Podcasts about Old Testament

Sometimes thinking about the Resurrection seems routine. Other times we realize just how miraculous it is! Let's look at the miracle in Job 14:14. And grab study guides for the whole family here: - To get Cali's scripture study guide for adults click here: https://comefollowmestudy.com/shop/ Discount code: OMSSOr purchase on Amazon: https://a.co/d/07HMYuKo-Grab Kristen's copies of helpful PDFs and study guides here: https://shop.kristenwalkersmith.com/products/ Check out her YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@startherestudy/shortsGet our NEW 365-day Old Testament daily devotional book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0p3Ds0t Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

God is a jealous God, and His covenant love is revealed through one of the Bible's most misunderstood passages—the law of jealousy. Our relationship with Jesus mirrors the covenant of marriage, where He is the faithful Husband, and we are His beloved bride.In episode 10 of "Jesus – Our Hero Husband", Duane Sheriff uncovers the biblical meaning of the law of jealousy found in Numbers 5 and reveals how this mysterious Old Testament law points directly to Christ and His Church. The test of a wife's faithfulness through a bitter cup becomes a powerful picture of the trials and sufferings believers face today. Rather than random hardships, these "bitter cups" reveal and strengthen our loyalty, faithfulness, and devotion to Christ.Discover why God is called a jealous God, how friendship with the world threatens our covenant relationship with Him, and why keeping Jesus as our first love causes every other relationship to flourish. Transform how you view suffering, faithfulness, and God's unwavering commitment.

Jeremiah 23-25

What is the most valuable substance in the universe, and why is it the only thing that can cleanse us from sin? In this episode, we examine the precious blood of Jesus Christ and why Scripture says that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. No amount of time in hell, good works, religious rituals, or human effort can pay for sin. Through Scripture, we explore why Jesus is the only way to God and how His blood provides redemption, forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life. We also examine the significance of blood throughout Scripture, from Old Testament sacrifices to the blood covenant and the New Covenant established through Christ. We explore what it means that Christ's blood washes away our sins, along with the spiritual significance of communion, the connection between Christ's sacrifice and healing, and why there is no blood in hell. Above all, this episode points us to the immeasurable value of Jesus' sacrifice and the precious blood He shed for us. For more information about Bill Wiese and Soul Choice Ministries please visit us at: https://soulchoiceministries.org/  You can find more of Bill's teachings at: BillWieseTV-YouTube

Before we can pursue the God of the Bible, we need to examine the Bible itself. How do we know that we can trust what it says? Why should we listen to its truth claims? That's what pastors Bryan, Ross and John cover in this episode. --The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--The Bible is the best-selling book of all time, and it's unlike any other book written in history. It has changed individual lives and shaped entire cultures. It's an ancient text that claims to have been written by God himself, and the proof of its reliability is surprisingly strong. Here are three reasons we can trust what it teaches:Historical Evidence Ancient manuscripts and archeological digs have stacked up in favor of biblical reliability. The Bible was written thousands of years ago, long before printing presses and modern technology. Manuscript fragments of the biblical text have endured wars and weather throughout the ages, and the scraps that remain represent just a fraction of the originals. Are those remnants enough to provide a reliable testimony for modern-day readers? And how can we be sure that the message hasn't been corrupted over the millennia? The good news is that the God who inspired the scriptures was also powerful enough to preserve those writings through the ages. Consider the manuscript evidence. Manuscript copies in the ancient world were painstakingly hand-written, and not all of them survived the ravages of time. Reliability of ancient writings is determined by the number of copies (or partial copies) of the work in existence. So how does the Bible stack up? See for yourself:Today we have only 49 copies of Aristotle's writings.Homer's “The Iliad” does a little better, with 643 copies in existence.The New Testament wins by a landslide, with almost 5700 Greek copies and over 19,000 copies in other languages!The New Testament clearly has more manuscript evidence than any other ancient work. But how do we know that those manuscript copies are faithful to the originals? What if human authors changed the message, intentionally or otherwise? Modern archeology helps us answer this question, thanks to the Dead Sea Scrolls. In 1947 a shepherd boy discovered some ancient scrolls hidden away in remote caves in the Middle East. This led to even more discoveries in the area, and in the end almost 1000 manuscripts were recovered. Parts of almost every book of the Old Testament were found, and some of those fragments proved to be almost 1000 years older than the oldest manuscripts known at the time. This offers a perfect test for the reliability of our modern translations. The book of Isaiah provides the most compelling example, since the Dead Sea Scrolls contained a complete copy of the prophet's writings. When compared to the Masoretic Text (the oldest copy previously known, dating back to about 800 AD), the Isaiah manuscript from the Dead Sea Scrolls was 95% identical! And the only differences were minor, often just variations in spelling.So the historical evidence stacks up in favor of the reliability of the Bible. But there's more:Textual Evidence The Bible is the most impressive writing project in the history of the world. It contains 66 books written by 40 different authors over the course of 1500 years, and yet it tells one unified story. Think about it: Moses, a Jewish slave raised in the house of a Pharaoh, wrote the first five books. John, a fisherman-turned-revolutionary, wrote the last four books. In between were books and letters written by shepherds, kings, prophets, tax collectors, doctors, and more. And the most prolific author in the New Testament was Paul – a religious Pharisee who zealously persecuted the Jesus followers before joining them. Most of these authors never met each other, and many of them were unaware of the other books and letters that would eventually be included in the Bible. Their writings spanned different cultures and languages over the course of 15 centuries, and yet the Bible amazingly reads as one story. From beginning to end it's about Jesus, and the fulfilled prophecy is the glue that holds it together. Let's take just a few examples: Of the 12 tribes of Israel, Judah was surprisingly predicted to be the one through which Jesus would come – which is exactly what happened. Genesis 49:10, Matthew 1:1-3It was prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, and that's how it happened – even though his mother didn't even live there. Micah 5:2, Luke 2:1,4Prophets wrote with shocking accuracy about the torture and death of Jesus hundreds of years before it happened – exactly as predicted. Psalm 22, Isaiah 53It was because of these kinds of prophecies that Jesus spoke these words to the religious leaders of his day:John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!The Bible amazingly tells one story, centered on Jesus, because it was ultimately inspired by the God of human history.Personal Evidence The Bible is ultimately about Jesus, and the changed lives of his followers is the most compelling proof of its message. Let's just take three examples from the New Testament, starting with Peter. When Jesus was on trial before his crucifixion, a servant girl noticed Peter and accused him of being a follower of Jesus. Peter denied it three times, walking away with an incredible sense of guilt and shame (Luke 22:56-59). But that's not the end of his story, because days later the resurrected Jesus sat down to breakfast with Peter and reinstated him – three times (John 21:15-19). Peter went on to be a pillar of the Christian church, eventually giving up his life for Jesus. Or consider “doubting” Thomas. He missed out on meeting the resurrected Jesus with the other disciples and expressed his doubt that they really saw the risen Christ. But soon enough he met Jesus for himself and professed his faith in him (John 20:25-28). Thomas, too, ended up dying for his faith. And then there's Paul, a self-righteous Pharisee (Philippians 3:5) whose life mission was to persecute the followers of Jesus. Then he met Jesus and joined that very group of misfit disciples. Paul made it his life's mission to spread the Good News about Jesus and he, too, died a martyr's death. There's no way to explain away these changed lives except to conclude that the message about Jesus, along with every word in the Bible, truly is inspired by God.But no amount of evidence can overcome an unbelieving attitude. At the end of the day, trusting the reliability of the Bible comes down to your willingness to believe in the God behind the Bible. Jesus made this point one day as he taught in the Temple courts:John 7:16-17 My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.If you're unwilling to submit to God's will, your pursuit is over before it has even started. But if you are willing to come to God on his terms and take him at his word, then Jesus promises that you'll discover the truth. The teachings of Jesus, and indeed all of the teachings in the Bible, are from God, not man. And so we can trust the Bible in our pursuit of God.

Give Attention to Reading: Psalms | Psalms 9-15

Thought to share? Send me a text...What do you hold onto when life feels overwhelming and you have no idea what God is doing?When the future feels uncertain, it's easy to believe that if you could just get some answers, you'd finally have peace. But Mary's song in Luke 1 shows us another way. Mary didn't know how Joseph would respond, what others would think, or exactly what her future would require—but she knew the character of her God.In this episode, we walk through Luke 1:39–56 and look at what Mary and Elizabeth teach us about what happens when our hearts are filled with God's truth. You'll discover how Scripture gives you something solid to draw from when life becomes overwhelming—and how remembering who God is can move your heart from anxiety and uncertainty toward worship.In this episode, you'll discover:How to recognize what has been filling your heart by paying attention to what spills out when life gets stressfulFive truths about God's character you can hold onto when your circumstances feel uncertain or overwhelmingHow filling your heart with Scripture in ordinary moments prepares you to respond with faith when difficult moments comePress play to discover how Mary's song can help you fill your heart with truth, remember who God is, and find peace and worship even when you don't know what comes next.New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday mornings.To connect with Betsy for speaking, resources, or curriculum head to https://betsymarvin.com/contact-me/For access to past podcasts and transcripts, head tohttps://betsymarvin.com/podcasts/A Christian podcast centered on Jesus, the Bible, and God explores faith through the Old Testament and New Testament, sharing Bible stories and Bible explained insights to help women of faith and Jesus followers grow in faith, strengthen their relationship with God, and know God more deeply through Bible study, women Bible study, and practical Christianity, all while encouraging spiritual growth, understanding identity in Christ, and learning to understand Bible teachings to become closer to God.

