Podcasts about scriptures

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Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: John 19-21 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to a very special Christmas Eve episode of the Daily Radio Bible. Today, Hunter invites us to gather around the Scriptures—not just to read stories, but to let our hearts be drawn to Jesus, the source of life. Although our reading from John chapters 19 through 21 focuses on the death and resurrection of Jesus rather than His birth, Hunter reminds us how profound it is that the same God who arrived as a small child in a Bethlehem manger is also the one who brings salvation through the cross. In this episode, we witness the final moments of Jesus' life, His resurrection, and the hope that continues through His transformation of lives—reminding us that His work is ongoing, even today. Hunter leads us in reflection, prayer, and encouragement as we remember God's unwavering love, His presence in our suffering, and the peace He offers us all. Whether you're feeling joy or carrying heartache this season, you're invited to experience the true meaning of Christmas: love, compassion, and new life in Christ. TODAY'S DEVOTION: He is the God of many other things. As John ends his gospel, he reminds us that if everything Jesus did were written down, even the whole world could not contain the books. The story doesn't end in the past—those "other things" continue on, even today. Jesus is still with us, still transforming lives. He shows up behind locked doors, and locked hearts, bringing hope in places touched by grief and suffering. As Hunter reflects, Christ is present even now, amidst rubble and despair, with those grieving in Gaza, and with those experiencing loss in Israel. Wherever there is heartache, Christ whispers peace: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." He invites us to follow him—not just as spectators, but as participants in his love and compassion. On this Christmas Eve, we are reminded to move beyond our failures, to step into the new life Christ offers. He calls us, as he called Peter, to feed his sheep—to lay down our lives in service and love for others, just as he did for us. His purpose for us is clear: to go into the world and become instruments of peace, channels of hope, bearers of joy. Let the reality of Christ's resurrection—his conquering of death, and the peace won for us—shape how we live, especially today. When we move beyond our limitations and into his path, compassion, love, and purpose become not just possibilities, but our way of life. May we surrender our hearts anew to the abiding, transforming presence of Christ, and let him continue to write new books in the story of our lives. May we go forth in his love and joy, knowing that we are loved, and called to love. That's my prayer for my soul, for my family, and for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

This short guided Christian prayer will help you rest in the love of Christ that came down at Christmas—a love that reaches to the heavens and never lets go. Through Scripture and stillness, you’ll be reminded that God’s love is constant, tender, and near.Take a deep breath, and let His love surround you today. Helpful Links:Download your FREE Be Still Advent guide here.This journal includes:• All the Scriptures for this series• Weekly reflection prompts• Space to record what God is revealing to you Find out more information and purchase the Guided Retreat at https://www.jodieniznik.com/guided-retreat Additional links: You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @jodieniznik Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Guided Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com. Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Send us a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

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Reading Luke 24:44-49 where Jesus opens the minds of His disciples to understand what was written in the Scriptures about Himself, the law, the prophets, and the psalms. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!

The humble birth of Jesus Christ reveals a truth that, frankly, is shocking. In fact, it's as surprising today as it was in the day Mary gave birth to Jesus in a Bethlehem barn.In this episode of Live the Bible, we take a special look at Christmas and its surprising truth. What truth? The pursuits of our lives and passions can easily get misplaced. Jesus shows us that the way up is down. The way to true greatness in the eyes of God is to be a servant to Him—and to others—just like Jesus was from the day He was born. Support the show

What does it really mean to worship wisely?In Matthew 2, the Wise Men show us that worship is not accidental—it's intentional, costly, and rooted in wisdom. They didn't allow distance, discomfort, or danger to keep them from encountering Jesus. Instead, they followed the leading of the Holy Spirit, searched the Scriptures, and responded with humble obedience.In this message, we learn that:• Wise worship seeks Jesus intentionally• Wise worship responds to divine direction• Wise worship brings God our very bestThe gifts they brought (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) weren't random. They revealed who Jesus is: King, Holy, and Savior. True worship still requires that same understanding today.Our worship, our resources, and our lives belong to Him.Scripture References:• Matthew 2:1–11• Numbers 24:17• Micah 5:2• Philippians 3:12Be encouraged to approach God with wisdom, humility, and wholehearted worship—because when we bow before Him, we align our lives with His purpose.

Send us a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

In this episode of More Faith, More Life, Pastor Steve Gray and Zion Vierra challenge common Christmas traditions by examining the birth of Jesus through biblical and historical context. From the setting of the manger to the role of the shepherds and the timing of the wise men, this conversation separates cultural tradition from what the Scriptures actually reveal.Rather than diminishing the nativity story, these insights deepen its meaning: highlighting the prophetic significance of swaddling clothes, the humanity of Jesus, and the intentional way God entered history. This episode invites listeners to rediscover Christmas with greater clarity, purpose, and awe.Key Takeaways:Jesus was likely not born in a wooden stable but in a more typical stone structure of the time, reflecting a more historically accurate and prophetic fulfillment.The concept of "no room at the inn" has been misconstrued; the 'inn' referenced was more likely a guest room in a family home rather than a hotel.Shepherds who visited Jesus were not lowly but temple shepherds who cared for sacrificial lambs, elevating the significance of their visit.The distinction of Jesus being wrapped in swaddling clothes draws a parallel to the sacrificial lambs, marking him as the prophesied savior.The arrival of the magi or wise men occurred likely one to two years after Jesus' birth, indicating a timeline different than often portrayed in nativity scenes.

On today's Christmas episode of the podcast, Pastor Cameron reads several encouraging Christmas passages from the Scriptures. We rejoice that Jesus came to earth in order to be with His people and save us from our sins!  Merry Christmas from The 8 Minute Devotion! We will be on a break until the new year, with new episodes coming soon!

Todaywe are moving into a new section of Ephesians 4:25-32. In these verses, theApostle Paul gives us very practical applications for how to live out what hehas already taught in the earlier part of the chapter. That is why verse 25begins with the word “therefore.” This is the fourth “therefore” in thischapter. Paul follows a familiar pattern: he establishes a spiritual principle,reminds us of our position in Christ, and then says, because of this, here ishow you are now to live. Since we are no longer to walk as the Gentiles walk,and since we have been taught to put off the old man and put on the new man inverses 20 through 24, Paul now shows us what that looks like in everyday life. Paulalways applies truth to specific areas where the power of the Word and Truthmust be worked out. And in this passage, he is not afraid to name sins—specificsins. Can you imagine a pastor or preacher naming sins that people in thecongregation might actually be committing? Paul was not afraid to do that, andneither was God. These things are in Scripture for our instruction. InEphesians 4:25–32, Paul identifies five specific sins: Lying, Anger, Stealing, CorruptSpeech, and Bitterness. These are serious sins because they destroy unity,damage fellowship, and ruin a church's witness. Paul names them plainly becausethey must be dealt with honestly. Thefirst sin he addresses is lying and is found in verse 25: “Therefore,putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with hisneighbor," for we are members of one another.” Now, what is a lie? Alie is a statement that is contrary to fact and is spoken with the intent todeceive. Some people lie so regularly that all you have to do is see their lipsmoving to know deception is taking place. In some cases, people believe theirown lies because they themselves have been deceived by the evil one. Letme give you an example. If I tell you it is noon, and later discover that mywatch was wrong, I did not lie—I was mistaken. But if I tell you the wrong timebecause I want to deceive you, perhaps to make you late for a meeting so itbenefits me, then I have told a lie. The difference is intent. My friend, Satanis a liar. In John 8:44, Jesus said to the Pharisees, “You are of yourfather the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murdererfrom the beginning, and abode not in the truth… for he is a liar, and thefather of it.” Whatis interesting is that Satan wants us to believe that God is the liar. The veryfirst lie in the Bible appears in Genesis chapter 3, when Satan said to Eve,“Yea, hath God said?” He implied that God did not really mean what He said andwas holding something back. Satan was saying, in effect, “God is the liar, notme.” That was a lie. And Satan continues to deceive people into believing thatGod cannot be trusted. Wheneverwe speak the truth—to others or even to ourselves—the Holy Spirit is at work.But whenever we speak a lie, Satan goes to work, using that deception to leadpeople into sin and destruction. Sometimes people think they are helping othersby lying, but that is never true. The consequences may not show up immediately,but they will come. Deception always leads to trouble. That is why it is soimportant that we know—and live—the truth. Yearsago, I read a helpful book titled “Telling Yourself the Truth” by WilliamBackus. He later wrote another companion book called “Telling Each Other theTruth”. Both emphasize the importance of truth grounded in the Word of God. Itall begins with telling ourselves the truth as God defines it. Oh,my friend, when you know the truth—who is Jesus Christ—and when you live thattruth, it makes all the difference in the world. We will continue our study onlying tomorrow, because there are many powerful Scriptures that go along withthis subject. Until then, God bless you and may you have a wonderful day as youlive in the truth of God's Word. Godbless!

Click For Today’s Audio Or Read the Passage Here CoffeeTime Video Devotional Check out the CoffeeTime Video Devo on YouTube with Pastor Miles, on YouTube. Helpful Resources Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik Read the Scriptures at Blue Letter Bible Download the Blue Letter Bible App For iOS or Android Additional Daily Devotionals My […]

Is it really ok to celebrate Jesus' birthday on December 25th? As Christmas is just around the corner, join the Busses for a deep dive into history, the Scriptures, and even the stars for clues about the birth of our Great King. Discover the fascinating and meaningful connection between the Jewish holy days (holidays) and the timing of that humble, holy night in Bethlehem.Jesus deserves to be celebrated and worshipped every day! Even though He probably wasn't born on December 25th, the whole world is looking to us to know the true story of what Christmas is all about. May our celebrations turn their eyes to Jesus, during this holiday season and always. Merry Christmas!EMAIL: feedback@globaloutpouring.orgWEBSITE: https://globaloutpouring.net Related Links:Convention 2026: May 21-24, 2026How December 25 Became ChristmasStar of Bethlehem: using Stellarium software follow the Star as the wise men did 2,000 years ago (YouTube)What Month and Day Was Christ's Birth?Birth of The Messiah by David YanivOne For Israel - Christmas: The Magi and the Star (YouTube) CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIAGlobal Outpouring Facebook PageGlobal Outpouring on InstagramGlobal Outpouring YouTube ChannelGlobal Outpouring on X

Advent E4 — We're ending our short Advent series with a reflection on love. In the Hebrew Bible, the word “ahavah” involves faithfulness to God and living by his wisdom, but it also means showing practical care to others—especially the vulnerable. Jesus views this love for God and neighbor as the greatest command, and he expands it to be indiscriminate, radical kindness and generosity even toward our enemies. The New Testament authors were so blown away by this kind of love that they adopted an obscure Greek word for love, “agape,” and redefined it to be a self-giving, sacrificial love that Jesus demonstrates in his life, teaching, death, and resurrection. In this episode, Jon and Tim explore the main biblical words for love, showing how the story of Advent characterizes agape as God's own essence and our calling. FULL SHOW NOTESFor chapter-by-chapter notes including summaries, referenced Scriptures, biblical words, and reflection questions, check out the full show notes for this episode.CHAPTERSThe Hebrew Bible's Understanding of Love (0:00–13:17)Agape and Jesus' Redefinition of Love (13:17–21:25)God Is Love (21:25–31:10)Reflections on Love With JoDee (31:10-36:12)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode's official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESThe Affections of Christ Jesus: Love at the Heart of Paul's Theology by Nijay GuptaAhavah / Love: Though not referenced directly in the episode, this 2017 video explores the same biblical word ahavah.Agape / Love: Also not referenced directly in the episode, this 2017 video explores the same biblical word, agape.Check out Tim's extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC“Clouds ft. ahmo” by Lofi Sunday“Warm Hugs” by Lofi Sunday & Cassidy Godwin“Snowflakes” by AvesBibleProject theme song by TENTS SHOW CREDITSProduction of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, who also edited today's episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie. Special thanks to our guest JoDee Atherton.Powered and distributed by Simplecast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Hope for Right Now Podcast – Trust in the Impossible: An Advent Series, John the Baptist While Walking with Purpose founder Lisa takes time to write our next women's Bible study, Laura is keeping the Hope for Right Now podcast going strong with a four-week series: Trust in the Impossible: An Advent Series. Advent is meant to be a time of interior reflection—the weeks we prepare our hearts and homes to receive the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. But with the secular world's demands and distractions, keeping our eyes on what matters can be challenging, and the season of quiet we dream about feels impossible. What if this Advent, we said no to the overwhelm of the secular world and yes to the overshadowing of the Spirit? Each week, Laura introduces a Biblical figure from the gospel of Luke, whose story reveals the secret to a simple, peace-filled Advent—one where we yield to God's will, respond in faith, and trust in the impossible.   Today's Biblical figure: John The Baptist. If you tend to neglect John the Baptist during Advent, be sure to tune in and discover why he is significant to the gospel, but also to us right now, in these last days before the birth of Christ. Open your Heart to our key Scripture. Luke 1:57-66 Open your Bible to other Scriptures referenced in this episode. Luke 11:28: Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it! Isaiah 40:3–5: A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Matthew 3:1–3: In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness; prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” Luke 1:41–44: Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry … For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. Invite Him in with this episode's questions for reflection. Using the list of internal/external obstacles provided in our show mentions, allow yourself to be guided by the Spirit. Ask Him to reveal the primary obstacle in your way.  Show mentions. Lisa Brenninkmeyer, Seven Priorities That Make Life Work. Sign up for our winter book club that begins January 12, 2026. Father Chris Alar, Divine Mercy: John the Baptist: His Real Role Internal obstacles Pride and arrogance: Overconfidence in our own ability can lead to a rejection of God's guidance. Fear: Fear of failure, humiliation, what others will think, or not being worthy or able to fulfill a calling. Doubt and unbelief: The lack of faith that makes trusting in God's plan and power challenging. Sin: Unconfessed sin creates a barrier to a close relationship with God. Self-sufficiency: The belief that we can get by without divine help. Lack of forgiveness: A huge hinderance to your spiritual progress.  External/circumstantial obstacles Worldly distractions and desires: Focusing on material possessions or the cares of this life more than God. Distractions and being too busy: A busy schedule can leave little time or energy for spiritual devotion. External pressure and societal expectations: The world can be tough, and it may not understand or support your faith.  Lack of clarity or understanding: Misinformation, wrong teachings, or a failure to understand God's will can create confusion. Listening to others instead of God: Over-reliance on human advice rather than seeking God's direction is a common problem. Let's stay connected. Don't miss an episode. Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform.  Want to keep the conversation going? Join our private Facebook community. Stay in the know. Connect with us today.  We are committed to creating content that is free and easily accessible to every woman—especially the one looking for answers but unsure of where to go. If you've enjoyed this podcast, prayerfully consider making a donation to support it and other WWP outreach programs that bring women closer to Christ. Learn more about WWP on our website. Our shop. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Advent invites us to slow down, quiet our hearts, and prepare for the coming of Christ.In this guided Christian meditation, you’ll reflect on Scripture and rest in God’s love as you anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Be Still: Advent Meditations for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love helps you create space in this busy season to experience the presence of Christ and the peace, hope, joy, and love He brings. Download your FREE Advent Guide here. This week, we focus on love—the great love of God that sent Jesus to us.God’s love is deep, unfailing, and unearned. It’s a love that reaches beyond what we can comprehend and invites us to love Him in return—and to love others with that same grace. Our passage today, Psalm 36:5–9, reminds us that God’s love reaches to the heavens and that in His light we see light. As you meditate, you’ll be invited to rest in that love—to remember that it is constant, abundant, and freely given. Take a few quiet moments to breathe deeply and let His love settle into your heart. Helpful Links:Download your FREE Be Still Advent guide here.This journal includes:• All the Scriptures for this series• Weekly reflection prompts• Space to record what God is revealing to you Find out more information and purchase the Guided Retreat at https://www.jodieniznik.com/guided-retreat Additional links: You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @jodieniznik Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Guided Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com. Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here. Meditation Scripture: Psalm 36:5–9 (NIV) 5 Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,your faithfulness to the skies.6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,your justice like the great deep.You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.8 They feast on the abundance of your house;you give them drink from your river of delights.9 For with you is the fountain of life;in your light we see light. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

