Podcasts about Philippi

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com          Phil. 3: 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the [a]false circumcision; 3 for we are the true [b]circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and take pride in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh, 4 although I myself could boast as having confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason:     2-6 Steer clear of the barking dogs, those religious busybodies, all bark and no bite. All they're interested in is appearances—knife-happy circumcisers, I call them. The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ's praise as we do it. We couldn't carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it—even though we can list what many might think are impressive credentials.   To understand the weight of Philippians 3:2-3, you have to imagine Paul writing from a prison cell, not with a sense of defeat, but with a sharp, protective urgency for his friends in Philippi. These verses represent one of the most famous "tone shifts" in the New Testament, moving from joy to a stern warning.   1. The Historical Background When Paul writes, "Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh," he isn't just being grumpy. He is addressing a specific group known as Judaizers. The Conflict The Judaizers were early Christians who argued that for a Gentile (non-Jew) to truly follow Christ, they first had to become Jewish by being circumcised and adhering to the Mosaic Law. The Term "Dogs": In the first century, "dogs" wasn't a cute term; it referred to scavengers. Ironically, Jews often used this term for "unclean" Gentiles. Paul flips the script, calling the legalists the "unclean" ones because they were trying to add human effort to a divine gift. The "Mutilators": Paul uses a Greek wordplay here. He contrasts peritome (circumcision) with katatome(mutilation). He's saying that if circumcision is done for the wrong reasons—as a requirement for salvation—it's nothing more than a physical wound with no spiritual value.   2. Defining the "True Circumcision" In verse 3, Paul redefines what it means to be the people of God. He lists three marks of a true believer that don't depend on physical lineage: Mark Meaning Worship by the Spirit Authentic worship isn't about following a ritual checklist; it's an internal prompting from God. Glory in Christ Jesus Our "boasting" or confidence is placed entirely in what Jesus did, not in our own resumes. No Confidence in the Flesh This means we stop trusting our background, our education, or our "goodness" to save us.   3. Application for Today While we aren't usually debating physical circumcision in modern life, the root issue—legalism versus grace—is still very much alive. Avoiding "Performance" Christianity It is human nature to want a "to-do list" to feel secure. Today, "the flesh" might look like: Thinking you are closer to God because you attend more services than others. Relying on your political stance or social activism as the source of your righteousness. Feeling "better" than others because of your specific lifestyle choices. Finding True Identity Paul's message to us today is a call to spiritual exhale. If our standing with God is based on Christ's performance and not ours, we are free from the "treadmill" of trying to earn God's favor. The takeaway: Religious rituals are fine as expressions of love, but they are "dogs" if they become the basis of our hope.   Would you like me to look into the verses that immediately follow this, where Paul lists his own impressive "religious resume" only to call it "rubbish"?

John Maytham is joined by Andrew Brown, South African novelist and long-time chronicler of Cape Town’s social landscape, to discuss his book - “All about Philippi”. Afternoon Drive with John Maytham is the late afternoon show on CapeTalk. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic, and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30 pm. CapeTalk fans call in to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 to 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show, go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this message, we explore how the gospel first reached Europe and what true faithfulness looks like in action. From Timothy's willingness to sacrifice personal rights for the sake of Christ, to Paul's deep dependence on the Holy Spirit's leading, to Lydia's generous hospitality that helped establish the church in Philippi, we see powerful examples of lives surrendered to Jesus. Above all, this sermon points us to the greater faithfulness of Christ - who gave everything for us - and challenges us to respond with courage, obedience, and generosity as we follow Him.

Saturday, 14 February 2026   Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Matthew 16:28   “Amen! I say to you that they are some of those having stood here who not they should taste death until if they should see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told His disciples that the Son of Man is about to come in His kingdom, and then He will give each according to his practice. He next says, “Amen! I say to you that they are some of those having stood here.”   The Greek verb is a perfect participle. As can be seen, the NKJV fails to properly elucidate this, saying, “some standing here.” In fact, one would be hard-pressed to find a translation that accurately translates the verb. Instead, they rely on a present tense or present participle rendering. But Jesus' words indicate a completed action, the results of which are still present or relevant, “having stood here.” The same perfect participle is found in the same context in Mark 9:1. Combined with the words, “some...here,” this limits the scope of what is said to those present. Of those referred to, Jesus next says they are those “who not they should taste death.”   A new word is seen, geuomai, to taste. It is used figuratively here to indicate experiencing. It is aorist subjunctive, viewing the whole as a single completed event. In other words, these will not experience death, “until if they should see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”   The meaning of this is widely debated. Is this referring to the transfiguration? Does this speak of the resurrection? Is it the beginning of the church at Pentecost? Is it the destruction of the temple in AD70? Is it referring to the millennial kingdom? And so on. Each of these has its supporters. For example, some believe that Jesus' words in John 21:22 mean that John is still alive and he will be one of the two witnesses. One of several problems with that is that the two witnesses will be killed before the Son of Man returns. Further, Jesus' words in Matthew 16:28 are plural, indicating more than one person. One of many problems with the destruction of the temple view is that Jesus didn't return in AD70. If He did, other words of Jesus would be a complete failure, such as Matthew 24:27.   There is no record of such an event, something that would not be lacking. That is an unbiblical attempt by preterists to dismiss any future prophecy, including the restoration of national Israel as a literal, historical event.   The problem with the Pentecost view is that it was the Holy Spirit, not Jesus, who came upon the people in Acts 2. To conflate the meaning of one with the other is stretching the text like a rubber band, which will eventually snap. As for the resurrection view, as Jesus was not in a glorified state at the resurrection, that also seems to be a stretch of the intent.   The account that is noted next at the beginning of Matthew 17 follows in the same manner in all three synoptic gospels, which is a strong hint that tells us that the transfiguration is what Jesus is referring to. It is a kingdom foretaste for the benefit of the disciples. As it is recorded in the word, it is thus provided as a benefit for all.   This glorified state was then viewed by John when he received the book of Revelation, including Jesus' return in Revelation 19. For a fuller and more complete explanation of the details of Matthew 16, please continue reading the life application section of this commentary.   Life application: Chapter 16 of Matthew is a passage that petitions the Jews of the end times to consider who Jesus is based on their own history, comparing it to how He is portrayed in Scripture.   In verse 1, Jesus was approached by the Pharisees and Sadducees, who asked for a sign from heaven. As in Chapter 15, these types of men represent the same thinking and paradigm as the rabbis of Israel today. Jesus told them that they could read the signs in the sky, but they could not discern the signs of the times.   With the coming of the end times, the Jews of Israel would naturally be expected to understand the situation they are in, but they will be clueless about the matter. In verse 4, Jesus said that the generation was wicked and adulterous, something akin to what Peter calls the Jews who rejected Jesus in Acts 2:40. Jesus continued that no sign would be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.   As explained, the sign of the prophet Jonah is the destruction of the temple, it being a year for a day based on Jonah's proclamation, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.”   In the end times, the Jews will have to look to their Scriptures, understand that their temple was destroyed and they were exiled for rejecting Jesus, internalize this truth, and then have faith in Him based on that.   As an explanation of the doctrine of faith in the Messiah, in verse 5, the disciples went across the Sea of Galilee. As such, they crossed the Jordan because the Jordan runs through the sea. Being on the other (east) side signifies those who have not come through Christ to be saved. Jesus told them in verse 6 to take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. They thought He was talking about bread. But He corrected them by recapping the miracles of feeding the five thousand and the four thousand.   These miracles, anticipating the salvation of Jews and Gentiles, testify to His being the Messiah. What He was warning them about was the doctrine of those false teachers, not about bread. Their doctrine is to be equated with the false doctrine of the rabbis and other law teachers of the end times who have returned to law observance, temple worship, etc. It is a warning that the end times Jews are not to follow those Satan-led examples. Faith in Jesus, as represented by the feeding of the masses, is what brings restoration with God.   In verse 13, it is noted that Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi. Caesarea is derived from Caesar. The idea of being a Caesar is the deification of the individual. He is attributed a god-like status. Philippi is from Philip, a lover of horses. But in Scripture, a horse is metaphorically used as a source of military pride –   “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7   Abarim rightly defines Philippi with the lengthy paraphrase, They Who Lean On Their Military Complex. It is exactly the source of pride that Israel of today is heading towards. Their military superiority is their source of pride and is exalted to god-like status. This will only increase after the battle of Gogd/Magog.   It is in this prefigured end-times state that Jesus asks them who He is. The various answers are answers you could expect from Jews. Jesus was a prophet (or false prophet) or whatever. However, Simon Peter proclaims Him the Christ. What was Jesus' response? “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah.”   The same name that was acknowledged as the sign in verse 4 is now noted by Jesus. He is Simon (Hearer) Son of Jonah. In other words, he represents the Jews who have understood (heard) the sign of Jonah. To be a son signifies identity. The end times Jews who acknowledge Jesus as the Christ are “sons of Jonah,” because they have made the connection by understanding the sign. In essence, “We missed Him when He came, but we know now who He is.”   It is on this proclamation that Jesus will build His out-calling of those in the end times. They will receive the keys to the kingdom of the heavens, entering into the millennial reign of Christ. In verse 21, Jesus spoke of His destiny to suffer and die. Peter's words of admonishment stirred Jesus to turn His back on him, call him Satan, and tell him he was not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.   It is a warning to the end times Jews that they are to accept a crucified Savior as the role of the Messiah. Israel looked, and still looks, for a conquering Messiah, but His role as the crucified Messiah is what God highlights in Him more than all else.   From there, Jesus told the disciples the words about denying themselves and losing their souls in order to save their souls. The thought is "losing their souls (meaning their lives) in order to save their souls."  It is exactly what is seen in Revelation –   “Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.” Revelation 14:9, 10  &   “And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.” Revelation 15:2   In verse 27, it said, “For the Son of Man is about to come in His Father's glory with His messengers.” This is exactingly described in Revelation 19:11 –   “And I saw the heaven having been opened. And you behold! Horse, white! And the ‘sitting upon it' being called ‘Faithful and True,' and in righteousness He judges, and He battles” (CG).   Jesus is coming in His Father's glory. In Matthew 24, it notes that in the end times, He will send out His angels (Greek: messengers) to gather His elect.   The final verse of the chapter then said, “Amen! I say to you, that they are some of those having stood here who not they will taste death until if they should see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Again, this is exactly what occurs in Revelation. Some of the end times Jews will make it through the entire tribulation, not seeing death until they behold Jesus coming in His kingdom.   These things are gleaned from Matthew 16, forming a picture of what is coming in the future for Israel.   Lord God, how precious it is to know that You will not reject Israel, even when the whole world is imploding, You will be with them and carry them as a people through the tribulation and into the time promised to them so long ago. Thank You for Your covenant faithfulness, even to those of us who fail You constantly. Amen. Matthew 16   16 And having approached, the Pharisees and Sadducees, testing, they queried Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2And answering, He said to them, “Evening having come, you say, ‘Good weather!', for the heaven, it is red, 3and early, ‘This day... inclemency!', for glowering, the heaven, it reddens. Hypocrites! Indeed, you know to discern the face of the heaven, and the seasons' signs, not you can. 4Generation – evil and adulteress – it seeks a sign, and a sign – not it will be given it – if not the sign of Jonah the prophet.” And having left them, He departed.   5And His disciples, having come to the beyond, they overlooked to take bread. 6And Jesus, He said to them, “You behold, and you caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”   7And they deliberated in themselves, saying, “Because not we took bread!” 8And Jesus, having known, said to them, “Why – you deliberate in yourselves, little-faithed? Because you took no bread? 9You grasp, not yet, nor you recollect the five loaves – the five thousand, and how many handbaskets you took? 10Nor the seven loaves – the four thousand, and how many hampers you took? 11How not you recollect that I spoke not concerning bread to you! Caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12Then they comprehended that not He said to caution from the leaven – the bread, but from the teaching – the Pharisees and Sadducees.   13And Jesus, having come to the allotments – Caesarea, the Phillipi, He entreated His disciples, saying, “Whom they say, the men, Me to be, the Son of Man?”   14And they said, “These, indeed, John the Immerser, and others Elijah, and others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”   15He says to them, “And you, whom you say Me to be?”   16And answering, Simon Peter, he said, “You, You are the Christ, the Son of God, the living.”   17And Jesus, answering, He said to him, “Blessed you are, Simon, Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood not it revealed to you, but My Father, the ‘in the heavens'.” 18And I also, I say to you that you, you are Peter, and upon this – the Rock – I will build My out-calling, and Hades' gates, not they will overpower her. 19And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens. And whatever, if you may bind upon the earth, it will be ‘having been bound' in the heavens. And whatever, if you may loosen upon the earth, it will be ‘having been loosed' in the heavens.” 20Then He enjoined His disciples that they should say to none that He, He is Jesus the Christ.   21From then He began, Jesus, to show His disciples that it necessitates Him to depart to Jerusalem and to suffer many from the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be roused.   22And Peter, having clutched Him, he began to admonish Him, saying, “Propitious, to You, Lord! No, not it will be, this to You!”   23And, having turned, He said to Peter, “You withdraw behind Me, Satan! Snare, you are, to Me. For you think not these of God but these of men.”   24The Jesus, He said to His disciples, “If any, he desires to come after Me, let him disown himself, and he took his cross, and he follows Me. 25For whoever, if he may desire to save his soul, he will lose it. And whoever, if he may lose his soul because of Me, he will find it. 26For what it benefits a man if he may gain the whole world and he may lose his soul? Or what will he give, man, equivalent his soul? 27For the Son of Man is about to come in His Father's glory with His messengers. And then He will give each according to his practice. 28Amen! I say to you, that they are some of those having stood here who not they will taste death until if they should see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Exploring the Connection Between Matthew 16 and Nehemiah For BibleInTen.com - By DH, 14th February 2026 Welcome back to Bible in Ten! Today, we have another bonus episode as our daily commentary from CG at the Superior Word rounds off Matthew Chapter 16. Matthew's Gospel contains 28 chapters, and remarkably, it mirrors the first 28 books of the Old Testament as arranged in the Christian Bible. So in this episode, having considered Matthew 16, we'll now look at its fascinating counterpart: Book 16 of the Old Testament-Nehemiah. Nehemiah (נְחֶמְיָה / Nechemyah) means “Yah comforts.” That is appropriate because the whole book is comfort through restoration after judgment. Nehemiah functions as a historical “control text,” showing an established covenant pattern that Matthew 16 then re-presents prophetically (while still being literal history in Jesus' life, confirmed by the other Gospel writers).  Isn't the Word of God Amazing?! Let us now take a look at 12 connections which which support the summary of the chapter as detailed in the previous episode.     Unlike pairings between Matthew 14 with 2 Chronicles—where the correspondence spans a wider sweep of history across multiple dispensational stages—the Matthew 16 / Nehemiah pairing is compressed into a narrower prophetic frame (the tribulation-period restoration conflict) and does not proceed step by step.  The lack of a perfectly locked step-by-step sequence is itself instructive.   In Matthew 14 the picture maps a long, ordered panorama where chronology matters as it spans events across Israel's history from the dispensation of law to and prophetic future carries a clearer, more sequential structure. .. But in the Matthew 16 / Nehemiah pairing—focused on the tribulation—Scripture is not chiefly giving a detailed internal timetable; it is giving the shape of the period.   So lets turn to that shape now with these 12 steps. A Demand for a Sign and the First Opposition Matthew 16 opens with the Pharisees and Sadducees coming together to test Jesus, demanding a “sign from heaven.” It is leadership pressure-religious power trying to control the terms. Nehemiah opens with the same kind of pressure appearing as soon as restoration is announced. When Nehemiah arrives with authorization to rebuild, opposition rises immediately: Sanballat and Tobiah are “grieved” that someone came to seek Israel's good (Nehemiah 2:10). They then laugh and scorn: “What is this thing that ye do?” (2:19) The pattern is consistent: when God moves to restore, the entrenched powers demand proof, challenge legitimacy, and attempt to intimidate the work before it begins. “You Can Read the Sky… But Not the Times” Jesus says they can interpret the sky, but they cannot discern “the signs of the times.” The irony is that the very men claiming insight are the ones blind to what God is doing. Nehemiah carries that same irony in restoration form. The enemies act as if they understand the situation and control the outcome—mocking, threatening, and plotting as though the work will collapse on their schedule. But they do not know what's really happening. Their blindness shows in this: they only learn after the fact that their plan has been uncovered. In Nehemiah —“when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought…” (Nehemiah 4:15). They thought they were the ones reading the moment, but they were misreading it completely. The builders knew; the enemies did not. And once the plot was exposed, the intimidation lost its power and the work continued. The Sign of Judgment Remembered With the coming of the end times, the leaders of Israel would be expected to understand the situation they are in—but in Matthew 16 they are shown as unable to read it. Jesus calls them “wicked and adulterous” and says no sign will be given except “the sign of the prophet Jonah.” In the previous episode we learned that, Jonah's “Yet forty days” becomes a prophetic template—forty as judgment time—fulfilled in the temple's destruction about forty years after Christ, and then the long exile that followed. The end-times petition is therefore not, “wait for a new sign,” but: look back, read your history through Scripture, and believe. Nehemiah begins with that same mechanism already in place. The “sign” is not in the sky; it is in the city. Jerusalem stands as a covenant witness—broken, burned, and shamed: “the wall of Jerusalem… broken down, and the gates… burned with fire” (Nehemiah 1:3). And crucially, Nehemiah interprets that ruin as meaning—he does not treat it as mere geopolitics. He confesses, “We have dealt very corruptly… and have not kept the commandments” (1:7), and he appeals to what God had already spoken in the Scriptures about scattering for unfaithfulness and gathering upon repentance (1:8-9). Matthew 16 points Israel to a coming historical sign—temple judgment—meant to force a right reading of Scripture and history. Nehemiah opens with an earlier historical sign—Jerusalem in ruins—meant to do the same. In both cases, the issue is not that God failed to leave evidence. The issue is whether the people will stop being “clueless,” read the sign correctly, internalize what it says about their covenant state, and then return to the Lord in true faith. Crossing Over: From Exile-Space to Covenant-Space The movement across the sea of Galilee (and thus the Jordan-line running through it) pictured a spiritual boundary-those “on the other side” needing to come through Christ. Nehemiah is structured around a grand “crossing” of its own: movement from Persia and the regions “beyond the river” into the land where God's name was set. The restoration work begins when Nehemiah leaves the place of worldly security and goes to the place of covenant accountability. Beware the Leaven: Corrupt Influence Inside the People In Matthew 16, Jesus warns of the “leaven” of the Pharisees and Sadducees—doctrine and influence that works invisibly, spreading through the whole lump until everything is affected. The disciples first think He is speaking about bread, but Jesus corrects them: the danger is not what you eat, but what you absorb. Nehemiah gives a historical picture of that same leaven-principle. The enemy does not remain at the gate. He aims for infiltration—to become familiar, acceptable, even respected within the restored community. During the rebuilding, Nehemiah notes that the nobles were already entangled: “For many in Judah were pledged to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.” (Nehemiah 6:18). The leaven isn't merely threat from outside; it is sympathy and alliance forming inside—compromise that feels normal because it comes through “our own people.” And when that leaven is left unchecked, it advances from relationships to residence. In Nehemiah 13, Tobiah is not simply corresponding with leaders—he is granted an actual chamber in the temple precincts (Nehemiah 13:4-9). The unclean influence in its mature form, so that what begins as tolerated association ends as sanctioned presence. This is exactly the warning Matthew 16 carries forward. Don't misread the matter as “bread,” as though the issue were external details. The real danger is the teaching, the partnerships, the slow drift—leavened thinking that spreads through the body while everyone tells themselves nothing serious is happening, until the holy space itself is compromised. Power, Pride, and the Military Temptation Caesarea Philippi was highlighted as a picture-space: Caesar as deified man; Philippi as leaning on the “horse” principle-military pride. Nehemiah's rebuilding occurs under constant threat. The people must be armed while they build.  They work with one hand and hold a weapon with the other (Nehemiah 4:17-18). But Nehemiah carefully frames this: the sword is not their salvation. Their security is God, and vigilance is obedience. Necessary defense exists, but pride in defense is a snare. The people are restored, yet always at risk of trusting the wall more than the Lord. “Who Do You Say That I Am?” and the Community's Confession In Matthew 16, we have the God assisted confession: “You are the Christ.” Nehemiah contains an extended sequence where Israel is restored not merely by masonry but by identity-confession through God's Word: “So they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining it and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read.” (Nehemiah 8:8). This leads into confession of sin and confession of God's faithfulness (Nehemiah 9). In the Matthew framework: end-times Jews become true “hearers”- not merely readers of signs, but confessors of what the signs meant. 8. Kingdom-Order, and Covenant Enrollment In Matthew 16, everything turns on identity and confession. Israel can offer many assessments of Jesus—prophet, teacher, threat—but the end-times remnant is identified as those who follow Peter's confession: “You are the Christ.” After this, Jesus blesses Peter with a name that ties back to the only sign granted—Bar-Jonah, “son of Jonah.” In other words, Peter typifies the Jews who have heard the sign of Jonah, interpreted their own history rightly, and therefore confess the Messiah they once missed. That confession marks them out as the out-called, and it is on that proclamation that Christ speaks of kingdom entry—the granting of the keys. Nehemiah provides an Old Covenant “control text” for that same movement: a remnant comes to understanding, confession, and then formalized belonging. After the Scriptures are read and the national confession is made (Nehemiah 8-9), the people do not remain in mere emotion or general agreement. They move into enrollment—a defined act of covenant identity: “And because of all this, we make a sure covenant and write it; our leaders, our Levites, and our priests seal it” (Nehemiah 9:38; detailed in chapter 10). Names are written. Allegiance is publicly owned. Commitments and boundaries are stated. And the Hebrew meaning of these written names themselves bear connection to tribulation period events described in Revelation. In typology terms, Nehemiah shows a keys-of-the-kingdom counterpart in historical form, a concrete act of authorized inclusion into a defined covenant community. As Bar-Jonah represents those who finally hear and identify the true Messiah, the sealed covenant in Nehemiah represents those who finally own and enter the restored order. 9. A Messiah Who Must Suffer: The Offense of God's Way In Matthew 16, Peter stumbles over the suffering plan. The moment Jesus speaks openly about rejection, suffering, and death, Peter tries to correct Him—and Jesus rebukes him sharply. The warning is against demanding a triumphant, expectation-shaped messiah while rejecting the true Messiah as God presents Him—first crucified, then glorified. Nehemiah provides the historical control picture of that same offense. Restoration there advances through obedience under scorn. The workers are mocked (Nehemiah 4:1-3), threatened (4:7-8), and worn down by discouragement (4:10). Yet the work moves forward because they refuse the “easy” path of retreat, silence, or compromise. That is the typological connection: Peter's impulse—“this shall not happen to You”—is the human instinct to reject a deliverance that comes through suffering. Nehemiah's remnant models the opposite posture: they accept that God often brings vindication after humiliation.   10. Deny Yourself: The Cost of Faithfulness Under Pressure In Matthew 16, Jesus' call to deny yourself is not abstract spirituality—it is a demand for costly allegiance. In the end-times picture drawn, it means refusing the survival-instinct that compromises truth, and choosing fidelity to Christ even when it carries temporary loss. Nehemiah provides a clear historical control of that same principle. He refuses the governor's allowance—he will not enrich himself at the people's expense: “I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor” (Nehemiah 5:14-19).  In both cases the work of God is advanced by those willing to serve faithfully even when they could have claimed their rights. Vindication: God's Work Revealed Before Enemies Matthew 16 ends with the thought of the Son of Man coming in glory with His messengers-a public unveiling of reality. Nehemiah contains a miniature version of that unveiling: The wall is finished, and the enemies “perceived that this work was wrought of our God” (Nehemiah 6:15-16). The point is the pattern: endurance, completion, public recognition that God did it, not man. What is done in faith is later shown to have been of God. A Remnant Standing at the End Some will make it through the tribulation without tasting death when they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. In Nehemiah, the “standing remnant” idea is stated in the narrative milestones that mark survival through the entire pressure campaign to the realized outcome. They survive to completion: “So the wall was finished…” (Nehemiah 6:15). They survive the intimidation campaign and remain in place: after the plot is exposed and collapses, the work continues and the enemies are put to shame (Nehemiah 6:16). They transition from building under threat to ordered life in the city: once the wall is finished, “the doors were set up,” gatekeepers and Levites are appointed, and watch is established (Nehemiah 7:1-3). They are still there as a gathered people at the end of the building phase: “all Israel dwelt in their cities… and all the people gathered themselves together as one man” (Nehemiah 7:73-8:1). They move from completion to public dedication: “at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem…” (Nehemiah 12:27), culminating in corporate worship and rejoicing (Nehemiah 12:43). Nehemiah doesn't just end with “a wall.” It ends with a preserved community—still present, still assembled, moving from survival under pressure (6:15-16) into established order (7:1-3), unified gathering (7:73-8:1), and dedication/worship (12:27, 43). So the narrative picture of a remnant standing is explicit: some make it through, and they stand in what God established. CONCLUSION: Why This is Controlled Typology In Nehemiah, the question is: Will the returned people truly become God's people again-by truth, separation, and covenant fidelity-rather than by mere structure? In Matthew 16, the question becomes sharper and final: Will Israel discern what their own history meant, reject leavened leadership, confess the true Messiah, accept the suffering plan, and endure to the kingdom? Nehemiah gives the Old Covenant restoration pattern in history. Matthew 16 gives the New Covenant restoration petition in prophecy-picture-centered entirely on Jesus: who He is, what He must do, and what His people must endure in the tribulation period. Nehemiah rebuilds a wall around a city.  Matthew 16 reveals the confession upon which Christ builds His out-calling. Lord God, we thank You for Your word-holy, faithful, and true. Give us discernment for the times we live in. Guard us from leaven-quiet compromise, false teaching, and fear-driven counsel that sounds spiritual but serves another master.  Strengthen us to bear reproach, to deny ourselves, and to endure faithfully until Your purposes are complete.  And may all our confidence rest not in walls, not in strength, not in man-but in the name of the Lord our God. Amen.

