Podcasts about using jesus

In this episode, Pastor Cindy recaps a powerful prayer vigil and shares the main themes that emerged: love as the foundation, spiritual family, deeper intimacy, humble obedience, increased wisdom, a “new thing” with breakthroughs, corporate unity, and preparation for greater assignments and influence. She explains how the house values hearing God through the whole family and will email the compiled words and summaries to those on the list. She then teaches on the vastness of God's love, emphasizing that God filters everything through love and calling believers to love and obey by abiding in Him (John 15). Using Jesus' response to Judas as “friend,” she challenges listeners to love beyond what they know about people, avoid offense, and hold healthy boundaries while still choosing unconditional love. Cindy also urges believers to love their territory rather than curse it and points to Isaiah 11's picture of the Spirit—wisdom, counsel, might, revelation, and fear of the Lord—as key to living with greater sensitivity, strategy, and impact.       Scripture references: Isaiah 43:19, 1 Chronicles 29:11, John 15:9–17, Matthew 26:20–25, Matthew 26:47–50, Matthew 26:69–75, Psalm 56:11–13, Jeremiah 1:9–10, Isaiah 11:2, Ephesians 1:17–19, Daniel 1:17, Daniel 2:19–23, Daniel 2:29–30, Daniel 5:11–12, 1 Samuel 3:10, 2 Chronicles 30:12, 2 Chronicles 30:20, Matthew 26:26–30     Order your copy of Cindy's new book, NEW MOVES OF GOD Check out Cindy's TV show, CINDY STEWART LIVE. You can register for the 6-week, self paced e-course at COMPELLED TO CHANGE.  Please email Cindy with any questions or comments to cindy@cindy-stewart.com. She'd love to hear from you.  Pastor Cindy's Website  Pastor Cindy's Facebook  Pastor Cindy's Instagram Gathering Website  Gathering Facebook   Check out the other shows from KB PODCAST PRODUCTIONS: THE KINGDOM BRINGER PODCAST with Darin Eubanks Next Level Podcast with Michael McIntyre Super-Natural Living with Beth Packard KINGDOM MASTER MIND PODCAST with Ann McDonald   Podcast music from HOOKSOUNDS.COM    

Pastor Kristin reminded us that real leadership looks nothing like power or status—it looks like kneeling. Using Jesus washing the disciples' feet, she showed how love requires stepping into discomfort, not away from it. She challenged us to choose service over self‑interest and pointed to our community's recent acts of generosity as proof that we can bring heaven to earth when we lead with humility.

Today Dot and Cara dig into the subtle and sneaky ways control fuels fear, overthinking, and exhaustion. Using Jesus' words from Matthew 6, they talk through what it looks like to take responsibility where we should, release outcomes, and learn to trust God with it all. If you've ever struggled to let go, this conversation is for you. Grab your Bible, a pencil, and a cup of coffee and join us.Got a question about today's episode or something else you'd like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! Episode recap:Intro (00:00)One of the things that causes our anxiety is fear of the “what if” (2:16)Cara used to think she didn't have a problem with control (4:25)There are areas of our lives we need to have control of  (8:15) We have to leave outcomes up to God (9:39)Practically speaking, how do we “let it go”? (12:15)The bottom line is, am I trusting? (15:41)Trying to constantly control steals your enjoyment of life and people (19:01)Do what God tells you to and let Him own the outcome (24:00)Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at hello@dotbowen.com.Watch Write this Down! on YouTubeFind Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook Scripture Verse: Matthew 6:25-30 (ESV) “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”Listen to episode 158: Is Fear Unbelief?

In this message, Pastor Sharon Miller explores why faith, like a seed, cannot grow in isolation and why community is the essential soil God uses to shape us. Using Jesus' Parable of the Sower, she names the real obstacles that make community difficult, from past wounds to busyness and misplaced priorities, while pointing to the hope of healing and growth made possible through Jesus. This sermon invites us into the slow, honest work of cultivating life-giving community together.

Kingdom Advancement | Andrew Hamm | 2.1.26 What does it really mean to advance the Kingdom of God? In this message from Family Church, Andrew walks us through the biblical foundation of Kingdom Advancement, showing how it weaves through Scripture from Genesis to the Great Commission. Using Jesus' call to Peter—"From now on, you will fish for people"—this teaching challenges believers to live with faithful consistency, discipline, and stewardship, even when results aren't immediately visible. You'll be encouraged to: Embrace the hard but meaningful work of following Jesus Let go of the pressure to "save" people and trust God with the harvest Take faithful steps forward, even when it feels awkward or uncomfortable Live a life of active obedience fueled by rest, trust, and the Spirit If you've ever felt unsure of your role in sharing your faith or advancing God's Kingdom, this message will bring clarity, encouragement, and renewed purpose. 00:00 – Introduction & Honoring Pastor Steve Andrew reflects on legacy, faithfulness, and the vision of Family Church. 02:15 – Prayer for Pastor Woody & the Team A moment of prayer and trust in God's provision. 03:10 – Core Value Focus: Kingdom Advancement Why spiritual growth and kingdom advancement cannot be separated. 04:35 – Kingdom Advancement Throughout Scripture From Genesis to the Great Commission. 06:10 – Reading Luke 5:1–11 (Fishing for People) Jesus calls Peter into a new kind of work. 10:45 – What "Fishing for People" Really Means Understanding the trammel net and the work behind the metaphor. 13:40 – Stewardship, Discipline, and Consistency Why these traits must work together in every area of life. 16:30 – Working From God's Rest The importance of Sabbath and trusting God with outcomes. 19:45 – Faithfulness When Nothing Seems to Be Happening Why diligence still matters when results aren't visible. 22:20 – Jesus' Yoke Is Easy, Not Passive Letting Jesus carry the weight while we stay obedient. 25:10 – The Fruit of the Spirit & Self-Control Why obedience and love are active choices. 28:45 – Embracing Awkwardness & Taking the First Step Why fear and discomfort shouldn't stop obedience. 31:00 – The Parable of the Talents Why doing something matters more than doing nothing. 34:10 – God Brings the Harvest Faithfulness prepares the nets—God fills them. 36:00 – The Great Commission & Final Encouragement Living boldly, trusting God, and advancing His Kingdom.

This message teaches how offense can quietly steer your life if you don't discern it. Using Jesus' response in Matthew 21–22, it calls believers to stop taking the bait, release bitterness, and respond with spiritual maturity. It's a reminder that growth requires discernment, not reaction.

Your faith is real, but what you're producing may not last. In this message, Pastor JT exposes the hidden mindset that determines whether a Christian produces immediate results or eternal fruit that endures. Using Jesus' teaching on treasure, fruit, and eternal perspective, this sermon helps believers diagnose whether they are consuming, coasting, or actually building something that feeds future generations. This is a call to move from fast fruit to lasting impact, from earthly storage to eternal investment.- - -Want to accept Jesus and have Him change your life? Pray the Prayer of Salvation here: https://youtu.be/WqO4Ok43NH4- - -DISCIPLESHIP COURSE FOR NEW CHRISTIANS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvtOxUmP46cy1xzLz2rzXbmnleMloQ--h- - -• New Here? https://bit.ly/FWCGuest• Give Online: https://fwcchurches.com/givecola• Mobile Giving: Text GIVE to (888) 635-2110• Zelle: cola@fwcchurches.com • Cash App: $FWCColumbia• Mail your gift to: Family Worship Center, PO Box 23992, Columbia, SC 29224-- Thank you for your generosity! God bless you!Stay Connected:• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fwccolumbia• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fwccolumbia• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@fwccolumbia• Twitter https://twitter.com/fwccolumbia- - -Music licensed through SoundstripeChapters:0- - -Want to accept Jesus? Click here: https://youtu.be/WqO4Ok43NH4Give Online: https://fwcchurches.com/givecolaThis sermon was recorded at Family Worship Center in Columbia, SC on Sunday, February 1, 2026.#FWCColumbia #ChristianLiving #FaithTeaching#ChristianGrowth #SpiritualFruit #BiblicalMindset

What if your faith could actually draw people closer to Jesus? In the final week of "Cover to Cover," Pastor Josh shows how living what we believe—not just talking about it—can make a real impact. Using Jesus' example of loving God, serving neighbors, and even forgiving enemies, he challenges us to let our faith be visible, practical, and transformative. // Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/live

What if the noise in our lives isn't the real problem—just the symptom? In Week 3 of our Simple series, we go beneath the surface to explore how internal wounds, unresolved pain, and divided hearts quietly shape our reactions, relationships, and spiritual lives. Using Jesus' interaction with Martha and Mary (Luke 10) and His sobering response to the Pharisees' demand for a sign (Mark 8), this message confronts our tendency to look for external fixes while avoiding the deeper work of healing. We talk about silence as a diagnostic tool, why repeated patterns often point to internal wounds, and how sign-seeking and experience-driven faith can keep us from true transformation. This isn't a call to try harder—it's an invitation to come closer. To stop performing. To stop demanding proof. To place our lives fully in the hands of Jesus, the One who offers rest not by avoiding the work of formation, but by walking with us through it. This message is a call to healing—for the places we've kept hidden, avoided, or buried beneath the noise.   From Sunday 01.25.26

Pastor Lim Luck Yong teaches that God's kingdom grows through His Word, often quietly and unexpectedly. Using Jesus' parables in Mark 4, he urges listeners to examine their hearts, trust God's hidden work, and faithfully sow the Word, confident that God brings growth and a great harvest in His time

In this message, Pastor Bart challenges the idea that outward religious activity automatically leads to spiritual transformation. Using Jesus' encounters with the Pharisees in Mark 2–3, we see how easy it is to confuse routines, traditions, and rule-keeping with a real relationship with God.Jesus reveals that empty religion can actually weigh us down, while true life with Him brings freedom, joy, and renewal. Rather than adding Jesus onto old patterns, He invites us into a new way of living marked by grace, compassion, and closeness with the Father. This message calls us to move from simply doing spiritual things to genuinely walking with Jesus in a living relationship that leads to true flourishing.

