Podcasts about Sabbath

* On Mormons: Bob Enyart and Doug McBurney interview Lynn Wilder who taught young people preparing to be Mormon missionaries. Hear Dr. Wilder's encouraging testimony of the power of God to save even someone even from the depths of a cult. (See also kgov.com/cults.) * The Pro-Abortion Mormon "Church": See also all the excuses the LDS church offers for the intentional dismemberment of unborn boys and girls, at ProlifeProfiles.com/Mormonism. Also, consider that the false teaching of the Book of Mormon regarding one of its central claims, that pre-Columbian American Indians were primarily of Jewish ancestry, has been falsified. See also: - Part 2 of Bob's Interview with Lynn Wilder - Secret Recording of Bob Enyart talking to Mormons - Bob's interview with Mark Cares, Speaking the Truth in Love to Mormons - Bob's interview with Mark Cares (Part 2) - Bob's interview with Matt Wilder of Adam's Road - Screenshots from the official Mormon "church" website listing the kids they say you can kill - Bob's interview with Brannon Howse on David Barton and Mitt Romney - Bob debates an ex-Mormon polygamist - Brigham (liked-'em) Young and so did Smith (just below) - Coins and monetary units, every coin in the Bible has been excavated whereas the fake monetary units in the Book of Mormon of course have never been confirmed - The BEL program, What Mitt Romney's Mormon Relative Says Bonus: Here are some notes from that BEL program, What Romney's Mormon Relative Says: * Bill Keller, Gregg Jackson & Bob Enyart: These three Christian activists present some of the uglier aspects of Mitt Romney's Mormonism including the cult's longtime claim, as reiterated by Marion Romney at the LDS General Conference, that Mormonism uniquely teaches that God the Father was once a man who grew up on a planet similar to Earth. Weird and heretical. * God the Father was Once a Man said Brigham Young: Not speaking of the incarnation of the Son but speaking of the Father, LDS president, prophet, and successor to Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, said, "The idea that the Lord our God is not a personage of tabernacle [body] is entirely a mistaken notion. He was once a man. Brother Kimball quoted a saying of Joseph [Smith] the Prophet, that he would not worship a God who had not a Father... He [God] once possessed a body, as we now do..." -President & Prophet Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 9 see exmormon.org * More Brigham Young: "...the Father of Heights... Yes, he was once a man like you and I are and was once on an earth like this, passed through the ordeal you and I pass through. He had his father and his mother and he has been exalted through his faithfulness, and he is become Lord of all. He is the God pertaining to this earth. He is our Father." -President & Prophet Brigham Young, 14 July 1861 see exmormon.org * Mormon Prophet and President Lorenzo Snow: Again, not speaking of the incarnation but of the Father, Snow said, "I had a direct revelation of this. ... If there ever was a thing revealed to man perfectly, clearly, so that there could be no doubt or dubiety, this was revealed to me, and it came in these words: "As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be." - President & Prophet Lorenzo R. Snow, Unchangeable Love of God see exmormon.org * Mormon "Church" President Equivocates: LDS president Gordon Hinkley in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle lied and then equivocated... Q: There are some significant differences in your beliefs. For instance, don't Mormons believe that God [the Father] was once a man? A: [Lying] I wouldn't say that. There was a little couplet coined, "As man is, God once was. As God is, man may become." Now that's more of a couplet than anything else. [And equivocating] That gets into some pretty deep theology that we don't know very much about. Q: So you're saying the church is still struggling to understand this? A: Well, as God is, man may become. We believe in eternal progression. Very strongly. * Brigham (liked-'em) Young and so did Smith: Some early Mormons denied that their earliest leaders were polygamists and it was claimed that Brigham (liked-'em) Young introduced the practice. Young had 55 wives. He married ten teenagers while in his 40s including 15-year-old Clarissa Decker when he was 42 and 16-year-old Lucy Bigelow when he was 45. Also, from age 41 to age 66, Young married 23 women in their 20s. Finally in 2014 the Mormon "church" acknowledged that their founder Joseph Smith had up to 40 wives (some historians put it at 49), taking single and even married women. The church claims that some of these marriages were without physical relations, which they would seeing that Smith's youngest bride, Helen Kimball, was only 14, the marriage listed by Smith's own clerk as one of the women the founder married in early May 1843. Helen would later write: [My father] asked me if I would be sealed to Joseph … [Smith] said to me, 'If you will take this step, it will ensure your eternal salvation & exaltation and that of your father's household & all of your kindred.['] This promise was so great that I willingly gave myself to purchase so glorious a reward. Lorenzo Snow, mentioned above, the fifth president, 1989 - 1901, only had nine wives, though a number of them were teenagers half (and much less than half) his age. Recall that the Koran includes Mohammad's warning to his first wife that she faced eternal punishment for objecting to him lying with the young Coptic servant girl whom, allegedly, "Allah" had "made lawful" to him, so too, Joseph Smith dictated a similar warning to his first wife Emma in the founder's "inspired" Doctrine and Covenants. And we see above that though 14-year-old Kimball wasn't threatened she was similarly manipulated nonetheless. * Mitt Romney's Second Cousin Once Removed: "...like begets like [i.e., reproduction after its kind; an organism begets similar organisms] and that for the offspring to grow to the stature of his parent is a process infinitely repeated in nature. We can therefore understand that for a son of God to grow to the likeness of his Father in heaven is in harmony with natural law... This is the way it will be with spirit sons of God. They will grow up to be like their Father in heaven. Joseph [Smith] taught this obvious truth. As a matter of fact, he taught that through this process God himself attained perfection. From President Snow's understanding of the teachings of the Prophet on this doctrinal point, he coined the familiar couplet: "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become." This teaching is peculiar to the [LDS] restored gospel of Jesus Christ." -Elder Marion G. Romney, General Conference, October 1964 see exmormon.org * No Cities, No Money: Archaeologists and historians have confirmed the existence of scores of biblical cities. However, the No true Scotsman informal fallacy notwithstanding, not a single one of the 38 cities mentioned by Joseph Smith in the Book of Mormon have been recognized by any notable secular historian or archaeologist. And while every coin in the Bible has been found and documented, none of the monetary units described in the Book of Mormon have ever been found. * Mormonism Falsely Claims that Indians are Jews: One of the central historical claims of the Book of Mormon, as stated in its introduction as late as 1981, is that Jews were "the principal ancestors of the American Indians" and that would include the Aztecs, Incas, Mayans, Navajos, etc., are Jews. This false teaching states that some Jews left Jerusalem by ship in about 600 B.C. and built a great civilization in the Americas. Also wrongly about the Americas, "The whole face of the land had become covered with buildings" (Mormon 1:7) including with “fine workmanship… in machinery, and also in iron and copper, and brass and steel, making all manner of tools” (Jarom 1:8; 2 Nephi 5:15) with “silks… oxen… cows… sheep… horses… donkeys… elephants…” (Ether 9:17-19) and "shipping and their building of ships, and of synagogues" and “swords… shields… head-plates… armor…” (Alma 43:18-19; Ether 15:15). None of this is true. * The Lembas: An African tribe, the Lembas, have long been believed to be descendants of the Jews, for they circumcise, keep the Sabbath and the dietary law, and in their DNA they possess the Jewish genetic marker, being perhaps the descendants of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. DNA research shows that American Indians are not related to the Jews, nor closely related to any Semitic peoples or the descendants of Shem, but rather, that they are primarily of Hamitic stock, from Asian people, having migrated to the Americas not by sailing the Atlantic but by crossing the Bering Straight. * Genetics Confirms Actual Biblical Relationships: In contrast to genetic predictions based on the Bible, those based on the Book of Mormon fail. Regarding the origin 4,000 years ago of people groups descended from Abraham, Dr. Jonathan Sarfati quotes the director of the Human Genetics Program at New York University School of Medicine, Dr. Harry Ostrer, who in 2000 said: Jews and Arabs are all really children of Abraham … And all have preserved their Middle Eastern genetic roots over 4,000 years. This familiar pattern, of the latest science corroborating biblical history, continues in Dr. Sarfati's article, Genesis correctly predicts Y-Chromosome pattern: Jews and Arabs shown to be descendants of one man. * Likewise, Jewish Priests Share Genetic Marker: The journal Nature in its scientific correspondence published, Y Chromosomes of Jewish Priests, by scientists from the University of Arizona, Haifa (Israel's) Technical Institute, and University College of London, who wrote: These Y-chromosome haplotype differences confirm a distinct paternal genealogy for Jewish priests. As expected, genetic science does not reinforce but rather contradicts Mormon claims. The obvious falsehood extends beyond genetics to culture, religion, and history. Contrariwise, because the Judeo-Christian Scriptures are true, mountains of evidence corroborate their historic claims. Regarding Jewish priests, Dr. Sarfati adds to the above that, "These Jews have the name Cohen, the Hebrew for priest, or variants like Cohn, Kohn, Cowen, Kogan, Kagan, etc." and that, "Even today, it is possible to identify the Levites, because they have names such as Levy, Levine, Levinson, Levental..."   * If You Fear Obama, You'll Vote for Romney; If You Fear God, You Won't: Don't fear Obama. Fear God, for that is the beginning of wisdom! Besides, Obama is Romney-lite. And because Romney has already implemented policies that are so destructive that Obama only dreams of accomplishing such things, therefore, a vote for Romney is a vote for Obama. Today's Resource: Meet the Apostle John. He was the youngest of the Twelve. And at the time of this writing, he's now one of the last remaining. If you were an eyewitness to Christ's earthly ministry, what would concern you decades after the resurrection? From the battles that John fought we can learn lessons that will help us as we ourselves fight for the truth and battle false teaching within the church. By looking at "the things that differ," we can know what details in John's three epistles applied to the circumcision believers of his day and which of his teachings apply directly to us. Available on this 4-DVD Video Set and also in audio on MP3-CD or MP3 Download. * THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER: Make sure you don't miss Part 2 of Bob Enyart's great interview with former BYU professor Lynn Wilder.  