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 4:17. Some people talk a good game. Timothy lived one. Paul had a big problem in Corinth—a proud, divided church drifting from the way of Christ. So he doesn't just write another paragraph. He doesn't send a rebuke. He sends a person. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. — 1 Corinthians 4:17 Timothy wasn't a random choice. He was the right man, in the right moment, with the right life. History of Timothy: Paul met him in Lystra as a young man known for sincere faith (Acts 16:1–2). He was raised by a godly mother and grandmother (2 Tim. 1:5). Paul invited him into ministry early (Acts 16:1–3). Timothy proved faithful through suffering, travel, pressure, and conflict (Phil. 2:19–22). Paul trusted him so deeply that he sent him to tough churches—Philippi, Thessalonica, Ephesus… and now Corinth (1 Thess. 3:1–2). So why send him? Because Timothy didn't just know Paul's teaching—he knew Paul's ways. He lived the gospel Paul preached. Timothy is who Paul would be if Paul were standing in the room. The Corinthians didn't need more clarity. They needed more example. A humble one. A faithful one. A consistent one. A fellow worth following. We all need examples like Timothy… and we're all called to become examples like Timothy. Not perfect. Just faithful. Steady. Growing. Becoming the kind of person who makes it easier for others to follow Jesus. Be a fellow worth following. And here's the truth: You can be. Not by being impressive. Not by being flawless. But by walking closely with Christ until your life naturally points others toward Him. God can shape you into the kind of person others look to for strength, courage, and clarity. The kind of person who lifts prayer burdens, speaks truth gently, and carries the presence of Christ into every space. You don't need a platform. You don't need a title. You just need a faithful life. Let God form you into a fellow worth following. DO THIS: Choose one area of your life where you want to grow into someone "worth following." Invite God to shape you—and someone you trust to sharpen you. ASK THIS: Why did Paul trust Timothy so deeply? What qualities in Timothy do I need to grow in? Does my life help others follow Christ more clearly? PRAY THIS: Lord, form in me the kind of life others can follow. Make me faithful, steady, humble, and true—like Timothy. Shape me into a fellow worth following. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Lead Me to the Cross"

Memory Verse: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6, NRSVue). INTRO: Paul has repeated admonished believers in Philippi not to be anxious. Despite Paul's imprisonment and pending court hearing, despite the difficulties those followers of Jesus may be facing where they live, Paul strongly encourages them not to be anxious in Phil. 4:6 which is this week's memory verse. Memory Verse: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known ...

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-4 In the heart of life, much like the roots of a palm tree, we are called to dig deep. Picture a palm swaying gracefully in a storm; it bends but doesn't break. This image reminds us how strong faith can weather life's unpredictable moments. Just as these trees are anchored by their deep roots, we too are invited to establish a profound connection with God, allowing us to stand tall amidst any winds. Think of the Apostle Paul, singing joyfully in his prison cell in Philippi. His spirit soared above the heavy chains, turning confinement into a place of worship. Paul's unwavering faith illustrates something powerful: true strength is born in the depths of our devotion. When we immerse ourselves in God's love and guidance, we become resilient, equipped to face whatever comes our way, just like the palm during a hurricane. 1 Peter 5:10 says, "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast." Scripture encourages us to embrace this deepening relationship. James 1:2-4 invites us to consider our journeys as opportunities for joy, for in patience and perseverance, our true selves emerge. We find the richness of our faith growing stronger, much like a tree's roots expanding with each passing season. And as 1 Peter 5:10 assures us, God will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us when we dwell in His presence. Let's remember, “Adversity is weight-training for faith.” Each moment of connection with God is an exercise that strengthens our spiritual foundation. Just as roots weave through the earth, searching for the right nutrients, our souls thrive when we seek divine wisdom. As we deepen our roots, we become wind-proof, ready to uplift others and nurture the world around us. Amen. 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." Amen. Prayer for the Day!Heavenly Father, thank You for the deep, unwavering roots You provide in our lives. Brethren, I pray that you may grow deeper in your faith, drawing strength from God's love and grace. May your roots laugh at every drought around you, and your leaves stay ever green. May you bear fruit in season and not wither, anchored by the living water of His Word. May His Spirit steady your steps, His peace guard your hearts and minds, and His joy be your strength. May your love abound more and more, your hope shine like a lamp in the night, and your hands be quick to bless. May trials refine you, not define you; may courage clothe you, and kindness mark your path. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and give you peace. In Jesus name. Amen

On the Road Again | Week 5 |  Ken Miller--On this second missionary trip, Paul and Barnabas part ways and Paul travels with Timothy and Silas. While in Corinth, Paul writes his two letters to the believers in Thessalonica. On this trip, Paul begins to experience increasing hostility to his message and ends up in prison in Philippi.--Notes

At the last night of summer camp as a teenager, I felt conspicuous as I stood alone in a group of campers. When one of them mocked me, I felt hurt. I ran back to my tent, pretending to sleep when the group leader checked on me. The next morning I avoided her attempt to talk about it. She later wrote to me, helping me understand that God truly cared for me. She quoted from the apostle Paul: we can be “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). I felt like the apostle’s words were directed right to me. Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, which he’d planted over a decade earlier, to encourage them to root their love for God and each other “in knowledge and depth of insight” (v. 9). God would carry on His work in and through them as He filled them “with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (v. 11). At the time I didn’t understand the original context, but I started to comprehend that my identity as one loved by God came from knowing and accepting the love of Jesus. God desires that we receive His love and that it would abound in us more and more. As He fills us with His joy and peace, we’ll grow in the knowledge not only of Him but of His good work in us.

We had planned to begin our new series in 2 Samuel this week, but due to weather and cancellations, we're moving that start date to next Sunday.In the meantime, we invite you to be encouraged by a special message from Isaac Hill, recorded at Old Lexington Baptist Church in Leesville on January 18. We're grateful for the opportunity to share this sermon with our church family.This week's group content will be standalone. Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. TranscriptThis morning we are going to be in Philippians chapter two. And so if you've got your Bibles, I would love for you to turn there with me. I'm going to read for us verses 1 through 11, and I'm going to pray and we'll dive in. This is what Paul says in Philippians chapter two.So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every nation bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Let's pray. Father, we thank you for your word in the way that it reveals who you are and what you are doing and who we are and what you are calling us into. And so we would ask this morning that you would use your word to teach and instruct us, and that it would not return void in Jesus name. Amen.This morning, since we're jumping directly into the middle of a book, the Letter to the Philippians, I figured we could have a little bit of context. My Old Testament class professor always said, context is king. That was driven to my mind while I studied there. A little bit of context of the letter that Paul wrote. Paul was under house arrest when he wrote this letter to the Philippian Church. If you read the couple of chapters that are there, you find out that this is one of Paul's most encouraging letters that he has to write to the churches. We discover that he has a great and fond relationship of the church at Philippi. They mean much to him, both in his heart and then in his mission of declaring the gospel to those who have yet to hear. There's not a whole lot of correction in the letter, we do learn about some disagreements that show up between a couple members, but for the most part, Paul is really just encouraging this church to continue strong in the faith.In chapter one, which is immediately before what we're looking at this morning, Paul writes to them to let them know about his imprisonment that he was under, but more specifically to write about how he has found joy in the middle of his circumstance. It turns out that the Lord has used it as an opportunity for the continuing advancement of the message of the Gospel, both to the prison guards that were keeping watch over him and then anybody who he also got to be around. After he shares this update at the end of Chapter one, I believe that there's a transitionary paragraph that leads into the rest of the letter, and I want to read the beginning phrase of that paragraph, because I think it's going to position us to correctly understand what Paul is talking about in the passage of chapter 2. This is what he says in Philippians 1:27.Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ.Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ.There's a footnote in the ESV translation, which is what I like to use, and it writes that if you were to literally translate this phrase, it would read, only behave as citizens worthy of the Gospel of Christ, that what we're going to see today is Paul is going to show for us three aspects, three characteristics of a life that belongs to a citizen of the Gospel of Jesus, that Jesus is king, he is Lord, and for those that believe and trust in him, we exist inside his kingdom, and there's a way of life that is called for us to live in under the message of Jesus. With that, let's jump in to chapter two, verse. So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.He writes this language, if there is any. When he writes it that way, it's almost like when you and I would ask a rhetorical question. If you've ever been with your friend and you know somebody who did something totally outlandish, you might say, can you believe that? It's not really that you are asking. Can you show the proof and build out the reason as to why you believe that? No, you're just so confounded by what has taken place that it bursts out into question. In the same way Paul is saying, if there is any encouragement in Christ, there is. He's already written about it in chapter one, that there is encouragement in Christ as he's in prison. He writes, if there's any comfort from love, this letter is an encouraging letter, that the relationship that he has with the Philippian Church, there is comfort in love that he has from them. If there's any participation in the Spirit, he writes about their partnership with him in the Gospel. There's affection, there's sympathy. That's what Paul is seeing.In verse two, what we see is he's saying, complete my joy. He's driving toward what he wants them to understand, what he wants to instruct them in. What we're going to see is what I believe is three categories that are important for us in understanding what it looks like, our life to look like it is worthy of the Gospel of Jesus. Verse two, he says, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. I think these are the three categories here. While we talk about them this morning as three distinct categories, because that's helpful for us in engaging it, they're actually interconnected with one another, as we'll see. But as we see here, Paul wants them to be of the same mind, Number one wants them to have the same love. It's number two, and he wants them to be of one in purpose. That word purpose is another way of translating the word accord. Those are the three categories that I think Paul is getting after and that we would do well to consider and study.If you were to just read up to verse two here in the text, you would be asking some questions. What is the mind that we're supposed to be in? The same as what love are we supposed to be the same as what accord or purpose are we supposed to be full of? That's what I think verses 3 through 11 are going to help us this morning. Let's take these one at a time.First, Paul is going to write about what it looks like being of the same mind. Pick back up in verse 3.Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus.Paul begins to explain what it looks like to have this mind. First of all, he categorizes it as being the mind of Christ. We'll get to talk about that in more detail here in a minute. In verse three and four, he practically is walking through what it looks like to have the same mind. Let's work back through just bit by bit of what he said. Do nothing from selfish ambition. Ambition is that idea of drive or motivation by which we do things. What he's saying is, don't—those a negative command. Don't be driven to terminate what you do on self. Do nothing from selfish ambition. Don't let your ambition, your motivation, your drive to accomplish things be for the end and the purpose of ending on yourself. Then he says, do nothing from conceit. Conceit is the idea of thinking more highly of yourself than you ought to. The important thing about conceit is it actually has to do with our relationship with other people. The way that I can think more highly of myself is by thinking more highly of me over you.Then he goes on and starts to give the positive aspect of this, what it looks like in humility, count others as more significant than yourselves. That's the opposite side of the conceit that not only would I not think of myself as greater than you, but I would be thinking of you as greater than me. That's true humility of me bringing myself low and considering you as more than important. That's the mind he wants us to have. In verse 4 he says, look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Very practically what it looks like is not just me thinking about what I've got on my plate or whatever difficulties I'm facing or whatever wants I have thinking about you and what you're facing and what you're dealing with and what you want.To flesh this out a little bit more, I just figured I'd share some of how this passage in this last week was hitting home for me. How the Spirit was working in my heart, convicting me and thinking this in verse 4. I really appreciate Paul's language of look because in life what happens is we've got our stuff that we're dealing with, whatever it is. Your alarm goes off, my alarm goes off. I wake up and I go to my job and I sit at my desk and do my work and tackle my problems. Then I come home and I've got my house and my family and I'm zoned in. It's something about us that we've got to take care of it. We're looking at the things we're doing, and we're just looking and we're doing and we're looking and we're doing and just locked in. What Paul wants us to see—this is why I found that language of look so helpful—is that if we take a moment to pause and look, I see there's more than me. I see there's more than what I'm facing and what I'm dealing with and what I'm working at. Now I'm beginning to see you. If I spend long enough looking, I'll start to see the else who has all the things that you're doing that you're working towards, that you're facing, that you're struggling with.This is why it's convicting for me, is that I'm very driven by accomplishing, by getting stuff done, but I should slow down. I hope to consider and look and see other people. Another thing that was striking in this passage is Paul doesn't say, don't just look to your own needs, but look to the needs of others. He says, don't just look to your own interests, but look to the interests of others. I think we might find it a little easy to wrap our heads around. Well, yeah, they have a need, so I'll help them meet a need that makes sense. But he just says their interests, what they have want for. That's true humility coming all the way down low, that I would consider what you want above what I want. This is the mind that Paul is wanting us to have and to share.As mentioned earlier, Paul has a lot of commendation for the church, but he really wants to push them to grow in this way. As I was trying to consider how we might be able to connect in our own context with what Paul is writing here, I was thinking about verse one, as he's writing about the encouragement that's there, the comfort that is there, the sympathy, the affection. I was beginning to think we might say something like, the Joneses, they're just good people. They're good people. Or you might say the Millers, they're just so nice, just decent people. We might use language like that. Genuinely, we're talking about good things. We're talking about them being respectful, cordial, nice, kind. They're genuinely wonderful good qualities about people and something that we should be. But Paul is trying to drive us into something deeper because remember, he's talking about a life that is worthy of belonging to the gospel of Jesus.I don't think it's enough that we could just be good people. It's not enough for me to just be decent. Even this morning as I'm here and I'm walking and I'm getting to shake all of your hands and meet you, I said, you don't know me. Maybe after you've had an interaction with me, you might think, oh, he's a decent fella. I haven't rubbed the wrong way. I think that's a perfectly fine thing. But I can do that and still be driven as a person by selfish ambition, I can do that and still be a person that is driven by conceit, that I would think more highly of myself, or that I could be a person that is really just mainly concerned with my own interests. So it's not enough. A life worthy of the gospel of Jesus in our mind must go beyond what are good things. We have to drive deeper into the faith that we have been called into. I would be thinking of other people as more important than myself. This is the mind of Christ. This is the mind that Paul wants us to live in as people who belong to Jesus. That word humility there is the perfect summation of what he is getting at, that I would be humble. That's the first category that Paul has for us of living a life worthy of the gospel of Jesus: that we would be of one mind, the one mind of Christ that is humble.Secondly, being of the same love. Paul talks about, he wants them to be of the same love. Pick back up in verse five.Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.As mentioned already that this mind of humility belongs to Christ. Paul is about to explain here the depth of the humility of Jesus. Follow the journey of Christ as Paul has it outlined here. First we see that Jesus was in the form of God. Theologically, Jesus is God the Son, that our God exists as a triune God, he is three persons in one being, that he is God the Father, the Son and the Spirit, and Jesus is God the Son. We could have spent all morning just trying to talk about and tackle and understand what that means, and we still would just barely have scratched the surface of understanding it. But let's focus on what Paul is considering this morning along the lines of humility.Jesus has a claim to be God the man. Jesus who lived 2,000 years ago, a real person like you and I. He has a claim to the name of God that includes all the power, includes all the authority. In other scriptures we see that he's accredited with creation. He's the Creator, he's the Almighty, he's powerful, he's the Name above all names. He has the authority. Yet he, verse seven did not count—sorry, verse six did not count—equality with God, a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men. This is the beginning of the path of humility that Jesus takes. It starts with the mind of Christ here, right? He says, do not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. He does not think of his claim to the name of God as that which should be grabbed with triumphal assertion. As one commentator put it.I have a young son now. He's almost 10 months old and yesterday we got to play together and he has this little screwdriver chew toy thing to help him with teething or whatever. He was just holding on to it. He was just grasping onto it, super excited, super cute, and that's that idea of grasping onto it like it's the spoils of victory of war, that he's got this rubber little chew toy thing. When we think about the idea of Jesus having a claim to the name of God and that he didn't count it as something worth grasping to, what does he do? He put on the likeness of man that the Son of God eternal became like you and I. He had real skin, real bones. He had muscles that grew weary as the day went on. His mind grew hazy as tiredness began to set in, or maybe hunger, a stomach that growled when it was dinner time.I want to be clear here so I don't get myself into trouble when talking about this aspect of Jesus being in two natures, fully God and fully man. When Jesus put on flesh, he didn't in any way lose his status as God. Remember, he has full claim to it. But he still did put on flesh. He still was like you and I, weak. We've gotten to talk with some of you that are much further along in the journey than I am now. I'm sure you understand that, do you not? Body begins to be weak, gets to be harder to do things. Jesus was man, with times experienced weakness. We could have spent all morning just talking about this aspect of Jesus, and still we would have just barely scratched the surface of what it means. Let's continue on along the purpose of what Paul is talking about, outlining the path of Christ's humility.First, being found in human form. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. We have Jesus, who is the Son of God, eternal, creator, almighty, powerful. Then he takes on human frame like you and I, and he experiences life like you and I experience with weakness, with sadness, with tears, with difficulty. He also submits himself to obedience to the Father. We see this throughout the Gospel accounts that Jesus in his ministry submits to the will of God. See this most potently in the Gospel of John. Over and over again Jesus recounts, I do nothing of my own accord, but I do that which the Father has sent me to do. He lives in that way. Not only does he submit himself in obedience, he submits himself to death. Not only does he submit himself to death, but he submits himself to the most humiliating death. It was not honorable for him to hang on that tree. That was cursed man's death. That was the death that he went to go to.Do you see this path of humility? God eternal, Creator, Almighty, and he steps down into human form, and then he steps down into obedience, and then he steps down into death and into the humiliating death on the cross. At this point you might be thinking, did we start off this category by Paul talking about being of the same love? What does this have to do with love? That he whom for God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. This is the giving of the Son, that in humility he comes. This is the kind of love that Paul is calling us to live in, the giving completely of oneself. Remember, it starts in the mind, the humility to consider for a moment that somebody might actually be more important than me. Then it shows up in real life and then I actually give of myself to that person, whatever it might be, whoever it might be, in whatever situation it might be. This is the kind of love that we are called into.Think about First Corinthians 13, a very popular passage on love. It's patient, it's kind, doesn't envy, it doesn't boast, it's not proud, it's not arrogant. Selfishness and pride are the opposite side of this kind of love of bringing myself low and considering other people and loving and giving myself for them. This is what it looks like to live as citizens worthy of the gospel of Jesus, that I would love in a way that is giving of myself. Real love takes real sacrifice. It takes real giving. I love my wife and if I were to stand here and tell you not once have I ever had to give anything up for her, I hope you would look at me and say, you don't love your wife because it takes giving of myself—humility—to come low and to consider her interests above my own. If we never give up anything for the sake of our brothers and sisters in Christ, do we love them? Are we of this same love that Paul is talking about here, this love of Christ that gives himself up for the sake of others? This is what it looks like to be people of the same mind and the same love as Jesus, to live as somebody that's worthy of belonging to the gospel.That brings us to our third and final point being one in purpose. Continue on in verse nine.Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.The path of Christ's humility did not end in the grave, but Jesus rose victorious over death and over hell. Now at his name, because of his willingness to be humble and to submit himself to the Father and to submit himself to death, he now is risen and exalted above all things, risen and exalted above all names. So that at his name, every knee—your knee, my knee, the knees of all those who live around you in this area here, the knee of everybody who lives in my area—across the whole globe, across all time, in the grave, living and breathing in the spiritual realm, every knee will bow to the name of Jesus, our King. He is the King of the kingdom of the Gospel, and all will bow to him, and all glory will be due his name.This has everything to do with being of one purpose. This is the one purpose of our God, that all glory would be ascribed to him. Our purpose is to bring glory to him. When we are citizens of the gospel of Jesus, who we are and what we do is to be of that singular purpose and none other. Your glory, not my glory, not the glory of a city, not the glory of this country, of this world. The glory is to him because we are his people. What it looks like for us to live in that way is that we get to follow the same journey and trajectory as Jesus who humbled himself, that when we belong to him, we're called into the same life of coming low.Surely you all have experienced tumbling in your time. In those moments where you have been brought low, maybe it's for a purpose. Maybe it's not just random. Maybe it's not just bad luck. Maybe it's the Father trying to help us participate and join with Jesus so that our life could be worthy of the gospel of Christ. In those moments of weakness and being brought low, there is an opportunity for us to live in this way, to be people who would see others as more important than ourselves, just like Jesus did, to work and to live and to act for the interests of others, to love and to give of ourselves completely, and then ultimately and fully the same exact end result takes place. Glory to Jesus and not to ourselves.I think that the greatest danger for us who live in the time and the space that we do is that we would try to be comfortable and follow Jesus at the same time. We've been called into more than that; we belong to a different kingdom. While our cultural moment is pulling on every thread for us to terminate all things on ourselves, Jesus is calling us into something different and greater. If this morning you belong to him, that is the life that we are called into. A life of surrender to the gospel of Jesus.Maybe this morning you're thinking, yes, absolutely, that's what I want, live in that kind of life. If you think that what it's going to take is for you to walk out the doors and white-knuckle it, you're going to figure it out, you're going to change your mind, you're going to change the way you love, you're going to change the way you live, I would encourage you to look to Christ. The gospel is not about you doing and earning it. You can't. This life that Paul is talking about is not about earning anything. It's about living in what already is true, that Jesus in his humility really has rescued us and set us free from a life of selfishness. Do you know how destructive a life of selfishness is? It's so broken. But we can live into more. The gospel doesn't start at just us being set free, but his Spirit, the Spirit of the Almighty, the Spirit of the humble, comes to live within us and indwell us and empower us to live in this way. This is what it looks like for us to participate in this. As we sang earlier, how sweet it is to trust in Jesus, to trust him in this. Not to trust in our ability to execute this perfectly, but to trust in him and to come low into living this way.Let's pray, Father. We confess that we are too often drawn into a life of selfish ambition, where the things that flood our minds are the things that terminate on us. There's a possibility that we could live this life by just trying to be respectful or cordial or nice, decent. But you're calling us into something more and we want to participate in that. Father, would you fill us with your Spirit to live as people that are worthy of the gospel of Jesus and that our minds would be changed, we would look up and see other people and consider their interests, that we would think of them as more important than ourselves. Then that would call us even deeper into loving them, giving ourselves up for those that are around us, those that are sitting in this room, and that ultimately that would draw us into the purpose, the ultimate purpose of all glory being given to Jesus, of our life bowing down our knees coming low to worship Christ as king of the kingdom to which we belong. In Jesus name, amen.

