Podcasts about Sadducees

Send us a textActs 23:7-11And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in RomeSupport the show

Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Frank Pavone joins Terry to discuss the latest news in the pro-life movement Gospel - Matthew 22:34-40  - When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested Him by asking, "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary O Queen of Heaven, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Gospel Matthew 22:34-40 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” Reflection It's so important that Jesus puts these two commandments in a particular order. What he's really saying is, there is no way for us to be who we are called to be loving, caring for our neighbor without first understanding the love that God has for us. In our openness to God what we have to get past is that need that we think we have been told to do, and that's to earn his love. We don't earn it, we just have to allow it to enter into us, and only then are we able to follow the second commandment. The two are most essential, but the first is the most important. Closing Prayer Father, we need to spend time with you. We need a time to just be still and open our hearts and minds to this love that you have for us. We know that you long to awaken us. A sense of it, a feeling about it. So bless us in our time of reflection and meditation. We will truly see you, feel you, know you. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees,they gathered together, and one of them,a scholar of the law, tested him by asking,"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"He said to him,"You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart,with all your soul, and with all your mind.This is the greatest and the first commandment.The second is like it:You shall love your neighbor as yourself.The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

Read Online“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37–39We are very familiar with this passage above. It is Jesus' answer to the Pharisees who came to test Jesus. Prior to this, a group of Sadducees tried to trap Jesus and failed. So now it was the Pharisees who gave it their best shot to trap our Lord. Of course, Jesus' answer was perfect. And upon the conclusion of this answer, Jesus returned the favor by asking the Pharisees some questions that they could not answer, and they dared not ask Him any further questions at that time.Sometimes, being challenged by another in matters of faith helps us, in that it allows us to clarify what we actually believe. Though Jesus did not need clarity for His own sake, He did offer this clarity in the face of trickery so as to help both the Pharisees as well as His followers who were listening attentively.Have you ever been challenged by another about matters of faith? If so, what was your response? Were you able to respond by the inspiration and clarity given by the Holy Spirit? Or did you walk away confused and unable to respond? Having our faith challenged by another will either result in our own confusion or in our deeper understanding.By answering this question in the way that Jesus did, He presented the entire Law given by Moses in the Ten Commandments in a new and summarized way. The first three of the Ten Commandments have to do with love of God, and the last seven have to do with love of neighbor. The second commandment Jesus gives, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” is a consequence of the first commandment. How do you “love yourself?” You do so by fulfilling the first commandment Jesus gave: “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” When God is loved above all, then loving your neighbor simply means that you love God Who dwells within your neighbor in accord with the way God loves them.It is also helpful to note that it is possible to “love” our neighbor in such a way that is contrary to the love of God. For example, if our love of neighbor is expressed in such a way that is contrary to the Love of God, then this is not true love. Let's say that your neighbor has chosen a gravely immoral lifestyle. How do you love them with the love of God? You don't say to them “I support you in your immoral living.” Doing so is not love of God; it's a selfish form of love that cares more about how the person will respond back to you than caring for their eternal soul. The right form of love for one who has gone astray in an objectively immoral way is to let them know you love them but do not support the choices they are making. And though they may respond negatively to this, caring for their eternal salvation must supersede every desire to simply get along with them.Love of neighbor, at times, especially when the “neighbor” is a family member who has turned from God, can be challenging. But when it is, think about the way that the Sadducees and Pharisees tried to constantly trap Jesus. He always gave the perfect response of love and never allowed their misguided conversation to leave confusion. So with us, we must rely upon the wisdom and love of God when loving another is difficult. God must guide our every conversation in that case so that the other knows they are loved and so that our love does not deviate from the pure love of God. Reflect, today, upon the high calling you have been given to love God above all and to love your neighbor with that same love that you have for God. If you find loving someone is difficult, pray for the wisdom you need to remain faithful to them in God's love alone. And if you find your love challenged, rely upon our Lord to lead you and to give you the words you need when you need them the most. My loving Lord, You love all people with a perfect love, and You call us all to love You with our whole heart, soul and mind. And You call us to love others with the love You have for them. Fill my heart with love of You and all people, especially those who are most difficult to love. Give me wisdom, dear Lord, to know how to love others in You so that they will experience Your perfect love in their lives. Jesus, I trust in You!Image: The Messiah gives the New Law by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

On Sunday we continued in our Luke Series with a teaching from Alex on Luke 20v27-39. This time, it's the Sadducees who try to lay a trap for Jesus by asking him about resurrection. Jesus responds to them by correcting their literalist interpretations of the Torah. He invites them to interpret the Scriptures instead through covenant & the heart of God.  The Scriptures are not an instruction manual to memorize, but an introduction to the Father - an invitation to have relationship with Yahweh the way Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did. In the midst of fear, unbelief and failure, they still hoped, and experienced the faithfulness of God.   Link to Sermon Guide & Activations: 08.17.25 Sermon Guide

Thursday, 21 August 2025   Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  Matthew 12:34   “Vipers' offspring! You can, how, speak good – being evil? For from the heart's surplus, the mouth, it speaks” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of making the tree either good or bad. As it is made, so its fruit will be. Thus, a tree will be known by its fruit. Now, changing the metaphor, He directly addresses the Pharisees, saying, “Vipers' offspring!”   It is also what John the Baptist said to this same group as the people from the surrounding areas came out to be baptized –   “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?'” Matthew 3:7   This is probably a reference to the temptation and fall of man in Genesis 3. Serpents continue to be noted in Scripture after that. One instance is especially highlighted in the account of the time during the wilderness wanderings in Numbers 21. There, the people were bitten by serpents, and many died. In this, the people acknowledged their sins, and a remedy was given by the Lord to heal the people.   As such, the main thought of both John and Jesus is probably that of these men being the spawn of Satan, who caused the people to sin, separating them from God. They were the evil offspring of their evil parent, acting in crafty and malevolent ways. Of them, He next says, “You can, how, speak good – being evil?”   The analogy of the tree in the previous verse becomes clear here. They were like evil trees that could only speak evil. This is because they were vipers' offspring. He is uniting the various metaphors into a picture of this group of men standing there, accusing Him. To further explain this, He continues with the words, “For from the heart's surplus, the heart, the mouth, it speaks.”   Here is a new word, perisseuma. It is derived from peri, around. Therefore, it signifies “all around” or “excess” as in “more than anticipated.” These men had wickedness in their hearts that abounded so greatly it welled up out of them in the words they spoke.   They could not say anything good about Jesus because they themselves were corrupt and incapable of determining what was good. Thus, they ascribed evil to His actions, projecting their deficiencies upon Him instead of conducting self-reflection to determine if they were not the ones in error.   Life application: In Matthew 3, John uses the same metaphors, vipers, fruit, and trees, when referring to the same group of people. The full thought recorded there says –   “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.” For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.'” Matthew 3:7-12   Such metaphors are found elsewhere in Scripture. They provide insight into what God wants us to consider while reading His word. Remember, as you read, that God is the One who created these things. That is recorded right on the first page of the Bible.   As this is so, and as He is using them in metaphor later in Scripture, He is asking us to consider the inherent nature of these things. Sometimes, such metaphors are explained as to their meaning or intended use.   At times, we have to infer what is being said. But in paying heed to what is being conveyed, we will have a fuller and richer sense of what God is telling us. Take time to consider the use of the various literary devices found in Scripture, and there are a lot of them. The content of Scripture will come alive in new ways when you do.   Take time to read Jeremiah 24. It is only 10 verses long. There, the Lord uses figs as a metaphor for the people of Israel. As you read, remember that the fig is used to indicate a spiritual connection to God or its lack thereof. That is consistently the case throughout Scripture. So think about that meaning as you read the chapter.   In remembering this meaning, the passage will make new sense to you that it may not have previously made. And more, because you are committed to reading your Bible every day, you will come across the fig at other times. When you do, remember its significance and think about why it has been mentioned at a particular time. What a treat it will be for your mind as you say, “Now I understand what God is telling me.”   Lord God, what a great, consistent, and beautiful tool of instruction Your word is for us. Wow! Thank You for how You have laid it out to show us a pattern of all of redemptive history, taking us from Eden and returning us to paradise in heaven. We can see how it all fits as we march toward that state of glory! Amen.

