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Daily Anglican Prayer – Thursday Morning – 19th February 2026 Readings NRSVUE: Psalm 110, 111; Jeremiah 23.9-22; Hebrews 1.1-12. Led by Felicity Scott, an Anglican prayer minister in Queensland, Australia. The full prayer transcript is available by going to this episode on the Podcast website. https://dailyprayeranglicanprayerbookforaustralia.podbean.com Welcome to Wednesday Morning prayer. We proclaim the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ: GOD in his infinite mercy, forgives all sins, and through our baptism in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are given a rebirth into new life, free from the burden of all sin. ALLELUIA With faithfulness we respond to the good news: We acknowledge Christ as our Saviour and accept with gratitude, that we are forgiven for all wrong doings, past and present. To honour the gift of forgiveness, we release our burden of guilt and rise up to live in the glory of God forever more. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Blessed be God forever. Let us Pray.     1 This is the message we have heard from Christ: That God is light, in whom there is no darkness at all.   Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:  as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.    2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of God's Grace Go up to a high mountain Herald of good tidings to Zion: Lift up your voice with strength, Herald of good tidings to Jerusalem. Lift up your voice, fear not: Say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!' See the Lord God coming with power: Coming to rule with his mighty arm. He brings his reward for the people of God: the recompense for those who are saved. God will feed his flock like a shepherd: And gather the lambs in his arms; He will hold them to his breast: And gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40.9-11   3 The Opening Prayer The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;  let us pray with one heart and mind.    Silence may be kept. As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,  so may the light of your presence, O God,  set our hearts with love for you;  now and for ever.  Amen.   4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each. Psalm     5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow Almighty God, who wonderfully created us in your own image and yet more wonderfully restored us in your son Jesus Christ: grant that as he came to share our human nature so we may be partakers in his divine glory; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.  Amen.   6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.   1st Reading Jeremiah 23.9-22   9  Concerning the prophets: My heart is crushed within me; all my bones shake; I have become like a drunkard, like one overcome by wine, because of the LORD and because of his holy words. 10  For the land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land mourns, and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. Their course has been evil, and their might is not right. 11  Both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in my house I have found their wickedness, says the LORD. 12  Therefore their way shall be to them like slippery paths in the darkness, into which they shall be driven and fall, for I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment, says the LORD. 13  In the prophets of Samaria I saw a disgusting thing: they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray. 14  But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a more shocking thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from wickedness; all of them have become like Sodom to me and its inhabitants like Gomorrah. 15  Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets: I am going to make them eat wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land. 16  Thus says the LORD of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you; they are deluding you. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. 17They keep saying to those who despise the word of the LORD, “It shall be well with you,” and to all who stubbornly follow their own stubborn hearts, they say, “No calamity shall come upon you.” 18  For who has stood in the council of the LORD so as to see and to hear his word? Who has given heed to his word so as to proclaim it? 19  Look, the storm of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. 20  The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his mind. In the latter days you will understand it clearly. 21  I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. 22  But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings.     Hear the word of the LORD. Thanks be to God.   2nd Reading Hebrews 1:1-12 1Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. The Son Is Superior to Angels 5  For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? 6And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God's angels worship him.” 7  Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds and his servants flames of fire.” 8  But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9  You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” 10  And, “In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11  they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing; 12like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end.”   Hear the message of Christ. Thanks be to God.     7 The Canticle, In the beginning was the word: and the word was with God, and the word was god: he was in the beginning with god. all things were made through him: and without him, was not anything made that was made. In him was life: And the life was the light of all the people. The light shines in the darkness: And the darkness has not overcome it. He was in the world: And the world was made through him yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home: and his own people received him not. But to all who received him who believed on his name: He has given power to become children of God; who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh: nor of the will of a man but of God. And the Word became flesh And dwelt among us full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory: glory as of the only son from the father and from his fullness have we all received: And grace upon grace.   8 The belief and principle is said I believe in God, creator of heaven and earth, whose love and merciful forgiveness endures everlasting. I believe in Christ the saviour, whose example of love and compassion, taught us a restored way to live, in collaborative unity with all people. I believe in the Holy Spirit, whose divine guidance brings us together to be one with the Holy Trinity. Amen   9 The Prayers Lord have mercy.  Christ have mercy.  God have mercy.   10 The Lord's Prayer Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name,  your kingdom come,  your will be done,  on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins  as we forgive those who sin against us.  Save us from the time of trial  and deliver us from evil.  For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours  now and for ever. Amen.      Ash Wednesday prayer of the season Almighty and everlasting God, You hate nothing that you have made And you forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts That we are, worthily lamenting our sins, And acknowledging our wretchedness, May obtain of you, the God of all mercy Perfect remission and forgiveness, Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen   Prayer of the Week following the last Sunday after epiphany Almighty God, You have given your only son to be for us, both a sacrifice for sin, And also, an example of godly life: Give us grace that we may always thankfully receive the benefits of his sacrifice, And also, daily endeavour to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy spirit, one GOD, now and for ever. Amen   11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need. Let us pray   Ordinary Thursday prayers   God of the nations, we thank you for your sovereign rule bringing justice and peace. Have mercy on our world, share abundantly your peace in the hearts of all and increase in people the spirit that makes for peace. Instil in us that all races and peoples can live in harmony as members of one family. Humbly we pray; LORD Hear our prayer   Loving God, we pray thanks to you for bringing forward the people needed to create our loving community's. We ask you to bless medical and hospital workers that help people and the police and defence forces that protect our country, we appreciate their contributions in providing a safe country for all people to live in. Humbly we pray; LORD Hear our prayer   Saviour God, we thank you for all you provide to us in our time of need. We ask you to help those who are hungry, especially help countries who are unable to provide food for their people, guide us to help them in their hour of need. Humbly we pray; LORD Hear our prayer   Heavenly God, we pray thanks for all our ancestors, for their contribution in this world, and for how their presence has led the way to today's common ground that today we so easily walk on. We are eternally grateful for all their many blessings and pray they have risen to meet your glory everlasting. Humbly we pray; LORD Hear our prayer   God of wisdom, we pray that the road our ancestors walked with you, in the pursuit of peace and joy, helps us to the enjoy the same fruitful ways. As we learn from their wisdom, and appreciate the life they have carved for us, may we remember them and be brought to a communion with you, through your everlasting love and mercy. Humbly we pray; LORD Hear our prayer     12 The Morning Collect Lord and Heavenly Father, you have brought us safely to this new day: Keep us by your mighty power, protect us from sin, guard us from every kind of danger, and in all we do this day direct us in the fulfilling of your purpose, Through Jesus Christ our lord.  Amen.   13 The Lord be with you. And also with you.  Let us praise the Lord.  Thanks be to God.    May the God of peace equip us with everything good so that we may do his will, and may he work in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Hebrews 13.20 Music ‘Sing my Soul' by The Australian Voices & Graeme Morton, Composer Ned Rorem. A reminder disclaimer to the listener. The readings in the podcast may include ancient and old-fashioned sayings and instructions that we do not in any way condone as in use or to be used in today's modern world. The readings have not been modernised to reflect todays thinking, instead the readings remain from the old version of the NRSVUE bible. The podcast owners explicitly declare that each listener is responsible for their own actions in response to the bible readings and the podcast owners bare no responsibility in this sense.      

Daily Anglican Prayer – Ash Wednesday Morning – 18th February 2026 Readings NRSVUE: Psalm 38.1-4, 18-21; Daniel 9.3-19; 1 Timothy 6.6-19. Led by Felicity Scott, an Anglican prayer minister in Queensland, Australia. The full prayer transcript is available by going to this episode on the Podcast website. https://dailyprayeranglicanprayerbookforaustralia.podbean.com Welcome to Wednesday Morning prayer. We proclaim the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ: GOD in his infinite mercy, forgives all sins, and through our baptism in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are given a rebirth into new life, free from the burden of all sin. ALLELUIA With faithfulness we respond to the good news: We acknowledge Christ our Saviour and accept with gratitude, that we are forgiven for all wrong doings, past and present. To honour the gift of forgiveness, we release our burden of guilt and rise up to live in the glory of God forever more. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Blessed be God forever. Let us Pray. 1 Rejoice always pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.      Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:  as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.    2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of God's Grace Blessed are you,  the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: For you have blessed us in Christ Jesus with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,  You chose us to be yours in Christ, before the foundation of the world: That we should be holy and blameless before you.  In love you destined us to be your children, through Jesus Christ: according to the purpose of your will,  to the praise of your glorious grace: which you freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1.3-6   3 The Opening Prayer The night has passed and the day lies open before us;  let us pray with one heart and mind.   Silence may be kept. As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,  so may the light of your presence, O God,  set our hearts on fire with love for you;  now and for ever.  Amen.   4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each.   Psalm reading… Psalm 38 various;     5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow We consecrate this day to your service, O Lord; may all our thoughts, words, and actions be well-pleasing to you and serve the good of our brothers and sisters; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.   6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.   1st Reading Daniel 9:3-19 3 Then I turned to the Lord God to seek an answer by prayer and supplication with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “Ah, Lord, great and awesome God, keeping covenant and steadfast love with those who love you and keep your commandments, 5we have sinned and done wrong, acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and ordinances. 6We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. 7 “Righteousness is on your side, O Lord, but open shame, as at this day, falls on us, the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them because of the treachery that they have committed against you. 8Open shame, O LORD, falls on us, our kings, our princes, and our ancestors because we have sinned against you. 9To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, but we have rebelled against him 10and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by following his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 “All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. So the curse and the oath written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against you. 12He has confirmed his words that he spoke against us and against our rulers, by bringing upon us a calamity so great that what has been done against Jerusalem has never before been done under the whole heaven. 13Just as it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us. We did not entreat the favor of the LORD our God, turning from our iniquities and reflecting on his fidelity. 14So the LORD kept watch over this calamity until he brought it upon us. Indeed, the LORD our God is right in all that he has done, for we have disobeyed his voice. 15 “And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and made your name renowned even to this day—we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16O Lord, in view of all your righteous acts, let your anger and wrath, we pray, turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain; because of our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people have become a disgrace among all our neighbors.   17Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his supplication, and for your own sake, Lord, let your face shine upon your desolated sanctuary. 18Incline your ear, O my God, and hear. Open your eyes and look at our desolation and the city that bears your name. We do not present our supplication before you on the ground of our righteousness but on the ground of your great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, listen and act and do not delay! For your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people bear your name!”   Hear the word of the LORD. Thanks be to God 2nd Reading The first letter of Paul to Timothy 1 Timothy 6.6-19 6 Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment, 7for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it, 8but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 11But as for you, people of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches but rather on God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.   Hear the message of Christ. Thanks be to God.     7 The Canticle, We praise you O God: we claim you as Lord. All creation thanks you: The Father everlasting. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven: The cherubim and serafim sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of power and might: Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Father of majesty unbounded: Your true and only son, worthy of all praise, the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide. You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal son of the father. When you took our flesh to set us free: You humbly chose the virgin's womb. You overcame the sting of death: And opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God's right hand in glory: We believe that you will come to be our judge. Come then, God, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood: And bring us with your Saints to glory everlasting.   8 The belief and principle is said I believe in God, creator of heaven and earth, whose love and merciful forgiveness endures everlasting. I believe in Christ the saviour, whose example of love and compassion, taught us a restored way to live, in collaborative unity with all people. I believe in the Holy Spirit, whose divine guidance brings us together to be one with the Holy Trinity. Amen.   9 The Prayers Lord have mercy.  Christ have mercy.  God have mercy.      10 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name,  your kingdom come,  your will be done,  on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins  as we forgive those who sin against us.  Save us from the time of trial  and deliver us from evil.  For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours  now and for ever. Amen.      Prayer of the Week following the last Sunday after epiphany Almighty God, You have given your only son to be for us, both a sacrifice for sin, And also, an example of godly life: Give us grace that we may always thankfully receive the benefits of his sacrifice, And also, daily endeavour to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy spirit, one GOD, now and for ever. Amen   11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need. Let us pray Wednesday prayers Lord, we give you thanks, that through your son Jesus Christ, you have shown us the way to live in your righteousness. You made us in your likeness, you gave your only son Jesus Christ who gave us forgiveness of sin, bring us together as one, different in culture but given new life in Jesus Christ. Reconciled, forgiven, sharing you with others as you have called us to do. We pray for reconciliation with you God and reconciliation with each other and ask for strength to remain in your presence in all we do. Humbly, in faith we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Saviour God, we remember with love all those that have passed this week. We thank you for the faithfully departed and your servants in every age. We ask that our ancestors and all your saints may be brought to the joyful resurrection and the fulfilment of your glorious kingdom. Humbly, in faith we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   God of justice, we ask for your help with ending domestic violence. We ask that you shine your heavenly light to guide people to live in peace with each other and make amends, by freeing their victims of abuse. Humbly, in faith we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Loving God, today on this Ash Wednesday begins a period of inner reflection and examination. The days stretch before us and invite us inward to that silent, holy space that holds your Spirit. This special time beckons us to see our life through Christ's eyes and the truth and reality of your love incarnate. Give us the grace to enter the space of these days with anticipation of our meeting with you. And, when we open our soul to your presence, let your loving kindness flow over us and seep into the pockets of our hearts. We ask this for the sake of your love. Humbly, in faith we Pray – LORD hear our prayer     Blessed God, we ask your blessing for those listed on the Anglican cycle of prayer: The Diocese of West Tennessee – The Episcopal Church The Diocese of Northwest Australia: The Parish of Nundah The Springfield Anglican College, Springfield The hospital and Prison ministry chaplaincy teams All people joining in this prayer offering. Humbly, in faith we Pray – LORD hear our prayer     12 The Morning Collect Eternal God and Father,  by whose power we were created  and through whose love we are redeemed:  guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,  that we may give ourselves to your service,  and live this day in love to one another and to you;  through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.   13 The Lord be with you. And also with you.  Let us praise the Lord.  Thanks be to God.    May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant us to live in such harmony with one another in accord with Christ Jesus, that we may with one voice gratify our God and Father.  Amen. Romans 15.5-6   Music ‘Sing my Soul' by The Australian Voices & Graeme Morton, Composer Ned Rorem. A reminder disclaimer to the listener. The readings in the podcast may include ancient and old-fashioned sayings and instructions that we do not in any way condone as in use or to be used in today's modern world. The readings have not been modernised to reflect todays thinking, instead the readings remain from the old version of the NRSVUE bible. The podcast owners explicitly declare that each listener is responsible for their own actions in response to the bible readings and the podcast owners bare no responsibility in this sense.  