Romans 1:3: Concerning His Son What is the gospel ultimately about? Romans 1:3 gives us Paul's answer with remarkable clarity: the gospel is “concerning his Son.” The gospel is not first about us. It is not centered on our experiences, our improvement, our religious performance, or our felt needs. The gospel is the good news of what God has done through His Son, Jesus Christ. “Concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh.” Romans 1:3 The Gospel Concerns God's Son Paul has already told us that he was set apart for the gospel of God and that this gospel was promised beforehand through the prophets in the Holy Scriptures. Now he tells us who this gospel concerns: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The gospel is not advice about how to improve ourselves. Advice tells us what we should do. The gospel announces what God has already done in and through Jesus Christ. We do not need another self-help plan, moral improvement program, or religious system. We need a Savior. The gospel points us away from ourselves and directs us to Christ. Jesus Is the Eternal Son of God Jesus is not merely a prophet, moral teacher, religious example, or spiritual guide. He is the eternal Son of God. The Son did not begin to exist in Bethlehem. He did not become divine at His baptism or after His resurrection. Jesus Christ is eternally the Son of God, sharing the same divine nature as the Father. This matters because only God can save. A created Savior cannot bear the full weight of divine judgment or provide the salvation sinners desperately need. Our confidence rests in the eternal Son of God who came into the world to save sinners. Jesus Is the Promised Son of David Paul also tells us that Jesus was descended from David according to the flesh. This connects the gospel directly to the promises God made throughout the Old Testament. God promised that a descendant of David would reign forever. Jesus is that promised King. He is the Messiah, the Son of David, and the rightful ruler whose kingdom will never end. The gospel therefore announces not only that a Savior has come, but that the King has come. Jesus is not merely useful or comforting. He is Lord. The Savior who gives mercy is also the King who reigns. Jesus Truly Became Man The eternal Son of God truly took on human flesh. He did not merely appear to be human or wear humanity like a costume. He took on a true human nature without ceasing to be truly God. Jesus experienced hunger, weakness, sorrow, rejection, temptation, suffering, and death, yet He remained completely without sin. This truth has been carefully defended throughout church history because it stands at the heart of the gospel. Jesus Christ is one person with two natures, truly God and truly man. If Jesus is not truly God, He cannot save. If Jesus is not truly man, He cannot stand in our place. As man, He obeyed where we have disobeyed and suffered in the place of sinners. As God, His saving work is fully sufficient and eternally powerful. The Gospel Is Centered on Jesus Christ Romans will teach us about sin, wrath, righteousness, justification, sanctification, the Holy Spirit, election, Israel, Christian living, church unity, and mission. But every one of these truths ultimately finds its center in Jesus Christ. Christ is not one doctrine among many. He is the center and substance of the gospel. Without Christ there is no justification, no peace with God, no adoption, no hope in suffering, no mercy, and no eternal life. Christianity cannot be reduced to a worldview, moral system, ministry platform, theological identity, or religious tradition. Christianity is centered on Christ because the gospel itself is concerning His Son. Look to Christ Romans 1:3 calls us to look again at the glory of Jesus Christ. Look to Christ. Trust Christ. Treasure Christ. Follow Christ. Obey Christ. Proclaim Christ. Rest in Christ. Do not move beyond Christ. Do not minimize Christ. Do not replace Christ with self-help, moralism, religious performance, or vague spirituality. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the promised Son of David, the incarnate Savior, the crucified and risen Lord, and the reigning King who saves all who repent of their sins and trust in Him. The world offers many messages. Religion offers many systems. Sin offers many promises. But God has given sinners one Savior. The gospel is concerning His Son. Continue Through Romans Continue studying Paul's letter verse by verse in our series, Romans: The Gospel That Changes Everything. Explore the Romans: The Gospel That Changes Everything Series You can also subscribe to the Servants of Grace YouTube channel for biblical teaching, sermons, podcasts, theology, and resources designed to help Christians grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Subscribe to Servants of Grace on YouTube

IntroductionThere can be a disconnect in the Christian life. We can become so focused on doctrine that we forget that we are called to live out the gospel. Or we can become so focused on living the Christian life that we lose sight of the doctrine that gives us the strength and assurance to live it.The Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 23 understands this tension. As we come to justification by faith, it essentially asks us, Is this doctrine really helpful? Is this something that actually benefits us? Does knowing that we are justified by faith make any difference in the Christian life?I think those are important questions. So, let's begin. Is This Helpful?The first thing we have to understand is the seriousness of our problem.Our problem is that we minimize sin. We sometimes like to think that if we can just clean up enough of the outward problems, we will be okay. Maybe we haven't done everything right, but we have done better than the person next to us. Maybe we have kept 99.99% of the commandments.But the problem is that sin is not merely a collection of bad behaviors. Sin is at the core of who we are. Our behavior or actions are merely the fruit of the deeper root problem. In the fall, humanity essentially told God, We don't want your order. We don't want your holiness. We don't want you ruling over us. We were exiled from Eden, and God gave us what we wanted. And that leaves us in a desperate position.We see this even in some of the great saints of Scripture. Jacob spent much of his life trying to accomplish the promises of God in his own strength. He wrestled with God and came away limping, learning that the promises of God come through weakness and submission to the Lord.Job wanted his day in court with God. He wanted to present his case and demonstrate that God had gotten things wrong. But when Job finally comes face-to-face with the living God, he puts his hand over his mouth. He learns that God's wisdom is far greater than his own. Paul was a man who considered himself blameless according to the law, yet Christ had to stop him on the road to Damascus. Even Paul had to learn that God's strength is manifested in weakness.And then there is Isaiah. Isaiah appears to be one of those Old Testament saints who was pretty dialed in. Yet when he comes into the presence of God, he doesn't say, "I dwell in the midst of unclean people who make me unclean." No, he says, “Woe is me. I am a man of unclean lips” That is the point. Apart from Christ, we have nothing.Paul makes this very clear in Romans 3. He gives a staccato of Old Testament references and demonstrates that there is a universal problem that impacts Jew and Gentile. It doesn't matter how religious you are or how well you have cleaned up your life.All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.That is why justification by faith is so helpful. It tells us the truth about our condition. We cannot save ourselves. We need a rematch and not a participation trophy.The championship game has already been played. Adam failed, and in Adam we have all failed. The verdict has been issued. We need someone to reengage the competition and overturn the previous verdict. And that is exactly what Christ does in his work. However, this can still be all doctrine. Is there a place where this really impacts our Christian life? Is This Assuring? This is where the beauty of justification really comes into view. The Heidelberg Catechism says that I share in all of Christ's benefits. He has made perfect satisfaction for my sin. He has given me his perfect holiness. And I am regarded before God as if I had never sinned and as if I had perfectly obeyed all that God commanded. Think about the beauty of that.It is not my righteousness. It is Christ's righteousness.It is not my perfect obedience. It is Christ's perfect obedience. It is not something I have earned. It is a gift. God has freely given it to his unworthy children.Paul says in Romans 3 that we are justified by God's grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Justification is a legal declaration. Before the heavenly court, we deserve condemnation in Adam. But in Christ, we are declared righteous.And this is what makes grace so amazing.Sometimes we define grace as “unmerited favor.” But I think Scripture gives us an even deeper picture. Unmerited favor could mean that God just gave us something. We did not earn it. However, we could be neutral. For instance, you love your kid, so you just buy your kid ice cream. The kid did not specifically deserve it, but you want to spend some quality time together.We actively rebelled against him. We told God that we didn't want his holiness, his rule, or his order. If we continue with the illustration of buying a child ice cream, we can ask: Would you buy your child ice cream after your child washed your car with a Brillo pad? I am guessing that the child is not getting ice cream. However, we did far worse to God in the fall. He also gives us more than a participation trophy or ice cream. God gives us heaven through the work of his son. Christ doesn't simply overlook our sin. This is why Paul uses the language of redemption. Redemption is buying someone out of slavery. That is what Christ did. He purchased us out of our bondage of sin to set us free to live in him.Christ had to lay down his life in our place. He has to die because sin is that heinous. It is not that God is so villainous, but sin is that heinous. We cannot find a simple solution to this complex problem. So if someone wants to mock justification by faith as a “participation trophy,” I say, "I'll gladly take it." I'll put it on the shelf and proudly say, I am in Christ Jesus, and apart from Christ I have no hope. However, we need to remember that Christ reengaged the championship game. He won the game and gives us the credit.Conclusion So is justification by faith helpful?Absolutely.Because we have a 100% problem, and we need a 100% Savior.Is justification assuring?Absolutely.Because Christ has done what we could never do. He has satisfied God's justice, paid our debt, redeemed us from slavery, and given us his righteousness.And is my faith good enough?No, but Christ is.That is the good news. The gospel isn't that God looked at us and decided that we were basically good enough to receive a participation trophy. The gospel is that we were condemned in Adam, and Christ came into the heavenly courtroom and stood in our place. He took the judgment we deserved and gave us the righteousness we could never earn. He overturned the previous loss and won us our victory. And so we don't use grace as an excuse to push the boundaries of sin. If we really understand what sin is, why would we want to return to it? Sin is destructive. It tears us away from the true peace and shalom that God created us to enjoy.So let us continue to take hold of Christ by faith. Let us forget what lies behind and press forward toward what lies ahead. Christ Jesus has made us his own. And as the Holy Spirit continues to conform us to Christ, let us walk in him, trusting not in the strength of our faith, but in the strength of our Savior.

