profess faith in him.  Yes, biological family relationships are important but spiritual family relationships (and this might be hard to hear) are even more important.    Given the strong emphasis on family ties in first century Palestine, Jesus' words here would have been shocking.  But what he is saying is that believers should consider themselves family and care for one another like they are family members.  In the words of Sister Sledge, we are family.   The apostle Paul in his New Testament letters expanded on this idea of believers being a family of faith:  In Galatians 6:10, Paul speaks of our need to care for those in the household of God, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”  Family was a big deal at the time.  People lived with extended family.  Who you were related to mattered.  You were under social and moral obligation to care for your extended family.  And Paul is saying who you are related to in Christ is also a big deal.  Those people in your church family, those other believers that worship with you, those other people who profess faith in Jesus --- these are your brothers and sisters as well.  These people are family. In Ephesians 2:19, Paul writes, Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household…  We are members of God's household.  We are members of God's family.  If you have said yes to Jesus as Lord and Savior, then God is your father.  You are a child of God.  And you have many siblings.  We are brothers and sisters.  We are family.  We are no longer strangers.  Think about those people at church, at New Hope.  Some you know and some you don't know.  Some you like and others you might not like.  But we are family and we will spend eternity together. And the early church clearly behaved in the way biological families behaved.  They ate together, they spent time together, they sacrificed and worked together.  Acts 2:44-47, All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.   They behaved like a family.  They loved each other like a family.  They sacrificed together like a family.  There was nothing fakey about this.  Notice it doesn't say they came together on Sunday morning, shook hands, and then went their own way.  No, they did life together.  It was real.  It was genuine.  And guess what?  God added to their numbers. Because people see that and they want that. It's no different today.  We have an epidemic of loneliness.  People are disconnected.  People are struggling.  Even those who aren't struggling are always looking for sincere, genuine places of love and acceptance.  The family of faith is intended to be a place in which you are loved, accepted, cared for, held accountable, belong, where you know people have your back, where you can learn and grow…. It's far from perfect because it involves human beings.  Over the years, the church has too often been exclusive, cliquey, fake, and judgmental.  Sometimes, we have been more dysfunctional family than healthy family.  We have done harm.  I think we need to repent of that.  If we at New Hope have ever been part of putting walls up, then we need to repent of that.  If I have ever been part of mistreating my brother or sister, if you have been part of excluding or hurting your brother and sister, then you need to repent of that.  Period. We are a family.  And families are funny.  Families are not polished and pulled together.  Families love each other, they are loyal to one another, but they sometimes get annoyed with one another.  They sometimes hurt one another (I am thinking of my own three kids – they love each other fiercely and yet, they can really push each other's buttons).  It's no difference with our siblings in Christ.  Family is a place where we do a lot of forgiving, a lot of extending grace, but it's also a place where we know that we belong no matter what.  Strong families are places where when you come together, you can just take a deep breath and say, “I'm home.”  It isn't the building but it's the people.  This is the thing.  When a church family loves like Jesus, people get a glimpse of Jesus.  When we care for one another sacrificially, people see Jesus.  When the family of faith sacrifices for one another, then people get to see Jesus in action.  Lives are transformed.  Hearts are changed.  Our faith grows stronger.  Jesus Christ is glorified. And the Lord added to their numbers those who were being saved.  Think about the relationships you have made within the faith family. Are they strong? Why or why not? What holds you back from creating strong, meaningful connections to your brothers and sisters in Christ?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

The sermon explored Jesus' response to those demanding a sign, emphasizing the importance of having an open heart towards God. We delved into the contrast between the hardened hearts of the Pharisees and the receptive attitudes of unlikely believers like the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba. Most importantly, we discussed Jesus' ultimate sign - His resurrection - and its profound implications for our faith and lives.

The sermon explored Jesus' response to those demanding a sign, emphasizing the importance of having an open heart towards God. We delved into the contrast between the hardened hearts of the Pharisees and the receptive attitudes of unlikely believers like the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba. Most importantly, we discussed Jesus' ultimate sign - His resurrection - and its profound implications for our faith and lives.

Join us on Sunday as we discover the extent of God's graciousness, mercy and his loving kindness on full display in His reaction towards Jonah and the Ninevites.

Join us on Sunday as we discover the extent of God's graciousness, mercy and his loving kindness on full display in His reaction towards Jonah and the Ninevites.

The sun is out, boats are on the water, fish are jumping, and the beach is calling. It's the perfect time to revisit one of the Bible's most memorable water-based narratives: the story of Jonah.   Welcoming former co-host Bri Gerzevske back once again for another hilarious installment of Bri's Radio Theatre, Sarah, Erin, and Rachel are jumping feet-first with her into the briny deep.   How will Captain Trish handle the runaway prophet on board her ship? What will the Ninevites do when they hear Jonah's message of doom and gloom? Will Jonah ever learn what God wants to teach him? And what does this all have to do with the death and resurrection of Jesus?   Disclaimer: This episode is satire, Trish is a fictional character, and we already know our script probably wouldn't pass LCMS Doctrinal Review on the first try. Enjoy.  Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

In week 2 of our series, "Everyday Prophets", Pastor Ben teaches through the minor prophet Jonah. We are all very familiar with the beginning part of Jonah's narrative, but have you really taken a look at how the book of Jonah ends? Jonah becomes pretty upset by the fact that the Lord was slow to anger with the Ninevites and showed them mercy instead of wrath. It's a hard lesson for us all in revealing our own posture and attitude towards grace with one another. Who is your Ninevah? Who are your enemies that you should be praying over instead of having bitterness towards?

Nineveh was one of the greatest cities in the ancient world. In fact, the Bible says it was “an exceeding great city.” But as Dr. McGee tells us, Nineveh was not only great in size, but great in wickedness, too! So, how will the Ninevites react when Jonah shows up with a message from God? That's what we'll discover as Jonah enters the city and begins to proclaim God's message.

Our exploration of the book of Jonah reveals important truths about missions and our often-reluctant hearts toward sharing the gospel.• God calls us out of our comfort zones to reach the lost.• Jonah knew God was merciful but didn't want that mercy extended to Nineveh.• Christians today often retreat into isolation or political arguments rather than gospel sharing.• The gospel remains the same regardless of who we're sharing with.• We don't need perfect answers to every question when witnessing.• Our testimonies can open doors even in brief encounters.• God looks at eternal souls while we focus on temporal differences.• True forgiveness is a distinctive of Christianity worth sharing.• Compassion for the lost should transcend cultural and political differences.Read the book of Jonah and join us for our next episode where we'll continue exploring Jonah's relationship with God and the Ninevites.

How important is obeying God? Very important! Listen to what happened to Jonah when he ran away and find out the wonderful thing God did for Jonah and the Ninevites when he asked for forgiveness and obeyed. Nature lesson on whales. Mem vs. Jer.26:13. Check out this week's coloring pages at https://startingwithjesus.com/spb-cp/ Child helpers: Emma, Heidi, Issac, and Kent. Recorded and produced by: Ashley B. Larson Don't forget to check out the coloring pages that go along with each lesson! https://startingwithjesus.com/spb-cp/ If you have enjoyed this program and would like to know more, go to our website: www.startingwithjesus.com The Bible and nature story material used in today's devotional podcast has been used with permission from My Bible First. If you would like your own copy, please visit their website-or call 1-877-242-5317. If you would like to purchase your own Memory Verse CD or Songbook, go to Ouachita Hills Store (https://www.ouachitahillsacademy.org/store?page=1&store_category_id=0&sort_by=title&is_ascending=1&search=). Songs from: Little Voices Praise Him, SDA Hymnal, Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, New Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, Memory Verse Verse Songs for Cradle Roll, Children's Songs For Jesus, and Scripture Songs and Little Lessons All Bible verses are from the NKJV. Singers for this Quarter: Tory, Caleb, and Enoch Hall, Hudson Reeves, Michael and Amy Nelson Editing assist: Dillon Austin and Josh Larson Music Recording and Editing: Rachel Nelson and Kristy Hall Coloring Pages: Rachel Lamming, Lily Canada, and Evie Rodriguez Theme Music: Lindsey Mills- www.lindseymillsmusic.com  God: who gives talents for us to use for Him

Na'hum. (consolation). Nahum, called "the Elkoshite," is the seventh, in order, of the Minor Prophets. His personal history is quite unknownThe name refers back to Yahweh's compassion connected with Jonah's mission eighty-seven years before. The name Nahum is an abbreviated form of the name Nehemiah, which means “Comfort of Yahweh.”Before I get into this study, I continue with our study on what the Capital Building is all about. Was the Capital design to be a Temple set up by the founders of the New World Order?  In this study, I continue into the insight of the artist of the Capital Dome, Constantino BrumidiBeginning with this Chapter 2 and in this Chapter 3 we now read of Nineveh's destruction2:1 - 3:19. DESTRUCTION OF NINEVEH   2:1-2. Yahweh's. = challenge to fight.   2:3-10. Judgment. = Invasion.   2:11-13; 3:1-7. Causes. = Hostility.  3:8-10. Examples. = Citation.   3:11-13. Examples. = Application.   3:14. Yahweh's. = challenge to fight.   3:15-17. Judgment. = Devastation.   3:18-19. Causes. = Hostility We, as Christians realize that the world is filled with stories of dark heavy sins.  Be warned, this passage we will look at involves some dark and heavy sins.  And from this we know that Yahweh condemns them and He is one day going to have a day of reckoning for those who commit vile sins.So what is the Purpose: We need to know three condemnations Yahweh bring against Nineveh and its result so that we desire to see Yahweh's deliverance and also destruction of the wicked?Be warned that Yahweh condemn Nineveh's violation of the second table of the Ten Commandments (v.1)Be warned that Yahweh condemn Nineveh's militarism (v.2-3)Be warned that Yahweh condemn Nineveh's human trafficking (v.4)We need to know that Yahweh's punishment of Nineveh and its outcome (v.5-7)1      Woe = Woe warns of something terrible that is about to happenbloody city = city of great bloodshedAll of it is (built on) lies (deceit) = A government wanting to hide truth comes against those who try to expose their lies, corruption and deceitRobbery =peh'-rek means to disassembledeparteth not = will not be lacking2   The noise, &c. = Between verses: 1-2 supply the logical Ellipsis (Other words El-lip´-sis. This is the Greek word ἔλλειψις, a leaving in, from ἐν (en) in, and λείπειν (leipein) to leave'The figure is so called, because some gap is left in the sentence, which means that a word or words are left out or omitted3  The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear, .... = Or, "the flame of the sword and the glittering spear"; he rides with a drawn sword, bright = gleamingglittering = flashing and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcasses; = of dead men lying in the streets, pierced and slain with the bright sword and glittering spear of the Medes and Chaldeansupon = over and there is none end of their corpses; the number of them could not be told; they lay so thick in all parts of the city, that there was no telling them They = i.e. the slayers. Hebrew text margin, with some codices, and four early printed editions, reads "so that they stumble", they stumble upon their corpses; = the Ninevites in fleeing, and endeavoring to make their escape, and the Medes and Chaldeans pursuing themHave any questions? Feel free to email me; keitner2024@outlook.com 