This is the first of the second module live teaching sessions. Following the first module on preparation, the second module will focus on building a solid and stable foundation on which to build our new life. Using Jesus' teaching from Matthew 7 and verse 24 onwards we will be encouraging people to build our house upon the 'rock' of the word of God. If you would like the book which accompanies this series, please use the following link https://amzn.eu/d/1ZI28kt

In this message from Pastor Levi Lusko, we talk about the hidden spiritual strongholds that quietly hold us back from the life God wants for us.Using Jesus' words in Matthew 12, learn how the enemy works through division, deception, and distorted thinking to build strongholds in our minds and hearts. Strongholds always start small, but if left unchecked, they grow until they block our vision, limit our freedom, and steal our peace.This message will help you:Identify the strongholds that may be shaping your thoughts and behaviorsUnderstand why you can't live right if you don't think rightLearn how spiritual strongholds are demolished and replaced with truthYou don't have to stay stuck. You don't have to keep fighting the same battles. And you don't have to live divided within yourself. It's about time the strongholds came down.NEXT STEPS:Ask for prayer or connect with a pastor: https://freshlife.church/contactRegister your decision to follow Jesus and receive free resources: https://freshlife.church/know-godGive a financial gift to support what God is doing as we take steps forward to see the Gospel reach far and wide: https://freshlife.church/giveSUBSCRIBE:Sign up to receive encouragement straight to your inbox, and to stay up to date with announcements, events, and more: https://church.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6ea4d82b2567db3e86b7767cd&id=451f2fe63eDon't miss a video! Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/freshlifechurch?sub_confirmation=1CONNECT ON SOCIALS:Website: https://freshlife.churchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshlifeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshlifechurchTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/freshlifeYoutube: https://youtube.com/c/freshlifechurch/Fresh Life Church was pioneered by Pastors Levi and Jennie Lusko in 2007. We exist to see those stranded in sin find life and liberty in Jesus Christ. Today Fresh Life's ministry impacts people with the radical, life-changing message of Jesus' grace, spilling across Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho… and beyond.

In “Eyes on the Prize," Pastor Thomas-Steele challenges us with a question that hits close to home: Have you ever done the right thing… but for the wrong reason?Using Jesus' words in Matthew 6:1, 5–6, this message exposes how easily our spiritual lives can drift into performance—praying, serving, worshiping, or giving with “eyes to the sides” instead of eyes on God. Jesus doesn't warn us against doing righteous things publicly—He warns us against doing them to be seen.This sermon is a powerful reminder that prayer is about seeking God, not attention, and that the greatest reward of prayer isn't what we get from God—it's God Himself. If you've ever felt your motives get mixed, this message will help you refocus your heart and pray with fresh sincerity and intimacy with your Heavenly Father.

