Podcasts about second corinthians

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 7-10 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 for Friday, November 17th—day 321 of our journey through the Bible—Hunter invites us into a time of reflection, encouragement, and prayer rooted in Second Corinthians chapters 7 through 10. Together, we explore the themes of generosity, spiritual strength, and the source of true Christian living found in Christ. Hunter reminds us of the promises we have in Jesus, guiding us to cleanse our hearts, embrace holiness, and rely on God's power for a life that is both generous and resilient. Through thoughtful prayer and insightful commentary, we learn that we have all the riches and strength we need in Christ, empowering us to serve, give, endure, and heal. Prepare to enter a new day with God's word spoken over you, uplifting prayers for yourself and the world, and encouragement to walk in truth, peace, and hope—trusting in the deep love God has for you. Let's continue this journey together, discovering joy and strength in every step. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Do you want to live a life that is generous and strong? Can you afford to live a generous Christian life? Do you have strength to defend yourself against spiritual attack—or, forget about spiritual attack, just plain old discouragement, depression, or self-loathing? We all need strength to overcome these things, whether spiritual or otherwise. Paul reminds us in the previous chapters where our riches for generous living and the strength for our struggles come from. They come from the One who alone is rich enough and strong enough. They come from Christ. Christ in you. So, do you want to live a life that is generous and strong? Then Christ will be the source of your strength and the source of your riches—your heart partnering with him to serve, to give, to endure, and to be healed. Yesterday's reading sets this up for us: it says that God's power is working in us. And now, in today's passage, 2 Corinthians 7:1, we read, "Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. Let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God." So, what's the promise? It's the promise of Christ's presence in you. What are the earmarks of holy living? Generosity and strength. Because Christ lives in you, you are able to cleanse yourself from everything that defiles your body and spirit. Now, you have the strength and generosity to move forward and to experience real change. Because you fear God, because Christ lives in you, you have what you need. Can you afford a generous life? It depends on how rich you are. Do you have the strength you need to move forward? Well, that depends on how strong you are. How rich are you? How strong are you? If Christ is in you, then you have all the riches you need and then some. If Christ is in you, then you have all the strength you need and then some. And I'm here to tell you, Christ is in you. As John said, "The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." So because we have these promises, we can live the Christian life. Let's be awakened today by the presence of God in you, your true life which is hidden in Him. You have been fully embraced in Christ just as you are in Him. You are a new creation, and because of Him, you can be wise and generous—strong. And the prayer of my own heart today is that we will all begin to see this just a little bit more today than we did yesterday. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family—for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's the prayer I have 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  

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 3-6 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 podcast! In today's episode, Heather invites us into a time of Scripture reading, reflection, and prayer on this 16th day of November. We journey through Second Corinthians, chapters 3 to 6, exploring profound themes of transformation, reconciliation, and the call to come home to God. Heather draws beautiful parallels between nature—like the instinctive return of salmon and migrating birds—and our own spiritual longing to return to our Creator. With warmth and sincerity, she reminds us that God has placed a homing device in all of us, drawing us back to himself, and that we're entrusted with the message of reconciliation—inviting others home as well. Alongside heartfelt readings and honest reflections, Heather leads us in prayers of gratitude, guidance, and intercession, affirming the truth that we are loved, restored, and sent out to extend that love to the world. Whether you're joining from Oregon, or anywhere else in the world, this episode is an invitation to fix your eyes on Jesus, experience His transforming love, and remember—you are not alone, and you are loved. TODAY'S DEVOTION: God is calling us back home. All of creation seems to understand this ache, this homing pull. On the Oregon coast, salmon and migratory birds instinctively know to return to the place where their journey began, even though they can't explain it. It's as if they're responding to a deep inner voice—come back, come home. Within each person there is a spiritual homing device, meant to lead us to our true home in God. The ache for home was damaged through Adam, but in Christ it has been mended. We are no longer lost; God has reconciled us to Himself and made a way for every man, woman, and child to return to the origin of their design. As Heather shared from 2 Corinthians, God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. Now we have the great privilege and calling to share this ministry of reconciliation, to invite others toward home. Responding to God's call is like the salmon's journey. When they leave the salt water for fresh, transformation begins—they are being prepared by nature for the final leg of their journey. In the same way, the Spirit transforms us as we turn toward God, as we say yes to the call to come home. That new life takes root as we walk this way—a life that is a gift, a life reconciled, restored, forgiven. Heather reminds us: the ache is real, and so is home. God does not leave us broken and wandering, but comes to mend us, to give us direction, to make us whole. Now, through His Spirit and love, we are equipped and commissioned to encourage others to hear that same invitation—come home to God. As we journey toward Him, transformation bears fruit in our hearts; new life is born. Let us remember the call and extend it to those around us. Let our lives and our words speak of this amazing reconciliation, of God's relentless love and mercy. May the Spirit unscramble our hearts, guide us, and give us strength for the path. That is my prayer today—for my own soul, for my family, and for you. May we hear the voice and step boldly toward our true home in God. May we invite others and find joy in the journey together. 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  

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Job 41-42; 2 Corinthians 1-2 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 this November 15th, 2025 episode, your host Hunter invites us into day 320 of our Scripture journey, guiding us through the closing chapters of Job and the beginning of Second Corinthians. We'll witness Job's remarkable transformation from grief to restoration, his humility before God, and the generous blessings that follow as he prays for his friends. Then, in Paul's heartfelt letter to the Corinthians, we explore themes of divine comfort, forgiveness, and the call to embody grace for others. Along the way, Hunter reflects on where we turn in times of need and encourages us to become sources of comfort and forgiveness in our own lives. The episode closes with a thoughtful time of prayer and a reminder: we are deeply loved and called to share that love with the world. So whether you're tired, seeking comfort, or simply looking for a fresh word of encouragement, join us for a rich, hope-filled encounter with Scripture and prayer. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Where do you go when you need forgiveness? Where do you turn when guilt and shame threaten to overwhelm your heart? It's an important question, and Hunter draws our attention to it today. Not only do we need a place for comfort and forgiveness, but so do the people in our lives. Are we known—are you known—as someone who offers grace, kindness, a listening ear when someone has stumbled or is hurting? The invitation in today's scriptures is clear: where you go for comfort and forgiveness will help determine where those around you go when they're in need. If you turn to your gracious Father, receive comfort from the Spirit, and drink deeply of forgiveness from Christ, then others—those who may be carrying heavy burdens of sorrow or failure—will know they can come to you. When your life is rooted in grace, it becomes a place of sanctuary for those seeking mercy. Hunter urges us: go to the cross, go to Christ, go to your loving Savior. He forgives freely and does not treat us as our sins deserve. As the psalm says, "He does not repay us according to our iniquities." If you're daily receiving grace and mercy, you'll become someone others trust to receive it from too. Paul asks, "Who is adequate for such a task as this?"—the task of comforting, restoring, forgiving. There's only one who is truly able: Christ alone. Yet Jesus invites us to participate with Him in sharing His comfort and grace. When we go to Him, we're empowered to offer the real comfort and real forgiveness the world aches for. That's a prayer Hunter has for his own soul, for his family, and for all of us. May we become people who are known as vessels of Christ's comfort and forgiveness—not just for our sake but for the sake of a world in need. 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  

Today. we'll continue our series though Second Corinthians with an important message about false teachers. Now, every message based on the words of the bible is important, but in the day and age we live in, warnings about false teachers is especially important. They are everywhere today, and the deceptions are sometimes very subtle. But they are also very dangerous. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29?v=20251111

You can read the whole text here: https://dougapple.blogspot.com/ +++++++ I'm Doug Apple...and my heart is on fire. (Luke 24:32) My daughter was working the front counter at the Swan and Dolphin Resort at Disney World when a large family approached. An older woman stepped forward and simply said, “Shulas.” My daughter quickly intuited that they were coming for dinner at Shula's Steak House which was right around the corner inside the resort. So she pointed where to go, and off the woman went, the family trailing behind her, including an older man in a wheel chair. A few minutes later my daughter saw the family coming back. The older woman stepped forward again and said, “No, we ARE the Shulas. We're checking in to the resort.” My daughter hadn't recognized Florida royalty, the Don Shula family! She was talking to Don Shula's wife, and the Hall of Fame football coach himself was there in the wheelchair. I said he was Florida royalty, but every day people are born who have never heard of Don Shula. He was one of the best coaches in NFL history, and the only coach so far to lead his team to an undefeated season, which he did with the Miami Dolphins in 1972. The other day I was looking at a photo of one of their games. It was a photo of the Miami Orange Bowl taken high above the stadium. The people were just specks. I thought, “There's Don Shula, one of the specks.” Then I thought of Larry Csonka. He was a big, bruising running back and one of the stars for the Dolphins. He was a little bigger and a little stronger and that's why he was a star. But looking at the whole scene from just a few hundred feet above the stadium, it made no difference if one person was a little bigger or a little stronger. They were all just specks in the mass of humanity. In the end we are all just specks in the mass of humanity. What difference in the world does it make if one man is a little bigger or a little stronger? One person is considered better looking by mere millimeters of flesh being in this place rather than that place. We put our values, and even build our lives on these millimeters that in the long run don't matter. Second Corinthians 4:18 says that, as Christians, we should spend our time looking at things “which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” One translation says, “For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” The Miami Orange Bowl is gone. It was demolished in 2008. Most of the adults that were cheering on the Dolphins in 1972 are gone. Don Shula is gone. Even that Shula's Steakhouse inside the resort is gone. First John 2:17 says this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But whoever does the will of God will live forever. Lord, please help me do Your will; not my will, but Your will. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Lord, help me do this, set my mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Jesus said in Luke 16:15, “For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” Lord, please, I want to highly esteem what You highly esteem. How can we get our values straightened out? We need to turn toward God and diligently seek Him. We need to get know His ways and His words. We need to spend time with God, like it says in Matthew 6:6, getting alone, shutting out distractions, and talking to our Father. One man said, “I worked so hard climbing the ladder of life, only to realize it was leaning against the wrong building.” Heavenly Father, please help me follow You closely. I want my values to be Your values. I want to focus on the main eternal things, and I don't want to waste time on things that You do not highly esteem. I am open to Your paradigm shift, and I am trusting You to lead me every step of the way. In Jesus' name. May God bless you today. I'm Doug Apple.

A police officer wouldn't dream of leaving the office without his or her service weapon. Those in the armed forces wouldn't step into enemy territory without their weaponry. And as believers in Christ, it would be foolish to try to fight our daily battles without the spiritual weaponry that God has provided. Today on Abounding Grace pastor Ed Taylor shows us how to fight, and use our spiritual weapons in this spiritual war we find ourselves in. It's part of our study in Second Corinthians. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29?v=20251111

Second Corinthians chapter ten exposes the spiritual war that we find ourselves in as believers, along with the weapons we're given to be successful. We'll learn that one of the best ways to fight is on our knees in prayer. It's an important and relevant section of scripture. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29?v=20251111

Have you ever looked at someone… maybe how they're dressed… and right away made some conclusions about them? And later on down the road you discovered you had it all wrong! We tend to do things like that, more than we may care to admit. But today we'll discover it's not a wise thing to do. Pastor Ed has framed his message around Second Corinthians chapter ten. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

Today pastor Ed Taylor finishes up Second Corinthians chapter nine. If you've been with us lately you know the focus has been on our giving to God. We're about to see the benefits for doing so, and there are four of them that pastor Ed has noticed in our passage. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

God gave us His Son… an indescribable gift which we ought to be eternally grateful for. And today on Abounding Grace we come to realize when we give, we're giving to the God that gave! Pastor Ed Taylor is going to draw out a few valuable principles for giving from Second Corinthians chapter nine. Among the things we'll discuss is how much should we give, and what should our attitude be like when we do. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

When it comes to giving, many pastors won't touch the subject with a ten-foot pole.That's because many people get agitated or bothered when money is mentioned in the church, or due to negative experiences in the past. But Jesus had no problem talking about it. In fact, he addressed money and stewardship in 16 of his parables. Today on Abounding Grace we're certainly not going to shy away from it as we go verse by verse through Second Corinthians. Chapter nine offers great principles for giving like how we should give and how much. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

We've decided to present a mini-series on giving, as we're in chapters eight and nine of Second Corinthians. When it comes to giving God is more concerned with our heart than the amount. Remember the poor widow who gave two mites? Though that gift may not have caught the attention of people, it sure caught the Lord's attention in a good way! So then what is the key to giving that pleases God? Pastor Ed suggests looking to Jesus as the supreme example. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

The War With Pride, 1 of 5 from November 2, 2025 “In a world fighting by arrogance and deceit, we triumph by meekness and integrity.” 2 Corinthians 10 by Michael Lockstampfor (@miklocks)SUMMARYThis sermon explores the themes of humility, conflict resolution, and spiritual integrity as addressed by the Apostle Paul in the context of Second Corinthians. Pastor Michael discusses the challenges of maintaining unity and peace within faith communities, emphasizing the power of meekness and Christ-like humility in overcoming pride and divisive influences. The sermon encourages listeners to measure success and approval against Jesus's standards rather than worldly ones.REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Pastor Ed Taylor is knee deep in his study of Second Corinthians, and here in chapters eight and nine we're taking a little extra time to unpack what the Bible has to say about giving. And there's quite a bit! Today on Abounding Grace pastor Ed points to Jesus as our example in giving. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

God's grace can meet all our needs, which is especially important when we are suffering hardships of all kinds. In this passage from Second Corinthians 12, we find an amazing revelation about the Apostle Paul's amazing revelation! He is too humble to claim ownership of it lest he be accused of boasting, but he describes his experience in unmistakable terms. We see that God did not answer His prayers to remove the "thorn in the flesh" for a reason--so that he could experience Christ's power in his weakness. We see that sometimes, God uses suffering to keep us humble, and may allow it to continue. It is at those times that we discover His strength and even take pleasure in our sufferings. Suffering is a part of everyone's life, but God's grace can carry us through it. He has an abundance of grace for any and every need. This message will give you a biblical perspective on your own suffering and how God can use it for your good. (We apologize for a few minutes of silence that are not crucial and are explained in the slides.) #Suffering#GraceLifeMinistries#SimmplybyGrace#Thornintheflesh

Ed Taylor opens Second Corinthians chapter eight today. And in the coming days we're going to give you a balanced approach to giving. God's not broke, but He does want us to participate in His work and one way we get to do that is through giving. We'll be inspired by those in Macedonia who gave out of grateful hearts, even though they were poor and suffering too. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

We get right back into Second Corinthians today, and touch on a sensitive subject to say the least. I've heard it said the most sensitive nerves in the human body are the nerves that extend from the heart to the pocketbook. But the Lord has a lot to say about how we handle our finances, and giving, and so if it's important to Him it should be important to us. And so today we give attention to giving and generosity. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

A police officer wouldn't dream of leaving the office without his or her service weapon. Those in the armed forces wouldn't step into enemy territory without their weaponry. And as believers in Christ, it would be foolish to try to fight our daily battles without the spiritual weaponry that God has provided. Today on Abounding Grace pastor Ed Taylor shows us how to fight, and use our spiritual weapons in this spiritual war we find ourselves in. It's part of our study in Second Corinthians. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

You can probably look back on your life and think of quite a number of things that you did in the past that you now regret. Maybe it was using drugs, hanging out with the wrong people, or lying to someone. But God wants us to take it one step further and move from regret to repentance… which is turning from the sin to Christ. Otherwise, we'll just do it again and again and it can be a vicious cycle. Today on Abounding Grace we'll make a return visit to Second Corinthians seven, as pastor Ed Taylor shows us how God wants to change us from the inside out. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

You can't get too far in life before you realize there's an enemy within. But then to hear there's a way to change – really change. Wow, what a difference that would make! Imagine the possibilities. Today on Abounding Grace we'll do just that. We've come in our study of Second Corinthians to chapter seven. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

Pastor Harden preaches about the story of Marietta First United Methodist Church. If someone were to ask you to tell our story, what would you tell them?First United Methodist Church of MariettaGiving link: https://onrealm.org/mariettafumc/-/form/give/nowChurch website: ⁠https://www.mariettafumc.org/

Open your Bible to Second Corinthians chapter seven and get ready for a wonderful time in the Word here on Abounding Grace. God has called us to be separate from the world and live a life that reflects that we've been saved. We're no longer to be living for ourselves, but rather for the Lord. But as we've been discovering lately, there are some very real worldly influences that we need to be aware of… and know how to navigate through and around them. That comes to our attention in the seventh chapter of Second Corinthians. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

Whether we realize it or not, we're easily influenced by the people we're in close relationship with. Whether that's our spouse, close friends, or even business partners. That's why today's warning from Second Corinthians chapter six is so important for us to hear and receive. Pastor Ed Taylor is going to show us why it's never a good idea to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. Now does that mean, we're not to hang out with the unsaved? Let's find out. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

Second Corinthians chapter ten exposes the spiritual war that we find ourselves in as believers, along with the weapons we're given to win. We'll learn that one of the best ways to fight is on our knees in prayer. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

As we open up Second Corinthians chapter six, the apostle Paul is listing some of the things he endured as a minister of Jesus. Remember he's defending his ministry, pointing out what he endured and how he lived to demonstrate he was truly an apostle of God. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

Pastor Ed Taylor is in the middle of a series in Second Corinthians, and if you'll recall the apostle Paul has been defending himself, and explaining his ministry. Apparently there were those that came against him, with false accusations. But Paul was a true man of God, and you only need to look at his life and ministry to see that. We'll find a list of things that really serve to validate his ministry in Second Corinthians six. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

Today pastor Ed Taylor finishes up Second Corinthians chapter nine. If you've been with us lately you know the focus has been on our giving to God. We're about to see the benefits for doing so, and there are four of them that pastor Ed has noticed in our passage. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” The Book of Second Corinthians is largely dedicated to Paul's defense of his ministry.  But it also contains the largest section on stewardship and financial giving in the entire New Testament. Is tithing strictly an Old Testament idea? Is it part of the Mosaic Law? And is it still relevant today?  Decide for yourself, as Ron dives into this passage today as part of his continuing series, “The Ultimate Road Trip Through The Bible: The Pauline Epistles.”   

In his first letter to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul was disciplinary. In his second, he was defensive. What changed? The Apostle Paul wasn't always an apostle. He was once Saul of Tarsus, who persecuted the followers of Christ and did so in the name of God. After his conversion and subsequent rise to a position of authority in the church, some in Corinth still doubted his credentials.  Paul wrote Second Corinthians to defend his ministry, and Ron takes us there next, as he continues his teaching series, “The Ultimate Road Trip Through The Bible: The Pauline Epistles.”   

In his first letter to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul was disciplinary. In his second, he was defensive. What changed? The Apostle Paul wasn't always an apostle. He was once Saul of Tarsus, who persecuted the followers of Christ and did so in the name of God. After his conversion and subsequent rise to a position of authority in the church, some in Corinth still doubted his credentials.  Paul wrote Second Corinthians to defend his ministry, and Ron takes us there next, as he continues his teaching series, “The Ultimate Road Trip Through The Bible: The Pauline Epistles.”  

We'll get back into our study of Second Corinthians today. It's been said, “Most people wish to serve God- but only in an advisory capacity only!” How about you, are you involved in serving Jesus and going about it with the right heart? Do you see it as the privilege that it really is? Pastor Ed will help us develop a servant's heart today in this his message, “Using the Bible the Right Way.” To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

As believers we recognize we're saved by grace through faith, and that's a total work of God. He gets all the glory for that right! But did you realize, your growth and the good in your life, comes from God too? All glory is to go to God, for His work in our lives. Our sufficiency is from the Lord. And that's the emphasis of today's Abounding Grace as pastor Ed Taylor dives back into Second Corinthians chapter three. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

Young or old, new believer or seasoned saint… you can be confident the Lord wants to use you! And isn't that encouraging? But we need to realize our sufficiency comes from God, and not in and of ourselves. This comes to light through a study in Second Corinthians chapter three, where Paul expresses His sufficiency is in the Lord! Today on Abounding Grace we'll learn more about that. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

God gave us His Son… an indescribable gift which we ought to be eternally grateful for. And today on Abounding Grace we come to realize when we give, we're giving to the God that gave! Pastor Ed Taylor is going to draw out a few valuable principles for giving from Second Corinthians chapter nine. Among the things we'll discuss is how much should we give, and what should our attitude be like when we drop a check in the collection box. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

Throughout the Christian life, God leads and guides us. It could be as you're seated next to a total stranger waiting in the doctor's office and He tells you to talk to them about the things of the Lord! Today on Abounding Grace pastor Ed Taylor points to the door God opened for Paul the apostle and what happened as a result of Paul walking by faith. Through it all we'll discover how God leads our lives even still today. We're in Second Corinthians chapter two. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

Today on Abounding Grace we'll learn what happens when a person sins and then repents! God forgives them, and so should we. Pastor Ed Taylor encourages us in that direction through today's message based on Second Corinthians chapter two. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/302/29

When you think about it, sowing seed and then reaping a harvest is all about multiplication. You sow one seed, you reap a hundred. But the extent, the quantum of the multiplication factor, has an awful lot to do with the way that we sow the seed in the first place.   Lord of the Harvest Over the last few weeks we have been working our way through a series called, “Reaping God's Harvest in My Life”. A couple of weeks ago we looked at how Isaac sowed seed in the middle of a drought and reaped a harvest. And again last week we looked at figuring out exactly what the drought is about because sometimes we go through seasons of drought; seasons where we're not experiencing God's blessing the way we should be and we think, “God what's going on? Why am I going through this? And sometimes Dad is trying to get our attention. Sometimes God knows there's something wrong in our lives; we've rebelled in this area, maybe with our finances or maybe we're living in un-forgiveness or maybe we are living in some sort of rebellion. Maybe we are not spending the time with God that we need to be and God thinks, “I love my child so much, it's time to get his attention; it's time to get her attention,” and so we start going through this drought thing and … “God, what's going on?" And we need to figure out what that drought is about. Those seasons of drought are very important times because there's power in sowing seeds of faith during the drought. The power comes from the faith that we place in God and His desire to bless us. So if you've missed those couple of programs, you can actually purchase this series on CD, because it's one of those teaching series that I believe all need to experience so that we know what it is to live with the Lord of the harvest; so we know what it is to reap God's harvest in my life. This week we are going to take a closer look at two things. The first one is – what exactly is God's harvest? I mean, how do we know when we are in harvest time? What does God's harvest look like? Good question! And the second one is the importance of not only sowing seeds of faith but looking at how we sow those seeds. I'm really excited about being together today because when we speak about God's harvest, we're talking about His grace and His power and I hope you're excited too, so stick with me over the next twenty minutes or so. Jesus called God "The Lord of the Harvest" and the notion of sowing and reaping, is one of those consistent principles that we find right through the Scriptures; Old Testament and New Testament – it's a pretty straightforward proposition. You buy some seed, you put it in the ground, you wait for the rain and the sun and it grows into a plant that gives you more seeds. You don't sow, you don't reap the harvest! The question is: is it worth sowing in the first place? I mean, why should we bother? Going out and buying seed – it costs money. Sowing seed in the ground is hard work. You know, it's not always convenient to sow seeds. When God says to us: “Go and forgive that person,” it's not always convenient. We don't always want to do it. Invariably, when God says: “Sow seed", it involves some form of sacrifice. It involves something that we really don't want to do. And so it's not unreasonable to say, “Well, do I really want to sow seed? Maybe this drought thing isn't so bad. Maybe I can just survive it on my own. Cor … sowing seed, taking a risk, spending money, spending emotional energy and then God has this crazy idea, instead of feeding my need, He wants me to plant His seed somewhere else. Oh, I don't know.” So when we are making a decision as to whether we should plant this seed; whether we should experience seed time and harvest, we have to weigh these things up. On the one hand we look at the cost of the seed, the effort of sowing, the risk of loss and on the other hand, we look at the value of the harvest. We balance those two things and we think: is it worth it? So what does God's harvest look like? Is God's harvest about money and a big house and a nice car? We all have physical needs – there's not doubt – and you may be listening; you may be someone who has really acute, physical needs. This program goes all over the world. This program is listened to by wealthy people and people who don't have enough food to eat. God is in those physical things. God wants to meet our needs but we all know that when the physical provision – the food, the shelter, the security, the money – when it gets to a certain level, to meet our need, after that all the other luxuries, all the other things are lovely and nice and they're wonderful icing on the cake, but they're not the things that ultimately satisfy us. They're not the things that fill us up. So what does God's harvest look like? Well, Paul, the Apostle, in Romans chapter 14, verse 17, he wrote this; he said, “The Kingdom of God is not about food or drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Now remember, Jesus taught that we should ask God for our daily bread. God is into our physical needs, but what Paul is saying here is: Beyond all of that, come on, let's get it straight – the Kingdom of God, the reign of God in our lives, is not ultimately about physical things. It's not ultimately about food or drink, even though God's heart is to provide for us and God does provide for us. The main game,” says Paul “is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Righteousness is that sense of completion and goodness that we have when we know, we know, we know that what Jesus did for us on the cross has made us whole, has given us forgiveness, has given us a clean slate and when we live out that goodness and that righteousness as God's Word calls us, we experience a peace and a joy in the Holy Spirit that words can't, can't describe. I mean, peace – who doesn‘t want that? Who doesn't want the deep, powerful, wonderful peace; the peace of knowing no matter what happens in life, I'm going to be ok? Who doesn't want that? Who doesn't want joy; the free gift that God puts in our hearts, through the Holy Spirit? Now that's a harvest! Righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If we were all reaping that sort of harvest in every part of our lives, the rest wouldn't matter, would it? Let me ask you: righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit – is your harvest abundant in those areas? Are you full, overflowing type of harvest or do you want to come up higher in the harvest? Do you want more righteousness; do you want more peace; do you want more joy; do you want to experience God's goodness more and more? I know that I want that! In a sense, I can't have more righteousness than I already have because it's all done for me on the cross. I'm free – I've got eternal life but, we want to live that out too, don't we? We want to see our lives change to be like that; to experience the peace. So, food and drink; the physical stuff is fine but that's not really the main game. Its righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit – that's life. How do we get that? How do we experience that?   Give and It Will be Given Well, we are talking today about reaping God's harvest and we saw before, that the main game in the Kingdom of God is not food and drink; it's not physical things, even though God wants to provide for us, its righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Oh, fabulous; now that is a harvest worth having! The question is, exactly how do we sow in order to reap that sort of a harvest – of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit? It's a good question and it's a question that Jesus answered directly. If you have a Bible, open it at Luke chapter 6, verses 37 and 38. Let's have a read. This is what Jesus said. He said: Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure with which you give, will be the measure with which you get back. Now, often you hear the second verse; the bit about "the good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap", you hear that in terms of God's financial blessing. I've often heard it used that way. Now, do I believe God blesses a giver? Absolutely, yes I do! And we'll look at that later in this program. But that's not what Jesus is talking about here. He's talking about three things – He says, “Do not judge and you will not be judged, don't condemn and you won't be condemned, forgive and you will be forgiven. Give like this and it will be given to you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over will be put into your lap. With whatever measure you give that's the measure with which you will receive." Judgment, condemnation and forgiveness - if we give these in the right way then we'll get back in the same way. Isn't it interesting? He's talking about some really interesting concepts here – judgement, well that's criticism and bitterness. That's when I judge you and I demand recompense because you have wronged me. I judge you because you've got some weakness and I think, “You just have to fix this, you owe me buddy.” You know, I need my pound of flesh from you – that's judgement and when I judge you it hurts and when you judge me, it hurts. Question: do you like being around judgmental people? Are they your first choice to be close friends? Well, obviously not, but we all love to judge and what we do is we focus on people's failings and ignore all their good points. That's what judgement is and Jesus said: “Do not judge and you will not be judged.” How is it, that we stop judging? Well, the only way I figured out is to let people's weaknesses and failures wash by me; go right through to the keeper. It doesn't mean that I'm not aware of the strengths and weaknesses of people, but instead of getting all tied up in knots about someone's weaknesses and getting all tied up in knots about their failings and getting all tied up in knots about things that are never going to change – because that's the way they are – we can compensate for those weaknesses. We can lift them up; we can bless them, right? Now that is hard sometimes, it is really, really hard but we've got to stop judging. You want righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit? Well, righteousness and peace and joy don't happen when we are out busy doing something Jesus said, “Don't do”. Righteousness and peace and joy don't happen when we are busy doing things that ruin the peace and "judgement" ruins the peace. The second thing Jesus says, "don't do" is, “Don't condemn.” It's the next step after judgement. Condemnation is when we write them off, “that's it, I've had enough. I'm not dealing with that person any more.” And we shut ourselves off, don't we? We do that; we write them off and we condemn them. It's like a death sentence to the relationship. “Instead,” said Jesus, “forgive and you will be forgiven.” Forgiveness is giving up our right of anger and retribution and getting even and condemnations. Forgiveness is wiping the slate clean, forgiveness is making peace. Forgiveness says, “That person who wronged me has exactly the same standing with me as though they had never done what they did.” Does that sound vaguely familiar? Because that's what Jesus purchased for us on the cross with His life and He's calling us to exactly the same thing. Judgement and condemnation are enemies of the harvest of righteousness and peace and joy. They are in direct opposition and Jesus is saying, “Instead forgive, instead sow good seed; faith-seed into the harvest field,” and that is hard some days, right? It is hard to forgive, it is hard to let people's weaknesses wash by, it is hard not to criticise them, it hurts not to condemn them – do it anyway, ‘cause Jesus asks us to, ‘cause Jesus did it with His life. We are going to talk more about exactly that this next week. Let's look at it again. Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over. Imagine a good measure of forgiveness, a good measure of peace, a good measure of joy, will be given to you, pressed down, shaken up, flowing over will be put into your lap and it depends on whether we sow seeds of judgment and condemnation because if that's what we sow, that's what we'll get. That's what Jesus is saying. You sow those things and that's what you will get back. You sow forgiveness and that's what you'll get back – seeds of righteousness and goodness and forgiveness, but it turns out that how we sow, how we give, the intention of our hearts, counts too.   God's Multiplication Factor When you think about it, sowing and reaping is about multiplication. You take one grain of wheat, you put it in the ground, you plant it, you water it, the sun shines on it and that head of wheat has fifty or a hundred grains of wheat on it. But how we give; the heart with which we give, impacts on God's multiplication factor. Again, if you have a Bible, flick it open to Second Corinthians chapter 9, verses 6 to 10. This is what the Apostle Paul writes. He says: The point is this, the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and the one who sows bountifully will also read bountifully. Now, let me just say that this is the context – he's going around and he's talking to the church in Corinth about raising money for the church in Jerusalem because there's a famine happening in Jerusalem and they're all starving. And so Paul is going around to the different churches that he was involved in – that he either planted or that he had ministered at – raising money for Christians in Jerusalem who are starving in the famine. Which is amazing in itself, because these are the people who ultimately end up locking him up and sending him to Rome where he was killed. Anyway, that's the context he is talking about it in. He's talking about giving money. The point is this – “the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly, not under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing, in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written, He scatters abroad, He gives to the poor, His righteousness endures forever. He, who supplies the seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” Powerful stuff! Look at it! Let's just break it down for a minute. Verse 6, he says: If you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly and if you sow bountifully, you will reap bountifully. In other words, if you sow one seed, you might reap a hundred, you sow fifty seeds, you might reap five thousand, you sow a hundred seeds, and you'll reap then thousand. The more we sow, the more we reap. How much should I sow, how? And he says, “I'm not going to put a guilt trip on you. Make up your mind – make up your mind with God as to how much you should sow. And I always encourage people, you know, when they are giving to God's work, when they are giving to the poor, get with the Holy Spirit, get with God and say, “God, I just feel you calling me to give to this particular work that you are doing in someone's life right now. How much do you want me to give?” Because that is between God and His child – God and the giver – God and the sower. It's God that gives, so we need to get with God and say, “God what do you want me to give?” But how? How should we sow? Look at verse 7 of chapter 9 of Second Corinthians: Each of you must give as you have made up your mind to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. God loves a cheerful giver! When someone come to you and gives you something begrudgingly, do you enjoy that? Is that great fun? No! It's awful, isn't it, when someone gives grudgingly, it's really awful? God wants us to give out of the abundance of our hearts – God wants us to give out of joy and peace and wanting to be there willingly. God's like that. Now look again at the harvest, verse 8, it says that: God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you will always have enough; so that you'll always be able to give out of your abundance. Not just money but righteousness, peace and joy and look at verse 10 – I love this bit: For he who supplies the seed to the sower and the bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. So Paul is making a link here between – I'm calling you, I'm asking you to give to the people who are starving in Jerusalem, but in doing that; in planting that Spiritual seed, the money for the starving; the money for his ministry – maybe in our lives, the money to help someone poor or someone at church or someone who's struggling – a friend or family – you sow a seed like that and you're not just giving money, you're sowing a seed that will bear a harvest of righteousness. God will take that – you're sowing one field where God calls you to sow and He, all of a sudden, brings harvest to all these other parts of our lives. And the same is true in other areas. If God says, “I am calling you to forgive this person,” and we struggle and we finally forgive and we obey God, God brings a harvest of blessing into a whole bunch of other parts of our lives. Why wouldn't He? He's God, He can do that. He loves us – He's busting to bless us. That's why He does this stuff and He calls us to sow our seed in His field, rather than feed our need, because He wants us to put Him first and He wants us to put our faith into the God who is the God of blessing. And Paul goes on in verses 11 and 12. He says: You will be enriched every way for your great generosity which will produce thanksgiving to God through us, for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God through the testing of this ministry, you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them in Jerusalem and all the others while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that He has given you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable blessing. In other words when we give it unlocks thanksgiving, it unlocks blessing, unlocks God's grace and He just pours it out of heaven because He just delights when we give in faith, the way He's calling us to give. Whether it be money or whether it be anything else that He is calling us to be obedient to in our lives. And sometimes we don't see it as sowing seed but it's exactly what it is. When we are obedient to God, we are sowing a Spiritual seed; we're putting it in the ground. God does something amazing with it, the plant grows and there's a harvest of a hundred fold. It's God's way. Can I encourage you? I just really feel the talk about forgiveness, right now - maybe you're listening and you are holding onto some un-forgiveness in your heart, I encourage you to listen to God's Word and to plant a Spiritual seed and forgive that person and God will take that and use that and give the most amazing harvest out of that. Then how do we do it? Two ways – not sparingly but bountifully and it's up to us and God. You know, when we forgive someone, we can go the whole hog and we can really forgive them but if we forgive them sparingly, well, it's not really forgiveness, is it? And the second way is cheerfully – not grumbling, not whinging, not complaining – go the whole hog, lash out, do it cheerfully and joyfully, with a smile on our faces, even though planting seed is always about sacrifice. The Kingdom of God is not about food or drink but about righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. What a harvest! What an amazing notion, that we can go and plant seed into God's Spiritual field, simply by being obedient to what He's calling us to do – even when it's not convenient, even when it's tough, even when we don't feel like it, even when the flesh says, “No, no, I don't want to do it,” just do it. Because when we plant that seed in God's field, His plan is to bless it and to grow a harvest that we can scarcely even imagine, so sow the seed in the field that God is calling you to plant it in and with everything that is in me, let me say, that the God of righteousness, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, is just busting to bless you with the most amazing harvest, because that's who He is. Go on, sow the seed!

In this Spirit-led teaching, Dr. Leelo Bush unpacks the idea of thought conflict—what psychologists call cognitive dissonance—and shows how believers can resolve it through God's truth. By contrasting worldly pressures (like secular accreditation) with biblical principles, she guides listeners to embrace God's way without hesitation. Through scripture, practical tools, and encouragement, she explains how thought conflict is actually evidence of growth and transformation.     What You'll Learn How to recognize thought conflict and why it creates discomfort The biblical perspective on double-mindedness (James 1:8) Why saying “yes” to God quickly brings peace and promotion How “bridge thoughts” help transition from old beliefs to new ones The science of neuroplasticity and how it confirms Romans 12:2 Why perseverance through thought conflict is proof of growth     Quotable Moment “Thought conflict isn't failure. It's preparation. It's the sound of growth in progress.”     Scriptures Mentioned 2 Corinthians 6:14 — Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers James 1:8 — A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways Matthew 5:37 — Let your yes be yes and your no be no Romans 12:2 — Be transformed by the renewing of your mind     Resources PCCCA Courses: https://pccca.org/courses/ Healing the Grieving Brain Guide: https://griefcoachu.com/healing/ The Comprehensive Christian Coach Handbook (Dr. Leelo Bush): Amazon link Courageous Christian Coaching Tribe (Facebook group): facebook.com/groups/courageouschristiancoachingtribe Transcript   If you've been researching coach or counselor training and certification programs, you may have noticed the thought conflict that comes up when you're trying to pick the right training. If you're a Christian, you know God's Word is clear that we should build on truth, not compromise. Second Corinthians 6:14 tells us, do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers than what we allow into our hearts and minds during training. Yet at the same time, the world shouts loudly about accreditation from secular organizations, and many people feel torn. On one side, we want to follow God's truth. On the other, we're afraid we'll miss out if we don't follow what the world says is important. That back and forth can create so much thought conflict that some people even give up before they start, simply because they're not 100% sure what the right choice is. This is just one example of thought conflict, and there are many others. Resolving them is today's topic. Welcome to the Christian Coaching School podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Leelo Bush. I'm a master coach, author, curriculum creator and the number one authority on Spirit-led Christian coaching. I've trained tens of thousands worldwide since 2003, and if you are ready to uplevel your skills, find greater fulfillment, and employ the most powerful coaching available to mankind, let's go. I'm Dr. Leelo Bush, and you're listening to the Christian Coaching School podcast, where we talk about Spirit-led coaching tools for transformation, and how to live and lead with joy and purpose. And before we go further, I would love to invite you to leave a review of this podcast. When you do, you'll be entered into our new listener drawing. I'll be announcing winners right here on the podcast, and you could win a gift card just for sharing your feedback. So let's dig into this idea of thought conflict. Psychologists call it cognitive dissonance, but I prefer to put it in plain language. It's when two opposing thoughts collide inside your head and create discomfort. One part of you says this is the right way. The other part says, no, that's too risky, stay where you are. It's like being pulled in two directions at once. And doesn't that sound exactly like what James wrote about in chapter 1, verse 8? A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Here's the key, though. When we pick God's way, even if it doesn't agree with the world, it's often a test. God uses these moments to see if we are ready for promotion, or ready for the next level of responsibility in His kingdom. If we choose wrong, if we keep wavering, we often find ourselves circling around that same mountain again, repeating the same lesson until we finally learn to say yes to Him. And thought conflict makes this hard because it feels like a battle inside your mind. But friend, the truth is that battle is the very evidence that growth is happening. Jesus said in Matthew 5:37, let your yes be yes and your no be no. When God calls you to something, the best thing you can do is settle it quickly in your spirit. Yes means yes and follow through. The longer you linger in indecision, the more exhausting that thought conflict becomes. Let me give you a picture. Imagine two shores with a river in between. On one side are your current beliefs, the ones you've held for years. On the other side are your new beliefs, the ones God is calling you to embrace. To get across, you have to step into that river of discomfort. That's that conflict. It's uncomfortable. It feels risky, but it's also the only way to cross over. If you avoid the river, you stay stuck on the wrong side, looking at the life you want but never entering it. And sometimes you don't cross in one leap. That's where what I call bridge thoughts come in. If your old thought was, “I can't do this,” and the new thought is “I can do all things through Christ,” you may not fully believe that yet. So you start with a bridge thought, something like this: “With God's help, I can try.” That's believable. That's a step of faith. Over time, that grows into confidence. It's the way God builds endurance in us, step by step, faith to faith. Science actually helps us understand why thought conflict feels so uncomfortable. Our brains are wired for efficiency. The neural pathways we've been using for years—the old thoughts, the old beliefs—they're like well-paved highways. Your brain can travel them quickly without much effort. But when you introduce a new belief, it's like hacking a trail through the woods. At first, it feels awkward and clumsy, and your brain resists because it prefers the smooth, familiar road. That's why it feels so hard to let go of old beliefs and embrace new ones. It isn't just weakness on our part. It's our brain doing what it thinks is best to conserve energy. The problem is left unchecked, that instinct will keep us trapped in the same patterns year after year. This is exactly why Romans 12:2 tells us, do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Notice it doesn't say one-time renewal. It's a continual renewing, over and over, creating new pathways of thought until the truth of God's Word becomes the natural highway your brain takes—or you might consider it a default setting. Think about it. Every time you practice a new thought, like “With God's help, I can do this,” you are literally building a new neural pathway. At first, it's faint and fragile. But as you keep practicing, that pathway strengthens, while the old one begins to weaken from lack of use. What once felt impossible eventually becomes second nature. So when you are experiencing thought conflict, don't interpret that discomfort as failure. It's actually proof that your brain is in the middle of rewiring. You're pulling away from old lies and teaching your mind to align with God's truth. And yes, that takes effort, but it also means you're on the right track. Let me encourage you with this: the same God who designed your brain gave you the ability to change it. Science calls it neuroplasticity. Scripture calls it renewal. Both point to the same truth—that you don't have to stay stuck in old ways of thinking. Through Christ, you have the power to be transformed, not just spiritually, but mentally, emotionally, and practically. So instead of fearing thought conflict, see it as evidence that your brain is doing the hard but holy work of change. You're tearing down the old highways and building new ones that lead directly to the destiny that God has prepared for you. And speaking of stepping into what God's called you to do, this is exactly why I am so passionate about equipping more Christians to serve with confidence in their calling. Right now is enrollment season for our Christian coaching, counseling, and specialty coaching training and certification programs. These are the very programs that give you the skills, tools, and credentials to help others create transformation, all while growing in your own walk and purpose. If you've been feeling that nudge from the Lord to step forward in ministry or coaching, this is the perfect time to say yes. You can find all the details and enroll today at pccca.org/courses. You can also find this link in our show notes. Let's get you trained, certified and ready to make an even greater Kingdom impact. Now let's bring this back. Thought conflict is not something to fear. It's part of the process of growth. Every time you set a goal, every time you move toward your calling, your old beliefs will rise up to challenge your new ones. It's perfectly normal. The enemy wants you to think it's a sign to quit, but really, it's a sign to persevere. Because once you cross the river, once you settle your yes with God, you'll look back and realize that what once felt impossible is now second nature. So my encouragement to you today is this: next time you feel that inner tug of war, pause and ask, “Lord, which way is Your way?” And when He shows you, don't hesitate. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Say yes quickly. Step forward, even if it feels uncomfortable. Because that is how God promotes you, grows you, and moves you into the life He has prepared for you. So as we close, remember thought conflict isn't failure. It's preparation. It's the sound of growth in progress. Don't run from it. Embrace it as part of the process of becoming the person God has called you to be. And before you go, remember to leave a review of this podcast to be entered into our new listener drawing. I'll be announcing winners here on the show, and you could win a gift card just for sharing your feedback. I'm Dr. Bush and you've been listening to the Christian Coaching School podcast. Carry what you learned today into the lives of those who need it most, and I will meet you in the next episode. Before you go, I want to personally invite you to join our private Facebook group, The Courageous Christian Coaching Tribe. This is where bold, Spirit-led coaches and aspiring coaches gather to grow, get equipped, and stay anchored together. Inside, you will find exclusive tips for training, supportive community, and the kind of Kingdom-minded conversation that you just can't find anywhere else. If you're feeling called to coach, or if you want to stay sharp in your calling, this is your place. Our group culture is “each one bring one.” So invite a friend to join you. The more the merrier. Just go to facebook.com/groups/courageouschristiancoachingtribe. Or just tap the link in the show notes. But don't wait, because the sooner you join, the sooner we can start pouring into you. And I will see you inside the tribe.

Grace and Truth

Of course, families are and always were, God's idea. Yet so often these days, families seem to be, well, let's be honest, just a tad dysfunctional. And as we each grapple with the realities of family life, all too often, we look around at all those apparently normal, balanced, near-perfect families out there and wonder to ourselves – what's wrong with my family? What's going on here?   The Dysfunctional Family Well, here we are, a new week! And today we are going to start a discussion, you and I, about something completely different. Over these next few weeks on the programme we are going to be taking a look at what it means to build a godly family. I'll tell you why. Recently here at the ministry of Christianityworks we asked our friends and supporters to write in to us to share their prayer requests and here's what struck me: at least eighty percent of the prayer requests we received – and there were a lot of them, I have to tell you – at least eighty percent were asking us to pray for people's families: for my son or my wife, for my daughter, my husband, my auntie, my cousins. You know something? We actually care about our families. As difficult and as strife torn as many families are, blood is thicker than water and our families really do matter to us And we don't have to look very far, you know, in society to see todays families are becoming more and more dysfunctional. But here's the thing: we kind of know that but somehow we imagine that, well, there's this perfect family out there. In fact, the perfect family is the norm and the dysfunction we see in our own families, well, we are just the only ones. "It's my fault. I've botched it up. We're just stuck with this – it's the way it is. The teenagers who don't respect their parents; the adults in our extended families who are having feuds and they haven't talked to each other for ages because they argued over distributing the assets of their parents when they died eight years ago. No, you see, it's just my family that's a mess. And that's the thing, it's what I've been handed; it's the hand I've been dealt and there's just nothing I can do about it – there's just nothing. What's the point?" It's true, isn't? Living out families is sometimes like living out a gorilla war. It's so in your face; every time you come home; every time you walk in the door – the whole "family thing" greets you. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that every family is a basket-case – hopefully yours isn't but sometimes we are so close to it all, it kind of feels like it is a basket-case. We get it out of perspective. And in the middle of this constant relational tension you can get to feeling like, "Aw, God, what's going on here? Why can't I have a normal family like everybody else – like those people next door?" And let me tell you, I'm not talking about this whole "family thing" from some perfect place, I can tell you. Before I gave my life over to Jesus a decade and a half ago, I've got to tell you I made some huge blunders that changed the very course of my life and I am still far from perfect. But since that time God's been teaching me a new way – I'm still learning. So I'm at a certain place in my journey and you are at a certain place in your journey and let's get over this comparing and judging, "Other people have better families than me." There's only one issue: "Where do we go from here?" And I for one, I am about building a godly family because there is such reward in that; such harvest and not just one day in the future but along the way, here and now – the joy of investing and sacrificing to make a difference in the lives of those whom we love. We will talk about that over the coming weeks but today I just want to give us some comfort that God knows all about dysfunctional families. You can take the very first human family, if you like – Adam and Eve – and their two sons Cain and Abel. You probably know the story of Adam and Eve – you know, the Garden of Eden, then they sinned; they ate the apple and God kicked them out and they had a couple of sons. But I want to show you something about this family – the interactions between the people – that's a real stark reminder about the dysfunction in family. You often hear people talking about Adam and Eve and the snake and all that stuff from a theological perspective – and that's great – but what about from a family perspective? Okay, Adam and Eve, they've sinned; they ate from that one tree that God told them not to. God comes looking for them – they are hiding in the garden. I have always thought that was incredibly smart to be hiding from God! And God brings Adam to account: He says to Adam, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” And the man said, “The woman whom you gave me, she gave me the fruit from the tree and then I ate it.” And then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me. I ate.” And the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures. Upon your belly you shall go and dust you shall eat for all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers and he will strike your head and you will strike his heel. Comes from Genesis chapter 3, verses 11 to 15 So there it is: they rebelled against God and God – well, Adam blames Eve. The very first thing he does when he does something wrong Adam blames Eve and Eve blames the snake and I guess, the snake didn't have a leg to stand on! You see what happens? We go from perfect harmony to dysfunction. God tells them that that is going to be the norm from now on there's going to be enmity between the man and the woman, there's going to be enmity amongst the children and that's exactly what happens. Listen to what Cain and Abel ... what their relationship ends up like: Abel was the keeper of sheep and Cain the tiller of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground and Abel, for his part, brought the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering but for Cain and his offering, God had no regard. So Cain was very angry and his countenance fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted and if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door. Its desire is for you but you must master it. Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out into the field,” and when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Genesis Chapter 4. So there you have it – the very first family. They rebel against God; husband turns against wife, brother kills brother. It's the absolute natural state of affairs for a family that has turned its back on God. But here's the good new, there's a flip side to this coin for the family that turns back to God. A family that honours God; a family that has God as the head of its household – that family can expect God to bless it. Have another listen. Deuteronomy Chapter 5, beginning at verse 8: You shall not make for yourself an idol whether in the form of anything that is in heaven or above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of their parents to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. In other words, when we put God at the head of our lives and the head of our families, He will show us His steadfast, unwavering love, not just to us but to a thousand generations. And you know what that means? It doesn't matter how bad things have become in our families, when we honour God, He in turn will honour us.   Breaking with the Past One of the things that bring so much dysfunction into families are the things of the past – things that have been handed down genetically, emotionally and spiritually. Our parents hand so many things down to us – their genes, their strengths and their weaknesses. People say that I look like my dad, I even walk like him but it wasn't till I saw myself in a TV interview that I was shocked to realise that my very mannerisms are so much like my fathers. It's pretty scary! And so alcohol addictions and bad tempers and a tendency to whinge and complain; all sorts of things end up being handed down from generation to generation. Dysfunctional families are much more likely to produce children that grow up to have their own dysfunctional families. Where does it end? Well, I have a simple answer to that – it ends today, right here and now, this very minute – that's when it ends. Let me explain. See, it's really easy to blame our parents for things ... for the bad things that happen. If abuse happened in your childhood or you had a father with a bad temper or your parents smoked; whatever it is and they handed those things down to you. I don't know about your parents but mine, I had good parents. They weren't perfect, they just worked hard and I am sure they can look back at their lives and go, "Well, I could have done this better or I could have done that better," but there is no point in just sitting here and blaming them and blaming the past. Things do get handed down from generation to generation, some of them are good things but others aren't. When you go and see your doctor, one of the first things he'll ask you about is your family history. Is there a history of high blood pressure or diabetes or heart disease or mental health issues or breast cancer? Family history has a lot to do with our physical well-being. Now my dad had Type ll Diabetes and in the end it took his life. My mother has high blood pressure and so I can sit here without exercising, eating whatever I want and whinge and complain about the fact that they could give me diabetes and high blood pressure, or I can get off my backside and do something about it. There's a pretty clear alternative. Most illnesses, you can work against them and reduce the risk and it's the same with emotional and spiritual things that get handed down to us. Maybe you had parents who were into the occult, maybe you had parents who fought like cat and dog, maybe you had parents who knew about God but simply didn't honour God with their lives. Well, you've got two choices – you can sit there and complain about it or you can do something about it. Have a listen to what happens when we put other things before God. We looked at it earlier. God say I am a jealous God and I will punish children for the iniquity of their parents to the third and fourth generation. But those who show steadfast love, I will bless to the thousandth generation. It's pretty straight forward! When parents turn away from God and chase after other things, it's going to have an impact – not just on them – but on their children and their children's children. It's obvious. We've seen how it works. A child brought up by an alcoholic father is likely to suffer the consequences of that in adulthood. There's every chance that it will impact not just them but it will be passed down to their kids. It's not rocket science – we've all seen it but look at the alternative that God talks about: Showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. A thousand generations – a new generation every twenty five years, that's twenty five thousand years! We are only a fraction of the way into that since this was written (Deuteronomy) a few thousand years BC. Do you get it? God's blessing to us and our families when we honour Him is just massive, and you see that in a lot of godly families. This dynasty of blessing flows down from one generation to the next. Maybe there are things from your past – emotional, spiritual – that are impacting your life. Today is the day that we can choose to break that chain. Today is the day that we can choose to break free from the power of the past. Listen to the prayer that Nehemiah prayed: O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps the covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you, day and night, for your servants the people of Israel. Confessing the sins of the people of Israel which we have sinned against you, both I and my family have sinned. And Nehemiah then goes on to ask for forgiveness; he turns away from that and he moves on. It's a simple prayer; it's a prayer of repentance. It breaks the linkage to the sin of previous generations – Nehemiah, his ancestors and his family. We have all sinned! God is a God who forgives and God is a God who makes all things new again. He breaks the power of the past over us because His heart is to bless to a thousand generations. The Apostle Paul writes in Second Corinthians chapter 5, verse 17: If anyone is in Christ Jesus he is a new creation. Old things have passed away and all things are new. Let me take you back to some of the things that maybe you've had handed down to you – addictions or anger or bad behaviour or whatever it is – we can receive freedom from those things simply by praying and believing. God will work out His answer to our prayer in our lives in His good time Meanwhile we can take stock of those things and decide to start doing something about them. Not in our own fancy strength but through a relationship with Jesus which transforms us. It is time to end the cycle of sin in our families – to stop it dead here. The buck stops with you and me. How about it?   Setting the Course Now it doesn't matter how dysfunctional a family is at the moment, all it takes is one member of that family to turn back to God; to honour God and God can and will make an awesome and mighty difference. It may take time, it may take longer than you and I would prefer but God is a God of grace – His heart is to bless our family to a thousand generations and He's looking for some godly men, godly women, godly children to take a stand and say, "Enough is enough! It is time for me to build a godly family." First Corinthians chapter 4, verse 20 in the Message translation says this: God's way is not a matter of mere talk, it's an empowered life. That's why this ministry I'm involved in is called Christianityworks because it actually does. So let's talk about making it happen – an empowered life that sets about building a godly family. But you know what I have noticed? We can talk about a lot of stuff but most times nothing changes unless we actually do something. It's true at work; it's true at home! How often have you been to a meeting at work and people talk about a whole bunch of stuff: "We'll do this, we'll do that", but after the meeting no one does anything. And guess what? Nothing changes; nothing! We come home at the end of the day; we need a rest; we ignore things – the badly behaved children for example. There's a great proverb: Proverbs chapter 29, verse 17 that says: Discipline your children and they will give you rest; they will give you the delight of your heart. I have seen this down at the local supermarket. The mother's is with the child and the child just grinds her down through bad behaviour and she's tired ... she's too tired to do anything about it so she lets this kid run riot, causing her grief and causing everybody else grief as well. Why does it happen? I'll tell you why – probably because dad is too tired to discipline the child when he comes home. Does he enjoy their behaviour? No! But this kid walks all over his mother, she's exhausted and ... and mind you the kid is only seven – wait till the little terror becomes a teenager! You see, there's fruit in building a godly family – tremendous fruit. Discipline your children and what do you get? Peace and a delighted heart! What you sow is what you reap. The problem is sowing is hard work sometimes and reaping seems ... well, such a long way off, doesn't it? Let me tell you something – we have been talking about building a godly family but it ain't going to happen unless we step out in faith and start making it happen. Yes, it's about God blessing our efforts but if He's got nothing to bless then, He got nothing to bless. I mean, if I am twenty kilos overweight, forty pounds, and I want to be trim, taut and terrific and I pray and pray and believe God for a breakthrough but I keep eating and drinking the same old rubbish and I don't exercise. Let me ask you something – is God going to zap me while I am lying on the sofa and miraculously remove the excess weight? Well, He could, and with God I never rule anything out but I have never quite seen it happen that way, have you? Why would we think it is any different building a godly family? We behave ourselves into a bad place by what we say, what we do, what we fail to do – we behave our families into that bad place and yes, we should pray. But God expects us to start behaving ourselves out of that place. And that's what we are going to be talking about over the next three weeks. He is going to bless that but we have to do our part. So let me ask you something – do you want to have a godly family because if you do you are going to have to decide; that is what we want, plan it and start living it? We are going to have to decide that some changes have to be made. This easy, comfortable, lazy existence has to change. Discipline is painful; kids don't like it much. It takes strength and perseverance but it pays dividends in their lives and in ours. Let me ask you, how much do you want to have a godly family? And if the answer is, "Yes, I do. I do!", then some tough decisions have to be made. If your family is one with a husband and a wife, then it is up to the both of you. If it is a single parent family then it is up to you alone. But husband and wife have to talk and dream and decide what is important and set priorities and figure out how to do this – what steps to take first, and so on. Mum and dad, you are the leaders and I happen to believe that ultimately, the father is responsible for the spiritual growth and nourishment and development of his family. The buck stops with you, dad! And that's not a sexist thing because I have to tell you, so many women would give their eyeteeth if their husbands would just step up to the plate and take on a leadership role. So many kids would love to have parents who were interested in them, who spend time and efforts setting boundaries, enforcing those boundaries, nurturing them within those boundaries. I have to tell you, as a person, I am a natural isolationist. I like my own company, oft times over the company of others. I really enjoy retreating to my own space after a hard day at the office, so for me, given who I am, getting involved with the family and kids and listening to what happened to them at school and at work – it's not a natural gig, you know? But we have to start somewhere. We can't build a godly family if there is no relationship; if there is no interaction; if we are not involved in planning and making it happen. We are going to talk about some of that over the next few weeks. In fact, I have been speaking to one of the godliest families I know; some friends of mine who live in the USA – mum, dad and their NINE children. They have given me some of their pointers, both the parents and the children. This massive tribe, I have to tell you, they have got their act so well together. I know it's not perfect, but I ask them and I ask the kids, "Tell me what this godly family thing is about." I'm going to talk about that in the next few weeks but right now, we have to decide, each one of us, do we really want to have a godly family? Well, do we? And if we do, what are we going to do about it. Maybe that's something you can pray about and think about and talk about over this next week. We will look at it some more when we get together again at the same time next week, this whole thing of building a godly family. But I have to tell you, when I read about this God who says, "Look, I don't care what has happened in the past. You turn back and you honour Me in your lives, in your family and I tell you what, I won't just bless you, I'll bless your children and I'll bless your children's children and I'll bless their children and the next generation." In fact, the blessing when you break the curses that have been handed down to you, simply by praying and honouring God and turning back to Him, the blessing that flows is a blessing that flows for a thousand generations. That's who God is!

We come to what is a difficult subject for some, and a sore subject for others. Giving! While we realize many have been wrongly taken advantage of, even in church settings, we don't want to dismiss what God has to say about it. But rather just faithfully deliver His Word to you. As you'll see, you'll be blessed if you go along with God's will for you in this area. We're in Second Corinthians chapter nine. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1459/29

In our spiritual journey, we are called to be formed in the image of Christ with purpose and intention. This does not happen by accident. It requires us to take part in the process.Second Corinthians 3:18 reminds us that we are being transformed into Christ's image, one degree at a time. This change comes as we behold God's glory through focused intention, steady attention, and a shift in direction. Like a sculptor revealing a figure hidden in stone, spiritual formation involves clearing away what does not reflect Christ.We are asked to examine what holds our attention, knowing that what we focus on shapes who we become. Are we letting constant distractions pull us away, or are we fixing our eyes on God?This message challenges us to take our growth seriously. While God's grace leads the way, our efforts to know and obey Him matter. We are invited to go deeper into Scripture, let it shape our hearts and minds, and face the refining work of repentance with courage.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 28-29; Ps 60; Romans 16 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 with your host, Hunter! On this June 4th, we're marking day 156 of our journey through the Bible together. In today's episode, Hunter invites us to open our hearts as we read from Proverbs 28 and 29, Psalm 60, and Romans 16. More than just words on a page, we're drawn to encounter the living Word—Jesus, the one who offers us rest, hope, and strength even in our weakness. Hunter shares encouragement from scripture, reminding us that God is able to make us strong, especially when we feel our weakest. He reflects on Paul's message that God's power is made perfect in our weakness—a truth that meets us in whatever we're facing today. After the scripture readings, we'll spend time in prayer, resting in God's presence, and Hunter will also share a heartfelt thanks to the community of listeners who make this podcast possible. Whether you're seeking peace, a fresh perspective, or just a reminder that you are not alone, today's episode is here to help you start your day centered in God's love and strength. So grab your Bible and join Hunter as we read, reflect, and pray together. TODAY'S DEVOTION: He is our strength—even in weakness. Do you need some good news today? Here it is: you can be strong. God's people are being offered strength through Christ today. As Paul writes at the end of Romans 16, “Now, all glory to God who is able to make you strong.” This is the message held out to the church, to Jew and Gentile alike: there is strength for us, right here, right now, for whatever we are called to walk through. This strength isn't mustered up, it isn't conjured by willpower or striving. In fact, it often arrives most clearly when we feel weakest, when we have come to the end of our own resources. Paul knew this well. In his own life, as he tells us in Second Corinthians, he pleaded with God to remove the hardship he called his “thorn in the flesh.” But God responded, “My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness.” So Paul learned to boast all the more in his weakness, for it was there that God's strength was most visible. When we feel inadequate or overwhelmed, this is not the moment to despair. It's the moment to draw near and rest in the strength of Christ with us and in us. The invitation is to abide, not strive; to trust, not panic; to walk moment by moment with the One who strengthens our hearts. His power is not constrained by our conditions. In our frailty, his sufficiency shines even brighter. Whatever you are facing today, whatever you feel you can't endure on your own, Christ stands ready to strengthen you. You are not abandoned. God is present in your struggle. He wants to meet you there, in the midst of your weakness, and reveal his power, his sufficiency, his sustaining love. All he asks is that we abide and trust him enough to take the next step. That is the prayer I have for my own soul. That is the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that is the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord of life, you have awakened me again to the gift of this day. You go before me, walk beside me, and dwell within me. Let me walk slowly in your presence. May I resist the hurried spirit of this world and instead breathe deep of your peace. Open my eyes to beauty, my ears to your voice, and my heart to the quiet work of grace. Help me not to strive, but to abide, not to achieve, but to receive. Today, let my words carry your kindness. My actions reflect your mercy. My thoughts be anchored in your truth, that I am yours, and you are with me. 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. 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  

Still labeling yourself by past mistakes or family baggage? In Christ, “the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Cor 5:17). You are not “just that way” anymore—God rewrote your story the moment you trusted Him. Key Reflections New Creation, New Identity – Gal 2:20 says your old self was crucified; Christ now lives in you. Let God Define You – Scripture, not your past, assigns your worth. (See Eph 1.) Capture Toxic Thoughts – Take every thought captive (2 Cor 10:5) and replace lies with truth. Progress Requires Renewal – Daily renew your mind (Rom 12:2) to walk in who you already are. Join the Conversation What negative label do you need to lock up today? How are you choosing to see yourself through God’s Word instead of past mistakes? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram using #LifeaudioNetwork—let’s encourage one another to live as new creations!

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 13; 1 Chronicles 2-3; 2 Cor 12 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 another episode of the Daily Radio Bible with your host, Hunter. Today, we continue our journey through the scriptures with Day 102. Hunter,  will be guiding us through readings from First Samuel 13, First Chronicles 2 and 3, and Second Corinthians 12. Together, we'll explore stories of leadership and challenges faced by Saul, discover the lineage detailed in First Chronicles, and delve into Paul's reflections in Corinthians about relying on God's grace amidst his own struggles. Join us as we dive into the word, seeking wisdom, encouragement, and a deeper understanding of God's presence and love in our lives. Whether you're at home, on a walk, or commuting, we're glad you're here with us on this spiritual journey. So grab your Bible and let's get into today's readings! TODAY'S DEVOTION: What do you really want? Is it comfort, security, pleasure, recognition? Maybe it's something related to your family. Maybe you want healing for a child or a spouse for yourself. Paul wanted something too. He wanted it badly. He pleaded for it. He wanted this thing that was bothering him to stop. He called it his thorn in the flesh. And the origins of this thing came from Satan himself, we're told. We're not exactly sure what it was, but the description seems to cover all the bases. We all have needs, physical and spiritual needs, and we all end up crying out to God, asking him to deliver us, to take that thing, to correct that thing, to heal that thing, whatever that thing is, and we see that Paul was no different. He pleaded and pleaded and continued to plead. Whatever it was, Paul felt that it was holding him back. This is what Paul really wanted. He saw God delivering and providing and doing miracles that were both spiritual and physical for others. Why didn't God do the same for Paul? Why doesn't he do the same thing for you, for me? Maybe it's because there's something Paul and you and I need that's more important than what we want. Paul needed to know the power of grace in his life. God tells Paul, not once, but three times, grace is what you need. My grace is perfected in your weakness. And so Paul began to treasure even his weaknesses because they became a doorway to the grace, the presence, the love of God. Maybe there's something that we need that's more important than what we want. And the prayer of my own soul to his is that I will have the wisdom, the courage, the grace to receive it. And that's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, and my daughters, and my son. And that's a prayer that I have 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  

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 11-12; 1 Chronicles 1; 2 Cor 11 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 this episode of the Daily Radio Bible, where we're diving into day 102 of our immersive journey through the Bible with your host, Hunter. Today, we take a look behind the pages of First Samuel chapters eleven and twelve, explore the genealogies in First Chronicles chapter one, and reflect on the profound insights from Second Corinthians chapter eleven. From Saul's stirring leadership in times of crisis, to the long lineage of faith, and Paul's candid testament of strength found in weakness, each reading brings its unique perspective on our walk in faith. We'll also spend time in prayer together, seeking guidance and strength for the day ahead. So, settle in as Hunter unravels the scriptures and invites you into a deeper experience of God's word. Let's continue to open our hearts and minds to the transformative power of these ancient texts. TODAY'S DEVOTION: It's an upside-down world. Paul's being lowered in a basket through a hole in the wall outside of the city. As he's being lowered, God is lifting him up. We've been invited into an upside-down world. It's a world where those who are lowered down are being lifted up, while those who lift themselves up are being lowered from within. Paul very briefly talks about his elevated days. He reminds his readers just how elevated he was, that he was like those super apostles. But Paul wants them to know that this elevated status did nothing for his soul. In fact, he was descending from within, even while on the outside, his status was soaring high. Paul tells us that it was while he was being lowered, descending on the outside, accused and scorned and whipped and stoned and shipwrecked, hungry alone on the outside, even as he was being lowered in a basket, it was in these moments that God showed himself most present in his life. It was there that Paul knew God's strength the most. He experienced God's love most intimately when he was being lowered in that basket outside the city. It was a defining moment for Paul. God does his deepest work in our lowering, and anyone, super apostle or not, who tells us otherwise, might want to be avoided. See God in the lowering. Experience the fellowship of his suffering there. He is faithful to bring about his good purposes in all of our circumstances. And the prayer of my own heart today is that I will participate with him in faith, even in the lowering. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's the prayer that I have 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  

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 3-5; Psalm 77; 2 Cor 8 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 another enriching episode of the Daily Radio Bible. I'm Hunter, your brother and Bible reading coach, here to accompany you on day 98 of our transformative journey through the Bible. Today, we're diving back into the historical and spiritual depths of scripture, focusing on pivotal stories and teachings that have shaped faith throughout time. We'll explore the call of young Samuel and the divine messages he received, the fierce battles involving the Philistines and the fate of the Ark of the Covenant, and we'll reflect on the profound words from Psalm 77. We'll also uncover lessons on generosity from the early churches in Second Corinthians chapter eight. Let's get ready to immerse ourselves in these timeless lessons and gain insights that can guide our lives today. Thank you for joining me on this journey of discovery and spiritual growth. Let's dive in. TODAY'S DEVOTION: You are rich. Did you know it? Paul says that those riches were achieved because someone else became poor, and that someone is Christ. Christ became poor so that by his poverty, he could make you rich. Jesus took our poverty upon himself in order to bestow on us his riches of sonship. That makes you wealthy. That makes you blessed. That makes you his. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because you are united with Christ. These are heavenly riches, but these spiritual riches work their way into our physical lives. They free us up to live generous lives here right now. And to the extent that we truly understand this will result in generous hearted living. Paul wants us to follow through with the generosity that was born in our hearts. He doesn't want us to stall out. He wants us to finish whatever it is that God inspired you to do. Maybe it's offering a meal to someone who's sick, spending time with someone who really needs it, giving financially to someone in need, helping to advance the cause of the gospel, as was the case of this particular passage. Whatever it is, don't stall out. Finish what God has inspired you to do. Live out your generous life because you are rich, and your spiritual wealth comes from him. May this inspire you to live out the riches that are yours in Christ. Don't stall out on those things that God inspires you to do, but rather live them out in the joy and the strength and in the presence of Christ who dwells in you. That's a prayer that I have for my own soul, and that's a prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's a prayer that I have 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  

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ruth 3-4; Psalm 64-65; 2 Cor 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 today's episode of the Daily Radio Bible! I'm Heather, and it's Sunday, April 6th, 2025 – day 96 of our journey through the scriptures. Gather around as we delve into the word, seeking illumination from the Holy Spirit and drawing closer to Jesus, the source of our life. Today, we'll explore the beautiful and epic love story found within the book of Ruth, specifically chapters three and four. We'll also be diving into the heartfelt words of David in Psalms 64 and 65, and wrapping up with the teachings from Second Corinthians chapter six. Join us as we witness how stories that begin with tragedy can transform into tales of eternal love and redemption. Let's warm ourselves around the fire of God's love and remember, you are loved. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Our lives are a tapestry woven by God, even when we perceive tangled threads and chaos. Looking at the life of Naomi in the book of Ruth, it begins with hardship, famine, and loss. Naomi even changes her name to Mara, meaning bitter, reflecting her feelings about her life's story. Many of us can relate to Naomi's early story filled with pain and displacement, seeing our own lives as narratives lined by tragedy. Yet, when faith is our compass, we encounter transformations we never imagined, as Ruth did. Ruth's unwavering commitment to Naomi and her God amidst uncertainties opened doors to a grand narrative—a powerful love story from which the lineage of King David arose, eventually leading to Jesus, the ultimate Redeemer. When Ruth said, "Your people will be my people, and your God my God," she planted seeds of faith that bloomed into an inheritance far greater than she could have envisioned. Jesus, our ultimate kinsman redeemer, has arrived in our own stories, not leaving them desolate but filling them with hope and redemption. Our Redeemer, far greater than Boaz, turns what we see as dead ends into vibrant paths toward love and purpose. It's a call today to hold firm to faith amidst trials, knowing that our journey is being crafted into a magnificent story of divine love. Our lives are not just for us but testimony to God's work, weaving redemption and love into every fiber, ultimately pointing back to Him. May we trust that our Redeemer lives, is active in our story, and in faith, let's step into this narrative of love woven by God, the master storyteller. That's a prayer I carry for myself, for my family, and for each of you. May we embrace and share our God-written stories. 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  

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Judges 17-18; Psalm 89; 2 Cor 3 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, Hunter, your Bible reading coach, guides us through Day 93 of our journey through the Bible with insights and reflections that inspire and uplift. We'll delve into the book of Judges, starting with chapters 17 and 18, where we encounter the story of Micah and his self-made religious icons during a time when "everyone did what was right in their own eyes." Hunter ties this narrative to our lives today, highlighting how we often try to write our own life letters, forgetting the freedom and identity found in the new letter God has imprinted on our hearts. Next, we'll be lifting our spirits with the enduring message of Psalm 89, a psalm that praises the Lord's unfailing love and the covenant with David. Finally, we shift to Second Corinthians chapter 3, where Paul enlightens us on the transformative power of living by the Spirit and the new covenant, which gives life and freedom. Throughout this episode, Hunter emphasizes the power of gratitude, the importance of being grateful, and the profound truth that we are loved, free, and belong to God. Join us as we pray, reflect, and find encouragement together in today's reading. Don't forget to check in with yourself and foster an attitude of gratitude as we go forward in God's joy. Let's embark on this day with open hearts, ready to embrace the blessings that surround us. TODAY'S DEVOTION: God has written a new letter on our hearts. Imagine, for a moment, that your life could be summed up in the form of a letter. What would it say? In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul speaks to this idea, suggesting that our lives are a letter written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God. And it's this new letter that transforms everything about us. The old letter, the law, though glorious in its time, was temporary. It was etched in stone and was meant to guide but not to last forever. Contrast that with the new letter written on our hearts—it is life-giving, everlasting, and penned by the very Spirit of God. This scripture gives us a profound sense of freedom. It declares to us that we are loved, we are free, and we are His. Too often, like Micah from the book of Judges, we try to craft our own letters—our own narratives—building idols out of our ambitions and desires, doing what seems right in our eyes. Yet, these pursuits only lead to blindness, exhaustion, and dissatisfaction. They never satisfy and certainly never set us free. But God's new letter does the opposite. Permanently inscribed on our hearts, it helps us stand before God with confidence. Because through this letter, we know our true identity. We are no longer defined by what we can accomplish or create ourselves, but by the love and freedom granted to us by God. This knowledge gives us the confidence and peace our hearts yearn for. Live today knowing that God has set you free through His Spirit. Embrace the truth of the letter He has written on your heart. You are loved, you are free, and you are His. Let this truth be the anthem of your life—an anthem that leads you to live boldly in the confidence and identity God has lovingly penned for you. That's a prayer that I have for my own soul. That's a prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's a prayer that I have 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  

(Isaiah 46:11) Scripture is full of prophecy and sincere Bible students must not neglect it. Today, we uncover five definite blessings connected to the study of prophecy. Our goal is to learn more than end time events; it is to know more deeply the eternal God. (0968250318)  ----more----  The World's Fascination with End Times Hollywood has made a small fortune imagining what the end of the world is going to look like. In fact, it seems every week. Something new in printed form or media comes out about the end of time, and yet I think it may be smarter if we ask the one who started time, how time is going to end. That is the eternal God, the creator of all things. What does God say? What does the Bible say? About the end of time, about last things.  Biblical Prophecy: An Overview As you read and study the word of God, you're gonna be shocked, I think, to see how much of the Bible is prophetic - I mean by that telling us about things to come. Sixteen Old Testament books are considered to be prophetic books. You have what is commonly referred to as the major prophets and the minor prophets. But prophecy's not restricted just to those books. In fact, prophetic elements are found all through the word of God. In the Psalms there are prophetic psalms. Moses was referred to as a prophet, so that's hearkening all the way back to the beginning of the Old Testament. When you come to the New Testament, about 1/20th of the New Testament is prophetic. Now, obviously the revelation of Jesus Christ the apocalypse the final revelation. That's prophetic, but there are prophetic elements in the teachings of Christ and the writings of Paul. You can't neglect scripture. When it comes to prophecy. I heard someone recently say, what gives us the right I. To pick and choose which verses we wanna believe. What gives us the right to pick and cho choose which verses we want to study and apply and live. No, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. So what is the profit of us studying what the Bible says about the end of time? Lemme give you several profitable things that it'll do in your life.  The Sovereignty of God in Prophecy First of all, if you study what the Bible says about prophecy. It's going to reveal something to you about the sovereignty of our God, that He truly is on the throne. He has a plan. He's all wise and all powerful. He knows exactly what he's doing. Listen to the words of Isaiah 46, verse 11. The Bible says, "Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executed with my counsel from a far country. Yay, I have spoken it. I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it. I will also do it." Now, the context of this text is in a prophecy to the nation of Israel. But listen to the revelation of God himself, the one who's giving the prophecy, he said, I've spoken it. I'm gonna bring it to pass. I've purposed it. I'm going to do it. When you begin to study prophecy, one of the things immediately that is revealed is that our God is not arbitrary. He has an eternal purpose in the ages. This is not some emergency plan with our God. From the very beginning, before time started, God knew exactly how it was going to end. So his purpose is being fulfilled. That ought to help you not just to know events, but to know the God of the Bible in a greater way. Closely akin to that, let me give you a second profitable thing.  Faith in Bible Prophecy In the book of Acts chapter number 20, we're told this beginning in verse number 26, the Apostle Paul says, "Wherefore, I take you to record this day that I'm pure from the blood of all men, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." One of the things that happens when you start seeing what the Bible says about prophecy is it increases your faith in the word of God itself. And the Apostle Paul said, Acts 20:27, "I've not shunned to declare all the counsel of God." May I say to you, we should not shun all the counsel of God. Study all of the Bible. Seek to understand all of scripture. Teach and preach all of the Bible. Why? Because God has a message for us in every part of scripture that includes prophecy, faith cometh by hearing by the word of God. Your faith is gonna grow as you see God fulfilling what he foretold and everything. God foretells, he fulfills. When you see all the prophecies that have been fulfilled to this point, do you know what it says? It says that the same God who never lies, who always tells the truth and always keeps his word, is going to fulfill the rest of the prophecies. So it reveals the sovereignty of God. It increases our faith in the word of God. How about this? This is a very practical thing.  Hope in Bible Prophecy When you begin studying what the Bible says about prophecy, it's gonna give you some hope and comfort. I'm talking about living through difficult days. It's gonna help you. Second Corinthians 4:17 says, "For our light affliction, which is, but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." What does prophecy do? Prophecy makes you get your eyes off of time and on eternity. It makes you go to the end and work your way backward to find out what truly matters in light of eternity. It brings both a challenge and a comfort at the same time. He repeats that emphasis when he writes to the church at Thessalonika. First Thessalonians chapter four, listen to the words beginning in verse thirteen. He says, "But I would not have you to be ignorant brethren concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this, we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ, shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words." Did you notice the first verse we read in 1st Thessalonians 4:13 has the word "hope" in it, and the last verse we read, verse 18 has the word "comfort" in it? Studying prophecy is going to give you hope and comfort. It's not just about knowing the sequence of events. Or what to look for next. In fact, we're not looking for an ending. We're looking for a new beginning. I'm not looking for the world to end. I'm looking for Jesus to come. I'm looking for everything God has prepared for us. That gives me hope and comfort living in difficult days.  The Purifying Affect of Prophecy And then I would say this studying prophecy, what the Bible says about the end of time will purify the believer. Yeah, one John chapter three, beginning in verse number two says this, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God. And it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him, purify himself even as he is pure." The hope is not just for us to feel better. The hope is for us to live today. In light of eternity, it's gonna help you make today count. If you realize today could be your last day on earth, today could be the greatest day you ever live, which is the day Jesus Christ face to face. Let me give you one more study.  Loving Jesus More Through Prophecy What the Bible says about last things is gonna help you love Jesus more. Listen to Revelation 19, verse 10, "And I fell at his feet to worship him and he said unto me, See thou to it. Not I'm thy fellow servant and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." People who want to talk about prophecy in the end time, but they don't wanna talk more about loving Christ or winning souls or living holy, have missed the spirit of prophecy. The spirit of prophecy is not about having a head full of knowledge. It's about having a heart alive and on fire with passionate love for Christ and souls around you. It will make a difference in the way you live this day. So I'm excited about our studies. We begin to talk about what the Bible says about last things, but I wanna challenge you. Don't just study it, live it. Don't just consider considerate, apply the truth to your life today. Let what the Bible says affect what you give your energy and attention to this very day. Outro and Resources Repeating what other people have said about the Bible is not enough. We must know the biblical reason behind what we believe. We hope you will visit us at etj.bible to access our Library of Bible teaching resources, including book-by-book studies of Scripture. You'll also find studies to watch, listen to, or read. We are so grateful for those who pray for us, who share the biblical content, and for those who invest to help us advance this ministry worldwide. Again, thank you for listening and we hope you'll join us next time on Enjoying the Journey.