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Midweek Service: Salvation begins with believing in who Jesus is and what He has done, accepting Him as Lord in the heart, and confessing Him as Lord with the mouth. It is not about fixing one's life first, but about transformation that flows from being saved. Baptism does not save but symbolizes being united with Christ in His death and resurrection. People come to faith as they hear the gospel, often through a process requiring patience and repeated teaching from Scripture. Our role is to teach and share the message of Jesus' death, resurrection, and appearance as proof of His victory, while God alone brings the revelation of salvation. Partner with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com/partner Connect with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com
www.dailybreadmoms.com Now coming to busy moms all over the world as a daily podcast! Daily Bread follows the weekly Torah Portion, one part each day, together with a healthy balance from the rest of Scripture — all in one year. More than just a one-year Bible reading plan, Daily Bread is designed as a journal, with a comprehensive Hebrew calendar. To support the podcast - www.patreon.com/dailybreadmoms Check out the Daily Bread Torah Class, LIVE from Israel! Join anytime. larsenarson.com/torah The 5785 / 2025 Journals are available here: arielmedia.shop/
Service Well-Pleasing to God: The Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost - Lectionary: 08/31/2025 by Shawn Ozbun
St. Monica: A Mother's Tears That Changed History: Scripture Reflection for August 27, 2025 by Priests for Life
Is your spouse married to their job, or are you? In today's episode, we're talking about what happens when work takes priority over marriage and how couples can recognize the signs before it causes lasting damage. Let's talk about why this is such a common struggle, what Scripture says about balancing work and marriage, and how to reconnect when work has created distance. If you're feeling like your relationship is playing second to a career, this one's for you. Let's dive in. Episode Highlights: God gave us ambition and talents for a reason. Work balance in marriage is a common struggle. We tried to look at struggles as growth opportunities instead of failures Society adds to the pressure we feel to pursue success first. If conversations become logistical or date nights become extinct you may be prioritizing work over your marriage. There's a biblical order, that when we get that order right, everything else finds its proper place. Prayer reminds us who our work is truly for. Quotes from Today's Episode: The issue is when our ambition becomes our identity. When we believe our value comes from our next promotion. We are sacrificing our family for our ego. Our culture has us believe rest is laziness. Providing isn't just about money. Your spouse needs your presence, your attention, and your emotional availability. Scripture makes it clear that work is good. We are created in the image of a working God. Bu work has its place in the greater order, and that place isn't first.. Rest and relationship are sacred. Boundaries aren't restrictions. They are protections. Create rituals that prioritize connections. Our ultimate provision isn't in our performance, it's in God's faithfulness. See what happens when you're physically forced to be present with one another. Couples' Conversation Guide: What one daily ritual can you begin this week to show your spouse and your marriage the energy it deserves. (coffee in the morning, lunch time phone call, prayer in the evening, etc.) When you hear the word “boundaries” do you automatically feel restricted? How can we implement some boundaries that feel like protection instead? Does our calendar reflect our heart for keeping our marriage first? If not, where can you begin to say “no” so that you can say “yes” to your marriage? What are some physical distractions we can remove during our time together? Mentioned in this Episode: Find Awesome Marriage on Instagram! A unified family mission can help the work/ family balance. Check out our 10 Christian Family Mission Statements. Help your children write God's Word on their hearts with our FREE 11 Bible Verses For Kids to Memorize Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. If work seems to take priority over your marriage, you'll love this FREE YouVersion plan: Boundaries in Marriage If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com ! Sign up for Dr. Kim's Marriage Multiplier email for practical weekly marriage tips! Now is the perfect time to join our Marriage Changers program. Enjoy every resource of the month plus bonus content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy. Join now, just in time to . receive our Raising Faithful Kids in a Cancel Culture.
www.dailybreadmoms.com Now coming to busy moms all over the world as a daily podcast! Daily Bread follows the weekly Torah Portion, one part each day, together with a healthy balance from the rest of Scripture — all in one year. More than just a one-year Bible reading plan, Daily Bread is designed as a journal, with a comprehensive Hebrew calendar. To support the podcast - www.patreon.com/dailybreadmoms Check out the Daily Bread Torah Class, LIVE from Israel! Join anytime. larsenarson.com/torah The 5785 / 2025 Journals are available here: arielmedia.shop/
www.dailybreadmoms.com Now coming to busy moms all over the world as a daily podcast! Daily Bread follows the weekly Torah Portion, one part each day, together with a healthy balance from the rest of Scripture — all in one year. More than just a one-year Bible reading plan, Daily Bread is designed as a journal, with a comprehensive Hebrew calendar. To support the podcast - www.patreon.com/dailybreadmoms Check out the Daily Bread Torah Class, LIVE from Israel! Join anytime. larsenarson.com/torah The 5785 / 2025 Journals are available here: arielmedia.shop/
Does Latin Still Matter? Why Parents Should Care About This “Dead” LanguageLatin is often dismissed as outdated or impractical - especially in an age of Google Translate and global languages like Spanish or Mandarin. So why do classical Christian schools keep it at the center of their curriculum? In this episode, host Davies Owens sits down with Dr. Chad Kim - author, pastor, and long-time Latin teacher - to unpack the surprising relevance of Latin today.Together they explore:Why Latin is more than a “dead language” and remains the bedrock of Western civilizationHow learning Latin strengthens logic, attention, and critical thinkingThe way Latin opens doors to Scripture, church history, and the Great BooksWhy wrestling with Latin builds the discipline and fortitude our distracted culture desperately needsHow Dr. Kim's new curriculum brings joy, depth, and even prayer into Latin study
In this episode of the Expositors Collective podcast, Mike sit down with Mike Dente, lead pastor of Calvary Chapel Paris. Mike has served in France for decades, planting and pastoring in a thoroughly post-Christian European context. Mike brings a thoughtful and pastoral lens to the challenges of preaching in today's disenchanted world. Drawing from philosopher Charles Taylor, he reflects on the “disenchantment of the West” and how Protestantism may have contributed to it. Together, we explore what it means to be “enchanted,” how preachers can proclaim the death of Christ in a culture marked by scepticism, and how to show the beauty of Jesus even in the “ugly” passages of Scripture.Along the way, Mike shares lessons learned from ministry in the European context, the emotional hardcore scene and offers practical questions that every preacher should ask as they prepare their messages.This conversation is both deeply reflective and refreshingly practical - offering encouragement for those who want to faithfully communicate the wonder of Christ in a disenchanted age.Steve Mathewson: Sermon Introductions and Illustrations, Lessons learned from Haddon Robinson and Preaching the Old Testamenthttps://cgnmedia.org/podcast/expositors-collective/episode/sermon-introductions-and-illustrations-lessons-learned-from-haddon-robinson-and-preaching-the-old-testamentFor information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com The Expositors Collective podcast is part of the CGNMedia, Working together to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and plant churches. For more content like this, visit https://cgnmedia.org/Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollectiveDonate to support the work of Expositors Collective, in person training events and a free weekly podcast: https://cgn.churchcenter.com/giving/to/expositors-collective
Scripture Reflection for August 26, 2025 by Priests for Life
Executive Pastor of Stewardship and Operations Scott Sanford continues with Part 3 of our new series "Built For More!” Be sure to join us in person every Tuesday at 6:00 AM at Cottonwood Creek Church in Allen, TX. If you have a question that you want answered, please text “STUDY” to 77978. Whether it be, Scripture, Family, or Life, no topic is off limits to have your question answered! Visit https://soundcloud.com/saturday-at-the-creek for sermons from our Teaching Pastor, Graeme Golding. Do you need help building a Men's Ministry at your church? Text “JHILLHOUSE” to 77978! Are you looking for more scripture-based content and materials? Visit johnmarkcaton.com.
“His fruit was sweet to my taste.” — Song of Solomon 2:3 Faith, in the Scripture, is spoken of under the emblem of all the senses. It is sight: “Look unto me and be ye saved.” It is hearing: “Hear, and your soul shall live.” Faith is smelling: “All thy garments smell of myrrh, and […]
The Narrow Door: Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time - Lectionary: 08/24/2025 by Shawn Ozbun
The Practice of Paradise — What Is The HEART? What if the key to transforming your health, relationships, and peace of mind has been hiding in plain sight for thousands of years? Modern science has finally cracked humanity's oldest mystery: the true nature of the human heart. In this episode, Dr. Alex Loyd and Harry reveal how Scripture's description of the “heart” aligns with what neuroscience now calls the unconscious mind—the control center driving 95% of your daily life. You'll discover: Why emotions, not logic, drive every decision you make How your unconscious programming forms before age 7 and shapes your adult struggles The staggering stats: 11 million bits per second processed by the unconscious mind vs. only 40 by the conscious mind Why willpower almost always fails against deep-rooted heart programming The revolutionary Truth-and-Love Framework to reprogram your heart for lasting change Transformation looks like this: Physical: stronger immunity, balanced hormones, better health Emotional: anxiety dissolves, destructive patterns break, peace takes root Spiritual: purpose becomes clear, Scripture comes alive, your heart becomes unshakeable The Paradise Principle reminds us: peace isn't about perfect circumstances—it's about cultivating an unshakable heart so life's storms no longer control you.
Remaining True to Christ's Teaching: Scripture Reflection for August 23, 2025 by Priests for Life
The Gospel Is More Than Words: Scripture Reflection for August 25, 2025 by Priests for Life
Why Listening to Jesus Isn't Enough: Scripture Reflection for August 24, 2025 by Priests for Life
We are continuing our new format for the 2026 Bible Quizzing Season! This year, we will be going through our Bible Doctrine topics and showing our quizzers how they can teach Bible Studies using the verses that they are memorizing this year. On our first episode of the year, we have Bro. Elijah Whitworth on for the first time. Elijah was a Bible Quizzer for 15 in Conroe, Texas, and is a gifted teacher and minister.Our Topic: IC - The Bible is without error. It is the Word of salvation and will be true and useful forever. All of our Bible Doctrine Topics can be found here: https://seniorbiblequizzing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2026-Ready.-Always.-PoI-v01.pdfLet's go beyond the buzzer this season!