It's Monday, December 22nd, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Five Iranian Christians sentenced to 10-year prison term Five Iranian Christians were sentenced to an average of 10 years in prison for “propaganda” and “collusion” for practices such as prayer and baptism, and for distributing Bibles and Christian literature, reports International Christian Concern. Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” Though the verdict was given on October 21, it was not communicated to any of the prisoners until late November and early December. They have been given 20 days to appeal their case before the Revolutionary Court of Tehran. US launches strikes on Syria in response to killing of 2 American soldiers Vengeance struck in Syria Friday as U.S. forces attacked Islamic State targets in retaliation for an attack that killed three Americans last week, reports The Western Journal. A U.S. military official said F-15 and A-10 warplanes, Apache attack helicopters, and HIMARS rockets struck multiple targets, according to the Wall Street Journal. On X, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth wrote, “Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria. This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance.” Hegseth added, “The United States of America, under President Trump's leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people. As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you. Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue.” Netanyahu plans to brief Trump on possible new Iran strikes Israeli officials have grown increasingly concerned that Iran is expanding production of its ballistic missile program, which was damaged by Israeli military strikes earlier this year, reports NBC News.   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to brief President Donald Trump about attacking Iran again. Israeli officials also are concerned that Iran is reconstituting nuclear enrichment sites the U.S. bombed in June. But, they added, the officials view Iran's efforts to rebuild facilities where they produce the ballistic missiles and to repair its crippled air defense systems as more important. RFK Jr calls mutilating “sex-rejecting” trans procedures malpractice Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Thursday that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is taking steps to push back against what he described as "sex-rejecting" transgender procedures for minors, reports The Christian Post. During an hour-long press conference, he warned, "So-called 'gender-affirming care' has inflicted lasting physical and psychological damage on vulnerable young people. This is not medicine; it is malpractice." KENNEDY: “We're done with junk science, drive by ideological pursuits, not the wellbeing of children.” Kennedy said the proposed HHS rules, which are subject to a 60-day comment period, would bar hospitals participating in Medicare and Medicaid from performing transgender procedures on children, citing risks of irreversible harm such as infertility, impaired sexual function, bone density loss and altered brain development. He added, "Sex-rejecting procedures are neither safe nor effective treatment for children with gender dysphoria.” Abortions up as abortion pills flourish, Democrat states fund killing babies Last week, the Society of Family Planning released updated abortion data which documented over 591,000 abortions were performed in the first six months of 2025, reports LifeNews.com. This represents a 1.1 percent increase when compared to the first six months of 2024. Two state Medicaid programs have recently started to fund elective surgical abortions. Nevada's Medicaid program began covering elective abortions in mid-December of 2024, and Delaware's Medicaid program started covering elective abortions as of January 1, 2025. Not surprisingly, there has been an uptick in abortions in those states – an increase by 8% in Nevada and 10% in Delaware. However, the main takeaway from this new WeCount data is that the percentage of chemical abortions done via telehealth continues to increase. In the first six months of 2024, just under 20 percent of all abortions were done via telehealth. That figure increased to 27 percent for the first six months of 2025. Telehealth abortions are undermining the strong pro-life laws that many states enacted in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision. Isaiah 59:7 says, “Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways.” Preventing telehealth abortions needs to be a top priority for the pro-life movement. State attorneys general in Florida and Texas have recently sued the Food and Drug Administration over policy changes regarding chemical abortions. Kirk Cameron's follow-up podcast on annihilationism Kirk Cameron's recent 39-minute podcast in which he supported annihilationism has created quite a bit of controversy. In the opening to a 16-minute follow-up podcast, Cameron said this. CAMERON: “No doubt you've caught wind of the controversy that's swirling around. Let me ask you a question, and I want you to imagine that this question is not coming from me on a podcast, but from someone you love. “What if your son or your daughter looked you in the eye and said, ‘Dad, Mom, I know you believe in hell. I know you believe that God is just. I know you believe that sin is serious. And I know that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. “So, when a unrepentant person, who doesn't turn to Jesus, dies, what does the Bible actually say happens to them? Are they preserved forever and kept alive by God in a place of endless conscious torment, suffering forever, weeping and wailing and gnashing their teeth with no end? “‘Or is the judgment that Scripture describes something different? Is it still real, still just, still severe, but culminating in what the Bible calls death, destruction, or the second death, which is the lake of fire?' “What would your answer be? I'm not asking for what you've always believed or been taught, but what do you believe the Scriptures actually teach? That's the question that my son asked me, and that's the question that started this conversation.” Cameron's support for annihilationism has sparked debate in Evangelical circles. Longtime ministry partner Ray Comfort, founder of Living Waters and co-host with Cameron on The Way of the Master, responded thoughtfully. “While we believe Kirk is sincere, we believe that conditional mortality and annihilationism are erroneous views, and that the Bible's clear teaching on hell is known as eternal conscious torment,” according to GodReports.com. Other voices, including commentators Samuel Sey and theologian Owen Strachan, expressed concern, viewing the shift as departing from historic Christian teaching. Yet some see growing interest in annihilationism as a biblically grounded alternative that reconciles God's love with His judgment. Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, December 22nd, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

At our Longmont training event, Pastor Nate Morris explores the heart behind preaching and the practical movements that help us communicate Scripture faithfully. Opening with a story about waiting tables, Nate reminds us that preachers do not invent the meal. We carry what God has already prepared and deliver it with care. This session combines pastoral insight, clear structure, and encouragement for anyone who wants to handle God's word well.About Pastor Nate MorrisNate Morris is the lead pastor of Mountain Life Calvary Chapel, a multi location church serving Vail, Gypsum, and Glenwood Springs, Colorado. He and his wife Jen live in the Colorado mountains with their children Caleb, Zoe, and Josiah. Having grown up in the mountains himself, Nate has a deep passion to see mountain communities reached and transformed by the gospel.He hosts Truth and Love with Nate and Jen Morris and is a regular contributor to Mountain Life Church's Unscripted podcast. You can learn more at mountainlife.church, follow @natemorris1, or visit pastorn8.com.Speaking with the Weight of Scripture1 Peter 4:11 calls those who speak to speak as those delivering God's words. Nate anchors the room in this reminder: preaching is a sacred trust. Our role is not to improve the message but to carry it faithfully, just as a good waiter brings a prepared meal without dropping the plate.Two Questions That Shape Every SermonWhere am I taking them?Preaching needs a clear destination shaped by the passage itself.How do we get there?Listeners need a guided path. Structure is one of the ways we serve them well.Caring for Souls Through the WordNate highlights the preacher's pastoral task: understanding people's real needs and showing how the gospel addresses them. As Samuel Brengle observed, the truth in Jesus brings healing to every kind of spiritual condition. Preaching becomes an act of care as we discern and apply Scripture wisely.Five Movements That Help People Follow the Message1. IntroductionHelp listeners orient themselves to the theme and direction of the passage.2. NecessitationShow why the message matters and surface the tension the text resolves.3. ExpositionOpen the Scriptures carefully. Let the text drive the content.4. ApplicationInvite people to respond. Show what trust, obedience, or repentance looks like in daily life.5. InspirationLeave listeners with hope in Christ, not pressure to perform.Tools That Support Clear and Helpful DeliveryHumour, illustrations, vulnerability, inflection, and physical movement can all help the message connect, provided they serve the text rather than distract from it.Working Heartily, Depending FullyNate ends by reminding us that preaching is both labour and reliance.Colossians 3:23 calls us to work heartily for the Lord, while Augustine's well known line captures the balance: pray as though everything depends on God, work as though everything depends on you.For information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective

Send us a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

For part 7 of 12 on “What is the Nicene Creed?” we unpack these lines:For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;        he suffered death and was buriedOn the third day he rose again            in accordance with the Scriptures;One of the wild things about the Creed is we go right from Jesus' birth, via Mary, to his death, at the hands of Pontius Pilate. And yet, even wilder still, is that our God in Christ suffered death. The crucifixion – a death used by the Roman Empire to terrify and suppress enslaved people who rebelled – and the resurrection – are at the epicenter of Christian faith. What does it mean that Jesus died this way? What does it mean that on the third day, he rose? We are delighted and amazed to welcome to the podcast the inimitable Rev. Dr. Canon Kelly Brown Douglas, whose enormous work as priest, preacher, teacher, and writer, has long explored these questions.More about our guest: The Rev. Canon Kelly Brown Douglas is the Canon Theologian at the Cathedral and Visiting Professor of Theology at Harvard Divinity School for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years.  In 2017, she was named Dean of Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and in 2019, she was appointed to the Bill and Judith Moyers Chair in Theology at Union. Kelly is considered a leader in the field of womanist theology, racial reconciliation, social justice, and sexuality and the Black church.From 2017 to 2023, she was Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary and Professor of Theology. She was named the Bill and Judith Moyers Chair in Theology at Union in November 2019 where she is now Dean emeritus. She served as Interim President of Episcopal Divinity School from 2023-24. During the 2023 fall term, she served as Honorary Professor of Global Theology at Emmanuel Theological College in Liverpool, England.Ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1983, Douglas currently serves as the Canon Theologian at the Washington National Cathedral and Anglican Communion Canon at Newcastle Cathedral in Newcastle, England.Prior to Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary, she served as Professor of Religion at Goucher College where she held the Susan D. Morgan Professorship of Religion and is now Professor Emeritus. Before Goucher, she was Associate Professor of Theology at Howard University School of Divinity (1987-2001) and Assistant Professor of Religion at Edward Waters College (1986-87). Douglas holds a master's degree in theology and a PhD in systematic theology from Union.Douglas is the author of many articles and several books including the 2023 Grawemeyer Award winning book, Resurrection Hope: A Future Where Black Lives Matter. Her academic work has focused on womanist theology, racial justice issues as well as sexuality and the Black church. Her current research interest involves expanding the moral imaginary in fostering a more just future.Douglas proudly serves on the New York City Homeless Coalition Board and the Public Religion and Research Institute Board.+++Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcastThere's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons!+++Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.comOur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/++++MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/++++More about Father Lizzie:BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/RevLizzie.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzieJubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org ++++More about Mother Laura:https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peachesSt. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA++++Theme music:"On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

There are many misunderstandings about Jesus. To know Him as He truly is, we have to search and study all of the Scriptures. In this message, Pastor Lutzer contemplates Christ, the one whose life, death and resurrection make Christmas possible. In fact, prophecies foretold why Jesus came to serve in poverty. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://offerrtw.com or call us at 1-800-215-5001. Moody Church Media [https://www.moodymedia.org/], home of "Running To Win," exists to bring glory to God through the transformation of lives. Erwin W. Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of The Moody Church in Chicago, where he served as Senior Pastor for 36 years. He is a prolific author of over seventy books. A clear expositor of the Bible, he is the featured speaker on "Running To Win" and "Songs In The Night," with programs broadcasting on over a thousand outlets in the U.S. and across more than fifty countries in seven languages. He and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area. They have three grown children and eight grandchildren.   SUPPORT: Tax Deductible Support: https://www.moodymedia.org/donate/ Become an Endurance Partner: https://endurancepartners.org/   SUBSCRIBE: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoodyChurchMedia Weekly Digest: https://www.moodymedia.org/newsletters/subscription/

What does it truly mean to make disciples? In this powerful four-part conclusion to the Commands of Christ series, we explore the Great Commission as the crescendo of all that Jesus commanded. Rooted in Matthew 28:18–20, this series calls us to move from inward transformation to outward multiplication. As we have spent four years treasuring, meditating on, and living out Christ's commands, we now step into the command to teach others to observe all things He has taught us.Have we embraced Christ's call not only to follow Him, but to help others do the same? Are we treasuring His commands in such a way that our lives overflow with the desire and ability to make disciples?As we reflect on the journey through the commands of Christ, we now arrive at the climactic call to make disciples—a commission that encapsulates all we've learned and lived out. Rooted in Matthew 28:18–20, this command is not just about going, but about going with the authority of Christ, filled with His Spirit, and teaching others to observe—to treasure and guard—everything He has commanded. Discipleship is the natural fruit of our own walk with Jesus; we cannot lead others where we ourselves have not gone. As disciplined followers who abide in His Word, we are called to multiply that life in others, knowing we do not go alone—He is with us always. In a world often content with conversion, Christ calls us to spiritual maturity—to shape lives that are rooted, trained, and transformed. His commands, covering every area of life, are His heart expressed, and to teach them is to lead others into deeper fellowship with Him. Let us walk worthy of this calling, empowered by His presence, faithful in His Word, and committed to the mission: making disciples of all nations.Want to go deeper in studying this command of Christ? Download a free study guide at https://homediscipleship.comStudy guide includes: Scriptures referenced in podcastReview of Old Testament contextGuide for Scripture meditationQuestions for application and prayerFor more information, visit us at https://homediscipleship.com Find us on Facebook and Instagram @homediscipleshiphttps://www.facebook.com/homediscipleshipnetworkhttps://www.instagram.com/homediscipleshipnetwork

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This week we explore “Angels We Have Heard on High”—a song that doesn't just retell the Christmas story, but shows us how to respond to it. We'll look at how God initiates, how His glory breaks into ordinary places, and how the shepherds model a faith that moves. Above all, we'll behold the God who made Himself visible in humility—the Child in the manger who is also the Lord of glory.Along the way, we'll wrestle with questions that press into the heart of Christmas:· What does it mean that God reveals Himself before we ever seek Him?· Why does God's glory overwhelm before it comforts?· What moved the shepherds from fear to worship to proclamation?· Why does true joy in Christ provoke curiosity in others?· And what does it mean that the God of glory became small enough to behold?Join us as we trace the song, the Scriptures, and the Savior who still interrupts, awakens, and calls us to Himself.Support our mission and learn more atwww.alloflife.churchGive to the work of the gospel herewww.alloflife.churchcenter.com/giving

Discover that healing is not about what you can do, but what Jesus has already done for you. Daniel Amstutz reveals how grace, not striving, opens the door to divine health!

Bethlehem's Quiet Promise: Finding Fulfillment in the Little Things Welcome to Week 4 of Advent and the 5th week of the God's Perfect Timing devotional. As Christmas draws near, this message invites you to pause and reflect on the fulfillment of God's promises through the coming of Christ. Together, we trace the Scriptures that lead us to Bethlehem, the incarnation, and the quiet faithfulness that brought God's plan to completion in His perfect timing. If this season feels full—of celebration, emotion, or longing—this message offers a reminder that true joy is rooted in God's faithfulness and His nearness to us in Jesus.

Church attendance, effort, and discipline can't make you God's child… so what can? In this Christmas message, Pastor Eric Hansen uncovers the miracle that paperwork can't produce and behavior can't earn. The gift offered in the manger may change you forever.Scriptures referenced in this message:· John 1:12-13 · Ephesians 2:1 · John 3:3· 2 Kings 5:10· Romans 8:15· Galatians 4:7· Romans 8:17· 2 Corinthians 5:17Learn more about salvation, info about Destiny Church, or how to give by visiting our website.Real | Relevant | Relationship

The popular phrase, "Love the sinner, hate the sin," while not found in Scripture, can be lived out in wisdom, but also prone to potential misuse. The Scriptures present sin (wandering off the path, broken, blemish, rebellion, owing a debt, going astray, lawlessness, impurity) as widespread, damaging, and deserving of serious struggle. Sin isn't only future punishment, but is a present destructive power—separation from God and others. Christians should hate all sin, especially their own, asking God for conviction and pursuing confession, accountability, and forgiveness. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE

As we approach Christmas, we slow down and listen again to familiar Scriptures, discovering a promise we may have overlooked. In Revelation 21, Isaiah 65, and Matthew 1, God reveals that His greatest promise is not simply the removal of sorrow, pain, and death, but the removal of separation between Himself and His people. In this sermon, we explore the ache that reminds us something is not yet whole, the Jesus who enters that ache with us now, and the hope of the day when God will dwell with us forever. Isaiah 65:17-25 Revelation 21:1-4 Matthew 1:18-25

Click For Today’s Audio Or Read the Passage Here CoffeeTime Video Devotional Check out the CoffeeTime Video Devo on YouTube with Pastor Miles, on YouTube. Helpful Resources Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik Read the Scriptures at Blue Letter Bible Download the Blue Letter Bible App For iOS or Android Additional Daily Devotionals My […]

On the road to Emmaus, two disciples encounter the risen Christ and are forever changed. Jesus meets them in their processing and hopelessness, and reveals Himself to them in explaining the Scriptures and the breaking of bread. For believers today, Christ reveals Himself in the same way, and encourages us to walk together by faith as His people; because recognizing Jesus is just the beginning to a life of discipleship.

What does Christmas mean to you? Presents? Parties? Delicious food? Listen to this message to learn that these are all just man-made traditions that have built up around Christmas and have nothing to do with its true meaning. Learn about the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, a member of the Godhead, who added humanity to His deity in order to be incarnated on earth. Hear the details of this to answer a number of questions how this happened and to increase your appreciation of our Savior more fully as your heart is filled with gratitude. Click to view the Kevin Costner movie The First Christmas. During this Bible class Dr. Dean mentioned The Messiah in the New Testament in the Light of Rabbinical Writings by Risto Santala.

In Christ. In Community. In Lebanon.https://www.cornerstonelebanon.com/Youtube LivestreamThe Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments (66 books) are the unique, divinely inspired, authoritative word of God that came through human agents under God's providence. Its primary purpose is to make us wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 3:15), who is the ultimate revelation of Eternal Life that the Scriptures testify about (John 5:39; Luke 24:25-27).

Bible StudyDon't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: .Sermon Notes:1. A New Beginning That Looks Scandalous (v. 18)“Birth” = genesis → a new creation is beginning.Conceived by the Holy Spirit, not human effort.From God's view: glorious.From human view: confusing and shameful.2. Joseph: Righteous and Compassionate (vv. 18–19)Betrothal = legally binding marriage.Joseph assumes unfaithfulness, yet:Chooses a quiet divorceWilling to absorb personal cost to spare Mary shame.A just man who shows mercy.Foreshadows the grace and truth we later see in Jesus.3. God Speaks Into Fear (v. 20)An angel appears while Joseph is considering his options.“Do not fear” — a repeated Christmas command.God's saving work confronts and overturns human fear.4. The Grand Miracle: God With Us (vv. 20–23)The child is conceived by the Holy Spirit.The Virgin Birth makes the Incarnation possible.Jesus is:Fully GodFully humanChristmas is holy ground.5. Faith That Obeys (vv. 24–25a)Joseph believes God's word and acts.Takes Mary as his wife.Exercises sexual self-control until after Jesus' birth.Honors the sacred work of the Holy Spirit.A model of obedience, reverence, and self-control.6. The Name: Jesus — Yahweh Saves (v. 21)God chooses the name.Yeshua = “Yahweh saves.”His mission:Not primarily political or socialTo save his people from their sinsMary and Joseph were the first humans to speak his name.7. The Name: Immanuel — God With Us (vv. 22–23)Fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.Jesus is God with us:In temptationIn sufferingIn sin (as our substitute)In prayerIn ScriptureIn missionBy the Holy SpiritMatthew begins and ends with this truth (1:23; 28:20).Discussion Questions:What's your favorite part of the Christmas story?What are some qualities you admire in Joseph?Does Christianity still work without the Virgin Birth - why or why not?In what ways does a human being need to be saved? How did Jesus accomplish that salvation?Where do you need to be assured that God is with you right now?Questions?Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Randy Forrester ().

In this sermon, Pastor Paul 7 things out of 1 Peter that show us who the redeemer is and how we can recognized him.

We've all heard the popular Christmas song, “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” But for many people, Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year. Those who lost a loved one, are struggling financially, dealing with family drama, depression, job issues, or a medical diagnosis…all of that makes this season difficult. But even in the midst of a tough holiday season, there is hope to be found in God's Word. When the Scriptures are read closely and carefully, we discover that the message of Jesus' birth serves as an antidote to the pristine, polished view of Christmas we project each year. The glory and good news of Christmas is found in the humanity of the environment in which Jesus was born, and especially in the genealogy Matthew gives us.

"How do we make sure we are prepared for the Messiah's arrival?"1. Repent - "We live lives of repentance when we humble ourselves and surrender everything to God and go His way instead of our own."2. Remember - Deuteronomy 16:12, Esther 9:28, 1 Corinthians 11:24-26Scriptures:Matthew 3:1-3Philippians 2:5-6Hebrews 1:2-3Deuteronomy 4:12Numbers 23:19Ezekiel 14:13-14Hebrews 4:15Luke 1:32-33Genesis 15:9-15, 171 Samual 8:4-7Acts 14:11-12Acts 28:61 Thessalonians 4:16-17Romans 15:4

Matthew 2:1-12 Wise Men, a Con Man, and a King Please turn to Matthew chapter 2. This is a very well-known advent passage about the wise men from the east bringing gifts to Jesus. There's a lot of mystery and wonder in this text. Part of that is because we're not given many details about the wise men. However, we are clearly given their goal. And so, as I read, listen for why they were seeking Jesus and what they did when they found him. Reading of Matthew 2:1-12. Prayer In our house, you'll find several nativity scenes at this time of year. They're festive and add to the aura of the season. But you know, they don't really accurately depict the manger scene. And one of the inaccuracies is with the three wise men. Most nativity scenes have them. They're usually tall, wearing middle-eastern attire, and bearing gifts as they stand next to the animals. Well, first of all, we're never told how many there were. Yes, they had three gifts, but that does not mean there were only three of them. And second, they did not arrive when Jesus was born. No, actually, they arrived likely when he was 1 year old. They weren't there to see Jesus in the manger. I'm not trying to be the grinch and steal your Christmas joy. Rather, I just want to be sure we distinguish what we actually know versus what tradition has come up with over the centuries. There's a big difference. So, then, what do we know? Who were these wise men led by a star to Jerusalem and then to Jesus? Well, we are told they were from the east and we are given a clue of there origin base on their name. The name “wise men” comes from the Greek word magoi. Some translations give them the title of Magi. It's a word derived from the Persian word for wise men. And because of that, some believe that the Magi came from where the Medo-Persian empire was centered (which is where modern day Iran is). Others believe that the Magi came from the region where the Babylonian empire used to be centered. That's where modern day Iraq is. There are good reasons for both possibilities. If we go back to the book of Daniel, it uses a very similar word for the wise men of the land. Daniel, as you may know, lived in Babylon in exile. Similarly, the book of Esther, which takes place in the Persian capital, also uses a similar word for wise men. In both cases, the Greek translation of the Old Testament uses the word magoi. And honestly, I don't think it makes much of a difference whether the Magi came from Medo-Persian roots or Babylonian roots. Even though these empires were centered in adjacent regions in the middle east, they overlapped as each kingdom took control. A few decades after Babylon conquered the whole region, they were then overthrown by the Medes and then the Persians. After that it was the Greeks under Alexander the Great who conquered the land, and then Roman Empire, which was in control when Jesus was born. And when these empires overthrew one another, it's not like they killed all the people. No, the people just were under the control of another kingdom. Yes, some of them moved out or were exiled. Others moved in to govern, but overall, the culture and history were preserved or intermixed with the new empire in power. Furthermore, when we consider the Babylonians and the Medes and the Persians, they each had their wise men. We know this from the Old Testament text as well as from historical writings from the time. The Magi were the highest educated men of the land. They were given utmost respect and they had major influence in the culture. In fact, extra Biblical writings about the Medes particularly emphasize this. Someone could not become a king in that empire without first the same rigorous study as the wise men. Even more, in the Median Empire, it was the wise men who anointed the king. Think about the significance of tht if the Matthew 2 wise men came from that region. The bottom line is that the Magi who were led to Jerusalem were held in the highest esteem and had significant cultural prominence. Now, let me mention something else important. These Magi knew some of the Hebrew Scriptures. Let me make that case. First, let's go back to Babylon. When Babylon overthrew Judah in the early 5th century BC, thousands and thousands of Jews were relocated to Babylon. They brought their culture with them. They brought their history and they brought their writings. Even when they were later permitted to return to Jerusalem, most of them remained in Babylon and some even intermarried with the Babylonians. Not only that, think of the testimony of Daniel and of Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego. Their wisdom and faithfulness earned them great status in the Babylonian Kingdom. King Nebuchadnezzar found them 10 time wiser than the wise men and enchanters of the region. That's mentioned in Daniel chapter 1. And when they were put to the test, God delivered each of them - you know, the three thrown in the fiery furnace, and Daniel from the Lion's den. After each incident, it was the Babylonian king who decreed that the one true God should be worshipped and served. These men were furthermore elevated to a high standing in the land. Daniel himself ended up being promoted to the third highest position in the entire Babylonian kingdom. You see, their wisdom, wisdom from God, became part of the wisdom of the land. A very similar thing happened in the Medo-Persian empire. Esther in the Old Testament was Jewish, but she was chosen to be queen by the Persian King. Some of you know the history. A plot was made against all the Jewish people in the land. They were to be slaughtered, but through the wisdom of Esther and her uncle, that plot was turned against the perpetrators. In the end, it was the Jewish people who prospered in all 127 provinces of the kingdom. It mentions from India to Ethiopia. Here is my point. Whether the wise men from the east came from a Babylonian heritage or from a Medo-Persian heritage, the wisdom of the land included wisdom from God almighty. Their education would have included testimonies of God's people and their teaching, which God had spread all throughout the east. So, these Magi, who were the highest learned men in the near Eastern culture, would have studied and known the God of Israel, and his prophecies, and the wisdom given his people. Perhaps they knew Balaam's prophecy from Numbers 24 that “a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.” So, yes, they came from the east, but they were not unfamiliar with what God had revealed and the prophecies of the Messiah. Now, we are not told what prompted them to leave their country and follow a star to Jerusalem. They may have been given a vision given by God in a dream (you know, similar to the dream they were given in verse 12); or it may have been an angel appearing to them similar to how angels appeared to Mary and Joseph and the shepherds. Or, as some have suggested, it may have been their studies of the Jewish Scriptures and the timing of the Messiah. We don't know, but whatever means God used, they knew that they were to seek the promised king who had come… and that he was worthy to be worshiped. Notice what they said when they arrived in Jerusalem. Verse 2. They asked: “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Now, given the prominence and status of these Magi, their arrival in Jerusalem came with great acknowledgment. We know that because word of their arrival and their question.. filtered all the way up to King Herod. By the way, this Herod was Herod the Great. That is how he was known. Multiple Herods are mentioned in the New Testament. All of them are descendants of this Herod, Herod the Great. And none of them reached the prominence and power of their father or grandfather. This Herod was even given the title “king of the Jews” by the Roman senate. He wasn't even Jewish. This Herod is the one who built the great city Caesarea by the sea. He similarly constructed the mountaintop fortress of Masada in the south. This is the same Herod who ordered the massive renovation of the temple. He did this to try to please the Jews and solidify his title. If you remember, the temple had been rebuilt some 500 years earlier by some of the exiles who had returned. However, Herod transformed and refined it. He doubled the size of the temple mount. And he had the temple adorned with gold plates, and had it covered in white marble. The Jews appreciated this, of course, but it didn't change their opinion of him. In fact, in 2007 (you know, less than 20 years ago) archaeologists actually found Herod's tomb. It was inside the massive fortress that he built near Bethlehem called the Herodium. When they found it, they also found that Herod's sarcophagus had been smashed to pieces. You see, the Jews hated Herod the Great. It's likely, back in the first century, a group made their way into the chamber and destroyed his coffin and did something with his bones. That is because Herod was not a just ruler. He had his first wife executed, including his mother-in-law. He also executed three of his sons. And he had dozen of opponents killed, including high priests and pharisees. Now, look at verse 3. When Herod heard about the wise men and that they were seeking the newborn king of the Jews, it says Herod was troubled. This larger-than-life ruler of the land, who had political and military power, was troubled. Of course he was. These renowned Magi from the east had arrived and they were seeking a new king of the Jews. But that was Herod's title. Do you see why he asked the Magi in verse 8 to find the child born a King? It was not, as Herod had said, so that he could also worship him. No, not at all. Herod was a con man and a tyrant. He wanted to put to death yet another potential threat to his power. Herod did not know where to find this newborn king, so he did two things. First, he asked the priests and scribes. They mentioned Isaiah's prophecy about Bethlehem. Well, that wasn't narrow enough, so second, Herod met with the Magi. He asked them to return to him after finding the newborn king. Well, as the text mentions later, the Magi were warned about Herod in a dream. And so, Herod would never get his wish. So, the Magi were in Jerusalem. Herod had met with them. They knew they needed to travel further, but exactly where, they did not know. But just like before, a star rose to guide them. This star is mentioned four times in Matthew 2. It had brought them west from their country to Jerusalem. The star then turned them south towards Bethlehem. And it led them to the very house where Mary and Josph and baby Jesus were staying. But you ask, how can a star, high in the heavens above lead to a specific home? This is why I believe that it was more of a supernatural star-like object in the sky. Afterall, it moved. It turned them from heading west to south, and then it was able to bring them to a specific place. As verse 9 says, it came to rest over the place where the child was. So, the Magi arrived. Now, in a minute, I want to come back to what they did at that moment. But first, let's consider their gifts. They had brought gifts with them from the east. We sing about them and hear them often at this time of year. The Magi brought gold, and frankincense (not Frankenstein), and they brought myrrh. Now, different scholars have postulated different meanings for the gifts. Some have simply said the gifts were merely a royal tribute. In other words, the Magi brought expensive gifts as they would for any king. Others have suggested that each gift signified something. I think that's likely the case. Let me work that out. First, the gift of gold. Just like today, it was the most precious of metals. It was hard to find and hard to mine. Gold had many uses, but one prominent use of gold was for a king. You know, crowns were made mainly of gold. Kings drank from vessels of gold and they wore golden rings. They carried golden scepters. All those uses are highlighted in various passages in the Scriptures. Of course, gold was not exclusively used for kings, but it's reasonable to conclude that in the giving of gold by the wise men, they were acknowledging Jesus as a king. Second, they also brought him frankincense. It's a strange word. At its core is the word incense. And that is what it was. It came from a rare tree that grew in East Africa. Frankincense is referenced many times in the Old Testament as a fragrant perfume. Most often it was used in the temple by the priests including the high priest. Now, here's the important part. In it's temple use, Frankincense was reserved for incense and sacrificial anointing for Yahweh – for God. It's even referred to as Yahweh's incense. So, it's reasonable to conclude that the Frankincense signified Jesus' divine nature and his priestly role. Which brings us to the last gift. Myrrh. It was a perfume. It was used as a beautiful fragrance for women. You can find it referenced multiple times in the Song of Solomon. Elsewhere in the Scriptures, it's mentioned as a fragrance for clothing. But also, it was used as one of the burial spices. The bottom line is that Myrrh was a fragrance for man – you know, mankind. So, it was different from Frankincense which was reserved in the temple use for Yahweh. Myrrh was instead used for the people. As one commentator put it, “it was a perfume used by and in the interest of… man to make his life more pleasant… and his burial less repulsive.” So, as a gift from the Magi, Myrrh likely signified Jesus' humanity and perhaps his atoning death. In sum, the gifts brought by the Magi testified to who this child was. In the very least, the gifts testified to his kingship. But likely they furthermore testified to the fulness of Jesus divine nature and the fulness of his humanity. In his humanity he was, at that time, a young child born a king, but in his deity, he had existed from eternity past as God the Son. And he had come. The Magi knew and they testified to the wonder and awe of who this child was. He was worthy for them to worship. And I want you to notice something significant. Before the Magi even entered the house, look what verse 10 says. They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy! They gave praise to God for leading them to Jesus. They recognized the significance of that moment in history and that God had brought them to this place, to this child king. And after that, the Magi entered and it says they fell-down before him and worshiped. These revered men, who were not Israelites, who were known for their decades of study and known for their cultural prominence fell down before a one-year old child and worshiped him. Is that not tremendous? I think it is in a couple of different ways. Number 1 - God used non-Israelites to acknowledge his Son, the true king. These Gentile Magi affirmed what many Jews would reject. As the Gospel of John points out, Jesus came to his own, but his own did not receive him. The worship by the Magi is a tremendous thing. It affirmed what the Scriptures in the Old Testament had been saying all along. That through the offspring of Abraham, through the seed of David, all nations would be blessed. It is truly an amazing affirmation of the Gospel call to all tribes, tongues, and nations. Number 2 – the second thing that is tremendous is that they were led by God. God had turned the hearts of these men to him and they followed him. They followed his star. Even with all the temptations for pride that comes with knowledge and wisdom, these men humbled themselves to worship the true king. Go back to verse 10, again. They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. Again, this was before they fell down and worshiped. In other words, they gave glory to God for leading them to Jesus. And then they worshiped him. Believer in Christ, you and I were not led by a star to Jesus. But it is no less supernatural how God turned your heart and mine and led us to him. Yes, let's worship the newborn king in this advent season. Yes, let's give praise to God in Christ who is Lord and Savior. Yes, let's declare the reason that Jesus came. He was born to die in our place and then resurrected so to overcome sin and death and the devil for us. So, yes, let's worship Jesus for all these reasons. But let's also rejoice like the Magi for God bring us to him. Were it not for God leading in our lives, we would still be in darkness. But God has led us to his Son, the King. Perhaps you've come today or you've been coming, but you have yet to fall down and worship. God has been leading you. After all, you are here. He's led you to Jesus. He's led you to hear his Word. But there's something preventing you from falling down in worship. Maybe skepticism. Maybe you say that you cannot intellectually get to a place of belief. But if there was any group back then who could argue against belief, it would have been the Magi. Wouldn't it not? The Magi were the intellectuals of the time. Yet, they submitted themselves to God and they humbled themselves before him. They both praised him for leading them to Jesus and then fell down and worshiped the true king. God has led you to this point. Let him now lead you into the house before the humble king. It takes faith, doesn't it? Was it not by faith that the Magi followed the star. It was. It also requires setting aside your unbelief and forsaking your own way. It takes humility to recognize all that you don't know compared to the wisdom and glory and power of God. And it takes falling down before him and submitting your whole life to him, just as the Magi. Will you let God lead you into his house and will you fall down as the Magi did to worship Christ? He is, as 1 Corinthians says, the power of God and the wisdom and of God. He is worthy to be worshiped. What an amazing testimony in these verses… of God at work leading and affirming that he himself has come to us. May we each praise God for leading us as he did the Magi. And as they also did, may we each humbly fall down before the king of kings, for who he is… and for what he has done for us so that we may worship him. Amen

SHOW NOTES   In Podcast Episode 354, “No One Can Keep You from God,” Kim discusses the attempt of King Ahaz to shut down all access to God. Kim encourages listeners who are Christ-followers to celebrate their eternal access to God. Because of our great High Priest, we can go boldly to God…but do we?   Our focal passage for this episode is 2 Chronicles 28:20-27, with 22-25 as the focal verses:   22 Even during this time of trouble, King Ahaz continued to reject the Lord. 23 He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, for he said, “Since these gods helped the kings of Aram, they will help me, too, if I sacrifice to them.” But instead, they led to his ruin and the ruin of all Judah. 24 The king took the various articles from the Temple of God and broke them into pieces. He shut the doors of the Lord's Temple so that no one could worship there, and he set up altars to pagan gods in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 He made pagan shrines in all the towns of Judah for offering sacrifices to other gods. In this way, he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of his ancestors.     WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT FEATURE:   Given that nothing can stand between you and God, be honest—how frequently do you come confidently before His throne?   Additional Resources and Scriptures:   14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:14-16) EMAIL — encouragingothersinlovingjesus@gmail.com Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus X - https://x.com/eoinlovingjesus?s=21&t=YcRjZQUpvP7FrJmm7Pe1hg INSTAGRAM -  https://www.instagram.com/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus” YouTube Channel: Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/@EncouragingOthersInLovingJesus     I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.   RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF 1 & 2 Kings PODCASTS: “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume” “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings” by Tony Merida “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda” “Life Application Study Bible” “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors) Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament, 2004, by Kenneth L. Barker, John R. Kohlenberger, III. xAI. (2025). Grok [Large language model]. https://x.ai/grok/chat      "Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group:   Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus.   This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus.   In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives.   If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week.   Remember, “It's Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!”   If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com.     National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline   988   https://988lifeline.org/   Reference: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.   Podcast recorded through Cleanfeed and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack, entitled “Outlaw John McShane” was obtained from Pixabay.     The HIDDEN Episodes:  If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all the content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/  

Peace, justice, renewal, reconciliation, and redemptionthese are the things we all long for. From the beginning of human history, every generation has desired Eden. We long for a world where everything is as it should be: where God dwells with His people, where sin and death no longer reign, where justice and peace finally embrace. Yet life east of Eden often feels far more like wandering in the wilderness than living in paradise. Scripture reminds us that we were not only made for Eden, but for something greater than the first Edena redeemed world where God dwells with His people forever. If you read the Bible as one unified story, you quickly discover that this longing for Eden never disappears. After the death of Solomon and the division of Davids kingdom, Gods people endured centuries of instability, exile, and oppression. Kingdoms fell apart, kings failed, and the land itself was lost. Yet through it all, God preserved a single, persistent promise: redemption would come through a childa king, a deliverer, a son. From the serpent-crushing offspring promised in Genesis 3, to the blessing pledged to Abraham, to the scepter of Judah, to the covenant God made with David, and finally to Isaiahs promise of a virgin-born son, God repeated His word again and again: salvation was coming. The Deliverer would crush the head of the dragon. Into the darkness of Galilee and the nations, a great light would shine. Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14) For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of armies will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:67) Thenastonishinglyfor four hundred years, heaven was silent. Imagine being born, living, and dying without hearing a prophetic word from God, yet clinging to promises handed down from your fathers and grandfathers. Empires rose and fellGreek, then Romanuntil a paranoid ruler named Herod sat on the throne of Judah. The world looked anything but ready for redemption. And it was precisely then that God spoke againnot to a king, not to a priest, but to a young girl in an obscure town. The Promise We Can Trust Mary was likely between fourteen and sixteen years old. Joseph was a carpenterfaithful, quiet, and largely unnoticed. They were not influential, powerful, or impressive by worldly standards. Yet God chose them. This should not surprise us. Throughout Scripture, God delights in working through obscurity. He does not wait for ideal circumstances or impressive rsums. He chooses ordinary people who trust Him. Obscurity is not a barrier to obedience, and faithfulness in small, unseen places is often where God begins His greatest work. When Mary was told she would conceive by the Holy Spirit, her response was an honest question:How will this be, since I am a virgin?This is in contrast to Zechariahs response after the angel Gabriel revealed to him that he and his wife, Elizabeth would have a son in their old age who would prepare the way of the promised Deliverer. Here is what Zechariah said: How will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her years. (Luke 1:18-20). While Zechariah struggled to believe, Marys response was not unbelief; it was faith seeking understanding. Mary does not say, That cannot be, but How will this be? Biblical faith does not silence questionsit submits them to God. There is a world of difference between humble inquiry and hardened disbelief. Joseph, however, initially responded with disbelief. As a righteous man, he planned to divorce Mary quietly, sparing her public shame. But God intervened. Once Joseph understood that God was at work, he obeyed. He moved when God told him to move. He fled when danger came. He returned when it was safe. History remembers Herod as powerful; God remembers Joseph as faithful. Joseph is often treated as a footnote in Jesus story, but do not assume that there was not cost for him in following the will of God for his life. Think about the cost to his reputation, consider the courage he demonstrated from the news of Marys pregnancy throughout Jesus childhood years. There is a lesson to be learned through Josephs life in what faithfulness, fatherhood, and true masculinity really looks like. The gospel did not make Mary and Josephs lives easierit made them riskier. Gods promises often disrupt our plans. Obedience may cost comfort, reputation, and control, but it always leads us into Gods purposes. The Promise that Secures Our Good Gabriel proclaims five astonishing truths about Marys childeach one unveiling a facet of Christs unparalleled glory and majesty. First, His name will be Jesus (v. 31).JesusJoshuameans Savior and Deliverer. Before Gabriel speaks of crowns or kingdoms, he speaks of salvation. Jesus would exercise His kingship not by domination, but by deliverance. He did not come primarily to improve circumstances, but to rescue sinners. This is the heart of the gospel: a Savior before a Sovereign, mercy before majesty. Jesus will be great (v. 32).Gabriel offers no explanationonly a proclamation. Scripture later fills in the meaning. Jesus is Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Lord. He is the image of the invisible God, the One through whom all things were made and in whom all things hold together! Consider Colossians 1:15-20, He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. He is the radiance of Gods glory, the exact imprint of His nature, who upholds the universe by the word of His power (Heb. 1:14). Words ultimately fail to capture His greatness. Gabriel simply declares it:He will be great.Jesus eternally existed within the fellowship of the Trinity, entered human history, clothed Himself in flesh, lived among us, died on a Roman cross for our sins, and rose on the third day. This is not a small Savior. This is a great one. Jesus will be called Son of the Most High (v. 32b). This does not mean Jesus was created or that He is merely another son of God like the angels. Gabriel is proclaiming something far deeper: Jesus is uniquely Gods Sonthe eternal Word, begotten not made, sharing fully in the divine nature from all eternity. When the Father spoke creation into existence, it was by Jesus and through Jesus that all things were created! Jesus is, before all things, and in Him all things hold together. It is the Son, who emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men...humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-8). The demons grasped with chilling clarity the truth that many humans do not. Consider their desperate plea in Luke 8:28: What business do You have with me, Jesus, Son of the Most Hight God? I beg You, do not torment me! Even the forces of darkness recognized that Jesus, as the Son of the Most High, possessed absolute authority and power over themHe alone holds the right to command, conquer, and torment the hosts of Satan. The spiritual realm itself trembles before His greatness. Jesus will inherit the throne of David (v. 32c). It is only fitting that Jesuswho is Savior, who is great, and who is the Son of the Most Highshould sit on the throne of David. Mary and Joseph were descendants of David, but this child would not merely restore an earthly kingdom. Jesus would reign over the nations as King. Isaiah foresaw this when he wrote, In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoplesof him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious(Isa. 11:10). When Simeon later held the infant Jesus in the temple, he declared that his eyes had seen Gods salvationa light for the Gentiles and glory for Israel. Yet Simeon also warned Mary that this child would be opposed and that a sword would pierce her own soul: Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be opposedand a sword will pierce your own soulto the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed (Luke 2:34-35). Redemption would come, but not without suffering. Glory would be preceded by rejection and the cross. The Son would be despised, rejected, struck down, and afflicted for our sins through a cross, and it would be on the cross that the Son would be crushed by the Father (see Isa. 53:3-10). Jesus will reign over the house of Jacob forever (v. 33) Finally, Gabriel assured Mary that Jesus would not only inherit Davids throne, but that His reign would be everlasting. He would rule over Israel for all eternitythe ultimate and final King whose kingdom would never end. Yet His rule would not be confined to the twelve tribes of Israel. Like a mustard seed that grows into a great tree, His kingdom would expand to encompass the whole world, welcoming people from every nation. It is to this Jesus that all the nations will one day bow, for He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, just as the Scriptures declare:For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father(Phil. 2:911). The Promise that Will Not Fail Mary and Joseph were not sinless or perfect parents. They struggled as we do. Yet they were entrusted with the greatest news the world had ever received: salvation had come in the form of a child growing in Marys womb. One wonders whether, as Mary felt His small hands and feet and Joseph gazed at Him in awe, they ever reflected on Ezekiels promise that Davids servant would be king forever and that God would dwell among His people (see Ezek. 37:24-28). Their lives teach us four enduring lessons. 1) The Good News moved them to action. 2) They guarded what God entrusted to them. 3) They treasured the gift they received. 4) And they were faithful stewards, willing to step back and let Jesus be who He was sent to be. As Christians who have received the gospel, we too have been entrusted with this Good News. The question this story presses upon us is simple and searching:What will we do with the Good News we have received?Will it move us to action? Will we guard it as precious? Will we treasure it as the greatest news we have ever heard? And will we steward it faithfully, giving it away as ambassadors of the King of kings and Lord of lords? When Herod sought to kill Jesus, Joseph took his family to Egypt just as he was told to do to protect Mary and Jesus. Josephs obedience cost him something. Most of us will never be called to flee to Egypt, but we will be called to trust God when obedience costs us something! When Mary received the news that she was to be the mother of the promised Deliverer and Son of God, her response is simple and yet profound: I am the Lords bond-servant, may it be done to me according to your word (1:38). For centuries before Gabriel visited Mary, Gods people waitedthrough exile, through silence, through sufferingclinging to promises they could not yet see fulfilled. And then, in the fullness of time, God spoke again. Not with thunder, not from a palace, but through an angel sent to a young girl in an obscure town. The first coming of Jesus tells us something vital about the way God works. He does not bypass weakness; He enters it. He does not avoid suffering; He redeems it. He does not wait for the world to be ready; He comes to save it. The King arrived not with armies, but in a womb. The Savior came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. The child promised to Mary is the King who now reigns. The Savior who came in humility will come again in glory. The Jesus who was laid in a manger will one day return as Judge and King, and His kingdom will have no end. So we live now in the in-between. We wait as a people who know the promise is true, even when the world still feels broken. We wait with hope, not because circumstances are easy, but because Christ has comeand because Christ will come again. As you wait with hope, what kind of bond-servant will you be? What kind of bond-servant is Jesus calling you to be?What does faithfulness look like for you in 2026?

We want to gaze upon Christ now so that when we meet face to face, we have been preparing. We gaze on him as we enter the stories of his interactions with us. In the Scriptures we discover there are endless treasures in Jesus to behold and adore. We look at Christ by looking at life and the world through the eyes of Christ. We engage the task of growing more like him, not in fear but in hope.

Remembering The Miracles Of Hanukkah  Part 6:  The Last Day of Hanukkah  -  English and Spanish.  The eighth day, the last day of Hanukkah has a special name. The name is associated with a menorah filled with light. The Scriptures describe another special light.  This is a rebroadcast of a sermon originally posted on December 21st, 2020.  This year, 2025, the last day of the eight-day Festival of Hanukkah begins at sunset on Sunday, December 21, 2025. Recordando los milagros de Hanukkah  Parte 6:  El Último Día de Hanukkah - Inglés y Español.   El octavo día, el último día, de Hanukkah tiene un nombre especial y se asocia con una menorá llena de luz. Las Escrituras describen otra luz especial.  Esta es una retransmisión de un sermón publicado originalmente el 21 de diciembre de 2020.  Este año, 2025, el último día del Festival de Hanukkah, que dura ocho días, comienza al atardecer del domingo 21 de diciembre de 2025.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible podcast! In today's episode, your host Hunter invites you to join him on December 20th, just ten days away from completing another year-long journey through the Scriptures. Together, we turn to the Gospel of John, reading chapters 7 and 8, and reflect on Jesus' bold declarations during the Festival of Shelters—the promise of "living water" that quenches our deepest thirsts. Hunter walks us through powerful moments, including Jesus' encounter with those questioning his identity, the mercy shown to the woman caught in adultery, and Jesus' profound invitation to come and drink from the fountain of salvation. Alongside readings and thoughtful insights, Hunter leads us in a time of prayer, lifting up our families, communities, and world. Stay tuned for encouragement, spiritual insight, and reminders of God's unconditional love. Make yourself comfortable, open your Bible, and prepare to drink deeply from God's Word together today. TODAY'S DEVOTION: The salvation the world is dying for has come. The "living waters" that Jesus spoke of, that salvation, isn't something confined to a religious ceremony or contained within a temple or an altar. It emerges from the heart of God Himself. The drought, the dryness, that our rebellion has brought on—it's over. The longing for life-giving water, for true hope and renewal, ends with the arrival of Jesus. He stands before us as the very source of life. It is not a ritual we must perform or a law we must perfectly uphold. It's a relationship, an invitation to come and drink deeply from what God is offering. We hear about the Festival of Shelters, with its beautiful and meaningful ceremony: the priest descending to the pool, retrieving water, and pouring it out as a sign of God's provision and promise. Scripture from Isaiah is recited, the anticipation and longing for Messiah fills the air. Then, at the highest point of the feast, Jesus steps forward and boldly declares: "Anyone who believes in me may come and drink, for the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow from his heart." In doing so, He upstages the festival, showing that He is the fulfillment of all these promises—the very fountain of salvation, the One Isaiah spoke of, the One for whom all creation has been waiting. This is the good news: it is not about striving or earning or endless searching. He is here, the source of life, and He simply asks us to come—to bring our thirst, our emptiness, our need—and to receive. The triune God, the very Creator, beckons us to draw near and to be filled. These rivers of living water are for everyone who believes. Let us never stop drinking, never stop receiving what He freely gives. That's the prayer for my own soul, that I will see it and receive it and drink deep. It's the prayer I carry for my family, my wife, my daughters, and my son. And it's the prayer that I hold for you. May we all recognize the invitation, may we drink deeply of Him, and may we find our life, our joy, and our hope, in the One who is the fountain of salvation. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

By Gary Antion - Our Hearts our important parts of our bodies and also important spiritually to worshipping and serving God. We will explore the Scriptures to see just how valuable the heart is and the heart's output - good or evil.

Pastor Josh and Ken speak with J. Warner Wallace from Cold Case Christianity. Wallace is a cold case detective who assembles the facts and evidence to demonstrate the trustworthiness of the Scriptures. This week, we hear the strong evidence for the historicity of Jesus as Christ and the truth of the Scriptures. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/407/29?v=20251111

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Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: John 5-6 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, we're joining Hunter, your host and Bible reading coach, for the December 19th journey through the Scriptures. Just ten days away from completing the year-long reading, we explore John chapters 5 and 6—reflecting on Jesus' miraculous healings, his powerful teaching that he is the bread of life, and the deep spiritual transformation that comes from encountering the God who is present and who is love. Hunter leads us not only through the text, but also in thoughtful prayer and personal reflection, drawing us closer to the hope, peace, and joy found in Christ. Whether you're an everyday listener or joining us for the first time, get ready to experience the transformative power of God's word as we seek to follow and partake in the bread from heaven—Jesus himself. TODAY'S DEVOTION: He is the bread from heaven. What is it that you're looking for? Where do we go when we hunger for life, when our souls thirst for meaning, hope, and transformation? In John 5 and 6, we encounter Jesus in the midst of crowds who search for healing, wholeness, and something that fills more deeply than the loaves and fishes on a hillside. He meets a man longing for restoration after thirty-eight years of brokenness, speaks words that defy the boundaries of the Sabbath, and calls himself equal with God—upending what people thought they knew about the source of life. Jesus invites us to receive something beyond the ordinary: union with the living God. "I am the bread of life," he says. "Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." This bread is not simply sustenance for the body but the very life of Christ offered for the whole world. He is the true bread—the one who has what we're truly longing for. We do not draw near to Jesus because we are especially good or worthy. We come, hungry and broken, because the Father draws us. In this season, we remember the bread, the Word, that comes down from heaven—Jesus himself. He offers his flesh so that we might share in his life, be transformed by his love, and partake in his victory over death. The Father is at work, drawing us to the one who fills our deepest need. Let us open our hearts to see Jesus for who he is—the bread from heaven, our sustainer, our source of life. Let us receive what he has offered. Let us follow him, be united to him, and find transformation in his love. This is my prayer: for my own soul, for my family, and for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL