Podcasts about nlt

Facing a sudden or chronic health diagnosis can be emotionally paralyzing, opening the door to worry, fear, and discouragement. In this moving devotional, Kristine Brown shares a deeply personal encounter with anxiety after receiving unsettling medical news. Her vulnerability points us back to the only source of true comfort and strength—Jesus Christ. Drawing from Philippians 4:6–7, Kristine reminds us that God’s peace is not only possible—it’s promised to those who turn to Him in prayer. Whether you’re the one enduring physical struggles or walking alongside a loved one, this message invites you to release fear and embrace the surpassing peace of Christ.

Pastor Joe Hite Jesus Forgives And Heals A Paralyzed Man Mark 2:1-12 NLT 1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home.  2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While […]

Just as deceptive weeds can creep into a healthy garden, pride often sneaks into our hearts, growing unnoticed among our accomplishments and even our service to God. Annie Yorty uses a vivid gardening metaphor to help us recognize how pride takes root and how we can humbly invite God to weed it out. Through reflection, Scripture, and prayer, we’re reminded to give glory to the true source of all our gifts: God alone. Themes Explored: The subtle danger of pride Recognizing the difference between self-glory and God-glory Daily humility as spiritual “weed control” Confession and dependence on God for heart inspection Living for God’s glory over our own Scripture Reference Jeremiah 9:23 (NLT) “This is what the Lord says: ‘Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches.’”

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:25-30"Mom, I'm home!" Alyssa called as she came in after school."Hi, honey!" said Mom. "How was your day? Did you learn anything interesting?""We sure did!" said Alyssa. "Mr. Eddleman, our science teacher, poured some really hot water into two glasses. One glass had a spoon in it, and the other one didn't. The one without the spoon cracked when the hot water was poured in, but the other glass was fine. Mr. Eddleman said the metal spoon helped absorb some of the heat and kept the glass from breaking.""Well, I hope he had the glass in the sink when it broke!" said Mom.Alyssa laughed. "He did." Then the smile faded from her face. "Everly wasn't in school today--her family is having all kinds of problems. Her brother was in a car accident last night and had to be rushed to the hospital.""Oh no, that's terrible!" said Mom."Yeah," said Alyssa. "And her dad still hasn't found a job, and her grandma is really sick--she might be dying. I don't see how they can deal with it all.""Well, they know Jesus," said Mom. "And that makes a big difference."Alyssa shrugged. "I feel like I would crack, like that glass in science class today.""That science experiment is a pretty good example of how knowing Jesus helps people," said Mom."It is?" asked Alyssa in surprise.Mom nodded. "Just like the hot water was poured into the glasses, we all have problems come into our lives. Sometimes it can be so overwhelming that we feel like we might crack under the pressure. But Jesus is like that spoon--He helps absorb the heat of our trials. His constant love and care keep our spirits from breaking. I really don't know how anyone can get through tough times without Him." She smiled at Alyssa. "Let's ask God to comfort and encourage Everly and her family and help them trust Him to bring them through it all."Alyssa nodded. "Okay," she said. "But can't we do something else too? Like take them a meal or something?""We sure can," said Mom. "Let's start fixing one right now." –Linda E. KnightHow About You?Are you surrounded by problems and difficulties--or do you know someone else who is? Sickness, a parent losing a job, problems at school, death of a loved one--all these and many other things can make you feel like you simply can't stand it anymore. When you feel like you're going to crack, remember that Jesus is with you. He cares and promises to give you the strength you need.Today's Key Verse:Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT) (1 Peter 5:7 )Today's Key Thought:Give anxieties to God

John 15: I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (NIV) John 15:8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (NIV) 1. Bear Fruit by How You Live John 15:8-10 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love (NIV) Psalm 1:1–2 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. (ESV) Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (NKJV) Galatians 5:19-21 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. (NLT) Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (ESV) 
 2. Bear Fruit by How You Love John 15:10-12 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (NIV) Proverbs 11:25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (NIV)
 3. Bear Fruit by How You Last John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (NIV) Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (NIV)

The key to a peace-filled life is to intentionally focus your mind on God and to trust Him.John 14:27 (NLT)Isaiah 26: 3 (NLT)

With the recent death of Pope Francis and the selection of next pope, social media has lit up with multiple videos and podcasts discussing, the “prophecy of the popes.”Some of you are perhaps hearing about this mysterious prophecy for the first time, while many others have heard about it over the years, but are not certain as to what it is. Should Christians give consideration to this age old prophecy, and should it be taken seriously?In today's study, I would like to answer 3 questions that have been asked about the “prophecy of the popes.”1 - What is the "Prophecy of the Popes"?2 - How Accurate Are the "Prophecy of the Popes"?3 - How Should Christians Respond to Extra-biblical Prophecies?Then we will learn 3 Biblical criteria for judging prophecy:1 - Prophecy Must Align with Scripture2 - Prophecy Should Be Judged by Others3 - Prophecy Must Be Fulfilled------------------Key Scriptures for today's teaching: 1 John 4:1-6Other Scriptures in this study: I Thessalonians 5:19-22; Deuteronomy 13:1-4; 1 Corinthians 14:29; Jeremiah 23:30-32Unless otherwise noted, most Scripture will be from the NLT, the New Living TranslationIf you prayed with Tiff, click here https://lostlamb.org/ and let him know! Be sure to watch the curated playlist “New Beginnings” - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsX8E19Azl58_FjxELPxjnsL8CAtmama4&si=Pj84Hm2dGX57OH4Z Thank you for watching, and subscribe for new content each week.Connect with Tiff Shuttlesworth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LostLambAssociation/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TIFFSHUTTLESWORTH/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/tiffshuttlesworLearn more about my ministry: https://lostlamb.org/ Learn more about my ministry in Canada: https://www.lostlamb.ca

GOD DELUSION SLIDES wk. 4 God is a good Creator and He loves His creation.“1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:2 “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” Job 38:1-4The BIGOT myth“WHY WOULD A LOVING GOD TELL PEOPLE WHO THEY ARE REGARDLESS OF THEIR FEELINGS?”#1 For God to tell people who they are is in conflict or contradiction with Him being loving #2 Who he would tell you to be is not in agreement with how you feel #3 By “denying” your feelings he does not care for you and is not the loving God he claims to be #4 Feelings are the same as truth. So, in essence it is your truth being deniedGod is a good Creator who does in fact love his creation“3For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject truth and chase after myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT“The death of truth in our society has created a moral decay in which every debate ends with the barroom question, ‘says who?'”-Gregory KovelThe truth Christianity asserts:Humanity was created in God's image by GodOur bodies are the temple of God“1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:2 “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.  5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone…. 8 Or who shut in the sea with doors….10 When I fixed My limit for it, and set bars and doors; 11 When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, and here your proud waves must stop!'  12 Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place…. 19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness where is its place,20 that you may take it to its territory, that you may know the paths to its home. 21 Do you know it because you were born then, or because the number of your days is great? .....25Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, or a path for the thunderbolt…. 36 Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart?.... 39 Can you hunt the prey for the lion….41 Who provides food for the raven, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?” Job 38:1-41NKJV“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God's critic, but do you have the answers?” Job 40:2 NLTWhen truth is led by feeling, the creation begins to argue with the Creator“So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God, He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27“3 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. 5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; yes twice, but I will proceed no further.” Job 40:3-5 NKJV“8 Would you indeed annul My judgement? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?” Job 40:8 NKJV“9 What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you're doing it wrong!' Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?' 10 How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father, ‘Why was I born?' or if it said to its mother, ‘Why did you make me this way?'11 This is what the LORD says-the Holy One of Isreal and your Creator: ‘Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands? 12 I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands I stretched out the heavens. All the stars at my command.” Isaiah 45:9-12 NLT#1 God is Creator. We are created   “When we reject God as creator, we reject the God of the Bible and serve a God of our own imagination.”- David Guzik  #2 He is a good CreatorThe familiar satanic lie: God's withholding from you (Gen 3:1) What God said, that's not really the truth (Gen 3:4) God just is keeping you down from being who you were meant to be (Gen 3:5)“God comes not to answer. God comes as the answer.”- Jon Courson It returns created to Creator     He says: “I am the potter; you are the clay” Isaiah 64:8 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart.” Jeremiah 1:5 “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you', says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'” Jeremiah 29:11God is a good Creator who loves his creation

“Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he's out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.”- ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” (Ephesians 6:18 NLT) All Christians experience times when we come face to face with overwhelming hardship. For Peter, it was witnessing the betrayal and arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. You can find the story in John 18. Peter simply could not stomach the thought of the Lord’s enemies taking Him away. Frustrated and in despair, Peter drew his sword in defense of his Lord and cut off the ear of one of the men who arrested Jesus (see verse 10). Of course, that’s not what Jesus wanted. The sword was not the answer to salvation. Poor Peter. He was always doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. He was sleeping when he should have been praying. He was talking when he should have been listening. He was boasting when he should have been fearing. And he was fighting when he should have been surrendering. His instincts were 180 degrees off. Peter failed to see that he was fighting the wrong enemy. As the apostle Paul points out in Ephesians 6:12, our enemies are not of flesh and blood. They are principalities and powers, and they cannot be defeated by ordinary measures. Too often we, like Peter, forget that ours is a spiritual battle that requires spiritual weaponry. And we neglect the most powerful weapon in our arsenal—prayer. We are too quick to protest or picket and not quick enough to pray. In his description of the armor of God available to believers to withstand and counter the attacks of our enemy, Paul concludes with this: “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” (Ephesians 6:18 NLT). Pray at all times. Be persistent. Prayer isn’t just an emergency button we push when we can’t think of anything else to do. It’s an essential communication channel that links us to God, our source of strength, courage, wisdom, comfort, and peace. God supplies us with everything we need for our spiritual battles. But we don’t have to wait until we’re in the thick of the fight to call on Him. Jesus faced opposition throughout His ministry. Passages such as Luke 5:16 give us a glimpse into how He prepared for battle. “But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer” (NLT). And when that opposition came to a head, Jesus headed for Gethsemane, a favorite prayer spot. The reality is that we all will face Gethsemanes in life. For Jesus, Gethsemane was a time of suffering and hardship, a time when He chose to surrender to the will of His Father. You, too, may face similar experiences in life that you don’t understand. You don’t know what lies ahead. But you can trust your unknown future into the hands of a known God. Reflection Question: How can you make your prayers more effective in your spiritual battles? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey friend — today's episode is straight from the heart.

He will set you high above all the other nations he has made. Then you will receive praise, honor, and renown [NLT]

“So Samuel did as the Lord instructed. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town came trembling to meet him. “What's wrong?” they asked. “Do you come in peace?” “Yes,” Samuel replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too. When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord's anointed!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “This is not the one the Lord has chosen.” Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, “Neither is this the one the Lord has chosen.” In the same way all seven of Jesse's sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.”‭‭- 1 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭4‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17 NLT) During the Korean War, a unit known as Baker Company was separated from its regiment, and enemy forces were advancing on it. For several hours, no word came from Baker Company. Finally, radio contact was made. When asked for a report of its situation, Baker Company replied, “The enemy is to the east of us. The enemy is to the west of us. The enemy is to the south of us. The enemy is to the north of us.” Then, after a brief pause, the voice continued, “And this time, we’re not going to let them escape.” Sometimes it seems that way in the life of a believer. The enemy is at every turn. Even so, some believers don’t realize that the Christian life is not a playground, but a battleground. They are oblivious to the fact that a war is raging—and that, in this war, they are either winning or losing. In a battle, it’s always better to be an aggressor instead of a defender. A defender is simply waiting for the enemy’s next attack, hoping he will survive. If we, as believers, are always defending, then the devil is in a superior position. If, on the other hand, we are the ones who are attacking, then we are in the superior position. When the apostle Paul wrote about the armor of God in Ephesians 6, he mentioned one offensive weapon: “The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (verse 17 NLT). Make no mistake about it: There is authority and power in the Word of God. Matthew 4:1–11 tells the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Three times the devil tried to get Jesus to do wrong. All three times Jesus countered his attack by quoting the Word of God. The result? “The devil went away” (verse 11 NLT). God’s Word keeps Satan from getting an advantageous battle position in our lives as well. For example, let’s say you’re feeling tempted to do something that you know is wrong. If your first instinct is to turn to 1 Corinthians 10:13 (“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” NLT), you’ll remember that God stands ready to strengthen you and help you escape. And you’ll have the high ground in your battle with the devil. He will have no solid footing for his attack. That’s how you keep him off-balance: by immersing yourself in Scripture. The devil has nothing in his arsenal that can counter the Bible. God’s Word sticks. God’s Word breaks through. God’s Word impacts. When the enemy has you surrounded, keep him on the defensive with the Word of God. Reflection Question: How can you sharpen your spiritual battle skills using the Word of God? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.[NLT]

MAY. 20, 2025Who are you depending on?"Without Me you can do nothing." Jn 15:5 NKJVBecause God's Spirit lives within you doesn't guarantee His power is at work in your life. God's power is available, but you must plug into it. Jesus associates our spiritual life with a vine and its branches: "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" (v. 5 NKJV). In this comparison, the branch is completely dependent on the main vine; it cannot yield fruit on its own. Growing fruit is an internal job. If someone tied apples onto the branches of a dead tree and said, "Look at this fruit tree," what would you say? You would probably say, "You tied those things on." That's similar to when a Christian says, "I'm going to tie on a bunch of fruit in my life—a little patience now, a little goodness later, a little self-control at another time. I will do it by myself." Impossible! It's the fruit of the Spirit, not the efforts of the flesh. Jesus said, "He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit." How can you tell you're abiding (or residing) in Christ? Consider your prayer life. Your prayers reveal your dependence on God. What do you pray about? Whatever you pray about is what you're relying on God for. The Bible says, "Never stop praying" (1Th 5:17 NLT). Pray about your decisions, needs, temptations, interests, plans, schedule, problems, purchases; specifically, pray about everything! Doing this is what it means to "abide"-being aware that God is always with you, practicing His presence.Who are you depending on? Your prayers reveal your dependence on God.Share This DevotionalSend us a textSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

Throughout James' epistle, he is providing evidences for true faith. One of the evidences to test our faith is our speech. As Christians, the scripture teaches us to not only keep our tongue from speaking profanities, and curse words, it equally forbids abusive speech and intentionally hurtful words.When God transforms your life, He will also transform your tongue. The words that come out of our mouth are evidence of our spiritual health.In today's study I will be answering the following questions.1 - How does the Bible define cursing and foul language?2 - What Is Taking The Name Of The Lord In Vain Mean?3 - The Top 10 Bible Verses On Cursing.4 - What Is The Worst Curse Word?------------------Key Scriptures for today's teaching: James 3: 3-12Other Scriptures in this study: Philippians 2:9-11; Matthew 12:36; 1 Peter 4:11; Exodus 20:7; Proverbs 18:21; Matthew 12:34-37; Luke 6:45; Romans 3:13-18; Ephesians 4:29-31; Ephesians 5:3-5; 1 Timothy 4:12; Colossians 3:7-8; James 1:26; Jeremiah 33:8Unless otherwise noted, most Scripture will be from the NLT, the New Living Translation

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:10–12 NLT) When he was little, my son Jonathan had a habit of wandering. One day, we were in a hotel and came to an elevator. He ran ahead to push the button. I told him, “If the elevator comes, wait until Dad gets there.” Just as I arrived at the elevator, the doors were closing, and he was inside. He was gone. I frantically pushed the button for the other elevator and waited for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, the doors opened, and I jumped in. I went down to the lobby. He wasn’t there. I ran back to the elevator, pushed every button for every floor, and as the doors opened, I would scream out his name. I didn’t care about decorum. I wanted to find my son. And I found him, about three floors up, wandering around. But you know what? After that experience, he didn’t wander anymore. He got separated from his dad, and it was scary for him. He learned how important it was to stay close to me. As Christians, we should want to stay as close to our heavenly Father as possible. Our enemy, the devil, is a powerful adversary, and we are no match for him in our own strength. The apostle Peter wrote, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NLT). We don’t want to venture out into this life on our own abilities and suffer spiritual defeat. I have a healthy respect for the devil’s ability. That’s why I want to stay as close to the Lord as possible. I want to be strong in Him. Wanting to stay close to your Father may seem like a childish instinct, but it’s actually evidence of a mature faith. In Ephesians 6, the apostle Paul instructs us to “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” and to “put on all of God’s armor” (NLT). He leaves no room for solo outings or wandering journeys. Staying close to our heavenly Father gives us more than protection by an all-powerful God. Psalm 94:17–19 says, “Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, ‘I am slipping!’ but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer” (NLT). If ever there was a time to be walking closely with the Lord, it is now. This is not the time to be playing games with God. This is not the time to wander away. Reflection Question: How can you tell when you start to wander away from God? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my DISCIPLE must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (NIV) Matthew 7:21–23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (NIV) 1. The Salvation Stage 2. The Milk Stage 1 Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn INFANTS, long for the pure spiritual MILK, that by it you may GROW UP into salvation 3 If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (ESV) 1 Corinthians 3:1–3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere INFANTS in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are STILL WORLDLY. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? (NIV) Hebrews 5:13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. (ESV) 3. The Maturing Stage 1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. (NIV) Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the MATURE, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (NIV) 4. The Others Stage Ephesians 4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (ESV) 4A. Mature Christians Get Connected to Other Christians 4B. Mature Christians Get Equipped for Ministry 4C. Mature Christians Serve Others So The Body Can Grow 1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (NIV) 5. The Disciple Making Stage Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (NIV) Hebrews 6:1 So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and BECOME MATURE in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. (NLT) Hebrews 5:12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! (NIV) Acts 6:7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. (ESV)

Marriage is a beautiful gift from God… but let's be real, it's not always candlelight dinners and love songs. Some days it's mismatched expectations, crusty dishes, and mysterious pre-coffee sounds.

I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins [NLT]

You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring [NLT]

God's grace … the apostle Paul had much to say on this topic because it is so crucial for us all to understand as Christ-followers.Listen to Ephesians 2:4-9 …But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (NLT) How did Paul say we are saved? By working hard to do good? By trying hard to not do anything wrong? No, “only by God's grace.”Do you tend to mix your own behavior into your salvation? So many people do.But what did Paul say was the only action we need to take? “God saved you by His grace … when you believed.”Listen to verses 7 thru 9 in The Message Bible … Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving.Do you have any past religious beliefs or baggage that taught you somehow you can go in and out of God's salvation by your behavior on any given day? If that were true, then our salvation would be somewhat up to us, right? Paul is clear it is only up to God … after we believe. Trust.Here's a question for your heart … do you think there is anything you can do to make God love you any more? Or any less? This week on grace is all about understanding the amazing truth that He cannot possibly love you more than He does right now.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You that all You want is for me to believe and trust You. I am grateful my salvation is not dependent on my behavior and that You will never love me any more or any less than You do right now. As above, so below.”

Holding on to resentment is easy to do, but God has a better way. In this message series, Pastor Rick looks at Matthew 6:12, ““Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” (NLT), and explains why we need to release our pain and forgive others.God's grace is the solution to bitterness. Listen to this message by Pastor Rick and learn how the grace of God gives you the power you need to forgive others, knowing that you also need forgiveness every day. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1103/29

“The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.”- ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One of the greatest coaches of all time, Vince Lombardi, said, “Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Nehemiah 3 records the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls by individuals committed to this group effort. Here we can learn several practical and spiritual principles.I. God's Work Should Be OrderlyII. There's a Place for EveryoneIII. Your Service Should Fit YouIV. Some Work Harder Than OthersV. Work Should Be Tied to PurposeTalk with God: Meditate on Proverbs 3:5-6 this week and ask the Lord to “show you which path to take” (NLT) as you seek His will in every area of your life.Talk with others: If you're struggling with brokenness in your life—spiritually, mentally, or physically—ask a mentor or trusted fellow believer to stand with you as you start rebuilding.Talk with kids: Why can we trust God to provide for our needs?

"Prosperity" is a biblical word, it is not a "bad" word. What is biblical prosperity? Biblical prosperity is defined as having an abundance of resources to fully accomplish God's will for one's life, and to serve others.According to the scripture, biblical prosperity is a multifaceted covenant that is rooted in God's provision and purpose that not only includes material wealth, but also includes spiritual, physical, emotional, and relational strength.Prosperity isn't a vending machine — it's the fruit of relationship, obedience, and timing. If you've been giving and not prospering, ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart, align your life, and trust that God is faithful to reward those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).Christians who do not manage their money well may struggle to prosper because Scripture teaches that stewardship and diligence are essential to experiencing God's blessing.In today's study we will learn…What is biblical prosperity?Why do the wicked prosper while godly people do not?Does the Bible promise material prosperity to all believers?How can I get from "barely getting by" to "having an abundance"?…and the top 10 reasons why Christians do not prosper!------------------Key Scriptures for today's teaching: Luke 16:1-13Other Scriptures in this study: 2 Chronicles 26:5; Proverbs 21:5; Colossians 3:23-25; Proverbs 19:15; Proverbs 15:22; Proverbs 22:7; Proverbs 6:6-8; Proverbs 13:11; Proverbs 21:20; John 6:12; Psalm 84:11; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Psalm 112: 1-4 NLT; Matthew 6:33; 3 John 1:2; Psalm 1:1-3; Galatians 6:9Unless otherwise noted, most Scripture will be from the NLT, the New Living TranslationFor further teachings on angels and demons, see the playlist:If you prayed with Tiff, click here https://lostlamb.org/ and let him know! Thank you for watching, and subscribe for new content each week.Connect with Tiff Shuttlesworth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LostLambAssociation/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TIFFSHUTTLESWORTH/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/tiffshuttlesworLearn more about my ministry: https://lostlamb.org/ Learn more about my ministry in Canada: https://www.lostlamb.ca

ONE THING A new command I give you: Love Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. – 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a (NLT)

In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally answers your submitted questions. 1. Is it OK for Christians to be cremated instead of buried?According to the Bible during the resurrection, we get new bodies, not renovations of our existing bodies.2 Corinthians 5:1-3 NLT  2. I have a friend and have heard of several other high profile believers who have deconstructed their faith and walked away from the gospel altogether. How should we guard our hearts from this?Three phases of Christian belief:1. Construction – what you were taught.2. Deconstruction – investigating whether what you believe is true.3. Reconstruction – developing a balanced, Biblical belief-system.Acts 17:11-12  3. Who rolled away the stone at Jesus' tomb? Do you think Jesus did it himself? Or was it the Holy Spirit? God the Father?Matthew gives us this detail.Matthew 28:2 4. I've never read all the way through the Bible. Am I a bad Christian?Bad? No. Lazy? Maybe.Romans 15:4 Ultimately, the goal of the written word is to get to know the author, so be spirit-led in your reading. 5. What do you think about seasons of life where God seems distant?This is good news – you're growing up. a. Perspective - It's just a season.b. Practice – Spiritual disciplines are the things you do—not out of obligation—but to ensure a safe trip when visibility is low.c. Presence. Pursue the presence of God.2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV It's OK if you don't feel God all of the time. We are called believers, not feelers. 6. Should wives be upset with their husbands if they go hang out with their friends for hours without telling her?Probably. Married people should act like they're married. Ephesians 5:33 NLT 7. How do we handle unanswered prayers for healing?Acts 10:38Healing is always God's will, but not always God's wisdom.We hold these two truths together: Jesus healed everyone He possibly could, AND 100% of the people Jesus healed still died. Every believer gets permanently healed in heaven.Keep praying!  8. Why do so many Christians look down their nose at the less than fortunate ones?We don't understand righteousness. There are three types of righteousness we see in scripture, and only one works.a. Righteousness of the world – Be good.b. Righteousness of the Pharisees – Be better.c. Righteousness of God – Be in Christ. Romans 3:22 Receiving the acceptance of God doesn't mean we stop trying, it just means that we stop trying out. We already made the team -no need to compare ourselves anymore. 9. Where did John get his papyrus to write the book of Revelation? 10. My spouse and I have some different minor theological positions. How should we teach our kids?Proverbs 22:6 The essentials should be instilled from a young age, but peripheral stuff is a good opportunity to invite them into your varying opinions. Are you trusting God with your questions?

Proverbs 27:17 NIV“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Key #1 - Will Shape your Standards1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'”Proverbs 27:6 “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” Key #2 - Will influence your DirectionAmos 3:3How can two walk together unless they be in agreement?Proverbs 13:20 NIV“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”2 Corinthians 6:14 NLTDon't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?  Key #3 - Should Reflect the kind of person you want to becomePhilippians 3:17 NIVJoin together in following my example… and keep your eyes on those who live as we do. Key #4 - Should CALL YOU TO GOD'S STANDARD1 Samuel 23:16 NLTJonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. 

“It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.” (Philippians 1:15–18 NLT) A preacher was moonlighting as a lifeguard to make a little extra money. His supervisors were shocked when they learned that people were drowning near his lifeguard stand at an alarming rate. Every day brought news of a new drowning, each one in the vicinity of the preacher’s stand. The supervisors were baffled. They wondered, What’s the problem with this preacher lifeguard? He’s been trained properly. So they went to observe him. Before long, they saw a pair of swimmers in trouble, waving frantically from the ocean. The preacher looked at the swimmers and said, “God bless you. I see that hand. God bless you. I see that hand.” In case you’re too young or too new to the church to understand that punchline, it’s a reference to the go-to move for certain preachers during their altar calls. If you spend enough time listening to certain preachers, you’ll pick up on other quirks, tendencies, and habits. It’s an occupational hazard for pastors. And when it’s lighthearted—like teasing about a joke you’ve heard more than once from the pulpit—it can be fun and even unifying. But when it takes a darker turn—when people start to question a preacher’s qualifications, motives, allegiances, or leanings—it can be incredibly damaging to the body of Christ. Like it or not, we are all imperfect vessels delivering a perfect message. That goes not just for pastors and evangelists, but for anyone who shares the gospel. Skeptics and critics will ask, “Why should we listen to you? Who gave you the authority to say these things?” It’s not a new phenomenon. The apostle Paul dealt with a similar situation in his letter to the Philippian believers. And in his situation, the criticism was warranted. There were people preaching out of jealousy and rivalry with Paul. But look at how he resolved the problem: “The message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice” (Philippians 1:18 NLT). All that matters is that the Good News of Christ is being delivered. When the words of the gospel are spoken, God can plant the seeds of His truth in people’s hearts, regardless of who’s doing the talking. God calls us to build unity in the body of Christ. We can do that by showing grace and gratitude to our fellow believers who deliver the message of Christ. Reflection Question: How will you respond to someone who questions a pastor’s qualifications or motives? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. [NLT]

“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.” (Ephesians 1:18 NLT) People come up to me and ask, “Greg, what’s the one thing you can say to a nonbeliever that will cause them to accept Christ?” Like I know the hidden secret. Like I’m going to say, “Since you asked, I’m going to show you the ultimate evangelism hack. Here’s what you do.” Sorry to disappoint you, but there’s no such thing as the ultimate evangelism hack. When I share my faith, I do the same thing that most of you probably do. I just tell my story. I tell people about Jesus, and I pray that the Lord will open their eyes. You may witness to one person and find that it’s like talking to a brick wall. Nothing. No response at all. And then when you witness in the same way to another person, boom! They get it. They’re responsive to your message. So always pray for the Lord to open a person’s eyes. I remember when my eyes were opened. I was seventeen years old, and I was listening to Lonnie Frisbee. He made one statement that resonated powerfully with me. He said, “Jesus said you’re for Me or you’re against Me.” And suddenly, I got it. I don’t know why I got it at that moment. I don’t know what it was about that statement. But when I heard it, it was like a light switched on inside me. Up until that moment, I had been looking cynically and critically at the Christian faith. And then I realized it was all true. It was all real. I should point out that it’s possible to have your eyes open and still not be a Christian. I’ve met people who say, “I agree that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe that He lived a sinless life. I believe that He died on the cross for my sin. I believe that He rose again from the dead. I believe that He’s coming back again. I believe that the Bible is the Word of God. But that’s it. I believe it, but I’m not going to act on it.” So having your eyes opened doesn’t necessarily guarantee anything. But it’s a necessary first step. And only God can open a person’s eyes. Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:18 for God to open the eyes of nonbelievers. And when you’re sharing your faith, the first thing you should do is pray, “Lord, open this person’s eyes because there’s nothing I can say or do that will make this person believe.” There are a lot of people in your orbit who fit Paul’s description in Ephesians 4:18: “Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him” (NLT). Will you be bold and caring enough to reach out to them? To show them the light of the gospel? And to ask God to open their eyes to His truth? Reflection Question: How can you help facilitate an eye-opening moment in the life of someone you know? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents [NLT]

Connecting with God is the starting point to revival, renewal, and restoration. In this series, Pastor Rick looks at seven specific parts of the Lord's prayer to help you discover what it means to be connected to God and to one another.Holding on to resentment is easy to do, but God has a better way. In this message series, Pastor Rick looks at Matthew 6:12, ““Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” (NLT), and explains why we need to release our pain and forgive others.You need to forgive others because God has forgiven you, and holding onto resentment only hurts you. Join Pastor Rick as he teaches what it means to experience God's forgiveness so that you can be quick to forgive those around you. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1103/29

“Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.” (Ephesians 2:20–21 NLT) We’ve reached a point in the church where people are starting to divide over really small things—second-tier and even third-tier issues. And then subdivisions occur. Groups get smaller and smaller as their conditions for acceptance get narrower and narrower. Before long, you find yourself saying, “It’s down to the four of us, and I’m not sure about you other three.” It’s not hard to find things that divide us. They’re low-hanging fruit. When we mistake our personal preferences and opinions for absolute truth, we can justify separating ourselves from just about anyone. It takes a little more effort to find things that unite us. Or to recognize that the things that divide us don’t have to divide us. Instead of automatically separating people into categories of “us” and “them,” we can agree to disagree. We can leave judgment to the Lord. That’s the direction God would have us go. Remember, we’re the body of Christ. We’re meant to work together, with each part playing an important role. You can’t divide a body or separate its parts without doing serious damage to the whole. That’s why the apostle Paul issued this warning to the believers in Rome: “And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them” (Romans 16:17 NLT). It’s not just the teachings that are dangerous; it’s the divisions they cause. It’s also why Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth, “I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT). Divisions in the church aren’t just an in-house matter. The implications and damage extend far beyond the church walls. You see, people are watching us. People outside the church. Unbelievers for whom the message of Christ seems almost too good to be true. Changed hearts? Transformed lives? They want to see proof. They want to see us walk the walk. As far as many unbelievers are concerned, Christians are hypocrites until proven otherwise. When they see division in our ranks or hear us attacking one another or questioning the legitimacy of one another’s faith, it only confirms their cynical suspicions. They feel free to ignore our message and dismiss the Good News of Christ. Paul said, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace” (Ephesians 4:3 NLT). Make every effort. That doesn’t leave room for half-hearted attempts. God wants us to prioritize unity. Unity among believers isn’t just a matter of getting along with everyone or playing nicely with others; it’s also one of the most powerful testimonies available for showing the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. Reflection Question: How can you cross the lines of division that separate you from someone in your church? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own [NLT]

Welcome back, men! This episode kicks off a two-part series, starting with daughters and followed by a focus on sons. If you're a dad of girls, whether young or grown, these principles will help you reflect God's heart and guide your daughter with wisdom.--The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --Raising Daughters: A Father's Role in Shaping Her Identity and FaithBeing a father to a daughter is both a gift and a calling. In a culture that often blurs gender roles and redefines family dynamics, dads have the opportunity—and responsibility—to model biblical love, identity, and leadership. 1. Love Her Mom WellOne of the most important ways a father can influence his daughter is through the way he loves her mother. Whether you're married to her mom or co-parenting after divorce, your behavior sets a powerful tone in her life.The Bible calls men to love their wives sacrificially, the way Christ loves the Church:Ephesians 5:25-29 (NLT)“For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her… Husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.”This kind of love is not based on feelings—it's based on commitment, humility, and servant leadership. When your daughter sees you lay down your preferences to honor and serve her mom, she internalizes what to expect from a future husband. She learns to value healthy love and recognize unhealthy behavior.Even if you're a single dad, you can still live out this principle. Show respect for your daughter's mother. Avoid speaking negatively about her, especially in front of your daughter. Be honest when appropriate, but always take the high road. God can redeem even the most broken family dynamics when you commit to modeling grace and truth.1 Peter 3:7 (NLT) adds another layer:“In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding… She is your equal partner in God's gift of new life.”Treating your wife—or your daughter's mom—with honor is one of the greatest gifts you can give your daughter.2. Speak Her Love LanguageEvery child is wired to receive love differently, and girls especially need consistent, heartfelt affirmation from their fathers. Author Gary Chapman outlines five “love languages” that help decode how people give and receive love: words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, gifts, and physical touch.Your daughter likely leans into one or two of these. Your job is to learn what speaks most clearly to her heart and make it a regular part of your relationship.Words of Affirmation – Tell her what you love about who she is, not just what she does. Be mindful of criticism—it cuts deeper in daughters who thrive on verbal encouragement.Quality Time – Let her choose the activity. The goal is not what you do together, but that you're fully present.Acts of

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8–9 NLT) There will be good people in Hell. When I say, “good people,” I mean people who trusted in their own human efforts, people who trusted in their own personal reality, and people who trusted in the religious things they did. Jesus issued a very clear warning in Matthew 7:22: “On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name’” (NLT). If we updated the passage, the people might say, “Lord, Lord, we were baptized in Your name and received communion in Your name.” But the answer still would be the same. “But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws’” (verse 23 NLT). These are good people Jesus is talking to. These people paid their taxes. These people recycled and put the right trash in the right can. These people drove Priuses and ate kale and didn’t damage the environment. They’re good people. They’re just not nearly good enough. That’s why the apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8–9, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (NLT). Jesus never said that if you live a good life, you’ll go to Heaven. But here’s what Jesus did say: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NLT). He doesn’t want us to work ourselves to exhaustion, trying to be good enough to earn salvation. He wants to give us rest and assurance. He wants us to accept the gift of eternal life He offers. For people with a mature faith, this is a simple review. A chance to celebrate God’s mercy—that is, His kindness and compassion—and His grace—that is, His undeserved favor. But it’s also a reminder that there are people—people you know—who believe that their good works are good enough for God. People who believe that because their good outweighs their bad, they will be welcomed into Heaven. People who believe that growing up in a Christian home and attending church make them Christians. People who will be stunned to hear Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:23. People who need a mature believer to help them understand what it means to make a personal commitment to Christ: to confess that they’re not good enough to earn salvation, to turn away from their sin, and to accept Him as Savior and Lord. You can be that mature believer. You can share the gospel truth. You can help them see the futility of trying to earn salvation through good works. You can point them to Jesus’ sacrifice—the gift of God that makes salvation possible. The question is, will you? Reflection Question: How can you share God’s truth with someone who believes they’re a good person? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?” ‭‭- John‬ ‭4‬:‭48‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:17–18 NLT) When you think of being filled with the Holy Spirit, you may relate it to an emotional experience or a feeling of euphoria. Something dramatic and memorable. But the word filled can be translated as “controlled by.” Think of what happens when the wind fills the sails of a boat and guides it along. That’s the gist of what the apostle Paul is saying in Ephesians 5. God wants you to let His Spirit fill you, power you, and control your life. Another interesting thing about the word filled is that, in the original Greek language, the verb tense that Paul uses suggests something that is done continually. So you can translate verse 18 as, “Be constantly filled with the Spirit.” This is not a one-time event. Instead, it’s something that takes place over and over again. Just as you repeatedly fill the gas tank in your car to keep it running, God wants to refill you with His Spirit. It’s a powerful thing to say each day, “Lord, fill me with your Spirit. Lord, fill me once again.” Every time you say it, and mean it, you mature a little more in your faith. One more thing about this phrase from Ephesians 5:18 is that it’s a command, not a suggestion. The passage isn’t saying, “If it works with your schedule, and if you don’t mind, would you please consider maybe letting the Holy Spirit fill and control you?” Rather, God orders you to be filled with the Holy Spirit. You may ask, “Doesn’t everyone who trusts Christ have the Holy Spirit inside them?” The answer is yes. Paul says in Romans 8:9, “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all)” (NLT). But there are things you can do that interfere with the Holy Spirit’s work in your life. A boat sail that’s turned the wrong way won’t be filled with wind. In the same way, when you’re turned away from God—when you pursue your own agenda instead of His, when you give in to temptation instead of resisting it—you’re not being filled with the Holy Spirit. That’s why Paul warns, “Do not stifle the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19 NLT) and “Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live” (Ephesians 4:30 NLT). When you’re filled with the Holy Spirit, people will notice. They’ll see evidence of it in your life. Galatians 5:22–23 says, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (nlt). Those qualities have the potential to change lives—not just yours, but other people’s as well. If you will be filled with the Holy Spirit, God will use you to accomplish amazing things. Reflection Question: What are the daily benefits of being filled with the Holy Spirit? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it look like to prepare and preach the Bible in a way that's both faithful to the text and reliant on the Holy Spirit?In this panel discussion hosted by Mike Neglia, four experienced Bible teachers – Roy Kasika, Moses Ouni, Zeddie Muzungu, and Brian Kelly – respond to real questions about sermon prep, interpretation, and Spirit-led preaching. Recorded live in September 2024 at Calvary Chapel Kampala, Uganda, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and pastoral encouragement for those who teach God's Word.The conversation ranges from outlining and inductive Bible study to interpreting challenging genres like prophecy and apocalyptic literature. The panellists highlight the need for repeated prayer, contextual awareness, and a Christ-centred lens for every passage. Whether you're just starting out or you've been preaching for years, you'll find this discussion grounding, clarifying, and energising.

“I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.” (Philippians 1:9 NLT) I eat dinner at five o’clock. But I get hungry around three o’clock. So I start counting off the time until I eat. I look forward to my meal. Sometimes I get tempted to eat something to hold me over. You know, when five o’clock seems like it will never get here, and there’s a Taco Bell nearby. I start thinking about a burrito supreme—or maybe just a taco to hold me over. The problem is that it spoils my appetite. When I fill up on something that’s not good for me, it makes me lose my appetite for things that are good for me. The same thing can happen to us spiritually. There are things we do, places we go, and people we hang out with that dull us spiritually. They make us lose our appetite for the things of God. They stunt our growth. When we indulge ourselves with them, the result is that we want to do less, and not more, spiritually. On the flip side, there are other people who inspire us spiritually by their example and by the godliness of their character. They don’t hold themselves up as role models and ask, “Why aren’t you more like me?” They simply live their faith in a way that’s not just inspiring, but also motivating. Being with them stimulates our hunger for Jesus. And that’s a good thing, because it comes down to this: As Christians, there’s always more for us to know about being disciples. There’s always more for us to learn about sharing our faith and encouraging others. There’s always more to discover in God’s Word. The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 1:9, “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding” (nlt). His point is that you’re never done as a Christian. No matter how much you love, you can love more. No matter how much you pray, you can pray more. No matter how much you obey, you can obey more. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6 NIV). I don’t know about you, but I think all Christians should look at themselves and say, “I’m not content with where I’m at spiritually. There’s more to change in my life. I need to become more like Jesus.” The moment you fold your arms and say, “I’m content with where I am,” you set yourself up for a fall. When Jesus said, “Unless you . . . become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3 NLT), He wasn’t talking about being childish. He was talking about being childlike—always growing, always learning, and sometimes relearning things that we forget. Stay hungry for God’s truth. Thirst after righteousness. Refuse to rest on your spiritual laurels. As long as you have breath, continue to grow in your relationship with Christ. Look for ways to be a more effective prayer warrior and evangelist. If you do, God promises that you will be filled—and fulfilled. Reflection Question: How can you “stay hungry” in your Christian faith? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 NLT   HOME PLATE: CONNECT WITH GOD (WIN DEPENDENCE)   FIRST BASE: CHARACTER (WIN WITHIN)   SECOND BASE: COMMUNITY (WIN WITH OTHERS)   THIRD BASE: COMPETENCE (WIN RESULTS)   Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; your feet from following evil. Proverbs 4:25-27 NLT   "What counts on the last day of your life is what you should count every day of your life."   “Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:19-21 NLT                                                1. KNOW WHAT REALLY MATTERS   'Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don't have room for all my crops.' Then he said, ‘I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I'll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”' “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?' “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Luke 12:15-21 NLT   GOD IS GREAT; WE'RE NOT   Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. Isaiah 46:9-10 NLT   'Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? Has the Lord ever needed anyone's advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice? Isaiah 40:13-14 NLT STUFF IS TEMPORARY; SOULS ARE ETERNAL 'But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. 2 Peter 3:10 NLT   “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Mahatma Gandhi   2. STRIVE TO EARN THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONAL COMMODITY: TRUST   TRUST MEANS YOU KEEP YOUR WORD!   'The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth. Proverbs 12:22 NLT   TRUST MEANS LOYALTY!    A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 17:17 NLT   TRUST MEANS INTEGRITY!    'The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them. Proverbs 20:7 NLT   TRUST MEANS DISCRETION.     A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. Proverbs 11:13 NLT   3. ALIGN YOUR CALENDAR   'Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalms 90:12 NLT   4. DON'T LET BITTERNESS THROW YOU OUT Surely resentment destroys the fool. Job 5:2 NLT   Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:15 NLT   FORGIVENESS IS NOT… MINIMIZING THE HURT YOU FEEL MAKING EXCUSES FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED SAYING THAT THE OFFENSE WAS NOT WRONG INSTANT RESTORATION OF TRUST. CONTINUING THE RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT CHANGES.   I WILL FORGIVE BECAUSE I NEED FORGIVENESS

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his DISCIPLES, “Whoever wants to be my DISCIPLE must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (NIV) Acts 11:26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (NIV) Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (NKJV) The first is the step of discipleship is 1. Desire John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. (NIV) 2 Thessalonians 2:13 As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came THROUGH THE SPIRIT who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. (NLT) 2. Denial 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (NIV) Matthew 16:25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (NKJV) 3. Death Galatians 5:17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. (NIV) Matthew 10:38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (NIV) Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. (NIV) Colossians 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (ESV) Galatians 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (ESV) I Corinthians 15:31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! (ESV) 4. Devotion

Nehemiah 1:1-11 NLT 1 These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. Nehemiah's Concern for Jerusalem In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was at the fortress of Susa. 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.3 They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. 5 Then I said,“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! 7 We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.8 “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. 9 But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.'10 “The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants. 11 O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” In those days I was the king's cup-bearer. 

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.” (Ephesians 1:5–6 NLT) Some people come from homes in which their fathers never expressed love or showed any affection toward them. Therefore, they take that concept of their earthly fathers and place it on their heavenly Father. They spend the rest of their lives trying to earn the approval of God, who has already given His approval to them. There are a lot of people who think they should keep the Ten Commandments because they are under the impression that God will punish them if they don’t. In a sense, they’re like Sisyphus, the character from Greek mythology who spent eternity pushing a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down again when he neared the top, forcing him to start over—again and again and again. These people work hard to earn God’s approval and be worthy of His love. But every time they slip up or do something to displease Him, they feel like they have to start over. Their faulty understanding of God and His mercy keeps them from maturing in their Christian faith. The fact is that God loves us and accepts us as we are. We don’t have to do anything to earn His approval. We don’t have to do anything to merit His love. In spite of our shortcomings and in spite of our sins, God loves us. He showed us how much He loves us by sending His Son to die in our place so that we might have eternal life. Romans 5:8 puts it this way: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (NLT). Understanding how much God loves us is what inspires us to love Him and others. As 1 John 4:19 says, “We love each other because he loved us first” (NLT). Instead of wanting to keep God’s commandments to earn His love, we should want to keep them because of His love for us. We should want to keep His commandments because we know they are right. It all comes down to our motives. We can’t do anything to earn God’s love or affection. His standards are too high. Because He is just, He demands perfect righteousness. And perfect righteousness is found only in Christ. That’s why Paul said in Ephesians 2:8–10: “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (NLT). We don’t live in a Christlike way so that God will love us; we live in a Christlike way because God loves us and because we want to honor our heavenly Father. Reflection Question: How, if at all, does your relationship with your human father affect your relationship with your heavenly Father? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” (Philippians 3:7–9 NLT) In testimonies, Christians often talk about what they gave up to follow Jesus Christ. But what do we really give up? Some people give up addiction to drugs or alcohol. For most people, they give up a sense of guilt, emptiness, loneliness, and the ever-present fear of death. So it would be pretty easy for them to agree with the apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 3. Paul is saying, “The things I have given up are nothing compared to what God has given to me.” This teaching of Paul’s is a very important principle to learn as we become more mature in our faith. We find happiness in God. The Bible says, “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless” (Psalm 119:1 NIV). The word blessed that is used here and throughout the psalms can be translated as “happy.” A more literal rendering of the word blessed—and I really like this one—would be “happy, happy.” So if someone had asked the psalmist, “How are you feeling today?” he might have replied, “Happy, happy.” But in this psalm and in other places in Scripture, we find that happiness is connected to holiness (or being “blameless”). We also find that happiness is not something that we should seek outright. Happiness should be the result of seeking holiness. Despite what our Declaration of Independence says, the pursuit of happiness in and of itself is generally a futile search. The apostle Peter wrote, “So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now, you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:14–16 NLT). God didn’t create us to be happy in the shallow sense of the word. He created us to be holy, to live as Christ lived, to prioritize the commands of Scripture, and to share our faith with others. And He stands ready to help us whenever that pursuit seems too difficult. When we pursue holiness, we experience a soul-deep sense of satisfaction, joy, hope, purpose, and fulfillment. We discover true happiness. If you desire happiness, then seek the holiness of God. Only then will you be “happy, happy.” Reflection Question: What does pursuing holiness look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” (Ephesians 3:16–17 NLT) Can you imagine going home tonight and getting ready to go to bed when, all of a sudden, you see someone walking up to your front door and knocking? Lo and behold, it is Jesus. How would you react? Of course, you know this isn’t going to happen. The Lord isn’t going to come bodily to your home and knock on the front door. But let your imagination run wild for a moment and pretend that He is. Jesus Himself is knocking at your door. Would you open it up and gladly welcome Him in? Or would you feel a little apprehensive? The fact is, you should be living your life in such a way that Jesus could walk into your home at any moment and be welcomed without embarrassment. Look at the apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:16–17: “I pray that . . . Christ will make his home in your hearts” (NLT). He’s not talking about Christ simply living in your heart. The reality is that Christ lives in the heart of every believer. Paul’s point is that Christ should feel at home in your heart. This isn’t a temporary arrangement, the kind where you hide your mess until your company leaves. This is a permanent residency. Making Him feel welcome requires you to transform your life completely. But you don’t have to guess at how to do that. The Bible tells you how to live in a way that honors Christ—a way that makes Him feel at home in your heart. “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return” (Philippians 1:9–10 NLT). “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ” (Philippians 1:27 NLT). “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable” (Philippians 4:8 NLT). If we were talking about a human guest, these extensive preparations might seem like an inconvenience. But notice in Ephesians 3 what Paul says results from making Christ feel at home in your heart. “From his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit” (verse 16 NLT). “Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong” (verse 17 NLT). “You will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (verse 19 NLT). Jesus doesn’t want to feel at home in your heart because He’s a fussy guest. When you prepare your heart for Christ, you make yourself useful to God. You find fulfillment, challenge, motivation, strength, peace, and joy. And you experience what Jesus meant when he said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). Reflection Question: How can you make Jesus feel more at home in your heart? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.