Adam and Eve knew it for as long as they knew God. They experienced it under tragic circumstances, yet on that day when they needed it most, they experienced it in a powerful and comforting way. The day that they fell into sin, and brought the entirety of the human race down with them, God came to them with a promise - a promise of forgiveness and hope and life.And that promise was repeated generation after generation to God's Old Testament people, through Noah and Abraham, through Jacob and Joseph and Moses. That promise sustained them throughout their history, through their time in Egypt and in the wilderness and right into the place that God had long before promised would be the homeland for his people.    That's where our summer podcast series begins. This summer on Most Certainly True Podcast, we will be walking through about 400 years of Old Testament history. Beginning with Joshua and commencing at the end of First Samuel -  all under the theme The God of the Promise. We'll see and be encouraged through this devotional walk that God is faithful to all his promises especially as we see him fulfill those promises in big ways to his chosen people. We'll see God make good on his promises all along the way, using these sub-themes:  Joshua - LandJudges - DeliveranceRuth - Redemption1 Samuel - KingdomWe hope that you can join us in this devotional walk through these Old Testament books.  We'll read through them, chapter by chapter, and post an episode on each chapter that we read. We hope that you join us so that you can see just what the Israelites of old saw - that God is The God of the Promise.  If you have any questions about this series or our Most Certainly True Podcast, please reach out to Pastor Hackmann at bhackmann@gracedowntown.org. If you'd like to learn more about Grace Lutheran Church, check out our website www.gracedowntown.org. FollowApple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicRSS Feed

In Acts 15:8 we read: “God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.” This was God's confirmation that the Gentiles could receive salvation without first coming under the requirements of the Jewish law. The gift of the Holy Spirit was the evidence that God had accepted them. I hope you remember that. Peter goes on to say in verse 9: “He made no distinction between us and them, for He purified their hearts by faith.” What a powerful statement. God makes no distinction between Jew and Gentile. Salvation is not based on nationality, tradition, or keeping religious laws. It is received by faith alone. That is the very foundation of the Christian faith. Everything centres on the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection. The believers in the Old Testament were saved by looking forward in faith to the coming Messiah. Today, we are saved by looking back in faith to the finished work of Christ. The object of our faith is the same Saviour; only the direction in which we look has changed.

What happens when a healthy desire to see people come to Christ becomes an obsession with numbers, relevance, resources, and growth? Greg Davis visits with Dr. Andrew Root, author of Baal and the Gods of More: Rescuing Church Growth from Idolatry.Root draws a provocative connection between the Old Testament struggle with Baal worship in 1 and 2 Kings and the modern church's preoccupation with growth. He explains how the economic expansion of America, the rise of the modern church-growth movement, and the decline of Christianity's cultural influence have combined to create a powerful temptation: believing that “more” is what will save the church.The conversation explores Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal, the danger of turning ministry into a numbers game, the difference between human striving and trusting God, and what genuine faithfulness and success might look like when the church stops measuring everything by growth.Is the church trying to build God's kingdom—or simply trying to survive? This thought-provoking conversation challenges pastors, church leaders, and believers to reconsider what it means to be faithful in an age obsessed with “more.”

Neh 3:15-5:13, 1 Cor 7:25-40, Ps 32:1-11, Pr 21:5-7

Today we're studying Job 2:9-10 in just one minute! Grab your scriptures and let's dive into them together!And grab study guides for the whole family here: -Grab Kristen's copies of helpful PDFs and study guides here: https://shop.kristenwalkersmith.com/products/ Check out her YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@startherestudy/shorts- To get Cali's scripture study guide for adults click here: https://comefollowmestudy.com/shop/ Discount code: OMSSOr purchase on Amazon: https://a.co/d/07HMYuKoGet our NEW 365-day Old Testament daily devotional book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0p3Ds0t Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick answers a wide range of questions from naming children after saints and the nuances of choosing Old Testament versus New Testament names to the subtle reverence Catholics bring to sacred images and Eucharistic practices, even when these collide with interfaith customs in hospital chapels. The discussion winds through what truly fulfills the Sunday Mass obligation post-COVID, explores Catholic marriage validity for non-Catholics and atheists, and lands on the thorny art of sharing moral beliefs without sounding judgmental. Denise (email) - Is it preferable to name a baby after a New Testament person rather than an Old Testament person? I understand that there is nothing wrong with using an Old Testament name, but is it better to use a New Testament one? And is using a saint's name the best of all? (01:00) Mark (email) - I recently received a Divine Mercy visor clip for my truck. When I’m not using the visor to block the sun, Jesus is upright and watching over me. However, when I need to block the sun with the visor in order to see better while driving, the image is upside down. I worry that having The Divine Mercy image upside down while using my visor is somehow disrespectful. What is your opinion? (05:00) Emily (email) - According to Redemptoris Sacramentum (paragraphs 183–184), every Catholic has a serious duty to protect the Eucharist from any irreverence or abuse. What can I do when a hospital chapel has a tabernacle (but no crucifix), the tabernacle is pushed to the side next to Muslim prayer rugs and Qurans, an electric sanctuary lamp, and a multi-religion pillar on the main altar? (06:35) Theresa - Is it okay to watch Mass online instead of physically going to Mass when it doesn't work out with things going on in your life? (11:25) Sebastian - What authority governs non-Catholic marriages that they must have children? How can we live an upright life voicing concerns but not be a morality cop (14:43) Anne - I'm a Roman Catholic Chaplain for a hospital. We have electric light in our chapel where Jesus is, but it’s also interdenominational chapel. (27:25) Sean - How would you help a close parish friend who is suddenly consuming marijuana? (35:56) Cyra – If someone is baptized Catholic marrying baptized Christian, and not married in faith or not wanting kids, is that a valid marriage? (38:36) Lisa - Priest asked a family to bring home the blessed sacrament for the weekend. Is that okay to do? (45:40)

Welcome to Day 2925 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2925 – Wisdom Nuggets – Proverbs 1:1-7 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2925 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2925 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Master Compass – Unlocking the Purpose and Foundation of Wisdom On our previous expedition, on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty-Three, we stood at the soaring, galactic summit of Psalm One Hundred Fifty, listening as every created thing that has breath lifted one unified, thunderous crescendo of praise to the Sovereign King of heaven! For many months, we traveled through the sacred sanctuary of the Psalter, learning how to worship, how to pray, and how to bring our rawest emotions into the celestial courtroom of the Almighty. Today, as we step onto Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty-Five of our ongoing trek, we are crossing a monumental threshold! We are stepping off the high mountain of praise and crossing over onto the practical, dusty trails of the Book of Proverbs. If the Psalms taught us how to look upward in awe at the heavenly council, the Book of Proverbs teaches us how to look outward—giving us a time-tested, practical field guide for how to walk with integrity, navigate complex relationships, manage our resources, and leave a living legacy. Having personally walked through a chapter of Proverbs every single day for over forty years, I can tell you with absolute certainty that this book is not merely a collection of isolated fortune-cookie maxims; it is an inspired, life-giving ecosystem designed to shape your character from the inside out. Let us open our hearts to the foundational header of this magnificent royal manual, as recorded in the New Living Translation, starting in Proverbs chapter one, verse one. These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel. In this opening line, Solomon introduces himself with his full royal pedigree: “These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel.” To fully grasp the profound weight of this verse, we must view it through the fascinating lens of the Ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. In the ancient Near East, kingship was never viewed as a mere secular administrative office; the king of Israel was understood to be the earthly representative—the unique viceroy—of Yahweh Himself! When Solomon inherited the throne from his father David, he stood as Yahweh's anointed representative on earth. When Yahweh appeared to young Solomon in a dream at Gibeon and asked what he desired, Solomon did not ask for military conquest, vast personal wealth, or long life. Instead, he asked for a discerning mind to govern God's people with cosmic justice. God granted him divine wisdom that surpassed all the sages of the ancient world. Therefore, when we read Proverbs, we are not just reading human philosophy; we are entering into royal court curriculum! This was the training manual used in the Jerusalem palace to train young leaders, princes, and administrators how to rule in harmony with the divine order established by the Creator Himself. Having established his royal authority, Solomon immediately unveils the primary mission statement of the entire book, grouping together the deeply connected thoughts in verse two and verse three. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. Look at the rich, multi-layered vocabulary Solomon utilizes here! He declares that the purpose of these proverbs is to impart “wisdom and discipline,” and to help people lead “disciplined and successful lives,” doing “what is right, just, and fair.” In the original Hebrew, the word for wisdom is chokmah—which does not mean abstract academic knowledge or a high IQ. Chokmah literally means applied skill! It is the practical craftsmanship of living life well according to divine design. Solomon pairs chokmah with musar, which translates as “discipline,” “instruction,” or moral correction. True wisdom requires the humility to be trained, shaped, and corrected when we wander off the trail. Notice, too, the ultimate fruit of this discipline: it enables us to practice what is "right, just, and fair." In Hebrew, these three words—tzedek, mishpat, and meisharim—form the precise triad used throughout the Old Testament to describe the foundation of Yahweh's own heavenly throne! When we live lives characterized by righteousness, justice, and fairness, we are actively bringing the moral order of heaven down into our everyday earthly relationships. Solomon now expands the scope of his audience, demonstrating that this royal curriculum is designed for every single traveler on the road of life, weaving together the logical thoughts found in verse four, verse five, and verse six. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. Consider the marvelous, universal inclusivity of these three verses! Solomon identifies two distinct groups of people who desperately need this wisdom. First, he speaks to "the simple" and "the young." In the Hebrew mind, "the simple"—the pethi—does not mean someone who lacks intelligence; it describes someone who is open-minded, uncommitted, naive, and easily led astray by the loudest voice in the marketplace. The "young" lack life experience and battle-tested discernment. For them, Proverbs functions as a protective shield, offering instant discernment, practical knowledge, and foresight before they make catastrophic mistakes. But then, look at verse five! Solomon pivots and says, "Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser!" No one ever graduates from the school of wisdom! Whether you are a young person just stepping onto the trail, or a seasoned trekker who has walked with God for decades, there are always deeper layers of insight to uncover. Solomon invites us to become spiritual detectives, exploring the deep meaning, parables, and riddles—the chida—woven into the fabric of creation and scripture. Finally, Solomon reaches the majestic, unshakeable cornerstone of the entire Book of Proverbs—the ultimate motto that governs all true knowledge—as recorded in verse seven. Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Here stands the master compass of human existence: "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline!" This single verse serves as the theological hinge upon which the entire book swings. In the ancient Near Eastern world, people lived in constant dread of volatile pagan gods, attempting to manipulate spiritual powers through magic and superstition. But "the fear of Yahweh"—Yirat Yahweh—is something entirely different! It is not a paralyzing, cowering terror. Rather, it is a posture of profound reverent awe, holy wonder, submission, and absolute alignment with the Supreme Creator of the universe. It is recognizing that God is God, and we are not! When you begin with the fear of the Lord, your mind is properly calibrated to reality. You recognize that Yahweh sits enthroned over the celestial assembly, and that His laws reflect the true nature of reality. In stark contrast stands the ewil—the "fool." In Proverbs, a fool is not someone with a low intellectual capacity; a fool is someone who is morally arrogant, someone who despises instruction, rejects discipline, and arrogantly insists on being the master of their own fate. The fool tries to navigate the treacherous trails of life with a broken compass, while the wise trekker anchors every step in the reverent fear of God. As we set out on this exciting new series through Proverbs, let us resolve to be humble, eager learners. We are not just collecting ancient trivia; we are acquiring the divine skill set needed to live disciplined, successful, and honorable lives that leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. Keep your heart open as wisdom calls out to us at the very start of our journey, and let the fear of the Lord be your guiding star every single day. If you found this podcast insightful, please subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of, ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a...

Jeremiah 18-22

To set up his corrective letter, Paul reminds the Colossians that their pastor Epaphras was a faithful minister of Christ and that he had preached to them the truth of the gospel. The gospel has been pointing to Christ since the Old Testament, and it is the only message with the transformative power from God to change us. When we focus on Christ, faith, love and hope come forth as the fruit of hearing the gospel. VF-2258 Colossians 1:3-12 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2026 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved

It's Wayback Wednesday, with another interview from our archives. This week, in response to the new Steven Spielberg film Disclosure Day, we present our interview with paranormal researcher and author Nick Redfern about his book Final Events.First released October 23, 2010IT'S RARE that new information emerges in UFO research, but we're honored this week to feature a man who's managed to disclose the existence of a group that's remained under the radar of ufologists for over 60 years.Researcher and author Nick Redfern (www.nickredfern.com/) discusses his new book Final Events and the Secret Government Group on Demonic UFOs and the Afterlife (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933665483?ie=UTF8&tag=peeringintoda-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1933665483), in which he describes a secret group inside the U.S. intelligence community called the Collins Elite.Formed in the wake of the 1947 Roswell crash, the Collins Elite came to believe that UFOs are the product of fallen angels who want to harvest human souls, and that radical action — imposition of an Old Testament form of morals and dogma on a planetary scale — is needed to save humanity from a hellish end.Final Events is a must-read for anyone who sees through the thin scientific veneer of the UFO phenomenon. The Collins Elite, if Redfern's sources were telling the truth, are not Christians. Christ never called his followers to literally conquer the world and make disciples by force, which logic tells us doesn't work anyway.Sadly, there are those who either can not or will not make a distinction between true followers of Jesus Christ and those who seek dominion in His name.Follow us!• X: @viewfrombunker (https://x.com/viewfrombunker) | @sharonkgilbert (https://x.com/sharonkgilbert) | @derekgilbert (https://x.com/derekgilbert)• Telegram: t.me/gilberthouse• Substack: gilberthouse.substack.com | sharonkgibert.substack.com• YouTube: @GilbertHouse (https://youtube.com/@gilberthouse) | @UnravelingRevelation (https://youtube.com/@unravelingrevelation)• Facebook.com/viewfromthebunker

God's people have always been a celebratory people! From the Old Testament through the New Testament, we see God's people celebrating with song and dance. They celebrated victories, certain days, and often—just the fact that God had been so good to them! Join Eric and Gena in this episode as they point out the importance, in family life, of the celebration! Times that we stop to celebrate bring fun, togetherness, and many lifelong memories. In the rush of life, we can't overlook all the reasons we have to celebrate—and to celebrate BIG!

Daily Dose of Hope August 12, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 6   Prayer:  Almighty God, We come to you today with humble hearts.  We are broken and we need you.  Help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you this morning.  Help us set aside distractions so we might hear your voice.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us just focus on Jesus...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently deep-diving into the book of Genesis.  Today's reading is Genesis 6.   The first part of this chapter is very strange.  Let me just go ahead and say that.  Who were the sons of God and the daughters of men?  It is beginning to sound more like Greek mythology than the Bible.  What is going on here?  There are several possible options.   The first theory is that the sons of God are fallen angels.  In the Old Testament, the phrase sons of God elsewhere refers to angels, particularly in the book of Job. But a problem with this theory is Jesus' statement in Matthew 22:30, which indicates that angels do not marry. There really isn't any evidence in Scripture to make us believe that angels have a gender or the ability to reproduce.   Other theories are that the sons of God are powerful human rulers or godly descendants of Seth who intermarried with wicked descendants of Cain.  But human males marrying ordinary human females does not account for why the offspring were "giants" or "heroes of old, men of renown."  Additionally, why would God be so angry as to send the flood if he never specifically forbade these powerful humans or descendants of Seth to marry ordinary human women or descendants of Cain?  It seems that the flood and God's judgment is linked to this section of Genesis 6.  Such harsh consequences points to very horrible sin.  Marriage and mating between fallen angels with human women would seem to qualify.   What about Matthew 22:30 when Jesus says that angels do not marry?  Well, the fact that God's holy angels do not marry does not mean that Satan cannot pervert sexuality in this world.  We've seen in Scripture that angels can appear in human form.  Thus, fallen angels could possibly marry and have sexual intercourse with human women, and it would make sense that God would be really, really angry about that.  I would love your thoughts on this.   This leads into how corrupt the world had become.  Humanity had become so very evil, so much so that God regretted making people.  And God basically decides to clean everything up.  So he has Noah build an ark.  He and his family will be the remnant remaining to restart humanity.   I've had hard conversations with people about this passage.  I mean, what kind of god would kill all the living over all the earth except for one family and a few animals?  How do we explain this to our unbelieving friends?   When we look at this story through modern eyes, it is really harsh.  But we have to at least try to look at through the viewpoint of the ancient audience.  God is incredibly sorrowful, grieving even, over the sinfulness of his creation.  He isn't mean and wrathful, like the gods of the Mesopotamians and the other ancient nations.  He doesn't plan on randomly striking people down.  He is still a saving God.  There is only one faithful person on the earth and God plans to save him and his family.  God is intentional, rather than impulsive.  He has a plan for humanity and he will carry it out.    More on this tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

What does it take to hold on to our faith all the way to the end? It takes choices. Join us as Pastor Steve continues our series, "BC: Finding Jesus in the Old Testament."

In this reflection, we dive into Jesus' radical command in Matthew 5:37: "All you need to say is simply ‘Yes' or ‘No.'"Beginning with a personal story about keeping three grandchildren every Thursday night and the life lesson of following through on our word, we explore why Jesus' teaching on oath-taking completely dismantled first-century legal loopholes.Tracing the Old Testament pattern through Hosea and Jeremiah, we examine how easily we fall into "complacent religiosity"—singing songs of surrender on Sunday while quietly leaving backdoors open for comfort, status, and control during the week. But the Gospel message brings hope beyond our cycle of backsliding: where our promises fail, Jesus walked in perfect, unwavering obedience to the cross.Join us as we pull up a chair, spend time in God's Word, and learn what it means to rest in Christ's persistent mercy when our own word falters.Key TakeawaysUndivided Discipleship: Why a true "Yes" to Christ requires a decisive "No" to modern idols of security, approval, and comfort.1st-Century Context: How Jesus confronted a culture of binding vs. non-binding oath loopholes, calling His followers to radical, transparent integrity.Gospel Hope: Why redemption depends entirely on God's faithful covenant love, not our ability to white-knuckle our way into perfection.Scriptures ReferencedMatthew 5:37 (NIV) — Anchor ScriptureJeremiah 2:2, 13 (NIV)Hosea 5:3–4 (The Message)Hosea 11:8–9 (NIV)Jeremiah 31:31, 33 (NIV)Romans 5:8, 20 (NIV)2 Timothy 2:13 (NIV)Galatians 5:1 (NIV)Reflection Questions for Your WeekWhere has a past commitment to God or loved ones drifted into a half-hearted "maybe"?What idols of comfort, security, or approval are competing for your "yes"?Where do you spot subtle patterns of backsliding or drift in your own walk?How does knowing your redemption rests on God's faithfulness—not your perfection—reshape your heart when you stumble?Share the WordIf this episode encouraged you, please consider sharing it with a friend and leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. New episodes publish weekly!

Why do so many Christians believe that LGBTQ+ theology is biblical? From the Old Testament to the teachings of Jesus, the Bible teaches that homosexuality and transgenderism is a sin. Lets look at why, but also how do we treat those that subscribe and teach this kind of thing.

Adam and Eve knew it for as long as they knew God. They experienced it under tragic circumstances, yet on that day when they needed it most, they experienced it in a powerful and comforting way. The day that they fell into sin, and brought the entirety of the human race down with them, God came to them with a promise - a promise of forgiveness and hope and life.And that promise was repeated generation after generation to God's Old Testament people, through Noah and Abraham, through Jacob and Joseph and Moses. That promise sustained them throughout their history, through their time in Egypt and in the wilderness and right into the place that God had long before promised would be the homeland for his people.    That's where our summer podcast series begins. This summer on Most Certainly True Podcast, we will be walking through about 400 years of Old Testament history. Beginning with Joshua and commencing at the end of First Samuel -  all under the theme The God of the Promise. We'll see and be encouraged through this devotional walk that God is faithful to all his promises especially as we see him fulfill those promises in big ways to his chosen people. We'll see God make good on his promises all along the way, using these sub-themes:  Joshua - LandJudges - DeliveranceRuth - Redemption1 Samuel - KingdomWe hope that you can join us in this devotional walk through these Old Testament books.  We'll read through them, chapter by chapter, and post an episode on each chapter that we read. We hope that you join us so that you can see just what the Israelites of old saw - that God is The God of the Promise.  If you have any questions about this series or our Most Certainly True Podcast, please reach out to Pastor Hackmann at bhackmann@gracedowntown.org. If you'd like to learn more about Grace Lutheran Church, check out our website www.gracedowntown.org. FollowApple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicRSS Feed

Neh 1:1-3:14, 1 Cor 7:1-24, Ps 31:19-24, Pr 21:4

The name Adonai refers to God's absolute sovereignty over creation. Today, Barry Cooper explains the most exalted title used to describe God in the Old Testament. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/simply-put/adonai/ Study Reformed theology with a free resource bundle from Ligonier Ministries: https://grow.ligonier.org/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” Hands down, one of the most important scriptures ever. Let me share my thoughts on Job 13:15. And grab study guides for the whole family here: - To get Cali's scripture study guide for adults click here: https://comefollowmestudy.com/shop/ Discount code: OMSSOr purchase on Amazon: https://a.co/d/07HMYuKo-Grab Kristen's copies of helpful PDFs and study guides here: https://shop.kristenwalkersmith.com/products/ Check out her YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@startherestudy/shortsGet our NEW 365-day Old Testament daily devotional book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0p3Ds0t Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick explores topics from male athletes declaring themselves WNBA prospects and the logic of self-identification in sports, to the boundaries of parish involvement in potentially scandalous situations. He engages with questions about Communion practices, liturgical changes since Vatican II, capital punishment through scriptural lenses, and the historic dispute over the Filioque in the Creed. With sharp shifts from cultural hot-buttons to parish dilemmas and theological puzzles, his conversation keeps listeners guessing where the next unexpected connection will spark. Audio: Royce White – I sometimes identify as a transgender woman and I should get to play with my fellow queens - https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2086811506499281089 (00:15) Audio: Ex-NBA player Enes Kanter declares himself eligible for the WNBA draft - https://x.com/i/chat/g993496505750179840 Patrick continues his conversation with Jose from the end of the last hour. There’s a woman at his church who is teaching catechism classes to children who is in the middle of a divorce and is dressing immodestly. (04:03) Brian - Isn't the New Testament the new covenant between man and God and not the Old Testament? Also how do we judge people who come into the faith? (12:32) Jerry - Why do certain churches where I live offer both the body and blood and others only the body. What about our unity as a Church? (18:57) John – Why did the Catholic church change the Father and Son filioque (27:34) George - I have been at masses where the blood spilled on the floor. Seemed that people did not understand how serious it was. (36:40) James - How were we able to start receiving communion in the hand? What books and resources do you suggest reading about this? (41:58) Suzie - Our priest was giving intinction by holding the chalice and patten in one hand. We donated intinction set but he refuses to use it. (46:15)

We welcome back child advocate attorney Liz Yore to discuss Europe's growing migration crisis, including the mass crossings at Ceuta and Lampedusa and questions surrounding unaccompanied minors. How should Catholics respond to the Church's response to the crisis, and what will continued mass migration mean for European society and its Christian communities? Father finishes with Timely Thoughts.   Show Notes Lampedusa Migrant Production: The Gospel According to PR Stunts ceuta 2.0: armies march on their stomachs The Foreigner as Curse: A Holistic Reading of the Old Testament on Migration Ceuto: the failure of liberal immigration rhetoric White Slavery in the Barbary States Ignorant or Wicked? Does God "loathe" the Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury? The Spiritual Crisis Destroying Europe The Impossibility of Proposition Nations The Rape Gang Inquiry Report Yore Children Ban Sharia Ceuta: The Time-Lapse Photo Of Western Collapse The $1.2B Refugee Services Program that Funds Pro-Asylum Religious Groups Catholic bishops of Massachusetts statement opposing late-term abortion bill iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

True Biblical Worship vs. Strange Fire: What Does God Really Want? | KIB 543 DESCRIPTION Welcome to Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Episode #543 with Dr. Michael Lake and Mary Lou Lake. What does God actually desire from those who worship Him? Modern Christianity often defines worship primarily through music, singing, emotional experiences, and church services. But Scripture presents something far deeper. True biblical worship is not merely an event we attend—it is a covenant lifestyle of reverence, obedience, holiness, truth, thanksgiving, humility, service, repentance, and wholehearted devotion to God. In this episode, Dr. Michael Lake examines the biblical theology of worship from both the Old and New Testaments. Psalm 24 reveals the necessity of clean hands and a pure heart, while Jesus declares that the Father is seeking those who will worship Him "in spirit and truth." This teaching also confronts a serious problem within modern Christianity: worship can become religious performance while the believer's daily life remains disconnected from God. Scripture reveals that obedience itself is worship. Holiness is worship. Serving others can become worship. Thanksgiving is worship. Repentance restores true fellowship with God. Even studying Scripture to discover what pleases God becomes an expression of devotion to Him. Dr. Lake also examines Cain, Nadab and Abihu, Saul, Uzziah, and Israel's golden calf to demonstrate a sobering biblical principle: sincerity does not give humanity the authority to redefine worship. God determines how He is to be worshiped. The episode concludes with a warning that much of contemporary worship risks producing "strange fire" rather than Christlikeness—and a call for the Remnant to return to worship that transforms the worshiper and exalts God alone. IN THIS EPISODE: • Why worship is a lifestyle rather than an event • What it means to worship God in spirit and truth • The Hebrew and Greek concepts behind biblical worship • Why obedience is an act of worship • Why God requires holiness from His worshipers • The relationship between thanksgiving, praise, and worship • Why biblical study itself can become an act of devotion • How religious performance can replace genuine worship • Why worship must remain God-centered rather than man-centered • Cain, Nadab and Abihu, Saul, Uzziah, and unauthorized worship • The danger of "strange fire" in the modern Church • How true worship produces transformation and Christlikeness • Why worship and obedience are powerful components of spiritual warfare Mary Lou also discusses prayer, spiritual warfare, and the importance of recognizing that the heavens belong to Almighty God—not the powers of darkness. The episode opens with a call for believers to respond to spiritual opposition by declaring biblical truth and magnifying the Creator rather than fearing the enemy. If this teaching strengthens your walk with God, please: Subscribe to Biblical Life TV Like this video Share it with someone who desires deeper biblical worship Leave a comment telling us what God has been teaching you about worship Download the teaching notes and study these principles for yourself. Visit Kingdom Intelligence Briefing for additional teachings and resources.  https://www.kingdomintelligencebriefing.com Thank you to our faithful partners around the world who make Biblical Life TV possible. Preparing the Remnant to stand firmly upon the Word of God and fulfill His purposes in the last days. TIMELINE 00:00 – Opening: Preparing the Remnant 01:29 – Welcome to KIB Episode #543 01:55 – Mary Lou: Spiritual warfare and the August 12 heavenly events 05:00 – Declaring God as Creator over occult counterfeits 08:30 – Prayer, spiritual attacks, and recognizing enemy strategies 15:01 – A powerful testimony of thanksgiving after losing a job 16:14 – Realigning believers with biblical worship and prayer 17:20 – Concerns about digital Bibles and preserving physical copies 20:00 – True biblical worship: A lifestyle, not an event 20:45 – Psalm 24: Clean hands and a pure heart 23:00 – Worshiping God in spirit and truth 26:32 – The question every worshiper should ask: What does God want? 27:30 – Hebrew and Greek meanings of worship 30:00 – Biblical study as an expression of worship 31:30 – Isaiah 29: Lip service versus heart devotion 34:00 – Religious performance and modern worship culture 36:00 – Spirit and truth: Avoiding emotionalism and dead religion 38:23 – The Psalms as the prayer book and hymnal of God's people 39:30 – Obedience is better than sacrifice 41:19 – Why the Old Testament provides essential biblical definitions 42:18 – God desires holiness 43:15 – Cover-up culture and accountability in Christian ministry 44:45 – Worship with reverence and godly fear 46:35 – Thanksgiving as worship 48:11 – Worship, obedience, and spiritual warfare 49:11 – Worship as preparation for hearing from God 52:30 – Praise must remain God-centered 54:38 – God desires humility 55:59 – Repentance, love, justice, and mercy 57:30 – Becoming a living sacrifice 59:05 – Why Sunday worship cannot compensate for an ungodly week 1:01:00 – Good works, generosity, and worship through service 1:02:46 – Christ-centered worship 1:03:20 – Cain, Nadab and Abihu, Saul, Uzziah, and the golden calf 1:04:41 – God determines how He is worshiped 1:05:15 – True worship produces transformation 1:06:15 – Strange fire in modern Christianity 1:07:05 – Worship must honor God rather than entertain us 1:09:10 – Closing prayer: Becoming true worshipers 1:09:47 – Biblical Life TV closing HASHTAGS #BiblicalWorship #TrueWorship #StrangeFire #SpiritAndTruth #BiblicalLifeTV #KingdomIntelligenceBriefing #SpiritualWarfare #Holiness #ChristianWorship #BibleStudy #Remnant #MichaelLake

Half of all U.S. teenagers say they already have a business idea they're passionate about pursuing. That's the headline finding host Justin Forman digs into with David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group, in this data-rich conversation about a generation quietly gearing up to build. David has spent his career turning research into a roadmap for the church, and in this episode he brings fresh findings on entrepreneurially minded teens — their hope, their hunger for mentors, and the pressure they carry to succeed. Justin and David trace the thread from Lego sets and Shark Tank reruns to the Old Testament story of Daniel, building a case for what David calls a “theology of influence”: preparing young people for a level of impact none of us can fully predict. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation exploring Barna's newest research on faith, identity, and the entrepreneurial generation — and what parents, pastors, and business leaders can do with it. Key Topics: • New Barna data: 49% of U.S. teenagers already have a business idea they're passionate about pursuing • A “theology of influence” — what Daniel's story in Babylon teaches us about preparing the next generation • Why entrepreneurially minded teens report 85% more hope about the future • Growing up in “digital Babylon”: raising kids among tech built to capture their attention • The mentorship gap — and why entrepreneurial teens are 88% more likely to already have one • Identity formation in a world where AI is reshaping the whole idea of a career • A practical next step for families: Faith Driven Entrepreneur for Teens David Kinnaman is CEO of Barna Group, the research firm he has led for over two decades, helping churches, nonprofits, and business leaders understand cultural and generational trends through a faith lens. He is the author of several books on faith and the next generation, and continues to lead original research at the intersection of faith, work, and identity. This conversation is for any parent, pastor, or entrepreneur wondering whether the next generation is ready to build — and whether the church is ready to help them. Notable Quotes: “We need to prepare this generation with a theology of influence that God can and will use them in their faithfulness.” — David Kinnaman “We prepare a generation for success, but we don't prepare them for suffering.” — David Kinnaman “I think we've seen the funeral of the lone wolf over the last decade.” — Justin Forman Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.

Jeremiah 14-17

Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Bob Wilkin and Philippe Sterling are having a discussion about Old Testament history, Samuel and Saul. What did Samuel mean when he said […]

Check out the new Bible Study App from the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. https://stpaulcenter.com/app?utm_source=keith_nester&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=app_launch_2026   In this episode of Catholic Feedback, Keith Nester sits down with Franciscan University of Steubenville Theology professor Dr. Jeff Morrow to discuss his remarkable conversion to Catholicism and the biblical themes that transformed his understanding of the Christian faith. Together, they explore how the story of the Bible—from Genesis to Revelation—reveals God's covenant plan, the Church, the sacraments, worship, and the fulfillment of the Old Testament in Christ. Dr. Morrow shares how these themes became impossible to ignore and ultimately led him home to the Catholic Church. In this interview, you'll discover: Dr. Morrow's journey into the Catholic Church The biblical "big picture" that points toward Catholicism Advice for Christians seeking the fullness of the faith Whether you're Catholic, Protestant, or simply searching for a deeper understanding of Scripture, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to read the Bible with fresh eyes.   Thank you to the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology for hosting this interview. https://stpaulcenter.com/   Catholic Feedback is a production of Down to Earth Ministry, which exists to provide encouragement and resources for those considering, converting, and growing in Catholicism. Subscribe to our mailing list: Text D2E to 66866  

Father describes the meaning of today's Old Testament scripture.

Send us Fan MailWhat kind of person walks away from the greatest opportunity of his generation? As the ancient world collapsed and ambitious rulers raced to build new kingdoms, God called one man to leave it all behind. In this episode, we explore the historical world of Abraham, the rise of the Amorites, the fall of Ur, and the birth of Babylon to discover why Abraham's greatest act of faith wasn't conquering a city—it was refusing one. Together we'll see how God began a new people, not through political power or military might, but through faithful obedience, setting the stage for His plan to bless every nation on earth.

Prayer is more than a simple request—it is an invitation to trust in the power, goodness, and faithfulness of God. In this devotional, Lynette Kittle explores what it means to pray with genuine faith and believe that God is able to answer, provide, and move in ways beyond what we can accomplish on our own. Through the story of the father who cried out, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” in Mark 9:23-24, we are reminded that God does not ask us to rely on our own strength or add our own efforts to make prayer effective. Instead, He invites us to come to Him with confidence, trusting that all things are possible through Him. When we struggle to believe, prayer itself becomes a place where God strengthens our faith and teaches us to depend on Him. Highlights: Discover why prayer is enough when we trust the One we are praying to. Explore the difference between asking God in faith and doubting His ability to work. Learn from the father in Mark 9 who brought both his faith and his doubts to Jesus. See how Scripture reveals God’s power to do what seems impossible. Be encouraged to stop limiting your prayers based on what you think God can do. Reflect on how surrendering your unbelief can deepen your relationship with God. Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter. Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword Join the Conversation Where do you find yourself struggling to believe that God can answer your prayers? What would it look like to bring your doubts and requests to Him with greater faith? Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/ Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Is Prayer Enough on Its Own? By Lynette Kittle Bible Reading: “‘If you can’?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’” - Mark 9:23 How often do we pray, believing it will take more than prayer to receive our answer? By that meaning, do we, or someone else, need to do anything in addition to praying for God to answer us? Do we tend to believe that we have to give money, or volunteer, along with prayer? That it’s not enough in itself for God to answer and move on our behalf? Are we struggling to believe, thinking we can’t just ask and rely on Him to answer our prayers without adding to them in some way through our own efforts? Fox News reports that a study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Department of Family and Community Medicine found that, “Adult patients experienced significant relief from pain and anxiety after just five minutes of in-person prayer,” more than from listening to five minutes of music. Scripture describes how David, as a shepherd boy, played his harp to soothe King Saul, so history documents the popular saying “music soothes the savage beast.” As 1 Samuel 16:23 describes, “Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.” If God gave David’s music the power to bring relief, how much more has He given prayer the power to intervene in our lives? When We Ask, Do We Believe Jesus Can? Mark 9:22 reveals a man who wasn’t sure if Jesus could help his son who was being tormented, explaining and asking, “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” I love how Jesus answers, questioning the father and clarifying to him that it’s not a question of whether He can. It’s a given, because everything is possible with God, it just depends on our belief in Him. It’s not up to Him, but up to us to believe, because how many times before praying do we preface our requests by “Lord, if you can”? God doesn’t want us asking Him if He can; He wants us to believe that He is more than enough, as Jesus taught in John 15:7: “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” He is calling us to believe that all things are possible with Him, as He explained in Matthew 19:26: “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” So if we struggle to believe, lacking in faith when we ask God, we can follow this father’s example as described in Mark 9:24: “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” Prayer Is More Than Enough A powerful example of prayer being enough is found in the Old Testament book of Joshua. “On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: ‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon’” (Joshua 10:12). Many of us wouldn’t even attempt to pray such an unlikely and seemingly impossible prayer. Yet, Joshua did ask, and when he did, the following happened: “So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day” (Joshua 10:13). Sadly, many of us disqualify our requests to God before even asking Him, deciding that we’re asking too much or more than God can do. We make the decision ahead of time, rather than asking Him and seeing what happens. As James 4:2 explains, “You do not have because you do not ask God. Intersecting Faith & Life: Do you find yourself praying, but believing it’s not enough? Ask God to help your unbelief and to teach you how to believe that He can, and that prayer is more than enough. Further Reading: Does Prayer Really Change Things? 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The Old Testament, Walter Brueggemann said, is an old text that simply refuses to stay old. "It reads like it was written yesterday." For him, God offers no artificial closure, but is active in the meantime, and at peace with the "unfinished." Walter Brueggemann died on June 5, 2025, at the age of ninety-two, and his own influence is unfinished. This episode is from the Conversing archives: a conversation Mark Labberton hosted with Brueggemann at Fuller Seminary for the 2015 Fuller Forum "Justice, Grace, and Law in the Mission of God." Brueggemann was an Old Testament scholar for the sake of the church, the author of over one hundred books including The Prophetic Imagination, and came to the Bible as a text-wrestler, "comfortable with collisions," taking the Hebrew text and his own life as an artist with equal and total seriousness. He describes his method of exegesis written longhand, "at the end of his pen," catching himself speaking the words as he writes them. Together they discuss the artistry of biblical language and why art is inherently subversive; Abraham Joshua Heschel on the suffering of God in Jeremiah; the pastor as scribe rather than prophet; the violence of God in the Old Testament and what it means to call it recovery; and justice as the "willingness to be inconvenienced." Brueggemann closes with Psalm 73: " Whom have I in heaven, and who do I desire on Earth but you?" Walter Brueggemann was the McPheeters Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary. Episode Highlights A Scholar for the Church: "It took me a while to figure out that I wanted to be a scholar for the church and not for the academy … you wanna maintain your credibility in the academy, but it's not where you live." On the Old Testament: "It's so Jewish, and Jewishness means that it's conflicted and multi-vocal and multilayered and complex, and that's the nature of the text, and I think that's the nature of the God who indwells the text." The Everlasting Text: "It is an old text, but I always said to my students, it reads like it was written yesterday … it is an old text that refuses to stay old." On Subversiveness: "Art is inherently subversive because it wants to show us reality in a way that we have never before seen it … what we always wanna do with art or with the Bible is that we wanna cram it into the categories of the familiar." On Unfinishedness: "This is a God who stays faithful in the unfinishedness … in some ways, God isn't finished becoming God yet. So there is more light to break forth yet in our midst." On Fixing Everything: "Our society is about to forget what it means to be human in a technological, capitalist environment … The dominant value system of our society believes that everything can be fixed." Justice as Inconvenience: "I don't mind dying for Christ, but I don't wanna be inconvenienced … so much of justice work is just being inconvenienced." About Walter Brueggemann Walter Brueggemann (1933–2025) was among the most widely read Old Testament scholars of the past century, author of more than one hundred books, including The Prophetic Imagination and Theology of the Old Testament. Born in Tilden, Nebraska, to a German Evangelical pastor, he studied at Elmhurst College, Eden Theological Seminary, Union Theological Seminary, and Saint Louis University. He taught at Eden from 1961 to 1986 and at Columbia Theological Seminary from 1986 until his retirement in 2003, holding the William Marcellus McPheeters chair in Old Testament. His final book, God of All Promises, was published posthumously in 2026. Helpful Links and Resources Walter Brueggemann's official website: https://www.walterbrueggemann.com/ In memoriam and Celebration of Life service webpage: https://www.walterbrueggemann.com/2025/06/05/in-memory/ Brueggemann on X: https://twitter.com/waltbrueggemann The Prophetic Imagination, 40th Anniversary Edition, Fortress Press: https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506449302/The-Prophetic-Imagination Show Notes In memoriam: Walter Brueggemann, 1933–2025; died June 5, 2025 at 92 Recorded at the 2015 Fuller Forum: "Justice, Grace, and Law in the Mission of God" A rural pastor father, plain in the pulpit and unmistakable in his passion Doctoral study at Union under James Muilenburg, a close friend of Abraham Joshua Heschel Choosing the church over the academy, and what that vocational choice cost Historical criticism as necessary but never sufficient Multivocal Scripture The Old Testament's Jewishness as conflict, layering, complexity An ancient text that reads like it was written yesterday Biblical exegesis in longhand Micah 4: beating swords into plowshares Ecumenism that doesn't coerce Particularity over universal generalization; the scandal of incarnation Heschel on the pathos of God Jeremiah 8 and 9:  "Oh, that I had bigger tear ducts because I must cry more than my eyes will permit me." Why aiming at a doctrinal or moral outcome turns interpretation coercive Wendell Berry, and the discovery that combinations of words do things Art as a refusal of the familiar Unfinishedness Congregations that want closure, and the anxiety of leaving things open Biblical literacy The violence of God read as recovery rather than projection Justice as planned inconvenience: meetings, showing up, critical mass Psalm 73, and coming to oneself in a world of commodity Why the pastoral task feels urgent in a society sure everything can be fixed #WalterBrueggemann #PropheticImagination #OldTestament #Conversing #MarkLabberton #Preaching #Theology Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment magazine and Fuller Seminary.