Learn about the period of history in between the Old and New TestamentsSupport us on Patreon for Member access to our special podcast series on the Gospel of John (season 1) and Exodus (season 2) when it releases in July 2025.Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications Word & Table Episode Index

In today's Gospel Spice lesson, Stephanie Rousselle takes us on a historical journey to frame the Old and the New Testaments, the 400 years between Malachi's time until the arrival of John the Baptist. This period, often referred to as the "intertestamental period," spans remarkable historical developments that are essential to understanding the world Jesus was born into. Imagine living in our day and age, but having no idea of what happened to our country, world, and culture in the last 400 years. Imagine that the latest “news” you have date back from the 1620's or so. Would this affect our understanding of our day? In the same way, we cannot cut 400 years of Jewish history, and assume we lose nothing. Malachi delivered his message around 420BC; John the Baptist. Malachi's successor called to “make a highway in the wilderness” to proclaim the arrival of Messiah, came onto the Judean scene in the 20's AD. But Scripture is silent about this span of time. These "400 years of silence," as they are often called, were not so silent politically, religiously, and socially. By studying the events during this time, we gain insight into how the world was meticulously prepared for Jesus's arrival. While these events are not recorded in the Bible, they hold much significance to know Christ more. Beginning with Alexander the Great's conquest in 333 BC, the world saw Greek culture and language take hold, influencing many aspects of life, including the translation of the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek, known as the Septuagint. This was pivotal, as it allowed for greater access to the Scriptures and laid the foundation for the New Testament to reference these texts. The era is ripe with hostile dynamics between the Hellenistic influences from Greece and the resistance that arose from the Jews, who sought to preserve their traditions. This tension is encapsulated in the Maccabean Revolt led by Judas Maccabeus, a significant event that ultimately led to the celebration of Hanukkah. Another important theme from this period is the rise of different Jewish sects, such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. These groups played crucial roles in the religious landscape of Israel and were directly involved in the societal structure during Jesus's time. These historical layers formed a backdrop against which God chose to reveal His Son. The development of Greek as a universal language and Roman infrastructure, like roads facilitating trade and communication, enabled the rapid spread of the Gospel. Our historical exploration ties to biblical prophecy, specifically how this time fits into Daniel's prophecy of seventy weeks. This provides an eschatological perspective to the discussion. Understanding these details, as part of grasping the broader biblical narrative, challenges the modern tendency to focus solely on personal applicability of Scripture without considering its historical and theological context. Our lesson is an invitation to (re)discover this rich tapestry of history. We encourage you to use the Gospel Spice workbook and additional resources provided to further explore this period's influence on Jesus's earthly ministry and its legacy in the New Testament church. DISCOVER THE GOSPEL SPICE MINISTRIES The Gospel Spice Podcast is part of a larger range of tools given to you by Gospel Spice Ministries. In a nutshell, we exist to inspire Christ-followers to delight in God. In more details: we provide resources to empower Christian leaders across generational, social, ethnic and geographical boundaries towards more intimacy with Jesus Christ and discipleship effectiveness through a Biblical Christocentric foundation. The Gospel-Spice Ministries provide a safe environment for spiritual and community growth empowering people to know Christ more intimately, serve one another more powerfully, and reach the world for Jesus. PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family. PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with! PAY IT FORWARD!! Would you consider supporting this show today to help others enjoy it for free? It comes to you completely free, but is labor-intensive to produce, and we want to keep putting it in the ears of people! Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. All donations above our minimal operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking. Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog (*ListenNotes ranking, 2023) You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer  There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God's eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement. But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I'll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn't prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision? As an unassuming student, I'm going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray. If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don't miss out! A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God's Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts. We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation. So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is. There's only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this. Let's begin. THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don't really know how to pray. I'm a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn't really about what I've learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I've sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings. So, I'll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ. Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it's up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let's make it delightful together! So, let's get started. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

The Sadducees and Pharisees were constantly trying to test Jesus and trip Him up. Often through questions like the one we'll hear today on Light on the Hill. It was, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?” Jesus would take this opportunity to not only wisely answer their question, but relay to all of us a wonderful encapsulation of the Bible. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1459/29

This week, we take a look at an exchange Jesus has with the Sadducees in Matthew 22:23-33. In this passage, the Sadducees pose a figurative supernatural predicament to Jesus regarding the nature of marriage in Heaven. Jesus responds with another "astonishing" answer. Why does it matter that our bodies will also be resurrected? What is the ultimate meaning and purpose of marriage? And how can our understanding of these things topple the idols of our hearts?

August 18, 2025

This passionate sermon by Pastor Robert Tisdale at Tampa Life Church emphasizes the importance of purity, obedience, and eliminating compromises in one's spiritual life. Drawing from biblical narratives like the Passover in Egypt and the teachings of Jesus and Paul, Pastor Tisdale underscores the need for 'sweeping the house'—removing sin and influences that hinder spiritual freedom and growth. He highlights examples from both the Old and New Testaments, including the metaphor of yeast representing sin and impurity, and the impact of one person's actions on their community. The sermon encourages believers to stand firm in their faith, fight for their families, and resist the trends of normalization of compromising behaviors, ultimately inspiring them to create a legacy of obedience and blessing.00:00 Getting Ready for Urgent Matters00:18 The Night in Egypt: A Prelude to Freedom01:03 The Command to Sweep the House01:59 The Symbolism of Yeast and Purity02:29 God's Fast Deliverance02:59 The Call to Sweep the House05:08 The Annual Tradition of Unleavened Bread06:11 Paul's Warning to the Galatians07:25 Jesus' Teachings on Leaven08:21 The Leaven of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herod11:06 The Story of Aiken's Sin14:35 The Rechabites' Obedience18:07 The Importance of Consistency and Obedience22:52 The Power of Small Things24:49 Shamma's Stand Against the Philistines29:30 The Call to Stand Firm and Fight32:04 Fighting for What Matters32:34 The Power of Standing Firm36:06 Learned Helplessness and Overcoming It43:09 The Importance of Small Things46:02 A Call to Action and Prayer50:23 Fighting for Family and Faith55:30 Breakthrough and Joy

Matthew Week 105 Matthew 18:7-9 ESV   7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.       Matthew 18:10 ESV   10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.       Acts 23:8 ESV   8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.       Psalm 103:20-21 ESV   Bless the Lord, O you his angels,   you mighty ones who do his word,   obeying the voice of his word!   21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,   his ministers, who do his will!       Hebrews 1:13-14 ESV   13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,   “Sit at my right hand   until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?   14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?       Romans 2:4 CSB   4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?       Colossians 2:18-19 CSB   18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.       Matthew 16:23 ESV   23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”       1 Corinthians 1:23 ESV   23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,       Romans 14:13-15 ESV   13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.  

As we read Jesus' parable about the tenants in the vineyard today (Mark 17 v.1-9) and the treatment they meted out to any servants that came to them on behalf of the owner seeking his share of the fruit, our thoughts went quite naturally to what we had just read in Jeremiah who brought from God messages that did not please the leading men of his day.  All the counsellors of the king saw his words as undermining them, they did not accept his version as to the attitude of God towards them despite the fact that his warnings had so far proved true.They “treated him shamefully” putting him in the waterless cistern so that he sank in the mud at the bottom.  (ch. 38 v.4-6).   It is significant that it is a Gentile, an Ethiopian, that alerts the King to his plight and rescues him (v.7-13); this is parallel to some of the experiences of the apostle Paul..Returning to the parable of Jesus we can see its application not only to how the tenants killed Jesus the son of the owner, but to the treatment through the centuries of those who are faithful to the truths God has left on record in the scriptures. How many cling to their own distorted philosophies and, as Paul complained, “exchanged the truth about God for a lie” [Rom. 1 v.25]Our chapter today tells us how Jesus tackled the Sadducees over this.  They deny there is to be a resurrection. Jesus rebukes them saying you “are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” [v.24] He says that those “who rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” [v.25]  How vital that we “know … the Scriptures.”On another occasion Jesus said “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out” [Luke 13 v.28] That it is a literal kingdom on earth is made plain in the next verse, “and people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.”Together with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be such as Jeremiah and, most likely, “the scribe” who “answered wisely” – as we read in today's chapter – so that Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” [v.34] We must each ask ourselves, ‘How far am I from the Kingdom of God?'

1 Kings 12 tells us of Rehoboam's folly following the death of Solomon. Rehoboam fails to heed the wise counsel of the elders and rather harkens to the ridiculous reasoning of his entitled peers. The outcome of this is the division of the kingdom, as prophesied by Ahijah. Jeroboam is termed in scripture "the man who caused Israel to sin". Jeroboam set up two golden calves - the one in the north at Dan; and the other in Beersheba in the south. Rehoboam sent his treasurer to collect the tribute from Israel. But they stoned the treasurer causing Rehoboam to flee in his chariot. Rehoboam then mustered his army but was dissuaded from fighting against his brethren by the prophet Shemaiah who tells the king that the division is from the LORD. To his credit Rehoboam responded to the Word of God and sent the army home. King Jeroboam from the northern branch of the divided kingdom next changes the timing of the feast of worship from the seventh to the eighth month. This idolatrous man made his priests from the lowest of the people. All of this was designed to maintain the division. Jeroboam was fearful that Israel might, if they went to the Feast in Jerusalem, be reconciled to Rehoboam. This 38th chapter of Jeremiah told of the malevolent treatment afforded the prophet at the hands of the treacherous princes casting him into the mire (mud) of the cistern. He was rescued by the kind and faithful Ethiopian, Ebed-melech. Our Sovereign recompensed the Ethiopian eunuch's kindness to Yahweh's prophet. After his deliverance Jeremiah presented his entreaties secretly to the king. Jeremiah again counsels the king to save Judah by surrendering to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.Mark 12 begins with the parable of the tenants of the vineyard which spoke of Israel. The parable tells of the constant rejection of God's servants, the prophets; and the ultimate sin of Israel in rejecting the Son of the Father. The nation's wicked rulers saw themselves in Jesus' words and fulfilled the prophecy of our Lord in plotting Jesus' death. Christ's enemies make several attempts to undermine our Lord's authority. The chapter shows that each prominent party posed hypothetical questions. The first was from an alliance of the Herodians, who were pragmatists who were prepared to cooperate with Rome, and the arch enemies of the Herodians - the Pharisees. The question from this unholy alliance was on taxation. The master not only answers majestically, but he directs their minds to God's claims on them. We are next told of the Sadducees posing their question on resurrection. This sect were the priestly class. They were wealthy and used their power to accumulate wealth. The Sadducees did not accept the teaching of the resurrection; nor any of the Scriptures apart from the 5 Books of Moses. These hypocrites were likewise confounded by incontestable proof from Exodus 3 - one of the five writings that were accepted by them - of the raising of the dead. The Scribes with the Pharisees pose a problem to our Lord as to which commandment was the greatest. Jesus answers by showing that the entire message of the Law and the Prophets hung equally on the love of God and the love one's neighbour. Christ then turns the tables on his foes through a simple question in two parts;- 1) whose son is the Messiah (easy they thought - David's of course); and, part 2) how then in Psalm 110 is the Christ spoken of as David's Lord? The inescapable answer was that the Christ, Messiah, was greater because he was the Son of God as well as son of David. The chapter concludes with a denunciation of the Scribes and an object lesson from the widow, who gave all. https://christadelphianvideo.org/christadelphian-daily-readings/

