Podcasts about Pontius Pilate

For part 6 of 12 on “What is the Nicene Creed?” we unpack these lines:by the power of the Holy Spirit        he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,        and was made manThe Virgin Mary is a powerful force in Christian imagination – meaning, whether you venerate her or are suspicious of folks “praying to” her, whether you grew up celebrating the many apparitions of Mary or vaguely only heard her referred to around Christmas, her role in Jesus' life and our lives communicates what we believe about motherhood, virginity, women, and Jesus' incarnation. So why is she included in the Creed? What about her presence, consent to bear the Christ child, and reproductive status made her significant enough to be the only human being referenced besides Pontius Pilate? Join Mary devotee (Rev. Lizzie), Mary skeptic (Rev. Laura), and our guest, Mariology expert (Rev. Dr. Amey Victoria Adkins-Jones) as we unpack these questions and more. More about our guest: Amey Victoria Adkins-Jones is Assistant Professor of Theology and Africana studies at the Candler School of Theology of Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia. Adkins-Jones came to Candler from Boston College, where she served as Assistant Professor of Theology and African and African Diaspora Studies. A theologian and scholar of Black religion, she specializes in Mariology, Black feminist and womanist thought, and theological anthropology. A graduate of the University of Virginia and Duke Divinity School, she received her Ph.D. in Religion from Duke University in 2016 with a Certificate in Feminist Theory. She was the first Black woman to graduate from the doctoral program in Christian theology and ethics.Her first monograph, Immaculate Misconceptions: A Black Mariology (Oxford University Press, June 2025), argues that "Mary is Black," and is a Black feminist theological account of the icon of the Black Madonna and the rise of the global sex trade. She is at work on a second book project, See No Evil, which explores how visual technologies and artificial intelligence impact public perception of violence and Black death, developing a theological framework for Black protest.. Outside of academia, Rev. Dr. Adkins-Jones is an ordained Baptist minister who frequently preaches and teaches around the country, and brings pastoral sensibility to her work centering social justice. She is a practicing birth worker (doula), a trained iconographer, and has a career background in UX Copywriting and Design. She joyfully shares life and builds community with her beloved spouse and four children in Atlanta, Georgia.Instagram: @tomuchavail, @blackfuturesarchiveWeb: adkinsjones.com+++Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcastThere's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons!+++Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.comOur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/++++MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/++++More about Father Lizzie:BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/RevLizzie.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzieJubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org ++++More about Mother Laura:https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peachesSt. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA++++Theme music:"On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

Scripture: Philippians 2:3-11  Who, for us and for our salvation came down from heaven,  and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried;  and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father…  John 17:5  John 17:24  "...the supreme mystery with which the gospel confronts us...lies not in the Good Friday message of atonement, nor in the Easter Sunday message of resurrection, but in the Christmas message of Incarnation. The really staggering Christian claim is that Jesus of Nazareth was God made man - that the second person of the Godhead...took humanity without loss of deity, so that Jesus of Nazareth was as truly and fully divine as he was human. Here are two mysteries for the price of one - the plurality of persons within the unity of God, and the union of Godhead and manhood in the person of Jesus." – JI Packer, Knowing God.   + The Triumph of the Son's Obedience Luke 2:51  "What Christ saw in Gethsemane was God with the sword raised. The sight was unbearable. In a few short hours, he would stand before that God answering for the sin of the world: indeed, identified with the sin of the world... Consequently, to quote Luther again, 'No one ever feared death so much as this man.' He feared it because for him it was no sleep, but the wages of sin: death with the sting; death unmodified and unmitigated; death as involving all that sin deserved. He, alone, would face it without a 'covering', providing by his very dying the only covering for the world, but doing so as a holocaust, totally exposed to God's abhorrence of sin. And he would face death without God, deprived of the one solace and the one resource which had always been there. The wonder of the love of Christ for his people is not that for their sake he faced death without fear, but that for their sake he faced it, terrified. Terrified by what he knew, and terrified by what he did not know, he took damnation lovingly." – Donald Macleod, The Person of Christ.  + The Triumph of the Son's Cross Colossians 2:13–15 Hebrews 2:14–15 "When Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews, was nailed to the cross, Satan thought that he had won the day. The old serpent had stung him to death, vainly imagining that all was over with him. I think I see the arch-fiend gloating over the awful agonies of the dying Savior, and maliciously taunting him as he hung there apparently forsaken by God and man. "Ah!" says he, "Seed of the woman, I have indeed bruised thy heel. I have made men reject thee and put thee to death; I have vexed and tormented thee, I have scorned and scouted thee, and thou hast not a word to say for thyself, and now thy soul must soon depart out of thy body." Yet as the devil was still pouring out his vainglorious boasts and taunts, with a mighty voice the expiring Savior cried, "It is finished;" and in that moment his soul sprang upon the enemy and utterly routed him forever." – Charles Spurgeon, Christ Triumphant.   + The Triumph of the Son's Exaltation Ephesians 1:20–23 Isaiah 45:22–25 + You must decide about Jesus; You cannot be neutral about him + You must imitate Jesus. You cannot confess him but refuse to conform to him 2 Corinthians 8:9

For decades, scholars have thought that Matthew and Luke composed their nativity stories separately, perhaps drawing on some underlying material. Yet in this special advent episode, Lloyd Lewellyn-Jones interviews his co-host Helen Bond about her proposal that Luke shows an awareness of Matthew's infancy narrative. Together, they unpack the reasons Luke had for 're-writing' Matthew's nativity and explore why Luke composed his birth story in the way that he did. Helen K. Bond is Professor of Christian Origins at the University of Edinburgh. She is a leading scholar of the historical Jesus and early Christianity, with particular expertise in the Roman and Jewish contexts of the Gospels, especially the trial and death of Jesus. Among her many contributions are Pontius Pilate in History and Interpretation, The Historical Jesus: A Guide for the Perplexed and most recently The First Biography of Jesus: Genre and Meaning in Mark's Gospel. SUPPORT BIBLICAL TIME MACHINEIf you enjoy the podcast, please (pretty please!) consider supporting the show through the Time Travellers Club, our Patreon. We are an independent, listener-supported show (no ads!), so please help us continue to showcase high-quality biblical scholarship with a monthly subscription.DOWNLOAD OUR STUDY GUIDE: MARK AS ANCIENT BIOGRAPHYCheck out our 4-part audio study guide called "The Gospel of Mark as an Ancient Biography." While you're there, get yourself a Biblical Time Machine mug or a cool sticker for your water bottle.Support the showTheme music written and performed by Dave Roos, creator of Biblical Time Machine. Season 4 produced by John Nelson.

What would it mean to read Scripture well? At minimum, it would mean reading it as a whole. That sounds like a tall task when you think about it, because there are a lot of pages and many of them feature seemingly uninteresting prose. We might prefer to pick-and-choose our favorite passages, while avoiding other passages or entire books all together. But when we do that, we hear and see far less than is actually there––not merely in terms of just encountering fewer words, but in terms of encountering less of the mystery of Christ on each and every page.My colleague Josh McManaway both teaches people how to read Scripture well and forms preachers to preach on Scripture well through his Savoring the Mystery program. He joins me today to talk about how to approach the Old Testament, how to read the New Testament more fully, and how to begin to regard the Psalter in all its wondrous variety. Follow-up Resources:Learn more about the preaching program that Josh runs called “Savoring the Mystery”“The Depth of the Creed, with Josh McManaway,” podcast episode via Church Life Today“What are you doing here?!?! Pontius Pilate in the Creed, with Josh McManaway,” podcast episode via Church Life TodayChurch Life Today is a partnership between the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame and OSV Podcasts from Our Sunday Visitor. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

The Christian faith is all about doctrine. But belief is not an end in and of itself. Belief is meant to deepen our communion with God and stir us to worship. From this ancient creed, we learn much about who the God we worship really is. We learn about “the God we love.” May we know him deeply, and in turn worship him truly. Through the Advent season, we will study God's Word through the Nicene Creed.“You were always present, angry and merciful at once, strewing the pangs of bitterness over all my lawless pleasures to lead me on to look for others unallied with pain.” - Augustine“Your goad was thrusting at my heart, giving me no peace until the eye of my soul could discern you without mistake.” - Augustine“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43…who for us and for our salvationcame down from heaven,and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary,and was made man;and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;he suffered and was buried;and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father;and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead;whose kingdom shall have no end.“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” - AugustineLife Church exists to glorify God by making disciples who treasure Christ, grow together, and live on mission. Salisbury, NCFollow us online:lifechurchnc.comFacebookInstagramYouTubeTwitter

