Podcasts about pastor joseph

This Sunday has ushered in an exciting new chapter for Fields Church; as family, friends and acquaintances gathered for the commissioning of Joseph Zimmerman (and his wonderful family) as the new pastor of the church.Not only that, but in his first message, Pastor Joseph introduces us to the new series that we will be following from nest week, entitled "On This Rock". A part of this, he highlights the following points:1.) Jesus builds His church. He chooses to use the Ecclesia (his people) as part of that process.2.) Jesus uses imperfect people.3.) Jesus is building Fields Church.Matthew 16:18; Matthew 16:13-16

Nobody feels ready when God calls. Not Moses at the burning bush. Not Gideon hiding in a winepress. Not Jeremiah, not Isaiah, not Joshua standing at the edge of the promised land with the weight of a nation on his shoulders. And probably not you — right now, with the assignment God has placed on your life that you keep telling yourself you'll pursue once you feel more prepared.In this episode, Pastor Joseph delivers a word for everyone who has been negotiating with God instead of obeying Him. Drawing from Exodus 3, Pastor Joseph unpacks the moment Moses stood before a burning bush — a bush supernaturally on fire but not consumed — and his first response was not worship. It was not obedience. It was a question: Who am I?It sounds like humility. It presents itself as humility. But Pastor Joseph teaches that more often than not, that question is fear wearing humility's clothing. Because true humility says, "I cannot do this in my own strength, but God can do it through me." Fear says, "I cannot do this — and therefore it cannot be done."Here is what changes everything: God never answered Moses's question. He didn't build his resume or validate his qualifications. He said four words — "I will be with you" — and made the entire question of Moses's readiness irrelevant. Because when God is with you, your adequacy is not the variable that determines the outcome. His is.If you have been waiting to feel ready, this episode is your burning bush moment. The call has been calling. The question is still on the table.Will you go?

Pastor Joseph speaks through the passages in Romans 6 as we continue through the series: Letters to the Church.

Pastor Joseph and Rev. Dorian lead a Bible Study of 1 Corinthians.

Ep167, How To Have Gods Life Living In You, Part 65 Spiritual Readiness and the Coming Fire: The Call to Holiness Visualizing Key Highlights... This broadcast features Pastor Tony Alamo discussing the necessity of having God's life within to survive the impending judgment. Through listener correspondence and scriptural analysis, he warns that modern society has mirrored the corruption of Noah's time, necessitating a global return to repentance. The message emphasizes that true salvation requires a complete departure from sin and the active distribution of the Gospel. Detailed Summary of Key Themes Global Testimonies and Ministry Impact The ministry reports significant global engagement, receiving letters of support and requests for literature from Puerto Rico, Virginia, and Uganda. A notable report from Uganda indicates that 960 individuals have converted to Christianity through the ministry's newsletters and "Messiah" books. These correspondents describe a transition from feeling "lost" or attending "dead churches" to finding spiritual life and "bold, fresh" messages through Alamo's teachings. The ministry continues to provide Bibles, tapes, and literature free of charge to those who cannot afford them, despite suggestions from others to charge for these materials to increase their perceived value. Global Outreach Highlights 960 Converts in Uganda 28 Literature Titles Requested 41+ Years of Ministry Theological Critique and the Nature of Sin Alamo presents a stern critique of contemporary televangelists, specifically targeting Andrew Wommack, Billy Graham, and Joel Osteen. He argues against the "unconditional love" and "once saved, always saved" doctrines, labeling them as "false gospels" that encourage people to continue sinning. According to Alamo, true biblical grace is the power to overcome the devil and live without sin. He asserts that those who preach that one can commit adultery or remain a "lesbian or prostitute" and still enter heaven are "demon-possessed" heretics. He maintains that the "straight and narrow" path requires total adherence to God's moral law. Prophetic Warnings: The Parallel to Noah The broadcast draws a direct parallel between the "days of Noah" and the current state of the world, citing widespread immorality, indifference, and the rejection of the Gospel as primary indicators of the end times. Alamo explains that while the world was once destroyed by water, the "present world" is reserved for destruction by fire. This fire is described as a "chain reaction" involving the atoms of the universe, which will melt the elements. He warns that just as the people in Noah's time "knew not until the flood came," modern "scoffers" are ignoring the signs of the second coming of Christ. Judgment Comparison Era Condition Judgment Noah's Day Immorality / Rejection Water (Flood) Present Day Indifference / Mockery Fire (Atomic/Elements) Conspiracy and Spiritual Warfare A significant portion of the discourse involves the exposure of what Alamo calls the "Vatican-Government-Media" complex. He claims the Vatican is the "home office of Satan" and that government agencies like the CIA, FBI, and IRS are its "puppets." He argues that the only way to "bind Satan" is to expose these truths. He also dismisses the idea of extraterrestrial life, asserting that "flying saucers" are actually heavenly beings or angels surveying the earth before its destruction. Key Data Conversion Metric: 960 people in Uganda received Christ through the ministry's literature. Historical Timeline: Noah preached for 120 years; Tony Alamo has been preaching these "truths" for over 41 years. Media Outreach: Program number 167 is available on tape or CD. To-Do / Next Steps Distribute the 28 specific pieces of literature requested by the Uganda team, including "The Messiah" and "Antichrist Unmasked.". Send a camera and film to Pastor Joseph in Uganda so the ministry can document baptisms and street distributions. Develop film sent from overseas and publish the resulting photographs in the ministry's newsletters. Provide T-shirts and sweatshirts to the distribution team in Africa as previously promised. Maintain the "Passover" connection by praying for the peace of Jerusalem and the salvation of Israel. Continue to broadcast the "truth" as long as the FCC and Vatican-influenced media allow the program to remain on air. Conclusion The document serves as a final warning to a society characterized by "willing ignorance." Pastor Alamo concludes with a call to immediate repentance, offering a prayer for listeners to be "born again of the Spirit" to escape the coming fire and secure eternal life.

There are some valleys so deep, so personal, that no human voice can reach the place where you are standing. In this episode, Pastor Joseph takes us to one of the most devastating moments in David's life — the burning of Ziklag — and pulls from it one of the most quietly powerful verses in all of Scripture: "But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."Everything was gone. The city burned. The families taken. And the six hundred men who were supposed to have David's back were talking about stoning him. David had no one left. No encourager. No counselor. No shoulder to lean on. And in that moment, he did the only thing that has ever been sufficient for the deepest human pain — he turned to God.Pastor Joseph unpacks what it really means to encourage yourself in the Lord — and makes clear that it is not the same as pretending everything is fine. David wept until he had no strength left. But then he made a decision, in the middle of the pain, to direct his grief toward God rather than away from Him. And before David called his men together, before he organized the pursuit, before he did anything else — he worshipped. The victory came after the worship. The comeback began in the ruins.If you are standing in the middle of your own Ziklag right now — if the thing you built is in ashes, if the people you counted on have walked away, if the silence feels less like peace and more like abandonment — this episode is your word for today.David recovered everything. And your comeback begins in the same place his did.

You've done the math. You've looked around at everyone else's timeline — the promotions, the marriages, the milestones — subtracted where you are from where you thought you'd be by now, and the number doesn't feel good. In this episode, Pastor Joseph brings a word that cuts straight through the noise of comparison and speaks directly to everyone who has ever felt like they missed their moment.Drawing from Ephesians 2:10, Pastor Joseph unpacks the staggering truth that you are God's poiema — His poem, His handiwork — and that the good works He prepared for you were laid out before you drew your first breath. That means the detour wasn't a disaster. It was material.Through the life of Moses — a man who didn't step into his defining purpose until he was eighty years old — Pastor Joseph makes the case that God has never once worked on our timeline. He works on His own. And not a single chapter of your story has been wasted. Not the wilderness years. Not the broken season. Not the long, disorienting stretch of waiting that still doesn't make sense. Every page was preparation.If comparison has been stealing your calling, if you've been apologizing for the pace of your life, or if you've quietly started to wonder whether your moment already passed — this episode is for you.It didn't pass. It's being prepared.

We've all been there — praying, fasting, seeking, and waiting — only to be met with what feels like an empty room. In this episode, Pastor Joseph Guy brings a word for everyone sitting in a season of spiritual silence, wondering if God has forgotten them, moved on, or simply stopped listening.Drawing from 1 Kings 19 and the story of Elijah on the mountain, Pastor Joseph unpacks one of the most misunderstood seasons in the believer's life. God was not in the wind. He was not in the earthquake. He was not in the fire. He came in a still, small voice — and Elijah had to step out of the cave to hear it. That single detail changes everything.This episode is a reminder that the silence of God is not the absence of God. It is not a verdict on your faith, proof that you missed it, or evidence that the promise was never real. It is a season — and like every season, it has an expiration date.

Pastor Joseph speaks through Romans 2 in this sermon from the Letters to the Church series.

We've all got a graveyard of good intentions somewhere. A dream we shelved. A prayer we stopped praying. A calling that still burns in our chest but feels wildly out of reach. In this episode, Pastor Joseph brings a word for everyone who has ever mistaken God's silence for abandonment — or His delay for denial.Drawing from Philippians 1:6, Pastor Joseph unpacks the power of one word: confident. Not hopeful. Not wishful. Settled. Because the God who began a good work in you is the same God who kept His word to Joseph in a prison cell, to Abraham in his old age, and to Moses in forty years of wilderness. He does not abandon projects. He does not rush His work. And He is not done with you.If you are standing in the gap between the promise and the fulfillment, this episode is your reminder to stay in the story — because the best chapters are still ahead.

What if Easter was never meant to be a holiday — but a lifestyle? In this final episode of the Back To Life Easter Devotional Series, Pastor Joseph unpacks the resurrection not as a once-a-year celebration, but as a daily invitation from God to experience His power in the broken, buried places of your life. Drawing from John 11 and Matthew 28, Pastor Joseph challenges us to ask the hard question Jesus asked Martha at the tomb: "Do you believe this?" — not just as a historical fact, but as a personal reality.If you've sealed away a dream, a hope, or a piece of yourself after too many disappointments, this episode is for you. Because the same power that rolled away the stone and raised Jesus from the dead is available to you right now. The tomb is empty — and so is every excuse that says God cannot move in your situation.This Easter, don't just commemorate the resurrection. Step into it.

Pastor Joseph speaks through Romans 1 in thie sermon from the letters to the church.

Pastor Joseph introduces the letter to the Romans from Paul in this sermon series going through the letters to the church.

Pastor Joseph concludes 2 Corinthians in this Sunday morning sermon.

Pastor Joseph addresses envy (biblical covetousness) as a hidden, underlying sin rooted in feelings of inadequacy and comparison. It defines envy as sorrow at others' success or joy at their failure, traces its destructive power through Scripture (from the 10th commandment to Cain and Abel), and diagnoses how modern culture amplifies it through upward comparison. The core takeaway is that envy poisons the self most, but on the other side of the cross, Jesus washes us clean—its opposite is love (of God, self, and neighbor) that brings security, celebration of others, and freedom from grasping for what belongs to someone else.

Pastor Joseph speaks through this passage on weakness from 2 Corinthians 12.

FB PROPHECY HOUR: The Prosperity Gospel of the ChurchFeaturing: Pastor Joseph ZillmerDate: 03-05-2026The Prosperity Gospel of the Church,I think the picture and the title tells it all!!!!!!!!Another do not Miss End-Time Radio program as “We are Warning the World as it HAPPENS!”“Remember we do not 100% agree with everything our guests, say, do, or believe. It's up to you to pray and sort it out!”Goodbye, Shalom, and Be blessed!ARCHIVES:https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/branchPLEASE VISIT:http://wichitahomeless.com/Donations and Contact:https://prophecyhour.com/https://www.messiahsbranch.com/

FB PROPHECY HOUR: The Prosperity Gospel of the ChurchFeaturing: Pastor Joseph ZillmerDate: 03-05-2026The Prosperity Gospel of the Church,I think the picture and the title tells it all!!!!!!!!Another do not Miss End-Time Radio program as “We are Warning the World as it HAPPENS!”“Remember we do not 100% agree with everything our guests, say, do, or believe. It's up to you to pray and sort it out!”Goodbye, Shalom, and Be blessed!ARCHIVES:https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/branchPLEASE VISIT:http://wichitahomeless.com/Donations and Contact:https://prophecyhour.com/https://www.messiahsbranch.com/

Pastor Joseph's linkshttps://hiddengiftsministry.org/https://www.amazon.com/Decoding-Cody-Secrets-Spectrum-People/dp/B0F87NQD8MForbidden Knowledge Network https://forbiddenknowledge.news/ FKN Link Treehttps://linktr.ee/FKNlinksMake a Donation to Forbidden Knowledge News https://www.paypal.me/forbiddenknowledgenehttps://buymeacoffee.com/forbiddenWe are back on YouTube! https://youtube.com/@forbiddenknowledgenews?si=XQhXCjteMKYNUJSjBackup channelhttps://youtube.com/@fknshow1?si=tIoIjpUGeSoRNaEsDoors of Perception is available now on Amazon Prime!https://watch.amazon.com/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.8a60e6c7-678d-4502-b335-adfbb30697b8&ref_=atv_lp_share_mv&r=webDoors of Perception official trailerhttps://youtu.be/F-VJ01kMSII?si=Ee6xwtUONA18HNLZPick up Independent Media Token herehttps://www.independentmediatoken.com/Be prepared for any emergency with Prep Starts Now!https://prepstartsnow.com/discount/FKNStart your microdosing journey with BrainsupremeGet 15% off your order here!!https://brainsupreme.co/FKN15Book a free consultation with Jennifer Halcame Emailjenniferhalcame@gmail.comFacebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561665957079&mibextid=ZbWKwLWatch The Forbidden Documentary: Occult Louisiana on Tubi: https://link.tubi.tv/pGXW6chxCJbC60 PurplePowerhttps://go.shopc60.com/FORBIDDEN10/or use coupon code knowledge10Johnny Larson's artworkhttps://www.patreon.com/JohnnyLarsonSign up on Rokfin!https://rokfin.com/fknplusPodcastshttps://www.spreaker.com/show/forbiddenAvailable on all platforms Support FKN on Spreaker https://spreaker.page.link/KoPgfbEq8kcsR5oj9FKN ON Rumblehttps://rumble.com/c/FKNpGet Cory Hughes books!Lee Harvey Oswald In Black and White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJ2PQJRMA Warning From History Audio bookhttps://buymeacoffee.com/jfkbook/e/392579https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jfkbookhttps://www.amazon.com/Warning-History-Cory-Hughes/dp/B0CL14VQY6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=72HEFZQA7TAP&keywords=a+warning+from+history+cory+hughes&qid=1698861279&sprefix=a+warning+fro%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-1https://coryhughes.org/Become Self-Sufficient With A Food Forest!!https://foodforestabundance.com/get-started/?ref=CHRISTOPHERMATHUse coupon code: FORBIDDEN for discountsOur Facebook pageshttps://www.facebook.com/forbiddenknowledgenewsconspiracy/https://www.facebook.com/FKNNetwork/Instagram @forbiddenknowledgenews1@forbiddenknowledgenetworkXhttps://x.com/ForbiddenKnow10?t=uO5AqEtDuHdF9fXYtCUtfw&s=09Email Forbidden Knowledge News forbiddenknowledgenews@gmail.comsome music thanks to:https://www.bensound.com/ULFAPO3OJSCGN8LDDGLBEYNSIXA6EMZJ5FUXWYNC6WJNJKRS8DH27IXE3D73E97DC6JMAFZLSZDGTWFIBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/forbidden-knowledge-news--3589233/support.

Pastor Joseph speaks through the text in 2 Corinthians 11 in this sermon from the Letters to the Church series.

Episode 110: The Importance of Black History Guest: Tammie Turner In this episode Bingham sits down with Mrs. Tammie Turner to talk about the importance of black history month. Turner and Bingham have been serving the Lord together at Integrity Deliverance Church under the pastorship of Pastor Joseph and Vicky Brown. Tammie is the church black history historian. Bingham and Turner discuss the following: Where she was born and raised What college she attended Her college major Her career choice Integrity Deliverance Church The First Amendment The arrest of Don Lemon The Reverand Jesse Jackson Integrity's Unique Implementation of Black History into February Bible Study Her favorite constitutional right Her favorite civil rights activist Family life Illegal Immigration RaidsBooker Wright Greenwood Mississippi Ida B. Wells Arrest of Don Lemon You can listen to the JFA Podcast Show wherever you get your podcast or by clicking on one of the links below. https://dlbspodcast.buzzsprout.com    https://blog.feedspot.com/social_justice_podcasts/    https://peculiarbooks.org   Also if you are interested in exercise and being healthy check out the Top 20 Triathlon Podcasts. https://blog.feedspot.com/triathlon_podcasts/ 

Pastor Joseph, speaks on willing hearts and the transformation of the gospel through grace in giving.

Pastor Joseph speaks through Trellis Church's 2026 vision statement, Be With Jesus. He utilizes verses from the book of John.

Pastor Joseph speaks through John 15:1-17 on 3 phrases that encompass the vision for Trellis Church in 2026. Be With JesusBecome Like JesusDo as Jesus Did

