Podcasts about nrsvue

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.