Christian kids, do you recall all those old warnings against fantasy fiction?[1. Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash.] Some people implied that if you made up too much stuff, you'd lose track of reality. Alas. For some cases, they’re absolutely right. Too many people are abusing God's gift of imagination. They cast people they do not know as villains in a fantasy world in which they are the big moral heroes. This habit is taking over social platforms and podcasts. How can Christian fans respond with wisdom? Episode sponsors Enclave Publishing: Winter's Dawn by Morgan L. Busse Realm Makers fundraiser for ongoing defamation lawsuit The Talismiths: The Secret Saboteur by M. L. Hodder King Justice: The Legend Begins by Evelyn M. Exley Mission update New at Lorehaven: Conqueror of Shadow and Light review Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild Concession stand Some “conspiracy theories” are issues of wisdom, not sin. And in fact, some ideas labeled “conspiracies” turn out to be true! For more, listen to our episode How Can Christians Engage Wisely With Conspiracy Theories? | with Mike Duran Or read Mike's article: Christians Who Engage Conspiracy Theories Must First Believe God's Sovereign Rule Yet we've always had seen conspiracy theories based on fiction. And today more people are building bigger and worse idols. This makes the problem more than foolishness. It's actual sin. And this false accusation hurts true people we know and respect. It also hurts people who still struggle after real abuse and lies. Maybe you've been hurt by a real offense by a trusted someone. In that case, you don't need people weaponizing your empathy. We'll give you strong Bible tools to defend your calling and time. 1. False accusers are hurting true people. By now you may know about the Realm Makers defamation suit. Our friends and allies, Scott and Becky Minor, are suing a defamer. Two weeks ago, they released their need for legal cost support. So far, they've reached nearlry $20,000 of a $50,000 funding goal. We support them with 20 percent of new Lorehaven sponsors. But first, about the opponent, don't just speculate. Donate! Scott and Becky's open letter with the fundraiser: Defamation Against Realm Makers & the Minors Standing Together for Truth: Protect the Realm Makers Community Dear Realm Makers Family, Authors, and Friends, If you've ever sat in a Realm Makers keynote, chatted on the RealmSphere, or exhaled once you found “your people” at our annual conference, you know how much creative Christians benefit from being a part of our community. Realm Makers has always sought to be a safe haven for Christian writers of speculative stories. Today, we're coming to you with hearts heavy with a burden that impacts many members of our creative family. For the past year, we have been fighting a devastating battle to protect not just ourselves, but all of you. But we've reached a point where we can no longer carry the weight alone, and we desperately need our community to stand with us. The Attack on Us All Since early 2025, our authors, Realm Makers, and we (Scott and Becky personally) have been the targets of a malicious campaign of online defamation. A podcast organization has published dozens of episodes leveling unthinkable accusations against us that include fabrications of child trafficking, cyberbullying, running a cult, and engaging in criminal conspiracies. THESE CLAIMS ARE CATEGORICALLY UNTRUE. If you want to take the deep dive into the events that precipitated the battle, we have created a page that should answer most questions here: https://www.realmmakers.com/lawsuit/ Initially, we hoped these claims were too outlandish to be taken seriously. We chose to monitor the situation and proceed prudently through the legal system rather than engage in a public online war. But despite our efforts to do things legally and with level heads, our attackers have only doubled down. New videos continue to be published—with one posting as recently as the end of June 2026—directly threatening not just Realm Makers' reputation, but also questioning the character of prominent members of the Christian writing community. The more we researched, the bigger we realized the issue was–we were just the most recent targets in our accuser's “information” campaign against a growing list of Christian authors. The repeated contact with or calling out of people we know and love goes back to 2012 or earlier. Exclusive statement from author Bryan Davis David Solomon has used multiple aliases over the years, but he has always been consistent in his demonizing of people whom he thinks have crossed him. Ever since I declined meeting with him at my home more than ten years ago because I had to go out of town, he has used various media to publicly accuse me of everything from an alliance with former VP Mike Pence to traffic hundreds of children internationally, to trying to bomb a church, to grooming children in a church I supposedly pastored, to conspiring with famous murderers across the country, and on and on and on. If anyone tries to do anything to stop him or even speak against him, that person becomes a fellow trafficker in his mind and joins in the circle of those he attacks. That's what happened to Scott and Becky Minor of Realm Makers. When David and his allies joined Realm Makers, they started spreading lies about me to other members, so Scott rightfully banned them from the group. Of course, that action made Scott and Becky targets for David's lies, and he found a podcaster who was willing to be a platform for a new round of absurd claims. Hoping to keep Realm Makers safe from attack, Scott started civil legal proceedings against David and the podcaster. As you all know, such action costs a lot of money, but Scott and Becky have stepped up to try to stop this lying grifter from hurting them or anyone else, which is why I support their fundraiser and I am thankful for their efforts. I would like prayer for myself and other authors who have been maliciously attacked by David, that people would not be deceived by him and that he would stop his evil actions. 2. Scripture condemns a malicious witness. This is a real problem, as grown-up people treat slander as truth. Even professing Christians repeat clear lies about whole groups. Whatever their motives, they're crossing into our business: fiction. Yet we know the difference between made-up stories and reality. They don't. Or they pretend they don't. They claim it's all true. These defamers raid reality for spare parts to fit in their narrative. They adapt real people, groups, and plotlines for their “fanfiction.” Who's the star? Often themselves. Or “you,” the faithful listener. But this episode isn't for or even about any specific false accuser. Nor is it about similar accusations, at scale, all over the world. Our audience: anyone who wonders if we must hear “both sides.” And anyone who thinks “better safe than sorry” in wrong ways. So now, let's explore how Scripture condemns all such figures. God’s word says Christians who accuse others have two options. First, if the offense is a personal sin issue, talk with the person. Or then try 2-3 witnesses. Or take the conflict to church leaders. Their job is to attempt to bring reconciliation (Matthew 18). Second, if the offense is about law, you need two-plus witnesses. And you need to take the matter before diligent judges. “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.” (Deuteronomy 19:15) Our own justice systems often reflect Old Testament principles. That's because God has ordained the civil magistrate (Romans 13). He also gives stern warnings against “a malicious witness.” “If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” (Deuteronomy 19:16–21) Defamers, even professing Christians, ignore these biblical laws. Instead they follow (and don't even argue for) a third option. They go onto podcasts to hire you as a backup “elder” or “judge.” But is that our job? To be a church elder or judge over this “case”? Jesus Christ Himself refused to get dragged into that (Luke 12:14)! So before we even listen to an accuser's words, we should ask: Did you take this to your church? Or to the civil magistrate? And if the reply is no: “Who appointed me a judge or an arbiter?” We can also discern a malicious witness who denies plain reality. Some accusers go further and have ulterior motives, like Sanballat. 3. Biblical heroes reject bad actors' attacks. Many biblical prophets and kings faced false accusations. And yet one man comes close to the Christian creator: Nehemiah. Here's a professional, a diplomat, a creative leader of exiled Jews. His book is mainly about his quest to build something new. Nehemiah longs to rebuild Jerusalem's wall and guard his people. Also, he's one of the few biblical authors to speak in first-person! Quick recap: the secular king sends Nehemiah to do this work. Nehemiah's position and calling are legitimate by all authorities. This quickly attracts jeering and slander by several villains. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.” (Nehemiah 2:19–20) What's their first tactic? False accusation of breaking the law. Nehemiah doesn't record a long defense. Just a quick rejoinder. Here he doesn't record their motives. Maybe people already knew. Commentaries like this one reveal his possible political rivalries. So keep that in mind with all his strategies. None are sincere. One chapter later, the enemies return. What do they do now? Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” (Nehemiah 4:1–4) No more legal threats now. Instead they just troll the builders. Watch now how Nehemiah responds. He knows not to feed them. Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders. (Nehemiah 4:5) What's next for Sanballat and co.? He escalates from trolling. But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. (Nehemiah 4:7–8) Today's similar tactics: death threats, doxxing, and swatting. Nehemiah responds with both prayer and wise self-defense. And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. (Nehemiah 4:9) So after legal threats, trolling, and violence plots, they get sneaky. Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. (Nehemiah 6:1–2) Today false accusers try this tactic: “I just want to meet with you.” “I think we got off on the wrong foot. Now let's talk. On my terms.” And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. (Nehemiah 6:3–4) Nehemiah responds professionally and brushes them aside. He avoids distractions. He focuses on the work he's called to do. This doesn't feel very “Christian.” After all, Sanballat needs God! And yet Nehemiah knows he's a proven bad-faith manipulator. Sanballat repeats the attempt. Nehemiah just repeats himself. No need for new arguments or attempts to persuade the accuser. He sticks to what he knows, grounded on the truth, and says no. What's next? They try the old “people say this about you” trick! In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.' And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” (Nehemiah 6:5–7) It's not Sanballat who says this. It's those other people out there! This is a flagrant appeal to our desire to protect our reputations. And it is “spiritual” concern-trolling of the worst possible sort. Frankly, Sanballat should have led with this one. It's fooled many. Important background: Nehemiah's people did sin against God. So he could have been vulnerable to “spiritual” accusations. Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands. (Nehemiah 6:8–9) He didn't buy it. He simply states they made all this up. We get another quick prayer in-narrative. Before one final trick. Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” (Nehemiah 6:10) Again, Sanballat should have tried this strategy earlier. It sounds so spiritual. The house of God! Only it's misused. It's almost persuasive, mixes truth with lies, and appeals to fear. But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. (Nehemiah 6:11–12) Our hero doesn't attempt some “spiritual” argument to Shemaiah. In fact, he refers to his own character and gives a simple refusal. That's because he knows this isn't a spiritual attack. It's political. Nehemiah's enemies resorted to cold hard cash as a motivator. In modern terms, we would say he recognizes foreign collusion. For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid. (Nehemiah 6:13–14) Deftly our hero avoids the trap. And prays to God for divine justice. He even calls out unnamed prophets who tried to intimidate him. One can only imagine the “spiritual” language they may have used. In all cases, Nehemiah knew none of the strategies were sincere. And in the end, he avoids every trap and keeps to the project. Today, similar villains will try any tricks to stop people of integrity. And today they may use what plays well: accusations of abuse. Not even Sanballat knew to try that tactic. It's often effective. That's because Scripture does warn about abusive leaders. But God's word equally warn about the malicious false witness. Against false accusations, apply biblical justice and wise rebukes. One way or another, they will be defeated. And hopefully repent. Com station Top question for listeners Have you had a “Nehemiah” moment of standing up for your calling? Next on Fantastical Truth Now that we've talked the tough topics, let's talk about subjects more epic and fun. Like dragons! Possibly ones in our midst! The author we mentioned earlier, Bryan Davis, doesn't even have time to run all these conspiracies. That's because he'd been too busy with bestselling novels. So next week, we'll finally invite Bryan into the studio to share more about the castle walls he's built over the last many decades.

