Podcasts about ultimately jesus

December is a month to reflect on the birth of Jesus. Why did He come? Ultimately Jesus has come to bring us peace within, because he makes peace between.Experience Jesus' birth through their eyes as Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night blends The Messengers and The Shepherd into one special remastered and re-scored story: https://watch.thechosen.tv/video/184683594479

December is a month to reflect on the birth of Jesus. Why did He come? Ultimately Jesus has come to bring us peace within, because he makes peace between.Experience Jesus' birth through their eyes as Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night blends The Messengers and The Shepherd into one special remastered and re-scored story: https://watch.thechosen.tv/video/184683594479

When Jesus talks about hell, we can bring all kinds of assumptions about the place he's describing and how we can avoid ending up there. This week we look at Jesus' teaching on dealing with sin (“if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off”) and explore the dimensions of death and life it presents. Ultimately Jesus offers not a program of sin management but a paradigm of the moral universe, one in which physical actions have spiritual consequences and open paths to move steadily toward death or toward life. Deacon Lisa Elmers teaches from Mark 9:38-50.

Fr. Peter talks about the palm branch as a symbol of victory and ultimately Jesus' victory at Holy Family Catholic Church in Orlando, Florida To support our podcasts, go to https://www.holyfamilyorlando.com/give ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Holy Family is a vibrant Catholic Parish in SW Orlando near Dr. Phillips, Isleworth, Windermere, Winter Garden, Ocoee, Horizon West, Metrowest. Also, conveniently located near the theme parks (Disney, Universal, SeaWorld) as well as the Orlando Convention Center

Ultimately Jesus came to earth to die on the cross to glorify God and bring salvation to humanity. - Emma Danzey SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In these verses (9: 30-50), Jesus is teaching a new Law IN HIM of peace-loving living . . . as humble servants, gracious receivers and salty sacrifices. In teaching this new Law, Jesus needs to correct the problems that the disciples are causing. This passage exposes some of those problems, all of which are rooted in pride. Their pride is getting in the way of this peace-loving living that Jesus calls them to.Jesus again foretells his death and resurrection, but this time adds this detail, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men” (9: 31). This sounds like a sacrifice! The disciples are afraid to ask what this means, possibly because they are too proud to admit they still don't understand.The disciples are arguing over who is the greatest (pride problem!), and Jesus has an upside-down response for them, telling them, “To be first, you must be last! You must be humble servants!” And to illustrate this lesson, he takes a young child in his arms (who wouldn't have been seen as significant at this time in history, this child represented “the least”), and he says, “Whoever receives a child [the least of these] in my name receives me and the one who sent me.” The disciples also rebuke someone who was casting out demons in Jesus' name and wasn't one of Jesus' followers. Again, Jesus has an upside-down response, “Whoever is not against us is for us!” Anything, big or small, done in Jesus' name is welcomed by him and pleasing to him. There is a great takeaway here for us today. We must guard against building walls between believers. We must not get caught up on the “non-essentials,” but instead recognize that unity with fellow followers of Christ is essential.The “sin” word we see in 9: 42-47 translates as “to stumble” or “to fall away.” This translation helps us see why Jesus uses such heavy language here. Also, “little ones” refers to new believers. So, it's one thing to cause others (“little ones”) to sin, but another thing to cause them to lose trust in Jesus altogether. The disciples are causing others to lose sight of Jesus (as we saw in the previous story where they were discouraging another doing works in Jesus' name), instead of being salty sacrifices of his glory. [Leviticus 2: 13: You are to season every grain offering of yours with salt—do not omit from your grain offering the salt of the covenant with your God but offer salt with all your offerings.]Reflection: What causes you to stumble? How can you remove those stumbling blocks from your path? In what ways might you be causing others to stumble?The Pharisees don't actually care about Jesus' views on divorce and marriage, they just want to test (or trap!) him, and to do that, they narrow in on the controversial issue of divorce, assuming that, any way he answers, he would upset those in authority. But Jesus isn't concerned about upsetting people. He's concerned about doing the will of his Father.Jesus had a brilliant response. He brings them back to creation to look at God's original intent for marriage (not just what the Law allows or forbids). God designed marriage to be a lasting union, but when sin entered the world at the Fall, our human hearts became HARDENED to God's perfect plan. And so, the law made divine allowances for divorce in some cases because that was the reality in a fallen world. Ultimately Jesus turns their test regarding divorce into a teaching about marriage! Just like he has a very HIGH view of “the least of these” (his people!), he has a very HIGH view of marriage.Reflection: What could the church learn from the lesson Jesus is teaching here? 

In these verses (9: 30-50), Jesus is teaching a new Law IN HIM of peace-loving living . . . as humble servants, gracious receivers and salty sacrifices. In teaching this new Law, Jesus needs to correct the problems that the disciples are causing. This passage exposes some of those problems, all of which are rooted in pride. Their pride is getting in the way of this peace-loving living that Jesus calls them to.Jesus again foretells his death and resurrection, but this time adds this detail, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men” (9: 31). This sounds like a sacrifice! The disciples are afraid to ask what this means, possibly because they are too proud to admit they still don't understand.The disciples are arguing over who is the greatest (pride problem!), and Jesus has an upside-down response for them, telling them, “To be first, you must be last! You must be humble servants!” And to illustrate this lesson, he takes a young child in his arms (who wouldn't have been seen as significant at this time in history, this child represented “the least”), and he says, “Whoever receives a child [the least of these] in my name receives me and the one who sent me.” The disciples also rebuke someone who was casting out demons in Jesus' name and wasn't one of Jesus' followers. Again, Jesus has an upside-down response, “Whoever is not against us is for us!” Anything, big or small, done in Jesus' name is welcomed by him and pleasing to him. There is a great takeaway here for us today. We must guard against building walls between believers. We must not get caught up on the “non-essentials,” but instead recognize that unity with fellow followers of Christ is essential.The “sin” word we see in 9: 42-47 translates as “to stumble” or “to fall away.” This translation helps us see why Jesus uses such heavy language here. Also, “little ones” refers to new believers. So, it's one thing to cause others (“little ones”) to sin, but another thing to cause them to lose trust in Jesus altogether. The disciples are causing others to lose sight of Jesus (as we saw in the previous story where they were discouraging another doing works in Jesus' name), instead of being salty sacrifices of his glory. [Leviticus 2: 13: You are to season every grain offering of yours with salt—do not omit from your grain offering the salt of the covenant with your God but offer salt with all your offerings.]Reflection: What causes you to stumble? How can you remove those stumbling blocks from your path? In what ways might you be causing others to stumble?The Pharisees don't actually care about Jesus' views on divorce and marriage, they just want to test (or trap!) him, and to do that, they narrow in on the controversial issue of divorce, assuming that, any way he answers, he would upset those in authority. But Jesus isn't concerned about upsetting people. He's concerned about doing the will of his Father.Jesus had a brilliant response. He brings them back to creation to look at God's original intent for marriage (not just what the Law allows or forbids). God designed marriage to be a lasting union, but when sin entered the world at the Fall, our human hearts became HARDENED to God's perfect plan. And so, the law made divine allowances for divorce in some cases because that was the reality in a fallen world. Ultimately Jesus turns their test regarding divorce into a teaching about marriage! Just like he has a very HIGH view of “the least of these” (his people!), he has a very HIGH view of marriage.Reflection: What could the church learn from the lesson Jesus is teaching here? 

Ultimately Jesus' role is to bring peace and restoration to the earth, but not yet.  Now he came to bring a sword because his message requires a choice and that choice divides even families. To follow Jesus, you must be willing to live with that rejection and hostility, even if it means losing your closest family members or your very life.

Ultimately Jesus' role is to bring peace and restoration to the earth, but not yet.  Now he came to bring a sword because his message requires a choice and that choice divides even families. To follow Jesus, you must be willing to live with that rejection and hostility, even if it means losing your closest family members or your very life.

Ultimately Jesus' role is to bring peace and restoration to the earth, but not yet.  Now he came to bring a sword because his message requires a choice and that choice divides even families. To follow Jesus, you must be willing to live with that rejection and hostility, even if it means losing your closest family members or your very life.

Tonight we read about Jesus being tempted in the desert and Brock gives us some thought inspiration as to why Jesus was tempted in the way he was. This period of Jesus life, marked the beginning of his ministry and what he accomplished for us was life giving. Ultimately Jesus proved the word correct, "resist the devil and he will flee from you."

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry… And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:1-2, 13) The Holy Spirit led Jesus to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The Holy Spirit knew exactly why He had led Jesus there and it was in the Father's will that Jesus be equipped through this time of testing. We know that with calling into ministry work, there is going to be times of trial and equipping. The purpose here we can see was equipping Jesus for His ministry, but the purpose for the specific things we go through isn’t always easy to see while we're in it. The thing is, if we hide God’s word in our hearts and remain steadfast in the trial, trusting we are indeed being refined through it, it will have an outcome for our good and be one step closer in the process of being formed into the image of Jesus Christ. During this encounter in the wilderness, Jesus was tried physically, mentally, and spiritually, and was triumphant after resisting the devil. The book of James hadn't been written yet, but this doesn't change the truth that if you resist the devil, he will flee from you. Jesus proved that and serves as an example of that to us. The Devil in is in the Details We can't ignore the fact though that the devil had departed from Him until an opportune time. This means that just because Jesus had victory in this particular time of tempting, didn't mean satan was just giving up and going to leave Him alone now. The enemy is like a lion seeking whom to devour, and like a predator, they seek out prey who are weak, isolated, young (physically or spiritually speaking), or hurt. Jesus in that time was weak from hunger and even though it was for a spiritually good reason, He was also isolated as He fasted and satan took that opportunity to pounce and attempt to devour. What State Are You In? Knowing that the enemy goes after those who are weak, isolated, young, and/or hurt, where does that leave you? Are you young in the Lord? Are you in a state of weakness or hurting physically or emotionally? Have you knowingly or even unconsciously isolated yourself from others, either in person or by keeping them at arms length from having a real relationship with you? Coming from a place of being physically and emotionally hurting, I understand the desire to withdraw and wait for better days to come. But I can also tell you from experience that unless I'm withdrawing for a period of time to fast or setting aside a set period to focus on time with God, isolating doesn't yield good things. The times where I have fallen into self-isolation are the times when the enemy has attacked from every angle and been all up in my face and it is awful! It's hard to know top from bottom and side to side when he's hurling constant attacks, and the way to get out of it and, better yet, prevent it, is being in the Word and letting other believers come alongside you and bear your burdens with you the way God intended His Church to. Have Victory as a Human We are all human, but so was Jesus and He had victory. If you are in Jesus, you can have victory too, but remember that our human limitations are not the issue, it’s when we embrace our flesh nature and desire that we find ourselves in trouble. It’s ok to be weak but don't be afraid to boast in your weakness because His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9) It's ok to isolate for small periods of time to fast and spend dedicated time with God the way Jesus did, but don't neglect to allow others in (Matthew 6; Galatians 6:2) It's ok if you're young, physically and/or spiritually, but don't be afraid to cozy up in the wings of Jesus (Luke 13:34) It's ok to feel hurt, those feelings need to be felt, but don't wallow in your hurt – work through it, process it, and heal from it (Ecclesiastes 3:4; Psalm 147:3) Ultimately Jesus learned obedience through what He suffered, and we can't expect our learning process to be any different. However, we also can expect to have victory in Jesus and through Him because with God all things are possible. Whatever state you find yourself in right now, remember that the Holy Spirit is leading you with a purpose. So cling to Jesus, allow others to help you, and walk in victory when the enemy tempts you by resisting him until he flees from you! Be a mighty child of God, my friend!

From this section of Matt.7:13-29 we notice Jesus speaking words that are more challenging to whoever may be listening, speaking to them of two ways! There is one way that leads to destruction, and the other way, the more difficult way, is the narrow way that leads to life (vv.13-14). See also Jer.21:8 and Prov.16:25. Then Jesus warned about false prophets (vv.15-20), and could it be that these would be people who would act like sheep but who were actually wolves in sheep's clothing, who would lead people down the wrong way, the path that leads to destruction? They may have “fruit” to show for themselves, but the question is, what kind of fruit do they produce? Do they produce true or false converts, as they promise them “their best life now”, in order to fill the pews of their churches (See also Paul's warning in Acts 20:28-30). On the final day, the day of judgement, it will be Jesus who will say to many, “I NEVER knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” These false teachers have played a part in people's lives, building on foundations of sand rather than on the solid rock foundation of the teachings of the apostles and prophets (See Eph.2:20). Ultimately Jesus is our judge, and what we did with His words, that will determine whether we hear the words, “Well done Good and Faithful servant”, or “Depart from Me, I NEVER knew you!” To watch our full service from Sunday 23rd January 2022, and this sermon, just click here! The post Matthew 7 Pt. 2 – The Way, Fruit, Knowing Me Knowing You, and Foundations! appeared first on Living Rock Church.

Luke 19:1-10. In a culture of outrage, it's tempting to turn away from or even hate people who are on the other side of issues we care about, but the Bible calls on Christians to love "outrageous" people. In the example of Zacchaeus we see Jesus moving toward him in love, even though he was likely a corrupt man. Ultimately Jesus saw Zacchaeus differently than the crowd did, seeing his "lostness"--his inner need to be saved by God. We must see people through the same lens, asking God to enable us to see all people as His image bearers, with empathy, and with humility.

From Genesis to Malachi God had spoken through the prophets of the Coming One, The Anointed One, The Messiah. From Gen.3:15 Satan knew that he was cruising for a bruising. He didn't know exactly when, where, how, or who this prophesy would be fulfilled. Ultimately Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and free those were had been in bondage their whole lives, through fear of death. Jesus accomplished this in His death and resurrection, but the fact is that the moment that baby was conceived (perhaps around December) as far as prophesy is concerned, it was as good as done! If you would like to watch the video of this sermon in Youtube, click this link! The post Jesus The God-Man! appeared first on Living Rock Church.

September 19, 2021 – This week Jesus gets stuck in a debate about the purity of pots and pans, and dirty hands. While we may all have cleaner hands these days we still find other ways to measure one another's purity. Ultimately Jesus says it's not what's outside of us that we should worry about,… The post Flaming Lips, Burning Hearts appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

The Gospel today showcases an uncomfortable interaction between Jesus and a Syrophoenician woman. Ultimately Jesus leaves with a wider vision of his ministry for all people, as he struggles to keep his Good News secret.

Tired and hungry, Jesus gives His disciples an impossible task. But why? Ultimately Jesus' aim is to teach His followers trust Him at all times, for nothing is impossible with God.

As believers, we must understand that the gospel reaches all people from shepherds to kings. The Wise Men's desire to find and worship the King should cause each of us to consider our own personal worship of the King. Not only does Scripture make it clear that it doesn’t matter what you have to offer God, it also says that it doesn’t matter where you are in your relationship with Him. Ultimately Jesus came for you and he deserves our worship.

Rest and Be ThankfulQuestion:When was the last time you stopped to rest and be thankful?Read Luke 10:38-42 38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”*Show spinning plate pictures….I. What are your spinning plates? II. Don't get distractedLuke 10:4040 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”III. Focus on what matters mostMatthew 11:28-3028 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”Luke 5:16 NIV16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.Ultimately Jesus holds our lives together not us…-Rest is not an obligation but an invitation. -Brady Boyd Pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, ColoradoColossians 3: 15-17 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

I hope you were all able to celebrate the true power and hope we have because of Resurrection Sunday this past weekend. The reality is Jesus is with us in this current storm. When Jesus sees us, when Jesus sees our condition, our struggle, our brokenness, Jesus weeps. As we talked about this past Sunday, Jesus just plain ugly cries. His heart breaks. Jesus knows exactly what it will take to bring us peace, God's peace, a peace which surpasses all ability to understand. Jesus knows this peace will protect us. Jesus knows this peace will keep guard over our hearts and minds. Jesus knows this peace will act as a shield around us so that we do not need to fear. Jesus knows that he is the source of this peace. Without Jesus, there is no peace. Jesus desperately wants us to have his peace, and this is why when Jesus ugly cries over us and our condition, he says, "if you, only you, knew what would bring you peace". Ultimately Jesus laid down his life so that we could have his peace. As Isaiah's 700-year old prophecy proclaimed, "the punishment that brought us peace was on him." As Jesus so confidently assured the disciples both before his crucifixion, "my peace I give you", as well as after his resurrection, "Peace be with you!" Today, in the midst of our current troubles, we desperately need this peace. Jesus is our refuge, our shield and rampart who will guard our hearts and minds so that we can have peace of mind, even in the midst of the storm. He is with us. He has come to deliver us. In him and him alone, we are complete, whole, at rest. My prayer is that as this current storm continues, each of us will truly find our peace in Jesus and Jesus alone!

Hey guys, It's me, Kelsey, and I'm sitting here this Easter Sunday 2020 not in my Easter dress about to head to church and then to Easter brunch. (Actually, what I've enjoyed doing for Easter's pasts are Glow in the Dark Easter Egg hunts for the neighbors and their children in the backyard, but even that isn't happening during this COVID19 social distancing season that we are in.) But instead, I'm like all of you, questioning the circumstances in which we are in, and asking myself WHY THE HECK IS THIS HAPPENING? Anyone with me? The Easter holiday is full of traditions. I mean, I'm sure you have already thought of all the things you are missing out on, right? Enneagram 7s, where u at, can I get a *woot woot*.  Easter egg hunts with the family, great food, a church service, a community Easter event. But in the hustle and bustle of what "normal" Easter is for us, have we missed the actual meaning of Easter? Ok, think about it. Easter Sunday happens. In conversation some of us converse in this way "He has Risen" which in response we hear "He has Risen indeed". All that is great and means well, but then Monday happens. And life is back to normal. Except for this year. Except for 2020. I've been watching the new TV series called The Chosen with a friend. Highly, highly recommend!! In watching this series, the New Testament stories have come to life and have given me a fresher perspective on The Bible and what it truly means to believe in Jesus. As a Christian, I have had my own doubts, my own battles of faith, my insecurities of who I am according to the Word of God and what I feel, and guilt about what I've done. But what I'm seeing thru this series AND reading the actual scripture, is so did Jesus's disciples. And in each case of calling each disciple, Jesus asked them to stop what they were doing and to instead, follow him. He didn't ask them to stop their doubts, stop their issues, stop their insecurities. He asked them to stop what they were DOING! Guys, a lot of us have been forced to stop what we are doing. We have been diverted from our "normal" lives because of COVID 19. And what we see as detrimental, discouraging, anxious, worrisome could really be our answer to prayer. The disciples had been praying for years, and their forefathers for centuries before them, for God to come save them and for the Messiah to come. And there He was.  And for them to recognize him and learn more about what he came to do, it meant for them to stop doing what was normal. Peter had to stop fishing. Matthew had to stop collecting taxes. James and John had to stop their business. Simon had to stop a life of politics. And in their stopping, they were able to follow. And what is the act of following? It is observing, it is questioning, it is pursuing, it is BEING in the presence of someone, and it is doing but the "doing" is different. As I am like you, in this strange season of COVID 19, I have wondered if God has given me this gift to stop doing and instead follow. To be honest, I'm not sure I would have had the guts to do it myself, even though I've had promptings in my heart for a while to change my course. Before COVID19, was anyone else feeling like me, juggling? Don't let a ball drop, I would tell myself. My quiet times would be cut shorter, because I felt that sleep was more of a necessity than feeding my soul. Then rushing out of the house, I decided that that left over chocolate chip cookie at work would be my breakfast, rather than taking the time to make my healthy smoothie that would benefit my body and bring the nourishment it craves (but maybe not what my brain craves). And after a very strenuous day at work, I'd come home and crash (probably more due to the sugar pumping thru my blood than the actual workload) and I would talk myself out of exercising. To make me happy and take my mind off of what I should be doing, I'd get online find a BOGO for some item that I didn't really need and purchase it, not knowing anything about how that item is made, where it comes from, and was it something that I really needed or was it just a temporary fix to the emptiness that I felt. I'd miss opportunities to be there for people that I cared about. And despite the many blessings in my life, I would live fearfully, never really thinking I had enough which would reflect in my willingness to give. Sure I gave, but was it out of sacrifice or leftovers? Press repeat, that was my life. Since COVID19, I've decided to explore even more what it means to follow Jesus with my heart, soul, mind, and strength and love my neighbor as myself. I'm far from perfect, but I have put together a tool for you, that gives you some ideas of how to start implementing the change your soul so desires, to be rid of that emptiness that we are constantly striving to fill. The ULTIMATE RESET GUIDE, isn't everything one should do, but it is a compilation of ideas, some action tips, which is a start! And I believe when we can start observing, learning, implementing some good things, we can start being doers of good as well. (Don't get me wrong, I don't believe salvation comes by what we DO, but in the love and grace of Jesus)  But I do see that God has a next level for us to partake in, once we understand what He is all about. It doesn't effect our salvation, but it does effect how we use our lives and fulfilling our purpose here on this earth. We aren't here to be work robots, we aren't here on this earth to be bumps on a log, we aren't here to become rich and wealthy. Could this COVID19 be a tool of redemption. Ultimately Jesus has already done the action of saving us from our sins, if we believe in Him, that he died on the cross and rose again which is what we celebrate on Easter Day! But I would encourage you to see COVID 19, as a "follow me", a reset, a change of course. Bring your questions about Christianity to the table. Ask. Seek answers. Google "apologetic podcasts" to explore more. Find us on social media and start a discussion (not a debate).  Find time to sit, listen, read, and learn. Get healthy. Initiate financial, spiritual goals that will allow you to do what God wants you to do. And look for ways to love others. My friend, Jesus is looking at you, in your fears, problems, uncertainties, doubts, insecurities and is saying "follow me". He loves you so much despite what you have done and who you think you are. He wants to give you a new life, nothing of your past will be held over you. He wants you to walk in a new future. May this COVID19 be a launching pad, to your new start, new life, new calling brought to you thru The Resurrection of Jesus THE Christ, Son of God, Redeemer of Humanity, and New Kingdom builder. THE ULTIMATE RESET GUIDE BOB'S TOP MOVIES LIST Connect with us: Have questions, comments, concerns? Comment below or chat with Bob or Kelsey on social media. Movie Reviews: www.pluggedin.com Jenna Kutcher's stimulus podcast  

As we look at the Temptation story, we see that Jesus finds Himself in the ancient story of Israel's wandering only where Israel failed God, Jesus didn't. The temptations story is so much more than just Jesus being tempted. It's a story of how he is righteous where we are not. Ultimately Jesus faces the same temptation that Satan has been using since the beginning. Did God Really Say...

This Is Me A sermon preached by Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli at Foundry UMC January 12, 2020, the Baptism of the Lord. Text: Matthew 3:13-17   In many churches, parents who bring a baby for baptism are asked, “What name has been given this child?”  It is a question that isn’t officially included in our United Methodist ritual and I must say that I miss it. Names are powerful markers of identity. The “given” name from a parent or parents is one special piece…and the “family name”—or surname—is another significant piece.   Sometimes the names we are given get overridden by affectionate nicknames—I have a dear friend whose name is Lillian but is known by those who know her well as Fuzzy. Performers and writers may have pen or stage names which provide a whole separate identity from their day to day life. Immigrants at some times in history have chosen to adjust their names in order to fit in. Some folks have had their names taken from them in acts of violence. For transgender or non-binary siblings, the name given at birth often doesn’t fit and so a new name is taken.   Names are important and powerful and, when we claim them as our own, can be gifts of connection and identity. It is deeply affirming to have someone call you by name. But there’s a kind of “name-calling” that is the direct opposite of affirmation. Bullying, calling people names, labeling, stereotyping…all of these are damaging, disconnecting, and dehumanizing.   And we are in a moment in history in which the changes, tensions, and prejudice in our world are spinning people up into rage and fear and an incapacity to perceive the dignity and worth of every human life. The technologies available to us make it terribly easy to say terrible things about people and call people names that are shameful and shaming with absolutely no accountability or interconnection. Of course—out of some perverse sense of normality or self-righteousness—there are always persons who don’t mind being cruel right to someone’s face. From playgrounds to pulpits, from lunchrooms to bedrooms, from board tables to kitchen tables, people get called stupid, animals, abomination, disappointing, worthless, ugly, and every other kind of horrible, hurtful thing.   I don’t wish to suggest there is any easy excuse for such name-calling or try to make this phenomenon more simple than it is. But I do believe that at the core of human hatred, prejudice, and cruelty is fear. Fear of being overlooked, of being insignificant, of being hurt (again), weak, devalued, unwanted, unloved. In order to try to get or keep something that provides a sense of identity, safety, and worth, a person can do incredibly awful things. In order to make themselves feel like they are “up” some will put others “down.” Many of you will have heard the saying that hurt people hurt people. Sometimes wounded people do their personal work so that their wounds stop fueling harm to others. Sometimes they don’t.   Regardless, for all the vast diversity that exists in the human family, I think a thing we all share is the ridiculously powerful and insidious temptation to allow fear to disconnect us from our true selves and from other people.   Our text from Matthew is the beginning of the story of Jesus’ adult, public life, a life that shares and confronts all our human fears with courage and love. “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.” According to cousin John’s understanding, Jesus has gotten confused somewhere along the way into the wilderness. John’s out there unabashedly preaching Jesus as the awaited power player who will size folks up and sort them out and be the SuperBaptizer with Spirit and fire. The plan—and what John signaled to his considerable following—is that he (John) will be the one to humble himself and be baptized by the long-expected one, Jesus. But Jesus doesn’t swoop in with pyrotechnics or power plays. Jesus upends John’s expectation saying, basically, “You’re right that I’ve come ‘to fulfill all righteousness’—to show and restore right relationship—and the way that begins is for me, Jesus, to be baptized by you, John.” And with that, Jesus steps into the waters that had touched countless human bodies, wades into the flow of all that humanity, all the debris that comes out in the wash, all the beauty and mess of our common, human life.   Jesus first public act is to humble himself, to disappoint expectations, and to align himself with the likes of you and me. I assume he did this because it seemed like the right thing to do. And, according to the story, it seems God agreed. // I imagine John asking just before he dunks his cousin, “What name has been given this child?” And at the moment Jesus emerges from the water, the answer comes, “This is my Son, the Beloved.” Here, Jesus is given his true family name: Beloved.  It is an affirmation and confirmation of who Jesus is, of his identity and connection not just to God but to the whole human family. Sometimes people have joked that we think of “Christ” as Jesus’ last name. But Christ is his job title (“anointed one,” savior). I would argue that Jesus’ family name is “Beloved.” And because he is a Beloved and knows that is his name, Jesus is able to be brave, to stand up to all the temptations and challenges to come, and to continue to be himself. Jesus knows where he comes from, who he comes from, and who has his back.   And the onslaught against Jesus Beloved begins immediately as he is led into the wilderness and tempted by the devilish voice to fill his belly, to fill his coffers, to fill his ego—to recant his baptism and put himself ahead of others, to serve himself rather than serve others, to trust the fearful promises of idols for his security and value rather than clinging to the love of God. Jesus lives the rest of his short life constantly under attack. He is praised when he goes to his home church—until he reveals who he really is; then his people kick him out and try to kill him. He is distanced from his family, called all sorts of names (including Satan himself), cheered and jeered by the public, rejected by many he came to serve, and betrayed and denied by his closest friends. Ultimately Jesus was arrested on false charges, publicly humiliated, became a scapegoat for the mob’s own fears, and was killed. When he returned from the dead, he greeted those who had hurt and disappointed him with peace and with open arms that revealed the wounds of his life not as symbols of shame but of triumph. He met and welcomed people in all their skepticism and fear in all the places we still get locked up and isolated and called us to step out into a life of freedom, and courage and love modeled on his own.   Just as at his Baptism, throughout his public life Jesus was told to be other than he was, was told to run away, to hide, to pipe down, to keep his hands off, to be a different kind of leader, a different kind of savior. But he just kept presenting himself in love and humility and vulnerability and courage saying, in essence, I know who I am, who I’m meant to be. This is me… Jesus joins us here today as we gather again at the Baptismal waters and says, “Your life is a life I share. And because of that, my life is a life you can share. And you don’t need to be afraid. You don’t need to be anyone other than who you are. No matter what people call you, say or do to you, you are a member of my family. We emerge from the same waters, are held in the same love, are fueled by the same grace and Spirit. You are a Beloved! This is your family name! This gives you all you need to be brave, to stand up to all the temptations and challenges to come, and to continue to be yourself. Remember where you come from, who you come from, and who has your back.” //   Many of you will know the story told in the 2017 movie musical, The Greatest Showman. It is a fanciful re-telling of the story of J.T. Barnum’s creation of “The Barnum & Bailey Circus.” One of the attractions Barnum brought to the public were performers described by some as “human oddities”—persons who didn’t fit in to polite society, like the so-called “Bearded Lady” and “General Tom Thumb.” In the film we see folks who had been cast off, ridiculed, and excluded from public life form community and claim their lives and their gifts without shame. The anthem and rallying cry in the film begins with the bearded lady, Lettie Lutz, singing these words:   I am not a stranger to the dark Hide away, they say ‘Cause we don't want your broken parts I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars Run away, they say No one'll love you as you are[i]   Just the other day, I was reminded that such words are not only spoken by those who have been most hurt and ostracized.  My heart ached to read that my amazing, accomplished 24 year old niece struggles with feelings of shame and that if things don’t go well it’s her fault and that she is “bad.”  And then I remembered that is the deep human fear—that we’re not right, that we’re not OK, that we’re messing up, that no one will love us as we are. It’s in all of us and is amplified and exploited in anyone who is the slightest bit vulnerable or outside the “norm.” Jesus’ life and example gives us encouragement that we are called to be exactly who we are and that we need not fear. And the song from The Greatest Showman provides new words to claim our strength as God’s children, bearing the name “Beloved.” // I won't let them break me down to dust I know that there’s a place for us For we are glorious   When the sharpest words wanna cut me down I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out I am brave, I am bruised I am who I’m meant to be, this is me [ii]   Today, the waters of holy Baptism flow to drown out any voice that wants to cut you down or make you forget who you are. You are a Beloved! That is your family name. It is our human family name. And we are glorious!     [i] Justin Paul / Benj Pasek, lyrics. “This Is Me,” https://www.google.com/search?q=this+is+me+lyrics&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS849US849&oq=this+is+me+lyrics&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.2138j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 [ii] Ibid.

Rev. Nathan Meador, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Wisconsin, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Psalm 27. From the abundance of God’s diverse creation arises a diversity of perspectives and poetic metaphors. All these images are held together in the beauty of Christ: He is both a fortress and a weapon, a stronghold and a guiding light, an ornate temple and a mobile tabernacle. The language of Psalm 27 shows that God is with us wherever we go, but this is precisely because He is with us in a special way in certain places through Word and Sacrament. David’s confidence in the face of warfare didn’t come from his bravery but from God’s faithfulness. He asks for God’s help on behalf of the whole people of Israel, and He is strong on behalf of the whole people of Israel. Ultimately Jesus the Messiah represents us all in His death, resurrection, and ascension, creating our faith because of His faithfulness.

In this episode, you will hear about Karen and Becca's experience dealing with Bella & J's mental illness. You will also hear J & Bella talk about what they feel is helpful. Of course, we are not professionals but as Bella says in this episode, "we are professionals in our own experiences." There is not 1 way to support someone. Time and circumstances also change how you interact with someone struggling with their mental health or illness. If you would like to ask us questions, please visit us at www.C50Hope.comIf you need help finding a good counselor, we may be able to help. Please contact us. We believe that medication and therapy can fit well with Jesus' healing if needed. Ultimately Jesus holds everything in his beautiful, strong and loving grip. As we reach out to others, you are not alone...Christ is already there.Support the show (https://www.c50hope.com/giving-info)

Consequence 05       The Message 2 – The Resurrection   ~ In this brief series called Consequences, we are looking together at 7 consequences of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Today we continue to look at the message of the early church regarding this Jesus – a message which is also relevant to us today! Yesterday we looked at the Cross and today we will look at the Resurrection. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:12-14 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. ~ Significance of the Resurrection That was the Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthian church about the crucified Jesus having been physically raised from the dead! What significance is there in Jesus’ resurrection, that the early church afforded such great value in it as part of their message? The resurrection of Jesus Christ provided the central theme for the sermons and teaching in the early church (Acts 1:22; Acts 4:33, Acts 17:18). Certainly within Paul-ine theology, but what significance is there in Jesus’ resurrection? ~ The Solution! The resurrection proved and vindicated all of Jesus’ teaching and claims as the suffering Servant and attested to His being fully God, fully human and the last Judge of all mankind (Isaiah 53:10-12; Acts 2:36; Acts 3:13-15; Romans 1:4). The resurrection, declared God’s approval of Jesus’ obedient service and the fulfilment of Old Testament promises as well as Jesus’ own words about it! The cross and resurrection of Jesus results in forgiveness of sins and salvation being only found in and through Jesus Christ. This was the prime motive for evangelism in the early church (Acts 2:32, Romans 4:24-25). Jesus’ resurrection is a sign of the bodily resurrection for all believers in Him, giving a new attitude to death and transforming hopes (1 Corinthians 15:12-58, Romans 8:10, 2 Corinthians 4:14; 1 Peter 1:3 & 21). As the resurrected King, Jesus now intercedes for us and has perfected the redemption of all those who choose to follow Him (Romans 5:10; Hebrews 6:20, 1 Peter 1:21). ~ Finally the Cross and resurrection ensure victory over satan, sin and death – they are conquered and squashed. Satan is a defeated creature and will do anything to drag people into defeat with him. The power of sin is conquered, and sin’s grip is overcome if you are a believer in Jesus Christ. Finally, as I said earlier, death has been beaten, because those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ will live forever with him – death is not the end but a beginning. if Jesus Christ did not physically rise from the dead, we as Christians are the product of the greatest delusional lie and are the most foolish of all people. ~ Our Resurrection Jesus’ resurrection is the guarantee that all humans also will be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)… Amazing love… There will be a bodily resurrection of the dead, those who are saved and those who are unsaved (John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15). What will our resurrected bodies be like? We get a good glimpse from the Bible writers. The resurrected body of believers, those who are truly disciples of Jesus Christ will be: Like Christ’s glorious body (1 Corinthians 15:49; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2) Not just flesh and blood (1 Corinthians 15:50ff) Not just spiritual (Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:42, 53) They were only always going to be a temporary measure as they pointed forward to Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross. ~ Those who are, or were, non-believers will also be resurrected (John 5:28-29), but will not have the new glorious bodies of believers, nor will they enter into heaven. It makes the work of evangelism for all Christians, all the more imperative. ~ Ultimately Jesus gives all humanity a choice. You can choose to deny the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ and say it doesn’t matter. You can say that it is an irrelevance and that is your right. God’s love is compelling and amazing but He does not force anyone to love Him in return, because love never forces! Such is the enormity of the love of God that each person has a choice to make – follow Jesus and accept His cross and resurrection or not to do that. God will not force you to accept it, but he will keep on calling you back to the cross and resurrection of Jesus. ~ Jesus death on the cross and His resurrection was the central message of the early church! That is also to be our message as church in the 21st century! Tomorrow we look even closer at the man central to this extraordinary message in the next of our series, “Consequences”! See you soon at Partakers! ~ Right Mouse click or tap here to listen/save this as an audio mp3 file You can now purchase our Partakers books! Please do click or tap here to visit our Amazon site! Click or tap on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!

In this podcast Ian Mobsby explores the significance of the prophecy of Isaiah 9:1-4, and the Gospel of Matthew 4: 12-23 to explore the significance of Jesus as the light to bring hope to those who are in darkness. Ultimately Jesus comes as Messiah and as the Son of God into our world, who will overcome all darkness as God seeks to restore all things back into right relationship with God. This was recorded on the 22nd January 2017. For more information on St Luke's Church, please see www.stlukespeckham.co.uk

I am interrupting our usual worship time this morning. This is somewhat intentional, this is an intentional interruption in what we usually do. We experienced an interruption in our week this last week as we heard the tragic news of Alton Sterling’s death in the early hours of July 5th, and then quickly followed by Philando Castile’s death on the evening of July 6th, and this was followed by the death of five police officers on the bloodiest day for law enforcement since 9/11. One of those officers was a man named Officer Michael Smith, a member at a church in Dallas that my friend helps pastor, a Godly man described by many. The New York Times headline this morning is “America Grieves, Tense and Weary”. I think that very much encapsulates the sentiment that we feel today as a nation, what we feel today in this room. We grieve. We are tense, and we’re weary. We as Christians, we as followers of Jesus are not going to ignore that grief or that tension; that’s not our calling. Silence is often interpreted as passive affirmation by those who are suffering. If you just lost a loved one and your friends don’t reach out to you, that is grievous as we navigate those things. Now I will expand that on a much larger term when it comes to the systems and structure of our nation. Talking about these things doesn’t bring about tension, it exposes tension. Dr. King said it this way: ...we are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We bring it out in the open, where it can be seen and dealt with. Like a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up but must be opened with all its ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light, injustice must be exposed, with all the tension its exposure creates, to the light of human conscience and the air of national opinion before it can be cured.So in light of that tension, that grief, that weariness, I do believe with all of my heart, that the redeeming message of Christianity, the hope of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, is the best healing balm there is for all of us. Not just as individuals, but on a corporate, systemic level as well. We as Christians believe that God created humanity with diversity, and this is because God himself is diverse. God has always existed as three persons in one: Father Spirit and Son. And so when he created us in his image he didn’t create one gender, he created two genders. Male and female. Two genders together in his image. Both genders with dignity, as image-bearers who reflect the very image of God.So just as God has always been diverse, so he created us as human beings to represent him in his own diversity. Fast-forward through history to the world marred by sin and self-centeredness. We see that God is not pleased with our sin. God is a god of justice; sin does not go unpunished. But one thing we see all throughout scripture, all throughout the Hebrew Bible, all throughout the Old Testament, one thing that God is most frustrated by is the mistreatment of his image-bearers. He’s against the mistreatment of those that he has given greater dignity to than any in his created order. And so one thing that offends God most is when image bearers are marginalized, when they’re pushed out--when they’re treated as less than image-bearers. All throughout the old testament we see God highlighting that he stands with the fatherless, he stands with the widow, he stands with the poor, the marginalized, the sojourner, the immigrant; he stands with those that are treated with less value, less worth; those who are not given power or dignity. The heart of God is consistently with the marginalised and the oppressed and the disadvantaged of our world. God sides with image-bearers that are not treated with the dignity of image-bearers. To those who follow God, he expects that they have the same heart…Prov 29:7- “A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.” So we should know the rights of the poor, the oppressed, the voiceless, the disadvantaged. Prov 21:13- “Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.” If we close our ears to the needs of the poor, the writer of Proverbs here is saying God won’t hear our prayers. Again and again the nation of Israel, the nation of Judah, were judged because of their mistreatment of the poor, the marginalized. Of injustice among them. God expects his people to side with image-bearers who are not treated with the dignity of image-bearers, those who are treated as less than human, those of less value than other humans.So when a father is shot without due process and the right to trial, we must care. When a cafeteria supervisor traveling with his girlfriend and daughter is shot and killed while reaching for his wallet and not being given medical attention, we must care. When police officers who are guarding a peaceful protest and protecting the right of these 800 or so individuals to fulfill their First Amendment rights to gather, to assemble, and they’re shot down by snipers, we must care.No matter the reason or cause behind actions, any image-bearer who is killed should cause us to care. What we witnessed this last week are not one-time issues, not one-time events. This is a tragic trend among us. African American men are more likely to be arrested, incarcerated, executed or murdered than their white peers. According to the FBI, black Americans are disproportionately more likely to be stopped, arrested, and killed by police. Just a 2015 study of last year showed that young black men are nine times more likely than any other Americans to be killed by police officers. When I’m pulled over while driving, I’m concerned about whether or not I’m going to get a ticket. I don’t fear for my life. That’s a sign of privilege for me. The conversations that my friend CJ had to have growing up about what he should do in a similar situation were entirely different from what my parents had to instruct me on. The reality of scripture is that there not only is individual sin, there is corporate sin. Israelites individually sinned, the nation of Israel together also sinned. There is systemic sin, and this here is a systemic issue. It’s not a recent issue, it didn’t start last week. This is generations in the making, centuries in the making. I’ve got to own this, my own generations. I’ve got ancestors on both sides of the civil war. This is generations in the making and this not going to be fixed by some quick, silver bullet. This is a life-threatening wound that needs to be addressed, that needs to be healed. So when we see in all of this, when we see a march just before our service go by, when we see a hashtag flash across our screens saying Black Lives Matter, the reality of scripture is yes, it’s true, black lives do matter. Black lives should be afforded the same worth, value, and dignity as any other image-bearers lives. Without question. In our country they are not, and something here needs to change. And while I can’t possibly feel the pain as sharply as my black sisters and brothers, or those of other racial or cultural minorities, I am absolutely committed to mourning with them, and standing for justice with them. “Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.” “A righteous man knows the rights of of the poor, a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.”But can legislation fix this? What about all of this unpunished injustice, generations of unpunished injustice, what about our own hearts’ propensity to selfishness and sin, or to distrust those who are different than ourselves, what about those things? In Jesus Christ justice and mercy meet. God declares all this systemic and individual selfishness and racism, and silent bigotry and mistreatment of others that we do, to be so evil that it demands death. But he loves us so much that he took it upon himself. God set aside his privilege and he entered into our world, dressed like the marginalized and disadvantaged image-bearers that he loves so much. And by his unjust death on our behalf justice is served and we can be forgiven. Ultimately Jesus came to show us that we are all poor, we are all broken, we are all marginalized, we’re all lost and we have to be saved, we have to be saved by someone other than ourselves. Jesus doesn’t just save individuals, he redeems systems and structures and cultures and peoples. It’s through the forgiving death and resurrection of Jesus that all races and socioeconomic levels and cultures can be fully reconciled. We can be made family by the very love of God. One day when Jesus returns and when he makes all things new, we will worship him with every tongue and every cultural expression of music and dancing that the world has ever known. He began our story creating us with diversity and he will love us in the midst of our diversity forever. So we won’t move on as the 24-hour news cycle moves on, as it picks up on other sensational events. We as Apostles Brooklyn will not. We are going to care about Philando Castile and Alton Sterling just as we care about Michael Brown, and Eric Garner, and Akai Gurley, and systemic sin in our city, and our country, and our world, and of privilege, and racial and cultural reconciliation, because if we are saved in Jesus and devoted to our God, we as Christians should care more than anyone else. We have to be more committed than anyone else. So as we continue this long journey by God’s grace I’m going to encourage us with three things:1) We are going to weep with those who weep; we’re going to have compassion. We are going to grieve together. If you don’t feel the pain that so many feel, seek understanding. Ask questions without responding. Listen first. Show compassion and care as Jesus has shown you. Grieve with those who grieve. In the coming months and years we’re committed as a church to continue this. To talk about this. To open doors for conversations for greater understanding and compassion…2) Seek justice. As Jesus set aside glory to come and serve, so we get to leverage our own resources and privilege and lives to meet needs, and give generously, and to love and serve the marginalized, and to love as the gospel empowers. So we must stand with the revealed will of God. Stand with truth, and stand against unjust mistreatment and dehumanization of image-bearers. We’ve got to participate as good citizens who seek the welfare of our city and nation. Legislation can do a lot, we should pursue good justice, but it can’t fix hearts. And so our third thing, and probably our most important thing, is that we’re going to:3) Pray. We’re going to pray for peace and reconciliation between races and cultures and socio-economic levels in our city and nation. We’re going to confess our own apathy or bigotry or divisiveness or prejudice, whatever it is, we’re going to confess that freely. We’re going to seek to forgive those who have sinned against us; we’re going to seek understanding in prayer; we’re going to pray for compassion and love; we’re going to pray for unity within our church; pray for perseverance; to seek justice no matter the cost; pray for transformation among our justice system; pray for protection, and care, and wisdom, and discernment for our law enforcement officers; pray for strength in fighting temptation to be apathetic toward this injustice. So we’re going to start with that now. We’re going to do a corporate lament this morning. Laments are found all throughout the scriptures. They are more than just feeling down, they are sitting in it. It is more than a hospital visit; it is a funeral attendance. So we’re going to start with a corporate lament today. I am going to invite all of us to stand up in this together. This is an opportunity for solidarity among us. Whether this hits close to home or whether this is something that you were hardly even aware of this week we need to be in this together. Father we come to you today with heavy hearts. The killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile and the subsequent killings of 5 police officers unite our hearts in grief. Forgive our individual sin, our corporate sin, the systemic injustice of our nation and the distrust and division that exists among us. Lord God, heal our world.We look to our own hearts and see indifference, ignorance and fear. We are hopelessly lost apart from your Son.Lord God, heal our broken hearts. Today Christians of all races and cultures will gather in separate churches, engage separate communities and display division instead of expressing the unity that you bring us as one church, one body of Christ united with one Spirit.Lord God heal our broken churches.Father God through your son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit move in our hearts and minds to act justly, love mercy and walk among you. Amen.

Galatians 6:1-6:2 | The Christian community has often been accused of ?"shooting its wounded". What do we do when someone is carrying a load that is beyond their ability to bear - specifically a burden caused by sin? How are we to deal with this scenario in the church? We are called to ?"carry each other's burdens" when someone is ?"caught in a sin". What does that mean? Ultimately Jesus is THE Burden-Bearer, so we need to learn from Him, His law, and how He deals with our burdens.