Podcasts about people of god

Colossians: The People of God in the Age of Empire – Christ in You, the Hope of Glory - Rev. Donnell T. Wyche - a2vc.org. Like us on fb.com/vineyardannarboror watch our livestream Sundays @ 10:45am - vimeo.com/annarborvineyard  Summary: In the final installment of our Colossians series, Pastor Donnell explores Paul's powerful counter-vision to life under empire. Rather than simply critiquing systems of domination, Paul offers a transformative alternative rooted in the sufficiency of Christ. In empire, worth is earned through control, consumption, and coercion. But in Christ, worth is freely given, and we are invited to live as new people—formed not by fear or hierarchy but by resurrection hope. As Pastor Donnell reminds us, every act of forgiveness, generosity, and love becomes a quiet rebellion against the logic of empire. The sermon returns to Paul's opening prayer in Colossians 1, highlighting that before offering instruction or correction, Paul begins with intercession—thanking God for the faith, love, and hope already alive in the church. Even from prison, Paul remains hopeful, convinced that the gospel is on the move, bearing fruit across the world. Pastor Donnell draws this into our own lives, reminding us that the kingdom of God advances not through domination but through ordinary believers practicing resurrection by living with courage, kindness, and open-handed faith. The message ends with a practical invitation: live like Christ dwells within you. Intercede for others not out of performance, but from a Spirit-empowered hope that transforms both the one who prays and the one who is prayed for. Resurrection isn't just a belief—it's a way of life. And each time we affirm someone's dignity, offer compassion, or act with courage, we become part of God's unfolding story of glory in the midst of empire.

Almighty GOD has only had ONE people of GOD from the very beginning and YOU can become part of that people today! Your heart should LEAP for JOY . . . VIDEO SAME MESSAGE

Colossians: The People of God in the Age of Empire – Persevering In Prayer (Colossians 4:2-6) - Pastor Hannah Witte - a2vc.org. Like us on fb.com/vineyardannarboror watch our livestream Sundays @ 10:45am - vimeo.com/annarborvineyard  Summary: In this heartfelt and deeply personal sermon, Pastor Hannah Witte invites the congregation into a counter-cultural life rooted in prayer, gratitude, and spiritual attentiveness. Drawing from Colossians 4:2–6, she reflects on the Apostle Paul's exhortation to persevere in prayer as a way of resisting the empire—the forces of consumerism, nationalism, fear, and control that seek to dominate our lives. Pastor Hannah begins by sharing her own calling into ministry and the ongoing journey of faith that's filled with more questions than answers. She reminds us that prayer doesn't come naturally, but it is the pathway through which God's dreams are ushered into the world. Pastor Hannah unpacks Paul's call to “stay awake” in prayer, encouraging us to resist the spiritual sleepiness that keeps us disconnected from God's presence and purpose. She shares practical ways to cultivate this awareness, including beginning each day with the simple question, “God, what do you want to say to me?” She weaves in personal stories—most poignantly the sudden death of her mother—to show how practicing gratitude in both joy and grief keeps our hearts tender and open to God. Gratitude, she emphasizes, is not a trite response to suffering but a sustaining act of resistance and trust. The sermon closes with a call to embrace God's expansive dreams for humanity. Pastor Hannah highlights Paul's own example—even from prison—of praying not for personal comfort but for open doors to proclaim the liberating love of Jesus. She challenges listeners to align their prayers not just with their personal desires but with God's redemptive hopes for their neighborhoods, relationships, and communities. As we scatter into our lives, we are encouraged to live interruptibly, speak with grace, and embody God's dreams in everyday encounters—offering a quiet but powerful resistance to the despair of empire.

Colossians: The People of God in the Age of Empire – Culture-Making (Colossians 3:18–4:1) - Rev. Donnell T. Wyche - a2vc.org. Like us on fb.com/vineyardannarboror watch our livestream Sundays @ 10:45am - vimeo.com/annarborvineyard  Summary: In this sermon, Pastor Donnell Wyche examines one of the most difficult sections of Paul's letter to the Colossians, where household codes outline relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and slaves and masters. Far from affirming hierarchical or oppressive structures, Pastor Donnell argues that Paul is subverting the dominant culture of the Greco-Roman world. By addressing the powerless—wives, children, and enslaved persons—directly, Paul grants them dignity and moral agency. Paul's command that husbands love their wives and that fathers avoid embittering their children is revolutionary in a culture where power was rarely checked by compassion. In Paul's view, culture-making begins at home, and households become outposts of the Kingdom when marked by mutuality and cruciform love.   Pastor Donnell devotes significant attention to Paul's instruction to enslaved persons, acknowledging that these verses have been weaponized throughout church history to justify horrific systems of oppression. Pastor Donnell makes it unequivocally clear: God has always been anti-slavery. From Genesis to Revelation, God's vision is one of abundance, liberation, and human flourishing. Slavery always is anti-human (Genesis 1:26–28), anti-God (Isaiah 58), and anti-Gospel (Luke 4). While Paul does not outright condemn the institution of slavery—which scholars note was foundational to the Greco-Roman economy—Paul plants subversive seeds by calling for equality between slaves and masters, as he later does more explicitly in Philemon. Pastor Donnell laments Paul's limited prophetic imagination but sees Paul's writings as part of a kingdom trajectory that invites us to go further in working for liberation and justice in our own context.   Finally, Pastor Donnell challenges listeners to resist empire not just in theory, but in practice—beginning at home. The family is often where empire's patterns of control, fear, and domination take root. But in the Kingdom of God, the home is to be a place of tenderness, security, and love. We resist empire by embodying cruciform love in our relationships—with our spouses, our children, our coworkers, and our neighbors. Through daily acts of compassion and humility, we bear witness to a different way of being—one shaped not by power but by the cross, not by empire but by resurrection.

Today's Passage: Colossians 2: 8-12See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. Today's Prayer: Father, the language of being taken captive is unsettling. Holy spirit, we ask that you would make us a discerning people. We choose against human wisdom in favor of spiritual wisdom and understanding and we pray  the truth of Proverbs 9:10 over our lives today, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Holy Spirit, in the same way we asked you to illumine our hearts to the ways we've been deceived through persuasive arguments, we come to you again today and ask that you show us where we've been taken captive through the philosophy and deception of our time and generation. You have made us a particular kind of. You tell us in 1 Peter that we are… 9 …A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD'S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. Chosen. Royal. Priests. Holy. Your possession for the purpose of proclamation. We can scarcely wrap our minds around it but It is the truest true! Oh God, life East of Eden threatens to conform us to its patterns, but we choose to be transformed by the renewing of our minds that we might prove what is good, acceptable, and perfect (Romans 12:2).  Our hearts thrill to read of how You have made us complete. We take our place under your headship and authority. On this day, we choose again to put off our flesh and walk as Spirit-people. Again we make our confession that we have been buried with You in baptism, and raised by God in faith.  Our new identity is firm. Our future not up for discussion and secure in You. Move in power in and through us today.  In the strong name of Jesus we prayer…Amen.NOTES & LINKS:Information about the Women's Summer StudyInformation about the Men's Summer StudyReach out to the Center for Spiritual Formation

Colossians: The People of God in the Age of Empire – Practices of Resistance (Colossians 3:1–17) - Rev. Donnell T. Wyche - a2vc.org. Like us on fb.com/vineyardannarboror watch our livestream Sundays @ 10:45am - vimeo.com/annarborvineyard  Summary: In this third installment of the Colossians: The People of God in the Age of Empire series, Pastor Donnell Wyche explores Paul's invitation to live a resurrection-shaped life as resistance to the demands and distortions of empire. After deconstructing the false promises of empire—security, glory, and salvation—Paul turns toward reconstruction, calling the Colossians to embody new life by setting their minds on Christ. Resurrection, Pastor Donnell reminds us, is not metaphorical—it is real, and it invites us into ordinary, grounded practices of love, patience, forgiveness, and peace as signs that Christ is alive and empire is not in control.   Pastor Donnell contextualizes Paul's challenge by naming how empire shapes us with fear, scarcity, and performance-based identity. Drawing from his experience on Ann Arbor's planning commission, he critiques how exclusion and self-protection still shape our civic life—especially around housing—and how Paul calls us to take off the habits of empire and put on the character of Christ. Resistance, in this sense, isn't reactive—it's proactive. It's not about protest alone, but daily formation: shedding old ways of being and clothing ourselves with compassion, humility, and love. This, he asserts, is what empire cannot imitate.   The sermon climaxes with Paul's powerful reframing of Christian identity: “You are chosen, you are holy, and you are deeply, deeply loved.” Pastor Donnell insists that our actions must flow from this identity—not out of fear, guilt, or striving, but as a response to God's unshakable love. Resistance looks like parenting with patience, giving freely, refusing cynicism, and holding fast to hope. Every act of mercy, love, and peace is an act of protest against empire's rule. The invitation is clear: live like resurrection is real—because it is—and let your life be a declaration that Jesus is Lord.  

The Catechism further unpacks the communion of saints and shows us how the Church lives in communion with those members who have passed on to eternal life with Christ in heaven. If you're listening to this podcast and you're not Catholic—or if you still have questions about the communion of saints—Fr. Mike has a word for you. This is your family, interceding on your behalf that you might receive the fullness of Faith here on earth. Today's readings are from Catechism paragraphs 954-962. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Sermon given by Pastor Mark Donaldson on May 11, 2025 at ElmCreek Community in Maple Grove, MN. Scripture: Mark 3:13-35

Dr. Blake White continues the Sunday School study "Canon Sense" with a lesson titled "A Biblical Theology of the People of God."

Dr. Blake White continues the Sunday School study "Canon Sense" with a lesson titled "A Biblical Theology of the People of God."

The Chairman Of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, throws more light on this in this insightful message titled "A People of God" at The Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) - Sakumono in Accra. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Colossians: The People of God in the Age of Empire – Naming the Empire (Colossians 2:6-15) - Rev. Donnell T. Wyche - a2vc.org. Like us on fb.com/vineyardannarboror watch our livestream Sundays @ 10:45am - vimeo.com/annarborvineyard  Summary: In this powerful and provocative sermon, Pastor Donnell Wyche continues the Colossians: The People of God in the Age of Empire series by exploring Colossians 2:6–15 and what it means to be faithful to Christ in a world shaped by empire. Drawing from Paul's letter to a fledgling church in Colossae, Donnell frames the passage as a deeply subversive text—one that directly confronts the ideologies, powers, and allegiances of the surrounding Roman empire. For Paul, and for us today, to declare that Christ—not Caesar, not the economy, not nationalism—is Lord, is to resist the false narratives that shape our lives and identities. Pastor Donnell draws sharp connections between Paul's world and our own, exposing the subtle and not-so-subtle ways empire exerts its influence today—from militarism and economic control to curated media narratives and Christian celebrity culture. He names modern forces—TikTok, Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Warner Bros, and even popular pastors—not to shame, but to awaken the church to how deeply these forces shape our desires, fears, and theology. “Don't be taken captive,” Paul warns, and Pastor Donnell echoes that call with urgency, reminding us that resistance starts by rooting ourselves in Christ, not in power, performance, or fear. The sermon crescendos with a bold declaration: Jesus, crucified by empire, disarmed the powers not with violence, but through the cross. Pastor Donnell invites the weary, the skeptical, and the disillusioned to see Jesus clearly—not as a tool of empire, but as the one who triumphs by love, truth, and resurrection. “Empire doesn't get the last word,” he proclaims, “Jesus does.” The call to the church is clear: Wake up. Resist. Stay rooted in Christ. And when overwhelmed by the noise of the world, pray the simple prayer of resistance: “Jesus, free me from the voices that hold me captive. Root me in you again.”  

One more message in the “One Anothers” series. We return to James 5 (see March 2 sermon) and this time focus on “pray for one another.”

Colossians: The People of God in the Age of Empire – The Unco-opted Christ (Colossians 1:15-20) - Rev. Donnell T. Wyche - a2vc.org. Like us on fb.com/vineyardannarboror watch our livestream Sundays @ 10:45am - vimeo.com/annarborvineyard  Summary: In this opening message of our new series on Colossians, Pastor Donnell Wyche invites us into a powerful re-centering of our lives around the crucified Christ. Preaching from Colossians 1:15–20, he reminds us that in the midst of empire, cultural pressures, and leadership failures, Paul does not begin with fear or anxiety but with a bold proclamation: Christ is the image of the invisible God, the one who holds all things together. Pastor Donnell challenges us to see worship not as private devotion but as public resistance — an act of allegiance to a kingdom that values humility, peace, and sacrificial love over the power, dominance, and platform of empire. Drawing on rich historical context and vivid contemporary parallels, Pastor Donnell names how empire continues to shape our world through fear, fragmentation, and injustice. Yet in a world that feels unstable and disillusioned, Christ invites us to a different imagination — one rooted not in scarcity but in abundance, not in domination but in reconciliation. He reminds us that Christ's death was not a defeat but the planting of a seed that bursts into new creation, calling us to participate in God's ongoing work of healing, resistance, and restoration. Throughout the sermon, Pastor Donnell gently yet boldly calls us to faithful resistance: to make Christ, not empire, the center of our lives; to embody peace, generosity, and mercy in a world hungry for hope; and to trust that even in the ruins, Christ is making all things new. As we contend with grief, fear, and low trust, we are invited to breathe deeply, to anchor ourselves in Christ's sustaining love, and to live as witnesses to a kingdom that does not co-opt or conquer, but sets us free.

The post Bertie Brits: The Vindication of the People of God appeared first on Gospel Revolution Church.

As we continue our discussion of "The Gospel and the Gathering," in this, part 3, we discuss:1. Who are the People of God? 2. God does not see as man sees. 3. The only people who are the people of God are sinners.4. Love is the clearest evidence of who the people of God are. 5. The Ekklesia is supposed to be a gathering of these people.

God draws people to himself and makes them his own. The Catechism shows us what makes God's people different from everyone else, and what it is that unites them. Fr. Mike hones in on what exactly it is that the People of God do, and exhorts us to start doing that right here, today. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 781-786. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

The Gateway People of God - Mike Hudgins 4.6.2025 https://vccgn.org/s/2504Gateway.pdf Continue reading →

The focus in our "One Anothers" series today is to encourage one another with Jesus' resurrection and return.

In this exploration of grief and renewal, we dive into the book of Nehemiah, uncovering God's wisdom for processing loss as people of faith. Nehemiah's heartbreak over Jerusalem's destruction becomes a mirror for our own experiences of pain and sorrow. We learn that grief is not just a physical journey but a spiritual one that can draw us closer to God's heart. This message challenges us to sit with our sorrow, to weep openly, and to bring our raw emotions before God in prayer and fasting. This biblical pattern of grieving reminds us that it's okay to be vulnerable and that our tears can be a powerful testimony to what truly matters to God. As we navigate our seasons of loss, be encouraged to seek not only closure but also divine comfort that strengthens our souls, enabling us to step into our calling even amidst pain. This message speaks to anyone grappling with heartache, offering hope that our Comforter, Jesus Christ, binds up our broken hearts and walks with us on the path of renewal.

Jump start your week with a Jump Start REWIND, read by Roger Shouse.

Sermon text: 1 Peter 3.20-21; Speaker: Alan Burrow. Visit thekingscongregation.com for more sermons, exhortations, music, and events.

Trent Senske preaches from 2 Corinthians chapter 13:11-14 on March 16th 2025

By Joe Neff - Remembering the Sabbath Day is a weekly opportunity for you and I to remember our creator and redeemer. It's a perpetual covenant with and a sign of His people. We come together on this day, because we understand the life, death and resurrection of Christ and what God is now doing through Him in our

The Chairman Of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, throws more light on this in this insightful message titled "A People of God" at The Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) - Sakumono in Accra. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our “One Anothers” series, looking at “one another” lines in the New Testament, today's message is about why and how we pursue peace and mutual edification.

The Mission of God through the People of God | Acts 8:1-8

Hebrews 8:8-10 // To be one of God's people means not just professing faith but being transformed by the New Covenant, where God writes His law on believers' hearts, empowers their obedience through His Spirit, and secures their eternal life with Him.Anchor of the Soul // Michael Crosswhite

We're in a series called “One Anothers,” looking at a few of the “one another” lines in the New Testament. Today's message is about why and how we practice confessing our sins to one another.

We're in a series called “One Anothers,” looking at a few of the “one another” lines in the New Testament. Today's message is about why singing matters to our growth in Christ.

Paul's Prayer For The People of God pt. 30

Paul's Prayer For The People of God pt. 29

Paul's Prayer For The People of God pt. 28

Paul's Prayer For The People of God pt. 27

Paul's Prayer For The People of God pt. 26

Settling the People of God — Joshua 18:1-10 1. The people of God 2. The place of meeting 3. The limits of leadership 4. The importance of writing

Paul's Prayer For The People of God pt. 25

Try as we may, we cannot bring back the past. But there is a marvelous future for the people of God, anchored in a promise that cannot fail. Today, R.C. Sproul looks to the hope of the resurrection. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/ultimately-with-rc-sproul/a-future-for-the-people-of-god/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts