Podcasts about scripture luke

Life, people, and even our own actions often don't go according to our expectations. When that happens, the result is often disappointment, resentment, or shame. In those moments, God calls us to forgive—not only others who have hurt us, but also ourselves when we fall short of who we hoped to be. Forgiveness is difficult and often counterintuitive because it requires surrendering all judgment to God—even our judgment of ourselves. But in doing so, we open ourselves to God's grace. And through His power, rather than our own strength, we become able to forgive others—freely and often. Most importantly, forgiveness is not just a command Jesus gave to His disciples; it is foundational to the Christian life. It is both an extension and an acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. ----- Scripture: Luke 17: 1-10   Jesus[a] said to his disciples, ‘Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! 2 It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 Be on your guard! If another disciple[b] sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. 4 And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, “I repent”, you must forgive.' 5 The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!' 6 The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a[c] mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you. 7 ‘Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”? 8 Would you not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink”? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!”'

October 5, 2025 Jesus would have his followers watch our conduct so we wouldn’t lead others down the wrong path. When people sin against us and ask our forgiveness, we cannot refuse. We need to forgive even when we don’t feel like it. Scripture: Luke 17:1-10

Scripture - Luke 17:5-10Thank You for listening!Follow us on Facebook Instagram YouTube Website You can contact us at office@newcovenantaz.orgMaking Jesus Christ the Heart of Every Home.

Scripture: Luke 6

What did you think? Text us by clicking here! We are unable to reply on this app, so include phone # or email address.In this episode, host Chris Cashen (pastor at Trinity OPC, Lanham, MD) is joined by pastor John Shaw and deacon Bob Keys from Grace OPC in Columbus, Ohio for a conversation on the financial needs of the church and the importance of encouraging generosity. Drawing from the example of the widow's mite in Luke 21, they reflect on how this passage shapes our understanding of giving, particularly in the context of diaconal ministry.Much of the discussion centers on the application of the passage as it relates to the work of the deacon, and how the generosity of Jesus Christ should move our hearts toward love and sacrificial giving within the church. Together, they explore the deacon's role in fostering a culture of mercy ministry and faithful giving.Listen in as Chris, John, and Bob offer gospel-centered insights on selfless generosity, financial stewardship and the church's call to care for those in need.Referenced in this episode:Scripture ·       Luke 21:1–4 ·       Psalm 110:1·       Acts 6·       2 Corinthians 9:6–8, 15·       2 Corinthians 8:9·       1 Timothy 5:8·       Philippians 4:11–12·       Philippians 2:1–8·       John Calvin— Institutes' section on prayerOPC Book of Church Order on deacons You can find all of our episodes at thereformeddeacon.org. Make sure to follow us on your favorite podcast player, so you don't miss an episode. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for giveaways and more information. Find other resources on OPCCDM.org. Make sure to send us some feedback on your podcast player or ask a diaconal question by going to OPCCDM.org.

DateSeptember 28, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we reimagine salvation not as a fear-driven, one-and-done transaction but as God's healing and wholeness breaking into real life—personal and communal, present and active. We move from private assurance to public restoration, learning to “work out” salvation together through justice, mercy, and everyday mending. Where the world feels frayed, we become agents of repair, embodying Jesus' pattern of healing, belonging, and restitution—here and now. Scripture: Luke 18:42; Mark 5:34; Luke 19:8–9; Philippians 2:12–13.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Scripture - Luke 16:1-13Thank You for listening!Follow us on Facebook Instagram YouTube Website You can contact us at office@newcovenantaz.orgMaking Jesus Christ the Heart of Every Home.

September 25, 2025 The next life will either be paradise or torment based on our response to the Gospel. We must repent of our rebellious self-centered way of living. We are not here to serve money but to serve Jesus. Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Speaker: Ron HackneyScripture: Luke 12:42-26 Download 09282025A.mp3

SCRIPTURE- Luke 6:37"Stop judging, and you will not be judged; stop condemning, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.”REFLECTION- Fr. JimMUSIC- "Come Ye Children of the Lord" by Paul Cardell- "Melody of My Dreams" Instrumental- "Forgiveness" By Matthew WestIt's the hardest thing to give awayAnd the last thing on your mind todayIt always goes to those that don't deserveIt's the opposite of how you feelWhen the pain they caused is just too realIt takes everything you have just to say the word...ForgivenessForgivenessIt flies in the face of all your prideIt moves away the mad insideIt's always anger's own worst enemyEven when the jury and the judgeSay you gotta right to hold a grudgeIt's the whisper in your ear saying "Set It Free"ForgivenessForgivenessForgivenessForgivenessShow me how to love the unlovableShow me how to reach the unreachableHelp me now to do the impossibleForgivenessForgivenessHelp me now to do the impossibleForgivenessIt'll clear the bitterness awayIt can even set a prisoner freeThere is no end to what it's power can doSo, let it go and be amazedBy what you see through eyes of graceThe prisoner that it really frees is youForgivenessForgivenessForgivenessForgivenessShow me how to love the unlovableShow me how to reach the unreachableHelp me now to do the impossibleForgivenessI want to finally set it freeSo show me how to see what Your mercy seesHelp me now to give what You gave to meForgivenessForgivenessForgivenessForgivenessNOTES-PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

