Podcasts about unbelief

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Unbelief And Disbelief / Matthew 2:13-23Get the episode here.                                                                                                                                 

Hebrews 12:1-2. The Christian life is likened to a long distance race of faith. Looking into Jesus, laying aside the weights and sin that may hinder us, let us run the race set before us.

December 26, 2025Today's Reading: Matthew 23:34-39Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 49:22-26; 50:4-51:8, 12-16; Matthew 1:18-25“Truly, I say to you all these things will come upon this generation” (Matthew 23:36)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.This text speaks about Jerusalem's rejection of Christ. Prophets and wise men will come from God only to suffer death, a pattern history reveals in the examples of Abel and Zechariah the son of Barachiah, the latter being “murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.” Nevertheless, vindication will come. God's justice will prevail when “righteous blood” falls upon those rejecting the grace of God. In God's court, the murderers and persecuting unbelievers have no Advocate. The verdict is death for those despising the only Mediator between heaven and earth.The target audience in Jesus' teaching here plays a part in this prophecy when before Pilate they cry “His blood be on us and on our children!” (Matthew 24:25), a striking statement brimming with theological importance. Indeed, Jesus' blood will atone for the entire world, even the ungodly. His justification for man fulfilled at the cross is universal, not partial and selective. Still, Jesus' enemies boldly claim responsibility for His death. Killing the Messiah in raw defiance is blasphemy before the Lord of justice and mercy. “This generation” is Jesus' designation of the wicked, the unbelievers, the enemies of God opposing prophet, disciple, and pastor because of their hatred of God. All things will come to pass according to the divine Word and “this generation” is no exception to God's judgment.This is a sad narrative of Jesus' lament for His children. After everything He did for His people, the result was rejection. Jesus' words “you were not willing” place the onus square on the sinner, not God. Unbelief resides in the flesh of man to look at God's promise to gather us as the hen gathers her brood under her wings and say “no.” Such rejection and the persecution of God's people will continue until the Last Day. Baptized believers live with no delusion of grandeur that life will be easy for the Church. This text teaches us what's in store for the Church of God as she makes her pilgrimage in this life fraught with difficulty and trial. Still, The Lord is merciful to gather us under His wing, to grant His people protection and peace; to confirm for us His promise of salvation at His glorious return when every knee shall bow and confess before the Lord of glory Who keeps his Word. Just as judgment comes to pass, so does Jesus' promise to save.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord, grant your Church steadfast faith to endure persecution and find comfort and hope in Your steadfast love that endures for all generations. Amen.Author: Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, senior pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Brenham, TX.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you'll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew's Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

Date: 23-Nov-2025Speaker: Rev. John Paul Venue: Bethesda Church Hyderabad

Mark 9:14-29. In this story of a boy with an unclean spirit, the father shows true faith in Jesus even though others were unable to heal the boy. In this sermon, Evangelist Gavin Williams demonstrates the importance of choosing to believe in Jesus even in the face of doubt.

John 12:35–50,So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. 44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”One reason this season is the most wonderful time of the year is because it's the end of the year — and that means it's an opportunity to look back and reflect on what the year was like — What are some favorite memories of the year? What are some key themes of the year that stand out? What kind of music did I listen to the most? (I didn't ask that question, but my phone told me anyway).This is the time of year when we're in a review mindset, and that fits very nicely with where we are in the Gospel of John. Because here at the end of Chapter 12, it marks the end of Jesus's public ministry — and John, the Gospel writer, has a review mindset. Just to get our bearings again on this Gospel as a whole, there are two main parts:Part One is Chapters 1-12, which is Jesus's public ministry.Part Two is Chapters 13-20, which is Jesus's private ministry focused on his disciples.Part One has been called the Book of Signs, Part Two has been called the Book of Glory. And it's worked out for us that Part One has been our sermon series in 2025 (and Part Two, God willing, will be 2026).And so here at the end of Part One, it would make sense to look back and reflect on what we've seen this year — and John actually does that for us. In today's passage, John highlights three themes we've seen so far in this Gospel, and the plan for the sermon is to unpack each one and then ask What does it mean for us? It's one thing to understand what John is saying — we start there — but then we need to know what difference it makes in our lives. That's where we're headed. Here's the first theme. It is …1. The Problem of Unbelief (verses 37–41)We see this right away in verse 37. John says,“Though he [Jesus] had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him …”You can hear the summary tone in how John says it. Even after all this time, after all these miracles, after all his teaching, still the people did not believe Jesus. That (unfortunately) is consistent with what we've seen since the beginning of this Gospel. Remember how John started back in Chapter 1, verse 10: [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.And that idea just gets repeated:3:19, “the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light …”6:36, Jesus says, “you have seen me and yet do not believe.”7:5, “not even his brothers believed in him.”10:25, the Jews said to him, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe…”So yeah, this unbelief is a big deal. It's been a problem from the start, and even after 12 chapters (after this whole year!), the people still don't believe. But now John is going to explain why: He takes us behind the scenes theologically and he tells us that the people's unbelief is in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Bringing in IsaiahJohn shows us this by quoting two different passages from the Book of Isaiah — and we could spend so much time on this because it's so good — but I just wanna show you two things:The first is in verse 38. Everybody find verse 38. And help me out: when you find verse 38, look at the indented quote that starts with the word “Lord.” So everybody: verse 38, the word “Lord” — if you see it, say got it. The quote says:“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”This is Isaiah 53, verse 1, and it's from the famous passage about the Suffering Servant. The context of that passage is that God has exalted his Suffering Servant and the nations are astonished by him, but the people of Israel reject him. Isaiah is saying the message has been announced, the signs have been seen, but still, Israel does not believe. In other words, Isaiah is saying the same thing John is trying to say! — and so John connects the dots: The unbelief we see in response to Jesus in his public ministry is the unbelief that Isaiah prophesied. That's the first thing to see here.Here's the second … It comes in verse 41, but track with me for a minute …John says, verse 39, in fulfillment of Isaiah 53:1, “Therefore they could not believe.” And then he quotes Isaiah again, this time from Isaiah Chapter 6 about God blinding the eyes of unbelievers and hardening their hearts. That's verse 40.But now look what John says in verse 41. And this is one you're gonna wanna see. Everybody find verse 41. Chapter 12, verse 41 — if you see it, say Got it.Isaiah said these things [what things? It's the things of Isaiah 6 that John just quoted!] because he saw his glory and spoke of him [Isaiah saw whose glory? Who did Isaiah speak of? — John is clear: it's Jesus].Seeing the King!And if you know Isaiah 6, we can never read that passage the same way again! Isaiah 6 is the famous vision Isaiah had in the year King Uzziah died. Isaiah describes it:I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up and the train of his robe filled the temple. And right away this vision includes a throne and a temple — which is interesting because the throne is the place of a king, and the temple is the place of a priest. So is this a vision of a priest-king? This is something!And the seraphim were there — these are wild-looking angelic creatures with six wings — and they called to one another (and maybe you've heard this before):Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;the whole earth is full of his glory!And the foundations shook at their voices when they called, and the whole place was filled with smoke. And Isaiah, seeing all this, was undone! He said: Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”And John says here that Isaiah was talking about Jesus. Isaiah saw Jesus — just like the people in this Gospel for 12 chapters have seen Jesus — but the difference is that Isaiah was changed, the people still refuse to believe just like God said they would. And what it means for us is this: just like there's no such thing as generic faith, there is no such thing as generic unbelief. If you persist in unbelief … if you continue to disbelieve … it means you are rejecting Jesus. It's personal to him …You are rejecting the one who has come to save you. You are rejecting the one who has come to show you God. And you have seen him — that's the point John stresses here.These unbelievers had seen Jesus — there are many unbelievers in our cities today who have heard the message of Jesus — and their unbelief is a rejection of him. That's the problem of unbelief.It's a theme in the first half of this Gospel.Here's the second theme:2. The Priority of Witness (verses 42–43)This is verse 42. Not every single person full-out rejected Jesus, because, verse 42:Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue …This is fascinating: these are people who ‘believed' in Jesus but did not confess him. Which means these people must've had some kind of mental agreement — the claims of Jesus were compelling to them, Jesus made sense to them, but they kept their stance on Jesus private.They didn't want others to know that they thought positively about Jesus, and the verdict of this kind of ‘faith' is that ultimately it's not real. It's not true faith.And that brings up something really important on the topic of faith: it's that true saving faith is always personal, but never private. True saving faith is personal as in you have to believe as an individual — your parents' faith doesn't count as yours, your spouses' faith doesn't count; you, each of you, have to believe) — true saving faith is personal.But true saving faith is never private. If it's real faith, you don't keep it to yourself. That's why the apostle Paul says, Romans 10, verse 9, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.See, faith in Jesus includes allegiance to Jesus, and allegiance doesn't remain hidden. This is one of the reasons Jesus gave us baptism!Baptism is a public witness to our faith in Jesus. It's a way for us to stake our flag in the ground and say, I'm with Jesus, whatever the social cost might be. And, historically, faith in Jesus has always included some kind of social cost. In the days of Jesus — and at the time that John wrote this Gospel — verse 42 says the threat was expulsion from synagogue. That was a cost for Jewish