Podcasts about unbelievers

Calvary Live is an outreach ministry of GraceFM at Calvary Church in Aurora, Colorado.Pastor Ed Taylor is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Church –you can find more about him at edtaylor.orgBooks by Pastor Ed along with other curated discipleshipresources from his home church bookstore are available at calvaryco.storeIf you like what you hear on Calvary Live – don't forget tofollow us, and share it with your friends and family!

The Day God's Patience Ran Out. One day the Sun will set on this Day of Grace. Someone's non-decision for Christ will be crystalized as a decision against Christ. Unbelievers will have to lament with Jeremiah that "Harvest is past, Summer is ended, and we are not saved." Today our study of the book of Revelation takes us to the last of the Last Judgments. And there's an announcement about the future of the program coming, after we hear from Jim. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS06052026_0.mp3Scripture References: Revelation 14:14-16;21

Paul longs to live his life in a way makes the truth of the gospel clear to all. Unbelievers cannot see the gospel clearly because the god of this age, that is Satan, has made their minds blind. The same God who pronounced “Let light shine out of darkness,” must also shine into the hearts of men so that might see and believe. Our frail and humble bodies carry the infinite worth of Christ like jars of clay hiding treasure. Even though we are afflicted and persecuted in our frailty, we do not give up, for our affliction is producing for us the eternal weight of glory in the heavens. Later, Paul brings up the judgment seat of Christ, an event where the Lord reveals and judges the life of the believer. Keep in mind that this is not a judgment which determines whether or not someone will enter heaven, but a judgment for those who have already entered heaven by faith in Christ. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Ready With A Defense: 5 Questions Unbelievers Ask With Dr. Clint Archer. Scripture Reference Is 1 Peter 3:15 & Selected Scriptures.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260520dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:12-14 You Are Blessed! “Wow, what a blessing!” “He’s so blessed!” “Count your blessings!” “Too blessed to be stressed!” These are ways we sometimes talk about blessings. It’s refreshing to hear people use the word “blessed” instead of “lucky.” Counting our blessings and remembering where they come from can keep us grounded and remind us to be thankful to God, who gives us all good things. However, are blessings only things we would naturally call good? The apostle Peter mentions blessings we wouldn’t normally think of as blessings. He doesn’t say, “If lots of people like you, you are blessed.” Or, “If you’ve got good health and wealth, you're blessed!” Instead, he says, “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” Don’t let worldly standards and perceptions tell you what it means to be blessed. The world may look at a Christian and criticize them for “outdated beliefs.” Unbelievers might call Christians “close-minded” for confessing that Jesus is the only way to eternal life. But the one who is truly blessed is the one who belongs to Jesus. Belonging to Jesus means that we do not belong to this world. It means a Christian doesn't fit into the world’s skewed ideas of what it means to be blessed. If you believe in Jesus, and the world looks at you sideways, or responds with even more hostility, let it remind you that you are blessed because you belong to Jesus. This blessing lasts beyond the rejection of the world. This world’s insults don't stick because God’s glorious blessings of forgiveness and life rest on you. Prayer: Lord, thank you for the blessings of being connected to you and the gift of your grace. Even when the world doesn’t call me blessed, make me a blessing to those around me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260520dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:12-14 You Are Blessed! “Wow, what a blessing!” “He’s so blessed!” “Count your blessings!” “Too blessed to be stressed!” These are ways we sometimes talk about blessings. It’s refreshing to hear people use the word “blessed” instead of “lucky.” Counting our blessings and remembering where they come from can keep us grounded and remind us to be thankful to God, who gives us all good things. However, are blessings only things we would naturally call good? The apostle Peter mentions blessings we wouldn’t normally think of as blessings. He doesn’t say, “If lots of people like you, you are blessed.” Or, “If you’ve got good health and wealth, you're blessed!” Instead, he says, “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” Don’t let worldly standards and perceptions tell you what it means to be blessed. The world may look at a Christian and criticize them for “outdated beliefs.” Unbelievers might call Christians “close-minded” for confessing that Jesus is the only way to eternal life. But the one who is truly blessed is the one who belongs to Jesus. Belonging to Jesus means that we do not belong to this world. It means a Christian doesn't fit into the world’s skewed ideas of what it means to be blessed. If you believe in Jesus, and the world looks at you sideways, or responds with even more hostility, let it remind you that you are blessed because you belong to Jesus. This blessing lasts beyond the rejection of the world. This world’s insults don't stick because God’s glorious blessings of forgiveness and life rest on you. Prayer: Lord, thank you for the blessings of being connected to you and the gift of your grace. Even when the world doesn’t call me blessed, make me a blessing to those around me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Responding to questions from listeners about confronting a brother who's in a relationship with an unbeliever, understanding the difference between the Holy Spirit talking to us and our own conscience, and what should happen with conspiracy theories come into the church. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!

Remember God loves you so much he sent his Son Jesus Christ to take the punishment for your sins. You are of great value. Jesus loves you and He is just a prayer away! This episode includes AI-generated content.

Are Christians who claim to heal and who claim to speak in tongues operating within the scriptural guidelines of Christianity today, or have they taken a giant step over the line of appropriate Christian behavior? In our last episode, we observed how the Old Testament established healing as an occasional gift and was not necessarily granted based on faith. We also observed that Jesus healed the masses and generally did not require faith and following to give that gift. We also saw that Old Testament speaking in tongues was absolutely speaking in foreign languages. It was a sign of God's disapproval when foreign languages were introduced. The Apostle Paul verified that speaking in tongues – in foreign languages – was STILL a sign, but now it was a sign of approval to UNBELIEVERS. In this episode, we examine healing and speaking in tongues in the New Testament to understand how these gifts functioned in the early church. The New Testament pattern As we turn to the New Testament, Jesus sets the pattern. He healed out of compassion, not as a reward for personal faith. In fact, out of the hundreds he healed, only four individuals are specifically commended for their faith. Healing was never meant to be a spiritual performance or a measure of someone's worthiness. It was a sign that the Messiah had arrived and the call to the kingdom was open. After Pentecost, the pattern remained narrow Only two non-apostles—Philip and Ananias—are specifically recorded as performing healings. Both did so under circumstances that were tied to the spread of the gospel. The Apostle Paul later explained that healing was one of the lesser gifts and would eventually fade as the church matured and the written word took center stage. Scripture, not miracles, would become the enduring tool for building faith. The same is true for speaking in tongues. The New Testament records only three instances of this occurring. In every case, tongues were real human languages used to communicate the gospel to foreigners. Tongues were never intended to be a private prayer language or a display of spiritual superiority. Paul repeatedly corrected the misuse of this gift, reminding believers that prophecy and teaching were far more valuable because they edified the entire church. Once the gospel was firmly established and the Scriptures completed, the purpose of tongues was fulfilled, and the gift ceased—just as Paul said it would. Key Takeaways Healing in the New Testament was a sign of the Messiah and the arrival of the kingdom. Jesus healed out of compassion, not as a response to personal faith. After Pentecost, only two non-apostles are recorded as performing healings, both for specific gospel purposes. Speaking in tongues was always the miraculous ability to speak real foreign languages. Tongues served as a sign to unbelievers and a tool for spreading the gospel. Paul identified healing and tongues as lesser gifts that would eventually cease. The completed Scriptures replaced the need for miraculous signs.

Audio Transcript Today. And I’m going to be preaching a message from the Bible in order that we would hear God speak to us. So the passage that we’re going to be studying is First Thessalonians. So if you have a Bible, go ahead and open up to the Burke, the book of first Thessalonians. It’s like right in the middle of the New Testament. So there’s Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and there’s first and second Philistines, Thessalonians. And if you don’t have a Bible, there should be some blue Bibles in, around on the chairs. You can grab one of those and open up. Because I’m just going to be reading through this passage verse by verse as I preach through it. So first Thessalonians, chapter 5. I’ll be reading verses 1 through 11. Here’s what the word of the Lord has for us today. Says now, concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying there is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman. And they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. And we are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet. The hope of salvation for God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing. Please pray with me and we’ll get started. God, thank you that you speak through your word, even through the folly of man like me. God, I pray. Please keep me from error and help. Help me to speak what you have for us this morning. And I pray, Lord, that you would give each person here a heart to receive your word and ears to hear what you are saying. And so God meet with us here as we look at your word and study it together. In Jesus name we all pray. Amen. Okay, so before I jump into this passage, on the day of the Lord, I’M going to read to you two different poems that are written in the 1800s concerning the return of Christ. And each of these are from two different perspectives of when Christ returns. So just listen to these poems. This first one is called the Advent by Christina Rossetti. It says, watchmen, what of the night? The stars are dim and the morning is at hand and we must watch for him. Watchman, what of the night? The night is long Wait till the day star arise with shout and song. Where are the lamps? They are trimmed and burning bright. Where is the bridegroom? He cometh in the night. Is there a cry? Yes, there is a sudden cry the bridegroom is at hand, his hour is nigh the bridegroom comes, he comes to claim his own. The winter is quite past and the flowers are blown the time of singing birds is come at last the night is wearing out and the day is past. It’s the first poem. Here’s the second poem. That’s called the Food. Foolish Virgins by Alfred Tennyson. Here’s what it Late, late, so late and dark the night and chill Late, late, so late but we can enter still Too late, too late, ye cannot enter now, no light had we for that we do repent and learning this the pride groom should Surely we’ll relent Too late, too late, ye cannot enter now no light so late and dark and chill the night O let us in, that we may find the light. Too late, too late, ye cannot enter now have we not heard? The bridegroom is so sweet O let us in. Though late to kiss his feet no, no, too late, ye cannot enter now now both of these poems speak of the sobering event that is the day of the Lord. Some will be found awake in the light with their lamps burning bright, but others will be found asleep in the dark. And these poems reflect the somber reality of the parable of the Ten virgins that Jesus. Jesus teaches concerning his coming. And it also reflects what our passage is speaking about today. And when the Son of Man comes, what will he find? Which will you be? When the Lord returns and when we have to give an account for our souls, will you be sober and awake in the light, or will you be drunk and asleep in the dark? My hope is that studying this passage this morning will give you the answer as we study this passage. So that being said, look with me at First Thessalonians, and before I do that, I’m going to give you a little bit of context concerning this passage. So First Thessalonians was written to the new believers in Thessalonica, only a few months after Paul and Timothy had to leave due to persecution. The church at Thessalonica was very young and they were without any leaders. And therefore Paul wrote this letter to encourage the Thessalonian church, to remind them that sanctification in the midst of persecution was God’s will for their lives. And he desired to clear up any confusion about the Lord’s second coming. So about a month ago, I preached on 1 Thessalonians 4, 4 verses 13 through 18, concerning the state of those who die in the Lord, and about Jesus’s second coming, when he will bring his people to himself. The Thessalonian believers at the time were confused about what was happening when a believer died and if they would experience the Lord’s second coming or not. And so in our last passage, Paul affirmed the Thessalonians that, yes, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep, and those who are alive will not precede those who have fallen asleep at the coming of Christ. Rather, the Lord himself will descend with a shout and with a sound of the trumpet. The dead in Christ will be raised first, and then those who are alive will be caught up together with them to always be with the Lord. And so, after clearing up this confusion, Paul now has more to say in chapter five concerning the day of the Lord. And so, before I get into this, I’m just going to mention that some Christians view this passage as a separate event from the gathering of God’s people that is talked about in chapter four, which is known as the Rapture. And so those that view this as two separate events, this is called dispensational premillennialism. And other Christians view the gathering of God’s people in chapter four. And then what we’re about to read here in chapter five as the same event. And this view would be called historical premillennialism. Or there’s also other views that take these two events to be the same one. And so all of these views, both of these arguments that are made from historical premillennialism and dispensational premillennialism, they both have reliable theologians that back behind them with strong biblical arguments. I personally tend to think that this is the same event when Christ returns, based on what Paul describes in 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2. But I also find myself going back and forth at times. So regardless of your eschatological view, your end time view on this, the main point is that Jesus will return on the day of The Lord, which is what our passage is looking at here. So look with me at verses one through two. God’s word says now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, which side note, brothers here is referring to brothers and sisters in Christ at Thessalonica. Brothers and sisters, you have no need to have anything written to you, for you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. The day of the Lord mentioned here is referring to the great day of God’s judgment upon all mankind. And this will be after the tribulation, when all the earth will be judged and God will melt the elements of the earth in his wrath in order to wipe it clean of all of its evil and make all things new. Second Peter 3:10 says this. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise and the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed for the wicked and the ungodly. This will be a terrifying day, for God is holy and he is a consuming fire against all unrighteousness. But for the righteous who have faith in Christ, the day of the Lord will come with rejoicing and praise to God as justice is established on the earth once and forevermore. And so concerning the times and seasons, that our passage begins with the day of the Lord, Paul says he has nothing more to write to these Thessalonians about this. And this is likely because Paul already taught the Thessalonians that no one knows the times or the seasons when the day of the Lord will occur. Not even the Son of God knows. Only the Father knows when Christ will return and when finality will come to the earth. And so Paul had also taught the Thessalonians that when the day of the Lord comes, it would be like a thief in the night. And so these are chilling words meant to wake up everybody who hears them. And so Jesus himself said that he would come like a thief in the night in the Gospels. And so Matthew 24:40,44 says this. Then two men will be in the field, one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one left. Therefore stay awake, for you do not know on the day that the Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready for The Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not expect. So Jesus compares his second coming to that of a thief breaking into a home in the middle of the night. When a person least excited, and this is how the majority of the world will experience the second coming of Christ. It will be sudden and completely unexpected and it will leave each person empty handed before the judgment seat of God. And just as the poem I read to you at the end, there will be a sober reflection that it is too late to now enter in to God’s kingdom with Christ when He comes. And so verse three gives us more insight onto this saying. While people are saying there is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman and they will not escape. Here we learn that there will be a false sense of peace and security before the day of the Lord’s coming. And this sense of peace and security, it will not come from the Lord, but it will be found in the world through one’s possessions or through a trust in the government, or trust in a world leader. It will be a misplaced peace and security. And Jesus taught that just as people were eating and drinking and marrying in the days of Noah, on the day when the flood came and swept them away, so will be when the Christ returns on the night the thief arrives. The world’s false sense of peace and security will not be able to keep them from the hour that their souls must give account to the living God. Our passage says sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains. Just as labor is inevitable once labor has begun, so the sudden judgment of God will inevitably come upon the earth and there will be no escape. These words are terrifying to hear. Just as the words in the poem that I read a couple weeks ago. We had a major storm that rolled through in the area with warnings of severe hail and multiple destructive tornadoes that could roll through the area. And at one point as this storm was going over all of Dane county and all throughout the Midwest, in the middle of the dark clouds and the continuous booming thunder which I think many of you here experienced, there was sirens that began to sound in the middle of the storm and echo across the Madison area, warning that a tornado has been sighted and to seek shelter immediately. Immediately. These verses and others like it that we’re reading here, it’s like the sound of tornado sirens. They are warning all who will listen that impending destruction is coming like a thief in the night, and if one is not prepared and ready for his coming, there will be no escape which is Deeply chilling and sober words in this passage. But to take a shift from this heaviness, we get to verse four. In verse four, we get to some very much so needed Good news. Verse 4 says, but you believers in Thessalonica, you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief, for you are all children of the light, children of the day. We’re not of the night or of the darkness. So here Paul brings some much needed clarification. The day of the Lord is not going to surprise believers as it will surprise the rest of the world. And this is because the Thessalonian brothers and sisters are not in darkness, but instead they are children of the light. Now, what exactly is Paul saying here? 2Nd Corinthians 4, 6, I think gives us a pretty clear understanding of what Paul is saying. And here’s what it says. For God, who said, let light shine out of darkness, he has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So what Paul is saying is the same God who said, let there be light has now brought light into man through faith in him, and Jesus himself is the light of the world. When a person places their faith in Jesus, the light of Christ is made manifest within them as God gives them a new heart and new desires to follow God’s word. Through faith, God’s people become children of the light that they may walk in good works, that the Holy Spirit enables them to do, works that reflect Christ and bring spiritual light upon the earth. And in contrast, the world is described as living in darkness, and this represents spiritual darkness. As people live in rebellion against God and unable to walk in godliness and unable to understand the truth of God’s word. In the darkness, the world rejects God and seeks pleasure without him by living for their passions of the flesh, which results in sin and death. But children of the light, they do not live this way because they have seen Christ and they have come to the knowledge that Jesus is the Lord. And they devote their lives to following Christ and from putting away darkness and putting away sin. Sin hides itself in the dark, but righteousness shines brightly in the light of day. God’s people are not of the night or of the darkness any longer. They have turned from darkness and now live in Christ’s glorious light. And because God’s people live in the light, they know Christ and they know Jesus is going to return. Therefore, God’s children will not be surprised or caught off guard when Christ arrives. They will be ready with lamps burning in the night, and they’ll be ready to meet their groom and be brought to his side. Those living in darkness, they ignore the warnings and do not expect or desire the day of the Lord to come, which is why it surprises them. But God’s people, they hear the tornado sirens and they turn to Jesus for shelter by the grace of God. So children of the light live in the day where they expect their Savior to return, and their hearts long for his coming to make all things new, where darkness and sin will rule no longer. And so, that being said, my first application from this passage for believers here is, live as children of the light. If you have faith in Christ, the light switch, the spiritual light switch in your life has been flipped on. No longer do you live in darkness where sin is your master, Jesus is your master, Jesus is your guide in this day. His Word is a lamp to your feet that you may walk in a different way from how the world walks and stumbles in darkness. Because you are children of the light, you’re gonna look different. And that is actually okay. Jesus wants us to live differently and to shine our light bright so that others may see our good works and glorify our God who is in heaven. The time for dwelling in darkness is over for the believer, and the time for living for Christ in the light has just now begun. So, so, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, just like the Thessalonians, live as children of the light, for you no longer live in darkness. You are free to walk in the light of Christ and good works that glorify him. Moving on to verse 6, it says so then 6 and 7 says so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and sober. For those who sleep, they sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. And so if anybody here is already starting to fall asleep a little bit, this is to you, go ahead and wake up, be sober. Don’t let my sermon put you to sleep. No. So Paul here, he’s like, further emphasizing the difference between believers who are children of the light and then non believers who are living in darkness. Paul says that those who are living in the dark spend their time sleeping at night and getting drunk at night. What’s important here is that Paul isn’t talking about what physical sleeping and drunkenness does. He’s actually using these as metaphors to communicate that unbelievers are spiritually asleep and drunk. And as they live in darkness, so those living in the darkness without God and without the light of Christ, spend their time spiritually asleep at the wheel. Sleep and drunkenness are both states where reality is distorted and one is not able to fully understand what is going on around them. Unbelievers are oblivious to spiritual truth that is found in God’s word through faith in Christ. They have no awareness of what God’s will is for their lives or any true understanding of that Jesus is going to return and demand an account for their soul. Instead, they live in sin and drown out God’s truth through being intoxicated with what the world has to offer. But Paul, as already pointed out, that’s not who we are referring to. Believers. We are not of the night or spiritually asleep at the wheel. Rather, God’s people are alive and are awake. Therefore, let us not hit snooze on the things of God and sleep spiritually as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. Highlight underline Circle this in your Bibles because I think this is the most important application in our passage today. Keep awake and be sober Because God’s people are children of the day and understand the will of God and they understand the will of God and that Jesus is going to demand an account for the way that we live. So we must keep spiritually awake and remain spiritually sober. As I said before, the day of the Lord being related to a thief in the night is meant to sound the alarm in our minds and nudge God’s people to stay awake and to be alert. Time and history is moving towards one end and that is the day of the Lord. Today, if you find yourself distracted by things of the world or just like kind of living on autopilot going from day to day, then hear the word of the Lord to you this morning. Keep awake and be sober. God has work for you to do today to honor him and to point others to Christ so that they may turn from darkness into light. Be aware of God’s will for your life and be ready for Christ to return so that when he does, you may hear him say these good words that are well done, my good and faithful servant. And when I say understand God’s will, I mean his revealed will through His Word applied to each day. So what Christ asks us to do and the ways he calls us to love one another and to love God. If the day of the Lord changes nothing about how you live day by day, you may be spiritually asleep at the wheel and drunk on the world. While I was working at a collegiate ministry in New Mexico called the Christian Challenge, back when I was a young Buck. Shortly after I’d graduated, there was a staff meeting where I was working at this collegiate ministry, and we had to make some big decisions on where we were going to send college students on summer mission trips with our partner missionaries. And one of the partner missionaries actually got kicked out of the country only months before the trips are going to happen. And so, as this happened, there were some other providential opportunities that had presented themselves, but were certainly a large pivot from what the ministry had originally planned for. And so in the middle of our meeting, the director named David, who was sort of a mentor to me, he said something that I will not forget. He said, what is God doing through all this? He didn’t say it out of anger or out of doubt, but he said it in, like, curiosity and in wonder, like, what is it that the Lord is doing among us? In this unforeseen pivot is the Lord closing one door, one partnership, and now opening another to proclaim the Gospel to another nation? And as David asked these questions to all of us in our staff meeting, it kind of just like snapped me out of my narrow focus where I was just thinking, how do we fix this? Where do we send students? But David, he was thinking, what is the will of God in this circumstance? And what is it that God is doing today in my life? What is it the Lord is doing here that we may keep in step with him and his plans so that he would be glorified? Therefore, just as David was awake and sober of the situation, we too should keep awake and be sober and pondering, what is it that the Lord is doing in my life today? For the Lord is among us, and he is preparing to come on that great and mighty day. Do we perceive it or are we asleep? Moving on to verse eight, it says, but since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. Here Paul gives some practical applications for us on how God’s people are to remain sober before the day of the Lord. They do this by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that is the hope of salvation. Here Paul attaches these virtues to pieces of armor similar to the armor of God that’s found in the book of Ephesians. And so faith and love are to be central to a believer’s life, like a breastplate and hope of salvation protects one’s mind from fears or doubts, knowing for certain that they are saved in Christ. And so Paul communicates that these pieces of armor keep a believer soberly aware of God’s will and his truth in their lives. These three virtues are mentioned together in other letters as vital virtues that work together in one’s life as they walk with Christ. For one’s faith angers oneself to Christ, bringing salvation and sanctification that results in good works. One’s love grows their affection for God and for their neighbor to fulfill the greatest commandment. And one’s hope of salvation spurs them on towards what lies ahead, knowing salvation is guaranteed through the finished work of Christ on the cross. Each of these virtues are a gift from God, and each of them keep a believer soberly fixed on Christ and on his return. So moving to verses 9 through 10, God’s word gives us an incredible truth to end on. So verse nine look with me in your Bibles it says, for God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with Him. Now, talking about God’s wrath is generally an uncomfortable topic. Therefore, the day of the Lord is not an easy day to process, and this passage is not easy to process. For the day of the Lord is when God’s wrath is poured out on all ungodliness and wickedness on the earth. But throughout this passage, Paul again and again affirms God’s people that the day of the Lord will be different. For those who have found in Christ, the day of the Lord won’t surprise them like a thief in the night. You are not children of darkness or of the night. You are not asleep or drunk on the world. You are alive, awake and sober. Children of the light. Why? Verse answer gives us why. For God has not destined his children of wrath. Sorry, his children of the light for wrath, but he has destined us for salvation through Jesus Christ who died for us and now is alive. This is such a sweet assurance to hold onto. It is a verse that you could memorize and really meditate on day by day because its promise is so sweet to God’s people. And it is my last application from this passage Christian remember, you are not destined for wrath, but for salvation through your Lord Jesus Christ. Even when life is difficult or you’re enduring something that is really heavy or difficult in your life. Hear God tell you this morning I have not destined you for wrath, but for salvation in Jesus Christ. For God’s people who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, judgment and wrath are not what God has in store. Instead, a beautiful inheritance awaits God’s people, forgiveness of sin, new hearts that beat for God, new lives that are restored and made whole, a new glorified body, joy in the presence of Christ, peace that endures, love that never fails, and eternal life with God and with his people that will never end. That, Christian, is what you are destined for through faith in Christ. Verse 10 also affirms what Paul had previously said in chapter 4, that those who are asleep, which Paul is now no longer talking about, the same sleep as those in darkness, but those who have died with faith in Christ, those who have died and are now asleep as believers, they are also destined for salvation. This means that whether you are awake with faith in Christ or asleep from death with faith in Christ, you will live with Christ in His presence. Death cannot change what God has done for his people. Whether awake or asleep, you are destined to live with Christ in the end when he returns. And if you’re here and you know you are walking in darkness apart from God, then I have some really, really good news for you. All people are born into this world, living in darkness, asleep to the things of God and drunk on the distractions and pleasures of the world. All of us here in this room begin this way. We are separated from God and deserving God’s just wrath that deals with evil, evil that is within us. Yet a light has dawned on the earth in the form of a man. And this man was God himself. He performed many signs and wonders in fulfillment of the scriptures. And he lived a perfect life without sin and with his pure and righteous life. This God man willingly love. He laid down his life for you and for me on the cross. He endured the wrath of God so that all who believe in him by faith could be brought from darkness into light. He bore our sins. He paid our penalties on the cross so that man could be reunited with a holy God and become children of of the light. This God man, this is Jesus the Christ who has died for us. And if anyone, including today, anyone here, turns away from their sin and believes in Jesus as the Lord of their life for the forgiveness of their sins, they will be forgiven and new life will begin in the the light. That’s what happened to the Thessalonian believers when they turned from idols to serve the living God. And it can happen for you if you will believe. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 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. Our passage then ends on verse 11 that says, Therefore encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing so. My final encouragement to you from this passage is the exact same thing. Red Village Church Continue to encourage one another here that the day of the Lord is coming near and keep encouraging one another to stay awake and to be sober. Keep building one another up through faith and love and hope that is found in the salvation we have in Christ. Remind one another that God has not destined us for wrath, but for salvation in Christ. Keep sharing the gospel, keep gathering as the family of God at church. Keep reading your Bible and keep praying to the Lord about all things. Live as children of the light together that God’s kindness and love may be put on display so that many who put their faith in him may be ready for the day of the Lord when he returns. That being said, please pray with me, Lord, this passage is sobering and thinking about your coming. And yet there is great hope that is found in Christ through your finished work on the cross, offering forgiveness and a place of shelter from the wrath that we poured out on the great day of the Lord. And so I pray for everyone here. God, help us to be ready to be awake, to be sober. Help us Lord, to continue in doing the things you call us to for your will and for your glory. And God, if any here do not know you, I pray that today would be the day that they would turn from their sin and put their faith in Jesus as their only hope of salvation and as a means of new life to walk in your marvelous light. And God, I pray, be glorified with the rest of our time as we gather here this morning. In Jesus name we all pray. Amen. The post The Day of the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11 appeared first on Red Village Church.

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Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Our shout-out today goes to Mike Hershberger from Dundee, OH. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. We cannot do this without donors like you. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 14:20-25. Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord." Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. — 1 Corinthians 14:20-25 Paul now names the real issue. It's immaturity. Not a lack of passion, they have that. Not a lack of experience, they have that too. But a lack of grown-up thinking around how they use their gifts. "Do not be children in your thinking." — 1 Corinthians 14:20 Consider how children behave for a minute. Children are easily mesmerized. They gravitate toward what is loud and dramatic. Thus Paul is saying the church in Corinth had done the same. They were mesmerized by tongues—drawn to the extraordinary—while neglecting what actually built up the church. Paul references the Law and Isaiah 28 to show that uninterpreted tongues served as a sign of judgment to unbelieving, resistant Israel. In other words, unintelligible speech was not a badge of spiritual superiority—it was historically associated with covenant warning by God. The opposite of what they thought it intended. Paul is trying to sober them up about the historical use of tongues. Then he contrasts tongues with prophecy. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? — 1 Corinthians 14:23 But if all prophesy, or if truth is spoken clearly, the outsider has an opportunity to be convicted, called, and changed. Notice the difference? Sensationalism produces confusion, but clarity produces conviction. One draws attention to oneself. The other exposes the heart. Spiritually mature believers do not chase sensationalism; they pursue what converts. It is to proclaim truth so clearly that sinners are undone. That's the miracle we are after. Not sensation but transformation. If unbelievers walk away thinking you are out of your minds, something is off. Aim for worship that is so clear, so truthful, and so Christ-centered that they leave saying, "God is really among you." DO THIS: Examine what you are most drawn to in worship. Is it what creates excitement—or what produces conviction? ASK THIS: Do I mistake unusual experiences for spiritual power? If an unbeliever walked into my church, would they leave thinking we are out of our minds—or that God is truly among us? Am I pursuing what impresses—or what transforms? PRAY THIS: Lord, mature my thinking. Keep me from chasing what dazzles but does not change hearts. Make your truth so clear among us that unbelievers fall on their faces and confess that you are truly present. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Homecoming"