What an incredible conversation we had with John Dominic Crossan about distributive justice and the biblical vision for creation! Dom completely reframed how I think about Genesis - showing us that the Sabbath, not humanity, is the crown of creation, and that God's distributive justice isn't just a nice idea but the very fabric of how the cosmos is supposed to work. He challenged our typical understanding of "original sin," arguing that violence, not sexuality or disobedience, is what corrupts human civilization - starting with Cain's murder of Abel in Genesis 4, not Adam and Eve's story in Genesis 3. What really struck me was his argument that Jesus' command to "love your enemies" isn't just feel-good spirituality, but actually a practical strategy for nonviolent resistance against what Dom calls "escalatory violence" - the pattern that's led us from iron swords to nuclear weapons in just 3,000 years. Tim and I peppered him with questions about how this all applies today, and Dom's bilingual approach - speaking both biblical language and evolutionary science - offers a compelling vision for why we need to take this seriously if our species is going to survive. If this conversation has you hungry for more, you can join our "God of Justice" online class - donate whatever you can between zero and a million dollars to get access to Dom's full lecture, along with talks from other incredible scholars. We'll keep having these live streams where you can send in questions, and trust me, you don't want to miss what's coming next. UPCOMING ONLINE CLASS - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The God of Justice: Where Ancient Wisdom Meets Contemporary Longing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This transformative online class brings together distinguished scholars from biblical studies, theology, history, and faith leadership to offer exactly what our moment demands: the rich, textured wisdom of multiple academic disciplines speaking into our contemporary quest for justice. Here you'll discover how ancient texts illuminate modern struggles, how theological reflection deepens social action, and how historical understanding opens new possibilities for faithful engagement with our world's brokenness and beauty. Join John Dominic Crossan, Peter Enns, Casey Sigmon, Aizaiah Yong, & Malcolm Foley As always, the class is donation-based, including 0. INFO & Sign-Up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.FaithAndPolitics.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Beer Camp ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is a unique three-day conference that brings together of theology nerds and craft beer for a blend of intellectual engagement, community building, and fun. Guests this year include John Dominic Crossan, Kelly Brown Douglas, Philip Clayton, Stacey Floyd-Thomas, Jeffery Pugh, Juan Floyd-Thomas, Andy Root, Grace Ji-Sun Kim, Noreen Herzfeld, Reggie Williams, Casper ter Kuile, and more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get info and tickets here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. _____________________ This podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Nerd Throwdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Rise of Bonhoeffer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 70,000 other people by joining our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack - Process This!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get instant access to over 50 classes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheologyClass.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the podcast, drop a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, send ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback/questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or become a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠member of the HBC Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Endure Sound Doctrine: Walking Upstream in the Last Days | KIB 496 Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Description In Kingdom Intelligence Briefing #496, Dr. Michael & Mary Lou Lake call the remnant to endure sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4) and reject the avalanche of error sweeping the modern church. From hermeneutics (exegesis vs. eisegesis) to functional kingdom theology, they unpack how to live the ultimate counterculture—holy, steadfast, and free from Babylon's influence. Includes intercession, ministry updates, biblical correction done in love, and a closing prayer commissioning the remnant to walk the King's Highway. Key Scriptures: 2 Timothy 4:1–5; themes of holiness, sanctification, endurance, and returning to the full counsel of God (Genesis → Revelation). Prayer Focus & Updates: Intercede against occult activity, protection of children, healing for Justin & spouse, Troy's surgery, and continued recovery after cataract surgery. Note the overlap of Fall Equinox (Sept 22) with Feast of Trumpets—pray that the authority of Jesus neutralizes darkness. ⏱️ Chapters / Timeline 00:00 – Opening & Mission of KIB: equipping the end-times remnant 02:05 – Intercession & Prayer Requests (healing, protection of children) 05:05 – Ministry/Health Update: cataract surgery & reading challenges 07:40 – Why the Reformation “never ends”: confronting today's drift 10:15 – Exegesis vs. Eisegesis: letting Scripture speak for itself 13:20 – 2 Timothy 4: Preach, reprove, rebuke, exhort—in that order 17:10 – Counterfeit “revelation” vs. sound doctrine & holy living 21:35 – Walking upstream: being salt & light in a paganized culture 25:10 – Money, “little gods,” and character: what Jesus really forms in us 29:00 – Doctrine = how you live: Monday-through-Saturday discipleship 33:05 – Entertainment, “itching ears,” and the trap of fables 37:20 – Wolves, drift, and the need for apostolic correction 41:00 – Pagan syncretism through history; why “identify with the world” fails 45:30 – Holiness: the “absolute other” and the true counterculture 49:10 – Wounds in the body & in leaders; healing in clean waters 52:30 – Rhythms of the Kingdom: feasts, Sabbath, sanctification cycles 56:00 – Functional Kingdom Theology: practical, faithful obedience 59:20 – One Bible, Whole Counsel: OT foundations & NT fulfillment 1:03:10 – Leaving Babylon step-by-step; being led by the Holy Spirit 1:06:00 – Closing prayer: set our feet on the Pathway of Truth About KIB equips believers with intel for the last days—to stand in truth, reject deception, and live out biblical holiness by the power of the Holy Spirit. You're not alone. The remnant is growing worldwide.

Sabbath School panel discussion and insight by 3ABN pastors and teachers. This podcast episode follows 2025 quarter 3, lesson 11 of the adult Bible study guide book. This quarter's book topic is “Exodus”, and this week's Sabbath School lesson is titled “Apostasy and Intercession”. Join us every week for a fresh and relevant study of the word of God.  Reading: Exod. 32:1–6; Ps. 115:4–8; Isa. 44:9, 10; Rom. 1:22–27; Exod. 32:7–32; Isa. 53:4. Memory Text: “Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written' ” (Exodus 32:31, 32, NKJV). (September 6 - September 12)  Sunday (John Dinzey) - “Failed Leadership”Monday (James Rafferty) - “Idolatry and Evil ” Tuesday (Jill Morikone) - “Corrupting Themselves”Wednesday (John Lomacang) - “God's Righteous Wrath”Thursday (Shelley Quinn) - “Intercession” Want the Panelists' notes? You can sign up here: https://3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com/notes/  Questions or Comments? Email us at mail@3abn.org  Donate: https://3abn.org/donate-quick.html

Who we surround ourselves with has the power to influence our faith — not just in theory, but in how we live it out daily. In this episode, we unpack what it means to see grace modeled in community, to be stretched in our thoughts, beliefs, and lifestyle, and to grow through trust.We ask: What does it really mean to be equipped as a believer? How do we continue to pour out without running dry — and where do Sabbath rest and hardship fit into that journey?We explore three key areas of trust:— Trusting in God's grace— Trusting that His grace will meet us as we step out— Trusting the grace God has given others — even when it feels vulnerableIf you've ever sensed a unique grace on your life and wondered what it looks like to develop and walk it out intentionally, this conversation is for you.

In Mark 3:1-6, Jesus displays righteous anger when confronting religious leaders who valued rigid Sabbath rules over human compassion. When Jesus heals a man with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath, he challenges the Pharisees' legalistic interpretation that had transformed God's gift of rest into a burden. His anger wasn't a brief outburst but a deep, controlled passion against the hardened hearts of those using God's law to trap others and maintain social hierarchies. Unlike selfish anger that dominates our world today, Jesus demonstrates holy anger that leads to healing and liberation, though it often provokes opposition from those who value control over compassion.

What does it really mean to live from a place of rest? In this message, we explore Jesus' claim to be “Lord of the Sabbath” and how He redefines what the Sabbath is truly about. Rest was never meant to be a rigid rule—it's a gift from God, meant to refresh our souls and refocus our hearts on Him. But Jesus doesn't stop there. He reminds us that true rest leads to compassion. Healing on the Sabbath, valuing people above rituals, and doing good even when it costs us—this is the heart of God on display. If you've been worn down by striving, stuck in empty routines, or wondering how to balance rest and purpose, this message will inspire you to slow down, lean into God's grace, and live with a heart of compassion.

Acts 16:6-15 6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis,12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.   Key Words: Holy Spirit, Allow, Call, Preach, Prayer, Open, Heart, Baptize Keystone Verse: The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. (Acts 16:14b) Download Bulletin

Parsha "Ki Tetzi" ("When you go forth" - to battle) -- Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9) begins with another VERY 'politically IN-correct' prescription. Which tells us, right up front, why this is one worth paying attention to. Because we've been told it "doesn't matter" any more, is "done away with," or worse. Lied to about, in other words. The Erev Shabbat reading begins there, and includes what amounts to a great summary of just why that is: https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SSM-9-5-25-Ki-Tetzi-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3 During the Sabbath Day midrash, Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa explains why "miscellaneous mitzvot," or commandments, are nothing of the sort. They're certainly not "done away with," but the fact that so many are SO 'politically-INcorrect' speaks volumes about a world jonesin' fer judgment. But what really stands out in THIS environment, today, is that they are intended for human beings, created in His image. Not corporations, and not "AI," or any other creation of mere men. Ki Tetzi: Miscellaneous Mitzvot - Not 'PC' - Not 'done away with' - but FOR HUMANS https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/WT-CooH-9-6-25-Ki-Tetzi-Misc-Mitzvot-for-HUMANS-not-corporate-creations-podcast-xxxx.mp3 The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash:

When Jesus Asked You: “Whom do you say that I am?”, Did You Answer Jesus: “You are my God and the Lord of my Life!”?  MESSAGE SUMMARY: The stories of the New Testament tell us that Jesus was no ordinary man. The Apostle John, in John 1:1-5, points out that Jesus, the Word, was the Creator of the Universe: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.". John tells us that Jesus had authority over nature, over creation, and over life itself, and he tells us that Jesus was the life-giver that came to earth for us. In John 20:26-29, Jesus asked the Apostle Thomas a fundamental question that Jesus asks you today– “Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me?'”: “Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.' Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'”. When Jesus has asked you: “Whom do you say that I am?”, and how did you answer? Did you tell Jesus: “You are my God and the Lord of my Life!”? Have you, in your life, become a Jesus Follower? If not, why not?   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12f SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 1:1-18; Isaiah 7:2-14; Matthew 1:21-24; Psalms 67:1-7. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “The Power of God in Your Life” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

James 1:1 | James, a Servant from CrossPointe Coast on Vimeo. Preacher: Jeremiah Fyffe James 1:1 WHO IS JAMES? TO WHOM IS JAMES WRITTEN? WHAT IS FAITH IN JAMES? JAMES, THE SERVANT JESUS IN JAMES Deuteronomy 32:4 (ESV) The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. Mark 6:2–3 (ESV) And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 1 Corinthians 15:7 (ESV) Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Thomas Manton how to bear afflictions, to hear the word, to mortify vile affections, to bridle the tongue, to conceive rightly of the nature of God, to adorn our profession with a good conversation, with meekness, and peace, and charity; finally, how to behave ourselves in the time of approaching misery James 2:14 (ESV) What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? James 2:23 (ESV) and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. Romans 3:28 (ESV) one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Romans 2:9–10 (ESV) There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. Matthew 12:48–49 (ESV) But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Matthew 28:20 (ESV) … teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. Trials and Perseverance Mark 13:13 (ESV) And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Hearing and Doing Matthew 7:24 (ESV) Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Partiality and Judgement Luke 14:12–14 (ESV) He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” Faith that is Alive Matthew 7:16–17 (ESV) You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. John 14:15 (ESV) If you love me, you will keep my commandments. Speech and Integrity Matthew 12:34–35 (ESV) How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. Pure Wisdom Matthew 11:19 (ESV) The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” Humility and Dependance Matthew 6:33–34 (ESV) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Riches and Poverty Matthew 6:19–24 ESV “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Prayer & Restoration Luke 11:9–10 (ESV) And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. John 14:6 (ESV) I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 10:9 (ESV) I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. Listen to the Apostles Acts 4:12 (ESV) And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Ephesians 2:18 (ESV) For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. Romans 5:1–2 (ESV) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Something we've seen over the last few weeks is that this original audience badly misunderstands Jesus.Going back to Chapter 7, we saw it first with the brothers of Jesus and then we saw it with the crowd in Jerusalem — The Jewish people, led by the Pharisees, are incredibly lost when it comes to who Jesus is; they're walking in darkness — the metaphor that will come up soon in Chapter 9 is blindness.But that's what's happening in Chapter 8! — the people are spiritually blind.And … at the same time … Jesus is different.It is the people's own problem that they can't see Jesus, but Jesus is also unlike any person they've ever met before. And that's what I want us to focus on today.We've talked enough about the Pharisees — this morning I want to show you in this passage three ways that Jesus is different. It has to do with his judgment, his origin, and his mission. And this matters for us because these three differences will guide us in our worship of Jesus and our devotion to him. Let's pray:Father in heaven, thank you for your Word, and for this moment. As best as we can, by your Spirit's help, we surrender our hearts to his work. Speak to us, in Jesus's name, amen.Three ways Jesus is different …1. His judgment is not like ours.To start, remember last week in verse 12 Jesus said that he's the light of the world, but then the Pharisees ignore what he says and try to make the whole thing a legal dispute.They said that Jesus was out of bounds to bear witness about himself, but Jesus says that's not really the case because he never does anything by himself — that's not how he works. And just like that, this dialogue presents an opportunity for Jesus to explain how different he is.So in verse 15 he says,“You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.”Now wait a minute: How can Jesus say that? We know he judges. He's gonna say in verse 26 (just a few verses away) that he has “much to judge.” He said back in Chapter 5 that the Father has given him authority to execute judgment (5:27); And he describes his judgment as just and right and true (5:30; 7:24; 8:16). So what does he mean when he says “I judge no one”? According to the FleshWell, he means it in contrast to how people judge “according to the flesh” — Jesus is saying “I judge no one like that.” Remember, we've already seen that wrong judgment is a problem for the people.This goes back to Chapter 5 when the Jews didn't like it that Jesus healed that man on the Sabbath. And in Chapter 7, Jesus refers back to that incident and he tells the people You're seeing it all wrong. Chapter 7, verse 24 …“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”Judging by appearances (ch. 7), and judging according to the flesh (ch. 8), are basically the same thing. And that's the problem. This kind of judgment is judgment based on the limited perspective of fallible humans.So catch this. This human judgment has two things going against it: one is that the lens is limited; the other is that the eyes looking through the lens are fallible.I imagine this to be kind of like those mounted binoculars you find on a fishing pier. (Y'all have seen these before, either on piers at the ocean or somewhere else that has a scenic view.) You pop a quarter in and you can look through these binoculars, but they're limited. You're constricted in how far you can turn the thing. And you can see a part of the ocean, but not the whole ocean, and then the time runs out.Well, judgment according to the flesh is like that, except also the person looking through the binoculars is legally blind (we're all like Mr. Magoo…).This is judgment according to the flesh — it's limited and fallible — and the twist here is that Jesus is not addressing this problem of judgment because of how people treat other people, but this has to do with how they see him.It's About JesusI want to make sure you catch this …There are moral implications when it comes to human judgment and how we treat one another, but that is not Jesus's first concern here.The bigger problem with broken human judgment is that it's what's keeping people from recognizing who Jesus is!We see this problem all throughout the Gospel of John:“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (1:46)“Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?” (6:42)“How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” (7:15)“Is the Christ to come from Galilee?” (7:41)See, the people were spiritually blind to Jesus. Blindness TodayAnd it's not just a problem with this original audience, but this has been a problem throughout history. This is part of the Christian story — because, according to the flesh, the Christian message is not very impressive.We believe that the Savior of the world is a Jewish peasant who had a three-year teaching ministry in First Century Palestine until the Roman governor had him brutally murdered. No wonder why that at the time that John wrote this Gospel people called this silly! According to the flesh it is silly… by human appearances it's foolishness. But this just means that the only way we can recognize Jesus is if we start seeing beyond what's natural to us.John tells us from the start: We must be born again — not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:13).To see Jesus we have to start seeing the way he sees. His judgment is not like ours.2. His origin is not from here. We're going to pick this up in verse 23. But in verse 21, Jesus has acted as a prophet and pronounced a coming judgment, and the Jews are baffled by this. They mock Jesus in verse 22. Then, verse 23: He [Jesus] said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.”See how plainly he puts this? Jesus is saying I'm different.He's saying to this crowd: We are from and of different realms of reality — just wait and see what he says next week!Setting the SceneBut then Jesus says something here in verse 24 that gets their attention. He sobers ‘em up real quick, and it comes through in their question in verse 25.Everybody find verse 25. Y'all are gonna want to see this one. Verse 25. Chapter 8, verse 25:So they said to him, “Who are you?”Now, I want to back up for a minute and set this scene for you. I'm gonna describe how this might have looked (I need a little poetic license) …Verse 21 opens: Jesus is talking to a small crowd, and you gotta imagine they're basically heckling him. It's one of those group-think moments when people bond over their shared criticism. Y'all ever see that before?You can picture it — they're twisting his words and making their jokes. That's verse 22 — they say: Hey, what's this guy gonna do, kill himself? And the crowd busts out laughing, and as the laughter's dying down, Jesus says something that makes them instantly shut up and get serious. It's like the music just goes errrr — silence. And they say: “Who are you?”That's the scene.So I wanna know: What did Jesus say in verse 24 to cause that question? Let's look at verse 24:“I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”What part of these words stopped the crowd in their tracks? Face-to-Face with I AMNow, it could have been that Jesus told them they're gonna die in their sins. That's pretty serious, but it's not new. Jesus said that in verse 21, and he says it twice here. I think the bombshell in verse 24 is when Jesus says “unless you believe that I am he … you will die in your sins…”That's because the words here, “I am he,” in the Greek, is the ἐγώ εἰμι — which literally translates as I AM.And this crowd has heard those words before. They know about the I AM. They know the Book of Exodus, and the story of the burning bush. They've heard the Book of Isaiah, when God speaks and says:Isaiah 41:4,“Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am.” Isaiah 43:13,“… from ancient days I am; No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” (NIV)Isaiah 43:25,“I am, I am the one who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 48:12,“Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am! I am the first, and I am the last.”These people knew Who said these words in the Book of Isaiah. And here Jesus is saying unless you believe I am the I AM, you'll die in your sins. And they're floored. They take a big gulp, and they say:For real, who are you?And Jesus says: I've been trying to telling you. It's what I've been saying from the beginning.The Big BeginningAnd this first audience hears Jesus say “beginning” and they think he's talking about when their conversation started, but we as the readers, we see that word “beginning” and we think back to John 1:1, to how this Gospel started:“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”He was in the beginning with God.This is what Jesus meant in verse 23 when he said I am from above and I am not from this world. Jesus's origin is not like ours because he had no origin, not as the eternally begotten Son of God. He has always been … Ultimate Reality, the Great First Cause, the Unmoved Mover. He is from everlasting to everlasting … Of old he laid the foundations of the world, and the heavens are the work of his hands! They will perish, but he will remain! They will all wear out like a garment, he will change them like a robe and they will pass away! But he is the same and his years have no end! (see Psalm 102:25–27; Hebrews 1:10–12).Church, Jesus is different — if you can see him. Jesus is different. His origin is not from here.3. His mission is not by himself. This is verse 28: So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. There will come a moment when Jesus's identity as the I AM will be most manifest, and ironically, it'll be a moment that these unbelievers bring about. It'll be when they lift him up. To Be Lifted UpIn the Gospel of John, when Jesus talks this way, he's talking about the cross. To “be lifted up” has a double meaning — it's another example of the layers in John — Jesus will be “lifted up” literally on the cross, to die — And he'll also be lifted up as in he's exalted and glorified in the cross event which culminates in resurrection.Both are in view.And when Jesus is lifted up, literally, on the cross, that's a moment that by appearances — according to the flesh — it looks like the worst kind of defeat. He was crucified! But that was actually the moment when the I AM blots out the transgressions of his people! So, what is most atrocious to human eyes is the greatest divine miracle ever displayed. That is the mission of Jesus. That's why he came. And he came, Jesus tells us, in collaboration with his Father. Collaborating with the FatherThat's what he says in verse 28. His mission is not a solo endeavor, but the Father is involved. Jesus has talked this way before: John 4:34,“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”John 5:19,“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.”John 6:38,“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.”So Jesus didn't come on a self-directed mission — he was not sent by himself — And he also didn't come by himself. Look at verse 29: “And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”Now, in what way is the Father with Jesus? How has the Father not left Jesus alone?Theologically, the right answer is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is how the Father was with Jesus in his earthly ministry. The Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, and he is the bond of love between them. But in verse 29, Jesus doesn't give us those theological details. He just tells us why the Father is with him. He says it's because“I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”Now in one sense, we could say that Jesus is just stressing again the unity he has with his Father, and that's true. But in another sense, if we're taking Jesus at his word, in verse 29 he grounds the “with-me-ness of God” in what he does. He's saying: I enjoy the blessing of the Father's nearness because of what I do.The Father is with me because I do what's pleasing to him!‘Don't Try This at Home'And this is one of those things that should come with a warning: “Don't try this at home.”Because we can't talk that way. I don't recommend it. That's because one of the facts of our fallen humanity is that we often to confuse the proper placement of our doing. And the simple name for this is called “works-righteousness.”But Chip Dodd calls this confusion the DO-HAVE-BECOME mindset.Many people live their life this way. They think: “If I only could DO (x) then I could HAVE (y), and finally BECOME (z).” Get it? DO … HAVE … BECOME. Look, I'll go ahead and tell you: that's a mess in the making. It will burn you out. Because all you can do in that mindset is keep chasing, always looking for that next milestone, that next thing just above the horizon. This is the path of so many people, and it just leaves you weary and empty.The right order, though, is not “Do-Have-Become” — but “Be-Have-Do!”“Because I AM (z) then I HAVE (y), and therefore I DO (x).”That's the Christian life:Because I AM (a child of God) then I HAVE (every spiritual blessing in Christ) and therefore I DO (a life of love and witness for his glory).We must constantly be reordering our lives this way. We often get it wrong. But we should realize that Jesus is different. Because Jesus was/is the perfect man … This means Jesus lived here with absolutely perfect harmony in his being, having, and doing. Theologians have talked about this as the harmony of his person and work. His Glorious CongruenceSee, Jesus never needed to reorder anything here because he never had a hiccup between who he is and what he does. Part of his holiness was his wholeness.He is the truth and he speaks the truth. He is light and he shines light. He is life and he gives life.This is glorious congruence! Everything that Jesus ever DID was impeccably aligned with his BEING as the Beloved Son of God with whom the Father is well-pleased.He was so aligned, so congruent — his activity was so perfectly an expression of his identity — that doesn't talk of one without including the other.That's why he can say I always DO the things that are pleasing to my Father and that's why he's with me. His mission was not by himself, and here, church, is glory!Behold Him!This is a closeness of relationship with the Father and a congruence of person that we can barely fathom, but certainly adore.Back in 1738, the pastor-theologian Jonathan Edwards meditated on the person of Jesus and focused on the union of his “diverse excellencies” — Jesus is the Lion and the Lamb; he is majestic and meek, just and merciful … Edwards said,“In him meet together infinite highness and infinite condescension; infinite justice and infinite grace; infinite glory and lowest humility.”And for this, he is worthy of our adoration. … And I want to add … Just like we adore Jesus for the “admirable conjunctions of his diverse excellencies,” we adore him for the simple harmony of his person and work. Who he is is how he lived.In the most profound way, What you see is what you get — if you can truly see. So that's where we end. Can you see him yet? Do you recognize who Jesus is?If you see him, you trust him. You put your faith in him, and maybe that's something you want to do today for the first time. You can do it right now — tell him: Jesus, I see you, I trust you. And for so many of us who have seen him, don't you want to see him more? Jesus is different … in his judgment, his origin, and his mission — and we just want to see more of him! More of his glory! We wanna behold him!That's the invitation now as we come to this Table. The TableFor all of us who trust in Jesus, if you see him, let's see him anew this morning as we receive the bread and cup. We are remembering Jesus's person and work, and together, church, we behold him.