In this conversation, Jason sits down with Dom Ruso, pastor of The 180 Church in Greater Montreal, to talk about the joys and challenges of church planting in one of the most secularized contexts in North America.Dom shares openly about his discernment journey, how God drew him and his wife back to Quebec despite initial resistance, and what it has looked like to build a church community from scratch in a region where many are spiritually open but institutionally skeptical.Jason and Dom explore themes that matter deeply to pastors today:Dom's honest wrestle with returning to Quebec, and the slow ways God confirmed the call to plant a church there.The unique dynamics of Quebec culture and what it means to preach the Bible in ways that connect with people who carry wounds from religion or who feel indifferent toward Christianity.How congregations can embody health and unity in a divided cultural landscape, and what Canada's regional differences can teach us about God's work across the country.Why it's not enough to “tell” people what the Bible says, but to invite them into its story, and how plot points of Scripture resonate with modern longings for justice, meaning, and identity.Why it matters to recover a distinct vision of pastoral calling, and how the overlap with modern leadership and coaching culture can blur what shepherding the people of God really means.Dom also talks about his new book, The Bible for a Shifting Secular Age, which brings together his pastoral experience and academic work to offer handles for understanding secularism and fresh ways of presenting Scripture today.Show Notes The 180 ChurchThe Bible for a Shifting Secular AgeGive to our $30,000 August Match CampaignFall 2025 Pastors Retreat at Barnabas LandingThe Pastorate Listener SurveyThank You to Our Episode SponsorSpecial thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for making this episode possible. We invite you to explore their Bible Course to help your church grow in Scripture engagement.
Send us a textPastor Johnnie preaches a message from Ezekiel chapter 37. #sermons #inspiration #motivation https://www.instagram.com/pastorjsimpjr/https://twitter.com/pastorjsimpjrhttps://www.facebook.com/pastorjsimpjr/https://pastorjohnnie.blogspot.com/https://www.threads.net/@pastorjsimpjrhttps://www.tiktok.com/@pastorjohnnie
The stories in Scripture hold powerful lessons for everyday life - and the Book of Joshua is no exception! In this message, Pastor Josh continues our study by walking through Achan's disobedience and the consequences of private sin. Our hope is that, because of Jesus, we can have freedom when we get honest about our struggles.July 20, 2025
Mark 5:1-20 with guest speaker, Thad Bergmeier.
www.dailybreadmoms.com Now coming to busy moms all over the world as a daily podcast! Daily Bread follows the weekly Torah Portion, one part each day, together with a healthy balance from the rest of Scripture — all in one year. More than just a one-year Bible reading plan, Daily Bread is designed as a journal, with a comprehensive Hebrew calendar. To support the podcast - www.patreon.com/dailybreadmoms Check out the Daily Bread Torah Class, LIVE from Israel! Join anytime. larsenarson.com/torah The 5785 / 2025 Journals are available here: arielmedia.shop/
Romans Vol. 1 - Coming Under GracePaul reminds us in Romans 2:11–16 that God's judgment is perfectly impartial and fair—unlike human courts, it cannot be swayed by wealth, influence, or appearances, but is based on truth, knowledge, and obedience. Whether through the law written in Scripture or the law written on our hearts, all people are accountable before God, and only through faith in Christ can we stand acquitted.Sermon Preached by Chris Lewis on August 24, 2025Foothill Church exists to glorify God by living as disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus. https://foothill.church Learn about our For the Sake of His Name 2-Year Discipleship Journey: https://foothill.church/FTSOHN
In this powerful message, we're challenged to transform our lives by aligning our internal image with God's Word. The key scripture, Proverbs 23:7, reminds us that 'as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.' This profound truth unveils the importance of our self-perception and its impact on our faith journey. We're encouraged to break free from limiting beliefs and embrace the identity God has given us. The story of Caleb and Joshua facing giants in the Promised Land serves as a poignant metaphor for overcoming our own mental 'giants' - the fears and doubts that hold us back. By renewing our minds with Scripture and seeing ourselves as God sees us, we can accelerate our spiritual growth and step into the abundant life He has promised. This message invites us to examine our inner dialogue, replace negative self-talk with God's truths, and courageously pursue the dreams He has placed in our hearts. Welcome to Relevant Church Live, the online campus of Relevant Church located in Daytona Beach, Florida. We pray that through this service you find your place, reveal your purpose, and unlock your potential! We pray this message blesses you and gives you the strength you need to do and be all that God has called you to do and be! Leave a comment below letting us know how this message impacted you today, we'd love to chat with you! #RelevantChurch #Acceleration #NextLevel #Life #PastorChrisSarno #OnlineChurch #RelevantChurchDaytonaBeach #Church #ChurchOnline #RelevantChurchFlorida -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ways to Give: Text to Give: Text your amount to 386-968-1103 Online Giving: Visit our website http://www.relevantfl.org/giving to give via debit, credit, or ACH Mail It In: Send gift Via USPS to 920 Beville Rd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stay Connected: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: @RelevantChurch Relevant Church Website: https://www.relevantfl.org/ Relevant Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relevant_fl/ Relevant Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RelevantFL Relevant Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@relevant_fl Relevant Church App: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1615804850?fbclid=IwAR3aHqo_6kr8Tzd_JK6xihjfJkVk6j7-iqITDj1u1wFicDLn6g6C29gL3LY Rkidz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rkidzfl Relevant Youth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relevantflyouth/ Relevant Church Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6nUtPIkecEehfstUWWPIVU?si=QBMEtu85SyuU3FxRM1X7lg&nd=1 Pastor Chris Sarno's Website: https://www.chrissarno.tv/ Chris Sarno App: http://www.chrissarno.tv/app -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scripture References: Proverbs 23:7 Genesis 1:26 Ephesians 1:18 Joshua 1:8 Colossians 3:10 Hebrews 11:1 Romans 4:17 Numbers 13:30-33 Matthew 18:12-14 Mark 5:25-34 Philippians 4:13 Romans 8:37 James 1:23-25 Genesis 11:1-9 2 Timothy 1:7 2 Corinthians 3:18 Romans 10:9-10 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, August 24th 2025 Pastor Chris Sarno Relevant Church Acceleration | Week 4 | Sunday, August 24th 2025 | Pastor Chris Sarno | Relevant Church
Mark 15:33-39When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sebacthani!" Which means, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" When some bystanders heard it, they said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah." And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see if Elijah will come and take him down." Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now, when the centurion who stood facing him saw that in this way he had breathed his last he said, "Truly this man was God's son." When I was a kid, we had a giant pit of sand and dirt in our back yard – about the size of our fire pit, over there next to the labyrinth. We cleverly called it the "Sand Pile" and it was a cheap, tasteless, makeshift version of what more sophisticated people would call a sand box, and we used it for sand castles, mud pies, dirt-track races for Matchbox cars, and whatever else kids who play in the sand, do in the dirt. (I think the Sand Pile started out as some sort of home improvement project at the church parsonage where we lived, but never amounted to anything, so my brother and I, along with our friends next door, co-opted it as a great place for little kids to play.)What made the Sand Pile cooler than your average sandbox, though, was that it wasn't self-contained. There were no sides, no cover, and no barrier underneath. One day, our neighbor friend had the brilliant idea that we should dig and just keep digging until we couldn't dig anymore. We knew this was going to take some time and I think the four of us decided to make it a summer project. Sometime after we started, I remember my dad coming home from work and noticing that we were up to something more ambitious than usual. When he asked what we were doing, we told him our plans and my friend declared that we were going to dig "all the way to Kingdom Come." We weren't very sophisticated, but we were ambitious.And so we dug a little bit each day, for days. We found worms and bugs and rocks of all kinds. We hit water one day, which meant we were really getting somewhere, so that was cool. And then one of us had the realization that if we kept digging long enough, we'd dig our way right into Hell and we wondered if maybe that wasn't such a great idea. We did keep digging, but the expedition ended shortly after that, either because we were scared or skeptical or just plain tired of shoveling. But that was the first time I ever remember considering something like the question someone offered up for this morning:"Do we have to believe in Hell in order to believe in Heaven?”When I was older, in High School, and learned about World War II and the Holocaust, I wondered if that might be Hell: the injustice and horror of concentration camps; the gas chambers, the torture, the attempted genocide. Elie Wiesel, likely the most famous survivor of the Holocaust asked once, "How [do you] explain or even describe the agony, the terror, the prayers, the tears, the tenderness, the sadness of the scientifically prepared death of six million human beings? … Six million human beings sentenced to death by an evil dictatorship not because of their faith or their circumstances but because of their very being." It sounded – and sounds, still – like Hell to me, even if it wasn't someplace you could dig your way into.When I visited all kinds of jails and prisons in college, I wondered if the smell and the heat and the sounds and the danger and the circumstances that led and keep a person there might be Hell.When I worked as a hospital chaplain for a summer during seminary, I remember a guy who had been burned on over 80% of his body. That looked like Hell, and I wondered if Hell was the sickness, disease, and disasters that consume and kill men, women, and children every minute of every hour of every day in the world. When I traveled with my family and then with our high school kids a couple of summers ago to the Whitney Plantation, in Edgard, Louisiana, where enslaved human beings were used and abused and tortured and killed, like worthless animals, for generations – Hell seemed very nearby.Is Hell the war in Ukraine? Is it the famine, starvation, and destruction in Gaza? Is Hell a cancer diagnosis or is the rigors of chemotherapy or radiation – even if they work, but especially when they don't? Is Hell a broken or breaking marriage; the death of a child; any kind of unbearable physical pain or emotional suffering? Is it paralyzing fear; hopeless loneliness; utter despair?With all of my questions, I guess you can tell that I don't think about Hell in the same way I did when I was digging around in the dirt as a child. But, from what I can tell, too many people – preachers, theologians, artists, and politicians – haven't moved beyond the sandbox. We hear too often, in my opinion, detailed images of Hell. You know them as well as I do: pictures of fire, deep dark places, chains and shackles perhaps, weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, for sure, and