Podcast appearances and mentions of Steven Furtick

In Episode 496 of the Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb open with a rich discussion on the theology of congregational singing — including the Trinity Psalter Hymnal, the Getty's Sing!, and why psalm-singing belongs at the heart of Christian worship. The main event, however, is the first installment of their study of the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30). Tony and Jesse argue that this parable is widely misread as a lesson in personal productivity or spiritual gift deployment, when in fact its center of gravity is entirely eschatological and theological: the wicked servant's failure is not financial incompetence — it is a catastrophic misunderstanding of who the master is, and therefore, who he himself is as a servant of that master. Key Takeaways The parable is eschatological, not motivational. Situated in Matthew 25 as the second of three eschatological parables in the Olivet Discourse, the Parable of the Talents answers the disciples' question about the sign of Christ's coming — not a general lesson about using your abilities for God. "Talents" refers to an enormous monetary sum, not personal giftedness. A single talent represented roughly 20 years of a laborer's wages. Even the least-endowed servant received an immense, unearned gift — which makes the wicked servant's inaction all the more indefensible. The wicked servant's problem is theological, not financial. He doesn't bury the talent out of ignorance or fear alone — he actively mischaracterizes the master as exploitative and unjust. His failure is a failure of theology: he does not know who his master is. The commendation "Well done, good and faithful servant" is the basic reward of every believer, not a tiered prize for the most productive. The five-talent and two-talent servants receive identical commendations, suggesting the measure is proportional faithfulness, not absolute output. Faithful stewardship is active, not passive. Both faithful servants are marked by immediacy and energetic engagement. The parable does not explain how they doubled their talents because the mechanics are not the point — their disposition of active, risk-taking faithfulness is. The parable resists works-righteousness readings. Whether one is Augustine or an anonymous deathbed convert, every justified believer enters into the same joy of the master. The parable is not a theology of graduated heavenly rewards but a distinction between those who understand their master and those who do not. The talents represent the stewardship of the Gospel and the Kingdom itself. The master entrusting his servants with his property is a picture of Christ entrusting the church with the message of salvation — ownership remains with the master, the servants are stewards, not proprietors. Key Concepts The Wicked Servant's Problem Is Who He Thinks the Master Is The most common misreading of this parable locates the wicked servant's failure in laziness or timidity — he was simply too afraid to act. But Tony Arsenal argues compellingly that the servant's own words expose something far more serious. He says, "I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow." This is not a confession of fear; it is an accusation. The servant has constructed a theology of his master as an exploitative, unjust overseer who doesn't deserve a return. What he catastrophically misses is that the very possession of 20 years' worth of wages — an unearned, unimaginable gift — is the master sowing into him. His refusal to act is, at its root, a refusal to acknowledge the master's generosity and authority. This is the parable's most penetrating theological edge. "Well Done" Is for Every Believer, Not Just the Most Productive One of the episode's most pastorally significant observations is Tony's argument that the commendation "Well done, good and faithful servant — enter into the joy of your master" is not reserved for spiritual high-achievers. Because the five-talent and two-talent servants receive word-for-word identical commendations despite wildly different absolute returns, the logical entailment is that the one-talent servant, had he been faithful, would have received the same words. This means the commendation is not calibrated to productivity — it is the basic inheritance of every believer who enters glory. The soul-winner and the deathbed convert, Augustine and the unknown faithful, all hear the same welcome. The parable is therefore not teaching a graduated hierarchy of heavenly reward, but a binary distinction: those who know their master and act accordingly, and those who do not. The Parable Cannot Be Detached from Its Eschatological Context Jesse Schwamb is careful to anchor the parable in its literary and theological context: this is the second of three eschatological parables in Matthew 25, all part of the Olivet Discourse, all delivered in direct response to the disciples' question about the sign of Christ's return and the end of the age. Detaching the Parable of the Talents from that frame — and reading it instead as a general productivity principle or a theology of spiritual gifts — drains it of what Jesse calls its "gravity." The master going away and returning after a long time is a direct image of the ascended Christ and his parousia. The servants' task during the interval is not self-improvement or career stewardship — it is watchful, active discipleship in the time between the first and second comings. Everything in the parable, including the staggering sums of money, is calibrated to that eschatological frame. Memorable Quotes The real difference is that the former servants understood that their master had trusted them with a task and expected something of them, and the unfaithful, wicked, lazy servant had a total misunderstanding of who the master was — and therefore what his role as the master's servant was. That's the point of this parable. — Tony Arsenal Well done, good and faithful servant — that's not a special commendation that only the most amazing Christian servants get. That's the basic commendation that every Christian who enters into glory will receive. Whether you have been the most productive soul-winner in the world... you're going to receive the same commendation as the person who dies, and on their deathbed the last thing that they think is, 'I trust Jesus.' — Tony Arsenal God's measure of faithfulness is proportional, not absolute. The two-talent servant is not judged by the five-talent standard. He is judged by what he received. — Jesse Schwamb Full Transcript [00:00:08] Tony Arsenal: that's not a special commendation that only the most amazing Christian servants get, right? That's the basic commendation that every Christian who enters into glory will receive. Whether you have been the most productive soul-winner in the world, whether you are the most, you know, the most sanctified Christian who's ever lived, whether you are, the most amazing person and millions of people have come to faith because of your ministry, you're going to receive the same commendation as the person who dies, and on their deathbed the last thing that they think is, I trust Jesus." Right. And they've produced no converts, no ministry, and maybe no one even knows that they were justified, because in their final moments before the lights went out, they trusted in Jesus, right? They hear the same well done, good and faithful servant when they enter into glory. Welcome to episode 496 of the Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse.  And I'm Tony, and this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey, brother.  [00:01:19] Jesse Schwamb: Hey, brother.  [00:01:21] Parable Teaser [00:01:21] Jesse Schwamb: You know, the parables just keep coming for us, like we've said. And on this episode, to, just to tee it up, to whet everybody's appetites, we've got three servants, one absent master, an uncomfortable amount of money. What could go wrong? Yeah. As it turns out, quite a bit, especially if you're the kind of person who responds to divine generosity by finding the nearest shovel. So we're gonna get to all of that in this, what I call, this now sandwich of eschatological parables or teachings of Jesus in Matthew 25. So hopefully you're curious, hopefully you're stoked. But you can go put your thumb right in the scriptures there, because you're gonna meet us there very, very, very, very shortly. But first we got business. It's always the business we must do, the part of the podcast where we affirm with something or deny against something. And as always, I'm really curious what you have, and now I understand you have a list, or you're keeping a list. So- I do ... never again will there be something like that falls to the cutting room floor, brothers and sisters. Tony is always gonna have for us whatever was- ... what came to his brilliant mind as an affirmation or denial at any point, day or night.  [00:02:29] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. Do you, Jesse, do you ever have... I know the answer to this question is going to be yes- Yeah. That's good ... but I'm gonna ask it- All right ... mostly for rhetorical effect here. This is good podcasting.  [00:02:38] Psalm 67B Praise [00:02:38] Tony Arsenal: Do you have, do you have those situations where, like, the, the so- a song hits you, and it's just, like, the right combination of words, but also the right combination of, like, musicality?  [00:02:49] Jesse Schwamb: For sure.  [00:02:50] Tony Arsenal: Where it just, like, it just, it just feels- For sure like, right and good in every part of your being. So- All the time, yep ... I, I'm affirming, um, th- this is like the most Presbyterian thing ever. I'm affirming the, the arrangement in the Trinity, uh, psalter hymnal for Psalm 67B. Now, I'm not gonna try to sing it for you, but I wanna read the words, because obviously it's, it's a paraphrase of a psalm. So, like, that's the first thing. Like, people, like, calm down. Like, it's okay to sing paraphrases. It's okay to sing. No one is actually singing the Hebrew psalms. Right. Amen. So, like, just calm down a little bit. Amen. Uh, there is a place for us to dedicate specific focus to psalms and songs that are from the psalms, but that can be something like Better Is One Day. Like, that's a song from a psalm. Anyway, that's a whole different, that's a whole different thing. Yes, I'm affirming psalm singing. Uh, yes, I'm denying overly rigid understandings of what that is. But here's the words for Psalm 67, Setting B. That's important It's, "O God, show mercy to us and bless us with your grace and cause to shine upon us the brightness of your face, so that the whole world over may truly know your way and so that your salvation all nations see displayed. O God, let peoples praise you. Let all the peoples praise. Let nations come rejoicing and songs of gladness rise, raise." Then, um, stanza two, "For you will judge the peoples with perfect equity. To nations of the whole Earth a governor you'll be. O God, let the peoples praise you. Let all the peoples praise. The Earth has brought its bounty throughout its harvest days.  [00:04:24] Why Sing Psalms [00:04:24] Tony Arsenal: Since God our God will bless us, yes, God will blessing send, that all the Earth may fear Him to its remotest end." Now, there are lots of really great, uh, theologically sound, edifying hymns and worship choruses, but there's just something about the Psalms, right? It's inspired- Um- ... it's perfect. Again, like I said, nobody is singing the actual Hebrew Psalms, or even, I shouldn't say nobody, most people are not singing, like, the Psalms from the ESV, right? These are almost all paraphrases. They're, they're translations. But there's just something about the Psalms that I have grown so much to appreciate since joining a Presbyterian church. That's not to say other traditions don't sing Psalms in their own right, and again, like, we would sing Better Is One Day and other songs that were based on Psalms. Um, even, like, real direct translations or real direct versions of Psalms, like Better Is One Day or Create In Me A Clean Heart, there's all sorts of them. But there's just something about singing the Psalms, and this particular musical setting, it's triumphant, but not in the, like, fanfare kind of triumphant. Do you know what I mean, Jesse? Like- Mm-hmm ... it's, it's a triumphant melody, and it has, like, really interesting rises and falls and... So I, I'm gonna probably try to put this at the end of the episode. So listen. Hopefully I'll get the whole thing. Let me just, let me just do this. Hold on a second. It's just gorgeous. It's just beautiful. So I, I, I don't know what it was this morning. Uh, it's, I wasn't, like, promo- particularly emotional. It didn't, like, make me cry. Yeah. But all of that's fine. Like, I've been brought to tears in worship before, and that's, that's all good and well. There was just something about it that resonated, and I was like, "This is just good." Like, this is just good music. It's good singing. Something about hearing, uh, the whole congregation singing together. Like, it was just beautiful. It was just a beautiful moment. So if you are not in a psalm-singing church, first of all, why aren't you in a psalm-singing church? Uh, no worship leader on Earth, no, no person who is worth... Uh, when I say worship leader, I mean the person who's responsible for leading musical worship. No one who's leading worshipful music, worshipful? Worship music, if you approach them and say, "I would like to sing more songs that are based on the Psalms," if they say, "We don't wanna sing Psalms here," then you just go somewhere else. Like, someone who tells you, like, "We don't wanna s- we don't wanna sing God's Word," that doesn't make any sense to me.  [00:06:56] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:06:56] Tony Arsenal: Um, now again, like, there's a way to do it. Sometimes musically they're challenging, especially if you're singing out of something like the hymnal. But again, there are plenty of really good modern style songs and hymn style songs that are either based on the Psalms or are paraphrases, very similar to what you get in the, in the Trinity Psalter Hymnal. Or most, most people who are leading in musical worship are competent enough to just sort of take the sheet music and figure out how to do it on guitar or figure out how to play it on piano. Um, they're not that difficult. So you will be edified if you do this. Your church will be edified. There's probably a lot of people out there responsible for musical worship that actually would really like to do this, and they're kind of probably, like, just waiting for that nudge, so you may even be benefiting them. But yeah, this, this psalm is beautiful. It's just a gorgeous arrangement, and it's, it's perfect, inspired words. Really was a, just a, a balm to my soul this morning.  [00:07:51] Jesse Schwamb: I love it. And o- of course, a lot of that is still happening, which is such a glorious gift to the church. The couple of times that I've had the privilege of writing music for my own church has been right from the scriptures, and for me recently that was, like, Ephesians 1 and Psalm 16. And that's mainly because, like, as a lyricist, I'm not that creative, and I'd rather go direct to the source. And all those end up being a paraphrase, like you said, anyway. Es- especially if you wanna get turn of phrase or if you wanna have a little bit of rhyming, which is always a beautiful thing. I love the Psalter, and my, my hot take on that is I sometimes find that I like, I don't wanna call them, like, the alternate, but, like, the other secondary arrangements-  Yeah and  lyrics better. I don't know why. I don't think that's purposeful, of course. It's probably just my taste. But I always find them to be, like, super fire. I, I don't know why. The, the B and C versions always kinda grab me, especially if... And here's another thing that I appreciate about the Psalter, as you know, is sometimes those B or C versions will be written in an alternate key or a minor key. Yeah. And that's even more awesome, because there's not a lot of, let's say, like, cla- I don't wanna say classic. Classic slash contemporary, uh, Christian music or wors- quote-unquote worship music that's written in minor keys. But it's good to lament, as we've talked about before. So- Yeah ... you're gonna get that full breath and scope in the Psalter there. [00:09:06] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:09:07] Beyond Music Styles [00:09:07] Tony Arsenal: A- and, you know, maybe let me put in one more little plug here. Um- I am not one of those people that is gonna say that there's like a particular style of music that's more godly than another. I've heard people try to make arguments that there's like certain kinds of rhythms or certain kinds of like beats that are- Right either, either more godly or somehow demonic or less godly. Um, I think there might be an argument to be made that some styles of worship are not suited well for congregational singing, so they may not be appropriate for like a, a congregational worship service. Like, you're probably not gonna go in and do a lot of hip hop and have the congregation be able to like stick with you. Right. That doesn't mean that you can't worship God through that or that it somehow is less like intrinsically beautiful. But, um, there are a lot of Let me just put it this way. In modern contemporary Western Christianity, uh, there's a lot of songs that are basically just the same thing musically. You know, you'll find, um, if you go to, like, YouTube, and, and maybe, like, be careful, 'cause sometimes some of these are, they're funny but they're a little bit crass. But if you look up, like, a video about how, like, every song is Pachel Bell's Canon. Right. Right? Every song follows the same basic arrangement of chords, and this gets even more pronounced when you're talking about modern worship music or contemporary mu- worship music, because it's designed to be able to be very simple and very easily played. Um, a lot of times worship directors are not super classically trained. Um, you think of, like, the youth pastor with the guitar around the campfire. Like, those kinds of songs have to be easy, 'cause they're not, like, classically trained guitar players. They probably picked up a chord book and figured out how to play a couple easy songs like Jesus, Lover of My Soul and things like that. That's how I learned how to play guitar. That's the extent of my skills, so I'm not, I'm not banging on that person. Um, but there are a lot, there's a lot more to music. Um, there's a lot more to singing, and there's a lot more to choral music than, you know, GCDC kind of like worship courses. Uh, and singing something like the Psalter, or even just singing out of a good hymnal- Right will actually expand your musical horizons. And there's something to be said about the creativity of our God being reflected in the creativity of His people that I do think we miss out on when we are locked into really simplistic worship styles. Um, again, like, I interpret Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to mean, like, sing in the vernacular of the people. Um, and I, you know, that's a different episode. We can talk about that sometime. But th- that, that requires the songs to be singable, and I think sometimes, uh, sometimes some of the song- some of the Psalters, some of the songs in the Psalter hymnals, and sometimes hymnals in general, are very difficult to sing. And so I think a congregation, the people leading in music need to be thoughtful of that. But I think you would do well to, like, open your horizons a little bit to something a little bit more challenging and a little bit off the beaten path. Like, this melody, I don't know the chords behind it. It may not be anything crazy, but that, like, musicality and that, that sort of, like, melody is not a typical... And this might be why it resonated with me. It's not a typical kind of melody you're gonna find in contemporary music. Um, it's, it's very different. It's older. It's more classically styled. The, it's, it's meant to sort of bring you up to these crescendos in ways that modern music is not necessarily. So enough about that. I don't know a lot about music theory, so I might be totally wrong and, and- ... people might be rolling their eyes. But I, I do think that there's something to it. Like, a lot of the older hymns- utilize chord progressions and melodies and harmonies and things like that that we're just not used to. You're not gonna get that listening to, you know, even something like, like the more musical kind, uh, more technically proficient music like something like Bethel or Hillsong, which is at times musically very good. Uh, I don't know that I would recommend listening to it, but the music is actually, like, technically very good in some instances. Uh, even there you're not gonna find a lot of this stuff. So instead of going there for, like, really nice sounding musical worship, just go to something like the Trinity Psalter app. You know, for $10 on a- on your iPhone you can sing with it. Um, yeah, enough about that. I, I, I could talk about how great the Psalms are and how great psalm singing is for an entire episode. We should do that episode- We should ... when we're done with the parables, 'cause I know we've done a lot of episodes on, like, uh, on, on, like, the regulative principle and- Right I, I think we're still both in the same spot that, like- Right ... exclusive psalmody is probably not where we would land. Right. But I think I'm coming to the conviction that the psalms should have a much greater portion of our worship diet, uh- Hmm ... than they do in most churches. Um, and I really only came to that conviction when I was in a church where psalm singing was the norm. Uh, I know that we try to have at least one s- one canonical psalm for every single worship service. Usually there's multiple, but, um, even in a, a, a setting where we normally wouldn't be so focused on that, we still try to have at least one, and it's been a, a really huge edifying thing to my soul.  [00:14:06] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. I absolutely love that. You'll find no complaint from me on that. I think that that's a good reminder for all of us.  [00:14:13] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:14:14] Book Sing Recommendation [00:14:14] Tony Arsenal: Jesse, what do you have?  [00:14:15] Jesse Schwamb: Well, it's, we're not gonna stop this conversation, just so you know. Because we don't sync up on these things ever, but it just so happens that I'm affirming with a book that it's a really simple primer on congregational singing-  There you go that has  long been on my list and overdue to read, and I am coming in hot with a recommendation for this, and that is the book entitled Sing! How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church by Keith and Kristyn Getty. And really, it covers so many of the things that you already talked about. I, I think at the foremost, it's a reminder that God cares whether in what we sing, but he does not mind how well we sing. Yes. But it is, like, the, this... What's true is that our voices might not be of a professional standard, but they are of a confessional standard. Yeah. And so it is incumbent upon every Christian to sing. And if you need just, like, a little bit of inspiration, so to speak, or a reminder of why that's important, I highly commend this book to you. In fact, in the back they have what's called, like, these bonus tracks. It's like four or five separate chapters that they've written just to particular people in the church, pastors, laypeople, musicians, even the people that help produce the sound. I found that bit to be so lovely and pastoral. It, it's gentle, the tone is encouraging, but it is also strong, and I appreciate that. So a lot of it is some of the themes that we've just talked about, but my conviction grows all the time of just how important congregational singing is, and how everything you just said, the music, the liturgy that we bring forward- has to be of a deliberate kind to strengthen that exercise, to make it easy, so to speak. And that does come into practical things like if you look at the psalter, and I, I don't... I have it on my phone, but I don't know where my phone is, so I was gonna look at the one you were referencing. My guess is it's, it's in probably a key with a couple of sharps in it, because those are the ones that are easiest to sing. So even little things like that matter. What you hear on the radio often is, or radio? People still listen to the radio? What you hear, like, in, like, contemporary music, like, often is not necessarily for congregational singing just in its key, and, and that's okay. And so even in my own church, we transpose things to make it reasonable and approachable. But what I think was, like, the critical question put forward in this book that I absolutely loved as a great reminder was: how did the congregation sing? It's very interesting that they kind of bring forward this thesis that that's how you should be judging your music. How did the congregation sing? And I think if we started asking that, it might slightly tweak or maybe change altogether, to your point, the methods and the practices that we use when we undergo worship by way or through music. So this is really great. It's easily readable, and it's for everybody, and it, there's a chapter on family worship as well, how to bring singing into your home and music into your home all the time as an act of worship so that when you get to the Lord's Day, your kids are like, "Yeah, this is our jam." Uh, especially maybe even recognizing some of the pieces of music and be excited about that. So there was a lot that made me think about here. It's fantastic. And to your point, Tony, I would say the Gettys, especially in, like, "Christ Alone," some of the other things, this is probably the closest to what you're talking about, where they've taken and imported kind of the classical hymn structures-  [00:17:26] Tony Arsenal: Yeah [00:17:27] Jesse Schwamb: but modernized a little bit just the language while without sacrificing any of the theological richness or the musicality that draws your ear to those beautiful rising and falling melodies, the swelling of the vocal there, without, like, distracting from anything that's going on there. It's not emotionalism- Yeah but it certainly is filled with the emotion of what it means to be a Christian and to sing in response as an act of praise to God.  [00:17:50] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:17:52] Family Worship Singing [00:17:52] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I mean, I can't underscore enough the importance of congregational singing. We, we've, we've actually talked about, about it in context of, like, how important it is for the men of the congregation to sing, which is something I, I really appreciate about my congregation, is, is the m- the men just go all out. Like, people are, like- Love it ... nobody is, nobody is ashamed of the fact that they squawk on a note that they're not used to or anything like that. And where this really pays out, um, at least in our congregation, but I'd, I'd be willing to bet if you go to any congregation where the, where the men particularly are passionate and active in musical worship, right? Um, I think where this plays out is you see the children very quickly picking up those songs and learning them and singing them. And the, the favorite part of my day, this is gon- any parent of toddlers is gonna be like, "What are you talking about?" Bedtime is one of my favorite times of day, not just because it means that, like, in a little while I'm gonna get a little peace and quiet. Like, that's part of it, too, but there are two songs that we sing almost every single night, and Augie leads them, which is really great. He always wants to start, and he always wants to sing, and it's the Doxology and the Gloria Patri. And these are songs that he has just picked up from being in the congregation, and, you know, I, I don't remember consciously teaching him any of these songs. And now, now Adeline, who is, uh, my two-year-old daughter, almost two, she's starting to pick those songs up, and she's starting to sing them, and she recognizes them, and she responds very differently to those songs than she does to other songs. Um, it's funny because I don't, I don't know where she got this. Neither my wife nor I are particularly, uh, charismatic, emotive people. Like, we don't raise our hands when we're singing, but she, she does. She, she, when we start singing- My girl ... the Gloria Patri or the Doxology, her hand is in the air, and she's looking at the sky, and she's waving her hands around. Yeah. And, um, she recognizes that those songs have a different place than a Miss Rachel song. She doesn't put her hands in the air and wave and look up at the ceiling when Miss Rachel comes on or when Baby Shark comes on. She knows those songs. She can sing those songs. Um, but she doesn't- Respond to those in the same way. And that is a direct result of the fact that congregational singing is an important thing in the life of our church and in the life of our family. And I think a book like Sing, I haven't read it, but I've heard very good things about it, and the, the Gettys are rock solid, like- Right ... theologically. Yes. Musically. They're, they're well within our Reformed tradition, at least broadly speaking. Um, and, and they have a, they have one of the strongest sort of theologies of praise music that you're gonna find. Mm-hmm. It's not quite like a liturgiology or something like that, but it's, it's, it's a theology of praise worship, praise and worship music. Right. Um, and that's not something that's super common, right? There's a lot of theology of liturgy. There's a lot of practical theology on liturgy. Um, the Gettys have developed a really unique kind of place in things in that they've really developed this idea that congregational singing has a specific theological import, and they've developed it in a way that's approachable. So yeah, I haven't read it and I sh- I probably should, but it, it sounds like a really great book. And, um, I c- just can't underscore it enough. And- Maybe this is my little plug. Like, uh, family worship is really tough, and it's not something I've mastered. Like, we don't, we, we don't have a regular rhythm. But what we do have is we have a consistent, uh, we consistently pray at night before bed, and we consistently sing one or both of those songs. And that by itself, like, the kids are learning and they are, they're absorbing that by osmosis. Um, they're picking up the phrasing, right? Augie can tell you who the three persons of the Trinity are, and that's partially 'cause we do catechism questions, but it's also partially, and I would actually argue probably more, because of the Trinitarian structure of those two songs. Right. He's picked up the language of the Father, the Spirit, and the Son from the Gloria Patri and from the doxology in ways that probably I wouldn't have been able to teach him otherwise. So yeah. Anyway, I, I just co-opted your affirmation. But, um, but yeah. I'm here for it. Congregational worship, family worship, singing, uh, to our Lord is commanded, and it's commanded for our good- Right and for his, his benefit and his blessing. Um, and so any book that is, is solid and will help you do that, I, I'm wholeheartedly behind.  [00:22:17] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. This is... All that is fire. This is fire.  [00:22:19] Reclaim Congregational Song [00:22:19] Jesse Schwamb: God designed our psyche for singing, and we're probably, uh, I would say contractually obligated since Reformed is in the name of the title of the podcast- to remind ourselves and everybody else that one of the things the Reformation did was reclaim the singing of God's word by his own people. Yes. Taking it out of that performatory space back into literally the voice boxes of the people who are sitting in worship together. So sometimes we might have to do that again. You know, there is a little bit, I think, of... There, there is in some places, not everywhere, this kind of tilting of that time of worship through music to be vouchsafed or relegated to those who are, uh, let's say, like, the most, like, talented in doing that, and somehow we participate merely by observing or by- Yeah just, uh, you know, being an audience spectator of that, and that's totally backwards. So I get it. The thing is- We're all singers. We may not all be very good singers, but we're all created to be singers nonetheless. This is what the Bible tells us. So we need to lean into that. We need to invest in that. Yeah. And so I, I like, of course, what you're doing with, uh, your kids because you're not only teaching them to sing, and this makes me so happy, but you're teaching them to love singing to the Lord. Yeah. And so that is, I think, what a lot of our congregations miss, is sometimes we do it, and I'm among them often, but grudgingly. And so to get to a place where we come excited that our reasonable response, our reasonable preparation on the Lord's day is to sing together, to hear that gospel message in melody in the ear of our... You know, the voice of our neighbor in our own ear is a wild thing. It's just, like, un- unheard of. And it's like, uh, we gotta stop, right? It's one of those things also that, like- ... we've, we've talked about how it's just kind of otherworldly. Not, not only in the sense that it gives us this really kind of foundational sense of God's, you know, kind of transcendence, of what it means to participate in the worship of someone who is transcendent because it is all these voices together, but also this is something that rarely happens in any other way, especially in the Western culture anymore. This coming together to express and to participate in something where we're all reading literally from the same sheet music is just an entirely different experience, increasingly relegated to this kind of experience. So we, we must protect it, not only because God says that we ought to, but also because, again, it is, it is our reasonable response. Yeah. And it is something, like you've just said, that brings Him glory and is certainly for our good. So, uh, this is the Singcast, so everybody- ... everybody get to it. You can make your own music. God has commanded us to sing. So the sooner we just understand, like, hey, it's, it's... You know. Uh, but... And the last thing I'll say is this is one of those things that's, like, practice too. A- and I get it. Like, you may say, like, "Listen, I can only hit two notes, and that's all I'm gonna hit no matter what the music is." Well, then belt the two notes, and also know that, like, the more you practice that kind of thing, honestly, the better that you'll get and the more comfortable that you'll become. The voice is an instrument like any other instrument that takes, like, a little bit of practice and a little bit of work. But even that can cause, I think, great benefits and build a little bit of confidence. But just the example of singing and doing it from a heart that is keen to worship God and that is filled with passion to respond to Him with gratitude and, you know, adoration is really the key thing. And so I, I'd rather have a entire group full of worshipers that are singing off-key but, like, with just resounding passion than to have this performance of just a handful of voices because they feel like they're the most capable to do it. Yeah. I think we'd, we'd rather have everybody else, and to hear the congregation mixed as one of those instruments. So sing. Yeah.  [00:26:05] Everyone Can Sing [00:26:05] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and y- you and I have made the point in the past, too, like- I, I don't think, uh, maybe I'm wrong. Uh, we are a top 50 healthcare podcast, so maybe some doctor- I'm sure you're correct ... is gonna... Right. Like, I don't think being tone deaf is actually a physical condition. Like- Mm. I, I mean, I, I mean, obviously, like, some people have hearing problems, and that means they have trouble singing. I hear what you're saying. But, like, the people who are like, "Well, I j- I just can't sing. I'm just not capable of that," uh, like, I think the, the physical conditions that would make you incapable of singing are not usually what people are talking about. Like- Right. Yeah ... you know, some people have, like, vocal fold disorders or they have hearing problems, and I guess maybe, like, if perfect pitch is a thing, which it, it is. Like, perfect pitch is a... I don't know what causes it, but some people are born with perfect pitch. I suppose in theory that means some people must be born with, like, the opposite of perfect pitch. But I think most people who say, like, "Well, I just, I'm just tone deaf. I can't carry a tone," that, that's probably not true. Like, it just means you need practice. Um, and some people's voices, like physically, their bodies are more, more designed by God to produce a pleasant sound than other people. But I, I think actually just about anybody with a little bit of practice, and mostly I think this is probably just the confidence to actually sing and a little bit of practice to learn how your body works, like how your voice works, um, could probably get to a point where singing is not only very relatively comfortable and easy, but it's something that is pleasant and is not overly challenging. This is actually something that I think we've lost in the church. We should... This, I mean, this is about to come the episode, but, um- ... something we've lost in the church when we have sort of changed from a true genuine congregational singing model, which was the norm- And I've heard people make arguments about the importance of hymnals, and I, I agree with those arguments, although I know some people have moved them into almost like a realm of, like, divine mandate- Right that you have to use hymnals because it trains people to teach. But we have lost something with both the sort of commercialization of worship music and the pro- like making it a professional thing, and we've lost congregational singing. The, the people in the church throughout history have learned to sing. Many of them have learned to read, learned the scriptures, learned theology, not in the seminary and not in the monastery, but in the pew as they sing God's word and as they sing- Right ... the great theological hymns of, of the church. There's so much you can learn through that process that I just think we've lost. And I think going back to something like a hymnal or the Trinity Psalter Hymnal or whatever, whatever standard music your church is gonna use, and I mean standard music. Like, whether this is a collection of worship choruses that has been curated for the church or it's a published hymnal or something like that, going back to something like that teaches the church how to sing. And I don't remember who wrote it, but the trellis and the vine, like the worship that we sing, I know Mike Horton makes this point. The worship that we sing is the tre- is the trellis that the vine of our wor- of our- Yes ... faith grows on, right? That's true. Like, what the, what the church lex credendi, lex orandi. Like, the church, what the church prays, the church believes. What the church sings, the church believes. So all of that to say, like, the, the importance of congregational singing can't be under-emphasized, and it's... I, I mean, I don't know that I would I don't know that most theologists say technically s- like, congregational singing is an element of worship, but praising the Lord through song certainly is. Yes. It's, it's evidence. Um, and, and so I think that's definitely something that the church has lost in general. Um, and I know there are churches... I- it's funny, when Ashley and I were between churches, uh, very briefly after, um, our previous church closed down, um, we went to a local sort of, like, high, high, uh, production, seeker-sensitive church, very Steven Furtick-esque, and we only lasted, like, 10 minutes in this, in this service. We went in and the production value was great, and the music sounded great, but we couldn't hear ourselves, we couldn't sing- Right ... and it was very performative, and we just left. We were only there for a few minutes, and we left. And I think that's something we've lost as we've sort of migrated worship to almost, like, a professional class. So yeah, bring it back to the pews. Bring it back to your- Bring it back ... bring it back to your house, bring it back to your kid's bedroom when you're tucking them in. Everywhere. Bring it back to the car on the way to work, in the bus. Right. Like, just let's everywhere we go, let's sing and worship the Lord. [00:30:30] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, that's right.  [00:30:31] Train Your Voice [00:30:31] Jesse Schwamb: Uh, so as a final thing, let me compound your hot take and say that I agree with you, that I... And I think professionals would as well, and I'm gonna stand on a resource that I'm gonna recommend to everybody here in a second, that in fact the Getty say, "If you can speak, you can sing." And there are a f- a few conditions that would prevent you from doing that, of course. And even there, they wanna explore opportunities for you, for instance, signing, for instance, to ensure that you can participate in worship. Uh, the hot take is I do think that because the instrument that God has given us in the vocal cords is exactly that, that it can be trained, and that actually most people can sing. And if you're serious about that, if you think, "You know what? I'd like to be able to do that. How can I explore that?" Here's a book for you. It's called Set Your Voice Free by Roger Love. The full title is How to Get the Singing or Speaking Voice You Want. Roger Love is, like, this amazing behind-the-scenes vocal coach. He has coached, like, a ton of really talented recording artists, and this is his very contention in the book, is that everybody can sing. It's really about how much or little work you wanna put into it. And in fact, this book comes with, like, these exercises that you can listen to and then record yourself. And then he, from a distance basically, can give you some pointers based on allowing you to kinda evaluate what you hear in your own recording back. So if you really are the kind of person that's like, "Listen, I, I dare you. I cannot sing," I would challenge you, I would double dog dare you to get this book, Set Your Voice Free, and if you're really serious about wanting to try and see if it can make a difference, I, I think it can. And I've, I myself have enjoyed this book, gone back to it many times, use it in my own work and practice because I found it to be helpful. So there you go. Sing, sing, and sing again.  [00:32:06] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:32:07] Singing Apps and Practice [00:32:07] Tony Arsenal: And if you're not a reader, first of all, why are you listening to the podcast? But second of all, if for some reason you're not a reader I'm, I'm joking. I'm sure there are people that are listening to the podcast who are not readers. That was, like, a super smug thing to say. How dare you. I'm sorry about that. How dare you. Um, if for some reason you don't wanna read that book or you're not a reader, um, y- you can do something as simple as looking up Yousician on your Yousician, Y-O-U- Yeah ... S-I, like the word musician, but U instead of, like, Y-O-U instead of, uh, musician. Um, there are plenty of apps out there. I just, I mention Yousician just because I've used that on, like, a free trial basis with some guitar teaching, and it's a reputable source. They also have a vocal module. So, like, if you wanna learn to sing, there are plenty of resources out there who can help you train your voice. A- and it- Again, I'm not a doctor, I'm not a vocal coach, I'm not a professional singer. I'm not even that great of a singer, and I, I probably could be a better singer if I wanted to devote the time to it. Um, it doesn't take much to, to be able- Right ... to become a competent singer. Um, I think most of us, you pick up one s- just like I learned guitar, you pick one or two songs that you really like and you wanna learn, and you learn to sing those songs, and then those skills will develop over time. So enough about that, Jesse. We've got, speaking of talents- ... we've got some talents to talk about. There it is. Boom, bazinga. Baza-bazom. I'm  [00:33:27] Jesse Schwamb: back. There it is. Yeah, so- I was excited  [00:33:31] Tony Arsenal: about that one ...  [00:33:32] Jesse Schwamb: that, that was really good. And, and we should just h- honor everyone. That's it.  [00:33:37] Tony Arsenal: That's it. Tip your waiters and waitresses, folks. It  [00:33:39] Jesse Schwamb: was so good. We're here all week.  [00:33:41] Parable Context Setup [00:33:41] Jesse Schwamb: So we're in Matthew 25, uh, verses 14 through 28, and this is at least gonna be a two-parter for us. This goes by the name you might be familiar of, which is The Parable of the Talents. But before we get to it, just a quick reminder that we've been speaking about this parable, not like in a special way, but hopefully in the more contextual sense. So this is the second of three eschatological parables in Matthew 25. So the first was The 10 Virgins, which we went through. We're in The Talents, and then we're coming up to everybody's favorite, The Sheep and the Goats. All three are part of this Olivet Discourse, which is, of course, Jesus' final teaching block before his Passion. And I think it h- behooves us so that we do not get distracted from, like, the center of gravity of this thing, that this is delivered in response to the disciples' question about the sign of his coming and the age to come. Because I've heard so many, like, little talks, maybe homilies is more the right word, on this particular parable that lack gravity. So little gravity that basically NASA could train their astronauts in it. So we wanna stay away from that and I think get into, like, the, the proper context. So Tony, do you have it in front of you by any chance? And would  [00:34:50] Tony Arsenal: you- I do. I do, yeah. Yeah. Read it for us? I'll read it here.  [00:34:52] Reading the Parable [00:34:52] Tony Arsenal: So this is, uh, starting in, uh, Matthew 25 verse 14, and I'm gonna read down through, uh, the end of verse 30 here. So it, it reads here, "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them, entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time, the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents. Here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little. I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, "Master, you delivered to me two talents. Here I have made two talents more." His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little. I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." He also who had received one talent came forward, saying, "Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed. So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours." But his master answered him, "You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him who gave it, who give it to him who has 10 talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. For, uh, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness in that place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  [00:36:56] Watchfulness and Stewardship [00:36:56] Jesse Schwamb: So it starts with that amazing connective, which we really spoke about in the last episode, in verse four- 14, starting with four. So it's tying, like we said, this parable directly to verse 13, which we know is in the, the parable of the ten virgins. But it's this idea of watchfulness. "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." So th- I think this is the point we really drove last time, that we really felt highly convicted about, that this parable is not like a detached economic lesson, but it's really like an expedition, exposition, not expedition- ... of what watchful discipleship actually looks like during the interval of the master's absence. Like, that's the whole setup here. So it's starting with this idea of like the master goes away, but here we have these slaves or these servants who are entrusted. And to me, again, that's like such a linchpin in this whole thing, 'cause it's, it's carrying the sense that of course, like, he's handing over stewardship. It's a deposit held on another's behal- I love this parable because it has some banking language in it. It's, it's a deposit held on another's behalf, and that's like the key covenant concept of the entire thing. Ownership remains with the master. The servants are stewards. They're not proprietors. And that language, I think, really anticipates, like, the entire New Testament theology of stewardship, which is developed by Paul. So like when Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." So like all of that, that's like just one verse for me. Like, that's an incredible setup.  [00:38:27] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:38:28] Common Misreadings [00:38:28] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and you know, I think it bears saying, too, um, I wanna be careful how I say this because I don't wanna impugn, uh, poor motives or anything like that on, on the, the people that I'm about to speak to. And I say this a little bit tongue in cheek, but also I say this as someone who used to be deeply involved in youth ministry. There's kind of like a, a youth ministry, um- international version of the Bible, I guess, if you wanna put it that way, where, like, there are certain, certain passages and parables that s- for some reason seem really prone to misapplication- Sure in, in some context. And I would say, like, youth ministry is the one I have in mind. Like, um, one of them is, like, in Matthew 18 where it's like, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them." Like, that's a, that's a statement about God's, God's presence in the judgment of the church and excommunicating an un- like, a, an unrepentant, uh, person who identifies with Christ. And, and ironically here, maybe not ironically, but, like, casting them into the outer darkness of excommunication, which is representative of casting them out into the actual inner darkness of damnation. Right. Like, th- there's a, there's a misapplication of that, that like, well, you know, like, if only a couple people came to youth group tonight, like, it's still worth meeting because where two or three are gathered, there I am in the midst of them. Um, this, this parable has a very similar kind of misapplication that is maybe a, a little bit less of a misapplication. Like, I think there is something to say in this parable about the fact that God entrusts us with abilities, talents, treasure, t- our time. Like, He's entrusted us with resources, and He does expect us to use those resources, uh, in a way that is honoring to Him and beneficial for the, for the gospel and for the kingdom. Um, that's true in a broad sense, but I don't think actually that this is what that... But, like, that's not what this passage- Mm ... is teaching. Right. I think I, I kinda joked last time, but, like, I've heard more than one sermon that draws the parallel between the word talent here and our talents in terms of, like, our spiritual gifts or our ability to play guitar or, like, to bounce a basketball and, like, thr- like, throw a free throw. Like, that's not the kinda talent we're talking about here. So I wanna, I wanna sorta, like, point that out just to sort of exclude that from the conversation. Yes, God gifts His people, and He expects His people to use those gifts for His glory and for their own benefit. Um, but that's not what this parable is talking about. This is a parable about the fact that God has entrusted the kingdom of heaven on Earth to His people.  [00:41:08] Jesse Schwamb: That's right.  [00:41:08] Tony Arsenal: And He expects His people to make use of that in a way that expands the kingdom and also in a way that does not... And this is, this is, I actually think, the main point of the parable. In a way that properly understands the nature of the king. The, the punchline or the main point of the parable here, it, just to sort of, like, I don't know, give away the ending or, like, unbury the lead, I don't know, whatever that is. The point of this parable- It's not that, like, it's a really good thing to double what God has resourced you with. The point of the parable, the reason that, just like the, um, just like it wasn't the virgins falling asleep in the last parable that was the problem because everybody fell asleep, in this instance, uh, the amount of money or the amount of return on investment that the servants produce is not the point of the parable. That's not the real difference between them. The real difference is that the former servants understood that their master had trusted them with a task and expected something of them, and the, the unfaithful, wicked, lazy servant had a total misunderstanding of who the master was- Right ... and therefore what his role as the master's servant was. That's the point of this parable, and I think, this is the last thing I'll say before I, I, I take a breath here. There's a lot of people that would look at this parable and might read some sort of works righteousness or, um, and this is more understandable and I think has a place within the Reformed tradition, although I don't necessarily hold this view. But would look at this as sort of like a theology which would, would argue that we receive some sort of enhanced rewards in heaven based on our faithfulness. There's plenty of good, faithful Reformed Bible teachers that would hold that position. I actually think whether or not that's true, this is still also not what this passage is getting at. [00:43:00] Jesse Schwamb: I, I totally agree with you there.  [00:43:02] Talents as Huge Wealth [00:43:02] Jesse Schwamb: I, I think one of the reasons that we know that is because we can look at some of these details and let the details speak to us about the magnitude in their representation, why they're given. So of course, whenever the scripture gives us detail, especially in a context like a parable, it can be helpful of cour- of course not to overanalyze them, but to respect their place in the context of the story, and that's why verse 15 I think is so important. So to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability, then he went away. Now, this, this varies slightly, but there's a lot of, I think, very common historicity here that points us to understanding, like, the talents as a unit of monetary weight, and there is some discrepancy about its exact weight. But what we can say for sure is this: that we're talking about, as I teased at the beginning, a huge sum of money. So in other words, like, this is a gift from God himself. It's a divine gift. Yeah. It's something that's not earned. It's something that's given and something that's entrusted. So in the first-century Roman world, a talent was roughly equivalent to, like, 6,000 denarii, depending on who you talk to, which would mean that a single talent represented approximately, like, 20 years on average of a laborer's wages. So the sums then here we're talking about are staggering even at the lowest one. So the five-talent servant is receiving essentially approximately equivalent of a century's wages, and the one-talent servant is receiving 20 years' worth. There's no such thing as a small gift in Christ's economy, I think is the point here, and even the least endowment is immense beyond our reckoning. Yeah. So the distribution also is deliberately unequal. It's five, one, two, and the text doesn't offer any apology for this inequality. The master distributes to each according to his ability, which as I say that, I realize that could probably be its own episode, that we could talk about what that even means. Yeah. But he is matching and entrusting to capacity, and that's not arbitrary. Of course, that's wise and personal, and even the Greek here for this idea of capacity or power suggests the master knows his servants intimately and calibrates the stewardship accordingly. But nonetheless, it proves the point you're making here, which is not just about, like, well, do you have some kind of innate ability that's above average that God has endowed you with here? That's not even what we're talking about. Again, the whole point of this is to answer the question eschatologically about what the end means and when the time is coming and what good discipleship looks like. And so in that way, we understand then these talents to be these divinely appointed and massively generous gifts of God, essentially, like you said, the stewarding of the gospel in the story of salvation itself unto his people, and then to make something of that, so to speak, by the power of the Holy Spirit that earns a return for the kingdom, that is all empowered by God, that is under the volition of the person, uh, the Christian who says, "As a disciple, it is my responsibility to steward these gifts." That is really what we're after. So we do kind of get in this place where when you take this and say, "Well, what are you doing with," let's say- your home, if you have a nice home, are you being hospitable enough? If you have, let's say, a good singing voice by talent, are you using that to make sure that you're on the, quote-unquote, "praise and worship team," is not, like, entirely wrong, but it's not right either- Yeah to use this passage- Yeah ... for that purpose. There's a bigger theme here. There is, there's a much stronger and widescale framework that God is drawing us to and examine, and it's about the stewardship of the church itself.  [00:46:30] Tony Arsenal: Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah.  [00:46:31] The Foolish Servant Exposed [00:46:31] Tony Arsenal: That's really key, and this is what struck me as, as you were speaking about that, is like we see in so many of the kinda like, uh, like the chump in the parable. Like, there's- Yeah ... a lot of these parables have like a chump- Right ... where like you're looking at and you're like, nothing about what you've decided to do makes any sense. We're talking about people who've been given, in the first case, 100 years worth of, worth of wages. Right. Right? Any one of these people, and again, we're talking about a timeframe where, like, you could just take that money and run and, like, nobody's gonna find you. There's no digital trail on any of this, right? If I stole, if I stole 100 years worth of labor from my manager or from my, my employer, they would find me, right? That's not the situation we're talking about. So even the chump who decided, "I'm not gonna do anything with this," he could've just take- taken off with the money and had 20 years worth of labor. Right. Just 20 years worth of wages. Right. This is a, this is a sum of money that makes all f- all three of these servants unimaginably wealthy instantly, right? The point of this is, in part, that the final servant has no idea the amazing blessing and responsibility that he's been given. And again, I come back to this. It's not because he is dumb or because he is, um, somehow less competent in a strict sense, right? It, it's so funny to me, like, we also gloss over the fact that, like, the guy who has five talents, he's got 100 years worth of money, 100 years worth of wages. Right. And he just goes and gets 100 more. Like- Right he just goes and trades and- Right ... comes up with 100 years worth of wages that he brings back. Like, that's, in itself is, like, phenomenally, amazingly outrageous. We ran into this too with the, um, the parable of the unmerciful servant, right? We've, we've got one guy who's got this unimaginable debt, like, like, thousands of years worth of, uh, worth of wages that he could never make up, and he thinks he's gonna somehow come up with it if you just give him enough time. It's kind of like the opposite here. This guy's got this unimaginable amount of instant wealth, and he just buries it in the ground. First of all, how much... We're also talking about an era where money was a physical, entirely physical.  [00:48:53] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:48:53] Tony Arsenal: There were no, there were no digital banks. Like- No zeros and ones most of our money exists as ones and zeros in a computer program right now. Right. Like, in reality, like- Right ... my money doesn't exist. We don't have, like, a physical gold standard anymore in America. Jesse could probably s- I'm probably making dumb things up right now. No, that's that's- Like, it used- Right on to be that, like, every dollar that the United States government printed had, like, a piece of gold sitting at Fort Knox- Yes ... uh, like backing it up, but we just don't have that anymore. Most of the money that exists in our system is entirely imaginary. It's an entirely, like, made-up digital currency way before, like, Bitcoin was a thing. That's not the case in this timeframe. This dude who buried 20 years worth of money in the ground, that's a significant amount of labor in and of itself- Right ... to even be able to do that. So we're not talking about, like... And I think this is the thing we miss when we, when we read the word talents, and one, when we obscure it and we, like, we misappropriate the word talent to mean, like, abilities, 'cause it, that's a convenient, like, illustration tool. We're talking about a huge sum of probably gold or silver that this dude just buries in the ground, and then, like, digs it up when the master comes back.  [00:50:01] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:50:01] Tony Arsenal: And I think, like- When we don't realize how much money this is, we miss the force of the master's like, "You stupid, dumb, wicked, slothful servant." Like, if you had even taken this money to the bank and done the least imaginable- Yes ... effort. Exactly. Like, if you had done anything at all, like how mu- how difficult, granted more difficult back in this age than it is now, but like if you had even done something as simple requiring as little labor as possible and just brought this to the bank and let them collect interest on it, we'd still be talking about a huge return. [00:50:35] Jesse Schwamb: That's right.  [00:50:36] Tony Arsenal: And he doesn't even do that, and that's, that's the point. There's the people who do, and they gloss over this. The parable totally glosses over the amazing effort and work that it must have taken to take 100 years worth of la- of wages and turn it into 200 years worth of wages. Right. Or to take 40 years worth of wages and turn it into 80 years worth of wages. That's an amazing, probably almost miraculous return on, on investment. Whatever they did is amazing, and the parable's like, "Yeah, they did that." They just took it to the traders and they brought back five more talents. Like, it's nothing. And then this idiot, and I say idiot in like the most like, like exegetically sound, idios, like, like foolish idiot person. [00:51:20] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:51:20] Tony Arsenal: This idiot just buries it in the ground and doesn't even bother to bring it to the bank where he's gonna get some return on it. This is the picture of the fool who does not make use of the means of salvation. This is the picture of the fool who refuses to receive Christ as savior, who refuses to make use of the benefit and blessing of salvation that is available to all who will trust in Christ and turn to him. This is the same picture as the idiot virgins who didn't buy enough oil and just fell asleep when they knew that the bridegroom was coming, right? Right. It's not that they fell asleep, it's that they didn't do the most obvious, simple,

Part 2 in a teaching series called "Think Again" You can watch this service on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YxoEnTuIFQ0 If you had questions during the message, text them to 567-246-0807 and we will contact you to discuss your thoughts. *Closing Song is: "Trust In God" - Elevation Worship - Lyrics: Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, Mitch Wong, Steven Furtick - © Brandon Lake Music; Music by Elevation Worship Publishing; A Wong Made Write Publishing; Integrity's Praise! Music *Song used in this service was performed by the WCC band with permission under CCS License #4935

Paul was in prison. People were preaching against him just to make his life harder. And he was still full of joy. How?In this episode of the Amen Podcast, Alex and Lokelani jump back into our Philippians “Stress Less” series with chapter 1:12-18, an episode we're calling FRUSTRATIONS. Because let's be real, you're frustrated with someone or something right now. A difficult season. A difficult person. Plans that got shut down. A baby that won't sleep. A coworker climbing the ladder at your expense.STUDY GUIDE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b-dMfFmISf30NKg3sJ0ChlT76X0Z3wIt/view?usp=sharingPaul knew that feeling. And he shows us that the very thing frustrating you is the thing God is using to advance His kingdom.In this episode we talk about: • Why we actually NEED frustrations (and what they're doing in us) • Why difficult PEOPLE last longer than difficult TIMES • The Matthew 7 plank-in-your-eye principle and how it kills frustration at the root • Why people use God to climb the ladder of fame (Mike Tyson, Theo Von, Steven Furtick conversation included) • A powerful picture from Pilgrim's Progress (Feeble Mind & Ready-to-Halt) • Why our culture says “ghost them, quit, move, medicate” and why the gospel says something better • Lokelani on why she welcomes the suffering of having a big family in a culture that treats kids like a burdenIf Christ is being proclaimed, even through your hardest season, nothing can ultimately frustrate you.

Paul was in prison. People were preaching against him just to make his life harder. And he was still full of joy. How?In this episode of the Amen Podcast, Alex and Lokelani jump back into our Philippians “Stress Less” series with chapter 1:12-18, an episode we're calling FRUSTRATIONS. Because let's be real, you're frustrated with someone or something right now. A difficult season. A difficult person. Plans that got shut down. A baby that won't sleep. A coworker climbing the ladder at your expense.STUDY GUIDE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b-dMfFmISf30NKg3sJ0ChlT76X0Z3wIt/view?usp=sharingPaul knew that feeling. And he shows us that the very thing frustrating you is the thing God is using to advance His kingdom.In this episode we talk about: • Why we actually NEED frustrations (and what they're doing in us) • Why difficult PEOPLE last longer than difficult TIMES • The Matthew 7 plank-in-your-eye principle and how it kills frustration at the root • Why people use God to climb the ladder of fame (Mike Tyson, Theo Von, Steven Furtick conversation included) • A powerful picture from Pilgrim's Progress (Feeble Mind & Ready-to-Halt) • Why our culture says “ghost them, quit, move, medicate” and why the gospel says something better • Lokelani on why she welcomes the suffering of having a big family in a culture that treats kids like a burdenIf Christ is being proclaimed, even through your hardest season, nothing can ultimately frustrate you.

In this episode of the Eyes on Jesus Podcast, Drew and Tim tackle one of the most divisive conversations in modern Christianity: false teachers, discernment, church culture, and the rise of “heresy hunter” content online. Right now, social media is flooded with clips calling pastors heretics, false teachers, or wolves—and many Christians are left wondering:What actually makes someone a false teacher?Is every bad sermon automatically heresy?Can a pastor say something wrong without being condemned?And what's the difference between biblical discernment and a critical spirit?This episode dives deep into:what scripture says about false teacherswhy context matters with online sermon clipshow church culture can unintentionally produce critical peoplethe dangers of outrage-based Christianityand why believers must know scripture for themselves instead of living off internet callout cultureDrew and Tim also share personal stories from ministry, discuss public Christian leaders like Joel Osteen, Steven Furtick, and Ravi Zacharias, and wrestle honestly with the tension between grace, truth, discernment, and accountability. At the center of the conversation is a simple reminder:Our eyes ultimately belong on Jesus—not internet controversies.

In this powerful message, the Israelites march around Jericho seven times on the seventh day, when the walls finally collapse. Seven symbolizes divine completion and perfection, as seen in Creation, the Sabbath, manna, and Jubilee. God rarely moves on our timeline He acts in His perfect time. Through stories like Lazarus and Martha, the sermon teaches that His delays are not denials. Persistent obedience and mature faith are essential, even when nothing seems to change. Breakthrough comes when we trust God's Kairos moments and keep walking in obedience.All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others.01.)Why did God make the Israelites march around Jericho seven times only on the seventh day, and not earlier (like on the 3rd or 5th day)? 02.)What is the biblical significance of the number seven? 03.)Why does God often delay answers to prayer instead of responding immediately?04.)How can we distinguish between our timing and God's timing? 05.)What lesson does the story of Lazarus teach about God's timing? 06.)What should we do when we see no results after praying, fasting, or obeying for many days? 07.)Why does God sometimes wait until the seventh day or seventh time? 08.)What happens when we walk in God's timing and maintain obedience? 09.)Will God still provide and bless His people even during times of famine or lack? 10.)What is the posture God wants from us while waiting for breakthrough?

In this powerful message, Pastor Michael unpacks the biblical law of transformation: we become like the things we love. Drawing from Hosea 9:10, he outlines four stages attraction, attachment, identification, and transformation that shape our inner world. Emphasizing the principle of reflection from 2 Corinthians 3:18, he urges believers to behold God's glory through His Word and worship, leading to change from glory to glory by the Holy Spirit. He warns against loving the world and calls for fixing our gaze on Jesus to walk in purity, love, and divine purpose.All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others.01.)What is the spiritual law of transformation? 02.)What are the four stages of transformation? 03.)How does what we love shape our inner world and character? 04.)What is the principle of reflection in the spiritual life? 05.)How can a believer be genuinely transformed into God's image? 06.)What is the real purpose and power of worship? 07.)Why do many Christians struggle with bad habits and distractions? 08.)What happens when we love the world or worldly things? 09.)How can we maintain strong love, loyalty, and fruitfulness in ministry or marriage?10.)What is the secret to walking in glory, healing, deliverance, and purpose?

In this powerful sermon, Pastor highlights how Demas forsook Apostle Paul due to his love for the world, leading to a silent spiritual departure. He warns that craving human approval over God's praise is a subtle sign of worldly affection. True transformation doesn't come from mere discipline but from genuine love for God. Like Jacob who served seven years for Rachel yet felt it as a few days, loving the Lord makes prayer, worship, and obedience feel light and joyful. Love determines what we pursue and ultimately shapes our destiny.All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others.01.)Why did Demas forsake Apostle Paul? 02.)What is spiritual departure? 03.)What is one major sign of loving the world? 04.)Why do many believers hide their faith in Jesus? 05.)Why does discipline often fail to change us? 06.)What truly transforms and shapes a person? 07.)How can hard work feel light and effortless? 08.)How do you know your love for God has grown cold? 09.)How can I overcome love for the world and weaknesses like pornography? 10.)What is the greatest priority in the Christian life?

This episode is/was in early access for members from Mon, 11 May 2026 until Tue, 12 May 2026. Become a Member for early access, ad-free listening, video versions and exclusive content: https://benlionelscott.com/subscribe — Your darkest days are not the end of your story. They are the proving ground where pain either buries you or builds you into someone who refuses to quit Spoken by: Steven Furtick stevenfurtick.com Les Brown instagram.com/thelesbrown Eric Thomas instagram.com/etthehiphoppreacher Matt Damon imdb.com/name/nm0000354 David Goggins instagram.com/davidgoggins Rick Warren twitter.com/rickwarren Music: Zack Hemsey - See What I've Become (Ben Lionel Scott Remix 3) Zack Hemsey facebook.com/zackhemseymusic Secession Studios - The Void Rising Secession Studios thesecession.bandcamp.com

In this powerful message, the story of Jericho's walls reveals the secret of the “silence of process.” For six days, Joshua's people marched in obedience and worship, carrying God's presence, yet saw no visible change. The sermon urges believers to embrace consistency between obedience and manifestation. Even when nothing seems to shake, God is working beneath the surface. Through examples like the wedding at Cana and John G. Lake's nine months of prayer, listeners are encouraged not to quit but to remain faithful. Consistency bridges promise and breakthrough your due season is coming.All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others.01.)Why didn't the walls of Jericho fall on the first day? 02.)What should we do when we obey God but see no results? 03.)Why does God sometimes delay the breakthrough? 04.)How important is worship in spiritual battles? 05.)What is the “silence of process” and how do we handle it? 06.)Can ordinary emotional people (who get angry, sad, or doubt) still be used by God07.)Why should we remain consistent even when nothing seems to change? 08.)What happens in the spiritual realm while we see nothing in the natural? 09.)How can we stay encouraged during long waiting seasons? 10.)What is the secret to breakthrough and lasting impact?

In this powerful message, Pastor Michael reveals the third secret from the walls of Jericho: the power of silence and disciplined speech. God commanded the Israelites to march around Jericho in complete silence for six days, teaching that words shape reality and destinies. Negative talk, complaining, and doubt can destroy faith and blessings. Drawing from science, scripture, and life examples, the message emphasizes that death and life are in the power of the tongue. It calls believers to practice the ministry of silence, speak solution-focused words, and be sensitive to when to speak and when to stay quiet for breakthroughs. All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others.01.)Why did God command the Israelites to stay completely silent while marching around Jericho for six days? 02.)What is more powerful than what we say? 03.)Do our words really shape our reality and destiny? 04.)What does Proverbs 18:21 mean for our daily lives? 05.)Why did the Israelites fail at Kadesh Barnea? 06.)What is the “Ministry of Silence”? 07.)When should we speak and when should we stay silent? 08.)How can our words affect our success in business, relationships, and breakthroughs09.)What practical steps should we take regarding our speech? 10.)Why did God temporarily shut Zechariah's mouth?

In this powerful message from Luke 24, Jesus appears to His fearful and disappointed disciples hiding behind closed doors. Even in their doubt and brokenness, He stands in their midst and speaks “Shalom” not perfect peace earned by faith, but divine wholeness, restoration, and peace that comes by grace. The sermon reminds us that God doesn't wait for our perfection; He intervenes in our storms, pain, and fear. True shalom wholeness in mind, body, and relationships is received through surrender, repentance, guarding the heart, and encountering God's presence, which activates every blessing in our lives.All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others. 01.)What does “Shalom” really mean? 02.0Why does God show up when we are broken and terrified? 03.)Do I need to be perfect before God can bless or use me? 04.)How can I receive God's Shalom in my life? 05.)Why do I still feel terrified and anxious even after hearing God's promises or blessings06.)What is the key to activating God's blessings and prophecies in my life? 07.)How do I bring Shalom into my marriage, family, and relationships? 08.)Why do many Christians have blessings but still live in fear, lack, or chaos? 09.)What should I do when my situation doesn't change and I feel like giving up? 10.)Does God only help people who have strong faith?

In this powerful message, Pastor Michael unpacks God's unusual battle plan for conquering Jericho, emphasizing that divine instructions often defy human logic and strategy. Through examples from the lives of Lazarus, Noah, Abraham, Naaman, Gideon, and Peter, he highlights how God gives simple commands that require radical obedience and faith. Many hesitate because instructions seem irrational or demand sacrifice, like forgiving others or giving generously. Yet, when we obey despite not understanding, breakthroughs come, ensuring all glory belongs to God alone. True victory flows from simple, faith-filled obedience.All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others. 01.)Why do God's instructions often not make sense to us? 02.)What is the most important response to God's instruction?03.)Why do people hesitate to obey God?04.)What was the deeper lesson behind the fall of Jericho? 05.)What does the story of Lazarus teach about responsibility?06,)Why doesn't God do everything for us?07.)Why are God's instructions often simple?08.)Why do some instructions feel like a loss?09.)What kind of people does God use for victory?10.)What is the ultimate purpose of God's unusual instructions?

Two disciples walked away from Jerusalem in deep disappointment after Jesus' crucifixion, drifting from the place of promise, divine encounter, and fulfilled prophecy. Their expectations shattered, they moved in the wrong direction away from God. Disappointment always has a direction: it leads to confusion, reduced prayer, and distance from the Lord. Yet clarity comes only in God's presence, not by drifting away. Instead of mere information or gossip, seek revelation from the Word. Most importantly, your speech matters talking about Jesus draws His presence near, while negative talk hinders it. Turn toward God, pursue understanding, and let your words attract His power. Breakthrough is closer than you think. All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others. 01.)Why were the two disciples walking away from Jerusalem to Emmaus? 02.)What does Jerusalem represent in the Bible? 03.)What happens when a person gets disappointed with God? 04.)When does the greatest breakthrough usually come? 05.)Where does clarity come from when we are confused or in pain? 06.)What is the difference between information and revelation? 07.)Why did Jesus draw near and walk with the two disciples? 08.)How important is our speech in experiencing God's presence? 09.)What should we do when facing trials, business problems, or confusion? 10.)How can we attract the presence of God in daily life?

In this powerful message from John 21, Pastor Michael explores Peter's restoration after his denial of Jesus. Peter, once bold and overconfident, fell due to misplaced confidence, uncontrolled words, and warming himself at the wrong fire with the wrong people. Jesus lovingly confronts him by the charcoal fire, asking three times, “Do you love Me?” challenging him from emotional love to unconditional agape love. Through this, the Lord restores Peter, takes him back to his place of failure to grant double honor, and commissions him to feed His sheep. True restoration flows from transparent, tested love for God, leading to renewed purpose and deeper assignment. All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others.01.)Why did Peter need restoration? 02.)What caused Peter's fall? 03.)How does Jesus restore someone who has failed badly? 04.)What kind of love does Jesus really want from us? 05.)Why did Jesus ask Peter “Do you love Me?” three times? 06.)Does making mistakes mean God is finished with me? 07.)What is the foundation for real restoration in our lives? 08.)How should we handle failure and shame? 09.)What determines how far God can trust us with assignment and calling? 10.)What is the most important thing in the Christian life?

In this powerful message, Pastor Michael unpacks Joshua 6, where God declares to Joshua, “I have delivered Jericho into your hands” speaking in the past tense before any battle began. He teaches that God operates outside time, declaring the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). True faith means receiving God's promise first and then watching the evidence follow. Using examples from Abraham, Lazarus, and personal testimonies, the pastor urges believers to understand the language of heaven, trust the Rhema word, and walk in supernatural confidence even when circumstances look impossible. All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others.01.)How does God speak about our battles and impossibilities? 02.)Why did God tell Joshua the victory was already won? 03.)What is the “language of heaven”? 04.)How does God view time differently from us? 05.)What should we do before starting a business, marriage, or ministry? 06.)Why do many believers struggle with fear, doubt, and depression? 07.)What is the correct order of faith? 08.)How did Jesus demonstrate this kind of faith? 09.)What practical step brings breakthrough in impossible situations? 10.)How can I walk in confidence when my situation looks hopeless?

In this powerful message, Pastor explores the story of Thomas from John 20, who missed Jesus' first appearance to the disciples because he was grieving and discouraged. Hurt and disappointed, Thomas isolated himself emotionally and spiritually, leading to doubt and conditional faith. Yet Jesus, in His grace, appears again, addresses Thomas' pain without condemnation, and fulfills his exact private demands by inviting him to touch the wounds. The sermon reminds us that God hears every word spoken in private, answers our deepest doubts with peace, and turns brokenness into a deeper revelation of Him as Lord and God. All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others. 01.)Why was Thomas absent when Jesus first appeared to the disciples? 02.)What happens when we distance ourselves emotionally from God and the church? 03.)Why do people isolate themselves from church and fellowship? 04.)What was really behind Thomas's doubt? 05.)How does pain and disappointment affect our faith and speech? 06.)Does God hear our private words, doubts, and complaints? 07.)How does Jesus respond to our doubts and struggles? 08.)Can God still show up even when doors are shut and the “time” seems over? 09.)What is the difference between conditional faith and true faith? 10.)What was the final outcome for Thomas after meeting the risen Jesus?

This sermon emphasizes the central truth of the resurrection as the foundation of Christian faith. It teaches that while the cross paid the price for sin, the resurrection confirms that the sacrifice was accepted, bringing justification and new life. Believers are reminded that mercy is no longer hidden but revealed through Jesus. The message encourages surrendering pain to God so it does not block faith, and highlights that resurrection power lives within every believer, bringing transformation, restoration, and hope, inviting Christ's presence to change lives and homes completely. All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others. 01.)Why is the resurrection important? 02.)What does the resurrection prove? 03.)What is the main message of the early church? 04.)What is the “mercy seat” today? 05.)Why were there two angels at the tomb? 06.)Why didn't the disciples believe the resurrection at first? 07.)Can sorrow affect faith? 08.)What happens if we don't surrender our pain to God? 09.)Where is Jesus now? 10.)What is resurrection power for believers?

In this powerful message, Pastor emphasizes that the Word of God is not mere information but a transforming force that cleanses and prunes believers. Through daily meditation on Scripture, internal impurities are washed away, and unnecessary elements are removed to increase fruitfulness in every area of life, marriage, finances, health, and calling. Referencing John 15, he explains how cleansing deals with inner pollution while pruning enhances productivity. Believers are urged to maintain daily cleansing through the Word to resist the devil, avoid becoming "serpent's food," and abide in Jesus for lasting victory and abundant fruit All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others. 01.)How does the Word of God transform our lives? 02.)What is the difference between cleansing and pruning? 03.)Why do some believers still get attacked by the devil? 04.)How can we make the devil flee from us? 05.)Why does God remove even “good” things from our lives? 06.)What does daily foot-washing mean for believers? 07.)How do we grow in the gifts of the Spirit and our personal calling? 08.)What is the secret to consistent victory and not being shaken? 09.)Why is consistency in prayer and the Word so important? 10.)How can we bear excellent fruit in difficult times?

In this powerful message, Pastor Michael explores the biblical meaning of Passover from Exodus 12 and its fulfillment in Christ. He explains how the Passover lamb and its blood brought deliverance from bondage and death, pointing to Jesus as our ultimate Passover sacrifice. The sermon also highlights the Feast of Unleavened Bread as a call to sanctification removing sin, corruption, and wrong influences from our lives. Believers are encouraged to apply the blood of Jesus for freedom while pursuing holiness, allowing God's fire and glory to bring breakthrough, deliverance, and transformation in every area of life. All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others. 01.)What is the true meaning of Passover? 02.)How does the Old Testament Passover connect to Jesus? 03.)What is the significance of the blood of the lamb (and Jesus' blood)? 04.)What does the Feast of Unleavened Bread represent? 05.)Why is sanctification important after salvation? 06.)What does “leaven” or “yeast” symbolize in the Bible? 07.)How can believers experience real breakthrough and deliverance? 08.)Why do many Christians pray but see no results? 09.)What happens when a believer walks in sanctification? 10.)How should Christians live after experiencing Passover?

Part 1 in our Easter series called, "A Larger Hope." You can watch the entire service on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JCXzBcy7Tkk If you had questions during the message, text them to 567-246-0807 and we will contact you to discuss your thoughts. *Closing Song is "Resurrecting" - Elevation Worship - Lyrics: Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Matthews Ntlele, Steven Furtick, Wade Joye - © 2015 Music by Elevation Worship Publishing, Essential Music Publishing LLC *Songs used in this service are performed by the WCC band with permission under CCS License #4935

On Palm Sunday, Jesus gave His disciples a specific prophetic instruction to go into a village, untie a donkey and its colt, and bring them to Him demonstrating the power of obeying God's detailed word. This event fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, as the King came riding on a donkey. The crowds shouted “Hosanna,” expecting deliverance from Rome, but Jesus came to save them from sin. True blessing comes not from unmet expectations, but from surrendering to God's perfect will and timing. Obedience unlocks miracles, while prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment before the throne with palm branches in hand All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others. 01.)What is a prophetic word of knowledge? 02.)Why did Jesus specifically instruct the disciples to “Go into the village”? 03.)What happens when we only receive prophetic words but don't obey them? 04.)How does Palm Sunday fulfill Old Testament prophecy? 05.)Can one Bible prophecy have multiple fulfillments? 06.)Why did the same crowd that shouted “Hosanna” later shout “Crucify Him”? 07.)What does “Hosanna” actually mean? 08.)Why do some believers and atheists turn away from God or reject Jesus? 09.)What is the deeper meaning of the palm branches in Revelation 7:9? 10.)How can we experience God's blessings and avoid disappointment?

In this powerful message, Pastor Michael reveals how your mouth and words secretly shape your destiny. Drawing from Proverbs 18:21, he emphasizes that death and life are in the power of the tongue. God designed our mouth not just for eating, but for spiritual communication and authority. Through the story of Isaiah, whose lips were touched by God, and examples of great ministers who relied on the gift of tongues, he urges believers to sanctify their speech. Your words reveal your heart and carry creative power to bring prosperity, breakthrough, and blessings into your life. Speak life boldly and watch God honor your faith.All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others. 01.)How did Pastor Chris Oyakhilome build such a massive ministry? 02.)Why is the mouth more important than just for eating? 03.)What does Proverbs 18:21 really teach? 04.)Why did God touch Isaiah's lips and tongue instead of his eyes? 05.)Can words really help a common person succeed in life and business? 06.)Why does the devil fight against speaking in tongues so fiercely? 07.)How do your words reveal your inner condition? 08.)Why can't we say “I didn't mean it” after speaking wrong words? 09.)What is the power of a sanctified mouth? 10.)How can ordinary believers activate this power today?

The final message in the Lent season from guest speaker Dustin Schmidt. You can watch the digital service on YouTube: https://youtu.be/usu7kiXmvZQ If you had questions during the message, text them to 567-246-0807 and we will contact you to discuss your thoughts. *Closing Song is "Trust In God" - Elevation Worship - Lyrics: Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, Mitch Wong, Steven Furtick - © Brandon Lake Music; Music by Elevation Worship Publishing; A Wong Made Write Publishing; Integrity's Praise! Music *** Video clip used in the sermon through the Fair Use act and under the Religious Service Exemption (17 U.S. Code § 110(3)) † Used with permission under CVLI License #505513061

In a time of growing uncertainty and shortages, God remains the ultimate source of supply. This powerful message reveals three keys to tap into divine provision during famine:Acknowledge God as your true source, not your job or business.Seek daily divine direction and obey His guidance, even when unexpected.Practice the law of first put God first in your time, finances, and decisions.When you follow these principles, as Elijah and the widow of Zarephath did, the jar of flour and jug of oil never run dry. God commands provision from unlikely sources. Put these keys into practice for seven days and watch God's supernatural supply flow into your life. All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others.01.)What should Christians do when famines, shortages, and supply chain disruptions come?02.)How can God's people prosper in the midst of a global famine? 03.)What is the first key to tapping into God's supply during famine? 04.)What is the second key to receiving provision in difficult times? 05.)Why does God sometimes use “ravens” (unlikely or even selfish people) to bless us?06.)What is the third and most important key during famine? 07.)Why did Elijah ask the poor widow to feed him first when she had almost nothing? 08.)How should a believer begin and end each day in times of uncertainty? 09.)What happens when you obey God's specific direction even if it looks foolish? 10.)How long does it take to see results if you apply these three keys?

The sermon explores the dangers of harboring a root of bitterness, as warned in Hebrews 12:15. Hidden underground like a plant root, bitterness silently feeds and produces visible bitter fruit, especially in relationships. It poisons prayers, turning them self-focused and ineffective; corrupts worship, rendering it unacceptable to God despite outward beauty; blinds spiritual eyes, causing confusion, unclear dreams, and lack of divine direction; and hardens the heart, preventing God from shaping and using a person like clay too rigid for the Potter. The message urges forgiveness, reconciliation, and softening the heart to restore prayer, worship, guidance, and fruitfulness. All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others. 01.)What is a root of bitterness? 02.)Where is the root located and why is it dangerous? 03.)What bitter fruit does a root of bitterness produce? 04.)How does bitterness affect your prayers? 05.)Why does bitterness corrupt worship? 06.)What example shows worship is rejected due to bitterness? 07.)How does bitterness impact spiritual eyes / discernment? 08.)Why do people feel confused about decisions despite being believers? 09.)What happens when bitterness hardens your spirit? 10.)How can we overcome or remove the root of bitterness?

The message warns that the spirit of offense is a subtle, destructive enemy that quietly enters the heart like termite, attacking believers at every level from new Christians to seasoned leaders. It grows into bitterness if unchecked, destroying the offended person rather than the perceived offender. Offenses are inevitable, but the key is our response: a wounded heart distorts situations through a faulty lens, turning corrections into insults and silence into hatred. By guarding the heart diligently, forgiving quickly, and seeking God's help to reveal hidden faults, we protect our spiritual growth and anointing. All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others. 01.)What is the spirit of offense? 02.)Why is offense dangerous? 03.)Who does the spirit of offense attack? 04.)Are offenses avoidable in life? 05.)What is offense really? 06.)How does a wounded heart affect how we see things? 07.)Why do people get offended so easily in church? 08.)Can you be offended at God? 09.)How can we overcome or deal with offense? 10.)What happens if you stay offended (personal example)?

Irmão Plácido e Irmão Beda, Monges do Instituto Beneditino Em Adoração e Bruno, Postulante do Instituto Beneditino Em Adoração | Partilha da Palavra | Seg a Sex às 08h00 | Instituto Beneditino Em Adoração

This episode is/was in early access for members from Fri, 20 Mar 2026 until Tue, 24 Mar 2026. Become a Member for early access, ad-free listening, video versions and exclusive content: https://benlionelscott.com/subscribe — If you can push yourself beyond what most people give up on, you're going to get there eventually. Spoken by: Les Brown instagram.com/thelesbrown Brendon Burchard twitter.com/BrendonBurchard Ed Mylett instagram.com/edmylett Mike Tyson instagram.com/miketyson Steven Furtick stevenfurtick.com Eric Thomas instagram.com/etthehiphoppreacher Music: Secession Studios - With No Mercy Secession Studios thesecession.bandcamp.com

Pastor Anita delivers a heartfelt message on overcoming the deep, silent pain of barrenness and infertility that many couples endure privately while masking their struggle in public. Drawing from personal experience including two miscarriages she shares how persistent prayer, claiming biblical promises, and pouring out cries to God brought breakthrough and fruitfulness. Pastor highlights scriptural examples: Sarah bearing Isaac in old age, Rebekah conceiving through Isaac's earnest intercession, Hannah receiving Samuel after bitter weeping, and Elizabeth giving birth to John the Baptist in her later years. God's original blessing in Genesis is fruitfulness children are His reward. Through focused, undistracted prayer and declaring God's Word, sorrow turns to joy, and barrenness becomes a powerful testimony of His faithfulness and power. All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others. 01.)Does God care about the pain of barrenness and infertility? 02.)Is barrenness a sign that God is absent or has rejected me? 03.)What is God's original intention for marriage and children? 04.)Are there biblical examples of God turning barrenness into fruitfulness? 05.)What role does prayer play in overcoming barrenness? 06.)How should I pray when facing this struggle? 07.)Can I personally claim the promises God gave to barren women in the Bible? 08.)What helped the speaker overcome two miscarriages and become fruitful? 09.)Should I be concerned about what people say about my childlessness? 10.)What can I expect if I trust and pray according to God's Word?

The sermon draws from Exodus 5:1, where Moses confronts Pharaoh to demand freedom for the Israelites after 430 years of generational slavery. Pastor Michael emphasizes that true deliverance is not merely escape from bondage, but has a divine purpose: to enable God's people to worship Him freely. Revelation demands bold public action and obedience. Freedom without worship is incomplete. Examples from Scripture, like the Gadarene demoniac and Bartimaeus, show deliverance leads to discipleship, service, and glorifying God. Prosperity, healing, and liberation must serve His glory, not selfish ends. Tonight is a night for purposeful breakthrough and commitment to live for the Lord.All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others.01.)What was the situation of the Israelites in Egypt?02.)Why did God send Moses to Pharaoh?03.)What is required beyond simply hearing from God?04.)Who is the "man" God raises up for deliverance today?05.)Where should believers take their stand?06.)Why did Moses tell Pharaoh to let the people go?07.)What is the true purpose of deliverance?08.)What happens after true deliverance (biblical examples)?09.)Should prosperity, healing, or freedom have a purpose?10.)What should believers do after understanding this?

The message addresses spiritual barriers to fruitfulness, particularly infertility and miscarriages, viewing them as part of generational patterns, curses, and demonic opposition targeting wombs carrying destiny. Drawing from biblical examples like Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebecca, and Rachel, it emphasizes that the enemy fights against children who will fulfill God's purposes. Pastor Micheal urges couples to engage in spiritual warfare, confess and break family iniquities, pray together in agreement, stay deeply connected to Christ, and trust God's power to overcome medical reports and release blessings of children who will glorify Him. All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others. 01.)Why do some couples face infertility or miscarriages despite medical explanations02.)What does the Bible say about bearing the iniquities of forefathers? 03.)Are generational curses or evil patterns real and scientific? 04.)Why does the enemy attack fruitfulness, especially in certain families? 05.)What role do dreams or spiritual attacks play in miscarriages? 06.)How can couples break these spiritual hindrances? 07.)Why is praying together as a couple so powerful? 08.)Is medical help (e.g., IVF) enough, or is spiritual action needed? 09.)How does staying connected to Jesus lead to fruitfulness? 10.)What should couples do practically for breakthrough?

The message explores how quickly gratitude can turn to murmuring, drawing from the Israelites' journey in Exodus 15. Just three days after witnessing the miraculous parting of the Red Sea and celebrating with timbrels, they complained bitterly at Marah over undrinkable water, forgetting God's recent faithfulness. Trials often cause people to overlook yesterday's miracles, revealing hidden unbelief and prompting complaints instead of faith. Through personal stories of loss and sanctification, the speaker urges believers to remember God's past deliverance, seek His presence amid unchanging challenges, and choose praise over grumbling even when circumstances shift or trials persist finding true peace in Christ who has overcome the world. All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others. 01.)Why do people so quickly shift from praise to complaining after experiencing God's miracles? 02.0What causes murmuring or complaining during difficult times? 03.)Why does God allow trials and difficulties in the lives of believers? 04.)Is it normal or acceptable to question or get angry at God during deep personal loss05.)How should believers respond to trials instead of murmuring? 06.)Do trials ever really go away, or do they just change form? 07.)Where does true peace come from in a world full of trouble? 08.)How can we face ongoing or repeated trials without losing faith? 09.)What is the full gospel regarding suffering and deliverance? 10.)How do we practically overcome murmuring and maintain gratitude?

This powerful sermon draws from Exodus 10:3, where God confronts Pharaoh through Moses: "How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go." The core spiritual principle is that refusing to release what God commands us to let go of whether grudges, bitterness, unforgiveness, pride, or control is an act of pride and stubborn defiance against divine authority. Letting go reflects humility and submission, while clinging tightly invites opposition from God Himself, as seen in James 4:6: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Through Pharaoh's hardened heart, Balaam's blindness, and the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18, the message warns that pride leads to destruction and spiritual captivity, urging believers today to release offenses, family hurts, and personal idols to receive God's grace and freedom. All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, Mohan C Lazarus, TD Jakes and others. 01.)What is the powerful spiritual principle hidden in Exodus 10:3? 02.)How are letting go and humility connected in the Bible? 03.)Why did Pharaoh refuse to let the Israelites go? 04.)Why did God send 10 plagues on Egypt? 05.)What three major "gods" or forces will rise in the last days, according to the sermon06.)What does James 4:6 teach about pride and opposition? 07.)What lesson comes from Balaam's story in the sermon? 08.)How does pride lead to destruction, per Proverbs 16:18? 09.)What happens when we refuse to forgive or let go of offenses, as in the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18)? 10.)What is God personally asking many people to release today?

Pastor Mike explores the central offense and power of the gospel: the "scandal" of the cross. The episode begins with a "Kooks and Barney's" segment critiquing the teaching style of Steven Furtick before transitioning into a deep theological reflection on why the message of a crucified Messiah is inherently offensive to human pride. Drawing from the New Testament, Mike contrasts the worldly search for signs and wisdom with the "folly" of the cross, which remains the power of God for salvation. The discussion serves as a call to return to Christ-centered theology over man-centered prosperity. Watch on YouTube. No Compromise Radio “Always biblical, always provocative, always in that order.” Video Episode 57: “Folly and Wisdom" Hosts: Pastor Mike Abendroth (Pastor & Author) Produced/Edited By: Marrio Escobar (Owner of D2L Productions) 

Drawing from Exodus 10:3, the message explores God's command to Pharaoh: "Let my people go." Even in 430 years of bondage, God calls Israel "my people," revealing His higher wisdom beyond human understanding. The preacher connects this to personal struggles, emphasizing that refusing to release whether unforgiveness, time, resources, or bitterness stems from distrust in God's word and justice. Holding on leads to broken relationships, physical illness, spiritual dryness, and cycles of defeat. True freedom comes from quick, complete obedience: let go, submit, forgive as Christ forgave, and trust God's perfect plan.All these questions were answered just as Perry Stone, Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Benny Hinn, Chris Oyaklihome, Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyer, Paul Dhinakaran, Samuel Patta, Ezekiah Francis, Johnson Varghese, Paul Thangiah, TD Jakes and others.01.)Why does God still call us “My people” even when we are going through long, painful bondage or difficulties?02.)Why would God allow His people to suffer or move them from a place of promise (like Canaan) into hardship (like Egypt)?03.)Why do we go through severe personal problems or trials?04.)What does God really mean when He says “Let my people go” to Pharaoh (and how does it apply today)?05.)When God tells me to forgive someone who hurt me badly, whose benefit is He really after?06.)Why is it so hard to forgive, release bitterness, give generously, pray for others, or obey certain commands?07.)What happens in our lives when we refuse to let go of what God has commanded us to release?08.)How quickly and completely should we forgive others?09.)What is one of the most dangerous warnings in the New Testament about forgiveness10.)How can I experience peace, healing, and breakthrough in my body, family, and life?

In this eye‑opening episode of the 247 Real Talk Podcast, your host dives into Steven Furtick's powerful reminder: “Sometimes what we call interruptions are really invitations.” In a world addicted to hustle, productivity, and packed schedules, we'll explore how easily we label people, problems, and unexpected moments as “in the way”—when they might actually be the very moments that could change our lives.We'll talk about:How our obsession with control and efficiency makes us miss emotional, spiritual, and relational invitations hiding inside “inconveniences”Real‑life examples of interruptions that became invitations to grow, to help, to heal, or to shift directionPractical ways to pause in the moment and ask, “What might I be invited into here?” instead of just trying to get back to your planIf you're tired, easily irritated, or feel like life keeps “getting in the way,” this conversation will challenge the way you see your day, your relationships, and even your setbacks. What if your next breakthrough doesn't come on your calendar—but in the interruption you were about to ignore?Watch, share this with someone who's in a season of constant disruptions, and drop a comment about a time when an “interruption” turned into something unexpectedly good.Subscribe to 247 Real Talk Podcast for more real, unfiltered conversations about purpose, perspective, and finding meaning in the messy middle of everyday life.

Send a textRounding out this latest installment of "Stuff That's Been On My Mind," we take a look at a topic that has been brewing over recent years.  The modern worship industry has become a multi-million dollar business, generating massive revenue streams for various churches, pastors, and artists.  But behind the curtain of this ministry, are there issues within any of these churches or with the worship itself?  Is it time for new voices to rise, is it time for a reset in who/what sets the tone for worship in many of our churches?  This podcast answers to the affirmative:  that yes worship does need a reset; a renewal of sorts.  Songs have gotten overwhelmingly me-focused, theological truth has gotten watered down, and most of our songs come from a small, but centralized group of writers and churches.  This episode invites you to enter this discussion with an open mind and leave well-informed with some action steps to take.  Articles mentioned in the episode:The Centralization Of Modern Worship Music: Why A Few Voices Dominating Worship Is A DangerOpinion: Church Music Has Become Big Business

Faith, Spirituality & the In-Between: What I'm Learning Right Now In today's Make It Happen Monday episode of the Wildly Wealthy Woman Podcast, I'm sharing a very real, very honest reflection on faith, spirituality, and what it looks like to live in the in-between—without needing to choose sides. This conversation was sparked by a powerful weekend at Elevated Life in Edmonton, where I had the honor of being a keynote speaker in a room filled with intuitive, spiritually gifted women—psychics, mediums, healers, and leaders who are deeply connected to their inner guidance. Being in that space brought up curiosity, reflection, and a deeper inquiry into what I believe to be true about God, Jesus, spirituality, intuition, and how all of it can coexist. What We Explore in This Episode My upbringing in a very structured Christian religion and how that shaped my early relationship with God Why leaving religion didn't mean leaving spirituality—and why returning to faith didn't mean abandoning intuition How my connection to God has evolved over the years through prayer, tapping, nature, and nervous system work Attending a psychic-style group experience with Sunny Dawn Johnson—and why it didn't feel scary, dark, or “wrong” Why curiosity feels more expansive than judgment in spiritually diverse spaces The growing shift I see toward integration rather than division in both faith-based and spiritual communities What it means to trust God and trust your intuition Why success, joy, and peace don't belong to one belief system alone I also share how teachers like Joel Osteen, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and Steven Furtick have supported my faith journey—alongside spiritual voices like Gabrielle Bernstein, Marianne Williamson, and Wayne Dyer. This episode isn't about deciding who's right or wrong.It's about creating space for honest exploration—without fear, shame, or separation. Questions I Invite You to Reflect On As you listen, I invite you to gently ask yourself: What does my relationship with God or a higher power feel like right now—in my body, not just my mind? Have I ever felt pressure to choose between faith and spirituality? Where do I feel closest to God or truth in my everyday life—prayer, nature, parenting, movement, tapping? What beliefs am I allowing to evolve without needing to rush certainty? What would it feel like to trust that God meets us in the in-between, not just in certainty? A Gentle Reminder Being a Wildly Wealthy Woman has never been about money alone.It's about living a rich, grounded, meaningful life—one rooted in faith, intuition, love, and personal truth. There is room for all of us in the room.There is room for God and curiosity.There is room for faith and nervous system healing.There is room for prayer, tapping, intuition, and grace. Want to Go Deeper? If this conversation resonated and you're craving community, reflection, and grounded transformation, I'd love to welcome you into the Wildly Wealthy Woman Experience. Inside, we combine EFT tapping, faith, manifestation, and leadership to help you create a life that feels rich on every level—relationships, health, purpose, money, and peace. You can also reach out anytime at support@jackiemcdonald.ca or DM me on Instagram—I truly love hearing from you. Thank you for being here.Thank you for being open.And thank you for walking this path with me. ✨

Midnight won't fix your life, but a decision might. We're closing the year by doing the uncomfortable work most people avoid: naming what we will leave behind so we can walk lighter, clearer, and truer. Instead of stacking new goals on old baggage, we cut off the dead weight—labels we accepted, habits that stole our time, and stories that made our struggles feel like our names.I share the line that stopped me in my tracks: sometimes you go through something so long you forget who you are. That idea reframed the whole year. We talk about the difference between trying and deciding, how language opens or closes escape hatches, and why conditions are not identity. If you've said “I'm trying to quit,” you'll hear how “I quit” changes your posture, your calendar, and your outcomes. We get practical about replacing doom scrolling, breaking negative self-talk with pattern interrupts, and building momentum through small, daily wins that compound into confidence.This conversation also leans on faith, community, and proof from your own life. You're not walking into 2026 empty handed—you're walking in with your track record, your grit, and your God-given strengths. We unpack tools to guard your inputs with a digital detox, curate voices that lift your standards, and practice self-compassion that you'd actually offer a friend. I reflect on six years of building Loud Proud American, the trap of dwelling and swelling, and the choice to stop letting struggle define the day.If you're ready to trade resolutions for release, and goals for grounded action, this is your reset. Subscribe, share with someone who needs a lift, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Then tell me: what are you leaving behind—and what are you bringing with you?Here is a Link to Pastor Steven Furtick Elevation Church this sparked todays thoughts and discussion please follow if you are inspired https://youtu.be/UBB97n_M14M?si=XOavtZ19HD3eFMMK If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

Executive Pastor Dana Keim shares a message called, "Learning To Say Yes" You can watch the digital service on YouTube: *Coming soon... If you had questions during the message, text them to 567-246-0807 and we will contact you to discuss your thoughts. Song used in this message under the Religious Service Exemption (17 U.S. Code § 110(3)) is "Come You Unfaithful (feat. Amy Grant)" - Performed by: Michael Boggs, Amy Grant - Lyrics Written by: Michael Boggs and Josh Nichols - Copyright: © 2025 Licketysplat Music, distributed by Residence Music, Michael Boggs Music *Closing Song is "Trust In God" - Elevation Worship - Lyrics: Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, Mitch Wong, Steven Furtick - © 2016 © Brandon Lake Music; Music by Elevation Worship Publishing; A Wong Made Write Publishing; Integrity's Praise! Music *Performed by the WCC band with permission under CCS License #4935 **Ambient music produced by Landon Heeres and is used with permission

On today's program, the judicial commission of the Anglican Church in North America has handed down its long-awaited verdict in the months-long trial of Bishop Stewart Ruch. And that verdict is, “Not Guilty.” We'll have details. And, International Servants has been making big claims about its decades of ministry work in Belize—but verifying those claims has proven more difficult. We'll take a look. Plus, Elevation Church—the North Carolina-based megachurch led by Steven Furtick—has announced the launch of Elevation College. But first, St. Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Florida, has officially voted to leave the Presbyterian Church in America. The church, originally led by Dr. R.C. Sproul, joined the PCA in 2023. It first considered a vote to leave this summer, but delayed the vote while referring the matter to the church's board of elders, also known as its session, to study the situation and return with a recommendation. Its lead pastor, Burk Parsons, was suspended from his role as a teaching elder in the PCA in June after being found guilty by a church judicial commission of three charges related to, among other things, a “domineering” and “intimidating” leadership style, which included accusations of bullying and slander. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Kim Roberts, Kathryn Post, Jessica Eturralde, and Aaron Earls. A special thanks to Lifeway Research for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

This episode is/was in early access for members from Mon, 11 Dec 2000 until Thu, 11 Dec 2025. Become a Member for early access, ad-free listening, video versions and exclusive content: https://benlionelscott.com/subscribe — You never lose if you never quit. For as long as you keep trying, you have another chance. Spoken by: Bayless Conley instagram.com/baylessconley Greg Plitt instagram.com/gregplitt Les Brown instagram.com/thelesbrown Eric Thomas instagram.com/etthehiphoppreacher Steven Furtick stevenfurtick.com Ed Mylett instagram.com/edmylett Music: Zack Hemsey - See What I've Become (Ben Lionel Scott Remix - Variant 2) Zack Hemsey facebook.com/zackhemseymusic

Why Take The Longer Path?Exodus 13:17-18 “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest the people repent when they see war, and return to Egypt.” But God led the people round by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the sons of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle."I was listening to a sermon on the Elevation podcast. The pastor of Elevation church, Steven Furtick, gave a great sermon called “This May Be Plan C.” When I heard him talking about one part in particular I felt like the Lord wanted me to share it with all of you. There were many things about the sermon that stood out to me but it was almost an hour long so I can't go into all of it. However, I do recommend you check out the whole sermon as it was really good. I am just going to talk about the part that has to do with this verse.Pastor Steven was talking about how God didn't take the Israelites on the shortest path out of Egypt. The verse says, “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near.” This makes us think that there was a way to the promised land that was shorter. And if God is explaining why He didn't take them that way, then that leads us to believe that way would have made more sense. If we are taking the quickest, easiest way, we usually don't explain why we are going that way. Everyone knows why. However, if we are taking an unexpected path, or one that is longer, we might explain why.So, why did God take them on a longer path? The verse says, “Lest the people repent when they see war, and return to Egypt.” God knew the people were leaving Egypt but if they ran into trouble and had to fight their way out of Egypt, they might turn around and go back. Also, God knew that the Pharaoh was going to change his mind and come after them. God knew the way of the Philistines would lead them into a situation they were not ready for yet. He also knew what was coming after them and He knew that they would need the Red Sea.I wonder if you have had a time, or maybe many times in your life when you felt like God took you on the round about way to get to where you were going? You feel like there must have been an easier and quicker way to get to where you ended up. What if we trusted that God knew what He was doing? What if we look back and try to see how God might have been protecting us from taking the easy or most quickest path because we might have encountered something we weren't ready to encounter? What if God took us the way He took us because He knew we would need something from that journey or that other path.Pastor Steven talked about how sometimes the problem we are trying to wish away is actually the answer to our prayer we have be asking from God. When the Israelites got the the Red Sea, I am sure they thought it was a problem. I am sure they saw the water on one side of them and heard the army coming up behind them and they questioned why God would lead them to this body of water when there were other paths they could have taken. I am sure they were wishing they were anywhere but in front of the Red Sea at that moment. Yet God used this perceived problem to answer their prayers. He parted that sea and allowed them to walk across it on dry ground. And then he used that water, the one they thought was a problem, to swallow up their enemy.Do you have any problems in your life that might be the answer to your prayers? It may not look like it at first. You may just look at the problem and see it as a problem. However, what if you looked at it and explored how it might be an answer to your prayers? What if you look at the path that the Lord has taken you down and try to see why that path makes sense? Is there a reason God didn't take you down the quickest easiest path? Is there something you needed to go through so that you could be the person He created you to be? Is there something you needed to survive so that you could show others they will survive it too? Was there something on that other path that the Lord knew you weren't ready to face yet?When I asked the Lord what He wanted me to teach today this is what I felt like I heard, “Teach them about how they may not be where they thought they would be. They may not have taken the path they thought they would have but if they keep walking with Me and trusting in Me then they will get there in the end. Show them I am walking with them and leading them. There is a reason I led them on the path they are on. I will help them get to where they are going. It's never too late for Me to grant your heart's desire. Don't give up asking for what you truly want. I do hear you. I am working all things for your good.”I know some of you are disappointed with the way things in life have turned out. I know some of you have been asking for some pretty big things for a long time. I know some of you really need a healing or some direction. I feel the Lord wants you to know it is coming. Your healing is coming. Your trip to Africa is coming. Your heart's desires will be fulfilled. Yes, you might be on the long road to get here, but there is a reason for that. God is putting you on the road you need to be on. Trust in Him and keep walking with Him and He will lead you to where you want to go. I really feel like He wants me to emphasize that it is NEVER too late. Don't give up. Don't feel you are too old, too young, too sick, to inexperienced, to anything. It is NEVER to late for God to fulfill your dreams. Keep asking, keep walking with Him, He won't let you down.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to the podcast today. Lord, please give us the strength to keep asking. Please help us never to give up. Please help us to walk the path you put us on, not the one we think we should be on. Please help us keep walking with you and trusting you. Please help us to trust even when we don't understand. We love you Lord, and we ask all of this in accordance with Your Will and in Jesus's Holy Name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. If you still have some last-minute gifts to buy, why not get your loved ones a copy of my book? CLICK HERE to order an autographed copy.  It could be a great way for them to start out the New Year, learning about how much God loves them and who He says they are. I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day!Today's Word from the Lord was received in July 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “Everything he has created is good in his sight. And his blessings and his mercies pour out each morning anew on every creature and part of his creation.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Have you ever been scared while waiting for answers — and your mind went straight to the worst? Stop scrolling — if you're scared while waiting for answers, you are NOT alone. When you're stuck in the uncertain times — between what you feel and what you hope — the waiting becomes the hardest part. If that's you, don't click away — stay with us for the first 60 seconds. This episode is part of a globally streamed, 5-star Christian show with listeners in 16+ countries, recognized as one of the top Christian women's podcasts for real faith and real-life conversation. In this raw mother-daughter conversation, Chosen By Jesus hosts Kelley and Taylor Tyan talk openly about the emotional and spiritual battle that happens in the waiting — especially when fear, symptoms, tests, or unanswered questions leave you imagining the worst instead of expecting God's best. If your family has faced difficult medical seasons, the waiting hits different. Even when it could be anything, your mind goes back to what you've survived before. Experience shapes fear — even when faith is present. But waiting does not mean God is silent — or absent. Waiting is the place where trust becomes oxygen. ______ Inside This Episode • How to stay grounded when your mind won't stop racing • Why waiting hurts emotionally + spiritually • What to do when fear feels louder than Scripture • Why God develops faith before delivering answers • How to shift from panic → holy expectation ______ Scriptures Referenced Psalm 37:7 • Isaiah 60:22 • Habakkuk 2:3 • Psalm 27:14 • Galatians 6:9 • Romans 8:28 ______ Prayer God, we give You every unknown, every fear, every result, and every outcome. Teach us to wait with peace instead of panic, hope instead of dread, and trust instead of control. Be louder than fear. Be nearer than worry. Be our peace in the waiting. Amen. ______ Comment Below What are you waiting for — and how can we pray for you? We read every comment. ______ If This Spoke To You Like  • Comment  • Subscribe  so this message reaches someone who needs it tonight. ______ Want to go deeper? We coach women who are ready to rise in faith, walk in identity, and stand strong no matter the season.  DM us on Instagram or visit www.chosenbyjesus.co to learn more about 1:1 coaching, group mentorship, or speaking inquiries. ______ From your hosts: Kelley & Taylor Tyan, a mother-daughter duo reminding you who you are and whose you are. Follow us on Instagram: @chosenbyjesuscbj ______ Need prayer? Send us a message—we'd be honored to pray for you. ______ Follow Kelley & Taylor Instagram: @chosenbyjesuscbj Subscribe to the podcast and never miss a new episode. Share this with a friend who needs to know: they are chosen too. ______ waiting on God, how to wait on God, God's timing not mine, faith in medical waiting, scared of diagnosis, cancer in family testimony, Christian encouragement during fear, anxiety and faith, peace in the unknown, Chosen By Jesus podcast, Kelley and Taylor Tyan, faith during trials, fear and faith, Christian women podcast, emotional healing with God, waiting seasons, Romans 8:28 encouragement, God is working, delayed answers faith, mother daughter testimony, Sadie Robertson Huff, Priscilla Shirer, Joyce Meyer, Christine Caine, Lisa Harper, Jennie Allen, Hosanna Wong, Lysa TerKeurst, Bianca Olthoff, Steven Furtick, Elevation Church, Live Original, Transformation Church, Sarah Jakes Roberts, Real Talk Kim, Beth Moore

That Solo Life Episode 321: What We're Reading for Focus, Laughs and Professional Development  Episode Summary For busy PR and marketing professionals, finding time to read—whether for professional development or pleasure—can be a challenge. In this episode, hosts Karen Swim and Michelle Kane open up their own "to-be-read" piles to share the books currently on their stacks. They discuss a fascinating mix of titles covering everything from the impact of AI on customer behavior and social media's effect on our minds to the art of writing a funny speech and the power of mindset. This episode is packed with recommendations that will inspire you to think more deeply, understand your audience better, and even find humor in the everyday. If you're a book lover looking for your next great read or need some motivation to start that book you bought months ago, this conversation is for you. Episode Highlights (01:05) - Why PR pros often have a stack of books they intend to read but struggle to find the time. (02:26) - Michelle's first pick: Belonging: The Key to Transforming and Maintaining Your Success by Mark Schaefer, which explores how AI is changing customer behavior. (03:52) - Karen shares her first book, Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari, and discusses the importance of deep work. (06:47) - For a dose of humor, Michelle recommends How to Write a Funny Speech by Carol Leifer and Rick Mitchell, highlighting the intelligence behind good comedy writing. (08:27) - Karen's second recommendation, The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World by Max Fisher, and its relevance for communicators. (10:27) - Michelle discusses Inner Excellence: The Proven System for Empowering Your Habits, Overcoming Your Mental Blocks, and Raising Your Lasting Level of Performance by Jim Murphy, a book made famous by Philadelphia Eagles player AJ Brown. (12:22) - Karen's final book is Do the New You: 6 Mindsets to Become Who You Were Created to Be by Steven Furtick, a faith-based guide to personal transformation. (14:00) - The hosts reflect on the common theme of mindset in their book choices and its importance for solo professionals. Resources & Additional Information Books Mentioned in This Episode: How AI Changes Your Customers - Mark W. Schaefer Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again - Johann Hari How to Write a Funny Speech... - Carol Leifer and Rick Mitchell The Chaos Machine - Max Fisher Do the New You: 6 Mindsets to Become Who You Were Created to Be - Steven Furtick Inner Excellence - Jim Murphy Kami Huyse - Follow Kami Huyse on LinkedIn for more great insights and recommendations. Host & Show Info That Solo Life is a podcast created for public relations, communication, and marketing professionals who work as independent and small practitioners. Hosted by Karen Swim, APR, founder of Words For Hire and President of Solo PR Pro, and Michelle Kane, Principal of Voice Matters, the show delivers expert insights, encouragement, and advice for solo PR pros navigating today's dynamic professional landscape.   What book are you currently reading or what's at the top of your stack? We want to hear from you! Visit SoloPRPro.com to share your recommendations. And if you found value in this episode, please share it with a fellow PR pro and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us reach more listeners just like you

For the record- we are just having fun today. We play some clips that make us long for reformation in our day. We are here to help you kick off the your reformation day with a party! Join us as we watch Steven Furtick, The pope of Rome, and funny man Kieth Foskey. Restless would love your support on patreon and thats where you will learn why Matt had to release a statement on Liquid death. Join our patreon for bonus episodes every single week! You can follow this podcast all over the internet. twitter,   instagram.    or facebook Or email us at restlesspodcasting@gmail.com

"Follow Me" Part 1 (Mike O'Shea) You can watch the digital service on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ey99X7MxnjE If you had questions during the message, text them to 567-246-0807 and we will contact you to discuss your thoughts. *Closing Song is "Trust In God" - Elevation Worship - Lyrics: Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, Mitch Wong, Steven Furtick - © Brandon Lake Music; Music by Elevation Worship Publishing; A Wong Made Write Publishing; Integrity's Praise! Music *Performed by the WCC band with permission under CCS License #4935

This episode is/was in early access for members from Thu, 31 Jul 2025 until Wed, 13 Aug 2025. Become a Member for early access, ad-free listening, video versions and exclusive content: https://benlionelscott.com/subscribe — Winners do the stuff the losers aren't willing to. That's why they win. Spoken by: John Maxwell twitter.com/JohnCMaxwell Eric Thomas instagram.com/etthehiphoppreacher Jocko Willink instagram.com/jockowillink Ed Mylett instagram.com/edmylett Inky Johnson instagram.com/inkyjohnsonmotivate Owen Cook twitter.com/OwenCookX Andy Elliot instagram.com/officialandyelliott Steven Furtick stevenfurtick.com Music: Audiomachine - No Time to Lose Audiomachine twitter.com/audiomachine