The Gospel of John Week 23 Scripture: John 18. Our story begins with Jesus in the Garden and soldiers, high priests, and Judas come to the garden carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus goes out to meet them asking, "Who is it you want?" Clearly showing who's in charge. Something we will see Jesus repeat in the next hours. Jesus is in charge and He's always been in charge and that is a take home for us in our own lives as well. He's in charge! He's the Lord. Jesus knows all that is going to happen to Him. He's shared that with His disciples, though they will not fully understand until Jesus' resurrection. He is not blindsided by this group coming to the Garden. This is the reason He came, and this is the purpose for which He has come to carry out His work. Then Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest, cutting off his right ear. Jesus tells Peter to put his sword away - and Jesus says, Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?" Jesus knows what's coming and is willing to go through with it all because it is the Father's desire and the Son always obeys the Father. Pastor delves into the personality of Peter and how we will see him go from cutting off the ear of this man, to denying he knows Jesus, to going on to become a powerful evangelist. And yet Peter was flawed, we are all flawed individuals. The Lord still used Peter. He transformed Peter and He transforms us and this story is a reminder that Jesus uses us, too. As we return to our story we know Jesus is in control but He willingly allows His hands to be bound. Jesus is willing to go all the way to the cross for us. He is then taken to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.  Pastor shares some info on the recent discovery of an ossuary, bone box, belonging to Caiaphas and also some other archeological discoveries including a palatial mansion that may possibly be one of the locations where Jesus was tried. Pastor also reads some fascinating information from Eusebius' History of the Church and puts together some interesting pieces of historical evidence to help bring light to all that John is telling us. Now our story moves into Peter's first denial of knowing Jesus. Followed by Peter's second and third denial of knowing Jesus. And then we read that at that very moment the rooster crowed. And Peter suddenly remembers what he has done and what Jesus had said. There is a contentious conversation, verses 19-24, "the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said." When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded. "If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest." From Caiaphas Jesus was taken to the palace of the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. It is now early morning. Pastor shares the logistics of getting Jesus there and the possible location of the praetorium, the governor's house. Pastor shares on the map the possible locations of this home. Jesus is brought before Pilate in verse 29 and Pilate asks what charges are being brought against Jesus, thus opening a court proceeding. Pastor shares interesting historical information about Jewish executions (stoning to death) and Roman executions (crucifixion), and what they were like. He shares the history of how the Romans, in the early first century, took away from the Jewish high priests and from the Sanhedrin, the right to convict and punish in capital cases and how the Romans demanded that they be the ones to carry that out. So this is why Jesus was crucified, and not stoned. Pilate then begins his questioning of Jesus and they have an in-depth conversation during which Jesus says, "The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."  Pilate replies, "What is truth?"  We live in a society where people are still asking that same question. And the answer is still the same. Jesus is Truth. The truth sets us free! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most "Gentile/Greek" of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Scripture: John 1:1–3; John 1:14, 18 "Without exaggeration it can be said that every church and every Christian ought to know the Nicene Creed." – Kevin DeYoung, The Nicene Creed.   + Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.   And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made.   Who, for us and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.   And we believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.   And we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. + Jude 3 + John 1:1-3 + John 1:14 + John 1:18 + Hebrews 1:1-3 "Though it is normal for humans to beget in time, due to the imperfection of their nature, God's offspring is eternal, because His nature is perfect." – Athanasius + Homoousia vs Homoiousia   "Jesus Christ is the Creator of the universe. Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. Jesus Christ, the Person, never had a beginning. He is absolute Reality. He has the unparalleled honor and unique glory of being there first and always. He never came into being." – John Piper, Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ. + It is necessary to believe to be saved. + 1 Corinthians 12:3 + John 17:5 + John 17:24–26 + It is how we grow to love Jesus + It is how we overcome temptation "On Christ's glory I would fix all my thoughts and desires, and the more I see of the glory of Christ, the more the painted beauties of this world will wither in my eyes, and I will be more and more crucified to this world. It will become to me like something dead and putrid, impossible for me to enjoy." – John Owen, The Glory of Christ 

In this message, we return to the Gospel of John with a powerful passage in John 18:28–40, where Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate.   From a human perspective, Jesus has been betrayed by Judas, arrested unjustly, and denied by Peter — His closest followers have faltered, and the crowd is about to reject Him. Yet behind every setback is a deeper reality:   Nothing is falling apart. Everything is unfolding exactly according to God's plan.   In this moment of pressure and opposition, Jesus shows us:   Boldness over fear   Commitment over confusion   Mission over comfort   Jesus doesn't defend Himself to protect His life — He surrenders it to secure our salvation. His Kingdom is not of this world, but His rescue mission was for this world, for humanity — for us.   This message calls believers to move: From fear → to faith From apprehension → to Spirit-filled boldness From comfort → to Kingdom calling

After Judas's remorseful and tragic suicide for the role he played in betraying the Messiah, Jesus is dragged before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Pilate finds no fault in Him, but he is trapped between his conscience and the crowd. In a moment of political expedience, Pilate offers them Barabbas, a notorious criminal, likely in hopes that he could spare Jesus. His plan backfires when the chief priests and elders persuade the crowd to demand Barabbas's release and Christ's crucifixion. Pilate attempts to indemnify himself by washing his hands of the innocent blood he will then order to be shed.  The Rev. Donald Stein, pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Rockton, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 27:1-26.  To learn more about St. Andrew Lutheran, visit standrewrockton.com. The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20251125dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Luke 23:38 Truer Words Were Never Written We can’t be entirely sure what Pontius Pilate’s motive was when he instructed his soldiers to affix a sign to Jesus’ cross that read: “This is the king of the Jews.” But we know for certain from John’s Gospel that the Jewish religious leaders weren’t happy with his statement. John tells us, “The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write “The King of the Jews,” but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews” (John 19:20-21). Pilate’s response to their objection was simple but equally ambiguous. “What I have written, I have written.” Some have suggested this was his coy way of warning others from making a similar claim, as if to say, “This is what happens to people who foment rebellion.” Others suggest it was part of his attempt to wash his hands of the situation, seeing it as nothing more than a religious dispute about which he had no opinion. Still others argue that his order was given under divine direction and that, in his heart of hearts, he believed Jesus was indeed who he claimed to be. In the end, we can't know for certain what was in his heart and mind. What we can know is that truer words were never written. Jesus was and is the King of the Jews. He is the Messiah, the Anointed and Chosen One. More than that, he is the King of kings and Lord of lords, the ruler of all nations, and the Savior of the world. This One hanging, dying, on a cross is the one long foretold, the Shepherd-King who laid down his life for all people, only to take it up again. What can you know for certain? If he did it for all people, he did it for you. Nothing could stop him; his love for you is too great. Believe it. It’s true. Prayer: Jesus, help me to see how true it is that you love me and that you are my Savior-King. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20251125dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Luke 23:38 Truer Words Were Never Written We can’t be entirely sure what Pontius Pilate’s motive was when he instructed his soldiers to affix a sign to Jesus’ cross that read: “This is the king of the Jews.” But we know for certain from John’s Gospel that the Jewish religious leaders weren’t happy with his statement. John tells us, “The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write “The King of the Jews,” but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews” (John 19:20-21). Pilate’s response to their objection was simple but equally ambiguous. “What I have written, I have written.” Some have suggested this was his coy way of warning others from making a similar claim, as if to say, “This is what happens to people who foment rebellion.” Others suggest it was part of his attempt to wash his hands of the situation, seeing it as nothing more than a religious dispute about which he had no opinion. Still others argue that his order was given under divine direction and that, in his heart of hearts, he believed Jesus was indeed who he claimed to be. In the end, we can't know for certain what was in his heart and mind. What we can know is that truer words were never written. Jesus was and is the King of the Jews. He is the Messiah, the Anointed and Chosen One. More than that, he is the King of kings and Lord of lords, the ruler of all nations, and the Savior of the world. This One hanging, dying, on a cross is the one long foretold, the Shepherd-King who laid down his life for all people, only to take it up again. What can you know for certain? If he did it for all people, he did it for you. Nothing could stop him; his love for you is too great. Believe it. It’s true. Prayer: Jesus, help me to see how true it is that you love me and that you are my Savior-King. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20251125dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Luke 23:38 Truer Words Were Never Written We can’t be entirely sure what Pontius Pilate’s motive was when he instructed his soldiers to affix a sign to Jesus’ cross that read: “This is the king of the Jews.” But we know for certain from John’s Gospel that the Jewish religious leaders weren’t happy with his statement. John tells us, “The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write “The King of the Jews,” but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews” (John 19:20-21). Pilate’s response to their objection was simple but equally ambiguous. “What I have written, I have written.” Some have suggested this was his coy way of warning others from making a similar claim, as if to say, “This is what happens to people who foment rebellion.” Others suggest it was part of his attempt to wash his hands of the situation, seeing it as nothing more than a religious dispute about which he had no opinion. Still others argue that his order was given under divine direction and that, in his heart of hearts, he believed Jesus was indeed who he claimed to be. In the end, we can't know for certain what was in his heart and mind. What we can know is that truer words were never written. Jesus was and is the King of the Jews. He is the Messiah, the Anointed and Chosen One. More than that, he is the King of kings and Lord of lords, the ruler of all nations, and the Savior of the world. This One hanging, dying, on a cross is the one long foretold, the Shepherd-King who laid down his life for all people, only to take it up again. What can you know for certain? If he did it for all people, he did it for you. Nothing could stop him; his love for you is too great. Believe it. It’s true. Prayer: Jesus, help me to see how true it is that you love me and that you are my Savior-King. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Never in the history of humanity have more people had more access to more information than we do today. And yet never have we been bombarded with more misinformation, disinformation, and outright lies. Surrounded by so much confusion, it's no wonder that two-thirds of Americans today believe there is no such thing as absolute truth (Barna, “American Worldview Inventory 2025”, May 2025). But this crisis of truth is nothing new. The zeitgeist of our own postmodern age was well-summarized in Pontius Pilate's question of Jesus during his trial 2,000 years ago: “What is truth?” (Jn 18:38). Jesus' answer, however, is unequivocal: “Holy Father… your word is truth” (Jn 17:17). Join us this Sunday as we turn together to God's word, the antidote for the world's lies.

1 Timothy 6:11-16 I Battle Cry I Andrew MurchI. The mission is clear. (11-14a)a. Those who belong to God pursue his ways. (11)b. Those called by the King fight for the faith. (12-13)c. Those born to new life hold fast to the truth. (13-14a)II. The Lord is near. (13-16)a. As we strive for the faith, our hope is the Lord. (13-15a)b. His rule is without rival. (15b)c. His glory knows no equal. (16)d. His kingdom is eternal. (17)Main Idea: Stay the course with Christ.1 Timothy 6:11-1611 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence ofGod, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, theKing of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.Story Church1441 Lander Rd.Mayfield Heights, OH 4412410:00 AM

Nehemiah 11 gives the names of those returned exiles who live in Jerusalem and those who live in the surrounding villages. Their names and the work for which they are responsible is very important in the Bible. Those in Jerusalem include priests, Levites and singers; gatekeepers (all of those were very important roles for the worshipping of the nation). From the villages particular mention is made of the craftsmen who despite the great difficulty in building put themselves and their families in peril because of their love for their brothers and sisters and for their God.Amos 3 tells of the close and unique relationship God has with His people, Israel. This means that the nation had a great responsibility to Him, as their Father; and that He would chastise them for ignoring His commandments. Sadly, the nation of Israel by their actions in joining themselves to their idols had severed their association and agreement with their Sovereign. Israel was walking in the opposite direction than what He asks of them. Four analogies are provided of cause and effect. The lion roars when the prey is caught; the fowler does not take up a trap until he has snared a bird; fear comes upon a person when the warning trumpet sounds an alarm; likewise, the Lord GOD will not send chastisement without first warning His people via His servants, the prophets. Yahweh would roar in visiting His people with the consequences of their actions. The prophet says the surrounding nations will see the justice of the LORD's judgments. It seems that because of Israel's covetousness it is impossible for them to act justly. The. accumulated wealth of the rich will always justifiably attract plunder (cp Romans 2verses2-11; James 5verses1-6). Bethel was the place where the worshipping of God had in the past been central to the nation's instruction in the ways of God. This city, which means "the House of God" will be laid waste.1 Timothy 6 says that servants must honourably bear the responsibility of faithful service. The chapter next sounds a warning against false teachers and this is followed by one of the greatest, and possibly the hardest, lesson to learn - i.e. that godliness with contentment is the greatest profit a believer can have in life. We can take nothing with us when we die. All that is important is the legacy that the Almighty sees - a life of devotion to Him and service to others - a life rich in good works. To pursue any other course is a guarantee of frustration and sorrow (just as Balaam found out). Verse 10 tells us, "the love of money" (Greek "philaguros" - literally "lover of silver" which has in Greek the numeric value of 666) is 'a root of all kinds of evil'. In verses 11-16 Timothy (and each believer) is urged to fight the fight of faith following the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave a faithful witness before Pontius Pilate - costing our Lord Jesus his life. Jesus will, on his return to earth, set up the glorious kingdom of God demonstrating the power and honour of the King Invisible (God the Almighty Father) and the benefits that will come to those who live life by this guide. The letter concludes with a reminder to safeguard the deposit which had been committed to Timothy and a charge to the rich to avoid pride. The rich are counselled to use their God given resources to benefit others (the lesson being based on the life of Hezekiah cp2 Kings 20verses12-16). Let us learn godliness with contentment; richness in faith and loving works to others - pause and ponder.

Daily Anglican Prayer - Sunday Morning – 23rd November 2025 Readings NRSV: Psalm 46; Deuteronomy 17.14-20; Luke 23.33-43. Led by Felicity Scott, an Anglican prayer minister in Queensland, Australia. The full prayer transcript is available by going to this episode on the Podcast website. https://dailyprayeranglicanprayerbookforaustralia.podbean.com Welcome to Sunday Morning prayer. We proclaim the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ: GOD in his infinite mercy, forgives all sins, and through our baptism in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are given a rebirth into new life, free from the burden of all sin. ALLELUIA With faithfulness we respond to the good news: We acknowledge Christ our Saviour has already saved us and accept with gratitude, that we are forgiven for all wrong doings, past and present. To honour the gift of forgiveness, we release our burden of guilt and rise up to live in the glory of God forever more. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,  Blessed be God forever. Let us Pray.   1 This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118.24 Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:  as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.   The Sentence of the day Christ the King / The Reign of Christ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9.9   3 The opening Canticle Oh come let us sing out to the Lord. let us shout in triumph to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his face with thanksgiving. And cry out to him joyfully in psalms. For the Lord is a great God. and a great king above all gods. In his hands are the depths of the earth. and the peaks of the mountains are his also. The sea is his and he made it. His hands moulded dryland. Come let us worship and bow down. And kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is the Lord our god. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Today if only you would hear his voice: “Do not harden your hearts as Israel did in the wilderness.” “When your forebears tested me.” “Put me to proof though they had seen my works.” “Forty years long I loathe that generation and said.” “It is a people who err in their hearts.” “For they do not know my ways.” “Of whom I swore in my wrath.” “They shall not enter my rest.”      3 The Opening Prayer The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;  let us pray with one heart and mind.    Silence may be kept. As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,  so may the light of your presence, O God,  set our hearts on fire with love for you;  now and for ever.  Amen.     4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each. Psalm 46 1 God is our refuge and strength: a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved: and though the mountains are shaken in the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters rage and foam: and though the mountains quake at the rising of the sea. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God: the holy dwelling-place of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, therefore she shall not be moved: God will help her, and at break of day. 6 The nations make uproar, and the kingdoms are shaken: but God has lifted his voice, and the earth shall tremble. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our stronghold. 8 Come then and see what the Lord has done: what destruction he has brought upon the earth. 9 He makes wars to cease in all the world: he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, and burns the chariots in the fire. 10 ‘Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted upon the earth.' 11 The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Christ the King / The Reign of Christ The Song of Zechariah (Benedictus, Luke 1.68–79)      Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel:  who has come to his people and set them free.    The Lord has raised up for us a mighty Saviour:  born of the house of his servant David.   Through the holy prophets, God promised of old: to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us,   To show mercy to our forebears:  and to remember his holy covenant.   This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies,   Free to worship him without fear: holy and righteous before him, all the days of our life.   And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,    To give his people knowledge of salvation: by the forgiveness of their sins.   In the tender compassion of our God:  the dawn from on high shall break upon us,    To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death:  and to guide our feet into the way of peace.     5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow Lord God, whose blessed Son rose in triumph and set us free: grant us the fullness of life he promised us, that through the Holy Spirit our hearts may possess him whom our eyes cannot see, the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.   6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.   1st Reading Deuteronomy 17.14-20 14 When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me', 15 you may indeed set over you a king whom the Lord your God will choose. One of your own community you may set as king over you; you are not permitted to put a foreigner over you, who is not of your own community. 16 Even so, he must not acquire many horses for himself, or return the people to Egypt in order to acquire more horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You must never return that way again.' 17 And he must not acquire many wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; also silver and gold he must not acquire in great quantity for himself. 18 When he has taken the throne of his kingdom, he shall have a copy of this law written for him in the presence of the levitical priests. 19 It shall remain with him and he shall read in it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, diligently observing all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 neither exalting himself above other members of the community nor turning aside from the commandment, either to the right or to the left, so that he and his descendants may reign long over his kingdom in Israel. The reading is followed by Hear the word of the LORD Thanks be to GOD 2nd Reading Luke 23. 33-43 33When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”   The reading is followed by Hear the message of Christ Thanks be to GOD.   7 The Canticle, The Song of Zechariah (Benedictus) Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel:  who has come to his people and set them free.  The Lord has raised up for us a mighty Saviour:  born of the house of his servant David.  Through the holy prophets, God promised of old:  to save us from our enemies, from the hands of  all who hate us,  To show mercy to our forebears:  and to remember his holy covenant.  This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:  to set us free from the hands of our enemies,  Free to worship him without fear:  holy and righteous before him, all the days of our life.  And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High:  for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,  To give his people knowledge of salvation:  by the forgiveness of their sins.  In the tender compassion of our God:  the dawn from on high shall break upon us,  To shine on those who dwell in darkness  and the shadow of death:  and to guide our feet into the way of peace.  Luke 1.68–79      8 The Apostles creed I believe in God, the Father almighty,       creator of heaven and earth.   I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,       who was conceived by the Holy Spirit       born of the virgin Mary.       suffered under Pontius Pilate,       was crucified, died, and was buried;       he descended to the dead.       On the third day he rose from the dead.       He ascended into heaven       and is seated at the right hand of the Father.       From there he will come to judge  the living and the dead.   I believe in the Holy Spirit,       the holy catholic church,       the communion of saints,       the forgiveness of sins,       the resurrection of the body,       and the life everlasting. Amen.   9 The Prayers Lord have mercy.  Christ have mercy.  Lord have mercy.     10 The LORDs prayer Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name,  your kingdom come,  your will be done,  on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins  as we forgive those who sin against us.  Save us from the time of trial  and deliver us from evil.  For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours  now and for ever. Amen.    10 The Collect of the Day Christ the King / The Reign of Christ Eternal God, you exalted Jesus Christ to rule over all things, and have made us instruments of his kingdom: by your Spirit empower us to love the unloved,  and to minister to all in need, then at the last bring us to your eternal realm where we may be welcomed into your everlasting joy and may worship and adore you for ever; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Prayer of the Week Christ the King / The Reign of Christ Stir up,we pray you, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people, that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by you be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.   11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.   Let us pray   Almighty God, through your Son Jesus Christ you gave many excellent gifts to your apostles. We ask you to bless Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London, appointed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury. So, to help her listen to your voice, fill her with your truth, and clothe her with your holiness, that her diligent preaching of your word, will bring, glory to your name. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer     God, Your wisdom knows no bounds, grant we pray that we hear your spoken wisdom and bringing the good news of Christ to all who have yet to hear it, so that we may bring forth fruit of good works to honour and praise your name. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Creator God, we pray for peace and prosperity in our cities, and families. We ask for your guidance to build a world of peace and prosperity, so that our future becomes secure and safe. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Almighty God, today we remember African people, we ask for Your peace to reign in Africa. May African nations come together in harmony, setting aside differences and working towards a common good for all African people. Let Your voice bring peace talks and be their guide in their actions and decisions. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Loving God, as we remember all the missing children in the world, we ask that you embrace them with Your love and protection. Guide them safely back to their loved ones. Grant strength and comfort to their family during their time of waiting. May Your divine light illuminate their path, leading them home. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Blessed God, we ask your blessing for those listed on the Anglican cycle of prayer: Sunday 23 November – Christ the King/the reign of Christ The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia The Diocese of Tasmania: The Parish of Annerley: Anglicare SQ The Glebe Retirement Village (Toowoomba) St Francis Theological College, Milton All Prison ministry chaplaincy teams All people joining in this prayer offering. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer     12 The Morning Collect Eternal God and Father,  by whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed.  guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,  that we may give ourselves to your service,  and live this day in love to one another and to you;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.   13 The Lord be with you. And also with you.  Let us praise the Lord.  Thanks be to God.    The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.    2 Corinthians 13.14 Music by John Keys – Anglican Chant Canticle organ accompaniments. A reminder disclaimer to the listener. The readings in the podcast may include ancient and old-fashioned sayings and instructions that we do not in any way condone as in use or to be used in today's modern world. The readings have not been modernised to reflect todays thinking, instead the readings remain from the old version of the NRSV bible. The podcast owners explicitly declare that each listener is responsible for their own actions in response to the bible readings and the podcast owners bare no responsibility in this sense.

We delve into the trial of Jesus Christ before Pontius Pilate and Herod. We explore the parallels between Jesus and the Passover lamb, examining how He fulfills the role of the perfect sacrifice. The episode covers key events such as Jesus' silence before His accusers, the crowd's choice of Barabbas over Jesus, and Pilate's attempts to release Jesus. The narrative includes the brutal scourging of Jesus, His mocking by soldiers, and the crowd's demand for His crucifixion. Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...

Mark 14:53-15:20a // Jonathan NeefAs a divine King, Jesus is subjected to earthly judgment and humiliation. This sermon examines his trials before the Jewish council and Pontius Pilate, and his mocking by soldiers. The narrative presents a stark contrast between Jesus' quiet dignity and bold declaration of his identity with the crowd's clamor for his death and Peter's heartbreaking denial.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49520024 PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2542/responses/new25.11.16

Mark 14:53-15:20a // Brooks NesseAs a divine King, Jesus is subjected to earthly judgment and humiliation. This sermon examines his trials before the Jewish council and Pontius Pilate, and his mocking by soldiers. The narrative presents a stark contrast between Jesus' quiet dignity and bold declaration of his identity with the crowd's clamor for his death and Peter's heartbreaking denial.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49520025 PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new25.11.16

Mark 14:53-15:20a // Gabe CoyleAs a divine King, Jesus is subjected to earthly judgment and humiliation. This sermon examines his trials before the Jewish council and Pontius Pilate, and his mocking by soldiers. The narrative presents a stark contrast between Jesus' quiet dignity and bold declaration of his identity with the crowd's clamor for his death and Peter's heartbreaking denial.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49520026 PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2553/responses/new25.11.16

Mark 14:53-15:20a // Taylor FairAs a divine King, Jesus is subjected to earthly judgment and humiliation. This sermon examines his trials before the Jewish council and Pontius Pilate, and his mocking by soldiers. The narrative presents a stark contrast between Jesus' quiet dignity and bold declaration of his identity with the crowd's clamor for his death and Peter's heartbreaking denial.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49520027 PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2546/responses/new25.11.16

Mark 14:53-15:20a // Paul BrandesAs a divine King, Jesus is subjected to earthly judgment and humiliation. This sermon examines his trials before the Jewish council and Pontius Pilate, and his mocking by soldiers. The narrative presents a stark contrast between Jesus' quiet dignity and bold declaration of his identity with the crowd's clamor for his death and Peter's heartbreaking denial.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49520023 PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2574/responses/new25.11.16

Mike Aquilina explores the complex figure of Pontius Pilate and offering thought-provoking questions that invite deeper courage, truthfulness, and fidelity to Christ in daily life. The post VEC3 – Pontius Pilate – Villains of the Early Church with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Daily Dose of Hope November 12, 2025   Scripture – John 19   Prayer: Holy God, You are a God of order and a God of purpose.  The world may seem chaotic, but you are not.  You have ordered your world with perfection.  Help us trust you.  Lord, fill us with your perfect peace.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  As most of you know, we have been walking through the Gospels and will soon walk through Acts.  Today, we begin John 19.    Our passage begins with Jesus before Pilate.  Even Pilate, the Roman official, recognizes that Jesus has done nothing wrong. Pontius Pilate is an interesting guy.  He knows that Jesus hasn't done anything wrong, certainly nothing worthy of execution, and he truly wants to free Jesus.  The text indicates that Pilate is somewhat scared of Jesus. He tries to placate the Jewish leaders.  He has Jesus flogged.  He offers to release Barrabas, a noted insurrectionist, thinking for sure they would rather have Jesus set free rather than a murderer.  But that isn't what happened. And Pilate isn't willing to stand up for what he knows is right.  His own role in Jesus' death lands him a mention in the Apostle's Creed, the most famous and oldest Christian Creed.  Think about it, for two thousand years, Christians around the globe have been declaring that Jesus died under Pontius Pilate.    Bottom line:  The Jewish officials are desperate to get rid of Jesus. They are blinded by fear, jealousy, and contempt. In an attempt to get Pilate to cooperate with their plans, they threaten to report him to Caesar. After all, Jesus claimed to be king and anyone who made such a claim would be considered a threat to the emperor. The great irony here is that the Jews are essentially presenting themselves as better Roman citizens than Pilate, the Roman official. When it's convenient for them, they are happy to use the pagan Roman government to get their way. They will sacrifice their own ethics to ensure that Jesus is killed.   The thing about sacrificing our ethics is that it's a slippery slope, is it not? These Jewish officials were probably very pious men. They thought they were doing the right thing. Afterall, Jesus was saying blasphemous things and he didn't follow their rules. They needed to step in and take care of it. But gradually their dislike of Jesus became hate. They so badly wanted him gone that they were willing to do anything, break their own laws, disobey Torah, simply to get rid of him. They were willing to do anything, no matter how shady it was or low they had to go.   Has your hatred of another person ever made you compromise your own values? We think we are so much better than these Jewish officials but I think sometimes we are just like these Jewish officials. Dig deep today, friends. Examine your own heart. The remainder of the chapter is pretty powerful.  Jesus carries his own cross to the place of his execution.  The soldiers cast lots for his clothing.  He breathes his last breath without any of his bones being broken by the soldiers.  They pierced his side with a spear.  Lots of prophecy being fulfilled here.   Finally, two faithful Jewish men, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, take Jesus' body and place it in a tomb.  Not a lot can be done to prepare the body for burial because it's Friday afternoon and the Sabbath is upon them.  Things will have to wait.  But things may look a lot different on Sunday morning.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope November 11, 2025   Scripture - John 18:19-40   Prayer: Lord, Let us start by thanking you for a new day.  You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who was, and is, and is to come.  You are all powerful and all knowing.  We give thanks for your love and wisdom.  We give thanks for your presence.  Help us, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts.  Help us set aside distractions and listen to what you have for us today.  In these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers...Jesus, we love you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that goes along with the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We have been doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are finishing up John 18.   Jesus has been before the Jewish high priest and the Jewish ruling council.  They can't stand him.  They not only feel threatened by him, but they are appalled about how he speaks of forgiving sins and being like the Father.  They physically assault him.  They want him to die but they don't have the power to execute him under Roman law.  They have to take him to the Roman governor, who happens to be Pontius Pilate.  As you will see, Pilate does not find Jesus to have done anything worthy of death at all but he is scared of the Jewish leaders.  We could go in a lot of different directions with this.  But I want to focus on a portion of verses 37-38, ...Jesus responded, "You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true." "What is truth?" Pilate asked... Jesus came to testify to the truth.  Pilate questions if there can be truth.  The Greek word for "truth" is aletheia, and it means something like "divine revelation."  It literally means "what can't be hidden."  The Hebrew word for "truth" is emeth, which means firmness and immovability. This is such an important discussion because we live in a world in which people are still searching for truth and meaning.  There is an idea that it's okay for you to have your truth and me to have mine.  But yet, that only works up until a point, until our disagreements become really fundamental.  Here is some truth for you: Truth is not relative, nor does it change from person to person.  Truth can be offensive to some because they simply don't like how it makes them feel.  The reality is that many things can have some truth but there is only one TRUTH.  For believers, TRUTH is Jesus Christ.  John 14:6 reads, Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  When Jesus says, "I am the way," he doesn't say "I am a way." How the Greek sentence is constructed makes it absolutely clear and irrefutable that Jesus is making an exclusive claim here.   He is basically saying, don't go looking to anyone else to point you in those directions, because I am the only one who can!"  Jesus is the map that leads us to all truth.  If we really believe this, this fundamentally changes how we think about the world.  If Jesus is truth, then everything he said throughout the Gospels is true.  It means he came back from the dead and will return to judge all people.  It means he is God.  Do you believe this?  Do you?  I'm pressing this point a bit, I know.  And it's for a reason.  Because if we really, really believe Jesus is truth, then this one fact will inform every other piece of our life.  It will affect how we treat others. It will affect how we worship. It will certain affect our priorities. It will change how we spend our money. It affects what we think about during the day. It will change how we talk to people. We will think about sharing Jesus a lot more. We will think about Jesus a lot more in general.  We will pray more.  We will read the Bible more.  We will become more deeply devoted to God because he is Truth and nothing else in the world is. Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

We believe... in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,     begotten from the Father before all ages,          God from God,          Light from Light,          true God from true God,     begotten, not made;     of the same essence as the Father.     Through him all things were made.     For us and for our salvation          he came down from heaven;          he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,          and was made human.          He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;          he suffered and was buried.          The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.          He ascended to heaven          and is seated at the right hand of the Father.          He will come again with glory          to judge the living and the dead.          His kingdom will never end.

Pontius Pilate faced a moral crossroads when choosing between justice and public pressure. As Jesus stands silent before His accusers, we witness the ultimate example of strength, humility, and divine love. Sermon Notes Mark 15:1 Religious leaders bind Jesus and deliver Him to Pilate (The Roman Governor) Mark 15:2 – 5 Pilate questions Jesus Mark 15:6 – 11 Pilate tries to release Jesus. The crowd instead wants a murder released. (the son of the father rather than (The Son of God the Father) Mark 15:12 – 14 The crowd influenced by the Chief Priests, want Jesus crucified Mark 15:15 To satisfy the crowd Pilate has Jesus scrouged and authorized His crucifixion

Q: How can God know the future? How can God make everything? Summary How can God know the future? Dr. E unpacks this question by pointing to Scripture's prophetic precision. From Isaiah's writings—700 years before Christ—to Jeremiah's prophecy of Israel's exile and return, the Bible repeatedly reveals God's perfect foreknowledge. Archaeological discoveries, such as the Assyrian carvings of Israel's captivity and the Pontius Pilate stone, confirm what Scripture already declared true. Dr. E reminds us: the Bible doesn't need to be proven—it proves the evidence around it. God knows the future because He wrote it. The conversation then turns to creation itself—how God made everything ex nihilo (“out of nothing”). While humanity can invent and build using existing materials, only God can bring something into being by His word alone. From forming Adam from the dust to speaking the cosmos into existence, creation reveals God's unmatched power and sovereignty. In a world that marvels at human innovation, Dr. E points us back to the Creator who authored time, matter, and life itself. Takeaways Biblical prophecy demonstrates God's complete foreknowledge. Archaeological evidence supports, not disproves, Scripture. God's promises—like Israel's return from exile—always come true. Humanity can create from something, but only God creates from nothing. God's sovereignty extends over all time, space, and creation. The Bible's truth continually aligns with world history. If you've been wondering whether faith and evidence can align, this is one you won't want to miss. Find more episodes of Ask Dr. E here. If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.

For more than 1,400 years, one question has divided the world's two largest faiths: Did Jesus Christ truly die on the cross?Video Version available immediately upon release at 9:00pm ET/8:00pm CT athttps://youtu.be/evsqZ8Q_0s0In this groundbreaking episode of The Last Christian Radio Show, hosts JD Williams and David Paxton take you on a deeply respectful, fact-based journey through Scripture, science, and history to uncover the truth behind one of the most important claims ever made. That Jesus, peace be upon Him, was not crucified, but that it only appeared so.Drawing from the Qur'an, the Bible, medical science, archaeology, and eyewitness history, this powerful episode carefully examines every aspect of the question with sincerity and reverence. Not to attack, but to enlighten.Viewers from the Islamic faith are invited to explore evidence that transcends culture and tradition:• The historical records of Roman executioners, Jewish witnesses, and early Christian scribes, all agreeing that Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate.• The medical details of crucifixion proving beyond doubt that the man on the cross died from asphyxiation and cardiac rupture — fulfilling exact prophecies written centuries earlier.• The forensic evidence of the burial cloth, revealing physical wounds matching biblical descriptions, and a mysterious burst of radiant energy that no scientist has ever explained.• The undeniable resurrection appearances. Eyewitness accounts by more than 500 people, recorded not as myth, but as testimony sealed with their own lives.With humility and deep respect for Muslim viewers, JD and David open the Scriptures alongside the Qur'an. Not to argue, but to ask a simple question: If God is truth, can He contradict Himself?This episode is not a debate, it is an invitation. An invitation to search the evidence honestly. To compare revelation with history. To look at the cross not as a symbol of shame, but as the moment when divine mercy met human sin.You'll hear why the Bible's account of Jesus' death and resurrection is not only historically verified, but prophetically consistent from Genesis to Revelation. And how the Qur'an's claim of substitution, written six centuries later, cannot withstand the test of time, witness, or truth.This program speaks to all who love Jesus. Christian and Muslim alike and who sincerely seek to know the truth about His life, death, and destiny. Because if Jesus truly died and rose again, then His words, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” must be taken seriously by every person on earth.Come with an open heart. Search without fear.The evidence will speak for itself.And the truth, as Jesus promised, will set you free.For more information about our International Ministry. Please visithttps://www.lastchristian.net/

