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Church Matures G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 28 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! We saw last time that the church has experienced some crises but overcame them with guidance from the Holy Spirit, prayer and wisdom. They would need that again, in another 2 events we look at tonight! King Jesus Makes An Appearance to Saul! Reading from Acts 9 ‘But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" He said, "Who are you, Lord?" The Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do."' Paul's conversion is perhaps the most famous throughout the history of the Church. Known as Saul, he had led systematic persecution of Christians, including the death of Stephen we looked at last time.. The only possible cause for his conversion is the beautiful sovereign grace of God. Why did Paul hate the believers so much? Because, To his mind at the time, to him a dead Messiah was no Messiah at all and how could the Saviour of the Jews, the Messiah, die on a cross and be cursed by God. No, no. Paul considered it his duty as a man zealous for the law, to eradicate all those who were followers of this man. Carrying letters from the High Priest in Jerusalem, he set out for Damascus in a bid to stop these Christians. He would arrive in Damascus, a proud and pompous man, bent on ridding the city of its followers of Jesus. But Jesus appears suddenly to Paul and speaks to him! God arrested Paul, shone his light upon him, the mercy of God overflowed upon him and the grace of God through Jesus overwhelmed him! Leading to his conversion, Paul had his sub-conscious doubts about Jesus amidst the stories of Jesus being raised from the dead! The witness of Stephen as Paul watched him die and pray to Jesus asking the Lord to forgive his enemies - for as the church father, Augustine comments "If Stephen had not prayed, the Church would not have had Paul!" The inadequacy of the Old Covenant and Law to save! He knew that his thoughts & attitudes were not clean for example his sin of covetousness. Therefore he had no inner power or peace! But what were the consequences of this conversion? His name was changed from Saul to Paul (Acts 13)! His attitudes, character & relationships with God, fellow believers and the unbelieving world were utterly transformed with the Holy Spirit now living inside him. Instead of arriving in Damascus full of pride & bravery, as a self confident enemy of Jesus, Paul entered Damascus as a prisoner of Jesus, humbled and blinded. But his conversion was initially met with doubt! The first person to minister to him was Ananias who was hesitant to do so but was persuaded by the Lord to do so! Other believers in Damascus also doubted Paul's conversion, but they were won over by the Holy Spirit and Paul's transformation. Paul Sent Jesus appointed Paul to be 3 things: a servant of God; a witness for God to the world, and also an apostle engaged in pioneer work to the Gentiles. Jesus confirmed this to Ananias that Paul was a 'chosen instrument', and Ananias passed this onto Paul (v15). Four things Paul would do: His witness was centred on Jesus Christ.. His witness was powered by the Holy Spirit His witness was courageous in Damascus, the synagogues and in Jerusalem where the Sanhedrin met. He also debated with the Hellenists His witness was costly. His life was often threatened and throughout his life he was persecuted against. Paul's experience of rejection in Damascus repeated itself in Jerusalem. When he tried to join the Apostles and Christian believers, they were afraid and doubted he really was a believer. But this time Barnabas to the others about him and his changed life. Paul was eventually accepted by them into the community of believers. We see the maturing church has now five characteristics - peace - free from outside interference strength - confirming its position encouragement - comforted by the Holy Spirit growth - multiplying numerically godliness - living in the fear of the Lord. However soon after this, another problem - a matter concern doctrine! Doctrinal Issues Arise In Acts 15v1 we read "Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can't be saved." At its beginning, the apostolic church was one church under the unitary leadership of the apostles. However a new problem arose! This problem arose because some men from Judea came to Antioch and promoted the view that circumcision was necessary for salvation and that certain regulations of the Old Testament law be required of non-Jewish converts as prerequisites for their recognition as members of the church of Jesus Christ. They were opposed by Paul and Barnabas, and as there was no final resolution, help was sought from the church in Jerusalem, still at this point the heartland of the Christian church. On arriving at Jerusalem, the delegates from Antioch were welcomed by 'the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them', This gathering evidently consisted of the leadership (apostles and elders) and many of the membership, including those convened were putting forward the requirement that Gentiles 'must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses' (Acts 15v5-6). This was the context for discussion of the issue. There was free debate and no papering over differences. The apostles let the elders speak before they joined in and it is clear that their goal was to know the mind of the Holy Spirit in the matter (Acts 15v28). The Apostle Peter rose after much discussion, and proceeded to demolish the Judaist viewpoint with arguments drawn from his own experience of ministry to Gentiles. He first described the conversion of the Gentiles as the work of God (Acts 15v 7-9) as they were filled with the Holy Spirit just as Jewish believers in Jesus were! This was proved by the Gentile Christians' faith, which was no different from their own (Acts 15v9)! Rising to a glorious crescendo, the Apostle Peter declared emphatically the very heart of the gospel: that salvation is by grace alone, both for Jews and Gentiles (Acts 15v11). Now doubt he reflected on the words of Jesus who said 'my yoke is easy and my burden is light' (Matthew 11v30). James, the brother of Jesus delivered the coup-de-grace to the Judaism argument with a direct appeal to the Word of God. God had already spoken on the matter! Quoting Amos 9v11-12, James reminded them that the prophet had declared that 'David's fallen tent' was be restored and that this would involve the in gathering of all the Gentiles who bear the Lord's name' (Acts 15v16-18). This is fulfilled, James says, in all that Peter had described (Acts 15:14). The church of Jesus Christ was all along intended to encompass both Jew and Gentile and, one by one without discrimination, they are brought to the same faith by the same Lord. This, James showed, was 'the mind of God", in the Scripture'. A proposal There was a definitive doctrinal proposal: 'We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God' (Acts 15v19). It told the Judaizing party in the gentlest possible way that what they were asking for was not the Lord's will for the church, and contrary to the gospel of God's free grace in Christ by faith alone. Then in Acts 15v20 there was a practical 4 point proposal to foster church unity by asking the Gentile Christians to take particular care to distance themselves from their former manner of life. Leave Alone: Gentiles were to examine critically their old habits and give no cause to anyone to accuse them of their old sins. They were also encouraged to be graciously accommodating to Jewish dietary sensitivities. For their part, Jewish believers needed to understand that Gentiles were not to be required to observe the Mosaic ceremonial law. Grace Alone: The apostles clearly taught that salvation was by the free and sovereign grace of God through faith in Christ alone. Council of Jerusalem held that line and closed the door on further discussion. Spirit Alone: They emphasised that the decision 'seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to the church' (Acts 15v28). Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit would lead them into all truth (John 14v26; 16v13). Standing Alone: The council's four 'requirements', highlight the necessity and the blessing of the separated life for Christians and to "stand alone" from the world, whilst living in the world. 'You will do well to avoid these things' (Acts 15v29). The conversion of Paul and the Council of Jerusalem, led to the church maturing, going forward in unity and returning to the expansion of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Tap or click here to download as a MP3 audio file
“Nothing so conclusively proves one's ability to lead others as what he does fromday to day to lead himself.” – Thomas J. Watson Sr.HEALTHY HABITS serve as pulleys to lighten your load and INCREASEyour leadership capacity.1. EXCEPTIONAL leaders continually model HUMILITY.Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comeswisdom."People would rather follow a leader who is always real rather than alwaysright.”—Craig Groeschel2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for mypower is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladlyabout my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, forChrist's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, indifficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.2. Exceptional leaders learn how to HANDLE CRITICISM.Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.Mark 15:1-5 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, theteachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they boundJesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. “Are you the king of theJews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied. The chief priests accusedhim of many things. So again Pilate asked him, “Aren't you going to answer? Seehow many things they are accusing you of.” But Jesus still made no reply, andPilate was amazed.Sometimes as a leader you RESPOND to criticism, and other times you justABSORB IT.Psalm 18:1-2 GNTD How I love you, LORD! You are my defender. The LORD ismy protector; he is my strong fortress. My God is my protection, and with him Iam safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe.3. Exceptional leaders allow GOD to LEAD THEM.The leader who ADVANCES in the future is the one who RETREATS toGod's word.Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will giveyou rest.
