Podcasts about o israel the lord

Teaching Text - Deuteronomy 6Now these are the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that the Lord your God instructed me to teach you so that you may carry them out in the land where you are headed 2 and that you may so revere the Lord your God that you will keep all his statutes and commandments that I am giving you—you, your children, and your grandchildren—all your lives, to prolong your days. 3 Pay attention, Israel, and be careful to do this so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in number—as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, said to you, you will have a land flowing with milk and honey.4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 5 You must love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength.6 These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, 7 and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. 8 You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. 9 Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates.10 Then when the Lord your God brings you to the land he promised your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give you—a land with large, fine cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with choice things you did not accumulate, hewn-out cisterns you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—and you eat your fill, 12 be careful not to forget the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, that place of slavery. 13 You must revere the Lord your God, serve him, and take oaths using only his name. 14 You must not go after other gods, those of the surrounding peoples, 15 for the Lord your God, who is present among you, is a jealous God—his anger will erupt against you and remove you from the land.16 You must not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. 17 Keep his commandments very carefully, as well as the stipulations and statutes he commanded you to observe. 18 Do whatever is proper and good before the Lord so that it may go well with you and that you may enter and occupy the good land that he promised your ancestors, 19 and that you may drive out all your enemies just as the Lord said.20 When your children ask you later on, “What are the stipulations, statutes, and ordinances that the Lord our God commanded you?” 21 you must say to them, “We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt in a powerful way. 22 And he brought signs and great, devastating wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on his whole family before our very eyes. 23 He delivered us from there so that he could give us the land he had promised our ancestors. 24 The Lord commanded us to obey all these statutes and to revere him so that it may always go well for us and he may preserve us, as he has to this day. 25 We will be innocent if we carefully keep all these commandments before the Lord our God, just as he demands.”

Morning Worship sermon with Rev. Bud Hance Scripture reference Deuteronomy 6:4-9 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Daily Dose of Hope May 2, 2025 Day 5 of Week 5   Scripture - Mark 12:18-34   Prayer:  Lord, How we need you.  Thank you for your presence, thank you for the way you continue to pursue us.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today is day 2 of Mark 12.  Like I said yesterday, there is a lot here!  Today, we will talk about Jesus' comments regarding marriage at the resurrection and the greatest commandment.   Let's start with marriage at the resurrection.  The Sadducees were a group of Jewish wealthy and aristocratic leaders who did not believe in the resurrection.  It's not clear if they were trying to trap Jesus or possibly discredit him, but they ask him a question based on levirate law as outlined by the law of Moses.    Levirate law was intended to protect widows without a male heir.  When a brother died, leaving his wife without children, a surviving brother marries the widow with the sole intention of producing an heir.  If a son is conceived, he is actually considered to be the deceased brother's child.  In ancient near-East culture, a widow without any connection to a male would either starve or be forced to beg or prostitute herself.    Thus, the Sadducees question makes a little more sense even though it is a bit absurd.  A woman's husband dies and she marries a brother.  That brother dies and she marries another brother and so forth until she has been married to all seven brothers.  Then she dies.  Whose wife will she be at the resurrection?  Keep in mind, they ask this question knowing that they think the resurrection is false.  They have an ulterior motive here – possibly make a fool of Jesus?   Jesus basically tells them they are totally missing the point. In the resurrection, our bodies will be different – perfect and glorious.  There will also be a change in our spiritual nature.  Jesus is saying that in regard to marriage and sexual matters, we will be like the angels (note that he did not say we will be angels but we will be like them.)    But the Sadducees were mistaken so significantly not because of this absurd question but because they didn't believe in the resurrection.  This is a fundamental aspect of Jesus' teaching and they missed it entirely.  “You are badly mistaken!” Jesus says to them.   Let's move on. To the other part of today's text, the greatest commandment.  A scribe comes up to ask Jesus a question.  Unlike the Pharisees and Sadducees, he isn't combative and patronizing.  He saw how well Jesus answered questions and he genuinely wanted to hear from Jesus.  He asks Jesus for the greatest commandment.   Jesus begins his answer with the Shema which comes from Deuteronomy 6, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.    The Shema recognizes the uniqueness and oneness of God. There aren't other gods but only one true God.  God calls his people to love him and obey him with every part of their being.  He called the ancient Israelites to this this and he calls us to do this as well.  Jesus took the Shema and added an important element.  In Mark 12, we read that Jesus says this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no commandment greater than these.”  Yes, we love God with our whole being but we also love others.  In fact, love of God is demonstrated by love of others.  As Christians, we cannot separate the two.    Love of God and love of others cannot be separated.  How often do we try to say that we love God while we hate another person?    Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 5: 17 - 20When was the last time you read any of the ‘law' books in the Bible – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers or Deuteronomy? Some of it can be hard going, but all of it is God's Word. Not all the commands are practised by Christians today (for example, child circumcision, animal sacrifice), but every instruction tells us something about God and the world we live in. Jesus said he came to fulfill the law. What does that mean?Some have suggested that the whole of the Old Testament (including the law books), can be summarised by Deuteronomy 6: 4 – 5: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”[1] Jesus agreed with this and then added, “Love your neighbour as yourself” in Mark 12:29 - 31. In fact, it can be argued that much of Jesus' teaching was rooted in quotes or principles found in the Old Testament. We see this in the next section of the Sermon on the Mount. For example, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27-28)Jesus fulfilled the law by teaching a deeper understanding of it. Another way Jesus fulfilled the law was by pointing us to the Father, so that we may obey Him and love Him. We know the law was given to reveal God's holiness, to set Israel apart from the other nations, define and expose sin, introduce justice and point us to Christ. But it was also given to reveal the heart of God. Every commandment and every principle said something about God's love, generosity and kindness. And they revealed a holy God who will judge. So for those who never saw past a list of do's and don'ts, Jesus embodied The Lord's love and holiness. He fulfilled the law by living it for all to see. No wonder he said that those who practice the commands (those who follow His example) will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Not in a self-righteous way like the Pharisees but like Jesus – motivated by a desire to please His Father in Heaven. [1] E.g. Experiencing God by Henry and Richard Blackaby p 82

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 New King James Version   4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

A Triumphant Church Part 11: Gives No Offence 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. 7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God. Genesis 2:7 7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. Genesis 2:18:24 18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 19 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 1 Peter 3:1-7 3 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. 7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. John 13:35 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Is your spiritual life thriving at Home? Could you play a part in helping those in your household become more spiritually and emotionally healthy. More connected to God. to Jesus Christ. to His will for us and to the Peace He alone can provide.This week Pastor Paul discussed the teachings of Deuteronomy 6.These words that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Deut. 6:6 Words? What words?  the ones Just before…  Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deut. 6:4-5and it goes on to tell us how: Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deut. 6:8-9Let's listen...Support the show IN NEED OF PRAYER? SEND US YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS ONLINE JOIN A LIFEGROUP CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CHURCH AND MINISTRIES

2 Year Gospel Study - week 64 (Friday, 03–21-25) Up To Jerusalem - Teaching 6 Scripture - Matthew 21:45-46, Matthew 22:1-45, Revelation 7:9-17, Job 19:26, Isaiah 26:19, Daniel 12:2, Exodus 3:6, Mark 12:28-34, John 14:6, Micah 6:8 Today's teaching centers on Jesus' encounters with the religious leaders in the temple as recorded in the 4 gospels and enlightened by some of the latest findings of archeologists and others who have uncovered things that have been hidden for generations but that clearly testify to the truthfulness of God's Word.  We will see the display of absolute brilliance as Jesus encounters the religious aristocracy, as He answers the critics and as He clearly demonstrates the Divine plan to redeem the human race. Jesus is in the temple courts teaching - This is where we start today - Matthew 21:45-46 “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.” They wanted to arrest Him but also saw that the crowds were listening to Jesus and receiving Him with joy. Normally the Chief Priests and Pharisees did not see things the same way, but they did as far as how they both felt about Jesus.  Their desire to eliminate Jesus brought them together. Jesus' Teachings     ⁃    The Parable of the Wedding Banquet  (wedding feast / resurrection life / our destiny as true believers in Jesus) This is a banquet we do not want to refuse to come to!  In this parable Jesus also predicts the ultimate destruction of the city of Jerusalem which would happen in 70AD. Pastor dissects the part of the story about the man at the feast that wasn't dressed appropriately, in light of the teaching of Jesus found in Revelation 7:9-17.      ⁃    Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar - following the Wedding Banquet parable the pharisees came together with the Herodians to lay out a plan to trap Jesus. Herodians were strong supporters of Herod's dynasty and of Rome and the pharisees hated Roman rule and their taxes. But the two groups unite to trap Jesus with this question that would force Him to choose either the Pharisees or the Herodians: “what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”  But to this hot button issue on Roman taxes - Jesus answers: “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought Him a denarius and Jesus asks, “whose image is this and whose inscription?”  Their response is “Caesar's” Then Jesus said to them, “give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is Gods” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. Their trap had failed.     ⁃    Marriage at the Resurrection - this onslaught against Jesus comes from the Sadducees with the story of seven brothers and the law in the Torah and Jesus again avoids their trap by confronting them with wisdom and scriptures.     ⁃    The Greatest Commandment -  “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.” We are called to show love because God love us through His Son, Jesus. And then we read, “And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.”     ⁃    Whose Son is Messiah? Now Jesus decides to ask a question, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David.” Then Jesus adds a quote from King David. “David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “‘The Lord said to my Lord:“Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”' David himself calls him ‘Lord.' How then can he be his son?”  Jesus is calling them to really think hard about what David is saying. Pastor shares an enlightened look at what David is saying and what Jesus is desiring for the crowd to understand. The teaching concludes with a look at some archeological  discoveries and a peek into next week's class. Our website –  https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01 Up to Jerusalem is a study of the final weeks of Jesus' ministry concluding with His resurrection and ascension, using the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John together with material from ancient sources and recent discoveries.  Up to Jerusalem is part four of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Up To Jerusalem is the story of the plan of God to redeem the world, and the story of a Savior willing to obey the Father's plan. As we study Jesus' final days, we will be impacted as we discover the Love of God for each one of us.  This study is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time.

A Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent St. Matthew 4:1-11 by William Klock Our Gospel today from Matthew picks up right after Jesus' baptism by John.  Matthew tells us: Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tested by the devil.   Picture the desert.  It was hot and dry and dusty as Jesus made his way from that fertile strip of land along the Jordan up into the Judean wilderness, into the place that the Old Testament calls Yeshiymon.  It means “devastation”.  It's a land of sand and broken limestone and shingle.  Ridges of stratified rock twist here and turn there and everything in between them is filled with dust, jagged rocks, and broken stone shingles that can easily slide out from under foot.  Into that hot and desolate wilderness Jesus walked at the Spirit's prompting.  I expect that when he first set out he found beauty in the desert.  I know from experience: There's a lot of beauty in the desert when you first start out.  Look at that formation over there.  Look at those colours.  Look at the amazing sunset.  And then the clear night sky and the stars.  But eventually the heat gets to you.  Last summer Veronica and I rode the KVR from Penticton to Oliver and back.  On the way out we were admiring the lake and the wildflowers and the wonderful smells all around.  But it was over 100° that day and even after a stop for ice cream, the ride back to Penticton became a real slog.  We just wanted to get back and out of the heat.  We've had similar days on foot hiking down in the Anza-Borrego Desert.  Everything's a wonder on the way out, but by the time you're on the way back, it's hot and your sweaty and your exhausted.  Your feet hurt from walking over rocks, and you're tired and hungry and you just want to get back to the car.  I expect Jesus felt something like that the further he walked into that wilderness of devastation.  But as he put one foot in front of another, as he wiped the sweat from his face, he thought about his forefathers and their wilderness trek from the Red Sea to the promised land.   The Lord, the God of Israel, was about to do something very much like that again.  A new exodus.  And Jesus was at the centre of it.  Why did Jesus do this?  Why did he put himself in such a harsh and difficult space.  Why did he starve himself?  He did it to put himself in the place of his people who so badly needed and who so longed for deliverance.  Even if no one saw him in the wilderness, he was acting out a prophecy, repeating the life and story of his people and putting himself in their place. Eventually Jesus found a spot in the middle of that wasteland, maybe with a little spring of water in the shade of one of those twisting ridges, maybe with a few bushes or even a palm tree for a bit of shade.  He arranged some rocks and scrub to make a (somewhat) comfortable place to sit or lie or to kneel in prayer.  And he communed with God, meditated on the scriptures, pondered the nature of his ministry which was just beginning, and prayed for wisdom to follow the path his Father had set before him.  And, I expect most of all, he prayed for the strength and grace to follow that path to its end.  He was preparing to take the role of Israel up himself, to be and to embody the people of God.  Where they had failed to be what the Lord had called them to be, Jesus would be faithful.  For years he had meditated on his own miraculous birth, he'd heard how people like Simeon and Anna, even is own mother, had seen in him the fulfilment of the Lord's promises.  He meditated on the Scriptures and there he found his messianic calling and worked out what he was to do and even how it would end—and how that end would really be the beginning.  And if there was any doubt in his mind, it was driven away in his baptism.  Even though he had no need of repentance, he identified himself with his people as he waded into the Jordan to be baptised by John, and when he came up out of the river heaven had opened, the Spirit had descended upon him, and the Lord had spoken, “You are my beloved Son.”  That confirmed everything.  “My beloved son”: that was Israel's title, given by the Lord in the exodus.  It's what he'd called his people when he demanded that Pharoah let them go.  It's what he called them later after they'd crossed the Red Sea and arrived at Mount Sinai.  Israel was the Lord's beloved son.  So, now, like Moses, Jesus seeks the solitude of the wilderness for forty days and nights, waiting for the Lord to speak again to his son.  But instead, the devil comes to him.  I doubt Jesus was surprised by this.  After all, if Israel was tempted in the wilderness, he had to be tempted in the wilderness too.  Matthew writes: He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and at the end of it he was famished.  Then the tempter approached him.  “If you really are God's son,” he said, “command these stones to become bread.” (St. Matthew 4:2-3) Again, Jesus is prophetically reenacting the story of his people, so this is what we should expect would happen.  They were tempted in the wilderness and so is he.  The devil leverages his hunger.  “The Lord has declared you to be his Son.  If you believe that's who you really are, satisfy yourself and turn these stones into bread.”  No doubt, Jesus had spent much of those forty days and nights contemplating what it meant to be the Son of God—and probably also pondering why the Spirit wanted the Son of God to be so hungry.  But Jesus was obedient.  To embody his people and to follow in their footsteps, being faithful at every step where they had failed, that was the Lord's plan for him.  That was how he would redeem his people. The devil's temptation here is subtle.  He doesn't tempt Jesus to disobey the Spirit overtly by leaving the desert.  He tempts Jesus to turn the rocks into bread—in other words, he tempts him to remake the wilderness itself.  There was that one rock—over there—that looked just like a loaf of bread.  Jesus had been eyeing it for days in his hunger.  Just turn it into real bread.  But Jesus knew that the Spirit had brought him to the wilderness for a reason and to undermine that, however it was done, was to be unfaithful, to be disobedient.  It was to reject his Father's plan.  So he rebukes the devil with the words of Deuteronomy 8:3. Jesus answered, “It is written,  “‘Man shall not live by bread alone,          but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Jesus reminds the devil of the sermon that Moses preached to the Israelites as they were preparing to march into Canaan.  Moses said: Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands.  Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors.  He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:2-3) There was a reason why the Lord allowed the Israelites to be hungry: it demonstrated their faith in his provision.  Were they willing to trust him even when it meant hardship?  The Lord taught them that there's more to life than bread.  What good is living today if you miss out on the life of the age to come?  Remember that the Israelites had failed that test, grumbling against Moses and wanting to go back to the fleshpots of Egypt.  But now, where Israel failed, Jesus passes the test.  He trusts his Father to provide where he has led and shows that he knows that obedience to God's call is more important than physical comforts and even life itself.  If he can't endure fasting, how will he endure the cross?  And Brothers and Sisters, if we can't endure fasting, how can we expect to live sacrificially as Jesus calls us to live, giving up everything that is not him in faith as we look forward ourselves to the age to come?   Back to Matthew: The devil tries a second time, taking a different tack.  Verses 5-6: Then the devil took him to the holy city and stood him on the pinnacle of the temple.  “If you really are the God's son,” he said, “throw yourself down.  It is written,  “‘He will command his angels concerning you,' and  “‘On their hands they will bear you up,          lest you strike your foot against a stone.'” (Matthew 4:5-6) Now the devil tempts him to jump from the highest point in Jerusalem, to force God's hand.  Angels would deliver him and all of Israel would recognise him as Messiah.  What a temptation this must have been.  During those forty days of fasting and prayer, Jesus contemplated that rejection was going to be a significant factor in his ministry.  A few would follow, but Jesus would largely be rejected by Israel—and eventually that rejection would culminate in his death.  But what if he could prove to all of Israel that he really was the Messiah?  What if he could side-step the rejection and go straight to the throne?  This was his chance.  But Jesus knew that this was not his Father's plan.  If he became King that way, he'd be no better than David.  There would be no means of redemption for his people.  There would be no Spirit poured out on them to renew their hearts.  He would be King, but the Lord's promises to Abraham, to Moses, to the Prophets would go unfulfilled.  Without the cross, Jesus might put Israel's earthly enemies under his feet, but they would still be slaves to sin and death.  And without the cross, the nations would know that Israel had a king who worked miracles, but that would never be enough to draw the gentiles to Israel's God in awe.  No, the gentiles and their nations were to be drawn to the God of Israel as they saw his faithfulness manifest in the death and resurrection of Jesus. The devil throws two bits of Psalm 91 at Jesus.  It's a psalm about the Lord's protection.  It sounds good, but it's not the whole psalm.  Other parts of the psalm qualify God's provision for his people.  The first two verses read: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” The shelter of the Most High is a wonderful place to find yourself, but to live under his protection requires that we first abide in his shadow.  He is our “refuge and fortress”, but we put ourselves in his care as we trust in him.  In verse 14 the Lord says, Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. The devil loves to plucked portions of Scripture out of context in order to twist their meaning, reminding us of God's promises of blessing and care, while neglecting to remind us of the need for faith, for holiness, and for obedience.  God's people show their love for him through obedience.  Jesus later said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).  The same goes for Jesus' relationship with his Father.  The Lord's blessings would come only as Jesus walked in faithful obedience. So Jesus rebukes the devil with the words of Deuteronomy 6:16. Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'”   Where Israel had failed, Jesus is again obedient.  Israel had tested the Lord.  Jesus, instead, expresses his trust in the Lord's plan, knowing that only through his rejection would the Lord's promises be fulfilled. Now, the devil makes one last attempt at dragging Jesus away from the path to the cross.  Look at verses 8 and 9: The devil took him off again to a very high mountain.  There he showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.  And he said to him, “I will give the whole lot to you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Israel, too, was tempted to idolatry in the wilderness and failed—and failed and failed and failed throughout her history.  Jesus is tempted just as his people were.  “All the kingdoms of the world will be yours,” the devil says, “just submit to me.”  Jesus and the devil both knew that if the Lord's promises through the prophets were true, Jesus' lordship would extend beyond Israel to all of Creation.  Gabriel had announced to Mary: “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:33).  When the Father had spoken at Jesus' baptism, he had spoken words from Psalm 2 where we also read of the great King: Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possessions.  (Psalm 2:8) The devil again offers Jesus a shortcut to his throne—a shortcut that would bypass the heart of his messianic ministry.  Again, Jesus knew that what would bring the nations to his throne was the redemption of Israel through his death and resurrection and the display of the Spirit's power in the hearts of his people.  In these events the nations would see the greatness and the faithfulness of the God of Israel and they would be drawn to give him glory and to submit themselves in faith to the Lord Jesus.  That was to be God's means of welcoming the gentiles into his presence and into his kingdom.  And yet, if Jesus followed the devil's shortcut, there would be no kingdom—at least not the sort of eternal kingdom in which all was set to rights, in which God himself was king, the sort of kingdom that Israel had always looked forward to as the “age to come”. No, the Lord had charged his people in the wilderness, saying: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might…. It is the Lord your God you shall fear.  Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.  You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you—for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4-5, 13-15a) Israel had failed.  Even in the wilderness, while Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments, Aaron had led the people as they made and worshiped a golden calf.  Most of Israel's history was marked by the worship of foreign gods.  But Jesus responds to the devil's temptation with the command God had given through Moses: “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,  “‘Worship the Lord your God          and serve him alone.'” (Matthew 4:10) Where Israel failed, Jesus is faithful.  He chooses the hard path of obedience that will bring not only kingship, but also redemption.  Jesus was destined not only to be King of the Jews, but Lord of all Creation and conqueror of sin and death.  For that to happen, evil had to be concentrated all in one place, to rise up to its full height, to do its worst to Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah—so that God could raise him from death, overturn the false verdict the people had announced, and vindicate his Son.  Jesus knew that to restore the life of God to his people, the way to inaugurate the age to come in which all would be set to rights, he must first let evil do its worst—he had to walk the path of rejection, suffering, and death.  By his faithfulness, Jesus redeemed those in Israel who were faithful to him.  By his faithfulness, Jesus created a new people of God in whom God poured out his Spirit.  By his faithfulness, Jesus was declared Lord with power and authority.  And because of his faithfulness, the nations have seen the faithfulness of Israel's God and now give him glory as they—as we—submit ourselves to him in faith. And now we, you and I, walk—or, at least, we should be walking, in faithfulness to the glory of God.  As Lent puts before us the suffering of Jesus and reminds us that God's life for us came through his submission to death, it reminds us that we, too, must die to self and walk the narrow path, the way that leads to suffering and rejection, in order to know the life of God and the age to come.  We take our first steps down that narrow path as we repent and turn aside from everything that is not Jesus, as stop grasping everything that is not Jesus, and then take hold of him with both hands in faith, trusting in him for the forgiveness of sins, for the life of the Spirit, and for the hope of God's world set to rights.  Lent calls us to set aside our distractions and our idols so that we might fix our gaze on Jesus, taking up our crosses and following him. St. Paul warned the Corinthians in our Epistle “not to receive the grace of God in vain”.  What a splash of cold water that must have been.  They thought they were doing so well, but Paul rebukes them for tolerating sins that horrified even the pagans; for abusing spiritual gifts, using them selfishly rather than to edify the church; for allowing the values of pagan culture to twist their understanding of the gospel; for abusing the Lord's Supper—the list is long and troubling.  Brothers and Sisters, fast and pray these next forty days that the gospel might permeate ever deeper into our hearts and minds, and let us submit ourselves to the renewing and regenerating work of the Spirit.  Let us not receive the gospel in vain.  Instead, may we each day die to self that we might emerge the other side of death into the life of God and know his glory. Let's pray: Lord Jesus Christ, for our sake you fasted forty days and forty nights: give us grace so to discipline ourselves that our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may always obey your will in righteousness and true holiness, to the honour and glory of your name; for you live and reign with the Father and Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Healing, forgiveness, and restoration are all blessings from God. As James wraps up his letter to the church he shows us how God blesses his church with these gifts through other people, showing us that when it is all said and done we need each other to experience the fullness of God's love.  James 5:13-20 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.Mark 12:28-31And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.”