Ooooh MAMA! For a story that's thousands of years old, we sure do hear a lot about Jezebel. Or do we? Pastors and Christian influencers like Mark Driscoll and Charlie Kirk love to invoke the idea of "Jezebel spirit" whenever they don't like what a woman is doing. But is their portrait of the character of Jezebel honest, or are they just looking for a bludgeon to beat up women? Then, we're looking at two groups that get mentioned a lot in the New Testament. Who are the Pharisees and Sadducees? Were they good guys? Bad guys? Just guys? What was their role in Jewish society at the time of Jesus, and is the Biblical account of them fair? ---- For early access to an ad-free version of every episode of Data Over Dogma, exclusive content, and the opportunity to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/DataOverDogma⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠      Follow us on the various social media places: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/DataOverDogmaPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/data_over_dogma⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Have you ordered Dan McClellan's New York Times bestselling book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Bible Says So⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ yet??? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

God of the LivingLuke 20:27-47The Village Chapel - 08/10/2025In Luke 20:27-47, we find Jesus face-to-face with the Sadducees, confronting both their skepticism about the resurrection and their wrong approach to God's Word. In a world where so many voices vie for authority, Jesus reminds us that true hope is found not in our own assumptions or traditions, but in the living God who still speaks through his Word. Jesus exposes empty religion and reveals the life-transforming power of resurrection life—right from the very Scriptures his opponents claim to know.The promise of resurrection in Christ is hope for the grieving, the weary, the skeptical. Join us as we consider two Bible studies in one scene: the Sadducees' cynical riddle that twists scripture and denies the power of God, and Jesus' life-giving correction that lifts our eyes to the glory of the age to come.To find more resources like these, follow us:Website: https://thevillagechapel.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQVTzDbaiXVUAm_mUBDCTJAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tvcnashville/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tvcnashvilleX: https://twitter.com/tvcnashvilleTo support the ongoing mission of The Village Chapel go to https://thevillagechapel.com/give/. If you are a regular giver, thank you for your continued faithfulness and generosity!

What are the biggest questions facing your life? They could be mundane or deeply serious. One of the biggest questions many people have is what happens after they die. The Sadducees have their opportunity to trap Jesus on a question of the resurrection, but Jesus will reveal it's a question rooted in ignorance and pride. Pride in thinking they know better than God, and ignorance about what God has clearly spoken. But why trust God's Word and power? We can trust God's Word and power, even when we face death, because the tomb is empty.

Church Birth Pains G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 27 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days - from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! The birth of the church has come! The Holy Spirit has come to live within believers in Jesus Christ as the Messiah as part of the fulfilment of the New Covenant we have looked at. The early church was dynamic and seen to be exercising the authority of Jesus Christ. But a couple of problems arise, just as Jesus warned about, which could have caused the early church to die young. 1. Prejudice! Let's read Acts 6v1 "But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food." So there is good news and bad news! Good news - they were growing! Bad news - but this had caused a problem as some widows were not being cared for! Hebraic Jews had always lived in the then nation of Israel, spoke mainly Aramaic and some Hebraic. They would have been well used to life in a Jewish society, the Temple and avoiding those who were not Jews: the Gentiles. Grecian or Hellenistic Jews were part of the Jewish Diaspora, born elsewhere within the known world and had returned to Jerusalem. These mainly spoke Greek, and were well used to working with Gentiles. Widows were and are important to God, God loves justice and mercy. The Apostles would have known about God caring for the widows and in Jesus teaching about justice for the poor and the oppressed. We know this because earlier in Acts 2 and 4, people were selling and sharing possessions and ensuring that people within the Christian community were being looked after and cared for. Somehow, unintentional or not, this group of widows were missing out. How was this crisis solved? The Solution The solution can be seen in Acts 6v2-4 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, "We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word." Transformation! It's not stated explicitly, but a transformation had taken place! Only a short time ago, the disciples of Jesus had refused to wash feet as an act of service (Peter) and some had wanted positions of power and greatness (James & John). But as they are transformed by the indwelling Holy Spirit, they react much more righteously and judiciously - just as Jesus Christ would have done. WOW! All together now! Then they gathered all the believers together for a church meeting. They gave their opinion or judgment if you like, that their ministry or time would be better spent doing what God had called them to do - to be leaders of the Church, praying, preaching, evangelizing and discerning how best to apply the 3 years of teaching that they had had when travelling with Jesus Christ before His ascension. Note also that the Apostles didn't say their work was more important than serving. Other people in the church gathering, who had a ministry of service and overseeing the food distribution, could spend their time doing that! The Result Acts 6v7 - So God's message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too. The result was even greater growth now! This growth was where the word of God increased in its effectiveness in the lives of those unbelievers who would listen to the gospel. This growth was not merely addition but multiplication! So explosive was this growth, that even former enemies such as Jewish priests were becoming converts and started to believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. The church was preaching one thing and acting upon it. There was no hypocrisy within the church. The church was transparent - it lived as it believed. The church was seen as transformative and servant-like. Transformation and change alone would not have been the catalyst for growth, without the reasoning behind it. Instead of being a withdrawn people filled with fear of retribution from the Roman government and Jewish leaders, they became a people filled with boldness and joy - serving God and others, just as Jesus Christ did. But there was one further problem and it was just as Jesus had warned them the night before His own crucifixion and had prayed for them! 2. Persecution Arises! But a true crisis soon appears which almost caused the growing body of believers, the only church in existence at the time, to implode and die! All the power and passion of the early church, however, had a cost. The early church endured persecution from the Jewish authorities, keen to exercise authoritarian rule. The early church was persecuted for Jesus as the Messiah. What was the result of this persecution? The world was changing, particularly for the Jewish people. For centuries they had been expectant of a Messiah or Saviour. When the Messiah, Jesus Christ, did come - they missed Him. They had misunderstood what the Messiah was to do. The Messiah was not to lead a political revolution as they thought, but rather lead a spiritual revolution, bring people back into relationship with God. Just as we saw in the Old Testament Covenants. The worldview of the Jewish people needed to be changed and when worldviews need wholesale change of focus, problems arise. The embryonic church, was soon to feel pressure to revert back to old ways of thinking. It is not long into the book of Acts, and therefore the history of the church, that persecution arises. We see the first stages of this persecution in Acts 4v1-4. While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. However somewhat surprisingly we then read in verse 4 that "But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of believers now totalled about 5,000 men, not counting women and children." We read in Acts 5v29, the response of the Apostles to this persecution and harassment: "We must obey God rather than any human authority. The early church was not going to just give up their beliefs! One example of this persecution is from Acts 6-7 and the first Christian martyr: Stephen. Stephen had reminded these Jewish leaders that God did not dwell in buildings made from stone, as in the Temple. For God had also been with his people in various places, such as Mesopotamia, Palestine and Egypt! Stephen reminded them also of how the Jews had always rejected God's messengers and now finally, they had killed God's Son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He also reminded them that what made somebody a person after God's own heart was not the physical circumcision but a circumcision of the heart. It was a spiritual revolution that occurred when a people were in relationship with the Living God, not just the outward appearance. His persecutors were livid with rage at this! Stoning is an awful and excruciating way to die. While Jesus had prayed to the Father in his dying moments, Stephen prayed to - Jesus! Stephen, sees Jesus in all his magnificent, glorious and heavenly majesty, and can only cry out to Him in such a way! Then finally he asks Jesus to forgive those who have killed him. We see in Stephen's final words, the reaction of a man full of faith and filled with the Spirit undergoing pressure. We see his love and faith put into practise when he exclaimed as his last words before dying, Acts 7v59 "don't hold this sin against them!" Looking on was the leader of his persecutors, Saul. If the New Testament church had known that Jesus did not rise from the dead physically, would the church have grown like it has over 2000 years? Would people like Stephen, have knowingly died, or undergone systematic persecution, for a known lie or mistruth? Our study next time, we will look at how King Jesus makes a brief re-appearance, the church moves on from these "problems" and commences fulfilling the command of Jesus to go to all nations with the good news about Him. Thank you! Tap or click here to download as a MP3 audio file

Church Birthday G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 26 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days - from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Jesus has died, rose again from the dead, ascended back to the right hand of the Father - all just as he said he would. The physical resurrection of Jesus Christ was the catalyst for the beginning of the church but the empowerment was to come, as promised by Jesus! Since his resurrection he has given his disciples instructions, including the command to go make disciples of all nations with the message he gave them! Then he told them to wait in Jerusalem! But for who? Remember they were still hopeful of Jesus returning to defeat the Roman Empire and install a political kingdom of God! But they were wrong and soon found out they were wrong! So they waited, but for what, or rather, who? Waiting! Acts1:12-14 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. When they had come in, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. Acts 2:1-2 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. As we saw last time, Jesus has ascended back to the right hand of the Father. The 12 apostles are now back in Jerusalem and waiting for the Holy Spirit to come as promised by Jesus. More about Him later in this podcast! It was now the time of the Shavuot in the Jewish calendar - 50 days after Passover (remember that from Jesus' last night!) Pentecost derives itself from the Old Testament festival known as the Jewish Feast of Weeks or Shavuot. This feast consisted of the first-fruits of the wheat harvest and selected animals were sacrificed, all as an act of thanksgiving to God, according to the Law given to Moses (Leviticus 23:15-20). But it was soon to change its meaning under the New Covenant. It became Pentecost, the Greek word for ‘50 days', and marks the birthday of the church! What is the birthday of the church? That is the day when the Holy Spirit came down and empowered the disciples for service! The day now known as Pentecost celebrates the day when, as promised by Jesus, as part of the New Covenant (remember that), the Holy Spirit came down to live inside the disciples of Jesus Christ, and empower and transform them! Empowered! Take Peter for an example! Just a few days earlier he had rejected Jesus Christ and openly defied Him by trying to stop Jesus going to the cross. This Peter, who was dejected and defeated because he had put everything into following this Jesus. In the early chapters of the bible Book of Acts, we see all disciples being transformed. Some were affected in amazingly spectacular ways and others in more placid ways. Let us concentrate on Peter for a good example of this. This is now a new Peter, transformed by the indwelling Holy Spirit, who speaks with the authority Jesus gave the disciples. Peter, given impetus by the Holy Spirit, preaches a sermon and 3000 people are added to the church in one day (Acts 2v41). This Peter, who when passing by a man who couldn't walk, told him to get up and walk - and he did (Acts 3v1-11)! A WOW moment for sure! Peter was allowing himself to be controlled by the Holy Spirit and doing some of the things that were synonymous with Jesus' earthly ministry. Transformed! What is the difference between this Peter and the Peter before Jesus' resurrection? It was only the Holy Spirit, the empowerment and the difference He made to Peter. Peter, by submitting himself to the authority and power of the Holy Spirit, was allowing the Holy Spirit to control him and guide him. This Peter, who we know from the Gospel accounts, had no self-control, yet now had self-control because he submitted to the Holy Spirit. The greatest evidence of the Holy Spirit living inside of humans, is the transformation of the individual into the image of Jesus - as demonstrated by our example, Peter. This Peter who allowed the Holy Spirit's power to heal people also administered church discipline as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5v10). But it wasn't just Peter who was empowered. As Acts 5v12-16 shows us, all the followers of Jesus, not just the twelve apostles, filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit, were able to do healings and other miracles. Not just those more spectacular gifts of healing, miracles etc but also gifts such as mercy, generosity, helps and service. The Holy Spirit, living inside and empowering all believers, for service of Jesus Christ, not just the original 12 apostles or disciples. That is one of the reasons the early church grew phenomenally and more about that growth later on in this series! Who is the Holy Spirit? But who is the Holy Spirit? Good question! In the Old Testament the Spirit makes appearances but only comes on one person at a time during that time. David is a good example of that! There was to be a time when He would live inside all believers in God through the Messiah! That's under the terms of the New Covenant as This is part of the fulfilment of the New Covenant, where the Almighty and All-powerful God would indwell those who follow him. Throughout his ministry Jesus had often talked about how after he departed back to the Father, that the Holy Spirit would come. The Holy Spirit is spoken of as God (1 Corinthians 3v16). The attributes of God are ascribed to the Holy Spirit - life (Romans 8v2), truth (John 16v13) and love (Romans 15v30). The Holy Spirit is also a Person and is always referred to as ‘He' in the New Testament (John 16v14). He relates to humanity as a person for he lives inside the believer as comforter, guide and teacher (John 14). He can be blasphemed against and be grieved (Ephesians 4v30). Wherever the Holy Spirit is, the Father and Son are also present. (John 14v18-23). Throughout the Book of Acts and in the other New Testament writings we discover more about the Holy Spirit. We see His prime role to glorify Jesus Christ as the Son of God (John 16v13-14), to testify for Jesus Christ (John 15v26) and witness for Jesus Christ (Acts 1v8) to humans. The Holy Spirit is involved with ministering to members of the church, as Jesus would be if He were there physically. There is more about the Holy Spirit if you search on this website! With all this, the Holy Spirit also equipped all the followers of Jesus for service, to will and to act accordingly to those purposes. We see in the rest of the Book of Acts, how the Holy Spirit empowered the early church and gave them impetus. Transformation and service are the key working practises of the Holy Spirit and we will His handiwork in our next episode as we see the Church begin! The Pharisees and Sadducees are long gone. The Roman Empire collapsed. But... But... But... Jesus' church still stands, is still growing, and will one day be joined with Jesus in eternity, to the praise, honour and glory of Him who will return in majesty, just as He promised! More about that later on in this series! So that's the birthday of the church! What happened next is what we talk about tomorrow! Thank you! Tap or click here to download as a MP3 audio file

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:1-8 SHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, we invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you will find additional resources to enrich your Walk with God. We look for lessons and examples from Scripture to guide our walk with God. In the first part of this series, “The Power of Prayer,” we examined many examples from the Old Testament. Now, we turn to the pages of the New Testament. In today's lesson, we will explore Jesus' words in Matthew 6. Jesus warns the disciples about hypocrisy. Yes, we are to live righteous lives, but “Watch out!” “You are the light of the world … let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:14-16). We are to perform good deeds openly in front of a watching world, not for our praise, but to draw attention to our Heavenly Father and give Him glory!"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others." Matthew 6:5Again, “Do not be like the hypocrites.” He references the Pharisees and Sadducees, the two main religious groups. They are obsessed with what others think of them. They seek recognition for their “good and righteous acts.”We pray for the same reasons children talk to their parents. We share concerns. We have a relationship and seek fellowship. We want help when facing tough times and confusing situations in life. Children need the wisdom of a Father and Mother. "Lord, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea! Do not turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down to listen and answer me quickly when I call to you." Psalm 102:1-2 SONG: "When We Pray" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DJ3NjA9ZjA&list=RD4DJ3NjA9ZjA&start_radio=1

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Thank you for joining me today and following us throughout Project 23. If you would like to learn more about this project, click the link to discover more and partner with us. Our text today is Mark 12:18-27: And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.” Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.” — Mark 12:18-27 Sometimes we don't want the truth. We want control. And so, we try to outsmart God. That's exactly what the Sadducees were doing here. They didn't believe in the resurrection, so they built a cleverly absurd story to make it look foolish. Seven brothers. One woman. No kids. One question: Whose wife will she be in heaven? To them, it was intellectual checkmate. But Jesus didn't flinch at their game. “You're wrong,” he said. “Because you don't know the Scriptures or the power of God.” To Jesus, their issue was not a matter of theological debate—it was a matter of spiritual diagnosis. They didn't want the truth. They tried to trap truth in their logic and reduce an infinite God to a human riddle. But you don't have to be a slippery Sadducee to try to outsmart God. We act this way every time we twist Scripture to justify sin. Every time we argue around obedience. Every time we elevate our logic over God's revelation. We're not wrestling for clarity—we're dodging surrender and trying to outsmart God. Jesus reveals that faith doesn't come from clever arguments—it comes from humble submission to God's will, as laid out in Scripture. It comes from knowing God's Word and trusting God's power, even when it doesn't fit our mental grid. So, stop debating with God like you're his equal. You don't need to outthink Him. You merely need to trust Him. Read his Word. Take him at his word. And act in faith. Because the real issue isn't intelligence—it's always surrender. #Mark12, #TrustOverControl, #ObedientFaith ASK THIS: Why did Jesus say the Sadducees were “quite wrong”? How do we sometimes use cleverness to avoid surrender? What's one truth you've been rationalizing instead of obeying? What would it look like to trust God's power over your logic? DO THIS: What's one area where you've been reasoning your way out of obedience? Confess it today—and take a simple step of surrender instead. PRAY THIS: God, I confess the ways I've tried to control you with logic. I don't want to win arguments—I want to walk in obedience. Teach me to trust you again. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Reign Above It All”

But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “ Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Acts 5:17-21 ESVThe goodness of God is many times over, greater than any opposition a person of faith will ever face.  When the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” Acts 5:21-23 ESV  Even when my situation seemingly remains the same, God can still change me and set me free. Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. Then someone arrived with startling news: “The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!” Acts 5:25 MSGFreedom doesn't make you immune to attack, but it does make it difficult for temptation to target you.The chief and his police went and got them, but they handled them gently, fearful that the people would riot and turn on them. Bringing them back, they stood them before the High Council. - - The Chief Priest said, “Didn't we give you strict orders not to teach in Jesus' name? And here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are trying your best to blame us for the death of this man.” Peter and the apostles answered, “It's necessary to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:26-29 MSGDon't allow the hypocritical perspectives of others to move you off of believing and applying God's truth.The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. These liars have lied so well and for so long that they've lost their capacity for truth. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 MSGConsistently rejecting God will cause you to lose the ability to discern truth, even when it's obvious.I insist, and God backs me up on this, that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can't think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion. Ephesians 4:17-19 MSGThe God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, the One you killed by hanging him on a cross. God set him on high at his side, Prince and Savior, to give Israel the gift of a changed life and sins forgiven. And we are witnesses to these things. The Holy Spirit, whom God gives to those who obey him, corroborates every detail.” Acts 5:30-32 MSGThe emboldened ability to embody and share the life changing message of Jesus has always followed faithfulness to His word and will. When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while. Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered. “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!” The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.” Acts 5:33-42 NLTLife's most immutable reality is the truth and love of Jesus is and the never ending impact He has on those who hope in Him!