1 John 3:1-2 NLTSee how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don't recognize that we are God's children because they don't know him. Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is..One of the primary and consistent names for God throughout the Bible is Father. From the prophets in the Old Testament to the New Testament with Jesus and the disciples who took the Gospel to the world, He is called Father. And of course, only someone with children can be known as Father.In today's passage, John describes a loving Father who loves His kids. We are His children and we will come to look like Him and eventually be with Him face to face.You are a child of your own parents and perhaps you are a parent of your own kids, but accepting … receiving the fact that God is your Father who deeply loves you is a fact you have to believe and embrace for yourself.Imagine the depth of your love for your child. Now accept the love your Father has for you. The way He thinks about you all the time. The way He fiercely protects you. The way He would give anything to have closeness with you. Sit in the awareness that you are always on the mind of the creator of the universe. Your Father.Read once again, this time as His child, as we personalize the passage as intended - for you:See how very much [Your] Father loves [you], for he calls [you] his child, and that is what [you] are! But the people who belong to this world don't recognize that [you] are God's child because they don't know him. Dear friend, [you] are already God's child, but he has not yet shown [you] what [you] will be like when Christ appears. But [you] do know that [you] will be like him, for [you] will see him as he really is.  (1 John 3:1-2 NLT).Embracing the fact that you are a deeply loved child of God will powerfully impact your life, because that mindset and viewpoint will be passed down to your children and those around you. God's love alive in you will reinforce God's love through you to others. His parenting of you will become a powerful part of how you parent.Declare this: “Father God, I know I am your child and I know that You love me.”Let's pray: “Father, thank You that I am a parent because you were a parent first. I can love my kids because You loved me first. Thank You that You know me and call me Your child and thank You that You know my children and call them your own too. As above, so below.” Amen

“Atonement” is defined as “reparation for an offense” and it repairs a broken relationship between two parties by offering a payment to make right that which is wrong. In the Old Testament, God's people offered sacrifices to God through the rituals of Passover, the sin offering, and the Day of Atonement. These observances were prophetic, pointing towards Jesus Christ who offered his life as the ultimate atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). 1 John 2:2 – “Atonement” is defined as “reparation for an offense or injury.” Atonement repairs a broken relationship between two parties by offering a payment to make right that which is wrong. Exodus 12:3-13 – The blood of the Passover lamb saved God's people from death. Leviticus 4:27-31 – Requiring sacrifice helped deter people from sinning. When a person did sin, God graciously accepted a “sin offering” so the sinner would not die. Leviticus 16:1-10 – Only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place where God's presence dwelled, and only on the Day of Atonement. He would confess the sins of the people and cast a goat out into the wilderness. This “scapegoat” symbolically carried away the sins of the people. Isaiah 52:13-53:10 – The prophets foretold of a Messiah who would offer his life as an atoning sacrifice for sin. Like the Passover lamb (v. 7) he would save God's people from death. Like the scapegoat, he would “carry” our sins in his body (v. 4). Like the sin offering (v. 10), he would be “pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities” (v. 5). Matthew 27:11-26, 39-44 – Barabbas (“son of the Father”) deserved to die but Jesus died in his place. Jesus died to bring sinners into a right relationship with God. The veil in the temple tearing symbolizes that, through Christ, we can enter God's presence. Hebrews 9:24-28 – Old Testament sacrifices had to be offered over and over again. Christ offered himself as a better sacrifice – one sacrifice for all the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). Matthew uses the Bible version REVThe post The Gospel 5: Jesus Died for Your Sins first appeared on Living Hope.

Send us Fan MailA second meditation on Ezekiel 12-14. The sermon examines the spiritual danger of mistaking God's patience for indifference, drawing primarily from Ezekiel 12 and 2 Peter 3. It addresses two common proverbs used to dismiss divine warnings: that visions fail because days pass slowly, or that judgment is too distant to matter today. The speaker explains that while delay serves as a time for repentance, it ultimately leads to complacency and contempt if it is not heeded. By connecting Old Testament prophecy with New Testament teaching, the message emphasizes that God's timing is sovereign and His promises are certain. The central call is for believers to respond to divine patience with readiness and diligence rather than false security.Bible Insights with  Wayne ConradContact: 8441 Hunnicut Rd Dallas, Texas 75228email: Att. Bible Insights Wayne Conradgsccdallas@gmail.com (Good Shepherd Church) Donation   https://gsccdallas.orghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTZX6qasIrPmC1wQpben9ghttps://www.facebook.com/waconrad or gscchttps://www.sermonaudio.com/gsccSpirit, Truth and Grace MinistriesPhone # 214-324-9915 leave message with number for call backPsalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Tuesday, 11 August 2026   “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, Matthew 22:2   “It resembled, the ‘kingdom the heavens,' man, king who he made nuptials – the ‘son, his'.” (CG)   In the previous verse, Chapter 22 opened with a note saying that Jesus again spoke to them in a parable. That begins next, saying, “It resembled, the ‘kingdom the heavens,'.”   As has been seen in other parables, a comparison to the kingdom of the heavens is to be provided in a real-life setting. The wording, being directed to the religious leaders, would have been completely understandable to them.   This is certain because their coming reaction to Jesus' words indicates they grasped what He had conveyed. As for the parable, He continues, saying, “man, king.”   Looking at the substance of the parable and comparing it with other parables so far, it is evident that this king is given as typical of God. With this in mind, it next says, “who he made nuptials.”   A new word, gamos, is seen here. It is a primary word signifying a wedding. It extends to what is associated with it, particularly the wedding feast, garments, etc. At times, it is rendered in the plural, probably indicating the extended nature of the feast and the various things associated with it. We might do the same thing when we say, “This is the week of the wedding celebrations.” The king is preparing the nuptials for “the ‘son, his'.”   Again, the comparison should be easily understood. God sent His Son into the world. The idea of the wedding is anticipated in the Old Testament, particularly in Isaiah. A union between Christ and those He came to save is the anticipated meaning of what is to come.   Life application: Though some of the contents of the parable extend into the future for those who listened to them, it brought about no meaningful change in them. This doesn't mean that God forced them into the decisions they made. Rather, it means that God already knew what decisions they would make.   The fact that they continued ahead, full steam, in fulfilling the very words Jesus spoke to them shows the incredibly callous nature of the human heart. The Old Testament is filled with such instances. A prophet says to a king or a group of people what is going to happen, the people refuse to budge in their warning, and exactly what the prophet proclaimed comes about.   To this day, the words of Scripture continue to convey to Israel the truth of who Jesus is and what will happen to them because of their ongoing rejection of Him. And yet, Israel is heading directly into the things the Bible warns are coming.   People would rather wallow in their own self-satisfaction, believing lies, rather than taking God at His word. This does not reflect a lack of free will. Rather, it highlights it. What it does reflect is man's inability to read, consider, and accept God's word.   If you want to be unlike those types of people, determine to accept at face value what God says in His word. It has proven reliable for thousands of years. Do you really think there is a point where it will suddenly become unreliable? Not gonna happen!   Hear the word and accept what it says. This is the sweet spot to avoid all of the troubles that lie ahead for humanity. The word will direct you to a right relationship with God, and it will give you the ability to wisely counsel others on the danger they are in. Now is the time to get the word out. Be bold in telling others about Jesus!   Glorious Lord God, how stubborn we are to reject Your word and to continue down life's path without the carefully provided instruction it contains. Help us to be confident in Your word and to tell others about how reliable it is, convincing them that it is the guide to proper living in Your presence. Amen.

Spirit of God E4 —  So far in this series, we've looked at how the Spirit is connected to life and wisdom in the Hebrew Bible. The third most consistent idea associated with the Spirit is God's word, or speech, happening through a human; the Bible calls this prophecy. While most ancient prophecy involved deities taking over a person's mind, we see a different experience among many of Israel's prophets. In this episode, Jon and Tim explore this spectrum and focus on prophets like Ezekiel and Micah who experienced a true partnership with the Spirit as they spoke for God. CHAPTERS Recap and the Breath and Word of God in Creation (0:00-10:33) Ancient Prophets as Madmen and Maniacs (10:33-24:47) The True Prophet Template in Ezekiel (24:47-38:29) More of the Gold Standard in Micah (38:29-4:16) OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT View this episode's official transcript. REFERENCED RESOURCES Tim refers to Hebrew Bible  Jack Levison, though not referencing any specific work. Check out Tim's extensive collection of recommended books here. SHOW MUSIC “Mist of Blessing ft. Marc Vanparla” by Lofi Sunday “Cool Breeze” by Lofi Sunday, Tbabz “Cherish ft. PAINT WITH SOUND” by Lofi Sunday SHOW CREDITS Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey and Aaron Olsen edited today's episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty writes the show notes. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ezra 10:1-44, 1 Cor 6:1-20, Ps 31:9-18, Pr 21:3