[teaching text]4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[b] 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.Deuteronomy 6:4-910 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent[a] have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. Hebrews 13:10-13HEART, HOME, CHURCH, CITYALTAR OF THE HOMEIt will take the average Christian 64 years to hit 10,000 hours and become an “expert” at following Jesus.Shift 01. Moving from “Following Jesus through the Church” to “Following Jesus through daily habits”Shift 02. Moving from “Following Jesus because it's a good habit” to “Following Jesus because my life depends on it.”1. “Following Jesus through the Church” to “Following Jesus through daily life”6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.Deuteronomy 6:6-9Phylactery photos***Mezuzah photo***It's much easier to wear a gold cross on our person than to bear Christ's cross in daily life, and to hang Scripture texts on the walls of our homes than to hide God's Word in our hearts. If we love the Lord and cleave to Him, we will want to know His Word and obey it in every area of our lives.Warren Wiersbe16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:168 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God that we know as He talks to us and guides our lives. He can efficiently talk to us to the extent to which we know the Word. That is the language He uses.Kenneth Wuest2. “Following Jesus because it's a good habit” to “Following Jesus because my life depends on it.”4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[b] 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.Deuteronomy 6:4-6 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.Deuteronomy 6:3LONG LIFE, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY.13 It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. 14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— 15 for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.Deuteronomy 6:13-1523 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 6:235 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.John 15:5Tight rope photo***

This Sunday, we will reflect on the importance of family and legacy and recall the wise words from Matthew 6:21 (NIV): "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." It is important not to forget the true treasures that make our lives richer—our families and the values we pass down. Let us invest our hearts in what truly matters. If you are new to Community Church, WELCOME! We would love to get to know you. Please fill in the following form and we look forward to connecting with you: https://bit.ly/cc-new-connect You can find all timely and relevant links from this service on https://bit.ly/cc-links You can also find out more about us at https://communitychurch.hk/ ================ This Week's Scripture: // Deuteronomy 6:4–7 // Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