believers: If you were in with Jesus, you were kicked out of Jewish community. That was a real issue for Jewish converts in the early church. And there was a similar issue with Gentiles, because to say “Jesus is Lord” is to say that Caesar is not Lord — and that was a head-turning statement to make as a subject of the Roman Empire!So no matter how you shook it back in the day — it didn't matter who you were or where you were from — there was no way to truly believe in Jesus that did not involve a social cost, or at least risk. Now that's history, but it's also still the case today … In fact, true story …Social Pressure TodayI heard last week from a credible source that there has been an underground Bible study going on with a group of Somali Muslims and 12 of them have embraced the claims of Christ — which is amazing — however, currently, none of them are willing to make it public. Because could you imagine the cost? (This is real. And we should pray for these 12 individuals — that their faith would go all the way, not partial faith, but true saving faith in Jesus Christ.)True saving faith is not private, and it says Jesus is worth the cost.And we have to be careful here, because we can think that this cost is just out there and it doesn't really affect us. But that's not true. It doesn't matter if your context is Islam or Progressivism or Alt-Right politics, there is social pressure everywhere to not be all-in with Jesus.And it's in different ways and in different degrees, but you know it's there … in your workplace … at your school … on your team — And what's dangerous for us is that in many of our circles it's respectable to be okay with Jesus as long as we're not over the top. Like: being spiritual is good. Talking about your ‘faith' is fine. But don't be all about Jesus. Don't love him that much.That kind of pressure might be more subtle than the pressure of Islam, but the irony is that the dynamic is the same: it's allowing social pressure to dictate what we do with Jesus.And John tells us in verse 43 what the real issue is — it has to do with what you love the most. John says the reason these partial believers did not go all-in with Jesus is because, verse 43:“they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”And look, I don't know about you, but this gets my attention. I never want to do this. Never.But it makes me wonder if this disordered love that John is talking about is always part of failed witness. Like in those moments when we have opportunity to be public about our faith and we choose not to, do we choose not to because we love the glory of man more than the glory of God?What John is talking about is part of a universal human weakness — we care so much about what other people think.And that's one reason public witness is so important. Because it puts feet to our faith. It shows that we're not just here because our stomachs are full or because we're enamored by miracles, like the way we've seen people be in this Gospel. But we are truly all in with Jesus. We believe in Jesus, and we want people to know, whatever the cost. That's the priority of witness.Here's the third theme:3. The Purpose of Advent (verses 44–50)Now I'm not just saying this because it's Advent. Look at verse 44: And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.Jesus repeats that he has been sent — and of course, he is referring to his first Advent. He's talking about Christmas! That he came here — and what was its purpose? Why did Jesus come? He's very clear about it, verse 46: I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.That's clear enough, but Jesus really wants us to get this. So he tells us again, verse 47:If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.And that sounds a lot like what Jesus said in Chapter 3. Remember back in Chapter 3, verse 17, Jesus said plainly: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.There is no ambiguity in the first half of this Gospel. This is the purpose of Jesus's first Advent: Jesus came to save. The Miracle of ConversionAnd one of the reasons Jesus stresses so much that he came to save, not condemn, is because a lot of people end up condemned — and Jesus wants to explain why. Here's the reason: it's because they don't believe in him. In his first Advent, Jesus came to bring salvation, but judgment happens when people reject his salvation. Judgment is what people bring upon themselves by rejecting Jesus who came to save. And their unbelief is judgment already — the blinding and hardening that Isaiah talked about is God giving people over to what they want. This is how the theologian D. A. Carson puts it: God's judicial hardening is not the capricious manipulation of an arbitrary power that curses morally neutral or even morally pure beings, but it is the holy condemnation of a guilty people who are condemned to do and be what they themselves have chosen ( 448–449, abridged)Listen: If you don't want Jesus now, you don't get Jesus later.And that would have been every single one of us apart from the grace of God. Everyone of us who believes in Jesus has the same story if you go back far enough — it's the sovereign grace of God! He chose us in Christ before the foundations of the world and set his love on us, and in the fullness of time he sent Jesus to save us! But we're all born broken and bent away from God, and our only hope is if God does something about that. And he does. By his Spirit through our hearing the gospel, God brings dead hearts to life — we hear the announcement of who Jesus is and what he's done, and we believe. That's the miracle of conversion:Long my imprisoned spirit layFast bound in sin and nature's night;Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;My chains fell off, my heart was free;I rose, went forth and followed Thee.That is how Christians are made! Yes, God is at work. He's the one behind it, but what concerns us is what we do with the message of Jesus now.And that's what makes this passage so remarkable. One More InvitationVerse 44 — notice the first few words. John tells us, verse 44:“And Jesus cried out and said…”That might not seem like a big deal, but we need to compare it with how this passage started in verse 36. This is the end of last week's passage. Verse 36, Jesus said:“While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” [Then John comments] When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.Jesus has been saying, I will not be here much longer, and while I'm here it's your chance to believe. And then he withdraws. He leaves. It's an exit. Verse 36 could be the end of Jesus's public ministry. It seems like it is!But in verse 44 Jesus comes back out. He shows back up to this crowd that's kept rejecting him, and he does it to make one more invitation. He cries out to give one more chance: I am here to save! Believe in me!Hey, I want you to know that I'm so thankful that Jesus is the kind of Savior who gives one more chance — second chances, third, fourth, fifth chances. It took a lot of chances for some of us, and I know it did for me. Look, my whole childhood was chances — chances to believe over and over again, and then one day, I did. I'm so glad Jesus didn't give up on me. Isn't it amazing that the last thing Jesus does to close out his public ministry is give that one more chance? To offer grace one more time. That seems to me like the best way to end the first half of this sermon series. …Maybe you're here and you've heard about Jesus a thousand times, here's one more invitation…Jesus Christ came to this world to save. That was the purpose of Advent. It's the purpose of Christmas. Jesus came to save, and everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. Would you believe in him today? Just tell him:Jesus, I can't save myself and I'm tired of trying! You came to save me and I believe you!That's a prayer of faith, and that's the invitation for everyone, right now.And that brings us to the Table.The TableFor those of us who have trusted in Jesus, if you've put your faith in Jesus, this Table is a continued public witness each week that we belong to him. When we eat the bread and drink the cup, we are saying: We are united to Jesus Christ by faith, and we give him thanks!