Are most, if not all, unbelievers demonized? It sounds extreme. But Scripture might be less ambiguous about this than the modern church wants to admit.Most Christians default to one picture when they hear the word "demonized" - the Gadarene demoniac from Mark 5, a naked man in the tombs, chains broken, screaming at Jesus. That's a level 10. But the Bible describes demonic influence across a spectrum, and the passages we tend to skip suggest that every person outside of Christ is somewhere on it.Paul says the "god of this age" has blinded the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4). He describes Satan as the spirit actively at work in "the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). John writes that "the whole world lies in the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19). And in 1 Corinthians 10, Paul makes the explicit connection between idol worship and demon worship, which means that since everyone worships something before coming to Christ, no one gets a pass.This isn't a fringe charismatic idea. It's the Bible's own framework for understanding the spiritual condition of the lost. And if it's true, it changes everything: how we pray, how we evangelize, and what it means to walk someone out of darkness and into the kingdom.In this episode, we examine the biblical case and ask the most important follow-up question: what should believers actually be doing about it?0:00 – Introduction4:50 – Defining Demonization8:46 – Possession vs. Oppression Spectrum15:17 – Satan's Biblical Dominion22:41 – Kingdom Transfer Scriptures37:26 – Moral Responsibility Question42:44 – Fear vs. Engagement55:01 – Deliverance at Conversion?INTRO TO DELIVERANCE MINISTRY:

Episode #318 of 15 Minutes and a Big Idea. A Podcast by The Mended Collective. In this episode, we examine 1 Corinthians 14:21-25. Big Idea: Instruction Leads to Conviction 1) Languages are for Unbelievers.  2) Chaos Leads to Shame.  3) Teaching Leads to Worship. Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/15bigidea/?view_public_for=110691360592088 The Mended Collective: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSlUSkU2N0UEy4Bq1HgpFEQ Email: 15bigideapodcast@gmail.com Theme Music: "Advertime" by Rafael Krux

From the archive! Dr. Tom Curran and Fr. Jeff Lewis discuss: What is the “right way” to pray with others, and even unbelievers? How can Christians more visibly display their faith in daily life? Do people have the right to be wrong? Tom Curran preaches his "One Sermon."

Unbelievers sometimes critique Christian faith for being subjective—based on unprovable personal opinions. In response, some Christians have tried to argue that their beliefs are actually objective and based on provable evidence. However, both the accusation and the defense stem from a modernist perspective that incorrectly prioritizes "scientific" viewpoints over all others. This distortion hides the reality that all viewpoints—not just religious ones—are inherently subjective. No one's ideas are based purely on provable evidence; instead, all concepts rest on unprovable foundational assumptions. For instance, both the belief that God exists and the belief that He does not are based not on "reason" alone, but on faith. In the realm of Christian apologetics, attempting to prove that God exists or that Christianity is objectively true has largely been unfruitful. A more effective approach involves pointing materialists to their own unperceived biases while introducing them to the narrative of sacred scripture. Hosts: Aaron Mueller and Chuck Rathert Subscribe to the show at https://cacg.saintjamesglencarbon.org. To comment on this episode, visit https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/cacg-ep141.

Since fallen humanity is already unable to come to God, what role does Satan play in blinding unbelievers? Today, Derek Thomas explores the biblical doctrine of total depravity and how Satan affects humanity's resistance to the truth of the gospel. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/ask-ligonier/if-man-is-totally-depraved-why-does-satan-blind-unbelievers/ Study Reformed theology with a free resource bundle from Ligonier Ministries: https://grow.ligonier.org/ Submit a biblical or theological question of your own by calling 1-800-607-9386 or by emailing an audio recording of your question to askligoniervm@ligonier.org. You can also receive real-time answers through our online chat service at https://ask.ligonier.org/. A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

This week Peter Neill is spending time with his library of books, sharing three titles that quietly evoke the emotion of loss, and the paradox of things lost. “An Exaltation of Larks”, by James Lipton; “A Calendar of Saints for Unbelievers”, by Glenway Wescott; and “The Atlas of Remote Islands” by Judith Shalansky each sit light in the hand, the mind, and the heart.About World Ocean Radio World Ocean Radio is a weekly series of five-minute audio essays available for syndicated use at no cost by college and community radio stations worldwide. Celebrating 16 years in 2026, providing coverage of a broad spectrum of ocean issues from science and education to advocacy and exemplary projects. Episodes of World Ocean Radio offer perspectives on global ocean issues and viable solutions, and celebrate exemplary projects.World Ocean Radio: 5-minute weekly insights in ocean science, advocacy, education, global ocean issues, marine science, policy, challenges, and solutions. Hosted by Peter Neill, Founder of W2O. Learn more at worldoceanobservatory.org

Pastor Bear Morton | Selected Scriptures

Scripture Reading: Revelation 17:8 Revelation 17:8 refers to people "whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world."  Philippians 4:3 refers to people "whose names are in the book of life."  Though there are people whose names have never been written in God's book of life, the Bible is clear that this reality does not excuse someone from personal accountability. Unbelievers have "no excuse" for their unbelief and their suppression of the truth (cf. Rom 1:18-20). The enemies of God, as they are described in Revelation, are unmistakably guilty.  The people in Revelation, whose names were not in God's book of life, are also described as refusing to repent of their evil deeds (Rev 9:20,21) ... rejoicing over the murder of God's special prophets (Rev 11:10) ... and worshipping the antichrist (Rev 13:3,4). The people whose names were not written in the book of life are guilty, not because of the omission of their names from God's book, but because they love the darkness (Jn 3:19).          In His mercy God has rescued some people to be His, choosing them before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4), so that "no human being might boast in the presence of God" (1 Cor 1:29). Let us not pry into a level of God's mind that He has not revealed.  The God who has a plan for everything in His creation invites all ... indeed beckons all ... to come to Him that they might have life.  "Come, everyone who thirsts . . . incline your ear and come to me; hear that your soul may live" (Isa 55:1,3).

Jesus tells us our love is to be greater than the love unbelievers and sinners have for their friends.  Our love is to be like God's love. How is that possible? What does it look like? If you have it, you will definitely stand out in today's world.Join me for today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more.Scripture Used in Today's MessageMatthew 5:43-48To find Tom on Instagram, Facebook, TiKTok, and elsewhere, go to linktr.ee/tomthepreacher

Today on the Daily Nugget, Mike here. Today I focus on the journey of the Apostle Paul, who went from persecuting the church as a Pharisee to being dramatically converted by God on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3–6). Paul later taught that apart from Christ people are spiritually dead and under the influence of the evil one—“following the ruler of the power of the air” and “by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:1–3)—but through Jesus Christ God rescues us and brings us into new life.

In this episode, Ashley Campbell explores the purpose of the church, questioning whether it is truly meant for non-believers. She emphasizes the importance of church as a community for believers to grow, engage, and equip one another in their faith. The conversation delves into the need for intimacy in worship, the role of church leaders, and the necessity of fostering a dependency on the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, Ashley argues that the church should focus on maturing believers rather than solely reaching out to non-believers.Takeaways-The church's primary function may not be to serve non-believers.-Believers should be equipped for ministry and growth.-Intimacy in worship should not be interrupted by announcements.-Engaging the congregation can transform the church experience.-The role of church leaders is to empower the body of Christ.-Unity in faith is essential for the church's mission.-Believers need to foster a personal relationship with God.-Church should be a house of prayer for all believers.-Every believer has a role in the church community.-The church should focus on spiritual growth and maturity.Chapters00:00 Rethinking the Purpose of Church06:09 Engaging the Body of Christ11:53 Equipping Believers for Ministry17:36 The Role of Personal Experience in Faith keywordschurch, believers, non-believers, community, faith, ministry, engagement, equipping, unity, spiritual growthConnect with me:https://linktr.ee/daily_encouragement_ashleyRumble Account: https://rumble.com/user/AshleyCampbellFacebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/dailyencouragementwithashleycampbell/Want to purchase a signed copy of mybook?https://buy.stripe.com/7sI8xdg6F2kZgSIfZ6ORRead the reviews on Amazon? https://a.co/d/gwyks9gWant to send me a financial donationbecause you value what I am doing on social media?https://buy.stripe.com/eVacNt3jTbVz9qg4gkWant to join my Facebook group thatwill equip you with the knowledge of the History of the UnitedStates, what the Constitution means and how you can preserve thisgreat nation we live in?Join my paid group today! For only $10a month, you will have access to classes that will help you have the knowledge you need to save your liberties given to you by God.Group Link:https://www.facebook.com/share/RA7FqCx95Lbv5gWv/Group Payment link:https://buy.stripe.com/cN24gX07H4t70TKcMVPodcast links:Apple/I tunes:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-encouragement-with-ashley-campbell/id1625607569Amazon Music:https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/4d32a7f2-1e3e-4045-aa13-2b77784c71d1/daily-encouragement-with-ashley-campbelliHeartRadiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-daily-encouragement-with-a-112334720/Overcast:https://overcast.fm/itunes1483675322/daily-encouragement-with-ashley-campbellRadio Public:https://radiopublic.com/daily-encouragement-with-ashley-c-WozzzRWant to sponsor the Podcast?https://buy.stripe.com/9AQbJpdYx8JnfOEfZ8Choose your amount to Sponsor the Podcast:https://donate.stripe.com/14k4gXg6F9Nr31SdR1

Lesson 15 Word From The Wise Colossians 4:5-6 Speak to Unbelievers with Your Walk Speak to Unbelievers with Urgency Speak to Unbelievers with Grace Speak to Unbelievers with Persuasion Speak to Unbelievers with Answers

Christians hold different views about biblical end times, including amillennialism, premillennialism, and postmillennialism. Each perspective interprets key passages like Matthew 24 and Revelation 20 differently. When believers die, their souls go to paradise while awaiting the resurrection of their bodies at Christ's return. Unbelievers experience conscious torment in Hades before final judgment. While we should be aware of signs pointing to Christ's return, we must avoid sensational prophecy claims and focus on faithful living. The goal isn't perfect prophetic understanding but being ready for Jesus' certain return.https://www.ankenyfree.church

The atmosphere was electric in the cathedral in Abuja, Nigeria as the the Word of God from 2 Corinthians rang out with unmistakable clarity: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers… Come out from them and be separate… Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates.”The preacher was the Archbishop of Nigeria, Henry Ndukuba, and his message landed with force. Many of the Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, Clergy and Laity from across the Anglican world would have preached on that passage in the past, but the Holy Spirit pressed it home in a remarkable way. In this episode of The Pastor's Heart, Dominic Steele speaks with Glenn Davies — former Archbishop of Sydney and now Bishop of the GAFCON Authorised Diocese of the Southern Cross. Together they reflect on the emotional and spiritual tone of the conference as it begins, the shift since the sober mood of GAFCON 2023 in Kigali, and the key questions now facing global Anglican leaders — including the future structure of the communion, the role of the Global South, and the difficult realities for churches seeking faithfulness while still legally tied to Canterbury.PlusBishop of South Sydney Michael Stead outlines the way the conference statement will be formed from the ground up. Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Network in Europe Andy Lines speaks on how the Church of England has failed to repent, despite the clarion call of the Gafcon23 conference. Mwita Akiri is former Bishop of Tarmi in Tanzania and co-ordinator of Gafcon for Tanzania. The Church Cohttp://www.thechurchco.com is a website and app platform built specifically for churches.  Anglican AidTo find out more about supporting Anglican Aid. Advertise on The Pastor's HeartTo advertise on The Pastor's Heart go to thepastorsheart.net/sponsorSupport the show

In this episode, we tackle one of the most misunderstood tensions in Christianity: legalism vs cheap grace.What does it actually mean to follow Jesus?Is church primarily for believers or unbelievers?What qualifies someone to lead a church?And does grace mean we can live however we want?Walking through Titus 1, we explore:- The biblical role of elders and pastors- Why Sunday gatherings exist- Why churches aren't businesses- The danger of celebrity pastor culture- How the gospel produces real godliness- And how to avoid both harsh legalism and shallow graceWe also respond to a popular song that reflects the tension many people feel toward the church, and we discuss what true grace really looks like.If you've ever struggled with church hurt, confusion about leadership, or questions about grace and repentance, this episode is for you.

On this episode of The Lead On Podcast, Jeff Iorg, president of the SBC Executive Committee, gets real about a common ministry trap: being surrounded only by Christians. He challenges you to break out of the church bubble and build genuine, ongoing relationships with unbelievers.

"Unbelievers happily receive the promise of heaven without the necessity of true conversion." Hebrews 3:5-13

By Mary Lindow SUFFERING AND SORROW ARE A PART OF LIFE Knowing this, however, doesn't make it any easier to cope when you find yourself in the midst of the deepest, darkest trials of faith, and mentally anguish and strain. Don't you wish Christianity could make you exempt from suffering? That would be great, but as most of us have learned, following our faith doesn't give us a free ride. We catch as much trouble as unbelievers—often more. The difference, of course, is that we can turn to Jesus when things go wrong. Unbelievers might argue that we're only turning to our imagination, but we know better. At some time in your life, however, suffering will hit you so hard that you won't be able to do any of those things, and that dark time will probably visit you more than once. “Even in darkness, light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.” Psalm 112:4   WE ALL WANT THINGS WE DON'T GET. Maybe it's a person you're sure would make a perfect spouse, and the relationship crumbles apart. Maybe it's a better job or promotion, and you don't make the cut. Or it might be a goal you poured your time and energy into, and it doesn't come to pass or others sabotage it all. All of us have prayed for the recovery of loved ones who were ill, but they died anyway. It takes real spiritual maturity to stay faithful when things go wrong, but severing our relationship with God punishes us, not him. It's self-destructive behavior that can put us on the path to a miserable life. The parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) teaches us that God always wants us to come back to him. Whether your problem is discouragement, illness or aging, sometimes all you have left is Jesus. When you're angry and bitter, you can still cling to Jesus in the midst of your tears. You can grab onto him and refuse to let go until he brings you through it. You'll find, to your surprise that he holds on to you even tighter than you hold on to him.   JESUS UNDERSTANDS SORROW He knows about being hurt. He remembers the terrible moment on the cross when his Father was forced to abandon him, because he was filthy from taking on our sins. Jesus won't let you go.' And as you age and start down the path from this life to the next, Jesus will take your hand to guide you. He appreciates all that you have done for him through the years, but what he has always wanted most is your love. So there you are in the middle of one of life's train-wrecks-dazed, wounded, wondering what shoe-or bomb-will be dropping next, and up walks Job's comforters. We all remember Job from the Bible. A rich, powerful man, a great father and good in every way was Job. Then, in a series of overlapping upheavals, he lost everything and everybody except his wife-who turned out to be a whole lot less than sympathetic in her changed status. Battered Job ends up sitting alone on a pile of dirt, scratching his boil-covered body with some broken pottery.   WE CAN IDENTIFY WITH POOR JOB. Life drags us through some tough times of loss that make us feel every bit like Job. Caught in a vortex of pain, and wondering if we'll ever make it to safety. And, boy, do we recognize Job's so-called friends who showed up to by all accounts offer support and comfort. As they sat with Job in his misery, they took turns playing a self-centered, self-righteous, can-you-top-this game of knowing for certain that every bit of Job ‘s disaster had to be his own fault or a lack of trust in God. They weren't sure how or why because Job seemed so decent, but deep down, they insisted, he just couldn't be all he pretended to be.   THIS IS FAMILIAR TERRITORY You get fired, and friends smirk knowingly when you try to explain the political nature of the event. Your child gets into difficulty-well; you know the kind of comfort you'll get from friends about that. (It probably started sometime during potty training.) Yet others try to “help” you with what I call “prayer lecturing.” While praying “for and with you” they let you (and God) know just how lucky you should be to even have running water, had a meal that day and more! Not really comforting in any way, and very very short on compassion. Yet, from the story, it's clear that Job was completely innocent. Dreadful things do happen to completely innocent people, good people. Because of their opinion of Job's guilt, history has bestowed his friends- (and their current replicas) – the label, “Job's comforters.” So-called friends who add to a suffering person's anguish by piling on false charges of blame and guilt and harsh reprimand for daring to show sadness or agony. You may never have met anybody like Job, but you've met his comforters on more than one occasion. They seem to be everywhere.   WE CAN CHARGE SOME OF IT OFF TO JEALOUSY Job had everything a person could dream of wanting-and then some-so jealousy was never more than a stone's throw away. The green-eyed monster is a little more subtle with people living everyday, typical lives, but jealousy doesn't need much ground to take root and grow with vigor.   WE DON'T WANT TO ADMIT BAD THINGS MAY HAPPEN TO US! If bad things happen to people who don't deserve them, they could happen to anybody, including me. If I don't want bad things to happen to me, (who does?), I have to persuade myself and everybody around me that the victim's actions caused the problem. If blame can be assigned, then I'll be safe as long as I'm good. In other words, if I can claim that the cause of your problem is something you do that I don't do, then what happened to you can't happen to me. There is, of course, n o logic to this, but it brings some shaky comfort to frightened hearts. We see this thinking at work when people stare numbly at adversity and ask, “What did I do to deserve this?” Sometimes the answer is, “nothing.”   HAVE YOU EVER ASKED YOURSELF "WHY ME?" And it doesn't have to be bad; you could be excited from something wonderful. Most often then not I ask myself this after something I am looking forward to goes wrong. Even at times when something goes wrong I lay awake at night and my thoughts wonder to what previously occurred. I am sure everyone does it at times, wishing for another try or chance. You may lay awake thinking about your suffering, part of life's suffering is misery's shadow persisting/hanging on; not only do you suffer but you have to think about suffering. I can't prove this with statistics or find it any book I know of, yet I would say that more people either come to the faith or fall away because of this reason above all; the disturbance of suffering. YOU SEE GOD USES TIMES OF SUFFERING… ...TO TEACH AND GROW US. If you allow yourself to recount your sufferings, did you not learn more about faith while suffering then any other time?  It has been said that; “Blessings are God's whispers, he speaks in our conscience, but shouts to us in our suffering.” “O my Comforter in sorrow, My heart is faint within me.” Jeremiah 8:18 Suffering becomes the only way to realize our hollow spiritual self. Pain is unmasked, and every person knows when something is not right when they are hurting. Pain insists upon being attended to. So when you travel down this line of thought you come to the idea, why do I or someone else suffer when others don't?   I KNOW SUFFERING IS EXHAUSTING AND PAIN HURTS That is why it is called pain and suffering. If there were an escape a person of great wisdom and insight would have done it already. Yet Discipleship demands such trials to compel us towards renewal. Read Hebrews 2:10 “God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.” The real question is what to do when life has just punched us a good one, and Job's comforters show up at our door. Nobody says we have to let them in. And certainly nobody says we have to entertain them. And, most positively, nobody says we have to believe them. “For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, So also through Christ our comfort overflows.” 2 Corinthians 1:5 We can sort out the who's-to-blame-for-what after we get some solid ground under our feet and a little energy back into our lives. But we still won't want Job's comforters anywhere around us… ...We will want people who care. "Compassion" To me not to be kind  is evil of the mind. No need to pray or preach, Let us our children teach  with every fond caress, Pity and gentleness: So in the end may we  God's Kingdom cause to be. Author  of Poem- R.W. Service   Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed provided that complete article, podcast link and website information for Mary Lindow is included.  www.marylindow.com www.marylindow.podbean.com Thank You! Copyright © "2026"  "The Advocate of Hope" Your Gracious Support and Donations Are So Very Helpful And Assist Mary In Publishing Her Teaching Podcasts and Blog Materials. THANK YOU! Please go to PAYPAL to donate  or support this ministry;  Donate to the tax deductible ministry name of:  paypal.me/mlindow    (His Beloved Ministries Inc.)  or  You Can Mail a Check or Cashiers Check to:  His Beloved Ministries INC  PO Box 1253  Eastlake CO 80614  United States    

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 5:12. It's easy to get worked up about everything happening "out there." We shake our heads at culture, critique the headlines, and grow frustrated with people who don't follow Jesus—as if their choices should shock us. But before Paul gives direction, he gives clarity: you can't expect the world to live by a standard it never agreed to. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? — 1 Corinthians 5:12 Paul tells the Corinthians to stop policing people who don't claim Christ. Unbelievers behaving like unbelievers is not a crisis. It's expected. What is a crisis is when believers behave like unbelievers and no one says a word. When Christians focus more energy on condemning the outside world than shepherding their own community, everything gets upside down. Jesus didn't police the world—He moved toward it. Paul didn't police the world—he preached to it. The early church didn't police the world—they loved it and reached it. But inside the church? They confronted sin, practiced discipline, and protected one another with humility and truth. They judged behavior not to shame but to restore. That's the difference. Many believers today get trapped in endless cycles of judging outsiders. We complain about politics, cultural decay, Hollywood, the news, and the morality of people who don't even claim to follow Christ. Meanwhile, friends we love are drifting, compromising, and slipping into patterns that are far more dangerous—and we stay silent. We end up policing the wrong people and ignoring the ones God called us to shepherd. The real problem isn't worldly people acting worldly. The real problem is God's people acting worldly and no one having the courage to intervene. Policing outside breeds resentment. Policing inside breeds restoration. So what does it look like to lovingly "police" believers in a biblical way? Ask honest questions instead of assuming everything is fine: "Hey, you seem distant lately. How are you doing spiritually?" Address what you see, not what you hear: "This is something I've noticed myself, and I care too much not to bring it up." Correct gently and clearly: "I'm saying this because it's dangerous for your walk, and I want to help." Refuse to normalize what God condemns: "I can't pretend this is okay. I care about you too much." Aim for restoration, not embarrassment: "I'm with you in this, and I'm not giving up on you." This is policing with a shepherd's heart—firm, honest, and aimed at rescue rather than ridicule. It's the kind of accountability that leads believers back to health and strengthens the whole church. DO THIS: Choose one believer in your life who may be drifting. Pray, reach out, and take a loving step toward honest conversation or gentle correction. ASK THIS: Where have I spent more time judging the world than shepherding believers? Who in my life needs loving accountability right now? What step could lead someone I love toward restoration instead of ruin? PRAY THIS: Father, help me stop policing the world and start loving, correcting, and restoring the believers You've placed around me. Give me wisdom and courage to speak truth with humility and protect the purity of Your church. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Take My Life and Let It Be"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 5:9-10. I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people — not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. — 1 Corinthians 5:9–10 Paul clears up a massive misunderstanding. The Corinthians assumed he meant, "Cut off contact with sinful people entirely." But that was never God's strategy. We don't reach the world by abandoning it, avoiding it, or hiding from it. Paul's point is far sharper: Christians are not commanded to avoid the world. Christians are commanded to discern the church. Jesus Himself ate with sinners, welcomed sinners, and loved sinners. But Paul warns believers to be cautious around professing Christians who live openly in sin without repentance—those who claim Christ while rejecting His authority. That's where the real threat lies. Unbelievers acting like unbelievers doesn't corrupt the church. Believers acting like unbelievers without shame does. When the church begins to affirm what God condemns, the confusion spreads. The witness weakens. The church slowly becomes the very culture it's called to rescue. That's why Paul says you'd "have to leave the world" to avoid sinners outside the faith. The danger isn't out there. The danger is when what's out there walks into the church, refuses to repent, and finds applause instead of correction. Your mission is in the world—your discernment is in the church. So be wise about who shapes your spiritual life. Move toward unbelievers with compassion and conviction. But be cautious with believers who live in open rebellion while claiming the name of Christ. Discernment isn't harsh—it's holy. It protects your heart. It protects your relationships. And it protects the church you love. DO THIS: Evaluate your closest Christian relationships. Deepen connections with believers who strengthen your walk with Christ, and set boundaries with those who pull you away. ASK THIS: Who influences my spiritual life the most right now? Are they pushing me toward Christ or pulling me toward compromise? Where do I need to practice healthier discernment? PRAY THIS: Father, give me wisdom to love the world like Jesus did while discerning the church like Paul taught. Guard my heart, shape my relationships, and keep me faithful to You. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Build My Life"

What if your problems aren't crushing you but growing you? In this message, Lead Pastor Jamie Nunnally teaches us how to face suffering as he shares about Jesus's letter to the church in Smyrna.Smyrna had been destroyed in 600 BC and rebuilt by Alexander the Great around 300 BC. When this letter was written, Smyrna was the center of emperor worship in Asia Minor. Christians were seen as suspicious, unpatriotic, and disruptive because they refused to join civic rituals. Persecution wasn't occasional—it was daily life. Believers faced exclusion, job loss, harassment, slander, and even death.Revelation 2:8–9 (NLT)Suffering (thlipsis) means "affliction, tribulation, persecution"—literally, "crushing pressure." Jesus says, "I know your poverty"—extreme poverty in a rich city, caused by persecution.One of Smyrna's main exports was myrrh, a fragrant oil made by crushing the myrrh tree. In the same way, Christians were being crushed by persecution and poverty.Citizens were expected to burn incense before Caesar's image and say, "Caesar is Lord." Jesus also mentions a group claiming to be Jews who were actively persecuting Christians.Revelation 2:10 (NLT)"Ten" symbolizes completeness—their suffering would be limited and measured. Jesus promises a "crown of life": be faithful unto death and receive the reward.Revelation 2:11; 20:14–15The second death—the Lake of Fire—is the final judgment for the devil, demons, and those who reject Jesus. Christians die once and live twice. Unbelievers live once and die twice.What does this mean for us?1. God sees your suffering.We all face "thlipsis"—crushing pressure. Suffering isn't a sign of God's absence but the promise of His nearness.2 Corinthians 4:17–18 reminds us our present troubles are small and temporary, producing eternal glory. If you navigate suffering with God, temporary pain becomes eternal reward.2. Don't measure spiritual success by worldly wealth.Jesus called Smyrna "rich." Heaven measures wealth differently.Luke 12:15—life isn't measured by what you own.1 Timothy 6:18–19—be rich in good works.The world counts possessions; Heaven counts faithfulness.3. Sometimes idolatry isn't a god, but a government.Smyrna's temptation was emperor worship. Christians should be informed and involved, but the political process isn't the world's savior. Make political opinions subject to God's Word.4. Real faith leads to resolute faithfulness.Talent gets applause; faithfulness gets a crown (1 Peter 1:7).Faith that only works when life works isn't real faith.When suffering comes, it may not stop immediately. But God fills you with His love, peace, joy, and presence. What was meant to destroy you loses its power to define you.John 16:33—In this world you will have trials, but take heart; Jesus has overcome the world.Jesus is the solution to your suffering. He is faithful to you. Remain faithful to Him, and you will receive the crown of life.Will you be faithful like the believers in Smyrna?

From the 2026 EFCA Theology Conference Breakouts, Dr. Geoff Chang—professor of historical theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary—leads a session on "Judgment and Rewards for Believers, Judgment and Degrees of Punishment for Unbelievers."

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Each week, Pastor Keith Foskey and is wife Jennifer answer email questions about ministry, the bible, and theology from all around the world as well as engaging with their live audience in the comments. Come join the fun! Questions and Timestamps:Do you preach repentance in your Gospel presentation? 7:20How do you maintain doctrinal distinctives while cultivating relationships with those who differ? 11:58Can a person join your church if not baptized as a believer? 40:00How should Christians respond to Muslim invasion? 43:36Question about Keith's favorite books 49:29Question about Sinners in the hands of an angry God 51:50Does God Work All Things Together for the Good of Unbelievers? 55:05Was There Free Will Before the Fall 1:03:30Does the New Covenant bring an End to the Old Covenant? 1:11:11Thoughts on New Creation Millennialism 1:16:00Question about manifestations of Jesus in Exodus 1:21:30Question about Chaplaincy vs Pastoral Ministry 1:29:30Question about Female Deacons 1:33:43 Question about pastors intentionally avoiding theological labels 1:37:20Moving a Church in a Reformed Baptist Direction 1:43:02Question about children's understanding of baptism 1:48:24Question about a father baptizing his own children 1:54:10Is attending a same sex wedding sinful? 2:06:02Can a Christian vote for a woman president? 2:09:00Question about marriage permanency view 2:13:30Questions about unbelievers who get married 2:17:18Concern about left-wing movements in the church 2:26:00Romans 13 and the right of governments to secure borders - Answered along with question above 2:26:00 Concerns about friends who go to churches that use heretical music 2:29:41Question about Christians interested in the supernatural 2:31:20Question about the Epstein Files 2:34:00Support the Show: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/Yourcalvinisthttps://www.TinyBibles.comYou can get the smallest Bible available on the market, which can be used for all kinds of purposes, by visiting TinyBibles.com and when you buy, use the coupon code KEITH for a discount.Love Coffee? Want the Best? Get a free bag of Squirrelly Joe's Coffee by clicking on this link: https://www.Squirrellyjoes.com/yourcalvinistor use coupon code "Keith" for 20% off anything in the storeDominion Wealth Strategies Visit them at https://www.dominionwealthstrategists.comhttp://www.Reformed.Moneyand let them know we sent you! Spiraling Impressions — Custom Stickers — Facebook: Spiraling Impressions Website: spiralingimpressions.com.COUPON CODE: YourCalvinist (gets 10% 0ff)https://www.HighCallingFitness.comHealth, training, and nutrition coaching all delivered to you online by confessionally reformed bodybuilders and strength athletes.Visit us at https://www.KeithFoskey.comIf you need a great website, check out https://www.fellowshipstudios.com

Unbelievers love darkness revealing their condemnation, believers love light magnifying God's glory. Preached on February 01, 2026

In John 8:12-20, Jesus makes a stunning claim: "I am the light of the world." Using God's own name—I AM—Jesus declares he is the glorious Light who leads his people to safety, just as the pillar of fire guided Israel through the wilderness. Those who follow him escape the darkness of sin and death. But the religious leaders immediately attack his credibility, dismissing his testimony as false. Jesus responds powerfully: his testimony is true because he comes from the Father and returns to the Father. The Pharisees judge by human standards, but Jesus's judgment, made with the Father, exposes every hidden motive and secret sin. When they demand proof of his witness, Jesus reveals there are two witnesses: himself and the Father who sent him. Yet despite sufficient testimony, the Pharisees remain blind to who Jesus really is. The application is urgent: Christians must walk in the light, confessing hidden sin. Unbelievers are warned that darkness cannot hide them from God, but the Light came to save, not condemn. There's still time to trust in Jesus's blood and righteousness before judgment comes.

Send us a textGuest: Todd Friel, host Wretched TV and Radio ProgramsThere are many fiery situations in the world right now. In Iran, millions have been on the streets protesting with thousands killed by the Shia Islamist regime led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is on the brink of being ousted due to economic decline and repressive rule. This situation has significant ramifications for stability in the Middle East and even the end times.Here in my home state of Minnesota, violent confrontations continue against ICE agents by protesters and paid agitators and rioters, as agents search for and arrest illegal immigrants. President Trump has stated he is considering employing the Insurrection Act to use military force to quell the obstruction and violence which has been incited by MN Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.There are other fires—in Venezuela after the U.S. captured their Communist narco-terrorist president Nicolas Maduro; in England and Australia which are threatening and arresting their own citizens for social media content against Islam; in Ukraine where the intractable, deadly war with Russia continues.And yet all these fires at home and abroad are far less significant and lasting than what the Bible describes as the “unquenchable fire” of hell.Hell is an issue that is almost unspeakable, and rightly so, because of the horror of what it is—eternal conscious torment for all who have rejected God by not believing in His Son's substitutionary death and resurrection on the sinner's behalf. In fact, the final destination for non-believers is described this way in Revelation 20: “if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”Because hell is so horrific and never ending, there are many who question God's character in sending people there. They say, “I know sin offends the holy God, but punishment for eternity in hell is disproportionate to the crime.”Kirk Cameron, actor and Christian influencer and author, who has worked and associated with many sound Christians like Ray Comfort, Ken Ham, and John MacArthur, announced on his podcast recently that he no longer believes that hell is eternal conscious torment but rather that an unbeliever is eventually annihilated. In other words, unbelievers do go to hell for punishment but at some point they go out of existence.This is certainly not the first time the eternality of hell has been challenged and it won't be the last. Todd Friel, pastor of Alpharetta Bible Church in Georgia and host of Wretched, which produces radio and TV programs, joins us this weekend to examine what the Bible teaches about hell. Is hell being eternal an important doctrine to stand firm on? Is there a biblical basis that unbelievers are annihilated in hell, in light of what Jesus said in John 10, “fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell”?We hope you join us for this important discussion.

God calls us to witness to unbelievers. But what's the best way to do it? In today's message, we dig into how to correctly witness to unbelievers.  __________ Romans 1:21–32 NLT, John 1:1,3–5 NLT, 1 John 3:4–6 NLT, 1 Corinthians 5:9–13 NLT, Matthew 28:18–20 NLT __________ Partner with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com/partner Connect with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com Leave a Comment: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com/comments __________    

According to a famous prophetic report, “Whoever imitates a people becomes one of them.” What does “imitation” here mean? Rather, what does this statement really mean at all, and how have Muslims historically understood it? How did this simple report become a doctrine in the Islamic tradition? What does this hadith mean for Muslims today, in an increasingly interreligious atmosphere and especially for those living in the West or in other non-Muslim-majority contexts? Finally, why do humans invest so much in being different and displaying their difference from those they declare as an ‘other'?  These and many other questions are answered in Youshaa Patel's exciting book The Muslim Difference: Defining the Line between Believers and Unbelievers from Early Islam to the Present, published in 2022 with Yale University Press. The book explores the issue of difference and frames the hadith as significant to Muslim interreligious encounters, showing that ideas and examples of imitation—and Muslims' understanding of the concept—have changed throughout times and in different contexts. And the debate around issues of religious difference, imitation, and Muslims' effort to distinguish themselves from non-Muslims tells us about how Muslims understand and define religion. In our conversation today, we discuss the origins of the book, some of its main arguments and findings, the prophetic reports on imitation—specifically the hadith that “whoever imitates a people becomes one of them”—its role in establishing a Sunni orthodoxy given that the hadith or the concept of tashabbuh is not found in Shii collections, and influential scholars and thinkers' development of the concept, individuals such as Ibn Taymiyyah and Najm al-Din al-Ghazzi. We also discuss examples of small differences that are not to be imitated, and Patel explains the significance and value of these small differences, which are quite powerful and symbolic. Our conversation ends with the relevance of imitation and emulation for today's Muslims, including Muhammad Abduh's Transvaal fatwa on, among other things, Muslims wearing European hats or Muslims doing Christian European things and how other Muslim scholars responded to this fatwa. Shehnaz Haqqani is an Assistant Professor of Religion at Mercer University. She earned her PhD in Islamic Studies with a focus on gender from the University of Texas at Austin in 2018. Her dissertation research explored questions of change and tradition, specifically in the context of gender and sexuality, in Islam. She can be reached at haqqani_s@mercer.edu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

River of Life is an inter-denominational, interracial, Spirit-filled church located in the heart of Wakulla County, Florida. We share the sermons from our services in the hopes they'll reach others determined to worship God in spirit and truth.

River of Life is an inter-denominational, interracial, Spirit-filled church located in the heart of Wakulla County, Florida. We share the sermons from our services in the hopes they'll reach others determined to worship God in spirit and truth.

River of Life is an inter-denominational, interracial, Spirit-filled church located in the heart of Wakulla County, Florida. We share the sermons from our services in the hopes they'll reach others determined to worship God in spirit and truth.

Fr. Mike outlines Paul's trial before King Agrippa and his efforts to use his conversion story to convert those hearing his case. He also leads us through the first half of Ephesians, emphasizing Paul's main theme of unity in the spirit. Today's readings are from Acts 26, Ephesians 1-3, and Proverbs 29:18-21. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Andrew is at the table, and he wrecked his car this week. THEN: The Peaches has a BONE TO PICK with Andrew! (Sometimes he's just toooooo nice.) What is the Christian's responsibility when trying to influence a non-believing roommate/tennant? AND, LATER: Should pastors marry two non-believers, just for a chance to share the Gospel? Contact the Comedian's Family by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com