POPULARITY
Categories
394 episodes with upper room
158 episodes with upper room
124 episodes with upper room
65 episodes with upper room
60 episodes with upper room
54 episodes with upper room
59 episodes with upper room
174 episodes with upper room
51 episodes with upper room
26 episodes with upper room
63 episodes with upper room
42 episodes with upper room
22 episodes with upper room
25 episodes with upper room
20 episodes with upper room
19 episodes with upper room
30 episodes with upper room
21 episodes with upper room
10 episodes with upper room
58 episodes with upper room
11 episodes with upper room
8 episodes with upper room
20 episodes with upper room
13 episodes with upper room
15 episodes with upper room
11 episodes with upper room
16 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
14 episodes with upper room
14 episodes with upper room
14 episodes with upper room
252 episodes with upper room
18 episodes with upper room
13 episodes with upper room
13 episodes with upper room
14 episodes with upper room
17 episodes with upper room
19 episodes with upper room
44 episodes with upper room
10 episodes with upper room
10 episodes with upper room
9 episodes with upper room
14 episodes with upper room
13 episodes with upper room
14 episodes with upper room
11 episodes with upper room
10 episodes with upper room
6 episodes with upper room
11 episodes with upper room
8 episodes with upper room
7 episodes with upper room
10 episodes with upper room
10 episodes with upper room
16 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
8 episodes with upper room
8 episodes with upper room
14 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
9 episodes with upper room
9 episodes with upper room
9 episodes with upper room
9 episodes with upper room
9 episodes with upper room
10 episodes with upper room
6 episodes with upper room
12 episodes with upper room
13 episodes with upper room
6 episodes with upper room
7 episodes with upper room
8 episodes with upper room
9 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
14 episodes with upper room
7 episodes with upper room
9 episodes with upper room
3 episodes with upper room
6 episodes with upper room
7 episodes with upper room
11 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
6 episodes with upper room
8 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
103 episodes with upper room
6 episodes with upper room
8 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
3 episodes with upper room
10 episodes with upper room
6 episodes with upper room
6 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
14 episodes with upper room
10 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
6 episodes with upper room
7 episodes with upper room
7 episodes with upper room
94 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
6 episodes with upper room
9 episodes with upper room
9 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
6 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
7 episodes with upper room
3 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
10 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
3 episodes with upper room
3 episodes with upper room
9 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
6 episodes with upper room
6 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
8 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
2 episodes with upper room
6 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
3 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
8 episodes with upper room
2 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
3 episodes with upper room
3 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
68 episodes with upper room
8 episodes with upper room
5 episodes with upper room
3 episodes with upper room
2 episodes with upper room
2 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
3 episodes with upper room
6 episodes with upper room
10 episodes with upper room
3 episodes with upper room
7 episodes with upper room
4 episodes with upper room
2 episodes with upper room
3 episodes with upper room
(5) James Tabor describes Mount Zion in Jerusalem as the world headquarters of the early movement. Archaeological evidence suggests the "Upper Room" sits atop a first-century foundation of a house-synagogue. In this space, Maryserved as a matriarch and hostess, greeting early pilgrims and figures like the Apostle Paul. This segment portrays a vibrant Jerusalem-based community where the "genius" of the early church thrived. Tabor envisions the household dynamics on Mount Zion, where Mary remained a central figure of authority, hospitality, and memory following the death of her son.1787 Death of Socraates
Thank you for joining us for worship this Sunday at Upper Room Church! We would love to hear from you. Comment below and let us know you are watching. Message Notes: https://uprmchurch.cls.co/SYkr Colossians 3:5-10 Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroom.cls.co/qmVv Field Guide https://uprmchurch.cls.co/HJcs UR Groups: https://upr.cls.co/zdqc Event Calendar: https://upr.cls.co/ftcj Prayer, Assistance, Share Decision of Faith: https://upr.cls.co/nqvp Join the Legacy Team: https://upr.cls.co/msth Giving: Support this ministry here and around the world: https://upr.cls.co/jpzq Streaming License through MultiTracks https://www.multitracks.com Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3
Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11; St. John 7:37-52; 8:12 Pentecost reveals the God who never ceases to act for our salvation, giving His people exactly what they need—from the Law at Sinai, to the Incarnation, Cross, and Resurrection, and finally the gift of the Holy Spirit. The kneeling prayers for the departed flow naturally from Christ's descent into Hades, for if Christ sought those held by death, His Incarnate Body, the Church, continues to seek them through prayer and love. We pray for the departed not because we possess a detailed map of the afterlife, but because Christians imitate Christ, whose love always seeks healing, relief, and salvation for all. Enjoy the show! --- Today we celebrate Holy Pentecost. And when we celebrate Pentecost, we are celebrating much more than a single event in Jerusalem nearly two thousand years ago. We are celebrating the God who never ceases to act for our salvation. When Moses encountered God in the burning bush and asked His name, God answered: "I AM WHO I AM." This is not merely a statement about existence. It is a revelation of who God is. He is not distant. He is not passive. He is not absent. He is the living God who is always present and always acting. Throughout the history of salvation, whenever humanity has been in need, God has provided exactly what was needed for our healing and salvation. When the children of Israel were enslaved, He delivered them. When they wandered in the wilderness, He fed them. When they thirsted, He gave them water. When they were attacked, He defended them. When they were lost, He guided them. And when they needed protection from the worst effects of sin and chaos, He gave them the Law. The first Pentecost was the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. And we should remember who it was who appeared there. It was God who spoke to Moses, who appeared in fire and cloud, who gave the Law to Israel, was the pre-incarnate Word of God—the same Christ whom we know from the Gospel. St. Paul tells us that the Law was a guardian and tutor. It restrained evil. It taught obedience. It preserved Israel until the fullness of time should come. The Law was not the final gift. It was the gift God's people needed at that moment. But humanity's deepest problem could not be solved by commandments alone. We needed more than instruction. We needed healing. We needed forgiveness. We needed life. So the same Christ who gave the Law came among us in the flesh. He taught. He healed. He cast out demons. He suffered. He died. He descended into Hades. He rose again. At every stage He was giving humanity what humanity needed. And then, after His Resurrection, He ascended into heaven. At first glance, that seems strange. Would it not have been better if Christ had simply remained visibly among us? Yet He Himself tells the disciples: "It is to your advantage that I go away." Why? Because humanity now needed another gift. The Law had been given. The Incarnation had taken place. The Cross had been accomplished. Death had been trampled down. Now Christ would send the Holy Spirit. At Sinai, the Law was written on tablets of stone. At Pentecost, the Spirit is written upon human hearts. At Sinai, God formed a people. At Pentecost, He fills that people with His own life. At Sinai, God instructed His people from without. At Pentecost, He begins transforming them from within. The Holy Spirit is not an optional addition to the Christian life. He is the very life of the Church. He is the One who unites us to Christ, who makes us temples of God, who heals what is broken, who perfects what is lacking, and who leads us into all truth. Christ ascended so that He might send us exactly what we needed. As St. Nikolai Velimirović loved to remind us, there is no corner of creation into which Christ has not carried His saving love—not Sinai, not Bethlehem, not Golgotha, not the Upper Room, not even Hades itself. And today we celebrate yet another gift that flows from all of this. This afternoon we will kneel for the first time since Pascha. And in the kneeling prayers we pray not only for ourselves. We pray for the departed. To some Christians this seems strange. Why pray for the dead? What can our prayers accomplish? But the answer begins with Christ Himself. Because Christ did not merely die. He descended into Hades. He entered the realm of death itself. As we sing at Pascha: "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life." The Harrowing of Hades was not a symbolic gesture. It was an act of divine love. The Lord entered the place of darkness to bring light. He entered the place of bondage to bring freedom. He entered the place of death to bring life. As St. John Chrysostom proclaims in his Paschal Homily: "Hell was embittered when it encountered Thee below." Death thought it had gained a victim. Instead, it encountered Life Himself. Hades thought it had secured its prisoners. Instead, it found its gates shattered and its captives being led forth into freedom. If Christ Himself went to those held by death, why would we not pray for them? If Christ sought those in Hades, why would His Incarnate Body—the Church—cease to seek them? The prayers for the departed are not an embarrassment or an afterthought. They are one of the most natural consequences of Pascha. They are a continuation of Christ's own work. The Scriptures show us that death does not sever the bonds of love within the Body of Christ. Our God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. And those who belong to Him remain alive in Him. We do not claim to know every detail of how God's mercy operates beyond the grave. The Orthodox Church has never attempted to construct a detailed system like the doctrine of Purgatory. We know less than some would like. But we know enough. We know that Christ conquered death. We know that He descended into Hades. We know that love never fails. We know that the Church has always prayed for the departed. We know that the Church's liturgical life—from the ancient Liturgies to the kneeling prayers of Pentecost—bears witness to that practice. And we know that Christians are called to imitate Christ. Ultimately, that is the deepest reason we pray for the dead. Not because we possess a detailed map of the intermediate state. Not because we can explain every mechanism. But because this is what love does. Love intercedes. Love seeks healing. Love seeks relief. Love seeks salvation. Love refuses to abandon those who suffer. This is what Christ does. And therefore it is what Christians do. The same Lord who gave the Law at Sinai, who became incarnate, who died and rose again, who descended into Hades, and who poured out the Holy Spirit upon the Church, continues even now to seek the salvation of all. And He calls us to join Him in that work: to pray, to love, to intercede, to hope, and to trust that the God who has always given His people exactly what they needed continues to pour out His mercy upon the living and the departed alike.
In this fifth session on the Luminous Mysteries, Kimberly walks us through the Fifth Mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist. Join her as she highlights the announcement of Christ's Kingship, the institution of Holy Orders, and the revelation of Christ's True Presence in the Eucharist. Additionally, Kimberly guides us through this mystery with personal testimony, insightful notes from the Catechism, and astonishing prefigurements mentioned in the Old Testament that are fulfilled in the New. Whether you're watching on your own, with daughters or friends, or leading a parish study, this series is an invitation to grow as a woman of faith and grace, reflecting on the Luminous Mysteries of Jesus.
After the seal of the Holy Spirit comes the Promise of Power. On Pentecost Sunday, Pastor David Bendett teaches how the Baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers believers with boldness, gifts, and supernatural ability to fulfill God's mission. From the Upper Room to today, discover why this ongoing filling is essential for every Christian. A powerful call to move from sealed to empowered!
Thank you for joining us for worship this Sunday at Upper Room Church! We would love to hear from you. Comment below and let us know you are watching. Message Notes: https://uprmchurch.cls.co/zJqg Colossians 1:18-19 Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroom.cls.co/qmVv Field Guide https://uprmchurch.cls.co/HJcs UR Groups: https://upr.cls.co/zdqc Event Calendar: https://upr.cls.co/ftcj Prayer, Assistance, Share Decision of Faith: https://upr.cls.co/nqvp Join the Legacy Team: https://upr.cls.co/msth Giving: Support this ministry here and around the world: https://upr.cls.co/jpzq Streaming License through MultiTracks https://www.multitracks.com Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3
Read OnlineJesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” John 20:21–23Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost, which took place fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead. Today's Gospel recounts Jesus' first appearance to the Apostles as a group—Thomas being absent—on the evening of the Resurrection. During this appearance, Jesus conferred on them the authority to forgive sins, a power foundational to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This gift anticipates the fuller outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, when the Apostles were empowered to carry out their mission with boldness and divine strength.By breathing on the Apostles, Jesus recalls the creation account in Genesis, when God breathed life into Adam (Genesis 2:7). Now Christ, the New Adam, breathes new life—the divine life of grace—into His Apostles. While this breathing conveys the Holy Spirit in an anticipatory manner, Pentecost represents the full bestowal of the Spirit upon the Church, sanctifying and empowering the Apostles and all disciples.Our knowledge of Pentecost comes to us from the Acts of the Apostles, Luke's continuation of his Gospel in which he details the beginning of the Church: “And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them” (Acts 2:2–3).When the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles at Pentecost, there were physical manifestations. God often accompanies significant biblical actions with visible signs to reveal the invisible reality of His presence and activity. Though the transforming reality of Pentecost was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the accompanying signs teach us about the Spirit's nature and work.The “strong driving wind” that “filled the entire house” symbolizes the ongoing, life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit. Like the wind, the Spirit is unseen yet powerful, moving where He wills and producing visible effects in the lives of believers. Though we understand the natural causes of wind today, its mystery and uncontrollable nature remain, reflecting the Holy Spirit's divine origin and unstoppable work in the world. He comes from God's hidden presence, unseen but active, bringing about a new creation in the Church and in every soul He touches.The “tongues as of fire” signify the Spirit's purifying and transforming action, burning away sin and igniting hearts with zeal for God's mission. Together, these signs reveal the Spirit as the powerful, life-giving, and sanctifying presence of God, animating the Church and guiding her to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth.Before Pentecost, the disciples hid in the Upper Room, fearful and uncertain. Though Jesus had taught them, performed miracles, and revealed His perfect love, their hearts were not yet fully transformed. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came as a divine fire, emboldening them to become fearless witnesses.When we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, we receive the same gift bestowed upon the disciples at Pentecost. We might not feel a strong driving wind or see tongues of fire descend from Heaven, but the reality is the same. The signs at Pentecost were not only for the disciples, they were also for us, revealing the Holy Spirit's workings and power in our lives.Reflect today on the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Have you experienced the Spirit's presence in your life? Like the first disciples, have you allowed the Holy Spirit to fill you with power from on high, emboldening you, purifying you, and setting you on fire with zeal to fulfill the mission God has entrusted to you? The Holy Spirit will transform us—if we let Him—setting our feet on the path to eternal glory.Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: The fresco of Pentecost in the church Dreifaltigkeitskirche by August Müller (1923).Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.
The Upper Room Mystery: Unlocking Mary's Hidden Role at Pentecost. If the Holy Spirit had already overshadowed Mary at the Annunciation, why did she need to be there for Pentecost? This week, we go beyond the surface of Acts 2 to explore the breathtaking theological reality of the Virgin Mary's relationship with the Holy Spirit. We trace the scriptural threads from Genesis to the Upper Room to reveal how Mary acts as the bridge between Christ and the Church. If you've ever wanted to understand the Holy Trinity deeper, or wondered about the true roots of Marian theology, this episode is for you. Key Topics Covered: The Spouse of the Spirit: Understanding the unique, unrepeatable bond between Mary and the Third Person of the Trinity. The Mother of the Church: How Mary's maternal role shifted on the day of Pentecost. True Spiritual Fire: What the "tongues of fire" mean for modern Christians striving for holiness. ✨ Loved this episode? Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps us bring these deep truths to more listeners around the world! All of Father Luke's Masses are live-streamed at Our Lady's Blue Army Facebook and Youtube, and homilies posted at Daily Homilies from the Blue Army Shrine.
We warmly welcome you to join Brother Chad Holly on this Sunday Message!
The Power Of Pentecost: Why We Should Care | The Todd Coconato Show Website: www.PastorTodd.org To Give: www.ToddCoconato.com/give The Power of Pentecost: Why Every Believer Should Care Pentecost was not just a moment in history. It changed everything. Why does Pentecost still matter today? Why should believers care? What happened in the Upper Room that continues to impact our walk with God? Today we're diving deep into the significance of Pentecost, the power of unity, prayer, bold faith, and why God is still calling His people to live fully committed and Spirit-led lives. If you've ever felt spiritually dry, weary, or hungry for more of God, this broadcast is for you. This is your reminder that God is faithful, God keeps His promises, and He still moves through surrendered people today. Don't miss this important and encouraging conversation. #Pentecost #HolySpirit #Faith #ChristianPodcast #ToddCoconatoShow #BibleTeaching #Revival #ChristianLiving #JesusChrist #FaithJourney
Welcome to Madang.Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in between.This is the 59th featuring Dr. James F. McGrath. He is the Clarence L. Goodwin Chair of New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University in Indianapolis. His blog, Religion Prof, can be found on the Patheos network. His books include The A to Z of the New Testament, Christmaker: A Life of John the Baptist, Theology and Science Fiction, and What Jesus Learned from Women. His newest book is Beyond Deconstruction: Building a More Expansive Faith.On this episode of the Madang Podcast hosted by Baptist News Global, McGrath and I discuss his new book, Beyond Deconstruction: Building a More Expansive Faith. We discuss faith, deconstruction, God, Job, suffering, community, and so much more. Listen to Madang Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Facebook Reels, or wherever podcasts are streamed.I am grateful to the many sponsors of this Madang Podcast episode.1. EerdmansMadang podcast hosted by the Baptist News Global is grateful to Eerdmans for sponsoring this episode. Please order your copy of Beyond Deconstruction, James F. McGrath. It will take you on a journey of faith that will strengthen you and carry you forward. Check out all the important books from Eerdmans by visiting www.eerdmans.com2. Upper RoomWhat would it look like to live with compassion at the center of your life—toward yourself, your neighbors… even those you might call enemies? In Compassion in Practice: The Way of Jesus, renowned teacher Frank Rogers introduces a path of radical compassion rooted in God's expansive love for all people—a path that can soften hardened hearts and bring healing, even in the most difficult situations. Along with powerful real-life stories of restorative love in action, this book lays out a series of practices to help you cultivate compassion—for yourself and for others—and to respond to a hurting world with courage, wisdom, and grace. This newly revised edition includes specific practices for compassionate social activism, more interfaith conversation, and a "compassion compass" to help orient you as you travel the path of healing and restoration. Prepare to step heart-first into a challenging world, ready to engage in a new way that beats with the pulse of compassion. Save 20% on Compassion in Practice today—and receive 20% off when you use promo code MADANG at Store.UpperRoom.org/MADANG.
In this Weekly Prophetic Word, Dr. Candice Smithyman teaches on the Hebrew month of Sivan, the Feast of Shavuot, Pentecost, and the powerful connection between Mount Sinai, the Upper Room, and the third heaven experience.This is a week of consecration, waiting on the Lord, and preparing to receive fresh mantles, spiritual gifts, divine assignments, and boldness for what God is releasing next. Dr. Candice shares how believers are not called to live from earthly pressure, but from their seated position with Christ in heavenly places.God is building His Church. He is calling His people upward. He is releasing fire, gifts, angelic activity, and a fresh understanding of identity and assignment.In this teaching, you will learn:• Why Sivan and Pentecost are connected to identity and assignment• The prophetic meaning of the Upper Room and the “third room”• How Mount Sinai connects to Mount Zion• Why God is calling you to live from third heaven proximity• How spiritual gifts and mantles are being released• Why this is a time to tarry, consecrate, and prepare• The connection between Pentecost, giving, and kingdom alignmentWatch and receive this prophetic word for the week ahead.Join Dr. Candice Smithyman's FREE Ascend prophetic calls every month for spiritual teaching and prophetic insight. Visit: CandiceSmithyman.com for books, courses, & prophetic resources
Join us online for Shavuot 5786: https://curtlandry.com/register In this episode of the Curt Landry Podcast, Rabbi Curt is joined by Pastor Tim Alsbaugh to discuss the appointed time of Shavuot, a Feast of the Lord that marks the giving of the Torah (instruction) at Sinai in Exodus, and the coming of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room in Acts. What was first written on tablets of stone is now written on the hearts of Believers. While Passover is a time of deliverance from Egypt, Shavuot is the marriage of that deliverance with divine instruction and power. Join Rabbi and Pastor Tim as they share how to maintain a posture of victory and peace in this season, focus on God's plan rather than negative world events, and receive instruction and empowerment as you align with God's calendar.
In this episode of The Leader's Notebook (Ep. 313), I take you back to the very moment the church was born at Pentecost. Acts 2 tells the story: wind, fire, tongues, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on believers. But beyond the signs, what truly happened was far greater—God inaugurated a Spirit-filled, miraculous movement that continues today. This message explores the power, reality, and relevance of Pentecost for every believer, showing that the Holy Spirit is not just historical but alive and active in our lives now. From personal struggles to divine encounter, discover how God's Spirit transforms emptiness into power, fear into faith, and despair into joy. Experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit as it shapes the church and equips us for obedience, service, and leadership in His name. – Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders' Notebook(00:00:31) - Pentecost(00:04:47) - What Really Happened in the Upper Room at Pentecost(00:11:40) - The importance of Pentecost(00:18:41) - How an Angry Pastor Became a Christian(00:24:05) - Desperate for the Holy Spirit(00:29:15) - A Christian was healed by the Holy Spirit(00:34:24) - The power of the Holy Spirit(00:40:22) - A Mercedes for Preachers(00:46:14) - The Leader's Notebook
A real client conversation turns into a real Gospel question: if a Christian builds something that genuinely helps people—and it becomes financially successful—how do you reconcile that with Jesus' warning that it's hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom? Joe Rockey brings the tension to Father Boniface Hicks and pressure-tests the advice he gave: Jesus didn't condemn “business” when He flipped the tables; the deeper issue was blocking outsiders from worship. And the parable of the talents points to growth and stewardship—God needs people who can carry “five talents” without losing their souls.Father affirms the direction, but sharpens the edge: Scripture's warnings about wealth aren't about cash being evil—they're about what wealth tempts us to believe. Money, honor, power, and pleasure can become idols because they create the illusion that I can provide for myself, so I don't need God. That's the rub: when things break, do I fall back on the Lord—or do I buy my way out, control my way out, reputation-manage my way out? Poverty can be “blessed” because it forces dependence: The Lord is my shepherd—not the bank account.And the Gospel is not simplistic. Jesus Himself relied on benefactors: wealthy women supported His ministry; He had the Upper Room; He rode a colt; He was buried in a new tomb; He was anointed with costly nard. The point is order: have resources, put them at His feet, and use them to build up the Church and love in the world—without claiming they're “mine.” Father shares an example of a wealthy man who sees money as God's to steward, discerns carefully how to spend and give, and feels the weight of accountability.Joe closes with a practical business litmus test: is the business making clients' lives better—and treating employees in a way that makes their lives better? If yes, the work can be noble. If no, the conscience conflict is a signal.Key IdeasWealth isn't automatically evil; the danger is idolatry: money as a substitute shepherd.The parable of the talents calls for stewardship and growth—not fear-driven hiding.“Blessed are the poor” can mean: fewer fallbacks force deeper trust in God.Those with more have more accountability; gifts aren't “mine”—they can vanish tomorrow.Gospel balance: Jesus accepted costly gifts and benefactors; the call is to order wealth under love and mission.Practical test: does the business improve clients' lives and treat employees with dignity?Scripture Mentioned (no links)Parable of the talentsRich young man“Blessed are the poor”“What do you have that you have not received?” (St. Paul)Acts of the Apostles community sharing (“placed at the apostles' feet”)Links & References (official/source only)None explicitly referenced with clear official/source URLs in this transcript. CTA: If this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend.Questions or thoughts? Email FatherAndJoe@gmail.com .Tags (comma-separated)Father and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, money and faith, riches, rich man, kingdom of God, wealth, stewardship, providence, trust in God, self reliance, idols, money honor power pleasure, value hierarchy, parable of the talents, talents and stewardship, accountability, blessed are the poor, Gospel vision, natural law, business and Christianity, vocation, entrepreneurship, purpose driven business, serving clients, treating employees well, dignity of work, Acts of the Apostles, benefactors, costly nard, Upper Room, discernment, generosity, humility, gratitude, Christian maturity
Send us Fan MailMany of God's greatest works begin in hidden places of prayer.In this message from our series “From the Upper Room to the Living Room,” we look at 2 Timothy 1:5 and discover how sincere faith first lived in Lois and Eunice before it became visible in Timothy's life.This sermon explores:• How faith is cultivated through relationship• Why hidden intercession produces visible destiny• How Christ remains the true source of transformationThis is not a message about pressure or performance. It is a call to faithful, Christ-centered intercession rooted in the hope of the gospel.Because what is cultivated in secret… will one day become visible.
In this second of three episodes explaining the Mass, Fr. Chris Alar discusses the Liturgy of the Eucharist. We are invited into the Upper Room as the priest consecrates bread and wine into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Find out why the Mass has more scripture than any Sunday Protestant Service.Become a Marian Helper!Discover more about the Catholic faith on Divine Mercy Plus!
Pastor John Miller continues our series in the Gospel of Luke with an expository message through Luke 22:1-23 titled, “In The Upper Room.”
Thank you for joining us for worship this Sunday at Upper Room Church! We would love to hear from you. Comment below and let us know you are watching. Message Notes: https://uprmchurch.cls.co/Vwtc Colossians Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroom.cls.co/qmVv Field Guide https://uprmchurch.cls.co/HJcs UR Groups: https://upr.cls.co/zdqc Event Calendar: https://upr.cls.co/ftcj Prayer, Assistance, Share Decision of Faith: https://upr.cls.co/nqvp Join the Legacy Team: https://upr.cls.co/msth Giving: Support this ministry here and around the world: https://upr.cls.co/jpzq Streaming License through MultiTracks https://www.multitracks.com Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3
Sermons By Antioch Community Church in Brighton, MA (Boston Area)
Sermons By Antioch Community Church in Brighton, MA (Boston Area)
May 14, 2026Today's Reading: Mark 16:14-20 or Luke 24:44-53Daily Lectionary: Numbers 11:1-23, 31-35; Luke 17:1-19“And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.” (Luke 24:50-51)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.If your hands could talk, what story would they tell? They might tell a story of aching, cramping pain after taking a long test. Perhaps they would tell a story filled with warmth and joy around a campfire with family or friends. Or maybe they tell a love story as husband and wife walk hand in hand.But what about Jesus? If his hands could talk, what story would they tell? Thankfully, we don't have to wonder. Jesus' holy, precious palms tell the story of his promises made and kept for you. The story of your salvation is written by and in the holy hands of Jesus. After all, he who fashioned and formed Adam out of the dust of the earth also was incarnate of the Virgin Mary. He is flesh of our flesh. Bone of our bone. Hand of our hand, yet without the blackspot of sin-stained hands. He who fearfully and wonderfully formed you in your mother's womb - hands and all - also wriggled and wiggled his infant hands as Mary wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.He who painted the starry skies above and made the earth his canvas also reached out his hands to cleanse, heal, and raise from the dead.He who spread out his hands in the wilderness and rained down manna and quail from heaven also broke bread on the hillside and in the Upper Room. He who inhabits the heavenly and holy temple built without hands, also inhabits and takes on human flesh, hands and all. Jesus' hands reached out in blessing. Jesus' hands took bread and broke it, and gave it, saying, “Take, eat, this is my body.” Jesus' hands lifted a cup and said, “Take, drink; this is my blood.” Jesus' hands prayed in Gethsemane. Shook at the violence of Good Friday. Were driven through by nails. Blood poured from his hands. Life left his hands. The darkness of the tomb covered his hands. And then, his hands had more to say. A good and gracious story to tell: Peace be with you. Crucified hands for you. Scarred hands for you. Risen and glorified hands for you. And now at his ascension, Jesus raises his hands once again in blessing. For his disciples. For you. When it comes to Jesus' hands, he has a gracious grip on you. A holy hold on your life. Indeed, he's got the whole world - including you - in his pierced hands. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Be now our joy on earth, O Lord, And be our future great reward. Alleluia, alleluia! Then, throned with You forever, we Shall praise Your name eternally. Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! (LSB 493:5)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.
In this fifth session on the Luminous Mysteries, Kimberly walks us through the Fifth Mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist. Join her as she highlights the announcement of Christ's Kingship, the institution of Holy Orders, and the revelation of Christ's True Presence in the Eucharist. Additionally, Kimberly guides us through this mystery with personal testimony, insightful notes from the Catechism, and astonishing prefigurements mentioned in the Old Testament that are fulfilled in the New. ✨ Join the largest group Bible Study in America—Bible Across America ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.com/america Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconfere...
Good Morning Voice Family! Today is the last week of our Life After Resurrection series. Can't wait to hear what Pastor Natalie brings to us today! If you are new to Voice Church, please take a moment to fill out the connection card at www.voice.church/connect to get more info and get connected to the church family!
Phil Pringle explores Acts 1–2, recounting the disciples gathered in unity, Jesus' family joining in prayer, and the sudden coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. He explains how the Spirit brought unique passion and power to each believer, enabled miraculous speech in other languages, and launched the church as witnesses to the nations. Along the way Phil emphasizes the importance of assembling together, remaining unified, and recognizing the Spirit's work rather than mocking it, closing with encouragement to be filled with boldness and purpose. Find a C3 Church Near You: https://www.c3churchglobal.com If you want to give to help C3 Church Global plant new churches around the world, head to https://www.c3churchglobal.com/giving Follow Me On Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@Philpringle?sub_confirmation=1 https://instagram.com/philpringle https://www.facebook.com/psphilpringle https://www.tiktok.com/@philpringl https://twitter.com/philpringle Purchase a copy of my books today: https://philpringle.com/store
Thank you for joining us for worship this Sunday at Upper Room Church! We would love to hear from you. Comment below and let us know you are watching. Message Notes: https://uprmchurch.cls.co/ChfQ Exodus 2:1-10 Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroom.cls.co/qmVv Field Guide https://uprmchurch.cls.co/HJcs UR Groups: https://upr.cls.co/zdqc Event Calendar: https://upr.cls.co/ftcj Prayer, Assistance, Share Decision of Faith: https://upr.cls.co/nqvp Join the Legacy Team: https://upr.cls.co/msth Giving: Support this ministry here and around the world: https://upr.cls.co/jpzq Streaming License through MultiTracks https://www.multitracks.com Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3
Jesus Is in Control Jonathan Parnell Download John 18:1-11,When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”Back in John Chapter 10, Jesus said something really important we should keep in mind. He said, Chapter 10, verse 18:No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.In other words, Jesus has told us in advance that he's in complete control of his suffering that will come, and in Chapter 18 that suffering is no longer future tense. The suffering that Jesus has talked about begins to unfold rapidly, in real time. Notice here how verse 1 sets the scene for us: Jesus has finished the Farewell Discourse, and his prayer for the disciples in Chapter 17, and now he leaves the Upper Room, and they go outside to a garden.So this is a new setting — and all the Gospel writers report this to us, but John includes some details here that the others don't. And the reason is because John has a direct theological agenda: He wants readers to know that what Jesus said back in Chapter 10, verse 18 is true — the arrest of Jesus is not a haphazard collapse into chaos, but it is the controlled descent into chaos for our sake. John's point is that Jesus is in control — that's his main idea here, and he makes it clear in at least three ways. That's what I wanna show you this morning: three ways Jesus is in control during chaos …1. Jesus knew all that would happen to him. John tells us this directly in verse 4. He says Jesus knew “all that would happen to him” — and the keyword there is the word “all.” This implies that Jesus didn't just know the outcome — he didn't just know where he'd end up — but he knew all the details that would take him there, including the details of Judas's betrayal. That's the focus in this passage.It's fascinating that John gives us more details about Judas than any other Gospel. First, it's just in the mention of Judas … Five different times in this Gospel when John names Judas, he says, “Judas, who would betray him.” He said that way back in Chapter 6, and again in Chapters 12 and 13, and he says it twice in this passage, in verses 2 and 5 — which means John says this about Judas even as the betrayal is taking place (see John 6:71; 12:4; 13:2; 18:2, 5). Why does John do this? Well, I think most basically it's because John wants us to never forget who Judas is, but it's also because he wants us to see Judas through a certain lens: John wants us to see that everything Judas does is fulfillment, not surprise. The case in point is that John gives us these premeditation details of Judas — that's what I'm calling them, “premeditation details.” Look at this in verse 2. After Jesus and his disciples went to the garden in verse 1, verse 2 says:“Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.”Don't miss how dark and sinister this is … Judas knew where to find Jesus. Judas had left the Upper Room in Chapter 13, and maybe by this point he had come back to the Upper Room and found it empty, or maybe he didn't. Either way, at some point, Judas thought, “I know where he is.”And he knew where Jesus was because of their friendship.He knew Jesus was in the garden because he had been there with him many times before. The garden was a favorite spot for Jesus to pray and teach his disciples, and Judas had prayed with Jesus there. He had been taught by Jesus there. Jesus had brought him there, and now Judas used that against Jesus.I hate Judas. I hate him. I hate him like I hate the devil. Can you believe what he did?More details in verse 3 are important.Judas had procured two groups of men to come with him. One was a band of soldiers (which would have been Roman soldiers), and the other was a group of officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. Now the the English Standard Version translates the first group “band of soldiers” but another word for it is “detachment of soldiers” (that's how the New International Version translates it). And what's interesting is that the Greek word behind “detachment” or “band” was an actual category of soldiers in the Roman army. Historical documents from the First Century tell us about it. A detachment was 200 soldiers. That's what the word means.Now, there's a chance that the full 200 soldiers didn't come along here, but my guess is that more soldiers came with Judas than we typically picture in our minds.Because in addition to this relatively large group of Roman soldiers, there were also Jewish officials. (This group would have been like the temple police who worked for the high priests and Pharisees.)And together, these soldiers and police, had lanterns and torches and weapons. So we gotta picture this correctly: this is not a small group of ragtag cavemen with clubs, but this is a sizable fraction of the Roman army together with Jewish police, and they're well-supplied, and they're led by Judas to this place only Judas knows about. This was calculated evil.John tells us in verse 5:“Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.”Do you see how despicable this is? There's deeper meaning here:The Roman soldiers represented the Gentile world; the Jewish officials or police represented Jesus's own people; and Judas represented Satan himself — because John told us in 13:27 that Satan had entered into Judas. So, understand what's going on here: In this group that came to arrest Jesus, it represents all of creation conspiring against him. All of humanity, Jew and Gentile, and the demonic realm — they have plotted together and set themselves against the Lord and his anointed.And Judas, standing with him, would have thought he was so smart. He would have had the smuggest look on his face.And the only thing that does not make this an absolute knockout win for Judas — like the only reason Judas has not just pulled one over on his Rabbi — is that Jesus knew about it the whole time.Every single time Jesus had been in this garden with his disciples … every single time over the last three years he prayed there with them and taught there with them … every time they “took sweet counsel together” as friends — every single time Jesus had ever seen the face of Judas in this garden, he knew that Judas would do this. Every moment in the garden before this moment, he knew this moment would come. Because he knew all that would happen to him. See, Jesus is in control.Here's another way we see Jesus in control during the chaos …2. Jesus was straightforward about his identity. I want you to notice both what Jesus says and the way he says it. First, what he says. When they tell Jesus they're looking for Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus says in verse 5, “I am he” — John tells us again that Jesus said this in verse 6, and Jesus repeats himself in verse 8. So three times in this passage, we read the words: “I am.” And in the Gospel of John, we know this is intentional. When Jesus says this, he is declaring himself to be God. He's revealing his true identity — He was before Abraham! He is one with the Father! He has been sent into the world by the Father!Jesus is, again, claiming the divine name: Jesus is the “I am.” Amen!But now notice the way he says it. Years ago, I got a book on public speaking titled, “The Way You Say It.” (I got it to help me with an accent I used to have. That's what the book is for.) But the underlying premise of the book is that the way you say something matters. The words matter the most, but the tone and context make a difference. Speech is dynamic like that.Well, we can't actually hear how Jesus says what he says here, but we can pay attention to the context. John gives us some key details here, so let's follow closely with what he says: In verse 4, there's this long group of soldiers, with their torches and weapons, and show up in this garden where Jesus and his disciples are. John says Jesus “came forward and said to them, ‘Whom do you seek?'”They say “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus says “I am he.”Notice how straightforward this is. Rows of uniformed soldiers and police came looking for Jesus, and when they got to Jesus, he asked them what they're doing. Can you picture that? All these soldiers and police and Judas are standing together, and Jesus is the one who does the talking. And literally, they must answer to him. It gets better.When Jesus declares his identity, when he says “I am he,” verse 6 says “they drew back and fell to the ground.” Which I think means exactly what it says. All of these soldiers fell down before Jesus. Verse 7, “So he asked them again…” which implies that he asked them right away — Jesus keeps talking to them while they are still on the ground. Let's back up for a minute. I need you to use your imagination here. Picture this scene: It's night. Jesus and his disciples are in the garden. Suddenly, a swarm of Romans soldiers and Jewish police, and Judas show up with torches and weapons, and Jesus steps forward to say “Who you looking for?” They say, “Jesus of Nazareth.”Jesus says, “I am he.” And swoosh!They all fall to ground like dominos, and while they're laying on the ground, Jesus says, “Who you looking for again?”This is almost comedy. It's incredible!If we could just freeze this scene — if we could snap a photo of this scene and show people, everybody who sees the photo is gonna know who's in charge.And it ain't Judas. It ain't the Roman soldiers. It ain't the Jewish officials.Jesus Christ is in control. John is showing us this in how Jesus was so straightforward about his identity. He's doing the talking. He's asking the questions. Because he's in control.One more. A third way we see Jesus's control during the chaos …3. Jesus was resolved to be the better Adam. Remember the setting here. All this is taking place in a garden. And this absolutely is meant to be an allusion to the Garden of Eden. I mentioned before, John has a theological agenda. (The other Gospel writers use the name Gethsemane, but John uses just the word “garden.”) He actually tells the whole story of Jesus's passion in view of a garden: John mentions a garden being close to where Jesus was crucified — in Chapter 19, verse 41. He mentions a garden again in Chapter 20 after Jesus is resurrected — spoiler alert here: but when Mary sees the resurrected Jesus, she thinks he's the garden keeper (see 20:15).And guess what? He is.And it starts in this passage. What's happening here is a redo of the Garden of Eden when Satan tempted Adam. Now's there's a few differences in this redo, and one is that Peter's here. And Peter, so far, is just watching all this happen. He hasn't said anything. But then we get to verse 10. And this is one we all need to see. So y'all help me out. Find Chapter 18, verses 10:Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”Two questions:What is Peter doing?What is Jesus doing?First, PeterWhen Peter draws his sword, he was ready to go out fighting. Peter has already said, Chapter 13, verse 37, that he would lay down his life for Jesus, and he thinks this is it. Look: he's no match for these soldiers. He knows that. They have weapons too, and a lot more of them.So either Peter is ready to die, or maybe he expects Jesus to keep speaking — because he just saw all these soldiers fall to the ground. He remembered what that voice did to the storm that night on the sea. All Jesus has to do is say the word, Peter knows. So maybe Peter swings his sword, and then looks at Jesus like, “Well? Go ahead…”But Peter was mistaken. D. A. Carson says Peter was “as clumsy as his courage was great, and his tactic as pointless as his misunderstanding was total.”He was confused, but we know all he was trying to do was help out. Peter was willing to die for Jesus to advance the cause; he didn't understand that first Jesus must died for him to accomplish the cause. This is what Jesus is doing. Jesus tells Peter, verse 11:“Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”Jesus corrects Peter not on the goal, but on the method. Jesus will indeed triumph over all his enemies, but the way matters. And the way of Jesus's triumph is to drink the cup.It's not a violent overthrow of earthly powers, it's a blood sacrifice for helpless sinners. It's not military conquest, it's substitutionary atonement. Victory soon, but suffering first.Something different in the Gospel of John compared to the other Gospels is that John leaves out the temptation narrative of Jesus when he was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. And I think it's because, with Genesis 3 on his mind, John reframes Jesus's big temptation to be here in the garden.Because Satan was crafty again in this garden. Defiance and betrayal appear again in this garden. Obedience or disobedience are the options again in this garden. Life and death are on the line again in this garden. What is Jesus doing? He is resolved to be the better Adam … and rather than fall, he descends, not in a vain attempt to augment his life, but in a willingness to lose it, not to subject a world of life to death, but to bring a world of death to life. Where the first Adam fell, the better Adam is faithful. Jesus has never been in more control. The cup he is about to drink is the cup the Father has given him. And those simple words at the end of verse 11 make it the most clear: this is not a haphazard collapse into chaos — our heavenly Father is writing the story. Is evil at work in this story? Absolutely. The Roman authorities had a hand in this. The Jewish leaders had a hand in this. Judas, led by Satan, had a hand in this. But who gave Jesus the cup? Who gave him the cup?The Father gave him the cup. The Father is accomplishing his plan, the plan of the Trinity. Jesus is in control. And For UsAnd look, that was true for Jesus's passion, and it's true for our situation right now — for whatever situation you might be going through. Everything in our lives — listen: every single thing in our lives — occurs beneath the will of God, and he has promised, whatever we got, he will work it together for our salvation. It doesn't make bad things less bad, but it gives us that bigger picture, which can be so easy to forget. Jesus loves you, and Jesus is in control. And this morning, very simply, I want to call you to rest in him. Rest in the truth of his love and power. And for some of you, that means conversion. Put your faith in Jesus today. I know some of you might be right on the fence — I get it. I've been there. Believe in Christ today, and be born again. We're having baptisms on May 31 — believe and come be baptized. For others of us, Christians in the room, you believe in Jesus but your vision of him has been a little clouded. We just need to see him again with the eyes of our hearts, and I pray that you would.Even as we come to this Table.The TableAt this Table we remember the passion event of Jesus — that he died for us and was raised, which is the most vivid display of his love and power. Glory in the gospel this morning!
In the intimate setting of the Upper Room discourse, Jesus prepares his disciples for a world without his physical presence by promising them the indwelling Holy Spirit, his eventual return, and a new confidence in prayer that would sustain their mission. This message examines what it truly means to pray “in Christ's name”—not as a religious phrase, but as a life submitted under the authority, mission, and desires of the Son of God. This sermon calls believers to a deeper devotion to prayer, recognizing that no sinner approaches the Father on personal merit, but only through Christ our advocate and intercessor.
Maranatha: Our Lord is Coming! The Rapture of the Church In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3) The scene is etched forever in the sacred record of Scripture. It is the night of betrayal. The Passover supper has been eaten. The traitor has gone out into the darkness. The eleven remaining disciples sit in stunned silence as the weight of impending loss presses upon their souls. Their Master has spoken plainly of His departure. He has washed their feet. He has given them the new commandment of love. And now, with the shadow of Gethsemane already falling across His face, the Lord Jesus Christ turns to address the deepest fear in their hearts. He does not offer vague religious platitudes. He does not speak in the language of uncertainty. Instead, He utters words that carry the full force of divine certainty, words that have echoed down through two thousand years of church history as the unbreakable promise of His personal return. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. These verses stand as the cornerstone of the doctrine of the Rapture of the church, the blessed hope that has sustained persecuted saints, comforted grieving families, and ignited holy urgency in every generation of believers. Yet the full power of this promise is often missed in English translation. The blazing heart of the passage lies in the Greek construction of the words “I will come again,” and it is there that the exposition must linger with scholarly precision and devotional weight. The verb translated “I will come again” is the present indicative active of the Greek word erchomai—literally, “I am coming.” It is not the simple future tense that one might expect for a distant event. It is the present tense employed in a manner called the futuristic present tense. This is no grammatical accident. It is a deliberate choice by the Holy Spirit through the pen of the apostle John. In classical and Koine Greek, the present tense can be used to describe a future action when that action is viewed by the speaker as so certain, so inevitable, and so imminent that it is as good as already unfolding before the eyes. The futuristic present tense does not weaken the promise; it intensifies it. It lifts the event out of the realm of mere prediction and plants it squarely in the realm of divine declaration. Jesus does not say, “I might come someday if conditions allow.” He declares with the full authority of the Son of God, “I am coming.” The present tense shouts certainty. It breathes imminence. It carries the weight of a future so fixed in the eternal counsels of the Godhead that the Speaker can speak of it as already in motion. This futuristic present is not unique to this verse, but its placement here is profound. The same construction appears elsewhere in the Gospel of John when Jesus describes events that are absolutely assured in the divine plan. The grammar itself becomes a theological hammer, driving home the truth that the return of Christ for His own is not a distant possibility but a present reality in the mind of the Savior. He is even now, from the vantage point of eternity, in the act of coming. The promise is so certain that the tense of the verb collapses the future into the present. This is the grammatical foundation upon which the entire doctrine of the Rapture rests. The Rapture is not an afterthought in the plan of God. It is the next great event on the divine calendar for the church of Jesus Christ, an event so fixed and so near that the Lord Himself can announce it in the present tense: “I am coming.” The Rapture of the church is the personal, visible, and audible return of the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds to receive unto Himself every believer, both living and dead, and to take them to the place He has prepared in the Father's house. It is distinct from the Second Coming, which will occur at the end of the Tribulation when Christ returns to earth in power and great glory to judge the nations and establish His millennial kingdom. The Rapture is the moment when the Bridegroom comes for His bride before the wrath of the Lamb is poured out upon a Christ-rejecting world. It is sudden. It is secret to the world but glorious to the saints. It is the fulfillment of the promise given in the Upper Room, and it stands as the great hope of every blood-bought child of God. No passage of Scripture unfolds this event with greater clarity and comfort than the words of the apostle Paul in First Thessalonians chapter four, verses thirteen through eighteen. These verses were written by divine revelation to correct the ignorance of the Thessalonian believers concerning those who had died in Christ. The apostle writes: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. Consider the weight of each phrase. The apostle begins by lifting the veil of ignorance. Death is not the end for the believer; it is merely sleep for the body while the spirit is present with the Lord. The sorrow of the Thessalonian Christians is real, but it is not hopeless sorrow. It is sorrow anchored in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because He died and rose, those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. The dead in Christ are not left behind. They will not miss the Rapture. Their spirits, already in the presence of the Lord, will be reunited with their resurrected bodies at this moment. Then comes the heart of the revelation: “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord.” This is not human speculation. This is not apostolic opinion. This is direct revelation from the ascended Christ Himself. The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven. Notice the personal emphasis. It is not an angel. It is not a representative. The Lord Himself— the same Jesus who walked the shores of Galilee, who hung upon the cross, who burst from the tomb, who ascended from the Mount of Olives—He Himself shall descend. And He shall descend with a shout. The Greek word for “shout” is keleusma, a military command, a royal summons, a cry of authority that will pierce the heavens and shake the graves. Accompanying that shout will be the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. The trumpet does not signal judgment here; it signals assembly. It is the signal for the final gathering of the redeemed. The sequence is precise and powerful. The dead in Christ shall rise first. Their bodies, sown in corruption, will be raised in incorruption. The graves will surrender their prey. Then—and only then—we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them. The word “caught up” is the Greek harpazo, a word that means to seize, to snatch away by force, to carry off suddenly. It is the same word used in Acts 8:39 when the Spirit caught away Philip, and in Revelation 12:5 when the man child is caught up to God. It pictures a violent, irresistible removal from this earth. No believer will be left behind. No one who has trusted Christ will miss this moment. Living and resurrected saints will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. The meeting place is not on the earth. It is in the air, in the clouds, the very atmosphere where the Lord will receive His own unto Himself exactly as He promised in John 14:3. And then the final, glorious declaration: “and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Not for a thousand years. Not for a million years. Forever. The Rapture is not a temporary event. It is the beginning of an eternal union. The bride will be taken to the place prepared in the Father's house, and there she will remain with her Bridegroom throughout the ages of ages. This is the comfort with which the apostle commands believers to comfort one another. It is not a doctrine for debate. It is a doctrine for consolation in the face of death and for courage in the face of life. The same apostle who received this revelation also unfolds the mystery of the bodily change that will occur at the Rapture. In First Corinthians chapter fifteen, verses fifty-one and fifty-two, he writes: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. This is the mystery that was hidden in ages past but is now revealed. Not every believer will die. There will be a generation of Christians alive at the moment of the Rapture. Those believers will not sleep; they will be changed. The change will be instantaneous—“in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” The Greek word for “moment” is atomos, from which we derive the English word “atom.” It means an indivisible unit of time, the smallest possible fragment of a second. Faster than the eye can blink, faster than the mind can comprehend, the transformation will occur. The corruptible will put on incorruption. The mortal will put on immortality. The bodies that have groaned under the weight of sin and sickness will be glorified, conformed to the image of the risen Christ. The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised, and the living will be changed. This is the power of the Rapture. It is not a gradual process. It is a sudden, sovereign act of God that will leave the world stunned and the saints transported. The early church lived in the constant expectation of this event. They faced persecution, imprisonment, and death with the cry of “Maranatha” upon their lips. That single Aramaic word, preserved for us in First Corinthians chapter sixteen, verse twenty-two, carries the heartbeat of New Testament Christianity: If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. “Maranatha” is not a curse. It is a prayer. It is a declaration. It means “Our Lord, come!” or more literally, “The Lord is coming!” The persecuted believers of the first century did not merely believe in the return of Christ as a distant doctrine. They cried out for it as the solution to every trial. They lived every day with the expectation that before the sun set, the trumpet might sound and the Lord might appear. That same expectant cry has been the distinguishing mark of every faithful generation since. The futuristic present of John 14:3 fueled their hope. Jesus is not merely going to come. He is coming. The present tense makes the future certain and the certain future near. Additional passages of Scripture reinforce this truth with unyielding clarity. The apostle Paul describes the Rapture as the believer's “blessed hope” in Titus chapter two, verse thirteen: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. It is not the appearing of wrath. It is the appearing of the great God and our Savior. It is blessed because it delivers the church from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world. It is glorious because it reveals Christ in His full majesty to those who love Him. The apostle also writes in Philippians chapter three, verses twenty and twenty-one: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. The word “conversation” means citizenship. The believer's true home is in heaven, and from that heavenly realm the Savior is expected at any moment. The transformation described here is the same as that in First Corinthians fifteen. The vile body—literally the body of humiliation—will be fashioned like unto His glorious body. The power that will accomplish this is the same power that will one day subdue all things under His feet. Nothing is too hard for the One who spoke the universe into existence. The doctrine of the Rapture is further confirmed in the closing words of the New Testament. In Revelation chapter twenty-two, verse twenty, the ascended Lord Himself declares: He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. And the response of the apostle is immediate and fervent: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Once again the language of certainty and imminence rings out. “Surely I come quickly.” The same Lord who used the futuristic present in the Upper Room now seals the entire canon of Scripture with the promise of His soon return. This constellation of biblical texts forms an unbreakable chain of truth. The futuristic present of John 14:3 is the grammatical foundation. The detailed revelation of First Thessalonians four is the doctrinal exposition. The mystery of First Corinthians fifteen is the physiological description. The cry of Maranatha is the devotional response. The blessed hope of Titus two is the purifying motivation. The citizenship of Philippians three is the practical orientation. And the final prayer of Revelation twenty-two is the expectant climax. Taken together, these passages challenge every believer to live in the white-hot expectancy of the Lord's return. The Rapture is not a doctrine to be debated in academic halls while life drifts on in complacency. It is a command to holiness. The apostle John makes this explicit in First John chapter three, verses two and three: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. The hope of seeing Christ and being made like Him is not an abstract idea. It is a sanctifying force. The one who truly believes that Jesus may come at any moment will not toy with sin. He will not waste his days on the trivial and the temporal. He will purify his life with the same purity that characterizes the Lord Himself. Expectancy produces urgency. It produces separation from the world. It produces devotion to the Word. It produces zeal for the gospel. It produces love for the brethren. It produces a life lived with eyes fixed on the eastern sky. The early church understood this. They did not build elaborate systems of prophecy to delay the return of Christ. They did not resign themselves to the idea that the Rapture was for some future generation. They lived as though today could be the day. That same spirit must characterize every generation of believers until the trumpet sounds. The futuristic present tense in John 14:3 is not a curious footnote for Greek students. It is a divine declaration that resounds through the corridors of time: “I am coming.” The Lord is coming. Maranatha. The Bridegroom is on the way. The Rapture will be a moment of indescribable glory. In one atom of time the graves of the righteous dead will burst open. Bodies long decayed will be reconstituted in splendor. The living saints will feel the sudden surge of immortal power coursing through their veins. Then, together, they will be caught up. The clouds will become their chariot. The air will become the meeting place. The Lord Himself will receive them. No more sorrow. No more pain. No more death. Only the eternal embrace of the One who loved them and gave Himself for them. The place prepared in the Father's house will at last be occupied by the redeemed of all ages. The marriage supper of the Lamb will begin. The church will be presented faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. Until that day, the Scriptures call every follower of Christ to live in the light of this imminence. The doctrine of the Rapture is not an escape clause for the lazy. It is a summons to vigilance. It is a call to watchfulness. It is a mandate to occupy until He comes. The believer who has fixed his hope on the appearing of Christ will order his life accordingly. He will speak the truth in love. He will labor while it is day. He will warn the wicked. He will strengthen the weak. He will lift up the hands that hang down. He will keep his garments unspotted from the world. He will cry out with the saints of old, “Maranatha—Our Lord, come!” The futuristic present tense of John 14:3 still echoes across the centuries. Jesus is not planning to come. He is coming. The grammar itself testifies to the certainty. The supporting texts confirm the details. The early church embodied the expectancy. And the Holy Spirit today stirs the hearts of all who will listen with the same urgent cry: the Lord is coming. Maranatha. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The promise stands. The place is prepared. The trumpet is ready. The Bridegroom is at the door. Let this truth sink deep into the soul. Let it shape every decision. Let it fuel every act of obedience. Let it purify every motive. The Lord Himself shall descend. The dead in Christ shall rise. The living shall be changed. The redeemed shall be caught up. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. This is the Rapture. This is the blessed hope. This is the promise of John 14:1-3, sealed by the futuristic present tense and proclaimed by the infallible Word of God. Maranatha. Our Lord is coming. Amen.
Thank you for joining us for worship this Sunday at Upper Room Church! We would love to hear from you. Comment below and let us know you are watching. Message Notes: https://uprmchurch.cls.co/fgyd Psalm 23 Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroom.cls.co/qmVv Field Guide https://uprmchurch.cls.co/HJcs UR Groups: https://upr.cls.co/zdqc Event Calendar: https://upr.cls.co/ftcj Prayer, Assistance, Share Decision of Faith: https://upr.cls.co/nqvp Join the Legacy Team: https://upr.cls.co/msth Giving: Support this ministry here and around the world: https://upr.cls.co/jpzq Streaming License through MultiTracks https://www.multitracks.com Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3
Sermons By Antioch Community Church in Brighton, MA (Boston Area)
Sermons By Antioch Community Church in Brighton, MA (Boston Area)
Season 22: Abide | #2 – Bear More Fruit Scripture: John 15:1-5 SHOW NOTES: It's our desire to encourage you in your spiritual journey with the Lord. Additional resources to enrich your Walk with God are available on our ministry website, Discover God's Truth. NEW! Watch us ONLINE! Click here!In Jerusalem, Jesus met with His disciples in the Upper Room, and then they walked to Gethsemane. He told them, “I am the vine, and My Father is the gardener.” Jesus knew His Father was carefully watching over the vineyard—tending the vine and preparing the branches to bear fruit. He used this beautiful illustration to prepare the eleven disciples for the days ahead. I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in Me and I in them will bear much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.John 15:5 Jesus calls us to abide. This is not a passive act. We must remain in constant union – in daily, regular fellowship with Jesus – and have a passionate desire to walk with Him. Unless we abide – that is, stay close to Jesus – we will not bear fruit. Your Word says, “We can do nothing.” Song: Abide in Me – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-0cmNCfOXA&list=RD9-0cmNCfOXA&start_radio=1
Welcome to Madang.Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in between.This is the 59th episode of Madang Podcast featuring Kelley Nikondeha. Kelly is a writer, speaker, liberation theologian, and community development practitioner. Together with her husband, Claude Nikondeha, they founded Communities of Hope (an NGO in Burundi), Kazoza Bank, and have an ongoing partnership with the United Nations Capital Development Fund around economic development. She is the author of Jubilee Economics.On this episode of Madang Podcast, Nikondeha and I talk about her new book, Jubilee Economics, debt, lament, hope, Jubilee, and so much more.I am so grateful to these wonderful sponsors of Madang Podcast hosted by Baptist News Global.1. Orbis Books-Madang is grateful to Orbis Books for sponsoring this episode of Madang Podcast hosted by BNG. Please order your copy of Jubilee Economics from Orbis Books. Use the discount code “MAD” for 30% off.Please visit www.orbisbooks.com to order and check out the other wonderful books from Orbis. They publish “A World of Books that Matter”.2. Upper Room AS YOURSELF: The Sacred Work of Embodying Grace, By Caroline VogelWhat does it really mean to love your neighbor as yourself? For many of us, loving God and loving others feels natural. But loving ourselves? That's the hard part. In her new book, As Yourself: The Sacred Work of Embodying Grace, spiritual director and therapist Caroline Vogel invites you into a different way of living—one rooted not in striving, but in receiving. Through honest storytelling, biblical insights, and gentle spiritual practices, Vogel helps you release perfectionism, quiet shame, and open yourself to the truth that God's grace is already alive within you. What if you didn't have to earn God's love? What if you could simply receive it—and live from it? As Yourself is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with the Spirit, and discover what it means to live as God's beloved—fully, freely, and just as you are. Available now - Save 20% on As Yourself at The Upper Room! Visit store.upperroom.org/Madang - and use promo code MADANG at checkout.
Talk 8 of our COME and SEE Feast Series on the Gospel of John presents a macro view of John 13 to 17, where three events happen: (1) Foot-washing; (2) Betrayal; and (3) Last Speech. And all three events happen in one place—the Upper Room. In the three events, Jesus talks about the hour to come. (John 13:1a NABre) This hour is what the seven miracles of Jesus, called the signs, are pointing to. Jesus is about to do His greatest act, His ultimate expression of love, His total self-giving. Jesus will do everything to love you. And He did. He poured His 100%. Nothing was left. He gave His all to you The key message is: Jesus loves you to the very end.
In this fifth session on the Luminous Mysteries, Kimberly walks us through the Fifth Mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist. Join her as she highlights the announcement of Christ's Kingship, the institution of Holy Orders, and the revelation of Christ's True Presence in the Eucharist. Additionally, Kimberly guides us through this mystery with personal testimony, insightful notes from the Catechism, and astonishing prefigurements mentioned in the Old Testament that are fulfilled in the New. ✨ Join the largest group Bible Study in America—Bible Across America ➡️ https://stpaulcenter.com/america Other ways to grow with the St. Paul Center: ⛪️ If you're a Priest looking to attend one of our annual Priest Conferences: https://stpaulcenter.co/priestconfere...
Thank you for joining us for worship this Sunday at Upper Room Church! We would love to hear from you. Comment below and let us know you are watching. Message Notes: https://uprmchurch.cls.co/QDqD Psalm 23 Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroom.cls.co/qmVv Field Guide https://uprmchurch.cls.co/HJcs UR Groups: https://upr.cls.co/zdqc Event Calendar: https://upr.cls.co/ftcj Prayer, Assistance, Share Decision of Faith: https://upr.cls.co/nqvp Join the Legacy Team: https://upr.cls.co/msth Giving: Support this ministry here and around the world: https://upr.cls.co/jpzq Streaming License through MultiTracks https://www.multitracks.com Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3
Acts 2:1-4 Listen to other great sleep mediations on Amen.Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Formed.Support this podcast and the Augustine Institute by becoming a member of the Mission Circle. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What happens when life starts squeezing you? In this powerful second installment of our Unstoppable series, Pastor Talaat McNeely explores the aftermath of the Upper Room and the reality of taking your faith into a world that might not applaud it.We often pray for God to remove the pressure, but what if the pressure is actually a tool for revelation? Drawing from Acts 4:13-31, this episode breaks down how Peter and John stood before the same council that condemned Jesus, yet remained perfectly calm and unshakeable. It wasn't about their credentials or personality types—it was about their proximity to the Savior.In This Episode, We Discuss:The "Squeeze" Principle: How pressure doesn't create what is inside of you, but simply reveals what is already there.Biblical Boldness (Parrasia): Why true boldness isn't being "loud and wrong," but having the focused clarity and spirit-given courage to stand your ground.Ordinary People, Extraordinary Power: How God uses "lay people" without special training to confuse the intellectuals and turn the world upside down.The Power of Proximity: Why you don't need a bigger personality to be used by God; you just need a closer proximity to Him.Boldness as a Team Sport: Why Peter and John returned to their community to pray scripturally and missionally rather than licks their wounds in isolation.Key Takeaway"The highest compliment you can ever receive isn't about how talented you are. The highest compliment is when someone looks at your life and can see the residue of a risen savior." — Pastor Talaat McNeely Scripture ReferenceActs 4:13“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” Join us as we learn how to trade our comfort for conviction and find the roar that only comes from being with Jesus.Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode with someone who needs a dose of holy boldness today!Connect with Purpose City Church:Series: Unstoppable (A Journey Through the Book of Acts) Location: Purpose City Church Speaker: Pastor Talaat McNeely
Thank you for joining us for worship this Sunday at Upper Room Church! We would love to hear from you. Comment below and let us know you are watching. Message Notes: https://uprmchurch.cls.co/QJqS Psalm 23 Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroom.cls.co/qmVv Field Guide https://uprmchurch.cls.co/HJcs UR Groups: https://upr.cls.co/zdqc Event Calendar: https://upr.cls.co/ftcj Prayer, Assistance, Share Decision of Faith: https://upr.cls.co/nqvp Join the Legacy Team: https://upr.cls.co/msth Giving: Support this ministry here and around the world: https://upr.cls.co/jpzq Streaming License through MultiTracks https://www.multitracks.com Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3
The Upper Room Part 1: The Promise of the Spirit (Apostles Anglican Church; Knoxville, TN) MESSAGE SUMMARY: The Upper Room Part 1: The Promise of the Spirit (Apostles Anglican Church; Knoxville, TN) In John:14, Jesus is on His way to the cross, and He is arrested – it is the night of the first Holy Communion and the washing of feet. Jesus and the Apostilles are in Jerusalem, and their activities begin in the “Upper Room” and move to the Garden of Gethsemane. In this text, Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit; and He tells how the Holy Spirit will work in our lives. Also, Jesus reminded the Apostilles of His prior teachings and that they should “let not your heart be troubled”. In John 14:23, 26: Jesus is telling the Apostilles about the Holy Spiritand the Holy Spirit's role: “Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him . . . But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.'". Subsequently, Jesus tells the Apostilles that they “must be born again” of the Spirit to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. After twenty-one centuries, how should we consider the Holy Spirit as followers of Jesus? We should consider that: 1) the Holy Spirit is very important for us as we follow Jesus because, like God, we are triune beings – body, soul, and spirit -- with our worship and communication with God conducted through our spirit enabling us to be “filled with the Holy Spirit”; 2) the Holy Spirit brings the presence of the Father and the Son to be both with us and in us; 3) the Holy Spirit helps us to live our Christian life – our “helper”; 4) the Holy Spirit is our teacher to teach us to understand the Bible, how to pray and to acquire the other knowledge that we need to follow Jesus; and 5) while we may want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and our “pilot light is lit”, our “furnace is not engaged” to bring the Holy Spirit into our lives. It is one thing to know Jesus in our lives, but it is another thing to love and obey Jesus in our lives. In other words, are you willing to let go of controlling your life and turn your life's control over to the Holy Spirit – God's will not your will be done? God does not force His will on you. You must seek Jesus to follow Him, and you must follow Jesus “in truth and in {Holy}Spirit”. Therefore, the question becomes not “do you have the Holy Spirit”, but “does the Holy Spirit have you”? TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 14:23, 26; John 3:3-8; John 4:24; John 7:37-39; John 14:15-17; John 15:26; Jon 16:4-14; Ephesians 2:1; John 14:16-17; Genesis 1:2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20; Ephesians 5:18. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Do You Struggle with Your “Prayer Life”? Find a Quiet Place for Your Personal Relationship with God and Pray to the Universe's Creator”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
In John 20 we have arrived at the grand finale! After Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene in the Garden, He appears twice to His apostles and some other followers in the Upper Room! These appearances by Jesus are so powerful! Not only does He impart His own resurrection life to His followers, but He also imparts heavenly peace! Peace that is assured because of His nailed pierced hands and wound pierced side. Peace that has been secured by His finished work on the cross! May we encounter the Risen Lord and the multiplication of His Grace and Peace in a fresh way!
Rev. McDowell has a wonderful discussion with the Rev. Valarie McGee about the New Thought metaphysical interpretation of Easter, the resurrection of Jesus, the ascension of Jesus, and the Pentecost in the Upper Room. They also discuss the metaphysical interpretation of Peter and Paul, and how to express the kingdom of God. Find Rev. Gaylon McDowell on Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jesus eats the Passover with His disciples in the upper room and institutes the Lord's Supper. He announces his betrayal and predicts Peter's denial.Join Pastor Daryl as he journeys through the entire Bible.Visit the radio station website.Subscribe to our YouTube channel.Subscribe to Pastor Daryl's daily devotional and listening plan.If you enjoy Simply the Bible, please give us a rating and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. That helps us a lot!Calvary Chapel Treasure Valley now meets Sunday mornings in a tent on our church property at 3853 E Lake Hazel Road in Meridian. For service times, online messages, and info on small groups meeting throughout the week, please visit our website at calvarytv.org.
Thank you for joining us for worship this Sunday at Upper Room Church! We would love to hear from you. Comment below and let us know you are watching. Message Notes: https://upperroom.cls.co/zcmc Psalm 23 Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroom.cls.co/qmVv Field Guide https://uprmchurch.cls.co/HJcs UR Groups: https://upr.cls.co/zdqc Event Calendar: https://upr.cls.co/ftcj Prayer, Assistance, Share Decision of Faith: https://upr.cls.co/nqvp Join the Legacy Team: https://upr.cls.co/msth Giving: Support this ministry here and around the world: https://upr.cls.co/jpzq Streaming License through MultiTracks https://www.multitracks.com Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3
How many times did Jesus appear after His Resurrection—and where did these appearances take place? In this episode of Catholic Answers Live, Catholic Answers apologists walk through the key post-Resurrection appearances of Christ, from the Upper Room to the road to Emmaus and beyond. They explain what happened during the 40 days leading up to the Ascension, the significance of Jesus appearing to the apostles, and how these encounters strengthen the case for the Resurrection. The discussion also covers the Ascension from the Mount of Olives and Christ's later appearance to St. Paul on the road to Damascus. A clear and compelling look at one of the most important periods in Christian history. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 04:45 – In the Bible, how many times did Jesus appear between the Resurrection and the Ascension? 16:55 – Where did he physically appear during the 40 days? 29:00 – What happened when he appeared in the Upper Room? 36:12 – Mount of Olives and the Ascension. 44:20 – Appearing to Paul on the Road to Damascus.
The enemy wants to murder you while keeping you alive... but, as believers, we ain't never scared!During his Resurrection Sunday message, Dr. Gabriel Allen Powell explores the story of the disciples locked away in fear after Jesus' resurrection, unpacking the difference between natural and demonic fear. Challenging listeners to break free from religious bondage and embrace authenticity, Dr. Powell calls for courage in the face of critical spirits, family pressures, and internal anxieties. Rather than waiting to "come out," he invites God's presence to transform locked places of fear: “You don't have to come out when He walks in”This message is a call to courage, authenticity, and faith, reminding us all: "We ain't never scared."Support the showText encounteratl to 94000 to stay up-to-date on all things Encounter.Worship with EncounterSundays at 11 AM ET | Wednesdays at 7:30 PM ETSupport EncounterText egive to 77977 Connect with EncounterFacebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | WebsiteConnect with Dr. GabeInstagram | YouTube | Website
Hour 1 for 4/2/26 Drew and Fr. Chris Walsh walk us through the events of Holy Thursday (2:58). Topics: what is happening in Jerusalem (5:57), the Upper Room (12:57), washing the feet of apostles (18:26), Garden of Gethsemane (23:02). Then, Msgr. Rossetti joins Drew to discuss supporting priests in crisis (31:34). Topics: priests are happy as a group (39:23), demons hate Jesus and priests (42:23), priestly ordinations on the rise (46:37). Link: Msgr.'s Book on Priests
Read OnlineReclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” John 13:21Love, betrayal, divine glory, and human weakness permeate today's Gospel, offering us a contrast of emotions and experiences to ponder. All forms of joys and trials affect our lives. Life is not “a bed of roses,” as the old saying goes. Besides joy, love, and excitement, we are touched by hurt, anger, fear, and anxiety. The same was true of Jesus' human experience with His disciples and all those who encountered Him. Through no fault of His own, Jesus was a polarizing figure. Some people loved Him deeply—such as His Blessed Mother, John, Mary of Bethany, and Mary of Magdala—while others despised Him, such as the scribes and Pharisees. Today's Gospel presents us with another figure whose life added great drama to the Gospel story—not because he loved or hated Jesus with passion—but because he was greedy and spiritually misguided. Today we read Saint John's account of the Last Supper. Jesus and His disciples were gathered in the Upper Room to celebrate the Passover meal. He began by washing the disciples' feet, a profound act of humble service. After this, Jesus prophesied that one of the Twelve would betray Him. When John, the Beloved Disciple, asked who the traitor was, Jesus identified Judas by handing him a morsel of food—an act of intimate friendship and trust. At that moment, “Satan entered him.” With both meekness and authority, Jesus told Judas: “What you are going to do, do quickly.” And immediately, “Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night” (John 13:27, 30). The night's unfolding drama did not end with Judas's betrayal. Jesus also revealed to Peter, “Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times” (John 13:38).Though Jesus was God, He was also fully human, capable of feeling every human emotion to a much greater degree than we are, due to the perfection of His humanity. Therefore, within Jesus' human soul we discover a profound contrast of emotions to the full range of human experience. One of the Twelve will hand Him over to death later that evening, while another, the one He would entrust with the leadership of His Church, would deny he even knew Jesus. On top of that, Jesus was fully aware that later that night He would be arrested, tortured, falsely accused, imprisoned, and await the sentence of death in the morning. He not only felt the effects of these events within His humanity, but His empathy enabled Him to perceive the experiences of the Twelve, His mother, and all who hated Him. He felt their pain, confusion, and anger far before they did, and He felt those emotions much deeper than they ever would. Only His mother, who would stand by Him faithfully at the Cross, would experience the depth of human suffering that Jesus felt within His soul.Why would God take on human nature and permit Himself to experience such pain? Because all human emotions—even pain—-needed to be intermingled with divine love. Because of the hypostatic union, all of Christ's human experiences—whether joyful or sorrowful—were perfectly united with divine love and transformed into sources of grace for those whom He loves. His courageous entrance into His Passion makes it possible for us to endure our own human trials with His strength, hope, and peace. Reflect today on your life and the experiences you endure and enjoy. If some experiences are overwhelming, know that Jesus perfectly understands, deeply empathizes, and offers a remedy. He invites you into His own trials, promising you His divine strength to untangle confusion and flood you with peace. Unite the blessings you enjoy with Jesus' Passion as well. Among Jesus' greatest earthly delights was the love His mother lavished upon Him, especially as she stood faithfully at the foot of the Cross. With our Lord, receive your blessings with gratitude and allow them to strengthen you so that you may endure your own daily trials, guided by His meekness and authority, leading you to a share in His Resurrection.My empathetic and understanding Lord, by taking on our human nature, You permitted Yourself to experience everything we experience. Though sinless, You endured the effects of sin with suffering and love. Please draw me into Your human joys and trials so that I can live my life in You, by You, and through You, receiving grace through Your humanity so as to share in Your glory and divinity. Jesus, I trust in You. Image: Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.
© 2020-2026 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