Send us a textArnie, Fred and Glenn continue to discuss what Peter said about how important God's word is, noting that within it is contained all things that pertain to life and godliness. We look at Second Peter chapter two verses 2 through 11, noting how many times knowledge is mentioned, and the actions Peter says that if a Christian does, he will never fall. Paul told Timothy that the scriptures are profitable for doctrine and a number of other things that the man of God may be complete. Consequently, we talk about the need for new Christians to study their Bibles and grow in knowledge so they will not stumble and fall, which many denominations teach it is impossible for a Christian to do. We discuss what Paul said to the Christians in Corinth about being vigilant so that they wouldn't fall. We note that Paul used an illustration of one running in a race and the preparation needed and the requirement to follow the rules in order to win the crown. We discuss the race and the crown the Christian seeks and how this relates to Paul's illustration. We find that the Hebrew writer uses the Israelites in the wilderness as examples of those who failed to trust and obey God and the consequences of that. The Hebrew writer then shows that some Christians do the same thing not trusting and obeying God and depart from Him. We talk about how important it is for members of the local church to help one another, encourage one another to live faithfully and how this is lacking in some churches. The Hebrew writer has some very specific words about Christians who fall away and what this means. Later on, the Hebrew writer discusses willful sin and the fact that this leads to one falling away. We have a good discussion about this. Paul writes to the Galatian Christians about them considering returning to the law of Moses and the problem with them doing so. We discuss this and note that numerous denominations today continue some of the practices found in the law of Moses which has been done away. We begin looking at what Peter said about Christians becoming entangled again in the pollutions of the world that they had escaped. However, we ran out of time before finishing it. We will begin that discussion in the next episode. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.

What happens when fear speaks louder than faith? In this sermon, we examine Israel's critical moment at the edge of the Promised Land—and the tragic consequences of unbelief.Though God had already promised the land, the people chose to trust the report of fear rather than the word of the Lord. Ten spies focused on giants and obstacles, while only Joshua and Caleb believed God was able to do what He said. The result was discouragement, rebellion, and a refusal to move forward in faith.This passage challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we living by sight—or by faith? Will we trust God's promises, or allow fear to keep us from all He has prepared for us?

Maximum Life is the Media Ministry of Pastor Zach Terry.   Facebook - maximumlifewithzachterry Instagram - @maximumlifewithzachterry Website http://www.zachterry.org Twitter - zachterry

Maximum Life is the Media Ministry of Pastor Zach Terry.   Facebook - maximumlifewithzachterry Instagram - @maximumlifewithzachterry Website http://www.zachterry.org Twitter - zachterry

Can you detect unbelief in your life? In Part 1 of Behold Pastor Chad shows how Zechariah was righteous and blameless before God, yet when the Angel Gabriel told him he would have a son it revealed the unbelief in his heart. You and I face the same danger of Doubt and Unbelief. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1388/29?v=20251111

Can you detect unbelief in your life? In Part 1 of Behold Pastor Chad shows how Zechariah was righteous and blameless before God, yet when the Angel Gabriel told him he would have a son it revealed the unbelief in his heart. You and I face the same danger of Doubt and Unbelief. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1388/29?v=20251111

Have you ever prayed for something but didn't truly expect God to answer? Was the situation hopeless? If so, be sure to tune in to the Bible Study Hour as Dr. James Boice preaches from the story of Peter's hopeless case. He was personally imprisoned by the king and was heavily guarded. Peter had no chance. Or did he? You will be encouraged by God's deliverance. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/81/29?v=20251111

Because God is faithful to keep all His promises, we can trust Him even in the most fearful times to keep His word, as confirmed in His sending of His Son to be born of the Virgin. I. God Speaks to Bring Assurance to a Terrified King vv 10-11 II. God Rebukes the Unbelief of a Faithless King vv 12-13 III. God Promises to Keep His Word and Send His Salvation through a Virgin-Born Son! vv 14-17

Living With Unbelief 12/07/25 by Reagan Sommers

A new MP3 sermon from Grace Reformed Baptist of Pine Bush is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Unbelief Subtitle: 1 Peter Speaker: Paul Gordon Broadcaster: Grace Reformed Baptist of Pine Bush Event: Sunday Service Date: 11/30/2025 Bible: 1 Peter 2:4-8 Length: 45 min.

How have industry and technology shaped our understanding of ourselves and of our understanding and relationship with God? How have such intellectual and societal trends contributed to the rise of atheism and unbelief? We continue our conversation this week with author and teaching fellow of the Davenant Institute in Landrum, South Carolina, Dr. Joseph Minich. We discuss some of his 2023 book Bulwarks of Unbelief - Atheism and Divine Absence in a Secular Age. From the Davenant Institute Dr. Joseph Minich Dr. (PhD, The University of Texas at Dallas) is Faculty Chair and Professor of Philosophy at Davenant Hall. As part of his work, he also co-hosts the Pilgrim Faith podcast. The founding editor of Ad Fontes and former Editor-in-Chief of the Davenant Press, he is the author of Enduring Divine Absence (Davenant Press, 2018) and Bulwarks of Unbelief: Atheism and Divine Absence in a Secular Age (Lexham Press, 2023). His public writing can be found at The Calvinist International, Mere Orthodoxy, Modern Reformation, and Ad Fontes.Free Four-Page Articles from Watchman Fellowship: Charles DarwinNaturalismScientismDeconstructionAtheismAdditional Resources from Watchman Fellowship: FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/notebook. SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Daniel Ray's The Story of the Cosmos - How the Heavens Declare the Glory of God (https://www.thestoryofthecosmos.com). Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2025 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Jesus came as light because the world is in darkness. Humanity is in hiding in rebellion against God, but the light has come. Darkness is not inevitable. Cynicism is not final. Anyone who believes in Jesus is rescued from darkness.

700 years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah prophesied about his birth and what it would mean to the world.

Did you know that you can have a faith that could move mountains? All it takes is a tiny amount of faith, yet we all even lack a tiny bit of faith. The disciples could not cast out a demon, even though Jesus ordained them to. Why? Their unbelief. Their lack of reliance on God. We can't do anything apart from God, yet we all try and live our day to day lives in our own power and strength. If you want a faith that can move a mountain, you must rely on God in all areas of life.

"And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." - John 14:4 The issue isn't ignorance but refusal. Jesus said they knew, while they said they did not know. Who is telling the truth? People know God is real, know right from wrong, and know the way of righteousness, yet resist submitting to God because they don't want to give up their right to themselves. Unbelief isn't lack of understanding — it's a deliberate refusal to trust God with your life. It's choosing your own way while pretending you don't know better. God has made Himself known to all people through creation, conscience, Scripture, and preaching, so no one has an excuse. The call is simple: stop resisting, stop blaming others, and walk in the way you already know God has shown you.

Have you ever been in a spot, like the father was in Mark 9:24, when you exclaim something like “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief?” That father was desperate for healing for his son, yet the disciples could do nothing for him. The fathers faith was tested as he tried to get his son healed, but then he met Jesus. His honest, open dialogue with Jesus revealed he had no where else to turn. Maybe your faith needs to be open and honest with Jesus as well.

In this episode of Pray the Word on Hebrews 3:19, David Platt warns us not to miss God's blessing because of our unbelief.Explore more content from Radical.

Do you know that unbelief actually makes us mute in the spirit

Sermon By: Pastor Roman Folia (The Gospel of Matthew pt. 49)

What intellectual and social paradigms have made atheism seem like a plausible and viable alternative worldview in the 21st century? What factors have contributed to the cultural dissolution of the Christian faith in our time? On the next two episodes of the Profile, we will tackle some of these questions with our guest, author and teaching fellow of the Davenant Institute in Landrum, South Carolina, Dr. Joseph Minich. Minich's 2023 book Bulwarks of Unbelief - Atheism and Divine Absence in a Secular Age explores the thesis that the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century has created intellectual and social plausibility structures for modern-day unbelief. From the Davenant Institute Dr. Joseph Minich Dr. (PhD, The University of Texas at Dallas) is Faculty Chair and Professor of Philosophy at Davenant Hall. As part of his work, he also co-hosts the Pilgrim Faith podcast. The founding editor of Ad Fontes and former Editor-in-Chief of the Davenant Press, he is the author of Enduring Divine Absence (Davenant Press, 2018) and Bulwarks of Unbelief: Atheism and Divine Absence in a Secular Age (Lexham Press, 2023). His public writing can be found at The Calvinist International, Mere Orthodoxy, Modern Reformation, and Ad Fontes.Link to the audio clip from the couple from the UK. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy-QQDlJb20Free Four-Page Articles from Watchman Fellowship: Charles DarwinNaturalismScientismDeconstructionAtheismAdditional Resources from Watchman Fellowship: FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/notebook. SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Daniel Ray's The Story of the Cosmos - How the Heavens Declare the Glory of God (https://www.thestoryofthecosmos.com). Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2025 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

After giving a short overview of the previous lesson, Dr. Mitchell shares what Jesus said and Matthew wrote. These were Jesus' verbal judgments on the Pharisees and Scribes. These consist of 8 woeful indictments. Dr. Mitchell will guide us through the first 3 of these indictments. The first concerns not entering the kingdom of God and hindering those who would. The second concerns widows houses and long prayers. The third concerns proselyting to their religion. Jesus still yearns for those who are religious but who do not yet know Jesus as their own personal savior. Are you some one or do you know someone who needs to hear and believe the gospel? Jesus forgives any and every sin. Trust Him! Let's join Dr. Mitchell in Matthew 23 verse 13 on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast.

Have you ever experienced the pain of longing, praying, and hoping for something, only to have it slip through your fingers? In this message, Pastor Caleb unpacks Luke 1:5-25, exploring the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, a couple who were righteous and faithful, yet suffered decades of silent longing and unanswered prayers. Discover the powerful truth that God hears your prayers even when He seems silent, and how His loving discipline is an invitation back to belief. In this sermon, you'll learn: - The Nature of True Faith: Zechariah and Elizabeth were described as blameless and righteous before God. This meant they had inward integrity and were the same person in private as they were in public. - The Tension of the Christian Life: You can be Godly and disappointed, righteous and barren, or blameless and brokenhearted. Faithfulness does not exempt you from heartache. - Two Temptations in the Waiting Room: When you're trying to live faithfully but suffering silently, be careful not to fall into feeling defeated (thinking your pain is payback for sin) or entitled (treating God like a transactional rewards program). - God's Silence is Not His Absence: Even when we feel like He doesn't, God hears our prayers. God broke the personal silence for Zechariah and Elizabeth and the prophetical silence for His people. - The Danger of Unbelief and Discipline as Grace: Zechariah's doubt (unbelief) prompted a loving discipline: nine months of silence. For a genuine follower of Jesus, discipline is not punishment (which was finished on the cross) but a form of grace—an invitation to step back into love and obedience. - The Ultimate Joy of Christmas: The greatest joy Zechariah and Elizabeth found was not in having a child, but in God remembering His people and finally sending His Savior, Jesus Christ. Key Topics Covered: - The Messengers Series: Kicking off the Christmas series by looking at the first messengers of Christmas, specifically the angel Gabriel. - A Personal Story of Loss and Hope: Pastor Caleb's story of naming his stillborn son Gabriel, "God's Messenger of Hope," after the angel. - The Spiritually Dry Season: Zechariah and Elizabeth lived during a 400-year gap where God did not send a prophet or a fresh word. - The Parallel with Elijah: Gabriel's message announced that Zechariah's son, John, would come in the spirit and power of Elijah, paving the way for the long-awaited Savior. - The Consequences of Doubt: Zechariah's questioning, "HOW shall I know this?", revealed a heart full of cynicism, in contrast to Mary's heart of faith. - Discipline and Discipleship: God uses discipline (like a job loss or a hard marriage season) to form us into the image of His Son, teaching us humility and perseverance. - If you are currently feeling stuck in a "waiting room" of life, struggling with doubt, or experiencing a season of discipline, this message will encourage you to trust God's loving heart and respond to the message of hope in Jesus. - Would you like me to share one of the specific application points from the sermon on how to respond to God's voice in a season of discipline or unbelief?

Sovereign Grace Bible Church of Ada, OK

This sermon presents a profound exploration of unbelief as a rejection of Christ, not merely as ignorance but as a willful opposition to God's sovereign assessment of His Son. Drawing from 1 Peter 2:4–8, it portrays unbelievers as rejectors, stumblers, and disobedient—those who oppose the cornerstone God has exalted, stumble over the offense of the cross due to pride, and rebel against divine authority. The passage emphasizes that unbelief is not a neutral stance but a spiritual condition rooted in the heart's failure to love what God esteems, the mind's arrogance in rejecting divine wisdom, and the will's defiance of God's will. The sermon underscores that the Christian life is not defined by guilt-driven evangelism but by the transformative power of seeing Christ as God sees Him, inviting all to abandon self-reliance and embrace faith through the Holy Spirit's conviction. Ultimately, it calls both believers and unbelievers to turn from futile paths of self-justification toward the living stone, where true life, honor, and eternal glory are found.

John 10:26 “But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. Those who don't believe that Jesus is God in the flesh, the Door, the good Shepherd, the Light of Life, the one who lays down His life for us, don't believe because they are not His sheep. They follow another shepherd, the shepherd of the world. They recognize the voice of their shepherd, Worldly-wiseman, and they believe he is the door to significance, security, acceptance, and self-glory. Unbelief in God and in Christ characterizes all who are not His. You could tell them about Jesus all day long, and they will not have ears to hear. However, we can't tell who are His sheep or who are not His sheep until we love and speak in Jesus' name.

The gospel of Matthew records that Jesus was moved with compassion for the multitudes because they were weary and scattered like sheep with no shepherd. Believers should be filled with joy when others come to Christ, but we must also be filled with compassion for those that do not know him. Do you try to lead unbelievers to Jesus, the Good Shepherd? Listen as Dr. Barnhouse teaches from Romans 10:16. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/791/29?v=20251111

Unbelief is often the quiet barrier that keeps faith from growing strong and effective. When doubt takes the lead, it overshadows the truth God has already spoken and the promises He's made. But when unbelief is confronted and replaced with trust, faith can finally rise and produce what God intended.

Having our Minds Cleared of Lies and Unbelief - Mike Blume

Worship Leader Taylor Cummings reflects on Scripture's warnings about hardened hearts and prays for a tender, pure heart that stays responsive to God, drawing on Psalm 95, Hebrews 3–4, and Ezekiel's promise of a heart of flesh.

Pastor Sean invites us to lean into the kind of faith that steadies us in every season. Through honest stories and gentle teaching, he points us toward the hope Jesus offers when life feels heavy and reminds us that we don't walk this road alone. As we trust God together, we discover the strength that comes from community and the peace found in staying close to Him. This message offers encouragement for anyone longing for a deeper, more grounded life with Jesus.

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton explore Geerhardus Vos's profound treatment of faith in the Gospel of John (pp. 390–392 of Biblical Theology). Vos unfolds faith not as an abstract belief but as a living, continuous union with the incarnate and ascended Truth—Jesus Christ Himself. John's theology binds faith and truth together: the Son comes down from heaven as the true light, true bread, true vine, and the Truth (John 1:9; 6:32; 15:1; 14:6). Faith, therefore, is a Spirit-wrought communion with the heavenly reality revealed in Him. Tipton and Bucey trace how this Johannine vision lifts believers from the shadowy worship of the old covenant to true, eschatological worship "in spirit and in truth." Faith beholds Christ even now, anticipating the beatific vision. In contrast to philosophical or impersonal notions of truth, Vos insists that truth is personal, Trinitarian, and heavenly—rooted in the self-revealing God. Thus, saving faith is not blind trust but an intimate, knowing participation in the life of the risen Christ, a foretaste of the age to come. Chapters 00:07 Introduction 01:44 New Book: Introduction to the Theology and Apologetics of Cornelius Van Til 11:11 Faith in the Gospel of John 16:19 Defining Truth According to the Son 26:49 Heaven and the Truth 29:44 The Typological Dimension of Truth 34:32 Faith as the Human Relation to Truth 37:35 Faith Anticipates the Glorified Christ 40:56 Faith, Unbelief, and Knowledge 44:25 Faith and Beholding the Lord 46:48 Scripture and the Truth 52:00 The Need for More Redemptive-Historical Study in John 57:40 Conclusion

Vespers Sermon @ St. Joseph Coptic Orthodox Church - Nashville, TN ~ November 1, 2025

Worship led by Gabe Velasquez

We've all heard stories about the powerful things faith can accomplish. But Dr. Tony Evans explains why unbelief can be powerful, too… and in some pretty costly ways. It's a look at why “believing is seeing.