Daily Anglican Prayer - Tuesday Morning – 17th February 2026 Readings NRSVUE: Psalm 106. 1-24; Jeremiah 22. 20-23.8; Jude 17-25. Led by Felicity Scott, an Anglican prayer minister in Queensland, Australia. The full prayer transcript is available by going to this episode on the Podcast website. https://dailyprayeranglicanprayerbookforaustralia.podbean.com Welcome to Tuesday morning prayer from the Anglican ‘A prayer book for Australia'. We proclaim the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ: GOD in his infinite mercy, forgives all sins, and through our baptism in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are given a rebirth into new life, free from the burden of all sin. ALLELUIA With faithfulness we respond to the good news: We acknowledge Christ our Saviour has already saved us and accept with gratitude, that we are forgiven for all wrong doings, past and present. To honour the gift of forgiveness, we release our burden of guilt and rise up to live in the glory of God forever more. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Blessed be God forever. Let us Pray.   1c                                                              We will proclaim the name of the Lord Ascribe greatness to our God   Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:  as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.    2 The Opening Canticle, God who is rich in mercy out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses. made us alive together with Christ, and raised us up with him: and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus that he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace:  in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2.4-7   3 The Opening Prayer The night has passed and the day lies open before us;  let us pray with one heart and mind.    Silence may be kept. As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,  so may the light of your presence, O God,  set our hearts on fire with love for you;  now and for ever.  Amen.   4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each. Psalm     5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow Lord, our God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier: we ask you to cleanse us from all hypocrisy, to unite us to our fellow men and women, by the bonds of peace and love, and to confirm us in holiness; now and for ever.  Amen.     6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.   1st Reading Hear the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 2nd Reading   Hear the message of Christ. Thanks be to God.   7 The Canticle, A Song of the Blessed Blessed are the poor in spirit:  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn:  for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek:  for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger  and thirst for what is right:  for they shall be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful:  for mercy shall be shown to them.  Blessed are the pure in heart:  for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers:  for they shall be called the children of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted  for righteousness' sake:  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5.3–10     8 The belief and principle is said I believe in God, creator of heaven and earth, whose love and merciful forgiveness endures everlasting. I believe in Christ the saviour, whose example of love and compassion, taught us a restored way to live, in collaborative unity with all people. I believe in the Holy Spirit, whose divine guidance brings us together to be one with the Holy Trinity.     9 The Prayers Lord have mercy.  Christ have mercy.  God have mercy.   10 The Lord's Prayer Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name,  your kingdom come,  your will be done,  on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins  as we forgive those who sin against us.  Save us from the time of trial  and deliver us from evil.  For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours  now and for ever. Amen.                  Prayer of the Week following the last Sunday after epiphany Almighty God, You have given your only son to be for us, both a sacrifice for sin, And also, an example of godly life: Give us grace that we may always thankfully receive the benefits of his sacrifice, And also, daily endeavour to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy spirit, one GOD, now and for ever. Amen   11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need. Let us pray   God, how great your healing hand that reaches out to those in need, how great your love for all your people. We ask you to bestow your healing on all people who are combating the illness of cancer. We thank you for your healing kindness for all your people. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Lord, we have been socially inept and continue to foster broken communities of lack, yet we remain in this state without taking necessary steps to change for the better. We ask you this day to stay with us, to help us and to guide us. We know we can do better, and we are asking you to be our guide, to guide the path you expect us to walk. Humbly, we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Lord, we thank you for your mercy towards us even though we continue to sin. Graduate us to live sinless lives, enabling our relationship with you to become one of trust and love. We thank you for your great teachings and want only to acknowledge your name as our saviour. Humbly, we Pray – LORD hear our prayer     God, we ask your blessing for those listed on the Anglican cycle of prayer:   The Diocese of East Tennessee – The Episcopal Church The Diocese of North Queensland: The Parish of North Pine: Little Angels Early Learning Centre, Tarragindi The Southport School, Southport:  The Prison and Hospital ministry chaplaincy teams All people joining in this prayer offering Humbly, we Pray – LORD hear our prayer     12 The Morning Collect Lord and heavenly father, you have brought us safely to this new day: Keep us by your mighty power, protect us from sin, guard us from every kind of danger, and in all we do this day direct us in the fulfilling of your purpose, Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.   13 The Lord be with you. And also with you.  Let us praise the Lord.  Thanks be to God.    May the Lord bless us and keep us; the Lord make his face to shine upon us and be gracious to us; the Lord lift up his countenance upon us and give us peace.  Amen. Numbers 6.24–26 Music ‘Sing my Soul' by The Australian Voices & Graeme Morton, Composer Ned Rorem. A reminder disclaimer to the listener. The readings in the podcast may include ancient and old-fashioned sayings and instructions that we do not in any way condone as in use or to be used in today's modern world. The readings have not been modernised to reflect todays thinking, instead the readings remain from the old version of the NRSVUE bible. The podcast owners explicitly declare that each listener is responsible for their own actions in response to the bible readings and the podcast owners bare no responsibility in this sense.

Memory Verse: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6, NRSVue). INTRO: Paul has repeated admonished believers in Philippi not to be anxious. Despite Paul's imprisonment and pending court hearing, despite the difficulties those followers of Jesus may be facing where they live, Paul strongly encourages them not to be anxious in Phil. 4:6 which is this week's memory verse. Memory Verse: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known ...

Daily Anglican Prayer - Sunday Morning – 8th February Readings NRSV: Psalm 106.42-50; Isaiah 58.9b-14; Matthew 5:13-20 Led by Felicity Scott, a prayer minister in Queensland, Australia. The full prayer transcript is available by going to this episode on the Podcast website. https://dailyprayeranglicanprayerbookforaustralia.podbean.com Welcome to Sunday Morning prayer. We proclaim the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ: GOD in his infinite mercy, forgives all sins, and through our baptism in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are given a rebirth into new life, free from the burden of all sin. ALLELUIA With faithfulness we respond to the good news: We acknowledge Christ our Saviour has already saved us and accept with gratitude, that we are forgiven for all wrong doings, past and present. To honour the gift of forgiveness, we release our burden of guilt and rise up to live in the glory of God forever more. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,  Blessed be God forever.   Let us Pray.   The Sentence of the day Fifth Sunday After Epiphany Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.                                           Matthew 5.16   1 This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118.24 Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:  as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.     3 The opening Canticle Oh come let us sing out to the Lord. let us shout in triumph to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his face with thanksgiving. And cry out to him joyfully in psalms. For the Lord is a great God. and a great king above all gods. In his hands are the depths of the earth. and the peaks of the mountains are his also. The sea is his and he made it. His hands moulded dryland. Come let us worship and bow down. And kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is the Lord our god. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Today if only you would hear his voice: “Do not harden your hearts as Israel did in the wilderness.” “When your forebears tested me.” “Put me to proof though they had seen my works.” “Forty years long I loathe that generation and said.” “It is a people who err in their hearts.” “For they do not know my ways.” “Of whom I swore in my wrath.” “They shall not enter my rest.”   3 The Opening Prayer The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;  let us pray with one heart and mind.    Silence may be kept. As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,  so may the light of your presence, O God,  set our hearts on fire with love for you;  now and for ever.  Amen.     4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each. Psalm 106.42-50 42 Then was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people: and he loathed his own possession; 43 He gave them into the hands of the nations: and their adversaries ruled over them. 44 Their enemies became their oppressors: and they were brought into subjection beneath their power. 45 Many a time he saved them: but they rebelled against him to follow their own designs and were brought down by their wickedness. 46 Nevertheless, he looked on their distress: when he heard their loud crying. 47 He remembered his covenant with them: and relented, according to the abundance of his loving-kindness. 48 And he caused them to be pitied: even by those that held them captive. 49 Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations: that we may give thanks to your holy name, and make our boast in your praises. 50 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise the Lord.   5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow Lord God, whose blessed Son rose in triumph and set us free: grant us the fullness of life he promised us, that through the Holy Spirit our hearts may possess him whom our eyes cannot see, the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.         6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.   1st Reading Isaiah 58.9b-14 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;      you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.  If you remove the yoke from among you,      the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 10 if you offer your food to the hungry      and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness      and your gloom be like the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you continually,      and satisfy your needs in parched places,      and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden,      like a spring of water,      whose waters never fail. 12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;      you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach,      the restorer of streets to live in.  13 If you refrain from trampling the sabbath,      from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight      and the holy day of the Lord honourable; if you honour it, not going your own ways,      serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; 14 then you shall take delight in the Lord ,      and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob,      for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.      The reading is followed by Hear the word of the LORD Thanks be to GOD 2nd Reading Matthew 5:13-20   13 ‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 17 ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.   The reading is followed by Hear the message of Christ Thanks be to GOD.         7 The Canticle, The Song of Zechariah (Benedictus) Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel:  who has come to his people and set them free.  The Lord has raised up for us a mighty Saviour:  born of the house of his servant David.  Through the holy prophets, God promised of old:  to save us from our enemies, from the hands of  all who hate us,  To show mercy to our forebears:  and to remember his holy covenant.  This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:  to set us free from the hands of our enemies,  Free to worship him without fear:  holy and righteous before him, all the days of our life.  And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High:  for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,  To give his people knowledge of salvation:  by the forgiveness of their sins.  In the tender compassion of our God:  the dawn from on high shall break upon us,  To shine on those who dwell in darkness  and the shadow of death:  and to guide our feet into the way of peace.  Luke 1.68–79     8 The Apostles creed I believe in God, the Father almighty,   creator of heaven and earth.   I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,   who was conceived by the Holy Spirit   born of the virgin Mary.   suffered under Pontius Pilate,   was crucified, died, and was buried;   he descended to the dead.   On the third day he rose from the dead.   He ascended into heaven   and is seated at the right hand of the Father.   From there he will come to judge  the living and the dead.   I believe in the Holy Spirit,   the holy catholic church,   the communion of saints,   the forgiveness of sins,   the resurrection of the body,   and the life everlasting. Amen.   9 The Prayers Lord have mercy.  Christ have mercy.  Lord have mercy.    10 The LORDs prayer Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name,  your kingdom come,  your will be done,  on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins  as we forgive those who sin against us.  Save us from the time of trial  and deliver us from evil.  For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours  now and for ever. Amen.    10 The Collect of the Day Fifth Sunday After Epiphany Faithful God, you have appointed us your witnesses, to be a light that shines in the world: let us not hide the bright hope you have given us, but tell everyone your love, revealed in Jesus Christ the Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,  one God, for ever and ever. Amen.   Prayer of the Week Fifth Sunday After Epiphany Father of all, who gave your only-begotten Son to take upon himself the form of a servant and to be obedient even to death on a cross: give us the same mind that was in Christ Jesus, that, sharing in his humility, we may come to be with him in his glory; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.   11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.   Let us pray   God, we seek your wisdom and guidance in our governments. Lead those in power to make financial decisions that prioritise government spending for the greater good of the country's people. Guide them to make wise choices that align with bringing people out of poverty and into abundant living and grant us all discernment in distinguishing between needs and wants in the recognition of a life of abundance. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   God, your wisdom knows no bounds, grant we pray that we hear your spoken wisdom and bring the good news of Christ to all who have yet to hear it, so that we may bring forth fruit of good works to honour and praise your name. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   All seeing God, we ask you to grant mercy to us in abundance, we request and pray that you assist those with eye anatomy expertise to understand how to correct eye vision defects and imperfections and to understand how to successfully bring renewed sight to the blind. We ask this in Jesus' name. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Almighty God, we pray for peace and prosperity in our cities, and families. Today we remember the people of ISRAEL, we ask for Your peace to reign throughout their lands, give them abundant food and water. We pray that Israelites come together in harmony, setting aside differences and working towards a common good for all people. Let Your voice God, bring peace talks and be their guide in their actions and decisions. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Blessed God, we ask your blessing for those listed on the Anglican cycle of prayer: Sunday 8 February Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui The Diocese of Bunbury: The Parish of Morningside: Logan Multicultural Ministry Matthew Flinders Anglican College, Buderim All Hospital and Prison ministry chaplaincy teams All people joining in this prayer offering. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer     12 The Morning Collect Eternal God and Father,  by whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed.  guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,  that we may give ourselves to your service,  and live this day in love to one another and to you;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.   13 The Lord be with you. And also with you.  Let us praise the Lord.  Thanks be to God.    The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.   2 Corinthians 13.14 Music ‘Sing my Soul' by The Australian Voices & Graeme Morton, Composer Ned Rorem. A reminder disclaimer to the listener. The readings in the podcast may include ancient and old-fashioned sayings and instructions that we do not in any way condone as in use or to be used in today's modern world. The readings have not been modernised to reflect todays thinking, instead the readings remain from the old version of the NRSVUE bible. The podcast owners explicitly declare that each listener is responsible for their own actions in response to the bible readings and the podcast owners bare no responsibility in this sense.  

Daily Anglican Prayer - Saturday Morning – 24th January 2026 Readings NRSVUE: Psalm 56,57; Jeremiah 7.21-8.3; James 1.16-27 Led by Felicity Scott, an Anglican Prayer minister in Queensland, Australia. The full prayer transcript is available by going to this episode on the Podcast website. https://dailyprayeranglicanprayerbookforaustralia.podbean.com Welcome to Saturday Morning prayer. We proclaim the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ: GOD in his infinite mercy, forgives all sins, and through our baptism in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are given a rebirth into new life, free from the burden of all sin. ALLELUIA With faithfulness we respond to the good news: We acknowledge Christ our Saviour has already saved us and accept with gratitude, that we are forgiven for all wrong doings, past and present. To honour the gift of forgiveness, we release our burden of guilt and rise up to live in the glory of God forever more. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Blessed be God forever. Let us Pray.   1 God has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  2 Corinthians 4.6   Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:  as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.    2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of Creation Bless the Lord all created things:  who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.  Bless the Lord all people of the earth:  who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.  O people of God bless the Lord:  bless the Lord you priests of the Lord,  Bless the Lord you servants of the Lord:  who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.  Bless the Lord all you of upright spirit:  bless the Lord you that are holy and humble in heart.  Bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit:  who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.  Song of the Three 35ff   3 The Opening Prayer The night has passed and the day lies open before us;  let us pray with one heart and mind.    Silence may be kept. As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,  so may the light of your presence, O God,  set our hearts on fire with love for you;  now and for ever.  Amen.   4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each.   5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow Creator God, whose praise and power are proclaimed by the whole creation: receive our morning prayers, we pray, and renew us in your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.   6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.   1st Reading Jeremiah 7. 21-8.3   21 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh. 22For in the day that I brought your ancestors out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to them or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. 23But this command I gave them, “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; walk only in the way that I command you, so that it may be well with you.” 24Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but, in the stubbornness of their evil will, they walked in their own counsels and looked backward rather than forward. 25From the day that your ancestors came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day after day, 26yet they did not listen to me or pay attention, but they stiffened their necks. They did worse than their ancestors did. 27 So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you. 28You shall say to them: This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips. 29 Cut off your hair and throw it away; raise a lamentation on the bare heights, for the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation that provoked his wrath. 30 For the people of Judah have done evil in my sight, says the LORD; they have set their abominations in the house that is called by my name, defiling it. 31And they go on building the high place of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire—which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind. 32Therefore the days are surely coming, says the LORD, when it will no more be called Topheth or the valley of the son of Hinnom but the valley of Slaughter, for they will bury in Topheth until there is no more room. 33The corpses of this people will be food for the birds of the air and for the animals of the earth, and no one will frighten them away. 34And I will bring to an end the sound of mirth and gladness, the voice of the bride and bridegroom in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, for the land shall become a waste.   JEREMIAH 8 1 At that time, says the LORD, the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of its officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be brought out of their tombs, 2and they shall be spread before the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven, which they have loved and served, which they have followed, and which they have inquired of and worshiped, and they shall not be gathered or buried; they shall be like dung on the surface of the ground. 3Death shall be preferred to life by all the remnant that remains of this evil family in all the places where I have driven them, says the LORD of hosts.   Hear the word of the LORD Thanks be to GOD   2nd Reading James 1.16-27 16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18In fulfilment of his own purpose he gave birth to us by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. Hearing and Doing the Word 19 You must understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20for human anger does not produce God's righteousness. 21Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; 24for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. 26 If any think they are religious and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.   Hear the message of Christ Thanks be to GOD.   7 The Canticle, A Song of Redemption Christ is the image of the invisible God:  the first-born of all creation.  For in him all things were created:  in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.  All things were created through him and for him:  he is before all things  and in him all things hold together.  He is the head of the body, the Church:  he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead.  For it pleased God that in him  all fullness should dwell:  and through him all things be reconciled to himself.  Colossians 1.15–20     8 The belief and principle is said I believe in God, creator of heaven and earth, whose love and merciful forgiveness endures everlasting. I believe in Christ the saviour, whose example of love and compassion, taught us a restored way to live, in collaborative unity with all people. I believe in the Holy Spirit, whose divine guidance brings us together to be one with the Holy Trinity.     9 The Prayers Lord have mercy.  Christ have mercy.  God have mercy.   10 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day   Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name,  your kingdom come,  your will be done,  on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins  as we forgive those who sin against us.  Save us from the time of trial  and deliver us from evil.  For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours  now and for ever. Amen.    Prayer of the Week on the Second Sunday after the epiphany Almighty God, By whose grace alone we are accepted And called to your service: Strengthen us by your Holy Spirit And make us worthy of our calling; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen     11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom   Let us pray:   God, Great shepherd of your people, Energise our hearts with passion for your word and care for your people, that we may joyfully minister your sacraments to the glory of your name and the benefit of your people and your world. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   God of all nations and countries, thank you for your guidance of our evolution and advancement. We ask that you guide the leaders of nations into the ways of peace and justice, and in so doing, bringing about a world that we are proud to sojourn on. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Heavenly God our Father, how great you are that we are still here despite our trespasses and despite our lack of humility in your eyes. We pray that you continue to shine your light so we may follow you into a relationship of everlasting love with you and with one another. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Loving God, with one voice we lift up our hearts to thank you for our lives and vocations. Inspire us all to know and live our vocation. Bless us your family of Australia, help those you call to listen to the Holy Spirit voice, that they may fulfil your holy will and make all things new. Through Christ our Lord. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   God of Great and modern evolution, Draw us near to hear your word and instruction, let us know the ways in which we can revolutionise our actions to those that bring changes that benefit you God, benefit the earth and benefit the people. We pray that technological advances are brought near and that we are inspired to be in your presence. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer       Blessed God, we ask your blessing for those listed on the Anglican cycle of prayer: Saturday 24th January 2026 The Diocese of Sunyani – The Church of the Province of West Africa The Diocese of The Murray: The Parish of Kenmore-Brookfield: Anglicare SQ Kirami Residential Aged Care – Hervey Bay Anglican Schools Australia Management Committee and Member Schools All Prison and Hospital ministry chaplaincy teams All people joining in this prayer offering. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   12 The Morning Collect Lord and heavenly Father,  you have brought us safely to this new day:  keep us by your mighty power, protect us from sin,  guard us from every kind of danger,  and in all we do this day  direct us in the fulfilling of your purpose,  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.   13 The Lord be with you. And also with you.  Let us praise the Lord.  Thanks be to God.    May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen. Philippians 4.7 Music ‘Sing my Soul' by The Australian Voices & Graeme Morton, Composer Ned Rorem. A reminder disclaimer to the listener. The readings in the podcast may include ancient and old-fashioned sayings and instructions that we do not in any way condone as in use or to be used in today's modern world. The readings have not been modernised to reflect todays thinking, instead the readings remain from the old version of the NRSVUE bible. The podcast owners explicitly declare that each listener is responsible for their own actions in response to the bible readings and the podcast owners bare no responsibility in this sense.    

