Podcasts about prodigal son

My friend Dr. Ben Bailey (PhD from BYU in Psychology currently working at UVU as a Mental Health Therapist) joins us to talk about things close to his heart and work as a therapist to bring more hope and understanding, reduce divisiveness, and bring us together as the same human family including: Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as a framework to become a better peacemaker Moving from judgmental thinking into a language of feelings and needs Understanding differences in others by understanding their needs How to talk across difference with people who have different opinions than us about the rights of LGBTQ individuals Distinguishing empathy from agreement (understanding someone does not require endorsing their beliefs) Prioritizing safety before connection A more compassion focused approach to understanding pornography use Normalizing and having a better approach to doubt Thank you, Ben, for being on the podcast. I learned so much from you on how to feel better about ourselves and bring us together as the same human family. I also appreciate your work as a therapist and all you are doing to love, help, and give hope to others. Links: NVC Book: https://nonviolentcommunication.com/product/nvc/ Center For Nonviolent Communication: https://www.cnvc.org/ The Return of the Prodigal Son: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/122877/the-return-of-the-prodigal-son-by-henri-jm-nouwen/ My Music Links: https://linktr.ee/benbaileymusic

Buongiorno! The Backbone FOOD Network brings you the meals and stories from the 2000 cookbook Can You Take the Heat by Jim Ross & The WWF Superstars. This episode, Chef Keithie lays the Smackdown on "The Prodigal Son's" Shrimp Scampi. Shane McMahon is a bit hyper, and this shrimp cooks fast, but the accompanying risotto cooks slow and steady.  Does Shane-O-Mac approve? You tell us. Mangiare la mia famiglia

Send us a textFasting is often treated as an optional discipline—or an extreme one. But in Scripture, fasting is a quiet act of humility that creates space for God to move in ways we cannot force.In this episode, Karl Gessler shares a brief but powerful testimony about how his friend Joe Roraff returned to Jesus after his father completed a 21-day fast. This is not a story about earning miracles or manipulating outcomes—it's about surrender, intercession, and the unseen spiritual effects of obedience.Sometimes fasting doesn't change our circumstances immediately. Sometimes it changes people. Sometimes, it saves a life.If you've ever wondered whether fasting really matters—or if it can make a difference for someone you love—this episode will encourage you to see effectual power of fasting to conform our world to Jesus.❤️ SHOW YOUR SUPPORT - LINKS BELOW...➡️ Email me: https://www.karlgessler.com/deliverance➡️ DONATE ➡️  Join our team!https://www.givesendgo.com/karlgesslerfamilybandhttps://www.patreon.com/karlgesslerhttps://cash.app/$KarlgesslerSocial Media➡️Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089357625739➡️Telegram - https://t.me/FaithoftheFathers➡️Truth Social - https://truthsocial.com/@UCLOvq6O4aIXLrkKxwXkq3uASupport the show

Feeling stuck in isolation after you've been hurt? You're not alone — and healing is possible. Pastor Tim Mossholder explores how trauma — including church hurt — can deplete us, drive desperation, and lead to painful isolation. Ultimately, trauma kills community. But drawing from Jesus' story about the Prodigal Son, we'll discover the battle lines trauma creates and the steps to fight back. Key takeaways: - Understand how trauma isolates us — even in the church — and why unity defeats the enemy's plans - Learn to reclaim your God-given agency through spiritual awareness and "I will" choices - Experience the Father's compassionate embrace and full restoration to loving, authentic community Watch now to discover how Jesus can transform your story from trauma to celebration — no matter the hurt you've experienced.

On this episode of Words of Grace, we consider The Divine Perspective of Repentance from Luke chapter 15. Using the well-known parable of the Prodigal Son, this message looks beyond repentance as merely a human act and focuses instead on God's response when His children return to Him. Jesus' parables of the lost sheep, the … Continue reading "The Divine Perspective of Repentance"

Message by Scott Pinkham

his week as we continue our series in the Parables, Jesus begins with "a man had two sons..." This is not the famous Prodigal Son parable, which also begins that way. Instead, here a father comes asking his sons to work in the vineyard. The first says yes, but doesn't do it. The second says no, but changes his mind and goes. Jesus presses his hearers: so who did what his father wanted? Everyone agrees it's the second son. Open-defiance-followed-by-obedience is better than fake-obedience-that-hides-defiance. We get it, Jesus. Lesson over, right? But Jesus then goes scorched earth: "that's why the bad people are going to heaven ahead of you." Wait, what?! If Jesus goal is not merely to humble us but to heal us, what is the surgery he is doing here? How is our half-hearted obedience actively robbing us daily of the joy and healing of heaven? Let's talk about "Yes & No" (Mt.21:23-32).

My friend Dr. Ben Bailey (PhD from BYU in Psychology currently working at UVU as a Mental Health Therapist) joins us to talk about things close to his heart and work as a therapist to bring more hope and understanding, reduce divisiveness, and bring us together as the same human family including: Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as a framework to become a better peacemaker Moving from judgmental thinking into a language of feelings and needs Understanding differences in others by understanding their needs How to talk across difference with people who have different opinions than us about the rights of LGBTQ individuals Distinguishing empathy from agreement (understanding someone does not require endorsing their beliefs) Prioritizing safety before connection A more compassion focused approach to understanding pornography use Normalizing and having a better approach to doubt Thank you, Ben, for being on the podcast. I learned so much from you on how to feel better about ourselves and bring us together as the same human family. I also appreciate your work as a therapist and all you are doing to love, help, and give hope to others. Links: NVC Book: https://nonviolentcommunication.com/product/nvc/ Center For Nonviolent Communication: https://www.cnvc.org/ The Return of the Prodigal Son: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/122877/the-return-of-the-prodigal-son-by-henri-jm-nouwen/ My Music Links: https://linktr.ee/benbaileymusic

REGULAR FEATURE: LEGION OF DOOM REGULAR FEATURE: MISTY AF THANKS FOR JOINING US Smash that like button and subscribe if you haven't already. And join our Patreon. patreon.com/iftheshoesfit.

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller of St. Paul Lutheran, Austin, TX Has American Christianity Failed?The post The Parable of the Prodigal Son, Part 3 – Bryan Wolfmueller, 1/22/26 (0221) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

What if you had insurance that actually prevented problems instead of just paying for them after they happen? In this episode, Dr. Alex Loyd reveals the shocking truth about insurance (it's the #1 industry in the US at 21% of GDP—and it's all for worst-case scenarios) and contrasts it with God's true "life insurance" for the elect. Drawing from Romans 8:33, Alex explains why no one—including you—can bring a charge against God's elect, and what that means for your guilt, shame, and identity. ✓ What You'll Discover: ✓ Why insurance is the #1 industry in America (21% of GDP for worst-case scenarios) ✓ What "life insurance" actually insures (hint: not your life) ✓ Who the "elect" are according to Romans 8 and biblical scholars ✓ Why no one can bring a charge against you—not even yourself ✓ How your identity is NOT your sins, accomplishments, or failures ✓ The Prodigal Son truth: you can always come back ✓ Why guilt and shame have zero power over believers ✓ How cognitive dissonance creates 90%+ of disease (CDC confirms) ✓ The spiritual-to-physical pipeline: stress → suppressed immunity → illness ✓ How to identify your dominant emotion when healing trauma Key Topics Covered: Romans 8:33 breakdown: "Who can bring a charge against the Lord's elect?" The difference between being "elect" before the foundation of the world vs. during your earthly life Why your name is already written in the Lamb's Book of Life Tesla's auto-drive as a metaphor for prevention vs. reaction Professor William Tiller's principle: "The unseen is always the parent of the seen" Mayo Clinic's recent study proving positive thinking creates better health Dr. Bruce Lipton: stress is the ONLY way you get disease The Bethel Sozo technique: recognizing accusation vs. God's voice C.S. Lewis on how everyone appeals to a moral standard Why believers have power to resist sin that unbelievers may not have

Worship with us on VIZION CHURCH ONLINE every Sunday at 9:30am and 11:00am EST: https://live.vizionchurch.com Visit Our Website: https://www.vizionchurch.com/ FOLLOW VIZION CHURCH ►   / vizionchurch   ►   / vizionchurch   What we give to God cannot compare to what He has given us: His inexpressible gift. If you feel lead to support Vizion Church, visit the online giving center. ►http://bit.ly/2gLulBw About Vizion Church: Vizion is a vibrant church located in Uptown Charlotte. Our mission is to empower people to live out the extraordinary vision of God. 704-560-8335 info@vizionchurch.com 1113 Fordham Rd Charlotte, NC 28208

SummaryIn this sermon, Benjamin Lee explores the parable of the Prodigal Son, emphasizing the journey of choices, the consequences of sin, and the importance of repentance. He highlights the heart conditions that lead individuals away from God and the necessity of recognizing one's state to return to the Father. The message encourages listeners to reflect on their lives, acknowledge their sins, and take action towards reconciliation with God, emphasizing that it is never too late to come back home.TakeawaysThe story of the Prodigal Son illustrates the consequences of poor choices.Sin can lead us to a place of despair and destruction.We must recognize our heart conditions to avoid falling into sin.Repentance is essential for returning to God.Acknowledging our sins is the first step towards forgiveness.We have everything we need in Jesus Christ to be content.The path of the prodigal is filled with pain and regret.God welcomes us back with open arms when we repent.It is crucial to guard our hearts against temptation.Today is the day to come back to the Father.Chapters00:00 The Prodigal Son: A Journey of Choices05:10 The Consequences of Sin12:21 Recognizing Our Heart Condition19:25 The Path to Repentance25:11 Returning to the Father30:15 The Invitation to ChangeBooks, Blogs, Merch: https://benjaminlee.blogI Can Do Podcast: https://icandopodcast.comYoutube: https://youtube.com/@icandopodcast?si=5RdZi8x91SW4CNF3Please leave me a rating and a review!