February 9, 2025Identity: Healthier RelationshipsPastor JF WilkersonMatthew 22:36-40 NIV36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”1) What is STEWARDSHIP of SELF?Stewardshipnoun. the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving.1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.Mark 12:28-31 NIV28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.”1) What is STEWARDSHIP of SELF?2) What is Healthy SHARING?Proverbs 4:23 NIV23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.Matthew 7:6 NIV6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.Ephesians 5:31 NIV31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”James 5:16 NIV16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.1) What is STEWARDSHIP of SELF?2) What is Healthy SHARING?3) What/Who Really is Your SOURCEJeremiah 17: 5-6a NIV5 This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes.Philippians 4:19 NIV19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

“I don't know what's more exhausting about parenting: the getting up early or acting like you know what you're doing.” – Jim Gaffigan3 Truths About Parenting:Parenting requires HARD WORK.Genesis 3:16a To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.Raising children is a person's greatest LABOR but it is also a person's greatest LEGACY.“The purpose of your life might not be something you do but someone you raise.”—Andy StanleyPsalm 127:3-4 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Likearrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.Parenting requires LEADERSHIP.“The things that impresses me most about America is the way that the parents obey their children.” Edward, Duke of WindsorEphesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.Are you LEADING your children or are your children LEADING you?Lead your children into a healthy ROUTINE.Proverbs 22:6 NKJV Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.Routines should not create STRESS, they should REDUCE it.Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.Lead your kids into GENUINE faith.Children don't need a MOTTO to say, they need a MODEL to follow.Deuteronomy 6:4-8 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.2 Timothy 1:5 I remember yourgenuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.Lead your children into enjoying FAMILY TIME.Life is not measured in MINUTES, it is measured in MOMENTS.Psalm 39:6a NLT We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. Ecclesiastes 4:6 GN Maybe so, but it is better to have only a little, with peace of mind, than be busy all the time with both hands, trying to catch the wind.Parenting needs GOD'S GRACE.Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary andcarry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.Romans 8:1-2 So now there isno condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 

Chaplain Don Moldstad was preacher for this service. Deuteronomy 6:4-9: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Order of Service: - Blest are Those Who Love You: Singers: Blest are those who love You, Happy are those who follow You, Blest are those who seek You, O God. All: Blest are those who love You, Happy are those who follow You, Blest are those who seek You, O God. S: Happy all those who fear the Lord, and walk in God's pathway; You will find what you long for, the riches of our God. A: Blest are those who love You, Happy are those who follow You, Blest are those who seek You, O God. S: Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the midst of your home, your children flourish like olive plants rejoicing at your table. A: Blest are those who love You, Happy are those who follow You, Blest are those who seek You, O God. S: May the blessing of God be yours all the days of your life, may the pace and the love of God live always in your heart. A: Blest are those who love You, Happy are those who follow You, Blest are those who seek You, O God. - Deuteronomy 6:4-9: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 570 - Now the Light Has Gone Away - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Chaplain Don Moldstad (Preacher), Cyril Palm (Singer), Rev. Prof. Dennis Marzolf (Pianist), William Stottlemyer (Singer)

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might (Deuteronomy 6:4). To God the Glory!

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-3, Psalm 19:1, Psalm 14:1, Psalm 33:8, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Matthew 22:36-38, Proverbs 3:5-6.  It's God alone that we are to worship, honor and follow. Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.” The 10 Commandments have shaped so much of Western civilization and culture. Yet these ten words/commandments are often ignored  - And what we see as people's god is the god of chance. Our culture, and much of the time our educational system, teach us that all that exists is the result of a gigantic cosmic accident.  That chance is the author of life. This is seen in our media, our movies, and every direction we turn. A view that is accepted even though the science goes against it.  In the last 50 years we've learned much about the complexity of life and that it points to a Designer - not to a chance explosion. Our culture has not caught up to some of the remarkable discoveries in recent history. In the 1980's MIT discovered that the likelihood of self replicating DNA is 1 chance in 10 to the 65th power - that's 10 with 65 zeroes behind it showing us creation didn't start by “chance,” it started with a Designer, a Creator.  Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Not only do the heavens declare the glory of God, even at the microscopic and sub-atomic levels the complexity of creation screams that there is a Creator! Psalm 14:1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”  Not chance, but Creator… and it is because of the profound truth of a Designer, a Creator, that the Ten Commandments need to be re-examined in our day by believers and non-believers. God broke into human history on Mt. Sinai, proclaiming His goodness and power and delivering the Ten Commandments. God also stepped into history through Christ's resurrection. The Living God took on human flesh and lived among us, lived a servant life, willingly went to the cross, shed His blood for all, and is risen from the grave, ascended to the Father's right hand and He IS returning! God breaking into history changes how we look at our lives and it changes how we look at the Ten Commandments.   How do we see the Ten Commandments?     ⁃    As Painful Demands that God says we better do?     ⁃    As a Joyful Response to the move of God in history and in our hearts and lives? God has intervened in our history and intervened in our lives and He is good. He is asking us to listen to His voice. He is telling us He is our Designer and he knows what is best for us, to what will bring the greatest blessing in our lives. And that starts with the commandment that says, “You shall have no other God's before me.” It's God and God alone! He says YOU - in Greek this is singular - making this command personal. He is speaking individually to each of us. He's speaking to me. What does it mean for me to have no other gods?     ⁃    I am to revere Him alone He is to be the object of reverence in my life and my source of our awe. Psalm 33:8 says, “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.” Fear God - is to be in awe of Him, fear God means I am accountable to Him.     ⁃    I am to love Him above all  Because He is my Creator, because He is good, because He sent Jesus my response to Him is to love Him. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” And in Matthew 22:36-38 Jesus is asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” And Jesus replies: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.”      ⁃    I am to commit my life to Him and to trust Him with all my heart. Proverbs 3:5-6 says,  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight” He will guide and lead me. When I commit to Him I'm desiring to allow His Holy Spirit and His Truth to guide me, and to allow Jesus to reign as Lord in my life. Who is “The Lord?” In Deuteronomy 6:4 we read that He is ONE, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.“ One God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. One God but yet three unique persons and He is telling us in the first of His Words from Mt. Sinai to follow, trust, revere, love, worship and honor Him.  He offers us Salvation when we admit we need a Savior. “Lord, I need you, I am a sinner, and I desire to receive all that You have for me through my faith in Jesus, my Savior. Thank You.” Now What? Learn about God at  https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. Check out the video from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/ten-words Check out the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Happy New Year on the Gregorian Calender. We are concluding the Festival of Dedication on January 2 or Tevet 2 . The beginning of the Gregorian calender year is coordinating exact with the Hebrew calender month of Tevet which is very rare. This is the month of purification for both the Gregorian calender and Hebrew calender. Tevet or is from Hebrew word Tov which means Good ! This is a good month to start the new year and preparing our hearts and souls for purification. We dedicated our temple and now purification through fasting, praying and giving can begin! Watch my monthly teachings on first fruit to learn more the power of fasting, praying and giving in your purification. The vital scripture for this month is Matthew 22:36 where Jesus speaks of the greatest commandment which is the 1st commandment. A scribe approaches Him and says, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. ‘“Then in book of Mark 12:28 -31 we read, “And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”Our temples house the fire of the Holy Spirit and God is calling us to wash our souls with the truth of resting in our temples to break the power of toiling in 2025! We are called to Receive and Rest and Give out of the overflow! This year God is going train you away from your fear, anxiety, depression and overwhelming pressure of life and catapult you in to a belief that will bring the kingdom of heaven to earth! You will start walking in the new eternal order of Melchizedek.In Deuteronomy 6:4 “The Essence of the Covenant Principles “ are stated, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”God is calling us to learn to Rest to Ascend in 2025! He wants to give us soul rest so we can carry the blessing of His provision in the earth!God cares for us and cares for the earth and we need to begin to rest in these truths as He activates His double grace in this new year! He wants you to be dependent on Him not independent of Him!Read Deuteronomy 11:12 , “It's time to rest in this revelation and pass it on! God cares for us from the beginning of the year to the end of the year and we need to remember to live out His goodness and love!NEW YEAR RESOLUTION- Join DREAM MENTORS and BECOME A CERTIFIED COACH!Do you want to be trained as good disciples or biblical life coach ? Do you need to experience transformation in your souls so you can be the best God is calling you to be. Go to www.dreammentors.orgIt's time now to sign up for our next Ascension class and join Dr. Candice's Glory Road Community!Maximize Your Prophetic Potential monthly class is Monday January 6 at 10 am and 6 pm EST. You can choose which one. Sign Up here —http://bit.ly/4gfRKXmOnly $30 each month and join Candice Live Zoom!