Daily Anglican Prayer - Sunday Morning – 11th January 2026 Readings NRSV: Psalm 29; Isaiah 42.1-9; Matthew 3.13-17. Led by Felicity Scott, a prayer minister in Queensland, Australia. The full prayer transcript is available by going to this episode on the Podcast website. https://dailyprayeranglicanprayerbookforaustralia.podbean.com Welcome to Sunday Morning prayer. We proclaim the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ: GOD in his infinite mercy, forgives all sins, and through our baptism in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are given a rebirth into new life, free from the burden of all sin. ALLELUIA With faithfulness we respond to the good news: We acknowledge Christ our Saviour has already saved us and accept with gratitude, that we are forgiven for all wrong doings, past and present. To honour the gift of forgiveness, we release our burden of guilt and rise up to live in the glory of God forever more. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,  Blessed be God forever.   Let us Pray.   The Sentence of the day Christ the King / The Reign of Christ A voice came from heaven saying, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.'   1 This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118.24 Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:  as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.     3 The opening Canticle Oh come let us sing out to the Lord. let us shout in triumph to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his face with thanksgiving. And cry out to him joyfully in psalms. For the Lord is a great God. and a great king above all gods. In his hands are the depths of the earth. and the peaks of the mountains are his also. The sea is his and he made it. His hands moulded dryland. Come let us worship and bow down. And kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is the Lord our god. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Today if only you would hear his voice: “Do not harden your hearts as Israel did in the wilderness.” “When your forebears tested me.” “Put me to proof though they had seen my works.” “Forty years long I loathe that generation and said.” “It is a people who err in their hearts.” “For they do not know my ways.” “Of whom I swore in my wrath.” “They shall not enter my rest.”   3 The Opening Prayer The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;  let us pray with one heart and mind.    Silence may be kept. As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,  so may the light of your presence, O God,  set our hearts on fire with love for you;  now and for ever.  Amen.     4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each. Psalm 29   5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow Lord God, whose blessed Son rose in triumph and set us free: grant us the fullness of life he promised us, that through the Holy Spirit our hearts may possess him whom our eyes cannot see, the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.         6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.   1st Reading Isaiah 42.1-9 1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2He will not cry out or lift up his voice or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth, and the coastlands wait for his teaching. 5 Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6 I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8 I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. 9 See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.   The reading is followed by Hear the word of the LORD Thanks be to GOD     2nd Reading Matthew 3.13-17 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God's Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”   The reading is followed by Hear the message of Christ Thanks be to GOD.   A short Sunday homily In our new testament gospel reading this morning we hear that Jesus travelled to those that had gone before him, carrying the light. Through this act He acknowledges that John had already done good work.   John through listening and acting on GODs word had prepared the way. Through John's baptism of Jesus, Johns righteousness is acknowledged and his fulfilment to GOD complete.   During Jesus' baptism the holy spirit descends and He is transformed, joined now one with GOD through the holy heavenly spirit that alighted on him. Jesus is one in GODs name and His ministry commences.   As we go about our lives, let us all be like John preparing the way, acknowledging that our acts are a cog in the wheel, that brings GODs presence close to His people.   Amen   7 The Canticle, The Song of Zechariah (Benedictus) Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel:  who has come to his people and set them free.  The Lord has raised up for us a mighty Saviour:  born of the house of his servant David.  Through the holy prophets, God promised of old:  to save us from our enemies, from the hands of  all who hate us,  To show mercy to our forebears:  and to remember his holy covenant.  This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:  to set us free from the hands of our enemies,  Free to worship him without fear:  holy and righteous before him, all the days of our life.  And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High:  for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,  To give his people knowledge of salvation:  by the forgiveness of their sins.  In the tender compassion of our God:  the dawn from on high shall break upon us,  To shine on those who dwell in darkness  and the shadow of death:  and to guide our feet into the way of peace.  Luke 1.68–79     8 The Apostles creed I believe in God, the Father almighty,   creator of heaven and earth.   I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,   who was conceived by the Holy Spirit   born of the virgin Mary.   suffered under Pontius Pilate,   was crucified, died, and was buried;   he descended to the dead.   On the third day he rose from the dead.   He ascended into heaven   and is seated at the right hand of the Father.   From there he will come to judge  the living and the dead.   I believe in the Holy Spirit,   the holy catholic church,   the communion of saints,   the forgiveness of sins,   the resurrection of the body,   and the life everlasting. Amen.   9 The Prayers Lord have mercy.  Christ have mercy.  Lord have mercy.    10 The LORDs prayer Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name,  your kingdom come,  your will be done,  on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins  as we forgive those who sin against us.  Save us from the time of trial  and deliver us from evil.  For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours  now and for ever. Amen.    10 The Collect of the Day Baptism of the LORD Eternal God, At the baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved son, and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: grant that all who are baptised into his name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and saviour; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen   Prayer of the Week on the Sunday of the Baptism of the LORD. Baptism of the LORD Almighty God, who anointed Jesus at his baptism with the Holy Spirit and revealed him as your beloved son, inspire us your children who are born again of water and the spirit, to surrender our lives to your service, that we may rejoice to be called your children, through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen   11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.   Let us pray   God, we seek your wisdom and guidance in our governments. Lead those in power to make financial decisions that prioritise government spending for the greater good of the country's people. Guide them to make wise choices that align with bringing people out of poverty and into abundant living and grant us all discernment in distinguishing between needs and wants in the recognition of a life of abundance. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   God, your wisdom knows no bounds, grant we pray that we hear your spoken wisdom and bring the good news of Christ to all who have yet to hear it, so that we may bring forth fruit of good works to honour and praise your name. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   All seeing God, we ask you to grant mercy to us in abundance, we request and pray that you assist those with eye anatomy expertise to understand how to correct eye vision defects and imperfections and to understand how to successfully bring renewed sight to the blind. We ask this in Jesus' name. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Almighty God, we pray for peace and prosperity in our cities, and families. Today we remember the people of South Sudan, we ask for Your peace to reign throughout their lands, give them abundant food and water. We pray that African nations come together in harmony, setting aside differences and working towards a common good for all African people. Let Your voice God, bring peace talks and be their guide in their actions and decisions. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Loving God, on this day we remember Amelia Earhart's solo flight. Off the climb of her aviation triumph, we pray God, that you assist us with today's aviation progression. Brings us good fortune of technology evolution, that assists us to fly through the stars with ease, so that we may inspire a generation of future aviators who take flight to new levels and become aviators that we celebrate and remember. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Blessed God, we ask your blessing for those listed on the Anglican cycle of prayer: Sunday 11 January The Anglican Church in the Region of Central America The Diocese of Gippsland: The Parish of Hamilton: The Sudanese & South Sudanese Congregations in the Southern QLD Anglican Church The Goodna Anglican Welfare Ministries St Hilda's School, Southport: All Hospital and Prison ministry chaplaincy teams All people joining in this prayer offering. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer     12 The Morning Collect Eternal God and Father,  by whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed.  guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,  that we may give ourselves to your service,  and live this day in love to one another and to you;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.   13 The Lord be with you. And also with you.  Let us praise the Lord.  Thanks be to God.    The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.   2 Corinthians 13.14     Music Credit: ‘Sing my Soul' by The Australian Voices & Graeme Morton, Composer Ned Rorem. A reminder disclaimer to the listener. The readings in the podcast may include ancient and old-fashioned sayings and instructions that we do not in any way condone as in use or to be used in today's modern world. The readings have not been modernised to reflect todays thinking, instead the readings remain from the old version of the NRSVUE bible. The podcast owners explicitly declare that each listener is responsible for their own actions in response to the bible readings and the podcast owners bare no responsibility in this sense.    

The sermon from the Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Light Has Come—Everything Changed” in the worship series “The Light Is Coming - And Nothing Will Be the Same.” Scripture lessons: Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSVue) and Luke 2:1-20 (KJV).Support the show

Thank you to Ed, Aisha, Amy, and Don for being part of the service. Happy birthday this week to Heather and Jo. Songs from this service: You Are Worthy Of My Praise - https://youtu.be/auQSjX9M8LY -- New Doxology - https://youtu.be/Hm2xUl243lc -- I Love To Tell The Story - https://youtu.be/gLuOz0g8rOA -- All to Jesus, I Surrender - https://youtu.be/7614spqDTTE -- Goodness Of God - https://youtu.be/ZUPwC3AEQOs -- Wonderful Story of Love - https://youtu.be/EsWZmUOS0Yo -- I Stand Amazed - https://youtu.be/3YmthQUL0EY -- This Is The Gospel - https://youtu.be/5ihWt-qAXs4 Scriptures from this service: Sermon - Galatians 5:22-23; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5; 2:6, 2:9; 2:10-12; 3:12-13; 4:11-12; 5:9; 5:11; 5:16-18; 5:22-24; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-7; 1:12; 2:13; 2:13-14; 3:2; 3:4; 3:16; 3:6-9; 3:11; 3:13; 3:16. Closing -James 3:9-10 (NRSVue); Galatians 5:22-23. [accordion] [accordion-item title="NIV Copyright" state=closed]Scripture quotations marked (NIV) taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version© NIV© Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.[/accordion-item][accordion-item title="NRSVue Copyright"]Scripture quotations marked NRSVue taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.[/accordion-item][/accordion]

Patrick brings pressing questions about recent changes to the NRSVue Catholic Bible, where shifting language around homosexuality sparks concern and listener debate. He reads reports, unpacks scholarly context, and considers the consequences for Catholic teaching, while callers urge action and inquire about everything from writing the Pope to understanding the deeper impact on faith life. The discussion rolls between tough biblical scholarship critiques and practical advice for families, sometimes pausing for quirky side notes and always encouraging listeners to think harder. Get your Duct Tape ready: Patrick explains how the NRSVue removes two key condemnations of homosexual acts from the New Testament. (02:07) Claudia – What can we do about the “gay washing” of the Bible? (18:24) Brian – Wouldn’t sin have entered the world even if Eve hadn’t eaten the apple? 2nd Question: Is it ok for priests to adlib during the consecration prayers? (22:22) Craig - There is a solution to this. I think the Didache Bible is the way we need to go. New America and Navarre Bible have bad foot notes. (35:20) Conrad - How do I get my sister to stop doing yoga? (37:50) Rebecca - Why do we have to insist that our children marry Catholics? (41:36)

Sunday, October 12, 2025 Title: "Presence: The Art of Showing Up" Scripture: Acts 2:43-47 & 1 Thessalonians 2:5-8 By: Rev. Marisa Gertz Scripture Acts 2:43-47 (NRSVUE) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202%3A43-47&version=NRSVUE 1 Thessalonians 2:5-8 (CEB) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%202%3A5-8&version=CEB Bulletins 8:00 AM https://trinitygnv.org/s/Sunday-Bulletins-10-12-25-8AM.pdf 9:30 AM https://trinitygnv.org/s/Sunday-Bulletins-10-12-25-930AM-WEB.pdf 11:00 AM https://trinitygnv.org/s/Sunday-Bulletins-10-12-25-11AM.pdf To support the ongoing ministries of Trinity, consider making a gift here: https://pushpay.com/g/trinitygnv?src=hpp For more information, go to https://trinitygnv.org/ Copyrighted content included in this webcast is used with license under one or more of the following: Christian Copyright Solutions WORSHIP cast Streaming License and PERFORM music License #7840 (to publicly perform and/or web stream any musical composition controlled by ASCAP, BMI and SESAC), CVLI (Christian Video Licensing International) #503915511, CVLI ScreenVue License #502477880, CCLI Church Streaming & Podcast License #CSPL016331, CCLI Church Copyright License #1022361, and/or CCLI Church Rehearsal License #CRL011587.

Considered issues relating to Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy today, looked a bit at the new "Gay-washed" translation of the Bible accepted by the USCCB (the NRSVue), watched a video with someone washing the foot of a dead saint and then people fighting to get some of the water that fell from the foot, etc., all in reference to veneration and worship.

Thank you to Earl, Ed, Don, and everyone else involved in the service. Happy anniversary this week to Jo & John. Songs from this service: Raise A Hallelujah - https://youtu.be/FTUepIql8mg -- Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me - https://youtu.be/XFd0Z06EoEI -- Peace, Perfect Peace - https://youtu.be/ibqgZxWa6bM -- Had It Not Been The Lord - https://youtu.be/838BqLQiFIQ -- Everybody Hurts (REM) - https://youtu.be/5rOiW_xY-kc -- Eternal Father Strong To Save - https://youtu.be/m6-Cbx18BWA -- Christ Be All Around Me - https://youtu.be/CMXlMfUJc4U Scriptures from this service: Communion - Romans 5:1-3 (NRSVue); Romans 5:3-11 (NRSVue); 12:1 (NRSVue); Ephesians 4:32 (NIV); Galatians 5:22-23. Reading - Psalm 3:1-8. Sermon - Psalm 31:10; 31:11-12; 31:14-16; 31:19-20; 33:18; 33:20; 33:22; 35:4-5; 35:26; 35:27-28; 39:7-8; 39:12; Hebrews 1:14; Psalm 40:1-3; 51:1-2; 51:7; 51:9; 54:3-4; 54:6-7; 55:5; 55:8-9; 55:11-12; 55:16; 1 Peter 5:7; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20; Psalm 61:1-4; 62:1-2; 68:19; 69:1; 69:13; 69:30-31; 71:9; 71:14-15; 71:17-18; 80:3; 91:1-2; 95:1-2; 100:1-3; 106:47-48; 107:17; 107:24; 107:31; 116:1-2; 13:5; 18:2; 146:2; 145:13; 147:2; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20; 1 Corinthians 13:12; Psalm 103:1. Closing - Ephesians 4:6; Triqueta By Madboy74 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link Celtic Cross Public Domain, Link [accordion] [accordion-item title="NIV Copyright" state=closed]Scripture quotations marked (NIV) taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version© NIV© Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.[/accordion-item][accordion-item title="NRSVue Copyright"]Scripture quotations marked NRSVue taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.[/accordion-item][/accordion]

How should we understand the words, “in him all things were created” in Col 1.16? Although commonly taken to mean Christ created the universe, this view has contextual, structural, and exegetical problems. In what follows I’ll name six problems with old-creation readings before laying out why a new creation approach makes sense. I presented this talk at the 2025 Unitarian Christian Alliance (UCA) conference in Uxbridge, England. Scroll down to see the full-length paper. For those listening to the audio, here’s a quick reference to Colossians 1.15-20 Strophe 1 (Col 1.15-18a) 15a      who is (the) image of the invisible God, 15b      firstborn of all creation 16a      for in him were created all things 16b                  in the heavens and upon the earth, 16c                  the visible and the invisible, 16d                  whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities 16e      all things have been created through him and for him 17a      and he is before all things 17b      and all things hold together in him 18a      and he is the head of the body of the Church,[12] Strophe 2 (Col 1.18b-20) 18b      who is (the) beginning, 18c      firstborn from the dead, 18d                  in order that he may be first in all things, 19        for in him was pleased all the fulness to dwell 20a      and through him to reconcile all things in him, 20b      making peace through the blood of his cross 20c                  whether the things upon the earth 20d                  or the things in the heavens Here’s Randy Leedy’s New Testament Diagram Here are the slides in the original PowerPoint format Download [13.82 MB] Here are the slides converted to PDF Loading... Taking too long? Reload document | Open in new tab Download [3.16 MB] To read the paper, simply scroll down or read it on Academia.edu.   Listen on Spotify   Listen on Apple Podcasts —— Links —— Check out these other papers by Sean Finnegan Support Restitutio by donating here Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Finnegan on X @RestitutioSF Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price. Get the transcript of this episode Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library. Below is the paper presented on July 25, 2025 in Uxbridge, England at the 2nd annual UCA UK Conference. Access this paper on Academia.edu to get the pdf. Full text is below, including bibliography and end notes. Colossians 1.16: Old Creation or New Creation? by Sean P. Finnegan Abstract  How should we understand the words, “in him all things were created” in Col 1.16? Although commonly taken to mean Christ created the universe, this view has contextual, structural, and exegetical problems. In what follows, I will explain the difficulties with the various old creation readings of Col 1.16 along with five reasons for a new creation approach. Then I'll provide a new creation reading of Col 1.16 before summarizing my findings in the conclusion. Introduction  Colossians 1.15-20 is a fascinating text of great importance for Christology. Commonly understood to be a hymn, it is fascinating in its cosmic scope and elevated Christology. Although many commentators interpret Paul[1] to say that Christ created the universe in his pre-existent state in Col 1.16, not all scholars see it that way. For example, Edward Schillebeeckx writes, “There is no mention in this text of pre-existence in the Trinitarian sense.”[2] Rather he sees “an eschatological pre-existence, characteristic of wisdom and apocalyptic.”[3] G. B. Caird agreed that Paul's focus in Col. 1.15-20 was not pre-existence (contra Lightfoot), rather, “The main thread of Paul's thought, then, is the manhood of Christ.”[4] In other words, “All that has been said in vv. 15-18 can be said of the historical Jesus.”[5] James Dunn also denied that Paul saw Christ as God's agent in creation in Col 1.15-20, claiming that such an interpretation was “to read imaginative metaphor in a pedantically literal way.”[6] James McGrath argued that “Jesus is the one through whom God's new creation takes place.” [7] Andrew Perriman likewise noted, “There is no reference to the creation of heaven and earth, light and darkness, sea and dry land, lights in the heavens, vegetation, or living creatures,”[8] also preferring a new creation approach.[9] To understand why such a broad range of scholars diverge from the old creation interpretation of Col 1.16, we will examine several contextual, structural, and exegetical problems. While explaining these, I'll also put forward four reasons to interpret Col 1.16 as new creation. Then I'll provide a fifth before giving a new creation reading of Col 1.15-20. But before going any further, let's familiarize ourselves with the text and structure. The Form of Col 1.15-20  To get our bearings, let me begin by providing a translation,[10] carefully structured to show the two strophes.[11] Strophe 1 (Col 1.15-18a) 15a      who is (the) image of the invisible God, 15b      firstborn of all creation 16a      for in him were created all things 16b                  in the heavens and upon the earth, 16c                  the visible and the invisible, 16d                  whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities 16e      all things have been created through him and for him 17a      and he is before all things 17b      and all things hold together in him 18a      and he is the head of the body of the Church,[12] Strophe 2 (Col 1.18b-20) 18b      who is (the) beginning, 18c      firstborn from the dead, 18d                  in order that he may be first in all things, 19        for in him was pleased all the fulness to dwell 20a      and through him to reconcile all things in him, 20b      making peace through the blood of his cross 20c                  whether the things upon the earth 20d                  or the things in the heavens Here I've followed the two-strophe structure (1.15-18a and 18b-20) noted more than a century ago by the classical philologist Eduard Norden[13] and repeated by James Robinson,[14] Edward Lohse,[15] Edward Schweizer,[16] James Dunn,[17] Ben Witherington III,[18] and William Lane[19] among others. By lining up the parallel lines of the two strophes, we can clearly see the poetic form. Strophe 1 15a who is (the) image… 15b firstborn of all creation 16a for in him were created all things… 16e  all things have been created through him… Strophe 2 18b who is (the) beginning, 18c firstborn from the dead … 19 for in him was pleased all… 20a and through him to reconcile all things in him… Such striking repeated language between the two strophes means that we should be careful to maintain the parallels between them and not take a grammatical or exegetical position on a word or phrase that would disconnect it from the parallel line in the other strophe. Some scholars, including F. F. Bruce,[20] Michael Bird,[21] David Pao,[22] among others proposed vv. 17-18a as an independent transitional link between the two strophes. Lohse explained the motivation for this unlikely innovation as follows. Above all, it is curious that at the end of the first, cosmologically oriented strophe, Christ is suddenly referred to as the “head of the body, the church” (1:18a κεφαλή τοῦ σώματος τῆς ἐκκλησίας). Considering its content, this statement would have to be connected with the second strophe which is characterized by soteriological statements. The structure of the hymn, however, places it in the first strophe.[23] For interpreters who prefer to think of the first strophe as cosmogony and the second as soteriology, a line about Christ's headship over the church doesn't fit very well. They restructure the form based on their interpretation of the content. Such a policy reverses the order of operations. One should determine the form and then interpret the content in light of structure. Lohse was right to reject the addition of a new transitional bridge between the two strophes. He called it “out of the question” since vv. 17-18a underscore “all things” and “serve as a summary that brings the first strophe to a conclusion.”[24] Now that we've oriented ourselves to some degree, let's consider old creation readings of Col 1.16 and the problems that arise when reading it that way. Old Creation Readings  Within the old creation paradigm for Col 1.16 we can discern three groups: those who see (A) Christ as the agent by whom God created, (B) Wisdom as the agent, and (C) Christ as the purpose of creation. Although space won't allow me to interact with each of these in detail, I will offer a brief critique of these three approaches. As a reminder, here is our text in both Greek and English. Colossians 1.16 16a      ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ πάντα 16b                  ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, 16c                  τὰ ὁρατὰ καὶ τὰ ἀόρατα, 16d                  εἴτε θρόνοι εἴτε κυριότητες εἴτε ἀρχαὶ εἴτε ἐξουσίαι· 16e      τὰ πάντα δι' αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται· 16a      for in him were created all things 16b                  in the heavens and upon the earth, 16c                  the visible and the invisible, 16d                  whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities 16e      all things have been created through him and for him 1. Christ as the Agent of Creation Scot McKnight is representative in his claim that “The emphasis of the first stanza is Christ as the agent of creation … and the second is Christ as the agent of redemption.”[25] This view sees the phrase “in him were created all things” as Christ creating the universe in the beginning. However, this position has six problems with it. Firstly, the context of the poem—both before (vv. 13-14) and after (vv. 21-22)—is clearly soteriological not cosmogonical.[26] By inserting vv. 15-20 into the text after vv. 13-14, Paul connected the two together.[27] V. 15 begins with ὅς ἐστιν (who is), which makes it grammatically dependent on vv. 13-14. “It is widely accepted,” wrote Dunn, “that this passage is a pre-Pauline hymn interpolated and interpreted to greater or less extent by Paul.”[28] By placing the poem into a redemptive frame, Paul indicated how he interpreted it. The fact that God “rescued us from the authority of darkness and transferred (us) into the kingdom of his beloved son” is the controlling context (v. 13).[29] As I will show below, I believe vv. 15-20 are ecclesiology not protology, since ecclesiology naturally flows from soteriology. Rather than remaining in the old domain of darkness, vulnerable to malevolent spiritual powers of this age, Colossian Christians are transferred into the new domain of Christ. The context makes it more natural to interpret the creation language of vv. 15-16 in light of Christ's redemptive work—as references to new creation rather than old creation. Doing so retains the contextual frame rather than jumping back to the beginning of time. A second problem arises when we consider the phrase “image of the invisible God” in v. 15. Although some see a Stoic or Wisdom reference here, I agree with F. F. Bruce who said, “No reader conversant with the OT scriptures, on reading these words of Paul, could fail to be reminded of the statement in Gen. 1:26f., that man was created by God ‘in his own image.'”[30] Immediately after making humanity in his own image, God blessed us with dominion over the earth. Philo also connected humanity's image of God with “the rulership over the earthly realms.”[31] But if the Christ of v. 15 is the pre-existent son prior to his incarnation, as the old creation model posits, “How can he be the ‘image of God,'” asked Eduard Schweizer, since “the one who is thus described here is not the earthly Jesus?”[32] It is precisely by virtue of his humanity that Jesus is the image of God not his pre-existence.[33] Thus, image-of-God language points us to the creation of a new humanity. A third problem is that “firstborn of all creation” prima facia implies that Christ is a member of creation (a partitive genitive). This is how Paul thought about Christ as firstborn in Rom 8.29 when he called Christ “firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Clearly he saw Christ as a member of the “ἀδελφοῖς” (brothers and sisters). Furthermore, “πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως” (firstborn of all creation) in v. 15 parallels “πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν” (firstborn from the dead) v. 18. Although the former (v. 15) can be taken as a genitive of subordination (firstborn over creation) or as a partitive genitive (firstborn of creation), the latter (v. 18) is unambiguously partitive. Because v. 18 includes the word ἐκ (from/out of), instead of a multivalent genitive, it must mean that Jesus was himself a member of the dead prior to his resurrection. Likewise, he was the firstborn member of creation. To take v. 15 as a genitive of subordination and v. 18 in a partitive sense allows theology to drive exegesis over against the clear structural link between v. 15b and v. 18c. In fact, as the BDAG noted, Christ is “the firstborn of a new humanity.”[34] He is chronologically born first and, by virtue of that, also preeminent.[35] Fourthly, the phrase, “ἐν αὐτῷ” (in him), implies soteriology not protology as it does throughout the Pauline corpus. The prepositional phrases “in Christ,” “in the Lord,” “in him,” and others that are similar occur more than a hundred times in Paul's epistles. McKnight elucidated the sense nicely: “This expression, then, is the inaugurated eschatological reality into which the Christian has been placed, and it also evokes the new-creation realities that a person discovers.”[36] Creation in Christ is not likely to refer to Genesis creation. In fact, apart from Col 1.16, there is no text within Paul or the rest of the Bible that speaks of the origin of the universe as something created “in Christ.”[37] Sadly translators routinely obscure this fact by translating “ἐν αὐτῷ” as “by him.”[38] Amazingly, the NASB and ESV render “ἐν αὐτῷ” as “in him” in every other usage apart from Col 1.16![39] For the sake of consistency, it makes better sense to render “ἐν αὐτῷ” as “in him” and let the reader decide how to interpret it. Fifthly, the line, “and he is the head of the body, the Church” (v. 18a) clearly roots the first strophe in redemptive history not creation. Our English translations follow Robert Estienne's verse divisions, which confusingly combine the last line of the first strophe (v. 18a) and the first line of the second (v. 18b), obscuring the native poetic structure. As I made the case above, the structure of the text breaks into two strophes with v. 18a included in the first one. As I mentioned earlier, vv. 15-20 are a pre-existing poem that Paul has modified and incorporated into the text of Colossians. Ralph Martin pointed out that the poem contains “no less than five hapax legomena” and “about ten non-Pauline expressions.”[40] Additionally, there appear to be awkward additions that disrupt the symmetry. These additions are the most explicitly Christian material. It is likely that the original said, “and he is the head of the body” to which Paul appended “the church.” Edward Schillebeeckx commented on this. In Hellenistic terms this must primarily mean that he gives life and existence to the cosmos. Here, however, Colossians drastically corrects the ideas … The correction made by Colossians is to understand ‘body' as a reference to the church, and not the cosmos. This alters the whole perspective of the cultural and religious setting … The cosmic background is reinterpreted in terms of salvation history and ecclesiology. In fact Christ is already exercising his lordship over the world now … however, he is doing this only as the head of the church, his body, to which he gives life and strength. Thus Colossians claims that the church alone, rather than the cosmos, is the body of Christ.[41] If this is true, it shows Paul's careful concern to disallow a strictly old creation or protological reading of the first strophe. For by inserting “of the church,” he has limited the context of the first strophe to the Christ event. “The addition of ‘the church,'” wrote Dunn, “indicates that for Paul at any rate the two strophes were not dealing with two clearly distinct subjects (cosmology and soteriology).”[42] Karl-Joseph Kuschel wrote, “The answer would seem to be he wanted to ‘disturb' a possible cosmological-protological fancy in the confession of Christ … to prevent Christ from becoming a purely mythical heavenly being.”[43] Thus Paul's addition shows us he interpreted the creation of v16 as new creation. Lastly, theological concerns arise when taking Col 1.16 as old creation. The most obvious is that given the partitive genitive of v. 15, we are left affirming the so-called Arian position that God created Christ as the firstborn who, in turn, created everything else. Another thorn in the side of this view is God's insistence elsewhere to be the solo creator (Isa 44.24; cf. 45.18). On the strength of this fact, modalism comes forward to save the day while leaving new problems in its wake. However, recognizing Col 1.15-20 as new creation avoids such theological conundrums. 2. Wisdom as the Agent of Creation Dustin Smith noted, “The christological hymn contains no less than nine characteristics of the wisdom of God (e.g., “image,” “firstborn,” agent of creation, preceding all things, holding all things together) that are reapplied to the figure of Jesus.”[44] Some suggest that Col 1.15-20 is actually a hymn to Wisdom that Paul Christianized.[45] The idea is that God created the universe through his divine Wisdom, which is now embodied or incarnate in Christ. Dunn explained it as follows. If then Christ is what God's power/wisdom came to be recognized as, of Christ it can be said what was said first of wisdom—that ‘in him (the divine wisdom now embodied in Christ) were created all things.' In other words the language may be used here to indicate the continuity between God's creative power and Christ without the implication being intended that Christ himself was active in creation.[46] Before pointing out some problems, I must admit much of this perspective is quite noncontroversial. That Jewish literature identified Wisdom as God's creative agent, that there are linguistic parallels between Col 1.15-20 and Wisdom, and that the historical Jesus uniquely embodied Wisdom to an unprecedented degree are not up for debate. Did Paul expect his readers to pick up on the linguistic parallels? Afterall, he could have just said “in her were created all things” in v. 16, clearly making the connection with the grammatically feminine σοφία (Wisdom). Better yet, he could have said, “in Wisdom were created all things.” Even if the poem was originally to Wisdom, Paul has thoroughly Christianized it, applying to Christ what had been said of Wisdom. However, the most significant defeater for this view is that applying Wisdom vocabulary to Christ only works one way. Wisdom has found her home in Christ. This doesn't mean we can attribute to Christ what Wisdom did before she indwelt him any more than we can attribute to the living descendants of Nazis the horrific deeds of their ancestors. Perriman's critique is correct: “The point is not that the act of creation was Christlike, rather the reverse: recent events have been creation-like. The death and resurrection of Jesus are represented as the profoundly creative event in which the wisdom of God is again dynamically engaged, by which a new world order has come about.”[47] Once again a new creation approach makes better sense of the text. 3. Christ as the Purpose of Creation Another approach is to take ἐν αὐτῷ (in him) in a telic sense. Martha King, a linguist with SIL, said the phrase can mean “in association with Christ everything was created” or “in connection with Christ all things were created.”[48] Lexicographer, Joseph Thayer, sharpened the sense with the translation, “[I]n him resides the cause why all things were originally created.”[49] William MacDonald's translation brought this out even more with the phrase, “because for him everything … was created.”[50] The idea is that God's act of creation in the beginning was with Christ in view. As Eric Chang noted, “Christ is the reason God created all things.”[51] G. B. Caird said, “He is the embodiment of that purpose of God which underlies the whole creation.”[52] The idea is one of predestination not agency.[53] Christ was the goal for which God created all things. A weakness of this view is that purpose is better expressed using εἰς or δία with an accusative than ἐν. Secondly, the parallel line in the second strophe (v. 19) employs “ἐν αὐτῷ” in a clearly locative sense: “in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell.” So even though “ἐν αὐτῷ” could imply purpose, in this context it much more likely refers to location. Lastly, Paul mentioned the sense of purpose at the end of v. 16 with “εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται” (for him has been created), so it would be repetitive to take “ἐν αὐτῷ” that way as well. To sum up, the three positions that see Col 1.16 as a reference to old creation all have significant problems. With these in mind, let us turn our attention to consider a fourth possibility: that Paul has in mind new creation. Reasons for a New Creation Reading I've already provided four reasons why Col 1.15-20 refers to new creation: (1) calling Christ the image of God points to the new humanity begun in Christ as the last Adam;[54] (2) since the firstborn of the old creation was Adam (or, perhaps, Seth), Jesus must be the firstborn of the new creation; (3) saying Jesus is the head of the church, limits the focus for the first strophe to the time following the Christ event; (4) the context of the poem, both before (vv. 13-14) and after (vv. 21-22) is soteriological, making an old creation paradigm awkward, while a new creation view fits perfectly. The Catholic priest and professor, Franz Zeilinger, summarized the situation nicely: “Christ is (through his resurrection from the realm of death) Lord over the possession granted to him, of which he is the ἀρχή (beginning) and archetype, … and head and beginning of the eschatological new creation!”[55] Additionally, a new creation paradigm fits best with Paul's elaboration of what visible and invisible things in heaven and on earth he has in mind. Once again, here's our text. 16a      for in him were created all things 16b                  in the heavens and upon the earth, 16c                  the visible and the invisible, 16d                  whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities 16e      all things have been created through him and for him By specifying thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities, we discern Paul's train of thought. Form critics are quick to point out that v. 16d is Paul's addition to the poem. Without it, the reader may have thought of sky, land, and animals—old creation. However, with v. 16d present, we direct our attention to political realities not God's creative power or engineering genius. Martha King noted the two possible meanings for εἴτε: (1) specifying the “invisible things” or (2) giving examples of “all things.” Taking the second view, we read “in him were created all things, including thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities.”[56] Randy Leedy also presented this position in his sentence diagrams, identifying v. 16d as equivalent to v. 16c and v. 16b, all of which modify τὰ πάντα (all things) at the end of v. 16a. (See Appendix for Leedy's diagram.) Perriman pressed home the point when he wrote: The fact is that any interpretation that takes verse 16 to be a reference to the original creation has to account for the narrow range of created things explicitly listed. … The Colossians verse mentions only the creation of political entities—thrones, lordships, rulers and authorities, visible and invisible—either in the already existing heaven or on the already existing and, presumably, populated earth. What this speaks of is a new governmental order consisting of both invisible-heavenly and visibly-earthly entities.”[57] Understanding v. 16d as equivalent to “all things” in v. 16a nicely coheres with a new-creation paradigm. However, taken the other way—as an elaboration of only the invisible created realities—v. 16d introduces an asymmetrical and clumsy appendix. A New Creation Reading of Col 1.16 Now that we've considered some problems with old creation views and some reasons to read Col 1.16 from a new creation perspective, let's consider how a new creation reading works. New creation is all about the new breaking into the old, the future into the present. G. F. Wessels said, “Paul made clear that there is a present realized aspect of salvation, as well as a future, still outstanding aspect, which will only be realized at the eschaton.”[58] New creation, likewise, has future and present realities. Exiting Old Creation Before becoming part of the new creation, one must exit the old creation. “Our old humanity was co-crucified“ (Rom 6.6). “With Christ you died to the elemental principles of the world” (Col 2.20). “As many as were baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into his death” (Rom 6.3). We were “co-buried with him through baptism into the death … having been united with the likeness of his death” (Rom 6.4-5). Our death with him through baptism kills our allegiance and submission to the old powers and the old way of life “in which you formerly walked according to the zeitgeist of this world, according to the rule of the authority of the air, the spirit which now works in the children of disobedience” (Eph 2.2). Entering New Creation As death is the only way out of the old creation, so resurrection is the only way into the new creation. “You have been co-raised with Christ” (Col 3.1). God “co-made-alive us together with him” (Col 2.13).[59] By virtue of our union with Christ, we ourselves are already “co-raised and co-seated us in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2.6). The result of this is that “we also may walk in newness of life” (Rom 6.4). For those who are “in Christ, (there is) a new creation; the old has passed away, behold (the) new has come into existence” (2 Cor 5.17). “They have been ‘transported,'” wrote Schillebeeckx, “they already dwell above in Christ's heavenly sphere of influence (Col 1.13)—the soma Christou … that is the church!”[60] Community For the people of God, “neither circumcision is anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation” is what matters (Gal 6.15). Those who “are clothed with the new” are “being renewed in knowledge according to the image of him who created, where there is no Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, (or) free, but Christ (is) all and in all” (Col 3.10-11). Through Christ God has nullified the law “in order that he might create the two into one new humanity in him” (Eph 2.14-15). Thus, within new creation, ethnic identity still exists, but it is relativized, our identity in Christ taking priority ahead of other affiliations and duties. Lifestyle When the lost become saved through faith, they become his creation (ποίημα), “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Eph 2.10). This means we are to “lay aside the former way of life, the old humanity corrupted according to deceitful desires” and instead be clothed with “the new humanity created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Eph 4.22-24). Rather than lying to one another, we must “strip off the old humanity with its way of acting” and “be clothed with the new (humanity), renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it” (Col 3.9-10). “The ones who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts” and instead “walk by the spirit” (Gal 5.24-25). Ultimately, All Creation Although new creation is currently limited to those who voluntarily recognize Jesus as Lord, all “creation is waiting with eager expectation for the unveiling of the children of God” (Rom 8.19). Because of the Christ event, the created order eagerly awaits the day when it will escape “the enslavement of corruption” and gain “the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (v. 21). Like a bone out of joint, creation does not function properly. Once Christ sets it right, it will return to its proper order and operation under humanity's wise and capable rulership in the eschaton. Eschatology God predetermined that those who believe will be “conformed to the image of his son, that he be firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Rom 8.29). Thus, the resurrected Christ is the prototype, “the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15.20). Whereas “in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive” (v. 22). We await Christ's return to “transform the body of our humble station (that it be) shaped to his glorious body according to the energy which makes him able to also to subject all things to himself.” (Phil 3.21). This is the end goal of new creation: resurrected subjects of God's kingdom joyfully living in a renewed world without mourning, crying, and pain forevermore (Isa 65.17-25; Rev 21-22). The Powers Taking Col 1.16 as a new creation text adds key information about the present governing powers to this richly textured picture. In Christ God created thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. He made these through Christ and for Christ with the result that Christ himself is before all things, and in Christ all things hold together (Col 1.17). He is the head of the body, the Church (Col 1.18). We find very similar language repeated in Ephesians in the context of Christ's exaltation.[61] Ephesians 1.20-23 20 Which [power] he energized in Christ having raised him from the dead and seated (him) on his right (hand) in the heavenlies 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name named, not only in this age but also in the one to come; 22 and he subjected all things under his feet and gave him (as) head over all things in the Church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in all. The parallels are striking. Both speak of Christ's resurrection, Christ's exalted position of authority over all the powers, Christ's role as head of the church, and both mention the fullness. It's easy to miss the connection between these two passages since most think of Eph 1.20-22 as ascension theology and Col 1.15-20 as creation theology. But, if we adjust our thinking to regard Col 1.16 as new creation, we see how the two fit together. In Ephesians we see Christ's ascension to God's right hand as the reason for a cosmic reordering of authorities with the result that all rule, authority, power, and dominion are subjected to him. (Though we may be accustomed to reading these powers in Eph 1.21 as only malevolent owing to Eph 2.2 and 6.12, the list here must be mixed, since only benevolent powers will survive the final judgement and continue into the age to come.) Instead of exaltation, in Colossians Paul employed the language of creation to describe Christ's relation to the powers. Perhaps lesser terms like reassign, reorder, or establish were just too small to adequately express the magnitude of how the Christ event has changed the world—both in heaven and on earth. The only term big enough to convey the new situation was “creation”—the very same word he routinely used elsewhere with the meaning of new creation.[62] We can gain more insight by considering what the powers of Eph 1.21 and Col 1.16 mean. McKnight saw them “as earthly, systemic manifestations of (perhaps fallen) angelic powers—hence, the systemic worldly, sociopolitical manifestations of cosmic/angelic rebellion against God.”[63] I partially agree with McKnight here. He's right to see the powers as both heavenly and earthly, or better, as the heavenly component of the earthly sociopolitical realities, but he has not made room for the new authority structures created in Christ. John Schoenheit helpfully explained it this way: Not only did Jesus create his Church out of Jew and Gentile, he had to create the structure and positions that would allow it to function, both in the spiritual world (positions for the angels that would minister to the Church—see Rev. 1:1, “his angel”) and in the physical world (positions and ministries here on earth—see Rom. 12:4-8; Eph. 4:7-11).[64] We must never forget that Paul has an apocalyptic worldview—a perspective that seeks to unveil the heavenly reality behind the earthly. He believed in powers of darkness and powers of light. In Christ were created thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities (Col 1.16). He is “the head of all rule and authority” (Col 2.10). These new creation realities make progress against the old powers that still hold sway in the world outside the Church. Although the old powers are still at work, those who are in Christ enjoy his protection. With respect to the Church, he has already “disarmed the rulers and authorities” (Col 2.15). We can don “the armor of God that we be able to stand against the methods of the devil” (Eph 6.11) and “subduing everything, to stand” (v. 13). We find glimpses of this heavenly reality scattered in other places in the Bible. Peter mentioned how Christ “is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and power having been subjected to him” (1 Pet 3.22). In John's Revelation, he addressed each of the seven letters to the angels of their respective churches.[65] Although it's hard for us to get details on precisely what happened at Christ's ascension, something major occurred, not just on earth, but also in the spiritual realm. Jesus's last recorded words in Matthew are: “all authority in heaven and upon earth was given to me” (Mat 28.18-20). Presumably such a statement implies that prior to his resurrection Jesus did not have all authority in heaven and earth. It didn't exist until it was created. Similarly, because of his death, resurrection, and ascension, Christ has “become so much better than the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to them” (Heb 1.4). Once again, the text implies that Christ was not already superior to the angels, but “after making purification of the sins, he sat on the right hand of the majesty on high” at which time he became preeminent (Heb 1.3). Perhaps this also explains something about why Christ “proclaimed to the spirits in prison” (1 Pet 3.19). Another possibility is that Christ's ascension (Rev 12.5) triggered a war in heaven (v. 7) with the result that the dragon and his angels suffered defeat (v. 8) and were thrown out of heaven down to the earth (v. 9). Sadly, for most of the history of the church we have missed this Jewish apocalyptic approach that was obvious to Paul, limiting salvation to individual sins and improved morality.[66] Only in the twentieth century did interpreters begin to see the cosmic aspect of new creation. Margaret Thrall wrote the following. The Christ-event is the turning-point of the whole world … This Christ ‘in whom' the believer lives is the last Adam, the inaugurator of the new eschatological humanity. … Paul is saying that if anyone exists ‘in Christ', that person is a newly-created being. … In principle, through the Christ-event and in the person of Christ, the new world and the new age are already objective realities.[67] New creation is, in the words of J. Louis Martyn “categorically cosmic and emphatically apocalyptic.”[68] In fact, “The advent of the Son and of his Spirit is thus the cosmic apocalyptic event.”[69] In Christ is the beginning of a whole new creation, an intersecting community of angelic and human beings spanning heaven and earth. The interlocking of earthly (visible) and heavenly (invisible) authority structures points to Paul's apocalyptic holism. The Church was not on her own to face the ravages of Rome's mad love affair with violence and power. In Christ, people were no longer susceptible to the whims of the gods that have wreaked so much havoc from time immemorial.[70] No, the Church is Christ's body under his direct supervision and protection. As a result, the Church is the eschatological cosmic community. It is not merely a social club; it has prophetic and cosmic dimensions. Prophetically, the Church points to the eschaton when all of humanity will behave then how the Church already strives to live now—by the spirit instead of the flesh (Gal 5.16-25). Cosmically, the Church is not confined to the earth. There is a heavenly dimension with authority structures instantiated under Christ to partner with the earthly assemblies. God's “plan for the fulness of the times” is “to head up all thing in the Christ, the things upon the heavens and the things upon the earth in him” (Eph 1.10). Although this is his eschatological vision, Zeilinger pointed out that it is already happening. [T]he eschatological world given in Christ is realized within the still-existing earthly creation through the inclusion of the human being in Christ, the exalted one, by means of the proclamation of salvation and baptism. The eschaton spreads throughout the world in the kerygma and becomes reality, in that the human being, through baptism, becomes part of Christ—that is, in unity with him, dies to the claim of the στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου (2.20) and is raised with him to receive his eschatological life. The people thus incorporated into the exalted Christ thereby form, in him and with him, the new creation of the eschaton within the old! The body of Christ is thus recognizable as the expanding Church. In it, heavenly and earthly space form, in a certain sense, a unity.[71] The Church is a counter society, and embassy of the future kingdom shining the light of the age to come into the present in the power of the spirit with the protection of Christ and his heavenly powers over against the powers of darkness, who/which are still quite active—especially in the political realities of our present evil age (Gal 1.4). We bend the knee to the cosmic Christ now in anticipation of the day when “every knee may bend: heavenly and earthly and subterranean” (Phil 2.10) and “every tongue may confess that Jesus Christ (is) Lord” (v. 11). Christ's destiny is to fulfil the original Adamic mandate to multiply, fill, and have dominion over the earth (Gen 1.28). He has already received all authority in heaven and earth (Mat 28.18). God has given him “dominion over the works of your hands and put all things under his feet” as the quintessential man (Ps 8.6). Even so, “Now we do not yet see all things subjected to him” (Heb 2.8), but when he comes “he will reign into the ages of the ages” (Rev 11.15). Until then, he calls the Church to recognize his preeminence and give him total allegiance both in word and deed. Conclusion We began by establishing that the structure of the poetic unit in Col 1.15-20 breaks into two strophes (15-18a and 18b-20). We noted that Paul likely incorporated pre-existing material into Colossians, editing it as he saw fit. Then we considered the problems with the three old creation readings: (A) Christ as the agent of creation, (B) Wisdom as the agent of creation, and (C) Christ as the purpose of creation. In the course of critiquing (A), which is by far most popular, we observed several reasons to think Col 1.16 pertained to new creation, including (1) the image of God language in v. 15a, (2) the firstborn of all creation language in v. 15b, (3) the head of the Church language in v. 18a, and (4) the soteriological context (frame) of the poem (vv. 13-14, 21-22). To this I added a fifth syntactical reason that 16d as an elaboration of “τἀ πάντα” (all things) of 16a. Next, we explored the idea of new creation, especially within Paul's epistles, to find a deep and richly textured paradigm for interpreting God's redemptive and expanding sphere of influence (in Christ) breaking into the hostile world. We saw that new Christians die and rise with Christ, ending their association with the old and beginning again as a part of the new—a community where old racial, legal, and status divisions no longer matter, where members put off the old way of living and instead become clothed with the new humanity, where people look forward to and live in light of the ultimate transformation to be brought about at the coming of Christ. Rather than limiting new creation to the salvation of individuals, or even the sanctifying experience of the community, we saw that it also includes spiritual powers both “in the heavens and upon the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” (Col 1.16). Reading Col 1.15-20 along with Eph 1.20-23 we connected God's creation of the powers in Christ with his exaltation of Christ to his right hand “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph 1.21). The point from both texts is clear: as “the head of the body, the Church” (Col 1.18; Eph 1.22), Christ is “before all things” (Col 1.17), “first in all things” (Col 1.18), and “far above all” (Eph 1.21), since God has “subjected all things under his feet” (Eph 1.22). Christ is preeminent as the firstborn of all new creation, “the new Adam … the starting point where new creation took place.”[72] Although the old powers still hold sway in the world, those in the interlocked heaven-and-earth new creation domain where Christ is the head, enjoy his protection if they remain “in the faith established and steadfast and not shifting away from the hope of the gospel” (Col 1.23). This interpretation has several significant advantages. It fits into Paul's apocalyptic way of thinking about Christ's advent and exaltation. It also holds together the first strophe of the poem as a unit. Additionally, it makes better sense of the context. (The ecclesiology of Col 1.15-18a follows logically from the soteriological context of vv. 13-14.) Lastly, it is compatible with a wide range of Christological options. Appendix Here is Col 1.16 from Leedy's sentence diagrams.[73] Of note is how he equates the τὰ πάντα of 16a with 16c and 16d rather than seeing 16d as an elaboration of τά ὁρατά. Bibliography Bauer, Walter, Frederick William  Danker, William F. Arndt, F. Gingrich, Kurt Aland, Barbara Aland, and Viktor Reichmann. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2000. Bird, Michael F. Colossians and Philemon. A New Covenant Commentary. Cambridge, England: The Lutterworth Press, 2009. 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Zondervan Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament, edited by Clinton E. Arnold. Grand Rapid, MI: Zondervan, 2012. Perriman, Andrew. In the Form of a God. Studies in Early Christology, edited by David Capes Michael Bird, and Scott Harrower. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2022. Philo. The Works of Philo. The Norwegian Philo Concordance Project. Edited by Kåre Fuglseth Peder Borgen, Roald Skarsten. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 2005. Robinson, James M. “A Formal Analysis of Colossians 1:15-20.” Journal of Biblical Literature 76, no. 4 (1957): 270–87. Schillebeeckx, Eduard. Christ: The Experience of Jesus as Lord. Translated by John Bowden. New York, NY: The Seabury Press, 1977. Schoberg, Gerry. Perspectives of Jesus in the Writings of Paul. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2013. Schweizer, Eduard. The Letter to the Colossians. Translated by Andrew Chester. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1982. Smith, Dustin R. Wisdom Christology in the Gospel of John. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2024. Snedeker, Donald R. Our Heavenly Father Has No Equals. Bethesda, MD: International Scholars Publications, 1998. Thayer, Joseph Henry. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996. Thrall, Margaret. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. Vol. 1. The International Critical Commentary, edited by C. E. B. Cranfield J. A. Emerton, G. N. Stanton. Edinburgh, Scotland: T&T Clark, 1994. Wachtel, William M. “Colossians 1:15-20–Preexistence or Preeminence?” Paper presented at the 14th Theological Conference, McDonough, GA, 2005. Wessels, G. F. “The Eschatology of Colossians and Ephesians.” Neotestamentica 21, no. 2 (1987): 183–202. Witherington III, Ben The Letters to Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary of the Captivity Epistles. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2007. Yates, Roy. The Epistle to the Colossians. London: Epworth Press, 1993. Zeilinger, Franz. Der Erstgeborene Der Schöpfung. Wien, Österreich: Herder, 1974. Footnotes [1] Since the nineteenth century biblical scholars have been divided over whether Paul wrote Colossians. One of the major reasons for thinking Paul didn't write Colossians is his exalted Christology—the very conclusion this paper seeks to undermine. A second major factor to argue against Pauline authorship is the difference in vocabulary, but this is explainable if Paul used a different amanuensis. The theologically more cosmic emphasis (also evident in Ephesians) is likely due to Paul's time in prison to reflect and expand his understanding of the Christ event. Lastly, the proto-Gnostic hints in Colossians do not require dating the epistle outside of Paul's time. Although Gnosticism flourished at the beginning of the second century, it was likely already beginning to incubate in Paul's time. [2] Eduard Schillebeeckx, Christ: The Experience of Jesus as Lord, trans. John Bowden (New York, NY: The Seabury Press, 1977), 185. [3] Schillebeeckx, 185. [4] G. B. Caird, Paul’s Letters from Prison, New Clarendon Bible, ed. H. F. D. Sparks (Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1976), 177. [5] Caird, 181. [6] James D. G. Dunn, The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon, New International Greek Testament Commentary, ed. Gasque Marshall, Hagner (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1996), 91. “[W]hat at first reads as a straightforward assertion of Christ's pre-existenct activity in creation becomes on closer analysis an assertion which is rather more profound—not of Christ as such present with God in the beginning, nor of Christ as identified with a pre-existent hypostasis or divine being (Wisdom) beside God, but of Christ as embodying and expressing (and defining) that power of God which is the manifestation of God in and to his creation.” (Italics in original.) James D. G. Dunn, Christology in the Making, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1996), 194. [7] James F. McGrath, The Only True God: Early Christian Monotheism in Its Jewish Context (Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2009), 46. [8] Andrew Perriman, In the Form of a God, Studies in Early Christology, ed. David Capes Michael Bird, and Scott Harrower (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2022), 200. [9] In addition, biblical unitarians routinely interpret Col 1.16 as new creation. See Anthony F. Buzzard, Jesus Was Not a Trinitarian (Morrow, GA: Restoration Fellowship, 2007), 189–90, Robert Carden, One God: The Unfinished Reformation, Revised ed. (Naperville, IL: Grace Christian Press, 2016), 197–200, Eric H. H. Chang, The Only Perfect Man, ed. Bentley C. F. Chang, 2nd ed. (Montreal, QC: Christian Disciples Church Publishers, 2017), 151–52, Jeff Deuble, Christ before Creeds (Latham, NY: Living Hope International Ministries, 2021), 163–66, John A. Lynn Mark H. Graeser, John W. Schoenheit, One God & One Lord, 4th ed. (Martinsville, IN: Spirit & Truth Fellowship International, 2010), 493–94, Donald R. Snedeker, Our Heavenly Father Has No Equals (Bethesda, MD: International Scholars Publications, 1998), 291–92, William M. Wachtel, “Colossians 1:15-20–Preexistence or Preeminence?” (paper presented at the 14th Theological Conference, McDonough, GA, 2005), 4. [10] All translations are my own. [11] Stophes are structural divisions drawn from Greek odes akin to stanzas in poetry or verses in music. [12] Throughout I will capitalize Church since that reflects the idea of all Christians collectively not just those in a particular local assembly. [13] Eduard Norden, Agnostos Theos: Untersuchungen Zur Formengeschichte Religiöser Rede, 4th ed. (Stuttgart, Germany: B. G. Teubner, 1956), 250–54. [14] James M. Robinson, “A Formal Analysis of Colossians 1:15-20,” Journal of Biblical Literature 76, no. 4 (1957): 272–73. [15] Edward Lohse, Colossians and Philemon, Hermeneia (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1971), 44. [16] Eduard Schweizer, The Letter to the Colossians, trans. Andrew Chester (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1982), 57. [17] Dunn, The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon, 84. [18] Ben  Witherington III, The Letters to Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary of the Captivity Epistles (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2007), 129. [19] William L. Lane, The New Testament Page by Page, Open Your Bible Commentary, ed. Martin Manser (Bath, UK: Creative 4 International, 2013), 765. [20] E. K. Simpson and F. F. Bruce, The Epistles to the Ephesians and the Colossians, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, ed. Ned B. Stonehouse (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1957), 65. [21] Michael F. Bird, Colossians and Philemon, A New Covenant Commentary (Cambridge, England: The Lutterworth Press, 2009), 50. [22] David Pao, Colossians and Philemon, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament, ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapid, MI: Zondervan, 2012), 87. [23] Lohse, 42. [24] Lohse, 43–44. [25] Scot McKnight, The Letter to the Colossians, New International Commentary on the New Testament, ed. Joel B. Green (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2018), 144. [26] Col 1.13-14: “who rescued us from the authority of darkness and transferred (us) into the kingdom of his beloved son in whom we have the redemption, the forgiveness of the sins.” Col 1.21-22: “And you being formerly alienated and hostile in thought in the evil deeds, but now he reconciled (you) in his body of the flesh through the death to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him.” [27] In fact, we can easily skip from vv. 13-14 to vv. 21-22. [28] Dunn, Christology in the Making, 187–88. [29] Sadly, most translations erroneously insert a paragraph between vv. 14 and 15. This produces the visual effect that v. 15 is a new thought unit. [30] Bruce, 193. [31] Moses 2.65: “τὴν ἡγεμονίαν τῶν περιγείων” in Philo, The Works of Philo, The Norwegian Philo Concordance Project (Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 2005). See also Sirach 17.3. [32] Schweizer, 64. [33] For a helpful treatment of how the image of God relates to Christology, see Anna Shoffner Brown, “Nothing ‘Mere’ About a Man in the Image of God” (paper presented at the Unitarian Christian Alliance, Springfield, OH, Oct 14, 2022). [34] Walter Bauer et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2000), s.v. “πρωτότοκος,” 2.a. [35] Franz Zeilnger wrote, “Christ is temporally the first of a series that essentially proceeds from him, and at the same time its lord and head.” Franz Zeilinger, Der Erstgeborene Der Schöpfung (Wien, Österreich: Herder, 1974), 182. Original: “als “Wurzel” ist Christus zeitlich der erste einer Reihe, die wesentlich aus ihm hervorgeht, und zugleich ihr Herr und Haupt.” [36] McKnight, 85–86. [37] The closest parallels are 1 Cor 8.6; Heb 1.2; and John 1.3, which employ the preposition δια (through). Upon close examination these three don't teach Christ created the universe either. [38] ESV, CSB, NASB, etc. Notably the NET diverges from the other evangelical translations. Roman Catholic, mainline, and unitarian translations all tend to straightforwardly render “ἐν αὐτῷ” as “in him” in Col 1.16; cf. NABRE, NRSVUE, OGFOMMT, etc. [39] Chang, 150. [40] Ralph Martin, “An Early Christian Hymn (Col. 1:15-20),” The Evangelical Quarterly 36, no. 4 (1964): 198. [41] Schillebeeckx, 186. [42] Dunn, Christology in the Making, 191. [43] Karl-Joseph Kuschel, Born before All Time?, trans. John Bowden (New York, NY: Crossroad, 1992), 336. [44] Dustin R. Smith, Wisdom Christology in the Gospel of John (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2024), 5–6. For more on wisdom Christology in Col 1.16 see Dunn, The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon, 89, Roy Yates, The Epistle to the Colossians (London: Epworth Press, 1993), 18–19, 23, G. B. Caird, New Testament Theology, ed. L. D. Hurst (Oxford, England: Clarendon Press, 2002), 46, McGrath, 44, 46. [45] See Dunn, The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon, 89. See also Yates, 18–19, 23. [46] Dunn, Christology in the Making, 190. [47] Perriman, 199. [48] Martha King, An Exegetical Summary of Colossians (Dallas, TX: SIL International, 1992), 53. [49] Joseph Henry Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996), s.v. “ἐν,” 1722. He recognized the cause was both instrumental and final. [50] William Graham MacDonald, The Idiomatic Translation of the New Testament (Norfolk, VA: Bibleworks, 2012). [51] Chang, 147. Similarly James McGrath wrote, “[I]f all things were intended by God to find their fulfillment in Christ, then they must have been created “in him” in the very beginning in some undefined sense, since it was axiomatic that the eschatological climax of history would be a restoration of its perfect, original state.” McGrath, 46. [52] Caird, Paul’s Letters from Prison, 172. [53] “God so designed the universe that it was to achieve its proper meaning and unity only under the authority of man (Gen. 128; Ps. 86). But this purpose was not to be implemented at once; it was ‘to be put into effect when the time was ripe' (Eph. 110), when Christ had lived a human life as God intended it, and had become God's image in a measure which was never true of Adam. Only in unity with ‘the proper man' could the universe be brought to its destined coherence. For one who believes in predestination it is but a small step from this to saying that the universe was created in him.” Caird, Paul’s Letters from Prison, 178. [54] See also Paul's Adam Christology in Rom 5.12-21; 1 Cor 15.21-22, 45-49. [55] “Christus ist (durch seine Auferstehung aus dem Todesbereich) Herr über den ihm verliehenen Besitz, dessen ἀρχή und Urbild er ist, … und Haupt und Anfang der eschatologischen Neuschöpfung!” Zeilinger, 188. [56] King, 54. [57] Perriman, 200. [58] G. F. Wessels, “The Eschatology of Colossians and Ephesians,” Neotestamentica 21, no. 2 (1987): 187. [59] I realize my translation is awkward, but I prioritized closely mirroring the Greek over presenting smooth English. The original reads, “συνεζωοποίησεν ὑμᾶς σὺν αὐτῷ.” [60] Schillebeeckx, 187. [61] Scholars who make this connection include Caird, New Testament Theology, 216, Caird, Paul’s Letters from Prison, 177, McGrath, 44, Perriman, 201. [62] In fact, only two of the texts I cited above explicitly say “new creation” (2 Cor 5.17 and Gal 6.15). In all the others, Paul blithely employed creation language, expecting his readers to understand that he was not talking about the creation of the universe, but the creation of the new humanity in Christ—the Church. [63] McKnight, 152. [64] Mark H. Graeser, 493. [65] Rev 2.1, 8, 12, 18; 3.1, 7, 14. [66] See Gerry Schoberg, Perspectives of Jesus in the Writings of Paul (Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2013), 280–81, 83. [67] Margaret Thrall, The Second Epistle to the Corinthians, vol. 1, The International Critical Commentary, ed. C. E. B. Cranfield J. A. Emerton, G. N. Stanton (Edinburgh, Scotland: T&T Clark, 1994), 423, 26–28. [68] J. Louis Martyn, Theological Issues in the Letters of Paul (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1997), 122. [69] Martyn, 121. [70] Whether the old gods actually existed or not is a topic beyond the scope of this paper. Interested readers should consult Michael S. Heiser, The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2019). [71] “[D]ie in Christus gegebene echatologische Welt verwirkliche sich innerhalb der weiterhin existenten irdischen Schöpfung durch die Einbeziehung des Menschen in Christus, den Erhöhten, mittles Heilsverkündigung und Taufe. Das Eschaton setzt sic him Kerygma wetweit durch und wird Wirklichkeit, indem der Mensch durch die Taufe Christi Teil wird, d. h. in Einheit mit ihm dem Anspruch der στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου stirbt (2, 20) und mit ihm auferweckt sein eschatologisches Leben erhält. Die so dem erhöhten Christus eingegliederten Menschen bilden somit in ihm und mit ihm die neue Schöpfung der Eschata innerhalb der alten! Der Christusleib ist somit als sich weitende Kirche erkennbar. In ihr bildet himmlischer und irdischer Raum gewissermaßen eine Einheit.” Zeilinger, 179. [72] “Der neue Adam … Ausgangsort, in dem sich Neuschöpfung ereignete,” Zeilinger, 199. [73] Randy A. Leedy, The Greek New Testament Sentence Diagrams (Norfolk, VA: Bible Works, 2006). This is now available in Logos Bible Software.

Thank you to Ed, Heather, Dave, Dianne, and Paul for being part of the service. Happy birthday this week to Aisha. Songs from this service: Praise Him! Praise Him! - https://youtu.be/7-AKke3wXec -- Here I Am To Worship - https://youtu.be/EBmi171Vuz4 -- When My Love To Christ Grows Weak - https://youtu.be/pxi0iuoa5fc -- There Is A Redeemer - https://youtu.be/0KC2B4azh68 -- I Will Call Upon the Lord - https://youtu.be/zoCUUCyv5gE -- Wonderful Story of Love - https://youtu.be/EsWZmUOS0Yo -- Made For More - https://youtu.be/taRNYfcj5qk Scriptures from this service: Communion - Luke 2:7-8. Reading - Galatians 3:26-29. Sermon - Galatians 4:8-9; 1:6-9; 2:11-13; 2:14-16; 3:7-9; 3:23-25; 5:1; 5:13-15; 5:26; 3:28; 5:13-15; 5:16-26. Closing - Philippians 3:8 (NRSVue); 3:10 (NRSVue) [accordion][accordion-item title="NIV Copyright" state=closed]Scripture quotations marked (NIV) taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version© NIV© Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.[/accordion-item][accordion-item title="NRSVue Copyright"]Scripture quotations marked NRSVue taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.[/accordion-item][/accordion]

 Good Friday 2025Where you there?  It is a more haunting question than it sounds.  (Based on the passion of John, found in chapters 18-19).In the end, yes, yes, you and I were there. 

Thank you to Amy, Jon, Jan, and Don for being part of the service. Happy birthday this week to Joanne. Songs from this service: This Is Amazing Grace - https://youtu.be/YArN_MzvsxE -- Hosanna, Loud Hosanna - https://youtu.be/AxPdj-0gBL8 -- Nothing But The Blood - https://youtu.be/qUinZRGUaGk -- Gospel of the Kingdom - https://youtu.be/xmFPS0f-kzs -- Give Me Oil In My Lamp - https://youtu.be/ROkHVFk562E -- More About Jesus - https://youtu.be/35H1omZhaN8 -- How Great Thou Art - https://youtu.be/8BL06fxHPVo -- How He Loves - https://youtu.be/aCBOF21Xx44 Scriptures from this service: Communion - 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NRSVue). Reading - Isaiah 42:1-9. Sermon - John 3:16; Matthew 26:27-28; Mark 14:24; Acts 20:28; Romans 3:25; 5:9; 1 Corinthians 11:25; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:22; Colossians 1:19-20; Hebrews 9:11-12; 9:11-14; 10:19-22; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7; 2:2; Revelation 1:5-6; 5:9; 7:13-14; Hebrews 9:22; Revelation 12:11; 19:11-13; Hebrews 11:37; Acts 2:22-24. Closing - John 17:20-23. [accordion] [accordion-item title="NIV Copyright" state=closed]Scripture quotations marked (NIV) taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version© NIV© Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.[/accordion-item][accordion-item title="NRSVue Copyright"]Scripture quotations marked NRSVue taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.[/accordion-item][/accordion]

Teaching Text: Matthew 22:34-40 NRSVUE,”34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”Altar - a table for making sacrifices or offerings to God.OUR ALTAR IS A SIGNAL THAT SAYS LORD WE WANT YOU HERE.When we choose to encounter God this is where God's will begins to come alive in our lives. WHAT DOES GOD WANT FOR YOUR CITY FROM YOU?REVIVAL - an instance of something becoming important again.Partner in ActionBurn for RevivalIT FIRST MUST START WITH YOU AND GOD.1 Corinthians 1:26-31 NRSVUE,”26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to abolish things that are, 29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30 In contrast, God is why you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”We are partners with God in revival.1 Corinthians 13 NRSVUE “If I speak in the tongues of humans and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all my possessions and if I hand over my body so that I may boasta] but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.””Aim to love EVERY PERSON you encounter to make use of EVERY OPPURTUNITY we have.Matthew 5:43-48 NRSVUE,”43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”“There are rare Christians whose very presence incites others to be better Christians. I want to be that rare Christian.” - A.W.TozerGet broken for your city through reading about Jesus's way in Gods word.Luke 23:34 NSRVUE,”34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept degrading him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.””We must AIM FOR RENEWAL not just for ourselves but for all people by TENDING THE FLAME SPIRIT WITHIN US and BURNING FOR REVIVAL and LIVING LIKE JESUS so that ALL PEOPLE KNOW THE LOVE OF GOD. 2. BURN FOR REVIVALHabakkuk 3:2,”O Lord, I have heard of your renown, and I stand in awe, O Lord, of your work. In our own time revive it; in our own time make it known; in wrath may you remember mercy.”The ______________ lasted from 1906-1915 and began with a small prayer meeting that erupted into a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit, marked by speaking in tongues, healings, and spontaneous worship. It was a powerful demonstration of unity, breaking down racial, social, and denominational barriers. The revival welcomed people from diverse racial backgrounds—African Americans, whites, Latinos, and Asians—worshiping together. This unity was groundbreaking during a time of racial tension, social issues, and political divide in America. The revival emphasized that all believers were equal before God, focusing on the shared experience of the Holy Spirit. Its legacy continues to inspire unity within many other movements, promoting inclusivity and oneness among Christians across cultural and social divides.”O Lord, I have heard of your renown, and I stand in awe, O Lord, of your work. In our own time revive it; in our own time make it known; in wrath may you remember mercy.”

Luke 9: 51-62 The “would-be followers” (as the NRSVUE calls them) have good intentions. They want to follow Jesus, but Jesus calls them to put their money where their mouths are. Somewhere between good intentions and impulsive action lies discipleship. On Ash Wednesday, we make a commitment to align our intentions and our actions.

For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can. Scripture ReadingMatthew 19:12 (NRSVUE) [...] Read More... The post Potentials and Possibilities appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

Thank you to Rhonda, Ed, Barb, and Don for being part of the video. Happy birthday this week to Jan. Songs from this service: Step By Step - https://youtu.be/FBpfBE6qTB0 -- Bind Us Together - https://youtu.be/OzeAXaDkifQ -- They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love - https://youtu.be/pKHhPcn0eBQ -- I Love The Lord - https://youtu.be/4Uyd21tI6bA -- To The Least Of These - https://youtu.be/kvlJ2nD1_60 -- Love One Another (Angry Words) - https://youtu.be/6U5KibrNJSQ -- Send The Light - https://youtu.be/RkJvN_7BEFA Scriptures from this service: Communion - John 14:1-6 (AMP); Matthew 28:1-6 (AMP); Mark 12:30-31 (AMP). Reading - Matthew 17:1-5. Sermon: Matthew 12:18; Psalm 106:1; John 3:16; Matthew 12:18; Psalm 106:1; 138:1; 138:4; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Matthew 22:37-40; John 13:34; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20; Matthew 5:43-45; Luke 6:27-28; 6:32; 6:35; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5; Luke 6:32; 6:35-36; John 14:1; 14:1-4; 14:6-7; 14:15-17; 14:18; 16:22; 14:18; 16:22; 16:31-33; 16:33; Galatians 5:22-23; Philippians 4:7-8; Romans 1:1; John 12:26; Philippians 2:1-4; 2:5; 2:5-8; 2:9-10; Jude 17-20; 24-25. Closing - Romans 16:25-27 (NRSVue). Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

Associate Professor Jenny Matheny, Ph.D., Truett Seminary (Baylor) hits a home run with this teaching based on 1 Samuel 25:1-35 NRSVUE.  Enjoy!

Listen as Rev. Liliana Da Valle preaches from 1 Timothy 6:6-16 NRSVUE on Sunday June 16, 2024.Support the Show.

Listen as guest preacher Rev. Elisa Hays preaches from ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭9‬: ‭1‬-‭13‬ ‭NRSVUE‬‬ on Sunday May 26, 2024. Support the Show.

Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NRSVUE).  Join us as we explore this “I AM” saying of Jesus. Acts 8:26-40Psalm 22:25-311 John 4:7-21John 15:1-8

Rebecca Poe Hays is working on several projects that bring the Psalms into conversation with recent research on trauma and resilience. She joins us today to talk about her research, both how it helps us better understand the psalms historically and how it makes them relevant in the life of faith today. Rebecca Poe Hays is Assistant Professor of Christian Scriptures at George W. Truett Seminary at Baylor University. Other CIR episodes on the psalms Bill Bellinger on Psalms as a Grammar of Faith: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-grammar-lesson-in-prayer-bill-bellinger-on-the-psalms/id1648052085?i=1000587487293 Trevor Laurence on cursing psalms and Christian ethics: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cursing-christ-and-christian-prayer/id1648052085?i=1000583436719 Deirdre Fulton on translating the NRSVue: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/updating-the-nrsv-a-chat-with-deirdre-fulton/id1648052085?i=1000623434086

Listen as our guest, Executive Minister of the Evergreen Baptist Association of American Baptist, Rev. Doug Avilesbernal preaches from Luke 18:9-14 NRSVUE on Sunday February 24th, 2024.Support the show

The sermon from the Sunday, February 18, 2024, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Assocaite Pastor Rev. Chris Rapko. “Into the Unknown” in the sermon series “Darkness - Moving Through Difficult Times.” Scripture lessons: Genesis 1:1-5 (The Contemporary Torah, JPS) and John 1:1-5; 6:16-21 (NRSVue).Support the show

Luke 10:25-37; RIC Sunday; January 28, 2024 Additional texts: Amos 5:21-24; Romans 8:31-39 Amos and Romans texts from The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation, ©2007 Future Church Gospel from First Nations Version, ©2021 by Rain Ministries Inc. Rich Weingartner Grace to you and peace from God our parent, Jesus our Savior, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Welcome to RIC (Reconciling in Christ) Sunday. As noted in your bulletin - this is a Sunday where we, and hundreds of other RIC congregations across the nation celebrate, remember, and rededicate themselves to the commitments they made when they became RIC. Those commitments are outlined in our welcome statement on the front of your bulletin. More information about RIC, a little history, and the reason we keep focusing on RIC will be in your February newsletter. On a personal note, this congregation and our RIC status and journey, have been a true blessing for me. To be able to fully be myself in the presence of God and this community is such a freeing feeling. To be able to lead worship with other members of the LGBTQIA+ community is amazing - something I would have never even thought would be possible 10-20 years ago. Yes, we've come a long way, but as always, there is still a journey ahead of us. ReconcilingWorks, the organization that manages the RIC program, always provides resources to guide congregations in their planning of their RIC service. This year's theme is “Roll Down Justice”. What a fitting theme for our congregation here at Faith. Over my time here, I have only seen our love of justice grow. All types of justice - social justice, refugee justice, justice for the hungry, justice for the LGBTQIA+ community, justice for our BIPOC siblings. As we continue on our transformation journey to prepare to complete our ministry site profile and begin to seek out candidates for a pastor, it is important to know who we are, and in our conversations so far, our justice work is always front and center. So what is justice?  According to Merriam Webster's dictionary: “the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments” or “the quality of being just, impartial, or fair.” Yawn. While dictionary definitions are accurate, they are often boring. Which is why I love the theme for this Sunday, “Roll Down Justice”.  It has action! “Roll Down”. Which started me thinking more about Justice as not just a noun or a concept or something to strive for; but instead viewing justice as a verb - an action - something to do and get engaged in. Now it is starting to sound exciting! The theme of justice. Our readings walk us through the What? The How? And the Why? First, in the old testament reading from Amos, we hear what we should be doing. We hear that God doesn't just want our solemn assemblies, burnt offerings and sacrifice, and general noise making. No, God asks us to “let justice flow like a river, and righteousness flow like an unfailing stream.” (Amos 5:24) God wants justice to flow in God's creation - never ending - never ceasing. God is asking us to constantly work for and do justice. This is reiterated in the Psalm today when it says “The works of your hands are faithfulness and justice” (Psalm 111:7). Now this is saying that the works of God's hands are faithfulness and justice - but who does the work of God's hands? As the ELCA slogan tells us: “God's Work. Our Hands.” It is us who are called to carry out the work of faithfulness and justice. Now we get to the “How?” part.  How can we do this?  A little later I'll focus more on this, but for now I want to focus on the aspect of the question “How can we do this? What if we get it wrong? What if we mess up? What if we get push back? What if we upset people?” In today's new testament reading from Romans, we receive reassurance that no matter what happens, God is on our side, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” and “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Trouble? Calamity? Persecution? Hunger? Nakedness? Danger? Violence?”  This is the good news of Jesus Christ and God - no matter what - God will not leave us, God's love and forgiveness are given to us already and nothing can take that away. As it says in the final part of today's reading from Romans: “For I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, neither heights nor depths—nor anything else in all creation—will be able to separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus, our Savior.” This is How we can do justice. We are freed from sin by the love and action of Jesus Christ, so we can focus on doing work and following the example of Christ, without worrying if something we do will take the love of God away from us or that we might not “earn” our way into the glorious kin-dom. All that is already done for us. So now that we know what we should do, “let justice flow like a river,” and how we are freed from sin and worry about earning God's love and forgiveness, we can look at the “Why?” Why should we care? Why should we do something? Won't other people do it? Why should I even try, it probably won't make a difference anyway. As the Bible reminds us over and over, the law or commandments we are told to follow are, as noted in today's Gospel reading from Luke, “You must love the Great Spirit from deep within, with the strength of your arms, the thoughts of your mind, and the courage of your heart, and you must love your fellow human beings in the same way you love yourselves.”  Or as we typically hear it, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27, NRSVUE) The “Why” is because it is God's commandment, and in my personal opinion, simply the right thing to do. To further emphasize the Why - a few other passages come to mind. First from James 2:14-16, from the First Nations translation: “What good is it, my sacred family members, if a man says “I have faith,” but has no deeds to show for it? Can that kind of “faith” set him free and make him whole? If a family member or any human being has no clothes to wear or no food to eat, and you say, “Go in peace, stay warm, and eat well,” but fail to give what is needed, what good have you done?”, Here is the last verse again as we commonly hear it from the NRSVUE, “So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”  Yes, we aren't saved by our works, but are saved by faith through grace. However, how valuable is that faith if we don't actively live it in our lives. Turning to 1 John 3:16-17, again from the First Nations translation, “The Chosen One laid down his life for us. This is how we know what love is. In the same way, we should lay our lives down for each other. If someone who has many possessions sees another in need and shows no pity, how can Creator's love remain in that person?” If we truly want to feel the life giving love of our Creator, then we must do justice in the world to have it roll down among all God's creation. Yes, we at Faith Lutheran, certainly do Justice, it is a constant river of work flowing through our community of faith. From the micro pantries (don't forget the Culver's fundraiser tomorrow evening!), to the refugee house - and all the help we give those living there, to climate justice with advocacy, solar panels, and rain gardens, to participating in Pride events, and holding racial justice protests/rallies on our sidewalk, we certainly do a lot of justice work. Reading our annual report is a great reminder of how much we do as a community. Tthis is a good look at who we are. However, we aren't just called to do justice work together as a community. We are also called to do justice work in our daily lives outside our community of faith. This is clearly shown in our Gospel reading today, the story of the Good Samaritan. This story is familiar to many but shared today from a different translation, which I love, because it lets me be part of the story in a new way by helping me think about what it means. The way this translation is written, helped me remember that the first two people that passed by were Holy people, people that you would think would do the right thing because they were part of, and leaders of, a community of faith, but no - they are the ones that passed by the injured man. It was a complete outsider, an “other”, a person who “was not a Tribal Member but a mixed blood despised by the tribal people” that stopped to help. This person, who based on society would have every right to ignore the injured man, made justice happen. Not just in some superficial way, but became committed to justice for this one person. As it says in verse 35, “The next day,” the man left with instructions to the keeper of the lodging house to continue to care for them.  Yes “The next day”.  This “other”, the “outsider”, set aside whatever plans they had and spent the night with the injured man taking care of him. This parable is told to answer the question, “Who are my fellow human beings?” or as also translated, “Who is my neighbor?” This again is a question the transition team, along with the congregation, will be looking at as we work through this transition process. As we look toward where Faith Lutheran will be heading in the coming years, we are reminded of who are are called to be, by also reflecting on the question Jesus asked at the end of the parable, “‘Which one of these three acted as a fellow human being to the man who was attacked by the thieves?' The scrollkeeper answered, ‘The one who had pity on him.' ‘Go,' Creator Sets Free (Jesus) said, ‘and walk in the same way.'” Yes, we are commanded to “Go and walk in the same way,” and as shown in the parable, this is in our everyday lives in addition to the work we do as a community with Christ.  It is sometimes harder to do justice work in our own lives instead of with a group. However, it is vitally important to do so, and the work comes in many ways. Do you defend people when they aren't able to? Do you correct people when they are incorrect and thus causing damage to people? Do you write and call your legislative representatives to let them know how you feel on issues - whether or not you know they'll agree with you? Do you vote for people who prioritize justice in their work and laws they introduce and vote for? Do you actively promote these people to encourage others to join you in your justice work? There are many ways to work on justice in your own lives, and I personally think a good place to start with any of it, is education. The more you know about the oppressed communities and their history, the better you are able to understand their point of view and know ways to advocate for them without having to constantly be told by them what they need. We work to provide some education here at Faith, but doing your own learning is also important. Read books by authors of a diverse background. If you are on social media and you don't have any friends or organizations you follow that keep you learning something or challenging your thoughts, I encourage you to find some people or organizations to follow. I am on Facebook a lot, probably more than I should be, and I have a lot of friends and groups that I see posts from, most I just quickly scroll by, but there are a few friends and groups that I will always take the time to read or listen to their post - since I know it will give me information that I'm not hearing elsewhere, and often learn something new. Just as in the story of the Good Samaritan, he didn't need to be told, “Hey - there is this person hurting, they need help, go and bandage their wounds, then take them to the local inn and care for them overnight and make sure they are cared for after that.” No, he knew what to do on his own, it was ingrained into his personality - and that is our hope and prayer here as a community of Christ, in that we will continue to learn, both from society and from the word of God, so that justice becomes fully part of who we each individually and as a community are. This way we will be able to “lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of liberty,” so that Justice may continue to “flow like a river, and righteousness flow like an unfailing stream.”  Amen.

614 For The Love OF Christ Compels Us,  A Guided Christian Meditation on 2 Corinthians 5:12-15 with the Recenter With Christ app  The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation 2 Corinthians 5:12-15 NIV 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. NRSVUE 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.15 And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for the one who for their sake died and was raised. Meditation: Recently I was listening to a therapist discuss an idea where he was asking people to consider different parts of themselves and how those work against each other. He then talked about the value of learning to focus on the center “empty” self. I think this idea misses something valuable but harnesses spiritual ideas that are felt.  As we sit in silence before the Lord we learn what Paul teaches here. We live for Christ. The thing we seek in stillness and silence is not only some empty version of ourselves. I disagree with that characterization. What we seek is the nature of the God of Peace which is inside us. When you sit in silence,  The value of the Spirit of God is not a psychological idea, yet it is the thing that most reliably produces emotional healing. The love of God urges us on. When we experience the love of God we are unity with the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the salvation God offers through that and as well the love and connection that we gain by uniting with that love of God which God put inside us.  Pause now to reflect and experience the love of God within us Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

This is part 1 of the Read the Bible For Yourself. Today we are beginning a new class called Read the Bible for Yourself. Whether you are new to scripture, or you've been reading it for years, this class will empower you to read and understand the bible like never before. You'll gain key insights into the context, content, and application of scripture so you can take your reading and understanding to the next level.Today I want to begin with the question, "Why should you read the bible for yourself?" Why is this book even worth your time? For those of you who have been reading it for years, you get it, but how would you inspire a desire in someone else to go through the hard work of learning to read the bible proficiently? In this episode you'll see why everyone, even non-Christians, should put in the effort to read the good book. Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts https://youtu.be/wXXnD1LLl-A —— Links —— See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself Check out the class How We Got the Bible Other classes are available here Check out Sean's book, Kingdom Journey  Get the transcript of this episode Support Restitutio by donating here Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library. Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here Notes The Bible survives in more manuscripts than other ancient documents.[1] The Bible is available in more languages than other books.[2] The Bible sells more copies than other books.[3] Which two sayings are in the Bible? Cleanliness is next to godliness Am I my brother's keeper? God helps those who help themselves This too shall pass A living dog is better than a dead lion God works in mysterious ways Moderation in all things God inspired the Bible, resulting in an authoritative book for belief and practice. 2 Timothy 3.14–17 (NRSVue[4])  14 continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have known sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that the person of God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. Review: The Bible is a fascinating book because it has way more surviving manuscripts, it is available in way more languages, and it has sold way more copies than other books. The content of scripture alone should make you want to read it since it teaches about God, life, morals, and eternal life. This class will help you develop the ability to discern between the genuine and the counterfeit. God inspired scripture, making its contents useful for training and authoritative. Even recognizing the authority of scripture and studying it assiduously does not guarantee correct interpretation. Footnotes: [1] If we added in manuscripts of the Old Testament the number would jump up considerably, especially after the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the documents recovered from the Cairo genizah. [2] If we limit ourselves to only the New Testament, the number of language jumps to 2,191. [3] See Guiness Book of World Records, “Best-Selling Book,” accessed Nov 10, 2023, https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/best-selling-book-of-non-fiction. [4] New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, National Council of Churches, 2021.

The sermon from the Christmas Eve, December 24, 2023, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “When Unlikely Becomes Extravagant” in the worship series “An Unlikely Advent.” Scripture lesson: Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSVue) and Luke 2:1-20 (KJV).Support the show

''I urge you to put yourselves at the service of such people and of everyone who works and toils with them.'' (1 Corinthians 16:16 NRSVUE)

Colossians 1 NIV 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  NRSVUE  15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.   FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

NRSVUE 11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

586 By Constant Practice We Learn Good from Evil,  A Guided Christian Meditation on Hebrews 5:11-14 with the Recenter With Christ app   The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation 584 NRSVUE 11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. ESV 11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Meditation: We want the mercy of God. We rejoice when we think of His goodness. We feel strong gratitude when we recognize what He has done to forgive us when we come to Jesus as our Savior. Yet this understanding is only the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. When we learn what God has planned for us and we recognize what he is willing to do in our lives it can inspire us to learn more than just those first principles of the gospel. We learn more of His word.  We can be more nourished by that word. This can sustain us during the additional challenges that will come our way in life. And even more important than that, it teaches us more about God. The being most deserving of praise in the universe. As we spend time distinguishing His word it makes us more able to distinguish between right and wrong. We can avoid more pitfalls in life as we learn Gods ways. I'm your heart rejoice on the good news that God has more to teach you. Commit to learning everything He is willing to teach you.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Updates:  Final Question:  Final Thought:   FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod  

Summary In this episode, Deirdre Fulton joins us to share about the process of updating the NRSV, and to tell us a little about her role in that process. Deirdre Fulton is Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament here at Baylor University. Themes Bible translation, text criticism, NRSVue Relevant Baylor Press Books Baylor handbooks on original languages (NT Greek, Hebrew Bible, Septuagint): https://www.baylorpress.com/books/series/ Book previewed by Cade: Katherine Dell, The Lord By Wisdom Founded the Earth, https://www.baylorpress.com/9781481317047/the-lord-by-wisdom-founded-the-earth/ Additional Resources For more about the NRSVue (https://www.friendshippress.org/pages/about-the-nrsvue) For Deirdre Fulton's faculty profile (https://religion.artsandsciences.baylor.edu/person/deirdre-fulton-phd)

554 Whoever Believes In Me Will Do The Works I Have Been Doing, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 14:8-12 with the Recenter With Christ app   The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation John 14:8-12 NIV 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. NRSVUE 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. Meditation: In the previous verses we looked at last week Jesus declares he is the way. He directly connected that idea with the way to the Father. Immediately after he says that Philip desires to see the father. He struggles to understand what Jesus is offering. Jesus is explaining the way back, not just in the sense of an eternal reunion. But that we will walk with God in life when we believe in Jesus.  He then says those that believe in Him will do even greater works that the ones that they have seen Christ do, which testify that the Father is in Him. Similarly we know that God offers to be with us and in us. These things that we will do are an outpouring of Gods work. This is not wrong to sacrilegious to say because it is God that makes such things possible in every sense.  God empowers His people, those that faithfully believe in Jesus, to do mighty works. If you feel overwhelmed by the tasks before you, know that God himself will empower you to do what He needs you to do. Trust Him.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Updates:  Final Question:  Final Thought:   FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod                

Acts 3:17-2 (NRSVUE)17 “And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah[a] would suffer. 19 Repent, therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, 20 so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and that he may send the Messiah[b] appointed for you, that is, Jesus, 21 who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets.

548 God Reveals His Wisdom for His Purposes, a Guided Christian Meditation on Daniel 2:46-49 with the Recenter With Christ app   The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Scripture for Meditation 548 Daniel 2 NASB 46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and paid humble respect to Daniel, and gave orders to present to him an offering and incense. 47 The king responded to Daniel and said, “Your God truly is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.” 48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon, and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 And Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego over the administration of the province of Babylon, while Daniel was at the king's court. NRSVUE 46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshiped Daniel, and commanded that a grain offering and incense be offered to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery!” 48 Then the king promoted Daniel, gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court. Meditation: For the moment that the king was thinking about this dream interpretation.  It seems that the king is converted and will remain humble. He recognizes that somehow these men did something good through some mysterious power and so he promoted them. Unfortunately he did not learn the lesson that God is supreme. He embraces his own importance. He misses the far more important part of the revelation and retains the memory that he is the head of gold.  Daniel and his companions recognize the place God should take in their lives and priority.  This dream and the interpretation should indicate that the kings participation in the world is due to Gods plan, not due to the kings greatness. Do we see our role in Gods plan or do we see God playing a role in our life? What is the center? Us or God? The king appears to understand but later we see he didn't understand. Do we? Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Updates:  Final Question:  Final Thought:   FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod  

1 Peter 2:19-25 (NRSVUE)19 For it is a commendable thing if, being aware of God, a person endures pain while suffering unjustly. 20 If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do good and suffer for it, this is a commendable thing before God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”23 When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,[a] so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds[b] you have been healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.[c]

Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSVUE)5 Let the same mind be in you that was[a] in Christ Jesus,6 who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness.And being found in appearance as a human,8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.9 Therefore God exalted him even more highly and gave him the name that is above every other name,10 so that at the name given to Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Romans 8:5-6 (NRSVUE)5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit[a] set their minds on the things of the Spirit.[b] 6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit[c] is life and peace.

528 When I Called, You Answered Me; You Greatly Emboldened Me, a Guided Christian Meditation on Psalm 138:1-3 with the Recenter With Christ app   The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Scripture for Meditation NIV I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing you praise. 2 I will now down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame. 3 When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.  NRSVUE 1 Oh David.  I give thanks Oh Lord with my whole heart; Before the gods I sing your praise; 2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give things to your  Name for your steadfast love and faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word above everything.  3 On the day I called, you answered me; you increased my strenth of soul.  Meditation: God heads your prayer. He is mindful of you. With that said his answers don't always come in our timing. Many prayers of David he seeks Gods answers and seems like he doesn't get them. Yet David still recognized Gods love is unfailing.  He felt the sustaining Strenth of God to his soul. He was willing to declare and sing Gods praises before heavens and earth. Similarly we should seek the kind of clarity of relationship that is described here.  We should recognize Gods preeminent position at all times. Praise be to God and May our hearts be open to praising him at all times.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Updates:  Final Question:  Final Thought:   FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod            

Ephesians 5:6-14 (NRSVUE)6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient.[a] 7 Therefore do not be associated with them, 8 for once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the light[b] is found in all that is good and right and true. 10 Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness; rather, expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly, 13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,“Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead,and Christ will shine on you.”

528 When I Called, You Answered Me; You Greatly Emboldened Me, a Guided Christian Meditation on Psalm 138:1-3 with the Recenter With Christ app   The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Scripture for Meditation NIV I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing you praise. 2 I will now down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame. 3 When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.  NRSVUE 1 Oh David.  I give thanks Oh Lord with my whole heart; Before the gods I sing your praise; 2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give things to your  Name for your steadfast love and faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word above everything.  3 On the day I called, you answered me; you increased my strenth of soul.  Meditation: God heads your prayer. He is mindful of you. With that said his answers don't always come in our timing. Many prayers of David he seeks Gods answers and seems like he doesn't get them. Yet David still recognized Gods love is unfailing.  He felt the sustaining Strenth of God to his soul. He was willing to declare and sing Gods praises before heavens and earth. Similarly we should seek the kind of clarity of relationship that is described here.  We should recognize Gods preeminent position at all times. Praise be to God and May our hearts be open to praising him at all times.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Updates:  Final Question:  Final Thought:   FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

Last week, we looked at “I believe in God,” yet that statement alone tells us nothing about who this God is or what this God is like. We looked at Acts 17 as a starting point for making sense of the Creed within our own cultural climate: a very spiritual one. We clarified what we meant by “I believe in God.” The Creed's first description of God is that he is the “Father Almighty.” The language describing God as Father is found throughout the Scripture and most emphatically in the ministry and words of Jesus himself. Yet, the word father evokes various sorts of emotions in our culture, from broken relationships to conversations on masculinity, fatherhood, and gender. The word power evokes emotion because of how often we abuse it in our world, how much we crave it, and how we have come to distrust those with power. In fact, one common belief in a post-everything world is a profound skepticism of power within institutions. So, as we did last week, let's explore the cultural tone and move into how believing in God the Father Almighty affects our perception of life with God. Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” (1 Cor. 8:5-6 NRSVue).

Who are “the Nephilim,” you ask, and why did they create the Federal Reserve? We are so glad you asked and we're going to tell you—by way of reviewing a most ambiguous Bible story and tracing some of the surprising ways this story is being received today. Genesis 6:1–4 (NRSVue): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+6%3A1-4&version=NRSVUE Numbers 13:31–33: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+13%3A31-33&version=NRSVUE 1 Enoch (see esp. ch. 15): https://www.ccel.org/c/charles/otpseudepig/enoch/ENOCH_1.HTM Book: The Roots of the Federal Reserve: Tracing the Nephilim from Noah to the US Dollar: https://www.amazon.com/Roots-Federal-Reserve-Tracing-Nephilim/dp/1942790198 Beautiful Jekyll Island, Georgia, where Nephilim may infect the soil today: https://www.southernliving.com/travel/georgia/jekyll-island Popular book on Amazon in the category “Christian Mystical Spirituality”: Judgment of the Nephilim: https://www.amazon.com/Judgment-Nephilim-Ryan-Pitterson/dp/0999208306 Richard Hofstadter, “The Paranoid Style in American Politics”: https://harpers.org/archive/1964/11/the-paranoid-style-in-american-politics/ Gary Wayne, The Genesis 6 Conspiracy: How Secret Societies and the Descendants of Giants Plan to Enslave Humankind: https://www.amazon.com/Genesis-Conspiracy-Societies-Descendants-Humankind/dp/1632692902

We continue our fall sermon series on Covenants. Today we talk about Abraham. The sermon Title is The Call of Abraham Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9 (NRSVUE)

Apologies for being gone. Due to technical issues with our podcast partners and Covid, we missed a few episodes of the sermon. We will be posting previous episodes that we have been able to catch up on. This Episode is called Go & Invite. This is the last sermon loosely based on Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. Scripture for this sermon is based on Luke 14:7-24 (NRSVUE)

This Labor Day Weekend with talk about Labor with a foundation of love. The Scripture for this sermon is based off of 1 Corinthians 3: 5-16 (NRSVUE)

Today we welcome Guest speaker Holly Greenidge, while Pastor Shari is out of town for family reasons. This Sunday our sermon title is about a special Home Town Hero of Nazareth. The Scripture this sermon is based on is Luke 4: 16—27 (NRSVUE)

Welcome! Today features Pastor Chris Rattay preaching on Matthew 5:5,7,9, 21-24. Find a link to the passage here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A5%2C+7%2C+9&version=NRSVUE; https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A21-24&version=NLT Para espanol, puede obtener traducción en vivo y grabaciones de audio en español aquí: http://mixlr.com/newlifelh To learn more about our church, visit our website at newlifelh.com.

We welcome Pastor Shari back to the pulpit after some time off. The Sermon Title for today is "Loving Neighbor, Loving Self" Matthew 22:34– 40 (NRSVUE)

Original sermon date: June 12, 2022 at Hope Church in Nashville, Tennessee, USAThe scripture passage for this sermon is from Matthew 7:12:"In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets." - NRSVUE.The Sermon on the Mount is all about life as an apprentice in the Kingdom of God, here and now. The goal of the Sermon on the Mount is to invite us into the Kingdom, to be in a place where we are “genuinely at home in God's world." (Quote from Dallas Willard). Jesus is pointing to an alternate reality where God's rule and God's reign are manifest in the current world through the lives of his people. When we understand and practice this teaching of Jesus, it leads to incredible freedom.Thanks for listening! If you have any questions, please reach out to us at church@hopechurchnashville.com or visit us at linktr.ee/hopechurchnash. #jesus #prayer #Matthew #sermononthemount #hope #sermon #sermons #eastnashville #nashvillechurch #nashvilleSupport the show

We're so glad you could join us today, from wherever you are. Check out the message from Sunday, June 12, 2022 with Pastor Molly Simpson for - Conversations With God: Pray as You Can..Please contact us if you have any questions about beginning a relationship with God or connecting to this church. If you would like more information on anything, don't hesitate to ask. Drop us a message in the comments below so that we know you're joining us. You are welcome here!.●  Today's scripture is Matthew 6:5-8, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A5-8&version=NRSVUE ●  Announcements: Signup or find current church updates in our weekly newsletters at:  http://bit.ly/FUMCKNewsletter ●  Give Online at https://bit.ly/fmkonlinegiving  or text-to-give at (833) 409-0585●  Contact the Prayer Team: https://www.fumckilleen.com/prayer-requests ●  Past Services: https://www.fumckilleen.com/sermonsonline ●  First Methodist Killeen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FUMCKilleen ●  First Methodist Killeen YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6gIwr-NjD59P1CuVuDCmjQ We reserve no rights to the music used in this service. All music used by Permission. CCLI License # 1722305

Few things can rile the Christian faithful like a new Bible translation (see, e.g., John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, etc.). The scholarly and ecumenical translation of choice, the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), got a haircut of sorts; it's called the NRSVue (ue = “updated edition”). We give a review. Resources mentioned in this episode: NRSVue in full on Bible Gateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-Revised-Standard-Version-Updated-Edition-NRSVue-Bible List of the major changes: https://guides.library.yale.edu/newtestament/nrsvueSome people who don't like it: https://juicyecumenism.com/2022/01/19/liberal-nrsvue-bible-translation-update/Interview with committee member Dr. Abraham Smith: https://blog.smu.edu/perkins/nrsv-updated-edition/

We're so glad you could join us today, from wherever you are. Check out the message from Sunday, June 5, 2022 with Pastor Molly Simpson for - Come, Holy Spirit!..Please contact us if you have any questions about beginning a relationship with God or connecting to this church. If you would like more information on anything, don't hesitate to ask. Drop us a message in the comments below so that we know you're joining us. You are welcome here!.●  Today's scripture is Acts 2:1-8, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A1-8&version=NRSVUE ●  Announcements: Signup or find current church updates in our weekly newsletters at:  http://bit.ly/FUMCKNewsletter ●  Give Online at https://bit.ly/fmkonlinegiving  or text-to-give at (833) 409-0585●  Contact the Prayer Team: https://www.fumckilleen.com/prayer-requests ●  Past Services: https://www.fumckilleen.com/sermonsonline ●  First Methodist Killeen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FUMCKilleen ●  First Methodist Killeen YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6gIwr-NjD59P1CuVuDCmjQ We reserve no rights to the music used in this service. All music used by Permission. CCLI License # 1722305

We're so glad you could join us today, from wherever you are. Check out the message from Sunday, May 29, 2022 with Rev. Stephen Ramsdell for - Power for Living..Please contact us if you have any questions about beginning a relationship with God or connecting to this church. If you would like more information on anything, don't hesitate to ask. Drop us a message in the comments below so that we know you're joining us. You are welcome here!.●  Today's scripture is Acts 5:41-42, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+5%3A41-42&version=NRSVUE ●  Announcements: Signup or find current church updates in our weekly newsletters at:  http://bit.ly/FUMCKNewsletter ●  Give Online at https://bit.ly/fmkonlinegiving  or text-to-give at (833) 409-0585●  Contact the Prayer Team: https://www.fumckilleen.com/prayer-requests ●  Past Services: https://www.fumckilleen.com/sermonsonline ●  First Methodist Killeen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FUMCKilleen ●  First Methodist Killeen YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6gIwr-NjD59P1CuVuDCmjQ We reserve no rights to the music used in this service. All music used by Permission. CCLI License # 1722305

We're so glad you could join us today, from wherever you are. Check out the message from Sunday, May 22, 2022 with Pastor Molly Simpson for - On The Way..Please contact us if you have any questions about beginning a relationship with God or connecting to this church. If you would like more information on anything, don't hesitate to ask. Drop us a message in the comments below so that we know you're joining us. You are welcome here!.●  Today's scripture is Joshua 1:7-9, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1%3A7-9&version=NRSVUE ●  Announcements: Signup or find current church updates in our weekly newsletters at:  http://bit.ly/FUMCKNewsletter ●  Give Online at https://bit.ly/fmkonlinegiving  or text-to-give at (833) 409-0585●  Contact the Prayer Team: https://www.fumckilleen.com/prayer-requests ●  Past Services: https://www.fumckilleen.com/sermonsonline ●  First Methodist Killeen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FUMCKilleen ●  First Methodist Killeen YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6gIwr-NjD59P1CuVuDCmjQ We reserve no rights to the music used in this service. All music used by Permission. CCLI License # 1722305

We're so glad you could join us today, from wherever you are. Check out the message from Sunday, May 15, 2022 with Pastor Molly Simpson for - Choose Joy..Please contact us if you have any questions about beginning a relationship with God or connecting to this church. If you would like more information on anything, don't hesitate to ask. Drop us a message in the comments below so that we know you're joining us. You are welcome here!.●  Today's scripture is Philippians 4:4-9, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A4-9&version=NRSVUE  ●  Announcements: Signup or find current church updates in our weekly newsletters at:  http://bit.ly/FUMCKNewsletter ●  Give Online at https://bit.ly/fmkonlinegiving  or text-to-give at (833) 409-0585●  Contact the Prayer Team: https://www.fumckilleen.com/prayer-requests ●  Past Services: https://www.fumckilleen.com/sermonsonline ●  First Methodist Killeen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FUMCKilleen ●  First Methodist Killeen YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6gIwr-NjD59P1CuVuDCmjQ We reserve no rights to the music used in this service. All music used by Permission. CCLI License # 1722305

Is it possible that getting teens to read the Bible could actually move them away from God's good order and design for sexuality? If they read an updated version of the Bible that is being released this month, that could happen. This update of 1989's New Revised Standard Version is called NRSVUE. Many of the more than twenty-thousand changes are helpful as they are based on updated textual discoveries. Yet this new Bible project also aims to reflect what scholars call modern sensibilities. One concern is that the Greek word translated “men who have sex with men” has been changed to “men who engage in sexual immorality”. New Testament scholar Robert Gagnon says this change “gaywashes” the text to eliminate the clear reference to homosexual practice in I Corinthians 6:9. We must not change and conform the Bible to our cultural preferences. Rather, we must change and conform ourselves to God's will as revealed in a properly translated Bible.