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When Paul stands before the Sanhedrin, he turns their division into his defense. Rather than focus on himself, he puts the resurrection—the hope of the gospel—on trial. As chaos erupts around him, God protects Paul for His purposes. Go forward today with courage, knowing that no power can hinder God's plan for your life.
Woes - Jesus confronts the Religious Leaders in powerful ways, as the Sanhedrin continues looking for a solution. The Disciples struggle to comprehend what is coming.
Daily Dose of Hope July 18, 2025 Scripture – Matthew 26:47-75 Prayer: Almighty God, We thank you for this week. As we go over the days of this past week, give us insight into what we did well and where we fell short. How did we deny you? How did we glorify you? Lord, we truly want to reflect you in everything we do. Give me self-awareness, Lord. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, we are hungry to hear your voice. In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are finishing up Matthew 26. We'll discuss Jesus' arrest in the garden, his time before the high priest, and Peter's denial. Let's start with the arrest itself. The Jewish leaders sent an armed crowd to arrest Jesus. Maybe they were expecting resistance from the disciples. One thing is certain – they needed to come at night and quietly. They knew that if they tried to arrest Jesus during the day as he was walking among the crowds, that there would be a riot. They needed an insider though to help them access Jesus privately. They found one in Judas. Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss, literally. Jesus seemed to be expecting him. He knew what was about to occur. Again, I wonder what is going on in Judas' mind at the time. Does he hesitate at all? Is he so angry and resolute because Jesus wasn't the Messiah he hoped him to be? Is he just overcome with evil? The Scripture said that one of Jesus' companions cut the soldier's ear off. We know from other Gospels that it was indeed Peter who did so. Jesus wasn't happy about that. He makes this interesting statement about how the things that were prophesied must take place. Jesus knows. All of this is necessary, for our sake that is. Jesus goes before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. Caiaphas, the high priest, interrogates Jesus. They are actually in Caiaphas' home as they do this. It certainly feels suspicious and secret. They were looking for something for which to charge Jesus. They feel so threatened by him. False witnesses come forward, and Jesus is silent. Finally, when asked if he is the Messiah, Jesus responds. But he makes it clear he isn't just a human Messiah sent by God to set up an earthly Kingdom and free the Jews. Actually, he is divine. And Jesus tells them that he will be seated on God's right hand and will come back to earth on the clouds of heaven in judgment. He is the rightful king now and in the future. He is God and he will be on the throne. Well, that does it. The high priest can't believe his ears. He tears his clothes and calls out blasphemy. The council decides that Jesus is worthy of death. Of course, as they do all of this, they have no idea that prophecy is being fulfilled. They have no idea that they are part of a grander plan that God orchestrated long ago. They are clueless. But God will achieve his purposes and he will use whoever he needs to use. The final portion of the chapter has to do with Peter's denial. The man who said he would rather die than deny Jesus is now denying him three times. And he denies him adamantly. He doesn't go hide somewhere. He stands in obvious locations, allowing himself to be called out, and he vehemently denies knowing Jesus. One thing that is great about Scripture is that it doesn't hide people's sins. Here is Peter, one of Jesus' closest friends, and he denies Jesus three times. He is scared. He is embarrassed and scared of being ridiculed. He is lacking in faith. And while the chapter ends here, there is a lot more to Peter's story. Just like there is a lot more to our story. Blessings, Pastor Vicki
When I visited the Alamo I felt the emotion of a place that was made pretty special by sacrifice. It was February 1836 when that little Spanish mission went into the history books. You remember the story. The Mexican forces, thousands strong, were advancing to crush the little Texas independence movement. Sam Houston needed time to organize his troops in order to fight back, and he did get that time because of what happened at the Alamo, and he did win, and they did get their independence. But in the meantime, the Alamo was the key to victory. One hundred eighty-six freedom fighters took a stand in that little mission called the Alamo - a stand that is still over 150 years later synonymous with heroism. You know, "Remember the Alamo!" Colonel William Travis was in command that day. The enemy demanded surrender, and Travis's answer could not be misunderstood. In fact, it's the same answer I hope you will give to the enemy's demands on you. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Un-intimidated." Now, our word for today from the Word of God comes from Acts 4, and I'll begin reading at verse 24. It gives you a little insight into the battles being fought by the early church. Now, the Sanhedrin, the Jewish leaders, have called in Peter and John and have told them not to preach any more in the name of Jesus. And it says, "After further threats, they let them go." They could not decide on how to punish them because all the people were praising God for what had happened. So, they basically tried to shut down the witness of these people. The church gets together in a prayer meeting and prays like this in verse 29, "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak Your Word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand and heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant, Jesus." Man, that's a powerful response! The Sanhedrin had organized the crucifixion of Jesus not long before. These men could have possibly arranged for the same fate for the apostles they were trying to shut down. But here this bold prayer comes back as an answer. Now, they're experiencing heavy pressure on their faith, and they seem unintimidated. They're talking about miracles; they're talking about boldness. Reminds me of that stand at the Alamo. Colonel Travis received the demand to surrender, and he said to his troops, "There has been a demand from the enemy that we surrender, and I have answered with a cannon shot." Huh! I love that! "I've answered with a cannon shot," he says, "and our flag still waves proudly. I will live and die as a soldier." Now, maybe the Devil's been trying to get you on the defensive lately and demanding your surrender - you're being hammered, and squeezed, maybe overwhelmed. The temptation is to back off, to retreat, to nurse your wounds and maybe to not take any risks. But would you look at your heritage in Christ? When other Christians in the first century were in that situation, they were bold; they came out asking for miracles to do the supernatural. Where did this bold response to trouble come from? This cannon shot? It comes from a prayer meeting; one that if you read their prayer here in Acts 4, focuses on God's character, God's power, God's history, and God's promises. And when you size up your situation, your opposition in light of God's power, you are ready to go on offense. You don't need to play defense. Hey, maybe the enemy has demanded your surrender. Well, answer with a prayer-ignited cannon shot, "I shall never surrender! I shall never retreat!" In spite of the bombardment, you can stand firm in Jesus' name, and you can be unintimidated.
Can an idol worshipper perform a brit mila on a Jew? If no Jew is available, is it preferable for a Samaritan (Cuti) or an idol worshipper to perform it? What are the sources for the various opinions, and which authorities support each view? Is brit mila required to be performed lishma—specifically for the sake of the mitzva? Two different verses are cited to explain why an idol worshipper may not perform a brit mila on a Jew. What is the practical difference between the two interpretations? The Gemara offers three possible distinctions, though the first two are ultimately rejected. The remaining practical implication concerns whether a woman is permitted to perform a brit mila. Can an idol worshipper perform a medical procedure or prescribe medicine for a Jew? Under what circumstances is it permitted? Is there a difference between an idol worshipper and a heretic, and if so, why? Why did Rabbi Yishmael not permit Ben Dama to be healed by a heretic? If the Torah says “and you shall live by them,” why wasn’t healing allowed in this case? Rabbi Yishmael prohibits transgressing idol worship and other commandments publicly, even under threat to life. This approach differs from Rabbi Akiva’s opinion in Sanhedrin, which holds that one must give up one's life rather than transgress the three cardinal sins: idolatry, murder, and forbidden sexual relations.
Can an idol worshipper perform a brit mila on a Jew? If no Jew is available, is it preferable for a Samaritan (Cuti) or an idol worshipper to perform it? What are the sources for the various opinions, and which authorities support each view? Is brit mila required to be performed lishma—specifically for the sake of the mitzva? Two different verses are cited to explain why an idol worshipper may not perform a brit mila on a Jew. What is the practical difference between the two interpretations? The Gemara offers three possible distinctions, though the first two are ultimately rejected. The remaining practical implication concerns whether a woman is permitted to perform a brit mila. Can an idol worshipper perform a medical procedure or prescribe medicine for a Jew? Under what circumstances is it permitted? Is there a difference between an idol worshipper and a heretic, and if so, why? Why did Rabbi Yishmael not permit Ben Dama to be healed by a heretic? If the Torah says “and you shall live by them,” why wasn’t healing allowed in this case? Rabbi Yishmael prohibits transgressing idol worship and other commandments publicly, even under threat to life. This approach differs from Rabbi Akiva’s opinion in Sanhedrin, which holds that one must give up one's life rather than transgress the three cardinal sins: idolatry, murder, and forbidden sexual relations.
Up tothis point Jesus had three unfair trials before the Jews; before Annas, thefather-in-law of the high priest Caiaphas, and also Caiaphas at his house, andthen before the Sanhedrin. Now, in the early morning hours between six and nineo'clock on Friday morning, Jesus is taken before Pilate. Pilate has his firsttrial with Jesus and finds no fault in Him after questioning Him personally inthe Praetorium. Pilate sent Jesus to King Herod Antipas where Jesus is againquestioned, mock and ridiculed. Jesus is silent and does not respond to Herod whothen sends Him back to Pilate (v. 11). Inthese verses, 13-25, Pilate proves to be a coward. It is interesting to note thatmany Christian sources describe Pilate as “the model of a coward” who knew thecrucifixion was wrong but acted out of fear of political repercussions, such aslosing favor with Emperor Tiberius or inciting a riot. C.S. Lewis is referencedin these sources, suggesting Pilate represents “men without chests”—peopleunwilling to pursue truth, leading to cowardice and injustice. The fact thatHerod backed Pilate's decision would not have impressed the Jews very much,because they despised Herod almost as much as they despised the Romans. WhenJesus is returned to Pilate he again meets with the Jewish leaders andannounced for the second time that he did not find Jesus guilty of the chargesthey had made against Him (vv. 13-15). Since it was customary at Passover forthe governor to release a prisoner, Pilate offered the Jews a compromise: hewould chastise Jesus and let Him go. He had another prisoner on hand, Barabbas,but Pilate was sure the Jews would not want him to be released. After all,Barabbas was a robber (John 18:40), a murderer, and an insurrectionist (Luke23:19). He may have been a leader of the Jewish Zealots who at that time wasworking for the overthrow of Rome. Severaltimes Luke notes that it is the chief priest and rulers of the people that aredemanding that Christ is guilty and should be crucified. We must not think thatthe general populace of the city was gathered before Pilate and crying out forthe blood of Jesus, though a curious crowd no doubt gathered. It was primarilythe official religious leaders of the nation, the chief priests in particular(Luke 23:23), who shouted Pilate down and told him to crucify Jesus. To saythat the same people who cried "Hosanna!" on Palm Sunday ended upcrying "Crucify Him!" on Good Friday is not completely accurate. Finally,after vacillating back and forth and at least three times proclaiming Jesus tobe innocence, Pilate realized that his mishandling of the situation had almostcaused a riot, and a Jewish uprising was the last thing he wanted duringPassover. So, he called for water and washed his hands before the crowd,affirming his innocence (Matt. 27:24-25). Pilate proves to be a compromiser anda coward, who was "willing to content the people" (Mark 15:15).Barabbas was released and Jesus was condemned to die on a Roman cross. Pilatewas a complex character. He openly said that Jesus was innocent, yet hepermitted Him to be beaten and condemned Him to die. He carefully questionedJesus and even trembled at His answers, but the truth of the Word did not makea difference in his decisions. He wanted to be popular and not right; he wasmore concerned about reputation than he was character. What a sad state to bein! We must be careful that we don't follow in his footsteps. Itwould also be good for us to remember what Jesus said in Mark 8:35-38, “Forwhoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life forMy sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if hegains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give inexchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in thisadulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamedwhen He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