On this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, Elizabeth Pittman is joined by theologian, author, and podcast host Bryan Wolfmueller to discuss his newest book with CPH, Finally Free: Three Lessons in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. In this short book, Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Get the book at cph.org/finallyfree. Show NotesIn the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus tells a story most of us know by heart. Yet beneath its familiarity, He exposes three kinds of bondage that touch every human heart: the pull to do whatever we want, the fear that we've sinned too much to be welcomed back, and the quiet pride that trusts in our own goodness. In this episode, author Bryan Wolfmueller talks about his book Finally Free: Three Lessons in the Parable of the Prodigal Son and explores how Jesus uses this beloved parable to reveal our slavery to sin and, more importantly, the freedom He gives through His suffering, death, and resurrection. QuestionsThe parable of the prodigal son is one of the most familiar stories in Scripture. What made you willing to take the risk of writing an entire book on such a well-known text? In Luke 15, Jesus tells three lost-and-found parables in a row. How does the presence of the older brother change the pattern of “lost, found, joy” in the third parable?You argue that the older brother is not a side character but the entire point of the parable. Why do we so often overlook him, and what do we miss when we do?The first slavery you discuss is “Belly Slaves” What is this and how does the younger son illustrate it? Why is this slavery so appealing? How does the younger son illustrate our enslavement to pleasure, desire, and self-rule—and why is that slavery so appealing?What happens when an entire culture succumbs to belly slavery?You say despair, the second slavery, is a theological slavery. Tell us about this.You write that the third slavery, pride, is a two-fold slavery. What do you mean by this?You write that each of us has “a little Pharisee living in our hearts.” What are some subtle ways this Pharisee shows up in our church life and personal faith?About the GuestPastor Bryan Wolfmueller is the pastor at St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX.  Prior to that he was the pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Aurora, CO since 2005. He is the co-host of Table Talk Radio, the world's most famous Lutheran theological game show. Bryan has a new hobby every day, but he always comes back to reading about Law and Gospel. Bryan lives in Round Rock, TX with his wife Keri and four children.

Is the American Church becoming the very thing Jesus opposed?

Do you ever wonder if God's Unconditional Love is really for you? In today's episode, we break down the lies of “not enough,” explore the truth of the gospel, and show how God's Unconditional Love can transform your identity, your relationships, and your daily walk with Jesus.Many Christians silently wrestle with feelings of inadequacy, shame, or comparison. But the Bible tells a better story one where the Father runs toward you, embraces you, and calls you His child. Through Scripture, honest conversation, and practical insights from Pops, Bob, and Emma, this episode helps you experience God's Unconditional Love in real life.You'll learn:• Why “I'm not enough” is a lie God wants to heal• How Romans 3:23, Romans 5:8, and 1 John 3:1 reveal God's heart• How the Prodigal Son shows the depth of the Father's love• What it means to accept your identity as God's beloved child• How confession, solitude, and receiving God's love daily renew your life• A practical next step that you can start this weekIf you've ever felt spiritually weak, overwhelmed, or unworthy, this episode is for you. God's Unconditional Love is more powerful than your past, your mistakes, or your fears. Walk with Him and discover what it means to be fully known, fully accepted, and fully loved.SUBSCRIBE to our channel / @binmin_org JOIN the NEWSLETTER at https://binmin.org/newsletter/SUPPORT Binmin with a tax-deductible gift HERE - https://binmin.org/donate00:00 – THE LIE OF “NEVER ENOUGH”00:48 – WELCOME TO THE BINMIN PODCAST1:03 – WHERE DOES THE LIE COME FROM?1:38 – “BUT GOD” – WHY THE STORY DOESN'T END WITH OUR SIN2:22 – GOD MAKES THE FIRST MOVE (ROMANS 5:8)2:46 – WHAT GOD'S LOVE LOOKS LIKE IN REAL LIFE2:57 – THE PRODIGAL SON: THE FATHER WHO RUNS TOWARD YOU4:49 – WHY HUMAN LOVE CAN'T COMPARE5:26 – CHILDREN OF GOD (1 JOHN 3:1)5:53 – WHY GOD'S LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING6:47 – HOW TO LIVE IN GOD'S LOVE7:12 – EMMA'S STORY: SHAME, GRACE, AND IDENTITY8:34 – POPS' STORY: CONSTANT REMINDERS OF GOD'S LOVE9:06 – CONFESSION, SOLITUDE, AND RECEIVING GOD'S LOVE10:58 – WHAT WE WANT YOU TO TAKE AWAY11:08 – RUNNING THE RACE WHEN YOU FALL12:11 – YOUR NEXT STEP THIS WEEK13:11 – FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT & CLOSEJOIN the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ NEWSLETTER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. SUPPORT Binmin with a tax-deductible gift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CONNECT WITH BINMIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Binmin.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Questions?: info@binmin.orgPODCAST RESOURCES: More from Binmin:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Binmin.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LEAVE A REVIEW on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

On this weeks Prove All Things, Jeff and Mike welcome back Tyler elder Blake Silverstein for a conversation that helps explain why the Bible can sound so foreign to modern ears. Blake unpacks the difference between an ancient “honor and shame” culture and today's Western “guilt and innocence” mindset—and how that lens can change the way we read familiar stories like David and Bathsheba and the Prodigal Son. Along the way, they connect it to Christian discipleship, repentance, and why restoring relationships matters more than a merely “transactional” view of faith. If you've ever wondered why certain teachings (like eternal torment) don't line up with the full biblical picture, this episode will give you a fresh and practical way to think about it.

Sibling rivals! How often have you heard “Daddy loves me more!” ”No he doesn't!” and on it goes. The oldest brother in the Prodigal Son was jealous of the love his father showed to his younger brother. But the truth is he didn't want the love. But we'll see his father longed to give it to him. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/581/29?v=20251111

Sibling rivals! How often have you heard “Daddy loves me more!” ”No he doesn't!” and on it goes. The oldest brother in the Prodigal Son was jealous of the love his father showed to his younger brother. But the truth is he didn't want the love. But we'll see his father longed to give it to him. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/790/29?v=20251111

God is a God of fresh starts. Join us as Pastor Rick unpacks the parable of the Prodigal Son and how it should give each of us hope. NEXT STEPS: I am going to start or stay with Ownit 356 One Story Plan this Monday. I am asking God to help me really know His grace and grow in my understanding of His Fatherhood.

We share how to move from striving for approval to living from secure love, using the Prodigal Son to show why identity as God's children frees us to rest and grow. We end with a simple challenge and prayer—Hineni, here I am—to practice trust over control.• three pillars of growth: physical, mental, spiritual• identity as children, not hired workers• the Prodigal Son read and applied to life• the father's compassion versus the older brother's resentment• God restores imperfect people across Scripture• striver mindset contrasted with daughterhood• practical signs of striving in daily routines• loved in your becoming, not just arrival• weekly challenge to name striving and trust God• Hineni as a simple, daily prayer of availabilityNext week we're gonna talk about obedience before understandingIf you have any comments, questions, please send those to meIt is really our kind of our our targeted audience is men, but it's great information that we take scriptures from the Bible and we dive into those every other week, every other Tuesday. We have about 11 episodes out, and it's called The Road Travelhttps://aarondegler.com/

John talks about returning home through the story of the Prodigal Son.

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller of St. Paul Lutheran, Austin, TX Has American Christianity Failed?The post The Parable of the Prodigal Son, Part 2 – Bryan Wolfmueller, 1/16/26 (0162) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

In this profound exploration of Luke 15:11-32, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb begin a multi-part series on one of Scripture's most beloved parables. Rather than focusing primarily on the prodigal son's journey, the hosts emphasize that this parable is fundamentally about the Father's lavish, scandalous grace—a grace so radical it not only forgives but elevates redeemed sinners to the status of beloved children and heirs. The discussion explores themes of adoption, regeneration, the nature of repentance, and the often-overlooked role of the older brother as a picture of those who struggle to rejoice in God's mercy. This episode challenges listeners to see the gospel's transformative power in new depth. Key Takeaways The parable's primary focus is the Father's character, not the sons' stories. While the sons represent important theological truths about repentance and self-righteousness, the central point is to reveal God's gracious, eager, and generous nature toward sinners. God's salvation elevates beyond mere forgiveness. The prodigal son isn't simply restored to his former position—he's elevated, receiving the best robe, ring, and celebration. This pictures how salvation includes not just pardon but adoption as God's children and co-heirs with Christ. The parable has multiple valid applications. It teaches us about God's nature, the process of regeneration and repentance, the appropriateness of celebrating restored sinners, and the danger of complaining about grace (represented by the older brother). "Coming to himself" represents Spirit-wrought regeneration. The son's realization and return isn't self-generated wisdom but reflects the work of God bringing him to recognition of the Father's character and his own desperate need. The older brother represents "gospel complainers." His technically reasonable grievance reveals how even those closest to religious practice can resent God's lavish mercy toward "undeserving" sinners—a warning against self-righteousness. This grace is genuinely scandalous. No human mind would conceive of a redemption story this generous. The gospel's radical nature should continually shock us; if it doesn't, we may need to reexamine our understanding of both our sin and God's grace. The parable must be read in its full context. As the culmination of three interconnected parables (lost sheep, lost coin, lost son), it represents an escalation from passive objects to active persons, filling out a complete picture of salvation. In-Depth Exploration The Father as the True Center of the Parable While commonly titled "The Parable of the Prodigal Son," this designation can misdirect our focus. Tony and Jesse emphasize that the central figure is actually the Father, whose character and actions drive every significant moment in the narrative. The Father divides the inheritance (though culturally scandalous), watches for the son's return, runs to meet him (undignified for a patriarch), embraces him before hearing his confession, restores him beyond his wildest expectations, and then graciously pleads with the resentful older brother. Each action reveals a God whose love is not cautious or calculating but extravagant and eager. This reframing transforms how we read the parable—not as a morality tale about wayward children, but as a revelation of divine character. The Father's response exceeds every cultural expectation and reasonable boundary, which is precisely the point: God's grace is scandalously generous, going beyond justice to lavish unmerited favor on those who deserve condemnation. Elevation Beyond Mere Restoration A crucial theological insight emerges when we recognize that the returning son receives more than simple forgiveness. Jesse notes that "he's not starting from a place of restored weakness or some kind of subcategory in the hierarchy of the family. He's actually been elevated back up." The best robe, the ring, the shoes, the fatted calf—these aren't standard welcomes but markers of honor typically reserved for the most distinguished. This pictures a profound gospel truth: salvation isn't merely escape from punishment or even return to pre-fall status. Through union with Christ, believers are adopted as God's children, made co-heirs with the Son, clothed in Christ's righteousness, and welcomed into intimate fellowship with the Father. As Tony observes, God "could have redeemed us from destruction" without making us His children, but He chose to do infinitely more. This elevation is the scandal of grace—not just pardon but exaltation, not just survival but celebration, not just servants but sons and daughters. The Older Brother and Gospel Complaint The parable doesn't end with the younger son's restoration but continues with the older brother's resentment—a detail often glossed over but profoundly significant. His complaint seems almost reasonable: he's been faithful, obedient, and present while his brother squandered everything on dissolute living. Yet his reaction reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of grace. He sees relationship with the Father in transactional terms—service rewarded, obedience compensated—and therefore resents mercy shown to the "undeserving." Tony and Jesse identify this as "gospel complaining," the tendency to begrudge God's generosity toward others, particularly those we deem less worthy. The Pharisees who criticized Jesus for welcoming sinners exemplify this attitude, and the danger persists today whenever we're more concerned with fairness than grace, more protective of boundaries than eager for redemption. The Father's response—"you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours"—reminds us that grace to others doesn't diminish what we've received, and that celebrating restored sinners is the only appropriate response to the gospel. Memorable Quotes "This parable has something to tell us about the nature of the Father, the nature of God as the gracious God who is eager and ready to forgive his people, to forgive his son. It tells us about people who have come to faith, who have been regenerated, who have come to ourselves and have recognized the nature of the Father and recognized the gracious disposition of the Father." — Tony Arsenal "There is a prayer in the Valley of Vision that begins with 'no human mind could invent or conceive of the gospel,' and I love that. Because it's absolutely true. You could give people all the time in the world to try to come up with some kind of amazing redemption narrative that would be this good, and we wouldn't be able to do it because it is just so far away from how our minds think." — Jesse Schwamb "He could have saved us... salvation could have been less amazing than it is, I think... But it isn't. He's chosen not only to redeem us from destruction, to protect us from destruction and to bring us out of that, but he's chosen to make us his children, to adopt us as his heirs, as his inheritors." — Tony Arsenal Resources Mentioned Scripture References: Luke 15:11-32 (The Parable of the Lost Son) 1 John 3:1 (Behold what manner of love the Father has given us) 1 John 1:9 (If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse) Romans 1 (God giving people over to their idolatry) The Book of Jonah (particularly Jonah's anger at God's mercy) Books Mentioned: Strength of the Few by James Islington (The Hierarchy series, Book 2) Will of the Many by James Islington (The Hierarchy series, Book 1) Walking in Faith: 365 Days with John Calvin, edited by Joel Beeke The Valley of Vision (Puritan prayers and devotions) Full Transcript [The complete episode transcript is provided in the page content above]

Are you exhausted from constantly fighting temptation and sin? In this episode, Dr. Alex Lloyd reveals why focusing on NOT sinning actually makes you sin MORE—and what to focus on instead. Drawing from the Seven Deadly Sins, Harvard's Grant Study (the longest study on human flourishing), and Viktor Frankl's work on meaning, Alex and Harry unpack the paradox of righteous living. ✓ What You'll Discover: ✓ Why the "Seven Deadly Sins" are actually rooted in wrong thinking, not just actions ✓ The original 4th-century list called "evil thoughts" (logosmoi) ✓ Why happiness as a goal makes you LESS happy (and what to focus on instead) ✓ Harvard's 80-year study conclusion: "Happiness equals love, full stop" ✓ The two death traps: following your heart vs. rigid stoicism ✓ Why 50% of your heart's information is factually wrong ✓ How to practice Intervention 2 (crying out to God) with the right heart posture ✓ The Prodigal Son secret: what God really requires from you Key Topics Covered: The Seven Deadly Sins vs. Evagrius Ponticus's original list of "evil thoughts" Why sloth became "acedia" (spiritual apathy/despair)—and why that matters Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" and the trap of hyper-intention The Harvard Grant Longitudinal Study: what determines human flourishing Why 90% of New Year's resolutions fail by January 21st The difference between nocebo, placebo, and de facto truth Biblical forgiveness, humility, and surrender vs. perfectionism How to use the Tree of Life intervention with belief mapping

This teaching delves into the profound themes of God's fatherhood, the identity of believers as children of God, and the implications of this identity on prayer and spiritual authority. It explores the parable of the Prodigal Son, illustrating the unconditional love and pursuit of God towards both the rebellious and the religious. The message emphasizes the importance of understanding our identity in Christ, the dual citizenship of believers in heaven and earth, and the authority that comes with being a son of God in prayer.

We drill the ABCs. We practice math facts. But when it comes to kindness, we often expect it to appear fully formed, without teaching it. In this episode of Facing the Dark, Dr. Kathy Koch and Wayne Stender explore the critical difference between politeness and true kindness, drawing on psychological research, parenting wisdom, and the biblical story of the Prodigal Son. They unpack why forcing apologies can create scripts instead of sincerity, how empathy is a muscle that must be taught and practiced, and why safety always precedes compassion. This conversation challenges parents to move beyond surface-level behavior management toward heart-level formation modeling mercy, curiosity, repair, and other-centeredness. If you want to raise kids who are genuinely kind, not just well-mannered, this episode will give you clarity, conviction, and practical direction.

Today is the 2nd week of a 14-week sermon series titled "Begin Again"The Prodigal Son is the new testament "poster child" of beginning again.Is receiving help or giving help more comfortable to you?Let's connect! Text "connect" to 513-216-9896 or click the link below: https://connect-card.com/41p3h89OBidharwIMUHR

Today is the 2nd week of a 14-week sermon series titled "Begin Again"The Prodigal Son is the new testament "poster child" of beginning again.Is receiving help or giving help more comfortable to you?Let's connect! Text "connect" to 513-216-9896 or click the link below: https://connect-card.com/41p3h89OBidharwIMUHR

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller of St. Paul Lutheran, Austin, TX Has American Christianity Failed?The post The Parable of the Prodigal Son, Part 1 – Bryan Wolfmueller, 1/9/26 (0093) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

In Fruits Basket, Tohru cares deeply and sacrificially for Kyo, but it takes him a lot of time to work through self-loathing caused by all the hurt he’s suffered and to accept that love. On today’s episode, Mike dives into that relationship and how the parable of the Prodigal Son similarly shows the love of… Read More The Power of God and Anime Podcast, Episode 34: The Prodigal Kyo

Sermon recording from January 4th, 2026.A study of Luke 15.Thesis: God continues to initiate a relationship with you.

In this deeply healing and eye‑opening episode of the Finding God Podcast, Keana explores one of the most damaging yet common beliefs in Christianity: the idea that God's love must be earned. Many believers carry silent pressure to “perform” spiritually to pray enough, serve enough, behave well enough, or be perfect enough to feel worthy of God's love. But this belief doesn't come from God. It comes from people, trauma, culture, and distorted teachings that confuse performance with worthiness. In this episode, Keana breaks down: Why so many Christians feel like they must earn God's love How family systems, church culture, and trauma shape this belief The psychological impact of conditional love The spiritual damage caused by performance‑based religion Biblical examples of people who struggled with performance and those who rested in God's unconditional love How to recognize when you're performing for God instead of connecting with Him Five healing practices to help you break free from spiritual striving This episode is a gentle invitation to breathe, rest, and remember that God's love is not fragile, conditional, or dependent on your performance. You are loved because God is love not because you are perfect.  

This message delves into the significance of prayer as a relational practice with God, emphasizing the importance of approaching Him as 'Father.' It explores the concept of intimacy in prayer, the healing of past wounds that affect our perception of God, and the profound implications of calling God 'Abba.' The teaching also highlights the need for inner healing to foster a genuine relationship with God and concludes with an invitation to reflect on the story of the Prodigal Son as a representation of God's heart towards us.

Send us a textSeason 7 is here!  We are excited to kickoff 2026 Monday episodes with Lifetalk in talking about the Bible!  We will be journeying through the Gospel of Luke, don't miss an episode as we bring you deep conversation verse by verse that you can apply to your daily life and faith!Start here if you want a faith that can carry weight. We open season seven by setting our course through the Gospel of Luke and letting a physician's careful pen guide us toward clarity, confidence, and hope. Luke 1:1–4 reads like a historian's preface: eyewitness sources, meticulous investigation, and a promise to write an orderly account so readers can have certainty. That single paragraph reframes the way we read: Jesus is not a myth we admire but a person we can know, anchored in history and verified testimony.We compare how each gospel frames Jesus to understand why Luke stands out for modern listeners. Matthew presents a king to Israel. Mark moves fast with a servant on mission. John reveals the Son of God. Luke brings us close to the perfect man, noticing the human details others pass by. He highlights women, the poor, and outsiders. He gives us unique stories—Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son, Emmaus Road—that expose our illusions and welcome us home. And he writes to a Gentile audience, tracing the story back to Adam to say that grace is for all of us, not just the well connected.Along the way, we talk credibility and timing. Luke's method fits a God of order who acts in the fullness of time, along Roman roads and in a common language, fulfilling promises that stretch from Genesis to the cross. The goal is not trivia. It's transformation. We invite you to read along weekly, ask hard questions, and practice the Berean habit—test everything in Scripture, learn in community, and share your story of what Jesus has changed.Subscribe, share this with a friend who's curious about faith, and leave a quick review to help others find the series. Then press play and join us as we journey through Luke, and later Acts, to see how good news becomes a grounded, living hope.New episodes every Mondaywww.lifehousemot.cominfo@lifehousede.com Join us Sundays at 9 & 11 AM Intro music by Joey Blair

Have you ever felt like you've blown it? Like there's no way back from the mistakes you've made? The story of the Prodigal Son reminds us that grace doesn't wait for you to fix yourself—it runs to meet you in your brokenness. God's grace reaches into the darkest places, offering love and forgiveness without limits. No matter where you've been, no one is beyond the reach of grace. Come and discover the welcome you didn't know was waiting for you. 

22-year-old Zion crusher Connor Baty on first ascents, rope soloing the Triple Wall in 12 hours, and why he climbs without sponsors. Kora FA, Towers of the Virgin, and living the unsponsored dream.Today's guest is 22-year-old silent crusher from Zion, Connor Baty. Connor has been climbing since he was 8 years old, with key early development as a trad climber at Garden of the Gods in Colorado—a notoriously chossy area with soft, loose sandstone. Since then he quickly progressed through the grades, leveling out around the 5.13 range. He then took that knowledge and merged it with his true passion: adventure. Connor has been quietly building a reputation as a cutting-edge first ascensionist and endurance linkup climber. Connor was the partner to our previous guest James Barrow for the Complete Tower of the Virgin Traverse. They also established a new 5.12+ multipitch route in Zion, called Kora. Connor has climbed Time Wave Zero down in Potrero car to car in 5 hours and most recently he's claimed the rope solo speed record of the Zion Triple Wall—linking Touchstone, Moonlight Buttress, and Prodigal Son in a blistering 12 hours. Needless to say Connor is a crusher.He could easily seek out sponsorships at the level he is climbing. But as we learn in our conversation, Connor has zero interest in self-promotion. For him it's all about personal progress, adventure, and living the life he has now to the fullest. He even has groundbreaking pursuits outside of climbing and is currently attempting to navigate the Colorado River from source to sea. What I found most interesting about our conversation is how well-spoken, composed, and level-headed Connor is as a human and a climber. Back when I was 22 I could not say the same thing about myself. I really felt the stoke and energy from Connor in our conversation and I'm happy to be sharing it with you now.Watch the full episode on Youtube---Thanks to our sponsors!LIVSN DesignsCheckout their Ecotrek Trail Pants HereUse Code "TCM15" At Checkout for an extra 15% OFF Your OrderHot Chillys Performance Base LayersCheckout their Micro Elite Chamois Base Layer Systems HereUse Code "TCM15" At Checkout for 15% OFF Your OrderGet Access to Exclusive Episodes, Unlock Ad-Free Podcast, & MORE!---ResourcesConor's IG

How Christ used elements of a Trust to set the people free; William the Conqueror; Remedies; Common Law and new law (Equity) in 1066; "Fairs"; Pie-powder courts; Statutory Trusts; Separation of funds; Corporate governments; Sacred Purpose Trusts; Church separate from State; Ekklesia = called out; Golden Calf was a trust; Burnt offerings; Corporations don't die; 2 or 3 witnesses; Defining "trust"; Q from Mark: What is the Sacred Purpose?; "Sacred" = Holy = Separate; Temple Area; Trust purposes; Witness and record; Statutory Trusts; Corporation of Christ; Representative beneficiary; State churches; Living stones of the altars; Separated offerings; Christ's words on treasuries; William the conqueror; Common Law?; Robbing widows and orphans; Church Trust to feed God's sheep; "Sovereign Citizen"?; Statute of Mortmain; Obamacare?; Cloward and Piven - overburden welfare state?; Caring about the liberty of others; Falsely seeking asylum; Investing in your neighbor; Tens, Hundreds and Thousands; Trusting your minister; Early American example; Learning to be Israel; Blind guides for modern Christians; Legal Title; Use tax; Q from Aroostook Acoustic: Melchizedek having elements of a trust; Priests receiving offerings to redistribute to others; Corporation created for limiting liability?; Fundamental elements of a corporation; Family as a corporation; Law of the father; U.S. Corporation; State-formed marriages; Understanding legal vocabulary; "Corporation sole" - Passing one head of family to another; "world" = state; Your member ID from the world; Christ's system; Abimalec; Caesar; Calling no man Father; Hung up on "Trust"; Q: Trusts don't deal in real property?; Sheep offering example; For the benefit of another party; Elements of a trust; Federal Reserve notes - redemption; "Free Church Report" book; Church recognition; Saturninas; Establishment by witness; Purposes of Christ; How you've gotten into bondage; Welfare snares; Grantor - property given entirely - not a party to the trust; Christ's purpose - conforming to it; Christ's government; Parens patria; Risk?; Walk of faith; Q: Why call it a "trust"?; "Ministry"?; Setting our neighbor free; Charity; What makes The Church holy?; Care; Q: Duncan McLeod - Christmas songs?; Melchizedek's blessing to Abraham; Sons of God by adoption?; Moses: "Let MY people go"; Making God your father; Prodigal Son parable; Freeing others; Bah Humbug kid; Giving is not seasonal; Celebrate Christ by doing what He ACTUALLY said; Church "Service"; Doers of the Word; The song of Moses and of the Lamb; Church organization; Ministers = Men you "trust" - responsibility; Offerings belong to Christ; Citizens of the United States; Overseers and Protectors; Ministers separate from the world; Holy Spirit the comforter/protector; Pilate's trial of Christ; Right Reason of Christ (logos); "Religion" duty; "ex-officio"; Record keeping; Appetite for benefits; Loving other people; Who is worthy of trust?; Social safety net unspotted by the world; Strong delusion; The grace of God; Other peoples' money; Do what Christ said.

How Christ used elements of a Trust to set the people free; William the Conqueror; Remedies; Common Law and new law (Equity) in 1066; "Fairs"; Pie-powder courts; Statutory Trusts; Separation of funds; Corporate governments; Sacred Purpose Trusts; Church separate from State; Ekklesia = called out; Golden Calf was a trust; Burnt offerings; Corporations don't die; 2 or 3 witnesses; Defining "trust"; Q from Mark: What is the Sacred Purpose?; "Sacred" = Holy = Separate; Temple Area; Trust purposes; Witness and record; Statutory Trusts; Corporation of Christ; Representative beneficiary; State churches; Living stones of the altars; Separated offerings; Christ's words on treasuries; William the conqueror; Common Law?; Robbing widows and orphans; Church Trust to feed God's sheep; "Sovereign Citizen"?; Statute of Mortmain; Obamacare?; Cloward and Piven - overburden welfare state?; Caring about the liberty of others; Falsely seeking asylum; Investing in your neighbor; Tens, Hundreds and Thousands; Trusting your minister; Early American example; Learning to be Israel; Blind guides for modern Christians; Legal Title; Use tax; Q from Aroostook Acoustic: Melchizedek having elements of a trust; Priests receiving offerings to redistribute to others; Corporation created for limiting liability?; Fundamental elements of a corporation; Family as a corporation; Law of the father; U.S. Corporation; State-formed marriages; Understanding legal vocabulary; "Corporation sole" - Passing one head of family to another; "world" = state; Your member ID from the world; Christ's system; Abimalec; Caesar; Calling no man Father; Hung up on "Trust"; Q: Trusts don't deal in real property?; Sheep offering example; For the benefit of another party; Elements of a trust; Federal Reserve notes - redemption; "Free Church Report" book; Church recognition; Saturninas; Establishment by witness; Purposes of Christ; How you've gotten into bondage; Welfare snares; Grantor - property given entirely - not a party to the trust; Christ's purpose - conforming to it; Christ's government; Parens patria; Risk?; Walk of faith; Q: Why call it a "trust"?; "Ministry"?; Setting our neighbor free; Charity; What makes The Church holy?; Care; Q: Duncan McLeod - Christmas songs?; Melchizedek's blessing to Abraham; Sons of God by adoption?; Moses: "Let MY people go"; Making God your father; Prodigal Son parable; Freeing others; Bah Humbug kid; Giving is not seasonal; Celebrate Christ by doing what He ACTUALLY said; Church "Service"; Doers of the Word; The song of Moses and of the Lamb; Church organization; Ministers = Men you "trust" - responsibility; Offerings belong to Christ; Citizens of the United States; Overseers and Protectors; Ministers separate from the world; Holy Spirit the comforter/protector; Pilate's trial of Christ; Right Reason of Christ (logos); "Religion" duty; "ex-officio"; Record keeping; Appetite for benefits; Loving other people; Who is worthy of trust?; Social safety net unspotted by the world; Strong delusion; The grace of God; Other peoples' money; Do what Christ said.

What if the story of the Prodigal Son isn't just about rebellion… but about self-righteousness too?In this message from Luke 15, we walk through one of Jesus' most well-known parables—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the two lost sons—and ask a deeply personal question: Where do you show up in the story?This sermon challenges both the prodigal and the faithful churchgoer, revealing that both sons wanted the things of the Father without the heart of the Father. Through humor, cultural insight, and a powerful call to repentance, this message invites us to stop standing outside the celebration and join the party God is throwing for the lost.In this message, you'll explore:Why Jesus tells three stories of being lost before the Prodigal SonThe danger of self-righteousness and “doing everything right”What true repentance and true belief actually produceWhy God celebrates repentance more than performanceHow love—not labels—is meant to be the defining mark of ChristiansThis is a message about grace. About faith that moves beyond words. About love that shows up with hands and feet.And ultimately, it asks one unavoidable question: Will you join the party, or stay outside?

This sermon presents the parable of the prodigal son as a profound illustration of God's boundless mercy and the necessity of genuine repentance. Centered on the younger son's descent into moral and spiritual ruin, the story reveals how the prodigal, after squandering his inheritance on worldly pleasures and facing utter despair, comes to himself and resolves to return to his father in humility. The father's immediate, compassionate embrace—running to meet his son long before he arrives—demonstrates God's proactive love and readiness to forgive, not based on merit but on grace. The sermon emphasizes that true conversion involves not just intellectual recognition of one's sin, but a radical turning from self-reliance to complete dependence on Christ, where the sinner is clothed in righteousness, restored to sonship, and celebrated in divine joy. It calls all who are estranged from God to abandon the far country of self-deception and come home, assuring them that no sin is too great for the Father's mercy, and that salvation is not earned but received through repentance and faith.

In this Christmas Eve message, discover the hope of a fresh start. No matter your past, your regrets, or how far you feel from God, Christmas is the story of a Father who runs toward us with love, grace, and restoration. Jesus is the Ultimate Reset—welcoming us home, covering our shame, and reminding us that it's never too late to begin again. Message Notes: https://notes.subsplash.com/fill-in/view?page=H1lcDcNmZlDiscussion Questions: https://storage2.snappages.site/PJBKS3/assets/files/HFC4.pdfFind us on:YouTube: YouTube.com/TheHarborInstagram: Instagram.com/TheHarbor_lifeFacebook: Facebook.com/TheHarbordotlifeWebsite: https://www.TheHarbor.lifeWatch/listen on The Harbor AppNew episode every week!

On the winter solstice (the shortest day and longest night of the year) Scripture reminds us that darkness is never the end of the story. In this message, we look at the third story in Luke 15, often called The Parable of the Prodigal Son, and discover that it's really a story about two lost sons and a Father who never stops welcoming His children home. Whether we relate more to the younger son or the older son, this message invites us to see where grace and truth meet. As we reflect on the darkest day of the year, we're reminded of a powerful truth: light is coming on the horizon. Jesus shows us that no one is too far gone, no heart is too proud to need repentance, and no darkness is beyond the reach of His light. Today can be our turning point. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – If this message encouraged you, let us know in the comments. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs hope today.

Relationships in HD — Part 15: Parenting Like the Father Description: In Part 15 of Relationships in HD, Pastor Eric turns the camera toward the character of God the Father—and shows how His heart, His patience, and His approachability form the pattern for every parent, grandparent, and mentor in the church. This message speaks not only to moms and dads, but to everyone called to disciple the next generation. If you belong to Christ, someone younger in the faith needs you. From John 1, John 8, and Romans 8, Eric walks through one of the most essential truths in the Christian life: not everyone is automatically a child of God, but everyone who believes in Jesus is adopted, loved, forgiven, and welcomed as a son or daughter. Out of that identity flows our calling: to reflect our Father's heart to those entrusted to us. Using the Prodigal Son as the centerpiece, Eric shows how God parents us—with generosity, patience, kindness, open arms, and restorative grace—and challenges parents to build the kind of character that causes their children to come home when they fall. This message also addresses the dangers of absent parenting, angry parenting, overbearing parenting, shame-based parenting, and the tendency to treat our children as interruptions rather than priorities. Practical, gospel-soaked, and deeply pastoral, this is a call to imitate our Father in heaven and become safe, steady, compassionate mentors in a world starving for spiritual mothers and fathers. Key Scriptures (NKJV): John 1:11–12; John 8:44; Romans 8:15–16; Galatians 4:6; Matthew 6:5–13; Matthew 11:28–30; Luke 15:11–24; James 4:6–10; Hebrews 4:14–16; Jeremiah 31:3; Psalm 145:8. Highlights: Spiritual parenting: why every believer—parent or not—is called to mentor the younger. Not all people are God's children—only those who receive Christ are adopted into His family. God the Father as the model: available, approachable, generous, compassionate, slow to anger. Parenting through God's character: kindness, mercy, patience, and truth. The Prodigal Son: a picture of the Father's heart and a pattern for restoring relationships. Why children need space to grow—and why helicopter parenting harms development. Making children a priority (without making them idols). The power of humility: repenting to your children when you've blown it. Being a refuge for your kids—someone they run to, not run from. Grace and discipline: discipline as training, not punishment. God's open-door invitation: “Come to Me… I will give you rest.” Next Steps: Ask God to help you imitate His fatherly heart this week. Choose one concrete way to be more available, more patient, more compassionate, or more approachable to your child—or to someone younger in the faith. If needed, take the humble step of apologizing for past failures. Then pray Romans 8:15–16 and thank God that He is your Father—and ask Him to make you a living picture of His grace.

In episode 475 of The Reformed Brotherhood, host Jesse Schwamb explores the profound theological question: "Is God humble?" Through a careful examination of Philippians 2 and the narrative of Pharaoh in Exodus, Jesse unpacks how Christ's incarnation represents the ultimate act of divine humility. This episode reveals how Jesus—fully God and fully man—humbled himself through obedience to the point of death on a cross. As we approach the Christmas season, this timely reflection helps us understand that Christ's humility isn't just a theological concept but the very foundation of our salvation and the magnetic force that draws sinners to him. Jesse connects this humility to Jesus' parables about seeking the lost, showing that God's love manifests through the paradox of the exalted one becoming lowly. Key Takeaways Humility is fundamentally a creaturely virtue that acknowledges God as Lord and responds in obedience. Christ's incarnation wasn't a subtraction of divinity but an addition of humanity, allowing him to humble himself. Divine humility is displayed in Jesus becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8). Pride, the opposite of humility, is actively opposed by God throughout Scripture. Christ's humility is what draws sinners to him, as seen in the parables of the lost coin, sheep, and son. True humility embraces our limitations as creatures and recognizes God's rightful authority. Jesus learned obedience through suffering, becoming the perfect high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses. The Paradox of Divine Humility Christ's humility represents one of the most astonishing paradoxes in Scripture. As Jesse explains, humility is properly understood as a creaturely virtue—it acknowledges God as Lord and obeys as a servant. For the eternal Son to humble himself, he first had to take on human nature. The incarnation wasn't God ceasing to be God but rather God adding humanity to himself. The divine Son emptied himself "not of divinity as if that were even possible, but of the privilege of not being human, not being a creature, not suffering the bounds and limitations of finitude and the pains and afflictions of the fallen world." This emptying makes possible Christ's perfect obedience. Since humility means acknowledging God as Lord and obeying as a servant, the Son took "the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men." This allowed Jesus to demonstrate a servant heart with equal passion for God's holiness and his people's purity. Unlike our inconsistent obedience, Jesus' obedience was "an all the way kind of obedience" that persisted through suffering to death on a cross. The Magnetic Draw of Christ's Humility One of the most profound insights from the episode is how Christ's humility functions as a magnetic force drawing sinners to him. Jesse notes that in the parables, tax collectors and sinners were drawn not to the Pharisees' teaching but to Jesus himself. They came "almost magnetically" to be in his presence and hear his words. Why would this be? The answer lies in recognizing that "we all have a master" and "we are all bound to something." The critical question becomes: "How good and kind is your master?" Christ's humility reveals him to be the perfect master—one who does not lord his authority over us but uses it to serve us, even to the point of death. This servant-hearted humility draws people because it demonstrates love in action. When Jesus humbles himself to seek the lost, he reveals that the gospel isn't about making "naughty people good, but to make dead people alive and alive in him so that their life is hidden within him." Memorable Quotes "To humble oneself is to acknowledge God as Lord and then to obey as servant. In order to do so, then the Son had to take this form of a servant being born in the likeness of men." "Christ's obedience was an all the way kind of obedience, a true obedience. It wasn't part and parcel, it wasn't peace wise, it didn't be for a part of time, as long as it was comfortable and then try something else." "To humble oneself is not to be less than human. It rather is pride that is our cancer. It's pride that corrodes our true dignity. To humble ourselves is to come even ever closer, step by step to the bliss, I think, and the full flourishing for which we're made." Full Transcript [00:00:08] Jesse Schwamb: So how did Jesus humble himself and this we could spend loved ones in eternity and likely will. Talking about how did he do this By becoming obedient. It wasn't even mean to. Here is the one who is the God man. Truly God. Truly man. To humble oneself is to acknowledge God as Lord and then to obey as servant in order to do so. Then the son had to take this form of a servant being born in a likeness of men. Again, this is so rich because I think without understanding the servant heart of Christ, where there is a power and a passion in Christ for the holiness of God that is at the same time equaled with the passion for the purity and the holiness of his people. Welcome to episode 475 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse, and this is the podcast where all of mankind is on the naughty list. Hey, brothers and sisters, I am solo hosting once again on this episode, but I don't want you to worry. Tony will be back. Tony is alive and well. He is out in the wild doing his thing. Actually, this is probably the time of year where Tony and I bring forward that annual or perennial denial. You know, the one, it's sy against the frailty, weakness, contingency of humankind. And most often manifested in this time of year in sickness. So I don't know where you live in the world, but in my part of the world, everybody's getting it and everything is going around. The sickness is everywhere. And even if you're bobbing and weaving, if you're laying low, if you're trying to keep your head down, it just seems somehow. To snipe you. And so it sniped Tony last week and this week. Now it is his family and so he's doing what we shall do for another. He's caring for those in his own regard that are sick and unwell. And so that means it's just me on this particular episode, but not to fear. We've got lots of great things to talk about. [00:02:12] The Question: Is God Humble? [00:02:12] Jesse Schwamb: In fact, the whole purpose of this episode is going to be talking about this question is God humble and. This, if you think it's just a one-off episode. It's actually born out of this continued series that we're doing where we're going through the parables. And again, we've been talking a lot about lostness and finding things and Christ coming and seeking, saving those things that were very lost. And so as I continue to process this with Tony, one of the things that keeps coming to my mind is this question is God. Humble and what does that even have to do with any of these wild parables that we've been talking about? You know the ones too, especially if you've been listening along and hopefully you have go back, check those bad boys out. We've been talking about the lost coin, the lost Sheep, and we have yet to get to because we're just teasing this for you. We, we keep telling you it's coming, but that's just to build like this amazing anticipation for the parable of the lost son or the prodigal son. It's coming, and part of that, again, for me is wrapped up in this question, is God humble? So let's talk about that a little bit. [00:03:13] Humility in Scripture [00:03:13] Jesse Schwamb: It's interesting to me that throughout the scriptures, we find across both all the New Testament, that God gives us this imperative to seek humility or to put on humility, or to have a humble mind, as Peter says. And it's something that is so ubiquitous that we kind of just flies by us. Of course. Like we would get the sense that it would be ridiculous to be like. I am so good at being humble that that in itself is oxymoronic. And yet we also know that we don't want to advertise, that we're trying to seek after humility. 'cause it seems like that's the very thing that we're trying to avoid in proclaiming or promulgating our pride and that kind of thing. But it's not just that, of course, God is seeking his children to be humble, but I think one of the most condemning things the scripture says to us about how God behaves. Toward people is that he opposes the proud. So the opposite of being humble, and we'll get to that in a second. We had to define what that means, but let's just take for a second that the opposite of that might be being prideful. It is fascinating that it's not just God is indifferent toward pride, that he does everything in his volition to push against it. And of course, because nothing can thwart the outstretched in mighty arm of God, that means that he wins inevitably against all that is pride prideful. And so he opposes it. And this is what. We should realize is that really the eschatological judgment, the fact that there is both heaven and hell reward and eternal punishment. This is a reflection of God opposing the proud that in the final state, the one who says, I want nothing to do with God because I can take care of it myself, is the one that God must oppose pose because he always. Opposes that which is prideful, and so it makes sense. Then if he opposes the proud, if that is in a way, an enemy that he will ultimately defeat, it cannot stand up against him that shouldn't. That in that path is both destruction that is internally derived and chosen, but also destruction that comes externally because it will be defeated. Then the best thing that God's people could be is to be humble. And so the question I think then persists, can God be humble? Is God. Humble. One of the things that is clear in scripture, again, this is the testimony of the entire arc of the salvific story of God and his recu of his people. Um, the coming and drawing close giving of himself so that he might draw people onto himself. Is that the testimony of humility is both positive and negative in the scriptures. So we could look at examples of those who humbled themselves. That's what the scripture says, like Josiah, Hezekiah, Rebo, Ahab, Vanessa, and then there, of course, you could probably think of as just as many negative examples who did not. What comes to my mind, of course, is Pharaoh. Or am Amen or Zetia. So what becomes clear though is when you look at those examples that the humbling first belongs to the hand of God. That even here, once again, God's doing all the verbs. That's exactly what he does. And so this idea of even like humbling yourself. Has like a precursor, there's an antecedent. And is God doing some kind of great work to allow for this humbling to even take place? He initiates the humbling of his creatures. And once he has, then the question confronts us, uh, which is, are we going to receive it? How will we bear up underneath it? Will we submit ourselves to it because God has allowed us, or has humbled ourselves first so that we don't respond in kind. So in response to his humbling hand. Will we kick against him? Or as the, you know, king James version says, will we kick against the gods or are we going to come and humble ourselves before God? So this idea, I think of humbling ourselves isn't just like you wake up one day and you say, no, it'd be really fantastic. Is my life would be better if I was just humble. I, I hear that God opposed to the proud, I don't wanna get. Lost in that. I don't wanna get wrapped in that. I would rather, instead I just become more humble. Even the ability to humble oneself first comes from this humbling hand of God, which is of course the greatest gift. And so of course Peter writes, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. I mean, that's where I'm drawing this from and. That is the first descent of humility. The first coming down is a word that God would do that for us, will put us in a place that we might be humbled. And then the creature has somewhat in his turn kind of imperfect language, but somehow in his response that God is humbling me. Will I embrace it? Will I humble myself? So given that background, I think you know exactly where I'm about to go in the scripture, and that is. The pretty, I would say, epic passage of humility, which is Philippians two. It's one of the most striking assertions in all of scriptures. That Christ himself, Jesus the Savior, the one who is truly God and truly man, he humbled himself and God himself truly divine, truly human, and the person of his son, he humbles himself. And I think that is worth the slow meditation and a little bit of marveling again, as we consider that in light of. All that happens in these parables about lostness and ness is coming from in some way this first humility. And I think that's just so critical because it's not just context, it's the air in which we breathe and operate and understand who we are and who we are in Christ. And so I think before like we even assume. I wanna assume like too much about like this idea of humility and then getting it ultimately to this question is God humble, which you may think I just answered by reading Philippians two eight, but in fact I think it's even more complex and more beautiful and more deeply layered than all of that. I think it's worth for a second, just thinking about this idea of like, what is humility? [00:08:35] Pharaoh's Pride vs. Humility [00:08:35] Jesse Schwamb: And as far as I can tell, really the first mention of humility outright, like outright mention explicit notation in the scriptures comes in that showdown between Egypt's Pharaoh and Yahweh mediated through Moses and. And I picked this because it's really instructive for getting a sense of how the Bible, how the scripture, the Holy Spirit is apprehending this word and driving it into the context so that we might learn from it, so that later on we're told that we ought to exhibit humility, put on humility that we understand it in the way that God has taught it to us. And so you'll remember. Probably that Moses dared to appear before Pharaoh. He is an Exodus five, and he speaks on Yahweh's behalf, and it's that famous sentence, that famous imperative, let my people go to, which Pharaoh replies in my paraphrase, listen, I don't know who Yahweh is. I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't listen to his voice. I don't acknowledge him, and therefore you can't go. It's just not gonna happen. What is incredible about this. What I think is like really illustrative for our lives is that Pharaoh swollen in pride here, and again, God's gonna pose him swollen with all of this. Pride has, it's not that he hasn't thought through what he's saying here, it's just that he's made an incredible miscalculation. He actually did a little mathematics here as the creature, and he decides that. As a creature in relation to the creator God that he does not need to obey. In other words, he does not acknowledge or recognize or know this God, and because he doesn't know any of those things about Yahweh, then he's well within his reason to come to the conclusion that he does not need to obey and therefore he refuses. The reason why I think that's so critical and a little bit wild is that is exactly what the natural man is prone to do to make this miscalculation built on even some kind of reasonable logic, so to speak. That says, well, because I don't understand it, because I don't see it, because I can't acknowledge it because I've never heard it. Therefore, it cannot exist. It doesn't exist. It's not worthy of being obeyed. It's a bit like saying, just because I've never seen fire, that's not hot. And so it's crazy here that in the midst of all of that, we could say Pharaoh has made this enormous miscalculation. And so what he's going to do is he's going to essentially oppose God. He refuses to obey, and then of course, Exodus 10 as we move. This story describes this call to humility, and it is a call to humility, which when I was thinking back through this, I was like, this is wild. Because we tend to think this story as like submission and beating down and humility might not be the principle word. That comes to our mind when we think about how Har Pharaoh has to ultimately respond. But after seven plagues on the cusp of the eighth plague, God speaks to Pharaoh, and again, he's listen. He says to him, how long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? So fascinating because we have this. Humbling, mighty hand of God, the outstretched work of God, his hand and arm going out into the world of his creation and putting Pharaoh in a particular place and position. And the piercing question in this context of this extended powerful encounter gives us this glimpse into the heart of humility, which I think is this humility recognizes and obeys the one who is truly. God. So there's not just an intellectual scent, but an experiential knowledge that comes from the revelation of who God is that is under his purview granted to his people, and that then causes us to acknowledge and obey the one who's truly Lord. It's exact opposite of affairs response, which again says, I don't know that voice. I've never heard it. Who is Yahweh? And instead it's replaced with a humility that acknowledges that God is Lord of all, that Jesus Christ is one only son, and that his Holy Spirit is with and indwells his people and that he is truly Lord. So humility entails this kind of right view, I think of self. Because Pharaoh Miscalculates, but the humble person makes the right calculus, the one who is created by God and accountable to God, which requires the right view of God as creator and this authority in relation to all his creatures. And so humility then is of course, like not a preoccupation with self or one's, even one's own lowness only in so much as it's in relation to what we just mentioned. That's a right view of self. It's an agreement with God. Of course confession coming alongside agreeing with God, but it's a mindful and conscious understanding of who God is and his highness, his holiness, that he's high and lifted up, and then the self in respect to his position. You know, that's one of the things that I think always strikes me about humility is that it's this idea and this acknowledgement that God is high and lifted up. And so while we don't come too hard on ourselves merely because we want to create a pity party, it's a recognition that. Aside from the mediator work of Christ to to stand in the presence of God would to be literally torn asunder by the molecule because his holiness cannot be, or rather, I would say our sinfulness cannot be in this presence of the one who is perfect in majesty and in righteousness, in intellect, and in in comprehension and creativity. We cannot exist in that space apart from this mediated work of Christ the beautiful. Be editorial, like benevolent distance, so to speak, that Christ creates so that we might come into the presence of God, as Hebrew says, running as it were, coming in, not haphazardly, but purposefully into the throne room of God because. And his holiness. He's a way to, he's made a way for him to be just and justifier. That is incredible. Loved ones. It's beautiful. And that is all. Again, I think just underneath this parable, it's starting with this sense of humility has brought all of this into play, and it's a critical part of God's design and plan. There's a condescension, but I think even here, underneath that condescension is something about humility. That is worth discussing. And there is, the question again, is God humble. So put it another way. Humility, I think embraces the reality that you and I. We're not God. You know, pride led to humanity's fall when Adam and Eve desired to be like God, which is contrary to his command and humility would have obeyed his command, which is what we'll see when we come to Christ and especially Christ's work. So. [00:15:06] Christ's Humility and Obedience [00:15:06] Jesse Schwamb: It strikes me then, and this is why I threw out this question, is like, is God humble? It's kind of a setup, I'll be honest, because all of I said so far, if you are keeping score at home, you probably should be drawing out then that I'm essentially saying that humility is a creaturely virtue. Actually, it's not just me. A lot of people have said that, a lot of the old ones. I postulate that, that when we think about humility explicitly and in a narrow context, that's a creaturely virtue. It's a posture of. All of who we are, our soul, our body, our life, our activities, our families, our possessions. It's acknowledgement in those things and embracing that the goodness of God and that he is the one who controls and commands all things, all of our destiny, which means. This question is God humble? It is kind of like linguistically and theologically tricky, like not for the sake of creating a tricky question for like a part of the game, but the the answer is in a sense, no, but not because God, I think is the opposite of what we'd consider humble. He's not arrogant, he's not prideful. Rather, humility is a creaturely virtue and he's God. So we need to be again, in this appropriate separation of our state and who God is, recognizing that those are two very different things. All of this though, I think, contributes to moving us in a direction of understanding, well, what does this mean then? For Jesus Christ, the God man, the one who humbled himself. You've probably been screaming the entire time. Will you get to that? What about that? And I think that is the critical question that is behind everything that we're reading about. In these parables. In other words, why is Jesus this way? What has brought him into this particular place to say these particular things to these people? We talked last time about how one of the things that's remarkable is that all of these sinners, like the down out, the broken, the marginalized, the pariahs, they were all drawn to Jesus teaching, not even drawn. I mean, there's distinction not drawn to the Fara teaching, to the rules of the law, but drawn to Jesus, almost magnetically coming to him. Compelled as it were, to be in his presence, to hear the things he was saying. Captivate, I mean, can you imagine yourself there? Not necessarily there in that environment, but captivated again by the teachings of Jesus, how good they are, how true they are, how incredible they are. And so I think it's possible for us to marvel then at that remarkable word then from the impossible, Paul, when he says that Christ humbled himself in Philippians two, eight. And no, I think that that confirms our definition above of humanity, uh, of. Humility rather as being something in humanity, of being a, a creaturely virtue in that the eternal son first became a man. That's what Paul says in verse seven, and then humbled himself in verse eight. And I'm gonna submit to you that this is really the one of the most epic parts of the gospel that. This is the only way we can get this kind of humility, this humbling of God is if first he comes to undertake the creaturely virtue so that then he himself or become rather, lemme say it this way, I'm getting too excited, loved ones. It's rather that we first must have God become a creature, so to speak, not emptying himself as we'll. Talk about. Of, of his godness, but instead taking on this flesh so that he might humble himself be to be like his children who must be humbled and in fact will ultimately be humbled in the ES eschaton no matter what they believe. And so the verb Paul uses to capture the action of the incarnation is, is not humbled here first, but it's this idea of emptied. So again, Philippians two is verse six and seven. Paul writes, being in the form of God, Jesus did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant and being born in the likeness of man. And so this movement. [00:18:59] The Incarnation and Humility [00:18:59] Jesse Schwamb: From heaven to earth, which if you're listening to this in more or less real or New York time, as we're coming into the season of the calendar where we celebrate the incarnation, again, I've been thinking so much about this beautiful gift of the incarnation, and I've been thinking about that in light of Jesus coming to seek and to save the lost and this real heart to hearts kind of way where he's speaking the truth to the people who need to hear it most, and they're drawn magnetically to him, into his teaching. And so that movement. From Heaven to earth is an emptying. It's the divine son emptying himself, not of divinity as if that were even possible, but of the privilege of not being human, not being a creature, not suffering the bounds and limitations of finitude and the pains and afflictions of the fallen world. I think a lot, honestly, especially this time of year, I think a lot about strange things like Jesus has fingernails and blood vessels and eyeballs and hair and toes. And shins and knee bones, you know, all of these things. Because to me it's this incomprehensible reality that God loves me so much that he would send his only son to be a creature, but in a way that was limited to the same creatureliness that I have. And then would forever, in a way, in his glorified state, identify still with that creature. And only in that process could he come and humble himself. I mean, that's incredible. I mean. Could not have grasped like the divine privilege of not being subjected to the rules and realities of creation. But instead, he empties himself by taking our humanity. He was emptying not by subtraction of identity, but by addition of humanity. This is the taking, the taking on, and this allows him then to become obedient and in that obedience, that passive and act of obedience. What we find is that Christ is able to say these very things that are exemplified in the parables, that this is the height of God, and he says, it is in your midst. The kingdom of God is here and I am the kingdom, and it's all because he has come in such a way. To empty himself again, where that was not a subtraction of divinity, but addition of humanity. It is an amazing and glorious truth. It's the thing upon which like turns all of salvation and all of the world that God would do this and do it so completely that again, it's finalized, it's complete, it's already done. So first, Jesus became a man. And then as a man came the ly virtue, he humbled himself. And Paul confirms what we learned about humility. In the negative example, I think in Pharaoh of Pharaoh in Nexus 10 and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [00:21:49] Christ's Obedience to Death [00:21:49] Jesse Schwamb: So how did Jesus humble himself and this we could spend loved ones in eternity and likely will. Talking about how did he do this By becoming obedient. It wasn't even mean to. Here is the one who is the God man. Truly God. Truly man. To humble oneself is to acknowledge God as Lord and then to obey as servant in order to do so. Then the son had to take this form of a servant being born in a likeness of men. Again, this is so rich because I think without understanding the servant heart of Christ, where there is a power and a passion in Christ for the holiness of God that is at the same time equaled with the passion for the purity and the holiness of his people. And those two things come together and coalesce in the gospel because we know that righteousness and holiness is completely vouched, safe to God. It's under his purview and his control, and it comes to his people when he draws close. That's how it was in the Old Testament, and that's how it was in the New Testament. And so as Christ in human form is coming and drawing near to his people, he's preaching this good news message that those who eat his flesh and drink his blood will have salvation and eternal life in him So intimately wrapped up that again, he hasn't just come. In the Christmas season to make naughty people good, but to make dead people alive and alive in him so that their life is hidden within him, and therefore, because he's the indestructible life, your life and mine cannot be destroyed either. I. So it is this amazing mark of the fullness of humanity and identification with us that he didn't just come on special terms. You know, I often think it's not like God on a deck chair laid out looking down as a creation separate as he were, as it were, just observing and kind of more or less interjecting here and there. It wasn't Jesus coming at. Arms length, distance. It wasn't God snatching him up when the frustrations of our limits or the pains of our world fell him. He had the full human experience. He was all in fully human and body mind. Hearts will and surroundings. Fully human in our finitude and all of this frustrations that we share that are just part of our lives, fully human in. Vulnerability to the worst of the civil world can work. Clearly that's manifested in his ign Ammonious death. Nor was he at the bottom spared the very essence of being human. He was accountable to God. Even there, that humility is incredible, that he himself learned, undertook, became obedient so that he would be accountable to God a father. Hebrews five celebrates this. Exactly. I love this set of words. Although Jesus was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered and being made perfect. He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. And if he is our first brother, then the calling that we have is to do exactly the same, to come before him, to obey him and to see him as the one who is high and lift it up. But that self humbling, that humiliation doesn't just stop with obedience. And that's why the apostle keeps going. It says to the point of death, how far did it take him? How far did he go? How far was he willing to go? Volitionally all the way. To the point of death. And Christ obedience was an all the way kind of obedience, a true obedience. It wasn't part and parcel, it wasn't peace wise, it didn't be for a part of time, as long as it was comfortable and then try something else. You know, of course, even in the garden when he's praying and the disciples are with the in your shot and he asked that the cup might pass, we might reasonably ask what other option was there. And so here even Christ says. Even to the point of death, forsaking all other things, real obedience endures in obedience, which is a really difficult thing. And so I'm grateful because my obedience is peace wise, it is part and parcel, it is weak, it is feeble. And instead we have Christ who is transferred all of his righteousness into our account. And all of that righteousness is because of real obedience that he undertook, endured in obedience. And so Christ did not begin obedience and then surrender disobedience once the greatest threats loomed even in the garden. There he again. He is coming before the father and he is continuing to obey. He's humbled. So I think God does indeed command our humility and one of the ways that he can command that it, well, there's many ways. First and foremost, by fiat, he's God and his character demands it. The second way is that, again, coming back to these parables. Finally, and lastly, we see that Christ is exhibiting great humility in the message that he's bringing forward and all of this, that he comes forward to save and all of the seeking that he undertakes, he conspires with God in humility to bring his children. Into the fold. There was no other way without this incredible humility of Christ, this humility that shows us that it's not denigrating of humanity, but it's God's image shining in its fullness. That this is the very thing he comes to restore and to humble oneself is not to be less than human. It rather it is. Pride that is our cancer. It's pride that corrodes our true dignity to humble ourselves is to come even ever closer, step by step to the bliss, I think, and the full flourishing for which we're made. And Christ exemplifies that very thing. And I submit to you loved ones. It's that very humility. This is what I buried the lead on last week. It's that very humility that draws the sinner. Because we all have a master. We are all slaves to something, which I know is really unpopular to say, but hear me out. We are all stuck on something. We are all bound into something. It's just like we say with worship, it's not whether we not, we choose to worship. It's what we worship and we are what we worship. All those things are true. All those cliches stand and if they're true, then the opposite is true and that is that we're all bound to something. The question is how good and kind is your master. The thing in which you are bound to the thing which you choose to serve and submit to how life giving is that thing. And the humility of Christ clarifies that not all of our hum lings are owning to our own sin that Christ had. None, none. Yet he humbled himself. Sometimes repentance is the first step in self humbling. Other times it's not. Our self humbling may often come in response to our exposure to sin, but even in Christ sinless as he was. He heeded the father's call to humble himself. And so I think for us, as we think about what it means then to go and study these parables, we first even need to humble our understanding, our cognizance, our reasoning, our logic, that the scripture as given by God as his very word to us, stand so far above us. That while we study it and we interrogate it, that we dare not stand in opposition to it because it is the high and lofty command of God for us because he's good and his love endures forever. So I hope that as we continue to build into this next step of looking at this final lost parable, that we can all continue to just appreciate and boast in the God man who in his humility, makes the gospel possible, and that in his humility shows. A greater sense of what it means to have the abundant life. And we have to take Jesus at his word, loved ones when he says like He's come, not just to give life, but to give it in abundance that that is a real quantity, and that the humility of Christ in his life and death and resurrection testifies to one of God's clearest and most memorable promises in all of scripture. That again, he humbles the proud and he exalts the humble. So it was with Christ. He humbled himself and God has highly exalted him. I remember reading John Owen writing about. Justification and Christ's time of suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and his preparation for the cross and inevitably his, his forsaking, his forsakenness on that cross and how Jesus himself entrusted his justification to God the Father, which I think is a. A, a conception that will make your mind do a somersault. I mean, think about it long enough that even Jesus himself in learning obedience and taking upon himself the full measure of what it was to sit under the law and then to obey it perfectly, was still going to his death, knowing that he was gonna be the greatest sinner who ever lived yet was gonna be the one without sin, having committed any, that he himself was entrusting all of that he had accomplished and who he was. To God the father, to justify him and his resurrection on the third day loved ones is proof positive that he is the savior. That we all long for that in our sickness right now, as in our world, as all these things groan, as they all say, in some way, maratha, Lord, come quickly, that we are acknowledging that Jesus Christ is the one. Who in his complete humility satisfied the law of God to such degree that he was justified before God the father, and raised TriNet on the third day as proof positive that he is in fact the Savior, the chosen one, the Messiah, the first brother, the firstborn among the dead, the serpent crusher. The one who will come and redeem all of his people. So I hope there's something in there for you that's an encouragement that lifts up as if they were even possible to do more than they already are. That lifts up these parables that we've been talking about, that it's not just, of course, that Jesus on this mission because. He's full of love. His love predated all of this. Now, this is why we keep coming back to, uh, all Christians at all times, in all heirs. John three 16, for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son. Now whosoever should believe in him. Now, all the believing ones should have eternal life, and that eternal life is purchased by the blood of Christ and through his humility, but also it is a, a stark reminder that love always leads to giving. And here we have God the father, giving his son Unreservedly for us, becoming Creature Lee, so that he might undertake the humility of the creature. And in so doing fully, not just, I would say identify with who we are, but become like us in every a. Way yet without sin, which is why can we rejoice that even now in the sound of my voice or yours, wherever you are, there is Jesus Christ in Heavenly Rumble. Before the God the Father interceding perfectly as this incredible representative, as the scriptures are, he says, as this best of all, the high priests, the perfect one. Who is ushering us in to bend the ear, as it were of God because of what he's accomplished on our behalf. Man, that is good news. And if it's not good news and you don't think it is, you better check your pulse. Check it right now. [00:33:20] Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser [00:33:20] Jesse Schwamb: So you need to come back. And listen to the next episode because we are, I mean, I think assuming everybody's healthy, Lord willing, we're gonna talk about the Prodigal Son and really wrap up this culmination of the lost parables. But of course, you know that I'm contractually obligated to say to you all. That you don't have to just wait to interact until the next podcast. You can come hang out with us, and I gotta say it again for all the people in the back. The way that you do that is this little app called Telegram. You might be using Telegram already to message with your friends and your family. If so, you might not have known that. There's also a little group within Telegram for the Reform Brotherhood. Everybody who listens, everybody wants to hang out and talk about theology or life share prayer requests. It's all happening right there, and I promise you, you will not be disappointed if you come check it out. So you're probably saying enough already. Tell me how to do that. Alright, here's what you do. Get a piece of paper, stop the car, put down the backhoe for a second, and listen up. You go to your favorite browser and you type in t me slash reform brotherhood. T. Me Reform Brotherhood. Come hang out with us. Come talk about the episode, and until then, everybody stay. Well keep your head down. Don't list sick sickness night people. But remember, even if it does, you have this great high priest who endured obedience, in obedience to bring you abundant life, to identify with you, to resonate with you, to give you the love of God, and to finally conquer sin, death, and the devil. I say loved ones, so until next time, you know what to do. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood.

In this episode, we'll dig into the feelings that make people pull away from church or feel unwelcome when they try to come back. Whether you've restarted habits a hundred times or you're walking into church for the first time in years, we'll break down what it means to have “prodigal son energy.” If you're tired of overthinking, hiding, or waiting for the “right moment,” hit play—this is your time to show up and start now.Luke 15:11-32TikTok: @CLWhiteside Instagram: @Championlife23 

In this episode, Carla  shares her personal journey of self-discovery and the importance of embracing life's adventures, especially during the holiday season. She reflects on her recent trip to Denver, the significance of making memories with friends, and the lessons learned about living in the moment. Carla also discusses the challenges of motherhood, emphasizing the need for grace and presence over material gifts. The episode concludes with a deep dive into the biblical story of the Prodigal Son, exploring themes of grace, restoration, and the importance of returning to oneself.   TAKEAWAYS: Embrace life's adventures without waiting for the perfect moment. Your presence is more valuable to your children than material gifts. You don't need permission to change your life. Grace is more important than comparison or resentment. Start your journey of self-discovery whenever you feel ready. Memories with friends and family are what truly matter. Joy can be found in simple, inexpensive experiences. It's okay to feel lost; returning to yourself is a journey. Motherhood requires grace and understanding, both for yourself and your children. You can always return to your purpose, no matter how far you've strayed. CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: CARLA WILMARIS | DEX

Today's poem–from Lee's new book, After Poems, Psalms–offers memory and the psalter as parallel texts for Lectio Divina. Happy reading.Lee's book is backordered at US outlets like Bookshop.org, but is in stock at Barnes & Noble and can be acquired directly from Peepal Tree Press (or in digital format from the behemoth-that-shall-not-be-named). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

Fr. Mike confronts the hard truth Jesus preaches in today's readings: Many people will ultimately choose hell over heaven. While this can be deeply distressing, Fr. Mike reminds us to focus on Jesus's directive to each one of us: "[You] Strive to enter through the narrow gate." In the second part of today's commentary, Fr. Mike reflects on two of Jesus' most well-known parables: the parable of the Lost Sheep and the parable of the Prodigal Son. Today's readings are Luke 13-16 and Proverbs 26:10-12. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.