But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “ Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Acts 5:17-21 ESVThe goodness of God is many times over, greater than any opposition a person of faith will ever face.  When the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” Acts 5:21-23 ESV  Even when my situation seemingly remains the same, God can still change me and set me free. Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. Then someone arrived with startling news: “The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!” Acts 5:25 MSGFreedom doesn't make you immune to attack, but it does make it difficult for temptation to target you.The chief and his police went and got them, but they handled them gently, fearful that the people would riot and turn on them. Bringing them back, they stood them before the High Council. - - The Chief Priest said, “Didn't we give you strict orders not to teach in Jesus' name? And here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are trying your best to blame us for the death of this man.” Peter and the apostles answered, “It's necessary to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:26-29 MSGDon't allow the hypocritical perspectives of others to move you off of believing and applying God's truth.The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. These liars have lied so well and for so long that they've lost their capacity for truth. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 MSGConsistently rejecting God will cause you to lose the ability to discern truth, even when it's obvious.I insist, and God backs me up on this, that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can't think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion. Ephesians 4:17-19 MSGThe God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, the One you killed by hanging him on a cross. God set him on high at his side, Prince and Savior, to give Israel the gift of a changed life and sins forgiven. And we are witnesses to these things. The Holy Spirit, whom God gives to those who obey him, corroborates every detail.” Acts 5:30-32 MSGThe emboldened ability to embody and share the life changing message of Jesus has always followed faithfulness to His word and will. When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while. Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered. “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!” The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.” Acts 5:33-42 NLTLife's most immutable reality is the truth and love of Jesus is and the never ending impact He has on those who hope in Him!

In Matthew 22 verses 1-14 we have the parable of the wedding feast of the Kingdom, to which we all have been invited through the Gospel. Our Omnipotent King has provided the only garment needed for admission; the sin covering raiment of His ever glorious and pre-eminent Son. We put this garment on when we believe the gospel, repent and are baptised. The disciple must then live a life of faithfulness for our Father to graciously give us a place in His kingdom. A sobering note concludes this parable: "Many are called, but few are chosen". Then follow four questions, each one from each of the three main political parties in Israel and then unanswered question from the Lord to each of these groups. These answers provided incontrovertible proof from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Promised Messiah. Verses 15-22 addresses the unpopular subject of taxation. The tax here was the Roman tax which was even more hated because it maintained Roman armies in Judah's land. The Land that had been given to them by the Almighty. Jesus was asked: "Should we pay this tax? Or, should we not pay it?" If our Lord said - yes - then he lost popularity with his people. If he said - no - then he could be accused of treason against Rome. His enemies were sure Jesus was trapped. However he completely turned the table on his adversaries. He masterfully not only answered the question but also used the occasion to direct all the hearers to their responsibilities to their God. Our Lord asked for a denarius. Whose image and superscription is on this coin? Caesar's they replied. Then give to Caesar what is his and to God what belongs to Him. We have been made in the image and likeness of God. So our lives, minds and actions belong to Him. Verses 23-33 say that the Sadducees came to Jesus with a trick question relating to resurrection. This sect accepted only the first five books of the Old Testament - called the Book of Moses. They mistakenly believed that resurrection was not supported by these Scriptures. However Jesus proves from Exodus 3 verses 15-17 that the raising of the dead is proven by Yahweh saying that He is the God of Abraham, and God is the God of the living, for all live unto Him - not He was - therefore Abraham has a future after his being restored to life in the future. Their failure, Jesus declared , was in not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God (verse 29). Verses 34-38 Jesus is asked by Pharisee lawyer which is the greatest commandment in the Law of Moses. This topic was hotly debated among the religious leaders. Our Lord's answer is that it is very clear: You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and mind and strength - Deuteronomy 6 verses 4-5. Jesus says that the second is like unto it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself: Leviticus 19:18; 1 John 4:7-13. The chapter concludes proving Jesus himself to be the divine son of David (after the flesh), but God's Son of the Father's right hand, as attested. In verses 39-46 Jesus asks his critics whose son is Messiah, his Lord? Easy they thought! The Old Testament tells us that Messiah is the son of David. If so, says Jesus, why then does David in Psalm 110 call Messiah his Lord? This was an impossibility in Jewish reckoning for a son to be superior to his father. The only way for this to be true is for Jesus to be the Son of God as well as being the son of David: Psalm 110 verses -2; 2 Samuel 7 verses 2-16, 2 Samuel 23 verses 1-7; Micah 5 verses 2-5. His opponents were left dumbfounded.

Jesus has proven Himself to be the perfect Man, bearing the title Son of Man, the perfect Messiah, bearing the title Son of David, and the perfect Prophet, Priest, and King. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes have challenged Jesus to their own detriment. The overarching message of Jesus' sermons is that no mere human is righteous enough to enter the Kingdom. Only Jesus has perfectly obeyed the law. It is only by His atoning death and resurrection that we may by faith receive the gift of His righteousness. In Matthew 23, Jesus proclaims woes on the Pharisees for following the signs (phylacteries, fringes, tithing, etc.) while neglecting genuine righteousness and faith. Notably, he said that the scribes and pharisees have not entered the kingdom and are “children of hell.” As we see, the way of the Pharisees is not merely an old model of faith; they are following a false religion and are facing judgment for killing the prophets of God. Pastor Dan takes us through Matthew 23, explaining that faith in Christ is essential for salvation and the false religion of the Pharisees is going to be judged. Jesus provides further details about their judgment in relation to the destruction of the temple in the next Chapter (24).

How will you Respond to Jesus' Miracles? What will you do with what you've seen?John 11:45-57Takes place Right after Jesus raised Lazarus from the deadEverything from this point forward in the Gospel of John focuses on the cross.The raising of Lazarus from the dead assures us of Jesus' power over death before He even goes to thecross to die.John 11:45-57 NIVThe Plot to Kill Jesus45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed inhim. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chiefpriests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him goon like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our templeand our nation.”49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing atall! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the wholenation perish.”51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for theJewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring themtogether and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to aregion near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem fortheir ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in thetemple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn't he coming to the festival at all?” 57 Butthe chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was shouldreport it so that they might arrest him.- There were 2 reactions from those who witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the deado 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesusdid, believed in him.  Who else but God can raise a man who had been in the tomb for 4 days?- 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. o It's amazing that 2 groups of people can witness the same event and come away withcompletely different reactions The way people see miracles depends on their moral condition Somehow, it isn't a guarantee that someone will come to Christ just because theywitness a miracle If a person is filled with unbelief, it might not make a difference if they've seen amiracleRather than worship Jesus in reverence for what they saw, they had to report itJesus becomes Israel's most wanted for the crime of raising a man from the dead. Herestored Lazarus' life, but many Jews want to take Jesus' life. Pretty ironic, right?47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.- The Sanhedrin was the highest judicial body in Israelo They had the political and spiritual power, but served under Roman authorityo In their point of view this was devastatingo Any time the star witness is a resurrected corpse – you have a pretty good case for thevalidity of Jesus as the Messiah.47 Continued “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing manysigns. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans willcome and take away both our temple and our nation.”- Jesus' enemies admit that He is doing miraculous works (many signs)o They didn't protest the authenticity of the healingso Too many miracles to deny the reality of the works- We see this later, when some of the disciples were performing miracles in Jesus name, and werebrought before the Sanhedrin…- Acts 4:15-17- 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What arewe going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they haveperformed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any furtheramong the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”o “Don't confuse me with the facts – I've made up my mind”o How do we explain their failure to see the truth? It wasn't lack of information Jesus actually gave the answer back in Chapter 9 when He told them they wereblinded by their sin. All of this religion and all of this biblical knowledge represented by the Sanhedrin,yet they were unable to see the glory of God's Son – because of sin. Some of the things we can take away from the Sanhedrin… You can be religious, but lost. You can memorize scripture but still be ignorant of its truth. You can say all the right things, but still have a heart that hasn't been transformedby the power of Jesus Christ.o They also had questioned the source of the miracles: demonic in origin- Matthew 9:3434 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”- They were just trying to justify their positiono And so we see their unbelief play out in an interesting way that even applies to us todaytoo: unbelief will encourage you to protect your idols (vv. 45-48).- 1. Unbelief encourages you to protect your idols 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come andtake away both our temple and our nation.”Their primary concern was maintaining control – Jesus threatened their position and influence –their idolso They are afraid that the Romans will come in and take away their nation Their concern wasn't for the people, but for themselves They believe that if people worship Jesus as the Messiah, then the Jews will comeand crown Him King of the Jews They were afraid - They knew the Romans would come in and destroy the templeand Jerusalem, and scatter the people - if everyone believed in Him The Jews, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin weren't interested in doing the right or justthing. Instead, their top priority was retaining their power and influence. Ironically – that which they were so afraid of happening – did happen… In AD 70 the Romans did that very thing It wasn't because the people believed in Jesus – it was most likely becausethey didn't We see in them a clear and striking picture of the self-centeredness of emptyreligion.- Empty Religion – these days, practiced by people who come to church, give money, say and do theright thing and are moral, but have no relationship with Jesus Christ – they haven't given their livesto Jesus Empty religion is always revealed by a person's focus What is your focus? If someone is truly following Jesus, their focus will be first on Jesus, then on othersand finally on themselves. – Empty religion always focuses first on me. It's based on MY effort It's about maintaining MY good works It's concerned primarily with MY blessing and MY safety – so others canlook on at “all the good choices I've made” Empty religion evaluates spiritual realities by how WE will be affected. – When ourdecisions are not based on clear biblical standards of holiness, but how they willaffect our own comfort and convenience. The Pharisees and Sadducees fear of loss of influence, power and income pushedthem to disobey God's will.o People want to protect their lifestyle (their idol) from Jesuso He always has and he always will be a threat to our idols. And when Jesus threatens idolsyou can expect hostility.o For someone who doesn't believe in Jesus, the idol always wins – Unfortunately, this is true for us too, isn't it? What are some of the idols you have been protecting from Jesus? Popularity – approval of others – your lifestyle – your habits We need to reserve the thrown in our lives for Jesus For the Pharisees, power and control were their idol, and blinded them to themiracle that so many had witnessed. They were more concerned about their place and their power than whetheror not this was really the Messiah Are we more committed to our own power, position, your possessions, your pridethan Jesus? Do you see Jesus as someone you can use for your own plans, or someone who isfree to use you for His?- At the same time Jesus is aware of the plot to kill Him, He longed to shelter and protect thepeople of Jerusalem.- But even though Jesus longed to gather His people under His wings, they just weren't interested.-Matthew 23:37-3937 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I havelonged to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you werenot willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again untilyou say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' [a] ”Yes, He was speaking to Jerusalem – but how often has He said to each of us “How often I have wantedto be your number one focus, but you were not willing”49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing atall! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the wholenation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesuswould die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God,to bring them together and make them one. John credits the prophesy to the office of High Priest, and not to the man- Interesting notes on Caiaphas:o He was a Sadducee, which means he didn't believe in the resurrection under anycircumstanceso As a Sadducee, he collaborated with the Romanso He didn't want anyone rocking the boato Having been high priest for 16 years, he was highly educated and intelligent, but also cynicaland ruthless.What we read in verses 49-50 is a great example of the irony that John builds into his gospel. Becauseclearly, Caiaphas is thinking only of political expediency, but the Lord intended for us to see somethingelse entirely.It's obviously ironic because what Caiaphas says in those verses is the gospel message in a nutshell!Jesus' death would save his people. “The nation” is a reference to the nation of Israel, but remember,Paul tells us that the people of faith are true people of God.- The death of Jesus Christ was going to accomplish what God intended. It was going to save those itwas intended to save, and it was going to gather them into one people.-o Though Caiphas said it – It's a great note of unmistakable certainty.- Caiaphas' didn't understand his own prophecy- He was so obsessed with his own political power, he only sees everything through that lens. He failsto understand that the Lord revealed something of spiritual significance through him – but he wasblind to it.o One thing to learn from that is that being obsessed with political power can force you tosee everything only through that lens – and miss the point of what God is actually doing. It's a lesson for all of us in this politically charged day.- Because it wasn't Caiaphas' plan that was ultimately carried out - it was God's plan for redemption!- For evil reasons they sought to put Jesus to death, but unbeknownst to them they wereaccomplishing God's sovereign will all along. What they meant for evil, God intended for good.- Caiphas' words, though said to fulfill his own purpose, held greater meaning than he could haveplanned. Peter makes this point during his sermon on the day of Pentacost.- Acts 2:2323 This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you,with the help of wicked men, [a] put him to death by nailing him to the cross.- This doesn't get Caiphas off the hook – he wasn't an unwilling puppet. God just turned his wickedwords into truth.o His speech must have been convincing, because in verse 53:53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.It's gone beyond impulsive attempts to stone Jesus, and become premeditated murder.It is noteworthy that some religious people, who claim to know God and to love and serve God don'trecognize their God when He shows up.- Amazing what darkness produces in the heart of the unbeliever – the blindnesso It's a good example of pragmatic thinking. Pragmatism is the fundamental belief thateverything is subservient to achieving results and success.o If your only goal is to achieve results, it won't be long before you find yourselfcompromising your own moral integrity.o Unfortunately, this way of thinking has even crept into the church. So many churches arewilling to do whatever it takes to grow. But if that's your only guiding principle it won't belong before your pragmatism puts you at odds with Biblical standards. What you win them with is what you win them to…- Jesus avoided them until the appropriate time:54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to aregion near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.- He would not die because of the whims and wished of the religious establishment.- His death was not the tragic death of a religious zealot. He would die at the time chosen by HisFather. His life would not be taken from Him. But He would willingly sacrifice it.55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem fortheir ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in thetemple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn't he coming to the festival at all?” They were wondering if Jesus was even going to come to the Passover57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus wasshould report it so that they might arrest him.So - How will you Respond to Jesus' Miracles?Will you waiver?- There is no neutrality, when it comes to Jesus – no middle ground when it comes to Jesuso Middle ground is illogical – if you believe Jesus is who He says He is, then you believe whatHe says and you obey Him. Jesus never claimed to occupy the middle ground either…infact…John 14:66 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except throughme.o There are only two options when it comes to Jesus Christ: trust in Him for the salvation ofyour soul, or reject him in unbelief.o One path – the wide path leased to destruction, and eternity away from Godo The path to Jesus is narrow…eternal life with himWill you fight against it?- Will your idols of wealth, independence, politics, power, control, pride, popularity or approval blindyou to what Jesus wants to do in your life? Does the lifestyle you want to have…or maybe the oneyou already have conflict with God's will for your life?o God's will like a stream…or water coming in at the beach- Part 2 of the title: What will you do with what you've seen?o You can try to justify unbelief by saying “I didn't see any miracles with my own eyes” Sure you have! Do you have a mirror? You're made in His image.Genesis 1:27So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.Life itself is a miracle. Ever been outside?Romans 1:2020 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divinenature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people arewithout excuse.Can you see me?- 5 year celebration of surviving a cardiac arrest.The same God that raised Lazarus from the dead, and was murdered by the religious leaders for everysin we commit, and was raised from the dead himself 3 days later still performs miracles today. This allpoints to Jesus…every story in this room points to Jesus…or at least should.What will you do with what you've seen?You can't unsee it now…You can't unhear what you've heard…so you have to make a choice

Finding Jesus in Unexpected Places // Finding –The Samaritan Woman at the Well John 4:1-42 (NIV)“Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he. Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him. Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.Don't you have a saying, ‘It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”Deuteronomy 25:5 (NIV)“If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her.” Mark 12:18-23 (NIV)“Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” John 4:27 (NIV)“Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” John 4:27 (MSG)“Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. They couldn't believe he was talking with that kind of a woman. No one said what they were all thinking, but their faces showed it.” Jesus not only walked through cultural barriers, but he also walked through racial barriers.  Jesus not only walked through cultural barriers and racial barriers, but he also walked through religious/traditional barriers. John 4:20-24 (NIV)“Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  Jesus brings the focus from the practice to the purpose. John 4:10-14 (NIV)“Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”  Revelation 22:17 (NASB)“Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”  

Galatians‬The best use of life is love.1 Corinthians‬1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. Butthe greatest of these is love.The best expression of love is time.1 Corinthians‬The best time to love is now.Matthew 22:34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, thePharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested himwith this question: 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in theLaw?”37Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with allyour soul and with all your mind.'  38This is the first and greatestcommandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor asyourself.'  40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these twocommandments.”If you love God first and love God most you'll love others best.

Vin Latteri - July 13th 2025 The danger isn't just around us—it's the subtle influence that shapes us from within. As we continue our The King & His Kingdom series in Matthew 16:1–12, Jesus is met with demands for signs—and offers a warning instead: beware the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. This message challenges us to examine what's forming our thinking. Are our expectations causing us to miss Jesus? Are we forgetting what Jesus has already done? Are we letting fear or control take the lead? Jesus calls us back to trust, to memory, and to a kingdom mindset. Learn more about our church: https://restoredtemecula.church Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restoredtemecula and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restoredtemecula #Matthew16 #BewareTheYeast #KingdomMindset #FaithOverFear #TheKingAndHisKingdom #RestoredTemecula #ChristianSermon #TrustJesus #SpiritualDiscernment #BiblicalTeaching Share this message with someone who needs to hear it! Chapters (00:00:00) - Welcome Home: Restored Church(00:00:34) - A Special Message for One of Our Clergy(00:03:07) - Jesus Thanks For His Gifts(00:04:47) - The Kingdom of Heaven vs The Kingdom of This World(00:07:55) - The Bible(00:08:14) - The Sign of the Sea(00:11:57) - The Differences Between the Pharisees and the Sadducees(00:19:26) - What Are Expectations?(00:21:58) - Favorite Trip Of All Time(00:22:31) - driving from Tokyo to Kyoto in Japan(00:26:49) - The Japanese Police Pull Over My Car(00:29:02) - Do You Have Expectations That Make You Miss Jesus?(00:31:27) - Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and Sad(00:36:27) - The kingdom of heaven is also inside out(00:42:23) - The Who of King Jesus(00:44:16) - Do You Have Expectations That Are causing You to Miss Jesus?(00:51:25) - "Start Living Inside Out"(00:51:52) - Listen to the Spirit and Be Obedient

We continue our series in Matthew, with a look at the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 16. This week's discussion questions and the spiritual checkup included in this message are below: Self-Righteous Faith Checkup 1. You feel morally superior to others. You look down on others who sin differently than you do, assuming you're better because you don't struggle in the same way. You believe you've outgrown needing mercy — forgetting that the gospel is for all sinners. 2. You're more focused on other's sins than your own. You spend so much time criticizing or judging others, and always have an excuse when you behave badly. 3. You take pride in your spiritual performance. You find your identity in your church attendance, prayer, giving, Bible knowledge rather than finding it in Jesus. 4. You believe because of your good behavior or spiritual deeds that God owes you something and you feel frustrated when other people who do things you never would get blessed. Like the older brother in the prodigal son story, you feel resentful when someone who “doesn't deserve it” is welcomed. 5. You spend more time correcting people rather than encouraging them. You're quick to give people “truth” but slow to offer grace, compassion or love. 6. You only want to spend time with people who look, act and believe like you. You avoid people outside your theological, political or moral tribe. 7. You struggle to admit that you are wrong, and find reasons that even when you were wrong you were actually kinda right. 8. You study scripture to justify yourself, not to become like Jesus. You use the Bible as a weapon against others, not a mirror for yourself. 9. You talk about Jesus more than you live and love like Him. You have the right theology, but you haven't become a person who acts like Jesus, and that's the telos of the Christian faith. 10. You get tired of serving others if you aren't seen, praised for it and given a pat on the back. Your faith is performative — more about image than intimacy with God. 11. When people challenge or question you, you become defensive and view it as an attack, rather than an opportunity to become more like Jesus. 12. You think some people are beyond saving. July 13 Discussion Questions 1. What stood out to you in Jesus' warning about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees? Why do you think Jesus used yeast as His metaphor? 2. In what ways can pride or self-righteousness sneak into our faith without us noticing? Can you identify a time when this has happened in your own walk with God? 3. Which of the 12 “faith checkup” statements felt most personally convicting or relevant to you? Why do you think that is? 4. How do we balance speaking truth with showing grace and compassion in our relationships with others? What does that look like practically? 5. Jesus doesn't give up on His disciples even when they misunderstand Him. How does that encourage you in your journey of following Him — especially when you feel like you've “missed it”? 6. What would it look like for you to start being more honest with yourself and with God this week? Are there areas you tend to avoid because they're painful or messy? 7. Who are the people in your life you trust to help point out blind spots or areas of pride in your faith? How might you open yourself up to their input?

Please join us with Pastor Matt Irving as we explore Luke 20:27-47 and Jesus questioning on resurrection by the Sadducees.

In chapter 14 verses 1-12 of Matthew Herod is struck with terror on hearing of the miracles of Jesus. Herod Antipas, a convert of the Sadducees (and therefore a non believer in the resurrection of the dead) was convinced that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead. Our Lord is told of John's brutal decapitation and in response seeks solitude to reflect. Verses 13-22 tell us that Jesus is interrupted by a multitude seeking him out and his compassionate response to their need of a shepherd to teach them: compare Numbers 27 verse 17. Jesus feeds 5,000 of them and heals many. John 6 tells us that their desire was to take him by force and make him their king. Jesus summarily dispersed the crowd and went into a mountain to pray. Verses 24-33 speak of Jesus sending the Apostles by boat to the other side of the lake. After praying on the mountain our Lord saw the Apostles toiling in rowing on a storm tossed sea and failing to make any progress. The Lord came to them through the storm, walking on the water. Peter alone showed the faith and courage to briefly do likewise. Though Peter's faith faltered he alone had the courage to walk on the Sea of Galilee at the request of his master. O that such trust in our master and such confidence was ours that Peter then displayed! Peter was rescued by his Master. Their port of destination was Capernaum - meaning the city of consolation. This speaks of our destination and finding comfort when our Lord, the Father's Son and our hope and consolation, has come. Verses 34-36 tell us that Jesus on reaching the other side of the lake Jesus healed many at Gennesaret.

Daily Dose of Hope July 8, 2025   Scripture - Matthew 22:23-46   Prayer:  Lord Jesus, We come before you this morning, thanking you for a new day.  Lord, you are good and we rejoice in your holy and powerful name.  As we begin our day, Lord, help us focus on you.  Help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on your Word and what you want us to learn today.  We get so distracted and self-consumed.  Forgive us for that, Lord.  In these next few moments of silence, help us have laser focus on your voice... In Your Powerful Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we finish up with Matthew 22.    In this chapter, we see the Pharisees and Sadducees are trying to trick Jesus. They are desperately trying to trap him in his words so they can discredit him and/or arrest him. These teachers of the law feel like Jesus is destroying the very fabric of their religious faith. He certainly is turning everything upside down!   The first part of today's passage is addressing Levirate marriage.  The Sadducees, the intellectual aristocracy of the day, did not believe in resurrection.  They were pressing Jesus on the topic, hoping to make him look foolish.  If you will recall from Mark, levirate law was intended to protect widows without a male heir.  When a brother died, leaving his wife without children, a surviving brother marries the widow with the sole intention of producing an heir.  If a son is conceived, he is actually considered to be the deceased brother's child.  In ancient near-East culture, a widow without any connection to a male would either starve or be forced to beg or prostitute herself.    Thus, the Sadducees question makes a little more sense even though it is a bit absurd.  A woman's husband dies and she marries a brother.  That brother dies and she marries another brother and so forth until she has been married to all seven brothers.  Then she dies.  Whose wife will she be at the resurrection?  Keep in mind, they ask this question knowing that they think the resurrection is false.    Jesus basically tells them they are missing the point. In the resurrection, our bodies will be different – perfect and glorious.  There will also be a change in our spiritual nature.  Jesus is saying that in regard to marriage and sexual matters, we will be like the angels (note that he did not say we will be angels but we will be like them.)    But the Sadducees were mistaken so significantly not because of this absurd question but because they didn't believe in the resurrection.  This is a fundamental aspect of Jesus' teaching and they missed it entirely.    The next part of today's Scripture is in regard to the greatest commandment.  Keep in mind, when asking about which commandment is greatest, the expert in the law is hoping to engage in some kind of debate. But the commandment Jesus chose was not one that could be open for debate–it was a commandment recited by pious Jews each and every day, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. But then, Jesus adds something new, as he often does. He says...and the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.   A person cannot love God and treat their neighbor poorly. Love of God is not an intellectual or abstract claim. Rather, love of God is expressed in the way we love others. I John 4:20 speaks to this truth, Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. What's interesting to me here is that Jesus says that the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments. If one loves God wholeheartedly, then they will observe the law. If someone loves God wholeheartedly, they will care for others as well. The prophets often proclaimed the need to worship God sincerely (not just go through the motions) and take care of those who were oppressed. One cannot split hairs about observing the Sabbath but then cheat your neighbor in the marketplace. Love of God and neighbor are intricately connected. This was true 2000 years ago and it's true today.   Think about this past week. How have you demonstrated love of God? What about love of neighbor?   In the final portion of today's Scripture, rather than allowing the Pharisees to try to entrap him, Jesus asks the hard question.  He asks the group, “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?”  They immediately respond, “The son of David.”  How then, Jesus asked, could David call him by the Spirit ‘Lord' when he said, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”' (Psalm 110:1). “If David”, Jesus said, “Calls him ‘Lord,' how can he be his son?” The Pharisees were unable to answer and “from that day on no one dared to question him any longer”. Jesus point was missed.  Of course, Jesus had descended from David. He was the Son of God.  He was the Messiah, the one the Jews had been waiting for, for hundreds of years.  He was right before their eyes and they were missing it.  Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Rev. James Harper preached on Luke 20:27-44 as part of our sermon series "Following Jesus" on the Book of Luke.    Jesus confronted the Sadducees who denied the resurrection with a powerful defense of life after death. The Sadducees, a powerful but disliked group who controlled the Jewish Sanhedrin, tried to trap Jesus with a trick question about marriage in the afterlife. Jesus responded by revealing their misunderstanding of both God's character and Scripture. He explained that the resurrection reality differs from earthly life, and pointed to scriptural evidence including God's self-identification as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - patriarchs who were physically dead but alive to God. This resurrection hope gives meaning that transcends our circumstances and reminds us that God desires eternal relationship with us.

What about resurrection?- The Sadducees did not believe in heaven because they could not understand the concept. A lack of belief in the afterlife affected the way they lived their lives. Jesus lovingly tried to help them see the error of their ways.

Monday, 7 July 2025   The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children.” Matthew 11:19   “He came, the Son of Man, eating and drinking, and they say, ‘You behold! A man, a glutton, and a winebibber! A friend of taxmen and sinners!' And it is justified, the wisdom, from her children” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said he had a demon. He continues with, “He came, the Son of Man, eating and drinking.”   Jesus is referring to Himself in the third person, contrasting His life to that of John. As noted in the previous commentary, “eating and drinking” signifies more than just the act of eating and drinking, but doing so in a social setting. Whereas John would refrain from such things, Jesus welcomed them. For example –   “Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.' 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, ‘He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.'” Luke 19:1-7   Understanding this, Jesus continues, saying, “and they say, ‘You behold! A man, a glutton, and a winebibber! A friend of taxmen and sinners!'”   Two new words are introduced here. The first is phagos, a glutton. The second is oinopotés, a winebibber. It is derived from oinos, wine, and pinó, to drink. Both words will only be seen again in the comparable passage in Luke 7.   As in the account of Zacchaeus, Jesus went into the houses of those whom the Pharisees and Sadducees would never enter. He ate and drank what was put before Him without any objections.   Seeing this, the judgmental sort called him a glutton and a winebibber. This shows the utter folly of their thinking. John, who refrained from any such thing, was said to have a demon. Jesus, who openly associated with those shunned by the elites, is accused of inappropriate behavior.   Neither had committed any infraction of the law, and yet, they were arrogantly dismissed as being something they were not. As such, those saying such things had made themselves the standard of what is acceptable and what is not, ignoring the fact that it is the Lord, through the law, who set the standards of what was acceptable in the society.   As for the words, “they say,” it is the same thought from the previous verse –   ... and they say he has a demon! ... and they say, “You behold! A man, a glutton, and a winebibber!”   The words reveal who “this generation” in verse 16 is. It is not referring to John and Jesus, but to the Jews who stood accusing them –   Vs. 17 ...they say, “We piped to you and not you danced. We bewailed to you and not you breast-beat.” Vs. 18 ...and they say he has a demon! Vs. 19 ...and they say, “You behold! A man, a glutton, and a winebibber!”   Jesus is making a one-to-one comparison of those in His example and the Jews who stood around, finger-pointing at the lifestyles of John and Jesus. Because of this, Jesus concludes the thought with, “And it is justified, the wisdom, from her children.”   Another new word is seen here, dikaioó, to render just or innocent. It is that which is upright because of meeting a proper standard. Jesus is saying the wisdom, that which is divinely set forth by God, and which seems so arbitrary in how it is displayed, meaning in the conflicting, changeable conduct between John and Jesus, is proven upright from their actions.   Both Jesus and John were within their rights to live their lives as they desired while adhering to the Law of Moses as the guide for Israeli society. Despite one living in a certain way while the other lived in a completely different manner, they performed their roles before God in a way that He accepted and that brought Him glory.   Life application: Jesus' words show that God can and does work through different means and allowances to meet the set goals of the plan of redemption. John was used while living the life of an ascetic. Jesus lived His life associating with the outcasts, dining with them, etc. The two seemingly contrary lifestyles merged to form a part of God's unfolding redemptive narrative.   This is like the doctrine of dispensationalism. People have a problem with it because it seems fickle. In the dispensational model, God works one way with one group of people and another way with another group. As such, it seems arbitrary, and it appears that His plans are conflicting and changeable.   Such is not the case. The wisdom of God expresses itself through these various methods to form a whole. Bread doesn't just pop into existence. It first grows as wheat. The wheat is harvested and processed. It is then ground in a mill. After that, it will be mixed into dough. From there, the dough is placed in an oven. Once the bread is finished, butter is slathered all over it, and the family enjoys it as a part of dinner.   Each step of the process is different, and yet, a final anticipated result is realized. This is akin to how God's dispensational plan works from beginning to end. It is a step-by-step process, each dispensation unique and different from the others, culminating in eternal fellowship between God and His creatures. Peace and harmony are restored and realized.   Lord God, Your wisdom is on display in everything around us. The movement of the stars, pollination by the bees, males and females forming a couple... each of these and an infinite number more things reveal Your wisdom. It is also seen in Your word, which explains to us how we can be reconciled to You through Jesus. Thank You for such wonderful wisdom, leading to hope and restoration. Amen.