the little guy in the red suit with a pointy tail and a pitch fork with the capacity to inflict pain and suffering on his victims for all of eternity.And these same people will tell you how to get there faster than any shovel can dig. Instructions usually include breaking the rules or not having enough of the right kind of faith or 'doing faith' differently than what's expected or accepted or, generally, behaving in ways that make God angry enough to send you ‘there' instead of calling you home to the right side of eternity.But I don't think any of this is what Hell is like or where it's at. Which is why I picked the readings I did for this morning. There are plenty of references in the Bible to Sheol and the Pit, to Hades and the Abyss. There's lots of talk about fire and punishment and the outer darkness – much of it from the very lips of Jesus himself.But nowadays, when I think of Hell, I think about the crucifixion and death of Jesus on that Good Friday afternoon. And it's not because of the abuse or the spitting or the whips or the thorns. It's not because of the darkness or the nails or the cross itself, even. It's because of the way all of these things added up to leave him hanging there alone, crying at the top of his voice, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" (Theologians call it Jesus' “cry of dereliction,” and it's why we say, as we do in our Apostles' Creed, that Jesus indeed “descended into Hell.”)It's at that moment when Hell becomes more real and more scary than any pitchfork or fire pit, if you ask me. It's at that moment when Jesus experiences what many of us have known – or what we fear – more than anything else: being utterly alone, utterly afraid, utterly out of control, cosmically lost, and entirely without hope or faith or comfort – even from God.It's at that moment when Jesus himself knows fully the hell of every concentration camp victim, every prisoner, every enslaved person, every frightened soldier, every starving stomach, every struggling addict, every dying patient, grieving spouse, scared child, broken heart, and sin-sick soul that ever was or ever will be. "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"So back to the question at hand. I was asked pointedly, if “we” believe in Hell, which seems to include the questioner, myself, and other leaders and pastors and theologians of the ELCA. I won't speak for others, because I can't – that's part of the beauty of what it means to be an ELCA-flavored Lutheran, in my opinion. But I will tell you that, I don't very much think about Hell anymore these days.If it does exist, it's not a concern of mine, because I believe it's been conquered and undone, dismissed and destroyed by the work of God's love in Jesus Christ – for me, and for you, and for all of creation. You can cite for me every Scripture and verse there is about Hades and Sheol, about the outer darkness and The Pit. But I believe there is a Hell the way I believe there are K Pop concerts, hot dog eating contests, and white pride parades. They may very well exist, but I don't – and won't – ever have to show my face there, thanks be to God.We can find plenty of pictures in the Bible and elsewhere to scare each other into believing that Hell is as likely an option as Heaven or that damnation is as likely as grace. And there are lots of pastors and churches who will fan that fire with gusto and glee, but that's not what the Gospel promises. To suggest that we can faithfully choose Heaven… To suggest that we can faith-LESS-ly opt for Hell… To suggest that we can reject God's willingness to love us all the way through Hell and back and remain in our sin and death, despite God's clear desire to win us back… is to suggest that God is powerless over evil, that God is powerless over death, that God is powerless over Sin, that God isn't all God is cracked up to be and that the very death and resurrection of Jesus was a cosmic waste of God's time. And I don't buy it.I don't buy it because when Jesus cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me,” he was quoting the first line of Psalm 22, which he knew well. So he must have known how Psalm 22 ends, just the same – with the hope of God's promised dominion, deliverance, power and provision. Verse 24 promises, “He did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.” By invoking Psalm 22, what if Jesus wasn't just announcing his despair and descent into Hell's separation? What if he was declaring his hope for the Heaven that was to come, just the same?My adventure in the Sand Pile as a kid that summer didn't end just because we were scared of what we might find. I think it ended because, even as kids, we realized our digging wasn't leading us anywhere but down – and that's exhausting. It didn't take us long to learn that there was more life and fun and good news in the other direction – and that's where we chose to spend our days.Which is why and how and what we believe about Hell matters for our lives in this world.When our faith is motivated more by fear than it is by hope, we're heading in the wrong direction. When it comes to our journey of faith, I hope we'll remember and share as often as we can that the Gospel is about life conquering death. The story of Jesus is about God conquering Satan. The promise of our faith is that Heaven conquers Hell – whether we like it, would choose it, or not. And the call of our faith is to live and to love our way into Heaven, not to run away from a Hell that isn't ours to fear any longer, thanks to the God we know in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen for the sake of the world.Amen
Caleb Drahosh There's nothing that we have that isn't given to us by God. God is the Creator of everyone and everything and so all things belong to Him first. The foundation of giving for the Christian is the generosity of God. No act of generosity is greater than the giving of Jesus Christ. Reflecting God's generosity is commanded in Scripture. This is done by taking a portion of what one has been given by God and giving it back to Him in the way that He commands.
Morning Prayer for Saturday, August 23, 2025 (Proper 15).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalms 122-1232 Samuel 11Philippians 4Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time by Mr. Clement Harrold. Ordinary Weekday/ Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary/ Rose of Lima, Virgin First Reading: Ruth 2: 1-3, 8-11; 4: 13-17 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 128: 1b-2, 3, 4, 5 Alleluia: Matthew 23: 9b, 10b Gospel: Matthew 23: 1-12 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com To encounter Christ in Scripture and share Him with others. Join us at stpaulcenter.com/memberships
Today's Scripture passages are Jonah 1 - 4 | Amos 1 - 2:3 | Matthew 26:36-46.Read by Ekemini Uwan.Get in The Word with Truth's Table is a production of InterVarsity Press. For 75 years, IVP has published and created thoughtful Christian books for the university, church, and the world. Our Bible reading plan is adapted from Bible Study Together, and the Bible version is the New English Translation, used by permission.SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of this podcast, use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode at ivpress.com.Additional Credits:Song production: Seaux ChillSong lyrics written by: Seaux Chill, Ekemini Uwan, and Christina EdmondsonPodcast art: Kate LillardPhotography: Shelly EveBible consultant: JM SmithSound engineering: Podastery StudiosCreative producers: Ekemini Uwan and Christina EdmondsonAssistant producer: Christine Pelliccio MeloExecutive producer: Helen LeeDisclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
www.dailybreadmoms.com Now coming to busy moms all over the world as a daily podcast! Daily Bread follows the weekly Torah Portion, one part each day, together with a healthy balance from the rest of Scripture — all in one year. More than just a one-year Bible reading plan, Daily Bread is designed as a journal, with a comprehensive Hebrew calendar. To support the podcast - www.patreon.com/dailybreadmoms Check out the Daily Bread Torah Class, LIVE from Israel! Join anytime. larsenarson.com/torah The 5785 / 2025 Journals are available here: arielmedia.shop/
Send us a textGUEST: JOSH BARZON, author, graphic designer, and content creator On X: @JoshuaBarzonThe claims of Scripture are far above and beyond any other book—inspired by God, without error, unchanging, unfailing. In a word, supernatural.The Bible says in 2 Peter 1:20-21: “know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”Or how about Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”Put together, God directed the authors what He wanted to communicate and God's Word powerfully accomplishes God's desires in the human heart.Now consider that the 66 books of the Bible were authored by 40 men over a span of 1500 years in three languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic) on three continents (Africa, Asia, and Europe). The original manuscripts written by these 40 authors no longer exist but thousands of full or partial copies of the original books do exist. Nearly 25,000 copies of the New Testament alone exist. Compare that to Homer's Iliad with only 2000 copies. The existence of so many copies of Scripture allows them to be compared to each other to authenticate accuracy. In other words, more copies results in more certainty.The Bible has also been translated from its original languages into hundreds of languages, with dozens of translations and paraphrases in the English language alone—King James Version, Geneva Bible, New American Standard, English Standard Version, New International Version, and on and on.Taking all this into consideration, is the Bible we have in our English language today an accurate representation of what the authors of Scripture wrote or has there been significant loss of the text during its transmission from original manuscripts? And what about the many English versions—are they fully trustworthy to be considered the Word of God?Josh Barzon has done much research on the transmission and translations of the Bible. He was born in the Middle East and now lives in America, working as a content creator, graphic designer, and author of The Forgotten Preface: Surprising Insights on the Translation Philosophy of the King James Translators.He joins us to discuss the supernatural Scriptures and how God has preserved His Word precisely over the centuries so that can know when you read the Word of God, you can know you are hearing from the God of the Word.
Jeremiah 49-50
Jeremiah 49-50
Welcome to Ask Paul Tripp, a weekly podcast from Paul Tripp Ministries where pastor and best-selling author Dr. Paul David Tripp answers your questions, connecting the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life.In today's episode, Paul answers a question about how to apply the message of Awe to real-life struggles—like caring for aging parents, walking with someone battling depression, or supporting those facing serious illness.If you have a question you'd like to ask Paul, you can email ask@paultripp.com or submit it online at PaulTripp.com/Ask.Awe: Why It Matters for Everything We Think, Say, and DoPaulTripp.com/Awe
Patrick Madrid takes a call from Matt in Huntington Beach, who asks a very relatable question: How do I keep prayer intentional when I have so many intentions that it feels like a checklist? Patrick admits right away that he’s not speaking as a prayer “expert,” but as a fellow traveler who wrestles with the same distractions. He encourages you to pray at times and in places where the noise of life is quieter -- whether that’s at home in the early morning or during a visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. But he also affirms that prayer doesn’t have to be limited to those moments; it can happen anywhere -- in the car, at the grocery store, or in the middle of a busy day. What matters most, Patrick says, is not the absence of distractions but what you do with them. He suggests offering those distractions to God directly: “Lord, I’m trying to pray, but my mind is scattered. I give you these distractions too.” That effort, he says, is pleasing to God because it shows love and persistence. Patrick also draws on Ignatian spirituality, recommending a prayer method that involves putting yourself into the scene of Scripture or the mysteries of the Rosary. For example, while praying the Sorrowful Mysteries, you can imagine yourself standing at the pillar as Jesus is scourged, which helps stir gratitude and deepen prayer. He goes on to outline the stages of prayer: -Discursive prayer -- the “shallow end,” made up of spontaneous prayers or rote prayers like the Our Father -Meditation -- a deeper form, where the mind and heart actively engage with the truths of the Faith -Contemplation -- the “deep end” of prayer, described by saints like Teresa of Avila as gazing on God with love, much like beholding a beautiful sunset in awe On the specific problem of prayer becoming a long “laundry list,” Patrick introduces the idea of virtual intentions. Instead of naming every single person or need individually each time, you can entrust categories of people or petitions to God: “Lord, I pray for all those I promised to pray for” or “I pray for all who have died.” This way, prayer remains heartfelt without being mechanical. Finally, Patrick recommends two spiritual classics to grow in prayer: Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales and The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila. Both provide wisdom on moving from simple, everyday prayer to deeper intimacy with God. Patrick reminds you: the key is not perfection, but intention. As long as you’re sincerely engaging with God rather than just “clickety clacking” through words, your prayer life will bear fruit.
Evening Prayer for Friday, August 22, 2025 (Proper 15).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalms 120-121Amos 3John 18:1-27Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Morning Prayer for Friday, August 22, 2025 (Proper 15).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 1182 Samuel 10Philippians 3Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma. Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Ruth 1: 1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 146: 5-6ab, 6c-7, 8-9a, 9bc-10 Alleluia: Psalms 25: 4b, 5a Gospel: Matthew 22: 34-40 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com To encounter Christ in Scripture and share Him with others. Join us at stpaulcenter.com/memberships
Today's Scripture passages are 2 Chronicles 25:1-24 | 2 Kings 13:12-13 | 2 Kings 14:15-28 | 2 Kings 15:1-5 | 2 Chronicles 25:25 - 26:10 | Psalm 67 | John 17 - 18:2 | Mark 14:32-42.(Please note John 17:17 is missing and should read "Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth.").Read by Christina Edmondson.Get in The Word with Truth's Table is a production of InterVarsity Press. For 75 years, IVP has published and created thoughtful Christian books for the university, church, and the world. Our Bible reading plan is adapted from Bible Study Together, and the Bible version is the New English Translation, used by permission.SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of this podcast, use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode at ivpress.com.Additional Credits:Song production: Seaux ChillSong lyrics written by: Seaux Chill, Ekemini Uwan, and Christina EdmondsonPodcast art: Kate LillardPhotography: Shelly EveBible consultant: JM SmithSound engineering: Podastery StudiosCreative producers: Ekemini Uwan and Christina EdmondsonAssistant producer: Christine Pelliccio MeloExecutive producer: Helen LeeDisclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
www.dailybreadmoms.com Now coming to busy moms all over the world as a daily podcast! Daily Bread follows the weekly Torah Portion, one part each day, together with a healthy balance from the rest of Scripture — all in one year. More than just a one-year Bible reading plan, Daily Bread is designed as a journal, with a comprehensive Hebrew calendar. To support the podcast - www.patreon.com/dailybreadmoms Check out the Daily Bread Torah Class, LIVE from Israel! Join anytime. larsenarson.com/torah The 5785 / 2025 Journals are available here: arielmedia.shop/
Why do anxious thoughts seem to follow us into each new day? In today's episode, we'll reflect together on the words of Jesus in Matthew 6 and explore how seeking God's kingdom first can free us from worry about tomorrow. Drawing inspiration from Richelle Alessi's honest journey of deepening her understanding of Scripture, we'll consider practical ways to read the Bible, pray for our daily needs, and prioritize God's presence—no matter where we are in our faith.Join our community as we pray for peace and focus, trusting God with our anxieties and committing to seek Him together in daily devotion.Want to get resources related to this episode? Enter your info at https://www.mymorningdevo.co/newsletter/ and we'll send it to your inbox!Tap HERE to send us a text! BECOME A FOUNDING "MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL" MEMBERIf you enjoy your 5 minute daily dose of heaven, we would appreciate your support, and we have a fun way for you to partner with the MMD community! We've launched our "Buy Me a Coffee" membership where you can buy us a latte, OR become a founding member and get monthly bonus video episodes! To donate, go to mymorningdevo.co/join! Support the showNEW TO MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL? We're so glad you're here! We're the Alessis, a ministry family working together in a church in Miami, FL, and we're so blessed to partner with the My Morning Devotional community and continue the great work done by the show's creator and our friend, Alison Delamota.Join our Community Subscribe to the show on this app Share this with a friend Join our newsletter and get additional resources Follow Us on Instagram and Facebook Leave a review Support Our Friends and Family Connect with the original host of MMD Alison Delamota Follow our family podcast The Family Business with The Alessis Check out our Worship Music Hear the new music project "Praise the Lord EP" from Metro Life Worship and Mary AlessiListen on SpotifyWatch on YouTube
Jeremiah 46-48
Piper circles back around to a theological debate that continues to show up in the comments to some of his online posts, and that is the concepts of God's Sovereignty and Free Will. These have been the teachings in Scripture that humble us to the magnificence and the mysteries of God, yet we are instructed to think and learn, with a reminder of coming to the discussion with a dose (or more) of humility!
I Am Setting Before You A Blessing And A Curse - Torah Portion - Re'eh: (Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17) by Shawn Ozbun
Romans Chapter 1… an amazing portion of Scripture! So much to discuss. Listen in as I walk you through the treasure trove of its content.
Daniel 8 paints a vivid picture of the ram and the goat — symbols of kingdoms and powers that rise and fall. These ancient visions don't just belong to history; they point ahead to events that echo through our world right now. As nations realign and global systems tighten their grip, the warnings in Daniel begin to sound more and more like headlines we see today. From the rise of powerful leaders to the foreshadowing of the Antichrist, these prophecies remind us that the stage is being set for what Scripture has already revealed. The message carries us straight into the heart of end times prophecy, weaving Daniel's vision together with Revelation 13, 2 Thessalonians 2, and Matthew 24. Signs of the rapture, the rise of a global system, and the call to remain watchful and faithful are all there. It's a wake-up call that what was written thousands of years ago is coming alive in our generation — and it points us to the urgency of clinging to faith as we await the return of Christ. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trusting God’s love when you don’t feel it, plus how skeptics strengthened Justin Brierley’s faith, and balancing reverence and honesty in prayer. Featured musical artist: Austin Stone Worship Roundtable: Does God Really Care About Me? It’s easy to say “Jesus loves me” in church or when things are going well, but how do you have the faith to say it when God feels incredibly distant? What if circumstances in your life challenge your perception of His goodness, and now you’re wondering if He’s even there? Our guests open up about difficult seasons they’ve been through, the lies they’re tempted to believe about God and themselves, and what it looks like to fight for faith. If you’re wondering if God cares — not in general, but about you in particular — you’ll be encouraged by their stories. Send Us Your Show Ideas Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: Why I’m Still a Christian When was the last time you shared your faith with a non-Christian? Justin Brierley has been conversing with atheists and agnostics (including Richard Dawkins) for years, and he’s passionate about equipping believers to examine secular arguments, test them with Scripture science, and common sense, and then be lights in our culture’s darkness. If you’re intimidated by unbelievers’ unbelief and what they have to say about it, Justin will help you find both courage and kindness for the conversation. Why I’m Still a Christian: After Two Decades of Conversations with Skeptics and Atheists–The Reason I Believe Watch This Segment on YouTube Visit Justin’s Website Hear Justin on the ReFocus Podcast Inbox: Yelling at God When life is hard and you’re sad, angry, disappointed or scared, how do you pray honestly to God while still showing reverence and respect? Pastor Mark Bates weighs in. Find us on YouTube
Everyone's talking about September 23, 2025… TikTok videos are going viral claiming that's the day of the Rapture. But is it true? In this episode, we unpack what Jesus really meant when He said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man” (Matthew 24:36). Could He have been pointing us to the Feast of Trumpets? And what does Scripture actually say about the timing of the Rapture, the Great Tribulation, and the Peace Treaty foretold in Daniel 9:27? Get ready—we'll walk through the verses step by step and lay out the Biblical timeline of the last days so you can see why September 23, 2025 is not the day… and what the Bible says we should really be watching for. 📱: It's never been easier to understand. Stream Only Source Network and access exclusive content: https://watch.osn.tv/browse 📚: Check out Jerusalem Prophecy College Online for less than $60 per course: https://jerusalemprophecycollege.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Image via Riccardo De Luca - Update / Shutterstock. Here’s a beautiful invitation from The Patrick Madrid Show that every Catholic should hear: Pope Leo XIV is asking us to fast and pray for peace this August 22nd, the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. At his general audience, the Holy Father turned his heart, and ours, toward the many conflict zones around the world... especially in Ukraine and the Holy Land. His message is clear: Mary, our Queen of Peace, is with us in the fight for true peace, and she’s inviting us to join her through prayer and fasting. So why August 22nd? Mary is honored as Queen of Heaven, and she’s reigning as our Mother; she's standing with us in every struggle. Patrick explains how this connects directly to Revelation 12, where the “woman clothed with the sun” is both Mary and a symbol of the Church. This woman gives birth to Christ and then becomes the target of the dragon, who wages war not just on her, but on the rest of her offspring. These are those who follow Jesus and keep His commandments. What the Pope is Asking: Pope Leo’s call isn’t generic. He says: “I ask you... to include in your intentions a supplication for the gift of peace, a peace that is disarmed and disarming, especially for Ukraine and the Middle East.” This is about real peace, the kind that starts in the heart and flows out to the world. What to Do on August 22nd: Here’s how you can respond: -Pray a Rosary (especially for peace) -Fast in whatever way you can: from food, social media, entertainment, etc... -Offer your day for all who are suffering because of war and violence -Invite others to join you: family, friends, your parish group, etc... August 22nd is your chance to join the Church worldwide in a spiritual mission for peace. Mary is Queen, and she’s leading the charge. Will you follow her lead?