Podcasts about see ephesians

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!Revelation 7 John sees four angels holding back the winds of the earth until God's servants are sealed. Another angel appears with the seal of the living God, marking 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing God's protection over His people. After this, John sees a great multitude that no one can count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and the Lamb. They are clothed in white robes and hold palm branches, crying out in worship as the heavenly hosts praise God. One of the elders explains that they have come out of great tribulation and have been made clean by the blood of the Lamb. They serve God day and night, and He will shelter them, wipe away every tear, and be their shepherd forever.  We are reminded that God knows and seals His people. No matter what happens on earth, we are not forgotten. We belong to Him, and He protects those who trust in the Lamb. The great multitude shows us that His grace reaches every nation and every people. We are part of something much larger than ourselves—a global family of faith. When we go through trials, we are not alone. God sees our struggles and promises to bring comfort, healing, and peace. One day, we will stand before His throne, washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. Until then, we worship, serve, and wait with hope, knowing that our Shepherd walks with us every step of the way.  Loving God, You see every heart and gather people from every nation to stand before Your throne. Thank You for sealing and protecting those who belong to You. When we face hardship, remind us that we are not forgotten. You are our shelter, our comfort, and our Protector. Wash us clean through the blood of the Lamb, and help us remain faithful in every season. Fill our hearts with hope as we look forward to the day when every tear will be wiped away. Let our lives be filled with worship, and may we serve You daily with joy and trust.  Thought Questions: What does it mean to be sealed by God as you live on this earth? See Ephesians 1:13-14. How has the Holy Spirit sealed you? How does the vision of diverse groups worshipping together broaden and invigorate our understanding of evangelism globally? Those who came through tribulation are in white robes, washed in Jesus' blood, and free of tears. How does this future hope motivate you? 

As Paul addresses order within the church, he outlines specific boundaries for women that are not rooted in competence or experience, but in God's ordained structure of authority. He emphasizes that there is both protection and blessing in embracing our God-given roles, not only within our homes but also in the life of the church. In Session Four of Entrusted, we explore Scripture's instruction for women as they pursue a life marked by godliness.Verses Used:1 Timothy 2:9-101 Peter 3:3-41 Timothy 2:11-15Genesis 2:18 & 21-23Genesis 3:27-28Genesis 3:9Discussion Questions:How does Paul want women to adorn themselves in 1 Timothy 2:9? Why do you think this matters, and how can this verse be applied in present day?What does Paul say should accompany a woman who makes a claim to godliness in 1 Timothy 2:10?As a believer, why are good works important, and what should be the result of our good works? (See Ephesians 2:10 and Matthew 5:14-16?Why does Paul say he does not allow a woman to exercise authority over a man, and to what contexts does this statement apply?What are possible interpretations of 1 Timothy 2:15 where it says, “women will be preserved through the bearing of children?” Which do you think is most valid?

The Five-Fold Ministry has been massively misrepresented! It's either one extreme or the other with no balance in the body of Christ. It's NOT about numbers, popularity, or status to fill ego and self. It's about truly representing the heart of the Father with purity. What we are viewing on social media and witnessing in many churches today is not the flow of the Holy Spirit. A five-fold team co-labors together, each flowing in their unique gifting, yet together; brings unity to the body of Christ to help build and equip maturity while avoiding falsehood. (See Ephesians 4:11-16). It's more than just focusing on the pastor; it's a dedicated corporate team working together under one body and one Christ! (See 1 Corinthians 12).   Check out this Message for Five-Fold Leaders- GOD is calling Five-Fold Leaders in South Florida   Blessings xo- Melia's Courses -> https://meliadiana.com/vertical-relationship-academy Melia's Services -> https://meliadiana.com/our-services Melia's Books ->https://meliadiana.com/books Melia's Prophetic Mentorship-> https://meliadiana.com/vertical-ambassador-mentorship

Matthew 6:9-14; Luke 11:2-4; Galatians 4:1-7 and Romans 8:14-17Our relationship with God our Savior and Lord is illustrated in the N.T. with the deepest, most loving relationship possible in this life: Parent to child. When this relationship is good it provides, world wide, the greatest example of love, joy, but when the parents are bad or evil, it becomes repulsive and shocking to all good parents everywhere. God manifested His love for us by sending His Son to atone for our sins, while we were yet sinners. We become adopted children, precious in His sight. He asks us to refer to Him primarily not as oh Powerful God, but as “Father” (Matthew 6:9) and even “Dad or Daddy” in Luke 11:2 (See also Galatians 4:6, “Abba Father” Romans 8:14-17)And even when scripture tells us the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; it is referring to awe and respect for our creator parent and sustainer not to be scared of Him. Both renditions of the Lord's prayer reminds us to develop a respectful intimacy with God our Father and our dad, daddy (“Abba”). The aspects of God, parenthood can be summarized by the following points:Respect “Our Father”Matthew 6:9-10. Remember the danger of over familiarity especially in relationship to heavenly Father.Intimacy (love) Father! Luke 11:2see also Galatians 4:1-7 and Romans 8:14-17; verse 17 “Abba”Adopted Children; In ancient societies, Roman and Jewish was very important and precious; See Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:14-16As our Divine Parent He is delighted to provide for usNote the second part of the Lord's prayer in both Matthew 6:11-13 and Luke 11:3-4; Note these provisions come after worship and respect for our all powerful and loving parents.The primary things He wants us to develop;  “the chip off the old block.” Develop HIs character. The fruit of the Spirit, especially, forgiveness (Matthew 6:13-15; Luke 11:4; Galatians 5:22-26)

Everyone needs to grow up in life and as a Christian. Babies, both natural and newborn Christians, should be a great blessing. But it's not a blessing if they stay babies. They need to grow up strong and healthy. As Christians we rejoice that God's son humbly came to earth as a vulnerable baby, but it was only when Jesus grew up that He could fulfil the great purpose of His life. Even at an early age the Bible records the growth of Jesus (Luke 2:52). God is the God of growth (Isaiah 9:7; Genesis 1:27-28). The parable of the mustard seed shared by Jesus speaks of exponential growth in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 13:31-32).  In the Christian church both, locally and universally, God wants the church to multiply numerically, but He also wants every Christian to grow up in their faith, in their character, in their ministry and in every stage of life (Psalm 92:12-14). Our new series focusses on how we can develop from spiritual infancy into mature and fruitful disciples of Jesus and how in turn we can train others also to become grown up disciples.   One of the root problems of modern Christianity is what Juan Carlos Ortiz in his classic book “Disciple” (see also Warren Wiersbe "Be Mature" and Arthur Wallis "On To Maturity"). Sadly, today there are Christians who seem to have stopped growing in their Christian lives. Despite years of teaching, fellowship, prayer, conferences and meetings, they remain childish in the way they talk, think, act and react. What they want is to be constantly pampered, spoon fed, consoled, cosseted, and cleaned up when they have made a mess. What they need however, as opposed to what they want, is not prayer or deliverance or counselling but simply this: they need to grow up!   This issue of spiritual maturity is nothing new. The Epistles are full of exhortations to help us grow up in Christ (Colossians 1:28). Paul aimed for more than the maturity of individual believers: He wanted to see the entire church mature. He understood that the various leadership roles in the church were to equip and mature the church (Ephesians 4:12-14). Over the coming weeks we will be looking at some of the practical ways that God intends for us to mature both individually and collectively, but first we see some major areas we need to grow in:   1. Grow in our understanding of God (Colossians 1:9-10; 2 Peter 3:18) 2. Grow in love (John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Ephesians 4:15-16; Ephesians 4:2,31-32; 1 Thessalonians 3:12) 3. Grow in the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18 4. Grow in perseverance (James 1:2-4; 2 Peter 1:5-8) 5. Grow in Christ likeness (Exodus 34:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18) Apply  1. Grow in our understanding of God (Colossians 1:9-10; 2 Peter 3:18). As new Christians we may know very little about God. But as we read His Word and experience His grace, we learn so much more about God. We grow in our understanding of the righteous and loving character of God; we discover that God is for us and not against us; we learn that we don't have to be shaped by the storms and circumstances of life but that we can rest secure that God is faithful to all His promises and that He works everything for the good of those who love Him; and we become more aware that Jesus is not just a figure of history but a living reality who we can know as our saviour from sin, our best friend, our greatest guardian and guide. And as we grow in our knowledge of God, we lose our fear and grow in faith. That's what God wants for every Christian. We are not to stay as infants with little understanding but to continually grow in our knowledge of our good and great God.  2. Grow in love. Love is the central message of Christianity. God is love and He so loved the world that He gave His only son Jesus to save us from sin and destruction. Today He wants to show His love through His body on earth. The church is called to model love in a world of hate. Sadly, many times people have been turned off church because they have encountered nastiness, judgmentalism and harshness in the church. However, Jesus told His disciples that they needed to work through their differences and work at loving one another (John 13:35). Love is not just an emotion (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Paul certainly believed in the importance of spiritual gifts like prophecies and the necessity of helping the poor, but he said that without love, he would gain nothing. As Christians we all have a responsibility to speak with love and build the church up with love (Ephesians 4:15-16). What does this mean in practice? See Ephesians 4:2,31-32. We each have to move on from being a me centred baby to being a grown-up carer for others (1 Thessalonians 3:12).  3. Grow in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes Jesus real to us and equips us to serve God. On the Day of Pentecost, the apostles received the powerful anointing of the Holy spirit but that was just a beginning. The book of Acts of the Apostles shows how they grew in their anointing of the Holy spirit as they boldly preached the gospel and saw miracles of healing and deliverance. It is not sufficient just to start out in Christian life and ministry with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, being continually filled (Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18). The Greek verb tense used indicates a present continuous action, rather than a one-time event. So are we growing in our fellowship with the Holy Spirit? Are we exercising spiritual gifts with more authority? Is there a noticeable increase of the anointing of the Holy spirit in our lives and on our ministries? Every day we must value the anointing of the Holy Spirit, not grieving the Spirit by our words and actions so that God can increasingly move in power through us.   4. Grow in perseverance (James 1:2-4). Few people like to go through tough times, yet it is in such seasons that we are forced to choose whether to grow up in our faith or give up. Trials, where we learn to depend on God and not on ourselves or our emotions, help us to develop in our spiritual maturity. When we persevere and remain steadfast in the face of strong winds we learn, as an old hymn says, to ‘trust in Jesus and to take Him at His word.' We develop an inner spiritual and emotional toughness and an ability to endure in all situations. Instead of crying like babies in distress, we become confident that the Lord will give us peace and grace for every situation (2 Peter 1:5-8).  5. Grow in Christ likeness (Exodus 34:29). The more we spent time developing our relationship with the Lord through worship, prayer, knowing God's word and seeking to live holy lives, the more we will become like the Lord. There will come a greater transparency, a greater serenity, a greater beauty. People will literally be able to see and sense more of Jesus in us (2 Corinthians 3:18). So how are you doing in your Christian development? How much are you growing in your knowledge of God, in love, in the anointing of the Holy Spirit, in perseverance and in becoming more like Jesus? Well don't be worried or discouraged. God who has begun a good work in you plans to bring it to completion. You too can become a far more mature and fruitful Christian than you may have ever imagined. 

Everyone needs to grow up in life and as a Christian. Babies, both natural and newborn Christians, should be a great blessing. But it's not a blessing if they stay babies. They need to grow up strong and healthy. As Christians we rejoice that God's son humbly came to earth as a vulnerable baby, but it was only when Jesus grew up that He could fulfil the great purpose of His life. Even at an early age the Bible records the growth of Jesus (Luke 2:52). God is the God of growth (Isaiah 9:7; Genesis 1:27-28). The parable of the mustard seed shared by Jesus speaks of exponential growth in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 13:31-32).  In the Christian church both, locally and universally, God wants the church to multiply numerically, but He also wants every Christian to grow up in their faith, in their character, in their ministry and in every stage of life (Psalm 92:12-14). Our new series focusses on how we can develop from spiritual infancy into mature and fruitful disciples of Jesus and how in turn we can train others also to become grown up disciples.   One of the root problems of modern Christianity is what Juan Carlos Ortiz in his classic book “Disciple” (see also Warren Wiersbe "Be Mature" and Arthur Wallis "On To Maturity"). Sadly, today there are Christians who seem to have stopped growing in their Christian lives. Despite years of teaching, fellowship, prayer, conferences and meetings, they remain childish in the way they talk, think, act and react. What they want is to be constantly pampered, spoon fed, consoled, cosseted, and cleaned up when they have made a mess. What they need however, as opposed to what they want, is not prayer or deliverance or counselling but simply this: they need to grow up!   This issue of spiritual maturity is nothing new. The Epistles are full of exhortations to help us grow up in Christ (Colossians 1:28). Paul aimed for more than the maturity of individual believers: He wanted to see the entire church mature. He understood that the various leadership roles in the church were to equip and mature the church (Ephesians 4:12-14). Over the coming weeks we will be looking at some of the practical ways that God intends for us to mature both individually and collectively, but first we see some major areas we need to grow in:   1. Grow in our understanding of God (Colossians 1:9-10; 2 Peter 3:18) 2. Grow in love (John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Ephesians 4:15-16; Ephesians 4:2,31-32; 1 Thessalonians 3:12) 3. Grow in the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18 4. Grow in perseverance (James 1:2-4; 2 Peter 1:5-8) 5. Grow in Christ likeness (Exodus 34:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18) Apply  1. Grow in our understanding of God (Colossians 1:9-10; 2 Peter 3:18). As new Christians we may know very little about God. But as we read His Word and experience His grace, we learn so much more about God. We grow in our understanding of the righteous and loving character of God; we discover that God is for us and not against us; we learn that we don't have to be shaped by the storms and circumstances of life but that we can rest secure that God is faithful to all His promises and that He works everything for the good of those who love Him; and we become more aware that Jesus is not just a figure of history but a living reality who we can know as our saviour from sin, our best friend, our greatest guardian and guide. And as we grow in our knowledge of God, we lose our fear and grow in faith. That's what God wants for every Christian. We are not to stay as infants with little understanding but to continually grow in our knowledge of our good and great God.  2. Grow in love. Love is the central message of Christianity. God is love and He so loved the world that He gave His only son Jesus to save us from sin and destruction. Today He wants to show His love through His body on earth. The church is called to model love in a world of hate. Sadly, many times people have been turned off church because they have encountered nastiness, judgmentalism and harshness in the church. However, Jesus told His disciples that they needed to work through their differences and work at loving one another (John 13:35). Love is not just an emotion (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Paul certainly believed in the importance of spiritual gifts like prophecies and the necessity of helping the poor, but he said that without love, he would gain nothing. As Christians we all have a responsibility to speak with love and build the church up with love (Ephesians 4:15-16). What does this mean in practice? See Ephesians 4:2,31-32. We each have to move on from being a me centred baby to being a grown-up carer for others (1 Thessalonians 3:12).  3. Grow in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes Jesus real to us and equips us to serve God. On the Day of Pentecost, the apostles received the powerful anointing of the Holy spirit but that was just a beginning. The book of Acts of the Apostles shows how they grew in their anointing of the Holy spirit as they boldly preached the gospel and saw miracles of healing and deliverance. It is not sufficient just to start out in Christian life and ministry with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, being continually filled (Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18). The Greek verb tense used indicates a present continuous action, rather than a one-time event. So are we growing in our fellowship with the Holy Spirit? Are we exercising spiritual gifts with more authority? Is there a noticeable increase of the anointing of the Holy spirit in our lives and on our ministries? Every day we must value the anointing of the Holy Spirit, not grieving the Spirit by our words and actions so that God can increasingly move in power through us.   4. Grow in perseverance (James 1:2-4). Few people like to go through tough times, yet it is in such seasons that we are forced to choose whether to grow up in our faith or give up. Trials, where we learn to depend on God and not on ourselves or our emotions, help us to develop in our spiritual maturity. When we persevere and remain steadfast in the face of strong winds we learn, as an old hymn says, to ‘trust in Jesus and to take Him at His word.' We develop an inner spiritual and emotional toughness and an ability to endure in all situations. Instead of crying like babies in distress, we become confident that the Lord will give us peace and grace for every situation (2 Peter 1:5-8).  5. Grow in Christ likeness (Exodus 34:29). The more we spent time developing our relationship with the Lord through worship, prayer, knowing God's word and seeking to live holy lives, the more we will become like the Lord. There will come a greater transparency, a greater serenity, a greater beauty. People will literally be able to see and sense more of Jesus in us (2 Corinthians 3:18). So how are you doing in your Christian development? How much are you growing in your knowledge of God, in love, in the anointing of the Holy Spirit, in perseverance and in becoming more like Jesus? Well don't be worried or discouraged. God who has begun a good work in you plans to bring it to completion. You too can become a far more mature and fruitful Christian than you may have ever imagined. 

We can never be good enough to earn our salvation, but Jesus died to give it to us. #theloriclineshow Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org! ~~~ Are you a dog person or a cat person? We are dog people, but I will say I love ALL animals.  We ADORE our pets, don't we? In 2020, the pet industry hit a record sales of 103 Billion dollars. We often care for and love on our pets way more than we do people! It's true.  We have two dogs, Roxy and Ruby. We love them dearly. They're good dogs, until they're not. They're potty trained to go outside. They can sit, lay down and play fetch. But… they are animals. Animals often do bad things. Roxy likes to eat lizards, baby rabbits and turtles. She will also play with frogs and chipmunks until they die. She loves to go on adventures in the woods beyond our yard if her invisible fence collar is not working. No matter how mean you sound trying to get her to come back, she will stop, look at you, turn back around and keep on walking. So naughty. Ruby loves to eat ANYTHING she can get her little teeth on. She has chewed up shoes, books, pens, shirts, a brand new backpack and so much more. Once she chewed up the leather corners of my Bible, but I guess I really couldn't be mad because she was feeding on the word, right? I had to do that.  Here's my point, dogs are good, until they're not. They can also be really bad. Do we sometimes describe people the same way? He's a good person. She's a good person. They do good things. They give, serve, love and are kind. Those ARE good things, but what about all the times he or she may NOT be a good person or may NOT do good things? We don't like to focus on that do we?  The reason we don't is because we don't want to come face to face with the true condition of our human heart, which IS, we are DEAD in our SIN, apart from Christ. See Ephesians ch 2. What God created in the beginning was good, but then a choice was made.  Genesis 2:17 You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die. God's words to Adam and Eve in the garden were not unclear. When you eat from it, you WILL certainly die. Everything was good, until it wasn't.  Dr David Jeremiah describes it this way, “Satan was the original violator of the righteousness of God, but sin entered the world through Adam and death entered the world through sin.” While we are responsible for our own choices and sin, we are born into the family of a fallen human race. Adam's sin brought death to the world and there is not enough good any man or woman can do to wipe that away.  Romans 3:23 says “ALL” have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Here's the good news,  2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. It may be difficult for you to see yourself as a sinner and you may do a lot of good things, but the Bible makes it so clear, you could never be good enough to be made right with a holy God apart from the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on a cross. Without Him, you are dead IN your sin.  That's the truth.  Take an inventory as you think about how good you really are. Go to Exodus 20 and brush up on the ten commandments. Next, go to the words of Jesus who then took those laws much deeper in Matthew chapter five. Scroll on down to the parts about murder, lust and envy in your heart and then the part about loving our enemies.  The truth is we are all sinners, in need of a savior. Thank God, where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. I'm SO thankful for amazing grace that is greater than all my sin. I'm Lori Cline.

The Ultimate Party Invite: Will You Accept? Imagine being invited to the most epic celebration of all time—and missing it because you were too busy. That's exactly what Jesus talks about in the Parable of the Wedding Banquet. In this Easter message, Scott walks us through the story and reveals the heart of a God who's not just holy, but joyfully inviting us to the party of a lifetime. Join us as we unpack: Why Easter is the ultimate celebration (bigger than Christmas!). God's extravagant and open invitation to His Kingdom party. The surprising reasons some people refuse the invite (Hint: It involves pride!). What are the "wedding clothes" God provides, and why are they essential? (See Ephesians 4:22-24). How humility unlocks God's amazing grace (James 4:6) while pride leads to being left out. How YOU can accept your personal invitation today and join the eternal celebration! If you've ever felt awkward, unwelcome, or unsure about faith, this Easter message is especially for you. Discover the joy, forgiveness, and transformation God offers freely to everyone – the "good" and the "bad." It's time to shed the old and step into the new life God has prepared! Scripture List: Matthew 22:1-14 Ephesians 4:22-24 James 4:6

Ephesians 1: Your Identity In Christ September 15, 2024 Session 5 Ephesians 1:1-10 Review: In Christ I am…. Blessed with every spiritual blessing Chosen; holy and blameless; loved and predestined to adoption; accepted in Christ; redeemed; forgiven Ephesians 1:10: God has made Jesus Christ the ultimate, consummate expression of Himself! (See Hebrews 1:1-3) Ephesians 1:11: Jesus has left us an inheritance (See Ephesians 1:1-10; John 16:15) All things that the Father has …. Christ's ultimate work for the Believer Ephesians 1:13, 14 The order: Hear the truth; the Gospel of Salvation; believe it (see also Ephesians 2:8, 9); the Spirit's seal, quarantee! The Prayer The revelation: The Hope The deposit of His Inheritance (John 16:15; Ephesians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3) His power and authority His Body: His Plan; If His Church Will Act as He Desires, NOTHING and NO ONE can Defeat it! (See Matthew 16:19)

In a world in which every detail has to be nailed down before we move forward, where every nickel has to be accounted for before we strike out, where every eventuality has to be covered, the notion that God is in charge, that God will provide is seen as naïve—if not ultimately unwise. But maybe there's a wisdom that Christians are called to practice that trusts God's love enough to give thanks—even when giving thanks looks like the last thing any wise person ought to do. Maybe living as wise in the unfolding reign of God involves a set of practices the rest of the world deems gullible and unrealistic but which signal our hope. Subscribe to us on iTunes! Sermon text: web | doc

12 Denials of Christ We Never Saw Coming Today Michael is looking at one of the most famous denials in history.  Jesus was carried to face the Sanhedrin, with Caiaphas leading the charge of trying to find something they could use to put Jesus to death. The high priest asked if Jesus declared himself the Messiah?  To which Jesus answered, “I am.  And you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of Heaven”.  This was seen at this mock trial as proof positive that Jesus was making a clear claim to be God and they had the admission they needed to put Him to death. Meanwhile, Peter is watching all this and his heart is breaking, though he is too afraid to do anything about it.  The servant girl, saw his face and asked him, “Don't I recognize you, I've seen you with Jesus of Nazareth” to which Peter denied, very loudly, that she did not know him.  A rooster crowed in the distance. The servant girl stated this to the crowd and he denied it again.  Then finally a man saw Peter at the fire and recognized him, and others recognized Peter's accent, as being from Galilee, and Peter denied Jesus yet again.  And a rooster crowed a second time.  This time Peter remembers Jesus' prediction that when a rooster crowed twice, he will have denied Jesus three times, which, of course, he had.  We are in the same situation today; we deny Jesus through our actions but your lives say otherwise.  The take home for today is, “Let your life declare I know Jesus”.  Sometimes our lips say it, but our life may not match it.   The Twelve Denials of Christ We Never Saw Coming (or how we currently don't live what we say we do, as Christians). Compromising your integrity. Neglecting to help. Run towards the messes. Taking part in gossip or slander. See Ephesians 4 on this one! Placing comfort over people. Withholding forgiveness. Neglecting to share your faith. Conforming to worldly values. Ignoring injustice. Living hypocritcally. Neglecting personal spiritual growth. Not taking a stand, we have to be salt and light. Failing to love like Christ.  (CSB Bible Notes) 14:53-65 No single Gospel comprehensively records Jesus's trials, and each emphasizes different perspectives and events. It is clear, however, that both Roman political authorities and Jewish religious leaders were involved in handing down Jesus's death sentence. Today's verses can be found in Mark 14: 53 - 72. Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.   

When Brother Singh uses the term 'according to my gospel,' it may stir some discomfort. However, it's worth noting that even the Apostle Paul's use of this term offended some. He wrote, 'Now to {God} that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began..."(Romans 16:25) Let us be clear: God establishes us through the power of preaching by His called and anointed ministry (See Ephesians 4:11). The Holy Ghost inspires his ministers as they labor on their knees before the Almighty.

Stepping into the world of public speaking can be daunting. Whether you're a newbie feeling the jitters or a seasoned pro looking to fine-tune your skills, we've got thirty simple tips you can do today to immediately level up your public speaking game. From taming those butterflies in your stomach to perfecting your delivery style, these strategies are your secret to becoming a confident and charismatic speaker. Let's get ready to unleash your inner orator! 1. Pray before speaking. I pray something like this, “Lord, help me to speak the truth in love with wisdom such that knowledge is imparted that sticks to the soul spreads through the world for your glory.” See Ephesians 4:15; Titus 2:7-8. 2. Say something worth saying. Time is short, Psalm 90:12; Ephesians 5:16. 3. Study adequately. It is better to over-study (if there is such a thing) than understudy, especially in preaching. See James 3:1-2. 4. Never rely on your charisma. Rely on God and the knowledge you have to offer people. 5. Learn how to speak grammatically and with the best version of your voice you can offer. You may want to talk with a speech coach. 6. Have water with you on the podium, but don't take large gulps, but small sips. The water should be warm, not cold. Cold water constricts your throat and hurts your voice. Want to know the rest? Listen to today's episode of Truth Tribe to unlock these great tips!  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

On April 21, join us for Sunday worship at 9:30 or 11:00. Scott's message is called, Discipleship as a Way of Life, Part Two from John 11:39-44, 12:1-2, 9-11. DISCIPLESHIP AS A WAY OF LIFE (Part Two) John 11:39-44 John 12:1-2, 9-11 John 11:14, 17, 39 LAZARUS WAS DEAD The Rhythm of Celebrate (11, 16) The Rhythm of Listen (21, 32) The Rhythm of ReCreate (33, 36) See Ephesians 2:1-5 - we are all dead until we are brought to live in Christ. John 11:43-44 LAZARUS WAS DISABLED The Rhythm of Story The Rhythm of Listen The Rhythm of Celebrate The Rhythm of Bless See Ephesians 4:24 - perhaps you're alive in Jesus but totally bound by sinful activity, You need to be set free, and Jesus can use other people to unbind you and let you go. John 12:1-2 LAZARUS WAS DINING The Rhythm of Eat The Rhythm of Bless The Rhythm of Celebrate The Rhythm of Listen Are you feeding on God's Word on a regular basis? John 12:9-11 LAZARUS WAS DANGEROUS The Rhythm of Story The Rhythm of Listen The Rhythm of Bless The Rhythm of ReCreate The enemies of God wanted to get rid of Lazarus as much as Jesus since many people were leaving the dead religion of the Temple and the Pharisees to find new life in Jesus. WHERE ARE YOU IN THIS STORY?

Sermon: Romans 15:1-7, Fight for Unity Main Point: Fight for the unity of the church by prioritizing pleasing God over pleasing self.  I. Fight for unity by not prioritizing pleasing self – 15:1-3  See Ephesians 4:1-3 II. Fight for unity by prioritizing pleasing God – 15:4-7.  See Philippians 2:1-11; 1 Peter 2:9 Application 1) Beware […] The post Fight for Unity appeared first on Grace Church Crystal Coast.

Ephesians 4:25-28 Sermon Notes:Put on Truth, Righteous Anger, and Hard-Working Generosity, because:1) God's Son died to make obedience possible | (Eph 2:8-10)2) God's People belong to each other | 253) God's Enemy wants our anger to destroy our Body | 26-274) Other People may need our help | 28Reflections questions:1) Are you saved by your good works? Are you saved for good works? Read Ephesians 4:25-28 and then read 2:8-10. Why does God expect you to be able to meet His high calling?2) What are all of the commands in vv. 25ff supposed to promote within the Church? See Ephesians 4:1-6. 3) What are some obvious ways that lies, anger, and greed tear apart Christ's body? What are some of the less obvious ways that we break the commands regarding truth, anger, and generosity? Think of one supposedly “respectable sin” for each category that you can Put Off in the future. (No sin is supposed to be respectable. Jerry Bridges used that term to describe sins that aren't as widely condemned that we should still repent of.)

Ephesians 2:26-27 Sermon Notes: 1) Put On Holy Anger, and Make Sure It's Holy | 26a 2) Put Off Cancerous Anger Quickly | 26b 3) Beware the Enemy, who Seeks an Opportunity for Destruction in Our Anger | 27 Reflection questions: 1) Does God's word ever endorse hatred or anger? See Eph 4:26; Psalm 4:4; and Ps 119:53. Regarding Ps 119 – Does the Psalmist hate people, or their actions? 2) Does this passage warn against the dangers of anger? Can you name all three qualifications or guardrails for our anger? Which is easier – putting on holy anger for the right reasons, or avoiding the sinful excesses of anger? What are three steps you can take to avoid the three common errors of anger? 3) What kind of “opportunity” for the Devil is God (speaking through Paul) urging the church to avoid? Why should we be eager to avoid an opportunity for Satan, and what should we be eager to maintain as a Church? See Ephesians 4:1-6, 27.

Ephesians 4:1-3 Sermon Notes:1) The Master of our Calling | 12) The Manner of our Calling | 23) The Motivation of our Calling | 3Reflection Questions:1) John Stott says, “The life worthy of the calling of God is a life in the fellowship of the people of God.” How are you striving to (or how could you) increase Christian fellowship in your life right now?2) Why do you think William Hendriksen said that humility (v2) is the “first, second, and third essential of the Christian life?” What can/does lack of humility do to your life, your family's lives, your church's fellowship?3) What's one way that you can be more patient (“longsuffering towards aggravating people” - Stott) with one person or one group of people in your life? Why does God call us to such patience? See Ephesians 4:32.

Consider a few questions about death and life, about your position of authority. Do you meditate upon visions of Christ's exalted place, about your place with him there? It is a now reality that will be transformed further when Christ himself appears in glory. You also will appear in glory. You have authority now. God has a plan and purpose for your life. The old has passed away, the new has come! Turn from flesh and set your mind on things above, not on earthly things! Blessings in His presence! See Ephesians 2 and Colossians 3 to go deeper into the promises prayed today. Visit intothewaters.com for more!

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast   INTRO Today on Run With Horses, I am continuing my discussion from last time on living a life that is worthwhile. We need to count the cost, but it is always worth it to follow Jesus.   My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Run Your Race Well, not just Surviving but Thriving as a Disciple of Jesus! There are a LOT of things you could do with your life, but I don't think anything compares with following Jesus and joining Him on His mission of bringing Hope to the nations. Thanks for including me in your journey!   On the last show I asked two important questions, First, What is your life worth? You are spending your time on something. Is it something worthwhile? Second, What is 1 thing worth giving the next 5 years of your life to accomplish? I want to challenge you to live an Intentional life. If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time. But I'm not sure that Jesus really intended for us to live that way. Look at Luke 14: 25-33   My take is that Jesus is calling us to an intentional life and we need to consider what it will take to live it. John 8:12 I'm pretty sure that is a good thing! Jesus wants us to join Him on His mission, and He wants us to kow that it is a lifetime commitment that will cost us. But it is worth it!   So if you are tracking with me, you are considering what your life is worth, and thinking about what is worth your life. Maybe you are already committed to following Jesus and have a clear picture of the tower you are building and have your sleeves rolled up as you put in the effort to see God's work in your life and through your life accomplished. If so, Awesome! Let me know what God is doing in your life, I would love to rejoice with you and pray for you as you live a life of eternal meaning and purpose! Reach out and encourage those around you to join you and keep on keeping on!   But I know many feel stuck in a run and want to make some steps of faith. The tower they began working on years ago is still just a foundation that has sand blown across it and weeds starting to creep in along the edge. The busyness of life and the distractions of the world make it easy to leave the hard work of building a spiritual tower for another vague time in the future when “things settle down”. Hey, no judgment here, I have been there.   But it's not OK to stay there. God really is doing something in your life and He wants to make you a better you, and give you a bigger purpose than just making it to the end of the week unscathed. God never hides the fact that He has great plans for us. See Ephesians 2:1-10.   As you pray about what God is doing in your life and seriously answer the question about what is worth spending the next five years of your life to accomplish, remember that God already knows and has planned the good works for you. And He has prepared you for those good works! There is no reason to fear or turn away, God Himself has promised to go with you and give you His strength to accomplish His purpose in and through you. Maybe the old Nike slogan, Just Do IT, would be appropriate here. We often hesitate and loose momentum or even sink into the mire of earthly things and get stuck in our spiritual life. And that carries over to all aspects of life. You can't be the best YOU without being tied to God's mission on earth and your part in it. He gave you gifts for a purpose and without using them, you are always out of step with your eternal purpose.   Know that you are created with a purpose and embrace God's call on your life. But, count the cost. The work God has called you to will cost you. And it will be worth it.   As you look toward the future and consider how to invest the life that God has given you, along with all of your gifts, talents, abilities, and resources; consider how you can be intentional along the way. I believe God has given us intellect for a reason, Use it to plan out a path forward that is in line with His mission, uses your gifts, and builds up His church. Evaluate yourself and consider adding new skills to your list. What will help you be a more effective servant along the way? Similar question, Who should you be traveling with? As you build a spiritual tower and are counting the cost, consider how Nehemiah rode around the city walls evaluating and only then did he reach out and invite others into the work God had laid on his heart. He presented a clear plan of action and challenged everyone to do their part for the Glory of God. Who can you challenge to go with you as you intentionally pursue a life in Jesus' footsteps?   OUTRO Thanks for joining me today! Check out runwithhorses.net for show notes and past shows. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net if you have comments or questions. Join our facebook community and tell a friend if you have found this show helpful! Keep Running!

✝️Day 21 - Prayer Challenge Praying for US ~ Bold Witness Joining us live but still need to register?✅Sign up here to join us and get a chance to win some cool swag, too! ✅Already signed up and looking for the prayer guide + journal?  You can find it here! ✅Got the journal but missed signing up for coaching June 24?  Sign up now!⚔ It's time to ARMOR UP! ⚔ COURAGEOUS CHALLENGE DAY 20⚔

Vibrant Prayer Guide - Day 1 Leading up to the Weekend of Discernment:Friday June 2, 7-9:30pm & Saturday June 3, 8:30-Noon   Intro # 1The Basics: Pray|Reflect|Connect  This prayer guide from Vibrant Congregations follows a threefold pattern: Pray: On day one, there is a short meditation with prayer ideas. Along with this are thoughts to carry with you through the day keeping you aware of ways God may be speaking to you. Reflect: Each following day there is an opportunity to write down insights from the prior day followed with the meditation and ways to stay aware of God's presence during the day. Connect: The last discernment is done by the entire group at our gathering. The desire is to hear as a community what the Spirit is saying to our congregation. Intro # 2A Very Important First Step  We often have in mind what we think is best for the congregation. Our perspective on our congregation can keep us from seeing: • other perspectives • other possibilities • a bigger vision • different ways of doing things  The goal in this season of prayer is to be as open as possible to Word and Spirit so we practice something called "holy indifference." We seek to be indifferent to anything but God's heart and will as we hear it in Word and prayer. One way to do this is to write down those things about which you are already sure. Things like: • what's important for our congregation • the direction we need to go • the best way to our future • what needs to happen in a particular program• who needs to do the work Come back to these words you've written each day you pray. Promise God each time anew that you will listen to his voice and put aside your own perspective during this time of prayerful discernment.   Day 1 Text & Meditation: Being a Picture "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3:10–11) Paul's words in Ephesians continue to catch us off guard. He says something so unexpected and stunning that we cannot imagine it to be true. Paul tells the church that when God wants to show the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms what he is doing in the world, they should look at the church. The church is the picture of his work, vision, and direction for the world.  In Ephesians, God's picture shows all things united in Christ (Ephesians 1.9-10). Paul illustrates this picture by the life of God's new people, where two people come together to form a new community. (See Ephesians 2).  God's call to his church is always to display his work to the world in the way they do life together. This work is displayed in unity of purpose, living the "one another" passages of the New Testament, working through differences, creating just systems and structures (see Acts 6), and more.  Imagine being God's sacred family that brings him glory by being a picture to the world of how a community lives the ways of God's shalom.  What is shalom?  Shalom is a rich biblical word woven into the scriptures. In our Bibles, it is often translated as "peace." However, it is so much more than how western people think of peace. Shalom is the Father's restoration of all things through Christ to the glory of God and for the good of the world. Shalom is the way things are supposed to be.  And God's Shalom therefore is the picture of what the church is called more and more to live.   Prayer Ideas. Dear God…- open our ears to hear the Spirit… - let us hear your pleasure in what we do… - let us hear your imagination for our being a picture before the world… - give us a holy imagination… Holy Indifference What is your normal response to the idea of shalom?  How can you suspend that response to build a holy imagination? Daily Reflections (to take with you as you keep your eyes, heart, and spirit open during the day) 1. How did you reflect on being a picture of God's sacred family during the day? 2. Where did you experience being supported by the congregation in your day? 3. Were there moments when God gave you insight into how your congregation could pursue being a picture of living God's way before the world?  

Feelings of hopelessness and weakness, shame and fear can easily begin to overshadow our lives and redefine what is true. Ephesians 1:15-23 is a prayer for the Spirit to bring revelation – to “turn the lights on” and give followers of Jesus eyes to see. That we would know the hope we're invited into, that we would know our true value and worth, and that we would know where our strength comes from.

Before finding out how to persevere until my answer from God arrives, I must make certain that I "qualify." Join me as we learn of three necessary qualifications. See: Ephesians 2:12, Mark 11:24, 1 John 5:14-15, Hebrews 6:12 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/larry-hunter/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/larry-hunter/support

Are there areas in your soul in desperate need of God's grace in relation to trauma? Learn, with Robin Kirby-Gatto, how Jesus Christ came to heal us in the fractured places of the soul.   ***   Welcome to Celebrating God's Grace, A Women World Leader's Podcast, I'm your host Robin Kirby-Gatto. Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate God's grace, in our lives, in our ministry, and around the world. Today's Title is: “God can heal the trauma that fractures your soul.” 17 “This was in fulfillment of what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, 18 Behold, My Servant Whom I have chosen, My Beloved in and with Whom My soul is well pleased and has found its delight. I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall proclaim and show forth justice to the nations. 19 He will not strive or wrangle or cry out loudly; nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets; 20 A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering (dimly burning) wick He will not quench, till He brings justice and a just cause to victory.” (Matthew 12:17-20 AMPC) Jesus Christ, the Son of God, gives us Eternal Life, delivering us from sin. Not only does He deliver us from sin, He heals us of the trauma that is the result of sin. This prophecy from Isaiah 42:1-3, is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. God has literal meaning of His word, as well as revelation richly applicable to our individual lives, of which this passage is one. I get into detail greatly on the issue of trauma in my upcoming book “The Forbidden Fruit, The Spiritual Disease,” where God reveals that the effects of sin are the impression of trauma. The acronym God gave me for “traumas” is Terror, Rejection, Abandonment, and Unloved Massively Announcing Shame. As a former psychotherapist, I saw the symptoms of trauma overabundantly in outpatient psychiatry. Presently, in my ministry work of health and wellness coaching, this is the most prevalent issue, in which I navigate my clients. We don't realize that even in the smallest way, we have an undercurrent of emotion, generally in those four areas, of terror, rejection, abandonment, and unloved, speaking within our body, causing us to react to things we've misinterpreted in life. Two symptoms of trauma I want to address are hypervigilance and being paranoid. Hypervigilance means that your super aware of things in your environment and you're getting ready to fend off a perceived violation that might come through a circumstance or through another person verbally, passive aggressively or physically. No one is immune from trauma in this fallen world. Adam and Eve were the first ones to experience this, as they were banished from the Garden of Eden as a result of eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, bringing about spiritual death, where sin entered mankind. (See Genesis 3:1-24) Sin separated mankind from God. From this act, sprang emotions unfelt before, reeling through Adam and Eve's bodies, of terror, rejection, abandonment and unloved cloaking them in shame. They tried desperately to cover themselves in fig leaves, hyper aware that something had changed. God hadn't changed, He still loved them. What changed was that sin separated mankind from God, where Adam and Eve now felt terror, rejection, abandonment and being unloved. Because of Christ Jesus and the power of Grace, we are freed from the impression of trauma. This is what the prophecy from Isaiah, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew is about. “20 A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering (dimly burning) wick He will not quench, till He brings justice and a just cause to victory.” (Matthew 12:20 AMPC) The bruised reed and smoldering wick, represents the soul that's experienced trauma. God provides a backdrop in which we can view the bruised reed and smoldering wick and its meaning, through the Hebrew words, which compose it. Bruised comes from the Hebrew word râtsats pronounced raw-tsats' meaning, “TO CRACK IN PIECES, break, bruise, crush, discourage, and oppress.” [i] Thus, the bruised reed represents the person whose life seems to be falling apart or is at the point of a nervous breakdown. I don't know about you, but I've had many opportunities in life, where I've felt like this. You must realize when this comes upon your person, it is only the “cracked” or fragmented parts of your soul, speaking and bleeding over into your entire body, overtaking you for the moment. You must stop and breathe, acknowledging GRACE! To provide an analogy I want to use the spelling of the Hebrew word for bruised, which is r.a.t.s.a.t.s. Let me say it one more time, R.A.T.S.A.T.S. Now I'm not a wordsmith by any means, but I cannot help but to see things in the Hebrew words, which my husband, Rich, calls “Robinisms.” I couldn't help but see RAT-SATS. This might not mean anything now but just wait. We live in an old apartment, which we love, built in the early 1900s in downtown Birmingham, Alabama in the historic garden district. We have three parks in the area, where many more old buildings stand, occupied by tenants who can appreciate the character of the old architecture. I feel like I'm living the HGTV House Hunters International life, except nationally. We've lived here for six years, and it wasn't until just a month ago, that we experienced a mouse issue in the place. Thank goodness it was a mouse and not a rat. Well, that mouse had a friend later, so it became mice. Although they were cute, they were unnerving as from time to time, they would come out and run across the kitchen floor, and eventually one was in our bedroom. Me being the wife that I am and knowing my husband, I tried to keep it on the down low as much as possible. Because of my work, I couldn't help but hear the mice in the apartment. I am a proficient writer, having written 70 plus workbooks, and now 14 books. My father jokingly says, years from now that he'll ask me what I'm doing and I'll respond, “I'm writing a new book.” Along with being a writer, I minister and do health and wellness coaching, all from our apartment. While writing, I could hear something moving in the kitchen for a few days and would get up and down over and over to see if I could find what it might be. Eventually, I discovered a mouse, and contacted the property management to deal with the issue. One was caught, and I let out a sigh of relief, only to find out two days later there was another one. The second one I saw scurrying across our bedroom floor, which was caught later. I cleaned our kitchen as though we were moving out, dismantling little boroughs of collected paper bags which might seem inviting for a critter. As well as getting into the nook and crannies, where I moved all the items in the kitchen, and then swept and mopped the floor. I'm grateful it was mice and not rats. Rats are bigger and very aggressive, compared to mice. I've heard stories of people that had to deal with rat infested homes, and it's not good. So, imagine if you had a rat sitting in your house and refusing to leave. No matter what, you couldn't get it out. That's what the effects of sin do, by leaving the impression of trauma. You might not have committed an act, but someone else committed an act against you. Regardless of who committed the act of sin, for which you've forgiven, you still have its impression in the form of trauma, which has made you hypervigilant on a matter or even paranoid. God's grace delivers us from this issue. He brings the power of His Word of Truth, where His Spirit of Truth, reveals His love, driving out the fear that was brought on by it. We see this in 1 John 4:18. 18 “There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and EXPELS EVERY TRACE OF TERROR! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection].” (1 John 4:18 AMPC) The bruise of the enemy, inflicted by sin, is trauma, the rat in our soul, gnawing at places in which we feel we'll never be healed. God's love makes us whole driving all terror out! The Greek word for fear is phóbos pronounced fob'-os meaning, “to be put in fear, alarm or fright, be afraid, and terror.” [ii] This is also where the word phobia comes from. Thus, God deals with the bruises on our soul, where we've acquired phobias. The dim wick represents a little flicker of a flame on a candle, barely burning. The Hebrew primary root word for dim is kâhâh pronounced kaw-haw' meaning, “to be weak, to despond, to grow dull, darken, be dim, fail, and faint.” [iii] This gives the picture of someone barely hanging onto life, who's hopeless. Jesus brings hope to the hopeless through His love, which is grace, lifting the weary traveler up onto the Highway of Holiness in Isaiah 35:8, where no unclean thing or beast can walk. No terror can tread on Love's path. The saint is bathed in the pure love of the Cross of Christ Jesus and what He has done, to know the power of His resurrection. That power is our inheritance. (See Ephesians 1:17-20) There is a process in working out our salvation as in Philippians 2:12, in fear and in trembling. That process is to know the grace of God that has come through Christ Jesus, so that although we've asked for forgiveness and have forgiven others, we must address our issue in getting past some things. The effects of sin have traumatized us in some fashion, which has left us feeling stuck, and possibly hopeless. The first step in addressing the area of trauma, is recognizing that you're feeling it in some form, whether it be terror, rejection, abandonment or unloved. This is prominent at times, where you might be triggered by what some says or does. You feel like a little girl lifting her hands, who longs to be picked up by her daddy and kept in his long embrace. This fractured part of the soul is where trauma dwells and needs to be healed by grace. One of my favorite stories, which I've taught in my books, is about the ruby. I teach God's scriptures with all the sciences, unfolding understanding of truth. When I taught on precious stones, in the series of God's Fire Wall Healing of the Soul, I taught on Job 28 and on the precious stone, the ruby. In Job 28, the prophet is grappling with his own trauma, which he's felt during his trial, where he's crying out for wisdom in the dark (dim) place, inside of a mountain. Sitting in darkness, Job's led to pull back a piece of the mountain, allowing the light to shine in, and he discovers himself sitting amid sapphires and other precious stones. How beautiful is that? We don't realize the precious blessings of God's truth that's made known to us in the darkest trials in our lives. When I studied and taught on rubies during the gemology and archeology I employed with scripture, it blew my mind. Did you know that a perfect ruby is rare. That's right. Isn't that surprising? Most rubies have what gemologist call “fractures.” Little fractures make their paths through the stone, which might cause a regular person to discard it. Fortunately, there's a process to make the imperfect fractured ruby, perfect. Oil is poured into the fractured parts of the ruby, that's then put into an oven heated at 500 degrees. Once done, the ruby is brought out, where the oil has baked into the fractures, and it is then made perfect. This process is called “healing,” where the fractured places in the ruby have now been healed. 500 represents grace for us, and is such a testament to the trials, which expose the areas of trauma in which we need healing. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, doesn't discard us or break us, He sweeps us up in the Love of God, bringing the display of the Father's love for us. Where is it you need healing from past trauma? Let the Lord's love pour into your heart, overflowing within your mind, as you know the power of healing, grace.       [i] Strong J. (1890) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Abingdon Press. Strong's Concordance Hebrew word # 7533 “bruised” [ii] Strong J. (1890) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Abingdon Press. Strong's Concordance Greek word # 5401 “terror” [iii] Strong J. (1890) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Abingdon Press. Strong's Concordance Hebrew word # 3544 “dim”

Do you remember life before you started trusting Jesus? "They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus." Romans 2:15-16 ESV We're reminded again today that our enemy isn't flesh and blood. See Ephesians 6:12, 1 Peter 5:8. The people who don't follow Jesus are victims of the enemy, not the enemy themselves. When we don't follow Jesus, or when we're not listening to the Holy Spirit, our conflicting thoughts either accuse or excuse us. Other translations offer accuse or defend, condemn or approve. Without the Holy Spirit, we're stuck with this coin-toss. But as we listen to the Holy Spirit we end up getting more clear direction. We have access to better info. As a result, we're not to judge our coworkers or customers or vendors. We're to give them grace. So how can you show grace to your coworkers today? What about listening to them? What about giving them the benefit of the doubt? What about asking God to show you what he appreciates about them? What about doing something to be a blessing to them, rather than only focusing on yourself? Why not join us in the online community. You can intentionally put yourself into a community where everyone is trying to listen to God better and make a difference in the lives of our coworkers. You can find out more and create a free profile at https://community.followerofone.org.

In Christian Convictions, Chad Ragsdale lists 6 essentials of Christianity. These are elements that are the difference between salvation and lostness. Each belief written below is the bedrock of our faith. We cannot be a follower of Jesus if we do not believe these truths. 1. It is essential for a Christian to believe that God exists (and to earnestly seek him). See Hebrews 11:6. 2. It is essential that a Christian believes Jesus is Lord. See Romans 10:9. 3. It is essential that a Christian believes that Jesus is the risen Savior. See 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. 4. It is essential that a Christian is saved by grace through faith and not by human effort. See Ephesians 2:8-9. 5. It is essential that a Christian be born again by the Holy Spirit. See John 3:3. 6. It is essential that a Christian perseveres in a faithful faith. See Hebrews 3:14. You might be someone who has gone to church all your life. You might have even studied the Bible or taught it to others. But genuinely believing it is another question. Imagine if you begin to really, truly believe that Jesus is Lord. Imagine what might change if you let the truth that Jesus is the risen king sink into your heart to become its most bedrock conviction. Imagine believing with your whole self that you have a heavenly Father in heaven who loves you. If you know the essentials of the faith, it's time to really, honestly believe them.

Erica Wilson and Lydia Shook join us to discuss common fears women have in regard to submission and marriage. The Bible encourages us to submit to one another out of reverence for Jesus, but it also exhorts a woman to submit to her husband. What should that look like? What are the fears women face when it comes to submission? How do we overcome those fears and practice this Biblical principle?  This is a beneficial and practical episode for married couples. Tune in.  See: Ephesians 5:21-24; Colossians 3:18; 1 Peter 3:5 

In this episode, I share about my new podcast, "The Power of Five" which is all about all things Fivefold ministry (See Ephesians 4:11). If you have a desire to learn more about the fivefold ministry aka, the "Ascension gifts" then please subscribe to this new podcast. In the inaugural episode of the power of five podcast, Glenn Bleakney shares about great Grace and how the early church experienced the fullness of the manifestation of Christ as a result of the five fold ministry, collaborating and equipping the Church.Here is the RSS feed https://feeds.captivate.fm/the-power-of-five/

This weeks Bible questions include: What is the function of the seven deacon? How do recognize true believers? Mary Magdalene the sister of Martha in Luke 10, and also the women who had the issue of blood, whom Jesus healed? RE: Cherubim and Seraphim. Does the Bible tell us if both of these creatures are at God's throne at the same time? Why was Jesus being presented on the temple? I agree with soul sleep, but can you explain who the great multitude in heaven is in Rev. 19:1? At the end of this chapter there is a battle yet to be fought. So it's before judgment day. Are women allowed to teach and preach? See Ephesians 5:23-24 Is Luke 16: 19-31 a parable? Then what is the truth between heaven of blessings and hell of torment written in Revelations just as parable.

Does Head mean "boss" here? No. Does Head mean "source" here? I don't see why.The head-body metaphor points to one-ness. It illustrates unity in Christ. See Ephesians 5:31-32 and our book Beyond Eden, Ephesians 5-6.GO DEEPER

Isaiah 46 Sermon Notes:I. The God Who Carries Our Burdens, 1-4II. The God Who Saves us from Our Distress, 5-7III. The God Who Declares Our Future, 8-11IV. The God Who Draws Near to His Beloved, 12-13Reflection Questions:1. What are vv. 1-7 teaching us about idols? See especially vv. 2, 7. Compare this to the story of Dagon in 1 Samuel 5.2. People carry idols; God has been carrying (and will continue to carry) His people. What promises and past actions of God would that truth have brought to mind for Israel. See Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 1:31; 32:11; Isaiah 63:9.3. How has God brought His righteousness and salvation near to us who were far off? See Ephesians 2:11-22, especially vv. 13, 17.

The Commander Of The Lord's ArmyReader: Jon WatsonDate: 13th August 2022Passage: Joshua 5:13-------------------Joshua was all pumped up in readiness for the battle to capture Jericho, when the Israelites would cross the Jordan river. But what a surprise he got when all of a sudden a warrior with a drawn sword appeared in front of him! Joshua had never seen him before. Who could he be? "Is he one of our men or is he our enemy come into our camp?" Joshua wondered.Joshua's biggest surprise came when this newly arrived soldier said to him "I am the commander of the army of the Lord" (Joshua 5:14). What could this mean? The commander said to Joshua "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy. And Joshua did so" (Vs 15). Here was one of those special visits of the eternal Son of God before he came to be born in Bethlehem. He came at that critical time to show Joshua that the battle he was going to fight was really God's battle against the evil heathenism of Jericho and the other tribes in Canaan.The Commander of the Lord's army was going to battle against evil then, just as the Lord's army is still fighting the forces of evil in our day. Joshua too had to fight against the evil enemy he could see just as we have to fight against evil as we see it. But Paul reminds us that there are spiritual forces of evil in the unseen world too strong for us to handle — the Lord's army fights against these (See Ephesians 6:10-13) PrayerDear Lord, we need your help to fight against evil. Help us we pray. Amen.

Note: The time signatures [00:00] below indicate the start of a question if you'd like to skip to a particular one of interest in the audio file.[00:00] - Q: My question is how as followers of Christ are we to equip ourselves and our children (besides prayer) to stand up against evil ideology but particularly LGBTQ agenda in our schools and the "in your face" push throughout media. How do we teach our kids to respond to teachers/peers when confronted with these movements?A: See - TBD[00:00] - Q: Why should I pray for this world if the Bible says that the world is going to get worse?A: TBD[00:00] - Q: There's a lot of dialogue in our country about rights. What rights are actually given to us by God?A: See TBD - TBD[00:00] - Q: In light of many current events, shortages, and inflation, I feel the need to hoard food and necessities. Is it wrong to have an excess of these items in stock. Does that show a lack of faith in God's provision?A: See TBD - TBD[00:00] - Q: What is a woman?A: TBD[00:00] - Q: What are your thoughts about churches with women pastors? What does the bible say about this?A: See 1 Timothy 2:12-15 - TBD[00:00] - Q: People at work say Christians can swear. Can they swear to be relevant?A: See Ephesians 5:4TBD[00:00] - Q: What does the Bible say about the use of Western Medicine example anti depressants, pain killers, medical marijuana, etc.?A: See Proverbs 31:6 TBD[00:00] - Q: Psalms are psalmists praises and often supplications, too. They are not necessarily God's promises. How shall we then treat those supplications? For example 1, Ps 6:23a, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Is this true for US? For example 2, Ps 90:15, Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. Does this prayer being included in Bible mean approval of this supplication by God? Can WE make the same supplication?A: See TBD - TBD[00:00] - Q: If Jesus was a Galilean Jew, why aren't we?A: See TBD - TBD[00:00] - Q: Are there spirits outside of angels and demons on earth? Is there any scripture that would lead us to believe that people once they die would be a spirit on earth?A: See TBD - TBD[00:00] - Q: Are we missing something when it comes to the Sabbath and the value of rest? Jesus addresses the Pharisees' legalistic approach to the Sabbath and much of the OT has been fulfilled through the cross, but this is the only one of 10 commandments that isn't expected to be followed still.A: See TBD - TBD[00:00] - Q: Does Nicodemus believe that Jesus is who he says he is?A: See John 19:39 - TBD[00:00] - Q: Gen. 3:15 makes mention of Satan's "offspring". Did Satan procreate with humans? Who was Satan's offspring?A: See John 8:44 - TBD[00:00] - Q: What do you think is the strongest evidence outside of the Bible that Jesus of Nazareth is a historical existence?A: See TBD - TBD[00:00] - Q: In Daniel chapter 10 at the very end of the chapter it says “but I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael your prince.” Why is Michael called a prince? Are there other angels known as princes like Michael?A: See TBD - TBD[00:00] - Q: When do the O.T. saints get their glorified bodies? If it is not at the time of the rapture when the dead rise first, can you explain?A: See TBD - TBD[00:00] - Q: Why does the Lord send Saul an evil spirit several times in 1 Samuel? Why would the Lord do that? We are told to ‘resist the devil and he will flee…'?A: See TBD - TBDAny question that was missed due to time constraints during the service Pastor Jeff will address the answer on the blog.Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK Small Group Questions (Whole Group):Review the questions submitted above. Discuss any of these that stuck out to you, or that maybe your group finds particularly interesting.Breakout Questions:Pray for one another!

So here is a question. While we are waiting for the return of Jesus Christ, what do we do about all the violence, injustice, and corruption in the world around us? Bring it to the King! Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, has been given all authority to do righteousness and justice. (See Matthew 28:17ff) Therefore we should bring our requests, even our complaints, openly to the King in His court or goodness, mercy, and grace. Yet, it seems We have lost the will to pray. We believed a lie that prayer does not make a difference. This is without question the tactic of the devil. Remember, brother and sister, that he is the enemy of our faith and the church when we do not pray to lose our way. When we do not pray, we do not have power. We go to battle with no weapons. Remember, The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, or the flesh or of the earth, but are mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds. (See 2 Corinthians 10:4–5) Never forget we have a God who can do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we could ask or even think. (See Ephesians 3:20-21) With God, all things are possible. (Mark 10:27) Does this mean that we will get everything we ask for? Absolutely not! We need to praise God in ungranted requests. Why? Because, as it seems to me, there is no such thing as an unanswered prayer. A "no" from the heart of a loving father is still an answer. But that does not mean we stop asking, seeking or knocking. For when we pray, we discover not that God is getting in line with our plans and ideas, but on the contrary, our hearts become aligned with His heart and desire. So stop, take a beat, and let's have a prayer. References: 2 Th 3:13 Hebrews 4:15–16 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18. Matthew 11:28–30 James 4:3 Lk 11:1–4 ----- Call us: 208.524.4747 prayer@watersprings.net Online Giving: https://watersprings.net/give.php Serve at Watersprings: https://watersprings.churchcenter.com/people/forms/8221 CCLI Streaming License: 20080252 Size E CCLI Copyright License: 1406906 Size F DISCLAIMER: Closed captioning and/or transcription is being provided solely for the convenience of our viewers. Watersprings Church does not review for accuracy any information that appears in a closed caption or transcript. Watersprings Church makes no representations or warranties, and expressly disclaims any responsibility or liability with respect to, any errors or omissions in, or the accuracy, reliability, timeliness or completeness of, any information that appears in a closed caption or transcript.

Many failed attempts have been made to dodge or dilute the truth of Hebrews 10:26-31; which is often done by using other verses about our security as believers; as they can appear on the surface to be contradictory. However, in doing so, this approach ignores the facts that the context here - both preceding and following - clearly addresses the entire text of Hebrews 10 to believers. In this 9+ minute segment from a larger sermon, these verses - Hebrews 10:26-31 - are taught and proclaimed in context; while explaining that the often alleged contradiction or dichotomy is like one of the many paradoxes* in God's created world; thus bringing balance to our understanding of His eternal truth; which reveals to us that Jesus Christ saves from both the penalty and power of sin. While we need to be secure as believers, to live in continual sin as a lifestyle is not a good thing; because no liars, thieves, and fornicators - etcetera , etcetera - are going to be in Heaven. For more understanding of verses Hebrews 10:26-31, read - in context - the following scriptures that are also written for us as believers: 1 Corinthians 6:8-11; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:1-7; Colossians 3:5-7 and Jesus Christ's own words in Revelation 21:5-8. Please remember though, we are saved by grace through faith - from sin - not to sin; which is not accomplished by our good works. Through this freely given grace we are created for God ordained good works that we are called to walk in. (See Ephesians 2:8-10). If anyone teaches contrary to full New Testament truth, let's stop listening to them, no matter how popular they are or how they may appeal to someone's itching ears. May we all take all the words of Hebrews 10 more seriously. * an example of a paradox "in God's created world" is direct current electricity or magnets, having both positive and negative characteristics. Another paradox is the earth's polar opposites, north and south; etcetera. Opposites bring balance, like servant-leaders, a husband and wife, mother and father, etcetera, etc.

Many failed attempts have been made to dodge or dilute the truth of Hebrews 10:26-31; which is often done by using other verses about our security as believers; as they can appear on the surface to be contradictory. However, in doing so, this approach ignores the facts that the context here - both preceding and following - clearly addresses the entire text of Hebrews 10 to believers. In this 9+ minute segment from a larger sermon, these verses - Hebrews 10:26-31 - are taught and proclaimed in context; while explaining that the often alleged contradiction or dichotomy is like one of the many paradoxes* in God's created world; thus bringing balance to our understanding of His eternal truth; which reveals to us that Jesus Christ saves from both the penalty and power of sin. While we need to be secure as believers, to live in continual sin as a lifestyle is not a good thing; because no liars, thieves, and fornicators - etcetera , etcetera - are going to be in Heaven. For more understanding of verses Hebrews 10:26-31, read - in context - the following scriptures that are also written for us as believers: 1 Corinthians 6:8-11; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:1-7; Colossians 3:5-7 and Jesus Christ's own words in Revelation 21:5-8. Please remember though, we are saved by grace through faith - from sin - not to sin; which is not accomplished by our good works. Through this freely given grace we are created for God ordained good works that we are called to walk in. (See Ephesians 2:8-10). If anyone teaches contrary to full New Testament truth, let's stop listening to them, no matter how popular they are or how they may appeal to someone's itching ears. May we all take all the words of Hebrews 10 more seriously. * an example of a paradox "in God's created world" is direct current electricity or magnets, having both positive and negative characteristics. Another paradox is the earth's polar opposites, north and south; etcetera. Opposites bring balance, like servant-leaders, a husband and wife, mother and father, etcetera, etc.

“A man must have the discerning of spirits … to understand these things. … ‘Christ ascended into heaven, and gave gifts to men; and He gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers.' [See Ephesians 4:8, 10.] And how were [they] chosen? By prophecy (revelation) and by laying on of hands—by a divine communication, and a divinely appointed ordinance—through the medium of the Priesthood, organized according to the order of God” - Joseph Smith Hold to the Rod! iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../lds-fishers.../id1607875415 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3EBd9aMSwgO1JrSKN75AEJ iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-lds-fishers-of-men-92275180/ SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-53623457 Music: www.bensound.com While I am a member in good standing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the views expressed in my videos are my own and do not officially represent the Church. If there is ever a conflict, the Brethren and the keys are right and I am wrong.

The formation of good habits and the appropriation therein by the bad is a perennial topic of concern for Christians aiming to live a life worthy of their calling. See Ephesians 4:1. My guest today has written two books that will form the basis of our two part discussion on this very issue. In this first part, we will talk about The Common Rule. Then, later in the semester, we will tackle Habits of the Household. For more on Justin and his work, go here and here. You can also follow him on Twitter at @Justin_W_Earley.   Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible.

• Our battles belong to the Lord, and he never loses! He never has and he never will!• Three times we are told the Jews "didn't take the plunder.” They did only what was necessary to defend themselves, which is in line with God's original command against the Amalakites, found in 1 Samuel 15.• Take note of the unity at the end of this passage. The Jews (and others!) were gathered together, full of joy and gladness, to rest and rejoice and feast! This battle united them!• Though invisible, God is always with us, fighting for us. Sometimes he fights alone, and sometimes he invites us to fight WITH him, like we see in Esther 9.• In what ways do we fight the battles we face today? What are our weapons, or armor? See Ephesians 6!• What is your focus when facing any battle? Your own inadequacy or God's faithfulness, sovereignty, and power? How would it change the view of our battles if we had an eternal, God-centered perspective?

< Back to Joshua IndexTALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANSJoshua's Farewell Address to the Israelite Leaders Printed Version BACKGROUND NOTESDOCTRINAL POINT(S)God is faithful to His promises in the land.God is faithful to His warnings in the land.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONPractice the three steps of preventive maintenance for your spiritual life: a. Obey the word of God b. Separate from the world c. Love the Lord your GodQUESTIONSIn the last three chapters of the book of Joshua, there are three farewell messages: Chapter 22 - Joshua's farewell to _____________ Chapter 23 - Joshua's farewell to ___________ Chapter 24 - Joshua's farewell to ____________Where was the covenant renewed?How long after the conquest was over did Joshua's second farewell address occur?At that time, the Lord had given rest, and Joshua was old. About how old?In Joshua 13, the Lord had told Joshua that he was old and advanced in years. How old was he then?What does the physical land of Joshua represent?What is this land called in Ephesians?Is this the heaven to come in the future?ANSWERSthe military troops of the two and one-half tribes whose territories were on the other side of the Jordan River; the rulers and leaders of Israel; to all the people.At Shechem.Anywhere from five to twenty years.About 100 years old, or even 110.At least ninety.The spiritual land we enter when we become Christians.The "heavenlies."No. It is the unseen but real realm of spiritual blessings and battles now.DISCUSS/CONSIDERAs God was faithful to His promises concerning the physical land of Canaan for Israel, so he is faithful to His promises concerning the spiritual land He has given to us. See Ephesians 1:1-3. This was a continuing promise, just as Philippians 1:6. What is the evidence of God's sanctification continuing in your life?God gave warnings to the people in the land. The same is true today for the spiritual land that God has given us. If we do not follow faithfully, we suffer loss and ruin. What do you believe is keeping you from following fully?CHALLENGEAre you practicing the three steps of preventive maintenance for your spiritual life? How diligently are you reading and obeying the word of God? Are you separated from the idolatry and evil of this world system? Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind?KEY VERSES"You have seen everything the Lord your God has done for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you." (Joshua 23:3)"Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law. Avoid association with nations with other gods; do not serve or bow down to them. Hold fast to the Lord your God." (Joshua 23:6-8)"You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed." (Joshua 23:14)

< Back to Joshua IndexTALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANSThe Cities Given to the Levites Printed Version BACKGROUND NOTESDOCTRINAL POINT(S)God provides Levites for His people.God provides His people for the Levites.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONRemember, rest land is not vacation land.QUESTIONSName the three groups of Levites.How many cities were given to the Levites in all?Why didn't the Levites receive territory in Israel?What territory was Simeon given?What special role was given to the Levites and why?Who were the official interpreters and scribes of the law?Why were the Levites situated throughout the land in the forty-eight cities, and not just around Jerusalem and the temple?ANSWERSKoathites, Gersonites, and MeraritesForty-eightBecause of their participation with Simeon in leading the unholy slaughter of the Jeshonites.Only cities scattered throughout Judah's territory.They were servants of the Lord because they stood with Moses at the tragic event of the gold calf. See Exodus 32:26.The Levites.So they could teach the word of God to all the people. No Israelite lived more than ten miles from a Levitical city. Anyone who had questions about the law and the word of God could have easy access to speak to a LeviteDISCUSS/CONSIDERGod provided the Levites as servants and teachers of the word for His people. Today, God continues to provide for His people. See Ephesians 4:11-12. Recall servants of the Lord who have taught and ministered the word of God to you over the years.The tribes of Israel gave up forty-eight of their cities for the Levites, as well as the surrounding pasture lands and suburbs. The Levites were provided for by God's people both in this way and they were supported by their tithes. Can you relate this to today? See Galatians 6:6 and 1 Corinthians 9:13-14. How have you shown your appreciation for the Lord's servants who have ministered to you through the years?Read Nehemiah 13:10-12. During the closing days of the Old Testament period portions were not given by the people, so the Lord's servants had to go back to secular employment, and the work of the Lord suffered. Do you know of a case of this today? Do you at least tithe? If you are serving the Lord full time, remember that the Levites tithed, too. See Numbers 18:26CHALLENGEThe tribes got bogged down, failing to fully possess all the land that God had given them. Are you possessing all the spiritual land of blessing that the Lord has given to you? See Matthew 11:28-29 and 1 Corinthians 15:58.KEY VERSES"The Israelites gave to the Levites from their own inheritance, at the commandment of the Lord, cities and common lands." (Joshua 21:3)"Not one of all the Lord's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled." (Joshua 21:45)

< Back to Joshua IndexTALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANSA Summary the Kings Conquered by Israel on Both Sides of the Jordan Printed Version BACKGROUND NOTESDOCTRINAL POINT(S)God keeps a record of the believers' enemies in the land.God keeps a record of the believers victories in the land.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONCount your many battles. Name them one by one.QUESTIONSWhat is the difference between the Amorites and the Ammonites?How many kings were conquered by Israel on the east side of the Jordan? How many kings were conquered on the west side of the Jordan?What were so many kings doing in a land about the size of the state of New Jersey?What does the physical land of Canaan represent spiritually?What do the kings represent?Why does God keep a record of our spiritual victories?ANSWERSAmorites were enemies of Israel. Ammonites were descendants of Lot.East side - 2; west side - 31.The Canaanites were not united as a nation, but they were fractured up into many city-states with a ruling king for each city.The blessings and battles that the Lord has given to Christians and wants them to possess. God wants us to enjoy the blessings and be victorious over the battles.The satanic forces that work to keep Christians defeated, and to keep them from enjoying the spiritual blessings in Christ. See Ephesians 6:12.So He can reward us. See 1 Corinthians 3:12-14DISCUSS/CONSIDERGod keeps a record of all the enemy opposition that we face. He knows everything that Satan is doing. Do you doubt that He is aware of your battles? Do you doubt that He can give you the victory? Don't ever doubt God's concern for you.God not only knows about the enemy forces, but He enables us to have victory over them. God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able to bear. Do you believe this? Believe it!CHALLENGERemember to thank the Lord for giving you victory over certain temptations. Just thanking the Lord gives you strength for further victories, even in the same areas of temptation. Don't rest on your laurels.KEY VERSES"These are the kings of the land whom the Israelites had defeated and whose land they possessed." (Joshua 12:1)

In this special bonus episode, Erika discusses two key elements to bible study: interpretation and covenants. Our understanding of what God's word says to us is usually based on our ability to interpret what's going on in the text. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:16–17)Eisegesis vs. Exegesis reading into the text using your worldview and cultural filter vs. starting with the author's intent and asking the following questions:https://www.theopedia.com/exegesisCultural Christianity is full of "Christian Sayings" but a lot of those saying are not actually in the bible. Some may be paraphrases or interpretations of what people have thought it was saying and other times, these sayings or colloquialisms are just something somebody made up. The bible is made up of two main covenants or agreements that God makes with people. As Christians, we are in agreement with God under the "New Covenant" or "New Testament" so that is what applies to us as believers in the resurrection of Jesus. See Ephesians 4 or Matthew 5 - 7. It's a shorter episode so we're releasing it mid-week as a bonus... Enjoy!Follow me @culturalchristianity on Facebook and InstagramPlease subscribe or follow where ever you're listening to this podcast.Support the show (https://cash.app/$erikasahm)

Drop off your emotional baggage at airport terminal- God International. Restoration is in God's hands when we bring our hurts to His feet. What are you carrying around that's depleting your emotions? God can teach us how to deal with our emotions and unfinished issues from the past, but we have to let Him. We can't change what happened, but we can choose how we respond. God commands us to get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander (See Ephesians 4:31).  Blessings xo Christian Counseling & Consulting -> https://meliadiana.com/our-service Books-> https://meliadiana.com/books VR Ministries -> https://meliadiana.com/vertical-relationship-ministries Courses -> https://meliadiana.com/vertical-relationship-academy

God's church began with Adam and comprises all consecrated men and women to the present day. However, the Christian church did not formally begin until after the death and resurrection of Christ when God's people were gathered together on the day of Pentecost. Therefore, Pentecost was a critical moment for the beginning of the church. Yet even then, the church could not begin its work in bringing the gospel to the world until they were empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is why Christ told the people to tarry and wait in supplication and prayer for the gift of the Spirit. And this is just what they did.It was vital that God's people were truly united before He empowered them to fulfil the gospel commission. This is due to the fact that there is one body, or in other words, one church. There is also one faith. (See Ephesians 4).Yet if this is the case, then how can we differ so much in our understanding of the most basic principles of the gospel? On the other hand, how can we unite together as Christ's body—in the spirit of ecumenism—while we ignore these obvious divisions of faith and doctrine? Remember, the church is portrayed as the body of Christ. And since Christ is not divided, nor can his church be. So what is it that's hindering this perfect unity from taking place today?www.gatheredfragments.comhello@gatheredfragments.com

II Corinthians 4:1-15 II Corinthians 4:1 – See Ephesians 3:4-9; 6:12. Heavenly places is referring to places of power (rulers on earth…

I Corinthians 7:17-38 I Corinthians 7:19 – See Ephesians 2:8. There are two parts to man's salvation. Providing the means for salvation is…