Podcasts about Sustainer

Daily Dose of Hope August 12, 2025   Scripture – Luke 6:37-49   Prayer:  Abba Father, You are our Creator, Provider, and Sustainer.  Thank you, Lord, for wanting to be in relationship with us. You are a God who sits high and looks low.  You, who are over everything, also care deeply for us.  We are so grateful.  Help us do all we can to glorify you.  We desperately need you, Jesus.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we finish up Luke 6.   We are finishing up Jesus' Sermon on the Plain.  This is the Gentile-friendly version of Matthew's Sermon on the Mount.  Basically, Jesus is outlining how we are to behave and think fundamentally different from the world around us.  The first portion of the today's reading deals with judging others.  Judgement is something that has gotten Christians in a lot of trouble with the world around us.  In fact, being judged by Christians is one of the main reasons people say they have avoided the church or left the church.  This should be heart-breaking to all of us.  Something has gone terribly wrong.    Jesus is saying you will be judged by the same measure you use to judge others. Think about this. How do you want to be judged? I can tell you that I want to be judged with mercy and compassion. Jesus talks about not trying to take the speck out of a friend's eye without taking the plank out of our own.  Why do we obsess over others' specks, over their shortcomings? Well, because it's easier, it's more fun, but most of all we feel so much better about ourselves when we point out someone else's stuff. It distracts me from dealing with my own stuff.  I wonder if sometimes we don't even notice the plank hanging from our own eye. Maybe we just aren't very self-aware, or we don't want to be self-aware. We are happy being ignorant about our own issues.    We then move on to a tree and its fruit.  A good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit. So what is Jesus saying to us?  Well, a person's character is demonstrated by the kind of fruit they produce.  Someone can talk the Jesus talk but if they are generally selfish and rude to others, then we can be pretty certain that something is off.  I think about celebrity pastors or politicians who make a big deal about calling themselves “Christian.”  But they aren't honest, they are consumed with wealth, and they treat people like dirt.  Their fruit is rotten and we need to pay attention to that.  Character is judged by fruit, not talk.   The last portion of today's chapter is about the wise and foolish builders. Jesus says that those who hear his words and put them into action are like those who build their homes on firm, solid foundations.  On the contrary, there will be some people who call “Lord, Lord...” but don't follow his teachings at all.    Where do you fall?  Think about some of Jesus' main teachings: Loving God and loving other people, forgiveness (receiving and giving), repentance, believing in and trusting in God (recognizing that Jesus is God), being radically generous, and recognizing the Kingdom of God.  There is also caring deeply for the least and the lost.  Spend some time thinking about each of these.  Do you live these out in your life?  Are you obedient to the teachings of Jesus?  How can you take a step closer to greater obedience?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

"What happens when the dead figure out that they cannot die again, and the damned learn that they can never escape?"  Hebrews 1:3

This week lead pastor Dr. Corey Abney emphasizes the preeminence and supremacy of Jesus Christ, based on Colossians 1:15-20. The core message is that Jesus is not merely one important figure among many, but the Creator, Sustainer, and Head of the Church, deserving of exclusive worship and the first place in every aspect of a believer's life. A participation-trophy approach to Christianity is inadequate; Jesus must be preeminent.Key ScriptureColossians 1:15-20Topics CoveredThe Preeminence of JesusJesus as the Image of GodJesus as the Firstborn over all CreationJesus as the Head of the ChurchThe Church's Mission#bellshoalschurch #churchservice #jesusfirst

(Ecclesiastes 9:4) The Devil constantly tries to convince us that nothing in life is worth living for. God, the Sustainer of life, created you to live a life that satisfies Him and you. Give your life in hope to the One who gave it to you! (09188250805)  Keep Studying  Whether you're a new believer or have walked with the Lord for years, you'll find thousands of free devotionals, Bible studies, audio series, and Scripture tools designed to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding of the Bible, and help you stay rooted in the Word of God. 

ABOUT THE NEWWe are a people of love and excellence who are result-oriented, spirit-led, word-rooted, prayer-driven, and kingdom-conscious. Led by Pst. Shola Okodugha, we are on a divine assignment to equip and raise men; to release people from strongholds that have stifled them from taking their rightful places, and to give young people an avenue for their God-given gifts to find expression.OUR CREED"As sure as God helps us,We will not give upWe will not cave inWe will not quitWe will not failWe will not dieUntil our job is doneAnd victory is won"——Partner with us to spread the influence of God all over the world. Give - https://pay.squadco.com/TheNewglobal

e introduced our Concert of Prayer content blog. In our Worship focus today, we look at God's Wisdom, Immutability, and Compassion. Wisdom:"But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."1 Corinthians 1:30-31And 2 Corinthians 2:6-16Immutability:Hebrews 1:10-12"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever…"Hebrews 13:8-14Compassion:Isaiah 54:10"For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken," Says the LORD who has compassion on you.Psalm 103:4, Psalm 103:8Psalm 103:13-14"Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. 14 For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust."Our So What?Meditate on our majestic Creator, Savior, and Sustainer, who is wise, immutable, and compassionate. " What a man is on his knees before God, that he is and nothing more." Robert Murray M'Cheynee Donation link:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=G9JGGR5W97D64Or go to www.freerangepreacheronprayer.com and use the Donations tab.Assistant Editor: Seven Jefferson Gossard.www.freerangepreacheronprayer.comfreerangeprayer@gmail.comFacebook - Free Range Preacher MinistriesInstagram: freerangeministriesAll our Scripture quotes are drawn from the NASB 1977 edition.For access to the Voice Over services of Richard Durrington, please visit RichardDurrington.com or email him at Durringtonr@gmail.comOur podcast art was designed by @sammmmmmmmm23 InstagramSeason 007Episode 065

Daily Dose of Hope July 31, 2025   Scripture – Luke 2:1-21   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Provider, Sustainer, Thank you for being the God who cares, who provides, who sustains, and who saves.  As we talk about the Christmas story today, help us remember how you became one of us, and lived among us, to demonstrate the full extent of your love.  Thank you for Jesus.  Thank you for your sacrifice.  Thank you for showing us a different way of doing life.  Help us actually live the way you taught us.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we start Luke 2 and read about the birth of Christ, what we know as the Christmas story.   We have kind of sanitized the Christmas story. It's a sweet story we tell our kids with friendly donkeys and smiling shepherds. But the world that Jesus was born into was a rough one. It was a world of poverty, violence, and division. The Jewish people had been expecting a Savior for 700 years since Isaiah prophesied that God would send a king–a wonderful counselor, mighty God, holy one, Emmanuel. They had been waiting 700 years! Things were tough. Living under the rule of the Roman Empire was no picnic–it was a violent and oppressive place; they were waiting for this one that God would send to save them, to rescue them from the trouble and darkness of their lives. They were restless, weary, and impatient.   And then, God sends a Savior in the form of a baby. Just like the world he was born into, the circumstances around Jesus' birth were troubling and dark. Jesus' mom was a poor 14 year old girl, who appears on the surface to get pregnant out of wedlock (we know it was the Holy Spirit, but can you imagine the gossip in her little town of Nazareth?) And toward the end of her pregnancy, the government requires all heads of households to go to the town of their ancestors to register for a census. That meant that Joseph, Mary's fiancé, needed to go to Bethlehem, because that was the town of King David and he was descended from David. Most likely, Mary didn't have to be there but she does go with him, possibly to get away from the scandal in her own village. It was a 90 mile trip, over hills and rough terrain, and it probably took about 9 days. In her 9th month of pregnancy, she walked for 9 days straight (no mention of a donkey in Scripture).   When they arrive, Mary goes into labor (surprise, surprise after all that walking )but there is no place for them to stay. We don't know if everything was occupied, as there were many people who had entered the city for the census, or they simply didn't have enough money to pay for a proper room. Mary has the baby in a stable of sorts, maybe not a stable like we think of a stable, but the place where the animals were kept. Some think it could have even been in a cave. But it was warm and cheap and she has the baby and places him in a manger, which is the animals' feeding trough. I'm sure this wasn't anything like Mary had dreamed about when she thought about starting a family. It wasn't pleasant and magical and peaceful, it was hard and uncomfortable and scary.   After Jesus was born, an angel, a messenger from God, appears to the shepherds and says, I bring you Good News of great joy that will be for all people. For a baby has been born in Bethlehem and he is the Messiah, the Savior, the Lord. These were the names that the emperor used to describe himself and now the angel is saying that the true ruler, the true Savior of the people, the true bringer of Good News and peace, was in fact this little baby. And the angel told them that they would find this baby laying in an animal's feeding container and wrapped up in strips of cloth. And then we go from one to many, many angels (the armies of heaven) saying, Glory to God in Highest Heaven and peace to all those whom God favors. For even the angels and all the company of heaven rejoiced at the birth of this baby.   This is a story most of us have heard many, many times.  So, what was the Good News of great joy?   First, this child was called the Messiah, the anointed one, the one they had been waiting for over a period of hundreds and hundreds of years.  Would this child be the one to save them?  Remember, the Jews thought they needed saving from their oppressors.  They had trouble wrapping their brains around any other kind of savior.   Think about what it means to be a Savior – someone who rescues another from destruction, ruin, or defeat. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that our world is quite a mess and we need saving. We can't fix any of this mess ourselves. If we could, we would have already done it.   The Jews thought the only kind of saving they needed was from their Roman occupiers.  But they had no idea that there was a deeper, more insidious need.  What do we need to be saved from? Well, SIN.  We need to be saved from ourselves, our brokenness. On the cross Jesus saves us from our own failings, from our own darkness. Early Christians called Christmas “the light piercing the darkness” because at just the right time, just when humanity needed it most, God sent Jesus to be light in our darkness.    And this, my friends, is just the beginning.  Let's see what else Luke has to say about the incarnation.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Wednesday, 30 July 2025   Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:12   “Therefore, how much man – he excels a sheep! So too, it permits – the Sabbaths – to do good” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus asked the Pharisees what a man would do if he had one sheep that fell into a pit on a Sabbath. Wouldn't he lay hold of it and draw it out? The question demanded a positive answer. As such, He continues with, “Therefore, how much man – he excels a sheep!”   Certainly coming at this from both angles, Jesus notes the intrinsic value of a man over a sheep. The sheep could be rescued on a Sabbath, and so how much more should a man be rescued?   At the same time, a man would profane the Sabbath to rescue a sheep on the Sabbath, meaning he had the inherent right to do this good deed on the Sabbath by rescuing it, but the man with the withered hand was denied this ability to rescue his one lamb (supposing he had one that fell into a pit).   As this was a right man should be able to exercise, then it is fitting that he should be healed so that he, too, could follow through with such a necessity. Either way, the answer to healing on a Sabbath, according to Jesus' logic, is, “So too, it permits – the Sabbaths – to do good.”   Jesus calls this good. In other words, His example is clearly one of someone doing something that others could consider work. Going down into a pit and pulling out a lamb is a physically demanding proposition. Despite this, there is a benefit that results from it, for the lamb as well as for the owner of the lamb.   But this is only a proposition that may be played out in innumerable ways. The man has a withered hand, and he may need it for any imaginable thing that could arise on the Sabbath.   Likewise, he had a withered hand that needed rescue, simply out of human compassion. Therefore, the action of healing him, from both angles, serves a good purpose, despite the day of the week. As such, doing good on the Sabbath, including the healing of another, is an acceptable allowance for profaning the day.   Life application: In John 5, it says –   “For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.'” John 5:16, 17   There is no potential in God. He doesn't change in any way. He is not bound by time or space. However, creation came from Him. When Jesus says that the Father has been working until now, it is because God is outside of time. In His creative effort, a creation which has existed and continues to exist, there must be something sustaining that creation.   This is God. It is explained in Colossians 1:17 where it says of the Son, “...in Him all things consist.” Again, in Hebrews 1:3, also referring to the Son, that He is “upholding all things by the word of His power.” These things can be said of the Son because He is a member of the Godhead. He is the One through whom these things come about.   For God to create, it signifies an eternal act. This doesn't mean creation is eternal, but because what God does is from the eternal realm, as long as the creation exists, it is only so because God continues to sustain it.   The Sabbath was given based on creation –   “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:11   Later, it notes the Sabbath was given based on redemption –   “And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.” Deuteronomy 5:15   However, the Sabbath observance was mandated after both of these things. Thus, the Sabbath was given as a commemorative act. As the creation fell and had to be restored through the work of Jesus, and as the redemption of Israel from Egypt only anticipated the greater work of redemption of man through the work of Jesus, then the Sabbath was also anticipatory of these works of Christ. Thus, it both commemorated and anticipated.   In His coming, we now have the substance rather than the shadow. Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer, and He is our Sabbath rest. Let us remember this and find our peace with God through what Jesus has done.   Because Jesus is God, what He has done is eternal in nature. God the Father is working through Him to this day, forever sustaining us and leading us back to Himself. In time, everything anticipated in Scripture will come to its fulfillment. Until then, let us rest in the full, final, finished, and forever work of Jesus Christ our Lord.   Lord God, may we not fret about the future. The book is written, and for those who have come to You through Jesus, we have the certainty that everything will come out as it should. As this is so, may we find our rest in Jesus now, content that what is coming will come in its due time. Amen.  

The person who says, "I don't need to go to church to have Jesus", is actually rejecting Jesus.  Hebrews 1:3 

Daily Dose of Hope July 21, 2025   Scripture – Matthew 27:1-31   Prayer:  Almighty God, We come before you this morning, rejoicing in your powerful and holy name.  You are everything, Lord – Creator, Sustainer, Provider, the one who sees, the one who is most high, Mighty, Everlasting.  There are times that we are overwhelmed by your love and care.  How could the one who created all, also care about me?  God, we give you glory.  We are so grateful for how you involve yourself in our lives.  Most of all, we thank you for Jesus.  Oh, Lord Jesus, we give you glory, honor, and praise.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Happy Monday. Today, we are starting Matthew 27.  This is another long chapter that is filled with a lot of substance so we will once again take three days to walk through it.   Today's narrative about Judas' suicide is found only in Matthew. Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. I'm not sure what Judas thought would happen when he accepted the bribe. Maybe Jewish independence? Maybe some extra favors? Maybe some sense of satisfaction? But when Judas actually sees that Jesus is arrested and condemned, a man he knew was totally innocent, Judas is filled with remorse. He sees the consequences of his decision.   In his anguish, Judas brings the silver back to the religious leaders. Maybe he was looking for some kind of reassurance or guidance but they gave him none. They were, after all, simply using him to get what they wanted. When Judas realizes this, he appears to be consumed by both remorse and anger and hurls the silver into the temple. It's then that he kills himself. It seems that Judas was overcome with remorse.   If you think about it, remorse produces extreme sorrow and grief. The goal is that remorse will lead to repentance and life change. This happened for Peter. He denied Jesus three times, a very significant betrayal. He must have felt incredible sorrow after what he did but he didn't stay there. He allowed God to move him to repentance. But Judas, for whatever reason, could not get past the grief. Maybe he was overcome with fear about what his life would be like when people discovered it was him. Maybe he didn't think he would be forgiven or he thought he would lose social position. Whatever it was, he couldn't get past it.   Friends, I don't know what you are dealing with right now, but there is ALWAYS hope. Things can be really, really bad. Life can feel totally dark. But God is light. With God, there is always hope for a better day. For some reason, Judas didn't think so but he was wrong. Jesus would have forgiven him and loved him, just as he did Peter.   Jesus loves you. Jesus will always forgive you. Your life is valuable. If you ever get to the point where the darkness feels all-consuming, reach out immediately. Reach out to me or to a friend. And don't forget that God is always there, just waiting, ready to listen and comfort. You are never alone.   In the next portion of today's chapter, we have Jesus going before Pilate.  Pilate was a Roman, the governor of Judea who was serving under Emperor Tiberias.  While Pilate has been mentioned outside of the Gospels by several secular writings of the time, he is certainly best known for his role in Jesus' crucifixion.  Let's dive into that.   In Matthew's Gospel, we get the impression that Pilate is reluctantly asking Jesus questions.  He doesn't feel that Jesus is guilty of anything and this is weighing on Pilate.  Then, his wife sends him an urgent message, begging Pilate to ensure that nothing is done “to this innocent man” for she had suffered a great deal in a dream because of Jesus.   Pilate ends up seeking a compromise. Knowing Jesus had been handed over by the religious leaders out of envy and spite, Pilate appealed to the crowds at the Passover, asking which “criminal” should be set free, Jesus or Barabbas? Seeing Jesus as innocent, it appears that Pilate believes that surely the people will choose Jesus over the murderous zealot, Barabbas.  But they don't.  The Jewish leaders convinced the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released rather than Jesus.    Pilate gives in to political pressure.  He knows Jesus is innocent.  Pilate, exasperated, declares that he is “innocent” of Jesus' blood but then he hands Jesus over to be flogged and crucified.  He did what was easy, not what was right.  And Pilate will be forever remembered as a leader who chose the expedient route, rather than the one with integrity.  He is immortalized in the Apostles' Creed and remembered by Christians around the globe when we say that Jesus “suffered under Pontius Pilate.”   The final portion of today's Scripture has the Roman soldiers mocking Jesus.  This was one more form of punishment and humiliation before the ultimate torture instrument of the cross.    More tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Introduction: I Give Thanks with My Whole Heart… (Psalm 138) Because God has Proven His Reliability to Me IN THE PAST (Psalm 138:1–3) Because God is at Work in My Life RIGHT NOW (Psalm 138:6–7) 1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Because God Will Not Give Up on Me IN THE FUTURE (Psalm 138:4–5; 8) Philippians 2:9-11 – Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 2 Samuel 7:16 – And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever. Philippians 1:6 – And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Jude 24 – Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy… Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Psalm 138What was your big take-away from this passage / message?If we know it's so bad for us, why do we complain so much? What do you complain about the most?How has the Lord proven Himself reliable to you in the past? Take some time to thank the Lord for what He has done.How is the Lord at work in your life right now? Praise Him for what He is doing.How will the Lord fulfill His purposes for you in the future? Give Him thanks for what He will do for you.BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT I hope you're all doing well this morning.I've had better days.I took me forever to fall asleep last night.I'm just so tired.My neighbors were just blasting fireworksin all hours of the night.Isn't it been like three weeks since the 4th of July?I just don't get it.And then when I fell asleep, I couldn't stay asleep.I have a bed that's too small.I have a room that gets way too hot.I have a pillow that isn't comfortable at all.And I just set the alarm really early this morning.So I had to wake up and look presentable for all of you.And I stubbed my toe really hard and it still hurts.Oh, and I forgot to iron all my clothes.So I had to do it all this morning.So I was way later than I wanted to be.And so I was driving here.I got stuck behind the slowest drivers in the entire world.That just drives me insane.It's like, don't you want to get where you want to goin this century?You may not have things that you want to do,but there's things that I need to do.So move it.Oh, and I also have the worst headaches.So these lights aren't helping me at all.OK, time out.Is anyone tired of listening to my complaining yet?There is a resounding yes from the congregation.It is so annoying when someone constantly complainsand grumbles about everything.This person's constant whining sounds like nailsscreeching across a chalkboard.But quick question, if that's how other people's complainingsounds to you, how do you think your complainingsounds to them?Not much different.Let's up the ante even more.How do you think your constant complaining sounds to God?Do you think He appreciates it?No, He does not.I know that complaining is bad for me and offends God.And I am very sure that most of youknow that complaining is bad for you and offends God.So why do we keep doing it?What is going on within us?Well, this is the third week in our latest series calledHeart Problems.What to do when you don't want God?Over the past two Sundays, we've identified two different heartproblems and their surgical solutions according to God'sword.We began by evaluating our hearts to see how serious of a heartsurgery we truly need.And last week, we discovered the heart problem of hidden sin.And the surgical solution to that problemis confession from the heart.And this morning, we will unpack a third heart problemand its surgical solution from Psalm 138.Psalm 138.Your heart problem this morning couldbe that you have a serious infection of negativityand complaining.You struggle to truly appreciate all that God has given to youbecause you are so fixated on everythingthat God has not given to you.In your mind, you deserve better.You deserve more.You deserve what you want.Does that describe you right now?How do you fix this heart problem?The surgical solution to a negative and discontent heartis passionate praise and true thanksgiving.You must actually give thanks from your heart.So before we look into the solution any further,let's go to the Lord and ask for his help.Please pray for me, and I will pray for you.Father, we come to you with one of our greatest struggles,with something that I am very sure that every single personin this room struggles with.Lord, minister to us in the way that only you can.Challenge us, convict us, but also comfort us and build us up.We thank you in advance for what you will do.We ask all this in the beautiful, wonderful, powerful nameof Jesus Christ.Amen.If you are able, please stand in reverencefor the reading of God's Word as we read Psalm 138.I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart.Before the gods, I sing your praise.I bow down toward your holy templeand give thanks to your name for your steadfast loveand your faithfulness.For you have exalted above all things your name and your word.On the day I called, you answered me.My strength of soul, you increasedall the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,for they have heard the words of your mouth.And they shall sing of the ways the Lord for greatis the glory of the Lord.For though the Lord is high, He regards the lowly,but the haughty He knows from afar.Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life.You stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,and your right hand delivers me.The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.Do not forsake the work of your hands.You may be seated.As you study this Psalm, you can'thelp but notice that David's Thanksgiving is divided upinto three different sections--the past, the present, and the future.In this Psalm, David slides back and forthon the timeline of history to find reasons to praise the Lordand give Him thanks for His actions and His attributes.And I want you to follow David's lead this morning.I want you to be on the lookout for reasonsto give thanks with your whole heart for what God hasdone in your past, what He is doing in your present,and what He will do in the future.So I give thanks to my whole heart, firstly,because God has proven His reliability to me in the past.I give thanks with my whole heart,because God has proven His reliability to me in the past.So David starts this Psalm by declaringhis complete and total devotion to the Lord.Let's read verses 1 through 2 again.I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart,before the gods I sing your praise,I bow down towards your holy templeand give thanks to your name for your steadfast loveand your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all thingsyour name and your word.This isn't the prayer of a man who is dispassionate and disconnected.This isn't the prayer of a man going through the motions.David is overflowing with gratitude for God's faithfulness,His love, and His power.David is saying, "The false gods of the other nationsare worthless idols.They get nothing from me while God gets everything from me.They get my ridicule.God gets my praise.Their words are worthless and accomplish nothingwhile God's word never fails me.Their names do not matter while God's name is infinite."David doesn't offer God some of his heart or even most of his heart.He offers God his whole heart.This is what God wants and deserves from David.This is also what God wants and deserves from you.God isn't worthy of your leftovers.He is worthy of your best.God doesn't want you just to thank Him when you remember.He doesn't want you to treat Him like the teenage cashier at the ice cream shop,who you begrudgingly tip with the slowest amount possiblewhen the iPad screen is flipped around."Ah, fine. I guess I'll do it if I have to."Is that kind of attitude honoring to God?Not on any level, but that is often how we approach giving Him the creditthat He deserves.Instead of stopping what we're doing to give Him a heartfelt thank you,we throw a quick three-second prayer up to Himthat is devoid of any emotion and energy.Instead of immediately praising Him,we immediately move on to the next thing and the next big concern.This half-heartedness drains you of your joy.This half-heartedness gives you spiritual amnesia.You forget what God has done for you in the past,so you trust in yourself moving forward.In verse 3, David gets very specific with his thanksgivingand remembers how God has come through for him in the past."On the day I called, you answered,'My strength of soul,' you increased.I am well aware that some of you are telophonophobics.You hate talking on the phone.When someone calls, you panic.When you know you have to call someone else,you secretly hope that they won't pick up.But even you telophonophobics in the roomhave had to make calls that you needed someone to answer.Maybe you had an urgent question that required an immediate answer.Maybe it was a serious issue at work that you need to solve right now.Maybe it was even a matter of life or death.Every single person in this room has a call of this kind in their past.Put yourself into that tense mindset.Try to remember how you felt.Let me ask you, when you called, did that person answer?Did they come through for you?Other people cannot always come through for youno matter how reliable they might seem.Friends and family members cannot always answer when you call.But that is not true of God.He always picks up.He always answers.God doesn't screen your prayer to say to himself,"Ah, this guy again.I don't have time to deal with him right now."That has never happened.God doesn't send you to voicemail.God is always ready and willing to answer you when you call.But God's help may not come in the form that you expected or hoped for.At some point, every single one of us in this roomhave had this exact thought or said this exact thing.God didn't answer my prayer.Is that true?Well, it really depends on what you mean by answer.If by answer you mean that God says yes,then God didn't answer your prayer.But that definition captures our experience of the situationmore than the reality of the situation.It captures our feelings more than the facts.That definition misses the big picture of what God is up to behind the scenes.God answering your prayers doesn't mean that He always answers with a yes.But it does mean that God always responds.And sometimes that response is no or wait.And you never want that answer, do you?I never want that answer either.Again, every single one of us in this room can think of a timewhen we called to God and He answered with a no.You prayed for healing and healing didn't come.You asked for that big promotionand it went to someone far less deserving.You asked for the Lord to use your witnessing, your positive exampleto make an impact on your prodigal child, but there is no positive reception.You call to the Lord and ask for that baby that you've always wanted,but that room is still empty.That no can be so confusing and devastating.What reason could God possibly have to say no to that request?I don't know.I don't want to patronize you or minimize your pain.I don't want to give you a hallmark card answer and tell you that do not be sad and upset.Listen, it's okay to be sad and upset.Seasons of sorrow are unavoidable.I've gone through these times in the past and I will again.You've gone through these times of sorrow and you may be experiencing it right now.I truly don't know the exact reason that God said no to that request when you called to Him.But He does.God never says no for no reason.Everything He does is purposeful.God never wastes your pain.Everything you go through has meaning.As I meditated upon these truths over the past week, I couldn't help but think of the hymn,"God moves in a mysterious way," which says this,"judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace.Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.God's purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour.The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower."Why God said no back then may never make sense in this life.But it will in eternity.And those times when God said no often drown out and obscure the times that He said yes.So I want you to stop focusing on the no's for a minute.I want you to start thinking about the times when you called to God and He answered youwith a yes.Consider that.Were you able to think of some clear examples when God said yes and proved His reliabilityto you in the past?Maybe you experienced a season of dark, deep depression.You called out to God and He answered you with a yes by sending you a friend who lovedyou, who encouraged you, who prayed for you, who listened to you.Maybe you called out to God when you had no idea how to handle a specific situation andHe gave you a yes by providing you wisdom from His Word.Maybe you experienced a broken relationship and you called out to God and He answeredwith a yes by bringing restoration and putting all the pieces back together again.Or how about the most important yes of all?You realized you were a sinner.You called out to God asking for forgiveness and salvation and God answered with a yesby giving it to you.I could keep going for days, weeks, months and years because there is no end to whatGod has done for you.Friends, God has been so good to you in the past.Do you recognize that?Do you believe that?There have been so many times when you recognized His goodness and you praised Him for it.But there have been many more times when you didn't recognize His goodness or praise Him.And thankfully God's goodness wasn't taken away from you when you didn't recognize it.God still gives good gifts to His children even when His children don't say thank you.But in those moments when you didn't acknowledge what God had done and say thank you to Him,the strength of your soul was diminished and depleted.Your strength of soul was like a balloon and ungratefulness was the needle that poppedthat balloon and left it deflated on the floor.That may be how you feel this morning.You're just deflated.You're just kind of there.You're down and out.Could it be that you have a heart problem because you were ungrateful for what God hasdone for you?No matter how hard your life has been, God's fingerprints of kindness are all over yourstory.You simply need the eyes of faith to see these evidences of grace or you'll miss them completely.Like David, give thanks with your whole heart because God has proven His reliability toyou in the past.Give thanks with your whole heart for what God has done for you and your strength ofsoul will be increased.I give thanks with my whole heart because God is at work in my life right now.Because God is at work in my life right now.I'm going to break some preaching rules here for a minute.Who wants to break the rules with me?All right, some of you, most of your rulekeepers besides Darlet and Jay, I guess we'll go withit.So, we're going to skip past verses 4 through 5 for now.We're not going to skip them entirely.We'll come back to them.We're going to move on to verses 6 through 7.Don't worry this will all make sense very soon.We spent some time focusing on what God has done for David.Now let's focus on what God is doing for David in verses 6 through 7.For though the Lord is high, He regards the lowly, but the haughty He knows from afar.Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life.You stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies and your right hand deliversme.We don't know the backstory of the Psalm or what kind of trouble David is experiencing.All we know is he needs his life to be preserved.He has enemies that the Lord needs to stretch out his hands against.David needs deliverance.Your problems seem like the biggest deal in the entire world, don't they?When you're going through trouble, you often feel like you're the only one in the entireworld who is experiencing what you're experiencing.Is that actually the case?Not at all.Literally every person in the world has something going on right now.Everyone has a problem.Everyone has trouble.And David is well aware where his life, where his troubles, where his problems rank on theorder of importance.Compared to God, he is nothing and nobody.David acknowledges that he is lowly.But he actually rejoices in that truth because even though the Lord is high, He regards thelowly, but the haughty, the proud, the arrogant He knows from afar.If you exalt yourself to the position of the movie star of your life, you will not be ina position to receive God's help.You will dismiss what he has to offer.But if you rightly acknowledge that God is the star, you will receive help from Him.God is big, but He still loves little people.God is great, but He still blesses the unremarkable.God is supremely important, but He still serves the unimportant.You may be painfully aware that you are unimportant, unremarkable, and little.But that is a good thing.That means the Lord has regard for you.God cares for you.He pays attention to you.God's helping hand is offered to you at all times.You can either push away this helping hand in pride or you can grab ahold of it in humility.I need God's help right now.You need God's help right now.You are in the midst of some kind of trouble.Maybe you're being attacked.Someone at work is gunning for you.A family member or friend is making life miserable for you.Your integrity is being called into question.You may have a target on your back, but God preserves your life.You may have enemies who are seeking to destroy you, but God stretches out His hand againstthe wrath of your enemies.His right hand delivers you.Fair warning.God may not deliver you from experiencing that hardship, but He delivers you from givingup as you experience that hardship.His right hand delivers you from anger, bitterness, resentment, isolation.You may be enduring the most intense season of temptation you've ever encountered.You feel like you can't say no one more time that any day now you're going to break.You can stand strong because God preserves you.He stretches, will stretch His hand against that temptation.If you believe that He can, His right hand delivers you from giving in.Listen to this promise from 1 Corinthians 10.13.No temptation is overtaking you that is not common to man.God is faithful and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with thetemptation He will provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure it.Something that God has taught me recently is that He most often delivers you throughtrust and His promises.There is nothing more powerful and dependable than a promise from God.If you're experiencing intense temptation, grab ahold of this promise and don't let goso you will experience deliverance and find the way of escape.Maybe you need delivered from the ultimate enemies of Satan, sin, and death.You are under the power of the evil one in this evil world.You are a slave to sin.You are bound for eternal death.You are like that toddler running towards the road and there will be a horrible fateunless that child is grasped by a loving father.Ask this father to preserve you and give you eternal life.Ask him to stretch out His hand against the wrath of your enemies.Ask for His right hand to grab ahold of you and deliver you from the fate that you deserve.A truck of hell is barreling down.But God will rescue you if you ask Him to.No matter what trouble you are walking through, God is at work in your life right now.You can't say, "Yeah, God sure was at work back in the day, but He hasn't done anythingfor me lately."No, God is preserving your life even when you don't know it.He is stretching out His hand against enemies that you don't even know you have.God is delivering you all the time.God isn't like the lifeguards at the pool or the beach who clock in and clock out.For many hours of the day, their floatation devices are hung up and those chairs are empty.But God is always on duty.He keeps you from drowning.He keeps your head above water.God is always on His heavenly throne.In the Psalm 121, 1-4, "I lift up my eyes to the hills from where does my help comefrom?My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.He will not let your foot be moved.He who keeps you will not slumber.Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."God is not asleep on the job.God is not taking a break.He is not packing up His office.God is helping you.God is fighting for you.Give thanks with your whole heart because God is at work in your life right now.I give thanks with my whole heart, finally, because God will not give up on me in thefuture.Because God will not give up on me in the future.Let's rewind back to verses 4 through 5, but this rewind is actually a fast forward asDavid gives thanks for what God will do."All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the wordsof your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord for great is the glory ofthe Lord."In 2025, this scene seems very unlikely, doesn't it?I mean, how many presidents, politicians, dictators, and governments truly fear Godand worship Him?Not many.God is openly mocked and dishonored.His people are belittled.People are even put into prison and martyred for their faith.So many world leaders do not recognize the one who put them into power in the first place.But despite this hostility, the message of the gospel is still advancing and spreadingamong the nations.People of different backgrounds, positions, and levels of influence are hearing the wordsof God's mouth, being saved, giving thanks, and praising Him.In one day, all leaders of the earth will retire from their positions and vacate theiroffices as one rightful ruler reigns supreme.And who is this rightful ruler?Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords.And Paul speaks to this future in Philippians 2, 9 through 11."Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name as above every name,so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."One day there will be no more elections, no more protests, no more corruption, no morepolitical news channels, no more war, no more threat of nuclear attack.There will be only praise and thanksgiving.The glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.And this future isn't maybe a might be or let's hope so.No, this future is set in stone.It is certain fact.You can resist it all you want, but it will come to pass.While the immediate future of this world is uncertain, God's ultimate future is not inquestion.In verse 8, "Folks is on David's future and the purpose that God has for David's life,his throne, and his house.The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.Do not forsake the work of your hands."The same God who will cause kings and leaders to bow down before him will fulfill David'spurpose as well.Actually, it is through fulfilling David's purpose that God will fulfill this ultimatefuture for his people and his creation.Help me with a quick reminder.From whose family line does King Jesus come?From King David's line.Listen to the promise that the Lord made to David in 2 Samuel 7.16, "And your house andyour kingdom shall be made sure forever, before me your throne shall be established forever."This purpose has been fulfilled and will further be fulfilled in Christ.This promise has been kept and will be further kept in Christ.David's throne has been established and will be established forever.And the one who sits on this throne is none other than Jesus Christ himself.He trusts in God's future plans.But he still cries out to the Lord and offers this prayer, "Do not forsake the work of yourhands."This may sound like doubt, but it isn't.This is a cry of dependence and neediness.David is saying, "God, please keep your promises to me.Without you, I am completely sunk.Do not forsake the work of your hands."This has become my new favorite prayer request.I've lost count of how many times I've prayed it over the past week, and you should prayit as well.God, keep your promise.Do not forsake the work of your hands.David's personal future is set in stone.It is a certain fact.The same is true for you if you're a follower of Christ.God will fulfill His purpose for you.He will keep every single promise that He has made to you in His Word.His steadfast love for you will endure forever.If you don't believe me, Paul backs up this truth in Philippians 1-6, and I am sure ofthis that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day ofJesus Christ.Jude 1-24, that God will keep you from stumbling and present you blameless before the presenceof His glory with great joy.The steadfastness of God is so foreign to us because we give up on things all the time.You start a brand new read that you're so excited for, but then it puts you to sleepso that you sell it, you send it to good will, you put it back on the shelf.You watch a movie that's boring so you turn it off.You start a new diet or exercise routine, but you get distracted and you give up onthat.You start a new hobby, but you get very distracted and very bored very quickly.You start something, but you don't finish it.God never does that.God doesn't operate like that at all.God will not forsake the work of His hands.God will not give up on you someday.God will hold on to you.He will finish what He started in you.It's so easy to believe these truths intellectually, but it's hard to feel in your heart.You often feel that God's love for you is an up and down, up and down roller coasterthat's based on your performance.If you're a good boy or a good girl, God's happy with you.If you're a bad boy or a bad girl, God's very unhappy with you.But God's love for you doesn't depend upon you and your performance at all.God's love for you depends on Christ and His perfect performance on your behalf.If God's love for me depended on my good deeds, my good works, He would have stoppedloving me a long time ago.But because His love depends on Christ, who is perfect and obeyed in every way that I'vefailed, His love for me will last forever and ever and ever.And that is true for you if you belong to Him.If you have trusted in Christ, God gives you the same exact message that I give to my kidsevery single night before I put them to bed.I love you when you're good.I love you when you're bad.I love you when you listen.I love you when you don't listen.I'm your dad no matter what.Isn't the assurance of God's love a cause for celebration?Isn't His steadfastness worthy of your thanksgiving and your praise?Instead of stressing out about what's ahead, choose to give thanks with your whole heartbecause God will not give up on you in the future.Give thanks with your whole heart for what God will do.I doubt that anyone in this room has a heart that is completely free from negativity andcomplaining.You and I complain about something every single day.And many of us complain about many things most days.Discontentment is a serious heart problem that you shouldn't take lightly.Disatisfaction is an acid that eats away your heart, your ministry, your walk with the Lord.The only surgical solution to that heart problem of ingratitude is gratitude.You must give thanks.It's not enough to just feel thankful.You have to verbalize it.You have to express it.You must acknowledge and verbalize your thankfulness for the attributes and actions of God.We've spent a lot of time talking about giving thanks.But it would be a big failure on my part if I didn't give you the opportunity to actuallygive thanks.In a moment, you will find some people around you and you're going to praise the Lord togetherwith your whole hearts.Come together to give thanks for who God is.Think about this God we saw in Psalm 138.He is loving.He is steadfast.He is faithful.He is glorious.He is worthy.He is high and exalted.He is the King of all.He is the Preserver and Sustainer.He is a promise keeper.Also give thanks with your whole hearts for what God has done, what He is doing, and whatHe will do.So find some people around you and give thanks together.Father, we come to you and we thank you so much, first and foremost, for the gift ofyour Son.We thank you that your Son came to live a perfect life because we never could.And He endured hell on the cross so that we could experience heaven forever.Well, there are people in this room who don't have the hope of heaven, that don't have atrue relationship with Christ, may today be the day of salvation.So that they can give thanks to you both now and forever.Thanks for the rest of us, Lord, help us to continually give thanks, to not give ourselvesover to discontentment and complaining, but to always recognize your goodness.And to know that every single day is a fresh pouring out of your mercy and your grace forus.We thank you for what you have done.We thank you for what you are doing, and we thank you for what you will do.We ask all these things in Jesus' name, amen.

"Is the Great Sustainer sustaining your forgiveness?" Hebrews 1:3

In a world full of contradiction and confusion, the Apostle Paul's encounter at Mars Hill offers a powerful blueprint for engaging a spiritually lost culture. This sermon explores Paul's bold message to a city filled with idols and intellect, yet starving for truth. Drawing from Acts 17, we examine what it means to live “in Christ” in contrast to life “out of Christ.”Listeners will discover how Paul transitioned from cultural observation to gospel proclamation, revealing the identity and supremacy of the Creator God. We unpack key scriptural truths:Jesus as the Creator and Sustainer of lifeThe necessity of living in Him, not just believing about HimThe contrast between Sunday-only religion and everyday Christ-centered livingThis message challenges believers to bring Jesus out of the church building and into everyday life. Learn how to guard your spiritual house, shut the door to the enemy, and keep your heart open to Christ's lordship. A practical and convicting call to be the Church in a confused and broken world.

In the first episode of Growing Forward, Pastor Andy Comer further explores the Christian view of creation, emphasizing our role as stewards rather than worshipers of nature. He contrasts the biblical understanding of God as Creator and Sustainer with New Age pantheism, which blurs the line between creation and divinity. This message reminds us to marvel at the beauty of creation while directing all our worship to God alone. Drawing from Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, Andy highlights the redemptive story that centers on Jesus and His sustaining power over all things!

Above All  Is Jesus just a good teacher—or is He the foundation of everything? In this bold kickoff to our new series Above All, Pastor Steve Garcia walks us through Colossians 1 to reveal the real Jesus—Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and King. This isn't the Jesus culture casually respects or religion conveniently redefines. This is the Jesus who is before all, over all, and worthy of being first in your life.

This sermon concludes a 9-week series on Colossians, focusing on the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ throughout the book. Pastor Devin reviews key themes from each chapter showing how Christ is supreme and sufficient in all areas - as Creator, Sustainer, Head of the Church, Source of wisdom, and giver of new life. The sermon concludes by examining Paul's emphasis on prayer and living with expectant hope for Christ's return.What does it mean for Christ to be 'sufficient' in our lives?How does your prayer life reflect your relationship with God?Why do you think Paul asked for prayer for the advancement of the gospel rather than his own freedom while in prison?How would your life be different if you truly lived each day expecting Christ's return?What areas of your life do you struggle to fully surrender to Christ's supremacy?How does knowing Christ is sufficient change how we handle difficulties and persecution?What practical steps can we take to make prayer more central in our daily lives?How can we better demonstrate Christ's supremacy to others in our community?Support the show

Jesus – He's our subject today on a Daily Walk! In Colossians chapter one the apostle Paul presents Christ for who He really is. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29

You may or may not have an inheritance waiting for you from a loved one. But even that will one day pass away. But consider this… if you're a believer in Christ you have an incomparable inheritance given to you by God for all of eternity. Nothing can take it away! That's something to get excited about and be thankful for. Today on a Daily Walk we'll give you good reasons to praise God as we open Colossians chapter one, with pastor John Randall. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29

In Colossians 1:15-17 we discover that Jesus Christ is worthy of our Worship because He is the pre-eminent Christ, the Lord of Creation and its Sustainer.

Weekly sermons from City Lights Church based in Greeley Colorado. Featuring head Pastor Kurt Chamberlain and other guest speakers.

Is work just a necessary evil, or could it be something sacred?In this opening message from our summer series at Stonebridge, we dive deep into a topic rarely preached on but incredibly relevant to all of us: work. From Genesis to Jesus, we discover that the God of the Bible is not just a distant deity—He is a working God. He creates, sustains, and rules—and He calls us to do the same.This sermon explores: 1. How God's identity as Creator, Sustainer, and Worker shapes our view of work 2. Why work is not a result of the fall but part of God's original design for humanity 3. The danger of both laziness and workaholism in a culture confused about rest and purpose 4. How Jesus' life as a carpenter and His mission-driven ministry reflect the sacredness of work 5. What it means to bear God's image by bringing order, beauty, and fullness into the world through what we doWhether you're a CEO or a stay-at-home parent, a tradesperson or a student—your work matters. You were made in the image of a God who works. And your work, done in faith and for His glory, is a sacred calling.

Audio Recording Audio Block Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more Sermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. Scott StrickmanSermon Series: Come, Let Us Walk in the Light of the LordIsaiah 63:15-64:12 (ESV)17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth,and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create;for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people;no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days,for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat;for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity,for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them.24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food.They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,”says the Lord.Sermon OutlineSet your heart on the city of God and pursue lasting joy and gladness (vv17-18).1. What Is Missingvv19-25 “no more… weeping… cry of distress… infant who lives but a few days… they shall not… plant and another eat… labor in vain or bear children for calamity… wolf… lion… serpent…”v24 “Before they call I will answer”2. Who Is Presentv24 “while they are yet speaking I will hear.”vv18-19 “I create Jerusalem to be a joy… gladness. I will rejoice… be glad in my people”3. How We Livev25 “the lion shall eat straw like the ox…”v18 “be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create”Prayer of ConfessionOur Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, we are in great need of your help. We wander this world foolishly seeking to satisfy our pride, greed and lust. When joy is lacking, we envy, resent, and act with spite. We have lived in the world for ourselves. We have not put you first. We admit our disordered loves and disordered life. With hard hearts we have neglected your call, making excuses instead of coming at your invitation. Forgive every offense. Transform our hearts and minds. Fill us with your love so we inhabit and serve our city as faithful citizens of your city. Grant us eternal joy and gladness through Christ. Amen.Questions for ReflectionWhat do you love about New York City (or where you live)? What do you not like?Why does the Bible make love for God such a priority? How is putting God first difficult for you?What in the list of what God will fix do you most long for: no more cries of distress, no early death, no building and others inhabiting, no futile work, no children born to suffer, no predators?How can the vision of a hopeful future help you in the present? How is the city of God different from human cities? What does Jesus do and say that indicates the new Jerusalem will be very different?What can you learn from the picture that the wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like an ox? How is the pursuit of joy and the pursuit of God intertwined? What can you change in your life so that there is more joy and gladness in it?How can sacrificial service be a means to a more satisfying life?Read AheadIsaiah Sermon Series

Audio Recording Sermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. Scott StrickmanSermon Series: Come, Let Us Walk in the Light of the LordIsaiah 65:17-25 (ESV)17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth,and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create;for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people;no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days,for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat;for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity,for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them.24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food.They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,”says the Lord.Sermon OutlineSet your heart on the city of God and pursue lasting joy and gladness (vv17-18).1. What Is Missingvv19-25 “no more… weeping… cry of distress… infant who lives but a few days… they shall not… plant and another eat… labor in vain or bear children for calamity… wolf… lion… serpent…”v24 “Before they call I will answer”2. Who Is Presentv24 “while they are yet speaking I will hear.”vv18-19 “I create Jerusalem to be a joy… gladness. I will rejoice… be glad in my people”3. How We Livev25 “the lion shall eat straw like the ox…”v18 “be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create”Prayer of ConfessionOur Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, we are in great need of your help. We wander this world foolishly seeking to satisfy our pride, greed and lust. When joy is lacking, we envy, resent, and act with spite. We have lived in the world for ourselves. We have not put you first. We admit our disordered loves and disordered life. With hard hearts we have neglected your call, making excuses instead of coming at your invitation. Forgive every offense. Transform our hearts and minds. Fill us with your love so we inhabit and serve our city as faithful citizens of your city. Grant us eternal joy and gladness through Christ. Amen.Questions for ReflectionWhat do you love about New York City (or where you live)? What do you not like?Why does the Bible make love for God such a priority? How is putting God first difficult for you?What in the list of what God will fix do you most long for: no more cries of distress, no early death, no building and others inhabiting, no futile work, no children born to suffer, no predators?How can the vision of a hopeful future help you in the present? How is the city of God different from human cities? What does Jesus do and say that indicates the new Jerusalem will be very different?What can you learn from the picture that the wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like an ox? How is the pursuit of joy and the pursuit of God intertwined? What can you change in your life so that there is more joy and gladness in it?How can sacrificial service be a means to a more satisfying life?Read AheadIsaiah Sermon Series

That's the beauty of the Trinity. It's not a formula to be figured out, but a relationship, a mystery, a presence to be experienced. A God who meets us as Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer. A God who moves toward us in love, calls us by name, and shows up—sometimes jogging down a city street—right when we need to be found.

We shouldn't settle for a dim view of Jesus or get ideas about him from culture, or caricatures, or assumptions. He is the image of the invisible God, Creator, Sustainer, Supreme Head of all. // A message by Chris Hyatt.

Year C – Trinity Sunday – June 15, 2025 Pastor Megan Floyd John 16:12-15 Athanasian Creed   Grace and Peace to you from our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is God and the Holy Spirit… the Three-in-One. Amen. Today is Holy Trinity Sunday… now I have several clergy friends who prefer to gloss over this one, but given how cloudy our understanding of the Trinity is, I thought we should dig in, yes? So today… Trinity Sunday… is a different sort of festival… in that what we are celebrating is actually… our church doctrine… it is the church's explanation of God's nature as three-in-one… one-in-three… or rather, we should say… Today we celebrate our almost understanding of God's nature. I say almost, because… it isn't perfect… no description we can imagine or create will truly capture who God is… and that's also the point. Nothing we can say about God will fully describe God's being because God is massive and ultimately beyond our full understanding. God is mystery… and wonder… and awe… And yet… This massive and mysterious God yearns for a relationship with us… a personal relationship with humanity… God wanted that so much that God came and walked with us in the person of Jesus Christ. Our great and powerful God… in a poor and humble human body. God came and shared our joy and our pain… lived a human life with us… and submitted himself to our most incredibly violent actions… all to show us how much God was invested in this relationship. And after Jesus defeated death, and was resurrected from the tomb… he continued to share life with us before ascending to heaven, but not before drawing our attention to the Holy Spirit… Our advocate… the Holy Spirit of God… the very breath of God that fills our lungs and permeates our lives… God who surrounds us… and lives within us. God, the mighty and powerful creator… Jesus… our humble redeemer and friend… and Spirit… the one who sustains us and saturates our world… Distinct in their divinity but together as one… one God. “One God in trinity, and the Trinity in unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the divine being… the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, equal in glory, coeternal in majesty.” Makes perfect sense, yes? As humans, in a relationship, we want to set parameters… we want to understand and know the other person… We like to believe that fully knowing another is actually possible. For example… my parents have been married for forty-nine years. I'd say they know each other very well… they can anticipate each other's reactions and moods. But occasionally, they still surprise each other… And my husband and I have been married almost twenty-two years… we respond in unison so often that we suspect we might share a brain. But we are still – all of us – separate people with different perspectives on life. Think about your closest relationship… perhaps with your spouse… or a sibling or cousin… maybe a life-long best friend. You know this person through and through… you can describe and anticipate this person's thoughts and reactions… You have laughed together… cried together… and yet, you are not them… they are not you… Even the person you know the most is distinct from you in such a way that prevents you from ever fully understanding what it is… to be them… And your person… the one you have in mind now… is human… How much more than that is our God? With God… full knowledge and understanding will always be… just beyond our reach. And that's ok. For us to be invested in our relationships with anyone, but particularly with God, we must invest our time in them. We must share our full life with them… laugh and cry together… learn and grow together. With God… Jesus… Spirit… we dwell in our learning and growing through prayer, worship, and spending time in the Scriptures… laughing together… crying together… giving thanks for God's enduring faithfulness. In our scriptures, we read and relive God's interactions with our ancestors so that we can be attuned to God's interactions with us. Because God did not stop acting after Revelation was written! We come together in worship and praise, and we wait for the Lord to come to us… to meet us in our lives… we nurture our relationship with God so that when God shows up, we recognize the one who calls us beloved. Our doctrine of the Trinity… our best attempt at describing God's three-in-oneness… wasn't handed to the disciples as a list of terms and conditions to accompany the Holy Spirit… This doctrine… this way of understanding… developed over a few hundred years of faithful followers of Jesus trying to make sense of what happened… trying to understand how these events fit in with the Hebrew scriptures and laws, and with the writings and teachings they'd gathered since Jesus's death and resurrection… The Trinity is our best attempt at describing God's divine presence in and with and through all things in all places… for all time and even outside of time. Our understanding of the Trinity came from those who dedicated their time and attention to their relationship with God… and allowed that relationship to reveal new discoveries about our Creator… Redeemer… and Sustainer. The Three-in-one… One-in-three. However, what we celebrate today is not the doctrine itself per se, but that this idea gave us a new lens through which to revisit Scripture… a new perspective to help us understand our interactions with the Divine. This new perspective helped us realize that God… Jesus… Spirit… have always been… and were always there… and will be until the end of time… eternally together, yet separate… and eternally one. And so, this doctrine is the lens through which we now hear Jesus's parting words to his disciples… on the night in which he was betrayed. Jesus knows they cannot fully grasp the meaning of all that is about to occur… and that they won't fully understand everything he has taught them up until that point, until after he has defeated death. He knows that they will need to remember his words to understand… but he promises them that they will have help. God's Holy Spirit will surround them and guide them toward truth… will guide them in their continued living as disciples of Jesus. God's Holy Spirit will permeate their lives and continue to glorify God… to make God known for them… just as the Holy Spirit continues to glorify God for us. Jesus says of the Holy Spirit that it will continue to make Jesus known to them… because it will guide them in his teaching… just as Jesus' teaching has made God the Father known. The inspiration and guidance we receive from the Holy Spirit is not independent of God or Jesus… for the Spirit and Jesus and God are one. And yet… exactly how it is that God… Jesus… Spirit so saturates our very being remains a mystery that we know is true. We know it is true because we feel God all around us, we share stories of encountering God, and we do our best with our limited language to describe God's awesomeness… knowing that the full scope of God is just beyond our grasp. Kallistos Ware was an English bishop and theologian of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and he wrote, “We see that it is not the task of Christianity to provide easy answers to every question, but to make us progressively aware of a mystery. God is not so much the object of our knowledge, as the cause of our wonder.” It is our wonder that keeps us invested in this amazing relationship with our Creator… and it is our awe that reminds us who we are and whose we are… We seek the triune God who reveals themselves to us as three… and yet one… the source of our life and our salvation… A divine mystery that we can explore for our whole lives, knowing and accepting that full knowledge is not for us in this life. And that's ok. We can celebrate our almost understanding, using the doctrine of the Trinity as our lens through which we read, and grow in awareness of God's story… Always leaving room for wonder and awe for our Creator… Redeemer… and Sustainer… the three-in-one… and one-in-three. Amen.

Pastor Jordan launches the Rooted series with a powerful message from Colossians about anchoring your life in Christ. Learn how being deeply rooted in Jesus—our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer—equips believers to withstand every storm and grow in spiritual strength.

Pastor Bruce MacLean takes us through Psalm 65, the Harvest Psalm. He discusses how this Psalm emphasizes God as Savior, God as Creator, and God as Sustainer.Come study God's Word with us! We invite you to connect with us each week. For the full series plus more messages and resources, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ccc-online.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

If someone asked you to explain what it means that Allah is the Creator, the Sustainer, the One in charge of every single thing—would you be able to answer? Most Muslims would nod, but few can actually put that belief into words, let alone live by it. That's where Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah comes in—not as an abstract category, but as the core of how you see Allah. In this session, Ustadh Sadiq A. Yasin strips it back to the basics: What does it really mean that Allah alone creates, owns, governs, provides—and no one shares in that? Why do so many acknowledge Allah as Lord, yet still fall into shirk? And what hidden assumptions do we carry that quietly contradict what we claim to believe? This isn't just theory. It's the foundation every Muslim needs before they can truly say La ilaha illa Allah and mean it. Sign up now to AMAU Academy: https://www.amauacademy.com/ AMAU Academy: https://www.amauacademy.com/ AMAU Junior: https://amaujunior.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amauofficial/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AMAU Telegram: https://t.me/amauofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AMAUofficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMAUofficial iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/al-madrasatu-al-umariyyah/id1524526782 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08NJC1pIA0maaF6aKqZL4N Get in Touch: https://amau.org/getintouch BarakAllahu feekum. #Allah #AMAU #aqeedah #tawheed #iman

Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." What a majestic opening to the Word of God! With ten simple words, the Bible shatters every false philosophy! Atheism is silenced--for there is a God. Polytheism is refuted--for there is but one God. Materialism is exposed--for matter is not eternal, but created. Evolution is denied--for creation was by divine fiat, not blind chance. Pantheism is dismissed--for God is distinct from His creation. "In the beginning God…"--this is where all true knowledge must begin. Before time, before space, before anything that is seen--there was God. He is self-existent, eternal, and independent. He needs nothing, but out of His own sovereign pleasure, He spoke the universe into being! Everything that exists--every atom, every planet, every creature--owes its existence to Him. The psalmist declares, "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth!" (Psalm 33:6) This first verse of Scripture is foundational. If we do not believe that God created the heavens and the earth, then we will not rightly understand the rest of Scripture. Hebrews 11:3 reminds us: "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command." God alone is the Creator, and the Owner, and the Sustainer, and the Ruler--of all things in His creation. This verse also sets the tone for worship. If God is the Creator, then we are His creatures. We are not our own--we belong to Him. We are not the center of the universe--He is. We did not bring ourselves into being--we were made for His glory. "You are worthy our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and

Pastor Jordan launches the Rooted series with a powerful message from Colossians about anchoring your life in Christ. Learn how being deeply rooted in Jesus—our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer—equips believers to withstand every storm and grow in spiritual strength.

Paul's prayer for the Colossians is that they would be controlled by things of the Lord—by the beauty of who Jesus is. False teachings had infiltrated the church, but Paul begins with, “See Jesus.” He dwells on Jesus before addressing the false teaching. So, who is Jesus? Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all. Everything is His. He sees you, He knows you, and He holds it all together. Everything exists for the praise and glory of Christ. There's not even a single molecule outside of His control—and if He cares about a molecule, how much more does He care about you? Jesus is the true and only Redeemer because He is the only perfect sacrifice. It's not your goodness—it's Jesus' sacrifice on your behalf. We were once separated from Him, but Christ reconciled you and justified you before God Almighty. Jesus is supreme. He is preeminent. See Jesus. Be reminded of who He is and what He's done. Do everything you cannot to forget Him as you go throughout your day. See Jesus. Listen to this sermon about seeing Jesus for who He is in the second part of our In The Word series, walking through the book of Colossians.Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/xuxMvDGEOAgSubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zkLearn more about us at chestnutmountain.orgFollow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and let us know what you think.

Scott Ryan teaches a message titled, "God's Watchful Care" from Psalm 121. • The Lord is our SOURCE. • The Lord is our STRONGHOLD. • The Lord is our SHELTER. • The Lord is our SUSTAINER.

Going to our Maker our Creator and Sustainer and our Savior and our Guide - giving thanks and praise and honor and glory this evening and always. Prayer #pray #praise #joy #beauty #peace #prayer #morningprayer #bow #love #rejoice #wisdom #holy #holiness #jesus #god #holyspirit #aimingforjesus #christian #christianprayer #morning #evening #bibleverse Thank you for listening, our heart's prayer is for you and I to walk daily with Jesus, our joy and peace aimingforjesus.com YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@aimingforjesus5346 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aiming_for_jesus/ Threads https://www.threads.com/@aiming_for_jesus X https://x.com/AimingForJesus Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@aiming.for.jesus

This week, Pastor Webb continued in his series on the book of Colossians.

This week, Josh, Cliff, Michael, and Justin gather around the table for an episode that mixes curiosity, theology, and a bit of controversy. The conversation is sparked by Michael's message on how Christ holds all things together—down to the atoms—and the surprising scientific depth he brought to the pulpit. The team reflects on Colossians 1 and how this passage doesn't just describe Jesus as Creator, but as the Sustainer—the glue, the gravity, the force keeping all creation intact. To explore the tension between belief and understanding, they engage in a game called Real Science or Totally Fake?—not just for laughs, but to surface a bigger point: what we believe about the nature of reality is ultimately answered in Christ. From discussions about molecules and laminin to the cosmic scope of Jesus' role, the hosts explore the bridge between science and faith, showing how both point to the same sustaining Savior.

Join Lisa and Laura for our series Names of God. In biblical times, names were of great importance—they conveyed a person's essence, history, nature, or character. As we explore the various names of God in the Old Testament, we gain insight into His character. With each name, we will learn a new attribute, deepening our understanding of and growing closer to God. In today's episode, we explore our second name, El Shaddai, which comes from two Hebrew words, “El,” the singular word for God, and Shaddai, meaning “Almighty” or “All-Sufficient.”  Do you believe that God is your Sustainer and has the power to show up in impossible situations and work miracles? Or do you take matters into your own hands when it looks like God isn't coming through on His promises? Today's conversation is one of our favorites, and you are encouraged to grab a cold drink, your Bible, settle in, and receive the truth you desperately need to hear: God can do the impossible. Open your Heart to our key Scripture. Genesis 17:1: When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless." Open your Bible to other Scriptures referenced in this episode. Genesis 12:1–2: Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” Genesis 15:2–3: “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring; and a slave born in my house will be my heir.” Genesis 15:4: “This man shall not be your heir; your own son shall be your heir.” Genesis 16 Genesis 17 Genesis 18:12–14: So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:15: But Sarah denied saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” Genesis 22 Romans 4:18–21: In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations; as he had been told, “So shall your descendants be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Psalm 91:1–2: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” Invite Him in with this episode's questions for reflection. How is God calling you to trust Him as El Shaddai? Look at that area of life where He is asking you to trust Him and ask yourself whether there's a root of bitterness in your heart because you feel He is taking too long.  Show mentions. Walking with Purpose, short Bible studies for summer Amy Grant, “El Shaddai” John Parkhurst, Biblical lexicographer Let's stay connected. Don't miss an episode. Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform.  Want to keep the conversation going? Join our private Facebook community. Stay in the know. Connect with us today.  We are committed to creating content that is free and easily accessible to every woman—especially the one looking for answers but unsure of where to go. If you've enjoyed this podcast, prayerfully consider making a donation to support it and other WWP outreach programs that bring women closer to Christ. Learn more about WWP on our website. Our shop. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.

Sustainer_Allen Hilton_5.18.25 by Covenant Presbyterian

Monthly Giving Week is here! So how do you grow a recurring donor program from a trickle to over 5,200 committed supporters? In this powerful episode, Ashlyn Jones, the force behind Houston Food Bank's “Faithful Friends” program, shares how the organization invested in a full-time sustainer role. AND, why having someone solely focused on nurturing monthly givers has been a game changer for retention and revenue.Ashlyn walks us through how emergencies, storytelling, and strategic touchpoints helped build long-term donor loyalty. She dives into the campaigns and platforms they've used, including paid social ads, telefunding, and stewardship emails - and how simple things like phone calls and handwritten notes have moved the needle on retention.One of the most inspiring takeaways? Ashlyn's approach to storytelling and writing in a way that donors feel their impact immediately, leading to an increase in their monthly gifts. This episode is jam-packed with actionable advice for nonprofits ready to build a loyal base of recurring donors.Resources & LinksConnect with Ashlyn on LinkedIn and learn more about the Houston Food Bank on their website. This show is presented by LinkedIn for Nonprofits. We're so grateful for their partnership. Explore their incredible suite of resources and discounts for nonprofit teams here. Are you still dreaming about building your monthly giving program or refreshing your current one? Applications are now open for my “done with you” Monthly Giving Mastermind. 4 spots are open and we start in July. Click here to apply. My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.Let's Connect! Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show! Head to YouTube for digital marketing how-to videos and podcast teasers Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

The close begins at 16.31Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, Thou dost know it all.Psalm 139:4We know God is omniscient, yet we hear one another telling God what He already knows when we talk to Him. The good news is that we see our Biblical examples engaging in the same thing. Why? We can get absorbed by our concerns or worship so much so we tell God what we know He knows.We see in the wedding a Cana, that all Mary said to Jesus was. "They have no wine." John 3:3Jesus, for His part, knew what she was asking.Our So What?He is what we are not, perfect.He understands our prayers, no matter how incomplete. Our aim in our community with our Creator, Savior, and Sustainer is to be open and laid bare to Him. We trust not in our words to inform, nor in eloquence to persuade, but in Him alone does our soul rest."What a man is on his knees before God, that he is and nothing more." Robert Murray M'CheyneeDonation link:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=G9JGGR5W97D64Or go to www.freerangepreacheronprayer.com and use the Donations tab.Assistant Editor: Seven Jefferson Gossard.www.freerangepreacheronprayer.comfreerangeprayer@gmail.comFacebook - Free Range Preacher MinistriesInstagram: freerangeministriesAll our Scripture quotes are drawn from the NASB 1977 edition.For access to the Voice Over services of Richard Durrington, please visit RichardDurrington.com or email him at Durringtonr@gmail.comOur podcast art was designed by @sammmmmmmmm23 InstagramSeason 007Episode 043

Are our efforts to help the poor always helpful, or could they sometimes do more harm than good?Today, we'll explore how short-term missions can genuinely reflect the heart of Christ and bring lasting change, without unintentionally hurting the very people we aim to serve. Dr. Brian Fikkert joins us for that conversation.Dr. Brian Fikkert is a Professor of Economics and Community Development and the Founder and President of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. He is also the co-author of the book, Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions.What Is Poverty—Really?Americans often define poverty materially—a lack of necessities, such as food, clean water, clothing, or shelter. As a result, short-term mission trips often center around distributing goods or completing construction projects. But when you ask materially poor individuals around the world what poverty means to them, they describe feelings of shame, helplessness, and a lack of dignity.This reveals a disconnect: while we view poverty as a lack of material possessions, those experiencing it often define it in relational, psychological, and spiritual terms. True poverty is brokenness in relationship—with God, self, others, and creation. That insight should transform how we approach short-term missions.Even the most well-intentioned trips can do harm. Why? Because those going on these trips may carry pride, believing they have the answers or that their culture holds superiority. In contrast, those in materially poor communities often struggle with inferiority. That combination can worsen the very sense of worthlessness we hope to alleviate.Rather than reinforcing this brokenness, we should pursue humility and listen more than we speak. The goal should not be to "fix" but to restore—to foster healthy relationships that reflect the image of God in all people.Presence Over ProjectsShort-term trips shouldn't be about what we accomplish but about who we become in relationship.If poverty is rooted in broken relationships, then the solution is to restore people to right relationships. And that doesn't come through handing out supplies or completing a checklist—it comes through deep, lasting community.That's why the local church is God's primary instrument of restoration. Mission teams should support these churches in a “backstage” role—serving quietly, praying faithfully, and encouraging leaders who are already embedded in the community. Sometimes the best thing you can do is babysit the pastor's children so he and his wife can enjoy a night out. That kind of support strengthens the long-term work far more than any single project ever could.The Sending Church's Role in Long-Term SuccessMany short-term trips blur the line between gospel and Western culture. But the gospel transcends culture—and so should we.Colossians 1 reminds us that Christ is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. That means He is already at work in every community, regardless of how impoverished it may seem. When mission teams enter a new culture, they should approach it reverently, as if stepping onto holy ground. There is beauty in every culture, and highlighting it can be healing. Simply asking, “What's good here?” affirms the image of God in others and begins the work of restoration.How can the sending church help ensure long-term success in missions?It's not about executing a flawless trip. It's about fostering enduring partnerships with local ministries. That includes showing up year after year, offering consistent prayer and support, and being safe spaces where local leaders can be authentic. Success is not measured by how much we build but by how deeply we walk with others through life.Fundraising as a Form of DiscipleshipShort-term mission fundraising can also be reframed. Young people often feel pressure to produce tangible results in exchange for financial support. But if the goal is to learn and grow, that's a worthy investment.Go as a learner and communicate that clearly to your supporters. When trips are part of a larger discipleship journey, they become valuable not only for those being served but also for the transformation of those who participate.Still, we must be wise stewards of God's resources. Many trips could be more effective if better embedded in a long-term process of learning and partnership.Short-term missions, when done right, can become powerful instruments of healing and restoration. But they must begin with a correct understanding of poverty and a humble willingness to be shaped by the journey.For churches preparing for trips this summer, Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions is more than a resource—it's a reorientation of purpose.To explore Dr. Fikkert's work or find resources and group studies designed for churches, visit Chalmers.org.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I just bought a new SUV and was offered bi-weekly payments. Would it be advantageous to opt for this option over monthly payments to minimize interest?My mother passed away in October of last year, and my sister and I are going to sell her house probably next month. My question is, in Texas, there's no inheritance tax. But is there an inheritance tax federally?We have some friends who asked us to give them a letter of giftedness to help them buy a home. They're asking for $17,000, for which they have $17,000 in cash that they will exchange for our check immediately. We don't understand why they can't just use their own cash, and we're not sure if helping them would cause difficulties for us or them.Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly MagazineThe Chalmers CenterHelping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett with Katie CasselberryWhen Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor... and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian FikkertWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

In a world overflowing with choices, allegiances, and competing voices, what does it mean to confess, "We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth"? This week, we explore the first article of the Nicene Creed and the invitation it offers us to re-anchor our lives in the one true God. Left to ourselves, we are prone to create idols, good things turned into ultimate things that eventually collapse under the weight of our hopes. But the Creed reminds us: there are not many powers to trust, only One, and He is enough. If you've ever felt scattered by the noise of modern life, or frustrated by the ways lesser allegiances have hollowed out much of the church's witness, you're not alone. This message offers both a warning and a hope: we don't have to keep building altars to things that can't save us. We can find our way back to the Source, the Sustainer, and the only Savior who will never fail. Join us as we uncover the grace, strength, and security that come from trusting the One and Only God.

Tired of maintaining a perfect image? In a world where authenticity seems rare, this message explores what genuine faith looks like beyond religious checklists and cultural Christianity.Discover the three marks of authentic Christianity from Colossians—faith in Jesus as both Savior and daily Sustainer, love that flows from the Spirit rather than selfish motives, and a kingdom mindset focused on God's eternal purposes.Learn why real faith isn't about what you do, but about yielding to God's work in you. Break free from performance-based spirituality and experience the freedom that comes from living authentically through surrender.

Sustainer's Banquet 2025

Sermons, April 2025, Psalms, Pastor Sean Northcraft

Is it enough to champion biblical principles without knowing the God behind them? What happens when thousands of leaders—Christian and non-Christian alike—gather around biblical principles to reimagine the future of Western civilization? Today, Katherine Gallagher takes us behind the scenes of the rapidly growing Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference in London to find out. Founded by Jordan Peterson and others, ARC set itself up as an alternative to the World Economic Forum; ARC is tapping into a global hunger for truth, meaning, and renewal. But again, can principles alone bring lasting change without the Person behind them?Main TopicsPrinciples vs. Person – Exploring the tension between shared moral values and the need for spiritual transformation through ChristJordan Peterson's emphasis on self-sacrificial servant leadership but lack of open faith in the Sustainer of these virtuesBiblical principles work whether people acknowledge their divine source or notSustainable transformation requires both good ideas and changed heartsCultural or civilizational transformation requires both biblical ideas and transformed hearts; as Katherine put it, "Truth is a person, not just principles."View the transcript, leave comments, and check out recommended resources on the Episode Landing Page!Learn More about 10 Words to Heal Our Broken World

Did you know that every person and everything in creation comes from God and belongs to Him? He is the Father of ALL—even those who haven’t realized it yet. Though many live in spiritual blindness, sin, and delusion, their true identity in Christ has already been established by grace. The question is—will they awaken to this reality? John 1:3 declares: “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being.” God’s relentless love and purpose embrace all creation, and His plan is to reconcile ALL things through Jesus Christ! In this powerful revelation, you’ll discover:
 * Why God is the Creator & Sustainer of ALL things (Colossians 1:16-17)
 * How ALL people are God’s children—whether they realize it or not (Malachi 2:10, Ephesians 3:14-15)
 * What it means for God to bring ALL THINGS together in Christ (Ephesians 1:9-10)
 * How to awaken to your true identity in Him
 * The power of reconciliation through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) Your inclusion in God’s love is already true OF you—now it’s time to awaken to it and experience it for yourself! What has partnering with God unlocked in your life? Share your stories in the comments, and let’s celebrate how He is working through us all! Don’t wait—click now and experience the breakthrough God has for you! Special Opportunity:
FREE “Protect Your Purpose Masterclass”: https://catherinetoon.com — don’t miss this chance to align with your God-given calling! Resources to Bless You: * "Marked by Love, Revised & Expanded Edition" (#1 Best Seller!): https://bit.ly/3UGeJBI * Get God, Male & Female? on Audible: https://amzn.to/49hzCIM * FREE “How to Hear God” eBook: https://bit.ly/3cTNb49 * FREE Chapter from Marked by Love: https://markedbylovebook.com/free-chapter/ * Explore more resources: https://catherinetoon.com Your support changes lives! Partner with us to spread this life-giving message. Your tax-deductible donations help reach more people: https://catherinetoon.com/support/. Stay Connected and Share God’s Love! * Facebook: @CatherineToonMD * Instagram: @catherinetoon * Twitter: @CatherineToonMD * YouTube: @CatherineToon, MD Like, Share, and Subscribe to support this message of hope. Every click helps spread God’s love to a hurting world. Thank you!

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comJohn 6 Jesus feeds 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. The people proclaim Him as the Prophet of God. They want to make Him king, so He withdraws to the mountains. His disciples then cross the sea to Capernaum. Several miles out, in high winds, Jesus walks to them on the water! He gets in the boat, and they are immediately at the land. The crowd from the previous day crosses the sea looking for Him. Jesus explains they come to be fed, but that He is the bread of life. All who digest His words will be raised on the last day and live forever! Sadly, many are confused and leave Him. But the twelve apostles remain saying, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Jesus performs physical signs to validate spiritual messages. When He feeds the people, some think of Him as a source of physical blessings. But the miracle is simply to demonstrate that He is the Source and Sustainer of life. His nourishment is truth, love, and forgiveness. He fills us with His goodness and spiritual promises so our souls will never lack and will live forever! God gave Israel manna, but they died in the wilderness. God has given us Jesus so that we may live now, and forever after the final resurrection. Jesus' teaching is not always easy to understand or follow, but to whom shall we go? He is the Holy One and He has the words of eternal life.  Holy God, Your Son is a miracle worker. He feeds thousands. He walks on water. He calms the storm. It is not just what He does that draws us, but who He is. He is Your Son. He is the bread of spiritual and eternal life. He is the Prophet who promises a future and resurrection into the glory of heaven. He is everything to us. Lord, fill our hearts with thanksgiving and embolden our lives and lips to pronounce His majesty. When we struggle to understand, hold us close and help us learn to trust Him in all things. Thought Questions: -       Christians understand that following Jesus is about spiritual richness over physical provisions. How do you show that in your life? -        Jesus says to eat His body and drink His blood. In practical Christian terms, what does that look like in your walk of faith? -       When things got hard, many disciples left. What keeps you serving Jesus when His will is difficult to understand or follow?