Why is the world obsessively fixated on a tiny nation in the Middle East, and what does it mean for Christian parents raising the next generation? In this riveting episode, Catherine asks one of the most urgent questions of our time: What is happening in Israel—and how does it connect to ancient prophecy and our daily parenting? To help answer, she welcomes acclaimed author, filmmaker, and Christian apologist Dinesh D'Souza, whose new documentary, The Dragon’s Prophecy, is based on Jonathan Cahn’s bestselling book and brings biblical prophecy and current events to vivid life. Dinesh D'Souza, whose career spans best-selling novels, blockbuster documentaries, and service in the Reagan White House, brings unparalleled insight to the intersection of faith, history, and politics. In this episode, he unpacks why Israel sits at the center of an ancient spiritual war, why Revelation 12 holds the key to understanding headlines today, and how the battle between good and evil is not just on distant soil—but in every soul. Key highlights include: The chilling reality of October 7, 2023, and never-before-seen footage that reveals the spiritual darkness behind terrorist acts. The core message of The Dragon’s Prophecy: Evil is real, embodied in the biblical “dragon”—and parents must recognize the spiritual war behind the chaos. How ancient battles between Israelites and Philistines eerily parallel today’s conflict, and why biblical prophecy continues to unfold before our eyes. The power of biblical archaeology in verifying the historical accuracy of Scripture—from Pontius Pilate’s existence to the discovery of King David’s palace—arming parents and skeptics alike with facts to defend their faith. Tough questions about modern Israel, replacement theology, and the promises God made to Abraham’s descendants, with thoughtful discussion on both biblical and political identity. Notable moment: “There is a world behind the world and...the events we see are incomplete if we don’t understand them as part of a cosmic struggle between good and evil.” –Dinesh D'Souza As Christian parents, we’re called not just to read the news, but to “discern the moment” (1 Chronicles 12:32)—guiding our children with faith, courage, and wisdom in a time of spiritual war. Don’t miss this eye-opening episode—and consider: How will you prepare your kids not just to survive, but to lead in the times to come? EPISODE LINKS: The Dragon’s Prophecy Film The Dinesh D’Souza Podcast Catherine’s Prodigal Bundle Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today, we'll cover Matthew's account of the crucifixion including Christ's death on the cross, but stopping shy of his burial, saving that section for our next reading. We begin with the account of Judas confessing his guilt in betraying Jesus, and the response from the chief priests and elders is one of indignant apathy. Fraught with grief, Judas hangs himself and dies. Though he has been charged as guilty before the Jews, Jesus now stands trial before the governor, Pontius Pilate. Though he finds no guilt in Jesus, he condemns him in order to keep a riot from starting. After Jesus is mocked and beaten by the Roman military who oversaw his custody, he is led to the cross and crucified between two criminals. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Not of This World - John 18:28-40 I. Jesus Is Brought Before Pilate; vs.28-32 II. Pilate Finds No Fault with Jesus; vs.33-38 III. Pilate Seeks to Release Jesus; vs.39-40 Jesus stands trial before Pontius Pilate. Their conversation leads to a question about truth.

In a season of Stillness, but I'm still here. ❤️‍

f Asa's final years, which are characterised by some serious failures to rely on Yahweh. Firstly, when Baasha king of Israel began acting aggressively to Judah, he hired the Syrians to attack the northern kingdom. He had failed to heed that the LORD had granted victory against the Ethiopian horde. The great lesson that Hanani the seer told Asa was, "The eyes of Yahweh run to and fro throughput the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him" (verse 9 ESV). From now on he would have wars. He became enraged with the prophet and placed him in stocks in prison. His anger was also vented against others of God's people. The irony of Asa, whose name means 'physician', is that when he became diseased in his feet, Asa did not seek healing from the great Physician, but died in suffering. Nonetheless, Judah were saddened by the death of the great reformer. Chapter 17 says Judah were blessed when Asa's son, Jehoshaphat, ascended the throne and he, too, walked "in the early ways of David his father". The kingdom was established by Jehoshaphat and the surrounding lands made no war against him, but paid him tribute. Ezekiel 48 dealt with the allotments to the tribes both north and south of the temple precinct and the allocation of its territory. Note that the northern border of the territory of the kingdom of God under the reconstituted and restored Israel is the Euphrates river; the southern border is the Nile; the western border is the Mediterranean Sea; and the eastern border the Gulf of Arabia - the entire land through which Abraham walked upon and was promised (see also Psalm 72). The city that will be constructed to service the House of Prayer for all nations will be of a square construction and have a perimeter of about 64.5 kilometres and will be called Yahweh Shammah - or Yahweh is there. John 17 outlines Jesus' wonderful prayer for unity with himself and his Father. Having struggled to subject his will to the Father in Gethsemane and being strengthened by an angel to do that, the victory had been won, and all that remained were the trials, scourging and crucifixion which our Master would endure. So, the prayer began with an acknowledgment of the coming glory - verse 4 the glory that the Father had planned for the Son before creation. Then followed a plea for men to know the Father and the servant Son sent into the world to reveal the Father's character; and in that "knowing" would come life eternal. The prayer was to preserve the believers in that truth and so save them. None would be lost save Judas, the 'son of destruction'. Eventually everyone sanctified by the truth would be united with the Father in the same way His Son was. John chapter 18 records the betrayal and arrest of the Lord in the garden ofGethsemane. Judas arrived with a heavily armed contingent of temple thugs, who when they asked the Lord, who they sought, they fell to the ground illustrating that where he was they could not come (John 7:36). He gave himself voluntarily into their hands after miraculously restoring the severed ear of Malchus- the high priest's servant and rebuking Peter who had mistakenly tried to protect his Lord. Jesus faced Annas and Caiaphas in trial. Peter's first denial followed. Then Jesus is placed under oath by the high priest, who contrary to the law commanded our Master to be struck and was rightly rebuked by Jesus. Peter's second denial followed. The rulers attempted to force from Pilate, the Roman Governor, during the night, the death sentence - another illegality - on the unproven charge of treason. Pilate questioned Jesus and it was clear that our Lord had total mastery of the situation and it was Pontius Pilate who quailed in the presence of the Son of God. Jesus bore witness to the Truth that he came into the world to be "King of the Jews" (see 1 Timothy 6 verses 12-16). Pilate declared him to be innocent of the charge; but the rulers clamoured for his death and the acquittal of Barabbas.

Jase explains why Tom Petty's “I Won't Back Down” is his new walk-up song, and Zach pitches a wives-included “Unashamed Live” tour. Jase proves that Unashamed Nation is the best group of fans out there, and he reins in his rabbit holes long enough for the guys to finally dive into John 18's illegal proceedings against Jesus, contrasting earthly power with sacrificial victory. They connect Pilate's mockery of Jesus and the Barabbas exchange to the mission that carries the Word of God to the ends of the earth. In this episode: John 18; Matthew 26; Daniel 7; Daniel 2; Acts 1, verse 8; Acts 8; Acts 9; Isaiah 49, verse 6; Isaiah 52–53; Psalm 110; Ephesians 1; Romans 8; Romans 1, verse 16; Matthew 16; Ephesians 6 “Unashamed” Episode 1190 is sponsored by: ONE NIGHT ONLY! “Off School Property" hits theaters October 23. Get tickets and watch an exclusive sneak peek: https://lifewise.org/unashamed Stand firm for values that matter. Join the fight & give today at https://www.frc.org/unashamed https://ruffgreens.com — Get a FREE Jumpstart Trial Bag for your dog today when you use promo code Unashamed! https://www.puretalk.com/unashamed — Get PureTalk for just $25 a month. Make the switch today! https://helixsleep.com/unashamed — Get 20% Off Sitewide! https://andrewandtodd.com or call 888-888-1172 — These guys are the real deal. Get trusted mortgage guidance and expertise from someone who shares your values! http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ — Sign up now for free, and join the Unashamed hosts every Friday for Unashamed Academy Powered by Hillsdale College Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-home-with-phil-robertson/id1835224621 Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts. Chapters: 00:00-05:04 Jase pulls a pro fishing move 05:05-9:00 Proving Unashamed listeners are the best 9:01-19:11 A brief history of Tom Petty19:12-25:28 Floating an Unashamed Conference idea 25:29-29:31 Finally getting to John 18 29:32-38:40 Pontius Pilate fulfills messianic prophecy38:41-47:13 Using violence to change truth 47:14-56:03 Jesus destroys the walls between us — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many Christians who have read the Bible have never realized that Pontius Pilate was a postmodernist! Now that sounds like something fun for Doug & Paula to discuss. You'll want to take a listen!-Feel free to email us with any questions at info@servingbb.org or for more information check out our website at https://servingbeyondborders.org-Follow us on:Instagram - @servingbeyondbordersYouTube - Serving Beyond BordersFacebook - Serving Beyond Borders-"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve. . ." Mark 10:45-TUNE IN: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-radical-christian-life-with-doug-and-paula/id1562355832#podcast #podcasting #podcasts #spotify #applepodcast #podcaster #interview #newpodcast #spotifypodcast #missions #jesus #god #love #bible #faith #jesuschrist #christian #church #christ #gospel #holyspirit #prayer #christianity #pray #theradicalchristianlife

Acts 4:1-31The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest's family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “ the stone you builders rejected,      which has become the cornerstone.Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “ ‘Why do the nations rage     and the peoples plot in vain?   The kings of the earth rise up     and the rulers band together   against the Lord     and against his anointed one. ' Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.Acts 5:17-42Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

October 12th 2025 Worship Service Groveport UMC, Groveport Ohio To support the ministry of the church, please click here: https://groveportumc.org/give/ OPENING SONG: “Thy Word” WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS OPENING PRAYER: Gracious God, we gather in your presence to worship. You welcome us as we are. By your Spirit, meet us here and change us with your love. Open our ears to your Word and our hearts to your people. Receive our songs and our silence. Thank you for this church family. Thank you for your Son, Jesus, our Lord and Savior. AMEN. PRELUDE & LIGHTING ALTAR CANDLES “The Majesty and Glory of Your Name” *HYMN: “I Love to Tell the Story” - #156 CALL TO WORSHIP: Leader: Praise the Lord. People: Sing to the Lord a new song. Leader: Sing God's praise in the assembly of the faithful. People: Let us all be glad and give thanks and remember that God's love endures forever. All: The Lord God has done mighty acts for us all so let us rejoice in this day that God has made for us. HYMN: “Near to the Heart of God” - #472 AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. RESPONSE: “Glory Be to the Father” - #70 FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Psalm 103:20 OUR TIME OF PRAYER (During our time of prayer, the altar rail is open for all who wish to come forward.) HYMN “Sanctuary” PASTORAL PRAYER THE LORD'S PRAYER OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS: “We Have Heard the Joyful Sound - Jesus Saves!” *DOXOLOGY *PRAYER OF DEDICATION CHILDREN'S MOMENTS (Children K-6th grade are invited to Jr. Church at this time). SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Acts 12:1-17 SERMON “Touched by an Angel” HOLY COMMUNION *CLOSING HYMN: “Just as I Am” - #357 *BENEDICTION *SENDING FORTH: “As We Go” POSTLUDE “The Family of God”

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 8th of October, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Job 28:28:”Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil, is understanding.” Then we go to the Gospel of John 17:17:”Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth.” The Bible is the truth. We don't have to reinvent anything else. Everything you need to know, everything you need to stand by, is found in the Holy Word of God, the Bible. We cannot and we may not change anything. We've got to keep it simple. When you're talking to your children, make it very simple and then they will understand what the truth means. If we look at John 18:38. Jesus was standing before Pontius Pilate when he was judging him, and Pontius Pilate asked Jesus a question, ”What is truth?” Folks, there are none so blind as those who cannot see or don't want to see. Isn't that a true saying? You see, Pontius Pilate was looking into the face of truth itself. He was looking into the face of God and he was asking a question, “What is truth?” I want to say to you today, we must keep it simple. The Gospel is not complicated. I remember somebody saying to me a long time ago, ”Educators complicate, communicators simplify.” Keep it simple. Keep to the Word of God. When somebody says to you, ”Show me the truth,” give them a Bible because that is truth.You know the great automobile manufacturer Henry Ford? They came to him once and said, ”We want to paint the Model T Ford a different colour” (because in those days, they were all black). Henry Ford said, ”You can paint it any colour you like, as long as it stays black.” Folks, you can say what you like as long as you do not misinterpret the Bible. For those preachers that are listening to this word this morning, you have a tremendous responsibility when you get onto the platform, into the pulpit. You deliver the word of God because you will be judged accordingly. Just tell them what Jesus means to you! Have a wonderful day, God bless you and goodbye.

It’s one thing to read about Bible History…but it’s another to live it. How do you do that? This week on The Land and the Book, we'll take a tour of the Biblical History Center! You'll stand in a tent made of goat and camel hair. Examine a coin with Pontius Pilate's name on it--and walk through a home like biblical characters lived in. Hint: it's mighty small. Scripture comes alive when you join us this week for The Land and the Book.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/landandthebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Friday morning, the 3rd of October, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go straight to the Book of Luke 23:50: “Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man.” We are talking here about Joseph of Arimathea. He was one of Jesus' secret disciples. He was a member of the Sanhedrin yet he had the courage to go to Pontius Pilate and ask for the body of our beloved Saviour, and took the body down from the cross, you can read it yourself, and he wrapped it in linen. He laid it in his own personal tomb that had been hewn out of the rock, and where no-one had laid before, and he left Him there until the day of preparation.I want to say something to you today. There are many good and just men like Joseph of Arimathea in the Kingdom of God. It's just that you never hear about them. They work quietly, but they are the backbone of the church of Jesus Christ. Now, I want to tell you a little story. My mother only had one brother, his name was George. He was a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy during the Second World War. They used to take food to Britain because Britain was completely surrounded by the sea, and the ships that they sailed in had no defence system to speak of. They were very slow, but they brought food from America and from all over the world. When the siren went and there was an announcement that there were German U-boats in the sea, and their objective was to sink these ships, the Chief Engineer went down into the engine room, which was below water level. He closed a big steel door, he stood by the door and he told the workers to stoke the boilers, coal-fired ships in those days, and they had to keep on stoking that fire to keep the ship running. If those men had abandoned their positions and run on top, the ship would have come to a standstill and would have been torpedoed to the bottom of the sea. He would stand there, sometimes armed with a revolver, and said, “The first man that is going to leave his post, I will shoot!” He had to do that, and they would continue to keep the ship going.There are many of those engineers in God's army. This ministry has been going for 47 years and I want to tell you, it is the Josephs of Arimathea's that have kept this ministry going, no one else, and we thank God for every single member, men and women, who are continually supporting the work of the Lord, unseen. But God, through Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, sees everything.Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day,Goodbye.

Beauty for Ashes, Diamonds for DirtLuke 23:1-25The Village Chapel - 09/28/2025In the early morning hours of what we now call Good Friday, Jesus was taken by the religious leaders to stand trial before Pontius Pilate. In Luke's account, Jesus speaks only five words when he responds to Pilate's question, “Are you the King of the Jews?” and says, “It is as you say.” We come to a crossroads in this account: Courage and cowardice converge; actual authority and power are displayed through silent suffering; and Jesus, being entirely innocent, willingly exchanges his life for the life of a convicted criminal and takes his place on the cross. What looks like a victory for Satan ends up being the masterstroke of God's Divine plan of rescue and redemption for the human race. Join us as we study Luke 23:1-25, and read about the Great Exchange, our sin for the righteousness of Christ!To find more resources like these, follow us:Website: https://thevillagechapel.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQVTzDbaiXVUAm_mUBDCTJAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tvcnashville/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tvcnashvilleX: https://twitter.com/tvcnashvilleTo support the ongoing mission of The Village Chapel go to https://thevillagechapel.com/give/. If you are a regular giver, thank you for your continued faithfulness and generosity!

Istrouma Baptist Church (ASC) Sep 28, 2025 ========== September 28 - Field Guide Welcome! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org. We glorify God by making disciples of all nations. ========== Connection Card https://istrouma.org/myinfo “Contentment” 1 TIMOTHY 6 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves. 1 TIMOTHY 6:1-2a NIV GODLINESS IS FOUND IN CONTENTMENT – NOT STATUS, POSITION OR WEALTH These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 TIMOTHY 6:2b-10 NIV GODLY THINKING MATTERS GODLY THINKING MATTERS -Wrong Thinking Leads To Wrong Motives -Godly Thinking Leads To Great Gain 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. 1 TIMOTHY 6:11-16 NIV GO AFTER THE THINGS OF GOD 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19 NIV SLIDE 10 GOOD WORKS & GENEROSITY ARE A PART OF GODLINESS GOOD WORKS & GENEROSITY ARE A PART OF GODLINESS 1) Be humble. 2) Be rich in good deeds 3) Be generous 4) Be Kingdom-Minded GUARD YOUR HEART Contentment is not about what you have. It's about who has your heart.

1 Timothy 6:6-10a, 11-18, 19b - But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith … But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will display at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, … so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Unity Without Compromise with Dr. Steven LaTulippe – Justice Amy Coney Barrett defends the Dobbs decision, but her words spark outrage for twisting truth against science, the Constitution, and God. Comparing her stance to Pontius Pilate, critics argue she sidesteps morality, deceives the public, and undermines life's sanctity. This reflection calls Christians, conservatives, and patriots to confront deception and boldly stand for truth...

Istrouma Baptist Church (BR) Sep 21, 2025 ========== September 21 - Field Guide for the Church Welcome! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org. We glorify God by making disciples of all nations. ========== Connection Card https://istrouma.org/myinfo September 21, 2025 Micah Cating ‭‭1 Tim.‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭19‬‬ All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves. These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of Lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves. 1 TIMOTHY 6:1-2a NIV GODLINESS IS FOUND IN CONTENTMENT – NOT STATUS, POSITION OR WEALTH These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 TIMOTHY 6:2b-10 NIV GODLY THINKING MATTERS -Wrong Thinking Leads To Wrong Motives -Godly Thinking Leads To Great Gain 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. 1 TIMOTHY 6:11-16 NIV GO AFTER THE THINGS OF GOD 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19 NIV GOOD WORKS & GENEROSITY ARE A PART OF GODLINESS 1) Be humble. 2) Be rich in good deeds 3) Be generous GOOD WORKS & GENEROSITY ARE A PART OF GODLINESS 1) Be humble. 2) Be rich in good deeds 3) Be generous 4) Be Kingdom-Minded GUARD YOUR HEART Contentment is not about what you have. It's about who has your heart. Want to receive weekly announcements in your inbox each week? https://istrouma.org/email Give Online Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to: https://istrouma.org/give Our Website https://istrouma.org

History offers a haunting picture of what happens when leaders abdicate responsibility. Darren Hardy uses the example of Pontius Pilate to expose the subtle ways avoidance shows up in modern business—and why accountability is the only path to true achievement. Hear it in now and rethink leadership. Get more personal mentoring from Darren each day. Go to DarrenDaily at http://darrendaily.com/join to learn more.

It's Tuesday, September 9th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson Nigerian Muslims kill and injure Christian farmers On August 27th, when five Nigerian Christians went to check on their farms  located in Bauchi State, they found Fulani Muslim herdsmen grazing their cattle on the land owned by the Christians.  The argument led to the Muslims killing a Christian farmer and wounding three others, reports Morning Star News. Rev. Samson Habila, local chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said, “We solicit that we all go on our knees for prayers to our loving God to bring this conflict to a swift end for the betterment of our land and people.” In a separate incident on the same day, Muslim herdsmen assaulted two Christian women and a teenager who were on their way back from their farm. Naomi Sabo, was cut on her hand with a machete, her teenage son was cut with a machete, and a third victim, another Christian woman, had her ear cut off by the Muslims. In a span of two weeks in late August, hundreds of Nigerian Christian farmers lost their crops to Muslim Fulani herdsmen who took their cattle to graze on them. According to Open Doors' 2025 World Watch List, Nigeria is the 7th most dangerous country on Earth for Christians. Of the 4,476 Christians killed for their faith worldwide during the reporting period, 3,100 of those Christians -- or 69% -- lived in Nigeria. Russia launched 800 drones against Ukraine Russia has stepped up its drone attacks on Ukraine, in its largest salvo since the beginning of the war, reports KGOU Radio. The aggressor launched 800 drones over the weekend — hitting the government building in Kyiv for the first time. Japanese Prime Minister resigns Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced his resignation.   Japan's economy is still hurting. The nation's real Gross Domestic Product is just now recovering to 2019 levels, after an extended 5-year recession. Japan's national debt is the highest in the world, at 255% of GDP.   The Japanese government's proposed budget for 2026 represents another 8% increase, year over year.  Indeed, 27% of the budget is set aside just to service the nation's debt. G7 vs BRICS The Group of 7 or “G7” nations includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.  BRICS is now recognized as the competing force opposing the G7 nations. BRICS includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. In a BRICS summit, spearheaded by Brazil's socialist president, Luiz Lula, the mostly southern and eastern world powers worked on what they called “joint responses to tariffs and sanctions under the Trump administration and discussions on a multipolar world order.” Thousands of Brazilian protestors object to trial of Jair Bolsonaro Tens of thousands of Brazilians have taken the streets over in the last week, protesting the trial of Brazil's former president, Jair Bolsonaro, reports the Associated Press. He is facing 46 years in prison for allegedly supporting an attempt to overturn the 2022 election. Plus, Bolsonaro's opponents also claim that he encouraged a protest on January 8, 2023 that resulted in several millions of dollars of damage to the capital building. Brazil's Supreme Court is expecting to sentence the former president later this week. Bolsonaro was a pro-life president, and opposed homosexual marriage for his country. The current president, Luiz Lula, has committed himself to the pro-abortion and LGBTQ agenda for the nation since his election in 2022. 47% of Brazilians receive welfare In a related story, 47% of Brazilians receive a welfare check from the government. The most welfare dependent states are in the north and northeast of the country. These twelve states record more welfare recipients than jobs among their residents. The socialist candidate in the last election, Lula de Silva, won 10 out of 12 of these states. He only won the votes with three other states in the election. God is sovereign over all. Jesus told Pontius Pilate, “You would have no authority over Me at all unless it had been given you from above.” Company that profits from porn fined $5 million The Canadian company Aylo has been fined $5 million by the US Federal Trade Commission for portraying certain egregious forms of sexual sin on its websites (which include PornHub).   This amounts to a slap on the wrist for a company operating on an estimated $700 million of annual income. That's about 0.7%. The Federal Trade Commission has charged the company with allowing non-consensual and child-abuse related material on its websites. Democrats blocking all Trump's civilian nominees The U.S. government has come to loggerheads. Thus far, not a single Trump civilian nominee has been confirmed by a voice vote through the US Senate — due to Democrat filibusters. That's the first time this has occurred in the nation's government in a century. That compares to 65% of Trump's nominees clearing the Senate by voice vote in his first term and 57% of Joe Biden's nominees confirmed by voice vote.   GOP Senate Majority Leader John Thune is considering pulling the nuclear option, or a rule change, to speed up the approval process, according to the Daily Caller. Few Americans, Christians included, believe we are sinful American Christians are pretty much agreed on this statement: “Sin is real, but people are basically good at heart.” That according to the latest George Barna survey. The pollsters discovered that 82% of Catholics and 70% of self-identified born-again Christians believe in “The basic goodness of humanity.” And only 57% of Catholics and 85% of self-identified born again Christians believe Romans 3:23 — that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  Meryl Streep to voice Aslan in new “Chronicles of Narnia” And finally, Netflix plans to release the next movie installment of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia story in November of 2026. Filming began last month which included a well-publicized street chase of Jadis, “the White Witch” last weekend. Brace yourself. Greta Gerwig, best known for directing the feminist hit film “Barbie” released in 2023, is directing this next Narnia release. Not surprisingly, Meryl Streep is slated to voice Aslan.  (The character of Aslan, Lewis's Lion, is meant as a personification of Jesus Christ). Movieguide, the Christian ministry led by founder Ted Baehr, calls this “a dangerous cultural shift,” and has initiated a petition to "respect the theological foundation of the story.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, September 9th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Mae and Fortune answer a question from an entire family, plus a pretty little Pontius Pilate update for the ages! Do you fly in *your* dreams?Handsome is hosted by Tig Notaro, Mae Martin, and Fortune FeimsterSubmit questions to speakpipe.com/handsomepodFollow us on social media @handsomepodMerch at handsomepod.comWatch Handsome on YouTubeThis is a Headgum podcast. Follow Headgum on Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok. Advertise on Handsome via Gumball.fm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.