LOVE Updated: 1 day ago   Mark 12:26-27 ESV   26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”       Mark 12:28-31 ESV   28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.”       Galatians 5:22-23 ESV   22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.       John 13:34-35 ESV   34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”                     Luke 6:27-28, 32, 35-36 ESV   27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.       32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them…       35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.       John 3:16 ESV   16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.       1 John 4:8 ESV   8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.       James 2:14-17 ESV   14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.       Galatians 5:6 ESV   6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.       1 John 3:16-18 ESV   16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.       "Agape love is the greatest virtue of the Christian life. Yet that type of love was rare in pagan Greek literature. That's because the traits agape portrays—unselfishness, self-giving, willful devotion, concern for the welfare of others—were mostly disdained in ancient Greek culture as signs of weakness. However, the New Testament declares agape to be the character trait around which all others revolve. (MacArthur, J. The Power of Integrity : Building a Life Without Compromise, page 133. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books)       1 Corinthians 13:1-7, 13 NIV   If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.   4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.       13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.      

Text me a message! I would love to hear from you!“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”  – Deuteronomy 6:4-7I often (as in daily) feel like other women do this mama-gig better than I do.  I've seen their organized and beautifully decorated homes.  I've watched them execute their Holiday plans with skill and grace.  I've sat in awe at their ability to work a full-time job and reserve energy for good-night kisses.  But rather than let comparison steal my joy and beat myself up for not being more like them, I've decided to concentrate on the most important thing, while doing my best to keep up with all the other things.  But to do this, I have to know (and remember) what the most important thing is.  Jesus.  He is the most important thing.  How do I introduce my children to Jesus? How do I invite Jesus into my home?  How do I successfully share my faith with my children? By faith and love.  Faith and love lead to faithfulness.  Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15 NIV) Read the blog post for this episode here:  Passing On Our Faith to Our Children Check out my new book! Covered in Prayer: 31 Prayers to Cover You and Your Children in God's GraceIf you enjoy this episode and want to buy Audrey a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ajmccrac73dFor more mom encouragement visit graceformyhome.comJoin My Email List!Follow me on Facebook.Follow me on Instagram.Contact me via admin@graceformyhome.com

Matthew week 75 Updated: 1 day ago   Matthew 12:3a ESV   3 He said to them, “Have you not read       Matthew 12:3-4 ESV   3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?                           Leviticus 24:8-9 ESV   8 Every Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange it before the Lord regularly; it is from the people of Israel as a covenant forever. 9 And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place, since it is for him a most holy portion out of the Lord's food offerings, a perpetual due.”       Matthew 12:5 ESV   5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?       Leviticus 24:8 ESV   8 Every Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange it before the Lord regularly; it is from the people of Israel as a covenant forever.       Numbers 28:3-5a ESV   3 And you shall say to them, This is the food offering that you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular offering. 4 The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; 5 also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering,       Numbers 28:9-10 ESV   9 “On the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering: 10 this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.       Matthew 12:6-8 ESV   6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”       Hosea 6:6 ESV   For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,   the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.       1 Samuel 15:22 ESV   22 And Samuel said,   “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,   as in obeying the voice of the Lord?   Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,   and to listen than the fat of rams.       Deuteronomy 6:4-6 ESV   4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.       Hebrews 4:10 ESV   10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.       Colossians 2:16-17 ESV   16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.       Matthew 12:9-14 ESV   9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

Matthew 4:23-24, Mark 12:28-34, Luke 10:25-37 23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.   Mark 12:28-34 28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. Luke 10:25-37 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “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.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Dr. Brian Hill (Senior Pastor), "A God-Sized Vision:  Commended to Love", Operation Christmas Child Blessing, Modern Worship Praise Team (11:15 Service).28.  One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”29.  “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  30.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'  31.  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no commandment greater than these.”32.  “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.  33.  To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”34.  When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.          Mark 12:28-34

Dr. Brian Hill (Senior Pastor), "A God-Sized Vision:  Commended to Love", Orchestra, Operation Christmas Child Blessing, Choir, Blended Worship Praise Team (8:45 Service).28.  One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”29.  “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  30.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'  31.  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no commandment greater than these.”32.  “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.  33.  To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”34.  When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.          Mark 12:28-34

Dr. Brian Hill (Senior Pastor), "A God-Sized Vision:  Commended to Love".28.  One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”29.  “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  30.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'  31.  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no commandment greater than these.”32.  “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.  33.  To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”34.  When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.          Mark 12:28-34

Dr. Brian Hill (Senior Pastor), "A God-Sized Vision:  Commended to Love", Operation Christmas Child Blessing, Modern Worship Praise Team (11:15 Service).28.  One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”29.  “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  30.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'  31.  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no commandment greater than these.”32.  “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.  33.  To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”34.  When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.          Mark 12:28-34

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.”Start your day in God's Word with our Daily Verse Reflections! Each weekday, our pastors offer insights and encouragement to help you apply Scripture to your daily life. Whether you're seeking inspiration, comfort, or guidance, these Daily Verse Reflections will keep you grounded in your faith throughout the week!You can also watch the video versions of our Daily Verse Reflections at https://watch.timeofgrace.org/browse, where you will also find a wide variety of videos that will help you learn more about Jesus and grow in your faith!To receive special text offers and stay up to date with the Time of Grace, text the word "Grace" to 45321 to subscribe!

Dr. Brian Hill (Senior Pastor), "A God-Sized Vision:  Commended to Love", Orchestra, Operation Christmas Child Blessing, Choir, Blended Worship Praise Team (8:45 Service).28.  One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”29.  “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  30.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'  31.  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no commandment greater than these.”32.  “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.  33.  To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”34.  When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.          Mark 12:28-34

Dr. Brian Hill (Senior Pastor), "A God-Sized Vision:  Commended to Love".28.  One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”29.  “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  30.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'  31.  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no commandment greater than these.”32.  “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.  33.  To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”34.  When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.          Mark 12:28-34

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.Start your day in God's Word with our Daily Verse Reflections! Each weekday, our pastors offer insights and encouragement to help you apply Scripture to your daily life. Whether you're seeking inspiration, comfort, or guidance, these Daily Verse Reflections will keep you grounded in your faith throughout the week!You can also watch the video versions of our Daily Verse Reflections at https://watch.timeofgrace.org/browse, where you will also find a wide variety of videos that will help you learn more about Jesus and grow in your faith!To receive special text offers and stay up to date with the Time of Grace, text the word "Grace" to 45321 to subscribe!

November 4, 2024 Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-9Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 5:1-19; Matthew 22:23-46“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. How will you know God? Just look around and see the world struggling to know God, or to find God, or to experience God, or to figure God out. We can see some looking for God by climbing a mountain to meet a spiritual guru or trying to find Him through some sort of spiritual practice such as yoga (which is not truly “spiritual” at all since it's the practice of body and mind and movement techniques), or to locate God by some sort of worldly government or movement, or even by trying to expand the brain spiritually with the use of drugs. It goes on and on. You can probably think of several other ways our generation tries to locate God. How will you know God? Moses says: “Hear, O Israel …” It's by hearing. It's through your ears. What goes into ears, of course, are words. You will know God by hearing His words spoken into your ears. Take the words Moses tells us, and cherish them, memorize them (“these words … shall be on your heart”). Write them down. Speak them to one another. Keep them in your conversation. Speak them with your children when you're going down the road.  In the way the world sees things, we have a strange God. A God comprehended by high-order thinking, a rigidly disciplined lifestyle, or deeply-felt spiritual yearnings—that God our world would accept. But a God comprehended and held onto by hearing His words and holding on to those words in faith—that God is foolishness to our world.But God comes by hearing. The word to hear is the Gospel, the Word of Christ. This Word forgives sins. It declares you righteous. It cleanses the conscience. It creates faith. As Paul tells us, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?... So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:14, 17).In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Thy strong Word bespeaks us righteous; Bright with Thine own holiness, Glorious now, we press toward glory, And our lives our hopes confess. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light dost send! Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end! (LSB 578:3)-Rev. Warren Graff, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, NMAudio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Spend time reading and meditating on God's Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House. 

the word on The Word – Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” How are you supposed to love the Lord? Veronica and Melissa discuss Jesus' expectation and how to live it practically. For Sunday's Reading: ewtn.com/catholicism/daily-readings/2024-11-03

November 3, 2024Today's Reading: Mark 12:28-37Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 3:6-4:2; Matthew 22:1-22And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. After His Baptism, where the Father publicly declared Him to be “My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17), Jesus was in the wilderness where Satan tempted Him to deny His Father: “The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve'” (Mathew 4:8-10).Jesus has kept the Great Commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).In this, Jesus also keeps the second Great Commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). For Satan was tempting Jesus to grasp control of all people of “all the kingdoms of the world.” We don't even need to pause to reflect on the fact that Satan was, of course, lying. Satan had not, in fact, been given authority over all the people of this world. We may focus instead on how Jesus refuses to grasp power and control over all people (cf. Philippians 2:5-8). Jesus receives people from His Father as gifts (John 17:6). Rather than exercising power and control, Jesus desires to serve us with all the gifts the Father has given to Him (cf. Matthew 20:28).Jesus has kept the two Great Commandments. He has loved His Father with all His heart, and, receiving us as gifts from His Father, He has loved us, His neighbor, even over Himself. Jesus has kept the two Great Commandments. That is righteousness. Now, as He serves us with all His Father's gifts, Jesus bestows that righteousness upon us freely and abundantly. In all of this, His Father is well-pleased with Him. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord Jesus, let me every day hear your word of forgiveness. Build me up in the faith that even as you bore my sin to your death on the cross, so you now clothe me in your righteousness. Amen.-Rev. Warren Graff, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, NMAudio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Spend time reading and meditating on God's Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House. 

/> ### MESSAGE NOTESIn The Way | Technology| Week 8 | October 27, 2024Teacher: Adam Barnett/> Poison #1: My phone controls me. /> “We are formed in the image of what we habitually gaze at.” – Justin Earley, Habits of the Household/> Antidote: 1 Corinthians 6:12. “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything"—but I will not be mastered by anything. /> True freedom comes not from permission to do everything, but from not being enslaved to anything./> Action Step: Delete a time-consuming, unnecessary app (right now)./> Poison #2: My phone defines my worth. /> Other people's words (positive or negative) don't define my worth./> Antidote: 1 Peter 2:9 and Ephesians 2:10. You are God's special possession … God's handiwork./> Action Step: Memorize 1 Peter 2:9 and Ephesians 2:10./> Poison #3: My phone is a weapon./> Antidote: James 1:19-20. Let every person be … slow to speak./> Action Step: Be nice and say you're sorry. /> Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. - Deuteronomy 6:4-7

What is God's message to us in these days? Our guest Dr. Mark Gignilliat continues teaching in our study of Deuteronomy. God's call to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 6:1-5 still applies to us: "These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." ⁠⁠Watch on YouTube⁠⁠ Dr. Mark Gignilliat is professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School, where he teaches courses in Old Testament and Hebrew, and also serves as theologian in residence at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Birmingham. Dr. Gignilliat is married to Naomi, and they have four children.

In this sermon, Natalie delves into the concept of listening and obeying God, using the imagery of Jesus as the Good Shepherd from John 10. She explains how a good shepherd leads, protects, and knows his sheep intimately. Natalie then connects this to Moses' encounter with God in Exodus, highlighting how God repeatedly assured Moses of His presence, saying, "I will be with you" (Exodus 3:12).  Natalie introduces the Hebrew word "Shema," which means both "hear" and "obey," emphasizing that in Biblical understanding, hearing God's voice naturally leads to obedience. She references Deuteronomy 6:4-5, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength," as a key example of this concept.  The sermon concludes with a call to action, challenging listeners to have a heart for the lost, trust in God's goodness, and practice "Shema" in their daily lives. Natalie encourages the audience to engage in prayer, Scripture reading, and intentional listening to God's voice as ways to cultivate obedience to the Good Shepherd.  #shema, #listen, #obey, #thegoodshepherd, #god, #jesus, #globalencounters 

Mark 12:28–37 (Listen)The Great Commandment28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.Whose Son Is the Christ?35 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared,   “‘The Lord said to my Lord,  “Sit at my right hand,    until I put your enemies under your feet.”' 37 David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.(ESV)

https://youtu.be/Ku7rTEA4L6Y?si=HIBuUf2ghKi5a1nr Family30 - 4 -  Knowing, Embracing, & Celebrating Your Role in the Family   Welcome – Chris Fluitt | Redemption Church Plano Family 30   Who is thankful for your family? Week 4 of the challenge! Join our Facebook groupDownload your free challenge   Personally – Feel accomplished… more work to do.   A LOT OF WORK… and little time. Fear of school shooting:  -Did you pray?   -Did you pray with others?  -Aren't you glad we pray for your school…?     -Other sons – thankful God kept us safe.   -Other dad (Christian) – “Aren't you glad for God's peace?”   Let's be thankful for our families!   Today Knowing, Embracing, & Celebrating Your Role in the Family   God created the family – created roles. Do you know your role?Do embrace your role?Do you celebrate the role others play?   Titles in the world = Succe$$ & Power   Titles in God's Kingdom = Loving Service and Responsibility     Every step you take into your role is a step away from selfishness. You can't succeed and be selfish Grow in your role – or lose it. Your role serves others. Not fight others.   The Role of the Spouse Mutual Love & Respect (Eph 5:21,25) Different but unified Men desire significance Women desire security Produce life together   Do not be Al BundyAl Bundy  (Married with Children) Joked about dying over staying married Instead produce LIFE   The Role of the Parent Grow & Guide “Bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph 6:4) Grow faith, curiosity, strength, passion, Guide values, responses Balance discipline with love No means no No means I love you as much as yes. Discipline is love (spare the rod – Proverbs 13:24) Model & teach   Deuteronomy 6:4-74 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.   The Role of the Child Obedience and Honor   Ephesians 6:1-3Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”   “But they are wrong.”Your role is not to correct your parents… Obey and honor. Ask questions as you obey and honor.   Grow Luke 2:52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Be trustworthy Parents delegate AUTHORITY and not just tasks CELL PHONE They are ready for a cell phone when they are ready for authority. Follow up with accountability.    The Role of Extended Family Offer Support, care, and wisdom Pass down heritage What will you pass down? Family history Faith Proverbs 17:6 Children's children are a crown to the aged   Knowing, Embracing, & Celebrating Your Role in the Family We should be thankful for the roles in our family.   Activate your gratitude.   Grow in your role – or lose it. If you don't become the voice in your child's life… they will seek another voice.   If you don't operate in your role… They may never understand their future role.   If you don't use your time… your time will pass.   Harry Chapin song… “My child arrived just the other day He came to the world in the usual way But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay He learned to walk while I was away And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it And as he grew, he'd say "I'm gonna be like you, Dad You know I'm gonna be like you"   And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon Little boy blue and the man in the moon "When you comin' home, Dad?" "I don't know when But we'll get together then You know we'll have a good time then"   “I've long since retired, my son's moved awayI called him up just the other dayI said,

How do we help our kids fall in love with Jesus and live as fully activated disciples?

 I'm fascinated with the idea that we are to love God with all of our minds. The Bible sees the mind as a place of our thoughts, judgment, and intention.  Our minds allow us to be rational, weigh evidence, make decisions about right and wrong, and to develop opinions.  Our minds allow us to worship, praise God, love, repent, and trust.Main Points:1. Why is it important to consider loving God with our minds?  Because during a typical day, we constantly use our minds to make decisions.  How many thoughts pass through your mind every day?  Several studies have shown that we think around 6,000 thoughts per day. Our mind is a huge part of who we are. 2. Loving God with our minds is critical because our minds are connected to our emotions and our actions.3. God gives us the power to change how we think so through even our thoughts we are loving and honoring God. Today's Scripture Verses:Mark 12:29-30 - “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'”2 Corinthians 10:5 – “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Colossians 3:2 - “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”Romans 12:2  - “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”Colossians 1:9 - “So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

After the land had been conquered (Joshua 6-12), then the twelve tribes received their inheritance that had been promised to them by Moses in the Law. But there remained one more thing to do and that was to give to the Levitical tribe the cities that were promised to them by the LORD through Moses in Numbers 35:1-5. If you go back and read this passage in Numbers 35 you will find that God was very specific about these cities, how many and where they would be located.   Over and over again as the land was being distributed to the different tribes (Joshua 13-20), it is mentioned that the Levites were not going to receive a land inheritance. But that the Levites were to be scattered throughout the land. This way, they could teach the people the Law and influence each of the tribes to be faithful to the Lord.   But the Levites needed places to live and pastures for their cattle. Thus God assigned forty-eight cities for them to live in, along with a specific amount of land for pasture (Num. 35:1-5). The pasture land could not be sold, but their houses could be sold; and the Levites even had special privileges for redeeming their property (Lev. 23:32-34).   There were forty-eight Levitical cities, six of which were also cities of refuge. Each of the tribes contributed four cities, except Judah and Simeon, who together contributed nine, and Naphtali, who contributed three. The descendants of the three sons of Aaron, Kohath, Gershon and Marari, were assigned to the various cities, although other Jews also lived in them. In Numbers 26:62, the writer states that there were 23,000 Levites before Israel entered the land, a big crowd to distribute among forty-eight cities.   It was important that Israel have qualified and authorized people to minister in the tabernacle and later in the temple. In the Great Commandment found in Deuteronomy 6:1-9, the LORD had instructed the people with these words: "Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you--'a land flowing with milk and honey.' "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”   We must never minimize the teaching ministry of the priests and Levites (2 Chron. 17:7-9). Since the common people didn't own copies of the Scriptures, it was important that the Levites identify with the people and explain the Law to them. These Levitical cities were so located that nobody was too far away from a man who could help them understand and apply the Law of Moses.   Today, we desperately need to get back to teaching the whole council of God to the people of God. “His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path!” (Psalm 119:105).   God bless!

For those of us from older generations—Boomers and Gen X'ers—it's our responsibility to help restore what has been taken from younger generations. We need to address confusing messages like those from a pastor who claims you can redefine your gender identity while still pleasing God. While God loves everyone, it's contradictory to reject the identity He created for you. Our mission is to inform young people about these injustices and empower them to reclaim their futures. Together, we can make a positive impact and bring about meaningful change by sharing the truth and winning hearts.What does God's Word say? https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A5&version=NIVLove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A1-3&version=NIV6 These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A4-9&version=NIV4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A10-12&version=NIV10 When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A13-19&version=NIV13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. 16 Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. 17 Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. 18 Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors, 19 thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the Lord said.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A20-25&version=NIV20 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” 21 tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. 24 The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A13-18&version=NIV13 For you created my inmost being;    you knit me together in my mother's womb.14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;    your works are wonderful,    I know that full well.15 My frame was not hidden from you    when I was made in the secret place,    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;    all the days ordained for me were written in your book    before one of them came to be.17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!    How vast is the sum of them!18 Were I to count them,    they would outnumber the grains of sand—    when I awake, I am still with you.Episode 1,700 Links:- https://www.city-journal.org/article/what-happened-at-multicare- https://barsoom.substack.com/p/digital-purdah-as-a-solution-to-female- https://youtu.be/Va9oFBQ0w0M?t=69- https://stream.org/christian-ups-driver-takes-on-the-corporation-over-extreme-lgbt-and-anti-christian-work-environment/.- “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5XInzS_FoI- https://youtu.be/WQLFnpaw9MA?t=215- https://stream.org/would-jesus-use-razor-wire-at-borders-would-he-gaslight-people-with-dishonest-wwjd-arguments/? - https://twitter.com/megbasham/status/1750739509216510130?- https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1750675920912822319.”Alan's Soapshttps://alanssoaps.com/TODDUse coupon code ‘TODD' to save an additional 10% off the bundle price.Bioptimizershttps://magbreakthrough.com/toddfreeVisit this website to get your 30-capsule bottle of Magnesium Breakthrough for FREE today!  No promo code needed.Bonefroghttps://bonefrogcoffee.com/toddUse code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.Bulwark Capital https://bulwarkcapitalmgmt.com/radio-show/Sign up today for Zach's free webinar Thursday July 25th at 3:30pm PDT at KnowYourRiskRadio.com.GreenHaven Interactive Web Marketinghttps://greenhaveninteractive.comNeed more customers for your business? 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Transcript:Hello this is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective. The Bible tells us two truths that may seem contradictory: 1) there is only one God, and 2) this God exists eternally in a relationship of three persons. Our Jewish friends, rightly emphasize the “Shema” of Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (“Shema” is the Hebrew word for “Hear” or “Listen”). The God of the Bible was unique among the ancient deities, precisely because He claimed to be the only true God, and therefore demanded sole allegiance. Thus, the Shema continues: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” There is only one God, He rightful deserves our all! Yet, the Bible clearly teaches there are three persons who lay claim to this deity. Jesus does: “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30; see also, John 1:1-3). The Holy Spirit does: “Now the Lord is the Spirit…” (2 Corinthians 3:17; see also, Acts 5:3-4). And, of course, the Father does. But how are we to understand this seeming contradiction? Well, as the church pondered the biblical data, it refused to truncate or twist either truth; both must be taken at full value. There is only one God (one divine essence or being), but that God exists as three persons. So, the Church held firmly to the existence of only one divine essence or being, while likewise holding that this one divine essence is shared equally and fully by three distinct persons. One God in three persons, and three Persons in one God. In other words, as Christians we take God's self-revelation, at face value, by faith; the true Church believes God's Word. And that's something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”~ Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (ESV)

Daily Dose of Hope June 16, 2024 Day 1 of Week 12 Deuteronomy 6-9; Luke 7 Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  Happy Father's Day to all the dads, granddads, and spiritual fathers out there.  You are loved and appreciated!!!  With that, let's get right into our Scripture.   In Deuteronomy 6, we read the Shema, which is essentially the heart of the law.  Verses 4-9, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.    The Shema recognizes the uniqueness and oneness of God. There aren't other gods but only one true God.  God calls his people to love him and obey him with every part of their being.  He called the ancient Israelites to this this and he calls us to do this as well.  Jesus took the Shema and added an important element.  In Matthew 12:30-31, Jesus says this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no commandment greater than these.”  Yes, we love God with our whole being but we also love others.  In fact, love of God is demonstrated by love of others.  As Christians, we cannot separate the two.    The Shema is a prayer that Jewish families for thousands of years have said daily and it is often the earliest prayer that Jewish children are taught.  It is repeated over and over again to ensure that the next generation will know it and live it.  While I don't think we need to write the commands of Jesus on our foreheads, how do we ensure the next generation will know who they are in Jesus?  Even if you don't have children or your children or older, all of God's people, the whole church, bears responsibility for teaching and guiding the next generation.  Pray about how God may be calling you to mentor, teach, or bless the younger generation. Are you called to volunteer in children's ministry?  Maybe there is a child in your own life to which God is leading you to disciple and teach. Maybe you currently have younger children or teenagers. How is learning about Christ woven throughout your family's daily routine?   In Deuteronomy 7-9, we find Moses reiterating God's laws as they prepare to enter the land of Canaan.  There is another emphasis on eliminating God's enemies as they enter the land (again, a bit hard to swallow), but there is more focus on trusting God and following him only.  The people are reminded of the golden calf and how it angered the Lord.  They are reminded that they belong to God.  They are entering into the next part of their journey and they have to remember who and whose they are.  Otherwise, it could go totally awry. We've been talking about our journey as a church lately at New Hope.  As we move into a new season, we also need to remember that we belong to God and we are his church.  May we know who and whose we are, listen to God's voice, and boldly step into the next part of our church journey.   Let's move on the Luke 7.  This is a great chapter filled with much substance.  However, I really want to focus on the last portion of the passage when Jesus is anointed by a woman.  Basically, this woman crashes a fancy dinner party with a group of Pharisees who wanted to have some deep religious discussion with Jesus.  What do we know about this woman?  We don't know her name but we do know that she is described as sinful.  Many scholars have assumed she was a sex worker but that is not a definite.  There are other sins.  But it becomes obvious that Simon knew her and knew her reputation, which is kind of curious.  But whatever her history, she knew Jesus and is incredibly grateful to him (she has had some kind of encounter with Jesus and her life has been changed).  She brings an alabaster jar of perfume, of very high value at the time, and she stands at his feet weeping. Then, she gets down on her hands and knees, lets her hair down, and wipes his feet with her tears.  She kisses his feet as well, and pours the perfume on them.  Keep in mind, this sort of behavior, especially the intimate nature of the touching, would have been very taboo.   The Pharisees aren't so thrilled that Jesus is allowing this woman to touch him and the judgment in the room is heavy, so Jesus tells a story.  He tells this story about two men who owed money.  One owed 500 denarii and the other 50.  In my research, I found varying accounts of how much this would have been.  Generally, 50 denarii would have been about 2 months wages, 500 would have been about 2 years wages.  Basically, a lot of money.  In the story, neither man can repay the money.  Generally, what happened in the ancient world when you couldn't pay your debts?  Well, you were enslaved.  You (or your children) had to work as a slave to the person you owed until it was paid off.  It was called debt bondage and it still exists in some parts of the world today.  Two months of wages would have taken some time to work off but two years worth of wages would have taken a long, long time (years) to work off.  But in the story, the moneylender forgives both the men.  It was kind of shocking really.  That didn't happen much and the listeners would have known that.   But Jesus is wanting to teach them in this moment.  In the midst of this awkward meal, where this woman has made herself incredibly vulnerable and broken all these social taboos, Jesus sees something much deeper.  What does he want them to understand?  The amount forgiven is related to the amount of love returned.   If you feel like you don't have that much to be forgiven, then you aren't going to be that grateful when the slate is wiped clean.  But if you have a tremendous debt, a heavy debt, something that will keep you in bondage for years, well, you are going to be incredibly grateful when that debt is forgiven.  And that's exactly what this woman has experienced.  Whatever her debt was, it was big.  And she is overwhelmingly grateful, so grateful that she acts very inappropriately.  She does things that are awkward and too intimate.  The woman is basically making a fool for herself.  But it's truly beautiful, because she is so grateful for Jesus' mercy – there is obviously something really difficult or painful in her past or present – and she doesn't care what others think.  She has received forgiveness.  Jesus isn't embarrassed or even surprised.  He sees her gratefulness and her sincerity.  He could care less about the awkwardness of the moment.  He sees her heart.  And we know, God cares about our heart.    Jesus then contrasts the lack of hospitality of the Pharisee with the extravagant hospitality of this woman.  And he makes a point of emphasizing how her many sins have been forgiven.  Jesus isn't saying that her actions at the meal led to the forgiveness.  Rather, she received forgiveness (and we don't know when), and her actions at the meal are a very public, very dramatic act of love toward Jesus in response.  He has offered her freedom and so she is overflowing with gratitude and love.   Of course, the other guests are really concerned with Jesus forgiving her sins.  They say, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”  Forgiving sins was, after all, something that only God could do.  But I have to say, I love how Jesus just ignores them.  He is focused on this woman.  Jesus cares for individual human beings.  Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son --- but he also loves you and me.  He is focused on this particular woman.  He values her.  He loves her.  And he says, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”   Keep this in mind:  Jesus welcomes us all to his awkward dinner party.  All of us, we are invited to sit around the table with Jesus, as members of his family.  Regardless of what tables you have been turned away from in your past, at Jesus' table you are accepted, wanted, chosen.  If you have said yes to Jesus, then you are a child of God and you are part of his beautiful, weird, awkward, diverse, unique, imperfect family.  That's us, we are brothers and sisters in Christ, and we will spend eternity together.  We get to do life together NOW and in the future.  So if you have held off extending forgiveness or asking for it, offering grace, demonstrating love, then go ahead and do that now.  Y'all, we are a family and that's huge.    Let's chat again tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Episode Notes: Being known as a good parent is the greatest endeavor in life. The overall goal of parenting is to bring up a biblically and morally responsible child. Where do you start? •Starts with mom and dad being the example: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9 •“Love the Lord your God” is much more caught than taught, more modeled than mandated. Whatever you expect your child to do, you must live it out. Two extremes to avoid: •Authoritarian style •Permissive parent  *Parenting doesn't start with friendship – it progresses there when your children are adults. *Kids are different, but always raise your child to a standard, don't lower a standard to your child. *Give the moral reason why when disciplining your kids. (Ex. – Don't run into the road – here's why- you might get hurt. Don't run in church – you may injure another.) *Be intentional! Instruct your child on behavior expectations and why before you get in a situation.  Discussion Questions: 1. What was the parenting style of your parents? Up to this point, what has been your parenting style? 2. What things have you been intentional about in parenting your kids? What things would you like to be more intentional about when it comes to parenting your kids? 3. Discuss some situations where you might give the moral reason why, when disciplining your kids or when preparing them for an environment they are about to enter. 4. What things are you intentionally modeling in your life that you'd like your kids to emulate? 5. What changes might you want to make to be intentional about bringing up a biblically and morally responsible child?