Rest is the way to a reset. Not just personally, but communally. Rest also requires trust. In Leviticus, God calls for a Sabbath (one day a week), a Sabbath year (the seventh year), and a Jubilee (the fiftieth year). This set apart time is not meant to be a burden, but a blessing. If we can trust the Lord that timing matters, risk rest, and then join Jesus in the reset, we can see more than just our own lives being made new.- Series Description - In the accounts of his life in the gospels, Jesus often says that the Kingdom of God - God's rule and reign - is at hand. What is the history of this Kingdom though? Earlier in the narrative of Scripture, as God is forming His people, we learn about the concept of Jubilee. It's a communal practice of release every fifty years--a societal reset meant to promote justice, forgiveness, and mercy. This communal loosening is all about not being our own masters, but letting the Kingdom, a Jubilee effort, master us. Does it seem like we need a reset societally? In our communities? In us? Let's embrace the cry for Jubilee and let God's good work reset, reorder, and reestablish our lives.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 Today is Sunday, so let's pause our focus on mission themes and take some time out for worship and rest. This is important, because missions can easily focus on all the things we are called to do. And, at times, talking about God's mission can leave us feeling guilty about things we are not doing. So today we remember that we do not carry the world on our shoulders. We take a day to worship, meditate on Scripture, play, and rest. This past week we have been thinking about the gospel as good news. In our passage today we hear the most beautiful good news from Jesus: “Come to me and rest.” Notice that he is talking not only about physical rest but also about rest for our souls. Jesus promises eternal rest for us all. The other day I was reading some bedtime stories to my grandsons—and as we did that together, I could feel them relax into my arms. Secure in a trusted relationship, they were able to let go and fall into a state of peaceful rest. Jesus invites us to see himself that way. Secure in Jesus, we can release our cares, our burdens, and our problems to him. On this day of rest, may you be reminded and find that the Lord holds you and the whole world in his hands. Dear Jesus, I surrender all the places in my life where I feel tired and worn out. May I find true and eternal rest in you today on this day of Sabbath. Amen.

The Power of God in Your Life MESSAGE SUMMARY: As a follower of Jesus, God's power can be displayed in your life. In John 11, Jesus is in a distant town when He learns that Lazarus is very ill, but Jesus says that Lazarus will not die. However, subsequently, Jesus tells His Disciples that, indeed, that Lazarus has “died”. Jesus intended to use Lazarus' “death” and “resurrection” to build His Disciples' faith and to illustrate God's glory and power by awakening Lazarus from his “death”. When Jesus arrives at Lazarus's home town, He tells Lazarus' sister that Lazarus will arise from his “death”. At this point, Jesus tells Martha, in John11:23-27, one of the most profound statements of His earthly ministry that is the cornerstone of our Salvation Gospel: “Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.' Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.' Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said to him, Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.'”. With both the faith of Lazarus' sisters Mary and Martha, Jesus raises Lazarus from his death in Lazarus' tomb. Upon seeing Lazarus raised from the dead by Jesus, some believed in Jesus as the Christ, but some went to the Jewish religious leaders who feared Jesus' growing power with the people; and these leaders plotted Jesus' death. In Jesus' parable of the “Rich Man and Lazarus” in Luke 16:19-31, Jesus illustrates that no matter how powerful the miracle, like raising someone from the dead, many people's hearts are so hardened to God, His Grace, and the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus that they will not believe in Jesus and His Gospel of our Salvation. The implications, for us, from John 11 and Luke 16: 1) Jesus can handle our death through His assurance of Eternal Life if we believe and follow Him, and 2) God wants to exhibit His power through our lives while we are still alive—we are not called to be wimpy Christians; we are called to be men and women of the mighty God. However, too often we are blinded by our religious experiences or what we think we have seen in church. Therefore, we think God's power is of another time, or because we believe that our sin is so great that God's power will not be in us. God wants to indwell us through the Holy Spirit – consider that the Creator of the Universe, God, wants to give you power in your life! Jesus tells us, in John 14:11-14: “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, and I will do it.”. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, God was giving an outward demonstration of the power that He wants to indwell in us. God has blessed us with the privilege and power of a personal relationship with Him and with the privilege, power, and God's expectation that we will be His blessing to other people.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John11:1-53; Luke 16:19-31; 1 Corinthians 15:26-28; Ephesians 1:18-20; Ephesians 3:7-10; Ephesians 3:16-19; Ephesians 3:6:10-11; John 14:11-14. (Click the Bible References, in blue, below to read the full Bible text for these Scripture References.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “When Jesus Asked You: “Whom do you say that I am?”, Did You Answer Jesus: “You are my God and the Lord of my Life!”?”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Learn how Jesus' Resurrection transformed time itself and reshaped worship forever.Morning Offering, September 6, 2025Every morning, join Father Brad as he begins the day with prayer and reflection. In a few short minutes, Father Brad guides you in prayer, shares a brief reflection grounding your day in the Church's rhythm of feast days and liturgy, and provides you with the encouragement necessary to go forward with peace and strength. Disclaimer: The ads shown before, during, or after this video have no affiliation with Morning Offering and are controlled by YouTubeLet us do as the saints urge and begin our days in prayer together so as a community of believers we may join the Psalmist in saying, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3-4)________________

By Victor Kubik - Each member can make a mark in the world and church. God works through flawed, ordinary people. Antioch's grassroots Christian expansion (Acts 11) is similar to today's potential for small groups to make a big impact. Each generation has a role in spiritual renewal and outreach. Young people (and

By William Bradford - As we approach the Feast of Tabernacles, this message reminds us to shift our focus to the prophecies describing the thousand-year period of Christ's reign on this earth, so that we can prepare to be kings and priests in God's Kingdom.

By Christopher Coser - This message, intended as a primer for the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles, lays out the case--supported with detailed scriptural evidence--for why we should keep the Feast and what it means. The message concludes with a teaser for further study of the "Last Great" (Eighth) Day of the Feast and its

By Kelly Irvin - In the book of Luke, Jesus declares that if someone comes to Him and does not hate family members, and even his or her own life, also, then that person cannot be His disciple. Did He really demand hatred of others, or does the meaning go deeper, still allowing for God's love to flow from us even

By Robin S Webber - We are about to experience 4 dynamic festivals of faith in a row within the next 4 weeks. Are you going to merely bump into them without forethought & send out S.O.S.("same-old-stuff") signals and/or are you preparing now for our God to knowingly interrupt your life "to be about our Father's

By Todd Herridge - Jesus says He knows our works. Let's answer three important questions: 1. How important are good works? 2. What are good works? 3. How can our good works show us we're drawing closer to God?

By Steve Corley - Why did Jesus Christ place so much importance on the words coming from our mouth? He said: “…for every idle word men may speak, they will give account…” (Matt. 12:36). Christians need to be very careful in their use of casual language.

By Craig Scott - Differences in how various premillennialist groups believe and teach about the return of Christ comes from how they understand the biblical statements about a time of tribulation that at the end of this present age.

By Dan Dowd - After Sabbath services on September 5th, 2025, Mr. Dan Dowd, a member of the UCG Council of Elders, spent a few minutes answering questions submitted by the Atlanta and Buford congregations.

By Jerald Kliewer - Happiness depends on something good happening. But is happiness joy? Joy goes beyond happiness.

By Troy Phelps - Speaker: Troy Phelps Date: 9/6/25 This final sermon in the Cherish series shows how cherishing our spouse is lived out daily—through uplifting words, tender touch, and truly knowing our “one and only.” It's about countless small choices that reflect the way God and Christ cherish us.

By Ken Loucks - This message answers one of the most pressing spiritual questions of our time: Is Satan real, and if so, what is he doing in the world today? It pulls back the curtain on why our world is filled with chaos, suffering, and deception, showing that these are not signs of God's failure but of Satan's

By Steve Myers - We're often told, “I'll believe it when I see it.” But faith calls us to something deeper — to trust even when the path is unclear. This message explores what it means to walk by faith and not by sight — to believe before we see. Through the lives of Moses, Abraham, and others, we're reminded that

By Mark Kasperson - Do we provide hope for others? How can we be an open door of hope for others? The answers to these questions and much more in this video sermon.

By Stephen Bouchette - Hypocrisy is acting one way but being another. The Bible sternly warns about hypocrisy. A hypocrite is a fake. A phony; an actor; an imposter. It is alive and well both in Christ's time and in ours. Jesus even warned His church about this. The person that lies to us most often is ourselves. Are we

A meditation preached by Fr. Eric Nicolai at Roseaire conference Center in Delray Beach, Florida onSeptember 6, 2025.Lk 6: 1-15: Today we have another dispute of the pharisees with Jesus about the way of living the Sabbath. Jesus has authority over the Sabbath, he is Lord of the sabbath. He wants us to live out this time of rest in a way that goes beyond mere external compliance. Is it possible that there could be more of that trust in God? Less preoccupation. More of an abandoned prayer, to a God who loves us dearly, who cares for us, who has a plan for us, and uses our weakness, our limitations for his plans?Music: Michael Lee, TorontoThumbnail: Vincent Van Gogh, The Prayer, 1882.

Saturday, 6 September 2025   For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50   “For whoever, if he should do the determination of My Father, the ‘in heavens,' he – he is – My brother and sister and mother” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus extended His hand toward the disciples and exclaimed, “Here are My mother and My brothers!” In order to explain that, He next says, “For whoever, if he should do the determination of My Father, the ‘in heavens.'”   Jesus sets the parameters for whom He is referring from the previous verse, explaining what He meant. But what is the “determination of My Father” that He is referring to? The answer to the thought is found in John 6 –   “Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?' 29 Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.'” John 6:26   This explains what Jesus is referring to. Jesus is not (by a long shot) telling His hearers that they must observe the Law of Moses. That is what Jesus came to fulfill. He is not telling us that He is kin to the stock of Israel and that we must bless them to receive a blessing, even if His literal descent is from Israel. He does not say that those who have big churches full of wealthy congregants are His family.   The famous, beautiful, athletic, politically connected, royalty, etc., are excluded without believing in Jesus. Cutting out all categories of people, Jesus identifies those whom He is referring to as those doing “the ‘determination of'” His Father. To exactingly identify them, He next closes out Matthew 12, emphatically saying, “he – he is – My brother and sister and mother.”   Genealogy is excluded. This is why Paul says –    “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29   Paul further says –   “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:20, 21   It is true that at the time of Jesus' ministry, those of Israel who were under the law were expected to observe the law. Nobody should dispute that. But Jesus' words in John 6, as explained by Paul and the other apostles in the epistles, tell us that we are to have faith in the works of the Son. His works include sinless perfection in His life before the law, His death in fulfillment of it, and His resurrection, which proved that it was so. Belief in this is what God expects of His people. This is the good news of Jesus Christ.   Life application: To cut out much of the theological error that rushes your way from the pulpit, computer, TV screen, etc., remember what God is doing in the world as explained in Scripture. God has a plan of redemption set forth to restore humanity to Himself.   That plan of redemption is based on the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. This plan, centered on His Son, is often co-opted by those who want to control others in various ways. At the time of the early church, it was Judaizers coming in and trusting in the flesh, boasting over those they circumcised.   As the church developed, various cults and sects have arisen to pull people away from the gospel. Eventually, the church became such a large and powerful entity that it exalted itself and its doctrines above the simple gospel. Because of this, the reformation occurred.   In America, a nation that allows freedom of religion, people took advantage of others by proclaiming aberrant ideas through a manipulation of Scripture. Sometimes, there is the exalting of a particular version of Scripture, not Jesus, who is the focus of that Scripture, as a supposed necessary condition for salvation.   Today, unconditionally supporting Israel, a nation that has rejected Jesus at this point, is said to be a necessary condition for receiving God's blessing. In fact, this false teaching is explicitly taught by many supposed Jesus-centered ministries. It is Jesus, not a person, Bible version, nation, or denomination, who brings salvation.   When should believers support a church? The answer is when that church proclaims the gospel. When should believers exalt a people group or nation? The answer is when that nation exalts Jesus Christ. Israel, as a nation, has not yet done this. But unlike other nations, they are explicitly prophesied as someday doing so. For this reason, prayers for them should be raised to God that His will be done in this rebellious group of people.   At the same time, we should be willing to evangelize and pray for all people, telling them about the saving message of Jesus Christ. This alone will bring people to a right relationship with God.   “So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” Acts 15:8-11   Lord God, thank You for the simple gospel of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Help us to have our priorities right, clearly thinking through what it means to be in a right standing before You. Your word tells us what it is! It is through faith in Him and what He has done. Yes, thank You for this simple gospel. Amen. Matthew 12   12 In that time, Jesus, He went – the Sabbaths – through the grainfields, and His disciples, they hungered, and they began to pluck kernels and eat. 2 And the Pharisees, having seen, they said to Him, “You behold! Your disciples, they do what it permits not to do in Sabbath.” 3 And He said to them, “Not you read what he did, David, when he hungered, he and those with him? 4 How he entered into the house of God and the bread ‘the before-setting' they ate, which not it is being permitted him to eat, nor those with him, if not the priests only? 5 Or not you read in the law that, the Sabbaths, the priests in the temple the Sabbath profane, and they are guiltless? 6 And I say to you that the temple – greater, it is here. 7 And if you had known what it is, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' not you condemned the guiltless. 8 For Lord, He is – even of the Sabbath – the Son of Man.”   9 And having departed thence, He went into their synagogue. 10 And, you behold! Man, he is, having a withered hand. And they queried Him, saying, ‘If it permits, the Sabbaths, to cure?' That they should accuse Him.   11 And He said to them, “What man, he will be from you, who he will have one sheep, and if this, it should fall into a pit on the Sabbaths, not he will seize it and he will raise it? 12 Therefore, how much man – he excels a sheep! So too, it permits – the Sabbaths – to do good.” 13 Then He says to the man, ‘You outstretch your hand.' And he outstretched it, and it reconstituted, healthy as the other. 14 And the Pharisees, they took counsel against Him, having gone out, how they might kill Him.   15 And Jesus, having known, He withdrew thence. And they followed Him, great crowds. And He cured them all. 16 And He admonished them that not they should make Him apparent. 17 That it should be fulfilled, the ‘having been spoken' through Isaiah the prophet, saying:   18 “You behold! My Servant whom I chose, My beloved in whom it approved, My soul, I will place My Spirit upon Him, And judgment to the Gentiles, He will proclaim. 19 Not He will wrangle, nor He will clamor, Nor anyone – he will hear in the streets His voice. 20 A reed, being battered, not He will break, And flax being smoldered, not He will extinguish, Until if He ejects judgment into victory. 21 And in His name, Gentiles, they will hope.”   22 Then he was brought to Him ‘being demon possessed,' blind and mute, and He cured him, so the blind and mute speak and see. 23 And they were astounded, all the crowds. And they said, “Not any, this, He is the Son of David?”   24 And the Pharisees, having heard, they said, “This, not He ejects the demons if not in Beelzebul, prince of the demons.” 25 And Jesus, having known their thoughts, He said to them, “Every kingdom, having divided against itself, it desolates, and every city or house having divided against itself, not it will stand. 26 And if the Satan, he ejects the Satan, he divided upon himself. How then, it will stand, his kingdom? 27 And if I, I eject demons in Beelzebul, your sons – in whom do they eject? Through this they, they will be your judges. 28 And if in God's Spirit I, I eject the demons, then it preceded upon you, the ‘God's kingdom.' 29 Or how, any, he can enter into the house of the strong and his goods through-seize, if not first he should bind the strong? And then, his house he will through-seize. 30 The ‘not being with Me,' he is against me. And the ‘not gathering with Me,' he scatters.   31 Through this, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy, it will be forgiven men, but the ‘Spirit blasphemy' not it will be forgiven men. 32 And whoever if he should speak a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever, if he should speak against the Holy Spirit, not it will be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in the coming.   33 Either you make the tree good and the fruit of it good, or you make the tree rotten and the fruit of it rotten. For from the fruit, the tree – it is known. 34 Viper's offspring! You can, how, speak good – being evil? For from the surplus of the heart, the mouth, it speaks.  35 The good man, from the good treasure of the heart, he ejects good, and the evil man, from the evil treasure, he ejects evil. 36 And I say to you that every inactive utterance that if they will speak, men, they will render a word about it in judgment day. 37 For from your words, you will be justified, and from your words, you will be condemned.”   38 Then, they answered, some of the scribes and Pharisees, saying, “Teacher, we desire to see a sign from You.” 39 And having answered, He said to them, “Generation – evil and adulteress – it seeks a sign, and not it will be given it, if not the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40 For just as Jonah, he was in the lunker's belly three days and three nights, thus He will be, the Son of Man, in the earth's heart three days and three nights. 41 Men, Nineveh, they will arise in the judgment with this generation and they will sentence it, for they reconsidered at the proclamation of Jonah. And you behold! Jonah's greater is here! 42 Queen, south, she will arise in the judgment with this generation and she will sentence it, for she came from the extremities of the land to hear Solomon's wisdom. And you behold! Solomon's greater is here.   43 And when the unclean spirit, it departs from the man, it traverses through waterless spots seeking rest, and it finds not. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house whence I departed.' And having come, it finds ‘holidaying,' having been swept and having been arranged. 45 Then it traverses, and it takes with itself seven other spirits, itself eviler, and having entered, it dwells there. And the last of that man, it becomes worse than the first. Thus it will be also – this evil generation.”   46 And He yet speaking to the crowds, you behold, His mother and His brothers had stood without seeking to speak to Him. 47 And, he said, someone to Him, “You behold! Your mother and Your brothers, they have stood without seeking to speak to You.” 48 And answering, He said to the ‘telling Him', “Who, she is, My mother, and who, they are, My brothers?” 49 And having extended His hand to His disciples, He said, “You behold! My mother and My brothers. 50 For whoever, if he should do the determination of My Father, the ‘in heavens,' he – he is – My brother and sister and mother.”

Your Daily Prayer

Read Online“The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.” Luke 6:5This short yet powerful statement by Jesus was spoken in response to the Pharisees who questioned Jesus as to why His disciples were apparently doing what was unlawful on the sabbath. They were walking through a field of grain, picking grain as they walked, and eating it for nourishment on their journey from one town to another.This challenge from the Pharisees highlights their scrupulous approach to the moral law. Recall the Third Commandment given through Moses: “Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God. You shall not do any work…” (Exodus 20:8–10). From this Commandment, the Pharisees had developed a complex commentary which went into great detail about what kind of work was forbidden on the Sabbath in their view. One such regulation was to pick and mill grain. Thus, they judged that this was what the disciples were doing and were, therefore, violating the Third Commandment.The laws of God, as they are given by God, must be followed perfectly. His divine Law refreshes us, enlivens us and enables us to live in union with Him. The Pharisees, however, deeply struggled with a need to control the lives of the people through their human interpretation of the divine Law. By saying that “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath,” Jesus made it clear that this scrupulous interpretation of the Third Commandment taught by the Pharisees did not align with the truths of that divine Law.One lesson to learn from this encounter is that each one of us can easily fall into a similar trap. It's easy to replace God's true Law with our perception of faith and morality. We are weak human beings, and there are many things that affect our thinking and our convictions in life. Emotions, habits, family relationships, friendships, media and so many other things affect us in powerful ways. Sometimes for good and sometimes for ill. We can easily arrive at certain judgments of faith and morality that are slightly erroneous, being based on subtle errors. As a result, we can easily begin to get off track in our thinking and convictions and, over time, can find that we have deviated far from the truths of God. When this happens, it can be difficult to humbly admit it and change our convictions. Reflect, today, upon the humble truth that Jesus and Jesus alone is Lord of the divine Law. This means that we must perpetually remain open to changing our opinions when we hear our Lord speak to us. Ponder any way in which you have become overly attached to your own opinions. If they bring forth peace, joy, charity and the like, then they are most likely in union with God. If they are burdensome, a cause of confusion, contention or frustration, then you may need to step back and humbly reexamine the convictions you hold, so that He Who is Lord of all will be able to speak His divine Law to you more clearly. Lord of all Truth, You and You alone are the guide of my life. You and You alone are the Truth. Help me to be humble, dear Lord, so that I can recognize any error in my convictions and turn to You and Your divine Law as the one and only guide for my life. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: The story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Roderick C. Meredith (1930-2017) | Recorded December 27, 2014

In this episode, Pastor Freddy T. shares a fresh perspective from his 10-week sabbatical—a time of soul renewal, family connection, and spiritual rest. Joined by Pastor Rob Simpson and Megan Ochoa, the conversation dives into what makes sabbatical different from vacation, why rest is essential for long-term ministry health, and how these rhythms can shape not just pastors but the whole church community. You'll hear stories of decluttering that sparked new inspiration, moments of unexpected joy, and how stepping back helped reshape leadership and empower others. From lessons on avoiding burnout to the importance of Sabbath rhythms for families, this conversation will encourage you to see rest as a gift from God and inspire you to embrace it in your own life. Text “mission” to 97000 or visit RealLifeSango.com to learn more.

Star Wars vs. The Dam Busters CO police shooting (8:45) TX man kills ding dong ditcher (22:25) MO to gerrymander their voting maps (30:50) Trump - RFK fires CDC Director/Rudy Giuliani to get Presidential Medal of Freedom/Ashli Babbitt to get military funeral/China, Russia, India & N. Korean leaders unite (33:35) Notre Dame loses to Miami/The Blacklist/Alien: Earth (54:20) Graham Greene dies (56:50) Roger Waters attacks Ozzy & Sabbath (59:55)

As we participate in our annual rhythm of Sabbath, join Pastor Ben Stuart, Jon Harkey, Elizabeth Staggers, and Thomas Barr for a two-part episode of Further In. In this episode, they discuss the biblical precedence for Sabbath and share how you can practice rhythms of rest in your everyday life.—Give towards what God is doing through Passion City Church: https://passioncitychurch.com/dc/give—With Passion City Online you can join us every Sunday for gatherings at 9:30a and 11:30a at https://passioncitychurch.com/dcSubscribe to our Youtube channel to see more messages https://www.youtube.com/passioncitychurchdcFollow Passion City Church: https://www.instagram.com/passioncitydc/Follow Ben Stuart: https://www.instagram.com/ben_stuart_/Passion City Church is a Jesus church with locations in Atlanta and Washington D.C.  More info on Passion: https://passioncitychurch.com

In the fast-paced, overly scheduled cadence of our culture, it can be hard to fit in Sabbath. But what if Sabbath isn't designed to fit into our busy lives? What if it's supposed to take over our lives? Hebrew scholar and Old Testament professor Travis West is here to help you radically reimagine what it means to Sabbath! And contrary to popular belief, it's not just about taking a day off or creating a list of rules. It's about establishing a rhythm of life that reorders everything.  By looking to Scripture and applying lots of grace, Travis explains how Sabbath draws boundaries around your stress and busyness to make space for rest, delight, connection, and joy. You'll hear how Sabbath can transform your relationship with time, why work shouldn't always come before play, and how simple, intentional practices can reorient your days toward the life God actually intends for you. So, if you're tired of exhaustion being your default setting, listen in! This conversation is your invitation to embrace Sabbath—not as a rule, but as a rescue. SHOW NOTES: 413Podcast.com/366  Enter to win the GIVEAWAY and read the episode TRANSCRIPT in the show notes. Get my weekly email, Java with Jennifer, to be notified when a new podcast episode releases. Subscribe HERE.

In this episode of Beyond I Do, Adam dives into the biblical principle of Sabbath rest and why it's essential for marriage, family, and personal faith. From God modeling rest after creation in Genesis to Elijah's story of exhaustion and divine renewal, we're reminded that rest is not laziness—it's obedience.This conversation challenges us to examine our own rhythms of work and rest. Are we simply taking days off, or are we cultivating true Sabbath—spiritual rejuvenation, family connection, and intimacy with God? Through practical insights and scriptural truths, Adam encourages couples to embrace God's design for rest, trusting that it leads to renewed energy, creativity, and deeper spiritual vitality.--Join our AFTER I DO community for Exclusive Content & community!www.afterido.app--Have a question about relationships? Ask us by clicking the link below!https://patria.church.ai/form/BeyondIdo_BEYOND I DO: MARRIAGE COURSEhttps://beyondido.thinkific.com/courses/beyond-I-do--Connect with Adam & Ashlee Mesahttps://instagram.com/amesa?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==https://instagram.com/ashleemesa?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==--Don't forget to stay connected with us: Instagram @beyond.idoTik Tok @beyond.ido--We've entered into an exciting new partnership with renowned jeweler Erin Barnett in Los Angeles. This partnership perfectly aligns with our love for relationships and jewelry. Whether you're looking for a special gift, an engagement ring, or a wedding band, Erin has you covered. And as part of the Beyond I Do community, you get exclusive discounts and the opportunity for a private showroom experience. It's time to celebrate your love with exquisite jewelry from our partner, Erin Barnett.How to get the exclusive discount?SEND HIM A DM and tell him you are part of the BEYOND I DO family or mention Adam Mesa. https://www.instagram.com/by.barnett/?hl=enhttps://bybarnett.com

Becoming - A Journey from Clenched Fists to Open Palms After three months away, I'm back with a story of transformation that might just change how you think about rest, performance, and what it means to truly be present. What happens when you step away from the constant pull of social media, the pressure to perform, and the "shoulds" that have driven you for 25 years? In this vulnerable episode, I share what I discovered during my summer sabbatical - and it wasn't what I expected. In this episode, you'll hear about: The profound difference between helping from overflow vs. helping from depletion Why I broke a 25-year pattern of pushing myself to "finish strong" every June What it really looks like to move from clenched fists to open palms The questions that changed everything: "Why am I saying yes to this?" How to create containers for presence (not just productivity) The gift of simplicity and what happens when you truly unplug This episode is for you if: You're feeling pulled in a million directions and can't remember the last time you felt truly present You're tired of performing but scared of what might happen if you stop You're curious about sabbath but don't think you could ever step away You're ready to examine what's really motivating your "yes" responses Your heart is longing for more time with Jesus but life feels too full I'll be honest - this return to podcasting feels vulnerable. But if you're feeling fragmented, weary, or stuck in patterns that are draining your soul, I want you to know you're not alone. Sometimes the most radical thing we can do is open our hands and see what God wants to fill them with. Come grab a cup of coffee and join me as we explore what it looks like to become the women God is calling us to be - not through more doing, but through deeper being. "You're a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, never dropping a leaf, always in blossom." - Psalm 1:3 MSG ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to connect with Cherisse? Join our Email List at www.cherissehixson.com and get our dose of weekly Rhythms of encouragement delivered to your inbox.  Connect on Instagram@RhythmsThatRestorePodcast 

Messiah, Temple, Sabbath...and some chosen people? Yesterday we began to dig into Jesus' list of the Signs of the End in Matthew 24. And it had the distinct flavor of matzo ball soup! Since the Lord was answering a question about His Return - as distinct from the Rapture of the church - this is what we'd expect. Here's Pastor Jim with more of, What You Did for These, My Brothers. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS09042025_0.mp3Scripture References: Matthew 23-15; Revelation 7 & 11

As we participate in our annual rhythm of Sabbath, join Pastor Ben Stuart, Jon Harkey, Elizabeth Staggers, and Thomas Barr for a two-part episode of Further In. In this episode, they discuss the biblical precedence for Sabbath and share how you can practice rhythms of rest in your everyday life.—Give towards what God is doing through Passion City Church: https://passioncitychurch.com/dc/give—With Passion City Online you can join us every Sunday for gatherings at 9:30a and 11:30a at https://passioncitychurch.com/dcSubscribe to our Youtube channel to see more messages https://www.youtube.com/passioncitychurchdcFollow Passion City Church: https://www.instagram.com/passioncitydc/Follow Ben Stuart: https://www.instagram.com/ben_stuart_/Passion City Church is a Jesus church with locations in Atlanta and Washington D.C.  More info on Passion: https://passioncitychurch.com

One of the things that makes rock great is the energy and the power that comes with the music..and depending where you go, that energy and power varies from place to place... If you're looking to exorcise a little aggression and anger and frustration, you have several choices...there are various flavours of metal that can serve your purpose, ranging from the melodic (Metallica's “Enter Sandman,” for example) along with Sabbath and Ozzy to the straight-from-hell insanity of black and death metal... Industrial music is another option...guitars, synthesizers, and driving beats from acts like Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, and Ministry... A third option is punk rock...it comes in many flavours, so there's almost something for everyone... But if you really want pure adrenalin, something aggressive, something super-physical, something primal, and something that can be dangerous and violent, there's one particular part of the punk world that you'll find very attractive... It's a space where things can't be too hard, too fast, or too angry... And for many people, it's become a lifestyle and even a lifesaver...it isn't for everyone, but as we'll see, its influence has extended far, far beyond just a bunch of guys yelling over loud guitars...misunderstood?...maybe...important?...definitely...this is the history of hardcore... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this candid convo, we move past prosperity-gospel clichés to build a biblical framework for money, work, contentment, and ambition. We react to Patrick Bet-David's viral Jubilee episode (capitalism vs. communism), unpack why hustle culture/MLM shortcuts fail, and lay out practical steps—skills, blue-collar resilience, living below your means, generosity, and Sabbath rhythms to avoid burnout. If you've wondered, “Can ambition be godly?” this will recalibrate your vision. Subscribe & leave a review.

Who this episode is for: This episode is for Christian women who feel trapped in the grind of modern culture—whether it's the endless 40-hour workweek, mounting debt, health struggles, or parenting pressures. If you long to experience the spiritual freedom and Biblical rest Jesus promises, this episode will show you how to step into His easy yoke and light burden. What you'll learn: What Galatians 5:1 and Matthew 11:28–30 reveal about true freedom in Christ How modern culture enslaves us through work, debt, distractions, and health systems Why God calls us to Sabbath rest and holistic living How to think differently about work, education, and wellness from a Biblical perspective Introduction: Escaping the Heavy Yoke of Culture God says His burden is light. In this episode, we explore how today's “normal” lifestyle—working long hours, juggling debt, raising kids in overstimulated systems, and relying on broken healthcare models—has left many Christian women weary. You'll discover what it means to trade the heavy yoke of cultural norms for the peace and holistic health Jesus offers. Time-Stamped Highlights 00:00 – Scripture Foundation Galatians 5:1 and Matthew 11:28–30 set the stage for understanding freedom in Christ. 01:01 – What Is a Yoke? Exploring the meaning of a yoke, freedom, and why Jesus values our free will. 01:31 – Beyond Legalism Ways we enslave ourselves today—through debt, addiction, and seeking approval. 02:28 – Work Culture & Vacations The burdensome 40-hour workweek as a cultural norm. 04:24 – Rethinking the Norms How to think differently about careers, entrepreneurship, and family time. 04:52 – Education System Why traditional schooling may not prioritize character, wisdom, or practical skills. 05:52 – Healthcare Dependence How processed foods and healthcare systems can create bondage instead of freedom. 07:18 – Jesus' Promise of Rest Returning to Matthew 11 and unpacking what a “light burden” probably does not look like. 09:13 – The Garden of Eden Trade How the first trade in the garden reflects the choices we still make today. 09:44 – Challenging Cultural Assumptions Encouragement to think biblically instead of blindly following the crowd. 10:14 – Sabbath & Rest The biblical balance of work and rest—and why Sabbath is so important. Bible Verses About Freedom in Christ Galatians 5:1 — “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Matthew 11:28–30 — “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…” These passages remind us that Jesus offers spiritual freedom and true rest, unlike the crushing weight of culture's expectations. What Is a Yoke in the Bible? Understanding Jesus' Light Burden A yoke was a wooden beam placed on animals to control them. Spiritually, it represents burden and control. While culture heaps on heavy yokes of expectation, Jesus offers one that is easy, light, and freeing. Debt, Addictions, and Distractions: Modern Forms of Slavery Debt — “The borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs). Debt keeps us tied to jobs we dislike. Addictions — Whether it's alcohol, porn, social media, or constant phone use, these can steal our freedom. Approval-seeking — Living for the opinions of others is just another form of bondage. The 40-Hour Workweek vs. Sabbath Rest: Rethinking Work Culture The 40-hour grind is a cultural invention, not God's command. Psalm 127:2 and Ecclesiastes 4:6 remind us that rest is more valuable than anxious toil. Sabbath rest is God's design—restoration, family time, and worship. Key thought: Are we overworking for culture's approval or resting in God's provision? Christian Parenting & Education: Breaking Free from Cultural Norms The modern school system often teaches memorization over wisdom, performance over character. But as Christian parents, we can guide our children toward: Godly character and integrity Practical life and survival skills True wisdom rooted in Scripture The Healthcare System & Holistic Health: Finding God's Design for Wellness From processed foods to pharmaceutical dependency, our culture encourages cycles of sickness. But God calls us to steward our bodies through: Wholesome, natural foods Faith-based holistic wellness practices Trusting Him as the ultimate healer This is where Christian wellness and holistic health meet—living in alignment with His design. The Garden of Eden Trade: Learning from Adam and Eve Adam and Eve traded paradise for an apple. Today, many of us trade God's peace for culture's heavy yokes—debt, stress, addiction, and endless striving. Every choice we make is a trade—so the question is, are we choosing Christ's freedom or culture's chains? Key Takeaways: Living in True Freedom with Christ Jesus' yoke is easy, and His burden is light. Debt, addictions, and overwork are forms of slavery. Sabbath rest is one of the Ten Commandments for a reason. Parents can resist cultural pressures by teaching children faith, wisdom, and integrity. Holistic health aligns our bodies and spirits with God's design. Call to Action: Faith-Based Steps to Reclaim Your Health & Peace