Welcometo Pastor's Chat today. We're continuing to look at Luke 23, and today we'refocusing on verses 6-12. Jesus had three unfair trials before the Jews; beforeAnnas, the father-in-law of the high priest Caiaphas, and also Caiaphas at hishouse, and then before the Sanhedrin. Now, in the early morning hours betweensix and nine o'clock on Friday morning, Jesus is taken before Pilate. Pilatehas his first trial with Jesus and finds no fault in Him after questioning Himpersonally in the praetorium. WhenPilate hears that Jesus is from the region of Galilee, he knows that's Herod,King Herod's jurisdiction. King Herod Antipas, who murdered John the Baptist,had longed to see Jesus because he had heard of the miracles Jesus had done andwanted to see Him perform a miracle, like a trick. When Pilate heard ofGalilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. I love the scripture here becauseit capitalizes the "M" in the Man Christ Jesus. Yes, there was no manlike this Man, the Man Christ Jesus. Assoon as Pilate knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him toHerod, who was also in Jerusalem at the time. When Herod saw Jesus, he wasexceedingly glad, for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he hadheard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Thenhe questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. Thechief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. You can imaginethis crowd of chief priests, scribes, and Sanhedrin following Jesus to whereHerod was in Jerusalem. I can imagine Herod waking up this morning, having hisbreakfast, and suddenly all this is going on. Here comes this crowd ofPharisees, chief priests, and Sanhedrin, bringing Jesus with them. Herod,with his men of war, treated Him with contempt, mocked Him, arrayed Him in agorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. That very day, Pilate and Herodbecame friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity witheach other. Both Pilate and Herod had the opportunity to try Jesus. What'sinteresting is that Jesus was not truly on trial before Pilate and Herod;rather, Pilate and Herod were on trial before Jesus. Obviously, they failed thetest. They did not receive Jesus as the Christ. Neither did they find Himguilty, as Pilate later said that even Herod found no fault in Him (v. 15). Eventhough Herod mistreated Jesus and had his men mock Him as a the King of the Jews,Jesus the Man did not respond to them. I believe they did this because Herodand his crowd hated the religious hypocrites, the Pharisees. Even the lostworld doesn't like religious hypocrites. They mocked Jesus because He wassupposedly the King of the Jews, putting a beautiful robe on Him to make Himlook like a king.That day two men became friends because they had a commonenemy, the Jews, and a common purpose: Jesus needed to be condemned, and theJews wanted Him condemned and it was an opportunity to show distain for thereligious hypocrites. Today,what stands out to me the most is that Jesus is the Man, the Christ Man, theGod Man. Oh, my friend, He's the Man who took on flesh so that through death Hecould become our sin on an old rugged cross. Romans 8:3 tells us: “For whatthe law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sendingHis own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemnedsin in the flesh.” I love how Hebrews 2:14 puts it: “Inasmuch then asthe children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared inthe same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death,that is, the devil”. Iinvite you today to trust Jesus, to put your hope in this Man. There's no manlike this Man, the Man Christ Jesus. “For there is one God and one Mediatorbetween God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all,to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Godbless!
The Old and New Covenant: A Conversation with Dr. David MathewsonIn this insightful episode of Divine Table Talk, Jamie and Jane sit down with Dr. David Mathewson to unpack the profound differences—and connections—between the Old and New Covenants. Dr. Mathewson, a respected biblical scholar, brings clarity and depth to understanding why the new covenant, promised in Scripture and fulfilled in Christ, changes everything about how we relate to God. Join us for a rich conversation full of biblical wisdom, practical insight, and encouragement to embrace the better promises found in Jesus.____________________________________Connect with Dr. David Mathewson:Website: https://denverseminary.edu/directory/mathewson-phd-david-lEmail David: EMAILConnect with Jamie:Website: www.jamieklusacek.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamieklusacekConnect with Jane:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janewwilliams____________________________________ Get Jamie's Newest Book:Living Loved: An 8-week Journey to Living Fully Loved
Top of amud but starts with quick chazarah from bottom of 7B
Rav Hirsch, Horeb, Mitzvah 78 – Rabbinic Authority As we explore in this episode, Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch understood ancient legal authority not as personal influence, but as the outgrowth of a divinely mandated structure a system rooted in Sinai that gives form to our mission in life. Drawing on his analysis, we reflect on the nature of our own rabbinic influences. I examine its relevance to the idea of a personal rabbi not merely someone wise or kind, but someone embedded in a structure, someone who submits to a higher halachic authority. As Rav Hirsch points out, the Sanhedrin held legitimate power only when seated in the Chamber of Hewn Stone, and the Kohen could serve only while wearing his sacred garments. True Torah leadership is not about charisma, but continuity. Without submission to something beyond the self, we risk mistaking personality for Torah.
Todaywe are moving on to a new chapter, Luke 23. This chapter tells us about thetrial of Jesus and His crucifixion and death on the cross. We believe this isone of the great chapters of the Bible, along with the other Gospel accounts ofJesus giving His life on the cross for you and me. This is the climax of humanhistory where God Himself literally goes to a cross and pays the payment forour sins. Several things stand out as we look at this chapter. Tounderstand the setting, let's remember Jesus has been up all night long. OnThursday, Jesus prepared for the Passover meal with the disciples. Thatevening, they observed and ate the Passover meal in the Upper Room. In John 13through John 17, Jesus is talking to His disciples, preparing them with somelast words, giving them the comfort of the Holy Spirit who will come after Hehas ascended to heaven. So many things are taking place. Judas goes out intothe night to get the temple guard to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Thenafter Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper, they sing a hymn. Jesusgoes deeper into the Garden, and there He prays those three prayers: "NotMy will but Thine be done." He says, "Take this cup from Me."That cup, we believe, represented the sins of all humanity, and Jesus wouldbecome sin for us. In the middle of the night, Judas shows up at the gardenwith a guard from the temple and arrests Jesus. They take Him to Annas's house,then to Caiaphas's house, and finally, as the sun rises and Peter has deniedthe Lord three times, they take Jesus to the Sanhedrin, where He is triedunfairly for the third time by the Jews. Nowhere in Luke 23, we read that in the early morning hours, after the Sanhedrincondemns Him, they take Him to Pilate. We know that Jesus was crucified at thethird hour, which would have been 9:00 in the morning. At the sixth hour of Hiscrucifixion, three hours into the cross, the sun refused to shine. It wentdark. For the next three hours, until 3:00 in the afternoon, the sun did notshine. We're convinced that during those hours, Jesus paid the full payment forour sins. Over all six hours, Jesus is paying the price on the cross. We'lltalk about the seven sayings of Christ later, but here we see Jesus paying thefull price for our sin, being the propitiation for them, satisfying the wrathof God against the sins of humanity. Jesusfulfilled the law as the innocent Lamb of God and fully paid for our sins,declaring in His last words on the cross, "It is finished." All thisbegins at 9:00 in the morning when Jesus is crucified. What we read now in Lukechapter 23, as He goes before Pilate for three different trials, happenssomewhere between the early morning hours of the Sanhedrin trying Him and Hiscrucifixion at 9am. Canyou imagine how physically, emotionally, and mentally worn-out Jesus must havebeen during this time? Oh,what a Savior! When we study this chapter, we will see both the evilness of menand the goodness of God. I can't help but think about that tree in the Gardenof Eden, called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God forbadeAdam and Eve to eat from. When they ate of it, they brought sin into the world.Now we are reminded of that tree again because Jesus will die and be hung on atree—a tree that represents the knowledge of good and evil. Therewe see the great love of God, the goodness of God, the mercy of God, thewonderful sacrifice of God at that cross. At the same time, we see evil mencrucifying the most innocent, precious, sinless, blameless, stainless Son ofGod on that cross. Oh, what a scene. As we look at Luke chapter 23, I trustyou'll read it through several times and take into your heart all that Jesusdid for you and me. God bless!
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Acts 6 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. When growth brings pressure, don't lose sight of God's priorities. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” 5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. 8 Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. When resistance brings pressure, don't shrink back from God's purpose. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. 11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” 15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Acts 7:48-60 48 “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: 49 “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? 50 Has not my hand made all these things?' 51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” 54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. When death brings pressure, don't forget God's promise. Romans 14:8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Don't let the pressure push you down, let it push you deeper.
"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches about Stephen, the first martyr, and how we can stand to the end like he did.Ask God for His Wisdom.Before his death, Stephen answered every question with God-given wisdom. Both the old and new testaments advise us to ask God for wisdom and tell us that if we seek it we will find it. Christians are to use wisdom in all that we do. Seek wisdom from God, the source of it all. Let your light shine.When Stephen sat before the Sanhedrin, his face shone like an angel. In the same way, Christians are to shine the light of God's grace in our daily lives. The gospel is a light to all who hear it, and Christians who don't share it through word and deed are neglecting their responsibility. Make sure to let your light shine for all to see!Know where you're headed.When Stephen knew his life was over, he was able to remain at peace because he knew what his destination was. Stephen knew that he was on his way to the arms of Jesus, and that emboldened him at the end. When you know the future is secure and your hope is in heaven, you can live confidently for Christ. Take no grudges to the grave.With his last words, Stephen asked God to forgive the very people who murdered him. Like Jesus on the cross, Stephen did not harbor any bitterness toward his enemies, but instead forgave them. Stephen's desire, even in death, was that his enemies would repent and that God would forgive them. We, too, should live our lives free from grudges and bitterness. When we let go of our grudges, it frees us to live the way Christ wants us to.
At church we learn of God's power in our lives. “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke of the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31, NIV.
Today we're continuing in Luke 22:54-62. In verse 54 it says,"Having arrested Him, they led Him, Jesus, and brought Him into thehigh priest's house, but Peter followed at a distance." So, we'regoing to look at this passage of Scripture over the next several days and talkabout how Peter fell into the temptation of denying the Lord at a time whenJesus crucially needed him to stand up for Him. And we're going to find out whywe, you and I, so often with all the determination of our heart to stand up forJesus, to love Him, to live for Him, yet we still fail. And we're going to seethese steps that led to Peter's failure as we look at this passage ofScripture. Firstan overview of the next events. Jesus has been arrested in the garden. AfterHis arrest over the next several hours, Jesus actually endured six differenttrials before He was condemned to be crucified: three before the Jews and threebefore the Roman authorities. First, He was taken to Annas, the former highpriest who was an influential man in the nation and who still retained hisformer title (John 18:12-13). Then Annas sent Him to Caiaphas, who was hisson-in-law and the official high priest (Matthew 26:57). Finally, at daybreakon Friday morning, He was tried before the Sanhedrin and found guilty (Luke22:66-71). TheJews didn't have the right for capital punishment (John 18:31-32). So they thentook Jesus to the Roman authorities to get Him crucified. First, they took Himto Pilate (Luke 23:1-4), who tried to avoid a decision by sending Him to Herod(Luke 23:6-12). Herod sent Him back to Pilate (Luke 23:13-25). When Pilate sawthat he could not escape making a decision, he gave the Sanhedrin what theyasked for and condemned Jesus to die on a Roman cross. Now,it was during the second Jewish trial, the one before Caiaphas, that Peter inthe courtyard denied the Lord three times. So how did it happen? Where did itbegin? How did Peter come to a place where after he had boastfully said,"I will die with You. Though everyone else fails, I won't fail. I'llfollow You even to death. I will not stumble"? (Matthew 26:33). First, letme just tell you, the first step for you and me to go in the wrong directionwith the Lord is to get a heart of pride. Can you imagine Peter amongst the elevenother disciples at this time, making the statement that though all these otherguys around here forsake You and leave You and stumble, I will not stumble? Myfriend, the first step to falling into temptation and to following the worldand leaving the Lord is pride. The Bible says, "Let a man take heed whenhe thinks he stands, lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). Pride enters ourheart. We think we're stronger than we are. We think we can do it ourselves,and we then we start comparing ourselves to others and think we're better thanthem. That is a terrible condition to get in. It all started with pride. So, wesee Peter's first step of pride. Secondly,Peter didn't take the word of Jesus seriously when He said, "Watch andpray." Peter failed to pray. He failed to watch. The hour oftemptation would come and Jesus had warned him that, "The spirit iswilling, but the flesh is weak." The spirit will say, "Oh, I'llnever leave church. I'll never quit reading my Bible. I'll always be the bestChristian ever. I know all these other people, they're not disciplined like Iam. They don't have the commitment and surrender I have to Jesus." Whenwe have this attitude, we are headed for big failure. Jesus says, "Watchand pray." But instead of watching and praying, we find in theScripture here that Peter was sleeping. Three times the Lord came and woke himup. Yet He continued to sleep. We tend to sometimes forget we can't make itwithout the Lord helping us. Tomorrowwe will continue to look at the other steps that led to Peter's stumbling anddenying Jesus. May the Lord help us to keep our eyes focused on Jesus all thetime.
If you were on trial for being a Christian, what would you say? How would you defend yourself? In Acts chapter twenty-two, the Apostle Paul appears before the Jewish Supreme Court, also known as the Sanhedrin. But rather than defend himself, he defends the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And he does it, surprisingly enough, with a cheerful attitude. Stay with us now as Ron moves ahead in his series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace.”
Anxiety seems to be at an all-time high today. Pressures at work, pressures at home, the pressures of failure, and of success. But few people have endured the kind of pressure the Apostle Paul had to face. As Paul neared the end of his ministry, he made his way to Jerusalem to preach the Gospel. Shortly after Paul arrived, he was threatened by the Jews, beaten by the Romans, and finally--after declaring his Roman citizenship--he was allowed to appear before the Sanhedrin. That's where Ron takes us today, as he continues his teaching series, “Paul: Surprised by Grace.”
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.
The way we share the gospel can vary depending on whom we are speaking with. It might be a rebuke, a logical argument, or a gentle appeal. In today's message, Pastor Mark suggests that, in general, a softer approach is preferable. He uses Stephen's example as he addressed the Sanhedrin to illustrate this point. Stephen used history to remind the Jews of God's preparation for the gospel. We can do the same today by highlighting God's work in people's lives. He may have protected them or sent individuals into their lives to demonstrate His love and mercy. Nothing happens by chance; everything is by God's design.
This week's learning is sponsored anonymously in gratitude to Rabbi Carl Perkins, a learned and compassionate rabbi, a gifted teacher, whose love of Judaism inspires all who are blessed to know him. Today's daf is sponsored by Paul and Danielle Nacamuli. "Mazel tov to our daughter and son-in-law on their marriage, may you enjoy many years of joy together!" Today's daf is sponsored by Natanya Slomowitz in loving memory of her mother, Haviva Lilka bat Necha and Avraham. Onkelos converted to Judaism. The emperor sent three different groups of troops to seize him, but he convinced each group to convert to Judaism by explaining to them that God takes care of his people better than the Roman leaders. The prophecy told to Rivka when she was pregnant with Esau and Yaakov, "There are two nations in your womb," is explained as meaning "two proud/great ones" and refers to Rebbi and Antoninus, who were both blessed with plenty. What is the basis of the argument between Rabbi Meir and the rabbis regarding whether it is forbidden to do business with idol worshippers on the day of the death of their king, only if there is burning or even if there is not? How does that connect with the braita that says the Jews burn the items of a king, and it is not forbidden because it is the way of the non-Jews? They would burn items not only when kings died, but also heads of the Sanhedrin. What types of items would be burned? The Mishna mentions the day of shaving his beard and his locks. Is this referring to two separate days - one of shaving the beard and one of shaving the locks on the back of his neck to be offered to the idol, or the day where one shaved his beard, but kept his locks to grow, to later be offered to the idol? The Gemara concludes that both answers are correct. Another Roman holiday is described where they would celebrate their dominion over the Jews. This one is not listed in the Mishna as it happened only once in a lifetime, or very infrequently. What were the Babylonian and Persian holidays? Rav Huna son of Rav Chisda listed several pagan temples with which it was forbidden to ever do business, as they offered sacrifices daily to the idols. Shmuel was lenient with holidays in the Diaspora and forbade only the day of the holiday itself.
This week's learning is sponsored anonymously in gratitude to Rabbi Carl Perkins, a learned and compassionate rabbi, a gifted teacher, whose love of Judaism inspires all who are blessed to know him. Today's daf is sponsored by Paul and Danielle Nacamuli. "Mazel tov to our daughter and son-in-law on their marriage, may you enjoy many years of joy together!" Today's daf is sponsored by Natanya Slomowitz in loving memory of her mother, Haviva Lilka bat Necha and Avraham. Onkelos converted to Judaism. The emperor sent three different groups of troops to seize him, but he convinced each group to convert to Judaism by explaining to them that God takes care of his people better than the Roman leaders. The prophecy told to Rivka when she was pregnant with Esau and Yaakov, "There are two nations in your womb," is explained as meaning "two proud/great ones" and refers to Rebbi and Antoninus, who were both blessed with plenty. What is the basis of the argument between Rabbi Meir and the rabbis regarding whether it is forbidden to do business with idol worshippers on the day of the death of their king, only if there is burning or even if there is not? How does that connect with the braita that says the Jews burn the items of a king, and it is not forbidden because it is the way of the non-Jews? They would burn items not only when kings died, but also heads of the Sanhedrin. What types of items would be burned? The Mishna mentions the day of shaving his beard and his locks. Is this referring to two separate days - one of shaving the beard and one of shaving the locks on the back of his neck to be offered to the idol, or the day where one shaved his beard, but kept his locks to grow, to later be offered to the idol? The Gemara concludes that both answers are correct. Another Roman holiday is described where they would celebrate their dominion over the Jews. This one is not listed in the Mishna as it happened only once in a lifetime, or very infrequently. What were the Babylonian and Persian holidays? Rav Huna son of Rav Chisda listed several pagan temples with which it was forbidden to ever do business, as they offered sacrifices daily to the idols. Shmuel was lenient with holidays in the Diaspora and forbade only the day of the holiday itself.
00:00 - Good Morning00:14 - Good to be back!02:25 - Emails07:29 - MDYsponsor.com08:41 - Guests10:17 - Amud Beis18:18 - Amud Aleph41:50 - Amud Beis1:01:21 - Have a Wonderful Day!Quiz - http://Kahoot.MDYdaf.com ----Mesechta Sponsors:Anonymous:הצלחה ברוחניות ובגשמיות ולזכות אחינו בני ישראלAnonymous: May our learning be a shield of protection and a source of unity & blessing for Am YisraelJoel Gedalius: l'ilui nishmas my father, Jack Gedalius----Monthly Sponsors:TCS Israel Powered by TALKNSAVEYoni Klestzick: Refuah Sheleimahמרים אסתר בת פערל פראדל פעסיל----Weekly Sponsors:Max Wallack: לנישואין of מיכאל מאיר יוסף ורות יסמין on 23 Sivan, to begin a life filled with Torah and kedushaAnonymous: l'kavod Binyomin Dessau keep shteiging ----Daily Sponsors:Anonymous: In honor of Eli Dykeman & Yisroel Goldstein who pushed me to switch to R' Eli's Shiur----MDY Kids - DayAnonymous:יוסף בן קרן לזיווג הגון במהרה----MDY Kids Monthly:Kidnovations: Zechus for Fishel, Elchanan, Akiva | Rivky & Mrs Stefansky----Art of the Month:Refuah Shleima for יהונתן איתן בן בת שבע ברכהFor a zechus for Reb Eli and the whole MDY staff to continue to make Torah so enjoyable for so many In honor of Yossi Klein & Mark Ashkenazi for all the work they do----Turning of the daf:Kidnovations LLC: In honor of our sons; Kalmo (12yr) & Yisrael (9yr) for learning Sanhedrin, Makkos, Shevuos & Avodah Zarah with Reb Eli ♥Adar Global: M aking A nswering (questions) G reat A gainAnonymous: In honor of ALL the holy tzadikim that work so hard to bring us the daf every day with no credit given. ‘Nuff said________________________________
The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ stand as the most profound events in human history—the hinge point upon which everything turns. When examining these world-changing moments, we discover both the raw humanity of those who witnessed them and the divine power that transformed their lives forever.The narrative brings us face-to-face with Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple who kept his faith hidden until the critical moment when courage was required. As a respected member of the Sanhedrin council, Joseph risked everything—reputation, position, and possibly his life—to approach Pilate directly and request Jesus's body. His journey from secret believer to public disciple mirrors the struggle many Christians face today in workplaces and social circles where faith expression carries consequences.What makes the resurrection account so compelling is the meticulous detail preserved by eyewitnesses. From the Roman centurion who professionally verified Jesus's death to the women who observed exactly where the body was laid, the narrative eliminates any possibility of confusion or substitution. These same women, arriving at dawn with burial spices (clearly not expecting resurrection), discovered the seemingly immovable stone already rolled away—a powerful reminder that God specializes in removing obstacles we consider insurmountable.The variations between the four Gospel accounts, rather than undermining credibility, actually strengthen it. Real eyewitness testimony from different perspectives rarely aligns perfectly, especially during chaotic, emotional events unfolding over several hours. Most telling is the unanimous agreement that women discovered the empty tomb first—a detail no fabricator in first-century Jewish culture would include given the inadmissibility of female testimony.Beyond historical validation, the resurrection offers profound hope for our daily struggles. When we face situations that leave us terrified and confused, just as the first witnesses were, we can trust that God's purposes will ultimately become clear. The resurrection isn't just something that happened—it's something that happens, transforming our darkest moments with the assurance that death, despair, and impossibility have been conquered once and for all.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve
00:00 - Good Morning00:15 - War update01:40 - Emails11:40 - MDYsponsor.com14:03 - Questions of the Day15:28 - Introduction16:16 - Amud Beis21:14 - Amud Aleph46:37 - Amud Beis1:00:25 - Have a Wonderful Day!Quiz - http://Kahoot.MDYdaf.com ----Mesechta Sponsors:Anonymous:הצלחה ברוחניות ובגשמיות ולזכות אחינו בני ישראלAnonymous: May our learning be a shield of protection and a source of unity & blessing for Am YisraelJoel Gedalius: l'ilui nishmas my father, Jack Gedalius----Monthly Sponsors:TCS Israel Powered by TALKNSAVEYoni Klestzick: Refuah Sheleimahמרים אסתר בת פערל פראדל פעסיל----Weekly Sponsors:Max Wallack: לנישואין of מיכאל מאיר יוסף ורות יסמין on 23 Sivan, to begin a life filled with Torah and kedushaAnonymous: l'kavod Binyomin Dessau keep shteiging ----Daily Sponsors:Nesanel & Deena Feller: In honor of our son, Chaim Feller, joining R' Ely's shiurAnonymous: Mazel Tov Simchi Lefkowitz for finishing Shavous with MDY!Yes you can finish Shas!William Hochman: In honor of Abe Fishweicher, who convinced me to "Do the Daf with R' Eli." "It's about the Yomi"!Anonymous: In a honor of my dear friend shulem touber that joined the Daf, you should always be successfulPeretz Chaim & Zahava Levin: Mazel Tov to Eliyahu & Chana Bluma Bassman on the birth of a daughter. From the proud grandparents----Kollel of the Day:HYK Ventures: In the zechus of helping our MDY member find an American remote job in Israel----MDY Kids - DayAnonymous:יוסף בן קרן לזיווג הגון במהרה----MDY Kids Monthly:Kidnovations: Zechus for Fishel, Elchanan, Akiva | Rivky & Mrs Stefansky----Art of the Month:Refuah Shleima for יהונתן איתן בן בת שבע ברכהFor a zechus for Reb Eli and the whole MDY staff to continue to make Torah so enjoyable for so many In honor of Yossi Klein & Mark Ashkenazi for all the work they do----Turning of the daf:Kidnovations LLC: In honor of our sons; Kalmo (12yr) & Yisrael (9yr) for learning Sanhedrin, Makkos, Shevuos & Avodah Zarah with Reb Eli ♥Adar Global: M aking A nswering (questions) G reat A gainAnonymous: In honor of ALL the holy tzadikim that work so hard to bring us the daf every day with no credit given. ‘Nuff said_________________________________
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.
00:00 - Good Morning00:15 - War updates01:22 - Emails11:32 - MDYsponsor.com14:18 - Questions of the Day19:08 - Amud Beis21:36 - Amud Aleph49:34 - Amud Beis1:00:36 - Have a Wonderful Day!Quiz - http://Kahoot.MDYdaf.com ----Mesechta Sponsors:Anonymous:הצלחה ברוחניות ובגשמיות ולזכות אחינו בני ישראלAnonymous: May our learning be a shield of protection and a source of unity & blessing for Am YisraelJoel Gedalius: l'ilui nishmas my father, Jack Gedalius----Monthly Sponsors:TCS Israel Powered by TALKNSAVEYoni Klestzick: Refuah Sheleimahמרים אסתר בת פערל פראדל פעסיל----Weekly Sponsors:Max Wallack: לנישואין of מיכאל מאיר יוסף ורות יסמין on 23 Sivan, to begin a life filled with Torah and kedushaAnonymous: l'kavod Binyomin Dessau keep shteiging ----Daily Sponsors:Anonymous: In honor of the engagement of daughter of MDY super participant Shlomie Klein, Rochele Klein to Zalmy Chanowitz. Dedicated by someone who cannot use his name due to HIPAA reasons, but you know who I amYehuda Fletcher: In Honor of Rivkas BirthdayTzvi Willner: L'N My Father Yohoshua ben TzviMordechai Sapoznick: L'Zaicher Nishmas "Bubby Teitz", Moras Aidel Gitel bas Horav Boruch Dovid z"l. She was an example of what MDY is. She loved every type of Jew! May her neshama have an aliyah. May she be a meiletz of for the entire mishpacha, all of Kew Garden Hills, Queens and all of Klal Yisroel!David Joseph: lilu nishmat Moshe Ben Yosef. 27 SivanAnonymous: Mazel Tov to our Dear son Yehuda Leib from the Sheitel Head Group for the Siyum We are proud of youDanny & Pinky Sanger: In honor of our 14 year old son Avi Sanger who learnt makos & Shevuos with R' Eli and now Avoda ZoraYaakov Yagen: In honor of Reb Eli. Thank you for caring about every single Yid!L'Iluy Nishmas Liba bas Reuvain HaLevi Mrs. Libby Lobel on her 3rd Yahrzeit Was personified by her Ayin Tov, Lev Tov & Simchas HaChaim and was beloved by all who knew her. By her nephew Peretz Chaim Levin----Kollel of the Day:HYK Ventures: In the zechus of helping our MDY member find an American remote job in Israel----MDY Kids Monthly:Kidnovations: Zechus for Fishel, Elchanan, Akiva | Rivky & Mrs Stefansky----Art of the Month:Refuah Shleima for יהונתן איתן בן בת שבע ברכהFor a zechus for Reb Eli and the whole MDY staff to continue to make Torah so enjoyable for so many In honor of Yossi Klein & Mark Ashkenazi for all the work they do----Turning of the daf:Kidnovations LLC: In honor of our sons; Kalmo (12yr) & Yisrael (9yr) for learning Sanhedrin, Makkos, Shevuos & Avodah Zarah with Reb Eli ♥Adar Global: M aking A nswering (questions) G reat A gainAnonymous: In honor of ALL the holy tzadikim that work so hard to bring us the daf every day with no credit given. ‘Nuff said_________________________________
00:00 - Good Morning00:14 - War updates03:29 - Emails06:59 - MDYsponsor.com09:02 - Amud Beis14:42 - Amud Aleph18:58 - Running to the Shelter49:00 - Amud Beis1:06:48 - Guests1:07:42 - Amud Beis Con.1:18:51 - Have a Wonderful Dance!Quiz - http://Kahoot.MDYdaf.com ----Mesechta Sponsors:Anonymous:הצלחה ברוחניות ובגשמיות ולזכות אחינו בני ישראלAnonymous: May our learning be a shield of protection and a source of unity & blessing for Am YisraelJoel Gedalius: l'ilui nishmas my father, Jack Gedalius----Monthly Sponsors:TCS Israel Powered by TALKNSAVEYoni Klestzick: Refuah Sheleimahמרים אסתר בת פערל פראדל פעסיל----Weekly Sponsors:Max Wallack: לנישואין of מיכאל מאיר יוסף ורות יסמין on 23 Sivan, to begin a life filled with Torah and kedushaAnonymous: l'kavod Binyomin Dessau keep shteiging ----Daily Sponsors:Sruli & Shani Schwartz: In honor of our son Naftoli's graduation. Wishing him much hatzlocha in mesivta----MDY Kids Monthly:Kidnovations: Zechus for Fishel, Elchanan, Akiva | Rivky & Mrs Stefansky----Art of the Month:Refuah Shleima for יהונתן איתן בן בת שבע ברכהFor a zechus for Reb Eli and the whole MDY staff to continue to make Torah so enjoyable for so many In honor of Yossi Klein & Mark Ashkenazi for all the work they do----Turning of the daf:Kidnovations LLC: In honor of our sons; Kalmo (12yr) & Yisrael (9yr) for learning Sanhedrin, Makkos, Shevuos & Avodah Zarah with Reb Eli ♥Adar Global: M aking A nswering (questions) G reat A gainAnonymous: In honor of ALL the holy tzadikim that work so hard to bring us the daf every day with no credit given. ‘Nuff said_________________________________
Before the Sanhedrin, Peter's declaration rang clear: “We must obey God rather than men.” Even in the face of danger, Peter didn't back down from proclaiming the gospel. His confidence came not from himself, but from being filled with the Spirit. May we too live with fearless obedience.
Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Matthew 5:20-26 - Jesus said to His disciples: "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven." You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny." Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3) Father Juan Gutierrez on a miraculous healing that occurred to him 4) Leftist violence planned for the 14 June 2025 anti-ICE "We Don't Do Kings protests"