Podcasts about judas

«El que antes robaba, que no vuelva a robar; al contrario, que trabaje y use sus manos para el bien, a fin de que pueda compartir algo con quien tenga alguna necesidad» (Efesios 4:28) Siempre me asombra que, cuando predico sobre la prosperidad, alguien se acerca y me dice: "Yo no necesito mucho dinero. Soy una persona sencilla con una vida sencilla. Simplemente le pido a Dios lo suficiente para suplir mis necesidades". Algunos creen que eso significa ser humilde, pero no lo es. ¡Es egoísmo! No lo consideran así, pero en realidad están diciendo: "Lo único que me preocupa es poder cubrir mis necesidades. No tengo deseos de ayudar a satisfacer las necesidades de los demás". Bien, esas personas podrían pedirle a Dios un millón de dólares, usar lo suficiente para cubrir sus necesidades y donar el resto. Pero ni siquiera se les ocurre hacerlo, ya que cuando se trata de dinero, el mundo les ha lavado el cerebro haciéndoles creer que si tienen exceso, deben guardarlo. Esa creencia ha sido un obstáculo para el ministerio de Jesucristo en el mundo de hoy. Ha hecho que ministros del evangelio abandonen su llamado y consigan trabajos seculares para poder subsistir. Esto también ha perjudicado a las iglesias y paralizado el crecimiento de los ministerios que hubieran podido alcanzar miles de almas para el Señor. No hay duda de que se necesita dinero para predicar el evangelio. Jesús lo sabía, y contrario a lo que piensa mucha gente, el ministerio de Jesús no carecía de fondos. Había tanto dinero circulando por Su ministerio que fue necesario nombrar un tesorero: su nombre era Judas. Pero Jesús no acumuló ese dinero para Sí mismo. Lo entregó para cubrir las necesidades de los que le rodeaban. Tal era Su fama de ser generoso que en la noche de la última Cena, cuando Judas salió repentinamente de la habitación, los discípulos creyeron que Jesús lo había enviado a darles a los pobres. ¿Puedes imaginarte lo mucho y las tantas veces que Jesús le había dado a los pobres para que los discípulos dieran ese hecho por sentado? Jesús jamás fundó ningún imperio mundano para Sí. Pero eso no significa que era pobre. Quiere decir que era la persona más generosa que jamás haya existido sobre la faz de la Tierra, y ya es tiempo de que comencemos a seguir Sus pasos. No rechaces la riqueza que Dios quiere darte sólo porque crees que no la "necesitas". Atrévete a aceptarla, y luego repártela con quienes sí la necesitan. Deja de trabajar para vivir y empieza a trabajar para dar… y descubrirás el verdadero propósito de las riquezas. Lectura bíblica: Lucas 12:15-31   © 1997 – 2019 Eagle Mountain International Church Inc., también conocida como Ministerios Kenneth Copeland / Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Todos los derechos reservados.

The Gospel of John Week 23 Scripture: John 18. Our story begins with Jesus in the Garden and soldiers, high priests, and Judas come to the garden carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus goes out to meet them asking, "Who is it you want?" Clearly showing who's in charge. Something we will see Jesus repeat in the next hours. Jesus is in charge and He's always been in charge and that is a take home for us in our own lives as well. He's in charge! He's the Lord. Jesus knows all that is going to happen to Him. He's shared that with His disciples, though they will not fully understand until Jesus' resurrection. He is not blindsided by this group coming to the Garden. This is the reason He came, and this is the purpose for which He has come to carry out His work. Then Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest, cutting off his right ear. Jesus tells Peter to put his sword away - and Jesus says, Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?" Jesus knows what's coming and is willing to go through with it all because it is the Father's desire and the Son always obeys the Father. Pastor delves into the personality of Peter and how we will see him go from cutting off the ear of this man, to denying he knows Jesus, to going on to become a powerful evangelist. And yet Peter was flawed, we are all flawed individuals. The Lord still used Peter. He transformed Peter and He transforms us and this story is a reminder that Jesus uses us, too. As we return to our story we know Jesus is in control but He willingly allows His hands to be bound. Jesus is willing to go all the way to the cross for us. He is then taken to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.  Pastor shares some info on the recent discovery of an ossuary, bone box, belonging to Caiaphas and also some other archeological discoveries including a palatial mansion that may possibly be one of the locations where Jesus was tried. Pastor also reads some fascinating information from Eusebius' History of the Church and puts together some interesting pieces of historical evidence to help bring light to all that John is telling us. Now our story moves into Peter's first denial of knowing Jesus. Followed by Peter's second and third denial of knowing Jesus. And then we read that at that very moment the rooster crowed. And Peter suddenly remembers what he has done and what Jesus had said. There is a contentious conversation, verses 19-24, "the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said." When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded. "If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest." From Caiaphas Jesus was taken to the palace of the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. It is now early morning. Pastor shares the logistics of getting Jesus there and the possible location of the praetorium, the governor's house. Pastor shares on the map the possible locations of this home. Jesus is brought before Pilate in verse 29 and Pilate asks what charges are being brought against Jesus, thus opening a court proceeding. Pastor shares interesting historical information about Jewish executions (stoning to death) and Roman executions (crucifixion), and what they were like. He shares the history of how the Romans, in the early first century, took away from the Jewish high priests and from the Sanhedrin, the right to convict and punish in capital cases and how the Romans demanded that they be the ones to carry that out. So this is why Jesus was crucified, and not stoned. Pilate then begins his questioning of Jesus and they have an in-depth conversation during which Jesus says, "The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."  Pilate replies, "What is truth?"  We live in a society where people are still asking that same question. And the answer is still the same. Jesus is Truth. The truth sets us free! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most "Gentile/Greek" of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Unlock God Mode is the most powerful work I've ever created — a 30-day journey designed to help you embody your highest self. Inside, you'll find transmissions that lift your state of being and practical exercises that help you live with more clarity, integrity, and intention. It's everything I've integrated from my own spiritual path, psychedelic explorations, and the wisdom of my teachers and mentors, distilled into one powerful framework.Think of it as walking side by side with me — not just listening to my guests, but experiencing the exact practices that have transformed my life.

Todaywe continue to look at Ephesians 4:7-11. Weneed to understand the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the unity of the church isvitally important to sharing this great message of the Gospel of Christ to theworld around us. God has chosen the church today to do this. The New Testament churchcan best be describes as a local body of baptized believers, under thediscipline of the Word of God, being led by the Holy Spirit, exercising thegifts of the Spirit, organized under spiritual leadership for the purpose ofworship, fellowship, discipleship, evangelism, and ministry, and fulfilling theordinances of the church—the Lord's Supper and baptism. That is the localchurch. Inthat church God has placed people with various spiritual gifts to make surethat body functions properly in such a way that they are able to fulfill,complete, and carry out God's great commission. That is the purpose of thespiritual gifts. We see that specifically as we look at the passage here inEphesians chapter 4, verses 7-11.It says in verse 11, “And He Himself gavesome to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors andteachers.” Interesting,as you look at all three passages in the New Testament speaking specificallyabout spiritual gifts, you will find that in Romans 12, and also 1 Corinthians12-14, that Paul lists many gifts. Some people estimate up to 18 differentspiritual gifts were given to the church initially. But here in Ephesians 4:7,it appears that Paul is talking not so much about the gifts of the Spirit as heis talking about some of the offices that are being fulfilled because of thegift of the Spirit that were given to particular people in his day. Thefirst one Paul mentions was the Apostles. “He gave some to be apostles”.The word apostle means one who is sent with a commission. Jesus had manydisciples—even one time 70 disciples are mentioned—but we know that He onlyselected 12 apostles (Matthew 10:1-4). The disciple is a learner, a follower.But an apostle is a divinely appointed representative. For someone to be anapostle, he had to have witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts1:21-22). In Acts 1, when they were replacing Judas as one of the twelveapostles, they prayed about it, sought God's will about it, and particularlychose one person, Matthias, to become that twelfth Apostle (Acts 1:26). Today,there are no apostles in the strictest New Testament sense. These apostles laidthe foundation of the church along with the prophets as we are told in Ephesians2:19-20, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, butfellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, havingbeen built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himselfbeing the chief corner stone.”  Oncethe foundation of the church, the New Testament church, was laid, there was nolonger a need for apostles. Today when I hear someone saying, “I'm an apostle,”I hope they mean that they are one who is sent with a commission. Because allof us as believers are sent. As Jesus said to the disciples and to theapostles, “As the Father has sent Me, even so send I you.” Every believer inthat sense is sent. We are sent with a commission to share the good news ofJesus Christ. Butthere were only twelve who laid the foundation of the church in the NewTestament. That is very important to know. Today we should not claim to be anapostle. We should claim to be a follower, a disciple of Jesus Christ. We havebeen sent even as an Apostle was sent, but we are not apostles because we didnot physically witness the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That was thequalification given in Acts 1. Aswe study these four offices of the church that are mentioned by Paul here, theyshould encourage us to be what God wants us to be with our spiritual gift inthe church so the body of Christ can function as it should. Godbless!

Diana revisits a former interview with the late Dave Ebert, who went to be with Jesus in July 2024. His wife, Bobbie Ebert, joins the conversation to discuss their unique ministry. The couple uses improv comedy as a tool to help survivors of sex trafficking rediscover their voice, improve communication, and build confidence. Bobby shares her personal story of overcoming abuse and finding faith, while Dave discusses their journey into full-time ministry and their goal of creating a residential facility to support survivors. The episode also touches on the importance of laughter and joy in the healing process and provides details on how listeners can support their mission. 00:00 Introduction: Comedy and Sex Trafficking? 00:23 Sponsor Message: 7 5 3 Academy 01:11 Welcome to The Wounds of the Faithful Podcast 01:42 Introducing Dave and Bobby Ebert 02:12 The Power of Improv Comedy in Healing 04:48 Dave's Ministry Journey 07:50 Bobby's Testimony and Healing Journey 15:38 How Dave and Bobby Met 24:16 A Surprise Proposal 25:29 The Significance of the Ring 26:07 Life After Marriage 27:11 Transition to Full-Time Ministry 28:11 Using Comedy to Heal Trauma 29:24 The Missionary Journey 32:16 Fundraising and Support 32:48 Future Plans and Goals 35:06 The Power of Laughter 41:17 Final Thoughts and Call to Action The website is still up after his passing. Bobbie may be keeping the ministry going in his place. www.gifts4glory.com   Website: https://dswministries.org Subscribe to the podcast: https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/ Social media links: Join our Private Wounds of the Faithful FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603903730020136 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879 Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma Affiliate links: Our Sponsor: 753 Academy: https://www.753academy.com/ Can't travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here! https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP An easy way to help my ministry: https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/ A donation link: https://dswministries.org/donate/   Dave and Bobbie Ebert [00:00:00] What does comedy and sex trafficking have to do with each other? It's not what you think. We have my guest, Dave Ebert on the show again from the first season of the show to talk to us about his ministry once again. So find out the answer to my question next on The Wounds of the Faithful podcast. Special thanks to 7 5 3 Academy for sponsoring this episode. No matter where you are in your fitness and health journey, they've got you covered. They specialize in helping you exceed your health and fitness goals, whether that is losing body fat, gaining muscle, or nutritional coaching to match your fitness levels. They do it all with a written guarantee for results so you don't waste time and money on a program that doesn't exceed your goals. There are martial arts programs. Specialize in anti-bullying programs for kids to combat proven Filipino martial arts. They [00:01:00] take a holistic, fun, and innovative approach that simply works. Sign up for your free class now. It's 7 5 3 academy.com. Find the link in the show notes. Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer songwriter, speaker and domestic violence advocate, Diana . She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help. Now here is Diana. Hello friends. Welcome back to the podcast. I'm so glad to be here with you. We have a great show for you. More Dave Ebert. If you didn't hear Dave's first interview, please go back and listen to it. It was excellent. He told his personal [00:02:00] story and then how he started his ministry. He's gonna bring his wife tonight because they're doing this together. So you wanted to get the answer to the question that I posed in the beginning. The power of improv comedy in healing and growth. Reverends Dave and Bobby Ebert are on a unique mission to minister to survivors of sex trafficking using the power of improv comedy. With their help survivors find their voice, tap into their creativity, improve communication, and rediscover confidence as US missionaries. They use their unique calling to help those in need and bring light to the darkest of situations. So there areas of focus on their webpage here. Use comedy to break down walls and find the good soil for the seeds of God's word to be [00:03:00] planted. Rebuild confidence through fun, creative games and challenges. So these survivors are better prepared to reenter society. Provide a needed respite from the challenges of healing and recovery by creating a safe, fun, and laughter rich environment. Demonstrate the love of the father and share the redeeming power of Christ to encourage forgiveness of those who inflicted the unimaginable trauma. So I think you're gonna really enjoy Dave and Bobby. I mean, what, what could go wrong with comedians, right? I know that you're going to be blessed with their stories and their vision to help sex Traffick victims to heal. So without delay. Here's my conversation with Dave and Bobby Ebert. Please welcome back to the [00:04:00] show, Dave Ebert, and we also have his wife Bobby, on the show with us tonight. Welcome both of you guys. Thank you, Diana, for having us back or having me back. And then first time guest, long time listener. Bobby, thanks for having us. This is gonna be great having, uh, comedians on the show again, and you're on episode 12 of season one. So I definitely wanna see what you've been up to since then and you have some updates for us today. Yeah, absolutely. Did you want us to start? There's, there's a lot to cover. Yeah. Just remind the folks what you do, and then I'll have Bobby tell the folks a little bit about herself and what role she plays in the ministry you have there. Awesome. So for the last, decade, I've, run an improv ministry based here in Chicago where we sp spring the, light of Christ into various rooms using comedy to bring people together. [00:05:00] Most of our shows have been either ministry to the homeless or it's been fundraisers where we've raised funds for everything from animal care shelters to people who lost part of their home in a fire. To camps for foster kids, and it's all about bringing people together and uniting them in laughter. 'cause I truly believe that laughter is a gift from God because he knew that things would get stressful and science bears out that laughter is such a stress reliever, such a healthy benefit for the body that there's no way that happened by accident. God designed laughter as a gift to help us, kind of deal with, the things that are stressful and help us forget the things that really aren't our burdens to carry. And part of that ministry included for the last four and a half years have been working at Salt and Light Coalition in Chicago, working with survivors of sex trafficking, using improv as a way to kind of break down the walls that they've had to put up to just to survive because mm-hmm. Frankly, they've [00:06:00] been through hell on earth. And to survive you've gotta develop some calluses and around their heart, around in inside, there's just so many calluses and walls that are up and the gift of laughter kind of unlocks that and allows them to really advance in their healing. Mm-hmm. I'm such a big supporter of what you do, Dave, and, um, when you talk about. Oh, God created humor. I, I really wished in scripture there was more of like Jesus laughing or Jesus telling jokes, don't you? Yeah, I would think that the human experience would tell you that you get 13 men just camping out, walking the water in wilderness. They're gonna crack some jokes. They're gonna make some funny things like James and John teased Peter, oh, help me Lord, I'm drowning. Help me. And he would fire back, Hey, at least I got out of the boat. And the whole, the verse where, Jesus is talking about is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle. To me, that's. [00:07:00] That could be taken as a sarcastic moment, like just Jesus in front of everybody, just like making this comment, which is so ludicrous. It could easily be interpreted as being of a funny comment. Like, I mean, camel obviously can't pass through a needle. So I think that there are moments you can find in scripture that, that are funny. It wasn't his focus. Mm-hmm. But. Proverbs 17:22 says, Lightheart is like good medicine. Some translations say laughter is like good medicine. So I think mm-hmm. If it's covered at least once, then we can stick to it. 'cause the Bible is true from front to back. But yeah, it would be kind of fun to hear like open night in Jerusalem, open mike night. Yeah. That's awesome. So Bobby, why don't you tell the folks about your background and how you met the Lord maybe, and how you met Dave. Yeah, so [00:08:00] I am Bobby Ebert, Dave's wife. We've been married for eight years and. My testimony starts in my childhood is through a series of abuse growing up all the way from junior high all the way through high school. Um, it became pretty serious. The police ended up being, getting involved and just a wide variety of things that happened with. All of that and being severe trauma, the Lord revealed to me in a vision, my sinful nature. And so how that happened was I was in a counseling session at a crisis center, and it was in the middle of that crisis center session that. The Lord gave me this vision of a Santa Claus list where it has one size, all naughty and then a nice, but instead of it being naughty and nice and who's on that list, and it was all of my sins and I could read [00:09:00] them and I just remember like staring off in this what would look to other people as if a day I was in a daydream and I was just feeling mortified. About myself and the counselor had no idea what was going on. I was just looking off and the car ride home, I was just very silent. I was staying with my best friend and her family, and so they were my transportation, obviously, and I would just start repenting and just like asking Jesus to forgive me for salvation and. So one thing that I had a hard time wrapping my mind around was how does the blood of Jesus actually cleanse us? That is a dirty substance. How does that actually cleanse us? And I could not wrap my mind around that until that moment of [00:10:00] salvation and that veil was, it came right off and I just had like this instant understanding. So that was pretty amazing. And fast forward through. A few more years of going through like hope and healing and some other counseling sessions like the Lord did a really huge work in my heart and in my spirit, and even in my mind, like just completely renewed me and healed me. There is one Wednesday night I went to a church service where I was attending at that time. Happened to be at the back of the subdivision where I grew up and my dad still lived. In our childhood home at that time and on the way to church that Wednesday night, the Lord convicted me and told me three times, forgive your father. Mm-hmm. And I said, no, I am not. And after that third time I said, fine Lord. I will forgive him [00:11:00] if I drive by his house. I see the lights are on and he is up and awake. So after service, I drove by and I pulled in front of the house, and of course all the lights are on, doors are open, windows are open. He is watching tv. So I'm like, Ugh. So I arrived unannounced. And he let me in and we chatted and I had no idea why I was there. And finally I get up to excuse myself so I can travel home. It was a 45 minute ride to where I was living 'cause I had since moved in with another family member. And as I'm walking out the door. I literally have my body half in and half out of the door. And I turned and I said, I forgive you. And I was walking out that door and he says, hold on a minute. You get back in here there bubble. [00:12:00] And he says, what is this a 12 step program you're going through? So I came back and I sat back down and I just told him I could give you everything that has ever happened in my childhood, everything that you've ever done, and all the, I went on and he is like it created this special moment where he opened up and started talking about his childhood and the trauma and different things that he experienced, and he was still very unrepentant. Still is to this day, still denies everything that has. Ever taken place mostly 'cause he is protecting himself and from being vulnerable and having to actually repent. But it created this beautiful moment that had I disobeyed God, my dad to this day would [00:13:00] not be open. To hearing about Jesus. He doesn't always wanna hear it from me, but he'll ask me questions. He'll ask me questions, and he'll ask Dave questions and Dave has his. Unique way of being able to create this bond with my dad, where my dad's more open to speak with him versus me. And that's okay. Yeah. Uh, because he's still gonna get the gospel. Totally. So I'm glad that he's open and he's been. Open for 15 years now, and now he is just starting to do a Bible study with a friend. So God will use anybody and it doesn't have to be me. I planted, I watered seeds, but God gives an increase and he'll use anybody and I just pray, Lord. I don't care who it is, I just pray for his salvation. Mm-hmm. And he's, really into the chosen. And the chosen brings the word to life in a way that ma most people [00:14:00] haven't even thought of before. And so the chosen has been really powerful and getting him closer and closer to taking that final step and like, yes, Lord, I'm yours. So it's been really exciting to see over the last eight years to see, her dad really grow in that way. And, get closer and closer. He's in a crockpot right now. Yes. And a few more hours he'll be ready. Wow. I've talked about the chosen on the show before and some of the guests, and I don't necessarily like some of the liberties they take with some of it, who am I? If the show is getting people to get in the Bible? Mm-hmm. To come to church or to start asking questions. Or renew their relationship with Jesus. So I just let God do what God does, right? Yes. And I think that's a healthy place to be, is that you don't have to think that they're getting everything perfect or doing it right. I, and you know, there are times that we've looked at each [00:15:00] other like, maybe they could have done it differently, but like you said, it is getting people excited about the word and prayerfully people are not forming their entire doctrine and faith based on a TV show, but at least getting their appetite wet for more of the living word. Yes. Awesome. I really just love your story, Bobby, and that you are obedient to what God had called you to do, even though it maybe you were a little afraid to approach your father, but it looks like God's blessing you in that way, and even the healing from the trauma that you've gone through, that's a journey too. Now, how did you meet Dave? I was previously engaged and after that engagement broke off, I was like, Lord, like it's just you and me. And some of that was just a couple years of healing and being able to move on from that previous engagement. [00:16:00] 'cause it was a long-term relationship. We were together for over five years, so. I've been told by a counselor in the past that when you have something happen, you count how many years you've experienced that, divide it in half, and that's about how long it takes to like be able to move on from that, to heal from that. And it was probably about that halfway mark that I really felt like I was ready to move on and I. The Lord was blessing me to move on and to be open to dating again. And there's a few people who presented themselves, and Christians and non-Christians and the non-Christians. I was like, well, you're gonna be wasting your time and you're gonna be wasting my time. Mm-hmm. Yeah. But. Even the Christians who presented themselves, they weren't, they still weren't the right ones that God wanted for me.[00:17:00] And I am grateful because the Lord really showed me to be more discerning. So fast forward, I one day was like, I've always been against. Online dating, meeting people through dating websites and stuff. But I was like done. I was tired of being single and crying my eyes out in my pillow every night and I said, Lord, I don't care I doing this. So I signed up for Christian Mingle that night, and the next day I met a friend of Dave's and we got together and. We kinda. Tested things out for a couple of months and it wasn't a right fit to. But during that time I met Dave. He was actually dating somebody else that he had met, ChristianMingle. And actually I met her on Plenty of Fish. [00:18:00] Oh, sorry. Free site. Well, you were on Christian Mingle though, so the free version. I paid. Alright anyway, so we would all hang out as a group of friends and his relationship ended. My relationship ended with his friend and. Fast forward about three, four months. It's December, and the guy I was dating, he was having a Mark Schultz concert at his church and he needed help and I was like, you need some help. So I'm like, I volunteered to help as concert because he really. Volunteers. And so it was when we were there that Dave in showed interest in me and inquired like, so what is going on between the two of you? And he gave his blessing for Dave to make his move. And whoa, Dave and I [00:19:00] was, he friended me on Facebook along with some other people I met at the church that night. So I was like, okay, whatever. It's just people that I've met. Friending me on Facebook. But then we would start chatting on Messenger for hours on end, and he would try flirting with me. And I was like, Dave, stop. You're like, you're flirting with me. Stop. And I would use his cheesy line, be like, Hey, I can't help it. I'm a Libra, I'm a hopeless romantic. What would you say, Dave? Give us one of your best lines here. I would just say she had a nice smile, just simple, flirty stuff, trying to make her laugh through Facebook Messenger. Yeah. I don't really even remember any of my deadlines. I honestly don't remember either. But fast forward, come March, he asks me to go to a concert. Oh, he is asking me out on a date, and I wasn't for that. And so I assume like a bunch of your guy friends are going and he is like, well, actually mm-hmm. [00:20:00] It's just one friend of mine, my sister, and I'm asking you, and I was like, crap. So I agreed to go and it was so awkward. How do I connect with these people? His sister ended up not going, so it was just me and his friend that he had started to improv the group with. And finally after the concert, his friend started talking about. Moody Radio, moody Church here in Chicago. Okay, here's a point of connection. Here's something to strike up a conversation. And so we started to converse about that and Dave was freaking out thinking, oh no, they're connecting, but we really weren't connecting like that. So he walks me to the train after I protested. 'cause the train was literally right across the street. I could walk myself and. It is Chicago is late at night. At night, [00:21:00] and you're not letting her walk by herself to the train. Mm-hmm. No. I've been to Chicago, but I'm not afraid of the city. So I've had plenty of experiences on my own and as a young kid in the city in some rough neighborhoods. So I am pretty confident. But anyway, I let him walk me to the train, and I have this anxiety about making sure I'm on the trains right away. And so I'm not missing my trains. So I get on this train and he's literally like, what? No hug. All right. So for context, I walked her all the way to the platform of the train. We're talking, and as soon as the doors opened, like literally as soon as they came apart, she was gone. No. So the lamest of lame ploys, I'm like. What, no hug. So she came back out, gave me the side bro hug, and then came back to the train. And here I am leaving this date thinking like, [00:22:00] man, I am in the friend zone. And then know what the friend zone is. So the next day we are talking on the phone and we're talking about this. Concert and what happened, and so to give some back info, the movie Courageous, if everyone has seen that at the end, they're doing the Father's Day speech and they're listing off all the I will declarations that they will do as fathers and men of the home and husbands. When that movie came out and I saw it, I was like, okay, Lord, whoever I marry really has to follow all of those declarations. And so we're on the phone discussing this date and at the, towards the end of the conversation, he starts saying all of these declarations. And he had never seen the movie. And so it was like literally God [00:23:00] was slapping me upside the head and I literally was on my couch like. Oh my. This is my husband. Well, okay Lord. So then it went from there. We dated for seven months, got engaged and got married seven months after our engagement. And now here we are eight years later. I propose at the end of church service. Yes, I had coordinated with, our pastor and I asked him to say, set it up as like a testimony stay. 'Cause it was two weeks before Thanksgiving, set it up as like, do you have any Thanksgiving testimonies? So a couple people shared and then when I realized that nobody was gonna go after, go next, I, that's when I started my testimony and then stood up to the platform and proposed and I was like, wow. Yeah, so, but it's funny though, because he stood up in his seat, well, not on his seat, from his seat, [00:24:00] and started to talk to the congregation, introducing himself and stuff. Okay. But then when he moved up to the front of the church, oh my gosh, Dave, this is not one of your comedy shows. You don't have to stand in front of everybody. You had no clue, huh? Yeah. And so one of the men in the church, he kind of thought it was funny too, and he is like, well, what is this? Like some kind of proposal happening. And as soon as he said that, I started backing up. 'cause I'm on the platform as part of the worship team. I interpreted. The worship in ASL. So I literally was backing up to the wall as far as I could go, and he starts his proposal and you hear the gasps and stuff, and I'm like, oh my goodness, because I'm not. Usually comfortable being center of attention and all [00:25:00] eyes were on me and I was no pressure freaking out. Were you happy that he proposed? Yes. And he will tell everybody that when he. I asked, will you marry me? That I never said yes, but I did several times with my head buried into his shoulder and in his ears. But what is true, I did not give her the ring. She snatched it out of the box. I did. But this is what is really cool. And so God ordained is the ring that he proposed with is his mom's ring. But it also happens to be the same exact ring that I used to look at in the old Sears and service merchandise catalogs when I was a kid. When I was a kid. Mm-hmm. So it was a sign that, yes, this really is of God and this, it really is your [00:26:00] husband. I've never heard that before. That is, yeah. That is something else. Yes. Wow. Years later, and I don't remember. You don't have any children, right? Not yet. Not yet. Not yet. Okay. We're working on it. Not right now though. Yeah. That'll drive up the ratings, the tmmi ratings, because it's been a few years. I didn't wanna assume, but sorry. No, we just go with it here. Yeah. And yeah, I can't make this stuff up. Right, right. Now you were doing the comedy, the improv, like part-time, right? And you were pastoring, weren't you, Dave? We were co children's pastors and have been together basically since we got married. And so that was, that's part-time unpaid volunteer here. [00:27:00] 'cause we've been at small churches. Mm-hmm. And building up rewards in heaven. Yes. Yeah. The economy was part-time and we get paid every once in a while, but it was never an income generator. So I've had a few different jobs that paid the bills, but what's different now is in October of 22, I got laid off and the Lord showed us through several circumstances that it was time to get into full-time ministry. And so this September we went through missions training and we are now a US missionary candidate. And we'll be doing what I've been doing in salt and light full time, which is working with survivors of trauma, using comedy and improv to unlock their creativity and their communication skills and remind them that it's okay to laugh, it's okay to, mm-hmm. Let your guard down and find joy in life. Yeah. So we've been working with specifically trafficking survivors, and the need is [00:28:00] they need to know that. There's hope for them and there is a future for them, and that their hope is in Jesus and that their future is in Jesus as well. So through the comedy, what we do is like the improv workshops with them, and through that we're able to break down the walls in their hearts and turn stone hearts into hearts of clay, and we're able to share the love of Jesus with them. And what's really awesome and was the unwritten benefit and the unwritten aspect is that I, I am a man coming in with these women who survived being abused and just put through literal hell on earth by men. So they're getting a chance to see that, number one, there are. Healthy men that you can trust. Mm-hmm. And also because we're married, Bobby's been able to come to a few of the workshops now, and they're [00:29:00] able to see that there is a possibility of a healthy marriage. And we get to model those things while we're also having fun and seeing God really break down a lot of walls. You lost your job in 2020. I lost my job in 2022 also. It's just amazing how God moves us in a different direction and it's definitely changed my life. And you might remember from our first conversation, Dave, that I was a missionary for 13 years Baptist ary as a church planter. Now that process of becoming a church planter, it's probably different than the process that you're going through to become missionaries, or you just went through candidate school and what does that look like? So it started in January with the application very in depth, had to find 10 references, which to me was like they're serious because especially for guys, we don't have that many close people. We're [00:30:00] just like, we have, Jesus had like really three close people. Mm-hmm. Then he had the 12 disciples, but he had three. And it's like, how am I supposed to have three times as many friends as Jesus, but we got the re re it calling people. Right? And this is Dave, um, Dave Ebert? Yeah. Yeah. The comedian. Oh no. Yeah, that, that's me. And so it was kind like trying to find a groomsman for the wedding. Calling up people from third grade, Hey, uh, what are you doing this weekend? What's your dad doing this? I heard from him for 10 years. Right. And usually when you hear somebody out of the blue after 10 years and they talk really friendly, usually they're trying to get you in some MLM. Right, right. Hey, hey, you wanna buy my tell you about what I'm doing? Yeah, exactly. Yeah. doTERRA unto others as you would have doTERRA unto you. But, so there's application [00:31:00] process and there were interviews with the head of missions, then interviews with the people who would be over my specific department. Several testing a lot of forms that fill out Yeah. Psych tests. Psych tests, psych tests, and then, yeah. Yeah. Make sure that. We can at least lie well enough to, no, I'm kidding. No, to make sure that we're ready because Yeah. When you walk out into full-time ministry, especially with missions where you're responsible for your own fundraising and support raising. It takes a toll and you have to be healthy. You have to be in a good position also. You have to be in a place where you're not like escaping the world to say, oh, I'm just gonna be a missionary and get away from stuff. Mm-hmm. So they do a very good job of vetting and making sure that you're healthy and ready. Yes. And then the candidate school, the orientation was six, 10 hour days of. Learning about fundraising, about how to, honor the [00:32:00] gifts that people give, and also the different rules and regulations that we have to follow because we are accountable to our home church, to our home district as well as to the national assemblies. So a lot of training, a lot of prep, a lot of numbers. And now we're hitting the road calling every pastor we know. The churches that we visited for fundraising with the comedy team, we're connecting with them and just asking them for support. Because what we're gonna do is we're serving organizations that don't have a budget to hire an improv coach. So we wanna go and serve them free of charge and just rely on the body of Christ to make sure that our cats don't go homeless. The goal is to also eventually open our own facility. Wow. So like a home, like a residential home? Yeah, like a residential facility for survivors, men, women and children. And to offer [00:33:00] them a comprehensive therapy as well as job training skills and things to get them on their feet so that once they're on the, in this place where they're ready to start over. If they're ready to start over and start building a life, instead of many trafficking victims when they come out of trafficking, unless they have an organization that walks in hand in hand, they either fall back into drugs, they fall back into that lifestyle again. Or worse, they fall into depression and impossible suicide because. They end up escaping, but they have a record. Yeah, because they're, they've probably been picked up by the police several times. They've also probably got a drug record because either the people that they were quote unquote working for or by their own desire to survive, they. End up on drugs, just trying to cope. Mm-hmm. In many cases, and courts really don't care why you're being arrested for being intoxicated or on drugs. [00:34:00] They just know that you are. And so that makes their lives really hard once they escape, because who's gonna help them? They've got a rap sheet, they've probably got no place decent to stay. Mm-hmm. They might have kids that are now in the system, so they have a lot stacked against them when they get out. We want to be another or be an organization that gives them all the tools they need to not only escape and survive, but to actually start to thrive. Mm-hmm. They can leave their past behind and it will be just a beautiful testimony to share of God's goodness that no matter what you're going through, God can redeem it and heal it. And, we wanna do our own facility here in Illinois and we also wanna reproduce what we're doing because. We believe it's valuable and it's unique, and it helps kind of fill in some of the gaps that traditional therapy might leave. Mm-hmm. Because a lot of the times these survivors have felt betrayed or felt like they can't trust people, [00:35:00] and so traditional therapy doesn't always work. It doesn't always help them free themselves from their past. Yeah. So when comedy is entered into the picture. We can kind of till that soil a little bit so that now therapy is a little bit easier because now the, some of the calluses and the walls are torn down. Yeah. So then you open doors for other types of healing methods once you get through that big block wall. Right. It's been amazing 'cause we've seen women open up publicly for the first time and share their stories where. Traditional therapies may not have worked in that way, if that makes sense. They find more freedom when they start to laugh. When you laugh in a room with other people, there's like this bond that happens where you feel safe because now you have all admitted something about yourselves. If you go to a comedy show and you hear a group of 500 strangers laughing, they're not strangers when they leave that comedy show because in the midst of that, [00:36:00] they laughed and admit they have something in common. And when you admit that you have something in common with 500 other people, now you don't feel alone. Now you feel a little bit of safety and we've seen these women, , find that they are, feel safe enough to share their story for the first time in any kind of a public setting. And as once you shed light on your pain and shed light on what you're struggling with, it doesn't seem quite as big and as daunting and shedding light on it allows you to give it to God and let him finish the healing. Like you say, the laughter is so powerful because it makes you feel good, and then the laughter makes you feel better because all those endorphins and the serotonin levels are. Where they're supposed to be. And you look on the world in a different perspective. It's crazy. Like I, 10 minutes ago I was depressed and now I think I'm gonna make it. And here's something I like to talk about is. When you laugh, when you have like a deep [00:37:00] laugh and you're like truly just enjoying the moment, you naturally lift your head up and automatically your eyes are lifting up. Mm-hmm. It's almost like it's a form of worship when you have a good laugh. Wow. Because you're looking up to where your help comes from. Wow. And. It's just a beautiful sign because when you're laughing you just, you're letting this energy go, whether it's stress or it's just, you're even fatigue. When you let it go, suddenly your shoulders lift up. Suddenly your blood pressure drops and you're reminded that there's more than what's here right in front of you. You lift your eyes up and you realize there's so much more, and that's just a beautiful thing to see. Let's also think about it. God is our father, and what good father doesn't take joy in laughing with his kids. And when you see a healthy father and child relationship, they have moments of giggles and cackles and tickle fights. So [00:38:00] what Good father him doesn't take joy in laughing and enjoying the presence of his kids. So I think that when we laugh. In those moments of where it's pure and it's just joy. He laughs with us. And I think that those, like I said, are moments of worship in a way because we're reminded of his goodness. Yes. God give us a gift. I think that. People outside the Christian community, they, they view us as fuddy daddies and stuffed shirts and that we don't ever have any fun. And we're serious all the time and we're about reading our Bibles and praying all the time and that we don't have any fun. But I like your perspective. Of showing the world that it is a gift from God. And we do have fun. And like I said earlier, talking about Jesus and the 12 disciples, you get a group of guys together that they're gonna goof off, they're gonna laugh. And the adoration that the disciples have for Jesus less Judas is [00:39:00] scar, the adoration. That does not happen when it's just a militant leader saying, thou shalt, there has to be moments of levity, moments of bonding, and pure joy. That's more than just. A rabbi teaching his students the love that they had, the love that they felt for him to be willing to die for him for his name. That doesn't happen in a military setting that happens in relationship where there's moments of levity and laughter, and I can't wait to eventually be and be in heaven and hear Jesus tell some jokes. That'd be amazing. Like why did you really call them Sons of Thunder? Right. Probably farting around the campfire. Ah, yes, exactly. Jesus. Pull my finger. Some people have like checked out at this point. Oh [00:40:00] man. Love it. I'm so glad you're gonna create a center as a goal in the future after the show, I definitely wanna give you some folks to connect with that. I know I've got a lot of connections, but we have the Dream Center here in Phoenix. Okay. And I've gone to a few of their fundraisers and they're an incredible place. They have this center for trafficked women and. And men, and we're very close to Mexico, so we get a lot of trafficked people here in Phoenix. And there'd be somebody to connect with for sure. 'cause they could show you how to create the facility and what not to do, and what to do and what they've learned. They create like apartments for these girls. They're like designer rooms. They're not just like bunks and dorms and stuff. I've seen these rooms. They're incredible. They treat the girls like they're princesses. It's really. Wonderful. And they do teach the skills of how not to go back on the streets and finding your worth in Jesus and your [00:41:00] value. You're not just a piece of meat to be used, you are a daughter of the king. And so yeah, I'll definitely give you their contact information. Do you know Mark Sowersby? Oh yeah. Mark. He's, he's been, uh, on my podcast before. He's a survivor. Yeah. Big time. So. I know that we talked about a lot of different things. Was there anything that we didn't cover today that you wanted to share with the audience? Yeah. So if the Lord is leading you and you feel like, feel like the Lord's saying, support this ministry and uh, give us the opportunity and the tools to go out and reach more survivors of trafficking. 'cause we're working in Chicago right now. And there, there's a plenty of harvest there, but there's also other places that we want to serve as well. Yes. You can go to, partners.gifts fork glory.com and that'll take you right to the, ag website where our, page is. And you can log in and, or you can sign in as a donor. And if you can do one time gift, [00:42:00] if you can do a monthly gift, or if you wanna do the faith promise, which is just your promise between you and the Lord of what you're. Willing to commit to support us. Anything is gonna help us get there. The website is partners.gifts for glory.com and whatever the Lord puts on your heart is gonna be, well appreciated and is gonna be used to serve many survivors. And you know, part of what we're doing is also doing podcasts. 'cause we wanna raise awareness that this is an issue. Mm-hmm. And we are hoping that between working with survivors. Doing advocacy by going, on podcasts or media that eventually we'll work ourselves out of a job and that there will be no more trafficking, there'll be no more slavery. That would be the biggest blessing of all is if we could work hard enough and the Lord would move enough that we would see an end to it. Mm, amen. Yeah. Even if you don't have the money right now to support. Dave and Bobby, you can definitely share this episode. Tell your friends [00:43:00] about the ministry. I definitely have that in the show notes, and we're gonna share the podcast episode like crazy and anything else you wanted to share. If you're listening or watching, be sure to subscribe to the wounds of the Faithful. Check every episode out and I'll go back and see how much I've changed in the last two years since the first time I was on. Yeah, I'm gonna put the episode of Dave's testimony, his story in the show notes, so you guys can just click on that and listen to that. This was great. Had a lot of fun and laughter and learn some things, and you guys are always welcome to come back on the show and give us an update. Absolutely. To see how you're doing and when you open your center up in the future someday. Then I'm gonna come and cut the ribbon. Absolutely. I've been in Chicago a few times. It's a nice city, so God bless you guys, and we wish you the very best. Thank you so much for having [00:44:00] us. Yes, Diana, thank you so much for having us. We love you and we love the show. Love you guys too. Thank you for listening to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. If this episode has been helpful to you, please hit the subscribe button and tell a friend you could connect with us at DSW Ministries dot org. Where you'll find our blog, along with our Facebook, Twitter, and our YouTube channel links. Hope to see you next week.    

Pastor Danielle Frazer shares a powerful moment from the life of Mary, showcasing her humble and generous act of anointing Jesus' feet with a costly perfume, highlighting her devotion and love in contrast to Judas' criticism.

Romans 8:28-30 — Can Christians lose their salvation? This is a much-debated question in Christianity that has immense significance for all believers. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that while some passages seem to teach that Christians can lose their salvation, this is a misunderstanding. In this sermon on Romans 8:28–30 titled “The Threefold Purpose,” he looks at the warning passages in Hebrews 6 and 10. He argues that these passages do not speak of true Christians falling away but it speaks of those unbelievers who hear the gospel and are in the church, yet reject it. Just as many people in the Bible, such as Judas, are part of the visible church (and even in places of authority), they are shown to not be truly saved. So it is true in all the church. The Bible never speaks of true believers falling away. These are lost men and women who show temporary signs of profession yet fall away. These passages ought to encourage true believers to seek to live a life that testifies to Christ's power of salvation. Can true Christians fall away from Christ? The Bible's answer is no since Christ is the perfect Savior who is able to redeem sinners and bring their salvation to completion. As the Savior promised, no one can snatch a child of His from His hand. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29?v=20251111

Daily Dose of Hope December 2, 2025   Scripture - Acts 9:1-31   Prayer: Heavenly Father, Help us start this devotional today with a time of silence, a time to pause before you...Lord, hear our prayers.  Speak to us.  We want to hear from you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently walking through the book of Acts.  Today, we start Acts 9.   This is a great passage - Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  It's amazing how God took the biggest persecutor of believers and very intentionally chooses him to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.  His conversion story is dramatic, and it really needs to be.  He doesn't strike me as the kind of person who would take hints from God.  He needs something that cannot be disputed, like the living Christ meeting him on his Damascus journey and speaking directly to him.  Then, he loses his sight, only to regain it when Ananias prays for him.  It's quite extraordinary.   Most of us are pretty familiar with Saul's conversion story but today, I'd like to focus on Ananias of Damascus.  He is the man in the shadows.  Keep in mind, there are several men named Ananias in the New Testament; we are focusing on the man in Damascus who prayed over Saul who became Paul.  What we read in Acts 9 is that God appears to Ananias in a vision and tells him to go to the house of Judas on Straight Street where he will meet Saul of Tarsus.  Ananias knew of Saul's reputation and he knew that Saul was in Damascus to arrest believers of Jesus so he protested a bit.  God tells him to go to the house anyway.   Despite being fearful, Ananias obeys.  I'm going to say that again.  Despite knowing that Saul could potentially arrest him, Ananias obeys God.  He goes to the house and prays over Saul.  Almost immediately, something like scales fall from Saul's eyes and he can see again.   We don't know much about what happens to faithful Ananias of Damascus after this incident.  The author of Acts doesn't give us a lot of information – does he go on to preach the Gospel in his community and beyond?  Does he found churches?  Does he end up getting arrested for preaching Jesus? Really, we have no idea.  What we do know is that Ananias of Damascus obeyed God's command to go pray over Saul so that Saul could go do all of those things.  Without Ananias' prayer, Saul might have spent the rest of his life as a blind man wandering around, not knowing what his life might have been.   Not everyone can be Saul/Paul, but we can all be Ananias.  We can all be obedient.  We can all pray for those who have harmed the church and those who have been harmed by the church.  We can do what God is asking us.  We don't have to found world-altering movements but we do need to do what Jesus asks us to do right now, right here. What is Jesus asking you to do?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Danilo viveu a noite mais simbólica da carreira ao marcar o gol do título da Libertadores 2025 e salvar o Flamengo com uma defesa no fim. Neste vídeo, analiso a mística que envolve seu caminho como torcedor desde os tempos difíceis dos anos 2000, o simbolismo dos vídeos do São Judas, dos urubus sobrevoando o estádio, a foto histórica de Gilvan de Souza e a atuação que coloca o lateral no panteão rubro-negro ao lado de nomes como Rondinelli e Angelim. Um olhar detalhado sobre a final, o contexto emocional e a força de uma história que o futebol raramente escreve com tanta precisão.QUER FALAR E INTERAGIR CONOSCO?:    CONTATO I contato@serflamengo.com.br SITE I ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠serflamengo.com.br⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TWITTER I ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlogSerFlamengo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM I ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@BlogSerFlamengo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#Flamengo #NotíciasDoFlamengo #Palmeiras

The Game Awards are just around the corner, and the gang share their bold predictions for what's set to be revealed. Will we finally see GTA 6 on Nintendo Switch 2? Is Resident Evil 9 ready to show Leon? Could Control 2, Judas, or even Half-Life 3 make an appearance? We debate the likelihood of a God of War side-scrolling game, Death Stranding 2 coming to PC day-and-date, Marathon's re-reveal, and much more. We also dive deep into our Metroid Prime 4 review, discussing the controversial bike sections, the game's stunning visuals, new psychic abilities, and whether the story sticks the landing. Plus: Xbox's bizarre controller Crocs, What The Wiki returns, and the age-old debate about footwear. Chapters 00:00:00 Coming Up 00:00:27 Game Awards Predictions 00:29:16 Metroid Prime 4 Review 00:46:40 Rapid Fire Question: Xbox Crocs 00:50:16 What The Wiki?! The Press Start Podcast is Press Start Australia's weekly video game discussion podcast. SUBSCRIBE LiSTNR: https://play.listnr.com/podcast/the-press-start-podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70QgrzSyPK476F9cTsfUWJ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-press-start-podcast/id812891885 YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvh0fsLvVCs9Pym8WExQiXdiqQsscybcK&si=Zh7Gw4QsFJQGFoUU For more gaming news, reviews & more visit https://www.press-start.com.au SUBSCRIBE | https://goo.gl/i9FGAx FOLLOW US | https://www.facebook.com/gaming/PressStartAu https://twitter.com/PressStartAU https://www.instagram.com/pressstartau/ https://www.tiktok.com/@pressstartau Contact us at hello@press-start.com.au #gaming #podcast #playstation

Why Did God Allow A Judas? | The Todd Coconato Show  Website: www.PastorTodd.org To Give: www.ToddCoconato.com/give Why Did God Allow a Judas? In this powerful episode of The Todd Coconato Show, Pastor Todd takes a deep look at one of the most difficult questions believers face. Why would God allow betrayal so close to Jesus? And why does He still allow “Judas moments” in our own lives? With biblical insight, real-world wisdom, and Holy Spirit clarity, Todd unpacks the purpose behind betrayal, the protection hidden inside painful seasons, and how God uses even the schemes of the enemy to position His people for victory. You'll walk away encouraged, strengthened, and reminded that nothing in your story is wasted—not even the betrayal. Jesus overcame, and so will you.

Thank you for joining us for Christian Faith Center's Sermon of the week. This message is from our Nampa Location. Pastor Jordan Hodges wraps up our message series "TEST THE SPIRITS"The Judas spirit is best identified by, the betrayal of trust due to self-centered entitlement and offense. What kind of doors does this spirit use to find a way in to our life.

In this message, we return to the Gospel of John with a powerful passage in John 18:28–40, where Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate.   From a human perspective, Jesus has been betrayed by Judas, arrested unjustly, and denied by Peter — His closest followers have faltered, and the crowd is about to reject Him. Yet behind every setback is a deeper reality:   Nothing is falling apart. Everything is unfolding exactly according to God's plan.   In this moment of pressure and opposition, Jesus shows us:   Boldness over fear   Commitment over confusion   Mission over comfort   Jesus doesn't defend Himself to protect His life — He surrenders it to secure our salvation. His Kingdom is not of this world, but His rescue mission was for this world, for humanity — for us.   This message calls believers to move: From fear → to faith From apprehension → to Spirit-filled boldness From comfort → to Kingdom calling

Advent hope doesn't require us to ignore the reality of our brokenness. We must see it to grasp the hope of Jesus' return. Pastor Darrell looks at Luke 22 and 2 Corinthians 7:10 as we consider godly sorrow as seen in Peter as well as worldly sorrow as seen in Judas. This leads us to see our need for Christ.

The post The Motive of the Villain Judas – Luke 22:3-5 – November 30, 2025 first appeared on Enduring Word.

Title: The Eternal WordSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this sermon from John 1, Pastor Nate Holdridge explores the profound opening of John's Gospel—the Logos, the eternal Word who was with God and was God, and who became flesh to dwell among us. Walking through the encounters of John 2–11, Pastor Nate shows how Jesus met every form of human darkness: religious confusion, moral shame, physical helplessness, spiritual blindness, and even death itself. The sermon culminates in the Bethany scene of John 12, where Mary's extravagant anointing and Judas's cold calculation present two starkly different responses to the Light who has come. We must consider which response will be ours—will we pour out our lives in worship, or will we remain calculating in the darkness? This message is part of the Light in the Darkness Advent series through John 1:1-18 at Calvary Monterey.Link to Discussion QuestionsLink to Sermon Notes

John 12:1-8,Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”And the Lord, in verse 7, defends the way Mary of Bethany expresses her devotion to him.What Mary does in verse 3 is good and right, and I think we can learn from her. So that's the goal of this sermon. All last week, my prayer for today has been that through Mary's example in John 12, the Spirit would reawaken in us Mary-like devotion to Jesus. I want us to learn from Mary how to be more like Mary for the glory of Jesus. To that end, this morning I want to show you seven truths of Mary-like devotion.1. Mary-like devotion is surprising. Verse 1 opens with the setting: we are six days away from Passover, and Jesus has come back to Bethany. Now remember that Bethany is where he raised Lazarus from the dead in Chapter 11, verse 43, but then when the Jewish leaders plotted to kill Jesus, John tells us in verse 54 that Jesus “no longer walked openly” among them, because they were looking for him. The Pharisees wanted to arrest him. So Jesus left that area and went to Ephraim, which gave him more distance from Jerusalem. (Bethany was 2 miles outside Jerusalem, Ephraim was about 15 miles). So by the end of Chapter 11, Jesus is laying low.But Chapter 12 opens here and he's back in Bethany, where news travels quickly to Jerusalem, which means this is dangerous — why would he do it? Why would he come back to Bethany now? It's because Passover is six days away. Remember Jesus has a purpose to accomplish in Jerusalem, and now he's getting closer. But since Jesus is in Bethany they throw a special dinner for him. And because it's Bethany, we would expect our favorite Bethany family to be there. We saw these three siblings in Chapter 11 — Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Now, John knows we'd expect their attendance, so he takes roll in verse 2. Look what he says:“So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served [check her name off — she's there], and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him as table [check his name off — he's just happy to be in the room].And right away that's Martha and Lazarus. Which sibling is missing?Mary. Now look at verse 3 (verse 2 was just a build up to this):“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair.”The first thing I want you to see is that this was not expected. This is a dinner! People are sharing a meal. Martha is staying busy like she does. Lazarus is at the table (you know he's getting seconds). And then Mary, finally, enters into this dining room with a bottle of ointment (or perfume) and she does this extravagant display of worship.Most of us had big dinners a few days ago. Imagine for a minute if something like this happened! It was not on the menu. It's never happened before. This was a surprise! That's the first thing to know about Mary-like devotion. This is not what most people would expect — because it responds in the moment to the glory of Jesus regardless of the context.2. Mary-like devotion is costly.We can see in verse 3 that this perfume was expensive. John tells us that plainly. But he also gives us two details that explain why. It has to do with quantity and quality.First, with quality, this perfume was made from “pure nard.” That's a plant that's grown in India. The root of this plant produced an oil that was collected to make this perfume.So it's a product derived from nature, created by a process, imported from far away — that sounds expensive. (This is why many scholars believe this Bethany family was well off — this perfume would have only been owned by the luxury class of the Mediterranean world.)Second, notice the quantity. John tells us it was a pound — and that's a Roman pound. The Greek word is litra — and it's equivalent to about 12 ounces. So imagine the American pop can. (I don't know the last time you turned a can of pop upside down to pour it out, but it takes a little longer to empty it than you might think.)Twelve ounces is not a little bit. And Mary doesn't have pop, it's perfume — 12 ounces of perfume — that's a lot of a really nice thing. And to give us more of an idea of how precious it is, John tells us the number value in verse 5. Judas says it's worth 300 denarii — which is about a year's wages.So to draw a parallel to our day, this is what we'd call an annual salary, and the average annual salary in the Twin Cities, Google says, is between $80,000–$90,000. So translate this in your imagination... Picture this: Someone at dinner this past week walks into the dining room and pours out $90,000 on somebody else's feet … Again, this is stunning. And the costliness amplifies the surprise! Those two things go together in Mary-like devotion. It's surprising because it's costly.3. Mary-like devotion is humble.Now, for our imagination's sake, it helps to know how people ate together at this culture and time. They didn't use raised tables and chairs like we do, but they used low tables, and sat on cushions on the floor. They “reclined” on the table, like verse 2 says, and their feet were stretched out behind them, away from the table. So Mary approached Jesus, verse 3, while he was sitting like that, and she anointed his feet.This is a key detail. Because with the extravagance of her gift, we might imagine Mary's actions to be surrounded by pomp. Like maybe Mary enters the room and first clears her throat, and makes sure somebody's getting the video, and then she does it. But it's just the opposite.Mary comes into the room, and stays at the feet's distance away from the table. She's not the center of attention. Nobody was probably even looking in her direction, and then she pours the perfume on Jesus's feet and wipes his feet with her hair. This is borderline undignified. She definitely looked a little silly. To everyone's surprise, with likely the costliest thing she's got, she humbles herself at the feet of Jesus in worship — but then the most vivid display of her humility is the use of her hair.In the ancient world, a woman's hair was her glory. It was her honor. This was Mary's strength, but here she turns her strength into a servant's towel … Her radiance into a rag. Her splendor into a sponge. Her crown becomes a cloth. … to wipe feet.Which means, Mary gives the best part of herself for the least part of Jesus. The highest aspect of her presentation (hair) is submitted to the lowest aspect of his (feet).This is profound humility.Mary is not even audacious enough to pray here: “Jesus, take my utmost for your highest.” She just says, “Jesus, take my utmost!” — And I don't care what anybody else thinks. I'm not concerned about appearance. It doesn't matter what people might say. This is all about Jesus. Mary shows us a marvelous self-forgetfulness. Mary-like devotion is humble.4. Mary-like devotion is fitting.This is #4 of 7, and it really is the central truth in Mary's example.So far we've seen that Mary-like devotion is surprising, costly, and humble, but here's where we need to be clear that the only reason any of this makes sense is because of Jesus. And Jesus doesn't just make Mary's actions make sense, he makes them right. Because of who he is, what Mary does is fitting. John calls her act an “anointing,” which is something done to set someone apart for a certain office. The examples we have in the Old Testament are individuals anointed as a priest or king, and we should think especially of kings in the Gospel of John. If you remember, way back in Chapter 1, when Nathaniel first met Jesus he confessed right away that Jesus is the Son of God and the King of Israel (1:49). Then in Chapter 6, verse 15, after Jesus fed the five thousand, the crowd wanted to take him by force and make him king.So we've seen a kingship theme already.But then right here in Chapter 12, the very next day after Mary anoints Jesus, Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a young donkey, and the crowd paves the way for him with palm branches, and they say — in verse 13 — “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”So we have every reason to see that Mary's anointing of Jesus is anointing him as King.Because that is who he is. It'll be explicit and public tomorrow in this story, in Jesus's ‘triumphal entry,' but tonight, at this dinner, with Mary, it's implicit and private. In the moment, even Mary doesn't know the full extent of what she's doing, but we as readers can see it. In Chapter 11, we saw her fall at Jesus's feet in grief, here she bows at Jesus's feet in worship.Last chapter she came to Jesus needing his help; now she comes to him just giving him glory.This doesn't mean we ever stop coming to Jesus for help — we do! We always need his help! But sometimes we can also just come to him in simple worship.This is when we come to him, not to ask him for things, but to give him whatever we can because he is worthy — just because he's our king and he's a good king! It is fitting to worship him!Think about this: When was the last time your heart moved toward Jesus, not for what he gives, but for who he is? When was the last time you were simply compelled by the worth of Jesus?The Little Drummer BoyMary's devotion here in Chapter 12 actually reminds me of what used to be one of my least favorite Christmas songs. “Santa Baby” is dead bottom, but not far from there used to be “The Little Drummer Boy.” And the reason I didn't like the song is because for years it didn't make sense to me, and it was kinda irritating. The pa-RUM-pa-pum-pums are distracting. But if we can get rid of that part and focus on the real words in the song, it's actually beautiful. It's a song about a boy who is invited to meet the newborn Jesus (and it's fictional; didn't really happen; we're supposed to use our imaginations). The boy starts the song by saying:Come, they told meA newborn king to see, Our finest gifts to bring,To lay before the king,So to honor himWhen we come You get it? The boy is invited to come meet Jesus, so he does. And in the second stanza he's at the manger, and he speaks to the infant Jesus:Little baby,I am a poor boy tooI have no gifts to bringThat's fit to give a KingShall I play for you on my drum?See, I imagine that's what Mary of Bethany thought. While Martha was busy serving and Lazarus was sitting at the table, Mary thought: The king is here. He's in the room. What do I have that's fit to give a King?And the technical answer is nothing. Nothing we have is enough to match the glory of this King, but Mary thinks I've got that bottle of perfume — just like the boy thought, I've got this drum. And the boy says, “Shall I play the drum?” Mary thinks, “Shall I pour the perfume?” So the boy plays his best, and Mary pours it all. I don't have enough to give you, but I'll give you my best because you're worthy.That's what the song is about. That's what Mary does here. And it's fitting because of the King!And John tells us that the fragrance of her worship fills the entire house. Which means: her personal reverence and self-forgetfulness in recognizing the glory of Jesus becomes uncontainable. Everybody around her can literally sense her devotion for Jesus.5. Mary-like devotion is criticized. This is verses 4–5: But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”Apparently, Judas caught the aroma, but instead of recognizing Mary's act as a surprising, costly, humble, and fitting act of devotion, he criticized her. He immediately liquidated the value of the ointment in his head, and he corrected her decision. That could have been used for something better! That could have been a lot of money to help poor people! Mary is being unwise!Now, before we look closer into the criticism, I just want to note that it happened, and right away, because that's just how things go — even things as wholesome as Mary's devotion.The Bible gives us no impression that devotion to Jesus will be easy — it actually ensures the opposite. There's a Forest Frank lyric my younger boys love. It goes: Jesus promised that the bad would come along, ‘Cause if life is always easyProbably doin' something wrong.That's true. I want everybody to know: when your devotion to Jesus meets difficulty, that's a good sign. The question for us is about our willingness to endure difficulty. Are we willing to be criticized? Are we willing to express devotion to Jesus that others would call wasteful but Jesus calls beautiful?6. Mary-like devotion is vindicated.Let's look closer at what Judas said in verse 5.At face-value, we might think Judas is onto something, because what he says is not untrue. That perfume was worth a lot of money — three hundred denarii/$80–90K — that's a lot of money you can do a lot with. Judas names one possibility. The problem, though, is that he's thinking about it all the wrong way. See, he's thinking about gifts from the giver's perspective, not from God's perspective. He's thinking about everything from earth looking around, not from heaven looking down.In his mindset — the ‘Judas mindset' — all value is monetary, and all that is monetary is a zero-sum category: which means I'm always thinking, “whatever I give here is what I cannot give there.” And see, Judas is so caught up in this mindset — he cares so much about the optimal management of the gift — that he's blind to the One the gift is for. That is what is most striking about verse 5 — it's the absence of anything to do with Jesus. Judas says nothing about him. So Judas not only rebukes Mary here, but he also registers how little he thinks of Who she worships.And if that wasn't clear, John adds in verse 6. He wants us to know that Judas said what he said:“…not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.”Judas was part of a program called ‘Feeding Our Future' …Greed is an ancient sin — it's the root of all evil, and it ruined Judas. (And it's behind the ruin of our state. God help us.)In verse 7, Mary doesn't say anything back to Judas, but Jesus speaks up on her behalf, and he says, first, “Leave her alone.”Which is amazing. Jesus doesn't argue with Judas. He doesn't explain why his mindset is wrong, he first just tells him to stop. Jesus defends Mary, and he makes the issue about himself, because it is!With this perfume Mary has prepared Jesus for the day of his burial, because, verse 8:“…the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”And it's clear now, with the mention of his burial and that he won't always be here, Jesus is talking about his death. Which raises the question for us: Was Mary anointing Jesus as king or preparing him for his death? And the answer is Yes.Again, Mary is doing more here than she realized. She is anointing Jesus as King — it's just that he's a king who will sacrifice his life for his people.He's a King who has come to die. His reign will conquer the grave for good — remember Lazarus — but first Jesus's reign will come through the grave. Our triumphant King will also be a slain Lamb. And John wants us so badly to get this! He gives us hints here in Mary's devotion, but then later in the Book of Revelation he tells us about a vision when saints and angels together pour out their praise to Jesus, and they say, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12)Listen: I want you to know that the final vindication of our every sincere act of devotion to Jesus will come on that day when we see him. If it's Mary-like devotion, it is never wasted. Jesus is worth it. And this brings us to the last point.7. Mary-like devotion is instructive. We're gonna finish how we started: I think we can learn from our sister Mary. It is a gift to us to be able to see her gift to Jesus, and I want us to be more like her. That's been my prayer: that the Spirit would reawaken or awaken in us Mary-like devotion to Jesus.Devotion that is surprising because it responds to Jesus in the moment, even if it doesn't fit the setting. Costly because it brings Jesus our best, humble because it doesn't worry about what others might think, fitting because Jesus is the King and nothing given to him is too much, criticized because it's not supposed to be easy, and vindicated because the King who Mary worshiped is the Lamb who was slain and one day we will see his worth with our own eyes.Mary's devotion is instructive because it shows us what it looks like when a heart is overcome by the worth of Jesus.And what's incredible for us, is that we know more about Jesus's worth than Mary does here. We already know the end of the story! That Jesus who has come will die, will be resurrected, and will come again.So in closing, I want to invite you to ask yourself this: For Advent, in this season of waiting, what is Jesus calling you to do that would simply reflect his worth?That's what brings us to the Table.The TableWe come here to this Table to rest in the worth of Jesus Christ. Let his glory be your comfort by taking refuge in him. That's what it means to trust in Jesus, and that is who this table is for. If you're here and you have put your faith in Jesus, we invite you to eat and drink with us and give him thanks.

Mocked, betrayed and wrongly accused. Judas feels the weight of his guilt and betrayal of Jesus. Peter denies following Jesus. Ultimately, Jesus is delivered over to Pilate to face the punishment we all deserved.

A Sermon for the First Sunday in Advent St. Matthew 21:1-13 by William Klock The Gospel we read on Christmas Day is the introduction to St. John's Gospel.  Those familiar words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” The light, God's Messiah, Jesus has come into the world.  He's brought light into the darkness.  He's brought life into the middle of death.  In him, God has become present to the world.  But between us and Christmas, between us and the coming of the light, stands Advent—to remind us what the world was like before light and life came into the midst of darkness and death—so that we might appreciate more the gift that God has given us in Jesus, so that we might appreciate more his love, his mercy, and his grace; so that we might appreciate more his faithfulness as we see his promises fulfilled in the Christmas story.  So that we might better live out the story he's given us in preparation for the day when he comes again. And so Advent begins with Jesus, the Messiah, the anointed king, on the Sunday before his crucifixion.  Palm Sunday.  Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.  Today we have St. Matthew's telling of that day.  He writes—at the beginning of Chapter 21: “When they came near to Jerusalem and arrived at Bethpage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of the disciples on ahead.” The road from Jericho up to Jerusalem made its final approach to the city around the southern slope of the Mount of Olives. As the road came over the ridge, there was Jerusalem, across the Kidron Valley, a mass of great walls and rooftops, and above it all on Mount Zion, was the temple—the place where earth and heaven were supposed to overlap, the place where men and women could draw near to the presence of God, the shekinah, the cloud of glory that sat on the ark in the holy of holies.  A cloud of smoke went up perpetually from the altar in the temple court where the burnt offerings were made.  This was the scene that met Jesus as the road took him over the Mount of Olives: the city, bustling with crowds of visitors for the Passover, the temple in all its beautiful glory standing above the city, and that column of smoke going up, an aroma to the Lord. A Jewish man or woman, walking over that ridge and seeing this scene ahead, might be overcome.  It was heaven on earth—or the closest you could get to it.  It was a scene of glory.  It was a scene that would make your heart swell with pride, knowing that you were the people who lived with the living God in your midst.  And it was exciting for all these people travelling from the outlying regions of Judea and Galilee—like they were arriving at the centre of the universe.  I think of the description Victorian travellers gave of arriving in London, to the heart of the British Empire.  To the way I've heard New Yorkers talk of flying home from other parts of the world and seeing the skyscrapers or the Statue of Liberty out the window and knowing that you're home and swelling with pride because their home is—today—the centre of the universe.  This past March, Veronica I drove down Highway 101 to the central California Coast.  Between Sausalito and the Marin Headlands, you pass through the Waldo Tunnel and when you come out the south end of the tunnel, you're greeted with a stunning panoramic vista of the Golden Gate Bridge with San Francisco's skyscrapers in the background.  That's where I was born.  And when we drove out of the tunnel and saw that view, I think I felt something very much like the Jews would have felt coming round the Mount of Olives and seeing Jerusalem and the temple in the distance.  Jesus' disciples—a bunch of bumpkins from Galilee, way up in the north—must have felt that way.  But not Jesus.  Matthew leaves this part out, but St. Luke tells us that Jesus, seeing that beautiful and glorious view, stopped and began to sob.  The beauty, the glory wasn't lost on him, but he sobbed because he knew that it masked a people with no heart for God.  The city and temple were like a whitewashed tomb—beautiful, but full of dead men's bones.  He knew—as everyone knew, but dared not admit—the glory, the presence of God was not there.  The smoke my have risen from the altar, but the holy holies was bare and empty—just like the heart of the people.  Jesus saw the coming judgement of God on a faithless people.  He saw the city and the temple as they would be in a generation: a smoking ruin. Matthew puts our attention on Jesus' acted out prophecy.  He sends two of his disciples ahead into the village of Bethphage, “‘Go into the village,' he said, ‘and at once you'll find a donkey tied up and a foal beside it.  Untie them and bring them to me.  And if anyone says anything to you, say, “The lord needs them, and he'll send them back straightaway.”'  He sent them off at once….So the disciples went off and did as Jesus had told them.  They brought the donkey and its foal and put their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.”  Why?  Well, says Matthew, “This happened so that the prophet's words might be fulfilled: ‘Tell this to Zion's daughter: Behold!  Here comes your king; humble and riding on a donkey, yes, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Matthew quotes from the Prophet Zechariah.  Matthew could see what Jesus was doing here.  Jesus never did anything randomly or without reason.  The location, the donkey, the colt—they're all important.  Jesus could have taken a different route to Jerusalem, but he picked this one so that he'd be standing on the Mount of Olives when all this happened.  This was the spot were Zechariah said that the Lord would stand when he came in judgement on faithless Jerusalem.  And Zechariah explains the strange command to the disciples about the donkey.  This was not how kings made their triumphal processions.  At least, not ordinary kings.  They were carried by their servants or they rode on horseback or in a chariot.  But Zechariah, hundreds of years before, had highlighted the humble nature of the coming Messiah.  He was the one who would ride to his coronation on the back of a humble donkey. Jesus' acted out prophecy reveals who he is and it exposes all the wrong ideas his people had about the Lord and his Messiah—and it probably exposes some of our wrong ideas, too.  To the people who longed for the Lord to come in judgement on the nations, Jesus comes in judgement to his own people.  To the people who imagined the Messiah coming in a chariot with a great army to liberate Jerusalem and to reign over his people like a greater David, Jesus comes riding on a donkey with an army of ordinary pilgrims.  To the people who imagined God coming in merciless, vengeful, pitiless wrath to bring judgement on sin, Jesus comes in humility, weeping over the coming judgement.  Jesus is coming to take his throne, to fulfil what the Prophets—like Zechariah—had spoken, to show the Lord's faithfulness, but not in the way anyone expected. I think of our Epistle today from Romans, where St. Paul writes those words: “Owe no one anything, but to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the torah.”  I don't think Paul could have written those words before he met the risen Jesus.  He certainly knew what the greatest commandments were: to love God and to love his neighbour.  But he didn't understand.  He was part of that Jerusalem Jesus wept over.  A city that talked about love of God and love of neighbour, but a city—a nation—of people at each other's throats, a people longing eagerly for fire and brimstone to rain down on their enemies, a people with little if any thought for those in their midst most in need, a people ready to cry out in demonic rage for the crucifixion of their own Messiah.  And a people who did all these things with an absolute and devoted passion for a God they utterly misunderstood.  And this was why what should have been the beating heart of Jerusalem—the presence of the living God in the temple—this is why it, why he was missing.  The people had returned from their Babylonian exile, they had rebuilt the temple, but the heart of the people was still far from God.  They were impure.  Their salt had lost its savour.  Their light had turned to darkness.  They were false witnesses of their God.  And so his presence, the cloud of glory, had never returned. The road to Jerusalem was jammed with people who say Jesus sobbing.  They probably thought his tears were tears of joy to see the holy city.  Little did they know.  They were just excited to see him.  They'd heard the stories.  Word was no doubt spread through about the healing of blind Bartimaeus in Jericho.  Pilgrims from Galilee told others of the amazing things Jesus had done and taught there.  And as the disciples places their coats on the donkey and Jesus took his place, word was going through the crowd: “That's him!” So, says Matthew, “the great crowd spread their coats on the road.  Others cut branches from the trees and scattered them on the road.  The crowds went on ahead of him and those who were following behind shouted: ‘Hosanna to the son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest!” The crowd surrounds Jesus. All the way to Jerusalem they'd been singing the psalms of ascent and the royal psalms.  Songs full of hope.  Psalms about that recalled the glory days of David, psalms about God coming to his people, psalms about God finally setting this broken world to rights.  Psalms that looked forward to the coming Messiah.  And now—maybe, they hoped—here he was.  Not like anyone expected, but they'd heard the stories.  Maybe they'd heard him preaching.  Maybe they'd seen his miracles.  And that was enough.  So they parade him down the Mount of Olives, across the valley, and back up and into the gates of Jerusalem. Along the way they, Matthew says, they laid their coats and palm branches on the ground.  Now it's the people acting out prophetically even if they didn't know it. Matthew, writing to a Jewish audience makes sure that as they read this, they're reminded of a scene or two from their own history.  In 2 Kings 9 we read about Jehoram.  He was King of Israel, the son of the wicked King Ahab.  And in Jehoram, the apple had not fallen far from the tree.  He was as wicked as his father, so the prophet Elisha ordered that Jehu, instead, was to be anointed King in his place.  He announced that Jehu would bring the Lord's judgement on the wicked house of Ahab.  As Jehu was anointed by the prophet, the men who were gathered cast their coats on the ground before him and blew a trumpet. And then there's Judas Maccabeus.  2 Maccabees 10:7 describes the people hailing Judas as king by laying wreathes and palm branches at his feet.  Judas had not only defeated Israel's enemies and liberated the nation, but he had purified the temple from its defilement by the Greeks.  He was a national hero—particularly for the Pharisees and the Zealots.  Judas' kingdom inspired hope. But Jehu was not the saviour the people hoped for.  As a king he was a mixed bag.  He put an end to the more outrageous form of idolatry in Judah.  He got rid of the altars to Baal.  But he never removed the golden calves that Jeroboam has set up at Bethel and Dan.  He failed to dig out the root of Judah's idolatry and faithlessness to the Lord.  In the end, the Lord still allowed the people to be exiled for their faithlessness.  And Judas Maccabeus.  He was a national hero.  But his kingdom was short-lived.  The shekinah never returned to the temple, despite his zealousness for torah.  The hope he'd brought to the people was quickly crushed.  But this time, looking at Jesus, the people hoped, it would be different.  And so they sing to him.  They acclaim him as the Messiah, the anointed king.  “Hosanna—save us—O son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  O Hosanna—save us—we cry to heaven!” Matthew gives us a sense of the longing and hope of the people.  They're desperate for the Lord to come and set their broken world to rights.  Jesus sees it too and I expect it made him weep all the more, because he knew that God's new world was not going to come the way they wanted it to, he knew that he would not going to his messianic throne the way they wanted him to, because he knew that to set everything to rights would mean judging the sin and corruption of his people and the city and even the temple.  And he knew the only way to his throne was through their rejection and death on Roman cross. But on he went into the city.  Acting out the prophecy.  Matthew writes that “When they came into Jerusalem, the whole city was gripped with excitement.  ‘Who is this?' they were saying.  ‘This is the prophet, Jesus,' replied the crowds, ‘from Nazareth in Galilee!”  This is the Prophet.  They weren't saying that Jesus was just another prophet.  He was the Prophet.  The one the people hailed Jesus as in our Gospel last Sunday, after he fed the multitude.  He was the one promised to come, like another Moses, to save the people and lead them out of bondage.  In other words, “This is the Messiah, Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” He had come to take his throne.  And so from the gate of the city, Jesus led the triumphal parade of cheering people through the winding streets—the same route he would take in reverse, bearing a cross, just five days later.  He made his way up and up through the city to the temple and through the gate.  And when he got there, Matthew says, “Jesus threw out all the people who were buying and selling in the temple.  He flipped over the tables of the money-changers and the seats of the dove-sellers.  ‘It is written,' he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a lair of bandits!” Jehu and Judas Maccabeus had cleansed the temple.  That was the expectation of the Messiah.  But not like this.  I think we often focus too much on Jesus' actions as a condemnation of the commerce going on in the temple—probably because we're aware of the evils of our own overly materialistic and commercialistic culture.  I don't think Jesus was angered by the commerce itself.  People needed animals for the sacrifices and not everyone was a farmer.  A lot of people were travelling from far away and it wasn't easy or realistic to bring the animals with them.  And the money changers, well, since the temple only used its own coinage, they were at least a necessary evil.  Nevertheless when you think of Mary and Joseph going to the temple for her purification after the birth of Jesus and offering two turtledoves, it says something about how poor they were.  When you think about the words of her Magnificat, singing about filling the hungry with good things and sending the rich away empty, when you think of the widow offering her “mite” in the offering box, you certainly get the sense that the system was privileging the rich and making access to the temple a burden for the poor—and in that this whole system was emblematic of the way in which Israel had lost the heart of God and was desperately in need of judgment…or renewal…or as it would happen: both.   But the really important thing about Jesus flipping tables and driving out the merchants is something I think we're prone to missing.  Again, this is another acted out prophecy.  The really important thing is that what Jesus did brought the work of the priests and the whole sacrificial system that day to a grinding halt.  It goes along with everything else he said about the temple—like announcing that he would tear it down and rebuild it in three day—and it goes right along with all the times that he bypassed the temple, the priests, and the sacrificial system by offering forgiveness apart from them.  That, far more than everything else, is what had angered the Pharisees.  That was what got him arrested and crucified. So what Jesus is getting at here is that the Messiah has come, not just to purify the temple, but to establish a new and better one.  To really inaugurate the work of new creation that the old temple had always pointed to.  The people had forgotten this.  The temple was never meant to be an end in itself.  The temple pointed to God's future—to the day when sin is gone, to the day when creation is made new and the garden restored, and to the day when men and women are made new as well, to the day when a renewed humanity once again lives in God's presence and serves in his temple as priests. And, Brothers and Sisters, that's what Jesus inaugurated through his crucifixion and resurrection.  He shed his blood, not for a building, not for an altar made of stone, but for a people: a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for their sins.  At the cross, Jesus washed his people clean and he's washed them—he's washed us clean—so that we can be God's temple.  And so Jesus rose from the grave and ascended to the right hand of his Father, the perfect man, the new Adam, to take up his vocation as high priest.  And as high priest, he's poured God's Spirit into his people, purified by his blood.  He's made us his temple and called us to join in the vocation we were originally created for: to be God's priests and stewards serving beside our saviour. So Advent comes as a forced pause.  We're racing towards Christmas and to the joy it represents.  And the church says, “Hold on.  Slow down.  You need to stop and think about what it all means.  You need to stop and think about why Jesus came, why he was born, why it was necessary for light and life to be born into the world.  You need to reflect on the darkness of this fallen and broken world.  You need to reflect on the awfulness of sin and of death and of our slavery to them so that you can fully appreciate the gift in the manger with more than mushy holiday sentimentalism.  This is the Messiah, this is the saviour—Israel's saviour and now our saviour.  Come not just to make us feel good, but come to deliver us from sin and death, come to set God's creation to rights.  Come to purify us with his blood, to dwell in the midst of the people, to fill us with Gods' Spirit, and to sweep us up into his messianic mission.  Brothers and Sisters, to make us the people in whom the world encounters the glory of the living God and meets the humble saviour whose kingdom has come, not by a sword, but by the cross.  To make us stewards of the Gospel that, empowered by the Spirit, we might prepare the world for Jesus' return. Let's pray: Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Nov 28, 2025Matthew Miller led a discussion with Kenneth Taylor, Jennifer Grunig, Carol Lee, and Tamara Blue on the son of perdition, initially confirming Judas as the first and the "man of sin" or "false prophet" as the one yet to come, and challenging mainstream clergy views by suggesting this figure comes from within the church. Miller detailed the scriptural references in John 17:12 and 2 Thessalonians 2, and introduced a third, less-known reference in the Greek Septuagint translation of Proverbs 24, where analysis of the Greek words suggests "the Word (Logos) keeps the son of perdition outside," connecting it to the concept of the restrainer in 2 Thessalonians. The participants explored the meaning of the Greek words for "perdition" and "restraint," confirming that the discussion revolved around the restraining of the "son of perdition" and the "mystery of lawlessness" as referenced in Proverbs 22 of the Septuagint.

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Desde el Coliseo Cerrado Casa de la Juventud, Cuzco, Perú. Tema basado en el libro de Judas. #caravanadelaesperanza #semanadelaesperanza #laverdadrevelada #laesperanzaesjesus

No Getsêmani, diante de Judas e dos oficiais que vieram prendê-Lo, Jesus tomou uma atitude que a maioria nunca percebeu.Um detalhe simples, mas profundo, que revela o quanto Ele se colocou entre você e o mal.Assista e entenda por que isso muda completamente a maneira de viver a fé e por que você não precisa terceirizar aquilo que só você pode fazer diante de Deus.

On the Mount of Olives, Jesus foretells Peter's denial before entering the crushing agony of Gethsemane. He prays, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me," yet submits perfectly: "nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." His disciples sleep as His anguish deepens. The scene is shattered by the arrival of Judas, who betrays the Son of Man with a kiss, leading to His arrest as the disciples scatter.  The Rev. George Murdaugh, pastor emeritus, assisting First Lutheran Church, Birmingham, AL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 26:31-56.  The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Judas Iscariot offers an unexpected lens through which to understand Christmas. Though he wasn't present at Jesus' birth, his story reveals why the manger matters - it points to the cross. Judas was personally chosen by Jesus, served as the disciples' treasurer, yet his heart remained unchanged despite his proximity to Christ. His betrayal and tragic end teach us three crucial lessons: Christmas celebrates a Savior, not just a baby; you can be near Jesus yet far from Him; and no one should live without hope because forgiveness is always available. This Christmas, move beyond admiring Jesus from a distance to surrendering your heart to the Savior who came to transform lives. Follow and subscribe to stay updated with our latest content: Youtube  | Facebook | Instagram | Central Wired Website

As the Passover approaches, the plot to kill Jesus solidifies. A woman anoints Him with expensive ointment, an act the disciples see as waste, but Jesus commends as a proper preparation for his upcoming death and burial. This contrasts with Judas, who has agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. At the Last Supper, Jesus institutes the Sacrament of the Altar which gives us His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.  The Rev. Dr. Richard Davenport, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Smith, AR, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 26:1-30.  To learn more about Our Redeemer, visit OurRedeemerFortSmith.360unite.com. The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Verse by verse study through the book of Acts Chapter Five and Verse Thirty Seven

John 13:21-38English Standard Version21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.' 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

Series: Signs & GloryTitle: Why does Jesus lead us into dark places?Scripture:

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.On today's edition of The Briefing, Dr. Mohler discusses the morality of movie ratings and children's tv shows, and he answers questions about using A.I. in the preparation of sermons, trigger warnings for Scripture, and if Judas repented.Part I (00:14 – 10:24)How Much Sex, Drugs and Violence Can Be in a PG-13 Movie? by The New York Times (Julia Jacobs)Part II (10:24 – 13:25)Part III (13:25 – 19:59)Part IV (19:59 – 23:59)God help us! Students given trigger warning about the Bible’s death and violence – including Christ’s crucifixion by Daily Mail (Chris Hastings)Part V (23:59 – 27:55)Sign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.

We've talked about what the betrayal of Judas was, but WHY did he betray Jesus? Let's find out together as we read Matthew 27:3-10 and Psalm 109:1-20.

We recommend listening to the teaching, HaSatan | Did the Devil Make You Do It? | Part 7, before listening to this episode.Afterburn: also known in the fitness world as the “afterburn effect.” Simply put, the more intense the exercise, the more oxygen your body consumes afterward. This effect could occur spiritually after Rabbi Berkson's intense teachings each week. This Afterburn Q&A session allows your mind and soul to consume more understanding (oxygen).Some of the topics covered are:• Intro• Seeing that side of Yeshua• Satan in perspective • Praying that our faith does not fail• When Yeshua reveals the Father• There's nothing wrong with traditions, unless…• Do unto others• The Devil is still a part of Yahweh's structure?• Just misbehaving, or a sin?• Is Messiah praying for us?• Don't let your prayers be like this…• When you're aware of a need (Matt 25)• It was easier to blame you than myself • May you be able to withstand Yahweh's face shining on you• When we fail each other• Trusting what you're hearing• Acknowledge your problem even though it's painful • Don't try to correct those outside of the covenant• How do I stop being an adversary to my husband?• Is the Christian model of prayer weakening people?• Can HaSatan influence your emotions?• Did Messiah pray for Judas as he did for Peter?Subscribe to take advantage of new content every week.To learn more about MTOI, visit our website, https://mtoi.org.https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Send us a textBetrayal hurts more when it happens in the trenches. We take a hard look at apostasy—not as a catchall insult, but as the sobering reality of switching sides—through the lenses of Hebrews 6 and 10, Judas and Demas, and the everyday choices that reveal whether we love Jesus or just the glow of Christian community. Along the way, we make crucial distinctions: grave sin versus walking away for good, rebellion versus unbelief, and orthodoxy versus the theological slide that denies core truths while trying to keep a Christian label.Together we name the counterfeit of transactional religion, where people leverage church for platform, comfort, or power and call it faith. We talk frankly about leaders who fall, how to respond without minimizing sin or baptizing despair, and why superficial assurance harms souls more than honest warnings ever will. You'll hear why perseverance is more than a doctrinal slogan, how self-examination protects against drift, and how God can use anyone without that use proving union with Christ.We also get practical for parents and pastors at home. Fathers shape identity; when a dad turns, families often follow. So we map out how to raise children toward regeneration: tell the truth, confront sin with mercy, invite real questions, and use great stories to train the conscience. Boys and girls often sin differently; wise coaching honors those differences while keeping the same gospel center—dying to self and rising with Christ.If you've been burned by a Judas or discouraged by a Demas, take heart. Expect betrayal without becoming bitter, cling to the real gospel, and keep walking. If this conversation sharpened your thinking or strengthened your resolve, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it.Support the show

Our 3rd and final live show from Lake Placid! What's done is done.

James Reich is a novelist, essayist, and journalist, and ecopsychologist and research psychologist. He is the author of Skinship (Anti-Oedipus Press, 2024), Wilhelm Reich versus The Flying Saucers (Punctum Books, 2024), The Moth for the Star (7.13 Books, September 2023), The Song My Enemies Sing, Soft Invasions, Mistah Kurtz! A Prelude to Heart of Darkness (Anti-Oedipus Press), I, Judas, and Bombshell (Counterpoint/Soft Skull). He is also the author of The Holly King, a limited-edition collection of poetry. His novels have been studied at North American and European universities.James Reich's site: https://www.jamesreichbooks.com/Book link: https://punctumbooks.com/titles/wilhelm-reich-versus-the-flying-saucers-an-american-tragedy/--- Become part of the Hermitix community: Hermitix Twitter - ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Hermitixpodcast⁠⁠⁠ Support Hermitix: Patreon - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hermitix⁠⁠⁠ Donations: - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.me/hermitixpod⁠⁠⁠ Hermitix Merchandise - ⁠⁠⁠http://teespring.com/stores/hermitix-2⁠⁠⁠ Bitcoin Donation Address: 3LAGEKBXEuE2pgc4oubExGTWtrKPuXDDLK Ethereum Donation Address: 0x31e2a4a31B8563B8d238eC086daE9B75a00D9E74

En esta enseñanza exploramos qué significa “orar en el Espíritu” a la luz de Efesios 6:18, Judas 20–21 y Romanos 8:18–30. Vemos que no se trata de una experiencia mística aislada, sino del corazón de la vida cristiana: orar como hijos adoptados, guiados por la Palabra, buscando la gloria de Dios, perseverando en la batalla espiritual, guardados de la falsa enseñanza y sostenidos en medio del sufrimiento. Descubre cómo el Espíritu Santo transforma nuestra oración rutinaria en una comunión viva con el Padre y nos hace participar en su obra de redención en un mundo que gime.

En esta enseñanza exploramos qué significa “orar en el Espíritu” a la luz de Efesios 6:18, Judas 20–21 y Romanos 8:18–30. Vemos que no se trata de una experiencia mística aislada, sino del corazón de la vida cristiana: orar como hijos adoptados, guiados por la Palabra, buscando la gloria de Dios, perseverando en la batalla espiritual, guardados de la falsa enseñanza y sostenidos en medio del sufrimiento. Descubre cómo el Espíritu Santo transforma nuestra oración rutinaria en una comunión viva con el Padre y nos hace participar en su obra de redención en un mundo que gime.

Time Travelin' Top 40 E210 Brandon Vogt with Murray Head on his huge hit " One Night in Bangkok" and his acting career including his role as Judas in "Jesus Christ Superstar"See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pivotal events leading up to Jesus' trial, focusing on the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas' betrayal, and Peter's denial. Listeners will delve into Jesus' agonizing prayer, His arrest, and the subsequent interrogation by religious leaders. The narrative highlights Jesus' unwavering commitment to God's plan, contrasting it with the disciples' reactions, particularly Peter's struggle between loyalty and fear. Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...

Father Casey Jones is a priest of the Diocese of Venice, Florida. He currently serves as the pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish and school in Naples, Florida. In Today's Show: Was the American Revolution a just war? What is the point of prayer if God knows what we need? Advice on dealing with anxiety and depression. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross for our salvation? Thoughts on St. Bridget seeing a vision of Judas in hell. Can Catholic's work as stuntmen? Is there any reason not to have a Mass said for someone? How did the early world understand Jesus? Should we read books that use the Lord's name in vain? And more! Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

When God corrects you, do you turn toward Him or walk away?In this episode of the Kavod Family Podcast, the team explores why some men—like David or Peter—repent when confronted with sin, while others—like Cain or Judas—harden their hearts and never return. This is a conversation about fatherhood, discipleship, parenting, and how we respond to the voice of a loving Father.If you've ever been discouraged when those you've invested in turn away, this episode offers clarity, comfort, and a challenge to keep leading like Christ does—with truth, discipline, and love.In this episode:• Cain, Abel, and the danger of hard-heartedness• How God lovingly disciplines His children• Parenting that corrects without crushing• Why sanctification must be rooted in relationship• What to do when someone you disciple walks away“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” — Proverbs 9:10“He was marvelously helped… until he was strong.” — 2 Chronicles 26:15Subscribe for more conversations on biblical worldview, manhood, and discipleship:https://www.kavodfamilyministries.org

Ever wondered what Jesus was really facing in the Garden of Gethsemane? It wasn't just death—it was something infinitely heavier. In this powerful Bible study, we walk through Matthew 26:36-56, exploring Jesus's darkest hour and the moment Judas betrayed him with a kiss.What You'll Discover:* Why Jesus sweat drops of blood in the garden (and what that reveals about his humanity)* The real meaning of “the cup” Jesus was about to drink* How to actually fight temptation (watch AND pray—not just one or the other)* Why Judas's greeting was one of the most disrespectful acts in history* What “speaking the truth in love” really means (and how it gets weaponized)* Why Jesus didn't call down 12 legions of angels to save himselfThis Episode Addresses:* The false teaching that Jesus didn't have a real body* Why your resolutions aren't enough to keep you from falling away* How Jesus empathizes with every weakness you face* The weight of what Christ actually suffered for you* Why the Garden of Gethsemane is called “the garden of crushing”Support Amen Podcast: We're 100% ad-free and sponsorship-free, running entirely on your generous donations. With Giving Tuesday coming up on December 2nd, please consider supporting our ministry:* Website: amenpodcast.com* Ways to Help Us Grow:

This week's message dives into one of the most misunderstood commandments—“You shall not steal.” But Pastor reveals something deeper: stealing isn't just about taking possessions… it's about the condition of the heart, the breakdown of trust, and the areas of our lives where we withhold what belongs to God. From the two thieves on the cross, to Achan, Judas, Jacob, David, and beyond—Scripture shows that stealing destroys relationship, blocks blessing, and disconnects us from intimacy with God. But in the middle of all of it… there is a Redeeming King who offers mercy even in our darkest moments. This message confronts: • The hidden ways we steal without noticing • How withholding worship, obedience, integrity, and the tithe robs God • Why trust, not money, is the true root issue • How giving unlocks encounter, blessing, and restored relationship • The repentant thief who asked Jesus for nothing but mercy—and received Paradise You'll learn what the Bible actually teaches about the tithe, stewardship, spiritual theft, and the heart posture that either closes heaven… or opens the floodgates. If you've ever struggled with trusting God, giving, or letting go of control—this message will hit home in the best way. Listen now and discover why you radically love God… by not stealing.

Ever wondered what Jesus was really facing in the Garden of Gethsemane? It wasn't just death—it was something infinitely heavier. In this powerful Bible study, we walk through Matthew 26:36-56, exploring Jesus's darkest hour and the moment Judas betrayed him with a kiss.What You'll Discover:* Why Jesus sweat drops of blood in the garden (and what that reveals about his humanity)* The real meaning of “the cup” Jesus was about to drink* How to actually fight temptation (watch AND pray—not just one or the other)* Why Judas's greeting was one of the most disrespectful acts in history* What “speaking the truth in love” really means (and how it gets weaponized)* Why Jesus didn't call down 12 legions of angels to save himselfThis Episode Addresses:* The false teaching that Jesus didn't have a real body* Why your resolutions aren't enough to keep you from falling away* How Jesus empathizes with every weakness you face* The weight of what Christ actually suffered for you* Why the Garden of Gethsemane is called “the garden of crushing”Support Amen Podcast: We're 100% ad-free and sponsorship-free, running entirely on your generous donations. With Giving Tuesday coming up on December 2nd, please consider supporting our ministry:* Website: amenpodcast.com* Ways to Help Us Grow:

Here in John's gospel, we get a lengthy behind-the-scenes look at the Last Supper. As Jesus eats the Passover meal with his disciples, he knows that the hour of His crucifixion is drawing near. As both Lord and servant, Jesus leads by example and washes the disciples' feet and commands them to love one another. It's revealed that Judas will betray Jesus, and he departs from the other disciples to execute his plan. Jesus reveals the nature of the relationships within the triune Godhead, describing how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit relate to one another. Finally, Jesus tells his disciples that they should expect to be persecuted by the world.John 12 – 1:10 . John 13 – 9:25 . John 14 – 15:31 . John 15 – 20:44 . Isaiah 40 – 24:47 . :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

We recommend listening to the teaching, HaSatan | Did the Devil Make You Do It? | Part 6, before listening to this episode.Afterburn: also known in the fitness world as the “afterburn effect.” Simply put, the more intense the exercise, the more oxygen your body consumes afterward. This effect could occur spiritually after Rabbi Berkson's intense teachings each week. This Afterburn Q&A session allows your mind and soul to consume more understanding (oxygen).Some of the topics covered are:• Intro• One of you is a devil• Babylon mindset vs. satanic mindset?• Does the way I talk distract you?• Judas and Pharaoh?• Letting things play out?• As long as it's not me• ‘Necessary‘ is defined as ‘binding' or ‘bound' (Matt 16:19, 21)• Get behind me?• We need to be stressed in order to grow• Let this mind be in you that was also in Messiah Yeshua• Your mind should “sign off” (validate) on your feelings• Can you be sincere but wrong?• Is “serving our children” how we take care of them daily?• How can we know if we are being an adversary?• Why did Judas commit suicide?Subscribe to take advantage of new content every week.To learn more about MTOI, visit our website, https://mtoi.org.https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Ever thought you'd never betray Jesus? Peter thought the same thing. In this episode, we dive into one of the heaviest passages in Scripture—Judas's betrayal, Peter's denial, and the Last Supper. But here's the uncomfortable truth: we're all Judas. We all betray Jesus for way less than 30 pieces of silver.From understanding the true meaning of the Lord's Supper to wrestling with why Jesus's blood wasn't shed in vain, this message will challenge how you see your own faithfulness to Christ. We also unpack particular redemption, God's sovereignty, and the security we have as believers.In This Episode:* The real reason Judas betrayed Jesus (and why we do it too)* What the Last Supper actually means (it's not transubstantiation)* Why Peter denied Jesus four times, not three* How small betrayals lead to bigger ones* The security of Jesus's finished work on the crossChapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:34 - The Context: Passover Week 4:10 - Judas's Betrayal & What We Betray Jesus For 9:03 - Preparing for the Last Supper 11:00 - “One of You Will Betray Me” 15:25 - The Difference Between Lord and Rabbi 17:12 - The Last Supper Explained (Not Transubstantiation) 23:31 - The Hillel: What Jesus and the Disciples Sang 26:31 - Peter's Denial (Actually Four Times) 30:31 - Particular Redemption: Jesus's Blood Wasn't Spilled in Vain 35:38 - After the Amen: Where Have You Betrayed Jesus?Connect With Us: