Podcasts about niv john

Bible Reading: James 4:13-17; 1 Peter 4:7-11Jade stretched and yawned. Then she jumped down from her place on the top bunk and hurried to get dressed."Let's go, troops!" yelled a cheery voice from outside. "We have many miles to cover on our morning hike.""How can Ella be so cheerful at seven o'clock in the morning?" asked Hayley, one of Jade's cabinmates."I don't know," Jade answered, "but I like it. Her cheerfulness rubs off on me. Let's go."Jade and Hayley joined the other campers as they gathered in front of the dining hall. "Good morning!" said Ella, their camp counselor. "Are you ready for our adventure? We'll fix breakfast a little way down the trail."A few minutes later, they were off. "Make sure you stay on the trail," Ella told the group. "There was a heavy mist last night, and everything is damp. The grass is pretty wet, and your feet will be too if you walk on it.""It's not misty now," said Hayley. "Isn't it funny how mist just disappears?" "Yeah--like a vapor," said Jade. "I learned a verse at church that says life is a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes.""That's right," said Ella. "I know that verse too. It tells us how short life is--like a mist. And what did the mist do while it was here?" "It made things wet," Hayley replied. "It soaked the grass so much that we don't want to walk on it." Ella nodded. "Right. And in a way, we soak our environment too. For example, do you know anyone who soaks you with joy?"Jade spoke up quickly. "You do! You always soak me with your cheerfulness, Ella. You make me feel happy."Ella was surprised. "Why, thank you! But you know, the only reason I'm able to do that is because Jesus fills me with joy. Our lives may be short, but Jesus gives us the ability to soak other people's lives with His love. When we trust in Him, He fills our short lives on this earth with great purpose--the purpose of helping others know He loves them and offers them eternal life with Him." –Kathy A. BrandHow About You?What do you soak those around you with? Our time on earth may be short, but with Jesus, you can make a big difference in other people's lives. When you trust in Him, He fills you with His love and joy so you can point others to Him. Even though life is short, trust Jesus to help you become more like Him so He can use your life for His great purpose. Today's Key Verse:A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (NIV) (John 13:34)Today's Key Thought:Share Jesus's love with others

The spiritual gifts are wonderful tools, but how do we understand them in corporate settings? Pastor Wade Smith brings a powerful message as he continues our "Godly Gifts" sermon season. He shows us that these gifts are assignments used for unity and carry power when connected to the full body of Christ. We pray that this message will inspire unity as we bring our gifts together for the glory of God. Scripture references: John 17:20-23 (NLT) Luke 11:17 (NIV) John 13:33-35 (NLT) Connect With Us: To learn more about Victory Church and to get connected, visit us at https://victory.church/   Worship Gathering Times: To see locations & worship gathering times, visit https://victory.church/locations/   Prayer: We believe in praying big prayers to a big God and expecting big results. If you're in need of prayer, our team would be honored to pray with you. You can reach us for prayer at https://victory.church/prayer   Giving: At Victory, we steward God's resources well and with radical generosity. If you'd like to give toward the mission of Victory Church, visit https://victory.church/give/   Follow Us: OKC Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchokc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victorychurchok   Edmond Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoryedmond/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victory.churchEDM   Grapevine (Texas) Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchgrapevine/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089341962919

Luke 24:44-49 (NIV) John 20:19-23 (NIV) Learn more about us at intown.org

Bible Reading: John 19:28-30Evan breathed deeply through his nose as he walked into the kitchen. "Yum!" he said, walking over to where his older sister was working. "Lemon pie!" "Oh no, you don't!" said Zoe, shooing him away with her spatula. "This is nowhere near finished.""Okay, but I'll be waiting for it," Evan said, then headed upstairs to do homework. When he came back later, Zoe had poured the filling into the pie shell. "Can I have some pie now?" he asked.Zoe shook her head. "It's still not finished," she told him. "It's lemon meringue pie, and it doesn't have any meringue on it yet."Evan checked back one more time before dinner. "It's finished now," Zoe told him, "but you can't have any yet. I baked it for dessert tonight."After dinner, Zoe finally brought the pie to the table. Evan scooped up and swallowed every bit on his plate. "Now the pie's really finished," he said, patting his stomach. "It's all gone."For devotions that night, Dad read from the Gospel of John. "'It is finished.' Those were the last words Jesus said on the cross," Dad said, closing his Bible. "Sounds a lot like some of the words being said in the kitchen this afternoon. A couple of times I overheard Zoe tell Evan that the lemon pie wasn't finished yet. Finally, she said it was finished, but even then it didn't do Evan any good. Why not?""Because I didn't eat any of it," replied Evan. "Her fault, not mine!""I don't doubt it," Dad said with a smile. "Well, Jesus came to earth to take the punishment for our sin. On the cross, He finally said, 'It is finished.' His work was done. But a lot of people are missing the full benefit of His finished work. Why?""Because they haven't trusted Him as their Savior," Zoe said after a moment."Right," said Dad. "To enjoy the finished pie, we had to take it for ourselves and eat it. And to enjoy the benefit of Jesus's finished work--the joy and peace of having a relationship with God that lasts for eternity--we have to receive it for ourselves. We have to believe in Jesus and trust Him to save us to become a child of God." –Hazel W. Marett How About You?Have you received the benefit of what Jesus did for you on the cross? Are you trusting Him to save you from sin and give you eternal life? He finished the work of purchasing your salvation, and He offers it to you right now. Receive it for yourself by trusting in Him. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)Today's Key Verse:Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (NIV) (John 1:12 )Today's Key Thought:Accept Jesus's finished work

Psalms 23 (The Passion)John 10: 14-16 (NIV)John 15: 13-15 (NIV)

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:129-133"What are you reading?" asked Dr. Trent as he entered the examination room and saw Alisha with an open book on her lap."It's the Bible," said Alisha."The Bible? Why are you reading that?" Dr. Trent asked. "With all the exciting books out there, I would think you'd find an old book like that pretty boring.""Oh no," Alisha said. "It's not like that at all. I'm on a Bible quiz team, and our next contest is coming up, so I've been studying whenever I get a chance. I think the stories in the Bible are really interesting." She closed her Bible. "Besides, reading the Bible helps me--well--I don't know." Alisha sighed, frustrated she couldn't express what she was thinking."I have something for you," said Dr. Trent. He held up a new pair of glasses."Oh good," said Alisha as she removed her old ones. The doctor placed the new glasses on Alisha's face, checking behind her ears to see how they fit. "Wow!" Alisha said, looking around. Dr. Trent smiled. "You didn't realize how much you were missing with your old glasses, did you?""No," said Alisha. "Everything is so much clearer now." As she looked around the room, she glanced at her Bible, and suddenly she had an idea. "That's why I read the Bible, Dr. Trent." The doctor raised his eyebrows. "Reading the Bible is kind of like getting glasses," Alisha explained. "It helps me see things more clearly. Actually, it's even better than glasses because the Bible helps me see things like who God is and how much He loves me--so much that Jesus died for my sins! It shows me how God wants me to live and reminds me that I can always trust Him, no matter what.""It sounds like the Bible means a lot to you," said Dr. Trent.Alisha nodded. "It's changed my life." She stood up to leave. "You should read it for yourself--it's better than the best glasses you've ever had!" Dr. Trent smiled. "Maybe I'll give it a try sometime." "I hope so," said Alisha. "You might realize how much you've been missing!"–Bob Hostetler How About You?Did you know that the Bible can help you see everything in your life more clearly? Or did you think it was just an old, boring book? The Bible is alive and life-giving. It's God's message to all people, and it tells how Jesus died and rose again to save us from sin and give us eternal life. It shines the light of His truth and promises into our lives. Read it every day to help you focus on Jesus and the joy He brings to your life. Today's Key Verse:The words I have spoken to you--they are full of the Spirit and life. (NIV) (John 6:63)Today's Key Thought:The Bible makes everything clearer

This week, we’ll hear from Jay Lowder, an evangelist who has spent more than two decades traveling the globe, sharing the message of the gospel with audiences ranging from NFL teams to prison inmates. Early in his life, Jay struggled with depression which led him to medicate with alcohol, but ultimately brought him no peace from his pain. Feeling like giving up, Jay considered suicide, and he shares about the series of events that led him to finally find the peace he was looking for. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Riley Kehoe, an influencer and author, who shares the harrowing story of how her family survived a tsunami in Thailand when she was just a little girl. Riley recounts the terrifying events of the day, how her family stayed to help those who lost everything, and how she leaned on scripture to deal with the aftermath of such a traumatic event. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Davey Blackburn Upcoming interview: Ann Voskamp Jesus Listens for Lent & Easter Jay Lowder Matthew 27:32-56 NIV Luke 23:34 NIV John 3:16 NIV John 3:36 NIV Salvation Army Madison Square Garden www.jaylowder.com Midnight in Aisle Seven Riley Kehoe 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami www.rileywithcourage.com Three Seconds of Courage Interview Quotes: “Church was just a place that we went, but not something that added any real value to my life. I didn't have a connection because I didn't have a relationship to Christ.” - Jay Lowder “I was in such a dark place that I questioned, Was God real? Was everything that I was ever told going to church authentic? Was that real? And I really didn't know the answer to that.” - Jay Lowder “The next thought that goes through my mind is, If God could forgive those Roman soldiers [who crucified Christ], maybe He could forgive me.” - Jay Lowder “I've never been the guy that says, ‘Well you know, if you come to know the Lord, all your problems are going to fade away.’ The truth is if you give your life to the Lord, there may be a season where things get worse.” - Jay Lowder “Knowing Jesus goes way beyond just going to heaven. It even goes beyond being forgiven. It goes to a Friend that's closer than a brother that wants to walk with you, lead you, and guide you. And it goes back to the verse that I heard the night I met Jesus. Christ said, ‘I came to give you not just life, I came to give you an abundant life.’” - Jay Lowder “We would go and do missions work wherever we would land—my family would just find somewhere or someone to love on.” - Riley Kehoe The 2004 Boxing Day tsunami hit the coast of Southeast Asia and with it took 230,000 lives. We were among the few that were survivors.” - Riley Kehoe “I was so confused at the moment, Why are we not leaving this island as quickly as we can? I want to just get back to my life in New Zealand. I want to snuggle my pony and be in my bed. My mom told us, ‘Hey, girls, we're going to stay. We need to have courage to care for others right now, and we need to help these people who have lost absolutely everything.’” - Riley Kehoe “I just want to encourage anyone that there is light and that Jesus will redeem, and He will be with you in your pain and your suffering. He promises to be close to the brokenhearted.” - Riley Kehoe ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY ________________________ Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Jesus told us in the Bible that we need to go into the world and preach the gospel to every nation, but how can we do that? It may seem scary and embarrassing but that is what we are called to do as believers in Christ. During this series from Pastor Chris, we learn all about the importance of reaching your world and changing it for good! Welcome to Relevant Church Live, the online campus of Relevant Church located in Daytona Beach, Florida. We pray that through this service you find your place, reveal your purpose, and unlock your potential! We pray this message blesses you and gives you the strength you need to do and be all that God has called you to do and be! Leave a comment below letting us know how this message impacted you today, we'd love to chat with you! #RelevantChurch #ReachYourWorld #Reach #YourWorld #PastorChrisSarno #OnlineChurch #RelevantChurchDaytonaBeach #Church #ChurchOnline #RelevantChurchFlorida -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ways to Give: Text to Give: Text your amount to 386-968-1103 Online Giving: Visit our website http://www.relevantfl.org/giving to give via debit, credit, or ACH Mail It In: Send gift Via USPS to 920 Beville Rd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stay Connected: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: @RelevantChurch Relevant Church Website: https://www.relevantfl.org/ Relevant Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relevant_fl/ Relevant Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RelevantFL Relevant Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@relevant_fl?_t=8mNFjdYMYoh&_r=1 Relevant Church App: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1615804850?fbclid=IwAR3aHqo_6kr8Tzd_JK6xihjfJkVk6j7-iqITDj1u1wFicDLn6g6C29gL3LY Rkidz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rkidzfl Relevant Youth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relevantflyouth/ Relevant Church Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6nUtPIkecEehfstUWWPIVU?si=QBMEtu85SyuU3FxRM1X7lg&nd=1 Pastor Chris Sarno's Website: https://www.chrissarno.tv/ Chris Sarno App: http://www.chrissarno.tv/app -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scripture References: Haggai 1:3-8 (KJV) John 13:1 (KJV) John 13:33-35 (TPT) Luke 19:10 (NIV) John 3:17 (NIV) John 8:1-11 (KJV) John 4:13-19 (KJV) Romans 5:8 (NIV) 1 John 4:19-20 Matthew 28:19-20 Ephesians 4:15 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, March 9th 2025 Pastor Chris Sarno Relevant Church Reach Your World | Week 1 | Sunday, March 9th 2025 | Pastor Chris Sarno | Relevant Church

Bible Reading: John 3:16-18Seeing the gigantic merry-go-round, Harper and Violet squealed in excitement and ran ahead of Mom and Dad to the entrance. They stood next to the height chart. They were both tall enough. "Whoo-hoo!" Harper clapped her hands in excitement. The merry-go-round came to a stop and the riders got off. Harper and Violet were about to dash through the gate when someone's arm blocked their way. "Hang on, kids. Not so fast." It was the ride operator.Harper and Violet gave each other a puzzled look when the operator let other kids go past them and get on the merry-go-round. "Why can't we ride?" asked Violet. "We're tall enough!"Just then Mom and Dad walked over. "Finally caught up with you!" Mom said. "Mom," Harper said, her face full of disappointment. "He wouldn't let us on. Why?" Dad reached into his pocket and pulled out four small pieces of paper. "Here, you need your tickets." Harper and Violet each grabbed one and brought it to the ride operator. He opened the gate and let them in. They each picked a horse to ride on, bouncing up and down on them excitedly. Mom and Dad gave their tickets to the operator and got on too."You know," Mom said thoughtfully, "this reminds me of something Jesus said. There is no other way to heaven except through Him. Tell me, why couldn't you ride the merry-go-round at first?" "We didn't have our tickets," Violet replied."And why was that?" asked Mom. "We just thought we needed to be tall enough," said Harper. "We didn't know we had to have tickets for it." "Right," Dad said. "You couldn't ride the merry-go-round without a ticket, and you can't have eternal life without Jesus. It's a gift you need to receive from Him. There's nothing you can do to get to heaven on your own. Your only ticket is to trust Jesus as your Savior, who paid your way by dying for your sins and rising from the dead." Soon the merry-go-round started moving. "I'm glad I have my ticket for the merry-go-round," Violet said as their horses moved up and down. "But I'm even happier I have Jesus and that one day He'll take me to heaven!" –Goh Su En and Goh Shao EnHow About You?Have you ever thought that you could be or do enough to get to heaven on your own? You can't. There is only one way to be saved from sin and have eternal life, and that is through Jesus. We all mess up, but Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose again so we could have eternal life with Him. Trust in Him today! (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)Today's Key Verse:Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV) (John 14:6)Today's Key Thought:Jesus is the only way to heaven

1 Peter 4:7-9 NIV John 4:4-10 NIVOffer Hospitality (1 Peter 4:9, John 4)NoticeProximityRealInvite

John Burke is BACK to share how God has led him to launch a new podcast and YouTube channel. He is sharing from his vault of over 35 years of recorded near death testimonies and looking at them through the lens of scripture.    In this episode John shares: How words from strangers while attending a prayer retreat in 2020 confirmed his new calling The transition from pastoring 27 years at Gateway and the journey to starting something new (again) alongside his wife Kathy A discovery about the new AI image of the shroud of Turin Verifiable findings that support out of body experiences (I share the first time I witnessed this as a nurse in the cardiovascular ICU) A Testimony of a man who was blind from birth who SEES in his NDE and how his testimony points to scripture Having the opportunity to speak on diverse platforms (ie. Shawn Ryan's show) and I share a few responses from that interview that leaves John emotional The new podcast and youtube channel and what you can expect, where to find it A quick preview of some new projects on the horizon I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” - Revelation 21: 2-4 (NIV)   John's website for ALL links and books: https://imagineheaven.net/ Link for John Burke's new podcast on YouTube:    / @johnburkeimagineheaven   Link for itunes Imagine Heaven Podcast with John Burke: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/imagine-heaven-podcast-with-john-burke/id1784735801 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnburkeofficial

Bible Reading: John 14:1-6Adelyn looked around her empty room. She brushed her hand across the mural Dad had painted on the wall one last time, then picked up the last box and brought it out to the truck. When Mom pulled the truck door down with a loud rumble, Adelyn couldn't help it. She burst into tears. Mom pulled her close. "It's going to be okay, Adelyn," she said in a hoarse voice as Adelyn sobbed into her shoulder. Mom was crying too. "I don't get it," said Adelyn. "Why do we have to leave our house?" "Because the bank lent us the money to buy the house, but after your dad died, paying back the loan on my own became too hard. So now they're taking back the house." She stroked Adelyn's hair. "I know it's hard to leave the house you grew up in, especially with all its memories of your dad, but we don't have a choice. We'll live with Grandma and Grandpa for a while, then you and I will find a nice apartment.""But I don't want to live in an apartment!" said Adelyn, barely able to get the words out through her tears. "I want to live here! This is where you and Dad and I always lived. This is our true home!""Oh, Adelyn," said Mom. "This isn't our true home--it never was. It was a wonderful place to live, but it was never meant to last forever. As Christians, our true home is with Jesus. He is with us now, and when we finally see Him face-to-face in heaven, it will be better than anything we could possibly imagine! And you know what the best part is?""What?" asked Adelyn, wiping her eyes."Our eternal home has already been paid for! We could never afford it ourselves, but Jesus gave His life so we could live with Him forever." Mom led Adelyn to the door of the truck. "I know how hard this is--it's hard for me too. Jesus said we'd have trouble in this world, and it's okay to feel sad about it. But don't lose sight of your true home. Jesus will be with you through all of life's troubles and promises you a home with Him forever." –Courtney LasaterHow About You?Have you experienced pain or sadness in your life? Maybe you lost someone close to you or had to move away from a place you loved. Whatever it is, you don't have to go through it alone. If you know Jesus, He promises to always be with you and to one day bring you to your eternal home, where you'll never feel pain or sadness again. Your true home is with Him. Today's Key Verse:In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (NIV) (John 16:33 )Today's Key Thought:Christians have a home with Jesus

It's no doubt that this year has been a big one for our nation as a whole, but what is the role of the Church in it all? This week, Pastor Jon Chasteen shares a timely message answering the question, "Do Politics Belong in Church?" We pray that this message would encourage you as a Christ-follower during heavy political seasons and motivate you to be praying for our nation and our leaders! Scripture references: Luke 24:21 (NIV) Acts 1:6 (NIV) John 18:36 (NIV) Connect With Us: To learn more about Victory Church and to get connected, visit us at https://victory.church/ Worship Gathering Times: To see locations & worship gathering times, visit https://victory.church/locations/ Prayer: We believe in praying big prayers to a big God and expecting big results. If you're in need of prayer, our team would be honored to pray with you. You can reach us for prayer at https://victory.church/prayer Giving: At Victory, we steward God's resources well and with radical generosity. If you'd like to give toward the mission of Victory Church, visit https://victory.church/give/ Follow Us: OKC Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchokc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victorychurchok Edmond Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoryedmond/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victory.churchEDM Grapevine (Texas) Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchgrapevine/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089341962919

God has freely given us the blessing to walk in, but do we know what that truly means? There are so many things included in the blessing from God including protection, a great life, favor, and so many other things. But, we need to learn how to walk out into this blessing each and every day, and that is exactly what this series from Pastor Chris Sarno is all about. This series is specifically designed to unlock the spiritual truths you need to learn about accessing the blessing! Welcome to Relevant Church Live, the online campus of Relevant Church located in Daytona Beach, Florida. We pray that through this service you find your place, reveal your purpose, and unlock your potential! We pray this message blesses you and gives you the strength you need to do and be all that God has called you to do and be! Leave a comment below letting us know how this message impacted you today, we'd love to chat with you! #RelevantChurch #TheBlessing #Blessed #PastorChrisSarno #OnlineChurch #RelevantChurchDaytonaBeach #Church #ChurchOnline #RelevantChurchFlorida -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ways to Give: Text to Give: Text your amount to 386-968-1103 Online Giving: Visit our website http://www.relevantfl.org/giving to give via debit, credit, or ACH Mail It In: Send gift Via USPS to 920 Beville Rd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stay Connected: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: @RelevantChurch Relevant Church Website: https://www.relevantfl.org/ Relevant Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relevant_fl/ Relevant Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RelevantFL Relevant Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@relevant_fl?_t=8mNFjdYMYoh&_r=1 Relevant Church App: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1615804850?fbclid=IwAR3aHqo_6kr8Tzd_JK6xihjfJkVk6j7-iqITDj1u1wFicDLn6g6C29gL3LY Rkidz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rkidzfl Relevant Youth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relevantflyouth/ Relevant Church Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6nUtPIkecEehfstUWWPIVU?si=QBMEtu85SyuU3FxRM1X7lg&nd=1 Pastor Chris Sarno's Website: https://www.chrissarno.tv/ Chris Sarno App: http://www.chrissarno.tv/app -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scripture References: Malachi 3:10 (NIV) Ephesians 2:8-10 (TPT) Hebrews 1:14 (NIV) John 14:13-14 (NIV) Philippians 4:19 (NIV) 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV) Psalms 91:10-11 (NIV) Isaiah 54:17 (NIV) Revelations 3:8 (NIV) 1 Corinthians 16:9 (NIV) John 15:11 (NIV) Philippians 4:4-7 (TPT) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, September 22nd 2024 Pastor Chris Sarno Relevant Church What To Expect In The Blessing | The Blessing | Pastor Chris Sarno The Blessing | Week 3 | September 22nd, 2024 | Pastor Chris Sarno | Relevant Church

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:12-17Thea turned a page and showed a picture of Papa Bear to her little sister, then continued to read the story aloud. "'Who's been eating my porridge?' growled Papa Bear." Their brother Eamon spoke up. "Papa Bear could have found out who ate it if he had lifted fingerprints from his spoon. Everybody has a different set of prints. No two are alike--ever. Match the prints and you've got the criminal.""That's great, Eamon. Now let us finish the story," said Thea. But Eamon grabbed his magnifying glass and held it above Thea's fingers. "See those ridges? They leave a mark on everything you touch. Police investigators use special powders to dust for fingerprints. The powder sticks to the invisible ridge marks. The investigator carefully brushes away the dust between the ridges and takes a picture of it." Eamon sat back. "The print can be lifted with print-lifting tape too.""Eamon! We don't care about fingerprints right now. We just want to read the story," said Thea. "Well, I just thought you should know in case you get any ideas about going into my room and messing with my stuff," Eamon said with a smirk. "I know how to lift prints with the detective kit I got for my birthday, so you'll be sorry if you do!" Thea rolled her eyes. "Like I'd want to touch anything in your messy room!""I think there's another kind of print we should be more concerned about," said Mom, who had come into the room. "We need to think about the prints we're leaving on other people's lives.""Prints on people's lives? What does that mean?" asked Eamon."I'm talking about the impressions we make on others," Mom replied. "Like fingerprints, they identify us--not by ridges, but by what's in our hearts. Our words and actions leave behind impressions that affect others. As Christians, we want those impressions to match the love Jesus has put in our hearts.""Because then we'll be pointing people to Him, right?" asked Thea. "Right," said Mom. "We need to speak and act in a way that helps people know how much Jesus loves them. No two people have the same fingerprints, but when we rely on Jesus to help us love others the way He loves us, the impressions we leave behind will point to Him." –Lucinda J. RollingsHow About You?What kind of impressions do you leave on others? Are the things you do and say kind and uplifting--or selfish and hurtful? If you're a Christian, the impressions you leave on others should point to Jesus. He shows His love for us through qualities like kindness, patience, and forgiveness. Treat others the same way so the impressions you leave behind identify you as someone who has His love in your heart. Today's Key Verse:By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (NIV) (John 13:35 )Today's Key Thought:Leave good impressions

Hey friends! Today I talk through 4 different parts of how to forgive as Jesus forgives. 1.Why is it important for us to forgive others (what are the physical, spiritual consequences of not forgiving others) 2. How did Jesus forgive 3. How do we practically forgive and 4. Why it's important to set boundaries after you forgive someone. Here are the verses I mention throughout the video! Matthew 6:9-14 NIV Psalm 32:1-4 NKJV Ephesians 4:26-27 NIV James 1:13-15 NIV Ephesians 4:30 NIV Romans 12:2 ESV John 1:14 NIV Matthew 9:2; 35-38 NIV John 3:16-17 NIV Ephesians 1:17 NIV 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV Romans 3:23-24 NIV 1 Peter 3:18 AMP Philippians 4:13 NKJV I hope that this video helps you in forgiving others and gives you revelation about forgiveness! In Christ, Jamie TAGS: #howtoforgive #christianity #christiangirl #forgiveness #howtoforgiveasachristian

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:6"There must be a thousand fireflies out tonight!" Juan exclaimed. Dad had turned off the yard light. The blinking green and orange light from the insects became easier to see. Juan unscrewed the lid from a clean plastic peanut butter container that his dad had poked with a screwdriver to make air holes.He ran to the center of the yard and stood still. Twinkling fireflies fluttered around him. He scooped the container through the air and covered the open end with the lid. Lifting it eye level, he watched for a minute then saw a small blink of green inside the container. Juan smiled and repeated the process, sometimes chasing after the flying bugs."It's time to come in," Dad called from the door.Juan hurried over to him and held out the container. "I caught four green and three orange." The bugs' lights flickered through the clear plastic. "There is no better light than fireflies," Juan declared.Dad switched on the yard light then opened the door and sat down on the cement step. Juan sat beside him carefully holding his container. "Fireflies are an amazing wonder of nature, but there is a better light than fireflies. Do you know what that is?" Dad asked.Juan thought for a moment. "Jesus?""Right!" Dad said. "Sunlight is nice. So is electricity." Dad pointed up at the outside light fixture. "But Jesus is the true light of the world. Do you know why?""Because He saved us from our sins!" Juan said proudly."Exactly." Dad patted Juan on the back. "Because He saved us by dying for our sins and rising from the dead, we will live in His light now and forever. And we can shine His light to others by showing them His love and telling them about Him." Dad stood. "Let's go inside." Juan unscrewed the container lid. He gently shook the plastic until the fireflies flew out and cut a blinking path in the darkness. Juan joined his dad by the door. "I'm glad God made fireflies. They are the second-best light in the world. I'm happier God sent Jesus to be the best light in the world."–Rose Ross ZedikerHow About You?Are you a light in the darkness? Do you complain or give thanks? Are you mean or kind? Do you argue or make peace? Sin brings darkness to the world, but if you know Jesus, He has freed you from sin and given you His light. When you show others His love through qualities like thankfulness, kindness, and peace, others will see His light shine through you in your words and actions. You can bring light to the world and point others to Jesus!Today's Key Verse:While I [Jesus] am in the world, I am the light of the world. (NIV) (John 9:5)Today's Key Thought:Shine the light of Jesus

Bible Reading: Job 29:1-3; Psalm 119:105"How did your driving test go?" Alex asked her older sister when Becky walked into the house with Dad.Becky gave a sigh. "I failed!""What happened?" asked Alex."I nearly got into an accident. I was trying to change lanes and a car appeared from nowhere and I almost crashed into it!" exclaimed Becky. "The examiner said I had to be careful of blind spots.""Blind spots? What are those?" asked Alex.Dad answered, "Well, in driving, a blind spot is an area around your car, usually behind the driver's shoulder, that you can't see with mirrors. You must turn your head to check for cars before you change lanes.""Yup, and I just looked at the rearview mirror and didn't see the car right next to me," said Becky. "I forgot to turn my head to look for cars.""Hopefully with more practice you'll remember," said Dad. "But there's another kind of blind spot we can't see ourselves--we need someone else to point it out to us." "Does that mean no one should ever drive alone?" asked Alex.Dad chuckled. "No, I'm not talking about a blind spot around a car. I'm talking about an area we can't see in our spiritual lives, like weaknesses or things we've done wrong that we're not aware of.""What should we do then? Turn our head?" asked Alex.Dad smiled. "We turn to God's Word. The Bible shows us our sin, and God also puts people in our lives who can help us see our shortcomings. Then, when we see what we've done wrong, we need to turn to Jesus for forgiveness and trust Him to guide us and lead us the right way."Becky nodded thoughtfully. "You and Mom always correct me when I say something rude without realizing it.""And you remind me not to whine and complain," said Alex."Well, we all have our blind spots," said Dad. "When people point out our mistakes, we become aware of them. Then we can ask Jesus to forgive us and help us change.""We need God's light to guide us and help us see," commented Becky."Well said, Becky," said Dad with a smile.–Kelly ChoyHow About You?Do you know your blind spots? You can't see them yourself--you need God to show them to you through the truth of His Word. He often uses people to help you see them too. When someone points out something you shouldn't have said or done, be thankful that you can now see that blind spot. Then turn to Jesus, who died for your sins and promises to forgive you. Trust Him to guide you as you live in His light.Today's Key Verse:[Jesus said,] "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (NIV) (John 8:12)Today's Key Thought:Let Jesus guide you

What do you really want? We all have desires in our hearts and this week, we're taking a look at what the Word has to say about them. Continuing our “Victory in Advance” sermon season, Pastor Jon brings a timely message about how to acknowledge, test, and pursue our desires. We pray this word will inspire you to bring your desires to God to partner with Him!   Scripture references: Mark 10:35-52 (NASB1995) Psalms 37:4 (NIV) John 15:7 (NIV)   Connect With Us: To learn more about Victory Church and to get connected, visit us at https://victory.church/   Worship Gathering Times: To see locations & worship gathering times, visit https://victory.church/locations/   Prayer: We believe in praying big prayers to a big God and expecting big results. If you're in need of prayer, our team would be honored to pray with you. You can reach us for prayer at https://victory.church/prayer   Giving: At Victory, we steward God's resources well and with radical generosity. If you'd like to give toward the mission of Victory Church, visit https://victory.church/give/   Follow Us: OKC Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchokc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victorychurchok   Edmond Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoryedmond/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victory.churchEDM   Grapevine (Texas) Campus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchgrapevine/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089341962919

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity Bob Schwahn | Lead Pastor | June 9, 2024 “Humility is the single greatest and most indispensable attribute of being a team player.”— Patrick Lencioni, The Ideal Team Player p. 157 1 Peter 5:5b-6 (NIV) Philippians 2:3-8 (NIV) Jesus modeled “choosing to lose”. 1. Jesus saw the needs of others – ahead of his own. John 13:1 (NIV) 2. Jesus used his authority to serve others. Mark 9:35 3. Jesus served those who were difficult to love. John 13:2 (NIV) John 13:15-17 (NIV) 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV) “If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.” — C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity John 13:34-35 (NIV) “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Reflection Questions: 1. In light of 1 Peter 5:5, why does God oppose pride and show favor to humility?2. How would you define humility? How would you know if you are humble?3. Why is humility a cornerstone of healthy relationships?4. How have you seen a lack of humility damage relationships in your life?Read John 13:1-175. How does Jesus model humility in this passage? How is he “not looking to his own interests but to the interests of others”?6. How can we grow in focusing on the needs of others and choosing to put those needs ahead of our own?7. Where is a place in your life (influence/power/position/time) that you could serve the needs of those around you? How will you do it? When?8. Jesus modeled humility by loving and serving those that would abandon, deny, and betray Him. How could love people in your life that may sometimes be difficult to love? Who is someone you could serve now that is difficult to love? What is a practical way to serve them?9. In John 13:15-17, Jesus promises a blessed life if we follow his example. How can living this way live to a blessed life? Won’t we miss out if we constantly focusing on others? Who will look out for us and meet our needs?10. Humility is sometimes referred to as the “shyest” of all virtues. When you to talk about it or focus on it, it goes away. What do you think that means? How are we then to work on growing in humility?11. How are “insecurity” and “arrogance” both a form of pride? How can insecurity be a more subtle form of pride? How can insecurity even look like humility? How can we see that in ourselves? Next Steps: Complete the Connect Card to receive more information, have us pray for you, or to ask us any question: http://journeybozeman.com/connectcardWant to worship through giving and support the ministry of Journey Church: https://journeybozeman.com/giveDownload our app: https://journeybozeman.com/app Join our Facebook Group to stay connected throughout the week: https://facebook.com/groups/JourneyChurchBozemanGet your children connected to our children's ministry, Base Camp: https://journeybozeman.com/childrenOur Student Ministry is for High School and Middle School students:

Spirituality allows us to see and believe in the world beyond the physical. God has a rich and satisfying plan for our lives, but it often means living differently than the culture around us. It's very easy to compromise our convictions or change who we are to fit in with what we see. Spirituality not only resists the pressure to fit in with the world but also rises above it.  Listen to this Scripture Playlist to learn how to resist the culture of peer pressure so we can live the great life God has planned for us. Show Notes: Romans 12:2 NIV John 10:10 NLT James 4:4 NLT 1 John 2:15-17 NIrV 1 Corinthians 15:33 NCV Proverbs 13:20 AMP Ephesians 5:11 NASB Colossians 2:8 ERV Galatians 1:10 MSG Jeremiah 1:18-19 MSG John 17:14-16 MSG Proverbs 4:14-15 ERV Matthew 7:13-14 NIrV 2 Timothy 2:23-25 ERV Matthew 5:14-16 NLT Psalm 146:3-5 MSG Colossians 3:1-3 AMP

Love is powerful! It motivates us, transforms us, and fulfills us. Without love, we will feel empty, lost, and insecure. The Scriptures communicate that God wants us to experience his unfailing love and believe in its power. We will then be able to share his love with others, creating a ripple effect that changes the world. Check out this Scripture Playlist to learn about experiencing the love of God and how it changes our lives. Show Notes 1 John 4:19 NIV 1 John 4:7-9 NLT 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NIV 1 John 4:18 NLT John 15:12-13 NLT Proverbs 19:22 NIV John 13:34-35 NIV Matthew 24:12 NIV Luke 6:27-28 NIV Luke 7:47 NIV Matthew 22:37-39 NIV 1 Peter 1:22 NIV Revelation 2:4-5 NLT 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ERV 1 Corinthians 14:1 NLT

An Encounter with Jesus | Dr. Brandon Beals | Life Center Tacoma The Gospel is unstoppable when it is shared by people filled with the Holy Spirit Acts 3:1-5 (NIV) Being filled with the Holy Spirit changes everything! Luke 5:1-3 (NIV) Saved Luke 5:5 (NIV) Luke 5:11 (NIV) Surrendered Mark 16:7 (NIV) John 21:1-4 (NIV) Saturated Peter is different Acts 3:2-6, 8b-10, 11, 19 (NIV) Are you really different? The Holy Spirit fills us. It should change everything!

Brian Priebe | Executive Pastor | May 5, 2024 Are you praying for things that only God can do? Mark 8:27-29a (NIV) Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” John 5:16-18 (NIV) John 8:54-59 (NIV) John 10:30-33 (NIV) John 20:26-29(NIV) Matthew 16:16 (NIV) CS Lewis’ Trilema from Mere Christianity:“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him (Jesus): I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” Acts 12:15-16 (NIV) Psalm 1:2-3 (NIV) Are you praying for things that only God can do?Is your faith growing?Is loving others your priority? Reflection Questions: Read John 5:16-18, 8:54-59, 10:30-33 and 20:26-29. What stands out as you look at passages that claim Jesus' divinity?Read Mark 8:27-29 and Matt 16:13-16. What are the ways you would answer Jesus' question, 'Who do you say I am?’In light of Jesus' divinity, Are you praying for things that only God can do? Why or why not? What things could you be praying for that would fit that description?In light of Jesus' divinity, Is your faith growing? Why or why not? What things could you be doing that could help your faith grow?In light of Jesus' divinity, Is loving others your priority? Why or why not? What things could you be doing that would make loving others your priority? Three additional questions to unpack loving others... a) Do you prioritize understanding others or being understood? b) How easily are you offended? c) Do you have margin in your week to have your plans interrupted by people? Next Steps: Complete the Connect Card to receive more information, have us pray for you, or to ask us any question: http://journeybozeman.com/connectcardWant to worship through giving and support the ministry of Journey Church: https://journeybozeman.com/giveDownload our app: https://journeybozeman.com/app Join our Facebook Group to stay connected throughout the week: https://facebook.com/groups/JourneyChurchBozemanGet your children connected to our children's ministry, Base Camp: https://journeybozeman.com/childrenOur Student Ministry is for High School and Middle School students: https://journeybozeman.com/studentsSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneyChurchBozemanNotes Page:

Bible Reading: Psalm 36:7-9; John 14:26-28Stroking the hen's feathers, Rowan grinned as the chicks tugged at his pants, then scuttled under their mother. "Hi, girls." His sisters Opal and Sylvie joined him, peering under the hen at the chicks, but they knew better than to touch."They're so cute!" Five-year-old Rosalind tried to grab a chick, but the chick's mother puffed up and jumped at her defensively."Rosie, you have to be gentle, or else Luna will do that again," Mom said as she walked up and peeled off her gardening gloves. "She's a very protective mother, you know."The chicks at last were allowed to wander out, but when the dog, Arabella, came bounding up, the chicks--Stella, Sunshine, Nova, and Aurora--scurried to take cover under Luna's outspread wings.Rowan hopped up and grabbed Arabella's collar. "Whoa there, girl. You can't do that. See, you've frightened them." Arabella whined apologetically."You know," Sylvie said slowly, "this reminds me of a verse I read this morning.""What?" Opal cocked her head.Mom smiled. "Let me guess. 'People take refuge in the shadow of your wings'?""Exactly!" Sylvie laughed. "How did you know?""We're all reading the Psalms." Mom shrugged. "That was in the one for today.""What does that mean?" Rosalind wanted to know."Think of it this way. When the chicks are afraid, where do they go?""Under Luna," Rowan replied promptly."Why?""Because they like her?" Rosalind guessed."Not exactly." Mom smoothed Rosalind's hair. "They go there because they are safe there. Arabella can't reach them there because Luna will protect them. And they know that, by instinct. It's a little like that with us and God. Sometimes we're afraid, or worried, or we feel alone. But like those little chicks, we can take shelter under God's wings. And He is able to protect us far more than Luna could ever protect her chicks. Jesus defeated sin and death to save us, and He promises to always be with us and take care of us.""So even though Mimi and Papa are sick, and there's a war going on, and we're sometimes so scared we don't know what to do, we can always run to God." Rowan smiled. "Just like Luna's chicks run to her."– Ellie ShirkHow About You?What do you do when you feel afraid or worried? We all get scared sometimes, and we often forget that Jesus is right there with us, holding us. Even when we don't feel it, He is near. You can always run to Him, and He will shelter you and give you peace. Take refuge in the shadow of His wings.Today's Key Verse:In me [Jesus] you may have peace. In this World you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (NIV) (John 16:33)Today's Key Thought:We can take shelter in God

Your grief will turn to joy (NIV) John 16: 20

"Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” (NIV) John 20: 19

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 5:8-10Editor's note: This story's subject matter may not be suitable for young children.Tayla watched her mother in the mirror as she clasped a necklace around Tayla's neck. They were getting ready to go to a funeral. "Mom, you've been really quiet this morning," Tayla pointed out.Mom smiled weakly. "Funerals are always difficult, but this one will be especially hard."Tayla knew what her mother meant. She had been to only one funeral in her life, and it was for her great-grandmother. Today they were going to a funeral for Jessica, a girl from church. Nobody had told Tayla much about what happened to her--all Tayla knew was that Jessica had taken her own life."I just don't get it, Mom," said Tayla. "I thought Jessica was a Christian. How could she do something like this?" Tayla's eyes started filling with tears. She was friends with Jessica's younger sister Summer, and Jessica used to take the two of them out for ice cream when Tayla went over to their house. She seemed like a nice, normal teenager.Turning Tayla around, Mom hugged her tightly. "Sometimes things happen that we don't understand, but nothing is ever out of God's hands," Mom assured her.After the funeral service ended, Tayla hugged Summer goodbye and then climbed into the car with Mom. "Mom, is Jessica in heaven?" asked Tayla."I don't know, honey," said Mom. "If she truly trusted Jesus as her Savior, she's in heaven."Tayla was still upset. "I just don't know why she did it.""Sometimes even Christians listen to the wrong voices," said Mom. "The Bible says that the devil is like a lion, looking for those he can devour. He doesn't want us to believe God's promises--he wants us to believe his own lies, and that's always very, very dangerous." Mom squeezed Tayla's hand. "Always remember that God promises to be with you, Tayla, no matter what. Jesus died and rose again to save you from sin and death and to give you eternal life. Because of Him, you always have hope, even when things seem hopeless. Run to Him when you face pain and difficulties, and run away from Satan's lies." –Emily TenterHow About You?Has Satan been telling you lies? The devil wants to hurt people by telling them God won't forgive them for things they've done or that there's no way out of a difficult situation they're facing. Don't believe it! Jesus died for our sins so we could have life, and He promises to be with us in everything we face. Stand firm in God's truth, and if you or someone you know is having trouble fighting Satan's lies, talk to a trusted adult immediately. Today's Key Verse:The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV) (John 10:10)Today's Key Thought:Run from Satan's lies

Bible Reading: John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:7-11Grayson settled down to listen as his Sunday school teacher began to speak. "I read an article this week about traditions in England," said Mr. Jensen. "It mentioned several castles that are available to the king to live in. Sometimes he stays in one, and sometimes in another. Whenever he's in one of his homes, his flag flies over that roof. It lets his subjects know their king is inside." Mr. Jensen paused as he looked at the class. "You know, for those of us who are Christians, the King of Kings lives within us. What are some things we could use as a flag--things that would show that we have Jesus in our lives?"Josh raised his hand. "We could let others know we go to church," he suggested when the teacher called on him."Good!" Mr. Jensen smiled. "Of course, just because someone goes to church doesn't mean they're a Christian. But for those of you who are, it gives a testimony--sort of like you're flying Christ's flag for others to see. Let your friends know you go to church because you want to learn more about Jesus. Who else can suggest something to use as a flag?""We should obey our parents," Grayson said.Mr. Jensen nodded. "And why should you obey them?""Because God tells us to," replied Grayson."In other words," said Mr. Jensen, "we should obey God, right? We should do what He says--and how do we know what that is?""It tells us in the Bible," said Emery. "That's where the Ten Commandments are found." "Yes, and they're very important," said Mr. Jensen, holding up his Bible. "But the Bible contains many other commandments as well. In fact, our lesson today talks about a new commandment Jesus gave His disciples--including us. Perhaps it's the best flag we could show others. It's the one Jesus says will show that we belong to Him. He commands us to love others the way He loves us. Jesus loves us so much that He died on the cross so we could be saved and have His love in our hearts. When we love others, it shows them that Jesus is our King and that His Spirit lives in us." –Mary Rose PearsonHow About You?Are you flying a flag that shows others you're a Christian? Jesus tells us that the most important flag of all is love. He commands us to love others as He loves us. That's a lot of love! If you know Jesus, He's given you the ability to love others the way He does. When you treat others with love, you're flying His flag and showing others that He lives in your heart.Today's Key Verse:A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (NIV) (John 13:34)Today's Key Thought:Love one another

Series: Guard the TreasureTitle: How to stay true to ChristScripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-10 NIV John 15:1-5 “train to remain”Bottom Line: We stay true to the faith by training to remain in Christ.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESDISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDINTRODUCTIONHow to Avoid the Titanic MistakeJames Cameron, director of the movie Titanic, describes the Titanic as a ‘metaphor' of life: ‘We are all living on… [the] Titanic.'When the Titanic set sail in 1912, it was declared to be ‘unsinkable' because it was constructed using a new technology. The ship's hull was divided into sixteen watertight compartments. Up to four of these compartments could be damaged or even flooded, and still the ship would float.Tragically, the Titanic sank on 15 April 1912 at 2.20 am. 1,513 people lost their lives. At the time, it was thought that five of its watertight compartments had been ruptured in a collision with an iceberg.However, on 1 September 1985, when the wreck of the Titanic was found lying upright on the ocean floor, there was no sign of the long gash previously thought to have been ripped in the ship's hull. What they discovered was that damage to one compartment affected all the rest.Many people make the Titanic mistake. They think they can divide their lives into different ‘compartments' and that what they do in one will not affect the rest. However, as Rick Warren (from whom I have taken this illustration) says, ‘A life of integrity is one that is not divided into compartments.'David prayed for ‘an undivided heart' (Psalm 86:11). He led the people with ‘integrity of heart' (78:72). Supremely, Jesus was a ‘man of integrity' (Matthew 22:16; Mark 12:14). How can you and I avoid the Titanic mistake and live lives of integrity?How do stay true to Christ (godliness) and overcome false teachings?Proper diet + exerciseCONTEXTFalse teachers are intentionally wreaking havoc on the Ephesians church. That's the context for this letter. There are issues in the church at Ephesus and Paul can't be there to straighten things out. So he sent Timothy in his place to straighten things out until he can get there. This letter represents his instructions to Timothy to help him do just that.“If I were preaching a sermon specifically on 1 Timothy 3:14-16, the main topic would likely revolve around the significance of the church as the guardian of truth and the mystery of godliness centered on Jesus Christ. I would focus on how these verses highlight the importance of understanding and upholding the core beliefs of Christianity while recognizing the profound nature of Christ's life, message, and exaltation.” -ChatGPT 3.5We guard the treasure of the gospel (truth and godliness) by:Sermon Outline (by Hughes):Remaining true to Christ and godliness requires:Diet for Godliness (6-7a)Reject bad doctrineDine on good teachingExercise for Godliness (7b-10)Called to exerciseBenefits of exerciseCONCLUSIONLife-Changing WordsNicky GumbelMy father wanted to go to Russia before he died. We went there on holiday as a family. At that time Bibles were strictly illegal there. I took with me some Russian Bibles. While I was there I went to churches and looked for people who seemed to be genuine Christians. (Church meetings were often infiltrated by the KGB.)On one occasion, I followed a man down the street after a service. I went up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. There was nobody about. I took out one of my Bibles and handed it to him. For a moment, he had an expression of utmost disbelief. Then he took from his pocket a New Testament, which was probably 100 years old. The pages were so threadbare they were virtually transparent. When he realised that he had received a whole Bible, he was elated. He didn't speak any English and I didn't speak any Russian. But we hugged each other and he started to run up and down the street jumping for joy.The words of God are ‘more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb' (Psalm 19:10).Why are the words of God so precious? Jesus said: ‘People do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God' (Matthew 4:4). The original expression means ‘is continually coming out of the mouth of God'; it is like a stream pouring forth and, like the stream of a fountain, it is never static. God is continually communicating with us. He does so, primarily, through the life-changing words of the Bible.Bible in One Year 2021 With Nicky Gumbel: Day 41 • DevotionalBottom Line: We stay true to the faith by training to remain in Christ.In conclusion, let's ask some summary questions:Q. What do I want them to know?A. How to stay true to Christ.Q. Why do I want them to know it?A. Because there are false teachers out there trying to derail our faith.Q. What do I want them to do about it?A. Train to remain in Christ.Q. Why do I want them to do it?A. So they'll stay true to Christ.Q. How can they begin to do this?A. Prayerfully read the Bible each day.PrayNOTESToo busy to pray and be in the word?This call is for all of us who know Christ—regardless of how busy we are or how demanding our occupation. Billy Graham has shared that his medical missionary father-in-law Nelson Bell (who ran a 400-bed hospital in China, often on his own) made it a point "to rise every morning at four-thirty and spend two to three hours in Bible reading. He didn't do his correspondence or any of his other work. He just read the Scriptures every morning, and he was a walking Bible encyclopedia. People wondered at the holiness and the greatness in his life." I asked a personal friend, Dr. Ken Gieser, who worked with Dr. Bell, about this, and he affirmed every word. Consider the example of Lt. General William K. Harrison who was the most decorated soldier in the 30th Infantry Division, rated by General Eisenhower as the number one infantry division in World War II. General Harrison was the first American to enter Belgium during that war, which he did at the head of the Allied forces. He received every decoration for valor except the Congressional Medal of Honor-being honored with the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart he was one of the few generals to be wounded in action).When the Korean War began, he served as Chief of Staff in the United Nations Command and because of his character and calm self-control was ultimately President Eisenhower's choice to head the long and tedious negotiations to end the war.General Harrison was a soldier's soldier who led a busy, ultra-kinetic life, but he was also an amazing man of the Word. When he was a twenty-year-old West Point cadet, he began reading the Old Testament through once and the New Testament four times annually. General Harrison did this until the end of his life. Even in the thick of war he maintained his commitment by catching up during the two- and three-day respites for replacement and refitting that followed battles, so that when the war ended he was right on schedule. When at the age of ninety his failing eyesight no longer permitted this discipline, he had read the Old Testament seventy times and the New Testament 280 times! No wonder his godliness and wisdom were proverbial. It is no surprise that the Lord used him for eighteen fruitful years to lead Officers Christian Fellowship (OCF)."General Harrison's story tells us that it is possible, even for the busiest of us, to systematically train ourselves in God's Word. His life also remains a demonstration of the benefits of a godly mind's programming itself with Scripture. His closest associates say that every area of his life (domestic, spiri-wal, and professional) and each of the great problems he faced was informed by the Scriptures. People marveled at his godliness and his ability to bring the Word's light to every are marveleOUTLINESOutline Bible (Willmington)SECTION OUTLINE FOUR (1 TIMOTHY 4)Paul contrasts two kinds of shepherds.1. GODLESS SHEPHERDS (4:1-5): Paul warns Timothy against false teachers.A. Who they are (4:2): Hypocritical and lying religious leaders.B. What they will do (4:1b-1c, 3)1. Abandon the faith (4:1b)2. Follow teachings that come from lying spirits and demons (4:1 c)3. Forbid marriage and the eating of certain foods (4:3)C. When they will do it (4:1 a): In the "last times" before Jesus' coming.D. Why they are wrong (4:4-5)1. Everything God created is good and thus should not be rejected (4:4).2. Everything God created is made holy by God's Word and by prayer (4:5).II. GODLY SHEPHERDS (4:6-16): Paul lists some dos and don'ts concerning Christian ministry.A. The don'ts (4:7a, 12a, 14)1. Don't waste time arguing over foolish ideas and silly myths (4:7a).2. Don't be intimidated because of your youth (4:12a).3. Don't neglect your spiritual gift (4:14).B. The dos (4:6, 7b-11, 12b-13, 15-16)1. Warn the church members concerning apostasy (4:6).2. Keep spiritually fit (4:7b-11).3. Be a godly role model in all you do (4:12b).4. Continue to publicly read, teach, and preach the Word of God (4:13).5. Give yourself wholly to the ministry (4:15).6. Keep close check on your own life (4:16).BKC OutlineI. The Salutation (1:1–2)II. Instructions concerning False Teachers (1:3–20)III. Instructions concerning Conduct in the Church (2:1–3:13)IV. Instructions concerning Guarding the Truth in the Church (3:14–4:16)A. The church and its truth (3:14–16)B. Predictions of apostasy (4:1–5)C. Responsibilities of a good minister of Christ (4:6–16)V. Instructions concerning Various Groups in the Church (5:1–6:10)A. Concerning various age-groups (5:1–2)B. Concerning widows (5:3–16)C. Concerning elders (5:17–25)D. Concerning slaves and masters (6:1–2)E. Concerning the heretical and greedy (6:3–10)VI. Final Charge to Timothy (6:11–21)A. Exhortation to godliness (6:11–16)B. Instructions for the rich (6:17–19)C. Exhortations to remain faithful (6:20–21)W Wiersbe sermon outlineKey theme: How to manage the ministry of the local churchKey verse: 1 Timothy 3:15I. The Church and Its Message (1)II. The Church and Its Members (2–3)A. Praying men (2:1–8)1. For rulers (2:1–3)2. For sinners (2:4–8)B. Modest women (2:9–15)1. In dress (2:9–10)2. In behavior (2:11–15)C. Dedicated officers (3:1–13)1. Pastors (3:1–7)2. Deacons (3:8–13)D. Behaving believers (3:14–16)III. The Church and Its Minister (4)A. A good minister (4:1–6)B. A godly minister (4:7–12)C. A growing minister (4:13–16)IV. The Church and Its Ministry (5–6)A. To older saints (5:1–2)B. To widows (5:3–16)C. To church leaders (5:17–25)D. To servants (slaves) (6:1–2)E. To trouble-makers (6:3–5)F. To the rich (6:6–19)G. To the “educated” (6:20–21)DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process:Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really God's word, what changes would I have to make in my life?Who am I going to tell about this?Final Questions (optional or in place of above)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions: Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)Final Questions (index cards optional)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“1 - 2 Timothy,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes“1 & 2 Timothy” by John StottExalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus, David Platt, Daniel Akin, Tony Merida“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner (VW)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)Willmington's Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgptAnswerThePublic.comWikipedia.com

People of faith have many opportunities to demonstrate how that faith leads and guides them. As a star athlete recognizes where their gifts and talents come from on a platform for all to see, we can also be faithful in our normal daily interactions with others, demonstrating grace—especially when we disagree—and showing kindness, understanding, and humility, all which reflect the love of Christ in our lives. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, an American hurdler and sprinter, competes in the 400 meter hurdles. She is the 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion with the Games record, and 2022 World champion with a world record time of 50.68 seconds. It takes work to be the kind of athlete Sydney has become, but she always acknowledges the One who gave her the talent and the strength to persevere in her sport. Eugene Cho is a pastor, author, and the president of Bread for the World, a Christian advocacy organization that is committed to ending hunger. Many years ago, while pastoring a church, Eugene noticed a tension that was sweeping through his congregation—and it involved groups of people who disagreed strongly over faith and politics. Over time, he began to look at these situations, drawing parallels from the life of Jesus and how He handled those who disagreed with Him and His work.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Emily Chang Upcoming interview: Michael Hyancinthe  Thank you to our sponsor: www.give.cru.org Jesus Calling for Easter   Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion Doha World Championships in 2019 Far Beyond Gold: Running From Fear to Faith   Eugene Cho Bread for the World Luke 10:25-37 NIV John 10:10 NIV Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk   Interview Quotes: “God really helped to rework my mind and my heart to truly put Him on the throne of my life. And because of that, I was able to reprioritize how I viewed track and field and how I prepared for races, how I viewed wins versus losses.” - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone  “I can show up to the track every day and understand that this is a gift He's given me that win, lose, or draw, it's an opportunity to glorify Him, and my value is already secure in Christ.” - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone  “I want to make sure that I'm keeping company with people that are not just people that will agree with everything that I will say, that are willing to challenge me, but also making sure that I'm rooted and guided in the gospel through Jesus Christ.” - Eugene Cho  “I just think it's really important that we be wise, cautious, careful not to dehumanize those that we disagree with, because in our self-righteousness, we can become the very things that we criticize in others and not even know it.” - Eugene Cho  “We have to understand that the ultimate call for us as followers of Jesus is not to be successful. It's not to be outrageous. It's not to be the loudest. It's not to be the one that's most heard, but the one that's rooted in Christ, who seeks to be faithful, who walks with integrity, who seeks to love like Jesus loved, including making sure that we're mindful of the lessons of the Good Samaritan.” - Eugene Cho “I think it's so important that we understand that everything that we do as followers of Christ must be rooted in this commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. That's our anchor and our foundation.” - Eugene Cho “Maybe part of the reason why I have always appreciated the invitation to spend time in God's Word on a regular basis is so that as we go about doing this work, we don't lose ourselves in the blustery winds of our culture and times.” - Eugene Cho  ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What's Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 3:26"I'm ready for my birthday adventure, Grandma!" Emily said. "Where are we going?""You'll see. But you'll need this." Grandma handed Emily a big box.Emily tore off the paper, opened the box, and gasped. "A dress?"Grandma nodded. "You'll look so pretty. Go get changed, dear."Emily put on the dress and eagerly followed Grandma out to the car. After a short drive, Grandma said, "Here we are.""Is this a mansion?" Emily asked as they climbed the stairs to the front door.Grandma grinned. "It is a mansion. Long ago different families called it home. Now it's a Victorian tea room.""Is this why we're all dressed up?" Emily asked. Grandma nodded. Once inside, Emily whispered, "Everything's so fancy. And it's so quiet."A woman in a long black dress greeted them. "Hello, I'm Rachel. How may I help you?""My granddaughter and I have reservations.""You must be Emily, the birthday girl. May I say you look like a princess in your lovely dress." Rachel smiled. "Please follow me." Rachel led them to their table. "I see you've requested the birthday tea for two with lunch. Excellent choice! I'll bring out your tea first.""Rachel's so nice," Emily said. "I do feel like a princess in my dress with all the beautiful things here.""Well, Emily, whether you're here, on a soccer field, or anywhere else, you are a princess," Grandma said. Emily looked puzzled. "You are a child of the King of kings," Grandma told her. "God is your heavenly Father.""And since He's King over everything, that makes me a princess?""That's right. The Bible tells us many times that we are God's children because we trust in Jesus. He died for our sins so we could be forgiven and become part of God's family."As Emily pondered that, Rachel returned carrying a teapot with yellow rosebuds painted on it. She poured Emily's tea. "Would you like sugar or honey?""Honey, please," Emily said."Sweets for the sweet princess."Emily's eyes sparkled as she glanced at Grandma. "Rachel, can I tell you something? It's not this fancy dress that makes me a princess. I'm a princess because I'm a child of God, who's the King of kings!""I could tell." Rachel smiled. "I'm a child of God too!" –Lynda BoucherHow About You?Are you a child of God and a member of His family? When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we become children of God. As His children, our heavenly Father gives us the Holy Spirit to guide and help us as we walk with Him. If you haven't yet trusted in Jesus, do it today, and you will become a child of the King. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)Today's Key Verse:Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. (NIV) (John 1:12 )Today's Key Thought:Christians are God's children

Join us for Episode 4 in our seven-week series, Encountering Jesus Personally. In this week's episode, Lisa and Laura dive into the Gospel of John, focusing on the famous I AM statement, “I am the good shepherd.” Each time we find Jesus saying, “I am,” He is giving us a glimpse into what He's like. He's revealing something about His character.  Do you struggle to believe that God is good? Do you doubt your own goodness? What does good mean? Join Lisa and Laura as they unpack today's Scripture and apply it to our daily lives.   Open your Heart to our key Scripture.  John 10:11: I am the good shepherd.   Open your Bible to other Scriptures referenced in this episode.  John 10:11-15: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own life the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep.  Isaiah 61:2-3: To comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. (NIV)  John 10:18: No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. John 11:25: I am the resurrection and the life. Romans 5:8:  But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.  Psalm 139:14: I praise you, for  I am wondrously made. Psalm 139:16: Your eyes beheld my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.  Romans 14:8: If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. Catechism 356: Of all visible creatures, only man is “able to know and love his creator.” He is “the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake.”   Invite Him in with this episode's questions for reflection. With your current set of circumstances, what are you choosing to focus on? The hardship or God's goodness? Are we close enough to hear His voice? Or have we strayed? Are we searching for a sense of belonging outside of a relationship with Him?    Show mentions. Walking with Purpose, Fearless and Free: Experiencing Healing and Wholeness in Christ Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration  “Adversity is the touchstone of the soul because it discovers the character of the virtue which it possesses. One act of thanksgiving when matters go wrong with us is worth a thousand thanks when things are agreeable to our inclinations.” (John Gilmary Shea, American author and historian)   Let's stay connected. Don't miss an episode. Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform.  Want to keep the conversation going? Join our private Facebook community. Stay in the know. Connect with us today.  We are committed to creating content that is free and easily accessible to every woman—especially the one looking for answers but unsure of where to go. If you've enjoyed this podcast, prayerfully consider making a donation to support it and other WWP outreach programs that bring women closer to Christ. Learn more about WWP on our website. Our Shop.  Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Bible Reading: Matthew 1:21-23; Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:5-8"Grandpa, look at this map book I found," said Casey."That's my old atlas," Grandpa answered. "I used that atlas to teach your mom about places of the world." Grandpa turned some pages and said, "See that green star? I put that on the town where I was born in Iowa. This other star is where Grandma was born." Then he turned to a page that showed the whole United States. There was a star on Iowa and a star on New Mexico. "Look, here's New Mexico where we live," said Casey. She traced a line between the two states. "Grandpa, you started in Iowa, and now you and Grandma live in New Mexico, right across the street from us!""Yes, we moved a thousand miles to be close to the people we love most." Grandpa showed Casey another map with green stars on it. "My parents were born here, in Austria." "Austria? Kangaroos live there!" Casey said."No, honey, kangaroos live in Australia. Austria is a country in Europe." Casey turned some pages and found a map with a large gold star on it. Grandpa touched the star and said, "I know someone who was born here, and so do you.""Is it Uncle Gilbert? Mom said he lives far away.""No. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. I put a special star on it, like the star that shone there when He was born. After Jesus was born, what happened to Him?" Grandpa asked. "He grew up, and He was the only person who never sinned. But we do sin, so we need a saver." "Savior," corrected Grandpa. "Then what happened?""He died on the cross, but then He rose again, and now He lives in us because we trust in Him," said Casey. "That's right. Grandma and I moved a long way to live close to you, but Jesus came all the way from heaven to save us so He could live in us. We were separated from Him because of our sin, so Jesus became human and died for us. When we trust in Him, He is always with us through the Holy Spirit, and one day we'll see Him face-to-face." Casey smiled and said, "I'm glad He came to be our saver." "Savior," said Grandpa with a wink. "Me too." –Teresa AmbordHow About You?Do you know someone who moved to be closer to family and friends? Many people try to live close to those they love, like their grandchildren. That might mean moving a great distance to live near them. Just think how far Jesus came to be close to those He loves--like you! He came all the way from heaven to save you so you could live with Him forever. Have you trusted in Him? (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)Today's Key Verse:For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV) (John 3:16)Today's Key Thought:Jesus came to save us

Bible Reading: Psalms 73:23-28; 147:4-5; John 1:9-14"Wow, look at all the stars!" Bretton gaped at the tiny specks of light splattered across the night sky as he and his dad walked onto the beach. "I don't think I've ever seen so many at once!""It's amazing, isn't it?" Dad spread a blanket on the sand so they could sit down. "This has always been my favorite part of camping--getting away from all the city lights so we can see the stars.""Yeah," said Bretton. He pointed to a twinkling point of light. "Look at that one! It's brighter than the rest.""That's Sirius, or the Dog Star. It's one of the closest stars to Earth, and it's twice as big as our sun." "Really? It's bigger than the sun?" asked Bretton."Sure is. And it's small compared to some other stars out there." Dad pointed to a spot slightly below Sirius. "In that area of the sky is one of the biggest stars we know of--VY Canis Majoris. It's two thousand times bigger than the sun!" Dad took a quarter out of his pocket. "If this quarter was the sun, VY Canis Majoris would fill half a football field!""No way!" Bretton looked at the dim spot in the sky. "But I can't even see it from here!""It's too far away to see with the naked eye," said Dad. "You need binoculars or a telescope.""It's so much bigger than Sirius, but Sirius is easier to see," observed Bretton. "And the sun is the smallest of them, but on earth it shines the brightest!""That's because of the stars' distance from earth, not their size. If you saw all three side by side, you'd know which one was biggest!"Dad leaned back on the blanket. "You know, the same can be true of how we view God, the One who made the stars. Sometimes on earth God can seem small and distant compared to other things that seem important, like being successful or having cool stuff. But God sent His Son, Jesus, to bring us near to Him, and when we have a relationship with Jesus and see His goodness in our lives, His light becomes brighter and everything else grows dim. Just like being close to a star is the only way to see its true size, we need Jesus to show us how big and wonderful He really is."-Courtney LasaterHow About You?Has God ever seemed small and distant to you? Maybe you don't think He's as important as other things in your life because you can't see or touch Him. But God is bigger and more powerful than you could ever imagine. He created the entire universe, and He wants to have a relationship with you! Trust in Jesus today. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.) Then watch His light grow brighter in your life!Today's Key Verse:The Word [Jesus] became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory. (NIV) (John 1:14)Today's Key Thought:You can have a relationship with God

Bible Reading: Genesis 3:1-6, 17-19; John 1:29"Thank you for helping with the pie, Lizzy!" said Grandma. The four-year-old beamed. "What about me?" eight-year-old Henry asked, showing his grandmother the pie he'd made out of playdough."It's adorable." Grandma moved the apple pie to the back of the stove. "Lizzy, while the oven is heating up, why don't we go pick some green beans from the garden?""Okay!" Lizzy replied."Henry, are you going to come with us?" Grandma asked. "I want to make pies," Henry replied, playdough in hand. "Okay, we'll be outside for a bit then. Please don't touch the apple pie," Grandma said as she followed Lizzy outside. After dinner and devotions that evening, Grandma served everyone a slice of apple pie. "Lizzy did wonderful today being my helper," she told Grandpa. Lizzy beamed as she picked up her fork. "I like helping!" As she put a bite of pie in her mouth, the smile disappeared. "Yuck!" she exclaimed. "It's all full of salt!" Grandpa tried a tiny bite. "You're right, Lizzy-girl, this does taste like a salt pie.""Well!" Grandma looked at the pie. "How did that happen? I know I put the right amount of salt in.""Henry, you're quiet," Grandpa noted as he looked at the boy. Henry sighed. "I'm sorry, Grandma. I tried to put sugar on top of the pie so it would be extra yummy. But it wasn't sugar, it was salt. Now the pie is ruined."Grandpa chuckled. "This reminds me of what we read in Genesis. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the fruit, the curse of sin entered the world. And just like the salt in this pie, we can't fix it and get rid of the sin on our own. We need Jesus's help with that.""He died on the cross so He could take all our sins far away." Lizzy frowned. "Is he going to fix the pie?"Grandpa grinned. "One day He's going to fix the whole world! Then all sin will be gone forever.""In the meantime, He gave us lots of apples on our tree so we can bake another pie." Grandma smiled. "This time, I think I'll have two helpers." -Kimberly BrokishHow About You?Have you ever added too much salt to something? It takes over the food and makes the entire dish taste like salt. That's similar to how sin took over the world. The good news is that Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins and rose again so He could fix the world and we could spend eternity with Him. How awesome is that? Have you trusted Him to take your sins away? If not, do it today! (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.)Today's Key Verse:For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV) (John 3:16)Today's Key Thought:Jesus died for our sins

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you (NIV) John 14:27

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Is Death a Mystery? looks at what God's Word has to say about death. Show Notes: Is Death a Mystery? Today's episode brings us to myth number 3 in Jeff Walling's book, Daring to Dance with God. He says: “Death is a mystery we can never understand.” I have found throughout my life that few people like to discuss death. If you want to clear a room, just make dying, hospitals, and funeral homes the topic for conversation and people will ease their way to the front door. Death is a difficult discussion. Could that be, as Walling points out, because there is such a mystery associated with it? People have seances to try and speak to the dead. They pray for loved ones who have passed away. They try many ways to find out what exactly lies at and behind death's door. Except they don't look at what the Creator of the universe says in the Bible. God's Word is full of scriptures giving us a peek behind death's door and if you've given your life to Jesus and are following closely after Him, you're going to like what you see. John 3:16 tells us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” We are promised eternal life if we believe in Jesus. (NIV) John 11:25-26 confirms this: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'" Jesus said we will never die. (NIV) John 14:1-4 goes a little deeper: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Jesus is preparing a place for us and He will be there. (NIV) Luke 23:43 is reassuring: “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.'" This verse in reference to the thief on the cross is very comforting when you wonder if people can get saved when at the point of death. Revelation 21:1-7 shows the end: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty, I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.” Wow. Everything will be new. Fresh. Clean. And no death, sorrow, crying, or pain. And it's true. I'm ready for no more death. This past week, our dear sweet puppy we'd had for two months got away from us and took off after a truck. He ran under the wheel, and his life ended. I was so angry at death, stealing such a joyful life away from us. But one day, death will no longer have a say. Life in heaven will be eternal. Are you prepared to meet God today? If you're not sure, why not stop by my website at https://www.

Bible Reading: John 1:5-9; 1 John 1:5-7"Mom, my aquarium light is broken." Natalie tapped the top of her fish tank. "I guess my new guppy is going to be stuck in the dark."Mom set her coffee cup on the counter. "But that tank is brand new. It can't be broken.""It just won't turn on." Natalie clicked the light switch attached to the aquarium cord."Let me see." Mom checked under the aquarium. "It's plugged into the wall.""Maybe the light bulb burned out." Natalie shrugged.Mom shook her head. "It's an LED light. They're supposed to last a long time. When was the last time it worked?""Last night." Natalie clicked the cord switch again. "See. It doesn't work.""Wait a minute." Mom grinned. "The cord is plugged into the wall, but is it plugged into the aquarium?""Um…no!" Natalie found the plug had detached from the light. "It must have wiggled loose when I fed Shimmer his dinner.""Plug it in and try again," said Mom.The light clicked on, and Shimmer swished across the fish tank, expecting to be fed."That's it!" Natalie laughed. "It wasn't plugged in.""You know, people need to be plugged in too.""What do you mean, Mom?""A life without Jesus is a life spent in the dark. But when we turn to Him for forgiveness of our sins and trust Him as our Savior, it's like a light turns on in our mind and heart. We finally know who God is, and we become connected to Him.""Just like clicking on a light switch?""That's right, Natalie. But we need to be plugged in, or we'll be stuck in the dark.""How?""When we trust in Jesus, He gives us the Holy Spirit, who lives in us as proof that we belong to God. He connects us to Jesus and shines His light in our lives." Mom placed a hand on Natalie's shoulder. "Would you like to trust in Jesus, Natalie? I can pray with you if you want."Natalie watched Shimmer glide by in his tank and nodded. "Sure, Mom. I don't want to live in the dark." -Chanda GrieseHow About You?Have you trusted Jesus to forgive your sins and give you His light? If we aren't connected to Jesus, we are living in darkness. When we trust Him as our Savior, the Holy Spirit brings to light who God is and connects us to Him. He helps us walk in the light of Jesus by guiding us in God's truth and helping us show His love to others. Do you have the light of Jesus in your life? If not, trust in Him today. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page.)Today's Key Verse:[Jesus] said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (NIV) (John 8:12)Today's Key Thought:Be connected to Jesus

John 1:40-42 (NIV)Luke 5:4-11 (NIV)Matthew 16:13-23 (NIV)Matthew 26:33-35, 69-75 (NIV)Mark 16:4-7 (NIV)John 21:15-17 (NIV)

Hope holds great significance in our lives and can shape our attitudes, behaviors, and outcomes. As hope affects our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, the absence of it can cause adverse results. For Christians, hope is not merely a positive emotion or wishful thinking but is deeply rooted in faith and trust in God's promises. Life is hard, but we don't have to give in to hopelessness. Though seasons of grief and sadness will come, it is possible, as Paul says in the Bible, to be “Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). This week, we'll hear from neurosurgeon Dr. W. Lee Warren, who shares about what hopelessness can do to our minds and spirits, how he wrestled with the idea that we can have a hard life and still have an abundant life, and what he did to cope after tragically losing his son. Author Lily Taylor shares about the devastation she experienced when her son was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and how by keeping God at the center, she was able to hang on to hope for herself and her son.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Kirk Cousins Upcoming interview: Austin and Marideth Telenko Samaritan's Purse: https://sampur.se/44HesSt  2 Corinthians 6:10 NIV   Dr. W. Lee Warren John 16:33 NIV John 10:10 NIV Balad Air Force Base Glioblastoma Romans 8:28 NIV C.S. Lewis  www.wleewarrenmd.com Hope Is The First Dose   Lily Taylor Unconfined www.prayersforprodigals.com   Interview Quotes: “I was trying to figure out how to be a good doctor to people when I couldn't save [my patients], and how to be a good brother in the Lord to people when I couldn't save their bodies.” - Dr. W. Lee Warren “The last thing I heard my son say in this life was, ‘I love you.'” - Dr. W. Lee Warren “I had to say, ‘God, this doesn't feel like refinement. It feels like you're burning me up.' But if I want to move forward in my life, I'm going to have to find some way to redeem this time and make something out of it that [my son] Mitch could be proud of.” - Dr. W. Lee Warren  “What happens with the gift of time, as time passes, God opens your eyes in a new way, and the light comes back on a little bit and you start being able to see ways in which those promises are actually true.” - Dr. W. Lee Warren  “Tragic events happen in our lives, and the bad news is they happen to all of us, but the good news is there really is a way back.” - Dr. W. Lee Warren  “We heard the news that [our son Stephen] was going to be sentenced to a very long prison term, and it was really hard. So we just had to do what we had been doing up to that point when we heard the news, which was to just turn to God and say, ‘Okay, God, you can still work a miracle here.'” - Lily Taylor “[Our son Stephen] started getting a little bit of joy back because he started to feel that presence, get comfort and peace from the fact that God was so big, so loving, so amazing that nothing that he was facing was going to be impossible to face.” - Lily Taylor  “Your destiny is not defined by what you did, a detour is not your destiny. Your destiny is whatever God says it is, and your job is just to be faithful to whatever light He gives you on your path today.” - Lily Taylor  “God showed us that there's absolutely nothing that He can't use for good. God hears those prayers. It may not look like anything good in the natural, but in God's economy, He is covering it and He does hear our prayers and He does answer our prayers.” - Lily Taylor ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What's Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Sometimes the people we least expect to make a difference in the world are the ones that show up in ways we never thought possible, and are used by God in big ways to draw others to Him.  Alice Marie Johnson had been sentenced to life in federal prison, but she didn't let it define her. She consistently clung to her faith and then became a minister to other prisoners—despite the tragic circumstances—and she is now an active criminal justice reform advocate. While following anti-human traffickers in Southeast Asia to film a documentary, Christina Zorich witnessed the crippling heartache victims faced, and saw how God can bring hope and healing to anyone, anywhere.      Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Aaron Tippin Upcoming interview: Jimi Cravity   Alice Marie Johnson  Psalm 23:4 NIV John 1:5 NIV Yale University University of Washington Clemency Project 2014 Kim Kardashian  Ivanka Trump Jared Kushner Receiving & Discharge   Christina Zorich  The New Abolitionists Olympia Dukakis  Louis Zorich Our Town Unlikely Heroes Polaris Project  Extreme Love Ministries  Tamar's Center   Interview Quotes: “I knew that the Lord was with me, because I had peace even standing there [in the courtroom] that I can't even explain to this day how I could be calm hearing that sentence, that executed sentence of death being pronounced over me.” - Alice Marie Johnson  “I asked the Lord, ‘Please show me my purpose in this. Show me what you have for me in this. There's got to be more than this. If You could use me in prison, use me wherever I am, Lord. Let my life stand for something.'” - Alice Marie Johnson  “I know that it was a sovereign hand of God. For someone to see me as a human being worth a second chance, worth redemption, I know that it was God.” - Alice Marie Johnson  “Going on the journey [following anti-traffickers in Asia] was actually in some ways so simple, because I had to be so dependent on God. I had to be so dependent on just getting every little opportunity, appreciating it, and if I made a mistake, I had to learn from the lesson.” - Christina Zorich  “I realized the simplicity of the experience really helped guide me and made my life just simpler in a way. Because when you're doing something for the first time, that wide-eyed openness makes you appreciate things and value things. And the experience and the journey changed me in many ways.” - Christina Zorich  ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What's Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Sermon Notes Have you ever asked God for something and ended up with something different than what you had in mind? Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬ When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?'" John's situation has him wondering what Jesus' ultimate plan is. Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" ‭‭Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. In seasons where you're struggling to see the hand of God in your life – look for it in the lives of others. Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor." Isaiah‬ ‭35‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. Miracles on Earth point us to the power and faith we are to have in the Miracle Worker, Jesus. Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ "Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." Wonders don't erase wrestling. Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ "Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me." Stumble = skandalizó: to put a snare (in the way), hence to cause to stumble. Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces." Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: " 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'" Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ "I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." Giving your life to Jesus is a sacrifice always worth making. "Faith is living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of God's favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace make you happy, joyful, and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures." – Martin Luther

Video Sections: 00:00 Start of Service01:33 Worship34:16 Message StartMessage Notes:Finding Our Identity1. Measurements of Success1. Early Years: Academic achievements, sports accolades, and social popularity2. Middle Years: Accumulated power and money, achievements, and contributions3. Later Years: Honor, reputation, and legacyPhilippians 3:2-10 (ESV)2. Failures1. Past Shame - “I can't can't believe I did that I'm just a…”2. Present Stumbling - “I can't stop this… I'm just a…”3. Future Fears - “There's no way I can… I'm just a…”3. Citizenship1. "My country is better than your country.”2. Our Citizenship is in heaven.Philippians 3:20-21 (NLT)Where do you get your identity?Ephesians 2:1-5 (ESV)Ephesians 2:13 (NIV)Galatians 2:20 (NIV)Colossians 3:3 (NIV)John 1:12 (NLT)Romans 8:15 (NRSV)Galatians 3:26 (NLT)1 John 3:1a (ESV)Galatians 2:20 (NIV)Colossians 3:1-2 (MSG)2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.”

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:103-105"Aren't you too old for a night-light?" Brendon's cousin Ollie smirked at the superhero light.Brendon's face flushed. "My mom said I can keep it as long as I want.""Are you afraid of the dark?" Ollie asked.Brendon's mom called them down for supper just then, and he was glad he didn't have to answer. After they ate and played a few video games, his cousin left and it was time for bed.When Brendon stepped into his room, he looked at the night-light. Maybe it was too babyish for him. Brendon pulled it out. The room was dark without it, so he hurried to his bed and pulled the blankets over his head. When he peeked out from under the blankets, he couldn't even see his toys across the room.The door creaked open, and Brendon almost jumped. "Mom?""Are you okay?" Mom asked. "Your night-light isn't plugged in.""I took it out." Brendon sat up. "I'm too old for it.""Oh?"Brendon nodded. "They're for little kids. I can be in the dark.""Everyone needs light." Mom sat on the edge of his bed. "Without it, we can't see what's around us. Without it, life can feel scary.""But you don't have a night-light in your room," Brendon pointed out."No," Mom said. "I sleep better without one. But I do have a different kind of light. One that you have too.""Huh?" Brendon asked."I have Jesus's light, and I carry it with me everywhere. It makes the darkness a lot less scary." Mom patted Brendon's chest. "You have Jesus with you always. He conquered sin and death to save you, and He can help you in darkness or whenever you feel afraid."Brendon took in a breath. "I guess I didn't think about that. I just felt alone with the light off.""You are never alone." Mom kissed his cheek. "Jesus is always with you." She got up. "So, about your night-light…""Will you plug it back in?" Brendon asked. "I know Jesus is my light, but…""It's okay if you have a night-light too." Mom plugged the night-light into the outlet, and Brendon relaxed when he saw it glowing and thought of how Jesus was with him too. -Bethany AckerHow About You?Are you afraid of the dark? When it's dark or when you're alone, does it make you feel better to know that Jesus is with you? He promises never to leave you, and you can talk to Him anytime. When you feel afraid, remember that He is with you, even in the dark.Today's Key Verse:I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. (NIV) (John 12:46)Today's Key Thought:Jesus is your light

As human beings, we're all on an individual journey, a walk that is all our own. Perhaps you grew up in a family of faith that laid the groundwork for the beliefs you have today, or perhaps you discovered your faith later and can mark the moments where God made Himself present on your journey. No matter how we got to our faith, or where we're headed, the faith that lives inside us will guide us on a beautiful journey that will take us to the place we're meant to be.  Andrea Bocelli, the world's most beloved tenor singer, joins us this week to talk about his faith journey, along with his wife Veronica, who closes the interview with a prayer from Jesus Listens. Speaking in his native Italian, which has been translated to English for this podcast, Andrea recounts how his love for his family and his faith have kept him centered during all the years his career had him jet-setting across the globe to perform on the world's most iconic stages. Licensed counselor and national speaker Debra Fileta specializes in relationships and mental and emotional health. In her new book, Reset, Debra walks readers through a journey to transform their old habits and bring about lasting change in their lives.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Kristin Smedley Upcoming interview: Akbar Gbajabiamila   Andrea Bocelli The Journey   Debra Fileta  Reset Mark 12:30 NIV Romans 7:15 NIV John 8:31-32 NIV www.debrafileta.com   Interview Quotes: “I realized that there can't be a clock without a clockmaker…this convinced me right away that between the idea of God and fate, I was going towards the first one, and from that moment everything I had done so far—going to the mass, all these things—wasn't something abstract anymore, instead it was extremely serious, tangible, and important.” - Andrea Bocelli “I must say that faith has always been very important to me to keep myself down to earth, to remember that everything I've done wasn't my merit, but a gift from God.” - Andrea Bocelli “The problem is when we approach change from the outside in, it doesn't lead to lasting change.“ - Debra Fileta “Just because you're a Christian doesn't mean you're healthy. We have to take a journey of healing with Jesus by our side." - Debra Fileta “There is no trauma that is more powerful than the power of Jesus at work in me.” - Debra Fileta “Your thoughts ultimately affect how you feel, which then affect how you behave and what you choose to do and how you act.” - Debra Fileta “Many times, the Lord needs to take us on a journey of going backward in order to heal some of those hurts and insecurities and fears from the past, in order to replace them with God's truth so that we can begin getting unstuck in our present.” - Debra Fileta “When God reveals a struggle, when God reveals something in your life that's a weakness or a sin, and He's bringing it to the surface of your life, it's not to shame you. It's to invite you into a deeper level of healing.” - Debra Fileta “It is hard to heal, but it's also hard to stay the same. It's also hard to live with struggle and sin and addiction and bondage.” - Debra Fileta ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What's Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

As we figure out how to navigate the various things that life puts in front of us, we may question whether we're always doing the right thing. When we don't know what to do, it's good to remember what Jesus says that can help put us on the right path: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” [John 13:34] “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.” [John 15:13] Some people do literally lay down their lives on a daily basis for others. But the rest of us can choose to lay down our lives and love extravagantly in smaller, every-day living type ways. Those moments when we go out of our way to help someone in need are always something we can know is the right way to go.  James Patterson is considered the world's bestselling author, and he's the creator of beloved, enduring fictional characters like Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, and is also known for his critically-acclaimed narrative nonfiction, including works like Walk In My Combat Boots, and E.R. Nurses. When James started writing his new book, Walk the Blue Line, he was astounded, despite recent events that reflect poor choices by police officers, by the good so many other police officers are doing out there, and the challenges they face each time they put on their uniform. Luke Sherman, a former police officer, has experienced thirty years of some of the scariest situations imaginable. Now, he's taken a new role at the nonprofit organization Folds of Honor, founded by Dan Rooney, and has helped expand their scholarship program from military families to also include the families of America's first responders. Rachel Faulkner Brown is a gold star wife whose children were scholarship recipients from Folds of Honor, and now as one of the organization's speakers, Rachel shares how she is passionate to help the families of first responders move from tragedy to hope for the future.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Gary Sinise Upcoming interview: Nazareth John 13:34 NIV John 15:13 NIV   James Patterson  Walk In My Combat Boots E.R. Nurses Dolly Parton Along Came a Spider Kiss the Girls Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN Edgar® Award Matt Eversmann Black Hawk Down Walk the Blue Line St. Patrick's Cathedral www.jamespatterson.com   Luke Sherman Rachel Faulkner Brown Folds of Honor Dan Rooney Be Still Ministries Never Alone Widows World War II Naval Air Station New Orleans Genesis 50:20 NIV Revelation 12:11 NIV Tulsa Police Department www.foldsofhonor.org   Interview Quotes: “I don't expect things to come to me, and I'm grateful when they do.” - James Patterson “What can we do that's the most valuable to everybody else and to ourselves and to our own family?” - James Patterson “These policemen and women, they really need your prayers too. They need them every day.” - James Patterson “Now, more than ever in my lifetime, people just need to go somewhere where they can be at peace and believe that somehow it's all going to turn out in a good way, you know? And the crazy thing [is] the truth will set you free. I think it does.” - James Patterson “Education can never be taken away from us. There are very few things in this world that can't be taken away, and that is definitely one of them, which is why I'm so passionate about having a good education for my children and any other child, because I do think it is the gift that never stops giving.“ - Rachel Faulkner Brown “I look back and I'm like, Oh, my gosh, what You have done with something the enemy meant to take me out, honestly, to take out me and my children. Look what God has done and flipped it on its head and said, ‘Don't worry, Rachel, I've got people that are going to take care of you and your little children, just like Joseph told his own brothers.'” - Rachel Faulkner Brown “The work that you do sometimes you don't see the results of. But if it's done with good intentions and the foundation of our faith behind it, it'll change lives. It'll bring mountains down.” - Luke Sherman “Everybody has fear. But what are we going to do? Because there's something more important. And from every crisis and tragedy, I think there's an opportunity.” - Luke Sherman  ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What's Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

Bible Reading: John 6:5-13"Yessss, cinnamon rolls!" Anna bounced in her lunchroom seat, her braids swinging up and down. She carefully opened the plastic bag, releasing the delicious smell into the air."Anna, won't you share?" asked her friend Andrew. He sat across the table eyeing her treats.Anna bit into a cinnamon roll and slowly chewed with her eyes closed. She licked the sticky icing off her fingers with a smack. "You had cookies." She pointed at the leftover crumbs in front of him. "You don't need my cinnamon rolls.""Pleeeease?" Andrew begged. He folded his hands and pouted."No, these are mine." Anna was about to eat the second roll when she spotted Chris. "Is Chris eating alone again?" Andrew turned around to see. "Looks like it. He always eats one PB and J sandwich. I know I'd be hungry if that's all I ate."Anna frowned. "That reminds me of something. Do you remember how we learned about Jesus feeding five thousand people with a little boy's lunch? It wasn't much, but he shared it with Jesus. And Jesus did a miracle with it!""Yeah," said Andrew. "I bet that boy was surprised when the five loaves of bread and two fish he brought for lunch fed five thousand people!"Anna looked at the roll, then back at Chris. "What good can this small cinnamon roll do?" she whispered to herself. "Hey, you're not throwing that away, are you?" asked Andrew. He perked up when Anna stood."No," Anna said. "I'm sharing the little I have. It can't feed everyone, but maybe it can help somebody." Anna walked to Chris's table. "Hey, Chris." She offered him the roll."What's that?" Chris asked shyly."It's a cinnamon roll," Anna replied. "My mom made it, but I want to share it with you."Chris's eyes grew wide and welled up with tears. "My mom used to bake rolls before she got sick.""Oh." Anna bit her lip. "Here, try it." She handed it to him and sat down across the table. "It's really yummy."Chris took the roll from the plastic bag and carefully bit into it. As he chewed, he closed his eyes and smiled. Anna smiled too. -Kenzie McGregorHow About You?What's something small you can share to help others and show them God's love? Maybe you have a toy car, a book, or a game you can share. Maybe you can sing or bake or write a thoughtful note to someone. No matter how small it is, Jesus can use whatever you're willing to share for His glory.Today's Key Verse:Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many? (NIV) (John 6:9)Today's Key Thought:Let Jesus use what you have

Where does the human body fit into our theology? In Scripture, humans are said to be "created in the image of God,” but overall the creation of our bodies is a great mystery, and we cannot say it has been created in the image of God without trying to understand what that phrase means. We don't get to choose its color, its height, or even the basic functionality of its parts. It remains largely an unpredictable, dynamic space that we must learn to inhabit, love, and enjoy as the most basic gift we've been given. Both of our guests this week learned to love the bodies that they were given. Dr. Amy Kenny is a disabled scholar and lecturer in Shakespearean studies at the University of California Riverside. She celebrates the beautiful vulnerability of her disabled body within the theology of the image of God and she advocates for disabled and unhoused people. Anna Lind Thomas is a comedian who overcame perceptions of being the "ugly duckling" when compared to her sister by taking time to hone her comedic craft, learn radical self-compassion, and celebrate the unpredictability of our human bodies.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Miles McPherson Upcoming interview: Tara Cole Genesis 1:27 NIV   Dr. Amy Kenny Romans 1:20 NIV John 9 NIV Luke 14 NIV My Body Is Not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church   Anna Lind Thomas I'm Not Ready for This Interview Quotes: “I started to realize that if the invisible qualities of God's divine nature can be clearly seen in that crookedness of trees, in the bouncing kangaroo, in the languishing lion, and the waddling penguin, then why can't I see it in myself, in my own disabled body?” - Dr. Amy Kenny  “I practice really acknowledging the beautiful vulnerability of my life. I listen to my body and acknowledge that she is a temple and I try to behold those invisible qualities of divine nature throughout creation as a practice every day to make sure I am rooted.” - Dr. Amy Kenny “My disabled body declares the truth that we are from ash and we will one day return to ash. And that day might be sooner than we plan. But my disabled body also declares what the Creator can do with a little bit of ash. And so I give thanks for that.” - Dr. Amy Kenny “I realized that not taking yourself so seriously is a gift, and having a healthy sense of humor about yourself, it really is a skill and it's kind of a nice way to live.” - Anna Lind Thomas “There is something about that deep belly laugh that makes us be like, Okay, I can handle this. You know, I can do this, I can handle this, let's go for it. There's really true power in that, and it's such an important thing.” - Anna Lind Thomas ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What's Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website  

All of us have faced times in our life that felt like a battle. Maybe you've had moments of disappointment and pain where you felt like no one understood you, or you had no support system. Perhaps someone hurt you with their words or planted a seed of doubt in your mind that you'd never get to where you want to be in life, and that trying to reach for more would be impossible. Here's some comforting news: we're not alone when we face battles in our lives. We're not left to fight by ourselves. God is greater than whatever we're facing and He has promised—He will never leave us.  Our guests this week held on to the promise that they could stand strong in God's power when people or circumstances might have crushed their spirits. Samuel Rodriguez experienced situations in his young life where discrimination threatened to divert him from the path he was meant to follow to become a pastor, author, movie producer, and advisor to three of the last four U.S. presidents. Cynt Marshall endured the abuse and abandonment of her father, but her faith in the Lord and the guidance of her mother led her to thrive despite her circumstances, ultimately becoming a highly successful business woman and the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks NBA franchise.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Dedee & Greg Lhamon Upcoming interview: Chris Nikic   Cynt Marshall Marshalling Resources Dallas Mavericks University of California at Berkeley Teenagers protesting in Parkland, Florida Reverend Dr. Billy Graham You've Been Chosen   Samuel Rodriguez New Season Church  National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference 1 Peter 1:16 NIV John 17:21 NIV Matthew 5:14-16 NIV  Luke 1:37 NIV https://pastorsam.com   Interview Quotes: “I always saw myself as the person to help everybody and to provide resources and to be there for people.” - Cynt Marshall “My leadership philosophy is around three Ls, and it's ‘listen to, learn from, and love the people.'” - Cynt Marshall “With faith in God and with standing on His promises, you can truly thrive—not just get through it—but truly thrive through the unexpected.” - Cynt Marshall "I've learned bad things do happen to good people. And so we have to accept adversity and never give up and let the Lord guide us through it." - Cynt Marshall "Love expels fear, mercy triumphs over judgment. All things are possible." - Samuel Rodrigez “We had this crazy dream that the church can be both Billy Graham and Dr. King, and that it can be both righteousness and justice, truth and love, sanctification and service, conviction and compassion.” - Samuel Rodriguez “If you look at the cross as two pieces of wood, one vertical and horizontal, the strongest part of the cross is the nexus. The point of convergence where they intersect. This is the place where we marry the optics of redemption with the metrics of reconciliation.” - Samuel Rodriguez "If our commitment is to be light in the midst of darkness and not just whine about the darkness, doors will continue to open." - Samuel Rodriguez ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What's Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website