How important is obeying God? Very important! Listen to what happened to Jonah when he ran away and find out the wonderful thing God did for Jonah and the Ninevites when he asked for forgiveness and obeyed. Nature lesson on whales. Mem vs. Jer.26:13. Check out this week's coloring pages at https://startingwithjesus.com/spb-cp/ Child helpers: Emma, Heidi, Issac, and Kent. Recorded and produced by: Ashley B. Larson Don't forget to check out the coloring pages that go along with each lesson! https://startingwithjesus.com/spb-cp/ If you have enjoyed this program and would like to know more, go to our website: www.startingwithjesus.com The Bible and nature story material used in today's devotional podcast has been used with permission from My Bible First. If you would like your own copy, please visit their website-or call 1-877-242-5317. If you would like to purchase your own Memory Verse CD or Songbook, go to Ouachita Hills Store (https://www.ouachitahillsacademy.org/store?page=1&store_category_id=0&sort_by=title&is_ascending=1&search=). Songs from: Little Voices Praise Him, SDA Hymnal, Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, New Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, Memory Verse Verse Songs for Cradle Roll, Children's Songs For Jesus, and Scripture Songs and Little Lessons All Bible verses are from the NKJV. Singers for this Quarter: Tory, Caleb, and Enoch Hall, Hudson Reeves, Michael and Amy Nelson Editing assist: Dillon Austin and Josh Larson Music Recording and Editing: Rachel Nelson and Kristy Hall Coloring Pages: Rachel Lamming, Lily Canada, and Evie Rodriguez Theme Music: Lindsey Mills- www.lindseymillsmusic.com  God: who gives talents for us to use for Him

Pastor Matt continued our series on the Minor Prophets today with an further look at the book of Jonah. This time, we focused on chapters 2 and 3, delving into the qualities of Jonah's prayer to God, the nature of what was missing in that prayer, and the Ninevites' response to his message.

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent. Father Dave focuses on today's reading from Jonah and the dramatic conversion of the Ninevites. Rather than just one moment, we are called to have an ongoing conversion in our faith life and continually humble ourselves. Preached at St. Paul the Apostle Church, New York City, NY on 3-12-25

Discover the life-changing truth of God's second chances in this powerful sermon inspired by Jonah 3!

In Jonah 3, we see the Ninevites turn from their evil ways and repent, but what led them to that point? What leads us to repent from our evil ways? Only God's love, shown through His grace and His mercy and sometimes even His wrath, can truly change a heart and turn a life around.Support the show

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Luke 11:29-32 - While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here." Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Scott Smith on his book: Near-Death Experiences https://sophiainstitute.com/product/near-death-experiences/

Gospel Luke 11:29-32 While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here." Reflection Jesus talks about the kingdom of God and what it means to believe in it. What is this sign that we're looking for? It's so interesting that Jesus, when he looks at the generation around him that's always asking for signs, he points out what the core sign truly is, the sign of Jonah. And what does that mean? It means that Jonah was swallowed by a whale, three days he was in the stomach of the whale, and then he was released. He lived. That image is the image of what Jesus has come into the world to establish. The end of evil's power, to destroy. And basically, what we see in Jesus is his own death, he gives in to evil. Everyone thinks there again, evil has done something awful and destroyed the good it was in Jesus. And what we need to realize, no he rose three days later. He destroys the death that evil could cause before our redemption. Closing Prayer It's so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that things are going in the wrong direction. That is evil is winning. Nothing is further from the truth. Evil, when it's exposed, is vulnerable. And the vulnerability that is there is the realization, in the believer's, that they know that evil has been destroyed and there is no fear of evil. Only hope and trust in the mystery of the sign of Jonah. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friends of the Rosary,The prophet Jonah walked through the large city of Nineveh — a New York of that time —preaching repentance for three days, as we read today (Luke 11:29-32).At Jonah's preaching, the Ninevites turned back to God. They repented and believed, detaching from worldly pleasures and preoccupations.Christ himself — who is greater than Jonah — is the source of our repentance and conversion. He was born to die in the Cross, offering himself for our redemption and salvation.Today, we invoke his mercy so His goodness and compassion wipe out our offenses.As Bishop Barron encourages us, “Go beyond the mind that you have. Repent. Live as though nothing in this world finally matters. And you will be living in the kingdom of God.”Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!+ Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠March 12, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET