Podcasts about upper room

Choreographers and Pacific Northwest Ballet Dancers Amanda Morgan and Christopher D'Ariano discuss how they decided to become professional dancers, how much of dance is drive versus talent, and how we can encourage our kids to pursue their dreams. Their new work, AfterTime, has its world premiere this weekend to kick off PNB's In the Upper Room repertory program. Info at PNB.org

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings bring the analysis of Season 5 of The Chosen to a close with a discussion of the eighth episode.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbLeil Shimurim — ChabadGethsemane — Blue Letter Bible“Flee as a Bird” by Mary S. B. D. Shindler (1842) — A Cappella Hymns, YouTube“Flee as a Bird” by Mary S. B. D. Shindler (1842) — The Cyber Hymnal

Episode NotesEpisode 95: Matthew 8 - Using Infectious Skin Diseases for OutreachNovember 1, 2025 - Host: Dr. Gregory HallIn this episode we'll dive into a particular formula (3 stories of healing followed by a call to discipleship) that Matthew uses to present Jesus' ministry. When we're done, you might ask if infectious skin diseases could be a part of your church's outreach ministry!Resources Referenced and/or Read:The list of Lepers in the Bible is pretty short:  Exod 4 - Moses' hand became leprous as snow, as if he had a skin disease, after he encountered God at the burning bush.Numbers 12:10 - Miriam, sister of Moses, became leprous when she spoke against Moses' leadership.Naaman - 2 Kings 5 - Elisha sent a messenger to him saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.”Gehazi, the servant of Elisha - 2 Kings 5:20Joab - 2 Samuel 3:292 Kgs 15; 2 Chr 26  - Uzziah [Azariah], king of Judah, was punished with a skin disease after he went into the temple of the Lord so that he might burn incense.Simon the Leper - Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9Three gospels likely share the same event: Matthew 8:2-4 - unnamed, Mark 1:40-45 - unnamed, Luke 5:12-16 - unnamedLuke 17:11-21 - 9 unnamed Jews - one unnamed SamaritanMatt 11:1-6 - When John the Baptist was imprisoned, John asks if Jesus is the Expected One… and in his response Jesus mentions several miracles associated with his ministry including “the lepers are cleansed”.Show Music:Intro/Outro - "Growth" by Armani Delos SantosTransition Music - produced by Jacob A. HallPodcast Website:The All-America Listener Challenge Updates: https://rethinkingscripture.comMy New Podcast Studio... The Upper Room: https://rethinkingscripture.com/podcast-episodes/More information about The Homes and Help Initiative: https://rethinkingscripture.com/homes-help-initiative/Sister site: RethinkingRest.comRethinking Rest... the Book is now available. The Rethinking Rest audiobook is available only on Audible: More information: https://rethinkingrest.com/the-book/Social Media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RethinkingScripture Twitter: @RethinkingStuffInstagram: Rethinking_ScriptureYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6YCLg2UldJiA0dsg0KkvLAPowered and distributed by Simplecast.

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/fctZ Matthew 6:19-24   Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroompcola.cls.co/dmjs   Growth Track: https://upr.cls.co/njyq   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 CCLI https://ccli.com/us/en/streaming   Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3

Trusting God in all things

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.

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/qZRp Proverbs 13:22   Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroompcola.cls.co/dmjs Growth Track: https://upr.cls.co/njyq 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 CCLI https://ccli.com/us/en/streaming Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3

CFC Youth - Ps Jason Pillay - " The upper room generation" by Dr Theo And Beverley Wolmarans Ministries

This episode will help you with some of the toughest relationships. Maybe you've been betrayed. Well, through Christ, we can still forgive and love those who hurt us. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/his-hop-radio-podcast--3366700/support. Stay Connected with His Hop Radio Download the His Hop Radio App today (available on all major platforms).

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue analyzing Season 5 of The Chosen with a discussion of the seventh episode.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDb

Somewhere between the Upper Room and the Roman throne, the Church lost the most powerful thing it ever had — His Name.In this brand new series, *Truth Became Tradition*, CJ Garcia exposes how man-made creeds, councils, and religion replaced revelation — and why it's time for this generation to bring the Name of Jesus back to the forefront of the Church.

Every meal tells a story, but this one rewrites yours.At weddings, meals celebrate union.At Thanksgiving, they recall gratitude.But at the Lord's Table, the meal reveals covenant.In this message, Kin by Covenant, we step back into the Upper Room and rediscover what Jesus was really doing when He broke the bread and passed the cup. This wasn't a ritual, it was a revolution. He was forming a family bound not by bloodline, culture, or tribe, but by covenant.You'll learn: • How the early Church turned a sacred covenant into a social club — and how to recover the awe of the Table. • Why Communion is more than remembrance — it's renewal, reconciliation, and a recommissioning. • What it means to come “in a worthy manner”, not in perfection, but in repentance. • How to approach the Table with reverence, unity, and mission.This is not just bread and cup, it's identity, belonging, and purpose.It's where enemies reconcile, sinners find mercy, and orphans become family.Come ready to repent, release, and receive.Because at this Table, we are not just guests, we are kin by covenant.

In the Upper Room, Jesus reveals that one of His own will betray Him — and the question echoes through every heart: “Is it I?” Judas' tragic choice reminds us how close one can be to Christ and still be lost. This message from Mark 14:10–21 calls us to examine our hearts, trust God's sovereign plan, and marvel at how He uses even sin to accomplish salvation.

Welcome to Episode #188 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our fourth of eight episodes in our Twenty-Fourth mini-series entitled The Return of Jesus Christ [3]. On today's episode, we will continue expanding upon the greatest news for the church, the Great Snatching Away, harpazo/rapture, the resurrection/translation of the bride of Christ.We'll start with a quick context reminder and then hit our lesson for today, which will be the second half of 1 Corinthians 15. But before then, why the harpazo/rapio, the great snatching away? The reason for the great snatching away in the Bible is to remove the church from the world before God judges the world with great tribulations and wrath. We will address that near the end of this mini-series. What I am teaching is not new. It is the Biblical view of the gospel, epistle, and letter writers of the New Testament as directed to be written by the Holy Spirit of God. It was not revealed in the Old Testament but was given by revelation to the Apostles who taught it to their disciples in the early church. Jesus was expected to return at any time with no prerequisite signs of his return to gather the church to himself. Jesus taught this to his disciples in the Upper Room the night he was betrayed.John 14:1-3 – Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2  My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.Jesus tells of the immediacy of his return to Peter after he restored Peter over a fish breakfast with several other disciples. After restoring Peter, Jesus took him for a walk and told him what kind of death he [Peter] was going to die. John was trailing behind them and when Peter took notice of him he asked Jesus about John. John 22:21-23 – When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”What we need to know for today's episode from these two passages is that Jesus taught his disciples he was coming back to take them where he was going; and that his coming back could be as early as within John's lifetime. There was nothing that had to happen prophetically to keep Jesus from coming back at any moment. That includes today, while I am sitting on my back porch writing this episode. Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus even Now! Why is this important?Three hundred years went by and Jesus didn't return. In 313 AD, Constantine the Great, the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, issued the Edict of Milan, which granted legal tolerance to Christians. Over time, Christianity was made the official religion of Rome resulting in the Roman Empire became Christianized.  It was soon after that the Biblical teaching in the book of Revelation that Jesus was going to judge the world with wrath, return on the Day of the Lord, and establish his own kingdom on earth was taught to be allegory and metaphor and not to be taken literally. There was only one king/ruler of the earth and that person in the Roman empire was the emperor. This mystical understanding of the book of Revelation has continued to be taught even today in many if not most Christian denominations.

The Lord's Supper is a picture. And we need a bigger frame. The Corinthians had distorted the living image that Jesus gave us in the Upper Room. We have cropped out part of that picture. And others have painted over it as they wished, and hung it upside-down. But the picture can be restored - if we'll refer back to the original, as revealed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11. Here's Jim with Part 1 of a sermon entitled, Tempting God to Death. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS10212025_0.mp3Scripture References: I Corinthians 11

D'Angelo heads to the Upper Room; Update on the Wendy Osefo arrest; a recap of Kirk Franklin's “Den of Kings”, NLE Choppa forces Demi to the oldies station; Nia Long covers The Cut; Chris Brown's redemption?  ABOUT ME: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.demetrialucas.com/about/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ STAY CONNECTED:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@demetriallucas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠demetriallucas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠demetriallucas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ demetriallucas⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Spencer Davis | Be StrongIn this message, Spencer Davis explores the many facets of the atonement, showing why one metaphor isn't enough to explain what Christ did for us. From Exodus 12 to the Upper Room, we see how Jesus intentionally aligned His death with the Passover, becoming the final, perfect sacrifice. The weight of the Passover meal, the timing of His crucifixion, and the fulfillment of centuries of symbolism all point to one truth: no more lambs are needed. Jesus paid it all, once and for all.Be Strong Men's ConferenceExodus 12Please leave a review on Apple or Spotify to help others grow in their faith. Click here to get our Colossians Bible study.

Welcome to Episode #187 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our third of eight episodes in our Twenty-Fourth mini-series entitled The Return of Jesus Christ [3]. On today's episode, we will continue expanding upon the greatest news for the church, the Great Snatching Away, harpazo/rapture, the resurrection/translation of the bride of Christ.We'll start with a quick context reminder and then hit our lesson for today, which will be the first half of 1 Corinthians 15. But before then, why the harpazo/rapio, the great snatching away? The reason for the great snatching away in the Bible is to remove the church from the world before God judges the world with great tribulations and wrath. We will address that near the end of this mini-series. The New Testament writers, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, clearly wanted the body of Christ to know that Jesus was coming back and to anticipate his return at any moment. The normal Christian life, as described in the epistles, is not sitting on one's hands in regard to one's faith life while playing with trinkets in the world, passing away the time to break the boredom of communing with God. The normal Christian life is to live your new life in the kingdom, a holy and righteous life of love for God and neighbor as we wait for our Savior, the bridegroom, to appear in the sky above to take us, his bride, home.John the Baptist spoke of the church and Jesus in John 3:29 – The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.In the New Testament, Jesus is the bridegroom, the church is the bride, and the Old Testament saints, including John the Baptist, are friends of the bridegroom. It says of the bride of Christ in Revelation 19:6-8 – Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.)Jesus spoke to his disciples in the Upper Room discourse about his wedding preparations to bring home his bride. John 14:1-3 – “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2  My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  We know that Jesus, our bridegroom, went away physically on the day of his ascension into heaven. Acts 1:10- They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”As Jesus went up in the ascension, so shall he return in like manner. We see that in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God.That catches us up on what we need to know for today's episode. We'll do some tying up of loose ends after our next episode, where we finish an overview of 1 Corinthians 15. And before we get to the first portion of 1 Corinthians 15 for today, let's put what Paul is about to address in context.

UPPERROOM founder Michael Miller reminds us that we are living stones, not chiseled bricks. 10/12/25 Sunday AM

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/Crqw Luke 24; Matthew 24   Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroompcola.cls.co/dmjs   Growth Track: https://upr.cls.co/njyq   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 CCLI https://ccli.com/us/en/streaming    Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3

What if Bible characters had iPhones and could text each other in a group chat?

In a world where control feels like an illusion and suffering seems senseless, is it possible that God still has a plan even in the chaos?In this powerful message from Mark 14, we step into the Upper Room and discover that the cross was not a tragic accident, but the fulfillment of a sovereign plan written across the pages of Scripture. Jesus wasn't overtaken by events. He orchestrated them. Down to the smallest detail.If you've ever wondered, “Can I trust God when nothing makes sense?” this sermon is for you. You'll see how:Jesus had a PLAN (even when it didn't make sense to others)That plan was PROPHESIED long before it unfoldedAnd that plan had a PURPOSE—your redemptionThis is not the story of a failed messiah. This is the story of a victorious Savior who drank the cup of suffering, so we could drink the cup of salvation.Tune in and discover how the First Supper reshapes our view of suffering, trust, and the hope that's still to come.For Reflection & Discussion:1.    In Mark 14:13-16 Jesus sends His disciples on a bit of a treasure hunt... only to find things EXACTLY as Jesus had said. How does Jesus' detailed planning encourage you to trust Him in your daily life?2.    Jesus' betrayal and death were foretold centuries earlier. How does seeing God's promises fulfilled in Scripture strengthen your faith in the Bible?3.    Jesus willingly and purposefully endured the horrors of the cross to redeem and save. What does this tell us about His character?4.    The Passover was & is a joyful remembrance of God's salvation from Egypt. How might we recover a spirit of celebration (not just somber reflection) when we take communion today?5.    Jesus refused the final cup, pointing forward to the great banquet we will experience when God ushers in His heavenly eternal Kingdom. How does this promise of future joy help you persevere through present struggles?+ + + + +Hey, while you're here, please help Generation by clicking the 'Subscribe' button, then click on the BELL

The Upper Room, Part II - The Last Supper comes to a dramatic close. Jesus goes to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, and is finally met by a close friend at the head of a group of soldiers as they come to arrest Him. 

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/jbWS Mark 9   Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroompcola.cls.co/dmjs   Growth Track: https://upr.cls.co/njyq   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 CCLI https://ccli.com/us/en/streaming    Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3

Christians are sometimes surprised to discover that the term "new covenant" only appears once in the gospel accounts, though all four focus on the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth. In fact, the word "covenant" is virtually absent from these texts. Outside of the Upper Room accounts in the synoptic gospels, it occurs only once in Luke's gospel, and then in reference to the Abrahamic Covenant. However, the concept of the new covenant is woven into the fabric of the four gospel accounts, but as it is understood in terms of God's interactions with and promises to His covenant people as recorded in the Old Testament scriptures.

My Story  Talk 28  Activities Beyond Europe Welcome to Talk 28 in our series where I'm reflecting on God's goodness to me throughout my life. Looking back on it, I suppose I travelled fairly widely during the time we were at Mattersey. Apart from the many places in Europe we visited, I found myself on the Lord's business in America, Africa, and Asia, though never, incidentally in Australia. These visits, which cover the period from 1982 to 2004, were either in connection with the Pentecostal World Conference which later became the Pentecostal World Fellowship or preaching trips The Pentecostal World Conference My reason for attending the Pentecostal World Conference in Oslo in 1992 was that, because it was being held in Europe, the PEF presidium had decided to hold a committee meeting there at the same time. Eileen and I had visited Norway for the first time two years previously where we had enjoyed a holiday there before attending the EPTA conference in Lillehammer. This time, however, I was alone. During one of the mornings, I was sitting high up at the back of the auditorium and was surprised to hear my name mentioned at the close of the session. Dr Ray Hughes was asking me to see him on the platform during the coffee break.  I couldn't imagine why but, of course, went to see him as requested. This was not quite as easy as it sounds because to get there I had to make my way through hundreds of people who were exiting the venue and all walking in the opposite direct from me. When I finally got there, he said to me, Oh David, as you know, you've been appointed to the Advisory Committee, and we'd like you to sit on the platform with us for the rest of the conference. Well, I knew nothing about this appointment. It was a complete surprise and when a year or so later I was elected to the Presidium it was an even greater honour. The 1995 conference was particularly special because it was held in Jerusalem. And this time Eileen came with me. We had never been in Israel before and we made sure that we saw as many of the biblical sites as possible. We had booked a tour with a Christian company and travelled in a small coach with a group of Brits who were attending the conference, and it was there that we met Ivor and Jan Maddison who were pastoring the church in Ollerton, not far from Mattersey.  (We got to know Jan very well when she came to live in Brixham after Ivor had died). The tour involved a visit to Tiberias on the shore of Lake Galilee from where we visited Capernaum, took a trip across the lake in a boat like those used by Jesus' disciples and from which he calmed the storm, and had a meal on the lake shore eating ‘St. Peter's fish', so called because of the occasion where he found a coin in the fish's mouth. We went to Caesarea Philippi, a beautiful place, where Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ. We visited the place in the river Jordan where Jesus is believed to have been baptised, and further south we had a brief stop in Jericho.   We travelled up from there to Jerusalem in time for the conference and of course visited Bethlehem and all the places you would expect, many of which have been spoilt by centuries of tradition and tourism. Eileen got to see Nazareth, but I missed the trip because I had to be in a presidium meeting. Highlights in Jerusalem were the Garden of Gethsemane, and the via dolorosa. But without a doubt the visit to the garden tomb was by far the most moving. It may or may not have been the actual site of Jesus' burial and resurrection, although I like to think that it was, but it was certainly a powerful reminder of the truth – Jesus is not here, he is risen! And who could forget the visit to the Upper Room and joining with other Pentecostals in speaking in tongues as the first disciples did in Acts 2? After the conference we visited Masada, floated on the Dead Sea where it's impossible to sink, and went to the cave where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. It was there, I think, that we paid an Arab to let us take a photo of his camel! We also visited a museum where we saw a number of ancient seals, some dating back over three thousand years, and reminding us of Paul's teaching that after we believed we were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. So during the trip there was much to remind us of Bible times and the truth of God's word. We were glad that we went but have never had a wish to return. Eileen is now enjoying the heavenly Jerusalem and one day I will join her there. And all because of Jesus! In 1998 the conference was held in Seoul, Korea, at the vast Yoido Full Gospel Church led by David Yongghi Cho, numbering at the time some 720,000 members. We had at first thought to extend the trip and visit China and the Great Wall. Eileen had always had a great interest in China, but when it turned out that the visit was not feasible she decided not to accompany me. I had met Cho at the London world conference in 1976 when I gave him a copy of my book, Know the Truth, later to be renamed You'd Better Believe It. I was naturally interested to visit his church and to experience one of the Sunday services there. There were, I think, six services each Sunday to accommodate the vast numbers. Everything had to be organised and left little if any room for the exercise of spiritual gifts like tongues, interpretation and prophecy which we might expect in a smaller congregation. Presumably there was opportunity for such gifts to be experienced in their many home groups. The final meeting of the conference was held in the Olympic Stadium where it was estimated that over 100,000 people were in attendance. I was privileged to read from the scriptures, which I found a little difficult on this occasion as I had somehow mislaid my glasses on a visit to the Prayer Mountain and was using a pair borrowed from an English brother who was staying in the same hotel as me. During the conference it was decided to hold the next presidium meeting in Hawaii in 1999. The reasoning seemed to be that as Hawaii is in the Pacific Ocean it was not too far from either Asia or America. However, no one considered the inconvenience for anyone travelling from Europe! But as I was the only European on the presidium I could hardly object. So that is how I came to fly to Hawaii, a 24 hour journey each way, for a three-day committee meeting! The purpose was to plan for the 2001 conference which was to be held in Los Angeles. Fortunately, the meeting finished a day early and I had a day to spare before flying home. This gave me the opportunity to take a minibus tour of the island, visiting among other things Pearl Harbour and a tropical rain forest. I also experienced macadamia nuts for the first time and learnt that the name comes a Scot named Macadam who first discovered them and who also invented tarmac! Eileen was able to travel with me for the Los Angeles conference in 2001 and in the week before the conference we both enjoyed a short holiday staying with Brian and Ann Lee, old friends from Retford who had emigrated to La Verne just a few miles from L.A.  It was good to renew fellowship with them and to preach in their local AoG church. At the conference itself I had been asked to chair a theological seminar at which Roger Stronstad, a Canadian scholar whose writings I greatly admired, was to be one of the speakers. The subject was the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and at the last minute, I was asked to be the other speaker deputising for an American brother who was unable to attend. I was so grateful to the Lord for the opportunity he gave me to speak at the conference and the help he gave me to do so. The last world conference we attended was in South Africa in 2004. This conference was in many ways different from all the others. In the opening meeting the delegates were warmly welcomed by the President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeke who had been deputy president under Nelson Mandela from 1994 to 1999 and served as president from '99 to 2008. Eileen felt particularly honoured as she was seated right next to him on the front row! But much more important was the fact that so many participants were from African countries, and the meetings were marked by the freedom of expression so typical of African worship and so different from the formalism we have seen elsewhere even in some Pentecostal meetings. It was something we were to see much more of in later visits to Africa in the years that followed my retirement from Mattersey, After the conference we hired a car and travelled to the Africa School of Missions founded by Paul Alexander, my newly appointed successor at Mattersey. We broke our journey at Witbank where I preached at two services on the Sunday, travelling on to ASM on the Monday where we were warmly welcomed by the staff. They asked us if we were planning to visit the Kruger National Park, and, when we said no, one of them kindly phoned a relative who worked there and arranged for us to stay for a few nights at Skukuza, one of the safari lodges in the park. Our accommodation was in an extremely comfortable one-room apartment that looked something like a traditional African hut with a thatched roof. The restaurants served excellent food which was relatively inexpensive and offered views overlooking the wonderful wildlife. We enjoyed every moment we spent at Skukuza, especially when a company of mongooses ran across the compound in single file right in front of us. But of course it was driving outside the safari park that we saw most of the wildlife. It was early spring in the southern hemisphere, and the leaves had only just begun to appear on the trees and bushes, making it easy to spot whatever animals and birds happened to be in the area. We travelled miles each day, taking care to obey the instruction never to get out of the car except in specially designated safe places. We were also glad that the car had good air-conditioning because it was often important to ensure the windows were closed. On one occasion we stopped to watch a group of baboons in the road just ahead of us and I closed the electric windows. However, I had momentarily forgotten that, unlike our car at home, our hire car had electric windows only at the front. We only realised the back ones were still open when a large baboon leapt in onto the back seat attempting to steal our lunch! I turned round and shouted in a loud voice – Eileen later told the grandchildren that Grandad roared like a lion – and thank God, the animal obeyed! Both we and our lunch were safe. After that, we never opened the back windows again for the rest of the trip. Apart from that, the remainder of our stay there was relatively uneventful. We loved it so much that when I was back at ASM a few years later I borrowed a car and went back there. Our visit was far too short but was the highlight of our trip to South Africa. We were particularly grateful that in such a short time we had managed to see the big five – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo, a wonderful ending to our last Pentecostal World Conference. Preaching trips But of course my travels beyond Europe were not limited to my role in the Pentecostal World Fellowship. There were preaching trips as well. At first, these centred on the USA where I combined preaching with raising funds for our building project. An American AoG pastor named Paul Curtis had a burden for Britain came to see me on one of his trips to England and said he would like to help raise funds for our new Hall of Residence. So at Paul's invitation, in February '82 I spent ten days preaching in AoG churches in North Carolina with a view to returning in mid-May for a period of four weeks. I enjoyed the trip in February, and the Lord blessed my ministry, and about £1400 was raised towards our building fund. Hopefully the trip in May-June would be more fruitful in that respect. I was looking forward to it and had bought my flights in advance as that was more economical. But only a few weeks before the trip Paul contacted me to apologise and tell me that he had been unable to arrange a suitable itinerary for me and that he felt that the time was not right. But I had already bought non-refundable tickets for flights both ways! And I had already planned the timetable at Mattersey to enable me to be away from the college throughout that period! After praying about it I contacted John and Sara Miles who were by then living in Naperville, Illinois, and asked their advice. Sara suggested that I was in a situation like Abraham's when he set off not knowing where the Lord would lead him. So I used the air tickets to fly as far as New York and paid the extra to fly on to Chicago where John and Sara collected me from O'Hare airport on May the 18th. When I arrived they told me that they had contacted Richard Dortch, the Superintendent of the Illinois AoG, and that he was arranging an itinerary for me around Illinois where I was already known through my three visits back in the seventies. I stayed with John and Sara until 6th July preaching in churches in the Chicago area on Sundays and Wednesday evenings. These included Yorkville, Palatine, Dekalb, Naperville, and Lake Villa as well as Chicago itself. I also spent a day at Wheaton College, had lunch with John, who was now a French professor there, and with Peter Kuzmic from Yugoslavia, and saw the wardrobe made famous in C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. On Thursday the 27th I flew via Denver to San José, California, to visit Bethany Bible College. Dick Foth, who had been the pastor in Urbana where I first preached on my visit to the States in 1972, was now the President of Bethany and I had a couple of useful days with him visiting the college and comparing notes.  I had an interesting experience flying back on the Saturday. The weather was extremely hot and everyone else was dressed in shorts and T shirts. I, however, was still wearing my jacket. As I was waiting in the queue to check in, an airline official approached me and said, Excuse me, sir. I wonder if you can help me. We're overbooked in Economy Class, and as you seem to be a suitable gentleman, I wonder if you would mind travelling First Class. Would I mind! It was the first and only time I have travelled First Class and, although I could never justify the expense of doing so, I was more than happy to enjoy the experience at no extra cost to myself. On 6th June I left Naperville and flew to Urbana where I preached on the Sunday and where my old friend Jim Hall was now the pastor. The next day I flew to Springfield MO to visit two other AoG colleges, Evangel College and Central Bible College, as well as the Graduate School located in the AoG Headquarters in Boonville Avenue. When I returned to Urbana on the Friday, Jim Hall had arranged an English Evening where I talked about the spiritual state of the UK and taught the Americans how to make a proper cup of tea! On the Sunday morning, I preached in Normal, where Marvin Foulkes was the pastor. I had preached for Marvin back in '72 and '74 and was delighted to see how much the church had grown since then. In the evening, I preached in Decatur from where I flew back to Chicago ready for my return to England the next day. Looking back on it, I felt that the trip had been very worthwhile, not just because it raised about $5000 for our college, but because of the opportunity it gave me to visit and learn from other AoG colleges and expand my vision for Mattersey. I was very grateful to Richard Dortch for making it possible. A year later I met Dortch in Portugal at the opening of the new chapel in the Bible College in Fanhões, near Lisbon, and he shared with me that he was soon likely to become the Executive Vice-President at PTL, the centre of Jimmy and Tammy Bakker's ministry, and he invited me to preach for a week on their TV station. This took place in 1985 and during our stay Eileen, Jonathan, and I were treated to the luxurious accommodation of the Heritage Grand Hotel. And we came home with a significant sum of money for our building fund.  We were, of course, very grateful for their hospitality and generosity, but I confess I was not really comfortable about so much luxury. Coming to terms with the cultural differences and levels of poverty or prosperity we see around the world is by no means easy. The riches of America were in stark contrast with the poverty I was to see in India less than a year later. But I'll tell you about that next time.

This episode features The Upper Room Family Resource Center.Here is a little about The Upper Room in their words, It is our vision that we work to create a strong, vibrant and self sustaining community where conflict and hunger, homelessness and poverty, and ignorance and intolerance no longer exist. We look to the day where all families thrive and children have within their reach the tools to succeed. We will work to achieve our vision by living our mission and honoring our values each day. We aspire to be an organization that:Is responsive to the communityIs compassionate and non-judgmentalRespects diversityEmpowers each individual and familyWorks as a teamEncourages innovative and creative ideasMaintains strong ethics and integrityI had the pleasure of speaking with their Executive Director, Brenda Guggisberg.To learn more about The Upper Room, please visit https://www.urteachers.org/For more on the Dose of Good Podcast, visithttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552349588905https://www.instagram.com/dose_of_good_podcast/https://www.youtube.com/@DoseOfGoodPodcastYou can also email doseofgoodpodcast@gmail.com

A deluxe edition of The Sprina Sessions is live for your listening pleasure. Join Keila and Jasmine as they discuss all things Beyond The Gates and Trina Robinson on GH. The Rundown Includes: Dani and Andre get married in Las Vegas, Vanessa and Joey smash in Puerto Rico as Doug bites the dust, Smitty goes off on Martin for allowing Samantha to connect with June, Derek swears Jacob to secrecy about his "paralysis", Dani and Andre's nuptials send shockwaves throughout Fairmont Crest, and Trina tries to keep her family together by any means necessary. The show wraps with Trina Speculations for the week ahead and the Song Picks of the Week. Enjoy! Sprina Sessions Playlist Song SelectionsLet's Get Married - Jagged EdgeWhite Wedding - Queens of The Stone AgeWaking Up In Vegas - Katy Perry  Follow Keila on X and Blue Sky: https://x.com/LadyWrestlingXhttps://bsky.app/profile/ladywrestlingx.bsky.socialFollow Jasmine on X and Blue Sky: https://x.com/twin_fangirlhttps://bsky.app/profile/twinfangirl.bsky.socialCreate your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Luke 22 leads us to the Upper Room, where Jesus reframes Passover into the Lord's Supper—a call to remember His body broken and blood poured out. We walk through five anchors of Communion: reflection on Christ's sacrifice, fellowship with Him and His church, self-examination and repentance, public proclamation of the gospel, and a longing for the day we feast with Him in the Kingdom. Come ready to slow down, confess, give thanks, and fix your hope on heaven.

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/NDgD Matthew 6   Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroompcola.cls.co/dmjs   Growth Track: https://upr.cls.co/njyq   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 CCLI https://ccli.com/us/en/streaming    Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3

In this episode, Pastor Chris looks to the book of Luke to look at Jesus' instruction and promise to the Disciples from chapter 22. While in closing out the events in the upper room, Jesus reminded us that the way of a disciple is radically different from the way of a non-believer. The Kingdom runs on much different principles than what we know in the flesh. While the world looks to be served, followers of Christ look to serve. We also look forward with great hope toward the promise that one day, Jesus will reward all his followers. The way of Christ is very different, but is so much better.

In this special episode recorded live at the Upper Room Conference, Eric sits down with Archbishop Richard Smith for a heartfelt and joyful conversation. The Archbishop shares personally, brings a few laughs, and offers timely encouragements for all of us on mission. Together, they explore: -What it means to be witnesses of the Gospel in today's world -How to recognize and lean into points of attraction that draw others to Christ -Praying bold prayers and ""letting the Holy Spirit fall on us"" Proclaim is a movement of the Archdiocese of Vancouver inspiring disciples to proclaim Jesus in their homes and communities. The Proclaim podcast is a space where you listen to inspiring disciples talk all things around sharing Jesus with others, and learn how to step into your own missionary identity. To learn more about Proclaim, you can visit weareproclaim.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @weareproclaim

Daily Dose of Hope September 25, 2025   Scripture – Luke 24:1-35   Prayer:  Today we pray an ancient prayer from St Ambrose of Milan, who lived from 337-397 AD...O Lord, who has mercy upon all, take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of Your Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore You, a heart to delight in You, to follow and to enjoy You, for Christ's sake.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we begin a deep dive into Luke 24.    We start with Luke's resurrection account. And today, we find ourselves walking with the women: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others.  These are real women who traveled with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem, they cared for his needs, learned from him, witnessed his power and glory, and loved him.  This has been a horrible week for them.  They helplessly watched him die.  And now, filled with grief, they want to anoint his body for burial.  They need to do this.  I should mention that Jesus was crucified on a Friday.  His body was hastily put in a tomb just before the Sabbath began (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown).  So they have to wait to prepare his body for burial.  Saturday night, it would have been too dark to take care of the body so we are meeting them probably very early on a Sunday morning.  They are ready.  They have brought their spices, they plan to attend to the body properly.  In the Jewish culture, a proper burial demonstrated honor for the deceased and for these women, it was an act of love and respect.    But when they get there, the most unexpected thing happens.  The stone has been rolled away from the tomb and the tomb is empty.  Jesus' body is simply not there.  This doesn't make sense to them.  And it was while they were wondering about where the body is, totally confused and perplexed, that two men in dazzling clothes (clothes that gleam like lightening), we can assume they are angels, they stand by the women.  And the women put their faces down, they were probably scared out of their minds.  And the men say, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”    Such a bizarre question.  Why do you look for the living among the dead?  They are at a tomb, which is typically where dead bodies, not living bodies, are kept.  And they fully expected Jesus' dead body to be there.  Afterall, they saw Jesus die.  They were the last to leave the cross.  They saw his limp, lifeless body placed in the tomb.  What do you mean?  Why do you look for the living among the dead?  But the sparkling men continue…he is not here, he is risen.  Remember how he told you these things?  Way back when you were in Galilee, he told you this was going to happen?    It was then that they remembered his words.  Multiple times, Jesus had said told them but it didn't make sense at the time.  Whether they simply weren't paying enough attention or they didn't want to know the truth, they didn't understand. Luke 9:22, And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”   Now, it's all coming together.  They do remember! Maybe they don't completely understand but they know that something totally unexpected, something totally amazing has happened, and they can't wait to tell the others.  So they burst into the room where the male disciples are hiding and out it comes.  They spill their guts.  They tell them about their morning.  You can picture it.  They are probably talking really fast and they might have been talking over one another and kind of out of breath.  They are excited.  They are so excited!    And the guys, well, let's just say aren't impressed.  They don't believe the women, saying their words were nonsense.  Other translations say the men tell the women they were spreading an idle tale, that what they were reporting was fake news.  It wasn't what they were expecting so it must not have been true.  Wow.    The narrative ends with Peter getting up and running to the tomb.  He also finds it empty, with the strips of burial cloth that would have been wrapped around Jesus' body just lying there on the ground.  And he walks off, wondering what really happened.    And then the narrative shifts to a different scene. Two of Jesus' disciples, not the twelve but two other male disciples, one named Cleophus and the other left unnamed, were walking from Jerusalem to their home in Emmaus.  There are some walks that are longer than others — not because of the miles or even because of the landscape, but because of the burdens. This was a 7 mile walk but it might as well been a 27 mile walk because these men are distressed.  They are grieving.  They have been following Jesus.  They believed him to be the Messiah and Savior and they have just seen him killed, murdered on a Roman cross.  So, they are walking slowly and speaking intensely.  The Greek suggests they may have been having some kind of theological argument.  Bottom line:  they are tired, weary, sad, and confused.  They don't understand what they have just witnessed.  And now they have to go back home and continue with their lives.  You can kind of imagine the kinds of questions they had.  Why did this happen?  How did God allow this to happen?  I can relate to their distress.  Every one of us, at some point, will have to take a walk to Emmaus. Some of you have been down this road already or you are walking it right now! In this world we will have trouble. And it will hit close to home. There will be times when all hope seems lost, and our world seems to be crumbling around us.  Maybe it's a walk out of an office where you have given years of your life but you are now being let go.  Maybe it's a walk out of the doctor's office after your spouse has just been given a terminal diagnosis.  Maybe it's the walk out of the attorney's office after the divorce papers have been finalized.  These are painful walks, in which we question God.  God, how could you let this happen?  God, I thought you were powerful and real.  What in the world is going on here?  In some way, all of us have experienced a walk like that.  Now, Jesus interrupts their argument, but they don't know it's Jesus at this point.  They are kept from knowing him.  He is a stranger to them.  I love this.  Because Jesus shows up to them JUST as he shows up to us.  We don't always recognize his presence either.  I don't know about you, but I've had times in my life that were so difficult, so painful, so anxiety-provoking, that I am so consumed with those feelings and then I look back and realize later, that Jesus was there with me.  His presence was real.  It was protecting me, guarding me, guiding me.  Jesus has a way of showing up when we need him most.  We just don't always recognize it.  Here's the thing.  Jesus could have said, “Hey guys, its me.  I'm here.  I've fixed everything.  Look, I'm alive!”  But he doesn't do that.  Instead, he says, “Don't YOU understand?”  And he begins to explain, starting at the very beginning of Scripture and walks them through the prophecies, walks them through how God said he would send a Savior who would have to suffer and die.  Hope and faith must have begun to stir their hearts as he spoke. They must have never heard, really heard, the gospel like this before—a gospel that included the suffering of the Messiah before entering his glory—told by the resurrected Lord himself!  Now, keep in mind, their circumstances have not changed but their perspective is beginning to change.  Faith is budding. They invite Jesus (still a stranger to them) to come stay with them.  It's late and they insist that he come and dine with them.  It was at the table, when they were breaking bread together that they recognize him.  Just as he did on Thursday night in the Upper Room --- it's when he takes the bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and offers it to them.  Their eyes are opened and they know – this is our Jesus.  Are our eyes open to Jesus when we break bread together?  Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Pastor John Miller begins our topical series, entitled “The Upper Room," an in-depth look at the Upper Room discourse with an expository message through John 13.

Pastor John Miller begins our topical series, entitled “The Upper Room," an in-depth look at the Upper Room discourse with an expository message through John 13.

Daily Dose of Hope September 23, 2025   Scripture – Luke 22:39-71   Prayer:  Holy God, We come before you this morning in awe of your blessings and love.  Thank you, Lord, for the ways you continue to guide our lives.  Lord, we want more intimacy with you.  We are desperate to know you better.  In these next few moments of silence, Jesus, please speak to us.  We need to hear your voice...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  As most of you know, we are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are finishing up Luke 22.    Yesterday, we joined Jesus in the Upper Room with this disciples.  Today, we find them praying together on the Mount of Olives.  The only problem is that the disciples cannot stay awake.  Jesus is pouring out his heart to the Father, asking that the cup be taken from him, and the disciples (in their humanness) can't keep their eyes open.  Luke says that they were exhausted from sorrow.  They don't know what is about to happen but they do know that it's going to be bad.    I love how Luke mentions that an angel comes down to strengthen Jesus.  Remember, he freely chooses to go to the cross but he knows it's going to be terrible.  In his humanity, he dreads it.  But God knows what he needs and provides it.  Just in case you don't know, God knows what you need and will provide it.  That doesn't mean he will save you from pain and sorrow.  I mean, Jesus is about to be executed on a Roman cross.  But God will walk with us and give us the strength we need. Jesus is then arrested.  Luke tells us that Jesus is approached by the chief priests, officers of the Temple guard, and the elders.  They come at him with swords and clubs.  Verses 49-51 read, “When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.  But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man's ear and healed him.  Even in this situation, Jesus responds with love.  Jesus kept his disciples from fighting back with violence.  He trusted God to the end.  He also made it clear that his kingdom doesn't follow the pattern of this world.  This world's pattern is violence, power, and control.  Jesus' way is love, truth, justice, mercy, and peace. I did want to spend a little time on Peter's denial of Jesus. I don't know why but I've always been fascinated by this passage. Peter was Jesus' closest friend. He swore that if all the others fell away, he would not. And yet, he did. What made Peter deny Jesus? Probably fear. Fear does all kinds of things to us as human beings. Maybe he was scared of being arrested himself, or of being ostracized by the Jewish leaders, we don't really know.  But whatever the reason, he vehemently denies Jesus three times.  When Peter realizes this, he has tremendous remorse and begins to cry.   Maybe I'm fascinated by this text because I have so often found myself in the same boat.  I have denied Jesus.  I haven't spoke up when I knew I should have, I haven't stood firm on certain issues, I haven't loved others the way Jesus calls me to, I haven't put Jesus first, I could go on and on.  I have denied Jesus.  I hope that I've gotten to the place in my spiritual walk in which I deny Jesus less.  But I know that I am far from perfect and there are still those times.  When I realize my denial, like Peter, I cry and I'm filled with sorrow and I have to go back to Jesus and repent.  And just like he did for Peter, I'm forgiven and restored.    Think about your own life. How have you denied Jesus? What has been your reaction when you realize this?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

In this episode of Faith for Normal People, Pete and Jared talk with lawyer, lecturer, and author James Kimmel, Jr. about our primal desire for revenge against the people we feel have wronged us. James shares the science behind the belief that revenge is an addiction tied to gratification, and offers alternative strategies to break the revenge cycle and move towards a forgiveness-oriented approach to living. Show Notes → https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/episode-65-james-kimmel-jr-this-is-your-brain-on-revenge/  Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/qqlsFUf9hJ8 This episode is brought to you by Upper Room. Have you ever opened the Old Testament and felt more confused than inspired? You're not alone. In his new book, Sacred Tension: Embracing Dissonance and Dialogue in the Old Testament, biblical scholar William P. Brown invites us to stop searching for one tidy, uniform voice in Scripture—and instead, discover the beauty in its complexity. If you love the Bible but aren't afraid to wrestle with it, pick up Sacred Tension today—and save 20% off with promo code NORMAL at Store.UpperRoom.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this teaching, Samuel emphasizes the importance of anchoring prayer in biblical understanding and practice, using the upper room as a strong imagery. He discusses the significance of waiting upon the Lord and praying according to God's will, rather than personal desires. Samuel highlights the transformative power of waiting and prayer, which refine and prepare individuals for the fulfillment of God's promises. He draws parallels between the disciples' experience in the upper room and the process of spiritual growth, stressing the need for obedience, submission, and alignment with the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, Samuel encourages a prayer life that seeks God's will, allowing for personal transformation and a deeper connection with the divine.

Daily Dose of Hope September 22, 2025   Scripture - Luke 22:1-38   Prayer: Holy God, We come before you this morning in awe of your blessings and love.  Thank you, Lord, for the ways you continue to guide our lives.  Lord, we are desperate to know you better.  In these next few moments of silence, Jesus, please speak to us.  We need to hear your voice...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Happy Monday!  This is the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.    Today, we start Luke 22.  First, we encounter Judas.  Satan has entered him and he goes to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus.  This is a scary and intriguing Scripture.  From what I've read, this is the only place where Satan himself enters a person. All other evil possessions involve demons. This was a crucial time in salvation history. Satan would not delegate this task to anyone else. So important was this time that Satan himself “entered Judas.”    But how could this happen?  While Satan is the one who initiated entering Judas, this only occurred because Judas allowed it to occur.  He opened the door to his heart.  We don't have any evidence that Judas tried to resist.  We don't have any indication that Judas prayed to God for help, dug into Scripture, or did anything to prevent this from happening.  In fact, we do get the impression that Judas' heart had become hard.  We don't know anything about his inner thought life or prayer life, but we can surmise that things had gone south here.  None of this happened quickly.  Gradually, Judas allowed himself to fall prey to evil.    We then come to the time in which the disciples will share the Passover meal with Jesus.  When I read this text, it reminds me of the Palm Sunday Scripture in which Jesus had planned everything out.  Here, it is the same thing.  He tells the disciples that when they enter the city, there will be a man carrying a jay of water, follow that man.  And that all happened.  The man showed them an upstairs room that was furnished and that was the place they were to prepare for the Passover.  Jesus had taken care of all the details.    And then we have the Passover meal.  But this wasn't a Passover meal like the disciples had experienced before.  Jesus took something that was so familiar and transformed it.  He knew what was going to happen.  He knew that he would soon suffer and die.  And he uses this sacred meal to do a new thing.  (God is always doing a new thing.) The bread and wine become his body and blood.  They represent a new covenant and a new meal.  Of course, this is what we celebrate as a body of Christ when we come together for Holy Communion, also called the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist.   One thing that's particularly interesting to me is that Jesus knew that Judas would betray him.  Does he make him leave the table?  Does he force him to leave the Upper Room?  No, not at all.  He allows him to stay.  He is still welcomed at the table.    Another interesting element in Luke's account is the dispute over which disciple is greatest.  Can you imagine just having this holy moment with Jesus and then arguing over who among you in greatest?  It seems absurd and yet, these disciples were human and they really didn't understand the kind of Kingdom being ushered in by Jesus.  But Jesus stops them and tells them quite bluntly to be careful what you wish for.  In Jesus' Kingdom, to lead is to serve.  The greatest becomes the least.    We then have Jesus predicting Peter's denial and we have this confusing discourse about swords.  Jesus tells them to go buy a sword.  Several disciples present him with two swords and he yells, “Enough!”  Okay, I'm lost – how about you?   Some pastors have used this passage as evidence that Jesus is saying we are to defend ourselves.  But that doesn't seem right.  Two swords would not be enough for eleven disciples.  Plus, the Sermon on the Mount does not seem to allow for any kind of violence.  Most scholars say that this command to buy a sword means to be ready for hardship and self-sacrifice.  It points to being ready for persecution, not ready for revenge.  The term sword needs to interpreted figuratively.   What are your thoughts?   More tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki          

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/YqrH John 8:3-11   Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroompcola.cls.co/dmjs   Growth Track: https://upr.cls.co/njyq   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 CCLI https://ccli.com/us/en/streaming    Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3

What do bread, wine, and a simple meal have to do with the salvation of humanity? In this powerful message, pastor Chris Rieber unpacks the profound significance of Jesus' last Passover with his disciples. Looking at Luke 22, we see how Jesus transformed the traditional Passover meal into something entirely new—the Lord's Supper. As he broke the bread and poured the wine, Jesus wasn't just observing an ancient tradition; he was instituting a new one, a permanent remembrance of the ultimate sacrifice he was about to make. Join us as we explore how Jesus himself is the final Passover lamb, whose blood was shed to take away the sin of the world. Discover why he isn't just a part of the story, but the only hope for true redemption.

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: Matthew 5:43-48; 2 Chronicles 7:14   Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroompcola.cls.co/dmjs   Growth Track: https://upr.cls.co/njyq   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 CCLI https://ccli.com/us/en/streaming    Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3

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/pFwy Acts 16   Baptism Sign Up: https://upperroompcola.cls.co/dmjs   Growth Track: https://upr.cls.co/njyq   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 CCLI https://ccli.com/us/en/streaming    Copyright protection under 17 U.S.C. § 110 - U.S. Code - Section 3

Topics: Brant and Sherri share a sneak peek of Urban Bible Stories and the Book of Acts series coming in November. Be sure to subscribe to Urban Bible Stories wherever you listen to podcasts. Apple Podcasts Spotify 

Patrick explains the significance of “the Upper Room” where Jesus shared a final meal with his disciples and instituted the Eucharist. (01:09 Ben - How do I know if I am being scrupulous? (07:09) Teresa - My brother left the Catholic Church a long time ago. What can I say to help my brother come back? (17:18) The Holy Father invites us to pray and fast for peace (27:23) Carlos - Are you ok with getting Labubu Dolls for your kids? I am concerned they are based off of demonic dolls. (30:25) Cindy - Listening to Relevant Radio for the last 2 years has been a real blessing and a great way for me to grow in my faith. (32:56) Rich - I believe that our youth are taught that they are all transphobic if they refuse to date trans people (42:59) Laura - You really helped me to cut my YouTube addiction. Now I am listening to Relevant Radio. (45:06)