Daily Dose of Hope September 26, 2025   Scripture - Luke 24:36-53   Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  We are so amazingly grateful for your grace and love.  Forgive us for the many times when we fall short, when we betray you, when we fail to be loving or faithful.  We want to grow stronger, Lord, but we can only do so through your power.  Lord, help us hear your voice.  In the next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers... In Jesus' Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  This is the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  Today, we are finishing up our deep dive into the book of Luke.  We are focusing on the second half of Luke 24.   The men from the road to Emmaus had found the other disciples and shared their experience.  It's beginning to sink in that something extraordinary has occurred.  And just like that, as the disciples are gathered, Jesus appears before them and says, “Peace be with you.”    A couple things to note.  We know immediately that Jesus' body is different.  He has both a human and spiritual body.  He came into the room without using a door (that isn't normal), but he also later asks for food.  The risen Lord has a body that is different from before.  Jesus also shows them his scars.  They could touch the places the nails were driven into his body.  It showed, once again, that this was really him.  He was real – he wasn't a ghost or angel.  He is physically resurrected and yet, something is also supernatural about him.   His very first statement to them is also fascinating.  Peace be with you.  They have experienced anything BUT peace over the last few days.  They've dealt with grief, depression, anxiety, uncertainty, and probably even anger.  But now, Jesus is saying that he is bringing peace.  There is something about the presence of Jesus that brings peace. In fact, Jesus is intrinsically linked to peace, which he provides not in a worldly way but as an internal state of peace with God and tranquility amid life's problems, a gift secured by his sacrifice and available to those who have faith in Him.  He is the one that provides the peace that passes understanding, it's a peace that only makes sense connected to him.   In a manner similar to what he did with the men on the road to Emmaus, Jesus then proceeds to walk them through the Scriptures.  He shows where this had been prophesied and how God had a plan all along.  Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law.  Jesus was the one that the prophets had been talking about.  Jesus was the one that God sent.  And while he had done this in other ways during his ministry, he now totally had their attention.  Their minds were opened and they began to see.   I once had a Messianic Jewish rabbi tell me that he can share the Gospel message just using Old Testament texts.  He says there is so much in the Old Testament that points to Jesus, he feels confident using those scriptures alone to provide evidence that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Lord of all.  That is essentially what Jesus is doing here.   How comfortable are you with the Old Testament texts?  I would challenge you to look up the many places throughout the Old Testament that speak to Jesus coming to redeem the world.  It is essential that we know the Old Testament to truly understand the New Testament.   We finally have the ascension.  Jesus tells them to wait for the helper that is going to be sent (which we know is the Holy Spirit) and his body literally ascends into heaven.  And we know that he now sits at the right hand of the Father.  He is Lord.    What does it mean to you that Jesus is now sitting next to the Father?  How does this affect your understanding of the Trinity?  How does this affect your understanding of Jesus' work in the world?    Who is Jesus to you?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope September 25, 2025   Scripture – Luke 24:1-35   Prayer:  Today we pray an ancient prayer from St Ambrose of Milan, who lived from 337-397 AD...O Lord, who has mercy upon all, take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of Your Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore You, a heart to delight in You, to follow and to enjoy You, for Christ's sake.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we begin a deep dive into Luke 24.    We start with Luke's resurrection account. And today, we find ourselves walking with the women: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others.  These are real women who traveled with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem, they cared for his needs, learned from him, witnessed his power and glory, and loved him.  This has been a horrible week for them.  They helplessly watched him die.  And now, filled with grief, they want to anoint his body for burial.  They need to do this.  I should mention that Jesus was crucified on a Friday.  His body was hastily put in a tomb just before the Sabbath began (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown).  So they have to wait to prepare his body for burial.  Saturday night, it would have been too dark to take care of the body so we are meeting them probably very early on a Sunday morning.  They are ready.  They have brought their spices, they plan to attend to the body properly.  In the Jewish culture, a proper burial demonstrated honor for the deceased and for these women, it was an act of love and respect.    But when they get there, the most unexpected thing happens.  The stone has been rolled away from the tomb and the tomb is empty.  Jesus' body is simply not there.  This doesn't make sense to them.  And it was while they were wondering about where the body is, totally confused and perplexed, that two men in dazzling clothes (clothes that gleam like lightening), we can assume they are angels, they stand by the women.  And the women put their faces down, they were probably scared out of their minds.  And the men say, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”    Such a bizarre question.  Why do you look for the living among the dead?  They are at a tomb, which is typically where dead bodies, not living bodies, are kept.  And they fully expected Jesus' dead body to be there.  Afterall, they saw Jesus die.  They were the last to leave the cross.  They saw his limp, lifeless body placed in the tomb.  What do you mean?  Why do you look for the living among the dead?  But the sparkling men continue…he is not here, he is risen.  Remember how he told you these things?  Way back when you were in Galilee, he told you this was going to happen?    It was then that they remembered his words.  Multiple times, Jesus had said told them but it didn't make sense at the time.  Whether they simply weren't paying enough attention or they didn't want to know the truth, they didn't understand. Luke 9:22, And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”   Now, it's all coming together.  They do remember! Maybe they don't completely understand but they know that something totally unexpected, something totally amazing has happened, and they can't wait to tell the others.  So they burst into the room where the male disciples are hiding and out it comes.  They spill their guts.  They tell them about their morning.  You can picture it.  They are probably talking really fast and they might have been talking over one another and kind of out of breath.  They are excited.  They are so excited!    And the guys, well, let's just say aren't impressed.  They don't believe the women, saying their words were nonsense.  Other translations say the men tell the women they were spreading an idle tale, that what they were reporting was fake news.  It wasn't what they were expecting so it must not have been true.  Wow.    The narrative ends with Peter getting up and running to the tomb.  He also finds it empty, with the strips of burial cloth that would have been wrapped around Jesus' body just lying there on the ground.  And he walks off, wondering what really happened.    And then the narrative shifts to a different scene. Two of Jesus' disciples, not the twelve but two other male disciples, one named Cleophus and the other left unnamed, were walking from Jerusalem to their home in Emmaus.  There are some walks that are longer than others — not because of the miles or even because of the landscape, but because of the burdens. This was a 7 mile walk but it might as well been a 27 mile walk because these men are distressed.  They are grieving.  They have been following Jesus.  They believed him to be the Messiah and Savior and they have just seen him killed, murdered on a Roman cross.  So, they are walking slowly and speaking intensely.  The Greek suggests they may have been having some kind of theological argument.  Bottom line:  they are tired, weary, sad, and confused.  They don't understand what they have just witnessed.  And now they have to go back home and continue with their lives.  You can kind of imagine the kinds of questions they had.  Why did this happen?  How did God allow this to happen?  I can relate to their distress.  Every one of us, at some point, will have to take a walk to Emmaus. Some of you have been down this road already or you are walking it right now! In this world we will have trouble. And it will hit close to home. There will be times when all hope seems lost, and our world seems to be crumbling around us.  Maybe it's a walk out of an office where you have given years of your life but you are now being let go.  Maybe it's a walk out of the doctor's office after your spouse has just been given a terminal diagnosis.  Maybe it's the walk out of the attorney's office after the divorce papers have been finalized.  These are painful walks, in which we question God.  God, how could you let this happen?  God, I thought you were powerful and real.  What in the world is going on here?  In some way, all of us have experienced a walk like that.  Now, Jesus interrupts their argument, but they don't know it's Jesus at this point.  They are kept from knowing him.  He is a stranger to them.  I love this.  Because Jesus shows up to them JUST as he shows up to us.  We don't always recognize his presence either.  I don't know about you, but I've had times in my life that were so difficult, so painful, so anxiety-provoking, that I am so consumed with those feelings and then I look back and realize later, that Jesus was there with me.  His presence was real.  It was protecting me, guarding me, guiding me.  Jesus has a way of showing up when we need him most.  We just don't always recognize it.  Here's the thing.  Jesus could have said, “Hey guys, its me.  I'm here.  I've fixed everything.  Look, I'm alive!”  But he doesn't do that.  Instead, he says, “Don't YOU understand?”  And he begins to explain, starting at the very beginning of Scripture and walks them through the prophecies, walks them through how God said he would send a Savior who would have to suffer and die.  Hope and faith must have begun to stir their hearts as he spoke. They must have never heard, really heard, the gospel like this before—a gospel that included the suffering of the Messiah before entering his glory—told by the resurrected Lord himself!  Now, keep in mind, their circumstances have not changed but their perspective is beginning to change.  Faith is budding. They invite Jesus (still a stranger to them) to come stay with them.  It's late and they insist that he come and dine with them.  It was at the table, when they were breaking bread together that they recognize him.  Just as he did on Thursday night in the Upper Room --- it's when he takes the bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and offers it to them.  Their eyes are opened and they know – this is our Jesus.  Are our eyes open to Jesus when we break bread together?  Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope September 24, 2025   Scripture – Luke 23   Prayer:  Lord Jesus, We come before you this morning, thanking you for a new day.  Lord, you are good and we rejoice in your holy and powerful name.  As we begin our day, Lord, help us focus on you.  Help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on your Word and what you want us to learn today.  We get so distracted and self-consumed.  Forgive us for that, Lord.  In these next few moments of silence, help us have laser focus on your voice... In Your Powerful Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are deep diving into Luke 23.    Today, we start with Jesus before Pilate and Herod.  Both Roman men believe that Jesus  is innocent.  Pilate actually tries to get the people to release Jesus, but the crowd is stirred up.  They want blood.  Jesus' innocence is not the point to them.  They are looking for a way to get rid of this trouble-maker.  And these men are not willing to stand up for what's right.    There was a man named Simon from Cyrene who was passing by and they forced him to carry the cross.  Cyrene was on the tip of Africa so this man was far from home!  And here he was, just going about his business, and he is enlisted, or more like seized, to carry the cross of the Savior of the world.  I'm guessing that Jesus' physical body was incredibly weak and bloody by this point.  And Simon walked by him, carrying the cross that would serve to execute Jesus but also save all humanity from their sin. We don't know what happened to Simon after the crucifixion.  He isn't mentioned again in Scripture.  But my guess is that his life was never the same again.  An encounter with Jesus is always life-changing.   The text in which Jesus dies on the cross is called the Good Friday scripture.  It may seem odd that we would call the day that Jesus was crucified and died “good.” Apparently, the term came into common use in the 1200s because for us, it was a truly good day, as Jesus became the final sacrifice for all sin for all people for all time. As the full expression of God's love for us, Jesus voluntarily gave his life so that we could be reconciled to holy God. It is very much good.   There is a lot to be said about the crucifixion but I wanted to highlight something in particular.  Right before Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross, the curtain in the Temple was torn down the middle. This is the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holiest of Holies) where the ark of the covenant was kept and the presence of God remained. When the curtain tore, it was a sign that the New Covenant was instituted. Because of Jesus' sacrifice (the final sacrifice for sin), those who believe in him can now go directly to the throne of God's grace. When holy God looks at us, he doesn't see our sinfulness but the blood of Christ. Thus, there are no more barriers that can separate us from God.   I'd like to close today with a prayer that is an adaptation of Hebrews 10:19-25: Thank you, Lord, that we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Lord, help us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Amen.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Faith Baptist Church in Hamilton, NJ. Pastor Lance Walker is the Senior Pastor. Visit us at www.fbcchurch.org

Daily Dose of Hope September 23, 2025   Scripture – Luke 22:39-71   Prayer:  Holy God, We come before you this morning in awe of your blessings and love.  Thank you, Lord, for the ways you continue to guide our lives.  Lord, we want more intimacy with you.  We are desperate to know you better.  In these next few moments of silence, Jesus, please speak to us.  We need to hear your voice...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  As most of you know, we are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are finishing up Luke 22.    Yesterday, we joined Jesus in the Upper Room with this disciples.  Today, we find them praying together on the Mount of Olives.  The only problem is that the disciples cannot stay awake.  Jesus is pouring out his heart to the Father, asking that the cup be taken from him, and the disciples (in their humanness) can't keep their eyes open.  Luke says that they were exhausted from sorrow.  They don't know what is about to happen but they do know that it's going to be bad.    I love how Luke mentions that an angel comes down to strengthen Jesus.  Remember, he freely chooses to go to the cross but he knows it's going to be terrible.  In his humanity, he dreads it.  But God knows what he needs and provides it.  Just in case you don't know, God knows what you need and will provide it.  That doesn't mean he will save you from pain and sorrow.  I mean, Jesus is about to be executed on a Roman cross.  But God will walk with us and give us the strength we need. Jesus is then arrested.  Luke tells us that Jesus is approached by the chief priests, officers of the Temple guard, and the elders.  They come at him with swords and clubs.  Verses 49-51 read, “When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.  But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man's ear and healed him.  Even in this situation, Jesus responds with love.  Jesus kept his disciples from fighting back with violence.  He trusted God to the end.  He also made it clear that his kingdom doesn't follow the pattern of this world.  This world's pattern is violence, power, and control.  Jesus' way is love, truth, justice, mercy, and peace. I did want to spend a little time on Peter's denial of Jesus. I don't know why but I've always been fascinated by this passage. Peter was Jesus' closest friend. He swore that if all the others fell away, he would not. And yet, he did. What made Peter deny Jesus? Probably fear. Fear does all kinds of things to us as human beings. Maybe he was scared of being arrested himself, or of being ostracized by the Jewish leaders, we don't really know.  But whatever the reason, he vehemently denies Jesus three times.  When Peter realizes this, he has tremendous remorse and begins to cry.   Maybe I'm fascinated by this text because I have so often found myself in the same boat.  I have denied Jesus.  I haven't spoke up when I knew I should have, I haven't stood firm on certain issues, I haven't loved others the way Jesus calls me to, I haven't put Jesus first, I could go on and on.  I have denied Jesus.  I hope that I've gotten to the place in my spiritual walk in which I deny Jesus less.  But I know that I am far from perfect and there are still those times.  When I realize my denial, like Peter, I cry and I'm filled with sorrow and I have to go back to Jesus and repent.  And just like he did for Peter, I'm forgiven and restored.    Think about your own life. How have you denied Jesus? What has been your reaction when you realize this?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches that we cannot serve both God and "mammon." While "mammon" is often translated as "money," it more broadly refers to anything we rely on in place of God; we cannot serve both God and anything else at the same time. Importantly, this is not a call to live an austere life devoid of possessions, but rather a call to prioritize God and steward our possessions wisely. Each of us must identify what our personal "mammon" might be—whether it's money, power, comfort, or something else—and ensure we are using it to serve God, not the other way around. By doing so, we may give up some measure of worldly wealth, but we gain something far greater: spiritual wealth that surpass anything the world can offer.   Scripture: Luke 16:10-13 NIV 10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? 13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”   Luke 16:10-13 AMP 10 “He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little thing is also dishonest in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of earthly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? 12 And if you have not been faithful in the use of that [earthly wealth] which belongs to another [whether God or man, and of which you are a trustee], who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand devotedly by the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon [that is, your earthly possessions or anything else you trust in and rely on instead of God].”

In Luke 17:11–19, Jesus heals ten men with leprosy—but only one returns in gratitude. This passage shows us that while many received healing, only one truly encountered the saving power of Jesus.In this message from our Power series, we explore: • Why humility is the starting point for real transformation • How pride blinds us to God's work in our lives • What it means to say “Jesus is enough” • How the world's view of power contrasts with the kingdom of GodAt Mosaic, we believe true power doesn't exploit—it cultivates. Join us as we unpack what it means to live a Jesus-centered life shaped by gratitude, humility, and faith.

Daily Dose of Hope September 22, 2025   Scripture - Luke 22:1-38   Prayer: Holy God, We come before you this morning in awe of your blessings and love.  Thank you, Lord, for the ways you continue to guide our lives.  Lord, we are desperate to know you better.  In these next few moments of silence, Jesus, please speak to us.  We need to hear your voice...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Happy Monday!  This is the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.    Today, we start Luke 22.  First, we encounter Judas.  Satan has entered him and he goes to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus.  This is a scary and intriguing Scripture.  From what I've read, this is the only place where Satan himself enters a person. All other evil possessions involve demons. This was a crucial time in salvation history. Satan would not delegate this task to anyone else. So important was this time that Satan himself “entered Judas.”    But how could this happen?  While Satan is the one who initiated entering Judas, this only occurred because Judas allowed it to occur.  He opened the door to his heart.  We don't have any evidence that Judas tried to resist.  We don't have any indication that Judas prayed to God for help, dug into Scripture, or did anything to prevent this from happening.  In fact, we do get the impression that Judas' heart had become hard.  We don't know anything about his inner thought life or prayer life, but we can surmise that things had gone south here.  None of this happened quickly.  Gradually, Judas allowed himself to fall prey to evil.    We then come to the time in which the disciples will share the Passover meal with Jesus.  When I read this text, it reminds me of the Palm Sunday Scripture in which Jesus had planned everything out.  Here, it is the same thing.  He tells the disciples that when they enter the city, there will be a man carrying a jay of water, follow that man.  And that all happened.  The man showed them an upstairs room that was furnished and that was the place they were to prepare for the Passover.  Jesus had taken care of all the details.    And then we have the Passover meal.  But this wasn't a Passover meal like the disciples had experienced before.  Jesus took something that was so familiar and transformed it.  He knew what was going to happen.  He knew that he would soon suffer and die.  And he uses this sacred meal to do a new thing.  (God is always doing a new thing.) The bread and wine become his body and blood.  They represent a new covenant and a new meal.  Of course, this is what we celebrate as a body of Christ when we come together for Holy Communion, also called the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist.   One thing that's particularly interesting to me is that Jesus knew that Judas would betray him.  Does he make him leave the table?  Does he force him to leave the Upper Room?  No, not at all.  He allows him to stay.  He is still welcomed at the table.    Another interesting element in Luke's account is the dispute over which disciple is greatest.  Can you imagine just having this holy moment with Jesus and then arguing over who among you in greatest?  It seems absurd and yet, these disciples were human and they really didn't understand the kind of Kingdom being ushered in by Jesus.  But Jesus stops them and tells them quite bluntly to be careful what you wish for.  In Jesus' Kingdom, to lead is to serve.  The greatest becomes the least.    We then have Jesus predicting Peter's denial and we have this confusing discourse about swords.  Jesus tells them to go buy a sword.  Several disciples present him with two swords and he yells, “Enough!”  Okay, I'm lost – how about you?   Some pastors have used this passage as evidence that Jesus is saying we are to defend ourselves.  But that doesn't seem right.  Two swords would not be enough for eleven disciples.  Plus, the Sermon on the Mount does not seem to allow for any kind of violence.  Most scholars say that this command to buy a sword means to be ready for hardship and self-sacrifice.  It points to being ready for persecution, not ready for revenge.  The term sword needs to interpreted figuratively.   What are your thoughts?   More tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki          

Scripture: Luke 7: 36 - 40Message from Brice Hope, Formation MinisterFor more resources and access to everything we have going on at First, visit https://www.firstabq.org

In Luke 13:10–21, Jesus reveals how the kingdom of God advances — not through power, control, or human systems, but through sacrificial service, mercy, and unstoppable growth. In this study, Pastor Landon walks through the healing of a woman bound by a spirit of infirmity for 18 years and shows how Jesus' compassion, authority, and freedom confront both spiritual oppression and religious hypocrisy. We explore how God sees the unseen, how mercy always moves toward need, and how authentic worship flows from hearts transformed by His touch. Jesus challenges the misplaced priorities of the religious leaders and exposes the danger of valuing tradition and rules over people. The call is clear: to notice those who are “bent over” by sin or suffering, to serve sacrificially even when it's messy, and to reject hypocrisy in our own hearts. The parables of the mustard seed and leaven remind us that God's kingdom often starts small and works quietly, yet it grows powerfully and transforms everything it touches. Our role is to plant and trust — serving faithfully, praying persistently, discipling intentionally, and allowing God to bring the growth. ⸻ ✅ Key Points Covered: • Jesus heals a woman oppressed for 18 years, showing God's mercy and authority • How mercy moves toward need — and why sacrificial service begins with “holy noticing” • Hypocrisy and tradition vs. God's heart for people • The kingdom of God grows quietly yet powerfully — like a mustard seed or leaven • The danger of bad theology and misplaced trust in politics or human power • Our calling to serve, pray, disciple, and live out everyday faith with humility and love • Why small, unseen acts of service matter deeply in God's kingdom

Scripture - Luke 15:1-10Thank You for listening!Follow us on Facebook Instagram YouTube Website You can contact us at office@newcovenantaz.orgMaking Jesus Christ the Heart of Every Home.

The Power of Persistent Faith, with Rev. Dr. Steven Koski. Series: Spacious Christianity, Spacious Hearts A Spacious Christianity, First Presbyterian Church of Bend, Oregon. Scripture: Luke 18:1-8.Join us this Sunday to hear an inspiring message on the power of persistence, based on the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. Whether online or in-person, you'll be encouraged to keep going, even when life feels unsettled.Join us each Sunday, 10AM at bendfp.org, or 11AM KTVZ-CW Channel 612/12 in Bend.  Subscribe/Follow, and click the bell for alerts.At First Presbyterian, you will meet people at many different places theologically and spiritually. And we love it that way. We want to be a place where our diversity brings us together and where conversation takes us all deeper in our understanding of God.We call this kind of faith “Spacious Christianity.” We don't ask anyone to sign creeds or statements of belief. The life of faith is about a way of being in the world and a faith that shows itself in love.Thank you for your support of the mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Bend. Visit https://bendfp.org/giving/ for more information.Keywords:persist, gps, gloria, persistence, transitions, recalculating, jesus, persistent widow, god, world, widow, disruptions, persistent, trust, life, lose, inclusive language, hear, worship, heart, presbyterian, church, online worship, bend, oregonFeaturing:Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Rev. Sharon Edwards, Becca Ellis, Brave of Heart, GuestsSupport the show

Pastor and Lady Dobbs minister from Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:8 on the importance of a family operating in the power of the Holy Spirit. This message will encourage the families to work together under God's plan for the family. Scripture: Luke 24:49 -”Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Acts 1:8 -”But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Hit the notification bell so that you do not miss our most recent video. From your mobile device, to sow a financial seed into the ministry you may visit us at occvr.org and click the menu tab to locate the donate button. The donate button will provide two options for online giving. You may utilize “Text To Give” in which you will text “give” to the phone number 770-692-2225 to setup your monthly gift or one time financial gift. The additional method for online giving is simply click on the paypal “donate” button. Thanks to our generous partners in ministry, we are able to continue spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our local and foreign outreach ministries. For further information on Overcomers Christian Center including address, service times, and other information please visit occvr.org. Also you may visit us at the following: Facebook: @occvr Podcast: The Overcomers

Pastor and Lady Dobbs minister from Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:8 on the importance of a family operating in the power of the Holy Spirit. This message will encourage the families to work together under God's plan for the family. Scripture: Luke 24:49 -”Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Acts 1:8 -”But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14Sermon Series: Standalone Guest Speaker Sermon Discussion Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HE0kyBGlziXgYPRXQlvtMmguLff8noG5/view?usp=drive_linkSermon Notes: https://churchlinkfeeds.blob.core.windows.net/notes/43173/note-245694.htmlSermon Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz9DsYyN6II

Daily Dose of Hope September 19, 2025   Scripture - Luke 21   Prayer: Holy God, We rejoice and give praise for the ways you care for us.  We rejoice and give praise for how you continue to forgive us and give us second and third chances.  Help us seek lives characterized by your holiness.  Help us seek pure hearts.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers and help us bring together all our scattered thoughts and focus on you...It's in your name we pray, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan from New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are deep diving into Luke 21.    Jesus' time on earth is coming to a conclusion.  We are getting very close to Passion week.  And we can see Jesus' language and discussion getting more pressing.  There is an urgency to what he has to say.    At the end of chapter 20, Jesus speaks of how the Pharisees and scribes (and really the whole religious system) are devouring widows' houses. They require much of the poor but they give little to help them.  This leads into the beginning of chapter 21, in which Jesus points out the sacrificial offering of the widow.  He speaks of how so many of the people who are part of the religious system give gifts out of their wealth; but the widow gives all she has despite her desperate poverty.  He recognizes her faithful obedience and holds her up as an example.  Just FYI, this probably really angered the Pharisees.   We go from the Temple offering to the prophecy of the destruction of the Temple and the end times.  One of the disciples comments on the grandeur of the Temple.  Jesus then tells them that the whole Temple will eventually be destroyed.  Every stone will be turned.    Keep in mind that for the Jews, this is where God's presence resided.  This is a holy place.  But the Pharisees and the current system have allowed the Temple to be corrupted.  They have disobeyed God's ways.  And Jesus predicts that it will be destroyed.    What we know is that the Temple was destroyed by Rome just 37 years later.  This would be an ugly season in Jerusalem's history, with lots of persecution and oppression.  Is this what Jesus is referring to in nation rising against nation, famines, earthquakes, and so forth?  Scholars don't all agree but I think it's safe to say yes and no.  Yes, the Roman armies destroying Jerusalem in AD 70 was pretty horrific.  Much of the population was starved and/or eventually massacred.   But there is more to this.  This is more than just a “in the near future” scenario. It's also likely that Jesus is referring to the end of times and when he will return to judge all people.  If you recall, in the Matthew version of this text, we actually have images of Jesus returning on the clouds with the loud trumpet call; this echoes prophecy in Daniel.    And up until this point, Jesus has alluded to this.  He never tells people to be scared or worried, just to be ready and be watchful.  As believers, we have nothing to fear.  We belong to Jesus.  Just be ready.  But there is still an urgency to this – how seriously do we take this?  Are we busy doing God's business, which includes leading people to Jesus?  Is sharing the story of Jesus a regular part of who we are as believers?  If not, why?  Do you believe that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead?  These are serious questions that every single one of us has to reckon with.    One other thing to mention: At this point, the disciples still don't understand that God's presence now dwells in the person of Jesus Christ.  From their perspective, the Temple still holds the presence of God.  But the Good News of Jesus is that God's presence is no longer in a building but in Jesus.  God is Jesus and Jesus is God.   If that isn't enough to blow your mind, consider that the presence of God is now also in the person of the Holy Spirit.  Where does the Holy Spirit dwell?  Well, in us as believers!  So that means that the presence of God is in Jesus' church, his people.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope September 18, 2025   Scripture –  Luke 20:20-47   Prayer: Amazing Father and Lord, Thank you for who you are.  Thank you for how you care for us.  We get distracted.  We veer away from you and your Word.  For that, we are so very sorry.  Forgive us, Lord.  Help us to abide in you.  Help us to remain close so that we can be fruitful and effective for your Kingdom.  Help us get outside ourselves and see others as you see them.  Lord, we belong to you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that goes along with the daily Bible reading at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently deep diving into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we finish Luke 20.   In this chapter, we get a pretty clear picture of how hard the Pharisees are trying to catch Jesus saying or doing something punishable by Jewish law. They keep trying to trick him; they have no idea with whom they are dealing!   No one enjoys paying taxes, and in first century Palestine, this was a particularly sticky topic. The Jewish leaders are trying to trap Jesus so they ask him if it is lawful to pay taxes, meaning according to God's law. If Jesus says it isn't lawful, then he could get in trouble with the Romans. The Jewish authorities are hoping he will be in trouble no matter which way he answers.   But Jesus is not deceived. He asks for a coin, which had Emperor Tiberius' image stamped on it, and asked who was on it. When they said Caesar, he told them to give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what it God's. It left no room for argument and his enemies are literally stunned silent.   Jesus is making the point that we are citizens of both earth and heaven at the same time. While we have allegiance to both our nation and God, there is no question that our first and primary loyalty is to God. Jesus is Lord over all the earth, over our nation, over the church, and over our lives. Think of Paul's words in Philippians 3, But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.   After the coin incident, there are some Sadducees who want to grill him on the concept of the resurrection of the dead.  By addressing Levirate marriage, they also are trying to trap Jesus in his words.  The Sadducees, the intellectual aristocracy of the day, did not believe in resurrection.  They were pressing Jesus on the topic, hoping to make him look foolish.  If you will recall from Mark and Matthew, levirate law was intended to protect widows without a male heir.  When a brother died, leaving his wife without children, a surviving brother marries the widow with the sole intention of producing an heir.  If a son is conceived, he is actually considered to be the deceased brother's child.  In ancient near-East culture, a widow without any connection to a male would either starve or be forced to beg or prostitute herself.    Thus, the Sadducees question makes a little more sense even though it is a bit absurd.  A woman's husband dies and she marries a brother.  That brother dies and she marries another brother and so forth until she has been married to all seven brothers.  Then she dies.  Whose wife will she be at the resurrection?  Keep in mind, they ask this question knowing that they think the resurrection is false.    Jesus basically tells them they are missing the point. In the resurrection, our bodies will be different – perfect and glorious.  There will also be a change in our spiritual nature.  Jesus is saying that in regard to marriage and sexual matters, we will be like the angels (note that he did not say we will be angels but we will be like them.)    But the Sadducees were mistaken so significantly not because of this absurd question but because they didn't believe in the resurrection.  This is a fundamental aspect of Jesus' teaching and they missed it entirely.    Rather than allowing the Pharisees to continue trying to trap him, Jesus decides to ask a  hard question of them.  He asks the group, “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?”  They immediately respond, “The son of David.”  How then, Jesus asked, could David call him by the Spirit ‘Lord' when he said, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”' (Psalm 110:1). “If David”, Jesus said, “Calls him ‘Lord,' how can he be his son?” The Pharisees were unable to answer and “from that day on no one dared to question him any longer”. Jesus' point was missed.  Of course, Jesus had descended from David. He was the Son of God.  He was the Messiah, the one the Jews had been waiting for, for hundreds of years.  He was right before their eyes and they were missing it.  How often is Jesus right before our eyes and we totally miss it? More tomorrow. Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope September 17, 2025   Scripture - Luke 20:1-19   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Provider, Sustainer, Thank you for being the God who creates, cares, loves, and saves.  All we have is from you.  As we talk about today's text, give us a fresh revelation; help us see your Word in a new way. Lord, thank you most of all for Jesus.  Thank you for his sacrifice.  Thank you for showing us a different way of doing life.  Help us actually live the way you taught us.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we begin a deep dive into Luke 20.   We start today's text with the Pharisees asking Jesus by what authority he speaks and teaches.  Keep in mind, this was right after Jesus cleanses the Temple and the Pharisees are a bit annoyed.  In Jewish culture, authority was based on lineage and education.  Jesus' authority was divine and so these earthly leaders are feeling incredibly threatened.  They are more concerned with losing their own power and authority than anything else at this point, or so it seems.    I do love how Jesus so often answers a question with a question, as he does in this text.  He asks the men where the authority of John of Baptist came from.  They were in a bind and knew that whatever they answered, it would get them into trouble.  So, because they said they didn't know, Jesus told them he had no need to say from where his authority came from either.   We move from there to the parable of the tenants.  This is a hard parable with violence involved in every aspect of it.  A landowner, presumably a man of means, builds a vineyard and gets it set up with all the right equipment.  He has tenants plant the vines and run the farm for him, while he lives in another place.  When the harvest comes, the absent landowner sends a slave to collect his portion of the harvest or profits.  The slave is beaten up pretty badly by the tenant farmers and limps away.   You would think the landowner might do something different next time but he doesn't.  He sends another slave.  Actually, he sends a lot of different slaves to collect on his behalf.  Some are badly beaten while others are actually killed.  We get the impression this happens over many growing seasons.    The landowner decides he has one option left, his beloved son.  He feels assured that the tenants won't hurt him.  Did the son feel the same way?  Not sure.  But things don't go so well.  The tenants know this is the heir and they kill him too, throwing his body out to the wild animals.   The question that Jesus asks is what will the landowner do?  The answer is that he will come there himself, kill the tenants, and give the land to others (or possibly get new tenants.)  What in the world is meant by all of this?  There are several possible things to think about here and none of them are pleasant.   First, throughout the Bible, the concept of the vineyard is associated with the people of Israel.  With that as a backdrop, could it be that God is the stubborn landowner, the slaves are prophets, and the son is Jesus?  That would make the tenant farmers the corrupt religious leaders.    Second, there are aspects to the parable that the first-century hearers would get that aren't necessarily evident to us.  It wasn't that unusual for the wealthy to obtain the land of those who were poor, possibly because of outstanding debts or because the impoverished are forced to sell land to feed their families.  Life was hard.    It also wasn't that unusual for landlords to live elsewhere and demand a large percentage of the harvest from those who are performing the labor.  The reaction of the parable will be different for different people, depending on where they fall on the social ladder in Israel.  There are those who will identify with the slaves.  There are those who will see the landowner as uncaring and reckless and possibly identify with the plight of the tenants.  There are those who will identify with the landowner and his son.  Every single reaction is unsettling.   One thing I do want to mention is that people have used this parable over the years in an antisemitic way, stating that it was the Jews who killed the son and it is the Jews who should then be killed by the landowner.  Jesus is not speaking of ethnicity or religion here, he is speaking about faithfulness.  The big issue in the parable is not the identity of the players but rather the failure of the tenants to respond faithfully to their obligations.  It's no secret that Christians over the centuries have also treated the cornerstone with disrespect, irreverence, and indignation, while Jews can (and many have) responded faithfully to God's revelation.   What do you make of this parable?  Why do you think Jesus told it?  What are your takeaways?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope September 16, 2025   Scripture – Luke 19:28-48   Prayer: Lord, We need you. Our world is unstable and unjust. It is a place where innocent people die and power and control take precedent over mercy and compassion.  While we know that sin and brokenness are everywhere, it is still hard to take it in.  We don't know which way to turn.  So, we need you.  We need your peace, your justice, and your wisdom.  Help us be the people you have called us to be, even when it's hard.  Fill us with your courage to speak truth and grace.  More of you and less of me.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we finish up Luke 19.   We start with Jesus entering Jerusalem as King; this is what we call the Palm Sunday passage.  We are so used to this narrative that sometimes we don't see the strangeness of it.  This is an odd scene.  Jesus sends two of his disciples to go on ahead to the village and find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.  If someone asks why you are taking it, then just say the Lord needs it.  What this says to us is that Jesus has taken care of every single detail.  We don't know how he has done it, but Jesus is God and he has made sure everything is right.    So, they get the colt.  They put their cloaks on the colt and Jesus rides on it.  Others spread their cloaks on the road.  As he makes his way down the Mount of Olives, a crowd of his disciples gather and begin praising God.  Now, this isn't just the twelve disciples.  This is probably a fairly large group of believers that have seen his power, the people who have heard his teaching, watched his miracles.  And they shout out, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”   A couple things to note here: ·      All of this is very intentional.  This is not a coincidence.  This is a very intentional show of power.  Jesus is being given a royal welcoming.  First, he is riding on a colt.  In the Old Testament, new kings would come riding in on the mule or donkey of the the previous king.  We see in 1 Kings 1 that David puts his son Solomon on his own mule, a trumpet is sounded, and the people rejoice and shout, then the priest and the prophet Nathan anoint him as king of Israel.  The mule is like the presidential limo, a sign of power and prestige that says that this is the new leader. ·      What's interesting here is that Jesus is not riding on the previous king's mule or donkey.  He is riding on a colt that has never been ridden.  Scripture makes a point of telling us this.  Why?  Because God is doing a new thing, Jesus is a different kind of king. ·      Then, there is this whole issue of the cloaks being thrown down on the path for Jesus to pass.  The people are running ahead and shouting his praises.  This is the kind of welcome that a royal official of the Roman government would receive.  Think of it like the red carpet being rolled out.  This is the sign that a very important leader, the new king, has arrived.  All of this has meaning.   And for the Jews in the crowd, and most of them would have been Jewish, they would have known that this was a fulfillment of prophecy.  Zechariah 9:9, Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. All of this is pointing to the fact that Jesus is the king.   This large group of disciples were praising God joyfully and shouting, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord…” What might not be apparent to us is that when they shout this – Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord, Peace in heaven and glory on highest” they are expressing that this is the Messiah, this is the anointed one, the one they had been waiting for that God had sent to save them.  These words echo Psalm 118:22-26, The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 23 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. 25 Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.   Surely, this is the long-expected Messiah, this is the one that God sent to sit on the throne of David, just as he promised some 600 years before.  You see, its all coming together for them.  And thus, there is much joy and celebration for God has sent King Jesus to save us.    But what happens next is worth noting.  The Pharisees tell Jesus to make his disciples stop.  Stop the praising.  Stop the quoting of Scripture.  In fact, what they say is, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”  Seriously, make them stop.  Why was it that the Pharisees wanted the people to stop praising Jesus?  What was behind this rebuke?    Could it be that they know exactly what's going on?  They know that Jesus is declaring himself to be the long-awaited Messiah.  Maybe they are scared, maybe they are angry, we really don't know.  What we know is that they want it to stop quickly.  And Jesus refuses this request.  He says, “...if they keep quiet, then the rocks themselves will cry out.”  Creation itself will cry out and proclaim that Jesus is Lord.  Think about that.    And this narrative ends with Jesus crying over Jerusalem, this city that he loves but he knows will reject him.    I want to focus briefly on the crowd.  What kinds of people were part of this group of disciples, praising Jesus and hailing him as King?    I would imagine that some of them were those who saw his miracles.  They were those people who had life-changing encounters with him.  People like Zacchaeus, Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus (who Jesus raised from the dead), the Roman centurion whose slave was healed, Mary Magdalene, the bleeding woman who Jesus healed…people who experienced the expansive love and miraculous healing power of Jesus.  They received grace in ways they never knew possible.  I'm guessing they were in the crowd, cheering loudly and throwing their cloaks on the ground.  They know Jesus as Lord and King.   But who else?  What about those who so badly wanted a king to overthrow the Romans?  Everything about Jesus screamed revolutionary.  Wasn't the long-expected King going to return the Jews to their rightful place?  Wasn't he going to put an end to this oppression and take care of these stupid Romans for good?  Yes, there were probably some of those in the crowd.   So, let's get this clear:  There were those who wanted something from Jesus, there were those who liked the idea of Jesus, and there were those who truly worshiped Jesus.  What group would you fall into?  Before you quickly make a decision, really think about this.  What kind of king is Jesus to you?  What are your expectations of Jesus?    So often in the Christian life, we give lip service to Jesus being King of Kings and Lord of Lords but we don't really live like it.  What kind of king is Jesus to you?  What are your expectations for King Jesus and what happens when they aren't met?  How often have we expected Jesus to ensure us that nothing bad will happen?  If only we believe and are faithful, maybe my loved ones won't get sick, my job will be protected, my marriage will be secure, you get the idea.  How often have we wanted to lean on Jesus as counselor, as self-help guru, as protector, as doctor, but we aren't really that keen on making him Lord of our Lives.   You see, Jesus as Lord means turning everything over to him.  It means giving him our desires, our relationships, our resources, our thoughts, our time, everything, and saying --- Jesus, your will be done, not mine.  Lately, I've been really wrestling with this whole concept of seeking God's will, not my own.  I've found that my prayers too often are a list of what I want to see happen and I'm not really, truly asking Jesus for his will to be done.  I'm working on this.  Because if Jesus is my King, then it's his will I desire.  It's his solution to the problem.  It's his desire for this church, for my children, for my marriage, for my future.  How often do we want Jesus to be provider, sustainer, protector, and friend BUT not Lord?  What kind of king is Jesus to you?   I don't want to end this devotional without talking, at least a bit, about Jesus in the Temple.  According to Luke's Gospel, he enters Jerusalem as King and goes directly to the Temple.  Things are a mess there.  To put it mildly, there was much unholy commerce in the Court of the Gentiles. There were many merchants selling animals for sacrifice and there were money changers present for foreign Jews to exchange their money to the local currency for the temple tax.    So why was Jesus so upset?  Wasn't this all part of the sacrificial system?  This was the one area of the temple designated for Gentiles (the nations) to pray. They weren't allowed in any other area of the temple. And the Jewish people had taken over the entire area for trade and profit. Lots of money was being made here.  Jesus is beyond angry.  The religious leaders have an interesting reaction to this.  They are scared.  I'm thinking that they know they are in the wrong but they don't want to submit to this Jesus character.  Thus, they begin to plot how to kill him.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Scripture: Luke 10:1 - 11Message from Brady Bryce, Senior MinisterFor more resources and access to everything we have going on at First, visit https://www.firstabq.org

Daily Dose of Hope September 15, 2025   Scripture - Luke 19:1-27   Prayer (from St. Augustine): Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we begin a deep dive into Luke 19.   At the beginning of the chapter, we meet Zacchaeus.  Zacchaeus' encounter with Jesus is worth a fair amount of reflection. Zacchaeus was a tax collector. The Roman government hired local Jews to actually go around collecting the taxes for them. One article I read said that they didn't receive a salary per se but instead collected significantly more in taxes than was owed so they could keep that money for themselves and evidence suggests they took a lot for themselves. Thus, tax collectors tended to be wealthy and they were hated by their fellow Jews. The Jews thought of them as selling their services to a foreign oppressor at the expense of their own people. The rabbinical writings refer to these tax collectors as "robbers" and the Gospels call them "sinners." They were the scum of the Jewish community. And Zacchaeus was one of them.   Zacchaeus wasn't just a run of the mill tax collector but a chief tax collector. You typically don't get to be chief of something unless you have worked at it for a while and climbed your way to the top so I'm thinking Zacchaeus had probably been living a dishonest life for years, extorting and deceiving others for his own financial gain. He wasn't a newbie at this.   Zacchaeus lived in the town of Jericho, which was Jesus' last stop on his journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. It's interesting...people must have heard that Jesus was coming through. Zacchaeus must have heard it because he is determined to see him. I'm curious what it was that made Zacchaeus want to see Jesus so badly-curiosity or conviction-but Scripture says that the crowd that had gathered was quite large and he couldn't see over all the people because he was short. But he was persistent, so he ran ahead to a place where he knew that Jesus would walk by, he climbs a tree, and he waits.   As Jesus walks by, he notices Zacchaeus and he calls him by name. He knows him. (I hope each of you know that Jesus knows your name too!) When Jesus calls to him, he tells Zacchaeus to climb down from the tree, for he had plans to go to his home. We might not recognize the significance of this, but to go to someone's home, to dine with them, demonstrated connection and belonging. To break bread with someone was a big deal.   It was pretty much a given that the Pharisees didn't like this. He was hanging out with "those" people again. But Jesus goes to Zacchaeus' home and possibly while they are dining together, something happens within Zacchaeus. Maybe it started when Zacchaeus heard Jesus was coming through Jericho-something within him stirred for a different way of doing life. Maybe it started when Jesus really knew him and saw him up in that tree. Maybe it was when Jesus offered him the gift of acceptance by offering to dine with him. Maybe it was in their dinner conversation (I wonder what they talked about over their meal)...but we know that because of his encounter with Jesus, something changes within Zacchaeus. In fact, he eventually tells Jesus, "I'm going to give half of my money to the poor and if I have cheated people, I will payback four times as much.” Four times! He didn't just say, I'll pay them back, I'll make amends ,but he specifically says he will pay them four times as much as he took. He was no longer the crooked, thieving Roman sympathizing tax collector, but rather a repentant, generous Jesus follower.   What can we learn here? ·  God has the power to transform any person, no matter how far gone we think they are. God isn't done with anyone yet! I'm guessing many people had given up on Zacchaeus but Jesus wasn't one of them. ·  Never discount how God may use you to be prevenient grace for someone else. I think about how Jesus noticed Zacchaeus in the tree. There were many people, probably lots of noise and distractions, and yet Jesus notices individual people and responds to their needs. That was an act of prevenient grace that led Zacchaeus closer to a place of change. Do we notice individual people around us, do we really notice them, and show them care and kindness in a way that leads them closer to Jesus?   Immediately after his interaction with Zaccheaus, on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus shares the parable of the minas.  This is very similar to the parable of the talents, which we talked about in Matthew, and it gives us another glimpse into the Kingdom of God.  As a traveling preacher, Jesus would have told the same parable at different times and in different ways.  We see this here.   In the parable, a man leaves for a foreign nation in order to be made king. Before he left, he gave ten minas to ten of his servants. A mina was a good sum of money (about three months' wages), and the future king tells his servants to put the money to work until he returns.  The servants admit they don't like the man and they don't want him to be king.  Nevertheless, some servants invested the money and some didn't.  When the man returns, this is made obvious.    It is clear that the man, now king, expected a return on his investment.  Likewise, God expects a return on his investment.  God has given us resources, which he expects us to use to benefit the kingdom.  This includes material resources but it isn't just material resources.  We have gifts and talents which God has given to us for a particular purpose.  If you have the gift of teaching, God wants you to teach.  If he's given you the gift of leading, then he expects you to lead.  If you have the gift of discernment, prayer, music, then he has the expectation you will use those for the Kingdom.    God also expects us to take our financial resources and use those for the Kingdom as well.  Every single thing we have is a gift from the Lord.  We may think that we have earned it, but it's all a gift from God.  We are to use what we have been given for his glory.     Blessings, Pastor Vicki

September 14, 2025 Every genuine church member is a sinner saved by grace. The parables of the lost being found are descriptive of conversion and resonate with every genuine Christian. Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Lost means something is not where it is supposed to be, not that it never belonged. Jesus seeks us all because God's joy is not complete until everyone is home. Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Connect | This Changes Everything (Week 2) | Luke 5:18-25In week two of our series This Changes Everything, we explore our second core value: Connect. From the story of friends lowering a paralyzed man through a roof to get him to Jesus, we see the power of connection—with God and with each other.Life change happens when we don't walk alone. Jesus heals, forgives, and transforms lives, and He often does it through relationships that draw us closer to Him.At Riverview Christian, our mission is simple: In to Heal. Out to Love. Our core values—Heal. Connect. Grow. Love.—show us what that mission looks like in everyday life.

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10Jesus tells two parables about things getting lost, and maybe invites us to consider why we put a moral lens on that, and not a communal one. As we seek right relationship with the earth, and face up to the ways in which our living on and use of the earth has had ... Read more The post Looking for the Lost appeared first on Foreside Community Church.

Many people today think of Christianity as a set of beliefs you take up, something you decide upon. But the Bible says Christianity is something that comes upon you. It's not something you pick up—it's something that picks you up.  Jesus Christ is not a passive Savior. Jesus is not someone who sits back and waits for you to figure it out. He is a revealer. He makes a provision for us, he comes after us, and he shows us the truth. Let's look at this prophetic ministry of Christ: 1) what he does, 2) why he does it, and 3) how he does it. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on January 16, 1994. Series: Understanding Jesus. Scripture: Luke 24:44–53. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

SCRIPTURE- Luke 13:3"No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”REFLECTION- JustinMUSIC- NOTES- Lyrics to "Will the Lord Remember Me" by Red Clay StraysWhen on the cross of Calvary, the Lord was crucifiedThe mob stood 'round Him and mocked HimYeah, they mocked Him until He diedTwo thieves were knelt beside Him to share the agonyBut one of them cried out to Him, "Oh, Lord, remember me"Will the Lord remember me when I am called to go?When I have crossed death's chilly seaWill He, His love there show?Oh, yes (oh, yes), He heard my feeble cry (ooh)From bondage set me free (set me free)And when I reach those Pearly Gates, He will remember meOh, will the Lord remember me when I am called to go?When I have crossed death's chilly seaWill He, His love still show?Oh, yes (oh, yes), He heard my feeble cry (ooh)From bondage set me free (set me free)And when I reach those Pearly Gates, He will remember me (ooh)PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

Daily Dose of Hope September 12, 2025   Scripture - Luke 18:18-43   Prayer: Heavenly Father, We come before you today in awe of your Word. Thank you for speaking to us through Scripture.  Help us commit to being grounded in your truth.  Help us make learning more about you a priority.  We get so distracted!  The world comes at us from all sides.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we finish our deep dive into Luke 18.   Today's reading begins with people bringing their babies to Jesus.  The disciples rebuke them.  At the time, children really had very little value.  I know that is hard for us to understand because we value both human life and the innocence of children. But in the ancient world, children had the absolute lowest status.  Jews would have considered children a blessing but they were also needed to be part of the family workforce.  Young children worked full time and they worked hard.  There was nothing innocent or romantic about being a child in the first century.   Enter Jesus.  He had a totally different idea about the value of children.  He said the Kingdom of God belonged to those who are like the little children.  Basically, Jesus picks up a toddler and says, “You have to be like this little one.  You have to be willing to be nothing, to totally give up your status.  Why?  Because my Kingdom is not about raising up rulers of this world but its about giving dignity and life to the least of these.”  You see, over and over again Jesus is showing us that he is not interested in what the world values and sees in people.  Rather, he is actually interested in the people themselves.  They have value to Jesus.   We move from the children to the rich ruler.  A man comes to Jesus and asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus says, “Well you need to follow all the commandments.” And he lists them, you shall not murder, commit adultery, steal, give false testimony. You shall honor your father and mother.   The man simply says, “Yes, I've done all those things since I was a boy.”  Jesus looks at him and says there is still one thing you lack. Yes, you follow all the laws, but there is still something you lack. It was assumed that if one followed the law perfectly (we know that's impossible but if one did a good job following the law) then they would receive eternal life. Jesus is saying, that is not the case.   Jesus isn't denying that this man is following the law, he isn't disputing that. This is obviously a man of high integrity who is clearly doing all he can to be obedient to God's laws. “One thing you lack,” Jesus said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” The text says that the man's face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth. This is the irony. The children in the former story who possess nothing are told that the kingdom of God is theirs; yet this man who possesses everything still lacks something! Only when he sells all he has—only when he becomes like a vulnerable child—will he possess everything. But he isn't willing to do that. He decides to walk away from Jesus. The man wasn't expecting to have to make that kind of sacrifice. He had no idea following Jesus would be so hard.   This is confusing.  Jesus talks about the sacrifices needed to enter the Kingdom.  Jesus tells the disciples, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Most of us should feel at least slightly uncomfortable when we read this passage. Don't dismiss that feeling, rest in it a bit before you move on. The reality is that we are all wealthy in comparison to the rest of the world. Jesus isn't saying that having possessions is a bad thing. Allowing our stuff, our resources, to get in the way of our relationship with Jesus is a bad thing though.    What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? I think we have so often fallen into the trap of thinking that following Jesus, being a disciple, is about following a list of rules: following commandments, generally being a good person, going to church, giving some money to good causes, and doing good “Christian” things. But here Jesus is saying that being a disciple is not about following a list of rules. If that were the case, then the rich young ruler would have been a shoo-in. Jesus is saying, following him is about denying yourself and picking up your cross. And we don't like to deny ourselves. We don't like to be uncomfortable. It means looking at your life and renouncing any part of it that gets in the way of your walk with Jesus.   We go from here to Jesus proclaiming his death for the third time.  He basically spells it out for them, but the disciples do not understand.  Things will be clear in due course.   The chapter closes with Jesus healing a blind beggar on the road to Jericho.  The man knows that Jesus is passing by and he calls out to him.  Jesus asks the man, “What do you want me to do for you?”  The man says he wants to see and Jesus immediately restores his sight.    So this is how I want to end today.  I want you to picture Jesus walking by you.  Maybe you are at home, maybe you are at work, or the gym, whatever makes sense in your case.  Anyway, Jesus asks you, “What do you want me to do for you?”    Think about it.  What do you most need from Jesus right now?  Spend some time in prayer and just ask him to intervene in your life in a powerful way.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki        

Daily Dose of Hope September 11, 2025   Scripture – Luke 18:1-17   Prayer:  Almighty God, We come before you with awe and humility.  Help us remember all you have done for us.  We are nothing without you.  We need you desperately, Lord.  Help us gather our scattered thoughts today as we focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, help us remember that we belong to you.  Help us lay our worries and cares on the throne of your grace...We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we begin to dive into Luke 18.   We begin with the parable of the persistent widow.  I've always found this to be a fascinating parable. Jesus uses two opposing characters to make an important point about prayer. First, we have a judge who is arrogant and without integrity. Then, we have a widow, who continues to go to the judge for help from her adversary. A widow at the time would have represented helplessness and vulnerability. She must not have had money to bribe the judge so she does the only thing she can–she pesters him! She will not leave him alone until he gives her justice.   Since even an unjust judge can do justice, how much more should we expect from a loving, righteous God. God wants his people to be persistent in prayer. Don't give up! God will answer, although it may not be in our timing or in the way we desire. But God always answers.   Is there some situation or person for which you have stopped praying? Be like the persistent widow. Continue to plead before a loving and just God.   And then we have the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector.  Both go to the Temple to pray.  The Pharisee prays loudly, thanking God that he isn't like the other sinners around him.  He lists his “religious activity.”  The tax collector, recognizing his sinfulness, stands back and prays humbly.  Jesus says that it is in the tax collector who is justified.  Why?   Jesus was speaking to a group of people who saw themselves as righteous before God because of their actions.  They kept the law, they fasted, they were religious in every sense of the word.  But their hearts were far from God.  They trusted in themselves, rather than God.  Their righteousness was something to be grasped and attained.    The tax collector, on the other hand, is totally different.  His head is bowed.  He asks God for mercy rather than pointing out the sins of others.  He is quick to call himself a sinner.  And he certainly could have been; tax collectors were known for manipulation and thievery.  But he goes home justified because he recognizes the pain he has caused others.  He is repentant.  He recognizes what he has done and it appears he seeks some form of transformation.   Recognizing that all of our hearts have strayed from God is key.  Each of us are sinners.  The more mature we are as Christians, the more we realize our own sinfulness and the less we are inclined to point out the sinfulness of others.    How have you experienced this?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope September 10, 2025   Scripture – Luke 17:20-37   Prayer:  Almighty God, we start by pausing before you.  Help us set aside the distractions of the morning or the day and focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, help us gather our scattered thoughts and think only of you...Help us be still and know you are God.  God, we rejoice that we can freely read your Word and we are grateful that you speak to It's truly a miracle.  Holy Spirit, we also invite you to join us as we seek to grow deeper in relationship with you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  This is the podcast and devotional that goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.    It's Wednesday so that means Recharge day.  If you are local, I hope to see you tonight at New Hope, on the Moon Ave. side of campus, for worship, fellowship, prayer, and small groups.   Today, we are finishing up Luke 17.  Jesus is initially asked by a Pharisee about the Kingdom of God.  Keep in mind, the Pharisees expected God's Kingdom to be an earthly one, a Kingdom that would overthrow the Romans and allow the Jews to govern themselves, as they once did.  But when Jesus speaks of God's Kingdom, he is talking about something quite different.    We've discussed the Kingdom of God quite a bit in the Daily Dose of Hope, but let's do a little review.  God's Kingdom exists anywhere that God reigns as king and his values are at work, where the world is working in the way that God always intended it to work. The kingdom of God was central to the message of Jesus and wherever he traveled, he proclaimed its coming. Jesus truly lived out the Kingdom in all he did, in all he taught, and in the way he did life. In God's Kingdom, there is no sickness, so Jesus healed the sick. In God's Kingdom, there is no discrimination, so Jesus elevated the oppressed, he ate with tax collectors and prostitutes. In God's Kingdom, there is justice, there is mercy, there is love. So Jesus offered forgiveness, he offered acceptance, he offered LOVE in all he did, ultimately giving up his life in the greatest act of love in the history of the world.    Thus, it makes sense that Jesus says to the Pharisee that the Kingdom is not something that can be observed, but rather it is something that is in your midst.  Jesus ushered in the Kingdom of God.  The disciples and the early church continued Jesus' mission of growing the Kingdom.  Even we are part of expanding the boundaries of God's Kingdom today.  It is here in our midst.  But at the same time, there are elements of God's Kingdom that will not be fully realized until Jesus returns in final victory.  The Kingdom has a NOW and a NOT YET quality about it.  It's possible that Jesus is alluding to this.  And then, Jesus not so subtly steers the conversation to the last days.  He speaks of how people in the time of Noah and with the destruction of Sodom were caught off guard by the judgement.  They should not have been, as there were warnings, but they were.  And people will also be caught off guard when Jesus comes to judge the living and the dead.    We get this warning once again – be ready.  Be watchful and be prepared because Jesus will return again and it will be at a time that is most unexpected.  When the disciples ask Jesus where this will happen, he responds with a proverb, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”  Basically, the location is not the point.  Rather, the fact that judgment will occur is the point and it will occur wherever there is sin and spiritual death.  The vultures gathering gives us a word picture for what's going to happen --- they will gather around the spiritual “carcass” or dead body.    What are your thoughts about the end times?  Media and Hollywood have given us a lot of bad information about what will happen when Jesus returns.  The Left Behind series, while entertaining, is not very scriptural accurate.  As believers, we really don't have a lot to fear.  In fact, we have nothing to fear, we simply need to be ready.  Are you ready?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope September 9, 2025   Scripture – Luke 17:1-19   Prayer: Holy God, How amazing it is that we can come before you today.  You are God of all things, Lord of everything, and yet you care about each of us.  We give you glory and praise.  We thank you most of all for Jesus, who made it possible for us to walk hand in hand with a holy God.  Help us see today's Scripture through fresh eyes.  Keep teaching us, Lord.  Continue to reveal yourself to us.  We are open and grateful.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently working our way through a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we start Luke 17.   As we start this chapter, Jesus is listing some pretty serious requirements for discipleship.  He warns against causing little ones (children, new believers, those who are vulnerable) to stumble.  He tells his followers that radical forgiveness is required toward one another. Jesus continues to remind his followers that being a disciple is life-changing in the most extreme way.    This obviously challenges the disciples.  They proclaim, “Increase our faith.”  Jesus' answer probably wasn't what they wanted to hear.  He tells them about just needing the faith of a mustard seed.  I picture the disciples rolling their eyes at this.  “Really, just a mustard seed-sized faith?  I feel like I need a bit more.”   So what was Jesus' point?  Faith isn't easily quantified.  It doesn't just magically increase with some special prayer.  Faith increases through our life experiences.  Faith increases only through practice, as we begin to trust God and see him come through for us.  Faith increases as we begin to see Jesus at work in our lives, giving us comfort, peace, and strength, in the good and bad times.  It's usually not a fast process.   How have you seen your faith grow through experience?  What kinds of things in the past few years have had the most impact on your faith journey with Jesus?   The next portion of today's reading is another miracle.  Jesus heals ten men with leprosy.  This is such a wonderful text!  A couple things to note...   First, Jesus told the men to show themselves to a priest while they still had leprosy. It was as they went that they were cured. If the priest examined them and they were no longer sick, then they were able to behave like normal people again, socialize, and live normal lives. Walking to the priests while they still had leprosy meant trusting God even when they didn't really have grounds to do so. They really didn't know what was going to happen. They could have gotten to the priests and still been sick and been yelled at or banned or worse. But they had faith and trusted Jesus.   That's a definition of faith–trusting in what we cannot prove. In Hebrews 11:1 it's described as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." If we want everything plain and clear before we take a step of faith, it's not really faith. Faith is trust, even when we don't understand and even when the evidence is against us.   It's interesting that the one who comes back is a Samaritan. As you know from previous readings, Samaritans were enemies of Jews; they hated each other. So why was he the one to come back, rather than the Jews? Maybe he had a deeper sense of what had been done for him. Maybe the Jewish men felt entitled, like they deserved a healing and the Samaritan man did not. Regardless, it speaks of God's grace to everyone. The men's healing doesn't depend on them coming back to say thanks. Jesus heals them anyway; it's not as if the healing of the other nine would be miraculously withdrawn because they didn't return. God does lots of good things for everyone, whether they acknowledge it or not. He makes the sun shine on the righteous and unrighteous and the rain fall on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).   There are many people who are not Christians, but who are still blessed. At one level, Christians ought just to be the people who acknowledge what God's done for them, and turn back to say "Thank you." What do you need to thank God for? Even when circumstances are hard, we are called to spend time rejoicing in what God has blessed us with. It's so easy to fall into an attitude of negativity and complaining. But God wants us to have an attitude of gratitude, spending more time recognizing how he has healed us, blessed us, saved us, taken care of us, and loved us rather than focus on all the crummy stuff.   We will finish up chapter 17 tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki        

Prayer is not a duty. It is access. In Luke 11:9–13, Jesus links ask/seek/knock to the gift of the Holy Spirit so we learn to pray with structure, persistence, and power. Pastor Nigel Brown calls the church to a prayer revival: praying in the Spirit for strategies, breakthrough, and intimacy with God.https://TakingTheLandPodcast.comSUBSCRIBE TO PREMIUM FOR MORE:• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe for only $3/month on Supercast⁠: https://taking-the-land.supercast.com/⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe for only $3.99/month on Spotify⁠: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taking-the-land/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠Subscribe for only $4.99/month on Apple Podcasts⁠: https://apple.co/3vy1s5b⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Scripture: Luke 11:1–13; Mark 1:35; Hebrews 7:25; Ephesians 6:18; Jude 20; Romans 8:26–27.Key ideas:• Use the Lord's Prayer as a framework.• Persist when answers delay.• Ask for the Holy Spirit's help to pray God's will.• Let the Spirit give strategy for finances, family, and fruitfulness.• Move from repetition to Spirit-led intercession.Chapters00:00 The Power of Giving02:50 Breaking the Spirit of Poverty06:10 The Cost of True Worship09:05 The Importance of First Fruits11:55 Testimonies of Transformation14:58 The Role of Prayer in Spiritual Growth22:02 Teaching the Art of Prayer25:06 The Necessity of Persistence in Prayer30:03 The Holy Spirit's Role in Prayer37:01 Praying with Authority and Intimacy39:46 Praying in the Spirit46:05 Practical Applications of Prayer52:02 Conclusion and Call to Action

Daily Dose of Hope September 8, 2025   Scripture - Luke 16:19-31   Prayer: Heavenly Father, We come to you today rejoicing in your holy name.  You are such a good God.  It's so hard for us to conceive that the God who put the stars in the sky and put the planets into motion is the same God who loves us and has numbered the hairs on our heads.  We thank you so much for your love and care.  Open our minds and hearts as we approach your Word today.  Help us hear a word from you.  How we yearn to hear from you, Lord.  We need you.  Over and over again, we need you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts and today we are deep diving into the second half of Luke 16.  Let's get to it.   Today's text is not an easy one – the parable of destitute Lazarus and the rich man.  It follows a series of parables – the lost coin, the lost son, and the shrewd manager - which deal with some aspect of money and how money affects our relationship with God and other people.  Today's parable focuses on how wealth comes great responsibility.    A brief review: Lazarus is impoverished with sores all over his body.  He lays at the rich man's gate but never receives anything from the rich man.  The only mercy shown to him is by the dogs who lick his wounds.  Both men die.  Lazarus ascends to Abraham's table, which we can assume is heaven, where he is cared for and finally eats well.  The rich man is doomed to spend eternity in Hades, where he will be in eternal torment.  The rich were not normally tortured while living; they lived well, ate well, dressed well, and had a comfortable roof over their head. In life, it was the poor and enslaved who suffered torture.  In fact, the legal testimony of an enslaved man was only received and considered truthful under torture.    The rich man gets a glimpse of Abraham in heaven and begs for mercy, the mercy that he denied Lazarus and Abraham refuses.  And when the rich man asks Abraham to warn his family so their fate wouldn't be the same as his, he refuses as well.  According to Father Abraham, they should know the right way to live simply by listening to the prophets.    There are many different directions we could go with this parable.  A lot of people want to understand what is meant by rich and poor in this story.  How rich is considered rich?  Are we rich? Compared to Lazarus who has nothing, we are all rich.  And the reality is that there are many with nothing in our world.  They may not sit by our personal gates, but they exist.  They are real human beings.  The parable implies that the rich man should have done something different to avoid his fate.  He should have helped.  He should have offered the man something.  There is plenty of room for imagining what a faithful response would have been for this man.   Regardless of whether we fall into the rich or poor category, we need to remember to keep Lazarus at the center.  This rich man saw Lazarus every single day.  He was laying outside his gate.  But he never saw him until it was much too late.  Who represents Lazarus in our life?  Do we see them?  Do we really see them?   The danger here is not really in our wealth, but in becoming complacent, self-righteous, or unloving in our wealth.  All we have is a gift from God.  But our resources can become a huge snare for us if we fail to remember where our gifts come from.  And the one who has blessed us with the resources has an expectation for how we use them.    This reminds me of Jesus' visit to Zaccheaus, the wee little man who was also a rich tax collector.  In Jesus' discussions, Zaccheaus is convicted and decides to give away half his possessions to the poor and to make restitution to the people for whom he took advantage. Salvation came to Zacchaeus while he was still alive and he shows himself to be a son of Abraham.    Jesus came to call people to repentance.  “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near,” was one of the earliest parts of his message.  Repentance is always possible during one's lifetime.  To those who earnestly repent, there is hope.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

September 7, 2025 Christ used shocking language is to keep you from forgetting the radical commitment that He requires of every follower. Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

Daily Dose of Hope September 5, 2025   Scripture – Luke 16:1-18   Prayer:  Abba Father, Prepare our hearts for your Word today.  Help us approach this Scripture with an openness to learning something new from you.  Jesus, thank you for your perfect example of mercy and love.  More of you and less of me.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  It's Friday, yay!, and we are beginning Luke 16.   This chapter has us interpreting more parables.  Just as Luke put like parables together in Luke 15 (the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son), Luke pairs the parable of the shrewd manager that we read today with the parable of Lazarus and the rich man which we will read tomorrow.  Both address the topic of money from various perspectives.   In today's parable, we meet a manager who is accused of not being a good steward of his master's possessions.  In fact, it seems he had been a bit careless and the master was planning to hold him accountable.  The manager, seeing that his fate wasn't good, decided he needed to get to work.  He made shrewd deals with the master's debtors and recovered not all, but at least a good portion of what was owed.  This pleases the master. After Jesus offers this teaching, he goes on, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”  Basically, if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? If you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? Jesus continues his teaching in verses 10-13,“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”  It says that the Pharisees, who loved money, were very displeased with Jesus, even sneering at him. Jesus is making it clear – people in this world are pretty self-serving.  The manager and the master in the story are both really looking out for themselves. Jesus also wants his followers to look out for themselves, but not in the same way, in a more eternal way. He's encouraging them to think long term, to store up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). He's encouraging us to use our finances in a way so that God enthusiastically welcomes us as good and faithful servants.  What God has given us is a gift and we need to be good stewards of God's precious gifts.  We are to be careful and wise with what we have because none of it is really ours to begin with. Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

2025-08-31-1030 Pastor Loran Livingston is the speaker this morning, August 31, 2025, in the 1030 AM service.   Scripture: Luke 8:16-27; Ephesians 5:25-27   Notes: -God has instilled His Holy Spirit in true Christians. -You don't have to be spiritually; you can live a full life of joy if you follow Jesus closer and fan the flames of fire He placed in you.

2025-08-31-0830 Pastor Loran Livingston is the speaker this morning, August 31, 2025, in the 830 AM service.   Scripture: Luke 8:16-27; Ephesians 5:25-27   Notes: -God has instilled His Holy Spirit in true Christians. -You don't have to be spiritually; you can live a full life of joy if you follow Jesus closer and fan the flames of fire He placed in you.