In this episode, Diana's special guest Jake Doberenz, founder of Theophany Media and host of the Creatively Christian podcast, shares his expertise on effective Bible study. The discussion covers essential principles of biblical interpretation, the importance of studying scripture in community, and approaches to understanding difficult passages. Listeners are also guided on selecting appropriate Bible translations and utilizing various online resources, ensuring a comprehensive and balanced approach to scripture study. The episode concludes with a prayer for listeners' spiritual journey and their engagement with the scriptures. Bio: Jake Doberenz isn't one thing. He identifies as a polymath, a Renaissance man, or a multipotentialite–one interest or specialty can't contain him. But enough of the third-person. I am a writer, speaker, minister, and creative thinker living in Oklahoma City, OK with my wife Samantha. My most significant role is the founder and president of Theophany Media, a Christian education company dedicated to helping Christians engage with culture through new media. I have earned my Master of Theological Studies at Oklahoma Christian University, the same place I earned my Bachelor's degree in Bible with a minor in Communication Studies. I also worked at my alma mater as a Resident Director and Bible TA. I write fiction and nonfiction in a variety of mediums, including poetry, short stories, books, stage plays, academic essays, and devotionals. I also venture out into other mediums, like podcasts and video. My favorite topics of choice to discuss and write about (though always changing) include: creating Christian art, helping people understand the Bible better, Christian identity, theology of social media, use of humor in faith messages, superheroes and theology, and a Christian response to culture. If you want to see his progress, achievements, and appearances sign up for the newsletter so you'll never miss an update! website: Home – Jake Doberenz 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:47 Welcome to the Podcast 01:44 Introducing the Guest: Jake Doberenz 02:43 Jake's Background and Interests 05:56 Jake's Teaching Journey 10:46 Bible Study for Abuse Survivors 13:25 Choosing the Right Bible Translation 18:42 Understanding the Bible Without Knowing Greek or Hebrew 21:34 Basic Rules of Bible Interpretation 25:43 Embracing Uncomfortable Bible Stories 26:47 Using Jesus as a Lens for Interpretation 30:54 The Importance of Community in Bible Study 34:14 Red Flags in Spiritual Leadership 37:02 Recommended Bible Study Resources 41:33 Exploring Different Perspectives 44:58 Connecting with the Speaker 46:29 Closing Prayer and Final Thoughts   Website: https://dswministries.org Subscribe to the podcast: https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/ Social media links: Join our Private Wounds of the Faithful FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603903730020136 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879 Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma Affiliate links: Our Sponsor: 753 Academy: https://www.753academy.com/ Can't travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here! https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP An easy way to help my ministry: https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/ A donation link: https://dswministries.org/donate/ Jake Doberenz [00:00:00] Special thanks to 7 5 3 Academy for sponsoring this episode. No matter where you are in your fitness and health journey, they've got you covered. They specialize in helping you exceed your health and fitness goals, whether that is losing body fat, gaining muscle, or nutritional coaching to match your fitness levels. They do it all with a written guarantee for results so you don't waste time and money on a program that doesn't exceed your goals. There are martial arts programs. Specialize in anti-bullying programs for kids to combat proven Filipino martial arts. They take a holistic, fun, and innovative approach that simply works. Sign up for your free class now. It's 7 5 3 academy.com. Find the link in the show notes. Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer songwriter, speaker and domestic violence advocate, [00:01:00] Diana . She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help. Now here is Diana. Hey there, everybody. Come on in, set for a spell. How are you guys doing? I appreciate your support in listening to the podcast, and I hope that you are enjoying some really encouraging words and practical things for you to do your own Bible study and read the word of God for yourself. We have a new guest on the show now I'm very familiar with his podcast, creatively Christian. I've been on his podcast. His show has a few different interviewers. And so [00:02:00] Andrea Sandifer, who you guys know that was on the show, she interviewed me on her show. And our guest today, Jake Doberenz, the man behind that podcast, he is a funny guy. He likes to bring humor from the Bible. And I've been reading his blog and following his newsletters. And his Facebook group. So I thought he would be a great addition to the podcast , and I think you're gonna love him. I'm gonna tell you a little bit about him. He has a lot of interest here, so here we go. Jake, Doberenz isn't one thing. He identifies as a polymath, a renaissance man or a multipotentialite. One interest or specialty, can't contain him. So he [00:03:00] says of himself, but enough of the third person. I'm a writer, speaker, minister, and creative thinker, living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. My most significant role is the founder and president of Theophany Media. A Christian education company dedicated to helping Christians engage with culture through new media. I have earned my Master of Theological studies at Oklahoma Christian University, the same place I earned my bachelor's degree in Bible with a minor in communication studies. I also worked at my alma matter as a resident director and bible ta. I write fiction and nonfiction in a variety of mediums, including poetry, short stories, books, stage plays, academic essays, and [00:04:00] devotionals. I also venture out into other mediums like podcasts and video, my favorite topics of choice to discuss and write about. Although always changing, include creating Christian art, helping people understand the Bible better. Christian identity, theology of social media, use of humor in faith messages, super heroes and theology, any Christian response to culture. So this is gonna be awesome. So I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Jake Doberenz. Please welcome to the show, Jake Doberenz. Thanks for coming on today. Sure thing, anytime. I'm glad to be here. I really enjoyed being on your [00:05:00] podcast, A creatively Christian, and Andrea interviewed me and then she was on my podcast and I follow your Facebook group and get your. Very humorous email newsletter. And so I thought you were the perfect fit to come on to the podcast. And you're a bible geek like me, and you have a different perspective on life. In the Bible, you find humor in the Bible, which a lot of people don't find the Bible very funny. So welcome to the show. Yeah, I'm glad to be here providing some humor and quite possibly even some wisdom and intelligent comments. We'll see if we get to that part. So you haven't been on the podcast before, so. Tell the folks a little bit about yourself and your family. Okay? Yeah. Always a fun question because where do you [00:06:00] start? Where do you end? But yeah. I am in Oklahoma City right now. I'm an Oregon native and got stuck in Oklahoma. Stuck sounds too negative, but I got planted here. That sounds better. I got my bachelor's degree in biblical studies with a minor in communication studies. I have a Master's of Theological studies and for a while I was kind of going down the Bible professor route. That was gonna be my thing. And it's not like completely off the table right now, but it is not my chief kind of path anymore because there are not a lot of jobs in that area and there's a lot of different things there that make it quite challenging. A lot of schooling, a lot of debt for maybe not so much reward, but we'll see what the future brings. I am still flexing my desires to write and teach. That has always been what I wanted to do, even when the subject changed, even when it [00:07:00] was cat psychology or whatever, I always wanted to write and teach and so I'm still doing that in in different ways. I'm certainly still using my degrees, even though I'll be going into teaching middle school geography this year. Ooh, kind of a new adventure. Add some more skills and weird things on my resume. That's kind of how I do it. So geography. Cool. I think that's me. Yeah. Yeah. That's very brave. Middle school, that particular age, did you pick the age group you were teaching or did they just kind of throw you in there? I applied to high school and middle school. I wasn't going to do anybody under middle school and the high school jobs never called me back. And the, I got some different offerings on the middle school side of thing, so I said, okay, that's what you want me to do. God, I will walk into this wilderness. And then they gave me some kind of choices between, and I chose sixth grade specifically, so I'll be with, with sixth graders. [00:08:00] They, uh, we still have some childlike heart and wonder. They're not so jaded like they get when they're a little older, but they're just mature enough where you can start to get a little more serious. So good age. Hmm. I liked sixth grade. It was a good year. We'll be praying for you either way, because that's a lot of work and mm-hmm. But geography's cool. I like Bible geography. Ever since I went to Israel in 2019. How different reading the Bible is when you've been to those places. Have you been to Israel? I haven't. No, I haven't. Yeah. If you're into geography, you would really love going to Israel for obvious reasons, of course, but geography, it just makes the Bible come alive when you've been to the place where Jesus put legion into the herd of pigs and over the cliff. Sure. And I've been to that cliff, and so you can see it now in your head. It's awesome. Or you've been on the Sea of [00:09:00] Galilee and you can actually imagine Jesus walking on the water and because been in the boat. So, yeah, I'm just getting into being interested in geography right now. There you go. Yeah. Cool. What would you say is your particular specialty as far as Bible goes? Yeah. I did my master's thesis on Paul's view of spiritual formation, specifically from one Corinthians chapter three, verse three. Four, just around there. So that's a very specific kind of thing. Most of my training has actually been more on the New Testament side. Specifically Paul, I've done a lot of more academic work with the use of children as a metaphor in the Bible. I've done work with that in both Paul and the Gospels. Sexuality in the New Testament has been something I've kind of explored. [00:10:00] Nowadays though, I have more of theological interests and I'm asking some different kinds of questions. You don't divorce theology from the Bible, but they're just different kinds of questions and different kinds of, and ways and sources for that. But in terms of Bible, yeah, a lot of studying Paul and a lot of thinking about sort of how he makes arguments and specifically like in that thesis, it was all about how he used this metaphor about. Being an infant in Christ, what does all that mean? And how does that reflect how we grow as people? And so I've gone down those kind of rabbit trails a lot my my day. That's really interesting. A Paul's usually a favorite Bible character. Most people, though you can, you never go wrong with the Apostle Paul now. So today we're talking about Bible study for abuse survivors. And reason why we're doing this is because when we've gone through abuse, usually there's some spiritual [00:11:00] abuse involved and we want to distance ourself from God because we've experienced that spiritual abuse and that affects our relationship with God. And a lot of people once they leave or get out of the abuse. Then they're like, okay, I don't wanna read the Bible, I don't wanna pray, and I don't wanna go to church anymore. I don't trust anybody. But I'm trying to encourage on this podcast to come and if you have questions, let's talk about the questions. So, so I've kind of answered my own question, why should we study the Bible for ourselves? But what would you say to that or add to that? Yeah, I think what I would add to that is that, um, one thing that our teachers or pastors or scholars don't have is that they're not you. You are yourself and you come with your experiences and you come [00:12:00] with your own personality and identity, and you are gonna often pick up things that other people might miss, or you're gonna just sort of focus on things more realize as a thread of a theme or something like that. We, we shouldn't come to the Bible biased necessarily, or with too many preconceived notions. 'cause then the text starts to say what we want it to say. That's not what I'm saying. But we do bring ourselves to the text and we have to admit that like, I'm not reading this in a vacuum. I'm reading this because of who I am and what I've experienced and all these things like that. And I think that's really powerful. And I think the Bible is, it's strong enough to take it. Like it's not about pulling whatever meaning you want from it, like I said, but it is about seeing things that are hidden in this multi-layered onion like text here that has so much stuff in it that we can't expect. Even a really smart [00:13:00] guy to just know everything. So yeah, we gotta study the Bible for ourselves. We gotta do our own digging and our own reading. See what we can find. Yeah, I like that answer. Bringing yourself to the table that's. Different than what somebody else would bring to the table. So let's start with something everybody asks about. When it comes to Bible study, you go to the bookstore and you're trying to pick out a Bible, and there's a gazillion different Bible versions out there, and too many versions, in my opinion. Which one do I pick? Does it matter? At the end of the day, it probably doesn't matter. There are those that are better than others, and I'm the term better here. You can use that in different ways. I'm using the term better as in. More accurate to the text, although, hey, we are translating language here. [00:14:00] Translation is an art, not a science, which makes us a little uncomfortable. We can still get that meaning across. You're a, you're an artist and you're a creative. You can still communicate accurately and faithfully even through a song or something like that. And so in the same way, translation is a little bit of an art form and there are people that have to choose certain words, and I think this means that. So yeah, there are some that are more quote unquote scholarly and others that are more paraphrased, like the message, or it's something like the amplified Bible that is just trying to sort of squeeze some more possible meaning out there by becoming like glorified the Sorut. So you got some different options. Most readings are probably not gonna hurt you, at least. As long as you understand like kind of what's going on here. I know in the past the King James has had the word unicorns in it and that that threw some people off and then later we're like, actually we should have translated that. Like Gazelle was not supposed to be translated unicorn. So [00:15:00] okay, we can get some things here that might throw some people off, but as long as we kind of give some grace to the translators, something like the King James is older and we have some different data. We have some older manuscripts that we're pulling from now. So yeah, it's gonna be a little bit more closer to what the originals were saying kind of thing. So yeah, there are those considerations, but I don't think you're gonna make or break your faith if you read the ESV over the NRSV or something like that. Yeah, well I came from a camp that, uh, they were very definitive in what Bible you should read and which ones you should not read and Sure. And they were very dogmatic in that I've changed my stance since then. Because I've actually dug into that sort of thing that okay, you, so you're saying that most of the mainline translations out there, we will still get the main [00:16:00] point of what Bio was trying to say. Right. Yeah, I don't know any that are too left field and crazy or something like that. There are versions, like, I could be wrong about this, but I think the Jehovah's Witness has versions of the Bible that seem to play a little fast and loose with some things and have cut out some different stuff. So obviously I wouldn't necessarily recommend that for Christians. The only other thing I would say is make sure a bunch of different people were involved. Most translations are. Large groups of people. And then you have things like I mentioned the message that Eugene Peterson did, it was just him, but he wasn't necessarily trying to make a definitive thing. That's more of a paraphrase translation, which is like a devotional rather than something to study. So there are just different uses for all these different things. There are, I could go into the weeds. My dad used to own a Christian bookstore. Oh. And so you have your thought for thought translations and then you have your word for word. And [00:17:00] some people think word for word is better because it's more accurate. But the thing, the problem is the Bible might literally say X, but when we translate that word to today, it makes no sense because language is weird like that. And then so the thought for thought is going to be more of an interpretation, but they're trying to say, okay, but what this is trying to say is this and, and here's a thought that you can digest and that makes sense to you. So it's just kind of what you want, but thanks to the internet. In fact, on another screen here, I have pulled up Bible gateway.com. That's what I use a lot. You can look through all sorts of different translations and compare and contrast. If I really wanted to study with more than one, it's legal in most states, so go for it. It's funny you mentioned the message because that was my first Bible when I got saved. My okay friend that I met in high school, I told her I had gotten saved and I didn't have a Bible, and she gave me the message, which [00:18:00] was her Bible, and I loved it. Oh yeah. I highlighted that thing and Oh yeah. And I just tore it up with underlining and I couldn't wait to read it. And then of course you get to Bible college and they tear it out of your hands, so yeah. But yeah, I like the ESV today. I have. A really nice archeology study Bible I bought and I've, I've read the King James most of my Christian life. And switching to another translation was really eye-opening. All this different stuff that I hadn't seen before just popped out, like I didn't know the Bible said that. Wow. It's pretty neat. So along the same lines, do we have to be a Greek and Hebrew scholar to understand the Bible? I hope not because I struggled through Greek and barely made that alive, and so languages are not my strong [00:19:00] suit. Uh, but I think the answer is of course, no. You don't have to be. It depends on what kind of study you're doing, and I probably should have mentioned that earlier, but there's a way to look at the Bible in an academic, scholarly way, and there are some Christians that. Think that's wrong or bad? I don't think it's bad. It's just one way to look at it. When I am in scholarship, when I'm writing this college paper, I am, I have to kind of slice and dice it and I'm doing a work that an atheist could do. It's that kind of work. But then there's another way to look at the Bible that is much more pastorally or for spiritual formation, the kind of thing that treats the text as sacred that an atheist can't do. So if you're doing the academic work, it really helps to know the words because you're trying to get as precise as possible and getting into there. But luckily for us, other people have done the work for us and we have these English translations, so woo. You don't need to know Hebrew and Coin a Greek and [00:20:00] a little bit of Aramic and like Daniel or whatever. Like we don't have to know that because somebody else has done the work for us. And I mentioned already like. There's a lot of people involved in a Bible translation, not just one guy. It's, a lot of people have done this work and they've argued and yelled at each other and come to some conclusions to say, this is the best we can do right now. This is what we got. So, yeah, we don't have to, we don't have to be language PS so, woo. Lucky. Yes. Yeah. I mean, I'm a language geek. I love languages. Personally, I speak two languages besides English, but I haven't taken any Greek or, or Hebrew, maybe someday, but they didn't cover that in my Bible college. But it's good that we already have the tools online that, hey, this is a translation for that word in. There's really no, no real argument about it is there along mainline denominations. Yeah. Most people probably aren't gonna tell you. You have to know all those languages unless somebody there. There are groups of people that would say [00:21:00] the only inspired text of the Bible is the actual original Greek and Hebrew. And so our English translations are not inspired. But that's a minority view. That's not super common. Yeah. Yeah. The most people can understand. The inspiration still comes through, even when it's translating different languages. The word of gods for the whole world, not just those that can speak actually dead languages that nobody speaks today like Latin. Yeah. So now we're gonna get into the nitty gritty here. Okay. When we are sitting down with our Bible and we're deciding to. Study a passage of scripture or maybe a book. What are some basic rules of interpretation? Now we use the fancy big word hermeneutics, but like the basic ones that you really shouldn't ignore in order to. Do a proper Bible study. This is one that gets definitely drilled [00:22:00] into in Bible school and in other contexts, but it's that actual, it's a word context like context is key. Context is king, and one of the best things we can do is zoom out. So if we're looking at a particular scripture. Like one verse, we zoom out to the chapter. Those headings or whatever aren't like God inspired or whatever, but they're helpful to kind of see what the flow of things are. Then we can zoom out to the book level and sometimes zoom out to the biblical level and things like that. But that is always key. Sometimes we get into trouble thinking that the Bible is just like, the whole thing is like Proverbs, where everything's just disconnected and you got these good one-liners and they're fun and they're good zingers, but most of it is some kind of story or, and Paul, I mentioned that being some of my background, Paul's letters are arguments they build on top of each other, and so you can see if we're trying to look at something wild like. One [00:23:00] Corinthians 14 or something, we can understand it because by just kind of going a little backwards and Oh, okay. So that's always really important. And a lot of times authors in the Bible will also tell us kind of their themes and tell us what they really want us to get across. The gospel of John, for instance, is written so that we may believe Luke talks about writing in a, an orderly account of things. So we have some of these statements that if we zoom out a little bit, oh, okay, we can make sense of this in light of that. And so different things like that. But we could go all day into the hermeneutics and then the other fancy word, X of Jesus and that kind of stuff. But at the end of the day, a tool anybody can use is something I learned in elementary school when there was a hard word. It was called rat read around the text. Read around the text. Ooh, that's the acronym there. And that just helps us understand, wait, what is going on? What does Paul mean when he says this? Why is [00:24:00] this guy saying this in judges? Let's take a look. What else is going on here? So it's just a great tool that anybody can use be if they can just zoom out a little bit and read the rest of the Bible and the rest of the passage. Everybody gives a different answer to that question. Now, obviously when we read the Bible, we come upon these passages or some of the stories that are either difficult to understand or it's a topic that we don't wanna deal with. It's really hard to swallow. Like a lot of times it's the genocide passages, of course. Mm-hmm. And or similar things like that. What do we do when we encounter those passages? Yeah. There are also passages that are sometimes called, and the genocide fits into this, but passages called texts of terror. A lot of passages about different abuse situation, and [00:25:00] I won't go into all of those, but I'm sure a lot of us can come up with some things that mm-hmm. Can be triggering in the Bible that seem just really messed up and stuff like that. So I think what's important, first of all is we recognize the, the gut feeling, the awkwardness talk to the beginning about how I see humor in the Bible and I do, I think there are some things in the Bible that we should laugh at. It's actually hilarious. Tell us about what Jonah gets swallowed by a big fish. That's funny. You should be laughing. And it's hilarious that he wants this city destroyed and he's supposed to be a prophet of God and he's not doing his job description and stuff like that. So like. When it's funny, we should laugh and when it's not funny, when it's uncomfortable, we should be okay being uncomfortable. I, I remember when I did college ministry for a time, we talked about the story of, oh man, I can't remember if it's Eli, I think it's Elijah. [00:26:00] And when they make fun of him for being bald and he calls these, she bears to attack these 40 youths, and he, this kid would kid could not get over it. He's like, why is this in the Bible? This is ridiculous. And I just tried to help him. Yeah, let's feel that first. Let's feel that, oh boy, we got some emotions here. So step one, I think it's totally okay to feel those things and then we can do some digging. Again, it's that zooming out. Let's look at the context here. Let's look what's going on there. A lot of times I think some of these texts of terror or uncomfortable texts, um. Sometimes they're not as bad when we look at it through maybe a historical lens or something, but sometimes we can't just justify them really nice and neatly, like some of the stuff about genocide. So ultimately, I have to go back to Jesus because. Jesus is the ultimate expression of God. It is the best [00:27:00] lens into the divine that we've ever seen. It's through this person of Jesus. And so sometimes we got to use our Jesus magnifying glass and look over the scripture and say, that's awkward. I don't like that very much. This makes me, this triggers me. This is, uh, but we put Jesus over and say, but through Christ, we don't have to live like that. We can recognize that there. There are plenty of examples of what not to do in the Bible. Jesus calls us to a different way and Jesus shows us that some things that maybe people thought were really godly and divine at certain points were not. So at the end of the day when things make us uncomfortable, I say feel it. But then ultimately, let's just go back. What does Jesus say? And if Jesus words are kind of. Don't seem to jive with this other crazy stuff going on here. Let's just, let's follow Jesus over some of this, [00:28:00] this other uncomfortable things. Hmm. So it's probably not a satisfying answer, but that's kind of like the point, like we try too hard sometimes to wrap everything in a pretty bow, but sometimes we just can't. With the Bible, the Bible is complicated and that's what makes it powerful. It's not always so neat and tidy and doesn't always make you feel good. It is a like Christ. It is both human, fully human and fully divine. And in that there's some awkward tension. There are some, there are human emotions and human things that that bleed through the divine pages of scripture. I appreciate the honest answer and yeah, I think that was a great answer. It was just reading through the patriarchs and wow, you just wrap your head around how much they messed up. And that's not how God wanted us to live. That's just an example of God just lets [00:29:00] everybody see how these people messed up. But still, God used them in a mighty way. God still gave them grace and forgiveness and love and mercy. I was just on Twitter and that's a dangerous place is Christian Twitter. Oh my goodness. And there was a big thread about some people, they didn't believe that Jesus was the same God as the God of the Old Testament. They cut the line because they thought Jesus over here in the New Testament, his attribute seems so different than. The God of the Old Testament. I don't necessarily agree with that, but that was an interesting concept. That's how they dealt with those horrible stories. I'm just gonna just trust in Jesus and just believe in Jesus and throw everything else away. Yeah. That's a heresy in the second century that, um, yeah. You know, unfortunately haven't quite gotten rid of completely, but is that's what that's called still alive and, [00:30:00] yeah. Oh, that's what you call it. Okay. There's your little fun little historical theology trivia, but yeah, there's probably a word for it. But that goes into my next question is how do you study the Bible and read it and make sure that you're not slipping into some heretical teaching, because I personally know some people that they believe some stuff that's way off base that nobody else. And mainline Christianity believes in, but they're like quoting Bible verses and taking them outta context. How do we avoid going down that path? Yeah, yeah. I had a youth minister who used to joke that if you wanted to, he could justify kicking babies across the room from scripture. Like that was just his wild example because yeah, people can kind of justify the whole gambit of things. So I think now we talked about why it's important to study the Bible for yourself. [00:31:00] At the same time though, I think this living, breathing scripture. Is something that we must read through community. You can do your own work, do your own prep, but ultimately the Bible belongs to all of us. And so we need to read in community. And that can mean your pastors and teachers and your scholars. It can also mean your neighbor and your friend and your kids and your mom and your cousin from a couple states away. But it can also mean dead people, not like seance or whatever, but like, um-ing, you know, read these old preachers and read the church fathers and the church mothers and like, we got 2000 years of Christian history here. There's some wild stuff, but there's some good stuff too. So I say we read scripture in community and you come to your own conclusions. Don't just copy paste whatever Mr. X, Y, Z says, but. What do they [00:32:00] think? And when we start looking at, oh, Christians have kind of seemed to think this for a long time, probably a direction we should lean in. I don't know. I guess people could be wrong, but the way the spirit works I think is a lot of times through community. And it's a way to check, it's a checks and balance for ourselves. So I think that sometimes we can get a little, a little wild with our own interpretations, but we bring in other people. What do you think? Did you see this too? Is this accurate? Is this, does this fit in with historical context of first century Palestine? Or whatever kind of questions you want to ask community. So that's flesh and blood people, but that's also books and podcasts and all sorts of things. I just think we're made to be together. And honestly, when I studied Paul's view of spiritual formation for my thesis, I didn't get to dive into it too much, but what I kept coming across is spiritual formation is not a. You on your own [00:33:00] kind of thing. It is something that happens with people who are this great cloud of witnesses that is cheering you on and it's helping you out. So I think that's a great way to kind of check, check ourselves, and then of course, use your brain. Let's be logical here that scripture probably not actually talking about America because it was written 3000 years ago. I don't know. Thank you. Um, so, so stuff like that, we gotta use our brains. Yeah. I like when you talk about community, because I think, and I've seen this before people go off the rails, is that they're isolating themselves. Mm-hmm. They don't wanna go to church because they don't trust, they don't trust people that they've been hurt. But even if we can't drag ourselves to church just yet in our healing process, yeah. There are other ways to create community and checks and balances. So that's a really good point. We really don't want [00:34:00] to be that guy that started his own denomination on a couple bible verses. Yeah, we got plenty of denominations. I think we're set for a little bit, so let's just chill out for now. Yeah, that's crazy. So like if we're in a community, we're under our Bible teacher or a pastor or Sunday school class, what would be like a red flag that would put your antennas up? Hey, you may wanna check this out for this preacher teacher saying is not a good thing. Are there any like red flags that you would look for? I think arrogance is definitely a big red flag. Ooh, good one. And that is how you get into spiritual, spiritually abusive situations. Definitely. And what I mean by arrogance is people that are not willing to be corrected, not willing to admit the wrong, not willing to learn. I was privileged to have professors where I was getting my Bible degrees. People with [00:35:00] PhDs from the prestigious British universities who would listen to student comments and be like, that's really interesting. Or, heard it like that. Tell me more about that. And one of my Hebrew Bible professors spoke like nine languages. Most of those are dead ones. And still he's curious to know what these 20-year-old college students are thinking. Which is wild because he is way smarter than us. But he is. These guys were adopting this posture of, I can learn from anybody here. I want your perspective. And I could be wrong. We gotta have some things where we have a firm foundation and where we don't sway. We absolutely have to have those. There are some people these days that I think sort of lean too heavily into the wishy-washy. It depends on the day, what I'm feeling, cafeteria style Christianity. We can't do that. But we also can't go over here where it's, I figured it out when I was 30 years old, when I was 40 years old, and now I'm like, [00:36:00] done. I'm done learning. Got it right. I to be the only one to get it right. And that's how denominations start, right? Ooh, everybody else got it wrong all the time. Now I'm right. So that's dangerous. So let's learn from people who are themselves. Learners who are willing to be challenged and to ask questions and wanna know your take on things. I know from being in ministry settings that oftentimes I am the guy with the more Bible degrees than most people in the room. But then there'll be these 70-year-old church ladies who have lived this and they've been in the Bible their whole life. I can learn from them. Mm-hmm. They have something to say, even though they've never read the text in Greek. They have something to add to the conversation. Mm-hmm. So we need to be learners. I love that. That is so awesome and so very true. The Holy Spirit speaks to each of us individually and gives us different [00:37:00] lessons and we can share those lessons. Now, you as a scholarly person, you must have some favorite resources that you use to study the bible. Can you recommend some specific resources that are maybe easy to use? Yeah, there's a couple websites, Bible gateway, I mentioned that already. They have. Some free commentaries and bible encyclopedias and things kind of on the sidebar there. So as you're looking to scripture, you could glorify and study Bible or have access to chunks from different commentaries. And for a while, while I was doing some more preaching, I actually did the paid, there's a kind of a paid version that it was like five bucks a month or something really cheap like that. It just got access to more things so I can have the scripture here and then all my resources next to it. And that was handy. Bible hub.com is also another one. [00:38:00] Um, that one's especially good if you do wanna look at the language stuff, knowing that you're not a scholar, you can say, but what is that Greek word? And you can click on it and it will show you the definitions, show you other places in scripture it's used. You can kind of get a feel for that. So that's a really good one for people who are not, who don't know the languages or. Like me who always needed help with my Greek homework or something like that. So yeah, those come to mind. But man, like we are, we at our fingertips. There's a lot of good stuff out there. A lot of bad stuff, no doubt. But there are podcasts and all sorts of books and there's just, there's a lot of good stuff there. Wouldn't even know where to begin, just sort of thinking broadly. But I think Bible gateway, Bible hub, easy. Anybody can access those for free. And you don't necessarily need a giant library or really expensive commentary sets 'cause they're really expensive. Yeah. That's why my parents get me one commentary for my birthday and [00:39:00] for Christmas each year. And so in 50 years I'll have the full set or whatever. That's not true. That's, it'll actually probably be. I can't do the math however it takes to get 66 books. But anyway. Wow. All I had in bible college that we were allowed to have is Matthew Henry commentary, which is kind of on the dry side. Yeah. Most Bible professors would pass out hearing you say that. It's not bad stuff, but bad, but it's not, it's not easy to read it's thing, let's just say. Yeah. And we were allowed to read Weirs, BE'S books. It's a pretty good series about where I came from. John MacArthur's commentaries were like hearsay. Oh, okay. The Baptist didn't like the, at least the churches that I was in, they didn't like MacArthur's stuff, but, and I had the actual strong concordance. I still own that's, yeah, sure. So sort of a free way to get that, besides if you don't want to get a giant [00:40:00] volume. Yeah. I like to read the physical books too. Sure. Nothing, not knocking the physical. But yeah, if people are on a budget, yeah, people are on a budget and you can't go and buy those big, huge coffee table books. Or if you're near a Christian university, see if you can get a library card that's, they have tons of stuff. I can walk in there and there are a whole shelf of like Genesis commentaries or whatever. It could be information overload. But also I can, I'll pick up a couple different volumes of different perspectives and I'll read what they each have to say about the verse or chapter I'm dealing with and I can kind of synthesize a conclusion. And that's how you do it. Yeah. I'll also mention, I, we were allowed to. Listen on the radio, Jay Vernon McGee and yeah, he was definitely expository. He [00:41:00] would go verse by verse and go through the entire Bible verse by verse, which I thought was really good. And I don't agree with everything he said, but that's the way I learned a lot of stuff was through verse by verse radio program back in the day. Mm. I'm dating myself, aren't I? It's all good here. All good. No, we talked a lot about a bunch of different stuff. Is there anything about Bible study that we didn't talk about that you would like to mention? I know there's so much, uh, yeah, I just touched on it a little bit, but I kind of wanna bring it back. Look at different views than yours. If you are really charismatic, then look at something that's not quite charismatic, or if you are. I won't go. I'll skip all those differences. You know what? You are read some of the stuff that's a little different. Stuff that challenges you. That's how we grow. That's how we grow, [00:42:00] is to hear something a little different. And the thing is, you're not required to believe it. Right. You can just read it and at least know what they're saying. I know in my Christian upbringing, and not necessarily I was intentional, but I only knew my side of the argument. Or if I knew somebody else's argument, it was this straw man version that was just not accurate. And then I, you go to the big wide world and be like, oh wait, there are lots of different views. And those people are actually smart and they have things to say about this, but somebody else is the opposite and they're also a smart person. What's going on? It's just good to expose ourselves to different things. In most cases we could, we, you can choose your own boundaries and things like that. Mm-hmm. It doesn't mean if you're studying something in the Old Testament, you have to read the Jewish and the Muslim and the Mormon view of what. It doesn't mean you have to go there, but just check out some different things. Have your favorite commentaries. Do it, but every once in a while [00:43:00] peek into your, your local heretic and see what they have to say. I dunno, maybe not a heretic, somebody who's a little different. You, you, your istic. Yeah. Our last guest was talking about Calvinism and stuff, but yeah, doesn, excellent suggestion because I definitely was in my own camp for many years until I got out of my abusive situation and started looking into other views and I have since changed nothing major. I didn't change any major views, but I realized that okay, there are other Godly people. Now I see they can use scripture to defend their position too. And there's a little bit of wiggle room in there for sure. Sure. For different viewpoints. I went and did a study and looked at somebody else's view on a tertiary argument. Sure. Tertiary doctrine. It's not a doctrine of the faith, but [00:44:00] something that's very important and it's like, okay, I'm not gonna be judgmental. And that was hard for me to change my viewpoint. Yeah, yeah. But they gave me really great scriptural evidence. So yeah, that's kind of a sideline, but you made excellent point. But anyway, I appreciate you sharing all this valuable information and your view, viewpoint, and it's fascinating. Everybody has different answers for these questions. I've asked everybody the same questions. Right. And they're all giving me different answers, which I think that's very helpful. Oh yeah. Yeah. Very helpful. Yeah, getting people exposed to different things and again, like I am me and you are you, and we're different. And that's the point. Like we all come together with our different focuses and our different backgrounds and knowledge, and together we are the body of Christ. Amen. And that's beautiful. So tell the folks [00:45:00] how people can connect with you and you have resources and maybe if they wanna play stump the Bible teacher, they can email you. Yeah, you can find that all about me@jakedobern.com. D-O-B-E-R-E-N-Z as in zebra. And that's kind of my home base on the interwebs. If you do jake dovers.com/email, you can get on my email list that was mentioned earlier where I talk about. Funny stories from my life that have spiritual points, and I bring out spiritual points from that. And yeah, you can definitely contact me through social media or email, and that's all on my website there. So I'll let you track me down and tell me how wrong I am and all of that kind of stuff. That's fun. It comes with the territory, so totally okay with that. And then lastly, I do a bunch of work with Christian creatives, with Fiani [00:46:00] Media, and as was mentioned, I produce the Creatively Christian podcast. So I would love for you to check that out if that's kind of your thing, if that's your area. Yeah. You guys have a real great variety of guests on that show. It's not just one particular kind of art. You guys represent a lot of different ones, which is fun. Oh yeah. And we're trying to get more variety all the time. Awesome. Now. I don't usually have guests pray on the show, but would you pray for our listeners in their journey in the scriptures? Of course. Let's go ahead and pray. Heavenly God, we come to you in prayer on this podcast episode and we ask that whoever's listening now in the future, in a couple years, where wherever we are, that, that we can be receptive to how you speak to us through scripture and through our [00:47:00] communities that help us see scripture. Let the spirit guide us as we dive into this sacred but sometimes confusing and complicated documents. Lord, I ask that you give us the wisdom to be able to rightly divide your word and to remain faithful even when our own preferences might wanna lean in a different direction. Lord, thank you so much for the ministry of this podcast. We pray that people continue to have healing and continue to find themselves in a better place, both in the world and with you spiritually. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. Thank you so much for coming on the show. God bless you. Sure thing. God bless you. Thank you for listening to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. If this episode has been helpful [00:48:00] to you, please hit the subscribe button and tell a friend. You could connect with us at DSW Ministries dot org where you'll find our blog, along with our Facebook, Twitter, and our YouTube channel links. Hope to see you next week.

Renee Good was killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Days later, white evangelical churches in the Twin Cities sang louder—but said nothing. As a former evangelical pastor, I can't stay silent. This video confronts the deadly silence of the American church, the idolatry of the MAGA movement, and the moral collapse of Christians defending Donald Trump at any cost. If you're wondering where Jesus is in all this—so am I.

This message continues a seven-week series built around the questions that quietly shape our lives.In Part 2, we wrestle with the second question many of us carry beneath our anxiety: Am I secure? Using Jesus' teaching from the Sermon on the Mount, this message reframes worry—not as a lack of faith, but as a sign of how deeply we long for safety and stability.Jesus isn't dismissing real needs or practical concerns. Instead, he's exposing how anxiety grows when security becomes something we hoard rather than something we share. Through reflections on money, health, relationships, eternity, and generosity, this teaching invites us to change our relationship with security—and to imagine a world where those who have security help create ecosystems of safety for those who don't.The promise isn't that tomorrow won't be hard. The promise is that we don't face it alone.

Title: "Small Things Done Faithfully" - Luke 16:10-13 Series: ROOTED - Building a Life That Lasts (Week 2) Date: January 12, 2026 How do you actually grow deep spiritual roots? Where do you start when you want to go deeper with God? This message answers those questions with a simple but powerful truth: God grows giant trees from tiny seeds. Building on Week 1's picture of a tree planted by streams of water, this sermon explores what it takes to develop deep roots through small, faithful, daily choices. Using Jesus' teaching from Luke 16, we discover that spiritual maturity doesn't come through dramatic moments or perfect circumstances—it comes through ordinary faithfulness in the little things. We explored three key truths about small faithfulness: First, small faithfulness reveals your character. Jesus says, "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much." How you handle small things shows who you really are and what you'll do when bigger opportunities come. We looked at biblical examples—David faithfully watching sheep before leading a nation, Joseph being faithful as a slave and prisoner before ruling Egypt, the disciples faithfully following Jesus for three years before turning the world upside down. God's pattern is consistent: He tests faithfulness in small things before giving responsibility for much. Second, small faithfulness prepares you for true riches. Everything we have—time, money, talents, opportunities, relationships—is actually God's, temporarily entrusted to us. How we steward these earthly resources determines what eternal treasures God will give us. The "true riches" aren't just material—they're eternal rewards, kingdom impact, hearing "Well done, good and faithful servant," and joy in God's presence forever. God isn't looking for perfection; He's looking for faithfulness with whatever He's given us. Third, small faithfulness requires choosing your master. Jesus says we cannot serve two masters—we must choose between God and competing loyalties like money, comfort, success, or approval. Every small choice we make declares who our master really is. When we choose to read our Bible instead of scrolling our phone, give generously when money is tight, or serve when we'd rather stay home, we're declaring through small acts: Jesus is Lord. The message concluded with an encouraging challenge: pick one small thing and be faithful in it this week. Not three things. Not ten things. Just one. Maybe it's 10 minutes in God's Word every morning, praying with your spouse before bed, choosing kindness when you're tired, or giving faithfully even when it's tight. Small beginnings. Faithful growth. Lasting impact. God loves to grow big things from small beginnings—an acorn becomes an oak, a mustard seed becomes a tree, a baby in a manger becomes the Savior of the world. He's doing the same in us through our small, faithful choices. Key Scriptures: Luke 16:10-13, Matthew 25:21, 1 Corinthians 4:2, Joshua 24:15

As we step into a new year, many of us are thinking through how it should be different or better from the last. Today, Dot and Cara discuss a simple but significant question; what does it mean to be faithful with what God has given us? Using Jesus' parable of the talents, they explore what it means to live from a place of trust, surrender, and stewardship. This conversation invites you to stop measuring your life by output and ask instead if you are walking faithfully in the circumstances you've been given. Grab your Bible, a pencil, and a cup of coffee, and pull up a chair with us. Got a question about today's episode or something else you'd like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! Episode recap:Intro (00:00)Start by writing down Matthew 25:22-23 (0:08)This story is not about money - it's about using what you've been given  (3:30)Each year the Bowens choose words for the year & share them together (4:25) This story is about faith and trusting God (5:31)Parable applies not just to gifts and abilities, but to hardship, singleness, family struggles, even unmet expectations (9:45)Daily, Dot reflects on how she stewarded the day given to her (13:05)We get caught up in what we don't have rather than what we have (16:00)There's nothing facing us that God has not already equipped us for (18:30)Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at hello@dotbowen.com.Watch Write this Down! on YouTubeFind Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook Scripture Verse: Matthew 25:22-23 (ESV) “And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

As we begin a new year, Bayou City Fellowship launches a new series focused on our church's vision and calling. In this message, we unpack what it truly means to have a radical focus on Jesus and why knowing Him is not just important, but essential to real life and lasting joy. Using Jesus' words in Matthew 22, this sermon reminds us that loving God with our whole heart, soul, and mind shapes everything else about our lives. When Christ becomes our greatest good, becoming like Him becomes our mission, and growth becomes our next step. This message challenges us to reflect honestly on what we are aiming at and invites us to take intentional steps toward deeper faith, community, and obedience in the year ahead.• Knowing Jesus is our greatest good and the true source of life• Becoming like Jesus is the mission that shapes how we love others• Spiritual growth happens through small, faithful steps taken togetherKey Scriptures:Matthew 22:36–40John 17:3John 6:351 John 2:3–6Matthew 28:18–20As you step into a new year, ask God what your next step of obedience is. Whether it's joining a group, committing to community, or re-centering your life on Christ, don't walk the journey alone. Share this message with friends or family who are asking what really matters and invite them to climb the mountain with you.Bayou City Fellowship Cypress Campus | Cole Ellerbrock | January 4, 2026https://linktr.ee/bayoucityfellowship

What does it actually mean to grow as a Christian? In Part 1 of our new sermon series Growth: The Work of God, we begin at the very beginning — with seeds. Using Jesus' Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13, this message explores how spiritual growth starts, why it sometimes stalls, and what it takes to flourish in Christ no matter the season. From the Garden of Eden to the cross of Christ, Scripture reveals that God is a God of planting, cultivating, and multiplying life. While salvation is a gift, growth is intentional — and the condition of the soil matters. In this message, you'll discover: Why every follower of Jesus starts as a seed What prevents spiritual growth from taking root How Jesus restores access to abundant life Why church, Scripture, and prayer are essential for growth How your life was designed to bear fruit that blesses others Whether you're new to faith, returning to church, or have followed Jesus for decades, this message reminds us that there is always more — more life, more freedom, more flourishing in Christ

How you start a year matters more than most people realize.In this message from the first Sunday of 2026, Pastor Randy challenges us with a simple but life-shaping invitation from Jesus: “Give Me one more year.” Not a weekend. Not a resolution. A year.Using Jesus' parable of the fig tree in Luke 13, this message explores what happens when God is given time, space, and permission to do real work beneath the surface—work that leads to growth, healing, and lasting fruit. It's a call to stop settling, stop drifting, and stop carrying the same patterns into a new year.This isn't about hype or hustle. It's about surrender, patience, and transformation over time.If you're ready for a different kind of year—one marked by purpose, growth, and God's presence—this message is a powerful place to begin.Recorded at Crossroads Church.

Scripture:  Mark 8:34, Mark 1:16-20, Mark 2:13-14, Mark 10:21 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary: This message introduces 2026  as a year focused on rediscovering what it truly means to follow Jesus.  Everyone is constantly being formed by something, and the church must move beyond attendance and information toward genuine spiritual formation. Using Jesus' invitation to “follow me,” a call to discipleship that means becoming an apprentice of Jesus — being with Him, becoming like Him, and doing what He did. The goal of faith is not simply being right or religious, but being transformed into the character and life of Christ through an active relationship empowered by the Holy Spirit.  This challenge is for each person to consider who or what they are following and to commit their lives to following Jesus as their rabbi.

Using Jesus' teaching about the vine and branches from John 15, the pastor explains that true Christians bear fruit through their relationship with Christ, and this fruit is primarily demonstrated through sacrificial love for others. The message confronts the reality that many who claim to follow Jesus don't actually look or act like Him, lacking the transgressive beauty of Christ's love that reaches out to the marginalized, dirty, and unworthy. True discipleship requires moving beyond comfortable Christianity to demonstrate the kind of radical, self-sacrificing love that Jesus showed when He touched lepers and died on the cross.

Send us a textONE. VisionWe are one church with one mission—to love Jesus and do something about it. This series celebrates what God has done through Cassidy Church, looks ahead to what He's calling us to do, and challenges each of us to grow as disciples who live out the Gospel daily. Together, we'll remember where we've been, embrace where we're going, and commit to building God's Kingdom—one person, one moment, one act of love at a time. ONE. MissionWhat does it really mean to stay connected to Jesus? This week's message explores how real growth and lasting joy come from more than effort or busyness—they come from staying close to the Source. Using Jesus' words from John 15, we'll discover how abiding in Him reshapes our lives and produces the kind of fruit that truly matters. Come see how connection leads to purpose, and how you can live more fully by staying connected to Christ.

This sermon calls the church to embrace relationship over religion and prepare for the new wine God is pouring out. Using Jesus' parable of the wineskins, it challenges believers to let go of old, rigid ways of thinking and to become flexible vessels for a fresh move of the Holy Spirit. The message reminds us that Christ came not to uphold empty religious rituals but to bring transformation through relationship, joy, and new life. Just as new wine requires new wineskins, a new season of harvest—like the one anticipated for 2026—requires open hearts, unity, and willingness to adapt methods without compromising the message. The church must celebrate salvation, disciple the newly saved, and remain relevant and Spirit-led to reach a generation that is drifting from faith. Ultimately, the warning is clear: clinging to the past can cause us to miss what God is doing now. Jesus is doing something new—will we recognize it, receive it, and make room for it?

Pastor Shane takes us on a real and raw journey through what it means to live a life that shows what we believe. Using Jesus' words from Luke 6, he reminds us that the fruit we produce tells the truth about what's happening in our hearts.

Competency Models for Effective Leadership and Personal Development – Insights from the Life of JesusIn this profound teaching, Rt. Rev. Dr. Nana Anyani-Boadum draws timeless lessons from the life of Jesus to reveal what true leadership and growth look like in a rapidly changing world. With depth, wisdom, and humor, he explores how foresight, insight, and self-reflection form the foundation for lasting impact—spiritually, professionally, and personally.Through stories, vivid illustrations, and practical truths, this message exposes how internal conflicts, fear, and “introspectional failure” can limit potential, and shows how believers can break free to live purposefully. Using Jesus' example of planning, preparation, and time awareness, Dr. Anyani-Boadum outlines biblical competency models that equip us to adapt, lead, and thrive in today's complex world.This message will stir you to think differently about success, legacy, and leadership—and to see that failure is never defeat when God is with you. You'll be challenged to rise again, plan intentionally, and walk boldly with divine wisdom and foresight.

This week on Beyond the Sermon, Pastor Magrey deVega and Mat Hotho explore what it means to keep Christ at the center of our political lives. Using Jesus' famous words—“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's”—they unpack how faith can guide us through today's culture of division, misinformation, and echo chambers. From the craftiness of the Pharisees to the traps of modern media, they draw a line between ancient wisdom and our digital age, reminding us that discernment, balance, and love remain timeless spiritual practices.Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

By Eric Mohr - Many people have said over the years that they can't quite see themselves as kings and priests in the coming Millennium. Using Jesus' emphasis on service during His ministry, we would benefit from some helpful expert advice in visualization and mental rehearsal to better prepare for our future in

This week, guest preacher Juan Meza brought an inspiring message called “A Fruitful Heart.” Using Jesus' parable about planting seed in good soil from Matthew 13, Juan reminded us that fruitful growth doesn't happen by accident—it takes preparation and care. He used a garden hoe as a powerful visual, showing how the soil must be worked and softened before it's ready to receive seed. In the same way, our hearts must be tended and made ready for God's Word to take root. Through hard work, humility, and openness, we can cultivate hearts where His truth grows strong and produces lasting fruit. Don't miss this message—it's a powerful reminder that God can do incredible things in a heart that's been made ready for Him.

In this message, David Ritchie invites us to see life through the lens of God's generosity rather than scarcity. Using Jesus' parable of the rich fool, he challenges the idea that success is about gaining more for ourselves. Life isn't a zero sum game where someone must lose for another to win. It is an invitation to live with open hands and generous hearts.Through personal stories from his years in ministry and mission work, David shares how God's kindness multiplies when we trust Him with our resources, fears, and worries. He reminds us that anxiety about the future adds nothing to our lives, but generosity toward God and others brings lasting joy and eternal reward.If you've ever struggled with fear, control, or the feeling that you might lose by giving too much, this message will help you rediscover the freedom of living with faith and gratitude, letting the river of God's generosity flow through you.

☞ ABOUT THIS MESSAGE Andrew explains that we are called to be living witnesses in a divine courtroom, reflecting God's character to the world. Using Jesus as our perfect example, we are encouraged to live out the Great Commandment and Great Commission. The challenge is to move beyond just holding the title of Christian to living an authentic testimony. Despite the church's historical successes and failures, we, like a cracked mirror, can still reflect Jesus without being perfect.   ☞ BIBLE APP NOTES https://www.bible.com/events/49486935   ☞ GROUP LEADER GUIDE https://page.church.tech/ef3d3a6e   ☞ NEXT STEPS

In this episode, Pastor Josh and his wife Kaleigh team up for their first podcast together — full of laughs, tangents, and some raw conversations about faith. Using Jesus' parable in Matthew 22, they discuss surrender, stubbornness, forgiveness, and why it's so easy to slip back into old habits of seeking comfort or control. Join them as they unpack what it really means to “wear the right clothes” for the Kingdom.If you're new to Harbor or want to get connected in any way click this link to get your New Here gift, find upcoming events or get involved!https://harborchurch.com/connect

In this message, Discipleship Pastor Jay Austin continues our United series with a powerful reminder that the Church is called to be more than a gathering. We are called to be a net cast wide for the Kingdom of God.Using Jesus' call to His disciples to be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18–20), Pastor Jay challenges us to move beyond being hobbyist Christians to becoming a connected network of believers who pray, care, and intentionally reach our community. Through Formation Classes, Care and Support Groups, Connection Groups, and Life Groups, we are woven together like a net: stronger when united, and ready to be cast across Brevard County for God's glory.Where do you fit into the net? And who might God be asking you to reach?

In this message, Discipleship Pastor Jay Austin continues our United series with a powerful reminder that the Church is called to be more than a gathering. We are called to be a net cast wide for the Kingdom of God.Using Jesus' call to His disciples to be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18–20), Pastor Jay challenges us to move beyond being hobbyist Christians to becoming a connected network of believers who pray, care, and intentionally reach our community. Through Formation Classes, Care and Support Groups, Connection Groups, and Life Groups, we are woven together like a net: stronger when united, and ready to be cast across Brevard County for God's glory.Where do you fit into the net? And who might God be asking you to reach?

After examining why hell exists and God's righteousness in sending people there, Dr. John turns to the terrifying question of what hell is actually like. Using Jesus' parable of the rich man and Lazarus and other Scripture, he describes hell through five biblical images: a prison with chains, a bottomless pit, a place of eternal fire, complete darkness, and most frighteningly, where God is forever present pouring out His wrath. The message concludes with an urgent gospel appeal.Hell Explained: In this one week series, Dr. Neufeld unpacks the often difficult and uncomfortable doctrine of Hell. This study will discuss the biblical description of hell, how we can reconcile hell with the God of the Bible, and how it's important for Christians to reflect on the seriousness of hell.

Dave Brisbin 7.27.25 Had a conversation with two devout Christians about Gaza. One believed Israel was committing genocide and saw no justification for their military action, nor for killing a human being under any circumstances. The other, heartbroken over civilian deaths, saw more nuance in Israel fighting for survival against an enemy hiding behind its civilians. Two loving, sincere Christians using Jesus and scripture as guides came to very different conclusions. Is there a “right” way to come to ethical decisions? There are three main families of ethical theory: consequentialism looks at the utility of an action—does it create the greatest good for greatest number? Deontology looks at moral duties, “categorical imperatives” that must be followed regardless of consequences. And virtue ethics looks at ideal human character, or a “virtuous agent” to guide ethical choices—WWJD, what would Jesus do? Using Jesus as a virtuous agent, we still need to decide whether to focus on universal rules or the consequences we create. Was Jesus consequence or rule-based? As to scripture, which many Christians consider imperative, Jesus is not tied to literal meaning. He paraphrases, adapts passages to current situations as rabbis did then and still do. He interprets metaphorically, changes context, and only quotes passages that present God as the loving Abba he models with his life—practices many Christian scholars would not allow. Jesus is not tied to the letter of the law, but to its purpose of preserving life and promoting God's presence. His Sabbath violations are case in point. When he says the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, he's flatly putting consequences over rules. Law and scripture serve to create the greatest good for the greatest number—never an end in themselves. Jesus models his ethical decision-making, but even this is a guide, not a law. He brings full presence to each situation so he can best discern, guided by scripture and his Father's love, what the greatest good requires in the moment. We can do no better. Yet we'll often come to different conclusions. It's how we know we're doing it “right.”

Dave Brisbin 7.27.25 Had a conversation with two devout Christians about Gaza. One believed Israel was committing genocide and saw no justification for their military action, nor for killing a human being under any circumstances. The other, heartbroken over civilian deaths, saw more nuance in Israel fighting for survival against an enemy hiding behind its civilians. Two loving, sincere Christians using Jesus and scripture as guides came to very different conclusions. Is there a “right” way to come to ethical decisions? There are three main families of ethical theory: consequentialism looks at the utility of an action—does it create the greatest good for greatest number? Deontology looks at moral duties, “categorical imperatives” that must be followed regardless of consequences. And virtue ethics looks at ideal human character, or a “virtuous agent” to guide ethical choices—WWJD, what would Jesus do? Using Jesus as a virtuous agent, we still need to decide whether to focus on universal rules or the consequences we create. Was Jesus consequence or rule-based? As to scripture, which many Christians consider imperative, Jesus is not tied to literal meaning. He paraphrases, adapts passages to current situations as rabbis did then and still do. He interprets metaphorically, changes context, and only quotes passages that present God as the loving Abba he models with his life—practices many Christian scholars would not allow. Jesus is not tied to the letter of the law, but to its purpose of preserving life and promoting God's presence. His Sabbath violations are case in point. When he says the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, he's flatly putting consequences over rules. Law and scripture serve to create the greatest good for the greatest number—never an end in themselves. Jesus models his ethical decision-making, but even this is a guide, not a law. He brings full presence to each situation so he can best discern, guided by scripture and his Father's love, what the greatest good requires in the moment. We can do no better. Yet we'll often come to different conclusions. It's how we know we're doing it “right.”

Clothed in Christ: How Our Lady Shapes Us for God's Blessing Today's readings centers on the tension between the old and the new, . . . . . . especially in the spiritual life. Using Jesus' parables about wineskins and unshrunk cloth, the message underscores that the Gospel cannot be contained or constrained by old patterns, structures, or attitudes. Jesus brings something fundamentally new . . . the joy of the Bridegroom's presence . . . which cannot simply “patch up” what is old but requires full transformation. The Homily draws a parallel with the Virgin Mary, who was created as the perfect vessel . . . the “new wineskin” . . . to receive Jesus Christ. Similarly, we must allow our hearts to be made new to receive the grace and power of the Gospel. Mary Spiritually Clothes Us The Homily also brings in the story of Jacob and Esau to illustrate this renewal through Mary's intercession. Just as Rebecca clothed Jacob in Esau's garments to receive his father's blessing, Mary spiritually clothes us in the virtues of Christ so we can be pleasing to God the Father. The message ends by challenging us to ask whether our old, tired hearts are ready to receive Christ fully and encourages us to rely on Mary's help to be transformed . . . so we may truly become new vessels fit to receive and share the new wine of salvation. Listen more to this Meditation Media. Listen to: Clothed in Christ: How Our Lady Shapes Us for God's Blessing ---------------------------------------------------------------- Quote From The Homily The more we draw near to Our Lady, the more our hearts are open in love and trust to her, the more she begins to clothe us in the virtues of Jesus. Those things that are so very pleasing to Almighty God the Father, the more we draw near to her, the more we come to resemble that one whom the father loves. ---------------------------------------------------------------- The Virgin Lamb: French Painter: William Adolphe Bouguereau: 1903 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Matthew 9: 14-17 First Reading: Genesis 27: 1-5, 15-29

SummaryChad Gross interviews Dr. Christopher Cloos about the challenging Old Testament violence texts and his recent debate with theologian Randal Rauser. They explore the complexities of interpreting these texts, the role of moral intuition, and the contrasting views of covenant virtue ethics and providential errancy theory. The conversation delves into how moral intuitions can inform biblical interpretation while also addressing the potential pitfalls of subjectivity in understanding scripture. They explore how moral intuition can be used to interpret scripture, the implications of difficult passages, and the importance of engaging with differing views charitably. The conversation also highlights resources for further learning in this area.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Apologetics and Old Testament Violence03:02 Dr. Cloos' Background and Interest in Old Testament Texts06:06 Debate Overview: Rauser vs. Cloos on Biblical Violence08:47 Understanding Moral Intuition in Biblical Interpretation11:55 Covenant Virtue Ethics vs. Providential Errancy Theory14:54 The Role of Moral Intuition in Exegesis17:53 Concerns About Subjectivity in Interpretation20:50 Using Jesus as a Tool for Interpretation25:58 Epistemic Circularity and Moral Intuition32:28 Covenant Virtue Ethics and Difficult Texts40:02 The Role of Hyperbole in Ancient Texts48:10 Engaging with Different Views Charitably53:42 Resources for Further Learning================================We appreciate your feedback.If you're on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

In this powerful sermon, Pastor Roscoe shows how having a pure heart helps us see God more clearly in our everyday lives. Using Jesus' teachings from the Sermon on the Mount, he points out that real happiness and connection with God don't come from just following rules or looking good on the outside — it starts with what's going on inside our hearts. When our hearts are pure, we're able to recognize God working around us and experience a deeper sense of peace and joy.

In this powerful sermon, Pastor Roscoe shows how having a pure heart helps us see God more clearly in our everyday lives. Using Jesus' teachings from the Sermon on the Mount, he points out that real happiness and connection with God don't come from just following rules or looking good on the outside — it starts with what's going on inside our hearts. When our hearts are pure, we're able to recognize God working around us and experience a deeper sense of peace and joy.

In this opening message of our June series, we step into a powerful rediscovery of the person, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. Far from a mysterious force or an abstract idea, Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity—eternal, intelligent, emotional, and deeply personal. Using Jesus' own words in John 16, we're introduced to the Spirit as our Advocate, Comforter, and Revealer. He's not an “it”, but a “He”—the very mind and heart of God made present and active in our lives. Holy Spirit is not here to confuse or conceal, but to guide, clarify, empower, and uncover the hidden treasures of the Kingdom already given to us in Christ. This episode will stir your faith to not just learn about Holy Spirit—but to encounter Him. From the Scriptures to your quiet time, in worship or even standing in line at Starbucks, He is speaking. The question is: Are you listening? Prepare for a fresh unveiling of spiritual truth as we allow the Author of Scripture to illuminate the mysteries of grace, truth, and your divine inheritance.

Send us a textWords create worlds. From Genesis where God speaks creation into being, to Jesus asking a paralyzed man, "Do you want to be made well?", speech carries the power to transform reality. But what happens when certain topics become unspeakable?In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation that explores how modern society increasingly avoids difficult conversations. Using Jesus' healing story, Bishop Wright reveals how bringing things into speech opens pathways to healing and resurrection. They also discuss more recent examples including the evolution of Malcolm X's speech as his heart expanded, the way Muhammad Ali voiced what many thought but dared not say about Vietnam, and how Pope Francis's humble question "Who am I to judge?" transformed Catholic discourse. At its core lies a powerful truth: authentic speech flows from the heart's abundance. Listen in for the full conversation.Read For Faith, the companion devotional.Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

The greatest authority and power available to any person is a relationship with Almighty God. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson reminds us that true authority comes from God, and He requires us to submit to His will. Using Jesus as the ultimate model, Pastor Allen highlights Christ's obedience and humility—even unto death—as the foundation of His divine authority. We live in a culture that resists authority, and rejecting God's authority will continue to invite judgment and diminish the Church's influence in the world. But when Christ-followers choose to recognize God as the ultimate Boss and decide to follow Him, lives are changed—including our own!    To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world, visit this link: allenjackson.com/podcastdonate

This sermon explores the "Prayer of Will," a prayer of surrender where we align our desires with God's plan, even when it differs from our own. Using Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane as a model, it delves into the battle between our will and God's will, highlighting the importance of trust, obedience, and recognizing God's goodness. The sermon contrasts the expectations of the crowd on Palm Sunday with Jesus' ultimate act of surrender, emphasizing that God's will, though often challenging, leads to a greater purpose, as seen in the salvation offered through Jesus' sacrifice

In this sermon, Pastor Blake delves into the often misunderstood concept of holiness. He begins by explaining that God's holiness is greater than our failures, using the example from Isaiah 6 where God's holiness purifies Isaiah. The pastor then illustrates how God's holiness brings new life, referencing Ezekiel's vision of the river flowing from the temple. Pastor Blake emphasizes that as believers, we are called to be holy - set apart for God's purposes. He explains that holiness isn't about perfection, but about allowing God's presence to flow through us to impact the world. Using Jesus' words in John 7:38, he shows how we become agents of change when we allow God's holiness to flow from us. The sermon concludes by addressing how we pursue holiness. Pastor Blake stresses that it's not about behavior modification, but heart transformation. He uses the analogy of adding water to a jug to illustrate that we grow in holiness by adding more of God to our lives, rather than just trying to subtract sin.

Dr. Brad Wilcox continues to illuminate the powerful teachings of Jesus during his visit to the Americas including the power of prayer, covenants, and the process of accessing God's power. SHOW NOTES/TRANSCRIPTSEnglish: https://tinyurl.com/podcastBM40ENFrench: https://tinyurl.com/podcastBM40FRGerman: https://tinyurl.com/podcastBM40DEPortuguese: https://tinyurl.com/podcastBM40PTSpanish: https://tinyurl.com/podcastBM40ESYOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/msrnYMLmxPQALL EPISODES/SHOW NOTESfollowHIM website: https://www.followHIMpodcast.comFREE PDF DOWNLOADS OF followHIM QUOTE BOOKSNew Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastNTBookOld Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastOTBookWEEKLY NEWSLETTERhttps://tinyurl.com/followHIMnewsletterSOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/followHIMpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcastTIMECODE00:00 Part II - Dr. Brad Wilcox01:22 Three levels or attitudes03:02 3 Nephi 12:31-32 - Divorce and adultery05:11 3 Nephi 12:48 - Perfection, completion, finished10:17 Using Jesus's Atonement to be cleansed and changed12:39 3 Nephi 13 - Ezra Taft Benson's talk on pride16:58 Prayer: connection and power22:23 Vain repetitions and the “net” of prayer25:32 3 Nephi 14:21-23 - “I know a guy”31:44 Contract thinking vs. relationship thinking33:04 3 Nephi 14:1-6 Judge not35:27 3 Nephi 14-15 - Righteous judgment and other sheep39:13 Jesus reveals himself and reminds them of their heritage41:25 3 Nephi 16 - Remember who you are.46:33 The Rome Temple is a “hinge point”48:10 How does the Book of Mormon stand against other books?53:37 Becoming like Christ is a process57:17 End of Part II – Dr. Brad WilcoxThanks to the followHIM team:Steve & Shannon Sorensen: Cofounder, Executive Producer, SponsorDavid & Verla Sorensen: SponsorsDr. Hank Smith: Co-hostJohn Bytheway: Co-hostDavid Perry: ProducerKyle Nelson: Marketing, SponsorLisa Spice: Client Relations, Editor, Show NotesJamie Neilson: Social Media, Graphic DesignWill Stoughton: Video EditorKrystal Roberts: Translation Team, English & French Transcripts, WebsiteAriel Cuadra: Spanish Transcripts"Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise" by Marshall McDonaldhttps://www.marshallmcdonaldmusic.com