Friday, 30 January 2026   When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” Matthew 16:13   “And Jesus, having come to the allotments – Caesarea, the Phillipi, He entreated His disciples, saying, ‘Whom they say, the men, Me to be, the Son of Man?'” (CG).   In the previous verse, the disciples finally clued in to what Jesus was trying to teach them. His words about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees were speaking of their evil doctrine. Matthew now continues the narrative of their time after arriving on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, saying, “And Jesus, having come to the allotments – Caesarea, the Phillipi.”   A new word, Kaisareia, Caesarea, is introduced. It is derived from Kaisar, Caesar, a Latin word referring to the title of the Roman Emperor. Caesarea refers to two places in the area of Israel. The first is this location, Caesarea Philippi. Of this location, Albert Barnes says –   “There were two cities in Judea called Caesarea. One was situated on the borders of the Mediterranean (See the notes at Acts 8:40), and the other was the one mentioned here. This city was greatly enlarged and ornamented by Philip the tetrarch, son of Herod, and called Caesarea in honor of the Roman emperor, Tiberius Caesar. To distinguish it from the other Caesarea the name of Philip was added to it, and it was called Caesarea Philippi, or Caesarea of Philippi. It was situated in the boundaries of the tribe of Naphtali, at the foot of Mount Hermon.”   Having come to this general area, “He entreated His disciples, saying, ‘Whom they say, the men, Me to be, the Son of Man?'” Translations consider His words in one of two ways. One is “Whom do men say that I am? The Son of Man?”, or “Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”   The latter is correct. Jesus has referred to Himself as the Son of Man nine times already, making this the tenth. Peter's answer will also show that He is not asking if people say He is the Son of Man. Rather, He is asking what He, the Son of Man, is called by others. He is preparing them for a great pronouncement by asking this probing question first.   Life application: Jesus came to His own country in Matthew 13:53-58. He was rejected by them. In Matthew 14:1-12, the account of the beheading of John the Baptist was given. That was followed by the feeding of the five thousand in Matthew 14:13-21.   Jesus then walked on the sea, as is recorded in Matthew 14:22-33. From there, they came to the area of Gennesaret, at which time He fully saved all who simply touched Him. In Matthew 15:1-20, it then noted the traditions of the Jews which Jesus condemned, explaining that what comes out of a man is what defiles, not what enters into him.   That was then followed by His journey to the allotments of Tyre and Sidon, where the faith of the Canaanite woman was noted, and her daughter was saved. After that, Jesus went around the Sea of Galilee to the eastern side of it. There, He healed many and eventually fed four thousand. After feeding them, they crossed the Galilee, coming to the region of Magdala.   While there, He was accosted by the Pharisees and Sadducees who looked for a sign from heaven. He told them no sign would be given but the sign of Jonah. Once that was complete, they once again crossed the Sea of Galilee to the eastern side, being instructed on the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Now in the account, they have remained on this eastern side and gone north to the area of Caesarea Philippi.   This crisscrossing of the land and the Sea of Galilee all has a purpose. Jesus' movements are being used as a walking instructional tool in what God is doing in redemptive history. It is good to stop and reconsider where He has gone and where He is at any given time. By considering these things, we can follow what God is doing in reconciling the world to Himself through Jesus.   Each area visited, each topographical marker that is mentioned, and each thing Jesus does is being woven into a marvelous tapestry for us to ponder and learn from. Keep paying attention to the details, both from a micro and macro viewpoint. God is telling us a story of humanity's long trek back to Him, and it is all centered on Jesus.   Lord God, it would make no sense for You to send Your Son into the world unless there was something to be gained from it. His life of trials and burdens, culminating in His cross and resurrection, tells us that there is a great plan that has been put in place to bring Your people to a place we cannot even imagine at this time. We are grateful to be on this journey because of Jesus! Thank You for the sure hope we possess. Amen.

He Played His Lyre, and The Evil Spirit Would Leave!1 Samuel 16:23 “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.”When I heard about this verse, I loved it because it shows us another example of the power of music. When David played his lyre, the evil spirit would leave Saul. Did you know that music could set you free from evil spirits? Are you starting to see the power of praise and worship? Are you starting to see the power of music and singing? Praise and playing musical instruments have been setting captives free for a very long time.God instructed Joshua to have the Israelites march around the city of Jericho once a day for six days, with priests blowing trumpets and the people remaining silent. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times. When the priests sounded the trumpets, Joshua commanded the people to shout, and the walls of Jericho collapsed. God allowed the Israelites to take this city. (Joshua 6:1–20)God reduced Gideon's army from thousands to just three hundred men so that Israel would know the victory came from Him alone. At God's instruction, the men carried trumpets and torches instead of swords. When they blew the trumpets and shouted, God threw the Midianite army into confusion, and the enemy turned on itself. Israel won the battle without fighting by strength, showing that obedience, proclamation, and trust in God released His power. (Judges 7:1–22)When King Jehoshaphat faced a vast enemy army, he sought the Lord, and God declared that the battle belonged to Him. Jehoshaphat sent singers ahead of the army, praising God as they marched into battle. As they worshiped, the Lord caused the enemy armies to turn on one another, and Judah did not have to fight at all. The victory came through praise, revealing that worship invites God to act powerfully on behalf of His people. (2 Chronicles 20:1–30)While imprisoned in Philippi after being beaten and chained, Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God in the middle of the night. As they worshiped, a sudden earthquake shook the prison, opening the doors and loosening everyone's chains. Rather than escaping, Paul and Silas remained, leading the jailer and his household to salvation. Their praise not only brought physical freedom but also opened the way for lives to be saved. (Acts 16:22–34)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood before King Nebuchadnezzar and refused to bow to the golden image, declaring their unwavering faith in God. They proclaimed that God was able to deliver them from the fiery furnace, but even if He did not, they would not worship any false god. Their words were an act of praise rooted in trust—honoring God above fear, outcome, or survival. Their worship was not expressed through song, but through bold confession of God's power and faithfulness in the face of death. (Daniel 3:16–17)I like this example because it shows us that there are many ways to praise. If you don't like music, if you don't like singing, that doesn't mean that you can't be set free by praise and worship. There are so many ways to praise the Lord. Music happens to be my favorite, and for me, one of the easiest, because if I don't know what to say, there are plenty of others who have written beautiful songs who do know what to say. However, if you don't like music or singing, don't count yourself out. You can praise the Lord with your writing, with your words said outloud. You can praise the Lord with gratitude or in the things you say to others. There isn't just one way to praise the Lord. I pray that by the end of this series, you understand that there are so many different ways to praise. There is a way for everyone.When King Hezekiah received a threatening message from the Assyrian king, he took the letter to the temple and spread it before the Lord. In prayer, Hezekiah praised God as the one true Lord over all kingdoms and asked Him to act so that all would know His power. God responded by promising deliverance, and that very night the Assyrian army was defeated without Judah having to fight a single battle. Hezekiah's prayerful praise and trust in God's sovereignty led to a decisive victory and public recognition of the Lord's supremacy. (2 Kings 19:14–37)Again, this is a different kind of praise. King Hezekiah went in front of the Lord and presented the letter from his enemies. He then praised God as the one true King and asked God for help. Do you see how easy it can be to praise the Lord at times? All it says that he did was to praise the Lord as the one true King over all kingdoms. This is why I have placed a link in the previous episode for the praise sheets that I received at my prayer group. However, you don't even need those sheets. You can simply tell the Lord how great you think He is. I tend to say, “You are the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. You are the Almighty One. We worship you. We adore you, and we glorify you.” You can say whatever it is you think about the Lord.My homework for you today is to stop and think about 5 things you can say to the Lord to praise Him. What is it you think of Him? What do you know to be true about Him? Once you have these 5 things, you can have fewer or more; I just randomly decided on 5. Once you have these, then I want you to say them every single day to the Lord. It doesn't matter when you say them, but try to say them every day and watch how your life changes. Watch how your trust in the Lord begins to grow because you are reminding yourself every day how amazing He is. If you have to ask the Lord for something, start with these few praise statements and then ask Him. Watch to see if there is any difference in the number of answered prayers, or in the way they are answered.This is just one tiny way to add more praise into your life without going overboard or taking up a lot of extra time. Just give it a try. What have you got to lose? What could you gain? Trust me, more praise and worship in your life is exactly what you need right now. I know I may not know you, but I know this is what we all need right now. We need to replace the worry and anxiety of this world with praise and worship, and we then watch our lives feel a bit easier.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening today. Lord, I ask you to show them the power of praise and worship. I ask that you bless them with graces when they are praising you. I ask that you open their eyes to the ways that praise and worship are changing their lives. Help us to see with your eyes, Lord. Help us to notice more of you in our lives. We love you, Lord, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus's holy name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus! If you know there's more to your faith than routine and rules, I'd love to stay connected with you. You can join my email list to receive scripture-rooted encouragement and reflections to help you walk boldly with Jesus in your everyday life. You can sign up through the link in the show notes (CLICK HERE)—I'd love to have you with us. I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I. God is on your side, and we are rooting for you—always. Have a blessed dayToday's Word from the Lord was received in September 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “My children, you are precious to me. I took each of you with me to the cross. You were there with me that day, each of you.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

What truly holds first place in your life?In this message from our Renewed series, we explore what it means to be renewed through praise. Drawing from Philippians 3 and Paul's letter to the church in Philippi, we're reminded that renewal doesn't begin when our circumstances change—it begins when Christ takes His rightful place at the center of our lives.Through honest reflections on social media, identity, achievement, and spiritual exhaustion, this message invites us to pause, reevaluate what we value most, and rediscover joy that isn't anchored in performance, control, or success—but in knowing Jesus.Praise, we learn, is more than music or routine. It reveals what we treasure, reshapes our prayers, and leads us into a peace that surpasses understanding.If you're feeling spiritually tired, distracted, or off-center, this message offers a gentle and hope-filled call to recentre your heart on Christ—and experience true renewal.Visit Us at oacvancouver.ca We believe that Jesus is needed and relevant for people in Vancouver today. The message of God's love and promise of wholeness was destined to be experienced within a faith community that worships, studies scripture and prays together. Let us warmly welcome you to journey with us toward greater connection, purpose and peace. Follow Us Instagram: instagram.com/oacvancouver Facebook: facebook.com/oacvancouver Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0cjUJ9XmAMJc1piS1IwOQH?si=dc0f2377d0454e31

Paul became "all things to all people" for one reason: that some might be saved. Whether circumcising Timothy for ministry effectiveness or enduring persecution in Philippi, every decision served the gospel's advance. This challenges us to examine our own lives—what are we willing to do, change, or sacrifice so that others might encounter Jesus?

Life is full of interruptions. It may be a phone call, the endless notifications, someone stopping by, an unexpected accident, an advertisement in the middle of the best part of a show, a winter storm, or a sick child in the middle of the night. We all face interruptions and it is easy to become agitated because of the interruption—even become angry at the interruptor. Life can feel like a series of interruptions. The Apostle Paul certainly experienced that. What if the interruptions of our lives are a way that God directs our steps?Would that make us respond differently? Let's learn how to respond to the interruptions of life from the life of Paul as he traveled to Philippi. Thanks for joining us for this episode and please take a moment to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoy this content, please don't hesitate to leave us a 5-star review and share this podcast with your friends.  We'd like to extend an invitation to you and your family to join us for worship this week at Grace Baptist Church. We'd also love to connect with you online at https://gracekettering.org. Thanks again for checking out this episode, and we look forward to having you join us again right here on the Grace Baptist Church Podcast!

Over the course of several missionary journeys, the Apostle Paul walked countless miles of Roman roads, carrying the Gospel in his heart like an Olympian bearing a torch. The 2025 Greece/Rome Signature Tour followed those footsteps chronologically, tracing Paul's path through some of Scripture's most compelling cities and accounts. Join Rich Ferreira and Jerrell Jobe as they reflect on the journey, from its beginning in Kavala (Acts 16), through Philippi, Thessaloniki (Thessalonica), Berea, Athens, Corinth, and finally, Rome.Building on Philippi's history as a status-driven Roman city, Jerrell then unpacks Philippians 2 and explores what it truly meant for Christ to “become a servant.”Studying Scripture in this way brings the Bible to life—real people in real places in real time—causing the stories to leap off the page! The same Living Word Paul proclaimed in Macedonia is the Word that draws us there today. Join us.Watch this summary of the trip:https://vimeo.com/1156798520?fl=pl&fe=sh2026 trip page:https://gtitours.org/trip/signature-greece-rome-2026Video podcast:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0bN0wc_lv0  

In this message, Jordan Allen, kicks off the new semester by exploring Acts 16 and the dramatic expansion of the early church into Philippi. By following the journeys of Paul, Silas, and the author Luke, the sermon highlights how the gospel breaks chains—both literal and spiritual—for people across all walks of life, from an enslaved girl to a Roman jailer.Subscribe to AfterWords on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Download a copy of the Exodus JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.comSubscribe to AfterWords on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Visit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

The church at Philippi faced persecution for the gospel just as Paul did. Paul writes to admonish them to loving unity, employing both knowledge and discernment. Likewise, Paul point out that everything that happens can be used as an opportunity for the Gospel and that god has planned our trials just as He has elected us for salvation. We may hope boldly as God will finish the work in us that He started!

This message by Elder Mike Gowens, message #10 in the Philippians study, was delivered on Sunday, 1/4/26. It is based on Phi. 1:27-30, a passage in which Paul exhorts the saints at Philippi to make it their priority to live in a way that reflects the gospel they profess. Paul employs three metaphors of discipleship to explain what that means in specific terms.

In this message, Hezekiah explores the transformative power of the gospel through three distinct encounters in the city of Philippi. By examining the lives of a wealthy businesswoman, an enslaved girl, and a desperate jailer, the sermon illustrates that God meets individuals exactly where they are, regardless of their social status or past. Case challenges listeners to move beyond a "safe" or merely intellectual faith, urging a total surrender that reorients one's life toward service and community.Subscribe to AfterWords on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Download a copy of the Exodus JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.comSubscribe to AfterWords on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Visit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

In this message, Pastor Tony tracks the expansion of the early church from Antioch to Philippi, marking the first time the gospel reached European soil. Drawing from Acts 15 and 16, he highlights how God uses "flawed human beings" and strategic missionary teams to carry the message of Jesus across 1,200 miles of diverse terrain. The sermon details the recruitment of young Timothy and the conversion of three very different individuals: the wealthy businesswoman Lydia, a freed slave girl, and a desperate Roman jailer.Subscribe to AfterWords on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Download a copy of the Exodus JournalVisit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.comSubscribe to AfterWords on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Visit us online: rivchurch.comFollow us on InstagramSend us feedback: podcast@rivchurch.com

John Maytham speaks to Professor Irvin Kinnes, a criminologist, to unpack what this attack tells us about organised violence, extortion networks and the patterns behind repeated mass shootings in communities like Philippi. With police confirming that the incident is believed to be linked to extortion, the focus now shifts to why such crimes continue to occur — and whether current crime-prevention strategies are working. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-daily-portion-with-l-david-harris--2912188/support.About Your Daily PortionYour Daily Portion with L. David Harris is a Bible-centered teaching ministry committed to helping people engage Scripture daily with clarity and purpose. This program is a service of Your Daily Portion Ministries, Inc., and is made possible through the faithful support of listeners and viewers.If this teaching blesses you, consider supporting the work so it can continue reaching others around the world through radio, podcasts, and digital platforms.Support the ministry:

It all began when the Apostle Paul met with a group of ladies by the riverside in Philippi. (Acts 16:11)  The message of Jesus Christ was received by that small group and the Gospel began to spread across the city through their witness as the partnered Paul. Lives began to be radically changed which brought about persecution especially for Paul and Silas. Paul was forced to have to goodbye to the new church and leave the city. However, the believers at Philippi continued to love Paul and the work of the Gospel so much that the sent offerings to support Him so that he could focus on preaching the Word. This especially helped Paul to be able to plant the church in Corinth. Now almost ten years later, Paul wrote to thank them for their support and encourage them to remain focused on Christ. Knowing Jesus Himself would help them face the challenges to unity with one another and have joy in their daily lives. As we begin this study, may our hearts be encouraged know Christ more fully. Thanks for joining us for this episode and please take a moment to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoy this content, please don't hesitate to leave us a 5-star review and share this podcast with your friends.  We'd like to extend an invitation to you and your family to join us for worship this week at Grace Baptist Church. We'd also love to connect with you online at https://gracekettering.org. Thanks again for checking out this episode, and we look forward to having you join us again right here on the Grace Baptist Church Podcast!

Introduction Some of the greatest movements of God begin in the darkest places. For Paul and Silas, the path to salvation for a Roman jailer ran straight through pain, injustice, humiliation, and a midnight prison cell. What happened in Philippi is not just a story of a man saved. It is a story of how…

January 17, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for Epiphany 2 - Psalm 66:1-5, 20; antiphon: Psalm 66:4; 92:1Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 39:1-10, 17-29; Romans 7:21-8:17“Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.'" (From the Introit for Epiphany 2)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.St. Paul points out to the church in Philippi that the risen Christ has been given the name above all names, that at Jesus's name, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and God. That statement looks forward to the Last Day, when it will be clear to everyone, when the veil of sin is lifted, and every eye sees clearly.But our Introit says essentially the same thing, calling on all of creation—all the earth—to acknowledge the Lord God, and this was written hundreds of years before Christ walked the earth and showed his power over sin, death, and the Devil.The point is the consistency of the Biblical writers; they are moved and carried by the Holy Spirit to point to the very truth that undergirds all of life and creation: our Lord and God is worthy of all praise and adoration. He alone is to be the sole focus of all worship on earth.And so tomorrow, when you hear that Jesus turns gallons and gallons of water into fine wine, and that a part of creation is remade from a thing of the Law to a Gospel blessing, you, too, may shout for joy that the One who spoke creation into existence has made his light shine into the darkness of sin to reclaim you for himself as His child, His restored creation.This should also be the response of the Christian in weekly worship as well. The baptized should see in the Divine Service an opportunity to shout for joy to God, to sing glory to His name, to give thanks for the salvation won by Christ for you, which you receive the assurance of in Confession and Absolution, which you taste on your tongue in the Lord's Supper, which you trace upon yourself with the sign of the cross. All of it, part of creation singing to you and with you of God's glorious Gifts and salvation, all for you.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip, and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You send it; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (Collect for Blessing on the Word)Author: Rev. Duane Bamsch, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wichita Falls, TX.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

Chapter 3 of Heroes in the Bible: Paul with Michael Chandler is inspired by the book of Acts. Paul vs. Prison - Story inspired by Acts 16The church is growing in Philippi… until a demon-possessed girl interrupts the peace. She makes a mockery of Paul and Silas, sending Paul to the brink of insanity. When Paul finally sets this girl free from her demon, he is sent to prison. In this episode, inspired by Acts 16, Paul and Silas cling to hope in a cold, dark cell. And what comes after… is earthshaking! Listen to some of the greatest Bible stories ever told and make prayer a priority in your life by downloading the Pray.com app. Sign up for Heroes in the Bible devotionals at https://www.heroesinthebible.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why does it take some people so long to change? Who came to your mind when you read that question? Maybe a parent or a child, a boss or a friend, a spouse or even a pastor. You've prayed SO long for this person to change. But no matter what you do, nothing changes.WHY?We've all been there, asking that question—even the Apostle Paul. In this episode of Live the Bible, we're traveling with him to Philippi, where we'll find the surprising answer.Are you ready for the surprise? (It's a good one!) Support the show

Episode Synopsis:About the time Paul began his second missionary journey, a serious famine swept through Palestine–greatly impacting the Jerusalem church.  Those who lived in the region knew how serious such things could be and so they prepared for it–stockpiling grain, spices, and animal feed, etc.  But as soon as a church was organized in Jerusalem–after Pentecost–Jewish Christians found themselves cut off from the synagogue and its well-established relief system.  Now on their own, the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem were apparently suffering horribly and were in desperate need of relief–specifically funds to buy food and supplies locally.Tensions between Jewish Christians and recent Gentile converts to Christianity were apparent from the moment the gospel spread into Gentile regions–as indicated during the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).  At that council, the church renounced the Judaizers and affirmed that God had blessed Paul's efforts to take the gospel into Gentile regions–which began in earnest after the Macedonian vision (Acts 16:9).  Paul planted churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth.  While these new churches aided and encouraged each other, Paul understood that if the Gentile churches–who had means–took an offering for the Jerusalem church, it would go a great way toward helping fellow Christians in genuine need.  It would also de-escalate the worry and anxiety that Jews felt toward Gentiles who were until quite recently godless pagans and often persecutors of the Jewish people.When Paul arrived in Macedonia, he tells us that there was some unspecified serious trouble and that he would strive to get things cleared up before he traveled south to Corinth.  Despite the troubles in the churches in Macedonia, they had taken up a surprisingly generous offering for the Jerusalem church–so much so that it was a major sacrifice, even beyond their means, which Paul describes as an act of grace.  Now he gets word from Titus that the Corinthians (who had been collecting a similar offering for a year) and had not followed through with their collection.  As a congregation they were far better off materially than the Macedonians, but were so distracted by divisions, the subterfuge of false apostles and other matters, the offering had not been finalized.  In chapters 8-9 of 2 Corinthians, Paul addresses this matter head-on.For show notes and other recommended materials located at the Riddleblog as mentioned during the Blessed Hope Podcast, click here: https://www.kimriddlebarger.com/

In the American West in the late-1800s, the search for dinosaur bones created the Bone Wars in which two paleontologists battled one another in their pursuit of making the most historic find. One writer noted how the two “used underhanded methods to try to outdo the other in the field, resorting to bribery, theft, and the destruction of bones.” He noted how, in trying to ruin each other’s work, both destroyed their own reputations as well. Conflict and competition are inevitable in our broken world. How we choose to engage those conflicts reveals what’s in our hearts. Paul learned of conflict between two women in the church at Philippi and wrote, “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.” He asked a fellow believer to “help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel” (Philippians 4:2–3). When we find ourselves at odds with fellow believers in Jesus, we need the Spirit’s help. As we submit to His work in our hearts, He’ll help us demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). We’ll experience healing and peace—if not for our own reputations, for the reputation of Christ and the gospel.

January 4, 2026 Speaker: Pastor Chris Wachter http://www.hiawathachurch.com

Send us a textPaul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Support the show

Julius Caesar – Act V scene 2-5 On the fields of Philippi the final battle rages, and Caesar is revenged.