Podcasts about nlt one

“Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18–20 NLT) One thing many believers and nonbelievers have in common is that both are very uptight about evangelism. Believers are uptight about evangelizing, and nonbelievers are uptight about being evangelized. Maybe you remember someone sharing the gospel with you when you really didn’t want to hear it. Or maybe you know what it’s like to share with someone who had no interest in what you were saying. If you’re new to the Christian faith, you may have recent memories of both scenarios. As intimidating or uncomfortable as sharing your faith may be, it’s something every believer has been called to do. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 10:14, “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” (NLT). There’s no arguing with his logic. Jesus left marching orders for everyone who follows Him: “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:15 NLT). In the original language, this verse could be translated to say, “I command you to go into all the world.” That’s why we call it the Great Commission and not the Great Suggestion. It’s an order from our Commander-in-Chief. If we’re faithful followers of Jesus, then we need to make the attempt. We need to do what we can to share His message. The when, where, and how are up to us (to a certain extent). Evangelism strategies are like fingerprints and snowflakes. No two are exactly alike. That’s because no two experiences with Jesus are exactly alike. In John 9, Jesus healed a man who had been born blind. When the Jewish religious leaders interrogated the man, hoping to get him to change his story, he said, “I know this: I was blind, and now I can see” (verse 25 NLT). That’s what evangelism is: telling others what we know about Jesus, what He’s done for us. It’s the logical next step after receiving Christ: telling others how to do it, too. When you start to tell others about Christ, you’ll discover something amazing: For every lock, there is a key. Your story, your experience, your specific approach to sharing the gospel may succeed where others have failed. You may be able to reach people whom others cannot. That’s why God wants to work through you. He wants to use your unique experience to reach others for Him. Will you be open to His guidance and direction? Will you be available? The opportunities are plentiful. But it’s up to you to seize them. Reflection question: How would you describe your approach to sharing your faith? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30:19–20 NLT) One of the great blessings of being a Christian is that God gives us second chances. He knows that we’re not perfect. He knows that we’re prone to giving in to temptation, allowing our emotions to get the better of us, and acting in ways that cause people to question our commitment to Christ. Even so, He gives us the opportunity to put our sin behind us—even when we’ve failed miserably. God allows us to turn things around dramatically and start anew. But when it comes to second chances, we have a choice in the matter as well. God stands willing to forgive, but we must approach Him. So when we sin, we have two ways to address it. We can confess it to God, ask His forgiveness, turn away from it, and experience the joy of His forgiveness. Or we can try to conceal our sin, refuse to admit guilt, and experience the consequences and repercussions of our wrongdoing. In the book of Deuteronomy, God posed a challenge to His people. He said, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life” (30:19–20 NLT). It’s amazing that some of those people, after hearing God’s challenge, consciously chose death. And it’s even more amazing that people today still choose death. You see, choosing death is essentially what we do when we choose to go against God and His Word. Jesus said of His followers, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). That’s the life you chose when you received Jesus as Savior and Lord. But the key to enjoying a rich and satisfying life is obedience. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 28:13, “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy” (NLT). You can’t cover your sin. You can’t run from it. There is only one way to get rid of your sin and obtain true life. It’s at the cross of Jesus Christ. The choice is yours. Choose life. Reflection question: What would turning from a specific sin look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to the podcast! In this episode, we finish up 1 Thessalonians and learn about prayer!--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --How to Pray for Just About Anyone1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 (NLT)One of the most practical and life-changing topics in the Christian life is prayer. In this section of Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, we get a front-row seat to how Paul prays for the people he loves—and how we can use this as a template to pray for just about anyone.Whether you're praying for:A friend going through trials,Someone you're discipling,Or even an enemy who has hurt you—Paul's words give us a timeless framework for how to pray with power, purpose, and perspective.1. Start by Thanking GodPaul begins by expressing gratitude:“How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God's presence.” (1 Thessalonians 3:9 NLT)Thankfulness is the foundation of prayer. Gratitude shifts your heart from bitterness to hope. This applies even when praying for someone difficult. Find something—anything—to be grateful for: a past good moment, their God-given potential, or how God is using the situation to grow your character.2. Pray for Your Impact on ThemPaul says, “Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.” (1 Thessalonians 3:10 NLT)Often, our prayers are entirely focused on the other person. Paul teaches us to also pray about how God might use us in their lives. Whether it's a friend, a disciple, or even an enemy, ask:“God, how do You want to use me in their story?”Be open to opportunities to encourage, equip, or even lovingly challenge them. Sometimes a simple text or sharing a podcast link can make a difference.3. Pray for Relational RestorationPaul continues, “May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon.” (1 Thessalonians 3:11 NLT)Paul knew that Satan was actively trying to hinder their reunion. So he prayed for God to overcome the barriers. We should pray the same for any strained relationship in our lives, including enemies.Romans 12:18 (NLT) reminds us: “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”Sometimes reconciliation is beyond our control, but prayer invites God into the process.4. Pray for Their Love to OverflowPaul shifts to pray for the Thessalonians themselves:“May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12 NLT)We can ask God to help others grow in their love—not only for fellow believers but also for everyone, even those who are difficult. It's also a moment to pray for our own heart:“God, help me love them the way You love...

Listen to Psalm 95:1-7 …Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. (NLT) One of the most powerful ways to create and cultivate God's peace in our homes is to make them a place of worship. While, of course, music can be a part of that experience, it's far bigger than that. Making God a normal, natural part of our everyday conversations and speaking of His life and work in our families is an important path to peace in our homes. Gratitude always changes the attitude.What would be one thing you could tell your kids today that God has done for your family that they might not know about? What if you began to share anything that you see happen that affects them, something you know came from God's hand?Let them know the Creator of the universe is blessing their lives. Teach them that worship can simply be acknowledging what He has done. Worship and gratitude are strong elements of experiencing peace in our homes.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I recognize You as the Author of peace. Teach me to recognize Your work in our lives and share that with my kids. To worship all You do and who You are. As above, so below.”

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT) One day, when I was a small boy living in New Jersey, I was walking around my neighborhood with a newly acquired pair of cowboy cap guns. I was feeling pretty tough. I had my little belt on with my holsters and guns. As I walked, I practiced my fast draw, pulling out my pistols and firing away. Before long, a couple of hoodlums saw me and said, “Hey, you, come over here.” They started pushing me around and laughing at me. And then they did the unthinkable. They took my guns. All I could do was go home crying with empty holsters. When I got home, I found my half-brother, who was five years older and a lot bigger than I was. I asked him, “Would you help me get my guns back?” Together, we went back to the scene of the crime, where the hoodlums were still playing with my guns. With great courage, I stepped forward and said, “Give me my guns back!” I was feeling tough again. It wasn’t because I was suddenly stronger. It was because my brother was with me. If those guys gave me a problem, my brother would take care of them. I had courage not because of who I was, but because of who was with me. As we get older, we may outgrow certain fears, but we never outgrow fear itself. We just become frightened by different things. Fear is an overwhelming emotion that takes hold of us and causes us to act with complete irrationality. In fact, we’re often more devastated by the experience of fear than by the thing we’re afraid of. But God says that we don’t have to be afraid—because He is with us. In fact, He says it in several different places in the Bible. Someone once calculated that the words fear not, or some variation of them, appear 366 times in Scripture. That’s one for every day of the year, plus leap year day! Joshua 1:9 is a perfect example: “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (NLT). For believers, those words are literal. The Holy Spirit dwells within every Christian. He never leaves us. The apostle Paul wrote, “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 NLT). You don’t have to go get Him and bring Him back with you to confront what’s scaring you. He’s always there, inside you. That’s why the apostle Paul was able to write with confidence, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT). If we embrace the Holy Spirit’s presence and measure God’s power against whatever it is that frightens us, we can overcome any fear. Reflection question: What is your best strategy for dealing with fear? 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.

2 Timothy 1:8-10 …So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. … For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. (NLT) One of the reasons we must fully understand and receive God's grace is so we can be a reflection of His grace. We live in a day when people are desperately searching for grace and mercy. Simply showing grace out of an overflow of our hearts can attract people to want to know what creates this in our lives.Listen to this passage in The Message Bible … So don't be embarrassed to speak up for our Master. … We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus.Who in your life is on a desperate search for grace?Could it be that this week was all about you coming to a deeper understanding of God's grace so you can share that grace with those you know?And never forget—Your salvation is about what Christ has done, not what You can do for Him. And His grace is all you need for His power to be made strong in You through your weakness.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I surrender my weakness to You. Make me strong in Your grace. Help me to share what You have done in me and for me with those who need You. As above, so below.”

The Beatitudes, Pt. 6 | March 30, 2025Pastor Wes MorrisMatthew 5:9 (NIV) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.Poor in SpiritMournMeekHunger and Thirst for RighteousnessMercifulPure in Heart Shalom: wholeness, completeness, fulfillment, inner rest. Living without deficiency or lack.Romans 5:1-2 (NLT) Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. √ He entered into our brokenness.Isaiah 53:3 (NLT) He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. John 11:35 (NIV) Jesus wept.√ He laid down His rights.Philippians 2:6-7 (CEV) Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain equal with God. Instead he gave up everything and became a slave, when he became like one of us.√ He took the cost.Colossians 1:19-20 (TLB) It was through what his Son did that God cleared a path for everything to come to him—all things in heaven and on earth—for Christ's death on the cross has made peace with God for all by his blood.PEACEMAKERSI. WALK IN THE POWER OF GOD'S PRESENCE. Exodus 33:12-14 (NLT) One day Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.' But you haven't told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.' If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.”14 The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest.”Psalm 46:10 (NIV) Be still, and know that I am God!John 14:27 (NLT) I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. II. SHARE THE PEACE OF GOD WITH OTHERS.I John 4:20-21 (MSG) If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.John 17:23 (NLT)  I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me III. SPEAK PEACE OVER MY SITUATION.Philippians 4:6-7 (TLB) Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.9 Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

Word for Today:‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬“One of Jesse's sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player. Not only that—he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, and the Lord is with him.”

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. (Hebrews 10:36 NLT) One of the many things we can appreciate about the Bible is that it’s such an honest book. It gives us its heroes, flaws and all. In its pages we find the stories of those who started out with so much promise, but then became spiritual casualties in the race of life. Then there are those who started with little to no promise but finished surprisingly well. Nicodemus comes to mind. In John 3, we read that he came to see Jesus at night. He went incognito, wanting to have a private conversation with the Lord. Maybe that was because he didn’t want to be seen. We might criticize him for that. But in the end, he came through. Let’s remember that in everything, there must be a beginning. Nicodemus turned out to be one of the bravest followers of Jesus Christ. When the body of Jesus was taken down from the cross, Nicodemus went with Joseph of Arimathea to take it away. He also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes for the burial. He stood up for Christ while His disciples were in hiding. Some people had a great beginning with Jesus, only to deny Him later. For example, Judas Iscariot started out with promise, but we know how his story ended. Then there are those who had a good start, looked as though they were goners, but later made a comeback and got back into the race. King David was one of them. Like Gideon, he was plucked from obscurity as a shepherd. God raised him up to replace King Saul, and for a while, David was the greatest king in Israel’s history. The Bible describes him as a “man after [God’s] own heart” and “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (1 Samuel 13:14; 2 Samuel 23:1 NLT). But then he laid his eyes on the beautiful Bathsheba. He committed adultery with her and then tried to cover it up. And ultimately, he had her husband, Uriah, murdered on the battlefield. It looked as though David was going to follow in the steps of Saul and also play the fool. But he repented and got right with God. He was able to get back into the race and became a picture of someone who ran, fell, and got up again. Peter is another man who started out with great promise, handpicked by Jesus Himself. Sure, he had his blunders. But throughout the public ministry of Jesus, Peter was there. But then Peter denied the Lord. Afterward, he went out and wept bitterly. And then he came back, and he got right with God. In the end, Jesus recommissioned Peter, saying, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17 NLT). God wants every one of us to finish our race. He wants every one of us to win the gold and fulfill our ministry. The question is whether we want to do it. Do you want to cross the finish line? If so, you will. And if not, you won’t. It’s entirely your choice. Invest in evangelism in 2025! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.'” (Numbers 22:32–33 NLT) One important work of angels is to stop people from doing things God doesn't want us to do. Obviously, it's important and serious work, usually done without our realizing it. Sometimes, though, it can take an unexpectedly humorous turn. That's what happened in the story of Balaam and his donkey found in Numbers 22. Balaam was sort of a prophet for hire—more P-R-O-F-I-T than P-R-O-P-H-E-T. Balak, the king of Moab, hired him to curse the children of Israel. Balaam set out on his donkey to do the very thing that God didn't want him to do. So, God dispatched an angel. The angel's job was to stop Balaam from cursing the people of Israel. The angel positioned himself in the middle of the road Balaam was traveling and drew his sword. He was prepared to stop the prophet by any means necessary. Balaam's donkey saw the angel, but the prophet didn't. The donkey veered off the road into a field. The prophet beat the donkey until it returned to the road. The angel moved to a narrow part of the road between two vineyard walls. The donkey tried to go around and pinned Balaam's foot against the wall. Balaam got angry and beat the donkey again. The angel moved once more to a spot in the road too narrow for the donkey to get around. So the donkey simply lay down. Enraged, Balaam beat the donkey yet again. And that's when the Lord opened the donkey's mouth. The ensuing conversation went something like this: “What have I done to deserve your beating me three times?” “You made me look like a fool! If I had a sword, I'd kill you!” “You've ridden me all your life. Have I done anything like this before?” “Well, no.” Meanwhile, the angel was still standing there, visible to the donkey, invisible to Balaam. He finally made himself visible to Balaam. He said to Balaam, “Why did you beat your donkey those three times? . . . Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey” (Numbers 22:32–33 NLT). His words must have unnerved Balaam. The prophet realized that the angel had come to stop him from doing something seriously wrong. What are the takeaway lessons from this story? Number one: Don't talk to donkeys. And number two: When God is trying to stop you, don't keep going in the same direction. How many times have we been headed for destruction when God changed our course by sending an angel to stop us? — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Don't be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.” (2 Kings 6:16–17 NLT) One of the most awe-inspiring stories about God's use of angels is found in 2 Kings 6. To fully appreciate the account, some background information is necessary. The king of Syria declared war on Israel. The Syrian king devised secret battle plans with his servants. Unfortunately for him, nothing is secret from the Lord. God supernaturally revealed the king's battle plans to the prophet Elisha. Elisha, in turn, relayed the plans to the king of Israel. The king of Israel then made the necessary strategic adjustments to thwart Syria's plans. After being outmaneuvered one too many times, the king of Syria began to suspect that an Israelite spy had infiltrated his inner circle. But then he received word about what Elisha was doing. The Syrian king learned that Elisha was staying in the town of Dothan. He sent an enormous army to surround Dothan. He intended to make Elisha pay for his God-assisted espionage. The scene that plays out starting in verse 14 is almost comic. Elisha's servant, Gehazi, gets up early in the morning while his master is still sleeping and walks outside to begin his day. What he sees blows his mind and shakes him to his core. The entire city is surrounded by Syrian troops and instruments of war. And Gehazi knows why they're there. So, while Elisha is trying to get a little shut-eye, Gehazi starts freaking out. He wakes the sleeping prophet and says something to the effect of, “Master! Master! We're surrounded by our enemies! What are we going to do?” Elisha did not panic when he heard the news. In fact, he was probably a little irritated that his sleep was interrupted. “Don't be afraid,” he told his servant. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” (verse 16 NLT). Obviously, that math didn't make sense to Gehazi. Because he was assessing the situation based on what he could see physically. Elisha asked God to sharpen Gehazi's vision, to reveal what was invisible to the servant, so that he could have a more accurate sense of the situation. “The Lord opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire” (verse 17 NLT). Gehazi saw an invisible army of angels, ready to go to battle at God's command. Jesus alluded to a similar invisible army when he rebuked Peter for trying to “save” Him from being arrested. “Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?” (Matthew 26:53 NLT). Angels have our backs. They stand ready to support us whenever God commands. So when you feel alone, anxious, or outnumbered, pray as Elisha did. Ask God to make you aware of the invisible army that surrounds and protects you. — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest Partner Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. (Ephesians 5:7–11 NLT)   One of the first things God did in creation was to separate light from darkness (see Genesis 1:4). That separation between light and darkness becomes a recurring theme in Scripture. Spiritually speaking, light represents God and His ways. Darkness represents evil.   In his Gospel, the apostle John wrote of Jesus: “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it” (John 1:4–5 NLT). The lines are drawn. Jesus is the light. Everyone who follows Him does so in the light. The light can penetrate the darkness, but the darkness can never extinguish the light.   Not everyone is drawn to the light, of course. Jesus said, “And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed” (John 3:19–20 NLT). It's not that people don't believe that Jesus is the Son of God; it's that they don't want to follow Him because it means they must turn from their sin. And they don't want to do that.   Christians ask, “Why do people attack us for our faith? Why do they oppose us for what we believe? Why do they want to cancel us, our message, our voice, and our culture?” The answer is that we're bright lights in a dark place.   The gravitational pull of darkness is strong. We escaped it when we came to Christ. But it's still there, trying to drag us back in. Darkness takes advantage of our curiosity. It exploits our boredom. It urges us to join the crowd. It appeals to our sense of adventure and our impulse to walk on the wild side.   In Ephesians 5, Paul counters darkness's pull with a simple caution: Remember who you are. Remember all that you have in the light. Instead of allowing darkness to pull you in, shine your light on it. Expose it for what it really is.   If you find yourself in darkness, move to the light. Ask God to forgive you and set you back on the well-lit path. The Bible says, “The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires” (Romans 13:12–14 NLT). — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Parables // Prayer // The Key to Living an Overcoming Life  Luke 18:1-8 (NLT)“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. ‘There was a judge in a certain city,' he said, ‘who neither feared God nor cared about people.' A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.' The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don't fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'Then the Lord said, ‘Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?'” Prayer: The Key to Living an Overcoming Life 1.     God uses prayer to guide you in confusing times. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)“Trust in the Lord with all your heart    and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways submit to him,    and he will make your paths straight.” 2.     Prayer helps you overcome the temptations that come in the midst of difficulties. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”  3.     Prayer will steady you in trouble. Joshua 1:9 (NIV)“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”Matthew 28:20 (ESV)“I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (ESV)“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 4.     Prayer keeps you focused on God's character.  Hebrews 6:10 (NLT)“For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.” Philippians 4:19 (NIV)“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:10 (NIV)“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”     Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV)“do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” 

Closer, Pt. 3 | August 18, 2024 Pastor Wes MorrisLuke 18:1-8 (NLT) One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.'The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don't fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'”Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”✓ She was full of passion. ✓ She saw opportunities instead of obstacles. ✓ She was faith-filled. Luke 11:9-10 (ESV) And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.THE POWER OF PERSISTENCEI. SEEK GOD WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART. Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT) 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. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.John 4:23 (NLT) But the time is coming—indeed it's here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. II. BE SURRENDERED TO HIS WILL. Romans 12:1 (MSG) So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. III. BE SET APART FOR HIS PURPOSE.Galatians 2:20 (NIV) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.Galatians 5:24 (ESV) And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. IV. BE SATISFIED IN HIS PRESENCE. Psalm 63:1 (NLT) O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.James 4:8 (NLT) Come close to God, and God will come close to you.

Parables // Object on Road Ahead, Do Not Avoid Luke 10:25-29 (NLT)“One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”Jesus replied, ‘What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?'The man answered, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'‘Right!' Jesus told him. ‘Do this and you will live!'The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?'” Luke 10:30–37 (NLT)“Jesus replied with a story: A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I'll pay you the next time I'm here.'‘Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?' Jesus asked.The man replied, ‘The one who showed him mercy.'Then Jesus said, ‘Yes, now go and do the same.'”The priest and the assistant. Luke 10:31 (NLT)“he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by”Luke 10:32 (NLT)“A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.” Opportunity lost due to personal inconvenience. The Samaritan. Luke 10:33 (NLT)“when he saw the man, he felt compassion”

Listen to Psalm 95:1-7 … Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. (NLT) One of the most powerful ways to create and cultivate God's peace in our homes is to make them a place of worship. While, of course, music can be a part of that experience, it's far bigger than that. Making God a normal, natural part of our everyday conversations and speaking of His life and work in our families is an important path to peace in our homes. Gratitude always changes the attitude. What would be one thing you could tell your kids today that God has done for your family that they might not know about? What if you began to share anything that you see happen that affects them, something you know came from God's hand? Let them know the Creator of the universe is blessing their lives. Teach them that worship can simply be acknowledging what He has done. Worship and gratitude are strong elements of experiencing peace in our homes. Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I recognize You as the Author of peace. Teach me to recognize Your work in our lives and share that with my kids. To worship all You do and who You are. As above, so below.”

'By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life… In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises… The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 2 Peter 1:3,5,8,10 NLT   THE FIRST RUNG THAT WE DILIGENTLY ADD TO OUR LIVES IS FAITH   FAITH IS SIMPLY STAYING SUBMITTED AND COMMITTED TO THE WILL OF GOD.   THE SECOND RUNG THAT WE DILIGENTLY PURSUE IS MORAL EXCELLENCE Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence… 2 Peter 1:5 NLT   ' “If you love me, obey my commandments. John 14:15 NLT   Samson led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines. Judges 15:20 NIV   'The woman ran and told her husband, “A man of God appeared to me! He looked like osonne of God's angels, terrifying to see. I didn't ask where he was from, and he didn't tell me his name. But he told me, ‘You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. For your  will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from the moment of his birth until the day of his death.'” Judges 13:6-7 NLT   One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn we'll kill him.”Judges 16:1-2 NIV   RARELY DO WE GET TO THE WRONG PLACE IN LIFE BY ONE BAD CHOICE. WE GET THERE ONE STEP AT A TIME, ONE DAY AT A TIME, AND ONE BAD DECISION AT A TIME.   WE DON'T BELIEVE OUR BAD DECISIONS OR DISOBEDIENCE WILL COST US.   But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. Judges 16:3 NIV   Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. Judges 16:4 NIV   IThe rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.” So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.” Judges 16:5-6 NIV   After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him. Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I'll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison. Judges 16:19-21 NIV   HOW DO YOU PURSUE MORAL EXCELLENCE?   So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 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 1:13-16 NLT   1. GIRD YOUR MINDS So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 1 Peter 1:13 NLT   But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. 1 Timothy 6:11 NLT   WE HAVE TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU LOVE FREEDOM OVER THE CONVENIENCE OF YOUR TEMPTATION   So get rid of every filthy habit and all wicked conduct. Submit to God and accept the word that he plants in your hearts, which is able to save you. James 1:21 GNB   2. GUARD YOUR HEARTS So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. 1 Peter 1:14 NLT Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Ephesians 5:11 NIV 3. GUIDE YOUR LIFESTYLE 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 1:16 NLT   'And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT   MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO COMPROMISE   4 MAJOR TRIGGERS:   PLACE       TIME   MOOD       Tremble and in your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord. Psalms 4:4-5 NIV   PEOPLE   Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. Proverbs 13:20 NLT   Do not be fooled. “Bad companions ruin good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV       SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE GOING THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO   Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT

Pastor Jon Verwey, Pam McSherry, and Kevin Canham 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. — Genesis 1:1 (NLT) …God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! — Genesis 1:31 (NLT) …One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit […]

A Study In Romans Week 20 / T. Stacy Hayes #findoutwhoyouare My Vision My vision is to teach the world Who They Are In Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior! To Teach them what the Bible says about them and who they have been made to be in the promises of God's Word. This changed my life years ago and completely transformed me from a person full of doubt, fear and unbelief to a strong confident Christian that knows I can do anything through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. And I'm determined to teach the world what God has taught and commissioned me to teach and that is His Word.  That commission takes me to jails and detention centers weekly along with other open doors at many churches and ministries that are wanting to teach these important truths to the world. My podcast goes out 6 days a week to help the people I am ministering to grow in the truths that God has taught me for many years now. This podcast is free to all that want to listen and grow strong in who God has made them to be in Christ Jesus their Lord and Savior. This In Him Scripture Study Started On June 21 2021 Go Back And Listen From The Beginning…  The Study In Romans Started on March 30 2022 Go Back And Listen To This Study From The Beginning… Isaiah 53:5  Healing… Matthew 18:19  Agree with God's Word… Mark 10:29-30  100 Fold Return… Acts 10:34  God is no respecter of persons… ”One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.“ Romans 14:5 KJV “In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable.” Romans 14:5 NLT “One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike [sacred]. Let everyone be fully convinced (satisfied) in his own mind.” Romans 14:5 AMPC ”He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.“ Romans 14:6 KJV “Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.” Romans 14:6 NLT “He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.” Romans 14:6 AMPC ”For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.“ Romans 14:7-8 KJV “For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Romans 14:7-8 NLT “None of us lives to himself [but to the Lord], and none of us dies to himself [but to the Lord, for] If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or we die, we belong to the Lord.” Romans 14:7-8 AMPC ”For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.“ Romans 14:9 KJV “Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.” Romans 14:9 NLT “For Christ died and lived again for this very purpose, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.” Romans 14:9 AMPC ”But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.“ Romans 14:10 KJV “So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.” Romans 14:10 NLT “Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.” Romans 14:10 AMPC Romans 10:9-10  Salvation… Romans 10:17  Faith in God comes from hearing His Word… Matthew 11:28-30  Jesus'Yoke is Easy… John 3:16  God gave Jesus to pay for our Salvation… God Loves The abortion dr As Much As He Loves The Babies They Are Killing… Philippians 12:2  Work out your own Salvation… Romans 8:1  No condemnation in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior…  Luke Chapter 15 The Story Of The Prodigal Son… Philippians 4:19  God will supply all your needs let Him… Romans 4:20  Don't Stagger at What God Is Saying In His Word… John 15:5 We can't do anything aside from Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… 2 Corinthians 5:17  We are new creatures in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… 2 Corinthians 5:21  We are The Righteousness of God In Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Mark 10:29-30  100 Fold Return… Ephesians 2:8  We are Saved by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Believe God's Word Above All Opinions God Loves The abortion dr's As Much As He Loves The Babies They Are Killing… Mark 10:29-30  100 Fold Return… Share This Podcast On Your Social Media… Website https://the-prodigalson.com Email tstacyhayes@gmail.com  YouVersion Bible App https://my.bible.comi iOS App https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prodigal-son/id1450529518?mt=8 …  Android App https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.prodical  Social Media https://www.facebook.com/The-Prodigal-SON-209069136315959/ https://www.facebook.com/noreligion1511/ https://twitter.com/noreligion1511 https://www.instagram.com/noreligion1511/ https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCPx4s1CLkSYef6mp4dSuU4w/featured                    

Today we look at the story of Peter's betrayal of Jesus, a classic example of “mission drift” in the Bible. Jesus had called Peter to make disciples, but now his commitment was in question. Peter, as with the other disciples, is brimming with confidence that his faith will not fail. But then it does, in shocking fashion. So that's the famous story, but today we're putting the story in the context of a broader question: Have you ever experienced mission drift?--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --Q. Have you ever experienced mission drift?Examples in marriage, in the workforceMarriage vows: Chris, do you take Brandi to be your wedded wife, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor her and keep her, and forsaking all others remain loyal to her as long as you both shall live? If so, say “I do”.Kodak: Founded in the late 19th century, Kodak was a pioneer in the photography industry with the mission of making photography accessible to the masses ("You press the button, we do the rest.") However, as digital photography began to emerge in the late 20th century, Kodak struggled to adapt and continued to prioritize its traditional film business. In 2012, Kodak filed for bankruptcy, a stark reminder of the consequences of mission drift and the failure to adapt to changing market dynamics.What it looks like in Christianity: (Go make disciples…)Matthew 28:19 (NLT) Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.So many churches just miss this. So many Christians never get it.Before we get to our text today in ch 14, we need to set the stage by going all the way back to chapter 1, when Jesus first called his disciples. Pay attention to where this all happens, because it's going to come up again in ch 14:Mark 1:16-18 (NLT) One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.Talk about mission of Jesus, they left their nets, spent 3 years with JesusAmazing faith! What sacrifice!Their expectation - this is going to be good. We'll be famous! Rich!?Now let's get to our text today from Mark 14. Last week we covered the Last Supper, and Jesus' identification of the one who would betray him. Luke adds context in his account: Luke 22:24 (NLT) Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them.Can you imagine? Hilarious! In the Luke account Jesus goes on to define greatness: (NLT) Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.So let's...

The key to resilience isn't stuffing your emotions, it's harnessing them. Feelings aren't sinful. They are signposts to draw us toward greater dependence on God. Our heart determines the outcome of our lives. That means mind, will, and emotions. We're exploring some specific emotions and learning how to harness them for good.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --Part 1: Cain's AngerPoint: Anger is often the superficial emotion covering over a deeper, less acceptable emotion. For Cain, God's rejection of his gift was depressing enough to cause him to murder.Genesis 4:3-5 (NLT) When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the LORD. Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.Notice two emotions here: anger + dejection. Deeper emotion: dejection. Why?Comparison game: God rejected his gift, accepted Abel's = insecureCan you relate? See 7 Deadly SinsSubstitute anger is a false pathway to control – making you feel powerful instead of vulnerable. Genesis 4:6-7Substitute anger actually causes a loss of control – both emotionally and relationally, and even spiritually. James 1:20, 1 John 3:10The antidote to anger is to be vulnerable and practice silence – just as Jesus did. Psalm 4:4, Ephesians 4:26-27Why was he mad at Able for God's rejection?Possibly stinginess: “some of his crops” vs. “the best portions”It is better to give than to receive (it's true!)The love of money is the root of evilEither way - led to dejection, depression, being downcastGenesis 4:6-7 (NLT) “Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”This is what the enemy wants to do: recruit your emotions for evilGod wants you to harness your emotions for goodHere's how Cain's story ended:Genesis 4:8 (NLT) One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let's go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.For Cain, God's rejection of his gift was depressing enough to cause him to murder.Perfect example of “The wages of sin is death.”Q. What has anger killed off in your life?A relationshipA job opportunityYour inner peacePart 2: Moses' AngerPoint: Anger can also boil over from unresolved frustration. For Moses, this is what happened on his way to the Promised Land.Explain the exodus, people complaining (again), God's instructions and...

Life is good for the one who is generous and charitable, conducting affairs with honesty and truth. Psalms 112:5 TPT Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?' Malachi 3:6-7 NIV “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?' Malachi 3:8 NIV “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Malachi 3:8-9 NIV Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:10-12 NIV 3 UNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT TITHING 1. TITHING IS A TEST Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. Malachi 3:10 NIV 2. TITHING IS BIBLICAL Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Genesis 14:18-20 NIV this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me. Genesis 28:22 NLT One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy. Leviticus 27:30 NLT And it shall be, when you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground, which you shall bring from your land that the Lord your God is giving you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. Deuteronomy 26:1-2 NKJV then you shall say before the Lord your God: ‘I have removed the holy tithe from my house, and also have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor have I forgotten them. I have not eaten any of it when in mourning, nor have I removed any of it for an unclean use, nor given any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that You have commanded me. Deuteronomy 26:13-14 NKJV Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land which You have given us… Deuteronomy 26:15 NKJV “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. Mathew 23:23 3. TITHING IS A BLESSING Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 31:4 NKJV As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. And the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God they laid in heaps. In the third month they began laying them in heaps, and they finished in the seventh month. 2 Chronicles 31:5-7 NKJV And when Hezekiah and the leaders came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and His people Israel. Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. And Azariah the chief priest, from the house of Zadok, answered him and said, “Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed His people; and what is left is this great abundance. 2 Chronicles 31:8-10 NKJV I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12-14 NLT Level 1: Initial Giver… What do I do with my stuff? Level 2: Consistent Giver… What do I do with God's stuff? . Level 3: Intentional Giver… What does God want me to do with God's stuff? Level 4: Spiritual Giver… What does God want me to GIVE from what GOD has provided? Level 5: Surrendered Giver… What does God want me to KEEP from what GOD has provided? If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:25-26 NLT  

Pastor John Ryan Cantu brings this week's message, “Highest Calling." Key verses: Exodus 3:1-10 NLT “One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn't burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn't that bush burning up? I must go see it.” When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”” 1 Peter 2:9 NIV “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Sermon Topics: Calling, Obedience

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.””‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬-‭19‬ NLT“One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.””‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭24‬-‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬“For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.”‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 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 patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. . . . Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God. (CS Lewis, Mere Christianity, 55-56)Want to know Jesus? FutureAndHope.orgLooking for a church in St Louis? SLFC.orgEmail me if you want to talk about Jesus and pray with you: joe@joemccall.com

“We love equipping this generation, not just calling them to pray, but teaching them how to pray.” What started with eight high school students praying weekly in a large public high school, has grown to 3,500 student-led prayer groups on middle and high school campuses in 33 U.S. states. Olivia Williamson, Director of Campus Ministries for Claim Your Campus and Enlightened Students, tells us more including testimonies of students whose hearts have been touched by prayer. Find out how your middle or high school students can start praying for their school and participate as a family in the Prayer Walk Project. The Moms in Prayer Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit ChristianParenting.org ABOUT OUR GUEST Olivia Williamson serves as the Director of Campus Ministries for Claim Your Campus and Enlightened Students. With a heart for prayer, this next generation, and developing young leaders, she desires to see leaders rise up and take their place in the Kingdom. Olivia is also an engaging speaker, musician, passionate worship leader, and writer. She lives in Kansas City with her husband, Kyle, and their dog, Captain. Kyle previously served as a youth pastor and is now on staff at Claim Your Campus. SCRIPTURES The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. Psalm 145:18 NKJV Sing to the LORD; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Psalm 96:2 NLT May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. Hebrews 13:21 NLT One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4 NKJV LINKS Claim Your Campus & Free Prayer App Claim Your Campus Prayer Walk Project MOMS IN PRAYER ·       New to Moms in Prayer? How to get started ·      Sign Up for Our New Online Bible Study ·      Support Our Mission

Listen to Psalm 95:1-7 … Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. (NLT) One of the most powerful ways to create and cultivate God's peace in our homes is to make them a place of worship. While, of course, music can be a part of that experience, it's far bigger than that. Making God a normal, natural part of our everyday conversations and speaking of His life and work in our families is an important path to peace in our homes. Gratitude always changes the attitude. What would be one thing you could tell your kids today that God has done for your family that they might not know about? What if you began to share anything that you see happen that affects them, something you know came from God's hand? Let them know the Creator of the universe is blessing their lives. Teach them that worship can simply be acknowledging what He has done. Worship and gratitude are strong elements of experiencing peace in our homes. Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I recognize You as the Author of peace. Teach me to recognize Your work in our lives and share that with my kids. To worship all You do and who You are. As above, so below.”

We'll begin our week with 1 Peter 2:1-3 … So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness. (NLT) One of the first signs of personal growth and spiritual maturity is that our desires start to change. Rarely will that take place overnight, but over time. To be blunt, the cravings for sin just start to decrease and the desire for the good, right, and pure things of God slowly overcome old habits and patterns and the replacement process begins. This can be seen in where we no longer wish to go, to people we no longer choose to be around, or things we lose the desire to do. Listen now to this same passage in The Message Bible … So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You've had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness. Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God. Take a moment to consider where you know your desires have changed. Relationships, friendships, places, activities? Sometimes we have to stop and realize that we have allowed something to fall away, recognize anything that we have let go of, or something new we have started, as a positive step of growth in our lives. If you realize or recognize a change, celebrate that growth. A win is a win. Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You for how You have changed my mind, my heart, my attitude, my taste for things of the past, and my desire for the things of You. Help me to keep growing, one day, one step at a time. As above, so below.”

2 Timothy 1:8-10 … So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. … For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. (NLT) One of the reasons we must fully understand and receive God's grace is so we can be a reflection of His grace. We live in a day when people are desperately searching for grace and mercy. Simply showing grace out of an overflow of our hearts can attract people to want to know what creates this in our lives. Listen to this passage in The Message Bible … So don't be embarrassed to speak up for our Master. … We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus. Who in your life is on a desperate search for grace? Could it be that this week was all about you coming to a deeper understanding of God's grace so you can share that grace with those you know? And never forget—Your salvation is about what Christ has done, not what You can do for Him. And His grace is all you need for His power to be made strong in You through your weakness. Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I surrender my weakness to You. Make me strong in Your grace. Help me to share what You have done in me and for me with those who need You. As above, so below.”

Discover the rarely discussed family life of Jesus and how his family's skepticism towards his ministry approach led to an intervention. Learn how Jesus prioritized faith and how even his family eventually came to believe in him.Skeptical SiblingsMark 3:20-21 (NLT) One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn't even find time to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He's out of his mind,” they said.Did you know Jesus had brothers and sisters? He has 4 brothers and at least 2 sisters plus a mom, Mary. Joseph not being mentioned many believe is because he may have passed away by this time.Mark 6:3-4 (ESV) Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”Jesus' family saw all that he was doing and were concerned about his radical beliefs that had him serving others and preaching day and night. They were basically rejecting him right along with the pharisees. They were going to take him away to save him and their own family from embarrassment. Is Jesus too radical for you? Do you water down his words? Liberalism. Jesus demands some crazy things. Blessed is he who lays down his life for a friend. Love your enemies, bless those who persecute you. Give to the needy, but don't tell anyone you did it. If anyone would sue you and take your tunic, give him your cloak as well. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away because it's better to go to Heaven with one eye than hell with two eyes. I have not come to bring peace but a sword.What do we do with this abrasive, politically incorrect Jesus? Do we follow Him or do we try to make Him follow us? We learned weeks ago that you can't make Jesus fit into old wineskins, into established religion. Jesus is greater than religion, and he is not to be trifled with. This reminds us of Joseph in the OT when he was having dreams about his siblings and parents bowing down to him. They thought he was crazy and sold him into slavery, left him as good as dead. Yet, Joseph earned his place of honor and authority to later save them and they did bow. (Genesis 37:10, 50:18-21) Joseph was a type of Christ.Genesis 37:10 (ESV) But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?”This can happen in our families as well when we become Christians. Our parents or siblings think we've gone crazy because we don't hold to the traditions and faith that they do anymore. Often times being a follower of Christ does mean that we are serving a lot, bold in our faith and look like outcasts from the rest of society. Always talking about Jesus and the Gospel! This can lead to broken relationships, losing benefits and positions of honor in the family, being labeled the black sheep, some may think we are weird, holier than thou. If only Jesus' family could see what he sees. If only our lost family members could see what we see and hear what we hear and know the lord like we do! (Trans) Now we're going to jump to vs. 31-35 to pick up the rest of the story. Last week we talked about the leaders of the Jewish community rejecting Jesus and committing grievous sin toward God by seriously misunderstanding who Jesus is and blaspheming the Holy Spirit. This is what you call an...

Sermon Notes "HELLO, I am ____________." "Whatever word you write in that blank has significant power over your life because everything flows from what we would identify as core to our identity. We have a tendency to focus heavily on behavior and not say much about identity."- Kyle Idleman, Not a Fan Luke 3:16b NLT "...but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am - so much greater that I'm not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals." Matthew 3:13-15 NLT "Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. 'I am the one who needs to be baptized by you," he said, "so why are you coming to me?' But Jesus said, 'It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.' So John agreed to baptize him." Luke 3:21-22a NLT "One day, when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove." Luke 3:22b NLT "And a voice from heaven said, 'You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.'" Luke 3:22b NEV "And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my one dear Son; in you, I take great delight.'" Luke 3:22b MSG "And along with the Spirit, a voice: 'You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.'" "After church one weekend I was talking to a fairly successful business guy in his mid-forties. He told me he had been struggling lately with feelings of failure. We talked for a few minutes about where those feelings were coming from. I finally said to him, "It doesn't make a lot of sense. Anyone who looked at your life would say that you are a success." And without pausing to think he added, "Anyone, except for my dad." It turns out that early and often his dad had conveyed the message, you are a disappointment. You are never going to be good enough. You are never going to be successful. And all these years later that's still who he sees when he looks in the mirror. A CEO who feels like a failure." - Kyle Idleman, Not a Fan Philippians 3:7-9a NLT "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." When your identity is rooted in Jesus, it transforms YOU. Place your identity in Jesus, not your behavior! Repent. Give your life to Jesus. Be baptized. Begin to lead from a transformed heart and mind by making Jesus part of your EVERY DAY. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

Pastor John Keating Pastor Brittany Pickering   In our new series, we'll have an opportunity to listen & learn from people in our congregation and in our community.   1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NLT) 
One expression of love is how we use the spiritual gifts that God has given us.

God's plan for love was to be shown in the world through your prayers, actions, and words – not through pictures or symbols. The ultimate way He showed us, love, was by sending His son.   1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)

How Family Members Help Each Other GrowBy Rick Warren“Since I . . . have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” John 13:14-15 (NLT)One of the marks of an awesome family—whether it's your biological family, your adoptive family, or your church family—is that you help each other grow. But how do you do that? Let me give you two methods that help people grow and two that don't. These apply in every area of life, not just in families.Listen in to this episode to learn more about what it takes to thrive as a family. For prayer please visit: brothers and sisters in Christ globally will intercede for you: http://bit.ly/rc-prayer-map-submit-request.

Rhythms | Part 2January 15, 2023 | Pastor Wes MorrisCurrent Series Resources: https://baychapel.churchcenter.com/pages/prayerBefore Jesus begins his ministry he goes through a season where he disconnects from the world and gets away with God in the wilderness. We often think of our “wilderness seasons” as painful or a negative experience, whereas it is actually a blessing! In this message for the new year, Pastor Wes Morris challenges us in a couple of ways that we are distracted from our wilderness opportunities and 3 ways to embrace and fully experience our wilderness time with our creator. We hope you'll be encouraged through this message.Mark 1:9-13 (NLT) One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.Subscribe to receive our latest messages.——Stay Connected, ask for prayer and find out more.http://www.baychapel.com/connect——Bay Chapel exists to help people ‘Find God and Find Life' through a relationship with Jesus Christ. To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: http://www.baychapel.com/give

Well, hey there! Thanks for checking out The Burt (Not Ernie) Show & this special episode with a release from the vault! I hope it blesses and encourages you today & reminds you that the Lord's promises to you are sure, certain, steadfast and guaranteed. Be sure to sign up for my email list at my website, JanLBurt.com, and get "The Runway" in you inbox as a way to be encouraged, renewed & refueled. I'm cheering you on as you live out God's good plans for your life!  Enjoy this special episode from the vault! ~ Jan L. Burt          ~ ORIGINAL SHOW NOTES FOR EPISODE 32 ~  Acts 2:39 - The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call.   When God gives us something that we can grab hold of & hang on to & believe Him for individually (as in, just for us as His dearly loved child) it's terribly comforting. It's very personal. When God gives us as His whole body, His whole Church, a promise, that's just plain beautiful. And when God gives us promises that are generational - as in, for those who will come after us (specifically our children and our grandchildren and so on) --- well, that is something else entirely!   When you spend time in prayer for your children - which I hope happens every single day - don't fail to utilize and make the most of the promise from this New Testament verse. I want to encourage you to use this verse in your beseeching (and if your prayers aren't exactly "beseeching" the Lord for specific things for your offspring, I guess this is your challenge to make sure they become "beseeching" prayers!). Please be willing to pray God's Word back to Him on behalf of your loved ones. Don't miss this!! It delights Him when His children know His Word and speak His Word in prayer. Praying in this manner reveals that we believe His Word is true. It reveals our faith in Him when we pray His promises in belief.   Ask God to give you specific promises for your children. And be sure to write those promises down where you will see them often and pray them often. Be sure to put them down in ink, not with a pencil. God's promises are not able to be altered or erased, so don't treat them as if they might be "erase-able" by writing them down with lead rather than with ink, if you get my meaning.   Have you ever met a kid who just sort of keeps on this type of rant: "But you promised! You said you would do that! You said! But you said...!!!"  Believe it or not, we need to behave a bit more like this in our prayer lives and a whole lot less timidly. (God's Word tells us to come boldly to the throne of grace to find help in our time of need --- check out Episode #1 of The Burt (Not Ernie) Show to hear more about that verse from the book of Hebrews). We need to become more importunate in our praying.   Let's look at these words from Jesus when He taught His disciples about prayer:           Luke 11:5-10 (NLT) - Then, teaching them more about prayer, He used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.' And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.' But I tell you this - thought he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you as for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."           Luke 18:1-8 (NLT)  - One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. "There was a judge in a certain city," He said, "who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying 'Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.' The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, 'I don't fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!' " Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to His chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will He find on the earth who have faith?" Definition of IMPORTUNITY: persistence, especially to the point of annoyance --- shamelessness --- lack of modesty --- urgent request In the King James Version, Luke 11:8 uses the word IMPORTUNITY where the NLT uses the phrase "shameless persistence". This is, my friend, how the Lord Jesus TAUGHT His disciples to pray. And it is how He wants us to pray.   *** Quick Side Note for Those Who Do Not Have Children ***                You are a child of God. There is nobody - and I do mean absolutely nobody! - on the outside looking in when it comes to the Kingdom of God. I want you to take it from me - take this from me right now and don't set it down somewhere...take it and hold on to it, please! -  You are not an outsider. You are absolutely and insider in God's Kingdom. You matter. Did you hear me? I said, YOU MATTER!!! Having or not having children does not mean you matter more or less - and this podcast episode is a promise for those who don't have children just as much as it is for those who are parents. Remember, you matter! There are no outsiders in God's family. You truly do matter. Ask the Lord to lead you to godly friendships, to places where you will not feel as if you are on the outside looking in, but are on the inside inviting others in to join you. Don't give up hope - pray to the God of all hope to give you a place where you can know you belong and not feel as if you are merely tolerated. Don't resign yourself to staying on the outside and looking in longingly...that is not what Jesus died for. Never forget, you matter!   Now, let's take a look at the remainder of the promise in this verse. This promise is for all whom the Lord our God will call. There is a sense of the future tense in this verse. This is for all who will ever be called by the Lord. And we know that He wants everyone, as in all of mankind, to be saved and none to perish, so He is calling out to everyone. We can pray big prayers based on this promise! Pray God's promises and pray them again tomorrow and then the next day and just do not stop praying!! God's promises are for you ... & for your family... & for your circle of influence. So pray that way, believe this promise because it is 100% the truth.      

Listen to Psalm 95:1-7 … Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. (NLT) One of the most powerful ways to create and cultivate God's peace in our homes is to make them a place of worship. While, of course, music can be a part of that experience, it's far bigger than that. Making God a normal, natural part of our everyday conversations and speaking of His life and work in our families is an important path to peace in our homes. Gratitude always changes the attitude. What would be one thing you could tell your kids today that God has done for your family that they might not know about? What if you began to share anything that you see happen that affects them, something you know came from God's hand? Let them know the Creator of the universe is blessing their lives. Teach them that worship can simply be acknowledging what He has done. Worship and gratitude are strong elements of experiencing peace in our homes. Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I recognize You as the Author of peace. Teach me to recognize Your work in our lives and share that with my kids. To worship all You do and who You are. As above, so below.”

We'll begin our week with 1 Peter 2:1-3 … So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness. (NLT) One of the first signs of personal growth and spiritual maturity is that our desires start to change. Rarely will that take place overnight, but over time. To be blunt, the cravings for sin just start to decrease and the desire for the good, right, and pure things of God slowly overcome old habits and patterns and the replacement process begins. This can be seen in where we no longer wish to go, to people we no longer choose to be around, or things we lose the desire to do. Listen now to this same passage in The Message Bible … So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You've had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness. Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God. Take a moment to consider where you know your desires have changed. Relationships, friendships, places, activities? Sometimes we have to stop and realize that we have allowed something to fall away, recognize anything that we have let go of, or something new we have started, as a positive step of growth in our lives. If you realize or recognize a change, celebrate that growth. A win is a win. Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You for how You have changed my mind, my heart, my attitude, my taste for things of the past, and my desire for the things of You. Help me to keep growing, one day, one step at a time. As above, so below.”

Get Baptized • https://beaverton.cc/baptisms • If you have accepted Jesus but have never had the opportunity to celebrate your new life in Him through water baptism, this is your next step! I'm New • https://beaverton.cc/sunday/join-us-in-person/im-new • Find opportunities to engage and grow! Find Community • https://beaverton.cc/community • Growth happens best in community Find Care • https://beaverton.cc/care • BCC strives to address unique life circumstances in multiple ways, through care and support. What's Happening at BCC • https://beaverton.cc/whats-happening • This page is kept up to date, so you always know what's happening at BCC! Sermon Sync Notes - May 22, 2022Acts: The Church - A Church for Everyone - Jon Furman Acts 10:1-2 (NLT)In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. Acts 10:3-6a (NLT)One afternoon about three o'clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said. Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. Acts 10:9a-14 (NLT)The next day as Cornelius's messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray… He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.” Acts 10:15-16a & 19-20 (NLT)But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven… Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don't worry, for I have sent them.” Acts 10:24-26 (NLT)They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I'm a human being just like you!” Acts 10:28-29 (NLT)Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.” Acts 10:34-38 (NLT)Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:39-40a & 42 (NLT)“And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day… And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. Acts 10:44-47 (NLT)Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” I Peter 5:5b-6 (NLT)…And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Let Humility draw you close to God. Let Humility draw Godly people close to you. Let Humility put you in your place.

The flavor of favorColossians 1:12 NIV Give joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light2 Sam 9:1 (NLT) One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul's family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?” Galatians 4:6-7 NLT  And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.'  Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.2 Sam 9:2 (NLT) He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul's servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied. 2 Sam 9:3 (NLT) The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul's family? If so, I want to show God's kindness to them.” Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan's sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.” 2 Sam 9:4 (NLT) “Where is he?” the king asked. “In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.” 2 Sam 9:5 (NLT) So David sent for him and brought him from Makir's home. 2 Sam 9:6 (NLT) His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan's son and Saul's grandson.2 Sam 9:6 (NLT) His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan's son and Saul's grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.” 2 Sam 9:7 (NLT) “Don't be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness (favor) to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king's table!” 2 Sam 9:8 (NLT) Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” 2 Sam 9:9 (NLT) Then the king summoned Saul's servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 2 Sam 9:10 (NLT) Mephibosheth, your master's grandson, will eat here at my table.”2 Sam 9:11 (NLT) Ziba replied,“Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David's table, like one of the king's own sons. Galatians 4:7 (NLT)you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

The flavor of favor Colossians 1:12 NIV Give joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light 2 Sam 9:1 (NLT) One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul's family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?” Galatians 4:6-7 NLT  And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.'  Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. 2 Sam 9:2 (NLT) He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul's servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied. 2 Sam 9:3 (NLT) The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul's family? If so, I want to show God's kindness to them.” Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan's sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.” 2 Sam 9:4 (NLT) “Where is he?” the king asked. “In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.” 2 Sam 9:5 (NLT) So David sent for him and brought him from Makir's home. 2 Sam 9:6 (NLT) His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan's son and Saul's grandson. 2 Sam 9:6 (NLT) His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan's son and Saul's grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.” 2 Sam 9:7 (NLT) “Don't be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness (favor) to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king's table!” 2 Sam 9:8 (NLT) Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” 2 Sam 9:9 (NLT) Then the king summoned Saul's servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 2 Sam 9:10 (NLT) Mephibosheth, your master's grandson, will eat here at my table.” 2 Sam 9:11 (NLT) Ziba replied,“Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David's table, like one of the king's own sons. Galatians 4:7 (NLT)you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

2 Timothy 1:8-10 … So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. … For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. (NLT) One of the reasons we must fully understand and receive God's grace is so we can be a reflection of His grace. We live in a day when people are desperately searching for grace and mercy. Simply showing grace out of an overflow of our hearts can attract people to want to know what creates this in our lives. Listen to this passage in The Message Bible … So don't be embarrassed to speak up for our Master. … We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus. Who in your life is on a desperate search for grace? Could it be that this week was all about you coming to a deeper understanding of God's grace so you can share that grace with those you know? And never forget—Your salvation is about what Christ has done, not what You can do for Him. And His grace is all you need for His power to be made strong in You through your weakness. Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I surrender my weakness to You. Make me strong in Your grace. Help me to share what You have done in me and for me with those who need You. As above, so below.”

Season 02 / Episode 02 God and the Gospel are unchanging, but societies and cultures are changing constantly. One of the challenges to helping people follow Jesus in nominally-Christian and post-Christian cultures is generally low engagement with the Bible. “Faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” (Romans 10:17, NLT) One of the principle ways in which people hear the Good News is from the Bible. But how will they hear it if they aren't engaging with it? In this episode, Mike and Nate talk about Discovery Bible Method, a tool that facilitates evangelism and discipleship by making reading the Bible easy and accessible. DBM and its various iterations are having a major impact around the world and the western Church has much to profit by adopting its principles. (Recorded April 2022)

(Japanese) このメッセージでは登牧師がどれだけ私たちが幸せなのかについて以下の2つのポイントから話します。 In this message Ps Noboru talks about how we are too blessed to stress in these 2 points: (マタイ5:1-3 JCB) ある日、大ぜいの人が集まって来たので、イエスは弟子たちを連れて山に登り、そこに腰をおろして、彼らにお教えになりました。(3)「心の貧しさを知る謙遜な人は幸いです。神の国はそういう人に与えられるからです。 (Matthew 5:1-3 NLT) One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, (2) and he began to teach them.(3) “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. (マルコ10:17-22 ERV訳）イエスがその場から立ち去ろうとすると、ある男が駆け寄ってイエスの前にひざまづいて、聞いた。「素晴らしい先生！私が永遠の命を得るためには、私は何をしなければなりませんか？」18) イエスは答えた。「なぜわたしを素晴らしいと呼ぶ？神のみが素晴らしい。19) それに、神の掟ぐらい知っているだろう？『殺さない、結婚した異性以外とセックスをしない、盗まない、ウソをつかない、だまさない、父と母を敬う』と・・・」20) 男は言った。「先生！もちろんです！私は幼いころから全部！この掟を全て守り続けています！」 21) イエスは心から彼のことを思い、こう言った。「まだ1つ必要なことが残っている。自分の持っている物を全部売り払うんだ。貧しい人たちにお金を与えなさい！そうすれば、あなたは天で富を得る！その後、わたしについて来るんだ！」 男はすごくお金持ちだった。そのためイエスにお金を諦めるようにと言われた時、その男はすごく腹を立てた。こうして、彼は悲しくもその場から立ち去った。 (Mark 10:17-22 NLT)  As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (18) “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. (19) But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.'” (20) “Teacher,” the man replied, “I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” (21) Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven't done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”(22) At this the man's face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 1.感謝の心を取り戻す Come Back to Thankfulness (１テサロニケ5:17-18 ERV訳) 絶えず祈って！ (18) 何があっても、どんな時も、感謝の気持ちを切らさずに！これこそ神がイエス・キリストに属するあなた達に望んでいることなのだから。 (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 NLT) Never stop praying. (18) Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1コリント8:5-6 ERV訳) 天や地に神々と呼ばれる存在がいたり、ある領域をつかさどる霊的な存在が実在するのかしないのかの議論は、本当に重要なことではない。 6)私たちにとって神が唯一であり、神が私たちの父だ。つまり、全てが神から生まれ、全てが神のために存在している。そして主人であるイエス・キリストも唯一で、全てがイエスを通してつくられ、イエスを通して私たちはいのちを持っている。 (1 Corinthians 8:5-6 NLT) There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords. (6) But for us,there is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live. 2.心の成長を求めてこう Grow in Your Heart -How to Do より How to Be を大切に！ (1コリント13:13 ERV訳)その上で、永遠に残るものは3つ。信仰、希望、そして愛。その中でも他の全てに勝るもの、それが愛だ！ (1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT) Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

(Japanese) このメッセージでは太助牧師が本当の幸せについて話します。 In this message Ps Tasuke talks about happiness: (マタイ5:1-3 JCB)ある日、大ぜいの人が集まって来たので、イエスは弟子たちを連れて山に登り、そこに腰をおろして、彼らにお教えになりました。(3)「心の貧しさを知る謙遜な人は幸いです。神の国はそういう人に与えられるからです。 (Matthew 5:1-3 NLT) One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, (2) and he began to teach them.(3) “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. (マタイ16:13-18 JCB)ピリポ・カイザリヤに行った時、イエスは弟子たちに、「みんなは、わたしのことをだれだと言っていますか」とお尋ねになりました。(14)弟子たちは答えました。「バプテスマのヨハネだと言う人もいますし、エリヤだと言う人もいます。また、エレミヤだとか、ほかの預言者の一人だとか言う人もいます。」(15)「では、あなたがたは、どうなのですか。」(16)シモン・ペテロが答えました。「あなたこそキリスト（ギリシャ語で、救い主）です。生ける神の子です。」(17)「ヨナの息子シモンよ。神があなたを祝福(マカリオス)してくださったのです。それを明らかにしたのは、人ではなく、天におられるわたしの父です。 (18)あなたはペテロ（岩）です。わたしはこの大きな岩の上にわたしの教会を建てます。地獄のどんな恐ろしい力も、わたしの教会に打ち勝つことはできません。 (Matthew 16:13-18 NLT) When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (14) “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”(15) Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” (16) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (17) Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John,because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. (18) Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 1.神様のことばがマカリオス(幸せ)をもたらす！ God's word brings ‘Makarios (Happiness)!  (箴言29:18 JCB)神を知らない民は好き勝手に振る舞い、手がつけられませんが、国中の人が神の教えを守ろうとする国は幸い(マカリオス、アシュレ)です。 (Proverbs 29:18 NLT) When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful (makarios, ashre).

Matthew 16:24 NLT  //  Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. Give up. Take up. Follow. We've settled for a comfortable faith. We need to trade our comfortable faith for a functional faith. Matthew 4:18-22 NLT  //  One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.  Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.  A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. 1. Listen to Jesus Jesus called, they listened. 2. Follow Jesus wherever He leads Matthew 4:19  //  Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” You have to learn before you lead. You attract who you are. 3. Release the things that keep us from Jesus Matthew 4:22 NLT  //  They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. What are you holding onto that is holding you back from all that God has for you? Matthew 16:24 NLT // Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. You can't carry your cross and your opinion at the same time. 4. Receive the authority of Jesus Matthew 10:1-8 NLT  // Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (also called Peter), then Andrew (Peter's brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (James's brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don't go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God's lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! Your mission is collaborative and collective in the church. Your gifting is unique.

Pastor John Ryan Cantu brings this week's message, “Method, Message, Messiah." Key Verse: John 12:9–13, 17–26, 31–37 NLT “The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There's nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!” Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus. Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this to indicate how he was going to die. The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?” Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them. But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him.” Matthew 12:38–39 NLT “One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.” But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Sermon topics: Messiah, Message

I'm New • https://willamette.cc/sunday/join-us-in-person/im-new • Find opportunities to engage and grow! Let us pray with you • https://willamette.cc/prayer • Fill out a quick form to let us know how we can be praying for you. Worship • https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJiXY9vBKd-n2kH_vqUbneg • Check out Willamette Music's YouTube channel to find the songs we most often sing together on Sundays. Sermon Notes - March 13, 2022The Hope of Joy (1 Peter 1:1-12) - Grant Hickman Jesus rescued our full self in the past and will restore our full self in the future, so we can confidently enjoy our full self in the present. 1 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance —an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 1 Peter 1:5 (NLT)And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. Jesus rescued our full self in the past and will restore our full self in the future, so we can confidently enjoy our full self in the present. 1 Peter 1:6-7a (NLT)So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. 1 Peter 1:7b (NLT)So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NLT)You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. John 20:24-25 (NLT)One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” John 20:26-27 (NLT)Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!” John 20:28-29 (NLT)“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” 1 Peter 1:10-11 (NLT)This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward. 1 Peter 1:12 (NLT)They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen. Jesus rescued our full self in the past and will restore our full self in the future, so we can confidently enjoy our full self in the present. 1 Peter 1:13 (NLT)So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. Jesus rescued our full self in the past and will restore our full self in the future, so we can confidently enjoy our full self in the present.

I'm New • https://hopecitypdx.com/sunday/join-us-in-person/im-new • Find opportunities to engage and grow! Find Community • https://hopecitypdx.com/community • Growth happens best in community Let Us Pray With You • https://hopecitypdx.com/prayer • Fill out a quick form to let us know how we can be praying for you. Sermon Notes - March 6, 2022The Hope of Joy (1 Peter 1:1-12) - Grant Hickman Jesus rescued our full self in the past and will restore our full self in the future, so we can confidently enjoy our full self in the present. 1 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance —an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 1 Peter 1:5 (NLT)And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. Jesus rescued our full self in the past and will restore our full self in the future, so we can confidently enjoy our full self in the present. 1 Peter 1:6-7a (NLT)So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. 1 Peter 1:7b (NLT)So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NLT)You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. John 20:24-25 (NLT)One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” John 20:26-27 (NLT)Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!” John 20:28-29 (NLT)“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” 1 Peter 1:10-11 (NLT)This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward. 1 Peter 1:12 (NLT)They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen. Jesus rescued our full self in the past and will restore our full self in the future, so we can confidently enjoy our full self in the present. 1 Peter 1:13 (NLT)So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. Jesus rescued our full self in the past and will restore our full self in the future, so we can confidently enjoy our full self in the present.

I'm New • https://beaverton.cc/sunday/join-us-in-person/im-new • Find opportunities to engage and grow! Let us pray with you • https://beaverton.cc/prayer • Fill out a quick form to let us know how we can be praying for you. Worship • https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJiXY9vBKd-n2kH_vqUbneg • Check out Willamette Music's YouTube channel to find the songs we most often sing together on Sundays. Sermon Notes - February 27, 2022The Hope of Joy (1 Peter 1:1-12) - Grant Hickman Jesus rescued our full self in the past and will restore our full self in the future, so we can confidently enjoy our full self in the present. 1 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance —an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 1 Peter 1:5 (NLT)And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. Jesus rescued our full self in the past and will restore our full self in the future, so we can confidently enjoy our full self in the present. 1 Peter 1:6-7a (NLT)So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. 1 Peter 1:7b (NLT)So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NLT)You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. John 20:24-25 (NLT)One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” John 20:26-27 (NLT)Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!” John 20:28-29 (NLT)“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” 1 Peter 1:10-11 (NLT)This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward. 1 Peter 1:12 (NLT)They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen. Jesus rescued our full self in the past and will restore our full self in the future, so we can confidently enjoy our full self in the present. 1 Peter 1:13 (NLT)So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. Jesus rescued our full self in the past and will restore our full self in the future, so we can confidently enjoy our full self in the present.

Join us for week 3 of Choose. Every choice we make takes us somewhere, and we sometimes end up in unexpected places because of it. In our new series, Choose, we will be exploring the book of Ruth and learning that, whatever path we are on or choices we make, God is never too far away to meet us there. I've Accepted Jesus • https://hopecitypdx.com/follow-christ • Let us know you made this decision, and we'll help you discover what's next! I'm New • https://hopecitypdx.com/sunday/join-us-in-person/im-new • Find opportunities to engage and grow! Find Community • https://hopecitypdx.com/community • Growth happens best in community Sunday February 6, 2022- Grant Hickman - Ruth 1:9 (NLT)May the LORD enable each of you to find security in the home of a new husband. Ruth 2:12 (NLT)May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” Ruth 3:1-18 (NLT)One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it's time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he's been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don't let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.” “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied. So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law. After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.” “The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. “You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. Now don't worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman. But while it's true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am. Stay here tonight, and in the morning I will talk to him. If he is willing to redeem you, very well. Let him marry you. But if he is not willing, then as surely as the Lord lives, I will redeem you myself! Now lie down here until morning.” So Ruth lay at Boaz's feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz had said, “No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.” Then Boaz said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured six scoops of barley into the cloak and placed it on her back. Then he returned to the town. When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?” Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'” Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won't rest until he has settled things today.” Ruth 3:1 (NLT)One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it's time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. Ruth 1:8-13 (NLT)But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers' homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept. “No,” they said. “We want to go with you to your people.” But Naomi replied, “Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands? No, my daughters, return to your parents' homes, for I am too old to marry again. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what? Would you wait for them to grow up and refuse to marry someone else? No, of course not, my daughters! Things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord himself has raised his fist against me.” Compare: Ruth 1:8 & Ruth 3:1Ruth 1:8 (NLT) But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers' homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me.Ruth 3:1 (NLT) One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it's time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. God's liberating work is accomplished in and through the lives of godly people… Ruth 3:3 (NLT)Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don't let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. Ruth 3:9 (NLT)“Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer. Ezekiel 16:8 (NLT)And when I passed by again, I saw that you were old enough for love. So I wrapped my cloak around you to cover your nakedness and declared my marriage vows. I made a covenant with you, says the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine. Ruth 2:12 (NLT)May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” God's liberating work is accomplished in and through the lives of godly people; it restores hope and secures the future for others. Romans 1:7 (NET)To all those loved by God in Rome, called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

I've accepted Jesus • https://beaverton.cc/follow-christ • Let us know you made this decision, and we'll help you discover what's next! Let us pray with you • https://beaverton.cc/prayer • Fill out a quick form to let us know how we can be praying for you. Worship • https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJiXY9vBKd-n2kH_vqUbneg • Check out Willamette Music's YouTube channel to find the songs we most often sing together on Sundays. Sermon Notes - February 6, 2022Choose: Ruth - Chapter 3 - Jon Furman Ruth 3:1-6 (NLT)One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it's time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he's been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight, he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don't let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.” “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied. So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law. Ruth 3:7-9 (NLT)After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.” כָּנָף Kanaph: Corner/Edge/Wing Faith believes that the God who got you here won't leave you here. Ruth 3:10-11 (NLT)“The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. “You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. Now don't worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman. Faith believes that God has more to offer than he's already provided. Ruth 3:12-13 (NLT)But while it's true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am. Stay here tonight, and in the morning I will talk to him. If he is willing to redeem you, very well. Let him marry you. But if he is not willing, then as surely as the Lord lives, I will redeem you myself! Now lie down here until morning.” Every act of faith produces, and requires, new acts of faith. Ruth 3:18 (NLT)Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won't rest until he has settled things today.” Prepare Your Mind.Prepare Your Heart.Prepare Your Pitch. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.