Sunday Service (4/28/24) // Mark 12: 28-34 // Visit our website: https://mbchicago.orgFollow us to remain connected: Facebook:   / mbc.chicago   Instagram:   / mbc.chicago   TikTok:   / mbc.chicago   Podcasts: Listen on Apple, Spotify & others To support this ministry, you can donate via: Zelle to: info@mbchicago.org Web: https://mbchicago.org/give Venmo: https://venmo.com/mbchurch PayPal/Credit: https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_but...#DanielBatarseh | #mbchicago | #mbcchicago | #Bible | #BibleStudy | #livechurch | #churchlive | #chicagochurch | #chicagochurches | #versebyverse | #church | #sermon | #sermons | #sermononline | #chicago | #gospelofmark | #mark | #bookofmark | #newtestament Mark 12: 28-34 (ESV) The Great Commandment 28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

As a mother who's navigated the stormy seas of parenting, I've seen firsthand the pressures that tests and tryouts can heap onto our children's shoulders. Today, I'm sharing heartfelt strategies to support your kids through anxiety-riddled tests, whether the elementary spelling test, ACT, or sports tryouts.  We'll explore how shifting the conversation from your child's abilities to God's guiding hand can make all the difference. I'll share three practical tips that can ease the burden of test anxiety for your little ones, including how to pray with them using scripture and the profound impact of sending a short but powerful encouraging note or text. We also discuss the importance of celebrating every success by attributing it to God's wisdom and support. Plus, I've put together a special resource just for you—a complimentary PDF of Bible verses tailored for testing times, ready to download below. Let's turn these challenges into opportunities to strengthen your child's faith and confidence.Helpful Links from the Podcast:FREE PDF - Scriptures to Pray for Testing AnxietySubscribe to The Helping Hand NewsletterLearn to Pray the Scriptures PodcastBuilding a Work EthicScripture Shared in this Podcast:Colossians 3:23 - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.Deuteronomy 6:4-9 - Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.Get connected with Parenting to Impress:Facebook Group: /groups/ABCJLMFacebook: /heidi.franz.2911Instagram: /abcjesuslovesme/Subscribe to Blog & Newsletters: forms.feedblitz.com/5r0Thanks for listening!

"Doing things FROM love not FOR love." On today's episode, Emma Dotter is joined by Lauren McGee as they walk through the Great Commandment in Mark and how that applies to us today.  Additional Scripture mentioned in today's episode: Deuteronomy 6:4-6, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart."  More info on Easter at Watermark: https://www.watermark.org/easter-2024  Grab a Join The Journey Journal for 2024: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Feeling-Gods-Way-Journey/dp/B0CPJ7WXN5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2IEYKICMCV7IF&keywords=join+the+journey+watermark&qid=1702568266&sprefix=join+the+journe%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-1  Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Feeling-Gods-Way-Journey/dp/B0CPPBY9BP?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.oK2BsXiCNH_NGvOwD1o8SgPAXmtaU8AWjENZhG3fxS2G1SIRzfJZi6XJxbzK7gG1qZKG59nIPhRQNGE455PTjmqzAQksbwNA9OxwHA6ZmXyoV5jSP86DEsIq2qrUiE2jgkhwTAYxmlsL9I4Sc47PyA.VESsjAce9hchoCh2d7EjG_pPEByFNNNXoS05yOAcCHg&dib_tag=AUTHOR  You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898

For those under thirty, the way they have been stolen from and victimized is something I don't think that age group is even aware of. It is our job to inform the younger generation that they have been the victims of the great theft of this century. I will avail you with information about a satanic chop shop that is part of the so called health care system and what goes on there. If you are below thirty, your future is being stolen from you, as is your esteem and identity thanks to social media. Boomers and Gen X'ers, it is our job to eternally replace the reality and heritage that has been taken from them. We take a look at a pastor who is a man pretending to be a woman, saying that you can be who you are because God loves you. God does love you, but you cannot call God an idiot by saying you are a different gender than what he made you to be and still have a relationship with him. There are so many ways that Boomers and Gen X'ers can save the world by winning souls, so let's start by informing young people about the theft that has been done to them.What does God's Word say? https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A5&version=NIVLove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A1-3&version=NIV6 These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A4-9&version=NIV4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A10-12&version=NIV10 When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A13-19&version=NIV13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. 16 Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. 17 Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. 18 Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors, 19 thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the Lord said.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A20-25&version=NIV20 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” 21 tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. 24 The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A13-18&version=NIV13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God! How vast is the sum of them!18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.Episode 1,417 Links:- https://www.city-journal.org/article/what-happened-at-multicare- https://barsoom.substack.com/p/digital-purdah-as-a-solution-to-female- https://youtu.be/Va9oFBQ0w0M?t=69- https://stream.org/christian-ups-driver-takes-on-the-corporation-over-extreme-lgbt-and-anti-christian-work-environment/.- “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5XInzS_FoI- https://youtu.be/WQLFnpaw9MA?t=215- https://stream.org/would-jesus-use-razor-wire-at-borders-would-he-gaslight-people-with-dishonest-wwjd-arguments/? - https://twitter.com/megbasham/status/1750739509216510130?- https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1750675920912822319.”4Patriots https://4Patriots.com/Todd Stay connected when the power goes out and get free shipping on orders over $97. Alan's Soaps https://alanssoaps.com/TODD Use coupon code ‘TODD' to save an additional 10% off the bundle price. 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