Principles for Obedience Training: Raising Children for Joy, Order, and Dominion Episode Summary In this solo episode, Pastor Joseph Spurgeon lays down a biblical and unapologetically patriarchal framework for obedience training in the home. Drawing from Scripture and pastoral experience as a father of eight, this episode confronts modern parenting myths and reclaims God’s design for authority, discipline, and joy in the family. This is not about control for control’s sake. It is about training children to live under God-given authority for their good, their safety, and their future faithfulness. Pastor Joseph explains why obedience is foundational to parenting, how authority is meant to serve, and what God actually requires when He commands children to obey their parents. You will hear a clear standard for obedience, a theological defense of parental authority, and practical principles that expose why many parents unintentionally train disobedience instead of obedience. This episode is essential listening for fathers who want order in their homes, peace in their families, and children prepared to honor Christ in every sphere of life. If you are tired of barking commands, negotiating with toddlers, or watching chaos rule your home, this episode is for you. Chapter Breakdown & Timestamps 00:00 – Scripture & Opening 02:20 – Purpose of the Episode 04:40 – Who Obedience Training Is Really For 06:30 – Biblical Foundation for Obedience 09:50 – Authority Redefined 12:30 – Pagan Power vs Christian Authority 16:45 – Why Mothers Must Embrace Obedience Training 18:15 – Four Reasons Obedience Training Is Necessary 20:30 – Obedience and Safety 22:40 – Obedience and Education 25:00 – Moral Foundations 27:20 – The Standard of Obedience 29:20 – Biblical Proof for the Obedience Standard 32:30 – Why Grumbling Is Serious Sin 35:45 – Parenting Begins With Self-Discipline 37:45 – Principle One: Say What You Mean 40:15 – Why Bribery Corrupts Obedience 44:00 – Losing Your Cool Teaches Delayed Obedience 46:20 – The Hostage Negotiation Mistake 49:35 – Principle Two: You Are the Parent 51:40 – Stop Asking Permission to Give Commands 54:00 – Principle Three: Get the Child’s Attention 56:15 – Training Attention and Verbal Response About the Show The Patriarchy Podcast features in-depth conversations on faith, culture, theology, and leadership. Each episode equips Christians to live boldly and biblically in an age of compromise—exploring the challenges and opportunities of standing firm for truth in the modern world. Support the Mission We are raising funds to expand Sovereign King Academy and keep tuition affordable for families who want faithful Christian education. Give here:https://sovereignkingacademy.com Connect with The Patriarchy Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePatriarchyPodcastSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/58tm5zjzApple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/f3ruzrsaWebsite & All Links: https://linktr.ee/thepatriarchypodcast Follow Pastor Joseph Spurgeon:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePatriarchyPodcastX (Twitter): https://x.com/PatriarchyPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepatriarchypodcastGab: https://gab.com/thepatriarchypodcast Sponsored By Steadfast CigarsFor men who reject passivity and take dominion.Order: https://steadfastcigars.com Fit Father ProjectReclaim discipline. Get strong. Lead your family well.Start here: https://secure.fitfatherproject.com/a/transformation/4539 Books by Joseph SpurgeonIt’s Good to Be a Boy: https://a.co/d/7zpEh5DIt’s Good to Be a Girl: https://a.co/d/6VlBTzS Final Call to Action Subscribe for more conversations that sharpen men for battle.Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.Like and share to support biblical masculinity. Until next time, build, fight, protect, and lead.This is the Patriarchy.

Pastor Joseph speaks through chapter 9 in Hebrews casting a vision for a holy reset.

Pastor Joseph concludes our Advent season with this sermon focusing on two words: Fear Not.

Pastor Joseph speaks on the birth of Jesus and how birthing leads to blessings.

Week Three of our Advent series continues with the theme: Journeying. Pastor Joseph speaks through the passages in Luke 2:1-5 with this topic in mind.

What does Christian leadership look like when it actually leaves the church building and enters your real life?

God is powerfully renewing communities in Kenya through entrepreneurial training that is helping people overcome “poverty of the mind” and begin dreaming, building businesses, and transforming their futures. The speaker witnessed countless stories—like Grace, Pastor Joseph, and his mother Ameena—whose lives and communities have been changed spiritually, economically, and relationally, leading to deep honor and gratitude shown toward the visiting team. All of this points to God doing a “new thing,” preparing hearts much like He did in Scripture, and inviting us to enter the Advent season with fresh openness and awe. #GodIsDoingANewThing #HopeRising #TransformedLives #GlobalKingdomWork #AdventExpectation

In this sermon on the Advent theme: Accepting, Pastor Joseph speaks through passages in the book of Luke.

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.' ” Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:1-12 NRSVUE Marami sa inyo dito ang tawag sa akin ay Ardy. Pero pag naririnig ng kapatid ko yang pangalan na yan, natatawa siya. Sa totoo, ako rin minsan, lalo na pag pinapakilala ako ni Jandi na Ardy sa friends at mga kakilala niya. Five years pa lang kasi yung pangalan na yan kaya hindi pa sanay yung kapatid ko, at minsan ako rin. Nung nag-out ako 5 years ago, I chose that nickname. Ayoko nang ipakilala yung sarili ko as Rhick, lalo na as Deuel. And looking back, it's not actually about me wanting to be called differently, kasi unang-una mas madali yung Rhick. Ang Ardy, two syllables. It's about me wanting to be known differently. I wanted to create this new self, this new identity. And so 5 years after, weeks after my birthday, napatanong ako, sino nga ba talaga si Ardy? Was I able to actually live differently? Was I successful in building this new self? Was I able to transform myself? Si Jandi alam na alam ang sagot sa mga tanong na yan. Yang mga questions na yan, obviously, hindi dumating sa akin out of the blue. When I was studying the scripture reading, na-fascinate ako kasi hindi nga pala bago itong konsepto ng transforming oneself. In Matthew 3:2, John proclaimed, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” The Greek word for repentance is metanoia, which is usually simply translated in English as to change or to transform. Hence, the call to transform oneself isn't new. Even before Jesus, people were already called to be transformed. Digging into the historical context of this story, this call from John is an invitation for the people during his time to be renewed. If we go one verse back, this story of John is actually a bit theatrical because he appeared in the wilderness. So meron siyang ganung atake. Kaya naman John is actually a very queer Biblical character, not in a total SOGIESC sense, but in how he used strange fashion and lifestyle not to stand out, but to remind people of a story. Very draga. He intentionally wore, sa verse 4, clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. Why? To look like Prophet Elijah. Bakit niya gusto magmukhang propeta? He wanted to be like the prophets of ancient Israel. He wanted to remind people of what happened to the Israelites when they didn’t follow God’s commandments. Kaya dun siya umeksena sa wilderness because it served as a stage that would amplify his message. He wanted to remind people that the true essence of the covenant and commandments is to show the world that there is a different way of living, of being. God gave ancient Israel a framework on how to set themselves apart from other nations. And so proclaiming the message of repentance from the wilderness must remind the Jews to become the people that Israel had been called to be from the very beginning. The past generations failed, and in verse 10, he declared that the time had arrived, God is offering a final opportunity. Therefore, John’s call for repentance is a call to transform oneself: to have a complete change of mind and heart, inviting people to be baptized to publicly proclaim that they are setting themselves apart from the ways of their world. Now, sa atin ngayon, what does the call for repentance mean to us? What does transformation of self mean to us? Syempre, hindi yan mag-start sa paggawa ng bagong nickname. Pwede niyo rin gawin iyon, but gaya nga ng tanong ko sa sarili ko, yes, gumawa ako ng bagong name for myself, but did I really undergo a genuine process of becoming transformed into someone new? Samahan niyo kong sagutin yang tanong na yan by exploring two steps on how to gain true metanoia. The first step is to think about what we’ve done or how we’re currently behaving. For some, this could be difficult, self-reflection is a heavy task. Because as humans, we tend to overlook things about ourselves. In my case, I didn’t get to fully understand my worldview after I left my former religion. I grew up believing that Jehovah’s Witness is the true religion, the only group of true Christians. But what's interesting is that I didn’t actually fully realize na talagang years of my life, I believed that only one particular group has the monopoly on God’s approval. Kaya nung naging part ako ng Open Table as Ardy, nasa sistema ko pa rin siya. I had this thought na progressive Christian groups or individuals who are progressively leaning lang ang totoong mga Christian. In some degree, yes, we do proclaim God’s radically inclusive love better, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t people from other Christian groups who are also trying to be as Christian as possible and follow Jesus in their own big and little ways. As a matter of fact, I realized I can still actually learn a lot of things from them. One of the things that I am transparent about dito sa journey ko of transforming myself is that prayer is still a difficult thing for me to do. Kaya nung nagkita kami ng friend ko, she's from an evangelical-ish church, I was so jealous that she can actually pour her heart out and articulate her gratitude for the year 2025 so beautifully in just a prayer for dinner. Why did I feel spiritually superior to people who are in non-affirming communities when I know that a personal relationship with God is possible maging sino ka man? Kaya I figured, it's actually a need to have moments of reflection and to understand if we’re truly different from who we were. I actually remembered a conversation from the ministry planning. Apparently, some of us are still uncomfortable in spiritual practices from other cultures and religions. That’s perfectly understandable. Some of us were raised to believe that non-Christians will rot in hell or, dati ako, I believed na papaulanan sila ng meteorites during Armageddon. But as we undergo metanoia, ganung klaseng Kristiyano pa rin ba tayo? Do we still gatekeep the divine and believe that everyone else is damned if they're not Christian? For some people, this first step may look different. Those who aren’t out and are just coming to terms with their gender and sexuality, maybe there's a need to be more aware of an inner voice that screams internalized homophobia or transphobia. For those who are still with their non-affirming church communities, they may need to assess if hiding parts of themselves is worth it just to stay within the faith community, or how their double life affects their genuine connection with God. For those who just left their former churches and are in the process of deconstruction, how's your spiritual life? Have you abandoned prayer and scripture reading? Maybe at this point, some of us are done with these big questions involving identity and spirituality. Then what questions are left for us? Mark 12:31 offers an answer: Love your neighbor as yourself. As we wish to be transformed, we must also think if we lack in charity, if we are greedy, if we participate in exploitation or violence. Big words noh. Sige, liitan natin: kaya ba nating maging mas aware of how hostile we could be in online conversations? Or kaya ba nating maging mas aware sa ating tendencies na maging elitista or classist? Do we converse with kindness and claim accountability sa mga actions natin or are we rude, di nag-iisip bago magsalita (sobrang kota na ko dyan this week) or parang regina george kung umasta? We can ask ourselves, In what ways can I love my neighbor better? As we assess ourselves, we also have to go through Step 1.5: acknowledge who we are or what we’ve done and feel remorse. This part of repentance and yes, repentance as a whole, could be a challenging process for LGBTQ+ people. Yung salitang repent pa nga lang, diba, was weaponized by most of our previous churches. Bakla ka? Repent. Immoral yan? Repent. It was used to make us feel lesser and undeserving of God’s love. But now that we have a better understanding of what it means, I’m telling you, we have to repent. We have to repent because we sin. Walang immunity ang mga bakla dyan. We don’t automatically get an A+ sa commandment ni Jesus. Sumasablay tayo araw-araw. So we don’t get a free pass for the things we’ve done and for the things we’re doing that aren’t aligned with Jesus’ commandment. Yung ating sexuality and gender identity, based on science and biblical-theological scholarship ay hindi naman talaga kasalanan to repent from, pero marami pang ibang bagay na we need to repent and transform from. Regardless of gender and sexuality, we have to feel sad, bad, and remorseful for those things, for the pain we caused others, for the hurt and injustice we inflicted on our friends and people around us, for the bad habits and self-destructive behaviors we let ourselves experience, for the shame we caused ourselves. To be truly transformed, we have to go through those painful moments of being ashamed for the harmful things we've done to other people, and in moments where we are greatly disturbed by godly sorrow. Now, what's the second step? To answer that, let’s further examine the word metanoia. The prefix meta means to change, and the root word noeo means to think, to understand. And so when we combine those morphemes, it’s more accurate to say that metanoia is a specific transformation: it's a change in the way we think, the way we understand things; therefore, it’s a change of our life’s direction. What's that direction? We’re in the season of Advent, and there’s a reason why John’s call for repentance is part of the Advent lectionary. It's a call for us to not just be transformed for ourselves; it's a call for us to be active participants of the Advent. Advent is about longing for the Kingdom of God, for justice, and the end of oppression. But the question is: how? Anong transformation ang ine-expect sa atin? Ine-expect ba sa ating lahat na magiging full-time ministry leaders tayo, magiging full-time social justice advocates or activists? For some people, probably yun ang direkyson nila. Pastor Joseph is an example: from a corporate worker, nag-transform siya into a seminarian hanggang naging ordained pastor. Baka iba sa inyo similar din ang maging transformation. But in Luke 3:10–14, there’s a comforting story. Wala ito sa Matthew. Tinanong ng mga tao si John, “So ano gagawin namin?” Sabi ni John: yung may mga dalawang balabal, i-share niyo yung isa sa wala; yung may food, mag-share din. Tinanong siya ng mga tax collectors, “Teacher, ano gagawin namin?” Sabi niya, “Huwag kayong maningil ng sobra; yung itinakdang tax, yan lang kokolektahin niyo.” Yung mga sundalo tinanong din siya, “Kami, anong gagawin?” Sabi niya, “Huwag kayong mangikil at huwag kayong magparatang ng mali.” Anong matututunan natin sa kwentong yan? Nakita natin na hindi pinag-resign ni John yung tax collectors and soldiers sa kani-kanilang trabaho. Yung mga ordinaryong tao, sinabi niyang magtulungan kayo, share what you have. Hindi naman niya sila niyaya lahat sa wilderness. Therefore, John’s invitation is an invitation to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. That's the direction. And so this also invites us to learn to love ourselves better. Sabi nga ni RuPaul, “If you don't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?” One example that I have is coming out of the closet. Yes, it's indeed difficult to come out, dangerous for some even. But coming out of the closet gives you more opportunities to participate in loving others. Like here at Open Table, you can participate better in the ministry work, testify in front, represent the church, and all other things. And outside Open Table, you can also be more involved in advocacy work. And just in your personal life, you get to express yourself better in public and be more authentic in dating, etc. In the same manner, learning to love our authentic selves, transforming into our true beautiful selves, opens us to more opportunities to express genuine love to other people. However, in all our different ways, totoong hindi madaling mahalin ang sarili ng buo at gayundin ang iba. Magkukulang tayo along the way. Pag nagkamali ba tayo, ibig sabihin failed na tayo sa “transforming ourselves”? No. Remember God’s grace. I want to read what Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, the founding pastor of House for All Sinners and Saints, wrote about repentance: “This is the beauty of our faith—that repentance gets to be a continual action. This is the beauty of our faith, not that we once were bad but now we’re good, but that Softly and Tenderly… Jesus is calling us out of the empty promises of our personal and cultural trances and into what is most true and most real—this present moment, where the kingdom of God is at hand… [Repentance] is not like the three tries you have to remember your password before the system locks you out. The gates of repentance are always open.” Five years forward bearing this new name, Ardy, with God's grace and because of love, yes, there are areas of my life that I could say I was able to change significantly. But sometimes I act like a kid, like the sheltered boy that I was. I'm not perfect. But I'm a work in progress, and so are you. We need to be continuously transformed by love and grace. And I hope that in this season of Advent, we spend time to reflect and to be truly transformed. At lalo na malapit na ang 2026, time to create our New Year's resolution na madalas di napapanindigan. But maybe this time around, maybe hindi na natin need hintayin ang New Year. As we observe Advent, let’s allow God to transform us into our true selves: the person God uniquely created and calls us to be. Amen. The post Journey of Metanoia appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

What actually counts as Christian leadership… and why does it fall apart so often inside the church? In this episode, Nate and Pastor Joseph dig into the truth about leadership in the church and why so many believers end up confused, hurt, or just straight-up annoyed by how authority works in different Christian spaces. They break down what healthy spiritual leadership looks like, how influence can be used well or misused fast, and why accountability matters way more than titles or stage presence. It's honest, funny, and a little uncomfortable in the best way possible, especially if you've ever wondered why leadership feels so different from church to church. If you like real talk about faith, culture, and the messy parts of church life, you're in the right place. If you enjoyed this episode:

Pastor Joseph speaks through the passage from 2 Corinthians in this sermon from the Letters to the Church sermon series.

Is it revival or just really enthusiastic chaos?

What happens when revival turns into reality TV?

Pastor Joseph speaks through 2 Corinthians 5 in this teaching series named, Letters to the Church.

Everyone loves the idea of starting a church… until the calling gets complicated.

Think starting a church is just a sermon and some folding chairs? Think again. In Episode 155 – Church Planting: DIY or Die Trying, Nate and Pastor Joseph go all in on the holy hustle of church planting—the wild world of building a brand-new church from the ground up. We're talking vision boards, volunteer burnout, and maybe a few trauma responses along the way. Whether you're an aspiring church planter, recovering from one, or just curious how churches even start, this episode breaks it all down with humor, honesty, and enough sarcasm to keep it biblical.

Spiritual warfare isn't just demons and dramatic church folks. This week, Nate and Pastor Joseph continue the convo on spiritual warfare—minus the smoke machines and exorcism clichés. Think less “Hollywood horror” and more real-world spiritual struggle: burnout, doubt, distractions, and that one Christian friend who swears everything is “a spirit.” In true When I Heard This fashion, the guys mix hard truth, real-life church experiences, and a healthy amount of sarcasm to break down what spiritual warfare actually looks like. No cheesy sermons. No spooky sound effects. Just honest discussion, biblical perspective, and enough side-eye to keep it interesting.

Episode 185 of the Fly on the Wall podcast is live—and this one cuts to the core of leadership.Chris Sonksen sits down with Pastor Joseph to tackle a topic many leaders avoid: how to give and receive correction in a way that builds trust and maturity.You'll hear:✅ How to create a culture of feedback without fear ✅ The #1 phrase that defuses defensiveness ✅ Why emotional intelligence is a non-negotiable for your team ✅ A game-changing perspective on raising disciples and leadersIf you've ever wondered how to address behavior without losing people—or how to accept feedback without crumbling—this conversation is for you.