The most irrefutable testimony for the truth of God is a life that has been changed and healed!While Peter and John were addressing the people, the priests, the chief of the Temple police, and some Sadducees came up, indignant that these upstart apostles were instructing the people and proclaiming that the resurrection from the dead had taken place in Jesus. They arrested them and threw them in jail until morning, for by now it was late in the evening. But many of those who listened had already believed the Message, in round numbers about five thousand! Acts 4:1-4 MSGThose who are open to God's voice will hear Him, and those who aren't, won't! The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. Acts 4:5-6 NLTThe decision to ignore or manipulate God's truth is a form of self-deception with roots in demonic rebellion! Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NLTDenying the truth doesn't make it less true or you less accountable for the consequences of disobedience.They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” Acts 4:7 NLTThen Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we've done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:8-12 NLTA man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell. C. S. Lewis The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. Acts 4:13-14 NLT Objections to God's truth and will and fall silent against an honest assessment of His Grace and Glory.What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can't deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. Acts 4:16 NLTFriends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance…. Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Acts 3:17 & 19 NLTJustification and pride are the right soil for deception, while humility and repentance are the right soil for a harvest of deliverance and freedom. The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn't know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God for this miraculous sign, the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years. Acts 4:21-22 NLTAll the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's great blessing was upon them all. Acts 4:32-33 NLTObedient faith in the risen Christ is the foundation for everything God does in and through His people and His church. 

We continue in our series in the book of Matthew. This week's discussion questions are below: Discussion Questions 1. What are some of the key differences between the feeding of the 5,000 and the feeding of the 4,000? Why do you think Matthew included both stories? 2. What does Jesus' compassion in Matthew 15:32 reveal about his heart and his priorities? 3. How did the disciples respond to the situation, even after seeing a similar miracle before? What does that tell us about human nature? 4. Have you ever experienced “spiritual amnesia” — forgetting how God provided for you in the past when facing a new challenge? 5. In what ways are you tempted to seek signs from God in uncertain times? How can you grow in discernment instead of chasing certainty? 6. What “signs of the kingdom” have you seen in your life or in the world around you — signs that Jesus is at work even if it's not dramatic or flashy? 7. The Pharisees and Sadducees demanded a sign, but were unwilling to see what was already in front of them. How can we guard against becoming spiritually blind to God's work? 8. Jesus points to the “sign of Jonah” — how does the resurrection function as the ultimate sign, and how should that shape our faith?

The most irrefutable testimony for the truth of God is a life that has been changed and healed!While Peter and John were addressing the people, the priests, the chief of the Temple police, and some Sadducees came up, indignant that these upstart apostles were instructing the people and proclaiming that the resurrection from the dead had taken place in Jesus. They arrested them and threw them in jail until morning, for by now it was late in the evening. But many of those who listened had already believed the Message, in round numbers about five thousand! Acts 4:1-4 MSGThose who are open to God's voice will hear Him, and those who aren't, won't! The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. Acts 4:5-6 NLTThe decision to ignore or manipulate God's truth is a form of self-deception with roots in demonic rebellion! Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NLTDenying the truth doesn't make it less true or you less accountable for the consequences of disobedience.They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” Acts 4:7 NLTThen Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we've done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:8-12 NLTA man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell. C. S. Lewis The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. Acts 4:13-14 NLT Objections to God's truth and will and fall silent against an honest assessment of His Grace and Glory.What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can't deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. Acts 4:16 NLTFriends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance…. Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Acts 3:17 & 19 NLTJustification and pride are the right soil for deception, while humility and repentance are the right soil for a harvest of deliverance and freedom. The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn't know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God for this miraculous sign, the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years. Acts 4:21-22 NLTAll the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's great blessing was upon them all. Acts 4:32-33 NLTObedient faith in the risen Christ is the foundation for everything God does in and through His people and His church. 

Flowing with God or Fighting against God?   Scale of 1-10 If flowing with God is a 10—and fighting against God is a 1—where are you on that scale? Acts 4:36-37 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet. Acts 5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.  2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?  4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.  6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.  8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” 9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.  11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.   Beware of hypocrisy.   12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.  13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.  14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.  15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.  16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.   17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.  18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.    Beware of jealousy.   19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.  20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” 21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.  22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”  24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. 25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.”  26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. 27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.  28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!  30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.  31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.  32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.  34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.  36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Beware of neutrality. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

This Sunday teaching team member and guest speaker, AJ VanDellen asked us if we are still putting first things first?  Are you still following the first and greatest commandment?  Join us this Sunday for a brand-new series "What Parenting Taught Me About God."  34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.Our mission is to glorify God by equipping His people to change their world and by planting churches with the same world-changing vision.Website: https://mannastafford.church/Find us on: Facebook:   / mannastafford  Instagram:   / manna.stafford  TikTok:   / manna.stafford

On todays show Texas Jim and James, Chris, and Glenn talk about on the theological concept of belief in Christ and its implications for salvation. Key points included the necessity of recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, and the importance of the resurrection. The conversation explored the intellectual, emotional, and voluntary aspects of faith, emphasizing the need for propositional knowledge and the role of the Holy Spirit. The debate also touched on the historical context of the Sadducees and Pharisees' beliefs, the significance of the resurrection in the New Testament, and the practical application of these teachings in evangelism. Don't miss it!

Acts 4 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.  3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.  4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. 5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest's family.  7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed,  10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.  11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.' 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.  14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.  15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.  16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it.  17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!  20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.  22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. 23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.  24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.  25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.' 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.  28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.  29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.  30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comActs 23 Paul defends himself before the Jewish Council after his arrest. He proclaims his clear conscience and sparks a dispute between the Pharisees and Sadducees when he mentions his belief in the resurrection. The argument escalates, leading Roman soldiers to remove Paul for his safety. That night, the Lord appears to Paul, encouraging him to take heart and assuring him that he will testify in Rome. Meanwhile, a group of over forty Jews plot to kill him, vowing to fast until they succeed. Paul's nephew learns of the scheme and informs the Roman commander, who arranges for Paul to be escorted to Caesarea under heavy guard. This chapter emphasizes God's protection, His sovereign plan for Paul, and the courage required to stand for the gospel in the face of opposition.  God's sovereign power and protection are ever-present, even in the face of faithless opposition. Trusting in God's presence is crucial for standing up for the truth about Jesus. Just as Paul faced the Council, even religious people and parties can be aggressive and threatening. But the resurrection of the dead transforms us, offering hope and promises that transcend this world. While Paul's journey was not always pleasant, the challenges he faced led him to share Jesus with unexpected people, such as Felix, the Governor. We should seek ways to discern how God is guiding us into new environments and unplanned places, creating significant opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and the impact He has on our lives.  Wonderful Father, thank You for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His victory over death has completely transformed our lives, hopes, and purpose. We live for eternal life, which guides everything we do. Help us to live by faith and maintain a good conscience in all our actions. We have so much to learn, but You call us to live with conviction to the best of our knowledge and ability. Use us to demonstrate the peace that comes from giving our hearts to You. Lead us to new and necessary places where we can testify to the love of Christ.  Thought Questions: -       What does it mean to live with a good conscience? How important is it to continue shaping your conscience with the word of God? -       Has God protected and spared you at times in your life? For what spiritual purpose has God preserved you up to this present time? -       The plot of the forty men failed. Do you believe God stops evil plans as He wills? How does that belief seed peace within your heart?

As we read about Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, Fr. Mike breaks down Jesus' interactions with his disciples and the Sadducees and his reaction to the widow's offering. We learn that a life rooted in Jesus is a life that bears good fruit. Today we read Mark 11-12 and Psalm 67. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.